BusinessMirror June 20, 2019

Broader look » a4-a5

Women of Bacoor’s emBattled mussel industry struggle for survival

PHL TO FAST-TRACK ROLLOUT OF COSTLIER INFRA PROJECTS

By Rea Cu

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@ReaCuBM

HE government wants to implement more bigt ic ket i nf ra st r uc t u re projects under the “Build, Build, Bu i ld ” prog ra m before t he country reaches upper middleincome class (UMIC) status by the end of 2019 or next year, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).

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PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY

2018 BANTOG DATA MEDIA AWARDS CHAMPION

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said on Tuesday that the government is prioritizing loan agreements that are more costly as the Philippines will no longer be qualified for special terms for official development assistance (ODA) loans once the country moves to UMIC status.

“Government has to prioritize projects such that those that are more costly than others will be prioritized. The more costly ones,

we want them to move faster,” Pernia told reporters at the sidelines of the 8th Philippines-Japan Joint Committee on Infrastructure Development and Economic Cooperation held in New Clark City, Pampanga.

Once the Philippines joins the list of UMIC countries, loans will become more expensive as the country will no longer qualify for lower interest rates extended to poorer countries.

See “Infra,” A2

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n Thursday, June 20, 2019 Vol. 14 No. 253

5-month BOP surplus hits 8-yr high at $5.2B

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By Bianca Cuaresma

@BcuaresmaBM

ONFIDENCE in the country’s external position continues to increase based on the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’s (BSP) latest report that the Philippines recorded a multibillion-dollar surplus in the first five months of the year.

Data released by the BSP on Wednesday showed that the country’s balance of payments (BOP) from January to May hit a surplus of $5.19 billion, a reversal of the $2.1-billion deficit recorded by the Philippines a year ago.

The BSP attributed the strong

performance of the BOP to strong remittance inflows from overseas Filipinos, net inflows of foreign portfolio investments and more foreign direct investment inflows into the Philippines during the period. The BOP surplus is the highest since 2011, when the country

incurred a surplus of $5.23 billion also in the January-to-May period.

The country’s BOP is the summary of the dollar transactions with the rest of the world. A surplus in this economic indicator means the country earned more dollars

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PESO EXCHANGE RATES n

Construction kicked off on March 15, 2018.

Phase 1A of the New Clark City National Government Administrative Center (NGAC) include an athletics stadium that can seat 20,000 individuals, and an aquatics center with a seating capacity of 2,000.

David said 8,000 workers are currently working on the project 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said the speedy construction of facilities in New Clark City was due to the fact that it was built on government land.

“I’ll tell you what makes this fast, no right-of-way [issues because it’s] government land. No informal settlers, there were some but they’ve already dealt with it.

They’ve offered them other lots,” Dominguez said.

According to BCDA President Vivencio B. Dizon, the New Clark City will be one of the legacies of the Duterte administration.

“I think it’s one of the legacies that President Duterte will be leaving behind, and we have the Japanese government to thank for that because they have been really supportive since the beginning. And I think based on the discussions today there will be more support to come,” he said. Rea Cu

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ILO: Can it forge a new global social contract?

Rene E. Ofreneo

than what it spent during the time period while a deficit means the economy lost more dollars than what it earned.

Boosting the five-month BOP performance was the $928-million surplus recorded in May alone. This is the fifth consecutive month of BOP surplus and the second-highest monthly surplus for the year. It is also a reversal of the $583-million deficit seen last year.

The BSP said the BOP surplus for May stemmed mainly from the national government’s (NG) net foreign currency deposits, and the BSP’s foreign exchange operations and income from its investments abroad. These were offset partially, however, by the payments made by the NG for its foreign exchange obligations during the month in review.

HE 108th International Labor Conference of the International Labor Organization, held third week of June this year, is called a Centenary Conference.

The ILO was formed in 1919 as part of the Treaty of Versailles, the treaty that formally put an end to World War I and accepted the surrender of the German-led Axis powers.

Why the inclusion of the ILO agendum in a peace treaty?

The quick answer: the winning Allied forces, principally the United States and the United Kingdom, were deeply concerned over the spread of the Leninist Bolshevik ideology that inspired the successful worker-peasant revolution two years earlier, 1917, in the war-weary Russia. The framers of the ILO Constitution countered the Bolshevik threat with a positive guiding framework: “Lasting peace is not possible without social justice.”

See “BOP,” A2

Continued on A7

LABOREM EXERCENS

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MTD aiming to complete construction of New Clark City’s Phase 1A by August

T D Ph i l ippi nes Inc. (MTD) said the construction of the first phase of the New Clark City may be finished

by August, ahead of the government’s deadline of October 15, as it is now 80-percent complete.

Company president Patrick Nicholas P. David made the pronouncement during a tour of New Clark City hosted by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), Department of Transportation and the Department of Finance.

“We are on track to meet the actual deadline set by the government of finishing it by October 15. And we are actually eyeing to meet our self-imposed deadline of August 31, or within the next 73 days,” David said.

The government said it expects to complete the New Clark City Project Phase 1A before the 30th Southeast Asian Games, which will be held in Pampanga in November.

David said facilities in the first phase of the New Clark City can be used by athletes who are preparing to compete in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

The first phase of the New Clark City project includes the construction of sports facilities intended for athletics and aquatic events.

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Confed: PHL to have ample sugar stocks

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

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demand for an immediate P10,000per-month increase will take a toll on the country’s fiscal standing, as well as on inflation, GDP growth and credit ratings.

“On the macroeconomic impact on the fiscal sector, the P150 billion

LANTERS said sugar output at the end of the current crop year on August 31 will hit the government’s forecast of 2.07 million metric tons (MMT), which will be enough to meet the country’s requirement for the sweetener.

Confederation of Sugar Producers Association (Confed) Spokesman Raymond Montinola said hitting the projected output and ending stock of about 437,000 metric tons (MT) would mean that the country will no longer need to import sugar this year. “[Output] will be enough to supply the needs and requirements of the domestic market. As of now, if the production forecast is hit, then there is no need for importation,” Montinola told reporters in an interview in Makati City on Wednesday.

The Sugar Regulatory Administration’s (SRA) projected output this current crop year is slightly lower than the 2.083 MMT produced in the previous crop year.

Sugar planters said bad weather conditions and lack of laborers, such as sugarcane cutters, hampered production.

See “Teachers’ pay,” A2

See “Sugar,” A2

A TEACHER at La Huerta Elementary School in Parañaque City is shown instructing her students to raise their hands when their name is called.

Business groups urged the government to rethink its plan of increasing the salary of teachers by P10,000 a month as this could expand the country’s fiscal deficit. NONIE REYES

‘Hiking teachers’ pay to widen fiscal deficit’

By Elijah Felice E. Rosales

T

@alyasjah

HE countr y ’s business community on Wednesday warned the government against approving an across-theboard P10,000 hike in the monthly

pay of public school teachers, as this will result in fiscal deficit ballooning to 4 percent—the highest in nearly two decades.

Business groups appealed to the government to be prudent in implementing pay hike for educators. They said giving in to the

US 52.1160 n JAPAN 0.4806 n UK 65.4525 n HK 6.6551 n CHINA 7.5312 n SINGAPORE 38.1467 n AUSTRALIA 35.8350 n EU 58.3439 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.8983

Source: BSP (19 June 2019 )

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A2 Thursday, June 20, 2019

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New law requires free Internet in terminals

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By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

LEAN sanitary facilities and free Internet access are now required in land transportation terminals, stations, stops, rest areas and roll-on, roll-off (Roro) terminals.

Under Republic Act (RA) 11311, or the Land Terminal Improvement Act, signed by President Duterte on April 17, owners, operators, or administrators of these terminals shall provide adequate sanitary facilities for passengers.

These sanitary facilities should include separate restrooms for persons with disabilities, male and female passengers, adequate ventilation and lighting, safe, adequate and running water supply, flush system, toilet seat with cover, lavatory with toilet paper, mirror, soap, hand dryer and door lock, waste bin and exclusive space for diaper-changing.

The terminals should also have a designated lactation station that is separated from the sanitary facilities.

Infra. . .

Continued from A1

Finance Secretar y Carlos G. Dominguez III said countries classified as low-income and lower middle-income are allowed by ODA partners to enjoy low lending rates.

Japan’s Special Terms for Economic Partnership (STEP) facility, for instance, allows low-income countries to obtain ODA loans that carry lower interest rates and have fixed terms.

Lower middle-income countries, such as the Philippines, could avail themselves of STEP funding with “preferential terms.” However, upper middle-income countries will have to pay higher interest rates than lower middle-income countries, according to the DOF. “The Philippines could become UMIC countr y by the end of this year, but it could be moved back to 2020 because of our lower economic growth rate this year.

Once the countr y achieves UMIC status, then we will no longer be qualified for STEP funding, but we will be given a grace period of two years from the time our status is upgraded,” said Pernia,

Teachers’ pay. . .

Continued from A1

annual cost of the salary increase is roughly 1 percent of GDP,” business groups said in a statement.

“To appreciate the magnitude of this, we note that the entire annual budget for the conditional cash transfer program—which benefits 4.3 million households and promises to break intergenerational poverty—will cost less than half of this.

The difficult to pass Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion [TRAIN law] raised less than half of this,” they added.

Business groups reminded the government it has no clear funding source for an across the board P10,000 increase in the monthly salaries of public-school teachers.

“As such, it will raise the national government annual fiscal deficit from 3 percent to 4 percent of GDP. The last time our fiscal deficit to GDP breached 4 percent was in 2002 and 2003, driving the country’s credit rating down by two rungs,” business groups warned.

“This led to higher borrowing cost to both government and private sectors, and lower investments,” they argued.

The business community reminded the government that economic collapses are results of fiscal impru-

Collection of fees to access sanitary facilities is prohibited under the new law.

However, separate well-appointed or deluxe sanitary facilities that are operated solely for commercial purposes and for the convenience of passengers who require and prefer such facilities within these terminals are not covered by the new law.

Free Internet will also be provided in the transportation terminals, stations, stops, rest areas and Roro terminals.

Under the new law, owners, operators and administrators of such establishments should fully ensure the speedy and efficient implementation of the new law. A fine of P5,000 per day of violation may be imposed against those who will not comply who is also director general of the Neda.

This, he said, is the reason behind the government’s plan to prioritize funding for big-ticket infrastructure projects that are more costly to construct, such as the Metro Manila Subway project and the North-South Commuter Rail project.

Pernia also said funding from multilateral financing institutions, such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, will become more expensive once the Philippines reaches UMIC status. “That is the rule of the OECD [Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development].”

Doc u ment s f rom t he Ned a showed that feasibility studies are still being conducted for a number of flagship projects as of April 30.

These include the Circumferential Road 3 Missing Link project, Phase I and Phase II of the North Luzon East Expressway, and the BoholLeyte Link Bridge.

Other big-ticket infrastructure projects that are still under study are the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridge Project, the Davao City Expressway Project, and the Luzon-Samar Link Bridge or the Nationwide Island Provinces Link Bridges project. dence brought about by unmanaged salary increases and poorly targeted subsidies. It cited the crisis faced by Venezuela, which is suffering from hyperinflation due to political and economic turmoil.

“We, thus, commend the efforts of the secretaries of finance, education and budget to improve the pay of our public-school teachers while preserving the country’s economic gains,” business group said.

“And we fully endorse the proposal of fiscal and education authorities for moderated adjustments in pay which are phased, reflect recent salary adjustments made, benchmarked to the market and other civil service employee comparators, count the benefits of TRAIN law on their take home pay, and are matched by new revenue.

This should allow approach to the sought for P10,000 salary increase over time,” they added.

Public-school teachers are demanding President Duterte to make good his campaign promise to increase their pay.

The joint statement was signed by the Action for Economic Reforms, Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, Foundation for Economic Freedom and the Makati Business Club. It was also inked by the Management Association of the Philippines and the Philippine Business for Education.

with the provisions of the law to provide clean sanitary facilities, as well as at least one lactation station and those who will violate the prohibition on collection of fees to access sanitary facilities.

Relevant government agencies, including the Departments of Transportation (DOTr), Health (DOH) and Information and Communications Technology (DICT) are tasked under the law to ensure the provision of all these facilities according to the standards.

The DOTr, DOH and other relevant government agencies shall conduct random ocular inspections to ensure the compliance of establishments with the provisions under the law.

The DOTr in coordination with DICT, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulator y Board, DOH, and the Philippine Ports Authority and other concerned stakeholders must promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of the new law.

The new law shall take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two national newspapers of general circulation.

‘Oasis in terminals’

SEN. Grace Poe praised Malacañang

Sugar. . .

Continued from A1

The SRA had initially projected that output in the current crop year will reach 2.225 MMT. But the agency was forced to revise the figure downward due to the problems faced by planters. The country’s sugar output as of May 19 has reached 2.054 MMT, 3.12 percent higher than the 1.992 MMT recorded in the same period last year, SRA data showed.

However, SRA data showed that total sugarcane milled to date has declined by 5.25 percent year-on-

BOP. . .

Continued from A1

While last year’s Philippine external position has weakened due to lingering domestic and global issues, the Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (Amro) said the major risks to the country’s economy are now fading, thus further lowering the risk of capital flight seen last year.

In its Asean+3 Regional Economic Outlook 2019, the regional think tank Amro said: “The major risks facing the Philippine economy are mostly short-term ones. Externally, escalating global trade tensions remain the major risk. Domestically, elevated inflation and pockets of financial vulnerabilities are the main concerns. Global trade tensions and a slowdown of the global economy may exert significant drag on Philippine economic activity.”

“As global financial conditions have eased, the pressure from shortterm capital outflows has dissipated...overall, risks appear to be moderating,” it added.

The slump in the country’s BOP

Vehicles. . .

Continued from A8

“That is part of what we are assessing right now because it will require budget. We mentioned that when we met with the e-vehicle industry in South Korea,” Lopez said.

“Industry players said what we are offering right now are not enough because what they do in other countries is they really provide income tax holidays, among other incentives, to e-vehicle makers,” he added.

Lopez said the government might craft an e-vehicle project a la Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy program. If implemented, manufacturers who will choose to assemble e-vehicles in the country

We d n e s d a y a f t e r P r e s i d e n t Du-terte signed into law a Congressapproved bill mandating free Internet services and clean sanitary facilities for commuters in public transport terminals.

“We hail the signing of RA 11311,” said Poe, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Services that endorsed the long-awaited remedial legislation.

With its enactment into law, Poe said travelers and commuters can now “rest in the thought that after hours in traffic, they can find an oasis in transportation terminals through free Internet connection and clean comfort rooms.”

In a statement, the senator stressed the need to ensure “strict implementation of this law, to see to it that the Internet provided is indeed free and that the restrooms can really give the travelers comfort and rest.”

She added that overall maintenance of these facilities should also be consistent.

Asserting that “a place is known by its people and their cleanliness, Poe, principal author of the measure, appealed to transport operators: “Let our transportation terminals leave a good impression to travelers toward their destination.”

With a report from Butch Fernandez

year to 21.562 MMT. Sugar-milling recovery rate as of May 19 is pegged at 1.91 50-kilogram bags per ton cane, 8.52 percent over the 1.76 LKg/TC recorded in the same period last year.

The country’s latest total physical sugar stock, which includes imports, is pegged at 558,262.88 MT, 11.77 percent over last year’s inventory of 499,490.01 MT. SRA data showed that the millsite price of sugar in the current crop year has averaged at P1,502.90 per LKg, 16.60 percent lower than last year’s average quotation of P1,802.01 per LKg. in 2018, was attributed largely to the high import bill of the country, as the administration embarked on its “Build, Build, Build” program— a government initiative to overhaul the countr y’s infrastructure.

While the infrastructure reform agenda caused the Philippines to bleed dollars in 2018, its long-term effects are actually expected to boost the dollar earnings of the country through higher foreign investments.

In his welcome remarks for the Amro-BSP Joint Seminar on Building Capacity and Connectivity for the New Economy held at the BSP Complex in Manila on Wednesday, BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said: “The Philippine government is working conscientiously to deliver critical services and facilities which include efficient transport systems, and low-cost and reliable source of power to the whole archipelago.”

“This will enhance the attractiveness of the country as an investment destination by further improving the local business environment and reducing the cost of doing business,” Diokno added. will receive fiscal support for every unit enrolled and volume produced.

In a separate interview, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. Vice President for Corporate Public Relations Renato S. Lampano said the automotive industry is hoping legislators of the 18th Congress will approve a measure reducing tariff and excise taxes on e-vehicles.

“We have been asking that, but I think we have to course through channel. Unfortunately, there is a new Congress, but we want lawmakers who are proponents of certain bills [on e-vehicles] to refile their bills,” Lampano said.

“We believe we need to have a champion from Senate and Congress who would really be supporting this type of vehicle,” he added.

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Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Thursday, June 20, 2019 A3

Just like in the movies: Gunmen slay ex-Cebu mayor in hospital

By Rene Acosta

@reneacostaBM

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FORMER town mayor in Cebu was killed on Tuesday night after 15 armed men “raided” the hospital where he was confined, then proceeded to his room, where they peppered him with bullets in what was considered as the most brazen killing in recent history.

A report from the Police Regional Office 7 dispatched to Camp Crame said that Ricardo Rodriguez Ramirez, former mayor of Medellin, Cebu, died from multiple gunshot wounds inside his room at the BogoMedellin Corp. Medical Center at Barangay Luy-a in Medellin.

The suspects, who were wearing bonnets, hurriedly escaped after the 11:30 p.m. killing, which is now the subject of an ongoing investigation by the police.

“According to our investigators at the Medellin Police Station, three sport utility vehicles and a sedan arrived at the hospital with more or less 15 armed men and they raided the hospital,” Lt. Col. Eloveio Marquez, spokesman of the Cebu police, told radio station dzMM in Manila.

“Once inside the hospital, they ordered hospital personnel at the lobby to lie face down, and the same with those in the emergency room.

They disarmed the security guards and asked a nurse about the room of former Mayor Ricky Ramirez,” he added.

The suspects then proceeded to the room of Ramirez, considered a high-value target in the government’s campaign against illegal drugs, and shot him several times.

Term-sharing proposal for top House post ‘unhealthy’–solons

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AWMAKERS on Wednesday said the term sharing of the speakership post could only derail the passage of legislative agenda of the Duterte administration.

Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel and Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza said it would not be healthy for the legislative process if there are two Speakers in 18th Congress.

Earlier, Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano said he was amenable to share the speakership position with Marinduque Rep. Lord Alan Velasco.

Cayetano said the term-sharing idea was offered by President Duterte during his recent visit in Japan.

Under the proposal, Cayetano will seat first and then Velasco. But the plan, Cayetano said, was rejected by the Marinduque lawmaker.

“I don’t think it would be a good idea for a term sharing. It is easier said than done; it would be very hard to implement it,” said Pimentel.

According to Pimentel, each Speaker has its own team of committee chairmen and other key positions.

“If there will be term sharing of the speakership that goes for the key positions,” he said. “There would be no continuity and deliberations of very important legislations could be derailed,” Pimentel added.

The lawmaker also said stability of the Lower House could be affected by the term-sharing agreement.

“In short there would be no stability of leadership in Congress which is not healthy in support of the President’s legislative agenda,” Pimentel said.

For his part, Atienza said sharing the speakership position is not practical for the chamber.

The lawmaker said members of the lower chamber should elect for one leader who should be supported by all members for three years or for the whole 18th Congress. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

Lacson bares Duque’s ‘conflict of interest’

By Butch Fernandez

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@butchfBM

PPARENTLY stung by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III’s remarks that he had no business dredging up past events to taint an “unblemished” 35 years of public service, Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday made public a document showing Duque allowed Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to rent in 2018 a family-owned building in Dagupan for over P529,000 a month.

Guesting at the Senate Kapihan, Lacson shared with the media the document showing PhilHealth’s Region 1 office had rented three floors of a building owned by the Educational and Medical Development Corp.

(EDMC) on Francisco Duque Jr. Street, Tapuac District in Dagupan, from January 1 to December 31, 2018.

EDMC’s General Information Sheet (GIS) showed one Francisco Duque III among eight stockholders, four of them surnamed Duque. Another stockholder who served as company president, Dr. Luz T. Duque-Hammershaimb, was the signatory in the lease contract with PhilHealth. Lacson identified her as the DOH chief’s sister.

“If this is not conflict of interest, I don’t know what is. Building mo, naka [your building under] contract of lease…, and that is a family corporation.

[Then] you are a member of the board. Narito ang [here’s the] General Information Sheet. And the signatory in the contract of lease is his own sister.

I have the documents already,” the senator pointed out.

When the 18th Congress opens in July, Lacson said he will most likely seek a Senate probe into the matter.

According to documents obtained by the senator’s office, the lease contract was justified under PhilHealth’s Corporate Order 2016-30 dated March 28, 2016, authorizing the president and chief executive officer of the state health insurer to approve lease contracts for P3 million and above.

The agency’s provincial regional office bid and awards committee recommended giving the contract to EDMC for a “negotiated procurement for the lease of office space for PhilHealth Regional Office 1” in a resolution.

The space leased covered 2,0151.4 square meters on the first, second and third floors of the EDMC building.

At the same forum, Lacson said, “And I found out that the Regional Office 1 of PhilHealth is housed in a building. I have here a copy of the contract of lease, owned by Secretary Duque. It is located in [Tapuac] district in Dagupan City. This is just the start of some extensive research or investigation I am conducting…not only against Secretary Duque” but other officials who may have caused, by omission or commission, the plunder of PhilHealth’s funds.

“What irritates me is when a government official who knows he did something wrong, yet acts like a hypocrite because he is projecting an unblemished record for 35 years,” Lacson said in a mix of English and Filipino.

The report from the Cebu police said the suspects asked the nurse to lead and accompany them to the room of the former mayor, who, upon seeing the armed men, went to the private toilet of his room where he was shot multiple times by the suspects.

The former town executive was with the girlfriend of his son and a guard from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology during the killing. They were not harmed.

Ramirez served for nine years as mayor of Medellin, and ran and lost as a councilor during the last elections.

“He was under hospital arrest because a search warrant was applied against his house on July 26, 2017, due to possession of high-powered firearms.

What were taken from him were drug paraphernalia,” said Marquez.

He said the slain mayor was also a confirmed drug user.

Car-theft drop

MEANWHILE, Philippine National Police Spokesman Col. Bernard Banac said that cases of car theft have significantly gone down from January to May this year compared to the same period last year.

Banac said that the PNP Highway Patrol Group (HPG) under Brig. Gen. Roberto Fajardo only recorded 19 incidents of carjacking compared to the 24 incidents during the same period last year, or a drop of about 20.8 percent.

A4 Thursday, June 20, 2019 | www.businessmirror.com.ph

TheBroa

Business

WOMEN OF BACOOR’S

INDUSTRY STRUGG Story & photo by Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

(This story was produced with the support of Internews’ Earth Journalism Network.)

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WAFT of air from the east along Kawit, Cavite, brings memories of mornings by the sea. Silhouette figures become clearer and the sight brings the solid image the nose sensed: mussels, piled dozens on stainless steel buckets and rattan trays on a table made of wood.

Behind one of these is Charmel Dela Cruz (not her real name), a 4-foot-8 24-year-old mussel trader. Her medium-built frame is hidden by a faded pink floral dress under a blue apron. Like fellow sellers, Dela Cruz is already at her stall along Antero Soriano Highway, at the north end of the Manila-Cavite Expressway (Cavitex), before the crack of dawn; wiping the tabletop, sweeping, while waiting for the mussels to arrive.

While she’s considered a neophyte trader, Dela Cruz already knows the ins and outs of the business, its opportunities and challenges: from growing these cheap, protein-rich seafood to harvesting, buying and selling them fresh, or processing and retailing.

“Selling mussel has been my family’s source of income and livelihood ever since I can remember,” Dela Cruz said in Filipino.

Her parents originally came from Albay, a province in the Bicol region, a hundred kilometers south of here.

She was eight when they migrated to Cavite to cash in on the booming mussel industry at the time.

“My uncle was first to come here; then everybody followed,” she said.

Just a way of life

IN Bacoor, a town south of the country’s capital city Manila, growing and harvesting mussels have become a way of life. This is true for Dela Cruz’s family.

Starting a small family of her own, this high-school graduate and mother of a 3-year-old girl is currently the lone breadwinner in the family. Her income relies on the sale of mussels.

Dela Cruz’s husband of three years used to work as a maintenance man at a small company. He’s currently unemployed but training to qualify for employment as a security guard.

Dela Cruz herself worked in the past as a factory worker for several electronic manufacturers in Laguna and Batangas.

“But I decided to stick to selling mussel. This is better. Here, I can earn P1,000 a day compared to the minimum wage I get working at [an] electronics [factory] where I have to spend on transportation and food,” she said, adding the she also sees her weekly pay cut when she reports late.

The daily minimum wage rate in the Calabarzon region is P303 to P400.

Highly urbanized cities implement a higher minimum wage as approved by the National Wages and Productivity Commission.

On the highway

SIXTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD Rosie Lager said she and her husband Rogelio were able to raise all five children, including two college graduates, from selling mussel along the road.

All her children now have their own family. Lager is now sending one of her grandchildren to college.

“Since getting married in 1972, this has been our source of income and livelihood,” she said. “I am from Tacloban, Leyte, but when I met my husband, I decided to move and stay with him here in Cavite. We started selling mussel when my husband worked as a

diver, harvesting for a mussel farm in Bacoor. During that time, he receives only P5 a day. Before, he doesn’t even know how to swim but he had to learn to earn a living,” she said.

Despite being “retired” because of aneurysm, the 74-year-old Rogelio continues to help his wife tend to their store. He considered raising their children well as a source of happiness.

“And my wife is always here with me.”

Most of their customers are motorists, while others are residents in nearby villages.

Dela Cruz and Lager were among the many women traders selling oysters and mussels, with their wooden stalls along major thoroughfares in coastal towns in Cavite.

Not hard to find

MUSSELS farming and trade has its ups and downs for Anne Maceda, 32, a mussel trader at the Paranaque Fisherman’s Wharf for five years now.

“Here money is not hard to find as long as you are willing to work,” Maceda said, pointing to a group of young children who works for a living while “playing” by cleaning mussels.

According to Maceda, the children get to earn P20 for washing out grime from each mussel.

“It’s voluntary, really. And they enjoy it,” she said. “But we pay them because they are a big help.” Maceda said the children also earn allowance for school.

Julie Cuela, 62, who has been selling mussels at a public market in Sucat, Parañaque, for 10 years now, said she finds selling mussels a lucrative trade.

She buys wholesale from Maceda with a P10-discount for every gallon. A gallon of mussel contains about 2.5 kilos.

Normally, it would only cost around P100 at the so-called bulungan. It could sell to as much as P250.

Whether they are wives, mothers, or daughters—many women have been empowered by Bacoor’s embattled mussel industry.

Aquatic resources

BACOOR City is the birthplace of mussel farming in the Philippines.

Before the 1950s, mussel is not even considered food, but a pest in oyster farms.

The discovery that mussel is edible gave birth to the idea it can also be cultured like an oyster.

It was in 1955 when what is now known as the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’s (BFAR) Oyster Farming Station in Binakayan, Cavite, set up a demonstration mussel farm to promote mussel farming.

Many fishermen in Bacoor decided to grab the opportunity. By the 1960s, mussel farms quickly spread in many areas in the country.

W hile mussel farming in other parts of the country is thriving, the same cannot be said in Bacoor and other towns in Cavite, such as Kawit and Cavite City. Bacoor is experiencing a rapid shift from an agriculturebased economy to a residential and commercial urban center.

Bacoor’s growing population is also

aderLook

sMirror

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace | Thursday, June 20, 2019

A5

S EMBATTLED MUSSEL

GLE FOR SURVIVAL In Bacoor, the situation was aggravated by the Cavite Coastal Road Extension project, which d i rect ly a f fected t he Bacoor shoreline.

Its construction in 2011 has since deprived the town’s shell and shellfish gatherers of their primary source of income and livelihood.

“Before, there was the halaan all over the shores of Bacoor.

Women and children pick them up. But because of the ManilaCavite Expressway project, it’s all gone,” National Federation of Small Fishermen’s Organization in the Philippines (Pamalakaya) Chairman Fernando Hicap said.

Hicap said while already experiencing economic hardships with the Cavitex project, fishermen and players in Bacoor’s mussel farming sector are facing yet another major threat that can eventually wipe out oystes and mussel farms and displace hundreds, if not thousands, of coastal families.

Yonder and here

ROSIE and Rogelio Lager

putting pressure on the coastal environment. It is currently the second most populated city in Cavite, with 600,609 people based on a 2015 census.

Pollution, climate change and unbridled development are slowly killing the source of income and livelihood of thousands of small fishermen in Bacoor, a town which belongs to the Manila Bay region.

Threats of progress

ACCORDING to Myrna Candinato, mussel farming is the way of life of many coastal families in Bacoor.

“Before, we used to pick halaan (clam) and would not have to go far to catch fish,” she said. “Not anymore.”

Candinato is president of the Alyansa ng mga Magdaragat sa Bacoor of Barangay Maliksi III. She has been a mussel farm operator for almost three decades and has witnessed this agricultural subsector’s growth. Now, she fears that an ambitious reclamation project in Bacoor will spell its doom.

Candinato’s family maintains nea rly 3 hec t a res of mu sse l farm in Bacoor. She is also into buying and selling mussels and owns two small motorized fishing boats that she rents out to small fishermen.

With her small business, she has close to a hundred small vendors under her wing; all are selling mussel on a consignment basis.

“Some of them are older than me. Senior citizens,” she said, who all strongly felt the various threats to Bacoor’s small mussel industry.

“If the industry dies, they are sure to suffer,” she said.

Hosts, hectarage

OYSTERS and mussels are two of Bacoor’s main products today still despite dwindling production.

Bacoor takes pride in owning vast tracts of mussel and oyster farms that directly and indirectly benefit tens of thousands of families.

According to the Bacoor City Agriculture Office, individual oyster and mussel farmers can operate a 1-hectare farm. Each farm employs between five and seven individuals, Chua said.

The city also hosts oyster and mussel farmer-investors from other towns in Cavite, Laguna and Batangas.

Bacoor has a total of 957.25 hectares of coastal water and a total coastline of 5.78 kilometers.

Of these, about 300 hectares are designated aquaculture area.

Currently, the city produces 6,000 gallons of mussels a day.

The figure is based on recorded daily production as obtained from two private and one public market, where harvests are regularly brought in by the city’s oyster and mussel farmers.

This does not include the huge volume of oysters and mussels that directly goes out to entrepreneurs who maintain oyster and mussel stalls in and outside the city, including Fisherman’s Wharf and fish ports in Parañaque City, Rosario, Cavite and the Navotas Fish Port.

A serious threat

MUSSEL traders in Bacoor had e x per ienced huge setbac k s caused by water pol lution, as it affects the grow th of this natura l ly occur r ing seafood.

As the price of mussel depends on its size, mussel growers or farmers observe that their products are no longer as “healthy” as they were when they started out in Bacoor.

But a more serious threat to Bacoor’s mussel industry, as in other areas, is the occurrence of red tide.

The BFAR occasionally issues Shellfish Bulletins advising the public whenever there’s red tide.

“When there’s red tide, we go home,” Dela Cruz said.

She also believes it has something to do with the rapid change of weather systems, which affects the growth of mussel—or worse— cause mussel to die.

“Whenever it suddenly rains, and the sun shines, the mussels

we get are small because they are affected,” Dela Cruz added. “[I think this] has something to do with climate change.”

Maceda said that whenever there’s red tide, even areas that are unaffected by it suffer huge losses as the public would think that the oysters and mussels they are selling are affected, too.

“Whenever there are photographers and cameraman going here, we feel bothered thinking it maybe because there’s red tide,” she said.

Not sole problem

BELIEVING that water pollution triggers the occurrence of red tide, Lager said such is precisely the reason they support the rehabilitation of Manila Bay. However, she said rehabilitation should not lead to the relocation of oyster and mussel farms, as thousands of people whose income and livelihood are dependent on this cultured seafood will be adversely affected.

The occurrence of red tide is a major setback in the fisheries and aquaculture sector, particularly for oyster and mussel farmers.

From January to May alone, the BFAR has issued eight Shellfish Bulletins, which indicated that, based on laboratory tests it conducted, shellfish collected in a certain area are positive for paralytic shellfish poisons that are beyond the regulatory limit.

As such, it warns the public that shellfish gathered in an area affected by red tide are not safe for human consumption, thereby forcing mussel traders to stop doing business for days, or sometimes, weeks.

For Candinato, the intensifying typhoons brought about by climate change spell doom for mussel farm operators each time it strikes Cavite. For mussel growers, it means loss with zero chance of recovery—except for a few bamboo poles they must salvage in the open seas after the storm.

“Whenever there’s a typhoon, all our bamboo poles are wiped

out. We lose everything,” she said. But strong typhoon is not the only problem mussel farm operators encounter.

Manila Bay cleanup

ON January 27, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources launched a P47-billion, seven-year Manila Bay rehabilitation program. The massive rehabilitation activities aim to address the water pollution that has been bugging coastal waters in Manila Bay. The high level of fecal coliform bacteria in Manila Bay poses a serious health risk not only to those who continue to swim and bathe in its waters, but also to consumers of fish and other seafood like oysters and mussels that are grown there.

Pollution caused by direct discharge of untreated wastewater and poor solid waste management are major contributors to the degradation of Manila Bay. The waters of Bacoor, Cavite, are no exception, as water pollution knows no boundary.

Gil S. Jacinto, a professor at the Marine Science InstituteUniversity of the Philippines Diliman, told the BusinessMirror the fact that the BFAR allows the growing of oysters and mussels means Bacoor’s waters is still suitable for aquaculture.

Jacinto added that the safety of the seafood produced for human consumption is, however, another issue.

A serious dilemma

JACINTO said that being filterfeeders, oysters and mussels have environmental benefits as they can actually help reduce water pollution.

“But, there’s a chance that too much pollution will eventually cause oysters and mussels to die.

If that happens, it only means that the water is no longer fit for aquaculture,” he said on the sidelines of the Science Policy and Information Forum on the Sustainability of Manila Bay last May.

THE city of Bacoor has a land-reclamation application filed at the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA), which has been empowered

by President Duterte to decide on the fate of these land-reclamation projects after he signed Executive Order 74 on February 4.

EO 74 repea led EO 798 s.

2009 and EO 145 s. of 2013, and subsequently transferring the PR A to the Office of the President. The order also delegated to the PR A Governing Board the power of the President to approve reclamation projects.

