BusinessMirror November 16, 2019

ROTARY CLUB OF MANILA JOURNALISM AWARDS

2006 National Newspaper of the Year 2011 National Newspaper of the Year 2013 Business Newspaper of the Year 2017 Business Newspaper of the Year 2019 Business Newspaper of the Year

BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business

EJAP JOURNALISM AWARDS

BUSINESS NEWS SOURCE OF THE YEAR (2017, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

2018 BANTOG MEDIA AWARDS PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY

DATA CHAMPION

3 DECADES LATER, IT’S STILL A www.businessmirror.com.ph

n

Saturday, November 16, 2019 Vol. 15 No. 37

P25.00 nationwide | 32 pages | 7 DAYS A WEEK

WILD WORLD FOR CHILDREN

By Estrella Torres*

O

N November 20, the world celebrates the 30th year of ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), the treaty described by former South African President and anti-apartheid revolutionary Nelson Mandela as “the luminous living document that enshrines the rights of every child without exception to a life of dignity and self-fulfillment.”

The landmark treaty was inspired by the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, written by Save the Children founder Eglantyne Jebb, who saw children suffer the harshest impact of World War I and founded Save the Children—100 years ago.

She drafted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child that was adopted by the League of Nations, the forerunner of the United Nations. The document inspired the drafting of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and was ratified in 1989.

The core general principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child are:

Non-discrimination (Article 2)

THE Convention applies to every child without discrimination, whatever their ethnicity, sex, religion, language, abilities or any

status, whatever they think or say, whatever their family background.

Best interest of the child (Article 3)

THE best interests of the child must be a top priority in all decisions and actions that affect children.

Right to life survival and development (Article 6)

EVERY child has the right to life.

Governments must do all they can to ensure that children survive and develop to their full potential.

The right to be heard (Article 12)

EVERY child has the right to express their views, feelings and wishes in all matters affecting them, and to have their views considered and taken seriously.

This right applies at all times, for Continued on a2

CHILDREN play near a wrecked airplane abandoned in a dumpsite in Parañaque City. JOHN JEROME GANZON | DREAMSTIME.COM

Unprecedented Hong Kong chaos raises fears about what’s next

H

By Iain Marlow and Natalie Lung Bloomberg News

ONG KONG has seen many violent days since the unrest began in June, but the disruption this week has taken things to a new level—and fears are growing as to what may come next.

Protesters paralyzed the city on Wednesday for a third straight day, disrupting subway lines and blocking roads. Tear gas swirled through the Central financial district, while police also battled university students far from the city center. A 70-year-old man was in critical condition after being hit by a brick-shaped hard object during scuffles, according to local newspaper Ming Pao.

More disruption was expected Thursday, with subway operator MTR Corp. suspending part of its rail network. The Cross-Harbour Tunnel, a main artery between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island, was blocked after protesters vandalized toll booths. Schools from kindergarten to college were also shut on Thursday, the first time the government ordered them to close during the unrest.

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 50.8260

STUDENTS with their homemade gear take their position outside the Chinese University of Hong Kong, November 13, 2019. Protesters in Hong Kong battled police on multiple fronts on Tuesday, from major disruptions during the morning rush hour to a late-night standoff at a prominent university, as the five-month-old anti-government movement takes an increasingly violent turn. AP/KIN CHEUNG

Around 10 p.m. on Wednesday, local broadcaster RTHK reported government officials arrived at Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s official residence for a meeting. It wasn’t immediately clear what was discussed.

The prolonged turmoil marks a shift in intensity in the protests, which have mostly been confined to the weekends apart from sporadic efforts to disrupt the Monday morning commute. That has raised fresh worries about an economy already in recession, with the Hang Seng Index losing 1.8 percent on Wednesday for its lowest close in three weeks.

“At the 30,000-foot level, you’re seeing a confluence of rising violence but also dwindling protester numbers,” said Kevin Yam, a lawyer, political commentator and member of the Progressive Lawyers Group, which has pushed for greater democracy in Hong Kong.

“If you ask me where this is going Continued on a2

n JAPAN 0.4688 n UK 65.4690 n HK 6.4937 n CHINA 7.2402 n SINGAPORE 37.3254 n AUSTRALIA 34.4905 n EU 56.0153 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.5533

Source: BSP (November 15, 2019 )

A2 Saturday, November 16, 2019

News

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

3 decades later, it’s still a wild world for children Continued from a1

example, during immigration proceedings, housing decisions or the child’s day-to-day home life.

The Philippines became the 31st country to ratify the landmark convention in 1990. A year after, it enacted Republic Act 7610 or the Act Providing for Stronger Deterrence and Special Protection Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination, or the antichild abuse law.

Last week, the Department of Education hosted the First National Summit on Children’s Rights to highlight the Philippine government’s obligation to respect, protect and fulfill the inalienable rights of every child, or anyone under the age of 18.

At the Summit, Save the Children Philippines called for the enactment of Inclusive Education for Children and Youth with Disabilities, a bill pending at the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The bill aims to fulfill the rights of every child to quality education regardless of gender, language, ability, religion and nationality, and to be supported by the state to learn alongside peers and develop their full potential.

“Poverty and disability magnify a child’s vulnerabilities since they limit access to necessary services such as education and the overall fulfillment of the child’s rights,” said Muyot.

In the Philippines, an estimated 1.3 million children with

disabilities, mostly in deprived and marginalized situations, do not have access to education, putting them at risk of suffering from intergenerational poverty.

In 2017, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) indicated that more than 3.6 million Filipino children do not go to school and half of them are forced to drop out of school due to poverty.

Save the Children’s annual Global Childhood Report 2019 ranked the Philippines 102nd out of 176 countries evaluated based on children’s access to healthcare, education, nutrition and protection from harmful practices like child labor and child marriage.

Sadly, over the past 20 years, the country has only moved 37 points, from 763 to 800 (top score is 1,000).

The Philippines moved up two notches from 104th place in 2018, but did not recover from being 96th two years ago despite its steady economic growth.

This year, the Philippines lags behind other Asian neighbors such as Singapore in first position, China (36), Brunei Darussalam (63), Malaysia (71), Thailand (86) and Vietnam (95).

“The steady economic growth of the Philippines over 20 years has unfortunately not translated into the lives of many Filipino children. We must invest more in children to ensure they grow up healthy, educated and protected,” said Muyot.

Save the Children believes that children have the right to be protected from all forms of physi-

CHILDREN play with a makeshift wooden trolley at the Liwasang Bonifacio in front of the Manila Central Post Office in Lawton, Manila. JOHN JEROME GANZON | DREAMSTIME.COM

cal or mental violence.

The Council for the Welfare of Children’s data shows that physical and psychological violence, particularly in the home setting, remains

to be the most pervasive type of violence experienced by Filipino children.

The National Baseline Study on Violence against Children reveals that 3 in 5 children experienced some form of physical violence. An alarming 60 percent of these cases happened in the home with one in two children experiencing corporal punishment. About 4.6 percent led to the hospitalization of children.

The report also showed the lifetime prevalence of psychological violence during childhood, which was estimated at 59.2 percent. This indicates that almost 3 out of 5 children have been verbally abused, threatened and/or abandoned by their parents or guardian.

Children are not spared from violence while in school. The study also reveals a lingering culture of violence against children in a place where they should be protected.

It cited that 3 out of 5 children experienced bullying in school. Of this figure, 14.3 percent of children experienced physical violence in school; 23 percent of children experienced psychological violence in school; and 5.3 percent of children experienced sexual violence in school.

Children are not also safe even in the digital platforms.

The SaferKids Philippines project reveals that the Philippines is a top global source of child pornographic materials, with most perpetrators being the parents and

relatives of the minors.

Because of these gaps in protection—and in fulfilling the noblest aspirations of the “luminous living document” referred to by Mandela—Save the Children Philippines continues to work with parents, teachers and local communities to fulfill children’s rights to grow healthy, safe and be protected from all forms of violence in all settings.

It was a long journey to the UNCRC, and an even longer journey to fulfilling even the most basic of its goals. Meanwhile, millions of children wait. *Ms. Torres is Head, Media and Communication, Save the Children Philippines.

Unprecedented Hong Kong chaos raises fears about what’s next Continued from a1

to go, I have no idea,” he added.

“In many ways we’re in slightly uncharted territory.”

‘Critical juncture’

HONG KONG’S government again sought to reassure residents it could contain the chaos and called for an end to the violence. Lam has repeatedly insisted she won’t give in further to protester demands, which include an independent inquiry into police violence and the ability to nominate and elect the city’s leaders.

In Beijing, state-run media ratcheted up the rhetoric. Hong Kong is at “the most critical juncture” as violent acts of “black-clad rioters” come close to terrorism, the official Xinhua News Agency said in a commentary.

The Global Times hinted in a Wednesday commentary that the central government could employ “direct intervention” under the Basic Law it uses to govern Hong Kong. “The rioters’ rampage is a short drive from the nearest outpost of the Shenzhen Armed Police Force and a short walk from the People’s Liberation Army in Hong Kong,” it said.

Yet while fears of a Chinese intervention have long persisted since the demonstrations began, it’s unclear if the situation has reached a tipping point. Any Chinese troops or police in Hong Kong would raise questions about the city’s autonomy, potentially put-

ting at risk US trade privileges at a time when the mainland’s economy is struggling.

Intense clashes

IN the US on Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell vowed to work on legislation supporting prodemocracy protesters in Hong Kong, drawing a rebuke from Beijing. The bill would subject the city’s special US trading status to annual reviews and provides for sanctions against officials deemed responsible for undermining Hong Kong’s “fundamental freedoms and autonomy.”

The latest spell of violence in Hong Kong intensified on Friday after a student died of injuries sustained near a police dispersal effort last week—the first fatality linked to protests after months of unrest.

Things got even worse on Monday after a protester was shot by a traffic cop, triggering widespread violence that has continued ever since.

Commuters found themselves stuck again on Wednesday morning as activists disrupted rush-hour traffic in protest of the government’s response and police tactics. Services including the entire East Rail Line and parts of the Kwun Tong and West Rail lines were shut due to vandalism and protest actions, and numerous bus lines halted.

Even the city’s famed big banks, for which employee safety memos have become routine, have expressed new caution in urging staff to work from home as violence escalates on

the streets outside their doors. A popular annual Oxfam hiking fundraiser was also canceled.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong, which has seen some of the most intense clashes in the past few days as police sought to retake a bridge over a busy expressway near the campus, announced it was canceling classes for the rest of the semester.

“There has been a gradual escalation,” said Joseph Cheng, a retired political science professor and pro-democracy activist. “But the mood so far is still very much against the government, and that explains why the disruptions on weekdays are still being tolerated.”

‘Acts of violence’

THE protests kicked off in June over opposition to legislation allowing extraditions to mainland China, and soon morphed into a wider movement about China’s increasing grip on power. Though they started peacefully, protests have become increasingly violent in recent months with no end in sight.

For now, the government is just trying to get life back to some semblance of normalcy in Hong Kong.

“We’re moving from protests to cat-and-mouse, individual acts of violence,” said Lam from the Progressive Lawyers Group. “That could well be where we’re going with this, unless the government does something to defuse the situation. But it doesn’t look like it’s doing that.”

www.businessmirror.com.ph · Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

2 killed in California school shooting, suspect described as quiet and smart

S

News BusinessMirror

to the suspect before the shooting and were trying to determine its relevance and whether someone else with access to the account might have written it.

T he accou nt prov ided l it t le insight about h im. It ma in ly featured goof y c lips, some w it h people crash ing bic yc les or fa i l ing to l a nd st u nts.

Brooke Risley, a junior at Saugus High, said she had known the boy since elementary school and saw him Wednesday in engineering class. Last year, they were paired on engineering projects and sometimes he came to her house.

S h e c o u l d n ’t r e c a l l a n y t h i n g i nd ic at i n g he m i g ht b e v iole nt . T he c losest she cou ld get wa s a ke yc h a i n he h ad w it h a hol lo w bu l l e t .

Risley described the boy as somewhat introverted, though open with his close friends, and “naturally smart.” She said he wasn’t bullied, had a girlfriend and had been an active member of a local Boy Scout troop.

Results posted online from school track meets last spring show the boy was an unexceptional middle- and long-distance runner.

His GPA landed him on the honor roll in the fall of eighth grade, according to online school records.

Joe Fitzpatrick, a senior who helped the teacher in the boy’s physics class, called him a “good, quiet kid” who didn’t miss assignments and did well on tests.

“He just seemed like one of those regular kids,” Fitzpatrick said.

The boy’s father died two years ago, according to an online obituary, which said he worked for a health-care company for 33 years as a field service engineer and “loved big game hunting and fishing of all kinds.”

According to Los Angeles County Sheriff ’s Department records published in a local newspaper, his father was arrested in June 2015 on suspicion of attempted battery on his wife. It’s unclear how the case was resolved.

Authorities were questioning her Thursday, searching for an explanation like so many others.

“We’re all wondering,” said Risley, “what was the motive?” AP

Jack Ma says U.S.-China trade tension could last 20 years

DPWH starts construction of new PNP IAS building

J

ack Ma, the cofounder and former chairman of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., said the US-China relationship could face 20 years of “turbulence” if the two superpowers aren’t careful in how they handle trade.

“We have to be very, very careful,” Ma said on Thursday in an interview with Bloomberg TV. “We have to solve problems, we should not create more problems.”

While a full-scale trade war might not last that long, relations could end up rocky for the next two decades, he said.

Ma emphasized the importance of the two countries working together and sharing technology.

The trade dispute, which has been going on for more than a year and a half, has already ensnared more than 70 percent of bilateral trade in goods.

If the two countries can’t resolve at least some of their differences in the coming weeks, the White House on December 15 will add 15-percent punitive tariffs on $160 billion in Chinese imports. China-based Alibaba, one of Asia’s biggest companies, is expected to ride out the storm better than some, thanks to booming online consumption in the world’s No. 2 economy.

But Alibaba saw its stock dip earlier this fall on repor ts that the Trump administration was weighing a limit on US government pension funds buying Chinese stocks. Bloomberg News

P

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

T

Special to the BusinessMirror

HE Department of Tourism (DOT) was told to tighten up its regulations on accrediting tourism enterprises after a lawmaker complained about a filthy bathroom of a restaurant in Baguio City.

At last week’s hearing by the Senate Committee on Tourism to discuss the agency’s Legislative Agenda, Sen. Koko Pimentel informed officials of his experience at a restaurant in Baguio City “near Burnham Park,” which he said bore a seal of DOT-accreditation on its premises. “The restroom was where they also washed their dishes,” the lawmaker, a member of the committee, narrated in Filipino, “so how did they get that [DOT] seal?!”

