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Solons seek additional powers for Metropolitan Manila Council

Tough problems require

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tougher MMC

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By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

he metropolis is plagued with traffic, flood, waste and pollution woes, and for several lawmakers, addressing these pressing urban modernday problems may require a stronger Metropolitan Manila Council (MMC).

Authored by 32 lawmakers from Metro Manila, House Bill 6973 proposes to empower the MMC to issue ordinances that shall have the full force and effect of law

in Metro Manila. The bill is now up for plenary deliberations in the House of Representatives. Debates on MMC’s empowerment rage in the lower chamber, amid

the call to shift the country’s form of government to a federal system. The federal system is expected to promote equal distribution of resources and decentralization of powers, which will benefit largely the far-flung regions and provinces of the country.

Improvement

Metro Manila, the capital region of the Philippines, has an overall population of 12.8 million. The lawmakers said their proposal seeks to strengthen the policy-making authority of the MMC to improve the delivery of services within the mandate of the Metropolitan Manila Development

Authority (MMDA), such as traffic management, garbage disposal and public safety, among others. Under the bill, the MMC shall be vested with the authority to arbitrate any conflict or issue arising from any ordinance or policy between and among the Metro Manila local governments. The MMC shall also provide the mechanism to enable the local government councils, or the Sanggunian, to participate in the crafting and issuance of the Metro-wide ordinance, the measure said.

MMDA’s role

The MMDA, for its part, will formulate rules and regulations and

enact ordinances to address Metrowide problems by augmenting and harmonizing conflicting policies between and among the localities in the metropolis, the bill states. It shall also adopt and implement ordinances and other regulations that fall within its mandates, upon the approval by a majority vote of the council. The bill said the duly approved and ratified ordinance issued by the MMC shall be binding on all component local government units (LGUs) of Metro Manila, and shall have the full force and effect of a law therein. The MMDA shall be the lead agency to implement any ordinance

and shall be assisted by the LGUs or other enforcement agencies. It shall also address the problems of garbage, flooding, air pollution, scarce supply of sanitary water, traffic and urban blight brought about by urban migration and population jump, without the prejudice to the autonomy of the affected LGUs.

Under the President

The bill also mandates the state to recognize and regard Metro Manila under the direct supervision of the President of the Philippines. Republic Act 7924 declared Metropolitan Manila as a special Continued on A2

Culturally Brit but hasn’t cut his Filipino roots

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By Roger Pe

roy Argones cuts hair in London but has never cut his ties with the country of his parents and grandparents. He is even proud to tell people that they were migrant workers.

On 31 Riding House Street, right next to BBC London and Oxford Circus, is Champs Barbers, a boxing-themed barbershop where many celebrities, movie stars and sports personalities go for hairgrooming. Splashed on the walls are boxing memorabilia, with autographs of some of the world’s boxing greats. It has gained a loyal follow-

ing, not only from people all over London, United Kingdom, but also from other places in the world. One of the reasons: It employs the most number of Filipino barbers, including a Pinay haircutter. The most experienced guy in the shop, Argones, is a Filipino born in the UK whose parents were also brought to the same country by their parents. Young and ener-

PESO exchange rates n US 50.8190

getic, he belongs to a new generation of migrant workers—culturally British but has not forgotten their Philippine roots. “I am the first of the Argones family to be born in the UK and also the first in a long time to take up a career on this trade,” he narrates. Argones’s parents came to the United Kingdom as teenagers and met while they were growing up in London. Originally from Pangasinan, his Lola was a grade-school teacher, who, together with his Lolo, migrated during the 1970s. His mother and uncle spent a few years with their relatives in Bulacan before they were petitioned in 1983. His Lolo on the father’s side was a Bicolano architect and worked as a building inspector in

Makati when it was still a municipality. His dad, two brothers and sisters, also came to the UK in the late-1970s. Argones’s grandmother was once featured in London’s newspaper Daily Mail while being put under house arrest for failing to disclose that she had children when she migrated to the UK. She helped the famous journalist John Pilger in making it possible for families to migrate to the UK by taking part in protests and petitioning the UK government for the plight of migrant workers.

Family of barbers

His great-grandfather had a salon with four chairs and his grand uncles helped out whenever they were on leave from the Philippine Army. See “Brit,” A2

n japan 0.4651 n UK 71.8784 n HK 6.5010 n CHINA 8.0264 n singapore 38.8287 n australia 40.8127 n EU 63.0562 n SAUDI arabia 13.5518

Source: BSP (26 January 2018 )

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A2 Sunday, January 28, 2018

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Tough problems require tougher MMC development and administrative region comprising of cities and municipalities in the area under the direct supervision of the President of the Philippines and created the MMDA to replace the Metropolitan Manila Authority, which was constituted under and by virtue of Executive Order 392, dated January 9, 1990. The governance board of the MMDA is the Metro Manila Council. The council is composed of the mayors of the 17 component local government units, the president of the Metro Manila Vice Mayors League and the president of the Metro Manila Councilors League. As the policy-making body of the MMDA, the MMC approves Metro-wide plans, programs and projects, and issues the necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of said plans, approves the annual budget of the MMDA and promulgates the rules and regulations for the delivery of basic services, collection of service and regulatory fees, fines and penalties.

Review power

House Committee on Metro Manila Development Chairman Winston Castelo of Quezon City, one of the authors of HB 6973, said it has been observed that policy directions relative to land development crafted by the council are not uniformly observed. “Thus, it is necessary to strengthen the MMDA by adding a provision authorizing the council to review development permits for residential, commercial, or industrial purposes and for other major land-development projects with Metro-wide transport and traffic impact, issued by the city and municipal governments within Metro Manila,” Castelo added.

Meanwhile, to enable the MMDA to deliver its mandated tasks, the 32 authors of the bill said a law should be passed to strengthen the MMDA by amending its charter. The solons said this proposed law will give the MMC the power to enact ordinances, which will have the full force and effect of a law among its member-LGUs upon ratification; the power to enforce traffic laws and MMDA ordinances related to the Metro-wide programs of the agency, and the budget to modernize and upgrade its equipment and hire additional personnel to man the streets of the metropolis. According to the lawmakers, the MMDA is mandated to lead traffic-management efforts for the whole Metro Manila, as well as to provide Metro-wide services, which are essentially services that have Metro-wide impact and transcend local political boundaries or entail huge expenditures, such that it would not be viable for said services to be provided by individual LGUs comprising Metro Manila. It added that traffic management is at the forefront of the mandated tasks of the MMDA. Since its creation in 1994, they said the MMDA has conceptualized, proposed and implemented all types of Metro-wide programs that has made life in this bustling metropolis easier, keeping at bay the chaos that threatens to overwhelm Metro Manila residents, be it traffic congestion, flooding, garbage, pollution and all other threats to public safety. The legislators said the MMDA alone has the mandate, manpower, know-how, equipment, facilities, institutional culture and budget in place to combat this traffic crisis, even as it is beset by the problem caused by the inadequacy of its power to pass ordinances acceptable to the courts.

Tupungato | Dreamstime.com

Continued from A1

Brit...

continued from A1

At Champs, Argones is a favorite among many children of overseas Filipino workers and his job does not stop once a haircut is finished. He makes sure the engagement connects on a deeper level. He teaches young people to become independent early by sharing his skills on the trade. He also helps manage the day-to-day operation of the shop. “I am in charge of assigning customers to barbers, keeping an eye on the shop’s resources and, most important, looking after clients,” he continues. Argones has been working as a professional barber for five-anda-half years, the last three spent at Champs. It began as a hobby with a pair of clippers bought at Tesco when he was 16 years old. By experimenting with his friends and members of the family, he became good at it. After opting out of university at age 21, Argones worked in retail jobs for five years. He became serious about barbering when he found out he was going to be a father. Cutting hair is one of the longest living crafts in history, Argones says. “It has allowed me to meet people with beautiful minds, be myself and meet cool people. It gave me a chance to help build people’s confidence. Here, I am allowed to express myself creatively with different haircuts. Every day is different, so you’ll never know what kind of experience will walk through the door,” he intimates. In his current job at Champs, Argones and his fellow Pinoy barbers always do their best to please customers. The shop has a big Filipino following, mostly young FilBrits. “I would love for all Filipinos to come to our shop. I have customers from all over the globe who’ve become great friends and haven’t let anyone cut their hair since I started at Champs,” he says with pride. Champs Barbers was opened by Colombian Ian “Champ” Hoyos, a professional barber and boxing enthusiast, in early-2012. When he started, Hoyos made sure that Champs would be the best so he hired the best barbers around London. To date, its popularity continues to soar due to positive wordof-mouth and good reviews it has

been getting on social media. When not working, Argones is a family man. He likes to take his fiancee and son out or just relax with them at home. “Either way, there’s nothing better than spending it with my family,” he says. A man who appreciates small things in life, Argones likes good music, food and love to mingle with people.

