Businessmirror December 08, 2018

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CAN WE GROW MORE FOOD ON LESS LAND?

WE’LL HAVE TO, A NEW STUDY FINDS

By Brad Plumer | New York Times News Service

W

ASHINGTON—If the world hopes to make meaningful progress on climate change, it won’t be enough for cars and factories to get cleaner. Our cows and wheat fields will have to become radically more efficient, too.

That’s the basic conclusion of a sweeping new study issued Wednesday by the World Resources

Institute, an environmental group.

The report warns that the world’s agricultural system will need dras-

tic changes in the next few decades in order to feed billions more people without triggering a climate catastrophe.

The challenge is daunting: Agriculture already occupies roughly 40 percent of the world’s vegetated land and is responsible for about a quarter of humanity’s greenhousegas emissions. But with the global population expected to grow from 7.2 billion people today to nearly 10 billion by 2050, and with many millions of people eating more meat as incomes rise, that environmental impact is on pace to expand dramatically.

Based on current trends, the authors calculated, the world

would need to produce 56 percent more calories in 2050 than it did in 2010. If farmers and ranchers met that demand by clearing away more forests and other ecosystems for cropland and pasture, as they have often done in the past, they would end up transforming an area twice the size of India.

That, in turn, could make it nearly impossible to stay below 2 degrees Celsius of global warming, the agreed-upon international goal, even if the world’s fossil-fuel emissions were rapidly phased down. When forests are converted into farmland, the large stores of carbon locked away in those trees is released into the atmosphere.

“Food is the mother of all sustainability challenges,” said Janet Ranganathan, vice president for science and research at the World Resources Institute. “We can’t get below 2 degrees without major changes to this system.”

Less meat, but also better farming

THE new study, the result of six years’ worth of modeling work conducted in partnership with French agricultural researchers, is hardly the first to warn that feeding the world sustainably will be a formidable task. But the authors take a different view of the most plausible solutions.

In the past, researchers who have looked at the food problem have suggested that the key to a sustainable agriculture system is to persuade consumers to eat far less meat and waste far less of the food that’s already grown.

The new report, however, cautions that this could prove difficult in practice. The authors do recommend that the biggest consumers of beef and lamb, such as those in Europe and the United States, could cut back their consumption by about 40 percent by 2050, or down to about 1.5 servings a week on average. Those two types of See “Food,” A2

INSIGHT Future challenges of PHL foreign policy

By Amb. Albert del Rosario* Chairman, Stratbase ADR Institute

(*These remarks were delivered at the Stratbase ADR Institute forum on December 7, 2018, in Makati City. Mr. del Rosario is the former Philippine Foreign Affairs secretary, whose stint was marked by the country’s filing of a case against “excessive” Chinese claims in the South China Sea. A UN arbitral tribunal upheld the Philippine position. Mr. del Rosario and another pillar of the country’s quest for a principled position in the SCS, Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, recently expressed support for Manila’s Memorandum of Understanding [MOU] with Beijing, a framework for possible energy cooperation between the two SCS claimants, as crafted and signed by del Rosario’s successor, now DFA Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr.)

W

ELCOME to all, and allow me—if you will —to humbly share my thoughts on the challenges of our foreign policy. Very recently, I had given similar remarks at the Ateneo University.

As we contemplate what is happening around us, we find ourselves being bombarded every day with news and images of a world seemingly out of control. There seems to be across the board disruptions in so many fields at the same time. Long stable countries have disintegrated internally. Old alliances are being called into ques-

ROSARIO

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 52.7060

tion. A large-scale trade war is unfolding between major economic powers.

These trends raise both troubling and obscure questions. Are we on the verge of another nuclear arms race cycle? How will we fare in the struggle for global economic dominance among some of our closest foreign trade and investment partners? What must we do to manage the inevitable onslaught of the results of the new wave of artificial intelligence captured in the Fourth Industrial Revolution?

Is it possible to have better global migration governance with hundreds of millions of our people on the move, involving millions of our own OFWs? It is easy to be overwhelmed.

One of the distinctive features of our present times is growing uncertainty. It would not be too much of an exaggeration to say that we are at the dawn of an Age of Uncertainty. The comfortable policy certainties of the past have evaporated. We can no longer rely exclusively on historical lessons.

Our Ship of State now has to navigate uncharted waters that are

broader and more perilous than perhaps at any other time in the past half-century. We must choose our course carefully. We must ensure that our Ship of State is seaworthy. And our seamanship has to be the best we can provide.

With the daunting challenges to our foreign policy, our prime objective is to assert our rightful place in the community of nations. It starts and must end with the global observance of the rule of law.

On an independent foreign policy

TO pursue an independent foreign policy should not be a zero sum game. It is not a simple choice between war or peace but about initiating new friendships and strengthening old ones in the spirit of sovereign equality.

It is of utmost importance that we should stand strong in being able to deliver the main pillars of foreign affairs: First is national security. The Philippines has to be able to ensure its territorial integrity and independence as a nation-state.

Its integrity as a state can and has been threatened externally and internally. Sovereignty is the touchstone of our actions, whether in defense of our maritime territory, or to protect against domestic terrorists, separatists and insurgents.

Second is enhancing economic diplomacy. The Philippines is a developing nation with a growing population in Southeast Asia.

Whereas in earlier years, Southeast Asia had been beset by conflict and instability, it is now known as the home of Asean, the fastest-growing region in the world.

As a developing nation, the primordial concern for us is to promote inclusive growth, expand decent employment, improve technological capabilities and elevate the general standard of living of the people. This can best be done through improving the country’s competitiveness in the context of a policy of economic openness and regional integration.

But, in pursuing economic growth, we should not put all our eggs in one basket. We need all the help we can get; and we need all the partners we can find.

Third is preserving the rights of our overseas Filipino workers.

The total number of international migrants in the world is estimated at some 280 million people. The Philippines accounts for only about 10 million of those, but these have been vital for the economic well-being for our country. Hence, there must be continuing emphasis in Philippine foreign policy on protecting the rights and welfare of migrant Filipinos and, by extension, its profound interest in securing bilateral, regional and international migration governance cooperation.

There is yet a fourth, intangible but fundamentally important wellspring of our foreign policy.

And that is the values by which we aspire to live as a nation. We see ourselves as an emerging democracy with a proud national tradition not only of fighting for freedom, but endeavoring to ensure that such freedom provides a better life for our people.

The liberty and rights we cherish as a free people inform much Continued on A2

n JAPAN 0.4655 n UK 67.1053 n HK 6.7465 n CHINA 7.6853 n SINGAPORE 38.5644 n AUSTRALIA 38.3067 n EU 59.8002 n SAUDI ARABIA 14.0493

Source: BSP (December 6, 2018 )

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A2 Saturday, December 8, 2018

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INSIGHT Future challenges of PHL foreign policy Continued from a1

of our action on the international stage. From these fundamentals we forged our stance of friendship for all who seek to be our friends, of cooperation with like-minded nations, of the renunciation of war as an instrument of national policy, of respect for international law covering many areas, including nonaggression, sovereignty, the peaceful resolution of disputes, adherence to the rule of law in international relations, human rights, climate justice and humane conditions for migration.

These democratic values moved us to become a Charter Member of the United Nations and a founding member of Asean, Apec and other groupings aiming to promote closer understanding, mutual benefits and progress overall through the peaceful avenues of diplomacy, commerce, economic integration, functional cooperation and peaceful exchanges of all kinds.

On national security; national development; and overseas Filipinos

THESE then are the guiding pillars, priorities or focal points of Philippine foreign policy: national security; national development, and overseas Filipinos. Philippine foreign policy, therefore, must continue to navigate through the problems and issues of international relations with these focal points, often interlinked with one another, as the principal guides for action.

In a world beset by growing uncertainties, our diplomacy must in general support national development while helping to secure stability, security and peace at home, within our immediate region and if at all possible, globally as well. Philippine diplomacy has long assisted our security agencies in the major tasks of combating internal insurgency and terrorism.

The spread of violent extremism af-

ter 9/11 has not stopped. Modern terrorism is transnational as well as increasingly cyber-enabled.

We must continue to seek counterterror assistance in the form of capacity-building, training, intelligence sharing and other measures with the United States, our Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) ally and other partners nearby and further afield, as well as in regional and multilateral organizations. No country can defeat modern terrorism on its own so cooperation with other states will remain a national security priority.

In addition, Philippine diplomacy has sought to be instrumental in aiding the country’s military modernization for external defense to protect our maritime territories. However, with our defenses being modest, our country must be more committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with the rule of law.

including illegal reclamation, degrading of marine environment, interference of petroleum activities of Philippine commercial vessels within Philippine EEZ, interference of Filpino fishermen within Philippine EEZ. Militarization of artificial islands, violating agreements on marine safety and directly confronting our President with the threat of war.

Violations should be protested as these are hard-earned gains of the Filipino obtained from the outcome of the tribunal. The Philippines should seek a resolution from the UN General Assembly to ask China to abide by the arbitral ruling. We can pursue multilateral cooperation and support through Asean, East Asia Summit (EAS), Asean Regional Forum (ARF) while at the same time utilizing bilateral engagements.

Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio will be able to add to this list of options in addressing China’s unilateralism.

THIS was why the Philippines chose to go for arbitration in trying to manage the South China Sea dispute. Arbitration is fully consistent with international law, the United Nations Charter and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Our legal position was found to be sound and the international arbitration tribunal ruled against Beijing’s so-called Nine-Dash Line, which by claiming virtually the whole South China Sea, was the principal source of this dispute.

This legal victory for the country is, not only of great significance to the Philippines, but it also defends the applicability and hence stability of Unclos. The tribunal outcome has now become an integral part of international law.

For countries like the Philippines, international law remains as the great equalizer among states.

There have been many unlawful acts of aggression committed

by China in the South China Sea,

On Asean

On upholding The Hague ruling

OUR most critical foreign policy project has been Asean and its many mechanisms and other regional bodies, especially Apec. The reasons are compelling. Southeast Asia is our home region. It is where we find our closest neighbors.

Southeast Asia, moreover, is part of East Asia and the Western Pacific, a part of the world where vital interests of all other major world powers, and our largest economic partners, intersect.

Despite storm clouds gathering on the trade front, and the slowing down of global growth, East Asia and Asean still face very good economic prospects. If only investments can be mobilized and properly channeled to where they are most needed, such as in expanded and refurbished transportation networks, urban renewal and greening the economy.

On the US-China Cold War

THE advent of the Trump admin-

istration and China’s rising power have generated challenges we must face. Fortunately, we seem to have had measured progress on the Korean Peninsula. But there are other problems.

There continue to be flareups in the South and East China Seas.

And most recently, there is now the possible danger of a renewed nuclear weapons race which may affect the Asia Pacific.

It is believed that there is now a cold war between the US and China encompassing not only trade and cyber but also a renewed buildup of military capabilities.

We have to encourage dialogue and trust-building among the major powers to shield our region from their rivalry. This can be done by providing venues to reinforce our areas of common interest in stability, security and interchange.

It is in this context that the Philippines needs also to maintain our external security links with the United States, our only mutual defense treaty ally, and with likeminded countries such as Japan and Australia.

Keeping our defense ties strong is not taking sides. It is a conservative position conducive to stability. It is important for us that a regional security balance be maintained and that we avoid the unexpected. The status quo need not be static, but a dynamic balance is needed to account for everyone’s strategic concerns.

There are other areas where the benefits of regional cooperation are more clearly evident. These include counterterrorism, antimoney laundering, education to fight against extremist ideologies and other transnational crimes.

In addition, we can seek from our partners more access to modern technologies and know-how to confront the negative effects of climate change, address extreme weather, and handle marine ocean pollution, over-fishing and the depletion of maritime resources and to clean up our cities.

On the United Nations

THESE and many other complex issues, however, need global and not just regional management. It is for this reason that Philippine diplomacy reaches out to the international level, principally the United Nations system. We must do so even in the face of attacks against

Food…

the multilateralism symbolized in the United Nations.

Attacks against the multilateralism symbolized in the United Nations are not in our favor. The United Nations and other international organizations give developing countries like the Philippines a forum where their views can be heard and where they can combine their numbers to really help shape global outcomes. We need the United Nations so that the strong and powerful might perhaps be persuaded to find their interests together with ours. At the present time, when the world order seems to be fracturing, we should reform the United Nations, not wreck it.

At any rate, the three pillars of our foreign policy—national security, economic development, protection of Filipinos overseas—are covered at different angles in our multilateral agenda centered on the UN system. National security, broadly speaking, is covered by the UN’s efforts in nuclear disarmament, other arms control, counterterrorism, counter-illegal narcotics and prevention of other transnational crimes.

Socioeconomic development must remain to be a major focus of the Philippines in the international realm. We are drawing ever closer to the global economy beyond Asean. What happens overseas matters increasingly to our country. We cannot act as passive onlookers. We must maintain a vigorous presence in all the rule and norm setting international bodies, including the World Trade Organization (WTO), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) and World Intellectual Property Organization (Wipo).

In addition, the Philippines must continue its involvement in the United Nations system both in established and new areas for cooperation, such as closing the digital divide and managing the so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution. The purpose of this is to keep abreast of developments, to have a say in the global governance of these issues and to tap fresh sources of knowledge, expertise, capacity building and assistance from the UN’s technical agencies.

On the need for governments to listen to their people BEFORE ending, allow me to re-

visit the subject of the South China Sea. I would like to share with you some very interesting findings published by my good friend Mahar Mangahas in his column over the weekend. His article reported the findings of a survey held early this November by the University of Hong Kong’s Public Opinion Program (HKUPOP) led by Dr. Robert Chung, a globally respected pollster. There were 1,000 respondents in the study.

To quote the main heading of the report, “Most Hong Kong people hope to see different governments follow the opinion of the people in settling the South China Sea disputes.”

The survey found that, of those who are aware of the issue, 58 percent of them considered it important for a government to follow its people’s opinion in settling the South China Sea disputes.

Considering the limited freedom of Chinese citizens, I was not expecting encouraging figures which Mahar aptly interprets, “These items support the theme that public opinion in countries directly concerned, and in the world as a whole, has a role in settling cross-country disputes.”

This means that even Chinese citizens believe their government should listen to public opinion.

The new Secforaf

FOR us Filipinos, this punctuates a growing clamor for government to listen. Accordingly, there was a recent SWS survey that nearly 9 out 10 Filipinos are asking for government to assert the tribunal outcome.

The voice of the Filipino people is becoming stronger and clearer.

The government needs to listen to our people.

China needs to hear from our people.

The community of nations needs to hear the Filipino speaking with one voice.

At day’s end, we need to adhere to the rule of law and stand for what is right.

In closing, amid most difficult challenges facing the new Secretary of Foreign Affairs, we respectfully proffer to him our highest level of confidence that his leadership will result in the significant advancement of our national interest among the nations of the world.

Continued from a1

meat have especially large environmental footprints. But they don’t count on a worldwide shift to vegetarianism.

“We wanted to avoid relying on magic asterisks,” said Timothy Searchinger, a researcher at Princeton University and the World Resources Institute and lead author of the report. “We could imagine a significant shift from beef to chicken, and that by itself goes a long way.” (Poultry production has about one-eighth the climate impact of beef production.)

Instead, the researchers focused on dozens of broad strategies that could allow farmers and ranchers to grow far more food on existing agricultural lands while cutting emissions, a feat that would require a major shift in farming practices worldwide and rapid advances in technology.

For example, they note, in parts of Brazil, the best-managed grazing lands can produce four times as much beef per acre as poorly managed lands—in part owing to differences in cattle health and how well the grass is fertilized. Improving productivity across the board could help satisfy rising meat demand while lessening the need to clear broad swaths of rain forest.

The authors also pointed to possible techniques to reduce the climate impact of existing farms.

