BusinessMirror November 20, 2021

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ARE ELECTIONS A RIGHT OPTION FOR THE LEFT?

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Saturday, November 20, 2021 Vol. 17 No. 43

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COLMENARES

WORKERS and political leaders march toward Malacañang on International Labor Day, May 1, 2019. They scored President Duterte for allegedly reneging on his campaign promise to end temporary hiring known as “contractualization” or endo (end of contract). AP/BULLIT MARQUEZ

Progressive candidates are testing electoral politics once again, at a time when experts see a breakdown of the political party system

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By Joel C. Paredes

HO’S afraid of the left? “I don’t think they should fear me because all the issues that we’re fighting for, like the regularization of workers, are normal demands to improve the line of the working class,” says Elmer Labog, or Ka Bong as he is popularly known in the labor movement.

This time, no less than Labog, who chairs the militant Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) that big industrialists had dreaded for its sustained militancy among the ranks of organized labor for over four decades now, is gunning for the Senate.

The 66-year-old labor leader and former Bayan Muna Party-list

Rep. Neri Colmenares, a prominent human-rights lawyer and activist, are running in tandem under the Makabayang Coalition ng Mamamayan, or Makabayan, which already has five party-list groups leading the “progressive” bloc in the House of Representatives.

Labog noted that the majority of businesses are actually the

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 50.3030

small- and medium-scale enterprises that were severely affected in the Covid-19 pandemic. “They should be funded as a matter of support, directly from government since government has the resources and capacity to do this.”

Provided, he added, that “those funds that should be part of the solution to the pandemic should be distributed to those who would really need them.”

History has shown, noted Labog, that the path taken by the left-wing movement has been to be “fiscalizers of abuses of those who are in power.” In the House of Representatives, he said, they provide the check-and-balance against interest groups to help address the widening inequality of wealth in this country.

“We really need a Senate counterpart. We have bills that do not find a counterpart in the Senate,” said Colmenares as he explained why he is running again after two

failed attempts for a Senate seat.

It is widely believed he can easily regain his old seat in the Lower House, being one of the high-profile fiscalizers during his three terms in the Lower Chamber. He also continues to lead Bayan Muna, which has consistently topped highly contested party-list elections.

“Pero malaki siyempre ang boses ng Senado kesa Kongreso [But the Senate certainly has a bigger voice than Congress]. We have conducted congressional inquiries on various issues and it has been effective in the sense that we’re very noisy, [but we] are just one of the 300 members of Congress, while in the Senate you’re one of the 24,” he said.

A declared socialist

“HINDI na pwede ’yung [It’s no longer possible] business as usual,” according to Bukluran ng Manggagawa sa Continued on A2

n JAPAN 0.4404 n UK 67.8688 n HK 6.4585 n CHINA 7.8782 n SINGAPORE 37.0857 n AUSTRALIA 36.6156 n EU 57.2096 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.4109

Source: BSP (November 19, 2021)

NewsSaturday A2 Saturday, November 20, 2021

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Are elections a right option for the left?

Continued from A1

Pilipinas (BMP) chair Leodegario de Guzman, 62, or Ka Leody. He joined the presidential race to “challenge the traditional politicians, their dynasties and the elite.”

“Kundi man mga bilyonaryo, supported ng mga malalaking korporasyon ’yung kanilang pagtakbo.

Interes na naman ng mga kartel at malalaking korporasyon ang isusulong tulad nang dati [If it’s not a billionaire, it’s a big corporation supporting their run. They will then be expected to push the interests of the cartels and big corporations just like before],” he told the Business­Mirror.

As he put it, “bobolahin na naman ’yun mga tao sa eleksiyon. Dadaanin lang sa laki ng mga billboard, sa dami ng mga commercials, pakaing trapo-style, motherhood statements ng pagbabago para sa buhay ng mga manggagawa at magsasaka para lang manalo sa puwesto [They will just dupe again the people in an election. They will put up big billboards, with as many commercials as they can get, feed them trapo-style, spout motherhood statements of change for the lives of the workers and farmers—all these, just to win a seat].”

Ka Leody said he filed his certificate of candidacy as the standard bearer of the Laban ng Masa Coalition, along with political economist Dr. Walden Bello as his running mate, to finally “challenge the big corporations which had always used traditional politicians to protect their interests. In 2016, he had run for the Senate under the Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM), but lost. He

was also a nominee of the Sanlakas party-list in 2013.

Ka Leody said he intends to win based on a platform that would zero in on the specific problems of the Filipino working class. “Ang puno ng problema ay ’yung mga batas na nagle-legalize sa paglaki ng yaman ng iilan at nag-le-legalize din sa paghihirap ng mamamayan [The root of the problem are the laws that legalize massive accumulation of wealth of a few, and also legalize the poverty of our people],” he said.

Militancy as a way of life

A DECLARED socialist, Ka Leody confided he had also once dreamed of being rich by pursuing customs administration at the Philippine Maritime Institute (PMI) right after finishing high school in his hometown of Naujan in Oriental Mindoro in 1976. During his student days, he was never an activist, but he knew how to be poor, having been born to a peasant couple, and being the seventh in a brood of 13 children.

While in college, he worked at the Aries Philippines Inc., a garments factory where he was hired as a manual worker until becoming its master cutter. He later became active in the union and in 1978, their Federation of Free Workers (FFW)affiliated union went on strike.

He embraced militancy after then opposition leader Benigno Aquino Jr. was gunned down on August 21, 1983, triggering public outrage in the streets.

During the “Tarlac to Tarmac March,” Ka Leody went undertime from his job to join the street protesters as they entered the capital.

IN this May 1, 2019, file photo, thousands of workers march toward Malacañang to air their grievances. AP/BULLIT MARQUEZ

He then enlisted himself with the “Justice for Aquino, Justice for All,” one of the prime movers of the massive street protests that led to the downfall of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.

At his workplace, Ka Leody was accused of “sabotage” for leading a protest action right inside the factory. Dismissed from work despite his 12 years in the garments factory, Ka Leody joined the KMU as a full-time labor organizer.

His wife, the former Marie Tolentino, an employee at the Development Bank of the Philippines, tried to make ends meet for their family by setting up a home-based “made-to-order” sewing business. Being a certified master cutter, Ka Leody assisted in the production work, while being deployed as a KMU labor organizer in Metro Manila.

After 10 years with the KMU, Ka Leody found himself embroiled in a political dispute within the leftwing labor movement and eventually sided with a breakaway faction that formed the BMP in 1993.

Like Ka Leody, KMU’s Labog said he was also bound to lead a normal life before being exposed to the labor movement. After graduating from high school at the Catholic-run St. Mary’s College in his hometown of Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, in 1972, he took up forestry at the University of the Philippines in Los Baños.

But when martial law was declared a few months later, Labog was herded inside a detention camp following a massive crackdown on mass organizations that were declared illegal on campus. He had just joined the left-wing Samahang Demokratiko ng Kabataan, or SDK, although in high school he was already influenced by his cousins, then active members of the outlawed Kabataang Makabayan.

Labog completed basic subjects in forestry before he left for Manila to work as a hotel waiter and eventually a bartender as an “extra”— the term then used for contractual workers in the service sector. When he led the fight for their rights to be regularized, Labog lost his job, along with other contractual workers, at the Regent Hotel.

He tried his luck with DMG Corp., but the general manager found him too frail for manual work in their automotive assembly firm.

Instead, she recommended him as a bartender at the Manila Hotel where he eventually joined the KMU. In 1982, after militant labor leaders led by then KMU founding chairman Felixberto Olalia were

rounded up by the military, Labog felt it was time for him to work full time with the labor center. But as a labor organizer, he was initially deployed in the Southern Tagalog region. He was later involved in the first zone-wide strike at the Bataan Export Processing Zone.

During the 1985 KMU national convention, Labog was finally elected to the KMU board led by the late KMU chairman Rolando Olalia, as secretary for health, cooperative and economic development and later, as deputy secretary general and as general secretary.

In 2004, Labog succeeded the late KMU chairman Crispin Beltran when the latter was elected Anakpawis party-list representative.

Election, ‘one part’ of the struggle

EVEN his close friends and relatives were perplexed. But Colmenares said that from the start, he had expected elections would be a challenge since the legal left has always been with the opposition and is independent from well-funded interest groups.

“He is really serious in running, not for himself, but for the majority of our people who remain marginalized. So we will always support him,” remarked businessman Michael Cruz. The latter’s wife Liberty is a cousin of Neri, who, along with popular entertainment celebrity Angel Locsin, belongs to an illustrious clan in Bacolod City.

The Cruzes actually invited Neri and his wife Shali for a family dinner one weekend to ask how the family could be of help in the campaign, even if the couple were bent on supporting Vice President Leni Robredo and her 1Sambayan.

Incidentally, Colmenares was one of the main convenors of 1Sambayan, although he was there as an individual advocate. He was topping the preliminary voting for their choice of the senatorial lineup, only to be eased out of the 12man opposition slate, which was dominated later by the political right and traditional politicians.

Colmenares maintained he would continue to respect the 1Sambayan decision, but said he was firm in his candidacy even if the “reality” in a national election is the financial resources that usually make a difference in the campaign.

It was apparent to him that an influential segment of the fragile coalition that bannered uniting the political opposition was influenced by right-wing politicians and civil society groups. They had successfully touched base with the old political “elite” and big capitalists which found a common enemy under the current dispensation.

Colmenares said that based

on past elections, the legal left has emerged with a mass base of about 3.5 million, but with its own nationwide political machinery, which is important in forging alliances compared to other candidates who merely rely on the administration and the LGUs for their votes.

He also noted the “growing realization” among fragmented progressive forces, agreeing on critical issues. “Now, more than ever, whatever differences they had is now overshadowed by the overwhelming factor of the problem issues,” he said.

Ka Leody, on the other hand, observed that most opposition groups merely wanted to focus on an “anti-Marcos, anti-Duterte” campaign. “Kako kahit mahadlangan natin ang pagbabalik ng mga Marcos, kung kami’y contractual pa rin, wala pa rin pagbabago sa buhay ng mga manggagawa at kung ang mga magsasaka ay tuloy pa ring nahihirapan sa Rice Tariffication law, walang mapapala sa bagong president [I said that even if we succeeded in blocking a Marcos return, if people remain contractuals, there’s no improvement in their lives, and farmers continue to languish under the Rice Tariffication law, there’s no benefit to gain from a new president],” he said.

Meanwhile, Labog said that “It would be a surrender of our basic principles to bow down to the whims and practices of big business and surrender the demands of the workers.”

Last October 30, an “all-labor federations assembly” convened for the first time at the Quezon City Sports Club to declare their support for a “Labor Vote” by endorsing Colmenares, Labog and FFW’s Sonny Matula on their senatorial ticket.

The KMU leader thinks it’s time for businessmen and industrialists to be educated and open-minded on the matter of sustaining the struggle for higher wages and benefits as well as better working conditions. “These are our legitimate and birth-given rights, and that’s the bottom line,” Labog said.

Colmenares said they really don’t mind being identified with the left during the campaign. What they condemned was the “red-tagging,” which he found dangerous under the current dispensation.

“Duterte is capable of violence and it is possible that violence will be employed [during the campaign],” according to Colmenares. He described the situation as a “paroxysm of rage of a dying dynasty.”

“He is losing. Duterte is a lame duck. He is losing power slowly. If he doesn’t know it yet, then we’re very sorry for him,” Colmenares concluded.

News BusinessMirror

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

PHL to open borders to fully vaxxed tourists from green-list nations soon

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he Philippines may soon reopen its doors to fully vaccinated foreign tourist from China, Japan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and other green-listed countries, Malacañang announced on Friday.

In an online news conference, Acting Presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles said the InterAgency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF) issued Resolution 149 allowing the implementation the new measure will be finalized.

“There are just a few things we need to tweak, but the reason why we are announcing it is because we are putting the entire world in advance notice that we would eventually open up our shores to tourists from green-list countries,” Nograles said.

T he newly appointed I ATF spokesman noted that the measure aims to boost recovery of the country’s tourism industry, which were among the hard-hit industries by international travel restrictions amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last week, the IATF included the following countries in its “green” list: American Samoa, Bhutan, Chad, China (Mainland), Comoros, Cote d ’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Federated States of Micronesia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China), India, Indonesia, Japan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Mali, Marshall Islands, Montserrat, and Morocco.

The other green list countries are Namibia, Niger, Northern Mariana Islands, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Paraguay, Rwanda, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sint Eustatius, South Africa, Sudan, Taiwan, Togo, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

In a rel ated development, Nograles also said the IATF also issued Resolution 149-A containing the new guidelines for countries in the red, yellow and green

list, which will take effect starting Monday.

Among the salient points of the said issuance is it clarification that Filipinos or foreigners, merely transiting through a nongreen list countries/territories/jurisdictions shall not be deemed as having come from or having been to said areas if they stayed at the airport the whole time.

Reacting to the IATF statement, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat said, “Allowing tourists from green countries or territories that have the majority of its population vaccinated and with low infection rate, will greatly help in our recovery efforts—increasing tourist arrivals and receipts among others.

This move will likewise aid in bolstering consumer confidence, which is a large contributor to our gross domestic product or GDP growth.”

She noted other countries have already reopened their borders to international leisure travelers.

“Our Asean neighbors like Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia also did the same. We believe that it is also time for us to reopen our borders for inbound tourism as a way towards full recovery,” she stressed.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is also currently working with the Small Technical Working Group on Travel on a separate proposal for vaccinated travel lanes or travel bubbles for vaccinated tourists coming from yellow list countries.

There are still ongoing talks on travel bubbles with the governments of Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam, with possible partner destinations such as Metro Manila, Bohol, or Cebu, which host international airports.

Prior to the pandemic, the Philippines welcomed 8.26 million tourist arrivals in 2019, up 15 percent from the previous year. Of the total arrivals in 2019, tourists from China accounted for 21.1 percent, Japan (8.3 percent), and India (1.63 percent). Samuel P. Medenilla and Ma. Stella Arnaldo

BOI greenlights ₧53-M power project in Cebu

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he Board of Investments (BOI) has approved a P53million waste heat recovery power generating plant in Cebu, qualifying the project for tax incentives.

The attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in a news statement issued on Fr iday, announced the approval of Sinoma Energy Conservation (Cebu) Waste Heat Recovery Co.’s registration as new operator of a 4.5-megawatt (MW) power generating plant in Naga City, Cebu Province.

BOI noted that Sinoma was able to comply with the qualif ic at ion requ i rement s u nder “Energ y” of the 2020 Investment Priorities Plan (IPP) as the transitional Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP) of the recently-enacted Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act (CREATE).

The firm eyes to start commercial operations by the first quarter of next year despite the delay in construction amid the pandemic. It will employ about 17 workers.

The energy plant, under the power supply agreement, will “provide significant support to a specific cement company in Cebu by capturing and using the waste

heat of the cement plant to generate steady and cost-effective supply of electricity at about 23,130,000 KWH [kilowatt per hour] per year,” BOI noted.

“The project will thus, result in an indirect impact of increasing the power supply available for use by other consumers. Without the project, the heat content of the gases generated by the cement plant will simply go to waste,” it added.

Earlier this month, BOI Managing Head Ceferino Rodolfo said that the investment promotion agency is only seeing a total investment approval of P600 billion this year, which is below its target of P905 billion.

Not including the energy project, the DTI attached agency has approved P376 billion worth of projects in renewable energy, telecommunications, transportation, agriculture and cement manufacturing, among others.

Rodolfo said they are hoping to catch up and approve about P225billion investment applications in the last two months of the year to reach the P600-billion mark.

BOI raked in P1.01 trillion worth of investments last year, which is 10.9 percent lower than P1.14 trillion in 2019 amid the pandemic. Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

Saturday, November 20, 2021

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Peza now allowed to issue two-year visa for foreign investors, workers

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

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he Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) will be able to issue two-year visa for foreign investors and workers in the economic zones after inking a partnership with the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

In a news statement issued on Friday, the ecozone regulator announced that the recent signing of a memorandum of agreement with BI is in line with the law on ease of doing business.

“This [will now] allow Peza to issue working visas to our foreign investors, non-resident foreign employees of Peza-registered ecozone enterprises, and their respective

qualified dependents,” Peza Director General Charito Plaza said.

Beginning December 1, Peza and BI will cut the processing period of visa approval from 1 month to 10 days.

“The Peza-Visas [PVs] will serve not only to facilitate the conduct of businesses in Peza-registered ecozones, but [would] also highlight the many measures that have been taken by the national government to ensure the ease of doing business [EODB] throughout the country,” BI Commissioner Jaime H. Morente said.

Both agencies will set up a onestop shop that will expedite the processing, approval and issuance of the visas.

Plaza said that “qualified national employees working in any of our ecozones can also avail our PVs and is co-terminus with the validity of the PV of the principal foreign investor or employee.”

T he documentar y requ ire ments for the foreign Peza workers include a notarized application form, notarized company’s letter request addressed to the Peza Director General, checklist of application for PV extension or change of admission, certified true copy of Peza Certificate of Registration and photocopy of the foreign applicant’s passport, among others.

T he i r d e p e nd e nt s , me a n while, must submit a notarized

application form, photocopy of their passport, Philippine embassy/consulate or PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority)-issued birth and marriage certificates, and notarized Affidavit of Support/Guarantee which is executed by the Peza-registered company’s president or vice president.

Peza said this initiative is also aligned with the country’s reopening of the economy amid the easing of lockdown measures.

“Partnerships such as this are most helpful and productive for the Bureau especially this is a joint effort that incorporates the needs of Peza and its locators as well as the mandate of BI with regards to foreign nationals,” Morente said.

Senate panel OKs bill on ‘lifetime’ validity of birth, death certificates

By Butch Fernandez

A

long awaited remedial legislation declaring permanent validity of birth, death and marriage certificates, hurdling Senate committee level scrutiny, inched closer to a plenary vote, paving the way for a bicameral panel to hammer out a reconciled final version of the same measure earlier passed by the House of Representatives.