Pinoy culture at home

When he was growing up, Argones’s parents worked full time. He and his sister were mostly looked after by his grandmother, an experience that taught him to know more about the country of his parents. The values that he learned were something he also wanted to pass on to his children. “For dinner, we always had a choice of two dishes our Lola prepared for us, sinigang or tinola, both of which I love, but Lola’s pork sinigang, with a splash of patis, is my favorite,” he reminisces. There are many chefs on both sides of the Argones family. His Lolo Abel worked in many hotels in London. His Tito Dun worked as a Teppenyaki chef in prestigious Yumenoki on West End, an aunt was an experienced chef in Japanese cuisine. “I was surrounded by good food of all cuisines from early age. But for dinner at both grandparents house, great Filipino classics like my Lolo’s adobo and my Tita Paz’s menudo would always be served. Because Argones was not born in the Philippines, his every trip to the country feels like a new experience. He has seen Makati’s vibrant and colorful nightlife and loved it. He got to know members of his clan and felt very much at home right away. He makes it a point to spend quality time with them whenever he is home. When he last visited the Philippines, Argones marveled at the simplicity of life in Camotes, his girl friend’s hometown in Cebu. “There is beauty wherever you go and that is what I love most about the Philippines,” he says. He hopes to have a successful business of his own in 10 years, not just a barber shop, but also a globally recognized brand, promot-

ing a lifestyle for young gentlemen around the world. Before Champs, Argones was a DJ for his uncle’s Signature Sounds, a UK-based Filipino-owned company. He started by following him around, helping set up the audio systems till they wrapped up and finished the day’s work.

Living in London

Argones grew up in Queens Crescent, Kentish town. “A rough area to grow up in,” he says. Here, he would often hear altercations but his family adapted well with the multi-ethnic community, and he, lucky enough to have friends who’ve kept him out of trouble. Apart from that, UK is a place where culture is celebrated, Argones says. “It makes my being a Filipino even more special,” he adds. Since becoming a barber, Argones has focused on providing for his family, avoiding reckless spending, able to live comfortably, even spoiling his family from time to time. His opinion on Filipinos living in the UK is shared by many, like a gap between Filipinos his age, born and raised in the UK and those born back home. “I think lack of common social interests and the fact that most UK-born Filipinos are shy or unable to speak Tagalog creates a slight cultural barrier,” he says. He observes that it does not necessarily create any negative tension or segregation. “Most Filipinos who meet in the UK always find some things in common like family traditions and food preferences,” he says. Growing up in the UK and seeing the Philippines only occasionally has taught Argones many things. “I know of some people who are not as fortunate, but still they find ways to be happy. That’s what I find so admirable with Filipinos and that teaches me not to take things for granted,” he says. Words of advice he would give to Filipinos who would like to work in the UK: “It is a place full of many opportunities, where good character and work ethics are appreciated. Be honest, always strive to achieve the best of whatever you can do and you’ll succeed.”

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Banks gird for battle as Europe readies rules to cut risk in 2018

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uropean banks may have scored a victory in having the Basel III capital standards toned down, but that doesn’t mean they can rest on their laurels. There are more battles to come in 2018, in particular lobbying lawmakers on a package of measures designed to reduce risk in the system. This is deemed a vital step toward the banking union that the euro zone hopes will secure its future. “The risk-reduction package is the big thing,” said Jacqueline Mills, a managing director and head of the Frankfurt office at the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (Afme), a wholesale-bank lobby group. “That’s where a lot of our attention is focused.” A key part of the upcoming package is the net stable-funding ratio, which will compel banks to put in place more long-term funding and limit their reliance on shortterm financing. Afme warns this will make it harder for banks to make markets in bonds

by penalizing repurchase agreements, while the International Capital Market Association says the proposal may be partly to blame for a drop in debt-market liquidity. Banks and industry associations are furiously lobbying the European Parliament on the rules ahead of this week’s deadline for lawmakers to submit amendments. The European Council will then publish its draft rules later this year. Christian Stiefmueller, a policy advisor at Finance Watch, a public-interest watchdog in Brussels, cautioned lawmakers against giving in to the long list of demands from banks. “The commission proposal already watered down the global standards it’s supposed to transpose, and the current discussions over additional exemptions for European banks go in the wrong direction,” Stiefmueller said in an interview. “Calling this a risk-reduction package is a euphemism.” Bloomberg News

UK’s May eyes clampdown on Bitcoin

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NITED KINGDOM Prime Minister Theresa May has promised to consider clamping down on Bitcoin as she raised concerns that cryptocurrencies are being used by criminals. “In areas like cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin, we should be looking at these very seriously,” May said in a television inter view in Davos with Bloomberg’s Editor in Chief John Micklethwait. Action on cr yptocurrencies may be needed “precisely because of the way they are

used, particularly by criminals,” she added. The digital currency can be used to buy anything from drugs to cupcakes, and is seen as having the potential to reshape the global financial system. The price of Bitcoin soared in 2017, but there have been calls for cryptocurrencies to face tougher regulation. The surge in Bitcoin use has been “increasingly developing,” May said on Thursday. “I think it’s something that we do need to look at.” Bloomberg News

Sunday, January 28, 2018

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China seeking more free-trade deals as Trump tramples them

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ust as the United States throws up new barriers to cross-border commerce, its largest trading partner China is redoubling its efforts to seal free-trade agreements (FTAw).

From deals with blocs, including the Asean, to bilaterals with tiny countries like Maldives, China’s FTAs already cover 21 countries. That compares with the 20 countries covered by US agreements. More than a dozen additional pacts are being negotiated or studied, according to the Ministry of Commerce. W hile President Donald J. Trump this week imposed tariffs on solar panels and washing machines, underscoring his America first outlook, China is hoping for a “ bumper year” for new trade deals, according to the Commerce Ministry. China’s FTA approach is also tied to broader goals, such as the “Belt and Road” Initiative to build new trade and infrastructure links across Eurasia, said He Weiwen, deputy director of the

Center for China and Globalization in Beijing and a former Commerce Ministry official. “That would offer some help for China to counter the shockwave from trade frictions with the US, but that’s not the purpose,” He said. “China wants to be more open, and 2018 is important, as it marks the 40th anniversary of the historic reform and opening up.”

A nother new trade partner looks to be getting lined up with Beijing this week. Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez said in Montev ideo last Wednesday that his countr y wants a freet rade ag reement w it h C h ina and is w illing to take part in the Belt and Road Initiative, according to a report from the official X inhua News Agency. Meanwhile, 11 nations are planning to save the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Trump abandoned. That may spur China, which isn’t part of that deal, to pursue its own agreements, such as the proposed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which potentially will bind China to its strategic rival India, as well as to diverse partners from Australia to Cambodia.

As the US is retreating from economic engagement in Asia, the rest of Asia is moving forward aggressively to conclude deals among themselves.”—Cutler

“As the US is retreating from economic engagement in Asia, the rest of Asia is moving forward aggressively to conclude deals among themselves,” Wendy Cutler, a former United States trade negotiator who’s now vice president at the Asia Society Policy Institute in Washington, said on Wednesday in a Bloomberg Television interview from Seoul. Such progress could help fortify Beijing’s ambitions to put itself at the heart of globalization—outlined in President Xi Jinping’s speech to the World Economic Forum in Davos a year ago—particularly if Trump follows his dropping the TPP with dismantling the North American Free Trade Agreement. Nafta talks are continuing this week. China already dominates global trade with almost 14 percent of world exports, data compiled by Bloomberg show, and China International Capital Corp. estimates it will overtake the US as the largest importer within five years. Even so, if a threatened trade war between China and the United States does materialize this year, then Beijing may seek friends wherever it can find them. Bloomberg News

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Sunday, January 28, 2018

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Glut-busting Opec cuts expose oil once more to global strife

Cameroon vows crackdown on separatists after arson attacks

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nrest in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions intensified with arson attacks on schools and a city market this week as the government vowed to quash a separatist movement whose leaders are in detention in Nigeria, saying it won’t negotiate with terrorists. At least three schools were torched this week in the Northwest region, one of two Anglophone areas in the majority French-speaking Central African nation, after a market in the city of Bamenda was set ablaze in an arson attack the government blames on the separatists. “The government cannot and will not engage any form of dialogue with terrorists bent on amputating part of the national territory in the name of secession,’’ Communication Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary said in a phone interview late Wednesday. “You don’t negotiate anything with such people.” Security forces have stepped up patrols in the areas, searching houses and arresting those who can’t produce identity papers as part of “a routine operation,’’ Simon Emile Mooh, prefect for the Bui Division in the Northwest region, said by phone. “The forces of law and order are merely making sure that no weapons have been sneaked in,” he said.