For instance, new chemical compounds could help prevent nitrogen fertilizers from producing nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas. And scientists are exploring feed additives that get cows to burp up less methane, another big contributor to global warming.

The report notes that producing 56 percent more calories without expanding agricultural land could prove even more difficult if, as expected, rising temperatures reduce crop yields. But, Searchinger said, many of the recommendations in the report, such as breeding new, higher-yielding crop varieties or preventing soil erosion, could also help farmers adapt to climate change.

Conserving the world’s remaining forests

THE researchers emphasize that strategies to improve the productivity of existing croplands and pastures will have to be paired with more rigorous conservation policies to protect existing forests in places like Brazil or sub-Saharan Africa. Otherwise, farmers will just find it more profitable to clear more forests for agriculture—with dire climate consequences.

“In the past, we’ve often seen agricultural policies and conservation policies moving in parallel without a lot of interaction,” said Linus Blomqvist, director of

conservation at the Breakthrough Institute, who was not involved in the study. “The big challenge is to link the two, so that we get more intensive farming without using more land.”

In another contentious recommendation, the report’s authors call for a limit on the use of bioenergy crops, such as corn grown for ethanol in cars, that compete with food crops for land.

Money is also a hurdle. The report’s authors call for large increases in research funding to look at ideas like fertilizers that can be made without the use of fossil fuels, organic sprays that can reduce waste by preserving fresh food for longer, and genetic editing techniques that might produce higheryielding crops. They also urge new regulations that would encourage private industry to develop sustainable agricultural technologies.

Over the past three years, 51 countries have spent roughly $570 billion a year to support food production, said Tobias Baedeker, an agricultural economist at the World Bank, which contributed to the new study.

If those subsidies were overhauled so that they helped support more sustainable practices, Baedeker said, “we could have a real game-changer on our hands.”

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LION AIR SEEN SCRAPPING ORDERS ON BOEING REMARKS

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I O N M e n t a r i A i r l i n e s ’s o w n e r threatened to cancel $22 billion in aircraft orders from Boeing Co., saying the planemaker’s response to an accident report for a recent deadly crash unfairly implicated his carrier.

“I feel betrayed,” the Indonesian carrier’s cofounder, Rusdi Kirana, said by telephone on Wednesday. “I’m preparing documents to propose cancelations. Everything is still under consideration now.”

The rupture between airline and planemaker is par tic ularly striking since a Lion subsidiary was the launch customer for the Max, taking the model’s initial delivery in May 2017. Lion is the third-largest buyer of the updated 737, behind Southwest Airlines and Flydubai.

The carrier is slated to get seven of the jetliners next year, followed by 24 in 2020 and 35 the following year, said George Dimitroff, head of valuations for Flight Ascend Consultancy.

“Lion Air is a valued customer and we are supporting them through this difficult time,” Boeing said in a statement. “Our hearts go out to everyone who has been impacted by this, and safety remains our number one priority. We are taking every measure to fully understand all aspects of this accident, and are working closely with the investigating team and all regulatory authorities involved.”

Questions surrounding the crash of a two-month-old 737 Max have hovered over the Chicago-based manufacturer and weighed on its shares. The stock has declined 4.7 percent since the October 29 accident, which killed all 189 people aboard. US pilot unions have questioned why flight crews weren’t alerted to new anti-stall software installed on Boeing’s newest models of the 737, a single-aisle workhorse that is the company’s biggest source of profit.

Crash report

T H E preliminar y repor t last month from Indonesia’s transportation safety commission didn’t specify the cause of the tragedy, but contrasted how pilots handled confusing anti-stall warnings on the final two flights and recommended that Lion Air improve its safety culture.

Boeing responded with a lengthy statement summarizing details of the plane’s final flights and maintenance issues. The communique didn’t mention the new system on the 737 Max, which was activated by erroneous data from a sensor and repeatedly tilted the plane’s nose downward as pilots battled for control.

M e a n w h i l e , I n d i a’s D i r e c t o r a t e General of Civil Aviation, the regulator, h a s a s ke d J e t Ai r way s ( I n d i a ) Ltd. a n d S p i c e J e t Lt d. t o a d v i s e t h e i r pilots to land 737 Max planes in case o f t h e j e t s h o w i n g o r d e ve l o p i n g problems regarding the ‘Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System’ during a flight, a top official said on Thursday, asking not to be identified.

Pilots must proceed to land at the nearest airport instead of attempting to complete the flight, the official said.

Bloomberg News

Saturday, December 8, 2018

A3

Documents show Facebook used user data as competitive weapon

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NTERNAL Facebook documents released by a UK parliamentary committee offer the clearest evidence yet that the social network has used its enormous trove of user data as a competitive weapon, often in ways designed to keep its users in the dark.

P a r l i a m e nt ’s m e d i a c o m m it tee acc u sed Facebook on Wednesday of cutting special deals with some app developers to give them more access to data, while icing out others that it viewed as potential rivals.

In other documents, company executives discussed how they were keeping the company’s collection and exploitation of user data from its users. That included quietly collecting the call records and text messages of users of phones that run on Google’s Android operating system without asking their permission.

The UK committee released more than 200 pages of documents on the tech giant’s internal discussions about the value of users’ personal information. While they mostly cover the period between 2012 and 2015—the first three years after Facebook went public—they offer a rare glimpse into the company’s inner workings and the extent to which it used people’s data to make money while publicly vowing to protect their privacy.

The company’s critics said the new revelations reinforced their concerns over what users actually

know about how Facebook treats their data.

“These kinds of schemes are exactly why companies must be required to disclose exactly how they are collecting and sharing our data, with stiff penalties for companies that lie about it,” Sen. Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat, said in a statement.

Facebook called the documents misleading and said the information they contain is “only part of the story.”

“Like any business, we had many inter na l conversat ions about the various ways we could build a sustainable business model for our platform,” the company said in a statement. “But the facts are clear: We’ve never sold people’s data.”

In a Facebook post, company CEO Mark Zuckerberg sought to put the documents in context. “Of course, we don’t let everyone develop on our platform,” he wrote.

“We blocked a lot of sketchy apps.

We also didn’t allow developers to use our platform to replicate our functionality or grow their services virally in a way that creates little value for people on Facebook.”

The UK committee seized the documents from app developer Six4Three, maker of a now-defunct bikini-picture search app.

Six4Three acquired the files as part of a US lawsuit that accuses Facebook of deceptive, anticompetitive business practices. The documents remain under court seal in the US. In a summary of key issues pertaining to the documents, the committee said Facebook “white listed,” or made exceptions for companies, such as Airbnb and Netf lix, that gave them continued access to users’ “friends” even after the tech giant announced changes in 2015 to end the practice.

“Facebook have clearly entered into white-listing agreements with certain companies, which meant that after the platform changes in 2014/15 they maintained full access to friends data,” the committee said in a statement.

“It is not clear that there was any user consent for this, nor how Facebook decided which companies should be white listed or not.”

The documents “raise important questions about how Facebook treats users’ data, their policies for working with app developers and how they exercise their dominant position in the social-media market,” said committee chairman Damian Collins.

“We don’t feel we have had straight answers from Facebook on these important issues, which is why we are releasing the documents.”

The cache includes e-mails from Zuckerberg and other key members of his staff. The e-mails show Zuckerberg and other executives scheming to leverage user

data to favor companies not considered to be threats and to identify potential acquisitions.

Collins said the e-mails raise important issues, particularly around the use of the data of Facebook users. “ T he idea of linking access to friends’ data to the financial value of the developers’ relationship w ith Facebook is a recurring feature of the documents,” Collins said.

T he committee’s summar y said Facebook col lected data about the mobile apps its users favored to help it decide which companies to acquire. It also said Facebook knew that an update to its Android mobile app phone system—which allowed the Facebook app to hoover up user call logs and text messages—would be controversial.

“To mitigate any bad PR, Facebook planned to make it as hard as possible for users to know that this was one of the underlying features of the upgrade of their app,” the summary said.

In a post on Wednesday, Facebook continued to stand by its stance that the feature was “is opt in for users and we ask for people’s permission before enabling.”

T he A nd roid d at a col le c tion practice was unearthed in April as the Cambridge Analytica scandal roiled Facebook. The data-mining firm, employed by the 2016 Trump campaign, exploited lax Facebook data-sharing policies to obtain data on millions of users without their consent.

Facebook executives clearly understand the material is valuable. An unsigned memo setting policy for a system upgrade known as “Platform 3.0” laid out a case

for shutting out any app developer who could be construed as a competitor.

“There are a small number of developers whom no amount of sharing to FB or monetary value can justify giving them access to Platform,” the memo said. “These developers do not want to participate in the ecosystem we have created, but rather build their own ecosystem at the expense of our users, other developers and, of course, us. That is something that we will not allow.”

The documents also suggest Facebook would jealously safeguard its interests. In a January 2013 e-mail exchange, Zuckerberg signed off on cutting access to Twitter’s Vine video-producing app, which had allowed users to find their friends on Vine by pulling in data from Facebook.

“Unless anyone raises objections,” Facebook Vice President Justin Osofsky wrote, the company would cut Vine’s access to users’ friend networks. “We’re prepared reactive PR.” “Yup, go for it,” Zuckerberg replied.

The documents also suggest robust internal discussions about linking data to revenue.

“There’s a big question on where we get the revenue from,” Zuckerberg said in one e-mail. “Do we make it easy for [developers] to use our payments/ad network but not require them? Do we require them? Do we just charge a [revenue] share directly and let [developers] who use them get a credit against what they owe us? It’s not at all clear to me here that we have a model that will actually make us the revenue we want at scale.” AP

U.S. PURSUED HUAWEI CFO’S ARREST DESPITE RISK TO TRADE TALKS WITH XI

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HE Trump administration arranged the arrest of Huawei Technologies Co.’s chief financial officer aware of potential blow-back in trade talks with Beijing but intent on showing resolve to crack down on Chinese companies accused of violating US law.

The arrest happened about the same time that President Donald Trump dined with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Buenos Aires to discuss the trade war between the countries.

White House National Security Adviser John Bolton, who sat at the table with Trump and Xi, knew in advance of the US request that Canadian authorities arrest Huawei CFO Wanzhou Meng,

he told National Public Radio Thursday.

After Bolton’s interview, a White House official said that Trump was not aware of the arrest in advance, distancing the president from the provocative move.

But planning for the arrest was well under way as Trump prepared for a dinner that he said later resulted in “an incredible” deal with Xi—an agreement that may be in danger of unraveling after Chinese officials learned of Meng’s capture and pending extradition to the US. Trump signaled continued optimism in trade talks in a tweet late Thursday, citing an earlier Chinese statement that Beijing was “full of confidence that an agreement can be reached within the next 90 days.”

“I agree!” Trump said.

The US-orchestrated detention of a leading figure in the Chinese technology industry—Meng is the daughter of Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei and a possible heir to his company—undercuts a key goal for Xi in the US talks: to show relations between the US and China returning to a more normal footing. The Chinese president has sought to prevent the economic conflict from spilling into other sensitive areas, such as Taiwan or the disputed shipping lanes of the South China Sea. Canadian authorities detained Meng as she was changing planes in Vancouver at the request of the US, which alleges that Huawei violated US sanctions on Iran. The

same day, Trump and Xi were meeting for the first time in more than a year.

Coincidental arrest

THE timing of the move against Meng was coincidental, driven by an itinerary that put her on Canadian soil on Saturday, said a person familiar with the matter. Even so, the White House didn’t delay or block the action.

Meng’s arrest is part of an ongoing investigation by US prosecutors into whether Huawei violated banking laws as it sought to evade sanctions against Iran by routing a series of transactions through HSBC Holdings Plc., according to a person briefed on the matter.

The US request for Meng’s extradition stems from a Trump administration campaign to increasingly hold Chinese nationals accountable for committing crimes, said a second person familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified speaking about the sensitive issue.

Bolton, in addressing the arrest in the NPR inter view, stressed that the conduct of Chinese companies—and especially technology companies—is a central issue in the trade dispute with the US that includes theft of US intellectual property by Chinese actors and forced technology transfers from US companies to Chinese par tners in joint ventures, he said. Bloomberg News

ExportUnlimited

A4 Saturday, December 8, 2018 • Editor: Efleda P. Campos

BusinessMirror

DTI awards Top Philippine Exporters

By Kristina Noelle Andaya

T

Trade Industry Development Specialist (TIDS) Knowledge Processing Division, DTI-EMB

HE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through its Export Marketing Bureau (EMB), awarded the top Philippine companies for their exceptional export performance during the National Export Congress (NEC) held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on December 7.

The awardees were recognized based on their track record, excellence and innovation in the deliv-

ery of services. These exporters have persisted on competitiveness and continued to contribute to the

Philippines’s export revenue.

The DTI recognizes exporters to acknowledge their hard work and as a testament to the strong partnership between the government and the private sector in pursuing the country’s inclusive and sustainable export development.

Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, DTI-Trade and Investments Promotion Group Undersecretary Nora K. Terrado, DTI-EMB Director Senen M. Perlada and Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (Philexport) President Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis Jr. conferred the awards on 23 top-performing exporters of the country.

This year’s Hall of Fame Awardees were Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction (HHIC) Philippines Inc. for Machinery and Transport Equipment; and Taganito HPAL Nickel Corp. for

Minerals and Shin-Etsu Magnetics Philippines for Electronic Equipment and Parts. The Hall of Fame Award is conferred to exporters who were consistently awarded as Top Export Performers in the last three consecutive years.

Honored for Top Sectoral Award were Amkor Technology Philippines Inc. for Electronics; HHIC Philippines Inc. for Machinery and Transport Equipment; Lear Automotive Services (Netherlands) for Motor Vehicle Parts (Ignition Wiring Sets); Petron Corp. for Chemicals; New Davao Oil Mill Inc. for Coconut Oil; and SCAD Services Pte. Ltd. for Woodcrafts and Furniture.

Other awardees were Takata (Philippines) Corp., for Metal Components; Taganito HPAL Nickel Corp. for Minerals; Shin-Etsu Magnetics Philippines for Electronic

spective fields.

Also, the Most Outstanding Ripples Plus Award was given to exporters based on Philippine St at ist ics Aut hor it y ra n k i ng for micro, small, and medium enterprises, and in recognition of their outstanding international success in penetrating global markets. The awards were conferred to Peter Paul Philippine Corp. for Luzon; Profood International Corp. for the Visayas; and Malagos Agri-Ventures Corp. for Mindanao.

These recognitions were designed to promote excellence and inspire the whole exporting community. Aside from providing motivation to the country’s exporters to keep on improving and innovating, the NEC 2018 also aims to increase the reach of Filipino exporters.

Asean middle-class consumers seen to spend more on fashion items

Abac PHL’s 4-point agenda supports PRRD’s call for ‘inclusive globalization’

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MID the backdrop of uncertainty on the global economy, the Apec Business Advisory Council Philippines (Abac PHL) reaffirms its push for its four-point agenda. This is in response to President Duterte’s call for inclusive globalization during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea earlier in November.

“Now more than ever, world economies are being challenged to bring in the benefits of free and open trade, especially to the developing economies and for people at the margins.

The global trading system can definitely do more, but we need to work on strategic areas with our economic partners, such as those from Apec, to unleash growth at home and the rest of the region,” Abac PHL chairman Tomas Alcantara said.

The council advanced the following areas in various Apec-related meetings with other business leaders and government officials. These include growing globally competitive micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs); accelerating economic growth through infrastructure; championing the services sector in the global economy; and harnessing digital innovation as the key to the future economy.

To grow globally competitive MSMEs, Abac PHL will work more closely with the Department of Trade and Industry to help provide an effective enabling ecosystem for MSMEs. These include enhancing availability and accessibility of finance, boosting their capacity for scale, and strengthening linkages with domestic and international value chains.

