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NOT EVEN AN INFLATIONARY ‘TRAIN’ CAN SEPARATE PINOYS FROM THEIR FAVORITE FAST-FOOD CHAINS

Ognjen Stevanovic | Dreamstime.com

The burger chains’ embrace

J

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

es loves fast food, the convenient and affordable gastronomic answer to get energized on a busy work day. One February morning, however, shocked her when she dropped by her favorite “bee” store for a quick breakfast on her way to work.

Jes’s brown eyes rolled, and her mind perplexed: The usual P55 breakfast meal she orders is missing something. That something, fried and yellow stuffed on a small paper pack, is missing!

“Before, every time I order Jollibee’s Breakfast Yum Burger Meal, it had French fries. But now the P55 value meal only includes a regular drink,” the 22-year-old government employee and postgraduate student said.

She then told the Business-

Mirror in dismay: “It’s upsetting because the money you spend can only buy fewer items.”

“If you think about it, even if your salary is increased, but if you can only get fewer serving from the product you regularly buy, then it seems like there’s no change after all,” Jes added.

Jes isn’t alone with this fastfood feeling. When Jensen, a thirdyear journalism student, dropped by at his favorite red-and-yellow fast-food joint, he did not expect a

saddening scene.

Store crew in white uniforms and black scarves were dismantling and replacing the menu signage with new ones. The crew was not in a hurry, but students like him who were in queue were in a rush to maximize their free time.

Murmurs of college boys and girls filled the store: What’s happening here?

When the new menu was put back in place, change came: The previous prices were already

gone. “They covered the previous prices with new printed ones, having the same font as before,” Jensen recalled to the BusinessMirror.

The 19-year-old’s favorite lunch meal, Chicken Fillet à la King with fries and drink, increased by P6: from P89 to P95.

Irk followed: “I got irritated because I knew that it was caused by the TRAIN [Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion] law, Continued on A2

T

By Lenie Lectura

he Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) is bullish on the prospects of its prepaid electricity service (PRES), expecting subscription to have reached 95,000 as of the first quarter of the year, as the service is now also becoming popular to condominium owners.

PESO exchange rates n US 52.1280

“From 2016 Meralco has more than doubled its prepaid electricity-service base, ending 2017 with close to 90,000 customers, and by end-March 2018 will be 95,000,” said Meralco Senior Vice President Al Panlilio in an e-mail.

The prepaid electricity service is available in residential areas in the cities of Manila, Mandaluyong, Makati and Pasig, municipalities of Angono, Cainta, Binangonan, and Taytay in Rizal, and parts of Taguig, Pasay, San Juan, Parañaque,

https://residential.meralco.com.ph

Prepaid electricity service makes its way to high-end market

Novaliches, Caloocan, Cavite, Tagaytay and Bulacan.

In 2017 alone, Meralco activated additional 48,735 PRES customers, bringing the total to 89,717. Last year’s performance was an all-time high, as it doubled year-on-year.

Prepaid electricity predominantly attracted residential customers, as well as retail-estate developers catering to students, aside from young families living Continued on A2

n japan 0.4855 n UK 73.0105 n HK 6.6416 n CHINA 8.2927 n singapore 39.6109 n australia 40.0552 n EU 63.8151 n SAUDI arabia 13.9005

Source: BSP (April 6, 2018 )

NewsSunday BusinessMirror

A2 Sunday, April 8, 2018

www.businessmirror.com.ph

The burger chains’ embrace

which hiked the prices of sweetened drinks like Coke.”

Price upticks

THIS latest consumer trend in fast food-crazy Philippines is not due to inflationary pushes.

A new tax regime, brought about by the current government’s TRAIN law, had pushed leading fast-food firms to jack up the prices of their value meals by as much as P10 per meal.

At the same time, the fast-food firms reoffered their value meals by removing some food items to maintain their “affordable” price levels.

How that came to be? The government just imposed a P6-perliter excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages. Meanwhile, beverages that contain high-fructose corn syrup (a cheap, imported alternative to sugar) are imposed with a P12-per-liter tax.

The BusinessMirror sought McDonald’s and Jollibee’s sides for the story; the former politely declined to comment, while the latter did not respond to editorial queries.

However, managers at a Jollibee branch interviewed by the BusinessMirror confirmed that the fast-food giant increased prices by around P4 to P10 due to the implementation of the TRAIN law.

“The highest increases were seen in the soft drinks,” a Luzon-

based male Jollibee store manager revealed to the BusinessMirror.

He even disclosed that higher soft-drink prices led Jollibee to offer new value meals without soft drinks, just so to keep some of their customers.

Another store manager in Metro Manila affirmed that Jollibee indeed increased its prices.

The usual regular Yum burger value meal is now priced at P79, from P75 previously.

Pricing that ‘doubled’

MEANWHILE, another Luzonbased McDonald’s store manager revealed to the BusinessMirror that they increased their value meals by at least P2 to P3, due to higher prices charged by their suppliers.

One supplier, the manager said, cited the “doubled price” of Coca-Cola products sold to them.

“They said it was caused by the new tax law. So the price increase from the supplier’s side reflected to about P2 to P3 increment in our meals,” the manager said.

The manager added he was not allowed to disclose the prices of the suppliers before and after the implementation of the TRAIN law.

Another McDonald’s store manager confirmed the price hike in their food items, but did not offer explanations beyond a fiveworded sentence referring to the price hike. “It came from the top management.”

Golden Arches Development Corp. (GADC) President and Chief

Executive Officer Kenneth Yang told reporters in January that McDonald’s may indeed increase its beverage prices due to the TRAIN law. GADC holds the master franchise of McDonald’s fast-food restaurants in the Philippines.

“We may have to raise beverage prices,” Yang was quoted in news reports as saying. “But what we try to do is we balance everything out. We continue to provide a lot of value for our customers.”

Pricing awareness for consumers

PAT YANGA, a graduating Bachelor of Arts student, said fast-food firms should be transparent by announcing impending price hikes in their food items.

“I was surprised when I ordered at Jollibee because my favorite meals weren’t anymore P50 or P99,” she said. “[This is quite a disadvantage] for a student like me because I could have spent the P5 for other expenses, like transport fare and printing my thesis.”

Jensen echoed Yanga’s sentiments. The fast-food firms, such as his favorite McDonald’s, could have informed their customers ahead of time that they are increasing their prices due to the TRAIN law.

“They could have given their customers a heads-up, just like what gas stations did, wherein they even put signs that they increased their prices because of the TRAIN law.”

However, a Jollibee store manager told the BusinessMir-

Tupungato | Dreamstime.com

Continued from A1

ror that they did announce price increases in their food items so as not to deceive their customers. “As a company rule, we really need to announce the price increase because, if not, it is like we’re cheating on our customers,” the store manager said.

“We did it through advertise-

ments, commercials and social media, such as Facebook and others.”

Yet, despite the price hikes, Jollibee store managers interviewed by the BusinessMirror said their foot traffic did not dwindle in the past months. One Luzon store manager said: “In fact, the price increase was a factor to

the increase of our sales [in value].”

Perhaps, Jes was one of those loyal customers. She said she would still continue to have her breakfast at Jollibee, with or without the French fries in her favorite value meal.

“Well, because it’s part of my daily habit already.”

Prepaid electricity service makes its way to high-end market Continued from A1

in low-, mid- and high-rise residential buildings.

“PRES customers are varied.

Aside from residential customers, it also attracted developers who catered to students, young families living in mid- and high-rise buildings and lessors of houses for rent,” he said.

Based on research from actual consumer usage, customers who shifted from postpaid to prepaid are able to effectively monitor their consumption daily via textmessaging service, and, as a result, they can save an average of 20 percent on electricity consumption.

This translates to total savings of around P300 per customer.

Load denomination is as low as P100.

Panlilio said Meralco continues to push forward its PRES. “From the Energy Regulatory Commission, Meralco is awaiting approval for two things. First, the meter filings—235,000 meters filed in 2016, and another 338,000 meters filed in March 2017. Second, Meralco’s application on advanced metering infrastructure filed March 2017. We will then start offering a postpaid service shortly thereafter,” he added.

The PRES runs on the latest smart meters, as outages are de-

tected instantly, allowing for faster restoration. The prepaid meter system allows customers to monitor their electricity consumption, allowing them to budget their consumption and expenses. It will also enable them to monitor their electricity consumption as it happens.

“We sustained information drives to residential customers through a variety of targeted efforts. The awareness level now has reached 48 percent at end-2017 versus 16 percent in 2016,” added the official.

Also, Meralco started working with real-estate developers to lay the groundwork for a future smart city, starting with smart meters that offer prepaid electricity.

Luis Miguel Gonzalez, vice president of Century Properties Management Construction Corp., believes in the service. “When the prepaid [meters were installed] in our Azure development, we already had three towers with the traditional meters,” he said. “[These were placed] only in the fourth and fifth towers.

“Sixty to 70 percent of our clientele are people who do not reside in the Philippines for the entire year. With the old system, they would have to pay for their electricity every month; with prepaid electricity, the customers are happier.”

One hundred and thirteen

years into the power business, Meralco now has six million customers. This milestone was reached when property developer First Golden Achievers installed the PRES in its España Grand Residences.

Engr. Ceasar Tan, executive vice president and chief finance officer of First Golden Achievers, believes there is one thing that sets a business apart from its competitors: the use of new, innovative technology. This belief powered the success of the España Grand Residences, one of the first buildings in the bustling Sampaloc area to offer prepaid electricity for its unit owners and tenants, composed mostly of young families and students.

“We have been in the property-development business for over 10 years and we are amazed with the customer experience with Meralco Biz Partners. They sit down and talk with us and our tenants to help us understand how their new products and services work,” Tan said.