The application for the P42billion Bacoor Reclamation and Development Project will involve dump-and-fill activities that will expand the city’s land territory over a 320-hectare coastal area as part of the plan to erect a commercial and business district in Manila Bay. The project is expected to lure investors, create jobs and livelihood opportunities and, hence, generating more revenues for the city.

The project, however, will directly affect over a hundred fishermen and mussel farm operators, including informal-settler families who would have to be relocated should the project push through.

A document acquired from the DENR said the proposed project will include five reclaimed areas, four inland reclamation islands behind Cavitex with an aggregate area of 90 hectares and one outer island north of Cavitex with an area of 230 hectares.

Last year the DENR conducted the “public scoping” to get inputs from would-be affected communities.

Uprooted, unemployed

ALLAN GUEVARRA CHUA, Bacoor City Agriculture officer-incharge, told the BusinessMirror “the land-reclamation project, if it pushes through, will cover a total of 320 hectares of coastal and marine areas, of which 100 to 150 hectares of oyster and mussel farms will have to go.”

With 150 hectares of oyster and mussel farms to be affected by the land-reclamation project, around 1,000 individuals stand to lose employment.

Nevertheless, Chua is optimistic that Bacoor City will retain its identity as one of the major producers of oysters and mussels in Luzon.

He said the Cit y Fisher ies

Aquatic Resource Management Council of Bacoor (CFA R MC) and Mayor Lani Mercado-Revilla intend to transfer would-be affected farms through re-zoning in other locations so as not to affect the city’s oyster and mussel production capacity.

Chua added he will also propose that the CFARMC come up with a resolution designating what remains of Bacoor’s coastal waters for aquaculture production.

As for the coastal families, he said they will have to be relocated as part of the ongoing rehabilitation of Manila Bay where informalsettler families would be moved away from so-called danger zones.

Getting relocated

THE relocation of informal settler families, Chua said, is inevitable because it is part of the rehabilitation of Manila Bay as ordered by the Manila Bay Task Force.

“Those who will be affected will be transferred to a relocation site—a Fisherman’s Village to be constructed within Bacoor,” he added.

Informal settler families from the city’s coastal areas—such as those victimized by fire and those affected by flooding—have agreed to transfer to a government relocation site, he said.

According to Chua, residents are supportive of the land-reclamation project and the actressturned politician’s development agenda for Bacoor.

“Some residents have even agreed and started to transfer to a relocation site of the NHA [National Housing Authority] in Naic, Cavite,” he said.

There are more than 20 other proposed land-reclamation projects application filed before the PRA that are in various stages of development.

While the PR A is the sole authority with the power to approve or reject land-reclamation projects, the DENR is not keen on releasing the Environmental Clearance Certificate or Area Clearance for Manila Bay landreclamation projects.

A steady increase

THE Bacoor’s oyster and mussel farming sector mirrors a situation across the country: the Philippines is already a major exporter of fish and other seafood.

Oyster and mussel production in the Philippines, however, remains small despite its vast potential, yet a steady increase is observed in areas where mussel farms are on the rise.

According to the BFAR, the volume of mussel production in 2018 was estimated at 26.30 thousand metr ic tons, 36.93 percent higher from 2017 level of 19.21 thousand metric tons.

The growth has been observed for the past three years.

The top mussel-producing regions were Western Visayas, Region 4A and Eastern Visayas with a combined share of 93 percent.

While Bacoor is now a bustling city, it remains a major producer of oysters and mussels.

Given the much-needed shot in the arm, a boost from the BFAR and Bacoor LGU, the oyster and mussel industry can help sustain the city’s growth and development. Doing so also means continuously employing thousands of marginalized women who have been empowered by its small mussel farming sector that Bacoor is known for.

A6 Thursday, June 20, 2019 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

Ensuring equitable health-care access

A

SINGLE-INCOME family of five that earns P50,000 a month is not poor by Philippine standards. But it takes only one member of that family to contract a major ailment to be pushed into poverty. That’s because PhilHealth, the government agency tasked to implement universal health insurance coverage for Filipinos, only gives limited coverage. For example, the treatment for a kidney disease including dialysis could cost around P1,000,000 (as of 2018). The PhilHealth limit would be at P10,000, while a Health Maintenance Organization’s limit could be at P200,000.

In his BusinessMirror column on June 19, 2019, “The health insurance gap in the Philippines,” Insurance Commissioner Dennis B. Funa said health expenses continue to grow at a fast clip of 8 percent a year. As of 2017, he said, total health expenditure in the Philippines was estimated at P684 billion with P373 billion of it covered through out-of-pocket, meaning uninsured.

Funa said: “It is projected that by 2020, the Philippines will be Southeast Asia’s second-largest pharmaceutical market with revenues estimated at $10.8 billion. In terms of specific illnesses, the treatment costs continue to grow. As of 2018, the cost for cancer treatment could total P5.66 million; for stroke, the cost could be P2.93 million; and for myocardial infarction, it could be P1.92 million.”

As the bulk of health expenditure is covered by the patient himself as outof-pocket expenses, this pushes Filipino households into poverty. Funa cited estimates that every year, 1.5 million Filipino families become poor because of health-care expenditures. It was found that in 2012, half of out-of-pocket spending went to medical products (drugs and medicines), of which almost two-thirds went to pharmaceutical products. The current high level of out-ofpocket spending is regressive because families are forced to skimp on education and other important spending.

Millions of Filipino families could have been spared from the claws of poverty if the government gave them sufficient health insurance coverage. The sad part is that billions of taxpayers’ money go to waste because of corruption at PhilHealth, particularly through the connivance between the agency’s officials and erring private health providers, which allegedly has been going on for years. It must be noted that government’s policy of health for all Filipinos can only succeed if the limited resources we have are used in the most efficient way possible.

A silver lining behind the gloomy PhilHealth cloud is the Universal Health Care Act, a measure that would provide health-care coverage for all Filipinos. Signed into law by the President on February 20, 2019, Republic Act (RA) 11223 ensures guaranteed equitable access to quality and affordable health services for all Filipinos, including protection against financial risks. This will be done by automatically enrolling all citizens to the National Health Insurance Program. Under the measure, membership in the NHIP will be classified as “direct contributors” or those who have the capacity to pay premiums, or “indirect contributors” or those sponsored by the government, such as indigents, senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

Sen. JV Ejercito, principal author of the Senate version of the measure, earlier said the passage of the law would expand PhilHealth coverage, which would include free medical checkups, laboratory tests and other diagnostic services. The senator said all graduates of health-related courses who are recipients of government-funded scholarship programs would be required to serve for at least three years in the public sector. Funds for public health coverage will be pooled from the incremental “sin” tax collections, charity fund from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, income from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., premium contribution of members, annual appropriations of the Department of Health and government subsidy to PhilHealth.

Here’s hoping that the budget for the first year of implementation of RA 11223, pegged at P257 billion, will not just line the pockets of corrupt officials.

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OUTSIDE THE BOX

E

VERY organization needs a clear mandate; a specific objective and function. It is similar to a corporate “Mission Statement,” which is why an organization exists, and it must identify the goal of its operations.

In the past 40 years, the world’s central banks (CBs) have become the most powerful economic force on Earth. That’s not what was intended, but that’s the way it turned out.

Unfortunately, though, the average person has a lack of understanding about these institutions even though her life is influenced every minute of every day by what the central banks do or do not do.

It could be assumed that the CBs are the government offices that mint the money. That is true in some countries. The government, as a financial entity, needs a bank to make deposits to and withdrawals from. Maybe a CB is like BDO where presumably all of the funds of the SM organization are coursed through. That is possible. CBs can regulate the banking industry. But the primary function of a central bank is to control all

aspects of a nation’s “money.”

But not all CBs are the same.

These are the legal mandates of various CBs. Note that almost universally, the phrase “supporting economic growth” (or some variation of it) is included. That is because their primary job is to make sure there is enough money in the economic system for the economy to function properly and therefore grow. However, too much money, and the value of the currency may be debased and possibly even become worthless, as in Venezuela and Zimbabwe.

As both an economic and political tool, the mandates of CBs are varied. The Federal Reserve’s is to “maximize employment, stabilize prices and moderate long-term interest rates.” The European Central Bank has a mandate to “keep prices

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The BSP has been successful because its functions are properly narrow. When an organization has objectives that may be in conflict with each other, it cannot succeed.

Central bank policies and tools are not designed to achieve “employment” or “economic growth.” The BSP is the best. stable, thereby supporting job creation.” The Bank of England’s goal is “low and stable inflation.” However, the BOE also must “balance our target of low inflation with supporting economic growth and jobs.”

It is the “balance” idea, which the BOE talks about that is the big problem and why the Western economies are in trouble.

Note the following: “Bank Negara Malaysia’s monetary-policy stance is to maintain price stability.” “Banco de México will be consistent with the goal of ensuring an environment of low and stable inflation.” The Bank of Indonesia says, “Inflation is the single objective of the bank.” However, it also states that it is equally important that the currency must have “stability in relation to the currencies of other nations.”

However, Indonesia needs low interest rates because its economic growth is flat. But high interest rates

Initiated instability in West Antarctica might be the fastest on the continent Cecilio T. Arillo

Lorenzo M. Lomibao Jr., Gerard S. Ramos Lyn B. Resurreccion, Efleda P. Campos Dennis D. Estopace Ruben M. Cruz Jr. Angel R. Calso

MEMBER OF

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Chairman of the Board & Ombudsman President VP-Finance VP Advertising Sales Advertising Sales Manager Group Circulation Manager

Why is the BSP successful?

DATABASE

A

LL around the Antarctic coastline there are ice sheet instabilities waiting to be triggered. If this happens, ice flows inexorably into the ocean and raises sea levels worldwide.

The Philippines, a maritime country, is not an exception.

The one region where instability likely has already been initiated by a warming of the ocean is probably the region that collapses faster than any other, said scientists from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) in an official press release shared to Database.

Even though the rapid ice loss takes decades to unfold and centuries to complete, the speed of ice loss from Antarctica is already a major driver of global sea level rise. It will affect hundreds of millions of people living near the world’s coastlines, from Miami to Shanghai.

“We often think that regarding Antarctic ice loss, the worst is yet to come—although that is true it seems that this ‘worst’ has already been set in motion,” said lead-author Anders Levermann from PIK and Columbia University’s LDEO in New York.

He added: “Pine-Island and Thwaites Glacier in the West of the Antarctic continent are increasingly losing ice for three decades already, and computer simulations support that we see a marine ice sheet instability happening here potentially leading to additional global sea-level rise of more than 3 meters.

“Our calculations now show that this instability is unfolding much more rapidly than similar processes would do in other parts of Antarctica that store similarly large ice masses.

“The good news is that the ice masses in the East of the continent might be slower, at least if we rapidly limit further global warming.

The bad news is that the worst of sea level rise might be already under way.

“It is still unclear whether the West Antarctic ice sheet instability is triggered by human activity. Surface temperatures on most parts of the ice continent are constantly below the freezing point, yet greenhouse-gas emissions from burning fossil fuels will lead not just to a warmer atmosphere but also warmer ocean currents which break through to Antarctica and start underwater melting.

“If the grounding line—which separates the ice still grounded on land from the ice that already started to float—retreats, and if it does so in an area where there’s an inland downward bed slope, this can lead to self-accelerating ice loss.

“This is why parts of Antarctica

are also needed to support its currency. The State Bank of Vietnam focuses only on “the objective of currency value stability which is denoted by the inflation rate.” Except, Vietnam cheats because its currency has a fixed exchange rate and is not convertible.

“The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’s primary objective is to maintain price stability. The BSP also aims to promote and preserve monetary stability and the convertibility of the national currency.”

The BSP keeps the money supply large enough so production will be high enough to avoid supply-side inflation and low enough to avoid demand-side inflation. The Philippine peso is market oriented and not pushed “weaker” or “stronger.”

Further, the peso is convertible to virtually all currencies.

The BSP has been continuously successful because its functions are properly narrow. When an organization has objectives that may be in conflict with each other, it cannot succeed. Central bank policies and tools are not designed to achieve “employment” or “economic growth.”

The BSP is the best.

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are considered to be so-called tipping elements of the Earth system. “The first tipping element that we see tipping happens to be the fastest—at least the fastest of Antarctica,” Levermann explained.

“Our results have to be viewed in light of the uncertainties involved.

We did not include the effect of buttressing—confined floating ice shelves or massive pointy rocks on the seabed can slow down the flow of ice from the land into the sea. Also, the data we use for our calculations from this wildest of all continents is by nature not perfect,” said PIK coauthor Johannes Feldmann.

Pure physics

SCIENTISTS used a well-known principle in a novel way. “Applying the concept of similitude to the governing equations for fast, shallow ice flow, we developed so-called scaling laws in a previous study,” Feldmann said, adding, “These laws assure similar flow patterns of the ice under variation of its geometric dimensions, velocity, friction, snowfall and viscosity.”

See “Arillo,” A7

Opinion BusinessMirror

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HK protest: Edsa, version 2019

The Body of Christ! Amen?

Msgr. Sabino A. Vengco Jr.

ALÁLAONG BAGÁ

Val A. Villanueva

BUSINESSWISE

P

ICTURE this: A young Hong Kong male activist in a gas mask swatting back with a tennis racket a tear gas canister to the phalanx of riot police determined to disperse millions of demonstrators who descended on the upscale Victoria Square.

The teen in the iconic picture caught by Reuters could well be the poster boy of modern-day resistance against Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam’s much loathed extradition law.

The mammoth size of the crowd on Monday—estimated by BBC news to be close to 2 million—dwarfed the swanky Hong Kong thoroughfare.

It could probably equal the 1986 images of Filipino nuns and activists who, hand in hand, blocked the roaring and rolling tanks sent by the dictator-despot Ferdinand E. Marcos to disperse millions of Filipinos gathered in Edsa who were demanding for his ouster.

But the Hong Kong resistance is a version update of the Edsa upheaval.

It is well equipped, well organized and aided by modern communications gadget. However, the will to uphold civil liberties and protect it from being trampled upon is the same: It is visceral—an intuitive nature of humans to be free from injustice.

The powers that be in mainland China who had no qualms slaughtering hundreds of its citizens in the April 15, 1989, bloody Tiananmen square massacre were obviously caught by surprise. I would not venture to predict what they would do next. Their ruthlessness in quelling dissent—burning Christian Churches and Muslim Mosques and executing those who oppose the ruling regime has been well documented.

It was not the first time that the former British colony was rocked by demonstrations since the handover in 1997. The menace of being under communist authorities drove Hongkongers to the streets in 2003, 2012 and 2014. This time was different. Their numbers are gargantuan and they are much prepared for a showdown.

Perhaps, China was unwary to face a mutiny from a community who grew up in free-thinking Victorian values, which it inherited from Great Britain, and whose youth has been nurtured and cared for by highly educated Filipino nannies. I wouldn’t be surprised that these kids might have imbibed the concept of Edsa from their beloved surrogate moms.

Hongkongers have enjoyed an uninhibited, multi-ethnic way of life than the Mainlanders and are extremely proud of it. So insidious are their mistrust against Mainlanders who are clueless about free speech and an independent press.

In Hong Kong, these are enshrined in the Basic Law, which the city has embraced since the handover. They also boast of their distinct diverse cuisine and language, speaking Cantonese rather than China’s national language, Mandarin.

Hong Kong’s Lam on Sunday had apologized and put on hold her proposed extradition bill that could have sent Hong Kong citizens who run

Arillo . . .

continued from A6

He said: “This is pure physics. We now applied this theory to the real world, to different Antarctic outlet glaciers, considering their observed individual geometry and physical properties. This enables us to compare the speed of potential instabilities around Antarctica.”

“The results are fascinating,” said Feldmann, “yet also a strong call for adaptation and resolute reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions to curb

The Hong Kong resistance is a version update of the Edsa upheaval.

It is well equipped, well organized and aided by modern communications gadget. However, the will to uphold civil liberties and protect it from being trampled upon is the same: It is visceral—an intuitive nature of humans to be free from injustice. afoul with the law to mainland China for trial. Still the resistance marches on, wary that Lam’s proposal is just a prelude to put Hong Kong under Beijing’s iron clad governance.

A dear friend from Hong Kong —raised by a Filipina nanny—who is deep into the resistance and who requested anonymity told me that total independence from China is very much on the table. He said that they are taking one step at a time and would test the waters on how far they can go.

The resistance, he said, draws its inspiration from a theory in which a government derives its political validity from the power of the people, and that citizens have acquiesced to be governed for as long as their rights and social order would be preserved and protected.

Perhaps, it’s worth taking this bit of motivation to wake us up from our deep apathetic slumber. The people who invented People Power have become deaf and mute to the way our government has been stifling dissent. Unable to free ourselves from President Duterte’s autocratic spell, we have let him eat away our precious freedom piece by piece.

The Hong Kong people have shown us that China is not to be feared and yet many of us have taken up the lead from Duterte who has willingly bowed to the communist country’s beck and call.

We have allowed him to look the other way as China continues its aggressive, arrogant annexation of the entire West Philippine Sea. I would not dwell on the current issue of China’s vessel on June 9 ramming of Filipino fishing boat Gemver, which almost sank and the fishermen on it nearly drowning after being left to the elements and praying for dear life.

So much has already been written and speculated about the incident.

But the bottom line is that we have a government who’d rather toe China’s line than worry about the welfare of our fisherfolk whose catch provide us with our daily sustenance. The President, his men and supporters would rather hurl insults to those who dare stand up to the reprehensible bully nation that has no scruples murdering its own citizens.

For comments and suggestions, e-mail me at mvala.v@gmail.com.

global sea-level rise.”

The PIK is one of the leading research institutions addressing relevant questions in the fields of global change, climate impacts and sustainable development. Natural and social scientists work closely together to generate interdisciplinary insights that provide a sound basis for decision-making for society, businesses and politics. PIK is a member of the prestigious Leibniz Association.

To reach the writer, e-mail cecilio.arillo@ gmail.com.

Thursday, June 20, 2019 A7

T

HE multiplication of loaves (Luke 9:11-17) is the one miracle common to all four gospels. For the feast of Corpus Christi, the account provides us with the parameters within which to interpret today the meaning and challenge of the Eucharist, the Christian celebration of the Body of Jesus Christ.

The Messiah LUKE’S narration of the multiplication of loaves is preceded by Herod’s perplexity as to the identity of Jesus.

“Who then is this about whom I hear all these things?” namely among others that one of the prophets of old has arisen (Luke 9:9). For Luke and his community Jesus is in fact greater than the ancient prophets. If Elisha (2 Kings 4:42-44) fed 100 men with only 20 loaves of bread, Jesus gave bread in surplus to 5,000 men out of five loaves. If the deed of Elisha manifested to the people the mighty presence of God among His chosen ones, the miracle of the multiplication of bread by Jesus bore witness to the power of God in Him as the anointed one, the Christ.

His disciples saw that the feeding of the 5,000 fulfilled the Old

Testament promises that God in His providence would feed His own people (Isaiah 25:6; 65:13-14; Psalm 78:19; 81:16-17). Hunger is seen as pain ailing God’s people, and liberation from hunger and partaking of food on the table of the Lord are messianic signs of the coming of God’s reign. Purposely, Luke introduced the account of the multiplication of loaves by referring to the (hungry) crowds looking for Jesus and being received by Him. Jesus feeding the crowds is a portrayal of Him as the Prophet-Messiah who stilled the hunger of God’s people. “They all ate and were satisfied.”

His Eucharist

LUKE remarkably followed the account of the miracle with the prediction of the passion of Jesus (Luke

9:22). He did not include the incident about the people rushing at Jesus to make Him their king after having eaten of the abundant bread (John 6:15). Quietly putting aside any idea of a political messiahship, we are reminded instead of the distinct manner Jesus would exercise His being the Messiah-King. No sheer display of royal power, but saving the people through a process of transformation that would include His passion and death.

It must be noted that all evangelists pointedly retained the language of the Last Supper in the narration of the multiplication of loaves (Mark 6:30-44; 8:1-9; Matthew 14:13-21; 15:32-38; John 6:1-13). The gestures of Jesus (“taking, looking up, blessed, broke, gave”) relate His feeding actions to the mystery of the Eucharist at the Last Supper. The Eucharist and His other earlier feeding and life-giving actions and also His later appearance meals with His followers as the risen Lord should be seen as intimately related and mutually shedding light on each other. Transparent in all of them is the sacrificial dimension of the saving work of Jesus. Blessed, broken and given to be consumed, that is what happens to the bread, the body of Jesus offers for His followers and the people. It is as immolated and sacrificed that Jesus definitively proclaims to the world the saving love of the Father.

His thanksgiving of love, His Eucharist, was and is His self-sacrifice for the life of the world.

Alálaong bagá, “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19) at the Last Supper is echoed by “Give them some food yourselves” (Luke 9:13) at the multiplication of loaves. Jesus’ intention is for the people to have life in abundance and be liberated from all forms of hunger, and for His followers imitating Him in self-sacrifice to continue His mission of saving and giving life to others. The 12 baskets of left-over, referring to the 12 tribes of God’s people and to the 12 apostles empowered and entrusted with the task to do again and again what the Lord has done, dramatize divine abundance and saving compassion.

All must be fed, no one should go hungry, and His Eucharistic people must never be tolerant of any form of hunger in the world. As a people whose supreme self-expression is the Eucharist, we should be at the forefront of the struggle against all manners of the destruction of human life. Even as we partake of the Eucharistic Body of Jesus, we know we are all summoned to the fullness of life still to come and to the communion still to be realized.

Join me in meditating on the Word of God every Sunday, from 5 to 6 a.m. on DWIZ 882, or by audio streaming on www.dwiz882.com.

ILO: Can it forge a new global social contract?

Dr. Rene E. Ofreneo

LABOREM EXERCENS Continued from A1

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ND yet, the ILO, with its ability to convene the three industrial relations actors (government, industry and labor) to support and abide with the “international” labor standards on hours of work, freedom of association, collective bargaining, social insurance and various issues related to work conditions everywhere, managed to become the conscience of the world in the area of work governance and labor relations.

The ILO’s standard-setting, monitoring of compliance by memberstates of the established labor conventions and recommendations, and technical assistance given to developing countries on how to improve labor governance and industrial relations practices became part of what industrial relations gurus call the “social contract” of the 20th century. This social contract is credited as a major stabilizing factor of the countries of Europe and North America in their “glorious golden decades” of the 1940s-1970s. These were the decades of welfare capitalism and social democracy that saw the enthronement of policies promoting industrial democracy (e.g., system of collective bargaining in the United States and codetermination in Germany), strong social protection (e.g., free education and health insurance for all in Canada and Scandinavian countries), unemployment insurance for the displaced and jobless, etc.

Fast-forward to 2019. The world of work has changed tremendously. In the Centenary Conference, thousands of trade unionists and civil-society activists marched outside the Palais des Nations carrying posters with a common message: Social contract for the 21st century.

The reality: the old social contract has crumbled. Under the globalization decades of the 1980s to present, social and welfare protection for the working populations in both developed and developing countries has been eroded. A Global Race to the Bottom has ensued, a Race rolling back welfare protection and even subverting basic labor rights. Under their global supply chains, multinational corporations, as global investors, are able to fly in and out of countries in search of cheap, nonunionized and malleable labor. The Race to the Bottom is facilitated by

the Washington Consensus prescriptions of economic liberalization, deregulation and privatization. Under neoliberal globalization of the last few decades, unionism has been on retreat or in decline, in both developed and developing countries.

The problems facing the labor movement at the global, regional and national levels are compounded by the disruptive impact of the ICTbased technology revolution and the dislocating impact of climate change.

Moreover, with the downsizing of the public sector under deregulation-privatization programs, governments are spending less and less on social and labor protection. The most vulnerable and disadvantaged in this evolving global, regional and national economic and labor landscape are the non-regulars, including the “Endos,” in the formal sector, and those earning marginal incomes in the vast galaxy of the informals.

Meantime, the rich are not only getting richer; they are getting fabulously rich, with Thomas Pikketty, documenting in his magnum opus Capital (2013) how the rate of return to capital has outpaced return on growth and everything, resulting in the never-ending process of concentration and centralization of wealth in the hands of a few. As a result, the world has never been so unequal.

It is against the foregoing backdrop that many academics, UN institutions, trade unions and CSOs have been talking since the turn of the millennium about the need for a new global social contract. The call for a new global social contract has been loudest this year, with the ILO centenary.

Surprisingly, this call has received positive response from two institutions that the trade unions and CSOs have been denouncing as among those responsible for the Race to the

Bottom. These are the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). These twin sisters of international finance have been at the forefront in the promotion of unregulated globalization, deregulation, liberalization and privatization of markets, including labor markets.

Early this year, the World Bank came up with its World Development Report 2019—“The Changing Nature of Work.” The Report has on its cover a fresco painting by Diego Rivera, a Mexican Communist, who illustrated in his paintings the leading role of workers in the advancement of a society. The Report raises the need for a new social contract and calls for more government spending on social protection for the poor and greater investments by governments and the private sector on skills development.

The idea is to “empower” workers to be ready for the challenges of the 21st century, in particular to able to adjust to the complex requirements of life and work under the evolving technology revolution.

Despite this labor empowerment message, however, the World Bank 2019 Report was still heavily criticized by a number of trade unions and CSOs. The main criticism: The World Bank continues to espouse “labor flexibility,” which, the trade unions interpret to mean the nonregularization, casualization and degradation of paid work.

The IMF also took up the social contract message. This time, the IMF delivered the message right during the ILO’s International Labor Conference this year.

Christine Lagarde, the IMF’s managing director, talked of the importance of more social spending to cover the needs of the workers. This talk is consistent with the new direction set by Lagarde for the IMF, to broaden the discussion of the traditional financial issues, by taking into consideration their “macro-critical” impact such as social inclusion, gender equality and so on. In the ILO gathering, Lagarde’s speech is symbolically titled “Forging a Stronger Social Contract—the IMF’s Approach to Social Spending.” To her, the social contract revolves around the provision of social protection, which she defines as spending to cover the social insurance, social assistance, as well as public spending on health and education, of the working population.

Admittedly, this is revisionism of a different kind for the IMF because the IMF, in the past, had always insisted on austerity measures, including cuts in social programs, just to balance the budget of an indebted

country. The Philippines experienced this in the IMF-supervised peso devaluations in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, including the IMF-led “structural adjustment” program, from the 1980s to 2000s.

But now, like the World Bank, the IMF is pushing for more spending on social protection as well as more allocations for education and skills development for all.

And yet, one major issue that the World Bank and the IMF have failed to tackle is reform of the globalization architecture. How to reform globalization, or the kind of global economic integration that has developed in the last four to five decades of economic liberalization, deregulation and privatization? They have also remained silent on trade union issues such as labor flexibility, which is at the roots of the Race to the Bottom.

In this regard, the world needs to listen to other global players, including the trade unions and CSOs, on what the global social contract of the 21st century should be. This column recommends the works of the social activists, researchers and academics belonging to the Asia-Europe People’s Forum. Through the annual AEPF assembly and engagement with Asian and European governments, the AEPF has produced a large number of documents outlining an alternative social and economic order that is inclusive and sustainable for humanity. For example, Francine Mestrum, a leading light in the AEPF, has been writing on the importance of society’s commons—land, water, air and other resources—that should be treated as belonging to the people as a whole and, should not, therefore, be privatized and commercialized for the benefit of only a few.

The AEPF has also been calling for two transformation challenges —just transition in the transformation of the economy to become green or greener and just transformation to help everyone, workers in particular, adjust to the technology revolution. The point is that in these twin transition challenges, the jobs and dignity of the workers should not only be maintained but also, and more important, enhanced and strengthened.

This, admittedly, is not easy. This is why more, not less, debates are needed on what should be the social contract for the 21st century. The ILO offices in Geneva, Bangkok and Manila should organize meetings, where more alternative inputs from the people below can be heard. After all, it is the future of humanity and Mother Earth that are at stake.

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A8 Thursday, June 20, 2019

Military lacks assets to fully guard Recto Bank–Lorenzana

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By Rene Acosta

@reneacostaBM

The responsibility of patrolling Recto Bank, which also falls within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), was also with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Lorenzana said.

Lorenzana added the Department of National Defense (DND) earlier used the word “collision” in describing the incident because the DND has yet to ascertain whether the boat bearing 22 Filipino fishermen was, indeed, deliberately struck by the Chinese vessel.

While the defense chief said he assails the Chinese for leaving the Filipinos at sea after their vessel sank, he did not pass judgement on whether the incident should be called as ramming. He hinted, however, it may have been an accident; toeing the line of President Duterte who called it a “little maritime accident.”

I n h i s ea rl ier st atement ,

Lorenzana said the Filipino fishing boat was on anchor at the time of the incident, a fact that had been confirmed by the fishermen. Except for the captain and the cook who was preparing for food, nearly all of them were already asleep when their boat was struck.

“The West Philippine Sea is too big for you to hit a small boat, maybe its chance is one is to 1 million. And you know, it is dark, our boat is down. It has its lights on—it has three lights: one in the front, one in the middle and the other one, at the back. I don’t know why it was struck,” Lorenzana said at a news briefing in Manila on Wednesday.

Still, Lorenzana says he stills denounces the Chinese who left the Filipinos to the mercy of the elements. The Filipino fishermen couldn’t have been rescued if not for the Vietnamese fishing vessel that

@BNicolasBM

& Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

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DEFENSE Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana replies to questions from the media during a forum in Manila on the issue of the sinking of a fishing boat holding Filipinos after getting hit by a Chinese maritime vessel. ROY DOMINGO

immediately came for help.

The rescued fishermen believed they were rammed by the Chinese fishing boat as they recounted what happened when they reached Mindoro. Their narration had been confirmed by the captain of the Vietnamese ship in an article in Vietnamese newspaper Saigon Times.

“I think my denouncement stays. I denounce the ship captain for abandoning our [fishermen].

That’s the only thing I denounce,” Lorenzana said. “If you read my press release, ‘collision’ was what was stated there. I did not say [the Filipino boat] was rammed or struck, intentional or not.”

Lorenzana said the Philippine Coast Guard is undertaking the official investigation into the incident.

He said other agencies, including the military, have already undertaken their respective investigation.

Changing Charter a priority agenda–lawmaker

P

R ESIDEN T Duter te has asked new members of the House of Representatives to continue studying possible

changes in the 1987 Constitution, a lawmaker said.

This after at least 125 newly elected lawmakers and reelected

RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE AREA AFFECTING LUZON as of 4:00 pm - June 19, 2019

RECTO BANK ‘ALREADY EXCLUSIVE’ TO FILIPINO FISHERS, SAYS PALACE

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

EFENSE Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana on Wednesday admitted the country’s military lacked assets in fully patrolling Recto Bank, the scene of an incident involving maritime vessels on June 9.

members of the lower chamber from various political parties attended a welcome party on Tuesday night at Malacañang Park.

Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, who led the gathering organized by Davao City Rep.-elect Paolo Duterte, said the President has talked to new and reelected members of the chamber to study the Charter Change in the 18th Congress. The 18th Congress is scheduled to open on July 22.

Among those who attended the dinner were Reps. Ferdinand Hernandez and Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of PDP Laban, Duterte’s political party, and Reps. Mark Enverga and Wes Gatcha lian of t he Nat ion a l i s t Pe o pl e ’s Coalition (NPC).

In the 17th Congress, the lower chamber has adopted House Resolution 2056 authored by Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to convene the Senate and the House of Representatives as Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass) in order to consider the proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution.

The members of the lower chamber support Con-Ass, saying convening Congress into an assembly is necessary because it will shorten the time needed for changing the charter.

The lower chamber has also approved the draft Federal Constitution of the Philippines or the Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) 15.

RBH 15 is one of the priority measures that President Duterte cited in his State of the Nation Address last year. The lower chamber transmitted the measure to the Senate but the latter failed to approve it.

The proposed Federal charter amends certain economic provisions of the Constitution by relaxing restrictive foreign ownership to attract more foreign direct investment.

RBH 15, principally authored

by Arroyo, seeks a presidentialbicameral-federal system of government.

It also empowers Congress to establish federal states by convening Congress into a constituent assembly. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

www.businessmirror.com.ph

@jearcalas

ECTO Bank is “already an exclusive fishing ground to Filipinos,” Malacañang said on Wednesday, as it assured the public that the Philippine government will be posting more Coast Guard personnel to protect Filipinos there.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador S. Panelo made the remarks shortly after Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said the 22 Filipino fishermen whose boat was rammed by a Chinese vessel on June 9 are asking the President to make representations with Beijing so the Chinese fishing vessel’s crew will be held accountable criminally for abandoning them. They also asked that Recto Bank be the Filipino fishermen’s exclusive fishing grounds.

The Filipino fishermen are also asking the government to help them secure the area.

Sought for reaction by BusinessMirror , Panelo said: “The Chinese government has already assured us that it will impose sanctions on the shipping vessel and its crew if its findings show they are at fault. Sanction should include compensation for the damage done to the Filipino fishermen.”

On the second request, Panelo said, “Reed [Recto] Bank is already an exclusive fishing ground to the Filipinos. We will be posting more Coast Guard [men] to ensure the exclusivity, as well as their safety.”

Nonetheless, Panelo, who is also the chief presidential legal counsel, said the President Duterte will move with finality after acts have been established as to the culpability.

In a separate statement, the Palace spokesman also said government policy and action cannot be based on conjecture, speculation or even emotion.

Panelo was responding to Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s remarks that the government must test America’s compliance with the US-PHL Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT).

“Before we can invoke our Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States, there must first be an act of aggression against us. The facts have yet to be established pointing to the incident as an act of aggression by the Chinese government,” Panelo said.

“Thus, invoking the strong medicine of the MDT at this time when facts about the maritime incident in our exclusive economic zone have not yet been firmly established would not only be imprudent, it would be irre-

sponsible, as well,” he added.

Vietnamese rescuers

NGO VAN THENG, the Vietnamese boat captain, told the VnExpress that a group of 10 Vietnamese fishermen had saved the Filipino fishing crew in distress near Reed Bank.

“The Filipino fishing crew intimated through gestures that their boat was rammed and sank. After the collision, two of them sailed a small boat for more than four hours toward the light emanating from the Vietnamese boat to seek assistance,” read the report.

Asked on the Palace’s take on the perceived similarity of the accounts of Vietnamese and Filipino fishermen on the Recto Bank incident, Panelo said it just “validates the statement of Filipino fishermen that the Vietnamese helped them after the incident, for which we thanked them in my first statement.”

Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana first revealed the June 9 Recto Bank incident on Independence Day, wherein he condemned the abandonment of Filipino fishermen after their vessel sank after allegedly being rammed by a Chinese vessel—a maritime militia boat according to some quarters.

