BusinessMirror March 10, 2024

DA NANG first gained international prominence when American troops landed in the central coastal city, marking the beginning of the Vietnam War in 1965.

as the “most livable city” in Vietnam.

Da Nang, a city of a over a million people, is described as “smaller and tamer than Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi,” but with “everything big cities [in Vietnam] have to offer,” according to one local publication. “It comes with a friendly and laid-back beach town that keeps

one of the country’s five “directcontrolled municipalities” under the central government, and the Communist Party as the city government’s leading organ. In fact, it was the party’s “Politburo” Resolution No. 43 entitled “On Development of Da Nang by

For starters, the city authorities ensured that public

are

Story and photos by Joel C. Paredes

2030 with Vision Towards 2045,” released in 2019 that ordered city authorities to make greater strides forward with a view to becoming a “livable city” in Asia.

toilets

MH370: A decade of mystery and renewed hope for answers

By Eileen Ng The Associated Press

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia—A decade ago on March 8, a Malaysia Airlines flight vanished without a trace, becoming one of aviation’s biggest mysteries.

Investigators still do not know exactly what happened to the plane and its 239 passengers.

But Malaysia’s government said Sunday it may renew the hunt for MH370 after an American marine robotics company that tried to find the plane in 2018 proposed a fresh search.

A massive multinational search in the southern Indian Ocean, where the jet is believed to have crashed, found nothing. Apart from some small fragments that later washed ashore, no bodies or wreckage have ever been found. Here’s what we know about the deadly aviation tragedy.

What is known about MH370’s disappearance?

THE Boeing 777 plane disappeared from air control radar 39 minutes after leaving Kuala Lumpur en route to Beijing on March 8, 2014.

The pilot sent a last radio call to Kuala Lumpur before leaving Malaysia—“Good Night Malaysian Three Seven Zero”—but failed to check in with air traffic controllers in Ho Chi Minh City when the plane crossed into Vietnam’s airspace. Minutes later, the plane’s tran-

sponder—a communication system that transmits the plane’s location to air traffic control—shut down.

Military radar saw the plane turn around to travel over the Andaman Sea before it vanished, and satellite data showed it continued to fly for hours, possibly until it ran out of fuel.

The plane is believed to have crashed in a remote part of the southern Indian Ocean.

Theories about what happened on board range from hijacking to a loss of oxygen in the cabin to power failure. But there was no distress call, no ransom demand, nor bad weather or evidence of technical failures.

Malaysian safety investigators cleared all on board in a 2018 report, but didn’t rule out “unlawful interference.”

Malaysia’s government has said that someone intentionally severed communications with the ground and diverted the plane.

Who was on the plane?

THE plane carried 227 passengers, including five young children, as well as 12 crewmembers. Most of those aboard were from China, but there were also people from other coun-

tries, including the United States, Indonesia, France and Russia.

The passengers included two young Iranian men using stolen passports to seek a new life in Europe; a group of Chinese calligraphy artists returning from an exhibition of their work; 20 employees of US tech firm Freescale Semiconductor; a stunt double for actor Jet Li; families with young children; and a Malaysian couple on a long-delayed honeymoon. Many families lost multiple members in the tragedy.

What efforts have been made to find the plane?

DOZENS of ships and aircraft from various countries began the search between Malaysia and Vietnam in the South China Sea, before moving to the Andaman Sea and the Indian Ocean. Australia, alongside Malaysia and China, then led the largest and most expensive underwater search ever undertaken, covering some 120,000 square kilometers (46,000 square miles) of seabed off western Australia, using aircraft, vessels equipped to pick up sonar signals, and robotic submarines.

Search vessels detected ultrasonic signals that might have been from the plane’s black box and shipwrecks believed to be 19th-century merchant vessels, but never found the plane.

In July 2015, a fragment later confirmed to be a flaperon from Flight 370 was found on France’s Reunion Island in the western Indian Ocean, the first hard evidence that MH370 ended its flight in the Indian Ocean.

Several more pieces of debris

Many families who lost people in the disappearance remain steadfast in their quest for answers. They argue the mystery must be resolved, not just for personal closure but also to prevent future disasters.

ished, according to the Aviation Safety Network. What’s next?

Why is the search so hard?

ONE reason why such an extensive search failed to turn up clues is that no one knows exactly where to look. The Indian Ocean is the world’s third largest, and the search was conducted in a difficult

MALAYSIA’S government has consistently said it will only resume the hunt if there is credible new evidence. It is now considering an Ocean Infinity proposal for a fresh search with new technology, although it is unclear if the company has new evidence of the plane’s location.

The disaster has also helped to bolster aviation safety. Starting in 2025, the International Civil Aviation Organization will mandate that jets carry a device that will broadcast their position every minute if they encounter trouble, to allow authorities to locate the plane if a disaster occurs.

The devices will be triggered automatically and can’t be manually turned off. But the rule applies only to new jets—not the thousands of older planes still in service.

When war gives way to ‘welcome’

properly maintained, and “green lanes” established along the sidewalks and public parks.

The tourism booms

MARK TUAN, the English-speaking co-founder and manager of the Hoa Lan, a souvenir and craft store on Ten Phu Street which opened late last year, attested that the surge in foreign and local visitors after the Covid-19 pandemic lured young entrepreneurs like him to venture in small businesses in the city’s booming tourism industry.

The 24-year-old Tuan said before he graduates in business administration this March, he would already be opening the store’s second branch adjacent to an emerging tourist belt near the downtown area.

“What we like to do is to open stores where different specialties in Vietnam are combined together. Through a souvenir shop, you will understand us Vietnamese better,” he said.

He conceded that the long lockdown in Vietnam during the pandemic really dealt the industry a big blow. “But tourism is flourishing again. They [visitors] have more money now, and the economy is stable,” he said. And as he poured a locally blended robusta coffee into a paper cup, he remarked: “This is really Vietnam’s pride.”

‘Gateway to East Asia’ CENTRALLY located, Da Nang has also been known as the “Gateway to East Asia,” emerging as a key transportation hub in the region.

At the mouth of the Han River on East Vietnam Sea is the Da Nang Port, which has been in existence since the 16th century when its people first encountered European traders. Now, part of the “East-West Economic Corridor,” it connects the country with neighboring Laos, Thailand and Myanmar.

In the process, tourism became a vital component of its economy, given its proximity to Unesco World

Heritage Sites, including the Imperial City of Hue, the Hoi An ancient city and the My Son ruins. Da Nang Air Base, a primary entry point for US servicemen flying into Vietnam during the war, was also transformed into an international airport, although it continues to share its old runway with the Vietnam People’s Air Force.

Meanwhile, the Han River Waterfront has become the city proper’s most popular destination for its nightlife, highlighted by the illuminating view of the city skyline, and colorful river cruise boats.

Before sunset, Bach Tang Street becomes a walking street starting from a 666-meter bridge shaped as a dragon.

Harnessing natural wonders

AT the far end of the river is the My Khe beach area along the city’s 30-kilometer coastline. My Khe beach was once cited by Forbes magazine as one of the most attractive beaches in the planet. Alongside the white-sand beachfront is a long stretch of luxury hotels, but admission to the entire beach is free.

In recent years, the main attraction to Da Nang has been the Ban Hills and its Golden bridge, also known as the Golden Hand bridge. Located on top of the Nui Chua Mountain, the 500-footlong pedestrian pathway has been ranked among the top 10 bridges in the world.

Walking on the bridge creates a “stairway to heaven” image as it stretches across the middle of the mountain, with two heads placed at Marseilles Station and Bordeaux in the Thai Garden on top of a slope.

The original resort was constructed by the French in 1919 as a leisure destination for French tourists. In 2018, the privately owned Sun Group, which assumed management, transformed it into a world-class tourism and entertainment complex. Accessible only by cable car, visitors cruise through a 5.8-kilometer journey to reach the

area at a height of 1,487 meters above sea level.

Heritage tourism BUP TRIAN, 52, from nearby Hoi An City, recalled that the tourism boom in central Vietnam began at the turn of the century when American tourists, mostly war veterans and their families, took advantage of Da Nang’s newly opened city.

The tourism surge spread to nearby areas, particularly in Hoi An, renowned for its well-preserved ancient town featuring centuries-old houses, along with a mix of wooden Chinese shophouses and French colonial buildings.

In 1990, the ancient town was already declared as a Unesco World Heritage Site for “being an exceptionally well-preserved example of a Southeast Asian trading port from the 15th to the 19th century.”

“Its building and its street plan reflect the influences, both Indigenous and foreign, that have combined to produce this unique heritage site,” it noted.

Trian himself said his Bup’s Coffee shop, which he opened 30 years ago, is actually a 300-yearold house.

But it was his father, a sergeant in the joint US-Vietnamese Army, who first opened a restaurant in their three-century-old wooden house after the Americans left in 1975. “Nothing really happened to anyone when the Americans left. It was still a quiet town, and we all lived here,” he said.

Trian said he learned English when foreign tourists started coming, although he was already fluent in Russian, which he studied during the war years. The Vietnamese Romanized script, he noted, makes it easy for them to absorb Western thoughts.

But beyond its scenic landscapes and the country’s historical depth, what makes it alluring to visitors is the warmth of its people. Their hospitality makes travelers feel welcome.

TWO Malaysian children stand in front of a message board adorned with well wishes for those involved with the missing Malaysia Airlines jetliner MH370, in Sepang, Malaysia, on March 16, 2014. AP/VINCENT THIAN

Editor: Angel R. Calso

Majority of Americans oppose increased US involvement in global conflicts, survey finds

By Farnoush Amiri & Linley Sanders The Associated Press

WASHINGTON—As the US navigates involvement in the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, few Americans want the country to take a more active role in solving the world’s problems, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

While an American role as the “world’s policeman” has become an increasingly contentious partisan issue, a majority of both Democrats and Republicans agree that the US should not get more involved than it currently is in the ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Hamas.

The poll shows that 4 in 10 US adults want America to broadly take a “less active” role in solving global conflicts. Only about one-quarter think the US should take a more active role, and about one-third say its current role is about right.

The findings underscore the difficult dynamics that both President Joe Biden and the likely Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump, face in the lead up to next November’s election. Significant swaths of the electorate are frustrated by the searing images of the growing humanitarian crisis in the five month war in Gaza and the hefty costs already incurred by the US in helping

Ukraine fend off Russia’s invasion.

The Biden administration has become increasingly blunt in recent days in pressing Israel and Hamas to come to terms for a cease-fire that would last at least six weeks and would facilitate the release of dozens of hostages that were taken captive by militants when Hamas launched it’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

Just two decades ago, GOP leaders were calling for Americans to embrace the “ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world.” Now, while few US adults on either side of the aisle want the nation to take a more active position, Republicans, at 53 percent, are roughly twice as likely as Democrats, at 25 percent, to say the country should have less active involvement abroad. About half (52 percent) of Democrats say the US’s current position is “about right.”

Many Republicans cite America’s bloody and futile history of intervention in countries like Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.

“I feel like there’s a lot of conflicts that we’ve been involved in that don’t ever have any positive results,” Kurt Bunde, a Republican from Idaho, told AP. “We might have good intentions. We might feel obligated to protect our allies’ interests, but the results speak for themselves.”

Where the US should be focusing its international military resources is also a subject of debate, with Republicans and Democrats disagreeing over whether the nation should be taking a more active role in the war between Ukraine and Russia or the war between Israel and Hamas.

Among US adults overall, there isn’t much appetite for a more active role in either conflict: Only about 2 in 10 US adults say the US should be taking a more active role in each war. For each, about 4

in 10 say the current role is about right, and 36 percent say the US needs to take a step back.

But Republicans and independents are more likely than Democrats to say that the US should dial down its support for Ukraine. About half of Republicans and independents want the US to take a less active role in the war between Ukraine and Russia, compared to only 18 percent of Democrats.

Since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago, the US has sent $111 billion in weapons, equipment, humanitarian assistance and other aid to Ukraine. A $95 billion package of aid is now languishing in Congress due to Republican opposition as Ukrainian soldiers begin to ration ammunition.

What buzzwords from China’s key political meeting reveal, from ‘AI plus’ to ‘new three’

ABy Bloomberg News

S lawmakers and advisers meet in Beijing this week for the nation’s biggest political gathering of the year, the Chinese Communist Party’s official People’s Daily newspaper released a list of the event’s buzzwords.

Tracking slogans and phrases from government and party documents has become an important way to gain insight into Chinese policymaking, especially as the country has increasingly restricted access to information. This year, Li Qiang will be the first premier in three decades to not hold a press briefing at the National People’s Congress, removing a rare platform to engage with one of the most senior officials in the country. Here are the key terms that can help better understand China’s priorities for the upcoming year.

New three PREMIER Li noted during his work report that exports of the “new three” growth drivers of electric vehicles, batteries and solar products grew by 30 percent last year. While the focus on the three sectors helps in the de-carbonization push, they are far from enough to replace traditional economic drivers such as the property sector. China’s push into high-end manufacturing is also already raising tensions with trade partners. The term hearkens back to the “old three” pillars of Chinese manufacturing, including household appliances, furniture and clothing.

Ultra-long special central government bonds

LI announced the country’s plan to issue 1 trillion yuan ($139 billion) of ultra-long special central government bonds as authorities ramp up fiscal stimulus. It’s only the fourth such sale in the past 26

years, with the most recent one in 2020 when authorities issued the same amount of such bonds to pay for pandemic response measures. The amount was in line with expectations, but analysts say China will need a lot more if it is to meet its aggressive growth target of around 5 percent this year.

Consistency of macro policy orientation

THE phrase gained prominence during a Politburo meeting in December and then featured again at the Central Economic Work Conference later that month. The government has called for the stronger coordination of fiscal, monetary, employment, industrial and regional policies. Investors have complained about policy whiplash, which has led to stock market swings, such as when harsh gaming curbs sparked a multi-billion dollar rout late last year.

“The 5 percent target for 2024 sets a high bar, given a more challenging base than last year — hitting it will require more stimulus.

The stronger-than-expected budget plan is consistent with the ambitious goal. The strategy may be to make an immediate fiscal push to boost growth. To succeed, policymakers will need to avoid a repeat of 2023, when spending fell behind schedule and additional stimulus was dispensed only slowly,” said Bloomberg economists Chang Shu, David Qu and Eric Zhu.

New productive forces

THE term was introduced by Chinese leader Xi Jinping in September during an inspection trip to the country’s northeast. The official Xinhua News Agency said it means “advanced productivity freed from traditional economic growth models,” featuring new growth drivers that are “high technology, high efficiency and high quality.” State media has said these growth drivers include everything from the tourism industry to China’s “new three.”

