ETRO Manila, the nation’s economic and political center, lost the most jobs and created the least employment in July 2024, according to the latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
With
represented a yearon-year increase of 86,000 workers and an increase of 334,000 workers in April 2024. While 47.7 million Filipinos were employed in July 2024 and this was 3.14 million higher than July 2023, this represented a 657,000 reduction in jobs compared to April 2024.
“So one of the reasons is the increase in the number of our unemployed youth. That contributed to the numbers,” National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa said, noting that since it was already July, they would have graduated, and entered the labor market, “and some of them were unable to land jobs.”
Mapa noted that 1.02 million youth, or those aged 15 to 24 years old, accounted for 43 percent of the total unemployed, which was at 2.38 million.
However, Mapa said things could improve starting this September, as it is the unofficial start of the Christmas season in the Philippines. The “ber” months could lead to the rise in jobs.
“These are the new entrants in the labor market who were not absorbed in our labor market for employment. But we are seeing, as we saw in previous years, that there is often a rise in employment—both labor force participation and in employment—as the holiday season approaches,” Mapa said.
The data also showed a decline in the country’s labor force, which was
pegged at 50.07 million in July 2024. The July 2024 figure was 3.23 million higher than the 46.85 million posted in July last year, but was 323,000 less compared to the 50.4 million posted in April 2024.
Mapa said the top reasons for the decrease in the labor force were household family duties, which was cited by 897,000 workers who opted out of the labor force.
Another reason was schooling— the reason cited by 700,000 workers to not look for any job or not be available for work in July 2024.
Nonetheless, Mapa noted that there were 180,000 retired workers who decided to rejoin the labor force
PHL’s July factory output posts 3-month
THE country’s factory output
posted a three-month high on the back of an increase in the production of electronics, transport equipment, and food products, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Based on the latest report on the Production Index and Net Sales Index or the Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries, the Volume of Production Index (VoPI) was 5.3 percent in July 2024. This was the highest since the 7.5 percent VoPI posted in April 2024. The VoPI was faster than the 3.6 percent posted in June 2024 and July 2023.
“The uptrend in the year-onyear growth rate of VoPI for manufacturing in July 2024 was primarily driven by the same top three industry divisions that contributed to the faster annual increase of VaPI for manufacturing during the period,” PSA said.
These industries were engaged in the manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products which posted a VoPI of 12.5 percent in July 2024.
It may be noted that this industry posted a 1.9-percent yearon-year growth in June 2024, but contracted 15.7 percent in July 2023. Another industry is engaged in the manufacture of transport equipment, which grew 0.4 percent year-on-year in July 2024.
This was an improvement from the 8.1-percent contraction posted
in July 2024.
“Our work certainly does not end there. For its part, Neda [National Economic and Development Authority] is committed to mobilizing a whole-ofgovernment approach to secure jobgenerating investments nationwide,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said in a statement.
Balisacan said the government is prioritizing efforts to attract investments in sectors that generate highquality jobs, as the latest labor force survey reveals a vibrant labor market aligning with the targets set in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028.
in June 2024, but was significantly slower than the 24.6 percent posted in July 2023.
PSA said the other industry is the manufacture of food products, which grew 14 percent year on year in July 2024. This is the fastest VoPI growth it posted this year and the second consecutive month of double-digit growth.
In June 2024, food manufacturing grew 11.4 percent, while it contracted 6.4 percent in July 2023. It may be noted that in June last year, the VoPI of the food production industry contracted 12.4 percent.
Meanwhile, the average capacity utilization rate for the manufacturing sector in July 2024 was reported at 75.6 percent, the highest since May 2024 when the sector recorded the same average rate of capacity utilization.
PSA data showed the average capacity utilization rate in July was better than the 75.3 percent posted in June 2024 and 73.6 percent posted in July 2023.
Industries that posted an average capacity utilization rate of above 80 percent were the manufacture of machinery and equipment except electrical at 83.6 percent, and manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products at 81.4 percent.
Also included among those industries that posted high average capacity utilization rates were the manufacture of textiles at 80.4 percent and manufacture of furniture, 80.2 percent.
By Ada Pelonia
VIBRANT HIGALAAY 2024!
DESPITE slower inflation, prices remain high with regular-milled rice hard to find in outlets. NONIE REYES
Plastic pollution reaches crisis levels
57 million tons of waste generated annually, impacting global environments and health
By Seth Borenstein | AP Science Writer
THE world creates 57 million tons of plastic pollution every year and spreads it from the deepest oceans to the highest mountaintop to the inside of people’s bodies, according to a new study that also said more than two-thirds of it comes from the Global South.
It’s enough pollution each year—about 52 million metric tons—to fill New York City’s Central Park with plastic waste as high as the Empire State Building, according to researchers at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom. They examined waste produced on the local level at more than 50,000 cities and towns across the world for a study in Wednesday’s journal Nature
The study examined plastic that goes into the open environment, not plastic that goes into landfills or is properly burned. For 15% of the world’s population, government fails to collect and dispose of waste, the study’s authors said—a big reason Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa produce the most plastic waste. That includes 255 million people in India, the study said.
Lagos, Nigeria, emitted the most plastic pollution of any city, according to study author Costas
Velis, a Leeds environmental engineering professor. The other biggest plastic polluting cities are New Delhi; Luanda, Angola; Karachi, Pakistan and Al Qahirah, Egypt. India leads the world in generating plastic pollution, producing 10.2 million tons a year (9.3 million metric tons), far more than double the next big-polluting nations, Nigeria and Indonesia. China, often villainized for pollution, ranks fourth but is making tremendous strides in reducing waste, Velis said. Other top plastic polluters are Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia and Brazil. Those eight nations are responsible for more than half of the globe’s plastic pollution, according to the study’s data. The United States ranks 90th in plastic pollution with more than 52,500 tons (47,600 metric tons) and the United Kingdom ranks 135th with nearly 5,100 tons (4,600 metric tons), according to the study.
In 2022, most of the world’s nations agreed to make the first legally binding treaty on plastics pollution, including in the oceans. Final treaty negotiations take place in South Korea in November.
The study used artificial intelligence to concentrate on plastics that were improperly burned— about 57% of the pollution—or just dumped. In both cases incredibly tiny microplastics, or nanoplastics, are what turn the problem from a visual annoyance at beaches and a marine life problem to a human health threat, Velis said.
Several studies this year have
looked at how prevalent microplastics are in our drinking water and in people’s tissue, such as hearts, brains and testicles, with doctors and scientists still not quite sure what it means in terms of human health threats.
“The big time bomb of microplastics are these microplastics released in the Global South mainly,” Velis said. “We already have a huge dispersal problem. They are in the most remote places ... the peaks of Everest, in the Mariana Trench in the ocean, in what we breathe and what we eat and what we drink.”
He called it “everybody’s problem” and one that will haunt future generations.
“We shouldn’t put the blame, any blame, on the Global South,” Velis said. “And we shouldn’t praise ourselves about what we do in the Global North in any way.”
It’s just a lack of resources and ability of government to provide the necessary services to citizens, Velis said.
Outside experts worried that the study’s focus on pollution, rather than overall production, lets the plastics industry off the hook. Making plastics emits large amounts of greenhouse gas that contribute to climate change.
“These guys have defined plastic pollution in a much narrower way, as really just macroplastics that are emitted into the environment after the consumer, and it risks us losing our focus on the upstream and saying, hey now all we need to do is manage the waste better,” said Neil Tangri, senior director of science and policy at GAIA, a global network of advocacy organizations working on zero waste and environmental justice initiatives. “It’s necessary but it’s not the whole story.”
Theresa Karlsson, science and technical advisor to International Pollutants Elimination Network, another coalition of advocacy groups on environment, health and waste issues, called the volume of pollution identified by the study “alarming” and said it shows the amount of plastics being produced today is “unmanageable.”
But she said the study misses the significance of the global trade in plastic waste that has rich countries sending it to poor ones. The study said plastic waste trade is decreasing, with China banning waste imports. But Karlsson said overall waste trade is actually increasing and likely plastics with it. She cited EU waste exports going from 110,000 tons (100,000 metric tons) in 2004 to 1.4 million tons (1.3 million metric tons) in 2021.
Velis said the amount of plastic waste traded is small. Kara Lavender Law, an oceanography professor at the Sea Education Association who wasn’t involved in the study, agreed, based on US plastic waste trends. She said this was otherwise one of the more comprehensive studies on plastic waste.
Officials in the plastics industry praised the study.
“This study underscores that uncollected and unmanaged plastic waste is the largest contributor to plastic pollution and that prioritizing adequate waste management is critical to ending plastic pollution,”
Chris Jahn, council secretary of the International Council on Chemical Associations, said in a statement. In treaty negotiations, the industry opposes a cap on plastic production.
The United Nations projects that plastics production is likely to rise from about 440 million tons (400 million metric tons) a year to more than 1,200 million tons
Balisacan highlighted the government’s strategies to support the Filipino workforce. These strategies include attracting job-generating investments, scaling up social and physical infrastructure to enhance employment prospects, and implementing reskilling and upskilling programs to improve job security and adaptability.
He added that Neda is finalizing the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Master Plan, envisioned as the nation’s comprehensive and strategic framework for enhancing job opportunities and work skills for Filipinos.
Balisacan underscored that fasttracking infrastructure development in energy, logistics, and both physical and digital connectivity is essential for overcoming constraints to growth and business expansion.
“The swift enactment and implementation of the Konektadong Pinoy Bill, and the expansion of upskilling programs, are crucial for advancing the country’s digital transformation and harnessing opportunities presented by cutting-edge innovation,” Balisacan said. In addition, Balisacan said the female participation rate improved to 52.4 percent from 47.8 percent, comfortably within the target range of 51.5 to 53.5 percent. He added that the country remains on track toward increasing the percentage of wage and salaried workers in private establishments, which currently stands at 51 percent, within the PDP target range of 50.9 to 51.5 percent for 2024.
There were also industries that posted lower VoPI such as the manufacture of basic metals at 64.4 percent; paper and paper products, 67.3 percent; and fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment, 69 percent. The PSA said the proportion of establishments that operated at full capacity or 90 percent to 100 percent was 30.2 percent of the total number of responding establishments.
Meanwhile, it was estimated that there were 41.4 percent establishments that operated at 70 to 89 percent capacity, and 28.4 percent operated below 70 percent capacity. Cai U. Ordinario
Ang pagbagal ng rice inflation ay hindi rice price reduction [...] Regular-milled rice, in fact, is hardly found in most rice outlets,” Sinag Chairman Rosendo So said in a statement.
So also noted that rice prices remain high following the implementation of Executive Order 62, which reduced rice tariffs to 15 percent from 35 percent until 2028.
“It’s been two months since the effectivity of EO 62, but we don’t see rice getting cheaper,” he said.
“With increased demand and lower domestic production in most rice-producing countries, kikita lalo ang mga rice exporters [...] dahil itataas lang nila ang presyo ng kanilang [rice exporters will only profit more, because they can increase the prices of their] rice for exports.”
The Sinag chair said Vietnam’s rice export prices are now higher than that of Thailand by $15 per
metric ton (MT) for 5 percent broken; and by $28 per MT for 25 percent broken.
Meanwhile, the farmers’ group said it commends the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) effort to reduce rice prices.
“We support all efforts to lower rice prices, and these efforts validate our position that we do not need to reduce tariffs to decrease rice prices,” So said.
Pwede naman bumaba ang presyo ng bigas if strategic ang government intervention sa [Rice prices can be brought down with strategic government intervention in] production, post-production and marketing.”
The DA has launched programs that allowed the vulnerable sectors and local consumers to purchase cheaper rice at Kadiwa sites, such as the P29 and Rice-for-All program which sold well-milled rice at P45 per kilo. Finance Secretary Ralph G.
Recto recently said that with the reduced rice tariffs lowering the rice prices and slowing down overall inflation in August 2024, consumers can expect rice prices to drop this month. (See: https:// businessmirror.com.ph/2024/09/06/ recto-sees-more-palpable-rice-pricedecline-in-september/)
“The lower rice tariffs are already showing results. Rice inflation is slowing down and rice imports grew by 77 percent in August, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Customs (BOC),” Recto said in a statement on Thursday.
The Finance chief expects rice prices to drop “more noticeably” this month as rice imported with lower tariffs in August reaches the local market.
Figures from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) showed that the country’s rice arrivals have breached 2.8 million metric tons (MMT) as of August 29.
BOC exceeds 8-mo revenue goal, but misses Aug target
By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) exceeded its revenue goal in the first eight months of 2024, but fell short of target in August due to rice and motor vehicle tariff reductions.
Preliminary reports from the BOC showed its revenue collection reached
P614.781 billion from January to August 2024, surpassing its P609.592-billion target by P5.189 billion or 0.9 percent.
However, the BOC recorded a 2.52-percent or P2.037-billion shortfall in revenues, collecting P78.908 billion out of the P80.945-billion target for the month of August 2024. The revenue losses were due largely to
recent policy changes, such as Executive Order (EO) 62, which reduced the rice tariff from 35 percent to 15 percent, and the tariff on motor vehicles to 0 percent.
The reduced rice tariffs resulted in a P2.353-billion revenue loss while zero tariffs on motor vehicles accounted for a P1.034-billion deficit.
Earlier, Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio said the lowered rice tariffs would “definitely impact” its revenue collections, but the agency will try to maximize everything to achieve its targets.
“Of course, I should be worried because our collection is already lessened,” Rubio said.
Although the Bureau will suffer some consequences, Rubio said the lowered rice
tariffs will reduce the prices of rice and benefit the rice-eating public.
“Despite these temporary setbacks, the BOC remains resolute in its mission to achieve its 2024 revenue goals. The BOC is actively addressing these challenges and working diligently to bridge the revenue gap, thereby supporting the country’s fiscal health and stability,” the BOC said.
