BusinessMirror July 22, 2023

TRAFFIC JAMS, LONG QUEUES, DELAYS: ARE WE THERE YET?

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

It has been a year since Bautista took office, coming out of the comforts of retirement to help the new government in addressing the transport woes of ordinary Filipinos.

He has been hands-on in tackling the issues in the sector, even going out to experience the daily struggles of an ordinary commuter.

“At the beginning of the new administration, I said the status quo in the transportation sector is unacceptable. We do not accept the traffic, the long queues, the flight delays. We have to change the status quo. That became our mission,” said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) chief.

During his first year, Bautista had to face transport strikes, power outages at the airports, issues on payments on service contracts, rail breakdowns, and even threats to the jobs of maritime workers abroad.

‘Sector with most activity’

THE first year of the new administration was all about enabling each sector to grow by providing the necessary infrastructure to end users, as well as implementing policies to streamline processes.

During this period, Bautista said the DOTr implemented several projects in the rail, road, maritime and aviation sectors, including breaking ground for several

projects as well as beefing up some modes of transportation.

He cited projects such as the North-South Commuter Railway, Metro Manila Subway, Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 7, and the Light Rail Transit (LRT) 1 Cavite Extension as examples.

He noted strides made in the implementation of the Bulacan Airport, the start of the rehabilitation of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), the privatization of at least 10 regional air hubs, the development of active transport infrastructure, and the strengthening of the maritime industry through international recognition.

These, according to Infrawatch Convener Terry Ridon, made the agency busy with work.

The transport sector has seen the most activity in the last year, with flagship infrastructure projects being planned as public-private partnerships, such as the Naia rehabilitation and the Edsa Busway,” Ridon said, adding other developments that Bautista already mentioned.

But, they’re not enough DESPITE these, Ridon believes that the current transport leadership is “weak” when it comes to resolving various controversies besetting the sector.

“The public is expecting a more vibrant and active top-level response to transportation concerns, as the DOTr is one of the government’s most public-facing agencies. It should have taken a more active role in exacting accountability from domestic carriers that have been found

to have violated the Air Passenger Bill of Rights and other related airline regulations,” Ridon said.

He also cited “lingering concerns on the fate of traditional jeepneys.”

Move As One Coalition Representative Hyacinth Benadana, a daughter of a long-time jeepney driver, agreed, saying that the public utility vehicle (PUV) sector has yet to see President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s promise of providing players a good life.

Our sector has always been in danger. Marcos campaigned for a good life for the PUV sector. We have yet to receive word on how the government will implement a just transition and there are no strong commitments on the things that the sector could hope for from the administration of Marcos,” she said.

L ast March, public utility jeepneys (PUJs) held a strike against the PUV Modernization Program (PUVMP), saying that its

provisions were anti-poor and will only favor large corporations.

Bautista promised to sit down with them to discuss how the industry could move forward.

“Marcos’s commitment was to make their lives easier, have a decent livelihood, but until now those promises have yet to be delivered,” Benadana said.

Active transport advocate group AltMobility representative Ira Cruz agreed, saying that even the Local Public Transport Route Plan, more commonly referred to as the Route Rationalization Plan, has yet to be concluded.

The DOTr has set a yearend goal of consolidating PUVs to enable them to gain access to financing through their cooperatives.

Continued on A2

TRANSPORTATION Secretary

Jaime Bautista understands that the industry’s current standards are simply unacceptable. And with decades worth of delays, neglect and poor planning, he has a lot of firming up to do.

TRANSPORTATION Secretary Jaime Bautista, Light Rail Manila Corporation President and CEO Juan Alfonso and Light Rail Transit Authority officials check on the progress of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension Phase 1 construction in this November 14, 2022, file photo. The project is targeted to be operational in the 4th quarter of 2024. NONIE REYES

Whether it’s land, sea or air, the transportation sector remains among the most problematic, barely a year after. But the hardworking DOTr chief isn’t shirking the challenge.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista: “The status quo in the transportation sector is unacceptable. We do not accept the traffic, the long queues, the flight delays. We have to change the status quo.”

Xi’s private-sector propaganda push runs into wall of skepticism

By Bloomberg News

The Communist Party and the government issued a rare joint statement late Wednesday, with 31 measures to improve conditions for businesses, including pledges to treat private companies the same as state-owned enterprises and to consult more with entrepreneurs before drafting policies.

W hile the move by President Xi Jinping’s government won backing from Tencent Holdings Ltd.’s billionaire co-founder Pony Ma and other Chinese businesses, it was greeted with skepticism by Chinese markets looking for more concrete measures to revive sentiment. With Beijing’s official growth target of around 5 percent now at risk, urgent stimulus measures are high on investors’ wish lists.

It’s more of a principal framework, investors are hoping for more specific stimulus measures such as loosening in property policies and more fiscal spending,” said Alan Li, chief investment officer at Atta Capital Ltd. Any lift to financial markets from Beijing’s signals will likely be short-lived, he said.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Tech Index—which includes heavyweights like Alibaba Group Holding

Ltd. and Tencent—traded about 0.3 percent lower around midday, erasing earlier gains of as much as 1.7 percent. A gauge of Chinese stocks traded in Hong Kong pared earlier advances of as much as 1.7 percent to trade at 0.4 percent just before midday.

Businesses have been bruised by years of tight coronavirus restrictions, which ended suddenly in December, as well as unpredictable regulations in sectors like technology and education. While Beijing appears ready to lift at least some of the plethora of privatesector restrictions, it will be hard to repair investor confidence and recoup corporate losses.

Once-dominant private sector champions like Ant and Alibaba have shrunk drastically after years of constant scrutiny and business curbs, with Alibaba itself preparing to break into six separate units.

The almost two-year crackdown on tech firms appears to now be at a close, with Beijing imposing fines of over $1 billion on Ant and Tencent this month. Underscoring the sector’s wish to move on from its crisis, Tencent’s Ma penned a rare opinion article in state media

late on Wednesday echoing Beijing’s statements on the importance of the private sector.

Other Chinese business executives, like Li Shufu, the billionaire founder of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., and Zong Qinghou, the chairman of leading beverage company Hanzhou Wahaha Group Co., also backed Beijing’s pledges.

The public pledges of support from billionaires on Thursday belie the extent to which most entrepreneurs have retreated from

the day-to-day running of their empires and shied away from pursuing growth, fearful of drawing Beijing’s gaze.

Li Xuetong, a fund manager at Shenzhen Enjoy Equity Investment Fund Management Co., said while Beijing’s signals should ease fears that the government was becoming more tolerant to slower economic growth, the move is unlikely to result in a quick rebound in prospects.

“ This is just one step in an accumulation of factors to turn around expectations for the business environment,” said Li. “It isn’t realistic for one document to be a game changer.”

Weakening growth

CHINA’S weakening economic recovery this year has sent a chill through global markets, with Beijing’s limited steps so far—ranging from lower interest rates, easier access to credit and a series of measures to kickstart the moribund housing market—doing little to bolster growth.

Businesses are still waiting for signals from Xi’s new economic team that the policy environment will be more transparent and predictable. While Xi has repeatedly insisted that economic development is the Communist Party’s “top priority,” his government has clearly made protecting national security a central focus.

Beijing’s recent clampdown on business consultancies like Bain & Company caused unease in global markets, around the same time that the government made revisions to a broadly worded antiespionage law. Since then, though, officials have had a series of meetings with high-profile executives to repair the damage to business sentiment.

While removing existing business obstacles would be beneficial to business confidence, taking concrete measures to stimulate consumer confidence and establish a clearer regulatory framework would be even more critical,” said Maximilian Butek, chief representative at the Delegation of German

Industry & Commerce in Shanghai.

“Ultimately, restoring trust in a predictable business environment hinges on concrete actions rather than words.”

Business challenges

PRIVATE firms still face a number of challenges, including higher financing costs and lack of access to bank loans compared with stateowned counterparts. Many are also constrained because of unpaid bills from supplying services and products to government-related entities, as local authorities’ finances deteriorated.

A number of economists have called on the government to adopt more demand-side stimulus measures, including handing out consumption vouchers or cash subsidies to residents—something officials have been reluctant to do. Instead, Beijing has offered a vague guideline to boost consumption of home appliances and furniture, and extended a tax break for new energy vehicles purchases through 2027.

The demand-side support, especially how to raise household expectation, as well as stabilize a job market outlook, that’s also very key to restore confidence in household sector,” Betty Wang, a senior economist at Australia & New Zealand Banking Group, said in an interview on Bloomberg TV. “The latest data released shows a very clear weakness in the private and household sector.”

The government will boost support for private companies in share listings, bond sales and overseas expansion, according to the official statement Wednesday. It will also continue to cut market entry barriers for private firms and help resolve unpaid bills owed to smaller businesses.

“ It won’t turn sentiment around overnight, but private entrepreneurs do take these signals seriously, so this and similar statements from top leaders make a difference,” said Gabriel Wildau, managing director at advisory firm Teneo Holdings LLC in New York. “A similar statement directly from Xi would have an even greater impact.”

Traffic jams, long queues, delays: Are we there yet?

Cruz also said that the active transport sector, despite being championed by the transport agency, has yet to see any “significant developments” and is even facing a “threat of regression.”

“Since Bautista took office, we have actually yet to see a holistic plan as to where he wants to bring the DOTr,” Cruz said.

Honeymoon period is done CRUZ thinks the agency ought to conduct a review and create a masterplan for a true “transportation system,” one that he describes through the journey of a regular commuter.

“ What we’re missing is a transportation system, an environment where all the modes of transportation are carefully coordinated with each other. This is not rocket science, all the government needs to do is imagine the journey of the commuter when they step out of their homes,” he said.

For instance, a commuter going to work may take his bike, a tricycle, or a jeepney to reach the nearest train or bus station. He may then walk leisurely to his office through pedestrian-friendly walkways and sidewalks.

However, this is not the case for the Philippines, yet, Cruz said.

“ That’s what we’re missing. They’re building all of these things in silos,” he lamented.

Cruz noted that the government has to be reminded that the majority of Filipinos do not own a vehicle.

“ We have to balance it out. After years of prioritizing private vehicles, we have years of catching

up to do for public transportation so that it will be more responsive to the needs of Filipinos,” he said.

He urged authorities to take action, especially for the short term, as other mass transportation projects like railways take a decade to complete.

“The kid gloves are off. We are way past the honeymoon period of the Marcos administration. The period to say that they inherited a problematic sector is over,” Cruz said.

Whole of government

MEANWHILE , to be fair, it is not only DOTr that should be accountable for the transport projects of the government, according to Cruz.

“ The DOTr isn’t the only national government agency that is in charge of the delivery of these things. The reality is that they need to work with other agencies like the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and even the local government units. There’s much to be desired in terms of coordinating all of these bodies,” he said.

Cruz added: “Marcos would always say that it should be a wholeof-government approach and yet we’re not seeing a whole-of-government approach in tackling transport issues.”

Benadana agreed, lamenting that some agencies even hinder developments in the sector, citing the MMDA’s policy against bikes. We have to capacitate the offices that implement. But if there’s no political will to make things happen, it’s hard to see it to fruition,” she said.

Cruz noted that once govern-

ment offices stopped working in silos, then the administration can “create solutions that make sense.”

These solutions, Benadana noted, should be measured by how much they have benefited ordinary commuters. “ There has to be a direct effect on the lives of commuters—better commutes. There has to be performance metrics in measuring the improvement in the lives of commuters,” she said.

Priority areas

BAUTISTA acknowledged that there is much to be done to help provide Filipinos a better transport industry, especially since funding is a main issue for the government.

The transport infrastructure projects require huge funding. We sought financing through publicprivate partnerships, private investors, international financial institutions and foreign governments. We also want to modernize existing and future projects. For this, we collaborated with other agencies such as the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the Department of Science and Technology, among many others,” he said.

Bautista noted that the DOTr will continue to put premium on the privatization of the Naia, the partial opening of the LRT 1 Cavite Extension, and the full construction of the subway and the NSCR this year.

Priority shall also be given to the construction of at least 500 kilometers of bike lanes in urban centers and the continued implementation of the PUVMP.

CHINA’S latest pledges to rebuild a shattered private sector fell flat with investors, underscoring the damage two years of crackdowns and pandemic controls have had on confidence in the world’s second-largest economy.

CHINESE President Xi Jinping attends a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Tuesday, July 18, 2023. AP/NG HAN GUAN

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. urged the National Security Council (NSC) and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) on Friday to continue to protect the country against “national security threats,” which now include cyber attacks and climate change.

D uring the joint anniversary celebration of the NSC and the NICA at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Marcos added cyber attacks and climate change to the list of threats the country faces, which includes issues on territorial integrity and sovereignty; terrorism and local communist insurgency.

Also worrisome, he said, are global developments and shifts,” which can affect the country.

L eft unchecked, these threats, the President said cause public disorder and even chaos.

climate

H e urged NSC and NICA to continue addressing the said security concerns to ensure the country’s economic and social transformation.

We know that you are the silent guardians who protect us against all manner of national threats, the steadfast vanguards who keep our enemies at bay, and the faithful watchers ensuring that we do not veer to disorder and to chaos,” Marcos said.