Leaders including Xi have recently stressed that traditional industries can also become “productive forces,” perhaps reflecting concerns about whether an overemphasis on new sectors could lead to a contraction in older ones. For now, the buzzword is being embraced: The chairman of one of China’s largest spirit companies called the liquor industry an important vehicle for “new productive forces” because it embraces technological innovation, local media reported.

Worry-free consumption

AGOVERNMENT drive to get consumers spending by focusing on issues with food safety, refund policies and disputes between buyers and sellers has been underway since at least the summer of last year. However, economists say that measures such as “worry-free” buying and trade-in programs highlighted in the government work report fall far short of the types of stimulus and confidenceboosting measures that will be needed to get consumers spending again. There are already plenty of signs of consumption downgrading due to the persistent property slump and slowing economy.

Future industries ( )

LI pledged to “formulate development plans for the industries of the future,” name-checking new fields such as quantum technology and life sciences. He also pledged to strengthen coordination and planning to prevent overcapacity and redundant development. The central government said it would increase spending on scientific and technology research by 10 percent in 2024, and pledged to harness the entire nation’s resources to drive tech advances.

Invest in China

LI said China would increase efforts to

“America is spread thin like everywhere, and we need to take care of our own first,” Matt Wood, a Republican from Kentucky, said in an interview. “Then, if we can, if we have the resources available, then we can help other countries.”

Half of Democrats say the US’s current role in the Russia-Ukraine war is about right, and 30 percent want a more active role. Across the board, Democrats are more likely to favor US intervention in Ukraine: Nearly 6 in 10 think it’s very or extremely important for the US to provide aid to Ukraine’s military to fight Russia or negotiate a permanent cease-fire between Russia and Ukraine, while only 24 percent of Republicans prioritize more military aid and 41 percent of Republicans say it’s extremely or very important for the US to help broker a permanent ceasefire.

“I think that we have to take some responsibility just because of the effect of our power and the amount of wealth we have,” Christina Taylor, a Maryland Democrat, said. “I think for us to decrease our responsibilities or to decrease our interest in other countries is against the kind of country we are.”

Even though aid to Israel usually receives bipartisan support in Congress—and is often a priority for GOP politicians—about 4 in 10 Republicans think the US should take a less active role in the war between Israel and Hamas.

“I really think it’s none of us our business because it’s Israel’s war,” Donna Cole, a Missouri Republican, told AP. “The only role that the United States should have is to bring back any Americans who are hostages.”

attract foreign investment and build the “Invest in China” brand. Foreign direct investment slumped to a 30-year low in 2023 on concerns over China’s long-term growth prospects and as geopolitical tensions rise. A widening yield gap with the US also meant investors moved money offshore in search of higher returns. Though the government has vowed to improve the business environment and released a list of 24 points last year to achieve these ends, it may be too little for executives who believe the risk-reward trade-off of doing business in the country has fundamentally changed.

Nationally unified computational system ( )

CHINESE officials have said they see computing power playing the same key infrastructure role that waterways and electricity grids have in the past, and set goals last year to build a national computing network. As part of an effort to make a more digital economy, China already has an “East Data West Computing” plan, which involves building huge data centers in poorer western provinces to hold data generated by Internet companies based in the east. The unified system would be able to better allocate computational power and storage, according to state media.

AI plus initiative

LI announced China would launch the AI Plus Initiative this year. While details are scarce, AI is a core area of competition between the US and China. State media cited an academic at a government-linked think tank as saying that the initiative would “promote the in-depth integration of AI and the real economy by deepening the research and application of AI technology.”

With assistance from Junyi Wu, Fran Wang, Jing Li and James Mayger/Bloomberg

She added, “But we should not be putting restraints on Israel or, for that matter, restraints on the Palestinians.”

About half of Democrats think the US’s current role in the IsraelHamas war is about right, while the rest are split on whether the US should take a more or less active role. Independents are slightly more likely than members of either political party to say the US should take a less active role, and only 11 percent want the US to be more involved.

There are large partisan divides, too, on the kind of aid that the US should provide in the Israel-Hamas war. About onethird of Republicans think it’s extremely or very important for the US to provide aid to Israel’s military to fight Hamas, compared to 20 percent of Democrats.

On the other hand, about 6 in 10 Democrats say it’s extremely or very important for the US to help negotiate a permanent cease-fire and provide humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, while 34 percent of Republicans prioritize US help with a cease-fire and 15 percent of Republicans think it’s important for the US to provide humanitarian aid.

Taylor, who is a nurse, said that the only active role the US should be taking in the conflict in Gaza is pushing back on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government’s military response.

“We’re not doing enough to push the Israelis to lighten up a little bit because I think they’re overstepping,” Taylor said.

The Associated Press White House reporter Aamer Madhani contributed.

Trial begins for tycoon accused of embezzling $12B in Vietnam’s biggest property fraud case

FBy Bloomberg News

OR several years, Truong

My Lan held meetings on the 39th floor of the sleek Times Square tower in the heart of Vietnam’s commercial hub, Ho Chi Minh City. There, in a room that acted as her command center, she allegedly wove a $12.5 billion tapestry of fraud and corruption, according to the police reports that form the basis of a court case against her.

Authorities allege there were “ghost” companies, payoffs to government officials and a bank she illegally controlled that disbursed loans to herself and her allies worth about 11 percent of the nation’s 2022 GDP. Her personal driver secretly shuttled millions of dollars in cash across the city’s chaotic streets, police say. Twenty-four government inspectors—whose jobs are responsible for ensuring the health and safety of the banking system—are alleged to have taken Lan’s money to cover up violations.

The trial of the woman responsible for Van Thinh Phat Group, an affluent real estate empire in Vietnam, commenced on March 5. If she is proven guilty, she may face severe consequences such as the death penalty or imprisonment.

More arrests are expected in a probe that has contributed to a virtual freeze in the nation’s bond and real estate markets, as bureaucrats fearful of being swept up in police investigations slow-walk approving legal documents.

The country’s largest-ever fraud case is among a slew of high-profile proceedings following from the Communist Party of Vietnam’s crackdown on corruption. It highlights the developing economy’s challenges as it courts foreign investment to become a global electronics hub for companies like Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. The scandal also raises questions of whether the government has the capacity to safeguard the banking system, bond market and overall economy

amid an explosion of wealth.

“The government regulators are overwhelmed,” said Zachary Abuza, an expert on Southeast Asian politics at the National War College in Washington, D.C. “They can’t keep up with the growth of the economy. Look at the volumes of money pouring into the country. They just don’t have the manpower. And they’re so poorly paid.”

Vietnam is a one-party state where foreign media, including Bloomberg News, have limited access to documents such as police reports and reporting is heavily reliant on the local stateowned media. The foreign ministry, which handles enquiries to the government from foreign media, said in a statement that the party’s policy is to resolutely fight corruption “and to handle those who violate the law with strict punishments.” The government aims to “strengthen citizens’ trust in the party” and create a transparent business environment, it said.

Lan recognizes she may have violated the law, but “she didn’t intentionally commit those violations, nor try to cause damage to the state and depositors,” her lawyer, Giang Hong Thanh, said in a telephone interview. He added that Lan is willing to cover any economic damages that the court rules she is responsible for.

Pace of change

IN recent years, Vietnam has emerged as one of Southeast Asia’s biggest economic success stories. Disbursement of foreign direct investment rose to more than $23 billion in 2023, up 3.5 percent from the previous year. In a country where the average annual worker’s salary is about $4,000, the number of Vietnamese with a net worth of more than $30 million soared 82 percent in the five years to 2022 to 1,059, according to the Knight Frank Wealth Report.

But the country is struggling to keep up with the rapid pace of change. Like the Chinese government, which has pursued a

sweeping anti-corruption drive as the economy has grown, Vietnam’s leaders see graft as a risk to their hold on power. Communist Party Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s crusade to root out avarice is now years old, with no obvious end in sight.

The anti-corruption campaign has touched the highest levels of government and virtually all sectors of society. Former President Nguyen Xuan Phuc stepped down in January last year after taking “political responsibility” for corruption cases during the pandemic. Two deputy prime ministers who respectively oversaw the health and foreign affairs ministries were dismissed that same month. Fifty-four other individuals were convicted last year in a case involving millions of dollars of bribes tied to government-directed “rescue” flights for Vietnamese trying to get home while Covid-19 raged.

Even in this landscape, Lan’s case stands out for its audacity and breadth.

The Supreme People’s Procuracy of Vietnam has prosecuted VTP Group’s chairwoman for allegedly embezzling more than $12 billion from Saigon Commercial Bank, or SCB, between Feb. 2018 and October 2022—a sum that surpasses the market capitalization of most Vietnamese banks. A separate investigation is looking into alleged fraudulent appropriation of assets from bond issuance tied to the developer. Another police probe is examining allegations of money laundering tied to Lan and her husband, Hong Kong businessman Eric Chu, according to the Ministry of Public Security’s Cong An Nhan Dan newspaper. Neither SCB nor Chu’s representatives responded to requests for comment.

“This was a black eye for regulators,” said Willie Tanoto, a director in Fitch Ratings’ Asia-Pacific financial institutions team. “There are rules to prevent this from happening and it is unnerving that she managed to get around them for so long,” he said of Lan’s alleged control of SCB.

“Disclosure and transparency requirements in Vietnam have some catching up to do.”

Taste for opulence

LIKE many of Vietnam’s newly minted rich, Lan, 67, rode the rising wave of post-war capitalism in the country. She is no stranger to the local media, who covered her activities as a philanthropist and socialite, and has never hidden her taste for opulence.

She began selling cosmetics at the age of 16 and got into the restaurant and hotel sector after marrying Chu, according to the South China Morning Post. In 1991, Lan founded VTP Group, which says

on its website that it was Ho Chi Minh City’s first private company.  Its projects spanned residential properties, offices, hotels and shopping centers, among them a block-long marble mall complex that includes a yet-toopen Mandarin Oriental hotel, a Rolls-Royce showroom and a Tiffany & Co., incongruously located across a square from the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City. A VTP Group crown jewel was the Reverie Hotel Saigon Times Square, which features marble and gold-plated elevators, a lobby with seven-meter ceilings and a custom-made, emerald-green Baldi Monumental clock worth $500,000, according to a hotel manager. Guests of its two topend suites—with prices starting at $12,000 a night—are whisked from the airport in a Rolls-Royce Phantom Dragon or, for another $10,000, delivered to the hotel by helicopter, the manager said. On a night in October 2022, police came for Lan as she prepared for bed in her penthouse not far from the Times Square tower, according to local media reports. News of her arrest set off a panic among depositors of SCB, resulting in a bank run that led the State Bank of Vietnam to take control of the lender and assure its clients their savings were safe.

SCB’s depositors suspected what government and bank officials would not say at the time: that Lan and VTP Group were tightly tied to the lender.

Police allege that Lan illegally controlled more than 90 percent of SCB by paying 27 individuals and entities to acquire stakes in the institution. SCB disbursed loans of more than $43 billion to Lan and her allies between 2012 and October 2022, according to police allegations reported by Tuoi Tre News. According to news outlet VnExpress, Lan told police that she had had to become a shareholder to ensure the merger that formed SCB was successful, and that she had used her own money and funds borrowed from friends to help the bank restructure its debts.

Lan and other VTP Group officials were initially detained over the alleged embezzlement of tens

of thousands of dollars in 2018 and 2019. The probe took on a much wider scope after investigators discovered a notebook belonging to Lan’s personal driver, who meticulously recorded ferrying a total of about 108 trillion dong ($4.4 billion) and $14.7 million in cash to VTP Group’s headquarters, Lan’s home and other locations between Feb. 2019 and Sept. 2022, according to Tuoi Tre News, citing a police report. The money came from bank loans and bond issuances from VTP Group’s related companies, according to local media, which cited the police.

Now more than 700 VTP Group units have been frozen by Vietnamese authorities, and its 156 developments are under government control. Authorities have seized millions of dollars in cash, luxury cars, yachts and property from Lan and other defendants while freezing more than 1.8 trillion dong in bank accounts, according to a statement on the government’s website.

The Ministry of Public Security is also prosecuting 85 others they say are tied to the case, including Do Thi Nhan, a former State Bank official accused of accepting as much as $5.2 million in bribes. Lan’s husband Chu, who sold property at fire-sale prices in 2023 amid his wife’s legal woes, has since been detained in Vietnam, according to local media. Nhan’s representatives did not respond to requests for comment.

‘Investors have lost trust’ LAN’S arrest was part of a national anti-graft campaign that upended Vietnam’s property sector, which was already plagued by oversupply of high-end projects. The crackdown led to a dramatic slowdown in corporate bond issuances, triggering a liquidity crunch and missed payments by borrowers.

“Investors have lost trust in the bond market,” said Hanoi-based economist Nguyen Tri Hieu, who is a consultant for three local credit ratings agencies. This year, about 279.2 trillion dong of corporate bond payments are due, including 115.7 trillion dong of property bonds, according to the Vietnam Bond Market Association. Many

Lan’s arrest was part of a national anti-graft campaign that upended Vietnam’s property sector, which was already plagued by oversupply of high-end projects. The crackdown led to a dramatic slowdown in corporate bond issuances, triggering a liquidity crunch and missed payments by borrowers.

companies may struggle to make payments, he said.

Banks, leery of real estate projects, tightened loans to property developers, and newly cautious bureaucrats stalled approvals for new projects.

In Ho Chi Minh City, where unfinished construction sites dot the skyline, just a handful of projects cleared the myriad required government approvals in 2023, said Troy Griffiths, a deputy manager of Savills based in the city. The bottlenecks may ease this year as Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh pushes officials to accelerate procedures and banks to improve developers’ access to credit, he added.

The woes of the nation’s property market have also weighed on the economy, which missed growth targets last year. More than 1,200 projects are frozen due to liquidity problems as developers struggle to access funding, according to BMI, a unit of Fitch Solutions. “Policymakers may soon be compelled to prop up developers to ensure uncompleted projects are eventually delivered and thus avert social unrest,” it said in a Jan. 15 research note.

The government’s aggressive criminal investigation and new regulations show Vietnamese officials understand the need to protect the integrity of the banking system, Fitch Ratings’ Tanoto said. So far, the Lan investigation has not revealed a widespread institutional problem, he added.

Inadequate whistleblower protection and financial transparency regulations make it more difficult to detect graft and fraud cases, but Vietnam is not the only country grappling with corruption and its regulatory system has improved significantly in the last decade, Tanoto said.

Vietnam’s National Assembly in January passed a law to increase transparency in the banking system, parts of which go into effect this summer. The regulation requires banks to publicly disclose information about shareholders who own 1 percent or more of a lender’s charter capital and reduces the stakes institutional shareholders can hold in banks.

The tougher requirements are a good step, economist Hieu said. The government needs to put in place severe penalties for banks that fail to uphold them so the regulation has teeth, he added.

