BusinessMirror June 27, 2019

CHINA STILL TOP BUYER OF PHL BANANAS

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

C

HINA’S fondness for Philippine bananas intensified as it doubled its orders for the tropical fruit and drove total shipments up by 80 percent to 1.445 million metric tons (MMT) as of end-April.

The country’s total exports in the January-to-April period expanded by 645,333.179 metric tons from last year’s 800,598.136 MT, preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed.

BusinessMirror ’s analysis of PSA data showed that the total value of exports rose by almost 80 percent

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to $655.019 million, from $364.933 million recorded in the same period last year.

China led all foreign buyers with purchases doubling to 531,971.282 MT from last year’s 265,836.157 MT. Total shipments to the Chinese market were valued at $229.154 million, 90.5 percent over last year’s $120.293 million.

China is now the country’s top market for bananas after it ended in 2018 Japan’s 30-year reign as the top importer of the Philippine tropical fruit.

Filipino banana growers and exporters are hiking their shipments to China as they seek to take advantage of its growing economy and huge

A broader look at today’s business n Thursday, June 27, 2019 Vol. 14 No. 260

‘PHL must hasten CIT cut to lure big players’ F

By Elijah Felice E. Rosales

@alyasjah

OREIGN investors want the refiled version of the Tax Reform for Attracting Better and Highquality Opportunities (Trabaho) bill to cut corporate income tax (CIT) to 20 percent in five years and not in 2029, as originally proposed.

Leaders of various foreign chambers told the BusinessMirror the government has to cut CIT faster than earlier planned.

They said the Philippines will be at a disadvantage among Southeast Asian economies if lawmakers, as advised by finance officials, push

through with the gradual reduction until 2029.

Florian Gottein, executive director of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, argued it is “necessary” for the CIT cut to be completed in a span of five years.

Under the previous version of the Trabaho bill, the reduction in CIT will begin in 2021, dropping by 2 percentage points every two years to 20 percent by 2029. However, foreign investors said this is “too slow,” and suggested the reduction be made annually.

“We urge the government to start reducing CIT as quickly as possible over the next five years to 20 percent so as to dispel any uncertainties on the country’s fiscal regime and make the business landscape more attractive and competitive in order not to lose out to our Asean peers.”—Gottein

“We urge the government to start reducing CIT as quickly as possible over the next five years to 20 percent so as to dispel any uncertainties on the country’s fiscal regime and make the business landscape more attractive and competitive in order not to lose out to our Asean peers,” Gottein said.

The Philippines imposes the highest CIT in the region at 30 percent.

See “CIT,” A2

By Recto Mercene @rectomercene

HE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) issued more than 4 million passports last year and nearly 2 million more from January to May this year, and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. partly attributed this to the reforms made in passport documentation.

“We simplified the requirements for passport applicants, and we have acceded to the Apostille Convention, which effectively reduces the authentication process by half,” he said in a speech on Wednesday marking the DFA’s 121st Founding Anniversary celebration at the Bulwagang Apolinario Mabini.

Turning to the controversy sparked by his order to withdraw all blue courtesy diplomatic passports, Locsin explained the move is meant to boost the credibility of such documents. The DFA, he said, will soon “revise the guidelines for courtesy diplomatic passports in order to enhance the credibility of passports held by those who really need them for their work.”

Locsin got embroiled in a spat with Vice President Leni Robredo who questioned the Secretary’s decision to cancel the courtesy

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diplomatic passports in the wake of Hong Kong’s barring of former DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario on Friday. Del Rosario was using the blue passport on a business trip to attend a First Pacific meeting in Hong Kong.

Robredo said the DFA should have fully backed del Rosario in this controversy instead of withdrawing the courtesy passport, to which Locsin explained that he, in fact, did not wish to single out del Rosario; hence, ordered all such passports recalled for review.

In a tweet, he called her boba (stupid) but later apologized.

In his speech on Wednesday, Locsin said Filipino diplomats, enjoying the protection of the Geneva Convention “must, on the face of their blue passports, not be mistaken on purpose as mere tourists who do not enjoy the same.”

