BusinessMirror August 18, 2019

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Sunday, August 18, 2019 Vol. 14 No. 312

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MILF-led BARMM to decommission a third of MILF fighters, weapons as the long journey to peace and development continues.

IN this 2015 file photo, MILF chief Al Hajj Murad Ebrahim shows to reporters one of the homemade rocket-propelled grenade launchers turned over to an independent foreign body. MANUEL T. CAYON

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By Manuel T. Cayon

AVAO CITY—From guns to plowshares, indeed. Complying with a 2015 agreement—evolving into an initial decommissioning in June 2018—to transform the south’s insurgent fields into zones of peace and development, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has announced it was implementing its promised decommissioning of its fighters and weapons. This, after it was handed the leadership of the government-promised autonomous region for Filipino Muslims in the south.

SOME of the fiercest Muslim rebel commanders in the southern Philippines take their oaths during a ceremony for the creation of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority at Malacañang in Manila, February 22, 2019. The Muslim rebels will serve as administrators of a new Muslim autonomous region in a delicate milestone to settle one of Asia’s longest-raging rebellions. Several commanders, including Commander Bravo, long wanted for deadly A2to Manila and join the ceremony. AP/BULLIT MARQUEZ attacks were given safety passesContinued to be able to on travel

Local Government Minister Naguib Sinarimbo of the Bangsa­ moro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) said the MILF leadership will proceed with the decommissioning of its combatants, four years after it initially launched the first, and symbolic, decommissioning of 145 aging fighters and their weapons. This time the decommissioning of MILF fighters would involve a bigger number, estimated to be 30 percent of the members of MILF’s armed wing, the Bangsa­ moro Islamic Armed Force (BIAF). Sinarimbo said the decommissioning on September 7 will involve 12,000 combatants. Some 2,100 firearms will also be decommissioned. “Marami pong mga tao at maraming armas ang ide-decommission ng [Many people and many arms will Continued on A2

Millennial money: How to outsmart smartphone scammers

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By Sean Pyles | NerdWallet

OUR smartphone is your confidante, your hand-held connection to the world—and one of your biggest vulnerabilities.

Scammers can take advantage of day-to-day tasks that seem innocuous, like checking a bank balance or charging a phone at a public USB port, to exploit personal information for their profit. To keep that data safe, start by understanding the threats you face. Your phone has three main areas of vulnerability: its hardware, its software and your phone

number. Each carries a risk, and there are steps you can take to mitigate them.

Hardware vulnerability

A FOUR-DIGIT passcode alone isn’t enough to secure your phone’s hardware from intruders. One weakness comes from the charging port. Think twice before plugging into a public USB jack for

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 52.5190

a quick charge at a cafe or airport. “Any time you’re using a mobile port, you can be vulnerable to viruses or malware if you’re sharing it with other people who are plugging in their devices,” says Lisa Schifferle, ID theft program manager at the Federal Trade Commission. Using a public charging port at an airport is like “finding a toothbrush on the side of the road and deciding to stick it in your mouth,” Caleb Barlow, vice president of XForce Threat Intelligence at IBM Security, recently told Forbes. Hackers can modify these ports to install malevolent software, aka malware, on your phone. Once installed, it can transfer your phone’s data to hackers. The hacked

USB ports can also directly suck up your phone’s information. To avoid the risk, use your USB cord with your own charging block that can plug into a standard electrical outlet, or use an external battery pack. For daily security, go beyond the four-digit passcode if possible, says Gary Davis, chief consumer security evangelist at the cybersecurity company McAfee. “Passcodes aren’t as effective as biometrics, like fingerprint readers or facial recognition software, because people can do shoulder surfing to see your passcode and get into your phone” if they steal it.

Software and network risks

SCAMMERS can target your perContinued on A2

IN this December 17, 2018, file photo, people walk by a building in New York. You carry your smartphone everywhere. But the way you use it could leave you vulnerable to specific forms of identity theft, including robocall scams and hackers looking to hijack your phone number. AP/MARK LENNIHAN

n JAPAN 0.4949 n UK 63.4797 n HK 6.6983 n CHINA 7.4672 n SINGAPORE 37.8161 n AUSTRALIA 35.5816 n EU 58.3381 n SAUDI ARABIA 14.0028

Source: BSP (August 16, 2019 )

NewsSunday BusinessMirror

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www.businessmirror.com.ph

GUN WITH THE WIND Continued from A1

be decommissioned by the] MILF,” he said. “Unknown to many, good things are already happening in the new BARMM.” “Gusto lang naming ipaalam sa mga kababayan natin, lalo na sa mga nandito sa Manila at sa mas malawak na parte ng Pilipinas na ’yun pong kasunduang pangkapa­ yapaan na pinirmahan ng gobyerno ng Pilipinas at saka ng MILF ay meron nang nangyayaring maganda sa ground [We just want to inform the nation, especially those in Manila, that the peace agreement that the government and the MILF signed has already borne much fruit],” Sinarimbo said. The decommissioning of the MILF combatants and their weapons was part of the normalization process agreed upon by both the government and the MILF after they signed the peace agreement in 2015. In June 2018, the MILF decommissioned 145 of its veteran fighters in a ceremony held inside its Camp Darapanan in Barangay Simuay, in the town of Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao. The MILF also turned over 75 high-powered rifles, from an M-50 machine gun and B-40 rocket-propelled grenade launchers to Barrette sniper rifles and a lone vintage Browning Automatic Rifle. These were turned over to the third-party multination Indepen-

dent Decommissioning Body (IDB) chaired by a representative from Turkey. The IDB also has representatives from Brunei and Norway. During the 2015 decommissioning, the then government chief negotiator Miriam CoronelFerrer said the average age of the decommissioned fighters was 46.4 years. She said the MILF fighters belonged to the Iranun and Maguindanaon tribes in the Maguindanao area and came from near the border with Lanao del Sur. The decommissioned fighters were given a package of incentives, such as P25,000 for each fighter, enrollment in the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and succeeding social services to integrate them back to the communities, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process said. The government spent about P3.625 million for the cash incentives alone. Sinarimbo said the MILF-led BARMM has begun to stabilize the situation “and we hope that in the succeeding days we can now achieve peace and progress, not only for the region but for the entire country.”

Transitioning

THE decommissioning was part of the transition undertaken by the MILF in leading the BARMM, from a guerrilla front to a manager of an autonomous region. Sinarimbo said the first step

THIS 2011 file photo shows MILF mujahideen manning a checkpoint at the entrance to Camp Darapanan in Barangay Simuay, Sultan Kudarat town, Maguindanao. MANUEL T. CAYON

that the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) took was to draft the Bangsamoro Transition Plan “which will serve as the guidebook in setting up the new government.” He said the transition plan has been approved and is currently being implemented. “Dalawa ho yung laman ng plano. Una ay ’yung bagong structure ng gobyerno sa Bangsamoro, at pangalawa ay ’yung phasing out ng defunct bureaucracy nung ARMM. So ’yung dalawang ’yun ay patuloy nang pinapatupad na sa ngayon [The plan contains two items. One is the new structure of the Bangsamoro, and the second is the phasing out of the defunct bureaucracy of the former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The two items are being implemented now],” Sinarimbo said. He described as “challenging the months during which members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority [transitioned] into a new autonomous bureaucracy,” he said. Sinarimbo said Chief Minister Al Hajj Murad Ebrahim will implement his 12-point priority agenda during his term of governance. “Included on the agenda are legislation of priority laws, development of revenue codes to generate more income in the region, implementing good governance with the local government units, improvement of the region’s security.”

IN this February 22, 2019, file photo, Moro Islamic Liberation Front Chairman Murad Ebrahim (right) and President Duterte flash peace signs following oath-taking ceremony for the creation of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority. AP/BULLIT MARQUEZ

Published by the Bangsa­moro Planning and Development Authority, the 12-point agenda covers the enactment of priority bills; integration of development plans; establishment of appropriate bureaucracy; continuity of existing government services; special programs for transitioning combatants; supporting the ongoing Marawi rehabilitation; development of enabling policy environment; activation of job-generating industries; enhancement of security; maximizing synergistic

Millennial money… Continued from A1

sonal information using unsecured wireless networks and software vulnerabilities. “We advise against using public Wi-Fi, but if you’re going to use it, avoid logging in to sensitive accounts,” says Allen Spence, director of product leadership at IDShield, an identity theft protection company. To protect yourself from inadvertently using insecure Wi-Fi networks, adjust your phone settings to avoid auto-connecting to Wi-Fi. Schifferle of the FTC suggests consumers routinely check for and download software updates for their phones, because updates often include security patches.

Phone number vulnerabilities

THERE are two common ways

that scammers target your phone number: robocall scams and phone number theft. A common scam comes from supposed representatives of the Social Security Administration requesting you give your personal information or your benefits will be cut. If you get a call from a number you don’t recognize, don’t answer. That’s the best way to ensure you don’t get caught up in a phone scam. And know that government agencies like Social Security and the IRS won’t call you out of the blue seeking your personal information. “You should never give personal info or money unless you have initiated the call,” Schifferle says. If you answer a call and realize it may be a scammer, hang up, she advises. The scam is clever: A malevo-

partnerships; ensuring environmental compliance; and exploration of Bangsamoro’s economic potentials. “Gusto nating bumaba mismo sa mga komunidad para ’yung mga statistics sa human development incidences hindi lang mga numero kundi mga tao na mismo [We want the improvement to go down to the communities so that the statistics on human development would not only be about numbers but about people],” he concluded.

lent actor calls your cellphone carrier pretending to be you, and after confirming some key information such as your mother’s maiden name, transfers your phone number to their device. You may not find out this has happened until you go to make a call and find that your SIM card has been deactivated. Because phone numbers are often used as security keys, hackers may be able to get into many other accounts once they have access to your phone account. Make it harder to penetrate by avoiding common security questions, Davis says. “When you set up your security questions and answers, make sure you’re using really challenging questions that are going to be hard to figure out.“ This column was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet

Editor: Angel R. Calso

The World BusinessMirror

S. KOREA SAYS N. KOREA FIRED 2 MORE PROJECTILES INTO SEA

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EOUL, South Korea—South Korea’s military said North Korea fired two projectiles into the sea on Friday to extend a recent streak of weapons tests believed to be aimed at pressuring Washington and Seoul over slow nuclear diplomacy. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the projectiles launched from the North’s eastern coast flew about 230 kilometers (143 miles) on an apogee of 30 kilometers (18 miles) before landing in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. The Joints Chiefs of Staff said the US and South Korean militaries were analyzing the launches but didn’t immediately say whether the weapons were ballistic missiles or rocket artillery. It was Nor th Korea’s six th round of weapons launches since late July when it began stepping up its weapons demonstrations while expressing frustration over stalemated nuclear negotiations with the United States and continuance of US-South Korea joint military drills that the North sees as an invasion rehearsal. South Korea’s presidential office said national security adviser Chung Eui-yong was presiding over an emergency National Security Council meeting about the launches and President Moon Jae-in was being briefed on the developments. The Blue House called for the North to stop launches that risk raising military tensions on the peninsula. Japan’s Defense Ministr y said the North Korean projectiles did not reach the country’s territorial waters or its exclusive economic zone. The White House said it was aware of reports of the launches and was

consulting with Seoul and Tokyo. The weapons the North tested in recent weeks included a new rocket artillery system and what security analysts say are two new short-range mobile ballistic missile systems that would potentially expand the North’s ability to strike targets throughout South Korea, including US bases there. Experts say President Donald Trump’s downplaying of the North’s launches allowed the country more room to intensify its testing activity while it seeks to build leverage ahead of a possible resumption of negotiations, which could happen sometime after the end of the allied drills later this month. The North has ignored South Korean calls for dialogue recently and is seen as dialing up pressure on Seoul to coax major concessions from Washington on its behalf. The Joint Chiefs of Staff aler ted reporters to the launches hours after the North issued a statement berating South Korea, saying it’s “senseless” for Seoul to hope for a resumption of inter-Korean dialogue while it continues its military exercises with the United States. The statement by the North’s Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country came a day after Moon said in a speech that the momentum for dialogue remains alive despite the series of “worrying actions taken by North Korea recently.” “A sure thing is that the [South] Korean chief executive is [such a] funny man as he just reads what was written by his juniors,” the statement said while avoiding calling Moon by his name. AP

Sunday, August 18, 2019

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China preps tariff response to US as Trump sees a Xi call ‘very soon’

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HINA called looming US tariffs a violation of accords reached by Presidents Donald J. Trump and Xi Jinping, vowing retaliation as Beijing also pushed back on Trump’s effort to link the trade war with the turmoil in Hong Kong. Trump on Thursday said he had a call coming soon with Xi. The plans for 10-percent tariffs on an additional $300 billion in Chinese imports have taken the US and China off the track of resolving their dispute through negotiation, the State Council Tariff Committee, which has overseen tit-for-tat retaliation, said in a short statement on Thursday. China “has no choice but to take necessary measures to retaliate,” it said, without specifying what the nation would do. Separately, a foreign affairs ministry spokesman expressed hope that the US would leave Hong Kong as an internal matter for the Chinese government to deal with. Trump said Thursday that an agreement with China has to

be on “our terms,” according to Fox Business. The US president later told reporters in Morristown, New Jersey, that he has a call scheduled “very soon” with Xi over trade. “They would like to do something,” Trump said, without elaborating. US stocks finished the day higher after getting whipsawed throughout the session as Treasury yields plummeted to levels unseen in years. Trade headlines set investors on edge, though volatility has gripped markets for most of August since Trump escalated his spat with China. Trump announced the tariffs set for September 1 and December 15. China has halted purchases of agricultural goods and allowed the yuan to weaken. Still,

top negotiators held a phone call earlier this week and the US delayed the imposition of some of the new import taxes. Negotiators also agreed to have another call in the coming two weeks and people familiar said earlier the Chinese delegation is sticking to their plan to travel to the US in September for face-toface meetings. China’s statement indicates that Beijing doesn’t think the US delaying some of the tariffs is enough, said Zhou Xiaoming, a former Ministry of Commerce official and diplomat. China is sticking to the position that no new duties should be imposed at all, he said, adding that China’s retaliation “may not be limited to tariffs.” Hu Xijin, the editor in chief of the Communist Party’s Global Times newspaper, echoed that sentiment. He tweeted before the Thursday announcement that China wants both sides to respect the consensus reached when Trump and Xi met in Osaka in June. “I doubt the Chinese side will resume large-scale purchase of US farm goods under the current circumstances,” he said. Less than 12 hours before the Chinese statement on retaliation,

Trump appeared to float the possibility of another meeting with Xi. In a flurry of tweets, he defended his tariff decisions, praised Xi and urged the Chinese president to “humanely” resolve the protests that have gripped Hong Kong for more than two months. “Of course China wants to make a trade deal,” Trump wrote. “Let them work humanely with Hong Kong first!” China doesn’t want external advice on how to deal with Hong Kong. “Hong Kong is purely China’s internal affair. We have noticed that President Trump has previously said that ‘Hong Kong is part of China and they’ll have to deal with that themselves. They don’t need advice,’” China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesman Hua Chunying said in a written comments to a question about Trump’s tweet. “We hope that the US side will do as what they say.” China’s position on the trade negotiations has been consistent and clear, Hua said, adding that China hopes the US can meet halfway and implement the consensus of the two leaders in Osaka, “and find mutually acceptable solutions through dialogue and consultation, on the basis of equality and mutual respect.” Bloomberg News

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The World BusinessMirror

Sunday, August 18, 2019

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Thailand plans stimulus to spur $6.5-billion economic boost

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PROTESTERS stage a sit-in rally at the arrival hall of the Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, on Tuesday. Protesters clogged the departure area at Hong Kong’s reopened airport Tuesday, a day after they forced one of the world’s busiest transport hubs to shut down entirely amid their calls for an independent inquiry into alleged police abuse. AP/VINCENT THIAN

HK protests go global, roiling China’s fractured diaspora

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ELBOURNE-BASED public health student Edwin Kwong is thousands of miles from Hong Kong, but he said his life has changed since his hometown descended into near-constant protest 11 weeks ago. Kwong now avoids contentious political talk at his university because he’s worried it will make him a target for Mandarin-speaking students from the mainland. And after he attended a rally on campus last week, photos of his fellow prodemocracy protesters at another Melbourne campus were posted on a WeChat group that supports Beijing’s rule, identifying them as “poisonous” separatists. “It’s pretty dark,” Kwong said, noting he was also followed and photographed while at the rally. His concerns show the heated tensions that have erupted in Hong Kong are also bubbling away among an increasingly fractured Chinese diaspora. Pro-democracy protests are planned in four Australian cities on Friday evening, launching a weekend of global protests that will include vigils in the US, Europe, Canada and Japan under the banner “Global Solidarity With Hong Kong.” Meanwhile, proChina rallies are being organized in Sydney, where boards hosting messages in support of independence campaigners have been vandalized.

