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Safety on the road: More work needs to be done

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By Rory Visco | Contributor

HE World Health Organization (WHO) Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023 estimated that there were at least 1.19 million road traffic deaths back in 2021, which is a 5-percent drop from the 1.25 million fatalities in 2010.

It said that over half of all United Nations (UN) memberstates “reduced road traffic deaths between 2010 and 2021.

The slight overall reduction in deaths occurred despite the global motor vehicle fleet more than doubling, road networks significantly expanding, and the global population rising by nearly a billion. This shows that efforts to improve road safety

are working but fall far short of what is needed to meet the target of the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030 to halve deaths by 2030.”

The report continued by revealing that “road traffic deaths and injuries remain a major global health and development challenge.” As of 2019, the said “road traffic crashes are the lead-

ing killer of children and youth aged 5 to 29 years and are the 12th leading cause of death when all ages are considered. Two-thirds of deaths occur among people of working age (18 to 59 years), causing huge health, social and economic harm throughout society.”

In the Philippines, a Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) report in 2021 showed an increasing trend of road traffic deaths in the past decade—from 7,938 fatalities in 2011 to 11,096 deaths—for a 39-percent increase. The report said that at least 84 percent of road traffic deaths were among males, while road traffic injuries was a major cause of mortality for children, with motorcyclists, pedestrians and bicyclists among those considered vulnerable road users. On an economic scale, it said that road traffic injuries are estimated to cost about 2.6 percent of the country’s GDP. On the other hand, based on the Metro Manila Accident Reporting and Analysis System (MMARAS) re-

port for 2022, a total of 71,891 road crashes occurred in Metro Manila that year for an average of 197 road crashes daily.

Road safety

THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) lists the most common risk factors for road traffic crashes as human errors like speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol and psychoactive substances, non-use of safety equipment such as helmet, seat belt, child restraints, and distracted driving. Also, the DOTr noted the lack of safe infrastructure for vulnerable users, vehicle maintenance, and inadequate enforcement cause road traffic crashes in the country.

“The causes of road traffic incidents can be complex and multifaceted. Factors like education, awareness and attitude towards road safety play a vital role. Additionally, infrastructure, law enforcement, and public awareness contribute to the overall scenario,” the DOTr said.

The agency noted that local

government units (LGU) also play a crucial role in road safety, particularly in the aspects of awareness and compliance. It said the Land Transportation Office (LTO) deputizes LGU traffic enforcers to implement and enforce traffic regulations at the community level, and that LGUs can assist the national government in conducting education campaigns, improving infrastructure, and coordinating with law enforcement to enhance road safety. “The LGUs’ proximity to the community allows them to address specific local challenges and tailor initiatives to ensure effective awareness and compliance with road safety rules,” the agency emphasized.

The Philippine Road Safety Action Plan

THE DOTr launched last year the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan (PRSAP) 2023-2028, together with partners, such as the Department of Health (DOH) and the WHO Country Office in the Philippines.

During the launch, DOTr Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said the plan, together with the WHO global report on road safety, “will guide us in implementing and monitoring efforts to reduce road traffic deaths and serious injuries in the Philippines.”

In answer to emailed questions from the BusinessMirror, the DOTr said the PRSAP 2023-2028 is a comprehensive document that serves as a roadmap for road safety in the country, and focuses on the existing road safety situation, vision, updated targets, and strategies to continue promoting road safety from 2023 to 2028.

“The PRSAP 2023-2028 reaffirms the vision and objectives of the original PRSAP, with updated interim targets and activities for road safety for the next six years,” the DOTr said.

The PRSAP 2023-2028 works on a multitude of pillars, each one comes with its own set of objectives that must be met. Among these is Continued on A2

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 56.3180 n JAPAN 0.3814 n UK 71.5745 n HK 7.2040 n CHINA 7.8497 n SINGAPORE 42.0221 n AUSTRALIA 37.0629 n EU 61.0881 n KOREA 0.0421 n SAUDI ARABIA 15.0182 Source: BSP (January 26, 2024)

NewsSunday BusinessMirror

A2 Sunday, January 28, 2024

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China officials told Xi’s belt-tightening rules here to stay

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By Bloomberg News

projects. It also said it would take other measures, like cutting back on office supplies at meetings.

In a WeChat post on Wednesday, Xianning, a city in Hubei, called on party members to “reasonably” use official telephones and avoid chitchatting or handling non-work matters on the phone.

Beyond the local government level, other state-linked institutions are joining in the austerity drive. Sichuan Engineering Technical College will cap the use of airconditioning in the summer at no lower than 26°C (79°F), and heating at no more than 20°C in winter.

And at least one state-owned enterprise has told its employees to limit the duration of and number of people going on business trips overseas this year, according to a notice seen by Bloomberg News.

O stationery at government meetings, a ban on flashy buildings and inspectors to watch for wasted food at official functions. These are some of the measures that local governments across China are taking in accordance with an order from Beijing that they “get used to belt-tightening,” an edict laid down last month by top leaders at the Central Economic Work Conference.

While President Xi Jinping has long discouraged excess, the renewed calls for austerity come as the world’s second-largest economy faces severe headwinds, from a massive debt burden at the local level to a collapsing property market.

“It is hard to square lavish spending on official ceremonies and events with an increasingly pessimistic economic outlook,” said Dominic Chiu, senior analyst at Eurasia Group. “The scaling down of expenditure is also important for upholding the party and government’s reputation in the eyes of the public.”

‘Xiguan’

THE order’s use of the term xiguan, meaning “get used to,” is particularly significant. It’s the first time top officials have used the word in

such a context, suggesting that despite Xi’s years-long campaign to crack down on ostensible displays of wealth and corruption, many parts of the bureaucracy are still lagging behind.

It also signals that thriftiness is here to stay.

The term xiguan is “foreseeing that the financial situation is unlikely to fundamentally improve for a considerable period in the future,” said Lu Xi, an assistant professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore who specializes in China’s economy.

“The central government is unlikely to provide financial assistance to local governments.”

Challenges

CHINA’S economy is battling a barrage of challenges, including a deepening housing slump, fears

QIANJIANG New Town, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. GOVAN ZHANG | DREAMSTIME.COM

of a deflationary spiral and high levels of youth unemployment.

Meanwhile, the government is considering measures, such as a large rescue package to curtail a stock market rout that reflects a growing lack of faith in the country’s outlook.

The corruption watchdog said in an editorial last week that xiguan “emphasizes that living on a tight budget is not a requirement or a solution just for the time being.” It also warned that some local governments are asking for more money than they deserve from Beijing.

Excessive bureaucracy is an obvious place for local governments to start trimming costs.

Guangzhou, a metropolis in southern China, issued a notice

at the start of the year exhorting officials to reduce the duration and size of meetings, prioritize online conferences and control the number of paper documents printed. Nearby Guangxi province also said it plans to do teleconferences as much as possible.

Food monitors

IN Zhejiang, a wealthy province on the east coast, a new law that went into effect this month asks authorities to “run all affairs in strict adherence to thriftiness,” including a ban on expanding government offices, encouraging officials to carpool and taking into account food waste in the performance evaluations of work units.

Southwestern megacity Chongqing is also taking aim at

food waste, with the municipal government announcing last week that it will deploy supervisors to monitor wastage during its local parliament session starting Sunday. It will also scrap floral decorations and fruits in participants’ rooms. Officials estimate the measures will result in a budget reduction of 7.2 percent.

In poorer parts of China, building impressive, some might say weird, architecture, has long been a way for such places to attract tourists and businesses.

With the graft watchdog’s editorial also calling out cities for continuing to spend on such buildings, the government of Tongling, a city in Anhui province, vowed this month to refrain from blindly embarking on vanity

Morale impact

MANY local governments are already under serious fiscal strain due to the double blow of the pandemic and the property downturn and will find it hard to further tighten belts. Many are struggling just to pay civil servants or vendors and provide social benefits.

Overall, scaling back on spending is hard to implement in China’s public sector because of structural issues like low wages for civil servants and a reliance on lavish gift-giving for building personal relationships that are key to promotions, said the Eurasia Group’s Chiu.

“It is also hard to imagine that these statements and disciplinary measures do not have an adverse impact on cadre morale,” he added.

THINK, DRIVE, STAY ALIVE Continued from A1

Road Safety Management, whose objectives is to institutionalize a strong and sustainably funded lead agency, with the DOTr assuming that role, and will prioritize road safety in government planning systems. It will also help establish quality road safety data for evidence, engage non-government organizations (NGOs) and the civil society on road safety, enhance research capacity on road safety, promote multi-modal public transportation, livable land use planning, and comfortable sharing of public space, and adhere to international conventions and adopt relevant global best practices.

The other pillars under PRSAP 2023-2028 include Safer Roads: this seeks to promote road safety ownership and accountability among road authorities, and the development of safe road infrastructure for all road users. The Safer Vehicles pillar, meanwhile, will pursue to improve, expand and encourage mandatory use of the motor vehicle inspection system (MVIS), and likewise adopt and implement global guidelines and standards to increase safety in motor vehicles. It will also strive to ensure the roadworthiness of public utility vehicles (PUVs) and private motor vehicles and promote safe transport using alternative sources of fuel to be able to comply with the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA).

There is also the pillar on Safer Road Users, which will strive to increase public awareness and support for road safety, strengthen enforcement of and public compliance to road safety laws, and ensure safe operations of public and private transport vehicles. Finally, there is also the Post-Crash Response pillar, whose objective is to improve post-crash care.

Different from previous PRSAP

WHEN it conducted a rapid assessment of the implementation of PRSAP 2017-2022 in order to guide the development of the next phase of the PRSAP, the DOTr said there were many notable road safety projects, activities and ser-

vices that were implemented by the agency and its road safety partners in the last six years.

However, there were significant challenges, such as lack of funding for organizations and deemed low prioritization for road safety. “The Covid-19 pandemic also disrupted the implementation of many of the activities and projects.”

The agency said that PRSAP 2023-2028 is eyeing to take off from the current plan’s achievements and continue existing initiatives and address the challenges and limitations from the previous PRSAP 2017-2022. It is guided by the vision of a Philippine society with zero deaths on the road and a target of at least 35 percent reduction in road traffic deaths by 2028, and it builds upon the safe system approach and is guided by the Global Plan of the Second Decade of Action for Road Safety. “The plan recognizes that road safety is a collaborative endeavor, and harnesses whole-of-government and wholeof-society collaboration to reduce road traffic deaths,” the DOTr said.

Nevertheless, the DOTr noted that the new PRSAP 2023-2028 is aligned with the priorities of the administration, specifically the Philippine Development Plan.

Are the goals realizable?

THE DOTr said road safety is a shared responsibility, and various government agencies and NGOs must work together to ensure the objectives of PRSAP 2023-2028 are attained.

The agency is also looking at including the academe and other local and international organizations since they play a “pivotal” role to make the goals of the PRSAP 20232028 realizable. “Aside from being advocates of road safety, the PRSAP 2023-2028 was formulated with the help of experts, guided by data and studies, laying the foundation and strategies toward safer goals.”

“Road crash incidents continue to be a global concern, claiming countless lives each year and leaving families affected by the loss of loved ones. Achieving the target of 35-percent reduction in road traffic deaths requires a multifaceted approach, in-

corporating stringent policy implementation, enforcement, infrastructure improvement, public awareness campaigns, and multi-stakeholder and multi-agency collaboration,” the DOTr added.

Turnaround

DESPITE this seemingly grim scenario, government agencies tasked to help improve the status of road safety and developing awareness about it among motorists and the general public in the Philippines are fast-tracking their efforts to make a huge turnaround.

On the part of the DOH, Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said road safety is one of the current priorities of the DOH. “Dahil sa Bagong Pilipinas, Bawat Buhay Mahalaga, no one should die or be seriously injured on our roads. Every life is precious. Multisectoral action to prevent deadly trauma brought about by road traffic crashes is needed, as part of the Action Agenda sa pag-iwas sa sakit.”

For the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), part of their Performance Governance System (PGS) Strategic Plan 20232028 is to “establish improved road network quality and safety, and ensure that newly completed road projects meet the International Roughness Index (IRI) standard, critical intersections along national roads are provided with engineering solutions and that the national road network meet the three-star rating standard, or better, for road safety performance.”

In its plan, the DPWH said that by prioritizing the construction and maintenance of quality infrastructure with smooth roads, governments and communities can improve road safety, enhance driving experiences, and promote sustainable economic growth.

Dr. Rui Paulo de Jesus, WHO Representative in the Philippines, said it succinctly during the launch of PRSAP 2023-2028: the tragic tally of road crash deaths is heading in the right direction, downwards, but nowhere near fast enough. “Road safety is a multisectoral concern. We should continue to work together to keep our road safe,” he pointed out.

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TheWorld BusinessMirror

Sunday, January 28, 2024

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

Americans’ economic outlook brightens as inflation slows, wages outpace prices

By Christopher Rugaber

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AP Economics Writer

ASHINGTON—After an extended period of gloom, Americans are starting to feel better about inflation and the economy—a trend that could sustain consumer spending, fuel economic growth and potentially affect President Joe Biden’s political fortunes.

A measure of consumer sentiment by the University of Michigan has jumped in the past two months by the most since 1991.

A survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that Americans’ inflation expectations have reached their lowest point in nearly three years. And the same survey, released last week, found that the proportion that expect their own finances to improve a year from now is at its highest level since June 2021.

Economists say consumers appear to be responding to steadily slower inflation, higher incomes, lower gas prices and a rising stock market. Inflation has tumbled from a peak of around 9 percent in June 2022 to 3.4 percent. According to the Federal Reserve’s preferred price gauge, inflation has reached the Fed’s annual 2 percent target when measured over the past six months.

What’s more, paychecks have outpaced inflation over the past year, thereby easing Americans’ adjustment to a higher cost of living. Weekly earnings for the typical worker—halfway between the highest and lowest earners—rose 2.2 percent last year after adjusting for inflation, the government reported last week. By that measure, inflation-adjusted pay is 2.5 percent higher than before the pandemic.

“While falling inflation took

some time to feed through to consumer sentiment, it appears the good news is finally getting through,” said Grace Zwemmer, an analyst at Oxford Economics.

Consumers’ inflation expectations are important because they can become self-perpetuating: When people expect inflation to stay high, they often change their behavior, by accelerating purchases before prices rise further, which can, in turn, fuel more inflation.

By contrast, lower inflation expectations can reverse that dynamic and help cool inflation.

Even with the steady slowdown in inflation, prices are still nearly 17 percent higher than they were three years ago, a source of discontent for many Americans. Though some individual goods are becoming less expensive, overall prices will likely remain well above their pre-pandemic levels.

That dichotomy—a rapid fall in inflation with a still-elevated cost of living—will likely set up a key question in the minds of voters, many of whom are still feeling the lingering financial and psychological effects of the worst bout of inflation in four decades. Which will carry more weight in the presidential election: The dramatic decline in inflation or the fact that most prices are much higher than they were three years ago?

Consider the price of food, one of the items people encounter

A CUSTOMER checks prices while shopping at a grocery store in Wheeling, Ill., Friday, January 19, 2024. A typical basket of groceries now costs 20 percent more than in February 2021, just before inflation began to take off. AP/NAM Y. HUH

most frequently. Grocery inflation has plummeted from a yearover-year peak of 13.5 percent in August 2022 to just 1.3 percent.

Yet a typical basket of groceries still costs 20 percent more than it did in February 2021, just before inflation began to accelerate. On average, chicken prices are up 25 percent. So, too, is bread. Milk is 18 percent more expensive than it was before the pandemic.

The cost to rent an apartment has also soared and is still rising faster than before the pandemic.

Rental costs are up 6.5 percent from a year earlier, nearly twice the pre-pandemic pace. At their peak in early 2023, rents were rising nearly 9 percent annually.

Sharply higher costs for such

necessities as food and rent still represent a heav y burden for people like Romane Marshall, a 30-year-old software engineer who lives on the outskirts of Atlanta.

In late 2020, Marshall took computer coding classes to try to move beyond the warehouse and customer service jobs he had previously held. When he was hired by a professional services consulting firm in April 2021, he was “ecstatic.” After he completed an apprenticeship program the next year, his pay jumped from $50,000 to $60,000.

Yet his expenses kept rising, too. When he moved to a new apartment to be closer to work as his company shifted from full-time

Some Americans do have a cheerier outlook now. Hiring has remained solid, with the unemployment rate remaining below 4 percent for nearly two years, the longest such stretch since the 1960s.

remote work to a hybrid schedule, his rent doubled to $1,475 a month, from the $700 he’d paid for a room in a friend’s house.

Marshall says his typical grocery bill is now about $120 to $130, up from just $70 to $80 three years ago. To keep his electricity costs down, he only occasionally turns on the heat in his apartment.

“There have been some positive changes, it’s just that things got expensive,” he said. “The only thing I notice is that the price of food is still high.”

Some Americans do have a cheerier outlook now. Hiring has remained solid, with the unemployment rate remaining below 4 percent for nearly two years, the longest such stretch since the 1960s.

