Businessmirror january 20, 2018

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Saturday, January 20, 2018 Vol. 13 No. 101

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High-tech Air-traffic control starts seeing decades-delayed upgrade

Aleksvf | Dreamstime.com

but obsolete

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By Recto Mercene

he high-tech, satellite-linked communication, navigation and surveillance system launched by President Duterte at the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) compound on Tuesday was conceived way back in 1998, but would not be fully utilized until the end of this year.

Housed in an ultra-modern, MI5-like building that could be accessed only through one of the most highly secured government facilities in the country, the new aviation navigational equipment is currently undergoing a series of tests, necessary to assure the highest safety requirements that would ensure 100-percent accuracy in locating airplanes in flight, and that pilots would not encounter any danger or commit mistakes while using the new communication, navigation system/air-traffic management (CNS/ATM). Once this is satisfied, the lo-

cal air-traffic controllers (ATC) would put their imprimatur to officially accept this new-fangled, P10-billion-plus infrastructure, one of the most expensive government undertakings, a ranking official who asked not to be named because he would rather defer to the Caap spokesman, Eric Apolonio, said.

The BusinessMirror was told that the current tests involved “shadowing, ghosting and cutover,” lengthy and time-consuming checks that take months and maybe years to resolve. Shadowing or parallel testing has been ongoing since last year, which means that the “old” radar, still currently in use at the Caap compound, continues with its 24/7 operation while the new one is activated, at the same time. There’s a separate set of ATCs located at the spanking new Philippine Air Traffic Management Center constructed at a cost of about P4.8 billion.

Jargons

The tests are a veritable menu of radar jargons that would require the savvy sophistication of a James Bond-type agent, MI5’s top detective, at their headquarters’ spy agency in London.

Here, the air controllers are glued on the glowing screen following and observing their “targets.” These are airplanes, mountains and other landmarks, and, at the same time, listening to the conversations between pilots and those on the ground. The new ATCs are never allowed to converse with the pilots.

Synchronicity

“The purpose is to see to it that what is shown and heard on the old radar are exactly the same visual and aural signals that show up on the new CNS/ATM system. There Continued on A2

SEC on Rappler case: Foreign control should not be present in any form By VG Cabuag

he Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) early this week ordered the revocation of incorporation of media firm Rappler Inc. and Rappler Holdings Corp., which owns the online news site Rappler, for allegedly circumventing laws that prohibit foreign ownership in a Philippine media entity. PESO exchange rates n US 50.7550

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In a decision released by the regulator, the SEC pointed to the 7.22-million Philippine depository receipt (PDR) that Rappler issued to Omidyar Network Fund Llc., which, it said, carries a provision that cedes control of the media entity to the foreign fund. A PDR is a type of security that allows an investor to hold economic interest in a business without the investor holding control over the business itself. Other listed firms like ABSCBN Corp. and GMA Network Inc. also have their own PDRs. “The issue is limited to the unique terms found only in the ON PDRs

(Omidyar PDR). The ON PDRs contain a provision wherein the ‘company’ is required to seek approval of the ON PDR holders on corporate matters,” the SEC’s decision said. “As already discussed, the company is Rappler Inc. Thus, the ON PDR imposes obligations not just on the issuer of the derivative, Rappler Holdings Corp., but also on the company which issued the underlying shares, Rappler Inc.,” it added. The SEC said the provision in the PDR issued to Omidyar that requires Rappler to first secure Omidyar’s consent through “good See “Rappler,” A2

n japan 0.4570 n UK 70.5139 n HK 6.4927 n CHINA 7.9082 n singapore 38.4420 n australia 40.5837 n EU 62.1241 n SAUDI arabia 13.5343

Source: BSP (19 January 2018 )

News

BusinessMirror

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High-tech but obsolete Continued from a1

should never be any ‘anomalies or glitches’ whatsoever between them,” our source explained. “Ghosting and cut-over,” on the other hand, is when the old radar operation is temporarily transferred to the new one, a kind of transition to familiarize the newest among ATCs, and avoid any mishap during the actual transfer,” the BusinessMirror was told. This is done in the middle of the night when traffic is light. This reporter was told that this tests would end after five months, or by the end of March, when the ATCs are fully satisfied of the new CNS/ATM performance, and they have no doubt or reservations about its capability under trying circumstances, such as bad weather, thunderstorms power failure and the like. “For sure, the CNS/ATM would be accepted and fully operational by the end of the year,” the BusinessMirror was told, even as the yen loan from Japan International Cooperation Agency would expire in 2019. “The system has a two-year warranty, and supported by contractors Sumitomo and Thales,” the source said. The contract’s closing date is November 21, 2019, or a total of 21 years, by which time the P10-billion-plus “Golden Age of Aviation” project gushed by a Palace factotum, a line which Duterte refused to read and incorporate in his launching speech, may have been rolled out.

Golden age

“This is highfalutin, ‘Golden Age of Aviation,’” the President sneered, referring to the speech, apparently prepared by the Presidential News Desk, and probably even copied from earlier news releases by the Caap. The project also involves the construction of about 50 related facilities, including a central control tower in Manila and radar

sites, and a total of 10 radio stations around the country. These were built and acquired to complement the improved system at a cost of P3.6 billion. Japan has provided the Philippines with official development assistance (ODA) loan to the tune of ¥22 billion, or P10 billion, to implement the project. Japan made their CNS/ATM operational in the 1990s; Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong in early-2000; and Burma in 2008. “The project took 21 years to be completed because the Philippines lacks the 10-percent counterpart fund to the ODA equivalent to P1 billion,” said former Caap Deputy Director General Wilfredo Borja, a 40-year air-traffic control veteran. He added that over the years, the government was foot-dragging on the viability of the CNS/ATM, deeming it to be “too expensive,” and took several administrations and about half-a-dozen Caap chiefs to complete.

Boost

This finished infra took a final boost during the administration of former President Benigno S. Aquino III, and eventually ordered to be speeded up and finished under President Duterte. Borja, during the project’s initial planning and discussion, said he was forced to retire early after getting into an argument with a former official of the now-defunct Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) whom he did not name. Apparently, Borja impertinently pointed out that since the country is experiencing unprecedented air-traffic congestion at that time, then the scarce resources borrowed from Japan should be spent in more airspace capability, like a new airport, parallel and wider runways and rapid-exit taxiways (RET). Borja added he opposed the acquisition of the 10 new radars, including the expenditures for associated equipment in the provinces.

During a recent conversation, he said, the government then could have planned for a replacement to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), which was built in 1983. However, the Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa) general manager then said probably the DOTC secretary at that time had no choice but to continue the project, because it was already a done deal. Borja, who is against the project, had to go.

Options

Ten years ago Sangley Point, Cavite, was already proposed as an alternate to the Naia owing to its proximity to Manila. There is also an existing airport previously used by the United States Navy for its squadron of P-3 Orion submarine hunter. The whole area could be expanded or the nearby Manila Bay could be reclaimed for an entirely new airport complex, like what is being proposed by several consortia today. With a new airport, there would be two or more runways with built-in RET, wider separation between runways and taxiways to give more clearance to the super-jumbo jets like the A380 and B-747-400 or its extended versions, Borja said As it is now, although the new system promises, “enhanced airtraffic safety, reduction of delays and improved airport/airspace efficiency,” the Naia could only accept 40 takeoffs and landings due to runway limitations.

Obsolete

Borja said the CNS/ATM should not be called the “next generation” (NextGen) system because it is “obsolete,” having been conceived in 1983, when the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) established the special committee on the Future Air Navigation System (FANS). The body was charged with development of the operational concepts for the future of air-

traffic management (ATM) and the FANS report was published in 1988, where it laid the basis for the industry’s future strategy for ATM through digital CNS using satellites and data links. The final result was the CNS/ATM or ATM/CNS. The former air controller said NextGen, developed in 2004, is a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) program developed to reduce air-traffic delays, improve air safety and increase efficiency due to America’s expanding air-traffic volume and the overall need for a more efficient airspace system. “The FAA claims that by the year 2020, the combined efforts of multiple new NextGen platforms will reduce delays by 38 percent, saving an estimated $24 billion for the US. The system similar to the ADSB, Performance-Based Navigation and Data Comm are expected to save time and fuel, decrease emissions and improve safety statistics. “In other words, the new system relies on satellites and the compatible equipment aboard airplanes like area navigation [RNav], and no longer on ground-based navigational aids [NavAid], like VOR, ADB, ILS or radars,” Borja added. “While many NextGen programs are already being implemented in the US, there is also a global impact from NextGen. In addition to performance-based navigation techniques, the FAA is working with other countries to ensure that the NextGen programs will complement international airspace systems,” according to the web site. On the other hand, in Europe, the Single European Sky initiative is being developed by Sesar. “The Single European Sky initiative, like NextGen, is an airspace transformation that seeks to standardize air-traffic management in European countries and beyond. And like NextGen, Sesar is working to incorporate new technology, regulations and air-traffic management techniques to make air travel in Europe more efficient,” the web site added.

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SEC on Rappler case: Foreign control should not be present in any form Continued from a1

faith discussion” and approval by at least “two-thirds of PDR holders” before any change can be made on the company’s articles of incorporation is proof that foreign entities have control over the company. “The ON PDR instrument may be categorized as an equity derivatives, since its value is dependent on the underlying equity. It follows that legal and economic rights granted on the ON PDR holders can be traced back to the legal and economic rights originally reserved to the shareholders. The foreignequity restriction will prevent the grant of minimal control through the ON PDR,” the SEC said. “Here, the stockholders must have prior discussion with and approved of at least two-thirds of the PDR holders, meaning Rappler is, at the very least, under obligation to consult with Omidyar Network. The stockholder has become, in effect, subservient to the holder,” it added. The SEC said Rappler wrongly assumed that “control” is limited to stock ownership. “As already stated, the commission has already interpreted ‘control’ as embracing not only stock ownership, but also other schemes that grant influence over corporate policy, action and structure—even ‘sometimes,’” it said. “It does not matter what capacity or device gives the foreigner control, as stockholder or holder or otherwise, there must be none. It does not matter if control is only available in certain occasions, there must be no occasion.... In other words, Omidyar Network specifically wanted to have some degree of control over Rappler’s corporate policy,” it added. The said move has pushed other media organizations to con-

demn the action. “January 15 will be remembered in Philippine press history in infamy. It is the day that a government built on democratic principles struck a blow on one of the pillars of Asia’s most vibrant democracy: A free press,” a statement from the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines Inc. said. “In decades past, the muzzling of the Philippine press was brazen and brutal. Journalists were imprisoned and media entities were shuttered—printing offices padlocked and broadcast media were cut off the air. “Now, it is more sinister. Efforts to quiet the press are clothed in hair-splitting legalities, a smoke screen on this underhanded attack on the free press conceivably to temper public outcry,” it said. The National Union Journalists Association of the Philippines (NUJP) also joined the fray and called for mass action against the move. “Wear black shirts or black arm bands to school or your place of work on Friday, January 19. “Join us, too, at the Boys Scout Circle at 6 p.m., as we kick off our Black Friday Protests for Press Freedom. “NUJP will announce upcoming fora and other events to discuss and map out what we need to do to defend our country and people from the Duterte administration’s sinister plans,” it said. “The threatened closure of Rappler has proven that Rodrigo Duterte and his minions will stop at nothing to shut down critical voices, even as they rush to amend the Constitution to produce an abomination that will not only perpetuate themselves in power but emasculate our rights and liberties,” it added.

Taiwan protests unilateral launch of mainland China flight routes in Taiwan Strait, urges consultation On January 4 the ​Taiwan government protested mainland China’s unilateral launch the same day of the northbound M503 flight route in the Taiwan Strait and the W121, W122 and W123 east-west extension routes. Mainland China initiated these four routes without prior communication with Taiwan and began flights on them the same day. Taiwan believes this action violates the negotiation results reached between the Taipei Airlines Association and China Air Transport Association in March 2015, when mainland China repeatedly pledged to use the M503 route only for one-way southbound flights, and not to activate the W flight routes until after confirmation through further negotiations. The unilateral launch of these routes also runs entirely counter to international civil aviation regulations, disregards aviation safety and disrespects Taiwan. The ROC government calls on all parties not to use these flight routes as serious safety concerns remain. On January 7 ROC (Taiwan)​ President Tsai Ing-wen convened a meeting of the National Security Council to review developments in East Asia, including the situation with North Korea, tensions throughout the region caused by mainland China’s frequent military actions and Beijing’s onesided launch of these flight routes. Following the meeting, President Tsai issued the following points: (1) The unilateral launch of controversial aviation routes is a provocation impacting regional security. The activation of these contentious routes has not only severely influenced regional security and flight safety, but constitutes a political and military threat to Taiwan and, as such, destabilizes the region. As a member of the regional community, mainland China has a duty to preserve regional stability, and such actions are irresponsible. (2) Taiwan will continue to strengthen its national security. Taiwan will minimize the risks to national security, while maximizing regional cooperation in the face of regional challenges and tension-raising developments. (3) Taiwan will defend the nation’s core values of freedom and democracy. The ROC (Taiwan)​ military will bolster its ability to comprehensively monitor and respond to mainland China’s military maneuvering. (4) Taiwan will communicate fully with the international community. The one-sided launch of controversial flight routes without prior negotiation by the Beijing authorities endangers aviation safety and upsets the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. (5) Beijing should fulfill its responsibilities to the region and resume negotiations with Taiwan promptly. To resolve the negative impact of this move on regional stability, aviation safety and cross-strait relations, Taiwan is ready to act responsibly and cooperatively. Taiwan calls on the Beijing authorities to cherish hard-won peaceful and stable cross-strait relations.