He added, “I am assured that our former diplomats are wholeheartedly in favor of this.”

Meanwhile, the DFA, Locsin reported, has expanded its services by opening five Consular Offices in Ilocos Norte, Isabela, Laguna, Rizal and Davao del Norte. It also recently opened an Authentication Services Center in Davao City, promising that Cebu City would be next in line.

See “Locsin,” A8

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BIR, LGUs TOP RED TAPE COMPLAINTS LIST–ARTA

By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

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HE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), local government units (LGUs) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) topped the list of agencies that received the most number of business-related complaints, according to the Anti-Red Tape Authority (Arta).

Monitoring conducted by the Arta showed that the BIR received 17 complaints, followed by LGUs with seven as of June 25. The FDA and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources were tied with five complaints. Twothirds of the complaints received

by BIR have been resolved.

The Bureau of Customs, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Securities and Exchange Commission and the Social Security System had three complaints each.

“These are just the top eight agencies that had received Artarelated business complaints. The

Locsin: Reforms made possible 4-M passports issued; changes coming

T

See “Bananas,” A8

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population.

Analysts also noted that some of the Philippines’s key markets for bananas are already saturated, forcing exporters to find other more “lucrative destinations.”

“You can never go wrong with 1.3 billion people. China’s economy is growing by leaps and bounds over the years,” Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) Executive Director Stephen A. Antig told the BusinessM irror in an earlier interview. “We knew that it’s only a matter of time [before] China would overtake Japan as our top market due to its growing economy.”

rest [of the complaints] are not related to Arta, meaning not involving delay in government,” Arta Officer In Charge and Deputy Director General Ernest V. Perez said in a message shared with media.

Despite the lack of implementing rules and regulations (IRR) to operationalize the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) law, Perez told reporters in a Palace briefing on Wednesday that the Arta has achieved a “high” complaint resolution rate of 52.63 percent.

The agency received a total of 166 complaints, which included both business and nonbusiness-related transactions or queries.

Broken down, 77 of the complaints, or 47.83 percent, were about queries on business permits and licenses to operate, while clarifications on SSS benefits and birth certificates reached 68, or 42.24 percent. Arta figures indicated that 15, or 9.32 percent, pertained to regulations or policies.

Of the 17 complaints against the BIR, Perez also noted that 12 Continued on A2

‘PHL growth faster than regional powerhouses’

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formance” at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).

In a broader sense, the commitment aims to address the growing demands for air travel in the Philippines, particularly at the Naia. From 2016, Naia’s annual passenger traffic has ballooned by 130 percent to 45 million passengers, or about 10 million more than its rated capacity.

ROWTH of the Philippine economy will be faster than other regional economic powerhouses under the Duterte administration, the Department of Finance (DOF) said on Wednesday, citing the World Bank (WB) for such projection.

The country’s strong macroeconomic fundamentals provide the basis for the Bank’s expectations that the Philippine economy will grow faster than China and Malaysia, the DOF said in a statement on Wednesday.

Finance Undersecretary Gil S. Beltran said the World Bank based its projections on the Philippines’s solid external stance and “highly domestically driven” economy, which provides it “ample cushion” against external headwinds that are generally foreseen to slow down global growth this year.

“The Philippines is also expected to remain as an attractive destination for foreign direct investments [FDI]. We are pushing for further liberalization of investment ownership in the country,” said Beltran, also the chief economist of the DOF. According to World Bank forecasts, the Philippines’s gross domestic product (GDP) is expected

See “DOTr,” A2

See “Growth,” A2

GOVERNMENT transportation leaders and airline chiefs hold their signed Pledge of Commitment to support Naia decongestion, develop Sangley Airport and improve passenger convenience at their meeting on Wednesday at PICC. From left: Miaa General Manager Ed Monreal, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat; Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade, Cebu Air Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Lance Y. Gokongwei, Philippine Airlines Officer in Charge Vivienne K. Tan, and AirAsia Inc. President and CEO Dexter M. Comendador. NONIE REYES

DOTr, airlines close ranks in aviation reboot

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

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EDNESDAY saw the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and local carriers signing a so-called pledge of commitment to develop the aviation sector in the Philippines through the rationalization of flights in the country’s primary gateway and the promotion

of secondary airports to spur direct tourism and improve the operations of the main air hub.

