BusinessMirror February 16, 2020

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‘LESS DRUGS, LESS CRIME’ www.businessmirror.com.ph

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Sunday, February 16, 2020 Vol. 15 No. 129

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PNP CHIEF GAMBOA CITES POLICE ‘MILESTONES’ IN BLOODY NARCOTICS WAR—WHILE THE SHADOW OF QUESTIONED OPS, DEATHS LINGERS.

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By Rene Acosta

HE country’s crime statistics continue to plummet as a result of the government’s “aggressive” campaign against illegal drugs and anticriminality strategies that are being implemented, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“Crime has remained on a downtrend. And we are winning the war on illegal drugs. As I have promised since I assumed command over the PNP in April 2018, we will not relax, we will not relent, and we will fulfill our President’s vision of a drug-free Philippines,” said PNP chief General Archie Gamboa.

Buoyed by the trend—a sustained drop in crime figures since the current administration came

into office in 2016—the PNP chief vowed to adopt further measures and step up the organization’s effort in reducing crime in the country.

This would include sustained operations against drug suspects, intensified patrols, conducts of checkpoints, greater presence of policemen on the streets, stepped up police operations and aggressive accounting of wanted persons.

Continued on A2

PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE VIA AP

RELATIVES look at portraits of alleged victims of President Duterte’s socalled war on drugs during a religious service ahead of the observance of All Souls’ Day, October 30, 2018, in Manila. AP/BULLIT MARQUEZ “Recently, we joined the nation as we welcomed the new survey ranking the Philippines as the 24th best place to live and work, following the United States which ranked as 23rd and ahead of China which ranked as 26th. This only shows that the government’s strong and relentless peace-and-order campaign significantly contributed in creating a secure environment across the nation where our countrymen feel safe to work, live and do business.”— PNP chief General Archie Gamboa

Saudi Arabia vs. Dubai could be the Gulf’s new business rivalry

By Vivian Nereim

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products. The glitzy city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) built its reputation as a freewheeling business hub in a region clogged with bureaucracy.

Even companies focused on the much larger Saudi market would base themselves in Dubai, deterred by restrictive investment rules, or the religious police, that roamed the streets badgering women to cover up.

Bloomberg News

ONNY FROEHLICH’S voice echoed across the empty rooms as he walked through his company’s new office in Riyadh.

The German entrepreneur had just set up the internet, but he was already imagining the space as the bustling future headquarters of Golden Scent, a Dubai-based e-commerce firm he co-founded with a Saudi friend five years ago.

The next step is to move employees from Dubai and hire more in the Saudi capital.

“If you want to be big in the Middle East, you need to be in Saudi—full stop,” he said. “Maybe in six months we’ll stand here and it’s full.”

The growing number of startups in Riyadh reflects an undeclared competition between two Gulf allies that’s set to intensify

this year, realigning the economics of a region striving to reduce its reliance on oil.

Dubai has staked its economic recovery on World Expo 2020, a six-month showcase of global innovation expected to attract some 25 million visitors, while investing billions of dollars in infrastructure. It’s also a big year for Saudi Arabia, which takes on the chairmanship of the Group of 20 major economies and plans a series of events to promote its own breakneck transformation.

Until recently, Dubai was the place to be for Middle Eastern start-ups like Golden Scent, which sells perfume and beauty

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 50.5040

Unfolding transformation

SKYSCRAPERS stand on the city skyline in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on December 24, 2019. CHRISTOPHER PIKE/BLOOMBERG

BUT as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reshapes Saudi Arabia, that’s beginning to change. In just a few years, the Islamic kingdom has opened up to tourists for the first time, dramatically eased restrictions on women, allowed cinemas and wooed visitors with a parade of world-class chefs, concerts and sporting spectacles.

Rumors are even circulating that a long-standing alcohol ban may be relaxed as Saudi Arabia vies to win back business it’s lost to other Gulf countries over the years.

Continued on A2

n JAPAN 0.4599 n UK 65.8976 n HK 6.5023 n CHINA 7.2381 n SINGAPORE 36.3574 n AUSTRALIA 33.9286 n EU 54.7615 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.4659

Source: BSP (February 14, 2020)

NewsSunday BusinessMirror

A2 Sunday, February 16, 2020

‘LESS DRUGS, LESS CRIME’ relentless peace-and-order campaign significantly contributed in creating a secure environment across the nation where our countrymen feel safe to work, live and do business,” the PNP chief said.

For the third quarter of last year, Gamboa said the PNP sustained the downtrend, with crimes such as murder, homicide, physical injury, robbery, theft and carjacking posting a decline.

He said murder cases went down by by 9.81 percent, homicide by 11.90 percent, robbery by 4.52 percent, carnapping by 45.86 per-

Continued from A1

Fruits of ‘Oplan Tokhang’

FROM July 1, 2016, to July 31, 2019, alone, the PNP has carried out a total of 163,622 anti-illegal drugs operations that resulted in the arrest of more than 256,000 drug personalities, the deaths of more than 6,000 in police operations and the surrender of more than 1.2 million drug pushers and users under Oplan Tokhang.

Operations against high-value targets also resulted in the arrest of 3,133, the surrender of 3,705 and the death of 325 in police operations, according to police data.

Also, out of the 42,045 barangays, 16,706 have been declared drug-free.

In an apparent concession to the continuing criticism over alleged abuses in the conduct of the war, Gamboa said, “Let me assure our countrymen that all police operations against illegal drugs continue to be conducted within the bounds of the law with utmost respect for human rights.”

The PNP chief, however said that the anti-illegal drugs campaign does not stop with the arrest of drug personalities, insisting that the government would also seek to reform them.

“We have the Recovery and Wellness Program that offers hope, new life and a bright future for surrenderers. Through this community-based recovery and out-patient wellness program, we hope to transform them by providing spiritual, psychological, physiological, economic and other forms of support to capacitate them to help rebuild their lives, restore their values and become produc-

BUTCH OLANO, Amnesty International section director in the Philippines, holds a copy of the Amnesty’s report on July 8, 2019, in Manila. AP/BULLIT MARQUEZ

tive members of society,” he said.

From 2016 to July 2019, more than 435,000 surrenderers have graduated from the program, said the PNP.

Cease production

THE anti-illegal drugs campaign shut down 14 clandestine shabu laboratories and 419 drug dens in different parts of the country over the past three years, prompting the PNP to declare that there are no longer signs that indicate “local production of methamphetamine products in the Philippines.”

The campaign took away from the streets an estimated over P40 billion worth of shabu, marijuana and ecstacy pills.

“As we remained relentless in the war on drugs, we effectively sustained the decline in the crime rate as we intensified operations particularly against the eight focus crimes, namely, murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery,

theft, carnapping of motor vehicles and motorcycles,” Gamboa said.

Gamboa added that over the past three years, crime incidents sustained their decrease.

From more than 626,000 from July 2015 to June 2016, the total crime volume decreased by 58,276 or 9.30 percent during the first year of President Duterte’s term covering the period of July 2016 up to June 2017. This further decreased by 79,647 incidents or 14.02 percent on the second year covering the period July 2017 up to June 2018; and further went down by 2.91 percent on the third year covering the period of July 2018 up to June 2019.

“Recently, we joined the nation as we welcomed the new survey ranking the Philippines as the 24th best place to live and work, following the United States which ranked as 23rd and ahead of China which ranked as 26th. This only shows that the government’s strong and

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cent and theft by 13.84 percent.

“While we have given a large part of our efforts, time and resources to intensifying police operations against crime and illegal drugs, we have also been giving equal effort to the continuing implementation of reforms and internal cleansing in the police service,” the PNP chief said.

From July 2016 up to July 31, 2019, a total of 2,476 police officers with various administrative cases were dismissed from the service, 493 demoted, 4,240 were suspended and 202 saw their sal-

aries forfeited.

Another 684 policemen were reprimanded, 45 were placed under restrictive custody and a total of 438 involved in drug-related cases were dismissed from the service.

Indeed, the “real numbers” as the government wants to describe its data, may be, for the sake of argument, fairly accurate. Still, to critics here and abroad, the past three years have seen no major breakthrough in the efforts to seek justice for those felled by the drug war—under questionable or unjust circumstances, as their loved ones insist.

Saudi Arabia vs. Dubai could be the Gulf’s new business rivalry

ABDULLAH ALTAMAMI at his office in Riyadh on February 11. MAYA ANWAR SIDDIQUI/BLOOMBERG Continued from A1

Five years ago, Abdullah Altamami, a Saudi venture capitalist and chairman of online payments system HyperPay, struggled to establish a business in his home country. Today, he sees a sleeping giant that’s waking up.

“I don’t invest in a company now regionally that doesn’t focus on Saudi Arabia,” said the 34-year-old.

Nobody denies there’s a long way to go. Saudi Arabia’s transformation has coincided with a crackdown on political dissent—also little tolerated in the UAE. It was tainted in the eyes of some investors by a foreign policy that has been more aggressive and unpredictable under Prince Mohammed.

The 2018 murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi dealt a reputational blow that Saudi Arabia has yet to overcome.

And day-to-day difficulties still remain. Foreign workers in Saudi Arabia must request “exit visas” from employers to leave the country, even for a weekend away.

While restrictions on having fun have loosened up, there’s no comparison with Dubai, while the modest dress code puts off many women. As a result, it takes generous packages to attract talent.

Giga projects

BUT people are coming, and it’s not just Saudi entrepreneurs moving home.

Last year, a Norwegian company planning to set up a $90-million salmon farm in the UAE decided to base it in Saudi Arabia instead.

Residents of the Emirates consume way more salmon now, but Saudi Arabia offers future growth as the government is pushing fish as a healthy choice.

Michael Page, an international employment agency, has noticed a surge in executives, particularly in the property industry, looking to relocate as Saudi Arabia unveils projects for entire

new cities that could yet eclipse the splashy developments, such as the Burj Khalifa skyscraper, on which Dubai built its name.

“Over the last 18 months, we have seen many high-profile leaders in the real-estate sector moving from across the world looking to be involved in the giga-projects,” said Tim Watson, a partner at Michael Page Middle East.

That’s the catch for Dubai— Saudi Arabia’s sheer size. At 34 million, the population is more than three times the UAE’s, making it the biggest market in the Gulf by far. Even if Prince Mohammed only succeeds in realizing part of his vision to transform the country, it will have implications for neighboring states, which long benefited from Saudi Arabia being a closed shop.

‘Nervousness’

THE island of Bahrain, linked to Saudi Arabia’s Gulf coast by a bridge, served for decades as a weekend destination for Saudis and foreign executives looking to catch a movie or concert. With all that now available at home, Bahrain’s economy could also feel the pinch. In the UAE, weak oil prices and a real-estate slump have prompted authorities to rethink residency rules to encourage the large expatriate population to stay through the tough times.

Saudi Arabia was among the top 10 most improved countries in the World Bank’s Doing Business report for 2020, having made it easier to start a company, get permits, power and credit and enforce contracts. In 16th place, the UAE still leads the region, but the gap is narrowing.

“There is definitely nervousness about Saudi Arabia’s opening in Dubai,” Steffen Hertog, a Gulf specialist and associate professor at the London School of Economics, said. “I don’t think Dubai will lose its status as the region’s primary hub anytime soon as it is so far ahead.’’

“That said, Saudi-focused business at least is more likely to relocate to Saudi as social life and bureaucracy get easier there,” he added.

That’s the case for Golden Scent’s Saudi co-founder, Malik Al-Shehab. Back in 2014, he and Froehlich tried to set up their company in the kingdom, which they always saw as their home market.

But it was difficult to find Saudi investors and, at the time, Saudi Arabia had tight restrictions on foreign investment. Now those rules have changed, it made sense to come home, Shehab said.

The social measures have also helped. Shehab is now preparing to relocate his family to Riyadh from Dubai.

Complementary?

EARLY on, Prince Mohammed viewed Dubai as a city built on the back of Saudi Arabia’s shortcomings, providing a home for Saudi businesses driven abroad.

He imagined his futuristic project of “Neom,” a $500-billion city built from scratch, becoming a global center bigger than Dubai.

However, in an interview in 2017, the crown prince dismissed talk of rivalry. “I don’t think Hong Kong harmed Singapore or Singapore harmed Hong Kong,” he said.

“They are creating good demand around each other.”

Indeed, many executives say the rise of a new Saudi Arabia, and the new markets it would open up, could ultimately boost the tiny states dotted along its Gulf littoral. That’s the line taken by Dubai officials, who’ve also cast the Saudi transformation as a win-win.

“This is not a story of either/or, it’s a story of a combination,” said Fadi Ghandour, chief executive of Middle East venture capital firm Wamda Capital, based in Dubai.

“The UAE and Saudi Arabia are complementary.”

As for Froehlich at Golden Scent, the Dubai apartment will stay. But he’s looking for a place in Riyadh too.

Editor: Angel R. Calso

The World BusinessMirror

Chinese refiners go on buying spree as oil too cheap to ignore

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sudden oil buying spree

by China’s independent refiners has taken Asian traders by surprise.

After weeks of production cuts, cargo deferrals and cancellations because of the deepening impact of coronavirus on Chinese crude demand, companies including Shandong Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical Co., Shandong Huifeng Petroleum Chemical Co. and Sinochem Hongrun Petrochemical Co. have returned to the market in a big way.

They’re all non-state-owned refiners, known as teapots, from the eastern province of Shandong. Until recently, this corner of the industry appeared to be doing everything to avoid buying crude including cutting processing rates.

But then Luqing snapped up as many as seven cargoes from Russia, Angola and Gabon for March and April, while Sinochem Hongrun bought a shipment from Gabon and Huifeng was also looking for spot cargoes, according to traders with knowledge of the market.

The spree is probably a sign that the refiners known as teapots are getting ready for an eventual rebound in demand, taking advantage of the slump in crude prices to buy cheaply, according to the people. The timing of a recovery in China’s oil demand, which by some estimates has been

reduced by 20 percent because of the virus, is the subject of great speculation in the market because getting it right could be very profitable.

Luqing bought ESPO, Gindungo and Oguendjo grades in the spot market this week, said the traders who asked not to be identified as the information isn’t public. Hongrun purchased Mandji, while prompt supplies of other crudes such as Lula and Johan Sverdrup were also being offered and may have traded. International trading companies were among the sellers.

Nobody answered telephone calls or responded to e-mails sent to Luqing and Huifeng, while Hongrun declined to comment when contacted by phone.

Spot premiums for crude delivered to Shandong plunged by more than 50 percent against the global benchmark Brent since the market began taking notice of the outbreak in mid-January, according to industry consultant IHS Markit Ltd. The traders were cautious on whether the teapot purchases signaled a recovery in Chinese crude demand as many of the nation’s refineries are still running at reduced operating rates, and travel curbs keep consumption of transport fuels low.

Some teapots are also laden with debt, weighing on their credit-worthiness and hindering operations.

Bloomberg News

Sunday, February 16, 2020

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Toilet paper is hot new currency in Singapore and Hong Kong

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n the high-stakes world of gift giving in Asia’s financial hubs, Montblanc pens and leather folios are out—toilet paper and surgical masks are most definitely in. As fears of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) spread across the region, pharmacies and supermarkets in Hong Kong and Singapore are running out of basic supplies like toilet paper, paper towels, hand sanitizer and especially masks.

That’s created an opportunity for financial service providers looking to wow clients and bolster relationships.

The Singapore arm of online trading provider IG Group went viral after handing out party packs with 3M Co. N95 face masks, digital thermometers and bottles of Dettol antiseptic.

IG began distributing the gifts after Singapore raised the viral alert to orange—a critical level. What started as an amusing idea from the compa-

ny’s local management team quickly spiraled and now its staff and clients have been receiving the care packs in the office and via mail. The gift has proven timely with some banks across the central business district evacuating their offices and requiring employees to work from home.

“It all started as a precaution for friends and family and then others started asking how to get the masks and other things,“ said Terence Tan,

head of business development at IG Asia Pte. “So we thought: Why not get these things for our staff and clients?”

He said the first pack ages f o r c l i e nt s w e nt o u t t o d a y a n d t hey’ l l send out more pac k ages a s a d d it i o n a l s u p p l i e s c o m e i n .

American Joel Werner runs a hedge fund, Solitude Capital Management in Hong Kong. On February 10, he bought the equivalent of 216 rolls of toilet paper on Amazon.com Inc. after his family tried in vain for days to find any in Hong Kong. The shipping alone cost $200 but he thinks it was worth it. He kept half of the bounty and plans to give the other half to friends and colleagues.

“It’s a better gift than wine now,” he said.

Household items also are gaining traction in the social lives of those in the financial hubs. Friends gathering at a restaurant in Hong Kong this week were asked to bring contributions of face masks or toilet paper for a lucky draw.

A nd in a sig n of love in the time of the coronav ir us, photos of bouquets stuffed with instant noodles and vegetables instead of roses are mak ing the rounds of Singapore’s finance W hatsApp groups for Va lentine’s Day after a r un on super markets forced them to impose limits on shoppers.