University battlefields

SO far, the violent scenes that have played out almost daily in Hong Kong—fueling anxiety over the possibility of military intervention by President Xi Jinping—have been avoided elsewhere. Yet, heated exchanges on university campuses in Australia, New Zealand and Canada have led to accusations

that Beijing may be attempting to stoke nationalist sentiment beyond its borders. “A lot of people from mainland China who live abroad, including students, are angry about what’s going on in Hong Kong, and it’s not surprising they’re clashing with pro-democracy supporters,” said Ben Bland, a director at Sydneybased think tank the Lowy Institute and author of Generation HK: Seeking Identity in China’s Shadow. “If the situation in Hong Kong continues to get more heated, it will inevitably get more difficult for universities and governments to manage those tensions.” At a university campus in Brisbane last month, protesters from both sides hurled verbal abuse at each other and punches were thrown. After China’s consul general in Brisbane, Xu Jie, stated his support of “the spontaneous patriotic behavior of Chinese students,” Foreign Minister Marise Payne warned that overseas diplomats shouldn’t encourage “disruptive or potentially violent behavior.” A similar scenario played out in New Zealand. After pro-Beijing students clashed with supporters of the Hong Kong protesters at the University of Auckland, the Chinese consulate said pro-democracy demonstrators were “demonizing the images of China” and “inciting anti-China sentiment.” The Auckland campus has also seen vandals deface its “Lennon Wall,” a local version of the prodemocracy message boards that have popped up all over Hong

Kong. Sydney’s version in the central business district has been removed.

Canadian alarm

AT Vancouver’s Simon Fraser University, attacks on its Lennon Wall have seen activists create a mobile billboard that’s monitored by day and rolled away at night, Sylvia Ceacero, the student society’s executive director, said by phone on Wednesday. Tensions among the diaspora have increased in recent years in Vancouver, a city where one in five have Chinese heritage. There are divisions between the Cantonesespeaking population—many of whom fled Hong Kong ahead of the 1997 handover from the UK to China—and the mainland-based, predominantly Mandarin-speaking migrants and students who have more recently arrived. Hong Kong’s now-suspended extradition bill, which sparked the city’s protests, isn’t an abstract threat for many Canadians. An estimated 300,000 Hong Kong residents hold Canadian citizenship—a survey in 2011 showed that nearly 8 percent of Hong Kong households have at least one Canadian citizen over the age of 18. The prospect that such Canadians could potentially be handed over to China has prompted alarm, especially given the fate of two Canadians presently in Beijing’s custody. Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor have spent eight months in a jail with only a handful of consular visits, their detention widely seen as a tit-for-tat reprisal for Canada’s arrest of a Huawei Technologies Co. executive on a US extradition request. Huawei has also sat at the center of controversy in Australia, with Beijing angered after the government banned the state-linked company from building its 5G network.

Protesters warned

THE most China-dependent developed economy and a key ally of the US, Australia last year legislated

anti-foreign interference laws designed to restrict Beijing’s meddling in its government, media and universities. Australia hosts more than 250,000 Chinese students, who make up about 29 percent of the total international-student intake in an industry that reaped almost $24 billion last year. One of those is Rick Han, a 29-year-old finance student in Melbourne who hails from Shandong province. While he rejected violence, he said he identified with fellow mainlanders living in Australia who have rallied against the “arrogance” of some pro-democracy campaigners from Hong Kong. “Because I am Chinese, I understand their feelings,” Han said. “Chinese people, especially our generation, what we don’t want to see is that China splits into different countries,” Han said. Beyond the nation’s universities, China’s role in Australia is under scrutiny. The Communist Party’s United Front—a collection of affiliated parties and overseas influence groups—has been accused of seeking to sway public opinion in Australia. Meanwhile, the Sydney Morning Herald reported this month that a China-based mother of one of the protesters who attended the Brisbane rally received a warning from officials that her son shouldn’t engage in “anti-China rhetoric.” Jane Golley, an economist and director of the Australian National University’s Australian Centre on China in the World in Canberra, said while it was evident the tensions in Hong Kong had spread globally, the right to protest remained fundamental for Western universities. “There are bigger things to be concerned about than a number of Chinese students protesting at Australian universities,” Golley said, adding that the Brisbane student’s report of being warned through his mother was a “repression of freedom that makes me nervous.” Bloomberg News

HAILAND plans stimulus spending that the government hopes will spark a $6.5-billion economic boost, as officials try to counter a slowdown caused by the US-China trade war and currency strength. The package includes help for farmers and people on low incomes, as well as initiatives to bolster consumer spending and investment, Finance Minister Uttama Savanayana said in a Facebook post. The proposal needs Cabinet approval, and an initial ministerial meeting to discuss it began Friday. “The government is confident that these measures will alleviate the Thai people’s troubles,” Uttama said, adding they will encourage the “additional circulation in the economy of no less than 200 billion baht [$6.5 billion] in the second half of the year.” Calls are growing for governments around the world to loosen their budgets to tackle economic slowdowns. Central banks say they can’t do the job with monetary stimulus alone. The Bank of Thailand unexpectedly lowered borrowing costs this month, but elevated household debt limits its scope for aggressive easing. “Current math for the 2020 fiscal year suggests that there is ample room to increase spending and still keep within statutory limitations for the deficit and public debt levels,” said Radhika Rao, an economist at DBS Group Holdings Ltd. in Singapore.

Farmers, tourism

THE proposed stimulus package includes compensation and emergency loans for farmers afflicted by drought worth a combined 112 billion baht, according to Uttama. More money would be provided for welfare cardholders, and as many as 10 million people could get 1,500 baht each for tourism spending. The plan would also set aside as much as 98.7 billion baht for an income guarantee program for rice, rubber, cassava and palm oil farmers, providing help for 6.2 million households. Thai gross domestic product likely rose 2.3 percent in the second quarter—the weakest pace in almost five years—as exports and tourism struggled, a Bloomberg sur vey shows. The nation is vulnerable to US- China tension, as Asia’s top economy is its largest trading partner and biggest source of tourists. Currency strength is another challenge for Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy. The baht is up more than 5 percent against the dollar this year, making it one of the strongest performers in emerging markets. Exports may contract as much as 2.7 percent this year, and 2019 economic expansion could fall short of 3 percent without the stimulus package, said Kampon Adireksombat, head of economic and financial market research at Siam Commercial Bank Pcl. Bloomberg News

INDONESIA’S President Joko Widodo delivers his state of the nation address ahead of the country’s Independence Day at the parliament building in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Friday. Indonesia celebrates the 74th anniversary of its independence from the Netherlands on Saturday. AP/ACHMAD IBRAHIM

JOKOWI SEEKS PARLIAMENT APPROVAL TO MOVE NATION’S CAPITAL TO BORNEO

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NDONESIAN President Joko Widodo sought parliament’s approval to relocate the nation’s capital to the island of Borneo, home to some of the world’s biggest coal reserves and orangutans, as he seeks to ease pressure on congested and polluted Jakarta. The new administrative headquarters will “not just be a symbol of the nation’s identity, but also a representation of the nation’s progress,” Jokowi, as the president is commonly known, told a joint session of parliament in Jakarta on Friday. “This is for the sake of realizing an equal and just economy. This is for the vision of a forward-looking Indonesia. An Indonesia that lives forever.” The new capital, some 1,400 kilometers away from Jakarta, will be built from scratch. It will help spread economic activity outside the nation’s most-populous island of Java, the president said. While Jokowi has yet to announce the location, Bukit Soeharto in East Kalimantan is a favorite on president’s shortlist of sites, according to province’s Gov. Isran Noor. Jokowi has displayed an urgency not shown by his predecessors in pressing on with the capital relocation plan, which has been periodically discussed for decades. With the greater Jakarta area, home to about 30 million people, nearing a gridlock and pollution levels reaching unhealthy levels, efforts to decongest the city have made little progress with tens of thousands of cars getting added to the roads every year.

Sinking city

W I T H more than 15,000 people per square kilometer in Jakar ta—twice the density of Singapore—there’s little space to build more without rehousing thousands of families. To make matters worse, two-fifths of the city is below sea level and parts of it are sinking at 20 centimeters a year. J a k a r t a’s m i s e r a b l e t r a f f i c i s a re s u l t o f t h e c i t y ’s o ve r w h e l m i n g importance in the nation’s economy. The metropolitan area generates almost a fifth of Indonesia’s annual gross domestic product. Gridlocks and public transport woes cost the city about 100 trillion rupiah ($7 billion) a year in economic losses, according to official estimates. The cost of moving the capital is estimated at 466 trillion rupiah if it involved development of 40,000 hectares of land for an estimated 1.5 million residents, according to Planning Ministry estimates. The cost could be whittled down to 323 trillion rupiah if only part of the state apparatus was shifted to an area of 30,000 hectares, it said in April. The government plans to begin construction of the new city from 2021 and may start relocating some offices from 2024, according to Planning Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro. The project will be financed by the government, as well as through privatepublic partnerships. Bloomberg News

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»life on the go

A5 | Sunday, August 18, 2019 • Editor: Tet Andolong

THE 360 Roof Lounge

DISCOVERY SHORES: AN ESCAPE TO PARADISE A By Tet Andolong

FTER President Duterte ordered its closure last year, Boracay has been reopened to the public.

Notwithstanding the fact that the drainage construction in some areas is still under way after six months of rehabilitation efforts, Boracay’s powdery white shores are now cleaner and more spotless than they were before the closure. Some hotels and resorts remain closed, pending the issuance of permits from the Inter-agency Task Force. The government had implemented a “no compliance, no opening” policy to ensure that establishments follow rules and regulations. Back in business is the Discovery Shores Boracay, which is one of the winners of Preferred Hotels and Resorts 2018 I Prefer Members’ Choice Award. Set in the heart of Boracay’s vibrant culture and warm atmosphere, Discovery Shores Boracay was also named “Best for Families” in Asia at the Condé Nast Johansens 2018 Awards for Excellence, as well as the Country Winner of the World Luxury Hotel Awards 2017 as Luxury Family Resort and Luxury Wedding Destination. Coming to Discovery Shores for the first time is like stepping into a scene straight out of a postcard. The resort continues to allure with its charming beachfront with swaying palms where you can stroll and swim in clear turquoise waters. The luxury resort is centrally and conveniently located on White Beach

SANDS Restaurant

Station 1 and a few minutes away from food outlets, clothing stores and other activity centers. The establishment offers worldclass service and amenities. The resort has now 99 luxurious suites, including 65 junior suites, six onebedroom suites, 12 one-bedroom premier lofts, three two-bedroom suites and two two-bedroom premier lofts that overlook the pristine shoreline. Each room is complete with first-class amenities that include a 42-inch smart television; high-definition HD cable television; DVD player; 24-hour in-room dining; high-speed Internet; PressReader; digital access to newspapers and magazines worldwide; telephone; iPod dock (airplay ready) for premier rooms; soundbar (Bluetooth capable); in-room safe; Nespresso machine; tea amenities; minibar; mini refrigerator; hypoallergenic pillows available; down pillows; 100-percent cotton oversized towels; iron and ironing board; and hair dryer. An idyllic sojourn to Boracay takes the concept of an island resort to a whole new level with the latest addition to Discovery Shores—the collection of 11 Signature Suites which include seven Signature OneBedroom Suites (121 sq m with 8 sq m plunge pool); three Signature Two-Bedroom Suites (214 sq m with 23 sq m plunge pool); and one

GRAND Signature Suite Living Room Area

Grand Signature Suite (252 sq m with 9 sq m plunge pool). The Signature Suites are poised to become the premier place to stay on Boracay’s international renowned White Beach—bringing unique services and unparalleled experiences to the island’s most discerning visitors. Each of these light-filled suites features high ceilings, a spacious dining area and a separate living room. Each suite opens up to a spacious balcony with its own private lounge pool and commanding coastal or island views. As soon as your booking is complete at the Signature Suites, you will end up in the care of their Guest Experience Makers. These local experts will tailor your island experience to your specific needs and preferences. GEMs offer discreet, unobtrusive service—anticipating your every need and offering

SIGNATURE One-Bedroom Suite

unique, experience-enhancing services throughout your stay. Located at the Signature Suites Wing, which are convenient for its guests are the Forno Osteria, the 360 Roof Lounge and the Great Room. Forno Osteria is an Italian restaurant, which is open from breakfast through dinner. Forno serves Italian fare in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. The menu focuses on freshly made pasta, brickoven pizza and succulent steaks cooked in a Josper oven. A stunning selection of wines and handcrafted cocktails are also available at Forno. The 360 Roof Lounge offers a 360-view of Boracay and the sea. You may relax on the pool deck, laze in a hammock or decompress in a jacuzzi or infinity lounge pool. The Great Room, which is exclusive for Signature Suite guests only, is

a convivial lounge and the perfect place to come together and enjoy complimentary snacks and beverages. The Great Room is where you can also meet your guest. The Signature services and amenities include “Your exclusive Guest Experience Maker; complimentary minibar with daily replenishment; Global Concierge Premium Service; 24-hour in-room dining; breakfast in bed; housekeeping services; highdefinition IPTV [50” or 55”] with digital cable channels; telephone; iPod dock; soundbar; in-room safe; tea-making facilities and Nespresso machine; pillow menu; 100-percent cotton oversized towels; iron and ironing board; Dyson hair dryer; high-speed Internet access; PressReader for digital access to newspapers and magazines; airport boat and van transfers; shuttle service; laundry and pressing service; and

SWIMMING Pool

doctor or nurse on call. Discovery Shores takes pride in its famous restaurants and bars, including Sands, Indigo, Sand Bar and Sunken Pool Bar. Sands offers epicurean pleasures from simple comfort dishes to the fresh bounties of the land and sea. Indigo features contemporary coastal cuisine, grilled meats and seafood, while The Sand Bar serves a wide range of alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. It is the perfect setting to enjoy the magnificent Boracay sunset. The Sunken Pool Bar is right by the pool, which offers famous cocktail drinks designed for any occasion. Discovery Shores also offers Terra Wellness Spa, the spa that can truly transform and leave you renewed and refreshed. Terra is on the second floor above the Sands Restaurant facing the beach. Terra offers full body massage, facials, scrubs, wraps, foot therapy, traditional Chinese reflexology and Holistic approach to wellness. The resort also has function rooms that can accommodate from 20 to 50 persons and are fullyequipped with audio-visual equipment, loudspeakers, high-speed broadband Internet access, highpowered output amplifiers, technical support, whiteboard and other accessories—perfect for seminars, events, etc. Discovery Shores has a remarkable, personalized, exclusive and intuitive dedicated staff service. Everyone knows you, greets you like they’ve known you for a long time. The resort offers engaging stays and memorable moments. They represent the very best features of luxury within the comforts of a residence setting. Discovery Shores is definitely a place that you will keep going back to. This is the place for me.