As endorsed by the Senate Committees on Civil Service and Finance, the proposed legislation embodied in Senate Bill 2450, aims to mandate permanent or lifetime validity of birth, death

and marriage certificates.

Listed as co-authors are Senate President Pro Tempore R alph Recto and Senators Francis Pangilinan, Sherwin Gatchalian, Joel Villanueva, Ramon Revilla Jr. and Juan Edgardo Angara.

These official documents are issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority, formerly National Statistics Office, as well as local governments’ Civil Registry Office and the Philippine Foreign Service Post.

Under Senate Bill 2450, all government offices, private companies, schools and nongovernment entities will be banned from requiring newly issued birth,

Manila wins PCCI’s 2021 Most Business-Friendly LGU award

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he City of Manila again proved that it is one of the best cities in the country after it was hailed by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) as the Most BusinessFriendly local government unit (LGU) for 2021.

R ober to A mores, t he L GU Awards chairman for Cities, announced Manila’s win in the LGU Awards for City Level 1-A for Highly Urbanized Cities in the National Capital Region during the last day of the 47th Philippine Business Conference and Expo held at the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Pasay City on Thursday.

Manila bested seven other finalists in the category, which include the cities of Caloocan, Makati, Malabon, Muntinlupa, Pasig, Quezon and Valenzuela.

Amores said the award recognizes LGUs that have been successfully restoring and increasing the business operations in their area through significant and sustained innovative reforms, programs and policies.

T he award a lso aims to highl ight LGU success stor ies and best pract ices t hat go beyond

more compliance to address the over whelming negative impacts of C o v id -19 p a nd e m ic to t he business communit y.

“In line with the theme of the 47th PBC which is anchored on innovation, the objective of this year’s LGU Award city categories is to highlight LGU success stories and innovative best practices.

Special emphasis was given on the LGUs ability to assist the business sector to face the challenges of the current pandemic,” Amores said.

The winners in the city categories were selected by a panel of select panel of judges coming from the private and government sectors and academe, which was held last October 11, 12, 15, and 21. This year’s Most Business-Friendly LGU Awards was sponsored by Ambassador Francis Chua, founding chairman of BA Securities Inc. Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso thanked the men and women of PCCI for bestowing honor to the city and recognizing its efforts in creating programs and projects that assisted businesses particularly during the onslaught of the pandemic.

death or marriage certificates from those transacting business with them.

This means that once enacted into law, these agencies are mandated to accept and recognize as

valid even old copies of documents, even as it does not remove the right to require other supporting documents as basis for identity, such as dual citizens, or annulled marriage certificates.

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Philippine church leader Quiboloy charged with child sex trafficking

By Robert Jablon The Associated Press

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OS ANGELES—The leader of a Philippines-based church was charged with having sex with women and underage girls who faced threats of abuse and “eternal damnation” unless they catered to the selfproclaimed “son of God,” federal prosecutors announced Thursday.

Apollo Carreon Quiboloy and two of his top administrators are among nine people named in a superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury last week and unsealed Thursday.

The indictment includes three Los Angeles-based administrators of Quiboloy’s church who were charged last year. The new indictment also names a church administrator in Hawaii.

Quiboloy, 71, is head of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ church, founded in 1985. The church claims to have 6 million members in about 200 countries.

Its United States headquarters is in the Van Nuys area of Los Angeles.

In Davao City, the legal counsel of Quiboloy said the pastor is ready to

face the charges leveled against him, and described the indictment as the moves being initiated by “dissidents,” or former members of the sect.

“While jealousy and evil will never stop, we strongly believe that good always triumphs over evil. The people who accused him today in California, are the same dissidents who miserably failed in their attempt to bring Pastor Quiboloy into the case in Hawaii,” a statement from the legal counsel of Quiboloy read.

“Our heart goes to Pastor Quiboloy and to all the Kingdom leaders who were maliciously accused in this present controversy,” it said.

The statement added, “We are confident and ready to face whatever is hurled against Pastor Quiboloy and the Kingdom leaders. We trust the process of justice and we certainly expect the truth to prevail, and the Kingdom ministry will continue to prosper.

T h e c hu r c h b a c k e d t h e 2 0 16 candidacy of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, a close friend of Quiboloy. Duterte used the group’s radio and T V program in southern Davao City to express his v iews on

issues way back when he was mayor of the southern port city.

Quiboloy claims to be “the appointed son of God,” and in 2019 claimed he stopped a major earthquake from hitting the southern Philippines.

The superseding indictment contains a raft of charges, including conspiracy, sex trafficking of children, sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, marriage fraud, money laundering, cash smuggling and visa fraud.

Quiboloy is believed to be in the Philippines.

E-mails seeking comment from Israelito Torreon, the church’s attorney in that country, weren’t immediately returned.

The indictment accuses Quiboloy and others of recruiting women and girls, typically 12 to 25 years old, as “pastorals” who cooked his meals, cleaned his houses, massaged him and traveled with him around the world.

Some also had sex with Quiboloy on scheduled “night dut y,” including some minors such as a 15-year-old girl, according to the indictment.

T hey were coerced into “night

AstraZeneca antibody combo shows promise in both prevention, treatment of Covid-19

By Rory Visco

A

Contributor

NGLO-SwedeN pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca introduced its breakthrough drug that showed impressive results in both prevention and treatment of Covid-19.

The new drug, called AZD7442, combines two fully human monoclonal antibodies, described as Long-Acting Antibody (LAAB,) that can be administered via intramuscular intervention.

The drug underwent a comprehensive clinical trial that dealt with both prevention under the PROVENT trial, and treatment, called TACKLE. Dr. Hugh Montgomery, Professor of Intensive Care Medicine at University College London, said that in Provent, for the first three months of median follow-up, antibodies reduced severe disease or death by 77 percent compared to placebo.

Antibody treatment

On the other hand, after six months, they found an 83-percent reduction in

risk of Covid-19 with only one dose, showing that the antibody treatment does work well, and the impact was sustained throughout the six-month period.

“The good news is that we really do prevent severe disease or death and was seen as a highly safe mode of intervention,” Dr. Montgomery explained.

As for the Tackle treatment trial, where he was the principal investigator, Dr. Montgomery said the trial showed the importance of tackling the disease at an early stage. For treatment done three days at the onset of Covid-like symptoms, he said the drug displayed an 88 percent reduced risk of severe disease or death and was very well tolerated within the trial group.

“For people with ailments that render their immune system less effective like cancer, the immunocompromised, those undergoing dialysis or underwent transplantation, those with autoimmune disease, those who need to protect themselves, this intervention is so exciting,” Dr. Montgomery said during his presentation.

EUA

Right now, the drug is waiting the issuance of an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which may come in the next few weeks, says Iskra Reic, executive vice president, Vaccine and Immune Therapies Unit of AstraZeneca.

She said rolling rev iews are also ongoing in the European Medicines Agency (EM A), the UK Health Security Agency (UK HSA) and regulators in other countries. She revealed that Bahrain became the first countr y to issue an EUA just last week.

Reic likewise echoed Dr. Montgomery’s statement, saying that AZD7442 has presented itself as an important solution being the only LA AB therapy that demonstrated benefits in both prevention and treatment of Covid-19 during the Phase 3 trials. “The trials were done to see how the vulnerable population will react because they are the ones that really need the solution,” Reic said.

New Subic industrial park to open in 2022

By Henry Empeño

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UBIC BAY FREEPORT—A 209-hectare industrial park, the fourth of its kind in the Subic Bay Freeport, is now being developed by Taiwanese real-estate developer Xantheng Subic International Corp. (XSIC) for occupancy starting 2022.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the first phase of the P15-billion Tipo High-tech Eco Park (THEP), is expected to be completed by next year as Subic ramps up its facility build up to boost the economy amid the waning Covid-19 pandemic.

She said the 58.49-hectare Phase 1 of the mixed-use development located in a newly opened expansion area of Subic is now 57.81 percent completed, with Phase 2 and Phase 3 development also under way.

“This used to be an area for the SBMA’s social fencing program, wherein several families of upland farmers occupied grasslands in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, planted them with crops and, in the process, helped prevent the incursion of illegal settlers,” Eisma pointed out.

“A fter this was designated as an expansion area for investments, the

project developer had since compensated the upland farmers involved in the program to gain the right to develop the area. Now some of the farmers or their family members are employed in the development project,” she added.

Eisma inspected the industrial ecopark on Wednesday with SBMA directors Maria Cecilia Bitare, Rolando Ampunin, Benasing Macarambon Jr., and Brian Patrick Gordon.

She noted that Phase 1 already has 13 warehousing units, of which nine are ready for occupancy, and that Xantheng is building nine more warehouses to complete the development by 2022.

As planned, THEP will be an integrated industrial park with light industrial factories, commercial facilities, residential buildings, and a nature park. The project is at a most strategic area in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, as it is near an entry/exit point of the Subic Freeport Expressway (SFEX).

XSIC President Simon Shu said the company began developing the area in 2019 after it diversified into warehouse subleasing. With Xantheng’s development and management unit, the firm will oversee and manage the park and offer value-added and professional services to locators, he added.

As of now, Phase 2, which is a 72.8-hectare industrial area, is already 11.79 percent developed, with a completion date of 2024, while Phase 3, which is a 68.87-hectare mixed-use area, is 2.92 percent developed and is set for completion in 2026, Shu said.

Accordingly, Phase 2 already has two warehouse units with occupancy permit, while the developer is currently building four more units. Phase 3 is still in the preparation stage.

Shu also said that in the development stage alone, the XSIC has already hired more than 500 construction workers, including some upland farmers in the area, who were part of the social fencing project of the SBMA. The firm plans to hire more upon the start of THEP operations, he added.

According to the master plan submitted by THEP to SBMA, the development will include 101.47 hectares for light industries, 17.99 hectares for a commercial complex, 7.11 hectares for mixed use, 23.16 hectares for residential buildings, and 23.16 for a nature and environment conservation park.

There will also be a reserved area for utilities use and other purposes for a total development area of 209.27 hectares.

China unapologetic, says two Philippine boats ‘trespassing’ in South China Sea

By Malou Talosig-Bartolome

C

hina was unapologetic in the face of scathing remarks by Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. for blocking and firing water cannon at two Philippine boats carrying food supply to Filipino soldiers in Ayungin Shoal in West Philippines.

Zhao Lijian, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, said the Philippine boats “trespassed into the waters” near Ayungin Shao (international name: Second

Thomas Shoal, Chinese name: Ren’ai Jiao) Tuesday.

“Chinese Coast Guard vessels performed official duties in accordance with law and upheld China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime order,” Zhao said during his daily briefing with reporters Thursday.

Manila strongly protested the action, insisting that the reef is part of Philippine territory and maritime sovereign rights. Locsin also made reference to the US-PHL Mutual Defense Treaty that could be invoked if a Philippine public

vessel is attacked.

Zhao said the “sea area” in the West Philippine Sea “is generally tranquil.”

“China and the Philippines are in communication on this,” he added.

Locsin said he respects China’s right to say whatever it wants to say. But he drew the line when Chinese Coast Guard used water cannon on the Philippine boats.

“It’s a free world; we can both claim and say whatever we want. It is what we do that matters. It all turns on the water cannon,” the country’s top envoy said.

duty” under “the threat of physical and verbal abuse and eternal damnation,” according to the indictment.

Quiboloy and the others also are accused of bringing church members to the US with fraudulently obtained student visas or sham marriages to solicit donations for the church’s charity, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Glendale.

Workers who managed to escape from the church told the FBI that they worked year-round and were beaten and psychologically abused if they didn’t make daily quotas, according to court documents from the previous indictment. Some described having to live in cars at truck stops.

The money for the nonprofit Children’s Joy Foundation USA was supposed to benefit poor children in the Philippines. But prosecutors said most of it financed church operations and the lavish lifestyle of Quiboloy and other church leaders.

At least $20 million was sent back to the church in the Philippines between 2014 and 2019, according to an FBI affidavit filed with the previous indictment. With Manuel T. Cayon

NKTI wins awards for outstanding service to patients during pandemic

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

T

he National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) bagged two awards in the Civil Service Commission’s (CSC) Search for Outstanding Government Workers 2021—the 2021 Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award and the 2021 CSC Pagasa Awards.

Executive Director Dr. Rose Marie Liquete won the 2021 Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award for her endeavors in providing a new life for patients with end stage kidney disease through kidney transplantation.

NKTI also won the 2021 CSC Pagasa Awards for its Covid-19 Crisis Management Team, led by Dr. Romina Danguilan, Deputy Executive Director III, together with Dr. Nerissa Gerial, Deputy Executive Director III, Dr. Joseph Michael Jaro, Department Manager III, and Dr. Glenda Pamugas, Medical Specialist III. These prestigious awards were conferred to the NKTI awardees during a virtual ceremony organized by the CSC on Monday, November 15, 2021.

Liquete is the first Filipina transplant surgeon and pushed for the creation of satellite kidney centers in government and private health-care facilities.

She continues to share her expertise in guiding young transplant surgeons and motivating them to serve in all parts of the country, bringing this miracle of life to more Filipinos.

Likewise, she tirelessly works on organ donation programs demonstrating that organ donors are heroes for patients with kidney failure who dream of a new life. She assisted in formulating policies to cover dialysis and transplantation by PhilHealth, making these life-saving procedures more accessible to Filipinos all over the country.

As the executive director of the NKTI, she has expanded the hospital’s facilities, improved its infrastructure, making it a globally competitive training institution, and a hospital geared towards delivering performance excellence in all aspects of patient care.

The Covid-19 Crisis Management Team, on the other hand, led the Institute’s proactive and innovative response in meeting the challenges of the pandemic and providing dialysis services for patients all over the National Capital Region when their dialysis facilities closed down.

Under their leadership, a tent “city” that accommodated 100 patients was built on the grounds surrounding the hospital’s Emergency Room early in the pandemic. These tents were composed of various patient areas, a tent for dialysis access placement, a radiology tent, and even a satellite operating room to continue NKTI’s operations while the main hospital was undergoing retrofitting for this infectious pandemic.

There were 3 tents with 12 hemodialysis machines, a tent for peritoneal dialysis patients, and a separate tent for kidney transplant patients.

They crafted the NKTI’s Manual of Operations during the pandemic, documenting the policies and procedures developed to ensure efficiency, safety, and continuous hospital operations.

Innovative procedures using blood purification, namely, hemoperfusion, became part of the Institute’s algorithm to treat Covid-19.

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

The World

Taiwan opens office in Lithuania, in move expected to anger Beijing

V

ILNIUS, Lithuania—Taiwan opened a representation office in Lithuania’s capital Vilnius Thursday, in a move set to anger Beijing.

The self-governing island and Lithuania agreed in July that the Vilnius office would bear the name Taiwan rather than Chinese Taipei—a term often used in other countries in order not to offend Beijing.

China says Taiwan is part of its territory and doesn’t have the right to diplomatic recognition, although the island maintains informal ties with all major nations through trade offices that act as de facto embassies, including in the United States and Japan.

Chinese pressure has reduced

Taiwan’s formal diplomatic allies to just 15.

“We seek closer relations with the entire Asian and the IndianPacific Ocean region. Lithuania opened an embassy in Australia recently, another one will open in South Korea, and also probably a representation office in Taipei in the future,” Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis told reporters on Thursday.

No reaction has yet been received from China, according to Landsbergis.

Plans to open the Taiwan office in Vilnius led China this summer to recall its ambassador from Vilnius and demand that Lithuania withdraw its envoy to Beijing. AP

BusinessMirror

Saturday, November 20, 2021

Wuhan market reemerges as likely Covid-19 origin in new chronology

A

n accountant from Wuhan, China, that was widely thought to be first person with Covid-19 actually developed symptoms eight days later than initially reported, making a female seafood seller at the now infamous Huanan market the earliest known case.

The confusion was caused by complications from dental work that made the 41-year-old man sick on December 8. A fever and other symptoms caused by coronavirus started December 16, after multiple workers at the Huanan market were already exhibiting signs of infection, including the seafood vendor whose symptoms began December 11, according to a study Thursday in the journal Science.

The accountant lived 30 kilometers from the market and had

no connection to it. He was probably infected through community transmission after the virus began spreading in Wuhan, said Michael Worobey, head of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona in Tucson and the author of the study.

Worobey’s research suggests t he Hu a na n ma rket was t he source of the initial outbreak and not just where the SARS-CoV-2 virus was amplified in a superspreading event.

Also: The man that is currently believed to be the earliest case, with Dec 8 onset of symptoms, actually had symptoms start on Dec 16. This dramatically changes the picture put forward by the joint China-World Health Organization study report...

—Michael Worobey (@MichaelWorobey) November 18, 2021 Scientists have yet to determine the origins of SARS-CoV-2. Debate about its genesis has coalesced around two competing ideas: a laboratory escape or a spillover from animals. Studies identifying closely-related coronaviruses, including in bats dwelling in limestone caves in northern Laos and in Cambodia, support the latter hypothesis, especially since live animals susceptible to the infection were known to be sold in wet markets in Wuhan, including the Huanan center.

No live mammals collected at the Huanan market or any other live-animal market in Wuhan has

been screened for SARS-CoV-2– related viruses, and the Huanan market was closed and disinfected on January 1, Worobey said.

“Nevertheless, that most early symptomatic cases were linked to Huanan Market—specifically to the western section where raccoon dogs were caged—provides strong evidence of a live-animal market origin of the pandemic,” he said.

Although it may never be possible to recover related viruses from animals since they weren’t tested as Covid-19 emerged, conclusive evidence of a Huanan market origin via infected wildlife may come through analysis of spatial patterns of early cases, he said. Additional genomic data, including SARS-CoV-2-positive samples from the Huanan market, as well as additional epidemiologic data, could bolster the case, Worobey said.

“Preventing future pandemics depends on this effort,” he said.