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he unintended consequence of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ (Opec) quest to drain a global oil glut may be a sharp rise in price volatility as the buffer against worldwide turmoil and disruptions is stripped back. Due to t he glut, su icide bombers in the Iranian capital, independence efforts by Iraq’s Kurdistan region, and war in Sy ria and Yemen are among a number of f lareups in, or near, key producing regions in the past few years that barely registered on oil markets. In some c a ses, pr ices fe l l when t he y would prev iously have jumped. Now, Citig roup Inc. is pred icting a r ise in supply d isr uptions t hat may dr ive oi l to near $80 a bar rel. A nd as t he worldw ide overhang eases, a f renz y of specu lative buy ing and pr ice spi kes are li kely to fol low any unrest. “ W hen you have enormous s to c k pi le s, t he s e s to c k pi le s ser ve to dampen and insulate the commodity from idiosy ncratic shocks like supply disruptions, like geopolitical risk,” said Mark Keenan, global commodities strateg ist and head of Asia-Pacific research at Societe Generale SA in Singapore. “ Mov i ng to a n env i ron ment

where stocks are star ting to draw, which is ver y much the trend at the moment, geopolitical risks start to play a more important role.” Hot spots facing turmoil this yea r i nc lude Niger i a , L iby a , Iran and Iraq, the second-largest producer in the Opec, according to Citigroup and Energy Aspects Ltd. Supply losses from unplanned disruptions fell to 1.2 million barrels a day last July, the lowest level in more than four years, according to Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. Warring factions continue to threaten attacks on oil facilities in Libya, crude infrastructure in Nigeria remains v ulnerable to sabotage, Iraq is at risk amid simmering tension in K irkuk and the Iran nuclear deal remains fragile, Daniel Hynes, an analyst w ith A NZ Bank said in a note. A ny rise in disruptions w ill have a significant impact on pr ices a s t he g loba l g lut drains, he said.

Thousands of refugees ‘Wild card’

Turmoil in these Opec nations along with continuing disruption in Venezuela could result in supply losses of more than 3 million barrels a day, Citigroup analysts, including Ed Morse, the bank ’s head of commodity research, said in a note, titled “Wild cards for 2018.” Prices may trade between $70 and $80 a barrel if this occurs during the first half of the year, Citigroup said. To b e s u re , w h i l e O p e c ’s cuts may shrink one safeguard against volatility, they may help create another. As the organization reduces oil production,

member-nations increase the amount of spare output capacity that can be tapped in the event of a disruption. T h e g r o u p ’s s p a r e c a p a c ity has ballooned to about 3.4 million barrels a day, as of November, compared w ith about 2 million a day at the outset of the production curbs, data from the International Energ y Agency (IEA) show. Opec and its allies, including Russia, expect the market to rebalance this year after almost 24 months of supply curbs. The IEA sees a modest surplus during the first half of 2018 turning into a

modest deficit during the second half. The improving fundamental picture has helped drive oilprice gains, with Brent climbing as high as $71.05 a barrel on Thursday, the highest intraday level in more than three years. “ We’re at t he point where most of that inventor y buffer is gone,” said R ichard Mallinson, a geopolitical analyst at Energ y Aspects in London. “ There also isn’t a lot of readily available spare capacity to meet a sudden major supply loss and that’s a reason for the market to pay close attention to disruptions.” Bloomberg News

Thousands of people have crossed the border into Nigeria and more refugees are expected to arrive in the coming weeks as the Cameroonian government intensifies its operations against the pro-independence movement, the United Nations Refugee Agency said in a January 16 statement. The Anglophone regions are Cameroon’s biggest cocoa-growing areas, and some producers are abandoning their farms or struggling to find laborers, Charles Monono, the region’s head of agriculture, said last week. Ten leaders of the separatist movement, which calls the two Anglophone regions the Republic of Ambazonia, have been held in neighboring Nigeria since January 6 at an undisclosed location, according to their Nigerian lawyer, Femi Falana. Bloomberg News

German manufacturers brace for strikes amid wage deadlock

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aimler AG, Siemens AG and other German manufacturers face potential production halts after failing to make progress in a contract dispute over wages and work hours with the country’s most powerful union. IG Metall, which represents 3.9 million workers, will meet on Thursday to discuss the state of negotiations after talks ended on Wednesday without a deal. The union, which has rallied more than 900,000 people across Germany for hour-long protests in recent weeks, has threatened to intensify pressure on employers by calling daylong walkouts that would have a much more disruptive impact. Negotiations on Wednesday in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg ended around 10 p.m. local time without a result, according to the IG Metall union’s regional unit and employer organization Suedwestmetall. The talks were the start of the fourth round of negotiations. Emboldened by robust growth and record-low unemployment, the influential union is pushing employers to raise pay 6 percent and subsidize wages for workers who reduce hours to care for kids or older family members. “IG Metall might have the will to reach a deal as well, but the current price tag is just too high,” Stefan Wolf, chief executive officer of car-parts maker ElringKlinger AG and Suedwestmetall’s top negotiator, said in a separate statement. The failed talks in the German state where industrial giants like Daimler, Robert Bosch GmbH and sportscar maker Porsche AG are headquartered herald a critical stage in the labor dispute. IG Metall’s bargaining committees will evaluate the situation on Thursday, and the union’s board plans to decide on Friday about next moves.

Opposing positions Worker demands

n 6-percent pay increase

n 28-hour workweeks to care for family n €200/month or €750/year to offset lost wages n Right to return to full-time hours

Employer stance

n 2-percent pay increase

n Rejects subsidies for shorter hours as illegal n More flexibility to extend hours Policy-makers from governments to central banks are watching closely. Aside from the short-term disruption from potential shutdowns, economists are concerned about the longer-term impact of wage stagnation. If the region’s most prosperous country can’t increase pay, others may face an even greater hurdle. That would complicate the European Central Bank’s efforts to boost inflation and eventually unwind stimulus measures. While labor leaders want a sizable pay raise, as well as more work-life balance for staff, employers worry about keeping production lines running amid an increasingly tight market for skilled workers. IG Metall, which typically has the potential to set higher demands than other unions given the importance of Germany’s industrial sector, has been in talks with employers since it laid out its request last October for more pay and an option to receive subsidies for reduced working hours to take care of family. For companies, the problem is that an already tight labor market makes it difficult to agree to workers’ requests for more free time. IG Metall has requested that workers be allowed to reduce their hours to 28 per week from 35 for two years and have the right to return to full time. Employers want to end limits on the number of employees that can work longer. Bloomberg News

Science

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Sunday

Sunday, January 28, 2018 A5

Through Newton Agham annual grants

UK, PHL partner for development T

he 2018 batch of Newton Agham 31 grantees, who qualified for scholarships, researches, trainings and institutional links to the United Kingdom were recognized in a recent reception at the British Embassy Manila. The 2018 awards are valued at about £4 million, or P270 million. Led by the UK government, the Newton Fund, known in the Philippines as Newton Agham (Science) Programme, is in partnership with the Philippines’s Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Agriculture (DA). The program, now on its fourth year, supports scientific endeavors that address challenges in food security, environmental resilience, health and innovation capacity in the Philippines. British A mbassador to the Philippines Daniel Pruce said during the event, “Science forms an important part of the moder n partnership between the UK and the Philippines. Working together, with our combined strengths, we can combat shared challenges and support prosperity and well-being.” O n t h e N e w t o n A g h a m’s fourth year in the country, the British government, together with its partners, the DOST, the CHED and the DA, have jointly awarded about P1.2-billion (£18.5-million) grants. Including the 2018 awards, the program has, among others, supported 22 PhD scholars, awarded 60 innovation fellowships and provided 14 large-scale threeyear research grants in research themes relevant to Philippine development, including infectious diseases, rice research and swine and poultry diseases. The 2018 four award categories include the following: n UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

(BBSRC)-DA Swine and Poultry Initiative n Royal Academy of Engineering-DOST Leaders in Innovation Fellowship (LIF) n British Council-CHED Institutional Links n British Council-CHED PhD scholars The BBSRC-DA Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) and the DA-Agriculture and Fisheries Biotechnology Program are supporting four large-scale threeyear research grants that promote sustainable, safe, healthy and resilient swine and poultry production systems. DA-BAR Director Nicomedes Eleazar said during the ceremonies, “We commend the UK government and the efforts of our partners. We truly hope that our poultry and swine research initiative will bring about a significant contribution to help disease management and control as it leads to the sustainability and vibrance of the sector.” He added: “Let us continue working together in coming up with transformative and catalytic steps that would guide our path toward competitive, sustainable and resilient agriculture and fishery sector.” The LIF program, supported by the UK Royal Academy of Engineering and DOST, technology commercialization and tech-startup creation is enabled. Fifteen Filipino researchers and technology-transfer officers f lew to the United Kingdom last week for an intensive two-week training course on innovation to build capacity for entrepreneurship and commercialization. The fellows will receive further