Journey

»life on the go

BusinessMirror

A6 Sunday, August 18, 2019

Editor: Tet Andolong

ALBAY’S AUGUST ALLURE

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KARAGUMOY mat weaving

GUINOBATAN’S mouthwatering longganisa

CASA Simeon BERNARD SUPETRAN

By Bernard L. Supetran

UGUST, arguably, may not be an ideal time to go on travel because of the monsoon season and the proverbial “ghost month” superstition held by many. But for the people of Albay, this is, perhaps, among the jolliest of months with its string of festivities and interesting sights in almost every other town. A most awaited event is Legazpi City’s Ibalong Festival, a 27-year-old modern recreation of an epic legend written by Spanish friar Bernardino Melendreras. Its locus is a street presentation recreating the classic battles between the heroes of Ibalong— Baltog, Handyong and Bantong, against the monsters in the ancient land. With the legendary Mayon Volcano towering in the background, the city streets are transformed into a spectacular theater portraying the scenes in the Ibalong mythology in the mold of the Greek “Clash of the Titans.” Running from August 16 to 25, it boasts of a wide array of sporting, entertainment, cultural and special interest events which hypes Legazpi’s tag as the “City of Fun and Adventure,” and hub of tourism of the Bicol region. In between the revelry, guests can go on a culinary feast of traditional regional cuisine and contemporary food, or sip local spirits at a cozy restaurant or bar which spice up the city’s nocturnal scene. A few minutes north, the laid-back town of Guinobatan recently concluded a weeklong festival which puts to the fore its homemade delicacy—the longganisa, a bitesized pork sausage which has tickled the taste buds of Albayanos. Held in conjunction with the feast day of Our Lady of Assumption, the seventh

staging of the celebration was highlighted by a street dancing tilt and a Culinaria longganisa cooking and making contest to jazz up the well-loved dish. Down south, the resort town of Bacacay is slowly gaining attention for its natural and cultural allure hidden from plain sight for the longest time. With a vast land area and a long shoreline, it is Albay’s “beach capital” of sort for its powdery sands of varying shades—black, beige and white—scattered at the different coves of the archipelagic town. Among the sought-after islands are Pinamuntugan and Cabungahan which boast of white beaches and an authentic tropical hideaway sans the modern resort amenities. Sula Channel, which separates the mainland from Cagraray island, is a narrow waterway which is a picture of tranquility with its verdant water and lushly vegetated mountains. In the heart of town is the 99-year-old Casa Simeon, the ancestral home of Don Simeon and wife Beatrice Alparce which has been given a new lease on life as an accommodation and dining establishment. Built in the typical Spanish bahay na bato architecture, it was restored a few years back as faithful as possible to its original look. The five-room two-floor pension house exudes the early 1900s ambiance which will transport you back in time. It has also put in room features, such as air-conditioning, cable TV, hot shower and Wi-fi connection to make your stay convenient as it is nostalgic.

LEGAZPI’S Ibalong Festival street presentation BERNARD SUPETRAN

JOROAN maritime procession in Tiwi VIVIAN TEMPLADO

It has a spacious and inviting foyer where one can lounge, and a study room adorned by antiques ideal for family bonding over board games and books. The house’s second floor has a staircase leading to the veranda and the upper living area called Cucina Beatrice, which is now a dining hall where heirloom recipes, traditional Albay dishes and all-time favorites are served to guests. By and large an agricultural economy, Bacacay is also celebrating its Karagumoy Festival, which derives its inspiration from an indigenous pandan leaf which grows to more than 6 feet tall. The strips from the long leaves of the plant is dried, flattened and dyed before being woven into mats,

hats, fans and bags, and sold at the markets and souvenir shops. Conceived as a tribute to the age-old cottage industry, the event was timed for the feast of Saint Rose of Lima, the town’s patron saint enshrined at the Spanish-era Baroque church. Lest we forget, Bacacay is also host to the posh Misibis Bay Resort which undeniably placed the once-obscure municipality in the world’s tourist map in the early 2000s. A small luxury hotel, it is a consummate destination for staycation and recreation away from the madding crowd. Another interesting event is the pilgrimage to the Nuestra Señora de Salvacion held at the upland barangay of Joroan in Tiwi town. Held every August 25, it is highlight-

ed by a maritime procession after a mass at Joroan Church on the shores of Sogod. The image of Our Lady of Salvation is carried by the men down to the beach where a well-adorned trawl boat. An entourage of decorated pump boats follow, ferrying the pilgrims to the village of Sogod where a concelebrated mass is held again. Also regarded as the patron of Albay, it draws Marian devotees from all over the province and the Bicol region the wholeyear round, thus making a strong case for faith tourism. After fulfilling their religious obligation, guests can swing by at the ceramic stores to shop for exquisite pottery or get refreshed by sipping on the signature cheese-laden DJC halo-halo. With the food, festival, faith and fun it offers, Albay is undoubtedly the alluring place to be this August, rain or shine.

Your perfect beach getaway with the gang awaits

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OW there’s another perfect reason to pack your bags and go on an epic beach escapade with your best buddies. Rediscover the true beauty of the new Boracay or go on a fun island adventure in the picturesque shores of Coron, Palawan. With the unique travel goals of friends

CLUB Paradise Palawan

in mind, Discovery Shores Boracay created the Beach Squad package for a group of four, with rates starting at P25,300++ per night on lean season and at P32,000++ per night during peak season, while Club Paradise Palawan crafted the Palawan Pals package, also for a group of four, with rates

starting at P23,000++ per night on lean season and P27,000++ during peak season. Enjoy exclusive perks, such as roundtrip airport transfers, daily breakfast, drinks and pizza, plus a hearty boodle fight feast with three of your friends, all compliments of the resort. Take that well-deserved break and leave the stress of the city. Make your beach getaway dreams into reality and create unforgettable island memories with your best friends. Now you can trade up your hectic morning routine with a leisurely breakfast by the beach or a rejuvenating hike up a mountain or a bike trail around the island, followed by an afternoon of snorkeling or kayaking. There are a ton of unique island activities that you can do in Boracay and Palawan from sunup to sundown. You can choose your kind of bonding moments with your buddies— whether you prefer a serene beach escape with your closest friends or a vibrant and active island adventure. Book your barkada beach trip, reconnect with your best pals and, together, discover beachside bliss, creative cuisine and exciting water sports. Making wonderful memories has never been this exciting. For inquiries and reservations, visit www.discoveryshoresboracay.com or For Club Paradise Palawan visit www.clubparadisepalawan.com.

METROBANK Commercial Banking Group–Countryside Head Leopoldo Ubaldo (from left); Dr. Jacinto Gavino Jr.; Metrobank Institutional Banking Sector Head Mary Mylene Caparas; Metrobank Commercial Banking Center–Visayas Head Jay Ajos; and Metrobank Commercial Banking Division–Makati III OIC Head Ruigi Dumlao

Metrobank makes banking meaningful for the next generation

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ETROPOLITAN Bank and Trust Co. (Metrobank) understands the pressure that goes with running a business, especially a family-owned one. More so today, the challenges are both the same and different for the next generation of young entrepreneurs. Rising above this challenge, Metrobank just held another successful edition of its Generation Now Leadership Series in Cebu City. Significantly, the Leadership Series was conceptualized by young relationship managers of the bank, who recognized the need to address the concerns of these new breed of clients. Its aim is to help the new set of leaders steer their family-owned companies into the next generation of stewardship.

This event is the first in the industry. Now on its third run, the recent talk was led by Dr. Jacinto Gavino Jr., an expert on managing family corporations and executive coaching. He discussed the structure of family corporations, its different business roles, and the challenges in running one, such as succession, professionalization and governance. “This Leadership Series is firmly rooted on the bank’s goal to be with our customers every step of the way until they fulfill their biggest dreams. As we help you manage your business, we are ultimately empowering future leaders who will soon help drive the Philippine economy,” said Institutional Banking Sector Head Mary Mylene Caparas.

Journey

»life on the go

BusinessMirror

Editor: Tet Andolong

Sunday, August 18, 2019 A7

DOT 11 holds Davao Oriental dive fest

GREAT WALL dive site in Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental RODNEY JAO

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O promote and develop the dive tourism industry in the Davao region, the Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 11 held the first Sawom Dabaw, the Davao Oriental Dive Festival in Governor Generoso (GovGen). sawom, which literally means to swim or dive, featured discovery dive tours among participating dive center operators, industry stakeholders, underwater photographers and media. According to DOT 11 Regional Director Tanya Rabat-Tan, they envision the province as the next diving getaway of the region with its rich marine and terrestrial biodiversity. She noted that it has the region’s longest coastline of more than 500 kilometers, exemplifying the richness of its coastal and marine resources that can be harnessed for sustainable tourism. She said that the event is a step toward DOT 11’s “Islands to Highlands” tourism thrust of discovering new “ridge to reef” sites it can offer to adventure-loving local and foreign visitors of the region.

The divers explored the dive sites of GovGen, namely Sigaboy Island, Coral Garden, Cape San Agustin and Great Wall, a drop-off near the coast of Tagabebe village which teems with barrel sponges, soft coral and gorgonian fans. A dive forum was also conducted simultaneously for the locals to underscore sustainability of the town’s marine biodiversity. They were also given introductory, shore entry scuba diving in Pundaguitan. The event is a partnership of Visit Davao Summer Festival, the Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving, the Province of Davao Oriental, and Municipality of Governor Generoso, with Air Asia Philippines as official carrier. A series of dive validation activities were subsequently held in Mati City and the municipality of Tarragona, which revealed more potential sites for diving operations. The DOT dive expedition was hatched last year in Talikud Island, in the Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte.

Oyo Hotels & Homes appoints new CEO

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YO Hotels and Homes, the world’s third-largest and fastest-growing chain of leased and franchised hotels, homes and living spaces, today announced the appointment of Dr. Mandar Vaidya as chief executive officer for Southeast Asia and the Middle East, effective August 1, 2019. This appointment comes in light of the company’s efforts to continue to invest in and attract world-class leadership, as part of its focus on driving accelerated growth in two of its high-potential markets—Southeast Asia and the Middle East. A seasoned professional with more than 15 years of experience, Vaidya will be responsible for driving business growth for Oyo in these two regions, which include markets, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The company has committed more than $200 million in investment, in Southeast Asia, which will help in fueling its aggressive expansion plans in the region over the next couple of years. Oyo Hotels continues to bring its successful model of combining design, hospitality and technological expertise, financial acumen and operational capabilities to hotel owners around the world, enabling them to achieve a higher return on investments, access easy financing opportunities, transform their hotels and offer good-quality customer service toward significantly increasing occupancy and profitability in every Oyo building. There are more than 23,000 of these buildings worldwide, with over 1,500 buildings in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Oyo started with the belief that everyone deserves a beautifully designed and comfortable

DR. Mandar Vaidya

living space. Committed to changing the way people live, Oyo continues to transform unbranded hotels into quality living spaces, offering them at affordable prices in the best locations around the world. Commenting on the development, Ritesh Agarwal, founder and CEO of Oyo Hotels and Homes said, ‘’We are thrilled to welcome Mandar to the Oyo family, as he takes on the responsibility of strengthening Oyo’s presence in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. He exhibits the true characteristics of an Oyopreneur, and has the problemsolving attitude necessary to help Oyo move toward its goal of transforming the global hospitality landscape. These two markets are crucial to our international expansion strategy, as we are currently delivering high-quality accommodation experience to guests in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, the UAE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Under Mandar’s leadership, we look forward to establishing a strong relationship with asset owners in these regions, while staying true to our mission of delivering a chic hospitality experience at hardto-ignore prices. I wish him the best for the journey ahead.’’

Luxury travelers look forward to returning to Pangulasian

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RIVACY in their own pocket of paradise and fresh guest experiences have put El Nido Resorts’ top-end property Pangulasian on the radar of luxury travelers worldwide.

Better yet, many of them return to be reinvigorated by the views of limestone cliffs that dramatically change with the light and by the island’s in-house reef, featuring a wide diversity of marine life, among the most diverse in the world. Consequently, the island resort’s challenge is to constantly enhance the Pangulasian guest experience, according to Joey Bernardino, marketing director of Ten Knots Development Corp., owner and developer of El Nido Resorts. To achieve this, facility upgrades, like deck chairs, that invite guests to

linger and relax longer, as well as equipment that process wastewater so that the island’s surrounding waters remain attractive to marine life are in order. For the next few months, Pangulasian will be closed for these types of renovation. It will reopen in December with its cogon villas with spacious highceilings, surrounded by lush greenery and other highly rated amenities that carry a Filipino tropical theme. These plush structures will continue to be complimented by the island resorts’ unmatched attraction—an ivory beach that stretches

for about a kilometer, soothed by gentle waves, owing to its location within a bay. A guest will share this beach surrounded by turquoise waters and healthy reefs, only with other Pangulasian guests. These unique attractions have earned Pangulasian, for years now, a string of prestigious awards focusing on responsible or sustainable tourism. It has consistently been named one of the Top 50 resorts in the World by the readers of Condé Nast Traveller, an acclaimed and multi-awarded travel magazine that is the bible of luxury travelers worldwide. The Pacific Asia Travel Association, the leading travel group of the region, has also included it in its Best Branded Accommodation category of The Tourism Inspire Awards, among many other awards. “Size and ostentation are no longer the priority of high-end travelers who set world trends,” observes Bernardino. “They focus, instead, on nature-focused resorts, now threatened by climate change and other environmental risks. They

also single out resorts that adopt sustainable practices.” Sustainable tourism has been a trademark of El Nido Resorts for the past 40 years. According to Javi Hernandez, Ten Knots president, many guests return to Pangulasian because they like to be left by themselves to enjoy nature. “Our goal was to keep densities low and to make guests feel they have the place mostly to themselves. Each villa has its own defined space to allow privacy. It is further surrounded with natural landscaping. Villas are tucked behind trees. The canopy villas, located on higher ground, are on stilts, but look like they are part of the landscape. From the shore, you see the trees and greenery first before you see the structures.” For the next few months, the cogon roofs of the villas will be replaced and back-of-the-house facilities like the sewage treatment plant and desalination plant, which will be upgraded. These maintenance activities will ensure that guests continue to encounter paradise in Pangulasian for more years to come.

