BusinessMirror January 26, 2020

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Sunday, January 26, 2020 Vol. 15 No. 108

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PROMISE OF DELIVERANCE

LISKONOGALEKSEY | DREAMSTIME.COM

MinDA chief selects poor Mindanao town to pilot test a ‘whole-of-nation’ approach to deal with poverty

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By Manuel T. Cayon

ARAKA, a 4th-class impoverished municipality in Lanao del Sur, has been chosen as the pilot-test area for a novel anti-poverty strategy that the government’s socioeconomic planning body for Mindanao intends to replicate in neighboring and equally destitute areas.

The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDa) on Wednesday said it would adapt the piloting strategy commonly applied to new concepts and ideas, rather than stick to the usual macro-level approach to combat deprivation.

“We have identified places from among the eight of the ten poorest provinces that are here in Mindanao, and we selected Lanao del Sur, being one of the poorest,” said MinDa chief Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol.

Taraka came out “in synch” for MinDA’s brainchild in launching the new initiative to address poverty in many areas of Min-

danao, dubbed as the “Land of Promise,” beginning with Lanao del Sur, which has a higher level of poverty incidence than the other poor provinces.

Woes

TARAKA’S two top-ranking local officials, a husband-and-wife tandem, initiated contact with MinDA seeking succor to the town’s severe poverty woes, as reflected in the province’s 66.86-percent poverty incidence. That’s about three out of every five households that wallow in poverty, which is considered “severe” by government standards, Continued on A2

MINDANAO Development Authority chief Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol is flanked by Taraka Mayor Nashida Sumagayan and her husband, Vice Mayor Amenodin Sumagayan.

The next big thing in luxury cruising is a much smaller ship

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By Fran Golden | Bloomberg News

NE of the biggest trends in highend cruising is extremely small.

It’s the opposite, in some ways, of everything you’d expect, even from a luxury cruise brand.

It’s all about tiny, independently owned ships, boats and barges— floating boutique hotels, if you will.

Unlike conventional small ships, which can carry as many as 1,000 guests, these consist of just a handful of rooms on water. And while the boats from large companies are often designed to rotate through a number of destinations, these are location-specific, giving them a sense of place that only landbound counterparts can claim.

Some are family-owned. Others are parts of companies blazing the trail for this yacht-like movement. (Think Aqua Expeditions, which redefined Amazon River

cruising when it was founded in 2007.) All of them ditch old-school looks for light-filled contemporary aesthetics, put a premium on ambitious food and beverage programs, and play up the “experiential” elements of travel—whether that means a Tibetan “singing bowl” meditation in Vietnam, mountain biking in Norway, or a private winery visit in Burgundy, France.

The fact that they don’t come with a recognizable luxury brand name—such as Silversea or Regent Seven Seas—is part of the reason why consumers are gravitating to them. What they lack in amenityrich square footage—think multi-

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 50.9630

A BEDROOM in the Aqua Blu. What tiny ships lack in amenity-rich square footage—think multiple dining rooms and sun decks—they make up for in intimacy and personality. SOURCE: AQUA EXPEDITIONS

ple dining rooms and sun decks— they make up for in intimacy and personality.

“These are for a different population of traveler looking for exclusive experiences,” says Susan Farewell, owner of Farewell Travels, a Connecticut-based travel designer. “It’s getting there and exploring in a way people have not done before.”

Industry experts such as Farewell are reaping the benefits, too— they’re the conduit that most travelers need to find one-off pearls in places as disperse and tricky to navigate as Japan’s Seto Inland Sea, the Nile, and western Norway.

A few other agents with this type of expertise work out of larger tour outfits, including Red Savannah and Adventure Life. But in general, there’s a limited number of travel agencies equipped to meet these new demands. “It’s a small universe of people that are plugged in to these types of experiences,” Farewell says. “We are in touch—the frontline of knowledge.”

Continued on A2

n JAPAN 0.4654 n UK 66.8736 n HK 6.5579 n CHINA 7.3767 n SINGAPORE 37.7057 n AUSTRALIA 34.8689 n EU 56.3549 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.5861

Source: BSP (January 24, 2020)

NewsSunday BusinessMirror

A2 Sunday, January 26, 2020

www.businessmirror.com.ph

PROMISE OF DELIVERANCE Continued from A1

in the sense that the Bangsamoro region has “consistently figured in the bottom [poorest] cluster of regions with the highest poverty incidence among families of 55.4 percent in the first semester of 2018,” Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showed.

Nationally, PSA added, poverty incidence was only 21 percent, or only one in every five persons in the first semester of 2018. That same first semester, the PSA said a family of five needed around P10,481 a month to meet their minimum basic food and non-food needs.

Likewise, Taraka hosts the oldest mosque in the province, the Baab-Ur Rahman Masjid, considered the second oldest mosque in the Philippines after that of TawiTawi’s Sheik Mahkdum mosque that was built in 1380. Yet, the town at the eastern side of the scenic 39,009-hectare Lake Lanao could not rise above being a sleepy poor town for its 27,000 residents.

Only in March 2018 did it receive P63.05 million to rehabilitate the damage wrought by the siege mounted by the terrorist Maute Group. Taraka was one of only eight towns in the first district of the province to be given the rehabilitation funds.

Most of the town’s residents rely on rice and corn farming, but finding a market for the farmers’ produce is ridden with obstacles since the lakeside towns of Lanao del Sur are plagued by insurgency, and banditry lurks on its highways.

The challenge

PIÑOL said Taraka Mayor Nashida Sumagayan and her husband, Vice Mayor Amenodin Sumagayan, contacted MinDA while it was implementing a potable water and irrigation water system project in the area following a felt-need assessment that shows the vulnerability of Taraka residents to water-borne diseases.

“People here fetch water from the Taraka River, some boil it, others don’t, so we decided to put up a water system here,” he said. It was during this period that the Taraka’s officialdom sought out help.

Finding an opportune moment, Piñol and other foreign donors took a second look at the chance to showcase an anti-poverty strategy by implementing a pet project for farmers when he was then the secretary of the Department of Agriculture.

He met them on January 14, 2020, along with the other officials of the town, to discuss the situation of the town, how the national government could help and how the other local governments could possibly benefit from the outcome of a successful Taraka development experiment.

“How could farmers live on with this situation when they are able to harvest only three metric tons per hectare and [this is] bought at only P6 a kilo while the same fetches P12 a kilo outside Lanao del Sur,” Piñol said.

Piñol said he would still bet on his pet project, the solar-powered irrigation system, that allows rice

farmers to plant, at most, three times a year than the common practice of having only one cropping season a year.

“Our farmers rely on the rains only. And they use the local variety. So we have only one harvest in one year,” a female Sangguniang Bayan councilor accompanying the Taraka delegation told the BusinessMirror on Wednesday.

Perhaps the best thing that happened to Taraka was that it was the farmers themselves who showed the way for MinDA to harness the assistance for them.

Livelihood in between harvests

UNDER the project, the town would develop six solar-powered irrigation systems to cover the farming sector’s 1,800 hectares.

Piñol said the irrigation facilities would be done in three months.

The Development Bank of the Philippines has been tapped to provide the estimated P80-million project cost.

Mayor Sumagayan said the municipal government was willing to enter into the loan contract, although she disclosed that the town could get a little less than 20 percent of its P120-million budget to cover for the capital expenditure.

Piñol assured, though, that some donors have been apprised of the project and while there was no immediate commitment, the donors have continuing projects for the rural areas in Mindanao. He said the Aboitiz-owned flour-maker, Pilmico, has pledged to buy the corn products from the farmers.

In between planting and har-

vest, Taraka farmers would be provided other income-generation activities. “They would be given [chicken] layers for egg production, goats and ducks,” he said. “Some farmers may opt to plant sorghum…and the eggs would mainly supply local needs that we hope could address the malnutrition problem of this town,” Piñol added.

Surplus harvest would be sold to other towns, along with the chicken meat. MinDA would also request private organizations, or companies, to help provide the chicken for backyard production.

The MinDA brought Taraka officials and officers of farmers’ associations for a three-day tour to the Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Centre (MBLRC) in Kinuskusan, Bansalan, Davao del Sur, to learn about dairy goat raising and the Sloping Agriculture Land Technology (SALT).

They also visited solar-powered irrigation system (SPIS) facility in Palma Perez, M’lang, Cotabato, “to see for themselves how the SPIS improved the lives of rice farmers,” Piñol said. They also toured the feed mill processing plant in Polomolok, South Cotabato, and the cattle fattening farm of Adelaide River Farm in Glamang, General Santos City.

Champion town

“WE will make Taraka our champi-

on town and hope to transform the town in Lanao del Sur into a showcase of rural development,” he said.

On February 1, the MinDA will begin database collection of the farmers’ situation and by the middle of March, all the financial and livelihood assistance would be poured into the town, he added.

The MinDA has asked Taraka town officials to build a learning center similar to the existing MBRLC in Davao del Sur. “The project will be part of the New Hope Learning Centre program of MinDA which it would undertake in coordination with private partners and state universities and colleges in Mindanao,” Piñol said.

This center would be called Maranao New Hope Agricultural Learning Centre (MAHAL Center) to serve as an informal school for farmers in Lanao del Sur “where they could see actual models of livelihood projects and learn how to do it in their farms.”

Piñol said the Taraka municipal government agreed to provide the area for the MAHAL Centre, while MinDA, through its private partners and donor agencies, would source funding. The first project to be introduced in the center would be corn farming, cattle fattening, SALT, solar-powered irrigation system technology and sustainable and environment-friendly agricultural practices.

“We are very thankful because not all local government units are given this opportunity,” Mayor Sumagayan said. The partnership they have now with MinDA “allows us to improve agriculture and more options for livelihood.”

Piñol said the meeting held on January 23 with the Sumagayan couple, the members of the municipal council and officials of MinDA “aims to finalize the plan of action to transform Taraka from a sleepy and poor town of 27,000 people into a beacon of hope and a shining example of rural development and poverty alleviation in Lanao del Sur.”

“We are adapting the three P’s: poverty alleviation, productivity and peace,” he said. The last one, peace, would be addressed by the other towns, including the provincial governor and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

He said MinDA would still hold further discussion with the latter “because they would surely benefit in a successful Taraka development.”

“The project would follow the whole-of-nation approach implemented by President Duterte in addressing poverty in the countryside,” Piñol said.

“The next poverty alleviation project will be in Sulu,” he said.

The next big thing in luxury cruising is a much smaller ship Continued from A1

That said, here are the best options we’ve discovered so far.

Consider it the minimum amount of hand-holding for the curious DIYer, or a primer to help you pick a direction before outsourcing the rest.

Vietnam, in French colonial style

EXPLORING Lan Ha Bay (a lessvisited extension of the limestone cliff-lined Ha Long Bay) has recently become much more tempting, thanks to the debut of the threesail, wellness-focused Ylang. Its 10 individually designed, balconied suites bear intricate woodwork and inlaid flower panels made by local artisans, and bathrooms have tubs with bay views. With cushy rattan furnishings and original artwork throughout the public spaces, tai chi classes on the top deck each morning, and cycling excursions to visit the 80-household Viet Hai village, it all adds up to a modern take on a bygone era. Two-night sailings from $1,200 per person

Norway, on a former minesweeper

IT was born in 1973 as one of the last wooden Swedish warships and then became a passenger ship. Today, the HMS Gassten has been meticulously restyled by a handful of former patrons who wanted to bring intrepid guests deep into Norway’s western fjords. Its five cabins now have shiplap walls, exposed beams, plaid throw blankets, and heated towel racks, though some will sleep in bunk beds. Sixnight summertime charters via Red Savannah from £37,500 ($48,700)

The Amazon, in full splendor

AQUA Expeditions will up the luxury quotient in the Peruvian Amazon when it debuts the 40-passenger Aqua Nera in October.

