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A SPYDER surface-to-air missile system is seen at the Changi Airbase in Singapore, February 10, 2018. NINLAWAN DONLAKKHAM | DREAMSTIME.COM

Amid China’s territorial ‘intrusion,’ PHL scrambles to beef up defense capabilities

‘UMBRELLA COVER’

T

By Rene Acosta

HE military’s continuing effort to strengthen its defense capabilities is expected to shore up this year and the next with the highly anticipated delivery of Israeli-made ground-based air defense system and missile-capable gunboats.

The Philippine Air Force is expected to get hold of the Spyder (or Surface-to-Air Python and Derby) air defense system before the end of the year, which will give the country its first ever umbrella cover and response against aerial attacks.

“We haven’t received any notice from Israel that it will be affected. We’re hoping that it will not be affected,” said Department of National Defense (DND) spokesman Arsenio “Popong” Andolong, referring to both the delivery of the Spyder project and Israel’s current conflict with Hamas.

He said the acquisition of the Israeli-made air defense system is on “contract implementation” for this year, with the delivery arranged previously by December.

Variants

THE Spyder, built by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, has two variants, the “MR” and “SR,” and Andolong declined to disclose at the moment which variant is being acquired by the Air Force. One of the variants, the MR, makes up Israel’s “iron dome,” which the Israeli military is using to intercept rocket fire from Hamas with reported 90-percent accuracy.

Still, Andolong hinted that it may be the other feature that may be coming to the Philippine military, as the iron dome is solely exclusive to the Israelis.

A BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile, produced by Russian-Indian joint venture BrahMos Aerospace Pvt. Ltd., on display at the International Aviation and Space Salon in Moscow, August 24, 2015. IGOR DOLGOV | DREAMSTIME.COM

ANDOLONG: “It’s [an] important acquisition.

Our air defense has been neglected. It’s the first time that we will be having an air defense [system].”

Rafael is the same defense contractor that delivered the first missile project for the Philippine Navy courtesy of its Spike-ER (extended range) missiles. The latter have become the primary weapon of the Navy’s multipurpose attack craft, which are indigenously built.

If the Spyder surface-to-air missile defense system is delivered, the country will be joining India and Singapore among the countries that have already acquired the system. The Philippines is acquiring three batteries of the Spyder in the amount of P6 billion, including missiles, radar and command and control system.

‘Important’

THE system can shoot and inter-

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 47.9180

cept aircraft, drones, missiles and rockets.

The importance of having an air defense system cannot be overly emphasized, security officials say, as the country has never gotten hold nor acquired such weapon, leaving it indefensible in times of war.

“It’s important,” Andolong said. “Our air defense has been neglected. It’s the first time that we will be having an air defense [system].”

According to Andolong, the Spyder will not be the first air defense project for the country, as the military has also planned to acquire other but similar systems for its use, but not necessarily for the Air Force.

While he did not mention any other forms of surface-to-air defense, the DND has already set its sights on procuring the Indianmade BrahMos supersonic missile, for which the Philippine Army is the recipient. The onset of the Co-

vid-19 pandemic, however, has delayed the project a little bit.

Under the contract, four of the eight boats will be built in Israel, while the remaining four will be constructed at the Navy’s yard in Sangley Point, Cavite.

According to Andolong, both the Spyder and Shaldaq projects are included in the military modernization’s Horizon 2 program, while other bigger projects that would see the complete modernization of the military are programmed under the Armed Forces’ modernization’s Horizon 3.

He said Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana is hastening the completion of the lined-up projects, including other procurements—not only because the military needs them, but because he does want to be signing deals during the election season, when such may be construed as “midnight” contracts.

For maritime defense

ANDOLONG said a lot of acquisition projects for the military are still coming, and this would include the Israeli-made eight-missile-capable fast-attack interdiction craft.

The ships known as Shaldaqclass patrol boats will replace the ageing gunboats of the Navy, all of which the Navy has planned to decommission.

Andolong said the Shaldaq project is for contract implementation this year, and they haven’t received any official communication from its contractor on whether the delivery timeline is being moved.

Earlier, Navy Flag Officer in Command Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo said the boats’ contractor was scheduled to make its first delivery by December this year, but work stoppage as a result of the pandemic has forced a deferment to 2022.

n JAPAN 0.4406 n UK 68.0100 n HK 6.1730 n CHINA 7.4459 n SINGAPORE 36.0232 n AUSTRALIA 37.2275 n EU 58.6133 n SAUDI ARABIA 12.7778

Source: BSP (May 21, 2021)

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Netanyahu’s prospects bolstered amid Israel-Hamas fighting J

By Josef Federman | The Associated Press

during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

ERUSALEM—Israel is at war with Hamas, Jewish-Arab mob violence has erupted inside Israel, and the West Bank is experiencing its deadliest unrest in years. Yet this may all bolster Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Just over a week ago, the longtime Israeli leader’s political career seemed all but over. He had failed to form a coalition government following an indecisive parliamentary election, and his political rivals were on the cusp of pushing him out of office.

Now, as Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers wage their fourth war in just over a decade, Netanyahu’s fortunes have changed dramatically.

His rivals’ prospects have crumbled, Netanyahu is back in his comfortable role as “Mr. Security,” and the country could soon be headed for yet another election campaign that would guarantee him at least several

Unrest and outrage

more months in office.

The stunning turn of events has raised questions about whether Netanyahu’s desperation to survive may have pushed the country into its current predicament.

While opponents have stopped short of accusing him of hatching just such a conspiracy, they say the fact that these questions are being asked is disturbing enough.

Convenience?

“IF we had a government, security considerations would not be mixed with political considerations,” opposition leader Yair Lapid wrote on Facebook. “No

IN this May 19, 2021, file photo, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gestures as he shows a slideshow during a briefing to ambassadors to Israel at the Hakirya military base in Tel Aviv, Israel. Netanyahu’s political career seemed all but over, but now, as Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers wage war, Netanyahu’s fortunes have changed dramatically. His rivals’ prospects have crumbled, Netanyahu is back in his comfortable role as Mr. Security, and the country could soon be headed for yet another election campaign. AP

IN this March 14, 2021, file photo, people stand in front of an election campaign billboard for the Likud party showing a portrait of its leader Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and opposition party leader Yair Lapid, in Ramat Gan, Israel. AP/ODED BALILTY

one would ask themselves why the fire always breaks out just when it’s most convenient for the prime minister.”

Lapid appeared to be poised to make history early last week, saying he was wrapping up the final details of arranging a government that would end Netanyahu’s 12-year rule.

“In a few days, we should be able to swear in a new Israeli government that is functional and that is based on broad agreements and the common good,” he declared, hours before the war erupted.

The sudden outburst of fighting was the culmination of a series of events that have made it increasingly difficult, and maybe impossible, for Lapid to assemble his coalition.

His alliance was to include diverse groups that span the spectrum from rightwing to left-wing Jewish parties, as well as an Islamist party, unified by little more than their opposition to Netanyahu.

Such a coalition would make history. An Arab party has never officially been part of an Israeli governing coalition.

Netanyahu himself had courted the same Arab party when he was granted the first chance by Israel’s figurehead president to assemble a coalition government after the March 23 elections.

But as it became clear Netanyahu could not secure the required parliamentary majority, things began to heat up between Jews and Arabs in the contested city of Jerusalem, in large part due to the actions of the prime minister’s allies.

Israelis and Palestinians both claim east Jerusalem and its sensitive holy sites. These competing claims lie at the heart of their conflict and have repeatedly triggered violence.

The Cabinet minister in charge of police, a Netanyahu loyalist, authorized the closure of a popular gathering spot outside Jerusalem’s Old City used by Palestinians

WHEN protests broke out, heavyhanded Israeli police tactics led to days of unrest that peaked with police raids on the Al Aqsa Mosque.

The violent scenes caused outrage across the Muslim world.

At the same time, Jewish settlers pressed ahead with attempts to evict dozens of Palestinians from their homes in a nearby east Jerusalem neighborhood. Itamar Ben-Gvir, a leader of a racist antiArab party aligned with Netanyahu, temporarily set up what he called a “parliamentary office” in the neighborhood, further enraging residents.

Then, on May 10, in an event widely seen as a provocation, thousands of far-right flag-waving Israeli activists gathered for a planned march through the heart of the Muslim Quarter of the Old City to celebrate Israel’s capture of contested east Jerusalem in 1967.

At the last minute, the Israeli government ordered marchers to change their route, but by then it was too late. Hamas, saying it was protecting Jerusalem, launched a barrage of long-range rockets at the city, crossing an Israeli “red line” and sparking the war.

As the war intensified, violent clashes between Jews and Arab mobs erupted in cities across Israel. The violence also spilled over to the West Bank, where more than 20 Palestinians have been killed in stone-throwing demonstrations against Israeli security forces in recent days, according to Palestinian health officials.

In this fraught environment, it appears unlikely that Lapid will be able to cobble together a government by a June 2 deadline.

Naftali Bennett, a far-right politician and key partner, abandoned the talks last week after the fighting began. Mansour Abbas, the leader of the Arab party, suspended negotiations. He has said he will resume them if the fighting ends, but time is running out.

Lapid’s office says he will work until the last minute to try to form a government. If he fails, the country most likely will be plunged into an unprecedented fifth election in little over two years.

Diversion?

IT is a script that fits Netanyahu’s needs well and reinforces his image as a survivor.

The unrest has diverted attention away from his ongoing corruption trial, and Netanyahu is at his best when focused on security issues, projecting a calm and powerful demeanor in his frequent TV appearances.

Netanyahu has been desperate to remain in office throughout his trial, using the position to rally public support and lash out at police and prosecutors.

A new campaign would leave him in office until at least the new election this fall. It would also give him another chance at forming a friendlier coalition with his religious and nationalist allies that could grant him immunity from prosecution.

Gayil Talshir, a political scientist at Israel’s Hebrew University, said she did not think Netanyahu had conspired to keep himself in office. But she called him a master of manipulating events in his favor.

“I think he controlled how much oil he puts into the fire,” she said.

“From Netanyahu’s perspective, he’s looking only at his trial and his power base,” she added.

“This is where Israeli politics are at. It’s the political survival of this prime minister and not the public interest.”

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House appropriations panel OKs ₧405.6-B Bayanihan 3

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

T

he House Committee on Appropriations on Friday approved the proposed P405.6-billion Bayanihan to Arise as One Act, or Bayanihan 3.

The Bayanihan 3 under House Bill 8628, however, hurdled committee-level approval sans certification of availability funds from the Bureau of Treasury (BTr). But House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, one of the principal authors of the bill, defended the constitutionality of measure.

“Bayanihan 3 already meets the constitutional requirement that the proposal be supported by funds to be raised by revenue proposed in the same bill. The question of presentation of certification of availability of funds is ‘superfluous’ because the proposal meets the condition that a special appropriations bill be supported by funds…to be raised by corresponding revenue proposed therein. In fact, Sections 34, 35, and 36 of the proposal identify sources for funding the measure,” he explained.