Affordable travel courtesy of RedDoorz

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T’S that season between vacayhappy summer and the coming “ber” months. Traffic, too much work, piled up tasks and pressure can likely get you down. There’s one word that will lift you up. Escape. The very thought of it is the ultimate adventure, whether just around the city or in destinations around the Philippines. According to the still ongoing Framingham Heart Study, men and women who travel often are less likely to get heart disease. It also found that because travel relieves stress, it improves mental health, boosts the immune system and promotes fitness. The good news is, it’s so easy to travel these days. Affordable hotels with quality accommodations like RedDoorz have 150 plus properties in 10 plus cities all over the Philippines. The RedDoorz travel app, downloadable from the Apple Store or Google Play Store, puts staycations or out of town trips literally at one’s fingertips. You can escape anytime you want and find an affordable RedDoorz hotel from north to south. Here are six escape ideas you can easily pull off

when the spirit moves you:

1. Do a staycation.

TREAT the family to a fun weekend or, just disappear for a day or two, watching streamed movies all day. You can choose from boutique hotels, inns, apartels or condotels that are part of the RedDoorz partner chain. It won’t cost much, but the experience is priceless.

2. Go out of town.

YOU can easily book a room using the RedDoorz app and find your desired accommodation in Baguio, Pampanga, Metro Manila, Tagaytay, Palawan, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod or Davao. Just leave the world behind, even for just a weekend. Even for just a day.

3. Try a couple getaway

THE pressure of work and the dayto-day grind of housekeeping can really be straining. Grab some time off with your special someone for some peace and quiet, and rediscover the joy of each other’s company.

4. Reward yourself

PAT yourself on the back for that promotion, or the exam that you

just passed. Celebrate your accomplishments and be kind to No. 1. Effortless travel is the best gift you can give yourself. A weekend in Palawan or Davao would be a really good choice!

5. Celebrate a special occasion

BLOW your birthday candles in the private cocoon of a RedDoorz hotel room. Toast one another on your special anniversary. You can even invent holidays, and celebrate the victory of your winning team. It

all feels extra good when you don’t have to wash the dishes yourself.

6. Get some Me time

ULTIMATELY, the most important person is you. Discover the fun and adventure of solo travel and feel relaxed, recharged and rejuvenated. This August, RedDoorz released its biggest sale ever! It’s just P499 per night on rooms anywhere in the Philippines, until August 31. You can paint the town red in any RedDoorz town you want.

Journey BusinessMirror

»life on the go

A8 |Sunday, August 18, 2019 • Editor: Tet Andolong

THE view of Mount Mayon from Sumlang Lake

Bicol, Que Rica!

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THE TOURISM ADVOCATE

THE kinunot, a local dish from Sorsogon, as prepared by Siama Hotel’s Chef Meann Guardian

THIS is what’s inside a serving of pinangat, as shown by Chef Ato of Socorro’s Lakeside Restaurant

BICOL meets Spain with this delicious laing paella by Qué Pasa Naga’s Chef Jet Sumayao

VERY time I see my good friend Rica DakudaoBuenaflor, it’s always in the context of good food. I remember her doing a curated Bicol pop-up in Grace Park and more recently, she caught me hovering her best of Bicol goodies. A week after, I was off in a plane, with time I don’t have, exploring one of the dearest regions to my heart. More than being one of Instagram’s favorites, with its pristine beaches, outdoor activities, volcanic beauty and iconic festivals, Bicol is a place filled with a rich history, culture and variety of flavors, and emanating in the unique cuisine found in its humblest of towns and barrios. Bicol’s best-kept secret? Food. My good friend, Chef Rica Dakudao- Buenaflor invited me to a culinary journey of the Bicol region last July. And I must say, the Best of Bicol Food Tour opened my eyes to the different flavors that Bicol has to offer. Together with the Tourism Promotions Board COO Marie Venus Tan, TPB Market Specialist Albert Gadia, and The Manilla Collectible Co. President Charisse AquinoTugade, we embarked on a threeday, land-to-sea experience, which started in Camarines Sur, made its way to Albay and with Sorsogon as the last stop. Camarines Sur welcomes the first day of the tour. This place has given birth to cuisines, notably distinct from one town to the next. When we arrived in Naga City, we were welcomed with a Bicolandia feast

for lunch at Qué Pasa Naga. The lunch expanded our knowledge of Bicolano cuisine, apart from the laing and Bicol Express. After lunch, we were graced by the presence of notable Bicol historian Danny Gerona, as he told us stories wherein we learned more about Bicol. For merienda, we headed over to Baao, Camarines Sur, for banana blossom burgers from BidiBidi Café by artist and philanthropist Bidibidi de los Santos. Aside from her best-selling healthy offering, we were delighted to see her beautiful designs up close. Right before the sun has set, we learned how to cook laing by way of authentic Bicol cooking in a class by Nanay Edna and Chef Rica at Little Pecuaria Farm in Bula, Camarines Sur, where the most beautiful view of Mount Isarog looms in the background. After the cooking class, we ended the day with great food prepared by Chef Jet Sumayao of Qué Pasa Naga, paired with Ibalon Craft Brew’s sili beer, under a canopy of stars. The next day, we started the day early with a tour of the Naga City Public Market, where we got to know some of Bicol’s homegrown produce. Afterwards, we savored a steaming bowl of kinalas for breakfast at Mang Kok’s. We bade goodbye to Camarines Sur, as we headed off to Albay. On the way to the city of Legazpi in the province of Albay, we treated ourselves to classic roadside snacks

THE beautiful dinner table setup at Little Pecuaria Farm during our first night at Bicol

NAGA’S favorite combo: the kinalas and turon

THE Best of Bicol Food Tour crew with Siama Hotel’s Milo Naval

like puto sa bao, biniribid and sinapot in the town of Ligao. Our first stop at Albay is at Camalig, home to the beautiful Sumlang Lake. We were treated to a lunch by Socorro’s Lakeside Restaurant with dishes native to Albay. After a hearty meal, Chef Ato of Socorro’s taught us how to make pinangat, a classic Albayanon dish, with the beautiful

view of Mount Mayon as our background. After a much-needed time to rest and relax, Jessica Wong of Casa Simeon invited us to a dinner in their beautiful ancestral home, repurposed to be a specialty accommodations hotel. The weather was a tad bit gloomy during our trip, but that didn’t stop us to make our way to the last stop

of the tour, Sorsogon. We headed over to Siama Hotel by furniture designer Milo Naval. And true to their promise, it truly became our home in Sorsogon. The hotel was a beautiful showcase of Milo’s craftsmanship, from the interiors, to the furniture, up to the smallest detail. While there, Chef Rica taught us how to eat fresh pili fruits picked

from the Siama Hotel’s backyard garden. The pili fruit, one of Bicol’s most famous local fruit, produces the pili nut, which is actually the healthiest nut in the world right now. It’s truly a local product that not only Bicol, but the Philippines as well, should be championing across the world. From Sorsogon City, we went to nearby Gubat, Sorsogon, where Siama Surf, another beautiful creation by Milo, is located. That’s where Chef Meann Guardian showed us how to cook the kinunot and baluko, Sorsogon’s staple dishes. In just three days, I was able to discover the beauty of Bicol, and was able to see it in another perspective—and a tasteful one at that! I’d highly recommend this tour to friends and colleagues who are always on the lookout for a gastronomic adventure that is refreshing and a feast for all of my senses. Realizing that there really is more to the “Best of Bicol,” I’ll take a mental note and come back anticipating for more surprises. Follow the Best of Bicol crew via their Instagram and Facebook page @bestofbicolofficial.

Faith

Sunday

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

Sunday, August 18, 2019 A9

Clashes undermine fragile truce over Jerusalem holy site

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ERUSALEM—It wasn’t inevitable that the overlap of Jewish and Muslim holidays would lead to clashes at a Jerusalem site deeply revered by both faiths.

MOSES with the Ten Commandments by Rembrandt (1659) WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Mosaic Covenant By Corazon Damo-Santiago

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ACOB went to Egypt after a famine in Bethel. Joseph, the 11th son of Jacob, was an official next to the pharaoh. A new king came into power. He was alarmed of the great number of Israelites who were not only strong but prolific too. To curtail their growth in number, all Hebrew midwives were ordered to kill at birth all boys born to Hebrew parents. But the God-fearing midwives disregarded the king’s order.

Moses, the fugitive

MOSES was born about 1520 in Egypt, of Israelite parents. It was difficult to hide him at three months old. To save him, he was placed on a papyrus basket and hidden among the reeds on a riverbank by his sister. The pharaoh’s daughter, who came to bathe, saw the baby, took pity on him and told a girl to look for a woman to nurse him. Who else volunteered, but his own mother. Moses lived in the royal court and received instruction in science and Egyptian culture. His first attempt to help a fellow kinsman from an Egyptian, Moses sent him into hiding when the king ordered his death for killing the Egyptian. He fled to Midian, lived in the home of Jethro, a priest, and married Zipporah, one of Jethro’s daughters.

The Exodus

ONE day, while leading Jethro’s flock, he reached Horeb and saw a burning bush. Curiosity made him go near when the fire failed to consume the plant. He heard his name called twice and ordered to come nearer. He did, but the voice told him, “Come no nearer. Remove the sandals from your feet for the place you stand is holy ground” (Exodus 3:5). It was the Lord, who tasked him to rescue the suffering Hebrews and lead them out of Egypt to a land of milk and honey (Exodus 3:11). Introducing himself as “I am who I am,” he simply had

to tell the pharaoh, “I am, sent me to you. This is His name forever, His title for all generations” (Exodus 3: 14). God empowered Moses to change his staff into a snake and return to its original form when he gets the snake by the tail. Despite his excuses for the Lord to send another to comfort the pharaoh, he was prevailed upon to go with Aaron. The pharaoh rejected their plea to free the Hebrews. The following incidents devastated Egypt: Egyptian waters turned into blood, plagues of frogs, gnats, locusts flies, pestilence, festering boils on men and beasts, rain that covered the entire land of Egypt, intense darkness for three days and death of all first-born children and animals of Israelites, which included the pharaoh’s son (Exodus 5-11). With the death of his son, the pharaoh commanded Moses and Aaron that all Israelites, f locks and herds leave Egypt (Exodus 12:32). Not counting women and children, 600,000 men left Egypt after 430 years of enslavement (Exodus 12:37-40). But the Egyptians in their chariots pursued the Hebrews. When Moses stretched his hand over the waters as directed by the Lord, the pursuing Egyptians were all drowned (Exodus 14:23-25).

The covenant

ON the third month after their departure, the Israelites arrived in the desert of Sinai. God summoned Moses to the top of the mountain and handed the Ten Commandments. Moses read aloud to the people the Ten Commandments. The people responded, “We will do everything that the Lord had told us” (Exodus 24:3). Damo-Santiago is a former regional director of the Department of Education National Capital Region. She is currently a faculty member of Mater Redemptoris Collegium in Calauan, Laguna, and of Mater Redemptoris College in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija.

But when rumors circulated that Israeli police would allow Jews to visit the hilltop compound during Muslim prayers, it appeared to many Palestinians that Israel was further chipping away at their claims to the site. As demonstrators massed at the gates and began throwing stones at the police, it became a self-fulfilling prophecy. After an outcry by right-wing Israeli leaders, the police reversed an earlier decision to bar the Jewish visitors and let them in, as stun grenades echoed and tear gas filled the air. The holy site, known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary, has long been a flashpoint for IsraeliPalestinian violence. But sensitivities are especially high at the moment, with the peace process a distant memory and Israel heading to elections next month. In the current atmosphere, e ven t he sm a l lest perceived changes to the status of the site— the emotional and symbolic center of the decades-old conflict— can spark violence.

Perceived threat

THE compound is the holiest site to the Jewish people and the third holiest in Islam, after Mecca and Medina. It was the site of two Jewish temples in antiquity and is the home of the iconic gold Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque. Last Sunday morning, tens of thousands of Muslims flocked to the site to mark the start of Eid al-Adha, a Muslim holiday honoring the time God stayed Abraham’s hand after asking him to sacrifice his son. Hundreds of Israeli religious nationalists also showed up in observance of Ninth of Av, when Jews mourn the destruction of the temples and other historical calamities. The site is located in east Jerusalem, which Israel seized along with the West Bank and Gaza in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians want those territories to form their future state, with east Jerusalem as their capital. Israel annexed east Jerusalem in a move not recognized internationally, and views the whole city as its capital. The hilltop shrine is managed

by an Islamic trust under Jordanian stewardship, and day-to-day affairs are governed by informal understandings with Israel known as the “status quo.” The Palestinians fear any erosion of the status quo could lead to an Israeli takeover or partition of the site. According to those rules, Jews are allowed to visit the compound during certain times but are forbidden to pray there. The Islamic trust overseeing the site, known as the Waqf, said it was unprecedented and unacceptable to allow Jews to visit during a major Muslim holiday. “It has been customary that on Muslim holidays, the site would be closed to non-Muslims in respect for the special sanctity of the days,” said Daniel Seidemann, founder of Terrestrial Jerusalem, a group that tracks developments in the holy city. “That basically was violated for the first time when Jerusalem Day and the final days of Ramadan overlapped [in June], and it happened again yesterday,” he said. In response, the Waqf said it took the “exceptional decision” to delay morning prayers, typically

The Christian life is like fire

MSGR. JOSEFINO S. RAMIREZ SUNDAY GOSPEL IN OUR LIFE

‘I

FOR decades, most rabbis forbade Jews from visiting the site altogether, but a growing cadre of religious nationalist rabbis have endorsed visiting the holy site and their adherents have flocked there in increasing numbers in recent years. The number of Jewish visitors to the shrine stood at around 5,800 in 2010, but by 2018 had grown to 35,600, according to statistics released by Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan. He said 1,729 Jews visited the site on Sunday, compared to 1,440 on the Ninth of Av in 2018, adding that he would “continue to work to strengthen Israeli sovereignty on the Mount.” Jerusalem District Police Chief Doron Yedid said it was the Waqf that violated the status quo by delaying the prayers. Police said the site would remain closed to non-Muslim visitors until last Thursday, following the end of the Muslim holiday. “The message sent to the Palestinians and to the Muslim worshippers is: ‘This is a shared site. Get used to it,’” Seidemann said. “And that is a significant erosion of the traditional understandings of the status quo.” Azzam Khateeb, the Waqf ’s di-

rector, said the altercation proved that “Israeli ambitions in the mosque are not limited to the extreme right-wing groups, but also to the Israeli government.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said he has no intention of changing the status quo, despite calls from his right-wing allies for expanded access. That has left him vulnerable on the issue as he seeks to secure an unprecedented fourth consecutive term in office in elections next month, which were called after he failed to form a coalition government following a vote in April. “It’s very difficult for Netanyahu right now,” as he competes for votes with other right-wing parties, said Lior Lehrs, director of the Program on Israeli-Palestinian Peacemaking at Mitvim, an Israeli think tank. That may encourage Netanyahu to adopt a tougher stance, especially after he was widely criticized by right-wing leaders in the wake of Sunday’s clashes. In the meantime, Israeli hardliners are hailing Sunday’s visit as a victory. Assaf Fried, a spokesman for a group calling for the construction of a third temple on the site, expressed pride in the visit in a Facebook post. “You need to remember,” he wrote, “that since the Muslim conquest of Jerusalem [in 637 A.D.], not a single Jewish foot stood on the Temple Mount on a Muslim holiday.” AP

applications for our daily living. The first Christians well understood the comparison w ith fire. Being a ver y small and insignificant minority in pagan surroundings, they inf luenced t hose a rou nd t hem t h rou g h their apostolic zeal based on their love for the Master. They started with those closest to them—it is not surprising that if one member of the family became a Christian, slowly and gradually, other members also began to embrace the faith. They would see the exemplary life and bearing of the Christian, and they would be attracted to the same belief and way of life. In this sense, apostolate is like fire, because it seeks to enkindle those around us with the same love for God. But have you ever obser ved the charred remains of what wa s once a bl a zing bonf ire?