It will take years for Vietnam to clean up its culture of corruption, which weighs on economic growth, Hieu said. “It’s embedded in the system,” he said. “It’s in every corner of society. You have corruption in the villages, the provinces, even with the police on the streets.” With assistance from John Boudreau, Nguyen Dieu Tu Uyen and Quynh Nguyen/Bloomberg

Union leader takes center stage in battle over Nippon Steel’s $14 billion takeover of US Steel

By Joe Deaux

DAVID MCCALL has a oncein-a-generation opportunity to do right by America’s industrial workers, and he’s ready to seize the moment.

As head of the United Steelworkers, McCall finds himself in an unlikely place of power. Labor groups traditionally haven’t had much sway in US corporate takeovers. But 2024 is, of course, no ordinary year. So thanks to a growing political maelstrom that’s thrust the steelworker into the center of campaign rhetoric, McCall is now one of the mostcrucial voices that can help decide the fate of Nippon Steel Corp.’s proposed $14 billion takeover of the storied United States Steel Corp.

And McCall is preparing for a fight.

“The transaction itself right now, as announced, there’s no way I’d accept it,” he said in a recent interview, indicating that he’s ready to go the brink—even if it means killing the deal—to make sure he can secure the concessions he’s seeking for his union members.

The union doesn’t have any official right to simply block an offer US Steel has accepted. What it does have is political leverage.

The influence of the United Steelworkers (USW) has grown stronger now than in any time in recent memory. Joe Biden has billed himself the most pro-union president in history, but Donald Trump has sought to undercut his labor support, appealing to rankand-file auto workers and union members who have resented this administration’s clean energy agenda along with other policies. Union voters are seen as one of the key deciding blocs in the November presidential election.

The Nippon bid for US Steel is up for review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CFIUS, a process shrouded in secrecy. Allies of Biden have urged the administration to kill the deal over national security concerns—despite Japan being a close ally—and the threat to unionized steel jobs.

In the end, the final decision could come down to a signal to the White House about whether or not the union likes the deal. The USW has received “personal assurances” that Biden has “our backs,” according to a February statement.

That unique position underscores why interviews with more than two dozen investors, legal experts, steel consumers, brokers, service centers, analysts and executives paint the picture of an industry that is hanging on the words of one man: McCall.

Ultimately, the union holds the “political leverage,” Phil Gibbs, a nearly 20-year veteran covering the steel industry at Keybanc Capital Markets, said in an interview. “They clearly can make noise and if they saber rattle, they get in Biden’s ear or Donald Trump’s ear, or they stage a walk out—who knows what they’ll do.”

McCall’s moment comes as labor groups in the US are getting re-energized. Last fall, the United Auto Workers led a six-week strike that resulted in massive wage increases. That capped off a

summer of strikes that saw Hollywood writers and actors walk off their jobs, and meanwhile workers at companies as varied as Starbucks Corp. and Apple Inc. have moved to unionize in recent years.

Even then, it’s hard to overstate just how rare it is for a union to hold this much power during a deal review.

“I can’t recall a situation where unions in particular have been sort of the voice looking to encourage CFIUS to block a deal,” said Rick Sofield, a partner at Debevoise & Plimpton who spent nearly 25 years as a federal government lawyer including helping to oversee national security reviews by CFIUS.

Upcoming meetings

A LOT could come down to the next immediate period.

McCall and his top aides at the USW are expected to meet with representatives from Nippon Steel including Executive Vice President Takahiro Mori in the coming days, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be named because the information is private.

McCall says that for any discussions with Nippon the mostimportant points for the union will be: discussing the labor agreement, pension plans, retiree healthcare, capital expenditures and profit sharing.

For its part, Nippon has been telling investors it’s willing to make major concessions that are of importance to the union, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be named because the information is private. The concessions cited include making investments at US Steel plants, the people said.

Nippon said it “is focused on developing a productive working relationship with the USW and its members,” according to an emailed statement. The company “has assured the USW that it has the financial wherewithal to continue honoring all agreements currently in place between the USW and US Steel. We are confident that this transaction is in the best interest of the USW and its members.”

Just in the past week, McCall and Nippon confirmed that the two sides had signed a nondisclosure agreement, allowing talks to progress even as the union publicly maintains its opposition to the deal. Investors took that as a vote of confidence. US Steel shares quickly erased losses on the news and climbed as much as 1.4 percent.

The optimism may be overdone.

For those who are saying that the NDA is a sign of progress in the dealings between Nippon and the union, McCall has strong words: “I would say to you, emphatically, it is a lie.”

“We’ve gone back and forth and back and forth on an NDA, and that’s all we talked about,” McCall said by phone.

McCall’s tone in conversations with Bloomberg over the last twoand-a-half months since the deal was made public has, if anything, grown more hardened.

Less than half an hour after the takeover was first announced in December, McCall told Bloomberg News in a phone call that he was wary of the transaction. The union’s preferred bidder, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., had lost out, and the winning company wasn’t one many in the market had expected.

“This is not how this is going to work,” he said at the time. “We don’t know Nippon.”

By the end of that week, McCall got sharper. He called out US Steel for a “pompous” attitude, criticizing the company for not giving the union advance notice of the deal. And shortly before New Year’s, he chastised Nippon for having sent a representative to his office to simply read from a pre-written script of how the company would honor labor agreements.

By January, he was on the full offensive. Across a wide-ranging 90-minute conversation on the fifth floor of the USW office in Washington, McCall claimed Nippon had no understanding of the full commitments needed by the labor group and said the company had handled everything “arrogantly.”

By late February, he was livid.

“I want to kill this deal,” McCall said in a phone interview. “They haven’t indicated in any way that they’re interested in working with us to assure us that our members and our members’ futures, their employment security, their economic security and their retirement security is guaranteed. The only progress is on an NDA.”

And when pressed on whether he’d still want to kill the deal even if Nippon meets all the union’s demands, McCall first takes a long pause before answering: “It’s a question I can’t answer, unless they’re willing to sit down and talk about the issues.”

Still, at this point, fiery rhetoric works in McCall’s favor. The angrier he seems, the more leverage he has when it comes to sitting down for negotiations. It’s in Nippon’s interest to try to win the union’s favor quickly.

Trump wants to block

TRUMP has already said that he would block Nippon’s takeover of US Steel “instantaneously.” “We saved the steel industry. Now, US Steel is being bought by Japan. So terrible, but yeah, we want to bring jobs back to the country,” Trump said in late January.

Members of Congress in both parties have also raised national security concerns, including because of the Japanese steelmaker’s exposure to China.

And in response to questions about the deal, top economic aides for Biden said the president aims to preserve union jobs and domestic manufacturing in the US steel sector. The comments publicly hint at the administration’s priorities and the potential scope of the CFIUS review and further highlight why winning over the union will help to smooth over the political process for Nippon.

In recent weeks, people familiar with the matter have said the US national security review of the takeover is unlikely to conclude until late this year. US Steel and Nippon have publicly stated that they still expect the deal to close

by the second or third quarter.

The CFIUS panel, led by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, can approve, amend or block the deal on national security grounds— or send it to Biden’s desk for a decision.

The Treasury Department declined to comment.

In a statement, US Steel said: “We respect and appreciate the professionalism of the CFIUS process and the important work of the Committee. We are committed to working with the appropriate parties to ensure any national security concerns are addressed.”

The company also cited Japan as an “important ally” of the US.  Right-hand man

MCCALL became the union’s top official in September, following the death of former president Tom Conway.

McCall was Conway’s righthand man, who would lay the advance ground work with company officials before top executives and union bosses would gather. Insiders have long viewed McCall as the shrewd negotiator who did

the work to secure critical benefits and wage increases.

It’s unclear whether McCall will really follow through on his threats to try and kill the deal. Nippon has, after all, signaled to investors that it will do what’s needed to get the CFIUS approval.

And though the current political moment means McCall currently has a great amount of leverage, that clout will most likely fade after the November election. While US union strength has grown, it’s also true that even the most iconic labor groups, like the USW and the UAW, have seen their ranks plummet from the heydays half a century ago.

So scuttling the deal, only to leave the fate of the workers to the next bidder for US Steel during a less politically ripe moment, may not be the best strategy.

“There is sort of the middle-ofthe-road outcome between letting the deal go untouched and blocking it—and that is mitigation to the extent that keeping these strategically important manufacturing jobs in the US is a national security interest,” Sofield of Debevoise

& Plimpton said of what could happen during the CFIUS review. “You don’t have to block the deal to make that happen.”

But there is also a personal element to all this that goes beyond the politics.

McCall got his start in the industry at Bethlehem Steel in 1970 at the age of 18 as a journeyman millright. In 1978, he met Conway, at the time a young, unknown Protestant steelworker—an irony to McCall, who’s a Catholic.

Days after Conway’s death, just as McCall was starting to take up the responsibilities of running the union, he had a call with US Steel Chief Executive Officer David Burritt that would set the tone for the relationship he’s had with the company, and now by proxy, with Nippon.

“He said: ‘I hope our relationship can be better than it was with Tom. I didn’t get along with Tom, but I respected his mission,” McCall said. “My best friend in the world passed away and all he could say was he respected his mission.” With assistance from Josh Wingrove/ Bloomberg

GHISTORY OF ANILA

G

By John Eiron R. Francisco

ATHER the harvests and cultural floats!

Begin the fluvial parade! Enliven the days with art shows and contests, exhibits, car and motor shows, entertainment and cultural shows, art competitions, talent competitions, cook fests, live bands! Brighten the night with fireworks displays and more! It’s time for the Anilag Festival!

Since 2004, in the month of March, the entire province of Laguna—it’s 24 municipalities and six cities—celebrate this week-long cultural and harvest celebration that stands for “Ani ng Laguna,” better known as Anilag, the “mother of all festivals” in Laguna. The Anilag Festival remains a catalyst for uplifting various local communities, including artisans, farmers, fisherfolks, and businesses that foster prosperity through the abundant harvests the province proudly boasts.

It is a time for bountiful harvests—from agricultural crops and products to abundant tourist destinations, rich culture and heritage—all brought about by Laguna folk that have significantly contributed to the province’s economy.

“We believe that through the years, the Anilag Festival has become more inclusive and diverse, as seen in the various events and activities encompassing all cultural and social sectors in Laguna,” Provincial Governor Ramil Hernandez told the BusinessMirror.

Hernandez believes that this expansion has allowed people from different backgrounds to come together, celebrate diversity and foster a sense of unity and understanding.

He emphasized that the Anilag Festival serves as a pivotal enabler for community involvement and pride by nurturing social unity, celebrating diversity, preserving local heritage, empowering individuals, fostering economic development, and encouraging civic engagement.

Now on its 15th year, the festival began under the leadership of former Laguna Governor Teresita “Ningning” Lazaro. In 2011, during the administration of former actor and Gov. Emilio Ramon “ER” Ejercito, the festival underwent a name change and was known as “La Laguna Festival” or the Festival of Life.

In 2014, during the first term of current Laguna Gov. Hernandez, the name of the festival reverted back to “Anilag,” owing to the long historical tradition of the Anilag Festival.

Hernandez said that organizing festivals plays a crucial role in shaping the economic outlook of the province. “These events not only draw tourists but also boost local economies, fostering job opportunities as it generates income for businesses, thereby supporting small-scale industries.”

BEST OF LAGUNA

The Anilag Festival spans eight days, allowing ample time for visitors to explore and appreciate the diverse cultural and economic contributions of each participating locality.

A key component of this year's celebration is the Trade Fair Booth competition, showcasing the unique offerings of all the towns and cities in Laguna. This event provides an opportunity for every town and city in the province to exhibit their local products, present their tourist attractions, as well as their rich history and heritage.

“If you’ve been to the Anilag Festival you will get that satisfaction of having toured the whole of Laguna just by visiting the trade

fair booths,” Gov. Hernandez said.

“All these aspects are of great pride to Lagunenses which visitors will get to experience when they visit the Anilag Festival. Hopefully through the festival, tourists can also be convinced to visit some of our well-known tourist attractions in Laguna, especially in the 3rd and 4th districts which are known for their camping and glamping sites,” said Laguna Provincial Administrator Atty. Dulce H. Rebanal.

CULTURE & TRADITIONS

Congresswoman Ruth MarianoHernandez told the BusinessMirror that the construction of these booths has involved a significant amount of craftsmanship, hard work, and dedication.

“We would like to believe that the Anilag Festival is different from other festivals because of the many activities that tourists and locals can enjoy for one whole week. There is not a dull moment, from day one to the last day, guests are assured to have a fun and festive time,” Rep. Hernandez said.

Adding to the vibrant lineup of activities, the Anilag Festival show-

cases highly anticipated land float and street dancing competitions, drawing large crowds eager to witness the essence of each municipality and city in Laguna.

“Majority of the festival’s events focus on Laguna’s culture and traditions. This is evident in activities such as street dancing and cultural performances, wherein performers are dressed up in traditional costumes and props that highlight scenes from their town’s history, folklore, and everyday life,” said Anilag Festival Organizer Pam Peters.

Moreover, the festival features prestigious pageants such as the Ginoo and Binibining Laguna, providing a platform for titleholders to pursue opportunities in national and international pageants, as well as modeling.

Highlighting the talents of Lagunenses across various fields likewise include fashion design, hair and makeup artistry, singing, dancing, songwriting, and more.

PARTNERING WITH BUSINESS

“We have also partnered with businesses for sponsorship opportuni-

EXPLORING LAGUNA’S BOUNTY

Anilag Festival highlights economic contributions and cultural riches

ties where they can expect visibility and recognition throughout the festival through branding opportunities, signage, and promotional materials associated with the festival,” expounded Rebanal.

Local businesses were given the opportunity to join as vendors or exhibitors at the festival, where they can showcase and sell their products or services.

One of the festival's events is the “Hapag Kainan,” which features heirloom recipes from some of the oldest families in Laguna. Attendees can savor and enjoy the province’s culinary delights.

Another notable event is the "Fish-tahan sa Laguna," which takes pride in the ayungin, one of the most prized freshwater fishes in the country and is native to Laguna de Bay.

An installation art, organized by the Field Agricultural Services Office (FAES) will showcase “Fishtahan sa Laguna.”

Rep. Hernandez empha-

sized that the events are carefully planned to align with the pillars of the Love Laguna tourism campaign—encompassing themes like Love Food, Love Shopping, Love Nature, Love Adventure, Love Culture, and Love People.

SECURITY AND SAFET

Y

The Provincial Government has created a security and safety management plan through the Peace and Order office, which they have been putting into practice ever since they began celebrating Anilag following the pandemic.

“Planning for the Anilag Festival usually takes months of meetings and entails a coming together of minds to ensure that we will be able to provide an unforgettable and memorable experience for our visitors,” Festival Organizer Pam Peters said.

