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Saturday, March 5, 2022 Vol. 17 No. 148

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‘NUKE CAN DO’ A

By Lenie Lectura

FTER years of extended debates in and out of government, the Duterte administration has embraced nuclear energy, a move that could change the landscape of the power sector and possibly revive a 37-year-old plant. On Thursday, Malacañang Palace dropped a bombshell of sorts, binding the next administrations to include nuclear power in the country’s energy mix, which is still dominated by coal. Executive Order (EO) 164, entitled “Adopting a National Position for a Nuclear Energy Program, and for other Purposes,” was released more than a year after an interagency body submitted its recommendations. There had been attempts to pursue nuclear energy in the country, but these failed due to safety concerns. This administration even conducted a public perception survey in 2019. The results indicated that almost 79 percent of citizens approved the possible use or rehabilitation of the $2.2-billion Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP), while 65 percent favored the construction of new ones. The 620-megawatt (MW) BNPP is the country’s first and only attempt at nuclear-power development. It was supposed to be the first of two nuclear plants to be built in the northern province of Bataan. It was also the first nuclear power plant in Southeast Asia, and was identified as a solution to the 1973 oil crisis that had adversely affected the global economy, including the Philippines. The project, however, was mothballed in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. However, clamor for the reopening of the BNPP was revived during the power crisis in the 1990s and the skyrocketing oil prices in 2007. During these periods, the Department of Energy (DOE) actually came close to reconsidering nuclear power as a potential energy source for the country. But then the Fukushima nuclear-plant

ICSC Executive Director Renato Redentor Constantino: “Nuclear is even more rigid than coal. It cannot provide the power needs of the country and will only exacerbate the already precarious, unstable conditions of the grid and will make electricity more unreliable and expensive.”

incident happened in March 2011, creating global panic and concerns about the safety and integrity of nuclear plants.

Major policy shift

THEN the order, which “commits” the government to the introduction of nuclear power into the state’s energy mix for power generation, was signed on February 28 but was only made available to the public on March 3. The Palace basically justified the sudden announcement—described by Senate Minority leader Frank Drilon as a “major policy shift” best left to the next administration—by clothing the EO as part of urgent efforts to boost energy security and cut reliance on fossil fuels, at a time when steadily rising global oil prices were further driven up by the Russia-Ukraine conflict. “Nuclear power shall be tapped as a viable alternative to baseload power source along with alternative resources, to address the projected decline of coal-fired power

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 51.4700

plants which come under increasing environmental opposition,” a portion of the EO read. The DOE has already banned new coal power projects in the country. The projected demand for a clean energy pathway in the country is expected to grow at 4.4 percent a year, requiring almost 68 gigawatts of additional capacity by 2040. “Considering this demand and the depletion of natural gas resources, nuclear power will play an important role to contribute to the required capacity to achieve energy security, especially to meet the needs of an emerging upper middle-income country,” the EO stated, adding that nuclear power is a viable component to bridge the gap between rising energy demands and supply. There are 16 areas being considered as possible sites for nuclear power plants, according to DOE Undersecretary Gerardo Erguiza. These are in Bataan, Batangas, Cagayan, Negros Occidental, Zamboanga del Norte, General Santos, Sulu and Quezon. These are the same areas being eyed for nuclear power plants with small modular reactors that are suitable for the off-gird areas of the Philippines. “These areas are considered because they are isolated, the availability of the cooling system, basically based on general standards, but there is a process to be followed,” he said, adding that the possibility of integrating nuclear power in the country might come as early as 2027.

Energy security, transparency

HOWEVER, he stressed that it would be up to the next administration if it will support the nuclear energy program (NEP) that will be crafted by the Nuclear Energy Program-Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC). He said there should be a regulatory framework for the NEP which will require legislation. “Adopting a nuclear program is not just about constructing nuclear power plants. It is a matter of energy and national security. Should it be decided in the future that the Philippines is fit and finally ready to embark on its nuclear energy journey, then we would be able to look back and appreciate this landmark

issuance,” Erquiza pointed out. For Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Energy committee, transparency “is the most important factor in any discussions on nuclear power.” The Senate, he noted, has funded the Department of Energy’s nuclear research and feasibility study of P266 million since 2018. “This study should be made public in order for the Filipino people to understand the risks and benefits of nuclear power injected into our energy mix.” Gatchalian stressed, “Transparency is key in building the confidence of the public on the use of this complex source of power. “Having said that, establishing nuclear power from the ground up entails numerous pieces of legislation and policies to ensure the safety of the public.” Gatchalian lamented that with just six session days left in the 18th Congress, “there is no ample time to enact any nuclear powerrelated proposed laws. It will be up to the next administration to decide whether the benefits of nuclear power outweigh the risks and pursue nuclear as a source of power for our country.”

‘Good fiscal housekeeping’

WHILE many perceived nuclear energy as a “complicated” energy source and a “very risky business,” the chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means called this a “good fiscal housekeeping.” “We spend around P40 million every year to maintain Bataan Nuclear. That means we’re spending that much on a white elephant. I think part of the mandate of the EO, which is to review the BNPP, has to include whether we should already totally decommission the asset as scrap metal, if it’s really dangerous and unsafe,” Rep. Joey Salceda said, adding that “it is time to decide whether to revive it, or scrap it altogether and start over”. Also, Salceda said Congress may consider a “franchise approach” to operating the BNPP. “I think we should bid it out as a public-private partnership and grant its operator a franchise. The thing with nuclear power plants is the gestation period for the investment requires several decades. So our pri-

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The urgent quest for new power sources amid a grim outlook for imported fuels gives Executive ground to push—at the last minute—nuclear energy, sparking even more debates. vate partner will need the political and legal security of a franchise from Congress. That is definitely on the table, and I will tell President Duterte to consider that approach as well,” Salceda explained. Environmental groups, however, opposed the adoption of nuclear power mainly because of its inherent risk to public welfare. Greenpeace Philippines said the issuance was “spurred by misguided interests that are not aligned with the interests of the Filipino people.” They also called on Duterte to revoke the issuance and also extended a similar appeal to the next administration to scrap the NEP. “The next administration will already inherit a huge debt burden and the pursuit of nuclear will make this even heavier due to steep capital costs for construction, operation of nuclear plants, enormous costs of radioactive fuel storage, and costs for managing a nuclear incident that can reach billions of dollars, as well as price volatility as almost all sources of uranium are in conflict areas,” Greenpeace campaigner Khevin Yu said. The Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) agreed that nuclear power will be “a massive economic burden” to the Filipinos. “Nuclear is even more rigid

than coal. It cannot provide the power needs of the country and will only exacerbate the already precarious, unstable conditions of the grid and will make electricity more unreliable and expensive,” said Renato Redentor Constantino, ICSC executive director. The Center for Energy, Ecology and Development (CEED), meanwhile, said the next administration should decide if it would allow nuclear energy in the country. “With its already terrible legacy of a mismanaged power sector, we advise the Duterte administration not to come up with more decisions that only make life harder for Filipino consumers. As the administration’s end draws near, why not let the next leadership determine whether nuclear really is the answer to the many problems plaguing the power and energy sector?” CEED Executive Director Gerry Arances commented. While the debate goes on, the EO insists that the State shall ensure the “peaceful use” of nuclear technology in the country. To appease concerned groups, the government said it will invest in programs on stakeholder involvement to enhance public acceptance and increase awareness on the advantages of nuclear power.

n JAPAN 0.4458 n UK 68.7330 n HK 6.5854 n CHINA 8.1430 n SINGAPORE 37.9516 n AUSTRALIA 37.7224 n EU 56.9670 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.7188

Source: BSP (March 4, 2022)

NewsSaturday A2 Saturday, March 5, 2022

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Russia’s war spurs corporate exodus, exposes business risks By Kelvin Chan

The Associated Press

ONDON—Auto shipments stopped, beer stopped flowing, cargo ships dropped port calls and oil companies cut their pipelines.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has thrown business plans into disarray and forced a growing number of the world’s best known brands—from Apple to Mercedes-Benz and BP—to pull out of a country that’s become a global outcast as companies seek to maintain their reputations and live up to corporate responsibility standards. Investors were drawn to Russia in search of lucrative profits they thought were worth the geopolitical risks. That calculation has changed after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched war in Europe, triggering a wave of global sanctions and export restrictions that have thrown its economy into turmoil and disrupted the operations of multinational corporations there. “You basically have Russia becoming a commercial pariah,” said economist Mary Lovely, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington. “Pretty much no company, no multinational, wants to be caught on the wrong side of US and Western sanctions.”

On the right side of history

THEY’RE also expressing concern about the plight of Ukrainians, showing how they want to be seen coming out on the right side of history. Complicating companies’ push to flee is

RUSSIA’S Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, foreground, rides a Harley-Davidson Lehman Trike as he arrives for the meeting with Russian and Ukrainian bikers at their camp near Sevastopol, in Ukraine’s Crimea Peninsula, on July 24, 2010. Harley-Davidson halted motorcycle shipments to Russia and said its thoughts “continue for the safety of the people of Ukraine.” AP

an order from Moscow temporarily restricting foreign investors from selling Russian assets. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said Tuesday that it would help investors make “a considered decision” rather than succumb to the political pressure of sanctions. It’s not clear how that may affect corporate efforts to exit Russia. Oil and gas companies, already feeling the heat from climate activists to invest in renewable energy, were among the companies that announced the most rapid and dramatic exits. Energy firm BP said Sunday that it would abandon its $14-billion stake in Russian state-owned oil and gas company Rosneft. The next day, Shell said it was leaving its joint venture with state-owned Gazprom and its involvement in the now-suspended Nord Stream 2 pipeline built to carry natural gas to Western Europe. ExxonMobil said it would pull out of a key oil and gas project and halt any new investment in Russia. All their chief executives said they were shocked and saddened by the increasingly bloody conflict. Smaller energy firms have followed suit. Companies in other industries signaled they’re staying out of the Russian market either out of concern for Ukraine or to comply with Western sanctions. Toyota is halting production at its St. Petersburg plant that makes RAV4 and Camry models starting Friday because of supply chain disruptions, saying it was watching events “with great concern for the safety of the people of Ukraine.” Mercedes-Benz suspended exports of cars and vans to Russia and manufacturing there. Sweden’s Volvo Cars said it stopped deliveries because of “potential risks associated with trading material with Russia,” including Western sanctions. Ford also suspended operations. Harley-Davidson halted motorcycle shipments to Russia, saying its thoughts “continue for the safety of the people of Ukraine.” Putin famously rode a three-wheeled Harley on a visit to Ukraine in 2010. Others with more entrenched Russian operations might find it harder to navigate the crisis.

‘Temporary suspension’

RENAULT, one of the biggest players in Russia’s auto market, said only that it’s temporarily suspending pro-

‘

Pretty much no company, no multinational, wants to be caught on the wrong side of US and Western sanctions.’ —Economist Mary Lovely, a

senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington duction at its Moscow plant through Saturday “due to some logistics issues,” without being more specific. Copenhagen-based Danish brewery group Carlsberg suspended production at two breweries in Ukraine, saying it’s “following the situation with great concern” but didn’t comment on its extensive Russian operations, including St. Petersburg-based Baltika Breweries, which exports beer worldwide. Czech brewer Budvar, which counts Russia as one of its five major markets, halted beer deliveries to the country, saying business is not the top priority and that it’s looking for ways to help, including finding accommodations for Ukrainian refugees. “It’s really tough to do business in Russia under the best of conditions. Now it’s become just crazy. So getting out is a smart business proposal,” said James O’Rourke, professor of management at the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business, who specializes in reputation management and business communications.

Like doing biz with Manson family COMPANIES will have to chalk up any losses as the cost of doing business. “This is like going into business with the Manson family,” O’Rourke said, referring to the followers of cult leader Charles Manson. “You honestly do not want your name associated with those people, and it’s probably not going to cost you that much to disinvest.” Fast fashion brand H&M paused sales in Russian stores, expressing concern about the “tragic developments.” Nike said on its Russian website it can’t guarantee deliveries. The world’s biggest shipping company, A.P. Moller-Maersk, will stop making Russian port calls. Airplane makers Boeing and Airbus stopped supplying parts and service support for Russian carriers. Boeing suspended major operations in Moscow and tempo-

rarily closed its Kyiv office. Even Hollywood studios are delaying the release of new films in Russia, which isn’t a leading movie market but typically ranks in the top dozen countries for box-office revenue. Warner Bros., the Walt Disney Co. and Sony Pictures cited the “humanitarian crisis.” Tech companies also headed for the door. Apple said it would stop selling its iPhone and other popular devices inside Russia, while computer maker Dell Technologies “suspended” sales in both Ukraine and Russia. Google and TikTok blocked Russian state media channels from their platforms after a plea from the European Union. Apple also blocked downloads of the RT News and Sputnik News from its mobile App Store outside Russia. It’s not just sanctions but public sentiment that companies have to respond to as the human costs of the war grow. Company commitments to environmental, social and corporate governance, known as ESG, are being put to the test. ESG has become a buzzy acronym that’s increasingly seen as an important way for corporations to tout responsible business credentials. “But there can also be an element of greenwashing,” where companies say things that make it seem like they hold certain values or are on the right side of ESG issues while their practices and behavior suggest otherwise, Columbia Business School associate professor Vanessa Burbano said. “Stakeholders like employees and consumers will want to see if companies’ actions and behaviors are consistent with the communicated support that companies are expressing for Ukrainians,” she said. Some companies went beyond halting deliveries or operations. Lego, Ford and Volkswagen Group said they would make millions of dollars in charitable donations to support Ukrainian refugees.

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Inflation at 3% in February; govt focuses on hiking local food yield By Cai U. Ordinario

HE national government says increasing food production by helping farmers while importing to fill in the gaps will help ensure that inflation remains manageable as commodity prices rise amid hostilities in Eastern Europe. On Friday, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that inflation averaged 3 percent in February, the same rate it posted in January 2022. This is also slower compared to the 4.2 percent posted in the same period last year. The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said these are crucial given that raging hostilities in Eastern Europe are expected to further drive up the prices of oil and oil products as well as food, since both Ukraine and Russia are major sources of wheat globally. “Prices of commodities, such as oil, wheat, and corn, are going up as demand outpaces supply. That is why we need to proactively manage the impact on the people through these two measures,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua said in a statement. Apart from these, Chua said the government will also use its available resources to provide targeted subsidies to the affected sectors.

Fuel subsidy

In a recent statement, the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) said the government is preparing to release P2.5 billion for the Fuel Subsidy Program that covers drivers of jeeps, buses, UV express, transport network vehicle services, and tricycles. In addition, the Department of Agriculture has a budget of P500 million to provide fuel discounts to farmers and fisherfolk who either individually own and operate agricultural and fishery machinery, or operate through a farmers organization or co-operative. Neda also expressed its support to the proposed livestock development and competitiveness bill to boost the efficiency of the entire value chains for the livestock, poultry, and dairy sectors. These will help ensure there is enough affordable supply of these food products in spite of rising input prices. Neda also believes that placing the entire

country under Alert Level 1 will ensure that Filipinos can secure and retain jobs that will assure them of incomes needed to face higher commodity prices. Chua noted that shifting the entire country to Alert Level 1 will generate an estimated P16 billion of economic activity per week and will translate to 297,000 less unemployed over the next quarter. On top of this, the full resumption of face-to-face learning can increase economic activity by P12 billion per week due to the return of services around schools such as transport, dormitories, food stalls, and school supplies stores, among others. “We need to move the entire country to alert level 1 and fully reopen schools as soon as possible. This will enable more people to earn income and strengthen our domestic economy amid upward price pressures due to global political tensions,” he said.

February inflation

The PSA reported that inflation remained at 3 percent in February due to the slower increase in the price of food and non-alcoholic beverages; alcoholic beverages and tobacco; clothing and footwear; furnishing, household equipment and routine household maintenance; health; information and communication; and restaurants and accommodation services. However, data showed the increase in inflation was mainly due to higher prices of housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels at 4.8 percent; transport, 8.8 percent; and recreation, sport, and culture at 1.6 percent. In terms of food inflation, the PSA said there was a slight slowdown to 1.1 percent in February 2022 from the 1.6 percent posted in January. In February last year, food inflation reached 6.8 percent. The PSA said among food groups, annual decreases during the month were recorded in the fruits and nuts’ index at a contraction of 4.9 percent; and vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses which contracted 8.4 percent. In addition, inflation decelerated in meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals to 1.4 percent; fish and other seafood to 2.9 percent; and milk, other dairy products, and eggs to 0.7 percent.

Senator Imee eyes non-wheat flour to stabilize bread and noodle prices

By Butch Fernandez

en. Imee Marcos prodded the Duterte government to tap new suppliers of wheat and develop the production of non-wheat flours in a bid to avert sudden price spikes of bread and noodles supply in the market. Marcos, the presiding chairman of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs, noted that bread and noodle prices reflect the volatility of wheat prices ensuing from a brewing war between the world’s two main wheat exporters—Russia and Ukraine. She pointed out in a news statement on Friday “since local f lour millers import all their wheat requirements, their production costs will swing with higher wheat prices and be passed on to bread producers and on to consumers.” Reminding “the US is our main supplier of wheat,” the senator noted, however, that “more banking and transport sanctions by Western nations against Russia could reduce global wheat supply and push up market prices, more so if Russia retaliates.” At the same time, Marcos added that the Philippines is also among the top 10 importers of wheat from Ukraine, where farming and shipping have stalled due to the raging war in Eastern Europe. “Add to that the high cost of LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) and you can expect the price of pan de sal made in community bakeries to go up,” she said, airing concerns that “snack time

may go” adding, “ baka mawala na ang pamerye-meryenda.” The senator sought quick response from concerned authorities after noting that the price of wheat surged by more than 73 percent on Friday morning trade at $13.50 per bushel from $7.80 at the start of the year, and by almost 43 percent since the February 24 high of $9.47 when Russia attacked Ukraine. At the same time, Marcos reminded that the Philippines now has an alternative source of wheat nearby after China lifted its restrictions on Russian exports last week. Prodding concerned Duterte administration officials, she suggested, “Let us break bread with China and get a better deal on wheat prices, while maintaining reliable trade with the US and Australia.” This, as the lawmaker lamented that the industry potential of nonwheat flours for bread production remains underdeveloped despite their proven use in creating the iconic nutribun “almost half a century ago.” “W hy do we still import nonwheat flour from Thailand and Vietnam when we can plant and harvest our own raw sources like rice, corn, camote, cassava, potato, and monggo (green gram) in a similar climate?” she asked, telling concerned authorities, “Let us rediscover non-wheat flour as a solution not only to the rising cost of regular flour but also to persistent hunger and malnutrition, with protein-rich peanut and malunggay (moringa) in the mix.”