During committee hearing, Treasury Director Dominick Mariano said the BTr is ready to issue a certification after finding excess revenues and new revenue sources.

“We are ready to certify the availability of funds, specially as pertains to excess revenues. Although, we should also note that we are in the middle of financing the budgetary requirements of this year. Given that we are still looking to revenue performance compared to the disbursement schedule we have for the year,” said Mariano.

A certification of available funds from the BTr is a constitutional requirement. Under Section 25 (4) of the 1987 Constitution, a special appropriations bill shall specify the purpose for which it is intended, and shall be supported by funds actually available as certified by the National Treasurer, or to be raised by a corresponding revenue proposed therein. “[However] we can only certify if there’s any excess revenues or if there is corresponding new revenue sources. We are also looking at the fiscal sustainability of the measure and we are maintaining a certain threshold of the deficit and not incurring any—or further adding—to our debt burden,” Mariano told lawmakers.

The Bayanihan 3 provides revenue provision in Section 34, which states that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) would be authorized to make additional direct provisional advances with or without interest to the national government. These direct advances would be used to finance expenditures, which are authorized by law, to address and respond to the Covid-19 situation in the country.

Section 35 of the bill would also mandate some government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) recommended by the Joint Executive-Legislative Bayanihan Council to increase their dividend remittances to help fund

the appropriations of the proposed measure.

Salceda also said other sources of revenue include the capital withdrawal from “obese” GOCCs, e-sabong and Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations taxes.

Help the poor

In comments after his defense in the panel, Salceda said that Bayanihan 3 introduces innovative methods of helping the poor and “building a stronger market-assisted social welfare state.”

“We are introducing, for the first time in Philippine policy if enacted, the concept of Universal Basic Income. P1,000 per Filipino, no ifs or buts. It avoids politicization.

The rich can freely return it if they want; after all, there are very few rich people in this country. Almost everybody is hurting,” Salceda pointed out.

Salceda also said that “as chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations,” he was not presented by the Executive with arguments requiring the full availability of P46.4 billion to fund Republic Act 9358, or the supplemental budget of 2006.

The supplemental budget included items such as relief for the Guimaras oil spill, aid for those affected by the Mayon eruption, and various other items not covered by the reenacted budget of the same year.

“The underlying assumption was that because there was a reenacted budget for the same year, the supplemental budget would be funded with proceeds from regular borrowing operations of the government and would cover the funding deficiencies of the government in the event that the 2006 national budget is unacted upon by Congress,” Salceda said.

“My submission, based on my experience as former appropriations chair, is that Bayanihan 3 already complies with the constitutional condition for special appropriations bills, and can thus be approved by the House,” he added.

Fiscally responsible

Salceda added that the Bayanihan 3 is more fiscally responsible than past supplemental funding measures.

“In fact, the proposal works harder to meet the fiscal costs of new spending one-to-one that the 2006 supplemental appropriations, as it at the very least attempts to be as close to deficit neutral as possible,” he pointed out.

The House tax chair, however, emphasized the need to keep an eye on the country’s finances.

“I reiterate the need for continued fiscal vigilance as the Philippines is already at the front end of the pack for deficit spending in Southeast Asia. Although we can accommodate some expansion in deficit spending coming from a low pre-pandemic debt stock [with an all-time low of 39.6 percent of GDP in 2019], deficit spending should not be a substitute for full recovery through an effective national vaccination strategy and a safe reopening of the economy,” he said.

Meanwhile, House Committee on Economic Affairs Chairman Sharon Garin said the bill’s committee report would get her committee’s final approval on Monday.

After the panel approval, she said, the bill would be immediately endorsed for plenary for another round of deliberations.

The lower chamber is eyeing to approve the Bayanihan 3 before its sine die adjournment on June 3.

The bill

The P405.6-billion Bayanihan 3 is divided into 3 phases. Phase 1 would amount to P167 billion, Phase 2 with P196 billion and Phase 3 with P42.6 billion.

Under the substitute bill, P108 billion would be allocated for the implementation of a cash subsidy program of P1,000 for every Filipino under Phase 1, with another P108 billion in standby funds under Phase 2.

Also, around P12 billion shall be appropriated for assistance for households in crisis situations under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). A P12-billion standby fund shall be appropriated for Phase 2 and P6-billion standby fund for Phase 3 of the AICS program.

The Small Business Wage Subsidy program shall be continued and expanded with a direct funding of P8 billion, and stand-by funds worth P8 billion for Phase 2 and P4 billion for Phase 3 to assist micro, small and medium enterprises.

To provide temporary employment to displaced workers, around P10 billion shall be appropriated for the implementation of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Displaced/ Disadvantaged Workers, Covid-19 Adjustment Measures Program, and Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong Program, while P10 billion shall be appropriated as stand-by funds for Phase 2 and P5 billion for Phase 3.

Assistance to the agri-fishery sector will receive a total of P30 billion worth of standby funds to finance programs and interventions toward food security and farmer income security and welfare.

The bill also allocates P3 billion for medical assistance to indigent patients, and standby funds worth P3 billion each for Phases 2 and 3.

A total of P54.6 billion shall be allocated to the Pension and Gratuity Fund for retired military and the policemen, while P5.6 billion shall be appropriated to assist the Department of Education in the implementation of its digital education, information technology, and digital infrastructure and alternative learning modalities as part of pandemic response and transition to a new normal.

Standby funds worth P5 billion each shall be allocated for the implementation of the Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act and Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act, both of which are intended at providing national nutrition.

Saturday, May 22, 2021

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Senator urges DOE to bare Malampaya takeover plan

I

By Butch Fernandez

nvoking the country’s “energ y security,” Senator Sher w in Gatchalian pressed the Department of Energy (DOE) to bare plans for the Malampaya power project following divestment of its operator Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (SPEX) in the face of imminent expiration of Petroleum Service Contract (SC) 38 for the Malampaya deep water gas-to-power project.

Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy, stressed in a news statement issued on Friday the need to ensure the “future of its operations and the continuous supply of energy” in the country.

“Given the significant role that the Malampaya project plays in the Philippines’s energy security, it is imperative that the DOE apprise the Filipino public on Malampaya’s operations—the remaining natural gas reserves and the government’s plans for continuous

energy supply, likewise on the pending request for the extension of SC No. 38,” the senator said.

In filing Resolution No. 724, the Senate mandated Gatchalian’s Committee on Energy to look into the status of the sale of the stake of SPEX and the basis for DOE’s decision if it approves the sale. Moreover, he added, the inquiry will inform the panel on the DOE’s direction amid the looming expiration of Malampaya’s service contract barely three years from now.

Gatchalian recalled that last September, the SPEX announced plans to put up for sale its 45-percent interest in the Malampaya project.

At the same time, he noted that Chevron Malampaya LLC, the other holder of the 45-percent interest, sold its stake to UC Malampaya Philippines in March last year, adding that completing the consortium is the state-run Philippine National Oil Company-Exploration Corp. (PNOC-EC) which has the minority interest of 10 percent.

The senator affirmed “it is critical for the DOE to ensure that whoever gets hold of Shell’s interest should have, not just similar experience or capacity, but more so the technical, financial and legal capability to operate the Malampaya project or to be a service contractor.”

Moreover, Gatchalian reminded it is incumbent on the DOE to ensure that the transfer of interests of the members of the consortium should “go through a comprehensive review and evaluation” pursuant to the requirement imposed by existing Presidential Decree (PD) 87.

He further affirmed the Malampaya Project became the country’s “most significant oil and gas upstream development” providing 19.16 percent of the country’s power supply, as well as a “crucial source of income” for the government with a total net national government share amounting to P261,681,610,752.59 since it began commercial operations in 2002.

IATF allows 30 percent capacity expansion for religious gatherings

By Samuel P. Medenilla

M

ore people can now attend religious gatherings after Metro Manila mayors agreed to expand the venue capacity for such events.

In an interview with PTV on Friday, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said that the appeal of religious groups to expand allowable capacity was discussed during the last Inter-Agency

Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

He noted the IATF gave the discretion to local government units (LGU) on condition such does not exceed 30 percent allowable venue capacity.

In response to the said authorization, the Metro Manila Council has allowed religious gatherings at 30 percent venue capacity, according to Roque.

He said similar discretion

was also given to LGUs in other areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions, including Laguna, Bulacan, Rizal and Cavite.

To recall, the IATF placed the National Capital Region (NCR) and its nearby provinces under GCQ with heightened restrictions last week, wherein the venue capacity for religious gatherings are limited to only 10 percent that took effect on May 15 and expected to end on May 31, 2021.

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Saturday, May 22, 2021

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Gaza cease-fire ‘not enough,’ Palestinian minister says Foundation U raises $1B to fight NITED NATIONS—The Palestinians’ top diplomat said a cease-fire in Gaza will enable 2 million Palestinians to sleep Thursday night but it’s “not enough at all” and the world must now tackle the difficult issues of Jerusalem’s future and achieving an independent Palestinian state.

Riad Al-Malki told reporters on the sidelines of an emergency meeting of the UN General Assembly on the conflict between Israel and Gaza’s militant Hamas rulers that while a cease-fire is good it doesn’t address “the core issue” that started the violence.

He cited the “desecration” by Israeli soldiers and settlers of the AlAqsa mosque, Islam’s third holiest site, and the Israeli policy of evicting Palestinians from their homes in the city’s different neighborhoods, including Sheikh Jarra.

Israel captured east Jerusalem, along with the West Bank and Gaza— territories the Palestinians want for their future state—in the 1967 Mideast war. Israel annexed east Jerusalem in a move not recognized internationally, and views the entire city as its capital.

The Palestinians view east Jerusalem—which includes major holy sites

for Jews, Christians and Muslims —as their capital, and its fate lies at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and has triggered serious violence in the past.

Al-Malki accused Israel of intending to erase the multi-cultural, multi-religious character of the city of Jerusalem saying, “We are opposed to that, we reject that, and we’ll keep working to prevent that from happening.”

Thursday’s assembly meeting began with speeches from a dozen ministers, almost all from Arab and Muslim countries, and is eventually expected to hear over 100 speakers.

He said the overwhelming messages from the meeting was not only “condemning Israeli atrocities and crimes” in Gaza but reminding the world of the need to care for and defend Jerusalem and to work for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

“Today’s events here in the General Assembly and what has been happening has refocused the attention again on the issue of Palestine,” Al-Malki said.

He said Israel’s normalization of relations with some Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, doesn’t waive the questions of the future of Jerusalem and a Palestinian state.

“To the contrary, we see today that the issue of Palestine and the Palestinian question, the issue of Jerusalem and the occupation of Jerusalem, is the most important issue for all Muslims and Arabs and the world alike,” Al-Malki said.