British Ambassador Daniel Pruce (third from right), Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Agricultural Research Director Nicomedes Eleazar (left) and Dr. Vivencio Mamaril (second from left) of the DA Biotech Program together with the grantees under the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council-DA Swine and Poultry Research and the university heads

Royal Academy of Engineering-DOST Leaders in Innovation Fellowship grantees with Science Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña (fifth from left) and British Ambassador Daniel Pruce (sixth from left)

training at the Asian Institute of Management upon their return to the Philippines. Featured technologies include a Universal Structural Health Evaluator and Recorder from Mapua University, a dengue drug from the De La Salle Health Sciences Institute, and a traffic micro simulator from the University of the Philippines Diliman. Philippine Science Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña said, “Philippine researchers from various universities and research institutes in the country have produced world-class technologies, and we want these technologies to benefit our fellow Filipinos.” De la Peña added that, through the LIF, the partnership with the UK, “Promotes Philippine development through science and technology by enabling our researchers to effectively deliver these

technologies to the target beneficiaries and to translate them into more useful forms.” The LIF and other Newton Agham Programme “will continue to receive our utmost support as we build capacity in science and technology for the Philippines’s socioeconomic development and growth,” de la Peña noted. On the four PhD scholarships a nd t wo Inst it ut iona l L i n k s Grants, former CHED Chairman Particia Licuanan said, “I trust that the resources provided by the Newton Fund will not only contribute to scientific development but will also assist in instilling pride among our Filipino scientists in their work and encourage more individuals to pursue careers in science and technology.” The enhanced scientific capacities and links with international colleagues and industries enabled

New, familiar faces are 20th PHL math champions

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t wa s a big n ight for Fi l ipino mathematics geniuses as t he 20 t h Ph i l ippi ne Mat hematica l Oly mpiad (PMO) held it s f i n a l rou nd of compet it ion a nd awa rd i ng ceremony at t he Ateneo de Ma n i l a Un iversit y i n Q uezon C it y. W hile it was a momentous event for all 21 National Stage finalists, victory was sweetest for the top 3 winners—Kyle Patrick Dulay of the Philippine Science High School main campus (first place), Emmanuel Osbert Cajayon of Emilio Ag uina ldo College (second Place) and Vincent de la Cruz of Valenzuela City School of Mathematics and Science (third place). D u l ay f i n a l ly c l a i me d t he to p s p ot a f te r h i s f i r st r u n ne r - up v ic tor ie s i n t he 2016 a nd 2017 PMO f i n a l s, w h i le it was the f irst nationa lst a ge w i n for C ajayon a nd de l a C r u z . Even t he Depar tment of S c ie nc e a nd Te c h nolo g y S c ie nce E duc at ion I n s t it ute (DOST- SEI) Director Dr. Jo s e t te Biyo not ice d t h at t he f ina l stage is home to some fami liar faces, but she apt ly added t hat t his stage is not shor t of sur pr ises. Dulay won P20,000 cash prize,

Top winner Kyle Patrick Dulay (center) of Philippine Science High School Main Campus is part of 20th Philippine Mathematical Olympiad winning trio again. The others are Emmanuel Osbert Cajayon (left) of Emilio Aguinaldo College and Vincent de la Cruz of Valenzuela City School of Mathematics and Science. SEI photo

a medal, trophy and gifts from Sharp and Manulife. Cajayon got P15,000 cash prize, while de la Cruz received P10,000 along with medals, trophies and gifts. Area Stage winners and National Stage finalists were also recognized in the event. Being a national finalist in the country’s oldest and most chal-

Four PhD scholarship grantees are with British Pruce (fourth from left) and former Commission on Higher Education Chairman Patricia B. Licuanan (third from left)

lenging mathematics competition is no easy feat. From 4,678 junior and senior high-school students who took the qualifying examination, only 208 made it to the Area Stage. Biyo ex pressed her appreciation for the organizers and participants of the competition. She also appealed to the students to use their talents to

help the countr y. “Mathematics is beyond answering those challenging problems. If the Philippines will ever catch-up technologically with more advanced countries, we need more maths engraved in our DNAs. As young math geniuses, we need your help to make that happen,” Biyo said in a message delivered by SEI Deputy Director Albert G. Mariño. The PMO is organized in partnership with the Mathematical Society of the Philippines (MSP) and the DOST-SEI with Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. Foundation, Manulife Business Processing Services, Foundation for Upgrading the Standard of Education Inc. and Sharp Calculators as major sponsors. The 21 National Stage finalists will undergo the five-phase Mathematical Olympiad Summer Camp f rom Febr uar y to July this year. The results of which will determine the Philippine Team who will compete in the 59th International Mathematical Olympiad to be held in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, from July 3 to 14. Last year’s Philippine Team bagged a total of six medals and maintained their impressive No. 17 world ranking. S&T News Service

by the program, Licuanan said, will enable Filipino scientists to acquire new knowledge and produce technologies that allow the country to realize concrete economic and social benefits. She added: “Sustaining these benefits require our constant commitment to scientific development, continued government assistance and support for science and dynamic global exchange of knowledge.” Institutional Links Grants support the exchange between academic groups, departments and institutions in the Philippines and the UK. Other than these awards, the event also recognized the six delegates to the Global Innovation Policy Accelerator Programme. Gipa involves senior representatives from public-sector innovation agencies for an eight-month

collaborative development program with the aim of creating a specific innovation-policy initiative while working together with UK mentors and institutions. T he Gipa delegates are from DOST, DA , CHED, Depar tment of Infor mation and Communic at ions Tec h nolog y, De pa r t ment of Trade and Industr y, and the National Economic and Development Author it y. The Newton Fund is part of the UK’s Official Development Assistance. It was launched in 2014 and has a total United Kingdom investment of £735 million until 2021. Its partner countries provide matched resources within the fund. It has 15 UK delivery partners. The United Kingdom government is investing up to £3 million per year up to 2021 on activities focused within the following Philippine priority areas: health and life sciences, improving environmental resilience, energy security, future cites, agritech, and digital, innovation and creativity. The Newton Fund is managed by the United Kingdom Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and delivered through 15 United Kingdom Delivery Partners, which include the Research Councils, the UK National Academies, the British Council, Innovate UK and the Met Office. The United Kingdom delivery partners in the Philippines include the British Council, BBSRC, Medical Research Council, the Natural Environment Research Council, Research Councils UK, Royal Academy of Engineering, Innovate UK and the UK Met Office. Lyn Resurreccion

‘Govt needs to be proactive on A.I.’ By Rizal Raoul Reyes

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ith artificial intelligence (AI) going to be pervasive in society in the near future, a technology executive and practitioner urged the government to adopt a proactive attitude on the popular trend. “Governments must be proactive in handling the impact of AI. Don’t wait before it is too late,” said Colin Christie, president and trustee of the Analytics Association of the Philippines and executive director of the Global Chamber Manila, in a recent interview on the sidelines of a news conference the chamber held in Makati City. “Face it [AI] before the downsides are right there in your doorstep. We should be asking these questions now from these technology companies, such as the training background, data used, algorithms, controls, safeguards and other important details,” Christie added. “We have to answer the questions, such as how do we protect ourselves in case something goes wrong. Don’t wait until that happens.” He said people need to develop a thorough understanding about the potential of robotic devices because they will be a force to reckon with in the economy, health, business and other major sectors in the near future. Moreover, he said government should also engage the people in discussing the merits of the technology. Having generated both positive and negative reactions from the major sectors, a technology practitioner recently said the ongoing debate on AI is a positive sign people could now have a chance to weigh the pros and cons of the technology.

He said the debate between Tesla Founder Elon Musk, who has reservations to AI, and Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg, who favors it, could boost the interest on the topic. Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos and physicist Stephen Hawking have also expressed different views on the issue. Bezos welcomes it, while Hawking has reservations. Hawking, one of the United Kingdom’s most illustrious scientists, even warned in 2014 that AI will pose a threat to mankind’s existence. “You know that digital technology is exponential and does not grow linear step by step. Two years or five years from now it would be quite different,” he said. Prof. Reynaldo C. Lugtu Jr. of the Asian Institute of Management said in separate interview on the same event that it is a joy to listen to the debate between Musk and Zuckerberg. He added Musk expressed his concern about the apocalyptic nature of AI, especially if it falls on the bad elements. On the other hand, the Facebook founder expressed optimism on AI. Nevertheless, Lugtu said automation is not necessarily all bad. Apart from making things faster, more accurate and more efficient, automation through AI can also create new categories of jobs. Lugtu recently pointed out that the transition phase to AI should be discussed because it will create a lot of challenges. He said the government should craft the policies “to ease the transition, such as upskilling to higher-value work in programming and analytics, or developing new areas of competencies in engineering and health care.”