Meanwhile, the BOC’s P614.781-billion revenue collection during the eight-month period is higher by 5.7 percent or P33.290 billion, compared to the P581.491 billion collected in the same period in 2023.
For such performance, the Bureau credited its stringent customs compliance, which lessened underdeclaration
As inflation cools and people buy more, more
OBS in the wholesale and retail trade
Jsectors are seen to boost further as inflation cools down and increases consumers’ discretionary purchasing power, according to Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto.
“The continuous decline in the country’s inflation rate will benefit businesses, especially those in the wholesale and retail sectors, as this means our people will have more money to spend on non-essential items,” Recto said on Friday.
Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed the country’s unemployment rate dropped to 4.7 percent in July 2024 from 4.9 percent recorded in the same month last year. This is lower than the
Canberra
Tprepandemic level of 5.1 percent in 2019.
The biggest employment drivers in July 2024 were the wholesale and retail trade sectors, adding 1.07 million more workers to the labor force.
Inflation eased to 3.3 percent in August 2024 due to slower annual increment of food and non-alcoholic beverages at 3.9 percent in August 2024 from 6.4 percent in the previous month.
Meanwhile, Recto also noted the increase in jobs in the agriculture sector: signalling recovery from the effects of El Niño, 936,000 more workers were added
eyes AU$45-M
By Andrea E. San Juan
HE Australian government aims to launch a AU$45-million economic growth development plan for the Philippines by early 2025, focusing on key areas such as economic reforms and mining sector, among others, according to Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu.
“We are in the final stages of finalizing our $45 million worth economic growth development plan for you from the embassy. So that’s how committed we are to work with the Philippines to help you trade and invest better,” Yu said during the Australian Business Mission to the Philippines held Friday in Makati City.
Yu told reporters that “a big chunk” of this is about helping the Philippines achieve “good economic reforms.”
“So it’s really tooling them with the
and misclassification; and enhanced efficiency, transparency and overall fiscal management.
“The significant revenue growth underscores the BOC’s effective strategies in valuing goods and ensuring precise import duty assessments,” it added.
For 2024, the BOC targets to collect P939.7 billion in revenues based on the Development Budget Coordination Committee’s (DBCC) fiscal program. It has raised 65.4 percent of the target so far.
The Bureau vowed to sustain a positive revenue trajectory to support the nation’s economic growth and enhance the operational effectiveness of government functions.
jobs seen in wholesale, retail trade
to the agriculture and forestry sub-sector.
“All of this is good news for the continued development of the economy and for our goal of lifting eight million Filipinos out of poverty before the end of the President’s term,” the Finance chief added.
Moreover, the latest monetary easing and support from the Monetary Board will further boost growth and investment, translating to more jobs for Filipinos.
The government is speeding up the enactment of economic liberalization laws and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Code, while also advocating for the passage of amendments to the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (Create) Act.
PHL economic devt plan
appropriate skills, expertise and knowledge and even ideas based on Australia’s experience,” the ambassador also noted.
Asked about the program launch timeline, Yu said, “We’re hoping that we will be done by at least the beginning of next year.”
She said this program has a five-year timeframe.
The Australian envoy noted that this program is being “co-designed” with the Philippine government. “We’re actually engaging with all the relevant departments in the Philippine system to work out what it is that they actually need the most.”
Yu hinted that the Philippine mining sector could also get a slice from the AU$45million program.
“The third thing we’re now doing is looking seriously at how [the] development program that we are currently designing... can actually help to further strengthen your
mining sector,” she said.
For instance, the Australian envoy said, “By sharing how Australian indigenous communities work with mining companies for inclusive and sustainable development around mining. Getting them to come here to share their knowledge and know-how with PH indigenous communities as well.”
According to the ambassador, the Philippines’s program is Australia’s fifth largest aid program. Since economic growth is one of the priorities for the Philippines, “We have actually made a very conscious decision to use part of our development money to focus on economic growth.”
At least 14 Australian businesses have flocked to the Philippines to explore trade and investment opportunities.
The Australian Business Mission to the Philippines took place September 5 to 6, 2024 in Manila.
These are expected to maintain the Philippines’s appeal to investors, attract more international companies and expand export-oriented industries to create more job opportunities for skilled workers.
The government is also ramping up implementation of the Build Better More program to generate more jobs in construction and create opportunities in highly specialized fields such as engineering, architecture and consultancy. Recto gave assurances that government remains committed to investing in human capital development to prepare the Filipino workforce for high-quality employment opportunities. Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
According to the Australian Embassy, Clevel executives comprising the delegation are from Australia’s pension funds (Australian Super and Future Fund), institutional investors (IFM Investors and Investible), infrastructure firm (Plenary Group), resources equity firm (EMR Capital), leading corporates (ANZ and Telstra) and key agribusiness players (Bega Foods, Costa Group, GrainCorp, Sunrice and Pristine Pacific).
More than 250 major Australian firms operate in the Philippines, employing over 44,000 Filipinos; and hundreds of smaller enterprises create thousand more jobs, the Embassy said in a statement earlier this week.
The Australian ambassador earlier this week said, “Australia is continuing to seek opportunities to partner with the Philippines to help it reach its ambition to be an upper middle income economy soon.”
As of 2023, trade between the Philippines and Australia was valued at P378 billion. Of which, P229 billion are in goods while P149 billion are in services.
Separate biometric scans, interviews for US visa applicants to start September 28
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome
SBy Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo Special to the BusinessMirror
THE Department of Tourism’s (DOT)
controversial “Love the Philippines” (LVP) campaign was recognized Asia’s Leading Marketing Campaign at the World Travel Awards (WTA) for Asia & Oceania 2024.
The agency edged out Air India’s Window of Possibilities, AirAsia’s Let’s Fly and Go, the Singapore Tourism Board’s Made in Singapore, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) Meaningful Relationship.
TAT was last year’s winner in the category, which the DOT did not join, having just launched LVP. The Hong Kong Tourism Board was recognized as Asia’s Leading Tourist Board’ a category also joined by the DOT and 11 other tourism boards in the region. The Philippines won 13 awards of the 27 categories it joined, which included Asia’s Leading Island Destination, Asia’s Leading Luxury Island Destination (Boracay), and Asia’s Leading Wedding Destination (Cebu). The country was also hailed as Asia’s Leading Beach Destination for the seventh year and Asia’s Leading Dive Destination for the sixth consecutive year, while Intramuros is Asia’s leading Tourist Attraction for the fourth time.
The awarding ceremony was held for the first time in Manila, and made in partnership with the DOT and its marketing arm, the Tourism Promotions Board, and City of Dreams Manila. The latter was awarded Asia’s Leading Casino Resort.
The LVP campaign launched in June 2023, replaced the highly successful and multiawarded “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign. Conceptualized by advertising agency DDB Philippines Inc., the launch of the LVP was rocky after a mood video publicly used and posted on the DOT’s social media pages, was found to have included foreign scenes. (See “Stakeholders, TPB shut out of new tourism drive decision,” in the B usiness M irror , July 3, 2023.)
Winning properties
IN her opening remarks at the WTA event, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco credited President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. with leading the way in “embarking on a path of dynamic tourism development, investing heavily in infrastructure, improving connectivity across our beautiful archipelago, enhancing the overall tourism experience, and
Highlights of the new VAC system:
most importantly, investing in our greatest asset our people.”
Several hotels and resorts, along with travel agencies and tour operators—known as the real workhorses of the Philippine tourism industry—also racked up numerous accolades in the Asian and Philippines’ categories. Vivere Azure in Batangas City won Asia’s Leading Beach Destination; Discovery Primea in Makati, Asia’s Leading Business Hotel; Admiral Hotel Manila-MG Gallery, Asia’s Leading Design Hotel; Atmosphere Resorts in Negros Oriental, Asia’s Leading Dive Resort; Amanpulo in Palawan, Asia’s Leading Private Resort; Ascott Makati, Asia’s Leading Serviced Apartments; and El Nido Resorts-Apulit Island in Palawan, Asia’s Leading Sustainable Resort.
Largest hotel operator
MEANWHILE , Megaworld Hotels & Resorts (MHR) was acknowledged as the Philippines’ Leading Hotel Group, marking a significant milestone for the rapidly growing homegrown hotel chain. It boasts a portfolio of 13 hotels across seven brands, with more than 8,500 room keys, making it the nation’s largest hotel operator. In a news statement, MHR Managing Director Cleofe Albiso said, “We share this award with the 3,000 hoteliers across [our] properties who found a home, a sense of belongingness, and a pride in serving as a Filipino brand. This award will further strengthen our brands as we continue to contribute as an industry to the economy and enable MHR to give back to its stakeholders. Our hotels are more than just structures, they are homes where guests experience genuine Filipino hospitality.” MHR’s Savoy Hotel Manila also won its fourth consecutive award as the Philippines’Leading Airport Hotel. Discovery Shores, Boracay was awarded the country’s Leading Beach Resort; Anya Resort Tagaytay, Leading Boutique Resort; bai Hotel Cebu,
profile such as payment receipts and appointment information
TARTING September 28, 2024, the United States Embassy in Manila will transfer its visa processing center to a newly built Parqal building in Aseana City along Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard in Para ñ aque City. The Visa Application Center (VAC) will cater to immigrant and non-immigrant visa applicants who are required to undergo photo capture and fingerprint scanning. Interviews will be done separately at the US Embassy along Roxas Boulevard in Manila. So, Filipino visa applicants should schedule two separate appointments online—biometric scanning and interviews, the US Embassy said.
A third-party contractor will handle the VAC’s photo capturing and biometric scanning services.
Asked why the need to separate biometrics scanning from consular interviews, US Embassy spokesman Kanishka Gangopadhyay said, “Visa Application Centers are used at many of our embassies and consulates, and our consular section in Manila is one of the world’s largest. The new VAC will help us meet an ever-growing demand for U.S. visas in the Philippines.”
Those who have applied and successfully made an appointment visa
application BEFORE September 28 will not be affected by this new VAC system. It means, if you have already applied for US visa on September 6, and have an appointment on November 10, the current system still applies.
The US Embassy in Manila is the second largest consular office, handling over 300,000 visa applications a year. There are around 4.5 million Filipinos residing or working in the US.
n For visa applicants who have successfully accomplished visa application ON AND AFTER September 28, the new visa application process applies
n The “new, secure and user-friendly” system for VAC applications will be available here: ustraveldocs.com/ph.
n Visa applicants who have existing accounts in current visa appointment system should sign in to this new VAC system using already-registered email address so they can retrieve their user
n Appointment slots for Monday to Friday is 7am-4pm while Saturday is 7am-11am
n No appointment is needed for applicants who would like to pick up their passports or drop off interview waiver visa applications and other required documents from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.
n Exact location of VAC: Parqal Building 8, Level 3, Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard, Barangay Tambo, Para ñ aque City
Time BusinessMirror Our
Beware the lips of faith
DSWD official clarifies requirements for centenarians’ ₧100,000 cash gift
By Jose Cielito Reganit
By Nick Tayag
my sixty-zen’s WORtH
HAVE you read about a Christian pastor in Mexico who is offering heavenly real estate for the simple price of $100 per square meter? He claims to have received “permission from God” to prepare his flock for eternity by selling plots of land in heaven for $100 per square meter.
Just like offers in usual real estate (land on earth) brochures, term options are available to prospective buyers. Payments can be made in cash or through PayPal, Google Pay, Visa, Mastercard and American Express.
Believe it or not, according to the report, one real estate influencer on TikTok asserted that millions of dollars worth of these heavenly plots have already been sold in what is being called the “biggest real estate deal on the planet.”
In 2018, a Zimbabwean pastor was arrested after selling “tickets to heaven” to his congregation for $533 per person. Similarly, there was a Ugandan pastor who was able to persuade many of his followers to liquidate their assets, including land and livestock, to buy their place in heaven.
Are we so desperate to ensure a place in the afterlife that we are willing to follow blindly the words of these religious leaders and so-called men of God who are nothing but crass peddlers and hawkers of heaven?
Gifted with charisma and eloquence, they pay lip service to religious teachings but practice the art of religious sleight of hand, persuading their followers to take a blind leap of faith into their scams. I call them “honeyed lips of faith.”
What is dumbfounding is people believe them. In fact, I have noted that followers of these self-anointed religious autocrats are becoming more and more rabid. They are even quick to shield their ministers and pastors who have run afoul of the law, physically obstructing the lawful execution of justice with their bodies, with one follower asserting that they are all willing to shed their blood and give up their lives for him.
Homo sapiens is inherently suspicious, otherwise the species wouldn’t have lasted this long. Yet why do people shut down their critical faculty under the spell of these merchants of faith, unwilling to see their imperfections and flaws, denying their autocratic ways and their lavish lifestyle, and looking the other way when they commit scandalous acts?
Many explain this gullibility and fanatical devotion away by saying it is only true of uneducated and intellectually backward followers from the lower strata of society.
That’s easy for them to say because I know of someone who belongs to the highly educated elite, the mestizo class, who upon joining a religious fundamentalist group became a rabid loco iconoclast, smashing to smithereens all the religious statues and images in his house. He forbade all their household helpers from displaying religious items within the house. All because the pastor had led him to believe that these religious images
were abominable in the eyes of God, complete with selected quotes from the Book, most likely taken out of context.
I wasn’t surprised when later on someone told me that the said supposedly highly educated mestizo, a popular actor in the old days, sold his recording outfit and donated the proceeds to the pastor’s ministry. To me it was a clear case of “budol-budol.”
There’s a movie entitled “Leap of Faith,” which is about a phony evangelical preacher. At one point the lead character played by Steve Martin admits that the preacher act is the perfect con, in that he isn’t breaking any laws, and his justification, “We put on a good show” seems logical because he does put on a good show. The difference, however, between his act and that of any other performer is that by playing the role of a man of God, he can ask for more money and the town’s destitute people willingly give it to him. He is nothing but a slick and amoral opportunist.