Dana Smith, a software developer, says he’s optimistic that the economy is improving. He and his wife have both received pay raises that have helped offset the price spikes of the past three years.

Smith, 40, lives in Matthews, North Carolina, about a half-hour from Charlotte, where he and his wife bought a home about three years ago. It has since risen about 30 percent in value, boosting their household wealth.

“My perception,” he said, “is that the economy is getting better and better.”

The public’s growing optimism about the economy could point to newfound enthusiasm for Biden’s candidacy this year, after weak polling has defined much of his time in office. Still, Ryan Cummings, an economist who has analyzed consumer confidence and how it’s affected by political views, cautioned that politics might limit how much public sentiment can improve.

A mer ic a ns’ econom ic outlooks, he said, are increasingly driven by political partisanship rather than by the economy’s underlying performance.

“As the election goes on,” Cummings said, “and it becomes more clear that the 2024 race will be Trump vs. Biden, Republicans might dial up their pessimism

Hamas fights with a patchwork of weapons built by Iran, China, Russia and North Korea

By Michael Biesecker The Associated Press

I

RANIAN sniper rifles. AK-47 assault rifles from China and Russia. Nor th Korean- and Bulgarian-built rocket-propelled grenades. Anti-tank rockets secretly cobbled together in Gaza.

An Associated Press analysis of more than 150 videos and photos taken in the three months of combat since Hamas launched its October 7 surprise attack on Israel shows the militant group has amassed a diverse patchwork arsenal of weapons from around the world – much of it smuggled past a 17-year blockade that was aimed at stopping just such a military buildup.

Those weapons have proved deadly during weeks of intense urban warfare in Gaza, where Hamas fighters are typically armed only with what they can carry and employ hit-and-run tactics against lopsided Israeli advantages in arms and technology. Hamas propaganda videos posted over the past few weeks appear to show the shootings of Israeli soldiers recorded through

the scopes of sniper rifles.

“We are searching everywhere for weapons, for political support, for money,” Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad recently said in an interview with the AP, declining to discuss specifically who has been providing its weapons or how they were snuck into Gaza.

Experts who reviewed the images for AP were able to identify distinguishing features and markings that show where many of the weapons wielded by Hamas fighters were manufactured. But such an analysis does not provide evidence of whether they were provided by the governments of those countries or purchased in a thriving Middle East black market, with weapons and components listed for sale on social media in such war-torn countries as Iraq, Libya and Syria.

What is clear, however, is that many of the images show Hamas militants toting weapons that appear to be relatively new, evidence the group has found ways of getting arms past the air-and-sea blockade of the Gaza Strip—possibly by boat, through tunnels or concealed in

shipments of food and other goods.

“The majority of their arms are of Russian, Chinese or Iranian origin, but North Korean weapons and those produced in former Warsaw Pact countries are also present in the arsenal,” said N.R. Jenzen-Jones, an expert in military arms who is director of the Australian-based Armament Research Services.

Despite the buildup, Israel maintains a massive advantage, with a powerful array of modern tanks, artillery, helicopter gunships and an air force of US-made fighter jets. Israel’s military says it has killed more than 7,000 Hamas militants, compared to the deaths of at least 510 of its own soldiers, more than 330 of whom were killed in Hamas’ initial attack. The Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says more than 23,000 Palestinians have died in the fighting, though it does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.

Imagery reviewed by the AP showed a Hamas arsenal featuring weapons ranging from small arms and machine guns to shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles and craft-

more than Democratic sentiment is increasing, pulling sentiment back down, regardless of economic fundamentals.”

The University of Michigan survey found that consumer sentiment among Democrats jumped a sharp 11.8 percent in January, the second largest such increase on record. (The biggest increase among Democrats occurred immediately after Biden’s presidential victory in 2020.)

Many Americans might still favor having the government take steps not only to slow inflation but also to try to reduce overall prices to where they were before the pandemic. In a classic 1997 research paper, the Nobel Prize-winning economist Robert Shiller found that two-thirds of respondents to a survey he conducted agreed that the government should try to reverse a 20 percent spike in prices.

Economists, though, uniformly caution that any attempt to do so would require a significant weakening of the economy, resulting from either sharp interest rate hikes by the Fed or tax increases.

The likely consequence could be a recession that would cost millions of jobs.

David Andolfatto, an economist at the University of Miami and a former Fed economist, said it is better for wages to rise over time to allow people to adjust to higher prices.

“The cost of living is higher, the wages are higher,” he said. “Let’s just move ahead. There’s no need for (the government) to bring the price level back down. It would be too painful.”

Claudia Sahm, founder of Sahm Consulting and also a former Fed economist, acknowledged that “people are angry” about higher prices.

“But then, the next question is, can you afford it?” she asked.

“Not everybody can say yes to that question. But over time, more and more people will be able to say yes.”

AP Writer Josh Boak contributed to this report from Washington.

produced anti-tank projectiles.

Among the most distinctive is the oversized AM-50 Sayyad (Arabic for “hunter”), an Iranian-made a sniper rifle that fires a .50- caliber round powerful enough to punch through up to an inch of steel. It has previously been spotted on battlefields in Yemen, Syria, and in the hands of Shia militias in Iraq.

Hamas fighters have also been seen carrying an array of Soviet-era weapons that have been copied and manufactured in Iran and China. They include variants of the Russian-designed 9M32 Strela, a portable heat-seeking anti-aircraft missile system.

Jenzen-Jones said a grip stock on one of the missile launchers a fighter was seen holding is distinctive to a variant manufactured in China and used by the Iranian military and its allies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, a group closely aligned with Hamas.

Weapons recovered from Hamas fighters by the Israel Defense Forces include what appear to be Italian-designed TC/6 anti-tank mines. However, Seán Moorhouse, a former British Army officer and explosive ordinance disposal expert, said it too had been copied

by Iran’s arms industry.

The Israel Defense Forces and US officials have long accused Iran of supplying money, training and weapons to Hamas and allied militants in Gaza, including the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Biesecker reported from Washington. AP writer Josef Federman contributed from Jerusalem/Bloomberg

Science Sunday

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

BusinessMirror

Sunday, January 28, 2024

A5

DOST: Preparation will prevent severe impacts of El Niño Story & photos

by Reine Juvierre S. Alberto

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IKE a disaster, the continuous moderate-to-strong El Niño in the tropical Pacific may bring disruptive impacts to key sectors in the country.

This, as Science Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. compared El Niño to a disaster.

Solidum pointed out that Filipinos can become victors amid El Niño through science, technology and innovations, and pointed out that the country has the technologies that can be used.

El Niño is a naturally occurring climate phenomenon that increases the chances of having lesser rainfall which leads to drought and dry spells.

A disaster, Solidum defined, is an event that can “cause disruption in the social or economic development of a community” even if no lives were lost.

Since the drought and dry spells brought by El Niño caused economic losses in agriculture and people succumbed to heat stroke, Solidum explained, then El Niño can be considered a disaster as well.

“The presence of El Niño and its effects—like lesser water and higher temperature—are the meteorological effects [but] whether it will severely affect us, is dependent on how much we prepare and how timely would be our preparation,” said Solidum at the “2024 Handa Pilipinas: Innovation in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Exposition” held at the House of Representatives in Quezon City last Monday.

SCIENCE Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. (center) explains to policymakers at the House of Representatives the technology behind HazardHunter among other innovations for disaster risk reduction and management that are exhibited.

Task force El Niño

SOLIDUM said the Task Force El Niño, reactivated and reconstituted through Executive Order 53 issued on January 19, focuses on ensuring the country’s readiness to combat the effects of El Niño.

The Task Force, co-chaired by the secretaries of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of National Defense, is tasked to increase the resilience of communities and secure sufficient water supply, food security and public health and safety.

According to EO 53, the Task Force is mandated to revise and update the Strategic El Niño National Action Plan, monitor the implementation of short and long-term solutions and programs, and coordinate with all concerned agencies in expediting the completion of all ongoing water infrastructure projects

intended to cushion or mitigate the impacts of the dry spell not later than the end of April.

The DOST, for its part, continues to provide updates on the status of El Niño, such as identifying which provinces experience dry spells and drought, Solidum said.

The Science department also coordinates with the Task Force in establishing the El Niño Online Platform, which will serve as a centralized repository for data, research and information about El Niño.

“We’re hoping that the DOSTPhivolcs [Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology] is leading the development of a platform for El Niño [together with] Pagasa [Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Ser vices Administration] and DICT [Department of Information and Communications Technology],” Solidum said.

SCIENCE Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. (center), Rep. Carlito M. Marquez (second from left) of the First District of Aklan and chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology, and representatives of congressmen press the buzzers to signal the opening of “2024: Handa Pilipinas: Innovation in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Exposition” at the House of Representatives on January 22.

As of now, the drought and dry spell forecasts can be viewed on HazardHunter, an online application developed under GeoRiskPH and funded by DOST. It allows users to easily generate hazard assessment reports. The users can also see which areas are affected

by El Niño.

El Niño measures

AGAIN, like disasters, people can prepare for the effects of El Niño, such as water scarcity by conserving water.

“How do you conserve water?

By using a glass when you brush your teeth, use [a] pail when washing cars,” Solidum said, emphasizing all the possible ways to conserve water.

Pertaining to the Department of Agriculture’s advice, Solidum urged farmers to “replant right away” because the farms still have

water in them.

A s for El Niño’s ef fect on health, Solidum advised the public to keep oneself hydrated and rest under a shade so that the blood pressure levels would remain normal otherwise it could lead to heat stroke.

Handa Pilipinas 2024

THE DOST brought the “2024 Handa Pilipinas: Innovation in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management” (DRRM) Exposition to the House of Representatives so the lawmakers could craft enabling policies that will further improve the mitigation and response efforts to different natural hazards.

An exhibit was held from January 22 to 24 showcasing the various technologies for DRRM ready for adaptation as well as technical forums on the different issues related to the impact of typhoons,

earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and landslides in different areas of the country.

The Science chief said, “We want the policy-makers to see that there are many innovations within DOST.” “That’s why we brought it [exhibit] here for them to see the applicability of these technologies for their constituents, and maybe they can think of policies that they can formulate to hasten and accelerate the readiness of the local government units,” Solidum said in Filipino.

The Philippines, ranking first out of 193 countries most vulnerable to disaster risks, suffer from various and multiple disasters every year.

Filipinos become victims but Solidum affirms that they can become victors through science, technology and innovations.

“The technologies are there.

In fact, we’re one of the leading countries when it comes to innovation,” he said.

One technology that Solidum highlighted was PlanSmart Ready to Rebuild website application, funded by the World Bank, which he said “only the Philippines has in the world.”

HazardHunter, meanwhile, won the International Practice Award for 2023 for disaster risk reduction.

“We have those technologies, but now we need to make sure that local governments, private sector would be able to use them.

It’s one thing that the technology is there, it’s a different thing when it is used,” Solidum pointed out.

Are microplastics in ‘bangus’ dangerous?

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UT of the 383 extracted particles from 30 ‘bangus’ (milkfish) at selected sites in Mindanao, 235 were confirmed to have microplastics.

This was the result of the study funded by the Department of Science and Technology-National Research Council of the Philippines (DOST-NRCP), led by Dr. Rey Y. Capangpangan, an NRCP lead researcher.

The research found concentrations of microplastics in the fish, indicating the pervasiveness of plastic pollution in the aquatic environment in the country.

“W hile microplastics themselves may not be inherently toxic, their chemical nature allows them to attract and accumulate other toxic substances on their surfaces,” said Mareth Hope Banda, member of the research team.

“Microplastics have been shown to induce a sense of fullness in fish, potentially reducing their appetite and hindering their ability to consume sufficient nutrients for normal growth,” Banda added.

Dietary exposure to microplastics cannot be estimated. Because

KAYE M. SIMILATAN, research collaborator, examines the gastrointestinal tract of a ‘bangus’ sample. NRCP PHOTO

particle toxicity data of microplastics are not yet available, an estimation of the potential risks of microplastic particles in food is not yet possible, the researchers explained.

Thus, the impact of ingesting microplastics for humans has yet to be determined. Its toxicity depends on how much is consumed, though some particles are small enough to penetrate human tissue.

“The Filipino people, living in an archipelagic country and

relying on its fresh and marine water bodies, are at risk of ingesting microplastic-contaminated aquatic organisms. With this data, we can start to see the extent of microplastic pollution and start its mitigation,” Capangpangan pointed out.

He explained that it is not enough to count microplastics.

There’s a need to have a harmonized protocol about its toxicity threshold level to identify its effect on humans.

Capangpangan reaches out to

other researchers in the same field to collaborate and craft a standardized protocol regarding microplastics’ effect when ingested by humans.

In the data of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in 2020, milkfish production contributed 17.9 percent to total fisheries production and P43.5 billion to the GDP. T he same report says that of an average Filipino household ’s annua l f ish consump tion, about 10 percent of 36.8 kg is milkfish.

According to past studies, microplastics in fish may cause structural damage to their intestine, liver, gills, and brain, while affecting metabolic balance, behavior, and fertility.

The degree of these harmful effects depends on the particle sizes and doses, as well as the exposure parameters.

Capangpangan’s research is one of the ongoing projects of NRCP under Saganang Pagkain para sa Lahat program of the National Basic Research Agenda. Venus Abigail

D. Gutierrez/ S&T Media Service

UP chemists modify anticancer compound to improve safety, efficacy

A

NEW safer and more effective treatment for breast, colon and lung cancers may soon be in the horizon with the research being done by scientists from the University of the Philippines Diliman-College of Science (UPD-CS) in transforming the anticancer compound deguelin.

Deguelin was originally used as a pesticide and fish poison. The research is addressing concerns about the safety of administering it to humans as a cancer treatment, the scientists said.

Science Research Specialist John Alfon Francisco and Dr. Monissa Paderes of the UPD-CS Institute of Chemistry (UPD-CS IC) addressed these concerns by altering the structure of deguelin.

The altered versions exhibited

better qualities than the original compound, the scientists said.

Reduced adverse ef fects manifested during preliminary tests done on human cancer cell cultures.

This prompted Paderes and collaborators to conduct further research into the safety of the compounds, the researchers pointed out.

Some versions are also more effective against specific types of cancer.

“We were amused to find that some compounds have improved anticancer properties than its parent compound, deguelin, with some even surpassing the effectiveness of the commercially available anticancer drug doxorubicin,” Francisco said.

They cited that a version named 6a outperformed doxorubicin in treating colon cancer.

At the same time, versions 3a and 8e excelled in treating lung and breast cancer, respectively.

They pointed out that the modified versions offer a simpler and more cost-effective production than those developed in previous studies.

“The simplicity of the structures, as well as the straightforward synthesis of these compounds, add to the novelty of this study,” Paderes emphasized.

The researchers created the altered versions by shortening a part of deguelin known as the BCE ring, making the new versions more akin to the deoxybenzoin compound, recognized for

its antibacterial and antioxidant properties, they explained.

The researchers said that despite its huge commercial potential, the research is still in its early stages. The next phase involves testing the modified anticancer compounds on animal models.

If the compounds are proven effective on animals, it will move on to clinical trials, where it will be tested on humans with colon, lung, or breast cancer.

If proven successful, the Food and Drug Administration will review and approve the rollout of the compounds as cancer treatments.

“The goal would be to advance these compounds toward clinical trials and potential development as novel anticancer therapeutics,” Paderes said.

PEANUT display in the Peanut Fiesta exhibit area. REINIER ABAGAT, DOST-PCAARRD

Peanut Fiesta champions R&D results in Cagayan, Ilocos

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EANUT research and development (R&D) outputs were showcased in Cagayan through the Peanut Farms and Industry Encounters through the Science and Technology Agenda (Fiesta).

Themed, “May Money sa Mani: Revitalizing Peanut Industry through S&T Commercialization,” the Fiesta was held at the Cagayan State University-Carig Campus on January 24 and 25.

The event showcased peanut R&D outputs of the consortia in Cagayan Valley and the Ilocos Region to farmers, investors, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders.

“This FIESTA is an opportunity for our stakeholders to discuss challenges and explore sustainable solutions that can boost the peanut industry,” said Executive Director Reynaldo V. Ebora of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) in his keynote message delivered by Director Marita A. Carlos of the DOST-PCAARRD Applied Communication Division (ACD).

Ebora also discussed that through DOSTPCAARRD’s Industry Strategic S&T Program (ISP) for Legumes, the Council hopes to sustain the availability of quality seeds, reduce incidence of insect pests and diseases, and minimize postharvest losses.

He added that the program targets an increase in the national yield from 1.24 tons to 3.0 tons per hectare for the peanut industry.

Ebora also hopes that the Peanut Fiestawill

be able to inspire participation from local government units, investors, entrepreneurs, and policymakers and other stakeholders with the goal of achieving food security and further improving the peanut industry.

The highlight of the event was the technology forum for farmers where they were informed on the industr y situation; production technologies; as well as technology on postharvest and processing, including marketing.