It all goes to show that when crisis strikes, it’s the thought—and thickness of the toilet tissue—that counts.

Bloomberg News

It all started as a precaution for friends and family and then others started asking how to get the masks and other things.” ‘So we thought: Why not get these things for our staff and clients?’”—Tan

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Sunday, February 16, 2020

The World BusinessMirror

Plasma from cured patients sought for virus treatment

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hina’s state-owned medical products maker is collecting plasma from the blood of people who have recovered from the novel coronavirus after discovering it helped critically ill patients.

China National Biotec Group Co. has been using this plasma, which contains highly potent antibodies, to treat more than 10 seriously ill patients since Febr u a r y 8 , 2020, t he company said in a news statement on its official WeChat account Thursday night. It claimed that those receiving the treatment improved within 24 hours, with

reduced inf lammation and viral loads along with better ox ygen levels in the blood.

Drugmakers and the Chinese authorities are racing to develop a cure for the contagion that has so far killed more than 1,300 people, infected over 63,000 and has no approved treatment or vaccine.

China has also unleashed a flurry of clinical trials—as many as 77

have been registered—in a bid to curb the outbreak that’s threatening its economic growth.

The announcement triggered a rally in the stocks of blood product makers on Friday. Beijing Tiantan Biological Products Corp., Shanghai RAAS Blood Products Co. and Hualan Biological Engineering Inc. jumped to their daily trading limit of 10 percent, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

‘Generate antibodies’

“Patients who have recovered f rom t he no ve l coron av i r u s pneumonia, will generate antibodies that can kill and remove the virus,” the company said in the statement, citing unidentified experts. “In the absence of a vaccine and specifically targeted drugs, using this plasma

is the most effective way to treat the infection and can significantly reduce the death toll.”

China National Biotech also called on people who have recovered from the disease to donate their plasma in a separate statement.

China’s National Health Commission has listed plasma among treatment measures for critically ill patients in its latest treatment guideline.

Human clinical trials are also under way for multiple drugs such as Gilead Sciences Inc.’s experimental therapy remdesivir and AbbVie Inc.’s anti-HIV pill, Kaletra.

Several other antiviral drugs, as well as traditional Chinese herbal medicines are also under study for their virus-fighting potential.

Bloomberg News

Covid-19 renews safety concerns about slaughtering wild animals

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EIJING—China cracked down on the sale of exotic species after an outbreak of a new virus in 2002 was linked to markets selling live animals. The germ turned out to be a coronavirus that caused SARS. The ban was later lifted, and the a n i m a l s re a p p e a re d . N o w a n o t h e r coronavirus is spreading through China, so far killing 1,380 people and sickening more than 64,000— eight times the number sickened by SARS. The suspected origin? The same type of market.

With more than 60 million people under lockdown in more than a dozen Chinese cities, the new outbreak is prompting calls to permanently ban the sale of wildlife, which many say is being fueled by a limited group of wealthy people who consider the animals delicacies. The spreading illness also ser ves as a grim reminder that how animals are handled anywhere can endanger people everywhere.

“There’s a vast number of viruses in the animal world that have not spread

to humans, and have the potential to do so,” said Rober t Webster, an e x p e r t o n i n f l u e n z a v i r u s e s at S t.

Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

SARS and the current outbreak of COVID-19 are not the only diseases in people traced back to animals. The killing and sale of what is known as bushmeat in Africa is thought to be a source for Ebola. Bird flu likely came from chickens at a market in Hong Kong in 1997. Measles is believed to have evolved from a virus that infected cattle.

Scientists have not yet determined exactly how the new coronavirus first infec ted people. Evidence suggests it originated in bats, which infected another animal that spread it to people at a market in the southeastern c i t y o f Wu h a n . Th e n o w - s h u t te re d H u a n a n S e a f o o d Wh o l e s a l e M a r ke t advertised dozens of species such as giant salamanders, baby crocodiles and raccoon dogs that were often referred to as wildlife, even when they were farmed.

Of the 33 samples from the Wuhan

market that tested positive for the coronavirus, officials say 31 were from the area where wildlife booths were co n ce nt rate d. Co m p a re d w i t h l o n g domesticated livestock like chickens and pigs, researchers say less is known about the viruses that circulate in wild animals.

The Wuhan market was also like many other “wet markets” in Asia and elsewhere, where animals are tied up or stacked in cages. Activists say it’s difficult to distinguish between those that were legally farmed and those that may have been illegally hunted.

The animals are often killed on site to ensure freshness. The messy mix raises the tiny odds that a new virus will jump to people handling the animals and start to spread, experts say.

“You’ve got live animals, so there’s feces everywhere. There’s blood because of people chopping them up,” said Peter Daszak, president of EcoHealth Alliance, which works to protect wildlife and public health from emerging diseases.

And more frequent global travel and trade means there’s greater risk for

outbreaks to spread, Daszak said.

China’s taste for wildlife is relatively n e w, p r o m p t e d b y t h e c o u n t r y ’s economic growth, said Peter Li, who studies Chinese politics at the University of Houston. But with the outbreak upending lives across the country, many on Chinese social media are expressing frustration that rich people’s appetite for wild animals is again endangering everyone else.

“This is the second time...the first is SARS, this time is Wuhan. We don’t want a third time,” Lai Xinping, a project cost assessor, said by phone from her home in Sichuan. “ We hate them too, and we are blamed,” said Tao Yiwei, a 36-year-old homemaker. She is among those who want the temporary ban on wildlife, enacted to contain the current outbreak, to be permanent.

There are signs the Chinese government may make more lasting changes to how exotic species are raised and sold. This month, Chinese leader Xi Jinping said the country should “resolutely outlaw and harshly crack down” on the illegal wildlife trade because of the public health risks it poses.

In the eastern province of Anhui, officials sealed farms breeding species like badgers and bamboo rats. In the port city of Tianjin, authorities say their crackdown on the sale of wildlife caught six traders, including three who were selling pythons and parrots.

Al l to l d, o f f i c i a l s s ay a b o u t 1 . 5 million markets and online operators nationwide have been inspected since the outbreak began. About 3,700 have been shut down, and around 16,000 breeding sites have been cordoned off.

It’s not clear how the measures will play out over time. Before the outbreak began, it was legal in China to sell 54 species like pangolins and civets—as long as they were raised on farms . That made it difficult to distinguish between legal and illegal wildlife in wet markets, and enforcement was lax, said Jinfeng Zhou of China Biodiversity, Conservation and Green Development Foundation, an environmental group based in Beijing.

He pointed to a widely shared image of a Wuhan market advertisement listing 72 species, including peacocks and bullfrogs, as proof that the trade is too lucrative to be stopped by anything less than a total ban on all wildlife. “The profit is huge...like drugs,” Jinfeng said.

Others disagree, arguing that banning the wildlife trade is not a realistic way to reduce risk, especially in poorer regions of the world where it can be an important food source. They say improved monitoring, regulation or public education may better control the problem. When wildlife is farmed, f o r e x a m p l e, i t a l l o w s f o r g re at e r sur veillance and testing for viruses, said Daszak of EcoHealth Alliance. AP

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Outbreak leaves millions working at home in China

By Joe McDonald The Associated Press

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EIJING—In the middle of a phone call with a customer, an important visitor knocks on Michael Xiong’s door: his three-year-old son. Xiong, a salesman in Chibi, a city near the center of a virus outbreak, is one of millions of people in China who are obeying government orders to work from home as part of the most sweeping anti-disease measures ever imposed.

After breakfast, Xiong leaves the three-year-old and his 10-month-old brother with their grandparents. The salesman for IQAir, a Swiss maker of household air purifiers that are popular in China’s smog-choked cities, goes into a bedroom to talk to customers and try to find new ones by phone and e-mail.

His son “comes to knock on the door when I am in a meeting, asking for hugs,” Xiong said. “I put myself on mute, open the door and tell him I will be with him later, and he is fine with that.”

Most access to Wuhan, a city of 11 million people where Xiong usually works, was cut off January 23, 2020, and some other cities have imposed travel restrictions. Controls imposed on business to try to stem the spread of infection extend nationwide, affecting tens of thousands of companies and hundreds of millions of employees.

The government extended the Lunar New Year holiday to keep factories and offices closed. Cinemas, temples and other tourist sites were shut down to prevent crowds from forming. Group tours were canceled and businesspeople told to put off travel.

China’s vast manufacturing industries cannot function without workers in factories. But as some businesses reopen, Beijing has told anyone who still can work from home to stay there.

That is forcing employees, from solo entrepreneurs to automaker Volkswagen AG’s 3,500-member headquarters staff in Beijing, to stay in touch with customers and business partners and keep companies functioning by phone and e-mail.

Millions of Chinese entrepreneurs operate house cleaning, small trading and other businesses out of their homes. Many have suffered the same impact as bigger businesses from restrictions on movement and orders to families to stay indoors.

Maggie Zhang, cofounder of SheTalks, a company in Beijing that organizes events for women, is working out of her parents’ apartment in the northwestern city of Zhangye in Gansu province. She went for the Lunar New Year and said she might stay through March.

Zhang temporarily stopped organizing talks and other public events and is gathering material for her company’s social-media account to attract users.

In the morning, “I will do some interviews over the phone or online with women working at the front in fighting the epidemic and sometimes foreign businesswomen working in China,” said Zhang. “When I am working, my parents always try to keep quiet and not disturb me.”

Zhang said she uses the sunny living room to write and moves to a bedroom to do interviews or talk to colleagues. She works out on an elliptical machine during those calls “because my mind works faster when I exercise.”

Numbers of new virus cases reported daily have declined, but economists warn against assuming the disease and its impact on the world’s second-largest economy might soon be under control.

Quarantines in the central province of Hubei, which surrounds Wuhan, and some neighboring areas still are in place. Many large companies have told employees to stay home.

“A return to normal isn’t yet in sight,” said Roger Diwan of IHS Markit in a report. Many employees already were equipped to work from home due to China’s almost universal adoption of smartphones, the Internet and messaging and video call services, including the popular WeChat operated by Tencent Holdings Ltd. China is “probably one of the best countries to do this,” said Michael Mayer, who is in charge of marketing for the Volkswagen auto brand in China. A 27-year veteran of VW, he came to China from India three years ago.

“This would be hard to do in Europe. People here are much more open to using digital tools,” said Mayer. “As sad as it sounds, this is the best place for us to try this experiment.”

After breakfast with his three teenagers, Mayer moves into a back room of their Beijing apartment to talk with coworkers by phone and video call while his children study in their bedrooms. They meet again for lunch.

“Now everybody’s at home,” said Mayer. “Not too bad. Actually quite interesting and quite pleasant.”

Volkswagen plans to reopen its Beijing offices on Monday but is waiting for updates from health authorities, said Mayer.

Xiong of IQAir expressed frustration at not being able to make his sales pitch to potential clients face to face but said the quarantine gives him more time with his son.

Xiong and his wife are among millions of parents who also looking after children who are cooped up at home because schools have been closed indefinitely. Xiong said he helps his son with lessons sent over WeChat by the kindergarten.

“Usually, when I get home from work, it is almost time for his bath and bed,” said Xiong. “Now that we spend time together every day, I think I know my child more and he relies on me more. Our connection is stronger, and so is the whole family.”

Many have barely set foot outdoors for almost three weeks.

Cities including Hangzhou, an industrial metropolis of 10 million people southwest of Shanghai that is home to e-commerce giant Alibaba, are allowing only one household member out each day to buy food.

Apartment complexes in Beijing and other cities have been ordered to check visitors for fever. Many allow only residents to enter.

Zhang said she has left her parents’ complex only once to go shopping. She was nearly barred by security guards from returning.

“There are almost no people or cars on the street,” she said.

Ray Cheng, a Macau-born entrepreneur in the southern city of Guangzhou, said he starts the day by making a plan for his seven-year-old daughter and fiveyear-old son—“what they need to do, then lunch, then what to do”—and then gets on the phone with his employees and customers.

“When I work, I arrange for them to do something they like. They are very focused and won’t bother me,” Cheng told a reporter. “Right now they are watching ‘Lion King’ so I can talk to you.”

IQAir’s China sales manager, Mike Bearden, said he usually spends 50 percent of his time on the road but has been at home in Beijing for three weeks talking by phone with potential customers. He said sales might get a boost from the virus because families and hospitals are thinking more about clean air.

Journey BusinessMirror

»life on the go

A5 | Sunday, February 16, 2020 • Editor: Tet Andolong

Canyon Woods man-made lagoon

Romance on the Ridge T

By Bernard L. Supetran

HE Day of the Hearts might be over, but love is still in the air in the mountain resorts because of the cool climate that lingers the whole year round.

And despite the threats of Taal Volcano eruption, coronavirus scare, and the traffic, Antipolo and Tagaytay have never failed to weave romance at any given time.

With the crisp upland air, gourmet food, and diverse attractions and activities, these ridge cities are consummate getaways for couples, families and groups.

Located at the Metro’s eastern doorstep, Antipolo has been reliving its old glory with its blend of culture, faith, cuisine and everything in between. For the lovestruck, Burrow Café, Vieux Chalet Swiss Restaurant, and Tahanan Bistro are ideal date places for some enchanting evening because of their fine dining ambiance and gourmet offerings.

On top of good food, what hypes up the romance in a place is a rejuvenating treatment at a cozy spa. And in this department, the sprawling Luljetta’s Place Garden Suites can spring up a pleasant surprise with its signature massages at its Cordillera-themed hanging gardens.

The resort also has a new wing which is inspired by the panoramic Greek port city of Mykonos, and has its own swimming pool and sauna.

You can also be pampered at the boutique Callospa Resort surrounded by foliage and greens to evoke wellness of body and spirit.

Its claim to fame is its state-ofthe-art equipment, Europeantrained therapists, and fusion treatments from the world’s best massage styles using natural herb and fruit extracts.

If farm evokes an aura of romance, Antipolo has scores of farm resorts which combine the backto-nature elements of agriculture and gardening, as well as modern hospitality amenities. The mustvisit farm resorts which will surely thrill Gen X-ers and baby boomers are Flor’s Garden, Mount Purro Nature Reserve, The Secret Garden of Doris, Phillip’s Sanctuary and Luljetta’s Place Garden Suites.

Meanwhile, over at Tagaytay,

Ribeye of Fire Lake Grill

the “city on the ridge” is slowly luring back its visitors after Taal Volcano’s ashfall shut it down for more than a week. With the lowered alert level, this all-time favorite out-of-town destination is bringing back the sights and sounds it has been known for.

By the way, Tagaytay as a tourist getaway doesn’t just refer to the city itself, but embraces the long road overlooking Taal Lake from Silang, Cavite, to Laurel and Nasugbu, Batangas.

Among the first establishments to reopen last February 1 is The Cliffhouse which has a cluster of dining outlets, such as Buon Giorno, Concha’s Garden Café, Fire Lake Grill, and The Inn, the only boutique lodging in the complex.

As its name suggests, it is on the ridge’s cliffside, thus affording its guests an enviable view of the postcard-pretty lake and volcano which may look differently now, but breathtaking just the same.

Fire Lake Grill trumpets its “hot food and cool mood” with the innovative global flavors created by its owner Paul Huang, a corporate honcho-turned-chef who found his passion in the kitchen.

For the past 15 years, this continental grill with a “steak-centric” menu has been tickling the palate of meat lovers of the megacity.

Sink your teeth on a wide selection of tender pasta and risotto, grilled premium red meat,

Fire Lake Grill at The Cliffhouse

seafood, steak rubs and toppings, and sip on a wide selection of wines and spirits.

Its minimalist pastel-colored interiors, relaxing lounge music, gourmet dishes, and solicitous guest service have earned it the badge of being among the country’s best restaurants according to The Philippine Tatler magazine and TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence.

On the far edge of the ridge in Laurel town is Canyon Woods Residential Resort, the quintes-

Mykonos Wing of Luljettas Place Garden Suites

sential classic lodge for those who want the highland feel without the long drive to the mountains.

A sprawling self-contained recreational community, it takes pride in its golf courses, restaurants, courtyards, sports facilities, spa, indoor and outdoor pools, man-made lagoons, and private estates of residents who have made the area their weekend home.

Accentuated with wood and natural hues, its character blends with nature which make it all the more intimate regardless of the

season. Its cozy rooms are ideal for people who want to cherish quality time with their loved ones, with the scent of pine trees and whiff of mountain air.

Golf aficionados can perfect their game at the USGA grade nine-hole course, with its challenging terrain and deep ravines.

Enhance the game with good company on the scenic fairway, and good food afterward.

In the neighboring town of Nasugbu is Canyon Cove Hotel and Spa, is its sister property which

beckons beach bums to frolic in the sun, sea and sand. It boasts of the largest swimming pool in Batangas and an inflatable water adventure park.