According to Peters, a post-event evaluation is conducted a few months after the previous festival, with emphasis on what went well and aspects

Tings, and searching for suppliers are all done in the months before the next festival.”

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT

During the Anilag Festival, there is the surge in visitors that in the past has led to traffic congestion and a shortage of parking spaces.

This year, festival organizers assured that effective planning and collaboration with the local traffic management office and key local government units have been established. A well thought out traffic management plan has been put in place.

Peters mentioned that they have enlisted nearby establishments and private properties to offer their parking facilities to visitors, thus alleviating the parking shortage in and around the capitol compound.

Administrator Rebanal stated that they had enlisted the assistance of several uniformed officials in the province—Philippine Army, Army reservists, and the Philippine National Police—to guarantee the safety and security of the attendees of Anilag.

Provincial security personnel and barangay tanods will also be stationed in key locations within and surrounding the festival venue to address safety and security concerns.

ECONOMIC RIPPLE EFFECT

Gov. Hernandez said that on the whole, the Anilag Festival is designed to boost the development arc of Laguna. It aims to further boost the province’s tourism industry and provide support for local Micro, Small, and Medium-sized

Enterprises (MSMEs).

Home to various export processing zones and high-end residential developments, Laguna emerged as the largest provincial economy in 2022, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Laguna’s provincial product reached P990.69 billion, contributing five percent to the country’s GDP with a size of P19.94 trillion in 2022, the PSA said.

Findings from the Provincial Product Accounts (PPA) of CALABARZON revealed that in 2021, Laguna contributed 33.8 percent to the region's economy, emerging as the leading contributor among the provinces.

For her part, Rep. Hernandez said the Anilag festival plays a role in promoting Laguna products throughout the year, collaborating with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through local Economic Development and Investment Promotion Officers (LEDIPO).

“We also make it a point to hire contractors, suppliers, as well as talents and artists from Laguna to help them earn for their businesses and professions,” she added.

Hernandez mentioned that the surge in festival attendees contributes to increased economic activity in the hospitality industry. This creates openings for hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops, tourist destinations, and transportation services.

The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) said the tourism industry in CALABARZON completely recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic and thrived in 2023 which contributed to the Region’s sustained economic growth.

In Laguna, the Anilag Festival has translated to investments in tourism-related infrastructure projects. According to Rep. Hernandez, these projects involve the enhancement of festival grounds.

“These improvements we believe not only enhance the tourists' festival experience but more so leave a lasting legacy of improved infrastructure for the benefit of the people,” she said.

TOURISM AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

“With strategic marketing efforts and continued investments in promoting the festival regionally, nationally and internationally, Anilag Festival I believe has the potential to be a powerful tourism magnet for the province,” Rep. Hernandez remarked.

Increasing public awareness on the Anilag festival translate to more tourists coming to Laguna, leading to a further rise in tourist arrivals and longer stays in the province.

The festival's growing popularity, as seen in past celebrations, has created a demand for venues and accommodations, presenting investment opportunities in the province.

“By capitalizing on its unique strengths and continuously evolving to meet the changing needs of tourists and locals alike, the Anilag Festival can leave a lasting legacy of prosperity and cultural enrichment for generations to come,” Gov. Hernandez concluded.

Anilag Festival 2024 will be held from March 10-17. Events will begin at the Provincial Capitol Grounds and the Laguna Sports Complex.

Leaked documents expose shady practices and corruption in China’s hacking industry

By Dake Kang & Zen Soo The Associated Press

BEIJING—The hotel was spacious. It was upscale. It had a karaoke bar. The perfect venue, the CEO of the Chinese hacking company thought, to hold a Lunar New Year banquet currying favor with government officials. There was just one drawback, his top deputy said.

“Who goes there?” the deputy wrote. “The girls are so ugly.”

So goes the sordid wheeling and dealing that takes place behind the scenes in China’s hacking industry, as revealed in a highly unusual leak last month of internal documents from a private contractor linked to China’s government and police. China’s hacking industry, the documents reveal, suffers from shady business practices, disgruntlement over pay and work quality, and poor security protocols.

Private hacking contractors are companies that steal data from other countries to sell to the Chinese authorities. Over the past two decades, Chinese state security’s demand for overseas intelligence has soared, giving rise to a vast network of these private hackers-for-hire companies that have infiltrated hundreds of systems outside China.

Though the existence of these hacking contractors is an open secret in China, little was known about how they operate.

But the leaked documents from a firm called I-Soon have pulled back the curtain, revealing a seedy, sprawling industry where corners are cut and rules are murky and poorly enforced in the quest to make money.

Leaked chat records show I-Soon executives wooing officials over lavish dinners and late night binge drinking. They collude with competitors to rig bidding for government contracts. They pay thousands of dollars in “introduction fees” to contacts that bring them lucrative projects. I-Soon has not commented on the documents.

Mei Danowski, a cybersecurity analyst who wrote about I-Soon on her blog, Natto Thoughts, said the documents show that China’s hackers for hire work much like any other industry in China.

“It is profit-driven,” Danowski said. “It is subject to China’s business culture—who you know, who you dine and wine with, and who you are friends with.”

Hacking that’s styled as patriotic CHINA’S hacking industry rose from the country’s early hacker culture, first appearing in the 1990s as citizens bought computers and went online.

I-Soon’s founder and CEO, Wu Haibo, was among them. Wu was a member of China’s first hacktivist group, Green Army—a group known informally as the “Whampoa Academy” after a famed Chinese military school.

Wu and some other hackers distinguished themselves by declaring themselves “red hackers”—patriots who offered their services to the Chinese Communist Party, in contrast to the freewheeling, anarchist and anti-establishment ethos popular among many coders.

In 2010, Wu founded I-Soon in Shanghai. Interviews he gave to Chinese media depict a man determined to bolster his country’s hacking capacity to catch up with rivals. In one 2011 interview, Wu lamented that China still lagged far behind the United States: “There are many technology enthusiasts in China, but there are very few enlightened people.”

With the spread of the Internet, China’s hackingfor-hire industry boomed, emphasizing espionage and intellectual property theft.

High-profile hacks by Chinese state agents, including one at the US Office of Personnel Management where personal data on 22 million existing or prospective federal employees was stolen, got so serious that then-President Barack Obama personally complained to Chinese leader Xi Jinping. They agreed in 2015 to cut back on espionage.

For a couple of years, the intrusions subsided. But I-Soon and other private hacking outfits soon grew more active than ever, providing Chinese state security forces cover and deniability. I-Soon is “part of an ecosystem of contractors that has links to the Chinese patriotic hacking scene,” said John Hultquist, chief analyst of Google’s Mandiant cybersecurity unit.

These days, Chinese hackers are a formidable force.

In May 2023, Microsoft disclosed that a Chinese statesponsored hacking group affiliated with China’s People’s Liberation Army called “Volt Typhoon” was targeting critical infrastructure such as telecommunications and ports in Guam, Hawaii, and elsewhere and could be laying the groundwork for disruption in the event of conflict.

Today, hackers such as those at I-Soon outnumber FBI cybersecurity staff by “at least 50 to one,” FBI director Christopher Wray said January at a conference in Munich.

Documents reveal a seedy state-led industry THOUGH I-Soon boasted about its hacking prowess in slick marketing PowerPoint presentations, the real business took place at hotpot parties,

late night drinking sessions and poaching wars with competitors, leaked records show. A picture emerges of a company enmeshed in a seedy, sprawling industry that relies heavily on connections to get things done.

I-Soon leadership discussed buying gifts and which officials liked red wine. They swapped tips on who was a lightweight, and who could handle their liquor.

I-Soon executives paid “introduction fees” for lucrative projects, chat records show, including tens of thousands of RMB (thousands of dollars) to a man who landed them a 285,000 RMB ($40,000) contract with police in Hebei province. To sweeten the deal, I-Soon’s chief operating officer, Chen Cheng, suggested arranging the man a drinking and karaoke session with women.

“He likes to touch girls,” Chen wrote.

It wasn’t just officials they courted. Competitors, too, were targets of wooing over late night drinking sessions. Some were partners—subcontractors or collaborators on government projects. Others were hated rivals who constantly poached their staff. Often, they were both.

One, Chinese cybersecurity giant Qi Anxin, was especially loathed, despite being one of I-Soon’s key investors and business partners.

“Qi Anxin’s HR is a green tea bitch who seduces our young men everywhere and has no morals,” COO Chen wrote to Wu, the CEO, using a Chinese Internet slur that refers to innocent-looking but ambitious young women.

I-Soon also has a complicated relationship with Chengdu 404, a competitor charged by the US Department of Justice for hacking over 100 targets

worldwide. They worked with 404 and drank with their executives but lagged on payments to the company and were eventually sued over a software development contract, Chinese court records show.

The source of the I-Soon documents is unclear, and executives and Chinese police are investigating. And though Beijing has repeatedly denied involvement in offensive hacking, the leak illustrates I-Soon and other hacking companies’ deep ties with the Chinese state.

For example, chat records show China’s Ministry of Public Security gave companies access to proofs of concept of socalled “zero days”, the industry term for a previously unknown software security hole. Zero days are prized because they can be exploited until detected. I-Soon company executives debated how to obtain them. They are regularly discovered at an annual Chinese state-sponsored hacking competition.

In other records, executives discussed sponsoring hacking competitions at Chinese universities to scout for new talent.

Many of I-Soon’s clients were police in cities across China, a leaked contract list showed. I-Soon scouted for databases they thought would sell well with officers, such as Vietnamese traffic data to the southeast province of Yunnan, or data on exiled Tibetans to the Tibetan regional government.

At times, I-Soon hacked on demand. One chat shows two parties discussing a potential “long-term client” interested in data from several government offices related to an unspecified “prime minister.”

A Chinese state body, the Chinese Academy of Sciences,

Leaked chat records show I-Soon executives wooing officials over lavish dinners and late night binge drinking. They collude with competitors to rig bidding for government contracts. They pay thousands of dollars in “introduction fees” to contacts that bring them lucrative projects. I-Soon has not commented on the documents.

also owns a small stake in I-Soon through a Tibetan investment fund, Chinese corporate records show. I-Soon proclaimed their patriotism to win new business.

Top executives discussed participating in China’s poverty alleviation scheme—one of Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s signature initiatives—to make connections. I-Soon CEO Wu suggested his COO become a member of Chengdu’s People’s Political Consultative Conference, a government advisory body comprised of scientists, entrepreneurs, and other prominent members of society. And in interviews with state media, Wu quoted Mencius, a Chinese philosopher, casting himself as a scholar concerned with China’s national interest.

But despite Wu’s professed patriotism, leaked chat records tell a more complicated story. They depict a competitive man motivated to get rich.

“You can’t be Lei Feng,” Wu wrote in private messages, referring to a long-dead Communist worker held up in propaganda for generations as a paragon of selflessness. “If you don’t make money, being famous is useless.”

Lax security, poor pay among hacking workers CHINA’S booming hackers-forhire industry has been hit by the country’s recent economic downturn, leading to thin profits, low pay and an exodus of talent, the leaked documents show.

I-Soon lost money and struggled with cash flow issues, falling behind on payments to subcontractors. In the past few years, the pandemic hit China’s economy, causing police to pull back on spending that hurt I-Soon’s bottom line. “The government has no money,” I-Soon’s COO wrote in 2020. Staff are often poorly paid. In a salary document dated 2022, most staff on I-Soon’s safety evaluation and software development teams were paid just 5,600 yuan ($915) to 9,000 yuan ($1,267) a month, with only a handful receiving more than that. In the documents, I-Soon officials acknowledged the low pay and worried about the company’s reputation. Low salaries and pay disparities caused employees to complain, chat records show.

Leaked employee lists show most I-Soon staff held a degree from a vocational training school, not an undergraduate degree, suggesting lower levels of education and training. Sales staff reported that clients were dissatisfied with the quality of I-Soon data, making it difficult to collect payments.

I-Soon is a fraction of China’s hacking ecosystem. The country boasts worldclass hackers, many employed by the Chinese military and other state institutions. But the company’s troubles reflect broader issues in China’s private hacking industry. The country’s cratering economy, Beijing’s tightening controls and the growing role of the state has led to an exodus of top hacking talent, four cybersecurity analysts and Chinese industry insiders told The Associated Press.

“China is no longer the country we used to know. A lot of highly skilled people have been leaving,” said one industry insider, declining to be named to speak on a sensitive topic.

Under Xi, the person added, the growing role of the state in China’s technology industry has emphasized ideology over competence, impeded pay and made access to officials pivotal. A major issue, people say, is that most Chinese officials lack the technical literacy to verify contractor claims. So hacking companies prioritize currying favor over delivering excellence.

In recent years, Beijing has heavily promoted China’s tech industry and the use of technology in government, part of a broader strategy to facilitate the country’s rise. But much of China’s data and cybersecurity work has been contracted out to smaller subcontractors with novice programmers, leading to poor digital practices and large leaks of data.

Despite the clandestine nature of I-Soon’s work, the company has surprisingly lax security protocols. I-Soon’s offices in Chengdu, for example, have minimal security and are open to the public, despite posters on the walls of its offices reminding employees that “to keep the country and the party’s secrets is every citizen’s required duty.” The leaked files show that top I-Soon executives communicated frequently on WeChat, which lacks end-to-end encryption.

The documents do show that staff are screened for political reliability. One metric, for example, shows that I-Soon checks whether staff have any relatives overseas, while another shows that employees are classified according to whether they are members of China’s ruling Communist Party.

Still, Danowski, the cybersecurity analyst, says many standards in China are often “just for show.” But at the end of the day, she added, it may not matter.

“It’s a little sloppy. The tools are not that impressive. But the Ministry of Public Security sees that you get the job done,” she said of I-Soon. “They will hire whoever can get the job done.”

Soo reported from Hong Kong. AP Technology Writer Frank Bajak contributed to this report.

THE interior of the I-Soon office, also known as Anxun in Mandarin, is seen after office hours in Chengdu in southwestern China’s Sichuan Province on February 20, 2024. AP/DAKE KANG

www.businessmirror.com.ph

• Editor:

Lyn Resurreccion

DBy Manuel T. Cayon

AVAO CITY—The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has sought the support of lawmakers and other stakeholders from the science community to get five science-related priority bills passed in Congress.

The priority bills include Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) Modernization Act, the Philippine National Nuclear Safety Act (PhilAtom), the Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines (VIP) Act, the National Measurement Infrastructure System (NMIS) Act, the DOST Regional Office Act, and Science for Change Program (S4CP) Act. These bills were discussed in a hybrid consultative forum organized by the Davao office of the DOST and the DOST Department

Science Sunday

Legislative Liaison Office.