He stressed, “What I want to happen is that you will be strict [in giving] your quality seal and it will attract the tourists. Between one establishment that has the seal and one that doesn’t have the seal, I will just go to the one with the seal. But the standards should be strict, and it should be difficult to get the seal.”

DOT Undersecretary for Tourism Regulation Coordination and Resource Generation (TRCRG) Arturo P. Boncato Jr., for his part, acknowledged that it was indeed the agency’s responsibility to monitor establishments which have been issued the seal, and run after the violators.

Under Republic Act 9353 (Tourism Act of 2009), restaurants are considered secondary tourism enterprises, whose accreditation

a decent workplace for IAS personnel who are in-charge of investigating erring police officers which since its creation in 1998 has not occupied a permanent office.

With a total funding of P120 million under the 2019 General Appropriations Act (GA A), the project involves the construction of a four-story building with the provision of a reception area and parking space in the ground floor.

with the agency is “voluntary.”

Boncato assured that the agency’s standards “are anchored on global standards.” He cited as an example Boracay Island, where accredited hotels and resorts are now just down to 300 plus, from the over 500 that used to operate before the island was closed down in April 2018, “as they were not able to meet the standards.” He added that the agency is now working with the Department of the Interior and Local Government, to strictly implement the law so that local government units will not issue business permits without the accreditation of DOT. Sen. Nancy Binay, who chairs the Committee on Tourism, also inquired on the developments regarding to the cruise tourism program of the DOT. She wanted to find out if cruise passengers, specifically, had an appropriate place to disembark.

DOT officials said right now, the cruise ships make do with the disembarkation area in Manila, which is admittedly, “far from ideal.”

There are currently private-sector and government-led plans to build cruise passenger terminals in Manila. A cruise port terminal, owned by businessman Enrique K. Razon, is slated to open beside

“Upon completion, this building will end the constant cycle of transferring from one office to another and give the IAS staff occupying uniformed and non-uniformed positions more time to focus on handling all the administrative cases involving rouge members of the Philippine police force,” said Villar.

The construction of the office building is target for completion by the last quarter of 2020.

Trump says impeachment probe has been ‘very hard’ on family

B

OSSIER CITY, Louisiana—President Donald J. Trump said Thursday that the impeachment probe has been “very hard” on his family, even as he tried to flex his political muscle to flip the governor’s mansion in deep-red Louisiana.

Speaking in friendly territory in a state he carried in 2016 by 20 percentage points, Trump lashed out at Democratic investigators and what he called a “deranged impeachment witch hunt.”

While arguing it was a political boon for his reelection, he acknowledged for the first time a personal toll from the impeachment process that stands to cloud his legacy.

“I have one problem,” Trump said.

“Impeachment to me is a dirty word, it’s been very unfair, very hard on my family.”

The House began public impeachment hearings on Wednesday.

Tr u m p r e p e a t e d h i s d e n i a l s o f wrongdoing in his dealings with Ukraine, asserting he had no need to ask that nation to investigate former

A3

DOT told to tighten accreditation regulations

ANTA CLARITA, California—People who knew the 16-year-old boy suspected of killing two students in a burst of gunfire at a high school outside Los Angeles described him as a quiet, smart kid who they’d never expect to turn violent.

One fellow junior at Saugus High School said the suspect is a Boy Scout who she relied on to study for advanced placement European history. A student in his physics class said he seemed like “one of those normal kids.” A next-door neighbor who grew up with him said he kept to himself but was never threatening.

The attacker shot five students, seemingly at random, and then shot himself in the head around 7:30 a.m. Thursday, his 16th birthday, authorities said.

Two students died, and the gunman was gravely wounded.

Police have not publicly identified the shooter because he’s a minor. The Associated Press determined his identity based on property records for his home, which police said was searched after the shooting, and interviews with three of his friends.

The boy lived with his mother in a modest home on a leafy street in Santa Clarita, a Los Angeles suburb of about 210,000 people known for good schools, safe streets and relatively affordable housing.

His father died two years ago.

Two years before that, the father had been arrested amid a domestic dispute with the boy’s mother.

“A quiet, to-himself kid,” said Ryan McCracken, a 20 -year-old next-door neighbor. W hen McCracken was younger, he said t he y pl ayed toget her, some times in boy’s back yard tree house. “ You wou ld n’t e x pect anything like that from him.”

Police said they had yet to determine a motive and any relationship between the gunman and the victims. Authorities said they have no indication the boy was acting on behalf of any group or ideology.

They confirmed a message— “Saugus, have fun at school tomorrow”—was posted to the Instagram account believed to belong

ublic Work s Secret a r y Mark A. Villar led on Friday, November 15, 2019, the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of an Internal Affairs Service (IAS) building of the Philippine National Police (PNP) inside Camp Crame compound in Quezon City.

Villar, in a news statement issued on Friday, said that the building will be constructed to provide

Saturday, November 16, 2019

President Donald J. Trump arrives to speak at a campaign rally at the CenturyLink Center on Thursday in Bossier City, La. AP/ Evan Vucci

Vice President Joe Biden and his family.

“We took down Bush, Clinton, Obama, with no experience, but I had you and we won,” Trump said of his 2016 victory.

“Think about that and then think about me—‘gee, let’s get some help from Ukraine in order to beat sleepy Joe Biden.’

I don’t think so.”

He added, “The people of this country aren’t buying it,” claiming polls show a benefit to Republicans as Democrats focus on impeachment. “ We d i d n o t h i n g w ro n g,” Tr u m p insisted, “and they’re doing nothing.” AP

The Senate Committee on Tourism chaired by Sen. Nancy Binay (left, center) stresses a point during the recent hearing on the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) proposal to amend the RA 9353 (Tourism Act of 2009). She is flanked by committee members Sen. Joel Villanueva and Sen. Koko Pimentel. On the right panel are DOT Undersecretaries Benito C. Bengzon Jr., Edwin R. Enrile, Arturo P. Boncato Jr. and Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority Chief Operating Officer Pocholo Paragas. Contributed photo

the Solaire Resorts in Parañaque, while the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, is also building another cruise port terminal at the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex.

In 2018, some 230,000 cruise passengers arrived in the Philippines, from just 23,000 in 2013.

During the hearing, the DOT presented an over view of the TA 2009 and identified certain gaps and challenges in its implementation that the Senate could probably address through new legislation or amendments.

For one, DOT Undersecretary for Legal and Special Concerns Edwin R. Enrile said there is a need to update “tourism enterprises to cover innovations in tourism services, i.e., AirBnb, booking platforms, online tourist guides,” as well as others that may be identified by the DOT secretary.

The DOT also sought to move the foreign field offices from the TRCRG to the Tourism Development Planning Department, to enhance and further develop them.

There is also a need to enhance and optimize the assets of Nayong

Pilipino, which Enrile explained, is an attached agency of the DOT, but has no direct supervision over it. This could be addressed by appointing the DOT secretary to the board of the foundation that operates Nayong Pilipino.

The agency also believes there is a need to enhance its coordination with local government units in the development of tourist destinations by creating a “destination management program.” This way, Enrile said, there would be an increased coordination in the development of infrastructure in a certain tourist site under the jurisdiction of several LGUs. The DOT also sought to expand the use of the Tourism Promotions Trust to fund the development and infrastructure programs identified by the secretary.

Last, the DOT is looking to have the DOT secretary participate in the boards of the Philippine Ports Authority, Maritime Industry Authority, Cebu Port Authority and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, as it enhances and further develops cruise tourism in the country.

Health, education and social welfare get lion’s share of P18-B ’20 budget of Makati city

M

akati Mayor Abby Binay on Thursday signed the city’s 2020 budget where health, education and social welfare received the biggest allocations.

The mayor, a news statement issued on Thursday said, signed the budget hours after the Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council) approved the measure on third and final reading. The mayor had certified the budget’s approval as urgent.

M ayo r A b b y s a i d t h e 2 0 2 0 b u d g e t reflects the priority thrusts and policies of her administration. The programs and services under the Social Development Sector got the biggest allocation of about P8.07 billion, or 44.7 percent of the total budget of P18,047,460,000.

Based on the approved 2020 budget of the city, health got the biggest share of the total budget among the social subsectors, with P5.26 billion (29.17 percent), followed by education with P1.43 billion (7.93 percent), and social welfare with P1.37 billion (7.59 percent).

“Our overarching goal is to provide citizens with fast and free access to quality health care, education, and social services which are indispensable to their overall development,” she said.

The mayor said the city government has adhered to its “people first” principle amid efforts to accelerate the city’s digital transformation through embracing modern t e c h n o l o g y. S h e c i t e d p u b l i c - p r i v a t e partnerships (PPP) as an effective strategy to make progress with the city’s vision without

compromising the city’s financial capacity to sustain priority programs.

“We have purposely teamed up with industr y leaders in the private sector to i m p l e m e n t d i g i t a l i n i t i a t i ve s w i t h o u t incurring added costs on the city coffers.

The PPP strategy has allowed us to continue making substantial investments in social programs and services that enable Makatizens to reach their full potential and become not only self-reliant members of society, but empowered par tners in nation-building,” Mayor Abby said.

The mayor thanked the City Council, led by Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo, for approving the 2020 executive budget through City Ordinance 2019-A-110. “The prompt approval of the budget has ensured that our beloved Makatizens will continue to receive timely and adequate services from the city in 2020. We are also optimistic about meeting our timelines for the implementation of new and continuing programs and projects,” Mayor Abby said.

A4 Saturday, November 16, 2019

ExportUnlimited BusinessMirror

Duterte to visit South Korea this month for Asean-ROK commemorative summit

P

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

RESIDENT Duterte will visit Busan, South Korea, this month to attend the Asean-Republic of Korea (ROK) Commemorative Summit, Presidential Spokesman and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador S. Panelo said last week.

In a radio interview, Panelo confirmed the President’s attendance to the summit scheduled on November 25 and 26, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Asean-ROK Dialogue Partnership.

“Yes. He will push through [with his visit to Korea],” Panelo said, adding that it is “most likely” that the President will have a bilateral meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in during his visit.

“Most likely, there will be one because there’s always a bilateral meeting in a foreign visit,” Panelo added.

He said the two leaders would discuss issues of mutual interest, including trade and security.

This would be the President’s second visit to Korea since assuming office.

The Chief Executive’s visit also comes at a time when the government is working on a free-trade deal

with South Korea. Despite the negotiators being engaged in a deadlock over certain provisions of the deal, the government remains hopeful that the talks will still be concluded by the end of the month.

If signed, the free-trade agreement with South Korea will only be the country’s second-bilateral trade deal after the Philippines-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, which entered into force in 2008.

South Korea was the Philippines’s fourth major trading partner last year. It is the Philippines’s eighth export market and second import supplier. Total bilateral trade was valued at $13.7 billion, with Philippine exports to South Korea at $2.5 billion, and Philippine imports from South Korea at $11.2 billion.

Aside from Duterte, other Asean leaders are also expected to attend the 2019 Asean-ROK Commemorative Summit which is said to be the biggest international conference that Korea hosts under the Moon Jae-in administration.

Based on the summit’s web site, it is also the third hosted by Korea with Asean following the ones in Jeju and Busan, in 2009 and 2014, respectively.

Among Asean’s dialogue partners, South Korea is the only country which will have hosted all three commemorative summits with Asean in its own country.

The President’s first official visit to South Korea was in June 2018, when more than 20 government-togovernment agreements, as well as business deals were signed between Manila and Seoul.

Government-to-government agreements cover areas of wider collaboration in science and technology, infrastructure development, renewable-energy deployment, trade and economic relations, transportation, agriculture, forestry and communications.

An estimated $4.8 billion worth of business deals were inked which could create some 20,000 to 25,000 jobs.

Stakeholders laud Senate stand on sugar liberalization proposal STAKEHOLDERS on Tuesday lauded the passing of a Senate resolution opposing the planned liberalization of the sugar industry.

In a news statement, Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Board member Dino Yulo said as representative of the sugar producers, “the overwhelming support of our senators will hopefully allay fears of our stakeholders that the proposed liberalization of the sugar industry will not only be suspended for six months to a year, but will never happen for as long as we have senators who continue to champion the plight of sugar producers and workers, including the millions of others who are dependent on this industry.”

Yulo thanked the Senate for recognizing the importance of the SRA as a vital agency that will look after the welfare of industry stakeholders and the consuming public.

Senate Resolution 213 unanimously approved by senators on Monday urged the Executive department not to pursue the planned liberalization of the sugar industry to safeguard the welfare of sugar farmers and industry workers in more than 20 provinces in the country.

“Whereas, liberalization or de-

regulation of the sugar industry will not affect the competitiveness of sugar-containing food products for export because it is already a policy of the SRA to allow food exporters to openly import sugar without valueadded tax or customs duties provided that the end-product is exported and not sold locally,” it said.

The resolution further said the entry of subsidized sugar into the market “will be disastrous to our sugar industry, which contributes an estimated P96 billion to the gross domestic product (GDP), particularly to 84,000 farmers—mostly small farmers and agrarian reform beneficiaries, with each farmer tills less than a hectare of sugar farmland - and 720,000 industry workers directly affecting almost a million families or five million individuals.”

It also urged the appropriate Senate committees to conduct an investigation into the impending liberalization of the sugar industry.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri thanked his colleagues for unanimously passing Senate Resolution 213, saying liberalizing imports would be the “nail that would seal the coffin of the sugar industry.” PNA

First-of-its-kind, multicity start-up gathering kicks off on Monday

T

HE world is set to witness the first large-scale collaboration of the Philippines’s start-up community from November 18 to 22 with the Philippine Startup Week 2019 (PHSW19).

Themed “Showcasing the Filipino Startup Community to the World,” the PHSW19 is a collaboration by the Departments of Science and Technology (DOST), Trade and Industry (DTI), and of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), QBO Innovation Hub, and various private agencies.

“As the first-of-its-kind collaboration for Filipino start-ups, the Philippine Startup Week is more than just a gathering, it’s a celebration and a recognition of how far Filipino start-ups have come and how further they can go. It’s a testament to the government’s commitment to invest in ideas that have the potential to become the country’s next big time successful companies,” says Science Secretary Fortunato T. dela Peña.

The weeklong celebration features a series of events simultaneously happening across the country, including a three-day main summit, five-day conference, and over 50 nationwide breakout community events that will showcase the Philippines as a rising start-up nation.

Just recently, President Duterte signed the Republic Act 11337, or the Innovative Startup Act, cementing the government’s commitment to building the Philippines as a start-up hub.

Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez highlights how Filipino start-ups are crucial to the country’s economy by bringing in investments, providing job opportunities, and contributing to a community’s development.