Executives of local carriers Philippine Airlines (PAL), Cebu Pacific and AirAsia committed to “review the flight operations of their respective airline companies to rationalize flight numbers, aircraft movement and rotation, as well as the usage of slots and flying rights, to improve on-time per-

US 51.3560 n JAPAN 0.4792 n UK 65.2273 n HK 6.5756 n CHINA 7.4660 n SINGAPORE 37.9207 n AUSTRALIA 35.7284 n EU 58.3866 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.6942

Source: BSP (26 June 2019 )

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A2 Thursday, June 27, 2019

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GSIS bent on selling harbor property valued at ₧33.6B

By Rea Cu

T

@ReaCuBM

HE Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has reiterated its plan to sell its Manila North Harbor property, despite the claims of the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) that the agency only has a “naked title” on the property.

In a statement on Wednesday, the GSIS said the sale of its 672,645-square-meter property through public bidding is seen to help ensure the integrity of the funds of GSIS members.

“As a government entity that exists to ensure the integrity of the funds of its members, GSIS is determined to sell it through public bidding upon the approval of the Board,” said GSIS President and General Manager Jesus Clint O. Aranas.

Aranas said the market value

of the property is approximately P33.632 billion based on the zonal valuation as of May 9, 2019, and as reflected in the GSIS books as of May 20, 2019.

Earlier, Enrique K. Razon Jr., president and chairman of ICTSI, reportedly said that GSIS has only a naked title with no right to use the property.

“That does not preclude GSIS from disposing of the property,” Aranas said.

ICTSI operates the Manila International Container Terminal

“As a government entity that exists to ensure the integrity of the funds of its members, GSIS is determined to sell it through public bidding upon the approval of the Board.”—Aranas

(MICT) which is located in the property that GSIS wants to sell.

PPA’s claim

THE Philippine Ports Authority, under its present General Manager Jay Daniel R. Santiago and through its Legal Department, had questioned the validity of the 43-year-old title and asserted that PPA owns the North Harbor property, despite the property being registered under the name of GSIS. Aranas countered that the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC) ruled in 2015 that the validity of the title registered under the name of GSIS may only be questioned in a direct attack filed

before a regular court.

Meanwhile, GSIS has invited ICTSI to discuss the use and rental of the disputed property. However, ICTSI referred GSIS’s letter to PPA and deemed that “it may not be useful to sit down with GSIS without the participation of PPA.” Aranas maintains that the state pension fund will take legal measures to protect the interest of GSIS and its members.

Earlier in the month, Aranas said they would pursue the sale of their Port Area properties after the Department of Finance (DOF) released its latest zonal valuations.

The properties include the 672,645-square-meter industrial/ commercial lot, where the MICT is located, and a residential space of about 109,212 square meters.

The zonal valuation of industrial/commercial lot in the area is now pegged at P50,000 per square meter or a total of P33.63 billion for the Port Area property, compared to the P25.56 billion recorded value last year, according to the GSIS.

PDP-Laban backs Velasco for Speaker; party-list coalition’s support questioned

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

P

@joveemarie

RESIDENT Duterte’s political party PDP-Laban has “formally” endorsed Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco to become the next Speaker of the House of Representatives, a choice that received support from four other major political groups.

This, as Duterte distanced himself from the exercise of picking the party’s pick for the top House post, saying it is a burden he did not wish to assume.

In a manifesto of support released on Tuesday night, five leaders representing the different political groups also gave their “full and unequivocal” support to Velasco.

“We believe that Representative Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco is the best choice to lead the House of Representatives in the 18th Congress given his experience, competence and strong camaraderie with his colleagues,” said the manifesto.

Among those who signed the manifesto that gave Velasco a

Boracay. . .

huge advantage over other contenders for the top House post were Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales of the ruling PDPLaban; Rizal Rep. Michael John Duavit and Valenzuela Rep. Weslie Gatchalian of the Nationalist People’s Coalition; 1-Pacman Party-list Rep. Michael Romero, incoming president of the Partylist Coalition Foundation; and Ilocos Sur Rep. Kristine SingsonMeehan, who represented the Northern Alliance bloc.