Over the weekend, Canyon Woods held a thanksgiving event for being spared the wrath of Taal eruption with a golf tournament and dinner party.

With a more positive outlook, seasoned travelers and staycationers should troop back to the ridge and revive its vibrant life and romance for the rest of the year.

Journ

A6 Sunday, February 16, 2020

New Cebu hotel gains traction with OYO

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egarded as the “Queen City of the South,” Cebu City is one of the most prosperous cities in the Philippines with its thriving commerce and tourism industries.

As the second-largest city in the country, Metro Cebu undeniably has a lot to offer any local or foreign tourist, from Instagrammable destinations and historic sites, shopping malls, gastronomic delights to hotels.

In the middle of the city lies a luxe yet inexpensive crash pad.

With its cozy air-conditioned rooms, wide windows and wallpapered interiors, Anika Suites is surely one of the top picks for guests who seek a comfortable stay and be at the center of the city. Guests can make the most out of their time with the city’s landmarks, malls, hospitals, the Cebu Provincial Capitol and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport all just a ride away.

It hasn’t been an easy journey for Anika Suites, however. “We had low occupancy rates, sometimes not even hitting 50 percent,” said Joey Enario, owner and property manager of the hotel.

When Anika Suites opened its doors in Cebu, on March 18 this year, the owners decided to name

it after their business partner’s already well-known Anika Island Resort in Bantayan, Cebu, to leverage the popularity of the other property. This proved to be not enough with low occupancy rate. That is, until OYO came in June.

Anika Suites saw the growth opportunity with the minimum guarantee offered by OYO, which means OYO will help boost the hotel’s occupancy rate and business regardless of revenue performance.

“We compared what OYO can offer against the competition and decided that OYO would be a better pick for us,” Enario said.

The results of that decision and the subsequent partnership became apparent in just a few months. “Our occupancy rate right now ranges from 80 percent to 85 percent, a sig-

nificant increase from before just like OYO has promised,” Enario happily shared.

Enario also noted how OYO OS, a hotel management system that allows online procurement and inventory management, has improved the efficiency of the hotel’s daily operations. “The system makes it easier for my front office and accounting staff to keep track of all the hotel bookings and transactions,” he said.

With the help of the OYO Captain, a dedicated manager who guides hotel staff and assists them

in managing the hotel business, Enario saw sustained improvements in daily hotel operations.

“The OYO Captain assigned to us has been very helpful. She always attends to all our queries,” he said.

OYO Hotels & Homes, the world’s second-largest chain of hotels, homes, and managed living and workspaces, continues to collaborate with small independent hoteliers to equip them with operational and technological capabilities that will enable them to keep pace with major hospitality players.

For hotels, such as OYO 208 Anika

Suites, OYO is an ideal partner with its technology, manpower and capacity to bring asset owners’ revenues up.

Aside from Cebu, OYO has established its presence in key cities in Metro Manila, Baguio, Pampanga, Boracay, Talisay, Iloilo, Bataan, Tagaytay and Davao, and now has more than 260 hotels and 4,300 rooms across the country. With its fulfillment-led technology, OYO empowers more hotel owners to be better hospitality players while contributing to the growth of the country’s tourism industry.

Stars end the year with Pinoy celebrations

K

UYA J closed an eventful 2019 with a sky full of stars, led by its longtime endorser Jericho Rosales, to celebrate three new restaurant openings in City Walk Plaza, Eastwood City, SM North Edsa, and Park Square in Makati which houses the first Kuya J Café + Restaurant.

Jericho hyped up the openings with a motorcade around the area while his celebrity friends got to

taste and experience the newest offerings of the well-loved Filipino restaurant. Joining the festivities were Mika de la Cruz, Gab Lagman, Kiray Celis, and Nikko Natividad of the Hashtags.

A first for Kuya J, its new Café + Restaurant in Makati is the perfect hangout spot to enjoy a warm cup of coffee and delicious Filipino comfort food as Kuya J Café marries casual dining and a relaxing ambience ideal

for any occasion—be it an afternoon of unwinding with friends or a quiet evening by yourself.

Kuya J Café introduced its unique blends and brews: the Kuya J Café House Blend, sago’t gulaman coffee and tablea coffee. Apart from its signature beverages, customers can also indulge in their exclusive menu items like the guava cake, tablea cake and salted egg cheesecake.

Insurer celebrates International Day of Persons with Disabilities

F

WD Life Insurance Corp. (“FWD Insurance”) celebrated the International Day of Persons with Disabilities for the second year, this time with a Paskong Pinoy-themed event at the University of the Philippines in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

Together with partners Special Olympics Philippines and Humanity & Inclusion, FWD Insurance—through its Community Care program—marked the occasion with a funfilled afternoon of all-time favorite Filipino traditional games, team cheers and chants, as well as exciting performances. FWD Insurance President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Grimes led the ceremonial Christmas tree lighting to champion solidarity, unity, and inclusion among communities.

“We’re delighted to celebrate this special

occasion with our Community Care partners Special Olympics Philippines and Humanity & Inclusion for the second year,” FWD Insurance Vice President and Head of Marketing Roche Vandenberghe said. “As we continue to empower more people to live fulfilled lives, we will continue to shine a light on the talents and abilities of persons with disabilities, and advocate for their right to equally access opportunities in the community.”

Launched in 2018, FWD Community Care’s vision is to empower people to live fulfilled lives. FWD aims to improve quality of life for people with disabilities in Asia through various partnerships, promoting inclusion, rehabilitation, and occupational training to empower people with disabilities, their families, and their communities.

Jericho Rosales (center) with (from left): Comisario Central Inc. COO Anton Dator, Kuya J COO Richard Joseph Li, Kuya J Group CFO Francis Reyes and Kuya J Group Marketing Director Ton Gatmaitan

Lung Hin showcases new set of chef’s recommendations

L

UNG Hin, Marco Polo Ortigas Manila’s award-winning authentic Cantonese restaurant, features a new set of curated culinary delights prepared and perfected by Executive Chinese Chef Ken Leung. This season’s selection includes Deep-Fried Pigeon with Golden Garlic, Steamed Live Crab with Egg White and

Chinese Wine, and Wok-Fried Shrimp with Daliang Milk (Shunde Style).

Lung Hin celebrates vibrant, fresh flavors, guided by its respect for traditional Cantonese culinary methods. Available from February 5 until April 30, 2020, the restaurant’s new Hong Kong Chef ’s Recommendations are available for lunch

and dinner service daily.

Please log-on to marcopolohotels.com for more details on the Hotel’s ongoing promotions. Subscribe to updates via social media through the Hotel’s official social-media accounts: facebook.com/MarcoPoloOrtigasManila and @ MarcoPoloManila on Twitter and Instagram.

Business

More than 27,000 beep cards get another year of use

A

F Payments Inc., the operator of the beep tap-and-go payment system, shared that as of February 12, 27,000 cards have been extended through the beep expiry date extension program. This is in line with the company’s thrust to maximize the utility of beep cards and minimize the environmental impact of disposing expired cards.

The beep expiry date extension program is valid for standard beep cards with a minimum balance of P10 and will run until December 2020. Cards can be extended 60 calendar days prior and 60 calendar days after the expiry date of the card (for example, a customer can extend a card that expires at the end of December any time between November 1, 2019 and February 29, 2020).

The new expiry date will be the last day of the same month as the original expiry date month but with one year added (for example, the new expiry date for a card expiring at the end of December 2019 will be the 31st of December 2020).

Beep cards with less than P10 load balance (excluding Concessionary Cards) and blacklisted cards are not eligible for the one-year extension, alongside cards with expiry dates that do not fall within the period specified for the extension (60 days prior and 60 days after the printed expiry date).

There is a P10 transaction fee for the expiry date extension. Concessionary beep cards (for Senior Citizens and PWDs) will be extended free of charge.

Extension terminals are available in the following locations: LRT 1: Baclaran, Edsa, Central, D. Jose, Monumento and Roosevelt stations LRT 2: Cubao, Legarda, Recto and Pureza stations MRT: North Ave., Cubao, Shaw Blvd., Ayala and Taft Ave. stations Visit www.beeptopay.com for updates on new locations of the extension terminals and for more details about the program.

ney

»life on the go

sMirror

Editor: Tet Andolong

A7

LapuLapu Leisure goes digital with resort and casino project

E

MERALD Bay Resort and Casino is gearing up to open on time and on budget. Its developer LapuLapu Leisure Inc. is ensuring it keeps to this goal by maximizing the efficiency of its procurement function.

LapuLapu Leisure is a member of the PH Resorts Group Holdings Inc., the gaming and hospitality arm of the Udenna Group. The Emerald Bay Resort and Casino will be one of the largest business and leisure destinations in the Philippines with 838 hotel rooms, 146 gaming tables, 1,186 electronic gaming machines, 35 high-fashion boutiques, 18 specialty restaurants, a 3,000-capacity ballroom, and more. The five-star hotel and casino is currently under construction and scheduled to open in 2020 on Mactan Island near the city of Cebu.

LapuLapu Leisure needed to eliminate its manual, paper-based procurement practices to support its aggressive growth plans, and the

company decided SAP Ariba Snap was the solution to get a digitalized end-to-end source-to-settle process up and running quickly to support the “pre-operational” phase of the Emerald Bay project.

LapuLapu Leisure is now connected to the Ariba Network and the 4.6 million companies on the digital network worldwide. The SAP Ariba solutions have helped LapuLapu Leisure optimize its procurement process, better manage its supplier relationships and achieve higher cost efficiencies.

Procurement in a Snap

Ariba Snap provides fast-growing companies with everything they need to drive a simple and efficient

buying process that quickly delivers results.

“SAP Ariba Snap has met the requirements for the procurement system we have in mind,” said Mean Bernal, procurement manager at Udenna Corp. “It will help us ease the process by automating the system so we can concentrate on doing what we do best—building world-class resorts.”

As the first adopter of SAP Ariba Snap in the Philippines, LapuLapu Leisure leverages decades of SAP Ariba experiential best practices alongside marketleading solutions to help automate every step of the source-to-settle process—delivering savings and efficiencies that drive real business value. Deployed in under 12 weeks with pre-loaded content from SAP Ariba’s supplier marketplace, LapuLapu Leisure was able to replace tedious manual processes with more efficient digital ones that help increase the accuracy and speed of approvals, payments and delivery so the company can focus on business outcomes.

“SAP Ariba will be the system we use for future projects of the PH Resorts Group,” Bernal continued. “With the recent go-live, we

believe that our procurement processes, which were done manually previously, will be easier and more intuitive. The success of this implementation project will benefit us with an easy-to-use interface and attractive catalogs that will entice our suppliers to adapt to the system seamlessly.”

According to Elvie Bantug, IT director at LapuLapu Leisure: “Partnering with SAP for the Emerald Bay digitalization project has made our lives easier end-to-end.

We do not have to redo the integration development processes when we roll out the system to other departments. And SAP Ariba Snap provides us with access to the same powerful solutions that Fortune 500 companies use for simpler, smarter sourcing. We look forward to realizing the savings, efficiencies and innovation we’ve seen so many others achieve with SAP Ariba.”

Jason Wolf, senior vice president and general manager of SAP Ariba Asia Pacific Japan, commented: “Efficiency and excellence in procurement are critical to business growth no matter the size or location of the organization. With SAP Ariba Snap, fast-growing enterprises like LapuLapu Leisure can move to a digital procurement process and start realizing the benefits quickly to help power further investment and innovation.”

Tokyo takes top destinations spot for Asian travelers during Chinese New Year 2020

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OKYO, Bangkok, and Taipei are the top 3 destinations for travelers from across Asia to celebrate Chinese New Year, according to data from Agoda, one of the world’s fastest-growing digital travel platforms. This year, Tokyo nudged Bangkok off pole position, steadily climbing the ranks from third place in 2018 to the top spot, while Taipei moves to third place.

In fact, Taiwan is a key destination this year, with four of the market’s cities featuring in the top 10, Taipei (No. 3), Taichung (No. 4), Kaohsiung (No. 6) and Tainan (No. 9). Other favourite destinations to welcome the Lunar New Year include Seoul (No. 7) and Chiang Mai (No. 10).

Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival, sees the biggest global migration as revellers across the globe visit family and friends. Spending quality time with family and enjoying tasty treats for reunion dinners takes precedence during the Chinese New Year, making it a perfect time for the whole family to travel together. It is little wonder then, that Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand secured top overall destinations for Asian travelers, to ring in the Chinese New Year—each offering their own unique blend of mouthwatering eats, cultural experiences, and shopping havens for every member in the family to enjoy.

TOP 10 LUNAR NEW YEAR DESTINATIONS FOR TRAVELERS ACROSS ASIA IN 2020 (AGODA) 2018 MALAYSIA THAILAND JAPAN BANGKOK KUALA LUMPUR TOKYO TAIPEI MALACCA OSAKA SEOUL MANILA TAICHUNG SINGAPORE

comforts without having to wait in traffic,” said Acacia Hotel General Manager Bobby Horrigan during the launch.

He noted that on top of the comfort and Filipino hospitality, its guests can fly on fuel-efficient helicopters operated by INAEC Avia-

Experience a Mega Festival Vibe!

J

oin Mega Global’s fun activities during the Sinulog and Dinagyang festivals.

Two grand and iconic festivals—the Sinulog and Dinagyang—are celebrated in the Philippines every January, and Mega Global is adding to the fiesta atmosphere with its festive lineup of activities.

The recently concluded Sinulog Festival, the world-famous Cebu celebration in honor of the Santo Niño, is known for its colorful dance rituals and giant

street parades that attracts people from all over the world. Mega Global joined the festivities last weekend with its colorfully decorated Grand Float Entry with marine creatures called, “Pasasalamat sa Masaganang Huli”—which won first prize in the Sinulog Grand Float Parade.

Mega Global added to the fun with its own booth at Fuente Circle, where people get to try samples of Mega products, had their photos taken with the mascots, and availed themselves of dis-

tion Corp., which has an unrivaled track record in safety, reliability and customer service.

A multi-mission aviation company, it obtained its International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations Stage 1 Certification last year, the first time a Philippine Air

Operator Certificate (AOC) holder has been accorded such distinction.

“With this partnership, we can boost connectivity of southern metropolis with other central business districts and airports, promote the Philippines as an ideal businesses destination through urban air mobility,” added Ascent cofounder and chief commercial officer Darren T’ng.

Singapore-based Ascent is Asia’s first-ever technology-powered urban air mobility service and on-demand helicopter ride-sharing platform to make cities more connected by moving people seamlessly and affordably by air. It operates locally with flights between more than 15 hubs in Luzon, including Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Makati City, Bonifacio Global City Quezon City, Clark, Subic, Tagaytay City, and Batangas.

For more information on fivestar service and flying in style via Ascent, log on to www.acaciahotelsmanila.com.

counted Mega products. A Mega photo/ selfie contest was also held during the Grand Float Parade, wherein five winners were able to take home P2,000 each by sharing their selfie with the Mega Float entry.

Dinagyang, Iloilo’s equally spectacular and traditional festival in honor of the Santo Niño, features lots of dances to the sound of drums and nonstop partying.

On January 24, Mega Global again takes part in paying homage with its Mega Grand Float Pasasalamat sa Masaganang Huli, to be followed by the Mega Barkada Mascots who will also be hand-

ing out freebies during the parade.

Mega Global is also supporting the Dinagyang Festival Parade on January 26, where Dinagyang tribes will each battle for the right to become the festival champion after showing off their dance performances. Mega is supporting Tribu Hugpungan, Tribu Dagatnon, Tribu Baybayanon, Tribu Aninipay and Tribu Baryohanon in a day of pomp and pageantry.

Get ready to enjoy the fiesta spirit with Mega Global! For more information, check out https://www.facebook. com/officialmegasardines

JAPAN MALAYSIA THAILAND

BANGKOK TOKYO KUALA LUMPUR TAIPEI TAICHUNG KAOHSIUNG OSAKA MELACCA HONG KONG PENANG

TOKYO BANGKOK TAIPEI TAICHUNG OSAKA KAOHSIUNG SEOUL KUALA LUMPUR TAINAN CHIANG MAI

Chinese New Year in the Philippines

Historically, the Philippines has had strong Chinese ties dating as far back as the pre-colonial era. And with the world’s first Chinatown having been established in Manila, it doesn’t come as a surprise that Filipinos have come to adapt the celebration of Chinese New Year.

Interestingly, Agoda booking data showed that the Philippines has consistently been a top Chinese New Year destination for Chinese and Japanese travelers.

TOP 10 LUNAR NEW YEAR DESTINATIONS IN 2020 FOR TRAVELERS FROM CHINA

Acacia, Ascent launch chopper service B

EAT the metropolitan traffic and take part in a new mode of transport, as Acacia Hotel Manila partners with Ascent Urban Mobility Philippines Corp., Asia’s pioneer and leading helicopter ridesharing platform, to connect Alabang to key parts of Metro Manila.