“We want to see the Palestinian people free and also living in their

own independent Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital,” he said.

The last direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians took place in 2014. The Palestinians broke off relations with former US President Donald Trump’s administration in December 2017 after he recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Trump further angered the Palestinians by presenting a two-state peace plan that would have required significant Palestinian concessions on territory and sovereignty, moved the US Embassy there from Tel Aviv, cut off aid to the Palestinian Authority and rescinded a longstanding legal opinion that Israeli settlement activity is illegitimate under international law.

President Joe Biden won initial but cautious plaudits from Mideast analysts when he rejected the Trump administration’s unabashedly proIsrael stance and tentatively embraced the Palestinians by restoring aid and diplomatic contacts. But he also retained key elements Trump’s policies, including on settlements.

In the past two weeks, the United States blocked four attempts by the UN Security Council to demand an end to the Israeli-Hamas conflict, saying a statement could interfere with diplomatic efforts. US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told Thursday’s assembly meeting, “I don’t believe there is any country working more urgently or fervently toward peace.”

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters after Israel and Hamas agreed to a cease-fire that Israel and the Palestinians have a responsibility to observe it and “to

start a serious dialogue to address the root causes of the conflict.”

Whether a serious effort takes place to try to revive efforts to end the decades-old Palestinian-Israeli conflict remains to be seen.

Guterres underscored the UN’s commitment to work with Israelis and Palestinians to return to peace negotiations, including through the Quartet of Mideast mediator—the UN, US, European Union and Russia.

US Ambassador Linda ThomasGreenfield said the Biden administration is “committed to working with other members of the international community over the long term to create the conditions for a lasting and sustainable peace.”

Israel’s ambassador to the UN and the US, Gilad Erdan, accused the General Assembly of “hypocrisy” on Thursday for supporting and not condemning Hamas, which doesn’t accept Israel’s right to exist.

He referred to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s announcement in late April that the first Palestinian elections in 15 years would be delayed. Abbas cited a dispute with Israel to call off a vote in which his fractured Fatah party was expected to suffer another embarrassing defeat to the Hamas militant group.

Hamas called the move a “coup.”

“If this institution strengthens Hamas, it will make the possibility of Hamas replacing the Palestinian Authority much more likely and eliminate the chance of future dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians,” Erdan said. “There is nothing to discuss with a terror organization committed to your annihilation, nothing.” AP

anti-Asian hate

A

foundation launched by prominent Asian American business leaders earlier this month said Thursday it has raised more than $1 billion to support Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities.

The announcement from The Asian American Foundation, or TAAF, came minutes after President Joe Biden signed legislation aimed at curtailing the rise in hate crimes against Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in the United States.

Sonal Shah, the foundation’s president, and TAAF board members were also at the White House, where they briefed administration officials, including domestic policy adviser Susan Rice.

They discussed how the foundation plans to spend the $1.1 billion in donations to fight back against hate crimes directed at these communities, according to a statement from the foundation. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris dropped by the meeting to express their support, the foundation said.

Thursday’s news builds on the foundation’s prior announcement that it had raised $300 million from its board members and other donors.

More donors have since pledged contributions to its “AAPI Giving Challenge,” an initiative to bring additional funding to Asian American and Pacific Islander organizations that have traditionally been neglected in philanthropy. AP

Fungal epidemic, sick babies: Worst of Covid pandemic plays out in India

R

are, life-threatening Covid-19 complications appear to be escalating in India, creating a fresh wave of critical medical challenges in a country that has already seen short supplies of oxygen and other basic needs.

Pharmacists are warning of a shortage of a crucial drug to treat an invasive fungal infection preying on patients with weakened immune systems and diabetes. An uptick in cases across India of a dangerous inflammatory syndrome in children— also seen in the US and Europe at the height of their outbreaks—is a harbinger of a potentially deadly spate of the pediatric illness in the coming weeks.

Once considered a rare “opportunistic” fungal infection in Covid-19 patients, mucormycosis has emerged as a dramatic bellwether for a raft of secondary ailments symptomatic of India’s inability to contain the world’s fastest-growing coronavirus outbreak. The government on Wednesday declared it a notifiable disease.

There are as many as 1,500 patients with this condition, known locally as “black fungus,” in Maharashtra alone, with the state government expecting 200 new cases every week. Some 90 cases there have been fatal, NDTV reported.

“Mucormycosis is part of a cascade of secondary medical problems erupting in India that have been rare or non-existent in other places,” said Catherine Bennett, chair in epidemiology at Deakin University in Melbourne. “The magnitude of the epidemic and the inability to provide adequate care for Covid patients means India is seeing a lot of cases, adding another, significant dimension to the Covid burden.”

India has so far reported 26 million Covid-19 cases, with half occurring in the past two months alone. That’s likely to be a vast underestimate, with many cases likely being missed given India’s extensive rural hinterland amid overwhelming demand on clinics and hospitals.

“The second wave has taken us into uncharted territories,” said Randeep Guleria, director of New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences, one of the country’s top hospitals, in an interview.

“We knew there would be a second wave given the international experience, but didn’t expect such ferocity. It was like wildfire.”

Patients treated for the coronavirus infection are often given a plethora of unnecessary medications in India, including antibiotics, antivirals and steroids, researchers said. This can trigger or exacerbate other complications in some cases.

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Saturday, May 22, 2021

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Thailand extends state of emergency as coronavirus cases and deaths soar

T

hailand will extend a nationwide state of emergency to tackle the coronavirus pandemic for another two months as the deadliest phase of the outbreak to hit the nation so far shows no signs of easing.

The Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration, headed by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha, on Friday approved the extension of the emergency through the end of July, according to spokesman Taweesilp Visanuyothin. The decree, which allows the government to streamline disease-control plans without multiple approvals from various agencies, has been in place since March last year.

Thailand is battling the third wave

of outbreak that has quadrupled the nation’s case count in just seven weeks, with deaths jumping sevenfold. The wave of infections, which started in Bangkok’s night entertainment venues in early April, has now spread to crowded communities, construction camps and prisons, with dozens of clusters in the capital.

Thailand has administered 2.5 million shots and its pace of vaccinations has been slow due to limited supply of

An almost deserted area on Sathorn road in the central business district of Bangkok, Thailand, on May 13. Thailand plans to inoculate the majority of the adult population in Bangkok in the coming months to quell a flareup in virus infections that’s made the capital city the epicenter of the nations biggest Covid-19 outbreak. Bloomberg jabs. The nation of almost 70 million people has so far focused on health care and frontline workers, and residents in regions that have an ongoing outbreak, or are preparing to reopen for vaccinated tourists this year. But the government has added workers to a priority list to restart the economy.

Thailand has slashed its growth

outlook for this year, citing the delay in reopening borders to foreign tourists and slow pace of vaccination. The National Economic and Social Development Council said this week that the economy may expand between 1.5 percent and 2.5 percent this year, less than the 2.5 percent-3.5 percent forecast in February. Bloomberg News

ExportUnlimited BusinessMirror

A6 Saturday, May 22, 2021

DTI tags Cagayan Valley crops with ‘bright’ export potentials

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HE Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Philippine Trade and Investment Centers (PTIC) in Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan identified high-value crops from the Cagayan Valley (Region 2) with significant export potential to East Asia during a discussion on opening up the agricultural production of Cagayan Valley to global markets on Tuesday, May 11, 2021.

The PTIC, the representative office of DTI abroad, together with the DTI-Region 2 and Department of Agriculture (DA) -Region 2, gathered in a webinar to present export opportunities that harness Cagayan Valley’s strength as a predominantly agricultural region.

“Our bountiful Cagayan Valley has a lot to offer, not only here in the Philippines, but probably in other countries as well. Let us not be contented with our current markets; let us not simply be the suppliers to exporters, but rather be the exporters,” Leah Pulido-Ocampo,

regional director for DTI-Region 2 said during a webinar on market trends and opportunities for Region 2 high-value crops. “Let us banner our agricultural prowess to the rest of the world. Together, we will transcend international borders until we can say that Region 2 is ready to see the world.”

More than a third of Cagayan Valley region’s land area is dedicated to agricultural production. It is the country’s leading producer of corn and second in palay production, Carol Pasion, agricultural specialist for DA-Region 2, reported. Ba-

nanas, pineapples, mung beans, purple yam, and citrus are among the region’s high-value crops that provide high net returns per hectare of land.

In Japan, mung bean is a “milliondollar business,” according to Kenneth T. Yap, commercial attaché of PTIC-Tokyo. “You don’t have to be a very big farmer to export mung bean.

We just need to consolidate what we have in the region.”

To successfully export to developed markets like Japan, it is important to craft a compelling narrative around Cagayan Valley. “If we could go on creating a niche market, say for Region 2 bananas, I’m sure we have a ready story to tell from Region 2 and that would make a lot of difference,” said Pit Laquian, agriculture attaché of DA. “Even if we don’t export, like

Dole or Sumifru, I think we can create a brand for Region 2.”

Laquian added that they are exploring non-traditional channels to bring Philippine products to Japan, such as making tropical fruits available in the country’s wide network of vending machines.

Of the region’s high-value crops, only pineapples and mung beans are allowed into Taiwan since there are export bans for other products, explained Michael Alfred V. Ignacio, director of Commercial Affairs of PTIC-Taipei. He reminds aspiring exporters that branding and positioning are critical to gaining a foothold in a sophisticated market like Taiwan.

For Singapore, there is a significant opportunity to export agricultural products since the island

state imports 90 percent of its food, according to Katrina V. Banzon, officer-in-charge of PTIC-Singapore. In particular, exporters can look into supplying ingredients to Philippine food and beverage outlets that are already present in Singapore, such as Jollibee, Potato Corner, Carmen’s Best, and Tapa King. “There is [an] opportunity for you not to directly export to Singapore but probably to go through these brands as an ingredient or component to their food that will be eventually exported to Singapore,” she said.

The same can be said for Hong Kong which imports 95 percent of its food materials due to limited arable land. With Hong Kong importing $3.65 billion of fresh fruits in 2019, there is great room for worldclass Philippine fruits to gain market share, said Atty. Roberto B. Mabalot Jr., vice consul-Commercial of PTICHong Kong. “Cherries, grapes, and oranges are the top 3 [fresh fruit imports]. Durian is the top 4…We really hope we can also bring in our durians to Mainland China and Hong Kong,” he said.

Similarly, high-value crops are the second-biggest group of Philippine exports to South Korea, said Jose Ma. S. Dinsay, commercial counsellor of PTIC-Seoul. He identified bananas, pineapples, and mangoes as local agricultural champions commanding

significant market share.

Agnes Perpetua R. Legaspi, assistant director of DTI-Export Marketing Bureau (EMB), shared how the EMB supports exporters through business matching, export trade complaints handling, exporter accreditation, market and product consultancy, outbound/inbound business missions, and knowledge processing solutions.