In my past life as a copywriter of an advertising agency, I learned all about the tricks of the trade on how to con people into buying our client’s products. One of the techniques was the employment of what we call “weasel words” that could take your heart away. The advertiser’s motto was: “We do the lying, you do the buying.” In a sense, people are buying the “weasel” words of these deceitful sellers of religion.
We need to be alert to their presence, stay away from them, and avoid them and their influence. When they proclaim themselves to be anointed by God, that’s your cue to get away as soon as you can.
But above all, be very wary of charismatic religious leaders, pastors and ministers who take the Scriptures and twist them in order to get your money. The most prominent false teaching that packs places of worship today is the socalled wealth and prosperity gospel. They make you believe that it is not a sin to be rich because God wants His people to be rich. Then they tell you that you can sow a seed of faith by donating money into their ministry’s coffers and that God will bless you in return. Avoid celebrity pastors and priests who love to be invited to houses of rich families. They are fetched in big SUVs and feted to feasts catered by a 4-star hotel or restaurant. Then they go home with hefty donations for their “mission.” The trade-off is that these rich families get the privilege of having these celebrity priests and pastors at their beck and call. For me the mark of a true holy man is humility, the absence of arrogance and superiority. A true religious leader elicits simplicity, love, integrity, patience, kindness, goodness, and most of all self-control. Of course, not all religious leaders or ministers are deceitful persons. Some may just be flawed but sincere. What will ultimately expose them will be their actions.
So when a charismatic eloquent pastor or priest or minister comes to sell you mansions in heaven, don’t just read their lips of faith. Read closely their acts of faith.
AN official of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) clarified on Thursday the requirements needed for centenarians or their families to get the P100,000 cash gift as mandated under Republic Act (RA) 10868, or the Centenarians Act of 2016.
“The family of the centenarian processing for the centenarians’ cash gift must present a birth certificate or a Philippine passport. If these are not available, or the birth certificate of the centenarian is not available because of the war, they can submit affidavits executed by at least two disinterested persons. A marriage certificate is also accepted, as well as the birth certificates of the centenarian’s children,” DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao told reporters at the Thursday media forum at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City. Dumlao said baptismal or confirmation certificates, as well as school or employment records showing the date of birth of the centenarian may also be submitted in the absence of the primary documentary requirements.
In the case of a deceased centenarian, she said the DSWD will still release the cash gift to the estate or nearest surviving relative.
“The next of kin can claim the centenarians’ gift in case the beneficiary died a few months after turning 100 years old and have not yet received it,” she said.
She said the implementation of the Centenarians Act, which is now being done by the DSWD, will be transferred to the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC), along with the implementation of the Expanded Centenarians Act -covering senior citizens under the age milestones of 80, 85, 90 and 95.
“It is currently under the funds of the DSWD, but starting next year, it will be turned over to the NCSC,”
she said. RA 10868 provides that all Filipinos who have reached 100 years old and above, whether residing in the Philippines or abroad, shall be honored with a Letter of Felicitation from the President of the Philippines congratulating the celebrant for their longevity and a Centenarian gift in the amount of P100,000.
Complete requirements TO avail themselves of the benefits under the law, relatives of the centenarians must submit primary documents—the birth certificate and Philippine passport—to the City or Municipal Social Welfare Office and/ or to the
for
Affairs (OSCA) in their respective local government units. If the two documents are not available, any one of the primary identification cards issued by OSCA, the Government Service Insurance System, and Social Security System; driver’s license; Professional Regulations Commission license; and Commission on Elections Voter’s ID are also accepted. The centenarians or their family members can also submit any secondary documents such as marriage certificate, and birth certificate of a child by the centenarian, among others. PNA
DOH Ilocos Region conducts vision screening for elderly
HE Department of Health
T(DOH)—Ilocos Region provided vision screening to more than 300 senior citizens in the City of Vigan, Ilocos Sur to effectively monitor and detect possible eye concerns among the elderly population.
DOH Regional Coordinator on Blindness Prevention Program Francisco De Vera Jr. said that as a person ages, the sensory systems also starts failing especially for senior citizens with medical conditions like diabetes, neuropathy and deafness. “Kailangang bigyan natin ng halaga ang kalusugan ng ating mga mata habang tayo ay nagkaka-edad at magpatingin agad sa espesyalista kung tayo ay nakakaramdam ng panlalabo ng ating paningin dahil baka tayo ay mayroon ng katarata o glaucoma,” he said.
“Age-related macular degeneration [AMD] is a disease that affects a person 50 years and older and the causes are smoking, high blood pressure, and
eating a diet high in saturated fat,” he explained. The activity was held at the Provincial Farmers Livelihood Development Center on August 20, 2024 in celebration of Sight Saving Month.
Aside from the vision screening, senior citizens were given information and lectures on the importance of proper eye care and prevention of avoidable
are detected and treated, the more they can be prevented,” she explained.
“Taking care of
blindness. Free reading glasses were also distributed to the senior citizens in need.
Regional Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongco encouraged senior citizens to be mindful of their health and by taking good care of their eyesight. “Loss of vision increases the risk of accidents for older people. The earlier these problems
Working into your 70s is new norm in Japan that may spread globally
By Erica Yokoyama
Michie Hino is one of them. She works at an elderly care home east of Tokyo, where she spends eight hours a day cleaning the facility and washing laundry even though she’s 77 years old herself. She’s part of the workforce supporting Japan’s growing ranks of aged and infirm.
Her monthly pension is just ¥40,000 ($272), far from enough to cover her expenses. She earns ¥160,000 from her work to help pay for basic needs and enable her to save a little.
Japan has some of the longest lifespans in the world, with men living an average of 81 years and women 87 years. This longevity strains the nation’s pension system, making it a case study for other developed countries with similar demographic trends.
The issue will likely be a central theme in Japan’s ruling party election this month, with candidates looking to address how rising living costs affect voters, especially the elderly. The election will determine who replaces Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who is stepping down due in part to declining support over persistent inflation concerns.
“There’s a tendency for the government to prioritize issues for the youth, such as the declining birthrate,” said
Nobuhiro Maeda, a senior analyst at NLI Research Institute. “But issues for the elderly remain extremely important.”
Japan’s experience with its pension system will offer important lessons for policymakers in China, South Korea, Europe and the US, all of which are grappling with similar aging demographics. However, Japan’s challenges are more acute, as its population is already much grayer than in these other regions.
According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, about one in five citizens in Japan over 65 was living in poverty compared with an OECD average of 14.2 percent. That was before inflation took hold in Japan for the first time in more than a generation. Few can hope to live on pensions alone. The average for combined welfare and public pension payments is ¥144,982 per month, little more than half the amount that households with two or more people spent on living costs in June. The estimated average pension payment in the US was $1,907 (¥276,000) as of January 2024, according to the Social Security website. Hino enjoys her work at Reikouen in Chiba prefecture, east of Tokyo, because of the stimulation it provides, which helps her fend off the ravages of old age. She also needs to keep working to pay the bills, especially now that consumer prices have risen by 2 percent or more for more than two years. “Everything seems more expensive now,” she said. “Every time I go shopping, the prices are getting higher.”
A report published by the Financial Services Agency in 2019 triggered a wave of anxiety with its conclusion that citizens would need up to ¥20 million in savings to supplement pensions. Amid the furor, Taro Aso, finance minister at the time, effectively retracted the report, saying it had caused “misunderstanding” and it was possible to live on public pensions. Concerns continue to simmer as Japan’s public pension system sees dwindling inflows and rising outflows. In the past two decades, the number of those paying into it has fallen by about 3 million, while the number of recipients has risen more than 40 percent, according to the welfare ministry. The government, with a debt load more than twice the size of the economy, allocated about 34 percent of this year’s national budget to welfare, up from 20 percent in 2000. With resources limited, the government is looking into reform steps that would include extending the pension premium period by five years to age 65. Since 2004 administrators have made annual tweaks to benefits depending on prices and wages. They’ve faced lawsuits in years that resulted in cuts. Against that backdrop, the government has created incentives aimed at shifting more of the burden to the private sector. The labor ministry is seeking billions of yen to fund initiatives including job placement assistance for seniors and the provision of gear including assistive suits as part of next year’s budget.
To coax companies to keep elderly people employed, the government is already providing subsidies to firms employing those aged 65 and older. The Japanese already work far beyond the age when their peers in other developed economies have decided to take it easy. The labor participation rate for men between ages 65-69 and 70-74 has jumped. For the latter group it rose to 43.3 percent in 2023 from 29.8
regional Coordinator on Blindness prevention program Francisco De Vera Jr. led the distribution of eyeglasses for senior citizens in Vigan City during the vision
DepEd to empower Filipino women with coding skills via iamtheCODE
THE Department of Education (DepEd) has tied-up with the iamtheCODE movement to provide free coding and digital-skills courses to Filipino women and girls, while boosting its Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics and Design Initiative (STEAMED).
The collaboration was formalized through a memorandum of understanding signed by Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara, following a courtesy visit and presentation by iamtheCODE founder Lady Mariéme Jamme. The signing was witnessed by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, United Nations Women Goodwill ambassador Karen Davila, Her Legacy Foundation co-founder Darlene TyNilo , and Philippine ambassador to Spain Philippe J. Lhuillier, alongside members of the DepEd executive committee.
iamtheCODE is the first African-led global movement that
aims to empower a million young women and girls into becoming coders and creative problem-solvers by 2030. Jamme said: “We are helping people around the world…I think that our knowledge and our expertise can also serve the Filipino community.” Through the linkage, iamtheCODE will provide access to DepEd schools through its 12-week blended curriculum consisting of STEAMED workshops, apprenticeship programs, and a repository of open-source online courses. Likewise, its platform is set to offer over 60,000 free courses to young Filipino women and girls. They cover technical
TESDA ‘IN TRANSITION:’ During the plenary session on August 28, Sen. Joel Villanueva said the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, which was founded 30 years ago, is at a “transitional age,” marking a shift from “youthful 20s to a more mature phase of adulthood.” Villanueva said the agency has shown a significant transition, having produced more skilled trainees in various trade areas. He added that for the past three decades, “Tesda has taken great strides in uplifting lives of Filipinos. We are honored and humbled to have been part of the agency’s journey. Like a ‘pearl,’ [it] has grown, and jobs have been created.” In the recent 2024 Philippine Skills Competition, Tesda trainees from different regions harvested medals, eliminating the stigma of being a second-rate status in “tech-voc,” or technical-vocational studies, in the country. They will participate in this year’s World Skills Competition in Lyon, France. SENATE PUBLIC RELATIONS AND INFORMATION BUREAU
ATOTAL of 158 teacher-scholars from the Department of Education (DepEd) in Pasig City have completed the Certificate in Science Teaching (CST) program offered by the University of Santo Tomas-College of Education.
The post-baccalaureate program, which ran from October 2022 to March 2023, provided public school Science teachers of DepEd Schools Division Office (SDO) of Pasig City with 27 units of science-content specialization, science pedagogy, science research, and technology courses to further enhance their teaching competencies.
A completion ceremony was recently held at the Frassati Auditorium inside Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati OP Building to mark the program’s culmination. The event was attended by Rep. Roman T. Romulo of the Lone District of Pasig and chair of the House Committee on Education and Culture; with UST’s vice-rector for Academic Affairs Cheryl R. Peralta DrPH; College of Education dean Pilar
and soft skills lessons, with a focus on STEAMED.
As part of the implementation strategy, a skills benchmarking exercise will be conducted by iamtheCODE, in collaboration with DepEd, to cite specific needs of Filipino students. This will ensure the program is tailored to suit local context.
DepEd will also disseminate information about the availability of the courses, while iamtheCODE will assist with the pilot implementation in selected schools. The program is planned to be piloted from Grade 7 to junior high school in voluntary schools across various regions.
Angara thanked Jamme for her organization’s dedication in
I. Romero LPT, PhD; regent Rev. Fr. Maximo P. Gatela OP, PhL; College of Science dean Rey Donne S. Papa PhD; DepEd SDO-Pasig City superintendent Dr. Sheryll T. Gayola CESO V; Pasig City councilor Maria Luisa “Angelu” de Leon; Pasig City Local Government Unit (LGU) Education Unit officer in charge Atty. Kathleen Mae Villamin; as well as DepED SDO officials, principals, and head teachers of participating schools. At the ceremony, UST College of Education assistant dean and CST Project lead Louie B. Dasas PhD and Dr. Gayola shared their thoughts on the project’s successful completion. They also recognized the Pasig LGU and the collaborating units, such as the UST College of Science, UST Educational Technology Center, and the UST Center for Innovative Teaching and Educational Delivery for their support and assistance. John F. Bautista of Manggahan High School, the top completer, expressed his gratitude on behalf of all the teacher-scholars.
FOUNDER Lady Mariéme Jamme (from left), First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and Education chief Juan Edgardo Angara
empowering Filipino learners through the platform: “The presence of ‘Lady M…’underscores our shared interest to sign up even more Filipino young women and girls to iamtheCODE’s programs, and give more of them a fighting chance at a better life for themselves and their loved ones.”
The initiative, which also aims to enhance knowledge in STEM, artificial intelligence, and coding skills among high-school students, has been Angara’s priority since his first week in office. The groundwork for this expansive initiative was diligently managed behind the scenes by his wife Tootsy, according to a statement from the Education Department.
IN the coming weeks, 63 Filipino students will start pursuing their academic dreams in several countries of the European Union (EU) after receiving scholarships under the EU’s “Erasmus+” that will allow them to take Masteral and Doctorate degree programs in several universities across the bloc.
As the EU’s mobility and scholarship initiative, Erasmus+ is structured to allow students to study in various member-states, giving them the opportunity to benefit from the academic excellence and culture of more than one university.
During last month’s sendoff, EU’s former ambassador Luc Véron said that the Philippines repeatedly ranked as one of the countries with the highest number of Erasmus+ scholars in the region.