Saigon-based Studio Noor is doing the contemporary, windowed interiors, including 20 spacious “design suites,” in earthy colors reflective of the jungle surroundings.

Lima chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, a specialist in Amazonian foods, is creating the menus. And offshore excursions make the trip feel like a safari, whether you go fishing for red-bellied piranhas, spot giant river otters from kayaks, or track jaguars on foot. Seven-night sailings from $9,625 per person

A RENDERING of the Ylang

HERITAGE LINE

Indonesia, on an expedition yacht

the exquisite creation, it’s always served with top local wines. Save space for what’s onshore, too: Beyond their impressive vines, the shops in Burgundy’s picturesque towns are full of local cheeses, black truffles, and chocolates to devour. (Yes, this itinerary is all about the food and wine.) Six-night sailings from $7,250 via Abercrombie & Kent, or full charters from $58,000

IN an ambitious project, Aqua Expeditions also set out to convert the former British naval vessel HMS Beagle into a 15-suite luxury yacht called the Aqua Blu. The recently revealed results are spectacular.

Renowned Dutch yacht designer Cor D. Rover did the airy interiors in a contemporary brass-and-ivory theme. Aussie superstar Benjamin Cross based the culinary program on sustainably sourced Indonesian ingredients. Why Indonesia? The diving sites throughout the Raja Ampat archipelago are among the most pristine and biodiverse anywhere, and draws above the water include indigenous cultures, komodo dragons, unpopulated beaches, and stunning, impenetrable forests. Seven-night cruises from $7,525 per person

Japan, via ‘floating ryokan’

THE blue-footed boobies may not take notice, but cruising the Galapagos on the all-suite, 20-passenger MV Origin or MV Theory is an unusually delicious affair. Both ships are members of the prestigious, culinary-focused Relais & Chateaux collection, with a Frenchtrained chef preparing such dishes as Ecuadorian langoustines poached in citrus butter, to be served in a dining room decked out in marble. Spend days burning off the indulgence on kayaks or paddleboards, or chill in daybeds around the Jacuzzi, where you never have to lift a finger. Sevennight sailings from $8,050 per person, or full charters from $161,000

The Nile, in pharaoh style

The Galapagos, for foodies

Burgundy, by barge

A FORMER cargo barge is now the Grand Cru—a floating oasis for eight, done up in sleek leather furnishings with picture windows throughout. A glass-enclosed demonstration kitchen lets you see the personal chef at work; whatever

MADE by acclaimed local artisans, including rattan weavers and textile artists, and filled with a sparse design scheme of wood and glass, the 38-passenger Guntu puts the focus on the ethereal landscapes of the Seto Inland Sea. Take it in from your suite’s open-air onsen bath, or the sushi bar on the top deck. Dinners in the windowed dining room feature local ingredients including fresh-caught mackerel and Wagyu beef and are overseen by Kenzo Sato, from Tokyo’s Michelin twostar Shigeyoshi restaurant. Sailings are short—three nights—but include stops in Miyajima and the famously contemporary art-filled Naoshima island. Three nights from ¥650,000 ($5,916) per person

THE most glamorous way to see Luxor and Aswan is from beneath the sails of a modern-day, Egyptianbuilt dahabiya—a traditional, windpowered ship. That’s hardly a new concept, but Nour El Nil’s luxury barges, like the spacious, 20-passenger Meroe, take this type of river cruise to the next level in both authenticity and luxury. The decor includes plush sofas, French chandeliers, and daybeds covered in stripes.

The crew is all-Egyptian—dishes such as handmade falafel and Nile perch reflect both local ingredients and age-old recipes. Five nights from €1,850 (about $2,052) per person

News

BusinessMirror

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

The age, sex and symptoms of China coronavirus victims

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everal people who’ve died from a new virus in China didn’t display symptoms of fever, potentially complicating global efforts to check for infected travelers by temperature screening at airports and other travel hubs.

The Hubei Health Commission said Friday seven more people had died in the central Chinese province from the coronavirus infection. Six died in Wuhan and the other death was in Yichang, which is about 200 miles away from the provincial capital and epicenter of the outbreak. Of the 24 people who’ve died in total in Hubei, seven had symptoms other than fever, such as breathing difficulty, chest tightness and coughing.

“If this virus can be transmitted without causing fever, then it’s easier for the infection to travel globally because it can simply stay under the radar for a while,” said Ramanan Laxminarayan, director of the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy in Washington, D.C. The Hubei Health Commission said there were 105 new cases, taking the total to 549, including 495 in Wuhan. Thirty-one people have been cured, though many are being treated in hospitals and are critically ill, the department said. The youngest victim was a 36-year-old male who was admitted to hospital on Janaury 9 suffering from fever and fatigue. He died Thursday.

Elsewhere in China, Guang-

dong province in the south on Friday reported 53 confirmed coronavirus cases, including at least one 10-year-old child. The National Health Commission also said there’d been a death in Hebei province, which surrounds Beijing, though it didn’t provide details of the symptoms.

At least nine victims in Hubei had pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, coronar y arter y disease and Park inson’s disease, the Nationa l Hea lth C om m i s s ion s a id . Te n w e re aged 80 or over, four were in their 70s, seven in their 60s, one in his 50s and another was 48. Eight of the victims in the province were women and the rest were men.

C h i n a h a s i mposed t rave l bans in some affected areas, essentially putting millions of people under lockdown. The virus has spread to places including the US and Hong Kong, triggering memories of the SARS pandemic in 2003 that killed nearly 800 people.

Lunar New Year holidays began in earnest Friday, heaping pressure on Chinese authorities tr ying to contain the virus as hundreds of millions of people travel to their hometowns in the biggest migration of humans on the planet. The World Health Organization on Thursday said the outbreak hadn’t yet become a global health emergency, but that it was closely monitoring the situation. Bloomberg News

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By Elijah Felice E. Rosales

he country’s competition regulator on Friday threw its support behind the passage of Senate bills legitimizing the operations of motorcycle taxis, arguing this expands the options of commuters and opens opportunities for innovators.

The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) said it backs the legislation of Senate measures amending the Land Transportation and Traffic Code to legitimize two-wheeled motorcycle taxis as a mode of public transport. Such move, it added, will provide commuters additional option in the face of worsening traffic congestion in Metro Manila.

Further, the PCC said, the use of motorcycle for public transport is widely practiced in the rural areas, evidenced by the popularity of the so called habal-habal in some provinces.

“The Philippine Competition

Virus panic triggers T shortage of face masks across Asia

F

Commission expresses its support for the passage of Senate bills amending the Land Transportation and Traffic Code to allow two-wheeled MC vehicles as a mode of public transport,” the PCC said. “The Senate bills are timely, widen the choices for commuters and open opportunities for businesses and innovators.”

There are four bills filed before the Senate seeking the amendment of Republic Act 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code—that’s Senate Bill 128 of Sen. Grace Poe; SB 1025 of Sen. Juan Edgardo M. Angara; SB 409 of Sen. Imee Marcos; and SB 50

of Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto.

The PCC also called on the technical working group (TWG) doing the pilot study on motorcycle ta xis to consider the competitive effects of multihoming in its study. Implementing this policy, it said, will allow drivers to choose which platform they will offer their ser vices in the same way passengers can select which ride-hailing app to use.

The PCC argued multihoming will keep firms on their feet, as they will need to continuously innovate to be able to keep their drivers and satisfy their patrons.

Prohibiting drivers from choosing which platform to serve could result in inefficiencies that will be detrimental to the riding public, the competition body explained.

It added competition must be considered in the study on whether to legitimize motorcycle taxis.

“W hile we recognize that the pilot study is intended to be of limited duration and will end in March, any situation thereafter which allows or contemplates the continued operation of MC ta xis and online ride-hailing shou ld en su re f a i r, m a rket -

driven competition in the provision of MC ta xi ser vices,” the PCC said.

The PCC extended its readiness to lend advisory support to the TWG, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and the Department of Transportation in the formulation of policies regulating motorcycle taxis.

It said the rise of motorcycle taxis is an opportunity for the government to come together to craft rules on this new business.

“The study is a preview of a new market on the rise and this is an opportunity for government agencies, with our respective mandates, to come together to craft policies in parallel or ahead of these developments,” the PCC said.

At present, there are three motorcycle taxi firms operating across the archipelago, but mostly in Metro Manila: Angkas, Move It Philippines and JoyRide. Antonio B. Gardiola Jr., head of the TWG, on Tuesday said the operations of motorcycle taxis will continue, backpedaling from an earlier statement that the pilot study will be terminated and, therefore, the use of two-wheeled vehicle for public transport will be illegal.

CAB warns carriers vs late flight-status alerts

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

Cheung, Hong Kong’s secondhighest official, said at a press conference on Thursday. “A few batches of new face masks will arrive next week.”

H o n g K o n g ’s C o n s u m e r Council, the city’s independent statutor y consumer welfare authority, urged traders not to raise prices for masks to “outrageous levels,“ R adio Telev ision Hong Kong reported.

Factories that are open are ramping up production. In Japan, plants that supply personal-care company Unicharm Corp. have been working around the clock since January 17, 2020, after orders increased ten-fold, according to spokesman Hitoshi Watanabe.

US-based 3M Co. said it’s increasing output and working with distributors to ensure sufficient inventory to meet demand and supply existing customers, according to a spokesman.

Demand is only likely to increase as shoppers stoc k pi le across the region.

E - commerce g iant A l ibaba Group Holding sold 80 million face masks through its Taobao web site on Monday and Tuesday alone, the company said on its official Weibo account.

In Japan, Li Xing, 28, and Lei Xiaoqiang, 31, spent more than ¥6,000 ($55) at Welcia, a drugstore in Tokyo, to buy seven boxes of masks and other packages for themselves and their families. The Chinese tourists were visiting the city for four days, having departed from Shenzhen in southern China.

“In my country, in my home, they can’t buy masks” because they’re sold out, said Lei. The government has told everyone to wear them, he said. Bloomberg News

A3

PCC backs passage of Senate bills legalizing ops of motorcycle taxis

Special to the BusinessMirror

ace masks and hand sanitizers are becoming must-have accessories from Hong Kong to Japan as a deadly virus spreads across Asia. The only problem is getting hold of them.

Pharmacies across Hong Kong sold out of masks aimed at preventing viral infection, prompting authorities to say more will arrive next week. Taiwan banned the export of masks for the next month to ensure sufficient domestic supply. In Macau, authorities said sales would be restricted to a maximum of 10 face masks to residents or authorized guest workers who can present a valid ID card.

Regular handwashing, face covering and avoiding crowds are becoming the main line of defense as Asian residents seek to avoid catching the new coronavirus, which in China alone has killed at least 25 people and infected more than 800.

The rapid spread of the disease has prompted Chinese officials to restrict travel for at least 30 million people and limit Lunar New Year celebrations.