For its part, China has since denied that what happened in Recto Bank was a “hit-and-run” incident.

Meeting with Piñol

EARLIER on Wednesday, the 22 Filipino fishermen appealed to the President to make representations with the Chinese government to hold accountable the Chinese fishing crew that rammed their boat last week.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol disclosed that this is one of the two requests by the Filipino fishermen, now called the Recto Bank 22, during their meeting on Wednesday.

The other request was for the Philippine government to ensure that Recto Bank, which is part of the country’s exclusive economic zone, would remain “exclusive” to Filipino fishermen, Piñol said.

Piñol added that he would include the Reed Bank 22’s requests in his report to Duterte.

“Let us not belittle this incident. But, at the same time, let us not overblow this incident to the point of invoking the Mutual Defense Treaty. It’s a maritime incident,” he added.

Piñol distributed 11 fiberglass fishing boats to the Recto Bank 22 and provided each of them with a P25,000 loan to help them with their financial needs. The loan is payable in three years with no collateral and interest rate.

Incentives for buyers of e-vehicles pushed

By Elijah Felice E. Rosales @alyasjah

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EYOND fiscal incentives for vehicle makers, the government should provide purchase subsidies and tax cuts to buyers of e-vehicles to boost product appetite and encourage drivers to make the switch, industry leaders have said.

Engineering Prof. Jose Bienvenido M. Biona of the De La Salle University argued the government should pull out all the stops in adopting e-vehicles in the Philippines. He said in an industry briefing that incentives should be made available for e-vehicle buyers to encourage more purchases.

Biona cited the strategies of the South Korean, Chinese and Indian governments, who introduced purchase subsidies, tax cuts, among other incentives, in attracting drivers to switch to e-vehicles.

Further, Biona said in May that South Korea, China and India rolled out policies on e-vehicles to reduce carbon emission, cut down energy imports, as well as generate livelihood opportunities in battery production and car parts assembly.

The Philippines is also apparently lagging behind the ambitions of

Southeast Asian competitors Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia.

According to Biona, Indonesia is targeting to manufacture 2.1 million e-motorcycles and 2,200 e-vehicles by 2025.

Thailand is eyeing to get 1.2 million e-vehicles plying its roads by 2036, while Malaysia is looking to host 100,000 e-vehicles, 100,000 e-motorcycles and 2,000 e-buses by 2030. As for the Philippines, the government intends to modernize some 200,000 public utility vehicles by 2024.

Biona also put forward the need to develop lead cities, where the government can introduce e-vehicles as the main mode of transportation.

The academic suggested Boracay to be the lead area, as the government can promote to tourists the use of e-vehicles. In doing so, he argued a comprehensive framework should be crafted to ensure all government efforts for the promotion of e-vehicles are aligned.

In an interview with reporters on Wednesday, Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said he is studying the option of providing financial assistance to vehicle assemblers who will do local production of e-vehicles.

See “Vehicles,” A2

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If you have any information / objection to the above mentioned application/s, please communicate with the Regional Director thru Employment Promotion and Workers Welfare (EPWW) Division with Telephone No. 400-6011.

ATTY. ANA C. DIONE, CPA REGIONAL DIRECTOR

Editor: Efleda P. Campos

Companies BusinessMirror

Thursday, June 20, 2019

B1

DMCI Homes to spend ₧7B for QC condo projects

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By VG Cabuag

@villygc

MCI Homes Inc., a unit of listed firm DMCI Holdings Inc., said it is allocating P7 billion to build two more condominium projects in Quezon City, following its previous projects in the area.

DMCI Homes President Alfredo Austria said the company is eyeing to build two single-tower developments in the sprawling city this year.

These will be named Crestmont and Cameron Residences.

Austria said about P3 billion will

be spent for the development of Cameron Residences on Mapalad Street in Roosevelt Avenue, while P4 billion has been allotted for the development of The Crestmont along Panay Avenue in Barangay South Triangle.

“We are confident that demand

will continue to remain robust, especially with the ongoing construction of big-ticket infrastructure projects in the city like the Metro Manila Subway project,” Austria said.

Cresmont will be built in a location adjacent to the MRT 3 Quezon Avenue station and is seen to draw interest from property hunters with its proximity to one of the proposed stations of the country’s first intercity underground railway now under construction.

The 36-kilometer train line from Quirino Highway in Quezon City to Naia Terminal 3 in Pasay City will have 15 stations, seven of which will pass through Quezon City.

Cameron Residences will also be attractive to homebuyers and investors due to its proximity

to the Skyway extension project that will link the South Luzon Expressway to the North Luzon Expressway. Once completed, the transportation infrastructure is expected to reduce travel time from Quezon City to Makati City to just half an hour.

The two projects, the company said, are part of the 10 projects worth about P104 billion the company plans to launch this year.

Other projects of the company in Quezon City include the preselling of Infina Towers, The Orabella and The Celandine, and ready-for-occupancy projects Zinnia Towers, Viera Residences, The Amaryllis, One Castilla Place, The Manors at Celebrity Place, The Redwoods, Stellar Place, Magnolia Place and Accolade Place.

Eagle can compete head on vs imported cement

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AGLE Cement Corp., the cement firm led by the family of Ramon S. Ang, said it can compete head on with imported cement products, which already corners more than a third of the market.

Ang, the company’s chairman, said it targets to sell between 5 million and 6 million this year, which represents about 14 percent of the entire Philippine market.

“Eagle is very competitive against imported cement. Eagle is not afraid of imported cement because Eagle has a very modern and most efficient cement plant. We are not worried about imported cement,” Ang said

at the sidelines of the company’s stockholders’ meeting.

“Imported cement has taken so much of the industry. It’s now 35 percent to 40 percent of the Industry consumption,” he said.

Ang is also president and COO of San Miguel Corp., but Eagle is not part of the conglomerate.

Ang said the company can reach that volume of production all coming from its existing lines, mostly in Bulacan.

Its Cebu line, meanwhile, is facing a delay of more than six months due to issues on permits.

Paul Ang, the company’s presi-

dent, said it is moving by at least six months of the opening of its fourth line, located in Malabuyoc, Cebu, after the facility’s construction experienced delay in securing permits. This included a Special Use Agreement in Protected Areas permit needed to construct the port.

Ang said it will be completed in 2021 instead of next year.

“From 2.6 million metric tons of cement with our first integrated production line in 2010, to 7.1 million metric tons at the end of 2018—we have almost tripled our total annual cement capacity over a period of eight years. From 2010

Mondelez, 7-Eleven seek ‘sweeter’ partnership

By Roderick L. Abad @rodrik_28 Contributor

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ARKING the 35th year of their partnership, Mondelez Philippines and Philippine Seven Corp. expect a 22-percent confectionery sales growth in 2019, following the favorable market response to their ongoing promotional campaign.

Mondelez Philippines Key Accounts Manager Ros Fajardo said their company is the undisputed No. 1 chocolate manufacturer in modern trade and convenience-store channels in the country, given the combined sales of their very own brands Toblerone and Cadbury.

Without citing exact figures, she said that their total chocolate business has been expanding “high double-digit” for the first quarter of this year.

“We expect to sustain this in the coming months,” she told the BusinessMirror at the sidelines of the media launch for the 35th anniversary celebration of their alliance with 7-Eleven, dubbed “TWOgether,” held

in Ortigas Center on Tuesday.

Contributing to Mondelez’s improved performance are partners like 7-Eleven, one of its Top 10 retailers and also its leading conveniencestore ally.

“Actually, we’re very well placed in the convenience-store channel because it allows us to be available, present and accessible to all our consumers anytime, anywhere,” she said.

Of late, Toblerone 100 grams is the most salable variant of chocolate offered over-the-counter of around 2,600 7-Eleven stores nationwide, growing by 19 percent versus last year.

“It’s a strategic brand considering that Toblerone is Toblerone,” Philippine Seven Corp. Food Section Manager Marissa Casildo said of the 111-year-old iconic triangularshaped chocolate brand. “It’s better that we really ride the hype and the milestone of Toblerone as a brand.”

To give back to loyal patrons as the convenience store turns 35 this year, 7-Eleven customers will have the chance to bring home the “giant” Toblerone bars weighing 4.5 kilograms.

By purchasing participating Mondelez Philippines products like Toblerone and Cadbury Dairy Milk from any 7-Eleven store, they are entitled to join the e-raffle and be one of the 2,600 winners to own the biggest chocolate made especially for them. The grand draw is set on a yet-to-be-announced date in August.

“Every year, [our alliance] gets better and better because we really consider 7-Eleven to be an important strategic partner. What we do from Mondelez is to be able to grow our business together. We want to position ourselves not just as a supplier, but as a growth ally. We do this by knowing and satisfying the needs of our consumers,” Fajardo said.

Looking forward to a more strategic partnership with Mondelez, 7-Eleven seeks to sustain its domain of the “kids and mom” segment of the food category and achieve their confectionery sales growth target for the year.

“Because the sales of Toblerone with us is huge and they are one of our anchors, so definitely if their brand will grow, 7-Eleven will also grow,” Casildo said.

FP ISLAND ENERGY COMPLETES SOLAR ROOFTOP PROJECT Top officials of First Philippine Holdings Corp. (FPH), led by

Chairman and CEO Federico R. Lopez (fifth from left), join their counterparts from DoubleDragon Properties Corp., led by Chairman Edgar “Injap” Sia (sixth from left), in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the launch of a solar installation atop the DoubleDragon Plaza DD Meridian Park within the Bay Area in Pasay City. Also in photo are (from left): Ariel Villasenor, FPI Energy vice president; Chinie Defensor, FPI Energy senior manager; Carlo Vega, FPI Energy vice president; Victor Emmanuel “Lito” Santos Jr., FPI Energy president; Ambassador Benedicto Yujuico, DD-Meridian Park Development Corp. vice chairman emeritus; Tony Tan Caktiong, DoubleDragon cochairman; Hannah Yulo, DoubleDragon chief investment officer; and Ferdinand Sia, DoubleDragon president.

to date, we have completed three integrated production lines,” he said in his speech during the stockholders’ meeting.

PCC okays East West Bank purchase of PBCom car-loan biz

By Elijah Felice Rosales @alyasjah

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HE Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) has approved East West Banking Corp.’s purchase of the car-loan portfolio of the Philippine Bank of Communications (PBCom).

With the approval, EastWest can go on with its acquisition of a portion of PBCom’s car-loan receivables, specifically limited to dealership generated accounts. The transaction, the PCC said in a commission decision on Tuesday, is subject to EastWest’s acceptance, and after due diligence and evaluation of relevant documentation.

In endorsing the transaction, the PCC argued the merger will not likely result in the substantial lessening of competition in the car-loan market.

The PCC said the acquisition will not even lead to any significant change in market structure. After the transaction, there is sufficient competitive challenge from other banks that offer similar loans and leases, it added.

PBCom is one of the country’s largest commercial banks offering various financial services, including deposit products, Treasury and foreign-exchange trading, trade services, cash management services, credit and loan facilities, trust and investment management, as well as ancillary services.

EastWest is a subsidiary of listed Filinvest Development Corp., the holding firm of the Filinvest Group. It is doing retail banking, consumer lending, corporate bank-

ing, rural banking and Treasury and trust management.

The EastWest-PBCom acquisition was the second approved of its kind by the competition body in a span of five days.

The PCC last week gave JACCS Co. Ltd. the green light to carry on with its acquisition of shares in the financing arm of Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC). The transaction will result in JACCS acquiring shares in MMPC Auto Financial Services Corp. (MAFS).

Under the agreement, JACCS is set to acquire BDO Leasing and Finance Inc.’s 3,000,000 common shares and MMPC’s 375,000 common shares in MAFS for P165.63 million and P20.7 million, respectively.

Similar to its findings on the EastWestPBCom transaction, the PCC argued the MAFS buyout will not lead to a substantial lessening of competition in the car-loan market.

It added the merger could even tighten the car-loan competition, as BDO Leasing and Finance offers loans to automobile brands other than Mitsubishi.

The PCC is mandated under the Philippine Competition Act to review mergers and acquisitions to ensure these deals will not harm the interest of consumers.

As of June, it received 184 merger proposals from local and international firms with a transaction value of P2.87 trillion, of which 174 were approved and one was blocked. Industries with most merger and acquisitions were manufacturing with 42 transactions; finance and insurance with 30; real estate with 24; electricity and gas, also with 24; and transportation and storage with 13.

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DICT hires US company to bolster ICT devt agenda

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By Lorenz S. Marasigan

@lorenzmarasigan

HE government is strengthening its push for its national information and communications technology (ICT) development agenda by tapping a Delaware-based tech company whose expertise includes the use of blockchain technology.

Wednesday saw the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) signing

a memorandum of agreement with Monsoon Blockchain Storage Inc. to enhance the capacity develop-

ment and institution-building efforts of the Philippines.

Under the agreement, Monsoon will provide complimentary courtesy consultation, advice, cost-benefit and socioeconomic analysis on the use of blockchain technology in the Philippines.

DICT, meantime, will assist Monsoon on blockchain technology information dissemination and capacity-building activities.

Monsoon is a blockchain-based decentralized protocol that aims to construct a worldwide storage and cloud optimization network of users and providers based on their innovative technology.

In a nutshell, blockchain is an

emerging technology that enables the storage of data for analysis and public use. More often used in monetary transactions, blockchain also enables the storage and usage of public data for health care, logistics and other industries.

Eliseo M. Rio Jr., DICT chief, said the partnership with Monsoon will help the government hasten the permit processing and even buttress its cyber-security efforts.

“This partnership will directly benefit our continuous effort to address the country’s issues on ease of doing business and cyber security,” he said.

CebuPac signs deal with Airbus for more planes

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OW-COST carrier Cebu Pacific (CEB) last week signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Airbus for scores of new generation airplanes during the Paris Air Show.

In a statement, CEB said it has purchased 31 Airbus aircraft, comprising of 16 A330neo, 10 A321XLR and five A320neo.

Cebu Pacific’s A330neo aircraft will be a

higher capacity version of the A330-900, with 460 seats in single-class configuration.

The airline also becomes one of the launch airlines for the A321XLR, which will be able to fly nonstop from the Philippines to destinations as far as India and Australia.

The A320neo aircraft will be the first of the type to feature 194 seats in a single-class layout.

This latest agreement supports CEB’s on-

going fleet renewal program, which aims to have only new-generation, environmentally efficient aircraft by 2024. The fast-growing carrier’s decision also strengthens its all-Airbus fleet status in the jet category.

Selected for their outstanding operational efficiency, comfort and increased range, these new-generation aircraft will allow Cebu Pacific to further expand its Asia-Pacific network and

position itself even more competitively.

The A320neo and A321XLR are members of the A320 family incorporating the very latest technologies, including new-generation engines and Sharklets, which together deliver fuel savings of 20 percent.

At the end of May 2019, the A320neo family had received more than 6,500 firm orders from over 100 customers worldwide. Recto L. Mercene

GESC to supply 57 MW of power to Century Peak

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LOBAL Energy Supply Corp. (GESC), the retail energy supplier of Global Business Power Corp. (GBP), will supply 57 megawatts (MW) of power to Century Peak Corp. (CPC).

The two companies signed a five-year power supply deal under the Energy Regulatory Commission’s Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA) scheme.

RCOA is a provision under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act that allows “contestable customers” or those whose peak demand falls within the threshold level of contestability, to freely choose their electricity supplier.

CPC is engaged in mining, cement, steel and minerals development.

“Century Peak is one of the country’s leaders in cement and steel manufacturing,” GBP President Jaime T. Azurin said. “We thank them for their trust in us and our new vision to become a total sustainable energy solutions provider.”

This partnership underscores both GBP and CPC’s commitment to support the country’s infrastructure drive, as the government’s “Build, Build, Build” program goes into full swing, said GBP Executive Committee Chairman Jose K. Lim, adding that the retail contract supply is GBP’s largest to date.

Data from the Department of Budget and Management showed the government has earmarked P910 billion for infrastructure spending for 2019, equivalent to 4.7 percent of the country’s gross domestic product. Infrastructure spending is further expected to break the P1-trillion mark in 2020, and peak to P1.81 trillion by 2022—equivalent to 7 percent of the country’s GDP. The National Economic and Development Authority said 44 ‘Build, Build, Build’ projects are already in various stages of implementation as of November 2018. Of which, 28 are expected to be completed by 2022.

“As we continue to support the country’s infrastructure drive through our operations, we look forward to working with GBP to help meet our energy requirements,” CPC CEO Wilfredo D. Keng said.

GBP is one of the leading independent power producers in the Visayas and Mindoro, with facilities located in Cebu, Iloilo, Aklan and Mindoro. It is currently developing a 2X335-MW supercritical coal-fired power facility in La Union, and has recently acquired a 50-percent interest in Mindanao-based Alsons Thermal Energy Corp., which serves as the holding company for all base-load coal-fired power plant assets of Alsons Consolidated Resources Inc. Lenie Lectura

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Qatar Airways inaugurates direct Davao-Doha flight

By Manuel T. Cayon Mindanao Bureau Chief

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AVAO CITY—Qatar sent its inaugural direct flight here on Tuesday from its capital in Doha, to signal the start of a weekly flight to southern Philippines, where many migrant workers in the Middle East also trace their hometowns.

The inaugural flight brought here 50 passengers, including overseas Filipino workers, airline top-ranking executives and Filipino diplomats in Doha.

Qatar Airways Flight QR936 departed Hamad International Airport in Doha at 2:45 a.m. on Tuesday and landed in Davao at 5:20 p.m. It was welcomed with the traditional celebratory water-cannon salute.

Ambassador of the Philippines to the State of Qatar Alan Timbayan was joined by Qatar Airways Senior Vice President Asia Pacific Marwan Koleilat onboard Qatar Airways’s inaugural flight to Davao.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker said in a statement his company “is very proud to extend its reach into the Philippines by launching our third gateway into this beautiful country.”

“The inclusion of Davao into our global network further demonstrates our commitment to the Far East region, a highly important

MUTUAL FUNDS

market for Qatar Airways. With 50 weekly passenger flights to and from the Philippines, we take great pride in our role of enabling trade and connecting international businesses,” he said.

Also welcoming him was Davao International Airport Manager Engr.

Rex A. Obcena, who described the city as having “numerous beaches and resorts, on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, is a coastal commercial center near Mount Apo, the country’s highest peak. Davao City is the largest city outside of Manila and the fourth largest in the Philippines in terms of population, with over 1.4 million residents.”

Davao City now becomes its third Philippine destination after Manila and Cebu. The company said it would serve this route once a week with a Boeing 787-8 aircraft, which has 22 seats in Business Class and 232 seats in Economy Class.

It said its direct flight between Davao and Doha would open to Davao exporters direct connection to destinations in Europe, the Middle East and the Americas via Doha.

The weekly flight here would take the same inaugural flight time on Friday, leaving Doha for Davao (QR936) at 2:45 a.m. and arriving at 8:50 p.m. It would leave Davao at 10:20 p.m. and arrive in Doha at 3:15 p.m. on Saturday.

June 19, 2019

NAV ONE YEAR THREE YEAR FIVE YEAR Y-T-D

PER SHARE RETURN* RETURN STOCK FUNDS ALFM ALFM GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 264.37 3.87% 0.08% 1.24% 4.81% ATRAM ALPHA OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. -A 1.617 8.02% 8.42% 3.24% 12.23% ATRAM PHILIPPINE EQUITY OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. -A 4.1023 1.81% 0.2% 0.4% 5.11% CLIMBS SHARE CAPITAL EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND CORP. -A 0.9411 5.87% N.A. N.A. 5.68% FIRST METRO CONSUMER FUND ON MSCI PHILS. IMI, INC. -A 0.8725 5.69% N.A. N.A. 6.31% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN EQUITY FUND,INC. -A 5.4644 4.76% 0.62% 1.07% 3.67% MBG EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND, INC. -A 120.84 8.6% N.A. N.A. 3.76% ONE WEALTHY NATION FUND, INC. -A 0.8781 2.94% -4.08% N.A. 5.49% PAMI EQUITY INDEX FUND, INC. -A 52.2636 6.53% 0.92% N.A. 6.22% PHILAM STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 544.35 5.32% -0.02% 1.09% 5.75% PHILEQUITY DIVIDEND YIELD FUND, INC. -A 1.3248 7.33% 1.79% 3.63% 5.65% PHILEQUITY FUND, INC. -A 38.9136 7.62% 2.59% 3.17% 6.23% PHILEQUITY MSCI PHILIPPINE INDEX FUND, INC. -A,3 1.0479 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. PHILEQUITY PSE INDEX FUND INC. -A 5.3018 7.51% 1.94% 3.39% 6.92% PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND CORP. -A 885.27 7.56% 1.65% 3.36% 6.85% SOLDIVO STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 0.9247 8.09% 0.8% N.A. 7.37% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE EQUITY FUND, INC. -A 4.3355 7.56% 1.9% 2.65% 6.81% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND, INC. -A 1.0173 7.02% 1.58% N.A. 6.6% UNITED FUND, INC. -A 3.7365 7.43% 3.37% 3.18% 6.73% EXCHANGE TRADED FUND FIRST METRO PHIL. EQUITY EXCHANGE TRADED FUND, INC. -A,C,2 118.5257 8.01% 2.61% 4.43% 7.02% ATRAM ASIAPLUS EQUITY FUND, INC. -B

$0.9552 -12.21% 5.12% -0.7% 2.81% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY WORLD VOYAGER FUND, INC. -A $1.2761 -2.48% 8.63% N.A. 15.47% BALANCED FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ATRAM DYNAMIC ALLOCATION FUND, INC. -A 1.7344 3.98% -1.13% -1.15% 5.04% ATRAM PHILIPPINE BALANCED FUND, INC. -A 2.3198 2.63% 0.39% 0.89% 5.01% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN BALANCED FUND INC. -A 2.6505 3.54% -0.29% -1.24% 4.19% GREPALIFE BALANCED FUND CORPORATION -A 1.3564 2.35% N.A. N.A. 3.99% NCM MUTUAL FUND OF THE PHILS., INC. -A 1.937 5.37% 0.82% 1.56% 5.09% PAMI HORIZON FUND, INC. -A 3.735 4.6% -0.37% 0.74% 5.83% PHILAM FUND, INC. -A 16.8139 5.43% -0.25% 0.77% 5.7% SOLIDARITAS FUND, INC. -A 2.1483 4.1% 0.94% 2.01% 3.67% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BALANCED FUND, INC. -A 3.8762 6.62% 0.9% 1.74% 6.16% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2028, INC. -A,D,4 1.0147 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2038, INC. -A,D,4 1.0101 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2048, INC. -A,D,4 1.007 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DYNAMIC FUND, INC. -A 0.9937 6.8% 1.19% N.A. 7.81% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES COCOLIFE DOLLAR FUND BUILDER, INC. -A $0.03702 6.62% 1.28% 1.82% 5.02% PAMI ASIA BALANCED FUND, INC. -A $0.9608 -7.68% 3.05% -1.28% 2.63% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ADVANTAGE FUND, INC. -A $3.7014 0.29% 6.31% 2.55% 11.88% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR WELLSPRING FUND, INC. -A $1.0974 2.08% 3.95% N.A. 8.65% BOND FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM PESO BOND FUND, INC. -A 349.73 3.3% 1.98% 2.2% 1.85% ATRAM CORPORATE BOND FUND, INC. -A, 1 1.8908 1.72% -0.29% -0.24% 1.7% COCOLIFE FIXED INCOME FUND, INC. -A 3.0464 5.62% 5.31% 5.28% 2.54% EKKLESIA MUTUAL FUND INC. -A 2.177 2.82% 1.1% 1.79% 2.18% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN FIXED INCOME FUND,INC. -A 2.3015 3.83% 0.92% 1.29% 4.17% GREPALIFE FIXED INCOME FUND CORP. -A P 1.6058 2.13% -0.98% 0.05% 2.65% PHILAM BOND FUND, INC. -A 4.1468 4.74% -0.21% 1.02% 5.79% PHILEQUITY PESO BOND FUND, INC. -A 3.6656 5.08% 1.32% 1.43% 4.22% SOLDIVO BOND FUND, INC. -A 0.9378 3.48% -0.39% N.A. 5.06% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BOND FUND, INC. -A 2.9461 7.58% 1.6% 2.02% 6.52% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY GS FUND, INC. -A

1.6373 7.55% 1.21% 1.59% 6.33% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES ALFM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $457.31 3.43% 1.83% 2.77% 2.01% ALFM EURO BOND FUND, INC. -A Є216.82 1.93% 1.41% 1.45% 1.96% ATRAM TOTAL RETURN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -B $1.1793 6.12% 1.83% 2.41% 4.75% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $0.0255 3.24% 1.07% N.A. 2.82% GREPALIFE DOLLAR BOND FUND CORP. -A $1.7144 1.19% -1.37% 0.71% 1.43% PAMI GLOBAL BOND FUND, INC -A $1.0817 4.58% -0.24% -1.92% 4.25% PHILAM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $2.3253 8.55% 1.2% 3.19% 7.1% PHILEQUITY DOLLAR INCOME FUND INC. -A $0.0587203 3.53% 1.39% 1.72% 3.05% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ABUNDANCE FUND, INC. -A $3.0591 6.08% 0.51% 2.61% 6.51% MONEY MARKET FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A 123.32 3.63% 2.37% 1.9% 2.05% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A,5 1.014 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. PHILAM MANAGED INCOME FUND, INC. -A 1.2117 3.72% 1.64% 1.01% 2.52% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A 1.2427 3.63% 2.62% 2% 1.94% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR STARTER FUND, INC. -A $1.0274 2.11% N.A. N.A. 1.13%

A - NAVPS AS OF THE PREVIOUS BANKING DAY. B - NAVPS AS OF TWO BANKING DAYS AGO. C - LISTED IN THE PSE. D - IN NET ASSET VALUE PER UNIT (NAVPU).

1 - ADJUSTED DUE TO CASH DIVIDEND ISSUANCE LAST JANUARY 29, 2018. 2 - ADJUSTED DUE TO STOCK DIVIDEND ISSUANCE LAST JUNE 5, 2018.

3 - LAUNCH DATE IS JANUARY 3, 2019. 4 - LAUNCH DATE IS JANUARY 28, 2019. 5 - LAUNCH DATE IS FEBRUARY 1, 2019.

www.businessmirror.com.ph • Editor: Angel R. Calso

The World

RUSSIA, CHINA BLOCK U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL FROM SAYING N. KOREA VIOLATED SANCTIONS

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N I T E D N AT I O N S — R u s s i a a n d Chin a have b lo cke d the United Nations Security Council committee monitoring sanctions against North Korea from declaring that Pyongyang breached the annual limit for importing refined petroleum products which are key for its economy, two UN diplomats said on Tuesday.

The diplomats said the Russians and Chinese notified the committee before Tuesday’s deadline for objections.

The United States and 25 other countries accused Nor th Korea of violating UN sanctions by importing far more than the annual limit of 500,000 barrels of refined petroleum products.

A US-led complaint had asked the sanc tions committee to rule that Pyongyang breached the cap and demand an immediate halt to deliveries. It said most of the excess petroleum products were obtained from dozens of illegal ship-to-ship transfers.

A Security Council diplomat said North Korea is believed to have obtained 3.5 million barrels of refined petroleum in 2018, seven times the limit.

This year, Nor th Korea has already imported more than the limit and is “on pace” to obtain about the same amount as last year through illegal ship-to-ship transfers, the diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.

The complaint said the 500,000-barrel annual limit on refined petroleum products

“is critical to maintaining pressure” on North Korea to achieve the denuclearization of the country.

Last July, Russia and China blocked a similar request from the US to get the UN sanctions committee to publicly accuse North Korea of violating the annual quota. The Russians and Chinese are key suppliers of petroleum products to North Korea.

The Security Council imposed sanctions on North Korea after its first nuclear test explosion in 2006 and has made them tougher and tougher in response to further such tests and its increasingly sophisticated ballistic missile program.

Many diplomats and analysts credit the sanc tions, which have sharply cut Nor th Korea’s expor ts and impor ts, with helping promote the thaw in relations between Nor th Korea and South Korea, and the two summits between President Donald J. Trump and Nor th Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Negotiations between the US and North Korea have been at a standstill since the Trump-Kim summit in Hanoi in February broke down over what the United States described as excessive North Korean demands for sanctions relief in exchange for only a partial surrender of its nuclear capabilities.

The quota on refined petroleum products was one of the tough sanctions imposed by the Security Council in December 2017, in response to North Korea’s launch of a ballistic missile that Pyongyang said is capable of reaching anywhere on the US mainland. AP

U.N.: NEARLY 71 MILLION PEOPLE NOW DISPLACED BY WAR, VIOLENCE AT HOME

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ENEVA—A record 71 million people have been displaced worldwide from war, persecution and other violence, the United Nations refugee agency said on Wednesday, an increase of more than 2 million from last year and an overall total that would amount to the world’s 20th most populous country.

The annual “Global Trends” report released by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) counts the number of the world’s refugees, asylum-seekers and internally displaced people at the end of 2018, in some cases following decades of living away from home.

The figures, coming on the eve of World Refugee Day on Thursday, are bound to add fuel to a debate at the intersection of international law, human rights and domestic politics, especially the movement in some countries, including the US, against immigrants and refugees.

Launching the report, the high commissioner, Filippo Grandi, had a message for US President Donald Trump and other world leaders, calling it “damaging” to depict migrants and refugees as threats to jobs and security in host countries.

Often, they are fleeing insecurity and danger themselves, he said.

The report also puts a statistical skeleton onto often-poignant individual stories of people struggling to survive by crossing rivers, deserts, seas, fences and other barriers, natural and man-made, to escape government oppression, gang killings, sexual abuse, militia murders and other such violence at home.

UNHCR said 70.8 million people were forcibly displaced at the end of last year, up from about 68.5 million in 2017—and nearly a 65-percent increase from a decade ago. Among them, nearly three in five people—or more than 41 million people—have been displaced within their home countries.

“The global trends, once again unfortunately, go in what I would say is the wrong direction,” Grandi told reporters in Geneva. “There are new conflicts, new situations, producing refugees, adding themselves to the old ones. The old ones never get resolved.”

The phenomenon is both growing in size and duration. Some four-fifths of the “displacement situations” have lasted more than five years. After eight years of war in Syria, for instance, its people continue to make up the largest population of forcibly displaced people, at some 13 million.

Amid runaway inflation and political turmoil at home, Venezuelans for the first time accounted for the largest number of new asylum-seekers in 2018, with more than 340,000—or more than one in five worldwide last year. Asylum-seekers receive international protection as they await acceptance or rejection of their requests for refugee status.

U N H C R s a i d t h a t i t s f i g u re s a re “conservative” and that Venezuela masks a potentially longer-term trend.

Some 4 million people are known to

have left the South American country in recent years. Many of those have traveled freely to Peru, Colombia and Brazil, but only about one-eighth have sought formal international protection, and the outflow continues, suggesting the strains on the welcoming countries could worsen.

Grandi predicted a continued “exodus” from Venezuela and appealed for donors to provide more development assistance to the region.

“Otherwise these countries will not bear the pressure anymore and then they have to resort to measures that will damage refugees,” he said. “We are in a very dangerous situation.”

The United States, meanwhile, remains the “largest supporter of refugees” in the world, Grandi said in an interview. The US is the biggest single donor to UNHCR. He also credited local communities and advocacy groups in the United States for helping refugees and asylum-seekers in the country.

But the refugee agency chief noted longterm administrative shortcomings that have given the United States the world’s biggest backlog of asylum claims, at nearly 719,000.

More than a quarter-million claims were added last year. AP

BusinessMirror

Thursday, June 20, 2019

B3

EU fights to keep nuclear deal alive amid US, Iran pressure

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RUSSELS—A year after the United States pulled out of the Iran nuclear agreement, the pact is at severe risk of collapse and the European Union is caught in the middle, struggling to keep supply lines open to the Islamic Republic’s wilting economy under the threat of US sanctions.

Wit h few rea l opt ions lef t, t hei r t r u st i n t he Tr u mp ad m i n ist rat ion r u nn i ng low, a nd fea rs r isi ng t h at conf l ict cou ld brea k out, m ajor powers Ger m a ny, Fra nce a nd Br it a i n h ave been reduced to repeat i ng c a l l s for rest ra i nt a s pressu re bu i ld s and Iran t hreatens to wa l k away f rom t he pa i nst a k i ngly d ra f ted 2015 dea l.

In a n ef for t to keep Ira n’s economy af loat and save an agreement they believe has stopped Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, the Europeans are turning to diplomacy to try to encourage other countries to buy more Iranian oil. They also have set up a barter-ty pe system to evade possible US sanctions.

“We have to do everything to solve the conflict situation with Iran in a peaceful manner,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday. “We will do everything to impress on all sides, but especially to make clear to Iran, that this serious situation mustn’t be aggravated.”

T he pact, wh ic h ensu res t h at Tehra n’s nuc lea r prog ra m be re st r icted to c iv i l i a n uses i n e xchange for economic assistance, was sig ned by Ira n, t he US, Russia, China, France, Ger many and B r it a i n . P r e s i d e nt D o n a l d J. Tr u mp pu l led Wa sh i ng ton out of t he dea l i n May 2018.

“We are relying on Iran continuing to abide by it,” Merkel said. “If that isn’t the case, that will of course have consequences.”

But her tougher tone does little to hide the fact that there’s not a lot that Europe can do.

Under pressure from US sanctions once held in check by the deal, the value of Iran’s currency has plummeted by about 60 percent in the last year. Inflation is up 37 percent and the cost of food and medicine has soared 40 percent to 60 percent, according to EU figures.

The Europeans believe the growing economic pressure on President Hassan Rouhani may well have prompted Iran’s announcement that it will exceed the uranium stockpile limit set by deal in the next 10 days—a time frame that seems unlikely but which cannot be excluded.

To get around possible US sanctions, the Europeans have come up

with a complicated barter-type system to skirt direct financial transactions with Iran. The workaround, dubbed INSTEX, would help ensure trade between Iran and Europe by allowing buyers and sellers to exchange money without relying on the usual cross-border financial transactions. It is not yet operational, although the EU promises that it will be “soon.”

The EU has also introduced a “ blocking statute” to protect European companies from the effects of US sanctions, but many international corporations do more business in the United States than in Iran and have already severed ties with Tehran rather than risk running afoul of Washington.

The real problem, though, is oil.

Iran’s economy is not diversified and oil makes up about 80 percent of its exports. The country was selling 1 million to 1.5 million barrels a day a year ago, and is only selling 600,000-700,000 now, according to EU estimates.