Another highlight was the pitching of eight peanut technologies that are ready for commercialization to potential investors during the second day of the Fiesta.

Various peanut products and technologies were featured through an exhibit. Moreover, a Technology to People media conference, farmer’s forum, cookfest, and other pocket events featuring peanut are also lined up in the activities.

The Peanut Fiesta was led and organized by the Cagayan Valley Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development, and the Ilocos Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium.

Fiesta is an Intellectual Property Officeregistered technology promotion and commercialization platform initiated by DOST-PCAARRD. It aims to empower farmers and fisherfolk to improve on their livelihood as well as match technology generators to target adopters. Gian Carlo D. Camacho/S&T Media Services

A6 Sunday, January 28, 2024

Faith

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

Pope: Return to God’s Word rather than social media’s ‘violence of words’ T V

CBCP elects Bp. Rapadas as new BEC head

ATIC AN—Pope Francis has called Catholics to spend more time with the saving power of God’s Word as society and social media amplify “the violence of words.”

Speak ing of the “ immense power” that the Word of God can unleash in people’s lives, Pope Francis encouraged us to always “have the Gospel within easy reach.”

“While society and social media accentuate the violence of words, let us draw closer to and cultivate the quiet word of God that brings salvation, that is gentle, that does not make a loud noise and that enters into our hearts,” Pope Francis said.

The Word of God, he said, “does not leave us self-absorbed, but ex pands hear ts, changes courses, overturns habits, opens up new scenarios, and discloses unthought-of horizons.”

Pope Francis presided over Mass for the Sunday of the Word of God in St. Peter’s Basilica, where he conferred lay ministries on nine new catechists and two new lectors.

In his homily, the pope pointed to how history shows us the power of God’s Word in the lives of the saints.

“We think of the first monk, Saint Anthony, who, struck by a passage of the Gospel while at Mass, left everything for the Lord. We think of Saint Augustine, whose life took a decisive turn when God’s word brought healing to his heart,” Francis said.

“We think of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, who discovered her vocation by reading the letters of Saint Paul. And we think

POPE Francis presides over Mass for the Sunday of the Word of God in St. Peter’s Basilica on January 21. VATICAN MEDIA

too of the saint whose name I bear, Francis of Assisi, who, after praying, read in the Gospel that Jesus sent his disciples to preach and exclaimed: ‘That is what I want; that is what I ask, that is what I desire to do with all my heart!’ Their lives were changed by the word of life, by the word of the Lord.”

Pope Francis underlined that for the same thing to happen in each of our lives “we need to stop being ‘deaf ’ to God’s word” and to start spending time in prayer with sacred Scripture.

“We cannot do without God’s word and its quiet and unassuming power that, as if in a personal dialogue, touches the heart, impresses itself on the soul, and renews it with the peace of Jesus, which makes us, in turn, concerned for others,” the pope said.

“It calls us to set out with him for the sake of others. The word makes us missionar ies, God ’s messengers and witnesses to a world drowning in words, yet thirsting for the ver y word

it so often ignores. The Church lives from this dynamic: called

by Christ and drawn to him, she is sent into the world to bear witness to him,” he said.

During the Mass, Pope Francis conferred the ministries of lector and catechist upon eight women and three men from South Korea, Chad, Jamaica, Brazil, Bolivia, Germany, and Trinidad and Tobago.

The ministries themselves have also been shaped by Pope Francis in recent years. The pope changed Church law in January 2021 so that women could be formally instituted to the lay ministries of lector and acolyte.

Pope Francis established the ministry of catechist as an instituted, vocational service within the Catholic Church in May 2021.

The ministry is for lay people who have a particular call to serve the Catholic Church as a teacher of the faith.

The ministry lasts for the entirety of life, regardless of whether

the person is actively carrying out that activity during every part of his or her life.

In his homily, Francis asked people to think about whether they are making enough room for the Word of God in their lives.

“Amid so many books, magazines, televisions and telephones, where is the Bible?” he asked. “In my room, do I have the Gospel within easy reach? Do I read it daily in order to be faithful to my path in life?”

The pope encouraged people to always carry the Gospel with them, either on their phone or to physically carry a small pocketsized copy of the Gospels, adding: “If Christ is dearer to me than anything else, how can I leave him at home and not bring his word with me?”

Taking the time to read the Bible can help prevent us from the trap of “concentrating on our own thoughts and problems rather than on Christ and his word,” he said.

Pope Francis created the Sunday of the Word of God in 2019 on the 1,600th anniversary of the death of St. Jerome, who famously translated the Bible.

The Sunday of the Word of God is celebrated in the Church each year on the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time since 2020.

“The word of God unleashes the power of the Holy Spirit,” Pope Francis said.

“Christ’s word not only liberates us from the burdens we bear, past and present; it also makes us mature in truth and in charity. It enlivens the heart, challenges it, purifies it from hypocrisy, and fills it with hope,” he said. Courtney Mares/

Catholic News Agency via CBCP News

Vatican designates 1st minor basilica in N. Ecija

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OPE Francis has granted the title of minor basilica to the National Shrine of La Virgen Divina Pastora in the northern city of Gapan, the oldest church in the Diocese of Cabanatuan.

The pope elevated the shrine to what is now the 22nd minor basilica in the Philippines. It is also the first in the entire province of Nueva Ecija, which has two ecclesial territories, including the Diocese of San Jose.

“We rejoice heartily because this special blessing was granted to us while the diocese is celebrating its 60th anniversary of its foundation,” said Bishop Sofronio Bancud of Cabanatuan.

“A minor basilica is a church that has a particular bond with the pope and the church of Rome, and is considered as an exemplar in liturgical and pastoral action in the diocese,” Bancud said.

The celebration of the centu-

PHOTO from the National Shrine of La Virgen Divina Pastora

ries-old church’s new title will be held on April 26, with a Mass to be presided over by Archbishop Charles Brown, apostolic nuncio to the Philippines.

The event will coincide with the 60th anniversary of the canonical coronation of the image of La

Virgen Divina Pastora, and the 38th anniversary of the church’s declaration as a national shrine.

Bancud has directed the new basilica’s rector, Fr. Aldrin Domingo, to ensure that the faithful “are properly catechized and the church specially prepared for this

Camino de Santiago pilgrims hit high record in 2023

P

ILGRIMS walking the famous Camino de Santiago have reached a new record in 2023, reaching nearly half a million people from around the world who hiked this historic route.

According to the statistics released by the pilgrims office, 446,035 pilgrims arrived at the Spanish pilgrimage site.

Nearly 200,000 of the pilgrims were from Spain, primarily from the southern region of Andalucia.

In terms of foreigners, pilgrims from the United States ranked highest, with 32,063; followed by Italians, 28,64;5 and Germans, 24,342.

Other countries that ranked high included Portugal, France, the United

A MAN walks the Camino de Santiago in Spain. JORGE LUIS OJEDA FLOTA VIA UNSPLASH/CNA

Kingdom, Mexico, South Korea, Ireland, Australia, and Canada.

The major age groups represented were 18- to 45-year-olds, with 10,181 pilgrims, and there were 10,096 pilgrims between 45 and 65 years old. Women pilgrims also outnumbered males.

Despite the Camino being a traditional Catholic pilgrimage, 23.3 percent of those who walked the route completed it for nonreligious reasons.

The Camino de Santiago, also known as “The Way of St. James,” is a 1,000-year-old pilgrimage route through Spain, Portugal,

very important occasion.”

The shrine, known canonically as the Three Kings Parish, was founded by the Augustinians missionaries in 1595.

As of the 16th-century Augustinian chronicle, it is recorded that in the early 1700s, an Augustinian friar brought a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary from Spain to Gapan.

The friars named the titular “Virgen Divina Pastora” because the surroundings of Gapan was largely a grazing ground of different animals like carabao, sheep, cows, horses and many others.

They initiated the devotion to the Virgin Divina Pastora, which rapidly spread not only throughout Gapan but also in other areas outside the province.

“May La Virgen Divina Pastora continue to guide us and lead us to Jesus, the Good Shepherd,” Bancud said. CBCP News and part of southern France that leads to the Cathedral of Santiago located in the Archdiocese of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain.

The cathedral is traditionally held to be the burial place of St. James the Apostle.

After the discovery of the relics of St. James the Great in the ninth century, the Camino became a major pilgrimage site from the 10th century onward.

The Camino was declared one of the “three greatest pilgrimages of Christendom,” along with Jerusalem and the Via Francigena to Rome, in 1492 after the liberation of Granada under the reign of the Catholic monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile.

In 1987 it was declared the first Cultural Route of the Council of Europe. Francesca Pollio Fenton/Catholic News Agency via CBCP News

HE Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Wednesday elected Bishop Jose Rapadas of Iligan as its head in promoting small Christian communities in the country.

Rapadas succeeded Bishop Ronald Lunas of Pagadian as chairman of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC) after the latter’s passing early this month.

The commission coordinates the directions and thrusts of the BECs in keeping with the CBCP’s focus on “integral evangelization” and synodality at the various levels of the local Church.

The BECs in the Philippines celebrated its 50th year in 2019.

In 2021, the CBCP approved the elevation of what used to be its BEC “committee” to a “commission.”

At 51, Rapadas is one of the youngest bishops in the Philippine Church, serving the Iligan diocese as his first episcopal assignment since 2019.

The bishops also elected Archbishop Julius Tonel of Zamboanga as chairman of the CBCP Committee on Bishops’ Concern, which

BISHOP Jose Rapadas of Iligan, the new chairman of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Basic Ecclesial Communities. CBCP NEWS

attends to the personal concern of bishops.

The election was held during the bishops’ seminar in preparation for their plenary assembly scheduled on January 27 to 29 at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in Manila.

During the assembly’s opening Mass on Saturday, the members of the bishops’ Permanent Council and heads of different CBCP commissions, committees and offices who have been elected to serve from December 2023 to November 2025 were sworn into office. CBCP News

Airstrikes hit churches, temples and monasteries in Myanmar

B

ANGKOK—A study issued recently by researchers collecting evidence of war crimes in Myanmar supported reports that air strikes by the military government damaged churches in the Buddhist- dominated countr y ’s sole Christian-majority state.

The 10 reported attacks on churches in the western state of Chin examined by the researchers are part of a broader assault on religious communities across the war-torn nation, other religious and human rights workers said.

Myanmar sank into civil war after the army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. Since then, resistance fighters from the Buddhist Burman ethnic majority have joined forces with long-oppressed ethnic minorities, some with substantial Christian populations.

Human rights agencies and United Nations investigators have found evidence that security forces indiscriminately and disproportionately targeted civilians with bombs, mass executions of people detained during operations and large-scale burning of civilian houses.

According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, which tallies political arrests and attacks, at least 4,416 people have been killed by security forces since the 2021 takeover.

The report, compiled by the Myanmar Witness project of the United Kingdom-based Centre for Information Resilience, analyzed in depth five claims of airstrikes causing major physical damage to churches in Chin state over several months in 2023 and concluded that all five could be verified.

Religious buildings are accorded special protected status under international law.

At least 107 religious buildings— including 67 churches and five Buddhist monasteries—have been destroyed by the military since the 2021 takeover in Chin state alone, the Chin Human Rights Organization said.

A 2023 report by the International Commission of Jurists, covering the period through April, counted 94 major Buddhist religious sites and 87 Christian ones destroyed or damaged nationwide.

Myanmar Witness cross-checks evidence, such as photos, videos and witness accounts found on social media with satellite photo analysis and other methods to try to verify human rights abuses.

The ultimate aim, said project director Matt Lawrence, is “providing material to international mechanisms that can hold perpetrators of atrocities to account.”

The report did not address whether the strikes were deliberate, but wrote that the Myanmar Air Force’s “overwhelming air superiority” makes it likely that they were conducted by the government.

Many human rights activists believe that the military aims for religious buildings.

“Bombing churches is much more than just collateral damage,” wrote Benedict Rogers, former East Asia team leader for the human rights organization Christian

Solidarity Worldwide and author of three books on Myanmar, wrote in an email interview. “Targeting them is part of a deliberate strategy,” he said.

The military regime is intolerant of nonBurman ethnic and non-Buddhist religious minorities, he said.

In 2017, the military carried out a brutal counterinsurgency campaign in the western state of Rakhine that drove about 740,000 members of the Muslim Rohingya minority to flee to neighboring Bangladesh.

“By targeting churches and other places of worship, they are striking directly at the identity of these communities,” he said.

Crucially, churches and other places of worship are also suspected of sympathy with ethnic opposition groups, he added, even though they are much more commonly used as places of refuge for civilians seeking to shelter from fighting.

The military was not available for immediate comment on the report, but in the past has repeatedly said it attacks only legitimate targets of war, accusing the resistance forces of being terrorists.

Salai Mang Hre Lian of the Chin Human Rights Organization said that previous governments also discriminated against religious minorities, but “the attacks and direct violations and discrimination against Christian minorities are more significant and increasing” since the army’s 2021 takeover.

“Buddhist monasteries suspected of providing shelter or assistance to resistance groups have also been attacked,” he noted.

Attacks on religious buildings “send a powerful signal to all civilians that even in places protected by international humanitarian laws, if they support non-junta groups, they will be targets,” Lian said.

“Not only Christians, but all the religious minorities are being persecuted,” said Ngun Thawng Lian, a well-known Christian pastor who now lives in Australia.

His hometown of Thantlang was virtually leveled in September 2021, in some of the war’s most brutal early fighting.

With four Myanmar nationals, he filed a criminal complaint in the Philippines against the junta generals, under a 2009 Philippine law claiming universal jurisdiction.

More reports of attacks on churches were made by Christian humanitarian assistance group Free Burma Rangers, which runs missions bringing medical aid and evangelical activities to villagers in Kayah, also known as Karenni state, and elsewhere in eastern Myanmar.

“Since the coup, many churches have been bombed and destroyed in Chin state— not just Chin, but in Karen and Karenni,” said Dave Eubank, a former member of the US Special Forces who is the group’s founder and director.

“I can think of 10 that I’ve already seen in ruins or big holes in them, direct airstrikes,” Eubank said. One of the biggest churches in Demoso was hit in 2022, with helicopter gunships directly firing rockets and heavy machine guns into the church steeple.” Grant Peck Associated Press

Biodiversity Sunday BusinessMirror

Asean Champions of Biodiversity Media Category 2014

Sunday, January 28, 2024 A7

Editor: Lyn Resurreccion

Where have all the ‘tutubi’ gone?

THE Balinsasayao Lake in Negros Oriental has unpolluted water that is a perfect breeding ground for dragonflies.

“TUTUBI” (Dragonflies) PHOTOS COURTESY OF GREGG YAN

By Jonathan L. Mayuga

H

AVE you seen a tutubi (dragonfly) lately?

Dragonf lies were once all over the place—even in cities. Schoolchildren would then spend time catching them during school breaks.

But they are becoming scarce now, and you would be lucky to see one around.

Dragonflies and damselflies belong to Order Odonata of flying insects.

They are predatory insects found almost anywhere near wetlands or where there is water—ponds, lakes, rivers, streams, even on farms or grassy fields. They spend their juvenile life in the water and their adult life in the air and on land.

Unlike bees, they are harmless— no stinger—fun and challenging to catch. Filipinos have fond memories of these amazing insects in their youth.

Dragonflies everywhere POEMS were even written dedicated to catching dragonflies. Among the famous was: “Tutubi, tutubi, ‘wag ka papahuli sa batang salbahe [Dragonfly, dragonfly, don’t let a bad child catch you].”

Of course many children were guilty of catching this insect.

Take it from environmentalist Gregg Yan, who grew up in the ricerich province of Bulacan.

He remembers how, three decades ago, his hometown was abuzz with all sorts of insects, “including fleets of

tiny dragonflies.’

“There were two main types, delicate [and tiny] ‘tutubing karayom.’ or damselflies, and the more robust ‘tutubing kalabaw,’ or dragonflies,” Yan shared via Messenger on January 12.

“Zooming around, the tiny green or blue airplanes-like creatures enlivened fields, especially during [dry season]. Kids of all ages would catch them by sneaking from behind to seize them by their tails. Most were released after a few minutes of close observation,” he said.

A BusinessMirror editor shared his childhood delight that even in Manila’s grassy areas near canals, children’s eyes would glow when they were able to catch a tutubi with a drop of toothpaste (sneaked from their house) that was placed on an end of a rubber band tied to a tingting (a piece of broomstick).

MORE than their beauty and giving children the challenge of catching them, dragonflies play a very important role in the ecosystem.

They generally take a bite out of an area’s mosquito population—helping reduce dangerous vector-borne diseases like dengue, malaria and yellow fever, Yan said.

“However, the buzzing insects in turn are eaten by other animals like birds and bats, thus, helping keep the greater ecosystem stable,” he explained.

or damselfly these days. Where have these amazing creatures gone?

The reason could be the place is far from a wetland or aquatic ecosystem where they lay their eggs, play and hunt for food—other insects like flies, mosquitoes, bees, or anything they can catch with their legs.