E stablished by virtue of Executive Order No. 330 on July 1, 1950, the NSC is the principal advisory body on the proper coordination and integration of plans and policies affecting national security.

Meanwhile, NICA, which was created on July 1, 1949 through Executive Order No. 235, is the central coordinating agency in charge of integrating government activities related to national intelligence.

Samuel P. Medenilla

Sokor National Assembly Speaker Kim to visit PHL on July 23 and 25

SPEAKER Kim Jin-pyo of The National Assembly of The Republic of Korea is officially visiting the Philippines from July 23 to July 25.

On July 24, he will go to the Libingan ng mga Bayani for a wreath-laying ceremony at the Korean Memorial Pylon. On the same day, he is meeting with House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.

On July 25, he will be visiting Samsung Electro-mechanic Phils. Corp. located in Laguna, to be followed by a meeting with Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Speaker Kim and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez previously met last June 1 at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations

‘Vote of confidence’: Romualdez cites surge in investment pledges under Marcos admin

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

Secretary Alfredo Pascual, who said, “the Philippines is poised to become Asia’s premier investment destination.”

However, Romualdez said it is incumbent upon the government to capitalize on this positive momentum to ensure that these pledges translate to actual investments and ultimately provide tangible benefits to the Filipino people.

“We must continue to work hand-in-hand with the private sector to create an enabling environment that fosters job creation, economic diversification, and innovation,” Romualdez said.

efforts between the legislative and executive branches that we can solidify the Philippines’ position as a preferred investment destination in the region,” he said. According to the BOI report, the 155 projects involved in the investment pledges were also 43 percent more compared to the 106 recorded in January-June 2022. It added that a total of 29,965 jobs will be generated if all pledges materialize, 96 percent higher year-on-year.

(Asean)-Korea Leaders’ Forum held in Jeju Island, South Korea. Through this visit, Speaker Kim aims to expand economic cooperation with the Philippines in various fields such as energy, infrastructure, and defense industry.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez issued the statement after reports showed that investment approvals more than tripled in the first semester buoyed by pledges from abroad.

At P698 billion, the planned investments were 203 percent higher than the year-earlier P230 billion, according to the Board of Investments.

“It is a clear vote of confidence in the Philippine economy’s potential and prospects and affirms the soundness of the economic and fiscal policies of President

Bongbong Marcos geared towards the attainment of his vision to bring our country to uppermiddle income status by 2025,” Romualdez said.

“Likewise, this development signals that the world is responding positively to the President’s vigorous campaign to promote the Philippines as a prime destination for investment and a recognition of our steadfast pursuit of sustainable and inclusive growth,” he added.

He cited the statement of Department of Trade and Industry

Romualdez reiterated the commitment of the House to prioritize legislation geared toward the realization of the President’s vision to greatly improve the Philippine economy, reduce the prices of commodities, and increase the purchasing power of every Filipino citizen.

He earlier vowed swift action from the House of Representatives by the start of the 2nd Regular Session of the 19th Congress to pass the new set of priority bills agreed upon by the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) before the year ends.

The House had approved 33 out of the 42 priority measures of the Marcos administration by the end of the 1st Regular Session of the 19th Congress.

“It is through collaborative

German firms committed to invest P393 billion, followed by those from Singapore (P16.8 billion), the Netherlands (P3.57 billion), France (P2.04 billion) and the United States (P1.9 billion).

The Western Visayas (Region 6) will benefit the most with P306 billion in planned investments. Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) is next with P164 million, followed by Ilocos (P55.5 billion), Central Luzon (P28.7 billion) and Metro Manila (P25.6 billion).

A little over three-fourths, or 76.83 percent, of the investment approvals involve renewable energy with 30 solar, wind and biomass projects worth P536.5 billion. Eight information and technology projects, meanwhile, account for P95.5 billion of the total.

The first half of the year momentum, according to BOI, put the agency on track to meeting this year’s investment approval target of P1.5 trillion.

PBBM adds cyber attacks and

change on list of ‘natl security threats’

DAYS before President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. delivers his performance report, the leadership of the House of Representatives on Friday said the surge in investment pledges in the first quarter of the year is a clear “vote of confidence” in the Philippine economy’s potential and validates the soundness of government policies.

Saturday, July 22, 2023

PBBM: We will not cooperate with ICC probe

By Samuel P. Medenilla

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday said the country is ready to “defend” itself if the International Criminal Court (ICC) would resume its investigation into alleged illegal drug-related deaths during the

administration of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte. Marcos made the pronouncement on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Improving Growth Corridors in Mindanao Road Sector Project (IGCMRSP) in Zamboanga Peninsula.

“We continue to defend the

sovereignty of the Philippines and continue to question the jurisdiction of the ICC in their investigations here in the Philippines,” Marcos said.

Last Tuesday, the ICC appeals chamber approved the resumption of the investigation on the drug war campaign, which allegedly resulted

in the death of at least 6,000 people.

Marcos, however, maintained the ICC no longer has any jurisdiction in the Philippines after the country left its jurisdiction in 2019.

He said the ICC probe is interference to country’s judicial system.

“They [ICC prosecutors] are talking about Filipinos. Their alleged

crimes are here in the Philippines; the victims are Filipino; why should it brought to The Hague? It [the investigation] should be done here,” the President said partly in Filipino.

The Chief Executive reiterated his statement last March that the country has disengaged with the ICC.

“All our dealing with the ICC is over. Just like what we have said from the start, we will not cooperate with them in any war or form,” Marcos said.

Solicitor General Menardo I. Guevarra said the government is already conducting its own investigation and prosecution of crimes related to the anti-drug campaign.

Ex-President Duterte urged to disclose details of meeting with Xi, as visit sparks speculations

By Butch Fernandez & Malou Talosig-Bartolome

INVOKING the need for full public

disclosure, former Senate President Franklin Drilon prodded former President Rodrigo Duterte to render “public disclosure of the discussions and issues” tackled in Duterte’s meeting with China President Xi Jinping.

Drilon, in a radio interview, stressed the “importance of transparency, accountability, and the public’s right to information,” highlighting the need for the Filipino people to be informed about the outcomes of such a significant meeting, especially if it involves the country’s claims on the West Philippine Sea.

“I think it is impor tant that former President Duterte make public the discussion and the issues that they discussed during the meeting,” said Drilon.

In the same interview, the ex-Senate leader suggested “out of respect and courtesy to the sitting President, I call on former President Duterte to either disclose or, at

the very least, provide a briefing to President [Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.] or Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo.”

Drilon reminded, “In our system of government, the formulation of foreign policy lies within the purview of the President, who acts as the chief architect.”

Moreover, the former Senate President stressed: “It is of utmost importance to ensure that the President is well-informed of this significant encounter with one of the world’s most powerful leaders.”

In addition, Drilon asserted “with former President Duterte’s stature and influence, Duterte’s views and actions continue to carry weight and may be interpreted in various ways, particularly by President Xi Jinping. “Kapag kausap mo na ang lider ng ibang ibang government, dapat iisa lang angatingposition.Bakakunghindi,hihina ang position ng ating pamahalaan,” said Drilon.

He further reminded: “Hindi ito simpleng private visit. The former President is not an or dinary Filipino. His views will always be taken seriously by Xi Jinping. Ito

Zambo Sibugay road project boosts trade with BIMP-Eaga, says PBBM

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos said the completion of the Improving Growth Corridors in Mindanao Road Sector Project (IGCMRSP) will help boost the trade with Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia.

D uring the inauguration of the IGCMRSP in Zamboanga Sibugay on Friday, Marcos said the project is part of the Brunei DarussalamIndonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) road network.

He noted the improved physical connectivity will address supply chain constraints in Western Mindanao, which is located near the three Association of Southeast Asian countries.

“That is in the Asean and especially its aggrupation, the BIMP-EAGA, we link our roads to improve connectivity [to improve] the transport of goods and people,” Marcos said.

The IGCMRSP involves the construction

or improvement of 151.60 kilometers (km) of roads and 34 bridges with a total length of 3,374.87 linear meters (lm) in Zamboanga Peninsula and Tawi-Tawi.

The project includes three core projects, five non-core projects, and three bridge projects.

Aside from its economic benefits, Marcos said the IGCMRSP is also expected to help in peace and order initiatives in Mindanao.

He thanked the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for funding the P25.2-billion project through an Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan.

The President vowed to initiate more similar infrastructure projects during his term to improve the living standards of Filipinos.

“ We will continue to build roads, bridges, ports, and airports all over the country so we can bring Filipinos closer together,” Marcos said.

S amuel P. Medenilla

po ay dapat malaman ng DFA,” the senator stressed, reminding, “the issues that were potentially raised during the meeting involved our national sovereignty.”

“Therefore,”he stressed that the DFA “should be briefed on the details of the meeting, as it is not a matter of private concern but one that affects the entire nation,” he said.

At the same time, the former Senate leader underscored “the importance of maintaining a unified stance on matters of national interest, such as the West Philippine Sea issue, to avoid weakening the country’s position.”

In addition, Drilon aired hopes that former President Duterte’s visit would not influence President Marcos’ stance on the West Philippine Sea issue.

The Senate Minority Leader reminded that former President Duterte’s visit coincided with an impending “strongly worded resolution” urging the government to bring China’s harassment of Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

At the same time, Drilon deplored that

Duterte’s visit occurred “at a time when trust in China among Filipinos has been declining.”

In a recent ambush interview, President Marcos had said he was “aware” of Duterte’s trip to Beijing and indicated he had no problem with it. It is better, he added, that the Philippines use as many options as possible to engage China, especially given the important economic relations between the two neighbors despite their tensions on maritime issues.

‘Speculations’

FOREIGN policy and security experts see the meeting between Duterte Xi in Beijing as part of China’s implied message to the Philippines of its displeasure over President Marcos’ shift in foreign policy.

For former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio though, he believes that Duterte may already be looking for a place to seek refuge in the event the ICC issues a warrant of arrest on him.

China is not a signatory of the Rome Statute that created the ICC to bring to justice

heads of states or state actors who commit crimes against humanity.

Duterte and Xi held a meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing last Monday, in what the Chinese Embassy in Manila described as a “private meeting between friends.”

The meeting was filmed by the Chinese state television China Central Television (CCTV).

The DFA said it was not aware of the visit of former President Duterte.

P resident Marcos also “seem to unaware” of Duterte’s visit and meeting as the President said he would like that Duterte share to him what he and Xi discussed, Carpio said.

“It looks like former President Duterte is conducting his own foreign affairs, foreign policy. So that’s strange,” Carpio said during a forum with international studies students at the De La Salle University.

Carpio added that former presidents who travel overseas normally notify the DFA and the Embassy concerned.

“My suspicion is that because of the

looming warrant of arrest to be issued by the ICC, he might be looking for a place of refuge because China is not a member of ICC and he might just want to be protected by China because he may not be confident that he will always be protected by the Philippine government,” he added.

Prof. Rommel Ong of Ateneo de Manila University School of Government said the visit of Duterte in itself is already “the message.”

“The visit—even if it is not clear what was discussed—is the message itself. The next question is—who is the target of the message itself,” Ong, a retired rear admiral of the Philippine Navy, said.

Prof. Ong said the administration of Marcos has adopted policies, which are not favorable to China, such as the expansion of military access to the US under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), and the holding of joint patrols.

“In a way, we have already disrupted the strategy of China. They need to recover. From an optics perspective, they need to regain the battle of the narrative,” he explained.

IPOPHL welcomes Matteo Guidicelli as newest anti-piracy ambassador

CHANGE OF COMMAND President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. chats with outgoing Philippine Army chief, Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., at Friday’s (July 21, 2023) Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Change of Command ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. At right is outgoing AFP chief of staff, General Andres Centino, who will assume a new role as presidential adviser on the West Philippine Sea. At left is Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. JOEY RAZON/NIB-PNA

Marcos sets state visit to Malaysia on Tuesday

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. will push for exploratory talks on the halal industry and Islamic banking in his State Visit to Malaysia next week, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

D uring a news briefing in Malacañang on Friday, DFA Spokesperson Maria Teresita C. Daza said these would be among the new areas, which the President is expected to discuss with Malaysian officials during his trip in Malaysia from July 25 to 27.

The agreements are expected to help the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in developing its Islamic financial system and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to boost the country’s production of Halal products.

In its w ebsite, the Department of Agriculture (DA) refers to Halal as what is permissible or lawful in traditional Islamic law. It is usually applied to food and drinks.

Daza noted the Chief Executive is also eyeing possible bilateral cooperation on agriculture, food security, tourism, digital economy, tourism, and people to people exchanges.

“He will pursue bilateral cooperation in priority areas that are at least in support of the economic agenda of the country,” Daza said.

Sabah issue

THE President will be meeting with the current king of Malaysia, Yang di-Pertuan Agong, and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

“It [S tate Visit] is also timely as the Philippines and Malaysia will mark the 68th anniversary of the establishment

of diplomatic relations between the two countries,” Daza said.

Daza said the country’s territorial claims on Sabah might be discussed in the said meetings.

“It ’s very difficult to preempt the discussion, so I have no comment on whether it will actually be discussed,” Daza said.