But EU me mb e r - s t ate s u s e little Iranian oil. China, another signator y to the nuclear deal, India and perhaps Turkey could buy more, so the Europeans are using diplomatic channels to encourage them to do so.

It’s difficult to see what more can be done. The EU provides funds to Iran’s agricultural sector and for environmental protection. The country benefits from the European research budget and students have access to EU programs. Beyond that, the 28 nations have donated substantial earthquake relief.

Even as the rhetoric from Iran has risen, no specific new request has been made of the Europeans, apart from a general demand to help keep the economy afloat.

Nor has there been any help from across the Atlantic.

In withdrawing the US from the deal, Trump said it does nothing to stop Iran from developing missiles or creating problems in the Gulf region and Middle East.

Last month the US ended waivers that allowed some countries to continue buy ing Iranian oil and deployed the USS Abraham Lincoln a i rc ra f t c a r r ier bat t le group to the Gulf. It also sent four nuclear-capable B -52 bombers to Qatar and deployed more Patriot air defense systems. After two oil tankers were damaged last week in the Strait of Hormuz in what the US said was an attack it blamed on Iran, concern rose that a conf lict could break out. AP

B4 Thursday, June 20, 2019

DepEd recognizes Security Bank for promoting quality basic education

HURRY UP! APPLICATION FOR TAIWAN FELLOWSHIP ENDS ON JUNE 30

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HE Department of Education (DepEd), the national government agency responsible for regulating and managing the Philippine system of basic education, recognized Security Bank Corp. and Security Bank Foundation for their valuable contribution in promoting quality basic education through their programs that are focused on classroom building, teacher training and development, and scholarship grants to deserving students.

Security Bank has always been an active advocate for education as a long-term solution to poverty. Its major education program is the “Build a School, Build a Nation: The Classrooms Project”, a multistakeholder initiative that helps the government meet the learning facilities of public schools through classroom building. With the support of Ateneo de

Manila University and De La Salle University, Security Bank also works to improve the academic performance of public-school students by conducting teachers training and development programs for teachers.

As of January Security Bank has already turned over 445 classrooms benefiting 87 schools in 47 cities and municipalities nationwide. Security Bank has also trained 1,003 elementary and secondary teachers on teaching strategies and tools in araling panlipunan, English, math and science. In 2018 Security Bank piloted its leadership and management workshop for school principals, which was participated by 94 school heads from beneficiary schools. Security Bank has also supported 327 scholars across all levels for School Year 2018-2019, 61 of which have already graduated.

The recognition was awarded by Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones, and Undersecretary for Legislative Affairs, External Partnerships and School Sports Tonisito Umali at the DepEd partners’ appreciation event at the central office in Pasig City. Security Bank Foundation program manager Louie de Real received the award on behalf of the bank.

Briones expressed her deepest gratitude to partners, such as Security Bank, who have helped the agency narrow down the educational requirement gaps in public schools.

“Education is everybody’s business.

We [DepEd] have the largest budget but, still, it is not enough. The needs of education are ever-changing...We would like to work with you [partners]...We cannot do it alone,” Briones said.

HE Taiwan Fellowship, sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mofa) of the Republic of China (Taiwan), further welcomes Filipino applicants.

The fellowship aims to invite scholars and experts interested in researches related to Taiwan, cross-strait relations, China, Asia Pacific, sinology, Taiwan’s participation in regional economic integration, new southbound policy, Asia-Pacific regional securit y, countermeasures against disinformation and gender studies to pursue advanced studies at universities or academic institutions in Taiwan.

The online application will be open from May 1 to June 30. The said fellowship recipients should undertake their research in Taiwan from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020.

Monthly grants are paid at the beginning of each month: (a) Professor, associate professor, research fellow or associate research fellow: 60,000 new Taiwan dollars (NT$) (approximate to P100,000); (b) Assistant professor, assistant research fellow

4TH NATIONAL BANGKARERA REELS OFF IN NAGA; PIRATA, CEBU WIN BIG

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TOTAL of 150 boats and 36 teams raced toward the national trophy as the Pioneer Epoxy National Bangkarera (PENB) Year 4 reeled off in Naga City, Cebu, from May 31 to June 3.

Pioneer Adhesives Inc. (PAI), in cooperation with Angat sa Dagat Organization, staged a successful run of the national boat-racing event adding one more day to the initial two-day event, extending the hype caused by warm welcome of visitors who cheered for their bets.

A GRAND INDEPENDENCE DAY SALUTE SM City Santa Mesa capped off a breathtaking 121st Independence Day celebration filled with awe-inspiring messages from beloved community partners and artistic presentations amplifying Filipino pride. Remarkably, more than a hundred representatives from the Quezon City Council Boy Scouts of the Philippines, spearheaded by the Rover Scouts of the Philippines deputy commissioner Florencio Antonio, graced the mall’s Independence Day celebration. PCP 2 commander of Galas Police Station Edwin Antonio Nobleza was also in attendance to represent the community force.

or doctoral candidate: 50,000 NT$ (approximate to P84,000); One round-trip air-ticket: Economy class for the most direct route between Taiwan and the Philippines; and Accident insurance coverage (plus a medical insurance for accidental injuries) worth 1 million NT$ (approximate to P1.6 million); Applicant is required to fill out an online application form, which shall be submitted with the following documents to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines before June 30 for qualification review: Resume (including a publication list); Research proposal (three pages in standard research format); and Two recommendation letters, or one recommendation letter and one approval letter from the head of the applicant’s working institute/agency/ organization.

For online application and detailed information, visit http://taiwanfellowship.ncl.edu.tw. For further inquiries, e-mail at clwu@mofa.gov.tw.

Team Pirata of Iligan City (Marvin Roldan) snatched the championship for 16-18HP category besting Team Pechanga (Hendin Valo) and Team Pirata Powerslide (PJ Bermudo), which placed second and third, respectively.

The 7-7.5HP national trophy saw Team Majestic of Bacolod City (Reyneil Barena) with two Team Cebu boats (Jerin Pasegnajin and Shanfren Silao) claiming second and third.

Meanwhile, Team Cebu (Billy Cabello) reclaimed the crown for Angat sa Dagat category after winning it on 2017, and Team Niño of Capiz clinching the top spot under Paddle Boat Division.

The PENB hit the Philippine waves in 2016 in Puerto Princesa, with 27 teams and 60 boats. In 2017 the second installment was staged in Dumaguete City that drew 40 teams and 96 boats. Last year it marked a continuous increase with 58 teams and 155 boats in Iloilo City.

In photo are the 16-18HP category winners (from left): Bermudo, third place; Roldan, champion; and Valo, second place.

FANS MOCK HOME TEAM Sports BusinessMirror

BRAZIL’S Marquinho (right) vies for the ball with Venezuela's Salomon Rondon during a Copa America Group A soccer match at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador, Brazil, on Tuesday. AP

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| Thursday, June 20, 2019 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

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By Eric Nuñeza The Associated Press

ALVADOR, Brazil—For the second straight time in the Copa America at home, Brazil was jeered by its fans.

The hosts followed a lackluster win over Bolivia with a scoreless draw against Venezuela in the Copa America on Tuesday, prompting another wave of boos from the home crowd.

This time, Brazil even endured chants of “ole” by the local fans when the Venezuelans touched the ball near the end of the match.

“Obviously it doesn’t help when the fans are against us, chanting ‘ole’ for our opponent,” Brazil left back Filipe

Luis said. “In the end, that doesn’t help anybody. We need to keep fighting and keep giving our best to try to change things.”

Brazil played better than it did in the opener against Bolivia, but it was not able to break through the stout Venezuelan defense at the Arena Fonte Nova.

“It’s frustrating,” Filipe Luis said. “We did everything we could to try to win this match. We had many scoring chances, we controlled the game, but we couldn’t come away with the victory.”

Brazil had two goals reversed by video review because of offside calls, one by Gabriel Jesus early in the second half and another by Philippe Coutinho near the end of the match.

Despite the setback, the hosts stayed at the top of

Soccer great in trouble A FFECTIONATELY nicknamed Le Roi, or The King, Michel Platini bestrode the soccer field with inimitable elegance as the world’s best player of the early 1980s, helping to bridge the gap between the eras of Pele and Diego Maradona.

Repeatedly voted Europe’s best player, the Frenchman instantly recognizable for his unruly mop of hair and his often grumpy demeanor in his later years went on to become European soccer’s able top administrator as president of the UEFA. Now his lofty reputation in the so-called beautiful game has been tainted by corruption scandals.

Banned from the sport four years ago for financial misconduct, the 63-year-old Platini was questioned by police on Tuesday as part of an unconnected corruption probe into the vote that awarded the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. Platini denied any wrongdoing.

It is just the latest in a torrent of scandals that have brought down dozens of soccer officials, particularly from world governing body Fifa, in recent years.

“Of all those that have been either arrested, indicted, etc., Michel Platini is the saddest and most depressing,” former England captain Gary Lineker tweeted. “He was a footballer, one of us.”

His first big off-the-field role was as joint president of the organizing committee for the 1998 World Cup, which was held in France and became a nation-affirming success. France’s multicultural team won the biggest prize in soccer for the first time.

Platini then became part of UEFA, European soccer’s governing body, first as a member of its executive committee and then as its leader after defeating incumbent Lennart Johansson in a presidential vote in 2007.

He was the first former player to become UEFA president.

While overseeing the continued growth of the behemoth that was the Champions League—formerly the European Cup—Platini tried to curb spending and opposed the introduction of technology in soccer.

Group A with four points, tied with Peru, which earlier on Tuesday defeated Bolivia 3-1 in Rio de Janeiro.

Venezuela, which opened with a 0-0 draw against Peru, has two points.

The group will be decided on Saturday with Brazil facing Peru in São Paulo and Venezuela taking on Bolivia in Belo Horizonte. The top 2 teams in each group advance to the next round, along with the two best third-place finishers.

Brazil thought it had scored with substitute Gabriel Jesus shortly after halftime, but the goal was disallowed after a review showed that Roberto Firmino, who made the pass to the Manchester City striker, was offside when the ball deflected off a Venezuela defender. The Brazilians complained, arguing that it was a pass—not a

Under his watch, from 2007 to 2015, more teams were added to the European Championship, and a minimum 10-game ban for racist abuse by players was introduced.

While organizing the 1998 World Cup, Platini worked closely with Fifa’s CEO-like top administrator, Sepp Blatter. He helped Blatter become Fifa president in an eve-of-tournament election dogged by claims of vote-buying by other campaign supporters.

Platini served as Blatter’s adviser from 1998 to 2002, and those ties that bound the mentor and his protégé would bring them both down in 2015.

In 2011 Blatter signed off paying Platini $2 million, a salary Blatter had no authority to approve. Swiss authorities opened a criminal investigation, and Fifa’s ethics committee banned them both, just as Platini seemed to be about to achieve his ambition of succeeding Blatter as president.

The latest investigation centers on Platini’s decision to vote for Qatar as 2022 World Cup host. Blatter has accused Platini of backing out of a secret “gentleman’s agreement” to support the US’s bid to be the host country.

Platini changed his mind after meeting then-French President Nicolas Sarkozy at his official residence in Paris with Qatar’s crown prince, now emir. AP

deflection—by the defender.

“Welcome to the VAR [video assistant referee], long live the VAR,” Venezuela Coach Rafael Dudamel said. “No one gifted anything to us. Justice was made and you have to keep believing in those who do justice.”

Coutinho’s goal with about five minutes left in regulation was reversed because his close-range shot deflected off Firmino, who was in an offside position in front of the net. The goal would have stood had the ball not touched the Liverpool forward.

“We can’t complain about the VAR,” Brazil Coach Tite said. “Justice was made.”

Firmino had a goal disallowed late in the first half for pulling a defender inside the area before he scored.

Brazil’s first goal in the 3-0 win over Bolivia on Friday

had come from a penalty awarded by video review.

It was Venezuela which had the best scoring opportunity in the first half with a close-range header by striker Salomon Rondon that missed just wide.

Brazil nearly got the winner in second-half stoppage time with a header by Fernandinho that nearly found the far corner.

Brazil hadn’t been held scoreless in a match at home since the 3-0 loss to the Netherlands in the third-place match in the 2014 World Cup. Brazil is seeking a ninth Copa America title. It won the tournament all four previous times it hosted the event, the last time in 1989.

Venezuela’s best Copa finish was a fourth place in 2011.

Brazil model appears to police again

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IO DE JANEIRO—A Brazilian model who has accused soccer star Neymar of raping her in a Paris hotel testified a second time to police in São Paulo on Tuesday, and her lawyer said he may request a face-to-face encounter between the two.

Najila Trindade testified earlier this month to São Paulo police and on Tuesday continued her deposition with a new lawyer, the fourth to represent her since she filed charges against Neymar on May 31.

The attorney, Cosme Araujo, said they “want to find the truth” about what happened in May in Paris.

Speaking of his client’s emotional state, he said

Trindade “doesn’t stop crying.”

Neymar denies the accusation. He testified to police last week.

The Brazilian model spent more than seven hours in the São Paulo police station and left in a truck surrounded by journalists. She did not speak to the media.

Her lawyer told reporters that if necessary he might ask for a face-to-face encounter between Neymar and his client.

“I even said that I will ‘innovate’ and, if necessary, I will request a confrontation [between them] because what the Brazilian people want to know, and what the world wants to know, is what happened between four walls,” he said.

The Associated Press doesn’t name alleged sexual assault victims unless they make their identities public, which Trindade did in interviews with Brazilian television.

Neymar is also being investigated for publishing images of his accuser on social media without her authorization. AP

NEYMAR is accused of raping a Brazilian woman last month. AP

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IN this May 3, 2019, file photo, South Africa's Caster Semenya competes in the women's 800-meter final during the Diamond League in Doha, Qatar. AP

TESSA JAZMINES tessa4347@gmail.com

PART OF THE GAME

Bright future THE future of Philippine basketball—both men’s and women’s—is intact. The results of the recent Jr. National Basketball Association (NBA) Global Championship Asia Pacific Selection Camp held in Jakarta, Indonesia, on June 15 and 16 are definitely encouraging.

The two-day camp featuring 34 boys and 34 girls from across the Asia Pacific that competed for the opportunity to represent the region in the Jr. NBA Global Championship—a youth basketball tournament for the top 13- and 14-yearold boys and girls teams from around the world—has just announced the members of the Asia Pacific Team that will compete in the Jr. NBA World Championship in August. We sent five Jr. NBA boys and five Jr. NBA girls to the first-ever camp that will allow young ballers from the region to compete in the global competition.

They competed against young players from Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam in a camp that focused on technical and tactical skills development, as well as five-on-five competition. The goal of the Jakarta camp was to select 10 boys and 10 girls who will represent Asia Pacific at the Jr. NBA Global Championship that will be held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Florida, from August 6 to 11. There they will compete against youth teams from all over the world, specifically the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, China, Mexico, Africa and India.

The good news is: three 2019 Jr. NBA All-Stars made it to the Boys’ Team while a Filipina made it to the Girls’ team.

The Boys Team is made up of three Filipinos, one Australian, one New Zealander, one Indonesian, one Japanese, one Malaysian, one Thai and one Singaporean. The Girls Team has two Indonesians, one Malaysian, one Singaporean, one New Zealander, one Vietnamese, one Japanese, one Australian, one Thai and one Filipina on its roster. Filipinos have the most number of representatives to the global youth competition which is being held only for the second time this year.

Sebastian Roy “Basti” Reyes, Henjz Gabriel “Kobe” Demisana (from Bacolod’s Tay Tung High School) and Lionel Matthew Rubico (from De La Salle Lipa) who are three of five boys who topped the recent National Training Camp of Jr. NBA Philippines 2019 presented by Alaska, just got the chance to chase their basketball dreams on the world stage with their selection in Jakarta. Camille Nolasco, a young lady baller whiz from Miriam College, gets the opportunity to test her talents against the most talented female players in the world, as well.

The other Filipino Jr. NBA All-Stars who competed in Jakarta are James Yuan Izon of La Salle Greenhills and Zhan Paolo Moreno from Xavier University Cagayan de Oro of the boys’ team and Justine Vibanco, 13, of Saint Joseph Parish School of Rizal (recently picked up

by La Salle Antipolo), Kyla Marie Mataga of De La Salle Zobel, Mikylla Taborada of Corpus Christi Cagayan de Oro and Princess BJ Villarin of De La Salle Zobel of the girls’ team.

Basti Reyes, 14 years old, who now plays for Nazareth School of National University, was the Most Valuable Player of the National Training Camp last May. He is the nephew of the late UP Fighting Maroon and ex-Alaska, San Miguel Beer player Bryan Gahol. “My uncle is my inspiration. I was not yet 10 when he passed away and I was not yet playing basketball.

But his passing turned it around for me. I asked my parents to enroll me in a basketball clinic because I really wanted to learn basketball. Eventually, I got recruited by Maryhill College [in Lucena] where I got to improve my skills. Now I’m part of the NU Bull Pups. I joined the Jr. NBA last summer and learned a whole lot more about basketball and the STAR values [Sportsmanship, Teamwork, a positive Attitude and Respect]. I also made a lot of new friends. This trip to Jakarta, we want to show that even if we Filipinos may not be the tallest players, we will fight and never back down. We will play with heart.” He describes himself as a pass-first player who trusts his teammates all the way.

Camille Nolasco, 14, a two-time Jr. NBA All-Star who bagged her first All-Star berth when she was just 12, is in a league all her own. She wowed coaches and observers during the Jr. NBA selection camp and the National Training Camp last summer because of her high-level basketball skills, drive and basketball IQ. She did the same thing in the Asia Pacific camp against the top players of the region in her age group. No less than Jr. NBA Coach Carlos Barroca—who was head coach of the Asia Pacific camp and the Jr. NBA Philippines camp—praised Camille on her selection, giving her kudos for her point guard skills.

One other player worth mentioning here is young and cute Justine Vibanco, who did not make it to the Asia Pacific selection, but just may be the biggest star of the 2019 Jr. NBA. Dubbed as The Headband Killa because she wears a floppy headband while executing her fun but heads-up basketball style. Only 13, Justine’s dribbling and ball handling skills went viral after it was posted on various online sites after her selection in the Jr. NBA National Training Camp.

Besides local news sites, the official Women’s National Basketball Association Twitter account featured her and her wizardry with the ball. World Basketball Hall of Famer and WNBA legend Ticha Penicheiro on Twitter and no less than the King himself, LeBron James, wowed about Justine on Uninterrupted, his multimedia site.

The amazing thing about Justine is that she became a Jr. NBA All-Star on her very first try. (Many All-Stars get selected after multiple tries.) She plays softball and volleyball. She just learned to play basketball by watching YouTube.

These young basketball talents are bright promises of what’s to come for us in this sport. Let’s wish our young cagers the best in their upcoming basketball challenge this August.

IAAF: SEMENYA ‘BIOLOGICALLY MALE’ T

By Gerald Imray The Associated Press

HE governing body of track argued in court that Olympic champion Caster Semenya is “biologically male” and that is the reason she should reduce her natural testosterone to be allowed to compete in female competitions, according to documents released publicly for the first time on Tuesday and which provide new insight into a bitter legal battle.

The documents released by sport’s highest court show that Semenya responded by telling the judges that being described as biologically male “hurts more than I can put in words.” The 28-year-old South African runner said she was unable to express how insulted she felt at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) “telling me that I am not a woman.”

The IAAF’s stance on Semenya and other female athletes affected by its new testosterone regulations—and Semenya’s outrage at the biological male claim—was revealed in a 163-page decision published by the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). It details parts of the courtroom exchanges that were held behind closed doors when Semenya challenged the IAAF over the highly contentious hormone rules in a five-day hearing in February. CAS had previously released only short excerpts of the final verdict when it was announced last month.

Tuesday’s fuller court records, which were still redacted, show the IAAF referred to the two-time Olympic and threetime world champion as one of a number of “biologically male athletes with female gender identities.”

Arguing that Semenya and others like her should be subject to its hormone limits to ensure fairness in female competitions, the IAAF stated: “There are some contexts where biology has to trump identity.”

Semenya vs the IAAF is one of the most difficult issues

sport has faced.

Semenya was legally identified as female at birth and has identified as female her whole life. But the IAAF says she is one of a number of female runners in elite athletics who have medical conditions known as “differences of sex development” and who were born with the typical male XY chromosome pattern. That gives them some male biological characteristics, male levels of the hormone testosterone after puberty, and an unfair athletic advantage over other female athletes, the IAAF says.

Semenya, who has been fighting the IAAF ever since she was embroiled in a gender verification test at the world championships 10 years ago, says the rules should be discarded and she should be allowed to run in her natural form. She disputes that she has a significant performance advantage.

The IAAF won the recent case at CAS by a 2-1 majority of the panel of judges, allowing it to implement the testosterone limits.

But in the latest legal twist, Semenya appealed the CAS verdict to Switzerland’s supreme court on human-rights grounds. She won an interim ruling to temporarily suspend the hormone regulations and the Swiss supreme court will hear her full appeal.

The rules only apply to certain races, from 400 meters to one mile, but they include Semenya’s specialist two-lap event.

To be allowed to compete under the rules, Semenya and other affected athletes must medically reduce their testosterone to below a specific threshold set by the IAAF. The IAAF gives three options to do that: A daily contraceptive pill, a monthly hormone-blocking injection or surgery.

The medical process has been criticized as unethical by experts, and Semenya has refused to take medication to alter what she calls her genetic gifts. At least two other runners, Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi and Margaret Wambui of Kenya, who are both Olympic medalists, say they are also

affected by the rules. They have also railed against the regulations and criticized the IAAF. Tuesday’s CAS documents shone a light on some of the details of the battle between Semenya and the IAAF over the last decade, much of which Semenya hadn’t publicly spoken about despite her story making headline news across the world.

Semenya said in witness statements to the CAS that she had been subjected to gender verification tests that included an intrusive physical examination ordered

by South African track authorities in the buildup to the 2009 world championships without being told or understanding the nature of the tests. She was 18 at the time.

Then, after her breakthrough victory at those championships in Berlin, Germany, Semenya said she was taken to a hospital where the IAAF conducted another test on her. Semenya said the IAAF did not ask her if she wanted to undergo the test.

“It was an order by the IAAF which I had no choice but to comply with,” Semenya said.

She described the world championships and the public speculation that erupted over her gender as “the most profound and humiliating experience of my life.”

Semenya also described a five-year period from 2010-15 where she reluctantly agreed to take testosteronesuppressing oral contraceptives recommended by the IAAF so she could continue running.

They caused significant weight gain, made her constantly feel sick, led to regular fevers and internal abdominal pain, she said.

She said the IAAF had used her as a “lab rat” as it experimented with a medical process it would later introduce as part of its testosterone rules.

In a statement released later Tuesday, Semenya said: “I will not allow the IAAF to use me and my body again.”

FROM WORLD CUP TO WEDDING BELLS P

ARIS—Many World Cup teammates have special bonds. The tie that binds US defender Ali Krieger and American goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris is among the strongest at the tournament. They got engaged last year and are planning a December wedding.

“A lot of our teammates with their partners and spouses, they don’t get to be here day in and day out,” Krieger said.

“It’s really nice to be able to share this moment with her and to make these memories with her.”

They announced their engagement in People magazine in March, revealing Harris proposed on the beach in Clearwater, Florida, during a picnic last September 15 and surprised Krieger with a ring.

“She is what makes me. She is my life. She is the person I am spending the rest of my life with,” Harris said.

They first met in 2010, a time both were training with the national team. They were teammates with the Washington Spirit of the National Women’s Soccer League for much of 2013-15. Harris was left unprotected in an expansion draft and was taken by the Orlando Pride, and Krieger joined her when she was traded to the Pride after the 2016 season.

While their lives are joined, they are not roommates when national team players double up on the road.

“I think what has made us so successful in the work space together for so long is our boundaries,” Harris said. “When we’re at work, we’re there to work. I’m her teammate, so if she wants to come to me for something, I’m going to give her the real answer, the accountability answer. And then when we’re at home, that’s our time to be at home, and then soccer doesn’t walk through the front door.”

When they head out for the 20-minute trip to training in Florida, their personal lives stay home.

“Sometimes we drive separate,” Krieger said. “I like to have my space sometimes and so does she.”

Krieger grew up in Virginia and played at Penn State before turning pro, and she made her national team debut in 2008. Now 34, Krieger started all seven matches as the US won the 2015 World Cup, but she was dropped from the national team in 2017 while Harris continued to get called to

camp. Harris provided mental support.

“When she was in town we would get up together 8 a.m., go do workouts, and she really pushed me to get back and I really am grateful and will always be for her support,” Krieger said.

“Sometimes I’d feel bad because I would be so emotional and so, maybe tough at times to be around, because I was so angry at times and just really going through it and struggling. So I think with her support, she really helped get me out of that hole and blossom into the woman I am now here.”

Krieger received a text from US Coach Jill Ellis on March 19 asking her to give her a call. With decisions on a World Cup roster looming, Ellis told Krieger that night she was wanted back.

She returned for an exhibition against Belgium on April 7 after an absence of two years and a day, then was together with

H

ARTFORD, Connecticut—Three Connecticut girls who have run high-school track have filed a federal discrimination complaint saying a statewide policy on transgender athletes has cost them top finishes in races and possibly college scholarships.

The complaint filed on Monday with the US Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights was submitted by the conservative Christian law firm Alliance Defending Freedom on behalf of the girls, who are asking for an investigation of the policy and orders that would make competitions fair. The complaint also cites the federal Title IX rules aimed at equal rights in sports for female athletes.

“Girls deserve to compete on a level playing field,” said Christiana Holcomb, legal counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom. “Women fought long and hard to earn the equal athletic opportunities that Title IX provides. Allowing boys to compete in girls’ sports reverses nearly 50 years of advances for women under this law. We shouldn’t force these young women to be spectators in their own sports.”

The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference, which governs high-school sports in the state, says its policy follows a state antidiscrimination law requiring students to be treated in school according to the gender with which they identify. That means that athletes can compete according to their expressed gender identity as opposed to their sex assigned at birth.

A spokesman for the conference had no immediate comment on the complaint on Tuesday.

The argument that gender identity amounts to an unfair advantage in sports is a recurring one in the complex debate around intersex and transgender athletes as they break barriers in sports around the world from high school to the pros.

Earlier this week Olympic running sensation Caster Semenya—who reportedly has some intersex traits—won an interim ruling in her battle against track and field’s governing body. The Swiss supreme court ordered the suspension of regulations that would require female runners with unusually high testosterone to take medication to reduce their levels of the male sex hormone if they want to compete in certain events.

The complaint from Connecticut says transgender girls have been consistently winning track and field events, and the policy violates federal protections for female athletes.

The athletes who filed the complaint include Selina Soule, of Glastonbury High School, and two others whose names and schools were not disclosed.

Soule told The Associated Press earlier this year, after competing in a 55-meter dash won by a transgender student, that the issue is about fairness on the track.

“We all know the outcome of the race before it even starts; it’s demoralizing,” she said. “I fully support and am happy for these athletes for being true to themselves. They should have the right to express themselves in school, but athletics have always had extra rules to keep the competition fair.”

Connecticut is one of at least 17 states that allow transgender high-school athletes to compete without restrictions, according to Transathlete.com, which tracks state policies in high-school sports across the country. AP

IN this February 7, 2019, file photo, Cromwell High School Track Coach Brian Calhoun (left) speaks to transgender athlete Andraya Yearwood during a break at a meet at Hillhouse High School in New Haven, Connecticut. AP

Federer prevails, Coric advances IN this June 15, 2019, file photo, US teammates Ashlyn Harris (left) and Ali Krieger chat during a visit to the Parc des Princes stadium a day before a soccer match against Chile at the Women's World Cup in Paris. AP

A PVL championship preview RICK OLIVARES bleachersbrew@gmail.com

BLEACHERS’ BREW EVEN after the first week of play in the ongoing Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference, you get the sense that the title is going to come down between Creamline and Petro Gazz.

When they first battled on May 26, the Petro Gazz Angels swept the Coolsmashers in three sets. Since then, they went on a tear and are now at a perfect 7-0 with six wins coming via threeset sweep. They have won 21 sets and lost only one.

Harris on May 2 when Ellis revealed she was going to the World Cup. Krieger made her 100th international appearance versus New Zealand on May 16, remained on the bench as Kelley O’Hara played right back for last week’s opening 13-0 rout of Thailand, then took over for Sunday’s 3-0 victory over Chile.

Harris, 33, grew up in Florida, was a three-time National Collegiate Athletics Association champion at North Carolina and turned pro in 2010. While Harris first trained with the national team in 2009, she didn’t make her debut until 2013 and has just 21 total appearances, backing up Hope Solo at first and now Alyssa Naeher.

Their relationship does not appear to be an issue within the national team.

“Everyone’s personal lives is their personal lives, and we respect however they want to show it,” defender Becky Sauerbrunn said.

In an era when more athletes who are gay are comfortable publicly discussing their relationships, Australia captain Sam Kerr revealed in a Nike mini-documentary this year her partner is American midfielder Nikki Stanton, a teammate on the Perth Glory from 2015-17 and since 2018 on the NWSL’s Chicago Red Stars.

Krieger and Harris, though, are together not just on a club but on their sport’s biggest stage during the one month every four years when intense focus is on women’s soccer.

And coming up soon is a wedding they put off until after club seasons end.

“The celebration will be in December,” Harris said, “so there’ll be a lot of teammates there, that’s for sure.” AP

Fairness a hot topic as gender issues increase

Creamline, on the other hand, has gone 6-0 since the opening day loss to the Angels. They have won 15 sets and dropped only two more since May 26. They replaced their opening day head coach, had former Ateneo Blue Eagle Ed Ortega serve as interim tactician until former Coach Anusorn Bundit returned.

And now, the two will meet this Saturday, June 22, at the Filoil Flying V Centre in the main match at 4 p.m.

H

ALLE, Germany—Roger Federer began his bid for a record-extending 10th Halle Open title with a 7-6 (1), 6-3 win over Australia’s John Millman on Tuesday, with defending champion Borna Coric also advancing.

Federer, who lost to Coric in last year’s final, hit nine This is a preview of the championship. Or should Petro Gazz win, be a foregone conclusion?

Petro Gazz draws their strength from their two imports— Wilma Salas and Janisa Johnson with Jeanette Panaga and Djanel Cheng playing excellent supporting roles. Cienne Cruz has also done a great job as the team’s libero.

Creamline counts on Kuttika Kaewpin, Alyssa Valdez and Jia Morado. Middle blocker Alleoscar Blanco is there but she gets a lot of help from Michelle Gumabao and Risa Sato.

In my opinion, if Petro Gazz’ Salas and Johnson have their way once more, this will go the Angels’ way. Stopping one of them is key because I think that Creamline has more weapons.

For Petro Gazz to continue their march to their first ever PVL title, they need others to contribute.

If Creamline wants to make this a series, they need to win and for Blanco to play the game of her life.

It is a battle between the top 2 offensive teams. But this Saturday, it will come down to who plays better defense.

aces and saved the only break point he faced to beat Millman in one hour, 17 minutes.

Federer next faces Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who defeated French compatriot Benoit Paire, 6-4, 7-5 at the grass-court tournament.

Federer already has the best grass-court record in the Open era with 18 titles, and the 37-year-old can set a personal record with his 10th at a single event in Halle.

Federer and Tsonga played only once before on grass, with the French player coming from two sets down to win at Wimbledon in 2011.

The fourth-seeded Coric defeated Spain’s Jaume Munar, 7-6 (2), 6-3, and will next face Portuguese qualifier Joao Sousa in the second round.

Italy’s Matteo Berrettini, who won the Stuttgart Open on Sunday, defeated Nikoloz Basilashvili, 6-4, 6-4, for a secondround meeting with compatriot Andreas Seppi.

Seppi beat Mats Moraing, 6-4 (7), 6-4. Other winners on Tuesday included Roberto Bautista Agut, David Goffin, Richard Gasquet, Sergiy Stakhovsky and Jan-Lennard Struff.

In Birmingham, England, a day after saying she was “not really that comfortable” playing on grass, top-ranked Naomi Osaka needed three sets to get past her first-round opponent at the Birmingham Classic on Tuesday.

Osaka lost the second set to Maria Sakkari of Greece before recovering to win, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, for only her 11th tour-level victory on grass. AP

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APANESE Yudai Suzuki took full advantage of an early start and romped off with a brilliant six-under 64 then held off the late charge of fancied Juvic Pagunsan and two others for a two-stroke lead in the first round of the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic on Wednesday in Bacolod City.

A virtual newbie, this being only his second tournament on the Philippine Golf Tour (PGT), Suzuki rattled off four birdies at the back then added two more on his frontside finish under hot conditions in morning play to seize control over Pagunsan, Richard Sinfuego and Dutch Guido van der Valk, who shot identical 66s in rainy afternoon.

Thursday, June 20, 2019

SUZUKI SPRINTS AHEAD

“I didn’t play good in Danao because I was out of focus,” said the 29-year-old pro from Osaka, referring to his missed cut stint in Club Filipino de Cebu Invitational two weeks ago.

He skipped last week’s event in Murcia, Bacolod, to work on his game, the result of which he showed with his flawless 31-33 card at the par-70 Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club layout formerly known as Marapara.

But he will be hard-pressed to duplicate his first round feat as Pagunsan is expected to further close in after turning in a superb 31-35 despite being bothered by some personal woes.

“I barely slept since I had to watch over my wife,” said Pagunsan, referring to Maria Elena, whom he rushed to the hospital the other night.

The region’s former No. 1 actually hinted at withdrawing from the P3-million event he ruled last year but decided to play after he was assured of his wife’s recovery from illness.

“I didn’t had a good start but was able to pick up my game in the last nine holes. Hopefully, I can rest tonight and see what happens tomorrow [Thursday],” added Pagunsan, who settled for a one birdie-one bogey game at the back but gunned down four birdies at the front. That should make the second round worth watching with Suzuki hoping to buck the pressure and Sinfuego and van der Valk out to press their respective bids after matching Pagunsan’s 66 with 33-33 and 31-35 cards, respectively.

Another unfancied foreign bet—milio Parodi of Argentina, who also missed the cut in the first two legs of the four-stage Visayan swing of the circuit put up by ICTSI, likewise cashed in on an early tee-off, hitting four birdies against a bogey to fire a 67 for solo fifth, while Nilo Salahog, American Pete Vilairatana and Zanieboy Gialon put in identical 68s for a share of sixth.