The forum wanted to advance the nation’s scientific landscape, update stakeholders on the priority bills of the DOST while seeking crucial support for the enactment of proposed science legislation.

The DOST said the Phivolcs Modernization Act seeks to strengthen the capacity and capability of Phivolcs to provide better services critical to reducing disaster risk and losses, and ensuring a safer, sustainable future.

The PhilAtom aims to create an independent regulatory body to synchronize all regulatory activities on ionizing radiation under one organization, conforming to international standards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The VIP Act aims to establish an institute to lead in-depth studies on viruses and their potential

TWO government agencies partner for environmental management through nationwide mangrove mapping with the use of satellite images and space data.

The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) recently launched the Nationwide Mangrove Mapping initiative at the Social Hall of the DENR Central Office in Quezon City, PhilSA announced.

PhilSA, in partnership with the DENR, produced the Nationwide Mangrove Map using remotelysensed images from Sentinel-2 and Alos Palsar2.

The map will undergo a validation process to enhance the reliability and applicability of data to support coastal management, conservation efforts, and scientific research.

With the development of the satellite-derived mangrove extent map and commencement of the ground validation phase for the nationwide mangrove mapping, PhilSA Director General Joel Joseph Marciano Jr. highlighted the importance of this initiative in environmental management.

”Using satellite imagery and spaceborne data, we can develop the methodologies and algorithms to make more frequent and timely monitoring possible, and ultimately this should be directed toward supporting more sound decision making and policies,” Marciano said in his keynote speech.

“We are given the ability to view remote and inaccessible areas

from the vantage point of outer space, and again, we hope that this contributes science-based solutions. We are also happy to be given the opportunity to build the capacities of fellow Filipinos in space science and technology, which we hope will build our local industry and important space downstream sectors,” he added.

PhilSA remains committed to supporting the enhancement of DENR’s monitoring systems through satellite remote sensing, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and geographic information systems.

The Agency also looks forward to expanding its contributions to include other DENR priority sectors.

Environment Secretary Ma.

Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga highlighted the importance of synergies between the two agencies.

“The use of space-based technologies in national development cannot be underestimated and the [PhilSA] under the current leader-

disease-causing agents among people, plants, and animals.

The NMIS Act will strengthen NMIS and attain harmonization of metrology standards, resulting in globally competitive and quality products and services, consistent with Asean and other recognized

DOST seeks support for the passage of 5 priority scientific bills in Congress

international standards.

The S4CP aims to significantly increase investment in research and development, and accelerate it to improve industrial competitiveness and capacity building among universities and industries, fueling innovation and socioeconomic

PhilSA, DENR launch nationwide mangrove mapping project

ship of Doctor Marciano has been an invaluable help to the [DENR] in quantifying and measuring what we treasure as a nation.”

As the collaborative effort represents a significant stride toward effective mangrove conservation and rehabilitation, Yulo-Loyzaga added, “With the help of our partner agencies and academic community, and nongovernment organizations [NGOs], we reiterate the DENR’s firm commitment to establish natural capital accounts which equals integrating key ecosystems like mangrove forests into building a sustainable and thriving blue economy for the country. The launching of the mangrove map is a major milestone for us to accomplish this goal.”

A hands-on session for data validation was conducted and facilitated by Engr. Kristine Bantay, Senior Science Research Specialist from the PhilSA Space Data Mobilization and Applications Division.

in the Southeast Asian region and beyond.

Hosted by the UK Medical Research Coun-

cil (MRC), the British Embassy Bangkok, and Thailand’s National Science and Technology Development Agency, the event served as a prelude to the multilateral UK-SEA collaboration to fund research on infectious diseases of relevance to Southeast Asia with epidemic and antimicrobial resistance potential. Building on years of strong partnership between Southeast Asia, the collaboration aims to address the threat of future epidemics and pandemics.

The upcoming partnership with the UK marks the third cycle of collaboration for health R&D between UK Research Innovation (UKRI) through the Medical Research Council and DOST through PCHRD. Throughout its Cycle 1 (2016- 2019) and Cycle 2 (2019-2022) partnerships, 12 projects were implemented, collectively addressing key challenges in health, particularly in the realm of infectious diseases.

“For several years, the DOST-PCHRD and

Bantay also presented how the mangrove map may be validated through the utilization of ODK, a free application for data collection.

Through ODK, local DENR offices, NGOs, and academe partners will be mobilized to acquire and contribute data, such as image and location of various mangrove areas in the country for ground validation.

These efforts will also be complemented by aerial images using drone technology, which are expected to further enhance the nationwide mangrove extent map.

Upon completion of the validation activity, the data will be used to enhance PhilSA’s mangrove mapping algorithm using machine learning.

The validated map can be used for conservation and resource management efforts.

Present during the event were the Global Mangrove Alliance, De La Salle University, University of Sto. Tomas, National Mapping and Resource Information Authority, DENR-Biodiversity Management Bureau, and representatives from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) involved in environmental conservation and advocacy.

This endeavor was a result of the PhilSA and DENR MOA signed in February 2023.

A key component of the project is the establishment of a geospatial database of the country’s natural resources to be developed for the National Resource Accounting Program starting with the Nationwide Mangrove Map, PhilSA said.

UKRI’s strong partnerships enabled the conduct of valuable research on infectious diseases such as malaria, HIV, schistosomiasis, and more,” said Paul Ernest de Leon ,DOST-PCHRD Research and Development Management Division chief who led the Philippine delegation in the event.

“Through this networking activity, I am confident that future research collaborations between the UKRI and the Council will be more fruitful,” de Leon added.

The UKRI-Southeast Asia funding call for R&D collaboration on infectious diseases will open on March 14 at 9 a.m. UK time, or 5 p.m. Philippine time. Interested applicants may check the Call pre-announcement details through this link: https://www.ukri. org/opportunity/ukri-southeast-asiacollaboration-on-infectious- diseases /?fbclid=IwAR2gyDCJT8Rjan4X7Tir4E geD9DmrlyvHUmeVMFcXCQfcJow4QPH L9qoq yM

growth in the country.

“This is a pivotal moment as we gather to inform and update our esteemed stakeholders on the priority bills of the DOST and, more importantly, to seek your valuable support for the enactment of proposed science legislations,”

said Dr. Anthony C. Sales, DOST XI regional director.

The Science, Technology, and Innovation Priority Legislative Agenda was at the forefront of discussions during the forum, reflecting the relentless commitment to fostering innovation, scientific advancement, and technological breakthroughs, the DOST information office said.

“Let us help our country move forward through milestone STI legislations,” Science Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. said.

Dr. Teodoro Gatchalian, DOST Undersecretary for Special Concerns, said the DOST “is not resting in its desire to make its services more responsive, relevant, efficient, and effective. Our operations are always governed by directions, policies, guidelines, and laws that will make our services legitimate. We need the passage of these Acts.”

PARTICIPANTS from 14 countries attend the Philippines’ DOST-organized workshop, in partnership with the USA and UNCTAD, on harnessing science, technology and innovation for disaster risk reduction. DOST PHOTO

14 countries gather at DOST-led workshop on disaster-risk reduction

THE Philippines, through the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), partnered with the United States of America (USA) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in organizing the workshop on harnessing science, technology and innovation (STI) for disaster risk reduction (DRR).

Held from February 29 to March 1, the workshop was an initiative of the Philippines and the USA under the countries’ membership in the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD).

The workshop was attended by about 50 experts, policy-makers, researchers and diplomats coming from 14 member States across different regions, including Austria, Brazil, Guinea, Japan, Oman, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Tanzania, Türkiye, the USA and Uzbekistan.

Science Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr., in his keynote speech, called on everyone to collectively address challenges, especially that hazards know no political boundaries. He further stated that disasters are seemingly intractable. But if framed as inefficiency and failure, disasters become preventable.

Solidum highlighted three key messages to guide the workshop—cooperative action, best-fit science, technology and innovation, and the will of State and people.

“We hope that by holding this Forum, we can trigger a conversation that leads to a more inspired, and perhaps new way of thinking and doing STI for pushing forward disaster and climate resilience,” the DOST chief said.

Science Undersecretary Leah Buendia welcomed the delegates, while Shamika N. Sirimanne, director of the Division on Technology and Logistics (DTL) of UNCTAD and head of the CSTD Secretaria,t and Dr. Patricia Gruber, Science and Technology adviser to Secretary of the US Department of State, sent video messages.

“This workshop reinforces the Philippines’ steadfast commitment in joining hands with the international community, such as the [UNCSTD], in providing STI solutions to global challenges and significantly contributing to the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda,” Buendia said.

For her part, Sirimanne encouraged the group to leverage satellite and quantum technologies to develop sound and wellgrounded STI policies, and develop networks to support learning and sharing spaces.

Gruber highlighted that STI in DRR enables effective early warning systems, comprehensive community planning, and swift and coordinated response through resilient and interoperable communications networks.

“Together, we can shape the landscape of disaster risk reduction with the appropriate use of digital solutions in a manner consistent with our shared values and accelerate progress of the SDGs [Sustainable Development Goals]. Like the SDGs themselves, these efforts should integrate and mutually reinforce the social, economic, environmental, and governance goals across the agenda,” Gruber said

In the two-day workshop, the participants listened to presentations from the Philippines, USA, Austria, Brazil, Japan, and South Africa on the most pressing disaster and climate risk challenges faced by their countries and regions, as well as the best practices, approaches, and programs for addressing those challenges.

The participants and speakers also had the opportunity to engage in more interactive discussions through the working group sessions.

The workshop also saw posters that featured innovations that address disaster and climate-risk challenges.

Besides the common and unique best practices and issues that emerged from the discussions, the participants were able to come up with a list of policy recommendations that would be useful for future STI resolutions, studies, and initiatives of the CSTD.

The DOST also organized a brief study tour at selected DRR facilities at the DOSTAdvanced Science and Technology Institute, DOST-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, DOST-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, and the Office of Civil Defense.

The results of the workshop are expected to be presented at the 27th Annual Session of CSTD in Geneva, Switzerland, in April.

DR. Anthony C. Sales (center), DOST XI regional director. leads the hybrid consultative forum organized by the Davao office and the DOST DLLO to get support for the passage of priority science-related bills in Congress. DOST PHOTO

PHILSA Director General Joel Joseph Marciano Jr. (left photo), Environment Secretary Ma.

Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, along with key officials, lead the recent Nationwide Mangrove Map

Validation Launch on mangrove rehabilitation in the Philippines through space technologies. PHILSA PHOTOS

FILIPINO researchers and DOST-PCHRD participants at the networking meeting in Bangkok recently. DOSTPCHRD PHOTO

THE Papal Nuncio to the Philippines on Thursday paid tribute to the depth and richness of the Catholic faith in the Philippines, remarking as well on the “phenomenon of popular religiosity.”

Addressing the Rotary Club of Manila (RCM) at its 31st Weekly Membership Meeting at the Manila Polo Club, His Excellency, the Most Rev. Charles John Brown, provided a unique opportunity for RCM members to discuss the rich Catholicism in the Philippines, as the country is in the middle of the Lenten season.

In his address, His Excellency remarked, “The Catholic faith in the Philippines is part of your DNA, with 503 years of Catholic history. One of the impressive things to see here, for me as a Catholic and as a Nuncio, is the depth of Catholic faith here.”

The Papal Nuncio also highlighted the unique phenomenon of popular religiosity in the Philippines.

“One of the interesting phenomena here that all of you Filipinos better know than I do is the core phenomenon of popular religiosity...Popular religiosity like Sto. Nino, Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Penafrancia, Simbang Gabi Masses, Sta. Cruzan processions, all of those things are connected with the Catholic church. It’s a kind of emanation of Catholic Faith. It’s a very special and precious gift that I am entirely in favor of,” he pointed out.

He also commended the Philippines for its beautiful Catholic tradition and culture, stating, “Your beautiful Catholic tradition, beautiful Catholic culture, are something that I applaud and that makes me very happy

of Heaven are open, the gates of Hell are close, and the devils are in chains.”

Surely, the Islamic creed puts the burden on the adults to perform Ramadan fasting, the third of the five pillars of Islam.

Ultimately, it is the fear of Allah that makes members of the 1.6-billion-strong Muslims worldwide called Ummah (2010 Pew Research Center), obey the Qur’anic injunction to fast. Its overriding objective is to become and remain God-conscious and righteous during and even after Ramadan.

Essentially, it should make a Muslim a better human being, a person who fears and is close to God, upholds the law, among other virtues dear to Islam, Christianity and other religions, and whose neighbors, including non-Muslims, are safe from his hands.

Special prayers

THERE are two special prayers during Ramadan, “Taraweeh” and “Tahajud.”

The former is a daily nighttime worship, while the latter is performed on the last 10 days of the holy month, starting at around midnight and lasting before imsak.

Ramadan brings intensified worship. Muslims read the Qur’an more, (at least those who can read the original Arabic version), pray more, supplicate to Allah more, recite His names, besides doing the five daily prayers at dawn, noontime, mid-afternoon, early evening, and late evening.

Papal Nuncio ‘very happy’ to witness depth of Catholic tradition in the PHL

to see and to witness as a Nuncio.”

During the meeting, the Most Reverend Brown also engaged with RCM members, discussing various aspects

Fasting obligations

FASTING during Ramadan is an obligation of Muslims who are past puberty.

On the eve of Ramadan, it is a tradition to take a bath, a symbol of cleaning one’s self before the holy month.

The person also recites his or her intent for fasting; at the start and break of fasting, or that it is being done for Allah.

Muslims across the globe who are fit to fast are not allowed a morsel of food, a drop of water or beverage, a puff of smoke and sex from “imsak” (before dawn) until iftar, after sunset. Otherwise it will invalidates one’s fast.

It likewise prevents one from talking, thinking and doing bad things.

Backbiting stains one’s fasting.

Exempted from fasting are women who are pregnant, have monthly period and breastfeeding; the sick; travellers; the elderly who are incapable of doing it; and those who have mental health conditions.

Anyone, except the mentally unwell, may perform their missed fasting days when they are already in better situation.

They may do “fidiyah,” or feeding a fasting person, in exchange for one’s missed fast.

Young children are not obliged to fast. But more often than not, they copy what adults do by fasting for half a day, or a few hours.

Meanwhile, married couples who engage in sex during fasting hours, thus break the fast, have to fast for 60 days to replace the missed day, according to religious leaders.

If a person honestly forgets fasting by eating or drinking liquid unintentionally, the person is excused.

Although brushing of teeth is allowed, the water must not touch the throat, or it may nullify the fast.

It is known that fasting has health and medical benefits. But health professionals suggest that healthy food with lots of fiber, fruits and vegetables should be prepared for suhoor and iftar.