Saturday, March 5, 2022

PHL debt hits record-high ₧12.03T as of end-January

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

HE national government’s outstanding debt ballooned to a new record high of P12.03 trillion as of end-January this year, latest data released by the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) on Friday showed.

The data was reported a day after Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III, addressing Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) employees, called 2022 a “critical” year when the country must post robust economic growth to outpace its debt. The debt jumped by 16.5 percent from P10.33 trillion a year ago. It is also up by 2.6 percent from P11.73 trillion by the end of 2021. Of the total debt stock, 69.6 percent were domestic borrowings,

while 30.4 percent came from foreign sources. Domestic debt as of end-January amounted to P8.37 trillion, jumping by 14.2 percent year-onyear from P7.33 trillion. Compared to its level as of end2021, domestic debt grew by 2.4 percent from P8.17 trillion due to the net availment of P197.04-billion domestic financing, including the P300 billion in provisional advances that the national government availed of from the Bangko Sentral

ng Pilipinas for budgetary support amid the Covid-19 pandemic. On the other hand, external debt as of end-January soared by 22 percent to reach P3.66 trillion from P3 trillion a year ago. It also inched up by 2.9 percent from P3.56 trillion in December 2021. BTr explained that the combination of peso depreciation against the US Dollar and the net availment of external obligations caused the increase in foreign debt for January compared with the previous month’s level. However, these were tempered by valuation adjustment in other foreign currencies. Total guaranteed debt of the national government also dropped by 7.4 percent year-on-year to P422.52 billion. Net repayment for domestic and external guarantees also caused the decrease in guaranteed debt month-on-month by 0.3 percent from P423.92 billion, but this more than offset the effect of peso depreciation against the US Dol-

lar and net appreciation of thirdcurrency denominated guarantees against the greenback. By the end of this year, the government expects the country’s outstanding debt to soar to P13.42 trillion. Finance Secretary said in late 2021 that the country’s debtto-GDP ratio was seen to peak this year at 60.8 percent before gradually tapering off to 60.7 percent and 59.7 percent in 2023 and 2024. To recall, the country posted a 16-year-high debt-to-GDP ratio of 60.5 percent by the end of 2021. At the k ickof f campaig n for the 2022 election season, Dominguez on Thursday said this year would be “critical ” for outgrowing debt by restoring high economic growth. As part of their transition plan to the next administration, Dominguez said they have already crafted a program to limit the budget deficit and improve debtto-GDP ratio.

Duterte approves law amending FIA I

By Samuel P. Medenilla

n a bid to boost the country’s economy amid the pandemic, President Duterte signed last Wednesday Republic Act (RA) No. 11647 amending the Foreign Investment Act. The new law aims to attract more foreign investments through the creation of the Foreign Investment Promotion and Marketing Plan (FIPMP) as well as the easing of requirements for foreign investors to operate in the country. The plan, which may cover a five to 10-year period, will serve as the roadmap for the government’s efforts to attract foreign investors. Among its content will be the natural resources, skill and educational development, transnational linkages, international market potential as well as directory of local enterprises.

Interagency initiative The Inter-Agency Investment Promotion Coordination Committee (IIPCC), which will be chaired by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and vice chaired by the Department of Finance (DOF), was tasked to craft the FIPMP. Other members of the IIPCC will include representatives from the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), Office of the Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and International Economic Relations (OUMAIER) of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). The IIPCC will also have four representatives from leading industry and business chambers in the National Capital Region, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Foreign control RA 11647 allows foreign nationals, upon registration with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), to invest in a domestic enterprise up to 100 percent of its capital as long as existing laws do not forbid it. In case such foreign-controlled businesses will avail of incentives under the Omnibus Investment Code, it must also be registered with Board of Investments (BOI) of DTI.

SEC and DTI are banned from imposing additional limitations on the extent of foreign ownership provided by RA 11647. As part of the transitory provision of the RA 11647, SEC will no longer allow registration of the applying foreign national if it will fall in the joint venture enterprise category.

Negative list Export enterprises with products and services not included within the List A and B of the Foreign Investment Negative List would also be allowed to be completely owned by non-Filipinos. Categories, which will remain exclusively for Filipino nationals, are defense-related activities. Also reserved for Filipino nationals are micro and small domestic market enterprises with paid-equity capital

less than the equivalent of $200,000 except for the following conditions: it involves advanced technology determined by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST); endorsed as startup under the Innovative Startup Act; majority of their direct employees are Filipinos, but in no case shall the number be less than 15. To note, prior to RA 11647, the minimum number of direct hired Filipinos should be 50. Foreign-owned micro and small businesses, which will be exempted from the negative list, should have a minimum paid-in capital of $100,000. In case such firms will hire foreign nationals for its operations and enjoy fiscal incentives, they must have a program to transfer technology or skills to Filipinos, which will be monitored by the Department

of Labor and Employment (DOLE). The negative list can be reviewed every two years by the government’s economic cluster.

Penalties and budget Public officials and employees, who will be involved in irregularities when it comes from foreign investment promotions will be sanctioned for violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and may be fined not less than P2 million, but not more than P5 million. A P50 million budget from the General Appropriations Act this year was allocated for the implementation of RA 11647. The new law will take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

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Commodities soar as invasion stirs anxiety over supply deficit C

ommodities extended their massive rally as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues to roil global markets and fuel fears of supply crunches. Prices from crude to aluminum and wheat soared, as raw materials stage their most stunning weekly surge since 1974

and the days of the oil crisis. Russia’s growing isolation is choking a major source of energy, metals and crops, sparking fears of prolonged shortages and sharper global inflation. Traders, banks and shipowners are increasingly avoiding business with Russia because

of the difficulty in securing payments, while shipping lines are canceling or not taking bookings from the region. Tensions rose early Friday after Russia attacked a Ukrainian nuclear plant, the biggest in Europe, according to Ukrainian officials. The fire at the Zaporizhzhia

facility in eastern Ukraine is contained, local emergency services West Texas Intermediate oil jumped almost 5 percent before paring gains as traders assessed the severity of the nuclear plant attack. Prices are still up 20 percent this week as global buyers are shunning Russian

crude and fuels, sparking a race for alternative supplies. The International Energy Agency warned that global energy security is under threat, and a planned release of emergency oil reserves by the US and other major economies has failed to quell supply concerns. JPMorgan Chase & Co. said global benchmark Brent crude could end the year at $185 a barrel if Russian supply continues to be disrupted. Prices were at about $112 on Friday. Wheat soared to the highest level since 2008 on deepening fears of a global shortage as the Ukraine war cuts off about a quarter of the world’s exports of the staple used in everything from bread to cookies and noodles. Futures jumped by the exchange limit in Chicago, rising 6.6 percent to $12.09 a bushel. Base metals also rallied further after the LMEX Metals Index, which tracks six major contracts, surged to a record on Thursday. Soaring energy prices have added to the momentum by pushing up costs. Aluminum, one of the most energythirsty metals, rose as much as 3.6 percent to

$3,850 a ton on the London Metal Exchange, a fresh record. Copper is also closing in on its all-time high. The war and the implications of sweeping US and European sanctions on Russia have upended Black Sea supplies at a time when global stockpiles of raw materials are already tight. Russia is a major supplier of crude, natural gas, grains, fertilizers and metals such as aluminum, copper and nickel. Higher commodity prices have the potential to be a drag on growth and stoke inflation, creating a dilemma for central bankers worldwide as they weigh the need to increase borrowing costs against the risk of stunting economic growth. In other commodities, US gas futures rose as much as 4.3 percent to head for a third weekly increase, bolstered by European demand for American cargoes of liquefied natural gas. Iron ore futures in Singapore are set for a 15 percent gain this week, the biggest in more than three months, amid growing expectations of a pickup in demand from China’s economy.

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Tesda and Petron tie up seeks to train skilled mechanics in automotive sector By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

he Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) has partnered with Petron Corp., the Philippines’s largest fuel company and sole refiner, to strengthen training programs under the automotive sector. Tesda Director General Secretary Isidro Lapeña and Petron Vice President for Industrial Sales Virgilio Centeno signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to t r a n s f o r m B u i l d i n g 9 i n s i d e t h e Te s d a Complex in Taguig City into a state-of-theart Car Care Center to offer higher-level qualifications under the automotive sector. “We are optimistic that this venture will create a better, more comprehensive learning experience for the Filipino workforce, preparing them for the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the constantly evolving world of work,” Lapeña said. The center, which will be called “TESDA– Petron Car Care Center (TPCCC),” will be patterned after the Petron Car Care Center (CCC) located inside Petron service stations and also as standalone service shops.

The standard Petron Car Care Center offers a complete line of professional automotive care services from light to heavy repairs, as well as tire services such as wheel balancing and alignment. Likewise, the TPCCC will consist of various tools and equipment provided by Petron and necessary for the conduct of trainings and assessment, which will be offered in coordination with the Tesda Regional Training Center-National Capital Region (RTC-NCR). The training programs will initially focus on preventive maintenance servicing (PMS), and would later include automotive servicing and allied diploma programs. The agreement also entails Tesda to facilitate the conduct of skills training for higher-level qualifications and diploma programs for automotive servicing to its identified clients and to Petron’s auto-mechanic technicians. For its part, Petron shall also share its existing technical knowledge and programs, specifically on the application of lubes for vehicles, with Tesda Qualifications and Standards Office (QSO) to update the current training regulations for automotive servicing.

Ex-DPWH chief Villar consistently tops RPMD pre-election senatorial survey

ormer Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary and senatorial candidate Mark A. Villar has topped the pre-election senatorial survey by RP-Mission and Development Foundation (RPMD) with a 68.5 percent voter preference. The poll was conducted from February 22 to 28 using face-to-face interviews with 10,000 respondents nationwide. “Isang malaking karangalan po ulit na manguna sa senatorial survey. Maraming salamat po sa inyong tiwala at pagpapahalaga sa aking serbisyo publiko,” Villar said. Mark Villar was followed by Antique Rep.

Loren Legarda (63.1 percent), broadcaster R a f f y Tu l f o ( 6 0 . 8 p e r c e n t ) , S o r s o g o n Governor Francis “Chiz” Escudero (60.3 percent), Sen. Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri (53.7 percent) and former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano (52.9 percent). Ranking 7th to 12th place were Senator Sherwin Gatchalian (48.6 percent), Sen. Risa Hontiveros (41.2 percent), former Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay (39.5 percent), Sen. Richard J. Gordon (38.7 percent), former Sen. Jinggoy Estrada (37.3 percent) and film actor Robin Padilla (35.1 percent).

BBM: National ID users must be protected against identity theft

ITING the importance of a national identification system for the faster and more efficient delivery of basic services to the people, especially during emergency situations, presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., is urging the government to ensure that the public gets ample protection against identity theft and other forms of cybercrimes. This developed as Marcos clarified that he strongly supports the Philippine Identification System Act (PhilSys) signed by President Duterte on August 6, 2018. However, the former senator expressed concern over reports that the National ID card lacks all necessary security features that would prevent criminal elements from stealing the holder’s important and sensitive personal data. This, after a BBM staffer discovered that the QR Code on the back of the National ID card can be read by anyone or any mobile phones. While Marcos is aware that production of such an ID card is still in progress, he said its specification must include the guarantee that no one will be able to obtain the personal information of the citizens. Instead of a QR code, he said, it would be better to have an RFID and ensure that only proper authorities have access to it. “We have many new technologies now; perhaps we can get one that is more effective and more secure,” he added. Marcos is concerned that the national ID could trigger a spike in cases of identity theft

due to the insufficient security system.

Important for ‘ayuda’

He said that if all government-issued IDs such as SSS, Postal ID, GSIS, driver’s license, PhilHealth and others can be unified, it will speed up transactions in all public and private offices. Marcos said he first saw the importance of a National ID in the distribution of aid under the government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP) during the pandemic, during which delays and confusions could have been avoided had the system been already in place. He noted that since it has only been more than a year since the applications for the National ID started, a huge segment of the population has yet to avail of the same. “But if all of us have a National ID already, government would have an easier time distributing ‘ayuda’ and it would be easy to identify those who deserve it,” he said, partly in Filipino. Identity theft or identity fraud is a type of crime in which an impostor steals, imitates or copies an individual’s personally identifiable information such as SSS ID’s or other government IDs. This stolen information can be used to forge credit cards, purchase and borrow items using an assumed identity. It is also possible for an innocent individual to be involved in a crime he/she did not commit if the cybercriminal deliberately uses stolen information to mislead the authorities.

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Editor: Angel R. Calso • Saturday, March 5, 2022

DOH-7 asks LGUs to ramp up vaccination of senior citizens By John Rey Saavedra

Central Visayas chief pathologist, Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, said in a presser that Central Visayas will remain under Alert Level 2 even if many localities in the country will start observing the lowest restriction starting on Tuesday, because the region’s vaccinated elderlies are still below 80 percent of their population. Setting a minimum coverage for the seniors is the fourth requirement

EBU CITY—Local government units (LGU) in Region 7 should strive to ramp up the inoculation of senior citizens to meet the requirements for the Alert Level 1 or the new normal category of quarantine restrictions, a health official said on Monday. Department of Health (DOH)-

under Resolution No. 146-D, Series of 2021 issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) for an area’s placement under Alert Level 1. Loreche, however, said the region has accomplished other requirements such as the low to minimal risk case classification as can be seen in the lower daily count of Covid-19 cases. Also, the hospital bed total utili-

zation rate is below 50 percent, and more than 70 percent of the total population in other priority groups is fully vaccinated. “We need to have close monitoring for the senior citizens because we need to fully vaccinate 80 percent of their population. Because of our low accomplishment in terms of senior citizens, the IATF could not place us under Alert Level 2,” Loreche said.

According to National Vaccination Operations Center data, two highly urbanized cities in the region have lower inoculation rates for the elderly. Although Cebu City achieved 76 percent vaccination for the elderlies, the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu reported only about 51 percent and 68 percent, respectively. Loreche, however, said there is a need to reconcile the records, as she

stressed the possibility that there are senior citizens who were listed in other categories when they received their first and second doses. “There are seniors who were recorded as medical frontliners but their age, like me, I am 60, but listed in the A1 category. Some are listed as persons with comorbidities or economic frontliners but they are above 60,” she said. PNA

Italian city fundraises to pay retirees’ rising energy bills Pensioners urged to be more

LUIGI BONI, a 95-year-old Florentine retiree, shows the latest water bill in his house during an interview with The Associated Press in Florence, Italy, on February 17, 2022. Boni said that he can’t cope with the more than 50-percent hike in water, gas and electricity bills this winter. Boni was included in a relief program “Adopt a bill” that collects and redistributes donations from wealthier fellow citizens to help pay the utility bills of those elderly people in need. AP PHOTO/DOMENICO STINELLIS By Maria Grazia Murru

less than 9,000 euros ($10,205) a year and can’t afford to make ends meet with an expected 55-percent increase in home electricity costs and a 42-percent hike in residential gas bills, he said. Widower Luigi Boni, 96, confirms that. He says that by the end of February, he will have emptied his bank account and spent his monthly pension check of under 600 euros ($680) before covering utilities. “Either I eat or I pay the rent,” Boni said as he sat on his sofa with a daily newspaper in his hands. To assist him and others among Florence’s estimated 30,000 residents over age 65 and living alone, the city administration launched the fundraising campaign with the nonprofit Montedomini Foundation, which runs projects aimed at helping the city’s retirees. The campaign raised 33,000

The Associated Press

LORENCE, Italy— Florence is famed for its contributions to Italian art, architecture and cuisine. But these days, local leaders in the city regarded as the birthplace of the Renaissance are concerned with more mundane matters: paying the bills. Amid soaring energy costs across Europe, officials at Palazzo Vecchio—the building that serves as Florence’s city hall as well as a museum—have teamed up with a local nonprofit to help fixedincome retirees keep their power on through an “Adopt-a-Bill” fundraising campaign. “Florence is a city where you live well, and for this reason, too, people live very long,” Mayor Dario Nardella said. A significant number of Florence’s retirees, however, live on

euros (more than $37,000) in its first few days. Private citizens, including Florentines living abroad, made more than 200 donations, according to the city’s welfare counselor, Sara Funaro. “Our goal is to raise funds to make sure that every elderly person who asks us for help can receive help to cover the increase in bills due to [energy costs] increasing,” Funaro said. Spiking energy prices are raising utility bills—and driving a record rise in inflation—from Poland to the United Kingdom. In response, governments across Europe are rushing to pass aid for residents and businesses as utility companies pass on costs to consumers. In Turkey, where the economic pressure is extreme and has fueled protests, Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir are among oppositionled municipalities with similar “Adopt-a-Bill” initiatives. Istanbul’s municipal web site says nearly 49 million Turkish lira (about $3.6 million) was donated since 2020, covering 320,000 utility bills. Italian Premier Mario Draghi’s government has passed measures valued at more than 8 billion euros ($9 billion) to help blunt the impact of soaring energy prices for businesses and individuals. The government’s most recent decree, issued Friday, also had a forward-looking component: it looked to accelerate Italy’s transition to more renewable energy sources, particularly solar power, to make the country less dependent on imported supplies. Italy currently imports 90 percent of its gas, much of it from Russia, and Draghi has insisted that any European Union