Abac PHL supports its Asean peers—Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand in promoting Islamic infrastructure investment. It is continuing its ongoing work with counterparts such as Malaysia to explore other financing mechanisms to support the government’s infrastructure drive. It also looks forward to collaborating with Apec bodies to tap the catastrophe bonds, which is critical for a disasterprone economy like the Philippines.

The services sector has been the major driver of productivity and economic growth in the Philippines and in the region. Abac PHL will continue to engage the government to facilitate trade in services by implementing structural reforms, and enhancing physical, institutional and people connectivity. The council is also studying key subsectors that have great potential for bringing in more investments and creating more jobs.

Equipment and Parts; Sumifru (Philippines) Corp. for Fresh Fruits (Bananas); L & T International Group Philippines Inc. for Apparel; and Nestle Philippines Inc. for Processed Food and Beverages.

Meanwhile, the Excellence Award for Services were conferred on Toon City Animation (Morph Animation Inc.) for Animation Services; Golden ABC Inc. (Penshoppe Brand) for Franchising Services; GameOps Inc. for Game Development Services; ADEC Innovations for IT-BPM Services (Knowledge Process Outsourcing on Environmental Management Solutions); and Orange and Bronze Software Labs Inc. for IT Services (Software Development).

The Award for Services are conferred on exporters who have shown ideal contribution to the industry and exhibited excellence in their re-

TWO PHILIPPINE ENTRIES WIN AT 2018 G-STAR

The “Brawl Quest” developed by ThinkBit Solutions, led by director Lord Christian Gosingtian (front row, second from right), wins first prize under the mobile game category, while the “Bayani Game” of Ranida Games, headed by Walter Manalo (front row, fourth from left), gets the second prize in the PC game category. The two game developers showed their competitive advantage during their participation in the Asean Services Exhibition: Global Game Exhibition G-Star 2018 held from November 13 to 18 in Busan, South Korea.

DTI gears up for Logistics Services Philippines Conference and Exhibition

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HE Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Competitiveness Bureau, in partnership with the Export Marketing Bureau and the Board of Investments, is gearing up for the first Logistics Services Philippines Conference and Exhibition slated for December 6 and 7.

The event will gather stakeholders from the logistics services sector, government and development partners to thresh out issues and formulate recommendations in a bid to boost competitiveness of logistics services in the country.

“Realizing the potential of LSPs [logistics services providers] as one of the core enablers of development and major driver of job generation, we organized the first-ever Logistics Services Philippines Conference to serve as platform for discussion among key stakeholders: the logistics services providers, the micro, small and medium enterprises

(MSMEs), and the government.

Developing a globally competitive logistics services sector is important in supporting the industries and strengthening our supply chain.”

Undersecretary Rowel Barba said.

The first Logistics Services Philippines Conference 2018, under the theme “ Trabaho at Negosyo: Creating Opportunities in the Logistics Services Sector,” aims to identify issues that hinder the development of the LSPs. In response, the concerned government agencies are expected to present policies and programs that will address major issues raised during the conference.

The four areas of discussion in the conference include review of Philippines performance in the Logistics Performance Index; regulatory reforms to promote ease of doing business in the logistics services sector; investment opportunities and industry prospects that bring

growth and job creation in logistics services; investment in human capital in preparation for Logistics 4.0.

After the conference, a business matching activity will follow, with over 48 LSPs, offering freight transport, storage and warehousing, customs brokerage, and cargo handling services to participate in the Logistics Services Philippine Exhibition.

The business matching event aims to promote products and services of LSPs and link them with MSMEs and exporters who are looking for reliable and affordable logistics services for their business.

The two-day Logistics Services Philippines Conference and Exhibit is part of the National Export Week Celebration, to be held alongside with National Export Congress at the Philippine International Convention Center and organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions.

IDDLE-CLASS consumers in Southeast Asian cities, particularly Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, are ready to spend more money on fashion items over the next two years, presenting business opportunities for exporters and retailers.

An Asean middle-income consumer survey conducted by Hong Kong Trade Development Council indicated that fashion took the third place in terms of spending in the past two years, just after travel and leisure; and health, beauty and wellness.

Among fashion and accessory items, the distribution of spending was business attire (28 percent), casual wear (26 percent), shoes (22 percent), accessories (12 percent), travel goods and handbags (8 percent), and spectacles (4 percent) “The whole way Asean consumers experience fashion is fundamentally different from a decade ago. In the past, people who lived in Paris, Milan or New York might know the fashion trends first, but via the Internet and overseas travel, Asean people nowadays are well aware of international fashion trends,” it said.

But while Asean people want international designer brands, they are also attached to fashion reflecting their unique cultural heritage and history.

The survey noted that some local designers from Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand who are “turning to local cultural heritage and history for inspiration in order to create a distinctive fashion identity that is able to stand out and differentiate itself from the international brands.”

“Some designers have successfully incorporated rich cultural heritage to establish a design authenticity that is not just appealing to local consumers but also international tourists. Asean fashion is about embracing cultural roots instead of disregarding them

for a global approach,” it said.

With the 634 million citizens of Asean are still young, the survey pointed out that youth is an essential consideration for foreign fashion brands that wish to tap into the Asean market.

Asean’s fashion trends are moving toward street style, fun denim, off white jeans, oversized shirts, logo hoodies and statement t-shirts. Rock and roll, hip-hop, dramas and movies are all big reference points in Asean’s fashion scene, it said.

It added athleisure is also a prevalent theme of fashion in Asean amid a booming global trend toward fitness and healthy living.

The survey likewise underscored the influence of social media on fashion purchases, especially Asean millennials’ decisions on purchasing clothing and fashion accessories.

“Today everybody in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand can log into Instagram and follow an influencer. If she posts an outfit of the day, millions of people in Asean will see that photo, potentially steering trends. Today both local and foreign fashion brands in Asean are making use of social media to reach out to target consumer segments,” it said.

With the high penetration of Facebook and Instagram, Asean consumers are increasingly adopting “wear it once” culture, as they are not pictured in the same outfit twice on social media. This partly explains why fast fashion has become a dominant clothing trend,” it added.

Citing earlier data, the survey further identified the projected top 5 cities for consumption and fashion spending which included Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore and Bangkok.

“However, it is small- and medium-size cities in Asean that will drive future economic growth,” it said.

ITDI, EMB take on new techno-check strategy T HE Industrial Technology Development Institute, in partnership with the Export Marketing Bureau (EMB), took on a new technology-check strategy to rank market readiness of 27 ITDIdeveloped technologies.

With the Philippines touted as the likely sixth country in the world after the US, Belgium, Turkey, France, and Canada to adopt the strategy, the two partner agencies called for the conduct of a Technology Readiness Assessment (TRA) review.

A systematic, metric-based process and report, TRA assesses the readiness level and maturity of technologies. It covers aspects on technology; manufacturing and quality; and programmatic covering customer focus and documentation. As is, the TRA is a tool for managing technology risks, reducing company vulnerability to adoption of young technology, as well as buoying prudent use of government funds and other resources.

Leading 22 technology generators and a project-management team of

18, ITDI is currently conducting the review of 12 of its food processing, six health and wellness, six green engineering, and three nano technologies.

Here, ITDI used a schematic adopted from the Air Force Research Laboratory.

Developed by William Nolte of AFRL, the Excel-based Technology Readiness Level Calculator Version 2.2 was lifted from the open sources of the Defense Acquisition University.

ITDI further engaged six trade partners from EMB and 15 industry influencers selected from a short list

of 229 top companies of the country to form five TRA Teams. Here, EMB rendered its expertise on determining technologies that make business sense and have business value; how best to develop and expand export trade prospects of technologies; and selecting which technology/product to trade and further develop following current market trends.

Together, the teams assessed the readiness of the 27 technologies and their Project Readiness to Transition level. The reviews were held from Sep-

tember 26 to 28 for the teams on health and wellness and green engineering.

Meanwhile, the teams on food innovation/processing and advanced technologies conducted the review from October 10 to 12.

Results of the project will be compiled into a 150-page compendere supported by 27 TRA full reports, expected to impact 115,748 establishments of the manufacturing sector; 119,718 accommodation and food service; and 56,466 other service establishments.

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

Sports

BusinessMirror

Saturday, December 8, 2018

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A SIGN OF ARGENTINA’S

DECADENCE B

Nassar’s shadow haunts gymnastics, sports world U

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

n Lou Anna Simon: The university president and school alumna resigned in January amid growing pressure from students, lawmakers and some members of the school’s governing board. She acknowledged being “the focus of this anger” but has denied any cover-up by the university.

The governing board later hired former Michigan Gov. John Engler as its interim president. The school has already settled lawsuits totaling $500 million.

She is charged with two felony and two misdemeanor counts of lying to a police officer in connection with the investigation. n Mark Hollis: The athletic director and a Michigan State alumnus called his January departure a retirement, but he, too, faced pressure to leave. Hollis had been on the job for 10 years. He said he made the choice because of “the scope of everything,” adding that he hoped his departure would help the “healing process.” n Kathie Klages: The former head gymnastics coach resigned last year after she was suspended for defending Nassar over the years. Klages was charged with lying to investigators. If convicted, she could face up to four years in prison. She has denied allegations that former gymnast Larissa Boyce told her that Nassar had abused her in 1997, when Boyce was 16. Boyce has said Klages dissuaded her from taking the issue further, even after another young gymnast made similar allegations.

U.S.A. GYMNASTICS

nValeri Liukin: The coordinator of the women’s national team for USA Gymnastics announced in early February that he was stepping down, less than 18 months after taking over for Martha Karolyi. Liukin said that, while he wanted to help turn around the program, “the present climate causes me, and more important my family, far too much stress, difficulty and uncertainty.” n USA Gymnastics said in January that its entire board of directors would resign, as requested by the US Olympic Committe. The USOC earlier this month took steps to decertify the gymnastics organization that picks US national teams and is the umbrella organization for hundreds of clubs across the country. n Steve Penny: The former president and CEO of the organization resigned under pressure in March 2017. He was replaced by Kerry Perry, who took over in December 2017.

Penny pleaded not guilty in October to a third-degree felony alleging he ordered the removal of documents relating to Nassar from the Karolyi Ranch near Huntsville, Texas.

n Less than a year after being hired as USA Gymnastics’s president and CEO, Perry resigned in September after the USOC questioned her ability to lead the scandal-rocked organization. n Former California Congressman Mary Bono was hired in October as the interim president for USA Gymnastics only to resign four day later. Bono said she felt her affiliation with the embattled organization would be a “liability” after a social-media post by Bono criticizing Nike and former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick drew widespread scrutiny within the gymnastics community. Sixtime Olympic medalist Aly Raisman also questioned Bono’s association with a law firm that advised the organization on how to handle portions of the Nassar scandal. n Ron Galimore: The longtime USA Gymnastics chief operating officer resigned in November but denied any wrongdoing in the Nassar scandal. The Indianapolis Star reported in May that an attorney hired by USA Gymnastics directed Galimore to come up with a false excuse to explain Nassar’s absence at major gymnastic events in the summer of 2015. The organization was looking into complaints against Nassar at the time. n USA Gymnastics filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition on Wednesday as it attempts to reach settlements in the dozens of sex-abuse lawsuits it faces and to forestall its potential demise at the hands of the USOC.

TWISTARS GYMNASTICS CLUB

n John Geddert: The owner of the Michigan club was suspended in January by USA Gymnastics and announced his retirement. He was the US women’s coach at the 2012 Olympics. Geddert has said he had “zero knowledge” of Nassar’s crimes.

KAROLYI RANCH

n USA Gymnastics said in January that the Texas ranch where a number of gymnasts said Nassar abused them would no longer serve as the national training center. Owners Martha and Bela Karolyi have since sued the USOC and USA Gymnastics, seeking damages for a canceled sale of the property. They also have been named in lawsuits. n Debra Van Horn: Texas prosecutors in June filed sexual-assault charges against Nassar and Van Horn, a trainer who worked at his side at the Karolyi Ranch and also worked at USA Gymnastics for 30 years. She was charged with second-degree sexual assault of a child. The local prosecutor said Van Horn was charged with “acting as a party” with Nassar, but didn’t elaborate.

U.S. OLYMPIC COMMITTEE

n Scott Blackmun: The CEO resigned in February, citing difficulties with prostate cancer and the federation’s need to urgently move forward to deal with the sexual-abuse scandal.

There had been calls for his departure, including from two US senators who said neither he nor the USOC as a whole properly reacted to sexual-abuse allegations involving Nassar. The USOC is conducting an independent review of when Blackmun and others learned the details about abuse cases at USA Gymnastics and whether they responded appropriately. AP

The Associated Press

UENOS AIRES, Argentina—Argentina’s proud soccer tradition has been sullied by its fervent, fanatical fans.

The land of Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona has won the World Cup twice, and it felt a sense of overwhelming pride in hosting perhaps the most important club final ever.

But the second leg of the globally anticipated “Game of the Century” between Buenos Aires rivals Boca Juniors and River Plate will be played on Sunday more than 6,000 miles from the Argentine capital at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid.

“We’re going to play the Copa Libertadores 10,000 kilometers away,” complained River Coach Marcelo Gallardo.

“Someday we’re going to rethink what just happened, and we’re going to remember this as a total embarrassment.”

The change of venue happened after Boca Juniors players were injured when their bus was attacked by River Plate fans.

That prompted organizers to postpone, and eventually move, the second leg of the final to Europe. The teams drew 2-2 in the first leg.

The switch only highlighted the rotten state of local soccer, which has been plagued with corruption, chaos and unrelenting violence for years. The decision also showed the waning influence of South American soccer’s governing body, which found it impossible to stage its biggest club match on its own continent.

“It’s a tough blow,” Argentine President Mauricio Macri told The Associated Press in an interview this week.

Macri, a die-hard Boca fan who presided over the club for more than a decade, said the attack “must lead us all to reflection.”

The rivalry between Boca and River ranks up there with the most intense in the world of sports. The matchup was more magnified than usual because the clubs were facing each other for the first time in the final of South America’s equivalent of the Champions League.

The Argentine soccer federation promoted the game as a personal achievement—a way to overcome the national team’s failure at the World Cup, where Argentina was eliminated in the last 16 by eventual champion France. Since then, Messi has skipped the national team’s friendly games and there are reports that he is still dismayed by Argentina’s poor performance in Russia.

Obsessed with promoting Argentina’s image abroad, Macri had said visiting fans should be allowed at the two-leg final. It was a call at odds with a 2013 ban in Argentine soccer aimed at reducing violence.

Macri had said it was “a good opportunity to show maturity, and that we’re changing, and [soccer] can

A YOUNG fan shows her support for Boca Juniors outside the team’s hotel in Buenos Aires. AP

SA Gymnastics’ bankruptcy filing on Wednesday in Indianapolis is the latest fallout from the sexualassault investigation of now-imprisoned gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar.

Numerous people have been criminally charged, fired or forced out of their jobs during the investigations into the once-renowned gymnastics doctor. He was sentenced to decades in prison after hundreds of girls and women said he sexually abused them under the guise of medical treatment, including while he worked for Michigan State and Indianabased USA Gymnastics, which trains Olympians.

Here’s a look at some of the individuals and organizations that have been affected:

By Debora Rey

be played in peace.” He later backtracked on the proposal and left the decision up to the clubs.

The nonprofit group “Let’s Save Football” says 328 people have been killed in soccer-related violence dating from 1924.

“We have recorded more aggressions against players, referees and soccer bosses than fights or aggressions between rivaling fans,” the NGO said in a recent report. “Violence doesn’t disappear but rather mutates...it’s a cultural problem, not just a problem that has to do with police.”

Some Boca players were injured in their bus a few blocks from River’s Monumental Stadium when rocks and pieces of wood thrown by River supporters shattered the windows.

Some players were also affected by tear gas and pepper spray used by police to quell the violence.

“Many years ago in England, there was a similar problem.