T here is no more dy namism, no more energ y, in the charcoal and ashes of a fire that has died dow n. If it retains any warmth at all, we know that it w ill soon be dissipated and engulfed by the surroundings atmosphere. Besides passing on the flame, the Christian has the serious duty to make sure that his own fire is always blazing. We cannot help others, we cannot bring others close to the light of God, if we neglect our own spiritual life. That is why the first duty of the apostle is to make sure that his own life is ablaze with the f lame of divine love. And he will do this by devoting some time and effort exclusively to the cultivation of that f lame. That is why there is a need to take care of the spiritual exercise and acts of piety and devotion proper of the Christian spirit.

‘Shared site’

PALESTINIANS celebrate the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha in front of the Dome of the Rock shrine in Jerusalem on August 11. AP/MAHMOUD ILLEAN

20TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME: ‘LUKE 12:49-53’

have come to cast fire on earth, and what more could I want than that it be enkindled?” (Luke 12:49). These are mysterious words of Christ. And perhaps the verses that follow are even more mysterious. The Peacemaker, the Christ gentle and humble of heart, predicts that because of His message, there will be some kind of division—father against son, son against father, and so forth (cf. Lk 12:52-3). This fire that Christ is talking about refers to the Christian life.

held at 6:30 a.m., by an hour so that they would conflict with normal visiting hours. Soon thereafter the clashes erupted, wounding at least 14 Palestinians and four Israeli police.

And we know that the Christian life is ultimately based on love of God. But it is not the sugar-candy type of sentimental love; it is a strong and solid love, which is symbolized by fire. Fire is a dynamic and energetic force that necessarily affects whatever it touches and all of its surroundings. If fire does not ignite and burn the things around it, it at least succeeds in raising the temperature. This enigmatic phase of Our Lord can have some practical

Science

BusinessMirror

A10 Sunday, August 18, 2019

Sunday

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

7 newly conferred, upgraded scientists take their oath

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HE Science Career System (SCS) held its 2019 oathtaking of newly conferred and upgraded scientists on August 9 at a hotel in Quezon City.

The oath-taking was hosted by the SCS and National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL). The Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Department of Science and Technology conferred the Scientist rank to six new researchers and upgraded the rank of one scientist from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), the Department of Agriculture (DA) and DOST. T he ne w l y con fe r re d a nd upg raded sc ient ists a re: 1.For Sofronio C. Camacho, Scientist I from the Forest Development Center. He conducted significant researches for more than three decades in the areas of community-based forest management, citronella production and processing, bamboo production and harvesting, forest traditional knowledge, mangrove ecosystems, forest certification and climate change. His researches contribute greatly to the development of human communities and help promote sustainable and equitable forest management and rehabilitations/ restoration of degraded areas in our country. 2. Dr. Fe M. de la Cueva, Scientist I from the Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB) is the principal investigator for many research projects with outputs that are now being used by several relevant industries and stakeholders. Among her contributions that created an impact to the national economy or pest industry include the development of virus using antibody-based and nucleic acid based detection techniques, which subsequently made the Plant Laboratory of IPB as the National Virus

Indexing Lab for banana by Bioversity International. 3. Dr. Olivia P. Damasco, Scientist I also from IPB, pioneered the banana tissue culture, a breakthrough technology that contributed tremendously in value of clean planting materials needed by the banana industry. More recently, as the principal investigator, she initiated the in vitro conversation of the Philippine sugarcane germplasm collections. In an environment highly vulnerable to natural calamities, climate change, and urbanization, the in vitro gene bank offers assurance of security and safety of valuable plant genetic resources. 4. Dr. Reynante L. Ordonio, Scientist I from the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) of the DA, found for the first time in sorghum that gibberellin (GA) is crucial for the erectness of its culum. He showed that GA deficiency resulting from any loss-of-function mutation in four genes involved in the early steps of GA biosynthesis not only results in severe dwarfism but also abnormal culm bending in sorghum. 5. Dr. Imelda A. Agdeppa, Scientist II from the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the DOST, conducted numerous researches, which were considered as basis for crafting laws and policies for the improvement in nutritional status of Filipinos. They include the “Integrated Model on School-Based Gardening, Nutrition Education and Supplementary Feeding” which became the reference of the recently released National Supplementary Feeding Act, and the “Pilot-Scale Commercialization Iron Fortified

THE 2019 newly conferred and upgraded scientists (from left): Mario V. Navasero, MSc; Imelda Angeles Agdeppa, PhD; Fe M. de la Cueva, PhD; Olivia P. Damasco, PhD; Charito Tranquilan-Aranilla, MSc; Sofronio C. Camacho, MSc; and Reynante L. Ordonio, PhD.

Rice” that led to the release of local ordinances for the sale and consumption of iron-fortified rice (IFR) in numerous local government units (LGUs). This intervention model has been fully adopted for implementation in different parts of the country. IFR is included as a food commodity in the Family Food Packs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development; used in the supplementary feeding program of the Department of Education, and has attracted adopters of the technology resulting to wider distribution of IFR. 6. Charito T. Aranilla, Scientist I of Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, conducted sig nificant researches in the fields of radiation chemistry and radiation processing, utilizing ionizing radiation like gamma radiation and electron beam to modify polymeric materials for various applications.

She pioneered the carboxymethylation of kappa-carrageenan (CMKC) and opened doors to more nonfood applications of the polysaccharide. Carboxymethylation transformed k-carrageenan from degrading to radiation crosslinking-responsive polymer. The CMkC can be used as a stand-alone material for developing crosslinked and sterile hydrogel for wound care management. The crosslinked hydrogel also demonstrated super-absorbency and biodegradability that can be utilized to ameliorate sandy soil and improved water holding capacity to make suitable for crop cultivation. 7. Mario V. Navasero, Scientist II from the National Crop Protection Center of UPLB, is notable for his achievements during the period for his upgrading (20132015), which included the discovery and use of Comperiella calaunica (Hymenoptera: Encytridae), an efficient biological con-

trol agent and specific parasitoid, that contributed to the cessation of outbreak of invasive cocolisap Aspidiotus Rigidus Reyne (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), elucidate the chemical bases of repellency of some plants to some major pests of rice and eggplant, and assessment of potential impact of Bacillus thuringiensis eggplant, the first insecticide-protected plant being developed in the country, on nontarget arthropods. The scientists were sworn in by CSC and SCC Chairman Alicia de la Rosa-Bala; Science Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña; NAST PHL President Acd. Rhodora V. Azanza; National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) President Dr. Ramon A. Razal, NAST PHL Director IV Luningning E. Samarita-Domingo, Chairman of Special Technical Committee on Natural Sciences, Acd. Fabian M. Dayrit, chairman of Special Technical Committee on

Agricultural Sciences, Acd. Eufemio T. Rasco Jr. and Chairman of Special Technical Committee on Social Sciences Dr. Maria Cynthia Rose B. Bautista. The conferred scientists are ranked to receive the corresponding salary grade. They are also entitled to representation and travel allowances; Magna Carta benefits; membership in international scientific organization and/or subscription to scientific journals; publication assistance; and foreign travel assistance for oral paper presentation of $3,000 per scientist every two years. With this development, the roster of scientists conferred under the system brings the total number to 168 since it was institutionalized in 1983 by then-President Ferdinand E. Marcos. The system is the government’s effort for personnel in the government institutions with limited number of available higher plantilla positions.

STEPPING UP INFO MOVES TO REACH A WIDER AUDIENCE FOR S&T S

By Lyn Resurreccion

CIENCE Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña is one of the hosts of the new science and technology (S&T) radio and TV programs—DOSTv sa Radyo over Radio Pilipinas every Saturday at 11 a.m., and of Siyensikat on GMA News TV every Sunday at 4 p.m. In a rare move, the reserved secretary sang the popular “Ang Huling El Bimbo” that wowed the crowd—composed mostly of science exhibit viewers—during the concert held by the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST)-Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC) band in the recent National Science and Technology Week (NSTW). The DOST officials and employees are now becoming familiar with de la Peña’s singing at DOST public events, such as at the doxology at the NSTW in 2018 and last June. However, despite his active public “performances,” the Science chief is not aiming to have a new career as broadcaster or singer after his term at the department, he quickly said. He said he agreed to take part in the two programs “not because I want a job after my term as [DOST] secretary, but really it is part of my obligation and duty to do that part.” De la Peña said they were part of the agency’s aim “to reach and inform a wider audience about science, technology and innovation [STI],” he explained at the recent 32nd anniversary of the DOST-Science and Technology Information Institute (STII). This aim also brought the DOST to choose basketball superstar Chris Tiu as its brand ambassador from among 32 suggested names. De la Peña said Tiu’s popularity, especially among the youth, will be helpful in attracting them to STI.

Besides all these, the DOST-STII is upping the ante in communicating STI to the people by improving its facilities, such as the Library Building Extension and Studio 2 of DOSTv at the DOST grounds in Bicutan, Taguig City, which were inaugurated during the same event. With de la Peña and other DOST-STII officials and employees, the facilities were blessed by Fr. Rene Paglinawan, OAR. The bigger library has facilities for digitization, processing and archiving, and has a bigger selection of materials, such as science, general information and foreign books. Filipiniana and academic theses.

million from Grants in Aid in 2017, enabling the agency to fund its projects.

Awards

Low national awareness on S&T

THE DOST has been working hard to reach more people and make them become more aware of STI and be armed with scientific thinking. Surveys showed that the national awareness on S&T is low, albeit rising—from 6 percent in 2017, to 13 percent in 2018 and to 15 percent in 2019, DOST-STII Director Richard Burgos reported at the institute’s anniversary celebration. In his challenge to the institute, de la Peña urged it to work in making the figure increase to at least 20 percent at the end of the year during his speech on the same event. DOST-STII is the department’s information, communication and technology arm that releases STI information to the public through the news media and other platforms.

Challenges

AMONG his other challenges to DOST-STII, de la Peña urged the staff to produce cheaper books so that more people could afford and read them. He also aims to hit the doubling of the number of graduates of Masters in

THE Library Building Extension of the DOST-STI is being blessed by Fr. Rene Paglinawan, OAR (left). With him are Science Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña, DOST-STII Director Richard Burgos and DOSTSTI Chief Administrative Officer Arlene E. Centeno. ROY DOMINGO

communication among DOST system staff in order to enable more to communicate STI to the people.

Partnerships

WI T H more than 110 par tners from government and private institutions and companies in communicating STI to the public, the DOST-STII inked several memoranda of agreement (MOA) with more partners to “highlight the role of collaborations and partnerships in achieving the goals of S&T.” The MOA were signed by Burgos with the representatives of Manila Water Foundation, Puzzle Box, GMA News TV, Radyo Pilipinas and Wazzup Pilipinas. Among the current programs the DOST-STII has in disseminating science to the people is the daily DOSTv on PTV-4 and Global News

Network since it was established in 2016, Burgos said in his report. It also has the Science and Technology Augmented Reality Library, and published Bridge, a compendium of DOST technologies, and Defying Gravity, the DOST-STII 2017 Performance Report, the first DOST publication with augmented reality feature. Burgos said the institute doubled the reach of its information platforms in 2018, from 2017, to 70 viral posts, 40,000 copies of its S&T Post publication, 2.5 million online library users and the 13 percent people’s awareness in Social Weather Station survey. The DOST communicators’ capabilities were likewise enhanced by sending them to 36 external trainings. Besides these, Burgos said the DOST-STII’s budget has increased by 60 percent from the general appropriations fund and with P70

THE institute was proud that its programs gained recognition from award-giving bodies. In 2017, Starbooks won gold and silver Anvil awards. Starbooks is a stand-alone computer-based information kiosk that contains thousands of digitized science and technology resources in text and video/audio formats. It is distributed to schools, nongovernment groups or local governments. The institute received the ISO 9001-2015 accreditation for Quality Management Systems in 2018, and received the Anak TV Seal. At the same time, DOSTv and Starbooks were included in the National Economic and Development Authority National Priority Plan.

Recognizing employees’ contributions

AMONG the highlights of the DOST-STII’s 32nd anniversary was the giving of recognition to employees in appreciation of their contribution to the institute in communicating science, and to inspire them to do their best. The awardees were the following: Loyalty service awards: Ferdinand D. Cartas (15 years of service); Marievic V. Narquita (15 years of service ); Ma. Teresa M. Rosqueta (20 years of service); Geraldine B. Ducusin (20 years of service); Arlene E. Centeno (25 years of service). Commendations: Individual Category: Khasian Eunice M. Romulo, Irene A. Brillo, Irish D. Bulaon, Pacifico S. Paulo Jr., Haziel May C. Natorilla and Marievic V. Narquita. Group category: 1. S cience for the People -Media Awards Team: Ma. Lilibeth P. Padilla, B e n e d i c t P. C a g a a n a n , A l l y a n a A .