Meralco’s PRES continued to reap awards from international award-giving bodies. Its haul in 2017 upped its total to seven awards plus two finalist berths since 2015. Customer satisfaction is also higher at 8.30 versus previous year’s 8.28, as reported by an independent research agency.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

The World BusinessMirror

Sunday, April 8, 2018

A3

White House edges back from brink of trade war

W

ASHINGTON—White House officials moved on Wednesday to calm fears of a potential trade war with China, saying the administration’s proposed tariffs were a “threat” that would help, not hurt, the US economy, hours after China said it would punish American products with similar levies.

The administration’s insistence that a trade war was not imminent came as the United States and China traded tit-for-tat penalties that caused wild swings in stock markets from Hong Kong to New York. Led by more audacious leaders than either country has had in decades, China and the United States are now locked in a game of chicken, with the possibility to derail the global economic recovery, disrupt supply chains and destabilize the huge yet debtladen Chinese economy.

White House officials reiterated on Wednesday that China must stop the “unfair” trading practices President Donald J. Trump believes have disadvantaged US companies and workers, but they held out the possibility that tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese goods outlined on Tuesday might never go into effect.

“There’s no trade war here,” Larry Kudlow, Trump’s new top economic adviser, said in an interview on Fox Business Network.

He described the threat of tariffs as “ just the first proposal” in a process that would involve negotiations and back-channel talks.

“I understand the stock market’s anxiety,” he said. “But on the other hand, don’t overreact.”

Behind the scenes, however, top officials remained split over the administration’s approach as the United States and China move into a period of high-stakes negotiations. That includes how far to go in punishing China and the types of concessions the White House should accept to avoid a damaging trade war.

People fami liar w ith the negotiations say Treasur y Secretar y Steven Mnuchin and Commerce Secretar y Wi lbur Ross, have at times arg ued for more d ia log ue w it h t he Chinese and quicker concessions that would help d iminish t he trade def icit—the gap between what China ex ports to the United States and what t he US e x por ts to China. Ot her top trade adv isers, inc lud ing long time China cr itics li ke Rober t Light hizer and Peter Navar ro, have ta ken a tougher stance, arg uing t hat t hese changes wou ld do litt le to add ress merc a nt i l i st a nd protectionist trade policies.

Tr u mp’s adv isers sa id t he president remains resolute and views the pugilistic approach as the only way to force China to end two decades of industrial policies that have hollowed out US

manufacturing and resulted in a ballooning trade deficit.

On Wednesday, Trump suggested in a tweet that he saw no reason to back down, since the United States was already on the losing end of trade with China.

“We are not in a trade war with China, that war was lost many years ago by the foolish, or incompetent, people who represented the US,” he wrote. “Now we have a Trade Deficit of $500 Billion a year, with Intellectual Property Theft of another $300 Billion. We cannot let this continue!”

He added in another tweet, “When you’re already $500 Billion DOWN, you can’t lose!”

It remains unclear whether China will bend to the pressure and make significant changes to its economy—or whether the White House strategy will instead tip the two nations into a trade war that could harm both countries. Producers of US goods like soybeans, pork, automobiles and semiconductors depend on access to the Chinese market both for exports and production.

“Compa n ies a re def i n itely caught in the middle of this,” said Kenneth Jarrett, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai.

Economists predict that the direct effects of the tariffs will be relatively small for both China and the United States, since they apply to only a fraction of each country’s economic output.

“It’s hardly a life-threatening activity,” Ross said on CNBC. He added that the volume of the tariffs was in line with the White House’s calculation that the Chinese have cheated the United States out of $50 billion worth of intellectual property through coercion and cyberattacks.

While tariffs would affect a small part of the overall US economy, they impinge on a relatively large share of American exports to China. If China places tariffs on $50 billion of goods from the United States, as promised, that would be more than one-third of American exports to China. In contrast, US tariffs on $50 billion of Chinese goods would affect only one-tenth of China’s vast exports to the United States.

Within that slice of the economy, the pain could be acute.

US far mers and manufacturers, in particular, could suffer.

On Wednesday, China said it would penalize US soybeans, cars, chemicals and other goods,

Larry Kudlow, President Donald J. Trump’s top economic adviser, speaks to reporters outside the White House in Washington on Wednesday. As markets plunged Wednesday, Kudlow said it was possible that Trump’s proposed tariffs would not be implemented and that it was primarily aimed at sending a “message” to the Chinese. The New York Times

hours after the United States announced tariffs on f lat-screen televisions, medical devices and industrial machinery.

The economic effects could also quickly escalate beyond tariffs.

The United States is preparing restrictions that could prevent China from investing in hightech industries like semiconductors and electric vehicles, and it may consider other restrictions, including visas.

China, in return, could make life more difficult for the many US companies that do business in the country, or pare back its purchases of US debt. China is the largest foreign holder of US debt, with about $1.17 trillion in US bonds, notes and bills in January, according to the Treasury Department.

“China has many ways it can make life exceedingly uncomfortable for a large number of American businesses,” said Eswar Prasad, a professor of international trade at Cornell University.

T he Trump administration contends that if it does not challenge Beijing now, the Chinese government will heavily subsidize its companies to become dominant producers of cutting-edge industries from robotics to electric cars. That could imperil the United States’s ability to create good-paying jobs for future generations, relegating the country to producing food, fossil fuels and financial services, while China extends its lead as the world’s largest manufacturer.

But the administration’s strategy for halting China’s rise has been hard to discern, with some advisers insisting that China must remake its economy, while others say the priority is to reduce the trade deficit, prioritize market access for US companies or end China’s infringement on US intellectual property.

On Wednesday, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House news secretary, refused to say whether the tariffs would go into effect, adding, “I would anticipate that if there are no changes to the behavior of China and they don’t stop the unfair trade practices,

UK economy battered by the ‘beast from east’ snowstorm

B

ad weather took a toll on the United Kingdom economy in March, with growth in services slowing to its weakest in almost two years.

The heavy snow, along with a drag from subdued consumer demand and “heightened economic uncertainty,” means overall growth probably slowed in the first quarter, IHS Markit said on Thursday.

Based on its industry surveys, it estimates expansion of 0.3 percent, down from 0.4 percent at the end of 2017.

M a r k i t ’s s e r v i c e s P u r c h a s i n g Managers Index dropped to 51.7 from

54.5 in February. That’s far weaker than economists had forecast and the lowest since July 2016, just after the Brexit vote.

Measures of employment and new business also declined.

The pound fell, weakening 0.2 percent to $1.4050 as of 9:53 a.m. London time.

Britain’s building industry also felt the effects of the unusually bad weather in March, with construction shrinking for the first time in six months. The PMI for manufacturing, published earlier this week, was little changed at 55.1. Because the drop in PMI was weather-related, it’s unlikely to

change the underlying view of officials at Bank of England, who downgraded their own estimate for the first quarter after the so-called Beast from the East snowstorm.

According to Markit, that means the widely expected interest-rate increase in May is still on the cards.

Wi t h i n s e r v i ce s, w h i l e b u s i n e s s optimism remained solid in March, it has weakened since the start of the year, and is now at its lowest since June 2017. IHS Markit said Brexit uncertainty has played a part in holding down sentiment.

Bloomberg News

then we would move forward.”

Companies have until May 2 2 t o s u b m it c o m m e nt s t o the administration about the tariffs, with the penalties to be imposed at an undetermined d ate. Separate tar if fs on steel and aluminum imports from China and other nations went into effect late last month.

In the meantime, US officials, including Mnuchin and Lighthizer have been in talks with the Chi-

nese about ways to resolve their differences. Yet, conversations have so far focused on concessions like China reducing tariffs on US cars, opening up its market for financial services and purchasing more semiconductors or natural gas.

The United States has also asked for a $100 billion reduction in the $375.2-billion trade deficit it runs with China. But the goods China has offered to buy to narrow

that gap—including semiconductors—are not products the Trump administration wants to export.

And some advisers say these kinds of sales will not do anything to address the underlying problems with the Chinese economy.

Beijing is also eager to show other trading partners that it will not be bullied into changing its policies.

“I’m not very positive about large concessions or changes that are going to come from China,” said Heiwai Tang, a professor of international economics at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

For the Chinese to successfully negotiate, analysts said, they have to be able to present the deal to their own people as a win. But the United States has refused to give concessions and has painted the confrontation as one in which China must ultimately lose.

“Tariffs are seen as a direct slap in the face, and it will be very difficult for the Chinese government to sit back and take those blows without retaliating,” Prasad said.

On Wednesday, Cui Tiankai, the Chinese ambassador to the United States, said China preferred to resolve the conf lict through talks but would keep its options open.

“Negotiation would still be our preference, but it takes two to tango,” Cui said. “We will see what the US will do.”

New York Times News Service

A4

Sunday, April 8, 2018

The World BusinessMirror

Turkish spy agency snatched 80 people from 18 countries

A

NKARA, Turkey—In covert operations in 18 countries, Turkey’s intelligence agency has snatched around 80 Turkish citizens who the government wanted for alleged links to the country’s 2016 failed coup, a top Turkish official said Thursday.

Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag’s comments in an interview with Haberturk television came after Turkey secretly arranged the deportation from Kosovo of six Turkish men—five teachers and a doctor—accused of supporting the coup attempt.

T he move angered Kosovo’s pr ime minister, who f ired t he c o u nt r y ’s i nt e r i o r m i n i s t e r and intel ligence chief for not tel ling him about it, and drew

shar p cr iticism f rom humanr ights g roups.

Bozdag said the National Intelligence Agency had similarly “bundled up and brought back” suspects linked to United States-based cleric Fethullah Gulen in covert operations in 18 countries. He did not name the countries, but said such operations would continue.

Turkey has accused Gulen of being behind the failed coup attempt that resulted in more

than 250 deaths, a claim that he denies.

Presidential Spokesman Ibrahim Kalin denied, however, that t he s u s p e c t s we re a b duc te d through illegal operations. He insisted the six men from Kosovo were brought back in agreement with the country’s authorities. “ We have never engaged in any illegal act in our strug gle against [Gulen’s movement],” K a l in sa id. “ T he event in

Kosovo took place...w ithin the framework of an agreement on the return of criminals.”

