BusinessMirror February 24, 2020

PHL-SOKOR FTA SEEN FINALIZED IN APRIL

By Elijah Felice E. Rosales

T JOBS GALORE Applicants gather at the biggest Job Fair event in the Philippines at New Era University School of Management Building in Quezon City on Saturday. Over 200 companies joined the fair, in search of qualified applicants for a variety of opportunities. New Era Alumni Association Inc. President Randy Escolango was among those who issued instructions to the qualified applicants, including Persons With Disability (PWD), at the Job Fair. NONOY LACZA

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@alyasjah

HE free trade agreement (FTA) between the Philippines and South Korea is now expected to be finalized by April, as optimism toward a conclusion rose after the two parties revamped their lineup of negotiators.

Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said both governments changed their team of negotiators to bring a fresh environment to the table. With the reorganization, the Philippine side is now headed by Trade Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo, taking over the position previously held by Trade

Assistant Secretary Allan B. Gepty.

Rodolfo is known to be one of Lopez’s trusted aides in the Department of Trade and Industry, and is frequently assigned to negotiate or renegotiate trade deals, as well as secure new investments for the Philippines. “[The FTA talks with] Korea is moving. Hopefully, we finish Korea after April,” Lopez said in an interview with reporters last week.

“That’s the next target, before the visit of the Korean president here. I met the South Korean minister recently, and our discussions there are continuing. Hopefully, we can finalize it [since] our negotiating teams were changed,” he added.

Monday, February 24, 2020 Vol. 15 No. 137

Co-ops, groups top rice importers under RTL

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By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

@jearcalas

OOPERATIVES, farmers’ groups and associations edged out companies and traders in terms of rice imports under the new trade regime, as they cornered a total of 1 million metric tons (MMT) of the staple at the end of 2019.

Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) data obtained and analyzed by the BusinessMirror showed that at least 120 multipurpose and farmers’ cooperatives, organizations and irrigators’ associations imported 1.043

MMT from March 5 until December 31, 2019. The rice trade liberalization law (RTL) which deregulated the industry took effect on March 5, 2019.

The volume imported by farm-

ers’ organizations was 28 percent higher than the 810,548.85 MT of rice imported by the 96 traders, rice millers and corporations, which included the likes of Puregold Price Club Inc. and Davao-based firm

28%

The difference in the volume of rice imported by farmers’ organizations, which was higher than the 810,548.85 MT of rice imported by 96 traders, rice millers and corporations, including the likes of Puregold Price Club Inc. and Davao-based firm Davao San-Ei Trading Davao San-Ei Trading Inc. BPI data showed that the total volume of rice that entered the country under the new trade regime by end-2019 was at 1.853 MMT, or half of the total applied volume of 3.632 MMT. See “Co-ops,” A2

DEBT PAYMENTS IN NOV JUMP TO P221.84B–BTr

By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

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HE government’s debt payments in November 2019 alone jumped to P221.844 billion on the back of increased amortization payments, data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) showed.

The government’s debt service bill in November rose by a whopping 473.42 percent from the previous year’s P38.688 billion.

This brought the government’s total debt payments in January to November 2019 to P805.264 billion, nearly 17 percent higher than the P688.406 billion recorded in endNovember 2018.

According to the latest data from the BTr, the bulk of debt payments in November, or P204.557 billion, went to amortization. This is significantly higher than the P14.028 billion posted in November 2018.

Asked what caused the spike in amortization, National Treasurer Rosalia V. de Leon and Deputy Treasurer

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@llectura

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PESO exchange rates n

P25.00 nationwide | 5 sections 30 pages |

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

By Lenie Lectura

See “Chevron,” A2

See “FTA,” A12

Erwin Sta. Ana pointed to maturing obligations.

Data from the BTr also showed that interest payments in November 2019 dropped by 29.9 percent to P17.287 billion, from P24.660 billion in 2018.

Domestic amortization, which reflects the actual principal repayments to creditors including those serviced by the Bond Sinking Fund and the Central Bank Board of Liquidators, comprised 96.49 percent or P197.370 billion of total amortization payments.

The remaining P7.187 billion in amortization went to foreign ones, which include prepayments made due to bond exchange transactions.

In January to November 2019, amortizations were higher than interest payments. During the period, the government settled P473.512 billion in amortization and P331.752 billion in interest payments.

Amortizations went up by 28.53 percent as of end-November 2019 See “Debt,” A2

Amended PSA is PHL economy’s driver in next 5 years–Salceda

Fuel-supply gap ruled out if Chevron deal stops HE Department of Energy (DOE) said over the weekend that fuel supply won’t be disrupted in case the government decides not to renew the lease contract with Chevron Philippines involving government land in Batangas.

“There is no impact on our energy because what we want to do in that place is to be the energy city also,” said Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.

The Department of Finance (DOF) earlier recommended the shutdown of Batangas Land Co. Inc. (BLCI) , a subsidiary of National Development Co. (NDC), so that government could have

The change in negotiators also signaled that the final FTA package will include developmental provisions outside of the usual contents on trade in goods, trade in services and investments, Lopez explained. He said innovation clauses will likely be inserted in the trade deal to pave the way for future partnerships between the Philippines and South Korea.

“It’s not just tariff that we are talking about here; they [negotiators] see a broader picture,” the trade chief said.

“Hopefully, we can agree on certain terms that not only tariff will be discussed. Future investment, innovation, those are what we want to be included.”

ROAD WIDENING The Department of Public Works and Highways has started the widening of Lawton Avenue, a busy area in Taguig City, from the interchange of Slex/Skyway to Fifth Avenue, the Phase 1 of a road project to ease congestion in the bustling business hub. ROY DOMINGO

@joveemarie

HE chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means said passage of the bill amending the 84-year-old Public Service Act (PSA) will be beneficial to the Philippine economy over the next five years.

In an aide memoire addressed to the leadership of the House of Representatives, Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, the principal author of the measure, said the amendments are expected to yield up to 0.22 percent higher gross domestic product (GDP) compared to baseline.

He said real wages are also expected to go up, by 0.14 percent higher than baseline, following more investments in the country.

“The PSA amendments are expected to have little, if any, inflationary impact. The limitation of the DSGE [dynamic stochastic general equilibrium analysis] model is that it is blind to the kind of investment the law attracts. Typically, investments in technology-driven sectors like telecommunications tend to bring costs down for consumers,” he added.

Salceda said large-enough investments attracted by the PSA may bring overall inflation down from baseline while unemployment is likely to decline by 0.1 percent, following growth in output due to more investments.

House Bill 78 or the proposed new Public Service Act is expected to be approved on third and final reading this week.

US 50.6220 n japan 0.4515 n UK 65.2163 n HK 6.5067 n CHINA 7.2080 n singapore 36.1431 n australia 33.4865 n EU 54.6060 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.4967

See “PSA,” A2

Source: BSP (21 February 2020)

News

BusinessMirror

A2 Monday, February 24, 2020

Tieza speeds up funding of tourism infra projects ₧14B

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

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@akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror

HE Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza) has picked up the pace in its spending after persistent reminders from the Department of Finance (DOF).

In an interview with the BusinessMirror, Tieza Chief Operating Officer Pocholo Paragas said, “Since 2017 to the present, the Tieza board of directors has approved around P8 billion worth of projects, such as the Boracay Water Drainage Program Phase II, Rehabilitation of Burnham Park in Baguio City, Construction of a Sewage Treatment Plant in Coron, Palawan, and Masterplanning of key tourism sites.”

He added that since the beginning of the Duterte administration, the government firm’s annual budget allocation for infrastructure projects “has more than doubled every year. From P969.6 million in 2017, it has increased to P1.85 billion in 2018, and surged to P5.2 billion in 2019.”

Formerly the Philippine Tourism Authority, Tieza is the infrastructure arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT), with the Secretary chairing the board of directors. Its other board members include the Secretaries of the Departments of Public Works and Highways;

PSA. . .

Continued from A1

Moreover, he said a cross-country study titled, “Impact of FDI Inflows on Poverty Reduction in the Asean and SAARC Economies” by F. Ahmad et. Al (2019) found that increased foreign direct investments positively impact the quality of life as measured by the Human Development Index in Asean countries.

“More important, the bill will lead to better lives for the people. This is especially true, according to the study, when access to better telecommunications services is achieved,” he added.

Salceda, an economist, said basic services that are almost universally in use in the country, such as electricity, water, power and telecommunications, are currently subject to foreign ownership restrictions.

However, he said there is consumer and business dissatisfaction with these services, which are often characterized by high prices and poor service.

He also said there are few local players in these capital-intensive sectors, which means a lack of competition in the sectors, a lack of choice for consumers, excessively strong market power for the few players, and ultimately market failure.

“The lack of competition is caused by ambiguity in the definition of public utility that is used interchangeably with public service under the Public Service Act. This ambiguity is caused by the following: 1987 Constitution restricts the operation of a public utility to Filipinos only [Section 11, Article XII],” said Salceda.

The bill seeks to provide a clear statutory definition of a public utility. This means that a narrower set of services, including electricity

Debt. . .

Continued from A1

from P368.404 billion in 2018.

Interest payments rose by 3.67 percent to P331.752 billion, from P320.002 billion a year ago.

Broken down, domestic amortization as of end-November 2019 was at P343.836 billion, while external amortization was posted at P129.676 billion.

In terms of the government’s interest payments as of end-November last year, P224.340 billion went to domestic borrowings, including the Treasury bills, fixed rate treasury bonds and retail

Environment and Natural Resources; and the Interior and Local Government.

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez has been nagging Tieza to speed up its spending on infrastructure projects, alleging that it had been “hoarding” P14 billion in travel taxes remitted to the agency.

He also said he was in favor of removing the travel tax that individuals have to pay when traveling abroad. Instead, he said, Tieza’s budget can be funded annually “through the GAA [General Appropriations Act].”

Paragas explained the P14 billion were “savings [accumulated] from previous administrations since 2009. But what is crucial, we are now working on big-ticket highimpact projects and pushing to get approvals done, and start their implementation by this administration. I’m blessed that everyone is aligned on the direction.”

He added, “The majority of the accumulated funding of P14 billion are already allocated: P7.95 billion distribution, electricity transmission and water pipeline distribution or sewerage pipeline system, will be subject to foreign equity ownership restrictions imposed on public utilities.

The bill distinguishes “public service,” whose definition under the law is retained, from “public utility.”

According to Salceda, public utilities are clearly not the equivalent of a public service, but are more plausibly just a subset of the latter.

“The Public Service Act defines a public service very broadly to include even such sectors as ice plants and ship repair shops, sectors we would clearly not be suspicious of allowing foreign ownership into. Alas, even these sectors are currently subject to the limits brought about by the ambiguity,” he said.

“There is clearly a need to end the ambiguity and clearly define what a public utility is. The Supreme Court has already attempted a definition.

To the Court, a public utility is ‘a business or service engaged in regularly supplying the public with some commodity or service of public consequence such as electricity, gas, water, transportation, telephone or telegraph service.’[JG Summit Holdings vs. Court of Appeals, GR 124293, September 24, 2003],” Salceda added.

Presumption of constitutionality

For her part, House Committee on Economic Affairs Chairman Sharon Garin of AAMBIS-OWA said the PSA Bill is entitled to the presumption of constitutionality which every treaty, executive agreement and statute enjoys.

“The burden of proof is on the petitioner to clearly demonstrate that the assailed statute is unconstitutional. This is particularly so as regards

treasury bonds.

BTr data showed that government’s interest payments for its foreign borrowings accounted for P107.412 billion in debt service from January to November 2019.

The national government allotted a total of P884.295 billion to service its debts in 2019, including interest payments (P399.571 billion) and principal amortization (P484.724 billion), according to the Budget of Expenditures and Sources of Financing.

The national government’s outstanding debt rose by 6 percent to P7.731 trillion as of end-2019 compared to P7.2925 trillion recorded in the same period in 2018.

Travel taxes remitted to Tieza, which Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez has accused the agency of hoarding instead of spending on infrastructure projects

for 2009-2018 board-approved projects, P2.12 billion for scheduled payables, and P5.2 billion for 2019 board-approved projects,” he underscored. “DOT-Tieza met with Secretary Dominguez a few months back to discuss the direction [of the agency], and was very thankful for his insight, thus, our push to really have the banner approvals of more than P3 billion in the previous board, and more to follow in the first quarter of this year.”

Under the Tourism Act of 2009, Tieza is primarily tasked to develop, regulate, and supervise tourism enterprise zones established under the law. It is also mandated to develop, manage and supervise tourism infrastructure projects in the country, as well as supervise and regulate the cultural, economic and environmentally sustainable development of TEZs, and encouraging investments there.

Of the total travel taxes collected by government each year, 50 percent goes to Tieza, while the rest are split between the Commission on Higher Education and National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

Last year, government collected economic regulations as opposed to statutes which infringe upon fundamental rights. This strong predilection for constitutionality is based on the deference the Judicial branch accords to the legislature as a coordinate branch. It is self-evident that the PSA Bill is an economic regulation,” she said.

Also notable, Garin said, is that Legislative power is plenary unless clearly limited.

“The Supreme Court has stated: Legislative power is the authority, under the Constitution, to make laws, and to alter and repeal them.... The grant of Legislative power to Congress is broad, general and comprehensive. The Legislative body possesses plenary power for all purposes of civil government.... In fine, except as limited by the Constitution, either expressly or impliedly, Legislative power embraces all subjects and extends to matters of general concern, or common interest,” she added.

According to Garin, there is no unequivocal statement in the text of the Constitution itself, nor the jurisprudence interpreting it, defining public utility and stating that it is immutable.

As such, she said it is within the plenary and comprehensive power of Congress to legislate a definition, as in fact, the Supreme Court has upheld such laws.

Earlier, Albay Rep. Edcel C. Lagman said the HB 78 allows traditional public utilities like transportation and telecommunication companies to be owned by aliens or corporations which are wholly owned by foreigners.

“This is contrary to Section 11 of Article XII of the Constitution which reserves the ownership, operation, control and management of public utilities to Filipino citizens, or to corporations or associations at least 60 per centum of whose capital is owned by Filipinos,” he said.

Honda. . .

Continued from A12

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is investigating a petition to apply safeguard measure on motor vehicles. The petition, filed by trade union Philippine Metalworkers Alliance (PMA), seeks to increase tariff rates on cars to prevent the further loss of jobs in the motor vehicle manufacturing sector.

Based on the DTI’s records, imports of passenger cars rose 17.85 percent to 180,939 units in 2015, from 153,531 units in 2014; jumped 31.53 percent to 237,995 units in 2016; and went up a little over 2 percent 243,129 units in 2017.

It dropped nearly 15 percent to 207,248 units in 2018, something which was attributed to the new tax policy.

Honda Cars Philippines Inc. President Noriyuki Takakura on Saturday announced the firm’s decision to stop the production of its plant in Santa Rosa,

around P6 billion in travel taxes, said Paragas, with P3 billion going to Tieza. He said, after deducting operation costs of the agency, “this leaves us with 32 percent, more or less.”

Recently, the Tieza board approved the funding of some P341 million for Iloilo’s tourism infrastructure requirements. Of that amount, Tourism Secretary and Tieza Chairman Bernadette Romulo Puyat said, P135 million will be utilized to restore three renowned Iloilo landmarks: the Arevalo Plaza, Molo Plaza and La Paz Plaza.

The Tieza will also fund the rehabilitation of the historical Jaro Belfry, the construction of a Tourism Information Center and Tourist Rest Area (Green Restroom) in Esplanade 3, improvements to the Iloilo Convention Center, and the development of the Sunburst Park, according to a news statement from the DOT. The DOT has been promoting Iloilo City as a key destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions, with some P20 million allocated in 2019 and 2020 for the rollout of activities such as road shows, participation in travel marts, hosting, consultancy services, etc. Along with private-sector partners, and investments by the local government, total funding for the MICE campaign for Iloilo will likely reach P50 million for 2019 to 2020. (See, “Public-private funding for Iloilo MICE campaign could hit P50 million,” in the BusinessMirror, October 11, 2019.)

According to the lawmaker, there is no distinction between public utility and public service as ruled by the Supreme Court in several cases.

Also, he explained that the proposed “New Public Service Act,” if enacted into law, is a mere statute which cannot amend the fundamental law.

Safeguards

Before approving the bill on second reading last week, Salceda, meanwhile, said the lower chamber assured that there are safeguard measures in HB 78.

Salceda said the House has provided safeguards to protect the national interest and these include: 1) The President can suspend or prohibit any merger, acquisition or investment in a public service in the interest of national security; 2) Foreign nationals can only invest if there is reciprocity with Philippine nationals, in other words, if Filipinos can also invest in their countries; 3) Fines were substantially increased and indexed to inflation, strengthening regulatory powers of administrative agencies; 4) Regulatory powers were retained where relevant; 5) Restrictions are in place on hiring of foreign labor if there are Philippine nationals competent, willing and able to perform service; and 6) Retention of takeover power, and other powers for sectors formerly classified as public utilities because they remain“businesses affected with public interest.”

Salceda said the amendments also propose that no other business or service shall be deemed a public utility unless otherwise provided by law upon recommendation by the National Economic and Development Authority.

Laguna, which manufactures BR-V and City models, effective March.

“To meet Honda’s customer needs in the Philippines for reasonably priced and good quality products, Honda considered efficient allocation and distribution of resources. As such, after consideration of optimization efforts in the production operations in Asia and Oceania region, Honda decided to close the manufacturing operations of HCPI,” the vehicle assembler said in a statement.

Honda will keep its sales and after-service operations in the country through the Japanese multinational’s Asia and Oceania regional network. The vehicle assembler’s started its manufacturing here in 1992. Last year Honda’s sales in the Philippines declined 12.7 percent to 20,338 units, from 23,294 units in 2018.

It was also the year the car firm saw its market share shrink to just 5.5 percent, from over 6 percent in the previous years.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

‘Senate hearing on ABS-CBN franchise doesn’t breach law’

By Butch Fernandez

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@butchfBM

EN. Juan Edgardo Angara assured over the weekend no law is being violated by the Senate Committee on Public Services in setting a panel hearing Monday (February 24) on the pending ABSCBN franchise renewal yet to be passed by their House counterparts.

“There is no violation of the Constitution with regard to the hearing of the Committee on Public Services on the issues surrounding the franchise of ABS-CBN scheduled for Monday,” Angara said.

Angara aired the assurance amid the assertions by critics that the Senate should wait for the Houseapproved version of the ABS-CBN franchise bill, it being deemed a local bill supposed to emanate from the House of Representatives.

The senator’s statement issued Sunday acknowledged that Section 24 of the 1987 Constitution, or what is known as the “origination clause,” provides that all private bills, such as the approval of franchises, “shall originate exclusively in the House of Representatives.”

The same provision in the Constitution also includes appropriation, revenue or tariff bills, bills authorizing increase of the public debt and bills of local application.

Angara added, however, that, “It has been the long-standing

Chevron. . .

Continued from A1

full ownership, control, and rights over the land and other real-estate properties occupied by Caltex (Chevron) Philippines.

The DOF said the lease payment of Caltex Philippines to BLCI is “miniscule” and that the contract between them is “onerous.”

This after the DOF found out that Chevron has been paying a monthly rent of P0.74 per square meter for a 120-hectare property in Batangas province, compared to the current “fair market value” of P17.90 per sq m. The DOF said the property should now be valued at over P5 billion.

Before this issue came out, Cusi said the plan was to coordinate with DOF to transform the property into a so-called energy city.

“There was a draft that was being studied but there was this issue that came out so the EO [executive order]

Co-ops. . .

Continued from A1

Rice importers used a total of 2,317 sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances to bring the staple into the Philippines out of the 4,069 total SPSICs issued to them from March 5 to December 31, 2019, according to BPI data.

During the 10-month period, farmers’ organizations used 1,134 SPS-ICs to import rice. The top riceimporting farmers’ group during the period was San Jacinto Poblacion Farmers Consumers Cooperative, which brought in 40,392 MT of rice.

It was followed by Timmaguab II Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative, which purchased 36,720 MT of rice imports, BPI data showed.

Davao-based firm Davao San-Ei Trading Inc. led all rice importers during the period with 64,636 MT, followed by publicly listed firm Puregold Price Club Inc. with 63,854.83 MT.

Investigation Currently, farmers’ groups are under the scrutiny of the government after the Department of Agriculture (DA) initiated an investigation into cooperatives and associations that are supposedly being used as dummies or fronts by unscrupulous traders

practice of the Senate to hear such bills while waiting for the House of Representatives to act on these and transmit them to the Senate for its concurrence.”

In a mix of English and Filipino, the senator pointed out that the Senate has long undertaken the practice of holding hearings on important legislation like the national budget even before the House endorses its version to the Senate. “This is done every year to speed up the process of approving, especially of important measures like the General Appropriations Act and tax bills.”

Angara also recalled that, “as explained in Tolentino v. Secretary of Finance, the origination clause in the Constitution merely requires the Senate, acting as a body, to withhold any action on a private bill still pending in the House of Representatives.”

He clarified that the hearing by the Senate committee “is only meant to facilitate the process and, in the case of the franchise of ABS-CBN, to hear the issues being raised against the network so that when the time comes, we as senators would already have a better grasp of the matter.”

He stressed that, “no action will be made in plenary until such time that the House of Representatives acts on the bill and sends it over to us.” did not came out. We wanted that to become an energy area. We wanted to use that for LNG [liquefied natural gas],” he said.

The energy chief said the property could also be utilized as storage for fuel supply. “We were aiming, looking at that as our strategic storage supply but the storage tanks there are already dilapidated.”

Chevron Philippines, for its part, had said that the lease contract with BLCI on the Batangas property was entered into in compliance with all Philippine laws and regulations, and has been beneficial to both the government and Caltex Philippines.

“As one of the pioneer energy companies in the Philippines which has been operating here for over a hundred years, our commitment to the Philippine market remains strong. We will maintain open communication with the government, an important and valued partner, on this matter,” said company manager for policy, government and public affairs Raissa Bautista.

who want to take advantage of their tax-exemption incentives.

Documents obtained by the BusinessM irror showed a discrepancy between the financial capacity of some irrigators’ associations and the volume of rice they are importing (See “Farmer groups ‘top rice importers’–are they?,” in the BusinessMirror, November 21, 2019).

Bureau of Customs data compiled and analyzed by the B usiness M irror showed that the country’s total rice imports in 2019 reached a recordhigh 2.98 MMT. At least P14.7 billion in tariffs were collected from importers.

However, preliminary Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data obtained by the BusinessM irror showed that rice imports last year reached 2.76 MMT, which was 38 percent higher than the nearly 2 MMT imported in 2018.

The Philippines overtook China as the world’s top rice buyer in 2019 as the deregulation of the rice industry drove its total staple imports to recordhigh levels.

The United States Department of Agriculture expects the Philippines to remain as the top rice importer in the world this year as the country’s purchases are projected to reach 2.5 MMT despite the waning appetite of traders for the staple.

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The Nation BusinessMirror

More heads likely to roll over ‘pastillas’ scheme; BI wants syndicate eliminated

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

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HE Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Sunday said more immigration personnel are likely to be sanctioned once the agency wraps up its ongoing probe into the so-called pastillas scheme, which allows the smooth entry of Chinese nationals in exchange of bribe money.

“That is always a possibility depending on the results of the investigation,” BI Spokesman Dana Krizia Sandoval said when asked if more BI personnel are expected to be relieved as the agency begins its own investigation on the scheme.

Earlier, the BI has ordered the relief of 19 immigration officials and personnel believed to be involved in the corruption activity, allegedly orchestrated by a wellentrenched syndicate.

The BI has already removed t he “ter m i na l head s” at t he Ninoy Aquino International Airport, as well as the heads of the travel control and enforcement unit from their posts on the ground of command responsibility.

This was followed by the relief of 19 other BI personnel upon the directive of President Duterte.

They have been placed on floating

status at the administrative division of the bureau under strict monitoring of activities and attendance.

Immigration Chief Jaime H. Morente said the BI is ready to cooperate with any impartial probe and lifestyle check to be conducted by authorities.

Morente e x pressed d i sap pointment “with the unauthorized activities of some personnel who continue to commit irregularities despite our determined efforts to get rid of the culture of corruption in the bureau.”

“On the other hand, I am certain that after this exposé, the intense public scrutiny and accompanying trial by publicity that the bureau has been subjected to will only ensure that we come out stronger as we weather yet another storm,” he added.

Meanwhile, Sandoval said the BI has already requested the assistance of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in unmasking and going after the syndicates running the illegal activities in the bureau.

“If we just keep on removing personnel from inside, but not going after the agencies that recruit aliens illegally and offer temptations to government employees, then the cycle could just go on and on,” Sandoval said.

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Monday, February 24, 2020 A3

Higher fecal coliform levels noted in beach near Baseco

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

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F you think it is now safe to bathe and swim at the beach near the Baseco compound given the impressive physical improvement after a year of government all-out effort to rid the body of water with stinking garbage, think again.

Despite significant improvement in the water quality at Manila Bay in general, particularly along Roxas Boulevard in Manila, higher levels of fecal coliform were still observed last year on the beach abutting Barangay 649, Zone 68, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

There are 10 water quality monitoring stations in the beach near the land named after its former owner, the Bataan Shipyard and Engineering Co. Every month, the DENR checks the level of coliform bacteria to measure improvement.

Surprisingly, however, a year after the launch of the Manila Bay cleanup campaign, high-coliform

levels were still observed in the area as indicated by the average monthly reports gathered from 10 water quality monitoring stations within the “Baseco Beach.”

The Geomean Average for 2019 indicated higher fecal coliform bacteria levels in most of these stations.

In particular, Station 3 Drainage, which is about 350 meters from Barangay 649-Burulan (residential area-seawall) show 2.8 million most probable number (MPN) per 100 milliliter (ml). This is higher than the 1.1-million mark observed in February last year, when the DENR started to monitor water quality in the area.

Fecal coliform is measured using a geometric mean (geo-mean) to summarize and report fecal coliform bacteria concentration of all results obtained during a reporting period because those data are so variable, according to the DENR’s National Capital Region office.

It added that bacteria can grow at an exponential rate very quickly under the right conditions.

The same trend was also observed

in Station 2 drainage near barangay hall with 21.1 million MPN per 100 ml compared to the February 2019 reading of 17 million MPN per 100 ml.

On January 17, 2020, readings in the 10 water quality monitoring stations continued to increase, ranging from 33,000 to 240 million.

The Water Quality Guideline for Class “C” Waters as indicated in DENR Administrative Order 2016- 08 is 200 MPN per 100 ml (drainage outfall) while the Water Quality Guideline for Class “SB” Waters as indicated in the same policy is 100 MPN per 100 ml.

According to the DENR-NCR, fecal coliform levels were observed to be highest from July to October last year, during which most of the monitoring stations of Baseco had higher fecal coliform concentrations.

The significant increase in the fecal coliform counts was attributed by the DENR-NCR to the surface run off and relocation of bottom sediments by the occurrence of habagat, low pressure area and tropical storms during these months.

The DENR-NCR explained this is because rainy season starts in June and lasts till October. Meanwhile, September and October are often the typhoon season in the Philippines.

It was found that a significant increase in the fecal coliform numbers may be associated with average rainfall amounts.

“Possible sources of elevated coliform counts could include sewage discharges from municipal treatment plants and septic tanks, stormwater overflows and surface runoff,” the report said. “In addition, there were no significant interventions that will lead to a possible decrease of the fecal coliform count.”

In July 16 to July 17, 2019, heavy rainfall and strong winds caused by Tropical Storm Falcon could have caused the spike.

This was also the same on August 23 and 24, 2019, as a result of Typhoon Ineng. Heavy rainfall and strong winds induced by Typhoon Jenny in August 27 and 28, 2019, also resulted in the sharp increase in fecal coliform in the monitoring stations.

A4 Monday, February 24, 2020 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Economy BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Govt accredits more cooperatives for PUVMP

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

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@lorenzmarasigan

HE Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the total number of transport cooperatives it accredited for the government’s modernization program nearly tripled to 1,131 transport cooperatives with 110,909 public-utility vehicles (PUV).

Transportation Assistant Secretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Steve Pastor said this development reflects the support of the private sector to the government’s initiative for better land transportation.

Pastor also said that while the turnout is welcome, the DOTr is still pushing for all transport groups to “adhere to the requirements of modernizing their franchises.”

“The number of transport cooperatives is increasing which shows that many drivers and operators support government’s call for a safer and better transportation system for our commuters,” he said.

The latest figure is nearly triple the 429 transport cooperatives the DOTr accredited in 2017. Pastor said the agency is “confident” that it can meet its targets for June 2020, which is the full implementation of the PUV Modernization Program (PUVMP).

Under the program, cooperatives must be consolidated to “strengthen” their financial capacity in acquiring units that are compliant with the new requirements for roadworthiness, such as new engines for lower emissions, a friction-less payments system, and others.

“Drivers will benefit from putting up cooperatives as they will now become operators, as well. Apart from

monthly salaries and benefits, such as SSS and PhilHealth, they will also earn from the profit of the cooperative. We strongly urge our drivers and operators to register now as a cooperative,” said Pastor.

He noted that his group will be considerate to individual PUV drivers and groups that will not be able to fully modernize by the June 2020 deadline.

“Those who will not able to comply with the PUVMP by June 2020 will still be granted probationary authority to operate for one year, but on two conditions. First, they must submit a certification from the Land Transportation Office that their vehicles are roadworthy. Second, their transport groups must file for consolidation of franchise,” said Pastor.

Under the PUVMP, several government agencies will work together to remove old and polluting units, replace them with vehicles with larger volume capacities, and improve the roadworthiness of public-utility units.

The modernization agenda aims to effect a transition from current vehicles plying the road to “high-quality publictransit requisites.” The transportation department listed these items as follows: “higher capacity vehicles, low-emission vehicles, fleet consolidation, reformed business model, and an effective information-technology system.”

Crafting of plan to help workers displaced by COVID-19 pushed

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

L

AWMAKERS on Sunday urged the national government to draw up an emergency skills retooling and jobs plan for thousands of workers facing possible retrenchment in the tourism sector due to the outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

House Deputy Speaker Johnny T. Pimentel of Surigao del Sur said the Philippines stands to lose up to 1.2 million Chinese visitors this year due to COVID-19.

“We have to put together a plan to help these displaced workers transition to other jobs,” Pimentel said.

He said the Departments of Tourism (DOT) and Labor and Employment said the skills retooling and jobs plan should be in put place to assist thousands of workers facing retrenchment as airlines, tour operators, hotels and resorts struggle to reduce their capacities.

“Even if the virus is suppressed by the second quarter, we’re afraid the damage to our tourism sector has already been done,” said Pimentel.

“We do not anticipate a quick rebound in Chinese visitor arrivals, assuming two-way air travel between China and the Philippines is eventually restored,” he added.

The lawmaker said China could temporarily discourage its middle-class families from venturing overseas on tour groups and flight/hotel vacation packages.

“Beijing might instead encourage families to spend their money in the mainland to enable China’s economy to recover right away,” said Pimentel.

Jobless insurance

PIMENTEL said the Social Security System (SSS) should also get ready to dole out up to P20,000 in unemployment insurance to every involuntarily separated worker.

He said the Philippines stands to lose some $1,200 for every Chinese tourist who will not be able to visit the

country. He said each Chinese tourist spends about $1,000 to $1,200 for a packaged tour, and this creates a huge demand for local goods and services, especially in the provinces.

Pimentel noted that China has been the fastest-growing source of foreign visitors since 2016.

Citing DOT data, he said 1.743 million vacationers from China arrived in the Philippines last year, up 38.58 percent from 1.257 million in 2018. Chinese nationals accounted for 21.1 percent of the 8,260,913 foreigners that visited the Philippines last year.

“The number of Chinese holidaymakers this year could plunge to as low as 500,000, possibly even less, depending on how long the virus lingers,” said Pimentel.

The DOT earlier said that apart from the projected huge drop in the number of Chinese visitors, it also expects a general decline of at least 10 percent in total foreign arrivals in the Philippines this year.

Besides China, the other top sources of foreign visitors to the Philippines last year were Korea (1,989,322); the United States (1,064,440); Japan (682,788); and Taiwan (327,273).

‘Early vacation’

HOUSE Transportation Committee Chairman Edgar Mary Sarmiento urged local government units to remain calm and to desist from issuing total lockdowns on hotels, resorts, and other tourism destinations.

Sarmiento also called on Filipinos to schedule early summer outings and vacations, and to visit the country’s tourism destinations to mitigate the adverse impact of the COVID-19 scare on the country’s tourism sector.

He said that there is no reason to issue these lockdown orders because the country remains “very safe” from the virus.

Sarmiento said that he was assured by the stakeholders in the transportation, sector especially airline companies, that they have adopted all measures necessary to ensure that all of their passengers are checked.

Agriculture/ Commodities BusinessMirror

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng • Monday, February 24, 2020 A5

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PHL seen retaining curbs on hemp trade

T

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

@jearcalas

he Philippines is not expected to venture into the hemp trade, at least in the next five years, as regulators remained adamant about disallowing its cultivation and use, according to a Global Agricultural Information Network (Gain) report.

The Gain report, which was prepared by the United States Department of Agriculture-Foreign Agricultural Service in Manila (Post), noted that hemp, locally known as marijuana, is not legally cultivated in the Philippines and any production of the plant is “illegally grown.”

“It is a prohibited drug which carries harsh penalties for its importation, sale, manufacture, cultivation, possession and use. Although there are exceptions to hemp imports [i.e., for medicinal use and in some processed forms], trade is minimal,” the report read.

“Post foresees no change in the

regulatory environment that would allow hemp trade in the next five years or through 2024,” it added.

Nonetheless, the Gain report noted that hemp is being imported in the country under the classification of HS Code 5302 as true hemp in raw form or processed but not spun, including its tow and wastes, such as yarn waste and garnetted stock.

The country’s hemp imports last year declined by half to 4.51 metric tons worth $7,078, from 8.92 MT valued at $38,231 in 2018, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showed.

China was the country’s lone supplier

of hemp in 2019.

“The Philippine Department of Trade and Industry [DTI], however, maintains hemp is outlawed and imports prohibited,” the report read.

Last week, the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) said marijuana use in the country remains illegal for both recreational and medical purposes, and that it is only considering to allow the use of cannabidiol for treating rare forms of epilepsy.

“Cannabidiol or CBD is just one of the hundreds of cannabinoids found in marijuana. It is by far, the only component proved to have medical benefits,” the report read.

“Cultivation and production of marijuana for medical or for any other purposes is still prohibited under RA 9165,” it added. CBD is the active chemical responsible for marijuana’s psychological effects, according to the report.

“The United States Food and Drug Administration has allowed the use and registered the medicine called Epidiolex which is CBD with not more than 0.1 percent tetrahydrocannabinol, based on the approved threshold of the United States Drug Enforcement Agency,” the DDB said.

A4 Monday, February 24, 2020 • Editor: Angel R. Calso A6

The World BusinessMirror

Globalization comes under fire amid coronavirus ‘stress test’ F

INANCE chiefs from the world’s largest economies are realizing the coronavirus isn’t just a short-term threat to global growth—it’s exposing the vulnerabilities of globalization itself.

As finance ministers and central bank governors kicked off their Group of 20 meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday, representatives from the world’s secondlargest economy, China, were notably absent. Chinese authorities are instead focusing on containing an outbreak that’s so far killed more than 2,300 people, infected nearly 80,000, disrupted global supply chains and led to downgrades in global growth forecasts.

How far the virus will spread and how deep its economic impact are still unknown. But already in the Saudi capital, questions were being raised about the downsides to the dependencies that globalization brings.