And a strong decision changed that,” said Tottenham Manager Mauricio Pochettino, who is from Argentina. “Today, it’s fantastic to come here and watch football at the stadium. It’s a sport to enjoy. It’s not a drama. In Argentina, we’re still far from that.

“We’re an amazing country and people but we still have a lot of problems...it’s cultural. It’s going to be a very tough job to change that. I’m not sure it’s going to change.”

Although it’s not the most serious episode of violence in South America, governing body Conmebol said Argentina was not in condition to host the final.

Many see the decision to move the game abroad as a lucrative business deal aimed at filling the pockets of a few. Others say it shows how Argentina has lost influence at Conmebol since the 2014 death of Julio Grondona, the longtime head of the country’s soccer federation who was also a senior vice president of Fifa and head of the Fifa finance committee.

Maradona, former Paraguay goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert and Brazil defender Dani Alves were among those who criticized Conmebol for what they say is giving in to Europe’s might. The tournament, named after the “liberators” of South America from Spanish rule, is now dependent on the old colonial conqueror, prompting some to joke that it should be named “Conquistadors.”

Even the mood in Argentina has soured among Boca and River fans, who have yet to buy all of the 5,000 tickets available for each team.

The cost of traveling to Madrid is too much for most, especially during a time of economic crisis in Argentina, where the peso has lost about half of its value this year. But even if they did have the means, many say it will never live up to the hype after they were stripped of the “Final of All Finals” in their homeland.

“The Libertadores final is not the same,” said former Boca playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme, who won the tournament three times. “They took away our final. It will now be the most expensive friendly in history.”

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER MVP Josef Martinez claims the Most Valuable Player award

from Major League Soccer after shattering the record for goals in a season and leading Atlanta United to the championship game. In just two years, Atlanta United has established itself as a flagship franchise in MLS, setting numerous attendance records and achieving immediate success on the field with a high-scoring, attacking style spearheaded by its 25-year-old Venezuelan striker. AP

P.S.C.-K.I.S.S. SEMINAR ON

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HE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Korea Institute of Sports Science (KISS) kicked off on Friday the fourth installment of the Sports Science Lecture Series at the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City.

At least 70 coaches, sports practitioners and teachers have signed up for the lectures to be conducted by specialists from the KISS—Dr. Hyunjoo Cho, who will talk about Sports Policy: Global Coaching Leadership, and Dr. Hongsun Song, who will discuss Sport Talent under Exercise Psychology.

Dr. Jeheon Moon will lecture on Change and Future of Biomechanics in the afternoon,

followed by a lecture on the practical applications of sports medicine by Dr. Eonho Kim. Unesco-Kiss Chairman and Program Manager Dr. Hyunjoo Jung will also grace the activity.

PSC Chairman William Ramirez said the partnership “has benefited a number of coaches, athletes, administrators and teachers” for two years.

“This partnership is a milestone considering the impact it has with the participants who have re-echoed what they learned to their own students, communities and athletes,” Ramirez said.

The PSC’s Philippine Sports Institute, through National Training Director Marc Velasco, supervises the conduct of the seminar. AP

$2M to fight sex abuse

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AKU, Azerbaijan—The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) has approved a $2-million project to safeguard athletes after an American sex-abuse scandal.

The sport’s governing body says the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation will have a help desk for athletes, judicial panels to prosecute and judge cases, and a compliance section to monitor good governance.

FIG acted in response to “abuse cases in the United States which so shocked the world of gymnastics.”

Hundreds of girls and women, including many Olympians, said they were molested by Larry Nassar, a former USA Gymnastics doctor. He was jailed after pleading guilty to sexual assault and possessing child pornography.

At a biennial congress, FIG member-federations also incorporated the free-running sport of parkour as an official discipline. Parkour organizers campaigned against FIG using the hashtag #WeAreNotGymnastics. AP

RUSSIAN APPEAL Alexander Zubkov carries

the Russian flag as he leads the team during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. The Russian Olympic Committee has appealed a Moscow court ruling which sought to overturn a doping disqualification against a double gold medalist from the Sochi Winter Olympics. The Moscow City Court ruled last month that bobsledder Zubkov could keep his medals because a Court of Arbitration for Sport decision to uphold his disqualification wasn’t valid in Russia. AP

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THOMAS EYES BACK-TO-BACK TOUR CROWNS G

BusinessMi

Saturday, December 8, 2018 | Editor: Jun Lomibao

ERAINT THOMAS has hinted he would prefer to target a second consecutive Tour de France in 2019 rather than ride the Giro d’Italia, even if that would set up another leadership clash with teammate Chris Froome, who is keen to target a recordequalling fifth Tour de France victory.

Thomas was voted the BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality of the Year on Tuesday. He is back in training after long celebrating and savoring his Tour de France victory, and will soon head to Team Sky’s first winter training camp in Mallorca, where the British team is expected to discuss and decide their major goals and team leaders for 2019.

Froome won the 2018 Giro d’Italia but wants to join Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain as a fivetime Tour de France winner rather than defend his maglia rosa.

Thomas crashed out of the Giro d’Italia in 2017 but now wants to pursue a second yellow jersey at the Tour de France.

“I definitely feel there’s unfinished business there [at the Giro d’Italia] but next year might be the wrong time,” Thomas told BBC Wales.

“Being there [at the Tour] with number one on my back, it would be a shame to know I wouldn’t be at my best, so I’m definitely

GERAINT THOMAS focuses on repeating as Tour de France champion even if that would set up another leadership clash with teammate Chris Froome.

leaning more toward that.

“But I just need to sit down with Tim [Kerrison—Team Sky coach] over the next few weeks and nail down a plan.”

That desire could put him on a collision course with Froome for leadership at Team Sky next July, but like this year, Thomas is convinced the two can find a gentleman’s agreement that means the road and the racing will decide who perhaps pulls on the yellow jersey in Paris next July. Thomas seems to fancy his chances after proving his Grand Tour ability this year.

“I’m not sure but if we both wanted to go to the Tour 100 percent, as long as we both ride like we did this year, we can both

do really well,” Thomas said.

“As long as we don’t race against each other, we both have our ambitions and that works well in training because we both push each other.

“Obviously Froomey wants to go back to the Tour and win his fifth, which would be a record.”

Thomas finally got back into training after the Shanghai Tour de France criterium and a promotional tour in Britain to promote his book. Back in the south of France, Thomas has posted several photographs of training rides with Team Sky teammates and other riders based in the area.

BBC Wales suggested Thomas will head to

Belgian Cycling drops age limit for drivers in race column, adopts certificate of fitness

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HE Belgian Cycling Federation has abandoned its upper age limit for directeur sportifs driving in a race caravan, opting to introduce a “certificate of fitness” for anyone hoping to get behind the wheel of a team or race vehicle.

At present, anyone over the age of 70 and registered with Belgian Cycling is barred from driving a vehicle in a race caravan.

However, this week the federation confirmed that this would change and the new rules would apply from January.

“Safety during cycling races remains one of the main concerns of Belgian Cycling.

Once again the federation takes additional measures to ensure that the motorized traffic in the caravan continues to lead in good and safe tracks,” a statement on the Belgian Cycling web site read. “For example, the age limit of 70 years is set for drivers of a vehicle in the racing caravan on the national or international calendar [exception is made for the opening vehicle, the closing vehicle and the vehicles of police and emergency services].

“This measure will be replaced by the introduction of a certificate of fitness to drive.

This certificate must be attached to the license application. This measure will take effect from 2019 and will also apply to all sports directors and team leaders from UCI teams and club teams, including those who apply for a license for the first time. New team leaders are also subjected to a theoretical test and a

compulsory internship period.”

The changes in the regulations come after complaints from Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise directeur sportif, who turned 70 this season.

Wanty-Group Gobert’s Hilaire Van der Schueren would have also been prevented from driving the team vehicle with this regulation.

“When you are 70 years old, many people think you are an old man, but most of all it is about your richness, and I have never caused an accident in 33 years as a team leader,” Planckaert told Sporzalast week. “There are 50-year-old drivers who drive worse than a 70-year-old driver.”

Planckaert’s dig was directed towards newly appointed Belgian national coach, Rik Verbrugghe. Planckaert told Sporza that Verbrugghe—who was a directeur sportif at Bahrain-Merida this season—ran over the foot of one of the Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise mechanics, leaving him with a broken foot.

“My mechanic Roger Michiels got out to help a rider of my team, but he was just knocked down by Verbrugghe, that man’s foot is now shattered,” said Planckaert. “After the race, we were looking for Verbrugghe to fill in papers, but we did not hear anything anymore. So, he committed a hit and run, is that a better driver than me?”

Belgian Cycling said that they were aware of the incident, which happened at Gent-Wevelgem in March, and that they would discuss it with him when he began his appointment this month. Cyclingnews

Los Angeles over the New Year for a personal training camp before returning to Wales for a special public event on stage in Cardiff called “Geraint Thomas: Welsh Legend.”

He is expected to make his race debut in February, perhaps with an intense block of early racing to get back up to speed. “I’ve been back training two weeks now and I’m starting to feel like a bike rider again,” Thomas said.

“The first week was tough going but it’s nice to be back in one place, a bit of routine and back on the regime with the diet. I’m about three weeks behind everyone at the moment so it’s a bit of a grind but I’m sure we’ll get there.” Cyclingnews PHIL LIGGETT (left) and Paul Sherwen have been the voice of cycling for English-speaking audiences for decades.

EMO Kristina Vogel emerged onto the track and completed a lap in her wheelchair, to what the German Federation described as a “thunderous ovation” from the 2,000-strong crowd.

Liggett: I lost my right-hand man, my wingman and my teammate

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HE cycling world has been reeling over the news that long-time television announcer Paul Sherwen died over the weekend. Initially, the cause of death was unknown, as the 62-year-old passed away in his sleep. His coworker of over 30 years, Phil Liggett, wrote on Twitter that Sherwen’s family “have now told me that the result of the post mortem was heart failure.”

Liggett and Sherwen have been the voice of cycling for English-speaking audiences for decades, commenting on the Tour de France for NBC Sports. They also called the tours of California and Utah, the USA Pro Challenge, and numerous other events together over the years.

“It’s hard to believe,” Liggett told the Wall Street Journal.

“When the day dawned, I’d lost my right-hand man, my wingman, my teammate.

“We were joined together. We had the same temperament, the same sense of humor, and we walked the world together for over 30 years.”

Sherwen, a retired professional who won the British national championships and finished the Tour de France five times, gave voice to the riders’ suffering with catch phrases like “suitcase of courage,”“riding in his own personal purgatory,” “pendulum of pain,” and “riding like a man possessed.”

Liggett told the WSJ that Sherwen had recently taken up riding more, and had been a regular on Zwift lately.

“He was enjoying it again,” Liggett said.

Whether he would continue to commentate without his partner of so many years, Liggett could not yet say.

“It’s going to be tough, there’s no way around it,” Liggett said.

“At my age, 75, maybe I should go now, hand the whole lot over.

That’s going to cross my mind. But time’s a great healer, we will see.”

But, Liggett said, the support from the cycling world has been a comfort in a difficult time.

“I’ve never seen such an outpouring,” he said. “I’m convinced Paul had no idea how much he was loved. But the answer is clear today.” Cyclingnews

Former Polish national coach charged in sexual abuse scandal

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FORMER Polish Cycling Federation (PZKol) national team coach has been indicted after an 11-month investigation into sexual abuse allegations.

Andrzej P. (Polish laws prohibit publishing full names before a ruling), a former sports director in the Polish Cycling Federation, was arrested on October 29 and detained for three months following a motion filed to court by Warsaw’s regional prosecutor office.

Andrzej P. worked in the Polish Cycling Federation for the past two decades, most notably coaching the national MTB team, leading it to numerous victories over the years, including an Olympic silver medal in 2008. He also served as the federation’s sports director, simultaneously running trade MTB teams and managing the same riders both in and outside of the federation.

According to the official statement, he faces charges related to offenses against sexual freedom and morality.

As later reported by the TVN24 station, he has been charged with three counts of rape and one count of attempted rape.

The investigation, which spanned the 2010-2017 period, began with allegations of financial wrongdoings in the PZKol, and has been expanded to possible acts of corruption, abuse of power and failure to perform duties by federation officials.

The scandal came to the fore in 2017 when the sports web site Sportowe Fakty broke the story of an audit into the federation’s finances that revealed a number of problems inside the PZKol. Former federation vice president Piotr Kosmala disclosed the details of an investigation that had been ordered by former president Dariusz Banaszek and federation’s then-sponsor, CCC owner Dariusz Milek, but then abruptly halted.

Banaszek was accused of mishandling the crisis, stopping the audit and not acting upon its preliminary results, which included witness testimony of sexual abuse. The auditor reported the case to the Ministry, which passed it onto the regional prosecutor’s office. In the media storm that followed, sponsors pulled out and

minister Witold Banka demanded the resignation of the PZKol board.

Banka also ordered an extensive audit of federation’s finances, as Poland’s Ministry of Sport and Tourism gave nearly €3.7 million to the PZKol in 2017 alone. The government suspended payments to the federation, deepening a financial crisis sparked in part from debts from construction on the Pruszkow velodrome that will host the UCI Track World Championships in 2019.

The developments in the case of Andrzej P. change little as far as the embattled federation is concerned.

Bringing charges against a former coach suggests that the prosecutor’s office feels confident it gathered compelling evidence of wrongdoing. However, the investigation itself is not over—two official statements stress that sexual abuse is just one of the threads in a complex probe into

POLISH cycling is rocked with sexual abuse allegations.

the past of PZKol. Banaszek stepped down in January 2018 and the federation’s board appointed Janusz Pozak as the new president in February in hopes to square things with the Ministry. Talks followed and while governmental funding slowly returned, the federation still faces debt proceeding and a difficult search for new sponsors.

Some programs and the national team, primarily its young riders and those awarded scholarships, remain financed by the Ministry directly or through proxies.

However, since the scandal broke the federation’s administrative and strategic pillars have almost completely collapsed, leaving little hope for riders desperately trying to continue preparations Tokyo 2020 Olympics on the highest level.

Cyclingnews

irror CYCLING

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph | Saturday, December 8, 2018

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OTIONAL RETURN K

RISTINA VOGEL made an emotional return to the track on Monday, making an appearance in front of home crowds at the Berlin leg of the World Cup series, where she was awarded the accolade of “Cyclist of the Year” by the German Federation.

Vogel, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and 11-time World Champion on the track, is paralyzed from the waist down after crashing heavily while training in June.

After making her condition public in an interview with German newspaper Der Spiegel in September, and then holding a press conference a week later, the 28-year-old entered the velodrome this weekend for the first time since the accident.

She emerged onto the track and completed a lap in her wheelchair, to what the German Federation described as a “thunderous ovation” from the 2,000-strong crowd.

Vogel was also honored as German Cyclist of the Year and was handed the award by German politician Heiko Maas.

“It was very moving,” Vogel said in an interview with L’Equipe in Berlin. “I don’t miss competition but, on the other hand, I do miss this community, these people. I’ve shared some very good and also very bad moments with them.

They’re my cycling family.”

Vogel doesn’t remember anything of the crash itself, but it occurred when she was doing sprint efforts at around 60 kph with German teammate Pauline Grabosch and she collided with a rider who had just entered the track. She was airlifted to hospital and put into an induced coma with doctors describing her injuries as life-changing.

There was little further information after that, allowing Vogel time to begin her recovery and come to terms with her injuries

before she revealed in September she was paraplegic.

“I’m not angry. Of course, there are moments when I feel sad, but I say to myself that I can do what I want, and I’ve always thought that the quicker you accept a situation, the quicker you can deal with it and bounce back,” Vogel said in the L’Equipe interview.

“I’m not going to lie, sometimes I hate what’s happened to me, I get a bit jealous of people who are walking in the street, but I also see people who are completely paralyzed, who can only move their heads, and then I tell myself it’s ok.