Guests of Acacia and corporate commuters can now shuttle to and from Alabang by air through the Ascent online platform or the concierge of the five-star hotel. From or to the airport, users will have a direct shuttle between their airport terminal and Ascent’s lounge facilities, before flying to Alabang.

“In line with our thrust on being a key activity hub in Alabang, our aim is to increase the connectivity for our guests alongside a remarkable experience through Filipino hospitality and excellent accommodations. We are glad that with Ascent, our guests can now enjoy better connectivity and lavish

2020

TOP CITIES

LapuLapu Leisure implemented SAP Ariba Snap in partnership with Deloitte

“Deloitte is delighted to be part of LapuLapu Leisure’s digital procurement journey and to enable them to become the first adopter of SAP Ariba Snap in Philippines,” said Ramon Chito Ramos, executive director and country leader for Deloitte Consulting Philippines. “As a result of this implementation LapuLapu Leisure has transformed its buying experience and is on course to achieve a rapid return on its investment, the way we’ve helped so many others achieve using SAP Ariba.”

For more information, check out the SAP Ariba web site.

2019 TOP COUNTRIES JAPAN MALAYSIA THAILAND

2018

2019 TOP COUNTRIES

2020

JAPAN THAILAND PHILIPPINES

JAPAN THAILAND PHILIPPINES

JAPAN THAILAND PHILIPPINES

TOP 10 LUNAR NEW YEAR DESTINATIONS IN 2020 FOR TRAVELERS FROM JAPAN 2018

2019 TOP COUNTRIES

2020

THAILAND SOUTH KOREA PHILIPPINES

THAILAND PHILIPPINES USA

THAILAND SOUTH KOREA PHILIPPINES

Cebu in particular was the Philippine city of choice for travelers from China; while travelers from Japan are flocking to Manila, Angeles/Clark, and Cebu.

Joseph hosts dinner for Austrian group

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EPUBLIC of Latvia Consul General Bobby Joseph a.h. (seated, second from left) hosted a dinner to the new batch of Austrian students who will study at UP Diliman and University of San Carlos in Cebu for a month or two.

This group will promote the coun-

try around Austria. Shown with Joseph (from left) Honorary Consul of the Philippines, Austrian Dr. Christian Traweger, Irene Gozarin, a young SKAL Makati Scholar , (who will leave soon for a three to six months study in University of Innsbruck ) and Alfred Reiterer.

Journey

»life on the go

BusinessMirror

Editor: Tet Andolong

Sunday, February 16, 2020 A8

Love (and travel) in a time of COVID-19 toxic modernity makes it not just a perfect destination for romance but also for self-renewal. The air is still so clean and, for a precious few weeks during spring, smells of lavender. What’s not to love?

Nothing more romantic than wading through fog then clouds to watch the most breathtaking sunrise. The fresh smell of pine trees remind you how far you are from the city. And the cold temp is cuddle perfect.

I

THE TOURISM ADVOCATE

t’s that time of the year—February.

While it’s historically been associated with love, this year, 2020 gave us the trifecta of “special situations” from the explosion of Taal Volcano to the novel coronavirus and, also, a slew of earthquakes and the “usual political turmoil.”

Lana Macapagal, business development manager, Viber

Jeremy Domingo (theater actor/director, announcer-emcee) with fiancée Gaye Cabalo

Singapore has become one of my favorite romantic getaways in recent years. The city’s unique architecture, lush landscapes and culinary variety always provide new surprises on every visit. There is a vibrant, positive energy there that always renews itself, yet retains its sustainability, order and cleanliness.

Maldives

This place is undeniably a slice of heaven with its pristine islands and exotic wildlife. Another good thing it that most resorts try to be as sustainable as possible. Lesser plastic usage, proper waste management, and they make sure the wildlife isn’t harmed or abused in any way.

Palaui

Not for the fainthearted, Palaui is one of the most magical places I’ve visited in the Philippines. Going there isn’t easy but totally worth it. Talk about simple life but can indulge on cheap lobsters!

Mona Veluz, president, Autism Society Philippines

The best romantic trip we have taken started out as a mistake.

A friend offered us a weekend at a private beach in San Narciso, Zambales. When my husband Mel and I got there, it was a single-room hut and a deep well pump. There was no electricity. Fearing we will hurt our friend’s feelings, we embraced the situation and went off the grid—no tech, no pictures, no music. We had to get food cooked at the talipapa, and ate meals over banana leaves with our hands.

It was the best weekend! He slept on the sand while I wrote in the shade. We swam. We walked off in separate directions to explore sometimes; but came together later in the day—a great metaphor for our marriage.

We never got to do that again, sadly. Nice to reminisce about the simpler, more adventurous times.

I went to this place recently called Naoshima, it’s an art island in Japan’s Seto Inland Sea. Getting there is an adventure already (from Osaka, you have to take one subway train, one bullet train, a local train, a ferry ride and a bus). But the place is home to the works of some of the best artists in the world. The island used to be an industrial waste dumping site, until it was fully revitalized through art. There’s a collection of abandoned homes turned into art spaces in the town center, too! The main mode of transportation is bike rentals and a bus that takes you from museum to museum. The population of the entire island is down to around 3,000, so we had the scenic beaches and hilltop picnic spots all to ourselves

Lulu Bravo, executive director, Philippine Foundation for Vaccination

Which begs the question, is love and romantic moments still possible in an era of Taal eruption, COVID-19 and crisis?

Having received recently my additional certifications on enterprise risk management, the answer, of course, is a resounding yes!

The risks, both environmental and otherwise, is making us reevaluate the way we travel in a manner that not only takes into account pleasure, but also being mindful of the impact of our travel choices on the environment.

According to an article by George Stone in the National Geographic, people, especially those who travel often, want to support sustainable tourism. This is good to hear. However, only 15 percent of those know what sustainable travel really is.

In the same article, vacationers, especially couples, travel and make the best effort to stay in eco-lodges, which give a unique experience for couples looking for eco-friendly but romantic getaways.

For me, one of the most sustainable and romantic travel destinations is Uganda.

I went totally Dian Fossey as I traversed the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest tracking mountain gorillas. Only a limited number of people are allowed a day to track the gorillas, no pathway has been carved out to respect their habitat, we were literally walking through and holding on to forest canopies without our feet touching the ground.

Local guides come from the community and, for the highlight, we were only allowed one hour with the gorillas at a safe distance.

I spoke to some of my favorite people.

The Diamond Princess: one of the most romantic cruises one can get. Just over a year ago we were there...having the time of our lives...lots of fun dancing, hugging, laughing, loving and celebrating life. Fast forward to 2020 and we are now praying and hoping that all of the more than 3,500 passengers who are now quarantined there and those already transferred to hospitals with positive COVID-19 would be saved and out soon!

The world will really need to learn to travel safely and implement needed reforms. We continue to work to stop pneumonia and related illnesses locally and abroad.

The new terminology for the novel coronavirus: COVID-19, is the disease. NCoV is now called SARS-CoV 2.

Patricia Puentevella-Molina, brand manager, Moet-Hennesy Philippines

Florian Gottein, executive director, European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines

Walking through the streets of the inner city of Vienna and being surrounded by its history, having a Sachertorte in the Hotel Sacher and followed by a visit of Saint Stephen’s Cathedral is one of the best things to do in Vienna.

Atty. Trixie Angeles, coanchor, Karambola

Estrella Elamparo, senior partner, DivinaLaw

Provence is where “nature is wearing her prettiest clothes” said Peter Mayle (A Year in Provence) and I can’t but agree. Its rustic charm devoid of

Atty. Teddy Kalaw, trustee and corporate secretary at the Institute of Corporate Directors

Batanes—so unique, so self-sufficient, so honest, and so respectful of the natural environment.

Romblon’s proximity to Boracay means it is the country’s best kept secret. It has a church declared Important Cultural Property by the National Museum, and twin watch towers, also considered valuable cultural property, still keep watch against long forgotten pirates.

One can skip it’s crowded neighboring island, because it, too, has beautiful beaches, complete with blue hole dive site, and dolphins who visit even the busy harbor. Plus, has an avian conservation area, dramatic cliffs, walkable streets and small eateries serving local food.

Plus, the marble artisans sell more than just the usual souvenirs.

It’s a place for wandering around in semi seclusion amid an embarrassment of natural and cultural beauty. What could be more romantic?

Science

BusinessMirror

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

Get used to record-breaking heat because it’s here to stay

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nprecedented warming will dominate the coming decade, according to a new study, which said every year is likely to rank among the planet’s 10 hottest.

Global temperatures are already consistently breaking records, with 2016 the warmest ever followed by 2019, data from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) show.

That trend is likely to continue through 2028 with a 75-percent chance that every year will feature in the top 10 hottest of all time, according to the study submitted to the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.

W hile there could be some cooler years because of natural variability, they’re unlikely to disrupt the broader global trend for rising temperatures, according to the analysis, which sees a more than 99-percent chance that most years in the next decade will rank in the top 10 of all time.

The study, which analyzes temperature fluctuations in National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data since 1975, will add to growing alarm over global warming, and the impact of climate change on the planet.

Just last week, the Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that January this year was Europe’s hottest.

“It would likely take an abrupt climate shift for even a few years within the next decade to register outside the top 10 warmest years,” the authors of the study, including NOAA climate scientist Anthony Arguez wrote. “This is a testament to the exceptional warmth experienced over the last few decades, punctuated by the last four years.”

Because of the annual fluctuations, the authors of the study recommend that global monitoring analysis incorporates a “temperature score” of “1 to 10” in order to differentiate warmer and colder years relative to the long-term trend.

According to their analysis, 2016 and 2015 would have a score of 10 while 2018 would rate “5.”

Penguin colonies shrinking in Antarctica

Meanwhile, chinstrap penguins are declining fast in Antarctica, and researchers are blaming climate change.

Every single colony of chinstrap penguins on Elephant Island in the Antarctic peninsula has shrunk from the last time it was surveyed five decades ago, according to the environmental group Greenpeace.

Scientists on board of a Greenpeace expedition to Antarctica found that the number of penguins

on the island has dropped almost 60 percent since the last survey in 1971. Some colonies were down by as much as 77 percent.

“Such significant declines suggest that the Southern Ocean’s ecos y stem i s f u nd a ment a l ly changed from 50 years ago,” said Heather Lynch, associate professor of ecology and evolution at Stony Brook University, and one of the leaders of the expedition.

“While several factors may have a role to play, all the evidence we have points to climate change as being responsible for the changes we are seeing.”

Antarctica is among the world’s fastest-warming regions. The Antarctic Peninsula, home to numerous chinstrap peng uin colonies, is warming particularly quickly, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

Argentine scientists reported the highest temperature recorded at the nearby Esperanza base last week—18.3 degrees Celsius, or 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

WMO experts are investigating whether the temperature extreme at Esperanza is a new record for continental Antarctica’s landmass.

Signy Island in the Antarctic region, which includes land south of 60 degrees latitude, recorded an all-time high temperature of 19.8 degrees C in January 1982. The average annual temperature ranges from about minus 10 degrees C on the Antarctic coast to minus 60 degrees C at the highest points in the interior.

Chinstrap penguins are one of the most common species of the animal in Antarctica. They take their name from a characteristic black line running below their beak.

Researchers on the Greenpeace expedition counted a total of 52,786 breeding pairs this season, down from previous survey estimates of about 122,550.

Scientists are surveying the penguins toward the end of their breeding season. Chinstrap penguin chicks tend to hatch in early January and remain in the nest until early February. Then they join so-called creches, or groups of young penguins, for warmth and protection while their parents forage, typically from late March through October.

This year, scientists from Stony Brook University in New York and Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, are surveying penguin colonies using manual and drone surveying techniques on Low Island, further south, for the first time.

The island is thought to host around 100,000 breeding pairs of chinstrap penguins. Bloomberg News

Indie-Siyensya deadline extended to February 25

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c i e n c e f i l m m a ki n g co m p e t i t i o n , Ind i e - S i ye n s ya , i s ex tending the deadline for submission of film entries to February 25.

The contest, organized by the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) is open to all Filipinos who may join as individuals or in groups.

There are two categories: the “Youth Category” for high school, tertiary school and out-of-school youth aged 13 to 20, and the “Open category” for college students, teachers and S&T professionals.

Entries must be short documentaries which should have a running time of under 10 minutes. The films must be relevant to the theme “Communities Beyond the Naked Eye” and should focus on the life and impact of insects, microorganisms, and other tiny living and nonliving things.

Indie-Siyensya continues to promote science culture to the youth and the general public using film as a medium.

According to DOST-SEI Director Dr. Josette Biyo, it is the agency’s response to the growing

demand for excellent science communicators in the country.

“This competition aims to use filmmaking in communicating to the public scientific concepts, as well as in highlighting the critical role of S&T in national development to the public and to entice the youth to become part of the growing S&T work force of the country,” Biyo said.

Entries will be judged based on the following criteria: scientific content, execution of idea and film techniques.

Winners for each category will receive trophies and cash prizes worth P100,000 for the Best Film, P50,000 for the second prize, and P30,000 for the third prize.

One entry will also win the Viewers’ Choice award, which will be given to the entry with the highest number of votes during the film screening period at various DOST events, amounting to P20,000.

For contest mechanics and other information, interested participants may visit www.sei.dost.gov.ph or www.facebook. com/indiesiyensya.com.

Sunday

Sunday, February 16, 2020 A9

The silent threat of the coronavirus: US dependence on Chinese pharma

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s the 2019 novel coronavirus disease, called COVID-19, spreads rapidly around the globe, the international community is scrambling to keep up.

Scientists rush to develop a vaccine, policy-makers debate the most effective containment methods, and health-care systems strain to accommodate the growing number of sick and dying.

Though it may sound like a scene from the 2011 movie Contagion, it is actually an unfolding reality.

In the midst of all of this, a potential crisis simmers in the shadows: The global dependence on China for the production of phar maceuticals and medical equipment.

Chinese dominance in the pharmaceutical market

We represent an interdisciplinary group of scientists and policymakers at the Scowcroft Institute’s Pandemic and Biosecurity Policy Program based at the Bush School of Government at Texas A&M University who have been holding annual summits addressing pandemic-related issues for the past five years.

One of our goals is to promote dialogue on potential risks related to pandemics and US security, in this case, the disruption of supply chains and availability of medical supplies and drugs.

Today, about 80 percent of pharmaceuticals sold in the US are produced in China.

This number, while concerning, hides an even greater problem: China is the largest and sometimes only global supplier for the active ingredient of some vital medications.

The active ingredients for medicines that treat breast cancer and lung cancer and the antibiotic Vancomycin, which is a last resort antibiotic for some types of antimicrobial resistant infections, are made almost exclusively in China.

Additionally, China controls such a large market portion of heparin, a blood thinner used in

open-heart surgery, kidney dialysis and blood transfusions that the US government was left with no choice but to continue buying from China even after a contamination scandal in 2007.

China is not only the dominant global supplier of pharmaceuticals, but it is also the largest supplier of medical devices in the US. These include things like MRI equipment, surgical gowns, and equipment that measures oxygen levels in the blood.

Supplies of these essential products have not yet been severely disrupted by the coronavirus, but if China is no longer will or able to supply them to the US, thousands of Americans could die.

More concerning still are the limited options available to the US and the rest of the globe to make up the shortfall. It could take years to develop the necessary infrastructure to reestablish US manufacturing capacities and obtain Food and Drug Administration licensure to overcome the loss of the Chinese supply.

When a disease reaches epidemic levels, the first obligation for leaders in any country is to protect their own people.

As this current crisis progresses, there may come a point when political leaders in China will face decisions on whether to prohibit the export of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and other vital medical components in order to treat or protect their own people.

Such acts would be the logical outcome of an escalating situation.

For the 2009 H1N1 pandemic response, for example, the US was pushed to the back of the queue for vaccine deliveries even though we had existing contracts with a major vaccine manufacturer located in another country. Those vaccine deliveries were delayed.

Workers produce face masks in the workshop of a textile company in Jimo District of Qingdao in eastern China’s Shandong province on February 12. Qingdao Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology has mobilized two large textile companies to produce face masks to help the fight against the novel coronavirus epidemic. Liang Xiaopeng/Xinhua via AP

Disruption of global pharmaceuticals?

While a total loss of active ingredient imports from China might seem far-fetched, we believe the increasing scale of the outbreak moves it closer to the realm of possibility.

About six weeks into international recognition of the epidemic in China, there are already shortages of vital personal protective equipment in both China and the US. UPS has transported more than 2 million masks and 11,000 gowns to Wuhan to help alleviate the shortage. But what happens when everyone runs out of protective equipment?

Wuhan is a significant player in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry, with multiple pharmaceutical companies located in the city. How many of these factories have closed as a result of the pandemic, and when will those that have closed open back up?

Global supply chains could reach a crisis point if they are comprom i sed bec au se Hubei province, where Wuhan is located, is in quarantine and factories are shut down.