“Do we want to still depend at the level of 90 percent or 95 percent on the supply chain of China for the automobile industry, for the drug industry, for the aeronautical industry, or do we draw the consequences of that situation to build new factories, new productions, and to be more independent and sovereign?” France’s Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire

asked on Saturday. “That’s not protectionism, that’s just the necessity of being sovereign and independent from an industrial point of view.”

The disruption comes at a fraught time for economic policy-makers, who are struggling to find new ways to boost growth when many of them are already operating with record-low interest rates, limiting their ability to provide stimulus through monetary policy. Attention now is turning to fiscal policy, with more than half of the G-20 economies easing budgets to allow more spending.

The coronavirus outbreak “is a stress test for the world and China,” Douglas Flint, chairman of Standard Life Aberdeen, said in an interview with Bloomberg TV in Riyadh. “We are going to see more fiscal stimulus.”

Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said he’d be advocating for that to happen.

“To overcome downside risks we are facing together, I told the G-20 that I expect nations with big fiscal space will make a bold policy decision,” he said. “It’s becoming clear that the virus spread is a risk that could inflict a severe impact on the global economy.”

Addressing the assembled governors and finance ministers in the Saudi capital on Saturday, Interna-

tional Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said the outbreak had led the lender to cut its forecast for Chinese growth to 5.6 percent from 6 percent and to trim 0.1 percentage points from its global growth forecast, but that it’s also looking at more “dire” scenarios.

The coronavirus outbreak also makes it more likely the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development will cut its economic forecasts next month, Jose Angel Gurria, the organization’s secretary-general, said in an interview in Riyadh.

“Look at what is going on: already we are in a slowdown, already we have the trade tensions, already investment was suffering, and now we have the coronavirus,” Gurria said.

Still, adding fiscal firepower may not be the solution to the supply difficulties that virus has created for the global economy. Even if governments fueled demand via spending, it wouldn’t address the issue of factory shutdowns in China.

“How do you substitute a global value chain?” Gurria asked. “If you have a supplier that is limited at this stage, that cannot export, how do you organize so the global balance sheet doesn’t stop? That is quite crucial.”

With the coronavirus inserting so

much uncertainty into the economic outlook, and with top representatives from China, Russia and the UK absent, there was little sign as of Saturday evening that the Saudi meetings, which end with a joint communiqué on Sunday, would yield any dramatic policy prescriptions for the global economy.

The ministers also seemed to be far away from any agreement on another key agenda item that will be on the table on Sunday: taxing the profits of tech multinationals like Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Facebook Inc. European countries have been demanding a global tax system be implemented by the end of the year, with four finance chiefs signing an opinion piece on Saturday that called the current system, in which some of the world’s most profitable companies shift profits from country to country to pay very little in taxes, “unacceptable, dysfunctional and—most important—unsustainable.”

But Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin seemed to throw a wrench into any plans to leave Saudi Arabia with a common plan of action in hand, as he warned his counterparts that solutions would require approval by the US Congress. Bloomberg News

Japan emperor’s 60th birthday overshadowed by virus fears

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OKYO—Japanese Emperor Naruhito, marking his 60th birthday, offered his sympathy to those affected by the new virus, as concerns over infections forced the traditional gathering of tens of thousands of well-wishers outside the royal palace to be canceled.

Sunday’s birthday is a special one for Naruhito, his first since becoming emperor. Sixty is considered a landmark age in the Japanese zodiac calendar.

Festivities surrounding the emperor’s birthday, however, have been toned down amid concerns about the virus. Plans for Naruhito to wave from the palace balcony to tens of thousands of well-wishers were among the events that were canceled.

Japan has confirmed more than 750 cases, including 634 from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which was docked and quarantined in Yokohama, near Tokyo.

“As we face concerns about the spread of the coronavirus, I offer my sympathy to the patients and their families,” Naruhito told reporters at a new conference held ahead of his birthday. “I hope that the escalation of the infections will be contained as soon as possible.”

While global attention was on the cruise ship, the virus has already made its way into Japan and is gradually spreadinginthecountry,fromOkinawa in the south to Hokkaido in the north.

Experts say the infection in Japan is in the early stages of acceleration, prompting the government to pre-

IN this Friday, February 21, 2020, photo, Japan’s Emperor Naruhito speaks during a news conference in Tokyo, ahead of his 60th birthday on Sunday, February 23, 2020. Naruhito offered his sympathy to those affected by the new virus that emerged in China and said he hopes to see the outbreak contained soon. Birthday celebration plans had called for him to wave from the palace balcony to tens of thousands of well-wishers, but they were canceled as a precautionary anti-infection measure. RODRIGO REYES MARIN/POOL PHOTO VIA AP

pare for a further spread of the virus.

A series of concerts, athletic events and festivals have been scrapped, with some people starting to question whether Japan can host this summer’s Tokyo Olympics as planned.

Naruhito, citing his fond mem-

ories of Tokyo’s first Olympics, which he saw at age four, said he hopes to see this summer’s games carried out successfully.

“For me, the [1964] Tokyo Olympics was my first encounter with the rest of the world,” Naruhito said.

As a young prince, he watched the

closing ceremony with his parents.

He said watching athletes of all nationalities march together made a strong impression on him.

“The scene I was able to see, I believe, became a foundation of my lasting commitment and prayer for world peace,” he said. AP

Millions of Chinese firms face collapse if banks don’t act fast

B

RIGITA, a director at one of China’s largest car dealers, is running out of options.

Her firm’s 100 outlets have been closed for about a month because of the coronavirus, cash reserves are dwindling and banks are reluctant to extend deadlines on billions of yuan in debt coming due over the next few months.

There are also other creditors to think about.

“If we can’t pay back the bonds, it will be very, very bad,” said Brigita, whose company has 10,000 employees and sells mid- to highend car brands, such as BMWs. She asked that only her first name be used and that her firm not be identified because she isn’t authorized to speak to the press.

With much of China’s economy still idled as authorities try to contain an epidemic that has infected more than 80,000 people, millions of companies across the country are in a race against the clock to stay afloat.

A survey of small- and mediumsized Chinese companies conducted this month showed that a third of respondents only had enough cash to cover fixed expenses for a month, with another third running out within two months.

While China’s government has cut interest rates, ordered banks to boost lending and loosened criteria for companies to restart operations, many of the nation’s private businesses say they’ve been unable to access the funding they need to meet upcoming deadlines for debt and salary payments. Without more financial support or a sudden rebound in China’s economy, some may have to shut for good.

“If China fails to contain the virus in the first quarter, I expect a vast number of small businesses would go under,” said Lv Changshun, an analyst at Beijing Zhonghe Yingtai Management Consultant Co. Despite accounting for 60 percent of the economy and 80 percent of jobs in China, private businesses have long struggled to tap funding to help them expand during booms and survive crises.

Support from China’s banking giants in response to the outbreak has so far been piecemeal, mostly earmarked for directly combating the virus. Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd., the nation’s largest lender, has offered relief to about 5 percent of its small business clients.

In an e-mailed response to questions from Bloomberg News, ICBC said it has allocated 5.4 billion yuan ($770 million) to help companies fight the virus. “We approve qualified small businesses’ loan applications as soon as they arrive,” the bank said.

As a group, Chinese banks had offered about 254 billion yuan in loans related to the containment effort as of February 9, according to the banking industry association, with foreign lenders such as Citigroup Inc. also lowering rates.

To put that into perspective, China’s small businesses typically face inter-

Even without a case, Africa can become big virus victim

E

VEN without a single confirmed case, sub-Saharan Africa may be the region hardest hit outside of Asia by the spread of the coronavirus.

The outbreak has shut down entire swathes of the Chinese economy, threatening world economic growth and curbing appetite for oil and metals that are the lifeline of many African nations.

A slowdown in the No. 2 economy and a 5-percent drop in oil prices over one year could mean $4 billion in lost export revenue for sub-Saharan Africa, or the equivalent to 0.3 percent of its gross domestic product—more than any other continent outside of Asia, according to a study by the Overseas Development Institute.

“Many developing countries are increasingly dependent on China for trade, both for imports and exports,” Dirk Willem te Velde, principal research fellow at the institute, said by phone from London.

“If you want to raise the quality of your growth that is more job intensive and more resilient to shocks then you have got to diversity, and when you have a shock like this it makes you realize that.”

The International Monetary Fund slashed its economic growth projection for Africa’s top oil exporter, Nigeria, to 2 percent from 2.5 percent because of a decline in oil prices. The drop has led to pressure on the naira given crude accounts for 90 percent of the West African

nation’s exports. Weaker demand from China also puts other resourcedependent economies, such as Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia at risk.

Crude prices are down about 11 percent this year. Copper and iron ore prices have declined 8 percent and 1.5 percent respectively this year.

Alarm bells

AFRICAN central bankers are starting to sound alarm bells.

“It is a catastrophe that is unfolding,” Bank of Namibia Governor Ipumbu Shiimi told reporters after cutting interest rates on February 19. “We don’t know exactly where and when it is going to peak but I think it is already starting to

disrupt economic activities.”

The arid southwest African country sells almost a fifth of its exports, mostly diamonds and copper, to China.

The South African Reserve Bank will take into account the virus impact on the global economy at its next rate-setting meeting, said Chris Loewald, a member of its monetary policy committee.

“It’s quite clear, we have seen the copper price being affected, it’s reduced, so that obviously affects our economy very directly,” Zambian central bank Governor Denny Kalyalya said. “The full extent of that is not calibrated at this point but definitely, it has a negative effect.”

Unlike when the SARS epidemic

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started in China in 2003, the Chinese economy is now more integrated into the rest of the world, representing 18 percent of global GDP. In just over a decade, the Asian nation has displaced the US as Africa’s single largest trade partner.

Not normal

A SLUMP in Chinese consumer spending will hit smaller, niche export markets, too.

“This will have an impact on other African countries who are actively trying to export more goods to China,” said Leah Lynch, deputy director at Development Reimagined, a consultancy based in Beijing. Examples of what would be affected by a slowdown

est payments on about 36.9 trillion yuan of loans every quarter.

Stringent requirements and shortlists restrict who can access special loans earmarked by the central bank for virus-related businesses, while local governments and banks have imposed caps on the amounts, according to people familiar with the matter. A debt banker at one of China’s largest brokerages said his firm opened a fast lane to ease debt sales by businesses involved in the containment effort, with borrowers required to prove they will use at least 10 percent of the proceeds to fight the disease.

That’s of little help to a car dealership. Brigita, whose firm owes money to dozens of banks, said she has so far only reached an agreement with a handful to extend payment deadlines by two months. For now, the company is still paying salaries.

Many of China’s businesses were already grasping for lifelines before the virus hit, pummeled by a trade war and lending crackdown that sent economic growth to a three-decade low last year.

Most at risk are the labor-intensive catering and restaurant industries, travel agencies, airlines, hotels and shopping malls, according to Lianhe Rating.

Yang, a property manager of a seven-story mall in Shanghai, says a tenant who runs a 150-room hotel that’s usually busy has called asking for a month’s rent waiver after business dried up. She expects the massage parlor that rents space in the mall is also struggling and is open to extending some help.

A deputy financing director at a small developer in central Anhui province said his firm is even being denied loans under existing credit lines. A drop in sales has hurt the company’s credit profile and a dearth of new projects means there’s no collateral to put up. Without access to credit, the business can survive for about four months, or maybe longer if some payments can be delayed, he said.

Banks are hardly any better off themselves. Many are under-capitalized and on the ropes after two years of record debt defaults. Rating firm S&P Global has estimated that a prolonged emergency could cause the banking system’s bad loan ratio to more than triple to about 6.3 percent, amounting to an increase of 5.6 trillion yuan.

Wu Hai, owner of Mei KTV, a chain of 100 Karaoke bars across China, took to the nation’s premier outlet of discontent, social media platform WeChat, to voice his despair.

KTV’s bars have been closed by the government because of the virus, choking off its cash flow. The special loans from the authorities will be of little help and no bank will provide a loan without enough collateral and cash flow, he said on his official WeChat account earlier this month.

Wu couldn’t be reached for a direct comment, but on WeChat he gave himself two months before he has to shutter his business.

Bloomberg News

in China’s food and beverage sector include Namibian beef, Rwandan coffee, Kenyan avocados and South African citrus, she said.

Still, Africa could bounce back quickly once the outbreak is brought under control, said Razia Khan, chief economist for Africa and Middle East with Standard Chartered Bank.

“As this does not have the normal characteristics of a global demand slowdown, there is little reason to believe that the traditional relationship between African growth and global growth will hold,” Khan said, referring to Africa’s usual sluggish response to a global upturn. “This time, with expectations of a V shaped recovery in China, that long lag may not be in place.” Bloomberg News

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DEA agent accused of conspiring with cartel

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IAMI—A once-standout US federal narcotics agent known for spending lavishly on luxury cars and Tiffany jewelry has been arrested on charges of conspiring to launder money with the same Colombian drug cartel he was supposed to be fighting.

Jose Irizarry and his wife were arrested on Friday at their home near San Juan, Puerto Rico, as part of a 19-count federal indictment that accused the 46-year-old Irizarry of “secretly using his position and his special access to information” to divert millions in drug proceeds from control of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

“It’s a black eye for the DEA to have one of its own engaged in such a high level of corruption,” said Mike Vigil, the DEA’s former Chief of International Operations. “He jeopardized investigations. He jeopardized other agents and he jeopardized informants.”

Federal prosecutors in Tampa, Florida, allege the conspiracy not only enriched Irizarry but benefited two unindicted co-conspirators, neither of whom is named in the indictment.

One was employed as a Colombian public official while the other was described as the head of a drug trafficking and money laundering organization who became the godfather to the Irizarry couple’s children in 2015, when the DEA agent was posted to the Colombian resort city of Cartagena at the time.

When The Associated Press revealed the scale of Irizarry’s alleged wrongdoing last year, it sent shock-

waves through the DEA, where his ostentatious habits and tales of raucous yacht parties with bikini-clad prostitutes were legendary among agents.

But prior to being exposed, Irizarry had been a model agent, winning awards and praise from his supervisors. After joining the DEA in Miami 2009, he was entrusted with an undercover money laundering operation using front companies, shell bank accounts and couriers. Irizarry resigned in January 2018 after being reassigned to Washington when his boss in Colombia became suspicious.

The case has raised concerns within the DEA that the conspiracy may have compromised undercover operations and upend criminal cases.

“His fingerprints are all over dozens of arrests and indictments,” said David S. Weinstein, a former federal prosecutor in Miami. “It could have a ripple effect and cause courts to reexamine any case he was involved in.”

Irizarry and his wife posted $10,000 bond each and were released later Friday. Nathalia Gómez-Irizarry declined to comment to AP and closed the door at the house she shares with her husband, saying he wasn’t home. Messages to Irizarry’s attorney were not immediately returned. The DEA referred comment to the Justice Department.

A lawyer for the star witness in the case, a former DEA informant who was handled by Irizarry, celebrated the charges. Gustavo Yabrudi was given a 46-month sentence last year for his role in a multimillion-dollar moneylaundering conspiracy. AP

Monday, February 24, 2020 A7

Sanders wins Nevada caucuses, takes national Democratic lead L

AS VEGAS—Bernie Sanders scored a commanding victory in Nevada’s presidential caucuses, cementing his status as the Democrats’ national front-runner but escalating tensions over whether he’s too liberal to defeat President Donald J. Trump.

As Sanders celebrated on Saturday night, Joe Biden was in second place with votes still being counted.

Pete Buttigieg and Elizabeth Warren trailed further behind. They were all seeking any possible momentum heading into next-up South Carolina and then Super Tuesday on March 3.

Nevada’s caucuses were the first chance for White House hopefuls to demonstrate appeal to a diverse group of voters in a state far more representative of the country as a whole than Iowa and New Hampshire. Sanders, a 78-year Vermont senator and self-described democratic socialist, won by rallying his fiercely loyal base and tapping into support from Nevada’s large Latino community.

In a show of confidence, Sanders left Nevada for Texas, which offers one of the biggest delegate troves in just 10 days on Super Tuesday.

“We are bringing our people together,” he declared. “In Nevada we have just brought together a multigenerational, multiracial coalition which is not only going to win in Nevada, it’s going

to sweep this country.”

Saturday’s win built on Sanders’s victory earlier this month in the New Hampshire primary. He essentially tied for first place in the Iowa caucuses with Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, who has sought to position himself as an ideological counter to Sanders’s unabashedly progressive politics.

But for all the energy and attention devoted to the first three states, they award only a tiny fraction of the delegates needed to capture the nomination. After South Carolina, the contest becomes national in scope, putting a premium on candidates who have the resources to compete in states as large as California and Texas.

While Sanders’s victory in Nevada encouraged his supporters, it only deepened concern among establishment-minded Democratic leaders who fear he is too extreme to defeat Trump. Sanders for decades has been calling for transformative policies to address inequities in politics and the economy, none bigger than his signature “Medicare for All” health-care plan that would replace the private insurance system with a government-run universal program.

Trump gloated on social media, continuing his weeks-long push to sow discord between Sanders and his Democratic rivals.

“Looks like Crazy Bernie is doing

well in the Great State of Nevada.

Biden & the rest look weak,” Trump tweeted. “Congratulations Bernie, & don’t let them take it away from you!”

Buttigieg congratulated Sanders, too, but then launched an aggressive verbal assault on the senator as too divisive.

“Before we rush to nominate Senator Sanders in our one shot to take on this president, let’s take a sober look at what is at stake for our party, for our values and for those with so much to lose,” he said.

“Senator Sanders believes in an inflexible, ideological revolution that leaves out most Democrats, not to mention most Americans.”

For Biden, a second-place finish in Nevada could be the lifeline he needed to convince skeptics he still has a path to the nomination as the primary moves to more diverse states. He took aim at Sanders and billionaire Mike Bloomberg, who wasn’t on the Nevada ballot, but has emerged as a threat to Biden in contests that begin next month.

“I ain’t a socialist. I’m not a plutocrat. I’m a Democrat,” Biden declared.

Warren, who desperately needed a spark to revive her stalled bid, ignored Sanders and instead took a shot at Bloomberg’s height as she thanked Nevada “for keeping me in the fight.”

Rallying supporters in Seattle, she said she wanted to talk about “a big threat—not a tall one, but a big

one: Michael Bloomberg.”

Also still in the fight: Billionaire Tom Steyer, who spent more than $12 million on Nevada television and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who hoped to prove her strong New Hampshire finish was no fluke.

Klobuchar, campaigning in her home state of Minnesota Saturday night, claimed Nevada success no matter her poor showing.

“As usual I think we have exceeded expectations,” she said.

The first presidential contest in the West tested the candidates’ strength with black and Latino voters for the first time in 2020. Nevada’s population aligns more with the US as a whole, compared with Iowa and New Hampshire: 29 percent Latino, 10 percent black and 9 percent Asian American and Pacific Islander.

Bloomberg, the former New York mayor who dominated the political conversation this week after a poor debate-stage debut, wasn’t on the ballot. He’s betting everything on a series of delegate-rich states that begin voting next month.

The stakes were high for Nevada Democrats to avoid a repeat of the chaos in the still-unresolved Iowa caucuses, and it appeared Saturday’s contest was largely successful.

Unlike state primaries and the November election, which are run by government officials, caucuses are overseen by state parties. AP

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38

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. JIANPO SUN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

39

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. DAHAI YANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

40

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. QIHENG CHEN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

41

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. TAIRONG ZHENG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

42

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. HUIMIN WU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

43

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. JIAPENG SIMA / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

44

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. PING LIU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

45

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. LEILEI WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

46

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. ZHONGHAO WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

47

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. YI ZAN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

48

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. TIANBIN ZHOU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

49

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. SONG XU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

50

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. WENXUAN WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

51

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. CHUANGSHENG PANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

52

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. JIAN CUI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

53

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. LONGLONG LIU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

54

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. XU LUO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

55

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. QIAN HE / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

56

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. HUAHENG CHEN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

57

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. HAILONG LIU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

58

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. MAOPING WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

59

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. XINZHEN XU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

60

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. BINGWEI JIA / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

61

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. RONG ZHAO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

62

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. CHENGJIE ZHI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

63

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. CHUANG LI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

64

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. YANGYANG WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

65

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. JIE KONG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

66

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. YOUJIAN XU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

67

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. MINGWEI DONG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

68

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. BING WEI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

69

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. CHENQIANG HUANGFU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

70

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. LEI ZHANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

71

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. MENGWEI LI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

February 24, 2020

NOTICE OF FILING OF APPLICATION FOR ALIEN EMPLOYMENT PERMIT (AEP) Notice is hereby given that the following employers have filed with this Regional Office application/s for Alien Employment Permit/s.

Name and Address of Company/Employer

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. AKSON SALEH / Indonesian

2

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. DEDI IRAWAN / Indonesian

3

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. TORUS SIREGAR / Indonesian

4

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. GUSRIYADI / Indonesian

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. ALDEMORO LUMBANTOBING / Indonesian

6

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. AGUSTINUS PANGGABEAN / Indonesian

7

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. IRWANSYAH / Indonesian

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. DIPPOS AMBROSIUS LUMBAN GAOL / Indonesian

1

5

8

9

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. MUHAMMAD JULISAH / PUTERA Indonesian

10

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

11

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. RAHMAT RAJA RAMOTI SITANGGANG / Indonesian

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. TONTU PAKPAHAN / Indonesian

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. TULUS PARDAMEAN / BULOLO Indonesian

12

13

Mr. TAWAR GUNADI / Indonesian

Position and Brief Description of Functions

Electrician - Specialist

Electrician - Specialist

Instrument Technician

Electrician - Specialist

Electrician - Specialist

Electrical Foreman

Electrician - Specialist

Instrument Technician

Electrician Specialist

Electrician - Specialist

Electrician - Specialist

Instrument Technician

Electrician - Specialist

14

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

15

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. OKTA ASWAN / Indonesian

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. JUANDA TAMBA / Indonesian

NISSHO PRECISION PHILIPPINES INCORPORATED GAP, Brgy. Don Jose, Santa Rosa City, Laguna

Mr. TOSHIO OKETANI / Japanese

18

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. YI LIAO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

19

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. DAWEI WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

16

17

Mr. KAMIDIN MANURUNG / Indonesian

Electrical Supervisor

Electrician - Specialist

Electrician-Specialist

Vice President

20

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. HUI XIAO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

21

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. CHUNPENG WU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

22

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. LIDONG PAN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

23

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. YAMING WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

24

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. KE XIE / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Name and Address of Company/Employer

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Brief Description of Functions

72

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. CHAOXIANG FANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

73

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. XINMIAO GE / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

74

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. XIAOHU SUN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

75

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. TENGFEI CHE / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

76

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. QIANRU LI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

77

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. XIAOHENG CHEN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

78

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. HUALONG CAI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

79

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. XIN HE / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

80

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. ZHAOLIN GONG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

81

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. WEILONG LIANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

82

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. RONGMIN XU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

83

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. XIJUN SU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

84

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. YUYING TU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

85

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. ZHICUN XIA / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

86

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. YONGSHENG WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

87

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. BANGJIAN ZHENG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

88

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. LAIFU YE / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

89

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. DI ZHANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

90

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. QINGYAN WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

91

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. SHENGLONG HE / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

92

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. FU PAN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

93

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. BAOHUA WAN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

94

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. YUFAN WU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

95

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. TAO ZHENG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

96

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. ENHONG CHEN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

97

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. SHAOBO DONG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

98

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. ZHIQUAN CHEN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. CHENG HOU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. HAIFENG WU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

99

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. 100 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite 101

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. MENG ZHOU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

102

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. RENSHUANG JI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

103

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. ZHAN WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. MINGPEI LI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

104

105

106

107

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. HUI SUN / Chinese Mr. DAFA ZHOU / Chinese Mr. CHANGJIN GUO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative Chinese Customer Service Representative Chinese Customer Service Representative

108

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. LINHONG WU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

109

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. JINLONG LUO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Name and Address of Company/Employer

Monday, February 24, 2020 A9

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

112

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. XINFEI XIE / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

113

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. LU YAN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

114

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. MINMIN QIAO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

115

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. YINGYING LI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

116

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. ZECHEN PAN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

117

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. YUJING MO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

118

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. GUOCHAO CHANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

119

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. XIN JIANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

120

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. LIFEN ZHOU / Chinese

121

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. HUACHUN FAN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

122

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. XINZHAO WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

123

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. JINZHOU CHEN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

124

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. RUI MA / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

125

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. XINGYUAN QI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

126

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. GUIHUA WEI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

127

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. YU NONG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

128

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. JUN CHEN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

129

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. QIANQIAN HUO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

130

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. MING ZENG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

131

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. XINQIAO LI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

132

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. HUANHUAN XU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

133

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. WENBIAO WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

134

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. SHENGLONG SUN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

135

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. HONGBIN ZHAI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

136

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. YONGFU LI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

137

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. QIYANG ZHANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. LIANCAI ZHANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

111

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. HEXIANG CHEN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Any person in the Philippines who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is desired may file an objection at the DOLE Regional Office within 30 days from the date of publication.

Please inform the DOLE Regional Office if you have an information of any criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals.

110

Position and Brief Description of Functions

HENRY JOHN S. JALBUENA Regional Director

To avail of free job referral, placement, and employment guidance services, visit the nearest Public Employment Service Offices (PESO) or log on at http://www.philjobnet.gov.ph AEP20201007345

A10 Monday, February 24, 2020 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

US President Bernie Sanders

I

N approximately nine months, the United States will give birth to a new presidential term and, perhaps, a new president. Much can happen in the interim, but it is not too early to start thinking about that election.

And, of course, there are some that think that Filipinos should go to sleep every night concerned, if not worrying, about the US and our relations to Uncle Sam. It is interesting that some Filipinos view President Donald J. Trump almost exactly as they see President Duterte. “He is an incompetent, foul-mouthed misogynist who loves Russia [or China as the case may be] and who wants to be dictator for life.”

Also interesting is that in a recent Pew Research Center global poll, the Philippines, of all countries, trusts Trump more than the rest. At least 77 percent in the Philippines have confidence in Trump to do the right thing in world affairs. Is it a coincidence that President Duterte holds a net satisfaction rating of 72 percent and a trust rating of 76 percent?

Globally, Trump’s “confidence” rating is just 29 percent.

This past week, the Democratic Party continued to vote to choose its candidate to run against Trump for president on November 3. The latest state to decide was Nevada, where Filipinos make up 5.6 percent of the total population. The US senator from the state of Vermont, Bernie Sanders, crushed his opponents, including the US vice president under Barack Obama, Joe Biden.

Sanders is 78 years old and is a career politician who describes himself as a “democratic socialist.” As such, he wants tuition-free college for all, reduced military spending, and putting greater emphasis on labor rights and environmental concerns when negotiating international trade agreements.

On June 12, 2017, US senators reached an agreement imposing new sanctions on Russia and Iran. Sanders was one of two who opposed the bill because he was concerned that sanctions on Iran would hurt the Iran nuclear deal.

His campaign thrust is almost solely on domestic social and economic issues. But his becoming president would obviously have an impact on the Philippines. From the Sanders’s campaign web site: “Work with pro-democracy forces around the world to build societies that work for and protect all people. In the United States, Europe, and elsewhere, democracy is under threat by forces of intolerance, corruption and authoritarianism.”

But that is almost from a common script by Americans who want to be the president. Barack Obama said in 2008: “In every region of the globe, our foreign policy should promote traditional American ideals: democracy and human rights; free and fair trade and cultural exchanges.”

Hillary Clinton, running for president in 2016, said: “This strategic and volatile part of the world [South Asia] is important to the US and that we support their efforts to strengthen democracy, expand free markets, and promote tolerance and human rights.”

George W. Bush said: “If we are a creedal nation, united by a commitment to democracy, equality, and liberty, with a mandate and mission to impose those ideas and ideals on mankind, we shall have a foreign policy like that of George W. Bush.”

Some Filipinos may lose sleep thinking about the US. US presidents do not lose sleep thinking about the Philippines. If Bernie Sanders becomes president, that will not change.

Where lies the spirit of Edsa?

Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II

RISING SUN

W

E are celebrating the 34th anniversary of the Edsa Revolution on Tuesday, February 25. For many, it’s an opportunity to rest from work or to take the family out on a short outing. A lot of people are not participating in any of the People Power-related events across the country on this day; not even the President himself. Some people even question the relevance of this celebration. Is the Edsa spirit still alive? they ask.

I think that this Edsa spirit is not primarily evident in the anniversary celebrations but in the moments when Filipinos and the country itself are facing adversity. It doesn’t matter if you see a thin crowd hearing the holy mass to commemorate Edsa.

✝ Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua Founder Publisher Editor in Chief Associate Editor News Editor

T. Anthony C. Cabangon Lourdes M. Fernandez Jennifer A. Ng Vittorio V. Vitug

Senior Editors

Lorenzo M. Lomibao Jr., Gerard S. Ramos Lyn B. Resurreccion, Dennis D. Estopace Angel R. Calso

Online Editor

Ruben M. Cruz Jr.

Creative Director Chief Photographer Chairman of the Board & Ombudsman President VP-Finance VP Advertising Sales Advertising Sales Manager Group Circulation Manager

Eduardo A. Davad Nonilon G. Reyes Judge Pedro T. Santiago (Ret.) Benjamin V. Ramos Adebelo D. Gasmin Marvin Nisperos Estigoy Aldwin Maralit Tolosa Rolando M. Manangan

BusinessMirror is published daily by the Philippine Business Daily Mirror Publishing, Inc., with offices on the 3rd floor of Dominga Building III 2113 Chino Roces Avenue corner De La Rosa Street, Makati City, Philippines.

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Even if we are not financially wealthy, there are many other ways we can help. Let us all learn to recognize these opportunities and take advantage of them to strengthen the love for our fellowmen and our nation.

Above all, never forget to teach the lessons of Edsa to our children, those who will constitute the next generation of Filipinos. In a recent news item, I heard about the proposal to bring back GMRC (a school subject that stands for Good Manners and Right Conduct) to public schools because there have been many cases of violence among children in our communities and institutions.

We can’t allow this to continue.

We have the capability and the opportunity now to teach our children and to model good behavior.

Show them what compassion, courage, and love for fellowmen and nation is all about. This is the real meaning of Edsa.

No more need for medical marijuana bill?

Atty. Lorna Patajo-Kapunan

legally speaking

Since 2005

BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business

What matters is that the spirit of cooperation and fellowship is alive in the hearts of our people.

You see Edsa in the soldiers who put their lives on the line to fight for our sovereignty. For every woman who stands up against an abuser

and every person helping her, there is Edsa. When Taal Volcano erupted and strangers gathered to organize relief and rescue operations to help our brothers and sisters in Batangas, there is your People Power. When our athletes fought for our nation’s glory in international sports competitions last year, and people came in droves to offer support—that is Edsa.

We choose to keep Edsa alive in our hearts whenever we decide to help a brother or sister in need. Every call for help that we forward, every peso we donate for a good cause, every erring public official we call out, every suffering Filipino that we pray for—these are opportunities given to us to prove to the world that the spirit of the 1986 People Power Revolution is still very much alive.

Each day presents us with opportunities to do good. There are so many ways we can help others and ease the suffering of our fellowmen.

B

aby Moon Jaden, a patient with Dravet Syndrome, whose story was posted on the Facebook page of “Moms for Marijuana” (Philippine Chapter) died in September 2013.

Her loving parents, Juan and Myca Yutuc, bravely faced media to strongly advocate for medical marijuana (which could have saved her life).

Baby Moon Jaden’s death opened the discussion on the availability of medical marijuana in the Philippines. Parents with similar cases bonded together and with inspiration from “Moms for Marijuana,” an organization of mothers and advocates pushing for the legalization of medical marijuana, a new group evolved, the Philippine Cannabis Compassion Society. The PCCS, which is a group of mothers, fathers and some advocates, was formally launched on November 3, 2013, at the Quezon Memorial Circle. This was followed by more media exposure, guesting at public fora and lobbying with lawmakers of the House of Representatives. This led to the filing of a medical marijuana bill sometime in 2014 during the First Regular Session of the 16th Congress.

Although the medical marijuana bill has been filed and refiled in both the 17th and 18th Congress, and was even passed in the 17th Congress in January 2019 by the House of Representatives on Third Reading and transmitted to the Senate, the Senate has unfortunately consistently blocked its passage. Rep. Antonio Al-

bano again filed in July 2019 House Bill 279 “An Act Providing Right of Access To Medical Cannabis As A Compassionate Alternative Means Of Medical Treatment, Expanding Research Into Its Medicinal Properties And For Other Purposes.”

HB 279 known as the “Philippine Medical Cannabis Compassionate Act” in its Explanatory Notes, state that the use of cannabis for medical purposes is provided for by both existing international and national law. The Single Convention of Narcotic Drugs, 1961, as amended by the 1972 Protocol, provides in its Preamble: “Recognizing that the medical use of narcotic drugs continues to be indispensable for the relief of pain and suffering, and that the adequate provisions must be made to ensure the availability of narcotic drugs for such purposes.” It further provides in Article 4 that “subject to the provisions of this Convention, to limit exclusively to medical and scientific purpose the production, manufacture, export, import, distribution, trade in, use and possession of drugs.” On the other hand, The “Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002”

recognized the medical use of drugs classified as dangerous drugs including marijuana when it said in Section 2: “The government shall, however, aim to achieve a balance in the national drug control program so that people with legitimate medical needs are not prevented from being treated with adequate amounts of appropriate medications, which include the use of dangerous drugs.”

Recent developments augur well for the use of medical marijuana (Cannabis/CBD) in the Philippines: President Duterte, despite mixed signals from the past, appears to now favor the use of medical marijuana as long as it is limited to medical purposes. This, despite a statement in March last year that “marijuana addiction could lead to madness” so he won’t allow the legalization of the substance under his watch.

The Senate appears to have softened its resistance. Senate President Vicente Sotto III, a former Dangerous Drugs Board chairman himself, agreed that RA 9165 actually authorizes the “compassionate use” of cannabis and using marijuana for its therapeutic effects was allowed “as long as it is monitored and permitted” by the DDB and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III also agreed that RA 9165 exempted the medical use of cannabis from criminal prosecution.

Despite the absence of conclusive medical evidence, Sen. Joel Villanueva said the compassionate use of CBD could also be considered since the US FDA had already registered it as medicine anyway. “However, proper regulation should be in place particularly with respect to dispensation. I have serious reservation on

that aspect, but with proper regulation, access to this medication will provide relief to a number of people,” Villanueva said. “Physician’s prescription should be strictly followed for use and access of this product,” he said (February 17, 2020, www.

Inquirer.net).

The DDB recently approved “in principle” a resolution to allow the use of cannabidiol for alleviating severe forms of epilepsy. Citing a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), “In humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential…. To date, there is no evidence of public healthrelated problems associated with the use of pure CBD. There has been scientific proof that CBD—which is derived from the hemp plant, a “cousin” of cannabis—alleviates seizures in people with epilepsy.”

DDB Undersecretary Benjie Reyes’s position told to the Philippine Daily Inquirer (February 16, 2020, www.Inquirer.net) was that “There was no need for a bill.”

“But even without the law, as long as its in medicine form, it [CBD] can be registered, “ he said. “Just like opiates, morphine, those are dangerous drugs, but in medicine form. It can be used. Cocaine is used for anesthesia.”

He said the DDB conducted public hearings with PCCS, specifically on the following points: The reclassification of medicines containing CBD with no more than 0.1 percent THC from Schedule 1 (no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the Philippines) and Schedule 2 (has currently accepted medical use) to Schedule 4 (has currently accepted medical use in the Philippines and has low potential for abuse); See “Kapunan,” A11

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Opinion

Tricycles in our minds

Chain breakers

BusinessMirror

Siegfred Bueno Mison, Esq.