“With the Innovative Start-up Act and Philippine Innovation Act, which are both supporting the startup community, we are optimistic that these will help in making the Philippines as one of the leading countries in developing disrupting start-up concepts. We have a strong potential in this area especially that Filipinos are creative, innovative, and know how to keep up with changing technology and use it in finding solutions to societal problems,” Lopez says. “We want to build an entrepreneurship ecosystem that will push for innovation through more Internet platforms and more new business models.”

Building a community of inspired innovators

QBO Innovation Hub, the country’s first public-private initiative for

start-ups created through a partnership between IdeaSpace, JP Morgan, DOST, and DTI, will spearhead the events and activities happening during PHSW19 by bringing together the best of the best in their respective fields.

Start-up founders and aspiring entrepreneurs who will participate at PHSW19 will get access to a myriad of networking opportunities, learning sessions and interactive activities.

“The PHSW19 is a nationwide celebration and so we’re inviting the entire Filipino start-up community to come together, grow together, and move our country’s start-up scene toward its golden era,” says QBO Innovation Hub President Rene Meily.

“Here you can showcase not just your start-up but also your pride as a Filipino entrepreneur.”

The PHSW19 will start on November 18 with multiple community events in Metro Manila hosted by various partner companies. The three-day main summit is set from November 20 to 22 at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, Ortigas City, which will host three main events: DOST’s “TBI Summit,” DICT’s “Tech Advantage,” and DTI’s “Slingshot,” which will also be held in Dumaguete on November 19 and in Bohol on November 21.

FINTECH LICENSE

Escudar Co. Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Sanghyun Lee receives the Financial Technology Solutions and Virtual Currency Exchange Provision Principal License from Secretary Raul L. Lambino, Cagayan Economic Zone Authority administrator and chief executive officer during a ceremonial awarding at Edsa Shangri-La Hotel. Joining them are Raymundo Roquero, special assistant to the administrator. NONIE REYES

OurTime BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

House measure seeks automatic employment allocation for elderly

A

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

MEMBER of House Committee on Economic Affairs is pushing for the passage of a measure seeking to institutionalize a special work-for-pay program for senior citizens.

In House Bill 5362, or the Senior Citizens Employment Opportunity Act, Rep. Ronnie Ong of Ang Probinsyano Party-list said the private sector must be encouraged to hire senior citizens and in return, they shall be entitled to an additional tax deduction from their gross income equivalent to 70 percent of the total amount paid as wages to senior citizens, subject to compliance or the pertinent provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

Ong said his proposal would ensure an automatic employment al-

location for Filipinos aged 60 years old and above.

The bill seeks to amend Section 5 of Republic Act 9994, or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 to ensure that senior citizens whose annual income is below the poverty threshold as determined by the Philippine Statistics Authority(PSA) are given priority employment through job matches provided by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC).

HB 5362 also compels all government offices to invite, select and hire qualified senior citizens for positions, qualifications and functions initially determined

by DOLE, the NCSC and the Civil Service Commission.

The measure will also encourage the private sector to hire senior citizens because they shall be entitled to an additional tax deduction from their gross income, equivalent to 70 percent of the total amount paid as wages to senior citizens subject to compliance or the pertinent provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

Despite the various discounts and other perks currently being enjoyed by Filipino senior citizens, Ong said many of our elderly still live in abject poverty because of the lack or total absence of economic opportunities for them.

“They have discounts on food, medicine, transportation and even entertainment, but what’s the use of all these perks if our senior citizens do not have the money to spend? I

really think that the government should open more economic opportunities for our senior citizens and let them enjoy life even in their twilight years,” Ong said.

Ong hopes to change this by forging a partnership with the DOLE and tap its Tulong Panghanapbuhay para sa Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program to provide employment for senior citizens in various government offices, including public schools and state universities.

Ong said this partnership will be initially launched at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), which has entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III and Ong for the pilot implementation of the special employment program for senior citizens.

Ong said that senior citizens who will be hired to work at the PUP will do tasks that are important but not physically strenuous for at least three hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon.

Senior citizens who live around the various PUP campuses will be given priority, and their salaries will be drawn from DOLE’s TUPAD allocation.

The salaries of the senior citizen workers under this program shall be based on the minimum salary in each region. In the National Capital Region, for example, they would be paid P537 per day.

Ong said another MOA will be signed with the University of the Philippines and he is hoping that this program will be replicated in other state universities and public schools nationwide.

“I’m really happy because we can now test this program, if it is truly effective in making life easier and better for our beloved senior citizens. This is our own little way of showing our gratitude for their sacrifices,” Ong said.

Rizal’s register of admission at the British Museum discovered

By Geronimo Suliguin

M

ANILA—The Knights of Rizal held its 7th European Regional Assembly from August 30 to September 1, 2019, in London, United Kingdom, with the theme “Isalin ang Rizalismo sa Gawaing Pagbabago” (Translate Rizalism to Transformative Action).

Area Commander Sir Alfonso Taguiang, Knight Grand Officer of Rizal, was at the helm of the event.

The celebration also marked the 130th year of publication of Dr. Jose Rizal’s Specimens of Tagalog Folklore (May 1889), Two Eastern Fables (July 1889) and his annotations of Antonio de Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas, a product of his numerous visits to the British Museum.

One of the activities of the 7th ERA was a visit to the British Museum to view Rizal’s Register of Admission to the Reading Room.

“I was fortunate enough to be of assistance to the London organizers since I was previously in contact with the British Museum while I was working on a paper on Rizal,” he said.

His previous engagements with the Museum led to facilitating Taguiang’s request for the delegates of the 7th ERA to see the Register.

Rizal arrived in London in the last week of May 1888. On the 25th of May, he arrived at the Grand Hotel Midland, the train’s final stop from Liverpool. The hotel is more familiar in today’s London as Saint Pancras Renaissance London Hotel, the façade of which doubled as Kings’ Cross station to Harry Potter’s Platform 9 3/4.

By mid-August 1888, Rizal embarked on writing the Filipino’s glorious past. He registered as a reader

NATIONAL hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal’s register of admission at the British Museum Reading Room

PHOTO COURTESY OF SIR ARNOLD VILLAFUERTE, KNIGHT GRAND OFFICER OF RIZAL

at the British museum on August 16, 1888. In order to study books or manuscripts held by the Museum, it was necessary to make an application and be given permission. Those granted admission were issued a ticket, which had to be presented when visiting the Reading Room.

Decoding the Registry

THE Registry entries are numbered according to the arrival of the guests.

Looking at the Registry, the left column markings would tell us that Rizal was the 15th person to be registered on August 16, 1888, (16/15), with 16 marking the day of the month and 15 as the order of registration.

The A34470 that appears below the 16/15 is the number of Rizal’s application form to the museum, while 3561 is the accession number for the documents that he presented to request access to the Round Reading Room. These documents were likely to be a reference letter and a letter by Rizal making such a request.

The registry did not make any mention who Rizal’s referee was unlike in the previous entries. For example, in the entry on Karl Marx in 1850, it was clear who his referee was, the German Dr. William Plate.

Plate was the same referee listed on another entry, that of Dr. Reinhold Rost who was Rizal’s neighbor and friend at Primrose Hill.

Rost has always been credited as the one responsible for Rizal’s admittance to the British Museum. This is not surprising considering the influence of Rost and the friendship that existed between the two men.

To put the doubt in my mind to rest, I inquired from the Museum who Rizal’s referee was. I found out that while it was still necessary to submit a referee in 1889, sadly, in the case of Rizal, the application form may have been lost or at least no longer in the British Museum (as it is the case with most earlier applications).

To date, there is no record of who was his referee. It may, therefore, be

necessary to inquire deeper from the British Library if they have it as the Library kept some of them when they moved out of the British Museum building. As of this time, it does not appear in the Library’s catalogue but it does not mean it is not there, if it is there.

In the main column, the entries —the name and the address—were written by Rizal, identifying himself as a doctor (Dr.) and writing down his address.

Rizal frequented the Reading Room, copying by hand the entire Morga book and making annotations using available accounts of other scholars. Fortunately, access to the Reading Room, as the whole of the British Museum, was free of charge.

During Rizal’s time, readers were issued with a ticket just once and there was not a need to renew it.

The reader’s ticket was presented if the staff would not recognize the person. Rizal would have been very easy to recognize with his Asian features.

The library was open Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. from January to April and October to December and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. from May to August. It was a very busy place with up to 490 people visiting on one day.

Rizal took advantage of the resources available at the Reading Room. After leaving London in early 1889 for Paris, Rizal continued to visit the museum. He found its materials and collections more adequate than those in continental Europe. PNA Geronimo Suliguin took postgraduate courses in historical and diplomatic studies at Oxford University. He is an assistant director at the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs.

Editor: Angel R. Calso • Saturday, November 16, 2019 A5

Rules for immortality

By Angel R. Calso

TRIPLE DIGITS

T

HIS column was conceived to review and digest books, studies and research papers on longevity and anti-aging, with special focus on advances in medical science that will change the face of health care for the elderly. We will prioritize books that feature breakthroughs in age reversal techniques and present these longevity tips and ideas from medical and anti-aging authorities in bite-sized servings.

We hope that the longevity tips we will learn from medical experts will help us unlock the secrets of immortality.

We named this column Triple Digits because we believe that when it comes to age, most everyone desires to hit triple digits—100 and more. W ho wouldn’t want to join the centenarian club? Luckily for seniors living in the 21st century, two book authors have said that modern medical science has already demonstrated advances that would have been material only for science fiction writers a few decades ago. It’s now easier for you to reach your 100th birthday today than ever before—if you take care of your health and follow experts’ advice.

According to Science magazine, with the currently expanding life spans of modern man, all it would take for the average life span to reach 99 years is the elimination of heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Dr. Chris Matsko, coauthor of “How to Live to Be 100 Years Old,” also offers the following advice: “While no one has yet discovered the fountain of youth, people are living longer than ever before. Many are even doing it in good health. The best way to have the longest life you can and the highest quality of life possible, is to take care of yourself, both physically and psychologically. Protect your well-being so that your body and mind will be healthy enough to sustain you for a long life.”

Reaching the age of 100 is undoubtedly a sign of a life well-lived. Thanks to advances in modern medicine and nutrition, it’s now easy to believe that even our senior citizens today will be able to enjoy longer and healthier lives. Although those 100 years old and older make up a tiny segment of the global population at present, by 2146 when the first Boomers (people born from 1946 to 1964) become centenarians, there’s going to be acceleration, and the number of centenarians globally is seen doubling every five years. This column will offer the ultimate guide to living forever, based on the disruptive books published by experts showing how aging can be slowed down.

In their book, Stopping the Clock, the authors said that contrary to a commonly held misconception, the purpose of antiaging medicine is not to extend life in order to live a longer period of time as an “older” person, but rather to delay the onset of the aging process and give everyone a greater number of those middle, healthy years.

“Aging is a treatable medical condition,” they said, explaining that “the dreaded deterioration and vulnerability to the ‘diseases of aging’ can be slowed, prevented

and, potentially, even reversed: memory loss, fatigue, heart disease, circulatory problems, arthritis, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.”

We will digest the ideas and suggestions in the book so that you too can have: an enhanced immune system; improved memory and cognitive function; enhanced sexual function; and an increased rate of healing.

Too good to be true? The authors—both pioneering scientists of anti-aging medicine—said these goals are well within your reach. “Getting older doesn’t have to mean degenerating health and diminishing energy. You can enjoy prime-of-life vitality and cut years from your age.” In short, you have the power to fight aging.

As our initial offering, here are the “Rules for immortality” from the book Stopping the Clock, written by Dr. Ronald Klatz and Dr. Robert Goldman, cofounders of the American Academy of AntiAging Medicine.

Rules for immortality

THE first and most important rule of anti-aging medicine is “don’t die”!

The second rule is “don’t get sick.”

The third rule is “don’t get old.”

Every day you stay healthy and alive is another day medical science comes closer to finding the ultimate cure to aging.

Avoid stress and depression­— they are major causes for premature aging.

Exercise daily—it is your number one defense against the infirmities of aging.

Limit fat in your diet—it is directly associated with an increased risk of both heart disease and cancer.

Sleep seven to eight hours a night—quality sleep is essential for rejuvenation and repair. If you suffer from insomnia or other sleeping problems, get help.

Consume little or no alcohol—it is neurotoxic.

Don’t smoke—with every minute you smoke, a minute of your life is taken away.

Try to keep your ideal weight, or even five percent below ideal body weight. Mortality increases significantly at 20 percent or more above IBW, and 10 percent or more below IBW. Maintain optimum antioxidant vitamin blood levels—animal studies indicate a 20 percent increase in longevity with optimum supplementation.

Early detection is the key to a cure for both heart disease and cancer—get blood tests and comprehensive anti-aging physical exams yearly.

Drink adequate purified water.

Think young—aging is as much a state of mind as it is a state of physiology. Keep young friends around to remind yourself what “youth ” feels and thinks like.

Last, do not accept “just getting old”—fight tooth and nail to remain youthful and vigorous.

As Woody Allen has said, “Some people want to achieve immortality through their works or their descendants. I prefer to achieve immortality by not dying!” That’s a good mindset we should adopt.

(Next week: The long-life diet— Nutrition for longevity)

A6

Saturday, November 16, 2019 | Editor: Mike Besa

THE LONGEST DRIVERS I KRANK GOLF SMASHES I T

Jason Dufner signs with Cobra Golf

C

OBRA Golf, a leader in golf club innovation, today announced the newest member to its tour team, five-time PGA Tour winner and Major Champion, Jason Dufner. The brand signed Dufner to a multiyear partnership that will see the 2013 PGA Championship winner on the course with Cobra clubs and Cobra bag beginning at this week’s Mayakoba Golf Classic.

“At Cobra, our goal is to align with the best athletes and ambassadors who are not only talented golfers but are also engaging and authentic on and off the course. To that end, we are excited to officially announce Jason Dufner as the newest member of our team,” said Dan Ladd, executive vice president, general manager of Cobra Puma Golf. “In addition to his unique personality, Dufner is known for his impressive ballstriking ability, as well as being one of the most sophisticated, technically-savvy pros out there when it comes to choosing what’s in his bag, and we’re honored that someone as discerning as he is, has chosen our equipment as he looks toward the next stage of an already impressive career.”

Dufner has been playing with the King F9 Speedback driver for most of 2019 and recently worked into Cobra irons and wedges, as well.

What’s in Dufner’s bag currently: n Driver: Cobra King F9 Speedback |10.5° black/yellow| LAGP Olyss 6x shaft n Irons: Cobra King Forged CB (chrome) | 5-P | Dynamic Gold Tour Issue AMT S400 shaft n Irons: King driving iron 4i | LAGP Proto Rev A shaft n Wedges: Cobra King V Grind | 52°, 56° & 62° | Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 shaft “I couldn’t be more excited to join the Cobra team.