The elders and those with diabetes are advised to consult their doctor to determine if they can fast for a long period.

As signalled by iftar, the disallowed practices are already allowed during the entire nighttime—until imsak, before fasting day starts again.

The cycle repeats every day for 30 or 29 days, depending on the Ramadan calendar.

If some say Islamic fasting is difficult, one should think of Jesus Christ, who had 40 days of fasting.

Daily 14-hour fasting

THE time of preparing for Ramadan morning meals may differ from country to country, depending on geography and season.

Here in the Philippines, as gleaned from a schedule from National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), imsak is at 4:38 a.m.; “fajr” (dawn prayer) at 4:53 a.m.; and sunset prayer at 6:06 p.m., also the time for iftar

This makes the day-long fast this year will last for around 14 hours.

Imsak’s and iftar’s times change a few minutes as the month rolls on.

The NCMF has been consulting the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration of the Department of Science and Technology for the time of sunrise and sunset, thus, making a sciencebased schedule of fasting.

Families usually set an alarm to prepare food for suhoor. Otherwise, they wake up at dawn, leaving no time to cook.

In some cases, many would fast even without taking suhoor, which is taxing for the mind and body, and not advisable.

Some households forego sleep until the food is cooked for suhoor.

Lent and Ramadan overlap

IT should be noted that this year, the Lenten season of Christians—February 14 to March 31—overlaps with Islam’s month of Ramadan—on March 11 to April 8 or 9 (year 1445 of Hijrah, a calendar that follows the moon cycle, 11

and understanding on important issues facing society today.

The Papal Nuncio shared with Rotarians how, in 2020, “I got another message from Pope Francis, and he sent me to Manila as your Nuncio here. So, I arrived here in Manila in 2020, in November.”

After presenting his credentials to then President Rodrigo Duterte on December 14, 2020, “I hit the ground running, and here I am today with all of you, the most prestigious Rotary Club in Asia. I’m delighted to be here.”

of Catholicism sparking insightful dialogue and reflection.

The event highlighted RCM’s commitment to fostering dialogue

He had come during a crisis, the Most Reverend Brown recalled, because it “was the middle of Covid crisis at that point—everyone wore masks and face shields and even quarantined during that moment.”

The following year, 2021, was “very significant here in the Philippines,

being the 500th anniversary of the arrival of the faith in the Philippines.

“So in 2021, we remembered the events of 1521, when Magellan and the other explorers arrived in Limasawa in Cebu, and brought the Catholic faith here in the Philippines. It was also an interesting year, 2021, because it was also the 70th year of diplomatic relations between the Republic of the Philippines and the Holy See, the Vatican.”

Explaining the role of a Nuncio, Brown shared that the Holy See has diplomatic relations with approximately 185 countries in the world.

“The countries with which the Holy See does not have full diplomatic relations, you can count on the fingers of one hand...Afghanistan, China—the People’s Republic of China, and let’s see, North Korea.”

days short annually of the Gregorian calendar’s 365 days).

The first day of every Hijrah month is determined only at the sighting of the crescent moon. Thus, every year Ramadan starts 10 or 11 days earlier than the previous one.

Ramadan is followed by Shawwal, the first day of which is Eid’l Fitr, the Festival of Breaking of the Fast.

Fasting at early age

I TRIED fasting at an early age, when I was not even seven years old due to the influence of family; though not imposed on me.

Surely, it was not every day that I did it, being just influenced by peer pressure. Among children, it’s a bragging right to be able to complete a day of fasting.

Now, with 60 summers behind me, if my health permits, I’ll do it again.

I don’t know if fasting is addictive, but once you’ve been into it, doing it again is second nature. And doing it annually makes it a habit. Make no mistake, there are adult Muslims who do not fast, and are eating in public without shame.

Most difficult pillar

FOR ME, Ramadan fasting is the most difficult of the five pillars of Islam. It is a sacrifice that tests the body, mind and soul.

The first week is the most trying time as the body adjusts to having no food and water.

Waking up early morning from sleep for suhoor is very trying as I was just in deep sleep and in dreamland, sometimes.

I have to drag my body and force my consciousness to get to the table for suhoor.

Years ago in Buluan, Maguindanao del Sur, an iftar incident has been visiting my mind.

As the time to break the day’s fast was approaching, the pangs of hunger

in me was becoming more intense. The temptation to break the fast before sunset was strong. But breaking it prematurely would be a shame, that made it easier to resist the temptation. Besides, I didn’t want my sacrifice go to waste when it’s only a few hours to iftar.

The challenge is to overcome this deprivation every day for 30 days and hope that I would come out a better Muslim at peace with God and fellow men, regardless of religion and race.

Breaking of fast TRADITIONALLY, the fast is broken by eating dates as was done by Islam’s messenger, Prophet Muhammad (SAW). High in caloric content, it provides energy after a day of fasting. Muslim and Arab embassies usually donate boxes of dates to Filipinos during Ramadan.

The fasting season is also a period when Muslim and Arab embassies in the country, including the diplomatic missions of the United States, United Kingdom and Australia, host iftar where non-Muslims are invited, and experience the spirit of the Ramadan season.

Iftar has always been a time of community, of joy, as family members gather with some neighbors and friends sharing in the bounties that God provides on the table. After imsak, neighbors gather outside their homes, foregoing their return to sleep as they await the dawn prayer, Fajr, the first of the five daily prayers. They resume their sleep after prayers.

Great

equalizer

IN the NCMF and in the Bangsamoro

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, as in other Muslim countries, work hours are shortened during Ramadan to give time for employees to prepare for iftar.

In most cases, office hours in NCMF and in BARMM starts at 7 a.m.

and concludes at 3 p.m.

Meanwhile, farmers work in the morning and return home at noontime, because having no food and water prove too physically demanding.

In Maguindanao households, iftar includes warm “sindol,” or sliced ripe “saba” banana, with glutinous rice, slices of jackfruit, “natekh” (palm tree “sago”) sometimes with sweet potato, and cooked with coconut milk.

Bread, fried banana, juice, if available, rice and fish, vegetables and fruits (if the budget allows it) are among the frequent menu.

It is said that Ramadan fasting is a great equalizer—the richest of the rich and the poorest of the poor both experience the biting pangs of hunger.

However, what divides them is that a rich man’s table shows abundance, while a poor man’s exhibits scarcity.

Somehow, many mosques try to remedy this by organizing community iftars to help lessen the burden on poor families.

Moonsighting AS in the years past, the first day of Ramadan, is determined through the sighting of the crescent moon, through the naked eye as practiced for around a century and a half.

But in this era of modern technology, Moonsighting Committees in various countries use powerful telescopes.

Information reaching the Business Mirror showed the NCMF and the BARMM have scheduled their moonsighting on March 10. If the crescent moon is sighted on that day, Ramadan’s first day will be on March 11; if it is not sighted, then it will be on March 12.

So, the next time you hear the banging of pots and pans and voices from your Muslim neighbors’ kitchen after midnight, mostly likely it’s the Ramadan season.

FATIMA KASIM performs “Salatul Masjid” (prayer when entering a mosque) to show respect to the house of worship at the Blue Mosque of Maharlika Village, Taguig City. Salatul Masjid is a Sunnah (optional), one may do it or not without sin.

HIS Excellency, the Most Rev. Charles John Brown (center), the Papal Nuncio to the Philippines, is joined in photo by Rotary Club of Manila President Rafael “Raffy” M. Alunan III (right) and RCM District Governor-Elect Joaquin C. Rodriguez, Sr. NONOY LACZA

MAHARLIKA Village’s Blue Mosque with its minaret and dome. Mosques (masjid in Arabic) is the center of intense worship during Ramadan as more worshipers take advantage of what Islamic religious leaders say is abundance of rewards.

Editor: Lyn Resurreccion

By Jonathan L. Mayuga

ALANDMARK United Nations report that was released recently reveals the shocking state of wildlife, with particular focus on the world’s migratory species that are rapidly on a decline and increasing global extinction risk.

The first ever report was launched by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) of Wild Animals, a UN biodiversity treaty at the UN Wildlife Conservation Conference.

Declining population

WHILE some migratory species listed under the CMS are improving, the report said that nearly half, or 44 percent, are showing population decline.

CMS-listed species are “those at risk of extinction across all or much of their range, or in need of coordinated international action to boost their conservation status.”

Around 22 percent of CMSlisted species are threatened with extinction.

Even more alarming is that nearly all, or 97 percent of CMS-listed fish, are threatened with extinction.

It says the extinction risk is growing for migratory species globally, including those not listed under the CMS.

Unprotected KBAs

HALF or 51 percent of Key Biodiversity

Areas (KBAs) identified as important for CMS-listed migratory animals do not have protected area status, the report said.

Likewise, 58 percent of the monitored sites recognized as being important for CMS-listed species are experiencing unsustainable levels of human-caused pressure.

According to the report, the two greatest threats to both CMS-listed and all migratory species are overexploitation and habitat loss due to human activity, with three out of four CMS-listed species are impacted by habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation, and seven out of 10 CMSlisted species are impacted by overexploitation, including intentional taking as well as incidental capture.

Climate change, pollution, invasive species

OTHER factors contributing to the population decline are climate change,

pollution and invasive species.

Lastly, it says 399 migratory species threatened or near threatened with extinction are not CMS-listed species.

“Today’s report clearly shows us that unsustainable human activities are jeopardizing the future of migratory species—creatures which not only act as indicators of environmental change but play an integral role in maintaining the function and resilience of our planet’s complex ecosystems,” Inger Andersen, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme, said in a statement.

“The global community has an opportunity to translate this latest science of the pressures facing migratory species into concrete conservation action. Given the precarious situation of many of these animals, we cannot afford to delay, and must work together to make the recommendations a reality,” Andersen added.

International commitment

THE report highlights the need for global action to protect and conserve the world’s migratory species.

The Philippines, being part of the Asean, a region rich in biodiversity, is expected to do its part to address the increasing number of threats to both species and their habitats.

Asean Centre for Biodiversity

(ACB) Executive Director Theresa Mundita S. Lim underscored the importance of protecting migratory species in Southeast Asia.

Interviewed via Messenger on February 27, Lim said that the whale shark, all marine turtle species, and

threatened migratory birds, such as the black-faced spoonbill, the bartailed godwit and the Christmas frigate are the migratory species that need special attention.

“Humpback whales and orcas are also found in Philippine waters, and are very charismatic and considered indicators of healthy marine ecosystems,” said Lim, a licensed veterinarian.

Important role

“BECAUSE the Philippines is at the heart of the East Asian Australasian Flyway, our role is important in ensuring the safe passage of important migratory birds moving from the Northern to the Southern hemisphere and back. Their survival as they travel depends on available and healthy ecosystems for feeding and watering, and reduced threats from hunting and poaching during their stop-over,” Lim said.

“The same with marine turtles, migratory sharks, and whales, their presence means ecosystems are still healthy enough to support their food supply. Turtles that depend on coastal ecosystems to nest, require minimally disturb beach areas,” Lim said.

Protecting migratory animals

THE Philippines’ Department of Environment and Natural Resources through its Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) plays a central role in the effective implementation of the CMS by ensuring the fulfillment of Philippine obligations as a Party to the Convention.

Particularly, the DENR-BMB is serving as the oversight agency of the DENR on all initiatives toward the

WHEN people talk about the “Anthropocene,” they typically picture the vast impact human societies are having on the planet—from rapid declines in biodiversity to increases in Earth’s temperature by burning fossil fuels.

Such massive planetary changes did not begin all at once at any single place or time.

That’s why it was controversial when, after over a decade of study and debate, an international committee of scientists—the Anthropocene Working Group—proposed to mark the Anthropocene as an epoch in the geologic time scale starting precisely in 1952. The marker was radioactive fallout from hydrogen bomb tests.

On March 4, the commission responsible for recognizing time units within our most recent period of geologic time—the Subcommission on Quarternary Stratigraphy—rejected that proposal, with 12 of 18 members voting no. These are the scientists most expert

at reconstructing Earth’s history from the evidence in rocks. They determined that adding an Anthropocene Epoch— and terminating the Holocene Epoch— was not supported by the standards used to define epochs.

To be clear, this vote has no bearing on the overwhelming evidence that human societies are indeed transforming this planet.

As an ecologist who studies global change, I served on the Anthropocene Working Group from its start in 2009 until 2023.

I resigned because I was convinced that this proposal defined the Anthropocene so narrowly that it would damage broader scientific and public understanding.

By tying the start of the human age to such a recent and devastating event—nuclear fallout—this proposal risked sowing confusion about the deep history of how humans are transforming the Earth, from climate change and biodiversity losses to pollution by plastics and tropical deforestation.

The original idea of the Anthropocene

IN the years since the term Anthropocene was coined by Nobel Prizewinning atmospheric chemist Paul Crutzen in 2000, it has increasingly defined our times as an age of human-caused planetary transformation, from climate change to biodiversity loss, plastic pollution, megafires and much more.

Crutzen originally proposed that the Anthropocene began in the latter part of the 18th century, as a product of the Industrial age. He also noted that setting a more precise start date would be “arbitrary.”

According to geologists, we humans have been living in the Holocene Epoch for about 11,700 years, since the end of the last ice age.

Human societies began influencing Earth’s biodiversity and climate through agriculture thousands of years ago. These changes began to accelerate about five centuries ago with the colonial collision of the old

Experts: Global action needed to protect, conserve migratory species, systems

conservation of migratory species in the country, effectively liaising with international and local partners in this regard.

“Initiatives on the conservation of migratory species under the Convention primarily focus on affording protection to the species listed in the CMS appendices,” Anson M. Tagtag, chief of the Wildlife Resources Division of the DENR-BMB told the BusinessMirror via email on March 1.

By hosting several migratory birds, marine turtles and mammals, and sharks and rays, the Philippines has been an active Party of the CMS since 1993 and a signatory of three Memoranda of Understanding, a less formal instrument for cooperation among range states of certain migratory species.

The initiatives being undertaken by the country focus on various areas including awareness raising, mainstreaming of migratory species in other sectors and processes, governance and policy development, implementation of area-based conservation measures, addressing threats and measures affecting migratory species, data management, capability building, strengthening partnerships to conserve migration systems and resource mobilization.

Migratory shore birds, seabirds

THE conduct of the Asian Waterbird Census and initiatives in partnership with international organizations, such as the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership, aims to protect migratory birds and their habitats.

To further protect migratory birds and other wildlife, the

DENR-BMB has been implementing measures like the designation of Protected Areas and Critical Habitats alongside the regulation of activities that may jeopardize not only migratory birds but also other wildlife and their habitats.

The Philippines also regularly participates in global campaigns, such as World Migratory Bird Day, emphasizing its proactive role in the international community’s efforts to protect migratory birds and their ecosystems.