Those deported from Kosovo worked in schools and clinics supported by Gulen’s movement.

At home, Turkey has arrested more than 38,000 people for alleged links to Gulen and fired some 110,000 public servants since the coup attempt. Many of those arrested or fired have proclaimed their innocence.

We have never engaged in any illegal act in our struggle against [Gulen’s movement], The event in Kosovo took place...within the framework of an agreement on the return of criminals.”—Kalin

‘Diplomat expulsions a mockery of the law’

M

OSCOW—Russia’s top diplomat on Thursday described the British accusations against Moscow over the nerve agent poisoning of an ex-spy as a mockery of international law and said Russia will push to find out the truth.

Britain has blamed Russia for the March 4 poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter. In response, more than two dozen Western allies including Britain, the United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organization have ordered out over 150 Russian diplomats in a show of solidarity. Moscow has fiercely denied its involvement in the nerve agent attack and expelled an equal number of envoys. The diplomatic turmoil has hit lows unseen even at the height of the Cold War. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov insisted that the poisoning case was fabricated by Britain to “demonize” Russia. “ The so-called Skripal case has been used as a fictitious, orchestrated pretext for the unfounded massive expulsions of Russian diplomats not only from the US and Britain, but also from a number of other countries who simply had their arms twisted,” Lavrov said at a conference in Moscow. “We have never seen such an open mockery of the international law, diplomatic ethics and elementary decorum.”

Early Thursday three buses believed to be carrying expelled American diplomats departed from the US Embassy in Moscow.

Before the morning departure, journalists outside the embassy compound saw people leaving the residences, placing their luggage on trucks. Some toted pet carriers.

Russia last week ordered 60 American diplomats to leave the country by Thursday in retaliation for the US expelling the same number of Russians.

Buses believed to be carrying expelled diplomats prepare to leave the US Embassy in Moscow, Russia, on Thursday. Russia last week ordered 60 American diplomats to leave the country by Thursday, in retaliation for the United States expelling the same number of Russians. AP

Lavrov noted that Russia will respond in kind to any further hostile moves, but added that “we also want to establish the truth.”

He sarcastically likened the British accusations to the queen from A lice in Wonderland urgi ng “se nte nce f i r st —ve rd ic t after ward.”

On Wednesday Russia called a meeting of the international chemical weapons watchdog to demand a joint investigation with Britain into the poisoning—the demand that London has rejected.

The Hague-based Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons voted against the Russian proposal, but Moscow said the number of countries that abstained from the vote suggested many have doubts about Britain’s accusations.

“It’s unacceptable to make unfounded accusations instead of conducting a fair investigation and providing concrete facts,” Lavrov said. “Yesterday’s debate in The Hague showed that self-respecting adults don’t believe in fairy tales.”

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said on Wednesday that “the purpose of Russia’s ludicrous proposal at The Hague was clear— to undermine the independent, impartial work of the international chemical weapons watchdog.”

The chief of Britain’s defense research lab, the Porton Down laborator y, ac k nowledged on Tuesday it has not been able to pinpoint the precise source of the nerve agent.

Gary Aitkenhead said scientists there identified the substance used on Sergei and Yulia Skripal as a Soviet-developed nerve agent

known as Novichok. But he added, “It’s not our job to say where that was actually manufactured.”

The British government says it relied on a combination of scientific analysis and other intelligence to conclude that the nerve agent came from Russia, but the Foreign Office on Wednesday deleted a tweet from last month that said Porton Down scientists had identified the substance as “made in Russia.”

Russian President V ladimir Putin’s envoy for cybersecurity, Alexander Krutskikh, mocked the contradictory statements, saying on Thursday that “the latest developments around the Skripal case indicate the days of this British Cabinet are numbered.”

Moscow has called a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to press its case. AP

Editor: Lyn Ressureccion | www.businessmirror.com.ph

Lowest unemployment rate is no paradise for Hawaii

By Audrey Mcavoy & Christopher S. Rugaber The Associated Press

H

ONOLULU—A re t here downsides to a low unemployment rate? In Hawaii, which has the United States’s lowest jobless rate at a minuscule 2.1 percent, the answer is yes.

Employers are frustrated by their inability to find workers. And unfilled jobs may be slowing the state’s economic growth.

A low unemployment rate is certainly better than a high one.

And many employers are responding to the worker shortage by offering higher pay.

Still, Hawaii’s experience serves as a cautionary tale for the nation as a whole: Low unemployment can mask underlying problems.

Nationwide, the jobless rate is at a 17-year low of 4.1 percent, and economists forecast it could drop another half point by next year. That would bring the rate to a half-century low.

US employers are already complaining about their struggles to find qualified employees. The number of open jobs nationwide reached the highest level on record in January.

Like the rest of the country, Hawaii has an aging population, and its unemployment rate has been held down in part by retiring baby boomers.

The state also has unique challenges, such as an economy long dominated by tourism. Many of Hawaii’s available jobs are in the service sector and don’t pay enough to cover the state’s high housing costs.

And economists say Hawaii’s ongoing economic sluggishness could make it harder for the state to pay its public pension obligations in the future, and fund highways and other expensive infrastructure.

US Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, a Democrat, cited the deceptively rosy jobless rate when she launched her campaign challenging a sitting governor from her own party in this year’s election.

“We cannot wait, as more and more of our young people, discouraged by the future they see for themselves here, leave Hawaii in hopes for better opportunities on the mainland,” Hanabusa said in January. A recent poll conducted for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser gave her a 20-percentage point lead over Gov. David Ige in the August primary.

Hanabusa was pointing to a trend reflected in census data: People are moving away from Hawaii even as employers here clamor for workers.

Last year the state suffered a net loss of more than 1,000 people.

On Oahu, home to Honolulu and major military installations like Pearl Harbor, the population declined an average of 11 people per day. The median price of an Oahu home tops $770,000.

According to the US Census Bureau, 47 percent of Hawaii’s residents spend more than a third of their monthly income on rent. That’s greater than any other state. About one-quarter of renters put half of their income toward housing.

The personnel squeeze is forcing employers to offer incentives to attract workers.

Maui Divers Jewelry, a retailer in the old whaling town of Lahaina, offers employees extra money to cover the cost of driving to its stores from Maui’s bigger cities.

Star of Honolulu Cruises and Events has raised the hourly wage for servers on its boat cruises to $12 from $10.

“They can be picky now, I feel like. The ball is in their court,” Sheridan Andres, the company’s human-resources manager, said of job applicants. Star of Honolulu is also advertising for kitchen staff, boat-maintenance workers, bus drivers and supervisors.

Hawaii Pacific Health, one of the state’s largest health-care providers, is pursuing a pilot program to train medical assistants at five public high schools, so they’ll be ready to walk into jobs when they graduate. The company has 7,000 employees, along with 44 openings for medical assistants and more than 400 openings overall.

The demand for labor is driven by a tourism surge that brought a record 9.4 million visitors to the islands last year. Strong hiring and income gains in the Western US mean more Americans can make the trip. And Japan and Canada, where most of the state’s overseas visitors come from, also are experiencing solid growth.

That’s led to an increase in low-paying hotel and restaurant jobs, which accounted for 60 percent of Hawaii’s job growth in 2017, according to data compiled

by Moody’s Analytics. Hotels and restaurants employ about one of every five workers in the state, double the proportion in the rest of the United States.

Adam Kamins, a senior economist at Moody’s Analytics, says the state has had little success in luring better-paying tech jobs from western states such as California or Washington, because of high housing and business costs.

Tech firms are instead moving to cheaper states such as Utah, Colorado and Idaho.

An economy with an unemployment rate as low as Hawaii’s should be growing about 3 percent a year, said Eugene Tian, the state’s chief economist. Instead, it’s growing at about 1.5 percent.

“We don’t have enough housing.

We don’t have enough trained labor. That’s limiting the growth,” Tian said. “They are connected.”

Paul Brewbaker, an economist with consulting firm TZ Economics, said Hawaii’s growth rate has lagged the nation’s for the past decade. On average, Hawaii’s economy has grown just 1.6 percent per year compared with the national average of 2.1 percent since 2009.

On a per-capita basis, GDP in Hawaii was one-third higher than the national average 40 years ago, Brewbaker said. It’s now the same.

The trend could have profound consequences for Hawaii in the long term.

“Where do we go from here? If we’re on this road, how do we pay for the public employee-retirement system? If we’re on this road, will we ever be able to build another freeway, not to mention a mass transit system?” Brewbaker said.

Trump scales back U.S. goals in Syria, leaves future to others W ASHINGTON—President Donald J. Trump is dramatically scaling back United States goals in Syria as he pushes for a quick military withdrawal, Trump administration officials said on Wednesday, abandoning plans to stay longterm to stabilize the country and prevent the Islamic State group from reemerging.

Trump has given no formal order to pull out the 2,000 US troops currently in Syria, nor offered a public timetable, other than to say the United States will pull out just as soon as

the last remaining Islamic State (IS) fighters can be vanquished. But Trump has signaled to his advisers that ideally, he wants all troops out within six months, according to three US officials—a finale that would come shortly before the United States midterm elections.

In his haste to withdraw from Syria, Trump stands alone. The Pentagon, the State Department and CIA are all deeply concerned about the potential ramifications if the US leaves behind a power vacuum in Syria, as are Israel, Arab leaders and other nations in the

United States-led coalition that has fought IS in Iraq and Syria since 2014.

The president made clear his patience was running out as he met top national security aides on Tuesday. Yet, the meeting concluded with no hard and fast deadline handed down, leaving Trump’s team struggling to deduce how fast is fast enough for Trump, according to officials briefed on the meeting who weren’t authorized to discuss it and requested anonymity. The tense disagreement between Trump and his team has played out in chaotic and increasingly public

fashion. On Tuesday, before the Syria meeting, Trump was telling television cameras he wanted to “get out,” just as the US special envoy for fighting IS insisted “our mission isn’t over.”