Thomas M. Orbos

THE PATRIOT

STREET TALK

I

N every barangay in the Philippines you would find the tricycles as the regular mode of transport—not the jeepneys. Another proof of the Filipinos’ remedyo creativity, the tricycles can be seen in all sorts of terrain, transporting people and carrying cargo that defies physics and engineering—carrying up to 10 passengers at one go. And just like their relationship with jeepney, Filipinos also have the same love-hate relationship for its three-wheeled cousin. People complain about tricycle noise; their illegal terminals; how some tricycles are used for crimes, and their drivers using drugs; how they are unsafe and inconvenient—all similar to the complaints about jeepneys. And yet, the tricycles are the Filipinos’ real “last mile” transport beast of burden—cheap, reliable and necessary. It is the go-to vehicle for any occasion. Filipinos use it to go to work, market, school, and even use it for weddings and funerals in the barangays.

Rightly so, there are now calls for the modernization of the tricycle given its importance and necessity in the everyday lives of Filipino. And just like the jeepney modernization, this will include not just vehicle change but a whole revamp of the tricycle ecosystem, as well—transport efficiency, passenger convenience, as well as passenger safety.

Tricycles do need to be standardized to ensure passenger safety and comfort. Even if the backyard rebuilders and assemblers are allowed to build these trikes, they must adhere to approved national standards, and only use industryapproved materials. Trikes also need to be fuel-efficient. Here, the push for non-carbon alternatives can be better realized than with their fourwheeled counterparts. Though the past administration’s push for electric trikes admittedly failed, such a direction would still be worth looking into because electric trikes are more efficient and contribute greatly to overall carbon reduction.

But the real key to modernization is the decision whether to let tricycles remain under the regulatory authority of the local government units—the cities and the municipalities—and not with the national government. As mandated by the Local Government Code of 1981, franchising, which includes determining the number of tricycles in a locality, is to be decided by the incumbent local authority. There are two concerns here that have been pointed out time and time again. One, what are the guidelines for the systematic determination of tricycle absorption per LGU? More often than not, there is no such mechanism, except second-guessing on local fare elasticity by the LGU resulting in oversupply that adversely affects the profitability of operators. The second concern is political. LGUs have innate difficulty to regulate these vehicles

given their political implication. In some cases, LGUs turn a blind eye even to colorum trikes simply because of its political repercussions.

On the other hand, handing this authority to the national government will be tedious and impractical given the magnitude of the work and manpower needed to cover all LGUs nationwide.

A better solution to this quandary is to bring both the national and local governments to resolve this. Let the national government provide and implement the right number of motorized trikes per municipality based on road capacity and passenger demand. On the other hand, the local governments will be the ones to strictly enforce these numbers with a direct and automatic transfer of authority from the Land Transportation Office and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board. This kind of national-local combined control over the tricycle industry can be also applied to other modernization standards, such as terminal standards, driver training, and equally important—route rationalization so that tricycles do not compete with other modes and, therefore, taking out the need for them to ply on national highways.

Tricycles are here to stay, at least in the medium term. They are there because they fulfill the last mile demand of the Filipino commuter.

Government needs to come in to modernize. But it must do so in a less drastic but more realistic and faster manner. Maybe a combined national-local government intervention on these vehicles might be the ready and immediate solution.

Thomas Tim Orbos was former DOTr undersecretary for roads and general manager of the MMDA. He is currently undertaking further studies at the McCourt School of Public Policy of Georgetown University. He can be reached via e-mail at thomas_orbos@sloan.mit.edu

Sotomayor’s scathing ‘public charge’ dissent lights up Twitter

By Hailey Waller Bloomberg Opinion

J

ustice Sonia Sotomayor lit up Twitter after issuing a dissent against the Supreme Court’s 5-4 vote to allow an immigrant wealth test—designed to weed out green card applicants deemed likely to need public assistance—to go into effect.

The Illinois rule says immigrants who are “likely at any time to become a public charge” because they may in the future need benefits, such as food stamps, Medicaid or housing assistance may be turned away. It followed a ruling on January 27, that was already poised to take effect in 49 states.

Sotomayor, who joined fellow liberal Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan in the minority, argued that cases have repeatedly been rushed to the Supreme Court without being “ventilated fully in the lower courts.”

She went as far as to say that the practice is “putting a thumb on the scale in favor” of the party that won a stay—a pointed dig at the Trump administration

and her conservative colleagues.

“Claiming one emergency after another, the government has recently sought stays in an unprecedented number of cases, demanding immediate attention, and consuming limited court resources in each,” Sotomayor wrote.

“And with each successive application, of course, its cries of urgency ring increasingly hollow.”

Sotomayor’s comments drew renewed calls from Democrats to “flip the Senate” in November and, thus, have more control over the confirmation of Supreme Court justices. Others praised the decision as a victory for the policies of President Donald J. Trump.

Among those commenting were Sister Helen Prejean, the Roman Catholic nun and advocate for abolition of the death penalty portrayed by Susan Sarandon in the 1995 film Dead Man Walking.

The court, said Prejean, has been quick to grant stays requested by the Justice department, but not when deathrow prisoners request the same—an issue central to Sotomayor’s dissent.

A

rat. A snitch. A weasel. A traitor. A tattletale. These are some of the gentler terms used to describe a whistle-blower.

Eric Snowden, perhaps the most famous American whistle-blower in recent years, leaked highly classified information when he was a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) employee.

In the Philippines, Benhur Luy became the most notable whistleblower when he disclosed details of how billions of pork barrel funds were siphoned off into the pockets of legislators, more popularly known as the PDAF and the DAP fund scams.

And then here comes Immigration Officer Allison Chong, hopefully an idealist, who spilled the beans in the Bureau’s so-called pastillas scheme where foreign nationals are exempt from inspection at the borders in exchange for a fee.

For a higher fee, some foreign nationals are even escorted by Bureau employees themselves!

I met Allison when he applied for the Bureau in my capacity as head of the Personnel Selection Board under Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. With confidence, I have to say that our set standards back then made sure that both merit and character were given greater weight than achievements and political connections. In the same vein, unfortunately, I have to say that a majority of these immigration officers are now involved in nefarious activities, either by direct participation, or tolerance but with benefits. Back then, most of these young immigration officers were not chained to any scheme that could

compromise their integrity. Border security, back then, was complemented with a robust CCTV system, large name tags displayed for proper accountability, a snake queue in immigration inspection, a regular officer rotation program at the airports, and a no cell phone policy for immigration officers on duty. Sadly, the current atmosphere and the removal of the overtime pay have transformed these supposedly idealist employees, according to Chong, to become unwilling victims. Chong said most officers deployed in the frontlines are prisoners of the system—chained to the greed of money generated by a lucrative practice!

The reasons why a whistle-blower reports a wrongdoing are almost always questionable. It is a clear case of conflict of interest. The whistle-blower is telling the truth, but, at the same time, he is betraying a confidence.

Snowden, Luy, Chong, and all other whistle-blowers in the past had to be deeply embedded in the scheme for

Monday, February 24, 2020 A11

them to understand the complexity of the fraud. I am sure it took an intense soul searching exercise for them to speak up. Since whistle-blowers are eventually subject to ridicule, disdain, ostracism, and death threats, preferring to keep silent is always the logical option. But, whenever we remain silent and deny ourselves the chance to expose what is evil is also evil. Believers are called by God to speak up against injustice. In the Bible, Ephesians 5:11 tells us, “People whose minds are in the dark do things that have no good purpose. Keep away from wrong things like that. Instead, show how bad those things really are.”

Filipinos, especially those in government, should always seek divine guidance in all their actions.

Our country needs people who have the hope, the commitment, and the courage to expose anomalies. To me, whistle-blowers did what they did as they are hopeful for a better future for their organization.

They want to get rid of the evils, which, ironically, they were once a part of. They also remain committed to expose the truth knowing the repercussions of their actions.

Once their identities and motives are exposed, snitches are likely to go “all in,” regardless of the cost. But most of all, they have the courage to take on the system—a Goliath who has an arsenal of resources to try to correct it. As such, a whistle-blower law is essential to help entice and protect these valuable sources of information. The Witness Protection Act has limitations yet is a step toward a hopeful direction. A few government agencies, such as the Philippine Reclamation Authority and the Philippine Ports Authority, have published their respective

policies regarding whistle-blowers.

Other companies have put up whistleblower policies to help them prevent, detect, and punish fraudulent behavior. Relatedly, one such whistle-blower law has been in place since the colonial times in the United States.

Immigration officers and the rest of the Filipinos will end up debating the ethical question: “What circumstances can justify the leaking of inside information?” Idealists maintain that whistle-blowing is an ethical form of civil disobedience to protect the organization from anomalies. Pragmatists see whistleblowing as unethical for breaching confidentiality. From a personal perspective, any decision to expose a wrongdoing but, at the same time, betray the confidence of others, will have irreversible consequences. To expose will lead to retaliation and reprisal. Not to expose will lead to a bothered conscience. To resolve this dilemma, I suggest we ask ourselves, WWGD —“What Would God Do?” And the answer can be found in Leviticus 5:1, which says, “If you are called to testify about something you have seen or that you know about, it is sinful to refuse to testify, and you will be punished for your sin.”

Without ample protection and assistance from the organization, the few good men and women who have the hope, commitment, and courage to expose evil will soon be an endangered species. In the process, chains of a corrupt system will continue to be stronger than ever. With or without a law, this country needs more people who can break the chain of wrongful behavior.

For questions and comments, please e-mail me at sbmison@gmail.com.

The double bottom-line social enterprise

impactful way.

A social enterprise aims to create a clearly defined experience and behavior change for a clearly defined beneficiary in a clearly defined geographic scope. The same quantitative and qualitative research tools we know are used to understand the problem experience, current way of life and behavior, and the triggers and barriers to this behavior being reshaped to support the proposed solution. The macro forces are studied, too, such as culture, the bigger economic context, and

all other community and environmental variables influencing the desired change.

A social enterprise is a solution designed to be better than existing models—better than “competitors,” in conventional business parlance. It goes through the rigor of cross-discipline collaboration to design advantages over existing models in every step of the user journey, with focus on those directly impacting human experience, adoption, sustainability, systemic impact and cost.

Based on the above exercises, a positioning statement is defined—a social enterprise concept that is then pitched to investors, a concept that is clever, original, creative and viable because it is relevant, competitive and differentiated.

I bet this is all sounding very familiar and close to heart.

The same thinking we do for key performance indicators in business goes into social enterprise planning. The only difference is that a social impact side is added to the scorecard. A social enterprise has a double bottom line—financial and social objectives. That aside, we should be all set. For business strategists, performance measurement is as natural and as easy as writing briefs and weekly initiative reviews, not to mention the shiny tried and tested thinking tools, measurement

models, and technology we already have in place.

It is the rather tricky task of optimizing financial and social measures through a single concept that calls for more than just business acumen or creativity, but a genuine social mission, as well.

The one thing that has kept me restless ever since I started racking my brain for brands and businesses—if we could rechannel to the bigger problems of the world even just a bit of the passion, brilliance and creative energies we give to brand and business building, a bit of the sleepless nights, passionate number crunching, or heated brainstorming sessions, imagine what we can achieve.

If we, business strategists, have minds so adept at changing attitudes and behavior, thinking tools that intelligently make bars in charts move from point A to desired point B with speed and certainty, shouldn’t we be at the forefront of social change?

as strong impetus to Congress to act soon enough.

However, Sen. Panfilo Lacson has opined that medical cannabis is listed as a prohibited substance under Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and, thus, the need for Congress to enact legislation to amend this law to allow its use even for medical purposes. Further, Lacson stated that “the DDB cannot usurp Congress’” legislative power (February 17, 2020, www.Inquirer.net).

There were 98,200 new diagnosed cancer cases in the Philippines (according to a 2017 Report of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) with 59,000 dying of cancer annually.

Depending on the type of cancer, cost of treatment ranges from

P36,000 to P180,000 for standard six cycles of chemotheraphy (Explanatory Note, HB 279).

I hope this Medical Cannabis Compassionate Bill will not suffer the same fate as the ABS-CBN franchise and the quo warranto/gag order issue filed in the Supreme Court; or the bill on Absolute Divorce, or the Visiting Forces Agreement where the clash between the Senate and the House, Congress versus the Executive department compounded by vested political interests, stymies, or delays the passage of good laws intended for the benefit and general welfare of the people.

I am for Medical Cannabis. It is not only because it is a compassionate option, but it is a patient’s right (or the parent’s on behalf of their minor children) to choose what will

make him/her live a longer, healthier, pain-free life.

I lost my husband in 2001 to colon cancer. And as if this was not enough, I lost my youngest of five sons (then eight years old) in 2003 to leukemia.

I can’t help but think that if medical cannabis were then made available as an option, they would still be with my family and me today.

So, this advocacy for me is personal. I join the many patients, parents and believers in the wonders of this drug. I pray that our public officials will stop the bickering and political gymnastics, and for once do what is best for those who suffer from cancer and other sickness, ailments and disabilities.

To Congress I say: “The life you save could be your own or your loved ones.”

Ethel V. Sanchez

DEBIT CREDIT

A

lot of proof has been put out there of the gains that businesses get to reap for doing good, or as the industry fondly calls it, for effecting positive change in people’s lives. I have been closely observing the inundation of good initiatives, purpose and CSR work globally in the last decade. I am in awe of the way the world’s most creative minds are building businesses through ideas that genuinely make the world a better place. I am dreaming of this phenomenon evolving further into development of initiatives with the same power and longevity as the revenue-generating corporations they support, initiatives with sustainable impact, not just bursts of buzz, or brand love.

I think it’s just a step away.

If we take a closer look at the building blocks of sustainable social enterprises, these are undoubtedly the turf of the business community—creative problem solving, innovation and measurable impact.

These are ways of thinking that are second nature to us.

A social enterprise is built on a fresh and smarter “line of attack” to an existing problem. Thinking starts on a clean slate, aimed always at a smarter solution—an easier way, a more effective way, a more

Kapunan. . .

continued from A10

Creation of guidelines for the DDB board resolution titled “Requirements for the Issuance of a License to Acquire, Possess and Use Unregistered Drug Products Containing Dangerous Drugs for Personal Use.” “We adopted it in principle last December,” said Reyes.

“If Epidiolex is a recognized medication by the US FDA, why deprive Filipinos of the same medication?” he added.

Deputy Speaker Luis Villafuente Jr. who has proposed a similar Medical Cannabis Compassionate Bill (HB 3961) thought the DDB’s approval in principle of CBD use “was a game changer” and should serve

Ethel Sanchez is a part-time university lecturer for the MBA Program of the University of the Philippines. Before joining NuWorks Interactive Labs as head of Strategy and Analytics, Ethel worked as a brand strategist for over a decade.

This column accepts contributions from the business community. Articles not exceeding 600 words can be e-mailed to boa.secretariat.@ gmail.com

A12 Monday, February 24, 2020

Honda PHL assembly end boosts case for safeguard H

By Elijah Felice E. Rosales

@alyasjah

ONDA’S decision to abandon its Philippine assembly has strengthened the government’s case to impose safeguard measure against vehicle imports in order to protect local manufacturers, the country’s trade chief said on Sunday.

Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said the closure of Honda’s factory in Laguna sends a strong message for the government to provide support to the automotive industry by, perhaps, raising

tariffs on imported cars. He argued that several vehicle assemblers, such as Honda, are challenged because their products have no tariff protection.

Echoing his agency’s initial

“The cost structure of their local car assembly, which has about 380 workers, is basically challenged and there’s no tariff protection; thus, making imports of vehicles a cheaper alternative.”—Lopez

findings, Lopez bared the volume of vehicle importation has been surging to a point that compels the state to look into the matter and consider safeguard measures.

“The cost structure of their local car assembly, which has about 380 workers, is basically challenged and there’s no tariff protection;

thus, making imports of vehicles a cheaper alternative,” Lopez told reporters. “Vehicle imports have been growing, causing injury to local industry, from assembly to the local parts supply network in the country.”

“Thus, we really have to study the need to impose a safeguard duty and other measures to provide at least a level of support to the local assemblers,” he added.

Other options

Lopez disclosed he is scheduled to meet Honda’s executives on Monday “to consider other alternative options so as to minimize the impact of any final decision they will make.”

See “Honda,” A2

DOLE issues special pay rules for Edsa Day

O

NLY private-sector workers who report for work during the celebration of the 34th anniversary of the Edsa People Power Revolution on Tuesday will be entitled to additional pay.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said a “no work, no

pay” scheme will be in effect during the event, which President Duterte declared as a special nonworking holiday.

“For work done during the special day, he/she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his/her basic wage on the first eight hours of work,” Acting

NORTHEAST MONSOON AFFECTING LUZON AND VISAYAS as of 4:00 am - February 23, 2020

Labor Secretary Ana C. Dione said in her Labor Advisory 8-2020.

They will get an additional 30 percent of their hourly rate on said day if they will work overtime and another 50 percent of their basic wage if the holiday also coincides with their rest day.

Employees who will spend the day on vacation will not get any daily pay “unless there is a favorable company policy, practice or collective bargaining agreement” granting them payment for the special day.

Dione urged all concerned employers to observe the special pay rules for the day. The Edsa People Power Revolution, which is held every February 25, commemorates the four-day bloodless regime change that led to the ousting of former president and dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986. Samuel P. Medenilla

Marawi Task Force work going well –PACC exec

‘W

E are generally satisfied with the actions and rehabilitation efforts of the Task Force Bangon Marawi [TFBM] as per our observations and meetings with stakeholders, Internally Displaced Persons, Assistant Secretary Felix Castro and Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra. But much work remains to be done.”

This was the assessment of Commissioner Manuelito Luna, the official in-charge of the Visayas and Mindanao for the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), who just returned from a two-day mission to the Islamic City of Marawi, the focus of a massive rehabilitation after being laid siege to in 2017 by homegrown terrorists Maute and Abu Sayyaf Groups led by Omar Maute and Isnilon Hapilon.

The commissioner held meetings with TFBM ground in-charge Assistant Secretary Castro, Mayor Gandamra, regional officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Mindanao State University (MSU) President Habib W. Macaayong, stakeholders and internally displaced persons.

Luna and his team were allowed to inspect the so-called Ground Zero where the main battle took place between government forces and the ISIS-inspired militants.

“I will submit a report for the consideration of the Commission en banc which will be submitted to higher authority for its consideration. At the same time, we will have meetings with the LWUA [Local Water Utilities Administration], DSWD, DPWH and the TFBM so that we will be able to bring to their attention some concerns brought to the attention of the PACC by the carious stakeholders and IDPs,” Luna said.

THE QUICK BROWN FOX JU RETAILERS BREACHING OVER THE 9LAZY DOG. THE SRP FOR ITEMS FACE LAZY DOG SANCTIONS FROM D.A.

U

NSCRUPULOUS retailers will now be penalized if they go beyond the set suggested retail prices (SRP) by the Department of Agriculture for various commodities starting today (Monday) as it seeks to curtail profiteering in the market.

In a statement, the DA said it will partner with the the Departments of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila in implementing the SRP and imposing sanctions on erring retailers.

The SRP which covers nine food items will only be applicable to markets in Metro Manila. The DA has set the SRP for these products: Pork (pigue/kasim) at P190 per kilogram; Whole, dressed chicken at P130 per kg; Brown/raw sugar at P45 per kg; refined sugar at P50 per kg; Bangus (cage-cultured) at P162 per kg; Tilapia (pond-cultured) at P120 per kg; Imported galunggong at P130 per kg; Imported garlic at P70 per kg; locally produced garlic at P120 per kg; and imported red onions at P95 per kg.

“We will conduct regular monitoring of these agri-fishery commodities to protect consumers against hoarding and profiteering of unscrupulous traders and cartels, who manipulate for their advantage the supply, distribution, marketing and prices of basic agri-fishery goods,” the DA said.

The DA issued Administrative Circular 01 of 2020 on February 20, formalizing the implementation of the SRP on the concerned agricultural products. The AC takes effect on February 24 after it was published in two

national newspapers last week.

In AC 01, the DA argued that it is the responsibility of the government “to provide effective and sufficient protection to consumers against hoarding, profiteering and cartels with respect to supply distribution, marketing and pricing of basic necessities and prime commodities.”

The DA added that the implementation of the SRP was borne out of the dialogue and consultations with concerned stakeholders.

Certain sectors of the agriculture sector, such as hog growers and poultry raisers, have been lamenting the disconnect between the farm-gate price and retail prices of commodities.

For example, both farm-gate prices of broiler and live hogs have gone down in months due to a confluence of events such as oversupply and dampened demand for pork, but retail prices have remained elevated.

Under Republic Act 7581 or the Price Act, the DA has the power to implement a suggested retail price anytime “for the information and guidance of producers, manufacturers, traders, dealers, sellers, retailers and consumers.”

The DA said that “in setting up the SRP for selected food items, we will ensure the availability of basic necessities and prime commodities at reasonable prices at all times, without denying legitimate businesses a fair return on their investments.”

Under the law, the DA has the power to investigate anyone that violates it and could impose sanction of no less than P1,000 nor more than P1 million on erring traders or retailers. Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

Full-blast work on Nlex Connector starts March

N

LEX Corp. will start next month the full-blast construction of the P14-billion Nlex Connector, a critical section of the North Luzon Expressway that will cut travel time between the northern and southern portions of Luzon to just 20 minutes from over two hours.

Luigi Bautista, the company’s president, said the contractor, the DMCI Group, will start bringing in heavy and big equipment for board piling in the Caloocan to España section of the Nlex Connector in March. This will signify the start of the construction works for the link road.

“The intention is to complete the project next year,” he said.

“This is the first section, which is around 4 kilometers between Caloocan and España.”

The section which runs from España to the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, will be auctioned off to another contractor soon. Nlex Corp. is now prequalifying as many as seven contractors for the project.

Public Works (DPWH) Secretary Mark A. Villar noted that his group is making strides in the

FTA. . .

Continued from A1

Under an FTA with South Korea, the Philippines is eyeing to reduce, if not eliminate, tariff rates on agricultural products, particularly banana. Banana exports from the country are slapped 30 percent of duty when entering the South Korean market, making it less competitive compared to those shipped

by Vietnam and Central American countries.

Bananas from Peru are taxed zero rate at present in South Korea, while those from the Central Americas and Vietnam will enjoy similar preferential treatment by 2021 and 2024, respectively.

acquisition of the right-of-way for the Nlex Connector.

He said the first section is now at “75-percent” acquired, while the whole alignment’s easement is at “35-percent” acquired.

The Nlex Connector spans 8 kilometers from the new Caloocan Interchange to the Metro Manila Sky way Stage 3, linking Nlex to the South Luzon Expressway (Slex).

Upon f u l l completion in 2021, the Nlex Connector will sig nif icant ly cut travel t ime from Nlex to Slex by at least 60 percent. Instead of the usual two hours, travel time will be reduced to about 20 minutes.

It will also provide improved accessibility for cargo trucks bound for the Manila ports and the international airports.

Aside from solving the traffic congestion in several Manila roads, the Nlex Connector is also expected to stimulate economic development in Manila, Caloocan, Malabon and Navotas, as well as its surrounding areas. It is expected to handle roughly 35,000 motorists daily, especially cargo trucks.

Lorenz S. Marasigan

On the other hand, Seoul is demanding that Manila erase tariffs on automobile and parts. The Philippines applies a duty of 5 percent on vehicles 3,000 cc and below that are made in South Korea as concession to a regional deal.

Last year, bilateral trade between the Philippines and South Korea declined nearly 18 percent to $11.43 billion, from $13.92 billion in 2018, according to Philippine Statistics Authority data.

Official figures reported exports to South Korea jumped 23.07 percent to $3.2 billion, from $2.6 billion, on increased shipments of electronic parts and banana. Imports, on the other hand, fell over 27 percent to $8.22 billion, from $11.31 billion.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Companies BusinessMirror

Monday, February 24, 2020

B1

Return spot market operation to PEMC if WESM-Iemop deal is voided–solon

By Lenie Lectura

T

@llectura

HE operation of the electricity spot market should be returned to the Philippine Electricity Market Corp.

(PEMC), at least for now, if the contract with Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines Inc. (Iemop) to run the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) is declared null and void.

“Let’s just go back to PEMC. I don’t see a problem [returning to] PEMC because it is not about who is running the market. It is the legality of the juridical entity that’s running the market,” Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles told reporters on Friday. “My issue here is plain and simple. Is Iemop legally covered to run the WESM? The answer is no.”

He cited three major qualifications to run the WESM under Section 6A of the IRR of Republic Act (RA) 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira).

“Very simple. Three basic characteristics needed. No. 1, financial capability. Seven thousand pesos is not financial capability,” he said, referring to Iemop’s paid-up capital.

“No. 2, technical capability. You can’t even buy a cell phone with P7,000 that can take [good] pictures, right? So [right off you see there’s no] technical

capability.

“And third, minimum two years market operator of a similar or larger electricity spot market. No [such record]. You can see it, it’s very simple,” said Nograles.

Lawmakers want the Department of Energy (DOE) to declare null and void the contract between the PEMC and Iemop. PEMC is the former operator of WESM. Nograles said not even the Philippine Stock Exchange is totally qualified to run the WESM. “PSE is a stock market. They have experience and they have capability but as a market of equities and not as electricity spot market. So, [even the] PSE [lacks capability],” he said.

Nograles said he has discussed with Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi about revisiting the IRR as one way to move forward in resolving the qualifications of an independent electricity market operator. He cited the third requirement, which requires two years of experience as a market operator.

“You can either go two ways. No. 1, somebody will partner with a foreign electricity spot market operator. So, that can be the Singapore spot market operator, any of the four US stock market operators.

No. 2, which I told Secretary Cusi, why don’t we revisit the IRR? If you don’t want to give it to foreigners, because wala naman talaga mag qualify sa Philippines, then maybe we should

revisit the IRR, together with Congress, and make it as equitable, as competitive, and as independent as possible then that would be a good alternative and to legitimize it,” said Nograles.

“Basta ang position ko, which I told Secretary Cusi personally, is the manner of giving the contract to Iemop where, at the very least, there are legal questions there. The way I see it, it can be returned to PEMC and then Congress is willing to work together with him and his department to fix whatever possible manner of resolution—which may or may not include the full privatization of PEMC,” the congressman elaborated, in a mix of English and Filipino.

Ombudsman

Nograles also raised the possibility of the committee on energy forwarding its report to the Office of the Ombudsman, detailing possible violations of Section 3G of Republic Act 3019.

He was referring to Iemop President and Chief Executive Officer Richard Nethercott, who is married to an assistant secretary of the DOE, and another Iemop official who is married to the president of the National Transmission Corp. The second Iemop official, who is one of the incorporators, has since resigned.

Nethercott, who was appointed at the start of the year, earlier told a pub-

lic hearing that there is no conflict of interest, as a legal opinion from Iemop was sought on the matter.

“When the committee agrees to forward it to the Ombudsman then that is the time when we can forward it to the Ombudsman as a committee. If the committee is not inclined to forward it to the Ombudsman, there is nothing stopping any individual taxpayer from forwarding it to the Ombudsman for the Ombudsman to motu propio investigate it.

He insisted the issue “is violation of law” while acknowledging that “personality issues” are intruding in the debate. “But I don’t care about personality issues, although I believe that that is a violation...or possible violation.”

His cause, he stressed, “is to protect the bigger picture, which is the consumers, the electric consumers of the Republic of the Philippines. Because if our market operator is operating on a contract that is void ab initio and collecting from the electricity users without a valid ERC [Energy Regulatory Commission] approval, then who’s next?”

Nograles added: “Who will stop generators and distribution utilities and others from doing the same thing?” if there is a “precedent” where the ERC, the Philippine Competition Commission and the Governance Commission for GOCCs “are being disrespected.”

Megaworld expects ₧1.4-B revenues in 2nd condo project in Gen. Trias

M

EGAWORLD Corp., the flagship property development arm of businessman Andrew Tan, said it expects to generate some P1.4 billion in revenues on its second residential development inside the 140-hectare Maple Grove township in General Trias, Cavite.

The 16-story La Cassia Residences will offer 238 units in eight varied layouts, and will be completed in 2025 “There is a growing demand for residential condominiums in this part of Cavite, especially among the next-generation Caviteños who are excited to see the next phase of Cavite and experience a more dynamic lifestyle,” Eugene Em Lozano, the company’s first vice president for sales and marketing, said.

The company said it will offer studio units with size of up to 27.5 square meters, studio with balcony of up to 29.5 square meters, studio with lanai of up to 32 square meters, studio garden with balcony of up to 33 square meters,

one bedroom of up to 40 square meters, one bedroom with lanai of up to 49.5 square meters, two bedroom of up to 79.5 square meters and two-bedroom garden with balcony of up to 88 square meters.

The development will feature sky gardens at the tower’s 14th level and at the roof deck.

Other amenities include a swimming pool with pool deck, function hall, fitness center, outdoor fitness facilities, day-care center and a walkway area.

In 2017, Megaworld launched the Maple Grove Commercial District, in which 363 commercial lots were sold out in just less than a year. This district will be surrounded by seven green and open parks, including an expansive “Central Park.”

In 2018, the company also launched its first residential development, the 10-story The Verdin at Maple Grove alongside with its first office development, the 17-story One Corporate Place that offers 93 office units for sale. VG Cabuag

B2

Monday, February 24, 2020

Companies BusinessMirror

PLDT beefs up manpower for network transformation STOCK-MARKET OUTLOOK Last week

SHARE prices gained last week as investors picked up cheaper stocks that were battered for the past few months.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index gained 87.78 points to close at 7,369.78 points.

The main index was up for most of the time during the week, only giving up some points by the end of the week.

“We saw the least volatility last week compared to the previous four weeks of trading.

This is evidence that majority of investors are on the sidelines, waiting for the dust to settle as external factors continue to weaken the general sentiment,” Christopher Mangun, research head of AAA Securities said.

Despite the rise, foreign investors were still net buyers at P1.24 billion, while average value of trading for the week was only at P5 billion as cross trading was only happening between major brokerages.

Most of the subindices gained with the exception of the Financials index that shed a measly 0.03 point to close at 1,738.92 points. The broader All Shares index rose 27.65 to 4,346.76, the Industrial index increased 50.44 to 8,987.08, the Holding Firms index added 167.01 to 7,218.98, the Property index climbed 16.10 to 3,944.75, the Services index gained 4.51 to 1,444.81, and the Mining and Oil index was up 28.26 to 7,086.90.

The number of losers still edged gainers 116 to 97, and 36 shares were unchanged.

Top gainers for the week were the A and B shares of Metro Alliance Holdings & Equities Corp., Chemical Industries of the Philippines Inc., Liberty Flour Mills Inc., Philippine Business Bank and Holcim Philippines Inc. Top losers, on the other hand, were Manila Mining Corp. B, Synergy Grid & Development Philippines Inc., Integrated Micro-Electronics Inc., ISM Communications Corp., BogoMedellin Milling Co. Inc. and Cirtek Holdings Philippines Corp.

This week

Trading will still be volatile during the week, with many analysts expect a thin volume during the start of the week, and then a possible window dressing by the end of the week.

It will be a four-day work week with February 25, declared as a public holiday for the celebration of the Edsa People Power Revolution.

“As such, brace for volatility as the index finds composure near the next hurdle at 7,500,” broker 2TradeAsia said.

It added that investors would still use the capital expenditures and earnings figures of the companies as their guide of trading during the week.

“After touching and failing the break above the 7,475 resistance level last week, we expect it to continue lower and test the bottom of that range at 7,200. The sideways trading that we are seeing is proof that investors are not confident and are uncertain of what the future might hold,” Mangun said.

Stock picks

Broker Regina Capital Development Corp. advised to take profit on the stock of ABSCBN Corp. after it had an “incredible breakout” last week, reaching its highest since March 2019.

“Unfortunately, such strong rally are top target for profit-taking in the coming days, especially since the nearest strong support of ABS goes to as low as P18.86. All indicators reflected an uptick to overbought levels, which will usher some locking of gains soon,” it said.

ABS-CBN shares closed last Friday at P19.66.

Meanwhile, it recommended to hold on the stock of ISM Communications, as it appears that it stock price has bottomed out, with the P1.80-level acting as a strong support.

“This has been ISM’s lowest level since June 2018. But selling pressure continues to be active and strong that this interim price floor might be tested and breached anytime soon,” it said.

ISM shares closed last week at P1.68 apiece. VG Cabuag

D

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

@lorenzmarasigan

IGITAL solutions provider PLDT Inc. is beefing up its manpower in line with its network transformation initiatives aimed at introducing new technologies for better connectivity, a telco bigwig said on Sunday.

In a statement, PLDT Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said the $1-million grant from the United States Trade and Development Agency will support the training, upskilling and capacity building of the telco’s technical and managerial staff implementing its 5G initiative.

The training program will support the partnership between PLDT and Cisco that aims to transform the IP transport infrastructure of the Filipino telco into a 5G-ready, fully automated, software-defined transport network.

In a nutshell, this will hasten the delivery of digital services to

mutual funds

the consumers by providing a rapid exchange of information from one device to another through faster download and upload speeds, as well as lower latencies.

“This investment will equip our people with the skills and knowledge needed to transform PLDT as an organization as we march toward the 5G-powered future,” said Pangilinan. “The future of this company depends a lot on how we transform, not only our network, but also our people.”

PLDT aims to offer its first 5G commercial product within this quarter.