Ira Alido blew an impressive front 31 with three bogeys

in the last nine holes, ending up with a 69 and falling to a big one-under par scorers who included reigning Philippine Open champion Clyde Mondilla, Jhonnel Ababa, Tony Lascuña, Michael BIbat, Paul Echavez, Albin Engino, James Ryan Lam, Japanese Ryui Hashimoto, Ryo Nishimura and Kei Matsuoka, and former PGT Asia Luisita leg winner Aussie David Gleeson.

Matching par 70s were Reymon Jaraula, Englishman George Twyman, Jeffrey Pito-on and Swede Sebastian Hansson as the rest of the starting 105-player struggled at the short but tricky hazard-laden course with winding fairways and unpredictable surface and are in for a mad scramble for the top 40 plus ties berths after 36 holes of play in the tournament organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. and backed by Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, Champion, Summit Mineral Water, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, KZG, PLDT and M.Y. Shokai Technology Inc.

BAMBOL CALLS FOR ELECTION TOLENTINO JAPANESE Yudai Suzuki (top) leads by two over tournament favorite Juvic Pagunsan and two other after first round of the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic on Wednesday.

Rosal shares lead with Viray in Lipa

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BE ROSAL launched his drive to reclaim the crown he won in 2017 as he carded a four-over 76 to share the first round lead with former national amateur titlist Rolly Viray in the Philippine Seniors and Mid-Amateur Open Championship at Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Lipa City, Batangas, on Wednesday.

Rosal, who failed to defend the title snared by Abe Avena in a playoff duel with Viray last year, struggled in tough conditions at the Mount Malipunyo and Mount Makulot nines, shooting just one birdie against five bogeys that however proved enough to net him a piece of the lead in the centerpiece 54-hole Open division of the event organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines.

Viray actually missed grabbing the solo lead with a last-hole bogey but he remained on track of achieving what he had failed to do last year by matching his fellow Canlubang bet’s 37-39 card.

Mari Hechanova made it a three-way charge for Cangolf as he turned in a 77 to lay just a stroke behind the joint leaders with club bet Alan Alegre battling back with a 38 to shoot a 78 in a tie with Tommy Manotoc of Wack Wack, Zaldy Villa of Eastridge and Avena, also a mainstay at Mount Malarayat.

Avena and Manotoc also fired 37s at the front but fumbled with three bogeys and a double bogey coming home to fall two strokes off the pace in the event sponsored by MVP Sports Foundation, Cignal and Metro Pacific and held under the PLDT Group National Amateur Tour.

Howard McKean from Singapore and Rene Unson, also from Cangolf, likewise stayed in the hunt with 79s, while Damascus Wong from Valley Golf and New Zealand’s William Houng-Lee carded identical 81s and stood five shots behind Rosal and Viray.

Other titles being disputed in the event are the Mid-Amateur Open division (25 years old and above) featuring the likes of Brixton Aw, Gerald Katigbak, Edcel Opulencia, Reggie Torres and Oliver Gan; Mid Am Division I (25-54 with HDCP Index of 8.0-15.0), Mid Am Division II (HDCP Index of 15.1-24.0), Senior Division I (5559), Senior Division II (60-65) and Super Senior (66 and above).

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By Rick Olivarez

HE last four teams standing in the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup battle it out in the semifinals on Thursday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

The De La Salle Green Archers, who laid waste to Letran in an incandescent fourth period in the quarterfinals, face the wounded Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates at 2 p.m.

The Pirates outlasted gritty Centro Escolar University (CEU) in the final minute and a half to advance to the next round of the win-or-go-home stages of the tournament.

The Pirates look to be at a disadvantage to La Salle as they are missing center Mike Nzeusseu who is out for the next two weeks with a hand injury. There is a possibility that back-up center Jerwin Guinto and guard Jaycee Marcelino might not play due to various ailments. Guinto was injured prior to the quarterfinals match while Marcelino had his nose broken by CEU center Malik Diouf.

“We will be up against a veteran team in Lyceum,” pointed out DLSU Head Coach Gian Nazario. “Whether they are missing players

A

DAY after the surprise resignation of Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Ricky Vargas, Chairman Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino announced on Wednesday that he intends to call a special election for the position of president vacated by Vargas.

He plans to formally announce this during the scheduled

CHAIRMAN SPEAKS Le Tour de Filipinas Chairman Alberto Lina addresses the Awarding and Closing Ceremony

of the 10th Le Tour de Filipinas at the Legazpi City Convention Center on Tuesday night in Legazpi City. The Netherlands’s Jeroen Meijers of Taiyuan Miogee Cycling Team of China ruled the International Cycling Union road race that was elevated to a five-stage competition from Tagaytay City, Pagbilao, Daet and Sorsogon. STEPHANIE TUMAMPOS

SEMIS ON IN PRESEASON CUP or not, they know their system well and they are fighters. It will be a test for us and for them, as well.”

In the main game of semifinals, the San Beda University Red Lions, the sole unbeaten team in the competition, face dangerous Adamson University at 4 p.m.

San Beda totes an 8-0 record, while Adamson is at 6-2. The Red Lions are led by their triumvirate of Evan Nelle, James Kwekuteye and Donald Tankoua, while the 6-2 Soaring Falcons count on a mix of veterans in Jerrick Ahanmisi, Simon Camacho, and Christian Bernardo, as well as sophomore Jerom Lastimosa and rookies Lenda Dounga, Joem Sabandal, Aaron Fermin, and AP Manlapaz.

“Being in the semifinals is good preparation for us with the NCAA [National Collegiate Athletic Association season coming up,” underscored Red Lions Coach Boyet Fernandez, who is raring to

Blu Boys fall short to host Czech Rep in WC

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HE Philippines came close to scoring a breakthrough win in the XVI World Baseball and Softball Confederation (WBSC) Men’s Softball World Championship 2019 in Prague, Czech Republic, but once again fell short against the host team on Wednesday.

The Blu Boys surrendered two runs in the seventh and last inning and bowed to Czech Republic, 4-1, in this prestigious tournament participated in by 16 of the top softball nations in the world.

After three scoreless innings, both teams scored in the fourth.

General Assembly on June 25.

Under the POC By-laws Article 7 Section 6, a special election may be called by the chairman within 30 days from the date the vacancy arises if the named successors—first vice president and second vice president—are not qualified to succeed.

These two officers must possess the qualifications of a POC president. Among others, they must be an incumbent president of an Olympic sport and national sports association. First Vice President Jose Romasanta is vice president of volleyball, while Second Vice President Antonio Tamayo is president of Soft Tennis, which is not an Olympic sport.

Meanwhile, day after Vargas stepped down as president, his successor Romasanta vowed no second will be wasted in making sure that the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games will be back on track.

In fact, Romasanta has instructed former POC SecretaryGeneral Steve Hontiveros to call for an emergency Southeast Asian Games Federation Council meeting to brief the 10 other member-countries on the latest development in the Philippine preparations.

He said that they need to find a solution on how they can move on from this turn of events as the SEA Games preparation was greatly mismanaged due to a messy legal

Czech Republic made two runs courtesy of David Mertl and Patrik Kpecny before Ernesto Binarao singled in Jerome Bacarisas for the first and only run for the Philippines.

Despite the setback, Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (Asaphil) President and softball patron Jean Henri Lhuillier is pleased with the way the Blu Boys played.

“The team is playing better and the experience has been good for them. We have to be patient with our Blu Boys,” said Lhuillier, who flew to Prague to personally support the team.

Lhuillier also met with Andrea D’Auria, a member of the

win the crown after losing to Ateneo in last year’s Filoil Cup finals.

“All the teams we are facing now are not only wellcoached, but also have good lineups. And every time you go up against a Franz Pumaren-coached team you know they will be tough on both ends of the court.”

In the high-school bracket, a pair of 5-0 squads meet up with a pair of 4-1 teams. Nazareth School of National University who swept Group B battle the Lyceum Junior Pirates at 10 a.m., while the unbeaten San Beda Red Cubs lock horns with the Perpetual Help Junior Altas at 11:45 a.m.

Over at the 11-Under Division, the 6-2 College of Saint Benilde Blazers face the La Salle Greenhills Greenies who boast of a similar win-loss slate at 8 a.m., while the De La Salle Zobel Junior Archers who racked up a 6-2 total battle the 8-0 Xavier Golden Stallions at 9 a.m.

WBSC Coaching Commission, and described the meeting as “helpful for the further development and growth of both the Blu Boys and the Blu Girls.”

The Blu Boys, ranked 17th in the world, will next face defending champion New Zealand.

Pacing Group A is Asian champion Japan (5-0) followed

by Argentina (4-1). Tied for third place are Cuba and New Zealand (3-2) while trailing closely behind are Czech Republic and Mexico (2-3). At the bottom are Botswana (1-4) and the Philippines (0-5).

Group B is led by Canada (5-0) followed by Australia (4-1), Venezuela (4-1), the United States (3-2); Denmark (2-3); The Netherlands (1-4) Singapore (1-4) and South Africa (0-5).

issue that entangled the earlier buildup.

It was because the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) Foundation Inc., headed by Taguig Congressman-elect Alan Peter Cayetano, operates a team without board approval from the POC. This issue had led to Vargas’s resignation on Tuesday.

Although Cayetano was tasked to organize the country’s hosting of the SEA Games, his organizing body was supposed to function as a mere ad hoc committee under the POC, not as a foundation that possesses a legal personality to enter into contracts with sponsors and suppliers.

It was supposed to be called Phisgoc, not Phisgoc Foundation.

And since it operates without POC board approval, eight of the 13 board members strongly questioned its authority to run the SEA Games, including the creation of the SEA Games logo, SEA Games mascot and SEA Games hymn and motto.

There were also questions about the venues tapped by the Phisgoc Foundation as it decided to move some sports away from the main hub at the New Clark City in Tarlac.

The marketing campaign, transportation and volunteer program of the Phisgoc Foundation are also being probed.

But the biggest question on the Philippines status as officially ready for the SEA Games is the production of technical handbook to be followed by the participating countries.

The Phisgoc Foundation does not have it, putting national sports association officials and their foreign counterparts in the dark as to how the event will be ran.

National sports association officials said they already submitted their technical guidelines as early as January.

Romasanta, however, said he would make sure that everything would be in order very soon.

“A lot of work still needs to be done,” said Romasanta, an old hand in Philippine sports being the chief of the successful Project: Gintong Alay during the administration of former President Corazon Aquino.

“We have to regroup and sync everything together not just on the part of the POC, but also on the part of the PSC [Philippine Sports Commission], the SEA Games Federation Council and our national government. Everybody has to be aligned and be on the same page. We have to find a solution in every problem.”

One of the solutions being looked at is moving the SEA Games from November to the first quarter of next year.

The POC is also eyeing to reduce the number of events since hosting 56 sports would be very challenging, especially with only five months left to prepare.

“We are ready to pick up the pieces,” said Romasanta, adding that the emergency meeting would be held as soon as first POC general assembly is done on June 25 at the Government Service Insurance System gymnasium.

Romasanta already paid a courtesy call to PSC Chairman William Butch Ramirez.

A prominent member of the POC board in lawyer Clint Aranas already phoned Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to apprise him on the sudden change of POC leadership.

“We’re moving as fast as we can,” Romasanta said.

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AL MENDOZA alsol47@yahoo.com

THAT’S ALL

Even a virtual unknown can win it ALMOST always, the final nine holes decide the winner of a golf major.

It happened again in the just-ended US Open.

Gary Woodland won because he steadied himself at the right moment.

His closest pursuers either self-destructed or simply missed golden opportunities.

The most notable challengers going to the last round were Brooks Koepka and Justin Rose.

Both faltered—Rose at barely the start of play and Koepka in the closing holes.

The last hole, specifically for Koepka, which was very uncharacteristic of him to miss chance-giving shots in succession.

In fairness, Rose gave himself a shot when he birdied No. 1 to catch Woodland. But Rose quickly threw that away with a bogey from the bunker of No. 2.

Unable to gain ground from there, Rose totally fell out of the race with three bogeys in a four-hole stretch coming home.

Rose ripped himself apart with a 74 and was lucky to share third with Xander Schauffele (67), Jon Rahm (68) and Chez Reavie (71) despite calm conditions at Pebble Beach.

When it was Koepka’s turn to turn the tables on Woodland, he could only threaten by inching to within a shot with three straight birdies.

But despite being at 11 under to trail by one, Koepka just could either not catch or overtake Woodland.

In fact, Woodland, a virtual unknown at 169th overall in the rankings, answered back with the boldest bomb anyone could unload while under tremendous pressure: Firing a 3-wood from the par-5 14th.

The salvo nearly caught the cavernous bunker and, as fate would have it, Woodland went on to birdie the hole for a twoshot cushion with four holes to go.

Koepka, a flight head of Woodland, summoned his last ounce of courage with his 3-iron from 227 yards on the par5 18th.

But this time, even the hottest golfer on the planet today (four wins in his last eight majors), came down to Earth as the bark refused to bite.

Next wedging it from the thick grass behind the 18th green, Koepka would still have had a crack at the crown with an eagle.

But, as I said, even the best could suddenly transform from superman to human. He stubbed it, the ball landing 10 feet short.

A birdie and a 67 might still revive his flickering hopes. But Koepka missed it from there.

Woodland had heard of Koepka’s chances dimming, if not evaporating completely.

Standing on the 18th tee, he pulled out a 5-iron: Better be safe than sorry.

A fairway landing prodded him on to hit another iron, giving him an approach shot from 146 yards that he planted neatly 30 feet off the hole.

Needing three putts to win, what in the world would Woodland do? Play safe by just putting the ball close to the hole?

Of course, not.

Time now to unleash some show time stuff and so, he charged the hole and banged home the birdie for a terrific 69 and a three-shot victory in the 119th US Open.

It was a fitting Father’s Day drama, made all the more historic as it came just weeks before his wife would deliver their twin girls.

For Woodland, a 35-year-old journeyman almost his entire career, from Topeka, Kansas, it can’t get any sweeter than this.

THAT’S IT Better late than never and so, my warm congratulations to the Toronto Raptors for winning last week the NBA crown via a 4-2 victory over the two-time defending champions Golden State Warriors. I had actually predicted a 4-2 ending, but with the Warriors winning. Too late when I realized that a depleted Golden State (Kevin Durant and soon, Klay Thompson, were out on injuries) was no match against Toronto.

But this does not detract from the fact that the Raptors, led by the super-talented Kawhi Leonard, were deserving of the crown—having worked for it agonizingly hard behind the expert guidance of Coach Nick Nurse. Cheers!

MANNY PACQUIAO (right) hits the mitts with Coach Freddie Roach as he prepares for his welterweight match against American Keith Thurman on July 20. PHOTO BY WENDELL ALINEA / MP PROMOTIONS

5 13 in

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HE broader look at today’s business is obviously well appreciated.

The country’s leading national business daily was named “Business Newspaper of the Year” for 2018-2019 at the Rotary Club of Manila’s Centennial Journalism Awards. It is the fifth time the Rotary Club of Manila has recognized the BusinessMirror in its short—13—years of existence.

In 2006, on its first year as a business daily, BM was adjudged “National Newspaper of the Year,” an honor it would receive again in 2011.

In 2013 and 2017, the RCM named the BusinessMirror the “Business Newspaper of the Year.”

Five Rotary awards in 13 years of bringing the best in business reporting.

Certainly the best way to cap multiple triumphs from the most prestigious institutions of Philippine journalism in 2018 and 2019.

The business broadsheet was recognized in October 2018 as the “Business News Source of the Year” by the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (Ejap), the country’s premier organization of business reporters, editors and wire agencies.

It also swept half of the individual categories at the Ejap awards, with its seasoned reporters adjudged as best in their respective coverages: Bianca Cuaresma for Banking; Cai Ordinario for Macroeconomy and the National Economic and Development Authority; Catherine Pillas for Trade and Industry; and Jasper Emmanuel Arcalas for Best Business Feature.

The BusinessMirror was also distinguished as the inaugural “Data Champion” of the Philippine Statistics Authority’s first awards rites, as Arcalas bagged the individual category award for “Best Data Reporting.”

It was quickly bestowed yet another honor in the Institution category for print in the first “Bantog Science for the People” awards for media from the Department of Science and Technology, where Science Photojournalist Stephanie Tumampos captured the grand prize in the individual category.

Thereafter, BM also shone brightest at the 12th Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards where, for the first time in its history since 2007, a single news outfit won two awards in two consecutive years. Arcalas bagged the “Best Agriculture Feature Story (National)” and with Ordinario the “Best Agriculture News Story (National).”

The streak continued with Environment Reporter Jonathan Mayuga getting the Luntiang Aligato award by the Climate Reality Project, a nonprofit organization founded by Nobel

Laureate and former US Vice President Al Gore.

The most recent awards before the Centennial Rotary Journalism rites came from the Philippine Agricultural Journalists-San Miguel Corp. (PAJ-SMC), which bestowed eight trophies on BM at the 2018 Binhi Awards.

Multi-awarded Agriculture/ Commodities reporter Arcalas repeated his feat in 2017 and was again named Agricultural Journalist of the Year (1st place) for 2018.

Arcalas also ranked third in the Agribeat Reporter of the Year

category, tying up with Madeleine B. Miraflor from the Manila Bulletin.

Veteran and multi-awarded Environment reporter Jonathan L. Mayuga was adjudged the second top Environmental Journalist of the Year.

The BusinessMirror’s Agriculture/Commodities Section edited by Associate Editor Jennifer Ng was named the Best

Agriculture/Environment Section of a National Newspaper. The BusinessMirror has won this award for the fourth consecutive year.

Six prestigious award-giving bodies, unanimous in their choices.... At “13 and forwardlooking,” the BusinessMirror not only gives a broader look at today’s business: It provides the best in business journalism.

The BusinessMirror @13

FORWARD-LOOKING

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Faithful God

EAR God, You made Saint Justin steadfast in faith and fervent in the search for truth. In company with him we pray: God, come to our aid. Accomplish in Your Church Your will for reconciliation, unity and peace. Thwarts the plots of terrorists, dictators, hackers, scammers and oppressive leaders.

Rescue child soldiers and young people who are indoctrinated into terrorist or supremacist belief systems. May the Word of God bear much fruit in us, by the working of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

GIVE US THIS DAY, SHARED BY LUISA LACSON, HFL Word&Life Publications • teacherlouie1965@yahoo.com

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

Life BusinessMirror

A no-frills stay in colorful Iloilo

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By JT nisAy

T is almost by default that an exhausted soul craves for an escape—to the beach, for fresh air, for new experiences. A growing destination that offers much-needed respite to the weary or the simply curious is Iloilo.

At the northern municipality of Concepcion, on a 90-minute drive away from Iloilo Airport, rests an underrated collection of islands with pristine beaches.

Among the top attractions is the long sandbar of Bulubadiangan Island, with a streak of pulverized corals and shells cutting through the cerulean sea.

Another is the laid-back lure of black rock formations against the sparkling sun-lit waters and glittering sand at Bagosipol Island.

The Western Visayas province also offers spiritual reconnection. One stop is the Church of Santo Tomas de Villanueva at Miag-ao, a historic piece of architecture built in 1797. The structure was declared

by Unesco as a World Heritage Site as one of the four baroque churches in the country. Meanwhile, in the neighboring municipality of San Joaquin, an otherworldly experience awaits at the Garin Farm Pilgrimage Resort, which is also famous for its refreshing verdant views.

Spirituality, nature and modernity, however, all meet at the province’s capital. Iloilo City has always been known as “The City of Love” for the warmth of its people, but is now also starting to be recognized as “The Rising Giant of the South” due to an investment influx that contributes to phenomenal economic growth. Iloilo City has an approved 2019 budget of P2.3 billion, which plays a no small part in its rise as a

multilayered attraction for tourists.

But at the end of a long, action-packed day— especially in Iloilo—when fantasies of vacations have been realized and the thirst for adventure is finally quenched, what do people want next? Rest.

Established as the answer for easy stays in the province is Injap Tower Hotel Iloilo. The brand offers 194 rooms of exactly the same profile, of the same two-bed layout. The idea is to highlight the essentials of a hotel room, while promoting the warmth of familiarity in every visit.

“We offer no-frills stays,” said Lei Apostol, general manager of Injap Tower Hotel Iloilo’s controlling firm, Hotel 101 Management Corp., which is the hospitality arm of DoubleDragon Properties Corp.

The name Hotel 101 Management Corp., Apostol said, reflects the brand’s identity to present guests with the essentials of a hotel stay, to go with what they call as the pillars of convenience. This includes convenience relative to the brand location, comfort in terms of room offerings, connectivity with regards to fast Wi-Fi service and communication regarding guest feedback, where response time is set at under 30 minutes.

The concept was born with Injap Tower Hotel Iloilo, which was launched in 2013 as the tallest and first high-rise building in Western Visayas at 21 floors.

According to Apostol, the property prides itself in providing the basic provisions of a hotel stay, including the need for an in-house restaurant and the placement of a convenience store within the property.

Injap Tower Hotel Iloilo has grown together with the province in recent years. The concept of “weekend

busy” has extended to weekdays, as the property welcomes families and businessmen throughout the week, including those attending conventions in Iloilo.

Apostol credited the growth to the diverse offerings of the province, where people can “expect a variety of experiences, along with the warm nature of locals.”

“Short-staying guests will not be able to cover everything,” she said, adding that touring the city and its churches alone is a full-day activity. “I think people who will come to Iloilo should stay longer and expect that they would want to come back very soon.”

Aside from Injap Tower Hotel Iloilo, the Hotel 101 Group operates another homegrown brand, the 518-room Hotel 101 Manila in the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City, along with international brand Jinjiang Inn, which is present in three locations. Jinjiang Inn Ortigas has 95 rooms, Jinjiang Inn Makati has 59, while Jinjiang Inn Boracay in Station 1 offers 10.

The group is targeting to boost their total room inventory to 5,000 by next year. On the pipeline is another Hotel 101 Manila with 1001 rooms, which stands to be the largest hotel in terms of room inventory in the country, and a Hotel 101 in Cebu, which, Apostol said, is going to be the biggest airport hotel in the region.

There are also plans to set up properties in Davao, Bohol and Palawan, as well as outside the Philippines, which would make the group the first Philippine hotel chain with properties outside the country. The international locations include Thailand, Japan and Vietnam, the room tally of which are not part of the targeted total of 5,000 by 2020. n

Airbnb to recreate trip from ‘Around the World in 80 Days’

By KATie cAmPiOne The Associated Press LOS ANGELES—A lucky few will be able to live the adventures of Phileas Fogg from Jules Verne’s classic Around the World in 80 Days.

Hosted by Airbnb, a small number of guests will travel across 18 countries using eight modes of transportation, including a hot-air balloon, to promote a new collection of available bookings called Airbnb Adventures.

The experience is meant to mirror Fogg’s journey from exploring the Galapagos islands to hiking mountain ranges in Australia, said Joe Zadeh, Airbnb’s vice president of experiences.

“We thought that the notion of circumnavigating the globe and visiting all these different cultures and communities in 80 days is just a really fun and interesting premise,” he said.

Starting June 20, guests can book the 80-day trip, which comes with a

price tag of $5,000 and includes all travel, lodging, activities and meals.

Guests will depart from London on September 1, 2019. The company did not say how many of the packages would be available.

Zadeh said the company chose to recreate the story of Around the World in 80 Days because it encompasses the spirit of the new program, focused on giving travelers an experience that is difficult to find anywhere else, especially for the price tag.

“We really want to make the point that adventures are accessibly priced,” he said.

Developed from already available hours-long trips called Airbnb Experiences, Airbnb Adventures allows people to participate in twoto 10-day treks ranging from $79 to $5,000. Adventures are capped at 12 travelers or less.

Other notable bookings include searching for Sasquatch in Washington and trekking through the Amazon.

REELING: AN AFTERNOON OF EXCELLENCE, EUPHORIA, REGRETS, AND A BIT OF SADNESS... D4

Thursday, June 20, 2019

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TOURISM CONTRIBUTION TO PHILIPPINE GDP RISES TO 12.7%; PROVIDES 5.4 MILLION JOBS IN 2018

THE tourism industry’s contribution to the economy reached another milestone in 2018 as it increased to 12.7 percent of the Philippines’s gross domestic product (GDP), 0.5 percent higher than in 2017, according to the data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority on June 6. This, despite the sixmonth closure of Boracay Island, one of the country’s major tourist destinations.

The Tourism Direct Gross Value Added, an indicator that measures the value added by the tourism industry, amounted to P2.2 trillion, which is an increase of 14.3 percent from the 2017 TDGVA of P1.9 trillion.

Employment in the tourism industry also rose to an estimated 5.4 million, 1.8 percent higher than the 5.3 million in the previous year. The number of domestic tourists reached 110 million, which is an increase of 14.1 percent from the previous year’s figure of 96.4 million. This exceeds the 89.2-million target in 2022 stated in the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP). Domestic tourism expenditure is also up by 21 percent at P3.2 trillion, compared to the P2.6 trillion in 2017.

Based on the Philippine Tourism Satellite Accounts results, it is also estimated that at least 2 million poor people benefited from the robust growth of tourism compared to original targets from 2016 to 2018. This is in line with the NTDP’s strategic direction on sustainability and inclusive growth.

“These achievements in the tourism industry are a result of a holistic and convergent government. The ‘Build, Build, Build’ program of the administration has greatly improved infrastructure and transport connectivity, while the ease of doing business, coupled with a facilitative environment for investments, has boosted both visitor and investor confidence in Philippine tourism,” said Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat.

“Moreover, these numbers show that the Philippine tourism industry is sustainable; it is an engine for socioeconomic growth that provides jobs and income to the country while preserving Filipino culture and tradition, as well as conservation of the environment,” she added.

BOOK WITH PRIDE AT SAVOY HOTEL BORACAY BASK under the sun of Boracay Newcoast and treat yourself to a well-deserved staycation at Savoy Hotel Boracay. Enjoy the hip and stylish six-story hotel with four room types that offer the perfect spot for cooling down and relaxing after a day out in the sun.

Other amenities include fitness center and spa that provides a welcome respite for everyone, fully equipped meeting rooms, and a banquet facility for any social and business matters. Surrounding the hotel is a huge party pool that’s open to public for events, parties and concerts, the first and only concert pool arena in the country with pool deck, cabanas and lounges. If you’re ever hankering for a scrumptious meal, Savoy Café is open from 6 am to 11 pm, ready to fulfill your cravings. Savoy Hotel also has other food and beverage outlets, like the Vienne Lobby Lounge and The Chambery Pool Bar. Celebrate love and equality this #PrideMonth at Savoy Hotel Boracay where you’re free to just be yourself. Take advantage of room accommodations for as low as P4,500 per room/night.

Savoy Hotel Boracay Newcoast is at Newcoast Drive, Boracay Newcoast, Barangay Yapak, Boracay Island, 5608, Malay, Aklan. More information is available at www.savoyhotelboracay.com.ph.

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Entertaining BusinessMirror

Thursday, June 20, 2019

The key to a crisp chopped salad is salting ahead of time SUMMER Vegetable Chopped Salad, the recipe for which appears in the cookbook New Essentials. AP

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CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Alisan Porter, 36; Nicole Kidman, 50; John Goodman, 65; Lionel Richie, 68.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Stabilize your finances and take more time to ensure that you are living a healthy lifestyle. It’s time to incorporate more exercise and better eating habits into your daily routine. Preparation will be the key to reaching your goals. There is no quick route to success, but if you are willing to put in the time, you will reap the rewards. Your lucky numbers are 8, 14, 21, 27, 33, 46, 48.

b

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You will be perceptive when dealing with both personal and work-related matters. Observe how others respond and you’ll instinctively know how to handle situations to deter anyone from trying to one-up you. HHH

c

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Do whatever it takes to reach your destination. Be the one who drives yourself to the finish line. It’s important to delve into all the possibilities in order to get a clear picture of what’s possible and what isn’t. HHH

d

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Make things happen. Take some initiative and show a little backbone. Controlling whatever you want to do will ensure that you don’t go over budget or let someone else cost you emotionally, financially or legally.

HHHH

e

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Do your best to help those in need. Your outpouring of knowledge, experience and compassion will change the way your peers look at you. Don’t make personal changes to your health, appearance or the way you handle domestic affairs. HH

SUMMER VEGETABLE CHOPPED SALAD Servings: 4 Start to finish: 30 minutes

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VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Avoid what everyone else says and head in a direction that emphasizes personal growth, spirituality and physical strength, and courage. There is much to be gained if you work on self-improvement. HHHHH

sit for at least five minutes or up to 20 minutes.

Add lettuce and gently toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve.

VARIATIONS

n MEDITERRANEAN CHOPPED SALAD: Reduce cucumber to one cucumber and substitute 10 ounces grape tomatoes for cherry tomatoes. Reduce vinegar to 3 tablespoons and olive oil to 3 tablespoons.

Omit bell pepper and radishes. Reduce onion to 1/2 onion and parsley to 1/2 cup. Add one (15 ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed, and 1/2 cup chopped pitted

kalamata olives with cucumber and tomatoes in step 2. Add one cup crumbled feta with lettuce. n PEAR AND CRANBERRY CHOPPED SALAD: Omit tomatoes. Reduce cucumber to one cucumber.

Substitute 3 tablespoons sherry vinegar for red wine vinegar and reduce olive oil to 3 tablespoons.

Substitute red bell pepper for yellow bell pepper. Omit radishes and parsley. Reduce onion to 1/2 onion. Add one ripe but firm pear, halved, cored, and cut into 1/4 inch pieces, and 1/2 cup dried cranberries with cucumber in step 2. Add one cup crumbled blue cheese and 1/2 cup chopped toasted pistachios with lettuce. n

g

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Home improvements can be accomplished if you do some of the work yourself. Don’t get into a senseless argument with someone when compromise is all it takes to keep moving forward. HHH

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SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Make plans with someone you love. A day trip, rearranging or making changes at home are all good places to start. Sharing your feelings and letting someone special know how much you care about them will improve your life. HHH

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SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Think twice before you get involved with someone from your past. Social media can lead to negative, as well as positive memories. Be sure you want to reconnect with someone before accepting his or her invitation. Protect your heart. HHH

j

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Personal developments look promising. Put more effort into your relationship with someone you love.

A little romance will help you avert negativity from someone who feels neglected. HHHHH

Popeyes opens in the Philippines THE world-famous fast-food chicken chain Popeyes officially opens its first restaurant at Arcovia City, Pasig.

It pioneers a hip and vibrant new look which will be rolled out to other restaurants worldwide.

With this launch, diners can now get a taste of the much talked-about signature fried chicken that’s juicy, not greasy, made fresh daily and is packed with Cajun-inspired flavors from Louisiana, USA. Also on the menu are Popeyes classics, such as the original honey biscuits, Cajun fries, Cajun rice and chicken tenders.

Taking the Popeyes experience up a

By Eugenia Last

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Experience life firsthand. Don’t trust what others tell you.

Data and evidence should be the determining factors in the choices you make. They will spare you being misled and alleviate an argument that isn’t necessary. HHH

CHOPPED salad, where every ingredient is cut into pieces of about the same size, offers the perfect mixture of flavors and textures in every bite. However, some vegetables get watery and soggy when you chop and dress them, and require extra attention.

In this summer salad, we first salted the tomatoes and cucumbers to draw out their excess moisture before adding them to the salad. Seeding the cucumbers and quartering the tomatoes exposed more surface area to the salt for even better results.

Letting all the vegetables marinate in the vinaigrette for a few minutes before adding the lettuce intensified their flavor.

Along with cucumbers and tomatoes, we chose sweet yellow bell pepper, red onion, and peppery radishes and tossed them all with chopped romaine lettuce hearts. Be sure to add the lettuce just before serving, or it will turn soggy.

Toss cucumbers and tomatoes with 1 teaspoon salt and let drain in colander for 15 minutes.

Whisk vinegar, garlic, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper together in large bowl. Whisking constantly, drizzle in oil.

Add drained cucumbers and tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, radishes, and parsley and toss to coat. Let salad

Today’s Horoscope

a

By America’s Test Kitchen The Associated Press

3 cucumbers, peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded, and cut into 1/2 inch pieces 1 1/2 pounds cherry tomatoes, quartered Salt and pepper 1/4 cup red wine vinegar 1 garlic clove, minced 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 yellow bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and cut into 1/2 inch pieces 1 small red onion, chopped fine 8 ounces radishes, trimmed and sliced thin 3/4 cup chopped fresh parsley 1 romaine lettuce heart (6 ounces), cut into 1 inch pieces

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notch are new offerings like the white chocolate and hazelnut biscuits, two delightful flavors which can be paired with your fried chicken or can be served as dessert; and Popeyes Spaghetti, a sweet, meaty meal that’s exclusive to the Philippines.

Gracing the much awaited opening were (from left) Kuya J Group CFO Francis Reyes, Restaurant Brands International Asia Pacific (RBI Apac) Regional President Sami Siddiqui, Kuya J Group Chairman Lowell Yu, Kuya J Group COO Gretz Rivera and Naheem Khan of RBI Apac.

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AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You may want to make personal physical changes to your appearance, but it will be best to hold off. Don’t let anyone convince you to spend money on something you don’t need or that promises to do the impossible. HH

l

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Don’t let added responsibilities deter you from taking care of personal matters. Make changes that will help you be more understanding of what’s expected of you. Don’t fold under pressure or give in to demands.

HHHH BIRTHDAY BABY: You are dedicated, intense and purposeful.

You are original and compassionate.

‘support group’ BY MARY ELLEN UTHLAUT The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Community rec center 5 ___ Perignon 8 “Ships of the desert” 14 Headset part 16 Unstable societal condition 17 Swimsuit option 18 Smaller clone of oneself 19 Nondisclosure enthusiast?

21 Org. that has your number 22 Submissive 23 Upper limit enthusiast?

28 Recedes 32 LBJ’s successor 33 Sweet and ___ soup 34 Archery missile 35 Word after “first” or “foreign” 36 Woodsy smell enthusiast?

39 She’s sheepish 40 Staircase parts 42 Drying kiln 43 ___ carte 44 Prefix meaning “six” 45 Party policy enthusiast?

8 Goatee spot 4 50 “___ the ramparts...”

51 Houston basketball player enthusiast?

58 Meditation directive 59 He delivers news 62 Introducer of a radioactivity counter 63 Triple digits?

64 Fluttery poplars 65 Acid 66 Former partners DOWN 1 So far 2 Gaping mouth 3 Note of referral?

4 It might be universal 5 Active sort 6 ___ in a lifetime 7 Come upon 8 New Jersey city on the Delaware 9 Japanese cartoon genre 10 Nickname 11 Arab chieftain 12 Fruit with a Key variety

3 Prophet 1 15 Flashin’ Fruit Punch maker 20 Physicians’ org.

21 Israeli or Arab 23 1929 stock market event 24 Companies with connections, for short 25 “There’s ___ in team” 26 Staple dispenser 27 Certain refrigerant 29 Home electrical panel 30 Derby hat 31 Take an oath 34 “___ boy!”