The lawmakers also rejected the proposal for term sharing, saying the next Speaker should serve a full term so that the President’s legislative agenda for the next three years could be realized completely.

For his part, Velasco, in a statement, vowed to be a “listening Speaker and a decisive leader” of the chamber. “Rest assured that I will be a consensus builder should I be elected as the next leader of the House of Representatives,” Velasco said.

Meanwhile, PDP-Laban executive vice president, Rep. Gonzales, said Velasco has the sup-

Continued from A8

“The travel agents are also affected, because they claim they have to pay penalties to the booked passengers,” the industry source noted.

Her guests were supposed to be coming from Naning, Wuhan, Hefei, Chongqing, Wenzhou and other Chinese cities.

Asked for comment, DOT Spokesman and Undersecretary for Tourism Development Planning Benito C. Bengzon Jr., only said, “We will discuss the matter with the private sector [on Wednesday].”The DOT met with tourism stakeholders on Wednesday to discuss the National Tourism Development Plan.

CAB’s memo on June 11, 2019, states: “This is to inform all carriers operating to and from Kalibo and Caticlan that a moratorium is implemented effective immediately on all new and or additional scheduled and charter flights to Kalibo and Caticlan airports, including new and/or additional flights approved for IATA summer season 2019.”

All carriers were also required to revert to their 2018 winter schedule. “Likewise, approvals and further processing of charter flights [to] Kalibo and Caticlan will be held in abeyance until further notice.” Estimates by resorts on their losses due to the six-month closure of Boracay last year were varied, but the National Economic and Development Authority earlier estimated the economy lost close to P2 billion.

According to the CAB, four carriers with charter services to Kalibo are affected by the moratorium. Most of them come from several points in China and South Korea. These are Tigerair Taiwan, Air Busan, Zhejiang Loong Airlines and Far Eastern Air Transport.

Rivera clarified: “Charter flights that were approved by CAB prior to the release of the moratorium will be allowed to proceed/operate as scheduled. But those applying for charter flights will be suspended or held in abeyance due to the moratorium. In other words, no new approvals for chartered flights will be approved, but only for Kalibo and Caticlan flights, when the moratorium is in effect.” Most of the charter carriers with previously approved schedules fly three to four times a week.

No charter flights had been approved for Caticlan before the moratorium was declared.

port of 221 congressmen from PDP-Laban, Nationalist People’s Coalition, Liberal Party, Nacionalista Party, National Unity Party, party-list lawmakers and other independent members.

Sanctions

MEANWHILE, PDP-Laban said members who will not vote for Velasco will face sanctions.

PDP-Laban political head Ron Munsayac said the party led by Sen. Koko Pimentel believes it is time to put emphasis on party discipline.

However, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda of the PDP-Laban said the party did not consult its members when it released the manifesto.

Also, Salceda said any threats or sanctions are unjustified and may only incur the unwanted consequence of a reduced representation in the Commission on Appointments, which is similarly critical to the party.

“But I think at the end of the day, all PDP-Laban, will vote as one; all these threats are baseless and lastly there is no consulta-

Growth. . .

Continued from A1

to grow by 6.4 percent this year, second only to Vietnam’s 6.6 percent, and higher than China’s 6.2 percent, Indonesia’s 5.2 percent and Malaysia’s 4.6 percent.

In 2020 and 2021, the Philippines’s GDP growth of 6.5 percent for both these periods will equal Vietnam’s 6.5 percent, also for both periods, and surpass China’s 6.1 and 6.0 percent, respectively.

The Indonesian economy is projected to expand 5.3 percent for 2020 and 2021, while Malaysia will maintain its growth at 4.6 percent in both these years.

Based on an economic research published by Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Global Ratings for June entitled Apac Monthly Snapshots: Trade Wars and Currency Corners, the country’s GDP is seen to settle between 6 percent and 6.5 percent this year.