Adult dragonflies have long and slender abdomen, two pairs of wings and three pairs of legs—perfect for hunting a prey.

These predatory insects fly faster than other insects. Because of their helicopter-like flight, they can hover above other insects, change the direction of their flight and catch their potential prey—whether they are above, below, in front or behind, or on both sides of them.

“When once ‘empty’ farms were eventually converted into subdivisions, when the continuous dumping of factory chemicals robbed local rivers of life, when [so much] pesticides were sprayed onto nearby ricefields— many fields would grew silent,” Yan explained.

Not to worry, he said the dragonflies are still around, but much farther away from the cities.

“Maybe one reason kids don’t go out as much now is because there’s much less for them to see. Some of the magic we experienced as kids during our time were simply gone. Perhaps if we take better care of the environment, our dragonflies would someday return,” Yan said.

Vanishing species

Vanishing habitats

BUT one could rarely see a dragonfly

ASKED for his expert assessment,

Important ecosystem function

What happens to the ocean if all the fish are taken out?

T

HE ocean is massive and covers most of the surface of our planet. In addition to its size, it’s packed with life, ranging from an astounding diversity of plants, microbes, worms, corals and crabs to squids, whales and, yes, fish.

The ocean is full of fish, so much so that they make up the second-largest amount of all carbon—the material that makes up living things—in the entire animal kingdom. They’re just behind the group containing insects and crustaceans.

Most people only interact with the ocean from a beach or in a boat, so it can be hard to wrap your head around how many fish there really are. But the ocean is swarming with them, from its surface to its depths.

These fish also come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, ranging from the tiny sardines, guppies and blennies that you might see on a coral reef to massive tunas and whale sharks that you might find out in the open ocean.

T hese f ish per for m a l l k inds of roles in their ecosystems that support the lives of other organisms around them. If they disappeared one day, the ocean would look very different.

I’m a scientist who studies fish, their diversity and all the ways they contribute to ocean environments.

Fish as food FISH play important roles as both pred-

ators and prey in ocean ecosystems.

Thousands of species throughout the ocean and terrestrial ecosystems rely on fish for food—including people.

In coral reef ecosystems, small fish are eaten by larger fish and other marine animals. This means the little fish form the base of the food web—they provide energy to the bigger fish and other creatures.

Outside of the water, many birds, mammals and reptiles eat fish and rely on them as an essential source of protein.

Even land plants can benefit from the presence of fish. On the western coast of the United States, salmon returning to small streams after spending several years at sea function as a conveyor belt of nutrients.

The salmon feed not only animals that catch them, like bears, but also the plants that border the streams.

Studies have shown that some plants get 70 percent of their nitrogen from salmon that die on or near the river banks.

Humans depend on fish as a food source. Fish and other seafood products are an important protein source for nearly 3 billion people. Human populations have been eating and following fish around the world for thousands of years.

Fish maintain habitats FISH are also more than just food.

As fish themselves forage for food,

they can create and maintain important habitats for other organisms.

In coral reef ecosystems, planteating fish control the growth of algae by constantly grazing it down.

Without the help of these herbivores, or plant-eating fish, the algae would rapidly grow and smother the coral, effectively killing it.

One type of herbivorous fish, the parrotfish, feeds directly on the corals. At first, this may seem bad for the corals, but the grazing done by parrotfish can actually increase a coral colony’s rate of growth.

And the poop—yes, the poop—from parrotfish has been shown to be particularly nutritious for corals. Parrotfish poop also forms part of the beautiful white sand beaches that you may have enjoyed on a family vacation.

Other fish create habitats for other animals and influence their environment by disturbing sand while they feed. By moving the sand around, they’re exposing tiny organisms hiding in the sand, which other animals can eat.

Despite the fact that many types of fish are confined to the ocean, their presence can be felt across many habitats. They can directly and indirectly affect the lives of the organisms that depend on them for food and shelter.

Without fish, Earth would gradually lose its beautiful white sand beaches, the coral reef ecosystems would be overgrown with algae, lots of people would run out of food to eat, and we would lose some of the planet’s most fascinating creatures. Kory Evansm,

Rice University/The Conversation (CC) via AP

entomologist Juancho B. Balatibat, told the BusinessMirror that the vanishing dragonflies and damselflies are an effect of what is happening to the environment.

“Let us look at the environment and life history of dragonflies Their immature [members] live in water.

Dragonflies live in ponds, rice fields, or any stagnant water. Damselflies live in f lowing water—rivers and streams,” he shared via phone interview on January 12.

What happened to these ecosystems have impacts on any living organisms that depend on them, including dragonflies and damselflies, said the associate professor at the University of the Philippines Los Baños College of Forestry and Natural Resources Department of Forest Biological Science, “What happened to our habitat? Either they are dried up, or because of industrial development, the waters are buried in the soil. In farms, because of pesticides and other chemicals, their habitats are polluted,” said Balatibat, currently the deputy director and head of the Makiling Botanic Gardens (MBG).

“Because of pollution and destruction of their habitat, their numbers have gone down. That is why in biodiversity assessments, dragonflies or damselflies are among the bio-indicators of aquatic habitat quality.,” he explained.

“If there are few of them, then there is something wrong with the aquatic habitat. Possibly, because the water is polluted, so immature dragonflies or damselflies don’t survive,” he added.

Water pollution; non-existent food source ALSO, water pollution kills these predatory insects’ preys.

“Without food, they [dragonflies] will not thrive,” he said.

“The presence of their prey contributes to what happens to them,” he said, recalling that when he was a young boy, he was “guilty” of catching one or two of these insects.

Even in the Makiling Botanic Garden, he noted that the population of the insects—the dragonflies and even butterflies—are decreasing.

“There are species of butterflies that are locally extinct because their larvae feed on particular leaves that no longer exist in the area. That’s why the butterflies or the adult of that larvae also became extinct,” he said.

Few studies; lack of funds ACCORDING to Balatibat, there are very few studies about dragonflies, damselflies, butterflies, and other insects, perhaps because of a lack of funds to support their studies.

Without funding for scientific studies, many researchers or scientists rely on logical explanation of what happened to these vanishing insects.

What is happening to these insects is not unique to the Philippines.

Regional trend?

A SE A N Cent re for Biod iversit y (ACB) Executive Director Theresa Mundita S. Lim said based on the global listing, there are more than 1,680 know n species of dragonf lies and damself lies in Southeast

Asia. Around 790 species of them are found in Indonesia. The Philippines lists around 300 species.

“More [Order] Odonata species are still being discovered, and a rare species unique to the island of Belitung in Indonesia was rediscovered by scientists in 2017 [Afaryisi, A.]. [However] currently, around 10 percent of the species found in Asean are considered threatened,” Lim explained.

According to Lim, most species are found in island ecosystems and are indicators of clean terrestrial and wetland areas. And the important role they play in the ecosystem cannot be overemphasized.

Biological control agents “THEY prey on other insects and, therefore, help control the proliferation of insects harmful to humans and plants, such as mosquitoes and gnats.

[They] would be good to have in your backyard,” she said.

According to Lim, dragonflies and damselflies can be easily ignored and their habitats can be affected by unabated development for human habitation, infrastructure, plantations, and mining.

She agreed that “more scientific surveys must be conducted to come up with good baseline information on our Odonata [species] in Southeast Asia so that we can better plan our development programs and projects.”

“Their continued presence in our economic development areas will indicate that we are indeed on our way toward a greener and bluer economy,” she said.

2 groups extend collaboration to protect, restore coral cover in Coral Triangle The ecosystems at the protected sites were observed to have a thriving presence of 155 fish species, up from 137 two years ago.

At the same time, endangered marine species, such as green sea turtles, whale sharks, three-spot seahorses, reef manta rays, and dugong have been sighted more frequently at the sites.

ARCOPORA corals recovering at Site 3 of the project, or the Sarangani Bay in southern Philippines. Forty-seven coral species have been recorded at the protected sites to date.

T

WO groups have extended their collaboration to protect and restore corals within 6,000 sq km of the ocean bed in Malaysia and the Philippines.

The renewed partnership of CMA CGM Group, a global player in sea, land, air and logistics solutions; and Endangered Species International (ESI), a non-profit organization, will be until November 2025.

The collaboration will continue the initial coral conservation and restoration set between July 2021 and July 2023 at three protected sites, namely: between Balabac Island (the Philippines) and Pulau Banggi (Malaysia), site 1; Negros in central Philippines, site 2; and Sarangani Bay in Mindanao in southern Philippines, site 3.

The sites are located within the Coral Triangle with over 85 percent of coral reefs facing multiple threats from illegal fishing practices, pollution and coastal development.

Taking into account the current state of corals, and in consultation with local communities, CMA CGM and ESI have agreed to further restore damaged coral ecosystem in the Coral Triangle.

Among the activities they have to under-

take are to assess the coral reef health and fish species at all protected sites; patrolling to prevent the destructive activities that may shatter coral colonies at site ; coral gardening at sites 2 and 3 to further breed coral growth; removing invasive species and plastics that threaten the coral reefs; and involving at least 5,000 children and coastal communities annually on reef and mangrove conservation.

Active coral gardening will continue across sites 2 and 3 to expand live coral coverage.

Since the beginning of CMA CGM and ESI’s partnership in 2021, it was observed that live coral coverage expanded to 50 percent.

They currently aim to reach 65 percent coral restoration by the end of 2025.

There were 2.5 hectares of coral reef cover restored following the transplantation of 710 coral fragments; as well as removal of invasive species such as crown-of-thorns, starfish and plastics from the protected sites.

22 coral species recovered; marine species increased to 155

AMONG the 22 coral species that were recovered, 15 were part of the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

Empowering 5,000 local children

HAVING mobilized locals in the Philippines to patrol against illegal fishing, seven destructive fishing attempts were stopped and reported in the last two years. The patrolling efforts succeeded as a deterrent with no illegal fishing activities reported since July 2022.

The CMA CGM-ESI partnership plans to have coral and mangrove-awareness sessions with at least 5,000 children from the coastal communities in the Philippines each year.

The outreach will emphasise on how corals are closely tied to their livelihoods so that they appreciate and practice coral protection for sustainable food, income and protection from storms.

CMA CGM Asia Pacific Ltd CEO Laurent Olmeta said, “CMA CGM’s collaboration with ESI has made exciting achievements in the Coral Triangle. In better ways, we shall advance our shared goals for sustainable coral reef ecosystems, with healthy reef serving as carbon sink and a richer marine life that fuels fisheries for food and income.”

For his part, ESI President Pierre Fidenci said: “Coral reefs provide a large fraction of Earth’s biodiversity, protecting and restoring them are essential for the future of human societies. Our continued partnership will sustain our hard work and conservation success for corals and ocean.”

Russians remain in limbo for Paris W

ITH just six months to go until the Paris Olympics, it’s still not clear if Russians will be competing and, if so, how many.

Russians are qualifying for Olympic spots as “neutral athletes” in combat events such as judo and wrestling, but not in some of the Games’ highest-profile events like track and field, swimming and gymnastics.

Russia is unhappy its competitors will compete without the national flag or anthem, and President Vladimir Putin said last month Russia was yet to decide whether to send athletes to the Paris Games, which start on July 26.

Ukrainian athletes are angered by what they see as some sports bodies bending the rules to allow Russians who support the war or have ties to the military to compete as “neutrals.”

If Russians compete in Paris, there will be tension, just like at the world fencing championships, an Olympic qualifier, when Ukrainian fencer Olga Kharlan refused to shake hands after beating Russian “neutral” Anna Smirnova.

Smirnova staged a sitdown protest until the Ukrainian was disqualified, but the International Olympic Committee (IOC) intervened and granted Kharlan a “unique exception” to compete at the Olympics.

Sports BusinessMirror

A8 | S

unday, January 28, 2024 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

HOW RUSSIANS CAN QUALIFY

THE IOC last year set up an “Individual Neutral Athlete” program for athletes from Russia and its military ally Belarus. They both were suspended from most Olympic sports a year earlier over the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The process is run by the sports federations which organize their own qualifying competitions. The IOC wants them to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes who are employed by the military or security services or who posted on social media supporting the war. The multitude of different rules across the Games’ 32 sports mean exact numbers of those with “neutral” status are hard to verify.

The IOC says six Russians and five Belarusians have already qualified for Paris. There are many more qualifying events to come.

The IOC will appoint “independent analysts” for its own vetting, spokesman Mark Adams said last week.

“You can have some confidence that those people who have qualified will have already been through one process and then will be going through a second process run by the IOC but using an independent organization,” Adams said.

Russian Olympic Committee president Stanislav Pozdnyakov

RUSSIAN competing as a neutral athlete Anna Smirnova remains seated after her bout with Ukraine’s Olga Kharlan in the women’s individual sabre round of 64 match at the World Fencing Championship in Milan, Italy, on July 27, 2023. AP

H

ALL of Famers Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova are calling on the women’s tennis tour to stay out of Saudi Arabia, saying that holding the WTA Finals there “would represent not progress, but significant regression.”

“There should be a healthy debate over whether ‘progress’ and ‘engagement’ is really possible,” the two star players, who were on-court rivals decades ago, wrote in an op-ed piece printed in The Washington Post on Thursday, “or whether staging a Saudi crown-jewel tournament would involve players in an act of sportswashing merely for the sake of a cash influx.”

Tennis has been consumed lately

FANS watch the match between Hirshabele and Jubaland at a stadium in Mogadishu Tuesday. AP

by the debate over whether the sport should follow golf and others in making deals with the wealthy kingdom, where rights groups say women continue to face discrimination in most aspects of family life and homosexuality is a major taboo, as it is in much of the rest of the Middle East.

“Taking a tournament there would represent a significant step backward, to the detriment not just of women’s sport, but women,” said Evert and Navratilova, who each won 18 Grand Slam singles titles. “We hope this changes someday, hopefully within the next five years. If so, we would endorse engagement there.”

Saudi Arabia began hosting the

The fragile central government is still struggling to assert itself after the nationwide chaos that began with the fall of dictator Siad Barre in 1991, when public facilities fell into neglect or were destroyed.

Now, the air crackles with anticipation as thousands pour into the stadium each afternoon. Crowds roar with the thrill of competition.

The Islamist extremist group al-Shabab, which has ties with al-Qaida, still launches attacks on hotels, government offices and other public places in the capital, including a devastating car bombing in October 2022 that killed at least 120.

But many Somalis are willing to brave the stadium, which has a heavy security presence.

“My praise be to God,” said Jubbaland player Mohamud Abdirahim, whose team beat Hirshabelle in a tense encounter on Tuesday that went to a penalty shootout. “This tournament, in which all of Somalia’s regions participate, is exceptionally special. It will become a part of our history.”

Hirshabelle fan Khadro Ali said she “felt as though we were emancipated.”

men’s tour’s Next Gen Association of Tennis Professionals Finals for top 21-and-under players in Jedda last year in a deal that runs through 2027.

Just this month, 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal announced that he would serve as an ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Federation, a role that involves plans for a Rafael Nadal Academy there.

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has been in talks to place its season-ending Finals in Saudi Arabia.

“We note the views of Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert as two legends of women’s tennis who have played a valued role in the development of our sport and the WTA. As we have

The Somali states of Jubbaland, South West, Galmudug, and Hirshabelle and the Banadir administrative region are participating in the competition.

Puntland is not participating, amid a political dispute with the central government, and Somaliland has long asserted an independence that has not been recognized internationally.

The stadium was badly damaged during the years of war. It was a base for Ethiopian troops between 2007 and 2009, and was then occupied by al-Shabab militants from 2009 to 2011. Most recently, between 2012 and 2018, the stadium was a base for African Union peacekeepers.

“When this stadium was used as a military camp, it was a source of agony and pain. However, you can now see how it has transformed and is destined to serve its original purpose, which is to play football,” said Ali Abdi Mohamed, president of the Somali Football Federation.

His sentiments were echoed by the Somali sports minister, Mohamed Barre, who said the stadium “has transformed into a place where people of similar interests can come together...and we want the world to see this.” AP

OGADISHU, Somalia—A stadium in Somalia’s violenceprone capital is hosting its first soccer tournament in three decades, drawing thousands of people to a facility that had been abandoned for years and later became a base for military—and even extremists— amid civil war.

Somali authorities have spent years working to restore the national stadium in Mogadishu, and on December 29 Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre inaugurated the national soccer tournament. The competition is a milestone in efforts to revive public life even as al-Qaida’s East Africa affiliate, based in Somalia, remains a threat.

Y

Koronadal kids vie in Singapore football tourney

OUNG footballers from Koronadal City are out to seize the biggest moment yet in their budding career as they see action in the JSSL 7’s 2024 Tournament set March 28 to 31 in Singapore.

Getting the rare opportunity to fly the country’s colors, 12 players comprise the Koronadal City Football Club (KCFC) that will vie against more than 400 teams from 17 nations in the 7-a-side

WHICH SPORTS ARE RUSSIANS COMPETING IN?