Almonte and Karene ramirez. 2. Science for the People-Social Media Team: Framelia V. Anonas, Josemaria T. Zarraga, Judy Q. Aca-Saclamitao, Kimverlyn C. Sayson and Laurence M. San Pedro 3. Starbooks-Telstra team: Arjay C. Escondo, Lloyd Frederick R. Mandapat, Rosemarie C. Señora, Ceajay N. Valerio and Reynaldo A. Morales Jr. 4. DOST-STII Starbooks team: Alfon B. Narquita, Marievic V. Narquita, Arjay C. Escondo, Reynaldo A. Morales Jr. and Dandee Florence B. Manggao 5. DOSTv team: Mona Carina E. Montevirgen, Lotuslei P. Dimagiba, Gelmi Liberty M. Miranda, Beejay A. Castillo, Karl Raven A. Ramon, Kevin Laurence I. Arriola, Resty R. Balila, Alpha Hessa L. Bierneza, Carmela P. Aguisanda, Donalyn S. Rempillo, Dominic P. Aquino, Jeffrey T. Centeno, Vincent F. Tuyor, Xyrus Ivan B. de gracia, Romulo B. Laurente and Gerry b. Escalera 6. Procurement team: Jona M. Bernal, Rachel Diana S. Mesias, Carlo O. Nebria, Benedict P. Cagaanan, Arlene E. Centeno, Alan C. Taule, Jaqueline C. Ballesteros and Allyster A. Endozo. 7. DOST-STII Quality Management System Team: Arlene E. Centeno, Alan C. Taule, Cecille Rose R. Suñga and Ma. Teresa M. Rosqueta.

Director’s awards:

SE VERAL of DOST-STII staff members w i t h e xe m p l a r y p e r f o r m a n c e we re given the Director’s Award. Awarded were: Outstanding Administrative Staff: Ma. Kristine B. Reyes, administrative officer V; Outstanding Junior Technical Staff : Henry A. de Leon, audio-visual aids technician IV; Outstanding Senior Technical Staff : Rodolfo P. de Guzman, information officer III; and Outstanding M a n a g e r : A r l e n e E . Ce nte n o, c h i e f administrative officer.

Tourism&Entertainment BusinessMirror

Editor: Carla Mortel-Baricaua

Sunday, August 18, 2019 A11

HO CHÍ MINH CITY FOR STARTERS

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Story & photos by Charmaine Cunanan

O be honest, I didn’t know what to expect when I booked a flight to Ho Chí Minh City, impulsively. I wanted to go out of the country to celebrate my birthday, but I had no idea where to go. Since I haven’t been there, Vietnam proved to be the best option that time. Everything was in a rush: booking the hotel, planning the itinerary, applying leave from work. I had thought it’s going to be hectic and expected it would go to the list of worst vacation ever. To my surprise and relief, it’s one of the most memorable trips I had.

Day one

I ALWAYS prefer a chill itinerary. I don’t like cramming everything in a day and get so exhausted, just so I could boast the different places I’ve gone through, in a hurry, on my social-media account. I always like taking my time when I visit tourists spots especially the historical ones. I am lucky I was with people with the same mindset, so I wasn’t forced to jump from one place to another. Since we landed at around three in the morning, we slept in until lunchtime. We ate at Di Mai Restaurant, a Vietnamese restaurant in the heart of the city that serves traditional Vietnamese cuisine. What’s amazing in this place, aside from its exquisite food, is its unique interior that is reminiscent of old Saigon streets. After filling our tummies with good food, we roam around the busy streets to have a feel of the city. Even under the scorching heat of the summer sun, we walked to Nguyên Huê street promenade, in the middle of District 1, that led to the iconic City Hall and statue of President Ho Chí Minh on one end, and the Saigon riverbank on the other. As a country that was once a French colony, buildings with French architecture abound

the area, such as the Saigon Opera House and various high-end hotels and shopping malls. I’m quite a sucker for history, so it is always a must to visit a museum or two. A few minute walk from Nguyên Huê Street, there’s the Ho Chí Minh City Museum, once a governor’s palace until it was converted to a museum of Vietnam’s early history and struggles during the war. It’s a good prerequisite before our Saigon city tour the following day. Capping off the first day, we went contemporary and visited The New Playground, an underground shopping mall designed by young locals where the cool kids go. The place has a hip vibe where you can find shops by Vietnamese designers carrying authentic local urban wear. It kind of reminded me of the Common Ground in Seoul.

Day two

WE’VE availed a full day city tour and started off visiting famous city landmarks, including the Reunification Palace, which served as the president’s official residence in the past. Next is the famous Notre Dame Cathedral that was built during the French occupation in the 1860s. Right beside it is the Central Post Office, and the War Remnants Museum where photo exhibitions relating to the Vietnam War can be found, and the first Indochina War, involving the French colonialists. After having lunch at pool side restaurant, we took a two-and-ahalf-hour drive to Cu Chi Tunnels. It is a subterranean village in the middle of the woods built by the Viet Cong soldiers that served as hiding spots during VietnamAmerican War. It was amazing to

View of Ho Chí Minh City from Saigon Skydeck

STATUE of President Ho Chí Minh in Nguyen Hue Promenade

find out how soldiers survived underground, and all the traps and weapons used during the war. Not all the tunnels are accessible to tourists but you can crawl through the ones available.

Day three

OUR third day, we explored the modern sights of the city. First stop is BenThành Market. It’s similar to Thailand’s Chatuchak Market, only BenThành is relatively smaller. Here you can buy local handicrafts, branded goods, Vietnamese art, and other souvenirs. However, since it is a famous tourist spot, most of the goods are quite pricey. For small keepsakes, Bùi Vien Walking Street has similar stores with cheaper prices. Shop late in the afternoon

to avoid the night time crowd as it is a party central for backpackers and tourists. Think Khao San Road in Bangkok, but louder and rowdier. When we were there, there’s a street party hosted by Heineken and literally everyone was there. It’s crazy. If you want to catch the sunset, go up to The Saigon Skydeck at the 49th floor of Bitexco Financial tower, and enjoy the 360-degree view of the city and its surrounding landscapes. The loft bar and restaurant let you dine with city view as your background. If you’re a beer drinker, head over to The World of Heineken at the 60th floor. Get to know the world-famous beer brand through the interactive tour of its history. Moreover, you can enjoy two bot-

THE famous Notre Dame Cathedral

THE giant statue of the Buddha at Vĩnh Tràng Temple

tles of beer during tour and bring home a customized one with your name on it as a souvenir.

fishing villages. We stopped by a coconut candy factory to rest a bit before cruising the Mekong River for our lunch date at the Tortoise Islet. Our tour ended at My Tho where we saw the giant Buddha statue at the Vinh Tràng Temple. Ho Chí Minh City is undergoing improvements to its transport system. The city only has buses and taxis. If you hail a cab, there’s a big chance you’ll be asked to pay extra. To go around, it’s easier and cheaper to book a Grab or simply walk. Purchase a sim card with data or rent a pocket Wi-fi so you can have Internet access anywhere you go. Also, always remember to be careful and watch over your belongings most of the time! Ho Chí Minh is a beautiful city and I know you’ll enjoy it too like I did.

Day four

ON our last day, we went on another group tour and headed to the Mekong Delta. Three hours from Ho Chí Minh City, it’s a town with a vast maze of rivers, swamps and rice paddies. We travel by boats in the area so we didn’t pass up on the chance on cruising in one. We went to AnKhánhin, the beautiful green province of Ben Tre, where they serve pineapples and aromatic honey tea while Vietnamese folk music is being performed by the locals. After that, we hopped on a small boat to cruise along the river and admired the stilt houses, fruit plantations and

LAKBAY MUSEO AT S MAISON

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HILIPPINE attractions...regional livelihood...culinary experiences...and colorful Philippine festivals with a twist all converge at the newly opened Lakbay Museo at S Maison at Conrad Manila at the SM Mall of Asia complex. A project of the Millennial Concept Factory Inc. it highlights the revival of Filipino identity, culture, and tradition as part of the group’s advocacy to encourage and educate Filipinos to experience and preserve our heritage. It’s the perfect place for people delve into the roots of Filipino identity. This museum aims to nurture patriotism in the next generation and guidance for foreign tourists for it champions learning about the Philippines and the Filipino identity in the most

fun and easy way possible! Lakbay Museo takes you to all regions of the Philippines with 11 astounding interaction landmark destinations perfect for photo ops like the Tondo streets, Calle Crisologo, the Ivatan House of Batanes, Pahiyas Festival, Rice Terraces, and Ifugao house, Barasoain Church, Magellan’s Cross, the Santo Niño Shrine, Mayon Volcano, marine biodiversity and Mindanao Royal House. It will also give you a glimpse of each region through some of its well-known festivals, dances and costumes displayed in over 120 prosthetic Filipino dressed mannequins. Each of your senses will surely be satisfied by Lakbay Museo’s collection of Philippines staples. Play with more than 20 variations

THE entrance of Lakbay Museo welcomes you with a jeepney, airplane and a ship, the modes of transportation to begin your journey.

of rice grains, relish the aroma of different Philippine coffee roasts, taste Pinoy favorite dips and condiments, and delight in the assortment of fabric in the region. Visitors can feast their eyes on more than 600 dishes from 13 famous regional cuisines, and learn through the wide-set diorama of regional livelihood and local products. In partnership with the DTI OTOP, this Philippine millennial museum concept is providing 189 micro-, small- and medium-scale enterprise in the country gain market access for their products. Visitors will be happy to know that Lakbay Museo was built on the foundation of environment conservation. Nearly all of the exhibits were constructed using 4,560 old and used rubber slippers and scrapped materials, 328

HAVE a colorful underwater experience at Lakbay Museo.

old rubber tires, 453 car mats and a variety of recyclable materials. The museum also provides job opportunities to out-of-school youths, nonprofessionals, local artists, disabled persons and senior citizens. Make sure to bring your trusty “camera” for that Instagramworthy photo and get your brain ready for information overload! Online rate is P699 plus P100 for walk-ins and holiday rate. Your ticket comes with 12 chips, and you can buy goodies inside the palengke. Goodies cost varies from one to four chips each. Tour starts every 15 minutes. Experience Philippines at Lakbay Museo at the ground floor level of S Maison in Conrad Hotel Manila. The corners of the village will leave you proud with an appreciation for what the Philippines offers.

THE Instagram-worthy Ilocos cuisine installation also has a garlic, empanada and longganisa exhibit.

SUBIC Arbor Day with Chairman Wilma Eisma and officials.

SBMA takes cause for the environment

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HE Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is taking the cause for Mother Earth with the various comprehensive environmental programs and measures it has been undertaking in recent years. Just recently, SBMA employees and community volunteers participated in the nationwide observance of Arbor Day at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. A total of 150 trees and 2,500 bougainvilleas were planted during the annual event, in compliance with Proclamation 643, which seeks to promote a healthier ecosystem through the rehabilitation and regreening of the environment by planting trees and ornamental plants across the country. Leading the activity is SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma Eisma, supported by Deputy Administrator for engineering Marco Estabillo, DA for business Kenneth Rementilla, DA for administration Ruel John Kabigting, and Senior Deputy Administrator for regulatory services and Ecology Center Manager Amethya de la Llana. Eisma said that SBMA is committed to support the Arbor Day because environmental protection is a fundamental advocacy of the government agency, being home to one of few remaining tropical rainforests in the country. Aside from the Arbor Day, SBMA is also at the

forefront of continuing environmental initiatives such as the Dive Heroes Festival-Scubasurero where volunteer scuba divers do underwater cleanup, the International Coastal Cleanup and the Recyclables Collection Event. The latter is in line with its “War on Waste” program, is a semi-annual activity that encourages stakeholders to help keep the free port clean by collecting recyclable materials and bringing them to accredited waste handlers for recovery and upcycling. The SBMA chief executive has banned singleuse plastics in workplaces at SBMA, in addition of the ban on plastic bags and styrofoam packaging. It has also issued Office Order 2018-10-0420 creating the SBMA Anti-Littering Task Force. In addition, the SBMA has also initiated the innovative “plogging” which combines the regular jogging routine where joggers pick up the trash along the way. Moreover, the SBMA has partnered with the Magbukun Ayta tribe to protect and preserve their indigenous environment and culture under the United Nations Development Program’s Indigenous Communities Conservation Area, with the support of the municipal government of Morong and the Philippine Association for Intercultural Development.

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Sports BusinessMirror

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

U.S.A. FOOTBALL PUTS UP DEVELOPMENTAL MODEL U

By Larry Lage

The Associated Press

SA Football is piloting the game’s first long-term development program in the hopes of growing the game and catching up to other sports around the world. The sport’s governing body launched its Football Development Model (FDM) on Thursday, announcing six youth leagues will team up with USA Football in the hopes of attracting more young players and improving skills. The leagues will experiment with new ways to coach fundamentals in practice, aiming to hone skills while cutting down on full-speed contact that ends with players going to the ground. The FDM will also encourage leagues to experiment with different ways to play the game, including flag football, padded flag football and modified games with smaller fields and fewer than 11 players on each team. “We’re looking at football in a fresh new way,” USA Football CEO Scott Hallenbeck said in an interview with The Associated Press. These leagues around the country are willing to take on this challenge with us to change the narrative and culture of the game, which is easy to say and hard to do. “Hopefully, the Football Development Model will reimagine the sport to help parents gain confidence and trust, and to address some of the challenges in the sport.” Likely due to the fear of concussions, participation in youth tackle football has declined sharply this decade. There were more than 1 million children six to 12 years old playing tackle football each year from 2011 to 2013

and participated dipped to 839,282 in 2018 according to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association. Participation in flag football for the same age group, according to the SFIA, has increased from fewer than 700,000 in 2014 to nearly 1 million in 2018. “My son started playing tackle football at seven and I still wonder if that was the best thing to do,” Hallenbeck said. “When you look at it from a skill-development lens, why can’t flag football be like T-ball is for baseball? In flag, you can teach how to pass, catch, backpedal and get into a breakdown position defensively. You can learn how to play football without contact.” The program was crafted in part by a council of people with expertise in football, medical and child development along with long-term athlete development. “The FDM is a progressive approach for the development and safety of our players as they are learning the game,” said Dartmouth Coach Buddy Stevens, a member of the council. “This is 21st-century football that embraces the value of the team experience, fundamental skill instruction and contact reduction in an effort to teach the sport in a smarter and safer fashion.” The Niagara Erie Youth Sports Association in New York, the Miami Xtreme Youth Football League, Texas’ Frisco Football League, the Washington-Greene Youth Football League in Pennsylvania, the Iowa Development League in Des Moines and Utah’s Ute Football Conference will pilot USA Football’s new program. “The FDM is an athlete’s road

YOUNGSTERS play in a peewee football game during halftime of a preseason National Football League game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Dallas Cowboys in Los Angeles in August 2016. AP

JJ ARCEGA-WHITESIDE is already a trailblazer before catching his first touchdown pass. AP

map—at any age—to enjoy the fun of football by participating in sport activities that are developmentally appropriate physically, mentally and socially,” said NCAA Chief Medical Officer Dr. Brian Hainline, chairman of the FDM council. “Part of the model’s forward thinking is that you learn to become an athlete before you learn to become a player. When sports programs adopt the FDM, athletes will perform better, play longer and gain a lifelong path to athleticism, health and wellness through football.” USA Football, a USOC member, studied development programs such as one USA Hockey has had for many years, as well as many that have operated overseas. “We’re just catching up,” Hallenbeck said. “We feel very strongly that this is what the sport has been screaming for, something like this, and I wish I thought of it 10 years ago because it’s a smart way to take another look at our great game.”