February 21, 2020

www.businessmirror.com.ph

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

February 21, 2020

Net Foreign Bid Ask Open High Low Close Volume Value Trade (Peso) Stocks Buy (Sell) FINANCIALs

ASIA UNITED BDO UNIBANK BANK PH ISLANDS CHINABANK EAST WEST BANK METROBANK PB BANK PBCOM PHIL NATL BANK PSBANK PHILTRUST RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK COL FINANCIAL FIRST ABACUS FERRONOUX HLDG MEDCO HLDG NTL REINSURANCE PHIL STOCK EXCH SUN LIFE VANTAGE

51.25 147.4 84 25 11.56 60.85 12.1 19 31.85 51.6 111 20.45 170.2 57.85 18 0.55 3.33 0.41 0.75 176 1820 1.16

53 147.5 84.4 25.05 11.74 60.9 12.98 20.7 32 52.45 114.9 20.5 173 58 18.2 0.64 3.75 0.44 0.81 177 1874 1.18

51 148 86 25.05 11.72 61 12.48 19 33 51.7 110.3 20.5 173.8 58 18 0.53 3.74 0.41 0.75 177 1820 1.16

53 148.7 86 25.05 11.76 61.1 13.3 19 33.15 52.5 110.3 20.5 173.8 58.1 18 0.63 3.79 0.425 0.75 177 1820 1.25

51 147.5 83.5 25 11.54 60.6 12.48 19 31.85 51.35 110.3 20.45 170.2 57.85 18 0.53 3.74 0.41 0.74 176 1820 1.15

51.25 147.5 84 25 11.56 60.85 13.3 19 31.85 52.45 110.3 20.45 170.2 58 18 0.63 3.79 0.41 0.75 176 1820 1.17

1690 1120480 4588920 72500 103800 2463020 55100 100 467300 1880 1000 1176800 80030 6500 5000 8000 6000 630000 155000 70 5 1921000

86395 165624007 388057323.5 1812605 1211732 149997070 716624 1900 14982790 97609 110300 24066155 13769259 376469 90000 4640 22560 260350 115230 12330 9100 2244010

INDUSTRIAL

AC ENERGY ALSONS CONS ABOITIZ POWER BASIC ENERGY FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG MERALCO MANILA WATER PETRON PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL SPC POWER AGRINURTURE AXELUM CNTRL AZUCARERA CENTURY FOOD DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EMPERADOR SMC FOODANDBEV ALLIANCE SELECT FRUITAS HLDG JOLLIBEE MAXS GROUP MG HLDG PEPSI COLA SHAKEYS PIZZA ROXAS AND CO SWIFT FOODS UNIV ROBINA VITARICH VICTORIAS CONCRETE A CONCRETE B CEMEX HLDG EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP HOLCIM MEGAWIDE PHINMA TKC METALS VULCAN INDL CHEMPHIL CROWN ASIA EUROMED LMG CHEMICALS MABUHAY VINYL PRYCE CORP GREENERGY INTEGRATED MICR IONICS SFA SEMICON CIRTEK HLDG

2.25 1.21 31.7 0.22 20.05 66 270 12.22 3.46 11.6 28.95 9.25 7.7 3.11 14.5 15.1 4.55 8.23 7.55 73.95 0.64 1.9 189 9.64 0.156 1.82 9.06 1.61 0.117 149.5 1.21 2.41 60.85 65 1.48 11.86 8.63 13.52 14.56 9.65 0.88 0.96 209.6 2.13 2.63 4.8 3 4.8 1.56 5.2 1.22 1.14 8.22

2.27 1.23 32 0.224 20.1 66.15 274 12.28 3.48 11.78 29.4 9.29 7.75 3.16 15.5 15.18 4.8 8.4 7.58 74 0.65 1.91 189.7 9.7 0.162 1.85 9.15 1.62 0.121 150 1.22 2.53 64.7 71 1.49 12 8.86 13.58 14.6 9.7 0.92 0.98 228 2.15 2.65 4.9 3.26 4.85 1.57 5.26 1.26 1.17 8.26

2.22 1.22 32.15 0.223 20 66.4 279 12.28 3.49 11.6 29.7 9.3 7.9 3.11 15.6 15.14 4.59 8.34 7.52 75.35 0.65 1.95 190.8 9.62 0.154 1.82 9.15 1.57 0.117 150.5 1.17 2.41 61 67 1.49 11.9 8.56 13.48 14.8 9.7 0.91 0.95 199.8 2.14 2.84 4.8 3.05 4.8 1.54 5.41 1.29 1.16 8.43

2.27 1.22 32.4 0.224 20.4 66.45 280 12.32 3.5 11.78 29.7 9.34 8.1 3.25 15.6 15.3 4.8 8.34 7.55 75.35 0.65 1.95 191.8 9.7 0.162 1.83 9.15 1.67 0.117 150.8 1.22 2.41 64.7 67 1.52 12 8.86 13.8 14.8 9.7 0.93 0.98 228 2.15 2.89 4.8 3.05 4.85 1.58 5.49 1.3 1.17 8.6

2.19 1.22 31.7 0.223 20 66 270 12.16 3.46 11.6 28.9 9.25 7.5 3.05 15.12 15.08 4.59 8.23 7.5 74 0.63 1.86 188.9 9.62 0.154 1.82 9.05 1.53 0.117 149.1 1.15 2.41 60.8 67 1.46 11.86 8.52 13.06 14.48 9.63 0.88 0.94 198 2.14 2.61 4.8 3 4.8 1.51 5.05 1.22 1.13 8.1

2.27 1.22 31.7 0.224 20.05 66 270 12.22 3.46 11.78 28.95 9.29 7.75 3.16 15.12 15.1 4.8 8.23 7.55 74 0.64 1.91 189 9.7 0.162 1.83 9.06 1.61 0.117 150 1.22 2.41 64.7 67 1.49 11.86 8.63 13.58 14.6 9.7 0.92 0.96 228 2.15 2.65 4.8 3 4.8 1.57 5.2 1.22 1.17 8.22

3794000 14000 475600 60000 522400 57680 166660 1876800 534000 172200 116700 122000 2237500 5191000 4000 410600 10000 861000 1369600 266110 1239000 23459000 1135990 17400 1100000 110000 58600 509000 590000 818690 17596000 6000 400 10 2634000 45600 2066000 1118400 5356000 20000 514000 544000 1300 25000 2667000 14000 9000 190000 4089000 2582200 241000 1180000 1416900

8522720 17080 15124040 13400 10480450 3812506 45641630 23001470 1858130 2027100 3392775 1134107 17646584 16408890 62060 6200060 47690 7097911 10293682 19715792 795460 44686960 215162162 168396 170340 201000 532501 811170 69030 122713480 21013400 14460 24726 670 3904880 543522 17993661 15211700 77685080 192736 461590 522720 269712 53700 7257530 67200 27250 917000 6278980 13427291 304360 1357630 11720576

818160 -10170675 -6234595 -2851562 -23006576 -3446664 -500310 -101260 -2836095 -4949963 -590020 -7750 -191794 -5644698 -3786347 -1191767.5 -1948250 -12584410 -22195 74060 -194734 -75427757 -157260 -12050 -1148170 -155956 -11746670 -1597128 -4201524 -22000 -638400 -677000 5016870 -5222972 8049.9999 -261451.0001

HOLDING & FRIMS ABACORE CAPITAL 0.87 0.88 0.87 0.89 0.86 0.88 9341000 8187900 ASIABEST GROUP 10.02 10.06 10.22 10.3 9.99 10.02 6200 62056 AYALA CORP 749 750 753 760 748 750 196690 147650530 ABOITIZ EQUITY 50.5 50.8 51.9 51.9 50.5 50.5 1204860 60973482 ALLIANCE GLOBAL 10.26 10.28 10.52 10.56 10.26 10.26 16307400 169543002 AYALA LAND LOG 2.48 2.49 2.55 2.57 2.48 2.49 1526000 3817240 ANSCOR 6.1 6.35 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.1 14000 85400 ANGLO PHIL HLDG 0.68 0.7 0.67 0.7 0.67 0.7 22000 15260 0.92 0.93 0.93 0.94 0.93 0.93 1007000 937670 ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B 0.92 0.94 0.94 0.94 0.94 0.94 45000 42300 COSCO CAPITAL 6.25 6.26 6.3 6.3 6.25 6.26 188500 1179511 5.62 5.63 5.7 5.7 5.6 5.62 5595100 31451378 DMCI HLDG 11.62 12.3 12.3 12.3 12.3 12.3 100 1230 FILINVEST DEV GT CAPITAL 731 740 732 741 731 731 96880 71133855 4.63 4.8 4.86 4.87 4.62 4.71 102000 481900 HOUSE OF INV 75.6 75.65 75 76 75 75.6 698920 52868500 JG SUMMIT LODESTAR 0.485 0.49 0.49 0.49 0.485 0.485 20000 9750 LOPEZ HLDG 3.81 3.88 4.01 4.05 3.81 3.88 452000 1754790 LT GROUP 9.5 9.54 9.67 10 9.5 9.5 937700 8947715 MABUHAY HLDG 0.59 0.6 0.59 0.59 0.59 0.59 160000 94400 METRO PAC INV 3.18 3.19 3.2 3.28 3.17 3.19 75944000 243888110 PACIFICA HLDG 4.28 4.4 4.31 4.31 4.25 4.28 29000 123780 PRIME MEDIA 1.1 1.11 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1000 1100 REPUBLIC GLASS 2.65 2.8 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.7 361000 974700 1.1 1.16 1.1 1.16 1.1 1.16 94000 105140 SOLID GROUP 155 180 170 170 155 155 1520 244950 SYNERGY GRID SM INVESTMENTS 1034 1038 1034 1045 1016 1038 178005 184161675 132.8 133 135 135 132.8 133 179600 23869920 SAN MIGUEL CORP 0.77 0.79 0.77 0.8 0.77 0.8 29000 22420 SOC RESOURCES TOP FRONTIER 162.3 164.4 164.5 166 162.5 166 7720 1262504 0.22 0.229 0.212 0.229 0.212 0.229 1050000 237150 WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG 0.184 0.189 0.19 0.19 0.184 0.189 1560000 289070

1225690 -53725025 39600020.5 38944426 85400 -196911 -26738040 5576500 -472180 -20963509.5 -115390 -4802790 -36600010 12900 -61420 32674125 4745303 -1025104 -

NAV One Year Three Year Five Year Y-T-D per share Return* Return Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a 240.21 -9.62% -1.75% -3.01% -4.64% ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 1.246 -21.11% -4.05% -5.25% -9.84% ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 3.3549 -18.73% -6.01% -5.77% -8.79%

PROPERTY Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.8317 -12.23% n.a. n.a.

-7.29% ARTHALAND CORP 0.78 0.79 0.78 0.79 0.78 0.78 575000 448680 ANCHOR LAND 8.81 9.67 9 9.67 9 9.67 22500 216756 First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.8081 -6.09% n.a. n.a.

-4.85% AYALA LAND 42.2 42.25 42.6 42.75 42.15 42.25 14983200 635224265 First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund,Inc. -a 5.0666 -8.35% -0.58% -2.96% -4.91% ARANETA PROP 1.5 1.65 1.58 1.58 1.58 1.58 2000 3160 BELLE CORP 1.57 1.58 1.6 1.6 1.57 1.58 519000 822000 First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a,6 0.8061 -8.37% -4.32% n.a.

A BROWN 0.61 0.63 0.62 0.63 0.61 0.63 678000 424130 CROWN EQUITIES 0.171 0.175 0.173 0.173 0.171 0.171 780000 134000 -5.56% CEB LANDMASTERS 4.56 4.58 4.58 4.59 4.58 4.59 228000 1044820 MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a 96.08 -22.37% n.a. n.a.

-7.02% 0.5 0.51 0.5 0.51 0.5 0.51 6913000 3492710 CENTURY PROP 0.375 0.38 0.37 0.39 0.37 0.38 990000 370150 CYBER BAY PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a 48.5269 -6.99% 0.22% n.a.

-5.37% DOUBLEDRAGON 18.14 18.4 19.18 19.48 18.06 18.4 688500 12894684 Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 506.96 -7.11% -0.55% -2.59% -4.85% 9 9.1 8.98 9.08 8.95 9 26300 236740 DM WENCESLAO FILINVEST LAND 1.39 1.4 1.4 1.44 1.4 1.4 18048000 25391610 Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a,d,8 0.9896 n.a. n.a. n.a.

-3.93% 1.03 1.04 1.04 1.05 1.04 1.04 74000 77060 GLOBAL ESTATE Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a 1.2253 -6.67% -0.11% -1.6% -4.79% 8990 HLDG 14.7 14.72 14.72 14.74 14.7 14.7 768000 11305660 1.07 1.08 1.12 1.16 1.07 1.08 3550000 3906620 PHIL INFRADEV Philequity Fund, Inc. -a 36.0111 -7.02% 0.88% -1.42% -4.98% MEGAWORLD 3.8 3.84 4.07 4.1 3.8 3.8 39890000 155970590 MRC ALLIED 0.199 0.2 0.2 0.207 0.2 0.2 6910000 1388160 Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a,1 0.971 -6.07% n.a. n.a.

-4.63% PHIL ESTATES 0.435 0.45 0.445 0.455 0.445 0.455 11520000 5239650 Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a 4.9468 -6.21% 0.91% -0.83% -5.3% PRIMEX CORP 2.05 2.09 2.06 2.09 2.05 2.08 24000 49690 ROBINSONS LAND 25.3 25.45 25.9 25.9 25.15 25.3 2435400 61894845 825.91 -6.18% 0.86% -1% -5.29% Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a PHIL REALTY 0.31 0.32 0.31 0.31 0.31 0.31 20000 6200 Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 0.7796 -13.59% -2.92% -4.86% -8.43% ROCKWELL 1.98 2.05 2.05 2.05 2.03 2.05 32000 65520 STA LUCIA LAND 2.43 2.49 2.42 2.5 2.42 2.49 45000 109640 Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.9483 -8.41% 0.16% -1.74% -6.2% 41.2 41.3 41.65 41.75 41 41.3 6633600 274574850 SM PRIME HLDG Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.9479 - 6.4% 0.7% n.a.

-5.29% 5.02 5.16 5.08 5.23 5.01 5.16 108900 555711 VISTAMALLS SUNTRUST HOME 1.62 1.64 1.72 1.78 1.61 1.62 8353000 13844640 United Fund, Inc. -a 3.4861 -5.22% 2.24% -0.04% -4.58% VISTA LAND 6.8 6.81 6.81 6.92 6.8 6.81 3406400 23207751 Exchange Traded Fund

SERVICES First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c 110.8458 -5.8% 1.55% -0.07% ABS CBN 19.66 19.68 21.4 21.5 19.52 19.66 2406500 49355998 GMA NETWORK 5.39 5.4 5.4 5.42 5.39 5.4 1264100 6827473 -5.22% MANILA BULLETIN 0.44 0.45 0.46 0.46 0.44 0.44 1360000 606550 ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b $1.0133 1.76% 3.8% 0.13% -1.47% MLA BRDCASTING 10.56 11.98 12.5 12.5 12 12 400 4950 TELECOM GLOBE 1889 1900 1896 1929 1889 1889 51895 98175970 Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.4396 16.36% 9.82% n.a.

4.42% PLDT 1023 1025 1022 1048 1022 1025 99285 102165935 Balanced Funds APOLLO GLOBAL 0.045 0.046 0.047 0.047 0.047 0.047 3200000 150400 DFNN INC 3.82 4 4 4 4 4 130000 520000 Primarily invested in Peso securities 0.098 0.1 0.099 0.099 0.098 0.098 150000 14770 ISLAND INFO ATRAM Dynamic Allocation Fund, Inc. -a 1.5327 -10.96% -3.74% -4.88% -1.93% ISM COMM 1.68 1.69 1.8 1.8 1.65 1.68 97677000 169476400 1.76 2.05 2 2.05 2 2.05 2000 4050 JACKSTONES ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 2.0957 -8.73% -2.78% -2.68% -3.92% NOW CORP 2.18 2.19 2.14 2.34 2.11 2.19 6590000 14717870 0.236 0.238 0.236 0.238 0.235 0.238 800000 189710 TRANSPACIFIC BR First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.561 -3.01% 0.71% -2.65% -2.68% PHILWEB 3.16 3.21 3.24 3.32 3.15 3.21 1277000 4123540 First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a,5 0.2178 n.a. n.a. n.a.

2GO GROUP 8.19 8.2 8 8.2 8 8.2 99700 799016 4.15 4.16 4.21 4.21 4.14 4.17 751000 3127600 CHELSEA -4.68% CEBU AIR 79.8 80 81 82 79.65 79.8 108870 8767588 NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a 1.9308 1.14% 1.76% -0.17% -1.65% INTL CONTAINER 118 119.2 125.1 125.9 117.9 118 1358650 164242722 LBC EXPRESS 12.14 12.38 12.16 12.16 12.14 12.14 2400 29144 PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a 3.6967 1.62% 0.72% -1.16% -2.44% MACROASIA 10 10.02 10.54 10.56 10.02 10.02 4214600 42785848 Philam Fund, Inc. -a 16.5287 0.4% 0.57% -1.27% -2.55% METROALLIANCE A 1.83 - 1.18 1.83 1.18 1.83 13274000 21840970 METROALLIANCE B 1.8 - 1.3 1.8 1.3 1.8 1256000 2055490 Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a 2.0769 -3.37% -0.46% -2.3% 0.28% PAL HLDG 7 7.3 7.3 7.3 7 7 3900 27422 HARBOR STAR 1.14 1.16 1.16 1.17 1.14 1.14 329000 377340 Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.7197 -2.78% 0.92% -0.95% -3.73% 1.36 1.43 1.37 1.42 1.35 1.42 117000 159040 ACESITE HOTEL Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d,2 0.9892 -0.09% n.a. n.a.

-2.61% 0.044 0.046 0.045 0.045 0.044 0.045 5900000 265400 BOULEVARD HLDG GRAND PLAZA 9.6 13.36 12.9 13.36 12.9 13.36 3900 50366 Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d,2 0.9569 -3.05% n.a. n.a.

-3.96% WATERFRONT 0.56 0.57 0.54 0.57 0.54 0.56 609000 334230 Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d,2 0.9512 -3.57% n.a. n.a.

-4.23% STI HLDG 0.57 0.59 0.57 0.59 0.56 0.57 1963000 1118650 BERJAYA 2.72 2.79 2.87 2.87 2.71 2.79 224000 620480 Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.9293 -4.03% 0.02% -2.35% -4.67% 8.99 9 9.19 9.2 8.95 9 2512700 22762133 BLOOMBERRY 1.99 2.04 1.99 2.04 1.99 2.04 2000 4030 PACIFIC ONLINE Primarily invested in foreign currency securities LEISURE AND RES 1.95 2.03 1.95 2.03 1.93 2.03 66000 128360 Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a $0.03899 9.19% 3.44% 2.19% 1.99% MANILA JOCKEY 2.95 3 2.95 2.96 2.95 2.96 21000 62150 PREMIUM LEISURE 0.54 0.55 0.52 0.57 0.52 0.55 57217000 31423980 -0.3% PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -a $1.0348 6.19% 3.81% 0.78% ALLHOME 10.48 10.5 10.32 10.5 10.32 10.5 2229200 23342454 Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.0437 12.62% 7.67% 4.37% 3.4% METRO RETAIL 1.78 1.79 1.82 1.82 1.77 1.79 780000 1396040 PUREGOLD 38 38.05 37.95 38.45 37.95 38 1763100 66999655 Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,7 $1.1546 8.89% 4.57% n.a.

2.29% ROBINSONS RTL 72.3 72.35 72.5 72.6 72.35 72.35 56990 4127371 Bond Funds SSI GROUP 2.13 2.14 2.12 2.2 2.12 2.14 1114000 2390390 18.76 18.78 18.82 18.82 18.72 18.76 966200 18126342 WILCON DEPOT Primarily invested in Peso securities 0.395 0.405 0.39 0.405 0.39 0.405 840000 332950 APC GROUP EASYCALL 6.98 7.1 7 7.25 6.98 6.98 11400 80413 ALFM Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 359.13 3.91% 2.73% 2.27% 0.37% GOLDEN BRIA 418 423 418 418 418 418 30 12540 ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.9088 2.52% 0.53% -0.63% 0.36% PRMIERE HORIZON 0.31 0.315 0.31 0.315 0.305 0.31 1840000 568550 Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a 3.1382 4.88% 5.16% 5.17% 0.7%

MINING & OIL Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a 2.2396 4.35% 2.22% 1.85% 0.66% ATOK 11.1 11.58 11.6 11.6 11.5 11.6 5300 61324 APEX MINING 1.08 1.09 1.03 1.1 1.03 1.09 5468000 5864670 First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.3663 6.25% 2.19% 1.37% 0.31% ABRA MINING 0.0013 0.0014 0.0013 0.0014 0.0013 0.0014 66000000 88900 2.47% 1.58% 0.53% Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a 4.3962 12.12% ATLAS MINING 2.25 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 5000 12000 BENGUET A 1.15 1.23 1.15 1.15 1.15 1.15 1000 1150 Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

3.7888 5.92% 2.85% 1.36% 0.02% COAL ASIA HLDG 0.27 0.275 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 100000 27000 Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a 0.9727 6.94% 1.54% 0.21% 0.87% CENTURY PEAK 2.96 2.98 3.04 3.04 2.95 2.98 351000 1047340 6.73 6.92 6.78 6.92 6.65 6.73 9900 68067 DIZON MINES Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.0931 9.3% 4.22% 2.39% 0.56% FERRONICKEL 1.29 1.3 1.31 1.32 1.29 1.3 431000 561240 0.2 0.203 0.204 0.204 0.2 0.2 470000 94650 GEOGRACE Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a

1.7021 8.32% 3.59% 1.78% 0.06% LEPANTO A 0.095 0.096 0.095 0.095 0.094 0.095 1730000 164170 Primarily invested in foreign currency securities MARCVENTURES 0.71 0.72 0.7 0.72 0.7 0.72 31000 21720 NIHAO 0.99 1 1.01 1.01 0.99 1.01 40000 39640 ALFM Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $471.79 4.57% 2.75% 2.75% 0.76% NICKEL ASIA 2.59 2.61 2.58 2.63 2.56 2.59 940000 2451010 ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a Є221.18 3.04% 1.81% 1.33% 0.66% 0.63 0.64 0.66 0.68 0.63 0.63 241000 153120 ORNTL PENINSULA PX MINING 3.02 3.05 3.07 3.07 3 3.02 1009000 3066070 ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.2166 5.82% 3.16% 2.43% 0.78% SEMIRARA MINING 19.86 19.9 20 20.1 19.9 19.9 797000 15870226 1.45% 1.36% 0.78% First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.026 4% UNITED PARAGON 0.0049 0.005 0.005 0.005 0.0049 0.005 5000000 24800 ACE ENEXOR 7.05 7.1 7.3 7.3 7.04 7.1 29200 206825 PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -a $1.1087 5.47% 1.42% -0.02% 1.23% ORNTL PETROL A 0.0099 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.0099 0.0099 6200000 61700 ORNTL PETROL B 0.01 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 1200000 14400 Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $2.4611 10.75% 3.91% 3.11% 2.38% PHILODRILL 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.01 30000000 304600 Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a $0.0608275 5.76% 2.34% 1.93% 0.85% PXP ENERGY 7.59 7.6 7.66 7.68 7.59 7.6 345400 2628056

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.2602 11.08% 3.6% 2.96% 2.67% PREFFERED Money Market Funds HOUSE PREF A 99.8 100 100 100.9 99.8 99.8 3510 350909 AC PREF B1 500 505 500 500 500 500 1960 980000 Primarily invested in Peso securities AC PREF B2R 500 502 501 501 500 500 220 110020 ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 126.44 3.86% 2.95% 2.24% 0.52% CPG PREF A 101 102 101 101 101 101 3400 343400 DD PREF 101 101.5 101.1 101.1 101 101 1000 101002 First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a,3 1.0315 2.91% n.a. n.a.

FGEN PREF G 105 108.2 105 105 105 105 2000 210000 0.51% FPH PREF C 490 502 500 500 500 500 2000 1000000 502 508 502 502 502 502 1600 803200 GLO PREF P Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a 1.2578 6.08% 3.09% 1.7% 0.09% GTCAP PREF A 999 1000 999 999 999 999 50 49950 GTCAP PREF B 1000 1002 999 1000 999 1000 4170 4169000 3.63% 2.94% 2.45% 0.43% Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.2701 MWIDE PREF 100.4 101 100.6 100.6 100.4 100.4 10200 1026091 Primarily invested in foreign currency securities PNX PREF 4 1050 1080 1050 1050 1050 1050 750 787500 PCOR PREF 2B 1011 1037 1038 1038 1038 1038 5 5190 Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0399 2.01% n.a. n.a.

0.26% PCOR PREF 3A 1060 1075 1060 1070 1060 1070 1010 1080600 Feeder Fund PCOR PREF 3B 1085 1086 1080 1085 1080 1085 4400 4765940 SMC PREF 2C 77.5 77.6 77.6 77.6 77.5 77.6 1270 98502 Primarily invested in foreign currency securities SMC PREF 2D 75.35 75.65 75.65 75.65 75.65 75.65 20 1513 ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -b,d,4 $1 n.a. n.a. n.a.

1.01% SMC PREF 2E 75.15 76.45 75.6 76.5 75.6 76.5 52820 4027262 a - NAVPS as of the previous banking day. b - NAVPS as of two banking days ago. c - Listed in the PSE. d - in Net Asset Value per Unit (NAVPU).

1 - Launch date is January 3, 2019. 2 - Launch date is January 28, 2019. 3 - Launch date is February 1, 2019. 4 - Launch date is November 15, 2019.

5 - Launch date is September 28, 2019. 6 - Renaming was approved by the SEC last October 12, 2018 (formerly, One Wealthy Nation Fund, Inc.).

7 - Adjusted due to stock dividend issuance last October 9, 2019. 8 - Launch date is December 09, 2019.

"While we endeavor to keep the information accurate, the Philippine Investment Funds Association (PIFA) and its members make no warranties as to the correctness of the newspaper’s publication and assume no liability or responsibility for any error or omissions. You may visit http://www. pifa. com.ph to see the latest NAVPS/NAVPU."

-1025 -53030373 -38731520 -1400000 -83788 68143381.5 -4593740 -10225 -4844418 581 11100 1290299.9997

208592 -72202805 -47420 26460 -769000 567808 -15377900 1312200 72240 -10379450 -127260 -16514130 11203690 -16285866 -15121445 -52489030 120000 1300 108420 -4099.9999 252000 -4494493.5 -82841894 -5128454 -164000 17500 -2840 -2730 -10839899 50 2029.9999 281540 -15711530 -68200 -427175 483001 -473800 12284766 -147650 227200 -22140 -345760 18000 -4875352 -86081 -61000 -11490 2022 -54000 -

SMC PREF 2G 75.3 75.9 75.9 75.95 75.9 75.95 2010 152609.5 SMC PREF 2H 76 76.3 76 76 76 76 51000 3876000

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR 16 16.18 16.8 17 16 16 638000 10415744 -4024912

WARRANTS LR WARRANT 1.04 1.12 1.06 1.12 1.04 1.06 68000 71240

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ITALPINAS 3.2 3.22 3.24 3.38 3.2 3.2 284000 934760 -117200 KEPWEALTH 9.46 9.49 9.5 9.57 9.49 9.49 113300 1076907 XURPAS 0.82 0.83 0.84 0.84 0.81 0.83 747000 613090 -8200

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS

FIRST METRO ETF 110.5 111.7 111.7 111.9 110.4 110.5 5380 599351 -121625

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

Senate mulls over increasing deposit insurance up to P1M

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

S

ENATORS are mulling passage of remedial legislation raising the maximum deposit insurance coverage from P500,000 to P1,000,000.

In filing Senate Bill (SB) 1260, Sen. Ramon Revilla said the proposal to amend the insurance coverage to attract more bank depositors is expected to “boost the financial system, as well as the economy.”

Revilla aired confidence its early enactment “will help invite the public to deposit their money in banks and encourage the existing bank clients to increase their deposits.”

“Apart from the benefits that individual depositors will enjoy, it will also redound to advantages in the macro level by invigorating our financial system and the economy as a whole,” the Senator said in a statement over the weekend.

Revilla’s SB 1260, also known as “An Act Further Increasing the Maximum Deposit Insurance Coverage, Amending For This Purpose Republic Act 3591, As Amended, Otherwise Known As The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC) Charter,” will increase the present P500,000 maximum insured deposits on joint accounts to P1 million.

He noted that under existing laws, joint account shall be insured separately from any individually-owned deposit account.

The PDIC, an attached agency of the Department of Finance (DOF), is mandated to insure the deposits of all banks to protect the depositing

public from illegal schemes and promote financial stability.

Revilla recalled that a 2019 PDIC and Kantar Philippines Inc. survey showed that 51 percent of 1,500 respondents, aged 18 and above, had experienced maintaining deposits in banks but only half of them, or 24.5 percent, continued to maintain bank deposits.

At the outset, he assured that the proposed legislation is “in line with the policy of the State to strengthen the deposit insurance coverage system and encourage the public to save and deposit in the formal banking system.”

In a statement, the Senator cited a 2015 Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data showing four out of 10 Filipino adults or 43 percent had savings, 32.3 percent used to save in the past but stopped saving money while 24.5 percent never experienced saving money.

The same data, he added, showed seven out of 10 adults or 68 percent who saved money kept their savings at home while 32.7 percent of adults with savings placed their money in banks while others saved through cooperatives (7.5 percent), non-stock savings and loans associations (0.8 percent) and informal savings groups (2.6 percent).

Moreover, Revilla adds BSP record showing six out of the 10 adults or 62.8 percent with bank account indicated that the bank’s reputation is their number one consideration in opening a deposit account, recalling a 2017 survey showed the percentage of adults with savings increased to 48 percent from 43 percent in 2015.

Psalm sees ₧1.7-B borrowing costs yearly on bad accounts

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The Psalm said the government could have used this “substantial amount” to fund more priority programs on infrastructure and capital development.

“If these hefty financial obligations remain unpaid, PSALM will be compelled to contract new borrowings in order to timely liquidate maturing obligations of the Napocor [National Power Corp.]—a vicious cycle that will result in Psalm absorbing additional interests and other finance charges,” Psalm President Irene Joy Besido-Garcia was quoted in a statement as saying.

Last Thursday, San Miguel’s power unit South Premiere Power Corp. said it has paid a total of P314.6 billion to Psalm as of January 2020

Society finds its voice

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By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

HE Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp.

(Psalm) warned it will incur an annual borrowing cost of about P1.7 billion a year should the P33.62 billion in delinquent accounts remain unpaid by the Independent Power Producer Administrators (IPPAs).

Perspectives

he world is reverberating with popular demand for change. From the coordinated climate actions held by citizens around the world to protest marches on the streets of Hong Kong, Santiago, Bogota, Tehran and London, society is voicing its discontent.

Governments will need to start listening if they hope to understand and address the root causes.

Climate change took center stage this past year, perhaps best epitomized

by Greta Thunberg’s “dressing down” of world leaders at the United Nations. But it is not the only issue driving social discontent. The protests in Chile started as a student action against high bus prices.

The riots in Tehran were sparked by increases in energy prices. Plans to reduce fuel subsidies led to days of unrest in Ecuador. Infrastructure is a common theme.

This isn’t just a series of isolated incidents and failures. What we are seeing is people expressing their disillusionment with their government institutions and their public leadership. Social media and smartphones are helping to give many citizens a new voice, allowing them to coordinate and express their frustration.

They are not waiting for the next election to make their feelings known (although ballot box results are, in many cases, asking for profound change).

Unfortunately, many governments have been caught on the back foot, unsure how to respond. Some have attempted to maintain the status quo by labelling the protesters as disgruntled and skirting the issues. Others have thrown their lots in with the protesters, in an attempt to placate voters and polish their credentials.

Government’s primary role is to be a good steward of their country’s future.

The problem is that balancing the needs and expectations of the current generation with the responsibility and sustainability owed to future generations is becoming more complex and controversial.

Both the medium and the message have changed.

Finding that balance will require governments to be better informed, more forward-looking and consultative, leveraging new approaches and new technologies that make public expression/ consultation much easier, more cost effective and timelier. They will need to start tapping into non-traditional feed-

Monday, February 24, 2020 B3

back channels like social media while addressing deep-seated concerns about privacy. Governments will need to improve their mastery of data and analytics if they hope to remain true representatives of the people.

Look back: What did we predict?

In 2019, we predicted that “consumers [will] seek a larger voice in their infrastructure options…future infrastructure plans will need to be informed by realtime and predictive customer insights rather than historical patterns and expert opinion.”

Yet, it is not just citizen needs that have changed. It is also their expectations. As consumers, citizens are seeing massive improvements in personalization and “customer-centricity.” They expect the same from their governments. Leaders will need to rethink the role that governments play in citizen’s lives, moving away from departmentby-department transactional relationships and towards a much more holistic, citizen-centric environment.

More than anything perhaps, governments will need to do a much better job of listening to people, interpreting the signals and understanding the root causes of their discontent. They also need to be articulating and explaining the decisions they make and the policies they develop.

Citizens need to be able to understand and buy into the complex choices that are being made and the rationale that supports them. This will not only bring greater transparency, it will also help inform the discussion, improve the quality of debates and, perhaps, quell some of the public discontent.

Denying the problems will not make the protestors go away; don’t expect the social discontent being played out on the streets and on social media to cease any time soon. But do expect many governments to start seeing this as a wakeup call that creates an opportunity to improve the way they make decisions, serve citizens and deliver a better quality of life for all.

The excerpt was taken from the KPMG article titled “Emerging Trends in Infrastructure.” © 2020 R.G. Manabat & Co., a Philippine partnership and a member-firm of the KPMG network of independent member-firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative, a Swiss entity.

for its administration of the capacity from the 1200-megawatt Ilijan power plant in Batangas. However, the Department of Finance (DOF) still pointed to the SPPC as the one with the “highest unpaid account in the sum of P23.94 billion as of December 31, 2019.”

The DOF noted that there is a pending case before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Mandaluyong City where the SPPC is asserting another formula for computing its payables to the Psalm. This case has been pending since September 2015, according to the DOF. The DOF said in a report the Psalm disclosed that its average cost of borrowings for 2019 was at 5.07 percent.

Although its revenue collections reached P98.3 billion, the Psalm said there are still P422.2-billion remaining obligations from Napocor that PSALM will need to raise money for.

The P33.62-billion delinquent accounts form part of the P95 billion in unpaid charges owed to PSALM not only by IPPAs but by other industry players as well such as electric cooperatives (ECs) plus receivables inherited from Napocor or those still subject to reconciliation, Garcia said.

The DOF said it has since instructed Psalm to run after IPPAs over the delinquent accounts and cooperatives.

According to Finance Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Bayani Agabin, the PSALM collected last year around P70.41 billion from its various IPPAs. Agabin added that Psalm was ordered by the DOF chief to immediately initiate collection cases against erstwhile IPPAs of the Unified Leyte Strips of Energy in Tongonan, Leyte, particularly Good Friends Hydro Resources Corp. of Fernando Borja and the Waterfront Mactan Casino Hotel Inc. that allegedly have delinquent accounts with the Psalm.

Contracts of these two IPPAs— Good Friends and Waterfront—were terminated by the PSALM in August 2017 and October 2019, respectively, for nonpayment.

Good Friends owes the Psalm around P1.21 billion while Waterfront has unpaid obligation of P87.74 million, the DOF said.

Two IPPAs of Filinvest Development Corp.—FDC Utilities Inc. for the Unified Leyte Strips of Energy contract and FDC Misamis Power Corp.— for the capacity of Mindanao I and II Geothermal Power Plants are also being compelled by the Psalm to pay their delinquent accounts amounting P1.17 billion and P2.63 billion, respectively.

Both IPPA contracts were also terminated by PSALM for nonpayment, according to the DOF. The amounts that are due PSALM are the subject of two separate arbitration proceedings initiated by these Filinvest companies, it added.

Notwithstanding the ongoing arbitration, Filinvest recently expressed to Psalm its willingness to settle the delinquent accounts, Garcia said.

Vivant-Santa Clara Northern Renewables Generation Corp. (Northern Renewables), which administers the IPPA agreement for the Bakun Hydroelectric Power Plant in Ilocos Sur, also has an unpaid account of P4.19 billion.

Garcia said the Psalm expects to collect this year additional payments from Northern Renewables in view of a settlement agreement they had submitted to the court.

Fund manager emphasizes value of wealth management

A

local fund manager urges Filipinos to diversify their investment portfolio amid the changing global economic landscape, as headwinds such as the impact the coronavirus disease of 2019 (Covid-19) is seen to affect certain sectors.

Mario T. Miranda, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) Trust and Investments head, recommends that Filipinos branch out in terms of handling their investment portfolios with a bias for strong defensive investment positioning due to heightened local and global risks.

He cautioned investors on the risks brought about by the effect of Covid-19, wherein the

slowdown in tourism and trade, among others, may dampen economic growth. Despite stringent measures being taken to prevent the spread of the virus, an increase in terms of risk aversion in global and local financial markets is seen as a result of this.

“We see interest rates trading sideways with a slight downward bias due to risk off sentiments and expect the equity market to trade higher following the rebounding economic growth forecast,” Miranda was quoted in a statement as saying.

For conservative investors, he suggests to make investments in money market funds, while aggressive investors can take advan-

GSIS opens emergency lending window for Ursula-hit Iloilo

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he Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) announced it has earmarked P1.1 billion in emergency loan for its 42,141 members and 12,128 pensioners in Iloilo who were affected by Typhoon Ursula.

With a loanable amount of P20,000, the loan is payable in 36 equal monthly instalments at 6 percent interest rate computed in advance, the state pension fund said. It is covered by a loan redemption insurance that deems the loan fully paid in case of the borrower’s demise, provided that loan payment is up to date.