“Especially important for the Post at FTSC [Foreign Trade Service Corp.] and EMB is that we contribute to the gross domestic product [GDP] by increasing our exports. Because the metric is actually net export minus imports and it has been many many decades that we have been net importer as a country. We hope that you continue to support export by developing new products and services,” she said.

In the closing remarks, Winston T. Singun, provincial director of DTIIsabela, emphasized the importance of being export-ready before venturing beyond national borders.

Organized by DTI-Region 2, the webinar was attended by approximately 250 participants on Zoom and Facebook Live. The virtual event is envisioned to drive the interest of agri-stakeholders from Region 2 in exporting and level up the region’s position in the global value chain.

Filipino export products featured in Maison&Objet and More curations Overseas Pinoys in Canada urged

By Roderick L. Abad

to invest in PHL ‘makapuno’ trade

Contributor

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HILIPPINE-M A DE home furniture and crafts join other world-class pieces available in global digital platform Maison&Objet and More (MOM) that were selected as favorites by international decor and design professionals.

The Cheque bench, a creation of FAME+ exhibitor Zarate, were among the creative items handpicked by Andrea Marcante and Adelaïde Testa, founders of top Italian design studio MarcanteTesta that was cited by T: The New York Times Style Magazine as one of Italy’s most innovative architecture firms. Designer Jim Zarate-Torres and partner-artisans transformed this metal seat into light, and delicate piece with its orange and mint powder-coated steel.

On the other hand, the 3- and 5-legged tables by Zacarias1925, in collaboration with designer Migs Rosales, made it to the list of awardwinning principal and creative director Patti Carpenter of carpenter+ Company/Trendscope, for their fanciful take on surfaces featuring multicolor weaves handwoven by master artisans.

O Meanwhile, the paper clay vase by Indigenous was one of the three design and decorative-products chosen from the MOM site by Nina Tulstrup and Jack Mama, founders of Studiomama based in East London. Solid and lightweight, it’s made out of abaca and cogon grass with natural starch.

Selected under “The collector’s mindset,” the Sol Side Table by Stonesets International highlights sleek and unembellished pieces, each with a contrasting color to slice through the austere form.

Included in “Creating stories” segment, Hacienda Crafts’ Layag Hanging Lamp conveys the story of the fishing villages of Manapla, where local folks learn how to weave fishnets at a young age and, in turn, pass the knowledge down to their children. The concentric rattan rings bound by cotton cord

are woven into a hanging lamp and called layag, which is the Tagalog word for sail.

According to Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (Citem) Executive Director Pauline S. Juan, the Philippine participation in trade shows under the “new normal” is a continuous initiative to build the agency’s and its stakeholders’ digital capacities.

“We’re very excited to be facilitating trade and export, primarily done in the digital sphere by providing our partners with the necessary content,” she said.

Joining the first-ever edition of MOM last year, the Philippines caught the attention of trend forecasting authority WGSN, as well as untapped audience segments in physical trade shows in the country, such as buyers and media from Brazil.

Juan added that through content

production, where preparations were made while the country was in various iterations of community lockdowns, Citem and FAME+ exhibitors were able to produce quality digital storefronts. This led to exhibitors realizing the importance of content.

“Especially on digital and it’s the flick of a finger and you have half a second to capture potentially thousands of eyeballs, arresting photos are a must,” she said.

Led by the Citem, the nation’s participation in MOM is part of the Department of Trade and Industry’s fulfillment of its export promotion mandate, supporting and empowering local designers, brands, and micro, small and medium enterprises as they step on to the global stage.

FAME+ is the digital trade and community platform launched by Citem for the country’s home, fashion, and lifestyle sector.

VERSEAS Filipinos (OFs) in Canada were encouraged to support makapuno (coconut sport) farmers in the Philippines as a way to boost countryside development, expand opportunities for overseas investments, and transform the national coconut industry.

“The coconut, known to be the tree of life, remains to be one of the most important crops of the country. It is the third most dominant crop after rice and corn. Coconut products are among the country’s major exports. It is a very interesting crop with exciting business opportunities surrounding it, including makapuno, which some describe as a mutant coconut,” said His Excellency Rodolfo D. Robles, Philippine Ambassador to Canada during the opening remarks at a recent Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan (TNK) webinar.

Makapuno is considered a “genetic aberration” of the coconut with a full and thick endosperm. Unlike the regular coconut, makapuno has no water content but can serve as a high-value product. It’s used to flavor ice creams, cakes, candies, and pastries, while the liquid endosperm contains galactomannan, which has pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications.

Despite its wide application, Philippine makapuno exports have been on a steady decline from 2011 to 2019 in part because of competitive pressures from Thailand and Indonesia, said Erlene C. Manohar, deputy administrator of Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA).

To enhance the competitiveness of the local makapuno industry and plug the supply reaching 3,000 metric ton/ year supply gap, Manohar called for inter-agency convergence in the creation of an embryo-cultured makapuno road map with the PCA, the Department of Agriculture (DA), the local government units, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

“Makapuno means full. It is full of opportunities and hope for the Filipino farmers. Let us support this program—an agri-business investment platform for [Overseas Filipino Investors] OFIs. Get involved for the fulfillment of the industry vision,” she said.

DA, for its part, said it stands ready to support aspiring and existing agrientrepreneurs through its technical mentoring services, loan packages, and market linkages, assured Dr. Josyline Javelosa, Agriculture Attaché of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C.

OurTime BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Angel R. Calso • Saturday, May 22, 2021 A7

Farm boy shows agriculture is a profession of hope

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By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

: @brownindio

ixty-two-year-old Vicente Cometa of San Antonio, Quezon is proud of his farming roots.

At the young age of 12, Cometa was already working in the fields, helping his father till the land.

After trying his luck overseas, working as assistant cook in Taiwan for two years, Cometa decided to go back not only to his roots but also armed with a mission to help retired farmers earn and be productive even during their sunset years.

He started the ball rolling by planting cacao in a 3-hectare land leased to him by a businessman living overseas. To enhance his knowledge on farming and cacao planting, Cometa approached the regional offices of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Science and Technology for technical assistance. His vision is to develop high-quality cacao-based products, such as tablea and chomeric (a combination of cacao and turmeric). To have a stronger voice, he established the San Antonio Cacao Growers Association. “We initially had six members when we started in 2015. Now we have grown to 100 members,” Cometa said.

The regional office of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) also

gave him coconut and cacao seeds.

Moreover, the Region 4A office of DA provided the cacao farmers with an office they can use for business transactions. Cometa said the DOST responded to their request when it gave them a processing machine for their cacao products. This means they can now make the cacao tablea and the chomeric product finer and tastier. “We want the products to be perfect as much as possible,” he said.

Cometa said the association is currently looking for a bigger vehicle to enable them to bring more products to the market.

He said that he initially encountered a big challenge in establishing the association because the farmers had a bad experience when they earlier joined a cooperative. It turned out that the cooperative was mismanaged, and the officials suddenly disappeared, bringing with them the membership fees of about P30,000.

He said the regional office the Department of Agriculture gave them the needed boost when they helped

Vicente and Beth Cometa are helping retired farmers and women in San Antonio, Quezon, become economically productive.

Cometa and the farmers sell their products at Waltermart malls. For Cometa, he was given a slot in Waltermart Makati. He said Waltermart Makati is a good site as they have managed to develop a niche customer base. Moreover, it is part of Waltermart’s corporate social responsibility program to help Filipino farmers and MSMEs to sell their produce.

Cometa said the association mem-

bers are grateful to the management of Waltermart for giving micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) like them the opportunity to sell their products in their stores. This helped them expand their market for their products.

Cometa, who has been the president of the association since 2015, got the nod of the municipal agricultural officer to support the farmers

by helping them sell their products.

The association, according to Cometa, hopes to acquire a mediumsized all-purpose utility vehicle to enable them to bring more products to the market.

“My wife and I are doing our best to help the retired farmers that still want to be productive in their twilight years. We are also active in organizing the women in the commu-

nity to pursue economic activities and help them become productive,” he said.

Since they are directly sourced from the farm, the products of San Antonio Growers Association are guaranteed fresh. Among their best-selling products are the cacao tablea, chomeric (a combination of cacao and tumeric), camote, potatoes and ginger.

Aside from running the affairs of the association, Cometa also buys some of the produce of the members.

“Right now, I am still recovering my investment in this business,” he pointed out.

From Mondays to Thursdays, the Cometas are busy processing cacao and buying the produce of the members that they will resell to the markets in Makati and the Calabarzon. “We hope that this opportunity to sell our produce here in Makati will attract the big buyers,” he said.

The Cometa couple has established a loyal following from many shoppers in nearby areas. The buyers, including this writer, agreed that the products sold by the Cometa couple are of good quality. For people who want to avoid sugar but still crave for dessert, there is the cacao tablea that can also be served as a beverage.

The vegetables they sell are fresh as they are all newly harvested from the farm.

“I am happy for the positive response of our customers here in Waltermart Makati. We hope to reach out to more markets in Metro Manila to benefit our members and help them earn more,” Cometa said.

A8 Saturday, May 22, 2021

Education BusinessMirror

Editor: Mike Policarpio

Filipina fashion design student rules global brand campaign tilt

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ILIPINO fashion design student Nina Elicaño captured top honors at the Mary Kay & ArtsThread Challenge 2020-21—an international competition which motivated young student-artists, budding communicators and marketers-inthe-making from all over the world to channel their visions for the nextgeneration brand campaign.

The prestigious contest was cohosted by Mary Kay Inc., an American cosmetics company dedicated to empowering women and families through various initiatives such as cancer-research support and protection of survivors of domestic abuse and violence; as well as ArtsThread, the global leading digital platform and creative launchpad representing more than 100 countries, some 850 design schools and over 300,000 students.

The latest edition of the Mary Kay & ArtsThread Challenge invited participants to create a 360-degree, omnichannel brand story with the goal to introduce core values, advocacies, and heritage of the beauty line to women ages 20 to 25. The entries had to

be complete with mood boards, concept statements and taglines that illustrate and articulate the project and its message.

Among the standout diverse proposals from around the globe, the “#daretobe” campaign of Elicaño—a third year student from the Fashion Design and Merchandising Program of the De La SalleCollege of Saint Benilde School of Design and Arts—bagged first prize and $2,000 in cash.

Tapping her learning from her Design Arts and Branding classes, she exhibited her strategic vision, style and professionalism as a creative thinker through an engaging proposition aiming to inspire women to champion the daring spirit of founder Mary Kay

TWICE at “THE:” Mapúa is among the world’s best higher learning institutions

Mapúa lands in global impact rankings, 2 years in a row ELICAÑO (left photo) and a vignette of her award-winning campaign

Ash herself.