Tagtag said the DENR-BMB iscurrently in the process of crafting a comprehensive Species Conservation Action Plan for Seabirds, recognizing the diverse ecological significance of seabirds and the challenges they confront.

“Although not all seabirds are migratory, this plan seeks to address the unique conservation needs of these avian species,” he said.

Migratory fish, other marine species

MEANWHILE, the DENR BMB actively protects migratory fish and other marine species through the effective implementation of the Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Management Program (CMEMP) and BMB Technical Bulletin 2017-14, titled “Guidelines on the Application of Integrated Coastal Management as a Strategy in the Implementation of the CMEMP.”

“This comprehensive approach entails preserving ecosystem functions within coastal ecosystems, promoting sustainable fisheries management, and spearheading the protection and rehabilitation

of important habitats such as coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, and estuaries,” he explained.

“Key conservation actions include the establishment of Marine Protected Areas, nature reserves, and sanctuaries, ensuring the long-term viability of marine biodiversity,” Tagtag added.

The DENR-BMB also implements targeted conservation measures for marine turtles and dugongs, both of which fall under its jurisdiction as mandated by RA 9147.

These initiatives encompass a range of activities, including habitat protection, continuous monitoring, and engaging local communities in conservation efforts.

Biodiversity oversight body TAGTAG said the DENR-BMB’s main task is the oversight of the nation’s biodiversity through formulating and executing comprehensive policies and strategies for the conservation and sustainable management of biological diversity.

Its mandate includes the management of protected areas, nature reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, and critical habitats, and the provision of technical assistance to other law enforcement agencies on wildlife law enforcement, along with implementing programs dedicated to the protection and creating and maintaining habitats crucial for threatened and endemic species, including migratory species.

Along its mandate, the Bureau facilitates the integration of biodiversity conservation, including that of migratory species in the plans and programs of other government agencies, the private sector, and especially the local governments.

Boosting the conservation effort of government, the DENR-BMB is carrying out actions in various forms to increase the people’s awareness of the value of migratory species, their habitats, and migration systems, including press and media publicity, special publications, and celebration of festivals on certain migratory species, exhibitions, and other events.

Some of these events are the Marine Turtle Festival, National Bird Festival, Whale Shark Festival, Month of the Ocean, World Wildlife Day, World Wetlands Day, International Day of Biological Diversity, World Migratory Bird Day, Shark Conservation Week, World Sea Turtle Day.

Anthropocene isn’t an epoch–but humans’ age is underway

and new worlds.

And, as Crutzen noted, Earth’s climate really began to change with the increasing use of fossil fuels in the Industrial Revolution that began in the late 1700s.

Anthropocene as an epoch

THE rationale for proposing to define an Anthropocene Epoch starting around 1950 came from overwhelming evidence that many of the most consequential changes of the human age shifted upward dramatically about that time in a so-called “Great Acceleration” identified by climate scientist Will Steffen and others.

Radioisotopes like plutonium from hydrogen bomb tests conducted around this time left clear traces in soils, sediments, trees, corals and other potential geological records across the planet.

The plutonium peak in the sediments of Crawford Lake in Ontario, Canada—chosen as the “golden spike” for determining the start of the An-

thropocene Epoch—is well marked in the lake bed’s exceptionally clear sediment record.

The Anthropocene Epoch is dead; long live the

Anthropocene SO why was the Anthropocene Epoch rejected? And what happens now?

The proposal to add an Anthropocene Epoch to the geological time scale was rejected for a variety of reasons, none of them related to the fact that human societies are changing this planet. In fact, the opposite is true.

If there is one main reason why geologists rejected this proposal, it is because its recent date and shallow depth are too narrow to encompass the deeper evidence of human-caused planetary change.

As geologist Bill Ruddiman and others wrote in Science Magazine in 2015, “Does it really make sense to define the start of a human-dominated era millennia after most forests in arable regions

had been cut for agriculture?”

Discussions of an Anthropocene Epoch aren’t over yet. But it is very unlikely that there will be an official Anthropocene Epoch declaration anytime soon.

The lack of a formal definition of an Anthropocene Epoch will not be a problem for science.

A scientific definition of the Anthropocene is already widely available in the form of the Anthropocene Event, which basically defines Anthropocene in simple geological terms as “a complex, transformative, and ongoing event analogous to the Great Oxidation Event and others in the geological record.”

So, despite the “no” vote on the Anthropocene Epoch, the Anthropocene will continue to be as useful as it has been for more than 20 years in stimulating discussions and research into the nature of human transformation of this planet. Erle C. Ellis, University of Maryland, Baltimore County/The Conversation (CC) via AP

ARise in ACL injuries in women’s soccer blamed on gender inequality–UK report

Beth

The committee said the response from the sports science sector had been “disparate and slow” and sports and exercise research was “overwhelmingly” conducted by men.

“We have no doubt that a health issue of similar magnitude affecting elite male footballers would have received a faster, more thorough, and better coordinated response.”

In a report last year, world players’ union FIFPRO found increased demands in the women’s game had seen a “notable” rise in injuries, including to the ACL.

It said players who competed and traveled more with their club and national teams were more susceptible to lower limb injuries.

The report by the Women and Equalities Committee has highlighted concerns around sportswear and

Lrope at speeds that can top 40 mph (64 kph) over jumps as high as 8 feet (2.4 meters) and around obstacles as they try to lance suspended hoops with a baton, typically a ski pole that’s cut in half.

Every winter, thousands of people converge on the old mining town of Leadville, Colorado, high in the Rocky Mountains—elevation 10,158 feet (3,096 meters)—lining downtown’s main street and packing the saloons to witness one of the most popular skijoring races in the country.

The spectacle, billed as “The Granddaddy of ’em All,” has been a tradition here since 1949.

“It’s just the pure adrenaline that gets me to do it.... And then getting these two different groups of people together with the riders and the skiers. Usually they don’t hang out, and getting them together, we mesh pretty well,” said Burri, who wears fringed leather pants with his ski gear in a nod to the sport’s Western vibe.

Skijoring draws its name from the Norwegian word skikjoring, meaning “ski driving.” It started as a practical mode of transportation in Scandinavia and became popular in the Alps around 1900.

Today’s sport is inherently dangerous, and injuries are not uncommon among riders and skiers alike. Indeed, one of the first riders in

the Leadville race earlier this month toppled off his horse and had to be helped off the track as he shook his head in confusion.

Burri did well in the competition despite skiing with a separated shoulder from a hard spill during a race two weeks earlier.

“Wrong turn, taking a jump wrong, go down wrong. You could end your season. Then hospital bills rack up, but it’s just for the thrill of it,” said Burri, a 26-year-old from Meeker, Colorado. Another skier, Jason Decker, pulled out of the race at the last minute because he broke his collarbone in a crash during a recent contest. He sometimes wears a protective cup, a valuable lesson learned after being hit in the groin by a flying chunk of snow flung by a horse’s hoof.

“It’s not uncommon that my hands are shaking a little bit even after all this time, because that horse’s nostrils are flaring and I’m about ready to grab a rope that’s attached to that saddle. And if I’m not ready to go, then things can go bad real quickly,” said Decker, a 43-yearold engineer from Pagosa Springs, Colorado, who has been skiing since he was 2 and skijoring for 14 years.

Savannah McCarthy, a competitive skijorer since she was 12, describes a similar nervous energy before she mounts her horse for a race. But once she is speeding down the course, her world goes silent.

“I don’t hear a thing when I’m running,” she said. “When it’s happening, you really don’t have time to think about anything. But when you get done, you’re like, ‘Holy cow, that was insane,’” said McCarthy, a 24-yearold financial broker from Durango, Colorado, who has won the Leadville race nine times. One of her more memorable moments was when her horse slipped, pulled back and head-butted her, breaking her nose. Then there was the time she lost control of her horse following a race and smashed into a minivan. AP

wants brands to be involved in a task force to help improve the physiological health of players.

“While female footballers in the UK have enjoyed great success at club and national level, they have done so wearing ill-fitting footwear. Few football boots designed for women are available, and those that do exist are rarely stocked or promoted by the UK’s leading high street sports retailers.”

The report said the issues go beyond professional level and called for schools to “drastically” improve teaching about girls’ physiology, including the menstrual cycle, when it comes to sport and exercise.

Again, kit, was an area of concern.

“There is overwhelming evidence that school PE and sports kit can have a devastating impact on girls’ confidence to participate in and enjoy school sport,” the report said.

By Leanne Italie

The Associated Press

NEW YORK—Happy 150th birthday, dear jockstrap. How far you’ve come from your modest but mighty days of protecting the precious parts of

messengers as they navigated the bumpy cobblestones of Boston.

Invented for that purpose in 1874 by CF Bennett, who worked for a company now known as Bike Athletic, the strappy little staple of yore has become a sex symbol of sorts with a reach well beyond the athletic world.

Fashion designers have fancied them up for catwalks and store shelves. Kristen Stewart recently pulled on a Bike jockstrap for the cover of Rolling Stone, earning barbs from some conservatives. Some athletes, both recreational and professional, still reach for one. And the jockstrap owes a debt to the gay men who have embraced it since the 1950s, when a hypermasculine aesthetic in gay fashion was in vogue.

“They’re very coquettish. They reveal, they conceal. It’s like a push-up bra,” said 53-year-old Andrew Joseph in New York.

While many athletes and others with a need to keep things safe and secure have traded out jockstraps for compression shorts and other teched-up alternatives, Joseph draws from his extensive collection to don one every day.

Sean McDougle, 55, a queer nudistnaturist in upstate New York, owns about 40 jockstraps.

“There’s a certain feeling of freedom,” he said. “I remember as a child the first time I wore one and thought, what is this thing? They give you this thing, you know? But the look and feel is just somehow really alluring.”

Guys, supporters are 150 years old!

JOCKSTRAP are all things to the people who love them. For some, they›re just utilitarian, part of the gear for sports and exercise. But for others, they’re comfy little secrets under clothes. They’re cheeky, two ways, with their buttexposing leg straps and wide waistbands and pouches peeping out from shorts and trousers. And they›re worn with or without leather gear at one of the world›s numerous bars that host jockstrap nights.

To date, Bike Athletic has sold more than 350 million jockstraps worldwide. Tom Ford, Versace, Calvin Klein, Thom Browne, Emporio Armani, Tommy Hilfiger and Savage x Fenty have put out jockstraps. Browne included them on the runway for his spring/summer 2023 menswear collection. So did the French label Egonlab. John Galliano showed fur coats and jocks in 2004. Four years later, Miuccia Prada had black, red and blue jockstraps peek out over waistbands of her menswear collection. Niche sellers are all over the internet and in queer boutiques.

“It’s evolved almost into kind of male lingerie at this point,” said Alex Angelchik, who bought Bike Athletic with other investors in 2019. “From the ‘70s through today, it became kind of a cult favorite within the gay community and expanded to the metrosexual urban community.”

Today, about 70 percent of Bike’s customers are gay men, he said. The company’s top seller is a jockstrap that’s been around since the beginning, the No. 10. It’s the one Stewart wore in the March issue of Rolling Stone. Kim Kardashian got there first, showing off a jockstrap in the September 2022, Americana-themed issue of Interview magazine.

Overall, Angelchik said he sells several million dollars worth of jockstraps

a year, primarily in boutiques and Urban Outfitters stores.

A SHORT HISTORY

LIKE so much in fashion, the jockstrap had obvious antecedents (the medieval codpiece among them), said Valerie Steele, director and chief curator of The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.

“Once it came in, it had the potential to become an eroticized piece of male underwear, which was unusual because it was really women’s underwear, predominantly, that became eroticized because women were thought of as, you know, THE sex and things were seen from the sort of heterosexual male viewpoint,” she said.

“But this period, in the late 19th century when the jockstrap was supposedly invented, was right when women’s lingerie was becoming much more elaborate,” Steele added. Working out of Chicago, inventor Bennett set out to solve a problem in Boston for its so-called “bicycle jockeys” when they rode on the city’s uneven streets. In that day, “loose britches” were the norm, offering little in the way of support.

From there, the lowly jockstrap found massive success as the men’s underwear industry grew.

The slip-in cup came later, as the little piece of fabric and elastic moved into the sports world, around the 1920s. Now, some compression shorts also can accommodate a cup, and help with chafing.

“I guess the biggest change is when I started playing, we had steel cups. In fact, I still have a couple of those around the house and my grandkids didn’t know what they were. Now they have made things a lot more comfortable for the players,” said baseball’s Bruce Bochy, the Texas Rangers man-

ager who guided his team to a World Series championship last year.

Nostalgia is in play, Angelchik said.

“When I first bought the brand, I talked to a lot of my cousins and friends, guys that were in their 50s, 60s, some of them in their 70s. I was shocked how many of these guys kept their jockstraps from high school and college, and still had them in a drawer or somewhere in a box,” he said.

The variations of jockstraps today are endless, said Timoteo Ocampo, a Los Angeles-based designer who sells them online and in boutiques around the globe. His company, Timoteo, puts out men’s underwear, swimwear and other clothing.

“There’s detachable fronts, zipper fronts, colors,” he said. “Some companies are doing diamond chains on their jockstraps.... People get very creative. It’s more personal and showing who they are and being proud of that.”

A DEBT TO GAY MEN

MARK MACLIPPO, an actor-singerdancer in New York, is a jockstrap enthusiast. In 10 years, he has raised nearly $400,000 for Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS, a nonprofit serving those in need in the theater industry around the US

He’s done that primarily through the auctioning of underwear, jockstraps included, for the organization’s annual Broadway Bares. Broadway Bares is a burlesque-esque show that features, you guessed it, jockstraps, along with other gear and lots of peekaboo nudity. Mackillop, who is gay and the show’s top fundraiser, also performs in it, wearing a jockstrap.

“Things like Kristen Stewart wearing a jockstrap are making them more mainstream,” he said. “But I know gay men are the reason that there is a jockstrap industry in the underwear world today.”

THE JOCKSTRAP SWAGGER

A TRAIN TO SAIGON

Scenes from the 20-hour, 1,186-kilometer ride from Da Nang, Vietnam

MARCH 10, 2024

JUST OLD-FASHIONED LOVE SONGS

Vintage sentiments amplify Rob Deniel’s chart dominance

Text & photos

By John Eiron R. Francisco

IF you haven’t found yourself lost in the enchanting lyrics of his song:

“Isasayaw ka sa ulap

At mag-uusap, hindi manghuhula Isasayaw ka sa ulap

Hindi hahayaang mahulog nang tuluyan…”

You might be the one of the few yet to be swept away by the ethereal charm of his music.

Meet Rob Deniel, a rising Filipino singersongwriter, whose soulful tunes have cast a spell on audiences nationwide.