“We continue to expect GDP growth to come in at the low end of the 6 percent to 6.5 percent range in 2019, with a likely resumption of the infrastructure build in the second half of the year to bring the fiscal impulse for the year to

tion,” he said.

“I think we will see the real choice [for Speaker] on July 15.

I don’t see a Velasco and [Leyte Rep.] Romualdez fight on the floor. As I say, the elephant in the room is the President. I don’t think the President will allow a bloody fight inside the session hall,” Salceda said. Romualdez of Lakas is also a frontrunner in the speakership race.

Moreover, Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor also said members of the Party-list Coalition were not consulted with the signing of the manifesto by its President and 1-Pacman Rep. Michael Romero.

Ako Bicol Rep. Alfredo Garbin said “maybe he [Romero] signed in his personal capacity but the same cannot attributed to the collective decision of the members of the coalition.”

TUCP Rep. Raymond Mendoza said the decision of Romero to sign the manifesto for all the members of Party-list Coalition “runs counter to the procedure of the trust and confidence given to a leader of a bloc.”

around neutral after being negative in the first half of the year. We also expect BSP [Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas] to maintain its easing bias this year, supporting growth, as inflation will likely stay benign especially compared to last year’s spike,” the economic research said.

Beltran noted that the country’s debtto-GDP ratio also continued its downward trajectory on the Duterte watch despite its ambitious infrastructure buildup under its “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) program, with national government debt in relation to GDP at 42.1 percent in 2017, and falling further to 41.9 percent in 2018.

“Moreover, the Philippines has implemented monetary and nonmonetary policies to keep inflation manageable and bring it back to the government’s target range of 2 to 4 percent this year.

Perceived overheating risks have abated, driven by government measures and policies,” Beltran said.

Fitch Ratings has also maintained its “BBB” with a stable outlook for the Philippines as of May this year, while Moody’s also affirmed its Baa2 with a stable outlook as of November 2018.

Rea Cu

BIR, LGUs TOP RED TAPE COMPLAINTS LIST–ARTA Continued from A1

have been resolved.

While Arta concerns have been resolved in less than two months, Perez said in a chance interview that he would be happier if the agency could record a higher resolution rate of 90 to 100 percent.

More than a year after the President signed the EODB law, the President has yet to appoint the director general of Arta, who has the sole authority to sign and issue the IRR. In April, Perez said he had already requested Malacañang to grant him the authority to sign and issue the IRR. However, he said his request is still subject to “further study” by the Office of the President.

“We leave it up to the President because as we say, as public servants, we serve at the pleasure of the President, and we leave it to the discretion of the President whether or not to approve our recommendation,” he said.

Perez said there was also no explanation given to him as to why the President has not yet appointed an Arta chief.

However, he said the lack of an IRR

CIT. . .

Continued from A1

Singapore applies the lowest at 17 percent, while manufacturing rivals Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia collect 20 percent, 20 percent and 25 percent, respectively, of a firm’s taxable income.

“The issue is that [we] need to be first.

Second place is not enough because there could only be one investment in the region for certain companies, so they will go to the one who is first [place]. It is very important that we have a good setup here,” Martin Henkelmann, executive director of the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said in an interview with reporters last week.

Germany is one of the country’s largest sources of European investments. However, last year’s investments from Germany declined more than half to P541.28 million, from P1.38 billion in 2017, according to government data.

“We hope [the government] would reduce the corporate income tax faster and with shorter delays,” Henkelmann said.

Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines Executive Director Barbara Apraiz agreed with Gottein and Henkelmann, saying the corporate tax cut should be expedited

DOTr. . .

Continued from A1

The parties likewise pledged to utilize the Sangley Airport and the Clark International Airport as hubs for some of their domestic flights—a two-pronged strategy that, according to the Department of Tourism, would result in direct tourism in the northern and southern segments of Luzon, and free up more slots at the main gateway.

Once completed, Sangley will be home to general aviation operations, which comprise roughly 15 percent of the total slots at Naia.

With the movement of general and business aviation, as well as turboprop operations from Naia to Sangley, Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade said Naia will have more slots opened for higher-capacity operations, and could potentially help in reducing congestion at the airport.