Patients w ith the infection have been found across Asia, including Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan and South Korea.

At Cheung Tai Dispensary in Hong Kong’s financial district, supplies of masks and sanitizer ran out two days ago, and medical gloves are selling fast, according to an employee who only gave his surname Lee. The factories that make the products are closed for the Lunar New Year holidays, he said, which means they won’t be able to restock for at least another week.

“We are aware there is panic buying in the market,” Matthew

Sunday, January 26, 2020

HE Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) will discipline air carriers which fail to make timely flight status advisories to their passengers, under new regulations the agency is crafting.

Under the Air Passenger Bill of Rights (APBR), airlines are required to notify their passengers of f light delays or cancellations “via public announcement, written/ published notice, and flight status update service [text].” During the Taal Volcano eruption, however, numerous passengers complained on the lack of timely information on whether their f lights were going to push through.

In an interview with the BusinessMirror, CAB Executive Director Carmelo L. Arcilla explained, this particular APBR rule “doesn’t capture abnormal events like, say the Taal Volcano eruption.” So when

an airline decides the conditions are safe for them to mount their flight, “it should also notify the passengers that the flight will continue. That their flight would not be delayed, notwithstanding that there is an abnormal event.”

He noted, during the Taal Volcano eruption on January 12 and the subsequent reopening of the Manila airport, “the passengers were at a loss if their flights would push through or not. There have also been instances that when passengers receive the notices from the airlines, the event has already passed. So we are looking at a more proactive and passenger-centric modification of the [current] regulations.”

Arcilla said that after a board meeting on January 20, the CAB is now requiring the airlines to “properly invest in the systems that would enable them to provide updated notices or status in a timely manner. We will require them to submit to us a program they are going

to implement, and once they have implemented it, of course, they have to follow it. If there is an incident when people are not properly notified, then we can go after them.

This is just to improve the service to the public.”

He said the CAB is crafting the terms and conditions of the new regulation, to be released probably “within the month.” He said airline representatives attending the January 20 board meeting had a “positive” response to the new regulation.

In a news statement, the Department of Tourism said it initiated the move to enhance the APBR for airlines to be more responsive to their passengers especially in times of emergencies. The secretary is vice chairman of the CAB board.

“The safety and welfare of passengers and tourists have always been a top priority of the CAB and DOT,” said Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat. “With the enhanced Air Passenger Bill of Rights,

Despite budget limit, DepEd widens scope of SPED program

By Samuel P. Medenilla

T

he Department of Education (DepEd) on Friday said it is planning to expand its Special Education Program, or SPED, this year, even if only a fifth of its requested budget for the said initiative was approved for 2020.

At a news conference, Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones disclosed the implementation of their SPED program is proving to be challenge due to the large cost it entails.

She explained SPED is more costly to their normal class, since it is usually availed of by a small number of students and makes use of special instructional materials and the teachers with special training.

“Right now, most of the special education services are offered by private sector. These are very, very expensive and it cannot be afforded by the average Filipino,” Briones said.

Education Undersecretary Annalyn Sevilla said they were able to request and have been granted by Congress, for the first time, a budget line item for SPED in the 2020 General Appropriations Act (GAA) worth P107 million.

However, she noted the approved funding is way below their original request of P500 million.

“We know this is not enough...but the P100 million will help us review the policies. As the secretary said, this will provide program support funds for some

pilot schools [with SPED] that are already existing,” Sevilla said.

While the DepEd is still in the process of beefing up its SPED program, Briones said they are appealing to lawmakers to approve a new legislation regulating fees for private SPED providers.

She said this will make private SPED services more accessible to students, who need it.

Briones said this will be a timely initiative amid the increasing number of students with special needs after going through necessary testing.

“That is why testing is very important since it made the issue [of SPED education] to be increasingly recognized,” Briones said.

we can ensure that they are provided with relevant, critical, and useful information during emergencies or as natural calamities unfold, thereby helping reduce the inconvenience or stress that passengers may experience during these unfortunate situations,” she stressed.

The CAB will now oblige airlines to invest in systems upgrades or develop technology to relay announcements to passengers, complete with appropriate advisories on the steps to take for them to avail themselves of the entitlements under the APBR. The CAB will also continue to issue advisories to airlines reiterating their obligations to their passengers. Passengers are reminded that in cases of force majeure/natural disasters, they are entitled to reimbursement of the full value of the fare they paid, as per the APBR. The same applies even if their ticket was bought on a non-refundable basis, the DOT stressed. The APBR may be accessed on the CAB’s web site.

Australi

A BusinessMirr

A4 Sunday, January 26, 2020 | www.businessmirror.com.ph

WHAT AUSTRALIA D E

VERY country celebrates its national day in its own way. For Australia, at this time of year, it is summer and a time for holidays. So Australia Day celebrations tend to be relaxed and fun.

Australians enjoy celebrating all the things we love about the country - the unique land, the lifestyle, the freedom and the people.

Australia Day for us is about recognising the contribution that every person makes to our modern and dynamic country. From our Indigenous People - who represent the world’s oldest continuing culture - to all those who have come to make Australia their new home.

Filipinos are among the largest groups of new Australian citizens. It won’t be surprising to see that many of them have a family member or friend who calls Australia their second home.

They will know modern Australia as a nation that isn’t defined by race, religion or a particular culture, but by shared values. It is a country that celebrates democracy and freedom,

promotes mutual respect and equality between men and women, and has steadfast respect for the rule of law.

Iam proud to say that thanks to the efforts of generations past and of my fellow citizens, we have created a harmonious, peaceful and prosperous society. In a world that’s going through conflict and tension I know that many people still see Australia as a land of hope and opportunity; and a land of rare natural beauty.

This remains the case despite the devastating images you have seen of bushfires raging across several states in Australia. The scale of these fires is unprecedented and tragically, 28 people have lost their lives. Several thousand

Celebrating Australia Day. Ambassador Steven J. Robinson is joined onstage

by DFA Secretary Teddyboy Locsin, Mrs. Rhonda Robinson, Mrs. Lourdes Locsin, and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray during the Australia Day reception last 23 January. homes have been destroyed and the loss of animal life is hard to comprehend.

But we are a resilient and practical people. So you will have seen communities rallying together, volunteer fire fighters risking it all, and people from

Australia has long supported peace and development in Mindanao. Its flagship education program, valued at PHP3.4 billion, supports conflict-sensitive quality basic education services in the BARMM.

all across the country - and indeed, the world, coming to help.

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Philippine government, the provinces and their cities, and the extraordinary number of Filipino people who have offered their support, prayers and well-wishes. Considering the many natural emergencies this country faces, including most recently the Taal Volcano eruption, it shows again to me the seemingly bottomless well of empathy and goodwill that the Filipino people have for Australia.

Rebuilding will take time but the Australian Government’s response is comprehensive and it is undaunted by the task ahead. This has already included deploying thousands of Australian Defence Force personnel and reservists on the ground, releasing millions of dollars in emergency payments to families and communities, and millions in new funds to preserve wildlife habitat.

TRADE TIES

The trade and investment partnership between Australia and the Philippines is on the way up. With a 300,000 strong Filipino community in Australia and 34 direct flights per week, Australia is a prime destination for tourism, education and training. More Filipinos studying overseas choose Australia as their study destination more than any other country, with over 20,000 Filipinos currently studying at universities and technical colleges down under.

Philippine companies are also taking advantage of investment opportunities, with a number of major Philippine conglomerates investing in Australia to secure their supply chain and access advanced products and technology.

The ASEAN Australia NZ Free Trade Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) has opened the doors to exporters from both countries, with two-way

A number of these global Australian companies are showing their support for this year’s Australia Day celebration, and are helping to make the event a success. These include ANZ Bank, Austal, Crone, GHD, Greenstone, Leighton Asia, Macquarie, Oceanagold, Orica, Prime Metro BMD, Qantas, QBE, Site Skills, Telstra, TWPS, and Wine Brothers.

STUDY IN AUSTRALIA

Australia continues to be a preferred study destination for Philippine students and is the third most popular international student destination in the world. According to the Australian Department of Education and Training, nearly 750,000 international students are currently studying in Australia, 20,000 of which are from the Philippines. Australia is home to over 300,000 Filipinos, and trade and people to people links constitute a

Australia and the Philippines cooperation in defense dates back to World War II. Today they work together to counter terrorism, strengthen maritime security and to build the capability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Many Filipinos have asked what can they do directly to help. The answer is simply - please consider Australia as your next vacation destination: come to Australia! We are open for business and there is a vast continent to explore, most of it unaffected by the recent bushfires.

Despite the bushfire-affected regions, many coastal towns, parks and beaches remain open for more tourists.

Indeed, one of the most powerful things that our overseas friends can do is to visit and support the recovery of our beautiful towns.

There are also vast parts of Australia completely unaffected by fires which want to see visitors enjoying the best experiences that Australia can offer. And with more direct flights to Australia, it’s no wonder that of all tourists from Southeast Asia, the fastest growth was from Filipino visitors in 2018-19.

As we celebrate Australia Day and all the stories that have contributed to our nation, I invite you to see my country for yourself so that you can tell your own story of Australia.

Steven J. Robinson AO is the Australian Ambassador to the Philippines. Follow him on Twitter @AusAmbPH.

trade in goods and services between Australia and the Philippines reaching A$4.8 billion – a 70 percent increase since 2010.

The complementary nature of the Philippine and Australian economies and geographic proximity have supported the growth across priority such as food and beverage, infrastructure, and services.

Australia and the Philippines are collaborating to drive the Philippines’ digital transformation agenda and to boost the competitiveness of its private sector. This includes knowledge and technology transfer as well as institutional partnerships in science and disruptive technologies.

There are more than 300 Australian companies in the Philippines significantly contributing to the country’s socio-economic growth. Together, they directly employ over 40,000 Filipinos, contribute to local taxes, purchase local materials, goods, and services. Embracing local talent, these companies are continuing to invest in specialised training and to develop globally competitive technology and services solutions.

highly favourable platform to deepen our bilateral cooperation.

Australia is a global education powerhouse boasting top-notch facilities and educators and providing students with over 22,000 courses across 1,100 institutions. Australian education has a distinct focus on meeting global industry needs, providing quality training, connecting skills with job outcomes and teaching practical skills and theoretical knowledge to help students succeed in a fast-changing employment climate.

Australian universities have a proven track record globally, ranking consistently high for their quality of education, research and student experience satisfaction. Six Australian institutions are in the top 100 world rankings across a range of study fields, including Arts and Humanities; Clinical, Pre-clinical and Health; Engineering and Technology; Life Sciences; Physical Sciences and Social Sciences.

(Times Higher Education 2019) In addition to strong academic credentials, Australia has seven of the best cities in the world based on student mix, affordability, quality of life, and employer activity.

ia Day

ror Special Feature

www.businessmirror.com.ph | Sunday, January 26, 2020 A5

DAY MEANS TO ME Many of the international students who have studied in Australia have returned to their own countries, and elsewhere in the world, to become government ministers, business leaders, researchers, scientists, medical practitioners and community leaders. The Australian education system has produced scientists, designers, educators, entrepreneurs, artists and humanitarians who have changed the world and won awards from Nobel Prize to the Oscars.