“Ash dared to become a CEO, in a time where it was only acceptable for women to be housewives.... She let others know that they can dare to do the same,” Elicaño explained.

“In true fashion, this campaign empowers women to ask themselves: What can I dare to be?”

Tailor-fit for its “techie” demographic, Elicaño’s pitch instilled strong online presence with stimulating and cohesive images that usher Mary Kay’s tradition into today’s most popular social-media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. She likewise highlighted the ways in utilizing user-generated contents such as interactive make-up trends and immersive features in valuing the target consumers’ individual

expression.

Elicaño’s entry was complete with cards, an e-catalogue and packaging mock-ups mapped out not just to showcase the advocacies of the brand, but to also further reach out to its beneficiaries.

Mary Kay & ArtsThread Challenge 2020-21 likewise recognized the “Glow-Getter” slogan by Summer Akram from the University of Derby in Derby, England as the second place, with $1,000 cash prize, while “Beauty with Experience” by Julia Pitsulka from the University of Arts London-London College of Communication landed in third spot with $750.

View the winning entries at https://www.artsthread.com/competitions/mar y-kay-artsthreadchallenge-2020-21/.

Smart selects students for data subsidies H

ELPING students deal with the challenges of distance learning amid the pandemic, mobile services provider Smart Communications recently rolled out its Student Circle Program, where the telco teams up with select schools across the country in choosing deserving students who may benefit from data subsidies so they may go online and participate in their virtual classes.

Select students will receive data “grants” through GIGA Study 399 for three consecutive months. It offers 6 gigabytes to access vital study apps such as the G Suite for

Education, Microsoft 365, and Canvas for 30 days.

Student beneficiaries pointed out the subsidy has helped them push through with their studies amid the quarantine.

“I had to set aside some budget to buy [data] load for my online classes. Those were difficult time I came to the point where I wanted to give up studying, but I realized I was so close to my dreams,” said Saramie Ortiz Flores—a BS Business Administration student from the City of Malabon University.

“When I learned that I would be one of those students to be given a load subsidy [via the Smart Stu-

dent Circle Program], I was happy because my problems would be lessened. It’s a huge help because we will have more budget for more important things,” she added. “[The assistance from the Smart Student Circle Program] is surely a great help to students like me who have financial problems, but are eager to learn and finish their studies,” said Marie Rose Barte—a BS Education Social Studies major from Biliran Province State University.

“We at Smart recognize the value of pursuing education amid our challenging times. We are glad to be able to partner with schools

across the country to assist students in their distance learning needs,” said Melvin Nubla, vice president and head of Smart’s Goto-Market and Subs Management.

“We look forward to reaching and helping even more students, so that no one gets left behind.”

Introduced last August, GIGA Study makes it simpler and easier for students to access a selection of learning apps and productivity tools, especially at a time when schools have resorted to online classes. Smart subscribers may register to GIGA Study via the GigaLife App, or by dialing *123#.

Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

Alibaba’s education arm debuts training program for local entreps

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RIVING success in the digital economy, Alibaba Business School (ABS) has launched its first-ever Alibaba Netpreneur Training Program in the country with support from QBO Innovation Hub—the pioneering public-private partnership platform for local start-ups, and regional venture capital firm Gobi Partners through its Gobi-Core Philippine Fund (Core Capital).

This newest endeavor of Alibaba Group’s education arm aims to equip entrepreneurs and business leaders with tangible and actionable steps to advance in the digital economy, based on the conglomerate’s entrepreneurship journey.

Applications for this program are now open until June 20.

“The acceleration of the digital economy as a result of the global pandemic is creating huge opportunities that may not be immediately recognizable. We are keen to demonstrate to SMEs [small and medium enterprises, as well as] entrepreneurs, how they can make full use of our digital ecosystem learnings and insights to spot and win these opportunities, [while transforming] their businesses for long-term success in

the digital economy,” said Zhang Yu, partner and vice president of Alibaba Group.

This learning initiative will use online and offline training modules. The online program has schedules a series of virtual seminars from July 21 to September 1, which will provide first-hand exposure to e-commerce and digital innovations, access to business leaders across Alibaba and China, as well as a chance to connect with like-minded, leading entrepreneurs in the participants’ own region through exercises, interactive lectures, and lively discussions.

Over the six-week period, the sessions will touch on China’s digital economic transformation, Alibaba’s key learnings from being a fledgling start-up into a full digital ecosystem, as well as practical advice to help businesses digitally transform their own operations and embrace global business opportunities. ABS will also host optional webinars during the program focusing on industry trends and insights.

“The Philippines’s digital economy has been experiencing massive growth,” said Katrina Rausa Chan, executive director of QBO

Innovation Hub. “Especially with the onset of the pandemic, digital transformation has become even more critical to the country’s economic resilience, recovery, and advancement.”

She added, “Small businesses, and especially innovative startups, play a key role and need our support. We’re thrilled to partner with [ABS] in launching the Alibaba Netpreneur Training Program.

This initiative will empower local entrepreneurial talent and build a more dynamic start-up scene.”

“Access and exposure to operational best practices is vital for Filipino entrepreneurs to be competitive in a digital future. More important, I believe the real value of this program lies in [the way] it highlights the role of leadership and vision in growing companies and communities,” added Core Capital Managing Partner Ken Ngo. “Together with our partners, I’d like to invite all Filipino founders and business owners to take this opportunity and apply for this program now.”

Online participants will acquire knowledge on the development of the digital economy in China; fundamentals of the role of new

technology and digital economy in enabling national development; key insights into the evolution of Alibaba’s ecosystem—including learning and best practices through sharing sessions from its senior leaders; insights into the most cutting-edge trends and practices in use within the growing digital economy in China; and deeper understanding of business frameworks and strategic patterns, as well as ways in creating an environment to strengthen participants’ capacity to drive innovation and achieve greater results.

They will be graded and quizzed on a weekly basis, culminating in a final capstone assignment at the end of the program. Those who finish the course will be invited to join the Alibaba Global Initiatives community, where they can get access to additional content and activities post-program like webinars and newsletters.

Based on the online participation’s results and the assignments/ project completions, outstanding performers will also be eligible to participate in offline immersion programs at Alibaba’s headquarters in Hangzhou once travel restrictions are lifted. Roderick L. Abad

M

APÚA University has made it anew into the globa l Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings for the second straight year.

For 2021 Mapúa made it in the United Kingdom-based rankings alongside Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, University of Santo Tomas and Tarlac Agricultural University.

The THE Impact Rankings are the only global performance tables that assess universities against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by using carefully calibrated indicators to provide comprehensive and balanced comparisons across three broad areas: research, outreach, and stewardship. This year, it included 1,115 participating universities from 94 countries.

“Mapúa’s inclusion in the SDG rankings demonstrates its commitment not just to supporting the SDGs through its teaching,

research, and community extension work, but also in embodying goals in its internal practices, policies, and procedures, [as well as providing verifiable evidences] of its activities,” Mapúa University President and CEO Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea said.

T he THE Impact R ankings aims to recognize and encourage universities across the world for their social and economic impact, based on the SDGs—the global benchmark for sustainable economic, social, and environmental development.

Mapúa University increased its significance by ranking in six of the 17 SDG categories, namely, SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing, SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

DepEd-Cebu, Globe seal deal to erect new cell sites

PROJECT stakeholders from Globe and the Department of Education

G

LOBE is embarking on a landmark partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd)-Division of Cebu Province for the construction of new cell sites in 26 locations to support the government’s online learning initiatives.

The telco is investing P338 million for the said infrastructures in the same number of Cebu schools.

This will provide Internet connectivity to around 36,000 students and 1,550 teachers within neighboring communities.

Under the memorandum of agreement, DepEd-Cebu will offer its premises free of rent for the said cell sites. For its part, Globe will furnish the department’s arm in the province with free broadband and Wi-Fi services in schools under DepEd-Cebu’s jurisdiction.

“Through this groundbreaking partnership, we hope that more students will be able to fulfill their educational requirements amid challenges brought about by the pandemic,” shared DepEd-Cebu Province Regional Director Salustiano Jimenez. “We look forward to working closely with Globe in building the cell sites that will help our staff, students, and…their families gain improved access to

the Internet.”

“The Philippines is falling behind in terms of remote learning.

Many students are still struggling to keep up with their classes due to a lack of connectivity tools to help them meet school requirements,” mentioned Peter Maquera, senior vice president for Globe Business.

“The establishment of more cell sites will mean better access to quality education for students and a digitally enabled future for families. This project with DepEd-Cebu is a first of its kind—proof that progress amplifies when two or more organizations work together in reaching their goals.”

Globe and DepEd have long been partners in integrating information and communication technologies in the Philippine education system. Last year, both entities worked together to provide teachers and students with free access to DepEd Commons, which contains online review materials and Open Educational Resources authored by public-school teachers.

The telco also aided the Education Department in training educators for distance learning through a modified series of webinars under its Global Filipino Teachers program.

Tourism&Entertainment BusinessMirror

Editor: Carla Mortel-Baricaua

Saturday, May 22, 2021 A9

Getting into the bike culture in Munich

Odeonsplatz is flanked by Theatine Church, the Residenz, and the Feldherrnhalle, and several cafes.

Marienplatz is Munich’s central square that is easily accessible to bikers.

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Munich is a city filled with bike lanes and trails.

Story & photos by Catherine Kaiser

any years ago, I saw a movie filmed in the Netherlands about how people take pleasure in cycling to many places. I got inspired, and thought to myself that one day, I’ll do just that—go places by bike.

Munich is super bike-friendly, there are cycle lanes on the road and bike trails are everywhere.

In this city everybody has their own bicycles, young and adults alike. Even the smallest kid has their own bike, it’s so cute! And there are different bicycles to see, bikes made from recycled materials, electric bikes, mountain bikes, three-wheeled bikes, bikes with baskets, you name it, you can find it in bicycle stores or rental shops across the city. In fact, this is where I’ve seen the most unique, sometimes the weirdest looking bikes in my life. And this seems to bring great joy to the citizens.

The bike culture is so alive in Munich, it would be difficult not to get into it yourself when you start living here.

A few months before the lockdown began, my husband and I decided to purchase a bike for me to use. which I named Cooper, and since then, Cooper became a part of my daily life. Whether running errands, going to work, visiting places, and especially seeing the

best of Munich, I now always rely on my bicycle. I’ve never really loved and enjoyed biking tours until I moved to this city. With that said, here’s how you can explore the most popular spots by bike in Munich.

You can start from Konigsplatz, a timeless architecture built in the 19th century. Konigplatz’s name originated from the Greek term Propylaia, which referred to the building at the entrance to the Acropolis in Athens.

It is one of the spots you shouldn't miss in this city for this is where you can easily have a taste of the culture and day-to-day life of the locals. On this bike tour, you’d enjoy and immerse yourself in the history beneath this incredible landmark.