The success of Rickie Fowler and Bryson DeChambeau over the past few years with Cobra equipment certainly piqued my interest in the brand. When I tested their products, I was impressed by the improvement in my numbers across the board, and by the look and feel of their equipment,” said Dufner.

“I had been testing a variety of products over the past year, and Cobra has proven to be the best for me. I am thrilled to have the Cobra clubs in the bag and represent the Cobra brand.”

For more information on all of Cobra’s innovative products and its entire world-class stable of athletes, visit www.cobragolf.com.

Story & photos

by Mike Besa

HE driver is the sexiest club in the bag.

On this there is no argument. What’s sexier than smashing a golf ball further into the distance than you ever have before? That brings on intense emotions which are incredibly intoxicating and euphoric; it’s why golfers put down big bucks for the big stick.

You won’t find the longest hitters on the PGA Tour.

We might marvel at Rory, Brooks, DJ and the rest for their ability to fire a golf ball over 300 yards down the fairway with stunning regularity but that pales in comparison to the 400 yard plus drives that are achieved on the World Long Drive Tour.

What does it take to hit a golf ball that far?

Cameron Champ is the longest driver of the golf ball on the PGA Tour. The whole world is in awe of just how much longer champ is than the rest of the field with his 129-miles per hour clubhead speed and 194-mph ball speed. If you’re wondering, that’s in excess of 10 mph more ball speed than the next guy on the list.

Those numbers may not make it out of the first round of a Long Drive tournament. Kyle Berkshire, Long Drive’s latest wunderkind, has had his clubhead speed measured at a mind numbing 155 mph and routinely averages 145 mph in competition. That kind of velocity generates ball speeds of up to 228 mph! If you were wondering, Berkshire’s record in competition is a mind-numbing 492 yards.

No, that’s not a typo. Most club players would struggle to hit it that far with three shots.

Do you wonder what kind of driver can stand up to that kind of force? Some of the major manufacturers produce special versions of their production drivers for the long drive game. These heads are reinforced to withstand the fury of the longest men in golf but still break over time. We had the

opportunity to speak with Sean “The Beast” Fister, three-time world long drive champion who told us he used to break four drivers a week when he was in training.

But there is one manufacturer that makes a driver that not only tolerate the abuse that it will suffer at the hands of these monsters but has become the weapon of champions in the long drive game. Krank Golf was founded by Lance Reader, a long drive competitor himself who, by his own admission, got tired of breaking drivers.

Their current magnum opus is the Krank Formula X Extreme driver, the 10th since Krank started making drivers.

The clubhead is handmade from proprietary forged and heattreated Beta Titanium to produce the strongest driver in golf.

This is essentially the same driver that stands up to the most powerful men in golf but with the face thinned out to make it playable by mere mortals.

A cursory examination of the Formula X Extreme reveals a clubhead that’s quite busy. There are stabilizers that manage airflow on the raised crown, there are louvers in the perimeter of the clubhead to reinforce and create rigidity. Krank says it’s the most rigid driver head in golf.

It’s hard to argue otherwise. It’s not what you’d call a classic design, but one borne of the fires of war. This is a military grade piece of hardware.

This is Maximum Energy Transfer (MET) Technology, which means the Formula X Extreme stores and releases energy back to the ball better than any other driver in the world.

Krank starts with the highest-grade titanium available on the market today. Then they harden it with a proprietary process before welding it into the clubhead. This makes the Formula X Extreme so durable; the drivers are 100 percent forged titanium. Rather than using casting as is the norm, Krank forges every component of the clubhead by hand before robotically welding it together.

The result is the highest coefficient of restitution from a clubhead that meets the regulations set by the USGA and

R&A. The rigid structure and high elasticity of the forged cup face return as much energy as possible to the golf ball which result in the highest ball speeds possible.

Another benefit of their processes is the attendant durability of the Formula X Extreme.

Berkshire put 5,000 hits on his and still hasn’t compromised the clubface.

That sounds impossible, but there it is. This driver will probably last the average Juan a lifetime.

It’s a compelling

HOIANA Shores Golf Club

HOIANA SHORES GC EARNS MULTIPLE ACCOLADES AT ASIA-PA

H

OIANA Shores Golf Club was named “Best New Golf Course” for 2019 at the Asia-Pacific Golf Awards, held here at the DLF Golf and Country Club. The new Robert Trent Jones II-designed links, hewn from a seaside dune scape outside Hoi An, Vietnam, has been welcoming golfers since September 23, for Preview Play in support of local charities, but early returns have been swift and definitive.

“We are truly honored to be recognized in this and other categories,” said Ben Styles, vice president of Golf at Hoiana Integrated Resort, the $4 billion development poised to open early next year on Vietnam’s Central Coast, just south of Da Nang. “It was a thrill to be here in India— to soak up the gala atmosphere and place this, our very first trophy, in a cabinet that we suspect will quickly fill up in the coming years.”

The team from Hoiana Shores GC was, in fact, recognized in several other categories during Wednesday’s Asia-Pacific Golf Awards. Chairman of the Board at Hoiana Don Lam was honored with 2019 Asia’s Most Powerful

People in Golf and the Apex Award for Environment Leadership in Golf. Hoiana Shores GC was constructed in full accordance with the strict sustainability principles laid out by the UK-based GEO Foundation. According to GEO Executive Director Sam Thomas, there are no other golf developments in Southeast Asia so far along the sustainability path.

“It was important for us to lead the way here in Vietnam, such a booming development market when it comes to golf courses,” Lam noted. “Hoiana wants to lead the way and show that golf courses can be built sustainably and environmentally friendly. I’m grateful to the Asia Pacific Golf Group for such a prestigious award and we shall continue our sustainability efforts across our entire resort here at Hoiana, where the environment will always be a top priority.”

The 2019 list of Asia’s Most Powerful People on Golf also included Alvin Chau, chairman of Suncity Group Holdings Ltd. and shareholder in the Hoiana project. Chau was bestowed

the 2019 Apex Award, significant of extraordinary vision in the field of golf development, as well.

“As a golfer myself, we wanted to create a course located right on the beach that looked out over the East Sea to the Cham Islands. We wanted to create something that stayed in visitors’ minds long after they had returned home—something that might bring them back to Vietnam again,” Chau said. “As the first facility at Hoiana to welcome guests, we are proud of the team that created this masterpiece. It’s a great first step and should signal to the world what lies in store here over the next few months.”

Hoiana Shores Golf Club has elicited such immediate, fulsome praise in part because it looks and plays unlike any other course in Asia. Treeless and fashioned from a windswept sea of sand, the front nine offers glimpses of the ocean as holes weave their way through the dune scape.

“The front nine accustoms golfers to the cadence of links strategy, the bounce and roll of the turf, the multiple shot options, and the use of undulation and shapes to open

www.pinoygolfer.com | Saturday, November 16, 2019

A7

IN GOLF ITS WAY TO OUR SHORES technical concept and a great marketing story. The question is how it plays in the real world. Two shafts are available with the Krank Formula X; the Fujikura Speeder Tour Lite and its slightly heavier sibling the Fujikura Speeder Tour. These are made for Krank by Fujikura, so the specifications of these shafts are unique to Krank.

The Formula X Extreme features an adjustable hosel that allows +2/-1 degrees of loft adjustment and the capability to individually adjust lie angle

and flight trajectory. Interestingly, the Krank adaptor is compatible with the one Callaway uses on its drivers. This creates a lot of possibilities for a great number of golfers and should help Krank considerably.

The Krank Formula X is a remarkable driver. The head structure is extremely rigid. You can feel the energy from the clubhead being transferred directly to the golf ball. The Formula X feels powerful at impact. The common perception among the golfers that tried it was that the ball exits the clubface explosively.

The ball flight across the different skill levels was strong and piercing; a clear indication of the

All that Jazz

By Chuah Choo Chiang

W

ACIFIC GOLF AWARDS

up the green surfaces,” Styles explained. “Upon making the turn, golfers get their first interaction with the ocean and a sign of what lays ahead.”

Hoiana Shores Golf Club was built with the ethos in mind to bring a new level of the game to Vietnam and the region, allowing golfers to experience pure, traditional links golf the way it’s been played centuries.

“These awards last night are a testament to the team here at Hoiana; however, they are just the start for our Integrated Resort that is surely going to have the world talking,” said Steve Wolstenholme, Group COO of Hoiana.

Hoiana Shores Golf Club is part of the larger Hoiana Integrated Resort, the new lifestyle destination in Vietnam.

Once open, Hoiana will offer not only one of Asia’s most compelling golf experiences, but also refined hospitality experience with over 1,000 hotel rooms under Rosewood Hoi An, New World Hoiana Hotel and Residences, KHOS Hoiana and Hoiana Hotel and Suites, and the substantial entertainment and gaming facilities.

ITH a first name being a headlinewriter’s dream and a surname twisting tongues for even for the best of sports announcers, Thai golfer Jazz Janewattananond (pronounced as Janewa-taar-na-non) has become one of the most talked-about young and exciting talents to burst onto the golf scene in the past 12 months.

Aged 23, Jazz, which is a nickname given by his father who happens to be a “jazz” music lover, has hit more than a few high notes in winning two co-sanctioned Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour tournaments, and notched 10 other top 10s.

He is on the cusp of breaking into the world’s top 50—he currently lies in 57th place at the time of writing—and those who have followed his progress closely since he emerged as a wide-eyed 14-yearold kid will vouch that he has the talent, ethics and a swagger, which is mixed with a genuine down-to-earth attitude, to be golf’s next big rock star from Asia.

As a case in point, a day after securing his third, and probably biggest career victory yet, at the SMBC Singapore Open in January, where he defeated a field which featured Sergio Garcia and Paul Casey, Jazz went straight into the gym and practice range in his hometown of Hua Hin upon his return as he simply wanted to improve.

“I got home, had dinner with my family and then went back out to practice,” said Jazz, whose first name is “Atiwit.”

Such is his single-minded dedication that the slender Thai with boyish good looks has worked his way up the world order that even Presidents Cup International Team Captain Ernie Els has taken notice. “I’ve played with him in Malaysia. I’m really impressed with his game, very controlled, a good putter and good attitude,” said the Big Easy.

A commendable T14 finish at the PGA Championship at Bethpage Black in May where he entered the final round in T2 left American fans with a first glimpse of Jazz’s potential, as well as put many in a bind as to how to pronounce his name! Later in August, he finished two rungs outside the top 8 which would have secured an automatic place in Els’s squad to face the United States at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Australia, in December. Even if the young Thai doesn’t get in as a captain’s pick, many believe he will remain in Presidents Cup

conversations for years to come.

He grew up as a scrawny kid whose first sporting involvement was swimming. When others outgrew and outpaced him in the pool, he tried playing football but gave that up too as he got kicked and outmuscled.

He then tried golf after his father, a Thai judge, encouraged him to hit balls. “My dad had overseas friends visiting and they played golf.

I remember getting into a buggy and I wanted to drive but dad told me to start hitting golf balls,” said Jazz, who now stands at 1.75 meters and weighs a lightweight 68 kilograms.

“I began hitting balls when I was about eight and then started playing in one-day tournaments. I liked the competition aspect and kept going and got pretty good.”

He wrote a slice of history at the 2010 Asian Tour International on home soil by becoming the youngest ever at 14 years of age to make the halfway cut on the Asian Tour.

It was after this feat that Jazz began to think about a professional golf career despite growing up in a family comprising of high achievers.

“My sisters and cousins are doctors, or currently studying to become doctors. There are almost 10 who are doctors or judges in the family...except me. I’m guess I’m the weird one,” he laughs.

With his parents’ blessings, Jazz joined the professional ranks a day before turning 15 and cut his teeth on the local Thai circuit and Asian Tour. With his mother chaperoning him whenever he traveled out of country, which was a requirement by law, he found some success early on, posting 10 top-10 finishes on the Asian Tour before losing his card at the end of 2016. It prompted Jazz to spend two weeks in a Buddhist monastery where he learned to become a monk—a ritual common among young Thais as a mark of respect to their parents.

A few months later at the 2017 Bangladesh Open, Jazz found his winning rhythm with a first career victory on the Asian Tour and he credited his time in the monastery for the success. “I prayed and chanted every day in the temple. I felt

LOOKING SHARP ON THE LINKS K

AMPFER is German for fighter.

Fortis is strength in Latin.

A fighter is strong, determined and has the heart of a champion.

Golf is a game of focus, flexibility and discipline.

It demands perfection in every single swing.

Kämpfortis Golf is a premium golf apparel brand from Seattle, Washington.

Our products are designed to make golfers feel confident about their game.

JAZZ JANEWATTANANOND PHOTO BY ASIAN TOUR

Kämpfortis Golf offers different categories from golf shirts, caps, arm sleeves, ball markers, bags and balls.

All our golf shirts have Flex Dry fabric technology, made with a combination of polyester, elastane and spandex for maximum movement and flexibility.

It also has a moisture system that keeps golfers cool and dry at all times.

Kämpfortis Golf is now available at Go Sports Festival Supermall Alabang. To know more about Kämpfortis Golf, visit our web site at www.kampfortis.com. really peaceful. Golf used to be everything but now, I’m just happy I get to play in tournaments,” he said.

Ultimately, he dreams of joining Kiradech Aphibarnrat on the PGA Tour, but he is prepared to bide his time. “That’s my goal...hopefully in the near future,” he said.

“Kiradech is my inspiration. I stayed with him at The Open last year, got close to him and practiced with him. He’s the first Thai on the PGA Tour and he always says I can do it, too. A lot of young guys are playing golf now because of him. He’s like a big brother and shows me things.”

Being young, Jazz aspires to be the best he can become and has no qualms in putting in the long hours at the practice range to get to his final destination. “It’s my job, my life and I enjoy it,” he said. “I’m going to do this for the rest of my life. I want to be a regular on the PGA Tour, playing there week in and week out. That’s where I want to be.”

Jazz’s father, Judge Kajorndej Janewattananond, has allowed his son to venture out on his own accord without being directly involved in his career decisions. “We believe he should learn to make his own decisions. Like a bird, we nurtured him when he was young, but now that he is an adult, he has to fly on his own.”

While some may have deemed his PGA Championship as a disappointment after he fell off the leaderboard with a closing 77, he took it all in his stride. “What happened is good because I’m only 23, playing in my second major,” he told the media. “If I finished too good, I could be lazy, I could be thinking I was a big shot. That humbled me. Now I know I need to work a lot harder.”

And hard work is certainly something Jazz is not afraid of doing as he attempts to rock the world’s golfing order.

Note: Chuah Choo Chiang is senior director, communications of the PGA Tour and is based in Kuala Lumpur.