As the Philippines continues to be one of the fastest growing economies, it is critical to equip the population with skills that befit contem-

porary times and support the nation through its digital transformation.

Australia is seeking to expand on its present partnership with the Philippines and foster knowledge and technology transfer and support access to quality and industry-led training and education, including right here in the Philippines. There is no better way to explain the positive impact that studying with Australia can have on your life and career than through the wonderful stories Filipino alumni are sharing on @Study in Australia and @Australia in the Philippines Facebook pages.

Amb. Robinson with Australian business leaders.

THE AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE HAVE A LONGSTANDING LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE SINCE THE 1980S. In 2019, Australia supported the establishment of the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Center to strengthen the campaign against the online sexual exploitation of Filipino children. Australia with a consortium of partners also launched in 2019 SaferKidsPH, a program to protect Filipino children from online exploitation, abuse, and violence. The Australian Government has committed AUD 8 million (PhP 298 million) to this program. Photo courtesy of International Justice Mission

MARAWI. Australia continues to support the recovery of Marawi. Ambassador Steven J. Robinson has visited the city thrice in 2019 to meet community partners and to turnover livelihood assistance to residents. Australia has to date provided PHP 1.2 billion assistance for humanitarian, recovery and peacebuilding initiatives following the siege of Marawi City in 2017. Australia has been a strong supporter of development, peace and stability in the southern Philippines for over 20 years. The Australian Government continues to work with the Philippine Government to combat terrorism in the region.

IN ABUYOG LEYTE, AUSTRALIA HANDED OVER A PHP 23 MILLION MULTI-PURPOSE EVACUATION CENTER TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT. The center was designed to withstand earthquakes and strong typhoons, and features solar panels and a rainwater collection system to ensure water and power are available in times of disasters and emergencies. Australia has also supported local and national agencies to develop community resilience to allow faster recovery following a disaster.

TEACH FOR A DAY. Australian Ambassador Steven J Robinson AO took a day off his usual diplomatic duties to teach Grade 10 students at Navotas National High School.

The Ambassador volunteered to teach for a day to highlight the importance of access to quality education for all Filipino children.

Australia is one of the Philippines’ largest development partners in education and we have a long history of strong cooperation with DepEd

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Science

BusinessMirror

Sunday, January 26, 2020

Sunday

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

Understanding the new coronavirus outbreak in China

H

ealth officials around the world are keeping a close watch on an outbreak of a new virus that originated in China. In response, governments are stepping up surveillance of airline passengers arriving from central China and taking steps to try to control the outbreak.

In the Philippines, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Wednesday reported that the fiveyear-old boy from China tested positive for a non-specific pancoronavirus has recovered from flu-like symptoms. “ The child is well now. He has some cough but has no more fever. So, there’s a possibility that this may not be a novel coronavirus case,” Duque said in a media forum in Manila, adding that the boy remains in isolation in a medical facility in Cebu City.

Duque also reported that the DOH’s Bureau of Quarantine already placed additional thermal scanners at the airports to identify immediately possible carriers of the virus.

Citing the upcoming Chinese New Year, Duque said the Department of Health can provide more thermal scanners if the need arises since procurement for the new machines was already made.

Here’s what scientists say about the illnesses:

it could spread more widely.

Could it be as bad as SARS?

So far, the virus appears less dangerous and infectious than SARS, which also started in China and killed about 800 people.

However, viruses can mutate into more dangerous and contagious forms, and it’s too early to say what will happen with this one.

History of infectious disease outbreak

What is the disease?

Scientists have identified it as a new kind of coronavirus. There are many known types of coronaviruses. Some cause the common cold. Others found in bats, camels and other animals have evolved into more severe illnesses such as SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) or MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome).

Why is it called a coronavirus?

Corona comes from Latin and refers to crowns or halos. Under a microscope, these viruses resemble crowns or halos.

When and where was the new virus found?

The outbreak started late last month in the city of Wuhan, a city in central China’s Hubei province, apparently at a food market.

Many of the first people infected had visited or worked at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, which has since been closed for an investigation.

Chinese health officials say they believe the illness first spread

Travelers wearing face masks walk with their luggage at Hankou Railway Station in Wuhan in southern China’s Hubei province on January 21. Chinatopix via AP

from animals to people. They now say it can spread between people.

How many people have it and how widespread is it?

China has identified 500 cases and 17 deaths, as of Thursday, most of the illnesses and all of the deaths were in Hubei province.

Cases have also been confirmed in Thailand, South Korea, Japan, the United States and Taiwan. The outbreak coincides with China’s busiest travel season as people visit their families or go abroad for the Lunar New Year holiday. That travel rush is expected to spread the disease more widely.

What are the symptoms?

Common symptoms include a runny nose, headache, cough and fever. Shortness of breath, chills and body aches are associated with more dangerous kinds of coronavirus, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In serious cases, the virus can cause pneumonia.

How is it treated?

There is a test to identify the virus, but no vaccine to prevent an infection.

Patients with the virus have been isolated in hospitals or homes to prevent spreading it.

T he sy mptoms are treated with pain and fever medication, and people are advised to drink plenty of liquids and rest while they recover.

How are coronaviruses spread?

Many coronaviruses can spread through coughing or sneezing, or by touching an infected person.

Initially, authorities in China said there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission in the present outbreak.

Scientists believe the new virus can spread from person to person in close contact through the respiratory tract, raising the possibility

The history of infectious disease outbreak is not new. In 1918, the Spanish flu pandemic infected about 500 million people globally (a third of world’s population then) and caused the death of 20 million to 50 million victims.

The 2014 -2015 Ebola outbreak in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone infected 28,000 and killed over 11,000. By the end of the West Africa Ebola outbreak, the three nations lost a combined GDP of $2.8 billion.

Infectious diseases continue to be a huge problem. Recently, Ebola and measles outbreaks in Democratic Republic of Congo have killed 2,236 and over 6,000 respectively.

The ease of travel in today’s global community means the world must always be prepared for disease outbreaks. It is no longer whether an infectious disease outbreak would happen but when.

Globally, 100,000 aircraft carry millions of passengers from one city to the other daily. A visit to flightradar24.com puts this in perspective and shows how interconnected countries are. AP, PNA and IPS

Transforming seaweed into savings through S&T PHL researchers win 1st prize in

S

eaweed farming has long been a reliable source of income for coastal communities in the Philippines. Fringed by waters of the Sulu Sea and the Moro Gulf, Zamboanga City is no stranger to the seaweed trade.

Only recently, four communities in the city—namely the Barangays of Santa Catalina, Mampang, A rena Blanco and Tigtabon—have moved to adopt technologies that target seaweed ef f icient d r y ing process and quality dried seaweed.

The gap

While seaweed type is a factor in determining value, the quality of the dried seaweed is what ultimately dictates price.

The current drying practice, which is basically open-area sun drying, can take up to a number of days, and puts the seaweeds at the mercy of the elements.

Farmers resort to covering or storing stocks at the first hint of rain or bad weather, which does little good for the dehydration process, among others.

This usually translates to poor seaweed quality, which, in turn, greatly reduces the farmers’ command on the commodity’s price.

The intervention

T h e Un i v e r s it y of t he Ph i l ip p i ne s L o s B a ño s h a s d e v e l o p e d a s y s t e m t h at i s c ap a bl e of dr y ing newly har vested s t o c k s at a f a s t e r r at e , w h i l e protec t i ng t he seaweed s f rom u npre d ic t a bl e w e at he r.

There are currently two types of solar seaweed drying technology

available. One is the floating-type, which stays on the water surface, allowing farmers to tow the structure close to their production area for faster harvesting.

Another is the permanent-type, which doubles as a storehouse sturdy enough to withstand harsh weather conditions, and provide easy, all-around access for farmers.

The structures were also designed to reduce direct exposure to sand, dirt and other contaminants that usually contaminated during the harvesting and hauling of fresh seaweeds to the drying area.

Besides the greenhouse/UVtreated sheets that cover both facilities, they are also fitted with built-in solar-powered exhaust fans for the quick and uniform drying of stocks.

At present, studies have shown the structures are capable of drying 2 tons of high-quality fresh seaweeds in a matter of three days, without any inconsistency in the production.

Through the Department of Science and Technology Region 9, the abovementioned communities can expect the technologies to be on their shores as early as the second quarter of 2020. Bon Rafael

A. Padayhag/S&T News Service

Keeping PHL foods, waters safe through referencing

T

he food world has discovered the key to stopping and preventing massive product recalls. Some quarters, however, met the news with both skepticism and excitement.

Far from the usual fanfare and fireworks, as well as massive media hype, there is, however, something quiet and reassuring about this new tool called reference materials (RMs).

What are RMs? RMs and the process of referencing are means to confirm methods and to assess the accurac y of measurement results. These are developed through rigorous research and development (R&D).

G e n e ra l l y, t h e s e m ate r i a l s p rov i d e measurement laboratories a range of matrix combinations to analyze the content of properties in foodstuffs, i.e., aflatoxin M1 in milk powder,

and aflatoxins B and G in peanut butter products, among others.

However, RMs are not only useful in proving what makes up a particular food, its micronutrients, or the extent of its authenticity.

What makes it valuable is how it supports results of measurement laboratories to ensure that commodities can pass stringent international trade standards on food quality and control.

This is because product recalls pose significant economic burdens. When these recalls are traced, for example, to high histamine levels (a chemical indication of food spoilage) in canned tuna fish, a public health scare can lead to epidemiological tracking of determinants of the disease conditions.

A reference materials researcher

6th Space Mission Idea Contest

The authors of the winning research are (from left) Calvin Artemis Hilario, Genedyn Mendoza, Mar de Guzman and Dr. Joel Joseph Marciano Jr.

F

ilipino researchers dominate space exploration by winning first prize in the Sixth Space Mission Idea Contest (MIC6), besting research topics from different countries during the Seventh University Space Engineering ConsortiumGlobal (Unisec-Global) Meeting in Japan.

The researchers, from the Department of Science and Technology-Advanced Science and Technology Institute, and University of the Philippines Diliman, won first place in the IVAreplaceable Small Exposed Experiment Platform category for their entry “Spectrum Monitoring from Space with i-SEEP [SMoSiS]—Capturing and Mapping the Digital Divide from Space through Radio Frequency Spectrum Measurements.”

The MIC is an avenue for people interested in space research to introduce creative ideas on payloads for the International Space Station platform. It also introduces new possibilities on space exploration research and technologies.

One of the researchers, Dr. Joel Joseph S. Marciano Jr., the newly conferred director general of the Philippine Space Agency, said they were going to pursue the research whether they win or not, but their victory was a pleasant surprise and an added bonus for the whole team.

“Our expectation was ‘let’s just have fun explaining this idea to a big audience’ that this is not your typical science experiment. It’s an experiment for public good, illuminating the state of this infrastructure and connectivity in sharing it openly,” he added.

Placing first in the MIC6 served as one of the highlights for the country since this was the first-time Filipinos brought home the top prize in

this contest. The authors of the research, besides Marciano, are Mar de Guzman, Calvin Artemis Hilario and Genedyn Mendoza.

When asked about the projected uses of mapped data from radio frequency measurements, Marciano said, “It’s really putting this kind of information in people’s hands. We don’t have all the possible uses of the data. They might correlate it with something. But for us we want to correlate it with night lights, economic activity, household income... where are the unserved and underserved populations.”