His journey began on the digital stage with tracks like “Ulap” translates to “cloud” in english, and the song’s dreamy vibe captures feelings of longing and escape that became an anthem for a generation and has been streamed around 50 million times on Spotify and 22 million on YouTube, catapulting him into the spotlight.

Apart from the widely streamed “Ulap,” another standout in Rob’s official Spotify

y

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releases is his latest hit “Miss Miss.”

Released in December 2023, this catchy hit has resonated with many, accumulating over 6.2 million views on YouTube and 23 million streams on Spotify.

It’s safe to say that this song has made its mark in the musical scene.

The first thing that catches the listener’s attention is the intriguing title itself that sparks curiosity, leaving fans eager to discover the story behind the name.

But don’t let the title fool you—despite its theme of missing someone, the song maintains a playful rhythm that is both upbeat and retro-flavored pop that

acknowledges the quirks of romance, where the line between the romantic and comedic become blurred.

Love, after all, has its own way of surprising us, turning what seems like a straightforward romance into comedy at the end.

The third gem is none other than the soulful “Sinta,” with over 26 million streams on Spotify and over 8.8 million views on YouTube.

At its core, “Sinta” is a heartfelt ode to the beauty of love, a love that is willing to accept someone wholeheartedly, flaws and all.

It speaks to the depths of the human heart, where the desire to be with someone transcends rationality, and one is willing to wait patiently, even if it’s just for a fleeting moment of togetherness.

“Oh…ang tangi kong hiling Kahit sa panaginip na lang

Oh… I’ll take this as a chance

To give you all the time that you need, ohh

Sinta

Oh kay gandang umibig sa ’yo Ako’y maghihintay sa ’yong pagdating At tatanggapin kita”

Listening to “Sinta” is like experiencing a whirlwind of emotions. It evokes a sense of nostalgia and longing, accompanied by a surge of butterflies in the stomach as the context of the song unfolds.

It feels great when you know there’s someone willing to pursue you because they believe you’re worth it in the end.

transports listeners to a musical sweet spot.

It’s the kind of music that effortlessly weaves its way into your subconscious, which somehow makes it a perfect candidate for the elusive “last song syndrome.”

One comment on Rob’s official YouTube channel that it’s a refreshing take on romance which avoids the pitfalls of being overly cheesy or jeje (cringeworthy).

transpor It’s th weaves i which som for the e One c channel t which av or N ex t romantic rig ht sha ab out a an d im p

Next on the list is “RomCom,” a romantics-styled pop song with just the right shade of retro, and this song talks about a person’s newfound vulnerability and impatience in waiting to be with someone they deeply desire.

“Labis-labis akong nasasabik

Na makapiling ka na

Labis-labis ang mga halik

Nang matagpuan na kita…”

Many of us can relate to this romantic situation where the mere thought of being with our special someone fills us with excitement.

The lyrics echo the joy and impatience that arise when we miss our loved ones, making it a soundtrack for those moments when emotions run high.

And let’s be honest, who hasn’t found themselves in a situation that’s a bit “delulu” (delusional) at times? The track playfully

Next up is “Ang Pag-ibig” (The Love), with over 46 million streams on Spotify and just the title alone is enough to make your heart skip a beat.

Rob’s music effortlessly blends the timeless charm of late 50s and early 60s pop with a fresh, modern energy, captivating listeners of all generations.

The sentiment of “Ang Pag-ibig” tells a tale as old as time, a love story that unfolds with sincerity and passion reminiscent of classic romance.

It’s hard to pinpoint where Rob draws his inspiration for his music releases because every song he puts out is a gem. They’re incredibly soothing to listen to, and you can really feel the sincerity behind the messages in his songs.

Despite living in a modern world where influences constantly shift, his songs manage to strike a chord with many, making it easy for listeners to relate to.

Recently, Rob had a solo performance at the Aurora Music Festival in Greenfield District at Mandaluyong City, a special event partnered with FWD Insurance.

Based on the insurance company, this performance was just a taste of what the public has been requesting. Excitingly, they teased that the real big-time event will take place at the upcoming Clark Aurora Music Festival on April 6 and 7, 2024, at Clark Global City in Pampanga.

ANG GABING DI MALILIMUTAN

Looking back at Sugarfree’s Dramachine 20 years later

if people don’t remember who I am but when a song gets passed on from one generation to the next, then I think you’ve done your job,” Ebe professed.

Whether the audience came from Generation Z, Y, Z, or Alpha, Ebe said he does not see any difference when it comes to music appreciation.

“People just come to the show for the songs that’s how it’s always been,” he added.

Ebe recalled the time when he first saw the band IV of Spades (IVOS) in 2019, whom he then became friends with.

“ Pumasok sila sa room ko and then sabi nila , ‘Sir, alam mo ba high school pa lang pinapakinggan ka na namin?’” Ebe laughed after.

When asked who Ebe wants to collaborate with soon, he said, in a heartbeat, it would be Zild and Unique.

“ Kung matagal mo ng ginagawa to, napakalaking pasalamat mo na yung [If you’ve been doing this for a long time, you’ll be thankful that the] next generation is even better in some ways,” he said.

Ebe has previously worked with the “Mr. Pure Energy” Gary Valenciano and “Asia’s Songbird” Regine Velasquez. “Pop Princess” Sarah Geronimo remains on Ebe’s bucket list that he wants to collaborate with but it is Gary Granada who is his ultimate idol.

Text & photos

By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto

END of the day, I’m just some guy who wrote songs that made it.”

Every Filipino, no matter what age, has definitely heard of these songs they painstakingly related to at some point in their lives.

For some, it defines their generation; for others, it’s as if unearthing a precious gem they get to keep for a long time.

These songs are “Hari ng Sablay,” “Makita Kang Muli,” “ Wag Ka Nang Umiyak,” “Prom,” and so much more, written by Ebe Dancel, the former frontman of the Filipino rock band Sugarfree.

Before the 20th anniversary show of the band’s album Dramachine, Ebe sat down with writers and revealed that all of “this could have been a spectacular flop.”

Like a true “ hari ng sablay,” he recalled that 20 years ago, he lost his notebook where he had written six songs for Dramachine.

At that time, the band’s producers were Eraserheads’ drummer Raymund Marasigan and bassist Buddy Zabala who told Ebe to just not mind the noise and write again. Their faith in Ebe has led to the creation of Dramachine and the songs, such as “Sinta,” “Kwentuhan,” “Tulog Na,” “Kandila,” “Kwarto” and more.

Looking back

IT never crossed Ebe’s mind that the songs he wrote 20 years later would remain

relevant and timeless.

He said there are songs he wrote previously that he thought would be the “biggest hit” but it never panned out.

The acceptance of the audience, he pointed out, is subjective.

As a musician, he said, “As long as you’re happy with the result and that’s something that I can still sing until today, [then] I consider that to be an accomplishment,” Ebe mused.

“Not everyone gets to do this for a long time. Why I’m still here, sometimes, iniisip ko rin [I think about it],» he added.

“I had no idea how we did it [and] how why we did it. We just wanted to perform... It’s such a good ride and I think I speak for the band,” the former frontman stated.

Their anniversary show, he said, forces him to just go back and try to remember the things that happened in the past.

He was joined on stage by Sugarfree’s former drummer Mitch Singson to relive and bring the memories back for one night.

Playing music with Mitch again to a crowd mixed of coming from the past and present, Ebe said they have developed a “really really good relationship” even after the band’s split.

“Nobody even knows that we are still friends but we keep in touch,” Ebe said,

exchanging text messages and phone calls with Mitch from time to time.

During their performances at the rehearsals, Ebe shared that “it’s still the same old feeling that’s never going away.”

“When you’re friends for life, that’s what it does,” he added.

On to the next

EBE believes that their music continues to live on because of how it was passed on from one generation to the other as if inheriting an art.

He recalled receiving messages from the so-called Generation Z (Gen Z) now and then asking him, “You’re the singer of Sugarfree?”

Ebe said that some kids watch his shows with their parents and for him, it’s the best thing to see.

“Down the line, I don’t really care

This year, Ebe said he’s looking forward to moving out of the city again soon to start a family.

Having been born in the province of Isabela and moved to Manila in college, Ebe said he came to a point where he couldn’t even hear himself and everything that was going on.

For a long time, Ebe said he has set this goal aside having to choose a kind of life as a musician.

He also hinted at a possible album this year and a bigger show with an orchestra towards the end of the year or next year.

For now, Ebe is set to do a bar tour for the 25th anniversary of his career, which will kick off on March 9 at Balcony Music House.

“I started my career performing at small bars, and I think it’s time to do it again,” he said in an Instagram post.

No matter how small or big the crowd is, once Ebe and his band stand on the stage, they will never fail to make their audience feel things—happy, sad, hopeful.

Ebe, Mitch, and the band performed a total of 23 songs that night apart from the songs in the Dramachine album.

Ebe’s heartfelt “Bawat Daan,” passionate “ Wala Nang Hihilingin,” tear-jerking “Fade Away,” hopeful “Cuida,” Bossanova-turned “ Telepono,” and masochistic “Burnout” were performed as well. These, personally, are a favorite of mine.

The simple, honest, and all-consuming lyricism is poetry masterfully penned by Ebe Dancel as if he’s just writing in his diary at the end of the day.

Having to relive all the memories— the good and bad—I associated with Sugarfree’s songs back in high school during that night on February 3, was, indeed,  gabi na hindi malilimutan

A TRAIN TO SAIGON

Scenes from the 20-hour, 1,186-kilometer ride from Da Nang, Vietnam

Story & photos by Nonie Reyes

Editor’s Note: BusinessMirror photojournalist Nonie Reyes embarked on a recent visual journey to Vietnam. This is the first of a two-part series.

AFTERspending three beautiful days in Vietnam’s “City of Bridges,” Da Nang, I was ready to embark on a journey that I had always dreamed of—a 20hour train ride to the bustling city of Saigon.

I was filled with anticipation as I boarded the train, knowing that this voyage would be more than just a means of transportation.

It was an opportunity to explore new landscapes and cultures. My travel companion, Joel C. Paredes, and I settled into our bunk bed in coach Number 7 of the Reunification Express train. The rhythmic chug of the locomotive filled the air, reminding us of Vietnam’s resilience and unity. This train was a symbol of the nation’s history, having been around since the French colonial era.

We started the journey promptly at 3:30 pm on February 25, 2024, with provisions in hand. We had four boiled eggs, two bananas, corn, a liter of water, and banh mi infused with local spam. The train offered a diverse range of food options on board.

As we left Ga Da Nang station, we were

filled with excitement and nostalgia, leaving behind cherished memories and boundless anticipation. I took my trusty Sony RX100 M7 camera with me and ventured through the train’s various coaches. I embarked on a visual journey, capturing fleeting moments amidst the wobbly confines of the train.

The passengers I encountered had different expressions, each telling their own unique story of the journey. As the train moved forward, the landscape transformed like scenes from a moving tapestry, revealing the intricate beauty of Vietnam’s countryside. The camera lens served as a window to the soul of the land, allowing me to en-

capsulate the essence of Da Nang to Saigon in vivid snapshots. Despite the challenges of capturing moments in motion, I was able to rely on my camera’s quick and reliable autofocus. Every frame painted a story, resonating with the heartbeat of the nation, from verdant rice paddies to bustling villages.

As the rhythmic sway of the train lulled me into a trance, I found myself immersed in the vibrant tapestry of Vietnamese life. The camaraderie among passengers transcended language barriers, fostering a sense of empathy and connection that went beyond mere acquaintance.

And then we reached our stop in Saigon.

I said goodbye to the 1186-kilometer train ride with a grateful heart, knowing that the journey was not simply a passage from one destination to another. It was a transformative life experience, full of memories of laughter, contemplation, and camaraderie.

The memories that I took with me would continue to shape my perspective for years to come. This experience was an exploration of the human spirit, a celebration of unity amid diversity, and a testament to the timeless allure of the open road.

As the famous line of the Vietnamese to tourists goes, “ Tam biet hen gap lai lan sau.” That means, “Goodbye; until next time.”

New to riding a sleeper train? Here’s the best way to book tickets

AS more people reconsider how they travel on a warming planet, a small but growing contingent in Europe wants to switch from highemission, short-haul planes to more climate-friendly sleeper trains.

But for all the climate benefits—plus the enduring romance of overnight train journeys—it’s not always simple building a vacation around them.

Several national railways and private operators have moved in to meet the rising demand, and the result is a patchwork of overnight routes sold at over 30 different websites. Many routes may not run every day, and online ticket aggregators don’t include all countries that have night trains.

“I’ve always gone around on trains and boats and buses, so it was normal for me,” said Cat Jones, founder of the flight-free travel agency Byway. “But friends would say, ‘Oh, that sounds amazing, but no way am I going to plan all that.’”

Sleeper train advocates, however, say the experience and convenience of riding the rails makes them worth any booking difficulty. With patience and a few tips, you’ll never have to deal with airport security lines in the middle of your European holiday.

Decide how much privacy you need

NIGHT trains’ configuration varies by operator, line and carriage. Many trains have a car or two with traditional upright seats selling for as little as 19 euros, but they recline and are much more spacious than an airplane seat.

Other carriages have sleeper cabins with anywhere from one to six beds, which likely fold up when not in use. It’s possible to book an entire cabin for a family or group of friends, but you’ll pay extra.

Sarah Marks, a frequent sleeper train traveler from London, said she was ner-

vous the first time sharing a cabin, but ultimately found it was a great way to meet like-minded travelers. “It’s quite an intimate experience,” she said. “But hand over heart, every single one has been really nice and actually enhanced my experience.”

Plan to book in advance, but not too far ahead

BECAUSE most rail companies use dynamic pricing, as airlines do, the price of a ticket likely will rise as the date approaches.

But if you search for tickets now for summer travel, chances are you won’t see the routes available. Many railways do not open ticket sales until two or three months in advance. Several factors influence the timing, but it’s mostly because track maintenance usually is scheduled overnight to minimize commuter disruption.

“With sleeper trains that’s tricky to

plan around,” Smith said, noting that he often hears concerns from those who like to plan their trips several months in advance.

Be flexible

THE most popular routes, such as Paris to Berlin, can sell out or become prohibitively expensive for some travelers during peak times. Rather than be deterred, travelers should think of rail travel as breaking the mold of point-to-point round trips, said Jones.

“If what people want is not available on that day, do a daytime train and we’ll put you on another sleeper somewhere else,” she said. Because Europe’s rail network is so extensive, there are many ways to get from point A to point B and back again, maybe returning through a city you might not have considered visiting.

“By relying on that network effect,” she said, “there’s always an amazing option as long as you’re flexible.” AP

“I TOOK my trusty Sony RX100 M7 camera with me,” writes the author, “and ventured through the train’s various coaches.”