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Duterte orders a ‘strategic retreat’ in war vs illegal drugs

‘Corrupt to the core’

In this June 8, 2016, file photo, police cars block a street as they enforce an overnight curfew for minors in Manila. AP/Aaron Favila

Q

By Rene Acosta

uestions on the integrity and credibility of law enforcers have temporarily put to a halt the deadly war against illegal drugs, thus, dealing the government’s campaign to eradicate the drug menace a temporary setback.

The retreat came at a time when the government has gone into the top of its narcotics list by identifying senior officials involved in the drugs trade, after it has pruned its

list of low-level local officials, and is on its way to weeding out pushers and users on the streets.

For Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General

Police Officer 3 Ricky Santa Isabel, who was allegedly involved in the kidnapping and subsequent killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo, testifies at the Senate probe into the killing of Jee on January 26 in Pasay City. AP/Bullit Marquez

Ronald M. dela Rosa, the decision of President Duterte to stop the vicious antidrugs campaign handed drug lords the victory and the setback for the police, both of which are, however, temporary.

Duterte was hurting more, since he has given his “rock-solid” support to the police in the campaign, which occupies the core of his six-year presidency. After all, he wanted his administration to be remembered as the one that freed the country from the clutches of narcotics addiction.

In his frustration, the President now considers reviving the Philippine Constabulary for the antidrugs drive and for the Armed Forces to take a more active role in the campaign, while running after

so-called misfits and scalawags in the police.

Best for PNP

While Duterte’s decision to temporarily freeze the anti-illegaldrugs campaign of the PNP until it has purged itself of misfits sounded demoralizing for the 165,000-strong PNP, some policemen and even dela Rosa himself admitted that it would be good—or yet, the best for the PNP—in the long run.

Dela Rosa followed up Duterte’s order by first dissolving the Camp Crame-based Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (AIDG) and creating the Counter Intelligence Task Force (CITF) that will polish the police.

Continued on A2

BI bribery case may set off sweeping tax, labor and immigration reforms

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₧50M

By Butch Fernandez

eforms in immigration, taxation, labor and the powers of state gaming agency the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) and of free-port zones are among the key areas for remedial legislation seen arising from the ongoing Senate Blue Ribbon inquiry into the P50-million bribery scandal embroiling Macaubased tycoon Jack Lam and two former associate commissioners of the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

PESO exchange rates n US 49.7830

The amount of bribe money allegedly collected by two former Bureau of Immigration associate commissioners from Macau-based online gambling tycoon Jack Lam

Choi Kyung-jin (left), widow of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo, who was kidnapped and later killed by his abductors, watches Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald M. dela Rosa (right) showing her house help Marissa Morquicho documents at the start of the Senate probe into the killing of Jee on January 26. AP/Bullit Marquez

These possible points for reform were laid down by Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Sen. Richard J. Gordon, and most of them were concurred upon in separate interviews, with key committee members spearheading the probe.

Gordon, who presided over the Continued on A2

n japan 0.4416 n UK 62.4229 n HK 6.4157 n CHINA 7.2352 n singapore 35.2921 n australia 38.1288 n EU 53.5914 n SAUDI arabia 13.2787

Source: BSP (3 February 2017 )

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A2 Sunday, February 5, 2017

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‘Corrupt to the core’ Continued from A1

Senior Supt. Albert Ignatius Ferro, the former chief of the AIDG, the unit that was behind the mess through the involvement of at least two of its members in the kidnap-slaying of South Korean Jee Ick-joo, said his defunct unit will emerge stronger after the cleansing process.

He bewailed the fact that while the kidnap-slay related to a supposed antidrugs operation was an “isolated case”, it has put the integrity and credibility of the PNP on the line, precipitating the demise of the AIDG.

Dela Rosa was more candid with the profound effect of the case, admitting that it has put into question the legality of even all of the legitimate operations of the police.

“Before, we presume regularity in the performance of duty of our personnel, but now, we could no longer presume,” he pointed out.

If they succeed in their full institutional cleansing—the first in the history of the PNP since its inception—both dela Rosa and Duterte will go down in history as the ones who polished the organization and rid it of so-called criminals in uniform.

Underworld characters

By dela Rosa’s admission, the PNP is pestered by members, who, like in the underworld, were involved in criminal activities, other than acting as protectors of illegal-drugs syndicates.

Name it, and you all have it in the organization: “hulidap, nangotong, nangikil, nangidnap,” he said of the activities where some policemen have been into.

Dela Rosa faulted the weakness of the system on why unscrupulous policemen managed to remain in the service, even though the PNP has initiated measures to guard its ranks from the entry, or even stay of unworthy members.

In particular, he blamed the National Appeals Board and the Regional Appeals Board of the National Police Commission, which often reinstate policemen into the service on appeal after they have been dismissed by the PNP. The PNP chief said the appeals boards were their problem.

In fact, some policemen even

viewed it as a stumbling block to the measures of instituting discipline in the police force.

“Bakit nakabalik itong tulisan na pulis na ito? Sir, merong resolution coming from RAB directing the PNP to reinstate them,” he said of the problem. And the PNP cannot do anything, because “that’s provided in our system.”

The PNP also has its own disciplinary unit and system, the Internal Affairs Service, but some noted that in some cases, it is too slow in deciding administrative cases of policemen, although it could readily adopt the summary procedures.

However, dela Rosa said, again they need to observe due process, otherwise, they will be held accountable on the grounds of technicality.

In some cases, the breakdown of discipline in the police ranks, or the continued stay of scalawags in the service, can be attributed to a “soft spot” in the way the leadership treats its members.

At the start of its antidrugs campaign, the PNP sent thousands of policemen, most of them assigned in Metro Manila, to Mindanao for duties after dela Rosa claimed they were involved in the illegal-drugs trade.

Rather than subjecting them to investigation for disciplinary measures or even dismissal, just as what it did to three active police generals named by Duterte, it allowed them to actively remain in the service on reasons that they have been thrown to the farthest and most volatile region of the country.

No less than officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, where some of these policemen were reassigned, have raised concerns, saying their areas should not be made as repositories for rejected policemen from other provinces. Besides, it will also affect the reputation of the region.

Duterte has branded the PNP as “corrupt to the core”, with 40 percent of its members involved in illegal activities, a statement that indicted the organization and is hard to swallow for its leadership.

However, dela Rosa said only about 2 percent of their 165,000 members are in the category of the President’s terms.

He said it is because of these “bad eggs” that the reputation of the PNP was tarnished and badly damaged.

In this October 5, 2016, file photo, men are rounded up and have zip ties on their wrists following a police raid at an alleged drug den as part of the continuing war on drugs campaign of President Duterte near the Payatas dumpsite community in Quezon City. AP/Aaron Favila

With the developments over the past days, it is because of the two members of the AIDG while the whole PNP institution sulked to its lowest level.

Scalawag check

Like a new organization looking for members, the PNP is checking again the records and background of its personnel, first, by starting with those who have questionable records. It wanted to have a fresh start if it will work as a fully functioning organization again. It wanted a clean slate.

This task has been delegated to the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management, Internal Affairs Service and the Directorate for Police Records and Management.

These units have been directed by dela Rosa to come up with a list of all these “scalawags in uniform”, who were reinstated despite their criminal and questionable backgrounds.

Their efforts are being backed by the newly created Counter Intelligence Task Force, whose task is not only to recruit and screen members for a unit that will re-

place the AIDG, but ensure that the PNP will not be again joined by members of questionable and dubious characters.

NBI also out

On Thursday Duterte prohibited another key law-enforcement agency from carrying out his deadly antidrugs crackdown, after banning the national police from the campaign because of corruption, and suggested he will use the military instead.

Duterte said his decision to exclude the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)—the Philippine counterpart of the US’s FBI— from the crackdown left him with fewer enforcers and increased the pressure for him to tap the military, which has been busy battling Muslim extremist groups on three battlefronts in the South.

“We can’t use the police, because it is corrupt. I cannot trust now the NBI, because it is corrupt,” Duterte said in a speech in his southern hometown, Davao City.

“I have limited warm bodies, I still have so many wars to fight.”

Human-rights groups expressed alarm at the President’s

statement, fearing that the deployment of counterinsurgency forces may worsen rights violations in a campaign that has already left thousands of drug suspects dead, including many in suspected extrajudicial killings.

Duterte has denied authorizing enforcers to kill unlawfully.

The President cited instances in which suspected drug lords managed to get access to cell phones while in NBI detention by paying off agents, leading him to lose trust in the investigation agency, part of the Department of Justice.

That left the much-smaller Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to wage the crackdown, which began after Duterte took office last June.

Duterte again lashed out at critics of his campaign, including the dominant Roman Catholic Church and the US, which under then-President Barack Obama expressed alarm over the widespread killings.

‘Extrajudicial killings’

Amnesty International (AI) said most of the thousands of killings of poor suspected drug offenders during Duterte’s crack-

down appear to be extrajudicial executions, and may constitute crimes against humanity.

The London-based humanrights group urged the Duterte administration to adopt an approach that respects human rights in its fight against drugs and crime, and called on the police and judiciary to prosecute officers involved in unlawful killings.

After investigating the deaths of 59 people, the group said it concluded “the vast majority of these killings appear to have been extrajudicial executions.”

It said it interviewed 110 witnesses, relatives of slain suspects, drug users, police officers and even hired killers from November to December.

The group said it is “deeply concerned that the deliberate and widespread killings of alleged drug offenders, which appear to be systematic, planned and organized by the authorities, may constitute crimes against humanity.”

AI noted that the deaths have averaged 34 a day.

It said it found in several cases it investigated that “witnesses described alleged drug offenders yelling they would surrender, at times while on their knees or in another compliant position. They were still gunned down.”

It said police officers often appear to have planted evidence and falsified incident reports.

It cited a police officer in Manila as saying that police and hired killers profit from the killings, with some law enforcers getting paid by funeral parlors for each body brought in.

The group said it interviewed two killers who were paid P10,000 ($200) by a police officer for each execution they carried out, adding they gunned down three to four victims a week.

On Tuesday the Supreme Court prohibited a group of police officers from entering a slum community to stop them from threatening villagers who have accused the officers of ruthlessly killing four residents in an anti-illegal drugs raid.

With the police out of the drug fight, Duterte has asked the military to help out in the campaign, which an opposition senator said amounted to the President exercising his constitutional emergency power to suppress “lawless violence.” With AP

BI bribery case may set off sweeping tax, labor and immigration reforms Continued from A1

second hearing into the case on Tuesday this week and has set the next hearing on February 9, also expressed a wish that people would see beyond the “political intramurals” that sometimes needlessly distract them from the core of the inquiry, and focus on the important reforms that could grow out of it.

“Taxation, immigration, labor. And a clearer delineation of the prerogatives of free-port zones that give licenses to gaming enterprises. We’re looking at all those,” Gordon said in an exclusive interview with the BusinessMirror.

He said Senate probers also see the need for the “tightening of internal rules of investigations of a confidential nature”, given the apparent abuse by certain immigration personnel, including dismissed BI associate commissioners Al C. Argosino and Michael B. Robles, and dismissed BI intelligence chief Charles Calima, of their mandates in the case of Lam’s online gaming business at Clark Fontana.

Raid, bribery

Immigration had raided the Fontana Leisure Park in Clark Field in November 2016, and rounded up 1,316 Chinese workers in the online gaming unit for allegedly working illegally in the country.

The ensuing disposition of their case gave rise to the alleged

bribery of P50 million for the Chinese workers’ release, but Lam’s Filipino handler, retired police general Wenceslao A. Sombero Jr., had termed it as an “extortion” operation by Argosino and Robles.

According to Gordon, the Blue Ribbon panel will need at least “a couple more hearings” to get a full picture of what happened, and what systemic problems must be addressed with either executive action or remedial legislation; and who should be prosecuted for what.

Licensing, tax issues

Gordon said the inquiry, thus far, has shown the need to strictly curb the prerogatives of free-port zones like the Cagayan Export Processing Zone Authority (Ceza), which originally issued Lam’s enterprise the permit to engage in online gaming.

“If [a business] licensed by Ceza is operating outside Ceza, they’re violating their permit,” Gordon said, in reference to revelations that Lam got his license from Ceza, but was operating in Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga.

The senator pointed out that “the idea [for free ports] is to generate business and employment” for certain geographic areas, so that allowing business licensed by one free port to operate in another area defeats the purpose.

Gordon also cited the need to clarify the tax regimes in which en-

terprises like Lam’s should operate.

The justice department had alleged Lam owed the Bureau of Internal Revenue billions of pesos in taxes by operating his online business illegally in Clark.