Bloomberg News

China’s actions have ‘no credible explanation,’ India’s top envoy says A Massachusetts resident identifying herself only as “Safi,” who asked that her last name not be used for fear of retribution against her relatives in Afghanistan, holds a purse with traditional Afghan patterns on, November 9, during an interview with The Associated Press.

Thousands of Afghans have applied for temporary admission into the US for humanitarian reasons, but few have been approved since the Taliban recaptured control of their homeland.

“We’re worried for their lives,” said Safi, whose family is sponsoring some 20 other relatives seeking humanitarian parole. AP

Over 28K Afghans seek temporary US entry, but only about 100 OKed

L

OWELL, Massachusetts— More t han 28,000 A fgh a ns h ave appl ied for temporar y admission into the US for humanitarian reasons since shortly before the Taliban rec apt u red A fg h a n i st a n a nd sparked a chaotic US withdrawal, but only about 100 of them have been approved, according to federal officials.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has struggled to keep up with the surge in applicants to a little-used program known as humanitarian parole but promises it’s ramping up staff to address the growing backlog.

Afghan families in the US and the immigrant groups supporting them say the slow pace of approvals threatens the safety of their loved ones, who face an uncertain future under the repressive Islamist regime because of their ties to the West.

“We’re worried for their lives,” says Safi, a Massachusetts resident whose family is sponsoring 21 relatives seeking humanitarian parole. “Sometimes, I think there will be a day when I wake up and receive a call saying that they’re no more.”

The 38-year-old US permanent resident, who asked that her last name not be used for fear of retribution against her relatives, is hoping to bring over her sister, her uncle and their families.

She says the families have been in hiding and their house was destroyed in a recent bombing because her uncle had been a prominent local official before the Taliban took over.

The slow pace of approvals is frustrating because families have already paid hundreds if not thousands of dollars in processing fees, says Chiara St. Pierre, an attorney at the International Institute of New England in Lowell, Massachusetts, a refugee resettlement

agency assisting Safi’s family.

Each parole application comes with a $575 filing charge, meaning USCIS, which is primarily feefunded, is sitting on some $11.5 million from Afghans in the last few months alone, she and other advocates complain.

“People are desperate to get their families out,” said St. Pierre, whose nonprofit has filed more than 50 parole applications for Afghan nationals. “Do we not owe a duty to the people left behind, especially when they are following our immigration laws and using the options they have?”

V ic tor i a Pa l mer, a USC I S spokesperson, said the agency has trained 44 additional staff to help address the application surge.

As of mid-October, the agency had only six staffers detailed to the program.

Of the more than 100 approved as of July 1, some are still in Afghanistan and some have made it to third countries, she said, declining to provide details. The program typically receives fewer than 2,000 requests annually from all nationalities, of which USCIS approves an average of about 500, according to Palmer.

Part of the challenge is that humanitarian parole requires an inperson interview, meaning those in Afghanistan need to travel to another county with an operating US embassy or consulate after they’ve cleared the initial screening. US officials warn it could then take months longer, and there’s no guarantee parole will be granted, even after the interview.

Humanitarian parole doesn’t provide a path to lawful permanent residence or confer US immigration status. It’s meant for foreigners who are unable to go through the asylum or other traditional visa processes, but who need to leave their country urgently. AP

A5

R

elations between China and India have deteriorated partly because Beijing has never offered New Delhi a credible explanation for some actions in recent years, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar says.

“We’re going through a particularly bad patch in our relationship because they’ve taken a set of actions in violation of agreements for which they still don’t

have a credible explanation,” Jaishankar said in a panel discussion at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum Friday in Singapore.

The two Asian powers saw their deadliest fighting in decades in the summer of 2020 high on their disputed Himalayan frontier. Twenty Indians and at least four Chinese soldiers were killed in hand-to-hand combat in a clash along the 3,488 kilometer border.

Indian Defense Chief

General Bipin Rawat recently called China his country’s biggest security threat, saying a lack of “trust” and growing “suspicion” were getting in the way of resolving the border dispute between the nuclear-armed neighbors.

China and India have both been adding infrastructure, troops and military hardware along the frontier, Rawat said.

Jaishankar told the forum he has been clear in conversations with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.

“I don’t think the Chinese have any doubts on where we stand on our relationship and what’s not gone right with it,” he said, adding that Beijing’s actions appear “to indicate some rethink about where they want to take our relationship. But that’s for them to answer.”

The New Economy Forum is being organized by Bloomberg Media Group, a division of Bloomberg LP, the parent company of Bloomberg News.

A6

Saturday, November 20, 2021

TheWorld BusinessMirror

Cryptocurrencies can destabilize nations, Hillary Clinton warns N

www.businessmirror.com.ph

India to repeal controversial farm laws that led to protests

F

ormer Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton took a swipe at cryptocurrencies, saying they have the power to weaken entire countries eventually.

Clinton said via video during a panel discussion at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum on Friday in Singapore that governments around the world faced a range of new challenges, including disinformation and artificial intelligence.

“One more area that I hope nation-states start paying greater attention to is the rise of cryptocurrency—because what looks like a very interesting and somewhat exotic effort to literally mine new coins in order to trade with them has the potential for undermining currencies, for undermining the role of the dollar as the reserve currency, for destabilizing nations, perhaps starting with small ones but going much larger,” the former Secretary of State said.

Clinton’s comments came while criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of deploying “a very large stable of hackers

and those who deal in disinformation and cyberwarfare.”

In 2017, Clinton blamed Russian interference along with questionable decisions by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for her loss the year before to Republican Donald Trump in the US presidential election. She highlighted Russia’s role in hacking into her campaign’s internal e-mails and later coordinating their release on WikiLeaks.

“With his oligarchic coterie, he has utilized many non-state actors to personal as well as nationalistic goals, and I think that’s going to become a greater and greater threat,” she said at the forum in Singapore.

Clinton also predicted the Biden administration would remove some punitive tariffs on China, while also calling on the world to prevent military aggression by Beijing and criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“I know that there’s an ongoing process, as we speak, to try to figure out what would be the best approach with respect to the tariffs,” Clinton said. “And I would predict that there will be some changes.

But they will not all disappear, because some of them in this new reality we’re living in may well be continued.”

Last month, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said the administration would directly engage with Beijing to enforce commitments in a trade deal reached last year with former President Donald Trump. China is far behind its purchasing targets, in which it pledged to buy an extra $200 billion in US agriculture, energy and manufactured products over the 2017 level in the two years through the end of 2021.

President Joe Biden’s team has been reviewing US policy on China since tak ing office and inherited duties Trump imposed on about $300 billion of annual imports from the Asian nation in the hope of taming the goods-trade deficit. More than two years since the duties took effect, the countries are shipping merchandise to each other at the strongest pace on record,

making it look as if the protracted tariff war and pandemic never happened.

Clinton said that some of the tariffs imposed during Trump’s trade war with China have “hurt” the US, particularly those on agricultural goods.

Speaking on Russia, Clinton said that Putin has sought to “hug China” to stave off potential problems in the far east, while also exercising power through non-state actors.

“He has a very large mercenary force that has been operating everywhere from Syria to the Central African Republic,” Clinton said of Putin. “He has a very large stable of hackers and those who deal in disinformation and cyberwarfare, both in and outside of the government. He’s engaged in a lot of asymmetric power moves.”

The former Democratic presidential nominee also said the US should look to counter China’s military moves.

“Of course we should cooperate on a range of issues, but we also cannot permit the kind of aggressive military build up, efforts to dominate maritime navigation, the intimidation of nations in the larger Asia-Pacific region,” Clinton said. BloombergNews

Biden wants major oil reserve sales. That’s not easy in Asia

D

windling inventories and concerns over energy security in key Asian economies may hamstring US efforts to arrange for a sizable and coordinated release of strategic crude reserves in a bid to rein in prices and tackle inflation.

Government-held stockpiles across many countries have edged lower this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. That’s limiting the region’s ability to flood markets as part of any potential effort with Washington, traders and analysts said, although the sale of small volumes are possible after OPEC+ snubbed calls for a quicker return of supplies to calm prices.

The bulk of Asia’s strategic reserves is held in China, where inventories have slipped as rebounding prices discouraged restocking this year. Beijing said Thursday it’s releasing some oil from reserves, with details to be announced.

In India, the hoard stands at less than a week of the nation’s consumption after several tanks were converted from strategic to commercial use.

This week, President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping discussed the merits of

releasing oil to ensure stability in global energy markets.

China said an SPR (strategic petroleum reserve) release is in the works, although it’s unclear if authorities are doing so in response to Washington’s invitation, or whether it had prior plans to do so.

The impact of releases of reserves from the US and other countries is already priced into global oil markets, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. said in a note. The drop in prices reflects expectations for more than 100 million barrels to be released, it said.

The US has also been rallying others across the region, although India and Japan have expressed reluctance to tap their stockpiles as they’re meant for acute supply disruptions or emergencies such as force majeures.

Here’s a snapshot of the strategic reser ves held by Asian countries:

China

n Combined strategic and com-

mercial crude stockpiles at 919.34 million barrels as of October 24, which is 59 percent of capacity, according to data analytics firm

Kayrros n That’s the lowest since end2018 in terms of filled capacity n Strategic volumes at about 345 million barrels, commercial volumes about 574 million barrels n That compares with about 346 million for SPR and 608 million for commercial in September n The nation has tapped its strategic reserve at least twice this year in an effort to bring domestic oil prices down; Beijing also released gasoline and diesel from a separate reserve

India

Government-owned strategic crude stockpiles currently at about 3.5 million tons (or about 26 million barrels) n That’s the equivalent of less than a week of India’s consumption n The nation has a total strategic storage capacity of 5.33 million tons across Mangalore, Vizag and Padur. Some of these tanks have been leased out to Abu Dhabi’s Adnoc, or emptied to make space for commercial usage and support local refiners n India’s government can tap on the entire volume of oil stored in strategic tanks in the event of an emergency n

Japan:

n Nation had 45.45 million kilo-

liters (about 290 million barrels) of crude in its strategic reserves at the end of September, according to official Japanese data n That’s down from last year, when strategic crude volumes were at 46.26 million kiloliters at the end of November 2020 n Japan also provides storage facilities for private companies and leases capacity to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, which can be used in the event of an emergency

South Korea

n Nation has 97 million barrels of oil as of August, excluding reserves for international joint stockpiling, according to the web site of state-run Korea National Oil Corp. which operates nine stockpiling bases n O vera l l nameplate storage capacity about 146 million barrels n South Korea has been in talks with the US on the possibility of a joint release, according to people familiar with official discussions between the countries n No decision has been made on a possible move. Bloomberg News

E W D E L H I — I n d i a ’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Friday his government will withdraw the controversia l far m laws that prompted yea r-long protests from tens of thousands of farmers who said the laws will shatter their livelihoods.

Modi made the surprise announcement during a televised speech that was broadcast live.

He said the constitutional process to repeal the laws would begin in December when parliament sits for the winter session.

The announcement came on the day of the Guru Purab festival, when Sikhism founder Guru Nanak’s birthday is celebrated, and ahead of key elections in states like Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.

Most of the protesters were Sikh farmers from Punjab.

The laws were passed in September last year and the government had defended them, saying they were necessar y to modernize India’s agricultural sector and will boost production

t hrough pr ivate i nvest ment.

But the farmers protested, saying the laws will devastate their earnings by ending guaranteed pricing and force them to sell their crops to cor porations at cheaper prices.

The government had so far yielded very little to the drawnout demonstrations that posed one of the biggest political challenges to Modi, who swept polls for the second time in 2019.

In November last year, the farmers escalated their movement by hunkering down on the outskirts of New Delhi, where they have camped out for nearly a year, including through a harsh winter and a coronavirus surge that devastated India earlier this year.

W hile the farmers’ protest movement has been largely peaceful, demonstrators in January broke through police barricades to storm the historic Red Fort in the capital’s center. Clashes with police left one protester dead and hundreds injured. AP

Japan proposes record stimulus package to fix ailing economy

T

OK YO — Japa n’s pr i me minister outlined Friday a record 56 trillion yen, or $490 billion stimulus package, including cash handouts and aid to ailing businesses, to help the economy out of the doldrums worsened by the coronavirus pandemic.

“The package has more than enough content and scale to deliver a sense of security and hope to the people,” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters.

The proposal from Kishida was set for Cabinet approval later in the day, but still needs parliamentary approval. Kishida has promised speedy action, and parliament is expected to convene next month.

The plan includes doling out 100,000 yen ($880) each in monetary assistance to those 18 years or younger, and aid for ailing businesses, Kishida and other politicians said.

Japan has never had a full lockdown during the pandemic and infections remained relatively low, with deaths related to Covid-19 at about 18,000 people. But the world’s third-largest economy was already stagnating before the pandemic hit.

Under the government’s “state of emergency,” some restaurants closed or limited their hours, and events and theaters restricted crowd size for social distancing.

A shortage of computer chips and other auto parts produced in other Asian nations that had severe outbreaks and strict lockdowns has hurt production at Japan’s automakers, including Toyota Motor Corp., an economic mainstay.

T he gover nment has been

studying restarting the “GoTo Travel” campaign of discounts at restaurants and stores, designed to encourage domestic travel. The campaign, which began last year, got discontinued when Covid cases started to surge.

Some critics have said the government approach amounts to “ baramak i,” or “spreading out h a ndout s,” w h ic h cou ld prove ineffective in generating growth in the long run. Others say the proposed cash aid leaves out families without children and other poor.

The scale of the latest package will require Japan to sink deeper into debt by issuing bonds.

Yoshimasa Maruyama, chief market economist at SMBC Nikko Securities, said the government needs to focus on getting spending going again, and the GoTo campaign could prove effective.

Japan’s economy contracted at an annual rate of 3 percent in the July-September period, largely because of weak consumer spending. Analysts say the economy is unlikely to rebound until next year.

Japan has also promised to earmark spending for vaccine research after facing criticism over being dependent on imports for coronavirus vaccines. It has so far approved vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca.

Kishida, who has promised “a new capitalism” for Japan, took office in October. His predecessor Yoshihide Suga stepped down after just a year in office, largely because of widespread public discontent about his inept response to the pandemic. AP

California to expand emissions testing with new $419M center

R

I V ER SIDE, Ca lifor nia— California on Thursday dedicated a new $419-million research facility that will allow state air quality regulators to expand emissions testing for heavy duty vehicles like trucks, buses and bulldozers.

The center in the city of Riverside will allow for more checks on the heavy vehicles in addition to the emission tests conducted on passenger cars. It replaces a nearly 50-year-old lab in nearby El Monte that state officials credited with helping to detect the Volkswagen diesel emissions cheating scandal.

Until now, heavy duty vehicles

haven’t been subject to the same level of scrutiny as passenger cars because of restrained capacity at the older lab, said Annette Hébert, deputy executive officer of the Southern California headquarters for the California Air Resources Board.

“As soon as I get my lab going, there are very specifically some heavy duty [vehicles] I want to look at,” Hébert said. “Part of the reason I am concerned about heavy duty [vehicles] is because of our lack of capacity to help keep them in check.”

The 37,347-square-meter facility will test emissions from cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles,

lawnmowers, marine engines and other vehicles. Its testing capacity will be twice that of the older lab for smaller vehicles such as passenger cars and six times more for heavy duty vehicles, including buses and off-road equipment, agency officials said.

In the future, Hébert said she hopes the facility will also conduct battery testing on electric vehicles to ensure they fulfill their life expectancy—yet another way to encourage Californians to move toward cleaner transportation.

California, which is home to about 40 million people, has long been viewed as a leader on clean

air regulations.

At a dedication event Thursday for the emissions testing center, local officials recalled growing up and living decades ago in a state where the skies were often too hazy to see nearby mountains and air quality warnings were commonplace—something State Senator Richard Roth noted is no longer case in the Riverside County communities he represents.

“Obv iou sly we h ave muc h much more work to do but what an amazing result,” said Roth, a Democrat.

The state broke ground on the facility four years ago in the

community 80 kilometers east of Los Angeles. A third of the construction cost was covered by fines paid by Volkswagen in the cheating case, according to the agency, which oversees California air pollution control efforts.

Jared Blumenfeld, California’s secretary for environmental protection, said the state continues to be seen as a leader on air pollution regulations and tackling climate change and it’s no accident the Volkswagen emissions scandal was detected here.

“This is actually a building of resistance,” he said. “This is about standing up and saying, ‘We care. We’re going to fund the

things that show empirically how pollution enters the world, and we’re going to hold polluters accountable.’”

Liane Randolph, who chairs the air resources board, said the facility will help shift transportation to zero-emission technologies and protect communities heavily impacted by emissions from heav y truck traffic and freight transport.

It’s not clear when the center, which is named for former board chair Mary D. Nichols, will begin operating. The agency is currently wrapping up projects at the El Monte facility, said Lynda Lambert, an agency spokesperson. AP

OurTime BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Angel R. Calso • Saturday, November 20, 2021 A7

Live up to 101 years old and become a millionaire

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

tute bill, which consolidated 29 proposals earlier filed in the lower chamber.

The bill seeks to amend Republic Act 10868 or the Centenarians Act of 2016. The law said Filipinos who reach the age of 100 years old whether residing in the Philippines or abroad are entitled to a cash reward of P100,000.

Under the proposed measure, 101 years old citizens will receive P1 million. The P100,000 for 100 years old will remain under the proposal.

The bill also seeks to grant P25,000 cash incentives to all

Y

ES, lolo and lola, if Congress approves this bill and the President signs it into law, you become an instant millionaire if you manage to live to a ripe old age of 101 years old.

To show respect and gratitude for the elderly, the House Committee on Appropriations on Wednesday approved a substitute bill granting P1 million to Filipinos who can reach the ripe age of 101 years old.

T he comm it tee approved with amendments the substi-

Filipinos who can reach 80 to 99 years old.

Earlier, Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza, one of the principal authors of the bill, said the proposal will give the families of senior citizens the means to continue taking care of their beloved lolos and lolas, as well as to strengthen the traditional family values of caring for the elderly.