Véron congratulated the Erasmus+ students, and urged them to become “ambassadors of goodwill to help strengthen the partnership between the EU and the Philippines, espe -
cially in the light of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations celebrated this year.”
He also encouraged the Erasmus+ scholars to give back to their country after finishing their respective program in the EU.
According to the EU Delegation in the Philippines, the program provides a life-changing opportunity for Filipino students to study in the best higher education institutions (HEIs) in the bloc and other partner-countries, experience European culture, learn the continent’s languages, and be integrated into its societies for one to two years.
This year’s send-off ceremonies were organized by the delegation, in collaboration with Campus Erasmus composed of Erasmus+ Filipino alumni. Erasmus+ is among the leading international academic mobility programs in the world. Apart from promoting student mobility, it also supports partnerships between European and Philippine HEIs.
Editor: Mike Policarpio
Angara sees digital classroom session in visit to Khan Academy pilot school
EDUCATION Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara, together with Khan Academy Phils. COO Myrish Antonio, visited Fernando Ma. Guerrero Elementary School in Paco, Manila to observe the Khan Academy Session with its learners.
During his visit, the education chief watched how Grade 5 learners integrated the Khan Academy application into their Mathematics class.
In the Philippines, Khan Academy provides free education through courses available to learners and teachers. They are continuously updated for alignment to the current local curriculum, and blends the “Khanmigo:” an artificial intelligence-powered tutor in English and Filipino that guides learners and assists teachers.
Angara acknowledged the Khan Academy for the partnership, as well as providing free tools and personalized learning resources for Filipino learners.
“Thank you for giving us a glimpse of the future. It is something to inspire and aspire for, and we will work hard toward it,” Angara said. “Sometimes, the
STI College recently announced its partnership with Carnival Cruise Line (CCL) to empower culinary professionals through education and training.
This marks a pivotal step in nurturing future Filipino seafarers to meet industry standards and the increasing global demand for culinary talent working on board cruise ships.
“We recognize the growing need and demand for Filipino talents in seafaring, and we are excited with this joint venture that is anchored in our commitment to real-life and industry-led education,” said STI Education Services Group (ESG) president and chief operating officer Peter K. Fernandez.
Scholarship grants
UNDER this partnership is the establishment of a scholarship program for hospitality management students from STI campuses nationwide. The CCL scholars will receive full scholarships covering tuition, miscellaneous fees, educational tours, books, and uniforms.
“This is a good avenue for me to pursue my dreams of working on a cruise ship,” shared Rosemarie Sencil, who is one of the scholars. “STI College is an institution that immerses their students in industry-driven practices, so this has a huge impact for students like me.”
To maintain their scholarships, scholars must have a general weighted average of at least 85 percent in their core and major subjects.
Hands-on training
STI College and CCL also jointly inaugurated the Carnival Fun Lab: a stateof-the-art simulation kitchen laboratory equipped with industry-standard equipment.
With the lab, both institutions provide students with world-class training and preparation for successful careers on all 27 carnival ships (and growing, with seven ships joining the fleet between 2025 and 2033), which sail mostly in North America. This facility will give culinary students hands-on experience and a realistic glimpse into the demands of working on a cruise ship.
most difficult part is how to get there,
[so let’s work on it together.]”
For its part, Khan Academy Philippines vowed to give more learners access to digital-learning content and empower them to study at their own pace both in and out of the classroom, while helping teachers write lesson plans with fun and engaging activities.
“You will see the possibilities when the parents, the school administration, and the teachers come together to ensure that our learners will have fun learning Math more and more,” Antonio said. “This is a good first step, and an insight [to see how] students use Khan Academy integrated into their class, as well as Khanmigo.”
From 34 pilot-schools, Khan Academy now has 373 partners, with 130,503 learners and 1,515 teacher-beneficiaries.
DepEd and Khan Academy Philippines sealed its partnership last August 5, which strengthened the foundational skills of Filipino learners in numeracy and literacy through the Khan Academy online-course content.
“Carnival Cruise Line’s partnership with STI creates better opportunities for Filipino shipboard employees who join our ships,” said CCL president Christine Duffy. “By providing and expanding curriculum to schools, Filipino culinary talent are already familiar with the equipment and what happens in the galley when they go on board, which helps chart their course for success.”
Future plans
FOR many years, the Philippines has been the world’s leading supplier of seafarers for various cruise lines and ships. In 2022, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) deployed over 400,000 seafarers worldwide. The demand for Filipino shipboard workers continues to rise, driven by the global maritime industry growth. Among sourced roles are culinary, housekeeping, guest relations, front office, and other services on cruise ships. STI and CCL plan to expand the program to support restaurant management and housekeeping training for the former’s hospitality management students. They will be aligned with Carnival’s standards, encompassing learning content, curriculum, hands-on application, and onboard training.
“With the rapid changes in job-market demands, we strive to stay ahead and anticipate new challenges and opportunities for our students and graduates. This initiative is one of our strategic industry linkages, providing our students with the right context, skills, and training needed for the real world,” said Fernandez. Roderick L. Abad
AMB. Luc Véron (center, holding EU flag) sends off the Pinoy scholars. EU DELEGATION
CULINARY scholars chat with Carnival Cruise Line top executives. STI
THE Education chief (standing, center), with Khan Academy Session learners
Tourism Editor: Edwin P. Sallan
PARADISE OF THE PACIFIC HOw
TO gET THE mOST OF HAwAII On A buDgET
The 50th state of the United States, hawaii boasts of a rich history and even richer naturescape across its 130 islands and islets.
In the 19th and 20th century, Filipinos made their way to the “Aloha” state also sometimes known as the “Paradise of the Pacific” to work in sugar and pineapple plantations—one of the earliest waves of Filipino worker migration. Today, one in every four Hawaii residents have Filipino ancestry. Hawaii is also one of the most expensive US states, and a trip to the Hawaiian tropics tends to come with a hefty price tag. But this doesn’t mean a trip to Hawaii will just be a pipe dream. There are ways to make the most of a Hawaiian holiday while on a budget.
1. Stick to one island S TA r T off with Oahu, with direct (albeit
ited) flights between Manila and Honolulu. Island-hopping entails taking a flight, boat or ferry. Oahu, the man hub of Hawaii, offers lots of activities and adventures, especially for first-timers.
2. Make your own meals H AwAII may have one of the highest sales taxes in the US, but food at the supermarket is reasonably priced and often have sales promotions. Bringing your own food and water tumbler will help stretch the budget.
3. Food trucks offer interesting dining options F OO d trucks and small eateries offer a wide variety of sumptuous meals such as fresh seafood, Indian plates and much more at reason
and schedules across Honolulu and the rest of Oahu, “group” activities and attractions in the same general area, and be prepared to go on foot.
5. Walk Waikiki
SPA nn I ng a two-mile stretch, the world-famous waikiki is technically several beaches, with some that are interconnected. All beach areas are publicly accessible, even if it abuts a luxury resort so you can enjoy surf and sand even if you’re not staying at one of the hotels or beach clubs in the area.
6. Hike up Diamond Head
An extinct volcanic crater, d iamond Head was sacred ground for ancient Hawaiians and a strategic lookout point during world war 2. It takes about two hours at relaxed pace (longer if you stop to admire the view and take pictures) to reach the summit where you can find an old military bunker and lookout.
w hat’s best—this historic (and scenic) hike costs just USd5.00. You do need to make a reservation through the Hawaii State Parks website.
7. Visit Pearl Harbor
MOST of us might have seen a movie about the Pearl Harbor attack, or read its history. But
there is nothing as poignant as a visit to the actual site. To this day, the site is revered and treated with sanctity and respect. Admission is free, but you do need to make a reservation.
8. Visit Iolani Palace
H AwAII is the only US state that traces its roots to a kingdom and has a royal palace. Built in 1882, the palace was the home of Hawaii’s rulers before it became the State Capitol building. Though there’s an entrance fee, it’s worth the trip to appreciate and understand the rich history and culture of the Hawaiian people.
9. Walk around downtown Honolulu dO wn TO wn Honolulu has quaint heritage buildings and a charming small-town vibe. Begin walking from the Aloha Tower, a 184feet tall tower built in 1926, then work your way to the statue of King Kamehameha, then on to the Hawaii State Capitol Building with its bold, modernist design.
10. Watch in awe at the Halona Blowhole
One of Oahu’s incredible gems, Halona Cove boasts of stunning lava rock formations and a blowhole that shoots water some 20 feet or even higher. The cove was seen in Hollywood block-
busters such as “50 First d ates” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.”
11. Head for the North Shore TwO hours by public bus or 40 minutes by car from Honolulu, the north Shore refers to north-facing coastal area of Oahu. It feels like a step back in time with turn-of-the-century structures. The beaches are just as amazing— though meant more for surfing than swimming. g et a bowl of the best shaved ice at Matsumoto—a family-owned shop that’s been around since 1951.
12. Munch on Macadamias M ACA dAMIA trees are actually not indigenous to Hawaii—they were introduced as windbreakers in sugar plantations in the 1880s from Australia. Over time however, macadamia nuts became one of Hawaii’s most iconic products. we went to a family-owned Macadamia farm that makes various products from nut butter to nut-infused coffee. That coffee-glazed Macadamia nut and Kona Macadamia nut Coffee are so mellow and have the right bitter-sweet balance.
13. Visit Kualoa r anch Al SO known as “Jurassic Valley,” this pri -
vately-owned ranch has been seen in over 200 movies and TV shows—the most popular of which was “Jurassic Park.” w hile you have to pay for the tours, they experience is well worth it. However, visiting the restaurant, visitor center and strolling the surroundings are absolutely free.
14. It’s still America, get some retail therapy in! S HOPPI ng is one of the best things to do almost anywhere in the US. w ithin the waikiki area alone, there are at least five r oss d ress for l ess stores, the largest off-price retail chain in the US, not to mention, Macy’s and Target. l ocals also told me about a store called e co Town Select—located at the Ala Moana Center—a treasure-trove of pre-loved and unused designer clothing, bags and accessories. The selection at e co Town was just too good to pass up. w hile, it was a short trip to Hawaii—and on a budget no less, it was packed with nature, history, culture and retail therapy. And it’s an even more pleasant surprise to discover there’s still so much more to do and see in Honolulu and Oahu on the cheap—if you’re up for little bit more physical exertion and enjoy the outdoors.
LIGHT AND EASY
Why the HUAWEI Matebook X Pro is the ideal travel companion
possible. I’m an old man and it’s not good for my back and my joints to carry a lot of weight around. So yes, in terms of my personal preference for my laptop in particular, it all came down to two important features: lightweight and long battery life. I already experienced having a lightweight notebook but the trade-off is that it’s underpowered, needs to be charged more often and there’s not a lot I can do with it outside of my usual work especially when it starts heating up.
I’ve also had a more powerful laptop with longer battery life but again there’s a trade-off. It was a tad too heavy and lugging it around eventually took its toll on my back and shoulders.
I never thought I’d ever work with a laptop that not only is lightweight and has a long battery life but also never feels underpowered. That is until got my hands on the new h UAW e Matebook X Pro.
Don’t leave home without it
P UTTI ng it through its paces during my recent trips to Mainland China and Vietnam, discovered that the h UAW e I Matebook X Pro is an ideal travel companion.
At only 980g (that’s less than a kilo), this ultralight laptop doesn’t feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders when you’r lugging it in my backpack for numerous tours including, yes, a stop at the g reat Wall of China in Beijing.
I initially thought that the lightness may have something to do with the plastic feel of the h UAW e I Matebook X Pro but as I later discovered, the laptop’s chassis is instead made of aluminum metal with a matte, paper-like finish.
It’s also worth noting that the h UAW e I Matebook X Pro comes in three color variants: Morandi Blue, White, and Black. The Morandi Blue variant with skyline design that I got to test drive has a nice, let’s call it, smart casual, minimalist appeal that will not look out of place in either any boardroom or coffee shop. And no, it won’t be mistaken for any other laptop. The keyboard of the h UAW e I Matebook X Pro is
a joy to use. I can’t stress enough how much enjoy typing in these keys which are smartly and not distractingly backlit. I love that the keys are nicely spaced and not cramped together and their plasticrubbery texture also gives a pleasant clacking sound that further enhances its tactile feel.
A feast for the eyes and ears
The h UAW e I Matebook X Pro’s wow factor further increased tenfold once I got acquainted with its 3.1k Flexible OL e D r eal Colour touchscreen display that consistently looks good in any lighting condition and is punctuated by fantastic bright colors and stunning sharp contrast. In addition to the movies and videos I watched on YouTube and n etflix during my idle time, the photos and videos that I took and transferred from my phone looked equally amazing, even when they were partly dimmed when the laptop was either in Windows 11’s battery saver mode and/or when I use the laptop’s e ye Comfort feature. I never actually used a laptop with a touchscreen display so I didn’t think this feature of the hUAWeI Matebook 14 would be that useful to me until my mouse which I always use with any laptop momentarily stopped working. I was never really comfortable using trackpads but the touchscreen certainly helped ease whatever separa -
tion anxiety I had with my mouse, thanks to h UAW e I’s FreeTouch software which controls click sensibility and vibration strength. n ow can’t imagine using a laptop without this kind of display.
I don’t normally turn on the sound when I’m using laptops as they tend to be too tinny for me but that’s not the case with the h UAW e I Matebook 14. Its proprietary h uawei Sound technology allows for immersive sound whether watching videos or listening to music. n o need to add further spatial sound enhancements.
Enhancing productivity
M Y computing needs are never really that demanding.