The next suggested stop for a bike tour is Odeonsplatz. During my first few weeks in Germany, Odeonsplatz was one of the places we’ve visited by bike. It’s a busy square where people gather, meet, and enjoy while sitting and watching others carry on with their daily

Also known as the Royal Garden, Hofgarten is an idyllic green park in Munich’s historic old town.

With 801 cycle routes in Munich, there are plenty of options for bike enthusiasts.

activities. During special events or holidays, local vendors display and sell their products in this area of Odeonsplatz. Moreover, you’d get

The author with her bike she named Conrad.

a sense of history in this part of the city with all of the old architecture and establishments nearby. Ultimately, Odeonsplatz is a fine place

to get a feel of the city.

After that, you can move on with your bike Munich tour to Marienplatz, that’s just nearby

Odeonsplatz. One of the busiest attractions and prominent landmarks throughout Munich, Marienplatz is a stunning area, with plenty of gothic historical buildings to gawk at. The view is especially fantastic at night and during the Christmas season as there are lots of shopping stores, restaurants, cafes, and other establishments to check out. Do not miss the Rathaus or the town hall where you can watch a 10-minute show of the glockenspiel, a dancing puppet with chimes. After watching the show, you can go and grab a gelato or a cup of coffee in a cafe around the area.

The next stop is Hofgarten where a cycling experience does not disappoint. Hofgarten or Courtyard garden in English is a beautiful garden close to Odeonsplatz. It’s a quiet and peaceful spot to stroll around, take pictures, or simply relax on the benches. And if you’re lucky, you’ll catch a violinist who will serenade you during your stay.

As Munich is renowned as one of the safest places on earth to ride a bike, there are no reasons not to see what it offers on a two-wheeled transport. While the pandemic may take some time before it goes away, not to mention the hassle of restrictions and lockdowns, going around by bike in Munich is the best way to enjoy the city. Consider these top famous places when biking to have a glimpse of the interesting culture, appreciate the magnificent architecture, and experience local living in Munich.

AirAsia Shop expands online channels, now available at PayMaya mall A ir asia has partnered with PayMaya, the pioneer in mobile money and payments in the Philippines, to provide customers with more convenient ways to shop for their favorite brands and essentials.

AirAsia Shop will be available at the PayMaya Mall offering an accessible, authentic, and affordable travel retail shopping experience for

PayMaya users.

PayMaya users can choose from a wide selection of AirAsia Shop products under categories, such as Beauty, Fashion, Electronics & Gadgets, Health & Wellness, Kids products, and exclusive AiAasia merchandise.

Users simply have to open their PayMaya app and visit the Maya Mall on the main page where the AirAsia Shop

can be found. Upon clicking the AirAsia Shop, users may select their desired items and check-out conveniently using their PayMaya account or mobile number.

AirAsia Philippines Chief Finance Officer Ray Berja said, “At AirAsia, we continue to propel forward by not only innovating within the organization, but by partnering with industry leaders

such as PayMaya to provide convenient and contactless digital solutions to our guests and users.

“Since the launch of AirAsia Shop early this year, we have seen an immense growth in sales and partnerships, which contributes to the success of our digital platforms. We thank PayMaya for this partnership and look forward to continuously

working together as AirAsia continues to embark on its digital journey.”

Enjoy P100 off, with a minimum purchase of P1,000 when you buy from the AirAsia Shop on PayMaya Mall. Use the code “PAYMAYA100” upon checkout until 31 May 2021.

Guests can also use their PayMaya e-wallets for cashless transactions at AirAsia

check-in counters nationwide when paying for additional baggage, meals, and other flight add-ons while checking in.

For the latest AirAsia news, activities and promotions, follow AirAsia on Twitter (twitter.com/airasiafilipino), Facebook (facebook.com/ airasiatravels.ph) and Instagram (instagram.com/airasiatravels_ph).

BusinessMirror

A10 Saturday, May 22, 2021 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Alibaba’s education arm debuts training program for entreps in PHL to succeed in digital economy

BY RODERICK L. ABAD Contributor TO drive success in the Philippine digital economy, Alibaba Business School (ABS) has launched its firstever Alibaba Netpreneur Training Program in the country with support from QBO Innovation Hub, the pioneering public-private partnership platform for local start-ups and regional venture capital firm Gobi Partners via its Gobi-Core Philippine Fund (Core Capital).

This newest endeavor of Alibaba Group’s education arm aims to equip entrepreneurs and business leaders with tangible and actionable steps to advance in the digital economy, based on the conglomerate’s entrepreneurship journey. Applications for this program are now open until June 20.

“The acceleration of the digital economy as a result of the global pandemic is creating huge opportunities that may not be immediately recognizable. We are keen to demonstrate to SMEs [small and medium enterprises] and entrepreneurs how they can make full use of our digital ecosystem learnings and insights to spot and win these opportunities, and to transform their businesses for long-term success in the digital economy,” said Zhang Yu, partner and vice president of Alibaba Group.

Such learning initiative uses online and offline training modules. The online program will be held via a series of virtual seminars from July 21 to September 1, providing first-hand exposure to e-commerce and digital innovations, access to business leaders across Alibaba and China, as well as a chance to connect with like-minded leading entrepreneurs in the participants’ own region, through exercises, interactive lectures and lively discussions.

Over the six-week period, the sessions will touch on China’s digital economic transformation, Alibaba’s key learnings from being a fledging start-up into a full digital ecosystem, as well as practical advice to help businesses digitally transform their own operations and embrace global business opportunities. ABS will also host optional webinars during the program focusing on industry trends and insights.

“The Philippines’ digital economy has been experiencing massive growth. Especially with pandemic, digital transformation has become even more critical to the country’s economic resilience, recovery and advancement. Small businesses and especially innovative start-ups play a key role and need our support. We’re thrilled to partner with Alibaba Business School in launching the Alibaba Netpreneur Training Program. This initiative will empower local entrepreneurial talent and build a more dynamic start-up scene,” said Katrina Rausa Chan, executive director of QBO Innovation Hub. “Access and exposure to operational best practices is vital for Filipino entrepreneurs to be competitive in a digital future. More importantly, I believe the real value of this program lies in how it highlights the role of leadership and vision in growing companies and communities. Together with our partners, I’d like to invite all Filipino founders and business owners to take this opportunity and apply for this program now,” added Core Capital managing partner Ken Ngo. Online participants will acquire knowledge on the development of the digital economy in China; fundamentals of the role of new technology and digital economy in enabling national development; key insights into the evolution of Alibaba’s ecosystem, including learnings and best practices through sharing sessions from its senior leaders; insights into the most cutting-edge trends and practices in use within the growing digital economy in China; and a deeper understanding of business frameworks and strategic patterns, and ways to create an environment to strengthen participants’ capacity to drive innovation and achieve greater results.

Based on the online participation’s results and the assignments/project completions, outstanding performers will also be eligible to participate in offline immersion programs at Alibaba’s headquarters in Hangzhou once travel restrictions are lifted.

NEW refridgerator technology mimics the 24-hour sun cycle.

‘Protect your data like you would protect your cash’

T

HIS is what you need to know if you are using GCash: Protect your data like you would protect your cash.

Chito Maniago, GCash vice president of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, said they are always asked by users how to protect themselves from fraud.

“Never give away personal data like your MPIN [mobile personal identification number] and OTP [one time pin] to anyone, especially online. Remember that GCash will never ask you for your MPIN,” said Maniago.

Last year, GCash rolled out more measures to assure the safety and security of users and their money. GCash has made sure that users receive SMS, in-app and social media advisories against fraudulent pages, including fake donation drives and fake financial aid offers.

It also rolled out app notifications informing customers not to share their account details. GCash also said it has taken a more active role in ensuring that fake social media advisories and accounts are taken down.

You probably use GCash regularly for online digital transactions. Now, the mobile wallet app is launching new products and services consistent with its goal of providing finance solutions for all.

As a platform, GCash has helped Filipinos with digital finance. With 1 in 3 Filipinos currently using

GCash after it grew its user base from just more than 20 million in January 2020 to over 40 million to date, the platform continues to grow.

GCash now allows its users to shop, save, invest, get insurance coverage and more, all within the app.

This means more Filipinos will now have access to digital financial services.

“We want to make a real difference in the lives of every Filipino and break the existing boundaries to enable financial freedom,” said Martha Sazon, president and chief executive officer of GCash.

GInvest is a new feature found in the app that lets you invest for as low as P50 in professionallymanaged local and global funds.

GInsure allows you get insurance for medical emergencies such as dengue, Covid-19 and accidents for as low as P300. Users can also get financial assistance via Cash For Medical Costs and the recently launched Cash For Income Loss due to any cause.

For easy money management, GSave is the fully digital, secure and hassle-free savings account that was built in partnership with CIMB Bank, wherein the only requirement to start is an ID and a smartphone. It’s fully accessible once the account is created; and has no maintaining balance, no fees and no initial deposit.

As an alternative to high interest loans and borrowing money for emergencies, GCredit serves as a fully-verified user’s personal credit line within the app, with the ability to provide those with high GScores up to P30,000 credit line and up to 3 percent prorated interest rate; the earlier the due is paid, the lower the interest rate.

NEW TECHNOLOGY EXTENDS FRESHNESS OF FRESH PRODUCE

WITH minimal grocery runs and limited access to wet markets due to quarantines, a new technology called HarvestFresh from European appliance brand Beko is very much welcome news.

The technology is “inspired by nature, powered by

light.” HarvestFresh, which will be available across a range of refrigerators, uses three colors (green, blue and red) to mimic the 24-hour sun cycle and natural sunlight.

This combination simulate the day light cycle— including times of darkness—to recreate a natural living environment for fruits and vegetables. A study approved and verified by leading Total Quality Assurance provider Intertek Laboratories showed that HarvestFresh helps preserve levels of Vitamins A and C longer.

During the first four hours of the HarvestFresh cycle, the crisper lights will shine blue, mimicking dawn and the first light of the day. This is followed by two hours of green light replicating midday, and a further six hours of red light imitating the more muted tones of dusk. The drawers then turn dark for 12 hours to represent nighttime.

“The technology [HarvestFresh] was patented two years ago but it reached the market only in 2020. In terms of patents, Beko is one of the world-leading companies with its own unique features,” said Gurhan Gunal, country manager of Beko Pilipinas Corp.

Refrigerators with HarvestFresh technology have separate refrigerator and freezer cooling levels to help reduce energy consumption.

Beko’s “white goods”, which include refrigerators, cookers, washing machines, ovens and vacuum cleaners, help empower people to live better and healthier lives.

To illustrate, Beko washing machines come with Steamcure to eliminate germs and viruses while the cookers are equipped with Split and Cook and steamassisted functions that help users in cooking healthy meals.

“As 2021 continues to pose more challenges for everyone, we need to be there for our consumers.