“Where in other cultures, senior citizens are sent off to nursing homes instead of being cared for by their own families, we take care of our senior family members and give them the respect, love and attention they

deserve,” Atienza said.

He said Filipino senior citizens are remarkable for their industry, as well as their resilience in the face of adversity. Many of them continue to contribute to their family and community even in their old age, he said.

“We have a lot of centenarians who, in their advanced years, should be given the importance they rightfully deserve,” Atienza said.

Ako Bisaya Party-list Rep. Sonny Lagon, also an author of the bill, said the proposal seeks to provide old citizens the same financial benefits

Covid booster vaccination for seniors and A3 group eyed before December

BOOSTER vaccination for senior citizens and immunocompromised will start next week or before December 2021. PNA

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora

compromised by next week or before December 2021, vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said Wednesday.

“The booster dose protocols for health-care workers are dif-

M

A NIL A—T he gover nment targets to launch the booster vaccination for senior citizens and immuno-

ferent than those of the immunocompromised, so once that is out we can already start maybe even next week. The earliest is next week and the latest is on the National Vaccination Days,”

Thinking between the lines

By Nick Tayag

MY SIXTY-ZEN’S WORTH

H

AVE you come across an incident that made you smile knowingly because it gave off a flash of insight in your mind?

Many times, it occurred to me. Life is giving us messages all the time, if only we would pay closer attention and decipher the signs.

I have coined a portmanteau: Thinkling. From two words, thinking and chuckling. It is a label for one of my diversions. When I go through stories on newspapers and magazines, I like to muse about items I casually come across while sipping coffee. I read between and beyond the lines. It goes to show that there is more to ordinary reading than meets the eye. It can also be un-stressing and relaxing.

On the shelves of my desks are manila envelopes that contain assorted clippings from newspapers and magazines, which I kept for future re-read-

ing. I have collected a lot through the years, not to mention a lot of dust too.

When time permits, I go through them one by one. And as I give them a closer reading, some thoughts bubble up and I begin to remember why I clipped the article or written down the passage.

Let me share with you a few of these clippings and scribblings, some of which might rightfully belong to the category of “believe it or not” or “the strange and the bizarre” stuff.

“Patient takes wheel of ambulance to save driver.” Believe it or not that’s a headline of a news report by Agence France-Presse. The report goes on to say that in Lille, France, according to French medical officials, a late-stage cancer patient had saved the life of an ambulance driver who suffered a heart attack, by taking the wheel of his vehicle and driving him to the hospital.

As I picture it in my mind, I can’t help but see it as a wacky scene from a Marx brothers movie. I may laugh quietly at the thought, but if you’re looking for a concrete instance of an ordinary person doing an extraordinary deed, that’s it. Fate works in mysterious ways and in some instances in life you are called to rise up to do a task that is so unexpected of you that later you would even wonder why and how you were able to do it.

From my collection is a feature article about an upper-class woman who has two whippets which she hugs and cuddles, and pampers them like, as she puts it, “…like they’re human beings.

The dogs probably think they are human.” Take note: the dogs are fed fresh milk, ice cream, cheese and deboned chicken. They get a sponge bath daily before sleeping, and they get to sleep on their master’s bed. They have lots of toys and clothes; an outfit for every occasion is tailor-made for them.

They have his-and-hers outfits for playing, sleeping and traveling.

But in the same breath, the feature article goes on to tell us that at the office (she being a business executive, stock brokerage manager) she is apparently a certified terror. Her staffers “quiver at the sound of her voice, and such shrill of tone of tenacity likewise fills the

Galvez said.

T he Nat ion a l Vacc i n at ion Days are set from November 29 to December 1.

The announcement came as the country started its booster vaccination for health-care workers (HCWs) on November 17.

Galvez said this move is to further protect the vulnerable sectors from any possible rise in cases, especially now that infections continue to soar across Europe.

For the HCWs, Galvez is optimistic that the more than 1 million medical frontliners would be able to get their booster shots before the year ends.

“We need to finish this as soon as possible because we can see that cases are rising once again in Europe and we wanted that by the time we see an increase here, health-care workers are already done with their boosters,” he said.

Galvez said there’s enough supply to cover the three priority sectors for booster doses.

Based on the latest data from the National Task Force against Covid-19, the country has more than 57 million doses of vaccine available for administration.

For November alone, more than 12 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine doses are also expected to arrive in the country. PNA

halls…” The wealthy lady executive treats her people like animals who must serve her at the snap of her fingers while she treats her pet animals like people. Talk about misplaced affection. You encounter many of their kind on social media and on pet vlogs, and they get a lot of “likes” and heart icons and long threads of flatteries and nobody seems to realize the irony of it all.

And here’s a piece of news to perk up your morning breakfast.

A landmark bridge in Indonesia’s Sumatra island may collapse because too many people are fond of urinating on one of its steel pillars, a report in the newspaper said. The bridge has begun to lean on an angle and rocks slightly when traffic is heavy. An official of public works department says the bridge had deteriorated because people often took a leak on one of its piers, corroding the structure. Acidic fluid’s corrosive forces can eventually make the bridge collapse. I laughed soundlessly when I read it because I am reminded of the politicians who have been pissing on the pillars of our institutions for years now and whom many will vote for again in next year’s elections for a few pieces of silver.

Speaking of something rotten, have you come across bad smelling

being given to centenarians under Republic Act 10868.

“Our intention is to make the cash gift more accessible to more Filipinos and enable them to enjoy it during the twilight years of their lives where medicines and other necessities are more urgent,” said Lagon.

He also cited a World Health Organization (WHO) study in 2018 that said the average life expectancy of Filipinos is 69.3 years old.

Meanwhile, Rep. Michael Defensor of Anakalusugan said a total of 7,322 Filipinos who have reached the age of 100 years old have already re-

ceived their one-time P100,000 cash award from the national government since the passage of the Centenarians Law of 2016.

“In the 2022 national budget, we have provided another P135.8 million in new appropriations to pay for the P100,000 cash bonus of 1,358 Filipinos who are expected to turn 100 years old next year,” he said.

Defensor said the P135.8 million is lodged in the budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the agency mandated to distribute the cash grant.

86-year-old named Israel’s ‘Miss Holocaust Survivor’

SELINA STEINFELD, 86, crowned “Miss Holocaust Survivor” poses for a photo during a special beauty pageant honoring Holocaust survivors in Jerusalem on Tuesday, November 16, 2021. Ten contestants participated in the pageant, which was held for the first time since 2019 after being suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. AP/ODED BALILTY

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ERUSALEM—An 86-year-old woman who survived mass roundups and massacres of Jews as a child in Romania was crowned on Tuesday Israel’s “Miss Holocaust Survivor.”

Ten women in their 80s and 90s took part in the special pageant, sponsored by a local foundation and meant to bring members of Israel’s rapidly dwindling population of Holocaust survivors some joy and recognition.

The women were treated by professional makeup artists, hairdressers and stylists throughout the day before the evening competition. A number of local celebrities, including Miss Israel Noa Kochba, served as judges and provided entertainment to the crowd before Selina Steinfeld

plants that people want to buy? If the article I read in one magazine in 1999 is true then you will be surprised to know that in the United Kingdom, people are planting really weird plants in their gardens.

One of these plants is known as the “Voodoo Lily,” and it gives off a foul odor. Another plant has a blossom that is pollinated by flies that are attracted by its offensive smell: rotting flesh. Would you believe that these unusual foulsmelling plants are attracting many buyers who are willing to spend from $50 to $100 on them?

She reports solid business.

It makes me think of the many people who tend to gravitate towards personalities with stinking reputations in the same way that flies are attracted to rotting, decaying materials such as garbage.

These followers turn into fanatical “trolls” who act like virtual hooligans that delight in verbally beating up and bashing those who disagree with them.

What do you know? Even in death the gangsters thrive on protection racket. This is the gist of a feature article about crime-weary Venezuelans who pray at the tomb of a notorious thief, believing he and other dead gangsters can protect them against violent attacks and robberies.

Devotees of the Corte Malan-

was crowned the winner.

According to the pageant organizers, Steinfeld moved to Israel in 1948, married and raised three children.

She also has seven grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

“I have no words to express my happiness,” said Steinfeld. She said she had enjoyed the special day of pampering and that she hoped “to lead the people of Israel to beauty and goodness.”

Israel was established in 1948 in the wake of the Holocaust as a refuge for Jews from around the world. The country is home to an aging population of some 175,000 people who survived the Holocaust, when an estimated 6 million Jews were killed by Nazi Germany and its collaborators. AP

dra or Gangsters’ Pantheon pray at the tomb and pay for the favor with an offering of candles, a cigar, a glass of strong local anis liquor and a hot salsa song. They say the spirits of the dead criminals are trying to make amends for their villainous past by protecting people and helping those who might be tempted into crime.

It reminds me of a friend who got us out of a fix by showing the calling card of a police superintendent to a patrol of agents of the law. That card saved us from being arrested that night, of course with a little lubricant called “lagay.” Later as we were laughing all the way home, my friend revealed that the said police general was already dead for two years. Then we laughed some more, although I had that sneaky feeling, the police guys knew it and were just taking us for a ride to wring as much as they could from us.

What a society we have become when we have stopped praying to saints in our hour of need, but instead turn to the pantheon of dead evil men. Have we lost our faith in the power of good people to help us?

There’s more of these pieces, but enough for now. If this sampling will make you think (oh-so-gently) and make you chuckle, too, then my role is done. Happy thinkling!

A8 Saturday, November 20, 2021

Education BusinessMirror

Congress ratifies bill strengthening CHED T

HE House of Representatives unanimously approved on third and final reading the proposed “Amended Higher Education Act” that will further strengthen the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

On Wednesday a total of 199 law ma kers voted in favor of House Bill (HB) 10282, which seeks to expand the mandate of the CHED to cover the supervision and regulation of programs offered by all types of higher education institutions (HEIs). No one voted against it, or abstained from voting.

The bill would allow the CHED to exercise its oversight and supervisory powers over local colleges and universities offering degree programs, but not over

those under the jurisdiction of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and foreign HEIs operating under Philippine laws.

Higher And Technical Education committee chair Mark Go cited that the CHED would then be headed by a chairperson and four commissioners who would be holders of doctorate degrees conferred by a reputable HEI recognized by the CHED. HB 10282 requires the CHED to formulate a road map for higher

OFFICE of the Commission on Higher Education PNA

education that will set the general directions for educational policies and standards, as well as ensure that higher education is accessible, equitable, and will produce locally responsive, innovative, and globally competitive graduates and lifelong learners.

The house bill grants quasi-

judicial powers for the CHED to pursue its mandate, as well as empowers the commission to develop and enforce a system of program compliance.

It also allows the CHED to impose necessary sanctions for cause provided by law.

Filane Mikee Cervantes/PNA

PLM scholar leads PRSP, IABC student programs

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ROM an academic scholar of public relations (PR) to a thought leader in his field, award-winning communications practitioner and COMCO Southeast Asia’s Regional Integration-CEO, Partner and Cofounder Ferdinand L. Bondoy has been appointed to lead the industry’s student programs: the Students’ PR Congress (now rebranded as “Students’ PR Con”) and Grand Prix (Hack Sprint edition) of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) and the Student Quill Awards of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC)Philippines.

Bondoy had also served as one of the regional jurors of the International Communications Consultancy Organization’s Next Generation PR World Cup. The Southeast Asian leg of the competition for young PR practitioners was organized by the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) Asia Pacific. He was also elected as member of the United Kingdom-based Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) International Communications Committee composed of PR leaders from around the world.

The COMCO executive was also elected to the IABC Philippines’ Board of Trustees from 2021 to 2023, and was named corporate secretary as well as chair of Digital Communications and PR Commit-

BONDOY (right, wearing a cap) with graduates of his company’s mentorship program

tee. He spearheads a special project for youth and students, and also serves as the cochair of the Philippine Student Quill Awards. (Those who want to join can submit their entries at www.philquill.com.)

Early in 2021 Bondoy was elected to this year’s Board of Trustees of PRSP. Under his term, he will be introducing and leading the first virtual, interactive and nationwide edition of the said student activities. The PRSP Students’ PR Con is happening on November 20 at 8 a.m. (Interested parties can register at www.prspstudentsprcon.com/ register.)

The PR professional started young in the communications field, having been an academic scholar of PRSP in Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (University of the City of

Manila) where he graduated cum laude with a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication.

Early in his professional years, he was assimilated to IABC Philippines, led projects for the Digital Communications Committee of the Philippine Quill and Student Quill Awards, then eventually served as an evaluator of the prestigious award-giving body.

“Spearheading the Students’ PR Con and Grand Prix Hack Sprint edition of PRSP, [as well as the Student Quill Awards of IABC Philippines, are efforts] close to my heart, as my career and craft started through the industry’s student programs,” said Bondoy, who is also fondly called “Coach” by those whom he took under his wing and mentored in the practice.

“It is an honor and an opportunity for me to give back to the industry by preparing the next generation of communications, PR professionals and leaders, just like how I was honed in the field. It has come full circle, and I think this is the reason…I was given this position: to complete the narrative that the [seeds] sowed yesterday are the fruits harvested today.”

He added: “It is also an honor and a responsibility to represent the country and work for the industry [on] a global scale through the landmark projects and programs organized by PRCA and CIPR. And we will continue to contribute, be heard and be part of this global community of PR experts and leaders to further grow the discipline across the globe and impact social change.”

In the same spirit of paying it forward, Bondoy—together with COMCO Southeast Asia’s pool of experts—built the Camp COMCO Mentorship Program, which is an intensive and comprehensive talent-incubation initiative, industry linkage course and apprenticeship program designed to transform communication, marketing and multimedia arts students and fresh graduates into revolutionary practitioners of the industry. Now on its 16th Cycle, Camp COMCO has been cited for producing high-caliber young communications practitioners since 2016.

Stock Knowledge VR mobile app now free, has global standards

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HE Stock Knowledge Virtual Reality (VR) mobile application was recently launched and is now available for free downloads in Google Play Store to cater to high-school students, teachers, and school administrators.

It is a mobile-educational app that provides high-quality gamified immersive math, chemistry, physics, Earth science, and biology subjects.

The outstanding features of the application are supported even more with international-quality standards. Two research papers based on pieces of evidence presented to the International Con-

ference on Open and Distance eLearning show ways to maximize education delivery by leveraging on emerging technologies like augmented reality (AR), VR, gamification, and adaptive learning.

For the initial testing phase of the platform, the business was able to build collaborations with the Department of Education (DepEd)-Manila and Makati, and banked on student feedback for several product iterations to make it more accessible, inexpensive, and compatible with various mobile phone-requirements. This resulted in a higher learning and teaching efficiency rate. UNICEF’s Innovation Fund also supported

the creation and deployment of the Stock Knowledge open-source platform.

While nationwide immunization campaigns continue and full face-to-face learning remains limited, the government pursues to fill in the gaps in the technological aspect of fostering new teaching methods, and pique the interest of each student enrolled in DepEd’s curricula.

Anna Marie Benzon, Stock Knowledge CEO, said that having modern tools collaborating with traditional educational aspects and stimulating more interest in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, engagement

with students become easier. She added that having educationaltechnology start ups will make the academic sector flexible, especially during the pandemic.

Given the prolonged lockdown that forces schools to conduct online delivery, Benzon said applications like Stock Knowledge’s enhance the learning experience and classroom interaction remotely.

The Stock Knowledge app is the most affordable, accessible, and effective in engaging students to make science and math less intimidating to learn. Those who wish to experience the latest version with AR content may contact the company.

Editor: Mike Policarpio

Educator pens open letter to Robredo through film

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FILM prog ram facu lt y member has crafted an open letter to Vice President Leni Robredo, as expressed through the visual medium more than a month after the latter announced her candidacy for the nation’s top post.

Maria Leonor, a short documentary written and directed by Seymour Barros Sanchez, is part of “To Differ Digitally 2 [TDD 2]: Love and Dissent in the Time of Pandemic” online art exhibition from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Center for Campus Art (CCA), which is headed by Architect Gerry Torres and the DLS-CSB New Media Cluster (NMC) led by Associate Dean Maria Sharon Mapa Arriola.

Sanchez’s work, which is an offshoot of his full-length documentary “Leading Lady” funded

by Monash University Business School in Australia, probes into the Filipino voter’s psyche, and asks why Robredo continues to be one of the most trolled public officials in the country.

Collaborating with Sanchez in the project are camerapersons Ariel Alarcon, Charles Cajayon and Kristin Joy Bactad Jor; sound recordist Darwin Novicio; music composer Tonton Hernandez (with Ituloy ang Laban), voiceover narrator Eloisa Espino-Sanchez; editor, sound/ graphic designer and editor John Lanbert Rafols; and creative consultant Richard Soriano Legaspi.

Sanchez’s other project, Double Pandemic, Deadly Combination, is also part of TDD 2. In the short infotainment video, teenager Elizah Bacani warns about the danger of trans fatty acids, or trans fats, espe-

VICE PRESIDENT Ma. Leonor G. Robredo

cially in the time of the pandemic.

The video, which attempts to describe trans fats in simple terms, was originally written by Sanchez under the “[Un]Covering Trans Fats Media Training and Fellowship Program Cycle 3” hosted by ImagineLaw and Probe Media Foundation Inc. TDD 2 features live action films, animation, photographs, 2-D and 3-D models as well as rigs, texts, audio, applications, software, graphic design, and illustrations.

The show looks at the digital landscape as a platform to communicate constructive protest based on love and empathy. This is the second time in four years the CCA is organizing this kind of exhibit with NMC faculty.

According to curator Karen Ocampo-Flores, TDD 2 is “not only a fresh opportunity to deliver messages of social commentary through the digital medium; it is also a timely response to conditions wrought by the present scourge of [the pandemic.]”