“Monitoring from Space with i-SEEP [SMoSiS] aims to provide measurements of radio frequency spectrum occupancy on Earth to detect the presence, or lack of, telecommunication and broadcast services.

The processed SMoSiS spectrum data will help determine unserved and “underserved” areas, detection of anomalies, including the disruption and subsequent recovery of wireless technology services during disasters.

SMoSiS also studies the utilization of the radio spectrum toward better planning, management and regulation of this vital resource in support of fulfilling Sustainable Development Goal 10 on reduced inequalities.

The team intends for SMoSiS to be the first step to having an “osmosis” of opportunities in the underprivileged sector.

The international recognition of the Philippines’s achievement in a space missionrelated contest serves as an opportunity to become more engaged in showcasing the abilities and potentials the country has in space technology.

S&T Media Service

Tourism&Entertainment BusinessMirror

Editor: Carla Mortel-Baricaua

Sunday, January 26, 2020

A7

Kenya’s lure: Safaris, luxury camps and ecotourism Story & photos

by Karina Angela L. Ramos

I

’ve visited many national parks around the world, so I thought I already knew what I was getting into when I arrived in Kenya to visit their famous safari tours. But boy, was I wrong.

Out of all the national parks I had visited, Kenya’s national parks were among the most magical with an insane amount of wildlife sightings to say the least.

In Kenya, I’ve spent more time in national parks, reserves and conservatories than in their cities.

And even then, I’ve only stepped foot in Nairobi City, Kenya’s capital, and caught just a small glimpse of what the city has to offer. Just the same, Nairobi City left a lasting impression. The city maintains a great balance between embracing advancement in modernity and technology, while honoring their heritage and traditions.

The people of Kenya have great respect for the environment and the wildlife around them. There’s no other place on Earth where people and wildlife live peacefully together as neighbors. Most people in Kenya actively protect and conserve their native species, as evident in its many protected areas and conservation programs.

During my stay in Kenya, I was able to visit and stay in three

A giraffe in the middle of a dry savanna

The Masai Mara National Reserve is the most famous and popular safari destination.

national parks: Nairobi National Park, Meru National Park and Masai Mara National Reserve. These three amazing parks gave me different experiences, but all of them also left me a feeling of awe.

Nairobi National Park is just outside the bustling capital city.

The only thing that separates the people from the wildlife is a huge electric fence. Inside the park is one of the most unique views I’ve ever seen: African animals, like rhinos and giraffes, grazing lazily with the sprawling city at the backdrop.

It was a stroke of great luck and the most memorable moment I had in Nairobi National Park was when I spotted a baby rhino and its mom right after we entered the park. The park is now home to the largest concentration of black

Solitary and shy, leopards are crown jewels of an African safari

Author admires the vast and beautiful African landscape

Baby and mother rhinoceros roam at Nairobi National Park.

rhinos, thanks to the great effort of Nairobi's conservation authorities. Their effort gave tourists, like me, the great opportunity to witness black rhinos in the wild.

The Meru National Park was quite a contrast to Nairobi because it receives the least tourists and visitors out of all the parks in Kenya, but that’s what made it so special. There’s anyone else around when I visited and I got to go on a safari tour with only a handful of companions, as if we had the park all to ourselves. Unlike Kenya’s other national parks, where tourists crowded the safari cars, I got to appreciate the beauty of the animals intimately and felt closer to nature. The lack of people also means that the environment remains largely unspoiled.

There used to be unchecked

poaching within the Meru National, thus, its rhino population became extinct. But thanks to the park’s conservation and rehabilitation efforts, and its dedicated law enforcers, the poaching activities eventually ceased. Moreover, its rhino population bounced back with over hundred-odd individuals after the Meru Rhino Sanctuary reintroduced wild black and white rhinos to the park. Other than the rhinos, Meru National Park is also home to the “Big Five” (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant and Cape buffalo), but I wasn’t able to see all of them when I was there.

The stories of how amazing Masai Mara doesn’t do justice to the magical experience I had there.

After I saw a huge pride of lions at the end of their hunt, it felt like I

Lions are one of the “Big Five” game animals.

was living in the Lion King movie.

My stayed at a conservancy within the Mara, called Ol Kinyei, afforded me a spot in the wilderness all to myself. There I saw the Big Five all under a day! Likewise, I saw a load more of big game, smaller animals and birds, and learned a lot about the animals through my guides. Another favorite part was in Ol Kinyei on my last day there when we hiked up this rock early in the morning, and watched the sunrise just as the world was waking up around us.

In Kenya, I happened to have stayed at one of the Porini Camps: the Tented Camps in Nairobi; Rhino River Camp in Meru; and Porini Cheetah Camp in Masai Mara. All of these accommodations within the wilderness are just pure luxury; they are basically hotel rooms

with complete amenities within tents in the wilderness. While each camp has something unique to offer, these camps also promote ecotourism. In fact, all of Kenya is practicing eco-friendly measures and even bans the single-use plastics. The Porini Camps are following the country’s lead, and provide luxury camping and safari experience with minimal impact on the environment.

The locals, a majority of their employees, are also heavily involved in the conservation and protection of the national parks.

In the same manner, the locals are also running and maintaining the camps under the Gamewatchers Safari, the owner of the Porini Camps who contribute to the development of the local community.

CITY OF DREAMS MANILA FOSTERS A PEOPLE-CENTRIC WORKPLACE S. Korea hosts major

Chinese incentive trips

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riven by its strong belief in putting employee wellness at the core of its business culture, City of Dreams Manila strives to continue in fostering a people-centric workplace through its “Employee Love” program. Under this long-term program are various initiatives centered on rewards and recognition, health and wellness, education and training programs for the personal, and professional, growth of colleagues.

“We always put our employees’ well-being and growth first. As the company’s prized assets, we go above and beyond to provide them a healthy, caring, engaging and supportive workplace environment, which will also allow them greater success in both their personal and professional lives,” City of Dreams Manila’s Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Kevin Benning said.

Benefits, rewards and recognitions

City of Dreams Manila’s compensation scheme is considered to be among the best in the industry, with an average monthly wage that is nearly 200 percent higher than the 2018 Philippines Wage Index of P13,847. The company offers various economic rewards that also go beyond government mandated benefits, among these: three salary increases in the last 2.5 years, and a one-month fifth-anniversary bonus. It offers an enhanced medical benefit that is a first among integrated resorts (IR) in the country—a medical insurance that offers the second layer for dreaded diseases with the same amount as the initial maximum benefit limit. Parental coverage in the medical insurance of single/unmarried staff is also offered, just as discounted flu vaccination is

S

CITY of Dreams Manila extended to colleagues’ family members. A congenial leave policy that allows employees flexibility in the application of vacation and sick leaves is established, and unlimited buffet 24/7 at the Colleagues’ Dining Room provides a generous meal benefit.

City of Dreams Manila is also the first and only IR in the country with a memorandum of understanding with Popcom for Reproductive Health and Education of colleagues.

It stages The President’s Awards annually that recognizes the most outstanding colleagues from both front of the house and the heart of the house, and awards them with special prizes. In 2019, alone, nine winners are each awarded: The President’s Award trophy and pin, P25,000 cash, an all-expense-paid trip to Macau for two, overnight stay at Nuwa Manila with breakfast for two, a 60-minute massage treatment at Nuwa Spa, 10 DreamPlay weekend passes, and an intimate dinner with the property executives at Nuwa Manila’s Crystal Lounge.

Awards and colleagues’ development

As a testament to this commitment, Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd. (NASDAQ:MLCO)—developer and owner of casino gaming and entertainment resort facilities in Asia including City of Dreams Manila through its subsidiary Melco Resorts & Entertainment (Philippines) Corp.—was honored in October this year at the 2019 Sustainable Business Awards (SBA) Philippines for its talent development program for its work force in both Manila and Macau.

Asia’s leading sustainable award platform since 2012, SBA recognizes companies that take a proactive role in tackling social, governance and environmental issues. It recognized Melco for its work force development program, which embraces a holistic “Whole Person Development” training approach, empowering its colleagues and focuses on their personal growth.

City of Dreams Manila’s employees embody this holistic development approach, with some even making a

mark in the international arena. One of whom is the property’s Landscape Manager Cirilo Alerta, who was named as “Asia’s Unsung Hero of the Year” at the Stelliers Awards held in May 2019 in Singapore. Formerly known as The Hotelier Awards, Stelliers is a prestigious and leading hotelier awards platform that is committed to recognize and celebrate the brightest individuals of the hotel industry in Asia, South Asia and Greater China.

The others are the young chefs of the integrated resort, namely: 25-yearold Michael Monsalve; 24-year-old Rayzel Salvador; 25-year-old Jomari Miranda; and 23-year-old Rier Franco, who clinched the silver award for the Philippines at the FHC China International Young Chefs Challenge held in Shanghai, China, in November.

City of Dreams Manila also has programs to put into spotlight the outstanding achievements of its colleagues—whether for work performance, or in showcasing creative talent and excellence in competitive sports.

outh Korea welcomed 3,500 international employees of Shanghai-based multinational retail company WEINA Cosmetics Co. in December for corporate events and travel.

The arrivals follow a successful bid to host the global group’s overseas incentive trip by the Korea MICE Bureau (KMB) division of the Korea Tourism Organization.

WEINA Cosmetics Co. is a Shanghaibased cosmetics company established in 2003 currently operating 11 branches throughout China, including Xi’an of Shaanxi Province and Qingdao of Shandong Province.

The celebration kicked off with a special Welcome Ceremony at Gangneung Curling Center on December 17.

Participants enjoyed a range of South Korean-themed cultural entertainment courtesy of the KMB, including performances by gukak (Korean traditional music) Bboy group S-Flava, and a musical gala show. The group also enjoyed an exclusive K-pop performance at Yongpyong Resort in Pyeongchang, featuring Hallyu star, Min Kyung-hoon.

Staying at a resort-style accommo-

dation in Gangwon province, employees visited popular attractions in Seoul and Gangwon province over the six-day trip, including Jade Garden Natural Arboretum in Chuncheon, Ohjukheon, Gangneung Coffee Street and Gangneung Curling Center, where the Welcome Ceremony will be held.

KMB has been pushing to recover the Chinese incentive market this past year, promoting new, Hallyu-related contents as part of its program. The efforts have proved successful, with official figures for the number of Chinese incentive travelers to Korea in 2019 as of November estimated at 99,857, indicating an increase of 200 percent over that time last year.

According to Director of Corporate and Incentive Team Ik Soo-cheong, there has been very high satisfaction from Chinese incentive participants with performances by Hallyu stars. “We will continue providing various Hallyu contents, such as K-pop and K-Drama to attract even more meetings and incentive groups from multinational companies” he said.

Incentive trip event at Paradise City Hotel in Incheon Korea Tourism Organization

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Sunday, January 26, 2020

Sports BusinessMirror

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

‘Dreams come true’ in Lausanne 2020

V

irginie Faivre claimed dreams had “come true” at the Winter Youth Olympic Games and hoped Patrick Baumann would be proud of Lausanne 2020 as the event concluded recently.

A short one-hour closing ceremony took place at the medal plaza in the Flon area of Lausanne, with athletes and the public gathering for the conclusion of the third edition of the winter event.

