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Monday, June 15, 2020

Pivot or pause: How Pinoy global designers are responding to the pandemic

OUR local fashion designers have adapted as well as they could during this pandemic. But what of their creative counterparts overseas? Some, like the ones in the US and UK, not only have to deal with the impact of Covid-19 but also the massive protests against racism and police brutality.

The designers know that they need to evolve to survive, either by pivoting to protective clothing or resetting their business platform to adapt to a changing financial climate.

Here are five inspiring global Filipino fashion entrepreneurs in their own fighting words: ■ REYNIER ABELLO (PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA). Since all the shows and collection launches this year are canceled, we are trying to divert onto online platforms. At the moment we are in the process of creating a motion capture lookbook to be streamed later this month.

Clients are more conscious when it comes to spending and they need clothes that could last long, something they can maximize and use for varied purposes and occasions. The major challenge for me as a designer is that supplies are not coming in because of the logistics challenges. However, this is also an opportunity for me to be more adaptable and creative by sourcing materials locally. It is when the constraints are high that one strives for innovation.

My brand, Armada by Abello, launched in 2014, is looking at going for Normcore fashion. Something unpretentious and egalitarian to accommodate the current socioeconomic climate. Once the situation improves, our plan is to transition toward digital marketing and maximize our presence in the e-commerce sphere. ■ LEN NEPOMUCENO-MORTEL (BANGKOK, THAILAND). My brand name is L. (short for Len Nepomuceno Mortel). The company name is L.Official Corp., launched 10 years ago, and under it are L.Shoes, BridesbyLen (RTW bridal gowns), Len Nepomuceno Mortel (made-to-order), and in November 2019, I opened La Cesta del Pan (couture bread, stylish sandwiches, fashionable shop-resto).

My fashion line is on hold. Weddings scheduled for this year are postponed, and social functions are canceled. My clients for fashion are all requesting to put their orders on hold, and even shipments of shoes are on hold, too, since they are coming from other countries, and Thailand’s borders are closed. Some clients are requesting for a virtual fashion show, which I am planning to do soon, with Dong OmagaDiaz directing via Zoom.

Also early on in this pandemic, I started to design and make masks, but they are not for sale. I give them away to clients and friends here in Bangkok, since people are not allowed to go anywhere outside their homes without a mask on.

Even though Thailand is slowly getting back to normal, I guess I will still practice social distancing with my clients, limiting the number and scheduling fittings to later dates. I am just fortunate and thankful to still have pending work for next year, some weddings to finish, and resetting the business to the “new normal” is something that I will have to get used to. I guess the masks will stay on for a long time, hand sanitizers and masks are freebies that are included when my clients receive their orders. ■ RC CAYLAN (MICHIGAN, USA). I am patiently waiting for this pandemic to subside. Since my business RC Caylan Atelier, established in 2016, was deemed nonessential, our governor asked us to temporarily close. In the meantime, I created an initiative making masks with other volunteers. We made 1,857 masks that we donated to our local frontliners at hospitals, and essential market employees.

It is a very difficult and challenging time. Besides Covid-19, there are Black Lives Matter protests in Grand Rapids. I’m one of the lucky ones that didn’t get looted because my studio is in the third floor, while all businesses that were on street level were all damaged.

Most of my clients who were getting married this year postponed their plans. That affects my income. Literally, no income for three months. But our governor issued in early June an executive order allowing partially opening up businesses. ■ PAULA FIGUERAS (LISBON, PORTUGAL). My main business, apart from the production of the bags

called GustoKo, launched six years ago, is the distribution of our bags to various luxury stores around Portugal and to our stockists around the world. I consider the owners of the shops that we work with as my main clients.

During the lockdown period here, I felt fortunate that I made that decision of closing my own store in 2016 to focus on penetrating a larger market by partnering with more established boutiques who already have a vast and loyal client list. My partner told me about their difficulties of having their shops closed for two months and still they needed to continue paying their fixed costs without any sales coming in. Most of them have requested for slightly longer payment terms as they slowly recuperate from the financial blow because of the pandemic.

During the last few months, we all saw the importance of having a strong online presence for brands and retail shops. We are quite active on social media through our Instagram account, but our brand doesn’t have its own web site yet. I had been working closely with an online fashion boutique here in Portugal, www.meliestore.com, for online sales, and it has saved me a lot of time, money and effort to let them handle our online sales.

With the pandemic effects, though, I realized that we need to be more solid with our online presence. To grow as a brand, we need to show our own identity to our clients through our own web site. So as part of our adaptation to the recent effects of the pandemic, we are now constructing our own web site.

I would say financial and moral difficulties are what I am dealing with the most now. I expected so much from 2020 because we had such a fantastic in 2019. I have the pandemic to blame but there’s

JUNG EUN-CHAE’S CHIC STAPLES

FEISTY Prime Minister Goo Seo-ryung (played by popular Korean actress Jung Eun-chae in The King: Eternal Monarch, now streaming on Netflix) has been serving us powerful looks throughout the series. Being the charismatic and sassy leader that she is, we can’t help but notice her favorite items—from long coats or a stylish top to structured bags and eyecatching heels.

Crazy about the look? Girl, you can easily channel the look with just the pieces from the world’s top brands, all of which are carried by the SSI Group around these parts—from Alexander McQueen and his Ottoman High Neck knit top, Jimmy Choo and his Love 100 mm Zebra print pumps, to Prada and her Kid Mohair coat with beaded embroidery and Salvatore Ferragamo and his BOXYZ bag.

Go rule in style.