Globe Telecom, DLSU conduct special training for Technopreneurship faculty

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ORE than 2,100 students of De La Salle University and other schools of the De La Salle System will benefit from TECHPRE101: a unique teachertraining program developed by DLSU and Globe for the transfer of “technopreneurship” skills to science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and economics students, which incorporates business principles with socialinnovation practices.

Beginning this school year 49 DLSU teachers across eight DLSU colleges, sister-schools and two DLS Higher Education Institutions will participate in the pilot program. These are DLSU’s College of Engineering, College of Science, College of Computer Studies and School of Economics; De La Salle University Integrated School; De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde; De La Salle-Lipa; University of St. La Salle-Bacolod; De La Salle University-Dasmariñas; La Salle University-Ozamiz City; and De La Salle-Araneta University.

Meanwhile, the DLS Higher Education Institutions (Senior High) are De La Salle-Santiago Zobel School and La Salle Greenhills.

Technopreneurship is a course mandated by the Commission on Higher Education for engineering degree programs, but other programs have adopted it as a regular or elective course. It will also be rolled out in one state university to be chosen by CHED. “We believe in the importance of strengthening our teachers’ knowledge and skills in technopreneurship, [so they can] equip the work force of the future,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe’s chief sustainability officer and SVP for Corporate Communications. “Through this partnership with DLSU, we hope to help our teachers develop the youth’s interest in innovation and entrepreneurship, so that they can contribute to economic growth and create positive societal impact.”

In the said subject, students are

taught to create a business model based on technological innovations to meet market needs and to productize the innovation from a technical and commercial standpoint.

The telco’s collaboration with DLSU aims to further enhance the teachers’ grasp of the subject by including topics such as mobile tech in entrepreneurship and 5G technology for the Internet of Things. It also brings out the entrepreneurial mindset of teachers through an idea and business-pitch competition.

The syllabus is a mix of application-focused online classes, mentorship through breakout sessions, and business development. Each class will spend 45 hours on the course over four months.

The 2,100 senior high school, undergraduate and graduate students who will take the course annually will translate into 600 teams being guided in business-plan preparation, with some 48 projects expected to qualify for incubation toward potential commercialization.

“We are fortunate that this TECHPRE101 teacher-training program has received the full support of Globe, driven by their advocacy to champion STEM education to advance 21st-century learning,” said Federico Gonzales, who is the executive director of DLSU’s Animo Labs Technology Business Incubator.

The telco has also launched the Globe Maker Lab and Innovation Hub—both designed to enhance the delivery of world-class STEM education to underprivileged K-12 students. They include a program for outof-school youth and a teacher-training program to help public schools launch their own labs and hubs.

The program, in partnership with Mano Amiga, aims to spark interest as well as boost the knowledge and skills of students 10- to 13-years-old in STEM, and eventually help develop tomorrow’s work force. Mano Amiga is a school providing affordable, high-quality K-12 education to learners from low-income families.

Tourism&Entertainment The View that Broke BusinessMirror

Editor: Carla Mortel-Baricaua

Saturday, November 20, 2021 A9

my Pandemic Rut Fresh vegetables from the hotel garden go straight to your table.

The Ridge where you can chill and grill, and dine al fresco.

The picnic spread fit for a couple, or your barkada.

Clear skies and chilly weather call for a glam picnic.

Heirloom dishes from the Veranda menu.

By Carla Mortel-Baricaua

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Photos by Victoria Mortel Flores

wo weeks passed my second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, I packed my bags and headed south to Tagaytay with my sister in tow. At first I was a bit wary of the antigen test that would poke my virgin nostrils, however, days before our trip, the protocols were lowered to having vaccinated cards presented before the hotel check-in. Lucky me.

More than a year into the pandemic, my routine that kept me safe and sound had begun to feel dull as I began to grow weary of meeting the seemingly endless deadlines. So, imagine my relief when Taal Vista Hotel invited me to spend a weekend respite. The timing couldn’t have been perfect.

As soon as we arrived at the hotel lobby, we were greeted by Celine Arenillo, Cluster Marketing Communications Manager, who joined us for lunch at the Veranda for our first taste of their heirloom dishes, a must try fare when in Tagaytay, prepared

by Chef Jayme Natividad.

In the words of my sister, Victoria Mortel Flores, “the Bulalo is true to the distinct Batangas beef savor, while the deep-fried Salinas is crispy and flavorful, the best alternative to Tawilis. Pinakbet is cooked just right with the freshest of ingredients, retaining its semi-sweet juices mixed with a savory sauce. Dessert comes in fashion, the classic halo-halo with shaved ice in a coconut shell is laced with coconut milk.

Leche flan is topped with macapuno, not too sweet but very creamy.”

With full tummies, we needed to move about, so we gladly accepted the invitation to a history walk around the hotel premises. Marketing Communications Coordinator Sheena Maria Pelaez served as our guide, who talked confidently about Taal Volcano and how it is tied to the hotel’s own story as one of Tagaytay’s iconic destinations.

The tour was nostalgic since it brought back some childhood memory from our very first visit to Taal Vista Lodge, as it

was still called back then. That brief moment stayed with us and it was endearing to be able to return to the same spot now that we are older and hopefully wiser from our life’s travel.

Our guide then took us to the hotel’s garden patch of herbs and vegetables, some of which are harvested and served fresh to guests in that garden-to-table manner they are so proud of.

Later in the afternoon we found ourselves enjoying the majestic view of the Taal lake and volcano while having a “Glam Picnic at the Lawn” treat. Under the white latticed, dome-like gazebo, we had a clear view of the Binitiang Maliit. The expansive lake view is very calming that makes you forget how powerful that small volcano can be once it starts acting up again. At a distance, it calls out to you to leave your worries and be in the moment.

The set up was lovely and refreshing thanks to the weather and the cool breeze.

The clear sky and cool temperature brought the right ambiance for al fresco dining, as we said goodbye to our feeble attempt to diet in the face of two family size pizzas (Margherita and Hawaiian), a cheese and cold cut platter, and pastries. We just couldn’t resist the famed Pan de Coco from The Cakeshop, too.

As the dusk turned into a blanket of starry night, we settled ourselves at the viewing deck for some “Grill at the Ridge” and chill moments. We tried the Meat Lover Plus menu that had beef, chicken, pork skewers, sausages, Java rice, mashed potato, bread, mixed greens, salad, and soup.

It was the perfect food fare while hanging

Creamy Leche Flan topped with sweetened macapuno.

out with friends and family. As we exchanged lively banter with other media guests, the fun meter turned up a notch after drinking some cocktails. Needless to say, we went to our assigned rooms fully satisfied both tummy and soul and tucked in for restful slumber.

The next morning we woke up and saw Taal Volcano puffing a white plume of smoke, interspersing with the clouds. To wake up with such a scene right from our Premier Room Lake View is such a privilege and a welcome break from my cabin fever as I switched roles from home to work.

With a stunning view of rolling hills and fog, our breakfast was served in the Covered Terrace buffet-style, complete with barriers, a sore reminder that we’re not out of the woods yet.

This was our no-plan day; content to camp inside our cozy room and enjoy its amenities. We felt very secure and safe because our room is sanitized and complete with a safety kit. It also came with boxes filled with succulents, pots, pebbles, plant care instructions, and cute scoopers, just like any guest would receive with the Plantastic Escape room package.

Our lunch came from the Taza Fresh Table menu and as Victoria would put it, “the fresh garden salad is the top grade in freshness and crispness, with a fun sprinkle of quinoa that adds a certain oat taste to the sweet-tangy dressing. The Tomahawk Pork Chop is an exciting taste of savory-sweet and tender grilled pork that you will not be able to resist. The Spinach, Mushroom, and Truffle pasta is by far my favorite with the creamy white truffle sauce that melts flavor with every spoonful. The Choco Lava cake is indulgent and heavy with chocolate taste, moist with a rich chocolate center, while the surprising Olive ice cream with Don Papa Rum-glaze is subtle with its taste, a clean sweet flavor.”

After this, we skipped the afternoon snacks and looked forward to “Dine under the Stars” fare. Unfortunately, the weather was wet with a chance of a drizzle, so dinner for two was ushered inside our room. From start to finish the meal lived up to

The best viewing point at the Ridge with a sight to behold.

Taza fresh garden salad with a sprinkle of quinoa.

expectations. “Starters are flavorful, salads are as expected fresh and with balance of flavors. The Calamansi Sherbert cleanses the palate enough to make you indulge some more.

Steaks are perfectly seasoned done to satisfy a hefty appetite. For dessert, the Chocolate Mousse is whipped to a soft cottony bounce that melts rich chocolate in your mouth, making you want to finish the whole serving. The

Bring home succulent kits when you check-in at Taal Vista Hotel.

food experience is one for the books, a singular most gastronomic wonder,” says Victoria.

With full hearts and souls, our Tagaytay respite wound up and worked its wonders.

For a couple of days, we were able to escape from our day-to-day stressors and that was just a relief! Fully recharged, we now once more dare to dream of a life beyond the pandemic.

Looks like it’s Christmas The Araneta Center lights up a giant Christmas Tree as a limited number of people are allowed to watch on Thursday, November 11. Despite the pandemic, the center has continued its traditional Christmas lighting for four decades. TEDDY PELAEZ

BusinessMirror

A10 Saturday, November 20, 2021 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

Etaily keeps the e-commerce playing field for women equal

BY RODERICK L. ABAD Contributor THE digital shift in its many forms has been challenging women business owners to integrate the different aspects of their lives in a more seamless, efficient way.

Just like Etaily chief operating officer (COO) Tatiana Cziomer, who gives her insights into how their firm’s solutions make the operation of digital transactions easier, more user-friendly, and an important factor in business growth.

Etaily enables brands and merchants to go online and handle their various online channels, from the major marketplace channels like Lazada and Shopee; instant commerce sites, such as GrabMart and Pandamart; to their own respective brand portals and apps.

What makes it different from other providers is its holistic service that takes advantage of data, analytics and tech to create an end-to-end e-commerce strategy for brands.

“Brands today no longer just look for logistics and fulfillment services—they want a consulting and strategic partner. This is what Etaily is here for,” the COO said.

Distributed fulfillment network is among the huge game-changers in e-commerce that will allow these women to expand more of their market.

It enables direct deliveries from warehouses in the customer’s area, thus allowing for shorter delivery times and cheaper shipping costs.

The Etaily O2O platform makes fulfillment safer, more dependable and faster to its network of multiple warehouses, distribution centers, and retail stores all over the country.

“The Philippines has tech-enabled companies like Etaily that can have a powerful influence in Southeast Asia. We have the tech talent, and it’s a matter of bringing together that innovation so that we can compete with other countries.”

Twitter rolls out redesigned misinformation warning labels

BY BARBARA O�TUTAY The Associated Press TWITTER users will soon see new warning labels on false and misleading tweets, redesigned to make them more effective and less confusing.

The labels, which the company has been testing since July, are an update from those Twitter used for election misinformation before and after the 2020 presidential contest. Those labels drew criticism for not doing enough to keep people from spreading obvious falsehoods.

The redesign launching worldwide on Tuesday is an attempt to make them more useful and easier to notice, among other things.

Experts say such labels, used by Facebook as well, can be helpful to users. But they can also allow social media platforms to sidestep the more difficult work of content moderation—that is, deciding whether or not to remove posts, photos and videos that spread conspiracies and falsehoods.

Twitter only labels three types of misinformation: “manipulated media,” such as videos and audio that have been deceptively altered in ways that could cause real-world harm; election and voting-related misinformation; and false or misleading tweets related to Covid-19.

The new designs added orange and red to the labels so they stand out more than the old version, which was blue and blended in with Twitter’s color scheme. While this can help, Twitter said its tests showed that if a label is too eye-catching, it leads to more people to retweet and reply to the original tweet.

Twitter said Tuesday the redesigned labels showed a 17 percent increase in “click-through-rate,” which means that more people clicked on the redesigned labels to read the information debunking false or misleading tweets.

Misleading tweets that got the redesigned label—with an orange icon and the words “stay informed” were also less likely to be retweeted or liked than those with the original labels.

Tweets with more serious misinformation—for instance, a tweet claiming that vaccines cause autism—will get a stronger label, with the word “misleading” and a red exclamation point. It won’t be possible to reply to, like or retweet these messages.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Park Seo-joon reveals where he likes to hang out when he’s not filming

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OT everyone can say they’ve been on a Zoom call with Korean superstar Park Seo-joon, who’s best known for his roles in the sageuk or historical drama Hwarang, the romantic comedy What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim, and the coming-of-age dramas Fight For My Way and Itaewon Class. I have, along with 50 or so fans and casual admirers of the Korean actor who is a soughtafter endorser and ambassador for several brands in South Korea and the Philippines.

One of these brands is telco Smart Communications (Smart), which recently hosted Smart Hallyu Hangouts. This virtual event featured Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin of Crash Landing on You fame.

This time, it was Park Seo-joon’s turn and the telco very kindly invited us, along with other members of the press, to be part of the event in partnership with Viu. Park Se-joon was launched last year as an endorser for Smart’s Giga K-Video data promo in collaboration with Viu, While the public got to watch Park Seo-joon answering questions from Sam Oh in the Philippines and a Korean MC in Seoul on the GigaLife App, we were on Zoom. It was the same experience (I watched Hyun Bin on the app) except that we got a “photo opportunity” with the actor. It was a virtual one, of course.

“More than just a trend that has seeped into our new digital lifestyle, hallyu or the Korean wave has allowed us to find bits and pieces of happiness and of ourselves no matter the kind of K-life we’re in. Along with our partners at Viu, we’re very excited to launch a new session of Smart Hallyu Hangouts to give our subscribers another reason to smile, feel inspired and feel kilig as they watch and interact with Park Seojoon,” said Jane J. Basas, SVP and Head of Consumer Wireless Business at Smart.

Smart Prepaid and TNT users need only to subscribe to any Giga K-Video mobile data promo to

watch the live event. The promo must be active on the day of the event and used to access the GigaPlay App. Meanwhile, Smart Postpaid subscribers need to use their plan’s data allocation, which they can conveniently track on the GigaLife App, to be able to watch Park Seo-joon and other Korean stars on GigaPlay.

The actor did answer some questions, and thanks to Sam Oh’s excellent translations, I am sharing some of them with you. The questions were included in the different segments of the virtual event.

Sam said, “We asked him about his height because when we look at articles of him after a press conference or whatever, they will always comment a lot on his height. They say they have the ideal height difference with his female costars. We asked him how

tall he is.

“He is 185cm tall. He’s not sure who decides that standard of the ideal height difference. Honestly, he says he doesn’t really think about this all that much because he thinks every time there is this new project, it’s his acting that is the most important thing, so the height is not something he thinks about.

But we asked him if this was something that works to his disadvantage sometimes because he’s tall, and he says, ‘Not really.’ Again, he doesn’t really think about this and I think his fans really just like seeing pictures of him. You know, we like tall men, he is a tall guy, and as fans we just appreciate all sorts of pictures of him,” said Sam.

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Tale as bold as Pride IMAGINE your beloved stories from literature and lore in a new, more colorful light.

Globe and Pride@Tech are launching its latest initiative “Retold With Pride,” which flips the script on iconic stories we all grew up with by giving better representation to the LGBTQ+ community.

From world-famous classics to local mythical tales, the riveting collection features stories familiar to most but reimagined to reflect the rainbow experience.

Created by Propel Manila, in collaboration with Meta, Elesi Studios, Kerplunk Studios, M&P Creatives, Retold With Pride features “Pride and No Prejudice,” “Dragula,” “The Gay Gatsby,” “Life of Bi,” “Little Women Loving Women,” and local classics “Ibong Adana,” “Florante at Awra” and “Si Malakas at Si Makisig,” all retold to show day-to-day realities of the LGBTQ+ community. The rainbow retelling highlights the universal appeal of great masterpieces, touching on real life themes of love, sex, dating, coming out, and acceptance, topics which everyone can relate to.

Launched on November 15, Retold With Pride is available on Spotify as audiobooks. You may also watch the stories come to life on Pride@Tech’s Instagram account as video books.

The initiative aims to benefit the Home for the Golden Gays, an organization that provides support and care facilities for elderly LGBTQ+ members.

“As storytellers and creators, it’s important our work promotes equality, inclusivity and diversity.

Representation matters, representation creates perception. Perception shapes culture, and ultimately it shapes our reality. We know how powerful stories can be,” said Propel Manila chief creative Raymund Sison.

Globe head of communication integration and brand governance Veca Keeler said Globe immediately wanted to support the initiative as part of the company’s advocacy for equality, diversity and inclusivity.

“When we first learned about this idea, we knew we wanted to be a part of it,” said Keeler.

She cited Globe’s pioneering effort to recognize qualified dependents of same-sex couples among its employees.

“This year, we began recognizing the qualified dependents of same-sex legal couples in our employee base. We are proud to say that we are the first Filipino company to extend similar benefits to dependents of its employees who come from the LGBTQ+ community. Our current brand line ‘Atin Ang Mundo’ is a celebration of stories of people who are proud of who they are and who embrace every opportunity to move their lives forward through the use of technology. We are thrilled with the Retold With Pride stories we’re launching with Pride@Tech,” Keeler said.

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Google loses appeal of huge EU fine over shopping searches

BY KELVIN CHAN The Associated Press LONDON—A top European Union court on Wednesday rejected Google’s appeal of a 2.4 billion euro ($2.8 billion) fine from regulators who found the tech giant abused its massive online reach by giving its own shopping recommendations an illegal advantage in search results.

The European Commission, the 27-nation bloc’s top competition watchdog, punished Google in 2017 for unfairly directing visitors to its own shopping service, Google Shopping, to the detriment of competitors. The EU’s General Court dismissed Google’s appeal of that antitrust penalty and upheld the fine.

“The General Court thus rules that, in reality, Google favors its own comparison shopping service over competing services, rather than a better result over another result,” it said in a press release.

Google said it made changes in 2017 to comply with the European Commission’s decision.

“Our approach has worked successfully for more than three years, generating billions of clicks for more than 700 comparison shopping services,” a Google statement said.