Masters of the lie

By Nick Tayag

MY SIXTY-ZEN’S WORTH

RAUDSTERS, scammers, swindlers, con artists, masters of disguise, whatever the right term to use for them, there are in our midst consummate performers of the art of deception. They are “People of the Lie” to borrow the title of a book by M. Scott Peck, author of several bestsellers. Capitalizing on society’s susceptibility towards beguiling appearances, coupled with greed, they can ensnare anyone of us, even hardnosed businessmen who are supposed to be experienced practitioners of due diligence. That’s because we are all products of our appearance culture and materialist desires. This is my takeaway from watching the twin tales of Anna Sorokin alias “Anna Delvey” and Shimon Hayut alias “Simon Leviev” and “David Sharon” who are the subjects of two

popular documentary series now on a top streamer. Although the two series hooked me, I felt uncomfortable because both of the main characters seemed to have been portrayed favorably—as savvy hustlers, and not as convicted felons. At some point, I was even blaming their victims, even thinking they deserved it for being gullible, or, to use the slang, “suckers.” The irony is that the two con artists are even profiting from their fame thanks to media deals being worked out. It brings me a painful memory of the time when I too was suckered by a conman who suddenly appeared at our gate, in the uniform of a local government employee demanding our permit to construct because our neighbors were complaining about the noise. He was convincing, complete with ID card and a walkie-talkie that he employed

to communicate with his boss at the engineering office, plus documents that looked “official.” To make the long story short, he was able to extort from me a few thousand pesos for a construction permit that turned out to be bogus. When I went to the municipal hall later, there was no such person in their official staff. I was a victim of “budol-budol” scheme, the colloquial term for the art of the lie. More and more, we are realizing that everything doesn’t seem to be what it is. Every one is not what they appear to be. What enrages me most about the real Anna and Shimon is that after being found out, they were convinced that they were doing nothing wrong. For them, the illusion they created around and for themselves was the reality. No amount of fact or truth could prick that bubble of pretense. They truly believe there was no deceit. Hence, no feelings of remorse. But in appearing to just shrug off their felonies, they are in fact turning the mirror around towards us, as if to say: come on, we’re just like you, masters of the lie one way or the other. He who isn’t good at lying, let him cast the stone. Touché! Mea culpa, because most of us don’t think twice about putting on a “veneer” or an exter-

sanctions to punish Russia for recognizing two separatistcontrolled areas of eastern Ukraine must exempt the energy sector. The Italian mayors’ association has said the government’s response has so far been insufficient to help cities cope with hundreds of millions of euros in additional energy costs, making them choose between balancing budgets or cutting services. Florence, Rome and other cities kept their municipal monuments and local government buildings dark on February10 to draw attention to the situation. Florence’s Adopt-a-Bill campaign enjoys popular support. As well as being a top tourist destination, the capital of Italy’s Tuscany region has a long record of successfully providing social services to poor and vulnerable residents. “It’s a great initiative because you can help people who can’t make it to pay a bill that in a shameless way has reached unsustainable costs,” said Luca Menoni, the owner of a butcher’s shop in Florence’s Sant’Ambrogio indoor food market. “I myself am paying a [electricity] bill double what I used to,” Menoni said. Boni may be getting some help with his energy bills to get him through the winter and stave off an expected move into a nursing home. But he still has a tight budget that doesn’t allow many luxuries. “Steaks? Meat? Let’s not even talk about it. I eat [cheap] packaged food,” he said. After his wife died, he said, “I became an expert in economic cooking.” (Nicole Winfield in Rome, and Zeynep Bilginsoy, in Istanbul, contributed to this report).

nal sheen so others will perceive us as having greater worth. Reflect on the many times we tried to cover up our weaknesses to make ourselves more appealing. Consider how we project ourselves on social media where we now spend most of our daily life. We keep editing and refreshing our profile to make us look good. Many of us don’t even use our real names, hiding behind aliases. We put on an avatar, or a persona, covering our warts, defects and weaknesses. Our real activities are glossed over with status updates that aim to impress, showcasing only feel good shots of experience. Outside of ourselves, it’s the same thing. Many of the acquaintances we have are just like Anna Sorokin and Shimon Hayut, overlaid with superficial veneer to look appealing and attractive. They are seen in proper circles, so people think they are “legit.” It’s a tact that Anna Sorokin employed to gain the trust of the rich and the wealthy. I know someone who has selfies with almost all celebrities and is an inveterate namedropper. He keeps this collection handy, and at the opportune moment, he shows the picture of him with that celebrity who happens to be a close friend of the target person he wants to seek

vigilant against loan ‘dupers’

CRIMINAL Investigation and Detection Group-Central Visayas regional chief Col. Ireneo Dalogdog FILE PHOTO By John Rey Saavedra

EBU CITY—The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Central Visayas on Tuesday said social insurance pensioners can avoid being victimized by unscrupulous individuals if they directly transact their loan applications with the right officers. Col. Ireneo Dalogdog, CIDG-7 regional chief, said this after two complainants from Negros Oriental province filed a complaint against two persons for allegedly duping them with their cash cards or automated teller machine (ATM) cards issued by the Social Security System (SSS). He said the suspects reportedly identified themselves as personnel of the SSS and offered to facilitate the quick release of the victims’ loan application. “Their modus operandi is to introduce themselves as employees of SSS. They target pensioners who are favor from. The shorthand message is: “I’m a friend of your friend, so you can trust me,” even if that photo was just from a casual encounter. There is now a slang word that is being used to describe such people: “Orocan.” It is the name of a famous Filipino brand for plastic ware. It is also local slang for double-talk and deception. In gay language “orocan” refers to a person who is a fake, poser, a pretender. Like the pandemic, the culture of deceit is already becoming widespread in the so-called post-truth era, no thanks to social media. Tragic is a nation that can no longer find an honest man. It’s time to stand up and be counted. Let’s begin a counter-revolution against the masters of the lie. Let’s be more mindful and discerning in our encounters with people. Know who among your friends are truly honest and sincere. It won’t hurt to do due diligence on people you’re dealing with before making any commitment. Don’t easily fall for that “I am a friend of your friend” gambit, putting your trust on someone just by association or status. Stay away from “kaplastikan” and other superficial pursuits and instead focus more on activities that are meaningful and uplifting to the spirit. Let people know your

senior citizens. Because of their old age, they would allow the suspects to process their loan application so that they can secure the loan proceeds faster,” Dalogdog said in a press briefing. The two suspects—Maria Joy Lugdang and Emma Apopanda—are now detained at the Negros Oriental holding facility. The duo is facing charges in violation of the provisions of the Revised Penal Code penalizing usurpation of authority. The suspects allegedly offered to hold the ATM cards of the victims so that they could withdraw the loan proceeds. To convince the victims that the transactions they offered were legitimate, they gave the victims money purported as an advance amount from the loan proceeds. However, they allegedly failed to give the entire SSS loan amount, prompting the victims to lodge a complaint with the CIDG regional field office in Dumaguete City. PNA real convictions and beliefs rather than be deceitful about it to please them or be acceptable in their eyes. Call them out if they are lying, as gently as possible, of course. In the coming elections, we need to be more questioning when it comes to the candidates. Are they just “hao xiao” or “ampao,” puffed up to look big but who have nothing but empty air inside? Ask for “resibo.” Who are they behind the faces they want us to see? Where were they before the elections? What have they done for the people? We are at a critical juncture in our nation’s future. If we fail to elect honest people, then our culture will be pushed further into the muck of deceit by masters of the lie from which we may never emerge. Most of all, cultivate honest relationships with your spouse, children, colleagues, and subordinates. Above all, follow Shakespeare’s precept: “To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.” Let’s master once more the virtues of honesty, modesty and humility in our lives. By doing so, we are injecting into the social bloodstream the kind of antibodies needed against the people of the lie. One honest person at a time.

BusinessMirror

Saturday, March 5, 2022

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

3M SERVICE CENTER APAC, INC. 17th, 18th, 19th Floors, Bonifacio Stopover Corporate Center, 31st Street Cor., 2nd Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, City Of Taguig Basic Qualification: Minimum 3-5 year’s work PARK, PHYEUN experience in HR area Hire To Retire Senior Specialist (Korean) previous experience in Shared Services environment is an Brief Job Description: advantage; Bachelor’s degree 1. Lead global and regional partners representing APAC to find or higher from an accredited win-win solutions to complex issues; Function as SME for university; Knowledge of HR multiple countries, processes, systems and Q&P activities; policies & procedures Primary country cluster and Specialist trainer Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 AB LEISURE EXPONENT, INC. 5/f Sm Megamall Bldg. D, J Vargas, Wack-wack Greenhills, City Of Mandaluyong ZHANG, KAI Csr - Mandarin Speaking Translator Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin 2. Brief Job Description: Help customers with complaint and questions, give Salary Range: customers information about products and services, take Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 orders and process returns ALLIANTPRIME SERVICES INC. Unit No. Unit 2c Flr. No. 4f, One Ecom Center Building, Ocean Drive St., Moa Complex Subd., Barangay 76, Pasay City Basic Qualification: YANG, HAIYANG Proficient in speaking, reading Mandarin Site Technical Officer and writing in mandarin. 3. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Diagnosing equipment malfunctions and performing repairs. Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 AMAZON OPERATION SERVICES PHILIPPINES, INC. B21 Three E-com Moa Complex, Harbour Drive Cor. Bay Shore, Brgy. 076, Pasay City PUNSIRI, ANUPIT Investigation Specialist I Basic Qualification: Brief Job Description: Fluency in Thai language 4. Investigate suspicious activity and behavior that could pose a risk to Amazon, our customer’s, or merchants; Communicate via Salary Range: email with buyers, merchants, and other external and internal Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 customers to make informed decisions about risk; Maintain Amazon’s site quality by enforcing Amazon’s Policy Guidelines; ANOC99 CORPORATION 5/f To 10/f Ayala Malls Manila Bay Building D., Macapagal Blvd. Cor. Aseana Street, Tambo, City Of Parañaque Basic Qualification: LAU KIM KIEU Able to speak, read and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 5. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: MEGAWATI Able to speak, read and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 6. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 BOSKALIS PHILIPPINES INC. Unit 3701, 3801 The Orient Square, F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig Basic Qualification: VELTMAN, ALKE KATHARINA WILHELMINA Proven successful relevant Deputy Hr Manager experience of at least 5 years within in an international 7. Brief Job Description: project environment The deputy HR manager is responsible and coordinates everything around the employment of local and expatriated Salary Range: personnel on the large and complex dredging project. Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 BZC IT SERVICES INC. 3f Salcedo One Center, 170 Salcedo St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: Shall perform user provisioning activities for all users on campus and works to ensure users are in various systems, including but not limited to Active Directory (AD) and e-mail. Manages, diagnoses resolve or escalates for additional support issues HUANG, AOBO related to PCs and Telephones. Mandarin Data Center Support Specialist Manages Help Desk tickets for the Systems and Network Brief Job Description: team, ensuring completion Shall perform user provisioning activities for all users on and resolution of issues by campus and works to ensure users are in various systems, various team members. including but not limited to Active Directory (AD) and e-mail. Obtains daily tape backups Manages, diagnoses resolve or escalates for additional of servers and places tapes support issues related to PCs and Telephones. Manages in tape vault. Conducts daily Help Desk tickets for the Systems and Network team, hardware check of department 8. ensuring completion and resolution of issues by various systems, observes warning team members. Obtains daily tape backups of servers and lights and initiates replacements places tapes in tape vault. Conducts daily hardware check of as necessary. De-provisions department systems, observes warning lights and initiates and replaces malfunctioning replacements as necessary. De-provisions and replaces hardware, wiping data for malfunctioning hardware, wiping data for security. Maintains security. Maintains physical physical inventory control of IT hardware and supplies for inventory control of IT hardware the Systems and Data centers well as the User Services team. and supplies for the Systems and Provide service excellence through courteous, informed, Data centers well as the User accessible and professional engagement. All reports must be Services team. Provide service interpreted in Mandarin. Perform other duties as assigned. excellence through courteous, informed, accessible and professional engagement. All reports must be interpreted in Mandarin. Perform other duties as assigned.

LI, QILING Mandarin Data Center Support Specialist

Brief Job Description: Shall perform user provisioning activities for all users on campus and works to ensure users are in various systems, including but not limited to Active Directory (AD) and e-mail. Manages, diagnoses resolve or escalates for additional support issues related to PCs and Telephones. Manages Help Desk tickets for the Systems and Network team, ensuring completion and resolution of issues by various team members. Obtains daily tape backups of servers and places tapes in tape vault. Conducts daily hardware check of department systems, observes warning lights and initiates replacements as necessary. De-provisions and replaces malfunctioning hardware, wiping data for security. Maintains physical inventory control of IT hardware and supplies for the Systems and Data centers well as the User Services team. Provide service excellence through courteous, informed, accessible and professional engagement. All reports must be interpreted in Mandarin. Perform other duties as assigned.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Shall perform user provisioning activities for all users on campus and works to ensure users are in various systems, including but not limited to Active Directory (AD) and e-mail. Manages, diagnoses resolve or escalates for additional support issues related to PCs and Telephones. Manages Help Desk tickets for the Systems and Network team, ensuring completion and resolution of issues by various team members. Obtains daily tape backups of servers and places tapes in tape vault. Conducts daily hardware check of department systems, observes warning lights and initiates replacements as necessary. De-provisions and replaces malfunctioning hardware, wiping data for security. Maintains physical inventory control of IT hardware and supplies for the Systems and Data centers well as the User Services team. Provide service excellence through courteous, informed, accessible and professional engagement. All reports must be interpreted in Mandarin. Perform other duties as assigned. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

WANG, MENGLAN Mandarin Data Center Support Specialist

10.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Shall perform user provisioning activities for all users on campus and works to ensure users are in various systems, including but not limited to Active Directory (AD) and e-mail. Manages, diagnoses resolve or escalates for additional support issues related to PCs and Telephones. Manages Help Desk tickets for the Systems and Network team, ensuring completion and resolution of issues by various team members. Obtains daily tape backups of servers and places tapes in tape vault. Conducts daily hardware check of department systems, observes warning lights and initiates replacements as necessary. De-provisions and replaces malfunctioning hardware, wiping data for security. Maintains physical inventory control of IT hardware and supplies for the Systems and Data centers well as the User Services team. Provide service excellence through courteous, informed, accessible and professional engagement. All reports must be interpreted in Mandarin. Perform other duties as assigned. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

YU, BAOBAO Mandarin Data Center Support Specialist

11.

Brief Job Description: You shall managing a team of mandarin staff including programmers, analysts and support specialists, evaluating the functionality of systems, consulting computer users to ascertain needs and to ensure that facilities meet user or project requirements, selecting and purchasing appropriate hardware and software, managing IT budgets, ensuring software licensing laws are followed, implementing and managing security or integrity and backup procedures, scheduling upgrades, providing user training, support, advice and feedback, testing and modifying systems to ensure that that they operate reliably managing secure network access for remote users, keeping up to date with new technology, designing maintenance procedures and putting them into operation training new staff. Ensure software packages contain no errors by analyzing development data, regularly interpret data and analysis in Mandarin.

Basic Qualification: Shall perform user provisioning activities for all users on campus and works to ensure users are in various systems, including but not limited to Active Directory (AD) and e-mail. Manages, diagnoses resolve or escalates for additional support issues related to PCs and Telephones. Manages Help Desk tickets for the Systems and Network team, ensuring completion and resolution of issues by various team members. Obtains daily tape backups of servers and places tapes in tape vault. Conducts daily hardware check of department systems, observes warning lights and initiates replacements as necessary. De-provisions and replaces malfunctioning hardware, wiping data for security. Maintains physical inventory control of IT hardware and supplies for the Systems and Data centers well as the User Services team. Provide service excellence through courteous, informed, accessible and professional engagement. All reports must be interpreted in Mandarin. Perform other duties as assigned. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

WANG, ZHIHAO Mandarin Software Quality Assurance Analyst

12.

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Basic Qualification: You shall managing a team of mandarin staff including programmers, analysts and support specialists, evaluating the functionality of systems, consulting computer users to ascertain needs and to ensure that facilities meet user or project requirements, selecting and purchasing appropriate hardware and software, managing IT budgets, ensuring software licensing laws are followed, implementing and managing security or integrity and backup procedures, scheduling upgrades, providing user training, support, advice and feedback, testing and modifying systems to ensure that that they operate reliably managing secure network access for remote users, keeping up to date with new technology, designing maintenance procedures and putting them into operation training new staff. Ensure software packages contain no errors by analyzing development data, regularly interpret data and analysis in Mandarin. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

YAN, JUNLING Mandarin Software Quality Assurance Analyst

13.

Brief Job Description: you shall managing a team of mandarin staff including programmers, analysts and support specialists, evaluating the functionality of systems, consulting computer users to ascertain needs and to ensure that facilities meet user or project requirements, selecting and purchasing appropriate hardware and software, managing IT budgets, ensuring software licensing laws are followed, implementing and managing security or integrity and backup procedures, scheduling upgrades, providing user training, support, advice and feedback, testing and modifying systems to ensure that that they operate reliably managing secure network access for remote users, keeping up to date with new technology, designing maintenance procedures and putting them into operation training new staff. Ensure software packages contain no errors by analyzing development data, regularly interpret data and analysis in Mandarin.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: you shall managing a team of mandarin staff including programmers, analysts and support specialists, evaluating the functionality of systems, consulting computer users to ascertain needs and to ensure that facilities meet user or project requirements, selecting and purchasing appropriate hardware and software, managing IT budgets, ensuring software licensing laws are followed, implementing and managing security or integrity and backup procedures, scheduling upgrades, providing user training, support, advice and feedback, testing and modifying systems to ensure that that they operate reliably managing secure network access for remote users, keeping up to date with new technology, designing maintenance procedures and putting them into operation training new staff. Ensure software packages contain no errors by analyzing development data, regularly interpret data and analysis in Mandarin. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

CHADNI FASHION WORLD CORP. Unit No. U-2 Flr. No. 3/f Baclaran Bagong Milenyo Plaza Bldg., F.b. Harrison St., Barangay 76, Pasay City RAHMAN, AZIZUR Basic Qualification: Purchasing Staff College Graduate; Fluent in English 14. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Research and evaluate potential vendors and suppliers. Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 CIBI INFORMATION, INC. 30/f Bdo Equitable Tower, 8751 Paseo De Roxas, Bel-air, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: ZUBIETA URIBE, YOLANDA Minimum of 20 years of Chief Executive Officer experience in the credit bureau 15. industry. Brief Job Description: Manage the company’s overall operations, drive profitability, Salary Range: oversee strategy and communicate with the Board. Php 500,000 and above CONCENTRIX DAKSH SERVICES PHILIPPINES CORPORATION Bldg. F, Ayalaland, Technohub, Quezon City Basic Qualification: Associate’s degree in related PAL, PARTHA field from a four-year college Associate Director Workforce Management or university with more than ten years of relevant 16. Brief Job Description: experience (with two to four Lead reviews of Workforce Management strategy to identify years of Progressive Mgmt opportunities to improve utilization and develop new Experience) preferred strategies to proactively respond to client needs Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 JAGGA, AMIT Basic Qualification: SVP Country Leader At least ten years’ experience in Contact Centre senior/ 17. Brief Job Description: executive leadership roles Responsible for Philippine Service Delivery/Operations, defines and implements annual budget plans and provides Salary Range: regular reports to the global COO Php 500,000 and above DEXIN INTERNATIONAL IMPORT AND EXPORT CORP. 534 Tomas Mapua St., 029, Barangay 298, Santa Cruz, City Of Manila ZHANG, TIANJIA Basic Qualification: Chinese Cargo Office Agent Have skills in documentations 18. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Prepare airline and custom documentations Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 DIGIVIRTUAL TECH CORPORATION 7/f Ba Lepanto Bldg., 8747 Paseo De Roxas, Bel-air, City Of Makati LIU, CHENGQIANG Basic Qualification: Mandarin Speaking Computer Support Specialist Excellent speaking, writing and reading in Chinese. 19. Brief Job Description: Investigate user problems and prepare reports for Salary Range: developers. Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 QIU, XIUFANG Basic Qualification: Mandarin Speaking Computer Support Specialist Excellent speaking, writing and reading in Chinese. 20. Brief Job Description: Investigate user problems and prepare reports for Salary Range: developers. Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 ZHAO, FENG Basic Qualification: Mandarin Speaking Computer Support Specialist Excellent speaking, writing and reading in Chinese 21. Brief Job Description: Investigate user problems and prepare reports for Salary Range: developers. Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 EASTERN GOLD CORPORATION 503, Nueva St., Barangay 289, Binondo, City Of Manila Basic Qualification: Can contributes information, HUANG, ZHENGZHEN ideas, and research to help Marketing And Sales Agent develop marketing strategies; can help to detail, design, and 22. Brief Job Description: implement marketing plans for Researches and develops various marketing strategies for each product or service being products and services and implements marketing plans and offered. works to meet sales quotas Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can contributes information, LEE SHU NI ideas, and research to help Marketing And Sales Agent develop marketing strategies; can help to detail, design, and 23. Brief Job Description: implement marketing plans for Researches and develops various marketing strategies for each product or service being products and services and implements marketing plans and offered. works to meet sales quotas Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can contributes information, LI, XIA ideas, and research to help Marketing And Sales Agent develop marketing strategies; can help to detail, design, and 24. Brief Job Description: implement marketing plans for Researches and develops various marketing strategies for each product or service being products and services and implements marketing plans and offered. works to meet sales quotas Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can contributes information, ideas, MAH LENG SHEAN and research to help develop Marketing And Sales Agent marketing strategies; can help to detail, design, and implement 25. Brief Job Description: marketing plans for each product Researches and develops various marketing strategies for or service being offered. products and services and implements marketing plans and works to meet sales quotas Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION NG, TING SZE Marketing And Sales Agent

26.