37 Scot’s denial 38 PC port 41 Thing to track 45 Soda bottle units 46 Bach’s “Mass ___ Minor” 47 Force to confess, say 49 Lady of Troy 51 Baltic capital 52 Snake eyes 53 Poker unit

4 Color-changing gem 5 55 Rowers, informally 56 Raced 57 Drink often served with scones 60 “To Autumn,” e.g.

61 “Without a doubt!”

Solution to yesterday’s puzzle:

Parentlife BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Thursday, June 20, 2019

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CLOCKWISE: Prinz with goddaughter Meagan, my daughter, at a ballet recital; Prinz with all of us celebrating my 40th birthday a few years back; our “waiting-forthe-sunrise” moment in Baguio in 2003; and Chinese New Year celebration hosted by Yin and Yang Shop of Harmony this February.

FREE PREGNANCY FORUM FOR MOMS-TO-BE

A LEADING health institution in the Philippines, Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed) invites parents and parents-tobe to a free series of lay forums, titled “Pregnancy & Beyond.”

MakatiMed offers free pregnancy forum for moms-to-be on June 22.

Participants can learn about Baby Sign Language/Baby Sleep Training/Baby Led Weaning, First Aid for Babies, and Spotting Red Flags: Developmental Delays at the 8th Floor Auditorium Tower 2 of Makati Medical Center. More information is available at 8888-9999 local 3757 or www. makatimed.net.ph.

The first leg of the forum series wraps up on June 22, with the second leg starting by July 20. MakatiMed’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology has been offering this series of lay forums with the Department of Pediatrics since 2010 to promote pre- and postnatal care, safe infant care practices, breastfeeding and pediatric development.

Aside from learning from the experts and a chance to socialize with other parents-to-be, attendees are treated to giveaways, product discounts, raffle prizes and a hefty lunch.

Tequila, sisterhood... thank you, Prinz MOMMY NO LIMITS

MAYE YAO CO SAY

mommynolimits@gmail.com

WHEN ‘EVERYDAY IS PLAY DAY’

A KICKOFF of summer fun and also the biggest collaboration of best-loved global toy and children’s brands, “Everyday is Play Day” launched its third and biggest year at SM City North Edsa, promising a series of exciting shows and festivities for both kids and kids-at-heart in many of the SM Supermalls (www.smsupermalls.com) until October.

This year’s campaign is particularly extra special as SM Supermalls is partnering with Unicef, and together, they are set to promote and instill every child’s right to play, relax and indulge through a holistic approach on both their artistic and recreational activities. Through this team-up, they promote their shared advocacy to bring more smiles to children’s faces across the country.

“SM brings back Everyday is Play Day with kiddie character meet-and-greets and interactive play that aims to help develop their confidence and social skills,” said Jonjon San Agustin, SM Supermalls SVP for Marketing.

Through a showcase of a newfound wonderlands filled with real play and digital experiences while also featuring toy collections, play machines and giant interactive displays, SM Supermalls also takes pride in delighting everyone with over 30 global brands including Toy Kingdom’s biggest, such as Barbie, Hatchimals, Paw Patrol, Shimmer and Shine, Pokemon, Shopkins, Beyblade, My Little Pony, and many more.

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F and when life grants you that heap of blessing, be ready to catch it. That’s how lucky I feel in having met Princesse Lim Fernandez. I can say the friendship we have built between us, among us friends and even within our families, has been so “embracing.” That’s why last Tuesday was truly a difficult moment to say the least. We said farewell to a person who has been there for so many people and, most of all, to a sister-friend who I will truly miss.

Below is the eulogy I read at the day of her inurnment.

“I truly feel unworthy to speak here today.

Princesse and I were not childhood friends. We were not classmates. But I consider our kismet introduction in Bacolod almost 20 years ago as one of the best blessings of my life.

“To many, she is the most caring and committed feng shui expert. To her closest friends, she is that true friend and sister with whom we shared our loudest laughter, as well as all of our deepest fears and imperfections. To Chame, her best friend, Princesse is that ultimate go-to person for advice, solace and joy.

“In Chame’s words, ‘I am indeed very lucky and grateful to have found my soul sister in this lifetime.

Actually, she was the one who found and chose me... she chose to let me sit on a chair beside her in class,

instead of her bag. And that was the beginning of a friendship that blossomed into family as we became sisters for life. “‘Princesse was a very caring and selfless person.

She took the best care of her family, friends and clients. She has always been there for me for anything, except for that one time when I requested her to babysit my three kids, still toddlers then, for a couple of nights. We even threw in Tita Baby in the equation, but to no avail. This was beyond her powers, she claimed. From the trivial to the fun times, and to the most serious of situations, she will always be there for you. She is the most loyal friend you can ask for.

“Martin remembers Prinz’s favorite story of how they became friends for life. They were eating at Kamirori in Katipunan. There was one piece of California Maki left. Prinz asked if anyone wanted the last piece. To her shock, Martin grabbed it. She decided right there and then that Martin and her will be good friends.

“In our younger years, Princesse and I redefined the meaning of tequila shots, while ushering the sunrise in Boracay. We shared many an exciting adventure with friends. Whether it be our spooky Baguio stay in Mikey’s place, our food trip in Shanghai, or our being marathon supporters to Martin and Vinson in Osaka, Princesse has always made each trip full of fun, as well as filled with her occasional ‘bratty’ moments.

“Vinson was so happy that he was able to let Prinz walk 8 kilometers to get to the event site in Osaka, given he is the only one to date who knows Prinz’s real weight. But thanks to Rommel’s empathy, this was short-lived because Prinz rode the taxi all the way back to the hotel.

“But for me, our most priceless moments were our wee-hour conversations about our being. One time I told her I was fascinated by how our friendship has

grown over the years. She said it was rare to find a friendship that, when you asked for advice, it was free of any hidden envy, nothing else but a pure thought for your best interest. Today, Princesse is a sister to Vinson, me and Joan. She is my daughter Meagan’s godmother. She is my confidante who never ever failed to have my back. We even planned to retire together with Vinson in one house with our own nurses.

“Princesse, in Meagan’s words, is an amazing person who cared so much about the people around her. Growing up, Meagan would always look forward to seeing her. She is so grateful to be her godchild because she has learned so much from simply being around her and talking to her. Tita Baby, I hope you know how much I admire you as a mom, and how much I know Prinz thank you for being her No. 1 supporter in life.

“I know saying goodbye to Princesse today is and will be one of the saddest days of my life. But I also remember one of our recent conversations. Princesse and I were talking about her true purpose. I believe beyond leaving her legacy of strength, influence and loving loyalty, she wanted to help even more people in a wider realm.

“I choose to see that as much as Princesse has touched each one of us in the brightest way possible, she would want all of us to shine this light in our own lives. Let’s pay tribute to Princesse by doing something we truly enjoy and love. Let’s follow her example to live life to the fullest. And like her, may we touch lives as uniquely and selflessly as Princesse has done in this lifetime. I believe this is the abundance Princesse chose to leave us with.

“Prinz, I already miss you so much. Know that in each get-together we will have, we will never fail to raise a glass for our dearest friend. We love you immensely, Prinz.” n

heterosexual couples can.

Households with two fathers working full-time rely on day-care facilities, babysitters, housekeepers and nearby relatives for support. Some of these men even take on responsibilities based on skills and strengths, rather than who fits the socially and culturally constructed mold of being more “motherly” or “fatherly.”

COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT. And that’s where the parenting of gay dads may differ from a traditional heterosexual household, as my research and the work of other scholars suggests.

While interviewing and spending time with 22 gayfathered families living in the Northeast, I have learned that they’re apt to step up. But it depends on where dads live.

Many living in more gay-friendly areas become involved as classroom parents, voluntarily assisting teachers, reading books or leading sing-alongs. Some take leadership roles by becoming active PTA members or organizing events that go beyond their children’s classes. In some cases, gay fathers become PTA presidents or serve on school boards.

Like all civically engaged parents, gay fathers support their local museums and libraries and enroll their kids in camps and extracurricular activities. They sometimes do additional volunteer work for social justice groups.

Dads living in less gay-friendly areas want to have more school-based presence, but concerns about their children’s and family’s safety have made it challenging.

The largest-scale survey to date was conducted in 2008 by the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network, an organization focused on the safety of LGBTQ students in schools. That study, which included 588 LGBTQ parents, suggested that gay fathers could be more likely to be involved in school-based activities than heterosexual dads.

Aside from the simple fact that they love their children just like all parents do, Abbie Goldberg, a Clark University researcher, and her colleagues have shown that increased presence may be due, in part, to fathers’ initiatives to counter bias and assert more same-sex visibility and inclusion in schools. My current study indicates the same. Many of the men taking part have told me that being actively involved helps them preemptively counteract potential negative encounters with school personnel and other families.

Gay dads prefer schools and communities that are safe and inclusive. As my research suggests, living in an inclusive community makes them more likely to engage. Beyond that, they want lawmakers bent on barring them from fatherhood to see that two-dad families are for the most part just like any other family. AP

How families with 2 dads raise their kids SOME states, including Texas, South Dakota and Alabama, have tried to defy the 2015 Supreme Court ruling that made marriage equality the law of the land. Their “religious freedom” bills allow taxpayer-funded agencies to deny qualified LGBTQ adults to foster and adopt children.

LGBTQ protection in education appears limited, as well.

When pressed on the question, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is refusing to tell lawmakers whether she believes the federal government should include “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” in antidiscrimination policies.

That reminds me of how former Kentucky family court judge W. Mitchell Nance refused to hold hearings on samesex couples’ adoptions in 2017 “as a matter of conscience.”

He resigned after his state’s Judicial Conduct Commission found him guilty of misconduct.

Maybe any officials, judges and lawmakers who are alarmed by dual-dad or dual-mom households should check out the research on how gay parents differ from straight parents. So far, most of this scholarship has focused on the social, emotional and cognitive outcomes of children they raise. (Spoiler alert: These kids turn out fine.)

As a former teacher who now researches gay dads and their families, I’m studying how the growing number of men married to other men are raising their children. So far, I’m

finding few differences between them and their straight peers of similar socioeconomic status—especially regarding their children’s schooling.

A GROWING POPULATION. Since the Census Bureau estimates—but does not count—the number of households headed by two fathers, it’s hard to track them.

Plans are taking shape for the Census Bureau to begin counting same-sex couples who share a household in 2020, although the agency won’t be counting all LGBTQ individuals.

Nevertheless, the American Community Survey, the Census Bureau’s ongoing demographic survey of approximately 3 million households, already follows samesex parenting. It estimates that in 2017, almost 40,000 two-dad households were raising children, up from about 30,000 in 2010.

PARENTING ROLES. How do parents in these families settle into specific roles? In short, just like heterosexual parents do.

Research suggests that affluent, white, two-father households adhere to traditional parenting roles. One is the primary breadwinner, while the other earns either less income or none at all and handles most of the caregiving and chores.

However, two-dad households can challenge the 1940s Norman Rockwell image of gendered parenting—just like

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Show BusinessMirror

Thursday, June 20, 2019

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An a�ternoon of excellence, euphoria, regrets, and a bit of sadness: The 42nd Gawad Urian REELING

TITO GENOVA VALIENTE

titovaliente@yahoo.com

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HERIE GIL, always the effervescent wit, was giddy not with hosting but with her first trophy. Joel Lamangan, a tested thespian on stage and film, appeared surprised when his name was called. The sound went off when it was Jimmy Fabregas’s turn to present for Best Sound and Music, but he saved it with his off-the-cuff remarks.

The short film directors were all cool about the event; the documentarians were well represented. Gloria Sevilla kidded about a speech that would run from two minutes to one hour and, indeed, her speech went on and on but the crowd couldn’t care. The visuals sometimes failed but who really cares? This is the annual Gawad Urian and the critics of this group are known for being fair and sincere, and everyone was happy that they were being recognized.

Indeed, in the end, with the winners all onstage for the traditional parade of victors, the Best Picture was given to Buy Bust, a stylized, flamboyant and fabulous cinema-verite turned noir, and a violent depiction of drug war and its collateral damages on the people and the society in which such transgressions occur.

Directed by Eric Matti, the film generated a long discussion among the Manunuri (of which this writer is a member) about the ethical dimensions of a film that had to build its own slums and danger zones on the premise that what we have was not cinematic enough. It is this “cinematic-ness” of the film that saves it from being purely indulgent. With the poor losing their human agency or the capacity to act on their own, Buy Bust delivers the strongest documentary about how the malevolence and chaos induced by those who are expected to create peace and order is what we should be watching out for. These acts of killing and annihilating, if we are not careful about it, can be quite entertaining.

There were show-stoppers along the way.

Having finished the deliberation on June 1, we knew already who the winners were that night.

We knew, for example, that Cherie Gil, was getting her Gawad Urian for the first time, after long years of what she simply called “waiting.” It was thus pure giddiness on our part when, as soon as Butch Francisco called Cherie Gil to cohost, she started reciting her frustration about not getting the award.

She had the audience in the palm of her hand when she expressed how the Manunuri would always get her to cohost, and how she would be always

nominated but never win. She was obviously relishing the repartee especially when Butch Francisco started counting the awards received by the “Eigenmanns”—from her brothers (Michael de Mesa and Mark Gil) to her in-laws like Gina Alajar and Jaclyn Jose to nephew (Sid Lucero). You could imagine a few minutes later, after a short visual history of the Philippine cinema, how she reacted when Sue Prado and Christian Bables, both winners of Gawad Urian for Best Supporting Actress and Actor, respectively, handed her the trophy.

Cherie Gil was singled out for her “realistic and effective portrayal of a well-heeled but unfeeling matron who sold young decent women to rich and powerful government officials.” The film is Citizen Jake and the director is Mike de Leon. Cherie told the audience it was a single-sequence character, a feat she never thought would merit her the muchcoveted trophy.

Warmly received was the Gawad Urian Best Supporting Actor, Joel Lamangan. Known more as film director, the award for acting would remind the people that Joel first began as a stage actor. Lamangan’s role was that of an aging gay who killed his boyfriend in order to protect his family whose business was to kidnap children and force them to beg. The film is School Service, directed by Louie Ignacio.

Joel Lamangan was articulate in his speech about how people or stakeholders should sit down together and really look at what ails the movie industry. He called on everyone to unite, discuss and come up with solutions.

Dulce in her characteristic dramatic style slowed down even more “Matud Nila,” a Cebuano song, as an introduction to what would transpire next, the honoring of the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement.

After the song, an audiovisual presentation on the life of Gloria Sevilla, this year’s Natatanging Gawad Urian recipient, was shown. Bienvenido Lumbera, National Artist for Literature and one of the founders of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, read the citation for Gloria Sevilla, the Queen of Visayan Movies.

The selection of Gloria Sevilla, with her achievement in Cebuano films lauded as a major contribution to the Philippine film industry, is a nod to the growing importance of regional films.

This is particularly significant as we move to the formal opening of the centenary of Philippine cinema in September. Philippine cinema, after all, is not merely the works of those who were and are based in Manila; the language of Filipino films need not be only in Tagalog/Filipino but also in the other languages of the nation.

Gloria Sevilla did not forget this in her speech— that she is Cebuana and she remains a movie worker.

She pleaded about how the government should not neglect the film industry. She became passionate about the problems of the senior members of the actors’ group and, with that, people were expecting

she would mention Eddie Garcia. The actor had an accident on June 8 and is still in a coma up to this day.

Observers note how he was not properly attended to after the accident as there were no first-aid facilities in the film location.

Eddie Garcia, for all his absence, was a presence all throughout the evening of the Gawad Urian for 2019. He was nominated for two films: Hintayan ng Langit and ML. He would win for the latter. The Manunuri cited Garcia’s essaying of the role of a ery gentle grandfather who suddenly is transformed and revealed to be a terrifying persona created by martial law.

Eddie Garcia would have regaled the audience that night with his characteristic suavely sarcastic speech. As Benedict Mique, the director of ML, read the message from Garcia’s family, the actor should have been there with that grin and the smile, and the loving words about the film industry he has served for some 7o years.

The absence of Nadine Lustre, who was the Best Actress for 2019, was explained to us even before the night of the Gawad Urian. She was somewhere in Bulacan or some such place shooting a reality show, and there was no way she could be back for the ceremonies. Still, we waited for her to appear. She did not. In her absence, the screaming of her fans was the consolation to those who believed it was

sad for a young actress to miss what remains to be the most prestigious prize a filmmaker can receive in this country.

Next week, a more detailed description of what went on during the deliberations for the 42nd Gawad Urian. Was there a tie? Was there a unanimous decision?

The following is the list of the winners for this year’s Gawad Urian. n Best Film: Buy Bust n Best Director: Denise O’Hara for Mamang n Best Actor: Eddie Garcia for ML n Best Actress: Nadine Lustre for Never Not Love You n Best Supporting Actor: Joel Lamangan for School Service n Best Supporting Actress: Cherie Gil for Citizen Jake n Best Sound: Jonathan Hee, Steff Dereja and Miguel Hernandez for Never Tear Us Apart n Best Music: Malek Lopez and Erwin Romulo for Buy Bust n Best Editing: May-I Guia Padilla for Tanabata’s Wife n Best Production Design: Michael Español and Roma Regala for Buy Bust n Best Cinematography: Neil Bion for Buy Bust n Best Screenplay: Rody Vera for Signal Rock n Best Short Film: Shaira Advincula for Tembong n Best Documentary: Jewel Maranan for Sa Palad ng Dantaong Kulang

Prince Harry champions mother’s cause: clearing land mines LONDON—Prince Harry has offered his support to a new initiative to clear land mines from a wilderness area in Angola, saying it will protect lives and help communities.

In backing the £47 million ($60 million) initiative of the Angolan government and the Halo Trust, Harry continued work on a cause championed by his late mother, Princess Diana.

She drew attention to the African nation’s dangerous minefields by stepping onto one.

The funds will be used to clear 153 minefields in an area with vital waterways to the

Agsunta makes a stop at Shangri-La Plaza POP-ROCK indie band Agsunta takes on #LIKHAattheShang a few months after coming out with fresh new tracks. Vocalist Jireh Singson, guitarist Mikel Arevalo, bassist Josh Planas, and drummer Stephen Arevalo are set to perform live on June 23, 7 pm, at Shangri-La Plaza’s Grand Atrium (www.facebook. com/shangrilaplazaofficial).

The foursome has reunited after a short break from the music scene and released their original songs “Bagong Umaga” and “Alas Dose.” Known for their soft melodic rock sound, Agsunta rose to fame when they started covering popular original Pilipino music songs on their YouTube channel while working on their own songwriting.

Agsunta’s first extended play Head Over Heels, released in 2015, is a three-track album of their own compositions. The band’s most recent release is a self-titled album in 2018 that includes original songs like “‘Di Ba Halata” and “Patawad Na.” The band has started gaining recognition for its music, especially after winning second place at the Himig Handog Awards last year for their performance of Philip Arvin Jarilla’s song “Wakasan.”

Okavango Delta. The Halo Trust hopes foreign governments and individuals will match the funds pledged by the Angolan government.

Speaking on Monday at London’s Chatham House think tank, Harry said Angola’s wilderness was “an asset that should be protected, celebrated and benefited by its people.” AP BRITAIN’S Princess Diana uses a remote switch to trigger the detonation of some explosive ordinance dug up by mine sweepers in Huambo, Angola, in January 1997. AP

Dance, video games merge in benefit concert on social issues IN thanksgiving for the widespread acceptance of complimentary classes on the various dance genres, veteran global competitors and champions, the Saint Benilde Romançon Dance Company (SBRDC), the internationally lauded resident dance troupe of De La SalleCollege of Saint Benilde, once again gives back through a concert for a cause that delves deep into social issues.

Dubbed Gameplay: A Dance Concert, the much-awaited charity event will transport spectators to a world of wonders, influenced by the exhilarating world of video games, where dance and play

meet. The SBRDC will showcase their homegrown talents, and varying styles and techniques in 10 dance performances that will narrate relevant issues pertaining to identity, relationships, familial bond, corruption and politics.

The SBRDC was the third runner-up at the World Hip Hop Dance Championship 2014 in Las Vegas, United States; silver medalist at the World Hip Hop Dance Championship 2015 in San Diego, USA; and first runnerup at the Hip Hop International Philippines 2016 in Manila.

They have, likewise, been hailed as the three-peat National Champion of Hip Hop International Philippines 2014, 2015 and 2016 in Manila, and

has received the three-peat Gold Medal Award for the Philippines in the 2018 Hong Kong Challenge Cup Dance Competition.

The Heart at Play Foundation, which empowers and improves the lives of persons with special needs by providing free Dance Movement Therapy sessions, is the sole beneficiary.

Tickets are priced at P200.

Gameplay: A Dance Concert will be held on July 19, with shows at 1 pm and 7 pm at the fifth floor theater of the college’s School of Design and Arts campus, 950 Pablo Ocampo (Vito Cruz) Street, Malate, Manila. More information is available at (02) 230-5100, locals 1528 or 1603.

THE Saint Benilde Romançon Dance Company

EDDIE GARCIA in a scene from the 2018 indie film ML, for which he won the Gawad Urian Best Actor award.

Envoys&Expats BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph | Thursday, June 20, 2019 E1

IN THE LINE OF FIRE

A diplomat’s tour of duty in the war zone

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By Recto L. Mercene

@rectomercene

OUR years ago, just days after he assumed office as chargé d’affaires in Baghdad, a suicide-car bomber blasted through the five-star hotel where Elmer G. Cato was billeted. It killed six and wounded several others.

Then, barely five days in the same post in Tripoli this year, civil war broke out in the Libyan capital, which put at risk more than a thousand Filipinos.

A personal blog, “Dispatches from the Front Line,” takes readers along with Cato, the Philippines’s new ambassador to Libya, on these exhilarating, yet extremely dangerous, “exploits.” His accounts read like Ernest Hemingway’s World War I stories in his novel, A Farewell to Arms (a first-person account of American Frederic Henry, who served as a lieutenant in the ambulance corps of the Italian Army).

Cato found himself in the crossfire of these troubled Middle East countries since 2015 in Iraq. After ending his three-year stint in Baghdad, Cato requested thenSecretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Alan Peter S. Cayetano to send him to Tripoli

and fill in the void left by Mardomel Melicor, who had ended his assignment there.

Cayetano’s instruction was for him to stay put and assist incoming Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. Locsin Jr., his former publisher at the now-defunct Today newspaper.

Locsin wanted to send Cato to New York, but eventually acquiesced to the latter’s wish.

Cato was a 16-year-old freshman from De La Salle University when he showed up at the offices of Ang Pahayagang Malaya in 1983, three months after the Aquino assassination. He was there to respond to the call of the broadsheet’s publisher Jose Burgos for young journalists to join his crusade. Burgos was hesitant to take in someone who was as young as his sons.

When asked for his age, Cato responded: “I am 18, Sir.” Which exactly demonstrates the

assistant secretary’s determination and will in taking on tasks that he sets his mind into.

Surviving Baghdad

IN 2014 the DFA sent out a notice of search for candidates for the head of the Philippine post in Baghdad. Cato remembered going up to the fourth floor of the embassy to then-Veterans Affairs Representative Delfin N. Lorenzana.

After some formalities, the Pampanga native asked the latter: “Sir, I read there’s a vacancy for the head of post in Baghdad. Should I apply?”

The military man that he is, Lorenzana’s reply was short yet direct: “Go for it!”

True enough, Cato was in Baghdad six months later. Not long after, the diplomat saw himself in the line of fire, amid one of the most hostile capitals in the Middle East, if not of the world.

The following is a blow-by-blow account of the journalist-turnedenvoy, providing the BusinessMirror a virtual front-row vista into two of the most dangerous places on the planet: Iraq, and lately, Libya.

(These two Middle East countries have figured in world headlines since the terrorist group ISIS and its counterpart Levant weaved their brand of terror around the globe.)

“Baghdad was still among the most dangerous cities in the world when I arrived there on May 24,

2014,” he told the BusinessMirror.

“By the time I made it there, Iraq had been under Alert Level IV for almost nine months. The ISIS had gone on a rampage, as it captured Mosul, [the country’s] second-largest city, and threatened to invade Baghdad,” he related.

“The mandatory repatriation of the more than 1,500 Filipinos in the capital had been ordered. But there were few takers.”

According to Cato, the Babylon in 2010 was among several hotels in Baghdad that were struck by a wave of suicide bombings that left around 37 people dead. But he told himself the chances that the Babylon would again be targeted would be rare.

And then, the blast happened.

Blast in Babylon

IN what perhaps was a plot out of a suspense-thriller movie, Cato recalled that on his fifth night at the Babylon Warwick Hotel—considered the most secure location in the Iraqi capital—he heard a muffled sound shortly after tucking-in close to midnight.

“My head had barely touched the pillow, when there was a ‘whoomp!’ accompanied by a fireball, which flashed through the night sky. The room trembled.”

His mind told him it was a very powerful bomb. Within seconds, a loud voice from across the Tigris River blared: “Take cover! Stay away

from the windows!”

The alert was from the US Embassy’s Green Zone public address system. Vice Consul Theodore Andrei Bauzon told Cato that he would hear this recorded warning whenever there are rockets or mortars headed toward the embassy. It went on loop for the next few minutes.

Instead of heeding, Cato followed his training: “The journalist in me rushed out of bed, headed straight for the window, and opened the curtains.”

He had never been to a war zone before, and was curious to see the streaks of incoming shells paint the sky across from Babylon Hotel. There was nothing but darkness.

“It was not the US Embassy that was targeted,” he muttered to himself. “If it was not, then what was?”

Cato turned his gaze eight floors down, and from the balcony, he saw total pandemonium: “People were spilling out of the Babylon’s main building and running toward the swimming pool area. I then heard the sirens.”

He surmised the detonation emanated from an improvised explosive device—a detonation that occurred five times on the average every single day during his posting in Iraq.

Cato immediately dialed for the front desk to check on any of the Filipinos working there, especially Rowena who welcomed him when

he arrived, but there was no answer.

“They are probably checking what that sound was,” he told himself.

“I waited, and then called again.

Still no answer....”

All-important phone calls

THE envoy to Libya spotted shards of glass near the fire exit. He surveyed the hotel’s balcony overlooking nearby Karada Street.

At that time, the sirens got louder.

There was a scent of burning material, while he noticed a dark, orange cloud that billowed from the side entrance.

It was then that the newly assigned ambassador realized it was the Babylon, his hotel, which had been hit.

“Lord Jesus Christ,” Cato told himself, “The hotel had been hit, and it’s only my fifth day inside what’s supposed to be the safest place in Baghdad!”

The Filipino diplomat rushed back to his room to call the front desk anew, but the phone just kept on ringing. As he judged from where the smoke billowed, he could tell the explosion was in the hotel lobby.

He then sent text messages to Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Administration Linglingay F. Lacanlale, as well as Chief Coordinator Maria Teresa Dizon-De Vega in Manila, and told them what had happened.

Continued on E2

Envoys& BusinessMirror

E2 Thursday, June 20, 2019

Intl Day of UN Peacekeepers commemorated

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HE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) joined the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other members the National Council for UN Peace Operations (NCUNPO) in commemorating the 2019 International Day of UN Peacekeepers on May 29 at the AFP Commissioned Officers’ Club in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for United Nations and International Organizations and NCUNPO Secretary-General Noralyn Jubaira-Baja, AFP Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Melchor B. Mison Jr. and AFP Peacekeeping Operations Center Commanding Officer Oriel Pangcog led the commemoration.

The event featured a short tribute for the fallen peacekeepers who sacrificed their lives in the cause of peace, which was followed by the awarding ceremony for military, police, as well as corrections and civilian personnel for their exemplary service to the cause of peacekeeping.

The NCUNPO grants the awards to outstanding Filipino peacekeepers and peacekeeping personnel who have contributed to the

strengthening of the Philippines’s participation in UN peacekeeping operations.

Bravery Awards were given to five female peacekeepers previously deployed in the peacekeeping missions in India and Pakistan, South Sudan and in Central African Republic. Service awards were handed out to six awardees from the AFP Peacekeeping Operations Center and from the UN Peacekeeping Operations Center of the Philippine National Police.

The Gawad Diosdado Macapagal Awards were conferred to three awardees who also contributed to Philippine efforts in UN peacekeeping operations. One of them is Ambassador Bayani S. Mercado, former NCUNPO secretary-general.

The International Day of UN

FOREIGN Affairs Assistant Secretary Noralyn Jubaira-Baja (front row, sixth from right) and AFP Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Melchor B. Mison Jr. (front row, sixth from left) with the 2019 National Council for UN Peace Operations awardees. The awarding ceremony was part of the 2019 commemoration of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers. DFA

Peacekeepers is celebrated annually around the world on May 29, in memory of peacekeepers who have

lost their lives in the cause of peace, as well as a tribute to all the men and women who have served and con-

tinue to serve in UN peacekeeping operations in honor of their professionalism, dedication and courage.

The Philippine observance of the event was made official by Proclamation 1755, Series of 2009. DFA

A diplomat’s tour of duty in the war zone Continued from E1

Cato was startled when the phone rang.

It was the front desk’s Geoffrey Esmabe, one of the hotel’s Filipino staff members, on the line. Esmabe checked on the diplomat-guest if he was okay. There was an overall sense of relief as he heard the caller’s voice. Earlier, he thought all of the hotel frontliners have died from the explosion.

“Sir, there’s a car that exploded at the side entrance of the lobby,” Esmabe reported in Filipino. Cato then realized it was not an ordinary improvised explosive device, but a car

bomb that went off.

His thoughts were interrupted when the phone rang again. It was Rowena.

“Sir, is everything okay there? Please make sure you lock the door of your room and stay inside.”

Then, the DFA official heard successive bursts from Kalashnikovs.

Rowena screamed on the phone: “Sir, there’s more, there’s more!” as she screamed in Tagalog, while Cato frantically asked what was going on. He imagined gunmen rushing into the building and taking staff and guests as hostages.

“Sir, they’re getting us!” Rowena said, as he heard male voices giving orders in Arabic.

“What? Where? Who? Who are they?

Where are they taking you?”

“They’re taking us down the basement, Sir!” “Who are taking you away?”

“Our security, Sir!” It was only then that Cato let out a sigh of relief.

‘Second chance’

ROWENA told him the security men saw another car bomb outside the hotel, and asked Cato to lock himself in the bathroom. He did as he was told, while blaming himself for leaving behind in Manila his body armor and an old 9-mm, Iraqi-made Tariq pistol issued by the embassy.

“I had no other means to protect myself, except for the knife and the fork that came with the fruit platter.”

Cato started texting his wife and other loved ones. He prayed and waited, and repeated the sequence. “I had never been so afraid.

And I had never prayed so hard in my life.”

After an interminable 15 minutes, his phone rang. It was the front desk. “Sir, it’s all clear. It’s safe now.”

Morning came, and his fear of a second wave did not materialize. The Filipino envoy said his prayers were answered: “Thank You, Lord, for this second chance.”

He described all the windowpanes from the ground floor up to the 15th were blown off, while portions of the side and front of the building were in shambles. The blast tore through the upper parking area leading to the guest entrance, “splattering the walls with blood from someone probably standing there.”

Cato was among the lucky ones that evening. Six people at the Babylon were not as fortunate. The suicide bomber took their lives, while several more were wounded. ISIS would later claim the terrorist attack.

Tour of duty in Tripoli

“WE wake up to the sound of ‘boom-booms’ in the morning. We go to sleep with the sound of ‘boom-booms’ at night. Just now, explosions somewhere out there, most likely precision munitions from attack drones hitting their targets. Good night, Tripoli,” Cato tweeted shortly after arriving in Libya early this year.

The next day, Cato had a new tweet: “Good morning, Tripoli!” Instead of his iPhone alarm waking him up, it is the sound of the said explosions that roused him from sleep.

“The war is getting nearer,” he said to himself.

NEWLY appointed Ambassador of the Philippines to Libya Elmer G. Cato (second from left) leads a meeting with embassy officials in Tripoli. TWITTER: @ELMER_CATO

In yet another post: “This is what we were hearing early this morning. It’s no longer quiet in the southern front. Let’s continue praying for peace in Libya.”

(The battle for Tripoli began on April 4, when General Khalifa Haftar launched his offensive in trying to capture the capital, where the internationally recognized government is based. Haftar is from the Libyan House of Representatives and wants to capture the western region of his country, and eventually the capital, which is held by the UN Security Council-recognized Government of National Accord. The offensive resulted in over 560 dead and more than 2,850 injured.)

Cato met with the Filipinos in Tripoli to convince them to return to the Philippines.

He said their efforts have doubled to convince Filipinos who may get caught in the crossfire of the escalating violence there to go home.

In another post, he said: “As artillery shells land just several miles away, Filipinos turn to singing to temporarily forget the danger lurking nearby. Only 55 of the more than 1,000 Filipinos in Tripoli have so far opted to return to the Philippines. The rest opted to stay.”

Embassy staff members have since placed a huge Philippine flag, which almost covers the roof of their building, in hopes of avoiding to be accidentally targeted by aerial ammunition.

Filipino workers told the envoy of their intent to stay, notwithstanding concerns about the delays in their salaries, or the difficulties they encounter in remitting money to the Philippines, “even if the fighting in the out-

skirts enters Tripoli [and] puts them at risk.”

Cato said the Libyans were thankful for Filipino nurses and caregivers who refused to leave and never ceased to look after their patients.

The now-Tripoli-based Filipino diplomat reported to Secretary Locsin: “We will not be able to convince them to go home unless we offer them more than just a oneway ticket, P10,000, and promises of jobs, livelihood and other assistance. We did that in 2011 and 2014. Many believed us then and went home. But the promised jobs weren’t there.”

Locsin replied: “Well, Elmer, we do intend to keep our promises, but we just can’t. The spirit is willing, but the economy is still weak.”

In another tweet, the DFA chief told Cato: “You’re getting a medal man,” after Cato reported that the largest batch of Filipinos have been evacuated from Tripoli and are on their way home.

From a certain J Bernardo who tweeted: “Sir Elmer, I really don’t know how to thank you enough and Sec. Teddyboy Locsin and DFA… Thank you so much for helping us. This is something that I can’t and won’t forget in my lifetime. Mabuhay po kayo and I’m proud of you guys to be our [government] officials.”