The fine was part of an effort by European regulators to curb the online giant’s clout on the continent. It was followed by two other blockbuster antitrust penalties against Google, totaling 8.25 billion euros ($9.5 billion), which the company also is appealing. The fines are a drop in the bucket for Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc., which earned $182 billion in revenue last year.

The penalties were early salvos in the EU’s crackdown on tech companies, which has expanded to include other Silicon Valley digital giants. The commission this year launched fresh antitrust investigations into whether Google and Facebook are stifling competition in digital and classified advertising markets. It’s also investigating Apple over payments and Amazon over concerns it’s unfairly competing against independent merchants on its platform with its own products.

Meanwhile, the EU also is drafting new digital rules to rein in online services by making them more accountable for illegal goods and harmful content found on their platforms, with the threat of fines worth up to 10 percent of global annual revenue.

Wednesday’s ruling can still be appealed to the European Court of Justice, the bloc’s highest court, but only on points of law, not the facts. Google hasn’t decided whether to do so, saying it will closely review the decision.

The case began after the European Commission received a complaint in 2009. It dragged on as fruitless attempts to negotiate a settlement delayed the final decision, drawing criticism that the commission wasn’t acting fast enough to stop Google from cornering online markets.

That’s something the European Commission is trying to address with its new digital rules, which aim to prevent bad behavior, rather than punishing past actions as it has previously done. It also has started using “interim measures” as a speedy way to halt anticompetitive behavior while investigations are carried out.

The commission welcomed the court’s new ruling.

“The judgment today delivers a clear message that Google’s conduct was unlawful and it provides the necessary legal clarity for the market,” spokesman Arianna Podesta said in a press briefing in Brussels.

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Saturday, November 20, 2021 A11

Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2: Gaming in style I

N a century dominated by social-media apps like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, it’s fascinating that games are the top apps used by smartphone owners.

The repeated Covid-19 lockdowns last year only added fuel to the fire as people resorted to playing mobile games to ease boredom. That comes as no surprise since mobile games are easily accessible, provide quick entertainment, and rarely require any special skills. You can play while waiting for the train or the bus, or when you are waiting for your queue anywhere. I hear people couldn’t even resist playing games even when using the bathroom. But, hey, we’ve all been there! No judgment.

Games account for 43 percent of smartphone use with 62 percent of phone owners downloading games on their new phones during the first week.

With the continued rise in popularity of gaming, it’s no wonder that smartphone brands are often highlighting the gaming features of their smartphones hoping to entice more gamers.

There are, however, only a handful of true gaming smartphones specifically created for serious gamers.

These phones are all about blazing fast processors, the sharpest and most vivid displays, unique cooling systems and batteries that could keep up with those long gaming sessions—and, oh don’t forget those flashing RGB lights.

Leveraging on its solid PC gaming background, Lenovo takes the term “gaming phone” to a whole new level with the latest iteration of the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2—pairing top-level specs with an exciting look that’s designed for gamers.

Its impressive spec sheet can make any gamer giddy with excitement as it is run by a Snapdragon 888 5G processor, up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, a 6.92-inch AMOLED display with 144Hz refresh rate, 720Hz touch sampling rate, and a 5,500mAh large battery. Unique for gaming are eight virtual triggers, dual HaptiX feedback, active twin turbo fans and customizable RGB lights. For its cameras, the Legion Phone Duel 2 has a dual 64MP + 16MP ultrawide camera setup on the back and a 44MP AF pop-up selfie camera that’s ready to stream anytime.

As for the design, the Legion Phone Duel 2 is hands down one of the most gorgeous-looking smartphones I’ve ever seen this year. But is it a gaming phone that would help you achieve “Legion-dary” status?

DESIGN AND BUILD

IT’S hard to get excited when you see a new phone launching almost every week with just slight variations in design. The Legion Phone Duel 2 gave me a different feeling. When I first opened the box

and saw it for the first time in real life, I was honestly surprised by how good it looks. You can sense the feeling of innovation that is sorely missing from the modern flagship market. Good job, Lenovo.

The device sports chamfered aluminum sides, smooth glass and a highly reflective mirror finish. It’s a smudge and fingerprint magnet, so you’ll have to wipe it every now and then unless you use the protective case— which I strongly recommend as you are basically holding a glass sandwich.

And when it’s glass versus floor, most of the time floor wins.

The Legion Phone Duel 2 is built from a gamer-first design and shares the same design principle as the original. This time, Lenovo raised the back of the phone to make room for two active cooling fans on either side.

The device is pretty tall, measuring 176mm in length and 78.5mm wide. It’s a bit on the chunky side at 9.9mm thick and hefty at 259g making it a bit of a challenge to hold the phone with one hand. The curved frame and the raised back does make for an incredibly comfortable gaming experience, and gamers will surely appreciate the console controllerlike feel of the phone. Since the CPU, GPU and fans are housed in the middle, the Legion Phone Duel 2 focuses the heat in the center of the device, allowing your hands to stay cool during long gaming sessions.

This gaming-centric design, however, does have its quirks for day-to-day smartphone use. Holding the device in portrait mode can be a bit awkward.

Due to the raised module on the back, you can’t really hold the entire half of the phone without covering the cameras—or the fan.

DISPLAY AND SOUND

THE Legion Phone Duel 2 boasts of a 6.92-inch AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution, a 144Hz refresh rate, and an improved 720Hz touch sampling rate—another feature even the most hardcore gamers will appreciate. The display also supports HDR 10+ and can get as bright as 1,300 nits at peak brightness and has Gorilla Glass 5 for protection. There is a preinstalled screen protector, as well.

Lenovo deploys a Pixelworks Iris 6 visual processor to ensure a premium experience in both gaming and multimedia, through ultra-vivid imagery, richer colors and sharper detail.

The device’s display is complemented by an equally excellent audio system. Lenovo incorporated powerful, Dolby Atmos dual-front speakers that deliver superb sound quality, and allows users to catch the subtlest of sounds even in the heat of battle.

The volume is loud enough to make you forget about connecting it to any speakers. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a 3.5mm headphone jack, but Lenovo did include an adapter for those private sessions.

Overall, the Legion Phone Duel 2 has one of best video and audio combos in a smartphone.

GAMING AND PERFORMANCE

LIKE a seasoned gamer getting ready to face the final

boss, Lenovo has equipped the Legion Phone Duel 2 with the best hardware arsenal available. As you would expect from a gaming phone with a Snapdragon 888 5G processor and a minimum 12GB of RAM, the Legion Phone Duel 2 handles almost every game with ease.

I’ve tested it on a bit of PUBG, Call of Duty, Asphalt 9 and lent it to my nephew for some Mobile Legends and Genshin Impact—and we were both blown away by its performance even on the high settings and we didn’t encounter any frame drops or any lags.

Keeping things cool despite the heat of the action is its One Complete Thermal System. The Legion Phone Duel 2 is the first smartphone to have a built-in active twin turbo fan cooling system. The dual fans work together as a push-pull system to force the cool airflow through the independent copper windtunnel. As a result, the Legion Phone Duel 2 doesn’t heat up that fast until about an hour into gaming. For those interested in benchmarks, the Legion Phone Duel 2 handled itself admirably in every test and ranks among the top Android phones of the year.

You can also adjust the lighting effect of the RGB-illuminated Legion logo and fan allowing you to customize the lights and notifications based on your liking, which is really cool.

Keeping it powered are two 2,750mAh batteries with a total of 5,500mAh capacity. It supports dual Type-C charging with two USB Type-C connectors on the smartphone—on both edges—so you can charge the phone while holding it in either vertical or horizontal orientation. With 90W fast charging, you can get up to 50 percent charge in just 13 minutes, and a full charge in about half an hour.

FINAL WORD

THE Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 is a gamer’s dream phone, offering a host of game-centric features such as a huge responsive display and a whole lot of customization options. It also has the power to go head-to-head with any Android flagship, and though might be big and bulky for some, its bold eye-catching design immediately grabs attention—something gamers love to have.

The Legion Phone Duel 2 starts at P34,995 cash price and is available in Legion Exclusive Stores and authorized resellers nationwide. It is also available at the Lenovo Legion Flagship Store in Lazada. ■

Park Seo-joon reveals where he likes to hang out when he’s not filming CONTINUED FROM A10 The actor was also asked about his language skills as he seemed to have spoken Spanish fluently in the variety show Youn’s Kitchen, which was filmed in Spain.

Park Seo-joon seemed bashful about this. He seemed embarrassed about being dubbed a “language genius” by a broadcast program in Korea.

“He says that he’s not really super fluent in any of these languages, especially not on a level where he can

show it off, and what we saw in the shows, for him it was really like a mode of survival. He really tried his best and he thinks his fans really just look at all things very positively. He says that when he entered that show, it was Season 2 and he just didn’t want to be a burden to the rest of his castmates. He had very little time, he was told that he was flying to Spain at the last minute, so he took that short time to just learn as much Spanish as he could,” said Sam. After this, Sam asked Park Seo-joon to say something in Tagalog and he said, “Salamat.”

In another segment, Park Seo-joon was asked what his personal goal in life was.

“Well, there are many, but he thinks that maybe that can all be summed up in trying to be a good person. So Son [Korean MC] asked Park Seo-joon, ‘What is your idea of a good person?’ He says it’s someone who does his work well, it’s someone who is a good influence because he is not blind to the fact that his fans are influenced by him and so he wants to make sure that he is a good influence to the fans, and also in the realm of family life he wants to be a good

son. So when he puts all of that together, for him that’s trying to be a good person.”

Park Seo-joon is in Korea after being in England for two months to film The Marvels. He said he was still jetlagged. It’s amazing that despite being a big star, he said he was spending a lot of time on the couch in the living room of his house, which he shares with his parents. Why the couch? This is because if he spends time in his room, he would barely see his parents as he’s returning to England soon to resume filming. ■

Cristobal faces Puerto Rican

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OSEKIE CRISTOBAL faces Puerto Rican Jeffery Torres in a six-round non-title super lightweight fight on Saturday at the Robert Treat Hotel in Newark, New Jersey.

Known for being the tallest Filipino active boxer at 5-foot-10, the southpaw Cristobal (15-5 win-loss record with 11 knockouts) is debuting in the US against 5-foot-11 Torres (8-1 record with four knockouts).

“He [Cristobal] is here to prove something for himself,” trainer Dion Asuncion said. “He trained very well and I saw his determination.

He really wanted to get back and redeem himself.”

Cristobal is coming off a threefight losing skid—all by knockout. And the 24-year-old Torres is absolutely a dangerous foe for Cristobal after he scored a firstround technical knockout win over Jader Alves de Oliveira last October 16 in Framingham.

Cristobal, a 26-year-old President Roxas (Cotabato del Norte) native, is managed by Greg Asuncion.

Nietes comes back in title eliminator

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ONNIE “AHAS” NIETES returns to the ring in a World Boxing Association (WBA) super flyweight title eliminator against Norbelto Jimenez of the Dominican Republic on December 11.

The Nietes-Norbelto fight is one of the main featured bouts of “Probellum: Revolution” at the CocaCola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

“It’s really a good opportunity for me to have this fight, a step closer of becoming a world champion again,” the 39-year-old Nietes told BusinessMirror on Wednesday.

Nietes said that he’s in a better condition compared to his fight against Pablo Carrillo of Colombia last April 3 in Dubai which he won by a unanimous decision.

Nietes trains under Edmund Villamor in Cebu. If he beats the 30-year-old Jimenez (30-9-5 winloss-draw record with 16 knockouts), he could set up a future duel with reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Council super flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada of Mexico.

He could also fight American WBA regular super flyweight champion Joshua Franco.

“It depends on my manager and promoter, but what is important is to win the fight in front of me,” the four-division champion Nietes (43-15 record with 23 knockouts) said.

World Boxing Organization bantamweight champion Johnriel Casimero will fight British challenger Paul Butler and Jayson Mama will be facing International Boxing Federation flyweight champion Sunny Edwards in the same card.

Josef Ramos

Davao City eyes contact sports return protocols

By Manuel Cayon

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AVAO CITY—Local sports officials would be coming up with guidelines for contact sports as the city opened up more economic activities and flexibility in public activities and sports.

City Sports Division Mikey Aportadera told the Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Thursday that his office started consulting with health experts here on how to implement the new guidelines for contact sports to avoid turning sports activities or events into Covid-19 spreader.

He said the guidelines would be issued soon.

“We consulted if the venue can be in a controlled and regulated area.

There are games that the government and the organizer can somehow partner to manage the event that cannot contribute to the rise of cases in Davao City,” Aportadera said.

The city government looked into contact sports activities as the

Sports BusinessMirror

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| Saturday, November 20, 2021 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

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WINNING MOMENTS Spain’s Garbine Muguruza reacts after defeating Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit, 6-3, 7-5, in the final of the Women’s Tennis Association Finals in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Wednesday, while Canada’s Milan Borjan celebrates his team’s 2-1 win over Mexico during their World Cup qualifying match in Edmonton, Alberta, earlier last week. AP

PBA OPENS 3X3 ACTION

By Josef Ramos

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HE Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) kicks off its first-ever 3X3 tournament on Saturday with all 13 teams playing in the first leg at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Limitless Appmaster of Phoenix Super LPG composed of FilipinoAmerican Brandon Rosser, Mike Gamboa, Jorey Napoles and Reymar Caduyac battles Purefoods TJ Titans of Paolo Javelona, Jed Mendoza, Val Acuna, Antonio Bonsubre and Joseph Eriobu at 2 p.m. in Pool A. Forty-year-old Mac Cardona will be returning to the PBA as part of the Zamboanga Valientes, who will play against Platinum Karaoke of JR Alabanza, Yutien Andrada, Chris De Chavez and Karl Dehesa at 2:25 p.m.

also in Pool A. “I am very excited to play 3X3 and show what I have as a player.

The PBA is my family. Although I don’t expect too much, I am hoping and praying this 3X3 will help me to return to the PBA’s regular 5-on-5,” Cardona told BusinessMirror on Friday.

Cardona, a former De La Salle gunner, will be teaming up with Al-Daser Esa, Gino Jumao-as, Kyle Neypes, JR Cawaling and Reynaldo Demesa under Coach Joseph Aaron Romarate.

A total of 17 games will be played in the first day starting 2 p.m. until 8:40 p.m.

The other games pit Barangay Ginebra San Miguel against Sista Super Sealers at 2:50 p.m. in Pool B and Cavitex Braves-Pioneer Pro Tibay at 3:15 p.m. in Pool C.

Lee6 wrests one-stroke lead, Saso shares 6th place after 66

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APLES, Florida—On a course she didn’t expect, Nelly Korda delivered the round she needed with a six-under 66 that left her two shots out of the lead Thursday and gave her a good start toward winning Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour player of the year.

The $1.5-million prize for winning the CME Group Tour Championship is in range, too.

Former US Women’s Open champion Jeongeun Lee6 didn’t make a birdie on rain-softened Tiburon Golf Club until the sixth hole, and then she didn’t stop. She finished with three straight birdies for an eight-under 64.

Lee6 had a one-shot lead over four players, including past Tiburon winner Sei Young Kim. Scoring was so low that 18 players were at 67 or better.

The 60 players who qualified for the season finale have the same chance to win the $1.5-million prize, the largest in women’s golf, regardless of their standing in the Race to CME Globe.

The more compelling race is the points-based award for LPGA player of the year, which is down to Korda and Jin Young Ko, each with four victories. Korda has a 10-point lead, meaning Ko would have to be runnerup to have a chance.

The South Korean star has some catching up to do after a 69 left her in a tie for 25th, especially with Korda looking as sharp as she has for so much of the year.

“I gave myself some good looks inside 10 feet,” Korda said. “Two ‘oopsies’ with three-putts, but I think I hit the majority of the greens and gave myself some really good looks....

Hopefully, I can carry it into the next three days.”

Hannah Green of Australia, who already picked up $1 million this week for winning the Aon Risk-Reward Challenge bonus program, took a step toward even more cash by joining Korda in the group at 66, along with US Women’s Open champion Yuka Saso.

Saso highlighted her first round with an eagle to stay in contention.

“I want to have fun and trust the process this week to wrap up the season,” Saso said. “It has been a great year. My confidence has been steady throughout the season, regardless of what event I was playing.” AP

next batch of activities to resume soon as the city was placed under the Alert Level 2, where several restrictions as curfew and people movement have been relaxed. Cases of Covid-19 infections have declined by more than half of what used to average more than 30 cases daily in the previous months.

The guidelines on the nationwide implementation of the Alert Level Systems for Covid-19 Response as of November 11 allows local government units to allow the holding of contact sports.

“This means that the contact sports opening is not automatic and still subject to the approval and discretion of the local government,” Aportadera said.

He emphasized on taking precautions in opening the areas for contact sports because it may result in adverse consequences.

“It is best to prioritize the safety of all before these sites are opened.

I understand how you missed playing basketball, volleyball or football but we cannot compromise the safety of everybody,” he said. “So I am asking for your understanding, and to wait for the guidelines because we are discussing about it thoroughly and hopefully, we can come up next week a tailored-fit guidelines for Davao City for contact sports.”

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE UNWRAPS

TNT Tropang Giga meets Limitless Appmaster at 3:40 p.m., while Purefoods TJ Giants clash with Zamboanga Valientes at 4:05 p.m. Terrafirma and Ginebra collide at 4:30 p.m. and NorthPort faces Pioneer at 4:55 p.m.

Platinum and limitless Appmaster collide at 5:20 p.m., Purefoods and TNT square off at 5:45 p.m., Meralco battles Sista at 6:10 p.m. and the Beermen take on the Batang Pier at 6:35 p.m.

Limitless App takes on Zamboanga Valientes at 7 p.m., to be followed by the Platinum-Purefoods game at 7:25 p.m., Cavitex-San Miguel Beer at 7:50 p.m., TerrafirmaMeralco at 8:15 p.m.,

and TNT-Zamboanga Valientes at 8:40 p.m.