Brief Job Description: Researches and develops various marketing strategies for products and services and implements marketing plans and works to meet sales quotas

WU, ZHAOMING Marketing And Sales Agent 27.

Brief Job Description: Researches and develops various marketing strategies for products and services and implements marketing plans and works to meet sales quotas

ZONG, XINGXING Marketing And Sales Agent 28.

Brief Job Description: Researches and develops various marketing strategies for products and services and implements marketing plans and works to meet sales quotas

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Can contributes information, ideas, and research to help develop marketing strategies; can help to detail, design, and implement marketing plans for each product or service being offered. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can contributes information, ideas, and research to help develop marketing strategies; can help to detail, design, and implement marketing plans for each product or service being offered. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can contributes information, ideas, and research to help develop marketing strategies; can help to detail, design, and implement marketing plans for each product or service being offered. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

EASY ECO LED CORPORATION 604 Coherco Financial Tower, Trade St. Cor. Investment Dr., Mbp Ayala, Alabang, City Of Muntinlupa AHN (SPOUSE OF LEE), JISUN Basic Qualification: Marketing Manager Bachelor’s degree. 29. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Responsible for managing the promotion and positioning of Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 a brand or the products and services that the company sells. FIRST COMMERCIAL BANK, LTD., MANILA BRANCH Unit 2&3 20/f Tower 6789, 6789 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: CHEN, YOU-YI Bachelor’s degree with 5-10 Assistant Manager years’ experience in a similar position 30. Brief Job Description: Handles loans dept., marketing and customer service Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 GEDI CONSTRUCTION DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION Unit A&b 20/f Rufino Pacific Tower, 6784 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: GUO, CHUANGANG Proven experience as Mandarin General Manager Mandarin General Manager, excellent communication, Brief Job Description: interpersonal and presentation 31. The Mandarin General Manager will be a strategist and a skills. leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long Salary Range: term goals. Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 I-PLEX MARKETING INC. 24/f Bgc Corporate Center, 30th Street Corner 11th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling HSU, CHIH-HSIANG customer questions about Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative services or products/Excellent 32. Mandarin communication Brief Job Description: skills Assist/Help customers, give customers information about products and services. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 INQUICK SERVICES INC. Unit 606 6/f Itc Bldg., 337 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: CHEN, YUELAN Proficient in speaking, reading Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative and writing in Mandarin 33. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Identify and assess customers’ needs to achieve satisfaction Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: WANG, YAJIE Proficient in speaking, reading Mandarin Speaking HR Manager and writing in Mandarin 34. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Manage talent acquisition process Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 LEHAN FASHION INC. Unit No. U-19 Flr. No. 3f Bagong Milenyo Bldg., F.b. Harrison St., Barangay 76, Pasay City HOSSIN, MD JAHANGIR Marketing Manager 35.

Basic Qualification: College Graduate; Fluent in English

Brief Job Description: Provides in-depth information to interested clients and Salary Range: acts as a representative for the Marketing Department in Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 important buyer meetings. MAERSK GLOBAL SERVICE CENTRES (PHILIPPINES) LTD. Levels 6-8 North Wing, Estancia Offices, Capitol Commons, Meralco Ave., Oranbo, City Of Pasig BARDAKCI, EMRAH Process Expert

Brief Job Description: Assist customers with their issues and inquiries Keep close communication with colleagues locally and overseas in order to ensure prompt handling of exceptions or concerns, Read and reply to correspondences of both internal stakeholders Basic Qualification: and customers within SLA as defined for the specific Willing to take on stretched communication channel, Propose and support initiatives for goals, and to go above and continuous improvement of the process. Attend to exportbeyond for urgent work 36. and import-specific processes as assigned in the team 3 or requirements more years of experience in accounting roles, preferably in Multinational companies. Proficient in MS Office, esp. Excel. Salary Range: SAP knowledge is an advantage. Strong analytical skill. Good Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 English and Spanish communication skills. Confidentiality and discretion at a high level is expected. Capable of meeting strict deadlines and flexible to work in a team environment. Highly energetic and self-motivated, proactive, and resourceful. Able to adapt successfully to multiple tasks that occur in a rapidly changing environment and to perform in highly interruptive conditions to meet time pressures/ deadlines. MELCO RESORTS LEISURE (PHP) CORPORATION City Of Dreams Manila, Aseana Ave. Cor. Roxas Blvd., Tambo, City Of Parañaque Basic Qualification: 4-year degree in business, CHAPMAN, MARK accounting or related field Vice President, Finance (MBA & chartered accountant, CPA, or similar preferred), min 37. Brief Job Description: 10 yrs. diversified business Manage the property’s general accounting, tax, financial experience reporting, financial planning & analysis, daily audit functions, regulatory compliance, & accounting. Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above MIRACH MULTI-VENTURES CORPORATION (BULGOGI GARDEN) 125 Kalayaan Ave., 4, Central, Quezon City Basic Qualification: BOO, MIJA Bachelor degree, well Product Consultant Officer experienced, English & 38. Mandarin excellent Brief Job Description: Specialized in Korean product, deliveries Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. 4th-11th Flr. Nexgen Tower, C4 Rd. Edsa Ext., Barangay 76, Pasay City Basic Qualification: LI, MINGXIN Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese Customer Service chinese language 39. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: THAN HTIKE SOE Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese Customer Service chinese language 40. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

41.

WANG, MINGJIE Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

No.

42.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION YANG, JIANXING Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Saturday, March 5, 2022

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

NEO INCORPORATED North Tower Centrum Bldg., Aseana Avenue, Entertainment City, Baclaran, City Of Parañaque Basic Qualification: LU, BIN With atleast 6 Months Chinese Speaking Business Analyst customer service experience/ Good in oral communication 43. Brief Job Description: and written Assist/Help Customers, Give Customers information about product and services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: XIE, JING With atleast 6 Months Chinese Speaking Business Analyst customer service experience/ Good in oral communication 44. Brief Job Description: and written Assist/Help Customers, Give Customers information about product and services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

45.

Brief Job Description: Communicate and coordinate with parent company, manage efficient power roll out of the tower at local level. UCME, FADIL Project Delivery Director

46.

Brief Job Description: Oversee the work produced by the team with the aim of seamless delivery service.

51.

TAO RUOSHAN Senior Manager, Marketing And Shopeepay (Management) Brief Job Description: Responsible for growth of Shopee pay

SMCC PHILIPPINES, INC. 6/f Peninsula Court Bldg., 8735 Paseo De Roxas, Bel-air, City Of Makati YAMAZAKI, YUZURU Construction Manager 52.

Brief Job Description: Set up the budget Construction schedule and methodologies for the project TANZILA TRADING INC. U-29 3/f Bac., Bagong Milenyo F.b. Harrison St., Barangay 76, Pasay City CHEN, ZEHONG Trade Marketing Specialist

53.

Brief Job Description: Creating and implementation of a trade marketing strategy, Managing brand awareness across various categories and products. Develop, implement and communicate metrics reporting processes and documentation across plants and companies in collaboration with operations, marketing and sales functions, fluency in English and Mandarin language is a must. LUO, WUBIN Trade Marketing Specialist

57.

58.

Brief Job Description: Preparation, supervision and checking the project of the company KUAI, WENCHENG Assistant Project Supervisor

Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MANDARIN and at least college level with related BPO experience.

60.

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MANDARIN and at least college level with related BPO experience.

WEI, MINGMING Mandarin Customer Support Representative 61.

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MANDARIN and at least college level with related BPO experience.

YANG, CHANGFU Mandarin Customer Support Representative 62.

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. YANG, RUOWANG Mandarin Customer Support Specialist

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MANDARIN and at least college level with related BPO experience.

63.

Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelors and post graduate degree in civil engineering or telecom. At least 15-20 years of experience in telecom industry.

UNITOP GENERAL MERCHANDISE INC. 12th Floor, Ri Rance Bldg., Aseana City, Tambo, City Of Parañaque TANG, ZUFU Basic Qualification: Consultant Experience in china market 64. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: brain storm strategies for growth Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 VPC CORPORATE SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED 11/f 100 West, Sen Gil Puyat Ave. Cor., Washington St., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati LE THE HIEN Basic Qualification: Vietnam-speaking Customer Service Officer Foreign language speaking 65. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Prepares product or service reports by collecting and Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 analyzing customer information TRUONG VAN LANH Basic Qualification: Vietnam-speaking Customer Service Officer Foreign language speaking 66. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Prepares product or service reports by collecting and Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 analyzing customer information VU THI HUYEN TRANG Basic Qualification: Vietnam-speaking Customer Service Officer Foreign language speaking 67. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Prepares product or service reports by collecting and Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 analyzing customer information WIKITECH SERVICES INC. Unit 25d 2/f Zeta Ii Bldg., 191 Salcedo St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: PAN, SZU-WEI Proficient language skills and Mandarin Administrative Specialist match to job 68. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Creates and revises systems and procedures Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 XUSHENG TECHNOLOGY CORP. Flr. No. 1-5 Bldg., No. 0050 F.b. Harrison St. Cor. Williams And Roberts St. Zone 4, District 1, Barangay 13, Pasay City Basic Qualification: DANG QUOC THANH Proficient in speaking, reading Bilingual Technical Support and writing in bilingual languages 69. Brief Job Description: Deals with hardware and application support queries and Salary Range: issues reported to the Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: DANG QUOC TRUONG THI Proficient in speaking, reading Bilingual Technical Support and writing in bilingual languages 70. Brief Job Description: Deals with hardware and application support queries and Salary Range: issues reported to the Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: DIEP THI THU THUY Proficient in speaking, reading Bilingual Technical Support and writing in bilingual 71. languages Brief Job Description: Deals with hardware and application support queries and Salary Range: issues reported to the Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: DUONG THI NGUYET Proficient in speaking, reading Bilingual Technical Support and writing in bilingual 72. languages Brief Job Description: Deals with hardware and application support queries and Salary Range: issues reported to the Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: HOANG BA CUONG Proficient in speaking, reading Bilingual Technical Support and writing in bilingual 73. languages Brief Job Description: Deals with hardware and application support queries and Salary Range: issues reported to the Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: NGUYEN NGOC TIEP Proficient in speaking, reading Bilingual Technical Support and writing in bilingual languages 74. Brief Job Description: Deals with hardware and application support queries and Salary Range: issues reported to the Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: NGUYEN THI THANH NHAN Proficient in speaking, reading Bilingual Technical Support and writing in bilingual languages 75. Brief Job Description: Deals with hardware and application support queries and Salary Range: issues reported to the Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: NGUYEN VAN HOANG Proficient in speaking, reading Bilingual Technical Support and writing in bilingual languages 76. Brief Job Description: Deals with hardware and application support queries and Salary Range: issues reported to the Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: NGUYEN VAN QUAN Proficient in speaking, reading Bilingual Technical Support and writing in bilingual 77. languages Brief Job Description: Deals with hardware and application support queries and Salary Range: issues reported to the Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 ZAPPORT SERVICES, INC. 36/f Burgundy Corporate Tower, 252 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati JEREMY AXEL Basic Qualification: Indonesian-speaking Customer Service Officer Indonesian Speaking and Written 78. Brief Job Description: Indonesian Written Reports on a Daily Operations of Call Salary Range: Center Activities Performing Customer-Oriented Telephone Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Activities and Various Background Operations duties JOVITA NATHALIA THIODORA Basic Qualification: Indonesian-speaking Customer Service Officer Indonesian Speaking and Written 79. Brief Job Description: Indonesian Written Reports on a Daily Operations of Call Salary Range: Center Activities Performing Customer-Oriented Telephone Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Activities and Various Background Operations duties

Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above Basic Qualification: Experience in top consulting firm Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: At least University Graduate at least with N2 in Nihongo Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

Basic Qualification: strong knowledge of consumer ability to think critically and creativity. Fluency in English and mandarin language is a must. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Strong knowledge of consumer ability to think critically and creativity. Fluency in English and mandarin language is a must.

Brief Job Description: Creating and implementation of a trade marketing strategy, Managing brand awareness across various categories and 54. products. Develop, implement and communicate metrics reporting processes and documentation across plants and companies in collaboration with operations, marketing and Salary Range: sales functions, fluency in English and Mandarin language is Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 a must. TETRAULT MABUHAY CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC, INC. Rm. 25, 2/f San Antonio Plaza Arcade, Mckinley Rd., Forbes Park, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: JAY, HUGO BRUNO Graduated as doctor of Chiropractic Consultant chiropractic 55. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Adjust and treat misaligned bone using spine manipulation Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION LIMITED - PHILIPPINE BRANCH 3058 Hsbc Center, 5th Ave. West, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig Basic Qualification: With at least 25 years of banking experience, and a master’s degree in business administration and finance; UPPAL, SANDEEP with sound understanding Chief Executive Officer of the evolving international banking landscape especially Brief Job Description: in Asia, and with deep Be the primary representative of the group’s legal entity in understanding of HSBC and the country accountable for embedding HSBC culture and 56. an extensive network across values and supporting behaviors in the execution in-country the ground; and passionate of global strategies; take charge in the implementation of about building market leading global standards, management of financial crime, affiliates, sustainable businesses and conduct risk; ensuring that the group’s corporate and developing diverse responsibilities are fulfilled in the local communities in which quality teams that reflect we operate. the uniqueness of HSBC’s international franchise.

THEIDI CONSTRUCTION CORP. Unit 503 East Tower, Psec Exchange Road, San Antonio, City Of Pasig HENG, YEHONG Assistant Project Supervisor

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

Basic Qualification: Bachelors and post graduate degree in business or management.

SHELL SHARED SERVICES (ASIA) B.V. 16/f-25/f Solaris One Bldg., 130 Dela Rosa St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati MARZUCA POSAS, NICOLAS Delivery Assurance Advisor (Spanish Speaker) Basic Qualification: Native Spanish Speaker 47. Brief Job Description: Ensures that the Scheduling Team is informed and Salary Range: appropriate actions are agreed immediately and Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 communicated to the drivers. SHOPEE PHILIPPINES INC 37/f Net Park, 5th Avenue E-square Crescent Park West Bgc, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig Basic Qualification: LIANG, HSIN-WEI Minimum of 6 yrs experience Assistant Manager, Marketing (Livestream) in marketing related. 48. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: analyze quantitative / qualitative field for livestream Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 HO, CHIA-PEI Basic Qualification: Associate, Marketing (Marketing Insights) Bachelor Degree In marketing 49. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: define in app content strategy Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 NG JIEQI Basic Qualification: Senior Manager, Business Development (Category Master Degree in Business Management) Administration 50. Brief Job Description: create, implement execute business dev for product category

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION TIAN, RONGBIN Mandarin Customer Support Representative

PHIL-TOWER CONSORTIUM INC. Unit S-08 Eco Tower Bldg., 32nd St. Cor. 9th Ave., Bgc, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig MOGAN SHANMUGAM Power Rollout Manager

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above Basic Qualification: Able to work independently as a part of a team Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to work independently as a part of a team

Brief Job Description: Preparation, supervision and checking the project of the Salary Range: company Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 TRIVES TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION Tower 4 Bayport West, Naia Garden Residence, Naia Road, Tambo, City Of Parañaque Basic Qualification: MA, JUFENG Able to speak and write in Mandarin Customer Support Representative MANDARIN and at least college level with related BPO 59. Brief Job Description: experience. Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Experts at their product, and their primary duty is to resolve customer issues quickly and efficiently.

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

*Date Generated: Mar 4, 2022 Any person in the Philippines who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is desired may file an objection at DOLE National Capital Region located at DOLE-NCR Building, 967 Maligaya St., Malate Manila, within 30 days after this publication. Please inform DOLE National Capital Region if you have any information on criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals.

Saturday, March 5, 2022

The World BusinessMirror

China’s Covid-19 stance has created a $280-B black hole for global tourism

fter two long years, piazzas and shopping boutiques across Europe are again welcoming tourists, with one big difference: Chinese travelers—some of the biggest spenders before the pandemic—are nowhere to be seen.