D uring the visit of Ibrahim in the country last March, he and the President have agreed to hold in-depth discussion about Sabah, which the country claims through the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu.

MIF promotion

THE President will also be meeting with Malaysian businessmen to encourage them to invest in the country, especially with the passage of the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) Act last Tuesday.

The MIF is the country’s first sovereign wealth fund, which is expected to help attract more foreign investments in the country.

Daza said the S tate Visit would provide the government the opportunity to officially promote the MIF.

Malaysia is one the country’s top trading partners and sources of tourist arrivals last year.

“As expected, the President will actively promote the Philippines as an attractive trade investment and tourist destination,” Daza said.

Mar cos is also set to meet with the Filipino community in Malaysia.

“It is safe t o assume that the programs of the government relative to the welfare, the promotion of the welfare of our migrant workers will be raised,” Daza said.

Samuel P. Medenilla

THE Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) is hoping for a significant decline in the consumption of pirated content as it finds a new ally in awardwinning artist, singer, host, tri-athlete and Philippine Army reservist Matteo Guidicelli, the newest face of IPOPHL’s anti-piracy campaign. “ With a credible and trustworthy figure at the forefront of our anti-piracy advocacy, we hope to cut through to a larger population of Filipinos, especially the youth. We want more Filipinos to see more clearly how piracy is robbing the creative economy of revenues and the government of much-needed taxes,” Director General Rowel S. Barba said on Thursday at the IPOPHL’s office in Taguig City.

A t the event, IPOPHL, Guidicelli and his manager, Viva Artists Agency Inc., signed the contract that outlines activities both parties will be undertaking throughout the yearlong ambassadorship.

V iva and Guidicelli commit to create video campaigns to show the importance of respecting others’ intellectual property (IP) rights. IPOPHL, on the other hand, commits to conduct a free learning event designed to help the new ambassador, Viva and other select piracy-affected industries in protecting their IP assets more effectively.

A true artist for artists

BARBA described Guidicelli as the “perfect face” for the campaign, noting that the celebrity’s illustrious career both as an actor and a music artist allows him to identify with fellow artists “who fight tooth and nail to protect their works from content thieves.”

As an actor, Guidicelli won CinemaOne Originals’ “Best Actor” Award in 2013 for his performance as John in the thriller movie “Saturday Night Chills.” In 2011, he was named the “Most Promising Male Star of the Year” by the GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Awards and garnered the “Outstanding Breakthrough Performance by an Actor” Award from the Golden Screen TV Awards for his role as Ronnie in the fantasy TV series “Agua Bendita.”

Guidic elli’s music career, meanwhile, started as early as 2015 with the launch of his first album “Matteo Guidicelli,” followed by “Hey” in 2017. He has since released several singles, such as Sundo (2019), I Just Wanna Be Your Man (2020) and The Gift (2022)—the last one sang in tandem with his wife and Asia’s Pop star Royalty Sarah Geronimo.

According to IPOPHL, bilyon-bilyonang nawawalasacreative sectors dahil sa piracy. This threatens the livelihood of 6.98 million Filipino creative industry workers, and of course, their families. As the ambassador

for Anti-Piracy, my advocacy will focus on guiding the public towards an IP-safe environment, where artistic creations are protected from piracy and other IP rights violations,” Guidicelli said.

IPOPHL’s newest anti-piracy project is co-funded by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to address awareness gaps identified in a survey conducted by IPOPHL and WIPO in 2021.

Piracy, skewed to the youth THE Baseline Study on IP Awareness found that out of five age groups, it was the youngest that patronized pirated digital content the most.

“The worst and most challenging part sa pagkalat ng piracy is pati ang values ng ating kabataan napipirata [The worst and most challenging part in the proliferation of piracy is that the values of our youth are also being pirated off],” Barba added.

Out of 1,000 respondents, 35 percent, 31 percent, and 28 percent of those who respectively downloaded free music, video games and movies online and 14 percent of those who read free ebooks come from the youngest group segment, with ages 18 to 19. The group segment also sources free copies from their friends and Youtube.

According to the survey, some young respondents cited the ease in accessing free content compared to buying from authorized sellers, and that their peers do it anyway.

The baseline survey also assessed IPOPHL’s current awareness campaign online and found its previous content linked to a celebrity ambassador as having the most visibility and “potential to change behavior.”

Content pirates are thieves, robbing us of economic leverage, of our culture and of our own values of what is right, which is to play fair. It is high time we denounce content pirates the way we do thieves. And we are optimistic that with Matteo, Viva and WIPO working together with IPOPHL, the message becomes more compelling and urgent to embrace,“Deputy Director General Ann Claire C. Cabochan said.

SARAH GERONIMO and Matteo Guidicelli FB PAGE PHOTOGRAB

Superior memory linked to mobility

By Matthew Griffin

POSSESSInG a remarkable memory later in life is linked to better mobility and physical quickness, according to a study that sheds light on the factors that shape how people age.

Superagers, people who are at least 80 years old and have the memories normally seen in those in their 50s or 60s, are more agile and mobile than their peers, according to a study published Thursday in the Lancet Healthy Longevity medical journal, and score better on tests for anxiety and depression.

Researchers have begun focusing on extremely healthy older people to unlock the secrets of disease-free aging. Differences in mobility and behavioral health may help explain the phenomenon, researchers write, though they could also be a result of extraordinarily well-preserved brain health that’s been shown by earlier research.

A team of European researchers studied a variety of mental, physical and emotional measures in 64 superagers and 55 typical older adults. Results from brain scans aligned with earlier findings that those of superagers appeared to have atrophied less than the brains of typical peers.

“It’s kind of reaffirming that there seems to be something biologically different at the level of brain structure,” said Emily Rogalski, an Alzheimer’s disease expert at northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine who wasn’t involved in the study.

New directions S U PERAGERS are relatively rare, and current research hasn’t pinpointed reasons for their good health, said Rogalski, who has conducted her own research on the subject. Genetic factors could play a role, along with behavioral differences that have appeared in earlier studies. Some research has found that superagers tend to remain engaged in their careers or communities, for example, and that they have stronger social relationships.

Superior agility found in superagers—measured by movement speed and finger tapping —could either indirectly help preserve cognition, or it could be the result of a healthier brain, the authors said. Similarly, anxiety and depression are both risk factors for and symptoms of dementia.

Yet the differences could point researchers in new directions as they study how aging works, said Bryan Strange, a professor of biomedical engineering at the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid and the senior author of the study.

“There is some link there between memory and movement that we want to explore further,” he said.

The researchers also pointed out one notable difference in superagers’ pasts: They were more likely to have experience playing music. That’s consistent with findings that learning all kinds of new skills boost brain function.

The brain “really thrives on this idea of new learning,” Rogalski said. Bloomberg

Time BusinessMirror Our

Marcos vows inclusion, empowerment of PWDs

vide equal opportunities for PWDs.

“Through the Apolinario Mabini Awards, you have inspired us to go beyond our perceived limitations, embrace the immense potential within each of us, and foster a more inclusive Philippines,” the President said.

Marcos also honored the awardees for their dedication to advocate for the PWDs and create a society where disability is not seen as an obstacle.

In a speech delivered by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin during the conferment rites for the 30th Apolinario Mabini Awards at Malacañan Palace’s Heroes Hall, President Marcos urged all concerned government agencies to address the present challenges faced by the PWDs.

“As President, I assure you that the government remains dedicated to addressing the challenges faced by our PWDs so that they can fully participate in shaping our society,” Marcos said as he stressed the need to create “bridges of opportunity, empathy, and understanding” for the PWDs.

The President added that providing a healthy environment for PWDs is in pursuit of the government’s goal

for a “new Philippines that will leave nobody behind.”

“I trust that the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Health, our local government units, and all our partneragencies shall continue to strengthen our programs and services that encourage PWDs to take part in nationbuilding,” the President said.

“Continue your various advocacies that reduce prejudice and promote the acceptance and empowerment of our PWDs to eliminate stigma, discrimination, and exclusion,” he added.

The chief executive also called on the private sector to create inclusive workspaces that would promote diversity and equality for PWDs and

would give them fair employment opportunities.

Launched by the Philippine Foundation for Rehabilitation of the Disabled Inc. (PFRD) in 1974, the Apolinario Mabini Awards gives recognition to individuals, groups and agencies with outstanding contributions to the upliftment of the welfare of PWDs.

Composed of nine categories, the awards include Organization of Persons With Disabilities Award; Empowerment of Persons With Dis-

An imagined commencement address

By Nick Tayag

my sixty-zen’s WORtH

Strive to enhance your cooperative social skills. Connect with people who can help you do the task better. Understand and learn from people you perform with. Listen to other people’s life stories, even those who embody different identities, experiences, and beliefs.

This helps build your sense of empathy, the ability to put oneself in the shoes of another person. A good performer has the ability to imagine sympathetically the situation or predicament of another person. Don’t rush to judgment. Instead, find a way to help.

Don’t be obsessed with titles. Fancy titles such as President, CEO, COO, SVP, CFO and so on do not necessarily make you a leader. It’s the other way around: a leader makes the title he deserves.

abilities Award; Media Advocate Award; Manuel Agcaoili Employer of the Year Award (formerly Employer of the Year Award); Local Government Unit Award; Disability Friendly Establishment Award; Special Recognition Award; Filipino with Disability Award; and, the Apolinario Mabini Lifetime Achievement Award.

The President also commended the PFRD for promoting measures to prevent disability; protect and rehabilitate the disabled; and, pro-

“The Mabini Awards reminds us that disability does not define a person’s worth. Instead, it is a spark for innovation, resilience, and ingenuity that enables people to do better and to do more,” the President said.

“I thus thank this year’s Mabini Awardees for breaking down barriers and championing the rights of persons with disabilities. All of you are beacons of hope, lighting the path towards a society that fully embraces all,” he added.

Present during the conferment of awards were PFRD President Edgardo Garcia; Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and his wife Audrey Tan-Zubiri who serves as chairperson of the 30th Apolinario Mabini Awards; and Jaime Silva, chairperson of the Screening Committee.

Second Alzheimer’s drug in pipeline can slow disease by

few months but with safety risk

By Lauran Neergaard AP Medical Writer

WASHInGTOn—Another

experimental Alzheimer’s drug can modestly slow patients’ inevitable worsening—by about four to seven months, researchers reported Monday.

ALL over the country, colleges and universities are holding their graduation exercises. It brings to mind one of the most quoted commencement speeches that was delivered by Steve Jobs of Apple at Stanford University a few years before he died from pancreatic cancer.

I never imagined myself delivering a commencement speech. But if I were invited to be a commencement speaker what would I tell today’s graduates?

What “words of practical wisdom” would I impart to young idealistic graduates?

Maybe I do have something to tell these young graduates who would soon be mugged by reality in the world out there. So kindly indulge me as I share a pocketful of caveats for members of today’s clueless graduating class: The ancient Romans have a peculiar way of greeting. So let me greet you the old Roman way: Ave Atque Vale! I salute you and I bid you goodbye (as in “go forth”).

After going through the gates of your school for the last time, you will all be compelled to perform and outdo each other on a big wide stage called “Real World.”

Since I have always been partial to literature, which is a treasury of valuable life lessons, I have come to look at life as theater. In one of his plays, William Shakespeare wrote: All the world’s a stage

And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts. Using the metaphor of life as the-

ater, I hope to trigger something in you to help you find your destined role as well as become an outstanding performer.

First of all, you have to own your life. Iyo iyan. Ikaw ang may-ari ng sarili mo at ng buhay mo. As they say, ikaw na. Eksena mo yan! As the controversial writer Oscar Wilde once said: Don’t strive to be someone else. It’s already taken. Don’t get ahead of yourself. Huwag masyadong bilib sa sarili. You haven’t proven anything yet.

Make an honest list of your God-given talent and ability. What are your unique qualities, experiences and values? All these will prove valuable later on. They are the personal assets that you bring to your role that enables you to make a successful performance. Use them judiciously, like money in the bank.

If you have limitations and weaknesses, then moderate your ambitions. Refrain from taking on roles that exceed your grasp or ability. But having said that, don’t stop there. Improve yourself, and keep strengthening your weak areas.

Start with smaller roles first.

Huwag agaw-eksena (don’t be a scene stealer). Then as your ability grows, you get to perform the major roles.

Then there is timing. Wait for your turn behind the wings of the stage. Know when to enter a scene, when to say your lines and when to make an exit.

Learn to cooperate, interact and work with fellow performers and even subordinates and those in the lower ranks. Interacting with others in the workplace is like putting on a play or a dance piece together where performers cooperate towards a common purpose.

The new model of leadership is all about every single employee or worker showing initiative, resourcefulness, motivation, and drive in the work he does. This means, even the lowly messenger, utility man, fast-food server can be a leader. Unsung heroes do not need a fancy title to be agents of change and make a difference.

Do Everything With Passion. The deeper meaning of passion is what you are willing to sacrifice because you love it very much. Mother Teresa of Calcutta said: “not everybody can do great things but you can do small things with great passion and dedication.”

Fill your life with humor energy. As someone said: never take life seriously; nobody gets out alive. Humor gives you mental balance, and having a healthy sense of humor can increase your confidence in your own inner ability to adapt and embrace challenges and difficulties with feelings of hope and optimism.