To qualify, active members must be working or residing in Iloilo; have updated premium payments within the last six months prior to application; have no unpaid loans for more than six months; not be on leave of absence without pay; have no pending administrative case or criminal charge; and have a minimum net take-home pay of P5,000 after monthly premium contributions and loan amortizations have been deducted.

The GSIS said its members may apply through its Wireless automated processing system (Waps) kiosk or over the counter in any GSIS office. The GSIS said its Waps kiosks are located in all its branch and extension offices; city halls; selected municipal offices; offices of large government agencies; and, shopping malls.

Old-age and disability pensioners living in the area may apply for emergency loan if the resulting net monthly pension after availing the loan is at least 25 percent of their basic monthly pension. They have to apply for the loan over the counter.

The deadline for application is March 5, 2020.

Loan proceeds are electronically credited to the borrower’s GSIS electronic card or unified multipurpose identification card, the GSIS said.

tage of volatilities by parking their funds through equities and fixed income. Miranda also pointed out that another alternative would be the Philippine peso or the US dollar money market Unit Investment Trust Funds (UITFs), which have longer durations and potentially higher returns.

“We suggest diversifying and exploring foreign investments providing good returns with investment-grade rating to protect themselves from wider volatility either through opening Investment Management Account accounts or participating in globally invested funds,” he added.

In the local landscape, financial institutions still perceive the

growth of the Philippine economy to remain on the positive side despite the global headwinds.

Both the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank expressed optimism in line with the country’s gross domestic product growth forecast of 6.1 percent and 6.2 percent respectively, coming from the 5.9 percent print reported in 2019.

RCBC Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort explained that the positive outlook on the local economy can be attributed to faster government spending, resilient growth in consumer spending, and some pick up in capital formation with the recent gain in loan growth.

EastWest bank raises ₧3.7B in maiden bond issuance

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ast West Banking Corp. announced it has successfully raised P3.7 billion in its maiden bond issuance well above its target of P2 billion. The bonds have a tenor of three years and carry an interest rate of 4.5 percent per annum.

“The success of the bond issuance shows the trust and confidence of the public with EastWest Bank,” EastWest Senior Executive Vice President and Treasurer Rafael S. Algarra Jr. was quoted in a statement as saying. “To our investors, we recognize that they are our partners in success and we assure them that we will continue to provide alternative investment outlets.”

Issuing a bond despite its strong liquidity position is a testament of EastWest’s commitment to continually expand the roster of investments the bank can offer to the public, the bank said.

Philippine financing house Unicapital Inc. served as lead arranger and selling agent of the bonds. The bonds will be listed at the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp. on

February 21, 2020.

The listing comes after the universal bank opened a branch for priority clients in Davao City, its first in Mindanao, last January 22.

“Today, we are celebrating another milestone by launching our first Priority Center in Mindanao, which I am very excited about because of our family’s history in the region,” Isabelle Gotianun-Yap, EastWest Board member, was quoted in a statement as saying. “I am certain that our people will work their hardest to provide you with the service you deserve, and I hope that this will be the start of many fruitful partnerships with you to come.”

“Opening our first EastWest Priority Center in Mindanao is hand-in-hand with the city’s brimming potential for economic growth,” Antonio C. Moncupa Jr., EastWest Vice Chairman, President and CEO, said. “As the city prospers, we hope to forge more partnerships through EastWest Priority, helping Davaoenos reach their goals and dreams.”

Green Monday BusinessMirror

B4 Monday, February 24, 2020

www.businessmirror.com.ph

What it takes to save Baseco Beach

By Jonathan L. Mayuga

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for the environment,” Cimatu said in his speech.

Changing people’s attitude toward the environment remains the most difficult part in restoring Manila Bay to its former glory, he said, hence, the need for culture change.

“We need to change the culture of the Filipinos. We need to change our behavior, and this change should start at home,” Cimatu pointed out.

@jonlmayuga

t was a festive mood in the morning of January 26 as hundreds of government employees and volunteers from various civil society organizations gathered at the Baseco Beach in Tondo, Manila.

It’s the first anniversary of the “Battle for Manila Bay,” an ambitious program to rehabilitate one of the country’s most important water bodies to its pristine state.

Eleven-year-old Rodne would have been picking junks to sell at a junk shop had it not been for the festivity.

Instead, Rodne and his friends, Tikong, Brian and Aegis, each with a used sack of rice, are picking candy wrappers and plastic cups discarded by spectators along the Baseco Beach.

The four live just a stone’s throw away from the beach—the infamous Baseco Compound in Tondo, Manila, where informal settlers have built makeshift homes atop garbage heaps of what later became a reclamation area along Manila Bay.

Young community volunteers

Rodne said they have been picking trash for a year now to help “clean and green” their once filthy community—their street, the nearby lagoon and the beach.

“We are not being paid to do this. We just pick up the garbage to help clean the beach,” he said in Filipino.

His f r iend , eight-yea r - old Tikong agreed. “We do this because we want the beach to be clean. We swim in that beach,” he said.

Aegis, also eight, said he and their friends have fun playing in the white, sandy beach more often now that it is clean.

“It is much better to play on now,” he said.

A beach in Manila?

Not many knew about the existence of a beach—of all places—in Tondo, Manila.

Before the massive land reclamation that saw the development of Roxas Boulevard, the entire stretch, except for Luneta Park, used to be a beach with lots of

coconut trees—where residents of the old Manila used to spend weekend mornings playing, bathing and capping their day watching the famous Manila Bay sunset.

Today, development projects like the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Philippine International Convention Center, Folk Arts Theater, Mall of Asia, and other industrial and commercial establishments occupy and reclaimed portions of Manila Bay. The land which covers Baseco today was once a dockyard of the National Shipyards and Steel Corp. During the administration of then-President Ferdinand Marcos in the early 1960s, Nassco was bought by the Romualdez family, the relatives of the president’s wife, Imelda Marcos, through the Bataan Shipping and Engineering Co., from where Baseco got its name.

In the late 1970s, the urban poor were resettled by the Marcos administration to give way for a possible international seaport.

Baseco was declared a barangay in the 1980s. The administration of President Corazon Aquino later sequestered the property and the urban poor population began to resettle in the area.

Battle for Manila Bay’s focus

Baseco Beach is all that remains from Manila Bay’s famous beach. Many people—completely ignoring public health warnings about its poor water quality—still enjoy swimming to beat the summer heat, and walking and playing in the sand.

The Manila Bay Task Force, led by the Department of Natural Resources (DENR), has put a lot of focus on removing garbage from the bay, particularly the Baseco Beach area.

One year after the launch of the Battle for Manila Bay,

Huawei Rainforest Connection partner for Palawan rain forest

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nvironmental advocates and forests rangers in the Philippines partner to protect Philippine rain forest.

“Huawei Rainforest Connection Phase 1” was recently launched by Huawei Technologies Philippines Inc. as a pilot project in cooperation with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Smart Communications.

Phase 2 will be in Bukidnon, in partnership with Globe Telecom.

“The Huawei Rainforest Connection hopes to help curb the rate of deforestation in the countr y, which is the largest contributor to greenhouse-gas emissions, and cause of major calamities like flooding and landslides. This is one of the projects wherein industr y Telco players and fovernment join hands to protect our environment,“ said Daniel Guo Zhi, Huawei Philippines vice president/COO. The project was presented to Env i ro n m e nt S e c re t a r y R oy Ci m at u l a s t m o nt h d u r i n g a m e e t i n g w i t h Topher White, Rainforest Connection CEO and founder; Darwin Flores, vice president of Smar t Communications; Nilo Tamoria, DENR executive director; Jim O. Sampulina, DENR undersecretary; and Karrie Buenafe and Sally Zhou from Huawei Public Affairs.

Th ro u g h H u awe i ’s co l l a b o rat i o n with Rainforest Connection, a US-based nonprofit organization, used Huawei cell phones are upcycled to help protect the rain forest from illegal logging by repurposing them as “Rainforest Guardians.”

Technically known as bio-acoustic monitoring devices, sounds from the forests are recorded, uploaded to Huawei Cloud via Data Connection, analyzed

by Huawei artificial intelligence (AI), and alerts are sent to forest rangers in real time.

DENR and the forest rangers in Palawan now use Huawei’s mobile phones as their “listening posts” in the forest areas, and are quickly alerted when sounds of threats like chain saws are identified.

By using Huawei Cloud, Internet of Things and AI-assisted servers, Palawan and the Philippines will be better protected from illegal logging.

Since its launching last week, three alerts of illegal logging in the area were verified and foiled by the forest rangers.

Rainforest Connection is one of the key programs under Huawei Tech4all that applies technology, applications and skills to help conserve nature, and mitigate the effects of climate change and protect our planet more efficiently.

Moving forward

Despite public health advisory, many residents of Baseco Compound in Tondo, Manila, find bathing at the beach irresistible. DENR-SCIS

Environment Secretar y Roy A. C imat u sa id it is a muc h better st ate now, showcasing t he muc h-improved a nd ga rbage f ree Baseco Beac h, where t he prog ra m for t he ce lebrat ion was held.

What it takes to do it?

Jacqueline Caancan, regional executive director of the DENRNational Capital Region, said it took countless of hours of hard work to clean Manila Bay. The DENR linked with the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and other support groups from the Department of Public Works and Highways, Philippine National Police, Philippine Maritime Group and with the Philippine Coast Guard for the job.

The DENR-NCR said that in Baseco alone, a total of 254 cleanup activities were spearheaded by the agency together with the MMDA, and other stakeholders.

A total of 26,313 volunteers took part in the massive activities to remove a total of 7,252.92 cubic meters of garbage.

Boardwalk construction

Beyond the coastal cleanup, the construction of the Baseco Boardwalk was a big boost to its physical improvement.

The Baseco Boardwalk will be used to monitor the growth of the mangroves and to appreciate

the mangroves planted inside a nearby lagoon.

According to the DENR-NCR, as of January 26, out of the proposed 348 meters, the 110 meters of the first phase of the boardwalk was already completed with 1.5 meters width and 24 meters-by-4 meters view deck that has a carrying capacity of around 30 persons.

Mangrove reforestation

To protect and conser ve urban biodiversit y in the area, the DENR-NCR has started to develop a mangrove plantation within the lagoon.

So far, a total of 3,564 seedlings were planted, 2,696 of which were mangrove species, while 868 are beach-type species.

On the other hand, the MMDA, together with other stakeholders, planted a total of 230 bamboo species at a portion of the coastal area.

According to Caancan, mangrove reforestation is a strategy to improve water quality in the area on top of putting an added layer of protection against geological hazards, particularly storm surge and tsunami.

“The mangroves were planted to promote bioremediation. Besides, it also helps protect the community from storm surge,” she said.

“Of course, we all know how important mangroves are to the livelihood of fishermen in Manila Bay,” she added.

Communal septic tanks

During the period, two septic tanks were constructed—one in Block 1, Gasangan, along the entrance of Baseco Residence, and in Block 1, Gasangan besides the mangrove area.

The construction of the communal septic tanks will prevent the direct discharge of untreated wastewater into the environment as the households in Baseco Compound, like most households in Metro Manila, are not connected to proper sewer lines.

Maynilad Water Services Inc. has recently conducted siphoning of a septic tank besides the mangrove area, the first after more than a year.

Moreover, on top of the septic tank, a materials recovery facility is being constructed to help improve solid-waste management in the area.

The DENR has also conducted dredging in Baseco Aplaya, which will be continued this year to remove submerged garbage and other debris that pollute the water.

Behavioral change

For Cimatu, the love for the environment should begin at home, as he urged parents to foster behavior and culture change by teaching their children to respect and care for Mother Earth.

“It is high time that parents teach their children about our love

After the one-year campaign, Battle for Manila Bay will move forward to the next level.

“W hat is happening clearly states that we are moving forward.

We are not just trying to clean the waterways, the rivers, the ocean, but cleaning the culture of the Filipino people,” said Benny Antiporda, DENR’s undersecretary for Solid Waste Management and Local Government Units (LGUs) Concerns.

Teaching the young generation how to be responsible citizens, he said, is part of the job.

Defend the environment

“Our main objective is to inculcate in the minds of the children to defend the environment. If you see garbage, pick it up. Put them where they belong,” he said.

“If you have a clean environment, you have no choice but to help maintain it. We are looking forward and coming up with the highest level of awareness when it comes to proper disposal of garbage,” he said.

Two-pronged approach

According to Antiporda, rehabilitating the Manila Bay and other tourism areas in the country is easier said than done. He said the government alone could not do it.

“This [rehabilitation] cannot be successful if we only use the government approach. What we need is the citizen approach. The government will do its job. At the same time, [other stakeholders should] share and care.”

As for defiant LGUs who are reluctant to do their job, Antiporda warned that the DENR would no longer tolerate their inaction.

“It is really hard for us to tell the LGU what to do. But frankly speaking, [they] just [have to] implement the law, if not we will file charges [against them],” he said.

Youth session at ‘3rd PHL Environment Summit’

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Yo u t h, Agriculture and the Environment Session will be held at the 3rd Philippine Environment Summit to be held from February 26 to 28 in Cagayan de Oro City.

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Ag r i c u l t u re ( S e a rc a ) w i l l h o s t t h e session. The summit is co-organized by Green Convergence and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Under the theme, “Paradigm [re]Shift: Heeding Nature,” the three-day event will present programs and projects that advance the country’s socioeconomic development while protecting the environment.

In the youth session on Februar y 2 7 , S e a rc a w i l l fe at u re f i ve yo u n g professionals who are leading initiatives to a d va n ce s u s t a i n a b l e a g r i c u l t u re practices, environmental protection, and the circular economy.

They are Louise Mabulo, founder of The Cacao Project and United Nations Environment Program’s Young Champion of the Earth; Cherrys Abrigo, founder and owner of Sierreza Café; Enzo Pinga, business development and marketing manager of IISLA Ventures; Rein Hillary Carrascal, beauty queen and ambassador of Hapi LIFE Foundation; and Michelle Dagsaan, member of Samdhana Youth Program.

HONEYBEES AT WORK Honeybees are busy working on their man-made hives where

they store their collected honey. Beekeeping, or apiculture, is the maintenance of bee colonies a beekeeper in order to collect honey, and make money out of it. Other products that the hives produce include beeswax and royal jelly. Ceasar M. Perante

Searca Director Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio will give an overview of the session and promote Searca’s initiatives in engaging the youth in agricultural and rural development (ARD).

The youth speakers will tackle their best practices, challenges and call to action to synergize, replicate or upscale their projects.

The youth session is the first in an ARD Discussion Series that Searca is initiating as an avenue to tackle, solicit i d e a s, a n d e s t a b l i s h c o l l a b o r a t i o n with stakeholder groups on emerging a n d o n - t h e - g ro u n d c h a l l e n g e s f o r achieving sustainable agriculture, and rural development.

Meanwhile, Searca representatives will also present in other sessions of the summit. Dr. Blesilda Calub, project leader, will talk about the gains of Searca’s School-Plus-Home Garden Project.

Rosario Bantayan, program specialist for training, will present the highlights of the Workshop on Establishing ClimateSmart Villages in the Asean region coorganized by Searca and the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction.

This year’s summit aims to enhance the convergence of various individuals and institutions to tackle issues in and accelerate solutions for sustainable development.

Benefit concert

Meanwhile, a benefit concert, dubbed Coming Home: Lemuel Cuento in Concert, will be held on February 26 at the D.L. Umali Auditorium of the University of the Philippines Los Baños.

The concert, which is supported by Searca, is for the benefit of the Youth Program in Agriculture by the UP Rural High School (UPRHS). It aims to encourage Grade 11 students to pursue careers in agriculture, nutrition, and related fields that would help address issues on hunger and food production in the country.

Lemuel Cuento, an alumnus of UPRHS, is a Filipino Tenor currently based in Munich, Germany. He studied at the UP College of Music from 1989 to 1994 and pursued his music education in the following year at Hong Kong Academy of Music.

He also earned an Opera Performance diploma at the Vienna Conser vator y in 1996. For over 20 years, Cuento has performed in various recitals and classical operettas in many countries.

Cuento’s t wo -hour show will be accompanied by Jesper Colleen Mercado on the piano and will feature a special performance from the UPRHS Glee Club.

Moreover, S earca will mount an exhibit to showcase the winners of its 2018 Photo Contest featuring youth agripreneurs in Southeast Asia.

Biodiversity Monday BusinessMirror

Asean Champions of Biodiversity Media Category 2014

Monday, February 24, 2020

Editor: Lyn Resurreccion

B5

The race to save the pangolin in PHL

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he global clamor to save all eight species of the pangolin is thrown again in the spotlight, with these scaly anteaters recently tagged as a possible link to the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak by a study, which is yet to be published and evaluated.

Whether this deters the highly lucrative demand for pangolin scales and meat in Asian black markets is yet to be seen, but one species—the Philippines’s very own pangolin—stands to lose the most if illegal wildlife trade remains business as usual.

Found only in the islands of Palawan, the Philippine pangolin (Manis culionensis), or balintong, has the smallest range compared to its cross-border cousins.

Despite an international trade ban on pangolins, traffickers have turned their attention to the rare balintong as native pangolin populations in other countries have rapidly declined due to massive poaching.

On September 2019, more than 1,150 kilos of dried pangolin scales—from an estimated 3,200 individual pangolins—comprised one of the largest wildlife by-product seizures in Palawan’s capital, Puerto Princesa.

The persistent trends in wildlife trafficking have led the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to raise its Red List classification for the Philippine pangolin from endangered to critically endangered.

Making matters more difficult is the limited information about the Philippine pangolin.

This lack of knowledge hampers the ability of conservationists and local authorities to establish proper baselines for protecting the remaining pangolin strongholds in the wild.

This research gap prompted the United States Agency for I nt e r n a t i o n a l D e v e l o p m e nt (USAID), the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) and other partners in Palawan to lead an intensive field study on the Philippine pangolin.

The USAID-funded study ran between 2018 and 2019, and focused on Palawan’s VictoriaA nepahan mountain range, a 165,000-hectare key biodiversity area with no existing legal protection and conservation measures.

The study used a combination of methods to record the presence of pangolins in the area, examine their forest habitats and identify threats to their survival.

expressing their interest to be trained as forest guards.

Beyond the study, USAID is contributing to efforts to boost competencies of government authorities and partners in Palawan in enforcing wildlife laws.

It has supported training and mentoring on improved enforcement practices for communitybased enforcers, park rangers, forest guards, government personnel and law-enforcement units in the province.

Promoting multiagency coordination has also led to successful operations, such as the arrest of wildlife traffickers, and the rescue and release of live pangolins in northern Palawan in October 2019 to January 2020.

Diverse wildlife, pervasive threats

One research method involved scouring the Victoria-Anepahan to search for live pangolins. In the dead of night, researchers of Palawan-based Katala Foundation, together with local guides and dogs, looked for clues in the forest—ant and termite trails, tree scratches, ground diggings and scent marks—that can lead them to a pangolin.

When a pangolin is identified, the team recorded its location and took its measurements before releasing it back to the wild.

After 12 grueling expeditions surveying 2,400 hectares of forests, the team found only 17 individuals, including a nursing baby, juveniles and pregnant pangolins.

Not a single pangolin was found in half of the expeditions.

Su r ve y le ade r D r. S a bi ne Schoppe of Katala Foundation said this pangolin count is much fewer compared to similar ground surveys they did in other areas of Palawan between 2013 and 2015.

The same finding reflected the results of another method that used camera traps with motion sensors to take photos of wildlife on the forest floor in five large plots near the ground survey sites.

More than 30 cameras were positioned in each of the 3,300-hectare plots. After more than 7,300 trapping days, the cameras recorded around one to four pangolins in each plot.

While this count rate is low compared to other animals that were captured on camera many times, the photos prove that diverse wildlife—including Palawan endemics, like the porcupine, stink badger, bearded pig, peacock-pheasant and leopard cat—are thriving in Victoria-Anepahan.

Despite this rich biodiversity, the field expeditions also uncovered destructive activities—logging, hunting and slash-and-burn farming—that pose a serious threat to pangolins and other wildlife in the mountain range.

In one expedition, the research team surveyed a heavily logged area and described it as an “empty forest” with hardly any vertebrate

Harnessing research for policy and action

A mother and baby pangolin recorded by researchers of Katala Foundation during a field expedition for the USAID-funded study on Philippine pangolins. USAID Protect Wildlife and Katala Foundation

A Philippine pangolin rolls into its defensive position. USAID Protect Wildlife and Katala Foundation

species in sight.

The study also interrupted illegal logging activities, with chainsaw operators even intimidating the research team on one occasion.

Correlating the data on pangolin sightings and forest conditions documented from both methods the study showed that there are fewer pangolins and fewer potential pangolin dens in areas where there are more biodiversity threats.

The data also validated that more pangolin dens can be found in areas where there are more abundant food sources.

Rampant poaching and trafficking

Another method in the study led by Palawan State University involved gathering information from selected indigenous communities in Victoria-Anepahan about their traditional uses of pa ngol i n s, com mon hu nt i ng methods, and practices in the

illegal pangolin trade.

Interviews and focus group discussions with more than 380 respondents from 18 barangays or communities confirmed that pangolin sightings in their respective areas are getting fewer as years go by.

Respondents said that pangolin poaching and trafficking will continue as long as there is a demand from buyers, both foreign and local.

Buyers and hunters in Victoria-Anepahan come from as far as Puerto Princesa and northern towns in Palawan.

Respondents mentioned how the illegal trade of pangolins are exacerbated by poverty, lack of jobs and livelihood, and the opportunity to make easy money at the expense of wildlife.

Fresh pangolin scales can fetch for up to P4,500 ($90) a kilo, while dried scales can command up to P7,000 ($140) a kilo.

Pangolin scales—which, like rhino horn, are made from keratin found in human hair and fingernails—are highly prized in traditional Asian medicine as a cure for various illnesses, although there is zero evidence to support this claim.

Pangolin meat—a delicacy in exotic Asian cuisine—can sell for up to P300 ($6) per kilo, while a live adult pangolin can command up to P1,500 ($30).

From V i c t or i a - A ne p a h a n , pangolins and their by-products are brought to Puerto Princesa or Mindoro, and then shipped to Batangas before they reach their destination. Pangolins are also brought southward via Balabac and then shipped to Malaysia.

Strengthening enforcement

R espondents revealed how pangolin meat, blood and scales were sometimes used as part of their subsistence diet, indigenous rituals and traditional medicine.

But there has been a significant shift in these practices, particularly among the indigenous youth, as communities learn more about wildlife laws and penalties from local authorities.

Yet community responses also point to how authorities often fail to enforce wildlife laws, such as when they are too lenient with offenders or are not present on the ground to apprehend poachers and traffickers.

Indigenous leaders and commu n it y me mb e r s we re k e e n to show how they can actively involve in wildlife protection efforts by war ning outsiders and migrants against hunting pangolins in their area, and by

The beauty of pine trees

By Antonio G. Papa

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aguio City is is dubbed as the City of Pines because most of the mountainous parts of the city is planted with various varieties of pine trees.

It is also called the summer capital of the Philippines because the place is one of the highest peak in the country, and during the hot season, the city is a favorite escapade of Filipinos, as well as foreign visitors.

An alternative to Baguio City as a destination during the hot season is Tagaytay City in Cavite province. It has a cool weather that is also suited for summer vacation, both for the local and foreign guests.

The landscape in Tagaytay City, especially the vegetation along the Tagaytay ridge, overseeing the Taal Lake and Volcano, has been planted with towering trees, called lodgepole pine tree, scientifically known as Pinus contorta.

In the suburb of Tagaytay City, such as in the municipalities of Alfonso, Amadeo, Mendez and Indang, considered as upland towns of Cavite, lodgepole pine trees and other varieties of the trees could be seen as a beautiful landscape.

While the places are planted to various

trees, both forest and fruit trees, on a drive from the lowland municipalities of Cavite going to Tagaytay City, one will see the towering trees, dark green in color, with semblance to a Christmas tree.

In the main campus of the Cavite State University in Indang, Cavite, one will appreciate the towering and beautifully lined up lodgepole pine trees in the entrance. They were planted in the 1980s and add beauty to CSU’s green campus, named Don Severino de las Alas Campus, occupying more than 70 hectares of land area.

By the way, forest lodgepole pine trees cover up to 50 million acres in the western regions of North America. Native Americans used the straight and slender poles of the trees to support their lodges. These pines can grow up to 150 feet and live up to 400 years.

According to Bonnie Singletone, the lodgepole pine tree is sometimes called black pine or tamarack pine. In addition to its use as a wood source, it also provides major tree cover in many scenic, and recreational, areas and on critical waterlands, as well as wildlife habitat.

Singletone further described the climatic requirements of the pine tree, its characteristics and its growing conditions.

Using the findings of the study, specific priority areas for pangolin conservation in VictoriaAnepahan can now be drawn from sites with the most number of pangolin sightings and with fewer threats to forests and wildlife.

Results of the study can also be referred to by conservationists, communities, local governments and the academe in identifying other critical habitats for pangolins in Palawan.

USAID and its partners are looking forward to tapping into homegrown research and sciencebased recommendations for developing a Philippine pangolin conservation plan.

Led by the PCSD, all stakeholders will work together to craft a comprehensive plan that will strengthen efforts on management, enforcement, advocacy and further research to help protect this elusive yet important species.

“The survival of the Philippine pangolin does not solely depend on research and resources but, to a large extent, on demand reduction, law enforcement and political will,” Schoppe said. “Only if we act fast, and coordinate efforts and interests, there is indeed a chance for the Philippine pangolin to survive.”

To this, Acting Executive Director of PCSD Staff Atty. Adelina Benavente-Villena added that coordinated efforts to combat wildlife trafficking must be sustained by all partners and elevated as a top priority.

“Illegal wildlife trade is organized crime and it can only be stopped through organized action,” she said. “Our concerted efforts from all concerned sectors and citizens in Palawan will be the key to finally suppressing wildlife crimes for good.” early in their lifespan at around five to 10 years, and they are prolific seed producers, with seeds stored in cones remaining viable for years. In fact, the cones have a resin between their scales that only breaks when the temperature reaches 113 degrees F to 140 degrees F.

Growing conditions

Lodgepole pines tolerate a variety of soils but prefer the soil with pH ranging from 6.2 to 7.5 that is moderately moist.

The optimal soil base for the lodgepole pine is a medium-textured soil derived from granitic, shale or coarse-grained lava materials.

Lodgepole pine trees have no tolerance for salinity, either on soil or in water.

Medicinal tree Seedlings of lodgepole pine tree (left) and a growing one at a garden in Indang, Cavite.

Climatic requirements

Lodgepole pine trees grow in areas with low temperatures of negative 70 degrees Fahrenheit in the Northern Rocky Mountains to 100 degrees F in lower elevations. They can survive frost but have low tolerance to drought.

The pines can thrive in areas with an annual

precipitation ranging from 10 inches to 200 inches. They do not tolerate shade well and prefer full sunlight.

Characteristics

The average size of a lodgepole pine tree is 24 inches in diameter and 70 feet high, although

slimmer specimens of only 5 inches in diameter may reach 50 feet.

The branches have needle-like leaves in bunches of two that vary from yellow-green to dark-green and are slightly twisted, giving the tree its scientific name, Pinus contorta.

Lodgepole pine trees produce viable seed

B e sid e s the aesthetic its significance, Lodgepole pine tree has an important use as timber. Likewise, the tree has also medicinal usage. Accordingly, the indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest and of California use different parts of the plant, internally and externally, as a traditional medicine for various ailments.

Hence, lodgepole pine trees help beautify the place and serve as a source of livelihood for its timber. It has also medicinal significance to mankind.

B6 Monday, February 24, 2020

Sheraton Manila’s Oori is a twoconcept upscale Korean restaurant

Bulgogo Bibimbap (marinated beef bibimbap set with vegetables on the side

Oori's grill area interior

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ORI, an upscale Korean restaurant, opened at Sheraton Manila last January 2019, is part of the hotel’s second phase of development. Oori is the third outlet at the newly opened Sheraton Manila in addition to its all-day dining buffet, S Kitchen, and The Lounge bar.

While Korean restaurants have become ubiquitous in Manila, what sets Oori apart is the authenticity and the modern composition of the overall dining experience. Literally translated “ours” in Korean, Oori is inspired by the refreshed Sheraton brand of being a gathering place. It features the growing “fine-casual”

dining trend with a bibimbap sub-concept catering to fast, easy comfort Korean foods, as well as a more premium selection on the upscale Korean barbecue menu. It features a live cooking bibimbap bar, semiprivate rooms, and luxe private rooms with its own personal barbecue stations.

Guaranteeing its authenticity is Executive Korean Chef Kibum Park, who is well-versed in leading a Korean restaurant and hotels in across Asia before joining Sheraton Manila. Chef Park sees to it that his dishes are created from fresh ingredients, just the way it should be in Korean cooking.

The Korean restaurant occupies half

of the second level of the hotel. It has a mix of couches, communal tables and bar seating, and its dim lighting creates that cozy ambiance.

Oori boasts of a collection of 16 side dishes or banchan. Fermented items are carefully handmade and preserved for optimum maturity. For example, kimchi is stored for 5 days – to Chef Park, this is the perfect recipe. Only in Oori can one find homemade meljorim sauce, made from anchovy with soy bean paste that goes perfectly with their grilled meat.

Reminiscent of walking along the alleys in Seoul, Oori is like its own Korean dining district in Sheraton Manila.

Experience mini Thailand week 2020 in Manila on March 5-8, 2020

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RGANIZED by the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Ministry of Commerce in Thailand by Thai Trade Center in Manila, 100 Thailand and Philippine companies will exhibit their products and services on March 5 up to 8, 2020, at Hall 4, SMX Convention Center Manila, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City. The event is entitled, Mini Thailand Week 2020, with the theme, “Discover Excellence, Trade with Thailand”.

The trade show will showcase top and excellent Thai products under these categories: Beauty, Health & Wellness as well as spa products, Food & Beverage, Gems & Jewelry, Fashion & Accessories, Household & Kitchenware, pet accessories and many more!

Mini Thailand Week 2020 will be holding different activities that will portray Thailand’s rich culture. This year’s activities include: Cooking Demonstrations and Thai Traditional Dances.

Aside from the exhibition, business

matching is available among the participating brands for Philippine trade buyers who are interested to be a distributors or agents.

Experience Mini Thailand Week 2020 in Manila! Get a feel of the Land of Smiles and discover top Thai brands. Entrance to the trade fair is free! Follow this link http://mpevent. minithailandweek.com/index.php/Buyer_app, for details.

For more information, contact Thai Trade Center in Manila, at tel nos. 88940406; 88940403, email at thaicommnl@ymail.com or fax at 88160698.

Celebrate love at SM Cinema

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M Cinema is set to make this year’s Love Month one to remember with an exciting lineup of movies, activities, and promos guaranteed to get hearts fluttering, making it an ideal venue to celebrate the season of love.

Couples looking for romantic activities this need look no further. SM Cinema has put together a variety of activities that couple can surely enjoy. Moviegoers at Director’s Club get elevate their movie date night with a special selection of wine offerings starting at just P239. Indulge in luxury French Cellier Dauphin wines or Australian wine selection

by Diamond Hill. Enjoy them with a perfect pairing of crackers and cheese bites with special combo packages.

See the ups and downs of love by treating your special someone to a screening of the

Taiwanese box-office sensation More than Blue, an SM Cinema exclusive. Purchase one ticket for any screening on February 26-29 and get another ticket for free!

Who says dates have to be expensive? SM Cinema’s snack bar Snack Time is offering delectable food bundle promos exclusive only during the season of love. Enjoy a wide selection of combo snacks starting at P295.

With exciting activities, a thrilling selection of movies, and amazingly affordable promos to enjoy, SM Cinema is the ideal go-to destination for a romantic date everyone can enjoy!

For more information about SM Cinemas February offers visit www.smcinema.com or download the SM Cinema mobile app. You may also follow /SMCinema on Facebook and @SM_Cinema on Instagram for updates!

Pepsi Cola Philippines responds to families affected by Taal Volcano eruption

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EPSI Cola Products Philippines Inc, (PCPPI) immediately provided assistance to thousands of affected families in various evacuation sites in Batangas. This was after being displaced amid the continuous period of intense unrest of the Taal Volcano, which had an eruption last January 12.

Led by its Southern Tagalog Region Operations Plant (STRO) volunteering personnel, PCPPI coordinated with the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management team of Santo Tomas, Batangas to provide 100 bundles of carton, 300 pieces of empty sacks, and 100 gallons of drinking water, which are assessed as the most immediate needs of the evacuees in San Miguel

Elementary School and San Roque Elementary School. An additional 100 cases of purified drinking water were also delivered to the Capitol Site of Batangas City, distributed to nearby evacuation centers.

The STRO Plant also assisted other local government units by providing two hydrant connections for raw water and one hose

connection for drinking water, accessible for 24/7. Three lines were also mobilized to clean thick layers of ashes accumulated from the ash fall.

After coordinating with the National Red Cross Capitol Site, PCPPI committed to organize a blood donation program to support evacuees with medical conditions in times of emergencies.

Acacia Hotel Manila partners with Ascent to elevate connectivity of Alabang through helicopter ride-sharing

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IVE-STAR Acacia Hotel Manila aims at elevating the connectivity of Alabang by connecting it to Metro Manila and beyond with Ascent, Asia’s first helicopter ride-sharing platform.

Guests and commuters can now seamlessly go to and from Alabang in a matter of minutes or simply enjoy a flight experience directly from Acacia by booking their seat(s) directly through the Ascent platform or via concierge at the front desk of Acacia Hotel Manila.

Located in the center of the business and commercial district, Alabang, Acacia Hotel Manila is

only minutes away from offices and malls like Alabang Town Center, Commerce Avenue and residential estates like Ayala Alabang. The partnership enables users to skip the traffic and change the way people move in and between cities like Alabang. Guests of Acacia Hotel Manila, residents of Alabang and business travelers with meetings in the vicinity can now regain control of their time between meetings across Luzon or simply with airport transfers from or to Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Clark International Airport. Guests of Acacia will now have the opportunity

to elevate their mobility and leisure experience like never before.

With Ascent, it takes less than 15 minutes to travel between Acacia Hotel Manila and anywhere in Metro Manila from 11,900 PHP per person.

When coming from or to the airport, users will have a direct shuttle between their respective airport terminal and Ascent’s dedicated lounge facilities, before flying off to Alabang.

Bobby Horrigan, General Manager of Acacia Hotel Manila adds, “In line with our continued focus on being a key activity hub in Alabang with exceptional hospitality, our aim is to increase the connectivity of Alabang for our guests alongside a remarkable experience through Filipino hospitality and excellent accommodations. We are glad that with Ascent, our guests can now enjoy a more connected Alabang and lavish comforts without having to wait in traffic.”

Through this partnership with Ascent, Acacia Hotel Manila stays true to having everything within reach by elevating the connectivity between Alabang and other cities in the Philippines.

CASHING IN ON VIRUS, OLYMPICS Sports BusinessMirror

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| Monday, February 24, 2020 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

TOKYO Gov. Yuriko Koike criticizes as “inappropriate” offer from London to host Olympics because of coronavirus crisis as Tokyo 2020 President Yoshirō Mori has admitted he is praying for the coronavirus to “vanish.”

Tokyo 2020 postpones volunteer training during coronavirus outbreak

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OKYO 2020 has postponed the training of Olympic and Paralympic Games volunteers due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The first training sessions for volunteers, known as the “Field Cast,” began back in October.

Organizers said at the time that around 300 general training events would take place at 13 venues in 11 prefectures in the host nation by the end of February.