JJ Arcega-Whiteside, meanwhile, is already a trailblazer before catching his first touchdown pass. Arcega-Whiteside became the first player born in Spain drafted in the NFL when the Philadelphia Eagles selected him with the 57th overall pick in the second round in April. “It’s awesome,” Arcega-Whiteside said. “It’s a huge honor obviously to be the first and hopefully not the last, and to help any way that I can to keep pushing people to learn about the sport, enjoy the sport, play the sport.” The talented wide receiver has strong athletic genes. His mother, Valerie Whiteside, set many school records as a basketball player at Appalachian State. His father, Joaquin Arcega, played several years in Europe. They met while playing professionally in Spain and later moved to Portugal to play when their son was three years old. Two of Joaquin’s brothers also played pro basketball and represented Spain in the 1984 Olympics.

His parents didn’t pressure him to play basketball, however. “They told me right from the beginning that if I didn’t want to play sports, that’s more than OK with them,” he said. “As long as I’m doing something that I love, I’m going to make them proud regardless. It just took a big weight off my shoulders.” Arcega-Whiteside’s family moved to South Carolina when he was seven. He was already a standout in soccer and began to excel in track and basketball in the United States. Once he started playing football, he dominated that sport, too. Arcega-Whiteside speaks three languages: Spanish, English and Portuguese. Though he’s been in America for 15 years, he still has a strong connection with his family in Spain. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Arcega-Whiteside led Stanford with 63 catches for 1,059 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior.

Olympic champ triumphs at Tokyo 2020 test event MICHAEL JUNG is quick to praise the facilities provided at the two venues—Equestrian Park and Sea Forest.

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ERMANY’S Michael Jung claimed top honors with Fischerwild Wave as the eventing test event for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Equestrian Park. The 37-yearold, who has three gold medals and one silver from two Olympic appearances with the now retired La Biosthetique Sam FBW, shadowed the leaders from the outset, even though he was riding the youngest horse on the start list. Third after dressage behind the home side’s Yoshiaki Oiwa and Bart L JRA, the German moved up to second after yesterday’s cross country and a superb clear in today’s final jumping test put pressure on overnight leaders, Australia’s Andrew Hoy with Bloom Des Hauts Crets. The mare had jumped impeccably

RACISM INFECTS VOLLEYBALL

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HE Argentina men’s volleyball team was accused of “inappropriate and culturally insensitive” behavior by the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) after several players made “slant-eyed” gestures following their victory over China at the Olympic qualification tournament. Images show some of the Argentinian

players making the gesture after they defeated China at the FIVB Men’s Volleyball Intercontinental Olympic Qualification Tournament in Ningbo to secure a place at Tokyo 2020. In a statement, the FIVB confirmed it was aware of the incident and revealed it was “urgently seeking an explanation” from the Argentinian National Federation to “ensure that all involved understand that their actions have already caused great offense, even if there was

around Derek di Grazia’s Sea Forest cross-country course 24 hours earlier but became increasingly headstrong over the colored poles and, when the middle element of the triple combination hit the sand to drop Hoy down the order to fifth, victory went to the German duo with 28.0 penalties. Jung was quick to praise the facilities provided at the two venues, Equestrian Park and Sea Forest. “For me it was very interesting to be here and nice to see how everything works, especially the cross country with the horses,” he said. “It felt very good. It is difficult but still possible and I think it’s really not a problem.” In mixed weather conditions that veered from heavy rain to hot sunshine, nine horses were foot-perfect over the 11-fence track, with Japan’s Ryuzo Kitajima on Vick Du Grisors JRA and dressage leaders Oiwa and Bart L JRA among them. The home pair moved up to claim podium spots with 28.2 and 30.1 penalties, respectively. Second-placed Kitajima, a member of Japan’s gold medal-winning team at last year’s Asian Games in Jakarta, was delighted with the performance of his horse Vick Du Grisors JRA. Insidethegames

no such intention to do so.” “The FIVB has seen the photographs of the Argentinian men’s volleyball team celebrating their victory at the Tokyo Volleyball Qualification Tournament with inappropriate and culturally insensitive gestures,” the FIVB said. “Last week the FIVB made it clear that these type of actions by players and official representatives of national volleyball teams are completely unacceptable.” Argentina player Facundo Conte, who had a lengthy spell with Chinese club Shanghai Golden Age, apologized for the gesture on Instagram. Insidethegames

Beverage-maker cites social media help in JIU-JITSU SENSEI: growing bottled fruit, ‘Y.O.L.O.’ OK, BUT STAY veggie juice biz

READY FOR CHALLENGES

Jiu-jitsu sensei: ‘Y.O.L.O.’ OK, but stay ready for challenges By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

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OSE GABRIEL A. ARBOLEDA wore a corporate executive’s hat for four years; now he wears a belt.

This the 27-year-old holder of a degree in Bachelor of Science in Business Management does as an instructor in jiu-jitsu, a Japanese martial art, at the Gentle Art Academy in Singapore. His martial arts portfolio includes the following medals: 24 gold, four silver and five bronze; all from 2011 to 2018. The BusinessMirror talked to Arboleda via e-mail. BusinessMirror (BM): Why the career shift? Jose Gabriel Arboleda (JA): I always wanted to be an athlete—basketball in particular, but then realized it was a tall man’s game. I started doing jiu-jitsu when I was in college and immediately found my passion. “Follow your passion,” I always hear that phrase as a kid and (that) has always been my goal. I spent a good four years at (a financial consultancy firm) as a business operations and product analyst. The firm focuses big time on “work-life balance” and I was able to manage my time between my corporate career and jiu-jitsu. Having an average of between four hours to five hours of sleep and training hard, I was somehow getting successful in my jiu-jitsu. When I got a coaching opportunity in Singapore, I saw it as a good break and, with no hesitations, I decided to go for it. BM: Do you think this is a typical millennial attitude? Please Explain? JA: “You only live once” is a popular

phrase/mindset when it comes to millennials, which I think I carry on to as well; but not to the point that I’m being irresponsible. So, when it comes to opportunities, I usually say yes and stay ready for the challenges ahead. BM: How did your parents react? Did you explained your career shift? JA: I always was going into my own flow. My parents gave me quite a long leash (freedom), which I consider a great gift from them; letting me do whatever I want to do beyond reason. My family is one of my valuable support group and they are a big part of my success in jiu-jitsu. They were extremely happy when they heard the news that I’m pursuing my passion. BM: What were the adjustments you initially made in your career as a jiu-jitsu instructor? JA: Moving from (working in front of a desk) to on a mat may look like a lot of work when it comes to adjustment. But luckily, it’s not as hard as I expected. I find joy in doing what I love most every day. We coach around 130 kids per week and it’s always a great time seeing my students in class. BM: Was money a major factor in your career transition? JA: Not at all. It actually gave me more flexibility when it comes to my finances. I was able to venture more into different investment vehicles, which would help me prepare in the long run. And I will keep looking into more investments going for-

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ward. Going from a 9-5 kind of job to my dream job (today) gives me a lot of time to study and learn to maximize life and creating wealth. Since we are already talking about millennials and finances, we are the “social media” generation and (this) could either be a blessing or a curse. Most people waste a lot of time just scrolling to the feed unproductively. But for me, I see it as a tool to generate wealth. Internet is so big right now that anyone, even kids, could use it to make money. BM: How did you develop a liking for jiu-jitsu? JA: My big brother Enrico was the first to introduce me to jiu-jitsu and he inspired me when he joined his first tournament. I started looking for a gym to train in Manila and luckily I found (one) in Ortigas. The camaraderie and brotherhood are really what got me hooked into the sport. BM: Why is jiu-jitsu called a “lovely martial art?” JA: Most practitioners call jiu-jitsu the “human chess” and I could attest to that, doing it for almost 10 years now. It has a different level of technicality and that’s what makes it different from other martial arts. The beauty of the sport is that there is no such thing as perfect and there’s always something to work and improve on. The cultural diversity of the people that train (to be a) jiu-jitsu (practitioner) is also interesting. I met people from all walks of life through jiu-jitsu. (They may have) difAUGUST 18, 2019

ferent beliefs, race and religion, but (on) the mats, everyone is united and it’s just purely jiu-jitsu. BM: What philosophies in jiu-jitsu are relevant in your life? JA: Eliminating ego is a big part of jiujitsu. I was thrown away like a rag doll when I was starting and was extremely humbled by the experience. Ego-checking also means I (became) open to different criticism and feedback, which made me a better martial artist. It also has taught me self-awareness. In order to be better, you have to know your strengths and weaknesses, limitations and potential, remaining calm under pressure and making adjustments on the fly. BM: Aside from competing in tournaments, how did you increase your skills in jiu-jitsu? JA: Training and drilling with consistency is important in developing skill. Training the mind is also a part of getting better. Most of my wins are from those days that I am mentally prepared. BM: What are your long-term goals as a jiu-jitsu instructor? JA: To develop and improve our kids in jiu-jitsu. As a part of the Gentle Art Academy Singapore, we focus on developing confidence, resourcefulness and, most important, resiliency to all of our students. We also try to be a good example to our students through leadership. Another goal is to make champions inside and out of the mats.

BusinessMirror

MUSIC

PRINT

A NOTEBOOK ON RAP

BATTLE EVENT, UNIBERSIKULO 7 By: Rick Olivares | Photo By: NiÑa Sandejas

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AST Saturday, August 10, I attended my first ever Fliptop Filipino Rap Battle League event, titled Unibersikulo 7, at the Tiu Theater at the Makati Central Square. I had previously seen a lot of the videos from previous events on YouTube and have been enthralled, shocked, and even amused with these battle raps. This isn’t my first time to see something like this. Having lived abroad, especially in the United States, I’ve seen this before, but it brings me pride to see a local rap battle league thriving.

How so?

Fliptop has close to an astounding four million subscribers on its YouTube channel. And the events play to packed audiences. Unibersikulo 7 was no different. Over four hundred paying fans packed the Tiu Theater. Before the show started, I counted 30 ladies

in the audience (two who came by themselves). By the time the show got underway, there were more than double. Fascinating when you try to consider their strata depending on how they dress and the company they keep. Conversely, Fliptop’s brother company, the indie hip hop label Uprising Records, is doing well. To date, the label has released 17 albums in a six-year span and are doing well. I wondered if there is a correlation between those who go to the Fliptop events or subscribe

to the videos and those who buy the Uprising albums. Uprising/ Fliptop’s big boss Alaric Yuson already told me there isn’t. It doesn’t necessarily follow that a fan of hip hop will buy the cd or those who watch the battle raps are fans of the music. Nevertheless, I did some asking around before the show started around 10:20pm. The 20 fans I asked are more likely to buy an event shirt than a compact disc of the music. Some reasoned there is Spotify or YouTube. And get this -- not everyone is a diehard fan

of rap or hip hop. Some view the event as a form of entertainment. And tickets to Unibersikulo aren’t exactly cheap -- Php500 if you buy the ticket before the event and Php750 at the gate. However, every one of the 20 folks I asked knew who the rappers were. When Tipsy D stood at the back, he was literally swamped by fans asking for a photo. It was the same with the other MCs, DJs, and rappers. The various subcultures that Continued on page 4

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make up this rich and diverse local music scene have their differences and similarities. It has its own look, feel, a certain style of clothing (though not necessary because there are crossover fans. Quite a few came to Unibersikulo wearing shirts that sported metal bands. Despite missing two duels, Unibersikulo 7 finished past 1pm. And no one left despite the time. I got to speak to one of the

duelists that evening, Romano, who won his battle with Papew, with the judges scoring it, 5-0, in the former’s favor. Describing the strategy in winning these battle raps, Romano, who hails from Cabanatuan City, offered his take, “Hindi sapat na malakas yung delivery mo. Sabayan mo dapat ng may laman sa sasabihin mo. At pangatlo, kung kaya mo ibalik yung mga sinasabi ng kalaban mo, ay malaking bagay yun.”

I asked Numerhus (who lost his battle rap against CripLi) about participating in these battle raps, and he said, “Dapat handa ka makarinig ng hindi mo gusto. Kung hindi mo kaya, eh, hindi ito para sa ‘yo. Kasi kung anu ano sasabihin at fair game ang lahat pati histura mo at pamilya mo. Matapang ka rin dapat sa harapan ng mga tao. More or less, alam mo dapat ang gusto mo sabihin. Kapag hindi baka mag-choke.” It’s just a battle, though and it shouldn’t be personal. But if you look at the people watching, they all had a good time. They know what a good zinger is and an even better comebacker. It’s one thing to see the battle raps on video and quite another to watch it live. I prefer the latter though because there is so much to see – the reaction of the opponent that is often not captured on camera (unless the videographer pulls back), the reaction of the judges, and that of the crowd. The body language of everyone. Am not sure how much of YoungOne drinking vinegar (at least it seemed like vinegar) during his battle with K-Ram, but it was something. And for this first-timer to a live Pinoy battle rap league contest, it was truly memorable.

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soundstrip.businessmirror@gmail.com | AUGUST 18, 2019

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MUSIC THAT FILLED THE NIGHT WITH COMFORT AND STRENGTH

Text & Photo By Faith P. Buenaventura

JOHN OWEN CASTRO

COELLI WITH HER SISTER AJ JIAO

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CLARA BENIN

USIC does speak to the soul and Tahan Na 2 presented by Stage Sessions proved this.

It was a cold and gloomy night but the voices of Clara Benin, Munimuni, Coelli and the spoken poetry from Alfonso Manalastas filled it with warmth, consolation and fun. By far, I could say that Tahan Na 2 was the most unique concert that I have been to. It was not your typical concert where people simply have fun, jump, dance and sing along to the artist’s song, but rather, it also embraced the audience with the comfort and strength that they needed. It was my first time attending such a concert. I came to the event with no clue as to how things would unfold. I entered the event expecting a bunch of rowdy and enthusiastic fans waiting for the artists. To my surprise, they were all seated on the floor, patiently waiting. This set-up created such a special mood and made us feel like we are all close friends and family even if we all just met for the first time that night.

Acoustic Flipino singer/ songwriter, Clara Benin opened the night with her soothing and enchanting voice and brought to the stage some of her songs including her self-produced song, “Riverchild,” which brings comfort to those who are alone. Alfonso Manalastas who writes about people and their stories that dwell vastly on perspective and nuances also performed two of his pieces, “Archeology” and “Heartbreaker.” Indie-folk band, Munimuni, also filled the night with their ‘makata pop’ songs like “Calachuchi,” a flower that blooms during the hottest days and “Tahanan” in which they gave some words of encouragement to people suffering with mental illnesses and to those who do not have one. “May nagmamahal sa atin at may aakay sa atin.” shared Munimuni’s vocal and flutist, John

ALFONSO MANALASTAS

COELLI

MUNIMUNI

Owen Castro. Coelli, the main star of the night, embraced the audience with her warmth using her voice and songs. She sang some of her songs like “Puno,” “Nabibighani,” “Against the Time,” “The Woman That I am” and her unreleased song which she composed a few days before the concert entitled, “Midnight Blue.”