Sports BusinessMirror

A8 Saturday, November 16, 2019

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

ATENEO-U.S.T. FINALS ON

A

MEMBERS of Team North whoop it up after dominating Team South in Sta. Elena. ROY DOMINGO

NORTH REPEATS AS DUEL CHAMP T

eam North took the best dished out by some of the country’s best from the South and proved they’re better– individually—dominating the singles, 8 1/2-3 1/2—to repeat as The DuelNorth versus South champions at Sta. Elena Golf Club in Santa Rosa, Laguna, on Friday.

Unfazed by their rivals’ edge in depth, led by three top guns who swept the last four legs of this year’s Philippine Golf Tour (PGT), the Northerners relied on their big fighting heart and resolve, taking five of the first seven matches while squaring off in one to all but rule their sixth face-off in the country’s version of the Ryder Cup, 14 1/2-9 1/2.

North’s strong start likewise turned what was expected to be a down-to-the-wire finish into a runaway triumph after South

forced a tie at six points after fighting back, 4-2, in foursomes on Thursday.

“It’s a question of making the right match-ups and they did well,” said North Coach Cookie La’O, whose wards also beat Team South by three at John Hay in 2017. “It’s a job well done.”

It was, indeed, as each winning member received P80,000 plus trophies and medals from organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. Executive Director Narlene Soriano and Sta. Elena’s Rico

Tantoco during awards rites.

The South members took P40,000 each.

North, which won the opening four-ball, 4-2, Wednesday, thus completed a back-to-back title romp and squared off their series at three wins apiece in the biennial event which served as highlight of the PGT’s 10th season.

South ruled the inaugurals in 2012 in Alabang but North struck back in 2013, also at the Muntinlupa layout, before South won the next two editions in Cebu and Wack Wack.

Ira Alido staked his claim as the best from among a slew of young turks on the International Container Terminal Services Inc.sponsored circuit as the 18-year-old former amateur hotshot routed veteran Arnold Villacencio, 5&4, to spark the Northerners’ romp in the deciding one-on-one matches.

After Mars Pucay held Tony Lascuña, who won the Apo and South Pacific legs last month, to an all-square game in the second pairing, former PGT Asia leg winner Justin Quiban

wore down Rufino Bayron, 2&1, to give the defending champions a one-point cushion as South’s Albin Engino dominated last year’s PGT Order of Merit winner Jobim Carlos to fashion out a runaway 5&4 triumph in their side of the match-up.

But Keanu Jahns surprised PGT Asia’s winningest player Jhonnel Ababa, who also reigned at PGT Del Monte, 3&2, and James Ryan Lam and Michael Bibat overpowered Elmer Salvador, 4&2, and Nilo Salahog, 5&4, respectively, as South pulled away, 5 1/2-2 1/2 after the first eight matches.

North, however, proved far from being finished as Eric Gallardo upended former PGT Asia leg titlist Rene Menor, 1-up, Jun Bernis upstaged fancied Jay Bayron via the same scoreline and Joenard Rates held on to foil PGT Pueblo leg winner Reymon Jaraula, 1-up.

Zanieboy Gialon and Jerson Balasabas provided the two other wins for South with the former blasting Fidel Concepcion, 6&5, and the latter thwarting Gerald Rosales, 1-up.

ANTHONY RETURNS TO NBA A

person familiar with the details says Carmelo Anthony is returning to the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the Portland Trail Blazers.

The 10-time All-Star hasn’t played since a short stint with the Houston Rockets ended a little more than a year ago after just 10 games. But the Blazers hope there is still enough game left in the 35-year-old forward to help them overcome a 4-8 start.

Anthony’s deal with Portland was confirmed to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday because it has not been announced. It was first reported

by ESPN.com, which said that Anthony would join the team on its upcoming road trip.

Anthony is a three-time Olympic gold medalist but has struggled at the end of his recent stops in Oklahoma City and Houston following 6 1/2 seasons in New York.

Anthony was acquired by the Chicago Bulls from Houston on

THE Rockets’ Carmelo Anthony drives against the Bulls’ Justin Holiday in their November 3, 2018, game in Chicago. AP

January 21, with the intention of trading him before the deadline or letting him go. He averaged 13.4 points in 10 games with the Rockets last season, but hasn’t played since November 2018.

Anthony was traded by

Oklahoma City to Atlanta in July 2018, a move that preceded the Hawks releasing him to sign with the Rockets. The Bulls, technically, were his fourth franchise in seven months.

Eight of Anthony’s 10

appearances for the Rockets came off the bench after he had started all 1,054 games he’d played in his first 15 NBA seasons. He has averaged 24 points in 16 seasons.

Anthony fills a need for the Blazers, who are short-handed at forward. Zach Collins recently had shoulder surgery that is expected to keep him out for at least four months. Rodney Hood has been bothered by back spasms, but returned for the team’s loss to Toronto.

Center Jusuf Nukic remains out after breaking his leg in a game last month and isn’t expected back until after the start of the new year. Pau Gasol was signed by the Blazers in the off-season but is still rehabbing from foot surgery.

The Blazers were reportedly interested in Anthony in the summer of 2017. Portland guard CJ McCollum tried to woo him with a photoshopped Instagram post that showed the future Hall of Famer in a Blazers jersey.

TENEO and University of Santo Tomas (UST) begin their bestof-three Finals series that go down as a clash of coaching brilliance in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 82 men’s basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Ateneo’s Tab Baldwin trade wits with UST’s Aldin Ayo on the league’s biggest stage for the third time in the last four years when the three-peat seeking Blue Eagles and Growling Tigers clash take the floor at 4 p.m.

Baldwin bowed to Ayo’s Ben Mbalaled Green Archers in 2016, before the Kiwi-American got back at the Sorsogon native the next season as the Blue Eagles dethroned their archrivals.

Ayo moved to UST last season and missed the Final Four. Ateneo? The team won for the second consecutive season.

This year, Baldwin and Ayo meet again in a championship series that features the Blue Eagles’ disciplined system against the Tigers’ mayhem.

While Ateneo advanced straight to the title round via 14-0 elimination round sweep, UST hurdled Far Eastern University and twice-to-beat University of the Philippines in the step-ladder phase to make it back to the Finals after a four-year absence.

Dubbed by Baldwin as “a blessing for Philippine basketball and the UAAP,” expect Ayo to give the Blue Eagles headaches as the Tigers try to end a 13-year championship drought.

“I have so much respect for him and the way he does his job,” said Baldwin of Ayo.

Ateneo survived its biggest test in UST, a tough 71-70 first round victory in a midday duel last September 11.

The Eagles then completed a head-to-head eliminations sweep of the Tigers, 66-52, last October 4 in a game where soon-to-be-crowned Most Valuable Player Soulemane Chabi Yo was held to a season-low six points.

Ateneo wants to avoid University of the East team’s 2007 debacle— the Red Warriors also swept the eliminations but were clobbered by the Green Archers in two games in the Finals.

“I think there’s always pressure for us especially before the start of the season. They were already expecting something from our team whether it’s a sweep or we win a lot of games,” graduating forward Thirdy Ravena said.“But I think the pressure that really matters is that the pressure we put on ourselves in trying to be the best team and best individuals we can possibly be,” Ravena added.

Ravena hopes to end his college career as a winner—so do Isaac Go, twin brothers Mike and Matt Nieto.

Renzo Subido, who drilled the crucial 3-pointer against the Fighting Maroons that carried them to the Finals last Wednesday, tries to cap his stint with the Tigers as a champion, guiding a young crew led by Chabi Yo, Mark Nonoy and Rhenz Abando.

In the women’s division, Far Eastern University and UST clash for the right to face National University in the best-ofthree championship at 12 noon.

Navo, Burgos top sprint triathlon

T

EENAGERS Richard Anson Navo and Erika Nicole Burgos flashed promising form to top all competitors in the Second MediCard Sprint Tri held recently at the Fontana Leisure Park in Clark, Pampanga.

Navo registered the fastest time in the 600-meter swim/20-km bike/5-km run event in one hour, eight minutes and 46 seconds to rule the Male 15-17 title. Adrian Thomas Dionisio and Lorenzo Joaquin Solda completed the podium with times of 1:09:46 and 1:10:45, respectively.

Burgos, on the other hand, looked unbeatable in the Female 15-17 category with her time of 1:24:26. She beat 1824 winner Franchesca Ezzabella Joves (1:26:49) and 25-29 titlist Kath Lagunsad (1:27:44).

“Today’s triathlon was pretty good as several participants, including people

I personally know, became triathletes for the first time. Aside from seeing the participants enjoy the race to stay healthy, it was inspiring also to see participants aged 50 and older finish the race with strong determination,” MediCard President Dr. Nicky Montoya said.

One of the highlights of the race was 78-year-old first-timer Ruben del Rosario, who completed the race and was greeted by his family and grandchildren at the finish line.

“It was challenging but I kept persevering as I focused on completing this event which was my main goal. This is an achievement that I will always treasure.

I am very inspired right now,” said del Rosario, a lawyer.

The event, a joint project of Bike King and MediCard Philippines, was the culminating leg for the year.

Federer beats Djokovic, reaches ATP Finals series

L

ONDON—Roger Federer showed that memories of this year’s Wimbledon final are well and truly behind him.

In the first rematch between Federer and Novak Djokovic since that epic five-set final, the Swiss star dominated from the start to win 6-4, 6-3 Thursday and reach the semifinals of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Finals.

“I played incredible, and I knew I had to,” Federer said. “I was able to produce, it was definitely magical.”

It was Federer’s first win over the Serb since 2015, having lost their last five meetings—including that Wimbledon final in July when Djokovic saved two match points in the fifth set.

“Obviously it’s always special beating Novak, even more so because of what happened [at Wimbledon],” Federer said. ”But I didn’t feel like I had to get rid of the ghosts or anything like that. I feel like I moved on pretty quickly after that.”

This match had little of the same drama as Djokovic gave up three cheap service breaks and Federer

gave him no chance to get back in it.

The whole thing lasted just one hour and 13 minutes and ended with Djokovic being broken at love.

“He was the better player in all aspects and absolutely deserved to win,” Djokovic said. “Just a pretty bad match from my side.”

The result means Djokovic was eliminated with a 1-2 record in the group stage, and ensures that Rafael Nadal will keep hold of the yearend No. 1 ranking. Djokovic had a chance to overtake Nadal and equal Pete Sampras’s record of finishing the year as No. 1 for a sixth time by winning the tournament.

“Of course that was a big motivation also for the end of the season,” Djokovic said. “But every time you step on the court, you know there is something on the line.”

In a match between two players with a combined 36 Grand Slam titles and 11 ATP Finals championships, Djokovic was also broken at love in his second service game after double-faulting twice and hitting two shots into the net.

BusinessMirror

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos • lifestylebusinessmirror@gmail.com

Saturday, November 16, 2019 A9

SMART, TNT UNVEIL INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK PREPAID PROMO IN line with its push to empower Filipinos with easy access to their favorite social-media apps, PLDT mobile subsidiary Smart Communications is treating Smart Prepaid and TNT subscribers with free 1GB access to Instagram (IG) and Facebook (FB) with every registration to select promos (www.smart.com.ph).

With free IG+FB for all, Smart Prepaid and TNT users may enjoy worry-free access to IG and FB to post their latest travels and OOTDs, keep up with the posts of their favorite celebrities and content creators, share trending memes, and bond with friends and loved ones over the latest online buzz.

Even better, subscribers may enjoy their open access data allocation for their other online activities, such as reading blogs and news sites, watching vlogs and series, streaming music, playing mobile games and accessing productivity apps, among others.

“Smart has always provided more Filipinos with access to digital platforms—from video streaming and, now, connecting to top social-media platforms.

This is because we understand that access to these platforms enable them to enrich and celebrate their passions, and we want to make this experience as worry-free as possible for our subscribers,” said Oscar A. Reyes Jr., SVP and head of Consumer BusinessIndividual Group.

Upon successful registration, subscribers will be instantly notified of their free 1GB of IG and FB, valid throughout the duration of the promo they have chosen. Subscribers can also browse socialmedia updates seamlessly, upload and share their favorite content in a flash, and send messages in real time—powered by an LTE network that has touted as the fastest in the country by worldrenowned network analytics firms, such as Ookla, Opensignal, Tutela and P3.

HOW TO STEP-UP YOUR IG GAME

/

THE Vivo V17 Pro

WHAT does it take to be one of those Instagram celebrities with an endless stream of effortlessly cool photos? Well, it’s not as easy as it seems. Taking those perfect shots can actually be pretty tough, especially for those who end up using the same old poses or others who often feel too camera-shy to snap IG-worthy photos of their best moments.

Make things more exciting by playing around with new poses from the AI Pose Master powering the imaging chops of the Vivo V17 Pro (bit.ly/2rI9R5c). The Pose Master offers tons of ideas to match a variety of photo scenes, from selfies to groufies, to help the user stay at the top of their IG game.

The Vivo V17 Pro’s top-of-the-line cameras get the job done with its many innovative features. Capturing the fuller picture for the ‘gram is its front camera with a 105-degree super wide-angle camera and its impressive 32 megapixel main camera. Step up to the ranks of pro-level IG feeds with the Vivo V17 Pro’s powerful rear AI Quad Camera, complete with its 48MP main camera, and three other cameras specialized for super wide-angle, super macro, and bokeh photography.

There are plenty of other modes and features that will help users the get best shots like its Super Night Mode with its F/1.8 aperture for nightlife photos.

Cashless dining in an IG-worthy setting PRIMETIME

DINNA CHAN VASQUEZ @dinnachanvasquez luckydinna@gmail.com

I

’VE always been so impressed with those food halls abroad where all transactions are cashless.

It means you can go from one outlet to another and order what you want by just tapping a card to a terminal. It really is so convenient, especially if you’re with a big group. Anyway, I was so excited to be invited by my friend Marj Sia to go to Eatogether Food Hall in SM Megamall (beside Forever 21).

The concept of Eatogether Food Hall is you go there as a group and order from the different outlets for sharing. Most of the food portions are generous.

The area can seat 200 people and the tables are all Instagram-worthy. The idea is to order food and take pictures of them. The lighting is perfect for that.

Because the place is cashless, you need to get a Vikings Reward Card with a minimum initial load of P300 from the reception at the entrance on your first visit. The card is reloadable. All food stalls also accept debit and credit-card payments.

There are currently 12 food stalls, including Bag of Seafood, Budae Jjigae, D’ Letchoneros, Frituen Batsoy, Fowl Play, Hawker Lane, Jian Bao, Just Steak A Minute, L’Italiano, Mien Bao, Nord’s Bread Hub, Tong Yang Express and a beverage bar.

I have only tried Frituen Batsoy (they have the best chicharon bulaklak) and the beverage bar but I intend to go back for Tong Yang Express.