➜SALVATORE

FERRAGAMO BOXYZ leather top handle bag

➜JIMMY CHOO

Love 100mm Zebra print pumps

Things you should know if you wear contact lenses

IF you’re a contact lens wearer, you should be going through at least 12 bottles of those cleaning solutions in a year and as many lens cases.

I’ll be honest. I go through three bottles at most every year. That’s nine bottles short!

“Properly caring for contact lenses is very important and that includes not sleeping in them unless your eye doctor has given you the clearance to do so; cleaning and deep cleaning them regularly; and being compliant with replacement schedules,” said Dr. Jeannette Romualdez, professional affairs consultant at Alcon.

Alcon offers contact lenses and cleaning solutions for different eyes and varying lifestyles. Their offerings include Air Optix Colors, Freshlook Colorblends (monthly), Freshlook One-Day, Dailies Aqua Comfort Plus and Air Optix Hydraglyde.

They also have AOSEPT Plus, a deep cleaning solution for contact lenses; Systane, which provides relief for dry eyes; and Opti-Free Puremoist Disinfecting Contact Solution.

During an online press conference, Romualdez

answered a question commonly asked by contact lens wearers. Is it safe to wear contact lenses during a pandemic?

“Yes, it is. According to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, there is currently no scientific evidence that contact lens wearers have an increased risk of contracting Covid-19 compared with

those who wear glasses,” she said.

But Romualdez said good hygiene is important. Beyond proper handwashing and drying, contact lens handling is important.

For instance, did you know that you should deep clean your contact lenses regularly to rid them of deposits and debris? no point in dwelling and feeling sorry for what happened. We are taking things slowly now. As I said before, we are assessing our businesses practices and brand positioning in the market to see how we can improve our work and our brand. My goal now during this downtime is to be able to pinpoint our weaknesses and address them. We plan to come out of this crisis stronger and with a better perspective and sustainable plan. Hopefully, Lisbon resident Madonna will notice our brand soon! ■ CABRINI ROY (LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM). My namesake brand has actually hit a pause due to the pandemic. For example, my fabric and material supplier has had issues with production, so I’ve had to put my online shop on pause. However, if anyone wants to order, just send us an e-mail at info@ cabriniroy.com and we can add you to the VIP list of first orders to complete when we open up. As we are a made-to-order brand, we only order the fabrics we need, so we have low spoilage. Still, it’s been extremely hard especially as we only launched in February right before lockdown happened here in the UK. However, I’m staying positive and I know this time will pass.

I would love to help (make protective gear and face masks). If I were to do this, I would make face masks for free for every client, make free face masks for the National Health Services, or if I was to sell it I would donate all the money to our health heroes. However, this is not possible because I’m unable to get to my studio due to the lockdown. With everything opening up again, this could change in the near future.

I will reset my business by continuing how we were before the pandemic, but changing the way of work in my studio. ■

➜PRADA Kid Mohair coat with beaded embroidery

Romualdez said you can do this with AOSEPT Hydra Glide, which contains hydrogen peroxide to deeply clean lenses. She also advises rinsing the contact lens case with solution after every use and drying the case on a dry tissue or cloth. Not doing this, warned Romualdez, you’re just topping off, meaning adding new solution to an old one in the case.

There is also a proper way of cleaning your lenses (using Opti-Free Puremoist Disinfecting Contact Solution), and that is with the ball of your pointer finger. It’s 20 strokes on the front of the lens and another 20 strokes on the side that touches the eye.

Never rinse your lenses with water or soak them in water. Another advise that Romualdez has for contact lens wearers is for them to take off the lenses before bedtime. I’ve worn contact lenses since the 1990s and I must say that recent technologies have really been helpful for me. Dailies Aqua Comfort Plus is a gamechanger. It gives you convenience and piece of mind because you put it on in the morning, remove it at night and throw them away. “The Dailies have blink activated technology for exceptional comfort. They’re for those with sensitive eyes because the lenses feel like nothing,” said Romualdez.

Freshlook and Air Optix color contact lenses are for those who want to transform their eye color. I used the Pure Hazel color and it looked so natural that you’d barely notice unless you looked closely.

Air Optix HydraGlyde are the best if you’re looking for comfort and good vision. They’re the lenses to wear if you’re going to have a long and busy day.

Talking to Dr. Romualdez definitely changed my contact lens wear and care habits. I wish I had done the things she had said sooner.

Monday, June 15, 2020

Nutrition, relief efforts top

Odyssey Foundation's priorities N UTRITION and relief efforts topped feeding programs for underweight kids the social activities of Odyssey under Gabay Nutrisyon which focuses on Foundation Inc. (OFI), the corporate addressing child hunger and malnutrition. social responsibility arm of Foodsphere Inc., The Foundation reached more than in the fiscal year 2019-2020. 6,700 children in the National Capital

Jerome D. Ong, President of OFI, said Region(NCR), Batangas and Oriental the foundation continues to expand the Mindoro in FY 2019. reach of the NEELS program which stands Meanwhile, more than 4,400 for the five pillars of Nutrition, Education, beneficiaries in five communities in NCR, Environment, Livelihood and Service to Pampanga and Batangas benefitted from Humanity. the Gabay Edukasyon program in the "Continuing passion for service has been same year. Gabay Edukasyon provides the theme for Odyssey Foundation's fiscal first-aid trainings, seminars and disaster year 2019-2020 covering April 1, 2019 until preparedness kits to public schools. March 30, 2020," said Ong who is also the OFI also established two school gardens President of CDO-Foodsphere Inc. in Valenzuela and one in Malvar, Batangas "This has been the shared vision of under Gabay Kalikasan, its environmental Jerome D. Ong Odyssey Foundation and its parent firm. pillar. A special gardening project was meal packs to 2,000 individuals in the Giving back to the marginalized sector is also launched in an Aeta community in early part of 2020, representing the final in support of the company's core values Floridablanca, Pampanga to help them quarter of OFI’s FY 2019. and Project NEELS is one of our advocacy become more resilient after an earthquake OFI also provided 500 boxes of campaigns," Ong said. devastated their community. canned goods to partner organizations