Lausanne 2020 President Faivre was joined on stage by International Olympic Committee (IOC) counterpart Thomas Bach for brief speeches. Faivre praised the performances of athletes at the Games, before offering a tribute to the late Baumann.

Baumann served as Lausanne 2020 president, but died of a heart attack during the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires.

“When we started two weeks ago, Switzerland opened its doors to welcome you home to the

Jack Nicklaus hits a ceremonial tee shot on the first hole during the first round for the Masters in Augusta, Georgia, in April last year. AP

Olympic capital,” Faivre said. “The Olympic Capital is where Olympic dreams are born. We have seen young athletes’ dreams realized.”

“To our friends at the IOC, national Olympic committees, international federations and our Olympic angel Patrick, I hope we have done you proud,” she added.

Bach offered a tribute to organizers and the contribution of volunteers at the Games. He also announced the awarding of the Olympic Cup to the City of Lausanne and the Canton of Vaud.

The ceremony featured two performances from 35 disabled children and able-bodied performers from Sport-Up, a Swiss foundation based in Lausanne promoting inclusion within sport.

Their performances, aimed at being a learning experience and a social development opportunity for the participants, highlighted the sports which had been contested at the Games.

Insidethegames

‘THE GOLDEN BEAR’ THE closing ceremony features two performances from 35 disabled children and able-bodied performers from Sport-Up, a Swiss foundation based in Lausanne promoting inclusion within sport.

TURNS 80

By Doug Ferguson

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The Associated Press

AN DIEGO—Jack Nicklaus turned 80 on Tuesday, no closer to retirement than when he was at the peak of his golf career.

Never mind that he rarely competes, and when he does play the occasional round of golf, he doesn’t always finish the hole. His shoulder is sore, but that’s more from tennis.

He spends most of his time supporting his wife, Barbara, who has taken charge of the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation. He still has his hands in about 10 golf courses his company is designing.

The real measure of a golfing great who has been around for 80 years are the conversations he keeps.

Everyone wants a piece of Nicklaus, and he is all too happy to oblige. Even though he is more Olden Bear than Golden Bear, Nicklaus remains as relevant now as when he was winning his record 18 majors.

“I’d like to stay involved...keep myself in front of the public, keep myself relevant so when I get to 80 years old, you still want to ask me a question,” Nicklaus said last week in a conference call ahead of his 80th birthday.

“There’s no reason to want to curl up in a corner someplace.”

The only time he considered some form of retirement was long ago.

Nicklaus told a story of always wanting to ski, but not while he was still competing. That seemed smart long before Phil Mickelson broke his leg skiing and missed the 1994 Masters or David Duval injured his shoulder snowboarding.

Nicklaus thought he would wait until he was 35.

“I figured I wasn’t going to take up skiing

until I was done playing golf,” Nicklaus said.

“We took up skiing at age 35. While we were out there skiing, I was talking about not playing much golf the next year. The kids all said, ‘Dad! What are you doing? You can still beat everybody out there. You need to keep playing. You love it.’ I said, ‘I do, but I want to be part of your life.’ They talked me into going out and keep playing.”

Nicklaus was coming off victories in the 1975 Masters (an epic battle against Johnny Miller and Tom Weiskopf) and the 1975 Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Championship at Firestone. So he kept playing, adding another claret jug at St. Andrews in 1978, another double major season in 1980 and his famous 1986 Masters when he was 46.

Imagine if he had quit playing. Nicklaus would have been at 14 majors, and Tiger Woods would have passed him with that memorable Masters victory last April. Now, Woods still has three majors to go to catch Nicklaus.

That also keeps Nicklaus relevant without having played a major in 15 years.

There was a time when it looked as though Woods was running out of time to catch him, especially with recurring leg injuries and then back problems that led to four surgeries. Now that Woods ended 11 years without a major with his Masters victory for major No. 15, the race is on.

History is not on Woods’s side. He turned 44 three weeks ago. When he gets to the Masters, only six players older than Woods will have won majors, no more than one each.

Still, the Nicklaus name is back in the conversation. He will watch. He will answer questions about whether Woods can catch him, as Nicklaus has done for nearly two decades.

Nicklaus always said he thought Woods could do it. One year at a charity lunch for his Memorial, Nicklaus got the same question, gave the same answer and then asked what

kind of headlines it would make if he had given a different answer.

What makes him feel more relevant are the questions he fields from younger players.

Charl Schwartzel came to talk to him about the Masters in 2011, a short time before the South African birdied his last four holes to claim the green jacket. Patrick Cantlay met with him last year before winning the Memorial, and Cantlay was with him again on a Saturday last fall, watching football and talking majors.

Nicklaus told him how he never wanted to feel his game was in perfect shape on Thursday of a major, rather he wanted to play his way into his best golf as the week went on.

Justin Thomas. Jordan Spieth. Dustin Johnson. Rickie Fowler.

It’s a long list. Most of them live in South Florida and are members at his Bear’s Club.

“I don’t go out and seek this, but I’m available,” Nicklaus said. “I might have some knowledge—you might call it wisdom— something to impart to the kids that might help them. It’s very flattering to me as an 80-yearold. You never listened to your dad, why listen to your grandfather? But it’s very nice and I enjoy it. We have 30 pros who are members up at the Bear’s Club. I see them all the time.

I’m available, always around. They still want to come talk to me.”

Nicklaus still dispenses advice on the majors, particularly the Masters, which he won a record six times. But the one tip he prefers to share is what he learned long ago from his idol, Bobby Jones, who told him to be responsible for his own game.

“I feel a little sad for the guys today, not that that’s the way everyone does it,” he said. “We have instructors, sports psychologists. I always thought that was the fun of the game, learning to do it yourself. When it comes down to the end of a tournament, you have to finish. The responsibility is on you, not wondering, ‘Can I do what this guy taught me?’That’s what I learned.”

Nicklaus spoke for 45 minutes with a small group of reporters on the phone, along with a few who had come to his house. His final words were telling.

“Thank you for wanting to be on here and making me relevant.”

DRAGIC: I’M DONE WITH INTERNATIONAL GAME

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IAMI—Goran Dragic is not going to play for Slovenia in this summer’s Olympic qualifying tournament, insisting Thursday that he will not change his stance on being retired from international basketball.

The Miami Heat guard has a slew of reasons why he won’t change his mind, including his looming free agency this summer, a desire to spend as much quality time as possible with his family and that at his age—he’ll be 34 in May— another off-season of playing simply wouldn’t be the best thing for his body.

Dragic said after leading Slovenia to its best sports moment, a gold medal at the 2017 European championships, that he was done with the international game.

“When I was younger I showed my nation that I would always play for my national team, no matter who was there,”Dragic said. “If we had a good team or a bad team, I was there. I feel like I gave everything that I have and, at this point in my career,

my body isn’t the same and I have to be smart.”

Slovenia has not qualified for the Olympics.

It is among 24 teams left in the race for the last four spots at the Tokyo Games, and will have to win a six-team qualifying tournament in Lithuania from June 23 to 28 to make the field.

There has been, and likely will continue to be, sentiment in Slovenia that Dragic—who is averaging 15.8 points this season and flourishing in an off-the-bench role for the Heat—should play for the national team again.

Not even the lure of going to an Olympics can change his mind.

“Summer is busy with the kids and I have to always put them first,” Dragic said.

Dragic is one of three Slovenians in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Dallas star Luka Doncic is one; the other is little-used Denver rookie Vlatko Cancar. Both Doncic and Cancar were on the Eurobasket team in 2017, when Dragic was that tournament’s MVP. AP

Goran Dragic will not play for Slovenia in Tokyo 2020. AP

More young people believe in Chinese zodiac

More young people believe in Chinese zodiac

By Pauline Joy M. Gutierrez

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strology has grabbed a foothold in online culture and amassed a new generation of followers in young people.

“Over the past two years, we’ve really seen a reframing of New Age practices, very much geared toward a millennial and Generation X quotient,” said Lucie Greene of advertising behemoth J. Walter Thompson, which tracks and predicts cultural trends, in an interview with The Atlantic.

The growing popularity of astrology among millennials and Gen Zers, Philip Ball of The Guardian believes, has to do with astrology being reflective of predictive analytics.

A survey data by the American Psychological Association showed that millennials and Gen Xers have been significantly more stressed than older generations since 2012. With the decline of organized religion and the rise of economic precariousness, astrology cushions the blow of emotional tension.

“We’re just looking for something to believe in,” said 24-year-old writer Ella Enriquez. “Something to explain life and contain the vastness of it in explanations provided by things like horoscopes.”

Enriquez was born in 1995, a Year of the Pig according to Chinese zodiac.

She doesn’t abide by celestial stems and the yins and yangs associated with her animal sign, but admits to finding insight in the zodiac.

A study published by the University of South Carolina in Charlotte tackled astrological predictions as templates in making meaning of human behavior and the effects it ripple to career, health and success.

With the decline of organized religion and the rise of economic precariousness, astrology cushions the blow of emotional tension.

According to the research, the true influence of psychology lies in the power of suggestion: “Being told we are or not in a certain way can have powerful effects on behavior.”

The idea operates at least in part through the self-fulfilling prophecy, or the thought that one’s expectations about circumstances, events or others can affect behavior in a way that causes those expectations to come true. Some call it the “power of will.”

Unlike Enriquez, however, 23-yearold Myren Tan has grown accustomed to the practice of seeking advice from zodiac sign predictions every Chinese New Year. It’s a habit she picked up from her parents.

“I grew up being somewhat traditionally inclined to Chinese beliefs, and I always look forward to seeing what’s in store for me for the year,” Tan said.

“But as much as I enthusiastically enjoy reading these,” she added, “I can only see this as a guide and not totally living my life depending on what it says about my zodiac.”

Tan remains hopeful though. She takes inspiration from the prediction of renowned feng shui expert Thierry Chow, who said that the Lunar New Year brings a “true fresh start,” with the rat being the first of 12 animal signs of the Chinese zodiac cycle. Chow added that the year will “bring countless opportunities for personal and financial growth.”

Regardless of the predictions’ nature, some people like Angela Zenarosa have reservations regarding forecasts.

“I take everything I read with a grain of salt,” said Zenarosa, a 22-yearold editorial assistant for a Chinese journal. “But there are some occasions where the predictions have been accurate, so that makes me still want to read zodiac predictions.”

Other people have specific reasons why they refer to astrology. Twentyfive-year-old law student Janice Mendoza, for one, started listening to forecasts after a moment of personal crisis.

“I found a zodiac web site that said that those who are born in Dog Year

are not afraid of difficulties,” Mendoza said. “It reinforced my sense of control in the future during a particularly uncertain period in my life.”

Material Girl, Mystical World author Ruby Warrington sees astrology “as a language of symbols that describes those parts of the human experience that we don’t necessarily have equations and numbers and explanations for.”

“I think that almost as a counterbalance to the fact that we live in such a quantifiable and meticulously organized world, there is a desire to connect to and tap into that numinous part of ourselves,” Warrington writes in The Numinous.

As for me, an “Ox” and a non-believer of zodiac signs and astrology, I might need to channel my inner zodiac’s supposed diligence to make sure that 2020, in my own effort and capacity, will truly be one auspicious year.