Additionally, Wuhan is the location of China’s first Biosafety Level (BSL) 4 laboratory, which was opened in 2017 to research SARS and other emerging diseases. It is the only lab in China that can safely handle the world’s most dangerous pathogens that pose a significant risk of transmission.

Infection, death and quarantine in Wuhan and the surrounding Hubei province is restricting the ability of all types of commerce in the region.

Meanwhile, the virus is already creating a significant supply chain imbalance within China.

That means those medical supply companies will be under pressure to keep any products produced within the country for protection of their own health-care workers, laboratory personnel and the general public.

The regulatory apparatus to insure that the Chinese manufactured pharmaceuticals being exported meet the highest standards of safety and quality control are weak or nonexistent, according to a congressional report last year.

The pressure placed on supply chains by the outbreak could further exacerbate existing qualitycontrol challenges. In doing so, the virus has highlighted our reliance on China as a US national security issue due to outsourcing our manufacturing capabilities and inability to ensure quality control.

As with all pandemics, the complexity of this outbreak demands international collaboration and transparency.

At the same time, US public health officials must acknowledge the country’s vulnerability due to our dependence on Chinese production of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment.

The US must develop a response plan for the inevitable shortages in the near-term and take necessary actions to reclaim control of our medical supply chain. Continuing to overlook this long-known vulnerability will only lead to catastrophe. Christine Crudo Blackburn, Andrew Natsios, Gerald W Parker and Leslie Ruyle/The Conversation (CC)

R&D to boost Antique terra-cotta production

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mproved terra-cotta production, specifically bricks, will soon commence in Antique as efforts to revive this trade went full gear in the second half of 2019.

This is being realized through an initiative by the Office of Rep. Loren B. Legarda of the Lone District of Antique, who is also the Deputy Speaker of the House. The Department of Science and TechnologyIndustrial Technology Development Institute (DOSTITDI) was tapped to implement the project.

The P20-million project intends to provide technical and technological assistance for upgrading community-based terra-cotta production facilities in the municipalities of Tibiao and Sibalom in Antique.

Primarily, the technical assistance focuses on introduction of appropriate ceramic production techniques, acquisition and use of modern equipment, and installation of production facilities suitable to the needs of beneficiaries, and other existing terra-cotta producers in the area.

The project aims to promote

quality brick production, and achieve high productivity among producers in the province.

The project started rolling in August when a team from DOST-ITDI, led by Technological Services Division chief Nelia C. Florendo, met with terra-cotta producers in Tibiao and Sibalom.

Together with their counterparts in DOST Region 6, led by Asst. Regional Director Abraham Fabila, the team conducted on-site inspection in

August and September to assess the needs of the processors/ beneficiaries, and identify ways on how to upgrade their current facility and processes.

They explored also, the possibility of installing new equipment and providing new skills through an advance course on brick and pottery making. As well, a series of consultative meetings with the various stakeholders to plan out implementation were conducted.

Thus, on October 14, 2019, a ceremonial signing of agreement among the stakeholders led by DOST-ITDI was held at the University of Antique.

Participants included the heads and representatives of DOST Region 6, Departments of Trade and Industry, and of Environment and Natural Resources in Region 6, the local government of Sibalom, and local potters association in Manugkoron.

A six-day skills training was held for some 32 members of two cooperatives and other local pottery producers from the municipalities of Sibalom, Tibiao and Bari.

A total of 28 moulds were produced and used to generate 70 green wares ready for firing.

Hopefully with this interventions, which are all based on previous DOST-ITDI research and development, livelihood for the people of Antique can be generated and help improved lives of communities especially the terra cotta producers. S&T Media Service with reports from NAGanotisi & RAllarde, TSD

Faith A10 Sunday, February 16, 2020

Sunday

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

Sedition charges vs 4 bishops, 1 priest dismissed; 2 priests, 9 others still charged

‘G

od knows everything,” said Archbishop Socrates Villegas after the dismissal of sedition charges brought against him and other church leaders.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) cleared Villegas, Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, Bishop Honesto Ongtioco and Bishop Teodoro Bacani over an alleged plot to overthrow President Duterte.

The DOJ also dropped the same charges against Fr. Robert Reyes but still charged Jesuit Fr. Albert Alejo, Fr. Flavie Villanueva and nine others of “conspiracy to commit sedition.”

T he nine others who were charged were former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV; Peter Joemel Advincula, the man who introduced himself as “Bikoy” in the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos released during the 2019 election campaign period; JM Saracho; Jonnel P. Sangalang; Yolanda Ong; Vicente

R. Romano III; Eduardo Acierto; publicist Boom Enriquez; and a certain “Monique.”

The bishops have steadfastly maintained their innocence. “God knows all we think in our hearts,” Villegas said.

“Now that the government officials have seen the falsity of the charges, what can we do but pray as I have always been doing. I pray even more,” Villegas said.

“I pray for those who concocted the calumnies and lies, and wish them peace,” he said. “My revenge is forgiveness for my slanderers who relentlessly mock me.”

“I pray for those who have been charged, I know the Lord will turn your anxieties into hope. Do not be afraid,” Villegas added.

One of the 36 people originally charged, David hailed the development but admitted having mixed emotions about the DOJ decision that was announced last week.

The prelate said he is “happy”

that they were cleared of the charges brought against them, but also “sad” that the DOJ indicted two priests and nine others for the supposed ouster plot.

“I still hope and pray that the charges against them be also

Saint Valentine: A beheaded martyr is the poster child for romantic love

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HICAGO, Illinois—In most stores in the weeks leading up to Saint Valentine’s day, a plethora of pink and red cards, heart-shaped boxes of Russell Stover chocolates, and décor with nearly naked chubby cherubs shooting hearts with bows and arrows abound.

It’s a far cry from the real Saint Valentine, an early Christian martyr who was bludgeoned and beheaded for his faith.

It’s also a far cry from an early Roman fertility ritual also celebrated on February 14, where men ran through the streets slapping women with the flesh of recently sacrificed animals.

So how did a saint with such a gruesome death come to be associated with a holiday all about love, chocolates and chubby cherubs?

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, at least three different Saint Valentines were recorded in early histories of martyrs under the date of February 14. There are also accounts of an African Saint Valentine, an early Christian who was persecuted along with his companions, but it seems that nothing else is known about this possible saint.

The Saint Valentine being celebrated may have been two different people. One account holds that Saint Valentine was a priest in Rome, and the other says that he was a bishop of Interamna (modern-day Terni, Italy).

Both of these men were persecuted and

ultimately killed for their faith, and buried somewhere along the Flaminian Way. It is also possible that they were the same person.

“He was either a Roman priest and physician who was martyred, or he was the bishop of Terni, Italy, who was also martyred in Rome, around 270 A.D. by Claudius the Goth,” who was the Roman emperor at the time, said Fr. Brendan Lupton, an associate professor of Church history at Mundelein Seminary in Illinois.

S aint Valentine —whether priest or bishop—was martyred on February 14, now celebrated as Valentine’s Day. According to most accounts, he was beaten and then beheaded, after a time of imprisonment.

Local devotion to him spread, and Pope Julius I had a basilica dedicated to the saint built approximately 2 miles from Rome, over Valentine’s burial place. His skull is now kept in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Rome, and is decorated with flower crowns on his feast day.

Lupton said Saint Valentine was one of the first Christian martyrs when the general persecution of Christians started in the Roman empire.

“More or less, at that time, especially around the mid-third century, there was sort of a crisis in the Roman world known as the Crisis of the Third Century, where the Roman world was really in great peril,” Lupton told Catholic News Agency (CAN).

“There was a great amount of inflation. There were barbarian incursions at the time. There was lots of political instability. So that sort of unleashed the first general persecution of Christians. Prior to that time, there were local persecutions, but they were local and sporadic,” he added.

Some Valentine’s Day traditions can be correlated with Saint Valentine’s life, such as the exchanging of cards, Lupton said, or the celebration of romantic love.

“One [account] was that he had befriended the jailer’s daughter, where he was being imprisoned, and when he died, he left her a note inscribed with ‘From your Valentine,’” Lupton said.

Other accounts say that exchanging cards on Valentine’s Day recalls how Saint Valentine would send notes to fellow Christians from prison.

“Another story is that Claudius the Goth actually had prohibited marriage among soldiers.

He felt that if soldiers were married, they’d be less devoted to the army, especially at that time and they needed as many troops as possible. So there was a legend that Valentine actually had married soldiers in secret,” Lupton said.

Another way Saint Valentine’s Day may have come to be celebrated as a day of love was because the bird-mating season was thought to begin around mid-February, Lupton noted.

Saint Valentine’s Day, as it is known today, was also instituted as a substitute for a cruder

Roman holiday at the time, called Lupercalia, Lupton added.

Lupercalia was a popular feast celebrated in Rome, during which a group of pagan priests would sacrifice different types of animals and then run through the streets of Rome, slapping young women with the animal hides, a ritual that was thought to guarantee their health and fertility for the year.

“And so Pope Gelasius, he was around the fifth century...replaced the Lupercalia with Saint Valentine’s Day,” Lupton said.

Parts of Valentine’s Day are entirely unrelated to the real Saint Valentine. He did not, for instance, go around shooting people (or even hearts for that matter) with bows and arrows. That imagery was taken from the Roman god Cupid, who was also a god of love, Lupton said.

He also did not distribute chocolates to his loved ones; the real Saint Valentine predates chocolates as we know them by more than 1500 years.

But Christians can still learn from the example of Saint Valentine, Lupton said, even if they are not at risk of actual martyrdom.

“You could say that in some ways, although few are called to martyrdom as Christians, in almost every act of love, there’s an element of self-sacrifice, self-renunciation,” he said.

Catholic News Agency/CBCP News

Pope avoids question of married priests in Amazon document

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ATICAN CITY—Pope Francis declined last week to approve the ordination of married men to address the priest shortage in the Amazon, sidestepping a fraught issue that has dominated debate in the Catholic Church and even involved retired Pope Benedict XVI. In an eagerly awaited document, Francis didn’t even refer to recommendations by Amazonian bishops to consider the ordination of married men and women deacons.

Rather, he urged bishops to pray for more priestly vocations and send missionaries to the region, where the faithful living in remote communities can go months or even years without Mass.

Francis’s dodging of the issue disappointed progressives, who had hoped he would at the very least put it to further study. And it relieved conservatives who have used the debate over priestly celibacy to heighten opposition to the pope, whom some have accused of heresy.

The document, “Beloved Amazon,” is instead a love letter to the Amazonian rain forest and its indigenous peoples, penned by history’s first Latin American pope.

Francis has long been concerned about the violent exploitation of the Amazon’s land, its crucial importance to the global ecosystem and the injustices committed against its peoples.

He addressed the document to all peoples of the world “to help awaken their affection and

concern for that land which is also ours and to invite them to value it and acknowledge it as a sacred mystery.”

“Beloved Amazon” is in many ways a synthesized and focused version of Francis’s 2015 landmark environmental encyclical, “Praised Be,” in which he blasted wealthy countries and multinational corporations for destroying the world’s natural resources and impoverishing the poor for their own profit.

Francis said he has four dreams for the Amazon: that the rights of the poor are respected, that their cultural riches are celebrated, that the Amazon’s natural beauty and life are preserved, and that its Christian communities show Amazonian features.

Francis had convened bishops from the Amazon’s nine countries for a three-week meeting in October to debate the ways the church can help preserve the delicate ecosystem from global warming and better minister to the region’s people, many of whom live in isolated communities or in poverty in cities.

The Argentine Jesuit has long been sensitive to the plight of the Amazon, where Protestant and Pentecostal churches are wooing away Catholic souls in the absence of vibrant Catholic communities where the Eucharist can be regularly celebrated.

In their final document at the end of the October synod, the majority of bishops called for

the establishment of criteria so that “respected” married men in their communities who have already served as permanent deacons be ordained as priests.

In addition, the bishops called for the Vatican to reopen a study commission on ordaining women as deacons, a type of ministry in the church that allows for preaching, celebrating weddings and baptisms, but not consecrating the Eucharist.

Francis had created such a commission in 2016 at the insistence of religious sisters who want more say and roles in church governance and ministry, but the group ended its work without reaching consensus.

Francis didn’t mention either proposal in “Beloved Amazon” and didn’t cite the synod’s final document in his text or in a single footnote. But he did say in his introduction that he wanted to “officially present” the synod’s work and urged the faithful to read it in full, suggesting that he at least valued the input.

Francis did echo many of the synod’s recommendations, calling for greater lay participation in the life of the church and saying the training of priests in the Amazon must be overhauled so they are more able to minister to indigenous peoples. He said “every effort should be made” to give the faithful access to the Eucharist.

“This urgent need leads me to urge all bishops, especially those in Latin America, not

only to promote prayer for priestly vocations, but also to be more generous in encouraging those who display a missionary vocation to opt for the Amazon region,” he wrote.

Fra n c i s d i s m i s s e d s u g g e s t i o n s t h at ordaining women to any ministr y would serve them or the church. While agreeing that women should have greater decision-making and governance roles, Francis argued that they must find “other forms of service and charisms that are proper to women.”

The Catholic Church retains the priesthood for men, arguing that Christ and his apostles were male. While Eastern rite branches have married priests, and Anglican and Protestant priest converts can be married, the Roman rite church has had a tradition of priestly celibacy since the 11th century, imposed in part for financial reasons to ensure that priests’ assets pass to the church, not to heirs.

In the weeks leading up to the document’s release, the question of a celibate priesthood made headlines after the publication of a book penned by the retired pope, Benedict, and a conservative Vatican official, Cardinal Robert Sarah, reaffirmed the “necessity” of a celibate priesthood.

Benedict’s participation in the book sparked controversy, since it appeared the retired pope was trying to influence the thinking of the current one, despite his promises to remain “hidden from the world” when he resigned seven years ago. AP

dismissed soon by the courts,” David said.

For Bacani, the no probablecause decision “was only right and long overdue.” “ I t h a n k ou r l aw yers a nd the panel of prosecutors for

upholding the tr uth,” he said. “ I t h a n k you for a l l you r prayers and support,” Ongtioco also said.

The complaint alleged that Trillanes and the others are involved in “circulating malicious and scurrilous libels, and fabricating evidence against him and his immediate family members, making it appear that the president and his family are engaged in a drug trade syndicate, with no other purpose but to inflict an act of hate, or revenge, against the President and his immediate family members.”

The DOJ also dismissed the sedition complaint against Vice President Leni Robredo, Senators Leila de Lima and Risa Hontiveros; and seven of the Otso D i ret so c a nd id ates, n a me ly, for mer Rep. Gar y A lejano of Magdalo, Lorenzo Tañada III of Quezon; former Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, human-rights l aw yer Jose Ma nuel Diok no, former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, election law yer Romulo Macalintal and Samira Gutoc.

CBCP News and PNA

Pope names Pabillo as apostolic administrator of Manila archdiocese

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo speaks during the thanksgiving Mass for the ministry of Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle at the Manila Cathedral on January 27. Behind him is Tagle. Eric Paul Guanlao/RCAM-AOC

P

ope Francis has named a caretaker of the Archdiocese of Manila until the appointment of Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle’s successor.

Bishop Broderick Pabillo is taking the role as apostolic administrator in an appointment announced in the Vatican last week.

The appointment came a day after Tagle left Manila last week to assume his post as Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in the Vatican.

The Vatican usually appoints an apostolic administrator to temporarily head a diocese when it becomes vacant, especially if special circumstances surround the ecclesial territory.

Pabillo has been serving as auxiliary bishop of Manila since 2006, or since Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales has retired.

Born in Negros Occidental, he was ordained by a priest of Salesians of Saint John Bosco on December 8, 1982.

A year after, Pabillo studied in Rome where he obtained his Licentiate Degree in Sacred Scripture, at the Pontificium Institutum Biblicum in Rome, in 1986.

He held two major positions at the Salesian Theologate Seminary in Parañaque City—as oeconomus and professor from 1988 to 1996, and as seminary rector from 1996 to 1999.

In 1999, Pabillo was incardinated to the Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa, where he served until he became a bishop.

In the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, he currently heads the Commission on

the Laity.

He also chaired the bishops’ Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace, and the Commission on Biblical Apostolate.

In Rome, Tagle will have his first public appearance during the launching of a book published by Marcianum Press at the Pontifical Urban University on February 25.

He will be joined by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, and Cardinal Fernando Filoni, who recently assumed the post of Grand Master of the Order of the Holy Sepulcher.

Filoni, who served as Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines from 2006 to 2007, is also Tagle’s predecessor at the Propaganda Fide.

Fr. Reginald Malicdem, chancellor of the archdiocese, directed the clergy, religious men and women, and lay faithful not to mention the name of Tagle in the “Eucharistic prayer” in all Masses.