Eatogether Food Hall has an ongoing promo wherein for a minimum purchase of P300 in a single receipt in any of the food stalls, a customer gets a free item depending on the day.

■ Monday: Free Milk Tea from The Bar ■ Tuesday: Free Pan Fried Meat and Sea Urchin from Mien Bao ■ Wednesday: Free one slice of Quatro Formaggi Pizza from L’Italiano ■ Thursday: Free Crispy Noodles from Hawker Lane ■ Friday: Free chicharong bulaklak from Jeepney Avenue

To redeem the free item, customer must present their qualified receipt to the participating stall with the free item. Claiming of the free item is within the day of the indicated date in the receipt only.

This promo is available for dine-in guests only. The promo runs weekdays only until November 20.

Eatogether Food Hall is dubbed the first cashless food hall in the country. You can choose your mode of payment when you check out: you can tap or dip any Visa or Mastercard credit, debit, or prepaid card, or, if you want to enjoy cashback of up to 100 percent on your bill, use PayMaya QR on your mobile phone to pay instantly. For visiting Chinese tourists, WeChat Pay is also available. If you don’t have these, you can also pay using the Vikings Pay Card which you can top up at the entrance counter.

Removing cash makes it more convenient for stores. It reduces the time the staff spends in a day to count cash and put it away. It also eliminates staff theft and receipt of fraudulent bills. Basically, a cashless model increases efficiency and streamlines operations. The concern would be customers who still prefer to pay in cash and in the Philippines, there are a lot of people like that. But at the end of the day, technology makes everything more convenient for everyone concerned. ■

Huawei giving employees bonus for coping with US sanctions BEIJING—Huawei is paying its employees bonuses totaling more than $285 million as thanks for helping the Chinese tech giant cope with US sanctions that threaten its smartphone and other businesses.

Huawei scrambled to remove US components from its products following curbs announced in May, on access to American technology after Washington accused the company of being a security risk. It has unveiled a smartphone operating system it says can replace Google’s Android if necessary.

Some 90,000 employees will share a 2 billion yuan ($285 million) bonus, or about 22,000 yuan

($3,100) each, according to a company announcement circulated Tuesday on social media. In addition, Huawei’s full 180,000-member work force will receive an additional month’s salary.

Huawei Technologies Ltd. confirmed in a written statement the document was genuine but said it had no comment. The bonuses are to “thank you for your efforts” since the announcement of US sanctions, the announcement said.

Huawei, China’s first global tech brand, is the biggest global maker of network gear for phone and Internet companies and the No. 2 smartphone brand.

The company denies US accusations it is a security risk and might facilitate Chinese spying.

Washington has postponed enforcement of the curbs and US officials say some sales will be permitted. But suppliers of processor chips and other vendors that depend on Huawei for billions of dollars in annual revenue still are waiting for licenses.

The larger bonus to 90,000 employees goes to people who work in chip production, research and development and manufacturing-related jobs. Those units have been most affected by efforts to overhaul Huawei’s products. Huawei can keep using Android in

its smartphones but will lose access to Google’s music, maps and other services.

Huawei said its sales rose 24.4 percent over a year earlier in the first nine months of 2019 to 610.8 billion yuan ($86 billion). However, chairman Liang Hua warned in July, the company will “face difficulties” in the second half. US security warnings focus on Huawei’s network gear.

The company is a leader in next-generation network technology meant to support self-driving cars and other new applications. Its increased reach makes that more politically sensitive. AP

BusinessMirror

A10 Saturday, November 16, 2019

www.businessmirror.com.ph

MOBILE APP LAUNCHED FOR TECHVOC GRADUATES

BY RODERICK L. ABAD Contributor THE Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) and Bizooku Philippines officially launched a mobile application that gives users access to information on the various technical-vocational education and training (TVET) programs offered by the agency.

E-learning video clips from the Tesda Online Program (TOP) can be viewed in the self-branded app, as well as the latest news about the agency’s initiatives, list of training programs, frequently asked questions, addresses of the registered training centers, and regional and provincial office directory.

Buttons directly linking to steps on how to apply for different Tesda scholarships, and other features like the Tesda Women’s Center are also available. The mobile app is downloadable in both Google Play and Apple App Stores.

“We’re honored to work with Tesda on this project,” said Alejandro Chiongbian, president of Bizooku Philippines Inc. “They have a wide range of learning programs and we use our platform to organize the content in the mobile app, so it will be easier for Filipinos to discover available courses they might be interested in.”

Bizooku Philippines Inc. is affiliated with Bizooku based in the United States. It aids clients in building contextual and adaptive mobile platforms.

These features are present in the app as it allows real-time updates, dynamic design, and content changes based on location and schedule.

Tesda Secretary Isidro Lapeña lauded the company for helping them bridge information needs and extend its services to more people in a more advanced and modern platform on the Web. “As more and more people rely on their mobile phones for communication and information, the more this Tesda app becomes very timely and relevant. We also want to connect closer to our younger clients, the youth, who are usually online. They will be happy with this mobile app,” he explained.

The partnership between Tesda and Bizooku reflects their shared vision to make learning more accessible for the Filipino community, empowering them and paving the way for various employment opportunities.

The former is now one of the few government agencies that has mobile app up and running.

Apple launches new privacy web site, but policies unchanged CUPERTINO, California—Apple is expanding its web site on privacy with more explanations about its commitments, though its policies and practices aren’t changing. The new site on Wednesday is part of Apple’s ongoing push to distinguish itself from datahungry, advertising-fueled rivals, such as Google and Facebook.

Apple’s privacy web site is mostly a users’ guide with papers on how to prevent apps and other thirdparty services from unnecessarily tracking users’ location and behaviors.

The company’s actual privacy policy hasn’t changed.

Many of the new privacy enhancements were announced earlier as part of Apple’s iOS 13 software update for iPhones. Changes include the ability to sign in to third-party services with an Apple ID account rather than Facebook’s or Google’s, plus more notices and warnings about apps tapping location data. AP

JENNIFER BAILEY, vice president of Apple Pay, speaks about the Apple Card at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, California. A spokesman for the New York Department of Financial Services confirmed on November 9 that they are investigating Goldman Sachs for possible sex discrimination in the way it sets credit limits. AP

NY regulator vows to investigate Apple Card for sex bias

N

EW YORK—A New York regulator is investigating Goldman Sachs for possible sex discrimination in the way it sets credit limits. The bank denies wrongdoing.

The investigation follows a series of viral tweets by entrepreneur and Web developer David Heinemeier Hansson about algorithms used for the Apple Card, which Goldman Sachs manages in partnership with Apple.

Hansson said the card offered him a credit limit 20 times greater than it gave to his wife, even though she has a higher credit score. He called the algorithm a sexist program.

A spokesman for the New York Department of Financial Services confirmed Saturday that the agency will investigate.

The agency is “troubled to learn of potential discriminatory treatment in regards to credit limit

decisions reportedly made by an algorithm of Apple Card, issued by Goldman Sachs,” said spokesman Sophia Kim. She said the department “will be conducting an investigation to determine whether New York law was violated and ensure all consumers are treated equally regardless of sex.”

“Our credit decisions are based on a customer’s creditworthiness and not on factors like gender, race, age, sexual orientation or any other basis prohibited by law,” said Goldman Sachs Spokesman Andrew Williams. He added that the bank could not comment on decisions about individual customers. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In several tweets that were often liked thousands of times and frequently retweeted, Hansson didn’t disclose his or his wife’s income, but wrote that they have been married a long time, file joint tax returns and live in a community-property state. He tweeted

the appeals when she got a far lower credit limit fell on deaf ears.

When Apple Card finally raised her credit limit without addressing the scoring system, he tweeted, it was essentially trying to “bribe one loud mouth on Twitter, then we don’t have to actually examine our faulty faith in THE ALGORITHM.” Apple introduced the Apple Card earlier this year in a partnership with Goldman Sachs. A press release announcing the card called Goldman Sachs “a newcomer to consumer financial services” that was “creating a different credit-card experience.”

It pledged not to share or sell information to other parties for marketing and advertising.

“Simplicity, transparency and privacy are at the core of our consumer product development philosophy,” said Goldman Sachs Chairman and CEO David M. Solomon. AP

Carousell Philippines holds fashion exchange for online sellers THE latest digital trends, ways to enhance online presence, and effective ways to boost listings, as well as essential photography tips, were among the topics discussed at the fashion exchange forum organized recently by Carousell Philippines, the country’s leading classifieds platform.

During the forum, power sellers also had the opportunity to build networks and learn more about the best payment processors through partners like

MrSpeedy and Lalamove.

In photo are (from left) TagCash Sales and Marketing Officer Gilda Baracao, Gofer Sales and Marketing Officer Anna Austria, Carousell Philippines Head of General Classifieds Tina Bautista, Coins.ph Marketing Associate Camille Gan and Business Development Associate Bianca Altorro, and MrSpeedy Country Manager Jason Gaguan and Marketing Manager Bats Puyot.

Smart teams up with TikTok for enhanced Giga offers PLDT wireless subsidiary Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) has partnered with TikTok, the world’s leading app for short-form mobile videos, in launching enhanced Giga bundles featuring access to the mobile video app for its customers, particularly those belonging to the younger millennial and Gen Z market.

Smart and TNT customers can now access TikTok with the new “Giga Stories” offers, which also include access to social-media platforms Facebook and Instagram. For P99, Smart and TNT subscribers get 2GB data, bundled with additional 1GB allocation per day for TikTok, Facebook and Instagram, valid for

seven days.

With these offers, TikTok users nationwide can maximize use of the app and make the most out of its short video creation, discovery and sharing features.

The Philippines has emerged as one of TikTok’s fastest-growing markets in the region, as the app has become a creative playground for younger Filipino users who love expressing themselves through their smartphones. The TikTok app’s diverse array of features includes a robust catalogue of copyrighted background music, filters and stickers. The app’s easy-to-use tools and features have also made creating unique and engaging videos easy and more accessible.

“TikTok is designed to capture the little moments that make your day and fulfill the growing demands of users to share, create and discover short videos of moments that matter to them. We are delighted to have Smart as our ally in harnessing the creativity of Filipinos and showcasing it to our global audience,” said Steven Tannason, Strategic Partnerships (SEA), TikTok. “Smart is committed to empower our customers in their pursuit of their passions. We are thrilled to forge this partnership with TikTok in bringing Smart closer to our younger millennials and Gen Z subscribers, and making this enriching mobile video experience more accessible

to more Filipinos,” said Oscar Enrico A. Reyes Jr., PLDT senior vice president and head of Consumer BusinessIndividual Group.

PLDT has provided for a historic capital expenditure program in 2019 amounting to P78.4 billion, which includes allocations for the further enhancement of the reach and capacity of PLDT’s fiber-powered fixed line broadband network and Smart’s LTE and 3G mobile data networks, as well as the modernization of PLDT-Smart’s IT support systems.

TikTok is available on the App Store for iOS devices and on Google Play Store for Android devices.

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Saturday, November 16, 2019 A11

The value of values: AI’s potential to usher in a more civilized Web L ONDON—A new international study commissioned by WP Engine, and conducted by researchers at The University of London and Vanson Bourne explored the present and near future of artificial intelligencedriven human digital experiences on the Web, and the often tenuous but also potentially rewarding relationship between consumers, brands and AI. The study, which surveyed consumers and enterprise companies (1,000 employees or more) in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, found that in an era of purpose-driven consumption, values—such as transparency, trust and humanness—are key drivers that unlock value in AI.

AI GROWTH & THE INTERNET ACCORDING to IDC, worldwide spending on AI systems is forecast to reach $35.8 billion in 2019, an increase of 44 percent over the amount spent in 2018.

Much of that growth will come from the application of AI online because there is a natural, evolutionary symbiosis between AI and the Internet.

However, it was a sudden burst of activity starting in 2013 that marks the beginning of what we might term the modern AI period, especially for digital and digital experiences, characterized predominantly by automated content creation, programmatic ad buying in 2014 and intelligent search. With these advances in AI, it became a method of leveraging technology to improve the customer journey and providing real impact to organizational bottom lines.

This study explores the possibility of AI on the Web—suggesting how it will truly benefit the world when it is grounded in values, rather than simply in topline business benefits.

THE VALUES OF AI DESPITE the past year’s focus on General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and privacy regulations designed to give consumers power over their data, nearly half of UK consumers (48 percent according to a survey by CIM1) still don’t know how brands are using their data. They remain concerned about the privacy of their personal information and online behaviors. As consumers demand that enterprises prioritize their data protection and become transparent regarding its use, collection and value, most enterprises have started having these necessary conversations regarding the role of ethics, data protection and consumer rights.

Personalization systems tend to give way to trust and ethical concerns, both from a privacy perspective and in terms of cross-device efficiencies. In the UK, both consumers and enterprises indicated a high degree of importance regarding values issues, such as the protection of data privacy and security, the

expectation of organizations being able to explain transparently what they are using data for, degree of personalization, and a clear and direct value for the exchange of data, to name a few.

Consumers, overall, placed more importance on these issues, putting enterprises on notice. Most important to UK consumers was that proper privacy protections are in place during personalization (92.2 percent net agreed), and yet only 82 percent of enterprises indicated this was important, indicating a serious gap that needs to be bridged for enterprises to truly gain UK consumer trust.

‘CREEPY’ OR ‘COOL’?

AN increasing number of digital users are now mindful and aware of the “value exchange” that occurs with a brand when they participate in a digital experience. Not surprisingly, the willingness to share personal information in exchange for a better service was highest among millennials with older generations less willing to trade their personal information for better, more personalized service.

Data sharing leads to personalized services and, in this, AI is extremely capable, such as being able to push an ice cream advertisement to you while walking past an ice cream shop on a hot day. Still, consumers worry that this will not border into the obtrusive—86.8 percent of UK consumers felt it was important that personalization doesn’t feel “creepy.”

And in response, 77 percent of UK enterprises agreed that avoiding creepiness was crucial. Ultimately,

organizations need to walk the fine line where a person’s digital space must be respected in the same way as physical space.

LESSONS FOR THE AI AGE THE research resulted in several lessons for brands and agencies using AI in the digital age: ■ OPEN YOUR ALGORITHMS: Enterprises are increasingly using AI-driven platforms to make impactful decisions, such as the allocation of jobs, loans or university admissions. Thus, there is a rising concern from users on how algorithms make these decisions, as 92.7 percent of UK consumers feel it is very important for organizations to be transparent about how their data is being used for creating personalized online experiences.

Keeping this in mind, organizations have identified the need to incorporate the values of AI, primarily trust and transparency, in their strategies.

41.5 percent of UK IT decision-makers say that it is very important to be transparent about how they use AI to personalize user experience.