Faith A6 Sunday, January 28, 2018

Sunday

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

Pope Francis: ‘Fake news’ is evil, journalists must search for truth

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ATICAN CITY—Pope Francis is denouncing “fake news” as evil and is urging journalists to make it their mission to search for the truth. After a week in which Francis faced unprecedented bad press during his South American tour, the pope released his annual social communications message on Wednesday dedicated this year to “fake news and journalism for peace.” Francis writes that the first fake news dates from the Biblical beginning of time, when Eve was tempted to take an apple from the Garden of Eden based on disinformation from the serpent. “The strategy of this skilled ‘Father of Lies’ is precisely mimicry, that sly and dangerous form of seduction that worms its way into the heart with false and alluring arguments,” Francis said of the snake. In today’s fast-paced information age, he called for a shared commitment to rediscovering the “dignity of journalism” and for reporters to speak the truth with a journalism that is “truthful and opposed to falsehoods, rhetorical slogans and sensational headlines.” The message made no reference to how some public figures—most notably United States President Donald J. Trump—often label unflattering or critical reports fake news to try to discredit the information. Francis has frequently railed

about journalists, and before he became pope was known for his frosty relations with the Argentine media. Just this week, while chatting with reporters aboard the papal plane, he admitted he hated giving interviews and joked: “And look at the job God gave me now.” Since becoming pope, Francis has learned to use the media to get his message across, but he still frequently complains about what he considers one-sided reporting and what he has dubbed the “sins of the media: disinformation, slander and defamation.” During his recent trip to Chile and Peru, Francis faced the worst protests of his five-year papacy, as well as the worst press.

Pre-Valentine’s candy giving to tackle ‘enemy’ of true love

Mormon church appoints new president

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few days before Valentine’s Day, young people will be giving away candy not just to promote true, chaste love, but to speak up against pornography, which many consider an “enemy of true, self-giving love.” “Porn is the enemy of true love because the end point of porn is almost always masturbation, or self-pleasuring, while love needs both men and women, especially the men, to be selfless and to sacrifice their own comfort for the sake of their beloved,” explained Anthony James Perez, event head of this year’s pre-Valentine’s Candy-giving Project themed #Free2Love. Youth volunteers from various pro-life organizations—like Prolife Philippines, Filipinos for Life, YouthPinoy, Love + Life Philippines and Couples for Christ-Singles for Christ, among others—will be distributing packs of candy with flyers on the harmful effects of pornography at the Luneta Park, Manila on February 11 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. According to Perez, the event hopes to raise awareness among the youth about the dangers of porn. “[It] has lasting negative effects to those who regularly watch it. They are less happy with their wives and their sex lives. Porn rewires their brain into thinking that touching oneself while watching porn is more desirable than real sex,” he explained. Beyond physiological changes in the brain, pornography, Perez said, has been drastically changing the dynamics between the sexes. “If we look at the bigger picture, we hear of stories of more and more women being objectified and sexually harassed. We have less and less gentlemen who are willing to give up their seats in the bus or train for the ladies. Men and women are seen as sex objects—serving to satisfy our fantasies and lust, and not as children of God,” he said. Donations that will be used for the candies and flyers, as well as other logistical needs may be made by contacting Perez at 09218105058/09454850796, or at ajuperez@gmail. com. Those interested to volunteer either on the event day or for the pre-event preparations may also contact Perez. Nirva’ana Ella De la Cruz/CBCPNews

Pope Francis arrives for his weekly general audience in Saint Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Wednesday. AP/Andrew Medichini

He went into the trip facing criticism for having appointed a bishop accused by victims of being complicit in covering-up for Chile’s most notorious pedophile priest, and was then harshly criticized in the Chilean media for having accused those victims of “slander.” In his message, Francis gave an articulate explanation of fake news and why it is so effective

The strategy of this skilled ‘Father of Lies’ is precisely mimicry, that sly and dangerous form of seduction that worms its way into the heart with false and alluring arguments.”—Francis

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ALT LAKE CITY—The 93-year-old former hear t surgeon named on January 16 as the new president of the Mormon Church signaled his intention to make few changes in policy regarding the role of women and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues—two topics that the faith has grappled with in recent years. Russell M. Nelson’s remarks to reporters after he was officially chosen to become the 17th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) reaffirmed an expectation that he will likely uphold traditional church teachings. Speaking about his approach to LGBT issues, Nelson said he understands there are “challenges with the commandments of God, challenges to be worthy.” “God loves His children and we love them and there’s a place for everyone,” Nelson said. “Regardless of His challenges.” The church at times has expressed empathy and told members to be welcoming to LGBT people while also strictly defending opposition to same-sex marriage and all homosexual relationships. Dallin H. Oaks, one of two men Nelson chose to be his counselors, added that leaders have the responsibility to teach love but also God’s commandments. “We’ve got the love of the Lord and the law of the Lord,” said Oaks, a member of church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles leadership body. Nelson called doing so a “balance.”

President Russell M. Nelson speaks at a news conference announcing his new leadership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the wake of the death of President Thomas S. Monson on January 16 in Salt Lake City. AP/Rick Bowmer

Nelson succeeds Thomas S. Monson, who died on January 2 after leading the religion for nearly a decade. Church presidents serve until they die. He took the post following a longstanding succession plan that aims to keep the faith on course with a minimum of upheaval. Nelson is now considered a “prophet, seer and revelator” by Mormons. He is second-oldest man to assume leadership of the 16-million member LDS Church. He will share responsibility for the faith’s religious and business interests with his two top counselors and members of the Quorum.

and dangerous, saying it plays on stereotypes and prejudices, ex ploits an x ieties and fears, and is spread via social-media contacts who often all have the same point of view. “The tragedy of disinformation is that, it discredits others, presenting them as enemies, to the point of demonizing them and fomenting conflict,” he said. He praised educational efforts to make social-media users aware, as well as legal and institutional efforts to unmask those who hide behind virtual walls to plant lies. “None of us can feel exempted from the duty of countering these falsehoods,” he said. Francis said that doesn’t mean reporting only sentimental, “saccharine” reports that ignore conflict or problems, but merely reporting what is “truthful and opposed to falsehoods, rhetorical slogans and sensational headlines.” AP

Nelson did not mention changing any roles for women, instead emphasizing their impor tance within the current church structure that includes an allmale priesthood. “We need their voices, we need their input and we love their participation,” Nelson said. That echoed sentiments he made during an October 2015 speech that came during a period of intense discussion about the role of women. The church faces some pressure to diversify leadership to add women, nonwhites and people from countries outside the United States. All the Quorum members are white and were born in the US, except for Dieter F. Uchtdorf, who was born in Czechoslovakia and is a naturalized US citizen. Nelson said the “Lord is in charge” of picking top church leaders and acknowledged that its highest leadership councils are not a “representative assembly.” “We’ll live to see the day when there will be other flavors in the mix, but we respond because we’ve been called by the Lord,” Nelson said. Tu e s d a y ’s a n n o u n c e m e n t c a m e two days after Nelson was anointed during a private meeting of the LDS in the Salt Lake City temple, per church t r a d i t i o n t h a t m a ke s t h e l o n g e s t tenured member of the Quorum the new president. AP

Saint Angela Merici, model of charity and wisdom By Corazon Damo-Santiago

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he family is the bedrock of society. In this smallest unit of social group, a child is familiarized about moral absolutes. He or she learns how to love and be loved, that life is great with a pur pose and a holy end. However, only if the parents had a semblance of the basics about how to live a good life. But in Brescia province in the northern Italian region of Lombardy, only the rich and the nuns go to school. The nuns were not allowed to leave their cloisters. There were no teaching orders among the religious. Meanwhile, in Venice, it was a time of strife, pestilence and famine when Angela Merici was moved by the poverty and ignorance of her neighbors. Though small in physique, she was gifted with an analytical mind—an out-of-the-box thinking skills. In the history of religious orders, she is acknowledged as a momentum builder in the beginnings of secular institutes.

Home schooling

Merici was born in Desenzano along the shores of Lake Garda in Brescia, probably on March 24, 1474. Orphaned at 10, together with her sister Giana Maria, they lived with his uncle in Salo town in Brescia. At 13, Merici’s sanctity and spiritual understanding were so obvious, she was allowed the very rare privilege of receiving the first holy communion. Consoled in a vision of her salvation, she consecrated herself to God, and joined the Tertiary of the Franciscan Order, the secular order of the Franciscans. When her uncle died, she decided to go back to Desenzano. She believed that “disorder in society is the result of disorder in the family.” If the children in her neighborhood could not go to school, she would bring the school to their homes. With some devout laity friends who have dedicated their lives to serve others and living celibate lives, they taught children in their homes. In a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, she was struck with blindness at Crete. This did not deter her to continue her journey. On the return trip her sight was miraculously restored in the same place while she knelt in prayer. While in a pilgrimage in Rome in 1525, Pope Clement VII, who heard of Merici’s success in the home schools, invited her to collaborate with the Divine Love, a charitable institute. But she politely declined. The pope then blessed and encouraged her with her apostolate.