OFI Executive director Dindo A. Danao Gabay Hanapbuhay, the livelihood towards the end of FY 2019 in March said the foundation will continue to sustain pillar of OFI, sustained its communitywhen the coronavirus disease 2019 the goals under NEELS as a part of its social based, small-scale livelihood trainings. pandemic struck the country with fear responsibility. OFI administered 18 trainings to 432 and uncertainty. "In the face of the challenges this fiscal beneficiaries in FY 2019, providing them Danao said that in the face of these year, Odyssey Foundation continues to with skills to earn for their families. challenges, OFI continues to respond and provide relevant and significant services Under Gabay Lingkod, its fifth pillar provide relevant and significant services to communities and families in need," said focusing on service to humanity, OFI to communities and families in need. Danao. provided assistance to evacuees displaced "This has been and will always be

OFI conducts community-based, schoolby Taal Volcano eruption in evavuation OFI’s commitment to the Filipino based and church-based supplemental centers in Batangas. OFI distributed 6,000 people," he said.

BAVI distributes free meals to OFWs stranded outside NAIA C HOOKS-to-Go operator Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc. (BAVI), on the eve of Independence Day, gave free meals to passengers -- many of them overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) -- stranded outside Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Staff distributed food packs and drinks to approximately 200 passengers whose flights back home had been canceled.

Once BAVI president Ronald Mascariñas heard that the majority of the stranded came from Mindanao, he immediately sent over packs of ready-toeat meals to all of them.

According to BAVI President Ronald Mascariñas, "OFWs are our modern-day heroes sacrificing to work in foreign lands, so we can enjoy prosperity in our country. It is our utmost responsibility to [help them] in whatever way we can especially that most of them are from my birth place in Mindanao."

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar to reopen doors after 3-month lockdown

HERITAGE site Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is set to re-open its doors on June 16, 2020, three months after the lockdown brought about by the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The province of Bataan, where Las Casas found its home, has continued to register optimistic recovery statistics for the virus. And in cooperation with the local government, Las Casas is hopeful that the

possibility of “flattening the curve” within the community may be at hand.

With its recently launched “Secured Stays at Las Casas” campaign, the brand aspires to redefine cleanliness and safety measures to bring back guests’ confidence in hotel stays and traveling in general.

Deriving guidance from the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Tourism (DOT), stringent

protocols were initiated to assure hotel guests that the heritage site adheres to optimum standards of sanitation.

Marivent Resort Hotel, Inc. President Paul Kerr emphasized the property gives utmost attention on the safety of its guests and employees more than anything.

For updates, visit www.lascasasfilipinas. com or check Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar on Facebook and Instagram.

Bayanihan@AIM Hackathon finals bared winners T HE “Bayanihan@AIM: Restarting and Vice President, Coca-Cola Foundation Philippine Business and Society after Philippines; Jorge Lindley S. Ong, Group Head, COVID-19” virtual hackathon ended Security Bank of the Philippines; Anna Melotoon a very optimistic note after the live virtual Wilk, President and Co-Founder, Human presentations by the finalists last May 18, 2020. Nature; and Primitivo Paypon, Executive

A total of sixty-seven teams participated in Director, AIM-Dado Banatao Incubator. the Institute’s first ever virtual hackathon. AIM The top three finalists for each challenge organized the hackathon to generate innovative were selected based on the following criteria: solutions to help address three challenges that Originality (30%), Alignment to national Philippine business and society will face post objectives and SDGs (30%), Practicality (30%), COVID-19: Food Security, Jobs and the Future and Presentation (10%). of Work, and Support for MSMEs. The final round was a well-attended virtual

Participants were given two weeks to event via Zoom. The proceedings commenced work on their hacks. A distinguished list of with AIM President and Dean Dr. Jikyeong mentors led by AIM professors Dr. Kenneth Kang’s welcome remarks, followed by Associate Hartigan-Go, Jamil Paolo Francisco, Rene Dean Jamil Paolo Francisco’s introduction Domingo, Gaston Ortigas, Felipe Calderon, of the mentors and judges. ARO Executive and Sandeep Puri, were joined by external Managing Director Bernie Jiao served as the mentors Joseph Ian Gendrano and Kristine event’s host. Dara Ever Juan from PLDT Innolab, to provide Each of the finalists’ video presentations critical guidance and advice to all the teams as was played for the judges’ further scrutiny and they relentlessly pursued the most original, review. After each presentation, judges had the practical, and fitting solution to the specific opportunity to ask questions from the team challenge they have chosen. members, or comment on the ideas/solutions

The panels of judges for each of the presented. challenges were composed of: Adjudged as the best among the finalists,

Challenge 1: Food Security Cherrie D. and the grand winners in their respective Atilano - President and CEO and Founding challenges were: Farmer of AGREA Philippines; Gregory Francis Team GulayIsLife for Food Security. H. Banzon – EVP and COO, Century Pacific Team members are: Amherstia M. Ojerio and Food, Inc.; Pacita Juan, Founder, ECHOstore; Rodette A. Astoriano and Ma. Estela O. Nievera, President and CEO, Team WTF: Workforce of the Future for Cabalen Group of Companies. Jobs and the Future of Work. Team members