I’m happy to be alive, I’m still the same person I was six months ago.

You have to go on, that’s all.”

Vogel, who still sits on the track commission and athlete’s commission at the UCI, currently has a packed schedule of treatment and rehabilitation.

Much of it has centered around sport, and she acknowledged the possibility of one day returning to competition in para-sport, but insisted it’s not on her radar any time soon.

“For the moment, I’m very happy to no longer be competing. At the level I was at, it’s frightening.

Day after day, it’s all you think about—today’s training, tomorrow’s training, the next race. You’d like to watch a film but you’ve got to go to bed because tomorrow’s session is a tough one. Everyone wanted to see me lose, and that was really very hard for me,” she said.

“Now, for the first time, I only do things for myself and I can take my time. I missed out on a lot of things as an athlete. Now I’m very far from the concerns of an elitelevel athlete. Being successful in Paralympic sport would take me several years, because I wouldn’t want to be second—I’d want to win. At the moment, I want to live—that’s all. Live like anyone else my age.”

OLYMPIC champion Kristina Vogel is honored as German Cyclist of the Year.

BRITISH cycling federation partners with Zwift to unearth new talent.

BRITISH CYCLING EMBRACES ESPORTS

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RITISH Cycling has agreed a two-year partnership with virtual racing and training app Zwift, which will include an “eRacing” national championship next year, open to everyone.

Both women’s team Canyon-SRAM and men’s WorldTour team Dimension Data have used Zwift competitions to “talent spot” riders in the last two years.

In 2016 Leah Thorvilson earned herself a contract with Canyon-SRAM, while Tanja Erath did the same last year. Ollie Jones also won a contract with Dimension Data’s under-23 development team last year, and British Cycling will use their “indoor national championships” to help find any potential future stars, too.

“The esports market is particularly exciting for cycling as it enables so many more people to participate and be active,” Jonathan Rigby, British Cycling’s commercial director, said on the federation’s web site.

“We’re thrilled to be exploring this new territory with Zwift to innovate in cycle sport.

Their technology and our cycling expertise will together allow communities of cyclists to get more out of riding bikes for competition and for fun.

“We’re also excited about what this could mean for identifying talent,” Rigby continued.

“We’re proud to have a wealth of gifted riders competing on the world stage and are confident that Zwift technology will enable us to unearth more future stars.”

The competition, which is set to start in February or March 2019, is open to all riders, who will have to race through a number of qualifying events before the country’s best meet to battle it out through a number of different race formats, with a national champion’s jersey awarded to the winner.

However, to qualify for the finals, you have to be a member of British Cycling.

International Cycling Union (UCI) President David Lappartient

BARDET CALLS FOR BAN ON RACE RADIOS R WOUT POELS shows Sky’s new jersey.

BACK TO BLACK T

EAM Sky have unveiled their 2019 jersey, moving back to black after spending the 2018 season racing in white jerseys.

The jersey, made by Italian clothing company Castelli, features contrasting white Sky logos on the chest and sleeves on the jersey, rider names on the side of the jerseys and Sky Ocean Rescue logos on the collar. Sky Ocean Rescue is the team’s sustainability project to raise awareness of plastic pollution in seas and oceans.

The predominantly black design also features a blue fade, which the team says is a nod to the sustainability project. Team Sky first launched the campaign at this year’s Tour de France with special jerseys featuring orca whales on the rear alongside bright blue plastic wraps on the team cars, buses and numerous support vehicles for the Grand Tour.

Castelli’s partnership with Team Sky enters a third consecutive season after the British squad ended their partnership with

Rapha at the end of the 2016 season.

Some items produced by Castelli have pushed the International Cycling Union (UCI) regulations to the limit of advantage, most notably at the 2017 Tour de France Grand Depart in Dusseldorf with the company’s Vortex speed suit. Recent clothing regulation updates from the UCI have now made the suit noncompliant.

“Not only does the new kit look great, but we’re confident it will be the best-performing Team Sky kit yet,” Castelli’s brand manager Steve Smith said in a statement on Friday. “The sixth generation of Castelli aero jerseys are more aerodynamic than ever before, as well as being lighter and more comfortable.”

2019 Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas said: “The kit is a nice celebration of our 10th year in the peloton—I can see lots of our old designs in the new look for 2019. I’m looking forward to pulling it on in the New Year.”

Cyclingnews

OMAIN BARDET has come out in support of taking away team race radios, arguing the measure would help make racing more unpredictable by “elevating the rider as an athlete.”

Acknowledging that his stance on the matter had changed, the Frenchman said he would support a ban on the earpieces through which riders are fed in-race information from their directors, such as alerts to key junctures of the route and updates on who is where on the road.

It’s just one aspect of a wider debate that is currently raging over how to make the sport more exciting, with Bardet himself making reference to the sense of frustration at the way Team Sky have come to dominate the Tour de France with an ever-tightening stranglehold.

“The true concern, in the minds of certain people, is the predictability of the race. That’s the greatest thing at stake,” Bardet told reporters in a long interview at the AG2R La Mondiale team’s training camp in the French Alps this week.

“That notion that Sky could almost win the Tour with any of their riders—that’s what race organizers want to tackle, to try to create more unpredictable scenarios.”

Tour de France organizers ASO have indeed tried to do just that. The amount of time trialling has dropped markedly in the last few years, while race director Christian Prudhomme has openly voiced his desire for a more open race, proposing a ban on power-meters and successfully pushing for a reduction in team sizes.

Bardet finished on the podium of the Tour behind Chris Froome in 2016 and 2017, and he was sixth this year as Geraint Thomas took over the mantle at the big-money British team. Earlier this

month he said he would support any measure that would shake up the Tour, and this week he picked out race radio as the best place to start.

“I think a world without earpieces would be a very good thing. It would make the riders take a bit more responsibility. It would heighten their tactical sense and awareness. You’d have to be more alert to the race. I think it would elevate the rider as an athlete, not having that information,” Bardet said.

“For me personally, I find the earpieces make you that bit more passive, waiting for information before you make a move. Without them you’re looking at who is where, you can’t let dangerous riders out of your sight, and it makes the race a more intense experience, from within. It gives more uncertainty.

“Often the information you get—’be wellpositioned at kilometre 80’ and so on—with 180 riders all getting that in their ears, it can increase the risk of crashes, as well.”

While there have previously been calls for race radios to be banned, the topic that creates the fiercest debate is power-meters. Some, such as Alberto Contador, are convinced riders are becoming ever more robotic, calculating their efforts mathematically, while others insist riders know their own bodies and taking their data away from their eyes wouldn’t alter the way they ride.

“I’m not really sure,” says Bardet. “I don’t really think it’s such a bad thing to take them away, but I don’t think it’s the magic solution either.”

Nevertheless, he did suggest trying a ban in order to remove the doubt. “It’s more about bringing ideas to the debate,” he said. “These things are not easy to put in place, and reforms cannot happen quickly, but it’s good to have things to reflect on.”

One matter of which Bardet is more certain is that of team sizes. With no shortage of influence from Prudhomme, who is also head of the International Association of Race Organisers, team sizes were reduced this year, dropping from nine riders to eight in the Grand Tours.

Bardet would like to see that drop yet further, highlighting his preference for six-man teams and more squads on the start line.

“Let’s reduce it again. It would quickly put teams in trouble. Maybe it’s a bit extreme for the Tour de France—a couple of crashes and you could be down to four—but that’s sport, it can be cruel,” Bardet said.

“If you go from eight to six, the tempos are not the same over 180 km if there are six of you, compared to eight. I think overall it would reduce the room for control, and that would give a lot of appeal to the race.”

Bardet explicitly referenced Team Sky when discussing measures that might improve the spectacle of the sport, and he went on to touch on the rivalry between his AG2R team and the British outfit, hinting at tensions bubbling beneath the surface.

His proposals are unlikely to go down well in Manchester, and the two teams have increasingly rubbed shoulders on the road in recent years. As Bardet has grown as a yellow jersey contender, he has set his team up to try to upset Team Sky’s rhythm. “Destabilize” has become something of a mantra at AG2R, and they now see themselves as the chief chaosmongers acting in opposition to Sky’s control.

Sky have, in turn, questioned AG2R’s presence at the head of affairs at certain moments in the past couple of Tours when they’ve held the yellow jersey, and things threatened to turn sour at this year’s Criterium du Dauphine when Geraint Thomas accused them of

told Cyclingnews in September of the cycling governing body’s intention to launch what would be a similar esports world championships.

“We’re very interested in virtual sports, as well as traditional outdoor racing,” Lappartient told Cyclingnews. “We’re looking to the future of every of aspect of cycling, and so we’re keen to help virtual cycling develop. We want to ensure that happens properly by creating some clear guidelines and rules, including anti-doping rules.

“Cycling as an esport is different to many other sports because it’s not virtual; you have to push on the pedals, so it’s a real physical effort. We could one day see Peter Sagan competing in esport races. I think that would be great for cycling.” Cyclingnews

ROMAIN BARDET says he would support a ban on the earpieces through which riders are fed in-race information from their directors.

attacking when he’d punctured.

Bardet was in lighthearted mood when it came to discussing the rivalry. At one point he was asked he if felt ‘targeted’ by Sky, to which, laughing, he replied: “I’m not going to play the victim. Maybe I’m on their shortlist of riders ‘to target’, but I’m not going to sit here in front of you and say ‘ah I was...’”

“The episode at the Dauphine left a mark...?” came an interjection.

“The Dauphine? I’m not sure which episode you mean—there were several,” Bardet quipped again.

“No,” he continued more seriously. “I can say with certainty that at no moment [has there been any real bad blood]. On Alpe d’Huez when they were trying to chase me down, Geraint Thomas goes on to win the stage. It’s part of their plan. But it’s ours to go out and unsettle them.

It’s a good battle. It remains a sporting one.

“I’m not in cycling to be enemy No. 1 of Sky.” Bardet suggested that the rivalry was in part drawn along national lines. Team Sky received a hostile welcome on the roads of France this July, and Bardet—who called for respect at the time—suggested that painting Sky as villains helps the French—who have waited more than 30 years for a home winner of the Tour—focus their support of Bardet and others.

“The Tour is the biggest event, the spectators are bit less familiar with cycling culture—they see the sport slightly differently and want to see an attractive spectacle,” he said, drawing a comparison with the lack complaints at Quick-Step’s dominance of the Spring Classics.

“We’re all guilty, when our national teams are playing, of being a bit chauvinistic. We like to feel slightly wronged by our rival. It’s a very French thing.”

OurTime

A8 Saturday, December 8, 2018 • Editor: Efleda P. Campos

BusinessMirror

Retiree-pensioners urged to access SSS pension loan

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AN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique—Retiree-pensioners in the province may now access the new financial assistance program of the Social Security System (SSS).

Phillip M. Lucero, SSS Antique branch manager, said in a press conference on Tuesday they are encouraging retirees to maximize the Pension Loan Program (PLP).

“The PLP is aimed to provide financial aid to SSS retiree-pensioners by way of a low-interest loan,” he said.

Lucero said the PLP is in response to the clamor of pensioners and senior citizens such as the Federation of Senior Citizens Association of the Philippines to provide pension loans for their financial needs.

“So far, there are now 19 retirees from Antique who have applied for the loan,” he said.

The maximum loanable amount is P32,000 with a 10-percent interest per annum.

The amount of P32,000 has been aligned with the existing maximum loanable amount of salary loan for active SSS members.

PLP was piloted in the Visayas, particularly in Iloilo last August 15 and in Antique last October.

Those who could qualify are retiree-pensioners who are 80 years old or younger at the end of the month of the loan term, must have deductions, such as outstanding loan balance, benefit overpayment payable to SSS, etcetera from their monthly pension, must have no existing advance pension under the SSS Calamity Package, must be receiving their regular monthly pension for at least six months and status of pension is active.

There are currently 38,864 SSS

members in the province of Antique.

Nofigureisavailablethoughastohow many retiree pensioners from the province could avail themselves of the loan.

Meanwhile, graduating students who have already started their micro businesses are encouraged to enroll with the SSS to avail themselves of benefits being enjoyed by the regular members.

Lucero said they may start paying their contribution of only P220 per month, lower compared to that being paid for by voluntary and selfemployed members.

“The voluntary and self-employed members pay P330 per month, but students only pay P220 per month as their contribution,” he noted.

Lucero said students may just fill up the form at the SSS Antique office in San Jose de Buenavista Dalipe Tradetown and pay their contribution so that they could avail themselves of benefits such as on maternity leave when the female student gets pregnant, disability and sickness, and also to avail themselves of the loan.

For the maternity leave, a female member who has paid at least

three-monthly contributions in the 12-month period immediately preceding the semester of her childbirth or miscarriage shall be paid a daily maternity benefit equivalent to 100 percent of her average daily salary credit for 60 days or 78 days in case of caesarean delivery.

Aside from students’ membership, the SSS is also encouraging job orders in different institutions to apply for membership.

Lucero said job orders working in the government institutions are usually not covered by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), but they could apply for membership with the SSS through the Kaltassscollect program.

“As of October 2018, there are now 165 job orders from the local government of Hamtic, 154 from the University of Antique Main Campus, and 75 from University of Antique Tibiao Campus that had been members of the SSS,” he said.

The job orders, once they become SSS members, can avail themselves of the benefits being provided for them, Lucero said. PNA

La Union opens Christmas village in Capitol Hill

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AN FERNANDO CITY, La Union­— Senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and pregnant women can now enjoy their visit to the first-ever Capitol Hill Christmas village as the provincial government provides free shuttle assistance to them.

“For a more joyful experience at the Pasko sa Kapitolyo 2018, the provincial government of La Union offers transport assistance to PWDs, senior citizens and pregnant women going up and down Capitol Hill,” the provincial government of La Union said in its official Facebook page.

The pick-up points for the free shuttle are at the La Union Agri-Tourism Pasalubong Center and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Building (Provincial Capitol) starting at 5:30 p.m.

The Christmas village situated at the Capitol Hill in this city was opened on November 30, when the capitol building and its surrounding parks, gardens and roads, were adorned with lights and different Christmas décors.

In his welcome remarks during the opening ceremony, Vice Governor Aureo Augusto Q. Nisce said the Christmas village is a gift from the provincial government of La Union, iterating that the village is for all and none should be excluded.

A fireworks display, a parade of

Disney mascots and the introduction of the Pasko sa Kapitolyo “Chuchu Train” were the highlights in the launch of the Christmas village.

Aside from the dazzling lights on the edifice, gardens and parks at the Capitol, there were also Instagram stations with different themes, such as “Winter Wonderland Station,” “Faces of Santa Station” and “Christmas Tree Station.”

Joanna Guerrero, provincial information officer-designate, said in previous interviews that Saturdays would be scheduled as “Children’s Day.” “Every Saturday, there are variety shows for children with different performers,” Guerrero said, adding that food stalls are available, as well as bazaars for food and nonfood items.

La Union Gov. Francisco Emmanuel Ortega III told his constituents during the lighting ceremony “to not forget the true meaning of Christmas and that is the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ to save the human race from their sins.”

“Let us continue to pray for our province and for our family,” Ortega said, as he encouraged each one to spread love just as what Christ has done.

The Pasko sa Kapitolyo will be available for everyone to watch until December 30 this year. PNA

Qualified Ilocos Norte seniors to get burial, medical aid

Mujahid Farid, 69, ex-prisoner who advocated for older inmates, dies

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EW YORK—Mujahid Farid, a former prisoner who became a prominent advocate for the timely release of elderly inmates, died on November 20 at his home in the Bronx. He was 69.

The cause was pancreatic cancer, his brother Randolph Howard said.

Farid was a founder and a lead organizer of the organization Release Aging People in Prison, known as RAPP. His interest grew directly from his own experience.

He was incarcerated after being convicted of manslaughter and the attempted murder of a New York City police officer in January 1978.