PHL nominates ambassador to the Vatican

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s had been expected for the past week, President Duterte has nominated Grace Relucio-Princesa as Philippine Ambassador to the Holy See. “Nanay Amba,” as she is known by friends, had spent more than 20 years in the Philippine diplomatic service before she was named assistant secretary of the Foreign Affairs Department’s Legislative Liaison Unit. She was the first female Philippine ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and had previous postings in Iraq, the United States, Egypt and Switzerland. Bishop Ruperto Santos, chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of the Philippines (CBCP) Episcofal

Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People, has welcomed the nomination, saying that it’s an added “blessing” for Princesa “to work in Vatican and for the Vatican.” “Nanay Amba is very known to our OFWs [overseas Filipino worker] in UAE where she was posted before. She has her heart for OFWs, truly caring and working for their well-being,” Santos said. The bishop said they are ready to work with Princesa, whose nomination was announced by Malacañang over last weekend. “We welcome her appointment, extend our cooperation and collaboration with her,” he added.

In Italy besides the 57 Filipino centers all over the country, the CBCP has at least five Filipino chaplaincies in Rome, Milan, Bergamo, Padova and Florence. “Our OFWs fill the Italian churches and help the parishes as pastoral workers. And our OFWs in Italy are very hardworking, very religious, and honesty is their natural traits,” Santos said. “Surely there will be holy and happy relationships of Nanay Amba Grace with our OFWs, priests and religious sisters,” he added. Princesa’s nomination must be approved by the bicameral Commission on Appointments. There has been no opposition to her appointment, so far. Roy Lagarde /CBCPNews

Saint Angela Merici (17th century) Wikimedia Commons

Ursulines: First secular and teaching religious

In 1495 Merici was told in a vision that she will organize a religious order to provide instruction to girls with the ultimate purpose to elevate the family through Christian education. Because of adverse political conditions, it took four decades to have this vision realized. On November 25, 1535, 28 young women gathered in the Oratory of Piazza del Duomo to join Merici in founding the Company of Saint Ursula. The group did not wear a distinctive habit, recited no vows, but practiced a life of chastity, poverty and obedience. Saint Ursula is a fourth-century martyr and protector of women. The Ursulines is the first group of consecrated women to work outside the cloister; it is also the first teaching order of women. With her progressive ideas, within a month, the Ursulines grew to 72. On March 18, 1537, she was elected as mistress of the company. The rule for the group that she had written was approved by Pope Paul III in 1544. As the first superior general of the Ursulines, she devoted her time in the spiritual formation of the members. Revered by Brescia as a living saint, many people followed her to church. It was so because they watched her levitate while she was gazing at the Eucharist. A significant percent of the population of Brescia was Calvanist or Lutherean. The Ursulines were teachers who strengthened the Catholic faith. In 1566 the Ursulines became a cloistered congregation with a distinct religious habit and required a choral office.

Incorrupt body

Merici, who nurtured a new way to live a Christian life, died on January 27, 1540. At the time of her death, 24 communities of Saint Ursula were serving the church— a testimony that her ideas ahead of the milieu she had lived were acceptable. Her remains were interred in Saint Afra Church, the tomb of Brescian martyrs where she often prayed. Beatified on April 30, 1768, by Pope Clement XIII, she was canonized on May 24, 1807, by Pope Pius VII. The incorrupt body of Saint Angela Mereci, the patron saint of orphans, sick and handicapped people, is in the Sanctuary of Saint Angela in Brescia, Italy. Santiago is a former regional director of the Department of Education-National Capital Region. She is currently a faculty member of Mater Redemptoris Collegium in Calauan, Laguna, and of Mater Redemptoris College in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija.

Sports BusinessMirror

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

Sunday, January 28, 2018

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ANTETOKOUNMPO HURT BY KIDD’S FIRING M

By Rich Rovito The Associated Press

ILWAUKEE—Giannis Antetokounmpo grew from a reed-thin, inexperienced teenager into one of the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) dominant players under the tutelage of Coach Jason Kidd, whom the Milwaukee Bucks fired earlier in the week with the team mired in mediocrity despite high expectations. Kidd’s abrupt and surprising dismissal on Monday has taken an emotional toll on the All-Star forward, affectionately known as the “Greek Freak.” “He’s a big part of my success in the league,” Antetokounmpo said after Wednesday’s practice in his first public comments since the coaching change. “I’m loyal to the people I work with. I love him as a person. I care about him as a person.” Informed by Bucks’ management of the planned firing even before Kidd learned his fate,

Antetokounmpo called his soon-to-be excoach to break the news. “It was one of the toughest calls I had to make,” he said. “We are going to miss him.” Joe Prunty, a member of Kidd’s staff, has been named interim coach for the remainder of the season. He directed the team to a 109-105 win over Phoenix on Monday, just hours after taking over the team. Kidd became Milwaukee’s coach a few months after a group led by coowners Wes Edens and Mark Lasry bought the team in April 2014. The Bucks traded two future second-round draft picks to the Brooklyn Nets, where Kidd had been coach, as compensation. He inherited a team that won 15 games in 2013-2014. Under Kidd, the Bucks had a regular-season

record of 139-152. Milwaukee is 9-12 since going a season-high five games over .500 last December 9. Asked whether he believed Kidd should have been fired, Antetokounmpo, who reportedly offered to go to the team’s owners to try to save Kidd’s job, said: “It’s in the front office’s hands. Whatever they can do to make this team a championship-level team, it can happen. If it’s me being traded, or the coach being fired.” Kidd is the second coach to be fired since the Bucks selected Antetokounmpo with the 15th overall pick in the 2013 draft. Antetokounpmo played one season under Larry Drew, who was dismissed in June 2014. “I was only 18,” Antetokoummpo said. “I didn’t even know how the NBA worked. [Kidd’s firing] hurts a little bit more because he was here for three-and-a-half years. He trusted me. He put the ball in my hands. He pushed me to be great.” Antetokounmpo is expected to return

to action when the Bucks take on Brooklyn in Milwaukee on Friday. He sat out the past two games as he continues to manage chronic pain in his right knee. “I feel great. I’m ready to go,” he said. “I feel energized.” Prunty said his players “gave good energy” in the first full practice since he took the reins. “These are a tough few days,” Prunty said. “We need to focus on whether we are getting better.” The Bucks have said that Prunty will be considered for the permanent job after the season. The hire will be especially crucial as the Bucks prepare to move into a new arena. “It’s hard to talk about that aspect of it right now,” Prunty said. “This isn’t about me, especially under these circumstances.” Malcolm Brogdon, last season’s NBA Rookie of the Year, praised Prunty’s positive demeanor. “In times of struggle, we tend to pout and take our foot off the gas. We can’t do that,” Brogdon said. “He’s a good coach to have when we are going through those struggles.”

Gun Runner overwhelming favorite in $16-M World Cup

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Informed by Bucks’ management of the planned firing even before Jason Kidd (left) learns his fate, Giannis Antetokounmpo calls his soon-to-be ex-coach to break the news. AP

Super Bowl sparks revolutionary rivalry for Boston, Philly

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Sally Mathews laces up an official ball for Super Bowl LII at the Wilson Sporting Goods Co. in Ada, Ohio. AP

HILADELPHIA—The war has begun in Philadelphia and Boston, where the Super Bowl-bound rivals are lightheartedly refusing to sell items from each other’s cities in a sort of “cheesesteak ban heard ‘round the world.” In Boston one park has banned the sale of cheesesteaks, soft pretzels and the wearing of any Philadelphia sports paraphernalia. Michael Nichols, director of the Esplanade along the Charles River, said on Wednesday that also forbidden are cracked copper bells, “Philadelphia” brand cream cheese, Will Smith, Sylvester Stallone and Crisco. “We’re taking a firm stance on this, but I can’t say we’ll exactly be out in the park enforcing it,” he said. In Philadelphia, Dottie’s Donuts is refusing to make its Boston cream confection, even though it is a best-seller. Instead, the vegan shop is selling something called “The Creamed Boston,” covered in Eagles green. “We’re banning all New England-themed doughnuts,” said Jeff Poleon, owner of Dottie’s. “You’re not going to see a clam chowder doughnut here, we have no Boston baked bean doughnuts. I know Gronk has a Monster energy drink. We’re not allowed to sell or drink any of those until the Eagles win the Super Bowl next weekend.” They’ve also created a long john-style doughnut called “The Greased Pole.” On the morning of Sunday’s NFC championship game, workers in Philadelphia who jokingly called themselves the “Crisco Cops” greased light poles to try to prevent fans from climbing up them after the game. It didn’t stop some fans after the Eagles won, though. And there’s fightin’ words over at the Museum of the American Revolution, which is renaming its “Patriots Gallery” as the “Eagles Gallery.” On Thursday the museum will have a ceremony that includes an 18th-century drum roll as the new sign in the gallery is unveiled. The Eagles theme song “Fly Eagles Fly” will be performed in 18th drum style. Staff will also be crossing out the words “Patriots Gallery” in all brochures. AP