“Hence we will say: Remember, Lord, your Church spread throughout the world, and bring her to the fullness of charity, together with Francis, our Pope, and Broderick our Administrator, and all the clergy [Eucharistic Prayer II],” according to Circular 2020-10 issued on February 10,” Malicdem said.

He also asked them “to thank the Lord for Cardinal Chito who served as Archbishop of Manila for eight years. Let us pray for him as he embarks on his new mission. Let us also thank the Lord for Bishop Broderick who will guide us during this period in our life as a local Church. And let us beg the Lord to give us a new shepherd molded after His own heart.” CBCP News and PNA

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Editor: Carla Mortel-Baricaua

Sunday, February 16, 2020 A11

‘Banig’ artisans weave culture and livelihood in Basey, Samar

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Story & Photos by Marky Ramone Go

first came to learn about the banig weavers of Basey, Samar, many moons ago when in a preYolanda morning, I explored the entirety of San Juanico Bridge on foot.

I arrived in Samar with no destination in mind until a local I encountered pointed me to a fascinating place. “You can go to Basey, it is a small town not far from here. There’s an old church there and a cave where you will see women weavers making beautiful banig,” he told me in Tagalog.

Banig is a handwoven mat made from dried seagrass leaves and used Pretty purses made from banig. primarily for sleeping and sitting in most Southeast Asian countries like enterprise called Woven PH will be the Philippines. The word banig inestablished with aim of ensuring fair stantly piqued my interest. It brought benefits to the women weavers and back childhood memories of my uplift the banig weaving industry of grandmother’s house where we used Basey. to sleep on one. After learning that the Enter Woven PH local who approached me is a habalWoven PH was founded by John habal driver, I immediately hopped on Francia and Trish Lim in 2016 but the the back of his motorcycle and rode idea of setting up a social enterprise off to the town of Basey. came years earlier. In 2014, the two Basey ‘banig’ weavers worked together in an area developMost of the Basey’s women weavment study focusing on Basey, Samar, ers gather every morning inside the for ABS-CBN’s Lingkod Kapamilya, Saob Cave, located a few meters away headed by the late Gina Lopez. Comfrom the highway. “We prefer weavpelled to do more, Francia, who took ing inside this cave because the cool advantage of the Jesuit Volunteer temperature is conducive to keeping Program, requested to be assigned the tikog grass [the banig’s main raw in Basey and immersed himself in the material] soft and bendable,” a weaver community for almost a year. explained to me in Tagalog.

During that period, Francia and The habal-habal driver asked one Lim was able to organize a group of of the weavers how much they earn. women weavers they called “comThe woman answered that they take munity craft associations,” as well as home an average of P150 or less every create product development modules week. My heart sunk. that would improve the sales of the However, little did I know that three banig woven products of Basey. years after Supertyphoon Yolanda The long-standing mission of Wostruck the Visayas in 2013, a social ven PH is to continue pouring econom-

Dried seagrass leaves make banig sturdy and durable.

Banig weaving provides decent livelihood.

Banig laptop sleeves are in demand Women weavers with Women PH: community partners in Basey ic benefits into the local communities of Basey, through its weaving and embroidery industry and thus help artisan weavers earn more. “As a social enterprise, we don’t just buy and sell; we design for the community. We don’t just provide employment and the market access to weavers; we rig the industry in their favor,” according to Woven PH’s statement.

“For years and years, there has been inequitable distribution in the industry, thereby limiting the price

of weavers’ creations at a very unfair amount. This inequality has contributed to the dying of weaving as a craft. With Woven PH, we wanted to show them the real value of their craft and at the same time keeping it alive” Lim said.

From earning a measly P600 a month, the more than 40 banig weavers of Basey, organized by Woven PH, now earns more than double of that amount.

“Right now, we are trying to raise their earnings to 4,000 to 5,000 a

DOT starts Baguio rehab with Burnham Park restoration Overtourism

By Gelyka Ruth R. Dumaraos Photos from DOT OPAA

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fter Boracay Island and Manila Bay’s rehabilitation, the Department of Tourism (DOT) now shifts focus on the major restoration of Baguio City, starting with over P480-million budget for the historic Burnham Park.

Tourism Secretar y Bernadette Romulo Puyat announced the P480million budget through its investment arm Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, as part of their agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The budget for the major attraction will be for the construction of view deck and boat dock,installation of terrace planters, view deck renovation, and plant box improvement in the Burnham Lake.

It will also be invested in the landscaping, lighting and electrical works,hardscape and softscape, gazebo and restroom construction, and installation of play equipment for the children’s playground.

DOT signs MOA with City Mayor Benjamin Magalong for the rehabilitation of Baguio City.

Burnham Park closure

Welcoming the help from DOT, DENR, and DILG, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong presented the city’s four major areas that needs rehabilitation—environment, traffic and transport, water supply, tourist destination, and geohazard areas or the areas occupied by informal settlers.

Unlike Boracay, which faced closure for six months, Romulo Puyat clarified that Baguio City will not be closed as the city is the gateway to the Cordilleras.

Burnham Park’s restoration will be done in parts, while other areas will still be opened to the public. The rehab will start this May, and the expected completion of the restoration might take a year and a half.

DOT, through Tieza, gives P480 million for its rehabilitation There are specific destinations, however, which will be entirely closed during their restoration, such as Mines View Park and Bayan Park. Also included in the pipeline for rehab are the Arboretum, Botanical Garden, Tree Park and Wright Park.

Given Baguio City’s overpopulation and overtourism, the city’s sewage treatment plant and waste system will also be a priority. Romulo Puyat, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, Environment Assistant Secretary Jesus Enrico Salazar, and Magalong inspected Baguio City’s sewage treatment plant where plans of its rehabilitation and construction

of additional plants, and upgrading of the sewer line system are in the offing.

The Irisan dump site is also eyed to be turned into an eco-park.

The local chief executive said that major changes will be in the pipeline, including the plan of building a smart city where there is an elevated system for security and safety, traffic management, smart lighting, no-contact apprehensions and environment monitoring are being executed.

“The solutions of the past are no longer the solutions of the present,” he said. “We must have an open mind to address and welcome these changes.”

In her speech at the Mansion House, Romulo Puyat stressed the leading concern of overtourism in the City of Pines. “Too much tourists come to the city contributing greatly jammed roads; obstructed views; locals leaving to make way for holiday and summer rentals; and the fragile environment is slowly deteriorating.”

Currently, Baguio City has an estimated 370,000 population, and nearly 800,000 tourist arrivals were recorded from the months of January to September 2019, alone. In 2018, it showed that there were 1,760,729 tourists’ arrivals in 2018.

This leads to a more alarming state for the tourist hub, linking it with big city problems, like traffic, overcrowding, water shortages and growing pollution. “But it is not too late,” she added. “We can stop overtourism with sustainable tourism.”

She said the issue on the city’s carrying capacity should be done by establishing the ideal number of visitors that can be accommodated without harming or affecting the environment.

All these, while meeting the expectations of the visitors, and respecting the needs and preserving the culture of the locals.

Romulo Puyat encouraged everyone to join in the #SaveOurSpots movement. She said, “Just like our previous collective efforts have demonstrated, rehabilitation is possible when done properly and when everyone is convinced of the merits of sustainable tourism development. The current thrust of the DOT is to encourage everyone to #SaveOurSpots, instilling the culture of responsible tourism and greater concern for our environment.”

She added that the agencies shall be applying the lessons they learned from their drive of preserving the different destinations in the country, such as El Nido and Coron in Palawan; Panglao in Bohol; Siargao in Surigao del Norte; and Manila Bay.

month as we try to market it by focusing on promotion, product development, and looking for buyers and artists who wants to collaborate. We also have a project called ‘Woven on the Move,’ where we bring weavers from Basey to Manila and take them to schools to impart their cultural heritage of weaving to kids,” Lim added.

Woven PH has also come up with millennial-friendly designs for banigwoven items. “Bags and wallets were already being sold as souvenirs for

tourists. So, we came up with gadget sleeves first, because millennials today are never without their phones, tablets or laptops,” Lim said.

Currently, the banig is mostly considered as nostalgic artifacts of the past, thus it is refreshing to see how banig creation is being reintroduced to the current generation. Thanks to Woven PH, the banig weavers of Basey, Samar, apart from reaping fair benefits, are also now enjoying the opportunities to showcase their beautiful craft.

This year’s Bamboo Organ Festival welcomes Belgian InAlto

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he 45th International Bamboo Organ Festival will feature the Belgian based early music ensemble InAlto, with instruments which were once heard in the 17th-century Intramuros. The group of six (InAlto and organist Bernard Focerrulle) from France, Italy, UK, the Netherlands and Belgium, will accompany the Villancico Vocal Ensemble, the festival choir since 2012 under Beverly ShangkuanCheng, in a program with some major works for double choir by Monteverdi and Schütz.

Soloists are soprano Stefanie Quintin-Avila and Michelle Mariposa, alto. This exceptional program will be staged on the invitational gala concert and on February 21 and 23.

On February 24, the Belgian organist Bernard Foccroulle will perform with the bamboo organ in a recital entirely dedicated to Spanish organ music, together with the ensemble InAlto. Prior to this performance, the members of the InAlto ensemble will conduct master classes from February 17 to 19, 1 to 4 p.m., for free and open to all music students and music lovers, however, registration is required. The visit of InAlto has been made possible by Wallonie-Bruxelles-International, in promotion of the relations with the French-speaking community of Belgium.

The closing concert of the festival will be held

InAlto members: Darren Moore, Bart Vroomen, Lambert Colson, Susanna Defendi and Guy Hanssen

at the San Ezekiel Moreno Oratory at the Villar Sipag compound on February 26, in memory of Johann Trummer, priest, theologian and organist, a great benefactor of the organ culture in the Philippines, who passed away last July 18, 2019. The entire program will be dedicated to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, which he promoted and taught.

Organist Armando Salarza will play the Toccata, Adagio and Fugue BWV 564. Other major works will be the opening chorus of the Saint Matthew’s Passion, and the closing chorus and chorale of the Saint John’s, to be performed by the Villancico Vocal Ensemble, the Las Piñas Boys Choir, the Manila Baroque Ensemble, under the general direction of Beverly Shangkuan-Cheng.

The 45th edition of the festival is made possible with the NCCA, the City Government of Las Piñas, and the Villar Sipag Foundation as major sponsors.

For details on the master classes, please visit the 45th International Bamboo Organ Festival Facebook account. Tickets for the February 21, 23 and 24 programs are available at P700, P500 and P300. Tickets for the February 22 concert are at P700 and P300 and P300 for February 26 concert.

For more information, please contact the Bamboo Organ Foundation Office at 8825-7190/88200795, TicketNet Online, and SM Tickets.

A12 Sunday, February 16, 2020

Sports BusinessMirror

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

SHOWCASING AFRICA’S POTENTIAL

By Tim Reynolds

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considerably since, and even French President Emmanuel Macron was moved to commit €12 million ($13.1 million) in 2018 toward aiding youth sport programs in Africa—noting that some African heads of state had told him basketball can serve as a bridge between nations and cultures.

In March, the new Basketball Africa League—backed by the NBA—is set to begin play. The 12 teams that will participate in the inaugural BAL season will be announced Saturday in Chicago, at an event where BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall will speak and unveil their uniforms.

And to further underscore Africa’s appetite for NBA content, Sunday’s game will be aired in no fewer than 42 nations on the continent.

“The Dream Team started it, and it just led right into us playing here,” Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan

The Associated Press

HE moment was not lost on Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The National Basketball Association’s (NBA) reigning Most Valuable Player, a Greek of Nigerian descent who is now starring in Milwaukee, was about to make his first two selections of this year’s All-Star Game draft and understood how significant his words would be when they resonated across the world’s second-largest continent.

His first pick: Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid.

“My African brother,” Antetokounmpo said.

His second pick: Toronto’s Pascal Siakam.

“My second African brother,” Antetokounmpo said.

Just like that, a son of Nigerian migrants and two kids who were playing soccer in Cameroon before turning their attention to basketball less than a decade ago became set to take the NBA All-Star stage together. And when they’re all on the floor to start the game in Chicago on Sunday night, it’ll be hard to envision a more significant basketball moment for Africa—a place that the NBA has long believed is a developing hotbed for the next wave of elite talent.

But with Antetokounmpo, Embiid and Siakam—players who will be earning about $90 million combined next season—already among the game’s brightest stars, the argument could be made that Africa is no longer deserving of the “developing” label.

It could be argued that Africa has already arrived.

“If you made me delineate and I had to say one of those two things, I would say that it’s here,” said Brett Brown, Embiid’s coach with the Philadelphia 76ers. “I’ve coached Fiba basketball,

Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo (from left), Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid and Toronto’s Pascal Siakam will be under the All-Star spotlight. AP

I’ve been lucky to go to three Olympic Games and see the world play the sport for three decades now.... And Africa is at the ground level of arriving.”

Of the 24 All-Stars this season, a record eight are representing countries other than the US. Dallas’s Luka Doncic is from Slovenia, Utah’s Rudy Gobert is from France, Denver’s Nikola Jokic is from

Serbia, Indiana’s Domantas Sabonis is from Lithuania and Philadelphia’s Ben Simmons is from Australia.

Antetokounmpo plays for Greece but also holds a Nigerian passport—both of his parents are Nigerian; they moved to Greece three years before he was born. Siakam

and Embiid come from Cameroon’s two largest cities; Embiid is from Yaounde, Siakam from Douala.

For years, China was considered the NBA’s future hotbed—and, economically, that has been the case. But China is still a long way from sending a second big name to the NBA after Yao Ming, while Africa has no shortage of elite talent in the league right now.

“There is a lot of pride in this for all of us,” Embiid said.

And this week the NBA is marking the 10th anniversary of opening its first office in Africa, that being in Johannesburg.

The NBA’s investment in Africa has grown

said in Paris last month, before his team faced Antetokounmpo and the Bucks. “Now you’ve got two different teams playing. We’ve got China.

We’ve got Africa now. So the game is expanding all over the globe.”

Players from at least 11 different African nations are represented in the NBA this season, and the league is constantly looking for more.

There’s an NBA Academy in Senegal. NBA scouts have been to places like Mozambique and Morocco in recent months. And it’s not just boys

Special-edition smartphone up for Tokyo 2020 athletes

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AMSUNG has announced a specialedition smartphone for Olympic athletes with less than six months to go until the start of Tokyo 2020.

As reported by Android Headlines, the official name of the smartphone is the Galaxy S20+ 5G Olympic Games Athlete Edition. It comes with a “Mirror Gold” finish and the Olympic rings on the back, and also features some added content to the standard Galaxy S20+ 5G. This is not the first time Samsung has made a special-edition phone in honor of the Olympics. When the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Games were held in the company’s home of South Korea, an athlete-only version of the Galaxy Note8 was designed.

The special edition of the Galaxy S20+ 5G was announced in addition to three Galaxy S20 handsets—Galaxy S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra.

All those devices support 5G in the United States and their pricing starts at $999.

The unveiling of the handsets comes around four months after Samsung decided to rework its marketing strategy for Tokyo

2020 amid a prolonged trade dispute between South Korea and Japan.

Samsung is part of the International Olympic Committee’s The Olympic Partner (TOP) Program which constitutes the very highest level of Olympic sponsorship.

Thailand replaces China in handball Olympic qualifying due to virus

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HAILAND will compete in women’s handball Olympic qualification tournament following the withdrawal of China due to the coronavirus.

China had been due to compete in one of the three final chance qualification tournaments scheduled from March 20 to 22.

The tournaments have become the latest sporting event to become impacted by the coronavirus outbreak with the Chinese team forced to withdraw. China have faced issues with hosting events, while their athletes have been met with travel restrictions in several countries amid fears over the virus.

More than 1,100 people have died so far due to the spread of coronavirus, with over 45,000 people infected.

China’s women’s handball team had placed second in the Asian qualification process, where group winners South Korea earned an automatic place at Tokyo 2020. The Chinese and North Korean teams secured places in the final qualification tournaments due to secondand third-place finishes, respectively.

The International Handball Federation announced last month the governing body had been informed that North Korea had withdrawn from its qualifying event in Montenegro.

Kazakhstan replaced North Korea following their fourth-place finish in the Asian qualification event. Hong Kong have declined an invitation to replace China, with coronavirus cited as the reason.

who are on the radar—the women’s game is also developing rapidly in Africa and will likely see a big boost by Nigeria’s national team giving the US women all they could handle before falling 76-71 in a World Cup qualifier on Sunday.

The Nigerians, who will play in the Tokyo Olympics this summer, celebrated on court after that game anyway.

“I just hope we’ve killed the overarching stigma that Africa never sends their best team [to the Olympics] and when they do it’s not of any substance,” Nigeria women’s Coach Otis Hughley Jr. said. “I hope we’re eating away at that stigma, at that assumption and that there will be at least a modicum of respect for the team that comes out of Africa. I hope this is the first day of something greater than what’s going on now.”