COMBAT sports were especially enthusiastic about bringing back Russian competitors. Judo, fencing, wrestling and taekwondo led the way in admitting “neutral athletes” in 2023 and Russians have regularly competed in their Olympic qualifying events.

Different Russian sports bodies have taken varying approaches to the “neutral athlete” system, and there hasn’t been a final decision from the government.

Putin expressed concern in December that the rules could leave too many of Russia’s top athletes “cut out” of the Games.

Influential gymnastics coach Valentina Rodionenko has told Russian media that Russia shouldn’t enter World Cups unless the criteria are relaxed. International Gymnastics Federation records show it’s granted “neutral” status to 30 people from Belarus including athletes, coaches and officials, but no Russians.

There are also no Russians expected to compete at the world swimming championships in Qatar next month, a key Olympic qualifier, though Belarus is set to send five swimmers.

The Russian governing bodies for gymnastics and swimming did not respond to a request for comment on whether any applications were filed for their athletes.

Russia has skipped Olympic weightlifting qualifiers in protest at a demand to sign a declaration which

Evert, Navratilova urge women’s tennis to stay out of Saudi Arabia

They’re playing soccer again in Somalia

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told state news agency RIA Novosti on Wednesday he expected “much stricter” conditions and suggested the extra vetting meant the IOC “doesn’t fully trust the international sports federations.”

competition considered as Asia’s largest youth tournament.

Marco Jaime Lorico, Ferlan Carl Mahusay, Skylar Eris Wagas, Holden Isaiah Dormitorio, Josef Adeien Tagolino, Harry Kenzo Ho and Zoie Kieffer Moreno are part of the crew to be handled by Ricardo Pusoc Jr. and team manager Edelyn Bayona in the under-11 category.

Completing the team are Chaz Dumanig, Eezekiel Cielo Luis Lecena, Chrisdom Lou Pelaez, Rainer Albert Suganob and John Daniel Capitan—excited to embrace the limelight in the international stage.

While playing in such a world class event that boasts top notch competition is already an

achievement, KCFC is looking to turn heads and compete in the best way possible to instill the winning culture among its young and aspiring players.

KCFC is proud owner of 18 titles in 21 tournaments so far.

MEMBERS of the Koronadal City Football Club pose for a team photo.

said before, we are currently working through a process to select a host venue for the WTA Finals. There has been no final decision at this time and we will continue to engage with players through the ongoing process,” the WTA said in a statement e-mailed to The Associated

includes a pledge “to abstain from expressing any support to the war.”

Belarus has competed in those events.

Track and field never lifted its ban on Russian athletes. The IOC is blocking Russia and Belarus from team sports such as soccer, basketball or volleyball because it argues their involvement should be in “individual” events only, not as part of squads representing the country. Tennis doubles or two-person rowing crews might be approved, though.

UKRAINE’S CONCERNS

ARE sports federations following the rules? Ukraine says no.

More than 200 Ukrainian athletes including top soccer player Mykhailo Mudryk and high jump world champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh signed an open letter to French President Emmanuel Macron this month alleging three Russians who qualified for the Olympics as “neutrals” expressed support for the war.

“Allowing athletes from aggressor countries, who openly support Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine, violates the fundamental ethical principles declared by the Olympic Charter,” the letter said.

Ukraine still opposes the IOC push for Russians to compete as neutrals but in July it dropped a policy that forced Ukrainian athletes to boycott events rather than compete against them.

Two Olympic gold medalists in taekwondo accused of posting on social media in support of the war were handed a “probation period” of three months by World Taekwondo but allowed to compete after that. United World Wrestling let three Olympic champions from Russia take part in its world championships because it judged they had been pressured into appearing at a pro-war rally in Moscow attended by Putin. AP Press by a tour spokesperson. “Our approach will be led by what is right for the long-term growth and development of women’s tennis along with the delivery of a world-class event for players and fans.”

Another Hall of Fame player, Billie Jean King, has said she supports the idea of trying to encourage change by heading to Saudi Arabia now.

“I’m a huge believer in engagement,” King, a founder of the WTA and an equal rights champion, said last year. “I don’t think you really change unless you engage.... How are we going to change things if we don’t engage?”

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has worked to get himself out of international isolation since the 2018 killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. He also clearly wants to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy and reduce its reliance on oil. AP MARTINA NAVRATILOVA (left) and Chris Evert are introduced at the 2010 US Open in New York. AP

Sy elected in world sambo body

S

YDNEY SY was elected as the first Filipino chairperson of the Athletes Commission of the International Sambo Federation (FIAS) during a recent meeting conducted online.

Sy, 24 and daughter of Pilipinas Sambo Federation Inc. president Paolo Tancontian, heads the fourmember commission which was created during the

international federation’s assembly last November in Yerevan, Armenia.

“Coming from a country that just recently started developing sambo, it’s my mission to represent the sport with dignity and passion,” said Sy, who succeeded sambo and judo legend, FrenchEnglish Laure Fournier, her mentor.

Sy won a gold medal at the 2022 Asian tournament and is a threetime world championships bronze medalist in the plus 80 kgs class.

As chairperson, Sy, a Science in Fitness and Sports Management graduate at the University of Santo Tomas, will sit in the International Sambo Federation (FIAS) Executive Committee.

Sy thanked the Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, the Philippine Sports Commission and FIAS for supporting the sport in the country. Josef Ramos

BusinessMirror

January 28, 2024

How (and where) to watch Oscar-nominated films online

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BusinessMirror JANUARY 28, 2024

YOUR MUSI

FREE FLOWING

Agos: Making waves in the OPM scene, one soulful note at a time.

I

By John Eiron R. Francisco

F you find yourself in the midst of a challenge, would you still push through? If you’re in a situation where you want to start anew, would you stick around or go with the flow of your experiences and surroundings?

It’s a scenario that mirrors the convergence of diverse origins, life experiences, and musical influences from five talented musicians who have united to create a tidal wave of success in their music career, introducing Agos.

Agos, a Filipino rock band hailing from Metro Manila, is composed of Jason Grospe on lead vocals and guitars, Rhoy Moring also on guitars, Star Sabroso on bass, Rob Valdez on keys/synth and backup vocals, and Kean Anonuevo on drums.

Their musical journey kick started amid a downpour in Makati, vividly recounted by Jason,

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Rock band Agos on evolving with the times

a founding member of the band. Having braved floodwaters in Washington to reach a gig venue, Jason, drenched but determined, found himself at a crossroads in his music career.

During that period, he remained affiliated with the show band, yet as he recognized the drawbacks of being in such a group, he aspired to begin on a fresh endeavor.

With that, after contending with a waterflood, he coined the name Agos (flow/current) from this adversity. Subsequently, he established his own band, using Agos as a potent symbol to navigate challenges and move forward resiliently.

For Jason, this period marked an unexpected opportunity for a fresh start, a chance to redefine his musical journey after the premature disbandment of his previous music band.

However, “during the years since the band was formed, we have been through line-up changes due to availability of some of the former members,” Jason told Soundstrip.

Despite encountering obstacles, the band is currently in a phase of regrouping after a hiatus last year due to the pandemic. Notably, Agos was among the featured Original Pilipino Music (OPM) bands at the Last Rakrakan Festival, a prominent music and arts event headlined by OPM icons Ely Buendia and Rico Blanco.

Confidently sharing their journey with Soundstrip, the band emphasized that their resurgence comes with a revitalized lineup and the promise of new and compelling music.

Positivity and hope

WHEN Soundstrip asked in regards to the band’s main highlight on their music releases, the band said that it is all about positivity, coping with life’s struggles, and offering reminders of hope.

Adding a unique chapter to their musical journey, Agos

recently performed at a BJMP (Bureau of Jail Management and Penology) facility in one of the municipalities in Rizal Province. This experience marked a significant departure from their usual venues that provided them with a fresh perspective on their impact beyond the stage.

“The experience was an eye-opener; it’s where you truly feel your humanity and freedom, not just as a musician,” Rob said.

He acknowledged that performing in such a setting allowed them to connect with the human experience on a deeper level that extended beyond the realm of music.

The band explained that their performance in a correctional facility showcases their dedication of using their music as a source of inspiration and hope in unconventional environments.

Evolution of Musical Style

AGOS shared the evolution of their music over time.

Originally, the band started as a metal band, however, Agos took a bold step into poppier melodies.

“We’ve been venturing for heavy music for a very long time. When we came up with the songs that are more poppy, we took the risk,” Jason said.

He acknowledged the potential criticism from fans of their earlier metal work. But he expressed the sentiment of taking risks and embracing change in their musical journey.

Fortunately, the gamble paid off, as the band noticed a positive response from the audience.

Star, another member of Agos, highlighted the improved reception from fans and the crowd. This shift towards a Pop Rock style seems to have contributed to the band’s musical evolution, creating a more diverse and dynamic sound.

Jason also hinted at the influence of their exposure to different music scenes. As they ventured into the Pop Rock genre, they tapped into the pop side of their musical spectrum, discovering shared tastes with

listeners who appreciate artists like Taylor Swift.

Navigating creative currents

MEANWHILE, the dynamics of creative collaboration within the band have taken a unique turn, with members navigating and embracing their diverse influences from the ’90s and ’20s.

This journey through creative differences has become the source of “magic” that resonates in their music, perfectly mirroring the essence of their band name, Agos.

“We try to make some music that’s relevant right now. Then we try to incorporate the sound that we had, which is more guitars, heavy guitars and venturing on the pop side,” Jason said.

The band has woven together the elements from different eras that create a unique sonic identity that bridges the gap between nostalgia and contemporary relevance.

For Agos, the creative disparities are not hurdles but rather the building blocks of a sound that transcends time, and embodying the spirit of their name —a continuous flow that weaves the past into the present.

Balancing Act

THROUGHOUT their music journey, Agos shared the challenges of pursuing a musical career as a full-time endeavor, particularly in the Philippines. They emphasized that it’s not an ideal path unless a band or musicians have already established themselves in the industry.

Despite their dedication to their musical journey, performing at various gigs and events, the members juggle corporate jobs in their day-to-day lives. Among them are a lifeline agent, virtual assistant, working student, and a public servant.

However, Agos openly admits the difficulties of striking a balance between their music career and personal lives.

Rob pointed out the inevitable challenges, stating, “Mahirap, kasi depende lang sa availability. Kapag hindi puwede ang isa, talagang cancelled.” [It’s challenging because it depends on availability. If one member isn’t available, it’s truly canceled] Meanwhile, Jason underscored the band’s commitment to prioritizing family over their musical pursuits. “We put family first over the band. Kasi symepre kung hindi okay ’yung family mo at home, ’yung pagdating sa studio or sa gig, hindi rin maganda ’yung magiging outcome,” he shared. [Because, of course, if your family life at home isn’t okay, the outcome won’t be good when you come to the studio or a gig] But despite the delicate balance between their passion for music and the demands of their professions, Agos is set to launch their second album, showcasing tunes crafted amid the pandemic. The upcoming musical releases are geared towards offering a source of solace and fostering resilience.

This comes after the release of Live and Loud 2021/2022 in 2022, with previous singles including Dilim (2021), Live the Life (2021), Beautiful Translation (2020), and Live the Life (2019), among others.

IC

soundstrip.businessmirror@gmail.com | JANUARY 28, 2024

3

BUSINESS

FRESH SOUNDS

for a brand new year DEBONAIR DISTRICT “Just Like Old Times”

BRYAN ESTEPA “That Was The Day”

THE temptation to reconnect with past romances is etched in this jazz inflected new track from Detonair District, a unique Manila-based jazz sextet that adapts various Filipino and foreign influences to the jazz idiom. By applying Filipino folk songs, kundiman pieces, traditional music, and OPM into their own compositions, the distinct contemporary jazz of Debonair District shines through. On their latest track “Just Like Old Times,” the group’s unique textural sound highlights the strong pull of sentiment and the idea of “what used to be.” Formed in June 2016, Debonair District is composed of alumni from the UP College of Music inspired by the common desire to explore and share different textures and techniques as they promote the country’s cultural identity.

NEO-FOLKIE Bryan Estepa’s cover of Daniel Wylie’s “That Was the Day,” sees him unperturbed by his loyalty to the emotional truth of the original that treads indie, folk, and ‘60s pop territories in one fell swoop. Estepa, however, approaches the song with a dirge-like reverence, slowing it down to an unsettlingly snail-like cadence which pronounces—but also relishes—the melancholy tucked in its bars.

“It’s a departure in the sense that it’s the first cover I’ll officially release as a single. But it’s an easy choice [because] I believe it’s one of the great indie love songs of the past 20 years, and [it’s] well within my songwriting sensibilities,” the Fil-Australian songwriter says. Estepa, after all, has an acoustic guitar-toting Everyman charm: his phrasing measured, his wailing plaintive, his musical gestures unshowy and unaffected.

ON her new single titled “Change,” The Ransom Collective’s Leah Halili reflects on the difficulties of navigating the recent events in her life. The introspective track serves as a love letter to the changes that one has to go through at some point in her adulthood, regardless of how drastic or trivial it may be. “Change” integrates dreamy, textured guitar lines with electronic elements, temporarily veering away from the stripped-down and folk vibe of Leah’s previous releases.

As Leah Halili puts it, people need to overcome challenges in order to adapt to certain situations and welcome a sense of renewal. “The song touches on the brevity of life and the richness of experiences,” the Filipino singer-songwriter said.

“It emphasizes the belief in enduring truths despite pain, focusing on the positive and hope that surround us.”

TURNPIKE “Breaking Your Peace”

GLOC-9 “Labandero”

HARDCORE punk band Turnpike kicks off the new year with an apocalyptic sonic bomb titled “Breaking Your Peace.” The Cebu band’s latest release picks up from where their previous releases left off. Still, the sound stays true to Turnpike’s newer and darker approach to their arrangements, easily falling into heavy metal territory while maintaining the quickened pace of a punk rock anthem.

Similarly, the words to the new song maintain a fascination with end-times from a biblical perspective.

“Man’s sloth, conformity, and convenience could be disguised in the form of peace,” describes vocalist and songwriter Bryle Tomilap. “Peace has thousands of interpretations, but it could, at times, be fatal.” Turnpike is set to perform their first live show in Metro Manila on February 17th for Unite Hardcore Fest 2024 at Milenya, Marikina City.

GLOC-9 starts 2024 strong with a new single “Labandero,” a powerful and resonant track that weaves a compelling narrative on life’s challenges and the unwavering spirit required to overcome them. The metaphor of separating whites and colors while doing the laundry serves as a poignant backdrop to taking care of oneself and embracing personal growth.

The song’s engaging rap verses encased in catchy hooks deliver a universal message of hope and determination, encouraging listeners to confront life’s difficulties head-on.

Overall, Gloc-9 masterfully depicts the process of washing, rinsing, and hanging clothes as a symbolic representation of facing challenges, dealing with them, and moving forward.

NICHIMI “Replay”

AN English-Tagalog song, Nachimi’s “Replay” is a sequel to his previous single, “Pause.” The R&B-infused new track is about going back in time to spend as much time as desired with the special someone, if had the power to do so. What’s not to like?

The pads and 808 will attract listeners of all stripes as the catchy chorus which has been inspired by Alamat’s “Say U Love Me,” Khalid’s “OTW,” and SHINee’s “Replay.”

Finding his own sound through neo soul, RnB, and rap has been beneficial to Nichimi in making memorable music for this generation. Nicholas Cioco, professionally known in the music industry as Nichimi, is a singer/songwriter, and producer from Cavite.

LEAH HALILI “Change”

How (and where) to watch Oscar-nominated films online The Associated Press

Wright is joined by a great supporting cast in Leslie Uggams, Erika Alexander, Issa Rae, Sterling K. Brown and Tracee Ellis Ross.

he winner in the Oscar nominations race after a bruising year for the film industry was “Oppenheimer” with 13 nods, followed by the otherworldly “Poor Things” with 11 and the period epic “Killers of the Flower Moon” with 10.

ANATOMY OF A FALL 5 nominations. Digital purchase or rental.

Justine Triet’s Anatomy of a Fall took the Palme d’Or at the 76th Cannes Film Festival.

It stars Sandra Hüller as a writer, Sandra, trying to prove her innocence in court in her husband’s death at their chalet in the French Alps. The verdict? We won’t tell. Did she or didn’t she? Triet wrote the film with her husband, Arthur Harari. “It’s OK, he’s alive,” she told The Associated Press’ Jake Coyle. Available for pay at iTunes, Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu, YouTube and elsewhere.

By Leanne Italie

T

Looking to catch up ahead of the Academy Awards on March 10? Here’s how to watch: OPPENHEIMER 13 nominations. Digital purchase or rental.

Christopher Nolan’s atomic opus Oppenheimer received widespread critical acclaim and broke box office records. It’s half the “Barbenheimer” phenom with Barbie from last July. The three-hour film, which is semi-trippy and flashback heavy, chronicles the trials and tribulations of the secret Manhattan Project’s J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy).