It’s the same in Southeast Asia, where tourism-dependent economies are throwing open their doors, but the white-sand beaches of the Philippines and night markets of northern Thailand are all but deserted. China’s borders remain effectively sealed as the country continues to pursue a zero-tolerance approach to a virus that other parts of the world have accepted as endemic. For the country’s 1.4 billion people, international travel is basically off the table with weeks-long hotel quarantines on return and flight options severely limited. Fear of Covid, which is stamped out aggressively when it flares in China, is also a factor. For the world’s tourist hotspots, that’s a problem. Chinese travelers spent $277 billion overseas in 2018 and another $255 billion in 2019, accounting for almost 20 percent of all international tourism spending, data from the United Nations’ World Tourism Organization show. As the virus emerged in 2020— with the first cases in the central Chinese city of Wuhan—their expenditure slumped to $130.5 billion, most of which would have come in the months before March, when much of the world went into lockdown. Revenue is now a fraction of that. UNWTO reported a 61 percent drop in spending by Chinese tourists from 2019 levels in the nine months through September last year. “It’s impossible to make a prediction about when we’ll see Chinese travelers again,” said Imke Wouters, a Hong Kong-based partner at consultancy Oliver Wyman who covers greater China and Southeast Asia. “Even when borders reopen without quarantine requirements, tourism will take some time to fully recover as only a small group of travelers will jump on a plane right away.” As places like Australia, which just reopened to international tourists, and Singapore get on with living with Covid-19, accepting that high vaccination rates provide

adequate protection, China and Hong Kong are holding fast. While there are signs Beijing is at least considering its exit strategy from Covid Zero, border curbs and other restrictions are unlikely to be eased meaningfully before 2023, given the need for stability in a politically important year for President Xi Jinping. McKinsey & Co. said in a report in August that outbound travel from China may remain muted for as long as 18 months, while Goldman Sachs Group Inc. predicts border restrictions could remain in place for the whole of this year and may even extend until the spring of 2023 considering transmissions are typically higher in winter months. Nowhere is the impact as visible as in Hong Kong, itself hewing to the mainland’s isolationist approach even at the risk of losing its status as a global business hub. Some 51 million tourists, or more than three-quarters of total visitors to the city, came from China in 2018, data from UNWTO and the Hong Kong Tourism Board show. Globally, Hong Kong was the No. 1 destination for Chinese tourists in 2018, playing host to 33 percent of the almost 145 million Chinese who traveled overseas that year. They poured about $27 billion into the economy, according to the city’s statistics department. Macau, known for its casinos, wasn’t far behind, receiving 25.3 million, or more than 17 percent of all China’s outbound tourists. Thailand was the third-most popular destination in 2018, the year prior to the pandemic with the most complete data available. Some 16.9 million Chinese traveled to the Southeast Asian nation, spending around $16.1 billion. Prior to Covid, South Korea, home to K-pop and a cutting-edge cosmetics scene, was attracting Chinese at a breakneck pace. In 2018, almost 4.8 million people visited, a 15 percent jump on 2017, outlaying about $8.9 billion, according to Bloomberg News calculations based on government data on spending. Things are very different now. “Before the pandemic, nearly

70 percent of all Chinese tourists came to Korea through group travel packages. Now, revenue is zero,” said Cho Il-sang, a representative for Hana Tour Service Inc., Korea’s largest travel agency. “I saw someone quit and start working as a delivery man.” In Cambodia, Christian de Boer, managing director of the Jaya House hotel in Siem Reap, doesn’t think Chinese visitors will return until 2023. He estimates they used to account for 40 percent of all travelers to Cambodia. Jaya House has closed two of its sister hotels and is keeping one open at reduced capacity. The reverberations are being felt on the other side of the world, too. In Venice, a city where flocks of tourists pre-Covid were causing water pollution and congestion, Caffe Florian is missing a key group of patrons. Chinese visitors were a “constant and significant” inflow before the virus, said ReNato Costantini, a director of the Italian coffee house that dates back to 1720. Most came in big groups and were high spenders, he said. Filippo Frank, owner of the Hotel Villa delle Rose in Rome, a family-run business that’s been in operation since 1979, said Chinese tourists pre-pandemic spanned solo travelers, the middle class and the young. “But after 2020, they disappeared,” Frank said. “We reopened in September 2020 after the lockdown, and since then no more Chinese citizens are coming from China. Chinese tourists weren’t as many as Europeans or American of course, but it was a pretty good and growing community.” China has become “notoriously efficient at turning off the flow of outbound travelers,” according to Doug Lansky, an independent tourism consultant and author of 10 books, including two for Lonely Planet and three for Rough Guides. And the Chinese population “respects official travel warnings more than many others.” It was a trend even before Covid, Lansky said, citing the 2018 arrest of Huawei Technologies Co.’s Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou in Canada. The move prompted China to issue a travel advisory against the nation, quickly drying up tourism. “Because of this, any country catering to Chinese visitors doesn’t just need to be ‘China Ready’,” Lansky said. “They need to be ‘China Un-Ready,’ that is, they need to have a strong plan in place in case Chinese visitors suddenly disappear.”

Some spots are doing just that. The Maldives, for example, has doubled down on its marketing efforts to consumers in places like Australia and India. The latter has emerged as the archipelago’s top source of visitors for two years running. “When you look at a place like the Maldives, China was the biggest supplier of tourists,” said Bill Heinecke, the founder and chairman of Minor International Pcl, one of Asia’s largest hospitality, restaurant and lifestyle companies. “Today it’s setting new preCovid highs and they’re doing that without the Chinese. Dubai is also seeing higher hotel rates.” But for every success story there are many more tales of woe. Pockets of Thailand’s tourism sector, which used to account for about a fifth of the country’s gross domestic product and 20 percent of employment, have cratered. The chairman of Thai Airways International Pcl’s restructuring plan, Piyasvasti Amranand, said that most of the international traffic to Thailand currently was from Europe. “We’re not counting on China this year in our plan,” he said in an interview during the Singapore Airshow in February. In Phuket, only around 30 percent of hotels are open—the majority that relied on Chinese visitors are still closed. The island was “heavily reliant on Chinese arrivals, especially in the years leading up to the pandemic,” said Angkana Tanetvisetkul, president of the Kata Karon Business Association, which represents more than 40 locally-owned hotels on Phuket. After the release of the 2012 Chinese comedy Lost in Thailand, the popularity of Chiang Mai surged and the northern city famous for white-water rafting and jungle treks also made it onto the bucket list of many Chinese travelers, said Amnart Daungsing, who owns two guest houses and helps run the Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association. Chinese tourists were 80 percent of his business and he even hired a tutor to help teach him and his staff Chinese so they could communicate better. The influx also spurred a mushrooming of small businesses around the area. Now more than half have closed. Amnart has also been forced to shut his guest houses and pick up odd jobs, like selling durians online. “Covid was really a nail in the coffin for many businesses,” he said. “I want to go back to running the guest houses, but we can’t expect Chinese travelers to come back anymore.” Bloomberg News

South Korea eases distancing despite record virus deaths

EOUL, South Korea—South Korean officials announced an easing of social distancing restrictions even as the country saw its deadliest day of the pandemic on Friday, reflecting reduced political capacity to deal with a fastdeveloping Omicron surge in the face of a growing economic toll and a presidential election next week. Jeon Hae-cheol, minister of the interior and safety, said the curfew at restaurants, bars, movie theaters and other indoor businesses would be extended by an hour from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. starting Saturday. He cited people’s fatigue and frustration with extended restrictions and the damage to livelihoods. Officials did maintain a six-person limit on private social gatherings, acknowledging “uncertainties” posed by an accelerating Omicron spread that has put the country on the verge of a hospital surge. Jeon’s announcement from a government

meeting discussing the national Covid-19 response came shortly before the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency reported 186 deaths in the latest 24 hours, shattering the previous one-day record of 128 set a day earlier. The 266,853 coronavirus infections diagnosed in the latest 24 hours was also a single-day record and represented a 60-fold increase from the daily levels in mid-January, when Omicron emerged as the dominant strain. The cumulative national caseload is around 3.96 million after adding more than 3.11 million in February alone. Omicron seems less likely to cause serious illness or death compared to the Delta variant that hit the country hard in December and January, but hospitalizations have been creeping up amid the greater scale of outbreak. The strain on the hospital system is likely to worsen in the coming weeks, considering the time lags between infections, hospitalizations and deaths.

While nearly 800 virus patients were in serious or critical conditions, Deputy Health Minister Lee Ki-il said the country wasn’t in immediate danger of running out of hospital beds, with nearly half of the 2,700 intensive care units designated for Covid-19 treatment still available. Lee acknowledged that health experts advising the government had opposed the easing of virus restrictions, but insisted that the move was inevitable considering the shock on service sector businesses. He didn’t give a specific answer when asked whether the government was softening its pandemic response ahead of the presidential election Wednesday. “The decision on social distancing measures was made in consideration of both the epidemiological situation and livelihoods,” Lee said during a briefing. “I want to stress that the decision was made after real, careful deliberation.” The move to extend indoor dining

hours came after officials removed another key preventive measure last week that had required adults to show proof of vaccination or negative tests to enter potentially crowded spaces like restaurants, coffee shops, and gyms. The Omicron surge has forced the country to reshape its pandemic response in a way that effectively tolerates the virus’ spread among the broader population while concentrating medical resources to protect priority groups. But there’s growing concern over the bend-but-not-break approach as the country continues to report some of the world’s highest daily infection numbers. More than 925,000 virus patients with mild or moderate symptoms have been asked to isolate at home to save hospital space. The country has also reshaped its testing policy around rapid antigen test kits, despite concerns over their accuracy and propensity for false-negative results, to save laboratory tests mostly for priority groups. AP

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

Eye-watering energy prices spark a nuke power rethink

oaring fossil fuel prices and rising demand for clean energy have governments around the world reconsidering nuclear power programs that had been left for dead amid safety concerns and massive cost overruns. Finland and the Philippines are the latest to show their support for nuclear, after Germany, South Korea and others softened opposition to the sector. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the energy department to adopt a nuclear energy program and possibly revive a plant built almost four decades ago but never used due to safety and corruption issues. In Europe, Fortum Oyj is seeking to extend the lifespan of its Loviisa station in Finland by 20 years to 2050. Anything and everything that can produce energy is being looked at now as global oil, coal and gas prices skyrocket amid uncertainty over Russian supplies. For the Philippines, shifting away from coal while improving power system reliability is expected to boost clean energy demand by 4.4 percent a year through 2040. “Considering this demand and the projected depletion of natural gas resources, nuclear power will play an important role to contribute to the required capacity,” Duterte said in an executive order signed Monday and published on Friday. German officials and energy companies are considering delaying a plan that would phase out nuclear power and close the country’s last plants by the end of the year. South Korean President Moon Jae-in recently asked officials to move on the start-up of long-delayed reactors, indicating a shift in policy on atomic power. Nuclear power had lost favor in many countries after a small

number of high-profile safety incidents, and as new construction projects in Europe and the US were plagued by delays and cost overruns. The tide has shifted in recent months thanks to a global energy supply crunch that lifted coal and gas prices to records. That momentum has been supercharged in recent days by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In the Philippines, which pays some of the highest power prices in Asia, a public perception survey in 2019 indicated that almost 79 percent of citizens approved the possible use or rehabilitation of the existing nuclear plant while 65 percent favored the construction of new ones, according to the president. The Bataan nuclear plant, which was completed in 1985, was about to be commissioned when Corazon Aquino mothballed it soon after becoming president in 1986. She alleged that the plant had poor safety measures and was mired in corruption involving Westinghouse Electric Corp., the contractor, and the late strongman, former President Ferdinand Marcos. Duterte has been considering the revival of the controversial plant since the early months of assuming the presidency in 2016. In 2017, his administration signed an agreement with Russia to help the Philippines come up with national policies on nuclear energy. Unlike many nations, Finland has never stopped planning for more nuclear power plants. The Loviisa plant’s two units, with a combined capacity of about 1 gigawatt, were built more than 40 years ago and were scheduled to shut down permanently by the end of this decade. Fortum will now apply for a new operating license that would push the reactors’ life beyond 70 years. Bloomberg News

Life in South Asia slowly returns to normal as virus cases decline

he markets are crowded again. Traffic is jamming the roads. Migrant workers have returned to the cities. And young people are back at schools and universities—many of them for the first time in years. It isn’t quite how things were before the Covid-19 pandemic— mask mandates still exist in some places—but with infections steadily declining, life in South Asia is returning to a sense of normalcy. The mental scars from last year’s delta-driven surge persist—especially in India, where health systems collapsed and millions likely died—but across the region high vaccination rates and hope that the highly contagious Omicron variant has helped bolster immu nit y a re g iv ing people reasons to be optimistic. W h i le e x p e r t s a g re e t h at opening up was the right move amid falling case numbers, they caution that optimism should be tempered with lessons from the past two years. Dr. Gagandeep Kang, an infectious disease expert at the Chr istian Medica l Col lege in Vellore city in southern India, said the government should start preparing now for the next medical emergency, “whether that is Covid-19 or something else.” She said that new variants remain a concern, especially if the virus mutates into a more lethal version while retaining its infectiousness. Those concerns were put aside in Nepal this week, as hundreds of thousands of people gathered

at the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu for a festival of the Hindu god Shiva. “I had to wait for hours—since morning—and was finally able to visit the temple,” said Keshav Dhakal, a pilgrim. Sri Lanka’s pristine beaches are full again. Young people sway to music and devour spicy curries with friends. Some restrictions remain on the island—masks are mandatory in public places—but the government hopes that foreign tourists will return soon, helping bolster its faltering economy. T he i sl a nd n at ion w a s so short of hard currency during the pandemic that authorities had restricted imports of cars and fertilizer. Now it’s using its dwindling reserves to pay for more costly oil needed to keep the economy running. “I am happy that life has come back,” said Ruwan Chamara, a construction worker who says he has attended several concerts in recent weeks after nearly two years of “living in an open prison.” The Indian government’s focus is also on economic rejuvenation. Apart from the loss of human life, the pandemic also made millions poorer, including many who were among the most vulnerable. The stringent lockdow n, announced w ith a few hours’ notice in 2020, forced thousands of people to walk home to their villages from the cities where they worked. Those workers have now begun returning to cities, as activity picks up at factories and construction sites. AP

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The World BusinessMirror

Macron to seek 2nd term in France’s April election

ARIS—French President Emmanuel Macron formally announced Thursday that he will run for a second term in April’s presidential election, ahead of which he is already leading in the polls. In a “letter to the French” published on domestic media websites, Macron said: “I am seeking your trust again. I am a candidate to invent with you, faced with the century’s challenges, a French and European singular response.” Macron, 44, had long indicated that he wanted to run in the election, scheduled to be held in two rounds on April 10 and April 24, without formally announcing it until now. But his initial campaign plans have changed since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In the past weeks, the centrist president has dedicated most of his time to diplomatic talks with world leaders and coordination with European and other Western allies. Polls suggest Macron is the frontrunner in the race. Conservative candidate Valérie Pécresse and two far-right figures, Marine le Pen and Eric Zemmour, are expected to be his main challengers. Left-wing candidates run divided in the race, none of them appearing in a position to qualify for the run-off. Christiane Taubira, a champion of minority groups, dropped out of the race this week because she had not managed to get enough support. Henri Wallard, chairman of the French polling firm Ipsos, said that Macron’s candidacy is boosted by his being in office. Wallard noted the 21 million viewers who watched Macron’s address to the nation this week centered on the war in Ukraine and its consequences. “That’s after he spoke nine times to the French during the Covid crisis. So he doesn’t play on the same team as the other candidates, because he is already in charge and dealing with a crisis,” Wallard told the AP. Macron’s popularity in recent months has remained relatively stable, with an approval rating hovering around 40 percent depending on polling institutes— higher than his predecessors Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy had after nearly five years in office. Even without a formal candidacy announcement, Macron was the first candidate to receive the legally required 500 endorsements from elected officials. The rule is intended to limit the number of people running for president. Macron said in his letter Thursday that the war in Ukraine would prevent him from campaigning “as I would have liked.” Campaign events will be limited to the minimum for now, several

French presidency officials said. Macron wants his duties as president at a key time for the European continent not to be disrupted by his candidacy, they stressed. France currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union Council, giving Macron a key role in organizing the 27-nation bloc’s response to Russia’s actions. When Macron was first elected in May 2017 on a pro-business, pro-European platform, he had little political experience. A former investment banker, he had been economy minister from 2014 to 2016 under Socialist President Francois Hollande. He seduced French voters by promising to bring fresh air into politics, managing to attract support from both the center-left and the center-right. Almost five year later, Macron noted that “rarely has France faced such an accumulation of crises,” listing extremist attacks, the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Macron made changes to the economy to boost job creation and cut taxes on businesses. He notably eased rules to hire and fire workers and to make it harder to get unemployment benefits. Critics say his policies threaten the French welfare state. He faced the first major crisis of his term when the anti-government yellow vest protest movement broke out at the end of 2018. Named after the vests French drivers must keep in their cars for emergencies, it started with demonstrations against a planned fuel tax hike and quickly spread into a broader movement against economic injustice. For months, weekly protests across the country often degenerated into scattered violence. In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic led Macron to declare the country “at war” against the virus. After a lockdown-fueled historic recession, his government focused on supporting the economy with a 100 billion-euro recovery plan. The pandemic forced Macron to delay some economic reforms, including a difficult overhauling of France’s pension system that he had previously promised to push through. “We did not succeed in everything,” Macron acknowledged in his letter Thursday. “Thanks to reforms, our industry created jobs again for the first time and unemployment has reached its lowest level in fifteen years,” he said. The unemployment rate recently reached 7,4 percent, down from over 10 percent when he came into power. “I’m a candidate to continue preparing the future of our children and our grand-children,” he said. AP

Saturday, March 5, 2022

Russian forces occupy site of nuke plant; fire contained

ussian forces occupied the site of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant Friday after an attack that ignited a fire at the complex, Ukraine said, raising the stakes in President Vladimir Putin’s invasion as his troops pounded cities across the country. Russian shelling had caused a blaze at a training complex in the Zaporizhzhia plant in the east of the country overnight, U k rainian of f icia ls said, but emergency services extinguished it and there were no casualties. Ukraine told the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) the incident had “not affected ‘essential’ equipment,” and there had been no change reported in radiation levels. Russi a a l ready cont rols Ukraine’s defunct Chernobyl nuclear facility, site of a major disaster in 1986, and its forces had been closing in on Zaporizhzhia for days, with the IAEA voicing mounting concerns over the safety of the country’s nuclear installations as fighting escalated. President Joe Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as reports of the attack emerged and the leaders called on Russia “to cease its military activities in the area,” according to a White House statement. “Europe must wake up,” Zelenskiy said in a video message early Friday, adding that he also spoke with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and other leaders. “If there is an explosion, it is the

end of Europe,” Zelenskiy added. “Only urgent Europe actions can stop Russian troops.” E ne r g y M i n i s t e r He r m a n Halushchenko told Bloomberg Television early Friday that a missile had hit the nuclear plant’s unit no. 1, and the Ukraine government was seeking more clarity on the damage. Reactors are “being protected by robust containment structures” and are being safely shut down, US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in a statement, adding her department had activated its nuclear incident response team. In the days leading up to the incident, the international nuclear watchdog had considered a 30-kilometer exclusion zone surrounding all of Ukraine’s reactors, acknowledging the unprecedented nature of combat taking place in and around the facilities. There’s never before been a military attack on an operating nuclear plant, analysts said. The head of Ukraine’s nuclear operator has said the plant’s reactors, which are protected with thick metal and cement shells, are designed to withstand an aircraft crash. Nuclear plants are equipped with emergency response systems that should shut