Never stop learning. Graduation does not mean you’re through with learning. Learn something new every day! As inspirational writer Melody Joy puts it: “Life is like theatre. Each new day is a new scene with new acts and roles to portray. The sets always change...But the beauty in it is that every day, you are constantly learning who you are and how others around you are.”

Remember: “Life’s just too short to play small with your talents. And our world needs you rising to your best like never before” in the words of Robin Sharma, best-selling author of books from Canada.

Many years into the future, as the curtains start to close after your performance, how will people review your performance on the theater of life?

The answer lies in you. Beginning with the here and now.

Congratulations. Vale atque vale!

Eli Lilly and Co. is seeking Food and Drug Administration approval of donanemab. If cleared, it would be only the second Alzheimer’s treatment convincingly shown to delay the mind-robbing disease—after the recently approved Leqembi from Japanese drugmaker Eisai. “Finally there’s some hope, right, that we can talk about,” Lilly’s Dr. John Sims told reporters Monday at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Amsterdam.

“We don’t cure the disease,” he said. “Diabetes doesn’t have a cure either—it doesn’t mean you can’t have very meaningful treatments for patients.”

Lilly announced in May that donanemab appeared to work, but on Monday the full results of a study of 1,700 patients was published by the Journal of the American Medical Association and presented at the Alzheimer’s conference.

Both donanemab and Leqembi are lab-made antibodies, administered by IV, that target one Alzheimer’s culprit, sticky amyloid buildup in the brain. And both drugs come with a serious safety concern—brain swelling or bleeding that in the Lilly study was linked to three deaths.

Scientists say while these drugs may mark a new era in Alzheimer’s therapy, huge questions remain about which patients should try them and how much benefit they’ll really notice.

“The modest benefits would likely not be questioned by patients, clinicians or payers if amyloid antibodies were low risk, inexpensive and simple to administer. However, they are none of these,” Dr. Eric Widera of the University of California, San Francisco, wrote in a JAMA editorial accompanying Lilly’s new data.

Lilly’s study enrolled people ages 60 to 85 who were in early stages of Alzheimer’s. Half received once-a-month infusions of donanemab and half dummy infusions for 18 months.

The study had a few twists. Patients were switched to dummy infusions if enough amyloid cleared out—something that happened to about half within a year.

And because amyloid alone doesn’t cause Alzheimer’s, researchers also tracked levels of another culprit in the brain— abnormal tau. More tau signals more advanced disease.

The results: Both groups declined during the 18-month study but overall those given donanemab worsened about 22 percent more slowly. Some patients fared better—those with low to medium tau levels saw a 35 percent slower decline, reflecting that the drug appears to work better in earlier stages of the disease. How much difference does that make? It means donanemab slowed patients’ worsening by about four to seven months, the JAMA report concluded.

Another way of measuring: Among the donanemab recipients with lower tau levels, 47 percent were considered stable a year into the study compared with 29 percent of those who got the dummy version. The main safety concern is brain swelling or bleeding, which often causes no symptoms but sometimes can be serious, even fatal. About a quarter of donanemab recipients showed evidence of that swelling, and about 20 percent had microbleeds.

Scientists already know that patients getting any amyloid-targeted therapy need repeat brain scans to check for those side effects—a costly and timeconsuming hurdle.

Widera noted that the possibility of stopping donanemab treatment at least temporarily in people who respond well would help limit some of those challenges. For comparison, Leqembi is given by IV every two weeks and researchers didn’t test a similar stoppage.

It’s too soon to know if some patients might need to resume donanemab, said Lilly’s Dr. Mark Mintun. But the amyloid “doesn’t come back with any sort of vengeance,” he said, speculating that might take several years.

Another concern: More than 90 percent of the study’s participants were white, leaving little data about how other populations might respond, Alzheimer’s specialist Jennifer Manly of Columbia University wrote in JAMA.

Scientists have long tried and failed to slow Alzheimer’s with amyloid-targeting drugs—and the FDA’s contentious 2021 conditional approval of a drug named Aduhelm soon fizzled amid lack of evidence that it really worked. The approval of Leqembi and promising data for donanemab have reignited interest in attacking amyloid buildup.

President Ferdinand r. Marcos Jr. on tuesday assured all persons with disabilities (PW ds) of his administration’s support to ensure their inclusion and empowerment in the country as he called on the private sector to create more inclusive workspaces for them.

a

ExEcutivE Secretary Lucas Bersamin (seated, third from left) leads the conferment ceremony of the 30th Apolinario Mabini Awards at the Heroes Hall of Malacañan Palace on July 18, 2023. Bersamin also relayed the message of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. that the government remains committed to addressing the challenges faced by PWDs. PNA Photo by Joey RAzoN

DepEd advances PBBM administration’s learning-recovery efforts with NLC launch

Under the stewardship of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, the Department of Education (DepEd) adopted the National Learning Recovery Plan (NLRP) to immediately address regressions in basic education brought about by the pandemic.

As a critical step towards learning recovery, DepEd welcomed around 28 million learners for School Year (SY) 2022-2023, as the agency directed the mandatory conduct of full in-person classes. Blended learning or other alternative modes of delivery are only being implemented during natural or man-made calamities to ensure learning continuity.

Being part of the NLRP, the department is also set for the National

Learning Camp (NLC) kickoff on July 24. It is an end-of-school year (EOSY) voluntary program aimed to provide enrichment, consolidation, and intervention sessions for learners.

With a two-fold purpose of improving learning outcomes and supporting teachers to teach better, the initiative aims to create a camp-like atmosphere by integrating fun and engaging activities to foster learner interests, socioemotional skills, personal growth, and character development.

NLC will have phased implementation starting with Grades 7 and 8, with focus on English, Mathematics, and Science. Schools are also encouraged to conduct other EOSY break activities for Grades 1 to 3 and enrich -

ment activities in other grade levels to support learning recovery across grade levels. In addition, national programs on Reading, Mathematics, as well as Science and Technology are also targeted to be rolled out starting SY 2023-2024.

Fulbright Phils. circulates Global UGRAD contingent

THE Philippine-American Educational Foundation (PAEF), or Fulbright Phils., has announced the newest batch of outstanding Filipino students and graduates for the 2023 to 2024 Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD).

The international exchange is funded by the United States Department of State and administered by PAEF—the longestrunning Fulbright commission in the world, and the Philippines’s oldest international scholarship program.

The opportunity provides a diverse group of youth leaders with extensive exposure to American society, culture, values and education through substantive engagements in US colleges and universities.

The grantees, which represent various disciplines that include architecture, engineering, biochemistry, literature and the arts, can champion their respective country’s traditions with their foreign contemporaries.

Out of 519 applicants, 21-year-old Mcaine Andrei Carlos who is majoring in Multimedia Arts (MMA) under the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s (DLS-CSB) School of New Media Arts (SNMA), is one

pAGEs And

of the nine successful Filipino students.

Carlos has become the college’s first and sole delegate in PAEF’s 75-year history, fueled by various citations for his servant leadership and academic acumen.

While in senior-high school, he was granted the “Strand Excellence Award” for having the highest General Weighted Average and outstanding extracurricular performance. He is likewise the first in his batch in Benilde to receive the “Gawad Benildyano” award, which is conferred on exceptional students or individuals.

The MMA student is part of a team that created a mobile app for educating hardto-reach coastal areas in the Philippines on ways to address plastic trash problems.

His key role in “Student Trainers,” the Benilde Student Involvement Unit’s volunteer arm, also allows him to organize formation, orientation and communitybuilding projects.

“[Mr. Carlos’] impressive academic accomplishments and credentials…have made possible his selection as a principal candidate,” Executive Director Julio S. Amador III of PAEF wrote in the acceptance letter addressed to DLS-CSB President Br. Edmundo Fernandez FSC.

“The application process was tedious, competitive and challenging, but I feel fortunate to have been chosen to represent the Philippines and the Benildean-Lasallian identity on the international scene,” Carlos shared.

“Out of the thousands of undergraduate applicants from top-performing Philippine colleges and universities, it is a great pleasure to be the sole art student to have made it to the cohort,” he added. “As a multimedia artist, it is my joy to carry the multitude of stories of the communities I have worked with, and share them with the global society.”

Come August, Carlos will be enrolled full-time for one term at Emporia State University: the third-oldest public learning institution in the State of Kansas. It is committed to “preparing students for lifelong learning, rewarding careers and adaptive leadership.” There, he will be taking 12 units related to marketing communications, leadership, public dialogue and advocacy concentration, as well as multimedia design. His international travel, tuition, room and board, insurance, monthly stipend and funding for books will likewise be covered.

They will be implemented across the governance levels from Central Office, Regional Offices, School Division Offices, schools, and community learning centers, with the coordination of external partners and stakeholders from the public and private sectors.

Editor: Mike Policarpio

Mapúa joins 3 Philippine universities in THE Asia Rankings breakthrough

MAPÚA has debuted in the 601+ bracket of the Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings 2023—which the university considers a “landmark feat.”

This achievement has made the institution one of only four Philippine higher education institutions (HEI) that were included in the prestigious list. Mapúa’s research capability and output was the most significant pillar that contributed to its stellar THE Asia University Rankings performance, where it secured second among the four local universities. This strong showing, according to a statement, is “a result of Mapua’s efforts to inspire and push both faculty and students to undertake and publish relevant research for the past five years.”

It can be further attributed, said the university, to the collective effort of the institution’s students, faculty, support staff, administrators and its leadership team in working toward achieving the school’s mission statement of becoming one of the world’s best universities.

Dr. Josephine German, director of the newly established International Rankings Management Office (IRMO) of the university, was upbeat on Mapúa's THE Asia University Rankings breakthrough, and the recognition’s positive influence on the university’s reputation.

“Our post in this year’s [THE] Asia University Rankings will give Mapúa greater leverage and cement its status as one of the best universities in the Philippines and in the world. On a global scale, this recognition will enhance our reputation, entice more students and employees to join our community, and enable our graduates and alumni to become even more professionally competitive,” said Dr. German. “I am also optimistic that we can sustain our rank and climb higher in the next few years.”

The evaluation process for THE Asia University Rankings 2023 incorporates five performance indicators: teaching, research, citations, international outlook and industry income. Mapúa’s consistent focus in these areas has contributed greatly to its improved standing and recognition in the global higher-education landscape.

The Philippine delegation includes Mark Virgil Jamer (Agribusiness Management and Entrepreneurship: University of the Philippines-Los Baños), Phil Justin Pangilinan (Chemistry: UP Diliman), Jessica Jamimah Lopez (Psychology: Polytechnic University of the Philippines), Franz Erick Calanio (Social Sciences (major in Anthropology, minor in Political Science): UP-Baguio), Rachel Mecaela Baxal (Accountancy, PUP-Maragondon), Nicolle Kelly Puspus (Psychology: Cebu Doctors’ University), Monique Granaderos (Special Needs Education-Generalist: Holy Cross of Davao College) and Dinah Ross Degorio (Civil Engineering: University of Mindanao).

The IRMO was established to ensure the university’s consistent inclusion in global education rankings and sustain the highest quality of education. It will strengthen the HEI’s teaching, research and international outlook to guarantee that Mapúa's high-quality instruction results in highly employable and globally competitive graduates.

NOT many fabrics can truly represent Filipino culture and identity as the piña can.

The most resplendent among Philippine textiles, piña served as a symbol of femininity, sophistication, honor and independence. Yet, there is still much to be said about its future in a world of technological innovations.

In line with this, Far Eastern University (FEU) has partnered with HABI: The Philippine Textile Council to jointly publish Piña Futures: Weaving Memories and Innovation. It is written by Randy M. Madrid Ph.D who is a prolific educator, researcher and known advocate of cultural-heritage conservation and safeguarding, with specific interest in Central Philippine textiles.

Drawing inspiration from the 1990s book “Piña” published by Chair Emeritus Dr. Lourdes Montinola of FEU, the sevenchapter, 280-page quintessential sourcebook weaves into the proud story of the one and only “Queen of Philippine Fabrics.” It offers fresh insight into piña’s role as an artisanal fabric, a trade commodity, a garment of honor and identity, as well as a treasure of the world.

“I am proud to see that after two decades, another book has come to fruition. ‘Piña Futures…’ honors the…cloth’s past,

present and future. It celebrates the history and the promise of design possibilities,” said Dr. Montinola.

weaving pinoy memory, identity “PIÑA: From Island Textile to World Treasure” offers a glimpse of the piña industry’s advent on the island of Panay.

Madrid’s book tackles the textile’s evolution, along with the flow of Filipino history: from symbolizing the memory of colonization, to representing the fight for freedom and independence.

It then walks readers through the careful and demanding process production: from the scraping and stripping of the pineapple fibers, to the weaving and embellishment of the fabric.

The imagination and hard work that the weavers, who are described to be “constantly knotting broken threads [to make] this exquisite fabric,” openly speak about the generally creative and hardworking culture of the Filipinos.