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Saturday, January 20, 2018

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Common-tower policy seen addressing telco infra dearth

Ayala Land and Eton Properties introduce 35-hectare green urban estate Parklinks

Ayala Land Inc. (ALI), together with Eton Properties Philippines Inc. (EPPI), recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for its latest mixed-use sustainable estate Parklinks. Located in Pasig and Quezon City, the 35-hectare development is envisioned to be the property developers’ greenest urban estate, with 50 percent of the total land area devoted to open spaces. Among its features are a 58,000-suare-meter GLA regional mall, a 3-hectare central park, river park terraces, esplanade and residential developments by Ayala Land Premier and Alveo. A 110-meter-long and 40-meter-high iconic bridge over the Marikina River will be built to create a new route that will help ease vehicular traffic in the northeast and east of Metro Manila. Present at the groundbreaking were (from left) EPPI COO Jess Lucas, EPPI President Bong Tan, ALI President and CEO Bobby Dy, ALI Chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala, LT Group CEO and Chairman Dr. Lucio Tan, LT Group President and COO Michael Tan, ALI Senior Vice President and Strategic Landbank Management Group Head Meean Dy, LT Group CFO Che Che Olives, and ALI Senior Vice President and Chief Finance Officer Toti Bengzon.

What it takes to succeed in advertising

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By Roger Pe

rint was one of two of the most loved media up to the last days of 2005. Because we handled a telecom account, doing a print ad excited us no end. For one, the waiting time of seeing the fruits of our hard work was short. It would surely come out on the coming weekend, and whoa, humongous–no less than full page or centerspread. The cycle went on and on, especially when the battle of telco giants raged like wildfire and reached its peak. Media agencies got rich, while we, creators, happy enough to see our masterpieces come out in its full glory. Along with the fast pace of handling an account that required you to churn out ideas just as fast, we also worked on ad agency initiative No. We loved our work. Naturally, we needed more brains. Instead of hiring from other ad agencies, we thought training people straight out of college would be the best thing to do. And so, one morning of a fine day, I was greeted with the news that a new graduate from Ateneo would drop by the office, and train in my department. Noah Valdez wanted to be an art director. “If that was the case, I will make you think visually rather than draw figures literally,” my advice to him when we first met. I gave Noah a deathly boring assignment every single day for one month: Restructure a tagline and allow him to craft his own based on that sentence. That was all he needed to do every morning and come up with the same batch in the afternoon. It sounded crazy, but the idea was for him to turn boring moments into day-altering mindful exercises, and allow his mind to wonder. I thought, it was not very often that one gets the chance to sit and relax, and I believed that when people are given tasks that give them a chance to daydream, they’re more likely to be creative. Noah turned the mundane tasks of many days into magical moments writing copy. He made himself productive. We immersed him into the Bill Bernbach culture and exposed him to bunch of reels from our New York Madison Avenue office. We brought him to pre-production meetings and shoots. Our senior art directors took turns in handling him, working on Apple computer softwares. We had our weekly “Ads from all over the world” viewing and internal Cannes competitions. Soon, the young man became adept at great layouts, clean, uncluttered, minimalist, ads without copy and headlines–ads I had hoped he would do. He eventually became part of our daily grind. A few more months and he was part of my New York Festivals world medal-winning ad, “Stamp,” and countless more. As I wrote on my last day in the office before taking on a Malaysia assignment, “he would be one of the great boys of the Philippine ad industry.” True enough, he is on his way. Noah moved to Bates 141 in 2008, handled by other award-winning creative directors. He returned to Tribal DDB after four years, then rejoined Bates CHI and Partners as creative director on the same year. In 2015 he reached the top and was appointed executive creative director, handling Wyeth, NBA and Pizza Hut, among others. Noah and his team were responsible for the successes of Wyeth’s growing-up milk brand, Bonakid Pre-School. Musically inclined (it runs in the family), he helped develop a catchy tune that grew into a viral hit. The campaign eventually spawned many dance videos, parodies and spoofed by a well-known local tv show. Tireless, passionate, eager and, most of all, always strategic, Noah was in the team that won the Pizza Hut business in the Philippines. If you see all those Pizza Hut commercials on TV, he had a direct hand creating them. He’s gone a long way and attended a number of regional ad conferences and built a career through sheer hard work. How is he doing these days? Let’s take a closer look at the millennial hotshot who is rocking his agency and steering it to more successes.

You have been in advertising for quite some time, what made you stick?

I’ve always considered myself an adman by accident and I’ve been very lucky to have great mentors all these years. I guess what really made me stick to advertising is the opportunity to learn from new people every day. I also love the excitement and rush that you constantly get with the chance to handle different types of brands, both local and international.

To be successful in advertising, what do you think people should have and cultivate?

It’s really about patience, persistence, excitement and an undying passion to learn and create. Without these traits, you’ll never make it.

What is creativity to you?

Creativity doesn’t just pop out of nowhere. In fact, it takes a lot of work to be creative. I believe that when it comes to ideas, you can only contribute what you’ve exposed yourself to. So, yeah, before you ‘become creative,’ you have to love being inspired first.

What do you look for in a person who wants to work in your department?

I’m always on the lookout for someone who can bring something new to the team. Someone with a different point of view, a different background, a different writing or art style—someone I can mentor but someone I can learn from, as well.

People say advertising is not what it used to be, let’s focus on pitching or acquiring new business. If you agree or disagree, why and why not. I think it’s more competitive now when it comes to pitches. There are a lot of smaller and younger shops that are definitely capable of nabbing new business wins against more established, multinational agencies.

What is your style of creative management?

I always try to make sure that creativity isn’t forced. True, our daily lives are filled with deadlines but, as much as possible, I want my team to always be inspired to create great work. So I constantly share tidbits of amazing work, ranging from the best of the industry to the best of what people are doing to change the world. Thank God for Facebook groups.

How do you begin your day in the office?

I love coming to work before everyone else. The calm and quiet relaxes me and prepares me for the day ahead. I usually start off with a cup of coffee and a light snack, preparing my game plan for the day as I engage in a staring contest with my calendar. Describe yourself in a few words. Alone, at home and at work.

The five things you like in advertising?

1. The competitive nature of the industry; 2. It’s constantly changing and never boring; 3. Working with different types of talented people; 4. The opportunity to handle great brands; 5. Being exposed to inspiring work from all over the world The five things you hate about it. Just 2.1. The late nights (of course) 2. Stress eating

Traditional or digital? We’ve heard so many discussions about the two, your views?

I’m all for the discipline of traditional advertising, but I’m absolutely excited about the potential of digital advertising.

What medium do you think will give a client much value for his marketing money?

Broadcast TV is still king, but it also requires a king-sized budget. I feel that, if done correctly, social and digital can give clients so much value for their money because of all the specific parameters you can set.

What’s your favorite medium?

Print! Although it’s a medium that’s slowly dying, I love the challenge of having to figure out how to best capture your target audience with one strong piece of communication without you getting the chance of presenting. It’s all or nothing when it comes to print.

Do you get intimated when faced with big names in the industry, let’s say during a pitch?

I find myself excited with the challenge of going up against people I look up to and respect.

What do you think industry people should do more to keep it more vibrant, relevant and attuned with the times?

I think the industry should continue educating and inspiring the next generation of admen. A lot of the best in the industry have invested time in teaching in universities, which is absolutely admirable. These people are keeping our industry relevant. Hats off to them.

How did you start your advertising career?

I star ted my career not knowing much about advertising or art direction so I’ll always be grateful for that one person who gave me a shot—my first boss. So I basically learned everything on the job; from using Adobe Photoshop and Macromedia Freehand back in the day to understanding what it took to win new business and awards. And I’m proud to say that I learned how to source stock photos the hard way by scanning images from Getty Images books. Yes. There was no web site back in 2003. You young art directors are so damn lucky. Cherish it.

Your greatest achievement?

Marrying the one that got away, of course.

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By Lorenz S. Marasigan

ONSTRAINTS on permits and capital requirements may be a thing of the past for telecommunications providers in the Philippines, as the government has revamped its policy on telco tower construction, with foreign firms signifying their interest to invest $5 billion to supply the dearth in infrastructure in the local telco sector.

Depar tment of Infor mat ion a nd Com mu n ic at ion s Technolog y (DIC T ) Of f icer in Charge Eliseo M. Rio said his group has received feelers from foreign companies for the construction of common towers in the Philippines. This, he explained, will help reduce capital expenditures of existing telcos, address the issue on permitting and increase the coverage of telco service in the country. “ T he gover nment has decided to implement a comm o n - t o w e r p o l i c y, w h i c h me a n s t h at t he op e r ators w il l no longer be a l lowed to

bu i ld to we r s, but i n s t e ad l e a s e s p a c e f ro m a t o w e r company,” he said in a news br iefing on Fr iday. Presidential Adviser on Economic Affairs and ICT Ramon P. Jacinto, who is tasked to implement the said program, explained that this policy will result in lower costs on the telcos, and will give players more time to focus on their core businesses, as this removes the burden of building infrastructure in areas that they find permitting a bit too hard. “Tower companies will concentrate on rapidly deploying towers to cover the entire

Philippines adequately, freeing up the telecom players,” he said. American Towers, a foreign tower company, has signified its interest in doing business in the Philippines. Telco towers—infrastructure where radio transmitters are housed—in the Philippines remain inadequate. Based on a study made by TowerXchange, an independent community for operators, tower companies, investors and suppliers interested in emerging-market telecom towers, the Philippines lags behind its neighbors in Asia when it comes to cell-site build. T he nu mber of u nique physical cell sites in the Philippines is one of the lowest in Asia, with a combined 16,300 cell sites. China has the highest number with 1.18 million cel l sites, fol lowed by India w ith 450,000 and Indonesia w ith 76,477 cel l sites, while Vietnam has 55,000, T hailand w ith 52,483, Pa k istan w it h 28,0 0 0, Ba ngl adesh w it h 27,0 0 0 a nd Ma l aysi a w ith 22,000 sites. “We need 47,000 more to be comparable to Vietnam,” Rio lamented. A total of 50,000 towers are set to be built by tower operators, pending public consultation and auctions, Rio added, saying that the deal will not be limited to just one player. “ Those 50,000 towers can give business to two to three

com mon-tower operators,” he said. Jacinto noted that the manner and method of the rollout will be based on successful ones from other countries, such as the United States, Indonesia and India. “Common towers are quicker to deploy, they remove redundancy, remove the biggest problem for telco operators, save them money, and provide level playing field,” he added. “All these benefits will be there.” T he s p e c i f ic g u ide l i nes for the common-tower policy should be out by next month. “My best guess is by the last quarter of this year, we will have agreements on those who want to set up businesses here. Actual implementation might be for the same quarter or the first quarter of 2019,” Jacinto said. Globe Telecom Inc. executives have been very vocal about their issue on tower construction, citing constraints on securing permits, the lack of standard fees that result in corruption and right-of-way issues. Gil B. Genio, who sits as chief technology officer at Globe, has said that his group “supports the concept” of tower companies, as this could help improve the company’s coverage in the Philippines. Manuel V. Pangilinan, the chief executive of PLDT Inc., simply shrugged when asked whether the company is open to tower sharing with future players or not.

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Saturday, January 20, 2018

The World BusinessMirror

Chopper with Zimbabwe opposition leader Roy Bennett crashes, kills 5

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ATON, New Mexico—A group of prominent friends, including a key Zimbabwean opposition leader and a Texas-based investor and philanthropist, was heading to a ranch in the US state of New Mexico when their helicopter crashed and burned in a remote area, killing five people aboard. Friends and family members confirmed on Thursday that opposition leader Roy Bennett and his wife, Heather, had traveled to New Mexico to spend their holiday with friend and wealthy businessman Charles Burnett III at his ranch. Burnett’s friends, pilot Jamie Coleman Dodd of Colorado and copilot Paul Cobb of Texas, were ferrying the group aboard a Huey UH-1 when it went down after dark on Wednesday. All five died, according to New Mexico State Police. The only survivor was Andra Cobb, the copilot’s daughter who was in a long-term relationship with Burnett. She was able to escape before the helicopter burst into flames. Her voice breaking, Martha Cobb told The Associated Press that her 39-yearold daughter was hospitalized with broken bones. “She’s just very distraught,” the mother said in a telephone interview. “I’m just glad my daughter is OK, but I hate that my husband of 41 years is gone.” Martha Cobb and her husband had befriended the Bennetts while traveling on cruises. Roy Bennett, 60, treasurer-general of the Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) opposition p a r t y, wo n a d e vo te d fo l l ow i n g o f black Zimbabweans for passionately advocating political change.