This image made from a video released by Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant shows bright flaring object landing in grounds of the nuclear plant in Enerhodar, Ukraine on March 4, 2022. Russian forces shelled Europe’s largest nuclear plant early Friday, sparking a fire as they pressed their attack on a crucial energy-producing Ukrainian city and gained ground in their bid to cut off the country from the sea. AP

the reactors once they sense the vibrations from an attack, and have backup power systems in the case of a blackout. Knee-jerk losses in equity markets moderated as traders assessed the severity of the situation at the facility. S&P 500 Index futures were trading 0.9 percent lower, after earlier falling 1.7 percent. Gold pared earlier gains as demand for haven assets eased. The fact that the fire had posed no immediate risk to reactors “does not in any way excuse the Russian troops for firing on this nuclear power plant facility and endangering not only Ukraine and the surrounding countries, but really Russia itself should there be some kind of explosion,” Rose Gottemoeller, a former NATO deputy secretary general, told Bloomberg Television in an interview. “It’s one of those fratricidal situations that nobody, not even Vladimir Putin, should wish for.” The Zaporizhzhia power plant

in the city of Enerhodar is home to six Soviet-designed 950-megawatt reactors built between 1984 and 1995, with capacity of 5.7 gigawatts, enough to power more than 4 million homes. The site accounts for about 20 percent of the country’s electricity, according to its website. W h i l e U k r a i n i a n Fo re i g n Minister Dmytro Kuleba warned of a disaster “10 times larger” than Chernobyl, analysts said that was unlikely. The nuclear reactors at Zapor izhzhia are of a different design and have been upgraded even since the Fukushima disaster. “If there is no significant military damage to their multiple redundant safety systems, the reactors should remain in a safe stable state,” said Lake Barrett, a former official at the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission who was involved with the cleanup at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in the US. Bloomberg News

America to extend temporary protected status to Ukrainians, halts deportations

he Department of Homeland Security is expected to soon begin giving Temporary Protected Status to Ukrainians who are in the US, even as the Justice Department has halted the deportation of Ukrainian nationals who do not have green cards or other documentation. The protected status move by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas would be effective as of March 1, meaning that Ukrainian nationals would have to had been in the US by then to be eligible. “Russia’s premeditated and unprovoked attack on Ukraine has resulted in an ongoing war, senseless violence, and Ukraini-

ans forced to seek refuge in other countries,” said Mayorkas said in a statement released on Thursday evening. “In these extraordinary times, we will continue to offer our support and protection to Ukrainian nationals in the United States.” Roughly 30,000 Ukrainians living in the US on non-immigrant visas or without a visa could be protected by the decision, according to the non-partisan Migration Policy Institute. Members of Congress from both parties have pushed the Biden administration to grant the status, which would allow Ukrainians already in the country to remain, for now.

Earlier Thursday, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson conf ir med t he change in policy on deportations. The move to halt deportations alone does not extend all necessary protections, said Doris Landaverde, a spokesperson for the advocacy group National TPS Alliance. “In the midst of these moments of unprecedented crisis, TPS can be used to protect millions immigrants and refugees,” she said. “The question here is, Why does it appear that President Biden is hesitant to protect immigrants and refugees?” At least one million people have fled Ukraine since the invasion began last week, and United Na-

tions officials expect as many as 10 million people will ultimately be displaced either within Ukraine or in other countries. ICE deportations of Ukrainian nationals comprised less than 1 percent of all deportations in 2020. Overall, the agency in 2020 deported 185,884 p e o p l e , a n d 10 6 p e o p l e t o Ukraine, data show. That was a 15 percent decrease from 2019, when the agency deported 125 people to Ukraine. There were 445 immigration court cases centering on Ukrainian nationals in 2016, data analyzed by Syracuse University’s Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse show. Bloomberg News

China’s grand legislature to meet with economy, invasion backdrop B EIJING—China’s 3,000-member ceremonial parliament will open its annual session Saturday with the government facing a slowing economy and international pressure over its refusal to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. While domestic issues typically dominate the National People’s Congress (NPC), the war in Ukraine is highlighting the ideological confrontation between the American-led West and the competing world view of Beijing and Moscow. Any discussion of the conflict is expected to muted, however, with the focus on boosting growth in the world’s second-largest economy. The more than 3,000 delegates do little lawmaking—that’s handled by the congressional smaller Standing

Committee, which meets year-round. Rather, the ruling Communist Party uses the Congress to announce broad goals for the economy and other issues including the environment and military spending. This year, it comes ahead of a key party meeting in November during which leader Xi Jinping is expected to be granted a third five-year term. This year’s NPC was again cut to one week from the usual two because of the pandemic. Only a few big gatherings are scheduled and news conferences will be held via video link. Analysts will focus on an annual report delivered at Saturday’s opening session by Premier Li Keqiang, the No. 2 leader and top economic official. He is expected

to announce an annual growth target of as low as 5 percent, down from last year’s 8 percent. The report will likely review China’s Covid-19 response and may have hints about the future direction of virus control. While China has largely contained the outbreak, questions have increasingly been raised about the economic costs and long-term sustainability of its “zerotolerance” approach. Most of the remainder of the week-long session will be taken up by closed-door discussions among the delegates, drawn from all of China’s provinces and regions, as well as the party’s powerful military, the People’s Liberation Army. The plight of trafficked women is expected to be discussed following a recent

widely publicized case of a woman found chained inside a shed in eastern China. Delegate Jiang Shengnan plans to raise a proposal to hold criminally liable those who assist in trafficking or obstruct the rescue of a trafficked person, according to the official People’s Daily newspaper. Another delegate, Zhang Baoyan, has proposed that all localities investigate the backgrounds of girls whose family origins are unclear and help them return home, China Youth Daily reported. An advisory body to the Congress, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, opens its annual session Friday and will run concurrently with the legislature. Looming over this year’s event is the war in Ukraine in which China is seen as

largely siding with Russia against a global wave of growing criticism of the invasion. A major buyer of Russian oil and gas, China is the only major power that has refrained from criticizing Moscow’s invasion. China has also ruled out joining the US and European governments in imposing financial sanctions on Russia. Instead, Beijing has endorsed the Russian argument that Moscow’s security w a s t h r e a t e n e d b y N AT O ’s e a s t e r n expansion. China abstained when the UN voted at an emergency session Wednesday to demand an immediate halt to Moscow’s attack on Ukraine. Shi Yinhong, a professor of international relations at Beijing’s Renmin University, said China must express its position and reservations.

“It concerns the unity of China’s international stance and it also concerns China’s global reputation,” Shi said. “But unfortunately, no major parties would listen to it given the complex situation.” The conflict over Ukraine has raised some comparisons with China’s own claim to sovereignty over the self-governing island republic of Taiwan, although the circumstances are very different. C h i n a ’s d e f e n s e b u d g e t , l a r g e l y oriented toward possible military action in Taiwan, is another marquee item that is scrutinized closely by Congress watchers. While the annual defense spending has fallen from double digits in 2015 to just 6.8 % last year, at $210 billion, it ranks as the world’s second largest after the US. AP

Education BusinessMirror

A10 Saturday, March 5, 2022

Power plant training facility to rise in Cebu’s Olango Island

By Roderick L. Abad

TRAINING facility for power plant operations will be built in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu as a response to the massive destruction left by the strong howler late last year. Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) Secretary Isidro S. Lapeña and SPC Island Power Corp. (SIPC) President and CEO Dennis Villareal signed on February 14 the Deed of Donation for various power plant equipment, materials and facilities worth P4.6 million for the training hub which will rise in the province’s Olango Island. The structure is earmarked to help the locality and its residents rise from the destruction wrought by Typhoon Odette (international code name Rai). Specifically, SIPC donated the Olango Diesel Power Plant for the agency to convert into a fully equipped power plant-training center, which will be known as the “Tesda-SPC Training Facility.” The Tesda chief said that the partnership was really timely, as

it will aid residents of Olango Island to recover from the impact of the strongest storm that battered mostly the Visayas and Mindanao regions in December 2021. Last month he visited the facility and met Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan to discuss the implementation of their programs in the city, and possible ways to augment the supply of available power with solar energy after the typhoon. “Our partnership comes at the most appropriate time, as it gives our kababayans, especially in Olango Island, the chance to bounce back from the impact of the calamity,” Lapeña said. According to him, the training hub will offer higher-level qualifications related to power plant operations to the residents of Olango islands and nearby areas. Lapeña added that the agency

SECRETARY Lapeña shows the Deed of Donation he signed with SPC Island Power Corp. for the Tesda-SPC Training Facility

will soon process the registration of Diploma Programs such as Power Plant Technology, Electrical Engineering Technology, and Mechanical Engineering Technology. “With collaborative efforts and cooperation from our public and private partners, the SIPC and local government of Lapu-Lapu City, we are very optimistic that the people of Olango Island will be provided with the necessary assistance to improve their skills and obtain greater employment or livelihood opportunities in the future,” he said. For his part, Villareal said that

GADGET GIVEAWAY

SEAMEO welcomes to its fold Benilde SHS

As the Philippines and Israel celebrate the 64th year of the signing of their Treaty of Friendship on February 26, the latter’s embassy in Manila handed out tablets to support Makati High School’s Lend-Gadget and Internet Connection Assistance project, which assists students to digitally connect to their online classes. Ambassador Ilan Fluss (second from left) led the initiative, together with officials of the said school.

E La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Senior High School (SHS) wa s recent ly i nduc ted a s the newest member of the South East Asian Ministries of Education Organization (SEAMEO)’s leading network of international academic institutions. Establ ished in 1965 SEAMEO promotes multilateral collaboration on humanresource development and innovation on education, science and culture among selected government-accredited centers, schools, colleges and universities across Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. Benilde SHS’s educational heads, administrators, teachers and students may participate in the diverse training programs and activities designed and conducted by the 26 SEAMEO regional centers, stakeholders and partners. Educators are granted access to a vast collection of comprehensive learning and teaching materials crucial in keeping the school at the forefront of innovative and inclusive education amid rapidly changing times. Students, meanwhile, will develop and sharpen skill sets at par with global norms through SEAMEO’s exclusive online and mobile training courses, as well as regional contests that allow them to connect with fellows from other member-countries. Benilde SHS is currently accepting applications for School Year 2022 to 2023. Learn more about its track offerings, application procedures, and requirements by visiting https:// www.benilde.edu.ph/shs.html.

the partnership will make Olango residents’ future bright: “I [was] told that with this donation, under its ‘Abot Lahat Program,’ Tesda would be able to establish one-ofa-kind training hub for the people of Olango Island.” Me a nwh i le, C h a n t h a n k e d both the SIPC and Tesda for their assistance to the island: “This technical-training facility will be a great help to residents of Olango islands in generating more income through technical-based livelihood. This will also be an effective means to boost [our city’s tourism industry].”

FACEBOOK: ISRAEL IN THE PHILIPPINES

DLSU rebrands College of Law after patriots Tañada, Diokno

E L a S a l le Un i ve r s it y (DLSU) has renamed its legal-learning institution to the “Tañada-Diokno College of Law, [TD COL]” after Lorenzo “Ka Tanny” Tañada Sr. and Jose “Ka Pepe” Diokno—both patriots, nationalists and lawyers whose lives exemplify the ideals and values of true Lasallians. The naming was held on February 26 and commemorated by a virtual marker. It served as the highlight of the 100th birth anniversary celebration of Ka Pepe, along with the launch of the book penned by Prof. Maria Socorro Diokno, one of Ka Pepe’s daughters: Jose W. Diokno: Pamana. With the TD COL, DLSU seeks to mold future lawyers who will emulate the love of God and country by the two exemplars. Lorenzo Martinez Tañada Sr. graduated at the top of his highschool class in De La Salle College in 1918. He obtained his law degree from the University of the Philippines, and later earned advanced degrees in law from Harvard Law School and the University of Santo Tomas. Ka Tanny served as a solicitor general, special prosecutor, judge, and senator of the republic. Meanwhile, Jose Wright Diokno graduated from the high school of De La Salle College and later earned his degree in commerce, summa cum laude, in the same institution in 1940. Ka Pepe topped the certified public accountants’ licensure exams soon following graduation. After being granted a special dis-

Refreshed web site, Law Clinic online

pensation by the Supreme Court to sit for the bar exams without finishing a law degree, he topped the said tests administered in 1944. He distinguished himself as a lawyer, justice secretary, and also as a senator. The patriotism of these two Lasallians was at its pinnacle in the struggle against the dictatorship and repression from the 1970s to the 1980s. Ka Pepe was one of the many individuals incarcerated by then-president Marcos in 1972, with Ka Tanny as the former’s lawyer. They were both active in the parliament of the streets, asserted national sovereignty, and defended the most vulnerable. Both were founding members of the Free Legal Assistance Group, or FLAG,: a nationwide organization of human-rights lawyers in the Philippines, where Ka Pepe was elected as chair. Ka Tanny and Ka Pep—two friends who collaborated on many endeavors, causes, cases, advocacies—were joined by their love for the Filipino people.

DLSU’s TD COL also revamped its web site, and launched the same for the DLSU Law Clinic in time for the renaming of the college. The updated online portal features the history, identity, campus, program and curriculum of the college. Administration and faculty profiles provide a glimpse of its legal luminaries. The web site also contains information on admission requirements and application process for those interested in pursuing law for the new academic year. The occasion also marked the launch of the web presence of the DLSU Law Clinic. As the full-service law office of the TD COL, the DLC—formerly the Developmental Legal Advocacy Clinic—is a venue for learners to become law student practitioners in preparation for a fulfilling legal career. One of the few law schools with a complete mandatory clinical legal education program, the DLC adheres to the Revised Student Practice Rule issued by the Supreme Court. Since 2013 the DLC has been at the forefront of molding lawyers deeply committed to promoting and protecting human rights. Its web site features primary services, legal-aid materials, primers, and educational videos. The portal also gives a background on the team of supervising lawyers. Visit the web sites for TD COL: www.law.dlsu.edu.ph and DLC: https://www.dlsu.edu.ph/dlac/.

Editor: Mike Policarpio

No money, more learning problems? PIDS’ recent study says it is so By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

INANCIAL constraints are among top barriers that hinder the Filipino youth who are not under employment, education or training (NEET) from pursuing technical and vocational education and training (TVET), according to state think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS). In a recent webinar, results from a study commissioned by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), in partnership with the Philippine Business for Education and authored by PIDS Supervising Research Specialist John Paul Corpus and PIDS President Aniceto Orbeta Jr., revealed that 48 percent of their youth NEET respondents did not pursue TVET due to “lack of funds for tuition or allowance.” In the survey, respondents mentioned other barriers such as lack of information at 13 percent, housework or caring duties (11 percent), and seeking work (10 percent). “Interestingly, 36 percent said they did not experience any hindrance from pursuing TVET,” Corpus added. “Perhaps, some of [them did not pursue such], because it was their choice not to.” When asked about the needed support to encourage youth participation in TVET, the majority of respondents said the provision of allowance support and information on job opportunities would be a big factor to study. Other forms of assistance cited were tuition support, job search support, and information on TVET programs. The study also discovered other issues concerning the youth NEET in the country. For one, Orbeta said only a few government

agencies use the said concept. Authors also noted the undercounting of TVET trainees due to variations in definition of training participation by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and TESDA. “The current definition of PSA undercounts the number of those who are in training by about almost 45 percent,” Orbeta pointed out. “They do not count those who are not trained in universities and communitybased training programs. These are big components of TESDA training.” The PIDS president pointed out that the government must provide financial support and employment facilitation assistance, as well as strengthen information dissemination about TVET to encourage participation among the NEET youth. “We know [the government has been giving] a lot of financial support,” he said. “Perhaps, we should do a little bit of nuancing where we should be putting our money, so that we can improve [training] participation.” He also called on the PSA and TESDA to “resolve the differences in the definition of training participation.” Moreover, the authors emphasized the importance of promoting the NEET concept among relevant government agencies, saying that “being an NEET youth has a big cost to society.” Relatedly, Orbeta said more in-depth studies on the determinants of youth NEET should also be pursued. “Why are females going into inactivity when they leave training or school? That is one issue that we need to find good data on,” he inquired. “We should also identify policies that will draw them into training.”

Sen. Go to school heads, government: Ensure students’ health, welfare amid gradual return to F2F classes

ENATOR Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go once again urged government authorities and officials of educational institutions to guarantee the health and safety of students amid the gradual expansion of face-to-face classes nationwide. As chair of the Senate Committee on Health and member of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Go emphasized that while the country is already experiencing a downward trend in Covid-19 cases that allows most economic sectors to resume normal operations, securing human life and managing risks brought about by the ongoing pandemic should be primordial concerns. Go understands the importance of education as an “investment,” that is why he is encouraging the youth to continue their schooling despite challenges being faced by humanity, but still ensuring safety as paramount. The senator called on school administrators and educators anew to strictly implement the Required Health Standards for Covid-19 Mitigation jointly issued by the departments of education and health, as pupils return to in-person instruction. “We’ll do it one step at a time so that our students’ safety is not jeopardized. [But let’s not rush it]; let us assess what happens,” reiterated Go, then added that even if disruptions occur, safety should still be top-of-mind. Earlier, the Department of Education (DepEd) was optimistic that more schools will be eligible to participate in the expansion of physical classes. Notably, the

conduct of face-to-face classes may only be implemented in areas under Alert Levels 1 and 2. In Januar y the education department reported that 304 schools were authorized to resume in-person sessions which will begin the month after, following President Duterte’s approval of the progressive expansion. DepEd noted that as of February 9 there are 39 schools in the National Capital Region that are able to continue limited physical classes; 28 of these schools are among the pilot educational institutions that began the conduct of face-to-face classes in November last year. In light of the ongoing vaccination program for children aged 5 to 11 years old and adolescents aged 12 to 18, Go also appealed for schools and colleges to be given more resources to organize inoculation drives to get more young people immunized. Now that pediatric vaccinations are available, the senator wants everyone to seize the opportunity to protect the young from sicknesses. The solon also pointed out the importance of providing clear and consistent guidelines to aid authorities and schools in the safe resumption of face-to-face classes. He reminded that schools should not be compelled to open against experts’ advice, then urged the government to provide students and personnel with needed aid and resources such as masks, face shields, and other personal protective equipment.