“We agreed to give life to the commercial operations of Sangely, which will be initially for the turboprop flights of our carriers,” he said. “We commit to finish and put Sangley in operational condition before the end of this year.”

President Duterte recently ordered Tugade to “immediately” open Sangley for commercial and general aviation. Tugade said his group, which is currently building the required infrastructure for commercial operations at the military airbase, is on track to meet the November deadline set by Duterte.

He noted that congestion and delay will not be solved by Sangley alone, citing his so-called basket of solutions that include the development of Clark and the improvement of the facilities at Naia, as well as the opening of the Bulacan Airport in the next few years.

“We’re looking at Sangley as part of the caboodle that can address the congestion right now,” Tugade said.

Accessibility to Sangley, however, will be a problem, which the transport chief said, will be

does not mean that the government is not implementing the EODB law. “Even without the IRR, we are already implementing the law.”

Responding to criticisms from business leaders that red tape continues to burden businesses and citizens, Perez said: “It would have been more burdensome if the law was not implemented because there is no IRR.” Business leaders polled by the BusinessM irror said the EODB law has yet to make its impact on their operations because its IRR are not yet promulgated.

The EODB law is aimed at cutting red tape and streamlining government transactions.

The government is hoping to improve the country’s rating competitiveness surveys, including the annual World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Report, which ranked Manila as 124th among 190 economies in the 2019 cycle.

The passage of the EODB law sought to reduce transaction time for obtaining permits and licenses to three working days for simple procedures; seven working days for complex ones; and 20 working days for highly technical ones.

so that the Philippines could attract larger investments. This, in turn, will create jobs and spur growth to the regions, which is in line with the government’s economic thrust of decentralizing wealth and opportunities.

“If we want to increase the trabaho [jobs] of the population, 10 years [of CIT reduction] is just too long, [as] we need to be competitive with the other countries,” Apraiz argued.

However, faster reduction of the CIT rate should not be at the expense of tax incentives provided to economic zone firms. Business leaders warned the government’s plan to rationalize incentives could erode the country’s competitiveness in the face of better tax perks offered by regional counterparts.

“On the other side, we have to see that we got a competitive regime and rules setup for the incentives,” Henkelmann said.

The Trabaho bill was passed by the House of Representatives last year. Finance officials, however, had a hard time sailing the measure across the Senate, as lawmakers feared it could result in investment losses.

Economic zone firms, mostly multinationals, warned they will most likely relocate to another Southeast Asian country if the government removes their current incentives, particularly the 5-percent tax on gross income in lieu of all local and national taxes. addressed by opening up a ferry service from Pasay City to Sangley Point.

Airlines’ commitment

CEBU Pacific President Lance Y. Gokongwei said his group will support the development of Sangley and has signaled that the cargo operations of its turboprops will be moved to Sangley. “We want to reach a common ground and work toward a common goal,” he said.

“Our first priority is to ensure that the basket of solutions is supported.”

For her part, PAL Officer in Charge Vivien K. Tan said her group will also find ways to further support this endeavor, even as it has already moved its turboprop operations to Clark.

“We lean to support each and everyone, not just in air transportation, but the rest of the nation. I hope that PAL will be part of the private entity that can help the government, including the President, in putting forward the Philippines and make a very good future ahead of us,” she said.

AirAsia Philippines President Dexter M. Comendador, meanwhile, highlighted his group’s initiatives to develop other hubs, such as Clark, Cebu, Panglao, Davao and Puerto Princesa. “For us to sustain our growth, it is imperative that we not only do the right things but also do things right,” he said.

‘Happy problems’

TOURISM Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat, meanwhile, highlighted the need to hasten the development of more airport infrastructure in the Philippines, as it tackles “happy problems” of airport congestion due to the demand for air travel to and from the country.

“The lifeblood of Philippine tourism is accessibility and connectivity. Infrastructure is critical in the continuing growth and sustainable development of our country’s tourism. We believe that we need to match the excellent hospitality of the Filipino people with the same level of infrastructure and facilities,” she said.