Bennett, a white man who spoke f l u e nt S h o n a a n d d re w t h e w rat h of former President Rober t Mugabe, survived a traumatic year in jail and death threats over his work. He was known as “Pachedu,” meaning “one of us” in Shona and was often called the sharpest thorn in Mugabe’s side. Obert Gutu, spokesman for the MDC-T party, described Bennett’s death as a “huge and tragic loss.” Burnett, born in England, inherited part of a family fortune and had been friends for some time with the two pilots, said his personal law yer, Mar tyn Hill. Both Dodd and Cobb were experienced aviators who would not have taken unnecessary risks in the helicopter, Hill said. Cobb served in Vietnam and survived being shot down, he said. A 911 call from Andra Cobb alerted authorities to the crash, whose cause is under investigation. There was no indication of bad weather that night. Officials launched a search but said the response was slow because of the rugged terrain and lack of access. Engulfed in flames, the wreckage of the helicopter registered to an aviation company linked to Burnett was spotted on a ranch. The group was heading to the Emer y Gap Ranch, a mountainous proper ty on the Colorado-New Mexico border. Burnett bought it in Februar y 2017, s a i d S a m M i d d l e to n , a re a l - e s t ate broker in Lubbock, Texas, who helped with the purchase. Middleton called Burnett a “fun loving” person who enjoyed entertaining, at times extravagantly. AP

Editor: Lyn Ressureccion | www.businessmirror.com.ph

House acts to avert US govt shutdown T

he House passed a spending bill on Thursday to avoid a United States government shutdown, but Senate Democrats say they have the votes to block the measure in a bid to force Republicans and President Donald J. Trump to include protection for young immigrants. The 230-197 vote came just over a day before current funding is set to run out at midnight on Friday. The bill would keep the government open through February 16, while all sides negotiate on longer-term funding for defense and domestic programs. Shor t ly before the vote, Trump wrote on Twitter: “House of R e present at ives need s to pass Government Funding Bill tonight. So important for our

country—our Military needs it!” In a show of strength, House Republicans had enough suppor t w ithin their ow n ranks to pass the measure w ithout help from Democrats. Some members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus withheld their support through much of the day on T hursday, but reac hed a l ast-minute agreement w ith Spea ker Pau l Ryan to hold votes later on a conser vative immigration bil l and a measure to boost defense spend ing w it hout increasing nondefense spending. Still, Senate Democrats said they have the votes to block the measure in their chamber. At least 10 of the 18 Democrats who voted for a temporary funding measure last December have publicly announced their opposition, and a

Democratic aide said there won’t be enough party members who support the House bill. Republicans would need at least a dozen Democratic votes to get the bill, HR 195, through the Senate after at least three of the 51 Republicans in the chamber said they would vote against it. Congress has needed to extend current funding levels, while congressional leaders haggle over how much to raise spending on defense and domestic programs and whether to give protection from deportation to at least 690,000 undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children. Democrats have been demanding that Congress act now to protect the young immigrants who are shielded under the Obamaera Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which Trump plans to end on March 5. Republicans want to pair that issue with stronger border security and restrictions on other immigration programs. As passed in the House, the bill would fund the government for four weeks, extend the Children’s Health Insurance Program for six years and delay implementation of three taxes imposed by the Obama-era Affordable Care Act. Trump threw a wrench into the talks on Thursday morning by tweeting that he didn’t want the children’s health-insurance

House of Representatives needs to pass Government Funding Bill tonight. So important for our country—our Military needs it!” —Trump

provision in the short-term spending bill. He said it “should be part of a long term solution, not a 30 Day, or short term, extension!” The White House later backtracked and said the president supported the spending bill. If Congress can’t agree on a spending bill by midnight Friday or soon after, about 800,000 federal workers face furloughs a nd ma ny gover nment f unctions would be closed. In past shutdowns, that meant national parks were shuttered, some government contractors halted work and many agency functions, including release of economic statistics, were suspended. National security functions continued, as did others including air-traffic control and delivery of Social Security benefits.

2013 shutdown

THE last shutdown occurred in 2013, when Republican lawmakers unsuccessfully tried to eliminate funding of then-President Barack Obama’s signature legislative achievement, the Affordable Care Act. Republicans had the majority in the House, while Democrats held the Senate. The GOP now controls both chambers of Congress and the White House, and Democrats are using the must-pass bill to force other policy concessions. It’s not clear who would take most of the political blame for a shutdown, and the stakes are high ahead of midterm elections in November. To avoid a government shutdown, the Senate can either pass the House temporary spending bill or make changes and send it back to the House for another vote. The House isn’t scheduled to be in session next week, but a shutdown may force members to stay. Bloomberg News

Britain, France move to limit Brexit fallout

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ONDON—Agreements on defense, security and the treatment of migrants were reached by President Emmanuel Macron of France and Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain on Thursday, as the two leaders sought to protect critical areas of cooperation while Britain prepares to withdraw from the European Union. Anglo-French summit meetings are regular events, but with Britain’s scheduled departure from the bloc in March next year, this one has a particular resonance. The British withdrawal, known as Brexit, will bring to an end more than four decades of European integration, and 2018 will see tough negotiations on the future trading relationship between Britain and the remaining 27 nations of the bloc—talks in which France will wield considerable influence. In a significant goodwill gesture, Macron announced that the Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the Norman Conquest of England, would be lent to Britain for display, allowing it to leave France for the first time in 950 years. That, Macron told a news conference, was part of an effort to deepen cultural ties and help the two nations make “a new tapestry together,” even as Brexit introduces new uncertainty into their relationship. May agreed to pay an additional $62 million to help reinforce security around the French port city of Calais, which has been a gathering point for migrants seeking to

enter Britain. That money will be spent on fencing, closed-circuit television cameras and infrareddetection technology. The payment has rankled some members of May’s Conservative Party, who believe costs should be borne by France. But May defended the policy on Thursday, saying it was in Britain’s “national interest” to secure one of its frontiers. During his election campaign, Macron suggested renegotiating or scrapping the 2003 Le Touquet agreement that established British border controls in Calais, but that question has receded for now. On Thursday the two leaders reached an additional accord that aims to reduce the time spent by migrants in Calais, particularly unaccompanied minors. Britain is under pressure to accept more of them, though May’s statement made no mention of the numbers that could be admitted. Underscoring the importance of defense cooperation, Thursday’s meeting was held at the Sandhurst military academy, and May said that three British military helicopters would support French operations against Islamist insurgents in the Sahel region of Africa. France would commit troops to a British-led Nato force in Estonia— one of four such groups deployed to Eastern Europe—in 2019, she said. Welcoming the agreements, May added they illustrated her argument that Britain “may be leaving the European Union, but we are not leaving Europe.” For

Macron, cooperation on defense with Britain—Western Europe’s only other significant military power—is important to bolster the credibility of European foreign policy. For both sides, antiterrorism and intelligence cooperation is vital. Yet, analysts say there is a limited area of common interest, and even that is shrinking because of Brexit. May’s hopes of achieving a favorable trade deal with the EU have so far won little sympathy in France, which is keen to lure banks and other businesses from Britain. Paris has already won the right to host the bloc’s banking authority, which will move from London. In recent months the mayor of the struggling northern French city of Lille and the presidents of two French regions, Hauts-de-France and Île de France, have traveled to London to promote the advantages of moving to France, according to the French newspaper Le Monde. With May leading a weak and divided government that is preoccupied by Brexit, and with Germany’s chancellor, Angela Merkel, still trying to assemble a new coalition government, Macron has emerged as Europe’s leading political player on the international stage. Moreover, Macron has branded himself as a centrist pro-European, a fierce opponent of the populist right and a critic of many of the ideas behind Brexit, May’s defining political objective. New York Times News Service

Sports BusinessMirror

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

Saturday, January 20, 2018

A5

EXERCISE IN GUESSWORK N

By John Leicester The Associated Press

ORTH Korea suddenly making nice for the duration of next month’s Olympic Games in South Korea, putting seven decades of enmity on hold for 16 days with its offers to send athletes and entertainers across their heavily militarized border, won’t fundamentally change what happens next. When the Olympic flame has been extinguished, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will continue to use every tool at his disposal, including his gulags and thought police, to maintain his iron grip on power, demanding unfailing loyalty from each and every North Korean, just as his grandfather and father did before him. To preserve the dynasty they handed down, one where the Kims and their trusted lieutenants ruled across decades when millions starved, he will continue the North’s push for an arsenal of nuclear-tipped missiles that could strike faraway cities—to make sure that world leaders think thrice about any scheme to topple him. So, when the medals have all been won, the world will almost certainly find itself back at square one: Worrying again about whether Kim and US President Donald J. Trump are just a misstep or an angry tweet away from reaching for those nuclear buttons they’ve bragged about. Because North Korea has been so closed for so long, trying to determine the intentions of Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il and now Kim Jong Un has often been an exercise in guesswork. But it’s safe to say they all shared the same priority: the survival of themselves and their regime.

THE official emblem of the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic Winter Games is seen in downtown Seoul. AP

Late leveler, VAR confusion, red cards mark Chelsea win L

ONDON—After being stunned by a late equalizer, Chelsea was left bewildered and infuriated over the experimental video referees. And as frustration grew over the lack of winner against Norwich in the FA Cup, so did the number of dives by Chelsea players. Chelsea finished Wednesday’s third-round replay with nine men after Pedro Rodriguez and Alvaro Morata saw red in the frenzied conclusion with the teams locked at 1-1. Chelsea did eventually prevail on penalties against the second-tier visitors, winning 5-3 to advance to the fourth round in the rain at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea Manager Antonio Conte was relieved but also seeking answers about the role of video assistant referees (VAR) and how on-field official Graham Scott was consulting them. Scott certainly didn’t go over to a monitor to assess decisions himself. “If we want to improve,” Conte said, “we have to wait to check with the person who is watching the game and then [see] if this person is sure 100 percent that it is simulation.” Chelsea had looked all set for the fourth round, thanks to Michy Batshuayi’s strike 10 minutes into the second half that ended the west London team’s goal drought of more than five-and-a-half hours. But Norwich produced an equalizer with almost the last kick of regulation time. Timm Klose crossed

from the left flank and Jamal Lewis evaded Davide Zappacosta to guide a header into the roof of the net. There was confusion at the start of extra time when Chelsea midfielder Willian was booked for diving rather than being awarded a penalty after being clipped by Klose. Was the decision by referees across west London at the match control center? It’s unclear. “The Willian penalty was a big, big mistake,” Conte said. “To avoid a big mistake you have to call the referee and to say, ‘Oh look, maybe this situation this is a doubt. It’s better if you go to watch.’ “Otherwise, we cut the power to the referee on the pitch, and that is not right.” The red cards were shown in the final four minutes. Pedro received a second yellow card for fouling Wes Hoolahan after already receiving a caution for diving. Then Morata was booked for simulation and again for remonstrating. “If there is diving, it’s right to take a yellow card. I don’t want an advantage,” Conte said. “I’m not happy for the second yellow card to Morata. The second yellow card was for dissent and you must pay attention, to stay calm and make the best decision.” Conte berated the match officials as the teams prepared for the shootout, when the hosts converted all their kicks but Nelson Oliveira’s miss for Norwich proved costly. Eden Hazard took the penalty that sealed a fourth-round meeting with Newcastle.

Rival Koreas agree to form unified team S

EOUL—The rival Koreas agreed on Wednesday to form their first unified Olympic team and have their athletes parade together for the first time in 11 years during the opening ceremony of next month’s Winter Olympics in South Korea, officials said. The agreements still require approval from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). But they are the most prominent steps toward rapprochement achieved by the Koreas since they recently began exploring cooperation during the Olympics following a year of heightened tension over the North’s nuclear weapons program. During their third day of talks at the border in about a week, senior officials reached a package of agreements, including fielding a joint women’s ice hockey team and marching together under a blue and white “unification flag” depicting their peninsula in the opening ceremony, Seoul’s Unification Ministry said. A joint statement distributed by the ministry said the North Korean Olympic delegation will travel to South Korea across their heavily fortified land border before the February 9 to 25 Pyeongchang Games. It said the delegation will include a 230-member cheering group, a 30-member taekwondo demonstration team, journalists, athletes and officials. Ahead of the Olympics, the Koreas will hold a joint cultural event at the North’s scenic Diamond Mountain and have non-Olympic skiers train together at the North’s Masik ski resort, according to the statement. It said the North also plans to send a 150-strong delegation to the Paralympics in March. The North earlier said it would send a 140-member art troupe.

The agreements are highly symbolic and emotional. But it’s still not clear how many North Korean athletes will come to Pyeongchang because none are currently qualified. South Korean media have predicted only up to 10 North Korean athletes will end up being covered by an additional quota from the IOC. A pair of North Korean figure skaters qualified for this year’s Olympics, but the country missed a deadline to confirm their participation. The IOC said recently it has “kept the door open” for North Korea to take part in the games. IOC officials are to meet with sports and government officials from the two Koreas and officials from the Pyeongchang organizing committee in Switzerland on Saturday. The IOC said in statement on Wednesday that it has “taken note of a number of interesting proposals from different sources.” “There are many considerations with regard to the impact of these proposals on the other participating NOCs [national Olympic committees] and athletes. After having taken all this into consideration, the IOC will take its final decisions on Saturday in Lausanne,” it said. The two Koreas have sent joint teams to major international sports events twice previously, both in 1991. One event was the world table tennis championships in Chiba, Japan, where the women’s team won the championship by beating the powerful Chinese, and the other was soccer’s World Youth Championship in Portugal, where the Korean team reached the quarterfinals. During an era of detente in the 2000s, their athletes marched together in the opening and closing ceremonies of nine international sporting events, including the 2000

In northern England, there was a success on Wednesday for lower-league opposition as third-tier Wigan beat Premier League side Bournemouth 3-0 with goals from Sam Morsy, Dan Burn and Callum Elder. It is five years since Wigan became the first team to win the FA Cup and be relegated from the Premier League in the same season. Wigan will play West Ham in the fourth round. Swansea eliminated second-tier leader Wolverhampton with a 2-1 victory to set up a trip to Notts County. The opening goal from Jordan Ayew evoked

Sydney Olympics, but they failed to produce a joint team. Their last joint march was at the Asian Winter Games in Changchun, China, in 2007. The current reconciliation mood began after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said in a New Year’s speech that he was willing to send a delegation to the games. Critics have said Kim’s overture is an attempt to use improved ties with South Korea to weaken US-led international sanctions on North Korea while buying time to perfect his nuclear weapons program. The moves nevertheless have provided a temporary thaw in the Koreas’ long-strained ties and fostered optimism that North Korea won’t launch any new provocations, at least during the Olympics. Last year North Korea carried out its sixth and biggest nuclear test explosion and test-fired three intercontinental ballistic missiles, and Kim and US President Donald J. Trump traded threats of war and crude insults against each other. The White House says the joint Olympic team is an opportunity for North Korea to see the value of ending its international isolation by getting rid of its nuclear weapons. “We hope that this experience gives North Korea and its athletes a small taste of freedom, and that rubs off and it’s something that spreads and impacts in these negotiations and in these conversations,” spokesman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said. Some conservative critics say North Korea’s cheering and artistic groups are too big and worry the North may try to steal the show at the Olympics to launch what they call a “peace offensive” to try to show it’s a normal country despite pursuing nuclear weapons.

memories of Ricky Villa’s acclaimed 1981 FA Cup final goal for Tottenham with the Swansea forward evading six challenges before slotting into the Wolves net. In the second half, Diogo Jota equalized but Wilfried Bony secured Swansea’s passage into the fourth round. AP

Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero makes a save during the penalty shootout of their English Cup third-round match against Norwich City at the Stamford Bridge in London on Wednesday. AP

Kim’s unexpected offer earlier this month to send a delegation to the games in Pyeongchang must be seen through that lens. From his perspective, an Olympic truce is a low-risk gambit that helps the No. 1 purpose of his regime: buying more time for Kim. Having no part at all in the February 9 to 25 games just 80 kilometers south of the heavily mined border that divides the Korean Peninsula would have been worse for Kim. It would have made the North appear even more isolated, not only targeted by US-led international sanctions but cut off from the far more forgiving sporting world, too. That takes some doing. Instead, by sending singers, dancers, an orchestra and a cheering squad, the North gets to whoop it up at the South’s Olympic party, ditches its pariah costume for a couple of weeks, and temporarily confuses and distracts the world from its stated goal of perfecting and growing its nuclear arsenal. Not a bad trade-off. The few athletes the North is likely to send will almost certainly return home empty-handed. But Kim can lean on his mouthpieces in the North’s entirely statecontrolled media to pen fawning paeans anyway. In sports, North Korea barely makes a dent, despite Kim’s supposed love of the National Basketball Association and occasional visits from Dennis Rodman. But Kim has favored winter sports, and one of his big showcase projects—a ski resort three hours outside Pyongyang—attests to that. The South, for its part, would have looked churlish by refusing Kim’s outstretched hand, even as he holds missiles in the other one. Should this thaw, like previous ones, again fail to produce a broader, more enduring melt of frosty ties between the Koreas, it should at least reassure Olympic athletes and visitors that they won’t be risking their lives by putting themselves within range of Kim’s troops. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) stands to gain from this, too. Before the Koreas started talking again, Russia was shaping up as the dark cloud over the first Winter Olympics since its armada of doped athletes, helped by state officials and a lab director later turned whistle-blower, topped the medal table in Sochi in 2014, only to lose that spot when medals were later stripped. IOC President Thomas Bach will still face tough questions in Pyeongchang about why Russian athletes are being allowed to compete again so soon after the Sochi scandal. But thanks to the Koreas, he’ll also be able to crow that the Olympics are a force for human cooperation, even peace. Kim, for one, would like us to believe it—however true or untrue the reality might be.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in (left) poses with the South Korean national short track skaters during a visit to Jincheon National Training Center in Jincheon on Wednesday. AP

North Korea also sent highly trained female cheering groups dressed in bright, attractive outfits when it attended previous international sports events in South Korea. The groups, chosen for their cheering skills, as well as their good looks and dubbed “beauty squads” by South Korean media, often received more attention than their athletes. Kim Jong Un’s wife, Ri Sol Ju, was a

member of a 2005 squad. North Korea under Kim has made sports, and especially success in international sporting events, a high priority. While it’s not a major winter sports competitor, North Korean athletes have set several weightlifting world records and its women hold a high profile on the world football scene. AP

A6 Saturday, January 20, 2018 | Editor: Mike Besa

Southlinks Golf Club Cobra F8 driver

M4 and M3 drivers

Are the new drivers really better?

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’ve seen it happen every year since I began writing about golf and golf clubs. Every year the equipment manufacturers introduce their latest, greatest drivers with each claiming to be longer and easier to hit than last year’s model. Every year, you and I keep buying their new products in the hope that they’re right. But are they really? Are they really as good as they claim? Are they really better than last year’s models? Will you hit the ball further than you can with your five-year-old driver that’s sitting in your closet? Since the USGA and Royal and Ancient first placed limits on the coefficient of restitution (COR or what’s more commonly known as “the spring-like effect”) of drivers back in 2003, many thought the days of the 300 plus yard drives were a thing of the past. But nothing is further from the truth. Golfers continued to get longer as they switched to new drivers, but it wasn’t because the drivers were launching the ball with higher initial velocities. Golfers were getting longer because shaft technology continued to improve with new materials, different weaves, a greater variety of shaft flex profiles and, in the end, allowed golfers to fit themselves to more accurately to their golf clubs. Remember at this point, the rules of golf limited the velocity of the ball coming off the clubface, so gains were achieved by putting the center of gravity of the driver in the optimal location. This was enhanced to the most finite level with the application of the latest technologies in the manufacture of carbon fiber for use in the clubhead. This lighted the structure significantly, freeing up discretionary weight then allowing engineers to position the weight in the clubhead where it would

do the most good, increasing launch trajectories while lowering spin at the same time. As this goes to print, golf club manufacturers seem to have reached the limits of what current technology is able to do with the ultimate performance of a driver head. So, it’s now notable that golf club manufacturers have focused their energies in making their drivers easier to hit, after all, a shot hit in the center of percussion (the “sweet spot” to rest of us) travels further than one that misses it. Based on our observations, the zenith of performance seems to have come to the fore last year with Callaway’s Jailbreak technology. Other manufacturers have come out with similar methods of preserving energy transfer (TaylorMade’s Hammerhead technology, for example) but have focused on making their clubs more forgiving without giving up performance. That’s a good thing. It’s all well and good to have a powerful golf club that allows you to hit the ball great distances, but you still need to hit the ball in the center of the clubface for that to happen. Today’s tech allows you a little more leeway if you miss the sweet spot a little bit, and that’s a very good thing because a 280-yard in the fairway is infinitely better than a 300-yard drive that’s out of bounds. Mike Besa

BusinessMirror Gol Public Golf Course o

Callaway Rogue drivers

The rise of China

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hen Gary Player speaks, it is often best to pay attention and absorb his infinite words of wisdom. The South African golf legend, who has won a staggering 165 Tournaments in six continents over a span of six decades, regularly imparts his honest-to-goodness views on the ever-expanding landscape in professional golf. After decades of trailblazing success, the octogenarian, who turned 82 last November and reportedly still does 1,300 sit-ups a day, is an authority of the game, and he made a few folks sit up and take notice during a recent Rolex event at an Ladies Professional Golf Association Tournament. Player made a bold prediction that male Chinese golfers would one day take over and dominate the world golfing order despite the current state of affairs, where five American stars—Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler and Brooks Koepka— occupy positions in the world’s top-10 ranking. His views may not quite be “breaking news” material, but Player certainly sees things differently from mere golfing mortals. “They’ve got this enhanced desire to do well,” he said about Chinese golfers, which Global Golf Post reported late-November. Player, one of only five men to complete a career Grand Slam, revealed he wasn’t optimistic when then 14-year-old Chinese amateur Guan Tianlang earned his place at the Masters Tournament in 2013 after winning the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship. He even called Augusta National Golf Club to voice his disagreement, only for fear that Guan would be so out of his depth and be put off from the game. As it turned out, the youngster proved doubters, including Player wrong by making the weekend cut and emerging as low amateur. Player conceded he “couldn’t have been more wrong about the child.” Throw in Haotong Li’s mesmerizing thirdplace finish at The Open Championship in Royal Birkdale last July, following a glorious final-round 63, Player is convinced the Chinese brigade will soon burst through the gates. With Zecheng (Marty) Dou, who at 20 is two years younger than Li, and Xinjun Zhang earning Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Tour cards after taking a journey, which began at the PGA Tour Series-China, the signs are becoming evident that Player could be spot on with his prediction. His views coincided with another Chinese teenager, 17-year-old Lin Yuxin, earning the dream trip to the Masters Tournament this coming spring after he prevailed in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Wellington lateOctober. Lin later explained he was amongst those inspired by countryman Li’s Open exploits. “It’s

definitely a motivation for me, and it’s definitely a motivation for every Chinese player,” said the left-hander, who also earned a starting place at the 2018 Open Championship. This pointed back to Player’s assertion that the Chinese have the “enhanced desire” to succeed. Interestingly, Lin has come onto the scene after enjoying numerous opportunities to grind his teeth on the PGA Tour Series-China, the very same platform, which has propelled Dou and Zhang into the world’s premier golf circuit. Over the past three years, Lin played on the PGA Tour Series-China, making 11 cuts from 13 starts, and finishing as low amateur in seven events throughout 2016 without missing a weekend cut. With the PGA Tour announcing that it will partner with the China Golf Association (CGA) to stage a full PGA Tour Series—China schedule in 2018, Commissioner Jay Monahan emphasized the importance. “This is significant, really significant, for Chinese golf, because Zecheng and Xinjun are the first two players from China to hold PGA Tour membership,” Monahan said. “They followed the path from PGA Tour Series-China to the Web.com Tour, to the PGA Tour, and they are ideal examples of what you can do when you have immense talent, you dream big and you play on PGA Tour China.” The timing of the PGA Tour Series-China announcement could not have been any better as days later, Lin became the third Chinese amateur to win the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, following in the footsteps of Guan (2012) and Jin Cheng (2015). Monahan believes a strong PGA Tour SeriesChina will pave the way for more Chinese talents to break through. “If we can unlock the largest country and the largest market in the world, and we can inspire future generations and, hopefully, young people are watching these two stars (Dou and Zhang) and other stars as we go forward. We think that’s a wonderful thing for the best game on the planet,” he said. “We want to develop more elite Chinese players through PGA Tour Series-China, and I think you’ll see us continue to collaborate on the specifics behind inspiring future generations and developing the game.” With the some of the game’s biggest backers, such as HSBC collaborating with CGA through its junior program, where players, such as Li, now ranked 58th in the world, and Lin have benefited from, Player’s prediction could well become true. Chuah Choo Chiang is senior director, communications for the PGA Tour and is based at TPC Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Story & photos by Mike Besa

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n this issue, we begin to recognize the golf courses that have given us the most pleasure and the best memories in 2017. For this year, we’re staying with awarding the best traditional and best modern golf courses, but we are adding a new category, that of the best public golf course. Which makes perfect sense since the public golf courses are the entry points for most neophytes into the game. They are the gateways to our sport, and it is only right that we acknowledge the golf courses that are the best at doing so. Beyond this, public or not, we will look at the golf course’s attributes and judge them as we would the other golf courses, and that is by the quality of the golf that they provide. Never mind the food in the clubhouse of the amenities in the locker room—we’re only

interested in the golf on offer. For us, there really were only two choices. Sun Valley Golf Club in Cogeo, Antipolo (no, not the one in Clark) and Southlinks Golf Club in Ayala Southvale along Daang Hari just beyond Ayala Alabang. Both are modern constructions that employ modern drainage technology and modern turf grasses on the greens. Where they differ in here is that, while Sun Valley uses Tifton (a Bermuda hybrid) on their fairways, Southlinks uses an endemic grass, zoysia matrela, on theirs. This is significant because as an endemic species, zoysia is more resistant to disease and weeds, which leads to lower maintenance costs (and, hopefully, lower green fees). The down side is that zoysia takes much longer to grow in than the modern, imported turf grasses. But once it does, it is incredibly hardy and a very nice surface on which to golf upon. It also requires less water and is much friendlier to the environment.

Now, both Sun Valley and Southlinks are pretty tough tracks from the proper set of tees. Southlinks is perhaps more accessible to a broader cross-section of golfers, and is undoubtedly easier for juniors and the shorter hitters among us. Sun Valley is the tougher track for sure. The elevation changes and ever-present ravines will play havoc with those that aren’t at their best. But Southlinks is no pushover. It demands accuracy off the tee and into the green. The course may not be as long but given the proper setup, it can be just as difficult as Sun Valley. A big difference between the two is that, while Southlinks is a good walking course, Sun Valley is not—a cart is required to play Sun Valley, unless you intend to use your round here as training for a climb up Mount Pulag. Even then, the club won’t let you on without a golf cart. That’s not an ideal situation for a public golf course. Aesthetically, the Sun Valley wins, hands down. This is a stunning piece of property with

the elevation changes and the tee shots from the hilltops and down over lakes and such. Southlinks is linksy by design and that means a more minimalist approach aesthetically. That isn’t to say Southlinks is ugly by comparison. Far from it. The fairways are lined with trees and scrub that serve to define the holes. The minimalist aesthetic has its own appeal, it’s just different from the parkland/mountain course construction at Sun Valley. If anything, Southlinks can be very difficult because you are never quite sure where you should be aiming to into scoring position from the fairway. Golfers used to having trees and such to target from the tee box will be stymied by the lack thereof. Southlinks was built to be sustainable. This was key to keep costs under control to stand a good chance of turning a profit and to have a minimal impact on the environment. It is no mean feat that Southlinks has managed to get

5 EASY STEPS TO IMPROVE YOUR PERFORMANCE I By David MacKenzie

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e all play around 50 percent of our shots within 40 yards a.k.a. “The Scoring Zone,” so doing everything we can in our preparation for each shot is critical if we’re going to play as best we can. Here are five things you can do to immediately improve your performance in the scoring zone. The more we can visualize and become committed to a shot, the more our body knows exactly what it needs to do to execute it. Make these steps part of your pre-shot routine and I know you’ll save several precious shots per round.

1. Decide on the right shot to play.

This really depends on the situation, but what is important is to get committed to the shot. Generally speaking (and this is more for shots that are closer to the green), you want the shot that gets the ball onto the green as

quickly as possible and gets it rolling to the hole (the more of the green you can use, the better).

2. Read the green.

If you’re close enough, take a look at the undulations on the green to see what the ball is going to do when it hits it. Knowing this can make the difference between a tap in or a 20-footer.

3. Pick your spot(s).

This is absolutely critical for all short game shots. If you don’t have a really targeted spot on the green to land the ball on, you’re simply wasting shots. Find that spot to hone in on. Next, stand behind the ball and pick a spot 6 inches in front of the ball (directly between the ball and the target) that you’ll be aligning the club-face to. I’ve got a lot of short game practice drills in the practice drills ebook.

4. Visualize the shot.

With your practice swings, visualize exactly how that shot will look. Become completely immersed in it. See it’s trajectory, where it will land and see it roll out to the roll and go in. Thoughts about the technique required to play it have to be completely eliminated. It’s just you, your target and that shot, right up until the ball leaves the club-face.