He was given concurrent prison sentences of 11 to 22 years for the manslaughter conviction and 15 years to life for attempted murder.

At the end of the 15-year minimum, the state parole board denied him parole nine times. Court documents show that each time his case came up, the board dwelled almost exclusively on his crimes and his conviction as a violent offender, ignoring his model behavior in prison and his advancing age.

On his 10th attempt, in 2011, Farid was released after 33 years.

He was 62.

Upon his release, he dedicated himself to trying to change New York state’s parole system. In 2013 he received a fellowship from the Open Society Foundations, created by philanthropist George Soros, to help found RAPP, one of the first organizations to advocate for the release of aging people in prison. The group’s prominence and success inspired similar campaigns in other states.

The graying of the prison population is a national phenomenon, with people over 50 becoming the fastestgrowing segment. In the next decade, they are expected to make up onethird of inmates nationwide.

Experts consider inmates old starting at 50 because they have higher rates of chronic illnesses, as well as stress and poor diets, causing them to age more quickly than people on the outside.

Instead of calling older inmates “lifers,” Farid helped reframe the public debate—and get more community support—by calling them elderly.

New York Times News Service

www.businessmirror.com.ph

STILL WORKING At a livelihood training center in San Mateo, Isabela, Corona Catral, 73, tries dressmaking. Already an expert manicurist and pedicurist, training for new jobs is a project of the municipal government to senior citizens like her who, despite their age, continue to work and earn income. CEASAR M. PERANTE

AOAG CITY—Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board) of Ilocos Norte on December 3 approved an ordinance granting burial and medical assistance to qualified senior citizens of the province.

Sponsored by Senior Board Member Matthew Joseph Manotoc, Draft Ordinance 2018-10-063 aims to assist lessfortunate senior citizens who struggle with the financial burdens of medical and funeral expenses.

For 2018, Manotoc said an initial budget of P1.6 million has already been approved for the support program for senior citizens.

“A qualified beneficiary is entitled to a minimum of P5,000 in the event of death and P3,000 for medical expenses,” he said.

A senior citizen aged 60 and above may qualify for the program

provided they are a bona fide resident of Ilocos Norte who is non-pensioner, no permanent income and has no financial assistance from relatives to support their basic needs.

The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), tasked to implement the program said qualified claimants or their kin may just submit the death certificate, certificate of indigency issued by the barangay chairman and a social case study report for burial assistance claims.

For medical assistance, a medical certificate, doctor’s prescription, certificate of indigency and a social case study report need to be submitted to the PSWDO. Meanwhile, a budget of P4 million was also allocated as provincial counterpart for centenarians in the province. PNA

‘All the Doctors Left’: US Navy medics aid Venezuela’s sick

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HE tumor of Wylfran Urdaneta, 11, had grown so large that it was pushing against his spine by the time he climbed aboard a helicopter bound for a US Navy hospital ship floating off Colombia’s coast on Wednesday.

The benign growth appeared when Wylfran and his family were home in Venezuela. Even though his mother was a surgical nurse in Barquisimeto’s biggest hospital, arranging the operation was almost impossible: When they cobbled together money for imported supplies, the doctors didn’t show up on the day of the surgery. With Wylfran suffering debilitating leg pain, it was time to leave their country, said his mother, Wendy Jimenez.

“If I stayed, what would happen to him? How bad would it get?” said Jimenez, 34. “There was nothing left there. All the doctors left.”

Wylfran and hundreds of Venezuelans who abandoned their imploding country lined up this week for free medical care provided by the US naval ship Comfort—an 894-foot supertanker converted into a floating hospital. The ship arrived on Sunday

off Riohacha, a coastal city 55 miles from the border. It carries about 1,000 doctors, nurses and sailors, is equipped with surgical suites and its own lab and is emblazoned with a giant red cross.

On Wednesday Wylfran and his mother boarded a Blackhawk helicopter with nine other patients.

Minutes later, with a US Embassy bag slung over his shoulder and a beige blanket from home folded neatly inside, he stepped aboard the 69,500-ton vessel.

Its mission is to treat as many as 1,000 patients a day and perform dozens of surgeries for immigrants and residents of La Guajira, a department of roughly 1 million that is among Colombia’s most neglected regions, with more than half the population living in poverty. It also demonstrates soft power as Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, an autocratic socialist, increasingly depends on support from countries such as Russia, Turkey and North Korea.

Lieutenant Commander Amanda Antonio, who runs one of the Navy’s medical sites ashore, said doctors ask

few questions of patients.

“Medicine is a safe place and we don’t want people worrying about the politics of it all,” she said. “We just want to know where it hurts.”

The Comfort mission comes as Venezuela continues a five-year plunge into penury under Maduro that has driven 3 million people from the country. The bolivar currency is almost worthless. Getting food, basic health care and medicine with any regularity is nearly impossible for everyone except the rich and the inner circles of the kleptocracy.

More than 1 million Venezuelans are already in Colombia and thousands cross the 1,400-mile (2,250-kilometer) border every day. Sheltering them could cost the government billions, and health care alone will cost roughly $255 million a year, according to a World Bank study last month. This month, Bogota opened a refugee camp to house some 500 Venezuelans, most of whom had walked days from the border.

Despite the crisis, Maduro’s government has refused to accept humanitarian aid through countries it considers enemies or nongovern-

ment organizations. Relations between Washington and Caracas are hostile, with the US placing sanctions on top Venezuelan officials and Maduro claiming the Americans are plotting his ouster.

Before Comfort began its threemonth Latin America mission, Bolivian President Evo Morales, one of Venezuela’s closest allies, called it a “covert US invasion of Latin America” and a “threat against Venezuela.”

And China deployed its own floating military hospital in September.

The Comfort “is one of the few things the US can do on the humanitarian side,” said Evan Ellis, a US Army War college professor who studies Latin America. “The US is not looking at a military intervention, and meanwhile, this exodus is just pummeling the region.”

The ship is stationed about 17 nautical miles off the coast and only surgery patients like Wylfran are being treated aboard, ferried out by choppers. Below decks are a modern hospital with its own blood bank, water desalination plants, MRI machine and 12 operating rooms.

US sailors mixed seamlessly with

personnel from across the Americas: Canadian doctors and nurses and a team of 14 volunteers from the Venezuelan American Medical Association. A lanky Argentine ushered patients off an elevator with a “bienvenidos” and a wave. Wylfran, wearing Nikes and faded grey denim cutoffs rolled just above the knees, waved to the room. He laughed as a Spanish-speaking nurse peppered him with questions about girlfriends.

Onshore, doctors, nurses and volunteers this week set up two medical sites in school buildings, converting classrooms into treatment rooms for pediatrics, dermatology, radiology and general medicine.

In one, doctors on Tuesday sliced a raisin-size growth off the face of 14-month-old Dairon Gonzalez. His mother, Maria Gonzalez, smuggled Dairon and his two brothers across the border last December, when store and pharmacy shelves went empty in Maracaibo and finding even one meal a day became nearly impossible.

“If I stayed, one of my children would die from malnutrition,” Gonzalez, 23, said. “This was the only way to save them.” Bloomberg News

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

BusinessMirror

Saturday, December 8, 2018 A9

Empty boxes top high-tech toys on doctor recommended list

BY LINDSEY TANNER The Associated Press

Not for business solutions only PRIMETIME

DINNA CHAN VASQUEZ @dinnachanvasquez luckydinna@gmail.com

N

OT all headphones and/ earphones are created equal.

While I am by no means an expert, I would never buy earphones that cost P99—not because they are cheap but due to the fact that I’m sure I’ll wear them out in a week.

Jabra is one of the top headphone and earphone brands in the mid- to high-end range.

I say “mid- to high-end range” because while Jabra prices are considered budget-friendly

by First World standards, P6,000 is not loose change by ours.

Jabra has always been acknowledged as the makers of headphones and earphones with good and solid designs that provide full and consistent sound.

The company recently launched four new members of the Elite series in the Philippines: the Elite 45e, Elite 65t, Elite Active 65t and Elite 65e. These were first announced at CES 2018.

I consider this a good move because while

Jabra is at the top of its game in the business area, particularly BPOs, the brand’s consumer products are seriously underrated.

The four new products model the bestselling Jabra Elite Sport, the most technically advanced true wireless sports earbuds which set the standard for the Elite product suite by incorporating leading audio technology. They draw on the GN Group’s long-standing audio, headset and hearing aid expertise, with each new product utilizing unique microphone configurations to ensure users will always be heard. This is whether you’re speaking to voice assistants such as Alexa or your family or at the gym for a workout. The companion Jabra Sound+ app, meanwhile, allows you to personalize your music to the sound that suits you.

The new Elite products also come with the security of a two-year warranty against dust and water ingress (two years for the Elite Active 65t also including sweat ingress).

The four new products allow voice support for all major voice services, including Amazon Alexa on-the-go. Jabra will be among the first movers to enable this mobile feature, providing customers with access to Alexa directly from the earbuds.

The Elite 45e is engineered for the best voice and music experience. It has a soft neckband (with memory wire) with a lightweight form factor and a unique box microphone solution that delivers the clearest voice communication on any stereo wireless headphone.

The Elite 65t is engineered for the best true wireless voice and music experience.

It is engineered to ensure a stable wireless connection and best call and voice quality. It includes one-touch access to Siri, and Google Now, new integration for Amazon Alexa onthe-go and has up to 15 hours of battery life (with cradle).

The Elite Active 65t is engineered for active users who want a true wireless voice and music experience while working out. The earbuds have enhanced grip through a special coating, integrated accelerometer for tracking features, and IP56 sweat, water and dust certification. It has five hours of listening time on one charge with two additional charges in the cradle.

The Elite 65e is engineered for best-in-class wireless calls and music. It has two levels of noise cancellation, including Jabra’s leading Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) solution. It also offers incredible conversation quality with three-microphone technology that creates a noise-blocking zone.

Jabra also has Engage 50, a professional digital corded headset that offers superior call quality for call centers. We all know that Jabra is considered one of the best in professional headsets, of course.

The Jabra Engage 50 has a unique threemicrophone system that filters background noise and breathing sounds to improve call quality and customer satisfaction. The headset also supports stereo sound and super wideband

audio quality for vibrant, lifelike conversations, while providing hearing protection for callcenter agents.

The Engage 50 addresses the issue of interruptions that affect agents’ work focus.

The multicolor status lights on both earcups can be customised for the needs of the business, ensuring that a user is not interrupted in the middle of an important call. Jabra’s noise cancellation technology further blocks out ambient noise and improves agents’ ability to focus.

A total of 54,280 engineering hours were spent to develop the Engage 50 headset, which now holds three patents for features that improve call quality: its three-microphone system to reduce unwanted sounds, embedding the processing chip directly in the earcup, and the audio improvements that balance the incoming sound and automatically adjust to the users’ preferences.

“When it comes to improving call quality and outcome, it’s vital that we listen to customer service agents who know better than anyone what distracts them from doing their job, or completing calls satisfactorily,” said Holger Reisinger, SVP Business Solutions at Jabra.

The Jabra Engage 50 headset is available in in Stereo or Mono versions, and is compatible with on-premises and cloud-based softphone platforms. It incorporates USB-C for easy connection to PC and mobile devices, with the option of USB-A connectivity as an accessory.

‘Mobile Legends: Bang Bang LIGA’ successfully stages first-ever street battles in PHL “MOBILE Legends: Bang Bang” (MLBB) successfully launched its first-ever street battle in the Philippines last November 17 and 18 at Barangay 159 Multi-Purpose Plaza in Malibay, Pasay City.

Dubbed as “Mobile Legends: Bang Bang LIGA”, the three-street battle event seeks to gather nonprofessional e-sports legends in the country.

As a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), Mobile Legends: Bang Bang believes that there are still excellent players in nonprofessional league. Therefore, “Mobile Legends: Bang Bang” hopes to provide them an arena to show their fabulous skills through a street battle called LIGA. Since it was announced on October 30, avid players of “MLBB” have celebrated because a LIGA was finally going to happen in the

country. Hundreds of squads immediately signed up to be part of the three street battles that happened in different barangays in Metro Manila.

MLBB Vice President Cherry Xia says, “As a globally launched game, MLBB has always placed a strong focus on local popular culture and aims to connect with players at a deeper level.

“Liga being a popular culture within the Philippines, and among “MLBB” players, holding a LIGA theme event was a natural decision for us.

“Moreover, LIGA and MLBB share a lot of similarities, both of which emphasize the spirit of competition and teamwork. Players of all skill levels can experience the thrill of competition and teamwork. Anyone can be a legend.”

Meanwhile, the “Mobile Legends: Bang

Bang LIGA” launch was graced by selfconfessed “Mobile Legends” enthusiast Alden Richards.

He joined Zeus and Z4PNU as a shoutcasters during the first day of the two-day challenge. The GMA star said he has been playing “Mobile Legends” since it was introduced in the Philippines in 2016.

“I started playing when the game came to the Philippines,” said Alden.

So, when he found out that “Mobile Legends: Bang Bang” was holding its first street league in the country, he made sure not to miss the event. “I’m so excited to be here. Galing pa akong Broadway [in Quezon City], beat ko ’yung traffic para umabot ako kasi last round na raw.”

As an avid player, Alden said his usual default hero is Kagura. However, he added,

“Madalas kapag rank game, Leomord talaga.”

“Mobile Legends: Bang Bang LIGA’s” three-street battle was a two-day event, which was joined by 64 preselected squads. The prize pool of each Mobile Legends: Bang Bang LIGA was P55,000 cash and 100,000 diamonds.

The second street league was held on November 24 and 25 at Barangay Doña Imelda, 145 Bayani corner Guirayan Streets in Quezon City, while the last street battle was staged on December 1 and 2 at the SM Mall of Asia, Seaside Boulevard in Pasay City.

After entering the Philippines over a year ago, “Mobile Legend: Bang Bang” has become one of the most popular apps among Filipino e-sports fans. In fact, a professional Filipino squad already won as champions in the 2018 Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Southeast Asia Cup.

SKIP the costly electronic games and flashy digital gizmos. Pediatricians say the best toys for tots are old-fashioned hands-on playthings that young children can enjoy with parents—things like blocks, puzzles—even throwaway cardboard boxes—that spark imagination and creativity.

“A cardboard box can be used to draw on, or made into a house,” said Dr. Alan Mendelsohn, coauthor of a new report on selecting toys for young children, up to around age 5.

Many parents feel pressured by ads promoting tablet-based toys and games as educational and brain-stimulating but there’s not much science to back up those claims, Mendelsohn said. Their main misconception: “The toy that is best is the one that is the most expensive or has the most bells and whistles or is the most technologically sophisticated.”

Simpler hands-on toys that parents and young children can play with together are preferable for healthy development, said Mendelsohn, a pediatrician at NYU Langone Health in New York.

The report published recently by the American Academy of Pediatrics cites studies suggesting that heavy use of electronic media may interfere with children’s speech and language development, replace important playtime with parents and lead to obesity.

Studies also have found that more than 90 percent of US kids have used mobile devices and most started using them before age 1.

The pediatricians’ group recommends no screen time for children up to age 2, and says total screen time, including TV and computer use, should be less than one hour daily for ages 2 and older.

“A little bit of screen time here and there is unlikely to have much harm if a child otherwise has other activity,” Mendelsohn said. But he added that screen time can overwhelm young children and is difficult to limit and control.

The academy’s web site offers suggestions on ideal toys for young children, including balls, puzzles, coloring books and card games.

Shopping recently at Dancing Bear Toys in Asheville, North Carolina, a store that doesn’t sell electronic toys, Leah Graham Stewart said she supports the academy’s advice even if avoiding digital toys and games is tough.

She said she’s noticed her two young boys tend to misbehave after playing on an iPad she typically reserves for long airplane rides.

“We try to keep it as minimal as possible,” Graham Stewart said. “I just tell them to go outside and play.”