Available for pay at YouTube, Apple TV, Prime Video, Vudu, iTunes and Google Play and elsewhere.

POOR THINGS 11 nominations. In theaters.

Think Frankenstein story, and his bride.

Director Yorgos Lanthimos owes a debt to Emma Stone, his childlike and highly randy Bella, in Poor Things. The comedy is dark and the vibe Victorian fantasy. And did we mention the sex? How Bella handles that activity has been the talk of film circles.

No spoilers here but rest assured her consciousness is raised. Also stars Willem Dafoe and Mark Ruffalo.

This combination of images shows the stars of the “Barbenheimer” cinematic phenomenon: Margot Robbie in a scene from Barbie and Cillian Murphy in a scene from Oppenheimer. Both movies scored multiple nominations at this year’s Oscars. Warner Bros Pictures/Universal Pictures via AP KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON 10 nominations. Digital purchase. Streams on Apple TV+.

Martin Scorsese delves into the systematic killing of Osage Nation members for their oil-rich land in the 1920s in his drama Killers of the Flower Moon. With a star-bright cast, including Lily Gladstone, Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro. Warning: Its running time is 3 hours and 26 minutes. There’s craft in every shot. Available for pay at iTunes, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, Vudu and elsewhere.

BARBIE 8 nominations. Digital purchase or rental.

Streams on HBO Max. Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, in the billiondollar club at the box office, is a live-action musical comedy focused on the 64-year-old plastic doll in a range of iterations. It also took the globe by storm, culturally speaking.

The film stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling (as Just Ken). Robbie plays Stereotypical Barbie, who experiences an existential crisis but lands on the road to self-discovery. Avail-

able for pay at iTunes, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Vudu and elsewhere.

MAESTRO 7 nominations. Digital purchase or rental.

Streams on Netflix.

With the help of a prosthetic nose, Bradley Cooper brings Leonard Bernstein alive in Maestro, which he also directed. The famed conductor’s personal life and persona on stage benefit from Cooper’s energy, and chain smoking. Cooper got an assist from Carey Mulligan, who plays the actor Felicia Montealegre, Bernstein’s stylish wife. Available for pay at Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu, YouTube and elsewhere.

AMERICAN FICTION 5 nominations. In theaters.

Cord Jefferson’s directorial debut American Fiction is what satire should be: funny while succinctly pointing at truths. Jeffrey Wright plays a frustrated academic up against the wall of what Black books must be to sell. He takes action. The film is also about families and the weight of their struggles.

SOCIETY OF THE SNOW 2 nominations. Streams on Netflix.

The story of an amateur Uruguay rugby team’s 1972 plane crash in the Andes as they traveled with relatives and friends to Chile for a match has been told on film many times.

There were 45 on board. Sixteen survived after 72 days in the mountains. They faced biting cold, massive snowstorms, avalanches and starvation, the latter motivating them to eat the dead. In Society of the Snow, J.A. Bayona wanted to honor the tragedy’s victims and survivors, including him. It’s bleak indeed, with a spirit of love and camaraderie.

SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDERVERSE 1 nomination. Digital purchase or rental.

Streams on Netflix.

Welcome to an animated high-octane comic-book sequel that manages to work. In Spider Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Miles Morales (voiced by Shameik Moore) is a 15-yearold better able to deal with his crime-fighting powers. Spider-Gwen is voiced by Hailee Steinfeld. By sequel, we mean the first half of the first sequel to Spider Man: Into the SpiderVerse. There’s your cliffhanger alert. Available for pay at Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, Vudu and elsewhere.

Cover photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com

‘Barbie’ Oscars snubs prompt a backlash, even from Ken (and Hillary)

B

arbie was the biggest hit of 2023, the highest-grossing movie ever directed by a woman and a bona fide cultural sensation that turned movie theaters pink and left a still-going trail of think pieces in the wake of Greta Gerwig’s feminist fantasia.

But while Barbie received eight Academy Awards nominations on Tuesday, including best picture, it was easily bested by its unlikely double-feature partner at the box office, Oppenheimer.

And when the Academy Awards passed over Gerwig for best director and Mar-

got Robbie for best actress, many saw some of the same patriarchy parodied in Barbie at work.

Even Ken was furious.

“There is no Ken without Barbie, and there is no ‘Barbie’ movie without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, the two people most responsible for this history-making, globally celebrated film,” said Ryan Gosling, who played Ken in the movie. “No recognition would be possible for anyone on the film without their talent, grit and genius. To say that I’m disappointed that they are not nominated in their respective catego-

4 BusinessMirror

ries would be an understatement.”

By Wednesday, the backlash had already passed into the political realm.

Hillary Clinton, posting on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, wrote: “Greta & Margot, while it can sting to win the box office but not take home the gold, your millions of fans love you. You’re both so much more than Kenough. #HillaryBarbie” One likely factor for the snub: the increasingly international composition of the film academy. Partly to expand the diversity of Oscar voters, the academy is spread around the world more

January 28, 2024

than ever; ballots were filed from a record 93 countries this year. Potentially, that may have favored Europe-based filmmakers like Triet, Lanthimos and Glazer.

The academy could also point to another record: For the first time, three movies directed by women were nominated for best picture: Gerwig’s Barbie, Triet’s Anatomy of a Fall and Celine Song’s Past Lives.

Still, the end result—with the creative brains and star of the year’s mosttalked about movie left out—just felt wrong to many. AP

BusinessMirror

Sunday, January 28, 2024 C1

www.businessmirror.com.ph | Editor: Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

Saving food culture, slowly but surely

TAKWAY

ADOBO sa atsuete Text and Photos

by Roderick L. Abad

F

Contributor

OOD is culture.”

This statement from Eating City Director Maurizio Mariani is a testament that local ingredients and cuisines mirror the vast history, colorful tradition, and rich heritage of a certain nation.

If not preserved and fortified for future generations, this could lead to the loss of national identity.

“One of the keys [to preserving the food culture] is through food literacy among the youth, not only in the school canteen, but it must be curricular,” he told reporters dur ing t he Ter ra Madre Day celebration of Slow Food Manila held recently in Makati City.

Believing that they are the decision-makers of tomorrow, he emphasized that cultivating food learning and appreciation must start at an early age, “otherwise, our pupils w ill not live w ith the same quality of life of the generations before.”

Teach ’em young

AT Eating City, Mariani said they work at the policy level. For instance, he cited that in the framework of the European International Cooperation Project called Food Wave, they have defined the need for a city foodmaker, or someone with the skills of gastronomic chefs, producer, distributor, and

By RORY VISCO Contributor

H

UMAN beings, like every other form of life living on this planet, will eat and take in all important nutrients found in food for sustenance or survival. That has always been the norm.

However, over the years, eating has purely evolved. There are those who eat not just for the sake of consuming food but to savor gustatory delights and make eating both an act and an experience. They eat hoping to fill their bellies not just with nutrients but also create memories.

These days, food and art are slowly evolving, where eating has taken an art form just like music, poetry, or even painting, where all human senses work in full throttle, and that chefs nowadays aim more to give those who eat their culinary creations not just delicious food but also a savory experience for the senses.

Just recently, Blue Leaf Events Pavilion was the venue where top-notch culinary experts met with artistic masters in “Who’s

communication and marketing professionals who could work with the Mayor’s office of every city worldwide to create a food policy related to the reality of business.

Pa r t of t h is i n it i at ive is SchoolFood4Change, which is funded by the European Union with €12.5 million to develop food literacy among schoolchildren.

Such a project connects chefs to elementary pupils. In a kitchen set up in a school canteen, the former would go there once a month to teach the latter about a certain food or recipe with focus on its taste and nutritional value, as well as the food chain, including its historical, anthropological and labor aspects.

“I also explain to children that they have to give a look always at the label when they buy a food. If there are more than five ingredients, throw it. No need for this. This is an ultra-processed food,” said the Eating City director.

For him, two of the raw materials they should be wary of are sugar and salt. An excess of any has been causing all the lifestyle diseases that affect many people worldwide.

While before herbs and spices were widely used to flavor food, now these sweet and salty ingredients, plus other chemical-laced seasonings and preservatives, are mostly utilized. Proof of which are the highly in-demand processed and fast food products. Their rise could be attributed to the industrialization of the food chain starting in late 1970s up to early 1980s.

GARLIC-FRIED heirloom rice or tinawon

EATING City Director Maurizio Mariani (fourth from right) and Slow Food Manila Head Pacita “Chit” Juan (third from right) pose with other Slow Food advocates during their celebration of Terra Madre Day in Makati on December 10.

“We industrialized our food and we are losing our health. Processed food has scientifically been proven to kill us. Before, food is our medicine, but not anymore. It’s now causing diseases. It’s killing us,” Mariani noted.

T he advocate also pointed out a problem on the loss of loc a l produc t ion due to t he inst it ut iona l i zat ion of crops per area. He said: “Because we institutionalize the production of like tomatoes in one district, another one for potatoes, and carrots to the next, that reduces a lot of self-sufficiency for food of

a given county since everywhere it’s the same.”

Protect indigenous ingredients, preserve local taste

GUIDED by the same mission to revive the disappearance of local gastronomic traditions, global movement Slow Food continues to ensure that everyone has access to good, clean and fair food.

Per its Manifesto for Quality, the three tenets to consider when eating something are: “Good ” in terms of natural flavor and aroma; “Clean” for sustainable practices of far ming, anima l

BRINGHE

husbandry, processing, marketing and consumption; and “Fair” that stands for the pursuit of social justice via creation of respectful and rewarding labor conditions.

“People think food should be cheap. But it’s not,” Slow Food Manila Head Pacita “Chit” Juan said, while citing the existing supply chain is what makes it costly because goods are passed from the farmer or producer to the distributor who then delivers to consumers.

With this system, the middleman is the one gaining more due to logistics and other services offered in between. She said: “Most of the value of money that people now spend to buy food do not go to the farmers, but to logistics.”

A paradigm shift is needed to remedy the situation. Trading between the producer and customer is beneficial to both parties. The price will decrease to the advantage of the former; its value will go directly to the latter, per Juan.

“It’s really all about minding what you eat; know where your food comes from,” she said, while hoping for the consuming public’s realization of the importance of patronizing local produce or ingredients not only to themselves, but also to the community and environment as well. “That’s the reason why we prepared these [local cuisines] to showcase their ingredients that sometimes you don’t see anymore.”

The Slow Food champion was referring to takway, adobo sa atsuete,

Cooking and art—can it mix?

SMOKED tomato soup with pan con tomate

PACIFIC Ocean char-grilled marlin fillet with sesame soba noodles, ginger-garlic essence kailan leaves

PEAR and ricotta fagottini pasta with herb butter and light cream

Cook ing: A r tistic Appetites,” an event that transformed the ordinary act of dining into a vibrant, multisensory experience.

After the success in August of 2019 of W ho’s Cooking, a collaboration of 11 of Blue Leaf ’s partner caterers and 11 renowned chefs, this time, famous caterers

worked together with a diverse group of visual artists and created a custom-made menu.

Theeventwastrulyamesmerizing fusion of culinary prowess and artistic expression, the culmination of the hard work between artists of various disciplines, including a muralist, tattoo artist, sculptor,

artists include Juan Carlo, who worked with abstract artist Chico Cristobal, Bizu with tattoo artist Maan Simbajon, Tjioe and knitter Candy Reyes-Alipio, Passion Cooks and muralist Kara Pangilinan, Moment Catering with sculptor Mateo Cacnio, Hizon’s Catering and visual artist Anna Bautista,

and even a knitter, and caterers who drew inspiration from the artists’ unique personalities and senses that resulted in the crafting of dishes that went beyond the ordinary, and offered an exceptional blend of flavors and creativity to the delight of event attendees.

The participating caterers and

and bringhe, among other spread of local dishes and delicacies served potluck style during their Terra Madre Day event.

Joining other communities of the organization in around 160 countries, they celebrated food the slow kind by digging up old recipes, finding ingredients that may already have been forgotten, and cooking or simply eating what Mother Nature—the celebrant— still has to offer.

This intimate gathering also reminded the movement’s members of the flagship project Ark Of Taste (www.fondazioneslowfood. com), an international catalog of ingredients, flora and fauna, which may disappear due to the pressure of the industrial food system and the standardization of diets. Among the Philippine ingredients listed here are adlai, batuan, kadyos, native corn, and turmeric , among many others.

Slow Food’s presence in the countr y has helped increased consciousness about Philippine coffee beans Barako or Liberica and Benguet Arabica, as well as heirloom rice or tinawon. Its advocates work together to revive food tradition and culture, especially among the youth, like eating a chico, mabolo or kamias that’s used to be enjoyed in yesteryears.

“Slow Food Ma ni l a is our community. Because we don’t have farms here, what we do i s educ ate a nd promote t he preservation of food culture in Manila,” Juan stressed. and lastly K by Cunanan working w ith mu ltidisciplinar y ar tist Anina Rubio.

Some of t he ga st ronom ic delights were the warm and moist smoked potato soup with pan con tomate or a unique mix of grilled prawns sinigang salad. For the main course, the delectable dish of Pacific Ocean grilled blue marlin with sesame noodles, or the smoked duck mango on mantou bun were the real stars of the night.

For those who crave Italian, the pear and ricotta fagottini pasta and herb butter and light cream satisfied hungry food cravings.

Finally, capping off the night was t he Japa nese -inspired harajuko, a mi xed dessert of vanilla tart, yuru, matcha, and gold leaf; or even champoradong puti made of adlai, Auro white chocolate, dried mango, kasuy, a nd pat i s c a r a me l t h at ju st melted in the mouth.

T h e e v e nt ’s g a s t r o n o m i c master pieces from the seven unique collaborations will be exclusively available for The Blue Leaf clients in the first quarter of 2024.

BusinessMirror

C2 Sunday, January 28, 2024

By Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

C

H I N E SE Ne w Ye a r of f icia l ly star ts on February 10, 2024 and this ushers in the Year of the Wood Dragon.

In Chinese culture, the dragon is related to success, intelligence, and honor while wood dragons are full of energy and dream of changing the world. As such, 2024 is forecasted to br ing about opportunities, change and challenges.

To celebrate Chinese New Year, Filipinos usually go to Binondo in Manila to enjoy the dragon dances, fireworks and most especially the food. However, if you live down south and do not want to make the trip all the way to Binondo, you have another option this year.

K ingsford Hotel Manila, a cozy city hotel in the heart of Entertainment City in Parañaque, is bringing a unique food experience to the hotel with “A Taste of Chinatown: Kingsford Food Crawl.”

www.businessmirror.com.ph | Editor: Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

Experience Binondo’s famous food crawl at Kingsford Hotel Manila “Our chefs made their own versions of the Bahama Street Fried Siopao, Yuchengco Kikiam, Chicken Feet, Siomai, Tytana Kuchay Dumpling, Carvajal Fresh Lumpia, T. Alonzo Chicken Noodle and 707 Ongpin Yema Egg Tart,” related Nico Velasquez, group public relations manager, Megaworld Hotels, adding that those who attend the food crawl will get the chance to witness the making of Polland’s famous hopia.

If you come in early on February 10, you may have the opportunity to get an exclusive one-on-one Fortune Forecast reading from Master Joy Ang. Start your journey to A Taste of Chinatown: Kingsford Food Crawl for only P2,024 per person. Want to relax? Cap off your evening and Stay Lucky in a Deluxe Room with Breakfast, plus access to the Food Crawl for 2 at P8,788.

A Taste of Chinatown: Kingsford Food Crawl is happening on February 10, 2024, at 12:30 pm. Reserve your tickets now at bit.ly/KingsfordFoodCrawl or e-mail dine@kingsfordmanila. com for more information. For promotions and updates, follow the official Facebook Page https://www. facebook.com/kingsfordmanila.

Teaser invitation

GIGI Gaw, area director for sales and marketing of Megaworld Hotel and Resorts, explained that this Kingsford Food Crawl is meant to give clients a preview of the Binondo Food Crawl that is being offered by Hotel Lucky Chinatown. “ T h i s i s a tea ser a nd a n invitation to come visit Hotel Lucky Chinatown. Kingsford Hotel will help you whet your appetite for this food crawl,” Gaw said.

To help make the experience as authentic as possible, Kingsford enlisted Chinatown Museum’s resident historian Michael Ogalinola as the tour guide throughout the event. The journey starts on the 5th Floor as artifacts from Chinatown Museum set the tone for the tour.

There will be a display of the rich culture and history that Binondo has to offer. Cross the Prosperity Bridge and take memorable pictures at the photo wall inspired by street posters.

CHINESE New Year at Kingsford Hotel

Okada Manila reopens more expansive medley buffet

Ballroom tour

EMBARK on a trip to the Ballroom on a mini tour offering a piece of history and culture, as decorative stalls with dishes inspired by Binondo’s street food and restaurants welcome you.