5. Make a good strike.

When you’re about to play your shot, take a few looks up at your spot and, again, see the whole shot. Concentrate on nothing but strike during the shot itself. Give this a go and I’ve no doubt you’ll “see” the difference. Stay tuned for my next article on the perfect putting routine. David MacKenzie is a performance coach and the founder of Golf State of Mind. Throughout David’s playing career, he learned quickly how attitude, self-belief and

mental toughness affect performance in golf. He knew that was the difference between his average and great rounds. But the question was how did one improve these valuable skills and feel more confident more often? While studying at the University of Saint Andrews in Scotland, David began in depth research into sport psychology and how elite performers apply their minds to practice and play. He interviewed hundreds of elite golfers and sport psychologists. He shared what he discovered via his web site, Golf State of Mind and it quickly resonated with golfers of all levels. David now works with players of all levels (and coaches), and has had a huge amount of success with his system. His mental coaching system is taught one on one (in person or remotely), in groups and via his mental game training products. The system develops mental toughness, improves emotional control and teaches golfers how to stay focused on what’s most important.

www.pinoygolfer.com | Saturday, January 20, 2018 A7

lf’s of the Year ’17 The home hole at Southlinks Golf Club

a firm grip on the complexity of the task at hand. For starters, consider that the standard golf course sits 27 to 35 hectares on average. Southlinks occupies just 19 hectares. The bunkers have been designed like funnels with wide openings but narrow centers. The smaller footprint and native turf grassed fairways mean the course will require precious few inputs to maintain playing quality. The bunker design means using less of that expensive bunker sand adding to the savings from using local turf grass. Using a micro Bermuda like mini verde on the greens completes the playing experience, which hinges on the condition of the greens. Southlinks excels from a design standpoint. The Ayala Corp. was wise to retain Kevin Ramsey and his company Golf Plan and further apply the lessons they learned from building Anvaya Cove at Southlinks. It is a heck of a track. The key to unlocking the puzzle is that, Southlinks is the tee shot. Standing on the tee, it is difficult to zero in on a target. Landing areas are hidden and landing areas slope from one side to the other placing a premium on knowledge of the golf course. Hitting fairways is the key to a good score here. Not the least because the scrub area that lines the golf course is marked as patches of environmentally sensitive areas, which forbid the golfer and his caddie from entering them to locate wayward golf balls. So, if you hit one into the deep rough, you’ve pretty much lost the ball and will have to take a penalty drop. But the more you play the golf course

and grow to understand it, the fewer golf balls you will lose. Consider the lost balls tuition while you learn the course. When you find the fairway, the holes open up in front of you. Longer hitters will find themselves with a lot of short irons and wedges to the greens here, but you will have to factor the wind into your pre-shot calculations. It will play a significant role in the trajectory of your golf ball. In the end, Southlinks wins out as our public golf course of 2017. It has a far greater appeal to a larger golfing demographic than does Sun Valley. The golf is challenging and quite good. The par threes could do with a little bit more length but that would compromise its appeal to such a broad swath of golfers. Proof of this are the numbers of junior golfers that can be seen regularly at the range, on the practice green and on Southlinks’s fairways. It is proof positive that the Ayala Corp. has hit on a very successful model for Philippine golf. All told, this makes Southlinks our choice for our public golf course of the year award, narrowly beating out Sun Valley. It is the perfect model for a public golf course in the Philippines and proof positive that if you build it, they will come in their droves. Our congratulations then to the Ayala Corp. for having the foresight and hutzpah to build Southlinks Golf Club. It’s a great golf course that’s accessible to all and a pleasure to play. It’s environmentally responsible and sustainable in our economic environment. For these reasons, Southlinks Golf Club is our public golf course of the year. The sixth is a beautiful short par 4.

IN THE SCORING ZONE When it comes to the short game, few can hold a candle to Phil Mickelson.

OurTime

A8 Saturday, January 20, 2018 • Editor: Efleda P. Campos

BusinessMirror

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DSWD 11 covered more senior social pensioners in 2017

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AVAO CITY—The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the Davao region assisted 136,067 indigent senior citizens in 2017 through its Social Pension Program.

This was bared by Lywellyn Bibera, DSWD focal person for Social Pension in the Davao region. The number of pensioners sig-

nificantly increased from 85,532 social pensioners in 2016. The amount of the social pensions released by DSWD 11 to quali-

fied pensioners in 2017 reached P816,402,000 in six cities and 43 municipalities, Bibera said. Bibera added Davao del Norte posted the largest number of recipients with 27,312; Davao Oriental, 26,407; Compostela Valley, 26,265; Davao City, 22,619; Davao del Sur, 20,889; and Davao Occidental with 12,575. The Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens Program, Republic Act (RA) 9995, addresses the clamor for social protection to the most vulnerable older persons, as well as backs the full implementa-

tion of RA 9994, or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010. The monthly stipend of P500, which took effect on January 2011, augments the daily subsistence and other medical needs of indigent senior citizens. Potential recipients are senior citizens (60 years old and above) who are frail, sickly or have disabilities; not receiving pension from the Social Security System, Government Service Insurance System, or Philippine Veterans Affairs Office; and do not have a permanent source of income or regular support from

Development Office (C/MSWDO) and conducts orientation, advocacy activities and meetings with the LGU Office of Senior Citizens Affairs, Federation of Senior Citizens Association of the Philippines and barangay senior citizens associations. Meanwhile, 107 centenarians in the Davao region received a P100,000 cash gift last year. Centenarians, poor or rich, are entitled to receive the “centenarian gift,” as well as recognition from the government for reaching 100 years under RA 10868 or the Centenarians Act of 2016. Carmela Duron/PNA

Music therapy offers an end-of-life grace

‘Sumilang’ 2018: A celebration of thanksgiving, merrymaking

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ILANG, Cavite—The early Caviteños had long fought for independence against the Spanish rule and were deeply rooted to their rich cultural heritage that sparked the town’s millennial generation to mark their festivals with the annual “Sumilang” (or to radiate and spark the ray of light) Festival. The local fiesta slated on January 22 will kick off with its traditional homage of the town’s patroness, “Our Lady of Candelaria,” noted for the parish edifice complex that showcases the Retablo Mayor and Mayores or the votive altar pieces that are conferred as National Cultural Treasures by the National Museum. The annual fiesta is observed as a way of thanksgiving for the bountiful fruit harvests and farm products in this primarily agricultural town yet emerged as one of Cavite’s first-class towns. Silang’s Community Affairs Head Noah Caasi told the Philippines News Agency here on Monday that their celebration’s opening salvo is the “Sunduan” (which means ‘fetch’)—a religious tribute to the town’s patroness, Nuestra Señora de Candelaria (Our Lady of Candelaria), and the religious image’s procession on January 22. Townsfolk are expected to mark the traditional observance and piety of the “nine-day Novena,” nightly cultural presentation, fiesta ball, costume play competition and the annual search for the “Little Ms. Silang Pre-Pageant,” “Tawag ng Tanghalan” (musical competition) and the Grand Finals and Little Ms. Silang Coronation Night on January 23 and 29, respectively. A cultural and heritage forum is slated on January 30 that focuses on rerooting the town’s cultural heritage, a journey back in time on the town’s original traditions and values, especially among the millennials born in the technology age. The fiesta extravaganza from February 1 to 3 will be marked with Street Dancing, Silang Wedding Fair, Marching Band Parade, Mr. and Ms. Silang Fitness Competition and the Variety Show “Yugyugan” (dancing to the beat). A Cavite festival won’t be complete without the “Serenata” (Serenade) of the town’s various bands and the traditional religious procession of the “Karakol” scheduled on February 1 and 3, respectively. One of the acknowledged oldest towns of Cavite, Silang was founded in 1571 with its name derived from the Tagalog word silanganan (the east) although the elderly and senior citizens here believed the name was derived from isinilang, with what seemed like a miraculous “birth” of the church at the town center. PNA

family or relatives. The list of potential social pensioners was based on the results of the DSWD Listahanan national assessment, which was validated by the local government units (LGUs). Qualified senior citizens not included in the DSWD Listahanan data, but recommended by the LGU, are assessed by the LGU social worker. Payment is based on the budget allocation per municipality. Under the program, the DSWD monitors and provides technical assistance to the LGUs through the City/Municipal Social Welfare and

GRANDMA’S ORGANIC GARDEN Born February 15, 1928, Jovita Perante at 90 looks amazed by the fruitful performance of her bell peppers and string beans planted in her organic garden. She is happy her crops yielded to her expectations. As a vegetarian, Lola Joving claims she personally grows the vegetables she likes as her secret for a long life. SUZANNE JUNE G. PERANTE

Intergenerational not-so-odd couples: Getting a roommate in their golden years

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IKE many older Americans, Shazzi Felstein recently found herself in an unexpected financial bind. About a year ago, she noticed that her savings had dwindled. To her horror, she realized that her monthly Social Security check would not cover her rent-stabilized one-bedroom apartment in Chelsea and monthly expenses like utilities and food for much longer. A former computer-systems analyst, Felstein, 73, had always saved as much as she could and had enjoyed relatively stable finances. That changed in 2011, she said, when she lost about $80,000 in retirement savings after investing in a company that turned out to be guilty of fraud. The owners of the Massachusettsbased Inofin Inc. a subprime autoloan company, swindled hundreds of investors, and the company entered into involuntary bankruptcy. Felstein has been unable to recoup her money, although the company’s founders pleaded guilty to fraud and were sentenced to jail. “I felt very lost,” Felstein said. “I have always paid my rent on time, and I knew if I didn’t do something, I wouldn’t be able to live here anymore.” She thought about moving in with her sister in Florida, but knew it would put a strain on their relationship. A native New Yorker, Felstein has lived in the same apartment for almost 40 years and had no desire to move. So she did what many others do to keep down costs in an expensive city: She found a roommate. Instead of placing an ad online, Felstein turned to the New York Foundation for Senior Citizens, a Manhattan-based nonprofit. The group has been operating a homesharing service since 1981, match-

ing people who have space in their homes with those in need of affordable housing. It is one of a number of similar programs that have emerged across the country as the population of older Americans grows, as a way to help people stay in their homes. The concept of pairing older people with younger ones, particularly those who are not family members, is not a new one: It was popularized by Maggie Khun, an elder-rights activist who opened up her Philadelphia home to others for more than 20 years before she died in 1995. Today’s home sharing, however, is as likely to be between those of the same age as it is to be intergenerational. The crucial thing is that it involves two or more people sharing an apartment or a house to their mutual benefit. And finances often play a big role. For those who are still of working age, it’s getting harder to pay the rent: According to a StreetEasy survey, rents in the city rose twice as fast as wages between 2010 and 2017. The lowest rents (those up to $2,300) rose 4.9 percent annually since 2010, which means someone who paid $1,500 a month in 2010 likely paid nearly $600 more for the same place in 2017. For baby boomers entering retirement, financial security is also increasingly hard to come by. Many Americans may think they have plenty of savings, but about half have not saved enough to maintain their preretirement living standards, according to a recent estimate by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. The rising cost of health care, increased life expectancy and lower interest rates only exacerbate the situation. In addition, a Fannie Mae survey found that baby boomers are more likely to be carrying mortgage debt into their retirement years than previous generations were.

To Felstein, who was confronting these realities, there didn’t seem to be any other option than taking in a roommate. The New York Foundation for Senior Citizens connected her with a licensed social worker who asked a host of questions, including details about her sleeping habits, personality, interests and daily schedule. She also had to provide three personal recommendations and her rental agreement, to prove she was on the lease. And she was asked to describe what she considered the ideal roommate. Her response: someone who wasn’t home much. “I knew it would be a long shot,” she said, “but I thought I should be honest.” She found her match in Yukari Honda, a 27-year-old graduate student in interior design at the New School. Honda, who is from Tokyo, is often at school from morning until past midnight. A year ago, Felstein moved out of her old bedroom to make room for Honda. She replaced the living room sofa with a bed, turning the living room into a bedroom for herself. Fortunately, there is a separate kitchen and common room where Honda studies and Felstein keeps reams of fabric for her quilting. The two split the utilities and the $1,145 rent equally. They rarely share meals or do things together, but have found that they seek each other out in other ways. “Shazzi is so patient, she has helped me for hours with my schoolwork,” Honda said. Felstein, an avid quilter, said she has been thrilled to talk about design and assist Honda with her assignments. In return, Honda has been helping out more with the housework. New York Times News Service