The general training sessions have briefly been halted due to the coronavirus outbreak, with Tokyo 2020 saying these will be rescheduled for a later date.

“As part of efforts to prevent the spread of infection of the novel coronavirus, we have decided to postpone trainings,” a Tokyo 2020 statement read. “Cast members will be informed of rescheduled dates, venues and other details in a separate notification.

“The Organizing Committee continues to work closely with all related organizations to prepare for a safe and secure Tokyo 2020 Games. There are no considerations of canceling the Games nor will the postponements of these activities have an impact on the overall Games preparation,” the statement said.

“In accordance with the government’s policy for preventing the spread of infectious diseases, we will also evaluate the immediate need for each Games-related

Tokyo 2020 began its volunteer training in October.

event on a case by case basis,” it added. “At all Tokyo 2020 events, we ask that all participants take appropriate measures to ensure that all will be able to participate in safety and with peace of mind.”

The training sessions are aimed at providing volunteers with the essential knowledge needed for the Games.

Sessions include an introduction from the participants and a lecture on what they should expect as a member of the Field Cast.

They will be provided with an overview of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as receiving a history lesson.

Training on diversity and inclusion will also be included, along with the rules and rewards of volunteering.

In total, 80,000 volunteers will support the Games, after being selected from 204,680 applicants.

Volunteers will provide support in guiding spectators, competition and media operations.

They will also be deployed in various locations, including competition venues and the Athletes’ Village.

The Field Cast volunteers will be given their Gamestime roles next month, with specific training for the positions beginning in April. Insidethegames

Yuriko Koike: A reason why this issue has attracted global attention is due to the cruise ship. But the cruise ship’s nationality belongs to Britain.

I wish aspects like these would be well understood.

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OKYO Gov. Yuriko Koike has criticized an “inappropriate” offer from London to step in to replace the city as hosts of this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games because of the coronavirus outbreak.

London Mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey claimed the city “can host the Olympics in 2020” and the world “might need us to step up” due to the virus, which has so far killed 2,250 people and infected over 76,000 worldwide.

Bailey is a candidate for the Conservatives, the same party that Britain’s current Prime Minister Boris Johnson represents, and added he would “make sure London is ready to answer the call and host the Olympics again” if he is elected mayor.

Johnson was the mayor of London when the city hosted the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012.

In response, Koike claimed it was “not appropriate to try to make it an issue in a mayoral election.”

“A reason why this issue has attracted global attention is due to the cruise ship,” Koike, referencing the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan which is thought to have 600 cases of the virus, said.

“But the cruise ship’s nationality belongs to Britain,” Koike said. “I wish aspects like these would be well understood.”

Two people on the cruise ship, which has been docked in Japan since February 3, have died from the virus so far.

Tokyo 2020 and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have insisted the Games will not be postponed or canceled because of the virus, given the official title of COVID-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO).

John Coates, chairman of the IOC Coordination Commission for Tokyo 2020, claimed this week the organization was “satisfied” the event will be safe to attend.

3 Serie A games suspended because of deaths in Italy R OME—Three Serie A soccer matches scheduled for Sunday in the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto were suspended late Saturday after the deaths of two people infected with the virus from China.

On orders from the Italian government, the games called off were: Inter Milan versus Sampdoria, Atalanta versus Sassuolo and Hellas Verona versus Cagliari.

Three other matches in Genoa, Turin and Rome on Sunday are going ahead as scheduled.

A dozen towns in northern Italy effectively went into lockdown on Saturday after the deaths of two people infected with the coronavirus from China, and a growing cluster of cases with no direct links to the origin of the outbreak abroad.

“The government is working on urgent measures to decisively confront and contain the cases of coronavirus contagion,” read a letter from Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora to Italian Olympic Committee President Giovanni Malago shortly before midnight local time on Saturday. “Those measures also include the sports world in order to prevent risks and to better take care of the health of those involved in the events and competition.

“Following measures taken by the cabinet for protective reasons and maximum precaution, on orders of the government I’m asking you to suspend all sports events of every level and discipline planned for the

Lombardy and Veneto regions on Sunday.”

Already on Saturday, the Ascoli-Cremonese game in Serie B was postponed, as well as PiacenzaSambenedettese in Serie C. Four Serie C games scheduled for Sunday have also been postponed.

On Thursday, Inter is also slated to host Ludogrets in the second leg of the Europa League Round of 32.

“It’s obvious that gatherings at sports events are among the events where the most difficulties could occur,” Spadafora said earlier Saturday in Rome at the Six Nations rugby game between Italy and Scotland, which was attended by 55,000 fans.

Added Malago, “The authorities have the responsibility, the right and the duty to take initiatives and precautions. If a mayor, the president of a region or a minister issues an ordinance, the sports world has to obey. There are no doubts.”

Sports events across China and Asia have also been suspended, amid fears that the Tokyo Olympics due to open in five months could also be affected.

The secondary contagions prompted local authorities in the Lombardy and Veneto regions to close schools, businesses and restaurants, and to cancel sporting events and Masses.

The mayor of Milan, Italy’s business capital and the regional capital of Lombardy, shuttered public offices.

During a project review of Tokyo 2020 last week, Coates claimed the WHO had told the IOC there was no case for canceling or postponing the Games.

Tokyo 2020 President Yoshirō Mori has also remained defiant and blasted what he claimed were “irresponsible” rumors surrounding whether the Games would take place as planned.

Koike claimed she does not foresee any changes to the schedule for the Games, which begin with the Olympics Opening Ceremony on July 24.

“I think we are not yet reaching that point,” Koike said.

PRAYING FOR VIRUS TO ‘VANISH’

TOKYO 2020 President Yoshirō Mori has admitted he is praying for the coronavirus to “vanish” amid lingering concerns over the impact of the outbreak on this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The outbreak has raised concern for Tokyo 2020 in the buildup to the event, with Japan recently emerging as one of the riskiest places for the spread of the virus.

There have been 110 confirmed cases of the virus, known as COVID-19, in Japan, although 634 others have been infected on a cruise ship which has been quarantined in Yokohama since February 3.

“I pray to God every day that the coronavirus will just vanish,” Mori said in an interview with the Sponichi Annex newspaper.

Mori also claimed he plans “to hold out to the end without wearing a mask”, despite the outbreak.

Japan Government under current Prime Minister Shinzō Abe has been criticized for its response to the virus and fears have grown in recent weeks after the number of infections doubled.

The government has been accused of being slow to react by failing to bar visitors from China quickly enough, while Abe has come under fire for being too lax in its quarantine of the cruise ship. Insidethegames

A 78-year-old man infected with the virus died in Veneto. A postmortem on a 77-year-old woman in Lombardy came back positive, though it wasn’t clear if illness from the virus caused her death.

Hundreds of residents and workers who came into contact with 54 people who tested positive for the virus in Italy were put into isolation pending results of their tests. Civil protection crews set up a tent camp outside a closed hospital in Veneto to screen medical staff for the virus.

In the town of Codogno, where the first patient identified in the northern cluster was in critical condition, closed supermarkets, restaurants and shops made main street practically a ghost town. The few people out wore face masks, which were coveted items after selling out at pharmacies.

Lombardy government authorities said the region had 39 confirmed cases, all somehow traceable to the first one involving a man who hadn’t traveled to China.

Ten towns in Lombardy received orders to suspend nonessential activities and services.

The Veneto region reported 12 people with the virus, including the 78-year-old man who died late Friday. Two of the region’s confirmed infections were relatives of the man who died, Veneto Regional President Luca Zaia said. AP

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Halep wins in Dubai to secure 20th crown

WADE: THANK YOU MIAMI

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UBAI, United Arab Emirates—Top-seeded Simona Halep won her 20th singles title after prevailing in a third-set tiebreaker to beat Elena Rybakina, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5), in the Dubai Championships final on Saturday.

No. 2-ranked Halep was 3-1 down in the third set. The Romanian broke to lead 6-5, but Rybakina’s powerful hitting forced the tiebreaker.

Rybakina led 4-3 but Halep converted the only match point.

“It was amazing,” Halep said of the two-anda-half-hour final. “[Rybakina] fought till the end.

She didn’t give up any balls. It was really tough mentally. The pressure was very high. But I want it badly, so that’s why I fought till the end.”

The Wimbledon champion won her second Dubai title.

Rybakina knocked out Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin and former No. 1 Karolina Pliskova in earlier rounds, and was playing her fourth final of the young Women’s Tennis Association season. She’s lost three of them.

Rybakina is projected to rise two spots to a career-high No. 17 in Monday’s rankings update.

“She’s strong. She’s tall. She has power,” Halep said. “I think she’s really good to get into the top 10 very soon.”

In Delray Beach, Florida, unseeded Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan rallied past No. 6 Ugo Humbert of France, 1-6, 6-4, 6-0, on Saturday in the semifinals of the Delray Beach Open.

The second semifinal between No. 2 Milos Raonic of Canada and No. 4 Reilly Opelka of the United States was postponed until Sunday morning because of rain. The winner will face Nishioka on Sunday afternoon.

Nishioka seeks his second career Association of Tennis Professionals Tour title and is trying to become the first Japanese champion at Delray since Kei Nishikori in 2008.

SIMONA HALEP prevails in the two-and-a-halfhour final. AP

Tyson Fury drops Deontay Wilder in the third round with a right hand that seems to take the legs out of the champion. He puts him down again in the fifth round, this time with a left hand to the body. AP

FURY IN STUNNING WIN OVER WILDER L

AS VEGAS—Tyson Fury reinvented himself once again, and once again he’s a heavyweight champion.

The Gypsy King dropped Deontay Wilder twice Saturday night in their heavyweight title rematch, turning from boxer to puncher to win the title when Wilder’s corner threw in the towel as he was taking a beating in the seventh round.

It was a stunning turnaround for a fighter who came back from drug and alcohol abuse to win the title for a second time, made even more surprising because Wilder was the devastating puncher in their first fight 14 months ago.

“The king has returned to his throne,’’ proclaimed Fury, who fought to a draw with Wilder in their first fight.

Fury dropped Wilder in the third round with a right hand that seemed to take the legs out of the champion. He put him down again in the fifth round, this time with a left hand to the body.

He also bloodied Wilder’s ear, and seemed to lick the blood off his shoulder in a bizarre scene in the sixth round. If that wasn’t enough fun for the night, he tried to lead the crowd in a singalong of “American Pie” after the fight. Fury knew all the words.

The end came at 1:39 of the seventh round when referee Kenny Bayless stopped the fight after Wilder’s corner threw in the towel as he was getting pummeled in a neutral corner. Blood was pouring out of Wilder’s ear for several rounds before Fury went in for the shoulder lick.

It was the first loss for Wilder in 44 fights, and it came in the 11th defense of the title he

won in 2015.

“Even the greatest have lost and come back,’’ Wilder said. “I make no excuses. This is what bigtime boxing is all about.’’

The two fighters are under contract for a third fight, though Wilder could opt out of it as the loser. If the fight happens, Fury would get the better part of a 60-40 purse bid.

Fury stalked Wilder almost from the opening bell, using his jab to control the early rounds.

He won every round on the scorecard of The Associated Press and was in total command of the fight when it ended.

Ringside punch stats demonstrated Fury’s dominance, showing him out landing Wilder 82-34 in total punches. Fury landed 58 power punches in less than seven rounds of the rematch after landing just 38 in the first fight Wilder landed just 34 punches all fight and just 18 power shots.

Wilder briefly protested the stoppage, as a pro-Fury crowd of 15,816 at the MGM Grand hotel roared in delight. The highly anticipated fight drew a heavyweight record $16.9 million gate and promoters believe it sold well on payper-view, too.

“I wish my corner would have let me go out on my shield,’’ Wilder said. “He did what he did.

There’s no excuses.’’

Wilder, who at 6-foot-7 and 231 pounds was the smaller man in the ring to the 6-foot-9 British giant, was backpedaling the entire fight, trying to catch Fury coming in with a right hand.

But he was never able to throw it effectively, and unable to deal with Fury’s jab either.

Two judges had Fury winning every round, while the third gave Wilder one round. Fury had a point deducted for grabbing and pushing in the fifth round.

“He manned up and he really did show the heart of a champion,” Fury said. “He’s a warrior, he will be back, he will be a champion again. But the king has returned.”

Fury had bulked up to 273 pounds for the rematch, vowing to change tactics and become the big puncher. He was true to his word, dominating early with a jab that stopped Wilder in his tracks and then landing combinations to the head and body.

Fury (30-0-1, 21 KO) came into the ring carried aloft on a throne with a crown on his head. Then he showed he was really the Gypsy King as he made it an easy night against a fighter who had gone 12 years without losing as a pro.

For Wilder it was a stunning end to an unbeaten mark that had seen him knock out 41 of his previous 43 opponents. But his devastating right hand was never a factor, and Fury seemed to walk through it. That was unlike the first fight 14 months ago when Wilder knocked Fury down twice on his way to a draw.

Both fighters were guaranteed $5 million in the rematch but could make $40 million apiece. AP

IAMI—Dwyane Wade went through a long list of thank-yous as he delivered a 20-minute speech at his jersey retirement ceremony Saturday night, mentioning everyone from his business manager and the Miami Heat ball boys to Pat Riley.

“I could have gone on for an hour,” Wade said following the ceremony at halftime of the Heat’s 124105 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. “This is about me for sure, but this is about all of us at the same time— the city of Miami, teammates over the years, everyone who has sacrificed, rooted and cried. We all did this together. I didn’t do this by myself.”

Wade’s wife helped to hoist his No. 3 jersey to the rafters, where it joined the retired jerseys of four other Heat players—Alonzo Mourning, Tim Hardaway, Shaquille O’Neal and Chris Bosh.

The ceremony was the centerpiece in a three-day celebration of Wade’s 16-year National Basketball Association (NBA) career, which included three championship seasons with the Heat. Wade, who now lives in Los Angeles, returned to the arena for the first time since his final home game in April 2019.

“The man is hanging from the ceiling in a way he’ll never be forgotten,” Riley told the crowd.

Wade reminisced about the impression he made helping Marquette beat Kentucky, Riley’s alma mater, in the NCAA tournament. Months later, Riley and the Heat took Wade with the fifth overall pick in the 2003 draft, and spectators at the Miami arena that night roared their approval at the choice.

“At that moment I felt your love,” Wade told the crowd. “That was the first of many moments we would share together. Your appreciation and love has never left me. If there is one word, one feeling I want to convey to you tonight, it is gratitude.”

Wade closed his speech by quoting his friend, the late Kobe Bryant.

“Kobe said the most important thing is to try to inspire others so they can be great in whatever they choose to do,” Wade told the crowd. “I hope I’ve inspired all of you.”

Wade played 14-and-a-half of his 16 NBA seasons with the Heat. He was the 2006 NBA Finals MVP and made 13 All-Star games.

This weekend’s festivites also includes tribute speeches Friday night and a showing of a documentary Sunday.

“We’re celebrating greatness and a legacy that will live on forever,” Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra said. AP Dwyane Wade expresses his gratitude at his jersey retirement ceremony. AP

Fans heckle Astros during spring opener W

EST PALM BEACH, Florida—Fans hoping to heckle the sign-stealing Houston Astros at their spring opener were met with quite the coincidence.

They got their signs stolen.

In the Astros’ first spring training game since their sign-stealing scandal rocked baseball, some fans brought signs jeering Houston, and ballpark personnel confiscated them before the exhibition opener against the World Series champion Washington Nationals on Saturday night.

In a Series rematch, the Nats got hearty cheers, while everyone in an Astros jersey— including the mascot, Orbit—was booed.

Houston did not use any players implicated in Major League Baseball’s (MLB) probe.

Two men in Nationals gear sitting behind the Astros dugout briefly held up crudely drawn signs just before first pitch. One read: “You see my hate?” in large block letters. And another said: “Houston” with an asterisk below it, suggesting the Astros’ 2017 World Series title should be permanently blemished because of the cheating.

The men didn’t get to show off their signs for long. A woman who worked for the ballpark quickly approached to take the signs. They didn’t argue with the woman, but they did look confused as she walked away with them folded in her arms.

The Astros and Nationals share a spring training complex. Houston was designated the

EVERYONE in an Astros jersey—including the mascot, Orbit—is booed. AP

home team Saturday.

Matthew Silliman, who held one of the signs, said he didn’t know they were forbidden.

He drove to the game from Tampa Bay and said he’s been waiting to let the Astros know what he thinks of them.

“I’m a big Nats fan and it’s wrong,” he said.

“They’re cheaters.”

Commissioner Rob Manfred concluded last month the Astros violated rules by using a television camera to steal catchers’ signs during their run to the 2017 World Series title and again in the 2018 season. Manager AJ Hinch and General Manager Jeff Luhnow were suspended for one season and then fired by the team, but players were not disciplined.

Fans booed loudly every time the public address announcer said “Astros,” and fans behind Houston’s dugout heckled Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and Lance McCullers Jr. as they stood on the dugout steps before the game. A few fans banged on their metal seats, attempting to mimic the banging on a trash can the Astros used to relay stolen signs to hitters.

One fan in a Nationals jersey yelled: “Hey Altuve, are you scared to play tonight?” Others screamed “you suck!” and “cheaters!”

First-year Houston Manager Dusty Baker said he didn’t think the reception was “too bad” and said his team will have to get used to it.

“You’ll probably get the same reception most places you go, especially the first goround,” he said. “So, you’ve just got to put your big-boy pants on and then just try to shut it out, and just play baseball and realize this too shall pass.” AP

Harden, Westbrook propel Rockets past Jazz

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ALT LAKE CITY—Team are trying to get creative in guarding the Houston Rockets.

Russell Westbrook doesn’t think the ploys are effective.

James Harden shrugged off traps to score 38 points, Westbrook faced two-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert and still had 34 and the Rockets beat the Utah Jazz, 120-110, on Saturday night.

“I don’t know if it’s working. I get whatever I want.

I get to the basket. I shoot. I drive and kick. The pace and speed you can’t scout for,”Westbrook said.

Harden (13 for 23, six 3-pointers) and Westbrook (14 for 26) were efficient all night and the Rockets rode a big third quarter to their third straight win.

“It obviously didn’t work,” Harden said when asked about putting the 7-foot-1 Gobert on the 6-foot-3 Westbrook.

Eric Gordon and Ben McLemore each scored 12 off the bench for Houston.

Donovan Mitchell scored 31 and Jordan Clarkson had 22 for the Jazz, who cut the Rockets’ lead to seven in the fourth quarter a couple times but could never get closer.

The Rockets made the Jazz pay when they occasionally double-teamed Harden and couldn’t rotate fast enough to the perimeter shooters. After a season high-tying 25 3-pointers in their last outing against Golden State, the Rockets made 20 of 48 from beyond the arc.

“We have two guys, even more than two guys, that are able to put pressure on the rim. Teams are going to come and help and then our shooters have open shots,” Harden said.

The Rockets made their move in the third quarter when they outscored the Jazz 38-19.

“When we don’t make shots, it really impacts our defense. That said, I thought in the third quarter, we didn’t have the same energy we needed on the defensive end. We didn’t get our hands on balls, we didn’t get deflections, and we

fouled just once which tells you a little about our aggressiveness,” Utah Coach Quin Snyder said. AP Westbrook capped a 14-2 run with a jumper and Houston led 100-85 entering the final period.

“It’s cash money when they guard like that,” Westbrook said.

The Rockets made eight of their first nine threepoint attempts to take an early eight-point lead.

Taking advantage of Houston’s lack of rim protection, Clarkson scored 20 points in the first half to help the Jazz recover and move in front.

The Jazz played zone defense at times along with some non traditional defensive matchups against the small-ball Rockets.

“Every game has been different so we just need to figure out how they are going to guard us and attack it. If they trap me, we are going to get open threes. If they play us regular, we’ll run our offense and still get it,” Harden said.

If Harden and Westbrook are rolling, unique strategies don’t seem to matter. AP

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Monday, February 24, 2020

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Rick Olivares bleachersbrew@gmail.com

PETECIO, DIAZ LEAD MAJOR AWARDEES A

BOXER Nesthy Petecio, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz and pole vaulter EJ Obiena will be honored by the country’s sports scribes.

Filipino netters take on Tsitsipas, Greeks in new Davis Cup format

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he Philippines will get the chance to play against world tennis’ best and brightest as the national team clashes with Greece in the Davis Cup, which is implementing a brand new format starting this year.

Under the new format, the Filipinos will battle the Greeks that could be spearheaded by World No. 6 Stefanos Tsitsipas in a World Group II playoff round slated March 6 and 7 at the Philippine Columbian Association’s Plaza Dilao clay courts in Paco, Manila.

It will mark the first time that the country will play against a non-Asian country since the team, then led by Felix Barrientos, tackled Sweden in the World Cup qualifier in 1991.

Jeson Patrombon, Francis Casey Alcantara, AJ Lim and, possibly, Filipino-Americans Ruben Gonzales and Treat Huey are expected to represent the country.

They will have a chance to face Tsitsipas, who made the semifinals of the Australian Open last year, assuming the Greeks will enlist him before the deadline on Tuesday.

“We’re excited of the new format because our team will have an opportunity to play not just Asians but also other strong players in the world,” said Philippine nonplaying captain Chris Cuarto.

In this new system, a total of 12 home-andaway ties will be played in the World Group II simultaneous with the World Qualifiers and World Group I playoffs.

The top 12 in the World Group II playoffs will then advance to the World Group II ties in September along with losing countries from the World Group I. The losers here will be demoted to the Regional Group III scheduled in June and July or September.

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Riviera was beaten to second place by Valley.

Mendoza said they are still two years away from competing against the likes of Luisita and Canlubang in the premier championship division.

“By that time Junjun [Plana] and Vince [Lauron] would be available,” he said.

The annual PAL Interclub event, hosted by national flag carrier Philippine Airlines, is backed by platinum sponsors Asian Air Safari, Vanguard Radio Network, Fox Networks Group and Radio Mindanao Network Inc. Major sponsors include The Boeing Company, University of Mindanao Broadcasting Network, Avolon Aerospace Singapore Pte. Ltd., Rolls Royce, Primax Broadcasting, Rolls-Royce Singapore Pte. Ltd. and Cignal TV Inc. Other supporters are Uniglobe Travelware Co., Inc. (The Travel Club), Officine Corp., GE Aviation, SEDA Hotels, BDO Unibank, Smart Communications Inc., People Asia Magazine, A+E Networks Asia (History) and Allianz PNB Life.

Favorite Award.

Team Philippines Chef de Mission William “Butch” Ramirez will be honored with the Executive of the Year award.

Ramirez, also the chairman of the PSC, is credited for steering the Philippines in regaining the overall championship of the SEA Games after 14 years.

The 1,115-strong Team Philippines won a record haul of 149 gold, 117 silver, and 121 bronze medals, the most the country ever had since it began participating in the SEA Games in 1977.

The Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (Abap), meanwhile, will be recognized as the National Sports Association of the Year.

Led by Petecio, Filipino boxers stamped their class everywhere in 2019 which saw them winning golds from the Asian to the world levels.

Special awards will also be given to outstanding athletes in their respective sports.

Stephan Schrock will be conferred with the Mr. Football award, while Bianca Pagdanganan will be the first ever to receive the Ms. Golf title.

The 33-year-old Schrock and Pagdanganan, 22, join Mr. and Ms. Basketball Thirdy Ravena and Jack Animam, Mr. and Ms. Volleyball Bryan Bagunas and Sisi Rondina and Coach of the Year Pat Aquino.

Pagdanganan had her own share in the Filipinos’ successful title drive in the SEA Games, leading the country’s two-gold romp in golf by winning the women’s individual and team events in tandem with Lois Kaye Go. The recipient of the 2018 Athlete of the Year (with fellow golfers Go and Yuka Saso, Hidilyn Diaz and Margielyn Didal), Pagdanganan also won the Hawkeye El Tigre Invitational in Mexico last year.

A sports and society major, Pagdanganan turned pro last year.

Schrock, meanwhile, will be receiving his second Mr. Football award after winning his first in 2013.

The veteran midfielder of Ceres Negros stood as the rock of the Philippine Azkals that is currently on a transition, serving as the captain of the U22 team in the SEA Games that came close to reaching the knockout stage.

The Fil-German player was also named by the Asean Football Federation as one of the recipients of the AFF Best XI Award during the AFF Awards held in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Army’s Bordeos rules rain-soaked 1st stage

S’WOODS DEFENDS SRS CROWN anila Southwoods guns for a repeat win in the Founders division of the 34th Philippine Airlines Seniors Interclub golf team championships set from February 26 to 29 in Bacolod City.

“We hope to duplicate our performance last year,” said Southwoods captain Freddie Mendoza who is fielding nearly the same lineup that gave them a 12-point victory over Valley in Cebu City.

Theody Pascual, who led the team in scoring, will be back along with Thirdy Escano, Ryan Abdon, Alexander Ignacio, Jose Roy III, Danny Samaniego and John Bayani Fontanilla III. Rading Decipeda is the team’s newest member, replacing Bong Sison.

Mendoza said competition in the second-tier division is keen and expects an exciting contest among Valley, Riviera and host Negros Occidental.

Last year, Southwoods held a precarious onepoint lead over Riviera going into the final round before sparkling with a closing 143 points.

BOXING world champion and an Olympic silver medalist are among those to be feted with major awards in next month’s annual San Miguel Corp.-Philippine Sportswriters Association Awards Night at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel.

Nesthy Petecio and Hidilyn Diaz lead 12 personalities who will receive major awards from the country’s oldest media organization in the March 6 gala night presented by the Philippine Sports Commission, Milo, Cignal TV, Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), Rain or Shine and Air Asia.

The two female athletes are also members of Team Philippines which will be honored with the coveted Athlete of the Year award on account of its successful 30th Southeast Asian Games campaign.

Petecio, 27, won the featherweight gold in the International Boxing Association Women’s World Boxing Championships in Ulan-Ude, Russia, while Diaz, 29, and silver medalist in the Rio 2016 Olympics, bagged a silver in the Asian Championships and two bronze medals in the World Championships.

The country’s first qualifier to the Tokyo Olympics—pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena—is also a major awardee for topping the qualifying meet in Chiara, Italy. He also won golds in the Asian Athletics Championship and the Summer Universiade.

Two other world boxing champions are also on the honor roll—reigning International Boxing Federation super-flyweight title holder Jerwin Ancajas and World Boxing Organization bantamweight king Johnriel Casimero.

Not to be left out are major awardees in basketball composed of the undefeated six-time University Athletic Association of the Philippines women’s champion National University, five-time PBA Philippine Cup winner San Miguel Beer and five-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo.

Completing the list of major awardees are golfers Juvic Pagunsan, Aidric Chan and Princess Superal and Horse of the Year Union Bell.

Still to be named are recipients of special citations, Milo Junior Athletes of the Year, Tony Siddayao Awardees and the Chooks-To-Go Fan

S

PANGASINAN’S Mark Julius Bordeos sprints to victory.

By Ramon Rafael Bonilla

ORSOGON CITY—Team Army Bicycology Mark Julius Bordeos won a sprint finish against potential champions in the rain-drenched Stage 1 of the 10th Ronda Pilipinas on Sunday.

The 24-year-old Bordeos emerged from the back of a five-man breakaway to prevail in the 129.5-km race staged on an out-and-back course in three hours, six minutes and seven seconds.

George Oconer of Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance, Rustom Lim of 7-Eleven Cliqq by Roadbike Philippines and Jerry Aquino Jr. of Scratch It figured in the sprint finish for an identical time with Bordeos, while 2012 champion and Lim’s teammate Mark Galedo check in fifth three seconds behind the first group.

“I stuck with the group but I didn’t exactly expected to win against the sprinters,” said Bordeos, an Army private from Laoac, Pangasinan, who believes he is in his best shape after undergoung appendectomy in 2015.

Rain fell for most part of the race rendering the road slippery and posing danger to the riders. It was in the 40-km mark where Bordeos and company jumped from the peloton where most of the big guns—including former champions—were stuck.

The breakaway held until the finish with Galedo unleashing his veteran smarts to leave the group behind.

But in the final 500 meters, Bordeos slingshot himself to snatch opening day honors.

“I thought Kuya Mac [Galedo] was ready to sprint anytime. But I felt I had the momentum,” Bordeos said.

“Mark’s victory is the product of the entire team’s hard work and perseverance. We knew this win was bound to happen, sooner or later,” Army-Bicycology Shop Team Manager and former swimming champion Eric Buhain said.

“That it came right on the first day of the race means more and bigger challenges ahead, because everyone will now set their eyes on us. It

Bleachers’ Brew

A world of controversy

THE sports world is still reeling from the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal when English football club Manchester City was hit with a two-year ban on European play as well as a hefty fine by UEFA. While sports controversies—especially cheating incidents—aren’t new and we certainly do not think that it is the norm, it is still shocking. The audacity to even try it when there is the likelihood they will get caught beggars the imagination.

Major League Baseball (MLB) has seen so many controversies through the past century and it has always survived these hits to its reputation.

I am surprised though that MLB did not even bother to take away the World Series trophies from the teams. Are they worried about the Players’ Union? Why should they? If the union protects its players and the cheaters, they will not hear the end of it from the fans who already think they are overpaid rich folks who whine a lot.

I really think that Houston got away with their cheating. Every single player and coach (and official) on that team was party to the cheating. Including whistle-blower Mike Fiers who himself said he doesn’t mind returning the championship ring if MLB asks him to do so.

By vacating the title, it sends a clear message about zero tolerance about the cheating.

How about the doping scandals? The steroid users? MLB is just as culpable because they knew about it but ignored it. The rode that card because crowds were coming out to watch the Great Home Run chase.

Some even say by taking back the World Series trophy, one will open a can of worms. Then so be it. Unless you want to look the other way and sweep everything under the rug?

As for Manchester City, detractors always say that they bought their way into a championship.

Does it help that they are able to get very good footballers? Yes, but you still need them to play sweet music together. The fact that they have not won it year after year means it is difficult.

Does it constitute an advantage to get away with a lack of financial fair play? No doubt about it.

The funny thing about this is the club has not really owned up to the whistle-blower, Rui Pinto’s revelations about the club’s cheating. Instead, they argue that he obtained the paperwork illegally.

And Pinto spilled a lot from Cristiano Ronaldo’s tax evasion to Fifa President Gianni Infantino’s collusion with Paris St. Germain’s own breach of financial fair play among others.

And the whistle-blower is in jail with his life in peril.

I have long disliked the corruption in football. At the time of our exposing the then corruption in the Philippine Football Federation and a former president a decade ago, I have been banned from covering the game, from access to the national team, or even from the federation’s premises. That isn’t the case any longer, but it’s really hard fighting against an entrenched group with all the money to spare.

Unfortunately, it does leave a sour taste in our mouth—and I am sure for others—because it greatly spoils the game. The end result of the Astros or even the old Philippine Football Federation left much to be desired. I am sure that now that Manchester City has gone to the Court for Arbitration for Sport, it is possible they can get a reduced sentence or maybe none at all (PSG is still laughing all the way to the bank) .

We can only hope that people will do the right thing. Unfortunately, when it involves large sums of money, it isn’t that easy because of vested interests. is now up to us how to respond,” he added.

The Pangasinense will be a marked man with the leader’s red jersey in the 150.6-km Stage 2—markerd by some mild climbs—from Sorsogon City to Legazpi City.

“I won’t let them leave me in the climb” Bordeos said.

Two-time champion Jan Paul Morales of Philippine Navy finished in the thirtd group with Alvin Benosa (Celeste Cycling Team), and 7-Eleven riders Aidan James Mendoza, Marcelo Felipe and Mervin Corpuz. They crossed 12 seconds behind Bordeos.

Ronald Oranza, the 2018 champion of Philippine Navy, was 17th in 3:07:28, while 2014 king Reimon Lapaza of Celeste Cycles was 20th in 3:07:42. Inaugural titlist Santy Barnachea finished at 30th place in 3:07:53.

Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance took team classification honors with 12:24:55. 7-Eleven (12:27:26) and Celeste Cycling Team (12:27:35) were second and third place, respectively.

Sports

Cristiano Ronaldo scores for an 11th straight league game. AP

BusinessMirror

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| Monday, February 24, 2020 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

SLIDING BACK INTO RHYTHM ON a dreary day, it’s exactly what the sport needs after a difficult week wondering about Ryan Newman’s frightening accident on the last lap of the Daytona 500. AP

L

By Jenna Fryer

The Associated Press

AS VEGAS—Some levity returned to Nascar on a rainy Saturday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

As drivers idled inside waiting for the eventual cancellation of qualifying for Sunday’s race, Kevin Harvick took to Twitter to defend reigning Cup Series champion Kyle Busch’s participation in the Truck Series.

Busch won Friday night at Las Vegas to extend his streak of Truck Series victories to seven consecutive dating to 2018. Nascar limits how often Cup regulars can participate in lower levels, with Busch allowed just five Truck Series races a year.

When a fan complained on Twitter about Busch’s participation, Harvick first pointed out that Busch racing five times helps fund the entire Kyle Busch Inc. team for the full year. Then he upped the ante by offering $50,000 to any Cup driver who can win one of the four remaining Truck Series races on

Busch’s schedule.

“I like this so let’s make this fun,” Harvick posted on Twitter. “I’ll put up a $50,000 bounty for any full time cup driver who races a truck and can beat @KyleBusch in his next four races. #gameon.”

As rain washed out qualifying—the field for Sunday’s race was set by the 2019 points, but series champion Busch will drop to the back of the field at the start because his car failed a Friday inspection—bored drivers were quick to engage in Harvick’s salvo. Coca-Cola urged Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, Busch’s teammate, to take the challenge.

Hamlin zeroed in on his home track in Richmond, Virginia, the final race on Busch’s schedule. He said if he can get into a Toyota Tundra and find sponsorship within this coming week, he’ll challenge his teammate.

“Might as well book this as a W,” Hamlin said. “If sponsorship is secured within a week I’m in. KB will go 4-1.”

Busch did not seem threatened.

“So what do I get if no one can do it?”

Busch wondered.

Harvick said the money would then go to the Bundle of Joy Foundation run by Busch and his wife, Samantha, that helps families struggling to conceive children. Harvick egged on Marcus Lemonis, chairman of the Gander Outdoors brand that sponsors the Truck Series, to match his pledge and there’s now $100,000 on the line to any Cup driver who can beat Busch in a Truck Series race.

On a dreary day at the race track, it was exactly what the sport needed after a difficult week wondering about Ryan Newman’s frightening accident on the last lap of

the Daytona 500. Many drivers initially feared Newman would not survive the spectacular crash, but he walked out of the hospital 42 hours after the accident.

Still, the aftermath had some drivers reflecting on the dangers of auto racing. The series has avoided serious injuries the last several years and the last Cup Series fatality was Dale Earnhardt in his own last-lap accident in the 2001 Daytona 500.

Martin Truex Jr. was in Daytona Beach when Newman was released from the hospital and spent time with him, and said the duo is already scheduling fishing trips.

“I told him this week he’s lucky he’s such a hard-headed son of a gun,” Truex said. “It was a scary wreck for sure. Hopefully we don’t have to worry about things like that for sure.

We just have to figure out ways to keep the cars on the ground.”

But he said he accepts the dangers of racing as a risk he assumed when he chose his profession.

“I think everyone who steps in a race car understands there’s a potential risk of injury,” he said. “I feel like a lot of people have gotten numb to it over the years because the cars have gotten so safe, but they are still, you have potential for danger. I think that’s why we sign waivers when we get in these things.”

OVECHKIN JOINS 700 CLUB

N

Alex Ovechkin is the eighth National Hockey League player to score 700 career goals. AP

EWARK, New Jersey— With power and a prodigious shot, Alex Ovechkin now stands where few in hockey have been.