Sound trip BusinessMirror

your Music our business

Publisher

: T. Anthony C. Cabangon

Editor-In-Chief

: Lourdes M. Fernandez

Concept

: Aldwin M. Tolosa

Y2Z Editor

: Jt Nisay :

SoundStrip Editor

: Edwin P. Sallan

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

: Niggel Figueroa Anabelle O. Flores : Tony M. Maghirang, Rick Olivares, Darwin Fernandez, Mony Romana, Leony Garcia, Stephanie Joy Ching Pauline Joy M. Gutierrez

Columnists

: Kaye VillagomezLosorata Annie S. Alejo

Photographers

: Bernard P. Testa Nonie Reyes

Y2Z & Soundstrip are published and distributed free every Sunday by the Philippine Business Daily

Ring in the Chinese New Year at Bonifacio High Street

B

onifacio High Street and Chinatown TV have partnered up to bring you an auspicious start to the lunar year with their Chinese New Year celebration that runs until today, January 26.

Head on to BHS Park (near Italianni’s) to find out what the stars hold for you with a Chinese Zodiac Astrology Installation.

Usher good luck and good vibes at the Katipunan Weekend Market’s Chinese New Year

fair and find an assortment of trinkets and goodies for you and your buddies.

Meanwhile, a colorful dragon dance and traditional Chinese performances and workshops await at Bonifacio High Street Activity Center. There’s also a fireworks display to cap off the night.

A special treat also awaits those who will spend P2,000 or more from any Bonifacio High Street store with Luck or Grub

2 BusinessMirror

purchase promotion. Exchange receipts for a chance to choose between a five-minute consultation with a feng-shui or tarot master, or get a lucky ang pao with a surprise treat from Din Tai Fung or Serenitea. Visit http://bit.ly/BHSCNYLuckOrGrub for the full mechanics.

For more details, check out Bonifacio High Street’s official Facebook page at https:// www.facebook.com/BoniHighStreet/.

January 26, 2020

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BusinessMirror The Philippine Business Mirror Publishing, Inc., with offices on the 3rd Floor of Dominga Building III 2113 Chino Roces Avenue corner Dela Rosa Street, Makati City, Philippines.

Tel. Nos. (Editorial) 817-9467; 813-0725.

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YOUR MUSIC OUR BUSINESS Joaquin “Quino” McWhinney of Big Mountain | Photo by: Bernard Testa

GETTING IT TOGETHER

QUINO OF BIG MOUNTAIN TALKS ABOUT CULTURE AND SOLIDARITY IN REGGAE

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By Stephanie Joy Ching

020 had a rocky start. With every natural or manmade disaster dominating the headlines, it may feel that there is no hope in the world.

However, once we put on our headphones, the bad melts away and we are reminded that there is still hope.

This is what the reggae band Big Mountain, known for their 1994 rendition of Peter Frampton’s “Baby I Love Your Way”, wants everyone to know. These coming weeks, the band’s lead singer Joaquin “Quino” McWhinney will be going around the country for a series of shows that includes a benefit concert for the evacuees of the Taal volcano on January 31st Johnny B. Good in Makati City.

Quino recently dropped by at the BusinessMirror’s office to be a special guest of BM’s Broader

Look podcast and chatted with SoundStrip to discuss his life and career built around his passion for reggae music.

Being of Mexican heritage, a big part of Quino’s identity was being born into a community of people who “work hard and party hard.”

“My family had famous parties.” he recalled fondly, “My earliest memories was crawling around the dance floor. They played boleros, rancheras and trio music. It was a Continued on page 6

Photo shows reggae band Big Mountain lead singer Quino (R, seated) posing with BusinessMirror publisher T. Anthony Cabangon (L, seated), (standing from left) BusinessMirror Special Projects Editor Edwin Sallan, President/Managing Director at DMC Entertainment Production Management President Jesse Cambosa and BusinessMirror Advertising Sales Manager Aldwin Tolosa before recording a podcast on January 22 at the BusinessMirror office. Photo by: Bernard Testa

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Sound BusinessMirror

JANUARY 26 , 2020 | soundstrip.businessmirror@gmail.com

YOUR MUS

SOBERING THOUGHT JACE ROQUE MIXES ELECTRONIC BEATS WITH POP SENSIBILITY AND TOUCHES OF MELANCHOLY

By Jill Tan Radovan/Interview by Edwin P. Sallan

H

E describes his music as a fusion of pop and EDM. And while his songs can definitely make you sway, bounce to the rhythm and get your dancing shoes on, some of the lyrics are rather sad, personal, and unabashedly revealing. The verses are simple and relatable; so uncomplicated are they that you can almost automatically guess the next line. It’s almost as if the songwriter had eavesdropped on your innermost thoughts, or perhaps gone through experiences similar to your own.

The songwriter in question is Jace Roque. If he looks familiar, it’s because he has appeared in a number of local films, on TV, and in commercials. He was part of the supporting cast of the 2017 film "Across the Crescent Moon", as well as of the television shows "And I Love You So", "Inday Bote", and "Ningning".

Jace uses music to channel his feelings and emotions, which is why you’ll hear and feel traces of melancholy in his songs.

“Lagi siyang hugot sa personal life ko--buong spectrum,” said Roque of his music in an interview with Business Mirror. “From my struggles sa showbiz, to my feelings about love and experiences in love, and struggle ko with anxiety and depression.”

Jace is pleased that like him, people have become more open and outspoken regarding their emotional and mental journeys.

“The more we talk about it, the more it gets de-stigmatized. Before kasi taboo, hindi mo pwedeng i-discuss,” he said.

The 27-year-old independent singer-songwriter doesn’t just compose music or pen the lyrics; he also takes care of the musical arrangement and production.

He has been exposed to music for as long as he can remember, having undergone voice training as early as when he was in grade school. He began making his own music in 2008, starting with soul R&B and urban R&B, eventually

experimenting with future house, progressive house, and future bass genres--all dance music-and recording covers of hits from famous artists.

In 2011, he began uploading his work on Soundcloud, where it amassed a following and gained over 400,000 streams. In 2017, he collaborated with American DJ/Producer Turbo on “Trap Me,” which gathered more than 250,000 streams on the platform.

He also worked with Norwegian DJ/ Producer Thingstad on “Everytime We Touch” and “Living My Life.”

The following year, Jace’s debut single “Keep on Holding On” gained 65,000 streams and “Days With You,” a single he produced with Indian DJ/Producer NXUS, got over 45,000 streams.

Jace has since progressed to his current sound that blends EDM and pop, making it more palatable to a wider range of listeners. He also attributes his evolution to musical influences that include Coldplay, Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Calvin Harris, and David Guetta.

He released “Sober,” a song on his battle with anxiety and depression, on Spotify in 2019. It was featured on three of Spotify’s better known local playlists: New Music Friday Philippines, Tatak Pinoy, and OPM Rising. It must have resonated with thousands of listeners. As of press time, the single has been streamed more than 323,000 times.

Considering the time and effort he has poured into his craft,

recognition for Jace Roque as a singer-songwriter and recording artist is long overdue. But there’s still a lot of time, and it seems that he wants to accomplish even more this year. And while he isn’t at liberty to disclose what his plans

are, he does promise to manifest the same amount of honesty and authenticity through his music.

“Dapat kung anong naririnig nila, yun talaga yung feelings ko,” said Jace. “The more honest it is, the better it is for the audience.”

5 d trip Hey Moonshine to launch new music video soundstrip.businessmirror@gmail.com | JANUARY 26 , 2020

SIC OUR BUSINESS

H

EY Moonshine is an eight-piece southern blues rock and roll band that was under Viva Records last October 2019. The members are all professionals as the group is composed of a lawyer, a medical doctor, two engineers, a journalist, a chef, a teacher and a graphic artist. Their music is a combination of Southern Rock, Blues and Rock and Roll. They incorporate a harmonica, two female backup vocals and three guitars in their tunes, giving their music a heavy, yet soulful and gospel feel. They sing songs about peace, love and environmental harmony.

“We’ll Break This War” was written in response to growing global panic due to various threats by militant countries. While most people were feeling the sense of helplessness and defenselessness, Hey Moonshine sought to assure the world that peace and harmony can be achieved thru unity. Hence, the recurring phrase in the song “Together, we’ll break this war”.

Hey Moonshine released a new version of the song specifically for their upcoming music video. They dubbed it as the “MV Version”. It features a new remix and remastering. It also features additional female back-up vocals and an extended harmonica solo. It is available in Spotify and in all other digital stores on February 4, 2020.

We’ll Break this War’s music video was directed

by Arvin “Kadiboy” Belarmino, a multi-awarded and internationally acclaimed independent film director.

He is known for films such as “Nakaw” (Best Director at the Short and Sweet Film Festival 2017 in Hollywood, California; Best Fiction Film at the 3rd Minikino Film Festival in Jakarta Indonesia; Best Short Film at the Gawad Urian Awards; and Feather of Excellence at the Festival de Cine Paz in Mindanao); “Kyel” (Best Director and Best Film at the Pelikultura Film Festival); “The Death of Pablo” (exhibited in Cinema Rehiyon 2016; QCinema International Film Festival Philippines 2017; and North Luzon Film Festival 2018 in Isabela, Philippines) and “Kadena” (Independent Achievement Awards in New York City). He also directed the music video of the song "Against the Ropes", by Typecast which was nominated as Best Music Video in the Myx Music Awards 2018.

The Assistant Director for music video is none

other than Sigfreid Barros Sanchez, a veteran director of films and music videos. Sanchez is known for movies such as "Magtanggol" (Special Jury Prize for Social Change at the European-Philippine Film Festival in Italy; and the Audience Choice Award at the International Film Festival 2016 in New York); Ang Mga Kidnaper ni Ronnie Lazaro (Best Film at the 1st Sineng Pambansa Film Festival in Davao City); Huling Biyahe (Grand Jury Prize at the 2nd Sineng Pambansa Film Festival and was nominated for Best Screenplay and Best Director at the Gawad Urian Awards); and Tsardyer (nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Musical Score and Best Supporting Actor at the Gawad Urian Awards.

The music video features some great actors and actresses namely Raul Morit (Best Actor for his roles in Tubero at the Independent Shorts Awards; Gone at the Saint Benilde Film Festival; Mea Culpa at the Pelikultura Film Festival and Incenco at the Cineberde Film Festival); Erlinda Villalobos (Best Actress for her role in "Ang Laswa ni Lola Mame", and was nominated for Best Actress for her role in Manang Biring); Coleen Perez (Cardinal Best Actress 2018 for her role in "Dapithapon"; Most Promising Kapuso Star 2016; PMPC Star Awards for Movies 2015; New Movie Actress of the Year Nominee for her role in "1st ko si 3rd"; and Best Breakthrough Performance by an Actress Nominee for 1st ko si 3rd); Bodson Lefroi Reyes (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat as “Joseph” and New Yorker in Tondo “as Tony”).

Two upcoming child stars were also featured in the Music Video, namely Florianne Jessiepink Besa and Matthew Pineda.

“We’ll Break this War” music video will be launched on February 8, 2020 at El Chante MNL in Poblacion Makati. Aside from Hey Moonshine, the show will also feature performances by two other Viva Artists Brisom and Benny Bunny Band. It will also feature two of Redhorse Muziklaban’s 2020 Finalists Switchblade Manila and Molay. Finally, up and coming funk act Watashiwats will also be preforming at the launch.

The music video will be available for streaming on YouTube on February 12, 2020.