Sen. Francis G. Escudero, Banks Committee chairman and a member of the Blue Ribbon committee, also listed basically the same areas for reform as laid down

by Gordon.

Escudero, who had grilled Justice Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre II during the January 31 hearing, had gotten the Department of Justice (DOJ) chief to admit that online gaming remained a gray area of jurisprudence, as there is a pending court case on what constitutes “illegal online gaming”.

Escudero told the BusinessMirror he was keen on having the Senate inquiry resolve reform issues affecting Pagcor and the freeport zones’ licensing powers in taxation, and in limits to the hiring of foreign workers.

“And probably, also [to] clarify the job description of each position in the BI, in connection with the Immigration Act modernization bill,” Escudero added.

Immigration reforms

Escudero’s point about clarifying “job descriptions” was an apparent reference to the prolonged discussion at the last hearing on the basis for the two then-associate

commissioners’ unilateral move to “investigate” further the Fontana case, even after the raid and arrests were conducted and inquest proceedings were apace.

In response to repeated questioning by Gordon, Argosino insisted he had the mandate to do so by virtue of his BI designation. To Escudero’s grilling later, he invoked the human-trafficking law, to which senators reacted with skepticism.

Sen. Leila M. de Lima, a former justice secretary, noted that if Argosino was drawing on the BI’s mandate as a member of the Inter-Agency Council against Human Trafficking (IACAT), then he should have gotten the clearance to investigate from the incumbent DOJ chief Aguirre, the IACAT’s chairman. Or, at the very least, their immediate superior, BI Commissioner Jaime H. Morente.

To Sen. Joel Villanueva, Argosino, in turn, also invoked the Administrative Code as basis for his and Robles’s actions.

Villanueva said that the BI, being a quasijudicial body, it was questionable for two associate commissioners to be directly acting like investigators in the case.

Gordon, asked about envisioned reforms during the phone interview with the BusinessMirror, said he was keen on having the Blue Ribbon inquiry “tighten the internal rules of investigations

of a confidential nature in quasijudicial bodies.”

Gordon stressed the need to “tighten intelligence forays” by requiring “more frequent reporting to the relevant parties”.

The Senate chief prober aired dismay at the “cavalier” nature with which the two associate commissioners and even the then-BI intelligence chief Calima handled their respective investigations.

Calima had claimed he was conducting counterintelligence on the two ranking officials. Argosino and Robles claimed they were being framed by Calima—with Sombero as accomplice—in an alleged extortion case, when the case is really for bribery. The two parties have filed suits against each other: Sombero charged them with extortion; the dismissed commissioners charged Sombero with bribery.

Employment issues

The Blue Ribbon inquiry, Gordon said, will hopefully also result in remedial legislation to prevent the undue displacement of qualified Filipino workers from businesses like Lam’s.

Villanueva had repeatedly raised this question in an earlier hearing he called as chairman of the Senate Labor Committee.

If gaming enterprises want to set up call centers for gaming, why, Gordon asked, “is there a need to employ Chinese from overseas,

when they could very well do it [set up the call center] in their own countries?”

“If they want to do it here because of the more favorable tax regime,” then these enterprises should at least be required, Gordon said, to “teach Chinese to Filipinos”.

Corollary, the Philippine government and businesses should move to encourage more Filipinos to learn Chinese, especially considering the country’s expanding economic relations with its giant Asian neighbor.

“If there’s technology transfer, we should require language transfer,” Gordon remarked.

Meanwhile, as an additional immigration reform, Gordon suggests there’s a need to empower the BI to have better control of the entire system for handling foreigners in the country, expressing dismay at revelations that some of the Chinese workers allowed into Clark could not even present their passports.

As a “concomitant responsibility, all ports of entry should have better” detention places for foreigners taken in for immigration problems, noting the dilemma that confronted authorities in housing the over 1,300 Chinese workers in Clark Freeport Zone, problem went all the way up to the justice secretary, as Chinese embassy officials raised the poor facilities—not enough toilets—where their nationals were being held.

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

The World BusinessMirror

Sunday, February 5, 2017

A3

Red and blue states split over Trump’s ‘sanctuary city’ order

Former Oakland Mayor Jean Quan joins others in urging lawmakers to approve a proposed bill to prohibit local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities, during a hearing of the Senate Public Safety Committee on Tuesday in Sacramento, California.

The committee passed Senate Bill 54, by Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, Democrat-Los Angeles, that, if approved by the Legislature and signed by the governor, could create a borderto-border sanctuary in the nation’s largest state. AP

By Andrew Selsky The Associated Press

S

ALEM, Oregon—President Donald J. Trump’s promised crackdown on “sanctuary cities” has triggered divergent actions from blue and red states, revealing the deep national divide on immigration as some move to follow his order and others break with the US government to protect immigrants in the country illegally.

California, the nation’s largest state, is pushing for a statewide sanctuary that would prohibit law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities, while a fellow US-Mexico border state, Texas, is seeking to withhold funding from cities with the policies.

Trump’s recent executive orders threatening to withhold federal funding from communities with sanctuary policies and calling for a border wall have produced widespread protests and fears that more immigration restrictions are in the future. The president’s supporters have hailed the efforts.

Cities have mostly taken up sanctuary laws. There’s no official definition, but often they tell the police not to inquire about the immigration status of those they arrest or they decline requests from immigration officials to keep defendants in custody while they await deportation.

But liberal states, like California, would not be the first to block police from enforcing federal immigration law. Oregon pioneered statewide sanctuary in a 1987 law, when immigrant workers and their families were sometimes housed in appalling conditions despite their importance to agricultural profits.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said she will enforce that law.

“They mow our lawns. They pick our grapes,” Brown said last week.

“They take care of our children and they take care of our seniors, and I want to make sure they feel welcome in Oregon.”

Advocates say the laws ensure people in the country illegally will come forward to report crimes without fear of deportation. Opponents cite concerns about crime, including the shooting death of Kate Steinle in San Francisco. Juan Francisco LopezSanchez, who was in the country illegally after multiple deportations to his native Mexico, has been charged with murder.

San Francisco reaffirmed its commitment to sanctuary polices by suing Trump on Tuesday, the same day California state senators advanced legislation that would provide money for lawyers for immigrants facing deportation and hamper any attempt to create a Muslim registry.

The state is home to an estimated 2.3 million immigrants in the country illegally.

“We want to make sure that police officers don’t abandon their beat and go enforce immigration laws,” said Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon of Los Angeles.

Some California Republicans fought back. State Sen. Jeff Stone voted against the measure, saying, “I think this bill is making

it that much more difficult for the federal authorities to get the most dangerous criminals that we want to deport to keep our communities safe.”

Three states away, Texas’s Republican governor, Greg Abbott, embraced Trump’s order, saying the administration is showing the potential to secure the border.

He instructed lawmakers to send him a bill by June that punishes local governments that don’t cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Abbott wants to withhold taxpayer money to cities that don’t detain immigrants and to remove locally elected officials if they don’t comply.

Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez, who runs the jails in the liberal enclave of Austin, plans this week to stop honoring all federal immigration requests to detain suspects and only comply with requests to hold those accused of murder, aggravated sexual assault and human trafficking. Abbott responded by blocking $1.5 million in criminal justice grants to the county.

Idaho also is moving to enforce Trump’s order, though the state has no sanctuary cities. A bill this week would hold back taxpayer money.

The actions come in a different political climate from when Oregon instituted its statewide protections. The governor’s office said Oregon has not faced any federal reprisals over the years but that it could change.

Brown said she would fight for Oregon’s law, including taking legal action, if Washington tries to withhold federal funding as leverage.

The law means immigrants can go to the police when they are a victim of a crime or witness one, without fearing deportation, said Jann Carson, associate director of the ACLU of Oregon.

“The biggest result is that Oregon police have not participated in INS, now ICE, raids on migrant farms, apartment buildings, roadblocks,” Carson said.

She said immigrants here illegally can’t receive welfare benefits but that many pay taxes.

The Social Security Administration estimated immigrants and their employers paid $13 billion in payroll taxes in 2010.

Former lawmaker Dick Springer helped pass Oregon’s measure 30 years ago. He said it was driven by unsanitary and crowded living conditions for migrant workers and the agriculture industry’s dependence on those workers.

“We were aware of really atrocious conditions for farmworkers...50 people would be living in a barn,” Springer said in a telephone interview on Tuesday.

The 1987 measure received bipartisan support. Asked if it makes Oregon a sanctuary state, Springer said that was his intent.

“We’re not going to hassle people that want to make a living and are contributing to our economy,” he said, choking up with emotion. “They have a very strong work ethic. They have commitment to faith and to family. Those are the families we cherish, embrace and welcome.”

Bloomberg News

China firm’s Mideast spree shakes up world crude flows

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rude purchases in one corner of the oil market by a Chinese trader are contributing to the shake-up of supply flows across the globe.

China National United Oil Co. last month bought at least 7 million barrels of Middle East crude for March loading, as part of an assessment process operated by Platts used to set price benchmarks, data compiled by Bloomberg show. The spree was made at a time the region’s supply is shrinking as producers, including Saudi Arabia, shoulder a majority of global output curbs.

The purchases by the trader known as Chinaoil have helped raise the value of Middle East crude, which had already turned costlier relative to supplies from other regions on Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries’s (Opec) deal to cut production. The increase in the Dubai crude benchmark versus West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Europe’s Brent has spurred previously unviable flows of cargoes into Asia from areas such as the Gulf of Mexico and boosted shipments from West Africa and the North Sea. “Larger importers, like Chinaoi l, can create purchasing

7M barrels The quantity of crude bought

by China National United Oil Co. from the Middle East strategies based on expected oil demand, taking into account production cutbacks by Opec and import requirements for strategic petroleum reserves,” said John Driscoll, the chief strategist at JTD Energy Services Pte. who has spent more than 30 years trading crude and petroleum in Singapore. “That can trigger a spree and lift Dubai prices against Brent and WTI, leaving the arbitrage window for oil flows from west to east wide open.”

Officials who answered calls to Chinaoil’s Beijing headquarters and parent company China National Petroleum Corp. said there was no one available to comment during the ongoing Lunar New Year holidays.

Pricing process

In the Platts price assessment process —which traders refer to as the window—bids, offers and deals are reported through e-mails, instant messages and phone conversations in a fixed period each day. These are used to create end-of-day price assessments for various commodities and form benchmarks for transactions around the world. The company is a unit of S&P Global Inc. “S&P Globa l Platts’s role is to produce robust pr ice assessments that ref lect the va lue of commodities including f uel oil,” a spokesman for the company said in an e-mail. “It is not our role to regulate trading in the physica l markets where we produce price assessments.”

Under t he Pl atts pr icing mec ha nism for Duba i cr ude, so - ca l led pa r t i a l ca rgo dea ls need to be combi ned i nto a 500,000 bar rel shipment if the sa me buyer a nd sel ler trade 20 of t he 25,0 0 0 -ba r rel lots in a s i ng le mont h . C h i n aoi l l a st mont h pu rc hased 339 out of t he 3 4 6 pa r t i a l s t r ade d for Ma rc h, accord ing to Pl at ts.

Full cargoes bought by the company included Abu Dhabi ’s Upper Zakum oil and Qatar’s A l-Shaheen crude, data compiled by Bloomberg show. Sellers included Royal Dutch Shell

Plc. and Reliance Industries Ltd. Chinaoil has bought much more in a single month previously. It made a record haul of 36 million barrels in August 2015.

The premium for Brent, the benchmark for more than half the world’s crude, over the Dubai oil marker fell to $1.27 a barrel last month, the least since September 2015. The spread was at $1.73 on Thursday. Meanwhile, US WTI slipped to a discount versus the Middle East measure last December amid an increase in American drilling.

Dubai’s strength made Middle Eastern varieties less alluring than Brent-linked supplies from Africa and Europe. West African producers this month will send the most crude to top oil market Asia in at least five years.

Citigroup Inc. estimates 33 m i l l ion ba r re l s of Eu ropea n North Sea crude is set to sail to Asia between December last year and this month, versus 58 million barrels from January to November 2016.

Crude imports by China, the world’s biggest energy consumer, rose to a record average of 7.63 million barrels a day in 2016, official data show. Inbound shipments increased as domestic production fell and more strategic petroleum reserve units were brought online. Bloomberg News

Singapore expects little investment growth in 2017

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ingapore sees little growth in fixed-asset investments this year after commitments fell to the lowest level since at least 2007, the Economic Development Board (EDB) said.

Capital investment in facilities and equipment planned over the next five years stood at S$9.4 billion ($6.7 billion) last year and should stabilize at around S$8 billion to S$10 billion in coming years, Beh Swan Gin, chairman of the EDB, told reporters in Singapore on Thursday. The EDB didn’t provide data for the period before 2007.

“We believe that Singapore is attracting its fair share of investment and will remain com-

petitive,” he said. “ There will be some years when there will be more, but this is a sustainable number,” he said, referring to the forecast for this year.

Weakening investment adds to risks the Southeast Asian nation is facing as rising protectionism threatens the exportde pendent economy. I nvest ments in the past 10 years were driven by petrochemical companies and land-scarce Singapore doesn’t have room for many more projects of that scale, Beh said. Investments in less spacedemanding industries, such as pharmaceuticals, should stay at healthy levels in the foreseeable future, he said.

The EDB is a government agency in charge of enhancing the citystate’s position as a global business center, with a traditional focus on the manufacturing industry.

Singapore last year posted its worst economic performance since the 2009 global financial crisis. The government is forecasting economic growth of between 1 percent and 3 percent this year, but Beh said growth over 2 percent in 2017 may be hard to achieve.

“I think in 2017 there’s still somewhat of a drag from, for instance, the marine and oil sector, from real estate,” Beh said. For the medium term, growth of 2 percent to 3 percent is sustainable, he said.

Manufacturing picked up toward

the end of last year on the back of a recovery in electronic exports. Estimates for the first nine months of last year show productivity in the manufacturing sector rose by 4.2 percent from the same period of 2015, the highest of any industry in Singapore, EDB Managing Director Yeoh Keat Chuan said.

That partly reflects job losses but also improvements in operations, he said.

Based on 2016 investment commitments, Singapore will create 6,000 manufacturing jobs over the next five years, according to the EDB. Beh said this may not necessarily lead to net job creation, as job losses may continue in some companies. Bloomberg News

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Sunday, February 5, 2017

The World BusinessMirror

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

Trump pushes dark view of Islam to center of America’s policy-making

W

ASHINGTON—It was at a campaign rally last August that President Donald J. Trump most fully unveiled the dark vision of an America under siege by “radical Islam” that is now radically reshaping the policies of the United States.

On a stage lined with US flags in Youngstown, Ohio, Trump, who months before had called for a “total and complete shutdown” of Muslim immigration, argued that the United States faced a threat on a par with the greatest evils of the 20th century. The Islamic State (IS) was brutalizing the Middle East, and Muslim immigrants in the West were killing innocents at nightclubs, offices and churches, he said. Extreme measures were needed.

“The hateful ideology of radical Islam,” he told supporters, must not be “allowed to reside or spread within our own communities”.

Trump was echoing a strain of anti-Islamic theorizing familiar to anyone who has been immersed in security and counterterrorism

debates over the past 20 years.

He has embraced a deeply suspicious view of Islam that several of his aides have promoted, notably retired Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn, now his national security adviser, and Stephen K. Bannon, the president’s top strategist.

This worldview borrows from the “clash of civilizations” thesis of political scientist Samuel P. Hunting ton and combines straightforward warnings about extremist violence with broadbrush critiques of Islam. It sometimes conflates terrorist groups, like al-Qaeda and the IS, with largely nonviolent groups, such as the Muslim Brotherhood and its offshoots and, at times, with the 1.7 billion Muslims around the world. In its more extreme

Seen through a window is President Donald J. Trump (from left) with National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and Stephen Bannon, Trump’s senior strategist, at the White House in Washington on January 28. The three men have brought a dark, deeply suspicious vision of Islam as an inherently hostile ideology from the fringes of the far right to the center of US policy-making. Al Drago/The New York Times

The hateful ideology of radical Islam [must not] be allowed to reside or spread within our own communities.”—Trump forms, this view promotes conspiracies about government infiltration and the danger that Shariah, the legal code of Islam, may take over in the US. Those espousing such views present Islam as an inherently hostile ideology whose adherents are

enemies of Christianity and Judaism and seek to conquer nonbelievers either by violence or through a sort of stealthy brainwashing.

The executive order on immigration that Trump signed last Friday might be viewed as the first major victory for this geopolitical school. And a second action, which would designate the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist political movement in the Middle East, as a terrorist organization, is under discussion at the White House, administration officials say.

Beyond the restrictions the order imposed on refugees and visitors from seven predominantly Muslim countries, it declared that the US should keep out those with “hostile attitudes toward it and its founding principles” and “those who would place violent ideologies over American law,” clearly a reference to Shariah.

R e je c te d b y most s e r iou s scholars of religion and shunned

by Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, this dark view of Islam has nonetheless flourished on the fringes of the US right since before the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. With Trump’s election, it has moved to the center of US decision-making on security and law, alarming many Muslims.

Trump has insisted that the executive order is not a “Muslim ban”, and his supporters say it is a sensible precaution to safeguard Americans. Asked about the seeming antipathy to Islam that appeared to inform the order, the W hite House pointed to Trump’s comments in the August 2016 speech and on another occasion that signaled support for refor m-minded Muslims. His administration, Trump said in August, “will be a friend to all moderate Muslim reformers in the Middle East and will amplify their voice.”

James Jay Carafano, a security expert at the Heritage Foundation who advised the Trump transition at the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department, said the executive order was simply “trying to get ahead of the threat”. As pressure increases on the IS in Iraq and Syria, he said, “tens of thousands of foreign fighters” will f lee.

Some could try to reach America, perhaps posing as refugees, he said, so stronger vetting of those entering the country is crucial.

But critics see the order as a clumsy show of toughness against foreig n Mu sl i m s to i mpress Trump’s base, one shaped by advisers with distorted ideas about Islam. “They’re tapping into the climate of fear and suspicion since 9/11,” said Asma Afsarud-

din, a professor of Islamic studies at Indiana University and chairwoman of the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy. “It’s a master narrative that pits the Muslim world against the West,” appealing to Trump supporters who know nothing of Muslims or Islam beyond news reports of terrorist attacks, she said.

The executive order, she added, will backfire by reinforcing the jihadi line that the United States is at war with Islam. “The White House is a huge soapbox,” she said. “The demonization of Muslims and Islam will become even more widespread.”

Those in the administration with long records of criticizing Islam begin with Bannon and Flynn. Flynn last February tweeted a link to an anti-Muslim video and wrote, “Fear of Muslims is Rational.” In an interview, he said “Islam is not necessarily a religion but a political system that has a religious doctrine behind it.”

Bannon has spoken passionately about the economic and security dangers of immigration and took the lead role in shaping the immigration order. In a 2014 talk to a meeting at the Vatican, he said the “Judeo-Christian West” is at war with Islam.

“There is a major war brewing, a war that’s already global,” he said. “Every day that we refuse to look at this as what it is, and the scale of it, and really the viciousness of it, will be a day where you will rue that we didn’t act.” Elsewhere, on his radio show for Breitbart News, Bannon said, “Islam is not a religion of peace—Islam is a religion of submission,” and he warned of Muslim influence in Europe: “To be brutally frank, Christianity is dying in Europe and Islam is on the rise.”

Others with similar views of Islam include Sebastian Gorka, who taught at the National Defense University and is a deputy national security adviser. Gorka’s wife, Katharine, who headed think tanks that focused on the dangers of Islam, now works at the Department of Homeland Security.

Tera Dahl, who was an aide to former Rep. Michele Bachmann, Republican-Minnesota, is a National Security Council official.

Walid Phares, a Lebanese American Christian who has advised politicians on counterterrorism, advised Trump’s campaign but does not currently have a government post. All four have written for Breitbart News, the right-wing web site previously run by Bannon.

They all reflect the hard-line opinions of what some have described as the Islamophobia industry, a network of researchers who have warned for many years of the dangers of Islam and were thrilled by Trump’s election.

They warn about the danger to US freedoms supposedly posed by Islamic law and have persuaded several state legislatures to prohibit Shariah’s use. It is a claim that draws eye rolls from most Muslims and scholars of Islam, since Muslims make up about 1 percent of the US population and are hardly in a position to dictate to the other 99 percent.

“The majority of Muslims don’t interpret the Koran literally,” said Shadi Hamid of the Brookings Institution. “You can have five Muslims who all say we think this is God’s exact words, but they all disagree with each other on what that means in practice.”

Among the most outspoken of those warning about Islam are Pamela Geller, of Stop Islamization of America; Robert Spencer, of Jihad Watch; and Frank Gaffney Jr., of the Center for Security Policy.

New York Times News Service

Ban prolongs a Syrian girl’s medical odyssey

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ARCELONA, Spain—President Donald J. Trump’s travel ban disrupted the plans of hundreds of people around the globe, but perhaps none more vulnerable than Sham Aldaher, a Syrian refugee girl, and her family.

Sham, now 1 1/2, was born without an eye and with a seriously disfigured face. After two complex operations at a Barcelona hospital, Sham is due to receive an eye prosthesis next Wednesday. Her family had then planned to resettle in the United States.

They had already completed the required interviews and cleared all security checks before the plans were blocked by Trump’s executive order to bar citizens from Syria and six other Muslim-majority countries seen as threatening to America’s safety.

“They were travel-ready, and they are now barred,” said Jayne Fleming, the head of the human-rights team at Reed Smith, an American law firm that has been helping Sham and her family. Fleming and her team are now scrambling to see whether Britain, Germany or another country could instead welcome the family.

“They’re distressed over not knowing what the future holds for them,” Fleming said. The Aldahers’ story is a nomadic tragedy, telling of the accumulated hardships that have been piled on many Syrian refugees. It is also a small, but striking, example of the broader crisis highlighted in a United Nations report issued on Tuesday showing that the children most in need of emergency international assistance come from five of the seven countries covered by Trump’s order.

Sham’s parents left Syria and their jobs as teachers in 2013. They traveled with their three children to Lebanon and then Egypt. But their arrival coincided with the unrest and military coup that removed Mohammed Morsi as Egypt’s president.

“We left our home to find safety, but in Egypt there were bombings in the night and the children were very afraid,” said Ali Aldaher, Sham’s father.

So the family packed up again to join thousands of other Syrian refugees in Jordan. Sham was born there in July 2015, on the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr. The coincidence was seen as a blessing by her parents, but it complicated Sham’s birth, as most hospital workers were on vacation and the family could not find a doctor.

Even though a midwife eventually assisted in the birth, Sham’s mother “did not receive the health care she needed and I’m sure all the stress hurt,” Aldaher recounted.

When Sham was born, her father tried to calm his wife by pretending Sham was keeping one eye shut, even though he could see that she had no eyelid and a misshaped face.

“Before the birth of Sham, my worries were how would I support my family, without any work in Jordan and without money,” Aldaher said. “After she was born, we forgot about food, our problems, ourselves and even our other children to start our new journey of suffering for Sham, to see how we could possibly care for this child.”

Sham’s family got assistance from different non-governmental organizations, including D oc tors Without B orders.

Lawyers from Reed Smith started searching for a hospital capable of undertaking such advanced surgery, while helping the family apply for resettlement in the US. The lawyers then delayed the move to America because they could not simultaneously find a US hospital ready to treat Sham at no cost.

Instead, the Sant Joan de Déu hospital in Barcelona agreed to help. Entering Spain, however, also proved a struggle.

Last June the Spanish government granted Sham’s family permission to travel to Barcelona, shortly after The New York Times published an article about the baby’s plight and Spain’s refusal to grant visas to the whole family.

Even before Trump’s executive order to bar citizens of some countries from entering the US on security grounds, m a ny Eu ro p e a n g o ve r n m e n t s we re dragging their feet in meeting their own commitments to welcome more refugees following a European Union agreement reached in September 2015. By the end of 2016, about 900 refugees had resettled in Spain, out of the quota of 17,377 agreed on by Spain’s government.

New York Times News Service

Faith

Sunday

Editor: Lyn B. Resurreccion

Sunday, February 5, 2017 A5

Saint Paul Miki and 25 martyrs

By Corazon Damo-Santiago

O

n February 5, 1577, 26 Christians hung on a cross on top of a hill in Nagasaki for public execution. It took them a month marching the 600 miles distance from Kyoto.

With blood oozing from wounds, the prisoners rode in a cart paraded on the streets of Kyoto, mocked, stoned and called bacas (stupid) by onlookers. There were others, however, who comforted them.

They would have been more bloodied, if not for the intervention of Captain Landecho of the Spanish galleon, so only the lobe of their left ears were severed.

It was Miki who boosted the morale of the group to trust God wholeheartedly.

In his last profession of faith, Miki said: “I am a Japanese by birth and a Jesuit by vocation. I am dying for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

It was also Miki who pleaded to his friend, Hanzaburo, the soldier assigned as chief executioner of the group, to postpone the execution until Friday, allow a priest, Father Passio, to hear their confession and participate in the celebration of the holy Mass, which were granted.

Martyred were three Japanese from the Society of Jesus: Miki, a novice seminarian; John Goto, a catechist; and Kisai, a lay brother.

There were six Franciscans from the Philippines: Frs. Pedro Baptista, Martin de Aguirre, Francis Blanco and Francis of Saint Michael; Indian Bro. Gonzalo Garcia, the official contractor tasked to build Franciscan churches and hospital for lepers in Macau and Osaka; and Bro. Philip de las Casas, a Mexican.

The 17 Japanese laymen who were either catechists or interpreters included a physician, a soldier and altar boys.

Christianization of Japan

On April 7, 1541, Saint Francis Xavier, SJ, was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to East Indies. He went to Kagoshima in the southern part of Japan on April 15, 1549. His teachings were accompanied by numerous miracles that converted Japanese to the Catholic faith.

T hereafter, other religious missionaries dared to spread the faith in Japan.

Wit h t he C hr ist ia ni zat ion of Filipinos by Spanish miss ion a r ie s , E mp e ror H id e y o shi of Japan suspects that the Spanish missionar ies from the Philippines were sent to conquer Japan af ter t here were enough converts in their countr y, noted James Brodr ick in Saint Francis Xavier 1506-1552.

T he emperor star ted to persec ute C hr ist ia ns a nd w rote the Spanish governor of Manila and Viceroy of India, as cited

by Lorenzo Perez in Persecucion Martino de los Misioneros Franciscanos, Madrid 1923.

“The religious of your kingdom came here and passed through towns and various places, preaching their religion to lowly people, servants and slaves.... When I heard this I could not stand it, so I ordered them to be killed. For I have received information that in your kingdoms, the preaching of religion is a trick and a deceit with which you subject foreign k ingdoms,” t he emperor was quoted as saying. Although many evangelizers left, the decree was not immediately enforced and the Jesuits continued their discreet missionar y work.

Japanese soldiers surrounded the Franciscan and Jesuit converts in Osaka and Kyoto on December 9, 1596.

On January 8, 1597, Emperor

Statue of Saint Paul Miki, by Johannes Bitterich, bearing stylized depictions of the instruments of his death, in Saint Martin’s Church in Bamberg, Germany. WikimediaCommons

Hideyoshi promulgated the decree of death for the 26 evangelizers. “ These men have come from the Philippines with the title of ambassadors and remained in Kyoto preaching the Christian religion, which I vigorously prohibited in the past years. I, thus, command that they be executed along with the Japanese who have joined their religion.

And so these 24 will be crucified in Nagasaki. Let all know that I again prohibit from now on the said religion,”Hideyoshi said.

First martyrs of East Asia

The crucifixion of the 26 martyrs were designated to be on Mount Hubon or Mount Kompira, 360 meters high overlooking the city of Nagasaki, the place where criminals were executed.

T he Por t ug uese requested that the place be transferred to another site to distinguish the 26 from criminals. Hanzaburo, to show his goodwill, approved the request.

Miki was allowed to preach to about 4,000 Christians who prayed, wept and sang songs to the Lord and the Blessed Mother.

Miki said: “I am not from the Philippines. I am a Japanese and a Jesuit Brother…. Having arrived at this moment of my existence, I believe that no one of you thinks I want to hide the truth. That is why I have to declare to you that there is no other way of salvation than the one followed by Christians. Since this way teaches me to forgive my enemies and all who have offended me. I willingly forgive the king and all those who have desired my death. And I pray that they will obtain the desire of Christian baptism.”

In Voices of the Saints, Bert Ghezzi said Miki turned his eyes to his companions and as they await the lances that will pierce their hearts, they sang the Canticle of Zechariah: “Blessed be the Lord, The God of Israel; He has come to His people and set them free… You, My child shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His way, to give His people knowledge of salvation, by the forgiveness of their sins...” (Luke 2:68-79).

The executioners allowed them to finish the song, then thrust their spears into their side.

Beatified by Pope Urban VIII on September 14, 1627, they were canonized on June 8, 1862, by Pope Pius IX. Their feast is February 5. n Santiago is a former regional director of the Department of Education National Capital Region. She is currently a faculty member of Mater Redemptoris Collegium in Calauan, Laguna, and Mater Redemptoris College in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) gathered women of different faiths recently at a hotel on Ortigas Avenue to discuss issues that affect women. Attending the event were (from left, front) LDS leaders Elder Shayne Bowen, his wife Sis. Lynette Bowen, Sis. Bonnie Oscarson, Sis. Jean Bingham, Haidi Fajardo and Darlene Panti. Standing are (from left) Lyn Resurreccion, LDS Sis. Linda Soderquist, Johanna Borela, Peggy Burgoyne, Sis. Deborah Haynie, Dr. Riza Bondal, Dr. Lilian Sison, Atty. Jo Imbong, Dr. Genevieve Balance-Kupang, Dr. Potre Diampuan, Asela Arago, LDS Sis. Cindy Schmutz, Dr. Maribel Descallar, Veronica de Almeida, Ritz Tijap and Nestly Mondejar. LDS

Interfaith women building God-fearing communities

‘M

By Lyn Resurreccion

ay peace prevail in your conscience and in your heart.” This is the greeting being said by many indigenous peoples worldwide. It is said by two persons while they slide each other’s hands and then point to their respective head and heart.

Dr. Genev ieve Balance-Kupang, a cultural anthropologist and professor at Saint Paul ’s College in Pasig, introduced the greeting at the Women’s Interfaith Luncheon organized last week by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), or popularly known as Mormons.

Upon learning it, everybody at the meeting greeted each other, setting the participants in synergy since the gathering discussed issues on peace, women and faith.

The women interfaith leaders shared the challenges, joys and issues faced by women.

Nurturing, spiritual maternity, women empowerment, Mary as model, harmony in the family—were the common words said in the meeting that discussed the role of women in the family, in the community, in the country and in the international arena.

V i sit i ng L DS leaders, Si s.

Bonnie Oscarson, Young Women General president; and Sis. Jean Bingham, first counselor in Primar y General Presidency, shared the LDS prog rams to make the children and youth “ live and follow Jesus Christ”.

Bingham, who is in charge of LDS children 18 months to 11 years old, said parents are the first teachers of children.

“We teach children to be good citizens of society,” with the family as the center that “can be together forever, even beyond this life.”

She said LDS puts primacy to education and good values, which they communicate also

through music.

LDS assists in health and welfare of children, and maintain ties with the United Nations Children’s Fund.

Oscarson said half a million of LDS members are youth aged 12 to 17. They have programs at their different stages in life, like personal program for young women or preparing the youth for marriage.

T hey a lso teac h t hem t he values of how to live and follow Jesus Christ.

There are 731,240 LDS members in the Philippines since it was established in 1961.

Lilian Sison of Asia-Pacific Women of Faith Network of Religions for Peace shared that Filipino women are victims of violence. In 2013 reported domestic violence increased to 16,517,

physical injuries to 3,564 and rape to 1,259.

She said women are also victims of inequality by men. She added that the Religions for Peace also campaign in Mindanao to empower women and restore their dignity.

For Asela Arago of the Focolare Movement, with the Marian background of Catholics, the Virgin Mary is used as model of women who commit themselves to each member of the family and provide harmony in the family. “ T heir spir itua l mater nit y makes them [women] fruitful in society, not only in the church,” Arago said.

“Our wealth is our children,” Ba l a nce- Cupa ng sa id, as she related how her Project Gala provides assistance to Aetas in Zambales. The project assists the community by providing quality education to Aeta children, spiritual formation, infrastructure, environment stewardship, transportation, livelihood, shelter, health services and preservation of cultural heritage.

The difference between men a nd women “ is good for c o m p l e m e nt a r i t y,” s a i d D r.

R i za Bond a l of t he Universit y of A si a a nd t he Pac if ic, as she d isc ussed t he concer ns on equ a l it y of men a nd women, a nd women empower ment.

“We celebrate what is different,” she said.

She said the unique attributes of women that can humanize the

The greeting of peace is being done by (from left) LDS Sis. Linda Soderquist and Peggy Burgoyne, and Dr. Genevieve Balance-Kupang and LDS Elder Shayne Bowen. Lyn REsurreccion

world are receptivity, sensitivity, generosity and maternity.

“The real equality [between men and women] is equality in dignity,” she said.

Dr. Maribel Descaliar of Teodora women’s advocacy group of the Couples for Christ said the group provides formation for women, especially mothers. It holds interreligious mothers’ festivals and organizes mothers’ circles in schools and poor areas, which teaches skills and good moral values.

It also organizes Handmaids for Family and Life for widows and separated women that promote values formation and gift-based ministry in the Philippines and other countries.

Elder Shayne Bowen, the LDS Philippines area president, in highlighting the role of the family, quoted from the LDS document “ The Family: A proclamation to the world,” saying: “All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or d aughter of heaven ly parents and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny…”

He added : “ ‘ Hu sba nd a nd w ife have a solemn responsibilit y to love and care for each other and for their children.’ ‘children are the heritage of the Lord ’ [Psalm 127:3]….”

He said the LDS families try to “make the home heaven here on earth…. The Father wants us to love each other.”

Science

BusinessMirror

A6 Sunday, February 5, 2017

Sunday

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

Japan opens scholarship to PHL researchers

R

Some of the 823 Youth Excellence in Science az wardees who attended the awarding ceremony at the Philippine International Convention Center on February 1 are joined by Science Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña and Science and Education Institute Director Dr. Josette Biyo. The other awardees will be given recognition in their respective regions.

823 math, science students receive DOST recognition E Story & photo by Stephanie Tumampos | Special to the BusinessMirror

ight hundred twenty-three elementary pupils and highschool students were given recognition by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through the Youth Excellence in Science (YES) awards.

Held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) on February 1, the students were awarded for their exemplary performance by reaping awards in science and mathematics in international competitions from all over the world in 2016.

T he Y ES awa rd s is a special ceremony that the DOST, through the Science Education Institute (SEI), has been holding annually, since 2007, to honor students who have achieved high marks in international math and science competitions.

Dr. Josette Biyo, director of DOST-SEI, expressed pride and gratitude to the students who have brought home medals.

In her speech she said, “Last year was indeed a huge year for us to date. The year 2016 is actually, so far, the biggest year for YES awards and for science and mathematics excellence, in general.”

Biyo was referring to the increase of awardees from 2015 to 2016. From 614 in 2015, the number of YES Awardees rose to 823 in 2016, a 25-percent increase of the total number of awardees.

In 2007, even with only over 200 students who received awards, the DOST has seen the increase in interest in the fields of mathematics and science among students.

Human-capital development

Science Secretary Fortunato T.

de la Peña, who graced the YES awards, expressed pride with the output of the Filipino students.

In his speech, de la Peña said the increase in the DOST budget under the current administration has paved the way for more opportunities for the Filipino people to pursue and work in science and technology (S&T).

In an interview with the BusinessMirror, de la Peña said, “The 20-percent budget increase for the SEI itself means more scholarship slots for the Filipino students. That’s very important and it could also mean incentives, more services and science and mathematics teachers because we want to build a core of science and math teachers.”

He added that it is the DOST’s way of helping the Department of Education to improve the quality of math and science in the country.

De l a Peñ a noted t he i nc lu sion of S &T i n P resident Duter te’s 10 -point agend a. He sa id it wa s not just to promote S & T t o e n h a nc e i n no v at i v e c apac it y, but a l so to i mprove hu m a n resou rces i n S &T. “There is also an item in the [10-point] agenda that is very important, the investment in humancapital development,” de la Peña said partly in Filipino in the inter-

view with the BusinessMirror.

He added: “ This is one particular concrete way in investing in human capital because [S&T] is a very important part of life and in our development.

Therefore, we have to invest in [S&T] human resources.”

YES for a brighter future ahead in Philippine S&T

With the increasingly good track record of the Filipino youth in the field of mathematics and science internationally in a span of a decade, Biyo said in her speech: “This is an outlook that all of us in the science community are excited about as it gives us assurance that the future of S&T in this country is bright.”

The DOST and, in particular, the SEI, has always been aiming to create an environment where the youth has a heightened appreciation and consciousness of the value of S&T. De la Peña expressed optimism, saying “good signs are there.” He is pertaining to the full support of the Cabinet in the initiatives of the DOST, and foresees a consistent increase in the S&T budget.

“By the end of his [President Duterte] term, we hope to see our expenditures for research and development have gone up

significantly,” de la Peña added.

He is also hopeful of the increase in human resources involved in S&T research. “We also hope to reach the standard set

by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization [Unesco], which is around 380 persons working in R&D [research and development] per million [population]. We are still less than 200 [R&D persons per million population].”

Although the number of Philippines’s R&D workers is more than half of the Unesco standard, de la Peña said SEI is investing and hoping to increase the current number of science R&D people in the country. He said, “This is, of course, going to be complemented also by the initiatives of the private sector.”

De la Peña is hoping that more students will continue to be inspired to compete and bring more honor for the country, and see more YES awardees in the coming years.

“We all love our country and we want to project a good image of our country,” de la Peña told the BusinessMirror. He added, “Some day, they [YES awardees] will be the potential Nobel prize w inners and t here’s not hing wrong in aiming for that.”

esearchers at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and four other universities in Southeast Asia can now apply for the Dissertation Doctorate Program for Agriculture and Natural Resources at Tokyo University of Agriculture (Nodai) in Japan.

The dissertation doctorate scholarship is a joint project of Tokyo Nodai and the Southeast Asian University Consortium (UC) for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources, whose secretariat is the Philippine governmenthosted Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca).

The scholarship is also open to researchers working full time at UPLB, Universiti Putra Malaysia in Malaysia, Universitas Gadjah Mada and Institut Pertanian Bogor in Indonesia and Kasetsart University in Thailand.

All five are founding members of the UC. To be eligible, the applicants must hold a master’s degree in agriculture or related fields and published three peerreviewed scientific papers in scholarly journals, and have made a substantial progress in a research project that will deserve a dissertation doctorate. The scholarship provides funds for research, as well as annual travel to and accommodation at Tokyo Nodai for one month, to consult with their assigned academic adviser in order to complete their research within the threeyear scholarship duration.

Applications must be sent to Los Baños-based Searca not later than March 2017.

T he scholarship is one of the many academic grants prov ided by the UC. Searca initiated the UC in 1989 to pursue agr icu ltura l human-resource development in Southeast A sia by link ing top agr icu ltura l universities in the reg ion to facilitate free exchange of infor mation, facilities and ex per tise.

Tok yo Nodai is a UC associate member, while Universit y of Br itish Columbia in Canada and Georg-Aug ust Universit y of Hohenheim in Ger many are affiliate members.

3 math geniuses repeat 2016 feat at 2017 PHL Olympiad

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Albert John Patupat (center) of De La Salle University Integrated School won the top prize in this year’s 19th Philippine Mathematical Olympiad, while Kyle Patrick Dulay (second from left) of Philippine Science High School-Main Campus bagged the first runner-up, and Farrell Eldrian Wu (second from right) of MGC New Life Christian Academy was adjudged second runner-up.

Also in photo are Mathematical Society of the Philippines President Dr. Marian Roque (left) and DOST-SEI Division Chief Ruby Cristobal. S&T News Service

ast year’s top 3 winners at the Philippine Mathematical Olympiad (PMO) reclaimed their top posts as the best of this year’s crop albeit different rankings during the final competition held at the University of the Philippines (UP) School of Labor and Industrial Relations Auditorium, UP Diliman, Quezon City, on January 21.

Albert John Patupat of De La Salle University Integrated School, last year’s second runner-up, claimed the top spot at the 19th PMO, besting two of the country’s math geniuses.

Patupat was followed by Kyle Patrick D ulay of Philippine S cience High School-Main Campus (first runner up) and Farrell Eldrian Wu of MGC New Life Christian Academy (second runnerup). They comprised the top 3 of the competition for t wo straight years.

Patupat won P20,000 cash prize, trophy

and gifts from Sharp Calculators. Dulay received P15,000 cash prize, while Wu got P10,000, along with trophies and gifts from Sharp Calculators.

The three winners were all members of the national team in last year ’s International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), where Dulay and Wu won for the country its first gold medals along with two silvers, one of which was won by Patupat. Four-thousand five-hundred thirty-three students from all over the country participated in the qualifying stage held in October last year, of which 212 were selected to proceed in the area stage held in various regional testing centers in November 2016.

Th e P M O, t h e o l d e s t a n d m o s t challenging mathematics competition in the countr y, is organized by the Mathematical Society of the Philippines (MSP) in partnership with the Department

of S cience and Technology-S cience Education Institute (DOST-SEI).

S E I D i r e c t o r D r. J o s e t t e B i y o congratulated the winners, as well as the finalists from the 212 high-school students who qualified in the area stages.

B i y o re m i n d e d t h e f i n a l i s t s t o make use of their talents in serving as “ambassadors of mathematics” among the youth, as the subject remains feared despite its increasing importance in other fields and in development.

“As part of the millennial generation, it is important that you serve as promoters of the field of mathematics among your peers. Most people remain intimidated by the field that you enjoy and love, and one of the ways to change that is for you to become active ambassadors of mathematics, at least within your circles,” she said.

She added that for the Philippines to

catch up to developed countries, its human resources would need improved capability in math and sciences.

“The emergence of the concepts, such as big data and the Internet of Things; the increased impor tance of algorithms, intelligent and smart systems in businesses; and the inevitability of stronger and innovative designs and infrastructure in all the global industries of today, makes mathematics even more important,” Biyo said.

The winners, together with the 19 other PMO finalists, will undergo training during the summer for the final selection of the members of the national team that will compete in the 58th International Mathematical Olympiad to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from July 12 to 23. The training will be held in parts from February until July, and shall be organized by MSP and its partners. S&T Media Service

Tourism&Entertainment BusinessMirror

Editor: Carla Mortel-Baricaua

Sunday, February 5, 2017 A7

Isabela’s resiliency portrayed by ‘bambanti’

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Story & photos by Euden Valdez

he Philippines has proven time and again that it is a resilient country, one that is able to rise from different adversities and recover from natural calamities.

This trait as a nation, the province of Isabela has recently showcased in a local level. After suffering a P4.7-billion loss in agriculture due to Supertyphoon Lawin in October 2016, it has now gotten back up on its feet to show—not just the world but the “universe”— the best it has to offer.

From January 23 to 28, the country’s second-largest province has successfully staged the 2017 Bambanti Festival with the theme “Isabela para sa Daigdig” (Isabela for the Universe). The event has gathered its municipalities and cities to participate at various contests and exhibitions held at the provincial capitol compound in Ilagan City.

Timely and fitting

Indeed, the 2017 Bambanti Festival is a timely celebration of Isabela’s inspiring recovery from the devastation of Lawin. At a press briefing among the national media invited to cover the festival, Vice G o v. A nton io A l ba no e xpressed, “Barely three months after [Lawin], we are so proud to showcase Isabela as a province that has already rebounded. If you actually go to those places, you will not see that it is hit by a Category 5 typhoon that reached up to 350 kilometers per hour.”

As proof, some badly hit towns, like Cabagan and Tumauini, were already able to compete at the festival and even bag awards. Cabagan dancers placed third in the hip hop dance showdown, while Tumauini topped in the inabraw (local dish) culinary contest.

According to the vice governor, who also served as festival director general, this is the very essence of

A meaningful Valentine at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila

Energetic performances during the festival’s street-dance competition.

The winning booth of San Agustin featured the nuang (carabao or buffalo), and sold carved carabao souvenirs and fresh carabao milk.

The larger-than-life scarecrows are made of ecological materials like this wooden masterpiece.

Isabela Vice Gov. Antonio Albano flanked by Miss Earth 2016 Katherine Espin (left) and Miss Earth-Philippines Loren Artajos, who served as special guests of the 2017 Bambanti Festival.

A grand musical production made livelier by the participation of the festival street dancers.

the festival’s icon, the bambanti, which is actually a scarecrow.

“In the beginning, the concept of the bambanti was that it was here to protect us,” Albano said.

“Now, we also want to show you that the bambanti is strong and resilient. That [just like the bambanti], we [Isabeleños] will be able to always rise above whatever tragedies we face.”

showdown. Good-looking and talented Isabeleños faced each for the festival king and queen titles, won in the end by the pair from Roxas.

Another much-awaited festivity organized yearly is the Bambanti Village, where all of the 34 municipalities of Isabela are tasked to build their own agri-ecotourism booths.

“Each town, through ecological type of materials, has built beautiful cottages, where you will be able to buy the types of products that they sell inside,” Albano noted.

In the booth of San Agustin, the Nuang (Carabao) capital, carved mini carabaos were sold as souvenirs alongside fresh carabao milk.

Look outside and a real carabao stands outside. Cabagan was proud to serve its iconic Pancit Cabagan, while Cabatuan its delectable rice cakes. Outside each booth, a giant bambanti looms over, bringing

the province, which is a leading producer of rice and corn in the Philippines. A booming eco-power industr y is just one of the tangible benefits Isabeleños have welcomed.

Albano cited the Green Futures Innovations Inc. the Mindanao Grains Processing Inc., and the SN Aboitiz Power Group as three of the largest investors in producing sustainable energy from natural resources and even agricultural by products.

Also in focus at the festival is Isabela’s eco-tourism effort, which is poised to open unspoiled destinations with the upcoming completion of a highway that connects Ilagan City to three coastal municipalities bounded by the Sierra Madre mountain range.

Once the road is accessible, tourists will now able to visit Divilacan’s Honeymoon Island, which is currently being put up

A grand staging

In return, the local government led by Gov. Faustino Dy III left no stones unturned in staging the grandest Bambanti Festival for the resilient Isabeleños. First, each participating town was granted a P100,000 incentive for them to compete in the five major events.

Giving their all-out effort in the high-octane street dance performance, Quirino’s contingent emerged victorious, while Alicia’s topped the festival dance

Investment and ecotourism

On a larger scale, the Bambanti Festival has also been credited for attracting new investors to

with a tropical-themed resort by a private company. In the middle of this heart-shaped island is a blue lagoon. At Maconacon, the Lobster Capital of Isabela, savor only the freshest seafood.

Last at Palanan, reconnect with nature because here lies one of the oldest and most biodiverse rainforests in Asia.

“Palanan Wilderness, Northeast Luzon encompasses 200,000 hectares of prime virgin forest, revealing 10 percent of the country’s protected woodlands,” as stated in Unesco in which the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park is on the tentative list of World Heritage Sites.

More important, Albano promised that all the developments, which are part of Isabela Coastal Development Authority, will ensure the preservation of the natural environment and protection of the ancestral domains.

Isla de Sta. Cruz to get a facelift

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elebrate love and create a meaningful Valentine as Marco Polo Ortigas Manila fill the love month with nothing more than the most delightful and lovely gifts for all couples. Have a great escape and appreciate moments together with an overnight stay in a Superior or Premier Room with breakfast and dinner for two at Cucina.

Make it even more special with an exclusive romantic overnight stay in a Continental Deluxe Room or Superior Suite with breakfast for two at the Continental Club Lounge and a Valentine’s dinner at Cucina. A special set up with flowers awaits couples who wish to dine in the comfort of their suites for a more romantic suite Valentine to remember.

Dine and unwind for a delightful lunch and receive a special red rose with a heart-shaped chocolate at P3,000 for two persons. Opt for a romantic evening dinner with the same special gifts, paired with two glasses of Rosé at P5,888. Bring in three couple friends and enjoy a Valentine’s group dinner package that comes with a bottle of Rosé.

Let your hearts soar in the sky and celebrate the lovely day with the lovely partner at Vu’s Sky Bar and Lounge. Enjoy a tapas buffet with a Valentine’s drink for P2,600 on February 14.

A romantic evening with the Manila skyline is perfect to keep the butterflies.

There’s nothing sweeter than giving a gift of pure indulgence. Relax and enjoy the company of each other with Flow Spa’s two hour and 30 minute Perfect Pair package combination of body scrub, body massage and an Algotherm facial. Relive special memories and laughter with complimentary glasses of wine to be served before or after the treatment, available for the whole month of February.

protection and bidding good luck for its people. This year creativity went to the next level. Standing side to side were Voltes V and Optimus Prime scarecrows. Also spotted were larger-than-life Miss Universe-inspired bambantis— talk about timely.

The winning booth was that of San Agustin, while the Roxas Bambanti was adjudged as the best. Still from the local government, a high-production musical was staged on the evening of Januar y 28, followed by a grand fireworks display. Finally, a concert featuring ABS-CBN divas Yeng Constantino, Angeline Quinto, KZ Tandingan and Kyla culminated the 2017 Bambanti Festival on a high note.

The Great Santa Cruz Island

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ourism Secretary Wand a C or a z o n T. Te o i s thrilled over the inclusion of the Great Santa Cruz Island (also called Isla de Santa Cruz) in Zamboanga City on the list of the 21 Best Beaches in the World by the international publication National Geographic.

“We are so proud about this citation and happy about its very timely announcement, which comes right after our visit last December when I had pushed for the island ’s immediate improvement and development as an ecotourism destination,” the secretary said.

The Great Santa Cruz Island used to be under the supervision of Department of Tourism’s (DOT) implementing arm for infrastructure, the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA), now named as Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority

(Tieza). In 2011 it was turned over to the local government under the City Tourism Office, Protected Management Unit.

The DOT chief has instructed DOT Region 9 Director Antonio Blanco to coordinate with Tieza to assist the local government in undertaking facilities upgrade, provision of additional cottages and offering more nature-based recreational activities. “ T he planned development will highlight its conservation and preservation, it being a protected area. Nonetheless, the outcome should enable locals and foreign visitors alike to enjoy the island’s beauty but still strictly maintaining it as a day destination. We would like to attract genuine ecotourists as they take ‘responsible, ethical and sustainable tourism’ to heart,” Teo said.

On its web site (www.nationalgeographic.com), National Geo-

graphic said, “Hardly lacking in gorgeous beaches, the Philippines claims a pink-sand variety, too. The blush color comes from billions of pieces of crushed red organ-pipe coral, seen in every handful of sand. The number of visitors to the island is regulated, and advance arrangements should be made through the tourist office in Zamboanga.”

The other beaches cited on the list are: Playa del Amor on Marietas Islands in Mexico; Cathedrals Beach in Ribadeo, Spain; Anse Source d’Argent in La Digue, Seychelles; One Foot Island on Aitutaki, Cook Islands; Sunset Beach on Brunswick Islands, North Carolina; Lazy Beach on Koh Rong Island, Cambodia; Bowman’s Beach on Sanibel Island, Florida; Shell Beach in Shark Bay, Western Australia; Lyme Regis in England; Cannon Beach in Oregon; Carmel City Beach in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California; Noordwjk Beach in the Netherlands; Papakolea Beach in Hawaii; Reynisfjara Beach in Iceland; Pelican Beach in South Water Caye, Belize; Blue Bay in Mauritius; Cas Abao Beach in Curacao; Sleeping Bear Point in Sleeping Bear Dunes, Michigan; Piscinas Beach in Arbus, Sardinia; and Corniche Beach in La TesteDe-Buch, France.

The Philippines was also part of National Geographic’s List of Top Destinations for 2016. (http://www. nationalgeographic.com/travel/ best-trips-2016).

Jaytee’s Restaurant, which serves traditionally prepared Filipino cuisine, was one of the 40 participating restaurants at Tagaytay Degustation.

Food prowling at Tagaytay

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T’S a gastronomic field day at Tagaytay City, as its local tourism council and Tagaytay Chefs Society stages on December 3, 2016, the first-ever culinary Tagaytay Degustation, a food-tasting event to promote Tagaytay as a dining destination.

Forty homegrown restaurants in the city showcased an array of chefs signature dishes that quite resembled a miniature Mercato, and which, a habitué or not (with most of the visitors either coming from around these parts or Manila), gives one every reason (other than good weather and panoramic view) to go and back to Tagaytay: Amira’s Buco Tart Haus, Bayani Tapsi, Bells Whistles, Bag of Beans, Owen Sophia, RSM, Bali Seafood, Jaytee’s Filipino Cui-

sine, Green Olive Café, Diner’s Bulalo, Casa Maria y Martha, Buon Giorno!, Nurture Wellness Village, HD Pahimis, Wild Juan, Siglo, Carmela’s, Sisterfields, Summit Ridge, Laura, Red Bus and Imelda’s Kitchen, among others.

A prelude to something bigger, the food carnival was organized to entice, a catapult to kick off Tagay tay’s tour ism events at the pipeline. The gastronomictourism event was also staged to acknowledge and recognize a bevy of relatively young chefs who work in Tagaytay, and has made the city tick as a food hub and dining destination. Aside from an experience of Tagaytay’s best dishes, bazaar booths, where guests availed themselves of a gamut of souvenirs, were opened.

A8 Sunday, February 5, 2017

Sports

BusinessMirror

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

BROKEN DREAM LADY SPIKERS START TITLE-RETENTION BID D

EFENDING champion De La Salle opens its title-retention bid against its Final Four rival last year, Far Eastern University (FEU), in the second day of Season 79 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s volleyball action today at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

Game time is 4 p.m. Interestingly, De La Salle and FEU are opening the season against each other for the third straight year—and the Lady Spikers won all three.

University of the Philippines (UP) also begins its 79 campaign against an intriguing Adamson University side at 2 p.m.

“We will approach this game very

EXPECT Kim Fajardo to pour her all for a rebuilding De La Salle side.

cautiously because they have a new coach,” said UP Head Coach Jerry Yee, referring to Airess Padda, who is now handling Adamson University. “I’m sure she has a different style from what we’ve seen before, for sure they would be faster and more lively. So we must be careful.”

For being in a “been there, done that” situation the third time around, FEU Head Coach Shaq de los Santos wants his wards—bannered by Remy Palma, Bernadeth Pons, Kyle Negrito, Chin Basas and Jerrili Malabanan—to churn in a different result this time.

“This is the third straight year that we are facing La Salle on opening day so we should take it as big challenge and change the result from the last three years,” saidde los Santos, whose Lady Tams rendered naught the Lady Spikers’ twice-to-beat advantage last season.

De La Salle is aware how dangerous an intact FEU squad could become.

“All teams are very dangerous and FEU is one of them,” said skipper and playmaker Kim Fajardo, who decided to play her fifth and final year of eligibility. “They are a complete team although they lost their veteran setter, Gyzelle Sy.” Fajardo, a two-time UAAP Best Setter, ranks high on Head Coach Ramil de Jesus rotation. The team is in a rebuilding stage following the graduation of Ara Galang, Cyd Demecillo, Mika Reyes, Carol Cerveza and Mika Reyes. Eli Soyud has also transferred to Adamson University and is completing her residency.

“Obviously, our team is new and young but our fighting spirit from last year still remains. We won the championship last year, the fight for back-to-back remains,” Fajardo said.

In men’s action, Adamson University and UP clash at 8 a.m., while La Salle and FEU take the floor at noon.

Lance Agcaoili

The decision to withdraw from the qualifying generated backlash from players and fans, but the head of the Guam Football Associated said that it would cost around $1.2 million to compete in the six qualifying games.

By John Duerden The Associated Press

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ESS than two years after the team from tiny Guam drew international attention in the qualifying tournament for the 2018 World Cup, the football story in the northern Pacific island has turned to one of broken dreams.

Prior to June 2015, the United States territory, which joined Fifa only in 1996, had lost its only two World Cup qualifiers with a combined score of 35-0.

Then, with the space of five days, Guam beat Turkmenistan and India to temporarily top an Asian qualifying group containing Iran and Oman and jumped to No. 146 in Fifa’s rankings, its highestever place.

The results also earned Guam—for the first time—a spot in the final round of qualification for the Asian Cup, to be held in 2019. But that opportunity is gone.

Guam Football Associated (GFA) Chief Executive Richard Lai last month blamed a lack of funding when he announced the decision to withdraw from the continental tournament.

So when the draw was

made last week, Nepal slotted into Guam’s allocated spot and ended up in Group F with the Philippines, Tajikistan and Yemen. The winners and runners-up in all six groups will advance to the Asian Football Confederation Cup in the United Arab Emirates in 2019.

The decision to withdraw from the qualifying generated backlash from players and fans, but Lai told The Associated Press that it would cost around $1.2 million to compete in the six qualifying games and “We just don’t have the money.”

He said many of the players are based in the US and the cost of flying them into and out of Guam and setting up training camps drives up the costs for an Football Association with little sponsorship, broadcasting revenue or government support.

“There is no sports ministry here to support the team [and] every NGO [non-governmental organizations] here has to be selfsustaining,” Lai said. “The Fifa grants come with conditions regarding women’s football and youth football and facilities. We can’t keep investing all we have in the national team only.”

The federation said it plans to focus on Guam’s youngsters in the hope

‘Rise of the Next Champions’ set in GenSan’s Lagao Gym

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he explosive inaugural boxing show for this year by Sanman Promotions will be held on February 26 at the Lagao Gym in General Santos City.

“It will also be officially part of the annual Kalilangan Festival celebration by the city,” said promoter Jim Claude Manangquil, CEO of the Sanman Promotions.

The boxing card, dubbed as the “Rise of the Next Champions”, was first scheduled on February 25.

“We had to change the venue to Lagao Gym because the SM Convention Center could only accommodate around 800 people and that will not be enough,” Manangquil said. Lagao Gym, which is ran by the city government, could accommodate at least 5,000 people.

“This is still free to the public so fight fans should not miss this world-class boxing.”

Manangquil said.

The boxing card will have four regional championships, including an International Boxing Federation (IBF) World Youth super flyweight title fight. It will start at 5 p.m. following the amateur fights slated at 1 p.m.

Undefeated Jade Bornea (six wins, four knockouts) of the Sanman-Amoy Stable will face

it will pay dividends in the future.

“We can develop more and better players, help more go to the US and improve, then we can play friendlies against teams, like Thailand and Singapore, and start generating revenue,” Lai said.

Jason Cunliffe, who was captain of the national team, said he was upset when he found out through the media that Guam had withdrawn from the Asian Cup. “The money is there. I think maybe not all of it was there immediately but there was a way,” he said. “We’ve known since March that we had reached this stage of qualification and we were told to prepare. There has been no effort from the GFA to raise funds.”

Lai “and everyone else have done a good job in the past but we can’t rest on our laurels,” he said.

“We no longer have faith in the decision-makers.”

Gary White, who was the Guam coach in 2015 before leaving in 2016 to take over Chinese club Shanghai Shenxin, said the success came from administrators and players “pulling together.”

“I had support from the federation and the commitment from the players.”

White said. “There is enough leadership both in the GFA and among the players that they will get back on track.”

For Lai, the last World Cup campaign was a special situation for the island of 165,000 people.

“We wanted

to see were we stood, to measure our development 20 years after joining Fifa,” he said. “What we achieved was phenomenal but now we have no savings.

Withdrawing was a hard decision but was really our only option—better to withdraw before the start than halfway through.”

Cunliffe believes his squad could have finished in the top 2 in qualifying and reached the Asian Cup for the first time.

“The opportunity was there to put our island on the map,” he said. “But that opportunity that the players gave everything to earn has been taken away. Not by someone else but by our own federation and that is hard for us to swallow.”

Raul “Vulcan”Yu (nine wins, one loss, two draws, eight KOs) of the ALA Stable from Cebu for the vacant IBF World Youth super-flyweight title.

The other title fights will feature three new Sanman fighters Eden “Sanman” Sonsona (35-6-2, 12 KOs), Ben Mananquil (12-1-2, three KOs) and Lolito “Thunder Shot” Sonsona (20-1-4-, nine KOs).

Eden, a former WBC International Silver super-featherweight champion, will face Jovany Rota (9-9-0, six KOs) for the World Boxing Federation (WBF) International superfeatherweight crown, while his younger brother Lolito Sonsona of Soong stable takes on former Philippine light-flyweight champion Renren Tesorio for the WBF Asia super-flyweight title.

Mananquil, on the other hand, will face former WBO Asia bantamweight champion Glenn “The Rock” Porras (29-5-0, 17 KOs) for the WBF International bantamweight crown.

Alex “Little Rock” Silva sets his goal high.

ENGAGED

Roseann Sdoia, who lost her leg in the Boston Marathon bombing, is now engaged to the firefighter who saved her, Mike Materia.

They got engaged during a trip to Nantucket last December.

Sdoia was standing near the finish line during the 2013 Boston Marathon when the bombs went off, badly mangling her leg. Materia rushed to help her, and stayed with her on the ride to the hospital. He continued to visit her in intensive care and they struck up a friendship. Two months after the bombing, they went on their first date.

They plan to marry this fall and are releasing a book next month, titled Perfect Strangers, about four people affected by the bombing. AP

Brazilian Silva motivated to get crack at world title

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N the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA), every fighter dreams of becoming a world champion because it signifies that they have reached the pinnacle of success.

Competitors invest blood, sweat and tears to achieve the ultimate career-defining moment of having a gold-plated strap wrapped around their waists and hearing the announcer declare their names as champions.

Like any other professional MMA competitor, Brazilian fighter Alex “Little Rock” Silva has the same desire of becoming a world champion in the sport.

According to the 34-year-old submission specialist, winning an MMA world title is what keeps him focused and motivated to continue the intensive work at the gym.

“My goal is to be champion. I know where I am right now and where I will be in the future. That’s why I am taking it one fight at a time and continuing the hard work in

training. I will just be focusing on reaching my goal regardless whom I face inside the cage,” he said.

Widely recognized as one of the best strawweight combatants in One Championship today, Silva is riding high on a three-fight winning streak.

Silva has the opportunity to cement his status as the next contender for the One Strawweight World Championship if he will play his cards right against Filipino stalwart Roy Doliguez.

Both men are set to collide on the undercard of One: Throne of Tigers, which takes place at the 12,000-capacity Stadium Negara in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on February10.

Silva believes that a convincing victory over Doliguez will put him closer to a date with current titleholder Yoshitaka Naito as his opponent once vied for the ONE Strawweight World Championship.

A9 Sunday, February 5, 2017

RegionsSunday BusinessMirror

Editor: Efleda P. Campos

1st Smarter City in PHL and Ideal City of the North Story and photos by Leonardo Perante II | Correspondent

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URING the Stone Age, nearly 25,999 years ago, early settlers in Northern Philippines, including what we now call as Cauayan City, were dark-skinned and kinky-haired pygmies.

Before 300 BC, Indo-Malay expeditions of the founding forefathers of Cauayan arrived, among them the Gaddang tribe.

Cauayan used to be a part of the vast Cagayan province, until it was transferred administratively when Nueva Vizcaya was created as a separate province in 1839. On May 1, 1856, the province of Isabela was created by a royal decree. Cauayan was again administratively transferred to Isabela. Founded in 1740, Cauayan is established ahead of Isabela by 116 years.

The town site was first located in Calanusian, along the Cagayan River. After a series of landslides, the town site was finally moved to its present location. It was baptized Cauayan after kawayan, a Gaddang term for bamboo, an indigenous grass growing enormously wild along riverbanks.

The municipality of Cauayan was converted into a component city by virtue of Republic Act 9017 signed by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, with incumbent Mayor Faustino Dy III that time as the first city mayor. A plebiscite on March 30, 2001, overwhelmingly ratified Cauayan as a component city of Isabela.

Cauayan City could be reached by land, with major bus lines and utility vehicles plying a well-paved route.

Cebu Pacific provides a faster direct flight from Manila, while Cyclone Airways provides air services to the coastal towns of Isabela.

The Department of Science and Technology has recognized Cauayan City as among the fastest-growing economies in Cagayan Valley, and dubbed it “The First Smarter City in the Philippines”. This recognition has enabled Cauayan City to be showcased as a Smarter City during a Summit of Smarter City Leaders in Singapore and Malaysia.

“With the vision to be a digitally connected city, Cauayan City is the first in the Philippines to have free public Wi-fi and installed LED screens, which are innovative tools for promotion and information dissemination. We will soon be the ‘First Fiber City in the Philippines’ in order to efficiently implement digital solutions to the social needs of the people,” Cauayan City Mayor Bernard Faustino M. Dy said.

The city has strengthened its scholarship program by extending educational support to college students under full scholarship and academic program. It also provides an athletic scholarship program and caters to the needs of students, especially out-of-school youths who have the potential in sports.

“Our distribution of school bags and school supplies for students in public schools has always been sustainable, where we have a total of 29,106 school materials distributed in all villages,” Dy said.

The City Mobile Library has become more effective and efficient in promoting education and computer literacy in all schools and villages with its increased Internet connectivity. Cauayan City leads in partnership with other municipalities in the province in order to strengthen the implementation of extending health care to the different sectors of the community, as mandated by the Department of Health.

“We created additional Rural Health Units to serve more people in need of health care, also with the implementation of nutrition programs,” Dy further said.

A STATUE of the patron saint of Cauayan City, Our Lady of the Pillar (OLP), stands atop a candle house beside the OLP Cathedral.

CAUAYAN City Mayor Bernard Faustino Dy smiles as he welcomes visitors beside the city’s booth showcasing a tricycle figure at the village depicting the Bambanti Festival 2017, after the city was declared by the Guinness Book of World Records as holder of the title of “Longest Parade of Tricycles”.

A PICKUP truck traverses a well-paved, farm-to-market road via a verdant corn plantation toward Cauayan City’s forest region.

FRAMED by preserved old trees at the Hacienda San Luis in Cauayan is the Cagayan River, which provides irrigation to nearby farms.

THE SM City in Cauayan is another supermall attraction in the city.

THE tallest grass has been described as older than the prehistoric discovery of the Philippines when Gaddang tribes used bamboos growing enormously along the riverside to build their huts as they settled in a place eventually called kawayan, a Gaddang term for bamboo.

CAUAYAN City could be reached by land, with major bus lines and utility vehicles plying a well-paved route. Cebu Pacific provides a faster direct flight from Manila, while Cyclone Airways provides air-transport services to the coastal towns of Isabela.

A Food Bank serves like a soup kitchen and as a depository bank for perishable goods. Five days before they expire, canned goods shall be deposited by food distributors to the food bank, so they may be given a corresponding tax credit.

Another milestone achieved in partnership with the Philippine Sports Commission and the provincial government of Isabela was the hosting of the Walk a Mile for Senior Citizens with more than 1,000 elderly people, the largest number of participants.

To increase the physical presence of the Philippine National Police, the city government provided two mobile patrol cars in addition to Special Weapons and Tactics

production in the villages, the city nursery was able to produce thousands of assorted vegetable seedlings, which were distributed to households as part of the Gulayan sa Barangay project.

“To provide assistance to our micro, small and medium enterprises, we have institutionalized our Go Negosyo Center and City Showroom in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry. Malls, like SM City, and other popular food chains cater to both residents and visitors from nearby towns,” he said.

“One of our banner celebrations is the grand opening of Hacienda de San Luis, our newest attraction and our first ecotourism park, one of the major accomplishments un-

(SWAT) and Special Reaction Unit, as it aims toward the eradication of crime in the city.

“We have institutionalized our City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office [CDRRMO] equipped with new CCTV [closedcurcuit television] monitors and advanced equipment to enable immediate response to emergencies and disasters,” the mayor said.

The CDRRMO is one of the most effective implementing arms of the city government with respect to emergency and disaster response, as it has been declared as a Hall-ofFame award winner of the National Gawad Kalasag for Best Government Emergency Response Management.

With the aim to sustain vegetable

der the Public-Private Partnership Program. We opened and restored old structures of the Spanish era for the enjoyment of the public, particularly the City Museum, which contains artifacts and pictures. This is to show the history of Cauayan, as well as Tabacalera’s tobacco industry,” he said.

The celebration also marked another milestone for Cauayan City, after it was declared by the Guinness Book of World Records as holder of the “Longest Parade of Tricycles”.

“As part of our innovations in governance, we will also enhance our citizen’s identification to be GCash-enabled for moneyless transaction,” he said. “For a more effective

and efficient governance, we will enhance the use of information and communications technology in the implementation of our basic social services through the establishment of Tech4Ed Centers in the villages,” he added.

“The city has been continuously strengthening its efforts in roadconstruction projects. To keep close monitoring of peace and order within the city, we installed additional state-of-the-art CCTV cameras and streetlights,” he said.

“With all these modern-day digital trends and sustainable developments, we believe soon, we fully realize our vision of making Cauayan City an ‘Ideal City of the North,” he said.

RegionsSunday

A10 Sunday, February 5, 2017 • www.businessmirror.com.ph

BusinessMirror

Olongapo tames down its sound, but keeps rocking

Magsaysay Drive at night: Restrained sights and sounds, but keeps on rocking.

Story and photos by Henry Empeño | Correspondent

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LONGAPO CITY—Of course, there will be no comparing Magsaysay Drive today to the time when it was a raucous playground for US military servicemen on liberty.

Back then, the length of this kilometer strip connecting Olongapo to the Subic Naval Base pulsed with blinking neon invitations for booze and girls, and the sound of rock ’n’ roll in its rawest form largely provided the nervous energy that radiated out into the streets. But 25 years after the American GIs had left, the street that made Olongapo “the city that never sleeps” still rocks, although with a restrained visage that still entertains, but never in excess.

At half past 8 last Sunday evening and despite an uncharacteristic drizzle, a steady stream of customers entered Willis Concert Bar on Magsaysay Drive here.

The predominantly Pinoy barkada crowd, sprinkled with some young South Koreans, listened approvingly, as the five-man band obliged with mostly mellow-rock requested songs. From a cover of Harem Scarem’s “Honestly”, the band progressed to Hinder’s “Lips of an Angel,” and segued for the final rendition of Yano’s “Banal na Aso….” And the crowd erupted into whistles and cheers.

This scenario could very be the norm at the top-rated music establishments on Magsaysay Drive today, where blaring heavy-metal rock has been largely supplanted by the calmer sound of acoustic guitar and beat box.

At the nearby Brews Bistro, another five-man band initially belted out Kool & the Gang’s orgiastic anthem of “Celebration” and the Pointer Sisters’s infectious “I’m So Excited ” groove, but then soon mellowed down into classic hits by the soft music duo The Car penters and the countr y-pop soloist Lobo.

Even at the youth-watering hole of Padi’s Point, where teenagers in jerseys and ball caps down the heady gin-pomelo mix from tower dispensers and dance to tech-house mixes during breaks, the main repertoire was unabashedly slow rock and folksy: Oasis’s “Champagne Supernova” and the OPMs (Original Pilipino Music)

“Pansamantala” and “Pangako”.

What has happened?

Singers and listeners alike observe the taming of the so-called ’Gapo sound has been set into motion by audience preference.

As US military servicemen in the late-1960s and early-1970s drowned out the horrors of the Vietnam War with the so-called acid rock, workers who took their place in the emerging Subic Bay Freeport switched to softer music that relaxed them after work.

The instance the Americans left, the culture changed. And t his pl ace where roc k bands played to overflowing audience at Sierra Club, Cal Jam, Rock Trax and Genesis—establishments that were the buzz words among American sailors, as well as base workers—ceased to be the same.

Noel de la Rosa, a restaurant manager in a hotel at the Subic Bay Freeport and a regular music bargoer, said most of the Magsaysay clientele today who work in the free-port zone prefer acoustic bars, where they can talk with their drinking companions while keeping the music in the background.

“That’s why some bars lost their customers when they began using drum sets and electric guitars,” de la Rosa said. “There’s a significant sector of the younger ones, who prefer techno and disco music, so they go to Club V or to Noctunal [which are basically disco houses].”

DJs Tommy G and Rhon, who both anchor music programs over dwSB-FM, or the Subic Bay Radio, also agree the local music-entertainment scene has evolved over the years, and is way far different from its rock ’n’ roll roots.

“It’s still Western-influenced, because the local audience on the average prefers what’s the latest hits, but it’s now mostly American Top 40,” DJ Tommy said.

“But when there’s a really hot OPM number, grabe ’yung flooding ng requests. So it’s a mix really. Kung ano ’yung latest, ’yun ang tinatangkilik.”

Classic pop songs at Brews Bistro

A singer belts out the Pinoy rock anthem “Banal na Aso” at Willis Concert Bar.

DJ Rhon observed a lot of listeners prefer OPM love songs, particularly those popularized by singer-actresses or by noted Filipino bands. She said this trend in the radio could also be the case for live music bars in Olongapo: The audience simply wants to hear the latest.

The preference for new songs and music and the departure from the rock ’n’ roll genre, however, have taken a toll among local musicians, said Art Acosta, a local folk singer who started out in 1985 from singing at pizza houses on Magsaysay that flourished during the American years.

“Endangered species na kami ngayon, kasi wala nang sumusunod sa yapak namin,” the 50-year-old Acosta said. “Nang umalis ang mga Amerikano, nawala na rin unti-unti ang folk music.”

Not ing Olongapo music is steeped in the American tradition of folk and rock, he said this has given Olongapo its distinct sound.

Acosta said because of this influence, Olongapo has become the proving ground where a lot of Pinoy “wannabe” singers earned their spurs before they galloped into fame and popularity elsewhere.

A young folk group makes new waves at Sam’s Pizza.

Folk-rock and gin-pomelo drinks at Padi’s Point

Time for a slow-rock number.

This was true, Acosta said, of a lot of performers, with the likes of Freddie Aguilar and Arnel Pineda, and big Pinoy bands like Maria Cafra and Juan dela Cruz.

Acosta said embracing the latest trends had only diminished the identity of local musicians and diluted their mark in the music scene. “The so-called acoustic music now is not the authentic folk that we knew of. They’re only labeled as acoustic now because they use acoustic, instruments— like using guitar instead of the original piano,” Acosta said.

As of now, Acosta added that very few singers do folk music the way it was intended to be. “Hindi mo na ito makikita pa sa Magsaysay.” But that, he added, is also the beauty of it—the loyal followers of authentic folk seek him and his kind. “Hindi mga bagong kanta ang market namin, kundi ‘yung classic songs. Hindi ito naluluma kasi luma na.”