To which Locsin replied, “Please refer to him as Ambassador Cato. No man more deserves the title. I asked the President and he said for it. If the embassy falls with him in it I want it to be reported the embassy fell with its ambassador. Taps. Few are so fortunate to be so lucky at a shot at eternity.”

&Expats

envoys.expats.bm@gmail.com | Thursday, June 20, 2019 E3

RIZAL: FIRST GLOBAL FILIPINO

Leading historian lectures on Dr. Rizal, cartography

Sentro Rizal-London revisits hero’s journey to rewrite PHL history

THE Sentro Rizal-London commemorative plate PROF. Ambeth R. Ocampo is the foremost authority on Dr. Jose Rizal. The lecturer is renowned for making the study of history accessible to the public and interesting to a wide variety of audiences. TORONTO PCG

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ORONTO—In line with the 121st anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine independence and the first Canada-wide celebration of the month of June as Filipino Heritage Month, the Sentro Rizal of the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto organized a series of lectures by renowned Filipino historian and professor Ambeth R. Ocampo in Canada’s two leading universities.

Ocampo traced the travels of the Philippines’s national hero in a lecture, “Rizal: The Hero as Traveler,” and shared his perspective on how the Filipino polymath was shaped by his exposure to other lands, peoples and cultures. The professor said it was while Rizal was abroad that the latter learned to love his country.

There, he highlighted Rizal’s exile in Dapitan from 1892 to 1896, and noted that it was during that time the “Great Malayan” gave his

best. It was in that city of Zamboanga that the Filipino national hero displayed his learning into full use and did everything he could to improve the lives of the residents.

Rizal’s spent a great deal of his efforts in educating the young in Dapitan, as he believed that education is the essence of what he wanted Filipinos to be.

During the lecture, Ocampo exhorted the audience to see Rizal not so much as a hero, but as an ordinary human being: “We must make

OCAMPO addresses a full house at the Munck School of Global Affairs and Public Policy of the University of Toronto. TORONTO PCG

THE professor (center) and cohosts of the lecture: Dr. Phillip Kelly (third from left) and Prof. Abidin Kusno (fourth from left), with officers of the Philippine Consulate General led by Deputy Consul General Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez (fifth from left), Consul Edna May G. Lazaro (fifth from right), Consul Edwin Gil Mendoza (third from right) and Cultural Officer Cecilia Santos (left), as well as Prof. Patrick Alcedo of York University’s Dance Department (fourth from right). TORONTO PCG

Rizal relevant in our times [and] remind ourselves that to know Rizal is to know our own capacity for greatness.”

The lecture was organized in cooperation with the Asian InstituteCenter for Southeast Asian Studies of the University of Toronto. It was held on June 4 at the university’s Munck School of Global Affairs and Public Policy-Vivian and David Campbell Conference Facility.

In an earlier lecture at the university’s Keele Campus on June 3 entitled “Mapping the Philippines: Before Waze and Google Earth,” Ocampo showed a series of old maps, which depicted the emergence of the Philippines as a nation.

“Old maps illuminate our history.

Reading maps not only gives us a sense of geography: how people in the past imagined the islands, and how the islands were formed to be the Philippines as we know of today.”

He continued, “Studying old maps also gives us a sense of our history, our connections and an understanding of our national identity.”

On both occasions Ocampo delivered his lectures to a full house composed of first- and secondgeneration Filipino-Canadians, members of academe and Filipino community leaders. The series was also organized in collaboration with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. DFA

Extensive collection of Rizal manuscripts in America on display

DEPUTY Consul General Romulo Victor Israel Jr. (second from left) discusses some of the manuscripts with Cultural Officer Noly Dulay (left), as well as Newberry Library’s Analu Lopez (third from left) and Will Hansen. CHICAGO PCG

FR. Pedro Velarde’s map of the Philippines (right), one of 12 prints in existence, is exhibited at the ground floor of the Newberry Library. CHICAGO PCG

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HICAGO—The Philippine Consulate General in Chicago viewed original Philippine manuscripts in America, including the most substantial collection of works of national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal at the Newberry Library in Chicago on March 22.

Deputy Consul General Romulo Victor Israel Jr., Consul Ryan Gener and Cultural Officer Noly Dulay were introduced to the Newberry collection by curators Will Hansen and Analu Lopez.

The Philippine manuscripts are part of the collection of Edward E. Ayer. According to the Newberry curators, the collection consists mainly of manuscripts previously owned by the Compañia General de Tabacos in their Barcelona library, which Ayer obtained through Madrid bookseller Pedro Vindel and expanded subsequently through purchases and gifts.

The 430 manuscripts cover the Philippines under Spanish colonial rule, particularly government papers of the 18th century; five volumes of documents on Philippine history and politics tran-

DR. Jose Rizal’s Clinica médica CHICAGO PCG

scribed by Ventura del Arco in the Real Academia de la Historia in Madrid; religious texts, grammar books and vocabularies in seven different Philippine languages; “corridos,” or metrical romances introduced by the Spanish based on European fantasies and legends; an album of watercolor drawings by Damian Domingo on the native dresses of the 19th century; as well as notebooks and correspondences of Rizal.

The manuscripts are the most substantial collection of the original works of the national hero in America. Among these is Clinica médica, a notebook containing Rizal’s notes and sketches while studying humanities and medicine in Manila, Madrid and Berlin from 1881 to 1887. Apart from medical notes, it enumerates a list of books purchased by Rizal and drafts of his letters.

As the Newberry web site notes, “It reveals the

precocious talent of a brilliant mind... and displays key leitmotifs of his life and corpus.” The notebook is the only manuscript yet to be digitized given its delicate physical state.

The Rizal collection also includes correspondence with Dr. A.B. Meyer of Dresden from Paris, Brussels and Dapitan concerning linguistic and zoological matters; an 1884 printed diary with handwritten entries when Rizal was a student of art and medicine in Madrid, on his meetings in cafés with other historical Filipino luminaries; and a first edition print of “Mi Ultimo Adios” when it was still known as “Mi Ultimo Pensamiento.”

Also on display for public viewing at the Newberry Library is a Philippine map designed by Fr. Pedro Murillo Velarde, engraved and printed by Nicolas de la Cruz Bagay in 1734. According to the curators, its accuracy was unmatched for 70 years, and the presence of drawings of Chinese, African and western Asian people underscored the importance of the Philippines to global-trading networks. DFA

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ONDON—The Philippine Embassy marked the launch of Sentro Rizal-London with an exhibition on the 10-month visit in London of Jose Rizal, who is considered as one of the first Filipino reformists.

The exhibit, To Retrieve What Has Been Lost: Rizal as a Historian, is open to the public until June 25 at the Exhibition Hall of the chancery. This pioneering exposition is a collaboration between Sentro Rizal-London, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and Project Saysay.

The display explores Rizal’s visit in the English capital to rewrite the history of the Philippines and the Filipino people.

After securing permission to work and study at the British Library, he poured over Antonio de Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas (Events in the Philippine Islands), which he had first heard of when he was still in the Philippines.

The would-be Filipino national hero studied and copied de Morga’s book verbatim, then also annotated extensive passages of the book to correct the latter’s misconceptions about the Philippines

and the Filipinos.

Apart from de Morga’s book, Rizal also studied and read other books in the British library on the Philippines. It was during the course of his undertaking that the future national hero began to conceive the idea of a truly national Filipino identity.

“Through this exhibition, we hope to inspire second-generation Filipino-Britons and Filipino-Irish to reconnect with their roots and to rediscover their Filipino heritage,” said Ambassador of the Philippines to the United Kingdom Antonio M. Lagdameo.

Research and the development of the exhibition panels was undertaken by Project Saysay, a Philippine-based volunteerled organization which aims to spread the ideals and values of great Filipinos. Last year, together with Ibarra Watches, it distributed posters bearing the words of Filipino heroes to all “Sentros” around the world.

To Retrieve W hat Has Been Lost: Rizal as a Historian was the first exhibition mounted by the embassy under the Sentro Rizal program. DFA

Sentro Rizal-Washington, D.C., marks 1st year with Ocampo talk

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ASHINGTON, D.C.— This city’s Sentro Rizal celebrated its first anniversary on June 10 with a presentation by Filipino historian, author and Rizal scholar Prof.

Ambeth R. Ocampo at the Philippine Chancery Annex Building.

In a presentation, also entitled “Rizal: The Hero As Traveler” (see related story), Ocampo shared his perspective on the travels of Dr. Jose Rizal and their influence on the hero’s writings, which shaped his beliefs.

“While the words ‘travel’ and ‘tourism’ are often used interchangeably, there is a difference between the two: A tourist travels for leisure; he dips into a foreign culture, but remains largely unchanged. A traveler aims for experience as a means of understanding himself in the context of the foreign,” Ocampo wrote in the presentation abstract.

“Every Filipino child knows that Rizal traveled a great deal when air travel was but a figment of the imagination, but what is not emphasized is how Rizal was formed by his exposure to other lands, peoples and cultures,” the professor explained.

“It is not well known that Rizal traveled to America, traveling by land from San Francisco to New York to catch a voyage to London.

Looking back on Rizal’s travels helps us understand the hero,

ourselves and the emergence of the Filipino nation,” he added.

Ambassador of the Philippines to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez said, “We are proud and delighted to celebrate the first anniversary of Sentro RizalWashington D.C., with [Professor Ocampo]. He is a very engaging presenter and an authority on the life and times of Jose Rizal. His presentation certainly advances Sentro Rizal’s mission, which is to spread knowledge and awareness of Philippine history and culture overseas.”

Housed at the Philippine Embassy in the US capital, Sentro Rizal-Washington D.C., is the 30th branch of the Sentro Rizal, recognized by virtue of Section 42 of the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, which specifies a center “whose main purpose is the promotion of Philippine arts, culture and language throughout the world.”

Since its inauguration on January 10, the Washington D.C., branch has served as the primary vehicle through which the embassy conducts its cultural diplomacy programs.

Ocampo’s “Rizal: The Hero as Traveler” was copresented by Sentro Rizal-Washington D.C., and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, with the support of the US-Philippines Society. DFA

Envoys&Expats BusinessMirror

E4 Thursday, June 20, 2019

www.businessmirror.com.ph

EMBASSIES, EVENTS, ETC.

GREAT SYNAGOGUE Rabbi Eliyahu Azaria (center) shows Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio AT THE U.N. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. speaks at the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the entry into force of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, or Unclos, at the UN Headquarters. Related story below. PHILIPPINE PERMANENT MISSION TO THE U.N. (NEW YORK)

Cardinal G. Tagle (left) the Torah Scroll, the holiest book in Judaism containing the entire text of the Old Testament, which came all the way from Israel. It was displayed during the latter’s visit to the Great Synagogue of the Jewish community in the Philippines on June 11 in Makati City.

Ambassador Rafael Harpaz looks on, as the embassy celebrated the 25th anniversary of the ties between Israel and the Vatican. PNA/OLIVER MARQUEZ

SFA: IOM post shows stand on multilateralism, migration

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HE Philippines is fully behind the candidature of Ambassador Evan P. Garcia for the position of deputy director general of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. proudly endorsed the candidature of Garcia on June 13 at the commemoration by the Philippine Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva of the Philippine Independence proclamation’s 121th anniversary.

“Today we push our commitment to multilateralism and migration further with the candidature of Ambassador Evan P. Garcia, permanent representative [of the Philippines] to UN-Geneva, for deputy director general of the IOM,” Locsin said.

“Behind Ambassador Garcia

is 40 years of Philippine experience in migration diplomacy.

When no countries spoke up for migrants, the Philippines did,” the foreign affairs chief said.

Garcia is a seasoned career diplomat, a pride of the Philippine Foreign Service, with over 30 years of experience in bilateral, regional and global affairs. The Asean, which has a combined population of more 640 million, has also endorsed him as its regional candidate.

The ambassador was undersecretary for policy of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs. He

AMBASSADOR Evan P. Garcia (left) and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.

served two terms as permanent representative to Geneva, was envoy to the United Kingdom, and had posts in Washington, D.C., and Tokyo.

The ambassador’s vision is for an IOM that is fully integrated into the UN system, with its policy advisory capacity and output into the UN system strengthened. He also pledged to enhance IOM’s frontline capabilities for humanitarian assistance, fieldwork, research, as well as capacity building and train-

ing, including mobilizing resources and strengthening IOM’s traditional partnerships and cultivating new ones.

Central to this vision is the improvement of gender equality and geographic representation in the organization.

The IOM is an intergovernmental organization that addresses issues and concerns on migration, as well as provides services and advice to governments on matters involving such.

U.S. CONGRESS AWARDEE Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana (third from right), United States Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission John Law (second from left) and Philippine Veterans Affairs Office Administrator Ernesto Carolina (left) witness the awarding of the US Congressional Gold Medal to 104-year-old war veteran Sgt. Jose Quilatan Sr. (third from left) at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on June 10. The highest civilian award in the US was given to 40 Filipino war veterans (living and deceased) for their heroism and sacrifice during World War II. PNA/JOEY RAZON

Stamps unveiled as PHL, Thailand mark 70 years of ties

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O celebrate their countries’ seven decades of friendship and close diplomatic ties, the Philippine Postal Corp. (PHLPost) and the Royal Kingdom of Thailand have unveiled special postage stamp designs that feature their respective national animals: the Philippine carabao and the revered Thai elephant.

Ambassador of the Royal Kingdom of Thailand to the Philippines Vasin Ruangprateepsaeng, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Enrique A. Manalo and PHLPost Assistant Postmaster General Luis D. Carlos led the formal launch ceremonies at the Department of Foreign Affairs Headquarters in Pasay City on June 14.

The carabao and the elephant were selected not only for their status as the national animals of the respective countries, but also for the values they emulate. The sacred elephant symbolizes Thailand’s glorious history and culture, while the carabao stands for the strength and perseverance of the Filipinos.

Said animals featured in stamps are symbols of both countries’ strong friendship, which was formally established on June 14, 1949.

The relationship between the Philippines and Thailand has progressed across various areas, including economics, commerce, security and cultural matters. Thailand is one of the Philippines’s major trading partners.

The two countries are founding members of the Asean, which was established in Bangkok in 1967. The stamps and souvenir cover

AMBASSADOR Vasin Ruangprateepsaeng (left) and PHLPost Assistant Postmaster General Luis D. Carlos officially unveil the joint commemorative stamps frame featuring the Philippine carabao and the Thai elephant. PHLPOST

envelope of the 70th anniversary of the Philippines-Thailand diplomatic relations postage stamps are now available at the Philatelic Counter of the Manila Central Post Office in Liwasang Bonifacio.

Marrying Italian passion with Philippine sweetness

AMBASSADOR of Italy Giorgio Guglielmino (from left), Glenna Guidicelli, Giorgia Guidicelli, Ian Dato and Gianluca Guidicelli

E

VERY June 2, Italy celebrates its Festa della Repubblica, or the day the country became a republic.

For most others, this would involve a night of celebration, dancing and good food. And while “these are great,” the embassy said the “Festa” is grander, yet wonderfully more intimate, in the Philippines.

According to the embassy, the reason may lie in what Ambassador Giorgio Guglielmino says is the common element that the two countries have: passion. Passion for family, friends, beliefs, and of course, the “passion to be passionate.” There is a certain “fire” between the two cultures; a need to enjoy everything life has to offer. One that nothing can quench, but which great food and celebration can alleviate for a while.

This year, the Italian Embassy

wanted to highlight the evolving trends occurring in the republic.

When asked to define “Italy,” most people would say more well-known elements of the European nation such as the great artist Michelangelo, or its renowned cuisine.

Guglielmino, however, said that Italy is far more than those. His country is ever adapting, and is paving the way to various innovations in the arts, design and food industries. He sees the evolution of his country as something Filipinos would be curious and interested about.

Reaching out to Filipinos

FOR this year’s National Day, the Italian Embassy held a cultural fair in Quezon City. Guglielmino mentioned his fondness for the city and mentioned his favorite destination places there, such as the Cubao Expo

AMBASSADORS: Myanmar’s Win Naing (left) and Egypt’s Ahmed Ezzat

ENVOYS: Romania’s Mihail Bujor Sion (from left), Norway’s Bjørn Jahnsen, Hungary’s József Bencze and Russian Federation’s Igor Anatolyevich Khovaev

and the Bellini restaurant.

“QC” was also chosen to host the fair as it is home to the Ateneo de Manila University and Arete, the school’s art gallery—both of which are longtime partners of the Italian embassy.

Savoring more of Italy

ANOTHER aspect different from last year’s celebration is the type of Italian food that was served. Previously, the embassy chose to feature street food from Southern Italy.

This year the food was a selection of high-quality specialties from the said country’s northern regions: risotto with Castelmagno cheese; polenta with sausages; and cotolette, a meat dish. All these could be perfectly paired up with the most successful cocktail in the world: the Spritz (in case diners prefer some-

REPUBLIC of China’s (Taiwan) Deputy Representative and Minister James Chu with his wife

thing other than the Prosecco).

Uniting two cultures

ANOTHER reason the Italian cultural fair was so different in the Philippines was that both countries place emphasis on the arts. In 2018 the Italian Embassy partnered with

AMBASSADORS: Israel’s Rafael Harpaz (from left), India’s Jaideep Mazumdar and Ezzat

the Ateneo Art Gallery to help striving artists pursue their passions. It is a dream of Guglielmino that the Italian Embassy would have a collection of artworks made by budding Filipino ateliers.

With the conclusion of this year’s

Festa, the relationship between Italy and the Philippines would only flourish. As they continue to unite their two cultures, the Italian Embassy hopes that “more beauty, happiness and friendship will bloom” within the two countries.

BusinessMirror

Health&Fitness

HOW YOU’RE WRECKING YOUR HAIR

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June 20-26, 2019

RADYO KLINIKA

By Marou Pahati-Sarne

PSORIASIS IS NOT CONTAGIOUS

J

AY was 19 years old when he started having skin problems. His eyebrows got flaky, and his scalp turned red and itchy. College life wasn’t easy, and he had this skin condition, which made it worse.

Melinda, 26, is a call-center agent. She began developing rashes, which turned to patches of red skin on her arms after a year of working in night shift. Her boyfriend couldn’t handle the changes in her skin, and fearing that she might be contagious, the guy left her.

It wasn’t until she consulted a dermatologist that she understood why she was having itchy, scaly and red skin, and why her skin is hyperactively changing–it is psoriasis.

“Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory and genetic skin disease, that is characterized by thickened, red, itchy skin because the skin replication goes beyond the normal,” said Dr. Deanna Ramiscal, dermatologist in an interview on “Radyo Klinika” at dwIZ 882 KHZ AM. In fact, psoriasis patients’ skin changes in three days, while people who don’t have this, change skin in 30 days. This is why scaling happens to psoriasis patients.

“Typically, lesions occur on the scalp, elbows and knees. It involves also the body folds, even the genital area. But, they are not limited to these areas. Areas that are prone to trauma can be also involved in the break out of psoriasis,” according to Ramiscal.

Until now, doctors can’t pinpoint the cause of psoriasis although genetics (family members who had psoriasis), environmental factors and a weak immune system are being linked to the inflammatory disease.

Other triggers are the following: stress, trauma to skin (wounds or bug bites or even sun burn), infection such as sore throat and some medicines like anti-malaria medicine, some hypertension and anti-depression medicines, lithium, indomethacin and quinidine.

Smoking and alcoholic drinks can also trigger the flare out.

Psoriasis affects 2 to 3 percent of the population, and in the Philippines, there are about 1 million to 2 million people who have psoriasis.

Twenty to 30 percent of them have moderate to severe psoriasis, according to Ramiscal.

What makes psoriasis worse is if it starts to affect the other organs of the patient such as the heart, pancreas and liver.

“If you have severe psoriasis, your life expectancy is reduced from four to five years,” said Ramiscal.

Among the health conditions, which a psori-

2 Health&Fitness June 20-26, 2019

atic patient could be suffering from along with the skin disease are the following: diabetes, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, Crohn’s Disease, ulcerative colitis and depression.

“Most patients with psoriasis are most likely to develop psychological disorder, especially depression and anxiety. Psoriasis has a significant effect on the quality of life of the patient. Psoriasis has a negative effect on the self-image of the patient and their emotions. This is due to overt rejection from their families and peers. It affects their social relationship when they withdraw themselves from the community,” Ramiscal explined.

Topical therapy and phototherapy are not enough to help psoriasis patients. There are oral medications, which the psoriasis patient can take, but sometimes these drugs have side effects. They just don’t go to the skin, but affect the liver, kidney and even the bone marrow, and can affect the immune system.

Fortunately, according to Ramiscal, there’s a new class of drugs that offer hope. “They are called biologics because they are synthesized by living cells. These medications are injected to the skin and to the veins. A lot of psoriasis patients who have received biologics have reported a better quality of life. The only drawback for biologics is the cost. They are extremely expensive.”

How do they work? “Biologics are also called targeted therapies. They are very specific in their action, very precise. The safety profile of these medications are better compared to the conventional medicines which can damage the organs of the body. Patients who undergo targeted therapy report better condition after the treatment,” Ramiscal said.

But more important, psoriasis patients should not be treated differently from people with normal skin. “You can’t catch psoriasis from someone who’s suffering from the condition. It’s ok to hug them, share towels with them, and to eat and sleep with them. Never abandon a psoriasis patient,” ended Ramiscal.

Radyo Klinika airs Tuesday to Friday 7 to 8 p.m. on DWIZ 882 KHZ AM. It is a KBP Golden Dove awardee for Best Radio Magazine Program (2016).

Its host, Marou Pahati-Sarne, is a two-time KBP Golden Dove Awardee for Best Radio Magazine Program Host (2016 & 2017)

NORMAL SKIN

PSORIASIS

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PIXABAY.COM

MANAGING SCIATIC NERVE PAIN

I

F you’re experiencing sciatic nerve pain, you’re not alone. Millions of people deal with symptoms that range from tingling to agonizing 24-hour pain. Sciatica is common, and it’s hard to handle.

What is sciatic nerve pain?

SCIATIC nerve pain is also known as sciatica, and it’s caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve. This nerve, which is medically called the nervus ischiadicus, is one of the largest in the body, so it’s no wonder it can cause so much pain and upset.

Any pain or sensations that begin in the lower back and spread down through your buttocks and legs may be caused by your sciatic nerve.

Pain is common, as is tingling and numbness, but whatever your sciatic symptoms, there are ways to help deal with the pain and potentially prevent it from happening in the first place.

Any pain that begins in the lower back and spreads down may be caused by your sciatic nerve.

4 Health&Fitness June 20-26, 2019

What causes sciatic nerve pain?

SCIATIC nerve pain occurs when your sciatic nerve is pressed or rubbed. There are a variety of ways this can happen, ranging from injury to degenerative disease. n A herniated disc—when the tissue padding between vertebrae pushes out. n Spondylolisthesis—slipped vertebrae. n Spinal Stenosis—narrowing of the spinal column where sciatic nerve passes through. n Osteophytes—small bony growths that poke the sciatic nerve. n Arthritis in the spine—a degenerative breakdown of cartilage between the bones.

You may have heard pregnant

women say they are suffering from sciatica.

Pregnancy is often cited as a reason for nerve pain, but babies don’t press on the sciatic nerve—they are in the wrong place, for starters.

Pregnant ladies feel lots of aches and pains from the pelvic girdle, which can feel similar.

What are the symptoms of sciatica?

SCIATIC nerve symptoms can feel severe enough to stop you from carrying out day-to-day activities and can even get to the point where they prevent walking and sleeping.

Here are the most common symptoms: n Pain in the lower back that may extend into your legs. n Numbness or tingling in your lower back, buttocks and legs. n Feeling stiff and uncomfortable. n Difficulty exercising or moving around. n Sciatic symptoms can come and go depending on how the sciatic

nerve is affected.

It can clear up completely in around six weeks if your body is able to deal with an injury—such as a slipped disc, for example—but if the reason is degenerative, such as arthritis, the symptoms can remain long term.

Can I prevent sciatica?

ACTIVITIES such as yoga, Pilates, the Alexander technique and other gentle stretching muscle relaxers can help keep your spine and sciatic nerve in the best shape possible as we get older.

Moving around and exercising will strengthen your back muscles so that sciatica is less likely. However, sometimes it’s just plain bad luck.

An accident or degenerative disease like spinal stenosis can mean you have to deal with sciatic nerve pain despite keeping yourself in tiptop shape.

8 tips to ease sciatic nerve pain

IT’S not all bad news, because sciatic

Chiropractic spinal adjustments attempt to correct problems with the vertebrae to relieve painful symptoms.

Chiropractors manipulate the alignment and motion of your spine by applying pressure to certain points on your body.

It’s a common therapeutic treatment for lower back pain, but make sure you see a qualified professional.

2Anyone for tennis?

Many aches and pains can be soothed with the judicious use of a tennis ball!

Lie flat on the floor with a tennis ball beneath your lower back. Place your feet on the floor with knees bent to steady yourself and gently move your legs and lower back so that the tennis ball pushes and rubs the painful area.

Massaging the piriformis muscle located here can help it relax, removing pressure on your sciatic nerve.

This exercise may help relieve sciatic pain caused by muscle tension, but if the pain becomes worse, stop immediately, as a degenerative disease or a herniated-disc injury may cause your pain. Get checked out.

Exercising with a tennis ball may help relieve sciatic nerve pain caused by muscle tension.

3Reducing inflammation.

Inflammation causes a host of problems, including making it harder for your body to heal.

If you are overweight, losing some pounds will reduce inflammation (as well as pressure on your back)—and if you still smoke, stop. Smoking causes inflammation, as well as cancer.

Certain plants are said to reduce

4Yoga and stretching.

Moving around when you’re in pain is never appealing, and in some cases, it can make sciatic pain worse. However, for some people, stretching and yoga poses can make the difference.

Exercise that requires weights or sharp movements usually brings more misery, but soothing yoga lengthens the spine to reduce stiffness and bring relief from lower back pain and bad posture. Studies have shown that yoga therapy is safe and beneficial for patients with sciatica.

The glamorously named “reclining pigeon pose” is well-known and is one of the best for lower back pain.

Lie on your back and place your right ankle on your left knee. This opens up the hips and stretches the piriformis muscle to reduce pressure on the sciatic nerve.

Soothing yoga lengthens the spine to reduce stiffness and brings relief from lower back pain and bad posture.

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spinal 1Chiropractic adjustments.

inflammation, so keep your eyes peeled for turmeric, valerian root, green tea and chili peppers, which may help reduce inflammation.

Avocados and oily fish are all known for their anti-inflammatory properties, and they help lubricate your joints.

Heat pads help reduce inflammation, too, and they are inexpensive to buy.

Warming your lower back for 20 minutes three times a day can bring significant relief, and a warm, soothing bath can have the same pain-reducing effects—just be careful that you don’t burn your skin if you’re experiencing numbness.

If heat doesn’t help, try the opposite—ice therapy.

Ice therapy is a great way to reduce inflammation; it’s why your mother always held frozen peas on a bump. A well-wrapped ice pack on your lower back may help reduce inflammation and the pressure on your sciatic nerve.

5Acupuncture.

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine that uses tiny needles to treat pain and discomfort in the body.

Traditional practitioners suggest that the needles open up blocked energy lines and allow “chi” to flow freely. Modern science suggests that the needles release endorphins that bring pain relief.

Either way, if acupuncture helps—go with it.

6Sleeping.

We spend a lot of time sleeping, but lying in certain positions can aggravate sciatic nerve pain.

If you have an old, sagging mattress and pillow, it’s time for an upgrade that supports your body.

Choose a firm mattress or memory foam that molds to your body shape.

If you are a front or side sleeper, try to switch onto your back with your knees bent to relieve backpressure. Pop a pillow beneath your knees for support.

Sleeping in certain positions can aggravate sciatic nerve pain.

7Massage.

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nerve pain can be managed.

Many people live with sciatica, but if you have a lot of pain that’s interfering with your life, then it’s always best to see a doctor.

If you can afford to see a massage therapist, tell them you have sciatic pain.

A good, qualified masseuse will rub away pains and loosen tight muscles. This can take pressure away from the sciatic nerve. If you

can’t get to a therapist, try a DIY massage instead.

Massage releases endorphins, stimulates muscles and improves your blood flow—all of which may help soothe sciatic problems.

8Quit the sit.

We spend a lot of time sitting down in sedentary jobs. How many hours do you spend in front of a computer monitor, the TV, or your iPad or phone screen?

Lack of movement is causing a tidal wave of lower back pain, so get up and go for walk on your lunch break. Taking regular breaks to stretch your lower back and legs throughout the day can help prevent sciatica and ease its symptoms.

If you need encouragement, get a pedometer and increase your walking distance with a daily challenge.

If you must sit for extended periods, sit up straight, improve your bad posture and flex your ankles.

Be gentle with yourself

DEALING with sciatic nerve pain is essential as you recover from injury or learn to manage a degenerative disease. Always take it gently but ensure you keep moving—sitting still with the TV remote is a surefire way to create more pain.

Source: Bewellbuzz.com

Health&Fitness June 20-26, 2019 5

FITNESS RULES

By Greggy H. Romualdez

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GYM-FREE TRAVEL WORKOUT YOU CAN DO ON THE GO

I

F like me, you hate missing a workout, you’d be all too familiar with that feeling of disappointment of finding out the gym is closed—or when you are out of town for work or vacation and find out there isn’t a a gym in sight. Sure, our bodies need to rest and recover every once in a while. But you do need to stay consistent and find ways to get that pump when your body needs it. Personally, I prefer to work out even while on vacation. This helps offset the natural tendency to overeat and overindulge while on vacation.

I would prefer lifting weights to get a muscle pump and burn excess calories even while on holiday. But, not all destinations are equipped with proper gym equipment, so there are times I would have to settle for equipmentfree workouts in a hotel room, or any place I find myself in.

Here is a sample full-body workout to tide you through to your next gym workout. Perform in this particular order.

6 Health&Fitness June 20-26, 2019

1

Three sets of 20 jumping jacks. Get the

ball rolling with this to warm up your muscles and get the adrenaline pumping. Begin slowly, resting one to two minutes between sets. Adjust the number of repetitions to what you feel you can safely perform.

Rest for 2 minutes before moving on to the next exercise.

sets of front 2Three planks.

Fire up your abdominal muscles with these, resting around 30 seconds in between sets. Rest two minutes, then move on the next exercise.

sets of 12 push3Three ups.

Push-ups are an excellent upper-body workout that hit your chest, shoulders and triceps.

Perform this with a slow, controlled motion going down, then explode up for one repetition. You may adjust the number of repetitions per set if you find this too difficult or easy to perform. Rest for one to two minutes in between sets. Rest for about three minutes before moving on to the next exercise.

Three sets of body4 weight or suitcase squats.

Squats are a great way to work out your entire legs. But, in the absence of a squat rack or barbells, you can instead perform body-weight squats anywhere you

can stand. Simply stand with your feet shoulder width apart with your arms raised in front, then slowly squat down with your spine remaining in a neutral position until your thighs are slightly below parallel to the ground. Then move back up for one repetition. For added resistance, you can opt to pick up your suitcase or travel bag, and hold it close to your body with both arms embracing it as your perform the repetitions. Rest for three minutes, then move on to the final cooling down exercise.

sets of 20 5Three jumping jacks.

Finish off with these to cool down, preferably at a slower, more relaxed pace than the first time.

These five exercises will approximately take 30 minutes or so of your time. Then can also be applied to those who are not prepared to sign up for a gym membership but would like to begin working out at home.

Now let’s get started.

THE BODY SHOP HELPS REWILD THE PHILIPPINE EAGLE Philippine Eagle Foundation Director Dennis Salvador and Development Manager Andrea Baldonado receive the funds raised from The Body Shop Philippines team.

T

HE Body Shop Philippines recently partnered with the Philippine Eagle Foundation to work toward protecting the endangered Philippine eagle and giving it a chance to thrive and breed again.

It is also committed in preserving and protecting its habitat and the biodiversity it represents.

With that, it gave 100-percent net proceeds of every purchase of Fuji Green Tea 400ml shampoo to the Philippine Eagle Foundation. The raised funds of The Body Shop will help in fueling the foundation’s efforts in protecting the rare and majestic Philippine eagle. It will also help in intensifying the campaigns, especially in urban areas, to take a step further in raising

awareness to people and changing their attitudes to become actively involved in the conservation work for the eagle, its forest habitats and the people.

There is still a lot that needs to be done. Take the initiative, be informed and be involved. Know more about the foundation and its mission at www. philippineeaglefoundation.org.

Join T he Body shop w it h its ef for t in rew ilding t he endangered and enchant ing nat ure.

Re-wild the Endangered is one of the many advocacies of The Body Shop Philippines.

The net proceeds of every purchase of The Body Shop’s revitalizing Fuji Green Tea 400 ml Shampoo were donated to the Philippine Eagle Foundation.

Health&Fitness June 20-26, 2019 7

GOOD

Innovative Breast Cancer Treatme

T

HERE is hope for breast cancer patients. The latest drug innovations for breast cancer treatment have proven effective for several cancer patients whose cases were presented during the first-ever Breast Cancer Summit held recently at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City.

The summit—organized by Roche Philippines Inc. and the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology (PSMO)—featured case discussions by Dr. Christian Jackisch, Dr. Eugene Regala, Dr. Noemi Uy and Dr. Josephine Contreras-Tolentino of breast cancer patients who have undergone medical treatments, surgical operations, therapies, and who have taken innovative cancer drugs prescribed by their doctors, after being diagnosed with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2+) breast cancer.

Some of these patients are under the Roche Access Program, which provides financial assistance.

Of this, Dr. Jose S. Garcia Jr., MD, FPCP, FPSMO, president of PSMO, wrote in his welcome remarks, “The summit aims to bring both science and patient to the fore, realizing that it is through understanding both the

patient journey and the science that produces the health outcomes, we will obtain our objective of raising the bar of breast cancer management.”

Present in the summit were local and international distinguished speakers, doctors and fellows from the field of oncology. The discussions by Dr. Christian Jackisch and Dr. Eugene Moylan provided the latest, evidencebased information on breast cancer treatment with HER2 blockade.

Among the Summit highlights was also a discussion of Dr. Dennis Tudtud and his 71-year-old patient, a school teacher and catechist from Cebu, who was diagnosed with stage-4 cancer. She was part of the phase III randomized control trial of Roche, which covers previously untreated patients diagnosed with HER2+ breast cancer.

She continues to receive innova-

tive cancer drugs. These prescription drug innovations were said to have increased HER2+ breast cancer survival rate in the country.

One of the summit guest speakers, a hematology and medical oncology specialist from UAE, Dr. Hassan Jaafar, effectively conveyed scientific key messages, and confidently addressed questions on optimizing outcomes for HER2+ breast cancer patients with minimal residual disease.