Challenge 2: Jobs and the Future of Work are: Kevin Anthony Sison, Carmelita Esclanda, Paolo Azzola, COO and Managing Director, Elijah Justin Medina, and Naman Punit. PayMaya Philippines; Catherine S. Ileto, Social Team Syft for Support for MSMEs. Team Impact Lead and Senior Director, Sutherland members are: Michael Glenn Kakumoto, Jann Global Services Philippines, Inc.; and Chito S. Skyler Teng, Ariel Silva, Jr. and Florentino Maniago, Country Head for Communications Gonzales, IV. and Government Affairs, GSK Philippines. Each winning team received PhP50,000 in

Challenge 3: Support for MSMEs Carlo O. cash courtesy of Gold Sponsor Security Bank Asuncion, Chief Economist, Union Bank of the Corporation, and each team member was Philippines; Jonah de Lumen-Pernia, Trustee gifted a mobile phone by PLDT Enterprise.

Antique Balik Probinsya Program A S support to the Balik Probinsya number (0995 823 8180/0917 890 5927) for Program of Governor Rhodora the stranded Antiqueno's to call and avail of "Dodod" Cadiao and Congresswoman the free trip. Inday Loren Legarda for the people of Antique, This initiative is a welcome news especially FastCat will bring locally stranded individuals to those who have long wanted to be reunited from Manila to Culasi, Antique and back with their families or go back to work. starting June 7-June 18, 2020 with specific FastCat is likewise happy to extend its trip schedules arranged especially for the services and be a part of such a noble endeavor Antiqueños. by the Province of Antique at this time of crisis

The Province has provided a hotline brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Incredible India on wheels

Naan w mutton kheema and Vege with ground gravy sauce A S the metropolis got quarantined for more than two months due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a popular but unassuming restaurant quietly marked its 17th year of offering authentic Indian dishes.

Swagat Indian Cuisine was unable to extend its warm hospitality to its diners, but continued to food reach its patrons in the comfort of their homes via Grab Food, Honest Bee, Food Panda, and Lala Food delivery service.

The unassuming restaurant was opened by Indian migrant Komal Khanchandani in the summer of 2003 in Rada St., Legazpi Village in Makati on a wing and prayer, at a fortuitous time of a Hindu religious feast.

Literally meaning “welcome” in the Hindi language, Swagat helped make Indian food a staple in the country’s financial district.

Now at its new home at The Columns at Amorsolo St. cor. Arnaiz Ave., it continues to tickle the local palate with its healthy, homestyle dishes and Khanchandani’s personal touch which has made Swagat hold its own against its fancier competitors.

For appetizers, there is bhel puri and sev puff rice, or methi aloo matter potatoes with green peas cooked with fenugreek leaves and flavored spices or palak pakora, deep fried spinach and spices rolled in chickpea flour.

Main dishes worth trying are malai kofta, a North Indian dish of cheese and vegetable patties cooked in butter sauce; Chicken tikka, tender, skinless and boneless chicken marinated in ginger and garlic; fish palak,

cooked in mild spices, with spinach and sauce; mutton masala, goat meat cooked in onions, tomatoes and spices.

An all-time favorite is sangam biryani or flavored spicy Indian rice with lean, tender pieces of chicken, lamb, cooked in herbs and spices. It has variants such as murgh (chicken), mutton, anda (scrambled egg), and shrimp.

Lassi yoghurt drinks with milk and flavored with either strawberry, mango or rose petals is the standard refreshment.

For customer’s satisfaction, food is prepared based on their preference of mild, medium, hot or extra hot.

A resident of the Philippines for more than 20 years now, Swagat has captured the preferences of her regular guests, as well as the Filipino taste buds.

It is a “halal” restaurant ideal for Muslim diners, and has a wide array of vegetable dishes for vegetarians, which include the metro’s Indian community.

The restaurant occasionally brings in ingredients, implements and paraphernalia, and food concepts from Andra Pradesh state where the owner hails.

And with the gradual opening up of restaurants for dine in customers, guests can experience dining under quarantine health protocols.

Seventeen years and one pandemic later, Khanchandani still exudes with confidence and poses the same challenge to diners since day one: “Don’t pay if you are not satisfied with the food.”

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Monday, June 15, 2020

The coronavirus chronicles: Communica ing wi h children

PR Matters By Millie F. Dizon

SINCE the coronavirus pandemic began, PR pros have been on overdrive testing and honing their communications skills as they address their stakeholders: employees, customers, business partners, community members.

Needless to say, this has been most challenging as we are experiencing this kind of crisis for the first time. Perhaps most challenging is how we can communicate with children, who are now homebound, restless, anxious and wondering why their lives have been changed so much.

“If coronavirus is scary for adults, we can only imagine the confusion and uncertain fear it sparks in the minds of children,” says Nicole Schuman in a PR News online article, Communicating to Children About Coronavirus. “And with families sequestered in their homes day and night, it leaves little room for parents to vent their frustrations or concerns without little ears overhearing.”

So, true! How, indeed, do you explain to the little ones that they can’t go to school or go out of the house because of something unseen that is so dangerous and deadly? Or that they have to wear face masks and stay apart from others when they do get out? According to Schuman, “brands catering to families, and especially children, need to remember to tweak their normal methods of communication, particularly in a time of crisis.”

Not surprisingly, children’s brands are leading the way, and many have stepped up to the plate to educate children to and bring parents some relief.