DIMSUM dishes at Kingsford Manila’s Food Craw

Usher in the Year of the Wood Dragon with auspicious offerings at City of Dreams Manila

C

ITY of Dreams Manila rings in the Year of the Wood Dragon, considered as the luckiest sign in Chinese Zodiac. The integrated resort’s signature restaurants Crystal Dragon and Red Ginger showcase auspicious offerings to welcome the lunar year, making it a destination in this time of reunions and celebrations.

As the Year of the Wood Dragon comes once every 60 years, City of Dreams Manila is also set to hold special events observing the traditions of the occasion.

RED Ginger’s version of Nian Gao provides a sweet conclusion to festive Chinese New Year meal.

Crystal Dragon

ENJOY a prosperous meal at Crystal Dragon, City of Dreams Manila’s outlet specializing in Cantonese and regional Chinese specialties.

From January 25 to February 12, the restaurant highlights its Lunar New Year specialties from lunch to dinner including the signature Lunar Year Prosperity Abalone Yu Sheng.

A quintessential Chinese New Year celebratory fare, Crystal Dragon’s version of the symbolic yu sheng salad consists of sliced abalone, colorful julienned papaya, pomelo, carrots, radish, onion leeks, chopped peanuts, and deep-fried flour crisps drizzled with oil and sweet plum dressing.

The abalone symbolizes abundance, while the oil represents a wish for a smooth sailing year. The chopped peanuts and deep-fried flour crisps signify prosperity, and the sweet plum sauce denotes a sweet and harmonious family relationship. The green papaya carries the auspicious

FOR blessings and fortune, don’t miss out on partaking Crystal Dragon’s vibrant Yu Sheng Salad.

meaning of youthfulness, the radish for progression at a quick pace, the leeks for cleverness, and the pomelo and carrots for good luck.

Yu sheng is a uniquely Lunar New Year tradition that’s popular in Chinese communities in Southeast Asia, particularly in Malaysia and Singapore where heritage Chinese restaurants introduced it in the 1960s.

Other culinary delights offered in an a la carte menu for lunch and dinner this season augur harmony and good fortune: Sea Treasures Broth with sea cucumber, crab meat and crispy dried scallop; Slow-braised Pork Knuckle with 10-head abalone, conpoy (dried scallop) and sea cucumber; Steamed Star Grouper with aromatic coriander

and yellow chili paste; Slow-poached Yellow Skin Chicken (whole); Wok-fried Prawn in fragrant oat with pomelo fruit salad and roasted sesame dressing; and Wok-fried Fragrant Rice with Chinese liver sausage, lap cheong (Chinese sausage), and mushroom. For luck and togetherness, Crystal Dragon also offers Deep-fried Nian Gao (tikoy or sticky rice cake) with cheese.

A pineapple pastry caps the meal for guests dining on the eve of the occasion and on the day of Lunar New Year for good fortune.

Red Ginger

CITY of Dreams Manila’s Asian bar and bistro renders a Southeast Asian twist to yu sheng salad with its Prosperity Prawn and Pomelo Salad, featuring sustainable prawns, local pomelo, hydroponic-grown lettuce and Vietnamese Nước chấm dressing. As it is customary to eat fish for its symbolism of abundance

during this occasion, the restaurant also offers Deep-fried Whole Tilapia with calamansi, ginger and steamed bok choy. Crispy Orange Chicken with toasted sesame seeds, and Red Ginger’s rendition of the ubiquitous Nian Gao consisting of custard-filled glutinous rice cake and fish-shaped tikoy are also highlighted.

Red Ginger’s menu for the Lunar New Year is available from February 8 to 18 for lunch and dinner.

Other festivities

ACTIVITIES that bring good fortune and delight are lined up during the festive season, headlined by an eyedotting ceremony, and a lion and dragon dance on February 10, 5 pm, at the main casino entrance. Following Chinese mythology, the god of fortune is set to make appearances around the property to wish guests abundance and good luck.

From February 8 to 11 from 1 pm to 10 pm at The Shops at the Boulevard, a pop-up bazaar of jewelry and charms from Alfredulla and Charming Lady adds to the festivities, while tarot and palm readers hold court to help guests chart their destiny and find out what is in store for 2024.

For inquiries and reservations, call 8800-8080 or e-mail guestservices@ cod-manila.com. For more information, visit www.cityofdreamsmanila.com.

Explore more of City of Dreams Manila’s promotional offers, rewards, or instantly check Melco Club points with the new Melco Club App, available for free download on iOS and Android.

MEDLEY’S Cheese Room

M

EDLE Y Bu f fet, Ok ad a Manila’s renowned signature buffet restaurant, recently reopened its doors at its original location on the Upper Ground Floor of the Pearl Wing, offering an even more exciting dining experience.

The restaurant has undergone a magnificent transformation, now boasting a more expansive space and grander culinary offerings. Beyond the spacious dining area, Medley now features four private dining rooms t hat can accommod ate g roups of various sizes from eight to 12 persons, as well as two rooms that are good for 18 diners each or a total of 36 if combined—a perfect venue for family celebrations or an intimate corporate gathering. The new set-up

THE dessert area

is adorned with warm lighting from large floral-shaped chandeliers and elegant accents, harmonizing with the restaurant’s green and brown color palette.

A centerpiece of the newly reopened Medley is the Cheese Room, which showcases a well-curated selection of artisanal cheeses sourced from around the world. Aside from cheeses, there is an array of cold cut choices, as well as various nuts, fruits, and jams.

Dining at Medley is a gastronomic journey, featuring a wide range of local and international cuisines, and offering a world of flavors including classic dishes from Korea, Japan, China, and India. Guests will be spoilt for choices with a variety of diverse offerings from each culinary landmark.

Additionally, there is also a seafood station where chefs can cook guests’ selections based on their preferences; a pho and laksa section; meat carving and roasting stations; and a dessert station with a spread of delectable cakes, local delicacies, fruits, and ice cream. The buffet comes with free-flowing fruit juices, soda, beer, and wine, as well as post-meal coffee and tea. For an indulgent experience, unlimited lobsters are available on weekends as part of the bubbly lunch and dinner buffet.

For inquiries and reservations, please send an e-mail to RestaurantReservation@okadamanila.com or call 0917 813 6523.

BusinessMirror

Sunday, January 28, 2024 C3

www.businessmirror.com.ph | Editor: Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

Enjoying ramen at an online platform launch shared that during one of his golf sessions, he got to meet Take Masaki who introduced him to Yebisu Ramen. At that time, Masaki, together with Chef Kenji Komuro, had already opened two Yebisu branches. The first one was in Sta. Rosa, Laguna and the second one in Makati City. It was Suiza who convinced them to open a branch in Bacoor, Cavite which is managed by his daughter Ana. According to Masaki, Yebisu specializes in Kyushu cuisine which is famous for its tonkotsu ramen which uses a pork bone

KENJI KOMURO and Take Masaki, the men behind Yebisu Ramen

By Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

T

HE first event that I attended this year 2024 was the launch of Mo & Bear, an online platform that gives Filipinos access to high-quality pet care, home care, and lifestyle products. The owners of the platform envisioned Mo & Bear to be the go-to platform for quality products that also promote health, wellness and sustainability.

What caught my interest though was the venue of the launch. I am so used to attending events in Quezon City, Makati and in the bay area in Paranaque. For this event, I made my way to a Japanese eatery called Yebisu Ramen located along Daang Hari in Bacoor, where I live.

Yebisu R amen is a stone’s throw away from the MCX (Muntinlupa Cavite Expressway) exit and is quite easy to find. I was told though beforehand that it was like a food truck set up and that it was open air.

Luckily, the weather cooperated on that day and it was not that hot.

Another thing I was told to do before I went to the event was to preorder the dishes I would like to try at Yebisu. I was curious to find out what made the ramen at Yebisu different from the other ramen that I have tasted. So I ordered Yebisu Chashu and Age Gyoza or what turned out to be Fried Gyoza.

After the launch program, Bernard C. Suiza, President of Azius Ventures Corporation, the company behind Mo & Bear,

broth. The broth, according to Komuro, is cooked from scratch and is cooked for three days over a strong fire.

The broth is prepared every day at their branch in Sta. Rosa, Laguna which also serves as their commissary. When the soup has cooled down, it is packed and placed in the freezer. These frozen soup packs are then transported to their outlets.

“This is the reason why we prefer that our restaurants are outdoors because our customers will be able to appreciate the

SPICY DX Ramen

soup more. Besides, the ramen might get cold right away if eaten in an airconditioned room,” Komuro said.

The broth is what makes Yebisu’s ramen stand out from the other ramen places. It is thick, to the point of it being milky. But it’s the flavor that really makes you want to eat more. The next thing you know it, you’ll be ordering another bowl to satisfy your appetite.

Yebisu also ser ves rice meals like tonkatsu and chicken katsudon as well

GYOZA and Age Gyoza

as karaage and g yoza.

“We are looking for other possible locations like in Lipa, Batangas or some other site in Cavite. We cannot go beyond the south as yet because our commissary is in Sta. Rosa. We will consider going north once we are able to set up a commissary there,” Masaki said.

So far, both Masaki and Komuro enjoy doing business in the Philippines. Masaki added that he liked staying in the Philippines because Filipinos are friendly and always have a smile on their faces.

“The Japanese people are not like that at all. They are always so serious. Another thing I like about the Philippines is that they enjoy Japanese food, especially ramen. This is our way of giving Filipinos the chance to enjoy really authentic Japanese ramen,” Masaki said.

Yebisu Ramen is located in Adelantado Street, Makati City; Sta. Rosa, Laguna and at Verdana Homes Village Center, Daang Hari Road. For more information, you can visit their Facebook pages.

TONKATSU

Crunchy, tasty take centerstage in Jollibee’s All-New Crunchy Chicken Sandwich

By Rory Visco

Chicken Sandwich, it pays homage to its dear consumers who want a chicken patty that’s lovably crunchy on the outside yet lovingly tender on the inside, something they can eat at home, at the nearest Jollibee store, or just about anywhere.

A generous splashing of creamy dressing to the chicken patty that’s sandwiched between the all-time favorite Yum Buns certainly does the trick. This will most definitely make the Jollibee Crunchy Chicken Sandwich another must have in every family meal, whether at home while watching their best-loved movie or TV series, or as a snack while moving along and headed for

Contributor

W

HEN it comes to taste and aroma, whether it’s a burger, fried chicken, or just about anything in its “Langhap Sarap” fave items, trust Jollibee, the country’s favorite fast-food chain brand, to take it to a whole new level.

Case in point: Jollibee’s All-New Crunchy Chicken Sandwich, the fastfood behemoth’s latest blockbuster offering that’s sure to catch the attention and excite the taste buds of families around the country, leaving them wanting for more.

With the Jollibee Crunchy

that much-needed weekend break.

Why so? It’s because all the tasty ingredients are there, making every bite, from the very first up to the last one, and that it comes at a budget-friendly price, makes anyone genuinely enjoy a true “sarap in every bite” experience.

“We are very excited to finally launch this offering so that people can enjoy a tasty and crunchy c h ic k e n s a ndw ic h t h at w i l l satisfy their cravings at a budgetfriendly price,” explains Pam Reyes, Assistant Vice President of Jollibee during the media launch of this crunchy sandwich.

“With the All-New Jollibee

McDo launches new chicken wings as 2024 opening salvo

By Roderick L. Abad Contributor

M

CDONALD’S Philippines has marked the New Year with a bang by launching a limited-time offer under its core chicken product line complemented by an ice-cold fruity beverage that is expected to also gain a positive market response like its predecessors.

The NEW Spicy McWings that comes in four-pieces (solo) and 12-pieces (sharing) is now available n at ionw ide u nt i l Febr u a r y. It s zesty taste is best paired with the sweetness of Sprite X PeaChee Fruit Fizz and crispiness of McDonald’s World Famous Fries.

“So the combination of the sweet and spicy flavors of the McWings and the PeaChee Fruit Fizz is really designed for you to be craving for more,” McDonald’s Philippines Director of Marketing and Channels Katrina Lee-Chua said during their launch

MCDONALD’S Philippines Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Oliver Rabatan

event held recently in Taguig City.

To satisfy further the chicken cravings of customers, the fastfood giant offered a deal until January 18, with a free upgrade of the Sprite PeaChee Fruit Fizz with any medium meal that come with fries and a drink via dine-in, take-out, drive-thru and McDelivery.

MCDONALD’S Philippines Director of Marketing and Channels Katrina Lee-Chua

‘Overwhelming response’

EXCITED for their opening salvo this 2024, she told the BusinessMirror on the sidelines that they expect an “overwhelming response” from the market given the good feedback they have received so far from the social media.

With the resumption of the dine-in

set up following the reopening of the economy post-pandemic, the quickservice restaurant chain launched at most five new products last year that were all favorably patronized, according to McDonald’s Philippines Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Oliver Rabatan.

For instance, he cited that their

THE new Spicy McWings of McDonald’s

interim offerings Cheese Dunk, as well as the Matcha Oreo McFlurry and Strawberry Oreo McFlurry were both strongly in-demand to last only in 10 days. The latter, however, are still available in some outlets—thanks to partner-suppliers for constant stocks.

McCafé’s cereal milk drinks, on the other hand, ended only for 15 days.

C r u nc hy C h ic ken Sa ndw ic h, we’re raising the bar and setting a new standard for what a chicken sandwich should be in terms of taste and value. We’ve carefully crafted every element to ensure that ever y bite delivers that irresistible ‘sarap’ our customers will love,” she concluded.

So, sink your teeth into it and prepare to be mesmerized by Jollibee’s All-New Crunchy Chicken Sandwich, where every bite gives you a sandwich experience that will linger in your memory and will most like you crave for more as you savor all the “sarap” with every bite.

Visit the nearest Jollibee store today and see why the Crunchy Chicken Sandwich is poised to become the next most-loved-andadmired sandwich in town.

Meanwhile, the best-selling Twister Fries was reintroduced for quite a long time in anticipation of the customers’ excitement for its comeback.

Consistent with its culture of innovation, McDonald’s also made some small changes on its burger portfolio.

Rabatan shared: “That’s what we call the best burgers. The taste of Big Mac in the Philippines is the same to the taste of Big Mac all over the world.”

Their “biggest product investment to date”, he cited, is the Much Malaki, Much Juicier, and Much Crispier Chicken McDo that was introduced last November 2023 with box-office star Vice Ganda as the endorser.

“Thank you for patronizing these products,” Rabatan said in appreciation of their customers who have been instrumental in their recovery from the Covid-19 crisis as seen in their 123 percent sales growth in 2023 from 2019, per the previous disclosure of one of their top executives. “This is just the start of new offerings that you can expect for the rest of the year.

McDo is very much committed to giving fans like you high quality food, safe food and, of course, exciting food menu.”

BusinessMirror

C4 Sunday, January 28, 2024 Text and photos

by John Eiron R. Francisco

H

AVE you ever dreamed of having in real life a “Krabby Patty” burger made famous by the Spongebob movie? If so, now is your chance to experience the top-notch burger buns, crafted patties, cheese, and fresh vegetables of Elephant Grounds (EG), the renowned Hong Kong-based cafe concept that also showcases Asian comfort food.

“One of my biggest goals was to make a burger that looks like a Krabby Patty,” EG Executive Chef Gab Garcia told BusinessMirror.

Garcia related that everyone experienced growing up with SpongeBob, admiring the perfect burger, and harboring a desire to taste a Krabby Patty. As he entered EG with this aspiration, he incorporated these references into his cooking, stripped away the frills and returned to the roots of a classic all-American cheeseburger.

“It’s all about us translating our experiences towards the food and it’s as simple as a burger. But I’m really hoping people do appreciate the work we put into it,” he said.

According to Garcia, “everything in EG is intentional. Everything was thought of with the patty in mind.”

The meticulous approach to meat preparation is the essence of their EG cheeseburger. From the initial slash of the meat to the blast freezing process, every step is carefully curated to ensure maximum freshness and flavor.

The ground beef undergoes a process of being rock-hard frozen to a delicate thaw only moments before it hits the sizzling grill.

He emphasized the importance of controlling the entire process, where EG prides itself on grinding its meat in-house. This hands-on approach allows them to shape patties with precision and maintain a dedication to have burgers cooked to perfection— medium and juicy.

“That’s really the intention to do the burger and the only way to do that is to get them juicy where you get the flavors there,” Garcia said.

I f y o u ’r e w o n d e r i n g w h a t d isting uishes EG cheeseburger, Garcia emphasizes their refusal to compromise on simplicity. The freshly made patties are devoid of any embellishments—no onions, no garlic powder—just the pure essence of high-quality beef to shine through, as Garcia put it.

Burger buns

HE shared that his commitment to excellence extended beyond the meat.

With a background rooted in baking from Panaderia Paraguay, Garcia broke away from the popular brioche trend and instead aimed for a bun that stood as a robust yet neutral companion to the juicy meat.

“I made the buns into something that’s strong and pretty neutral: the

www.businessmirror.com.ph | Editor: Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

Elephant Grounds unveils Krabby Patty-Inspired Burger Americano Air

INDULGE in a sip of toasted rice milkshake for an authentic flavor experience, and goes perfectly well with the EG cheeseburger.