Erika Evers, Dancing Bear’s co-owner, said the store’s mission is to give kids an alternative to tech toys.

“Not that video games and electronic toys don’t have their place—in moderation, in our opinion,” she said. “But we feel like kids really need opportunities to socialize and interact with their environment in a way that is hands-on and tangible.”

Symantec uncovers tool used by Lazarus to carry out ATM attacks ON October 2 an alert was issued by US-CERT, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of the Treasury and the FBI. According to this new alert, Hidden Cobra (the US government’s code name for Lazarus) has been conducting “FASTCash” attacks stealing money from automated teller machines (ATMs) from banks in Asia and Africa since at least 2016.

“Lazarus is a very active attack group involved in both cyber crime and espionage. The group was initially known for its espionage operations and a number of high-profile disruptive attacks, including the 2014 attack on Sony Pictures. More recently, Lazarus has also become involved

in financially motivated attacks, including a $81-million theft from the Bangladesh Central Bank and the WannaCry ransomware.”

Leading cybersecurity software and services company Symantec has uncovered the key component used in the group’s recent wave of financial attacks. The operation, known as “FASTCash”, has enabled Lazarus to fraudulently empty ATMs of cash. To make the fraudulent withdrawals, Lazarus first breaches targeted banks’ networks and compromises the switch application servers handling ATM transactions.

Once these servers are compromised, previously unknown

malware (Trojan.Fastcash) is deployed. This malware, in turn, intercepts fraudulent Lazarus cash withdrawal requests and sends fake approval responses, allowing the attackers to steal cash from ATMs. According to the US government alert, one incident in 2017 saw cash withdrawn simultaneously from ATMs in over 30 different countries. In another major incident in 2018, cash was taken from ATMs in 23 separate countries. To date, the Lazarus FASTCash operation is estimated to have stolen tens of millions of dollars.

The recent wave of FASTCash attacks demonstrates that financially motivated attacks are not simply a passing interest

for the Lazarus group and can now be considered one of its core activities.

As with the 2016 series of virtual bank heists, including the Bangladesh Bank heist, FASTCash illustrates that Lazarus possesses an in-depth knowledge of banking systems and transaction processing protocols, and has the expertise to leverage that knowledge in order to steal large sums from vulnerable banks.

To conclude, Lazarus continues to pose a serious threat to the banking sector and organizations should take all necessary steps to ensure that their payment systems are fully secured.

TOYS sit on the shelves at a Wal-mart Supercenter in Houston. Pediatricians say the best toys for young children are simple, old-fashioned toys like blocks and puzzles rather than costly electronic games or the latest hightech gadgets. AP

A10 Saturday, December 8, 2018

BusinessMirror

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Where are the drones? Amazon’s customers are still waiting

BY DAVID KOENIG & JOSEPH PISANI The Associated Press

EFF BEZOS boldly predicted five years ago that drones would be carrying Amazon packages to people’s doorsteps by now.

Amazon customers are still waiting. And it’s unclear when, if ever, this particular order by the company’s founder and CEO will arrive.

Bezos made billions of dollars by transforming the retail sector. But overcoming the regulatory hurdles and safety issues posed by drones appears to be a challenge even for the world’s wealthiest man. The result is a blown deadline on his claim to CBS’ 60 Minutes in December 2013 that drones would be making deliveries within five years.

The day may not be far off when drones will carry medicine to people in rural or remote areas, but the marketing hype around instant delivery of consumer goods looks more and more like just that—hype. Drones have a short battery life, and privacy concerns can be a hindrance, too.

“I don’t think you will see delivery of burritos or diapers in the suburbs,” says drone analyst Colin Snow.

Drone usage has grown rapidly in some industries, but mostly outside the retail sector and direct interaction with consumers.

The government estimates that about 110,000 commercial drones are operating in US airspace, and the number is expected to soar to about 450,000 in 2022. They are being used in rural areas for mining and agriculture, for inspecting power lines and pipelines, and for surveying.

Amazon says it is still pushing ahead with plans to use drones for quick deliveries, though the company is staying away from fixed timelines.

“We are committed to making our goal of delivering packages by drones in 30 minutes or less a reality,” says Amazon Spokesman Kristen Kish.

The Seattle-based online retail giant says it has drone development centers in the United States, Austria, France, Israel and the United Kingdom.

Delivery companies have been testing the use of drones to deliver emergency supplies and to cover ground quickly in less populated areas. By contrast, package deliveries would be concentrated in office parks and neighborhoods where there are bigger issues around safety and privacy.

In May the Trump administration approved a three-year program for private companies and local government agencies to test drones for deliveries, inspections and other tasks.

But pilot programs by major delivery companies suggest few Americans will be greeted by packagebearing drones any time soon. United Parcel Service tested launching a drone from a delivery truck that was covering a rural route in Florida.

DHL Express, the German delivery company, tested

Manulife partners with Grab to help busy Filipinos plan for their future

FILIPINOS can now go places with Manulife-branded GrabCars

AN Amazon Prime Air drone in Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom. Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos might have underestimated regulatory obstacles and privacy concerns when he told CBS’ 60 Minutes in December 2013 that his company would be making drone-borne deliveries within five years.

was holding back beneficial uses, such as drones helping firefighters who are battling a fierce blaze.

Even before the criticism by the scientific panel, the FAA had begun to respond more quickly to operators’ requests for waivers from some rules, says Alan Perlman, founder of the Drone Pilot Ground School in Nashville, Tennessee. He said it is also getting easier and cheaper to buy liability insurance.

Bezos was mindful of the safety issues, telling 60 Minutes back in 2013, “This thing can’t land on somebody’s head while they’re walking around their neighborhood.”

That didn’t stop him from predicting that drones fed with GPS coordinates would be taking off and making deliveries in “four, five years. I think so. It will work, and it will happen.”

To Perlman, the billionaire’s optimism made perfect sense.

“When you’re in his world you think more about technology than regulations, and the [drone] technology is there,” Perlman said.

the use of drones to deliver medicine from Tanzania to an island in Lake Victoria.

Frank Appel, the CEO of DHL’s parent company, Deutsche Post AG, said “over the next couple of years” drones will remain a niche vehicle and not widely used. He said a big obstacle is battery life.

“If you have to recharge them every other hour, then you need so many drones and you have to orchestrate that. So good luck with that,” he told The Associated Press.

Appel said human couriers have another big advantage over drones: They know where customers live and which doorbell to ring. “To program that in IT is not that easy and not cheap,” he said.

Analysts say it will take years for the Federal Aviation Administration to write all the rules to allow widespread drone deliveries.

Snow, the CEO of Skylogic Research, says a rule permitting operators to fly drones beyond their line of sight—so critical to deliveries—is at least 10 years away. A method will be needed to let law-

enforcement identify drones flying over people— federal officials are worried about their use by terrorists.

While the rules are being written, companies will rely on waivers from the FAA to keep experimenting and running small-scale pilot programs.

“People like DHL and the rest of them [will say], ‘Hey, we can deliver via drone this parcel package to this island,’ but that’s not the original vision that Amazon presented,” Snow says.

There is a long list of FAA rules governing drone flights. They generally can’t fly higher than 400 feet, over many federal facilities, or within 5 miles of an airport. Night flights are forbidden. For the delivery business, the biggest holdup is that the machines must remain within sight of the operator at all times.

In June the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine said the FAA was being overly conservative in its safety standards for drones. The group said FAA’s risk-averse attitude

MANULIFE has partnered with ride-hailing service Grab to educate Filipinos on the go about the importance of saving, investing and life insurance.

Two hundred Manulife-branded GrabCars are each currently installed with a tablet where passengers can watch informative videos featuring actress/model Isabelle Daza, comedian KaladKaren, and host/comedian Victor Anastacio.

After each video, they can opt to schedule an appointment with a financial adviser by filling up an online form.

Passengers will be asked to input their name, e-mail address, and preferred date of appointment when they sign up. Manulife (www.manulife.com.ph) will then match them with a financial adviser based on the information they have given.

“In our commitment to provide innovative financial solutions to our customers, we are using technology to make it easier for them to plan for their futures,” said Ryan Charland president and CEO of Manulife Philippines. “With our partnership with Grab, we’ll be able to make Filipinos’ time in transit more productive by showing them ways they can manage their finances and secure their futures.”

Cindy Toh, country marketing head of Grab Philippines, added: “Manulife and Grab share the same vision of improving the lives of Filipinos. As the leading online-to-offline mobile platform in Southeast Asia, we are glad that this partnership with Manulife will allow our consumers to use their time on the road to plan their future.”

The Manulife-branded GrabCars are present in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

Army wants Microsoft’s HoloLens headsets for battlefield VIRTUAL- and augmented-reality headsets haven’t had much traction in the consumer market, but they’re finding a place on the battlefield.

The US Army announced recently that it has awarded Microsoft a $480-million contract to supply its HoloLens headsets to soldiers.

The head-mounted displays use augmented reality, which means viewers can see virtual imagery superimposed over the real-world scenery in front of them.

Microsoft says the technology will provide troops with better information to make decisions.

The Redmond, Washington, company says the new work extends its long-standing relationship with the Department of Defense.

Military bidding documents say the technology will be used for both training and fighting, bringing more situational awareness to troops to help them become more lethal and mobile. AP

Akari offers holiday promo LOOKING for a practical gift idea this holiday season? Akari (www.akari.com.ph), a top lighting and electrical brand in the country, offers a buy-one-get-one promo on its portable rechargeable fans, exclusively available in Ace Hardware stores nationwide.

The bundle promo also comes with a free Christmas eco bag. A purchase of the Akari 6-inch LED Rechargeable Cooling Fan for only P999.75 gets the shopper another rechargeable fan valued at P799.75 for free. These rechargeable cooling fans are must-haves during camping trips with family and friends, at home when there is a power outage, or even for everyday use.

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We asked artificial intelligence to analyze a graphic novel–and found both limits and new insights

By Leonie Hintze | Michigan State University

W

ITH one spouse studying the evolution of artificial and natural intelligence and the other researching the language, culture and history of Germany, imagine the discussions at our dinner table.

We often experience the stereotypical clash in views between the quantifiable, measurement-based approach of natural science and the more qualitative approach of the humanities, where what matters most is how people feel something, or how they experience or interpret it.

We decided to take a break from that pattern, to see how much each approach could help the other. Specifically, we wanted to see if aspects of artificial intelligence could turn up new ways to interpret a nonfiction graphic novel about the Holocaust.

We ended up finding that some AI technologies are not yet advanced and robust enough to deliver useful insights—but simpler methods resulted in quantifiable measurements that showed a new opportunity for interpretation.

CHOOSING A TEXT

THERE is plenty of research available that analyzes large bodies of text, so we chose something more complex for our AI analysis: Reinhard Kleist’s The Boxer, a graphic novel based on the true story of how Hertzko “Harry” Haft survived the Nazi death camps. We wanted to identify emotions in the facial expressions of the main character displayed in the book’s illustrations, to find out if that would give us a new lens for understanding the story.

In this black-and-white cartoon, Haft tells his horrific story, in which

he and other concentration camp inmates were made to box each other to the death. The story is written from Haft’s perspective; interspersed throughout the narrative are panels of flashbacks depicting Haft’s memories of important personal events.

The humanities approach would be to analyze and contextualize elements of the story, or the tale as a whole. Kleist’s graphic novel is a reinterpretation of a 2009 biographical novel by Haft’s son Allan, based on what Allan knew about his father’s experiences. Analyzing this complex set of authors’ interpretations and understandings might serve only to add another subjective layer on top of the existing ones.

From the perspective of science philosophy, that level of analysis would only make things more complicated. Scholars might have differing interpretations, but even if they all agreed, they would still not know if their insight was objectively true or if everyone suffered from the same illusion. Resolving the dilemma would require an experiment aimed at generating a measurement others could reproduce independently.

REPRODUCIBLE INTERPRETATION OF IMAGES?

RATHER than interpreting the images ourselves, subjecting them to our own biases and preconceptions, we hoped that AI could bring a more objective view. We started by scanning

all the panels in the book. Then we ran Google’s vision AI and Microsoft Azure’s face recognition and emotional character annotation, as well.

The algorithms we used to analyze The Boxer were previously trained by Google or Microsoft on hundreds of thousands of images already labeled with descriptions of what they depict. In this training phase, the AI systems were asked to identify what the images showed, and those answers were compared with the existing descriptions to see if the system being trained was right or wrong.

The training system strengthened the elements of the underlying deep neural networks that produced correct answers, and weakened the parts that contributed to wrong answers.

Both the method and the training materials—the images and annotations—are crucial to the system’s performance.

Then, we turned the AI loose on the book’s images. Just like on Family Feud, where the show’s producers ask 100 strangers a question and count up how many choose each potential answer, our method asks an AI to determine what emotion a face is showing. This approach adds

one key element often missing when subjectively interpreting content: reproducibility. Any researcher who wants to check can run the algorithm again and get the same results we did.

Unfortunately, we found that these AI tools are optimized for digital photographs, not scans of blackand-white drawings. That meant we did not get much reliable data about the emotions in the pictures. We were also disturbed to find that none of the algorithms identified any of the images as relating to the Holocaust or concentration camps—though human viewers would readily identify those themes. Hopefully, that is because the AIs had problems with the black-and-white images themselves, and not because of negligence or bias in their training sets or annotations.

Bias is a well-known phenomenon in machine learning, which can have really offensive results.

An analysis of these images based solely on the data we got would not have discussed or acknowledged the Holocaust, an omission that is against the law in Germany, among other countries. These flaws highlight the importance of critically evaluating new technologies before

using them more widely.

FINDING OTHER REPRODUCIBLE RESULTS

DETERMINED to find an alternative way for quantitative approaches to help the humanities, we ended up analyzing the brightness of the pictures, comparing flashback scenes to other moments in Haft’s life. To that end, we quantified the brightness of the scanned images using image analysis software.

We found that throughout the book, emotionally happy and light phases like his prison escape or Haft’s postwar life in the US are shown using bright images. Traumatizing and sad phases, such as his concentration camp experiences, are shown as dark images. This aligns with color psychology identifications of white as a pure and happy tone, and black as symbolizing sadness and grief.

Having established a general understanding of how brightness is used in the book’s images, we looked more closely at the flashback scenes.

All of them depicted emotionally intense events, and some of them were dark, such as recollections of cremating other concentration

camp inmates and leaving the love of his life.

We were surprised, however, to find that the flashbacks showing Haft about to punch opponents to death were bright and clear—suggesting he is having a positive emotion about the upcoming fatal encounter. That’s the exact opposite of what readers like us probably feel as they follow the story, perhaps seeing Haft’s opponent as weak and realizing that he is about to be killed. When the reader feels pity and empathy, why is Haft feeling positive?

This contradiction, found by measuring the brightness of pictures, may reveal a deeper insight into how the Nazi death camps affected Haft emotionally. For us, right now, it is unimaginable how the outlook of beating someone else to death in a boxing match would be positive. But perhaps Haft was in such a desperate situation that he saw hope for survival when facing off against an opponent who was even more starved than he was.

Using AI tools to analyze this piece of literature shed new light on key elements of emotion and memory in the book—but they did not replace the skills of an expert or scholar at interpreting texts or pictures. As a result of our experiment, we think that AI and other computational methods present an interesting opportunity with the potential for more quantifiable, reproducible and maybe objective research in the humanities.

It will be challenging to find ways to use AI appropriately in the humanities—and all the more so because current AI systems are not yet sophisticated enough to work reliably in all contexts. Scholars should also be alert to potential biases in these tools. If the ultimate goal of AI research is to develop machines that rival human cognition, artificial-intelligence systems may need not only to behave like people, but understand and interpret feelings like people, too. AP

Tips for wiser Christmas e-shopping Globe brings next on-repeat playlist W 6 Y 1 7 2 4 E all know about the three wise men who gave baby Jesus gifts on the day of his birth and how these gifts are more than just gifts, because each of them had valuable representation. This holiday season, why not be wise men and women with your online Christmas shopping. Here, Argomall.com gives you seven easy reminders for this merriest gift-giving time.

have a friendly staff, or maybe a chatbot that can answer your queries in real time.