I write and edit articles, do simple photo and video editing, surf the web, watch movies, and play casual games. An entry-level computer would usually suffice for my daily needs. h aving said that, a powerful top-of-the-line model does make an ocean of a difference in making my work way too easy. And that’s exactly what I experienced with the h UAW e Matebook X Pro. With its Intel Core 9 Ultra h igh-Performance processor and 32 g B of internal r AM, no task was too challenging for this baby. I was particularly impressed with the way the h UAW e I Matebook X Pro handled the memory-hogging multiple tabs I opened with both g oogle Chrome and
Microsoft e dge browsers. And all that processing power does not at all compromise on battery life. Fully charged, the h UAW e I Matebook X Pro can last without charging up to a full working day or around office hours of intensive use. e ven when you need to charge it, you can have enough
factored in what I paid for several machines that did not fully serve my computing needs over the years, perhaps saving and spending for a prized device like this may prove to be more cost-effective in the long run.
In any case, if you like to travel like I do, very
Photos by Charo Logarta
Photos by Edwin P. Sallan/BM
Ko NA Macadamia Nut coffee and other products at Tropical Farms
T HE Huawei Matebook X Pro.
European appliance brand Beko bares CSR activities
IN 2020, European appliance brand Beko teamed up with local government units, hospitals, actress Angel Locsin’s #UniTentWeStand effort for San Lazaro Hospital in Manila, and the mega quarantine facilities in Philippine International Convention Center, Rizal Memorial Stadium and Philippine Arena to donate its washing machines, freestanding cookers, and refrigerators for use by healthcare personnel during the Covid-19 crisis.
During that time, Beko also worked with groups that supported medical workers in mobilizing, allocating, and providing food delivery to hospitals.
In July 2024, Beko partnered with the GMA Kapuso Foundation and Ariel Philippines to provide free laundry services to the residents of Brgy. Tumana, Marikina City, where homes were flooded by heavy rainfall due to Typhoon Carina.
Beko provided free use of its washing machines and dryers, while Ariel Philippines supplied the detergents to help alleviate the residents’ laundry needs. Beko employees volunteered to man the laundry station, serving almost 100 families in the community and offering over 800 cups of free coffee for volunteers and residents.
Beko continues to give back and its recent CSR effort is its support of the 9th edition of Himig ng Kabataan Alay Kay Don Bosco Choral Competition 2024.
The event is one of the longest-running churchbased choral competitions in the Philippines, which coincides with the 43rd anniversary of St. John Bosco Parish Church Makati. Himig ng Kabataan Alay Kay Don Bosco Choral Competition is a platform to spread devotion to St. John Bosco and create awareness about the saint’s life and teachings.
Beko, the co-presenter of the event, sponsored cash prizes for the competition’s grand winners. The brand also engaged the audience during the event with a live demonstration of their espresso machine and coffee maker at their interactive booth. Beko also served over 1,000 cups of coffee and distributed informative flyers showcasing their wide range of home solution offerings.
“We have been supporting the competition in the past years, and this year is a testament to our unwavering support and commitment to the community. Just as we want families to have comfortable and happy homes through our appliances, we also believe that endeavors such as this also help enrich harmony among families,” said Dyeun Zapanta, marketing head for Beko.
For the latest news on Beko’s initiatives and promotions, follow @bekoph on Facebook and Instagram, or visit www.beko.ph
KTO HOSTS KOREAN TRAVEL FIESTA 2024
KOREA Tourism Organization (KTO) Manila Office is hosting the Korea Travel Fiesta 2024 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Korea.
The two-day event starts today from 10 am to 10 pm at the Glorietta Activity Center and Palm Drive Activity Center, Makati City.
The event kicks off with a special Opening Ceremony featuring performances from EXO’s Xiumin and OST singer PUNCH. Performances by WOLF’LO, a K-dance team from Street Woman Fighter 2, and CHEF, a K-performance team, will take place on both days. Attendees will also have the chance to win exciting raffle prizes, including roundtrip tickets to Korea and gadgets from Samsung.
There will also be appearances by Melai Cantiveros-Francisco, KTO’s Honorary Ambassador for Korea Family Tourism in the Philippines, at the Family Travel Talk Show, and Running Man Philippines celebrity runners Glaiza de Castro, Kokoy de Santos, and Buboy Villar guesting at the Korea Winter Travel Talk Show
During the two-day event, guests can try on traditional Hanbok and Korean school uniforms, write their names in Hangeul, capture fun four-cut photos, dance to popular K-pop songs, craft their own DIY souvenirs, and much more.
Event attendees can also get exclusive deals on flights, tours and promotions from partner airlines, travel agencies, banks, mobile wallets, and telecommunications companies. In celebration of this milestone, select tour packages will offer a $75 discount.
Regional tourism organizations, agencies, tour attractions, and private companies from Korea will also showcase their offerings at the event. Visitors will have the opportunity to engage directly with these representatives to help plan their next trip to Korea. Souvenirs and giveaways will also be available at the various booths.
The festivities will conclude with a closing ceremony featuring popular Filipino singer Maki. Admission to the Korea Travel Fiesta 2024 is free.
BY RIZAL RAOUL S. REYES
THE country’s top finance super app, GCash recently broadened its involvement in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) when it signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Council for Disability Affairs (NCDA) to champion an inclusive workplace where persons with disabilities can thrive.
To jumpstart the campaign, GCash launched the inspiring journey of Adeline “Adz” Dumapong in its latest GCash Stories release. The short film spotlights challenges faced by aspiring para-athletes from financial constraints to lack of support.
“Adz is a true inspiration,” shared Neil Trinidad, GCash chief marketing officer. “Her story is a powerful reminder of the potential in every individual, regardless of their abilities. We hope this film sparks a conversation about the need for inclusion and progress for all, especially the greater support needed for the community of persons with disabilities.”
Born in Kiangan, Ifugao, Dumapong contracted polio at age three leaving her unable to walk. While staying at Bahay Mapagmahal, she discovered para-powerlifting through the support of the Rehab Department of the Philippine Orthopedic Center. Dumapong would then make history as the Philippines’ first Paralympic medalist, winning bronze in Sydney. She has since earned 19 international medals, proving that disability is no barrier to greatness.
The film opens with Dumapong in 2000, receiving thrilling news: she’s qualified to compete internationally. Her joy is tempered by the challenge of raising funds to make it happen. Dumapong gets into action, tirelessly making cold calls. With the
appeal against the fine.”
But in a statement e-mailed to The Associated Press, Clearview’s chief legal officer, Jack Mulcaire, said that the decision is “unlawful, devoid of due process and is unenforceable.”
The Dutch agency said that building the database and insufficiently informing people whose images appear in the database amounted to serious breaches of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR. “Facial recognition is a highly
intrusive technology, that you cannot simply unleash on anyone in the world,” DPA chairman Aleid Wolfsen said in a statement.
“If there is a photo of you on the Internet—and doesn’t that apply to all of us?—then you can end up in the
database of Clearview and be tracked. This is not a doom scenario from a scary film. Nor is it something that could only be done in China,” he said. DPA said that if Clearview doesn’t halt the breaches of the regulation, it faces noncompliance penalties of up
to €5.1 million ($5.6 million) on top of the fine. Mulcaire said in his statement that Clearview doesn’t fall under EU data protection regulations.
“Clearview AI does not have a place of business in the Netherlands or the EU, it does not have any customers in the Netherlands or the EU, and does not undertake any activities that would otherwise mean it is subject to the GDPR,” he said. In June, Clearview reached a settlement in an Illinois lawsuit alleging its massive photographic collection of faces violated the subjects’ privacy rights, a deal that attorneys estimate could be worth more than $50 million. Clearview didn’t admit any liability as part of the settlement agreement. The case in Illinois consolidated lawsuits from around the US filed against Clearview, which pulled photos from social media and elsewhere on the internet to create a database that it sold to businesses, individuals and government entities. AP
FOREST LAKE IMPARTS IMPORTANT LIFE REMINDERS WITH HUMOROUS ‘ITIM NA PUSA’ VIDEO
FOREST Lake, the Philippines’ largest and leading memorial park developer, recently captured online attention with a humor-laced digital ad featuring a black cat. The video shows two guys encountering the cat while crossing a street and calling it bad luck, alluding to a superstitious belief long held by old folks. However, a surprising twist in the encounter imparts an important reminder: life is unpredictable, and it’s crucial to be prepared for the unexpected.
The video is part of Forest Lake’s ongoing campaign to reshape public perception about death and memorial care by utilizing humor in addressing a common stigma, one episode at a time.
Forest Lake national sales and marketing head Carlos Miguel Locsin upholds this, saying, “The use of levity in our latest video is primed to help ease people’s reluctance to prepare for the end of life. We hope that this fresh perspective will spur families to ensure peace of mind for themselves and their loved ones by investing in Forest Lake Memorial Parks’ memorial products.”
Forest Lake offers accessible and affordable memorial parks managed by professional teams that provide value, innovation and personalized service. To ensure a holistic approach to total memorial care, the company has a comprehensive range of services available across its 37 parks nationwide—from various lot sizes to interment, mortuary, and chapel services.
More information is available on the company’s Facebook and Instagram pages at @forestlakememorialparks.
CNBC cites Tala as one of top fintechs worldwide
BY RODERICK L. ABAD Contributor
AMERICAN business news channel CNBC and market research firm Statista has named Tala as one of the World’s Top Fintech Companies for 2024.
Particularly, it was listed under the Alternate Finance segment comprised of digital platforms offering companies and consumers a way to raise money online, using technologies like the cloud and AI algorithms.
Tala is a global technology firm building the world’s most accessible financial services. It first entered the Philippine market in 2017 and has grown exponentially. As the first international fintech company for the global majority, it provides customers with flexible, convenient online credit that they can use to manage day-today needs, start/expand small businesses, and improve their financial lives.
“We are honored to be recognized again by CNBC, this time as one of the top fintech companies globally. This, together with our inclusion in the CNBC Disruptor 50 list and the Forbes 9th Annual Fintech 50, is a reflection of our success in the industry measured by the positive impact we make in the lives of the Global Majority,” said Tala Philippines general manager Moritz Gastl. “Currently, Tala is serving over 9 million customers across four different markets.”
Its mobile app uses next-generation technology, such as alternative data and machine learning to assess credit-worthiness, enabling customers sans a traditional credit history, for example, to access loans.
“The top list is based on the analysis and weighting of overarching and segment specific KPIs. In consideration for the top list, overarching KPIs had a weight of 40 percent while segment specific KPIs had a weight of 60 percent to derive the final score. The companies with the highest score within their market segment were awarded,” CNBC and Statista said.
Over 2,000 firms were considered before the final cut of 250 companies to be included in the list.
support of agencies and generous individuals, she triumphs on the world stage, bringing home the Philippines’ first Paralympic bronze medal. Although retired from active competition, Dumapong remains deeply committed to giving back despite the challenges in securing sponsorships for grassroots para-athletes. She said GCash provides a big help raising the much-needed financial support for non-national team para-athletes.
She said her journey with WOW LEAP Inc., a women-led organization, deepened her understanding of the challenges faced by people with disabilities. As their project manager, Dumapong is at the forefront of initiatives promoting inclusivity, economic independence, and social awareness for WOW Leap’s partner communities.
“As an athlete with a disability, I know the problems confronting our sector. When I joined WOWLEAP Inc., I was able to interact with women leaders which opened more my mind on the needs of the community. I realized again that the world is bigger than sports. I was also reminded that I needed to study more about the ordeals of persons with disabilities. Now, I’m more motivated to help my community, and I hope that through my work, I will be able to reach out to more women with disabilities in different areas of the country and work together on ways to meet their needs.”
GCash further pledged to integrate comprehensive policies, innovative programs, and accessible spaces for persons with disabilities by 2025, with the help and support of the NCDA.
GCash has also partnered with WOW LEAP Inc. to pledge support for their capacity-building programs. In collaboration with Visa, the company has also donated wheelchairs to the Philippine Orthopedic Center, with hope that these will help them retain their independence and enhance their quality of life.
How to get the most life out of your device
BY KELVIN CHAN The Associated Press
LONDON—If you want to use your shiny new iPhone for as long as possible, you better take good care of it.
Most people are now holding on to smartphones longer instead of regularly upgrading them, and there are many reasons why.
At the dawn of the smartphone age, you might have upgraded to a new device every few years to make sure you had the latest must-have features or because your carrier’s contract subsidized the purchase of the newest model. But that’s no longer the case as smartphone technology has matured and innovations have become more incremental, and carrier pricing models have changed.
There’s also an environmental push to keep old phones out of landfills as electronic waste becomes a larger sustainability issue. Smartphones these days are also just sturdier and better able to survive dunks and shocks. “As long as you take care of your phone and keep it updated, you’re going to get at least four or five good years of use out of it,” said Chris Hauk, of Pixel Privacy, a tech website. Some device owners boast in online forums that they’ve had phones last more than seven years.
And if you’re paying over $1,000 for your smartphone, you’ll probably want to it to last as long as it can. Here are some tips to extend the lifespan of your Apple or Android mobile device:
BATTERY CARE
ONE of the biggest factor in your phone’s lifespan is the battery. A rechargeable battery’s chemical age isn’t related to when it was manufactured. Instead, it’s based on a complex mix of factors including “temperature history and charging pattern,” according to Apple.
“As lithium-ion batteries chemically age, the amount of charge they can hold diminishes, resulting in reduced battery life and reduced peak performance,” the iPhone maker says.
The company says its charging optimization technology is designed to improve battery life, and it’s safe for iPhone users to charge their phones overnight.
Samsung, meanwhile, says its lithium ion batteries do best when kept above 50 percent charge. It advises against running the battery down.
“Repeatedly allowing the battery to drain fully may shorten its life and decrease its overall capacity,” the company says in an online guide. “If this happens, you’ll need to charge the battery more frequently and it may last only a few hours before needing a charge, for example.”
AVOID EXTREME TEMPERATURES
APPLE says says that batteries warm up as they charge, which can shorten their lifespan. It warns against using your phone or charging it in very hot temperatures, above 95 degrees (35 Celsius), “which can permanently reduce battery lifespan.”