And, on Wednesday, the White House issued a statement that declared the IS mission is “coming to a rapid end” but avoided specifics altogether.

“We will continue to consult with our allies and friends regarding future plans,” said White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

Urging him to slow down, Trump’s aides have

been emphasizing that IS fighters remain active in Syria, evidence that Trump’s own, publicly stated objective—the total defeat of IS—has yet to be met. Officials said the US is tracking two pockets where IS remains viable—one in the Middle Euphrates River Valley region, another along the Iraq-Syria border. And, despite the White House’s insistence that the group is “almost completely defeated,” a string of renewed IS attacks in recent weeks has raised fears about a resurgence.

Regardless of exactly when the troops

leave, the decision to remove them as soon as possible has forced an immediate realignment of long-term United States objectives in the country, officials said.

With no military presence to ensure security for American personnel, the US will have to call off other planned operations to clear land mines, restore basic services like water and electricity, and create political conditions needed to resolve Syria’s civil war. Already, Trump has put an indefinite hold on $200 million he pledged previously for those operations. AP

Sports BusinessMirror

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

Sunday, April 8, 2018

A5

SKATING FOR FUN Stars on Ice debuted in 1987 and has been a fixture in the spring pretty much since.

Each Olympic year brings an extra challenge for the participants—this 22-city tour has 14 skaters, including 2014 Sochi ice dance gold medalists Meryl Davis and Charlie White.

A

By Barry Wilner The Associated Press

FTER an exhausting, often exhilarating and sometimes excruciating figure-skating season, it would seem logical for the Olympians to seek a long rest.

Instead, they’re embracing even more time on the ice. For fun.

When the Stars on Ice tour for 2018 debuts this weekend in Estero, Florida, a fully American cast led by world champion Nathan Chen, world silver medalists Madison Hubbell and Zach Donohue, and Olympic double bronze medalists Maia and Alex Shibutani will headline.

“There is no technical mark, no necessities, you go out and enjoy performing with the rest of the cast,” says Chen, who followed a career-worst short program at the Olympics with an historic free skate that lifted him from 17th place to fifth. He then went to Milan and won his first world title. “The vibe is so different in competitions, the focus is only on yourself. Here in the show, we have the opportunity to rehearse with each other, a sort of team, and it’s a great feeling to have fun and enjoy each other’s companies. No one wins the show.”

Stars on Ice debuted in 1987 and has been a fixture in the spring pretty much since. Each Olympic year brings an extra challenge for the participants—this 22-city tour has 14 skaters, including 2014 Sochi ice dance gold medalists Meryl Davis and Charlie White.

Generally, the current competitors are quite worn out by the end of March. Yet they find touring JAPAN’S Satoko energizing, not enervating.

Miyahara performs “It’s really a nice way to finish off the during the gala season,” Donohue says. “You have exhibition at the the opportunity to keep Figure Skating World

training and skating, which is important because it’s easy to let yourself go. This is one of my favorite things we are doing, and after worlds it’s a way of keeping your momentum. We can do something new, there are no judges watching, and just have fun on the ice.”

There are adjustments, of course. Chen is accustomed to being the only skater on the rink when his music is played.

Same for Hubbell and Donohue. In Stars on Ice, they often are skating to someone else’s music, to new choreography, and in a group. Donohue estimates taking part in “five to six [ensemble] numbers, all pretty long. It keeps us on our toes.”

Adds Hubbell, who along with Donohue won a first national title in January: “Part of what is so cool is being part of the cast. When I was still very young, I went to Stars and we rented a box, and I just loved watching.

For me, it was Kurt Browning and Kristi Yamaguchi and Scott Hamilton. I just remember it being so awesome.

“The first year we were asked, it was definitely an honor to help continue that legacy. It’s an iconic show.

“And,” Hubbell adds with a laugh, “we’re on the cover of the program, something I will keep in all my memories.”

What remains in their memories, and in Chen’s, is the disappointment of the Olympics. The games also have served as motivation, which the three skaters proved in Milan.

And while Chen, 18, has yet to reveal future plans—he has been accepted to Yale but still is weighing his options—Hubbell and Donohue are all in on the ice for a while.

“I think, especially right after the Olympics, everything seemed underwhelming,” Chen explains. “The pressure was nothing like I felt at Olympics. It did not feel like a major competition at worlds to me, more like a smaller competition. That approach worked [at worlds]; I was able to let it all go on the ice.

“Obviously, knowing I have the world championship has given me a lot of confidence moving forward. The kind of things I learned on how to set my mind for a competition, how to pull it all out when I need to pull it out. It was something I can build on.”

Hubbell and Donohue had a bronze medal within reach in South Korea, but his error in the free dance helped spoil their chances for making the podium. Finishing just out of the medals serves as an incentive for other competitions, as it did at worlds.

“We have always kind of felt pride in the way we push ourselves,” she says. “It kind of just is naturally what we like.

We always liked the style of free dance we did. We knew it was a risk in the Olympics to do a piece of music not well-known. It was not something the public can latch onto...so we had to portray the whole thing ourselves.

“But that is a fun challenge and fits into our strength. It opens the window next year to so many possibilities and variations.”

Championships in Assago near Milan, Italy, over the weekend. AP

Japan sumo head apologizes over women in ring incident

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OKYO—The head of Japan’s sumo association has apologized over an incident in which women first responders were asked to get out of the ring as they attempted to revive an official who collapsed.

In sumo’s tradition, the ring is considered sacred, and women are prohibited from entering.

That posed a problem on Wednesday when Ryozo Tatami, the 67-year-old mayor of Maizuru in northern Kyoto, collapsed during a ring-top speech. Two women, apparently medical experts, rushed in and started performing first aid as several male sumo officials surrounding the mayor looked on.

When two more women rose to the ring trying to join the first aid effort, announcements demanded the

women get out of the ring.

“Ladies, please get off the ring,” a sumo referee said, determinedly. “Only gentlemen go up.”

Footage posted on social media triggered outrage, with many criticizing sumo officials and saying they were choosing tradition over life.

Sumo chief Nobuyoshi Hakkaku called the announcement inappropriate and apologized late Wednesday, while thanking the women for working to save the mayor.

In a statement, Hakkaku said the announcement was made by an official who panicked after seeing the women in the ring, but never touched on the divisive tradition.

“It was an inappropriate response in a life-threatening situation,” Hakkaku said.

The mayor, who had an acute cerebral hemorrhage, survived and was in stable condition on Thursday after receiving emergency surgery at a hospital, city officials said.

The footage posted on YouTube was shown on major Japanese networks and other media as the news topped headlines Thursday.

“Of course it is important to protect tradition, but the way it excludes women perhaps is out of step with the times, and that’s how I feel as a woman,” said Yurika Mita, a newscaster on a Fuji Television Network talk show. “Without the women’s effort, the life of one person might have been lost.”

Sumo’s male-only tradition has raised controversy for decades, with even top women politicians barred from honoring winners in the ring. AP

SUMO chief Nobuyoshi Hakkaku (center in a gray tie) watches a ceremony to purify the ring before the start of the Spring Grand Sumo tournament in Osaka early last month. AP

Bullets for Italian refs

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OME—The Italian referees association says it has been sent packages filled with bullets.

AIA President Marcello Nicchi said on Thursday the parcels were sent to him, the vice president and to referee selector Nicola Rizzoli.

The development comes amid fan protests over the video-assistant referee (VAR), which has been introduced in Serie A this season to mixed results.

Nicchi also denounced a journalist who suggested fans “should shoot the referees.” He added police and the Interior Ministry are investigating the incidents.

Last month an estimated 1,000 Lazio fans showed up outside the Italian football federation’s offices to protest decisions by VAR. VAR will be used at the World Cup in Russia. AP

SPECIAL RONALDO BICYCLE KICK T

URIN, Italy—Even by Cristiano Ronaldo’s recordbreaking standards, this goal was special.

The Real Madrid forward leaped into the air with his back to the goal, swung his right leg high over his head and sent the ball flying past a flatfooted Gianluigi Buffon.

“CRWOW” wrote Gazzetta dello Sport in its headline on Wednesday.

The 64th-minute bicycle kick, Ronaldo’s second goal of the match, came in a 3-0 win over Juventus on Tuesday in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals.

“I had also scored another one similar but, I have to say, this one was spectacular. I jumped very high and, obviously, it’s a goal that will live long in the memory,” Ronaldo said. “Certainly it’s my best goal.”

The goal was so good that even the Juventus fans rose to applaud Ronaldo—after previously jeering his every touch.

“It was one of the greatest moments of the night for me,” Ronaldo said. “To be applauded in a stadium like this, which has been graced by so many great players, was a top moment for me. I’m really happy.”

“I was moved because, when I was a kid, I always liked Juventus and the fact that their fans have applauded me will stay in my heart and is a great memory. To all of the Italians in the stadium, I just want to say, ‘Grazie.’”

Buffon, who compared Ronaldo to former greats Diego Maradona and Pele, was left standing still for the goal as he and his defenders—some of the best in the world—could only watch as the ball soared into the back of the net.

“I just heard the sound of him kicking the ball,” Juventus defender Andrea Barzagli said. “Normally when you try to do an overhead kick you don’t hit the ball well, but here you can’t even understand how he took it.

“I couldn’t do anything else but admire him, and the rest of the stadium did so, too. It’s not that we couldn’t manage to mark him, it’s just that no one can manage to mark him, you just have to look at his statistics. He’s a lethal player, an assassin.”

The statistics are impressive. On Tuesday, the Portugal forward became the first player in Champions League history to score in 10 straight matches—a run that started in last year’s final win over Juventus.

The 33-year-old Ronaldo, who has scored the most goals in the Champions League, has netted 24 in his last 14 matches in Europe’s top club competition.