Our technologies and innovations are even better and more mindful of our end-users’ health and wellbeing,” said Dyeun Zapanta, Beko Pilipinas marketing manager. ■

Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art’s ‘Uyayi’ winners CULMINATING International Women’s Month, the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art in partnership with Wacom Philippines celebrated the exceptional women who brought us all into this world. A slew of incredible young artists joined the “Uyayi Digital Contest,” which was concluded just in time for Mother’s Day. Participants showed their artistry and illustrated their personal birth story. The digital art competition was open to Grade 7 (Junior High School) and Grade 12 (Senior High School) students, each contestant submitting their digital artwork. The top 3 winners received a brand-new Wacom graphic tablet.

All digital submissions were judged according to the following criteria: relevance to the theme (25 percent); creativity and visual composition (25 percent); technique and execution (25 percent); and narrative of birth story (25 percent).

The top 3 winners of the Uyayi Digital Contest are: A Precious Blessing by Maricar Salvador from Pasig City (first winner), Birth and Laundry by Jaylord Losabia from Iloilo City (second winner), and Shower of Blessings by Shanea A. Lim from Quezon City (third winner).

The Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art is the first art institution in the Visayas and Mindanao. RENI SALVADOR

A PRECIOUS BLESSING by Maricar Salvador from Pasig City.

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Saturday, May 22, 2021 A11

Huawei FreeBuds 4i: ANC for less

DR. Anthony Fauci

WEBBY AWARDS GO TO FAUCI, OPRAH, DUVERNAY AND PHARRELL NEW YORK—Dr. Anthony Fauci, Oprah Winfrey, Ava DuVernay, Riz Ahmed, Dua Lipa, Andra Day and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson all won honors on Tuesday at the Webby Awards, which recognize the best Internet content and creators.

The Webby Person of the Year went to Fauci for using digital and social media to reach the masses with credible and factual Covid-19 information.

DuVernay won the Film and Video Person of the Year trophy for her efforts creating a database to diversify Hollywood.

This year marks the 25th anniversary Webby Awards, selected by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences. It was hosted by actor and activist Jameela Jamil, with appearances from Naomi Watts, Padma Lakshmi and Gayle King, among others.

“It’s a unique year for the Internet. It’s that one thing that has kept us connected all year,” said Claire Graves, president of The Webby Awards.

“Our winners are a testament to that, really.

They’ve kept us connected in so many different ways.

They’ve informed us—like Dr. Fauci—uplifted us and helped us spark global movements as well.”

The awards started in 1996 by recognizing web sites. It has grown to embrace new technologies, from apps and software to social media and games.

This year, organizers added virtual and remote experiences.

Johnson’s use of social media earned him a special achievement award, as did chef José Andrés, who was recognized for tackling food insecurity.

Other winners, include Oprah’s Book Club, “Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical,” “NBC Nightly News: Kids Edition,” “We Are George Floyd” and the podcasts “Pod Save America,” “The Motherly Podcast”

by Kristen Bell and “Jemele Hill is Unbothered.”

This year also marks the inaugural special achievement award—the Webby Anthem Award— which was awarded to Pharrell Williams for his work towards racial equity in education and entrepreneurship. The Anthem Awards, launching in June 2021, will celebrate the purpose and missiondriven work of people, companies and organizations worldwide. Another new award is the Webby Advocate of the Year, which went to black-ish and grown-ish star Yara Shahidi for her social justice advocacy and her turn-out-the-vote efforts.

The Webby Social Movement of the Year Winner was Stop AAPI Hate for using the Internet to effectively track and respond to incidents of hate and discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. The academy also announced Comedy Central as the Webby Media Company of the Year after earning the most honors across all Webby categories and 14 wins overall.

“The way that people have used the Internet has accelerated so much this year that it will be interesting to see how people continue to use the new technology,” Graves said.

“The Internet is not stopping. It’s going to continue to grow and develop.” AP

I

F we are to believe the rumors, June is going to be an exciting month for Huawei as the tech giant is expected to launch its very intriguing HarmonyOS (outside China) alongside two new tablets and smartwatches. The Android OS alternative will then appear on all Huawei products going forward including the long-awaited Huawei P50—and maybe even for other smartphone brands.

The release of the Harmony OS may be the reason why we haven’t seen any new smartphones from Huawei the past few months, but the brand has been gaining a lot of new fans with its other AIoT devices such as its audio wearables and the recently released Huawei Vision S TV. This week we are going to talk about the Huawei FreeBuds 4i. Priced at P3,599, it presents a more a more affordable option to the FreeBuds Pro (P7,999) while carrying the innate qualities of the FreeBuds family, such as active noise cancellation (ANC), longlasting battery and pristine sound quality.

DEVOUR ■ Good ANC ■ Compact design ■ Snug and secure fit ■ Long battery life ■ Great value

DISLIKE ■ Touch controls ■ Lacks bass The FreeBuds 4i that I have is ceramic white, but it is also available in carbon black and red. I would have preferred the red variant since I love striking colors, but if you want something that could match any of your outfits, the black version would be a better choice. The ceramic white is okay, but it does have that “AirPods lookalike” vibe that all other TWS earbuds seem to be pining for.

The design of the FreeBuds 4i was inspired by the Reynisfjara black sand beaches of Iceland and by the idea that, despite the hustle and bustle of modern times, people today need to find a moment of peace.

Its oval-shaped and compact charging case is silky smooth on the front, while its flat back allows it to sit easily on a flat surface. It does have a glossy finish which makes it a fingerprint magnet and a bit prone to scratches (don’t worry Huawei is giving away a free silicone case). There’s an LED indicator in front together with the Huawei branding. The pairing button is on the right, and at the bottom you’ll find the charging port.

Opening the lid reveals the two in-ear buds that have slightly thicker stems compared to the FreeBuds 3i. There are also visible magnets at the bottom part of the stems to keep the earbuds securely tucked inside the case.

Also located at the stems are the left (L) and right (R) indicators and dual microphones on each. For controls, the FreeBuds 4i has built-in capacitive touch sensors on both sides of the earbuds, which according to Huawei can accurately determine the user’s habits

and further improve their degree of sensitivity.

It works, but as with other touch controls, it can get a bit finicky at times.

Be sure to download the Huawei AI Life app to have more control over battery monitoring, shortcuts to the touch sensor, and noise controls for the ANC, Awareness and Off mode. You’ll also need the Huawei AI Life app to get updates for your FreeBuds 4i.

If you have a Huawei smartphone or tablet that’s running EMUI 10.0 or above, a pop-up on your screen will appear for a quick connect once you flip the case open. To pair other Android devices, simply flip the case open, then long-press the pairing button until the LED indicator turns to white light, and you’ll find the FreeBuds 4i in your Bluetooth list.

At this price point, only a few other earphones offer ANC, and that is perhaps one of the biggest reasons to get the FreeBuds 4i. To achieve active noise cancellation, it uses microphones to detect ambient noise and adopts active noise cancellation algorithms to create inverted acoustic waves to cancel it out.

Huawei has clearly indicated in its marketing materials that FreeBuds 4i is the “perfect partner for pop music” so expect it to work best when listening to this genre—which is probably best as most people do listen to mainstream music. Vocals are clear and instruments are cleanly reproduced and so far, its sound quality is one of the best in its price point.

The FreeBuds 4i can offer 10 hours of continuous music playback when ANC is turned off, or 6.5 hours of voice call on a full charge. Together with the charging case, it could achieve up to 22 hours of music playback or 14 hours of voice call. It also supports quick charge features when you need to juice up quickly and a 10-minute charge can already get you 4 hours of audio enjoyment.

Huawei has been doing a splendid job with its audio wearables, so I wasn’t surprised at how good the FreeBuds 4i was, and I have been using it almost daily for my walks, watching movies and even Zoom calls.

There’s no shortage of good wireless earbuds in the market at this price point, and Huawei aims to stand out by offering ANC. The FreeBuds 4i might not have that “killer” feature, but it does have the right balance of clean sound, lengthy battery life and added features—offering lots of value for your money. The FreeBuds 4i sounds as good as it looks, fits comfortably and has a price tag that is just as comfy for your wallet.

ACER TABLET BUNDLE

FOR those looking to improve their work/study from home setups, Acer Philippines gives another compelling reason to choose their laptops as it has announced the extension of its #AcerOnePlusJuan promo until June 15. Under the promo, buyers will get a free Acer One 8 T2 worth P5,990, with every purchase of any participating Acer Swift or Spin laptop models.

The Acer One 8 T2 tablet has an 8-inch HD Display, with 2GB RAM and 32GB storage (expandable up to 128GB); 10 points multitouch capacitive screen; 4000mAH battery and runs Google Android 10.

Working and learning from home will be a breeze with the Acer Swift or Spin laptop and staying at the highest level of your work or school productivity is made easier with its powerful specs and overall performance.

“With everything going digital from school to work, we came up with the idea of sharing an exclusive promo which can help individuals who work from home or study online. For every purchase of participating Acer Swift and Spin laptops, shoppers get a free tablet. With this, learning or working from home can be much more flexible and convenient,” said Acer Philippines general manager Sue OngLim. This Acer bundle is available at Acer stores, authorized retailers, and through Acer’s online store. ■

Smart offers subscribers exclusive rewards, perks LEADING mobile services provider Smart Communications lets subscribers enjoy exclusive rewards, discounts, and perks when they use their GigaPoints during so-called GigaDays, which happen every 19th to 22nd of the month starting this May. In this period every month, Smart Prepaid and TNT subscribers may score up to 50-percent to 66-percent discount on redeemable GigaPoints rewards, so they can avail more of their favorite promos like Giga Video, Giga Stories, Giga Games, Giga Pro and Unli-Data Promo.

Smart Bro and PLDT Home WiFi Prepaid subscribers are also eligible to avail of Giga Video and Giga Pro at a discount.

For example, subscribers may redeem Giga Video Pro 199, originally worth 199 GigaPoints, with only 99 GigaPoints on GigaDays.

Subscribers may redeem GigaPoints via the GigaLife App, which offers a simple, easy, and smart way for customers to manage their digital lifestyle.

Customers can accumulate points by adding load, buying Giga offers, and paying their bill on-time on

the app. Downloadable on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store, the app enables subscribers to check their balance, monitor their data usage, and register to promos with just a few taps on their smartphone. It also gives postpaid customers the convenience of linking all their other Smart and TNT accounts in the app, as well as paying their monthly bill anytime and anywhere.

The app also enables subscribers to enjoy more exciting and exclusive offers that may be redeemed using GigaPoints.

/

THE Huawei FreeBuds 4i

/

THE Acer One 8 T2 tablet

Sports BusinessMirror

A12

| Saturday, May 22, 2021 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

A LOCAL athlete ejects spent cartridges as he competes in the skeet shooting competition of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Game shooting test event at the Asaka Shooting Range in Tokyo. AP PRESIDENTIAL Spokesperson Harry Roque (right) announces the good news on Philippine Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino’s request for the early inoculation of athletes and coaches.