Today, the piña cloth typically acts as the main fabric for most traditional Filipiniana dresses, wedding attires, and the Barong Tagalog. It is also used for tablecloths, mats, and other clothing items.

the

rare

th E s tory of “piña” tells of memories and innovation.

versatility and durability, which Madrid’s book spoke of as highly representative of the Filipino character.

preserving culture via innovation

HABI chair and founder Maria Isabel Ongpin was exceptional in highlighting the core concern of Madrid’s book: the piña’s future.

Ongpin rhetorically posed on the cover of the book: “In a world of modern products made of manufactured, artificial materials, how will piña keep its place as a reigning queen of Philippine fibers turned into coveted fabric?”

Piña has established itself in history and in the present, it proves to be a valuable fashion and cultural emblem. However, there is no lack of thought and effort into preserving its art and function for the future.

Committed to promote local wear and textile heritage for the Filipino youth, FEU

is known to host annual textile events such as the “Hibla Fashion Show” and the “Lourdes Montinola Piña Weaving Competition,” which Madrid made sure to feature in the book.

Last October’s contest, which took place in-person once again after going virtual for two years, saw many young piña weavers under 30 years old excelling in their craft. Further, the tilt saw not just the revival of traditional weaving methods, but also the introduction of new innovative techniques.

FEU aspires to create a community of socially aware Filipino designers, and the hope is for them to continue weaving piña in a way that adapts to modern innovations without sacrificing its authenticity and the culture it represents.

“Piña Futures: Weaving Memories and Innovation” is a book born from this hope, according to the publisher. It presents piña not just as a treasure of the present world, but also as the queen fabric of the future.

AMBASSADOR Huang Xilian witnessed the final round of the 22nd “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for College Students in the Philippines, as he saw “the passion and fun of learning Chinese with teachers and students.” Huang shared that in recent years, the competition has become an important platform for Chinese-language learning and exchange among Filipino students, while testing the achievements of its teaching in universities. This, he said, has “attracted more and more students interested in the Chinese language to [join].”

According to his Facebook post, a student from the Angeles University Foundation’s School of Business, who took a Chinese language course, became interested in learning Chinese and actively participated in the competition.

“We look forward to seeing more [students] learning Chinese, understanding China, and being brave enough to compete with the best Chinese-language learners in professional competitions such as Chinese Bridge, to challenge themselves and showcase their Chineselanguage skills and overall quality,” said Huang.

T he young students, the diplomat noted, have taken the first step to communicate with the Chinese people and dialogue with Chinese civilization: “We hope…young talents will use Chinese to showcase themselves, use [the] language to build bridges of friendship, use communication to promote civilizational convergence, use their Chinese-learning experience to tell the story of China-Philippines friendship, and let more people understand the real, comprehensive and three-dimensional contemporary China.”

THE Education Department has activated several learning recovery initiatives to hike the country’s quality of education, in response to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call during his first State of the Nation Address.

Envoy Ex tols Filipino studEnts who toppEd ChinEsE skills tilt

th E d e pEd welcomed around 28 million learners for s c hool ye ar 2022-2023.

dls - C s B’ s Mcaine Andrei Carlos

puBliCAtions

FEU’s new book weaves proud story on the ‘Queen of Philippine Fabrics’

‘HOUSE’ OF THE DRAGONS

The Ascending and Descending Dragons of Northern Vietnam

Those who wish to immerse deeper into the colorful local scene, the Mekong Delta region, a Biosphere Reserve since 1957, is neither complicated to navigate nor snobbish. The city also surprisingly gifted me with who became one of my closest and most dependable friends: Conan from Ireland, who has, since then, found home in the Philippines as an amazing scuba diving instructor.

I made my second visit in 2017 with the aim to visit all its UNESCO World Heritage Sites, a plan that practically had me traverse the country from north all the way to the south in a span of three weeks. No matter how I am excited to share how that memorable trip went, I certainly do not have the luxury of space to write it all down here. So, we begin and make do with where this story began, at the very heart of the capital of Vietnam.

The Ascending Dragon:

The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long

H A NOI i s a charming city with clear French influences as can be seen from the colonial period buildings to the vibrant café culture all around. It is, in fact, considered as one of the oldest continually serving centers of regional political power in the world. The present-day capital sits on a predecessor, Thang Long (meaning Ascending Dragon) that dates to the early 11th century. In the Old Quarter lies the most important standing components of Thang Long, the central sector of its citadel.

Easily reached on foot from anywhere in the Old Quarter or even the French Quarter, the citadel cannot be missed as it is marked by the monumental 60-meter-high brick Flag Tower, an iconic symbol of the city itself. The flag tower, once used as an observation and military outpost, can now be explored as part of the Vietnam Military History Museum compound. A few meters away is the entrance to the main citadel.

The first building that greets visitors is the yellow southern gate, the Đoan Môn. This stone gate served as the principal entrance to Thang Long’s Forbidden City and is perhaps the most impressive structure in the entire complex. What remains of the

PANGLAO ON THE RISE

citadel’s most important structure, the Kinh Thiên Palace, is nothing more than the “Dragon Steps” as the French pointlessly demolished the palace. Two other structures inside are the Princess’ Palace that housed the harem of the emperor, and the more modest-looking northern gate. The 18 Hoang Diêu Archaeological Site right across the street offers a glimpse into the archaeological and material cultural wealth of Thang Long.

Although most of the extant buildings in Thang Long are from the 19th century, they best represent the unique lower Red River Valley culture that thrived at the melting pot of Chinese influences emanating from the north and the Champas from the south.

The Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long – Hanoi was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010, on the occasion of the 1,000th anniversary of Hanoi as a capital.

The Descending Dragon: Ha Long Bay

H A L ong Bay, which literally means Bay of the Descending Dragon, is not a stranger to most as it has been used as shooting locations of many movies including 2017 “Kong: Skull Island.”

According to an old Vietnamese folklore, the gods sent dragons to protect the empire. Descending on the site of the bay, the Mother Dragon and her

Cebu-based builder spreads wings in hotel industry

THE post-pandemic tourism industry in Central Visayas is going global as Cebu-based property developer spreads its wings in one of the country’s top regional destinations with its world-class hotel brands.

AppleOne Properties Inc. recently signed a memorandum with Marriott International in Singapore to build the first five-star resort hotel in Panglao Island in Bohol. To rise in Dauis town, the property will be known as JW Marriott Panglao Island Resort and Spa, a top luxury hospitality brand under the Marriott International group which will also be the first in the Philippines.

JW Marriott is part of Marriott International’s luxury portfolio which has over 100 award-winning luxury hotels in more than 35 countries.

“Surviving the worst effects of the pandemic, people are now eager to make up for the lost time and travel, and we intend to bank on that. We want to entice them more by bringing the luxury experience to the regions

starting with Bohol which we believe they will enjoy even more because of the experiences and tourist destinations,” said AppleOne Properties president and chief executive officer Ray Go Manigsaca.

He pointed out that the project will create jobs and economic opportunities in the local communities and further boost the province’s tourism pull, particularly among foreign guests.

The luxe low-density resort hotel will be built in Dauis, the smaller but more pristine half of Panglao island, near the Hinagdanan Cave Bath Resort.

Bohol is the second biggest tourist destination in Central Visayas which logged 503,368 foreign and domestic arrivals in 2022, with nearly 60 percent of them staying in Panglao because of its powdery sand beaches, rich marine life, and proximity to the international airport.

Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco called the upcoming project as a clear evidence of the confidence of investors in the growth potential of the tourism industry. “This first-ever five-star hotel that

will soon rise in Panglao from a global brand evinces investor confidence in the Philippines under the Marcos administration, and we thank AppleOne Group for its continued support and investments in hotels and resorts as these are helping transform the Philippines into a tourism powerhouse in Asia,” she said.

Set to begin construction late this year, JW Marriott Panglao Island Resort and Spa will be the group’s third partnership with the prestigious international hotel chain.

In September last year, the property firm opened Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort, a 10-story hotel with 261 wellappointed rooms and suites, food and beverage dining outlets, four multilayered swimming pools, five function rooms, a spa and fitness center, and an aquasports center. Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program members can avail of perks and offers.

The country’s first Marriott International Resort, was named the Best Luxury Resort Development and Best Hotel Interior Design accolades in the 10th Philippines Property Awards, as well as the Best Hotel Interior Design in the Asia Property Awards for 2022.

Adding space and glamor to the luxe hotel is a twin-tower Residences condominium which is also under the Sheraton brand.

Moreover, set to open next year is Mahi Center, a mixed-use development at the Mactan Economic Zone in Lapu-Lapu City whose anchor establishment is the 192-room Fairfield by Marriott Cebu Mactan.

Aside from the signature brands, AppleOne have initially ventured into the development and management boutique establishments such as the 102-room three-star Diamond Suites and Residences in Cebu City; the beachfront Club Serena Resort in Moalboal, Cebu; and the three-star 39-room Apple Tree Resort & Hotel in Opol, Misamis Oriental.

The 12-year old construction conglomerate has also stakes in high-end theme restaurants in Cebu, as well as joint venture agreements with churchrun hospitals in Cebu City and Davao City for the development of medical arts centers to bring in world-class services and technologies into the countryside.

“Our vision is to build better living communities as a globally recognized

children later on spewed jade and other precious stones. These eventually turned into the thousands of islands scattered in the bay, serving as protective barriers from sea invasion threats.

Ha Long Bay is one of the most exceptional karst landscapes in the world and is regarded as the most extensive and best-studied example of tropical limestone karst towers

that was invaded by the sea, i.e., the Gulf of Tonkin of the South China Sea.

It can easily be visited on a return day trip from Hanoi, but it is recommended to do a multi-day cruise to fully experience and appreciate the scale of this impressive natural wonder. A day trip can be exhausting, but it is the most practical option for those who do not have much spare time. It involves a land travel of three and half hours one way, and then boarding on a wooden boat that goes around a section of the bay. On top of a nice serving of seafood lunch on board, there are two activities that are part of the tour: kayaking and trekking to an illuminated cave on one of the bigger islands. All in all, it is not a bad program.

Ha Long Bay became Vietnam’s second UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 and is also currently listed as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

and trusted developer that continues to inspire through innovation, best practices, and excellence, combined with our commitment for passion and compassion in everything we do,” Manigsaca concluded.

photo

Tourism Editor: Edwin P. Sallan

Story & photos by Bernard Joseph Esposo Guerrero

My recollections of my first trip in Vietnam in 2010 are nothing but pleasant. As a young traveler then, Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) provided itself as a very easy, predictable, and exciting base. The Cu Chi Tunnels site, a vivid remnant of the Resistance War Against the United States, is a favorite day excursion out of the city by most visitors.

Story & photos by Bernard L Supetran

K-pop group The Boyz holds 1st-ever concert in the Philippines

IF you’re a K-pop fan, you probably know how it is to like a group so much, but never admit it to yourself because it’s so expensive to add more idols to your already long list. But somehow, you get to watch all four of their appearances in the country in the last five years so you just admit defeat and add them to your list of favorite groups.

That is exactly how I feel about The Boyz from Cre. ker Entertainment. I first met the then 12-member group when they came to Manila in 2018 for MBC Show Champion. They had just debuted a year before that but they already performed with such passion and fervor.

And that became The Boyz’s trademark: Intense performances that would leave the audience breathless.

Aptly, The Boyz—Sangyeon, Jacob, Younghoon, Hyunjae, Juyeon, Kevin, New, Q, Haknyeon, Sunwoo, and Eric—opened their “Zeneration” concert at the Araneta Coliseum last weekend with literal and figurative fireworks.

They started with “Ego” and continued with “Reveal,” “Awake,” and “Roar.”

Normally, there would be a ‘ment after the second or third song. A ‘ment, in K-pop concerts, is the portion where the performances would introduce themselves and/or make speeches. In The Boyz’s case, it took eight songs before the members did their first ‘ment. Before that, they performed “I’m Your Boy,”

“Text Me Back,” “Keeper,” and “Only One.”

Ako si Eric, ang inyong boyfriend [I’m Eric, your boyfriend],” was how Eric started the first ‘ment. “I’m your energy boy Eric. Mahal kita!”

Mabuhay,” said Kevin. “Kumusta mga beshie ko [How are you, my friends]? We’re so excited to be here as 11.”

Kumusta ka? Ako si Sangyeon. Philippine Deobi [as their fans are called], maganda Philippine Deobis [are beautiful],” said the group’s leader Sangyeon.

“So it’s been a while since we came here. I hope you

all enjoy the show tonight,” said Sunwoo.

Na-miss na ko kayo [I missed you],” said Juyeon.

“Deobi, mahal kita,” said Younghoon.

“Let’s have fun tonight. It’s been a long time,” said Hyunjae.

Main vocalist New, whose voice I really like, said the opening numbers showed the The Boyz’s “powerful” and “cute” sides. Sides are usually themes or concepts adapted by K-pop groups for their albums and concerts.

The Boyz performed 23 songs in Zeneration. These songs included “I’m Your Boy” from the group’s debut extended play (EP) to songs from the latest EP Be Awake. The group’s last solo event in the country was its 2019 fan concert at the New Frontier Theater. But because The Boyz is an actively promoting group with several albums released every year, it’s understandable that they can’t perform many of their songs during concerts.

One of these songs is “Stealer,” which they did perform snippets of. They also did snippets of “Savior” and “Bloom Bloom.”