On March 30, actress Kristen Bell hosted a one-hour Q & A special on Nickelodeon, called #Kids Together: The Nickelodeon Town Hall.

In it, “Bell’s soothing voice provided a soothing space for many children. Celebrities revealed how they are spending their time in quarantine, and health and economic experts discussed everything from how to stay healthy to concerns about a toilet paper shortage.”

Sesame Street, on the other hand, created a remix of the popular “Brushy Brush” dental PSA starring Elmo. The video “Washy Wash” which features Elmo teaching children the proper way to wash their hands currently has over 1 billion views on YouTube.

“Sesame Street is there for children and families whether it’s a sunny day or a stormy one,” says Dr. Jeanette Betancourt, senior vice president of US social impact, Sesame Workshop in a statement. With many families currently facing unprecedented social challenges, Sesame Street remains “committed to supporting families for the duration of this crisis and beyond—equipping them with the tools they need to get through this together and look to the future with hope and optimism.”

Other institutions, meanwhile offer tips on how to communicate with curious and anxious kids during this time.

The Public Broadcasting Service or PBS published an article on how to talk to children when so much information is swirling between them, the television, Internet, and their own friend groups. It recommends to “think about your youth audience and what they may be most fearful of. Explain things to them in scenarios to which they can relate.”

The CDC or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on the other hand, has dedicated a section on its web site to talking with children about the coronavirus disease. Schuman notes that brands can learn from some of its communication tips: n Avoid language that may blame others and lead to stigma. Remember that viruses can make anyone sick, regardless of a person’s race or ethnicity. Avoid making assumptions about who might have Covid-19. n Provide information that is honest and accurate. Talk to children about some stories on Covid-19 on the Internet and social

media that may be based on rumors and inaccurate information. n Make yourself available to listen and talk. Be sure children know they can come to you when they have questions.

We can also learn a lot from the Poynter Institute of Media Studies, which “recalled a list of talking points for children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders” which can be helpful for brands: n Don’t volunteer too much information, as this may be overwhelming. Instead, try to answer your child’s questions. Do your best to answer honestly and clearly. n Be reassuring. Children are very egocentric, so hearing about the coronavirus on the news may be enough to make them seriously worry that they’ll catch it. It’s helpful to reassure your child how rare the coronavirus actually is, and that kids actually seem to have milder symptoms. n Focus on what you’re doing to stay safe. An important way to reassure kids is to tell them the safety precautions you’re taking. Jamie Howard, a child psychologist at the Child Mind Institute, said, “kids feel empowered when they know what to do to keep themselves safe.”

PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association (Ipra), the world’s premier association for senior professionals around the world. Millie Dizon, the Senior Vice President for Marketing and Communications of SM, is the former local chairman.

We are devoting a special column each month to answer the reader’s questions about public relations. Please send your comments and questions to askipraphil@gmail.com.

Insight: Harnessing the power of tech and examining the state of our digital nation on PHL Independence Day By Jason Inocencio

MANILA, PHILIPPINES—On Philippine Independence Day 2020, 122 years after declaring our independence, the country is ravaged by the coronavirus with the number of infected reaching 18,000.

Digital advertising company AdSpark released a study entitled “Digital: The Flag of Freedom in 2020.” In it, they examine how Filipinos have used digital to continue living despite the quarantine period that has covered Metro Manila for three months.

The study notes that the Philippines has seen an increase in Internet penetration by 10 percent from last year. It now sits at 67 percent well above both the global (59 percent) and Apac (56 percent) average.

Using AdSpark Intelligence, AdSpark marked four key areas that were examples of how Filipinos harnessed the power of digital to overcome difficulties:

Digital is key to essentials like health The ECQ’s limitations prevented Filipinos from leaving their household except for things such as food, medicine and vitamins while supply runs became tough due to low supplies in stores. Fear of going out due to anxiety over contracting Covid-19 made it worse but food and medicine were still necessary to survive.

Thus, some Filipinos saw Viber groups or community threads online to ease the delivery of food within a neighborhood. Health-care workers were able to utilize digital channels to improve their reach through services like telehealth. Online conversations regarding telehealth and online medical consultations peaked during the start of the ECQ and have been steadily talked about since.

The transition to online learning The March lockdown forced many schools who were winding down their academic year to either move online or end prematurely. Yet the move to e-learning/distance education hasn’t been smooth with both teachers and students being thrust to try it with zero preparation time.

Many Filipinos who now had to stay home, also decided to spend their time wisely by hopping on the Internet and taking online courses to upskill for their career and their hobbies. One example even took over 20 different online courses in one month from 14 different universities.

While the majority consumed more career-related training and online classes such as digital marketing, web programming, and emarketing, others wanted to learn more about their hobbies such as cooking, sewing, and even playing the guitar. tion over banana bread emerged with the term and its ingredients to break into the top 10 searched in the food category. #Bananabread on TikTok alone reached almost 80 million views because of its simple instructions and use of very common ingredients: bananas, flour, sugar and eggs. This led to banana bread and the ingredients to break into the top 10 searches in the food category in the Philippines.

With shopping malls and restaurants closed, Filipinos have been finding ways to entertain their mouths and stomachs by learning how to bake and try new dessert recipes.

Among the top 20 search topics during the months of the ECQ, search topics were dominated by desserts and simple recipes for sweet food and beverages. This included banana cake, banana bread, Maja Blanca, Dalgona coffee, coffee jelly, cookies, and others. salaries but social distancing and restrictions to contain human movement altered the landscape. Most businesses weren’t prepared for the shift but some entrepreneurs were able to do the digital pivot to meet the needs of an adjusted marketplace.