■ BEWARE BIAS: 81.5 percent of UK IT decisionmakers agreed that it is important for organizations to interrogate bias in their organizations and the data sets they use. It is particularly relevant for supervised learning and machine learning data sets where the process of supervision allows brands to change the way they do things. This provides an opportunity to create diverse and inclusive teams to maintain various voices of change. 79.5 percent of IT decision-makers

agree that it is important that the teams building and maintaining AI systems are diverse.

■ USE ONLY WHAT YOU NEED: With GDPR, the world began to see governments putting structure around what and how data may be used. The report shows that 86 percent of consumers do not want organizations tracking data that they don’t have any use for and 92.8 percent of UK consumers said that they expect organizations to explain what they are doing with their data.

■ BE CUSTOMER INSPIRED: Thanks to advancements in natural language processing and conversation AI, the capability now exists for chatbots and digital assistants to closely mimic their human counterparts.

In fact, 56.4 percent of consumers surveyed indicated it’s important that web sites have a chatbot or digital assistant to help with customer service, and 82 percent of enterprises are using AI in this way.

However, 85 percent of consumers surveyed agreed that it should be made known when AI is used in chatbots and similar customer-facing applications. 85 percent of UK consumers strongly agreed that companies have a responsibility to disclose the use of AI in chatbots and similar customer service interactions.

And 77 percent of IT decision-makers also agreed that when it comes to deploying customer service chatbots, it should be made known to users that such a service is not facilitated by human agents, demonstrating alignment between enterprises and consumers about the importance of this issue. ■

Logistics, warehousing industries embracing digital technologies for greater competitiveness

BY RIZAL RAOUL S. REYES WAREHOUSING, distribution, and logistics operations in the Philippines and the rest of Southeast Asia will be harnessing digital technology in response to the rising demands of the market.

In a recent interview with BUSINESSMIRROR, Zebra Technologies Asia Pacific vertical solutions lead Aik Jin Tan said Philippine logistics firms are anticipating exponential growth in the next five years. “The Philippine companies need digital solutions to cope with the huge demand from the market,” Tan said.

Citing a study commissioned by Zebra, Tan said information technology and operations decision-makers from logistics, retail, post and parcel delivery, and wholesale distribution industries realized they have to modernize warehouses, distribution centers and fulfillment centers.

“Warehousing, distribution and fulfillment operations are undergoing a modern-day makeover as they transform to meet the growing needs of the world’s on-demand economy. Warehouse leaders today are turning to technology

to address critical business challenges caused by this global phenomenon by adopting advanced technology and empowering their workers with a performance edge,” Tan explained.

“Expanding space, implementing new processes and enhancing workflows are only part of the equation. By 2024, warehouse leaders will be shifting their focus to the integration of more holistic solutions to build data-powered environments that balance labor and automation in the warehouse, ultimately empowering frontline workers with a performance edge to lead the way,” Tan added.

In the study, 70 percent of respondents believe human interaction is part of their optimal balance in warehousing, with 43 percent citing partial automation (some human involvement) and 27 percent citing augmentation (equipping workers with devices) as their preference.

Tan said business leaders are developing forward-thinking fulfillment strategies that will enable their organization to keep up with the growth of the on-demand economy. Both automation and worker augmentation solutions will be a key focus for decision-

makers’ plans over the next five years.

Moreover, the research said more than three-quarters (81 percent) of respondents agree that augmenting workers with technology is the best way to introduce automation in the warehouse, but only 34 percent have a clear understanding of where to start automating. Currently, up to 88 percent of decision-makers are either in the process of, or are planning to expand the size of their warehouses by 2024. Meanwhile, up to 85 percent

anticipate an increase in the number of warehouses during this time frame.

Tan said almost half (48 percent) of surveyed respondents cited faster delivery to end customers as the primary factor driving their warehouse growth plans.

As warehouses expand, the study said there will be an increase in the volume of stock keeping units and the speed by which items need to be shipped.

Decision-makers will seek

increased visibility and productivity by implementing more robust returns management operations (85 percent), task interleaving (85 percent), value-added services (84 percent) and third-party logistics (88 percent).

Tracy Yeo, Zebra country head for the Philippines, said the “I want it now mentality” of the new generation of consumers has led to drastic changes and behavior in the supply chain which created an impact among manufacturers, retailers and the warehousing operations that serve their needs. Furthermore, Yeo said their study showed that 49 percent of the surveyed decision-makers reported an increase in consumer demand as a top driver of growth, with almost 40 percent of those surveyed stating that shorter order lead times are fueling their expansion plans and causing them to rethink their strategies.

The 2024 Warehousing Vision Study

by Qualtrics interviewed 1,403 (of which 352 were from Apac) IT and operational decision-makers in the manufacturing, transportation and logistics, retail, post and parcel delivery, and wholesale distribution markets in North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and Europe.

/

DIGITAL technologies will enable logistics companies and warehouses to become more competitive.

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos • lifestylebusinessmirror@gmail.com

BusinessMirror

Saturday, November 16, 2019 A12

Uber CEO walks back comment on Saudi writer’s slaying NEW YORK—Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi is being criticized for calling the murder of a Washington Post columnist “a mistake” and comparing it to the death of a pedestrian struck by one of the company’s autonomous vehicles. Khosrowshahi later said he regretted his comments, made during an interview with Axios on HBO. He tweeted Monday that there’s no forgiving or forgetting what happened to the journalist Jamal Khashoggi and he was wrong to call it a mistake.

Critics say Khosrowshahi is downplaying Khashoggi’s grisly murder to placate one of the company’s biggest investors. Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, known as The Public Investment Fund, holds about $1.9 billion worth of Uber stock, making it the company’s fifth-largest stakeholder. Its managing director, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, sits on Uber’s board.

Officials with the US and the United Nations suspect that Saudi Arabia’s Prince Mohammed bin Salman played a role in Khashoggi’s slaying. Prince Mohammed has said he takes full responsibility but denied ordering the killing, calling the slaying “a mistake” in an interview in September.

In an interview with Axios which aired on Sunday, Khosrowshahi echoed those comments, saying “I think that the government said that they made a mistake.” He then compared Khashoggi’s slaying to an accident in which one of Uber’s autonomous vehicles struck and killed a pedestrian last year in Arizona.

“It’s a serious mistake. We’ve made mistakes too, with self-driving, and we stopped driving and we’re recovering from that mistake,” Khosrowshahi said. “So I think that people make mistakes, it doesn’t mean that they can never be forgiven. I think they’ve taken it seriously.”

Khashoggi was killed and dismembered by Saudi intelligence officials and a forensic doctor last year at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. He was a longtime editor at state-linked newspapers in Saudi Arabia and had been in selfimposed exile in the US while writing critically about Saudi leadership.

A UN investigator said the Saudi journalist was the victim of “a planned, organized, well-resourced and premeditated extrajudicial killing for which the state of Saudi Arabia must bear responsibility.”

In his Monday tweet, Khosrowshahi said he told Axios after the interview “I said something in the moment I don’t believe. Our investors have long known my views here & I’m sorry I wasn’t as clear on Axios.”

Nonetheless, #BoycottUber began to trend Monday on Twitter, recalling the #DeleteUber movement that gathered steam years ago as the company struggled with image problems and lost customers to rival Lyft. AP

MRSPEEDY gets talked up

The 11.11 a�termath TECHNIVORE ED UY

whereiseduy@gmail.com

B

EING in Bali to cover the Veritas Vision Solution Day conference this week might have saved my wallet from the pre-holiday budget catastrophe that was the 11.11 sale, but I definitely couldn’t escape the massive propaganda that came with it.

Besides the numerous e-mails from brands, my social-media feed was flooded with all sorts of 11.11 promotions, from shared blogger posts, to Manny Pacquiao popping up and shouting, “Shopee Free Shipping” in the middle of my “Tulfo and Chill” YouTube sessions, and even the heart bait posts of my favorite “bikinifluencers” on Instagram had 11.11-sponsored content. Is there nothing sacred anymore?

Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate online shopping, and thankfully I can still resist the temptation of making “add to cart” a nightly habit.

But this year’s 11.11 was something else.

SHOPPING, THE BEST THERAPY FOR SINGLES?

SOCIAL-MEDIA FREEBIES FROM GLOBE GLOBE is giving its Prepaid customers an additional free 1GB of access daily to popular social-media apps, such as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to further enhance their digital experience.

To avail of the additional data allocation for Facebook and Instagram daily, Globe Prepaid customers only need to register to any prepaid promo priced P20 and up (bit. ly/2OdzFNU). On the other hand, Globe At Home Prepaid WiFi customers subscribed to HomeSURF199 and up can enjoy free 1GB of YouTube daily for the duration of the promo.

“In light of the coming holiday season, we recognize the need of our customers for higher data allocation in view of the rich content being shared in social networking sites. We remain steadfast in our commitment to cater to our customers’ digital lifestyle by providing a higher data consumption experience,” said Globe Chief Commercial Officer Albert de Larrazabal.

“The additional free 1GB would allow our customers to further explore the digital life in order to achieve their individual aspirations, self and community discoveries,” he added. Globe Prepaid customers can subscribe to their favorite Globe Prepaid promos using the GlobeONE app.

Meanwhile, Globe At Home Prepaid HomeSURF promos may be availed through the Globe At Home App. Both apps can be downloaded for free via Google Play Store or the App Store.

FROM left: Diego Moya, head of Fitness at Mr Jeff; Eloi Gómez, CEO and cofounder of Mr Jeff; and Kiko Medina, head of Beauty at Mr Jeff.

ALSO known as Singles Day or the biggest shopping holiday in China, its record sales made Black Friday look like a church bazaar as noted by one article.

In terms of money spent, the one-day festival of consumption eclipsed Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday—combined.

Singles Day, or Guanggun Jie, is a shopping holiday popular among young Chinese people that began as a celebration of pride for being single. The date, November 11 (11/11), was chosen because the No. “1” resembles an individual who is alone.

Quick research revealed that it actually originated at Nanjing University in 1993. One origin story is that four male students from a dorm thought of a way to break away from the monotony of being single and agreed that November 11 would be a day of events and celebrations in honor of being single. The activities spread through the university and eventually made their way to wider society.

Today, the holiday has evolved into a massive one-day shopping event thanks to the deft tactics of Chinese e-commerce platform Alibaba. In 2009, the retailer realized Singles Day could be an opportunity to profit from single consumers by providing an occasion to shop for themselves.

“Singles Day” may sound lonely, but definitely not for the 200,000 brands that join the sale or the millions of people who find happiness by spending money to buy lots of stuff just because its on “sale.”

Even with the US-China trade tensions, western

brands and retailers have recognized this extreme buying power and hopped on the deals-and-discounts bandwagon in an effort to reap more sales. Alibaba has had a tradition of booking A-list stars, such as Mariah Carey, Nicole Kidman and Pharrell Williams, etc., to perform at its opening gala, and this year it was Taylor Swift who headlined the countdown gala concert at the Shanghai Stadium. Even Kim Kardashian promoted her cosmetics line collaborating with Chinese influencer Viya. Live selling was also a big hit.

Alibaba reported selling $1 billion worth of goods sold in one minute and eight seconds and selling $12 billion in the first hour. The Chinese e-commerce giant said its platforms sold goods worth 268 billion yuan, or $38.4 billion exceeding last year’s record $30.7 billion.

Alibaba maintains a number of dedicated web sites—AliExpress sells goods from Chinese brands to international residents; Tmall sells goods from global brands to China; and Taobao sells Chinese brands’ goods to people in China. As for the Philippines and the rest of Southeast Asian markets, we have Lazada.

This year, according to initial reports, the top brands in Southeast Asia for the 11.11 Lazada sale in the mobile category are Xiaomi followed by Samsung and Apple. Xiaomi also emerged as No. 1 brand in the Philippines, continuing its winning streak with the Redmi Note 8 Pro, Redmi Note 8 and Mi Smart Scale as its best-selling products.

In the Home Appliances category, Dyson topped the list in SEA followed by Samsung and Philips, while Adidas is the top-selling brand in the Fashion category, with American Tourister and Fitflop completing the top 3.

Diapers continue to be the best sellers in the Mother and Baby category with MamyPoko, Huggies and Pampers; and for health and beauty, there’s L’oreal Paris in the top spot, with Maybelline in second and Olay in third place.

As of this writing, we still don’t have information on the top-selling brands specifically in the Philippines but we did receive news about the realme 5 being the best-selling smartphone in LazMall.

Realme also claimed second spot in terms of brands with highest sales achieving a staggering 966-percent sales growth at the Lazada 11.11, versus the 9.9 mega campaign of the same e-commerce platform. Overall, there were eight times more units sold and 7.36 times more views on the realme Philippines Official Flagship store.

MEETING MR. JEFF AND MRSPEEDY WITH the guaranteed success of these online sales like 11.11, it’s no surprise that many Pinoys are also putting up their own online businesses. For those who are just starting out, Carousell remains as one of the favorite platforms. It’s easier to set up, and you don’t have to post a lot of items on sale, plus you can even sell your pre-loved items. The only challenge is how to deliver your products to your potential buyer to complete the sale.

This is where MrSpeedy comes in. The upstart delivery app launched last week and it’s aggressively trying to get a bigger share of the market by lowering its rates to become the most affordable delivery

partner for Metro Manila online sellers.

MrSpeedy Country Manager Jason Gaguan guaranteed that they are 20 percent to 40 percent cheaper than other existing delivery services. He says the app was created to support the small online sellers and provide them a reliable and affordable service to help them be competitive in the current trend of instant delivery.

“The trend right now in online selling is instant delivery, but it is hard for small online businesses to afford this service. By slashing down our prices, our goal is to arm our local businesses to be more competitive, especially against the dominating giants out there,” Gaguan told us during the launch.

MrSpeedy focuses on three things that they found are most important for small online businesses: Delivery Price, Customer Support and seamless Cash on Delivery.

With MrSpeedy’s pricing at P6/km, it is now the most affordable same-day delivery service as it is 40 percent cheaper than its competitors in Metro Manila.

Alongside its affordable pricing, MrSpeedy has invested heavily in its customer support both in technology and headcount to ensure that their clients are heard and assisted in every step of their delivery— even going as far as creating personal chat groups with their clients.

With the MrSpeedy Mobile App, users just have to input the pickup and delivery drop-off pin locations and input contact details for the said addresses, and they will be able to see the total delivery price—with no hidden charges. The simplicity of booking a delivery is what makes MrSpeedy’s service friendly to clients. To add to their online seller-centric approach is a Cash on Delivery service that boasts of a 12-24 hour remittance window.

Jeff Lavanderia, on the other hand, is a super services app that may not be related to online selling, but may just be the one you need to do your laundry and other chores so that you can have more time to shop. Following the launch of its laundry franchise sales six months ago, Spanish start-up Jeff continues to gain momentum franchising its on-demand laundry services across Asia using an app which customers can download to avail themselves of laundry and dry cleaning services without leaving their homes.