The last goal, though, even impressed Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who scored a similar goal but from much farther away in Sweden’s 4-2 win over England in November 2012.

“It was a nice goal,” Ibrahimovic told ESPN. “But he should try it from 40 meters.” AP Cristiano Ronaldo leaps into the air with his back to the goal, swings his right leg high over his head and sends the ball flying past a flatfooted Gianluigi Buffon. AP

A6 Sunday, April 8, 2018

Science

BusinessMirror

Sunday

www.businessmirror.com.ph • Editor: Lyn Resurreccion

New NRCP head: Be awed by science and arts

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By Rizal Raoul Reyes

@brownindio

he newly elected president of the country’s premier research body urged the local scientific and arts community to promote the beauty and relevance of these disciplines to Philippine society. “ My c l a r ion c a l l a s NRCP [National Research Council of the Philippines] president is for every Filipino to be awed by the many possibilities that science and the arts can bring. I wish every member of the Filipino learned community share in this vision. I invite you to do a casual survey by asking an ambulant taho [silken tofu snack] vendor if he knows of any scientist or researcher,” Dr. Ramon Razal said in his message during his recent election as NRCP president at the council ’s recent 85th general membership assembly.

Razal said negative answers should not discourage a scientist or an artist in telling the masses that arts and science can make a difference in their lives.

“Beginning w ith the annual NRCP Scientific Meeting, I want the members to become benef iciar ies of science through seamless registration, indeed a small step whose message is ‘NRCP cares.’ I hope you won’t mind if we involve you in test r uns to ma ke this possible,” R azal ex plained.

Although the mandate of the NRCP is to promote basic science, Razal pointed out that some in-

consistencies needed to be ironed out between how the organization evaluate basic research proposals with its objectives.

“What drives basic research is curiosity. So, being asked to respond to inept questions when defending a basic research proposal surely stif les it. Thus, I will call for a review and possible overhaul of the proposal review process to kindle more basic research,” said Razal, a professor in the Department of Forest Products and Paper Science (FPPS) in University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) College of Forestry and Natural Resources.

He also plans to promote the National Integrated Basic Research Agenda (Nibra) as NRCP’s research roadmap. He pointed out that every well-planned and thoroughly done research on the country’s natural endowments, the ecosystems, the changing climate and on the fundamental needs and aspirations of the Filipino will contribute to Nibra.

Razal teaches Wood Chemistry, Nontimber Forest Products, among other courses.

He was recently named UP Scientist 2 for 2015-2017. He is also the the chairman of Div i-

Outgoing President Dr. Christina A. Binag (right) passes the Department of Science and Technology-National Research Council of the Philippines (DOST-NRCP) flag to the new president, Dr. Ramon A. Razal, during the recent Organizational Meeting and Oath tzaking of the DOST-NRCP Governing Board at the NRCP Auditorium in Bicutan, Taguig City. NRCP photo

sion 6 Agriculture and Forestr y for two consecutive terms and a member of DOST-NRCP since December 1990.

The other members of the NRCP 2018 to 2019 executive committee are Dr. Arnel A. Salvador, vice president, Dr. Ma. Natalia R. Dimaano, corporate secretary, Dr. Polly W. Sy, treasurer, Dr. Maricar S. Prudente, assistant corporate secretary, Dr. Edanjarlo J. Marquez, assistant treasurer.

T he NRCP a l so e lec ted it s gover ning board members duri n g it s ge ne r a l me mb e r sh ip a ssembly i n Ma rc h.

They are Dr. Gilberto M. Llanto and Clarita Carlos, members-atlarge, Dr. Jovencio G. Apostol, Division 4 pharmaceutical sciences;

Dr. Gregorio E.H. del Pilar, division 8 social sciences; Dr. Mafel C. Ysrael, Division 10 chemical sciences.

Reelected to the governing board are Dr. Maricar S. Prudente, Division I governmental, educational and international policies; Dr. Raul V. Destura, Division 3 medical sciences; Dr. Ma. Natalia R. Dimaano, Division 7 Engineering and industrial research; and Razal, Division 6 agriculture and forestry.

The NRCP governing board officers w ill have a one-year term covering the period April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019. The DOST-NRCP consists of 13 scientific divisions that supports and promotes basic researches.

What drives basic research is curiosity.”—Razal

Meanwhile, the NRCP also gave the Outstanding Achievement Awards during its general assembly to its nine members for their outstanding research work and scientific endeavors in their respective fields of basic and applied sciences have resulted in various high-impact innovations and breakthroughs.

T hey are: Dr. Maria A ndrea L. Santiago, Asian Institute of Management (A IM), for education; Dr. Erna C. A rollado, UP Manila, for pharmaceutical sciences; Dr. Emphrime B. Metillo, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, for biological sciences; Dr. Michael A ngelo B. Promenti l la, DeLa Salle University, for engineering and industrial research; Dr. Florencia G. Pa lis, UPLB for agr iculture and forestr y; Dr. Avangeline C. A mor, UP Diliman, for chemical sciences; Dr. Priscelina P. Legasto, former faculty of the UPs Diliman, for humanities; Dr. Gemma Teresa T. Narisma, Manila Obser vator y, for earth and space sciences a nd; Dr. Mi ld red A . Pad i l l a, UPLB for veterinar y medicine.

Dr. Gemino Abad was conferred as NRCP member Eemeritus for his immense contribution to the academic studies of humanities.

Mea nwh i le, t he O ut st a ndi n g I n s t it ut ion Aw a rd s w a s c o n f e r r e d t o t h r e e i n s t it u t ions i n recog n it ion of t hei r staunch support and sign i f ic a nt cont r ibut ion to t he g row t h a nd de ve lopme nt of sc ience, tec h nolog y a nd i n no vat ions i n t he cou nt r y, a long w ith the advancement of socia l sc iences, hu m a n it ies a nd a r t s i n t he Ph i l ippi nes.

This year’s recipients were

three academic degree-granting units of the UP Diliman, these are: the Center for Ethnomusicology for excellence in Philippine and Asian indigenous music with a collection of more than 2,500 hours of recorded music from 78 language groups in the Philippines, Southeast Asia and Africa, from the lifetime work and research of its late founder, Dr. José M. Maceda, National Artist for Music, and 1987 NRCP Achievement Awardee for the Humanities; The Department of Geodetic Engineering and the Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry for being the countr y’s leading institutions a nd centers of e xcel lence in geospatial education, extension services and research, and have advanced the quality of its undergraduate and graduate degree programs, training courses and research projects through the acquisition of state-of-the-art equipment and streamlining its academic programs; And the Marine Science Institute for its unequaled contributions in the growth and development of research in marine biodiversity, biotechnology, oceanography and sustainable utilization of marine bio-resources in the Philippines.

Lastly, 64 technical posters of Filipino researchers were displayed to showcase science, technology and innovations as effective and efficient tool that work for change.

Two monographs published

by NRCP were presented during the event. These were “Do Fishes Want Sex Change?” authored by Dr. Michelle V. Paraso and “Fish Parasites as Heavy Metal Absorbents” by Dr. Vachel Gay V. Paller.

DOST, UP bat for first With 8,994 new S&T scholars ‘smart farm’ in PHL Qualified D.O.S.T. scholars at all-time high

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Partners from University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman and UP Los Baños with representatives from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Nursery of Indigenous and Endemic Plants at the DOSTAdvanced Science and Technology Institute in Quezon City. DOST-PCIEERD

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he Department of Science and Technolog y-Phi lip pine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) is putting its stakes to fund the country’s first “smart farm.”

The smart farm is a facility for the Smart Plant Production in Controlled Environments (Spice), a P128-million program that will promote urban farming and hightech plant conservation.

It will be housed at the DOSTAdvanced Science and Technology Institute’s Nursery of Indigenous and Endemic Plants in Quezon City. Teaming up to develop the Spice are the UP Diliman Institute of Biology and Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute, and UP Los Baños Institute of Biology.

This program aims to lead the research and development (R&D) for the design of a stand-alone urban-farm system and establish protocols for micropropagation, cr yopreser vation and nurser y management of rare, endangered and economically valuable native plant species. “ The core of this project is not only the development of new technology, but also, on a macro perspective, to ensure that we

can protect our country’s rich biod iversit y,” Science Undersecretary for R&D Dr. Rowena Cristina Guevara said.

Modern-farming methods like vertical farming, micropropagation, cryopreservation and hydroponics will be practiced to grow native plants in an environment wherein the climate, the lighting and the irrigation system can be monitored, controlled and changed real-time through the use of electronics, sensors and automation.

“My idea of internationalization is exporting our own ideas, that foreign scientists will come to the country to study trees that are endemic here. Spice is an innovation project,” UP Executive Vice President Dr. Teodoro Herbosa remarked. National Scientist and UP Professor Emeritus Dr. Edgardo Gomez shared his experiences in biology and commended the team for initiating the project.

“This [Spice] will be a worldclass institute,” Gomez said.

Besides the technical features of the project, the facility is envisioned to include a “living laboratory,” where visitors can see the various technologies employed and store where they can buy fresh vegetables grown on site.

S&T Media Service

his coming school year will have the highest number of aspiring scientists and engineers who qualified as college scholars of the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI). The country’s premier science scholarship programs back after a two-year hiatus due to the implementation of the K to 12 curriculum, will have 8,994 qualified for the Republic Act 7687 and Merit scholarship programs.

It’s a record-breaking year for DOST-SEI as the number of qualified students reached the highest mark since the scholarship program started in 1958, surpassing 2015’s 5,303 qualifiers by 69.60 percent.

Out of the total number of passers, 5,172 qualified as scholars under the RA 7687 Scholarship Program for gifted students who belong to economically disadvantaged families; while 3,822 passed under the DOSTSEI Merit Scholarship Program .

The 2018 DOST-SEI Scholarships Examination, which was held on October 15, 2017, in 216 test centers nationwide, recorded the highest number of examinees with 46,434 students.