Embiid and Siakam are both alums of the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders program, and as has been the case at the past few All-Star weekends, BWB will have a presence in Chicago, as well. Among the 64 boys and girls invited to play at this weekend’s camp: children from Angola, Egypt, Guinea, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, the Congo and the Central African Republic.

Siakam will be among the coaches at this weekend’s camp. He and Raptors President Masai Ujiri speak often about ways to keep developing the game in Africa; it has long been a passion project for Ujiri, whose roots are Nigerian. On the night last June when Toronto won the NBA Finals for the first time, Ujiri did a wave of television interviews with a Nigerian scarf draped over his shoulders.

“Masai and the NBA and everyone is doing their part, promoting the game on the continent and making sure that we continue to tell young players and young kids that it’s possible, it’s something that they can do,” Siakam said.

It’s unfair to say that there will be another Antetokounmpo, Embiid or Siakam in that group.

But to Boston’s Tacko Fall, who didn’t even like basketball before his grandmother in his native Senegal made him watch the NBA—the first game he remembers was an All-Star Game, in fact—the bigger point is that more and more African kids get to see the opportunity the game provides.

“It’s amazing and it shows any African kid that if you have that hunger, you can get here,” Fall said.

“Joel has taken steps forward every year. Pascal is now an All-Star starter. That means a lot to me and I know it means a lot to the entire continent.”

But Tokyo 2020 has created some uneasiness for the company, especially because it is the only South Korean firm among the 13 TOP partners.

Last October, Korea Bizwire reported Samsung’s plans to remove the company name from all advertisements for the Olympics and change it for product branding instead.

Ever since Japan’s export restrictions against South Korea left the two nations in a stand off, Samsung has not been able to benefit substantially from sponsoring the Olympics. Insidethegames

The decision has handed Thailand an unlikely reprieve in the Tokyo 2020 qualification process, having finished bottom of the Asian event with five consecutive defeats.

Thailand are set to compete at the Olympic qualification event in Montenegro next month where it will join the host nation, Romania and Norway.

Norway was Olympic bronze medalists at Rio 2016, having won gold at both Beijing 2008 and London 2012.

Kazakhstan will vie in the second Olympic qualification tournament scheduled in Hungary.

Russia and Serbia will complete the four-team group.

Spain is due to host the third qualification event, with the hosts facing competition from Argentina, Senegal and Sweden.

The top 2 teams in each group will advance to the Olympic Games.

Japan, France, Brazil, South Korea, Angola and the Netherlands have already qualified for Tokyo 2020. Insidethegames

An electron microscopic image of the 2019 novel coronavirus grown in cells at The University of Hong Kong. The University of Hong Kong via Bloomberg

Coronavirus gives schools a lesson in fear

Coronavirus gives schools a lesson in fear

By Christopher Yasiejko & Christopher Palmeri

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Bloomberg

y the time the good news arrived from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it was too late.

A teenage exchange student, in Philadelphia for two weeks from China, had fallen ill and then tested negative for the coronavirus. But anxiety had already proved the stronger contagion.

It had spread among parents and students at William Penn Charter School, an independent Quaker school. Many children stayed home. Regional schools nixed athletic events and service projects with Penn Charter. A public-school bus driver tried to deny rides to the school’s students.

A health-care professional canceled an appointment with a Penn Charter student, citing the coronavirus.

“The experience reminded us how powerful fear is, and how contagious fear is,” said Sharon Sexton, Penn Charter’s director of marketing and communications.

Panic-based suspicions of people of Asian descent have spread far beyond academic settings. Drivers and customers of ride-hailing apps, such as Uber and Lyft have reported a wave of complaints, including inappropriate comments or cancellations due to their appearance or name.

Airlines, restaurants and other businesses around the globe have struggled to safeguard the public without bowing to racial stigmatization.

Fear drives petitions But the anxiety is especially intense at schools. A request on Change.org to close Arizona State University in Tempe has garnered more than 25,000 online signatures, while another demanding the school boards in the province of Ontario, Canada, close their campuses has gathered almost 51,000.

“Many students with flu-like symptoms refuse to stay at home for fear of missing lectures, but they are running the risk of bringing the virus to campus,” the Ontario petition reads, stating that respiratory masks are sold out in stores in the greater Toronto area.

In Alhambra, California, a Los Angeles suburb where roughly half the population is Asian, the school board put out a statement in four languages on February 5. It was meant to counter what the board said were rumors circulating on social media

and in the community, including an online petition signed by over 14,000 people that claimed there was “suspicion of a case of this virus in Alhambra.”

In its statement, the board quoted Los Angeles County health officials saying there was no immediate threat to the general public from the disease. “Ensuring the emotional well-being of our children is critically important,” the school board said.

“Especially during a time when truth, partial truths, and misinformation are circulating.”

‘A tiny voice’ Penn Charter a decade ago introduced Mandarin Chinese classes and expanded exchanges of students and teachers with Chinese counterparts. A group of 18 Chinese students and three chaperones arrived on January 21 for a two-week stay, but by the end of the week, one of the students, most of whom are 15 years old, had fallen ill. Their trip had included a plane change in Wuhan City, the outbreak’s epicenter.

The Chinese student was isolated and tested for the coronavirus, following the protocols of state and federal authorities.

Darryl Ford, the head of the school, told parents in an e-mail about the quarantined student and said the Philadelphia Department of Public Health didn’t recommend separating the other Chinese students and chaperones. Less than two days later, the school had confirmed that the student didn’t have the coronavirus.

“We thought on Sunday that we would tough it out based on the science that we knew at that point,” said Sexton, a member of the team of administrators who managed parents’ concerns. “But the science was evolving, and when Monday came around and local media were reporting that we had a student from China who was visiting and who was being tested for the coronavirus, the word out of China was that the coronavirus could be transmitted before symptoms appeared. That was news to us.”

2 BusinessMirror

Soon, news media trucks were parked outside the school all day. The older exchange students recognized the connection to the coronavirus, Sexton said. Some parents who had sent their kids to school that morning picked them up. Some older students who drive had permission from their parents to leave.

“We felt that we could forge ahead and try to educate people,” Sexton said. “But we recognized quickly that we are a tiny voice in a global health crisis.”

The CDC results were delivered to the school just as the exchange students were boarding a bus. It would take them to New York City after breakfast and goodbyes with their host families. They planned to spend the night there and return to their homes in China the next day.

Penn Charter administrators hope to find a way to continue the exchange program, Sexton said, but they’ve canceled plans to send a group of students to China in March. The program’s future, for now, is uncertain.

Elsewhere, ‘a teachable moment’ A different sort of international program run by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, meanwhile, has remained intact.

For more than 20 years, the archdiocese’s Office of Catholic Education has welcomed foreign students with F-1 visas for stays from one to four years. The duration of the students’ time in the US, said Janet Dollard, director of international programs for the Office of Catholic Education, means there have been “absolutely no incidents of a Chinese student who got off a plane and went into a school” since the outbreak began.

The program currently includes 172 students from 19 countries, spread over 17 high schools. Typically, Dollard said, about 75 percent of the students are from mainland China. This year, there are about 120 Chinese students.

February 16, 2020

The archdiocese sent school families an e-mail toward the end of the week in which Penn Charter faced its own challenges.

“There is no evidence to suggest any presence of coronavirus in any of our schools,” Dollard said. Any students returning from China must quarantine themselves for two weeks, following CDC guidelines. The majority of Chinese students, she said, didn’t travel home during the Christmas break.

“If anything, it’s an opportunity for our students to be compassionate to students who have families that are affected in their native land,” Dollard said. “It’s a teachable moment for all of us.”

The archdiocese has told international students to wait until the end of the school year to go home, and it has asked them to arrive 14 days before the start of the 202021 school year.

“At this point,” Dollard said, “I have no evidence of any issues with our parents.”

Sound trip BusinessMirror

your Music our business

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: T. Anthony C. Cabangon

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Group Creative Director : Eduardo A. Davad Graphic Designers Contributing Writers

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YOUR MUSIC OUR BUSINESS Regine Velasquez-Alcasid | Photo/s by Allan Sancon/PMPC.

THE BALLAD OF REGINE VELASQUEZ

Asia’s Songbird takes centerstage with one career achievement after another

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By Leony R. Garcia

OR quite a long time, musical competitions would always turn to biritan, the high-notebusting singing style that seasoned singers such as Asia’s Songbird, Regine Velasquez is best known for.

Regine, however, has proven time and again that there is a lot more to her performance than just reaching the high notes.

With three decades of dedication to her craft and doing the thing that she loves best, Regine has long been considered an icon in the industry.

It was no surprise then that she was recently recognized with the

PILITA CORRALES LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, during the recently concluded PMPC Star Awards for Music organized by the Philippine Movie Press Club.

Regine was teary-eyed when she received the citation and acknowledged the citation as a big honor on her part. “Matanda na ba ako kaya meron na akong lifetime

achievement award?,” she quipped in jest before dedicating the honor to her mentor and No.1 fan, her father, the late Mang Gerry.

It was certainly a well-deserved award for someone who managed to stay and still be on top of the game for over 30 years. When asked by SoundStrip about the secret to her longevity, Regine replied, “I just work hard and I think I work well with other artists. I also respect other people’s time. Being professional is very important in this business.”

That’s why for her fellow singers especially the newbies, her simple advice is for them “to just keep working hard and be professional.”

One of the country’s most awarded music artists, Regine is also known as an actress and record producer. She

first gained recognition by winning both the 1984 Ang Bagong Kampeon competition and the 1989 AsiaPacific Song Contest, representing the Philippines in the latter.

Since then, there was no stopping Regine from gaining new heights.

She even widened her hold in the entertainment industry by starring in memorable movies, television shows and stage musical. She made her stage debut in 1992 with the Musical Theatre Philippines’ production of Romualdo Ramos’ and Tony Velasquez’ Kenkoy Loves Rosing.

Her movie breakthrough came when she played the title role of a music teacher in the film Wanted Perfect Mother in 1996. That same year, she Continued on page 6

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Sound BusinessMirror

FEBRUARY 16 , 2020 | soundstrip.businessmirror@gmail.com

YOUR MUS

BIGGER AND BETTER

FOUND MUSIC FESTIVAL RESONATES WITH THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE OF MUSIC

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OUND Music Festival held their second year last February 08, 2020 at Filinvest City Events Grounds featuring worship group Citipointe Live, together with local acts such as IV of Spades, The Ransom Collective, Leanne and Naara, Daddy’s Home, Johann Mendoza, Victory Worship, New Life Music, Sabu, Keiko Necesario, and Gary Valenciano.

Last year, the first ever FOUND Music Festival was well-attended by families, music and art enthusiasts, young organization leaders, and students from different universities across the metro.

This year’s festival was even more eventful. Concert highlights include the following: Completing the lineup was music icon Gary Valenciano who later on drew crowds even though it was already past midnight.

For more details, visit www. foundmusicfest.com and follow Found Music Fest on Facebook and Instagram.

Citipointe Worship made their big stage debut in Manila.

The Ransom Collective

IV of Spades serenading their Pinoy fans.

FOUND Music Festival

Gary V.

Becky Lucas Lead Vocals, Citipointe Worship Band

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soundstrip.businessmirror@gmail.com | FEBRUARY 16 , 2020

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SIC OUR BUSINESS

FIRST QUARTER (MUSIC) STORM 2020 PART 2 Manila rocks into a new decade

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By Tony M. Maghirang

T looks like excellent weather for great music will be coming our way in the next two months of 2020. No, we’re not talking about the initial surge of climate change impacts. We’re referring to livewire concert action that could change the increasingly uncool climate of music in these parts.

So yeah, let’s welcome some warm winds to blow across the next two months and take us to more exciting times ahead.

FEBRUARY

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HERCULES AND THE LOVE AFFAIR at the UNKNWN Fiesta, Puerta Real Gardens, Intramuros Manila This American music collective makes funky music that harks back to the early ‘80s Euro Disco and retooled today Hi-NRG disco rock for indie kids. Much has been said about the queer slant in the voice and lyrics of lead DJ Andy Butler but music that’s danceable and ear-friendly at the same time is all that matters, and Hercules and his gang delivers them in spades. The group’s latest EP titled “Change” is packed with intoxicating remixes of memorable tracks from their back catalog.

Hercules and The Love Affair leads the first set of performers at Unknwn Fiesta that also includes Friendly Fires (DJ set) and Hot Chip (DJ set).

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MIKE LOVE at Malasimbo Music & Arts Festival, La Mesa Eco Park, QC Founding member of the legendary Beach Boys Mike Love takes his solo star turn live at the tenth anniversary of the Malasimbo Music & Arts Festival. The immediate attraction would be reliving the memories of the classic mellifluous surf sound of the ‘60s California. Here’s the surprise: Mike Love’s 2016 release “Love Overflowing” is a powerful tribute to reggae and Jah. So expect the unexpected when Mike Love fires it up onstage.

MARCH

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The JACKSONS at the Araneta Coliseum, Cubao; Quezon City

The group that nurtured Michael Jackson to superstardom is returning to the Philippines for the nth time and there’s no mistaking Jackie, Tito and the other surviving siblings will be regaling their Filipino audience with their own greatest hits plus a healthy sampling of Michael’s more memorable songs done via the band’s unique pop-funk style. Surely, the show will also be a sideways commemoration of The Gloved One’s immense legacy. The concert should be a convergence of fans across generations.

DJ CRUSSEN at the Bellas Artes Outpost, Karrivin Plaza, Makati City Hailing from Sweden where he started playing in punk bands, DJ Crussen’s electronica has been described as boundary-pushing. The few samples of his recording on Spotify appear on surface to be no more laidback than a folk rock track. Still, his formidable credentials on deck have taken DJ Crussen to landmark dancefloors around the world from Ibiza to Berlin Love Parade to Bali’s nightclubs. This is a rare chance to cavort around top-ofthe-line post-millennial house music.

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THE SCORPIONS at the MOA Arena, Mall of Asia Complex German hack rockers best known to Filipino fans for massive rock ballads like “Holiday,” “Wind of Change” and the nearly immortal, “Always Somewhere” as well as rockers like “Still Loving You” and “Rock You Like a Hurricane” will raise the roof at the MOA Arena to conclude their three-year world tour that began in France in 2017. Since it’s the last show of the tour, fans can expect an unforgettable concert with plenty of pyrotechnics as the Scorpions should have an idea of how big they are in this part of the planet.

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FOALS at Filinvest City Event Grounds, Alabang Masters of introspective as well as expansive sounds,

Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day (AP Photo)

indie band Foals generate excitement with excellent onetwo punch of heavy guitars and unrelenting percussive attack, They can get party-goers dancing and self-aware heads brooding even in a live setting. This exceptional dichotomy is best illustrated on their latest album titled “Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost Pt.1” which earned a nomination to the 2019 Mercury Prize. You should come to watch a band that’s been celebrated for daring to create the great soundtrack to apocalyptic dread.

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JIMMY EAT WORLD at New Frontier Theater, Araneta City, QC Emo pioneers Jimmy Eat World once called themselves the New Jersey success story. That success curve goes on today with the band absorbing the influence of Rage Against The Machine and Van Halen on their latest release titled “Surviving.” That means audiences will be able to appreciate the melodic intensity of their early years and the metal crunch inspired by their current heroes. Be there when emo grows up in fighting form.

RUEL Live at the Music Museum, San Juan, Metro Manila Australian soul-pop sensation Ruel takes his “Free Time” tour to Filipino audiences and it should be a close encounter with an expressive voice oozing with nuance and moving passion. The vocal acumen of the 15-year old singer has been described to be capable of delivering majestic heavy anthems and ballads that cut deep each time out. Come and listen to a teenage prodigy bare his soul.

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GREEN DAY at MOA Arena, Mall of Asia Complex Music pundits suggest that 2020 could mark the return of guitar-based rock and roll and it seems US punk trio Green Day has fired the opening shot with the release of a new album titled “Father of All Motherf**kers.” Late last year, the title track which was the lead single off the album already echoed the stripped-down punk rock of 1991’s “Kerplunk,” still one of the best-selling indie records of all time. So, when Tre, Billy and Mike come to town for the first time, get ready with your studded leather jacket and torn jeans, but please leave the middle

finger and the snotty attitude at home. Gabba gabba hooray!

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98 DEGREES The Philippine Tour at MOA Asia Arena, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City Take a trip down memory lane with the bay band who tugged adolescent hearts with such slow hits as “Because of You” and “The Hardest Thing.” So when 98 Degrees hit the MOA stage on EDSA Revolution memorial day, soaring harmonies, honeyed male vocals and repeated calls to dance will be on the evening’s agenda. And oh, not to forget, come with a friend, or better yet, bring your barkada for screaming karaoke till the lights go down.

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GO WEST at the L2, Newport Performing Arts Theater, Newport Mall, Pasay City Go West remained a formidable ‘80s synthpop duo right through their last studio album “Futurenow” in 2008. In succeeding years, they became an essential part of ‘80s pop or New Wave compilation on all sorts of record labels. "Futurenow" now actually departs a bit from the Go West original template with its electric guitar riffs, back-up choruses ala Human League and one amusing reggae romp. These veterans know they’ve got agile chops better than their washed-out contemporaries.