.Have your items delivered right at your doorstep.

All this holiday cheer results, alas, in even worse traffic in the Metro. So, instead of spending hours behind the steering wheel just to shop for gifts, why not just look for an online shop that offers free delivery right at your doorstep wherever you are in the Philippines? As mentioned earlier, watch out for e-commerce sites that requires you to pay a large amount just for the shipping fee.

. Check authenticity.

Free yourself from worries of getting a fake product by buying items from authentic web sites. If you’re looking for electronic gadgets to give your loved ones, the best place online to look for the best deals is an online hub that sells authentic smartphones from brand manufacturers and official distributors. An important note to take regarding authenticity is the products should also come in sealed boxes together with warranty, online invoice and official receipt given when your package is delivered to you.

. Do not be deceived by fake discounts.

Now that the holiday season is officially on, sale signages can be found anywhere—even on online stores. Before you put that “discounted” item on your shopping cart, scrutinize first if the discounted amount is real and worth it. Sometimes, there are online stores that offer huge discounts off the items but will ask you to pay for a hefty shipping price. Be wise enough to search across the Web if the price offered by the online shopping site you’re looking into offers product prices that are the same as the suggested retail price.

3

. Look for installment plans.

The holiday season can be extra demanding especially in terms of finances, so it’s a wise move to look for other options on how you can get a special gift for your loved ones. Luckily, there are online stores who let customer choose installment plans without leaving their website. With this, you can budget your savings while

at the same time scoring the perfect gift for your friends and family.

. Get convenient payment options without ad-

ditional charges.

Paying for the items on your shopping cart will be easier if you are given many payment options, such as COD, online banking, credit cards, PayPal, G-Cash, Home Credit, Dragon Pay and many others. However, not too many online stores offer the same price regardless of the payment option, so avail yourselves of that bonus convenience.

5

Choose a store with easy return policies and great customer service. .

It is important to look for an online shop that values their customers by giving them easy return policies. Have a worry-free holiday shopping by going into online stores that

. Save time by easy searching your desired gadget.

Looking for the perfect gift online might take you an hour or two. Shop at online stores that make it easy after you type the product’s first few letters on its search engine, or by filtering for a specific brand, budget range, color, screen size, memory, etc.

The site can immediately give you the best of the best in terms of specified search results. Advanced online stores can even help you compare several products side by side with a “compare button” to help you make a wise decision.

With all these in mind, gadget-centric online shopping hub Argomall.com makes sure that you have a worry-free holiday shopping spree with all its offerings and services.

“As a Filipino company, Argomall values the Filipino way of celebrating the holidays. That’s why we’d like to offer them convenient services to help them find the perfect gift for their friends and loved ones, and we assure them that with Argomall, online shopping is done wisely,” said Karel Holub, chief argonaut of Argomall.

Established by its innovative founders in November of 2015, Argomall.com was borne out of a creative dream by Filipino-owned conglomerate Transnational Diversified Group to deliver quick, efficient and simple solutions to the discerning Filipino tech shopper.

our next favorite Filipino tune is right around the corner. Globe Live hails the return of Elements Music Camp as part of its initiative to discover and develop the next generation of Filipino music artists.

This year’s Elements Music Camp brings in 10 fresh, new songs composed and recorded by singer-songwriters: Bea Lorenzo, Ben&Ben, Julz Savard, Kat Agarrado, Keiko Necesario, Leanne and Naara, Nar Cabico, Reese Lansangan, Trisha Denise and Vera (Emmanuelle Vera).

The artists started their journey inside a training workshop under the mentorship of a stellar lineup of local music icons: Thyro Alfaro, Gabby Alipe, Jimmy Antiporda, Ebe Dancel, Jay Durias, Jonathan Manalo, Jungee Marcelo, Jazz Nicolas and Quest. Joining the mentors were international starmakers and Grammy awardees Steve Lillywhite, Bernard Harvey, Ernest “Tuo” Clark, Ferry Corsten, and Bassie Blue Hamilton who have worked with such musical luminaries as The Rolling Stones, U2, Justin Bieber and The Killers.

Superfans and local music enthusiasts can witness the inspirational journey of their favorite artists through the docuse-

ries Elements: The Series exclusively via iflix. For a more in-depth look into these artists’ journey, snackable video content on how their songs were created can be seen with the shows “Sonic Elements and Live at the Iconic” on YouTube. They can also listen to the songs from this season via the playlist Elements Music Camp 2018 on Spotify.

“Globe Live is excited to have brought in Elements Music Camp into the Globe family, working with the best and most streamed local acts of today. In this, our first run, we show our passion for everything local, and strengthen our commitment in promoting and honing the Filipino music talent by providing them with the right platform to showcase their work,” shared Quark Henares, Head of Globe Studios.

Globe customers can follow their favorite Elements artists’ journey via iflix, available for as low as P29 via GoWATCH for Globe customers (2GB of data for videos for one day) and for as low as P19 via EasyWATCH for TM customers (1GB of data for videos for one day). Fans can also put their go-to tunes from the camp on their playlists via Spotify with their Globe Postpaid or Prepaid mobile subscriptions.

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Saturday, December 8, 2018

A12

ONE MONTH AFTER: A MATE FOR KEEPS? THE TECHNIVORE ED UY whereiseduy@g.mail.com

S

ECRETLY sad.

Have you ever had those moments when you should be feeling happy but deep down inside, there’s this nagging feeling of still being just a little bit disappointed?

It’s like winning second place when everyone thought you’d be a shoo-in for top prize; or getting promoted but without the salary increase. If you are an expectant parent, there’s something called gender disappointment—hoping for a girl and getting a boy instead (or vice versa). Or for those in a relationship, it’s like courting someone and ending up with their best friend.

I’m sure you’ve had those moments.

Well, to be honest, that was how I felt as I was signing over some forms and being handed the Huawei Mate 20.

I had been reading so much about the Mate 20 Pro ever since the first rumors and leaks came out up until it’s grand launch in London, and was really excited to test all those new features (reverse charging, the new camera modes, that 3D video, in-screen fingerprint, the Quad HD OLED screen, etc.) but instead I received the Mate 20 for review.

I wanted to ask if it was possible to swap, but decided against it. After all, not everyone was given the chance to try out one of the best phones of 2018.

So, yes, it was one of those happy-kind-ofsad moments—but that was a month ago.

Because now, whenever anyone asks me about which Mate they should get, I can confidently say, without guilt or a tinge of regret, that the Mate 20 is the better choice.

The Mate 20 Pro may be the one you want, but trust me—the Mate 20 has everything you need.

HAND OF THE (ANDROID) KING

The Mate series has always been Huawei’s King of Android and, while the Mate 20 Pro may be the one on the throne, I guess you can call the Mate 20, the Hand of the King.

DEVOUR: Wide-angle camera is superb Classy glass design Great visual and audio experience, big bright screen Quick charge, long-lasting battery Very fast fingerprint sensor and traditional placement There’s still a 3.5mm headphone jack!

DISLIKE: Glass finish is prone to smudges and fingerprints, especially the black variant No wireless charging Only has IP53 water resistance Now let’s start with the differences.

While both share the same design philosophy, the Mate 20 is slightly bigger, has a fingerprint sensor on the back compared to the in-screen of the Pro; has an LCD instead of OLED screen; a smaller teardrop notch; has a flat instead of a curved-edge screen; lower IP water resistance, fast instead of SuperCharge charging, slightly lower camera megapixels; and no wireless charging support.

These differences translate into a more affordable price tag—around P9,000 less than the Pro, but do these variances also give you a lesser Mate experience?

Not exactly.

First the size. The Mate 20 is a bit wider than the longer and thinner Pro. It’s 77mm wide compared to the 72mm of Pro, but is almost exactly the same length and thickness. It weighs just 188g and is surprisingly lighter than you’d expect. The Note 9 and

iPhone XS Max are actually a bit heavier.

The wider size, however, doesn’t make the Mate 20 more difficult to hold than the Pro and the tapered edge helps in making it feel more manageable than its huge screen size would suggest it should.

That bigger body actually serves a purpose as it allows for the retention of the traditional 3.5mm jack, which is still a big deal for a lot of people. Unfortunately, the Mate 20 only has IP53 water resistance, which is a step down from the Mate 20 Pro. So avoid using it near pools or when there’s a downpour.

Design-wise, the most noticeable difference is the presence of the fingerprint scanner that’s located right below the triple-camera module, which the Mate 20 Pro doesn’t have.

In-screen fingerprint sensors may be the thing now, but when it comes to speed, the physical sensor is still faster, plus I’m not sure if you can still put a protector or tempered glass on the screen of the Mate 20 Pro since it will cover up the sensor and make it useless.

Speaking of screen, the one on the Mate 20 is a 6.53-inch IPS, non-curved full HD panel with a tiny notch on the screen. I actually prefer this tiny notch and looks more like an improvement as it occupies a much smaller space on the display. The reason the Mate 20 Pro has a larger notch is because it houses the various sensors that it uses to facilitate more secure face unlocks, which you only need for secure payment use. Use PayMaya or GCash instead.

The Mate 20’s LCD screen is little larger than the curved OLED display on the Mate 20 Pro. Again, the use of LCD is not a massive downside and you will only notice it once you put it side by side with the Mate 20 Pro and its deeper contrast levels and deeper blacks.

The Mate 20 screen looks great for browsing the Internet, checking out your social-media feeds, looking through your photo albums and even editing. I actually shot and edited all my recent videos on the Mate 20 instead of doing it on my laptop. You also won’t get tired of looking at the Mate 20’s screen when watching videos from YouTube or from those streaming services As for audio, I mentioned that the Mate 20 still has the 3.5mm headphone jack as well as Bluetooth 5.0, plus it has Dolby Atmos to tune the sound. There’s a single speaker below the phone and another cleverly placed one just on top of the notch, and both speakers dish out respectable volume and audio quality.

The only downside when it comes to looks is the color options, as the Mate 20 only comes in two colors here in the Philippines—Black and Midnight Blue. I have the black one, which I think looks much better since it perfectly complements the black rear camera module.

HIP TO BE SQUARE

HELLO, Neo. The Mate 20 series has what it calls the the Matrix Camera System, which adopts the iconic Four-Point Design that ex-

udes personality, giving the device a unique visual identity that is recognizable even at a distance. Set inside a square-shaped module with curved corners, the triple camera setup looked weird and unusual at first, but it actually gets better with time.

The Mate 20’s rear camera system is composed of a 12-megapixel and an f/1.8 aperture, while the ultra-wide-angle has 16 megapixels and an f/2.2 aperture, both of which are lower than the 40 megapixel and 20 megapixel combo on the Pro. The 8-megapixel, f/2.4 aperture telephoto lens is the same on both phones, as is the 24-megapixel, f/2.0 selfie cam. The Mate 20 only has a 2x zoom compared to the 5x on the Mate 20 Pro. Building on the foundation of the P20 Series camera system, Huawei further improves the Mate 20 with the 16mm Leica Ultra Wide Angle Lens. This wider perspective creates a sense of spaciousness and a three dimensional effect to the images. The new camera system also supports macro distance, which produces crisp images of objects that are placed as close as 2.5cm from the lens. The added ultra-wideangle lens and macro support complete the feature set of the camera system, elevating it to a truly all-round camera that is ready to capture any and all action.

WIDE-ANGLE EVERYTHING

I WAS never a fan of the monochrome lens, and it’s a good thing Huawei realized that people don’t really use it as much. The only time I use monochrome is when taking event/concert photos when the stage is being flooded by a lot of changing colors, and you can even do that by editing your photo and using the B/W filter.

So I was really happy they decided to ditch it in exchange of a wide-angle lens; and believe me, it will totally change the way you take photos. The new wide-angle lens work brilliantly with Huawei’s artificial intelligence system. The camera understands what it sees, and recommends switching to a wide-angle view if it thinks the photo would be improved.

Instead of taking a few steps back—all you have to do is tap the wide angle mode to capture more of the scene. Group shots are now easier to take and you’ll be inspired to take those landscape photos.

I think half of my photo album now are wide-angle shots. Oh, and here’s a little secret I discovered — if framed correctly, using wide angle can actually make you look slimmer!

The Mate 20 also has improved Night Mode, so if you love the handheld nightshots of the P20 Pro, imagine combining that with a wide angle of the Mate 20. I actually won a contest using the Mate 20’s wide-angle/night mode combo.

As for videos, Huawei adds several new modes and improves on the Mate’s videotaking capabilities. New to the series is the AI Cinema mode and, thanks to the Kirin 980’s dual-NPU, it allows the camera to change the background in real-time while shooting. For

example, you can isolate a person in color, while making the background black and white. There’s also live bokeh mode for video, which works only on people and AI zoom which allows you to lock on a subject and the camera would follow it. Although these new video modes are a nice addition, it still needs improvement for them to be anything more than just novelties.

To sum it up, the Mate 20 cameras are pretty amazing and can rival photos taken by other flagship phones, and again the only thing that’s better are the ones taken by the cameras of the Mate 20 Pro.

MORE POWER FOR YOU

FEW flagships can equal the power of the Mate series, and it makes the series very capable gaming machines. It doesn’t get warm even during long play times and there’s no slowdown or poor frame rates even for those graphically intensive games. In general, everyday use, you have nothing to complain and worry about as the Mate 20 is a solid, speedy companion.

What about the battery? The Mate 20 is powered by a 4000mAh battery utilizing Huawei’s SuperCharge tech and can get you from 0 percent to around 70 percent in 45 minutes. In my actual use, the Mate 20 easily lasted more than a day with moderate-toheavy use, and I have found no use for my powerbank, unless I turned on my mobile data the entire day.

So, should you go for the Mate 20 instead of the Mate 20 Pro? The Mate 20 is an easy recommendation, and it’s the practical choice for most users who are looking for a powerful device with a great camera and long-lasting battery life.

It has all the features you need on a flagship device and though you do lose the premium features of the Mate 20 Pro like the curved 2K display, higher water resistance, onscreen fingerprint scanner, the higher-resolution cameras, and reverse charging, these aren’t

really crucial to your everyday usage and experience.

Going for the Mate 20 also gives you the advantage of having a 3.5mm jack, the fastest physical fingerprint scanner, a bigger display, and the price difference of P9,000 which you could use to buy another device—like the new Y9 2019 edition that you can give as a gift to a loved one.

Y9? WHY NOT?

SO you’ve saved quite a lot by getting a Huawei Mate 20. Now, why not make a loved one just as happy by getting them their own Huawei phone?

As its core concept, the Huawei Y series is known as the “young and excellent” smartphone, with an emphasis on the design, style, bigger screen and AI cameras. The Y9 2019 is no exception. This time, the phone is equipped with a large 6.5-inch FullView display, amazing 16MP AI quad cameras, stylish and flagship-level design, a powerful 4000mAh battery, and convenient smart features that aims to improve overall experience and brings the latest technology for newbies and pros alike.

The Y9 2019, with its streamlined yet stylish design, is designed for those who favor entertainment. Huawei equipped the Y9 2019 with the new-generation 6.5” notched FullView Display, a 16.70 million color IPS LCD, a contrast of 1500:1, 2340x1080 resoultion and 397 PPI, offering stunning full HD+ experience.

Equipped with quad AI cameras, the Y9 2019 has the photography features you need to making selfie shots easier and more innovative than ever. The rear dual camera has a 13MP+2MP, while the front has a whopping 16MP f/2.0 camera. The new Y9 leverages AI photography technology and algorithm to create better lighting, enhance selfie quality so you can produce studio-quality portraits in shots, and take beautiful selfies even in low-light conditions.