He became the eighth National Hockey League (NHL) player to score 700 career goals, reaching the milestone in the third period of the Washington’ Capitals’ 3-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.

“It’s a special moment,” Ovechkin said. “When you get closer you start thinking when it’s going to happen.

Finally, it’s over so we don’t have to talk about it anymore. We’re going to move on.”

The 34-year-old Russian forward one-timed a slap shot from the right circle that went in off the left post 4:50 into the third period, tying the game at two. It was his 42nd goal of the season, one behind Boston’s David Pastrnak and Toronto’s Auston Matthews for the league lead, and came on his second shot on goal of the game.

Capitals players rushed onto the ice to congratulate their teammate, and Devils fans gave him a strong ovation.

“It was obviously a matter of time, but that was a huge goal for us at the time,” said Todd Rierden, in his second season as Capitals coach after serving as an assistant the previous four. “Amazing to be able to watch it live and in person. To be able to go through the last six years with [Ovechkin] has been amazing to watch. Certainly a superstar in my time, the best goal-scorer that I’ve ever seen.”

Wayne Gretzky leads the career list with 894 goals. He is followed by Gordie Howe (801), Jaromir

Ronaldo matches record in 1,000th game as Juventus brings down Spal in Milan

M

ILAN—Cristiano Ronaldo marked his 1,000th official match by scoring a record-equaling goal to help Juventus win at Spal, 2-1, in Serie A on Saturday.

Ronaldo scored for an 11th straight league game, matching the Serie A record set by Gabriel Batistuta in 1994, and equaled by Fabio Quagliarella last season.

Ronaldo also hit the crossbar with a free kick late on and had an early goal disallowed.

Aaron Ramsey doubled Juve’s lead in the second half, and Andrea Petagna got Spal back into the match with a penalty.

Juventus visits Lyon in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 on Wednesday.

Serie A leader Juventus extended its advantage to four points above Lazio, which visits Genoa on Sunday.

Third-placed Inter Milan is also playing a relegationthreatened team on

B Lionel Messi ends his four-game scoreless streak in the league with a beautiful opening goal. AP

Jagr (766), Brett Hull (741), Marcel Dionne (731), Phil Esposito (717) and Mike Gartner (708).

Jagr and Gartner both spent some time with the Capitals but nether reached the mark while playing for the team.

“It’s always special to be in that category,” Ovechkin said. “But I would say without my team, without my family, without the fans, the support that I have I would never reach that milestone. We have to continue to create history.”

Ovechkin had not scored in five straight games before getting No. 699 against Montreal on Thursday night. He had 14 goals, including three hat tricks, in his previous seven games before the drought.

“I knew someday even if I didn’t score today we still have 20 games, so one goal I would score,” he said. “It’s pretty good company. I am happy to be there.”

He needed 1,144 games to reach the landmark, second fastest behind Gretzky at 886 games. And the player who has been tormenting goalies since joining the league in 2005 moved from 600 goals to 700 in 154 games, the fewest among the eight players to reach the mark. AP

ARCELONA, Spain—With a hat trick in the first 40 minutes and another goal near the end on Saturday, Lionel Messi ended his worst scoreless run in six years in the Spanish league and put Barcelona back at the top of the standings.

Messi led Barcelona to a 5-0 rout of Eibar on a day fans protested against Club President Josep Bartomeu at the Camp Nou Stadium. The victory moved the Catalan club two points ahead of Real Madrid, which lost to Levante 1-0.

The Spanish powerhouses play their clásico in Madrid next weekend, and this week have round-of-16 matches in the Champions League—Barcelona visits Napoli on Tuesday and Real Madrid hosts Manchester City on Wednesday.

Barcelona’s fourth league win in a row also helped ease some of the pressureon Bartomeu, who was jeered by part of the crowd. Fans, who also called for his resignation, have not been happy with Bartomeu’s administration amid one of the club’s worst institutional crises, which includes a controversial coaching change and public conflicts between players and club directors.

Messi, one of the recent critics of club officials, ended his four-game scoreless streak in the league with a beautiful opening goal, sending the ball through the legs of defender Anaitz Arbilla and entering the area, and finding the net in the 14th minute.

“Messi has been doing this for the last 14 or 15 years, and he will keep doing it,”

Sunday as it hosts Sampdoria.

Spal remained firmly bottom of the table, eight points from safety, after a fifth successive defeat.

Ronaldo thought he gave Juventus the lead in the fifth minute but it was ruled offside on video review.

However, the Portugal forward got on the score sheet six minutes from the break, rushing in at the far post to volley Juan Cuadrado’s cross into the roof of the net.

It took Juventus until the hour mark to double its lead when Paulo Dybala sent in a delightful through ball for Ramsey, who lifted it above Spal goalkeeper Etrit Berisha.

Spal reduced the deficit nine minutes later after Juventus defender Daniele Rugani fouled midfielder Simone Missiroli.

After a lengthy wait and the use of video review, a penalty was awarded and Petagna fired it into the bottom right corner. AP

Messi nets four goals vs Eibar to end Barca scoreless streak Barcelona Coach Quique Setién said. “He is a guarantee for any team or coach. He always comes through, either with goals or with assists.”

Messi beat Arbilla again with a run into the area before scoring the second in the 37th, and three minutes later he sealed the hat trick with an easy goal off the rebound of a shot by Antoine Griezmann.

It was the second fastest hat trick for Messi. He had one 30 minutes into a game against Mallorca in 2011.

The fourth goal came in the 87th after he cleared Arbilla and goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic to shoot into an open net.

“When Messi has a day like this, it’s difficult,” Leganés defender José Ángel Valdés said. “The best player in the world was on the other side, so there was not much we could do.”

It was the seventh time Messi scored four goals or more with Barcelona. The last one was against Eibar in the 2017-18 season.

The goals kept Messi as the league leading scorer on 18, five more than Madrid striker Karim Benzema.

Messi had been decisive for Barcelona in recent games despite the scoreless streak, helping with a series of assists. He endured an eight-match scoreless streak back in 2014.

Barcelona said the rout against Eibar allowed the team to surpass Real Madrid as the team with most goals in the history of the Spanish league—6,151 against 6,150. AP

D

Peace

EAR God, we say it loud, oh Lord, let Peace reign in our midst! “I will hear what God the Lord will speak—for He will speak peace unto His people, and to His saints...Psalm 85:8. And the Peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep Your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7.” Because our trust depend on You, oh God, we seek daily Your mercy and love.

Amen.

GIVE US THIS DAY SHARED BY LUISA LACSON, HFL Word&Life Publications • teacherlouie1965@yahoo.com

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

Life BusinessMirror

AND THEN SOME: BRAND KNOWN FOR GOLDEN RATIO BROW SHAPING METHOD FINALLY COMES TO PHL D4

Monday, February 24, 2020

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Zardo Austria’s ‘Obra Maestra’ I

N April 2018, self-styled fashion and arts impresario Zardo A. Austria staged Marawing Salamat: The Best of Opera and Fashion for Marawi.

It was a spectacle at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) he coproduced with veteran actress Lorli Villanueva and opera tenor Sherwin Sozon to benefit the affected children of the Marawi siege.

“There was actually a clamor for a repeat performance of Marawing Salamat right after its staging. The CCP management was already toying with the idea. However, I told everyone, including my coproducers, that a repeat would be a more

CONTINUED ON D2

ROSE SANTIAGO LICUP in Lito Perez ALLEN CABS

JOYCE PEÑAS PILARSKY in her own design NEILSON ELESIS

ZARDO A. AUSTRIA in a Ricci Lizaso tailored suit using embroidered piña barong Tagalog RITCHE MARIANO

D2

Monday, February 24, 2020

Style

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Zardo Austria’s ‘Obra Maestra’ CONTINUED FROM D1 challenging task in terms of logistics and may not be a good idea. A right sequel would be more promising,� says Austria.

Marawing Salamat was monumental in terms of local production standards with a trendsetting idea that combined the big names in opera and fashion. “To be honest with you, after I coproduced and conceptualized Marawing Salamat, my real dilemma was how I would be able to surpass its high level of artistry and its huge turnout of guests,� he continues.

Being the creative thinker that he is, Austria was inspired to document the collections of the fashion designers whom he personally selected and invited to join the Marawi show. The idea for a coffee-table book was formed: Obra Maestra: A Portrait of Excellence in Philippine Fashion and Culture. “My concept was challenging—to relive the ‘pomp and pageantry of Carnival Queens.’ The designers should base their total look from the following goddesses: Terrestrial Goddess, Goddess of the Sea, Goddess of Fire and Metal, and Celestial Goddess,�

Austria says.

The idea of Carnival Queens inspired Austria because they started the Filipinos’ penchant for beauty pageants. “As I went along, I felt the need to broaden the scope so I could tie it up with our cultural heritage and

Today’s Horoscope

By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: O’Shea Jackson Jr., 29; Billy Zane, 54; Helen Shaver, 69; Edward James Olmos, 73.

history. Hence, I developed a new concept: Tracing the evolution of the Filipiniana fashion in a modern context. I was fortunate to meet Mario Feir, a certified bibliophile who owns a vast collection of Filipiniana materials he bought from auctions around the world.

Feir provided Austria with exclusive vintage photos needed for the book and magazine, NOBLEiDEAS...To Aspire and Inspire, while Austria set up numerous fashion pictorials to capture stylized interpretations of the various eras as created by the designers.

The book and the magazine were launched via a fashion show, Obra Maestra: Homage to Heritage, and an exhibit, The Evolution of Filipiniana Fashion, on February 20 at the Shangri-La Plaza, as part of the upscale mall’s celebration of National Arts Month.

The new chairman of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Nick Lizaso, was in attendance.

The participating designers include Steve de Leon, Renee Salud, Ditta Sandico, Delby Bragais, Edwin Uy, Jontie Martinez, Albert Figueras, Peter Lim, Jerome Navarro, Gerry Sunga, Ricci Lizaso, Edgar Madamba, Edgar San Diego and Lito Perez. At the exhibit, located at the Luxury Lane at the East Wing of the mall, a special showcase is being accorded to the pillars of Philippine fashion: Ramon Valera, Pitoy Moreno, Pacita Longos, R.T. Paras, Ben Farrales and Aureo Alonzo.

Directed by Raymond Villanueva and Nathan

de Leon, the show at the Grand Atrium also feted the “Fashion Muses,� women especially selected by Austria and the designers. “It is a tribute to the legendary muses of yesteryears, such as Chona Recto-Kasten, Chito Madrigal, Priscilla Sison and Imelda Cojuangco.

While they represented ladies with charm and pedigree, today’s Fashion Muses have an added edge: female empowerment,� says Austria.

One of the muses was Joyce PeĂąas Pilarsky, a multititled beauty queen, producer, author and fashion designer who wore her own creation: a fuchsia pink silk cocoon and lace serpentina gown with a cut to reveal the legs.

Another woman who was honored was Rose Santiago Licup, a restaurateur/philanthropist who was once a muse to the late Eddie Baddeo. At the show, however, she wore a Lito Perez creation in her trademark pink preference. “This event was a fund-raising project to help in the construction of the new monastery and chapel of the Benedictine Sisters in Mexico, Pampanga, and the rebuilding of the cities of Cotabato and Marawi through the Duyog Marawi of Bishop Edwin de la PeĂąa and the Redemptorist Missionaries,â€? Austria says. “The book will be out by May in time for the grand launch and gala. In the meantime, interested buyers can place orders via zardoaustria@gmail.com or call 0917-8607560.â€? â–

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Take your time, reflect, digest what’s happened and prepare to let go of anything that is no longer a necessity. The relief you feel from uncluttering your life emotionally, mentally and physically will help you take advantage of new possibilities. A demonstrative approach to life, love and personal gain will push you in a positive and prosperous direction. Your lucky numbers are 6, 14, 19, 22, 27, 34, 41.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Overreacting will lead to a poor decision. Don’t do anything unpredictable because you are angry or frustrated with what’s happening around you. Keep the peace, bide your time, and don’t jeopardize your reputation or your income. Avoid indulgent behavior. ★★★

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Think about what you can do, and head in that direction.

The help you offer will be appreciated and encourage you to update your skills and qualifications.

A change of scenery will lead to unusual friendships.

Live within your means. ★★★★

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Truth matters; if you mislead someone or you are inconsistent or uncertain, you will damage your reputation.

Take your time, be direct and concentrate on selfimprovement, not trying to change others. Get rid of any bad habits you’ve adopted. ★★

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Join in and spend time with your friends, relatives or peers.

Sign up for something that interests you, and share your ideas and feelings with someone you find special. Do your research, and lay down the foundation for something you want to pursue. ★★★★★

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Ignore what others are doing, and stay focused on what you want to achieve. A personal goal geared toward making updates will add to what you have to offer. ★★★

➜

THE athletic yet feminine look of the ECCO ST.1 Lite for women in Multicolor Blossom Rose

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Keep your money and your possessions in a safe place.

Don’t take risks or let anyone take advantage of you. Focus on keeping a steady pace and making adjustments that will help you get ahead. ★★★

➜

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Take time out for yourself. A day of pampering, spending time with someone special or curling up with a good book will ease stress. Do whatever it takes to avoid an argument. ★★★

THE ECCO ST.1 Lite features lightweight soles which provide cushioning and flexibility.

➜

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Don’t hesitate; you are more than ready to take on whatever comes your way. Seize the moment, ask questions and start making the changes required to turn your plan into a reality. ★★★★★

The ECCO ST.1 Lite incorporates FluidForm technology for truly anatomical foot support that lasts all day.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You’ll face confusion and uncertainty due to the information someone offers. Question whatever you are told, and find out what’s real and what isn’t before you commit to anything or anyone. ★★

The next step to athleisure DANISH brand ECCO is a celebration of the poetic collision of old-world craftsmanship with nextgeneration technology, in the visionary pursuit of an ongoing ideal: Natural Motion. With nature as its inspiration, and truth to materials as its design philosophy, it is the brand’s dream to create footwear that have their own version of natural motion, unique to each foot.

With athleisure arising, ECCO introduces the ST.1 line of its spring/summer 2020 collection. Combining form and function along with craftsmanship and technology, the ST.1 incorporates casual comfort and athletic prowess in sophisticated street-ready sneakers. Along with the classic colors, ECCO lets you have “Comfort in Color� as the line also features vibrant designs.

The ST.1 line includes a three-component sole unit which incorporates the all-new Shock Thru Technology. The three-component sole

brings together softness, rebound and a durable outsole. Meanwhile, the reengineered ECCO Shock Thru Technology delivers double the shock absorption and cushioning than the previous shock technology.

Founded in 1963 in Bredebro, Denmark, by Karl Toosbuy and his wife Birte, ECCO products are sold in over 90 countries. The brand is one of the few major shoe manufacturers in the world to own and manage every step of the shoemaking process.

ECCO has dedicated shoemakers with over 50 years of experience. The brand owns tanneries producing leather for some of the world’s leading fashion, lifestyle and performance brands.

ECCO continues to expand its footwear heritage in the Philippines with its store in SM Megamall and shop-in-shop concepts at The SM Store in Mall of Asia, Makati, North Edsa, Aura, Megamall, Southmall and Estancia.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Check out the job market, and consider what excites you and what you’d like to do next. A change at home will help you make a move in a new direction. Turn your dream, passion or talent into a prosperous venture. ★★★★

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Take action, and form alliances with someone who has always been there for you. Don’t worry about the changes others are making. Focus on what’s best for you, and work with those who are heading in a similar direction. ★★★

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Common sense, reason and fair play will help you stay on course and reach your target. Refuse to let ego, regrets or bad habits come between you and the success you deserve. Stay on track, do your best and don’t look back. ★★★ BIRTHDAY BABY: You are astute, dedicated and fair.

You are strong-willed and faithful.

‘contain yourself’ BY PAUL COULTER The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Try to tear 6 Dried poblano pepper 11 Casbah cap 14 Southwestern brick 15 Less decorated 16 Anger 17 Hard candies kept in apt containers (first 2 letters + last 2) 19 Trained for a marathon 20 Either “E� in ESE 21 Impress, perhaps?

23 Car loan letters 25 Wears away 27 Vowelless PC key 30 Prefix for “metric�

31 Battering ___ 32 Bear buddy of Mowgli 33 Clumsy sort 34 Business slumps 37 Select group of invitees 38 1980s dance party staples kept in apt containers (first 3 + last 2) 42 Bungle 43 Delhi dress

44 Word before “force� or “the Force�

46 Asian dish that’s skewered before a food critic tries it 47 Rhody the Ram’s sch.

49 Bear buddy of John Bennett 50 Situated above 51 Alf’s home planet 54 ___ de parfum 55 Fix, as a shoe bottom 57 Campus official 59 Have the rights to 61 Morning jolt sources kept in apt containers (first 1 + last 3) 65 Adversary 66 Justice Samuel 67 Nickname hidden in Grand Marnier 68 Tina of 30 Rock 69 Minister’s home 70 Alluded to DOWN 1 The Big Bang Theory character 2 Boise’s state: Abbr.

3 Legal representation document 4 “Dancing Queen� group 5 Less verbose

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 18 22 23 24 26 28 29 32 35 36 39 40 41 42 45 48 51

Lawyers’ org.

Completely exposed ___ brulee Parsley and lovage Words after an estimate Single silver bar wearer Time line segment Buddhist discipline Online brokerage firm Upper massage target Back in time Heavy jacket Drops a name, say?

Antarctic waters Auction offering Bleat School fund-raiser grp.

Red Cross supply Suffix for “sea� or “moon�

Unlikely to thrive in group settings Harangue Org. with merit badges www.stanford.___ Sore wrist application Money, in slang

52 53 56 58 59 60 62 63 64

Like Santa’s helpers Some turns on the road Con game Sleek design prefix Amiss Bad luck in love, e.g.

Abbr. in a help wanted ad Actress Vardalos Ready, as an alarm

Solution to Friday’s puzzle:

Show BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Monday, February 24, 2020

Gerald Santos flexes his artistic muscles A

S the latest Filipino actor-singer who gave life to the tragic character of Thuy in the international touring production of the acclaimed Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil musical Miss Saigon, Gerald Santos is putting everything he learned from his overseas stint to good use in his new musical theater outing.

Santos plays the lead character of a benevolent Filipino saint in San Pedro Calungsod, The Musical at the Music Museum in Greenhills tomorrow, February 25, and another show on the 29th at the Saint Cecilia’s Hall of Saint Scholastica’s College, Manila. He not only acts in this special production but is also being credited as a cowriter for some of the original songs that will be performed in the musical.

“It’s my attempt at songwriting, if you can call it that,” said the self-effacing artist. Santos is being directed by his mentor-manager Cocoy Ramilo, who has been there for Santos since the very start. Ramilo also wrote some of the songs in this production.

“I am so happy that Gerald continues to spread his wings as an artist. He is very gifted, and his heart and his head are in the right places,” said Ramilo, who told us that part of the proceeds from the ticket sales will benefit those who were displaced by the recent eruption of Taal Volcano.

A few years of experience offshore allowed Santos to truly absorb the spirit of a world-class professional actor. “One needs to be completely focused on the

character before he can truly give life to it. You also have to be a team player. Passion is also very important because acting onstage is not only a job, it is a commitment,” he shared.

Santos toured with Miss Saigon and performed in England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Germany and Switzerland. He was in 90 percent of the more than 600 shows of the touring company.

He brought that same kind of discipline home and flexed his newfound artistic skills when he was entrusted the major supporting role of Anthony Hope in Bobby Garcia’s local staging of Sweeney Todd during the last quarter of 2019.

“I learned a lot from those I worked with in Sweeney,“ he said. “They welcomed me with open arms, and even if I was starstruck on many days from rehearsals to performances, I worked very, very hard to live up to their expectations. The experience made me affirm that Filipino performance artists are special, and we take care of each other, and bring out the best in one another.”

Santos is excited that he is performing with a relatively young cast in San Pedro Calungsod, The Musical. “I see myself in some of my coactors, and rehearsing and performing with them reminded me of those times when I was just starting to dream of becoming a performance artist. Their energies are simply amazing.”

The 28-year-old artist is aware that balance is the key to success for every show that he accepts. “I train, I rehearse, I workout, I do cardio so I can be at my fittest especially if the role is demanding. I value sleep and I choose what I eat,” Santos shared.

This musical has toured some of the cities in the Philippines prior to Santos’s much-heralded stint in Miss Saigon, and he is happy that he will get to perform this special role of the Filipino saint once more. “I am more spiritual than religious, and this production is my own small way of saying thank you for all the wonderful blessings that have been bestowed on me. Whatever gifts I have, I know I have

SUPERSTAR Nora Aunor (from left), Mylene Dizon and Kyline Alcantara

Three generations of women in pursuit of their dreams Beginning today, February 24, three generations of women take on a quest to pursue their dreams on GMA’s muchawaited TV adaptation of the 1989 award-winning Regal Films blockbuster, Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit.

The drama series is top-billed by the multi-awarded legendary Superstar Nora Aunor as Mercedes “Cedes” dela Cruz. Playing equally important roles are highlyacclaimed actress Mylene Dizon as Magnolia “Nolie” dela Cruz and Kyline Alcantara as Maggie dela Cruz.

Nora shares her excitement to be starring in a remake of her own award-winning film: “Masaya ako na magkakaroon ng remake ’yung aming pelikula noon. Excited din ako dahil ang gagaling ng mga artista na makakasama ko dito.”

Mylene reveals that she is honored to be working with the legendary actress: “It’s really a dream come true. I think it’s every actress’s dream to be able to work with Ms. Nora Aunor. I feel very privileged and lucky to be working with her for this project.” Meanwhile, Kyline feels ecstatic to be part of such stellar cast, “Until now, hindi talaga nagsi-sink in sa akin na I’m part of this huge teleserye. I can’t believe na makakatrabaho ko sila knowing na nagsisimula pa lang ako sa industriya. I feel really honored and, at the same time, pressured.”

Completing the star-studded cast are: Zoren Legaspi, Gabby Eigenmann, Ina Feleo, Yasser Marta, Divina Valencia, Candy Pangilinan and Isabel Rivas.

Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit features the special participation of Ricky Davao as Damian, calm and charitable husband of Cedes who serves as the leader of small-time grape farmers in their town; and Dante Rivero as Ramon, Martina’s successful husband who owns a liquor business.

The Dela Cruz is a humble family of grape farmers.

Despite struggling to make ends meet, married couple Cedes (Nora) and Damian (Ricky) are warmly respected by their grape farm community. They supply grapes to notorious liquor magnates Martina (Isabel) and Ramon (Dante). Nolie (Mylene), the diligent daughter of Cedes and Damian, is secretly in a relationship with the son of Martina and Ramon, Anselmo (Zoren), who is only pursuing the former for his selfish desires.

When greed consumes Martina, she orders the plantation to be burned down since the farmers oppose to sell their land.

This unfortunate incident leads to the death of Damian. Cedes goes berserk and accidentally kills Ramon. Making matters worse, Nolie finds out that she is also carrying Anselmo’s child, Maggie (Kyline).

Several years later, their stars will once again align when Maggie meets Jun (Yasser), the son of Anselmo with Margaux (Ina), and falls in love with him. Meanwhile, Cedes is set to avenge the death of Damian, and their stolen land with her newfound identity alongside Nolie who will, likewise, give Anselmo a taste of his own medicine.

How will Maggie fight for the man of her dreams when their love is forbidden to begin with? How will Nolie seek revenge against the man who crushed her heart? And how will Cedes avenge the death of her husband from the moneygrubbing Martina?

Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit is under the supervision of the GMA Entertainment Group headed by SVP for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable and VP for Drama Redgie A. Magno.

Award-winning director Laurice Guillen helms this much-awaited afternoon drama series, which airs beginning February 24, on weekdays on GMA.

to share these to as many as I can—to inspire and, also, make people happy.”

Santos, who recently bagged the Outstanding Performance in a Major Concert—from the newly established LEAF Awards, also let us in on his future

projects—a lead role in a film about a struggling musical artist to be directed by Njel de Mesa, a midyear major concert, and a solo album that he has started to work on. That’s definitely more than just flexing his artistic muscles. n

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Style

Monday, February 24, 2020

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Brand known for Golden Ratio brow shaping method finally comes to PHL

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NASTASIA Beverly Hills is known for its brow products, particularly its Dipbrow Pomade and the Brow Wiz. The brand is also known for its eye shadow palettes and highlighters.

The brand, founded by Anastasia Soare, became so popular that they introduced other products, such as foundations and color cosmetics. Before I got to try Anastasia Beverly Hills’s other products, my favorite was their lipstick primer.

Anyway, Soare is known for the Golden Ratio brow shaping technique, which is based on three “musts.” One, the brows begin directly above the middle of the nostrils. Two, the high part of the arch connects the tip of the nose with the middle of the iris. Three, the brow ends where the corner of the nostril connects with the outer corner of the eye.

In November, Anastasia Beverly Hills finally opened its first physical store in the Philippines at Rustan’s Makati. Before that, the brand was available through e-commerce platforms, like www.sephora.ph.

During the launch, Rustan’s gave us some of Anastasia Beverly Hills’s products, including the Dipbrow Gel. I assume this is the version of the Dipbrow Pomade in a wand. I’ve been using this since I got my brows newly groomed and I love it. The color I have (Chocolate) is a bit intense so I apply it with a light hand. I’ve been following makeup artist Anthea Bueno’s style of applying a brow gel first before filling in with a pencil if there are still bald spots, or areas where hair is sparse.

I actually like the Brow Wiz because it’s so easy to use. I’m more of a pencil person when it comes to brow products but when my brows haven’t been groomed in a while, they really look wild, so a pencil is not enough.

During the Philippine launch of Anastasia Beverly Hills, we got to swatch their Luminous Foundation and the liquid lipsticks. Earlier, I mentioned that I have been using their Lip Primer, which I really love. This doesn’t moisturize lips. What it does is to prevent lip color from smudging, bleeding or looking crusty, very helpful when you’re wearing matte shades.

Now, on to another product that I received from the brand. They gave me the Modern Renaissance Palette, which consists of 14 highly pigmented shades. At first, I was intimidated because some of the shades seemed too intense.

The eye shadows in the mostly matte palette apply very smoothly. I was pleasantly surprised at how well I could control application (this is always an issue because I am not really an expert). One more thing I like about this palette is that it can be used without a primer and it would last for six to eight hours.

My favorites of the lighter shades are Tempera and Golden Ochre. I also love Antique Bronze and Raw Sienna. None of the shades in the palette are unusable. Even the darker ones can be sheered out for a cute spring look.

I so love the palette that I gave away one of my three palettes. The palette I gave away was my most expensive one.

I feel that Anastasia Beverly Hills Renaissance Palette has everything I need in a palette. I have one more palette, an orange and red dominated palette for looks that are more intense and smokey.

Also, I have always been curious about Anastasia Beverly Hills’s Glow Kits. I have my eye on the Sun Dipped Glow Kit but right now, I cannot justify a new highlighter purchase because I have so many. I have, however, read good reviews about it, and how natural it looks.

So, yes, I need to finish at least one highlighter before I can even think about buying a new one. n

World-class salon-spa services now in Makati PREMIER beauty salon and spa Sybella Salon opens shop in Legazpi Village, Makati. Similar to the first branch, Sybella Salon in Ayala Marikina, which recently celebrated its first anniversary, the newly opened Sybella Beauty Lounge, located at BSA Mansion on Benavidez Street, offers the premier permanent makeup products and services of global beauty brand, Swiss Color International (SCI).

Founded in Switzerland in 2005, SCI is a global brand known for its high-quality pigments and highdevice standard for permanent cosmetics. Over the

At the ribbon cutting with Silvan Esslen, Ilias Sardellis, Julia and Lei Aspe of First Colonial Restaurant, and the Gutierrez family

years, the company has expanded its operations and reach, with more than 50 international trainers and academies all over the world. This success is due to the company’s consistency and passion about the safety of their clients, and offering the highest level of services.

With its partnership with Sybella Salon along with the most experienced international master trainers, SCI is confident to duplicate the same success and recognition in the Philippines. It is their goal to upgrade the level of microblading and micropigmentation in the country. SCI introduces the safety techniques in permanent makeup through their various products, including high-quality pigments and devices that conform to European standards.

Mr. and Mrs. Silvan Esslen will continue their efforts to introduce and promote the international brand, along with its products and techniques, to more customers.

The Sybella Salon owners also ensure that they will train their people about the use of the products and devices according to the high standards of SCI. Among the highlight services in the new Sybella branch are the Nano Brows and Lips, which use the advanced technology of SCI products and devices, with applied techniques invented by Ilias Sardellis.

Additionally, in 2020, Sybella Salon plans to introduce to the market some various beauty products from Magic Lashes.

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Monday, February 24, 2020

Present your data like a pro

To improve data quality, start at the source

By Thomas C. Redman

Alexander Baidin | Dreamstime.com

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W

By Joel Schwartzberg

ith so many ways to spin and distort information these days, a presentation needs to do more than simply share great ideas— it needs to support those ideas with credible data.

That’s true whether you’re an executive pitching new business clients, a vendor selling her services or a CEO making a case for change. How you present data can double—or decimate—its

impact, so take note of these ways to ensure that your data is doing its job:

Make sure your data can be seen

What is readable on your laptop

may be far less so when projected on a screen. Your audience won’t learn what it can’t see.

Focus on the points your data illustrates

Don’t leave the burden of decoding your data to your audience.

It’s your job to explain how the data supports your major points.

Share only one major point from each chart

The quickest way to confuse your audience is by sharing too many details at once. The only data points you should share are those that significantly support your point—ideally, one point per chart.

Label components clearly

While you’ve been working with the same chart for weeks or months, your audience will be exposed to it for mere seconds.

“Campaign Awareness,” they can still be elevated with more pointspecific titles like “Millennials Prefer Mobile” or “Campaign Awareness Is Increasing.”

Visually highlight “aha!” zones

Present to your audience

Write a title that reinforces the data’s point

Joel Schwartzberg oversees executive communications for a major nonprofit and is a professional presentation coach.

The best presenters visually highlight the “Aha!” zone itself with a circle or shading to reach the differentiated (aural, verbal, visual) learners in their audience, as well as to triplereinforce the most important data takeaways.

Even when the titles are specific, like “Millennial Preferences” or

Many presenters look at their slides while they share data, as if the PowerPoint is their audience. But only your audience is your audience, and, as fellow humans, they receive your points best when you look them in the eye.

To be more data driven, look How to negotiate with a procurement team for the right business partner

By Tom Kinnaird & Hal Movius

By Mario Harik

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ata-driven insights are essential for companies that want to optimize their operations or introduce a new product or service, like a tailored customer experience. However, some companies lack the tools to analyze their data, even though a rich supply is available. Other companies have the resources for analysis but lack the abundance of data needed for quality insights.

Even when both the data and the analytics exist, it can be smart to pool resources.

Identify the right partner and goal

A legacy organization partnering with a start-up is one obvious configuration, but the types of businesses that can benefit from an alliance are nearly endless. As with any relationship, it’s important that the two organizations share a similar culture and values, as well as a common goal. The goal itself should be laser-focused on solutions that will benefit the end user.

Think big by thinking small

A partner doesn’t have to be a large enterprise with a huge pool of resources. Highly specialized partnerships have great potential to improve efficiency. The ideal time to get involved with a small tech company is in its embryonic stage.

Don’t be afraid to be first

Some partner opportunities will be obvious, while others may come from unexpected places. One reason partnerships are so attractive is because they can offer the flexibility to walk away. The decadesold “fail-fast” mentality is still valid in the digital era and applies to business relationships as much as to new projects. I encourage business leaders to hunt for data-driven partnerships that fall outside their universe. Be willing to walk away from a partnership that isn’t delivering the anticipated results, but be the first to give a nonobvious alliance a chance.

Mario Harik is chief information officer of XPO Logistics.

© 2020 Harvard Business School Publishing Corp. (Distributed by The New York Times Syndicate)

I

magine the feeling: After months of courting a new client, who has given every indication that a lucrative contract award is imminent, you receive an e-mail from their procurement team. The letter states that there will be a competitive bidding process; that all bidders must agree upfront to standard (onerous) terms and conditions; and that any attempt to speak directly with the client will result in expulsion from the process. Rather than deciding how to respond to ultimata and threats, sellers can instead use two moves to improve their fortunes:

Analyze the setup

Sellers should ask processsetters how the ultimate decision will be made and who will be involved, but should also treat the assertion of decision ownership by procurement as a hypothesis to be tested rather than the settled truth. Sellers should also work to understand the buyer’s business requirements and how they were de-

veloped. Finally, sellers should think carefully about whether the stated business requirements accurately reflect client interests.

Shape the process

Power in negotiation comes from many different sources— the strength of each side’s nodeal alternatives; the current or future dependence of one party on another; the power of precedents, criteria and benchmarks. Moreover, power is almost always dynamic during a pitch process. Faced with losing a highly valued seller who is not prepared to accept the unreasonable contract clauses, a buyer will often make process concessions to that seller, or to all sellers.

Toward the end of the pitch, process buyers typically narrow the field to a shortlist, seeking to maintain leverage by using aggressive process tactics. This is a moment in the process when sellers are most at risk, because the sunk costs of pitching, internal leadership expectations and pressure, and the possibility of winning can lead to significant and unilateral concessions.

Rather than following passively, sellers can shape the endgame through three moves. First, sellers can propose a period of exclusive negotiation in which the interests on both sides can be fully explored, and options enhanced and repackaged. Second, they can employ deadlines—a time by which a proposal must be accepted, or by which an award decision must be made— after which the seller withdraws from the pitch. Finally, after the buyer announces that the work has been awarded, sellers can hold back delivery of products or services until contract terms have been agreed upon.

While we can hope that procurement professionals work to enhance pitch processes, sellers must learn in the meantime to be more proactive participants in approaching, navigating and shaping competitive pitches in ways that promote mutual ga i n s — rat her t h a n py r rh ic victories—for themselves and their clients.

Tom Kinnaird is a former chief procurement officer at WPP. Hal Movius is a psychologist.

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ather than fixing data quality by finding and correcting errors, managers and teams must adopt a new mentality—one that focuses on creating data correctly the first time to ensure quality throughout the process.

This new approach— and the changes needed to make it happen—must be the first step for any leader who is serious about cultivating a data-driven mindset across the company, implementing data science, monetizing its data or even simply striving to become more efficient.

It’s essential that people recognize themselves as customers, clarify their needs and communicate those needs to creators.

People must also recognize themselves as creators, and make improvements to their processes, so they provide data in accordance with their customers’ needs.

I find that quality improves quickly when teams and companies adopt this approach. People in companies large and small, in industries as diverse as financial services, oil and gas, retail and telecom, have used them to make order-of-magnitude improvements in billing, customer, people, production and other types of data and, as a direct result, improved their team’s performance.

Without giving it much thought, too many people take the wrong approach and bake bad data-quality practices into their work.

While these issues are both subtle and powerful, any manager can take them on and adopt the mindset that “data quality means creating data correctly the first time” within their sphere of influence. Start by asking yourself if you’ve grown too tolerant of bad data and taken on the extra work it engenders. Then step into the customer role next time you experience any sort of problem.

At the company level, senior leaders must insist that everyone take on these roles. Toward that end, I recommend that a small but mighty team of dataquality professionals form up and administer an overall program, train people on how to do the work, help customers and creators connect and assist when difficulties arise.

All of us are data customers and data creators.

Taking on these roles helps people build the right mindset around data quality and stop data problems before they begin.

Thomas C. Redman is president of Data Quality Solutions.