“I know there’s a lot of songs that you guys want to hear so let this be a promise that we’ll be back again,” said Kevin.

The Boyz did a lot of fan service that night and even the hours leading to the concert. Some of the members were spotted around Araneta Center snapping pictures of banners and posters put up by fans.

“From start to finish [of the concert], you guys have been amazing...We’ll be able to take this and work harder to come back with better music for you guys,” said Jacob.

One of the best moments of the concert was toward the end when Kevin talked about how they were touched by what Filipino fans did for them.

“It’s actually so crazy because I’ve been there. I’ve been where you guys are standing. I’ve gone through the stress of ticketing, gone through the stress of getting to the venue early so I could be at the front row of your favorite artist. I know what that’s like. And to have someone do that for me and for The Boyz, it’s absolutely amazing and I feel very blessed,” he said. ■

MICROSOFT AGREES TO KEEP CALL OF DUTY ON SONY PLAYSTATION AFTER IT BUYS ACTIVISION BLIZZARD

NEW YORK—Microsoft has signed an agreement with Sony to keep the Call of Duty video game series on the PlayStation console after the tech giant acquires video game maker Activision Blizzard.

The announcement was made on Sunday in a Twitter post by Phil Spencer, who heads up Microsoft’s Xbox division.

“We look forward to a future where players globally have more choice to play their favorite games,” Spencer said in the post.

Call of Duty has been at the center of a corporate tug-of-war between Microsoft’s Xbox and Sony’s PlayStation over Microsoft’s planned $69 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard, which makes the best-selling Call of Duty lineup.

As it tried to persuade regulators around the world to approve the deal, Microsoft struck deals with Nintendo and some cloud gaming providers to license Activision titles like Call of Duty for 10 years and offered the same to Sony. Until now, Sony hadn’t signed on. It has now, as Microsoft inches closer to completing the buyout.

On Friday, a US appeals court rejected a bid by federal regulators to

block Microsoft’s acquisition. Microsoft struck the deal for Activision in January of 2022 to expand its video game imprint beyond Xbox, which has less market share than longtime industry leader

PLDT, SMART TAP LEARNING PLATFORM TO HELP CABANATUAN CITY SCHOOLS

BY RIZAL RAOUL S. REYES

DIGITAL infrastructure provider PLDT and its mobile affiliate Smart Communications are helping Cabanatuan City educators in Nueva Ecija to explore new teaching methods.

As educational institutions close out the first school year of hybrid learning, PLDT and Smart continue to support efforts by the Department of Education to ensure that all learners are not left behind through the Central Visayan Institute Foundation Dynamic Learning Program (CVIF DLP).

“The CVIF DLP trains students to be independent learners. The crisis-resilient teaching pedagogy builds on the DepEd’s curriculum. It can be utilized in both on-site classes and distance learning,” said Stephanie V. Orlino, AVP and head of stakeholder management at PLDT and Smart in a press statement Orlino said more than 100 teachers from 10 elementary and senior high schools across the division were onboarded.

In testimony given during the US Federal Trade Commission’s legal dispute over the acquisition, Sony executive Jim Ryan said he initially expressed little worry about the deal after private conversations with Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick

Ryan said he later came to believe Microsoft would leverage Call of Duty’s popularity to disadvantage PlayStation, whose players might get a more “degraded experience.”

Sony did not immediately reply to a request for comment on Sunday. Microsoft confirmed the agreement will run for 10 years.

“From day one of this acquisition, we’ve been committed to addressing the concerns of regulators, platform and game developers, and consumers,” Microsoft President Brad Smith said in a tweet. “Even after we cross the finish line for this deal’s approval, we will remain focused on ensuring that Call of Duty remains available on more platforms and for more consumers than ever before.”

The tech giant must close the acquisition by Tuesday to avoid a potential $3 billion termination fee. AP

Learning from their own experiences, program ambassadors Desi Dario Magnaye, Davao Christian High School principal, and Edward Ryan Gulam, DepEd Sarangani Division Learning Resource Management System Coordinator, shared tips on how to effectively run the CVIF DLP alongside current DepEd teaching modalities.

Developed by Ramon Magsaysay awardees Dr. Christopher Bernido and the late Dr. Maria Victoria Bernido, the CVIF DLP trains students to study on their own. This is made possible by the CVIF DLP Learning Activity Sheets (CVIF DLP LAS) that simplify complex concepts into single-page materials that help improve the academic performance of students even with little to no teacher or parent intervention.

“A well-prepared CVIF DLP learning activity sheet explains the basic idea of the lesson. Teachers should focus on one major concept at a time. Instructions should be specific and easy to follow,” added Gulam.

“We are grateful to have been given the opportunity to join the growing CVIF DLP community of implementers. We strongly believe that this will help lighten the load our teachers,” said Dr. Priscilla D. Sanchez, chief of Curriculum Implementation Division, DepEd Schools Division Office Cabanatuan City Smart and PLDT-Smart Foundation have supported the CVIF-DLP for over a decade. The program highlights the use of technology to promote inclusive quality education that will help build a strong nation.

THESE days, having a reliable mobile network isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. Network consistency and availability trump speed. These two metrics ensure that whether you’re navigating through unfamiliar streets, finalizing a business deal, or sharing a heartfelt talk with a loved one far away, you get a smooth and uninterrupted experience.

With telco giant Globe (www.globe.com.ph), launching into any adventure becomes less daunting.

Here are 10 real-life situations that underscore the value of a reliable mobile connection.

1. Trying to find your way around places around the Philippines you’ve never been before? You can rely on Globe’s mobile network to keep your navigational apps going. No more getting lost, only discoveries.

2. The network’s stable connection lets you tap into the wealth of knowledge online from wherever you are. From researching for a school project and attending an online class to chasing an online degree, learning is just a click away.

3. Whether you’re a budding live seller, a seasoned online entrepreneur, or someone running the digital end of a brickand-mortar store, you can count on the network’s reliable mobile connection for efficient digital transactions. Your earnings won’t have to wait, and neither will your customers.

4. Buffering is a thing of the past. Globe ensures that your leisure time is just that—leisurely. Use your data to stream your favorite series, and simply kick back and enjoy uninterrupted entertainment any time of the day.

5. Reliable speeds during gaming? When your squad relies on you in an intense online battle, the network’s reliable mobile data service has got your back. Become the gaming legend you are meant to be.

6. Retail therapy is even more rewarding when your shopping app loads seamlessly. With the carrier’s steady data connection, scroll through thousands of products, add to cart, check out, and relax as you await your delivery.

7. Nothing brings us closer than seeing and hearing the people we care for or receiving their messages, especially when they’re miles away. Trust in the network to smoothly deliver your love across oceans and time zones.

8. Whether it’s tracking your runs, following an online workout, or keeping tabs on your diet, rely on Globe’s reliable connectivity to help you meet your fitness goals. Your health is non-negotiable, and so is your network.

9. From tweeting your thoughts, posting a heartfelt message on Facebook, or sharing a beautiful Instagram photo, the network allows your voice to be heard loud and clear across various social media platforms.

10. Participating in online charity events, signing a digital petition, or even sharing a valuable post can make a big difference. With Globe, you can easily contribute to making the world a better place while online.

Globe’a unfailingly consistent connectivity has made it the country’s Most Reliable Mobile Network in Q1 2023, as recognized by global network intelligence leader Ookla.

OnePlus Nord 3: Flagship steal

I’VE always wondered what the big deal was with OnePlus, with their catchy “Never Settle” philosophy and their ambition to be the Muji of the technology industry.

Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to get my hands on any of their phones. Thankfully, our friends sent us the OnePlus NORD 3, their latest mid-ranger which was just released this month.

Not sure if it’s because of their name, but the NORD 3 only comes in one color (Misty Green) and one spec variant 16GB+256GB). It retails for P29,990 and you can already order it from their official Shopee, Lazada and Tiktok Brand Stores as well as their kiosks and authorized partner stores.

You’ve probably grown tired of the term “flagship killer” being used by so many brands to create hype for their phones, but it’s actually OnePlus who coined that term. Established by Pete Lau and Carl Pei in December 2013, OnePlus’ mission was to create smartphones that would deliver a premium experience minus the exorbitant price tag.

They say you never forget your first, and my experience with the NORD 3 was definitely an exciting one, but does it have everything you could ask for?

■ DESIGN: Embracing a fresh design approach, the OnePlus Nord 3 features an understated yet very elegant profile. It is still a dual-glass smartphone with a plastic frame. The Misty Green colorway comes with a subtle and glossy celadon 2.8D silk glass finish. This green hue looks more like jade than emerald, which is different, though I would have preferred a darker tint. The screen is completely flat with Dragontrail glass protection while the back has Gorilla Glass 5 and holds an IP54 rating that offers a bit of protection from water splashes.

The slim 8.15mm design and flat edges make for a comfortable in-hand feel. But while the smartphone’s attractiveness is undeniable, that glass back is a fingerprint magnet and can also be quite bit slippery to hold. That’s why you’d need a protective case especially if you are either too clumsy or living a really active lifestyle.

Exploring the ports and buttons, the volume rocker is on the left, while on the right is the power button and the alert slider—a trademark of OnePlus phones. At first, I thought this slider was unnecessary, but after a couple of days, I now want it to be on all future devices. The bottom edge features a speaker grille, a Type-C port for charging, a microphone, and SIM tray, while at the top edge is a secondary microphone and an IR Blaster.

On the back are two prominent circular cutouts that house the main camera and two additional camera sensors. There’s also an LED flash and an ambient light sensor. The front of the phone has a flat screen with barely noticeable bezels while the

punch-hole camera cutout occupies the top center of the display. ■ SMOOTH OPERATOR: The brand’s mantra of “Fast and Smooth” became synonymous with its products, emphasizing the seamless performance and fluid user interface offered by OnePlus smartphones. To ensure that it delivers on this promise, the Nord 3 5G is powered by an Octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 9000 chipset manufactured using a cuttingedge 4nm process. Compared to the Nord 2T’s chipset this upgrade offers 40 percent better CPU performance and 85 percent better GPU performance.

that it delivers on this promise, edge 4nm process. Compared to the Nord better GPU performance.

It also comes with flagship 16GB RAM and 256GB of onboard storage. I seldom use review phones as my daily driver, but since I really wanted to test out this device, I had to put my main phone to rest—and because I was so satisfied with the Nord 3, it looks like it’s going on an extended break. The OnePlus Nord 3 is definitely reliable and can effortlessly handle all my various tasks and constant app switching.

Nord 3, it looks like it’s going on an extended break. The OnePlus Nord 3 is definitely reliable and can

I’ve used it for daily blog posting, socialmedia browsing and content creation, e-mail correspondence, video and music streaming, and of course photography for event coverages. OnePlus says the device can run up to 44 apps smoothly in the background.

course photography for event coverages. OnePlus says the device can run up to 44 apps smoothly in the

I installed a few games like PUBG, Call of Duty, and Genshin Impact for my nephews to test out and I did notice smoother gameplay that is at par with those of more expensive phones.

They also did not complain of any noticeable lags or frame rate drops. For gamers, I’m sure you’ll appreciate the phone’s excellent graphics performance and its efficient vapor chamber cooling system that minimizes heating.

The OnePlus Nord 3 runs on OxygenOS 13 that is based on Android 13. It’s a familiar experience with ColorOS though I prefer this UI for its cleaner look and lack of annoying bloatware.

■ DISPLAY: The OnePlus Nord 3 makes for a great multimedia experience thanks to its impressive 6.74-inch Fluid AMOLED display. You get a 2772×1240 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, and the screen delivers smooth and fluid visuals. Unlike other phones, you get the options to choose between automatic, high or standard refresh rates so whether you’re just scrolling through your social media feed or in a competitive match, the high refresh rate ensures a seamless experience. I also liked its peak brightness that allows clear visibility even in bright outdoor environments.

The OnePlus Nord 3 has HDR10 so whether you’re streaming your favorite movies/shows on Netflix or indulging in multimedia content, you enjoy an immersive visual journey. The same can be said for its audio, thanks to its stereo speaker setup. The sound is loud and crisp both when watching videos or listening to audio. It’s not the loudest, but I’d go for great sound over volume anytime.

Two European spyware firms added to US export blacklist

WASHINGTON—The US Commerce Department added two Europe-based spyware companies to its technology export blacklist on Tuesday for developing surveillance tools deemed to have threatened US national security as well as the privacy and integrity of individuals and organizations worldwide. Such tools are regularly used for political repression and other human rights abuses, including for spying on journalists and intimidating political dissidents.

The sanctioned companies are in Greece-based Intellexa S.A., Hungary-based Cytrox and related entities in Ireland and Macedonia. Intellexa and Cytrox have been linked to Predator spyware, whose reported use in Greece helped precipitate the

resignation last year of two top government officials, including the national intelligence director.

Commercial spyware firms already on the Commerce Department’s so-called Entity List— essentially making it illegal for US companies to do business with them—include Israel’s NSO Group, maker of the much better known Pegasus spyware. It was added in November 2021.

The exact business relationship between Intellexa and Cytrox is unclear and the Commerce Department did not specify it.