Municipalities and congressional districts covered by the DOST-SEI Scholarship Program also increased from 1,568 in 2015 to 1,609 this year, representing 97 percent of the country’s total number of municipalities

Dr. Nestor Acala, former DOST-SEI scholar, speaks at the recent 30th anniversary of the Science Education Institute. He left much of the audience teary-eyed as he shared his struggles as a student from a poor family in Marawi City and the transformation his life had with the scholarship program. He now teaches at the Mindanao State University-Marawi. SEI photo

and congressional districts.

The new science and technology (S&T) scholars, as well as the ongoing scholars, will be enjoying the new stipend rate at P7,000 a month across all disciplines.

They are also entitled to tuition subsidy; book allowance; MS/PE clothing allowance; one economy-class roundtrip fare per year for those studying outside of their home province; and group accident insurance.

Science Secretary Fortunato de la T. Peña said the increase in number of DOST

scholars is not only favorable to the qualifiers and their families but also to the country, where more S&T professionals are needed in addressing a number of national concerns.

“A few years from now, these students will become key players in the country’s development,” de la Peña said. “We hope that the DOST scholarship programs can help them pursue their dreams in the S&T field of their choice.”

The scholarship qualifiers must enroll in any of the University of the Philippines

campus; or in state universities and colleges; or private higher education institutions recognized by the Commission on Higher Education as Centers of Excellence or Centers of Development; or with Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines Level III accreditation for the S&T priority programs they will enroll in.

The list of priority S&T programs can be found in the SEI web site.

Dr. Josette T. Biyo, DOST-SEI director, said the scholarship programs are par ticularly structured for potential science and mathematics professionals.

The DOST scholarship will provide greater opportunity as they pursue their science degrees and careers.

DOST-SEI scholars are required to render service in the country preferably along their fields of specialization after graduation for a period equivalent to the number of years they enjoyed the scholarship as a return service.

SEI maintains its resolve that this strategy allows the country’s industries to have “the best minds” to do their services and products.

“The DOST scholarship has always been geared toward using S&T to serve the Filipino people,” Biyo said. “We hope our new qualifiers would take on that challenge as early as now.” S&T News Service

Testing labs support forest-based, related industries

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he country’s furniture, pulp and paper, and plywood industries have found a partner in their bid to make it in the world market: the FTL or FPRDI Testing Laboratories of the Department of Science and Technology’s Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI).

Certified by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), through the Philippine Accreditation Bureau (PAB), three laboratories—one each for furniture, pulp and paper, and plywood—conducted 1,394 tests for 515 customers last year, and earned

an income of about P4.07 million.

According to the FTLs’ Quality Manager Adela S. Torres, “Having their products tested by an ISO-certified lab ensures our clients to get consistently valid results, and gives them the credibility they need to access new markets overseas, maintains their presence in old markets, and meets the demands of certain government agencies.”

Customers who had their products assessed by an ISO- cer tified lab no longer need to have them retested since the standards used by the facilities are

globally recognized. This saves time and money for exporters.

“One of the the FTLs’ long time clients is the government’s Department of Budget and Management’s Procurement Service [DBMPS],” Torres said. “ The DBM-PS requires all its suppliers to submit samples of their paper products to DOST-FPRDI. Only companies that pass the tests will qualify for public bidding.

This centralized and direct purchase by the PS saves the government about 30 percent in the cost of its paper supplies.”

For furniture products, on the other hand,

only firms which meet the FTL’s evaluation can take part in the public bidding process of the Department of Education.

The FTLs are ran under the DOST’s OneLab project, a platform which gives broader and more efficient public access to all of the Department’s testing services. The DOST-FPRDI also offers wood identification, chemical, physical and mechanical, and bioenergy testing services for forest-based and related products and is currently working for the eventual ISO-accreditation of these.

Rizalina K. Araral/S&T News Service

Tourism&Entertainment BusinessMirror

Editor: Carla Mortel-Baricaua

Sunday, April 8, 2018

A7

Puerto Princesa Underground River: a call for new branding and prestige

A view of the Saint Paul's range from the open sea, which is also home to a vibrant coral reef.

Story & photos by Bernard Joseph Esposo Guerrero

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ast year I managed to visit Palawan’s Puerto Princesa City —one of my favorite nooks in the country—for the third time. It was not hard to gather immediately upon stepping into the city that they have been enjoying very much the latest title they have coveted for their most important destination and asset; so much so that it has gone a bit too much.

In my three days in the city, with a day devoted to visiting again the underground river, I never met anyone who described the park in other terms aside from that it is one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

Right there and then, I knew that there was a looming crisis.

Wondering the Wonder

Since its proclamation in 2012 as one of the New 7 Natural Wonders of the world, the Philippines’s Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, or more commonly known nowadays as the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR), has nearly been singularly

using this title to highlight its supposed integrity, and, subsequently, in promotions. While it has successfully gained better traction in attracting more local tourists, there are also others who do not put any weight on the award at all. Many foreign visitors, together with a few local heritage advocates like myself, who have seen more sites, and can, thus, draw better comparisons, do not necessarily bite this.

If one looks closer into it and deeper into merits, the title does hold little to no meaning at all, let alone any credibility. It was, after all, gained by winning a global poll led by a marketing company that was

The mangrove forest area of the Puerto Princesa Underground River is now used by the community in offering mangrove tours to tourists.

One of the tidal formations at the estuary of the underground river.

marred with controversies, such as subjecting the winners to comply with some prerequisites in order to gain the right to use the title. In that same poll, Indonesia’s Komodo Island was also declared as a winner, but early on, it aired out reservations on the process, citing the pressure from the organizers of the country to host an expensive awarding ceremony. The park’s win did not come as a surprise, considering that the Philippines has the highest volume of texters around the world.

Pushbacks and trade-offs

Indeed, the heavy use of the brand was critical in as far as popularizing the destination, but at what expense? The relaying of information on other achievements that the natural gem has been accorded with by more reputable bodies through careful scientific examinations, and accreditation procedures has been sacrificed. This then becomes more concerning on the ground, as it deprives the people of the vital information that matter to them and cultivates a deeper sense of appreciation and sense of pride to what their country offers.

Take, for example, the park being a United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) World Heritage Site since 1999. Tremendous amounts of effort, time and even expertise were put into its nomination, which took 10 grueling years to finally have it successfully inscribed in the prestigious list. Other countries would,

without thinking twice, make the most of their “world heritage site” label and make their Unesco-listed sites as their premier attractions that have to be in everyone’s bucket list, and the success of such strategy has always been certain. The Philippines, at present, has only six of these highly prized sites.

Recently, some guides at the park hardly even mention that aspect of the PPUR anymore and, furthermore, only a handful of them will go on to properly explain the park’s outstanding geological features that made it a site of outstanding universal value.

For most, to mention that it is a New 7 Natural Wonders and that it is the longest navigable subterranean river in the world are already more than sufficient.

Furthermore, what is more interesting, or frustrating rather, is that another aspect of the park is also being forgotten—it being a Ramsar site. What exactly is that?

A Ramsar site is a wetland deemed to be of international importance under the Unesco-led Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance of 1971.

Placing a high premium value on wetlands’ capacities as waterfowl sanctuaries, the treaty recognizes the critical ecological roles of wetlands and “their economic, cultural, scientific and recreational value.”

Ramsar describes the more than 22,000-hectare national park and world heritage site as being “unique in the biographic region because

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fter a long weekend this Holy Week, comes a three-day break to mark the Araw ng Kagitingan on April 9. Many who have undergone the gauntlet of the traffic jams in the expressways have decided to spend the holidays in the city for a relaxing getaway.

With less people and cars on the road, and less smog, the urban jungle seems to be an enticing “out of town” trip for a staycation.

What was once considered metropolitan fringes beckon for a relaxing staycation for quality time with the family, and rediscover the hidden charm of the mega city.

B Hotel, a three-brand of The Bellevue Hotels and Resorts, offers an urban oasis where you can bond with the family which won’t break the bank.

Situated in the quiet neighborhoods of Alabang and Quezon City, these once suburban areas have somehow managed to preserve their quaint character, despite the urbanization they have underwent over the decades.

Standing proudly at the posh Madrigal Business Park, B Hotel Alabang is a 150-room boutique lodging, which boasts of its “elegance in simplicity” ideal for business travelers or young families. The area takes pride in its open spaces, treelined promenades and greeneries ideal for outdoor exercises.

Guests will be treated to a soothing view of perhaps among the few remaining patches of greens in the southern Metro, which serve as the lungs of the city. It also offers a gustatory journey with its delectable Filipino fusion dishes which it launched late last year in a jazzy culinary soiree.

B Hotel Quezon City, on the other hand, describes itself as “sleek and snazzy” with a more relaxed, homey feel. It takes pride in its elegant New York-style industrial artistic features, which is less stiff compared to the typical accommodation of its kind. With its Instagrammable interiors, you won’t run out of photos to upload with its exposed pipes, bicycle motifs, still-life paintings, high ceilings, cement-washed walls and picture-perfect nooks. Its minimalist design will make you feel as if the hotel is coming straight out of a steampunk novel.

For your daylong cravings, there is the Lobby Café for the main meals, the Pastry Corner for snacks and the Mezzanine Bar for after-dinner chill out.

Its well-designed rooms have neither the high-brow nor all-too-familiar look, but exudes a contemporary feel in a re-

laxed space. The one-bedroom suite provides a convenient space for a family, as its living room can function as a bedroom for small children.

To cool off from the summer heat, you can dip in the infinity pool with an overlooking view of the skyline. Complementing the hotel’s allure is the Old World charm of Quezon City known for its post war homes, Timog Avenue and Tomas Morato, which host some of the signature decades-old restos, and public parks, such as the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center, Quezon Memorial Circle, and La Mesa Eco Park.