Education BusinessMirror

E2 Monday, February 24, 2020

Editor: Lyn Resurreccion

Children exposed to gadgets have low reading capacity

‘Parents have big role in kids’ reading habits’

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LOILO CITY—The number of “frustrated” readers in the province of Iloilo is not only the concern of the government but also of the parents as the problem starts at home, an Iloilo board member said last week.

The Department of Education (DepEd) in Iloilo said 42,000 out of the estimated 500,000 learners in the province fall under the frustration level.

Frustrated readers refer to learners who can read words but do not have the desire and the ability to comprehend, said Dr. Roel Bermejo, DepEd-Iloilo schools division superintendent, in recent interviews.

Third District board member Jason Gonzales, who also chairs the

Regional Education Council, said in an interview that the problem on the number of frustrated readers in the province is the concern of all and not by the government alone.

“The problem starts at home,” he said.

Gonzales said the frustration on the learners’ reading is linked to their use of gadgets.

Citing multiple studies from Harvard Medical School, Gonzales said children aged one to two years old exposed to gadgets have

Iloilo Third District board member Jason Gonzales, also underscores that parents should get involved to resolve the problem of the number of frustrated readers in the province. Parents should tell their children to refrain from using gadgets as exposure to moving objects affects their reading skills, he said.

Gail Momblan/PNA

low reading capacity.

“The brain [of children] who use gadgets are conditioned to moving pictures, especially from zero

to two years of age. The moment they open a book, it will be increasingly harder to teach children how to read,” he said.

He said the parents should be the ones to protect the children up to seven years old as their optimal stage for learning.

The parents can help their children refrain from gadget use, he said, although some of the parents complain that their children would not behave without the aid of these electronic gadgets.

“I cannot emphasize how big a problem this is and this is the problem that can also be solved not by teachers but by parents,” he said.

Meanwhile, Gonzales said Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. has met with Bermejo on to ask the DepEd for the breakdown of the 42,000 frustrated readers.

The data is meant to pinpoint which towns the frustrated readers come from and to implement interventions.

Besides the provincial government, the Regional Education Council will also make use of the

DepEd’s data to also intervene with the number of frustrated readers, Gonzales said.

“The Regional Education Council recognizes that our intervention in education will be systematic and large scale,” he said.

The Regional Education Council is planning to set a Regional Education Summit in March.

Gonzales said the summit will help local chief executives on their role to address rising concerns on education.

The local chief executives need to be aware of the participation rate of learners in schools; the cohort survival rate or the rate of learners entering the first grade that can make it into the sixth grade; the activation of school governing council; and the establishment of expanded school board which will be needed for budgetary concerns; and the literacy rate, among others. Gail Momblan/PNA

EU project to support PHL Lone PHL rep bags silver at Young Chef Olympiad 2020 teachers in challenged areas F I

LOILO CITY—An enrichment program designed for teachers in challenged areas in the Philippines will be crafted and co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.

The five-day second transnational training of trainers meeting for the Project FORTH (Formation of Teachers in Challenged Areas in the Philippines) was held in a hotel in Iloilo City last week.

“Basically, the goal of this project is to create a Masters Program to prepare and equip teachers who are going to teach in challenged areas,” said Dennis O. Dumrique, associate dean of the College of Education of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in an interview on the sidelines during the opening program.

Challenged areas, he said, are those socially and economically challenged places. He said working in those areas is “not a piece of cake.” There are a lot of difficulties, including, among others, the type of learners and accessibility.

“We want, at the end of the day, to make learners functional in society. That they could learn and acquire skills needed in the modern

world,” he said.

The project is developed in partnership with the PUP Manila, Centro Escolar University Manila, University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) Davao, West Visayas State University (WVSU) Iloilo and University of St. La Salle (USLS) Bacolod and other government and private institutions.

The new curriculum will be a Major on Teaching in Emerging Challenged Areas. It will be incorporated with foundation/core courses, electives and research requirements of the Master of Arts in Education following the curriculum of the school where the program is being offered.

The major will have six modules, which will total to one-year credits out of the two-year Master Program.

“One of the goals of this program is to have, like scholars, the first set of teachers who will benefit from this program,” he added.

Meanwhile, Dr. Joselito Villaruz, president of the WVSU, said the program is “very timely and relevant.”

“Institutions of higher learning, universities need to constantly re-

spond to the needs of communities, most especially the underserved, the geographically disadvantaged, the least, the last and the lost,” he said.

He said that the project would serve as “impetus” in response to the call of the government for help in building resilient communities and achieve sustainable development goals.

Robert Wagenaar, project coordinator and FORTH director of the international Tuning Academy, said the initiatives are one of the favorites of the European Union because it “exactly fits their agenda,” which is part of the sustainability goals.

“It starts with young people, they must have a future, a better future,” he said.

Wagenaar added that what is happening here will serve as “example for other parts of the world.”

The Philippines was chosen as a pilot area due to its large number of children and youth, the country’s positive attitude toward learning, the quality of many of its teachereducation programs and the use of English as the medium for instruction. Perla Lena/PNA

Unionbank, Microsoft partner for digital literacy in schools

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nion Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank), in partnership with Microsoft Philippines, is breathing life in cocreating innovation for a better world by enabling public-school teachers to become digitally adept, and pass on digital knowledge and skills to students.

The partnership aims not only to equip educators with the right digital skills for teaching, but will also train students to become the country’s future-ready work force.

Under this project, UnionBank employees train themselves as Microsoft Education Ambassadors; identify public schools that need a computer laboratory; and commit teaching

hours, in the process of transferring what they have learned to the teachers.

“As Microsoft Education Ambassadors, UnionBank employees will serve as inspiration, and valued resource persons for students and teachers. They possess the necessary expertise and skills to meet industry standards, and can pass these on to the next generation,” said Michelle Rubio, UnionBank executive vice president and human resource director.

Rubio initiated the partnership with Microsoft.

This people-centric digital technology partnership is part of the “Tech Up, Pilipinas”

thrust of UnionBank, which envisions a Filipino population that has a well-developed information and computer technology skill set to help them become effective citizens in an increasingly digital world.

“This partnership is just one of the ways through which UnionBank creates technology-driven solutions to promote inclusive development. As part of the bank’s larger digital transformation thrust, UnionBank initiated Tech Up, Pilipinas, a platform where technology firms and other like-minded organizations can collaborate to come up with digital solutions for everyday problems,” Rubio added.

ilipino student-chef Austin Cale Labago took home the Silver Toque out of 55 competitors from around the world in the recently concluded 6th Young Chef Olympiad (YCO) held in Kolkata, India.

YCO 2020, organized by India’s International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) in association with United Kingdom’s International Hospitality Council, gauged the “cheftestants” in two prequalifying rounds held across various key cities in India, such as Delhi, Goa, Bangalore and Pune, which tested not just their mastery of skills, but also their expertise, creativity, techniques and innovation.

Chen Khai Loong from Taylor’s University in Malaysia bagged the Gold Toque, while Bethany Collings from Westminster Kingsway College in England won the Bronze Toque.

Joining the Magic 10 Grand Finalists were contestants from Switzerland, Scotland, South Korea, Hong Kong, Jordan, South Africa and Singapore.

For the tournament, Labago was guided

by Chef Mentor Kannan Jayaprakash Sreedevi, an industry expert and a De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) School of Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management (SHRIM) faculty member.

Labago and Sreedevi showcased their Mango Tamarind Cocktail, that incorporated the classic mangorind candy into a delightful concoction that gave a taste of the Filipino culture to the enthusiastic international audience, during the United World of Young Chefs special fellowship event.

It is a celebration of culinary cultures that allowed the apprentices and mentors to share a particular dish from their national cuisine with the fellow participants, judges, organizers, and special guests, which included luminaries, dignitaries and distinguished people from the hospitality scene.

Labago, a culinary student from DLS-CSB SHRIM, developed her background in cook-offs mostly during her college’s Young Hoteliers’ Exposition.

She also exemplified her leadership skills as the Kitchen Manager of Benilde Manila’s Andrew Café in completion of her three-month internship. She was trained in the Italian Food Style Education (IFSE) Culinary Institution in Turin, Italy, and in the Michelin-star restaurant Tenuta La Cascinetta in Regione Rena, Buriasco, Italy.

Sreedevi commended Labago’s perseverance in her work. “We started at 7 in the morning and finished at 8:30 p.m. but she never complained about the long hours. She was very eager to keep on testing and to make the

School sanitation drive to benefit 7M students in 2021

By Roderick L. Abad @rodrick_28 Contributor

T

O help address the negative effects of poor sanitation on the learning capacity of students, a toilet hygiene brand tied up with the Department of Education (DepEd) and Germany’s Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to benefit 7 million Filipino schoolchildren by 2021.

This partnership of Domex with DepEd and

GIZ seeks to provide access to usable, clean and safe toilets to school beneficiaries nationwide.

Studies have shown that the lack of these facilities seriously impacts the health, comfort and learning ability of students.

In fact, 84 percent of schoolteachers and school nurses attribute the increase in the number of sick days of students to this concern, which, in turn, affect the students’ learning.

“Domex believes that a clean and safe school toilet is a right, not a privilege,” said

Vanessa Ong, marketing director for Unilever Home Care.

“Currently, one in two schools in the Philippines still do not follow national guidelines on sanitation. Through this landmark partnership, we join forces to achieve clean, safe and usable toilets for every Filipino child,” she added.

Such initiative is part of the Domex #TogetherWeAreUnstoppable campaign, which enjoins the entire nation to win the war on poor sanitation in schools.

Also, it’s included in the many efforts of the DepEd to enhance school sanitation conditions through its Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Program (DepEd WinS).

Through this program, schools are provided with practical guidance on what they need to do to achieve usable, clean and safe toilets.

Domex, on its part, will give the right support and training for janitors, school staff, and students to encourage schools to adopt healthy school hygiene practices.

Student-chef Austin Cale Labago (left) won the Silver Toque in the 6th Young Chef Olympiad (YCO) in Kolkata, India. With her is Chef Mentor Kannan Jayaprakash Sreedevi.

necessary changes according to our comments.”

During the actual competition, Sreedevi shared that Labago channeled an insatiable positive outlook as she remained cheerful and focused at the same time.

She confessed that she is not a very competitive person. “I never expected that I will be given this kind of opportunity to represent Benilde and the Philippines but I know that I will not grow as a chef if I don’t step out from my comfort zone,” she beamed. “I know I have to just jump and go for it. It may either have good or bad results but whatever happens, I know I will learn from it.”

The young aspirant recalled that during the competition, she had to instantly adapt to the new environment and to the available local ingredients and equipment.

Despite the challenges, Labago shared that she was able to develop her presence of mind and broaden her skill set that would help her become a more efficient chef.

“I did not expect to win; I just did my best while still having fun,” she said, adding that in addition to the newly acquired techniques, YCO allowed her to meet various people and establish

friendships and connections in the field.

“YCO is a beautiful initiative by IIHM as it brings together young talents from all over the world. It is a great opportunity for us chefs and the students alike to meet and exchange ideas,” Sreedevi noted. “We managed to be at the top 5 last year and now we were able to bring home the silver trophy for Benilde. YCO is a tough competition and I believe it’s definitely a proud moment for us Benildeans and also for the country.”

“Our journey toward [winning] a YCO silver medal began five years ago. The teams worked together to create dishes worthy of recognition through the years,” DLS-CSB SHRIM Culinary Arts Program Chairman Margarita Marty shared.

“This year under the guidance of Chef Kannan and the members of Benilde Culinary Arts Faculty, Austin left Manila well-trained, confident, and armed with a repertoire of dishes. Their success inspires us to continue to work harder toward culinary excellence.”

Marty also extended her compliments to Labago, Sreedevi and to all the members of the Benildean community who brought recognition to the Philippines in the global culinary stage.

The kick off event held at the Lakandula High School also saw the inaugural of its Eskwelang Unstoppable Awards meant to speed up the progress toward reaching national sanitation standards.

In this competition, schools and division offices are encouraged and rewarded for adopting the DepEd WinS program, making stepwise improvements in school sanitation.

The award aims to promote good hygiene and sanitation habits by reinforcing the importance of maintaining usable, clean and safe toilets in schools nationwide.

“Through the Eskwelang Unstoppable

Award we hope to recognize and reward schools that have greatly improved toilet sanitation conditions for their students and staff,” Ong said.

“We believe that keeping toilets clean and safe is a shared responsibility. We want to rally everyone—from partners and parents, to janitors, staff and students—to join the movement and put an end to poor sanitation,” she added.

Culminating during World Toilet Day on November 19, the contest will honor the Best School Division and the Most Improved Schools from the winning division based on WinS star ratings.

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Marketing BusinessMirror

Monday, February 24, 2020 E3

PR Matters

By Millie F. Dizon

ID you know that the average time people spent in meetings doubled from 10 hours a week in the 1960s to today’s average of 23 hours a week?

This comes from the Harvard Business Review, as Geoffrey James states in his Inc.com article. Its title, “PowerPoint’s Flaws Show the Fundamental Problem with All Business Presentations,” shows how this tool that many of us use has actually hindered productivity by doubling the amount of time each week we spend in meetings that go on endlessly.

They have, in fact, become “information dumping monologues.”

And he is not alone in his thoughts on PowerPoint. In the same article, he quotes Former Defense Secretary James Mattis who famously said, “PowerPoint makes us stupid.” This is because “like many among today’s top military brass, he sees our culture’s addiction to PowerPoint as a thread to the efficiency and effectiveness of our armed forces.”

Carmine Gallo, author of Five Stars: The Communication Secrets to Get from Good to Great, recalls how in his 2018 annual letter, Amazon Founder and CEO Jeff Bezos “repeated his rule that PowerPoint is banned in executive meetings.”

She goes on to say that “in his letter, and in a recent discussion at the Forum of Leadership at the Bush Center, Bezos revealed that ‘narrative structure’ is more effective than PowerPoint.”

According to Bezos, “new executives are in for a culture shock in their first Amazon meetings.

Instead of reading bullet points on a PowerPoint slide, everyone sits silently for about 30 minutes to read a six- page memo that’s narratively structured with real sentences, topic sentences, verbs, and nouns.”

This she discusses in her Inc. com article “Jeff Bezos Banned PowerPoint in Meetings. His Replacement is Brilliant.”

It’s also no secret that the late Apple CEO Steve Jobs was no fan of PowerPoint for internal meetings. James quotes him in another Inc.com article, “The Real Reason Steve Jobs Hated PowerPoint,” saying, “I hate the way people use slide presenta-

Lee Paris, the response serves as a reminder of just how deeply rooted KFC is in pop culture.

Campaign Spotlight: KFC Commemorates a Visit From Kanye West and Kim Kardashian with a Plaque Organized by Sid Lee Paris

PARIS, FRANCE—Early Thursday morning, France woke up to an incredible video of Kim Kardashian, herself, had posted a story about her and Kanye ordering at a kiosk in a central Parisian KFC (Strasbourg-Saint Denis).

A few hours later, KFC France paid homage to their visit with a tweet featuring a bucket and the lyric, “Me and my girl split the buffet at KFC,” from Kanye’s song “Touch the Sky.” The song was included in the Bucket Bangers Spotify playlist KFC and Sid Lee Paris put together last year, which featured songs mentioning the fast-food brand.

Soon, the whole world was infatuated with the video, and fans have already started flocking to the StrasbourgSaint Denis (KFC location).

At 6 p.m. Thursday evening, a commemorative plaque was erected on the kiosk, the Wests used in the presence of the employees who served them, making it a new site of pilgrimage for “Kimye” fans and chicken lovers. Organized by Sid

Graphika 2020: Careful Observations, Remixing Creativity, and the Pressures of Perfection— The Value of Repetition in Day Two of Graphika

MANILA, PHILIPPINES—Graphika Manila, now rebranded as Graphika 2020, has never failed to impress.

Every year, its set of speakers, artists themselves, come over to a two-day conference on creativity, and will without a doubt inspire the other creatives in the audience to do greater work and try on a new approach.

Interesting enough, it didn’t take much for Graphika to reignite that dose of passion and inspiration people come to the conference for each year. Day one alone was enough to get our imaginations running, and Day two was just a spectacular end, as the entire conference dove deeper into the year’s theme, Creative Vision.

On day two of this year’s Graphika, six different speakers talked about their works and shared the knowledge they have gained through the colorful years they have been in their careers. Although each speaker touched on different things, two main points stood out—the time and dedication one needs to create a beautiful work, and what beauty really means to the world.

For the first half of the conference, illustrator Kim Jung Gi returned to the stage, followed by Vincent Arseo

Rawpixelimages | Dreamstime.com

PowerPoint, productivity and the executive suite D

tions instead of thinking. People confront problems by creating presentations. I want them to engage, to hash things out at the table, rather than show a bunch of slides. People who know what they’re talking about [and] don’t need PowerPoint.”

In the same article, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey is quoted as saying, “As soon as you get to the space where you actually have something to play with and something tangible, that’s when the real learning happens. Get out of Keynote, get out of PowerPoint, and just start building and showing it off to people.”

Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer joins in these voices saying, he prefers, that before most meetings, he prefers that “you send me the materials and I read them in advance.”

But why this disdain for PowerPoint? James says that, “smart leaders hate PowerPoint because business presentations straight jacket meetings into a slow-moving liner direction. This discourages conversation and discussion, turning the other attendees into

known for his poster works, and typography artist Stefan Kunz.

Careful observations further showcased through a live demonstration

Kim, who also did a live demonstration during day one of Graphika 2020, further dissected how he goes about his work, this time switching from a brush pen to a drawing pen. On the first day of the conference, he described how he turns complex structures into simpler shapes, which help him draw whatever figure he has in mind. By simplifying each step, he is able to carefully think about how lines should look like without having to complicate his drawing right away. He also talked about how imagining subjects within a cube helps him define and maintain perspective.

For his session on day two, he further combined the concepts he introduced the day prior as he drew an image inspired by Graphika and the city of Manila in real time. As he sketches, he shares his musings on getting the shapes right, and the importance of careful observation.

While continuing to sketch a vamped up jeepney, Kim shared that if he had he the time, he would have gone up to a real jeepney and looked as close as possible on every part, every nook and cranny, just to get a feel of how it works, and how it should look like. You always have to look at the objects, get interested and observe what it looks like. So whenever I’m walking around, I always look at the objects around me—a rough translation on one of

passive chair potatoes. PowerPoint, when used as designed, reduces attention, understanding, and worst of all, retention.”

James also points out that Jobs “wanted meetings to be interactive, to have people ‘hash things out’ as part of a creative process. For this to happen in an intelligent manner, people in a meeting should be actively involved. Showing a slide deck, however, puts everyone but the presenter in a passive state, which delays discussion to the end of the presentation.”

By banning PowerPoint from meetings, James says that CEOs like Bezos and Dorsey hope to “1) reduce the average time they and their employees spend in meetings, and 2) switch the focus of these meetings from information-dumping to issuediscussing. They clearly believe that the change of focus will result in faster and better decisionmaking.”

But what to do? Gallo mentions in her article that “narrative memos have replaced PowerPoint presentations at

the many things he wished to point out during his session. He shares that apart from objects, he also loves looking at the muscles, skin, and joints of the people around him, which help him understand how people should look like when drawn.

His drawing for Graphika 2020 day two had so many elements on it, each one uniquely drawn in his own style.

He also gives audiences a peak into his origin story, sharing that as a kid, his interest in drawing piqued when he was gifted with a Dr. Slump manga, which had a cover that showed a fish donning scuba gear. Ever since then, he would try to imagine and reimagine certain subjects.

It would take him years to find his own style, which is a mix of both Western and Japanese influences. It would take even longer for people to recognize his work.

He said that there was a point in his career when he was rejected by 11 different publishers as his work was too “Western” and not suitable for Korea at the time. Eventually, some of the companies would get back to him years after he submitted his portfolio because he had a distinct style that was becoming more accepted due to new approaches in art, as well as music videos of known musicians that had similar visuals.

The value of a good model and finding your own style

Vincent Aseo also touched on similar points as Kim, building up

Amazon,” a move she describes as “brilliant.” Here’s why: Our brains are hardwired for narrative. Gallo says that prominent neuroscientists she has spoken to recently confirm that, “the human brain is wired for story. We process our world in narrative, we talk in narrative, and the—most important for leadership—people recall and retain information more effectively when it is presented in the form of a story, not bullet points.”

Stories are persuasive. She, likewise, says that “neuroscientists have found emotion as the fastest path to the brain. In other words, if you want ideas to spread, story is the single best vehicle we have to transfer that idea to another person.”

At the Bush Center Forum of Leadership, Bezos mentions that he is “actually a big fan of anecdotes in business. He goes on further to explain why he reads customer e-mails and forwards them to the appropriate executive. Often, he says, the customer anecdotes are more insightful than data.

on what the Korean illustrator has shared with his own experiences.

Aseo began his session with a number of fun facts, which honestly had nothing to do with the rest of Graphika but was, nonetheless, amusing. He shared that he was a Capricorn, is a JaDine fan, and has a JaDine-inspired playlist even though the two celebrities have broken up, and has an admiration for Precious Hearts Romance books.

With the audience’s attention within his grip, he began talking about how he had explored different styles of illustration and was greatly inspired by the works of other people. Among the biggest influences to his style, especially when he first realized how much of an artist he was as compared to an illustrator, were the album covers for DJ Okawari, designed by a Japanese artist named Marumiyan. The covers featured rather simpler drawings of people’s faces, but with elaborate and intricate designs for the rest of the images.

Aseo shared a mantra he heard from TED Talks Speaker Kirby Ferguson: “Creativity is a remix”— which means that inspiration has to come from somewhere. He would then begin to experiment with his style, adding a bit of maximalism to his works. It wouldn’t take long for him to change his approach again, though. After creating beautiful and intricate works, he would then break apart his ideas and draw something he describes as basag (shattered).

“You have to get out of your comfort zone. And it’s quite scary, lalo if you’re brand conscious. Like if you know your brand, and you want

Bullet points are the least effective way of sharing ideas.

Bullets don’t inspire. Stories do, says Gallo, adding that some of the world’s most inspiring speakers like Bezos, Elon Musk, or Richard Branson don’t use bullet points.

That’s because “stories inform, illuminate and inspire—all things entrepreneurs strive to do.”

We will discuss other smarter alternatives to PowerPoint in next week’s column.

PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association (Ipra), the world’s premier association for senior professionals around the world. Millie Dizon, the senior vice president for Marketing and Communications of SM, is the former local chairman.

We are devoting a special column each month to answer the reader’s questions about public relations. Please send your comments and questions to askipraphil@gmail.com.

to try something else but think baka off-brand. It hinders your creativity.

It only gets to a point that you’re gonna be trapped. In my case I tried doing something that will remind me of that,” he shared during Graphika.

“In our natural progression of things, we will always have our fears, obstacles, and challenges, or FOC,” he joked.

He eventually played with movie posters and applying those looks on his other works, citing Star Wars, Flash Gordon and Jurassic Park as main sources of inspiration for his own designs. He’s since been tapped by different international studios and movie houses to produce posters for their flicks.

He shared a lot of advice during his session. One of them is the importance of having a real model as a reference. He amused his audiences by sharing photos of his friend in different poses that he would use for his poster for X-Men, and even puts them together in a larger composite just for laughs.

He reiterated that “Composition is greater than style, as it doesn’t matter what your style is if you can’t compose well.”

He added how having the right agency to represent you helps in finding you good work, as well as encourage other artists to always “give it a local flavor.”

He ended his session saying: “Repetition is the mother of skill. If you constantly do it, it gets easier. but you have to do it everyday.

Don’t stop when you’re tired. Stop when you’re done. Aim to improve, never settle. Have fun.”

Perspective BusinessMirror

E4 Monday, February 24, 2020

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‘American Dirt’ fiasco exposes publishing industry that’s too consolidated, too white and too selective

By Christine Larson

in those stories.

Of course, well-told stories of struggle are important. But when they’re the only stories that the industry aggressively promotes, then readers suffer from what novelist Chimamanda Adichie calls “the danger of a single story.” When a single story gets told repeatedly about a culture that readers haven’t experienced themselves, stereotypes become more and more deeply engraved in popular culture. In a self-perpetuating cycle, publishers become even more committed to promoting that one story.

Much of the criticisms around American Dirt centered on Cummins’s lack of first-hand experience—the book, for instance, was peppered with inaccurate Spanish expressions and off-key notes about the middle-class heroine’s actions and choices.

While a vast network of publishing insiders would have likely looked at American Dirt before it was published, they all missed elements that were glaringly evident to informed readers. For the mostly white publishing world, Cummins’s book simply fit the narrative of the “single story” and aligned with pop culture stereotypes.

Its failings easily slipped past the blind spots of the gatekeepers.

University of Colorado Boulder

I

THE CONVERSATION

N an early chapter of American Dirt, the much-hyped novel now at the center of a racial controversy, the protagonist, Lydia, fills her Acapulco, Mexico, bookstore with her favorite literary classics. Because these don’t sell very well, she also stocks all “the splashy bestsellers that made her shop profitable.”

Ironically, it’s this lopsided business model that has, in part, fueled the backlash to the book.

In the book, Lydia’s favorite customer, a would-be poet turned ruthless drug lord, orders the massacre of Lydia’s entire family after her journalist husband writes a scathing exposé. Lydia and her 8-year-old son must flee for their lives, joining the wave of migrants seeking safety in the US. With the border crisis as its backdrop, the book was anointed by the publishing industry as one of those rare blockbusters that Lydia might have stocked in her fictional bookstore. Its publisher called it “one of the most important books of our time,” while Oprah chose it for her book club.

But the author, Jeanine Cummins, is neither Mexican nor a migrant, and critics savaged the book for its cultural inaccuracies and damaging stereotypes. At least one library at the border refused to take part in Oprah’s promotion, 138 published authors wrote an open letter to Oprah asking her to rescind her endorsement, and the publisher canceled Cummins’s book tour, claiming her safety was at risk.

As someone who studies the publishing business, I see this ordeal as a symptom of an industry that relies far too heavily on a handful of predetermined “big books,” and whose gatekeepers remain predominantly white.

Sadly, this model has become only more powerful in the digital era.

A high-stakes poker game

TODAY’S publishing industry is

driven by three truths.

First, people don’t buy many books. The typical American read four last year.

Second, it’s hard to decide which books to buy, so most people look for bestsellers or books by authors they already like.

Third, nobody—not even big publishers—can predict hits.

As a result, the business can sometimes seem like one big, highstakes poker game. Like any savvy gambler, editors know that most bets are losers: People don’t buy nearly enough books to make every title profitable. In fact, only about 70 percent of books even earn back their advances.

Luckily for publishers, a single hit, like Michelle Obama’s Becoming, can subsidize the vast majority of titles that don’t make money.

So when publishers think they have a winning hand, they’ll bet the house. To them, American Dirt seemed to have all the cards, and the book sold at auction for seven figures.

With that much money on the table, publishers will do everything they can to ensure a payoff, channeling massive marketing resources into those select titles, often at the expense of their others.

Who’s holding the purse strings?

IT wasn’t always like this. Back in the 1960s, publishing was a sleepy industry, filled with many moderately sized firms making moderate returns. Today, just five conglomerates dominate global publishing.

Big firms seek big profits, and, as Harvard Business School professor Anita Elberse has pointed out, it’s cheaper and easier to launch

The internet’s unfulfilled promise

one enormous promotional effort for a single “big book” than to spread resources across those smaller bets.

With each publishing house releasing just one or two big books a season, few authors can hope to produce one of those splashy bestsellers.

That’s even more true for marginalized authors, because every step in the publishing and publicity process depends on gatekeepers who are largely white—to the tune of 85 percent of editors, 80 percent of agents, 78 percent of publishing executives and 75 percent of marketing and publicity staff.

Nevertheless, the book world

does occasionally publish blockbusters by authors of color, whether it’s Becoming or Tayari Jones’s An American Marriage. As black author Zora Neale Hurston wrote in 1950, editors “will publish anything they believe will sell”—regardless of the author’s race.

But those editor beliefs about what would sell, she noted, were extremely limited when it came to authors of color. Stories about racial struggle, discrimination, oppression and hardship—those would sell. But books about marginalized people living everyday lives, raising kids or falling in love? Publishers had no interest

THE internet was supposed to have upended this system. Just 10 years ago, pundits and scholars heralded the end of gatekeepers—a world where anyone could be a successful author. And indeed, with the digital self-publishing revolution in the late 2000s, hundreds of thousands of authors, previously excluded from the marketplace, were able to release their books online.

Some even made money: My research has found that romance writers doubled their median income from 2009 to 2014, largely due to self-publishing. Romance authors of color, in particular, found new outlets for books excluded by white publishers. Back in 2009, before self-publishing took off, the Book Industry Study Group identified just six categories of romance novels; by 2015, it tracked 33 categories, largely driven by self-publishing. New categories included African American, multicultural, interracial and LGBT. By 2018, at least 1.6 mil-

lion books across all genres had been self-published. Nonetheless, though choice is expanding, readership has stayed flat since 2011.

With more books but no more readers, it’s harder than ever to get the attention of potential buyers.

Meanwhile, many grassroots outlets that could push a midlist book—industry jargon for one not heavily promoted by publishers— to moderate levels of success have receded. Local media outlets that could create buzz for a local author are hollowed out or have vanished altogether. In 1991, there were some 5,100 indie booksellers; now there are half that many.

The onus is now on authors to promote their own work. They’re spending a full day a week doing so, according to a forthcoming paper I wrote for the Authors’ Guild.

In that same paper, I find that authors of color earn less from their books than white authors; in addition to other serious problems, this indicates they may have fewer resources to promote themselves.

It’s clear the internet has not delivered the democratization it promised.

But it has helped authors in at least one important way. Social media has offered a powerful outlet for marginalized voices to hold the publishing industry accountable. We’ve seen this twice already this year—with American Dirt and with the Romance Writers of America, which lost sponsors after it penalized an author of color for condemning racial stereotypes.

Such outcries are an important start. But real progress will require structural change from within—beginning with a more diverse set of editors.

On February 3, executives from Macmillan, the publisher of American Dirt, met with Hispanic authors and promised to diversify its staff.

It’s an example that the rest of the publishing industry should follow.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation. com/american-dirt-fiasco-exposespublishing-industry-thats-tooconsolidated-too-white-and-tooselective-130755.

Missteps lead publishing industry to review diversity effort N

EW YORK—As debate rages around American Dirt, the bestselling novel criticized for its portrait of Mexican life and culture, publishers are pledging to change a historically white industry as critics question whether it can truly transform.

Diversity has been an issue in publishing for years, but perhaps never so urgently as in the past few weeks, when Mexican American authors and others have cited American Dirt as evidence of a publishing culture where white voices are valued above others. Critics say flaws in Jeanine Cummins’s narrative about a Mexican mother and son fleeing to the US were overlooked by the book’s editorial and promotional team and the many writers and booksellers who were early advocates.

“Of course, we’ve had a lot of conversations, looking at diversity and ways—as we always do—to address the recruitment and publishing of Latinos,” says John Sargent, CEO of Macmillan, which released Cummins’s novel last month through its Flatiron Books division.

Marketed in part as a new Grapes of Wrath, the John Steinbeck novel which helped define the Great Depression, American Dirt was lauded by an industry that is predominantly white, lib-

eral, anxious to make a profit and eager to make a difference. A book that Cummins and Flatiron had thought would personalize the experience of immigration instead became an example to some of its own distance from the issue.

Publishing executives and editors often shy away from discussing diversity on the record, but Flatiron president and publisher Bob Miller bluntly acknowledged they had not anticipated the “anger that has emerged from members of the Latinx and publishing communities.”

“The fact that we were surprised is indicative of a problem, which is that in positioning this novel, we failed to acknowledge our own limits,” Miller wrote in a recent press statement.

According to a new study by the multicultural children’s publisher Lee & Low, the industry is around 75 percent white, and mostly female.

No publisher who spoke to The Associated Press disputed those numbers, which were roughly the same as those in a Lee & Low survey released four years earlier.

“Even though there may be more awareness of diversity issues, the numbers on the industry side aren’t really changing,’’ says Lee & Low publisher Jason Low. “It’s still a very homogeneous industry,

especially in some of the executive and gatekeeping roles.”

CEOs including Sargent, Michael Pietsch of Hachette Book Group and Carolyn Reidy of Simon & Schuster say longtime barriers to diversity in publishing include the selfreinforcing networks of a historically white, upper-class industry, and the stress of being the only non-white member in a room. The industry’s low salaries, often from $36,000$40,000 in one of the world’s most expensive cities, can also make it hard to retain good people.

“They don’t necessarily see a career path. They can get burned out and a little exhausted,” says Nicole Johnson, executive director of the activist organization WeNeedDiverseBooks.

Jennifer Baker, an author and editor who in 2014 created the “Minorities in Publishing” podcast, says the book world faces structural issues common to a wide range of industries. Asked if she had seen signs of signs of progress in publishing, she said she saw “no clear pathway to correction,” adding that “Bottom line,” there won’t be “sustainable change” without fully taking on the system itself.

Several publishing executives agreed on a rough outline of industry demographics: Entry-level positions, notably in publicity and

marketing, are the most diverse, while high-level editorial jobs are more white; employees under 40 are more diverse than those over 40; those who work in children’s publishing are more diverse than those in adult books divisions.

“Children’s librarians and educators have been at the forefront of urging publishers to diversify the books we offer,” Pietsch says.

All of the so-called Big Five publishers—Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Hachette, Macmillan and HarperCollins—have for years had diversity efforts, including internships and outreach programs, and in-house initiatives like mentoring and requirements that all job openings include a diverse range of candidates.

In 2019, Penguin Random House announced a “Strategy Plan” with goals including the diversification of employees and a more inclusive work culture. But the publisher faced its own embarrassment last week. It had collaborated with Barnes & Noble on “diverse” editions of such classic literature as Frankenstein, The Wizard of Oz and Romeo and Juliet to honor Black History Month, which takes place in February. The covers featured illustrations of the main characters with dark skin, while the texts, mostly by and about white people,

were left the same. After widespread criticism online, with many wondering why the publisher and Barnes & Noble didn’t simply promote writers of color, the program was canceled.

“These recent events underscore the critical importance of the work we have to continue to do together,” says Penguin Random House US CEO Madeline McIntosh, adding that the publisher would “recommit” to a “full range of perspectives, experience, and expertise.”

Earlier this week, Myriam Gurba, David Bowles and other prominent critics of American Dirt met with Flatiron executives. In a press release issued after the meeting, the writers—members of the activist group #DignidadLiteraria—said Macmillan had committed to developing an “action plan” within 90 days. Sargent declined to offer details but confirmed there was “an agreed upon effort” to address diversity.

Imprints dedicated to diverse voices have been around for decades and continue to be formed, among them One World at Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster’s 37 Ink. HarperCollins imprints include Amistad Press, one of the country’s oldest African American publishers; and the

Native-focused Heartdrum, scheduled to begin in 2021.

Amistad’s editorial director, Tracy Sherrod, says she hopes to publish around 20-24 books this year, double what Amistad was releasing when she joined it eight years ago. Amistad’s books range from Jacqueline Woodson’s novel Another Brooklyn to Jennifer Lewis’s memoir The Mother of Black Hollywood.

“I first came into publishing in the 1980s and at that time it was believed that black people didn’t read. That statement was made to me multiple times, so we’ve come a long way, a long way baby,” she said with a laugh. “We’re growing as an industry, but there will be some growing pains.”

Since 2016, the trade group the Association of American Publishers has partnered with the United Negro College Fund for a paid internship program that places around 10 students each year. The activist organization WeNeedDiverseBooks works with publishers and agents to recruit interns; the program began with five interns in 2015 and will likely place 15-20 this summer. Out of 44 interns, 39 have since graduated from college and 30 have found full-time work in publishing, according to the organization. AP