Samsung also says extreme heat or cold can damage batteries and warns people not to, for example, leave their phones in a car’s glove box when it’s very hot or cold. And don’t put your phone in a freezer either, it’s a myth that it can prolong battery life. “This is not correct and can damage your battery,” Samsung says. Google, which makes the Android operating system and Pixel phones, says hot batteries drain faster, even when they’re not in use, and that can damage the battery.
ADJUST YOUR POWER OPTIONS
TWEAK your device settings so apps or features use less power, which extends your battery’s daily life and the time between charging cycles. You can turn down your phone’s screen brightness, turn on the dark theme and reduce the time for the screen to power off. Enable the auto-brightness feature, which adjusts screen brightness according to the level of ambient light. Also check battery usage in your settings to see if there are any power-hungry apps you can switch off or uninstall. If the power level dips below 10 percent, iPhone users can turn on low power mode to stretch their battery’s life before it need recharging. Samsung’s Android phones have a similar “power saving mode.” You can also leave it on all the time, but it might affect your phone’s performance. Samsung says users can switch off Bluetooth or Wi-Fi if they’re not being used, although
Apple advises leaving them on because they draw minimal power when not connected.
USE PROTECTION
PHONES are sleek capsules but the glossy surface means they can slip easily out of your hand. So it goes without saying that you should get a sturdy protective case to help cushion the blow when you accidentally drop it.
Don’t forget a screen protector. Plastic versions are the cheapest option but can scuff easily, according to device repair website iFixit, which recommends ones made with TPU film or tempered glass, which offer better protection against scratches and drops.
KEEP YOUR DEVICE CLEAN
KEEPING your phone in your pocket or purse means its ports and sockets can collect lint and other debris that you’ll need to clean out.
“Take a little toothpick and just kind of get in and get rid of any debris,” said Hauk. “Also the speaker and the microphone grills on phones, they do get dirty,”
so use a toothbrush to clean them, he said. Just make sure you’re flicking the debris away from the phone instead of pushing it deeper inside the tiny holes.
UPDATE YOUR DEVICE
SOFTWARE is another important factor in a phone’s lifespan. Experts advise keeping your operating system and apps up to date so they have the latest privacy, security and battery management features.
That will be easier to do as your phone ages because some device makers have been extending the time limit for providing updates.
Google has pledged to provide Pixel 8 and newer phones with seven years of Android and security updates, compared with four to five years for older models. Samsung has also extended its operating system updates to seven years starting with its flagship S24 device launched earlier this year.
Apple doesn’t spell out how long it will support iOS updates for devices, although older devices like the iPhone 6s released in 2014 and the iPhone 8 were still getting security updates this year. ■
Data centers to drive Dell’s growth
BY RIZAL RAOUL REYES
AMERICAN technology powerhouse Dell Technologies believes that the establishment of data centers in the country will be a growth driver for the company, especially when it launched advancements in the Dell PowerStore that features better performance, efficiency and multi-cloud mobility.
In a recent press briefing held at the Bonifacio Global City, Dell Philippines country general manager Ronnie Latinazo said the company sees good potential in the country’s data center market as a lot of companies seek to build more of these facilities to enable business organizations achieve enhanced data security, business continuity, remote accessibility and efficient resource allocation.
“The development of data centers will be a growth driver for PowerStore Prime in the near future. There are so many companies rushing to build data centers to be the first users. Naturally, the data traffic that goes out today will now come back to the country,” Latinazo said during the preview of the PowerStore for the local media. “It supports our belief that companies will end up using multi-cloud, hybrid environment. Before, there was a huge push for public cloud but now its multi-cloud as workload has been changing,” Latinazo added. Moreover, he said companies also believe they will need an infrastructure that is easy to manage, flexible and provide a consistent experience in terms of workload.”
Latinazo pointed out that the Power Store Prime cuts across all segments starting from enterprise to small and medium enterprises (SMEs). He added it embraces all platforms to cater to the performance, expansion and the roadmap of both the SMEs and enterprise.
“Our PowerStore advancements and new lineup of financial and operational advantages for customers and partners pack a powerful punch and raise the bar in all flash storage,” he said.
“And we didn’t stop there. Our focus on innovation also extends to Dell APEX, where we’re improving infrastructure and application reliability through the power of artificial intelligence and automation, making it even easier to manage multicloud and Kubernetes storage,” he added.
Jason Encarnacion, Dell Philippines data center solution sales lead, said PowerStore can easily integrate into a multi-cloud environment whether it’s public or on premise. It also enhances a lot of data resiliency across all multi-cloud platforms.
“PowerStore Prime enhances the connectivity for the previous multi-cloud platform,” he said.
Further, Encarnacion said users of the earlier version of PowerStore can enhance it to the current version of PowerStore software to get the benefits of the enhanced PowerStore Prime software itself.
The Dell PowerStore Prime is the
UAAP unwraps with explosive weekend duels
UBy Josef Ramos
NIVERSITY of the Philippines (UP) faces Ateneo on Saturday and reigning champion De La Salle battles National University (NU) on Sunday as the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) raises the curtains on Season 87 with an explosive weekend of men’s basketball at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Fighting Maroons and Blue Eagles collide at 6:30 p.m., some five hours after the Big Dome court is cleared of the production set up for the expectedly lavish 90-minute opening ceremony that starts at 11 a.m. featuring UP’s pride, Eraserheads.
On Sunday also at 6:30 p.m., reigning champion De La Salle and NU take their turn in the main game of a triple-bill that opens with the University of the East- University of Santo Tomas game at 1 p.m. and Far Eastern University-Adamson University at 3 p.m. with many-time Philippine Basketball Association import Sean Chambers debuting as coach of the Tamaraws. Head coach Goldwin Monteverde said it’s a must that the Fighting Maroons—who ended a 36-year championship drought in a bubble in 2022 but settled for runner-up honors in the last two seasons—win their first game of the season.
“Regardless of who we play, the first game sets the tone for our season and helps us start strong,” Monteverde said. “Every team in the UAAP is led by experienced coaches who know how to maximize their respective teams.”
“That is why it is important for us not to take any team lightly, as anyone can be beaten in our league on any given day,” he added.
Tab Baldwin, who coached the Blue Eagles to four UAAP championships since taking over in 2016, hopes the leadership of Sean Quitevis and Chris Koon will click this season.
“Sean is doing a great job. They were captains last year and I think that is a great learning experience despite last year not being a great year for us,” Baldwin said. “There was a lot of adversity on the court and a lot of tough situations, losing a lot of close games.”
Topex Robinson, meanwhile, has his orders for De La Salle clearly written in his playbook.
“Mr. Enrique Razon said this clearly to us that Season 86 is history, and nobody could take that away from us, but we are not the champions anymore this season,” Robinson said. “We must double our effort every game.” Razon, a billionaire businessman and La Salle alumnus, is the Green Archers’ top benefactor.
“What we are trying to focus now is how to be a champion again,” Robinson said.
SBy Aldrin Quinto
THE focus is again on the Philippine national volleyball teams and this time the spotlight feels a little more intense with the staging of the Alas Pilipinas Invitationals this weekend.
There’re no medals at stake and no ranking points involved, but with the weekend volleyball spectacle featuring two Japanese top-flight clubs being held as the Philippines begins its oneyear countdown to the hosting of the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championships, the pressure is definitely on for Alas Pilipinas.
“Immense pressure, for sure. And then the excitement,” said middle blocker Kim Malabunga after the
ANGEL MAE OTOM placed third in her qualifying heat to reach the final of the women’s 50-meter butterfly S5 of swimming at the Paris 17th Paralympic Games. Otom reached the wall in 46.85 seconds and made it to the late afternoon (12 midnight in Manila) medal race as fifth overall.
Lu Dong, gold medalist in their 50m backstroke encounter the other day, topped the heats in 40.50 followed by silver medalist He Shenggao (43.11) and Sevilay Ozturk of Turkey (44.70).
“I did my homework for this swim, and I will do my best in the final,” said the 21-year-old Otom, the reigning Asean Para Games champion in the same event.
Philippine sports officials witnessed Otom’s qualification race led by Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richard Bachmann, commissioner Fritz Gaston and executive director Paolo Tatad as well as Philippine Paralympic Committee president Michael Barredo and secretary-general Goody Custodio and chef de mission Ral Rosario.
“Angel had a better swim compared to her previous event, coach coach Tony (Ong) did a good job for this swim,’’ para swimming deputy coach Bryan Ong said.
Asusano goes all out in javelin CENDY ASUSANO vowed to give her 100 percent despite competing as an underdog in women’s javelin throw F54 event at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games on Saturday at the La Stade de France.
“It’s a great honor to be here in the Paralympics that’s why I will give it my 100 percent,” said Asusano, whose final of starts at 10:04 a.m. (4:04 p.m. in Manila).
“I still feel tensed but I’ll try my best to be in top form come competition timne,” added the 2023 Cambodia Asean Para Games double gold medalist in her maiden stint in the games supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.
A native of Donsol in Sorsogon, Asusano qualified for her first Paralympics by throwing 14.23 meters in placing fourth in the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Para Games.
Now a Pasig
presentation of teams Friday at the Edsa Shangri-La.
It’s Japan superstar Yuji Nishida and the Osaka Bluteon taking on Malabunga and Alas Pilipinas on backto-back days, both matches set at 6 p.m.
Alas Pilipinas women also face a daunting task against nine-time Japan V.League champion Saga Hisamitsu Springs in matches scheduled 3 p.m.
“These are stars, players we look up to and now the focus is also on us national team members as we play against them,” Malabunga said of Olympian Nishida, a Filipino fan favorite, and the rest of the Bluteon squad.
Osaka also has foreign outside hitters in 6-foot-6 American Thomas John Jaeschke and 6-foot-2 Cuban Miguel Ángel López Castro.
Both the men’s and women’s national squads are coming off fine international performances, including back-to-back podium finishes in the Southeast Asian V.League.
But it will be vastly different facing a top-level Japanese club, stressed Malabunga.
“We definitely need to play our best, and we’ll see how far we’ve gone,” Malabunga added.
Philippine National Volleyball Federation chief and newly elected Asian Volleyball Confederation president Ramon “Tats” Suzara noted that the Philippine teams have made big jumps in the world rankings, moving from well outside the top 100 two years ago to No. 64 for the men and No. 58 for the women.
“But we’re far from done. We are now winning against regional powers, but there’s still work to do,” Suzara said.
The new AVC president also stressed that friendlies such as the Alas Pilipinas Invitational are not mere exhibition matches since getting exposed to a higher level of play prepares the squads for the more important events that stake ranking points.
“We will be able to establish a more definite schedule for the teams when the international calendars are set,” Suzara said.
“We will work harder and give these teams what they need to do even better. And we are glad out friends in Japan are helping out. We are sure this will be an exciting weekend of volleyball.”
For coach Angiolino Frigoni, the match against Osaka Bluteon is an important part of the development of what he feels.
“Our team is a very young team and this is a very big opportunity for us,” said Frigoni, who steered Alas Pilipinas to bronze medals in the SEA V.League in Manila and again in Indonesia.
“We need to play as much as possible in preparation for next year.” Alas women back after away stints THE Alas Pilipinas women to put on a show in front of the home crowd for the first time since back-to-back podium finishes overseas as they play the Japan powerhouse Saga Hisamitsu Springs. The Philippine national women’s volleyball squad earned bronze medals in the Southeast Asian V.League in Vietnam and Thailand last month and now strut their wares in a home-and-home set.
“We are excited and eager to learn as individuals and as a team,” said team captain Dawn MacandiliCatindig. “Exposure matches like these are very important because you won’t progress just by holding practice sessions among yourselves.”
Coach Jorge Souza de Brito agreed.
“It’s an honor and a big opportunity for a team that is trying to keep growing,” De Brito said.
“It’s important to keep improving our game and it’s great to be able to face teams with a good system.”
Five-foot-10 wing spiker Miyu Nagaoka and the Saga Hisamitu Springs squad are reinforced by 6-foot-2 American opposite hitter Stephanie Samedy and 6-foot-1 Hungarian outside hitter Gréta Szakmary.
“Scary to play these teams, they are nine-time champions, but it will be great because we can learn from their skills and their volleyball smarts,” libero Jen Nierva said. “We will enjoy the moment.”
City resident and supported by Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, the comely thrower improved her personal best to 14.63 meters, also good for fourth spot, in the world para championships in Kobe, Japan, last May.
“If I break my personal best, hit 15 meters, I’ll be very happy,” she said.
“Cendy is under no pressure from us in her first Paralympic Games,” national para head coach Joel Deriada said. “If she exceeds her previous personal best we will be satisfied.”
Red Lions open defense of ‘NC’ title
AN BEDA University opens its title defense against host Lyceum of the Philippines while serious contenders Mapua and College of Saint Benilde face off at the start of the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Season 100 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday.
Coming out of nowhere to snatch their league-best 23rd seniors championship last year, the Red Lions are expected to go all out to against the equally-dangerous Pirates at 2:30 p.m.
The Cardinals, fancied to beat the Red Lions in last year’s Finals but stumbled in the end, and the Blazers, heavy favorites also a year ago but couldn’t live up to it, will try to bury the ghost of their painful past as they collide at 5 p.m.
Yulien Andrada vowed to carry the load San Beda, alongside Romel Puno and James Payosing, who were vital cogs in last year’s improbable but successful run, as they try to fill the vacuum left by Jacob Cortes, now with De La Salle.
“It will not be easy but I will do my best to lead by example,” Andrada said.
San Beda coach Yuri Escueta said they’ve gotten past thinking of those who left the team and instead focus on the big job at hand.
“I’d rather focus on the players who stayed,” he said. Lyceum coach Gilbert Malabanan vowed to make the school and their supporters proud.
“We’re just going out there to compete and win,” Malabanan said.