Jaafar delivered powerful messages on the role of practice-changing

advances in breast cancer. He emphasized the importance of multidisciplinary team discussions, and the cost-effectiveness of treatment at the early setting for breast cancer.

He addressed questions alongside reactors, Dr. Priscilla Caguioa and Dr. Pamela Patdu. The interactive discussion was moderated by Dr. Christina Galvez. The doctors and the audience also strengthened their commitments to the patients “one stroke at a time,” during the Strokes of Hope exercise on the second day of the Summit.

PROMOTING DIVERSITY IN FOOTBALL

F

OOTBALL has yet to shed its image of being a rich kid’s sport in the country, but Allianz Philippines and Sugod Malaya are showing that “the most beautiful sport in the world” is best played in an equal playing field. It doesn’t matter what your background or social standing is, as long as you are committed and dedicated to playing the game.

“Globally, Allianz is known to be a staunch supporter of football, and we want to promote that same passion here in the Philippines. When Sugod Malaya came to us for help, we immediately saw that they are an organization that represents our goals and ideals for the sport—that it’s not just a game to be played by a few, but by all,” said Gae Martinez, chief marketing officer of Allianz Philippines.

Established six years ago, Sugod Malaya is a nonprofit football club that has close to 300 active members today—from the well-to-do to the poorest of the poor.

“When we started, our dream was to establish a club that is really free, regardless of whatever the player’s background is,” said Mark Duane

8 Health&Fitness June 20-26, 2019

Angos, secretary-general and one of the founders of Sugod Malaya.

He acknowledged that football in the Philippines suffered the reputation of being a game that is only played in gated communities and Sugod Malaya seeks to change that.

“We were forming a team back then and realized that it lacked diversity. At that time, I was doing a community outreach program for San Beda and got in touch with folks in Tondo,” Angos said.

The club eventually got four kids from the area to play with their team in Bacolod, which along with Iloilo, are considered the “Meccas” of football.

“When they played in Bacolod, they really played well together,” Angos shared.

From the 11 kids they had back then, the club has grown significantly. More than half of its members come from impoverished backgrounds, with 30 percent to 40 percent coming from the poorest of the poor.

“At first, we were only relying on the generous donations of our club’s parents until we

wanted to expand and solidify the program. In the end, it became more than just a football club; it also became a tool for community development. It is now a club that provides an opportunity for kids from all backgrounds to play and, at the same time, have their talent seen and discovered by the global community,” Angos said.

While they consider their games in Iloilo and Bacolod to be memorable ones, nothing could beat their excitement in playing for international leagues. Sugod Malaya has played in the Borneo Cup in Malaysia and the Singa Cup in Singapore, and has, likewise, done well in their stints in other Asian countries.

Most recently, Sugod Malaya experienced how it is to play European football when they played in Barcelona, Spain. They played in the Mediterranean Cup and competed against Barcelona FC’s famed La Masia squad, the youth team that produced global football megastars Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta.

Angos said they almost gave up the idea of joining while they were in their planning stage.

“We knew, from the perspective of cost,

that Barcelona would be too much even though its organizers were nice enough to give us partial subsidy. At some point, we thought of backing out because we felt that participating in one tournament might affect our entire program—we have a team playing in Europe and getting that experience, but then the other scholars would be suffering because we’d run out of funds and resources. So when Allianz and like-minded individuals came in, we saw the light at the end of the tunnel,” he revealed, adding that they knew of Allianz’s dedication to football.

“When we heard that they were willing to help us, we were excited. We are very thankful and, at the same time, excited to see that we have represented Allianz well,” he pointed out.

Even though the much stronger Barcelona team defeated Sugod Malaya, the kids remain determined.

“You can see that it [playing against Barcelona] reinforced their determination,” Angos said.

Playing in Barcelona, the kids realized how different football is being played in Europe.

D NEWS

ents Showcased Disease awareness

ACCORDING to Dr. Bill Ramos, vice president of PSMO, there are four key factors that need to be in place for patients to be treated successfully.

“These include disease awareness, because disease and symptoms are essential for screening and early detection; health-care capacity, since well-trained teams are needed to work together with the right equipment to provide the best chances for patients; diagnosis of the disease, as it can be complex, but is vital to ensuring the right treatment choice; and government intervention, since this is necessary to improve the provision of access and quality health care.”

Today, Ramos said that there are multiple therapies available to patients depending on their type and stage of cancer.

“Current treatments include surgery, radiotherapy chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and targeted therapy,” he explained, adding that personalized health care is also important to choose the right patient for the right treatment. “It is always best to consult a physician or health-care professional,” he said.

“In the Philippines, they would cheer for you when you make a goal. In Spain and the rest of Europe, the crowd will clap and appreciate your good pass, even if you don’t score, and when you make a good save. They can appreciate the strengths of the whole team,” Angos shared.

He added that because of Allianz’s support in getting the kids to play in Spain, many other opportunities for the club came up. They were invited to play in Colombia (a team that

Cancer law

FOR his part, Dr. Clarito Cairo Jr., MD, FPSVI, FPCOM of the Philippine Cancer Prevention and Control, presented during the Summit the national integrated cancer law or the Republic Act 11215, which was signed and made into law last February 14 by President Duterte.

The vision of the new cancer law is to deliver comprehensive cancer care and optimize cancer survival by 2025, aligned with the Universal Health Care Law, where financial protection for Filipinos will also be addressed by the program, and minimize the out-of-pocket expense of those who seek cancer treatment and medications.

With both the National Cancer Prevention and Control Law and Universal Health Care Law, Cairo calls this as a milestone and the “golden age” of health care.

A report from Philippine Statistics Authority stated that cancer is the third-most common cause of death for both adults and children.

And breast cancer remains to be the most common type of cancer in the country, according to a 2018 report from Globocan.

they won over during the friendly competition), Ireland, and Portugal, among others.

“The Colombian coach said that our play is unpolished, which is not a bad thing because it makes it unpredictable and exciting,” Angos said, adding that the other clubs have compared their style to that of Manny Pacquiao’s.

In the end, what Mark and the rest of Sugod Malaya wants to achieve for the sport in the country, is to make Filipinos realize that “Football is a sport for the Filipinos.”

MAP YOUR WAY TO HEALING WITH NEW GENE-BASED PROGRAM PHYSICAL therapy clinic Almario Physio Team (APT) is paving the way for an error-free method of recurring pain treatment with its new program that tailor-fits every patient’s need.

Prueba, a treatment program that uses innovative diagnostics technology from Unites States, is an all-encompassing genetic profiling to optimize one’s health and well-being.

This program aims to find out one’s underlying health problem on recurring pain on muscles and joints, which usually occurs even after a patient has already taken medicines or when procedures were already done.

Using the results of the genetic analysis, Prueba combines pain management, weight management, and strength and conditioning in one program. This helps patients return to their productive lives and reach their maximum health potential, without worrying of constantly going back to their physiotherapy centers.

The Prueba Premium Program consists of world-class machines, including Rehab Roller, Rehab Capsule, Vacuum Treadmill, Body Composition Analyzer and Real Time Ultrasound Imaging (RTUI) for core muscles.

APT’s physiotherapists are trained to use these technologies, keeping in mind the mission of giving the most comfortable and pain-free experience for the patients.

According to APT CEO Ayeza Almario, recurring joint and muscle problems are common issues among patients of physical therapy who have poor weight management. The increased weight places more stress on joints in the lower back, hips, knees and ankles.

The body’s reaction from extra stress brought by poor weight management and sedentary lifestyle leads to symptoms of pain, tightness and postural issues.

This has inspired APT to deliver even better programs for their patients.

“During our seven years in the physical therapy industry, my team has constantly been looking for how we can treat patients to prevent the recurrence of pain,” Almario says. “It’s not because I don’t want to see them again but because I understand what they are going through.”

On a personal experience, Almario, who does a lot of traveling, can attest that a busy lifestyle can bring disadvantages for one’s health. For one, she experiences stress from a strained body.

While she does regular visits to their clinic to check on her back pain and continue her strength and conditioning regimen, she knows that managing her health needs not to be a trial-and-error method.

“If I myself spend this much time and effort but still unsatisfied with my results, what more our patients?” she says, “I told myself that I want a map that will bring me to right direction for my health. I want to share this map with our patients so we can help them save time, energy, effort and money.”

Almario is inspired to bring in this development to a larger audience so that more and more people can not only receive health treatment, which has value-for-money, but can also save their time and effort.

For more information, visit www.almariophysioteam.com

Health&Fitness June 20-26, 2019 9

The therapeutic power of art

THE Globe Art Gallery displays captivating artwork from various artists with special needs.

VIVID images beautifully rendered by artists with special needs

A

GREEN sanctuary was recreated in the middle of the Bonifacio Global City concrete jungle to feature artwork by artists with autism. The Arte Autismo Filipino art and photo exhibit opened on June 3 at the Globe Art Gallery at Basement 1, the Globe Tower BGC. Autism Speaks defines autism as having a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. One of the ways believed to have a positive effect in managing this condition is through art. For people diagnosed with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), art is a great aid in addressing their sensory needs.

Through art, they are also able to express themselves better, instead of just plain words.

In fact, art therapy has grown popular over the years, especially since it shows to be effective in engaging persons with ASD and giving them a channel for communication, and ultimately even improving their social skills.

While ASD is marked by a number of

challenges, Arte Autismo Filipino chooses rather to celebrate the strengths of its featured artists, allowing them to shine.

Rachel Harrison, an architect and social entrepreneur, is one of the staunchest advocates for persons with autism and disability. She owns Zambawood, a luxury resort in San Narciso, Zambales, a place she and her husband initially built for their son Julyan, but has since made available for guests craving for a quiet and serene place to rest and recharge.

She has also transformed Zambawood into a haven for art. Recognizing how art helps people with special needs, she has taken on the task of organizing art classes for PWDs. “Art is therapeutic, we’re all artists instinctively. PWDs express through art

OPENING-DAY Ribbon-cutting: Rachel Harrison (from left), Susan Afan, Keith Harrison, Nina Bantoto, Julyan Harrison, Vico Cham, Atty. Didi Javier, and Yoly Crisanto of Globe

10 Health&Fitness June 20-26, 2019

PROFESSIONAL photographers Ric Cortez, Dale Pagkalinawan, Rey Cardinal and Chris Lacson are also featured.

what they can’t express verbally. Their perspective of how they view things around is very unique and interesting,” she stressed. She is currently pouring energy on talking to various potential partners in this endeavor, and is set to open the Julyan Urban Garden Art Space in Guadalupe Viejo soon.

Ultimately, Rachel has a vision: “My

advocacy is to unlock PWD’s talents by providing them with skills training and eventually employment to sustain themselves productively, as well as give them fun, purpose and dignity throughout their life. By doing this, they become productive and contribute to their families and to our society,” she earnestly declared.

Harrison’s son, Julyan, was diagnosed with autism at the tender age of 2 and is now 26. His artwork are also on display at the exhibit. The works of Nina Bantoto, Vico Cham, Chico Joaquin, Samantha Kaspar and Daniel Sanchez are also featured at the event.

One of the valuable allies in this advocacy is Globe, the country’s No. 1 telecommunications company. “Children with autism are indeed special.

Look at all the artwork on display! This goes to show that love and support go a long way in dealing with the disorder.

Julyan and all the artists here are living examples of life’s beauty. We’re proud to host their work here at the Globe art gallery,” said Yoly Crisanto, head of Corporate Communications and chief sustainability officer of Globe.

The Arte Autismo Filipino art and photo exhibit’s major sponsors are Globe, Estate Wine, Fuji Film and supported by OLOF Plant Based food, Bravo!, Wrapsha and L'Entrecote. It will run until June 26.

O

NE of the things that most of us consider that affects our looks is our hair, so we put so much effort just to keep it healthy and good looking. Here are some of the habits, according to WebMD.com that we love to do that can actually damage our hair.

up your ‘do to keep hair healthy.

n Brushing too much

n Being reckless with relaxers

THE old “100 strokes a day” beauty tip is a myth. Brushing your hair too much can cause split ends. Over time, it could even lead to hair loss.

n Too many blowouts

THE more often you heat your hair, the more damaged it gets. Air-drying keeps hair at its healthiest. When you can’t do that, be sure you keep your dryer’s heat setting on "low" and hold it at least 6 inches from your hair as you dry it.

n Not shampooing often enough

YOUR hair may not need a daily wash (or even one every other day). But it’s important to shampoo often enough to keep oily buildup at bay. That can lead to dandruff and other scalp problems.

n Overusing shampoo

WHEN it comes to shampoo, a little dab will do. Focus on scrubbing your scalp instead of lathering up the whole length of your hair.

n Brushing wet hair

WATER weakens your hair, so treat

wet hair with care. To tackle tangles after a wash, use gentle strokes with a wide-toothed comb instead of tugging your tresses with a brush.

n Flat-ironing it when it’s damp

WHEN heat hits water in your hair, it can turn to steam and cause “bubble hair.” You're left with brittle locks that have frizzy ends and break easily. Be sure your hair is dry before you use a hot styling tool. Keep it on the lowest temperature you can, and use a heat protectant spray before you style.

n Toweling it dry

n Too much chemistry

PERMS, relaxers and hair coloring all use chemicals to curl, straighten and dye your hair. These chemicals can do a number on your hair and scalp, including breakage and irritation. So use them wisely.

YOU may want to straighten your hair yourself. It’s best to leave it to the professionals, so you don’t fry your hair. Never use relaxers on hair that’s already gone through the process. After your hair gets straightened, avoid blow-dryers, flat irons and curling irons, which can further wreck your tresses.

n Going hatless in the sun

SUMMER (and winter) rays can dry out your hair and make it break.

Cover up your coif when you can to protect it—and the skin on your scalp—from sun damage.

n Going capless in the pool

CHLORINE can be mean on hair. It can dry it out and cause split ends and breaking. For the best protection, wear a cap when you take a dip in the pool. If a swim cap isn’t your thing, be sure you rinse your hair right after you swim. When that’s done, wash with a swimmer’s shampoo and follow up with conditioner.

n Skipping your trim

IT seems backward, but if you’re trying to grow long, healthy locks, the best thing you can do is get regular haircuts. The cut culls out split ends, which helps your hair look healthier.

Maybe after reading this you will rethink your hair grooming habits.

Source: www.webmd.com

WRAPPING your hair gently in a towel after a wash is fine (air dry is best). But rubbing it with a towel will damage the strands.

n Sticking to the same tight ‘do

IF you leave weaves or hair extensions in too long, or you pull them out without a professional’s help, it can cause big-time breakage.

Same goes for braids, buns and ponytails—too tight for too long, and you’ll start to see split strands. Mix

Health&Fitness June 20-26, 2019 11

WWW.FREEPIK.COM

HOW YOU’RE WRECKING YOUR HAIR

BULLETIN BOARD

UPMG’S 5TH GMM FOCUSES ON THE RELEVANCE OF PRINT MEDIA IN THE MODERN ERA THE United Print Media Group Inc. (UPMG Inc.) and International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines had an insightful discussion on how print media companies will be able to remain relevant amid rapid digital progress and changing demographics during the UPMG’s 5th General Membership Meeting (GMM) on June 7 in Makati City.

Guest speaker Ritzi V. Ronquillo, who currently serves as the adviser of IABC Philippines, 2019 Philippine chairman of Gold Quill Awards and vice chairman of IABC Awards Committee for the Gold Quill Awards, pointed out that newspaper companies nowadays must focus on their strengths and opportunities rather than to pay attention to the threats they are currently experiencing, primarily brought by advances in technology.

Ronquillo said that this time

might be the right moment to reflect and transform into something. As part of this transformation, newspaper companies, she

OUR LADY OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY CHAPEL AT SM CITY NORTH EDSA Mallgoers at SM City North Edsa now have a new spiritual haven where they can pray, attend Mass and services, and find time to reflect at the new Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Chapel at the fourth level of the The Block.

Designed by international design firm Arquitectonica, the 1,075-square-meter chapel’s blessing and concelebrated Mass took place just in time for Pentecost Sunday. Shown beside the image of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary are Most Rev. Bishop Honesto Ongtioco and Mrs. Felicidad Sy (third and second from left), SM Prime Holdings Executive Committee Chairman Hans Sy and Rev Fr. Victor Angelo Parlan.

12 Health&Fitness June 20-26, 2019

noted, have to distinguish their relevance in the community.

A quick survey conducted by Ronquillo to some of her colleagues—the senior members of IABC Philippines—revealed that news web sites are their top preferred source of information. This is followed by television and social media, which tied at the second spot. They prefer news web sites over other mediums as they offer easy access and latest stories, which are free and succinct.

Despite this, the survey also showed that the majority of the respondents, or 81.8 percent, still see the relevance of print media today. This is because printed materials feature more comprehensive and in-depth stories, and are less prone to mistakes. The respondents also believe that publishers of the said materials have a longstanding credibility when it comes to reporting information.

During her talk, Ronquillo also delved into what the future will look like. While some are still coping with the Industry 4.0—that is, characterized by a fusion of technologies—she said that Industry 5.0 has already started to unfold.

Ronquillo explained that Industry 5.0 is the revolution in which man and machine reconcile and find ways to work

together to improve the means and efficiency of production. She noted that this revolution could be more advantageous to the environment as companies develop systems that run on renewable energy and eliminate waste.

Print media companies, according to Ronquillo, can consider getting into this thinking as early as now, and transition to a circular economy, an economic system aimed at minimizing waste and making the most of resources. “Consumers now, especially millennials and Gen Z, will support products that are environmentally friendly,” she said.

Meanwhile, IABC Philippines Chairman Joe Zaldarriaga also believes that print media is still relevant today. He said that while technology has shifted the way we do things, this doesn’t mean that print lost its relevance.

“As a communicator, I believe each medium serves a purpose.

And if print’s purpose is to be the source of real and unbiased news information, then, there’s no question that the medium will surpass time and technology,” Zaldarriaga said. Zaldarriaga added that print will always be a classic favorite; it is the Frank Sinatra in the world of K-pop (Korean pop), Justin Bieber and Katy Perry.

BULLETIN BOARD

SATISFY YOUR CRAVINGS AT ONE BHS MALL, METRO MANILA’S NEW DINING MECCA WHEN it comes to good food, all roads lead to One Bonifacio High Street (BHS) mall, a mecca for food lovers with a wide and exciting selection of dining outlets serving an eclectic mix of dishes from the four corners of the world.

Learn about some of the must-try dishes from some of the mall’s many different dining outlets, each of which has gained a strong and steady following from Bonifacio Global City regulars who visit to enjoy great eats while bonding with family and friends.

To kick off the list, coffee lovers can drop by Malongo Atelier Barista, the go-to place for the finest espressos. The bar serves French premium organic coffee especially made in its premium coffee machines that unleash the authentic espresso taste.

No doubt, steak lovers will definitely be awed

by Wolfgang’s Steakhouse with an entrée list topbilled by USDA Prime Porterhouse steak, dry-aged on-site for an average of 28 days, and cooked in a 1,500 degree Fahrenheit broiler and served sizzling. Other must-tries are the ribeye, filet mignon, and grilled salmon.

For a fun sugar rush, make sure to visit Emack & Bolio’s, the Boston rock-and-roll-inspired icecream house known for its fun flavors, such as Serious Chocolate Addiction, Deep Purple Chip, Grasshopper Pie and Space Cake served in huge cones covered with Oreos, Fruit Loops, Rice Krispies, Dark Chocolate or Coco Pops.

Families and friends can also dine at Botejyu, a traditional Japanese restaurant based in Osaka, which specializes in hearty servings of delicious kosoba, okonomiyaki, takoyakis, ramen and tep-

pan dishes—all cooked to perfection using only the freshest ingredients.

Chateau 1771 gives a gastronomic journey that features French, Swiss and Italian eats crafted by Chef Vicky Pacheco. With the first branch opening in 1988, the restaurant continues to carry its colorful history with pushing for contemporary flavors. For starters, you could enjoy their sumptuous Antipasto Platter with prosciutto crudo, smoked duck breast, parma ham and cheese croquetas, and more. Another crowd favorite is Potence—grilled beef tenderloin hung on metal gallows flambéed with brandy.

Next is La Picara, which offers a rich selection of modern Spanish tapas, such as the sinful meloso rice served in bone marrow, beef tenderloin tartare or grilled pulpo, a selection of paellas made with Spanish mainstays, such as fideus (pork knuckles) and soft shell crab, all of which are proven hard to resist.

Mouthwatering Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine—light, fresh, and tasty—will pique your taste buds at Nikkei Nama Bar. This includes Iberico pork ribs and rice bowls best washed down with Sapporo beer, and sake from its wide selection of wines and liquors.

What’s life without dessert? To cap off your One BHS food haul is M Bakery, which is actually New York City’s renowned Magnolia Bakery. Its shelves are bursting with heavenly cupcakes in different flavors, as well as its signature banana pudding, and a stunning range of cakes and cheesecakes.

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

MAKATI DIAMOND RESIDENCES’ RAINY DAY STAY STAY comfortably at Makati Diamond Residences during the bed weather season, with the Rainy Day Stay promotion. Expect impeccable service and convenient indoor amenities, with the business district at your doorstep.

The 41 square meter Studio can comfortably fit two adults, with a fully functional kitchenette that includes a mini refrigerator, microwave, convection stove and tableware. The room also has a 55-inch LED television and a spacious bath area, with both a tub and a large rain showerhead. As part of the property’s efforts to promote a sustainable future, all rooms have been installed with the Wellohas Hydrogen Rich Alkaline Water System, significantly reducing bottled water usage, while providing safe drinking water straight from the tap.

Other amenities guests can enjoy include an indoor lap pool, a whiskey and cigar bar, and the Dining Card, giving guests the privilege to dine at our partner restaurants in the area in lieu of having breakfast at the hotel, at no added cost. Book direct from now until September 30, 2019 and use the promo code RAINY 2K19 to get the 41sq m Studio with breakfast for two at P6,500 net per night or a 64sqm one bedroom suite with breakfast for two at P8,500 net per night, for extra luxury living space. Rates for larger room categories and room-only packages are also available online.

The Rainy Day Stay promotion is on offer to local residents and foreigners with ACR i-card certification.

For inquiries and reservations, call (02) 317 0999, email reservations@makatidiamond.com or visit www.makatidiamond.com for more details and other hotel offers.

For more information, visit www.makatidiamond.com.

KITSHO HIGHLIGHTS SUMMER CUISINE WITH YUKATA CHALLENGE THIS festive month of July, Kitsho proffers fresh catch that’s farmed from the wilds of Japan’s vast seascapes. These prized catch are sought-after staples throughout Nippon-land this time of year.

Fresh water fishes are available only during the summer months of May, June, July and August. These fishes are delivered to Kitsho’s kitchen fresh, and not frozen. That’s why diners will get to taste the salty-sweetish aftertaste that’s peculiar to fresh fish concoctions.

Some of these savory dishes include mebaru shioyaki (boiled saltwater fish), chi ayu (young fish tempura), mebaru nitsuke (saltwater grilled fish) and ayu ( fresh water grilled sweet fish). The price per dish is P1,380 inclusive of VAT. Ramen dishes plus chahang and gyozu will be offered with the a la carte buffet. There will be no buffet spread setup so everything that diners wish to sample and savor will be prepared only when ordered. Thus, everything

will be served right off the flame.

The lunch buffet is priced at P1,356 while the dinner buffet is valued at P1,536. Both meal prices are inclusive of VAT and service charge.

July is the height of Japan's summer season and Kitsho wants to celebrate this festive occasion with ‘a “Yukata Challenge.” The yukata, or summer kimono, is usually woven with a lighter fabric and worn usually in the

summer months.

Diners enjoy a 10 percent discount from all his/her orders, except the a la carte buffet, if he wears a yukata when he/she dines at Kitsho. He/she should take a photo and post the snapshot in his/her Facebook or Instagram account with the hashtag “#iamKitshoKimono” . He/she needs to make his/her post public so everyone can see.

Diners can invite their friends to share their post. The diner who gets the most number of shares wins a prize—a gift voucher worth P5,000—from the F&B team. In case of a tie, the aggregate reactions garnered by the contending posts will be the tie breaker.

The yukata challenge starts on July 1, 2019 and ends on the midnight of July 31, 2019. The winner will be notified thereafter.

For more informtion, visit Kitsho's social media pages facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamkitsho.ph, twitter: @ iamkitsho, instagram:iamkitsho.ph .

Health&Fitness June 20-26, 2019 13

HEALTHY FINDS n BE PART OF ‘XTRA’ THRILLING, FULFILLING RACE RUN WITH ME X

NOW on its fourth year, Resorts World Manila’s (RWM) award-winning annual celebrity-led fun run for charity Run With Me X is about to become bigger and better, as it opens registration for the August 25 event at the SM MOA concert grounds.

Coinciding with celebrations of the integrated resort’s first decade in the industry, this year’s Run With Me X will again open four race categories at 32K, 21K, 10K and 5K distances, with organizers expecting over 8,000 runners to participate.

Registration period is open until August 10, with corresponding rates at P1,600 for 32K; P1,400 for 21K; P1,200 for 10K; and P1,000 for 5K. All race kits will include singlet, race bib, timing chip and hydration bottles. Race kits will also include finisher shirts and RWM commemorative finisher’s medals for 21K and 32K runners. 10K runners will, likewise, get an RWM commemorative finisher’s medal.

Five charity beneficiaries will share portions of the proceeds from the five celebrity-led teams. Last year, the charity event raised P3.5 million for YESPinoy Foundation, HERO Foundation, Right Start Community Development, Inc., Empowering Brilliant Minds Foundation, ERDA Tech Foundation and EPCALM Adult Leukemia

n INVEST IN GOOD SLEEP WITH SEALY POSTUREPEDIC MATTRESS

SLEEP deprivation has become a common condition, with many adults saying they get less of the quality sleep needed because of their busy schedules and the increased screen time with the influx of smartphones, leading to what experts call sleep debt. This results in sluggishness, inability to concentrate, and can lead to health risks such as cardiovascular disease.

There is an economic effect of this sleeplessness too—because workers don’t get enough sleep, they often have low productivity during the day. A research report published online by an American nonprofit research institution shows that developed countries feel the impact on their work force with the US experiencing $400 billion in economic losses and 1.23 million lost days of work each year. The study also identified Japan as close second, with losses amounting to as much as US$138 billion annually due to

14 Health&Fitness June 20-26, 2019

Foundation. Over 5,000 runners showed up for the 2018 race.

“We’re very thankful to RWM because it is really a big help for the orphans’ education,” said General Victor Bayani, executive director of HERO Foundation of last year’s run. “We were able to increase the stipends we provide for the

elementary and high-school students,” he added.

Interested parties may register online via www.runwithme.ph, via the RWM Mobile App, selected Olympic Village branches, or at Sportshouse Mall of Asia.

Visit www.rwmanila.com for more information.

tired workers.

With more studies highlighting the value of a restful night, there have been sleep aids that have started to pop up on the market. Apps that help put you to sleep by providing “white noise” or regulate the body clock to cue it for bedtime. There are comfortable “mineralized” pajamas that are said to regulate body heat, and of course bed linens of fine Egyptian cotton with 1,000 thread count for the feeling of being wrapped in luxury.

Still, one only needs to have a quality mattress to guarantee a good slumber—with the right balance of support and comformability, using coils that are strategically placed to support the body and provide layers of padding for maximum comfort.

Sealy Posturepedic mattresses offer these features—the result of extensive research as well as coordination with orthopedic surgeons in developing the revolutionary PostureTech Titanium coil. This coil is made of titanium alloy that was patented in 1983, and is still the only one of its kind worldwide. It detects the weight of the body as it tosses and turns during sleep, and adjusts itself to give the correct level of support even on the heaviest parts of the body. It is also made with the combination of premium comfort layers such as high-density foam, wool fiber and latex that mold to the body shape for superior conformance.

Investing in yourself can be one of the most empowering things that you can do, whether it’s learning a new skill, investing in personal or professional growth and living a healthier lifestyle

including getting quality sleep for a better you.

For more information about Sealy, check out its web site: sealy.com.ph.

n ‘GREAT TO BE WELL’

THIS year, Makati Shangri-La, Manila strongly advocates wellness by launching a campaign, GREAT to be Well, on Global Wellness Day, June 8, 2019. Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts around the world are inviting guests, colleagues and communities to say “Yes to Wellness” in this international celebration of holistic health and well-being.

Together with celebrity coaches Jim and Toni Saret of the Fit Filipino Movement and the Biggest Loser Philippines, Makati Shangri-La, Manila will offer curated experiences for guests like a Yoga Marathon, Dance Fitness Marathon and Circuit Training and Group Exercise Challenge.

The talks are focused on the “Power of Holistic

HEALTHY FINDS Nutrition and Plant-Based Juicing” for healing and the prevention of diseases. To cap off each of these experiences, Executive Chef Nicola Canuti’s team will serve nourishing snacks and a healthy lunch.

Several brands also showed their support for this wellness advocacy as participants enjoyed special raffle prizes from Under Armour, Hydro Flask, Garmin, Anker, Eufy, Novuhair, Bewell-C, Dr. Kong Philippines, Johnson Fitness, Atsui and Pili Beauty.

Makati Shangri-La, Manila’s GREAT to be Well program is an exciting journey for all. Wellness retreats, inspirational talks, tennis tournaments, other fitness challenges and classes will continue until September, in observation of World Wellness Weekend.

To learn more about the GREAT to be Well Movement and #MakatiShangriLaExperience, follow Makati Shangri-La on facebook.com/MakatiShangriLa and @MakatiShangriLa on Instagram.

n SEAFARERS CONFAB AT P.I.C.C. FOCUS ON CRUCIAL FAMILY ISSUES

PARENTING should go beyond bringing home

pasalubong.’ This was aired by Marissa Oca, founder and executive director of Gig and the Amazing Sampaguita Foundation Inc. (GASFI), who explained that children of seafarers OFWs now equate good parenting with being able to bring them material things or pasalubong after a long absence due to work.

Parenting from afar has been one of the most difficult challenges faced by Filipino seafarers.

The physical demands and social isolation caused by constant departure often take a toll on the well-being both of the seafarer and his family.

“The problems of seafarers are cyclical—money, family. They get their contracts, get deployed, come home and sign a contract again. The family dynamics is based on the cyclical migration, and they need a platform to share how they manage to make things work despite the odds,” explained Oca whose GASFI aims to promote well-bonded relationships within and among seafaring (and OFW) families.

The daughter of the late master mariner Gregorio S. Oca, dubbed “Father of Modern Philippine Maritime,” Marissa added that pasalubong is part of the parenting practice among seafarers. Sometimes their financial support extends,

not only to their immediate families, but also to neighbors in the community.

Despite technological advances aboard ships, seafarers suffer from emotional, mental, physical and spiritual stress being away from their families. Families should equip themselves with skills, which were not needed in the past but need now with the onset of social media, Oca exhorted.

To put out in the open the issues relevant to seafarers and their families, the Seafarer Family International Congress will be held on August 14 and 15, at the PICC, in Pasay City. With a theme “All Aboard: Seafaring Families Engaging the World for Sustainable Well-Being,” the congress will feature seafarers, government and maritime industry leaders who will discuss and collaborate on best practices.

Among the topics that will be discussed are the “Role of Women in Seafarer Families and Maritime Careers” and “Family Programs and Best Practices,” which will highlight the influence of programs and policies and welfare services administered by maritime organizations and manning agencies, which help families sustain their repeated separations.

n OVERCOME TOOTH SENSITIVITY SENSODYNE launches new Rapid Relief that keeps up with the younger generation’s oral healthcare problem.

Research has shown that as many as one in three people may suffer from tooth hypersensitivity or pangingilo, with prevalence peaking at 30 to 40 years of age. But in a study, 2 out of 5 younger adults, between 18 and 25 years old, otherwise known as “generation Z” or “Gen-Z,” now experience the onset of tooth sensitivity.

Tooth sensitivity is a common, irreversible problem caused by dentine exposure brought about by attrition from tooth grinding or jaw clenching, erosion from dietary acids, or abrasion from brushing too vigorously. However, it can be managed with proper dental hygiene.

“The youth of today enjoy a dynamic lifestyle. They are highly mobile and always multitasking. As such, oral health may not always be a top priority. In fact, more than 50 percent of them do not consult their dentist on problems, such as tooth sensitivity, and find ways to work around it instead,” said Michael Mallari, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Philippines expert sales manager. “However, for Filipino Gen Zers, who constantly connect with friends and family through shared meals, experiencing pangingilo is a major distraction and a problem that needs to be addressed. Instead of enjoying and being able to try out new food, they experience pain and discomfort that takes their attention away from the moments that matter.”

In a recent event dubbed “Face the Race,” leading oral health-care brand Sensodyne, launched the new Sensodyne Rapid Relief toothpaste, which provides sufferers with speed and efficiency in beating tooth sensitivity. “We understand that bonding over meals is a culturally

SENSODYNE launches it latest variant Rapid Relief, which is clinically proven to provide relief from sensitivity from the first brush. (From left) GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Detailer Manager Robelle Venzon, Expert Sales Manager Michael Mallari, General Manager Ritesh Pandey, Oral Health Category Lead Leanne Jacinto, Sales Director Dhanica Tiu, Trade Marketing Head Katrina Mangubat and Trade Marketing Manager Katherine Sayon

intrinsic activity and is highly valued among Filipino youths,” said Ritesh Pandey, GlaxoSmithKline Philippines Consumer Healthcare general manager. “With Sensodyne Rapid Relief, those who suffer from pangingilo can experience immediate relief from the first time they brush so they can continue enjoying their foodbonding experiences with minimal distraction from their teeth.”

Tooth sensitivity is a dental condition that causes discomfort or pain in teeth when encountering certain substances and temperatures. It occurs when the dentine underneath the tooth enamel becomes exposed, revealing small holes called tubules.

When the fluid inside these tiny tubules en-

counters something cold, hot, sweet, or sour, it can trigger the nerves inside the tooth and cause a short, sharp pain.

When used as directed, the unique technology in Sensodyne Rapid Relief toothpaste offers fast relief and long-lasting protection to beat sensitivity. It has an active ingredient called stannous fluoride, which enables faster blockage of the tubules. It also has an optimized polymer system that creates a gel-like scaffold, which holds the stannous fluoride in place, preventing it from being washed away in the mouth.

The Sensodyne Rapid Relief toothpaste retails at P208 SRP, and is available at leading stores nationwide. For more information about Sensodyne Rapid Relief, visit sensodyne.com.ph.

Health&Fitness June 20-26, 2019 15