Named after the Hebrew word for “rest,” Selah Garden Suites is the proverbial urban sanctuary in the densely populated Pasay City. Situated along Park Avenue at the back of the City Hall, this three-story property is a green space with its canopy of centenarian hardwood trees and hydrophonic hanging gardens which punctuate the common areas.

This 72-room hotel has an assortment of accommodation for couples, families (big and small alike) and barkada with its classy double-decker beds.

EF Schumacher’s maxim “small is beautiful” must have been the guiding principle behind this hotel, as it doesn’t feel cramped because of its open spaces and greeneries, despite its compact land area.

Guests are welcomed with the modern chic foyer adorned with wicker, rattan and capiz furnishings, and a nativethemed restaurant specializing in Filipino favorites and Bicol regional cuisine.

Selah also has a 4-foot deep lap pool ideal for children.

One corner can be transformed into a spot for confined scubadiving training for beginners.

But its piece de resistance is perhaps its recreational facilities which will give the family their first taste of adventure— an outdoor wall for rapelling and wall climbing, a short zipline, and a hanging bridge, which even children can try.

People who love to go backpacking will be pleasantly surprised to know that they won’t have to make do with spaceand amenity-challenged dwelling spaces in their journeys.

Tambayan Capsule Hostel, a 1940s mansion in Malate, Manila, just took backpacking to the next level.

Opened in 2016, the two-story elegant heritage house offers comfortable, innovative accommodations for people traveling on a budget, or those who want to experience its eclectic vibe in a regular room. A classic showcase of adaptive reuse, which touts itself as the country’s first capsule hostel, it was

largest and most valuable limestone forest in Asia, which also boasts a beach forest, a mangrove forest and coral reefs. As a site for globally important biodiversity conservation, the park features eight forest types that are homes to various endemic species of plants and animals.

Reconciling perspectives

There is no contention that the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is truly a world wonder. I believe that it is. The way the park is being managed also deserves all the praise it can get.

However, the New 7 Wonder of Nature brand may not be the best in capturing that quite well. Capitalizing on the weakest attribute is not the best way to create an image. Rather, it is done by taking advantage of its strongest and more reliable points. To redirect things to other recognitions that matter, and to stay true to the facts, is imperative. It is our onus, after all, to translate these into more practical, usable and accessible information to achieve better public knowledge and to thicken the discourse about the site.

Indeed, there is a need to reflect and to also create efforts toward equally fostering an informed environment, where our people are aware of what makes the park truly unique and special from the rest. A rethinking of the park, and how we brand it, is much needed—as is the case of many other cultural and natural jewels that the Philippines has.

DOT, AAP to host FIA Sport Conference

Urban hideaways for the long weekend Story by Bernard L. Supetran

it connects a range of important ecosystems from the mountain-tothe-sea, including a limestone karst landscape with a complex cave system, mangrove forests, lowland evergreen tropical rainforests and freshwater swamps.”

As a complete “mountain to sea” ecosystem, this karst landscape in the Philippines (the limestone Saint Paul’s mountain range) has the sole underground river in the world that flows out directly to the sea. Thus, this unique topography subjects the lower part of the underground river to tidal influences—a remarkable natural phenomenon that has no equal elsewhere across the globe.

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park was recognized as a Ramsar site in 2012, but it surprisingly never made much noise as it was obviously overshadowed by the hype of the 7 New Natural Wonders awarding, which also took place in that same year. The Philippines only has seven Ramsar sites so far, and two of which are in Palawan (the other one being the Tubattaha reefs, also a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1993 and a Ramsar site, making the province all the more invaluable).

Last, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is also part of the bigger Palawan Biosphere Reserve that was established in 1990 by the Unesco, and is recognized as a National Geological Monument since 2003, as well.

The World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) reports that the park is the

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Living room of one-bedroom suite of B Hotel Quezon City BLS

Selah Garden Suites

tambayan hostel

designed by millennial architect Rayah Deslate, who married design elements from different generations.

You seem to travel back in time with its restored interiors—the grand staircase, chandeliers and arched doorways, and walls painted with historic landmarks of Old Manila.

But as its name suggests, Tambayan is a hip watering hole and is a place to hang around, particularly at night when customers from various age groups and nationalities converge for well-loved Pinoy food, pulutan and a few rounds of their favorite spirits.

Being at the Bohemian colony of the city, the hostel is a perfect homebase for exploring heritage spots of Manila which we have taken for granted for so long—the postcard-pretty Manila Bay, Rizal Park, Paco Park and the National Museum.

Whether it be a long or typical weekend, the metropolis is worth rediscovering through these urban getaways.

he Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP), the country’s National Auto Club, was recently appointed by the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) as host of this year’s FIA Sport Conference slated from June 4 to 6 in Manila.

The world’s governing body of four-wheel motor sport, the Paris-based FIA will gather some 400 delegates from national sporting authorities (NSAs) and mobility clubs of 245 organizations in 143 countries.

As the FIA’s NSA in the Philippines, the AAP will host the confab with the support of the Department of Tourism, Petron Corp., SMC Asia Car Distributors Corp. (BMW Philippines) and Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. Themed “Empowering the Future: Unlocking Motor Sport’s Potential,” the threeday event will be preceded by the FIA Sport Regional Congress on June 3 and conclude with the World Motor Sport Conference on June 7.

Discussions will cover key topics, such as creating a motor sport culture in new markets, including the millennials.

The event will also host the FIA Sport MotorEx, which will welcome more than 30 companies and stakeholders who will present innovative products and services.

“AAP has been very active in participating in FIA confer-

In photo (seated, from left): Tourism Assistant Secretary Frederick M. Alegre, Frederique Trouve, AAP President Gus Lagman and Tourism Undersecretary Allan Canizal, with (Standing, from left) AAP trustees Mandy Eduque and Mina Gabor, FIA Events Manager Martin Lalande and DOT-NCR Director Cynthia Lazo.

ences and we have seen their loyalty and motivation in promoting motor sport among the youth through efforts such as the Motor Sport Development Program. They have also organized many activities in terms of training in road safety,” FIA Sport Conference Project Director Frederique Trouve said.

“We need to educate the new generation about motor sport. One of the most difficult things to do is to attract the youth to the sport and we aim to do this through road safety,” she added.

The first time to be held in Asia, the conference includes the MotorEx offering an industry-themed showcase and platform for the analysis of future trends and opportunities in motor sport and featuring key decision-makers, event

and promoters and leading figures from racing and rallying.

Activities include extrication demo and motor-sport activities like drifting, gymkhana, slalom, e-karting and the FIA-certified online Gran Turismo Asian Regional Finals Championship. Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon T. Teo welcomed the country’s hosting of the event, saying, “What a challenge this is, to host hundreds of well-traveled visitors from FIA member-organizations all over the world and let them experience how wonderful the Philippines is as a tourist destination, as well as a conference site.”

“We look forward to sharing with the FIA the goal to foster greater understanding among people and nations across the globe through sustainable tourism, as well as motor sport,” she noted.

Faith

Sunday

www.businessmirror.com.ph • Editor: Lyn Resurreccion

A8 Sunday, April 8, 2018

‘Leave Mass praising God, not gossiping about others’

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he final words at Mass—“Go in peace”—are an invitation to Christians to proclaim God’s blessings through their lives, not an opportunity to go outside and speak ill of others, Pope Francis said.

Through the Eucharist, Jesus “enters in our hearts and in our flesh so that we may express in our lives the sacrament we received in faith,” the pope said during his weekly general audience in Saint Peter’s Square on April 4.

“But if we leave the church gossiping, saying, ‘Look at this one, look at that one,’ with a loose tongue, the Mass has not entered into my heart. W hy?

Because I am not able to live the Christian witness,” he said.

“Every time I leave Mass, I must leave better than when I entered, w it h more l ife, w it h g reater strength, with a greater desire to give Christian witness.”

An estimated 20,000 pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter’s Square dressed in bright ponchos and holding umbrellas to shield themselves from the cold rain.

After circling the square in his popemobile, the pope made his way to the stage, which was still adorned with flowers from the Easter celebrations.

F lowers, t he pope sa id, a re a sy mbol of t he joy a nd hap piness of Jesus’ resu r rect ion, when “ou r just if icat ion blos -

s o me d , t he ho l i ne s s o f t he c hu rc h blossomed.”

Wishing the faithful at the square a happy Easter, Pope Francis also had a special greeting for his predecessor, retired Pope Benedict XVI. “I would like all of us to wish a Happy Easter to the former bishop of Rome, the beloved Pope Benedict, who is watching us on television. To Pope Benedict, let us all wish him a Happy Easter and give him a big applause,” he said.

In his main talk, the pope focused on the closing rites of Mass, finishing a series of audience talks on the liturgy.

As the Mass ends, he said, “the commitment of Christian witness”

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oday is the Feast of the Divine Mercy. It was instituted in obedience to the Lord’s instruction to Saint Faustina Kowalska.

Faustina had a vision of the Lord Jesus amid great suffering and dying on the cross.

Out of Jesus’ heart came two rays. Jesus said: “The pale ray stands for the Water, which makes souls righteous. The red ray stands for the Blood, which is the life of souls. These two rays issued forth from the very depths of My tender mercy when My agonized Heart was opened by a lance on the cross” (Diary of Saint Faustina, 299).

“Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the signature: Jesus I trust in You. I desire that this image be venerated first in your chapel then throughout the world (Diary, 47).

The Feast of the Divine Mercy, according to Jesus, emerged from the depths of tenderness of His mercy and everyone will contemplate this love and mercy throughout eternity.

“The Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depth of tenderness.

It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My mercy.”

On April 30, 2000, the canonization of Saint Faustina, thenPope John Paul II, during his homily declared: “It is important that we accept the whole message that comes to us from the word of God on the Second Sunday of Easter, which from now on throughout the church will be called Divine Mercy Sunday.”

begins at home, at work and any time a Christian interacts with others; the idea is to “become Eucharistic men and women.”