Mapua will brandish reigning Most Valuable Player Clint Escamis, who will need to double his efforts after Warren Bonifacio and Paolo Hernandez left for the pros.
“It will still be a team effort,” Escamis said.
The Blazers, third placers a year ago, will parade a generally new team with only four players remaining from last season’s roster, including new team captain Mark Sangco.
“Our goal is to improve on our showing last year and hopefully contend for a championship,” said Blazers coach Charles Tiu, who will parade transferees Allen Liwag, Justin Sanchez and Tony Ynot.
Reigning world para champion Nurkhon Kurbanova of Uzbekistan is the favorite with her world record of 20.73 meters that relegated Paralympic Games defending champion Flora Ugwunwa of Nigeria to the No. 2 rank with 19.07 meters and Iran’s Elham Salehi to No. 3 with 16.10.
Fashion gradually embraces needs of Paralympic athletes
THREE years ago, when Team Canada appeared at the opening ceremonies of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, the athletes were dressed in sleek white jeans. They may have looked good, but for some Paralympians on the team, they were a challenge. For Alison Levine, for example. The para athlete, who competes in the sport of boccia, couldn’t wear jeans because in a wheelchair, they dug into her skin. They lacked an elastic waistband, and were difficult to take on and off.
“There was no way I was getting those on,” says Levine, who had to go find something else herself that would work, and not look too different. “You don’t want to look different because of your disability,” Levine says. “You don’t want it to be, ‘Team Canada plus you guys.’” Things are different this year. At the Paralympics opening ceremony in Paris, Levine and teammates wore bright red jackets with features like magnetic closures that make it easier for everyone, disabled or not. And there was an option of a seated carpenter pant that was designed with Levine in mind—even called the “Alison pant.” Levine sees the design process, in which apparel company Lululemon started interviewing her and others for guidance three years ago, as a meaningful advance not only in Olympics attire but in the broader area of what’s known as adaptive or inclusive fashion, in which fashion labels are starting—albeit slowly—to respond to the needs of disabled people, and recognize that they’re an important economic force. AP
‘Bagong Bayani’ highlight 5150 triathlon in Dapitan City
M ORE than 400 athletes from 12 countries will answer the gun for the 5150 Triathlon Dapitan and Go
ANGEL MAE OYOM with assistant coach Bryan Ong while Cendy Asusano trains at the warmup oval in Paris. COURTESY PHILIPPINE PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE
Exit of Chinese Pogo workers starts
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome
CHINA and the Philippines have started repatriating Chinese workers employed by online gambling operations in the Philippines as all Philippine Online Gaming Operators (Pogo) will be closed in three months. The Chinese Embassy in Manila said nearly 100 workers of Pogos were repatriated Friday.
The repatriation came as a “consensus to strengthen law enforcement operation” against Pogos.
Gambling is banned in China, but many were lured to work here in the Philippines as workers since they speak Mandarin or other Chinese languages/ dialect.
“This is another successful joint operation following Philippine government’s announcement of a ban on all Pogos,” the Embassy spokesman said in a statement.
In his State of the Nation Address, President Marcos Jr. ordered the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) to wind down and cease Pogo operations by end of the year.
This as certain POGOs were raided and found to be engaged in financial scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, brutal torture and even murder. One of the most controversial is Zun Yuan Technology Inc in Bamban, Tarlac, where its former mayor was found to be a Chinese passport holder and with direct links with Chinese criminal syndicates. Pagcor said there are 46 registered PogoOs, and around 250 to 300 operating without a license. About 17,000 of Pogo workers are foreigners.
The Embassy said they have been conducting repatriation efforts of Chinese Pogo workers for a few years even before the Marcos Jr. administration banned Pogo last July.
As of August this year, around 4,000 Chinese Pogo workers have already been repatriated since 2018.
Romualdez warns agri
SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Friday issued a stern warning to agricultural cartels, vowing that those involved in price manipulation and the smuggling of essential goods—acts considered economic sabotage—will face not only massive fines but will also be thrown behind bars.
“Economic sabotage is a crime of the highest order. The law demands life imprisonment for large-scale agricultural smuggling, and we will make sure those responsible face the full force of justice. These cartels are not just committing fraud; they are endangering our food security and destroying the livelihoods of our farmers,” Speaker Romualdez declared.
This warning comes after the recent identification of 12 key members of an onion cartel in the Philippines, now facing a staggering P2.4 billion in fines as an offshoot of a House of Representatives investigation initiated by Speaker Romualdez. According to the Enforcement Office of the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC), it had filed charges and recommended penalties amounting to P2.42 billion against 12 onion traders and importers for allegedly operating as a cartel since 2019.
Guo, with ‘death threats,’ safe in PNP
custody,
says DILG, but Senate probers unconvinced
By Rex Anthony Naval, Butch Fernandez & Nonie Reyes
AFTER weeks of hiding, dismissed
Bamban mayor Alice Guo was finally brought home past midnight Friday and taken into custody by the Philippine National Police after being processed by immigration and health authorities.
The PNP custody issue was disputed by Senate probers, however, who questioned an apparent deviation from a plan to have Guo placed with the Senate’s Office of the Sergeant at Arms (OSAA), as she is scheduled to appear at a tricommittee hearing on Monday.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who chairs the Senate women and children’s committee, one of those leading a continuing probe into illegal Pogo operations where Guo is a central figure, lamented on Friday the ex-mayor’s being whisked into detention under the PNP—this, on the basis of an arrest warrant issued late Thursday by a Tarlac regional trial court for the graft charge filed against Guo by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
DILG chief Benhur Abalos, one of those who fetched Guo from Jakarta after her
arrest by Indonesian authorities, insisted Guo is safe under PNP custody, as she had reported a “death threat” and sought his support when Indonesian officials turned her over to Manila officials on Thursday.
Hontiveros said she wrote the RTC in Tarlac and the Custodial Center of the PNP “to make Alice Guo appear at our hearing on Monday.”
She insisted that the agencies involved in this case had agreed Guo would be turned over to the Senate, which issued the original arrest warrant.
Netizens had a field day noting how gleeful the ex-mayor of Bamban, Tarlac was, shaking hands and having photos taken with her supposed captors—a demeanor that did not seem to reflect someone with a death threat. Neither Indonesian nor Philippine officials handcuffed Guo, who is accused of actively helping set up a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) in Bamban that was raided by a team led by the Presidential Anti-organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) in late May.
On Friday, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said Guo will temporarily stay at their Custodial Center following her arrival from Indonesia.
She also said that Guo was already briefed on all the rules inside the Custodial Center and will be treated like an ordinary detainee.
The PNP took custody of Guo after the Capas, Tarlac Regional Trial Court Branch 109 ordered her arrested for violating Sections 3(E) and 3(H) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. These charges were filed by the DILG. DILG Secretary Abalos said that Guo will be safe under police custody.
Abalos said the DILG, along with the PNP, is ready to protect her from alleged threats.
“I told her not to fear for your life, we are ready to secure you,” the DILG chief said. Abalos said he also advised Guo to tell authorities everything and be truthful about it. Senators have been grilling her sister Shiela, who was arrested earlier in Indonesia along with Pogo executive Cassandra Ong, about the parties who helped facilitate their escape from the country.
Guo is a vital witness because illegal Pogo hubs have been associated with syndicated crimes like human trafficking, illegal detention and torture and money laundering.
Guo arrived in the country around 1:30
cartels: Jail terms for smugglers, price cheats
Named respondents by PCC were Philippine Vieva Group of Companies Inc., Tian Long Corp., La Reina Fresh Vegetables and Young Indoor Plants Inc., Yom Trading Corp., Vegetable Importers, Exporters and Vendors Association of the Philippines, and Golden Shine International Freight Forwarders Corp. PCC said the individual respondents are Vieva vice president and Golden Shine president Lilia Cruz; Vieva board member, Golden Shine corporate executive officer and Tian Long corporate secretary Eric Pabilona; Vieva board member, La Reina president and Yom Trading chair and president Renato Francisco Jr.
These cartel members were found to have orchestrated large-scale smuggling and hoarding operations, which artificially inflated onion prices to record highs, squeezing consumers and devastating local farmers.
Speaker Romualdez made it clear that hefty fines are only the start, with criminal charges and long-term imprisonment guaranteed for these offenders.
“The imposition of P2.4 billion in fines is just the opening salvo. Smugglers and price manipulators will face not just financial repercussions, but serious jail time. We will not tolerate the sabotage of our economy
and the exploitation of Filipino families,” he declared.
The leader of the 300-plus-strong legislative chamber pointed to Republic Act No. 10845, or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016, which classifies large-scale smuggling as economic sabotage—a nonbailable offense carrying life imprisonment, alongside asset forfeitures and hefty fines.
The Speaker assured that the investigation would lead not only to fines but also to full prosecution.
“The P2.4 billion in fines is just the start. The law is clear—those who manipulate agricultural prices will face long prison terms. Smuggling, hoarding, and price manipulation will receive the toughest penalties,” he stressed.
Speaker Romualdez assured the public that the House will maintain its aggressive stance against agricultural cartels, in close collaboration with agencies like the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Customs, to prevent a recurrence of these illegal activities.
“We are fully committed to wiping out these cartels,” the Speaker pointed out.
“This is not just about onions—this is about safeguarding our food supply and ensuring that every Filipino has access to affordable
agricultural products. Today, we struck a blow against one cartel, but this is only the beginning.”
The House chief also pushed for stronger legislative reforms to ensure that the penalties for agricultural smuggling are even more severe.
“We will strengthen the laws, ensuring that those who sabotage our economy with price manipulation and smuggling face longer jail terms and harsher penalties. The days of leniency are over,” he declared.
The crackdown on the onion cartel comes after months of soaring prices caused by artificial scarcity through hoarding and manipulation.
The P2.4 billion fine levied on the cartel members is a significant step in the government’s broader campaign against agricultural smuggling, but Speaker Romualdez made it clear that the consequences for those responsible would extend beyond financial penalties.
“The House will not stop until these cartels are dismantled and those responsible for hurting our farmers and consumers are behind bars. This is a fight we will win—for the farmers, for the consumers, and for the entire Filipino nation,” the Speaker concluded.
US commits to upgrade AFP defense capacity after latest call
Ta.m. after the private aircraft transporting her, Abalos, PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil, and other ranking officials landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Pasay City.
Senate probers alarmed
MEANWHILE , Deputy Minority Leader
Hontiveros raised alarm on Friday after Guo was brought to Tarlac and insisted that the ex-mayor should “be kept in the Senate” where she is scheduled to attend a crucial hearing on illegal Pogo operations.
The senator assailed the decision by authorities to deviate from an earlier plan to keep the dismissed mayor in the custody of the Senate, which first issued the arrest warrant for her—for contempt- and gave Philippine officials the basis for having her arrested in Indonesia.
Hontiveros said Guo should be in the custody of the OSSAA, to facilitate her appearance at Monday’s hearing of the tricommittee probing illegal Pogo operations.
“She should first be detained at the Senate, so she can attend our hearing on Monday,” Hontiveros said.
“While respect the prerogative of the judiciary to issue a warrant, it was the
Senate that issued the first arrest warrant” for the contempt citation slapped on Guo for repeatedly evading Senate summons.
“Its’ the Senate that triggered the manhunt. Senate warrant was what our law enforcement officials brought to Jakarta,” the senator noted, partly in Filipino. She also cited “the clear mandate” in the case of Binay v Sandiganbayan “that criminal cases against municipal mayors fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan.” Hontiveros wondered aloud, “why is it the Tarlac court that issued the warrant?
“And why was she brought to Tarlac?” the senator asked, adding she had asked OSAA chief, retired General Ancan, to proceed to Tarlac “to monitor developments there.”
After Guo is processed by NBI or PNP, she should be turned over to OSAA. “That was clear from the very start and that was the commitment of NBI Director Santiago,” the senator recalled.
If Guo Hua Ping [Guo’s real Chinese name] prefers being detained by the PNP instead of the Senate, Hontiveros said, “We need to ask why. Why does she want to be in a jail more than in the Senate detention facility?”
BOC shuts down refilling gas station with unmarked fuel
THE Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP) shut down a local refilling gas station in Valenzuela City with P3.1 million worth of unmarked fuel.
In a statement on Friday, Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio said three out of the four fuel tanks of Roden Refilling Gas Station in Ugong, Valenzuela City failed the fuel marking test.
The CIIS-MICP and Enforcement Group-Fuel Marking agents proceeded to the gas station to conduct a Chain of Custody Activities, such as the marking, sampling and testing of fuels from source, carrier vehicle/vessel and destination retail/fuel stations or storage, according to BOC-CIIS Director Verne Enciso.
Results of the samples collected from the four fuel tanks showed tanks number one to three containing 19,196 liters of premium gasoline, 18,680 liters of unleaded gasoline and 19,098 liters of blended diesel, respectively failed the test. Only tank four, which had 4,000 liters of blended diesel passed the fuel marking test.
failed marks on the initial tests.
A unique chemical marker is used in marking fuel that can be embedded at a molecular level in petroleum products—gasoline, diesel, and kerosene—enabling authorities to test, identify, and distinguish petroleum products with paid excise taxes.
The government started the fuel marking program on September 4, 2019, under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion or TRAIN law, to ensure that oil products sold in the market are tax compliant.
Petroleum products that are refined, manufactured, or imported to the Philippines such as, but not limited to, unleaded premium gasoline, kerosene, and diesel, shall be marked by an official marking agent after payment of taxes and duties, under the TRAIN law. The BOC has marked 4.81 billion liters of fuel products and collected P61.1 billion in duties and taxes as of the first quarter of 2024 through the fuel marking program.
“These fuel marking tests are done to ensure that the fuel being sold to our consumers are safe and have been properly tested and vetted. It is customary and functionary and it complements our border protection duties,” Rubio said. Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
According to the DND, it was the eighth time that both defense officials spoke on the phone “to discuss security developments in the Indo-Pacific region, and explore ways to further enhance the Philippine-US alliance.”