BASEBALL’S ALL ABOUT NUMBERS By Tim Dahlberg The Associated Press

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HE only WAR Joe DiMaggio knew about was the one raging overseas as he entered the prime of his career. World War II would end up costing DiMaggio three years in the major leagues, though his Army service mainly consisted of playing baseball in various exhibitions. It also cost him a higher career Wins Above Replacement, the stat that baseball’s ever-expanding analytic wing likes to trot out whenever there is a discussion of the greatest baseball players of all time. It took three tries for DiMaggio to get elected to the Hall of Fame, though it wasn’t because there weren’t any new

age stats to measure his career by. Voters in the 1950s were a discerning lot when it came to crowning baseball royalty. They’re not quite as discerning these days, as shown by Wednesday’s announcement of the 2018 Hall of Fame class. Four players were elected, bringing the total for the last five years to 16. That’s a lot of new Hall of Famers, considering that, in 2013, not one player was elected by baseball writers. And it may be reflective of a new voting pattern that celebrates the kind of statistics that have transformed the modern game. Chipper Jones and Jim Thome would have been automatic picks in any era. Jones played 19 years, hit more than .300 from each side of the plate, and had a career on-base average of .401. He averaged 30 home runs and 105

RBIs for every 162 games played, though he didn’t get to the magical 3,000 hit mark. Thome, meanwhile, hit 612 home runs, and anyone over 600 without a link to steroids is pretty much a Hall of Fame lock. Statistics are used to judge the two because statistics mean everything in baseball. It’s a game of numbers, as any kid who grew up memorizing the batting averages of his favorite players will tell you. But it doesn’t have to be ruled by numbers. And they’re beginning to dominate the Hall of Fame debate just like they’ve changed the way the game is played on the field. Consider the case of Edgar Martinez, who baseball writers for years treated as a marginal candidate for

ALLANDALE BEACH, Florida—Gun Runner’s final race might be a bit of a challenge. The five-year-old is the overwhelming 4-5 favorite for Saturday’s $16-million Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park. But the likely Horse of the Year—an honor that will be announced on Thursday at the Eclipse Awards—will have to win his finale from a post near the outside after drawing the No. 10 spot in an expected 12-horse field. Horses that start at least that far from the rail in distance events at Gulfstream are winning at only about an 8-percent clip this season. Then again, none of those starters was of Gun Runner’s caliber. “I’ve always said you don’t know to complain about a post position until after a race is run,” Gun Runner trainer Steve Asmussen said after Wednesday’s draw. “So it might work out perfectly for him. The horse is doing extremely well, in the capable hands of [jockey] Florent Geroux,

and hopefully we’ll have a big day Saturday and send the 2017 Horse of the Year out on top.” Gun Runner will be racing for the last time before retirement. He has won four consecutive starts, all of them Grade 1 events, and will have a chance to push his career earnings to nearly $16 million. Saturday’s winner earns a $7-million share of the purse. Sharp Azteca is the second choice in the morning line, at 6-1. Collected and West Coast—both trained by Bob Baffert, who got Arrogate the win in the inaugural Pegasus last year—will start at 8-1. “If you drew it up on paper and tried to make the race as fair as you possibly could, I think you’ve got speed on the inside, speed in the middle and speed on the outside,” said Ron Paolucci, who owns Sharp Azteca and fellow Pegasus entry War Story. “It’s going to be a real rider’s race going into that first turn. That’s going to be the whole thing.” The field for the Pegasus, from the rail out with morning lines: Singing Bullet, 30-1; West Coast, 8-1; Stellar Wind, 30-1; Sharp Azteca, 6-1; Collected, 8-1; Gunnevera, 15-1; Fear the Cowboy, 30-1; War Story, 25-1; Toast of New York, 20-1; Gun Runner, 4-5; Seeking the Soul, 25-1; Giant Expectations, 30-1. AP

Gun Runner looks out from his stall at Gulfstream Park. AP

induction. The fact he was a DH most of his career worked against him, as did his relative lack of home runs and playing most of his career in relative obscurity in Seattle. But Martinez surged in voting the last two years, propelled by supporters that used WAR and OPS to make his case. He received 70.4 percent of the latest vote, falling just 20 votes shy of joining Jones, Thome, Vladimir Guerrero and Trevor Hoffman in this year’s class. “We are trending up,” Martinez tweeted. “Next year may be the year.” Mike Mussina’s climb to 63.5 percent of the vote—75 percent is needed to get in—has followed a similar trajectory in five years on the ballot. His numbers go up each year that his stats are examined through the new prism that defines performance on the field. Again, there’s nothing wrong with using numbers to evaluate careers. Baseball voters have been doing it since the time when batting average, RBIs and home runs were the only standards for hitters, and ERA and wins were what pitchers got rewarded for when they signed contracts for the next year.

But is the fact that Martinez is tied for 32nd in history for OPS enough to get him in the Hall of Fame? Or is it more important to have the kind of impact DiMaggio had on a Yankees team that won a staggering nine World Series titles in his 13 years in pinstripes? Martinez may indeed make it on his 10th and final year of eligibility. Next year’s newcomers won’t crowd ballots too much, with Mariano Rivera looking to be the only first-ballot pick. There’s a good chance both Martinez and Mussina pick up votes. There’s also a good chance Barry Bonds and the rest of the suspected steroid users on the ballot won’t make it. And that might be the best news to come from this year’s ballot of veteran baseball writers. Bonds and Roger Clemens edged up a bit in this year’s voting, but Joe Morgan’s letter warning against their election may have been the crowning blow to their chances. Both have only four years left to get to 75 percent, and the latest results (Clemens 57.3, Bonds 56.4) indicate it may be a target they can’t reach.

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Sunday, January 28, 2018

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Collage by JIMBO ALBANO

My brother Leo and I are having breakfast at the dining table and I can hear her yelling at my mother

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Dried Fish www.businessmirror.com.ph

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By Erwin Cabucos

ere goes the Australian lady from the second floor again, standing at the door, towering over Mama and looking mad. “It bloody stinks in here. You and your smelly food! You’re not the only ones living in this building you know.” She screws up her face. “It’s unbearable!”

Although I can’t see Mama’s face, I can tell she’s upset. My brother Leo and I are having breakfast at the dining table and I can hear her yelling at my mother. Leo tears some fillets off the dried mackerel on the serving plate and pastes them onto a handful of steamed rice, molding them with his fingers, throwing them into his mouth. He swallows, takes a drink and pans from his plate to Mama, to the lady at the door, and back. I should walk towards Mama now; her hand is glued to the side of the open door as if she depends upon it for strength. I should be there with her now, at least as a moral support, but I want to finish my food. She always tells us not to waste food and to be mindful of our relatives in the Philippines who have nothing to eat at all. She nods blankly as the lady continues to rant. Mama doesn’t have a chance to respond. She straightens her back once in a while, perhaps trying to look confident and dignified amidst the demeaning words from the woman. The wooden sandals she bought from Baclaran Market before we migrated to Brisbane clack as she shifts from foot to foot. Her T-shirt, with Palmolive written on the front, looks grey and old. She f licks her hair from her face. The woman’s suitcase stands firmly beside her legs. Her perfume smells like the Ajax soap our maid in the Philippines used to scrub clothes with every morning. Her pressed business skirt extends to her knee, accentuating her slender hips. Black stockings wrap her skinny legs. “S-sorry, miss,” Mama says with a forced smile, looking embarrassed. “We actually turned the exhaust fan up to max to get rid of the smell. Obviously, it hasn’t worked very well.” Mama uses a humble tone, showing her sincere apologies for disturbing our neighbor, but they infuriate the woman even more. “I’ve actually decided to move out. My boyfriend refuses to visit me. If you’re having dead rats for breakfast, I don’t care. Just don’t bloody cook them until next month when I’m gone, then you can feast on your stinking fucking food!” She throws her hands into the air. Blood rushes to my ears. This is really bad. Who is she to yell at my mother? Mama’s face turns red. She tries