Risa’s Chocolates owner Pam Cinco talked about how digital has become an enabler for her business and is now an integral part of it that can thrive with current restrictions with online delivery as her current reality and the future of her business. Former freelance digital artist Sam Lara was forced to move from her creative freelance job to a frozen meat supply. She added that there are more clients and income now, but still not as much as before Covid-19.

Pinoy ingenuity faces new challenges but armed with technology Whateve r the terminology for the status of quarantine, it seems less and less likely that Filipinos will be able to roam around their cities like they used to. Unless a vaccine is discovered and distributed, the freedom of movement that we enjoyed becomes less realistic.

Yet dogged determination coupled with inventiveness in the use of technology and online channels as embodied in the Filipino term diskarte is giving our countrymen at least some semblance of hope that this very difficult situation can be overcome or, at the very least, managed.

The global effects of this pandemic are clearly unprecedented and have led to several chaotic scenarios, yet Filipinos have survived world wars, dictators, natural calamities (several times a year), and other adverse situations. Covid-19 has been a sobering lesson for Filipinos on proper hygiene, respect for health-care workers, frontliners, and first responders.

Yet as we celebrate Independence Day in 2020, far removed from Aguinaldo waving our flag for the first time in Kawit, Cavite, the pandemic has also taught us that digital can be a great equalizer for different facets of our lives. In spite of so many restrictions, both forced and unforced, that we have suddenly been confronted with, digital has allowed some of us to still live and even flourish in ways we did not think possible.

Monday, June 15, 2020

Sports BusinessMirror

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

By Doug Ferguson

The Associated Press F ORT WORTH, Texas—The Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Tour went three months without playing. It took three days to show fans what they were missing, even if all they could do was watch on TV. E ight players had at least a share of the lead at some point Saturday in the Charles Schwab Challenge. When the third round at Colonial ended, 14 players were separated by three shots.

And not just anybody.

Xander Schauffele, among the growing roster of young stars in golf, finished off his six-birdie round with a 12-footer on the last hole for a four-under 66.

The six players one shot behind included Jordan Spieth, whose short game helped him navigate some early trouble and nerves. He had the lead until going not making a birdie on the back nine. Still, his 68 gave him his best 54-hole position since Colonial a year ago as he tries to end three years without winning.

Also one shot behind was Justin Thomas (66) and US Open champion Gary Woodland, who quickly got into the mix with birdies on his last two holes for a 66.

Rory McIlroy (69) and Justin Rose (68) were among those three shots behind. Patrick Reed, who had to birdie three of his last six holes Friday to make the cut with one shot to spare, shot 63 and was three back.

All this with hardly any noise.

“I don’t have like a huge effect on the crowd I’d say, so not having fans isn’t the craziest thing to me,” Schauffele said. “It just does feel like I’m playing at home with some of my buddies. It’s quiet. You make three birdies in a row, you can kind of give yourself a pat on the back.”

This wasn’t entirely a TV show. A few houses in the Colonial neighborhood put up their own hospitality tents to see limited golf, the rowdiest behind the 16th tee and another down the 15th fairway. Fans gathered on the balcony of an apartment complex along the 14th, which also brought ou the first, “Get in the hole!” since the PGA Tour returned for the first since since March 12 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

On the course, there were no bursts of cheers as Spieth rammed in a 40-foot putt on the eighth hole or stuffed his approach to 3 feet on No. 9 to take the lead. A few dozen of the essential personnel—broadcast crews, volunteers for scoring—were around when Schauffele made his birdie for the lead at 13-under 197.

But there are leaderboards that show only the score—no need for updates on FedEx Cup

STARS IN THE HUNT AT COLONIAL GOLF

FANS watch from the fence and on an improvised grandstand outside the

course as Xander Schauffele grabs the third round lead on Saturday. AP

leaders or statistical data for each player as he prepares a shot because that’s for the fans, and there are none.

That will be the only way anyone knows where they stand in what figures to be a wild chase to the finish.

“When you have spectators and things, you get on a roll, and most of the time you feed off of that,” said Branden Grace, whose third straight 66 left him one shot behind. “I remember when I won Hilton Head and played well in the majors, the crowd started getting behind you and you start feeling like you can’t do anything wrong. At the moment, it’s just you and your caddie out there.”

Colonial is the first of five tournaments in the return to golf that doesn’t allow spectators. Players have had three days to adjust to the lack of sound. Sunday is different, everyone trying to generate their own momentum

without the energy typically delivered from outside the ropes.

“When you get into contention and have a chance to win a golf tournament, that adrenaline starts pumping,” Woodland said. “It’s been a little different. The first two days there wasn’t too much adrenaline. There will be adrenaline going, which you have with fans or without fans. Tomorrow should be fun.”

Spieth passed a big test, with another to come as he tries to end nearly three years without a victory. Five times last year, he started a tournament with two rounds in the 60s and was left behind when he couldn’t break par on Saturday.

There were a few anxious moments for him, such as an iron off the fifth tee that would have finished on the practice range if not for a fence in place for the tournament. He got up-and-down from short of the green to escape with birdie. His next tee shot was right and banged off a cart— one the loudest sounds of the day—leaving him blocked by a tree. He punched it low into a back bunker and saved par. But he didn’t make a birdie over the final nine holes, and the 15th cost him when he decided to wait for the players to hit on the 16th tee and started thinking too much about an 81-yard wedge. He hit it fat and made bogey. “ I feel comfortable going into tomorrow that I can shoot a good score,” Spieth said. “If it happens, it happens, and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. But I learned a bit about what was going on when I really felt kind of the nerves kick in today, and hopefully compensate for that tomorrow and hit some better shots.” The field was the strongest Colonial has seen, not surprising because so many players stuck at home for the last three months were eager for competition. And this week has made clear that so many of them came to play.