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JANUARY 26 , 2020 | soundstrip.businessmirror@gmail.com

Sound trip BusinessMirror

YOUR MUSIC OUR BUSINESS

RHYTHM & RHYME

by Kaye Villagomez-Losorata

F

‘Tala’ sparks its way to Billboard, proves never too late for song ‘stardom’

OR a song released nearly four years ago, Tala is a late bloomer. Nonetheless, the Sarah Geronimo hit literally danced its way to national consciousness.

The single formed its own life, thanks to Social Media.

Last Friday, January 17, "Tala’s" rays branched out to enter Billboard’s World Digital Songs Sales Chart at No. 12 alongside other international hits from artists like BlackPink and BTS. Not bad for a single released way back in January of 2016.

There’s no way to predict OPM hits these days. It took hundreds, or probably thousands of dance covers, to bring Tala to where it is now. For a change, the dance steps set the rhythm for this phenomenon and not the ‘hugot’ lyrics we’ve been recently served with.

Penned by Nica del Rosario and Emmanuel Sambayan, Tala’s lyrics are a lot simpler than the steps. Some may even call it borderline cheesy with

Getting...

from page 3

beautiful early upbringing for me.”

At the tender age of six, his father’s job at Dole (yes, the world famous fruit company) prompted the former to move his entire family to the Latin American country of Honduras—something that changed Quino’s life forever.

The coastal town of La Ceiba, a banana plantation industry near the Carribean, was rich in Africanbased music. This was where reggae found him and stuck to him like a magnet.

“There was something about the sound. Something about the groove, it syncopated. When we came back to the United States, it was pulling me. There’s something about that music that I saw myself in.” he said.

words like, “ang ningning ng mga tala’y nakikita ko sa’yong mga mata” and “ang ningning ng yong mga mata’y hinahanap ko sa mga tala” work perfectly for the dance track. No need to complicate a song intended to be a dance super-hit.

But like its choreorgraphy, Tala tightens its poetry the moment it breaks to this part (all together no): “At kung hanggang dito lang talaga tayo/Hindi pababayaan ang daang tinahak na kapiling ka/At kung umabot tayo hanggang dulo/Kapit lang nang mahigpit/Aabutin natin ang

Quino’s musical odyssey took a more interesting turn when his mother later remarried an African-American man who was very partial to jazz, allowing him to further expand his musical palette. His teen years were also “an amazing time for music”, with the likes of Bob Marley of Stevie Wonder dominating the airwaves.

Although he was already toying with the idea of becoming a musician at that time, he needed something else to push him to that path. Having grown up alongside a multitude of ethnicities, reggae gave him a voice.

“Reggae for some reason just coined the whole period for me. It gave me a vehicle for the things I was feeling inside, how to express myself.”

mga tala.” Now, let that sync in without the steps.

Tala crashed our households like ash fall. There was no escaping the song because a family member is still trying to perfect the moves to Tala or your social media feed is filled with people doing their Tala versions some of them you haven’t seen in years and yet there they are— in the kitchen, hallway, school grounds, grocery store, roof deck—filming their Tala entry.

If the dance was the main factor, so is the diva behind it. Yes, Sarah G. is blessed with a loyal

following unmatched by any singer of her generation but the Popsters weren’t alone in this success story.

"Tala" is also a nod to our LGBT friends out there. It’s not pageant season, but our feeds have been blessed by the best covers you’ll ever see from the LGBT community. PR Professional Alvin Carino who has covered the dance quite a number of times said, “Since its release, the LGBT community has appreciated ‘Tala’ for its potential to be a smash dance hit, and it makes me feel proud that the whole country finally caught on. If anything, it shows the power of the LGBT community to influence society and bring us all together even just for a moment. That’s a massive feat in these divided times.”

From Popsters to the LGBT community to practically everyone who can—and cannot—dance in the Philippines, Tala has yet to slow down. So the next time someone releases a single and it doesn’t live up to expectations, consider adding catchy steps to it.

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

With the Editorial Team (Photo By: Bernard Testa)

A crown, a title and a new light

By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

S

ometimes, beauty queens take home something far more precious than a glitzy crown.

Anne Acuña was on an emotional low after a failed marriage. The 35-year-old marketing director of De La Salle Laguna looked for answers, and received one that not only hastened her recovery, but altered her life.

In 2017, Acuña, a single mother, was advised by her friend and beauty pageant enthusiast Arfie Kocven to join Mrs. Globe.

The contest is hailed as the most prestigious beauty pageant for women who are married or are parents.

“I could tell she was interested,” said Kocven. “She has joined a campus pageant and was also in modeling contests as a child.

Pero she’s past the usual age limit for the national Miss pageants. Then I have friends who joined and won Mrs. Globe. They’re all beautiful and smart like Anne, so I thought if they could do it, Anne can.”

Another factor that pushed Acuña to join the competition was her young daughter, Aoife.

“I wanted to show her that mommy has a strong character and can handle adversity,” Aoife said.

Backed by her friend’s guidance and a personal mission, Acuña prepared for the contest. She traded wearing sneakers for heels and started to work out and observe a healthy diet. All the sacrifices paid off as Acuña ended up winning the 2017 Mrs. Philippines Globe title.

Last month, Acuña went on to represent the country in the Mrs. Globe pageant held in China, competing against 65 candidates from more than 50 countries.

Acuña said joining an international competition broadened her horizon and lifted her self-esteem.

“It was a pleasure representing the country,” she said. “The pageant also gave me the opportunity to widen my network of friends and improved my personality on a

2017 Mrs. Philippines Globe Anne Acuña shines with renewed purpose in life. wider scale.”

The experience also opened Acuña’s eyes on how beauty contests can inspire women to make a difference in their own little ways.

During the pre-pageant session, the participants were given empowerment sessions that aimed to develop their selfconfidence and character. The program aims to provide a safe environment for women to talk about their issues and how

best to address them. It also provides insights on how to become more confident and how to reach their full potential as mothers, career women, and as members of society.

The pageant served as a catalyst for Acuña in finding a new purpose in life, as she now supports advocacies related to health, wellness and environment.

And through a partnership with the Rotary Club of Makati, she has been able

to participate in civic activities, such as mangrove planting, coral-reefs cleaning and visiting hospital patients.

It’s a path Acuña never saw as something that a beauty contest can open up, thinking the pageantry is all just glamour and pomp.

“But with Mrs. Philippines Globe in particular,” Acuña said, “I saw how it was more about purpose and how best to use that privilege to inspire others.”

Filipino wins in 2020 Year of Asean Identity Logo Design Competition

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Filipino graphic artist from Lipa, Batangas, Joemari Manguiat, was awarded the first prize in the 2020 Year of Asean Identity Logo Design Competition for Asean Youth in a ceremony held at the Asean Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia, on January 21.

Manguiat’s design was inspired by a “blooming flower,” which represents prosperity and unity among the Asean memberstates.

The ten petals in a circular shape, according to him, show unity among Asean member-states, while the colors

of blue and red were derived from the colors of all Asean countries’ flags. The logo will be featured in various materials and high-profile events throughout 2020 to celebrate and promote Asean identity.

The year 2020 has been designated as the Year of Asean identity to further develop and foster a sense of belonging and shared identity among the peoples of Asean. The competition was organized by the Asean Secretariat to stimulate young people’s creativity in interpreting Asean identity.

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Joemari Manguiat won first prize in the 2020 Year of Asean Identity Logo Design Competition for Asean Youth.

January 26, 2020

Millennial Money

Mastering the awkward financial talk

By Kelsey Sheehy

M

NerdWallet

oney, it’s a gas. Unless you need to borrow some from your parents.

Then it’s a conversation many adults will avoid at all costs, even if it means paying for groceries with couch nickels.

That’s not the only money conversation we avoid. More than 60 percent of millennials have never asked for a raise, largely because they don’t feel comfortable doing so, according to the salary data site PayScale. In many couples, partners hide debt, sometimes to the detriment of their relationship.

Avoiding these conversations often yields worse results than simply facing them head on. These tips will help you get through tough money talks, like asking your parents for money, negotiating your salary and talking to your partner about money.

ASKING YOUR PARENTS FOR MONEY

Even bonafide adults need help from the bank of mom and dad sometimes.

In fact, 70 percent of young adults (ages 18-34) received financial support from their parents in the past year, according to a 2018 survey by Merrill Lynch.

Asking your parents for money can be humbling, but swallowing your pride is better than letting your car insurance lapse. Here’s how to approach the conversation.

Be specific. Tell your parents where you could use their help, whether it’s covering some (or all) of your rent, paying your car insurance, or buying groceries. Say upfront if you need ongoing help, rather than going back to them each month for more money.

Own your mistakes. This will play better than blaming other people or circumstances, says Nathaniel Ivers, an associate professor in the department of counseling at Wake Forest University.

A man uses his phone as he takes a break at UN headquarters. Life is full of uncomfortable conversations, including talks that involve money. As tempting as it can be for many, avoiding these tough financial discussions can yield more headaches than simply facing them head on. AP

Present a plan. Create a budget to show your parents that you are trying to get your finances under control. Ask for their input and avoid getting defensive if they scrutinize your spending.

Taking this advice into account, Ivers suggests your ask could sound something like this: “I was wondering if you could help me with my rent this month. I had a lot of unforeseen expenses [give examples] and, honestly, I didn’t manage my expenses as well as I could have.

“I have already started a budget to monitor things more closely. Would you be willing to go over it with me?

It’s kind of tight, but if I cut down on some of the extra things...I will definitely have enough to cover things next month.”

TALKING WITH YOUR PARTNER ABOUT DEBT

Debt is a reality in most relationships, so it’s wise to disclose any you carry when things get serious.

Ripping off the debt Band-Aid may be terrifying, but it can ultimately strengthen your bond, says Marla

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Mattenson, a relationship expert.

“The more comfortable you get about talking about your finances together, the easier it will be for you to discuss all the challenges that arise in a relationship,” Mattenson says.

Ask your partner to set aside time to chat and give them a heads up on where the conversation is heading, she adds. Keep it simple, something like: “Can we set aside 30 minutes sometime this week to talk about my personal finances?”

Be transparent during your conversation about how you got into debt, whether it’s student loans, credit cards or a combination of the two, and articulate your plan to pay off your debt. You should also share with your partner any fears you have about how this might affect your relationship.

NEGOTIATING SALARY

Your salary serves as the basis for future raises and job offers. That’s why negotiating your salary—at the outset and throughout your tenure—is critical. Here’s how to approach the conversation.

January 26, 2020

Research industry salary. Use sites like Glassdoor to research salaries by city and company and ask people in your network what someone with your experience can expect to earn. If you’re comfortable, talk to current coworkers about their compensation when angling for a raise.

Bring a list of wins. Come to the conversation armed with tangible examples of how you’ve added value to the company (if you’re asking for a raise).

Prepare a list of business you’ve brought on, successful campaigns you’ve run or other metrics you’ve moved. If you’re negotiating for a new job, articulate how your skills and experience will add value to your new employer.

Be prepared for a ‘no.’ If your boss declines your raise request, ask for an explanation. Welcome any recommendations for how to improve your performance and set the expectation that you would like to revisit the conversation in the coming months. When negotiating for a new job, find out if there is any wiggle room and consider negotiating for benefits like more vacation time in lieu of a higher starting salary. AP