to smile but looks like she’s about to cry through gritted teeth. I feel like yelling at the woman. I feel like punching her in the gut— that’s how much I want to hurt her—but I’m not sure if Mama would appreciate it. I will hold off for now. “We’ll spray deodorizer around the apartment, then,” Mama nods, resting her hand on her chest. “That should get rid of the smell.” She bites her lip and sighs. “Is that going to help my apartment? The smell is all over my curtains, pillows—everywhere!” She shakes her head and walks

off. Her silky black top shines as the morning sun hits her in the hallway. She looks for something in her bag and pulls out a pair of sunglasses, then trots to the main door. Her heels clicking on the floor sounds like drums of war, fuelling my anger. Mama shuts the door and returns to the kitchen, her chin quivers and her shoulders droop. “We’ll buy our own house soon so we can cook whatever we want. I’ll have to get a second job to help your father. Hindi tayo pumunta rito para pahiyain, we didn’t move here to feel ashamed of who we are.” My heart sinks along with the pan that Mama carries to the rubbish bin, twisting it to let five pieces of finger-sized dried mackerel drop into the mound of trash. Murky oil and fish scales follow. The crunchy, tasty fish lying on potato peels, tissues and eggshells in the trash don’t look right. Those dried fish are my favorite. Papa and I took the trouble of catching the train to Fortitude Valley yesterday to buy three packets. Only to be thrown in the bin! They are my food. I grew up with their crunchiness and saltiness and

Her fading steps scream at me, compelling me to do something about the sodden fish.

Sunday, January 28, 2018

Mama doesn’t have a chance to respond. She straightens her back once in a while, perhaps trying to look confident and dignified amidst the demeaning words from the woman

their tanginess when dipped in vinegar. And now that we are in Australia, it’s hard to believe I can no longer have them. That’s not fair. Mama goes to the bathroom. Her fading steps scream at me, compelling me to do something about the sodden f ish. With trembling hands, I pluck each of them and lay them on the foil, before wrapping them with care. I run outside, lengthening my strides to catch up to the lady. Her high heeled shoes clack on the pathway along Coronation Drive. She’s now crossing the road and the pedestrian lights are just about to turn red. She must be working in one of the corporate offices in Milton. The traffic resumes. I zigzag through the honking traffic and I stand in front of her. She halts. My lips purse and my knees tremble as I quickly open the foil and lift my hand to throw the fish at her face, but I freeze like a paused movie scene. The woman’s

wide eyes, staring at me engulfs me with hesitation. The dread will horrify everyone with an image of the fish scales and brown oil sticking to her thick make-up and dangling earrings. My heart thumps and I feel the oil dripping down my arm and onto the ground. “Put that down, you imbecile, or I’ll call the police!” I drop my hand as my pride deflates at the shuddering tone of her voice. “Fuck off!” she sidles away. I turn around in tears and walk to the nearby bench, facing the Brisbane River. Brown water laps the rocks below, nowhere near as brown as the Pasig River in Manila. I sigh, hearing every splash that seems to snap me back to reality. I scrunch up the foil like a ball and shoot it into the bin on the side of the road like a basketball. The current flows towards the sea, dragging out with it my pride that I cannot defend my family. It’s tragic that I chickened out of doing something fair and just for myself. I feel so useless that

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I can’t stand up for myself. I cannot fight the woman. Not when I’m only 13, and yet to learn a few things. Anyway, not all battles are worth fighting. Perhaps, sometimes one just needs to put his hands up and lean against the ropes like Manny Pacquiao. I pick up some wood chips from the ground and one by one, throw them at the trunk of the nearby Banyan tree. The tightness in my chest abates and the air soothes me. I walk home against the direction of the current. I should stop thinking about getting back at people who are against me and my family. Instead, I should spend my time making good for myself. Perhaps this is a better form of getting back at her. The sun glints over the river, radiant like the blinding rays over the Boracay sand. Like the same sun that dazzles between my first country and my new, I remain good and bright. I may have changed place, but this is home now.

About the author

Erwin Cabucos was born and raised in Cotabato Province. He graduated Psychology from Notre Dame University, Philippines and English Education from the University of New England, Australia. When not writing, he teaches English in Queensland. His new book ‘Does It Matter What the Dead Think?’ is now available in the Philippines: http://erwincabucos. wixsite.com/author.

Tourism&Entertainment BusinessMirror

A10 Sunday, January 28, 2017

Editor: Carla Mortel-Baricaua

‘One Fine Day’ in the City of Pines

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Story & photos by Bernard L Supetran

here’s a gazillion reasons one fine day in the mountain resort of Baguio is never a worn out getaway, even for the most jaded travelers. With the opening of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway and the availability of executive-type coaches of Joy Bus and Victory Liner, commuting to the summer capital is such a breeze and an inexpensive ride. But, aside from its crisp, pinescented mountain air, one compelling reason the City of Pines is such an exciting upland retreat is its being a haven for the arts— painting, sculpture, indigenous art, music, poetry, tribal weaving and culinary art. Name it and, most likely, there is a group of artists involved in it. The city also has a wide array of museums, galleries and so-called art villages—the best places to chill out, literally and figuratively. It is no small wonder when the summer capital was recently hailed as a “creative city” by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for its distinguished art scene.

The first of its kind in the Philippines, Baguio joins 63 other cities from 44 countries that have been added to the 180-member Creative Cities Network, which promotes creative industries and integrate culture into sustainable urban policies. As a result, the forthcoming Panagbenga 2018 set this February has adopted the theme, “Celebration of Culture and Creativity” to put the spotlight on the city’s recent distinction. Such an artsy feel is reflected in the city’s overall look, which stakeholders in the Baguio community have taken to heart. One such establishment that imbibes this aura is Le Monet, a boutique hotel in the heart of Camp John Hay whose name alone exudes elegance and aesthetic taste. Named after the great French impressionist painter Claude Monet, it is a virtual gallery, as guests are instantly greeted by the masterpieces of National Artists Jose Joya, H.R.

Monet Garden, romantic and reminiscent of greeneries in Giverny, France.

Kabadjo horseback-riding trail goes around Camp John Hay.

Monet Hotel is home to masterpieces of celebrated local artists.

Ocampo, Ang Kiukok, Eduardo Castrillo and Federico Alcuaz, not to mention an artsy lobby lounge. Interestingly, the 70-room hotel is owned and operated by the artsy-sounding ArtStream Hospitality Management Group Inc., whose other properties across the country pay homage to the masters—The Rembrandt in Quezon City, Hotel Luna in Vigan and Vitalis Villas in Santiago, Ilocos Sur. The medium-rise structure, which turns six years old this year, takes pride in espousing “life imitating art” by infusing bits and pieces of artwork in its every nook and cranny. Each of the 70 rooms evokes a French country feel with a veranda that opens up with the sight and scent of pine trees, which is like an oversized natural canvas drawn by the hands of God Himself.

were, with native-themed gazebos for intimate private dinners, and a garden for flowers and organic vegetables, where the hotel sources some of its ingredients. Lovestruck couples can seal their undying love at the “love-lock corner,” which is inspired by the Parisian bridges over the River Seine. The garden leads to the nearby stables, which offer horseback riding activities around John Hay. In addition to its eye candy, Le Monet, likewise, boasts of artisanal cuisine composed of classic Filipino fare, Western staples and other international favorites. An oil on canvas landscape painting by Bataan-born contemporary master Melencio Sapnu proudly hangs at the lobby, overlooking diners as they pounce on the hearty breakfasts or occasional Japanese buffet dinners.

The Malt Room is a posh lounge wherein people can have a drink or chill and relax in the soothing music, while Le Picnique is an al fresco dining area for special occasions. Freshly made artisan breads and pastries are the specialties of the Le Monet Bakery, which makes use of high-quality fresh ingredients and traditional baking techniques to make each recipe a work of art. And, for a consummate staycation in this Worldhotels chain member, guests can pamper themselves at the fitness gym, Vida Verde Spa and thermal pool, with a soothing view of the pine forest. With a heady art sojourn and a gustatory adventure to boot, lady quartet The Chiffons would definitely agree that Le Monet offers a unique, “One Fine Day” in the City of Pines.

Being at the core of Baguio’s last few remaining forest reserves, Le Monet is just a short ride to the must-see places— Camp John Hay’s picnic areas, Butterfly Sanctuary, the worldclass 18-hole Championship Golf Course and Driving Range, a host of curio shops and cozy homegrown cafes, and dining outlets. At the back of the hotel is the Le Monet Garden, which tries to recreate the greeneries of the northern French town of Giverny, where Monet spent a good deal of his life as a painter. The most memorable images the visitor will have are the lovely spots in his garden—the bridge, lotus pond and water lilies, which provided sparks of inspiration in his massive body of impressionist works. The landscaped shrubbery is well-manicured or curated, as it