EW YORK— At 90, Beverly Herzog is writing songs for the first time. Once a week, a music therapist helps Herzog transform her thoughts into lyrics, then sings them back to her mellifluously over the strums of her guitar. The result can be transformative. When Herzog listened during a session last December, she marveled at how magically the music reflected her views on love and life. “I can’t believe it,” Herzog said in her room at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale in the Bronx. “So I sit with my mouth open, I do. And I’m starting to get an appreciation, not just swallowing it. Not because it’s a song that we wrote together, but because it feels, like, complete, for all of us.” Suffering from memory loss, Herzog can sometimes be confused. In her session, she told her music therapist, Kaitlyn Kelly, that her husband, Bernie, was coming to visit, but he is not alive. She talked about her job taking her away from her family, though she has lived at the home since 2013. But about her songs, she is not confused. She offered detailed edits. “Where it says ‘I’m getting old,’ it should say, ‘I’m getting older,’” Herzog told Kelly about a line in a song, titled simply, “The Song.” “Because I am getting older now. And it is hard work.” And the songs helped her remember her loves. “When we were singing, my father’s face was there,” she told Kelly after her song, “Family First.” She wished her mother, more than anyone, could hear her repertoire, which now consists of four songs. “She’d be sitting here crying; she would be so proud,” she said. Music therapy, a board-certified health profession that has about 7,500 practitioners nationwide, is becoming more prevalent in nursing homes and hospices because of sessions like those shared between Kelly and Herzog, which helped Herzog feel like she was being heard. And within that, there is a developing subspecialty in Kelly’s expertise: end-of-life music therapy. About 15 percent of music therapists now work in geriatric settings, and about 10 percent with terminally ill patients, according to a 2017 employment survey by the American Music Therapy Association, which asked about 1,500 music therapists. Russell Hilliard, the founder of the Center for Music Therapy in End of Life Care in Finksburg, Maryland, has published research showing that, in the hospice environment, music therapists were often the only professionals consistently treating emotional, spiritual, cognitive, social and physical needs of patients. When he started in the field in 1993, he was perhaps the first fulltime music therapist in an American hospice, he said. As a sign of the

field’s growth, he is now an executive at Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care, which employs about 80 music therapists nationwide. While it has not been proven to extend life, multiple studies have shown music therapy can improve the quality of life, inspire feelings of peace, spirituality and hope, and reduce pain. More studies are continuing, as music therapists seek to make their profession as central in end-of-life care as social workers and chaplains. Currently, most insurance companies and government-funded health programs do not cover music therapy directly. End-of-life music therapy also includes work being done by people like Kristen O’Grady, a music therapist who works with terminally ill children and their families at the Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center in Yonkers. She helps parents sing to their children, records the children’s sounds and helps parents write and record lullabies. “When we talk about end-of-life work, we are talking about loss,” O’Grady said. “But music is an inherently creative process. So we are directly opposing this feeling of loss with a feeling of creation. We are having creative, new experiences even in the last moments of someone’s life.” At the Hebrew Home, which has 735 residents, Kelly is the sole creative-arts therapist who specializes in end-of-life care in a team of 12 art, drama, movement and music therapists. She is most often called in when patients are judged to have six months or less to live to help them frame their lives and provide support. About one-third of her 10 to 15 current patients, she said, are regularly able to write songs with her, a process in that Kelly sets their thoughts to melodies she improvises. Others listen. In a session with Grace Sullivan, who is 102 and has profound hearing loss, Kelly asked if she wanted to hear music. “Something sweet and low,” she said in a raspy voice. Kelly sang “Qué Será, Será [Whatever Will Be, Will Be],” as performed in 1956 by Doris Day. She and other music therapists working in end-of-life care often play music from when their clients were young, to help transport them back to a time when they were able-bodied. Sullivan, who was in a wheelchair, responded to “Qué Será, Será” by sighing in rhythm to the music. Kelly started sighing, too, to reflect back to her feelings and deepen them. “How do you feel, Grace?” she asked afterward. “Good, I feel good,” she said. For Shirley Weinrich, 83, who has Alzheimer’s disease, she played relaxing music, and improvised some lyrics. “When you’re smiling, it’s so bright,” Kelly said, trying to get a smile. AP

The Millennials BusinessMirror

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ECHOstore founder: Think like a Millennial to grow retail biz

Saturday, January 20, 2018

The staying power of power of the press

By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

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@brownindio

HE advent of the digital age posed a tough challenge for traditional retailers as their businesses have to slug it out against virtual operators, online stores and applications that promote e-commerce. Globally, even famous retailers have marked a 20-percent decrease in sales for the year. “These days, you do not see who your competition is,” serial entrepreneur Pacita Juan of ECHOstore says. “They are there in the galaxy of the Internet; and you have to just surf and find increasing numbers of merchants in your category.” ECHOstore is not backing out from the challenge. Juan, together with ECHOstore cofounders Jeannie Javelosa and Reena Francisco, had to evolve and think like millennials. “I had to research on what they buy and what makes them want to buy” says Francisco, research and development and merchandise designer of the ECHOstore troika. Javelosa concentrated on their women-sourced crafts, bags and accessories under two brands: currently “Great Women” and, soon, “World of Women” or WOW. Javelosa writes for their web site and has even written a book to chronicle their foray into social enterprise.

Tips from youth

ASIDE from beefing up an online presence by redesigning its web site, ECHOstore also tapped the expertise of its younger consultants. As a

result, ECHOstore was able to penetrate into the minds of millennials and the younger generation who have now joined the market segment that ECHOstore belongs to, Juan said. Health and wellness, love for environment and love for stores with a cause, has embraced the younger market who now just buy through their mobile phones, not even setting foot in any of ECHOstore’s “brick and mortar” locations, she added. Furthermore, the younger market is also composed of health-conscious families, as mothers go with the “attachment parenting” trend where kids are nursed and carried by young mothers while they perform daily routines. Juan noted that millennial males have also come to ECHOstore to get their beauty and personal essentials. Men buy from the physical stores because they still want to touch the product and maybe smell the variants first before making a purchase. The men’s products are the biggest growing category and ECHOstore has suggestions for grooming, personal care and even household cleaners. It has helped that the store was featured by actor Paolo Abrera in his show on cable TV. The store also gained media mileage in other TV shopping shows.

Fernando Victor G. Manangan

MILLENNIAL UNIVERSE

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This undated photo shows products displayed on a shelf of the ECHOstore branch at the Serendra Complex in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

Apps for shopping

BESIDES boosting its shopping site, ECHOstore also tied up with providers like Foodpanda for food deliveries around the cities of Makati, Taguig and Cebu. Consumers download the app and then place their orders for dishes in ECHOstore’s café. Another shopping app for groceries is Metromart. Riders literally shop for and pay for the purchases from several stores with one destination. The service is available for the Makati and Serendra stores for now, Juan said, adding there are plans to make the service available in Quezon City, which is covered by the ECHOstore branch on the Centris Walk. Juan said ECHOstore will continue to increase its online presence and discover new and different ways to reach the growing customer base. It is predicted that sales for green and eco-friendly products will increase by 20 percent annually and ECHOstore wants a slice of the green pie. She added the store is hooking up with logistics providers who can bring their community products from Ilocos to Manila and Davao or Cagayan de Oro City. Juan said the plan specifically includes meat products from Bukidnon to Davao without these passing through Manila.

“This logistics approach using a portal will also make their goods more affordable as the freight costs will soon be optimized,” she explained.

Evolve and survive

ACCORDING to Juan, the modern retailer cannot just sit and just wait for the customer to walk in. One must talk to the customer 24/7 and address his or her every need, cater to their queries or lose them to someone else, almost at the same time as someone is also migrating to ECHOstore from another site, she said. Present on Facebook, Twitter and last year on Instagram, Juan said ECHOstore plans to go regional for its expansion. “We are active in the regional setting because we think the Asean is looking for a similar concept to go overseas,” added Juan, ever the visionary who likes to look beyond the country. She also chairs the Asean Women Entrepreneurs Network until May, which has a growing following on Facebook and Twitter. “Entrepreneurs who are still in the traditional mode better shape up or throw in the towel,” Juan said. “Today, you keep up with the trends, or you die.”

From ‘Vanity Fair’ to south of France—and backing a mobile news app

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RAYDON Carter, the former editor of Vanity Fair, was preparing coq au vin in Provence, France, the other day when he picked up a telephone call from back home. “We’re just cooking,” Carter said, affably, as the sounds of family chimed in the background. This is what semiretirement looks like for Carter, a bon vivant who is taking what he has called a six-month “garden leave” in France after 25 years as one of the United States’s most influential magazine editors. He keeps up with the news in the London dailies, has found himself bombarded by Johnny Hallyday tributes in the French press and started reading Michael Wolff’s book, Fire & Fury: Inside the Trump White House, before giving up halfway through. “It was too depressing,” Carter said. “It’s what I got away from.” He is not, however, staying idle. Carter, who has produced films and opened restaurants, said he was exploring a suite of new ventures—the first of which debuted on Monday. Zig, an app that aims to simplify users’ consumption of news, is Carter’s first public project since he left Vanity Fair last month. It resembles an Instagram of news: a feed of photographs culled from stories around the Web, with the material tailored to a user’s interests.

Idea

THE idea, said Joshua James, one of the founders, is to deliver useful news without making readers slog through a dozen sites. “I had been going to the same 15 web sites for years, and they never knew what I wanted when I got there,” he said. Carter offered advice—when the founders considered changing their logo, Carter said he liked the old one, so it stayed—but his most significant contribution was financial. He is one of several high-profile investors in Zig, along with music producer Quincy Jones, Hollywood mogul Ron Meyer and concert giant Live Nation. Zig declined to disclose how much it had raised. James and a cofounder, Adam Platzner, pitched the idea to Carter at a tech-industry conference hosted by Vanity Fair in 2016. (The third founder is John Tornow.) At the time, Carter was mulling the state of news; he recalled an assistant pointing out to him that millennials “think in more visual terms than in textual terms.”

Adam Platzner (left) and Joshua James, creators of Zig, an Instagram-like news aggregator, in New York, on January 9. Graydon Carter, the former editor of Vanity Fair, the music producer Quincy Jones and the mogul Ron Meyer are investing in the app, which aims to simplify users’ consumption of news. The New York Times

“That sort of sat with me for a bit,” Carter said. “And then when Josh and Adam came in and saw me and explained Zig, I thought this goes right to that.”

Following

JAMES worked in the music industry, selling a digital start-up to Warner Music Group. Platzner worked briefly at Condé Nast before investing in media ventures like The Infatuation, a restaurant recommendation site. He is also a founder of Dream Water, a liquid soporific meant as a kind of reverse Red Bull. Over lunch last week at the Lamb’s Club— once a popular dining spot for Condé Nast brass— the founders said that the presentation of news in Zig matched the smartphone habits of the younger generation steeped in Instagram. “For millennials, we’ve built a delivery system that is familiar,” James said. The photos that appear in a Zig feed double

as links to the underlying articles, a referral system that the founders say could lead to revenue-sharing agreements with news sites. Users can also flip through dozens of photos inside the app, an ad-free way to quickly consume pop-culture slideshows from sites like TMZ and PopSugar. The app was originally designed for entertainment news, but Carter suggested that the founders broaden the scope. “People follow Kellyanne Conway the way they follow Kim Kardashian,” James said, recalling a lesson from Carter.

Outlier

EACH user’s feed is customized, with the mix of subjects (politics, pop culture) and celebrities (movie stars, members of the Trump administration) determined by his social-media activity. Users can also share articles with friends, superimposing a photograph of themselves reacting to a story—a thumbs-up for a Time’s Up pin, for instance.

While honing the idea, the members of the Zig team received coveted invites to last year’s Vanity Fair Oscar party in Beverly Hills, California. “It’s been fun,” Platzner said. “Graydon’s been good to us.” Carter said that the founders “have a very good chance of creating something that has lasting value.” But the former magazine editor said that he was setting his own ambitions beyond the media realm. “This is more of an outlier to what I will be planning over the next six months,” he added. “This is not my life’s work going forward. But I’m willing to help them in any possible way I can.” Any details about those other projects? Carter demurred. “I’m still in the planning stages,” Carter said, before excusing himself for his evening meal. “I may wind up running a pig farm here in France.” New York Times News Service

A9

HE constitutions of many countries confer vast powers to their leaders. Yet, these powers are not absolute. Their common experiences with authoritarianism demand the separation of powers and a system of checks and balances. Still, there are times when the limitations of power fail because, while their strengths are considerable, they can be overturned by the relentless machinations of cunning men. The past is filled with leaders enriching their armies, cowing their legislatures, paralyzing the courts and inciting the necessary passions from their supporters with the goal of taking complete control of their governments. But there is an institution that has never succumbed that easily and, in fact, has always been instrumental in ending unfettered authority. This institution, at first glance, looks fragile for it only stands on paper and relies on the air to exercise its power. Yet, in many ways, it is more powerful than the mightiest of rulers and, for better or for worse, has remained true. This institution is the press. The power of the press comes from its ability to influence, shape or sway public opinion. Through its different mediums—newspapers, television, radio, Internet and now, social media—it fulfills its basic mandate, that of delivering news. But that simple act invariably comes with the discretion to choose the events, places, personalities and issues that truly matter. This is a simplistic description but nevertheless true: How the press determines the world can become the reality because people may form their judgments from such a determination, as many actually do so. Thus, the power of the press comes with the unique potential to build and destroy. These powers were expanded by a new trend that developed in the West during the postwar era—that of advocacy journalism. Compelled by the events of almost biblical proportions in the preceding decade, journalists felt that writing the news as it is does not anymore represent the true calling of their profession. They determined that delivering the news must also result with the education of the public about the relevance of the issues and how these issues can affect their lives. Of course, this entailed them to put their personal views in their reporting. Admittedly, the decision to inject personal opinion in a supposedly objective profession brought dangers since the public always has the natural inclination to believe that everything the press tells them is impartial and true. But most of the great journalists of the age, from James Reston to Mary McGrory, to Walter Cronkite and Tom Brokaw, were responsible men and women, fully aware of the vastly consequential nature of their work, and how their words affect people, and were always careful to distinguish the lines of fact, conjecture and opinion in their writings and broadcasts. It also helped that the causes they advocated were also right and just, representing the collective yearning of the times—the environment, minority rights and equality of the sexes, among many. Ultimately, all these gave the press a new level of respectability, and yes, credibility. The might of the press reached a magnificent zenith in the 1970s when the reportage of two The Washington Post writers, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, uncovered the Watergate scandal and ended the Nixon administration’s abuse of power. Achievements like this emboldened

journalists all over the world and we can say that both the foreign and Philippine press had a consequential role in the events that led to the first Edsa Revolution. Thus, even as the press became a powerful leviathan, people were not threatened by it. For time and time again, they have seen the fundamental fairness and accuracy of media institutions in delivering the news and in sharing their opinions. In fact, this reality has enhanced the power of the press; it is powerful because it is trusted; it is trusted because it has largely satisfied the demands of honest reporting and intelligent discussion of issues. With these, the press became the fourth estate, the virtual emperor of the air. Yet, when an institution like that of the press achieves awesome powers, it is inevitable that other power centers will take note of it and try to engage it. Leaders, especially those wanting to have absolute power, try to deal with the press, either in directly threatening it with censorships and closures or in coopting it through bribing its members. In doing so, they know that to control the press is to control public opinion, and to control public opinion is to have the keys to an easy legitimization and perpetuation of their authority. In some ways, they have succeeded, but only temporarily and partially. Dictators were able to close media institutions, but only during their time in power, which is not forever. Leaders are able to put journalists in their pockets but enough remain uncorrupted to expose their shenanigans. The press became what has since been its current form: The entity that can be temporarily defeated, but cannot be completely conquered. Then, we see the wave of the current times. There are leaders from all over who think that if they cannot cow the press into silence and it absolutely refuses their methods of ingratiation, there is still a way to defeat its power: Undermining its credibility. When the news about them is negative, no matter how true, they howl about the press being purveyors of fake information and of being a corrupt institution. They attack, they question and they impugn just because the way reality is presented by the press does not exactly jibe with what they want. Hence, the timeless tactic of “when you dislike the message, you shoot the messenger.” What should be understood by these leaders is this: Waging a war with the press is a lost cause from the start. Not because it is infallible or invincible; it is not. The press shall always win because it has more than fundamental accuracy and fairness. I say this from the perch of being an ordinary consumer of news with an impartial mind. It is true that the press is occasionally guilty of trampling with the facts, but that is not intentional. In the rare times that reporters have tried to spew falsehoods and groundlessly destroyed reputations, laws have dealt with them, rather swiftly and harshly. So, it must be accepted that as long as the press will continue to tell the truth, while it advocates worthy causes, it is here to stay, and it will always have the support of the vast majority of the public, ensuring it a secure place in the societal power struggle. It will continue to watch over leaders and powerful entities not just because it is its job, but more important, it is its obligation to democracy. A democratic society, which is the commonest face of the world today, needs a mechanism of accountability and the press is one of the most dependable in that regard. Indeed, the press must fulfill that responsibility because the people must simply know, because as Thomas Jefferson once said so long ago, “Let the people know the facts and the country will be safe.” F. Victor G. Manangan, 29, is a freelance writer who is currently reviewing for the 2017 Bar Examinations. The views expressed by Manangan do not necessarily reflect those of the BusinessMirror’s.