All the remaining elimination games will be completed by Sunday, including the knockout stages— quarterfinals, semifinals and championship—starting at 3 p.m.

The winner-take-all final is set at 6:40 p.m.

The game is played for a period of 10 minutes, with the first team to score 21 points winning the match.

The top 3 teams in Pool A (five teams) and top 2 teams in Pools B (four teams) and C (four teams) will advance to the playoffs, while the eighth and final berth will be disputed by the third best team in Pool B and C, respectively, in a door-die match.

The champion will receive P100,000, runner-up P50,000, and third place P30,000.

YUKA SASO is in contention in Florida.

ANGED against the country’s best club teams, Baguio and California Precision Sports hope to make their presence felt in the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Champions League inaugurals on Saturday at the Aquamarine Recreational Center in Lipa City.

The Lady Highlanders test the mettle of PetroGazz at 10 a.m., while the Antipolo City-based CPS goes up against F2 Logistics at 1:30 p.m.

Chery Tiggo and Tuguegarao Perlas Spikers cap a heavy three-match schedule to usher the federation’s first national club league at 4 p.m.

Baguio City is here to compete as Coach Yul Benosa wanted his ladies to prove that their team also belongs to the big league.

“We’re small but we can be terrible, and the underdog fights fiercer,” said Benosa as the Lady Highlanders prepare for training on Friday after the team was cleared in the RT-PCR swab test. “And we consider ourselves the dark horse of the tournament,” Skipper Cherry Atuban, the Baguio City setter who along with outside hitter Ann Atuban had a taste of club competition in the 2016 V-League by also representing the summer capital, are raring to prove themselves against their idols and to guide their teammates who are playing for the first time in this level of play.

“This is a big thing for us, it’s one major motivation to compete here,” Atuban said. “My advice to the girls is for them not to lose their focus.”

The Lady Highlanders have been training for two months for the competition after Benosa created a program for the team to become one solid fighting machine.

Regardless of the outcome of the week-long tournament, Atuban wants to give pride to Baguio City.

The Angels, meanwhile, will field an intact roster with national team middle blocker Ria Meneses and outside spiker Ces Molina leading the charge in the event that has Rebisco, Top Speed, 1Pacman Partylist, Pitmaster Foundation Inc., Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Olympic Committee as platinum sponsors and F2 Logistics, PLDT, MVP Sports Foundation, Asics, Mikasa, BCDA, Philippine Red Cross, Puso Pilipinas and Lipa City as gold sponsors, with PNVF godfather, Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, chairman of the Champions League, giving his full support.

Pasig catches last bus to semifinals

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ASIG-STA. LUCIA outgunned Nueva Ecija, 79-66, to book the last semifinal ticket in the FilBasket Subic Championship at the Subic gym on Thursday night.

Cedrick Ablaza and Justin Arana steered the Realtors with double-double performances in the do-or-die quarters duel to set up a knockout semis match with AICC Manila Friday.

Ablaza pumped in 14 points and 12 rebounds while Arana fired 13 points and 11 boards for Pasig-Sta. Lucia, who followed up its 99-79 win in its first playoff meeting with Nueva Ecija Last Tuesday.

Nueva Ecija enjoyed a twice-tobeat incentive in its matchup but failed to capitalize on this advantage.

Pasig-Sta. Lucia’s quarters feat also avenged its stinging 70-68 defeat to Nueva Ecija in the

eliminations last October 31.

Ryan Costelo topscored for the Realtors with 18 points, eight boards and three assists, while skipper Jeric Teng delivered 16 points as they padded their 22-13 first-quarter lead to 14, 40-26, at the half.

The Realtors held that doubledigit upperhand for good, leading by as many as 17 following Ablaza’s layup for 66-49 with 5:57 to go.

Pasig also banked on its outside shooting by draining 10 triples including four from Teng.

The Realtors also outrebounded the Bespren, 53-39.

John Paul Sarao and Rence Alcoriza finished with 14 and 12 points in a futile effort for Nueva Ecija.

Meanwhile, the other semifinals pairing pit Davao Occidental and San Juan set Friday night.

Juico reelected athletics federation chief

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HE 17-member Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) board, including its President Dr. Philip Ella Juico, recently received a fresh mandate to lead the federation which laid out its objectives for the Olympic cycle.

The officials said that they will reboot the body’s Olympic program by reaffirming the PATAFA, World Athletics and Olympic values of honesty, transparency, ethical use of science, hard work and the judicious use of its resources for its athletes’ success and character development.

Besides Juico, a former Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman and member of various governance and integrity commissions of the then International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), now known as the World Athletics, also re-elected was House Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez as chairman.

Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go remained as honorary

chairman, while businessman Rommel Sytin was named secretary-general.

Also elected were Agapito Capistrano , executive vice president; Atty. Melinda Diaz-Salcedo, corporate secretary; Engr. Noel Silva, treasurer; and Elmer Ngo, auditor.

Named as trustees were former Oriental Mindoro Governor Dr. Benjamin Espiritu, Cebu businessman Felix O. Tiukinhoy Jr., Ilagan City Mayor Josemarie Diaz, sportsman Rafaelito Villavicencio, Joseph Anton Bengzon, Jaime Villegas, Datu Yusoph Mama, Dr. Guillermo Torres Jr., Atty Roberto Uy and former PATAFA President Go Teng Kok. Juico said that the board will again emphasize its said core values in its decisions as “times continue to change rapidly especially with the vast improvement seen in the Filipino athletes recently that, coupled with the advancements in training, science and opportunities, offers a lot of chances for our elite athletes.”

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

8 STONE BUSINESS OUTSOURCING OPC 5-10/f Tower 1, Pitx Kennedy Road, Tambo, City Of Parañaque

LI, YANNA Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 1.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin Speaking.

XIE, JINLIANG Marketing Staff Mandarin Speaking 2.

Brief Job Description: Monitor, review and report on all Marketing activity and result.

Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs.

3.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for taking in Phone/email/chat/ interactions in order to meet customer needs and expectations

14.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Analyze the productivity of the Marketing plans and projects, recommend to Senior Management.

15.

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

ACCENTURE, INC. 7f, Robinsons Cybergate Tower 1, Pioneer St, City Of Mandaluyong LOUA, JACQUES Sw/app/cloud Tech Support Analyst

13.

16.

Basic Qualification: Minimum 2+ years work experience required with atleast 1 year experience in a similar role

17.

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

ACSTREAM MANAGEMENT INC. 2204b/2206, 22/f Pbcom Tower, Ayala Avenue, Bel-air, City Of Makati

VONG MINH HUNG Mandarin Speaking Operations Specialist 4.

Brief Job Description: Develop and maintain standard operating procedures for all business functions

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications. At least 6 months work related experience. Good oral and written communication skills in mandarin

18.

19.

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

ADIDAS PHILIPPINES, INC. 14/f Fort Legend Tower, Cor. 31st St. 3rd Ave. Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig RINA LOEKIANDARI Senior Manager Manufacturing Excellence App 5.

Brief Job Description: Lead and manage projects that elevate the performance of supply base and manage manufacturing technologies implementation

Basic Qualification: Able to utilize industrial engineering techniques effectively to produce tangibles results Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

20.

21.

ADVANCE BEYOND INTERNATIONAL CONSULTING, INC. 3/f Salcedo One Center, 170 Salcedo St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati YU, FENG Mandarin Marketing Specialist

6.

Brief Job Description: As MANDARIN MARKETING SPECIALIST, you shall interpret written or spoken marketing material into one or more other languages-mandarin, ensures meaning and context are maintained, creates glossaries or term dictionaries, possesses knowledge of multiple languages, works with individual clients and corporations. Communicating in dual language English and Mandarin Chinese (spoken and written) with clients. Analyze business market stability for management and clients satisfactory. Monitor and align the organizational goals with the target market.

Conduct competitive business research and analyze bench marking data. Recommend website and campaign optimizations. Research and implement marketing tools to support our promotional projects (automation software, social media scheduling etc.).

Work closely with sales and marketing teams to identify opportunities for new client acquisition.

ZHANG, JIRONG Mandarin Marketing Specialist 7.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for interpretation of the marketing materials and communicating in dual language (spoken and written) with customers.

22.

Basic Qualification: Can speak, write, type in Mandarin language.

Technical skills in software as stated above.

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

23.

25.

8.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for team and people management ( professional and personal care aspects )

26.

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

ANOC99 CORPORATION 5/f To 10/f Ayala Malls Manila Bay Building D., Macapagal Blvd. Cor. Aseana Street, Tambo, City Of Parañaque

9.

10.

11.

12.

ERYCO DJOHANSYAH Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries FERA SARI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LEONG WEN CHEN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LIM YAN MENG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NGUYEN THI HOA Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries PHAM NGOC TUAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries PHAN VAN TRONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries SANTOSO Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries STEVEN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires.

SUWANDI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires.

TRAN QUANG LAM Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires.

YAO, JING Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language

RYAN DANIEL Bahasa Indonesian Language - Manager Fund Management Brief Job Description: Managing Clients meeting invertors to discuss investment strategies POLYANSKA, SYUZANNA English Language-business Intelligence Manager Brief Job Description: Manage team of analysts or developers CHAU CHI CAM Vietnamese Language-supervisor Fund Management Brief Job Description: Assisting in the coordination of year-end audits

29.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language.

TEH HOCK KIM General Manager-mandarin Speaking 30.

31.

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

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

TO VU BACH YEN IT Support Specialist 27.

Brief Job Description: Shall answer incoming phone calls from Chinese clients and troubleshoot customer technical problems with computer software and hardware.

ZHAO, YANYAN Freight Coordinator Brief Job Description: Processes orders and oversees cycle of order fulfilment.

DU, YUANXIONG Chinese Speaking Graphic Designer 32.

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services

MA, XIAOTIAN Chinese Speaking Graphic Designer 33.

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services

CHEN, XIN Chinese Customer Service Officer 34.

Brief Job Description: The Chinese Customer Service Officer is a first point of contact for the company’s Chinese clients. The primary role of a Chinese Customer Service Officer within the team is to respond to a variety of Chinese clients’ requests and inquiries via the telephone or via live chat.

SHI, YUMEI Chinese Customer Service Officer

35.

Brief Job Description: The Chinese Customer Service Officer is a first point of contact for the company’s Chinese clients. The primary role of a Chinese Customer Service Officer within the team is to respond to a variety of Chinese clients’ requests and inquiries via the telephone or via live chat.

28.

Brief Job Description: Supervise the work of surveyors and staff within an organization unit, exercising technical and administrative oversight; independently perform the full range surveying work assignments

CITIBANK N.A 16th Floor, Citi Plaza, 34th St. Bgc, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

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

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months’ customer service experience/good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months’ customer service experience/good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: A Chinese and fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: A Chinese and fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

DEXIN 999, INC. Red Hotel No. 345, Edsa Cor. Don Carlos Revilla St., Barangay 147, Pasay City LI, HUI Mandarin Customer Support Representative 36.

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

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

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

DITO TELECOMMUNITY CORPORATION 11/f Udenna Tower Rizal, Drive Cor. 4th Ave., Bgc, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

DOU, ZHONGZHAO Network Construction Lead Advisor Basic Qualification: Can speak, write, type in Mandarin language Technical skills.

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

37.

Brief Job Description: Implement technical and new technology; apply strategy in business model

ERICSSON TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC. 22/f Two/neo Bldg., 3rd Ave. Cor. 28th St. Crescent Parkwest, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

CHAUDHARY, RAJAT Network Program Director 38.

Basic Qualification: must be fluent in Chinese language (writing and speaking) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree with 3 to 5 years of work experience as surveyor in track work or MRT construction Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: 10 years experience in fixed and wireless telecommunications industry; proven success in growth stage companies; excellent verbal and written English and Mandarin skills Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

Brief Job Description: Expected to manage Ericsson’s contract fulfillment including the delivery of products and services effectively and efficiently

Basic Qualification: Degree in telecommunications engineering, electrical engineering or related major. Minimum of 5 years experience in telecom, networks and business management in highly complex programs.

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

FAREAST OUTSOURCE PROCESSING INC. 7th, 8th, 9th Flr. Nu Tower, Moa Coral Way, Brgy. 076, Pasay City

CHAN CHUN CONSTRUCTION PHILIPPINES CORPORATION L2b B8 Belvedere St., Doña Manuela Subd, Pamplona Tres, City Of Las Piñas CHEN, CHIH-HUNG Surveyor Supervisor

Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in Mandarin and with at least 6 months experience in logistics industry.

DATACLICK INTERNATIONAL CORP. E. Rodriguez St., Roxas Blvd. St., Barangay 003, Pasay City

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

Basic Qualification: Ability to liaise effectively with clients and other organizations

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

CRONYX INC. No. 4th-10th Flr. Yinhope Bldg., Dela Rama Cor. Zoili Hilario St., Seascape Village, Ccp Complex Subd. Zone 10, Barangay 076, District 1, Pasay City

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in Management as any business course

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

Brief Job Description: measures effectiveness and efficiency of operational processes both internally and externally

Basic Qualification: min 10 yrs experienced in managerial role

COCOPIG DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY INC. Unit F 20/f Marajo Tower, 26th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

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

Basic Qualification: Degree holder; 5 year experience in related area

Basic Qualification: • 15+ years of relevant experience in the financial services industry under Sales and Treasury; Extensive knowledge of financial markets and products; At least 8 years in a Senior Leadership Role; and Proven relationship management skills; Ability to work in high pressure situations

CLOVERSENSE TECHNOLOGY INC. 29/f Robinsons Summit Center, 6783 Ayala Center, Bel-air, City Of Makati

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language

Brief Job Description: The Head of the Corporate Sales and Solutions under the Markets and Securities Services Group is responsible for FX sales and solution’s for the Institutional Clients Group. The position also has a supervisory role in markets rates and currencies chain ensuring compliance with all conduct standards and all related market policies including US regulations.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

KIM, GA HYEON Corporate Sales Head

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

CAPSLOCK INC. 7th & 8th Flr. Y Tower Bldg., Coral Way Drive Cor. Macapagal Ave., Brgy. 076, Pasay City

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language

NGUYEN MINH DUC Chinese Customer Service

No.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language

ZHAO, WEISONG Mandarin Software Quality Assurance Analyst

AMDOCS PHILIPPINES INC. 23rd, 25th, And 26th Floors Eco Tower, 32nd St. Cor. 9th Ave. Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig DAS, PRASUN Software Development Manager

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

BZC IT SERVICES INC. 3f Salcedo One Center, 170 Salcedo St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

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

Basic Qualification: Bachelors degree with proven experience in software development methodologies

NGUYEN BINH TAM Chinese Customer Service

A13

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

BIGCAT SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS, INC. 18/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Avenue Cor. Rufino Street, Salcedo Vill., Bel-air, City Of Makati

24.

Basic Qualification: Interprets written or spoken marketing material into one or more other languages (Mandarin); Ensures meaning and context are maintained, creates glossaries or term dictionaries; Possesses knowledge of multiple languages works with Individual clients and corporations.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Saturday, November 20, 2021

39.

WANG, ZHENGWEI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service representative

Basic Qualification: High School graduate in Chinese curriculum. Can speak and write fluent Chinese Mandarin. Can operate computer mandarin characters Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

FLASH EXPRESS SOFTWARE (PH) CO., LTD. INC. 9th Flr. Arthaland Century Pacific Tower, 5th Avenue 30th Street Cor. 4th Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

A14

BusinessMirror

Saturday, November 20, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION NAW AUNG Network Planning Supervisor

40.

Brief Job Description: develops, plans, and implements the overall strategic goals of an organization’s network system

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: job-relevant degree/ 5-10 yrs. supervisory/managerial experience in logistics or operations/ multilingual Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

FOREVER FORTUNE HOLDING CORPORATION Excelsior Hotel, 161 Roxas Blvd., Baclaran, City Of Parañaque TRINH VAN HOANG Operations Officer 41.

Brief Job Description: Develop, recommend and assist in implementing strategies for long-range financial stability and improved efficiencies

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese and English Speaking

No.

52.

OSCAR SHIM NYUK FUN Malaysian Customer Support Representative 53.

GLOBALLGA BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING Ground Level, Level 2-5 Floor, Silver City 4, Ortigas East, Ugong, City Of Pasig

CHEN, LEI Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 42.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin speaking

WEI, CHAOPING Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 43.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin speaking

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

44.

Brief Job Description: Setting individual sales targets with the sales team

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin language and college level Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

HCL TECHNOLOGIES PHILIPPINES, INC. 6th Floor, Science Hub Tower 4 Campus Avenue Corner Turin Street, Mckinley Hill Cyberpark, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

NGUYEN VAN LONG Analyst 45.

Brief Job Description: Analyze trend reports to identify causes for increase / decrease in incidents for specific products or overall volume if such spikes are not related outages

Basic Qualification: Candidate must possess at least a Bachelor’s/College Degree, Computer Science / Information Technology or equivalent; At least 1 year(s) of working experience in the related field is required for this position

54.

MIN, JONGMUN Web Developer 46.

Brief Job Description: Quality-test and troubleshoot website its applications in various browser.

55.

56.

LI, JIAMING Channel Sales Manager 47.

Brief Job Description: 1. Responsible for Huawei’s terminal business and local channel providers for business expansion in the Philippines. 2. Report the business status to Huawei headquarters every week.

57.

XU, TIANYANG Huawei Philippines Retail Go To Market (GTM) Manager 48.

Brief Job Description: 1. Analyze sales-related data, publish insight reports, and connect with group leaders. 2. Explore the needs of business clients and optimize the product user experience. 3. Develop local business branch growth strategy and operate different stores types.

XU, BICHENG Project Manager For Wireless Expansion 49.

Brief Job Description: 1. Ensure the project is delivered in line with the contract and implemented according to the budget.

2. Focus on customer requirements and improve customer satisfaction.

58.

GAN MEI CHYI Project Procurement Manager 50.