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SLIPKNOT Live at the Amoranto Stadium, Roces Avenue, Quezon City Rap metal masked marauders Slipknot crisscrosses the rap and metal divide with their exhilarating mix of brutal lyrics and ferocious head-banging noise rock.

Their latest release titled “I’m Not Your Kind” puts forward the attitude and stance of perennial outsiders.

They’re coming for the first time to Manila on the last Saturday of March and metalheads, street punks and outcasts of all stripes should rejoice on what’s expected to be a career-spanning live concert. Come one, come all, you freaking maggots!

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FEBRUARY 16 , 2020 | soundstrip.businessmirror@gmail.com

Sound trip BusinessMirror

YOUR MUSIC OUR BUSINESS

RHYTHM & RHYME

by Kaye Villagomez-Losorata

Taylor Swift exposes pitfalls of stardom in ‘Miss Americana’

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FTER 15 years of singing, Taylor Swift finally found her voice.

Swift just swiped the last of her good girl card, going from “A nice girl doesn’t force their opinions on people” to “I need to be on the right side of history” in “Miss Americana,” the new Netflix documentary tackling Taylor trajectory from formulaclinging pop sweetheart to fearless music icon.

In the film, Swift is unafraid of losing some sparkles to spark real change by making her political opinions known and finally putting her swaying power to more meaningful use by getting young people to exercise their own power to choose.

You don’t need to know a lot about Swift to get on board Miss Americana, that’s how relatable the Netflix piece is. Kicking things off with home video clips of a younger Taylor, getting her first guitar for Christmas or going up on stage to convert audiences into fans of this cute, cheery spitfire of a singer-songwriter, it only takes a couple of minutes before you get to series of unfortunate surprises that peel off the hit-makers light.

It all started with the Kanye West incident during the 2009

The Ballad...

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starred in the musical comedy Do Re Mi alongside Donna Cruz and Mikee Cojuangco.

She was featured as a prominent singer desperate for a normal life in "Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw" (2000) opposite actor Aga Muhlach and she re-teamed with him in "Pangako Ikaw Lang" (2001)—for which she received the Box Office Entertainment Award for Box Office Queen.

In between singing engagements, concerts and albums, she also conquered TV. She appeared in an episode of ABS-CBN’s drama series, "Maalaala Mo Kaya" in 2002, playing a mentally challenged woman who develops a romantic relationship with a younger man which earned her the Star Award for Best Actress.

A follow up to her Iconic concert last year with Megastar Sharon Cuneta

Taylor Swift (Photo by John Salangsang/Associated Press)

VMAs. “When you are living for the approval of strangers, one bad thing can cause everything to crumble.”

After Kanye interrupted Taylor’s speech, she even thought she was the one being booed. “At the time, I didn’t think they were booing him doing that. I thought they were booing me.”

Post-VMA, she told herself, “I am going to make sure people know I deserve to be here.”

And she did exactly just that.

I always believed that children should be showered all kinds of positive reinforcements parents can give while preparing them for what the real world might throw at them.

You have to be equipped with enough shine inside because the world will is the highly successful Unified, her first collaboration with her favorite showbiz ‘panganay’ Sarah Geronimo, on February 14 and 15 at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Unified is their first collaboration after 17 years. Sarah has long credited Regine as her mentor and inspiration.

She had her showbiz breakthrough in 2003 via “Star for A Night,” which was hosted by Regine. Since then, the two have formed a close relationship, with Regine helping guide Sarah’s career through the years.

So what exactly is Regine’s take on the title that was given to her, as Asia’s Songbird? “It’s very flattering to be given any title but it also adds pressure to me,” she quipped.

Pressure, however, is something that Regine Velasquez continues to thrive on. Only 49 years of age, more lifetime achievements await her in the years to come.

try to steal anything that flickers from inside. Taylor went on to deal with online bullies when Kanye came out with Famous where he called her a b***h. As we all know, Taylor requested to be “excluded in that narrative” but Kim Kardashian-West came out with a recording that Swift knew Kanye will include her name in the song.

Swift, as gifted as she was, planned her reality around her dreams. They were huge dreams, only made possible because of an even bigger talent she was blessed with. Swift’s hands are not her own without a string instrument and a pen-and-paper wrapped around her arms and fingers.

From the slew of documentaries giving the public a rare peek of what happens inside the real world of pop stars, this one is arguably the most authentic. For most part of the documentary, Swift bares her plain self, stripped-off red carpet glam. What remains is the songwriter-singer whose sole goal is to put out better than-previousrecords for her followers.

At one point, she is filmed dealing with the news that her 2017 album Reputation failed to score any major Grammy nod in 2018.

In the scene, the pop icon was told of the frustrating news over the phone. Unsuccessfully brushing tangible pain aside, she just vowed to just make a better record. Her rebuttal was 2019’s Lover, which deserves a standalone review.

Swift did not only share actual footage of songwriting and recording but was her top critic up to her music videos. During a video shoot, she said, “I really have a slap-able face.”

But at the end of the day, Swift found herself to be the sum of the old and new Taylor. “I want to wear pink and tell you how I feel about politics. I want to still have a sharp pen, a thin skin and an open heart.”

(The author is a former entertainment reporter and editor before shifting to corporate PR. Follow @kayevillagomez on Instagram and Twitter for more updates.)

Tencent, Alibaba office apps find fans in virus-affected schools

By Zheping Huang & Kari Lindberg

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Bloomberg

n coronavirus-hit China, demand for virtual office tools from Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and Tencent Holdings Ltd. is surging as the world’s largest work-fromhome experiment gets into full swing.

But there’s one surprising source of new users—the country’s teachers and students. With schools shut or delaying reopening to curb the spread of the virus, educators are increasingly turning to workplace technology, adapting it for instruction purposes.

Tencent and Alibaba have in past years steadily built out their office apps as part of an overall effort to keep users locked into their respective online spheres, but they’ve always been deemed as a sort of sideline to their main retail and media empires. Now, they’ve sprung to the vanguard thanks to the outbreak.

Alibaba’s DingTalk is the most downloaded free app in China’s iOS App Store, followed by Tencent Conference. WeChat Work, which is also from Tencent, ranks No. 4. Their newfound popularity offers China’s twin Internet giants a chance to stake out an unclaimed multibillion-dollar arena.

DingTalk has been particularly swift in spotting the emerging need in the ed-

ucation sector. Last week, it rolled out a slew of new features for classroom settings, including live-streaming lessons that can have as many as 302 participants and an online testing and grading system. At least 50 million students from elementary to high school across China had signed up for DingTalk’s online teaching programs conducted in tandem with local education authorities as of February 10, Alibaba said in a statement.

In response to the epidemic, Tencent has introduced a variety of initiatives to facilitate online education programs for teachers and minimize disruption to students’ learning, a spokesman for the company said. In one recent update, WeChat Work made it easier for teachers to live stream in group chats.

A key appeal of DingTalk, Tencent Conference and WeChat is that they are powered by reliable cloud services that are also free, said Ye Le, a Shanghai-based analyst with China Securities.

“That’s why they have gained traction during this special period of time,” he said, but added that using such software for education is different from typical corporate situations. “Teaching online is more than

just showing PowerPoint slides like in business meetings.”

But it’s students themselves who seem to be the most unimpressed with the likes of DingTalk and Tencent Conference, mercilessly review-bombing them on the App Store—and not always for technological reasons.

“It has doubled my happiness in the holiday, now that I can see my teacher’s resting face,” wrote one student who uses DingTalk. That user gave the app a rating of 1 star out of 5.

The use of technology and the Internet for teaching isn’t new in China. Online education has been booming in recent years, with revenue estimated to have reached around $36 billion in 2018, and is expected to more than double in 2022, according to iResearch. That’s given rise to intense competition between established players, such as tuition provider New Oriental, as well as tech start-ups like NetEase Youdao and VIPKid, luring students with interactive teachings in courses from coding to English and maths.

What’s different this time is the urgency and scale of the education crisis brought about by the epidemic, and the fact that more schools are depending on free soft-

ware that was originally designed for the corporate world.

China’s education ministry has pushed back the start of the spring semester in the wake of the virus epidemic, with major cities like Shanghai and Shenzhen banning any school activities until at least February 17. With no idea of when exactly school will resume, teachers and parents are concerned about how best to instruct students in the prolonged winter break. The timing is especially critical for high-school students who will face the all-important college entrance exam, or gaokao, in June.

Since last week, Fannie Jiao, an English teacher at a secondary school in Shanghai, has been tutoring four ninth-graders on their homework every other day using Tencent Conference. She’s currently using assignments that she originally planned for her brick-and-mortar classroom before the virus outbreak. Her school has told her to get ready to teach all of her 3 dozen students via the video app once the semester begins.

“Face-to-face teaching is always better, but we have to get used to this,” said Jiao, 28. To check on her students, Jiao said she randomly turns on their mics on the Tencent app and asks them questions.

Parents are concerned about the technical limitations and efficiency of such an approach to teaching. Liu Yan from Zhengzhou in central China’s Henan province says the school of her 12-year-old daughter uses DingTalk, as well as another platform, ClassIn, which allows teachers to constantly monitor student behavior via video. She prefers that app.

When using DingTalk, she said that “children can do whatever they want.

They can sleep, or not pay attention. Children need to be supervised. How else will they learn?”

Facebook fights spread of misinformation about virus online

By David Klepper The Associated Press

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acebook says it’s working to limit the spread of misinformation and potentially harmful content about the coronavirus as bogus claims about the ongoing outbreak circulate online.

Kang-Xing Jin, Facebook’s head of health, announced that the social-media platform will begin removing posts that include false claims or conspiracy theories about the virus that have been flagged by health authorities. The company said it will focus on posts that discourage people from getting medical treatment, or that make potentially dangerous claims about cures.

The company will also limit the spread of posts debunked by its third-party fact-checkers, and send users who shared the post a notification.

Users who search for information on the virus on Facebook, or who click on certain related hashtags on Instagram, will receive a pop-up providing authoritative information on the virus. In addition, information about the outbreak will also appear at the top of Facebook users’ news feeds based on guidance from the World Health Organization.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak began, a number of misleading claims and hoaxes about the virus have circulated online.

“We will also block or restrict hashtags used to spread misinformation on Instagram, and are conducting proactive sweeps to find and remove as much of this content as we can,” Jin wrote in a post. “Not all of

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these steps are fully in place. It will take some time to roll them out across our platforms.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak began, a number of misleading claims and hoaxes about the virus have cir-

February 16, 2020

culated online. They include false conspiracy theories that the virus was created in a lab and that vaccines have already been manufactured, wildly exaggerations about the number of sick and dead, and potentially harmful claims about bogus cures.

The coronavirus has now infected more than 43,000 people around the world, based on numbers released last week. Some 1000 deaths have been reported in China, with most of the deaths in the central province of Hubei.

The number of cases grew in Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan and Germany on Friday, while Russia, Italy and England reported their first cases.

Other Internet companies have announced their own efforts to stem the flow of misinformation about the disease.

Twitter users who search for information about coronavirus are now given a link to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web site on coronavirus.

YouTube and Google, meanwhile, say they’re promoting authoritative information about the virus to the top of search results.

Google also announced that users who search for information on the virus will see an “SOS Alert” at the top of their screen giving them links to the World Health Organization’s references on the outbreak.

Retailers try clothing rental, but will it be a good fit?

By Anne D’innocenzio The Associated Press

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enting clothes could be the future of fashion— or it could just be a fad.

But traditional retailers can no longer afford to wait on the sidelines to find out. That’s why a growing number are now offering customers the option to rent clothes for a monthly fee instead of buying them. Bloomingdale’s, Banana Republic and Urban Outfitters are the latest to offer the services. Even footwear chain Designer Brands says it’s considering launching a rental service for shoes.

Now a booming $1-billion business, the clothing rental sector is expected to reach $2.5 billion by 2023, according to research firm GlobalData. When combined with resale, it will account for 13 percent of the total $360-billion US clothing market within the decade, up from 7.3 percent today.

Clothing rentals are one more piece of the sharing economy, where customers— particularly those in their 20s and 30s— are less interested in owning or making big investments but still want access to different brands and services, says Steve Barr, consumer markets leader at PwC. “You no longer have to buy into the myth of continuous consumption and that there’s pride in wearing something as opposed to pride in owning something,” said Jennifer Hyman, CEO and co-founder of Rent the Runway, which in 2009 pioneered the business model that many retailers are now trying to replicate.

For clothing retailers, rentals offer a glimmer of hope at a time when they are dealing with mounds of unsold goods that often need to be deeply discounted.

Several have already gotten into the secondhand business—another popular trend in the sharing economy led by companies like The Real Real and ThredUp. JC Penney and Macy’s, for instance, have partnered with ThredUp to sell gently worn clothes in a couple dozen locations. Nordstrom is testing resale at its women’s flagship store in Manhattan and online.

Many in the industry consider these necessary steps as clothing retailers watch their fortunes erode. They, along with department stores, are expected to see their fourth-quarter earnings sink 11.3 percent compared with a 5.7-percent drop for the overall retail sector, according to research firm Retail Metrics Llc. Last year, clothing retailers accounted for

Vara Pikor, a 26-year-old insurance broker from Manhattan, poses for a picture in front of a “Rent The Runway” store before returning some items in New York. Pikor is wearing some of the items she rents from the company, including her dress and earrings. Now a booming $1-billion business, the clothing rental sector is expected to reach $2.5 billion by 2023, says research firm GlobalData. But for traditional retailers, the economics of renting affordable clothing pose significant challenges. AP an outsized share of retail bankruptcies, according to a recent report by consulting firm AlixPartners.

“Clothing retailers are dealing with pressures on multiple fronts,” said Ken Perkins, president of Retail Metrics. “Heavy promotions, chronic traffic declines, e-commerce investment.

And now they’ve got rental and resale services as well. The rental market is small, but it’s going to grow, and they have to invest in it.”

Christine Hunsicker, CEO and founder of CaaStle, a start-up that manages inventory and shipping for retailers, says rental services have anywhere from a 20-percent to 25-percent operating profit compared with only 5 percent for traditional retailers. Last year, Hunsicker’s retail clients saw total spending for both renting and buying increase two-fold on average for each customer.

But unlike Rent the Runway, a dedicated rental service for high-end designer clothing, the economics for traditional retailers—from marketing to dry cleaning and shipping, on top of running their normal day-to-day operations—pose significant challenges.

About a dozen retailers, including Banana Republic and Bloomingdale’s, have left it to CaaStle to handle the logistics.

But Urban Outfitters, which lets shoppers rent their brands, as well as outside labels like Reebok and Levi’s, is doing it all on its own—a formidable task.

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“[Retailers] are very used to marketing products, not services, so it’s challenging knowing which customers to message, and how often,” Hunsicker said.

Some experts wonder whether it even makes sense for lower-priced clothing chains to get into the rental business since customers could just buy the clothes used, or get them at a deep discount. Also, the clothes may not hold up well after multiple wears, says Rod Sides of Deloitte Llp. Elizabeth Kashin, 53, of Indianapolis, says she tried Urban Outfitter’s Nuuly rental service last month. She never received her package of six items but was charged anyway. After contacting customer service via social media, she got another package but said the clothes didn’t look clean.

“I can go to a secondhand store to get a better experience,” she said.

Urban Outfitters said that it is constantly listening to feedback so that it can “make the experience even better for Nuuly’s subscribers.” It says it’s on pace to have 50,000 subscribers in the first 12 months of operation.

Retailers also face the same challenges that still dog Rent the Runway. Consumers complain about spotty customer service and a slew of added fees. For example, Rent the Runway charges $50 for every day that a customer is late in returning an item, up to double the retail value of that item.

February 16, 2020

There is also the issue of too few locations to return rented items. Retail expert Melissa Gonzalez says retailers should have kiosks in their stores in key cities but right now, most don’t have any and shoppers must drop off their garment bags at a UPS or the post office.

Rent the Runway has five stores and nearly 50 drop-off locations. Rent the Runway itself has had to adapt to an increasingly demanding customer. It started out with special occasion dresses but its customers now rent on average more than 120 days per year. The New Yorkbased company launched children’s wear last year and later unveiled pillows and other home decor items through a partnership with home furnishings retailer West Elm. Vara Pikor, a 26-year-old insurance broker from Manhattan who’s been using Rent the Runway for many of her clothing needs, says she is hooked.

“This could be my forever habit,” she said. “I have less stuff in my home.”

Rent the Runway’s long-term prospects are still unknown. The company plans to go public but there is no clear timetable. In 2016, it announced that it was profitable but a spokeswoman declined to comment on whether that remains true today.

Nonetheless, retailers continue to follow its lead and hope to end up in a better place.