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A10 Saturday, January 20, 2018

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DISGRACED social-media star Logan Paul

YouTube suspends star over suicide video, doesn’t shut door BY DAVID BAUDER The Associated Press PASADENA, California—YouTube has suspended a star who posted video images of what appeared to be a suicide victim, but said last Saturday that doesn’t mean it won’t work with him in the future. The video service announced this week that it had pulled Logan Paul’s channel from its ad-supported Google Preferred platform and put two other projects on hold. YouTube Chief Business Officer Robert Kyncl said last Saturday that there’s no timetable for when Paul’s future will be addressed again. Kyncl didn’t shut YouTube’s door on Paul. “Everything is evolving so fast,” Kyncl said. “The best thing we can do is put all projects on hold indefinitely, and there’s no date or plan for him in the future.” Paul apologized for posting video of him in a forest near Mount Fuji in Japan near what seemed to be a body hanging from a tree. The location is known in Japan as a frequent site for suicides. YouTube said the images violated its policies. Paul pulled the images from his channel on his own. YouTube was criticized for moving slowly in response, taking nearly two weeks to take action. YouTube said on Twitter this week that critics were right to be frustrated by its initial lack of response. Kyncl said Paul recognizes that he has made serious missteps and has expressed remorse for them. “The most important thing to focus on is that actions speak louder than words, and Logan has the opportunity to prove that,” he said. Removing Paul’s work from the Google Preferred platform cuts off a significant route to advertising revenue through YouTube. YouTube also said it would not feature Paul in the fourth season of its series, Foursome, and would put other work on hold. Paul is one of the platform’s biggest stars, with Forbes magazine estimating he earned $12.5 million last year. YouTube said it would soon announce steps to protect advertisers from having their products connected to controversial material.

Will Bitcoin eventually rule the financial world? PRIMETIME

DINNA CHAN VASQUEZ @dinnachanvasquez luckydinna@gmail.com

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LDER people, those aged 60 and above, find reassurance in holding cash. Perhaps it’s because they lived through more difficult times; or maybe it is due to being older and less secure about one’s place in the world. I’m sure our parents will not be comfortable with Bitcoin, a new currency that was created in 2009 by a person using the alias Satoshi Nakamoto. Is Bitcoin (the most known form of cryptocurrency) real money? Does it have its own version of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas or a regulating body? Bitcoin can be used to book hotels and shop online, and its value is high. I read somewhere that five years ago, a Bitcoin was worth $20. Last December it was around $19,000. So this means that, if you bought Bitcoin in the early days, you’d have made quite a lot of money by now. With Bitcoin, you don’t hold any cash. It’s virtual money. I will be honest, I don’t understand the concept fully,

but I’ve been studying it for weeks. And I’m not some middle-aged woman who doesn’t understand a thing about things related to finance. I know that people have the impression that all I write about is makeup but, believe it or not, I was once a reporter assigned to the Bangko Sentral (when it was still called the Central Bank) and the Department of Finance. So, I did a lot of research, and I still don’t understand it fully. The “mining” and circulation of Bitcoins, however, are not regulated by banks or other such institutions. You can, however, purchase them through trading platforms. So why does Bitcoin exist, and why was it ever invented? Since I have been reading up on this topic, my understanding is that Bitcoin eliminates the need for a middleman, like a bank. “What is needed is an electronic payment system based on cryptographic proof instead of trust, allowing any two willing parties to transact directly with each other without the need for a trusted third party,” Satoshi Sakamoto said. Note: Sakamoto has extensive writings about Bitcoin. To further understand Bitcoin, I browsed through many web sites and forums. “Bitcoin shows that trust doesn’t need a centralized third party (i.e., banks) to establish trust. You can have a decentralized network of trust instead. People can easily, safely and securely transact on this network of decentralized trust. This is groundbreaking. It completely disrupts a major value proposition for banks,” writes EyesEarsMouthAndNose on Reddit.

You can’t touch Bitcoins, but you can store them in a “digital wallet in the cloud or your computer. This wallet is a bank account that allows you to send or receive Bitcoins, pay for goods or save your money. I also read somewhere that you can keep your Bitcoins in a flash drive or hard drive and carry it in a physical wallet. In 2013 a man threw a hard-drive containing more than $9 million in Bitcoin into the trash. Okay, $9 million was the value at that time. The man, an information technology engineer who was one of the early adaptors to Bitcoin, never found his hard drive again. So, where can you use your Bitcoins? Not in many places as of now, but you may use them to purchase pizza on PizzaForCoins, which handles a lot of brands. You can also buy games, movies and apps in the Windows and Xbox stores of Microsoft, or gift cards from Gyft, which deals with many popular retailers. You may also shop at Overstock.com, which carries brand-name merchandise, including bed-and-bath goods, home decor, kitchenware, watches, jewelry, electronics and computers, sporting goods, apparel and designer accessories. PayPal also accepts Bitcoin as payment via its integration with Braintree. So, will crytptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, eventually rule the financial world? Maybe not in the very near future, but there is no doubt that we’re moving toward a cashless society. I still can’t see my mother shopping with Bitcoins, but more and more people certainly will in the years to come. ■

Fancy the world’s thinnest laptop?

THE ultraportable Acer Swift 7

GLOBAL information technology brand Acer (www.acer.com) has launched the world’s thinnest laptop, the new Swift 7 (SF714-51T). At just 8.98 mm thin, it’s an always-connected PC running Windows 10 that’s designed for mobility, with an ultraportable design packing a powerful Intel Core i7 processor, all-day battery life and a personal 4G LTE connection. “We’re extremely proud to make the world’s thinnest laptop even thinner with the new Swift 7,” said Jerry Kao, president of IT Products Business of Acer Inc. “Building on the engineering breakthroughs from the previous generation, the new Swift 7 steps up the game with an even slimmer chassis, powerful performance and always-on 4G LTE connectivity for professionals on the go.” The Acer Swift 7’s unmatched slim design is only the beginning of the new features on offer. Blazing-fast, built-in Intel XMM 4G

LTE connectivity keeps users productive and always-connected, especially useful for professionals who wish to eliminate tedious wireless-connection problems on the road so they can stay focused on the task at hand. In addition to a Nano SIM card slot, the Swift 7 features eSIM technology, allowing download and activation of eSIM profiles. The Swift 7 ships with a Transatel profile provisioned with up to 1GB of free data valid for one month in 48 countries to help users get started immediately, while additional data plans can be easily purchased as needed through the Mobile Plans application while traveling around the world. 802.11ac wireless with 2x2 MIMO provides reliable and fast connections to the office or home network. Powered by an Intel Core i7 processor, the Swift 7 provides incredible performance, a seamless Windows 10 experience and up to 10

hours of battery life. Meanwhile, 256GB of PCIe SSD storage offers plenty of room to keep important files at the user’s fingertips, while 8GB of LPDDR3 memory keeps multitasking smooth and responsive. A fingerprint reader allows password-free and more secure sign-in through Windows Hello. The Swift 7’s unibody aluminum chassis is pleasing to the eye and a delight to touch, perfect for modern professionals seeking a sophisticated look. Its new high-resolution display has been upgraded to a 14-inch Full HD IPS5 display, with Acer Color Intelligence for lifelike clarity at every angle, as well as a Corning Gorilla Glass NBT touchscreen and touchpad. Typing has never been easier thanks to the Swift 7’s backlit keyboard, which is handy in low-light conditions such as long-haul international flights or train journeys.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

BusinessMirror

Saturday, January 20, 2018 A11

SOUND OFF A FESTIVE 2018 WITH A FREE BLUETOOTH SPEAKER

AN image provided by CVS of retouched (left) and unretouched photos from a CVS beauty campaign. The galvanization of women, whether as candidates for political office or as voices speaking up as part of the #MeToo movement, has challenged yet another traditionally sacred practice: the airbrushing of beauty images into unachievable perfection.

Airbrushing meets the #MeToo movement. Guess who wins. T

BY VANESSA FRIEDMAN New York Times News Service

HE galvanization of women, whether as candidates for political office or as voices speaking up as part of the #MeToo movement, has challenged yet another traditionally sacred practice: the airbrushing of beauty images into unachievable perfection. This week, CVS, the United States pharmaceutical giant, has pledged to stop “materially altering” all of the imagery associated with its beauty products—in stores, on its web site and on social media. Starting in April, the photographs women see when they go to buy a CVS brand lipstick or perfume or moisturizer will not have been so smoothed, color-corrected or otherwise remastered as to produce overwhelming insecurity in the shopper. “It was really a response to the bigger conversation women are having over their own level of empowerment in society,” said Helena Foulkes, president of CVS Pharmacy and executive vice president of CVS Health. To not, in other words, be complicit in sending a message to shoppers about not being good enough by showing them photographs of women they should aspire to be, knowing that such aspiration is actually impossible because even the women in the photos don’t look like they do in the photos. Phew, got that? This is pretty much where we’ve been for the last many years, though it is also true that a backlash of sorts has been brewing. Remember the outcry on social media last year over Melania Trump’s official White House portrait, which was so fuzzy and soft-focus it looked as if angels were about to start strumming? As Bonnie Fuller wrote at the time, “There’s Photoshop, and then there’s Photoshop.” In addition to pledging not to alter its own imagery, CVS is also asking all of the brands it sells (companies like L’Oréal, Maybelline and Coty) to do the same, or to label retouched images clearly and visibly as

“modified.” The company has created what it is calling a “beauty mark” (catchy, that), which looks kind of like a heart within a broken circle. It will be applied to all images to signal truth in advertising. CVS will start phasing in the new system in April and is hoping it will be complete by 2020. Get ready for crow’s feet! Laugh lines! The occasional age spot and dark under-eye circle or two. It’s hard to imagine, right? We have lived in an airbrushed world for so long, the sight of a visible pore really would be something shocking. “We felt it was important to be as transparent and authentic as possible with the women who come into our stores,” Foulkes said. “We want to be clear about the issue and make beauty something that makes women feel good, as opposed to not good enough.” That’s an awfully good...well, sound bite, but it does raise the question of what “materially altered” means? After all, not “altered at all” creates something of a loophole for those taking part. Erasing a pimple here and a worry line there may not seem material to one brand, but it could be material to an individual. There’s a sliding scale of what constitutes transparency for most of us, and we aren’t the ones selling skin care. According to the official statement from CVS, the company is defining “materially altered” as “changing or enhancing a person’s shape, size, proportion, skin or eye color, wrinkles or any other individual characteristics.” Not, however, taming a flyaway hair (to suggest one example that might sneak through). “It’s a conversation we are having now with our partners,” Foulkes said. “If a famous actress shows up for a shoot and she’s had a very late work night and has dark circles under her eyes, is cleaning them up materially altering her image? I think it is, but other people might not.” The actress question is, as it happens, not just any old example. In 2011 Lancôme, part of L’Oréal, got in trouble with the Advertising Standards Agency in the United Kingdom for a Julia Roberts ad for its Teint Miracle foundation that showed Roberts

miraculously lit from within, with not a visible line or spot. The problem was, said the agency, which banned the ad, her glow was probably due more to digital postproduction work than to the actual product. Similarly, in 2014, Diane Keaton made a speech at the Golden Globes in all her 68-year-old glory, only to appear with the skin of a 20-something in a L’Oreal commercial that same evening, a contrast that was widely mocked. While we most often complain about the negative effects airbrushing can have on the body images of young girls—the American Medical Association has identified it as health issue—the impact of Keatonesque treatment can be just as detrimental for us more mature women, even if, theoretically, we are supposed to know better (or at least be able to recognize the impossible, or implausible, when we see it). Having been at many fashion shows where older models are trotted out onto the catwalk, I have been struck by the discrepancy between reality and representation. No matter how great they look (and many of them are amazingly beautiful women in their 40s), their bodies and their faces generally look nothing like they do in the pages of glossy magazines. They have back fat. They even have the occasional pimple. They have what my middle child once called “those holes in your face” (pores). Only, of course, in their photographs, they do not. But maybe they will soon. There have been anti-airbrushing movements before. Last November Lupita Nyong’o publicly criticized Grazia UK magazine for erasing her ponytail. In 2016 Pirelli published a non-airbrushed calendar for the first time and got women like Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore and Helen Mirren to pose unfiltered. But the CVS news takes the initiative to a new level, thanks to its size: 7,900 standalone stores in the US selling beauty, with an average of 571 square feet per store devoted to the sector, and 5 million people passing through the stores daily, 80 percent of whom are women. That’s a lot of eyeballs. Hey, wait...are yours bloodshot and squinty today? Me, too. ■

GET into the beat this new year with HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones. With any purchase of a Nokia Android smartphone, consumers will receive a free JBL GO Portable Bluetooth Speaker. On offer until January 31, get the Bluetooth speaker for free when you purchase a Nokia 3, Nokia 5, Nokia 6 or Nokia 8. The promo can be availed through purchases made in authorized Nokia mobile-phone dealers nationwide, as well as online through argomall.com. Nokia’s midrange phones are optimized for everyday use. The Nokia 3 features a precision-machine aluminum frame to ensure a strong build unheard of in the affordable smartphone segment. The Nokia 5 is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 octa-core processor and a 13MP camera with dual-tone flash. For an immersive audio experience, the Nokia 6 boasts Dolby Atmos dual speakers and a smart amplifier. With this affordable smartphone range, you can get Android that is pure, secure and up-to-date. The phones come in various colors to suit different styles. The Nokia 8, Nokia’s flagship smartphone, features 13MP front and rear cameras that can run simultaneously with the world first Dual-Sight camera technology in collaboration with ZEISS optics. The flagship fetches for P29,990, while the Nokia 6 is available for P11,990. The Nokia 3 and Nokia 5 are priced at P6,990 and P9,990, respectively. The free JBL Bluetooth Speakers can be claimed until February 15 from the dealer where the Nokia smartphone is purchased. Just present the official receipt as proof of purchase within the promo period. For inquiries, e-mail support.philippines@hmdglobal.com.