“With the successful outcomes of the Philippines’ hosting of the 4th PhilippinesUS Two-Plus-Two Ministerial Consultations
HE United States has committed to help upgrade the defense capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) following a September 4 phone conference between Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and his US counterpart Lloyd Austin III. Both officials also look forward to personally engaging each other again in the upcoming Asean Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) in November 2024, the Department of National Defense (DND) said in a statement Friday.
Pangasinan’s adopted son Bong Go brings public services to villages
SEN. Christopher “Bong” Go cited the critical need to bring public services closer to communities in need, especially when it comes to healthcare and livelihood support.
Visiting Basista, Pangasinan, on Thursday, Go emphasized the importance of accessible government support to aid in the recovery of Filipinos affected by economic challenges. Despite the inclement weather, his Malasakit Team continued with the activities in Basista—coming from San Fabian— to aid a thousand displaced workers and inspect a Super Health Center which Go
has been advocating for. The senator affirmed his unwavering commitment to helping Pangasinenses especially in challenging times. That day, the local council also presented its resolution declaring Go an adopted son of the town of Basista. “Don’t thank me. In truth. I’m a simple provincial guy who was given the chance to serve you. I should be the one thanking you,” Go said, partly in Filipino. At the relief activity at the Basista gymnasium, 1,000 displaced workers received various forms of assistance from Go’s team, including grocery packs, snacks, vitamins, masks, and shirts. Several beneficiaries got
in July 2024, and the recent Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board [MDB-SEB] last week, Secretary Teodoro welcomed the US reaffirmation of its steadfast and ironclad commitment to the Philippines,” it added.
Teodoro also said the DND will closely coordinate with the US on much-needed disaster response, following the US offer of assistance for the ongoing impact of typhoons and weather disturbances in the Philippines. At least two more cyclones are expected
basketballs, bicycles, watches, shoes, and mobile phones.
The beneficiaries qualified for the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (Tupad) program, thanks to Go’s consistent advocacy for labor welfare and livelihood support.
In a video call, Go expressed his appreciation for the local officials, including Governor Monmon Guico, Vice Governor Mark Lambino, Mayor Jolly Resuello, and Vice Mayor Dante Bustarde, for their steadfast dedication to uplifting their communities.
Go’s team also inspected the Super Health Center Basista town. He earlier reiterated his commitment to health-related initiatives, such as establishing Super Health Centers that bring essential primary healthcare services closer to communities.
to enter the country within this month alone, the DND said.
The DND said the call ended with Teodoro and Austin discussing ongoing projects and activities that aim to bolster the PhilippinesUS alliance. Rex Anthony Naval
The BOC said the fuel samples will undergo confirmatory testing by the SGS Main Laboratory following the
Biden administration and Netanyahu navigate Gaza cease-fire, hostage release negotiations
By Ellen Knickmeyer & Aamer Madhani The Associated Press
WASHINGTON—The Biden administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were sharply at odds Thursday over prospects of reaching a deal for a Gaza cease-fire and hostage release, with Netanyahu saying it was “exactly inaccurate” that a breakthrough was close.
“There’s not a deal in the making,” Netanyahu said in an interview with “Fox and Friends.” His public skepticism comes as US officials said they were working on a revised proposal to address remaining disputes between Israeli and Hamas leaders after the weekend discovery of six dead hostages added urgency to the talks.
National security spokesman John Kirby reiterated Thursday that only disagreements on “implementing details” of a cease-fire proposal need to be hammered out.
“I’ve heard what the prime minister said. I’m not going to get into a back and forth with him in a public setting,” Kirby told reporters. “We still believe, though this is incredibly difficult—if there’s compromise, if there’s leadership, we can still get there.”
President Joe Biden’s team, a lame-duck administration two months before the election, has
By Salma El Wardany, Grant Smith & Fiona Macdonald
OPEC + postponed its oil supply hike by two months, but the move wasn’t enough to roll back steep losses in crude prices amid fears about fragile demand.
Key coalition members won’t now increase production by 180,000 barrels a day in October and November, according to a statement on Opec’s website. Yet their longer-term plan to revive 2.2 million barrels a day of idle supplies gradually over the course of a year remained in place, with the completion date pushed back two months to December 2025. Oil showed little reaction to the news, with prices remaining near $73 a barrel in London. A delay doesn’t change many factors in the market that are unfavorable to Opec, said Julius Baer analyst Norbert Ruecker.
“Demand is partially stagnant, production grows in the Americas,” Ruecker said. “The oil market will likely head into surplus supplies next year.”
Opec’s rethink came after downbeat economic data from China and the US—the biggest consumers—sent crude prices below $73 a barrel earlier this week, reaching the lowest since late 2023. The decline offers consumers some relief after years of rampant inflation, but leaves prices too low for the Saudis and others in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries to cover their government spending.
projected optimism this summer as it works with fellow mediators Egypt and Qatar to try to get Israel and Hamas to agree to a truce in the 11-month war in Gaza. The deal would release more of the hostages taken by Hamas during its October 7 attack on Israel, including Americans, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners—one of the big sticking points.
US officials said in the days before Israeli forces recovered the bodies of six recently slain hostages, including Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, that Israeli and Hamas leaders could sign off on a deal as soon as the end of this week.
“I’m optimistic. It’s far from over. Just a couple more issues. I think we’ve got a shot,” Biden told reporters last Friday. Even before that, Netanyahu was digging in his heels, adding conditions that make sealing any
agreement before the US elections difficult. His far-right government publicly prioritized for the first time in July—months into the talks—a demand for Israeli forces to keep their presence in a buffer zone along Gaza’s border with Egypt. Netanyahu says it’s needed to prevent Hamas from smuggling arms into the Palestinian territory.
“To ask Israel to make concessions after this murder is to send a message to Hamas: Murder more hostages, you’ll get more concessions,” Netanyahu said Thursday. “That’s the wrong thing to do, and I think the Israel public overwhelming is united against that.”
Hostage families have accused Netanyahu of blocking a deal and potentially sacrificing their loved ones to hold the border strip, called the Philadelphi corridor. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis have
taken to the streets, calling for a deal and saying time is running out to bring home the hostages alive.
Netanyahu has brushed off criticism that his management of the war and cease-fire negotiations has been politically motivated and said he believes only heavy pressure on Hamas will force it into concessions.
The Biden administration has stressed that its ally Israel has supported the negotiations and Hamas has been blocking a deal. This week, however, Biden said “no” when asked if Netanyahu was doing enough in the talks.
“We see time and again that Israel agrees to certain terms,” said Shira Efron, a policy adviser at the US-based Israel Policy Forum, which analyzes Israeli-Palestinian relations. “It doesn’t say no, it agrees to certain terms—but then says, ‘Yes,
but under those conditions.’”
“These public statements that come out after what seems to be an agreement—basically derail the agreement,” Efron said.
Randa Slim, a senior fellow at the US-based Middle East Institute research center, said she saw the talks as being between the US and Netanyahu, and “in this bilateral negotiation, I see Netanyahu having the upper hand.”
The US, Egypt and other Arab nations have raised objections to a lasting Israeli presence in the Philadelphi corridor. Hamas says the Israeli position is in breach of the bridging proposal’s call for Israel to leave densely populated areas of Gaza.
US officials say Israeli officials, including Netanyahu, have been more agreeable to negotiations in private discussions than in their public statements.
A senior US administration official told reporters Wednesday that Israel and Hamas have agreed on 14 of the 18 paragraphs in the bridging proposal, have technical differences about one paragraph and deeper differences about three paragraphs. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the negotiations.
Those three paragraphs in question focus on the exchange of hostages captured by Hamas and the number of Palestinian prisoners who would be released during what is supposed to be at least a six-week cease-fire.
in June on a road map for gradually restoring supplies halted since 2022. But it vacillated as soon as the plan was unveiled, repeatedly stressing the increases could be “paused or reversed” if necessary. A major output disruption in Libya had seemed to offer the group led by Saudi Arabia and Russia the space to go ahead, but it opted instead for caution.
“Opec+ faced a binary choice between delaying tapering and enduring a disorderly crude price rout,” said Bob McNally, president of consultant Rapidan Energy Group and a former White House official. “It appears to have chosen the former.”
While Brent futures have stabilized, the international benchmark remains near $73 a barrel, a reflection that the alliance’s delay amounts to only 360,000 barrels a day in paper—and likely less in reality—in a global market that burns through more than 100 million per day.
banks as they ease interest rates, and could even play into the US election campaign.
Postponing the rise might avert the surplus that prominent market-watchers such as the International Energy Agency and trading giant Trafigura Group were expecting in the fourth quarter. Conversely, opening the taps could have prompted a slump toward $50 a barrel, Citigroup Inc. had warned.
But the decision to delay may only defer the challenge for Opec to next year.
World surpluses stand to swell in 2025 as fuel consumption growth remains subdued while output from the US, Guyana, Brazil and Canada keeps expanding, according to the IEA. BP Plc chief economist Spencer Dale warned Aug. 21 that the organization has “limited scope” to add barrels.
With some members keen to ramp up supply, Opec+ had agreed
oil supply hike in effort to reverse price slump
says has reached a substantial 4.85 million barrels a day. That’s roughly 5 percent of world supplies. The UAE’s desire to pump more has stirred tensions within the group in the past.
Libyan wildcard
AT the start of this week, Opec+ delegates were signaling that the scheduled boost remained on track.
Output in member Libya was slashed in half last week after authorities in the eastern region shuttered more than 500,000 barrels a day in a clash with the Tripoli-based government over control of the central bank. The disruption came on top of the halt of Libya’s biggest oil field, Sharara, earlier in August.
But on Tuesday, Sadiq AlKabir—the central bank governor whose attempted ouster precipitated the crisis—said there were “strong” indications political factions are nearing an agreement to overcome the current deadlock.
Brent futures plunged 5 percent and Opec+ officials shifted position, saying that discussions on delaying the group’s supply hike were in progress.
While global crude markets are currently tight amid summer driving demand, they’re set to ease significantly once the seasonal peak in consumption passes.
Data from China has shown critical engines of economic growth sputtering, with factory activity contracting for a fourth month and the value of new-home sales declining. US manufacturing activity showed a fifth consecutive month of contraction. With assistance from Nayla Razzouk/Bloomberg Opec+ pauses
Oil prices at these levels will provide some relief to central
Nonetheless, the United Arab Emirates—one of the organization’s biggest producers—has been keen to deploy recent investments in new capacity, which Abu Dhabi
For each hostage, there’s a certain number of Palestinian prisoners that were to be released. Now, “you just have fewer hostages as part of the deal in phase one,” the official said.
Netanyahu said they are still discussing the number of prisoners to be released for each hostage, the list of prisoners to be freed and whether they will be allowed to return home or have to leave.
The US and others hope a ceasefire would calm tensions that threaten a wider regional conflict, including fighting between Israel and Hezbollah militants in neighboring Lebanon.
Attacks by Hezbollah and other Iran-backed groups have increased since the October 7 attack, in which some 1,200 people were killed. Militants also took about 250 people hostage, with roughly 100 remaining in Gaza, a third of whom are believed to be dead.
Israel’s offensive in response has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count.
When it comes to a deal, “we’re being pragmatic about it, and we do believe that we have made an immense amount of progress in the last few months in terms of getting the structure of the deal in place,” Kirby said.
AP writers Zeke Miller and Matthew Lee contributed from Washington.
The list of Palestinian prisoners to be released in the initial phase of the deal includes some who are serving life sentences in Israeli prisons. The official said the dispute about the ratio of prisoners to hostages to be swapped has been further complicated by the recent deaths of the six hostages.
Pope heads to Papua New Guinea after final Mass in Indonesia before an overflow crowd of 100,000
By Nicole Winfield & Edna Tarigan The Associated Press
JAKARTA, Indonesia—Pope Francis wrapped up his visit to Indonesia on Friday after celebrating Mass before an overflow crowd of 100,000, a final celebration before heading to Papua New Guinea for the second leg of his 11-day journey through Southeast Asia and Oceania.
The 87-year-old pope had no official events Friday beyond a farewell ceremony and the six-hour flight to Port Moresby, giving him something of a break after a packed three-day program in Jakarta.
The visit culminated with a jubilant Mass on Thursday afternoon before a crowd that filled two sports stadiums and overflowed into a parking lot.
“Don’t tire of dreaming and of building a civilization of peace,” Francis urged them in an ad-libbed homily. “Be builders of hope. Be builders of peace.”
The Vatican had originally expected the Mass would draw some 60,000 people, and Indonesian authorities had predicted 80,000. But the Vatican spokesman quoted local organizers as saying more than 100,000 had attended.
“I feel very lucky compared to other people who can’t come here or even had
the intention to come here,” said Vienna Frances Florensius Basol, who came with her husband and a group of 40 people from Sabah, Malaysia, but couldn’t get into the stadium.
“Even though we are outside with other Indonesians, seeing the screen, I think I am lucky enough,” she said from a parking lot where a giant TV screen was erected for anyone who didn’t have tickets for the service.
While in Indonesia, Francis sought to encourage the country’s 8.9 million Catholics, who make up just 3% of the population of 275 million, while also seeking to boost interfaith ties with the country boasting the world’s largest Muslim population.
In the highlight of the visit, Francis and the grand imam of Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque, Southeast Asia’s largest, signed a joint declaration pledging to work to end religiously inspired violence and protect the environment. In Papua New Guinea, Francis’ agenda is aligned with more of his social justice priorities. The poor, strategically important South Pacific nation is home to more than 10 million people, most of whom are subsistence farmers.
John Lavu, the choir conductor at St. Charles Luwanga parish in the capital, Port Moresby, said the visit would help him grow stronger in his Catholic faith.
PHOTO shows an oil extraction pump. Opec+ won’t increase production in October and November amid fears about fragile demand. BLOOMBERG
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