News

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Thursday, June 27, 2019

DOJ chief: PhilHealth whistle-blowers placed under WPP

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By Joel R. San Juan

@jrsanjuan1573

USTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday said that the Department of Justice (DOJ ) has provisionally admitted to the government’s Witness Protection Program (WPP) the two whistle-blowers on the alleged multibillion ghost claims filed by WellMed Dialysis and Laboratory Center with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

Guevarra told reporters that Edwin Roberto and Liezel Aileen de Leon’s admission to the WPP would only be good for 90 days, while the

justice department is still conducting preliminary investigation on seven other WellMed personnel charged by the National Bureau

of Investigation (NBI) with estafa and falsification of public documents in connection with the scam.

The DOJ earlier indicted Roberto and de Leon along with WellMed’s co-owner Brian Sy with the same charges through Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Anna Doreen Devanadera, and referred the other respondents—WellMed executives Dr. John Ray Gonzales, medical director; Claro Sy, chairman; Alvin Sy, corporate treasurer; Therese Francesca Tan, purchasing officer; Dick Ong, administration officer; and physicians Dr. Porshia Natividad and Joemie Soriano—to a separate preliminary investigation.

Former Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque, legal counsel

of Roberto and de Leon, earlier said he would seek the inclusion of his clients in the WPP considering that their affidavits have become the basis for the indictment of Sy and the other respondents.

However, it would be up to the court to decide whether Roberto and de Leon would become state witnesses depending on the arguments of the prosecution.

Under Republic Act 6981 (Witness Protection and Security Benefit Act), before a person is admitted into the WPP, he or she shall execute a sworn statement describing in detail the manner in which the offense was committed and his or her participation therein.

The controversy also prompted the resignation of PhilHealth board members and executives led

by its President and Chief Executive Officer Roy Ferrer.

Aside from Ferrer, those who resigned were Jack Arroyo, PhilHealth director; Rex Maria Mendoza, independent director of the Monetar y Board; Hildegardes Dineros of the information economy sector; Celestina Ma. Jude de la Serna of the Filipino overseas workers sector; Roberto Salvador of the formal economy sector; and Joan Cristine Reina LibanLareza of the health care-provider sector.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III also said he is open for an investigation by the NBI in his position as PhilHealth chairman in order to determine the complicity of those responsible for the multibillion peso anomaly.

Philippines seeks to boost people mobility, cross-border trade as BIMP-Eaga turns 25

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AVAO CITY—The Philippines is pushing for an increased mobility of people and goods across the borders of the former poorer regions of the four East Asian countries and revive the centuries-old cross-border trade to strengthen and sustain current growth since they bonded together a quarter of a century ago.

At 25, after forming the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-Eaga), the secretariat of this subregional cooperation under the Asean reported that the former backwaters of the four countries experienced a remarkable annual growth of 5.7 percent and completed $22.7 billion worth of projects.

President Duterte moved for an increased mobility of its residents across these areas covered by the subregion to widen the awareness of the potentials of these areas for wider commerce and trade.

To make this possible, he said, the BIMPEaga should work for the establishment of more air links.

The subregion groups composed of the former neglected regions of each membercountry except for the oil and timber-rich Brunei Darussalam are: Mindanao and Palawan of the Philippines, the provinces of Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku, West Papua and Papua of Indonesia; the states of Sabah and Sarawak, and the federal territory of Labuan in Malaysia.

“There is a need to increase air linkages for greater people mobility and cross-border trade,” Duterte said in his address during the 13th BIMP-Eaga Summit held in conjunction with the 34th Asean Summit in Bangkok, Thailand, last week.

The potential of the subregion includes its significant location that encompasses two of the world’s largest rainforests, Borneo and Papua, and biodiverse marine systems in the South China Sea, Celebes Sea and Sulu. Its key economic sectors include: agro-industry, with similar products such as coconut, oil palm, livestock and poultry, and high-value tropical fruits and vegetables; fisheries, with tuna and seaweed among its major exports; tourism because of its untapped pristine

rainforests, vast coral reefs, several cultural villages and diverse ethno-linguistic tribes and with 22 World Heritage sites; transport and shipping; and energy.

Known for his crackdown on illegal drugs and terrorism, Duterte urged his counterparts in the Eaga to work together in securing the subregion’s borders to counter threats of terrorism, piracy, and illegal-drug trade, the Mindanao Development Authority said in a news statement.