IATF OKS ATHLETES’ EARLY VACCINATION

By Josef Ramos

T

HE sports community has all the reason to feel relieved—the government has approved a request from the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) to prioritize national athletes and coaches for vaccination against Covid-19.

“The entire sports community can now heave a sigh of relief with this approval,” POC President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said. “With this good news, our athletes can now look forward to serious training and preparations for two major competitions.”

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque made the announcement

on Friday that the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases allowed the early vaccination of national athletes and coaches who will see action in the Tokyo Olympics and the Hanoi 31st Southeast Asian Games.

The Olympics are due in eight weeks from July 23 to August 8 while the SEA Games are set from November 21 to December 2.

The IATF included the national athletes, coaches, delegates and officials to both events in the Priority Group A4.

In announcing the approval on national television, Roque said: “Bring home the gold from Tokyo.”

Tolentino thanked the IATF for its quick response to the POC’s

request to the agency in a letter sent to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III last May 18.

Eight Filipinos have so far qualified for the Olympics but only boxer Eumir Felix Marcial has gotten two doses of the vaccines while he was in the US. Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz got her first shot in Malaysia two weeks ago.

The other Tokyo-bound athletes—gymnast Carlos Yulo, rower Cris Nievarez, pole vaulter EJ Obiena and boxers Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam and Irish Magno—have yet to be vaccinated. Except for Nievarez, all are based abroad.

The POC intends to send 626 athletes who will be competing in

Suzara elected secretary of new FIVB commission

ITALIAN Andrea Vendrame could hardly believe that he has won a stage in the Giro d’Italia. AP

P Italian Vendrame sprints to 1st Grand Tour stage win

B

AGNO DI ROMAGNA, Italy—Italian cyclist Andrea Vendrame held off the rest of the breakaway pack to win the 12th stage of the Giro d’Italia on Thursday for his first victory in a Grand Tour and Egan Bernal kept the leader’s pink jersey.

Vendrame, who rides for AG2R Citroën, edged out Chris Hamilton in a sprint at the end of the 212-kilometer route from Siena to Bagno di Romagna that featured four categorized climbs.

“What an incredible feeling.

I can’t even speak or find the right words to describe how I feel now,” the 26-year-old Vendrame said. “After a difficult period where I had an injury, this win at the Giro is something indescribable.”

There was also a sprint for third, with Gianluca Brambilla narrowly beating George Bennett, but only after a late swerve that left Bennett throwing up a hand in frustration. Brambilla was later relegated to fourth.

The duo finished 15 seconds behind Vendrame.

All four had been part of a large breakaway.

Bernal crossed the line in the peloton to maintain his 45-second lead over Aleksandr Vlasov.

Nobody else is within a minute of

the 2019 Tour de France winner, with third-place Damiano Caruso 1:12 behind.

Vincenzo Nibali attacked over the top of the final climb and finished seven seconds ahead of the peloton. The two-time Giro winner is still more than four minutes behind Bernal.

Friday’s 13th stage is an entirely flat 198-kilometer route from Ravenna to Verona that pays tribute to writer and philosopher Dante Alighieri on the 700th anniversary of his death. It will also give the riders a break before hitting the high mountains the following day.

“It was a really hard day for everyone so we are happy because we have finished well, but it was a really tough stage,” Bernal said.

“It’s a Grand Tour, and for the GC guys there is no easy stage, you know, we need to go for every day.

So for tomorrow we need to be really focused.”

A number of riders abandoned the race during the stage. Marc Soler and Alessandro De Marchi crashed in separate incidents, while Gino Mader, Kobe Goossens, Faisto Masnada and Alex Dowsett all retired due to illness and injury.

Soler tried to continue before eventually conceding. De Marchi was taken away in an ambulance. AP

39 of the 40 sports in Hanoi SEA Games.

The IATF, Roque said, also approved the bubbletype training of athletes and coaches subject to the applicable guidelines of the Philippine Sports Commission, Games and Amusements Board and the Department of Health.

“The IATF approved the Technical Working Group’s recommendation to the Interim National Immunization Technical Advisory Group [INITAG] to prioritize the vaccination of athletes, coaches, delegates and officials bound for the Tokyo Olympics and the Southeast Asian Games,” Roque said in his regular virtual press conference.

HILIPPINE National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) President Ramon “Tats” Suzara was elected secretary of the International Volleyball Federation’s (FIVB) newly formed Volleyball Empowerment Commission for the term 2021 to 2024 following the approval of the FIVB Board of Administration.

The Volleyball Empowerment Commission aims to develop the sport through initiatives that will help professionalize

the administration of national federations, provide support in the advancement of national team programs and ultimately create role models for millions of fans.

Suzara brings years of experience in volleyball administration to the newlyestablished commission, being a long-time member of the FIVB Development Commission and former chairman of the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Development and Marketing

BEFORE END JUNE, IT’S A YES OR A NO ON TOKYO GAMES T

OKYO—The International Olympic Committee (IOC) wraps up its final planning sessions on Friday with Tokyo Olympic organizers, just two months before the games are to open. Much of the focus is on persuading a skeptical public and medical community that the games should go ahead.

“We have much to do over the next three days,” IOC Vice President John Coates said on Wednesday as the sessions began.

The core problem is that 60 to 80 percent of people in Japan, depending how the question is asked in public opinion polls, don’t want the postponed Olympics to open in the middle of a pandemic despite repeated assurances from organizers that games will be “safe and secure.”

There is no indication so far the games will be canceled. The IOC has repeatedly said they are going ahead.

But the IOC’s most senior member Richard Pound, in an interview with Japan’s JiJi Press, said that the final deadline to call it off was still a month away.

“Before the end of June, you really need to know, yes or no,” JiJi quoted Pound as saying.

Pound repeated—as the IOC has said—that if the games can’t happen now they will be canceled, not postponed again.

Kaori Yamaguchi, a bronze medalist in judo in the 1988 Olympics and a member of the Japanese Olympic Committee, hinted in an interview with Japan’s Kyodo news agency this week that organizers were cornered. She has been skeptical about going ahead.

“We’re starting to reach a point where we can’t even cancel anymore,” she said.

Tokyo, Osaka and many other prefectures are under a state of emergency and health-care systems are being stretched.

Emergency measures are to end on May 31, but they are likely to be extended and approach the July 23 opening date.

“If the current situation continues, I hope the government

will have the wisdom not to end the emergency at the end of May,” Haruo Ozaki, head of the Tokyo Medical Association, told the weekly magazine Aera.

Ozaki has consistently said government measures to control the spread of Covid -19 have been insufficient. About 12,000 deaths in Japan are attributed to the virus, and the situation is exacerbated since few in Japan has been fully vaccinated.

Ozaki warned that if the emergency conditions are not extended, the virus and contagious variants will spread quickly.

“If that happens, there will be a major outbreak, and it is possible that holding the Games will become hopeless,” he added.

Ozaki is not alone with this warnings.

The 6,000-member Tokyo Medical Practitioners’ Association called for the Olympics to be canceled in a letter sent last week to Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike, Olympic Minister Tamayo Marukawa, and Seiko Hashimoto, the head of the organizing committee.

“We believe the correct choice is to the cancel an event that has the possibility of increasing the numbers of infected people and deaths,” the letter said.

“Stop Tokyo Olympics” campaign organizer Kenji Utsunomiya said he planned to deliver petitions Friday with 375,000 online signatures to Tokyo organizers and Suga. He delivered the petitions earlier to Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike.

IOC President Thomas Bach, aware Japan’s medical system is stretched, said Wednesday that national Olympic committees could provide “additional medical personnel” to aid Japan.

He gave no details, but this move would also add to the burdens on national Olympic committees, many of which are struggling to meet guidelines to enter delegations into Japan.

Bach had to cancel a trip to Japan this month because of the virus, but is expected to arrive in Japan in July, just days before the Olympics open. AP

Committee.

He will be working with volleyball development officials, specialists and Olympic medalists Vladimir Grbic, Mireya Luis, Emanuel Rego, Pasquale Gravina and Xue Chen.

“It is an honor to work with distinguished volleyball personalities and I am grateful for the opportunity that the FIVB has given to the Philippines as one of the pilot beneficiaries of this new project,” Suzara said.

“As we usher in a new era, we hope that we could take advantage of this chance to develop our national federation and our national teams, since development is the foundation of a successful volleyball program,” he said. “We hope that through the Volleyball Empowerment Commission and its projects, we will support the dreams of our athletes in playing in the world stage, and build their legacy to inspire the country’s future generations.”

Kouame bracing for baptism of fire N ATURALIZED Filipino Kakou Ange Franck Williams “Ange” Kouame is bracing for a baptism of fire when he plays in the third and last window of the International Basketball Federation (Fiba) Asia Cup in Pampanga next month.

Kouame, who was born and raised in Ivory Coast city of Abidjan, will be dealing with South Korea’s own naturalized 6-foot-8 center Ricardo Ratliffe in their game during the June 16 opener and Indonesia’s 6-foot-8 big man Lester Prosper on June 18.

The Filipinos will again face the Koreans again on June 20 in the competitions set at the Angeles Foundation University gym.

BOSSING AT THE GYM

“I think I’m ready and at the same time I want to learn more.

I’m excited and happy with the latest development,” Kouame told BusinessMirror on Thursday.

President Duterte signed Kouame’s naturalization papers on Tuesday but stalled on Spanish football player Bienvenido Marañon, who the Philippine Football League wants to be part of the Azkals program.

Although the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is still waiting for the Fiba’s greenlight on Kouame, the 6-foot-11 former Ateneo Blue Eagle has become one of training director Tab Baldwin’s priorities in the Gilas Pilipinas pool.

But he said he still has a lot to work on.

“I really like to improve my outside game, I am more on defense,” said Kouame, who at 23, will be the youngest naturalized player in the June tournament.

Ratliffe and Prosper are both 32 and they also played as imports in the Philippine Basketball Association for Magnolia (2017) and Terrafirma (2019), respectively.

Kouame was named Rookie of the Year of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines in 2018. He vastly

The Blackwater Bossing are back to face-to-face practice and scrimmages at the Batangas City Sports Center in preparation for the Philippine Basketball Association’s 46th season that tentatively opens next month.

helped the Blue Eagles to a perfect 16-0 win-loss record in 2019, when he averaged 12.5 points, 11.79 rebounds and 3.86 blocks.

Kouame said he plans to live in the Philippines for the rest of his life.

“For sure, after my basketball career, I’ll be living here for good,” said the incoming Interdisciplinary Studies senior said. “I am very happy to be part of the national team.”

“My mother Kouassi Juliette is very happy,” he added.

His mother works as a building engineer in Ivory Coast. His father Galou Theodore passed away in 2008. Josef Ramos