Brief Job Description: 1. Co-define the project tracking system, and improve the supplier resource management 2.Monitor and analyze project Key Performance Index to improve project management. 3. Manage the Representative Office’s Resource Planning Committee requirement about the key projects delivery forecast

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

INFOVINE INC. 8th, 9th, 10th/f Aspire Corporate Plaza Bldg., Macapagal Blvd. St., Zone 10, Barangay 076, District 1, Pasay City

XU, KE Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 51.

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months’ customer service experience/good in oral communication and written

59.

Brief Job Description: The IT support (ITSS) is an integral member of the company infrastructure. applications support, and of the IT division and is responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clienteles DIEP HUE TRAN IT Support Specialist

60.

Brief Job Description: The IT support (ITSS) is an integral member of the company infrastructure. applications support, and of the IT division and is responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clienteles DUONG NGOC DIEP IT Support Specialist

61.

Brief Job Description: The IT support (ITSS) is an integral member of the company infrastructure. applications support, and of the IT division and is responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clienteles LAO NGUYEN MINH IT Support Specialist

62.

Brief Job Description: The IT Support Specialist (CITSS) is an integral member of the company infrastructure, Application Support, and of the IT Division and is responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele.

VU THI THAN IT Support Specialist

63.

Brief Job Description: The IT Support Specialist (CITSS) is an integral member of the company infrastructure, Application Support, and of the IT Division and is responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele.

WANG, YAN Account Manager 64.

Brief Job Description: Act as the main point of contract in all matter relating to client concerns and needs

No.

69.

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

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

70.

71.

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

72.

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

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

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

73.

74.

75.

76.

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

Basic Qualification: A Chinese and fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Can speak and read cantonese, Mandarin and Fukien language

77.

78.

79.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 80.

Basic Qualification: Can speak and read cantonese, Mandarin and Fukien language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Can speak and read cantonese, Mandarin and Fukien language

81.

82.

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

Basic Qualification: Can speak and read Cantonese, Mandarin and Fukien language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Can speak and read Cantonese, Mandarin and Fukien language

83.

84.

CHEN, YI-WEI Taiwanese Admin Support Specialist 65.

Brief Job Description: PROVIDE DAILY SUPPORT OF various computer systems including answering questions, analyzing problems, and quickly forming solutions to return systems to proper operation.

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

66.

Brief Job Description: Plans, directs, and carries out policies, relating to all phases of human resource

Basic Qualification: 4 year degree in related field required. 7+ years proven experience in a Senior HR generalist role

85.

67.

68.

JU, GUANGPING Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NAW MAI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

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

Brief Job Description: managing incoming calls and customer service inquires ZHENG, CHUNLAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: managing incoming calls and customer service inquires EI EI PHYO Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries HUANG, YUANMING Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: managing incoming calls and customer service inquires KYAW SHIN Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries KYWIN PHU Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LI, HANG Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: managing incoming calls and customer service inquires LI, JUNSHENG Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: managing incoming calls and customer service inquires LIU, DASHENG Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: managing incoming calls and customer service inquires MARSECO Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: managing incoming calls and customer service inquires NYEIN CHAN AUNG Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries SHAW KHWAN Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: managing incoming calls and customer service inquires WANG, PEIPEI Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Brief Job Description: Maintains the computer networks of all types of organizations, providing technical support and ensuring the whole company runs smoothly.

Brief Job Description: Management of engineering; affairs and assistance to General Manager

OGAWA, JUMPEI Treasurer/assistant Manager 86.

Basic Qualification: able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: With bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or any related course with a minimum of 1 year IT experience and able to speak and write in MANDARIN. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Japanese and English (verbal and written), master degree graduate, with supervisor/ managerial experience in engineering consultant company for over 10 years

Brief Job Description: To have custody of and be responsible for all the funds and to render financial reports; Supervise the entire operations of sea freight, air freight and local distribution

Basic Qualification: Advance knowledge in finance; Expert in logistics business processes with fluency in Japanese language Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

PMFTC INC. Plant C & D, Champaca Ii, Fortune, City Of Marikina

JAIN, RISHABH Manager Business Planning

Basic Qualification: able to speak, read and write Chinese language

Basic Qualification: able to speak, read, and write Chinese language

YIN, SHIJUN Chinese Customer Service

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

NISSIN TRANSPORT PHILIPPINES CORPORATION No.13 Cargo Village, N. Aquino Ave., Santo Niño, City Of Parañaque

87.

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

Brief Job Description: managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. 4th-11th Flr. Nexgen Tower, C4 Rd. Edsa Ext., Brgy. 076, Pasay City

XU, KUN Chinese Customer Service

TAKADA, TAKEYUKI Deputy General Manager

MAJOREL PHILIPPINES CORP. 5th Floor E-commerce Plaza Bldg., 1 Garden Rd., Eastwood City, Bagumbayan, Quezon City KOHLI, SHILPI Hr Director

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

NIPPON ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS CO., LTD. - MANILA BRANCH OFFICE Unit 527 5/f Cityland Pasong Tamo Tower, 2210 Chino Roces Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati

JIU ZHOU TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. 25/f Robinsons Summit, Jg Summit Center, Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Chinese mandarin, English and their respective native language.

WANG, WEI Chinese Customer Service

ZHANG, JIASHUN IT Technical Support

Basic Qualification: Can speak Chinese and English Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

NANTAI TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED 3rd Floor Net One Center Building, 26th Street Corner 3rd Ave., Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

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

JIDA COMMUNICATION (PHILIPPINES) INC. 99 Comclark Reliance Center, E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave., Ugong, City Of Pasig

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

INTELEGENCIA BPO LLC CORP. 35th Floor Antel Global Corporate Center, Julia Vargas Ave., Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig

Brief Job Description: The Chinese IT Support Specialist (CITSS) is an integral member of the company infrastructure, Application Support, and of the IT Division and is responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele.

DANG VAN DUC IT Support Specialist

Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 Basic Qualification: 1. With at least 2 year experience working in Project Procurement. 2. Has training with engineering procurement management.

3. Must have a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management. 4. Highly proficient in Chinese and English language.

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

WANG, PENG Chinese IT Support Specialist

Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 Basic Qualification: 1. With at least 3-year work experience as Project Manager in wireless delivery market. 2. With intensive knowledge and skills in wireless product technology. 3. Must be a graduate of Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering. 4.Highly proficient in Chinese and English language.

Basic Qualification: Post Graduation; Significant work experience in a lead managerial position.

ITECHNO SPECIALIST INC. 9/f 100 West Building, Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 Basic Qualification: 1. Must have at least 3 years work experience as Retail Manager in a telecom company. 2. Has background in electronic product sales and marketing activities.3. Must be a graduate of Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management. 4. Highly proficient in Chinese and English language.

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

HOANG THI LIEN Vietnamese Customer Support Representative

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

Basic Qualification: 1. With at least 2 year overseas work experience in an IT industry. 2. With cross cultural communication and management skills 3.

Have a deep understanding of Chinese culture and its electronic market. 4.

Proficient in Chinese and English language.

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

YANG, CHUN Mandarin Customer Support Representative

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in Web development or related field, relevant experience.

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES PHILS. INC. U-5302, 53/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave., Cor., V.a. Rufino St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

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

QIAO, YUXUAN Mandarin Customer Support Representative

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 HJ WEB SOFTWARE DEVELOPER INCORPORATED Unit 207, Heritage Condominium, 1851 Antonio Vasquez St., 076, Bgy. 697, Malate, City Of Manila

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

LI, MIN Mandarin Customer Support Representative

GOLD TREE IMPORT AND EXPORT INC. 7/f Ramon Magsaysay Center 1680 Roxas Blvd., 076, Barangay 699, Malate, City Of Manila TSUI, YICK FAI FRANKIE Sales Manager

Brief Job Description: Head of operations for BPO division.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

INVECH TREASURE PROCESSING CORPORATION Ground, 2nd, 3rd And 4th Floor, Eight West Campus Mckinley West, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

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

Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION SINGH, PAWAN PRATAP Sr. Operations Director

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing finance business partnering to other functions, particularly commercial, to provide strategic and finance perspectives in planning and evaluating business initiatives.

Basic Qualification: Minimum 10 years of experience in business, financial, commercial or demand planning, information management or other relevant business areas that demand high level of critical analysis Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

S&P CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY & DEVELOPMENT CO., INC. U-1168b G/f Veca Bldg., Chino Roces Ave. Cor. Estrella St., San Antonio, City Of Makati TENG, FENGSHUANG Project Manager 88.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for managing technical issues on materials, equipment used on projects

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and English languages, both oral and wriiten Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

SA RIVENDELL GLOBAL SUPPORT, INC. 9-11 Flr., The Biopolis Bldg., Macapagal Blvd., Brgy. 076, Pasay City

89.

90.

91.

92.

93.

94.

95.

96.

97.

98.

99.

100.

101.

102.

103.

104.

105.

106.

AJENG SRI WULAN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

DOKPHUT, DARANEE Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

HARIS SUGANDHI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

HENDRA WIJAYA Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services LAN, LIUBIN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services LI, DONGLING Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services LI, YAQIN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services LIM SHENG FEI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services LIU, XIA Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services NIYOMSUK, SUPAMAS Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services PENG, MENGQIN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services TEDDY JASADIPURA Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

THOMAS WIJAYA Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

THONGTON, CHAINARONG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services WEI, XINHONG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services WORARIT, SOYKANDA Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services WU, LIXIN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services ZHU, LEI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

109.

Basic Qualification: Has knowledge in computer applications

110.

111.

107.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for IT system management

108.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for customer status and monitoring updates

Brief Job Description: Develop strategic plan

Basic Qualification: Able to implement strategies for generating resources for the company

XU, XUDONG Mandarin Customer Service Specialist Brief Job Description: Creating and updating customer’s account information

112.

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customers information about products and services

LI, JIAJUN Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative 113.

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customers information about products and services

ZHANG, QING Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 114.

Brief Job Description: Enters customer and account data and keeping and maintaining information confidential.

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products / Excellent Mandarin communication skills

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products / Excellent Mandarin communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products / Excellent Mandarin communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

115.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

CHENG, SHENG-FU Mandarin Team Leader

CHEN, CHAOYUE IT Consultant 116.

117.

118.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has knowledge in computer applications

119.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has knowledge in computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

120.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Proficient in writing, reading and speaking Chinese Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Provide strategic advice on using technology to achieve goals.

Basic Qualification: At least three (3) years of working experience as it consultant; fluent in mandarin/basic english Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: At least three (3) years of working experience as it consultant; fluent in mandarin/basic english Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: At least three (3) years of working experience as it consultant; fluent in mandarin/basic english Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

128.

CHUANG, YUEH-HSUN Trade Marketing Specialist

121.

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

Basic Qualification: Strong knowledge of consumer industry, ability to think critically and creativity. Fluency in english and mandarin language is a must.

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

129.

122.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality it supports of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele.

130.

QIU, NAN Chinese IT Support Specialist 123.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality it supports of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele.

DO THI THU THUY IT Support Specialist

124.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality it supports of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele.

LI SU FAR IT Support Specialist

125.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality it supports of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele.

Basic Qualification: fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

TRIVES TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION Tower 4 Bayport West, Naia Garden Residence, Naia Road, Tambo, City Of Parañaque LIANG, JINGWEN Mandarin Customer Support Representative 126.

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

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

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

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in business or related field of study. Excellent communication skills. He shall have been proven to possess integrity and probity.

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

Basic Qualification: To provide consulting, Technical and advisory services

Brief Job Description: Work out project integrated plan based : monitor project delivery progress and assess the gap between plan and actual, communicate and with customer in terms and progress and escalation and manage local resources

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: To provide consulting, Technical and advisory services

Brief Job Description: Work out project integrated plan based : monitor project delivery progress and assess the gap between plan and actual, communicate and with customer in terms and progress and escalation and manage local resources

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

VONOTEC, INC. Ph Goodwill Bldg., 393 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati AKTAR, TAHMINA Chief Financial Officer 131.

Basic Qualification: Must have an MBA with excellent economic aptitude

Brief Job Description: Perform risk management by analyzing the organization’s liabilities and investments

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

VPC CORPORATE SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED 11/f 100 West, Sen Gil Puyat Ave. Cor., Washington St., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: Excellent in speaking, reading and writing in bilingual languages

LIN, CHIAO-YU Bilingual Admin Support Specialist 132.

Brief Job Description: Handles administrative requests and queries from senior managers/officers

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

BUI HAI YEN Vietnam-speaking Customer Service Officer 133.

Basic Qualification: Foreign language speaking

Brief Job Description: Prepares product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information

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

TRINH HONG HANH Vietnam-speaking Customer Service Officer 134.

Basic Qualification: Excellent in reading, writing and speaking Vietnamese

Brief Job Description: Prepares product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information

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

WANFANG TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT, INC. 6-9/f Double Dragon Plaza, Edsa Cor. Macapagal Ave., Barangay 76, Pasay City YEOH LEE LEE Malaysian Customer Service Representative 135.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service question; Suggesting information about other products and services

Basic Qualification: At least 19y/o. Ability to speak write and communicate in Malaysian Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

ZIMI TECH, INC. 29th/f Burgundy Corporate Tower, Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati HARRIS CHIAWAN Bahasa Language Customer Service Representative 136.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling calls and providing customer support TANDI ANDY PUTRA Bahasa Language Customer Service Representative

137.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling calls and providing customer support BAE, YUNKYUNG Korean Language Customer Service Representative

138.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling calls and providing customer support CHU DANH TOAN Vietnamese Language Customer Service Representative

139.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling calls and providing customer support NGUYEN THI THUY TRAN Vietnamese Language Customer Service Representative

140.

Basic Qualification: fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Provide cost estimates for body damage and internal repairs. Create and maintain a process to effectively manage warranty, customers paid, and internal repair orders.

EDY MUGIANTO Project Manager

TIANYU TECHNOLOGY INC. 14/f Socialdesk Tower, H.v. Dela Costa St., Bel-air, City Of Makati GUAN, JUNNAN Chinese IT Support Specialist

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

DU, ZHIJUN Project Manager

Basic Qualification: At least three (3) years of working experience as it consultant; fluent in mandarin/basic english Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

VOLENDAY INC. U1406 14/f Pacific Star Bldg., Sen. Gil Puyat Cor. Makati Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

Basic Qualification: At least three (3) years of working experience as it consultant; fluent in mandarin/basic english Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

CAO, ZHEN Service And Parts Director

TANZILA TRADING INC. U-29 3/f Bac., Bagong Milenyo F.b. Harrison St., Brgy. 076, Pasay City

Basic Qualification: Has knowledge in computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Provide strategic advice on using technology to achieve goals.

WANG, WEISI IT Consultant

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

Brief Job Description: Provide strategic advice on using technology to achieve goals.

LI, PENG IT Consultant

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

Brief Job Description: Provide strategic advice on using technology to achieve goals.

CUI, XIAOSHUAI IT Consultant

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

Brief Job Description: Provide strategic advice on using technology to achieve goals.

CUI, JIANGLING IT Consultant

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

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

SUPREME CHENGHAO MANAGEMENT OPC Level 26-a Rufino Pacific Tower, 6784 Ayala Ave., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has knowledge in computer applications

Brief Job Description: Maintain and drive program knowledge for self and team

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading, and writing in Mandarin

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

VEHICLE MASTER SERVICE CORP. #27, T. Santiago St.,, Canumay West, City Of Valenzuela

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

SOLIDLEISURE SOLUTIONS INC. Unit 2602-d & 2603-a West Tower, Psec Exchange Road, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig

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

127.

Basic Qualification: Excellent oral and written communication in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION LUO, GUIYI Mandarin Customer Support Representative

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

SECURE SMARTER SERVICES INC. Unit A 9/ F Bpi-philam Life Bldg., 6811 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

DENG, BAILIAN Chinese Speaking Site Technician

MAJIMA, YUTAKA Director

HUANG, XIAOYAN Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative

SEAGULL-WORLD INC. Unit 2807 28/f Cityland, Pasong Tamo Tower, 2210 Chino Roces Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati

HU, RONG Mandarin Speaking Technical Support

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

SOCIALATEMYIND INC. Unit No. Unit 2c Flr. No. No. 4/f, One E-com Center Bldg., Lot No. 4/f Mall Of Asia Complex Ocean Drive St., District 1, Barangay 076, District 4, Pasay City

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

Basic Qualification: Has knowledge in computer applications

No.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in writing, reading and speaking Chinese

SKYLUSTER TECHNOLOGY, INC. 11/f The Enterprise Center Tower 2, Ayala Ave. Cor. Paseo De Roxas, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has knowledge in computer applications

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

SEI (PHILIPPINES) INCORPORATED 4/f King’s Court I Bldg., 2129 Don Chino Roces Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati

Basic Qualification: Has knowledge in computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Responsible for customer status and monitoring updates

A15

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION ZHANG, JIACHENG Chinese Speaking Site Technician

Saturday, November 20, 2021

Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling calls and providing customer support NHU LE DUY LINH Vietnamese Language Customer Service Representative

141.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling calls and providing customer support

Basic Qualification: Proficient in writing, reading and speaking English and other languages needed to attain its job Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in writing, reading and speaking English and Bahasa Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in writing, reading and speaking English and other languages needed to attain its job Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in writing, reading and speaking English & Vietnamese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in writing, reading and speaking English and Vietnamese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in writing, reading and speaking English and Vietnamese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

ZONAC AND SHIBATA SERVICES INC. 4/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave. Cor. Rufino St., Bel-air, City Of Makati KELVIN Indonesian Customer Service Representative 142.

Brief Job Description: Manage large amount of incoming calls, handle customers

Basic Qualification: 1 year related experience, proficient in computer Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 *Date Generated: Nov 19, 2021

Any person in the Philippines who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is desired may file an objection at DOLE National Capital Region located at DOLE-NCR Building, 967 Maligaya St., Malate Manila, within 30 days after this publication.

Please inform DOLE National Capital Region if you have any information on criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals.

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR