BusinessMirror February 06, 2021

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‘VERBAL THREAT OF WAR’

Navy chief unfazed by new Chinese law authorizing use of force by its Coast Guard in disputed sea territories

T

By Rene Acosta

Sea (SCS) and directed against its neighbors, including the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia whose waters it contests due to its overlapping maritime claims, was branded by Secretary Locsin as a “verbal threat of war.”

He pointed out that if it is not challenged, it is tantamount to a submission. He has filed a diplomatic protest over the matter.

HE military has vowed to sustain its maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), and assured Filipino fishermen of protection despite China’s recent authorization to the Chinese Coast Guard to fire at vessels in territories Beijing disputes.

“The Philippine Navy will continuously patrol and provide naval presence in the West Philippine Sea,” Navy Flag Officer in Command Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo told the BusinessMirror. “The Philippine Navy also monitors the fishermen’s activities through our littoral monitoring stations.”

The Philippines, along with its neighbors, has recently raised serious concerns over Beijing’s Coast Guard law that mandated its Coast Guard to fire on foreign vessels and smash structures of other countries on islands that it is claiming.

Specifically, the law authorized the Chinese Coast Guard to “take all necessary measures, including the use of weapons, when national sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction are being illegally infringed upon by foreign organizations, or individuals at sea.”

It also empowered its Coast Guard to demolish other countries’ structures that were built on reefs and islands being claimed by Bei-

‘Brutal way’

PHILIPPINE Navy ships sail in formation during a fleet review, the first in years for the Philippine Navy. PHOTOS COURTESY OF PHILIPPINE NAVY

BACORDO: “The Philippine Navy will maintain its current deployment in the WPS—ships and aircraft [and will] continuously conduct maritime and air patrols, and regularly rotate and re-provision its assigned personnel in the Philippine-occupied features.”

jing and to seize or order foreign vessels illegally entering its territorial waters to leave.

Locsin, Tolentino weigh in

FOR his part, Sen, Francis Tolentino had suggested that the Duterte administration enlist support of other countries to join the Philippines in

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 48.0650

taking a common stand protesting China’s recent passage of a new Coast Guard law that heightens the risk of armed confrontation in the West Philippine Sea.

Besides backing the filing of a diplomatic protest by Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr., Tolentino added that “all affected nations can hold an informal meeting and agree to file the Joint Resolution affirming a common stand among Asean” that the Philippines can initiate.

In a radio interview, he added that even as foreign ministers in the regional bloc consult on their next moves, President Duterte could also “talk with his China counterpart.”

In a privileged speech, Tolentino reminded his peers that the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China recently passed a law, called the Coast Guard Law of the People’s Republic of China, taking effect on Monday.

In his speech at the Senate,

Tolentino said he was compelled to bring up the issue in plenary “because a lot of our fishermen are out there. Some of our fishermen, including those from Zambales, Mindoro, Palawan, Batangas and Cavite, will go fishing not knowing the existence of this newly passed law by the National People’s Congress of China....’”

The senator warned that China’s law is “very specific,” noting that “it specifies the circumstances under which the different kinds of weapons—handheld (I’m referring to pistols or rifles), shipborne missiles, or airborne coming from planes—can be used.”

Tolentino said: “…The law further provides that the Chinese Coast Guard is empowered to set up temporary exclusion zones.

These are lockdown zones as needed to stop other vessels and personnel from entering.”

The law, seen as having been crafted to reinforce China’s expansive claims in the South China

WHILE the law raises the specter of a direct confrontation in the SCS, it also allowed the Chinese Coast Guard to take a more decisive and “brutal” way of dealing with Filipino fishermen, some of whom had experienced intimida-

tion and harassment from its cutters in the past in the WPS. Chinese Coast Guard vessels have in the past bombarded Filipino fishermen with water cannons in the Scarborough Shoal to shoo them away, while harassing re-provisioning operations by the Philippine military for its troops manning islets and features in the WPS. A combination of Chinese Coast Guard ships, maritime militia vessels and People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy warships prowls the WPS and has been guarding the Scarborough Shoal.

Bacordo said the Navy will not make any changes in its maritime Continued on A2

n JAPAN 0.4554 n UK 65.7241 n HK 6.1998 n CHINA 7.4266 n SINGAPORE 35.9553 n AUSTRALIA 36.5246 n EU 57.5002 n SAUDI ARABIA 12.8143

Source: BSP (February 5, 2021)

NewsSaturday BusinessMirror

A2 Saturday, February 6, 2021

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Myanmar Army’s next problem: Defeating Suu Kyi in an election N

By Philip J. Heijmans | Bloomberg News

OW that Myanmar’s generals have ousted Aung San Suu Kyi, they must figure out how to beat her in an election.

Coup leader Min Aung Hlaing said Monday he would revamp the election commission and hold a “free and fair” vote once the state of emergency expires in a year. He justified the military takeover by alleging widespread fraud in a November election in which Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) won more than 80 percent of available seats.

The claims of a rigged election haven’t been backed up by any credible evidence. Myanmar’s election commission rejected allegations of fraud and international observers largely gave the vote a clean bill of health.

But those are minor details for the country’s top generals, who have been repeatedly trounced by Suu Kyi dating back to a 1990 election that the Army also rejected. It took 18 years for a junta to write a new constitution that guaranteed the military a veto on any changes, and its

designated Army-backed political party only won in 2010 because Suu Kyi was under house arrest and her party boycotted. She won the last two votes in a landslide.

“Despite a constitution that favored it on several fronts, military-backed opposition parties were no match for the National League of Democracy come election time,” said Lee Morgenbesser at Griffith University in Australia, who studies authoritarianism in Southeast Asia. “Having ‘committed’ to holding a free and fair general election, the ruling junta is now likely to dissolve or bar the NLD on frivolous grounds.”

Myanmar’s army has plenty of examples in Asia of powerful elites that write rules favoring the establishment at election time. While these exercises in democracy are flawed and usually come with repression of opposition voices, they also help avoid global condemnation and financial penalties that

A DEMONSTRATOR holds up an image of Aung San Suu Kyi during a protest outside the Embassy of Myanmar in Bangkok, February 1, 2021. BLOOMBERG

scare away Western investors—a prospect now facing Myanmar after US President Joe Biden threatened to reimpose sanctions.

Last month, Malaysia’s king declared a nationwide state of emergency for the first time in more than half a century, suspending parliament in a move that allowed embattled Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to avoid facing an election until the pandemic is over. Singapore’s ruling party has held power since 1965, helped by election rules that have been criticized by opposition politicians.

In Thailand, a military-backed government led by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha has managed to hang onto power since its own coup in 2014. It has used an array of measures to weaken the opposition, including dissolving a popular youth-led party and using legal channels to bar key figures from running for office.

Other countries that don’t hold elections have managed to win favor from the US by acting as a counterweight to China.

Vietnam Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong, who was granted a rare third term in power this week, was welcomes to the White House in 2015 by US President Barack Obama.

Myanmar’s 2008 constitution already gave the military lots of power. It guaranteed the armed forces 25 percent of seats in parliament, giving it an effective veto over any amendments, and further enabled it to take power under vague terms through a state of emergency, as occurred on Monday.

Generals spooked

STILL, Suu Kyi’s massive popularity spooked the top generals, who had shot down proposals over the years for constitutional changes that would dilute their power. Prior to the coup, the military and civilian government clashed over a constitutional amendment that would allow Suu Kyi to serve as president, which wasn’t allowed because her children are UK citizens. Military spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun didn’t answer several calls seeking comments for this story.

Army leaders feared “there was going to be overwhelming pressure for constitutional change that might start to erode those powers that the military were clinging on to,” Andrew Heyn, a former British ambassador to Myanmar, told Bloomberg Television.

Myanmar’s new military regime has already started to lay the groundwork for changes while Suu Kyi and other top NLD leaders remain under house arrest. It has filled key senior positions in the Cabinet and Judiciary with allies, and reinstated supreme and high court judges as well as all members of its anti-corruption commission. Suu Kyi has urged her supporters to oppose the army’s move, calling it “an attempt to bring the nation back under the military dictatorship.”

“The military may think of ways to get what they want without changing the judges,” said Nang

Raw Zahkung, director of policy and strategy at Nyein (Shalom) Foundation, a group that works to promote peace in Myanmar.

Suu Kyi popularity

TO ensure the military wins the next election, assuming they actually try to hold one, its leaders could employ some tactics seen elsewhere in the region. They include amending the constitution and election laws, filing criminal charges against key opposition leaders and asserting control of the country’s election commission, which the army chief has already said would be reconfigured.

Pulling that off won’t be easy.

Although the streets are quiet now, Myanmar has a history of pro-democracy uprisings followed by bloody crackdowns. Suu Kyi remains the most popular figure in country by far and the NLD would likely win a re-run election even if she and other key party leaders were unable to contest the polls, said Peter Mumford, Southeast & South Asia practice head at risk consultancy Eurasia Group.

“That suggests the military will explore, as has happened elsewhere in the region, reforming the electoral system to make it harder for a single party to dominate parliament,” he said. “Although the bloodless coup itself was clearly well planned, it remains unclear whether the military has thought through what comes next.”

‘Verbal threat of war’ Continued from A1

operations in the WPS, especially in the deployment of its assets and its patrols, notwithstanding the new Chinese edict.

“The Philippine Navy will maintain its current deployment in the WPS—ships and aircraft,” he stressed, adding the Navy will “continuously conduct maritime and air patrols, and regularly rotate and re-provision its assigned personnel in the Philippine-

occupied features.”

Guidance

WHEN asked how they see the law and its effect on their maritime operations in the country’s territory that China disputes, Bacordo said they will adhere to the “guidance of higher headquarters and the national government.”

In the meantime, the Navy, especially its sailors and Marines deployed under the Western Command, the military’s area command that has operational jurisdiction over Palawan and the biggest part of the WPS, will maintain the “status quo.”

“The Philippine Navy will maintain the status quo, challenge all vessels, document and take pictures, and submit reports to higher authority,” Bacordo said.

“The Philippine Navy forces

will remain vigilant and abide by the existing international laws,” he added.

Being a part of a military from a civilized country that subscribes to international norms, laws and regulations, Bacordo said they support initiatives that promote “cooperation and prevent escalation of tension between claimant countries.”

In the aftermath of the law’s operation, the Navy is monitoring the activities of PLA Navy ships and Coast Guard vessels in the WPS through its littoral monitoring stations and information from local fishermen.

Bacordo said the Chinese Coast Guard maintains its regular presence in the South China Sea, even after the enactment of the China Coast Guard Law. With earlier report by Butch Fernandez

www.businessmirror.com.ph • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Pork prices push up inflation to 4.2% in Jan; BSP unfazed

E

By Cai U. Ordinario & Tyrone Jasper Piad

XPENSIVE food, particularly pork products, caused the country’s inflation rate to post a two-year high in January, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported, but the Central Bank eased fears that it was teetering on stagflation.

On Friday, National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa said inflation surged 4.2 percent in January, the highest since January 2019 when inflation averaged 4.4 percent.

It was also above the forecast of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) of 3.3 percent to 4.1 percent for the month; and higher than all 19

analyst estimates in a Bloomberg survey, which had a median of 3.5 percent.

While consumer price growth reached 4.2 percent in the first month, the Central Bank said it was only expected given its “prevailing assessment of a transitory uptick in inflation in the first half of 2021, largely reflecting ongoing supply-side pressures as well as positive base effect.”

BSP maintained its position that inflation will average at 2.0-4.0 percent this year amid government measures to address the rising prices of commodities.

PSA data put inflation at 3.5 percent in December 2020; and at 2.9 percent in January 2020. “ Ang pangunahing dahilan ng pag-angat ng inflation sa buwan ng Enero 2021 ay ang

News

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mas mabilis na pagtaas ng presyo ng food and non-alcoholic beverages [The primary reason for the increase in inflation in January 2021 is the faster increase in prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages],” the PSA’s Mapa said. “ Ito ay dahil sa pagtaas ng presyo ng karne, partikular ang baboy, na may mas mataas na inflation sa antas na 17.1 percent sa buwan ng Enero 2021, mula sa 10.0 percent inflation noong Disyembre 2020 [This is due to the increase in meat prices, particularly pork, which posted an inflation of 17.1 percent in the month of January 2021 from a 10-percent inflation (rate) in December 2020],” he added.

Inflation in Metro Manila or the National Capital Region (NCR) rose to 4.3 percent in January 2021, from 3.2 percent in December 2020. Inflation in the area in January 2020 was posted at 2.7 percent.

The 8.3-percent annual growth in food and non-alcoholic beverages index primarily pushed up the inflation in the area. Increases in the housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels index as well as

double-digit annual hikes were also observed in the indices of alcoholic beverages and tobacco.

Outside NCR

Similar to the national trend and NCR, inflation in AONCR (areas outside NCR) went up fur ther to 4.2 during the month, from 3.7 percent in December 2020. Inflation in the area in Januar y 2020 stood at 3 percent.

This was mainly due to the 1.3 percentage points jump in the inflation of food and non-alcoholic beverages, registering at 5.8 percent during the month, from 4.5 percent in the previous month.

Meanwhile, inflation for the bottom 30-percent income households accelerated to 4.9 percent in January 2021—the highest recorded since January 2019, at 5.2 percent.

In December 2020, inflation for this income group of consumers was posted at 4.3 percent, and in January 2020, 2.3 percent.

The increase in inflation, PSA said, was due to higher annual increase in the index of the heavily

Saturday, February 6, 2021

A3

weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages at 4.6 percent during the month. Its annual rate in December 2020 was noted at 3.6 percent.

stands at 2 percent after a 200-basis-point cut in total last year.

BSP policy tested

As price pressures build, some analysts expect the Central Bank to keep its benchmark interest rate steady at 2 percent for the whole year.

“Monetary policy is unlikely to tighten in this part of the economic cycle” even as financial conditions “must remain supportive” for domestic demand, said Eugenia Victorino, head of Asia strategy at Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB in Singapore.

Inflation will likely remain elevated in the coming months, with base effects from last year’s muted price increases and persistent cost pressures pushing the headline number close to or above the 4-percent level, according to Nicholas Mapa, an economist at ING Groep NV in Manila.

In January, Governor Benjamin Diokno said there will be a “long pause” on the interest-rate front, with the current rate in place for another two quarters or more. With Bloomberg News

The higher-than-expected inflation data in January is seen as a signal that space for easy monetary policy might be narrowing amid a shaky economic recovery. Stocks and the peso fell on news of the inflation data release.

Still, the BSP tamped down anxiety of stagflation—a situation combining a contracting economy, soaring prices and massive u n e m p l oy m e nt. Th e P h i l i p p i n e s’s e co n o m i c growth data was the second worst in the region last year.

The Central Bank said it will be factoring in the “price developments, particularly in global commodity markets, along with the Q4 2020 GDP outturn in its assessment of the monetary-policy stance in its meeting” on February 11.

Overnight reverse repurchase facility currently

Steady rate

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185.

YU, HAIJUN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

186.

YU, WENKAI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

187.

ZENG, LIANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

188.

ZHANG, LILI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

FINEST GW CONSULTANCY SERVICE INC. Unit-a Paseo View 16/f Ba Lepanto Bldg. 8747 Paseo De Roxas Bel-air Makati City 125.

TRAN HIEP DUC Vietnamese

CHINESE SPEAKING BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE

FIRST GREAT COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES INC. Lot 5 Sta. Agueda Cor. Queensway Pagcor Drive Sto. Niño Parañaque City 126.

FAN, QIMING Chinese

IT TECHNICAL MANDARIN

127.

WANG, LEI Chinese

IT TECHNICAL MANDARIN

128.

YU, JINYING Chinese

IT TECHNICAL MANDARIN

FLYING DRAGON NETWORK PHILIPPINES INC. 4th-11th Floor Aseana 3 Building Aseana Avenue Corner Diosdado Macapagal Tambo Parañaque City 129.

BIAN, YAOWEI Chinese

CHINESE CALL CENTER AGENT

189.

ZHANG, LEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

130.

CHEN, XUEXIA Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

190.

ZHANG, HAOYU Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

131.

CUI, QIBING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

191.

ZHANG, YU Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

132.

DANG, QUAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

192.

ZHAO, LIMIN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

133.

FAN, JIAHAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

193.

ZHOU, YANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

134.

GAO, CHAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

194.

ZHOU, YULI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER

135.

GAO, XIAONI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

195.

WONG WEI LUN Malaysian

MALAYSIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

CHINA HARBOUR ENGINEERING COMPANY 5/f Rm 501 Ramon Magsaysay Center 1680 Roxas Blvd. 076, Bgy. 699 Malate Manila

136.

GE, XIAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

196.

CHEN, FU-YUAN Taiwanese

TAIWANESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

137.

GUAN, BEIFEN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

197.

LE THI LEN Vietnamese

VIETNAMESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

138.

GUO, GUANGNING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

198.

NGUYEN DINH NEN Vietnamese

VIETNAMESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

139.

GUO, SHIZHE Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

199.

TRAN THI LAN ANH Vietnamese

VIETNAMESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

140.

GUO, YIJUN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

BKASIAPACIFIC (PHILIPPINES) INC. U-b&c 9/f Ayala Life-fgu Center 6811 Ayala Ave. Bel-air Makati City 88.

NELSON, ADAM CHRISTIAN British

89.

LIN, QIXIANG Chinese

MANDARIN QUALITY INSPECTOR

90.

ZHAO, ZHENLEI Chinese

MANDARIN QUALITY INSPECTOR

CHINA ROAD AND BRIDGE CORPORATION Unit 2605, 2607 & 2609 High St. South Corporate Plaza, Tower 1, 9th Avenue Corner 26th St. Bonfacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

PAN, FENG Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

91.

WANG, JIANCHEN Chinese

ENGINEERING MANAGER

141.

GUO, CHENGXIANG Chinese

SUN, YUSHUANG Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

92.

CHEN, GUANJUN Chinese

STEEL BOX GIRDER ERECTION WORKER

142.

HE, MENGXING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

44.

CUI, HONGHE Chinese

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

93.

FU, QIANJUN Chinese

STEEL BOX GIRDER ERECTION WORKER

143.

HONG, JINLIANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

45.

CUI, TAO Chinese

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

94.

LIU, DIPENG Chinese

STEEL BOX GIRDER ERECTION WORKER

144.

HOU, QIYAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

46.

HE, GUANGYU Chinese

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

95.

TANG, CHUHUA Chinese

STEEL BOX GIRDER ERECTION WORKER

145.

HOU, YIMING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

47.

LI, XIBING Chinese

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

96.

YAN, YUNQING Chinese

STEEL BOX GIRDER ERECTION WORKER

146.

HU, HAICHAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

48.

LI, CUNPENG Chinese

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

97.

ZHANG, MIN Chinese

STEEL BOX GIRDER ERECTION WORKER

147.

HU, XIANGWEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

49.

LIN, YUXING Chinese

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

148.

HU, WENJUAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

50.

LIU, YI Chinese

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

98.

HUANG, ZEHU Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

51.

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

149.

WANG, QIFENG Chinese

LI, YURUN Chinese

99.

HUANG, SHIZHEN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

52.

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

150.

WU, JING Chinese

SIM CHEE FUNG Malaysian

151.

JIANG, KUN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

53.

XIAO, BO Chinese

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

152.

JIN, LU Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

153.

LI, FEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

154.

LI, YIMING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

43.

ANOC99 CORPORATION 5/f Ayala Malls Manila Bay Building D. Macapagal Blvd. Cor. Aseana Street Tambo Parañaque City

POSITION

LEI, PENGHUI Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

42.

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

102.

CHIU, TENG-CHING Taiwanese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

NO.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

6.

WEI, OU Chinese

POSITION

BACH TRONG HIEU Vietnamese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

41.

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

54.

CAO, HONG Chinese

40.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

DYNA BINARY HOLDINGS INC. 18/f Tower 2 The Enterprise Center, 6766 Ayala Ave., Cor. Paseo De Roxas San Lorenzo Makati City

EASTERN GOLD CORPORATION 503 Nueva St Binondo Manila 100.

ARRIYAPONGSOONTHORN, ARRAYAMON Thai

MARKETING AND SALES AGENT

101.

GUO, XIONGZHOU Chinese

MARKETING AND SALES AGENT

FUXINGYING CAIYUN HENTONG, CORP. 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th Floor Eton Ewestpod Chino Roces Avenue Cor. Yakal & Malugay Streets San Antonio Makati City 200.

CAO, PENG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE - MANDARIN SPEAKING

201.

CHEN, LANXIAO Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE - MANDARIN SPEAKING

202.

CHEN, LONG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE - MANDARIN SPEAKING

203.

FENG, WEN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE - MANDARIN SPEAKING

204.

HUANG, ZIMOU Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE - MANDARIN SPEAKING

205.

KE, MIN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE - MANDARIN SPEAKING

206.

LING, KUNLIN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE - MANDARIN SPEAKING

207.

LIU, JIRUI Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE - MANDARIN SPEAKING

208.

LU, BIAO Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE - MANDARIN SPEAKING

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS NO.

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

POSITION

NO.

POSITION

254.

LI, MENGQIANG Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING PROJECT & INFRASTRUCTURE CONSULTANT

255.

XIAO, YIN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING PROJECT & INFRASTRUCTURE CONSULTANT

ZHENG, YUMENG Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING PROJECT & INFRASTRUCTURE CONSULTANT

ZHOU, GUANGLIANG Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING PROJECT & INFRASTRUCTURE CONSULTANT

209.

LUO, ANSHENG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE - MANDARIN SPEAKING

210.

LYU, PENG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE - MANDARIN SPEAKING

QIN, YUXIANG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE - MANDARIN SPEAKING

256.

QIU, HAI Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE - MANDARIN SPEAKING

257.

MARKETROLE ASIA PACIFIC SERVICES, INC. 26/f, 27/f, 28/f The Enterprise Center Tower 1 6766 Ayala Ave. Cor. Paseo De Roxas San Lorenzo Makati City

211.

212.

213.

SU, LAISHENG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE - MANDARIN SPEAKING

214.

WEN, JIAQI Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE - MANDARIN SPEAKING

WU, CHEN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE - MANDARIN SPEAKING

215.

258.

TAT KIEN Vietnamese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

MEGA-WEB TECHNOLOGIES INC. 6,7,8,9,10,11/f Met Live Bldg. Edsa Cor. Macapagal Blvd. Brgy. 076 Pasay City BURMESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

216.

ZHANG, QIANG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE - MANDARIN SPEAKING

259.

WIN ZAW TUN Myanmari

217.

HOU, JIONGLIN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE- MANDARIN SPEAKING

260.

BAO, TING Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE- MANDARIN SPEAKING

261.

CHEN, YUXUAN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

DONG, RUIXIN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

218.

HUANG, FUYI Chinese

219.

HUANG, ZITING Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE- MANDARIN SPEAKING

262.

220.

HUANG, AN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE- MANDARIN SPEAKING

263.

Saturday, February 6, 2021

GAO, TONG Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

NO.

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS POSITION

NO. 366.

SU, NING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

307.

WANG, JINGBO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

308.

WANG, JINHUI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

309.

WU, SAI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

310.

XIE, ZHIJUN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

311.

XING, LU Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

312.

YANG, ZHONGJIAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

313.

ZHANG, CHUNXIA Chinese

SKYLUSTER TECHNOLOGY, INC. 11/f The Enterprise Center Tower 2 Ayala Ave. Cor. Paseo De Roxas San Lorenzo Makati City

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

369.

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

314.

ZHENG, DEYI Chinese

CHEN, NA Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

370.

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

315.

ZHOU, JUNDONG Chinese

DAI, TAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

371.

MANDARIN FINANCE STAFF

316.

CUI, BOLIN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

DO THU HUYEN Vietnamese

372.

MANDARIN FINANCE STAFF

317.

DING, YONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

TAN SUTINAH Indonesian

373.

MANDARIN IT SUPPORT STAFF

318.

GAO, XIANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

LONG, SHU Chinese

374.

MANDARIN IT SUPPORT STAFF

319.

GUI, XIAOZI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

YANG, YI Chinese

375.

MANDARIN IT SUPPORT STAFF

320.

JIANG, DAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

ZHANG, YUQING Chinese

321.

LI, YUGUANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

SLL BUILDER AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION U-20 4/f One E-com Ctr. Bldg. Ocean Dr. Brgy. 076 Pasay City 376.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

BILINGUAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT

322.

LUO, YUANCONG Chinese

LYU, MINGZENG Chinese

377.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

BILINGUAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT

323.

MA, YINXIA Chinese

TAO, KEHONG Chinese

378.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

BILINGUAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT

324.

NIU, ZHUANG Chinese

WANG, BANGMING Chinese

379.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

BILINGUAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT

325.

SHEN, JIANGBO Chinese

ZHANG, CHUNMING Chinese

380.

BILINGUAL COST CONSULTANT

326.

SUN, SONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

CHEN, XINDE Chinese

381.

BILINGUAL COST CONSULTANT

327.

WANG, SHENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

GAO, YUANTANG Chinese

382.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

BILINGUAL PROJECT CONSULTANT

328.

WANG, JI Chinese

LI, LONGCHAO Chinese

383.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

BILINGUAL PROJECT CONSULTANT

329.

WEI, ZHENGJIE Chinese

REN, ZONGWU Chinese

330.

WU, DINGQIANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

SOFTWARE CELLULAR NETWORK LIMITED - PHILIPPINE BRANCH 17/f I Square Bldg. Meralco Ave. San Antonio Pasig City

331.

ZHANG, JIAQI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

332.

HOANG THI LINH Vietnamese

VIETNAMESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

264.

222.

WAN, SONGSONG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE- MANDARIN SPEAKING

265.

HUANG, XIAONAI Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

WANG, JIPING Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE- MANDARIN SPEAKING

266.

LI, ZHICAI Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

XIE, YOULONG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE- MANDARIN SPEAKING

267.

LI, BEI Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

XIE, SHAOBO Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE- MANDARIN SPEAKING

268.

LIN, WEI-CHENG Taiwanese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

ZHANG, YI Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE- MANDARIN SPEAKING

269.

LIU, CHENGGUO Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

GALAXIER INC. Unit 1 & 3 14/f Sshg Law Center Sycip Law Center 105 Paseo De Roxas San Lorenzo Makati City

270.

LUO, CHAO Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

271.

LUO, SHAN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

272.

PENG, XINQUAN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th & 10th/f Pearl Marina Building Pacific Drive Don Galo Para単aque City

273.

TIAN, WENLI Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

333.

BI, TIANYI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

334.

DONG, ZHICHENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

274.

WANG, XIN Chinese

335.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

275.

WANG, FEI Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

DU, RUOYU Chinese

336.

DUAN, HAIYANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

276.

WANG, XIANG Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

337.

HE, WEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

WEN, BINHAO Chinese

HU, HUISONG Chinese

277.

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

338.

339.

HUANG, JIAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

278.

WU, JUNYING Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

340.

LIANG, DAFU Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

341.

LIU, YE Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

279.

YANG, ZHICHAO Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

342.

MIAO, ZHIQING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

280.

YE, FAN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

343.

RAO, JUANJUAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

344.

WU, TIANCAI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

281.

YE, YONGJING Chinese

345.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

282.

YOU, SHUAI Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

YANG, SHUAI Chinese

346.

YU, DENGKE Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

283.

YU, KUIZHI Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

347.

YUAN, HONGJIE Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

348.

ZANG, XUEDONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

284.

ZHANG, WEI Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

349.

ZHANG, JIANFEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

285.

ZHANG, PEI Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

PANAGORA GROUP LLC - PHILIPPINE REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE 23th Floor Tower 1 The Enterprise Center 6766 Ayala Avenue Makati City

286.

ZHANG, YANGCHAO Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

350.

287.

ZOU, WENLYU Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

288.

TRAN KIM PHUNG Vietnamese

VIETNAMESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

289.

SLONG DUNG Vietnamese

VIETNAMESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. 4th-11th Flr. Nexgen Tower C4 Rd. Edsa Ext. Brgy. 076 Pasay City

227.

DING, TIANFANG Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING HARDWARE TECHNICIAN

228.

GE, YUN Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING HARDWARE TECHNICIAN

229.

LU, ZHEN Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING HARDWARE TECHNICIAN

230.

WU, TONG Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING HARDWARE TECHNICIAN

231.

XU, YINGJIE Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING HARDWARE TECHNICIAN

GATEWAYSOLUTIONS CORP. 8/f Edsa Cor. Sultan Brgy. Highway Hills Mandaluyong City 232.

CHEN, WEIFENG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

233.

LI, SIQING Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

234.

SU, GUOSEN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

235.

ZHONG, HUI Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

GLOBALLGA BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING Ground Level, Level 2-5 Floor Silver City 4, Ortigas East Ugong Pasig City 236.

WANG, YIFAN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

GM PHILIPPINES, INC. A.t. Yuchengco Centre 26th And 25th Streets, Floor 20 Bonifacio Global City Taguig City 237.

UMLOR, AMBER KRISTEN American

DIRECTOR, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, PRESIDENT AND FINANCE SITE LEADER

HELLOCONNECT, INC. 7/f Inoza Tower 40th St., Bonifacio Global City Fort Bonifacio Taguig City 238.

JEPPESEN, JONAS GROENDAHL Danish

CUSTOMER CARE SPECIALIST DANISH SPEAKING

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES PHILS. INC. U-5302, 53/f Pbcom Tower 6795 Ayala Ave., Cor., V.a. Rufino St. Bel-air Makati City 239.

PENG, XIANG Chinese

VICE COUNTRY HEAD OF CONSUMER BUSINESS GROUP FOR HUAWEI DEVICE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

INFINI CONSULTANCY GROUP INC. Rm 2a 2/f Ma Daniel Bldg. 470 San Andres Cor. M H Del Pilar Sts. 077, Bgy. 701 Malate Manila 240.

CHEN, TANGBIN Chinese

CONSULTANT FOR INTERNATIONAL CLIENT

241.

ZHOU, MEI Chinese

CONSULTANT FOR INTERNATIONAL CLIENT

INQUICK SERVICES INC. Unit 606 6/f Itc Bldg. 337 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. Bel-air Makati City 242.

HOANG THANH NHAN Vietnamese

VIETNAMESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

INVECH TREASURE PROCESSING CORPORATION 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th Floor Six West Campus Mckinley West Fort Bonifacio Taguig City 243.

LAI, YU-XIU Taiwanese

COMPUTER SYSTEM ANALYST

244.

LIN, YIBIN Chinese

I.T TECHNICAL MANDARIN

245.

ZHENG, SHANGQIANG Chinese

I.T TECHNICAL MANDARIN

246.

SU, HONGBO Chinese

INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST

247.

JIANG, GANG Chinese

IT TECHNICAL MANDARIN

248.

HUANG, CAIDI Chinese

QA (QUALITY ASSURANCE) SPECIALIST

249.

QIAN, XIN Chinese

QA (QUALITY ASSURANCE) SPECIALIST

250.

YU, FEI Chinese

QA (QUALITY ASSURANCE) SPECIALIST

KONGANBUDDIES MARKETING INC. 12/f Pbcom Tower 6795 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St. Bel-air Makati City 251.

WILLIAM Indonesian

252.

KOLLI SRINIVAS Indian

INDONESIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MARKETING MANAGER

LEO TECHNOLOGIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE CORP. 9th Floor One Orion 11th Avenue University Parkway Fort Bonifacio Taguig City 253.

CHENG, XU Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING PROJECT & INFRASTRUCTURE CONSULTANT

BAUSELL, LOREN ELIZABETH American

SENIOR RESEARCH AND LEARNING SPECIALIST

PHILIPPINE ASSIST-LIFE LANGUAGE AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER INC. Rm 205, 302 & 306 Cya Land Bldg. 282 Edsa Ext. Brgy. 075 Pasay City 351.

OSAWA, ICHIRO Japanese

ADMINISTRATOR

RAPOO PRO TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION Unit 8 Robinsons Cybergate Plaza Pioneer Brgy. Barangka Mandaluyong City

367.

WANG, XIAOQIANG Chinese

MARKETING SPECIALIST

SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS PHILIPPINES CORPORATION 7th-10th Floor Science Hub Tower 4 Mckinley Hill Pinagsama Taguig City 368.

384.

JUNG, SUNG HOON South Korean

NDJANA TOUNA, CLAUDE ERIC Cameroonian

BUSINESS OPERATIONS MANAGER UNDER THE CONSUMER ELECTRONICS TEAM

PORTING & PROVISIONING AGENT

TCL.ONLINE SERVICES INCORPORATED Unit 203-204 Plaza B. Northgate Cyberzone Filinvest Corporate Center Alabang Muntinlupa City 385.

BARRIOS LUCENA, GLEN ALEJANDRO Venezuelan

SPANISH TECHNICAL SUPPORT REPRESENTATIVE

TRI7 SOLUTIONS, INC. Unit 9-a 9/f Marvin Plaza Bldg. 2153 Don Chino Roces Ave. Pio Del Pilar Makati City 386.

MARIA KRISTIN LUMBAN GAOL Indonesian

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FIX NETWORK EMPLOYEE *Date Generated: Feb 5, 2021

In the ad material of Notice of Filing of Application for Alien Employment Permits published on February 3, 2021, the name WHITE MARQUEZ, DIDIANA GABRIELA DEL CARMEN under SMARTMATIC PHILIPPINES, INC., should have been read as WHITE MARQUEZ, DIANA GABRIELA DEL CARMEN and not as published.

Any person in the Philippines who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is desired may file an objection at DOLE-NCR Regional Office located at DOLE-NCR Building, 967 Maligaya St., Malate Manila, within 30 days after this publication.

Please inform DOLE-NCR if you have any information on criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals.

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A6 Saturday, February 6, 2021

ExportUnlimited BusinessMirror

PHL companies to showcase ‘vibrant’ Pinoy food sector in 2 global trade fairs

P

HILIPPINE food companies return to the global stage as they participate in two international trade fairs this month.

From February 17 to 19, 2021 five food companies will showcase the best of Philippine organic food products in Biofach, the world’s leading trade fair for organic food to be held in Nuremberg, Germany.

Meanwhile, 13 food brands are set to participate in Gulfood Hotel and Equipment Exhibition and Salon Culinaire (Gulfood), one of the world’s biggest fairs for food and hospitality to be held in Dubai from February 21 to 25, 2021.

The Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) will be bringing Philippine exporters to these shows in fulfillment of its mandate as the export promotions arm of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The Philippine participation in Biofach and Gulfood are organized in coordination with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) Berlin and PTIC Dubai, respectively.

“The DTI is excited to keep the local food sector’s momentum go-

ing,” DTI Undersecretary for Trade Promotions Group Abdulgani Macatoman remarked. “We are confident that under the stewardship of CITEM and PTIC, the Philippines will once again show why buyers all over the world keep coming back for Pinoy food products,” he added.

In the 2020 edition of Biofach, the Philippine delegation accumulated a total of $36.37 million in sales, surpassing CITEM’s initial target of $10.37 million. Similarly, the Philippine participation in Gulfood 2020 was a resounding success, bringing home more than $102.6 million in export sales.

“We’re thrilled for the world to see and taste the vibrant food offerings and diverse flavors that are unique to the Philippines,” CITEM Executive Director Pauline Suaco-Juan says of the agency’s export promotion initiatives.

This year, under the new normal and in view of the public health measures to safely conduct events,

SOME of the best Filipino organic food items that will be presented to the global stage during the Biofach and Gulfood exhibits from February 17 to 19 in Nuremberg, Germany, and February 21 to 25 in Dubai, respectively. PHOTO COURTESY OF DTI

Biofach will be fully digital while Gulfood will be staged in a hybrid format, comprising a physical exhibition and digital components to the show.

For the Philippines’s 16th participation in Gulfood, a physical exhibit will be complemented by QR codes for featured products, which will lead interested buyers straight to the inbox of the Philippine delegation’s exhibitors. Two weeks after Gulfood, CITEM will also facilitate extensive business matching with Gulfood exhibitors and prospective buyers.

Suaco-Juan noted that in the previous year which saw a great digital migration across sectors, CITEM

began strengthening its digital capacities to make sure that the agency and its stakeholders are prepared to evolve and adapt to the dynamic needs of the digital space.

The agency’s executive director cited as an example the launch of foodphilippines.cn in 2020, which improved the “searchability” of featured exhibitors and their products to the Chinese market.

Suaco-Juan also expressed optimism in the “digital facilitation of trade,” despite the inherently physical nature of trade shows. “The digital format opens you up to a bigger portion of the world rather than just people who physically go to the

trade shows. As we know, sourcing now, because of digital, is enabled 365 days of the year, 24/7. And it’s good for our products to be searchable online,” she noted.

For more information, log on to https://www.biofach.de/en for event details on Biofach and https://www.gulfood.com/ for information on Gulfood.

Seven Pinoy footwear designers ready for international competition in China

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EV EN Fi l ipino foot wear designers are now ready to compete internationally after undergoing a series of training workshops on footwear making with Zapateria, the country’s first creative hub for footwear design and development.

The 7th Filipino Footwear Design Competition (FFDC), the culminating event for the workshops, awarded winning footwear designs last January 30, 2021.

FFDC 2020 is organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Philippine Footwear Federation Inc. (PFFI) to encourage local talents to pursue footwear designing as a profession or business.

Designer Carla Apostol’s “Sierra” lady boots bagged the FFDC 2020 grand prize.

The nature-inspired boots use black smooth calf leather, white crocembossed leather, mahogany suede, and monochromatic snake skin with accents such as antique brass hardware, roughly cut raw amethyst, and freshwater pearls.

Apostol’s mentor during the workshop was Rico Sta. Ana of Zapateria,

SEVEN Filipino footwear designers pitched their creation during the 7th Filipino Footwear Design Competition culminating activity on Saturday, January 30, 2021. Winning designs are “Sierra,” “Sister’s Favorite,” and “Osang—Queen of the Road.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF FFDC 2020 PROGRAM MANAGER DEMS ANGELES

which is also the partner maker for the “Sierra” lady boots.

Joel Wijangco’s creation, “Sister’s Favorite,” was the first runner-up for the competition.

The design, a tribute to his sister, is inspired by Japanese ramen. The heel-less avant-garde footwear is made of resin, rubber, plastic, metal,

cable wires, miso cowl, fake banana leaves, and chopsticks.

The second runner-up’s entry “Osang–Queen of the Road” aims to honor his parents who are jeepney drivers and a former barker.

Janreyk Pa ler used actua l jeepney components as primary material for his creation, such as

metal sheets, metal round beads, knots and bolts, metal chain, silver and genuine leather.

Other entries, which are also products of the series of training workshops, include a Kundimaninspired piece of Michael Joseph Bawar called “Awit ng Mananahi,” Mark Boni Marter’s “Dyip Heels,” depicting the colorful jeepneys; Ivan Fabia’s “Hibla Habi,” men’s shoes made of indigenous materials like abaca, rattan, and buri and incorporating the art of weaving; and Therese Paman’s “Kalinaw,” a subtle pair of heels inspired by bodies of water.

The seven finalists will be competing in the International Footwear Design Competition (IFDC) in Guangzhou, China, in 2022.

The FFDC 2020 also featured the creation of veteran designer and former IFDC 2019 juror Maco Custodio, the “C/Shoes by Macolit.”

His design is a unisex children’s shoe made of discarded fabric, flexible wrapper foil, and leather scrap, among others.

On the sidelines of the FFDC

2020, PFFI Director General Roger Py said Filipino footwear designers have vast opportunities in the international market.

However, footwear designing is not a “professionalized industry” in the Philippines.

“In other countries, you can buy their designs. For example, in Portugal, they have schools for footwear. They come out with degrees and so we have a lot of people here to make shoes, but they are not recognized,” Py said in a virtual interview.

He added the PFFI is pursuing initiatives to professionalize the footwear industry by partnering with schools that can offer courses with specialization in footwear.

Py said they are targeting schools in Marikina, the shoe capital of the country, such as Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina and the Marikina Polytechnic College for these programs.

PFFI is also partnering with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority for factorylevel skills upgrading. PNA

Social enterprise opens loans for women entreps

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OMEN entrepreneurs can avail of loans and other forms of financing option to scale up their business and position themselves for success even amid the pandemic.

Villgro Philippines Chief Executive Officer Priya Thachadi said the social enterprise incubator has an initiative dubbed as WE Rise, an accelerator designed to help prepare especially women-led businesses to bridge the funding gap.

“Without taking into account the pandemic issue, the reality for women MSMEs [micro, small and medium enterprises] in the Philippines alone, the financing gap for women-led MSMEs is close to $76 billion. What does that mean?

That means that the majority of the women MSMEs cannot access financing today and that is the reality,” Thachadi said in a webinar.

She said the pandemic has increased the funding gap as women entrepreneurs are experiencing an immediate cash flow crunch due to lower sales and delayed payments.

To address these problems, Thachadi said the WE Rise accelerator program offers working capital to women entrepreneurs as more of them start businesses faster than ever before globally, especially in the Philippines.

“We have data to show that women-owned MSMEs in a post-recession environment create more jobs, which means that it is really important to have the lens of women and gender in any post-recovery plan. And the very, very important thing I would ask all entrepreneurs here to really think about is that there is a small capital being allocated today for the gender-lens and for women-led entrepreneurs,” she added.

Apart from providing financing options, Thachadi said the program offers customized mentorsh ip, d i ag nost ic, investor road show and impact showcase, learning labs, v irtual master classes, and technical assistance to become investment ready. She said they also launched during the pandemic the WE Rise Community, a platform for womenled businesses to connect, learn, collaborate, and grow with each other focused on access to finance.

Thachadi said industry experts, mentors, and investors are part of the platform, adding it is a “mix of learning and very, very customized support on investment readiness.” Thachadi urged women entrepreneurs to identify and pursue suitable capital for their business, align with gender-lens investors, be open for learning and upskilling, and go digital to position themselves for success.

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Bulakenyos celebrate Blas Ople’s 94th birth anniversary

LABOR Secretary Silvestre Bello III, together with Governor Daniel Fernando, Vice Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado, Ople’s son Toti and wife Susan offer flowers at the bronze bust of the late Senator Blas Ople in front of the Gat Blas F. Ople building, Provincial Capitol Compound, City of Malolos, Bulacan, on February 3, 2021, in commemoration of the 94th birth anniversary of Ka Blas, who is regarded as one of the province’s distinguished sons. PHOTO BY MANNY BALBIN

M

By Manny Balbin

ALOLOS CITY, Bulacan— Bulakenyos paid tribute to one of the province’s illustrious sons—the late former Senate President and Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople during the commemoration of his 94th birth anniversary at Gat Blas F. Ople building here on Wednesday.

Governor Daniel Fernando and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello

III led the offering of flowers at the bronze bust of Ople, together

Gift from heaven

By Nick Tayag

MY SIXTY-ZEN’S WORTH

I

T seems that in Metro Manila nowadays, consumers are increasingly becoming exasperated about the soaring prices of everything, specifically vegetables and pork.

I remember the old folks who used to say: Mabuti pa sa probinsiya hindi ka magugutom. Pipitasin mo lang sa bakuran o sa bukid ang araw-araw na kakainin.

As someone who spent his early youth in the province, I took it for granted that the blessings of the good Earth were there for the taking. Fruits and vegetables were plucked from the backyard.

Chicken roamed everywhere.

Many of our neighbors who were poor simple people kept a pig or two, being fattened for special occasions such as weddings or the town fiesta.

I wish that I took the subject Gardening more seriously in my elementary days. Frankly, I don’t have a green thumb. I was not skilled or cut out for it. But I managed to grow some mustasa and pechay in my small gardening “plot.” A little gardening know-how would have been handy today.

My interest in gardening was

rekindled by a video series on YouTube, which my wife and I have been avidly watching as a break from movies on streaming platforms. It features a pretty young Chinese woman named Li Ziqi who not only grows her own food, but cooks them in various appetizing ways, and even does carpentry and crafts work so excellently it would put the male species to shame.

My Google search has unearthed some facts about Li Ziqi: she lives in the mountains and forests in a village somewhere in Sichuan Province, in the northwestern part of China.

What her vlogs show is that she doesn’t need to go to the market for her daily needs. She gets the stuff to cook her meals from her backyard garden and the nearby forest. My wife and I never cease to watch her in admiration as she goes through her plucking, uprooting, cutting, digging sweet potatoes, mushrooms, peppers, bamboo shoots and then she would wash them with fresh clean water flowing endlessly from the mountain through bamboo pipes.

If she doesn’t have them, she

with Vice Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado, Ople’s wife Susan and son Toti.

Fer nando likened Ople from a fishing v il lage in Hagonoy tow n to a moth that was mesmer ized by the lights of the city at the mouth of Manila Bay where the young Ople used to fish.

“Gat Blas F. Ople is Bulacan’s gift to the nation and to the world. A Bulakenyo who created a name in the world of politics that is unmatched today. Ka Blas [Ople] is the legacy of Bulacan to the Filipino people and to the world,” the governor said in his message.

He said Ople was the first Bu-

plants them. Oh, what a bountiful harvest day after day.

One of her growing number of followers (around 58 million) says that the name Li Ziqi is of Chinese origin and it means “Gift from heaven.” What a fitting name because her vlogs are really a sensuous blessing.

Li’s videos capture her simple daily life with her grandmother to whom she appears to be devoted. Dressed in work clothes and sometimes in graceful traditional garments, Li rises at sunrise, rests at sunset, plants seeds and harvests flowers, cooks Chinese dishes and crafts bamboo furniture. She has a seemingly vast knowledge of the traditional craft, foraging and cooking. Her episodes are very educational because they show how the foods are planted and harvested in the farm. Unlike other educational videos, they are not didactic or annotated by endless chatter. She lets the visuals do the storytelling. They are so beautifully composed and edited, it’s very easy to lose hours being absorbed by the idyllic setting and her deep knowledge of food, nature and traditional ways of doing things, which must have been handed down to her by her grandfolks.

But aside from her skill in growing and foraging food, Li makes us drool with her cooking. The way she cooks, the artful way she serves the dishes—every shot is so appetizingly presented that I am reminded of three of my favorite movies: Babette’s Feast, Eat, Drink, Man, Woman and Tampopo. In these memorable films a master chef gloriously prepares an array of delectable dishes. It’s

lakenyo hero of modern times who changed the meaning of being a politician as he was never greedy for power.

“He was the only political servant of almost everyone who became president of the Republic of the Philippines from Magsaysay, Macapagal, Marcos, Cory Aquino, Ramos, Estrada and Arroyo,” Fernando added.

Bello, meanwhile, said Ople was one of the proud sons of the province of Bulacan and the father of the Philippine Labor Code.

“The late Senator Blas F. Ople was one of the greatest Filipinos of all time and if he was still alive, he would have done more for the country,” he said.

O p l e ’s 9 2 - y e a r - o l d w i f e thanked the Bulakenyos for the annual commemoration of her husband’s birthday.

“Salamat po at palagi pa rin natin siyang [Ople] kapiling sa ating puso at sa kanyang mga naiwang ala-ala [Thank you that he was always in our hearts and the memories he left behind],” she said.

Ople was born in Hagonoy, Bulacan, on February 3, 1927, to Felix Antonio Ople, a craftsman who repaired boats, and his wife Segundina Fajardo.

Wednesday’s celebration coincided with the inauguration of the newly constructed threestory building of the Provincial Public Employment Service Office (PPESO).

After the inauguration, a certificate of commendation was given by Bello to the province and its PPESO Department for establishing t he f irst standalone PPESO building in Central Luzon. PNA

almost like food porn, if you pardon the expression. Lately, our daughter has joined our company of salivating watchers. Indeed, the best way to hold an audience is through the stomach.

Li rarely speaks in these videos but in one of her interviews she says: “Most people today are facing tremendous stress in work and life, so I hope they can feel relieved and remedied when watching my videos.” That’s very true, but they also leave us craving to go to the nearest Chinese delicatessen.

Indeed, the Earth can provide for our daily needs if only we start learning how to cultivate and produce our own food by using the traditional ways. As Li says: “There are so many ideas in my mind of old craftsmanship and food we have been enjoying for thousands of years. Some are on the verge of oblivion. I hope to preserve them through my small efforts.”

The videos are also very enlightening. People today have forgot ten where t hei r food comes from. We don’t know what it takes to grow healthy, nutritious food. These videos help urban dwellers get educated about growing and even preserving food. That’s a valuable and useful skill to have as we go through a pandemic. For instance, in just a few episodes, my wife and I learned how to bottle yellow peaches, how to make Chinese chili sauce, flower tea, dye clothes using grape peels, and even construct a clay oven or a sofa swing. Li could do it all, no sweat.

Beyond practical tips on planting, cooking and carpentry, Li Ziqi’s videos teach us a deeper

Editor: Angel R. Calso • Saturday February 6, 2021 A7

Iloilo town to host biggest ‘Battle of Mactan’ diorama

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LOILO CITY—A private initiative led by a Miagao-based group is currently working double-time to complete the country’s biggest diorama that will portray the “Battle of Mactan” ahead of its 500th anniversary on April 27 this year.

“It is the grandest event in the Philippines this year because we are celebrating the Quincentennial Commemoration of the battle between Lapu-Lapu and Ferdinand Magellan that happened 500 years ago,” John Rick Bolaño, executive associate of the Miagao-based Sulu Garden Foundation Inc., said in a phone interview.

Bolaño said the project is around 80 to 85 percent completed. They have already displayed the 50-squaremeter platform and currently working on the terrain of the seashore of Mactan Island.

“We want to showcase the authenticity of the event but also we want to give people the artistic side. That’s why we reimagine some of the features of the island; we placed stones and mangroves because Mactan also has mangroves and corals. We reimagined because we could not physically visit Mactan,” he added.

The project that was conceptualized way back in July 2020 was laid down by foundation President Jonathan Matias, an enthusiast in making artistic and historical projects.

The project, in partnership with the National Historical Commission, National Quincentennial Commission, and the Presidential Communications Operations Office, combines history, art, and modern technology to come up with a good presentation.

As the unveiling is coming near, Bolaño said they are also “pressured and preoccupied.” It is set to be unveiled on March 27, ahead of the April 27 anniversary to allow people to appreciate the diorama project.

He clarified that Sulu Garden Miagao, the host of the diorama, is more than just a restaurant as the Sulu Garden Foundation Inc.

universal lesson. The Earth provides a place to sustain our human needs—food, shelter, air, and basically everything we need to survive. In order for the Earth to survive we must keep these things alive and work with it to be a part of it, to be in harmony with where we live, not against it. Her example should inspire a paradigm shift in people who only know how to consume.

The scenes of planting, growing and withering, the cycle of day and night are visual reminders that we too go through cycles as human beings just as the Earth goes through cycles, just on different scales. The Earth grows and dies, it changes and shifts, it warms up and cools down; the Earth produces life and is fed back the things it creates.

They also teach us the virtue of patience, as they show the time it takes for seeds to grow into plants. One must learn to wait for time and the elements to work on the vegetables and fruits stored away for drying, pickling and fermenting. Everything in its right time.

Li combines various elements of nature in fresh new ways to prepare them and to serve them in appealing and appetizing ways. Watching her doing her thing inspires creativity and resourcefulness.

And toward the end of each episode, Li shows us how to savor the fruits of her labor in the kitchen, slowly and unhurriedly, relishing the taste and texture of each dish, in loving gratitude to the great provider.

Li’s art is no longer accorded the respect it used to enjoy in modern times. Sadly, the banal flavor of

has a history and art gallery and mini-laboratory for science and technology.

“We are excited in the sense that this is first in Western Visayas and it is the first in the whole Philippines.

Aside from the excitement, we are glad that we will be hosting this educational format of showcasing our diorama,” he said.

While the battle has nothing to do with Western Visayas because it is a celebration of Eastern and Central Visayas, the initiative will put the region, especially Miagao, into the spotlight, he said.

Even if the battle did not happen in Western Visayas, its people, by looking at the presentation, get to reminisce about the discovery of the Philippines and the introduction of Christianity to the country, he said.

“It gives us a sense also of nationalism, not just for Western Visayas but to all Filipinos in the Philippines and even abroad. The discovery of the Philippines started when Magellan came here and the introduction of Christianity to Filipinos started when Magellan came to our shores.

Magellan’s journey going to the Philippines is also the first circumnavigation of the world,” he added.

The creation of the diorama gathered the skills, creativity, and brains of some 20 people. The diorama is a modular type platform that can be assembled and dismantled.

“We based our concepts and designs on the perspective of Dr. Danilo Madrid Gerona because he has the primary sources and evidence of what happened during the battle in Mactan between Lapu-Lapu and Magellan,” he said.

Gerona is the author of the book Ferdinand Magellan. The Armada de Maluco and the European Discovery of the Philippines and serves as a consultant for the project.

He made his research using the actual accounts of Antonio Pigafetta, Magellan’s voyage chronicler and a survivor of the Mactan battle, and those of other historians. PNA

fastfood fare our children are getting used to has dulled the taste for traditional recipes that our grandmothers and mothers used to make.

At the risk of sounding ridiculous, I like to believe that Li Ziqi is a person sent by Providence to help us appreciate nature’s bountiful blessings that are within the reach of our hands.

This may also be a good time to remind ourselves, and especially the children, as Fr. Jerry Orbos writes in his column, that food does not come from the grocery but from the farmers and workers who worked for it.

Thanks to her videos, I am now more appreciative of the artistry, skills and patience of people who prepare our food, starting with our mothers and wives, as well as the chefs and kitchen help who toil in the kitchen all day long. We have been so used to having our food packaged at the grocery shelves or served in a restaurant, we no longer know the long process it takes to bring it to us at our convenience—involving a long line of producers and workers, from the farmer, the harvester, the transporter, the packager and so on.

Li Ziqi’s name may mean “gift from heaven” but it really should allude to all the people who make it possible for us to eat delicious and nutritious food, from the farm to our dinner table.

But above all, “gift from heaven” should really about Mother Nature, the “giving source” which provides for us if only we make the collective effort to live in harmony with her. If we can’t be food producers, let’s at least be grateful and mindful eaters.

Education BusinessMirror

A8 Saturday, February 6, 2021

Editor: Mike Policarpio

Marikina grooms homegrown doctors via scholarship grants

M

AYOR Marcelino R. Teodoro recently announced that the Marikina City government has granted medical scholarships to six deserving residents aspiring to become physicians through the “Libreng Pag-aaral sa Pagdo-Doktor Para sa mga Marikeño” scholarship program.

Teodoro said two medical students from his constituency have qualified for the Gold Scholarship Grant, which entitles them to receive P150,000educational assistance each. Meanwhile, four others got P75,000 of the same aid after they became eligible for the Silver Scholarship Grant.

Each grant may be used for a scholar’s transportation, board and lodging allowances on uniforms, textbooks, as well as other needs.

The local chief executive disclosed the names of the Gold Scholarship Grant recipients. One of them is Erika R. Mercado, 25, of Barangay Concepcion Dos, a summa cum laude and a consistent scholar. Her father’s stroke affected her studies, which resulted in the loss of her previous scholarship; her mother currently serves as a public-school teacher in the same city. The other, Jemicah Tristian P. Cobarrubias of Barangay Jesus Dela Peña, is the eldest among three siblings, whose parents are online sellers. Their house in Provident Village was severely

damaged by Supertyphoon Ulysses.

The four beneficiaries of the Silver Scholarship Grant were Dale Joseph Dino, 24, of Barangay Sta. Elena; Angelica Reyes, 22, of Barangay Concepcion Uno; Christina Joyce Diano, 22, of Barangay Barangka; and Angelo Franco Rafael Piamonte, 28, of Barangay Industrial Valley Complex.

“Many from Marikina aspire to become doctors, yet are financially challenged,” the city mayor said in Filipino. “That’s why the local government ensured to bestow scholarships on them.”

Important city ordinance

IT was in October 2020 when Teodoro signed City Ordinance 078, S. 2019, which provides an opportunity for Marikina residents aspiring to be doctors, yet cannot afford to pursue their careers in the medical field.

Primarily authored by Marikina City Vice Mayor Marion Andres, who is a licensed doctor, the program provides scholarship grants to qualified

CHED, Rex Education champion HEI excellence

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

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SCHOLARSHIP recipients of Marikina City.

residents who are currently enrolled in a medical program in select schools in Metro Manila.

Under the ordinance, the medicalscholarship grant can only be availed at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Far Eastern University, Emilio Aguinaldo College, Manila Central University, University of Santo Tomas, Fatima University, University of the East, University of Perpetual Help System-DALTA, and St. Luke’s College of Medicine.

It is also stipulated that, to be eligible to the grant, scholarship applicants must pass the entrance examination for medicine, a bona fide Marikina resident, not more than 30 years of age upon graduating from a pre-medicine course, and must send a letter of intent on availing of the scholarship grant.

As such, the applicant must have obtained any Bachelor’s degree considered as a pre-medicine course, as well as passed and have been endorsed by the city’s Medical Scholarship Grant Secretariat and the Medical Scholarship Board. Continuing

medical students on their second- to fourth-year status can also avail of the scholarships.

According to Teodoro, the ordinance—which will enable the city to produce physicians—requires beneficiaries to render two years of professional service as doctors of the local government after passing the board examination.

Vice mayor’s promise

MARIKINA City’s Medical Scholarship Board is composed of the mayor as chairman, the vice mayor as vice chairman, and the chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s Committee on Education.

Funding for the scholarship program will emanate from the School Board or the General Fund of the local government of Marikina. It targets to implement the program next academic year.

For his part, Andres assured that, “If our six recipients pass this semester, they can expect their scholarships to be continuous until they finish their studies.”

Pioneer GBP scholars graduate amid pandemic

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By Roderick L. Abad

IKE their proud parents, the sponsor-firm of college scholars from Cebu Technological University celebrated the triumph of the said learners’ graduation amid the challenging educational environment posed by the current health crisis.

The Global Business Power Corp. (GBP) recognized the success of its pioneer batch of scholars, namely: James Edoloverio, Kaye Nicole Bacalso and Kent John Caburnay, who all finished Bachelor of Science degrees in mechanical engineering.

Since they were in Grade 1, the company supported the education of these poor yet deserving students selected from indigent families who belong to GBP’s adopted communities near its plant sites.

“We have seen them grow, and have witnessed their hard work [as elementary-school students, until they have become] college undergrads,” said Jaime T. Azurin, president of GBP. “Now, they are ready to be productive members of society and be able to support their respective families.”

SCHOLARS of Global Business Power Corp. beam with pride.

As of 2020, the GBP scholarship program had been supporting the education of 805 students: 239 are from Cebu, 334 from Iloilo, 172 from Aklan, and 60 from Mindoro. Of these numbers, 305 are in elementary, 389 in high school, and 12 in college—including the three recent graduates.

The company covers their school fees. In addition, it provides school supplies and uniforms to its elementary scholars, as well as monetary allowance to those in high school and college.

For the latter, the courses offered to them for free are engineering-based, according to Azurin.

He said: “We at GBP believe that these [specialties] are crucial in nation-building and economic progress, as these seek to solve complex issues with modern and innovative solutions.”

The company’s educational program uses a holistic approach in training its scholars. With the help of their teachers, scholarship-grantees are not only taught to excel academically, but are also mentored in preparation for bigger leadership roles in the future. GBP conducts regular valuesformation programs, leadership workshops and pep talks with them.

Partner-teachers, on the other hand, are provided with regular seminars with a wide range of subjects: from gender and development to mental health, individualized learning, and learning difficulties—to enable them to imbibe new approaches and techniques in effectively managing classes.

“The graduation of James, Kaye, and Kent shows that we are on the right track,” Azurin averred. “We will continue to support and improve on the program, as we pursue our vision of enlightening lives and empowering progress.”

IBM empowers Fil. youth to create Web solutions for disaster resiliency

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By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

ULTINATIONAL technology giant IBM recently formed a partnership with the Asia Pacific College (APC) to host the SkillsBuild Innovation Camp that aims to enhance students’ pathways in becoming frontend Web developers, while addressing the current skills gap in the Philippines.

IBM said 154 APC students of multimedia arts, game development, information technology and computer science will receive quality mentorship from seasoned professionals about coding, front-end Web development and design thinking. The SkillsBuild Innovation Camp for Web Developers will culminate on March 10 with a competition where participants will present to facilitators, stakeholders and potential employers or investors their innovative human-centered Web solutions for disaster resiliency.

According to the latest World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs report based on work force trends in 20 economies, more than 42 percent of all jobs will change significantly by

2022 and require new technical and soft skills.

To close this gap, IBM launched SkillsBuild in 2019 as part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives for education and skills, to help job seekers upskill, reskill, and reach their professional goals. The company and its global ecosystem of learning partners ensure SkillsBuild will deliver the best possible experience for its users by providing them with purposefully curated relevant technology and professional content, skills badges, coaching, and project-based learning.

The SkillsBuild Innovation Camp for Web Developers’ curriculum is built from IBM’s SkillsBuild online learning platform. Partners in the Philippines are the Department of Science and Technology -Science and Technology Information Institute and ARISE Philippines—a private sector alliance for disaster-resilient societies.

Partners will be providing disaster-risk reduction and resiliency content, while nonprofit organization CodeDoor will enable the students to learn coding while reaching professional levels as developers, as well as digital training content.

The 12-week training will expose students to

front-end Webeb development and programming skills—including HTML, GIT, JavaScript, CSS-Preprocessors and CSS, as well as gain globally recognized IBM SkillsBuild badges which can be used later for employment. As a badge earner, a student will be able to demonstrate a foundational understanding of front-end Web development concepts, principles, and practices, as well as a deep understanding of using programming languages and frameworks to create Web eb applications.

The skills acquired can also be utilized by the students to advance their career as Web developers.

The program also provides students personalized coaching and experiential learning, as they will have opportunities to meet foreign Web development experts.

“IBM is committed to help prepare the Philippines’s future work force for business and social progress driven by technologies such as [the cloud and artificial intelligence],” said IBM Philippines President and Country General Manager Aileen Judan-Jiao. “The SkillsBuild Innovation Camp is a way [to hone the interests of students on technology, and ways] it can

change their lives and careers.”

“IBM SkillsBuild is a strategic opportunity to bridge the academic life of APC students with the ever-evolving digital economy,” pointed out APC President Teresita Medado. “An entirely unique and dynamic industry-academic ecosystem, IBM SkillsBuild at APC makes possible real-world experiences: meeting mentors [and experts across the globe, acquisition of] global industry certifications, working in multidisciplinary teams, and developing solutions to real world problems.”

Medado further stated: “Most of all, the impact of IBM SkillsBuild is beyond learning skills.

When integrated with general-education courses, it is a powerful learning experience toward developing successful behaviors for career success and responsible citizenship in the digital world.”

IBM has been making investments and partnering with governments, educational institutions and businesses around the world to equip the global work force for emerging “new-collar jobs:” employment that does not necessarily need traditional four-year degrees, or those that require a good amount of skills.

EL EBR AT I NG out s t a nd i n g a c h ie v e ments, innovations and resilience of higher-education institutions (HEIs) in the fields of teaching and learning, research, as well as public service and community engagement amid challenges of the present time, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Rex Education recently collaborated to launch the very first Gawad Edukampyon Awards.

With concerns brought about by the new normal, Gawad Edukampyon aims to create an arena where different universities, colleges, teachertraining schools and professional schools can share their experiences and best practices while creating, refining, and implementing breakthrough programs that could lead to a “better” normal for education.

“The commission recognizes that the conduct of this activity will strengthen the flexible learning approaches of our HEIs,” said CHED Chairman J. Prospero de Vera III. “Through this collaboration, we hope to ensure and inspire all education stakeholders, policy-makers, administrators, educators, learners and the general public by examining and celebrating the response, relief and recovery efforts...through which a more adaptive, innovative, and resilient Philippine higher-education system shall emerge.”

De Vera and Rex Education Chairman Atty. Dominador Buhain led the award-giving event launch on January 30, which was streamed live on Rex Education and CHED's Facebook pages. Rex’s CEO Don Timothy Buhain; CHED Executive Director IV Atty. Cinderella Filipina Benitez-Jaro; CHED International Affairs Director and Deputy Executive Director IV Atty. Lily Freida Macabangun-Milla, CESO IV; Rex Chief External Affairs Officer Danda Crimelda Buhain and CHED Technical Working Group member on Flexible Learning Edizon Fermin, Ph.D likewise graced the event.

A ceremonial signing of the statement of cooperation, which indicated the formalization and official launch of the call for entries for the awards, followed suit.

Championing Filipino learners

GAwad Edukampyon is deeply rooted in both Rex Education and CHED’s ongoing advocacies directed toward uplifting the Filipino learner. The former’s core philosophy, “Edukampyon,” is about empowering the whole community where all are duty bearers who have an obligation to recognize, respect, protect and fulfill the right of every learner to good, quality education.

According to a statement, the said advocacy has been the guiding principle of Rex throughout the years, dedicated to grooming Filipino learners who are healthy, safe, engaged, supported, challenged and values-oriented.

“With Gawad Edukampyon,

we hope to celebrate the adaptiveness, innovativeness, and resilience of every [HEI] which have been our heroes of education, especially during the most difficult times,” said the Rex Education chairman during the launch.

He added the company also wants to honor the dedication and cooperation of “every person, every community, every school, and every organization moving together for a single cause.”

“We saw different heroes of education rise as we try to put together the winning formula that can create a ‘better normal’ for our learners. We want to spread these stories of hope, through this program, to inspire [everyone],” he further stated.

Gawad Edukampyon, per CHED, is also tied to its own bayanihan efforts, which aim to help and guide students, teachers, learning institutions and the whole education sector discover solutions “that would help us win in the new normal.”

Award categories are the following: n The Gawad Edukampyon for Excellence in Flexible and Responsive Management: An

institutional award recognizing outstanding management response consisting policies, programs and practices for the continuity of education during times of disruption, while at the same time ensuring the health, safety and well-being of students, faculty, staff members and schoolcommunity. n The Gawad Edukampyon for Excellence in Flexible Teaching and Learning Innovation: Recognizes innovations in instruction, teaching-learning and assessment to ensure students are constantly engaged and challenged even during times of disruption.

n The Gawad Edukampyon for Responsive Research and Development: Distinguishes

outstanding products of HEI research and development which significantly contributed in mitigating the effects of the pandemic, or led to greater understanding of its causes and effects.

n The Gawad Edukampyon for Public Service and Community Engagement: Highlights

outstanding projects and projects by an HEI—including its management, faculty and students—toward alleviating the situation caused by the pandemic to its immediate and/or general community.

Finalists and winners will be selected through a very rigorous screening process and will be featured in the Philippine Flexible Learning Summit happening from October 5 to 7, 2021, in observance of World Teacher’s Day. The roster of the winners will also be featured in the book Padayon, which will be published by Rex Education and uploaded in the CHED Connect Open Education Resource Hub.

Tourism&Entertainment BusinessMirror

Editor: Carla Mortel-Baricaua

Saturday, February 6, 2021 A9

Exploring Siargao’s hidden island paradise of Halian

A fishing boat cruise along the crystal clear turquoise waters near the white-sand coastline of Halian Island.

An aerial view of the bean shaped island of Halian.

Story & photos by Erwin M. Mascariñas

W

hile most people love to travel and visit popular tourist destinations, I prefer to explore areas that are yet to be shared on social media or watched on Instagram and YouTube channels.

One such place is the small island village hidden within the shadow of Siargao’s popularity.

Dubbed as one of the world’s most beautiful island destinations in South East Asia, Siargao Island has become one of the most visited tourist destinations in Mindanao both by local and foreign tourists.

Yet amid the sudden surge in tourism and development in most parts of the island, Siargao has remained in most parts, unspoiled, with several areas yet to be fully explored by tourists. One such place is one of the small island barangays found in the town of Del Carmen, an island paradise known to locals as Halian.

As a photojournalist and someone who is into travel and wildlife photography, exploring parts of Siargao that have yet to reach the eyes of mainstream tourism has always been a part of my bucket list, Halian has been on that list for more than six years.

Halian Island is situated in the middle of the ocean that separates the Siargao Island and the island province of Dinagat. It is a small

island barangay covering 24 hectares with a population of around 1,100 individuals.

With parts of the country on lockdown brought by the global pandemic, visiting the island for the first time back in November 2020 was something I did not imagine. Luckily, I had been able to get the opportunity to explore and travel to the island.

Tourists who would want to explore the island should first coordinate with the local tourism office near the port in Del Carmen and book a boat ride for around P2,500.

From there, the boat travels for about one to two hours covering more than 20 kilometers of open waters depending on the weather and sea conditions.

Preferably, the best time to visit the island would be during the summer season as waves would be more subtle compared to those months when the sea is rougher as that of the rainy season.

Upon reaching the island, you

The island’s delicacies include the abundance of fresh seafood and dried fish.

A kilometer long sandbar stretching off the northern tip of the Halian Island.

will immediately be greeted with the laid-back lifestyle of the islanders while they tend to their fishing gears, boats and witness as fisherfolks unload the fresh

catch of the day.

Halian is the kind of place where you’ll eat the best fresh seafood with your feet in the sand and the best part about the meal, is the

prices of the fish, squid, shrimps or crabs are nowhere close to the expensive menu you would get in any restaurant in the big cities.

One of the islands delicacy would be their dried fish, each day the villager would process hundreds of freshly caught cardinal fish to be dried and even a mix of other species which would be one mouth-watering experience.

The island is small, one could even explore the 3-kilometer circumferential white-sand coastline in a single day, but even with its small size, the island is blessed with nature’s beauty, from its fine white-sand beach, crystal clear blue to turquoise waters to breathtaking underwater marine life.

Definitely, the place is far from the hustle and bustle of the city life. While other island destina-

tions in Siargao like those found in the town of General Luna, attract a hefty number of tourists, the island of Halian is still free from the usual crowded beach party life, compared to what most popular beaches are offering, making it suitable for a nomad like me to explore and experience.

If you’re looking for fine hotel quality accommodations, 24 hours electricity, good mobile phone connection and sufficient Internet data access then Halian island is not for you, well not right now, as facilities are still being constructed for future tourism expansions.

But if off the beaten path travel is what you have in mind, then I would recommend staying in the island for a day or two, and experience the island life, enjoy the hospitality and friendly atmosphere the locals of Halian has to offer.

While the island also lacks electricity, the entire village is powered by a supplied generator that is turned on from six in the evening until 10 in the evening. As for mobile communication and data for Internet use, only certain parts of the island have mobile phone signal and data connectivity.

Travelers can also request the generator be turned on to charge your mobile devices and camera batteries, but it does come with a price.

For the best experience, I would recommend bringing a tent, and sleep near the coastline and be mesmerized by the beauty of the evening stars as they illuminate the dark night.

Definitely, Halian Island is a place I would want to return and experience more and hopefully in a not too distant future.

Celebrate the Year of the Ox at Diamond Hotel Manila

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elcome the Year of the Metal Ox at Diamond Hotel Philippines to invite prosperity and luck in a festive Chinese New Year celebration.

The year of the diligent, honest and dependable Ox calls for a serving of magnificent feasts. Corniche restaurant will offer Chinese culinary treasures at the lunch and dinner buffet from February 10 to 12, 2021 for P3,180 net per person. Indulge in traditional Chinese New Year favorites and other celebratory dishes prepared by Chinese Chef Yang Yong such as Roasted Suckling Pig, Steamed Crab with Garlic Butter Sauce, Roast Duck, Double Boiled Black Chicken Soup,

CHEF Yang Yong

CHINESE Grazing Box

Chinese New Year Pan Cai (all-inone dish), Sliced Pig Knuckle Aspic and Assorted Dimsum. Leave room for dessert so you can enjoy Almond Jelly, Tikoy (glutinous rice cake) and other sweet treats.

What’s more, every minimum of P5,000 spent at Corniche during this period entitles you to “picka-prize” from the Prosperity Tree where you have a chance to win surprises from the hotel.

Also on February 12, 2021, every minimum of P5,000 net spent at the Corniche Lunch Buffet or Yurakuen Japanese Restaurant entitles guest to a 10-minute Online Feng Shui Consultation with Angel Macalino. Consultations will only be from 12 nn to 3 p.m. at

the Corniche.

Should you wish to celebrate the grand occasion at home, visit Diamond Hotel’s online shopping site onlineshopping.diamondhotel. com and choose from various Chinese Set Menus and the Chinese Grazing Box. Select from the four Premium Set Menus and three Luxury Set Menus exclusively created by Chef Yang Yong. The Chinese Grazing Box good for four persons has a selection of cold cuts, appetizers, Chinese New Year Tikoy and wine.

For reservations please call 8528-3000 ext.1121, mobile number 09757921473 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or visit onlineshopping.diamondhotel.com.

A10 Saturday, February 6, 2021 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

PHL needs to attract right players to boost Internet connectivity

BY RIZAL RAOUL S. REYES

The air fryer is the hottest small appliance right now

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ERHAPS the most popular and in-demand small home appliance right now is the air fryer. I really don’t know where this popularity originated, whether it’s from TikTok or Reddit, but these days, every person wants an air fryer.

The second most popular and in-demand small appliance is the vacuum cleaner. Now that we’re home most of the time, a broom, it seems, is not enough to keep the dust away.

But back to air fryers: We all love fried food.

Filipinos’ breakfast fare is mostly fried stuff like

bacon, tocino, tapa, hotdog and luncheon meat so an air fryer seems really very practical.

The concept behind air fryers is that they cook the foods by circulating hot air around an inner chamber so that whatever you’re cooking will have a crunchy exterior without the oil used for actual frying.

Basically, an air fryer acts like a convection oven.

Both help decrease cooking times and brown food with a more uniform appearance.

Air fryers aren’t new. They’ve been around since 2010. But the old models were, of course, different from the new ones. The old models took a while to cool down after you’ve used them.

So we looked around and found some of the good deals in e-commerce platforms.

Forbes.com’s top pick as the best air fryer overall is the Philips Air Fryer with TurboStar Avance, which costs $250. Here it is available right on Lazada for P32,999 (on sale from P50,000).

This Philips kitchen appliance claims to be the world’s No. 1 air fryer with over 7 million units sold.

I remember that my friends who first had air fryers years ago all had Philips models. The next generation Philips Air Fryer has been designed to fit on most

countertops, as they’re now 20 percent smaller than their previous version with the same 1.8lb capacity.

“The Philips TurboStar Air Fryer is designed to cook fried foods quickly and evenly with little to no oil, resulting in delicious food that has 75 percent less fat than traditional fried preparations,” said Forbes. com. Not everyone can afford an air fryer that costs anywhere near P32,000 but the Philips Air Fryer Healthy Low Fat Multicooker Fryer 4.1 Liter costs P5,999 (from P10,000) on Lazada and will get the job done. It may not perform as efficiently as the TurboStar Air Fryer but it’s from the same brand, so it’s still a good one.

The Xiaomi Lexiu Onemoon Air Fryer OA1 OilFree No Fumes Non-Stick 220V 2 Liter High-Capacity Electric Frying Pan is a less expensive alternative at P3,099, down from P5,999, on Lazada.

Instant Vortex Pro, the same company that made the very popular Instant Pot, has an Air Fryer Oven for $109 on Amazon.

Because it’s also an oven, the Instant Vortex Pro Air Fryer Oven 9 in 1 with Rotisserie can do more than just make your food brown and crisp. It can broil, bake and roast, too. ■

THE Philippines has an opportunity to boost its Internet connectivity by attracting the right players such as American tech juggernaut Space Exploration Technology (SpaceX), according to one of the country’s legislators.

In a video conference, Sen. Grace Poe said the country has to develop the right policies to attract investors such as SpaceX to come into the country.

“There are certain issues that need to be addressed such as the ownership provision of companies operating in the public utility sector,” Poe said.

Right now, the 1987 Constitution limits foreign ownership on such industries to 40 percent.

“In order to associate ourselves with an innovative company such Elon Musk’s SpaceX, we have to offer the right incentives to them,” Poe pointed out.

Poe initiated a measure to revise the 81-yearold Public Service Act to open up the economic environment, ensure more investments and generate more employment.

Poe, chairman of the Senate committee on public services, added the proposed amendments aim to put clarity in the definition of a public utility and public services. “We don’t need to hostage the Constitution regarding this issue,” she pointed.

Meanwhile, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III disclosed that he and his legislative staff held a virtual meeting with SpaceX Vice President Patrica Cooper to discuss the possibility of deploying its Starlink satellite Internet project in the country. SpaceX is an affiliate of California-based Tesla Group.

The Starlink satellite Internet project is an interconnected network of around 12,000 satellites beaming high-speed Internet to any place on earth.

Since then, Starlink has deployed 955 Starlink satellites in orbit and will begin commercial services this year.

Last week, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III and his legislative staff met virtually with SpaceX Vice President Patricia Cooper to discuss the possibility of Starllink system coverage of the Philippines by the third quarter of 2021.

Pimentel, also the chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, assured SpaceX that the government will ensure that the constitutional and legal requirements will enable a smooth working engagement between the government and SpaceX. Meanwhile, Cooper vowed that Starlink would definitely provide timely, value-added broadband platform to connect Filipino communities, businesses, and consumers.

Furthermore, Pimentel pointed out that the Philippines will gain tremendous benefits from Starlink’s low-latency Internet which can boost the government’s capability in effective contact tracing and quarantine monitoring; improved and accessible government services; enhanced security; online education and remote learning; and emergency and disaster preparedness.

Nintendo profits soar as people play games during pandemic TOKYO—Nintendo Co. reported Monday that its profit for the first three fiscal quarters nearly doubled as people around the world stayed home for the pandemic and turned to playing games.

The Japanese video-game maker behind the Super Mario and Pokemon franchises said its AprilDecember profit surged to ¥376.6 billion ($3.6 billion) from ¥196 billion the previous year.

Its nine-month sales jumped 37 percent to ¥1.4 trillion ($13 billion).

Kyoto-based Nintendo’s success has come on the back of the popularity of its Switch console, as well as game software like “Animal Crossing: New Horizons.”

Other Switch software enjoying healthy demand included “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” and “Super Mario 3D All-Stars,” according to the company.

The October-December quarter is always crucial for Nintendo because of year-end holiday shopping.

Nintendo sold 24 million Switch consoles during the three quarters through December. It had sold 12.5 million Switch devices during the first two quarters of the fiscal year, and so sales nearly doubled in the latest quarter. The total numbers include the smaller Switch Lite console, as well as the regular Switch.

The latest numbers show Switch sales are still going strong, compared to the same period a year earlier, at 17.7 million units. After this fourth year of holiday season Switch sales, cumulative sales total 74 million consoles, Nintendo said.

NEW DEALS AND THRILLS GO ONLINE

Nintendo expects a ¥400 billion ($3.8 billion) profit for the fiscal year through March 2021, up from 258.6 billion yen the previous fiscal year. It had earlier forecast a profit of ¥300 billion ($2.9 billion).

One Covid-19-related setback for Nintendo has been the delayed opening of its theme park in Japan, called Super Nintendo World, built with Universal Studios. It had been set to open February 4, but Osaka,

where it is located, is one of the urban areas under a state of emergency over the coronavirus pandemic, as cases surge in Japan this year.

Although the spread of Covid-19 infections has slammed many businesses, the game sector has, from the start, been a beneficiary, offering home entertainment and ways for people to connect remotely through online games. AP

RESORTS World Manila’s new online retail channel, RWM Exclusives, is welcoming the new year with amazing thrills and deals for members. To celebrate 2021, RWM Exclusives is running a special Relax and Reload deal.

Book an overnight stay at either Belmont Manila Hotel, Holiday Inn Express Manila Newport City, or Savoy Hotel Manila and top-up your Autosweep or Easytrip RFID with P1,000 worth of credits for only P3,500 net. The Relax and Reload deal is available at RWM Exclusives until February 28 with a stay period of up to June 30. As participating hotels are currently only accepting essential stay, the hotel entitlement can be used for future stays subject to the hotel’s availability, safety protocols, and government policies on leisure stays.

The online retail portal is RWM’s latest innovation to thrill a wider audience. Sign up for free and find the best staycation offers from international and local hotel partners, indulge in the most satisfying dining deals from RWM’s signature restaurants, and add color and style to life with a wide selection of exciting fashion and homeware pieces.

More information is available at www.rwmexclusives.com.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

BusinessMirror

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

Rise of the pandemic babies D

URING the last 12.12 sale, Shopee sold a record-breaking 12 million items in the first 24 minutes and at its peak, 1 million items were bought in a single minute.

Shopping activity surged at midnight on December 12, with four times more items sold in the first hour compared to 2019 with a recorded 450 million views on Shopee Live across the 12.12 sale.

Rival site Lazada, on the other hand, said it doubled its sales during the same 12.12 Christmas sale compared to last year, with shoppers spending a total of more than 420 million minutes on the platform.

Lazada’s first-hour traffic reached a high of 1.6 million shoppers on the app at once searching for the best deals and 1,006 Lazada Millionaire Sellers were recorded during the three-day shopping festival.

According to the “e-Conomy SEA 2020” report from Google, Temasek and Bain & Company, Internet usage in Southeast Asia (SEA) continues to grow, with 40 million new users this year alone (400 million year-to-date versus 360 million in 2019). Here in the Philippines, given the extensive Covid-19 lockdown periods, people went online searching for answers to their sudden, new challenges. A significant number tried new digital services: 37percent of all digital service consumers were new (slightly higher than the SEA average), with 95 percent of these new consumers intending to continue their behavior post-pandemic.

The report said e-commerce and online media have seen the least impact from Covid-19.

E-commerce has driven significant growth in the Philippines, at 55 percent. This ascendance has largely offset declines in travel, transport and food delivery.

Overall, in 2020, Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) is expected to reach a total value of $7.5 billion, having grown at 6 percent year-on-year.

HERE COMES A NEW CHALLENGER

SHOPEE and Lazada might be the biggest, but they are certainly not the only e-commerce sites in the Philippines. There’s also Zalora, Carousell, Metrodeal, BeautyMNL, Argomall, Galleon and eBay Philippines, just to name a few. Last week, another company officially threw its hat in the online market ring, promising a better shopping and shipping experience.

VeMoBro is the newest online shopping platform that’s made for Filipinos by Filipinos. Oddly enough, instead of focusing on some grand marketing strategy, it highlighted compassion as one of the key elements that differentiates it from the rest.

VeMoBro stands for “Velocity, Mobility, and Broad” and this homegrown e-commerce site identifies itself

as a Covid baby—born out of a very challenging time that made it pivot its focus from automobiles and electronics to essential products.

Launching at a time when Filipino consumers need more e-commerce options, it puts emphasis on providing superior services to both online customers and sellers through its unique take on digital shopping and on the most critical aspect of e-commerce, which is logistics. Furthermore, VeMoBro commits itself to empowering Filipino retailers of all sizes, with focus on micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

VeMoBro wants to focus on improving the onlineshopping experience by making sure that everything on the platform is legitimate and not fake—still one of the biggest pain points for online shoppers and a recurring issue in many e-commerce platforms.

Aware of the proliferation of fake products and online scams as online shopping gains more popularity, VeMoBro ensures the legitimacy of the products on its marketplace to protect both consumers and sellers.

The company adopts fail-safe features to filter out fake sellers and implements a system that regulates and ensures accurate, easy-to-read product descriptions to deliver peace of mind while shopping.

VeMoBro Founder and CEO Engr. Vergil Bargola says, “VeMoBro’s utmost mission is to create a platform that puts high value on consumer trust. By carefully filtering out [illegitimate sellers], investing in and supporting legitimate sellers, we assure our customers that our platform does not only attend to their essential needs but also provides a safe e-commerce space.”

The platform offers a wide array of “new essentials” comprising food and grocery items, home essentials, tech gadgets and accessories, and automotive products. VeMoBro’s easy-to-use and clutter-free digital platform lets customers track their purchases in real-time.

When asked how they plan to go against those giant ecommerce sites, Bargola said, “We can’t go toe to toe with the giants. What we can do is address the concerns of Filipinos. In a pandemic situation, community is important. We are Filipinos, so we take care of our own.”

Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Rain M. Ibajo stressed that VeMoBro seeks to provide an additional way of empowering Filipino retailers of all sizes, with focus on micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. “One of our goals is to be a platform for growth. We understand how the pandemic took its toll on Filipino businesses, and we are here to work with them to achieve recovery. Whether you’re an established brand or an aspiring start-up, you are welcome to join our growing list of partner merchants as we work together to succeed in this industry.”

The VeMoBro app is now available on Google Play or you can shop via browser at vemobro.com.ph. The platform provides customers with several payment options such as cash-on-delivery, online banking or e-wallet payment through GCash, GrabPay, Coins.ph and Dragonpay. First-time users are entitled to a P100 discount for a minimum total purchase of P1,000 until June 30. ■

PHL ranked 9th in 2020 gaming tweets

BY RODERICK L. ABAD Contributor WHEN most people stayed at home due to Covid-19 lockdowns, video games become one of the most popular past times and talked-about online among Filipinos in 2020, according to an American microblogging and social networking service provider. This is shown in the country’s improved global ranking from 10th in 2019 to ninth last year in terms of gaming tweets. In fact, gaming conversations here even rose to 87 percent from 2019 to 2020.

Always in the know of the latest in the gaming scene, the five most tweeted about games among Filipinos were “Animal Crossing: New Horizons,” “Genshin Impact,” “Among Us Game,” “PUBG” and “League of Legends.” Twitter was also the “go-to” place for netizens in the country to find updates on their favorite gamers and teams. To wit, T1 was the most talked about esports team nationwide, then OG esports, G2 esports, FNATIC, TSM, Team Secret, Cloud 9, Gen G, Team Liquid, and FaZe Clan.

These were some of the results reflecting the growing passion of Filipinos about gaming that made the Philippines’s presence felt more on Twitter, thus surpassing Spain in the Top 10 list of countries that tweeted the most about gaming in 2020.

Japan led the eight leading spots, followed by the United States, Korea, Brazil, Thailand, the United Kingdom, France and India.

Twitter reported that for the first time ever, there were more than two billion tweets about gaming throughout that year worldwide, up 75 percent from 2019. Also, there was a 49-percent hike in unique authors last year. Due to social or physical distancing protocol, gaming fans globally turned to Twitter to talk about the biggest moments of the year and used it as a place to connect with fellow gamers when many couldn’t connect in person.

Just like in the Philippines, Animal Crossing: New Horizons topped the gaming tweets in 2020.

The other most tweeted-about games were “F Go Project,” “TWST JP,” “Final Fantasy,” “Fortnite Game,” “Ensemble Stars,” “Game Knives Out,” Genshin Impact, “Play Apex” and “Identity VJP.” Ibaillanos was the biggest gaming personality on Twitter last year, followed by Rubiu 5, Jack Septic Eye, Ninja, Pokimanelol, Tim The Tat Man, Bad Boy Halo, Techno The Pig, George Not Found, and Corpse Husband.

Internationally, the esports conversation was up 14 percent in 2020 compared to 2019, with FaZe Clan being the most tweeted-about team, followed by G2 esports, MIBR, FNATIC, Pai N Gaming BR, T1, Cloud 9, FURIA, Fla esports, and 100 Thieves.

• Saturday, February 6, 2021 A11

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VEMOBRO offers a wide array of new essentials comprising food and grocery items, home essentials, tech gadgets and accessories, and automotive products.

Sports BusinessMirror

Barty starts warming up for Aussie Open

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| Saturday, February 6, 2021 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

BAMBOL, COMM MON GET SEAG BALL ROLLING A

By Josef Ramos

PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino (right) and chef de mission Ramon Fernandez have set the criteria for the selection of athletes to the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam.

LL medal winners in the 2019 30th Southeast Asian Games the country hosted with a flourish are guaranteed of slots on Team Philippines to the 31st SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, later this year.

At least for now.

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and chef de mission to the Vietnam SEA Games Ramon Fernandez agreed on the criteria during their first official meeting on Friday at the East Ocean Palace Restaurant in Parañaque City.

Tolentino and Fernandez, a Philippine Sports Commission commissioner, also bared that the country will participate in 38 of the 40 sports programmed by Vietnam.

“But we are not closing the doors on national sports associations which could justify their athletes’ inclusion, in case these recommended athletes didn’t make the podium in 2019,” Tolentino said.

Vietnam is hosting less sports (40) compared to the 56 two years ago in the country, but pegged the number of events at 520, only 16 less than those in the 30th edition of the biennial games. This year’s games are set from November 21 to December 2.

“The criteria for now are on the medalist— gold, silver and bronze—in the last SEA Games.

If an NSA can prove to us that it has athletes who can win gold, we will have to discuss with the POC,” Fernandez said.

Both leaders, however, didn’t identify the two sports that won’t be on Team Philippines’ list.

“I cannot say right now what these two sports are not included but it will be a continuing review [process] in coordination with the NSAs,” Fernandez said.

Fernandez also said that he will discuss with the PSC board headed by Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez on the possibility of reverting the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila and the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City into a

WORLD No. 1 Ash Barty gets things started Down Under. AP

bubble training facility for qualified and aspiring athletes to the SEA Games.

“There are no more [Covid-19] patients at Rizal Memorial and there are only seven left at PhilSports,” Fernandez said. “NSAs without their own bubble facilities could use both once they are no longer needed as quarantine centers.”

A few NSAs are establishing their own bubble training camps—fencing (Ormoc City), rowing (La Mesa Dam), wrestling (Las Piñas City), archery (Dumaguete City) and cycling and skateboarding (Tagaytay City).

Tokyo Olympic qualifiers and aspirants in boxing, karate and taekwondo have been training at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna, since January 15.

Tolentino said the budget for the training, preparation and participation of athletes will be culled from the PSC’s National Sports Development Fund that is fed by the sports agency’s share from the income of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

Fernandez also announced that Pilipinas Obstacle Sports Federation President Atty.

Alberto Agra will be one of his deputies.

The sports on Vietnam’s program are aquatics, archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, billiards, bodybuilding, bowling, boxing, canoeing, chess, cycling, dancesports, e-sports, fencing, football, futsal, golf, gymnastics, handball, judo, jiu jitsu, karate, kickboxing, kurash, muaythai, pencaksilat, petanque, rowing, sepaktakraw, shooting, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon, volleyball, vovinam, weightlifting, wrestling and wushu.

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ELBOURNE, Australia—Ash Barty got things started as the Australian Open tune-up events resumed Friday following an unscheduled day off because of a Covid-19 case stemming from one of the tournament quarantine hotels.

A day after all matches in six tournaments were postponed so that 160 players could isolate and undergo testing, there were 70 matches on the order of play as organizers tried to cram all scheduled lead-in matches into three days before the year’s first major starts on Monday.

Top-ranked Barty got her first taste of the modified scoring system introduced to shorten matches in a disrupted schedule, dominating a match tiebreaker to beat Shelby Rogers, 7-5, 2-6, 10-4, and move into Yarra Valley Classic semifinals. She’ll next meet either 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams or 13th-seeded Danielle Collins, who were meeting in an all-American quarterfinal.

In a reverse of the result of last year’s Australian Open final, Garbine Muguruza beat Sofia Kenin, 6-2, 6-2, to advance to the semifinals. Kenin beat Muguruza in the 2020 final in three sets, including by 6-2 scores in the final two sets.

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley did a radio interview before play started and announced that 507 people with connections to the tournament quarantine hub test had been tested and 495 had already returned negative tests for the coronavirus. He said results for 12 people were pending.

Play was halted as a precaution after a quarantine worker tested positive this week, days after his last shift at the hotel, and all players and tournament-related people at the Grand Hyatt were regarded as casual contacts. State health authorities on Friday said there were no further cases of community transmission in the previous 24 hours.

To speed things up a little, 17 courts were being used and women’s matches were reduced to two regular sets with a 10-point match tiebreaker if required.

Barty opened proceedings on Margaret Court Arena and after some up-and-down form in the first two sets, she raced to a 6-1 lead in the match tiebreaker and finished the tiebreaker off in 12 minutes.

“A bit of an unusual scoring system for us,” Barty said. “Happy to get through and have another chance tomorrow.”

“It’s the challenge, regardless of what conditions you’re dealt with,” she said of the situation so close to the year’s first major.

Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka, meanwhile, beat Yulia Putintseva, 6-4, 1-6, 11-9, to advance at the Grampians Trophy, an event staged for the players forced into hard lockdown during quarantine. AP

Belo vows to help Meralco end championship woes

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AC BELO vowed to do whatever it takes for him to help Meralco end its championship heartbreaks.

A few hours after the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) approved the Meralco-Blackwater trade on Thursday, the 27-year-old former Far Eastern University gunner told BusinessMirror he would give his best BELO to help his new team win its first PBA title after losing thrice in the championship round.

“It’s very painful to experience when you lose in the championship round especially when you are just a win away of bagging the crown,” said Belo, describing his experience when he was still playing for the Tamaraws in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 77 men’s basketball finals.

Belo was one of those players who experienced that bitter lost after the National University (NU) Bulldogs ended their 60-year title-drought when they routed FEU, 59-75, in a sudden-death Game Three of the finals in October 2014 at the Araneta Coliseum.

He felt the same as the Bolts who finished behind champion Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in three Governors’ Cup conferences championship rounds in 2016, 2017 and 2020.

“I know how painful it was. I am here to play my best and help them to win a championship,” added Belo, noting he would do his best to immediately adapt to the system of Head Coach Norman Black. “I am thankful to the Blackwater management for treating me like a true member of the family.”

The 6-foot-4 Belo, who averaged 11.4 points and 5.3 rebounds in 11 games last bubble Season 45 Philippine Cup, was at his condominium in Libis, Quezon City when he learned that trade was already approved by the league trade committee.

Belo was shipped by the Elite for Meralco’s starting point guard Baser Amer and power forward Bryan Faundo.

He was acquired by Meralco to strengthen its frontline composed of Nonoy Baclao, Cliff Hodge, Raymond Almazan and Reynel Hugnatan.

Josef Ramos

Tokyo Olympics head staying put amid statement against women

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OKYO—The president of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee said Thursday he would not resign despite pressure on him to do so after making derogatory comments earlier in the week about women.

The controversy surrounding Yoshiro Mori, the gaffe-prone former Japanese prime minister, is one more problem the postponed Tokyo Olympics really didn’t need as organizers and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) try to pull off the games in the midst of a pandemic. They are scheduled to open on July 23.

“I am not thinking to resign,” Mori said. “I have been working hard and helped devotedly for seven years. I will not be stepping down.”

The IOC said it will not urge Mori to resign, saying his apology was enough.

In an online meeting of the Japanese Olympic Committee board of directors earlier in the week, Mori was reported by the daily newspaper Asahi Shimbun as saying women talk too much in meetings. His comments have created a storm in Japan, where women are grossly underrepresented in politics and in board rooms.

“The statement made at the Japan Olympic Committee was an inappropriate expression, contrary to the spirit of the Olympics and Paralympics,” Mori said. “I am deeply remorseful. I would like to withdraw the statement. I would like to apologize for any unpleasant feelings.”

In an online meeting, Asahi reported the 83-year-old official as saying: “Women are very competitive. When one of them raises her hand, they probably think they have to say something, too. And then everyone says something.”

Mori’s comment came when he was asked about the presence of few women on the board of the Japanese Olympic Committee.

“If we are going to have more women directors, someone has remarked, then meetings go on for a long time unless we restrict the comments,” he said. “I’m not saying who that is.”

In defending Mori, the IOC noted its support for gender equality as “one of the key pillars” of Olympic values, including an increase in the number of women on its own executive board to 33 percent with five of 15 members. AP