Tourism&Entertainment BusinessMirror

Editor: Carla Mortel-Baricaua

Saturday, March 5, 2022 A11

To say a prayer at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem

The author (second from right) says his prayers.

The Western Wall is an ancient limestone wall in the Old City of Jerusalem.

Feel the intensity and passion of the Jews as they pray at the Western Wall.

The Western Wall is the most religious site in the world for the Jewish people.

Story & photos by Marky Ramone Go

can’t remember exactly where and when I first learned about the Wailing Wall. I’m sure it was sometime during my childhood. Being an earnest reader of history books, I came across the fascinating account of Israel, from its birth of a nation in 1948 to the Israeli-Arab Wars and going back to ancient times. Early on, I’m already made aware of its significance as one of the leading emblems of Judaism, and that it also played an integral role in other religions such as Christianity and Islam.

According to Islamic Tradition, it was at the Western Wall where the Prophet Muhammad tied his winged steed, Al-Buraq—an Islamic creature that transports prophets—as he was in the middle of his Night Journey (Isra’ and Mi’raj) in 621. During the 4th century, when Jerusalem came under Christian rule, the Western Wall was treated with reverence because of its close proximity to Temple Mount and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

The Western Wall not the Wailing Wall

While it is more popularly known among non-Jewish as the Wailing Wall, the long-standing term for the place is actually the Western Wall or the ha-kotel ha ma’aravi. The term Wailing Wall originated only in the early 20th century when the British started using the term after their conquest of Jerusalem. A possible explanation of this

This holy site for the Jewish people is a place for religious and national gatherings.

goes back to describing the practice of Jews to gather near this part of Old Jerusalem’s wall to weep over the destruction of their temples, during the Byzantine Empire.

The holiest place of prayer

Located inside Old Jerusalem (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), it was first built in 19 BCE and measures 1,601 feet in length and 62 feet in height. The first seven layers of the Western Wall were made from meleke limestone, and dates back to the reign of Herod the Great—thus making it the same set of stones Jesus laid eyes on during his time. The wall became a witness to a tumultuous number of centuries when the city of Jerusalem fell into the hands of a myriad of rulers under the Christians, the Muslims, and back to the Jews, and interchanging empires from the Byzantine, Mamluk, and Ottoman

People from all faiths are welcome to visit and pray at the Western Wall.

periods to the British Empire and even under Jordanian rule. We visited the Western Wall on the tail-end of our Holy Land tour. It was a beautiful day when the sun was shining bright but not too hot. As a customary practice, the men and women are allotted separate partitions of the wall to pray. I walked towards the male section and joined dozens of Jews in dark suits to pray. At first, I was feeling hesitant as I fear intruding on their space of prayer. A bearded Jewish man might have sensed my apprehension, so he motioned me to approach the wall. I did. Being up against the wall and finally holding a block of meleke limestone, I immediately got lost on my own prayer. Feeling a little emotional, the moment tugged at my heartstrings as the significance of being in such a historical and spiritual place, clad me wholly over.

Many people who pray at the wall follow a practice that originated in the early 18th century of writing your prayers on a piece of paper and inserting it through the gaps on the wall. These notes are removed a few times every year and are taken to be buried on the soils of Mount of Olives. Too bad, I forgot a pen and paper, so I wasn’t able to leave a note. After finishing my prayer, I touch the wall one last time. As a gesture of gratitude, I recognize the ripples it created throughout its long-storied history that resulted in innumerable answered prayers—which hopefully, would include my own. I wonder if I prayed before about visiting the Holy Land. I could not remember. Either way, I expressed appreciation to the Western Wall for whatever higher power that conspired with the good karma to bring me there.

Oz Goose Sailfest Makes Waves in Legazpi

Bicol is the archipelago’s newest sailing haven.

he City of Legazpi, home to the iconic Mayon Volcano, sizzled once more at the inaugural staging of the Exciting Bicol Oz Goose National Championships on February 26 and 27. A first in the region, the event is organized by the Albay Yacht Club (AYC) and the Philippine Home Boatbuilders Yacht Club (PHBYC), and supported by the Department of Tourism Region 5 and the City Government of Legazpi. Set at the Albay Gulf across

Legazpi Boulevard, the two-day sailfest launched Bicol as the archipelago’s newest sailing haven. Thirty-one Oz Goose sailboats from Subic, Batangas, Manila and Albay competed for top honors and fun sailing during the event. “Bicol has been gaining in popularity with the country’s water sports enthusiasts, from wakeboarders, surfers, paddlers, scuba divers and now, sailors. Its natural beauty is its main appeal, the peo-

Small boat sailing has been gaining popularity in Legazpi.

Albay Gulf is the setting of the Exciting Bicol Oz Goose National Championships.

ple’s warm hospitality in embracing watersports compound its overall charm,” says DOT regional director Herbie Aguas. He said that potential sailing spots will be explored in the nearby provinces to make it a community sport and help breed a new generation of watersports athletes. Meanwhile, Legazpi mayor Noel Rosal welcomed the sporting event, saying sailing will be an additional recreational activity in the City of

reational sailing to various parts of the archipelago. Introduced in the Philippines in 2015, there are about 100 Oz Goose boats in the country at its base at the Taal Lake Yacht Club (TLYC) in Talisay town, the AYC in Legazpi, and various boat clubs. T he Oz Goose is a 12fo ot long w i nd- p owe re d s a i l boat with a 14 -foot mast, and crewed by two persons. Small boat sailing has been gain-

Fun and Adventure. “The Oz Goose sailboat sails is an ideal platform to teach people the essential skills involved in sailing, from weather awareness to basic physics. Racing sailboats is the best way to improve one’s sailing skills,” says PHBYC executive director and event organizer Roy Espiritu. He noted that this boat type is cheap and easy to assemble, and has a huge potential to bring rec-

ing popularity in Legazpi in recent years, largely through the efforts of city councilor Fernand Imperial, who is also a sailing crew of Subicbased Team Windshear team. The Exciting Bicol Oz Goose Nationals was supported by Kress Philippines, Toyota Albay, Hyde Sails Cebu, Imperial Homes, Pacific Blue Dive Center; hotel partners Proxy by The Oriental, Legazpi Oceanfront Hostel, and Hotel Sentro and RRCG Transport as official carrier.

A10 A12 Saturday, March 5, 2022 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

BusinessMirror

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YouTube, Google support PHL elections with fact-checking tools

RUSSIA’S invasion of Ukraine is forcing big tech companies to decide how to handle state-controlled media outlets that spread propaganda and misinformation on behalf of the invaders. AP

Big tech grapples with Russian state media, propaganda BY DAVID KLEPPE� & AMANDA SEITZ The Associated Press

ASHINGTON—As Russia’s war in Ukraine plays out for the world on social media, big tech platforms are moving to restrict Russian state media from using their platforms to spread propaganda and misinformation. After the European Union’s president called for a ban on Russian state media, a wave of tech companies blocked the channels from their platforms. Google announced Tuesday that it’s blocking the YouTube channels of those outlets in Europe “effective immediately” but acknowledged “it’ll take time for our systems to fully ramp up.” Russia’s RT and Sputnik accounts were also disabled in Europe on China’s TikTok, a video-sharing platform, a company spokesperson confirmed Tuesday. The actions followed Meta’s announcement that it would bar the state media from its platforms, Instagram and Facebook. Tech companies have also offered more modest changes in other parts of the world so far: limiting the Kremlin’s reach, labeling more of this content so that people know it originated with the Russian government, and cutting Russian state organs off from whatever ad revenue they were previously making. The changes are a careful balancing act intended to slow the Kremlin from pumping propaganda into social-media feeds without angering Russian officials to the point that they yank their citizens’ access to platforms during a time of war, said Katie Harbath, a former public policy director for Facebook. “They’re trying to walk this very fine line; they’re doing this dance,” said Harbath, who now serves as director of technology and democracy at the International Republican Institute. “We want to stand up to Russia, but we also don’t want to get shut down in the country. How far can we push this?” Banning RT and Sputnik won’t shut off the well of disinformation around the war in Ukraine that’s flowing into social-media feeds from everyday users, pundits or the Kremlin’s vast network of Facebook pages, trolls and reporters. But unlike the EU, the US government has not

cut off one of the most obvious supplies of wartime propaganda by sanctioning Russian state media or calling on tech companies to ban it, leaving the American-owned tech companies to wrestle with it on their own. The results have been mixed. RT and other Russian-state media accounts are still active on Facebook in the US. Twitter announced Monday that after seeing more than 45,000 tweets daily from users sharing Russian state-affiliated media links in recent days, it will add labels to content from the Kremlin’s web sites. The company also said it would not recommend or direct users to Russianaffiliated web sites in its search function. Over the weekend, the Menlo Park, Californiabased company announced it was banning ads from Russian state media and had removed a network of 40 fake accounts, pages and groups that published proRussian talking points. The network used fictitious persons posing as journalists and experts, but didn’t have much of an audience. Facebook began labeling state-controlled media outlets in 2020. Meanwhile, Microsoft announced it wouldn’t display content or ads from RT and Sputnik, or include RT’s apps in its app store. And Google’s YouTube restricted Russian-state media from monetizing the site through ads, although the outlets are still uploading videos every few minutes on the site. On TikTok, a Chinese platform popular in the US for short, funny videos, state-affiliated media is not labeled as such. And pro-Russian propaganda and misinformation around the war has flourished on its site. One recent video posted to RT’s TikTok channel, which is still active in the US, features a clip of Steve Bannon, a former top adviser to ex-President Donald Trump who now hosts a podcast with a penchant for misinformation and conspiracy theories. Already, Facebook’s efforts to limit Russian state media’s reach have drawn ire from Russia. Last week, Meta officials said they had rebuffed Russia’s request to stop fact-checking or labeling posts made by Russian state media. Kremlin officials responded by restricting access to Facebook. The company has also denied requests from Ukrainian officials who have asked Meta to remove

access to its platforms in Russia. That would prevent everyday Russians from using the platforms to learn about the war, voice their views or organize protests, according to Nick Clegg, recently named the company’s vice president of global affairs “We believe turning off our services would silence important expression at a crucial time,” Clegg wrote on Twitter Sunday. More aggressive labeling of state media and moves to de-emphasize their content online might help reduce the spread of harmful material without cutting off a key information source, said Alexandra Givens, CEO of the Center for Democracy and Technology, a Washington non-profit. “These platforms are a way for dissidents to organize and push back,” Givens said. “The clearest indication of that is the regime has been trying to shut down access to Facebook and Twitter.” Russia has spent years creating its sprawling propaganda apparatus, which boasts dozens of sites that target millions of people in different languages. That preparation is making it hard for any tech company to mount a rapid response, said Graham Shellenberger at Miburo Solutions, a firm that tracks misinformation and influence campaigns. “This is a system that has been built over 10 years, especially when it comes to Ukraine,” Shellenberger said. “They’ve created the channels, they’ve created the messengers. And all the sudden now, we’re starting to take action against it.” Redfish, a Facebook page that is labeled as Russian-state controlled media, has built up a mostly US and liberal-leaning audience of more than 800,000 followers over the years. The page has in recent days posted anti-US sentiment and sought to downplay Russian’s invasion of Ukraine, calling it a “military operation” and dedicating multiple posts to highlighting anti-war protests across Russia. Last week, US Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia sent letters to Google, Meta, Reddit, Telegram, TikTok and Twitter urging them to curb such Russian influence campaigns on their web sites. “In addition to Russia’s established use of influence operations as a tool of strategic influence, information warfare constitutes an integral part of Russian military doctrine,” Warner wrote. ■

Advance.AI names country manager for PHL BY RODERICK L. ABAD Contributor A LEADING big data and artificial intelligence (AI) company in Asia has appointed an industry veteran to lead and grow its commercial business in the Philippines. Advance.AI designated Michael Calma as country manager. He has over 20 years of experience in software development, systems integration, managed services, complex deal structuring, social enterprises and information-technology (IT) education. He expressed excitement in joining the company at

a time when Filipino consumers are transitioning as a whole to digitalization. “More than ever post-Covid, banks and financial services enterprises need a trusted and reliable technology partner who can anticipate and address potential friction points across the end-to-end customer journey,” Calma said. “We strive toward bayanihan [communal unity] with other technology providers, enterprises and regulators in accelerating a digitally empowered and financially inclusive Philippines,” he added. Prior to Advance.AI, Calma was country general manager at DDLS Aboitiz Philippines, a social

enterprise start-up. This was preceded by him holding senior leadership roles at Dimension Data, MDINovare, NEC, and also as cofounder of two tech startups fresh out of college. Calma graduated with a Computer Science degree from the University of the Philippines and holds an MBA from the same university. Advance.AI is part of Advance Intelligence Group, a Singapore-based tech unicorn. The multi-awarded firm’s clients include the Philippines’s credit bureau agency CIBI Information, Standard Chartered, CIMB Niaga, Shopee and Home Credit.

IN 2017, YouTube began raising authoritative news sources on its platform, said Emily Moxley, vice president for product management at YouTube. These include Top News and Breaking News. There are also panels providing Topical Content. From February 2021 to January 2022, YouTube removed over 400,000 videos uploaded from the Philippines for Community Guidelines. YouTube elections misinformation policies prohibit content that misleads voters about the time, place, means, or the eligibility requirements for voting, or false claims that could materially discourage voting; propagates false claims related to the technical eligibility requirements for current political candidates and sitting elected government officials to serve in office; encourages others to interfere with democratic processes; and contains hacked information, the disclosure of which may interfere with democratic processes With the Philippine national elections fast approaching, YouTube and Google announced product features, partnerships and programs to provide information and help protect the integrity of the ballot. These include Election Information Panels on YouTube. The candidate information panel provides a relevant candidate information panel on top of the search results when YouTube users search for the names of candidates for President and Vice President. The panels highlight factual information on the candidates, such as their political party and what office they’re running for. Information about candidates and parties is sourced from vetted, non-partisan, third-party sources such as Wikipedia and Encyclopedia Britannica. There’s a how-to-vote information panel to help people learn more about the voting process. These panels will lead users to the Commissions on Elections’ (Comelec) web site. “Political news and events can be subject to misinformation, so the availability of authoritative information sources is crucial. Over the last few years, we’ve made deep investments to make YouTube a more reliable source for news, while also maintaining the openness of the platform. Our work is ongoing and we are committed to making YouTube a vibrant and safe community for a healthy political discourse as well as help protect the integrity of elections,” said Moxley. The Google News Initiative supports Meedan’s #FactsFirstPH, a coalition of more than 100 groups, including news organizations such as Rappler, civil society organizations, business groups, faith-based communities, research groups and legal organizations to fight misinformation ahead of the Philippine elections. The GNI has also teamed up with the University of the Philippines (UP) to launch a journalist training series and provided support to Tsek.ph, a collaborative fact-checking project led by UP. Google has also been invested in and supports local media literacy programs to teach people how to identify trusted information. These include the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication’s “A Day in the Life” video series and training for news literacy, and CANVAS’ #YOUTHink magazine. Google.org also made a grant of $1.5 million to help the Asean Foundation expand media literacy education in Asean member communities, including the Philippines. The Asean Foundation has also developed a digital literacy comic book available in Filipino. “Fighting misinformation is important to Google and it takes the whole of society working together to address it. We will continue to forge meaningful partnerships with the media and community groups to help people access the right information so they can make an informed vote in the upcoming elections,” said Irene Jay Liu, Google APAC News lab lead. “Part of Comelec’s mission is to empower voters with accurate, relevant and timely information. We laud Google for taking the important steps in helping Filipinos access authoritative information that is essential for an informed electorate,” said James Jimenez, Comelec director for education and information.

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BusinessMirror

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Saturday, March 5, 2022 A11 A13

Vivo V23E 5G: Selfie love T

HE influence of YouTubers, vloggers, and even TikTokers is at an all-time high, and there is no denying how YouTube has formed an important part of the appeal to children and young people. It’s also become quite a lucrative career that even famous celebrities have created their channels and have started vlogging. If you think you have something interesting to share and want to start your vlog, the good news is you probably already have 50 percent of the equipment you need to start—your mobile phone. Unlike before when you had to invest in an expensive camera, a lot of vloggers started using only their smartphones to create quality content that can be shared socially. As long as you have a smartphone that has a good camera and can shoot HD video, you already have an accessible video production solution that is always with you whenever you feel like vlogging—and as any professional vlogger would tell you, uploading content consistently is key to growing your audience One of the most recent smartphones I’ve tried and could recommend for aspiring vloggers is the Vivo V23e 5G. It might not have the much-talked-about color-changing back of the V23 5G, but it still has a set of capable cameras and a more affordable price tag. It’s been a while since I reviewed a Vivo phone, the last one being the Vivo x21, which I’m pretty sure was way before this whole pandemic started. I remember it for two things—the sleek design and its selfie camera. The Vivo V23e 5G, the brand’s latest midranger, continues that selfie-centric purpose with a stunning colorway that impresses. The color I have is called Sunshine Coast, a combination of the color names of the V23 5G— Sunshine Gold that turns into Coast Green when hit by light. It’s got to be one of the nicest color finishes I’ve seen. It turns blue, pink, white, gold, green depending on how the light hits it. The matte finish also does a good job of hiding the fingerprints so you don’t have to worry about having to wipe them off constantly. As for the design and build, the side bezels are fairly slim, but the forehead and chin are a bit thick and don’t go well with the rest of the sleek design of the V23e. The phone has an ultra-slim body measuring only 7.32mm thick paired with a flat middle frame. According to Vivo, the back panel adopts Fluorite AG Coating for a fuller and finer texture than regular AG glass. This creates a softer light diffusion, repels fingerprints and smudges, and makes the phone look more elegant and more comfortable to touch. The V23e has a 6.44-inch AMOLED display with a FHD+ resolution of 2400×1080. The screen is sharp, and vibrant making it great for watching video from YouTube or Netflix, etc., or for editing your own content. Vivo was the one who pioneered the under-display fingerprint scanner to the market so as expected, it’s fast and accurate. However, the placement is way below the display so you have to reach down making your grip slightly awkward.