Different strokes

W H AT m ay be good about t he e volut ion of t he M a g s ay s ay sou nd i s it h a s brou g ht about t he emergence of va r i a nts f rom t he roc k ’n’ rol l root s

t h at su ited t he m i xed t a stes of tod ay’s aud iences and, t hus, helped keep Olongapo roc k ing u nt i l t h i s ver y d ay.

Ironically, DJ Tommy said, the demise of American rock from the local music scene has not diminished the number of patrons on Magsaysay Drive; the numbers even increased.

“The good-timers during that time were American sailors, and so they were here only when the ships were in,” DJ Tommy said.

“Now, the customers are workers at the free port who live here, and, thus, go to their favorite establishments by the herd— that is, they bring their friends or family members over.”

The adoption of various musical genres has also resulted in the formation of more local bands, he added. “Right now, we have several young bands considered the best in their respective fields.

There’s One Way Street, for pop; Fundamentals, for pop and reggae; Brown Candles for reggae; Authentic for classic rock; and Dzyre, which is doing a mixed repertoire,” DJ Tommy said.

The continuing love for good music among t he habit ués

of Magsaysay Drive could be gleaned from the audience last Sunday at Sam’s Pizza Restaurant, a favorite family dining place among locals here.

Despite the continuing drizzle that night, diners still scrambled for seats until around 10 p.m. On stage, a young folk group dished out Ed Sheeran’s “Lego House” and Bob Marley’s “Waiting in Vain”, earning applause from young and old folks alike.

Then the Oldies But Goodies Band, an Olongapo original, took the next set and the audience erupted into applause as they started out with the immor ta l Elv is Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love”.

Soon, the audience, on their seat, was swaying to the beat of Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline”.

And not a few took out their cell phones and took pictures and video of the show.

After that, the place came even more alive with the Three Dog Night’s “Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog”, as well as with the Connie Francis original “Stupid Cupid”.

Sure, it was drizzling outside.

But with good friends, good food and good music, it was a good time.

RegionsSunday BusinessMirror

Editor: Efleda P. Campos • Sunday, February 5, 2017 A11

Coffee, a way of touching lives C

By Marilou Guieb | Correspondent

OFFEE has thrived for centuries in the Cordillera region. Stories go that some centuries-old coffee trees, particularly Arabica varieties, were planted as forced labor imposed by the Spanish authorities a long time ago when they ruled the country.

LIM shows a tin can of their special line of La Trinidad Arabica coffee as part of the FSCE program of the company to help raise funds for the improvement of farmers’ lives and coffee production. Each can can be bought for P250, and for every can bought P50 will be used to support their advocacy.

But whatever the story is, coffee, indeed, has come a long way from being a backyard commodity consumed ordinarily as the morning brew of the natives to a specialty coffee trying to make its way to both domestic and international markets.

For a few years now, the Cordillera region has been trying to make a headway onto making the highland-grown coffee into a viable economic venture for which the region can be known.

And while it might be easily identified as a project that must be undertaken by the Department of Agriculture (DA), now distributing as many seedlings to interested farmers, its measure of success is owed to an interagency endeavor, including a university and some farmers’ cooperatives.

The Department of Science and Technology has come up with equipment to facilitate the processing of coffee beans. A major leap to establishing a niche for coffee was done by the Department of Trade and Industry Regional Director Myrna Pablo, who has gone touring the coffee-producing towns; assisting them with packaging and marketing in trade fairs; establishing a coffee quality control facility at the Benguet State University coffee-plantation area; and eventually pushing for coffee to become the One Town, One Product of the region as a whole.

Now, the Department of Tourism has jumped onto the bandwagon, proposing a coffee pavilion to be established, strongly supported by the local government unit of La Trinidad by also planning on holding a coffee festival as one of the town’s attractions.

But if anything can attest to the potential of the region’s coffee to make it big in the market,

it is that world-known coffee companies are following the trail of the aroma of the highland brews leading to the direction of local coffee growers here.

One is the Henry and Sons Co. The company in the early-2000s became the first coffee-roasting company in the country to package coffee in tin cans with pull tabs, making locally manufactured coffee competitive with international brands, like Illy and Lavazza. The company also introduced the Draft Coffee System in 2015, pioneering then the nitro and cold brew coffee taste for Filipinos. It was also the first to provide coffee shops a steady supply of freshly roasted coffee beans.

Last November Henr y and Sons launched its Foundation for Sustainable Coffee Excellence (FSCE), established as part of its corporate social responsibility that will focus on the five major issues burdening coffee farmers and deterring them from producing more and better-quality coffee. The event, held at the La Trinidad municipal gym, was attended by no less than the company’s president, Michael Harris Lim. “Coffee consumption in the Philippines—especially specialty coffee—is enjoying a steady growth, and most establishments offering these products source their beans from abroad,” Lim said.

He reminded how the country was once a major producer in Asia, exporting as much as $100 million worth of coffee beans annually.

Somewhere along the way, problems besetting coffee producers have caused its losing its niche in the global market.

“We did a study to identify the biggest hindrances stopping our coffee farmers from growing su-

HENRY and Sons President Michael Harris Lim lights a torch with Department of Tourism Regional Director Venus Tan to formally launch the Foundation for Sustainable Coffee Excellence held at the La Trinidad Municipal Gym last November.

PART of the FSCE project of Henry and Sons Co. is the Wishing Well program, aimed at helping farming communities gain access to clean and potable water by using a solarpowered atmospheric water generator. This equipment will capture moisture in the air and convert this into purified water.

perior-quality coffee beans, and found these five issues. These issues stem from several problems that have been in existence for decades now; problems that could have been avoided had someone taken the time to address them earlier on. We feel very happy to be the ones to be addressing these issues,” Lim said.

The company has devised five programs to directly address the basic problems confronting the farmers, and these are not directly connected with the agricultural

aspect of planting the trees and nurturing them, but have something to do with some basic needs that can improve the quality of life of farmers. These five programs are called Giving Well, Beans for Little Ones, Coffee for Great Minds, Seed to Cup and Beans within Reach that will all be part of a Bloom 2017 package.

In essence, FSCE wishes to give coffee farmers potable water; saving their kids from common but serious diseases; a source of steady income until their coffee beans are

HENRY And Sons, through its FSCE, aims to give scholarships and free training for children of coffee farmers through its Great Minds program.

sold; matching them with coffee sellers willing to buy their beans at a higher price, and educational assistance to their children.

To help get these programs off the ground, Henry and Sons has created the Foundation Coffee line that comes in nice-looking tin cans that can be purchased at Robinsons grocery stores, Rustan’s department stores and through the Henry and Sons mobile app for P200 for every 250 grams. The special coffees will come in five kinds representing each program, and for every purchase of a tin can, P50 goes to the specific program it represents.

The Giving Well program considers most coffee farmers live up in the mountains with homes far from each other and without easy access to safe drinking water.

Spring water may contain bacteria and contaminants. Besides, with global warming, continuous depletion of sources and population increases, spring water may just soon dry up.

FSCE is not merely going to do the usual solutions, like establishing a water facility but going the more creative and technologically interesting way. An atmospheric water generator will be provided to a chosen recipient barangay that will be solar-powered. The technology involves turning the moisture in the atmosphere and purifying it into potable water.

Coffee for Great Minds aims to provide more learning to consumers on the local coffee industry and to find fund-raising programs for scholarships for coffee farmers’ children to go through the K to 12 Program, housekeeping, secretarial, barista, agricultural courses or training to become safety and order officers.

A component of the Seed to Cup program is the provision of a coffee moisture and density analyzer that will test moisture and density level at the same time of green/parchment/dry cherry/ and roasted beans that can work continuosly for 15 hours once fully charged. The ideal moisture content is 9 percent to 12 percent because anything higher can cause beans to become moldy, musty, woody, fade and lose color.

It will take only 2,232 cans of Cup to Seed coffee to fund this machine for a chosen cooperative.

Beans within Reach intends to match farmers with buyers to motivate farmers to produce betterquality beans. The FSCE will first focus on farmers within La Trini-

dad, particularly on their Arabica coffee. The land and climate here are ideal for growing world-class coffee beans, Lim said. Benguet, in fact, because of its high elevation, has one of the best conditions for growing Arabica coffee.

Already, the DA is encouraging the planting of coffee as part of its agroforestry program, as coffee grows best under dappled sunlight.

Lim hopes to have the Benguet Arabica make a niche in the international market. He acknowledges there is no way to compete in quantity, but that the potential of the Arabica as a specialty coffee is promising.

“We just need to work closely with the farmers. That’s why we are here. The better they take care of their trees and their processing of the cherry beans, the higher the price they can command,” he said.

Lim expressed confidence if farmers can be committed, they can well get into the international market by 2018, competing with universal standards.

“Then in the next 10 years, the coffee can become really special, and something the Philippines can really be proud of,” he said.

Lim said part of the Cup to Seed program is the putting up of a nursery, where they will grow quality seedlings to distribute to farmers.

“We have started to look around for a place that will be just right and accessible to farmers, and we can start this hopefully by 2018,” he said.

Lim disclosed the values close to his heart, acknowledging foremost that their forming FSCE also benefits their company. “If you are in business, your products should have the highest certifications for quality and safety,” he said.

Lim added, “Suppliers form sustainable and mutually benef icia l par tnerships w ith us, because they see for themselves t h at e ven ou r sm a l l ef for t s count. The coffee industry has witnessed the grandest pledges to find out in the end that few promises have come true. The few steps we are taking now to help the farmers in La Trinidad count more than the biggest promises.”

His closing remarks wrapped up what, in essence, the FSCE is all about: “The moral beauty of caring for people transcends the boundaries of business. It elevates our status not just in business but in humanity. The metrics of all our efforts will be the number of lives we have touched.”

BEANS within Reach is a program that will match coffee farmers to consumers and buyers willing to buy their cherry beans for a higher price.

A12 | Sunday, February 5, 2017 | Editor: Efleda P. Campos

RegionsSunday BusinessMirror

Narvacan, Ilocos Sur’s Bagnet Festival Story and photos by Mauricio Victa | Correspondent

N

EXT time you pass by Ilocos Sur, be sure to stop by Narvacan town. It will be a heartstopping visit, as the town proudly entices its residents and visitors alike to buy, eat and take home its signature product, bagnet.

Bagnet is deep-fried pork belly, fried till the skin crackles. It is eaten with rice as viand or eaten when drinking basi (wine fermented from sugarcane juice), beer or gin. It is a popular Ilocano creation, served also as topping to the popular Ilocano dish pinakbet.

Narvacan loves its bagnet so much that its mayor, Zuriel S. Zaragoza, has created a festival around it.

The Bagnet Festival is among the most overlooked festivals in the North. Many want it that way, because traffic is still manageable and bagnet can still be enjoyed with gusto.

Bagnet is very un-Ilocano, because Ilocanos love to eat vegetables.

Narvacan is the ground zero for bagnet. The festival is celebrated a week before Christmas, followed

by Vigan’s Longganisa Festival the next month.

Bagnet is quintessentially Ilocano. It came from the word bagnetin, or “preserve the pork”. Before refrigerating, Ilocanos boil and fry their slabs of pork. Actually, bagnet is twice fried and in a hotter temperature, so it gets the characteristic blistery, crackling rind.

Bagnet vendor Mauro Corrales and his wife prepare 250 to 300 kilos every day (400 kilos on Sunday) and start the frying at midnight.

“The frying and refrying take three hours, and by 6 in the morning, we are already in the market,” Corrales said. There are 20 bagnet vendors at the Narvacan Public Market, so that’s about 6 tons of bagnet produced by the town every day.

Zaragoza said the towns people strictly adhere to the standard of cooking their bagnet.

“The pork has to be fresh and not frozen. Otherwise, we cancel your license,” he said. Zaragoza said they

are developing the Narvacan brand for their bagnet. They also got funding from the Department of Trade and Industry for their packaging.

They have started marketing not only in the North but in Manila, and pretty soon in Hawaii and other Ilocano enclaves.

The Bagnet Festival is a great attraction. Dance troupes from neighboring towns join the parade, which starts at the church and ends in the mall.

The street dances are among the best I’ve seen in Northern Luzon.

The atmosphere is homey and more relaxed, maybe because it is still less crowded. Tourists are encouraged to join in the dancing, probably to burn the calories from this sinful food.

Narvacan also wants to be known as the extreme sports mecca in the Ilocos region. So it is offering unconventional sports activities, like paragliding, climbing, all-weather racing, ziplining and downslope bike racing.