HOOYAH! PAWIE FORNE A H ER name is Mary Pauline “Pawie” Fornea. She’s a 26-year-old from Davao City and a member of the national duathlon team, sharing a bronze medal with individual gold winner Monica Torres, Doy Commendador and Efrain Inigo in mixed relay at the 30th Southeast Asian Games in Subic last December.

And here’s more.

Fornea recently graduated at the United States Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis with merits in two, yes two, degrees—Bachelor of Science in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering and Robotics and Controls Engineering.

“I’m so happy. My dream to serve our country as a Navy officer has been fulfilled,” said Fornea, who was one of 17 cadets the USNA picked from all nominees across the globe. “I just achieved my long-term goal and that is to serve my country in my own way.”

“My sponsor and foster father inspired me to pursue my dreams. He is a from the Philippine Marine Corps. So, I wanted to be like him,” said the five-foot-two Fornea, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 2019.

At the age of nine, Pawie—as her friends call her—started decorating herself with medals from her conquests in sports, particularly swimming. She entered the University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao and in 2013, became a full-time national athlete. But she quit the national team in 2014 to join the PMA.

Fornea had to take a leave of absence from the USNA to focus on the SEA Games, training under Ernesto “Judes” Echauz’s Philippine NavyStandard Insurance team.

It was during her early stint as a duathlete when she got enamored with the PMA and later, the USNA, thanks to then Philippine Marines Commandant Gen. Joseph Cuison.

“I didn’t know about the PMA at that time, but I just heeded the advice of Gen. Cuison, who I consider to be my second father,” she said.

Fornea qualified for the 2020 World Duathlon Championships in The Netherlands after landing in the top 10 percent of the 2019 USA Triathlon Duathlon National Rankings where she topped her age group.

MARY PAULINE “PAWIE” FORNEA strikes a pose with Standard Insurance Group Chairman Ernesto “Judes” Echauz.

She was named a Duathlon All-American by the USA Triathlon AllAmerican with her title run at the Cedak Creek Duathlon in New York, Delaware Duathlon, Northeast Maryland Duathlon and New York Duathlon.

But she’s not just all duathlon and triathlon. She’s a sharpshooter both with the pistol and rifle and adding more to her accomplishments was the distinguished Order of Lapu-Lapu. N ow that she’s back at home, Fornea started immersing procedures at the Philippine Naval Academy in Iba, Zambales.

She thanked Echauz and Standard Insurance for its continued support from the moment she was involved in the sport and the Philippine Navy and praised her cycling and duathlon coach Bernie Llantada and USNA running coach Karen Boyle.

“I’m very grateful to all of them,” said Fornea, who vowed to advance her training both indoor and outdoor in compliance with quarantine protocols.

THE prolonged pandemic has urged the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to go online in serving the community beginning with a free clinic for coaches in Central, Western and Eastern Visayas next month.

“Since he’s only a guest in the country, Baldwin should not say anything that will distort Philippine basketball history particularly that of Philippine Basketball Association [PBA] which is the oldest professional league in Asia,” said Romero, also a House of Representatives Deputy Speaker representing the 1-Pacman Party-list.

“PBA has been very successful since the beginning so he can’t destroy our history in basketball,” the former PBA chairman. “Despite this pandemic, the PBA will continue to grow and sustain its popularity among Filipinos because we love the game, we love the PBA.”

PBA TEAM OWNE R BLASTS BALDWIN

“As a guest in the country, he has no right to question the PBA’s format, much more the integrity of the league and its officials,” Romero added.

Baldwin earned the ire of PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial when he told a video podcast that using only one import in the league’s reinforced conferences is a “big mistake.”

Marcial said he will meet his technical staff on Monday to discuss possible sanctions on Baldwin, who is one of the assistant coaches at TNT KaTropa.

Like NLEX Coach Yeng Guiao and Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines President Louie Gonzalez, Romero also took offense on Baldwin’s remarks bordering on the “tactical immaturity” of Filipino coaches. The Kiwi-American also said foreign players get more fouls than the locals.

“For me it sounds like racism,” Romero said. “While he helped steer Ateneo to UAAP [University Athletic Association of the Philippines] championships, he’s not entitled to underestimate the capabilities of our local coaches.”

Romero also backed San Miguel Corp. Sports Director Alfrancis Chua’s tirade against Baldwin’s opinion that playing two—and even three—imports in the league would make local players better.

Despite making critical comments on Philippine basketball, Baldwin told the same podcast that he loves it here.

ADD Northport team owner Rep. Mikee Romero to the growing list of officials and coaches critical of Gilas Pilipinas Program Director Tab Baldwin, whose solicited comments were described as detrimental to Philippine basketball.

PSC Commissioner Ramon Fernandez told the PSC Chatroom on Saturday that the online coaching courses should fill the lull as faceto-face interaction remains banned with the Covid-19 virus still posing a major threat.

Fernandez also said going online would be virtually at no cost to the PSC, whose shares from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. are reaching rock bottom with the casinos still shuttered.

“The PSC would not spend that much with this program. We also don’t have to bring the coaches to a specific place classes,” Fernandez said.