Tuesday’s blacklisting follows a White House executive order in March that deemed the unchecked proliferation of mercenary spyware a threat to national security. Dozens of US government employees were found to have been targeted with

Pegasus.

In December 2021, digital sleuths at the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab discovered Predator spyware on the iPhone of a leading exiled Egyptian dissident.

In a joint probe with Facebook, Citizen Lab discovered that Cytrox had customers in countries including Armenia, Greece, Indonesia, Madagascar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Serbia. Cytrox was at the time part of a shadowy alliance of companies under the umbrella of Intellexa, which was created in 2019 to compete with NSO Group. Its founder was former Israeli military officer Tal Dilian.

A message left for Dilian seeking comment was not immediately returned. AP

■ SUPERB MAIN CAMERA: The OnePlus Nord 3 has a 50MP Sony IMX890 main sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS)—the same camera in its flagship OnePlus 11, minus the Hasselblad branding. Accompanying the primary sensor is an 8MP ultrawide Sony IMX355 sensor and a 2MP macro lens. The primary camera is capable of capturing superb photos with nice colors accuracy, plenty of details, and decent dynamic range in daylight and favorable lighting. The main camera can also deliver pretty impressive night shots, but you really need a tripod or stand to achieve it because it can take as long as 10-seconds to complete a shot and even a slight jerk will blur the image.

The 112˚ ultrawide lens also does a good job to help you capture realistic wide-angle photos with less weird warping and distortion. The quality is obviously different but the results are still quite good and useful. As for the 2MP macro lens, it’s just there to puff the spec sheet and not very useful.

For selfie enthusiasts, the OnePlus Nord 3 has a 16MP front-facing camera that again performs exceptionally well under good lighting conditions, capturing clear and precise shots. The selfie lens preserves the natural look of your face, though there are lots of built-in filters that can modify various facial features, including skin tone, eyes, nose and chin, if you prefer the Korean glass skin look.

The OnePlus Nord 3 can record 4K videos at 60fps and there’s also a tripod and steady mode, further enhancing the video recording experience. So far, I’ve been using it for my event coverages and reels and though I’m quite satisfied with the results, its zoom capability is a bit underwhelming especially in videos.

■ I LOVE BIG BATTS: Like almost every 2023 phone, the OnePlus Nord 3 houses a robust 5000mAh battery. It does have an edge in terms of charging speed as it supports 80W Supervooc wired fast charging. You can get up to 55 percent in just 15 minutes, and fully charge an empty battery in less than 40 minutes.

Battery life proved to be decent as well, as I was able to use it for an entire day of photography when we attended the Anime X Cosplay convention last week and it still had plenty of juice left by the time we got home. It’s worth noting that the Nord 3 offers several battery features such as High-Performance Mode, Optimize Battery Use, Sleep Standby Optimization, Wise Charging, and more, allowing users to optimize their battery life and usage. ■

Reliable mobile connection when you need it most

The World

Black Sea threats escalate anew as Kyiv warns on Russian ships

to repel Russian aggression at sea,” Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said.

The Black Sea is also home to a major Russian oil terminal, with more than half a million barrels a day of crude flowing through Novorossiysk, which is also a key port for fertilizer, grain and coal. Oil prices were little changed, suggesting the market took a skeptical view of the prospect of disruption.

It wasn’t immediately clear how realistic the Ukrainian threat would be. Russia’s Defense Ministry also didn’t specify what it would do to any ships that try to enter Ukrainian ports.

been thwarted by cannon fire. Only naval escorts would provide such defenses for Russian merchant ships.

Since Moscow halted the Black Sea agreement that allowed Ukraine to export part of its grain harvests, Russia has attacked Ukrainian grain storage facilities and warned that all vessels heading to Ukrainian ports would be considered potential carriers of military supplies.

Wheat prices surged on Wednesday, and initially jumped again when the Defense Ministry in Kyiv said any ships heading to ports in Russia and Ukrainian areas occupied by Kremlin troops were also legitimate targets. They then gave up those gains to trade little changed.

The escalating threat to vital Black Sea trade steps up the risk of turmoil on global markets for

everything from oil and food staples to fertilizers. Russia’s attack on its neighbor has already severely disrupted exports from Ukraine, a major producer of grains and vegetable oils.

Ukraine has previously attacked Russian ships in the Black Sea, sinking the flagship Moskva cruiser with a Neptune anti-ship missile shortly after Russia’s invasion.

It also sank a landing ship and damaged another in the port of Berdyansk in March of 2022, and Ukrainian rockets have reached Russia’s main supply line to Crimea, the Kerch Strait bridge.

“The fate of the cruiser Moskva proves that Ukraine’s defense forces have the means necessary

Russia also has several export terminals for refined oil products near Taman, across from eastern Crimea. Tanker tracking data monitored by Bloomberg shows 28 oil tankers, mostly smaller products carriers, in the vicinity.

Alexander Kulikov, Chief Executive Officer at St-Petersburg based chartering company Sea Lines Ltd, said that Novorossiysk port was working as usual on Thursday. Passage through the Kerch strait has been closed since the Crimea bridge blast, and it’s unclear when it will reopen, he said. He has two ships waiting to pass the Kerch strait from the south side, he said. A spokesperson for Novorossiysk port did not immediately reply to requests for comment.

On the other hand, Russia’s defense capabilities in the northern Black Sea and the Sea of Azov are considerable. They include a fleet of warships, including missile cruisers and radar designed to provide a protective umbrella against attack from the air, as well as the large military base on Crimea at Sevastopol.

The longest range missiles Ukraine has are Harpoons and the Storm Shadows provided by the UK. Both have maximum ranges that fall well short of Novorossiysk, as well as its approaches. That will complicate any Ukrainian efforts to strike tankers in the area.

Ukraine also has developed a small number of much less powerful long-range aerial drones that may have been used in largely symbolic attacks on Moscow, in May.

Lacking a deployable navy, Kyiv has been using surface water drones in attacks on Russian naval vessels, most of which have

“They’ve shown in a number of ways they can put Russian shipping under threat in ways that surprised the Russians, so potentially they could,” said Nick Childs, senior fellow for naval forces and maritime security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a London think tank. “The question is whether this is part of a rhetorical slanging match, to put pressure on others to bring the grain deal back into operation, as we have seen in the past.”

The Russians may also believe, according to Childs, that the combination of overnight attacks on Ukrainian ports and grain terminals, together with threats to attack commercial shipping will be enough to create a de facto blockade, without having to actually sink any vessels.

Attacks on loaded oil tankers would also carry the risk of environmental disaster, which could trigger an unwanted backlash from the international community.

Bloomberg News

Currency devaluations touted by IIF to aid troubled economies

TROUBLED governments that devalue their currencies tend to benefit from the decision, underscoring the tool’s usefulness in the face of crisis, according to the Institute of International Finance (IIF). There’s been a pivot toward economic growth in countries just three years after authorities opt for major currency devaluations, economists Robin Brooks and Jonathan Fortun found in an analysis of the 51 largest and most-persistent episodes

UNITED STATES Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director William Burns said Thursday that he remains optimistic Ukraine will be able to make advances its counteroffensive against Russia, based on the intelligence he has reviewed.

Russia suffers from some significant “structural weaknesses” behind the considerable defenses it has built up, Burns said at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado. Those weaknesses include poor morale, poor generalship and “disarray” among its political and military leadership.

“It is going to be a tough slog, but we’re going to do everything we can as an intelligence agency to provide the kind of intelligence support and sharing that’s going to help the Ukrainians to make progress,” Burns said.

Burns said that mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin’s mu -

since 1990. Export volumes rise, according to the Washingtonbased banking trade group, and current-account deficits reliably narrow—with some even turning to surpluses.

“As asymmetric shocks—from climate change to heightened geopolitical risk multiply—we think the policy consensus needs to shift back to seeing exchange rate devaluations as part of the solution and not a problem to be avoided,” Brooks and Fortun wrote in a Thursday report.

Some of the world’s most-indebt-

tiny in June had “exposed some of the significant weaknesses in the system that Putin has built.”

“For a lot of Russians watching this used to this image of Putin as the arbiter of order, the question was does the emperor have no clothes or at least why does it take so long for him to get dressed,” Burns said.

Burns’ comments echoed remarks earlier this week by Sir Richard Moore, the head of Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service, known at MI6. Moore said that Putin’s government was beset by “venality, infighting and callous incompetence” and that the aftermath of Prigozhin’s mutiny had been “humiliating” to Putin.

Putin will likely try to avoid giving the impression that he is overreacting to the mutiny, while trying to extract what he can of value from Prigozhin’s Wagner network, Burns said. Still, Burns said Prigozhin is likely to see ret -

ed nations have found themselves embroiled in debates surrounding currency devaluations this year as they weigh the drop in their exchange-rates needed to secure bailouts from the International Monetary Fund. Egypt, Pakistan and Lebanon are among those that have opted for devaluations in a bid to address dollar shortages and other fiscal challenges.

Argentina, too, has faced pressure to drop its peso exchange rate as discussions heat up with the IMF. A delegation from Ar -

ribution from Putin at some point.

“Putin is the ultimate apostle of payback,” Burns said. “If I were Prigozhin, I wouldn’t fire my food taster.”

Burns said the mutiny presented a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” for CIA recruitment in Russia. The agency recently made its first video post on Telegram, the social media and messaging site developed and widely used in Russia, to let Russians know how to contact it on the “dark web.” Burns said the video was viewed 2.5 million times in the week after it was posted.

Burns, a diplomat before becoming the CIA chief, has emerged as a key backchannel for the Biden administration’s thorny relationships with Russia and China. He went to Moscow before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in an attempt to talk Putin’s government out of attacking and, more recently, traveled to Beijing in a bid to

gentina’s Economy Ministry is in Washington this week to discuss the fifth review of a $44 billion loan with the multilateral lender. Meantime, the gap between the official and black market rate widens past 100 percent.

Governments are often hesitant to devalue their own currencies — a process that typically reduces the purchasing power of people in the nation.

“None of this is to say that devaluations aren’t painful,” the IIF economists wrote. “They imply

keep intelligence channels with China open.

Burns said that CIA has “made progress” in rebuilding its intelligence network in China after setbacks in the country. “We’ve made progress and we’re working very hard over recent years to ensure that we have a strong human intelligence capability to complement what we can do through other methods,” Burns said.

CIA launched a China Mission Center in 2021 to hone the agency’s focus on “an increasingly adversarial Chinese government.”

Burns added that Chinese President Xi Jinping and his military leadership likely “have doubts about whether they could pull off a successful full-scale invasion of Taiwan at an acceptable cost to them,” Burns said. Putin’s experience in Ukraine has “probably r einforced some of those doubts,” he said. Bloomberg News

RUSSIAN prosecutors at the trial of opposition leader Alexey Navalny are seeking to jail him for 20 more years, according to allies of President Vladimir Putin’s most outspoken critic. A Russian court that’s hearing an “extremism” case against Navalny inside a strict-regime prison set an Aug. 4 hearing to announce the verdict in the trial, the state-run Tass news service reported Thursday, citing his lawyer Olga Mikhailova.

The prosecution in the closed court has asked for a sentence of 20 years in a special regime prison, Maria Pevchikh, head of Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation said on Twitter. Another Navalny ally, Ivan Zhdanov, posted a similar message on Telegram.

T he state prosecutor has requested a sentence of 20 years in special regime prison for Navalny. The verdict will be announced on August 4th.

—Maria Pevchikh (@pevchikh)

meaningful disruption, especially when hard currency debt plays a big role.”

Still, they pointed to the benefits. After devaluations, countries tend to see their current-account deficits narrow, or even swing into surplus, they wrote. There is also a lift to growth in export volumes, which rises with the scale of devaluation. A rise in exports often becomes material about two years after the devaluation begins and lasts for years, Brooks and Fortun wrote.  Bloomberg News

Navalny faces almost certain conviction on charges of founding an “extremist” group and six other related criminal counts. He’s already serving a nine-year term for fraud and contempt of court that was imposed after he returned to Russia in early 2021 following treatment in Germany for a nerve-agent poisoning in Siberia that he and Western governments blamed on the Kremlin. Russian authorities denied responsibility.

Navalny, 47, had been in detention for almost half a year when authorities outlawed his organizations as “extremist” in mid-2021 and crushed his network of activists. Most of his top aides fled Russia to avoid arrest.  He and his supporters have continued to face a relentless crackdown by the authorities since Putin ordered the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Bloomberg News

Google says it’s developing tools to help journalists create headlines and stories

NEW YORK—Google says it is in the early stages of developing artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help journalists write stories and headlines, and has discussed its ideas with leaders in the news industry.

The rapidly-evolving technology is already raising concerns about whether it can be trusted to provide accurate reports, and whether it would eventually lead to human journalists losing their jobs in an industry that is already suffering financially.

Leaders at The New York Times, The Washington Post and News Corp., owners of The Wall Street Journal, have been briefed on what Google is working on, the Times reported Thursday.

Google, in a prepared statement, said AI-enhanced tools could help give journalists options for headlines or different writing styles when they are working on a story—characterizing it as a way to enhance work and productivity.

“These tools are not intended to, and cannot, replace the essential role journalists have in reporting, creating and fact-checking their articles,” Google said.