It truly was a night filled with harmony, comfort and purpose. The music of these artists has the power to stick with the audience and deliver a special message of compassion and understanding towards those who suffer from mental illnesses. It was a type of music that heals the listeners and provides them the comfort and love that they need.

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MUSIC ON PRINT

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In Photos: Linggo Ng Musikang Pilipino, A Multi-Platform Celebration

eavy rains and traffic failed to stop Linggo Ng Musikang Pilipino (LMP) from staging a record-breaking 70+ music showcases in various venues across the country. Presented by Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM) and National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the multiplatform celebration succeeded in its commitment to offer a broad spectrum of Filipino music talents to a diverse audience, transforming public spaces such as malls and train stations into music performance spectacles and curating top-notch performances in bars, concert halls, theatres, and multimedia outlets.

Railway Jams and busking activities

LMP kicked off its campaign with Railway Jams, a series of live music activities in select LRT stations that ran from July 4 to 27. Several artist-members from Organisasyon Ng Musikang Pilipino ng mga Pilipinong Mangaawit (OPM) performed original material and familiar covers to entertain commuters from different walks of life. The partnership also attracted positive reception from the riding public, allowing them to discover the city’s wealth of music talents and ongoing support for cultural awareness. As precursor to LMP’s week-long celebration, several music venues in Metro Manila also held open mic and busking sessions that promote upcoming homegrown acts and underrated music finds. It’s also worth noting that Powerplant Mall and Lucky Chinatown Mall offered their space to mount music shows aimed to serenade guests while they dine or shop. One performance in particular proved to be a standout with its worldclass musicality: alt-rock and jazz songstress Cooky Chua collaborated with The Manila String Machine for

a soothing but elegantly produced number that instantly wowed both the crowd and the curious bystanders in the mall.

Notable showcases

People braved the rainy season to catch some of the finest performances at the Linggo Ng Musikang Pilipino, resulting in packed venues and much-buzzed highlights on social media. Veteran alternative rock icon Rizal Underground reunited for a one-night only concert at the ‘70s Bistro on the opening week of the LMP. The ‘90s hitmakers churned out their signature anthems “Bilanggo,” “Diskaril,” “Sabado Nights,” to name a few, and was joined by Eddie Siojo on Betrayed’s punk classic “Never Meant To Be This Way.” More music fans joined the music soiree at the Batang ‘90s showcase in Historia Bar on July 31. They were in for a treat as perennial favorites Barbie Almalbis, Dong Abay, Wency Cornejo, and Color It Red delivered engaging performances that include their past hits and new material. Rak of Aegis, the acclaimed Pinoy musical, also made a glorious comeback with a soldout, two-day run at the Linggo Ng Musikang Pilipino.

Launch Parade

Aside from ringing the nostalgia dial, the Linggo Ng Musikang Pilipino hosted several single, music video and album launches of established and independent local music acts from different parts of the country. The special showcase includes Bulacan indie-pop outfit Blind Stereo Moon, which premiered the music video of their single “Bulalakaw” at the ‘70s

Bistro; husband-and-wife tandem A Couple of Notes, which launched their latest single “Sa Piling Mo” at Jess and Pats; and singer-songwriter Benedict Sy and alt-pop collective Approaching Zero, which held their single release party at World’s End and Upperhouse BGC, respectively. PhilPop 2018 Grand Winner Chud Festejo from Davao City also debuted his newest EP, “Laro Laro” at Route 196, while PhilPop 2018 runnerup Ferdinand Aragan debuted his latest independently released single “Dinamalayan” on the same venue and date. Both artists raised the bar in terms of live performance and output, coming to terms with their newfound success and evolving as musicians with a more honed perspective in career and songwriting style.

A Memorable Closer

Linggo Ng Musikang Pilipino capped this year’s run with a wellapplauded ensemble performance at ABS-CBN’s longest running Sunday variety show, ASAP Natin ‘To. OPM members Bea Lorenzo, Ferdinand Aragon, and Bayang Barrios, were joined by mainstays Regine Velasquez, Inigo Pascual and JM de Guzman in putting a contemporary spin on smash Pinoy hits from the previous decades. With a well-curated music program and a bigger fifth year run, Linggo Ng Musikang Pilipino is poised to become a staple multigenre festival with longer staying power and undeniable impact. Here’s hoping for more years of support and love.

Europe’s youth unemployment isn’t as dire as typically claimed

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KY-HIGH youth unemployment in nations such as Italy, Spain and Greece has been cited by populists as evidence that established parties are failing younger generations.

of 15-24 year olds. By definition, that rate is lower—and can be dramatically so. In Spain, often cited as an example of acute youth unemployment since the global financial crisis, the jobless rate among 15-24 year olds was 34.3 percent in 2018, while the ratio was 11.3 percent. Greece—arguably the worstaffected nation—had a rate of 39.9 percent but a ratio of 9.3 percent. Italy’s rate of 32.2 percent compares with a ratio of 8.4 percent. That’s still a social problem, but it shows youth unemployment is much closer to national jobless rates across the entire work force. While Eurostat acknowledges that young people were “severely hit” by the global financial crisis starting in 2008, the unemployment ratio for the EU has since fallen to a record low of 6.3 percent. Aline Schuiling, a senior economist at ABN Amro Group NV, calls the youth unemployment rate “a big exaggeration.” One positive effect of the financial crisis was to encourage young people with little prospect of employment to stay in education for longer, she said. “Just after the crisis it looked very problematic, but now their chances in the labor market have increased,” Schuiling added. “Employability increases the higher your education.” Bloomberg Opinion

A closer look at the data suggests the situation isn’t quite as horrific as typically claimed. Eurostat, the European Union’s statistics office, says figures for the 15-24 age group are frequently misunderstood. A 25-percent youth unemployment rate doesn’t mean one in four are out of work. The reason is that youth unemployment is calculated as the number of young people looking for work divided by the total number of that demographic in the labor force. Yet, the latter group excludes those who are unavailable to work because they are studying full time. Eurostat points to another measure known as the youth unemployment ratio. It also counts the number of young people looking for work, even if they are students at the same time, but divides it by the total number

Indian start-up raises $51M

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N Indian start-up that aims to use artificial intelligence to deliver faster and more personalized customer support for corporate clients is raising $51 million in funding from investors including March Capital Partners and Chiratae Ventures. Uniphore Software Systems Pvt, based in Chennai and Palo Alto, California, plans to use the emerging technology to change the labor-intensive business of call centers, displacing workers with machines. Former Cisco Systems Inc. Chief Executive Officer John Chambers’ JC2 Ventures owns about 10 percent of the start-up. Existing backers also include Analog Devices Inc. founder Ray Stata and Infosys Ltd. billionaire cofounder Kris Gopalakrishnan. Umesh Sachdev, 33, founded the company in 2008 with his engineering classmate Ravi Saraogi. They are competing with technology giants like Google, Microsoft Corp. and International Business Machines Corp., as well as at least a dozen AI start-ups to automate the $350-billion call-center industry, helping agents deliver more useful support while decreasing the number of infuriating and ineffectual experiences.

“This is one of the largest rounds in an area of deep tech already seeing a lot of investor activity,” CEO Sachdev said in a telephone interview. “It represents the coming of age of conversational AI.” He declined to reveal the start-up’s valuation, but said it is “one step away from turning into a unicorn,” the tech industry’s term for a value of $1 billion or more. Voice bots and automated messaging systems are already changing the world of call centers, and experts reckon the majority of human workers will be driven to obsolescence by artificial intelligence. By 2021, about 70 percent of organizations will integrate AI to assist employee productivity, researcher Gartner Inc. forecast earlier this year. Using messaging apps, chatbots and speech-based assistants, so-called conversational artificial intelligence automates communication and delivers personalized experiences. “Virtual agents are gaining ubiquity via smartphones and messaging platforms to support customer care, marketing and employee efficiency,” Dan Miller, the lead analyst with Saint Paul, Minnesotabased Opus Research, said. Sachdev estimates that the US alone has

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COULD machines replace call-center agents? Uniphore Software Systems believes it has the technology to realize this. BLOOMBERG NEWS 3.9 million call-center workers and those numbers will steadily diminish as companies adopt new technologies. “Humans will shift from taking mundane calls to enhancing knowledge and teaching AI what is the good answer and how to resolve issues,” he said. Uniphore will use the funds to hire talent, invest in research and development and accelerate expansion, particularly in its primary market in North America. The start-up plans to increase its engineering AUGUST 18, 2019

and development operations to 200 employees in India by the year-end, while another 60 will be based in the United States and 40 in Europe and Asia Pacific. Its customers include BNP Paribas SA, Genpact Ltd., NTT Data Corp. and PNB MetLife. “Indian entrepreneurs are going from slow-followers to fast-innovators,” said Chambers in an interview earlier this year, explaining why he’s backing Uniphore. “I see a young breed of founders who are hungry for a piece of the future.” Bloomberg Opinion

Chanel fortune: Charles Heilbronn manages money for Wertheimers

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HEY typically sit a few rows back from the runway, a balding and bespectacled pair who prefer to stay out of the spotlight. “We’re a very discreet family, we never talk,” Gerard Wertheimer whispered to a reporter before a 2001 fashion show in Paris. He and his brother Alain own Chanel, the luxury empire built on No. 5 perfume, the little black dress and the genius of Karl Lagerfeld. Then there’s the pair’s younger half-brother Charles Heilbronn, a Chanel executive vice president with an even lower profile but equally important role: safeguarding the clan’s fortune at the family office, Mousse Partners. While Alain runs the company from a glass tower just south of Central Park in Manhattan, a door within his office is always open, connected to Heilbronn’s. Gerard is based in Geneva. All three are sons of Eliane Heilbronn, the lawyer who drafted Lagerfeld’s lifetime contract. They’re guiding one of the world’s most valuable private companies—with about $3 billion of annual profit. Together the family is worth almost $58 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, a 26-percent increase from a year ago, making it the world’s fifth richest. And that’s a conservative figure. Some analysts estimate Chanel could be worth more than $100 billion if it went public, driven by Asia’s insatiable appetite for $5,000 fanny packs and $1,500 jeans. A Chanel spokesman declined to comment on the family’s net worth. Mousse Partners employs more than three dozen people in Manhattan, Hong Kong and Beijing, a substantial operation for a single family office. Heilbronn has run things since the start, placing winning bets on cheaper versions of Chanel’s beauty and fashion offerings. He made more than $1 billion on Ulta Beauty Inc., the cosmetics chain focused on millennial women, regulatory filings show. He also invested in skin-care and cosmetics brands such as Beautycounter and Coty Inc., menswear firm Bonobos and lingerie company Adore Me, and ventured beyond Chanel’s fashion and beauty heritage, taking stakes in entertainment, furniture and pharmaceutical companies. Mousse, though, increasingly resembles the financial firms also housed in the skyscraper at 9 W. 57th Street, where it’s headquartered along with Chanel. At least a half-dozen employees deal with private equity, while others focus on hedge funds, foreign exchange and alternative assets. Most have joined in the past two years from better-known operations, including Carlyle

Group LP, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund and the family office of George Soros. Mousse Partners doesn’t disclose how much money it has at its disposal, but Chanel distributed more than $1.6 billion in dividends in just the past three years, according to UK regulatory filings. Payouts before 2016 weren’t made public and are, therefore, excluded from Bloomberg’s estimate of the family’s wealth. Since the death of their father, Jacques Wertheimer, in 1996, Alain and Gerard have been credited with owning equal shares of the Chanel empire. But the firm is held through offshore companies, making it impossible for outsiders to know for sure. Chanel is held by Litor Ltd., registered in the Cayman Islands. Mousse Partners was folded into Litor in December, according to a legal notice in the Cayman Islands Gazette. Chanel declined to comment on Heilbronn’s ownership stake, if one exists. Les Parfums Chanel was founded in 1924 by brothers Pierre and Paul Wertheimer, and Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, who’d begun selling her popular No. 5 perfume and fashion designs years earlier. The Wertheimers took a 70-percent stake, and Theophile Bader, a friend who introduced the brothers to Coco, received 20 percent as a finder’s fee, leaving Coco with 10 percent. She resented having a smaller share and fought for more. By 1928, according to a biography by Axel Madsen, the Wertheimers had a lawyer on staff dedicat-

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ed to dealing with the designer. In 1941, after failed attempts to increase her stake, Coco took a different approach. It was illegal for Jews to own a company in Nazi-occupied Paris, so she told the Nazis about the Wertheimers’ ownership, according to the biography. But the family was prepared and transferred its holding to a friend, Felix Amiot, before fleeing to France. They reclaimed their stake after the war and, following Paul’s death in 1947, Pierre bought out his brother’s heirs, according to Madsen. He then acquired the remaining stakes held by Bader and, finally, Coco. By 1954, Pierre Wertheimer owned all of Chanel. After his death in 1965, ownership passed to Jacques. By then, Alain and Gerard were teenagers, and Charles, born during Eliane’s second marriage to Didier Heilbronn, was 10. Alain was just 25 in 1974 when he persuaded board members to give him control of Chanel after his racehorse-loving father almost ran it into the ground. Alain had little business experience but quickly saw that changes were needed. He pulled Chanel’s products from drugstores to focus on highend distributors and hired his mother’s law firm as general counsel, bringing the Heilbronn side of the family into the fold. Charles joined in 1987. The business has since thrived. “Everything it seems to produce is sought after,” said Bloomberg Intelligence AUGUST 18, 2019

analyst Deborah Aitken. “It’s growing double digits across categories that transcend age groups and purse strings.” As with any dynasty, there are challenges and questions about succession. Lagerfeld, the face of the company for more than three decades, died in February. Alain is 70, Gerard, 67, and Charles isn’t far behind at 64. So the next generation is getting to work. Arthur Heilbronn, 32, interned at Chanel before joining his father at Mousse Partners, according to a spokesman. Alain’s son Nathaniel, also 32, is set to start at Chanel within months. And like his father and uncles, Arthur is shunning the spotlight. The Harvard Business School graduate declined to comment when contacted for this story on LinkedIn. Subsequently, all mention of his work experience, including at Chanel, vanished from his profile. At Chanel’s newly designed flagship store in New York, where a visitor may be offered Champagne or espresso, five floors of luxury pay homage to the brand’s namesake. There are portraits of Coco, chairs upholstered in her signature tweed and a 60-foot sculpture of a pearl necklace. Lagerfeld’s designs line the racks and fill the display cases. There is, however, no sign of the three brothers behind it all. And that’s just how they like it. Bloomberg Opinion