The PSC draws much of its funds from Pagcor. But because casino operations have been shut, Pagcor’s average monthly remittance to the sports agency went from

“The Philippines has traditionally been one of the most difficult places for foreign coaches to be able to enter, to make an impact and to stay long term,” Baldwin said.

“Having said that, I love the Philippines and I think one of the most endearing aspects of the Philippines as a basketball coach is this is a basketball paradise. Everywhere you look there are players, there are teams, there are competitions, there are fans, there are facilities and resources.”

He added: “This is the mecca of basketball.”

PSC to stage online certificate courses for coaches in Visayas in July

P150 million in February, P99 million in March and a measly P9 million in April.

The trend could approach zero if Pagcor’s operations remain locked.

The five-day coaching course commences on July 27 with lectures would be held in morning and these would be followed by examinations in the afternoon.

The topics to be covered include sports science, nutrition, physical fitness and conditioning and physiology.

The PSC would award Level 1 Coach Certificates to successful participants. The new coaches could facilitate training for elementary students or beginners.

Fernandez, who oversees the PSC’s operations in the Visayas, said the courses are free but participants need to be endorsed by the sports office of their local government units (LGUs).

Because of an expected heavy turnout, the PSC would limit participation to only two aspirants for each LGU. The program would last until November. Ramon Rafael Bonilla

Rick Olivares

bleachersbrew@gmail.com

Bleachers’ Brew

Unforgettable 2010 Suzuki Cup takeaways

Ten years ago (this coming December), the matches played by the national men’s football team changed the fortunes of the sport in this country. Forever.

That was when the Azkals made waves in the 2010 Suzuki Cup both in Vietnam and Indonesia with their best ever showing in the biennial tournament. The Philippines finished with a 1-2-2 record and crashed the semifinals for the first time.

Although the Southeast Asian championship has yet to be won let alone book a finals berth, the Philippines made the semifinals in three of the next four editions of the tourney as well as in Asian Football Confederation competition, affirming its arrival as an emerging regional football nation.

I have started this Usapang Football webcast last Saturday and my first guest was former Azkals midfielder Chieffy Caligdong (we have a lot of other key players lined up). I am doing this sort of countdown to the 10th anniversary of that literal game-changing tournament.

When I reflect on that tournament, there are so many things to recall outside the matches. There was the triumphant return from Vietnam where the nationals read a statement about the then-leadership of the Philippine Football Federation. There was the nonhome game that proved to be a massive advantage of the Philippines’ semifinal foe—Indonesia. There was the team being feted during half time of a Philippine Basketball Association match at the Araneta Coliseum.

If I were to sum up the entire sweeping fervor of that month of December, I will point to two things—one, the stunned silence of the capacity crowd at the My Dinh National Stadium after the 2-nil win over Vietnam and their crowds that lined up along the side of the road in shock and silence, and the crowd that sent them off in the final practice at the University of Makati (UMak).

During the press conference prior to the start of that tournament, the coaches of the group—Raddy Avramovic of Singapore, Henrique Calisto of Vietnam and Park SungHwa of Myanmar were asked what they thought of the Philippines’ chances. Avramovic spoke for them all when he said, “Win a game and we will talk.”

After the 1-1 draw, back in the Sheraton Hanoi Hotel where the three squads were billeted, the Serb was still in denial. Following the victory over Vietnam, he led the teams of Singapore and Myanmar with a guard of honor at the hotel. And he hung out with us up to the early hours of the morning talking football. Imagine that!

The silence of the crowd—the shock of the Philippines’ showing—if you could register that in a Richter Scale for sports, the Azkals’ results were seismic! And it would continue as the Philippines continued to beat other teams.

And that is another takeaway. If previously teams didn’t even take us seriously knowing that a win was automatic, now, they were preparing for the Azkals. They had to grind out wins.

The second thing I would point out as a summation of the entire month’s madness was the send-off at UMak.

It was the final practice before the team was to fly off to Jakarta the next day. And UMak was filled with fans. Security was non-existent and it was difficult to control the crowd that entered the pitch. I recall the entire team and I (as media officer) talking at the center of the pitch. What do we do? We collectively assessed the situation and agreed on a simple course of action.

Team captain Aly Borromeo said, “We have to thank them. They took the time to come over.” And so the team, tired, sweaty and yet excited, met up with fans for pictures and autographs.

I had not seen that sort of reaction from the fans prior to that. That was reserved for basketball teams, actors and rock stars. Azkalsmania was in full swing.

By the time the team went to Panaad to face Mongolia for the AFC Qualifiers, the venerable stadium was packed to the rafters with more outside unable to purchase a ticket.

Overnight, it was hard to book football pitches for pick-up matches. Even the artificial turf pitch at BGC was loaded with people just playing the game. The UAAP football tournament—long neglected—was suddenly on television (Silverstar previously showed some matches but not much). And there was more. The United Football League was popular, and on television too. It could have used better marketing, but nevertheless, club football was on television, and players could earn a living.

If you drove along Edsa or C5, you would see not one, not two, not even three but more billboards featuring the Younghusband brothers, Misagh Bahadoran or Chieffy Caligdong.

Within years, foreign squads came over including a David Beckham-powered Los Angeles Galaxy for an exhibition game. Then a galactico like Fabio Cannavaro, Brazilian legend Zico and players from Manchester United among others came over for visits or exhibition matches.

It was a great time to be a football fan. And well, it still is. What that team (and previous ones too) sowed should be harvested in this third decade of the new millennium. These are the kids who were in school during the 2010 Suzuki Cup. And they will blaze a new trail to much higher ground.