Jeff’s convenient, high-quality services are a perfect fit for busy people who are short on time.

Using either the app or the web site, customers can choose the exact location, time, and day of pick up; a driver visits the customer’s house, picks up the items and delivers them, cleaned and folded or ironed, in just 48 hours.

Jeff is also transitioning into a multiservice platform, or “super app,” offering users everything they need on a daily basis with just one click such as hairdressing and beauty, with Beauty Jeff, and a fitness service called Fit Jeff, both of which will be launched this month.

■ How much did you spend last 11.11 and what was the best deal you found? Send your comments to whereiseduy@gmail.com, or send us a message on Facebook (@whereiseduy).

www.businessmirror.com.ph

BusinessMirror

Saturday, November 16, 2019 A13

A14 Saturday, November 16, 2019

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

www.businessmirror.com.ph

BusinessMirror

Saturday, November 16, 2019 A15

A16 Saturday, November 16, 2019

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

www.businessmirror.com.ph

BusinessMirror

Saturday, November 16, 2019 A17

A18 Saturday, November 16, 2019

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

www.businessmirror.com.ph

BusinessMirror

Saturday, November 16, 2019 A19

A20 Saturday, November 16, 2019

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

www.businessmirror.com.ph

BusinessMirror

Saturday, November 16, 2019 A21

A22 Saturday, November 16, 2019

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

www.businessmirror.com.ph

BusinessMirror

Saturday, November 16, 2019 A23

A24 Saturday, November 16, 2019

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

www.businessmirror.com.ph

BusinessMirror

Saturday, November 16, 2019 A25

A26 Saturday, November 16, 2019

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

www.businessmirror.com.ph

BusinessMirror

Saturday, November 16, 2019 A27

A28 Saturday, November 16, 2019

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

www.businessmirror.com.ph

BusinessMirror

Saturday, November 16, 2019 A29

A30 Saturday, November 16, 2019

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

www.businessmirror.com.ph

BusinessMirror

Saturday, November 16, 2019 A31

If you have any information / objection to the above mentioned application/s, please communicate with the Regional Director thru Employment Promotion and Workers Welfare (EPWW) Division with Telephone No. 400-6011.

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

A32 Saturday, November 16, 2019

Top online lender lauds SEC for actions against shady lending firms

F

YNAMICS Lending Inc., the company behind PondoPeso, praised the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the recent shutdown of online lenders that have been operating without the necessary licenses.

According to Atty. Jose Marlon Pabiton, the spokesperson of Fynamics, the recent cease-and-desist orders against unscrupulous online lending apps are a welcome development among legitimate industry players. “We fully support the SEC’s mandate and its efforts to cleanup the online lending industry,” Atty. Pabiton said. “The local online lending industry is still in its infancy, but it has rapidly expanded due to the countless individuals it has helped. The SEC, as the congressionally mandated regulator of this industry, is well positioned to support its stable growth, so we appreciate its efforts to help standardize the entire sector,” he added.

PondoPeso, the online lending app owned and operated by Fynamics, is one of the most well established and chosen platforms among online borrowers. A majority of its users are

minimum wage earners who are neglected by banks and other mainstream credit granting institutions.

SEC Commissioner Atty. Kelvin Lee was at the forefront of the recent crackdown on online lending companies, who, apart from operating without the necessary permits and licenses, were reportedly harassing and shaming delinquent borrowers. To date, more than 20 online lenders have been shut down, and 47 applications still have cease-and-desist orders against them.

Part of the SEC’s efforts in the crackdown involved working with Google to remove illegal lending apps from its Play Store. “The SEC recently met with Google representatives to discuss the matter of illegal lending apps in the Google Play Store.

Google has committed to working closely with the Commission in dealing with this issue on illegal lending apps,” Lee said in a tweet on his personal twitter account.

Fynamics reiterated that is was eager to cooperate with the SEC and other government bodies to help regulate online

lending and promote educated and responsible borrowing in the Philippines.

“As a member of this burgeoning industry, we want nothing else but the best for all its stakeholders,” Atty. Pabiton said. “Compliance with laws and the government should be a basic, if not a primordial, aspect of any legitimate online lender,” he concluded.

Villar SIPAG stages 9th OFW and Family Summit

R

ETIRED Seaman Elmer B. Fernandez won the House and Lot from Lessandra by Camella in the 9th OFW and Family Summit, sponsored by the Villar Family through is foundation- the Villar SIPAG. Fernandez thanked Sen. Cynthia Villar and former Senate President Manny Villar for holding the annual summit to help OFWs make wise investments of their hardearned money.

Fernandez and his family members were joined by Sen. Cynthia Villar, Las Pinas Rep. Camille Villar and Vista Landholding President and CEO Paolo Villar during the turnover rites More than 7,000 OFWs and their beneficiaries attended the summit held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City aptly theme “Kabuhayan sa Sariling Bayan.”

For the past years, the summit has evolved into a one-stop shop for OFWs where government and non-government organizations as well as business owners and franchise holders have set up booths and attended to the needs and queries of the attendees from starting a business to availing of government assistance and services.

Resource persons were invited to discuss topics on financial literacy, business start ups/ trends. OFWs-turned-successfulentrepreneurs also provided guidance on how to seize opportunities and become entrepreneurs.

On the topic of financial literacy, the speakers were Burn Gutierrez, chairman of Angat Pilipinas Coalition fro Financial Literacy; Eric Atanacio, president of Terra Verde Ecofarm, Inc.; and Rienzie Biolena,

GRAND CHAMPION! Nagwagi ang retired seaman na si Elmer B. Fernandez ng House and Lot mula sa Lessandra ng Camella sa 9th OFW and Family Summit na inisponsor ng Villar Family sa pamamagitan ng foundation nitong Villar SIPAG. Pinasalamatan ni Fernandez si Sen. Cynthia Villar at dating Senate President Manny Villar, sa taunang summit na tumutulong sa OFWs para maging magaling sa paghawak ng kanilang mga kinita sa pagtratrabaho sa ibang bansa. Ayon kay Fernandez, 62, nagulat siya nang tawagin ang kanyang pangalan na grand prize winner. Masayang nagpakuha ng larawan si Fernandez at kanyang pamilya kasama sina Sen. Villar, dating SP Villar, Las Pinas Rep. Camille Villar at Vista Landholding President and CEO Paolo Villar. Mahigit 7,000 OFWs at kanilang beneficiaries ang dumalo sa summit na idinaos sa World Trade Center sa Pasay City.

president and chief financial planner of Wealth Arki Consultancy, Inc. For business landscape start ups, the speakers were Emma Tolentino, farmer owner of Eco Natural Integrated Farm and Learning Site; Ace Vergel dela Cruz, acquisition executive of Grab PH; and Capt. Danny Ricohermoso, executive vice president of the Integrated Seafarers of the Philippines, Inc. OF W s -Tu r n e d - S u cc e s s f u l Entrepreneurs Gene Gutierrez (CEO and Founder, Big Ben’s Gourmet and Big Ben’s Kitchen), Bianca Tolentino (Founder, Cofficina Cafe + Co-work), and Princess San Diego (CEO and Founder, What’s Your Flan) were also featured in the panel discussion.

The dialogue with government agencies was attended by Atty. Sarah Lou Arriola, undersecretary Department of Foreign Affairs- Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (DFA- OUMWA); Vivian Tornea, deputy administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA); Aristodes Ruaro, deputy administrator of the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA); and Atty.

Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, undersecretary of the Department of Justice- InterAgency Council Against Trafficking (DOJ-IACAT).

Aside from house and lot, hundreds of raffle prizes were given away including motorcycles, home appliances, grocery/ pangkabuhayan packages, led TV sets, and smart phones. Business Mirror and Pilipino Mirror were media partners.

OWNDAYS Philippines shares the gift of vision through Eye Camp

O

WNDAYS, the leading eyewear store in Japan, conducted its 4th Eye Camp in the Philippines in collaboration with Lions Club International and gave out free prescription glasses to nearly 200 residents of Tondo, Manila.

The brand manufactures a wide variety of high quality frames in more than 1,500 styles suited for any lifestyle—basic and functional to stylish and fashionable—all in one price.

“At OWNDAYS Philippines, we want to improve vision of all Filipinos. Through this Eye Camp, we are not just distributing prescription glasses, but we are also helping them see their future brighter and clearer.” shared Vohne Yao, OWNDAYS Managing Director.

During the Eye Camp, volunteer doctors conducted eye checks and eye health evaluations to check for possible eye conditions. Then, OWNDAYS made glasses using the prescriptions obtained during the check-up, which the staff distributed and adjusted to ensure that the glasses would fit well.

Aside from the eye check-ups and eyewear distribution, OWNDAYS also brought school supplies, bags, shoes,

toys, and snacks that kids would enjoy. “We wanted to do something for the children to brighten up their lives and empower them by providing them with the tools they needed to be better at school and their communities,” Yao added.

In the Philippines, millions of Filipinos who have poor eyesight are unable to get help for eyesight-related issues simply because they have no access to eye exam facilities or there is lack of economic power to pay for it.

Disability from poor vision has considerable economic implications, which can lead to poverty and social dependency.

Due to this, OWNDAYS started to give

out eyeglasses to the less fortunate for free in the hopes of bringing to them a clearer and more beautiful vision before their eyes. In line with their philosophy of “enriching the lives of people associated with OWNDAYS,” the company is bringing Eye Camp to more communities with the aim of making a difference in their lives.

“We wanted to reach out to more Filipino communities, especially the rural areas, to be able to give them glasses and a chance to better lives. We will continue to dedicate ourselves to helping the less fortunate and to share the vision with the world through OWNDAYS Eye Camp,” Yao said.

OWNDAYS PH conducted its 4th Eye Camp in collaboration with Lions Clubs International in Tondo, Manila.

First Metro is The Asset’s top sell-side firm in the secondary market

F

IRST METRO Investment Corporation, the investment banking arm of the Metrobank Group, was recognized once again as the Philippines’ top sell-side firm in the secondary market and among the top arrangers for primary issues for both corporate and government bonds based on the Asian Local Currency Bond Benchmark Review 2019 of The Asset Benchmark Research of Hong Kong.

First Metro ranked first among Top Sell-side Firms in the Secondary Market for Corporate Bonds and Top Sell-side Firms in the Secondary Market for Government Bonds. The investment bank was also among the Top Arrangers—Investors’ Choice for Primary Issues for Government Bonds, ranking second, and among the Top Arrangers—Investors’ Choice for Primary Issues for Corporate Bonds, ranking fourth.

Company officers were also voted among the Best Local Currency Bond Individuals in Sales and Trading, with senior manager Bernice Joyce Nobleza and vice president David Ignacio Estacio ranked third and fifth in Trading, respectively, and senior manager Mary Grace Ong-Singson ranked fourth in Sales.

The Asian Local Currency Bond Benchmark Review has been conducted annually since 2000. This year, they surveyed close to 400 institutional fixed income investors who are active in 10 Asian currency bond markets: China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. Respondents were asked to rate the best banks or securities houses across a series of buying criteria, including their actual service experience, and identify their trading counterparties in the secondary market.

‘You’ve been using our products for years, you just didn’t know it’s AISIN’

A

IMING to be an irreplaceable global partner, AISIN joins the 13th Manila Auto Salon at the SMX Convention Center this November 14-17, 2019 to showcase their aftermarket products.

Founded in 1965, AISIN SEIKI Co., Ltd. is a Tokyo stock exchange public listed company which was recognized as the world’s leading Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) in the automotive industry, and ranked 6th as the largest automotive parts supplier in terms of sales of original equipment parts globally.

The AISIN GROUP of companies manufacture more than 10,000 types of automotive parts and supplying to leading car manufacturers around the world.

AISIN products are highly sought-after by the customers as AISIN holds true to its corporate principles of “Quality First”.

Leveraging on its technological expertise and comprehensive automotive manufacturing plants worldwide, AISIN is able to offer high quality automotive products to meet the needs in the aftermarket field.

AISIN has widened its aftermarket product range to serve the customers from replacement, repair, to customization. With

Riken Motor Sales, Inc. as its sole distributor in Philippines, the extensive aftermarket products ranges into following categories: The Drivetrain-related products which include the clutches, clutch hydraulic cylinders, steering & suspension parts, free wheel hub, and manual transmission, etc; The Engine-related products composed of the water pump, oil pump, fan clutch, timing chain cover, fan blade, hydraulic belt tensioner, fan pulley bracket, oil filter, etc.

The Brake-related products, under “ADVICS” brand, consists of brake booster, brake master & wheel cylinder, brake disc and pad, brake shoe, brake caliper, caliper piston, and seal kit.

Aside from the automotive parts, AISIN also supplies lubricant product including engine oil; automatic transmission fluid for conventional AT, CVT, and twin-clutch transmission, long life coolant (LLC), gear oil, multi-purpose grease, brake fluid and hydraulics fluid.

AISIN’s regional head office AISIN ASIA Pte. Ltd.(Singapore) has put up an office in Manila to support their partners and customers in Philippines.

Fast vote count astounds Argentina

A

FEW hours after polls closed on Election Day, there was no question in the minds of Argentines who their next President would be. Election results had already hit 70% by 9pm and were still steadily pouring in until midnight. The losing candidate, incumbent Mauricio Macri had immediately conceded to the winner, Alberto Fernandez, defusing political tensions and paving the way for a peaceful transition of power.

Observers are crediting this recordbreaking speed to the new system implemented by the Argentine election commission in partnership with technology company Smartmatic.

Smartmatic CEO Antonio Mugica had expressed satisfaction for his company’s role in the country’s democratic exercise.

“We are honored that Smartmatic’s unmatched election technology has helped Argentine authorities conduct successful elections,” Mugica said, adding that the fast and accurate results “gave peace of mind to political parties and the country in general.”

According to information released by election authorities, voter participation exceeded 80%. Voters chose among four candidates for head of government

and six formulas for president and vice president. In eight provinces, 72 candidates vied for senate seats and 595 candidates competed to become deputies at the national level.

Smartmatic provided secure technology for the digitization and transmission of telegrams (election returns), and for the consolidation and publication of results. Just as in the primaries held in August, telegrams were transmitted directly from over 10,000 voting centers to two consolidation centers. Approximately 1,700 operators at the consolidation centers transcribed and loaded into the system the information contained in the telegrams. "The speed and accuracy with which results were published have deflated the disinformation campaign waged against the technology in social media and other news outlets. The effectiveness of the technology has exposed the black propaganda as lies which were easily debunked,” noted Mugica.

Mugica expressed satisfaction over how Argentines have embraced the innovations that make elections more efficient and more transparent.