The Associated Press, which would not comment Thursday on what it knows about Google’s technology, has been using a simpler form of AI in some of its work for about a decade. For example, it uses automation to help create stories on routine sports results and corporate earnings.

A debate over how to apply the latest AI writing tools overlaps with concerns from news organizations and other professions about whether technology companies are fairly compensating them to use their published works to improve AI systems known as large language models.

To build AI systems that can produce human-like works of writing, tech companies have had to ingest large troves of written works, such as news articles and digitized books. Not all companies disclose the sources of that data, some of which is pulled off the Internet.

Last week, AP and ChatGPTmaker OpenAI announced a deal for the AI company to license AP’s archive of news stories going back to 1985. The financial terms were not disclosed.

Chatbots such as ChatGPT and Google’s own Bard are part of a class of so-called generative AI tools that are increasingly effective at mimicking different writing styles, as well as visual art and other media. Many people are already using them as a time-saver to compose emails and other routine documents or helping with homework.

However, the systems are also prone to spouting falsehoods that people unfamiliar with a subject might not notice, making them risky for applications such as gathering news or dispensing medical advice. AP

UKRAINE said any ships heading to Russian ports may be military targets, a tit-for-tat response to a threat from Moscow that escalates the war’s risk to global food markets.

Weaknesses lie behind Russian defenses in Ukraine–CIA chief

Putin foe Alexey Navalny risks 2 more decades in prison, allies say

FILIPINAS GIVE SWISS TOUGH FIGHT IN DEBUT

395 athletes to Hangzhou Asiad–Tolentino

THE country will field 395 athletes to the Hangzhou 19th Asian Games in September, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino announced on Friday. The number reached 400 but was later trimmed down after a series of deliberations by the POC and the national sports associations,” said Tolentino after the POC General Assembly at the East Ocean Seafood Restaurant.

Tolentino said the athletes will compete in 37 of the 40 sports in the ultra-modern city of Hangzhou from September 24 to October 8.

The Philippines aims to match or surpass the four gold medals won in the last edition in Jakarta and Palembang five years ago—Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo in weightlifting, Margielyn Didal in skateboarding and Yuka Saso, Bianca Pagdanganan and Lois Kaye Go in women’s individual and team golf. The country also clinches two silvers and 15 bronzes.

Tolentino said Kayla Sanchez, who formerly competed for Canada, is favored to medal in five events in swimming.

Tolentino also added Philippine

Skating Union president Nikki Cheng as a deputy chef de missions to the Asian Games because she speaks fluent Chinese. She joins chef de mission Richard Gomez and deputy Karen Caballero.

Her expertise in communicating in the Chinese language will really help us there,” Tolentino said.

The International Jet Sports Boating Association, meanwhile, was accepted as the POC’s 55th regular voting member and the Cheerleading Association of the Philippines as the ninth associated member.

Manila Chooks! eyes Shanghai Masters slot

MANILA Chooks! marks its return to the pro circuit as it joins the FIBA 3x3 World Tour 2023 Huishan Wuxi Challenger this weekend in China.

L eading the team in the Level 9

tournament set at the Wuxi Sunac Taihu Show Theatre on Saturday and Sunday is the Philippines’ No. 1 ranked 3x3 player Mac Tallo, along with Dennis Santos (No. 4), Paul Desiderio (No. 8) and returning import Marcus Hammonds.

Hammonds first joined the Chooks! stable when he represented Cebu Chooks! at the Riyadh Masters last season. The American comes in as a late replacement for Sierra Leonean reinforcement Tosh Sesay, who is yet to secure his visa.

Head trainer Chico Lanete and his charges left for China Friday.

We’ve started our shooting session with coach Renren [Ritualo] early this month and a Serbian strength and conditioning coach will join the team as well,” Chooks-to-Go

President Ronald Mascariñas said.

Manila Chooks! needs more international exposure, build chemistry, and gain more confidence

PHL swim team off to Fukuoka worlds

THE six-member team led by two-time Olympian Jasmine Alkhaldi left Manila on Thursday for the 17th World Aquatics Championship in Fukuoka, Japan.

The 30-year-old US-educated Alkhaldi qualified for the world championships set July 23 to 30 along with Southeast Asian Games record-holder Xiandi Chua, Thanya Dela Cruz, Jerard Jacinto and USbased Jarod Hatch.

DUNEDIN, New Zealand—Ramona Bachmann drilled her penalty kick into the left side of the net moments before halftime to set up Switzerland’s 2-0 win over Philippines on Friday in the Women’s World Cup opener for both teams.

Switzerland’s Seraina Piubel added a second-half goal, scoring on the rebound from a missed shot by Coumba Sow that ricocheted off Philippines goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel.

The Group A encounter was the first game inside Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium, the tournament’s only indoor venue. The crowd’s cheers echoed around the walls of the roughly half-full stadium, with an attendance of 13,711 in a venue that can fit over 30,000.

Philippines forward Katrina Guillou appeared to score a goal in the 15th minute, but it was waived off by an offside call.

Sw itzerland dominated offensively, outshooting the Philippines 17-3, but the Filipinas’ defense hung on. McDaniel held her own, making several key first-half saves—only allowing Bachmann’s late penalty.

O fficials made the key penalty call against the Philippines in the waning moments of the first half, drawing a chorus of boos from Philippines fans.

Switzerland’s Sow slid for the ball in the Philippines’ penalty area and, as she went down, she was kicked by Jessika Cowart.

By Josef Ramos

McDaniel went the wrong way on Bachmann’s penalty.

Actually I was really calm, to be honest,” Bachman said. “I’ve been training on it a lot. I feel quite confident in them.”

W ith the victory, Switzerland moved into a tie for first place in Group A with New Zealand, and improved its chances of moving on

EUMIR FELIX MARCIAL has committed to the national boxing team to the Hangzhou 20th Asian Game as he rekindles his Olympic gold medal dream in Paris next year.

He [Marcial] already committed to play in the Asian Games after his fight bout in August,” Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) secretary-general Marcus Jarwin Manalo.Manalo told BusinessMirror on Friday during the Philippine Olympic Committee General Assembly at the East Ocean Restaurant in Parañaque City.

to the round of 16.

The Philippines played gamely in their Women’s World Cup debut but face a hard climb to get into the knock-out stage of the tournament. Together, they made it really difficult to find solutions to get in front of the goal, so, yeah, it was a tough game. We knew that we had to be patient,” Swiss defender

Marcial commits

to

“ He’s already in the official lineup,” Manalo added.

fight

in

M arcial, 27, is training in Las Vegas for his fifth professional fight next month and he’s expected to join the national team training shortly after.

POC President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino expressed high hopes on Marcial’s commitment, saying the four-time Southeast Asian Games middleweight king provides a great impact to the nation’s campaign in Hangzhou.

Luana Bühler said.

It’s just a moment in the game. There are hundreds of moments that happen in the game, and that just happened to be in the penalty box. [The Swiss] had luck in that moment. But they made their own luck with good play,” said Alen Stajcic, Philippines head coach, on the penalty that led to Switzerland’s first goal.

Switzerland will face Norway, coming off an upset loss to New Zealand, in Hamilton, while the Philippines takes on an energized New Zealand in Wellington. Both matches are Tuesday.

B achmann converted the penalty kick in the 45th minute and Piubel wrapped the game up on a point blank follow-up in the 65th minute.

I n what could have changed the entire complexion of the game, forward Katrina Guillou struck from the right wing after slipping past a defender in the 16th minute, only to see it ruled offside by Togo referee  Vincentia Abedome.

W hile acknowledging that the Swiss were the better overall side, Stajcic was mildly puzzled  the referee awarded the  penalty kick to the Swiss.

Did you see it the offense of Stewart? Was it clear? I did not see the replay, but if it is a penalty it should be clear,” Stajcic told a foreign scribe about the initial goal.

But it has to be admitted that the Swiss were dominant during the last 10-minute period and when you work that hard, you create your own luck,” the Aussie tactician added.

Stajcic also pointed out that if Guillou’s goal was counted “this would have change the tenor of the game because it would put the pressure on them not us.”

S witzerland’s German coach Ingmar Gings complimented  the Filipinas in their tough play in the first half and was relieved that her favored charges settled down on the way to completing the muchneeded win. AP

Asiad, eyes Paris berth

“ I believe Eumir will win and qualify for the Olympics,” Tolentino said.

The boxing competitions in the Asian Games—set September 23 to October 8—are a qualifier to the Paris Olympics.

M arcial is guaranteed of a slot to the Asian Games because there are no other aspirants at 80 kgs (middleweight) in the ABAP pool, according to Manalo.

There won’t be a boxoff for 80 kgs, unlike in the 51, 57 and 63.5 kgs,” Manalo said. SWIMMING

Olympian Ryan Arabejo will coach the team formed by the World Aquatic-backed Philippine Swimming Inc. (PSI) headed by newly elected president Miko Vargas and secretarygeneral Batangas Rep. Eric Buhain. “

The world’s top swimmers makes this tournament a fierce competition, no doubt about it,” said Buhain, a Philippine Sports Hall-of-Famer and considered the most decorated Filipino swimmer. “But our athletes are out to experience the atmosphere in a high-level tournament, try to improve their personal best time, and sharpen their skills.”

T he Filipinos qualified for the annual event based on their World Aquatics points collated in all sanctioned events they participated in.

Objective is to get the highest World Aquatics Points through their best performance and get a chance to compete in the Paris Olympics. We’re hoping for the best for our swimmers,” Buhain added.

A lkhaldi, the face of Philippine swimming in years, qualified for the 50 meters freestyle where she has a personal best of 25.50 as well as in 100m butterfly with a best time of 1:00.45 she recorded in clinching the bronze medal at the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games last May.

The 21-year-old Chua, who trained in Australia as part of her preparation for the Sea Games, registered to compete in the 400m individual medley and 200m backstroke where she has a good chance of finishing strong considering the progress of her time since her return from Down Under, according to his personal trainer/coach former Olympian Pinky Brosas.

“Considering the progress of her time since her Australia training, the prospects are good for Xiandi,” Brosas said.

T he Ateneo student won the gold medal in record-fashioned in Cambodia clocking 2:13.20 shattering the SEA Games record of 2:13.64 set by Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Anh Vien in the women’s 200m backstroke at the 2017 edition in Jakarta.  She reset her 4:56.82 performance in Australia trials with an impressive 4:52.08 clocking in winning the bronze also in SEAG.

Malixi pulls off shocker vs Rischer, barges into quarters

RIANNE MALIXI birdied three of the last five holes in stirring fashion, overcoming a two-hole deficit and nipping Audrey Rischer, 1-up, to crash into the quarterfinal round of the upset-marred US Girls’ Junior Match Play Championship in Colorado Thursday.

shock, so dejected that she holed out with a bogey.

T he ICTSI-backed ace faces No.

17 Farah O’Keefe in the quarterfinals Friday morning with the eight survivors bracing for another grueling test of stamina with the semifinals slated in the afternoon.

really cold in the first 12 holes,” said Malixi, who missed five birdie chances inside 6 feet before falling two holes down as Rischer dominated the long holes and birdied Nos. 9 and 11. Malixi missed another chance on No. 12 and Rischer halved the next hole to sit on the two-hole cushion with five holes left.

THE Philippines’s No Mac Tallo, Dennis Santos, Paul Desiderio and import Marcus Hammonds are ready for China tourney.

in the pro circuit,” Mascariñas added.

Seeded 11th in the main draw, Manila! Chooks! will open Pool C play on Saturday against world No. 7 Beijing of China at 4:35 p.m. before facing world No. 15 Utrecht of the Netherlands at 9 p.m. The Wuxi Challenger also serves as a qualifier for the World Tour

Shanghai Masters set October 14 and 15, with the top three finishers assured of slots to the Level 10 event.

A fter missing the knockout stages of the Chooks-to-Go FIBA

3x3 World Tour 2023 Manila Masters last May, Lanete said the group is determined to finish better in its latest campaign.

Not only did the win net the 24th ranked Malixi a spot in the quar terfinals packed with bidders who hacked out stirring reversals over their respective highly-ranked rivals but it also gave the 16-year-old Filipina the confidence and momentum she would need as she steps up her drive for the coveted championship.

Two holes down with five to go, Malixi came through with three birdies in the pressure-packed stretch, including a match-clinching tap-in feat on the closing par-4 hole of the Eisenhower Golf Club’s Blue course that left her American rival in total

gains confidence and momentum.

But while Malixi toughened up in the face of adversity, the No. 25 Rischer cracked trying to stay ahead and ward off any of the former’s plausible stretch-run rally. The American failed as she bogeyed the 14th and though she hung tough by matching Malixi’s pars in the next two holes, the latter proved clutch, rolling in a delicate 15-foot putt for birdie on the 17th to force an all-square match.

I know that it was a tough match. But it was never over until it’s over. So I kept on grinding and fighting back,” said Malixi.

THE Philippines’ Hali Long (5) heads the ball during the second half of the match against Switzerland as Filipino fans cheer on the Filipinas on Friday. AP

federation secretary-general Rep. Eric Buhain (left) with Xiandi Chua (center) and Pinky Brosas.

RIANNE MALIXI

TOLENTINO