12 IPHONE X HACKS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT CONTINUED FROM A12 system has been made available since last December in all branches of The SM Store nationwide. Through PayMaya QR, shoppers at The SM Store can just open their PayMaya app, tap the “Scan” button and point their phones at the special QR codes displayed at The SM Store’s Mobile Pay lanes to complete their transactions. To encourage more Filipinos to experience cashless convenience, PayMaya is offering an introductory promo where shoppers can get a 10-percent rebate (up to P100 per branch per day) on their purchases whenever they pay using PayMaya QR at all branches of The SM Store on or before April 15. For every P1,000 spent, shoppers also get the chance to win an iPhone X. “More and more Filipinos are using cashless payments with PayMaya, and we’re excited to work with like-minded companies, such as SM in innovating on the retail-shopping experience with the help of our payment technologies. With companies like SM taking the lead, we’ll see PayMaya QR in a lot more stores and establishments all around the country,” said Manuel V. Pangilinan, chairman at PLDT, Smart, Voyager and PayMaya. To get a PayMaya account, all you have to do is download the PayMaya app on the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store, register for an account using any mobile number from a Philippine mobile network, load up their account in any of the more than 15,000 PayMaya load-up touchpoints nationwide and use the Scan QR feature within the app to instantly pay for your purchases. PayMaya’s partnership with The SM Store for QR-based payments builds on its trailblazing initiative of building a “Cashless Philippines” in line with National Retail Payment System initiative led by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, which aims to increase the share of electronic transactions in the country by 20 percent in 2020. ■

Will Bitcoin eventually rule the financial world? A10

BusinessMirror

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

IPHONE X tips and tricks revealed

MANUEL V. PANGILINAN, chairman at PLDT, Smart, Voyager, and PayMaya, tries out cashless payment at McDonald’s

Saturday, January 20, 2018 A12

PANGILINAN touts PayMaya’s partnership with The SM Store

12 iPhone X hacks you should know about THE TECHNIVORE ED UY

whereiseduy@gmail.com

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S much as I hate to admit it, I’ve fallen in love with the iPhone X. I got it the same day and place where Kris Aquino got hers, at the Smart Store in SM Megamall, which I think makes it even more memorable as its been 10 years in the waiting for me. You see, when the first iPhone came out, all I could afford back then was the Chinese rip-off version, which I didn’t buy of course, but I promised myself I was going to get the 10th anniversary edition. But when it came out and the price was revealed, I thought even after 10 years of saving, was it really going to be worth it? It was a good thing Smart came up with a more accessible offer: for P3,199 a month, you get 9GB data, unlimited texts to all networks, 60 minutes of calls to all networks, and free access to the app of your choice every month, plus one month Gadget Shield. The price also includes your monthly device amortization, which is actually better than just getting the phone. I’ve been an Android user for the longest time, so I thought switching to iOS was going to be difficult, but I actually had a much harder time adjusting to the iPhone 7 Plus than the iPhone X. Maybe that’s because I’ve gotten used to all the gestures on my Huawei phones, which is a lot similar to my #SmartiPhoneX. After using the iPhone X for over a month, here are 12 tricks I have discovered, which you should definitely try out.

FACE ID TIPS

1. BETTER FACE ID REGISTRATION. Unlocking your iPhone X isn’t like taking a selfie, because most of the time you are getting your phone from either your bag or pocket or desk, or sometimes you even have to look down if you need to secretly check a notification. So contrary to those Apple demos, which show people holding the phone up at eye level, set up Face ID with your iPhone X held well below eye level, closer to where it’ll be when you unlock it (even waist level). Forget everything you know about taking a good selfie, and don’t mind the double chin, you are not taking a display photo after all.

Don’t know how to reset Face ID? Open the Settings app>Tap Face ID & Passcode>Enter your PIN or passcode>Tap “Reset Face ID” and hold the phone where you do when you normally unlock it. The TrueDepth camera will then store data that’s a better representation of what it will see when you unlock your phone most of the time. Trust me, its going to be a lot faster and accurate. 2. FASTER FACE ID UNLOCK. Most of the people complaining that Touch ID is faster because it requires just a single gesture probably don’t know this trick. Instead of looking at the screen and waiting for the unlock animation before swiping up, the faster way to unlock your phone is to first tap on the screen to wake it up and quickly swipe up. By the time the animation for Home screen is done, your phone will be unlocked—and it will be on the last screen/app you used. 3. SECRETLY DISABLE FACE ID. One of the scenarios people fear about Face ID is if you get into some trouble, the other person can put the iPhone X in front of your face to unlock it, giving them access to all the contents of your phone. One way to quickly and secretly disable FaceID so it couldn’t be used against you is to quickly press and hold the side button (Siri) and Volume Up button. The phone will vibrate and Face ID will be deactivated, requiring you to input your passcode. Yep, this is also the Power Off sequence. 4. TAP TO WAKE, LOOK TO SNOOZE. If you just want to check the time, all you have to do is tap on the screen once and the lock screen will show up. Now when the alarm goes off, all you need to do is look at the screen to turn it off.

the shutter speed with the brightness of the flash. As a result, the subject in front of the flash would be evenly exposed, but anything not covered by the flash would be overly dark. The iPhone X’s rear cameras has a quad-LED True Tone Flash that evens out your photo so that your subject isn’t washed out. Slow Sync Flash, meanwhile, combines the True Tone flash with your iPhone’s image signal processor to slow down the shutter speed while firing the flash. Try it in portrait mode to appreciate the difference. 3. PORTRAIT MODE SELFIES. Just like when using the rear cam, you can also take portrait selfies using the equally awesome front camera. Open the Camera app, switch to the front facing camera and tap on Portrait. Now follow the instructions on the screen to frame your face just right. Tap the shutter button and you have a “bokeh” selfie. What’s the difference between those lighting effects? Natural Light is the default mode, keeping your subject’s face in focus and blurs the background for contrast. Studio Light, meanwhile allows you to see more detail in the face, while the background will blur for contrast. Contour Light cast shadows on your subject’s face and surroundings to show a dramatic difference between highlights and lowlights. Stage Light cuts the background of the photo and replaces it with a deep black, giving a dramatic, high-contrast photo. Stage Light Mono is like Stage Light with a monochrome filter and results in a black-and-white photo. You can even change lighting after taking the photo by going to the photo and tapping on edit to switch lighting effects.

CAMERA TRICKS

BATTERY, SHORTCUTS AND ANIMOJI KARAOKE

THE iPhone X without a doubt has the best camera on any iPhone today because of its TrueDepth camera, which includes an infrared camera, flood illuminator, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, speaker, microphone and dot projector (which it uses to identify 30,000 points on your face during Face ID registration). The only downside to this great camera is that, it’s actually so good, it can make you look bad because your blemishes, pimples, scars and every little detail you hate on your face is captured. 1. HIDDEN SETTINGS. Did you know that the iPhone X can shoot in 4K at 60 frames per second (FPS)? To access this setting go to Settings> Camera>Record Video and select 4K 60 fps on the iPhone X. You can also shoot in 240 FPS Super Slow-Mo (240 FPS at 1080p). Go to settings>Camera>Record Slo-mo to switch to 240 FPS slo-mo. 2. DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE FLASH. As a rule of thumb, you never take photos with the flash turned on unless you want a really bright photo with a red eye. In older iPhones, when you turn on the Flash setting, your iPhone would match

A sensation for the senses IN today’s world of high-resolution and high-speed access to multimedia content, it’s a must for all of us to get the highest level of entertainment. Huawei answers this with its latest tablet offering, MediaPad M3 Lite. Partnering with audio tech heavyweight Harman Kardon for unparalleled audio quality, Huawei sets the bar high for nonstop entertainment. Packed with speakers coengineered with the experts from Harman Kardon, the MediaPad M3 Lite ensures nothing but superior sound output when listening to music or watching videos. Its classical symmetrical dual-speaker design promises strong bass and ultra

wide stereo sound field with SWS3.0 sound and intelligent sound-channel switch. The MediaPad M3 Lite’s full FHD screen brings a vivid 1920x1200 IPS display with 16 million colors, with a PPI 283 and impressive 900:1 contrast ratio. The screen is also built in with enhanced eye-sight protection from blue-ray filtration and dynamic color-temperature adjustment that makes reading safer and easier anywhere. Housing a 4800 mAh lithium polymer battery, the M3 Lite lasts for about 500 hours with video playback time at eight hours, based on data gathered from Huawei’s laboratory tests. Power-adapter charging time is at an impressive four hours, assuring you of no-stop

entertainment right in the palm of your hands. The MediaPad M3’s space-grade aluminum shell exudes a premium feel that’s signature to Huawei’s design philosophy. Stylish, ergonomic touches manifest in the concise, symmetrical, curved metal frame, with an overall lightweight feel of just 310 g and 7.5 mm thickness, making it super handy and portable. Completing the premium design package is an array of sophisticated colors of white (white panel), Gold (white panel) and space grey (black panel). The Huawei MediaPad M3 Lite is part of Huawei’s commitment to delivering the best user experience in mobile devices. This latest tablet offering packs 32GB with Wi-Fi and LTE connectivity.

1. SAVE EVEN MORE BATTERY LIFE. The iPhone X has a pretty impressive battery, but you can make it last even longer with a simple trick. To extend battery life by up to 60 percent, simply use a black wallpaper, invert colors to create a pseudo “dark mode,” or turn on grayscale mode. Since the iPhone X uses an OLED display, the pixels on OLED displays are individually lit. Black pixels are essentially “off” and not lit, therefore conserving power. 2. QUICK APP SWITCHER. Instead of having to hold and flick the horizontal swipe up, you can easily switch between apps simply by swiping the horizontal swipe left and right to jump between the open apps. 3. SIDE/VOLUME BUTTON. Beside adjusting the volume and calling up Siri, you can use the side buttons to take a photo, take a screenshot (press the Volume Up and Side button at once to take a screenshot), and turn your phone off (tap and hold the Side button and either one of the Volume buttons to access the Slide to power off menu (or tap cancel

to disable FaceID). To do a hard reset, click the Volume Up button, then Volume Down, and then press and hold the Side button. For your information, the Side/Siri button is also the one you need to click twice when prompted in the App store. 4. FAST CHARGE. If you want to charge your iPhone X really quickly, you can switch to Flight mode. You can also use your iPad wall charger to charge your phone faster than the charger that came with your iPhone X. 5. ANIMOJI KARAOKE. Animojis are perhaps the most fun additions to the iPhone X. Unfortunately, you can only record up to 10 seconds. If you want to do record longer, use the iOS 11’s new Screen Recording feature. Go to an iMessage conversation, tap on the App Store icon, select the Animoji icon and swipe up to go full screen. Now open Control Center and activate Screen Recording. Then do your thing. Screen Recording will capture both the animoji animations on the screen and your voice. Once the screen recording is done, go to Photos app and edit the video. Download the VideoCrop app to cut out the icons below your animoji. You can also send the animoji as a sticker. Simply tap and hold the animoji and slide it up to the messaging screen.

PAYMENTS MADE MORE CONVENIENT WITH PAYMAYA

PAYMAYA sealed a couple of very important partnerships this week to make cashless purchases even more convenient, as it announced the availability of their services at McDonald’s and The SM Store. At the media launch held at the McDonald’s store in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), it was announced that over 40 McDonald’s restaurants nationwide have already begun accepting card payments for all types of Mastercard and Visa credit, debit and prepaid cards, including PayMaya Visa cards and Smart Mastercard. To make things even more convenient for McDonald’s customers, the company will also soon be accepting PayMaya QR payments in its McCafé BGC Arts Center and McCafe Tagaytay Calamba stores, with more stores accepting QR-based payments in the coming months. This means customers only have to open the PayMaya app, scan the QR code displayed at the cashier area inside participating stores and make quick and convenient payments using only their smartphones. Customers can also look forward to being able to book and pay for their McCelebrations Birthday Party online, as well as pay for their orders via McDelivery very soon. Last Wednesday it was The SM Store’s turn to formally launch PayMaya QR payments, although PayMaya’s cashless

CONTINUED ON A11