New era of crossdevice collaboration with Super Device

As for the sound quality, the v23e 5G only has a single loudspeaker, so while volume is loud enough, it sounds tinny and lacks bass. So if you are a bit particular about sound quality, you better use earphones instead. Now for the most important feature of the V23e 5G—its cameras. It has a powerful triple-rear camera array with a 50MP main camera with Ultra Stabilization, flanked by two secondary cameras: an 8MP super wide-angle lens with a 120-degree fieldof-view, and a 2MP macro camera, handling shots that range from expansive natural landscapes to tiny worlds that aren’t always visible. Thanks to an accurate gyroscope and EIS algorithms, the rear camera of Vivo V23e 5G can intelligently analyze shakes and vibrations caused by walking or other movement, and stabilize the videos and images, reducing blurriness and improving sharpness. This is helpful when you are doing travel vlogs, or when you are recording while walking around. For vloggers, one mode you should try is Dual view. It lets you capture both yourself and your subject behind the camera simultaneously which is nice for capturing those priceless reactions you wouldn’t want to miss out. You can change the shape of the floating window to either square, circle, or heart, adjust the position, and switch cameras. Another video feature I liked is Steadiface Selfie Video. Turn this mode on and you will always be in the center of the frame via an algorithm that locates the face and crops the photos accordingly. Unlike

conventional EIS where cropping happens randomly, the Steadiface Selfie Video mode makes a difference by keeping the user still and adjusting the rest of the scene. The Vivo V23e 5G can shoot up to 1080p and 60fps, which is enough for vlogging, but a 4K mode would have been even better. The Vivo V23e 5G features a high-resolution 44MP front camera, which excels in taking selfies achieving significantly higher sharpness in good lighting conditions. Even when zoomed-in or cropped, selfies retain plenty of details, and facial features such as eyebrows and eyelashes will always be clear. Unique to this smartphone is the eye autofocus feature. Since eyes are the first thing that people notice in a photo, the Eye Autofocus feature automatically locks and maintains focus on people’s eyes, even if they are moving. This Vivo V23e is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 810 processor that supports 5G connectivity. In normal day-to-day real-life situations, the phone handled all my usual multitasking tasks (e-mail, web browsing, social media, messaging apps, calls, light gaming) and I was able to run multiple apps at the same time with no noticeable hiccups thanks to its 8GB RAM. Keeping everything running is a 4050mAh battery that supports 44W FlashCharge. Vivo said you can charge up from 1 percent to 40 percent in just 15 minutes. In our tests, fully charging the phone takes around an hour. ■

Amazon shuttering its physical bookstores and 4-star shops NEW YORK—Amazon is closing all of its brick-andmortar bookstores, as well as its 4-star shops and pop up locations, as the online retail behemoth reworks its physical footprint. The Seattle-based company said Wednesday that the move, which affects 66 stores in the US and two in the United Kingdom, will enable it to concentrate its efforts on Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, its convenience concept called Amazon Go and its upcoming Amazon Style stores. Amazon Style, which will sell fashion and accessories, is set to open in a Southern California mall later this year. “We remain committed to building great, longterm physical retail experiences and technologies and we’re working closely with our affected employees to help them find new roles within Amazon,” the

company said in a statement. It couldn’t be learned immediately how many Amazon workers are being affected. Amazon opened its first brick-and-mortar bookstore in 2015, two decades after it began selling books online and helped drive a number of shops out of business. Amazon’s 4-star shops, which first made their debut in 2018, carry a limited selection of bestselling products from top categories that Amazon. com sells, including devices, consumer electronics, toys and games. The move comes as Amazon.com Inc.’s overall revenue growth is slowing, and it’s looking for new ways to reignite sales. Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData Retail, said the strategy comes as a surprise. He said he believes it’s an acknowledgement that the

bookstores weren’t delivering the returns Amazon was looking for. Saunders said he thinks the main problem with Amazon’s non-food stores is that they lacked a real purpose even though the merchandise was well-presented. “They were designed for people to pop in and browse rather than as destinations where people would head on a mission to buy something,” he wrote in a note on Wednesday. He noted that ultimately that wasn’t good for driving customer traffic, especially in an era where people are visiting shops less. Saunders added that the other problem is the assortment which, in many locations, was disjoined and unfocused. The news of the closure was first reported by Reuters. AP

TOP global IT company Huawei announced the Super Device concept for Smart Office at the recent Mobile World Congress 2022, a new solution that greatly enhances cross-device connectivity and collaboration among supported Huawei devices. The software-driven feature is in line with the company’s push toward a so-called Seamless AI Life, which the company envisions across five major scenarios: Health and Fitness, Easy Travel, Smart Office, Entertainment, Smart Home. As one of the key scenarios of that Seamless AI Life, Huawei (consumer.huawei.com) brings the vision of “Boundless Creation and Seamless Communication to the Smart Office,” aiming to enable a digitally efficient work life experience by synergizing the two core Huawei capabilities: Cross-Device Collaboration and Ecosystem Integration. Cross-device collaboration enables users to connect multiple devices together into a singular experience, while ecosystem integration closes the gap between Windows and mobile platforms, stimulating creativity and improving communication efficiency. In the Philippine market, Huawei will also bring several new devices with Super Device to consumers in April, including the MateBook Series, the new Matepad and a Printer. As consumers own more and more smart devices, users often find themselves juggling two different and fragmented ecosystems: laptops for work, and smartphones for entertainment. With no single device fully supporting all of a user’s daily needs, the ability for devices to leverage each other’s strengths and create a single unified experience has become more important than ever. This is especially important with the rising demand for maintaining productivity while consumers are on the move. Cross-Device Collaboration makes connection between devices more seamless and fuss-free. It has been at the frontier of innovating technology that connects devices, introducing the OneHop feature in 2018, which transfers smartphone files to PC with just one tap. In 2020, it introduced Multi-Screen Collaboration, enabling multi-screen collaboration between two devices, such as PC-tablet, PCsmartphone, and tablet-smartphone. This brought new functions such as the transfer of files between two devices via drag and drop, as well as the ability to directly open mobile files on the laptop. Huawei is now set to eliminate inter-device barriers by bringing the Super Device, first launched in 2021, to the Smart Office, allowing all compatible devices to work as one. Ecosystem Integration is another core capability of Smart Office. With mobile apps excelling in content consumption needs, the Huawei Mobile App Engine brings access of AppGallery’s wealth of popular productivity and entertainment apps to Huawei laptops. Now, the Super Device is available on Huawei PCs via the platform’s easy drag-to-connect interface in the PC’s Control Centre, enabling speedy access to your phone images and files, as well as quick and convenient smart screen connectivity for presentations. This allows a focused and efficient workflow for the user who is now able to process tasks with ease across devices. With the Pop-Up Pairing feature, the Huawei PC can also swiftly and conveniently connect to Huawei’s wireless earbuds, speakers, Bluetooth mouse and keyboard, as well as printer, holistically improving the smart office experience. Once connected, the smartphone will be available as an external drive in the PC. This allows users to access smartphone files like they would with any other external storage device, using the PC file system UI they are familiar with. As a Super Device, the smartphone’s interface will also be displayed on the PC’s screen, and with Multi-Screen Collaboration, up to three mobile apps can be opened directly on the PC for multi-tasking. Users can also easily access material saved on their phone via their PC through drag and drop. Super Device brings users to the next level of technological experience, productivity, and enjoyment as part of Huawei’s push to realize the Seamless AI Life. In the near future, the company plans to continue adding support for more devices.

A14 Saturday, March 5, 2022

Sports BusinessMirror

YULO SETS GOAL HIGH B

By Josef Ramos

ACK home for a brief vacation from a rigorous schedule in Tokyo, two-time world champion and Olympian Carlos Yulo’s heart beats and mind thinks gymnastics. He and long-time coach Munehiro Kugimiya tried out the brand new MVP Sports Foundation Gymnastics Center in Intramuros which he will open on Saturday and there, he declared his plans for the year. “I’ll go for the all-around and aim for all the golds,” said Yulo of his forthcoming campaign in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam where he will join more than 600 other Filipino athletes who will try to retain the biennial games’ overall championship. But Yulo’s not settled for the SEA Games. He wants to dominate the Asian Games in Hangzhou, too. “I will also compete in the same events in the Asian Games,” said Yulo, who won both the all-around and floor exercise gold medals at the 2019 SEA Games in Manila. Now 22 and world champion twice over— floor exercise in Stuttgart 2019 and vault in Kitakyushu 2021—he’s become more expressive now, far from a shy Yulo who competed in his Olympic debut in Tokyo last year.

WORLD champion Carlos Yulo and Japanese coach Munehiro Kugimiya try the new Gymnastics Training Center in Intramuros, Manila.

Yulo arrived from Tokyo on Tuesday night with Kugimiya and Japanese therapist Jumpei Konno and feasted on every Filipino he could get hold of with his closest family members. The day after and up until Friday, it was back to gymnastics for Yulo, who’s goal—

besides the May 12 to 23 Vietnam SEA Games and September 10 to 25—are the Paris 2024 Olympics. Tokyo didn’t work well for someone who’s competing on the world’s biggest sporting stage. He missed the floor exercise finals and was a spot shy of the podium in vault.

But he’s made up his thoughts since and in between training and school— he has completed an Associate Degree in Literature at the Teikyo University in Tokyo—Yulo bagged not only the vault gold but also clinched silver in parallel bars in Kitakyushu which hosted the world championships only under two months after the Tokyo Olympics. Yulo thanked the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) for relentlesslt supporting his athletic career. “I’m so proud of ma’am Cynthia [CarrionNorton, GAP president], the PSC and MVP [Manuel V. Pangilinan] for building this training center,” he said. He also has big dreams for his brother Eldrew, 14, and sister Iza, 12, who are starting their gymnastics careers. “It’ll feel so good if they also qualify for the Olympics, that’s one of my dreams,” he said. “They have enormous potentials to become world-class gymnasts someday.” Yulo and FIG President Morinari Watanabe, a member of the International Olympic Committee, will lead the new facility’s inauguration ceremony on Saturday. On Sunday, Yulo, his coaches and Watanabe will fly back to Japan.

Editor: Jun Lomibao

PSC hopes to produce more world champs at new gymnastics center

HE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) expects to discovering more world-class gymnasts to follow the footsteps of two-time world champion and Olympian Carlos Yulo with the opening of the new Gymnastics Center in Intramuros, Manila. “The PSC Board believes that our gymnasts will haul in more accomplishments in the coming years,” PSC Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez said. “This is why we support them in ways that our limited resources could.” “Last year, Caloy [Yulo] showed the world the true grit of Filipino athletes, fighting and winning despite injuries,” he said. “Our collective efforts in developing sports can produce more Caloy’s in the future.” Since Ramirez and the board were named to the PSC in 2016, the agency has released more than P71 million to the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) for its team’s international competitions, training, equipment, training supplies and other expenses. The amount is on top of other financial assistance that covers the gymnasts’

allowances, local coaches and trainers, which in 2021 alone amounted to P7.9 million. The GAP’s foreign coaches also receive P287,000 monthly in salaries and allowances. The PSC spent P2.2 million for rental expenses of national gymnasts in 2021 and January 2022. The new facility will serve as training ground for Yulo and other members of the national team. The 22-year-old Yulo, a product of the PSC’s Batang Pinoy and Philippine National Games programs, honed his skills at the gymnastics center of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex before becoming a world champion and Olympian. “I’m thankful to the PSC for supporting me all the way,” Yulo told sports agency’s “PSC Hour” radio program. “I couldn’t have achieved my goals if it wasn’t for the PSC.” “We thank Caloy for raising the bar high for Philippine gymnastics. It just proves that hard work is the key to the fulfillment of a dream,” Ramirez said. “I hope he inspires more youth to pursue their dreams and motivates us to further expand our grassroots program.”

There’s a silver lining for EJ–Unso

RNEST JOHN “EJ” OBIENA could secure the endorsement he needs to compete in the World Indoor Championships in Serbia if the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC)-led mediation goes well enough on Monday. But Obiena must not only attend the mediation proceeding—albeit online—but he also needs to gather his effort to speak to Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) President Philip Ella Juico. “EJ should attend the mediation and talk to Mr. [Philip] Juico, who is a soft-hearted person.” Patafa national team training director Renato Unso told BusinessMirror on Friday. “He’s a good person [Juico].” But everything should happen on Monday for Obiena—the day happens to be the registration deadline for the world indoors in Belgrade set from March 18 to 20.

What could work for the Asian men’s pole vault record holder is the difference in times zones. The mediation is set for Monday afternoon in Manila, which is seven hours ahead of Monaco, where the World Athletics is based. “It’s not too late yet,” said Unso, a 400 meters gold medalist in the Singapore 1983 Southeast Asian Games. “I advised him [Obiena] to speak with Mr. Juico... that’s all I can say for now.” If Obiena gets Patafa’s endorsement, he will become the first-ever homegrown Filipino to compete in the world indoors. Obiena wrote the Patafa requesting for his endorsement in the world indoors, the Vietnam SEA Games in May, Oregon (Portland) World Championships in July and the Hangzhou Asian Games in September. The Patafa turned him down pending the mediation. Josef Ramos

Day's mom dies after battle with cancer ‘NO WAR PLEASE’ Norway’s Ida Lien sports a head band reading “No War Please” as she competes in the 4x6 km women's relay at the Biathlon World Cup in Kontiolahti, Finland, on Thursday. AP

POC appoints Suzara broadcast chair for Vietnam SEAG

HE Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) appointed on Thursday Ramon “Tats” Suzara as head of the POC Broadcast Committee for the 31st Southeast Asian Games that Vietnam is hosting from May 12 to 23. POC President Rep. Abraham “Bambol”Tolentino said Suzara will supervise bidding procedures, primarily on contents and the right to air replays of the competitions for at least the next whole year after the Games. “Mr. Suzara has the experience to handle the task, especially that we are fresh off our hosting of the 30th edition of the SEA Games in 2019,”Tolentino said. “Broadcasting the campaign of our athletes overseas

JASON DAY withdraws from the Arnold Palmer Invitational to be at his mother’s side.

RLANDO, Florida—Jason Day withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational and rushed home to Ohio, arriving in time to be at his mother’s side when she died of cancer. Dening Day was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2017, which Day tearfully revealed at the Dell Match Play in Austin. She made progress through special treatment in Ohio, returned home to Australia and then spent the last few years with Day in Ohio when the cancer returned. Day said on an Instagram post that she died peacefully Wednesday night. Day’s sisters and one of their children were able to leave Australia for Columbus to be with her as her condition worsened. “We are heartbroken but incredibly

grateful for the gift we had in her living with us for the last almost two years full time,” Day said. “She fought so hard until the very last breath. I am forever indebted to her for the sacrifices she made for me to be successful, and for the person she helped me to become. We will miss her so much.” His mom, the former Adenil Grapilon, is originally from Carigara, Leyte. His father died from stomach cancer when Day was 12. He was getting into trouble when his mother borrowed money from her brother and sold their house to help pay for Day to go to a boarding school with a golf program. That’s where he met Colin Swatton, who became his coach and caddie as Day reached No. 1 in the world. AP

especially in major international competitions like the SEA Games, Asian Games or Olympics is a priority of the POC.” Suzara was the president and CEO of the Philippine 30th SEA Games Organizing Committee, which successfully organized the biennial multisport competitions in 2019. His portfolio includes holding sensitive organizational tasks in the Doha 2006 Asian Games and the Oman 2010 Asian Beach Games. He is also the president of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation and a juror, marketing development executive and currently secretary of

the Volleyball Empowerment Commission of the International Volleyball Federation or FIVB. “It’s a privilege to be appointed to the task, considering the fact that it very important for Filipinos to witness on television the exploits of our athletes in the SEA Games,” Suzara said. At least four networks have either expressed their intention or will be invited to bid for the broadcasting rights for the Vietnam SEA Games. These are the government-ownerd PTV 4, GMA Network, TV5 and Tap Sports, a pay television network of sports channels. Tolentino said Suzara will announce soon the terms of reference for the bidding procedure.

TNT eyes title repeat in PBA Tatluhan Leg 2 T NT guns for a back-to-back leg title in the Philippine Basketball Association 3x3 Lakas Ng Tatlo Conference 2 which opens its second leg Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The Tropang Giga open their campaign against the San Miguel Beermen in the second of another heavy-16-game schedule on Day 1 of the standalone tournament that resumes after giving way to the country’s hosting of the FIBA 2023 World Cup Manila Qualifiers. Fresh from their Leg 1 conquest where they beat the Meralco Bolts for the title, the Tropang Giga will again parade the quartet of Almond Vosotros, Samboy De Leon, Lervin Flores and big man Mark Acuno in their bid for a second

straight leg championship and the prize money of P100,000. The team is looking for a fourth leg crown since the First Conference. TNT is bunched with San Miguel Beer, Sista and guest teams Master Sardines and Pioneer Pro Tibay in Pool A. Pioneer takes on Sista in the opening game set at 8 a.m. Leg 1 runner up Meralco banners Pool B along with Platinum Karaoke, Purefoods TJ Titans and Terrafirma 3x3. Rejuvenated Barangay Ginebra leads Pool C with NorthPort, Cavitex and first conference grand champion Limitless App.

After the TNT-San Miguel game at 8:25 a.m., the Bolts face the Dyip next, followed by Barangay Ginebra against Limitless App and Pioneer opposite Master Sardines. Platinum Karaoke clashes with Purefoods, while NorthPort plays fellow debutant Cavitex. Six more games will be held Sunday morning to conclude the pool play, followed by the knockout stage featuring the eight surviving teams. The top three teams in Pool A progress to the next round, along with the top two in Pools B and C, while the remaining quarterfinals berth will be disputed in a winner-take-all match by the No.. 3 teams in Pools B and C.

SANTISIMA TAKES ON AMERICAN J

EO SANTISIMA battles American Joet Gonzalez on Saturday for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) international featherweight belt in a 10-round bout organized by Top Rank at the Save Mart Arena in Fresno, California. Santisima is coming off knockout victories—over fellow Filipinos Marjon Piencenaves in 2020 and Alan Alberca in July 2021—after losing his world title bout via an 11th-round technical knockout decision to WBO super bantamweight champion Emmanuel Navarrete of Mexico in February 2020 in Las Vegas. For international matchmaker and MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons the 25-year-old Santisima has improved a lot in physique, strength, fighting style and speed. “He’s in the best shape ever, everything is perfect in terms of preparation and has the best camp ever. I am hoping he will win by a decision,” Gibbons said of Santisima, who holds a 21-3 record with 18 knockouts. “He’s going to show the people what he got,” Gibbons said. “This is a perfect timing for him.” Santisima tipped the scale at 125.2 pounds while Gonzalez, 28, weighed in at 125.8 pounds. Gonzalez is 24-2 won-lost with 14 knockouts. The Santisima-Gonzalez bout is one of the undercards of the Jose Ramirez-Jose Pedraza main event for the vacant WBO international junior welterweight crown. Josef Ramos