EXPERIENCE the charcoal cone paired with a scoop of cookies ‘n cream

ELEPHANT Grounds’ burger inspired by the “Krabby Patty” where every element is carefully crafted to enhance its uniqueness.

classic sesame bun,” he said, eschewing the potential pitfalls of crumbliness or excessive richness.

Beyond the bun, every element is a labor of love. Pickles, made in-house, not only serve as a side but contribute to the cooking process, cutting through the richness of the meat. Accompanied by crisp lettuce and a specially crafted “animal-style” sauce, the intention is clear: to enhance and not overpower, the star of the show, the patty.

Meanwhile, the intentional choice of A mer ican cheese, backed by scientific merit, adds a classic touch to the whole process. The process, however, wasn’t without its challenges, from internal debates about cheese

to countless tastings. Yet, the final result, a burger that pays homage to the iconic Krabby Patty.

Milkshakes

HOWEVER, it’s not complete without beverages, and EG also presents a diverse selection of milkshakes that provides a genuine taste experience of toasted rice, acai, and hazelnut.

“When I was making this, I had to keep in mind that we were pairing it with a burger,” Garcia said.

Understanding the importance of a refreshing contrast to the rich and greasy textures of a burger, Elephant Grounds intentionally steered away from the thick milkshake craze. The

THE newly introduced Americano Air at Elephant Grounds.

RELAX with a cup of coffee at Elephant Grounds, situated in Bonifacio Global City Taguig.

aim is to provide customers with a beverage that not only enhances the overall dining experience but also refreshes the palate, preventing the overwhelming heaviness that can accompany heartier meals.

As Garcia emphasized, the milkshake concept is not an afterthought but an integral part of the overall burger experience, “even the milkshake worked around the world, that’s how important this burger is to me personally.”

Ice cream

MEANWHILE, with their signature ice cream f lavors of cook ies ‘n cream, toasted rice, acai mi xed berry, hazelnut, and rocky road. EG

also offers their signature cones, including the original cone, red velvet and charcoal variations.

This allows customers to dine in and tailor their choices that create a little challenge in deciding the perfect combination of cone and ice cream. But, there’s no wasted decision once you’ve experienced each of them.

A notable aspect to appreciate about the EG’s ice cream is that you won’t experience sensitivity even when taking a bite.

Typically, people tend to lick ice cream to avoid the discomfort caused by biting it, but EG’s ice cream texture ensures that you won’t feel that sensitivity.

EG also introduced a new item to their menu called Americano Air, a velvety micro-aerated iced Americano.

This beverage goes above and beyond the ordinary by incorporating a special blend of butter that contributes to a distinct fusion of flavors, making it stand out.

The coffee-making process involves a careful steaming technique that lifts volatile compounds into a delightful head of foam. Much like the frothy cap on a well-poured beer, this technique not only enhances the aroma but also tempers the bitter and astringent notes leaving a smoother, and more palatable taste.

“We really liked it when we went to Hong Kong,” shared Garcia, emphasizing the inspiration drawn from international coffee culture. This admiration translated into a carefully crafted Americano Air, a beverage that has been offered discreetly to a select few as a sneak peek.

“But now that it’s coming out. I hope it becomes an entry level for people who are used to drinking coffee with milk,” he said.

He added that they also recognize that not everyone is ready to make the leap to black coffee, and the Americano Air serves as a middle ground that offers a flavorful compromise that eases the transition.

When asked about the future innovation, Gab said that Elephant Grounds is currently exploring various ideas, and while nothing specific is set in stone yet, EG is still in the ideation process.

However, EG management believes that their goal is to introduce something more universally enjoyed, perhaps along the lines of bar chow to complement drinks.

“The aim is to offer beverages that are easy to enjoy and pair well with food,” Garcia said.

T his year marked t he 10t h anniversary celebration of Elephant Grounds, boasting two branches—one located at Lower Ground, One Bonifacio High Street, BGC, and the other at Level 1, The Podium, Ortigas City.

The expanded menu is now accessible every day, operating from 8 am to 10 pm from Monday to Thursday and Sunday, and extending hours from 7 am to 11 pm on Friday to Saturday. For reservations on Mondays to Thursdays, you can contact 0999 887 1407 at BGC and 0999 886 1603 at The Podium. Stay updated by following EG on Instagram @elephantgroundsph and Facebook @elephantgroundsmanila.

Lanson Place Mall of Asia, Manila unveils 10 ways to enjoy the newly opened CYAN Modern Kitchen

C

YAN Modern Kitchen opened 2024 w it h a plet hora of f lavors. From Hong Kong inspired dishes, authentic, Indian cuisine, curated charcuterie boards, to an interactive grilling station, the innovative open kitchen is one to explore and enjoy when at Lanson Place Mall of Asia, Manila.

Led by Executive Chef Kristine Oro, C YA N Moder n K itchen promises to redefine the art of dining. The open kitchen holds a conte mp or a r y st r uc t u re a nd interior with its f loor-to-ceiling windows, designed to make diners enjoy the best ambiance, company, and views at Lanson Place.

Ma ke you r moment happen, discover these 10 ways to enjoy dining at CYAN Modern Kitchen:

1. Daily Breakfast, Lunch, and PreDinner Cocktail Buffet

C YA N Moder n K itc hen doesn’t just ser ve meals; it crafts daily experiences. Start your day with a sumptuous breakfast, savor a delightful lunch, and unwind with a pre-dinner cocktail buffet. Prices start at P1,500 net per person.

meats and seafood from the grilling station as skilled chefs prepare them to perfection hot of the grill, offering a feast for both the eyes and the palate.

selections. You can also schedule your private meetings and get-togethers for a stylish productive afternoon as a la carte menus are available.

6. Dark Chocolate Mousse / Matcha Påte å Choux

9. Filipino Selection and an All-Filipino Culinary Team

INDULGE your sweet tooth with exquisite desserts. The Dark Chocolate Mousse and Matcha Påte å Choux are divine creations that bring a charming conclusion to your dining experience.

7. Affogato for your Afternoon Coffee CYAN Modern Kitchen Reception

2. Oriental Dishes

BE transported to the bustling streets of Hong Kong with the aromatic Hong Kong style noodle soup. Experience an array of appetizing dishes with Japanese favorites with freshly made sushi, temaki, uramaki, and nigiri to name a few. Embracing the essence of Oriental cuisine, CYAN Modern Kitchen’s menu is a celebration diverse tastes, meticulous preparation, and a nod to culinary heritage.

CYAN Modern Kitchen Oriental Noodle Station

3. Specialty Oven-Baked Pizzas

THE homemade pizza presents selections exclusive to Cyan Modern Kitchen, articulated by the genius of their chefs crafted with the finest ingredients; each pizza is a culinary masterpiece, offering a perfect blend of crispness and delightful toppings.

4. Indian Buffet Selection

INDULGE in the rich tastes of CYAN Modern Kitchen’s Chicken Makhani in

the Indian buffet section. With menu that captures the essence of traditional Indian cuisine. We recommend also trying shrimp curry and original naan with chickpea curry.

5. Carving and Grilling Station

FOR an interactive dining experience, try out the Carving and Grilling station.

Choose from mouthwatering beef or Iamb, porchetta with homemade liver sauce, or have some house-marinated

ELEVATE your coffee experience with a fancy afternoon delight that combines the boldness of espresso with the sweetness of ice cream, promising a moment of pure indulgence. Get cup-full of happiness from the dessert section, our dedicated team will gladly prepare one for you.

8. Celebrate Your Moments with Friends and Family

Celebrate life’s special moments at Lanson Place. Cyan Modern Kitchen is perfect for intimate gatherings with friends and family with its spacious dining hall and quality buffet

CYAN Modern Kitchen takes pride in its roots, boasting an All-Filipino Culinary Team serving up a regular cycle of local Filipino dishes made available so there is something reminiscent to look forward to every day. Expect a culinary symphony that harmonizes local expertise with global flavors.

10. Manila Bay Sunset

AT the main dining hall, diners have front-row seats to the magnificent Mount Samat on a clear day and the sunset Manila Bay is best known for.

Meanwhile, its private room holds a view of the MOA Eye and has the best seats for the evening fireworks hosted

by SM by the Bay. Explore the CYAN Modern Kitchen today open from 6 am-11 pm daily.

Reserve your spot now through Lanson Place Mall of Asia, Manila’s website, or send an e-mail to Lb.-l. pmn@l.a.nso.n.p.l.a.ce.c.om.

Sunday, January 28, 2024 | Edited by Jose F. Lacaba

COVER STORY

BY PABLO A. TARIMAN

All

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Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) chair Jaime C. Laya at the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) press conference announcing the search for 2025 National Artists

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National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) chair Victorino Manalo

National Artist for Music Lucrecia Kasilag with the late Philippine High School for the Arts creative writing scholar Kerima Tariman

National Artist for Film Marilou Diaz-Abaya in Baguio with Cecile Licad and Pablo Tariman during an outreach concert

Standing ovation for Cecile Licad at Molo Church in Iloilo City in 2018. PHOTO FLOYD EVANGELISTA FLORES

A CCP tribute to Agnes Locsin as National Artist for Dance

National Artists for Film Ricky Lee with Nora Aunor and CCP board of trustees member Margie Moran Floirendo

BusinessMirror

Sunday, January 28, 2024 3

The Making of National Artists

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By Pablo A. Tariman

HAT do Lucio San Pedro, Lucrecia Kasilag, Fides Cuyugan-Asensio, Ramon Santos, Antonio Molina, Francisco Feliciano, Ernani Cuenco, and Ryan Cayabyab have in common?

They are all in the roster of the country’s revered National Artists for Music.

How about Bert Avellana, Lino Brocka, Ishmael Bernal, Marilou Diaz-Abaya, Gerry de Leon, Eddie Romero, Ricky Lee, and yes, Fernando Poe, Jr.?

They happen to be our National Artists for Film.

You’d remember the theater days of Rolando Tinio at the CCP and the Manila Metropolitan Theater and the great Daisy Avellana’s landmark acting in Nick Joaquin’s Portrait of the Filipino.

They are now immortalized as National Artists for Theater.

T here are Nationa l A r tists i n o t h e r f i e l d s — A r c h it e c t ure, Da nce, Visu a l A r ts, a nd Histor ic a l L iterat u re.

The most visible in dance are Alice Reyes, who re-staged her acclaimed Rama Hari, and Agnes Locsin, with the successful comeback of her acclaimed choreography, Encantada.

2025 SEARCH THERE is another search for National Artists in 2025, spearheaded by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

CCP Board of Trustees chair Jaime C. Laya noted that Filipino artists are being cheered not just on native shores but in Europe and the United States as well.

“We have heard of this phenomenal Filipino-Finnish conductor Tarmo Peltokoski, who is now a sensation world-wide at age 23, and this Filipino tenor, Arthur Espiritu, who is making waves in Europe, from Germany to Switzerland, Warsaw, and Bulgaria,” Laya said. “These are the kind of talents we should

look for. We cannot be very parochial, nominating artists in our own circle of friends. We are sure there are many Filipino artists worth nominating in various fields.”

Laya urged cultural workers to actively participate in nominating their choices for the 2025 search for National Artists in Music, Visual Arts, Dance, and Theater, adding that the nominees need not be famous for as long as they meet the criteria with solid documentation.

Laya spoke during the press conference, announcing the search for National Artists in various categories for the year 2025.

NCCA chair Victorino Manalo said the search for National Artists has always been taxing and rigorous.

“We get all kinds of feedback,” Manalo said. “We were told why this and that artist was never considered at all. Foremost of all, the artist’s credentials should be well-documented. After accepting all the nominations, a research group goes over the documents and checks the veracity of the curriculum vitae of the nominees for six months.

Another six months will be spent on deliberations on the nominees before the selected ones are announced. I assure you there will be more rigorous argumentations than petty arguments.”

NO NOMINATIONS

BY INDIVIDUALS THE NCCA and CCP pointed out that only a government or nongovernment cultural organization, as well as private foundations and councils, can nominate. “We no longer accept nominations by individuals,” Manalo said.

NCC A De put y E xec ut ive Director Marichu Tellano said National Artists get P200,000 upon proclamation and P50,000 monthly allowance, plus another P750,000 for medical needs.

“They also get a state funeral when they pass away,” she added.

A day after the NCCA presscon, netizens had a field day nominating their choices.

Award-winning author Ninotchka Rosca and screenwriter Gina Marissa Tagasa posted on Facebook that the late writer Lualhati Bautista should be considered for National Artist for Literature.

Netizen John Iremil Teodoro also suggested names from the Visayas in the field of literature—namely, Merlie Alunan, Leoncio P. Deriada, and Magdalena Jalandoni.

Music lovers from all over the country are one in saying that national recognition for pianist Cecile Licad is long overdue.

Vice-Mayor Nestor Alvarez of the Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija, said of Cecile: “She was national treasure since age ten and is one of the country’s greatest living artists, with solid credentials not just locally but on the international stage as well.

My town has honored her as adopted daughter of Munoz, Nueva Ecija, because of her exemplary status as world-class artist.

Very few can match her status as national and international celebrity in music.”

NATIONAL ARTISTS UP CLOSE BY fate, I was close to most of these national artists in various fields.

Along with soprano Evelyn Mandac (the first and the last Filipino soprano to sing at the Met), I had frequent dinner gettogethers with Rolando Tinio, who regaled us with funny stories of actors and singers in his theater and opera productions.

In the early 1980s, theatergoers at the CCP had the theater treat of their lives when Tinio’s Teatro Pilipino, in one of its theater seasons, staged a nude Romeo in the Pilipino version of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The students shrieked with laughter, prompting Tinio to

shout at his audience, “Ngayon lang ba kayo nakakita ng titi?” (Is this your first time to see a male sex organ?)

In the early 1990s, I invited National Artist for Music Lucrecia Kasilag as one of my outreach lecturers in Catanduanes.

In this island lecture, Dr. Kasilag talked about ethnic music instruments and called for volunteers to play chamber music with her. She wouldn’t stop until she had convinced her audience that music didn’t begin and end with Western composers.

I believe my last precious moments with “Tita King” (as I fondly called Dr. Kasilag) were at the launch of her autobiography, Lucrecia Roces Kasilag: My Story, when she was 79. By then, she was hard of hearing, nearly blind, and always on a wheelchair.

She pulled me aside with her book and signed it: “To dear Pablo, My Story is all yours to talk about. Love, Tita King—January 15, 2000.”

She passed away in 2008 at age 89.

National Artist for Film Ishmael Bernal was in and out of hospital before he died in 1996.

When a Kasalo (a street café) partner, the late Ed Manalo, learned that the film director was in the hospital, he reacted noncha lantly, know ing that wasn’t the first time Bernal was hospitalized.

“When he was admitted at the Heart Center one day in December some years back,” Manalo recalled, “he couldn’t stand staring at the ceiling of the hospital room. Bored, he fled the Heart Center room and proceeded to the Kasalo Café a block away, with the bottle of dextrose still attached to him.

So, when I heard he was hospitalized again, I imagined it wouldn’t be long when he’d bolt again and re-appear at Kasalo in the nick of time,” Manalo related.

As he lay dying, Bernal was worried about leaving his mother. He asked his nephew, Bayani Santos, to take his mother away from the room to spare her from the grief of seeing a dying son.

Then he asked someone to call his brothers and sisters.

The late director Marilou Diaz-Abaya also felt that Ishma

(as Ishmael Bernal was fondly called) walked out on her when he died. A few days before he died, they were supposed to go together to this Film Academy awards night. They had decided what to wear when Bernal begged off, saying he had a bad stomach and a bad backache.

The two had become soulmates when Bernal saw Abaya’s film Brutal and she got this congratulatory note from him. A few days after that note, Marilou was hanging out with husband Manolo in this sleazy beer joint at the corner of EDSA and P. Tuazon when the door opened and a silhouette appeared and a booming voice came: “Is there a Marilou Diaz-Abaya in this room?”

The lady director reluctantly raised her hand. He marched to her table and then sat down.

The next dialogue came even as she had yet to recover from that dramatic entrance.

“Now that we are friends, you might explain to me how it works that you and your husband work together on the set. Does that help the film? Where do you think this will lead? What is the course of your career and what is the relationship between your marriage and the film that you make?”

As Marilou admitted, Bernal was her severest critic and an intellectual sparring partner. He was a part of her film life and even her personal life.

Marilou remembered Bernal for many things.

Said she: “He demonstrated that the integrity of the artist is not compromisable and that it is not negotiable.”

Like it or not, the public and private lives of national artists would make for engrossing films and theater pieces. ( De a d l i ne fo r Na t io n a l Artist nominations is June 30, 2024. All inquiries and nominations should be submitted to: The Order of National Artist onaa@ncca.gov. ph Tel. 8-5272192 local 507 Office of the Executive Director National Commission for Culture and the Arts NCCA Building, 633 General Luna St re e t , In t ra m u ro s , 10 0 2 Manila.)