“What does this mean?” the pope asked. “It means letting Christ act through our works: that His thoughts become our thoughts, His feelings become our feelings, His choices become our choices.”

Departing from his prepared remarks, Pope Francis said that by “mortifying our selfishness,” Christians create a greater space for the Holy Spirit to act in their

Every time I leave Mass, I must leave better than when I entered, with more life, with greater strength, with a greater desire to give Christian witness.”—Francis

lives and “widen their souls” after receiving the Eucharist.

“Let your souls be widened!

Not these narrow, closed, small, selfish souls. No! Great souls, big souls with great horizons,” he said.

The fruits of the Eucharist, the pope added, are “destined to mature in daily life” and grow like a grain of wheat through “our good works, attitudes and becoming like Jesus.”

In receiving the Body and Blood of Christ, Pope Francis said, men and women are called to “pass from the flesh of Christ to the flesh of our brothers and sisters,” especially the poor, where Jesus “awaits to be recognized, served, honored and loved by us.”

“May our lives always be in bloom, like Easter, with the flowers of hope, of faith, of good works,” he added. “May we always find the strength for this in the Eucharist, in our union with Jesus.” Junno Arocho Esteves, Catholic News

Service/CBCPNews

Divine Mercy Sunday

By Corazon Damo-Santiago

Raindrops are seen on the popemobile as Pope Francis greets the crowd during his general audience in Saint Peter’s Square at the Vatican on April 4. Paul Haring/CNS

‘Recognize My mercy now’

Exodus, the departure of the Israelites God ’s chosen people from Egypt, across the Red Sea to Mount Sinai is enough proof of God’s unfathomable mercy.

To Moses, He said He is a “God merc i f u l a nd g rac iou s, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Exodus 34:6).

To Faustina, the Apostle of Me rc y, Je s u s e nt r u s t e d t he “three ways to ask for mercy” on the strength of His passion: the 3 o’clock prayer, the chaplet and the Novena to the Divine Mercy. It is man’s “ last hope of sa lvation, to which response should be now while it is still the time of mercy.”

Tasked to spread the Lord’s mercy, Faustina said: “And if I exaggerate on Your Mercy?”

“Do you think you have written enough on My mercy? I am Merc y itself. Your words are but a drop in the ocean. Even if you were to write in all the languages of the world and of the angels, you would never say enough of My mercy.”

“Do whatever is within your power to spread devotion to My mercy. I will make up for what you lack. Tell aching mankind to snuggle close to My merciful heart, and I will fill it with peace” (Diary 1074).

Vision of suffering Christ

Born as Helena Kowalska on August 25, 1905, Faustina was the third of 10 children of a poor and religious family in Geogowiec, Poland.

At a young age, she was characterized as prayerful, industrious and obedient with a remarkable

sensitivity to the needs of the poor.

She felt the initial calling to religious life while attending an exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at age 7. She had her first communion at 9.

A fter three years of schooling she worked as a housekeeper to help suppor t herself and her parents.

She responded to God’s call to be a religious when she was 19. She was attending a dance affair with her sister Natalia when she had a vision of the suffering Christ.

She went to the cathedra l to pray and was instructed to leave for Warsaw. It was nighttime but she was over whelmed with the mystical experience that she immediately left for Warsaw, 85 miles away.

She attended Mass at Saint James, the first church she saw.

She asked Fr. James Dabrowski on where to apply as a nun. The priest recommended that she stay with the Lipszyc family, his trustworthy friends, until she can find one.

“No to maids,” was the response she received from many convents after weeks of patient searching.

T he Convent of Ou r L ady of Merc y was w i l l ing to accept her if she cou ld pay for her rel ig ious habit.

Apostle of Divine Mercy

For a year she worked as a housema id, deposit ing t he money she earned. On April 30, 1926, she was finally accepted as a nun. Her parents attended her religious vow on April 30, 1928, when she took the name Sis. Maria Faustina of the Blessed Sacrament, said Catherine Odell in Apostle of Divine Mercy.

A nun for 13 years, she served in Kradow, Block and Vilius as cook, gardener, baker, porter and shop assistant. She faithfully observed rules, was serene,

kind and recollected, and was externally not different from other nuns.

But internally she was a “mystic and lived in constant intimacy with the Lord. Her greatest yearning was to reflect Christ’s compassion to the world.

“Oh, my Jesus, each of Your saints ref lects one of Your v irtues. I desire to ref lect Your compassionate hear t, f u l l of merc y,” Fr. A nthony Netik at, CM, quoted Faustina in Saints for Ever yday.

The Lord did not only anoint her as apost le of Div ine Merc y. He a l so g i f ted Fau st in a w it h t he g i f t s of v i sion s, e c s t a s i e s , h i d d e n s t i g m at a , prophec y a nd re ve l at ion.

Of these she wrote. “These are merely ornaments of the soul, but constitute neither its essence nor its perfection. My sanctity and perfection consist on the close union of my will with the Will of God” (Diary 1107).

Her spiritual director, Fr. Michael Sopocko, who ordered her to write her mystical experiences, commissioned Eugene Kazimirowski, an artist, to paint her vision of the Lord, and helped spread the devotion.

Fau st i n a d ied of t uberc ulosi s i n K radow, Pol a nd , on October 5, 1938, at t he age of 33. Two d ays a f ter, t he Feast of Ou r L ady of t he Rosa r y, she was bu r ied.

She was declared venerable on December 21, 1992, and blessed on April 18, 1993. Pope John Paul II canonized her on April 20, 2000, Divine Mercy Sunday.

Santiago is a former regional director of the Department of Education National Capital Region. She is currently a facult y member of Mater Redemptoris Collegium in Calauan, Laguna, and of Mater Redemptoris College in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija.

2nd Sunday of Easter: John 20:19-31

Jesus appears to His disciples Msgr. Josefino S. Ramirez SUNDAY GOSPEL IN OUR LIFE

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e all go through doubts in our faith from time to time. The fact that we have doubts means that our faith is real.

There may have been times when we doubted if God hears our prayers. Sometimes we are left in wonder when young children die or when an evil person seems to succeed in life, or we go through a great personal challenge.

Everyone has doubts, and perhaps they can be good for us sometimes because they drive us back to the risen Lord for answers.

Thomas gets this bad image for his doubts. He even earns a nickname: “Doubting Thomas.” Yet, he was just as committed as the other 10 disciples, perhaps even more so in some ways.

Just days or weeks before that first Palm Sunday, Jesus told the disciples that He had to go to Bethany, because His friend Lazarus was very sick. Most of the disciples cautioned Him away from the idea because of all the hatred toward Him fuming in nearby Jerusalem.

Yet, T homas responded, “Let us also go, that we may die w ith Him.” Some may think that Thomas was being a pessimist, while in truth he was simply a realist, a pragmatist, a brave one to add. It was him who responded to Jesus’ assurances of heaven.

Jesus was telling the disciples in previous gospels that He had to leave to prepare a place for them in which they already knew the way.

Yet, Thomas was brave enough to

ask the question which was in everyone’s mind as he said, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how can we know the way?”

Thomas’s question has prompted Jesus to give an answer, which we have come to know as one of the greatest verses of all time: ”I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Jesus speaks directly to us when He says “Because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Isn’t that the essence of real faith, to believe without seeing?

Let us continue to put our hope in the risen Lord even when we do not have all the answers. With a trusting heart, God will reveal the answers to us in His time.

Meanwhile, God gives us evidences that He continues to exist every day. We hear Him speak to our thoughts as we read scriptures.

We see His beauty in the world He has made for us and His love through the kind hand of a friend, family or even a stranger.

We see God’s work as someone discovers hope or meaning or peace in their life. We see His faithfulness and love day after day, as we know we do not walk this life alone.

Let us all give thanks to God for the example of Thomas and all the saints whose faiths have persevered and lived through generations.

Lord, fill us and move us with faith as we bring our doubts to You, knowing in our hearts that You are all that we will ever need.

Pilgrims make Easter journey to Tarlac and Nueva Ecija

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reen Faith Travels celebrates the greatest feast among Christians, the resurrection of Jesus, which ushered the liturgical season of Easter, with its annual Easter pilgrimage to seven shrines and heritage churches in Tarlac and Nueva Ecija on April 28.

Joyful exultation marks the 50 days of the season, also known as Eastertide, which starts during the Easter Vigil and ends on Pentecost Sunday. The seven-week Easter is the longest in the Catholic Church or “one great Sunday,” as it is called.

Pilgrims of Green Faith Travels will be filled with joy and thanksgiving as they pray during this season of grace at the Chapel of the Risen Christ in Monasterio de Tarlac in San Jose; San Sebastian Cathedral (Tarlac Cathedral) in Tarlac City; Diocesan Shrine of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus in Ramos; Diocesan Shrine of Saint Josemaria Escriva in Gerona; Saint Michael the Archangel Parish Church in San Miguel, Tarlac City; and the Shrine of the Holy Face of Jesus at the Immaculate Conception Parish in Nampicuan, Nueva Ecija.

This Easter journey’s itinerary is unique, as pilgrims venerate both the sacred relic of the True Cross of Jesus Christ in Monasterio de Tarlac and the only replica of the

Pilgrims will venerate the sacred relic of the True Cross of Christ at Monasterio de Tarlac, a popular pilgrim destination in Tarlac that features a 30-foot statue of the Risen Christ.

miraculous veil of the risen Christ, called the Manoppello Image, enshrined at the Immaculate Conception Parish.

Both are considered the only ones of their kinds in Asia and are believed to be miraculous with noted accounts of healing.

Th e re p l i c a o f t h e i m a g e f ro m Santuario del Volto Santo, which is part of a monastery belonging to Capuchin monks, was brought

Saint Therese relics in Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma and retired Auxiliary Bishop Antonio Rañola venerate the relics of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus at the Carmelite monastery in Cebu City on April 4. From Luzon, the relics will tour the dioceses in the Visayas and Mindanao until May 31. Sammy Navaja/CBCPNews