Duterte and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam, President Joko Widodo of IndonesiaandMalaysianPrimeMinisterMahathir Mohamad, “recognized the key milestones of the economic cooperation” in that summit.

“We take pride in the subregion’s trans-

formation, which has resulted to stronger ties and broader gains in the past 25 years,” their joint statement said.

The BIMP-Eaga has recorded an annual growth of 5.7 percent, with its gross domestic product reaching $287.3 billion in 2017.

The subregion, according to the joint statement, also recorded a 21.5-percent growth in merchandise trade in the same year.

The statement further noted the contribution of what the leaders signed last year on the Asean memorandum of understanding on the Improvement of Safety Standards and Inspection for Non-Convention Ships within Asean member-states, saying that this memorandum “further propel maritime trade and safety in the subregion.” Manuel T. Cayon

A3

Airport ground worker survives lightning strike

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ground service personnel who was about to detach a power auxiliary unit connected to a parked Boeing 777 passenger aircraft was electrocuted at the height of a thunderstorm hovering over the premier aviation gateway on Tuesday evening.

Jose Arejola, 30, an employee of Macroasia Ground Handling Service Provider, sustained minor abrasions on his arms and was pronounced out of danger by airport medical doctors minutes later.

The accident occurred during a red lightning alert at 5:63 p.m. which was subsequently lifted at 7:28 p.m., according to Connie Bungag of the Media Affairs Department.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration issued the “red lightning alert” around 6:53 p.m. on Tuesday to stop airport ground workers from working and allow to seek shelter until the storm had passed.

Arejola was servicing Philippine Airlines Flight PR116, bound for Vancouver, Canada, which was parked on Bay 12 of the Terminal 1 when the incident happened.

Arejola told attending physicians that he felt a strong surge of electricity flowing through his body while disconnecting the auxiliary power unit (APU) from the aircraft wing.

“A surge of electricity coursed through my body after apparently a lightning bolt stuck the plane,” he told the doctors. The shock threw Arejola from his perch atop the ladder to the ground. Recto Mercene

TheBroa No time to waste: PHL rec A4

Business

Thursday, June 27, 2019

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By VG Cabuag & Jonathan Mayuga

IKE bees to honey, people holding plastic bags on one or both hands troop to a truck painted yellow-orange but smeared with rust and dirt. Throwing garbage has become a habit for people living on this dead-end street in Barangay Bagbag, Novaliches, Quezon City.

Indeed, throwing and collecting waste is a system that is currently under scrutiny. The scrutiny came with the onset of rain and of the reality there are Filipinos who throw waste with insouciance: anywhere and everywhere.

And, instead of dump trucks, rivers, seas and oceans are the collectors.

The presence of waste from countries like Canada, Korea and the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong in recent days have also added pressure to the country’s waste management system.

The pressure point was revealed during the attempt to clean up a portion of the Manila Bay: human waste is endangering the archipelago’s waters.

Blue Economy

AT a forum on minimizing marine plastics organized by the University of the Philippines National Engineering Center (UP NEC), Gerardo F. Parco underscored the importance of sustainably managing the so-called Blue Economy.

With a Blue Economy portfolio of $4 billion and as part of the effort to fight poverty, the World Bank is supporting the sustainable development of the ocean or sea-based economy with concrete actions to address ocean health, according to Parco, senior environmental engineer at the World Bank. A big portion of the WB portfolio on the Blue Economy is about marine plastics, he said at the forum dubbed “ConNECt: Doing our Part” held at the UP-NEC building in Diliman, Quezon City, on June 7.

“In the Philippines, as much as 40 percent of the proteins of the Filipino come from fish, so the ‘Blue Economy’ is very important in terms of the economy in general but in society [in particular] as source of nutrition because it is a big percentage of protein,” Parco said at the forum.

Elsewhere in the world, the Blue Economy—or anything that has something to do with the ocean—is as important, as they contribute to growth and development.

“Around 3 percent to 5 percent of the global GDP [gross domestic product] is derived from the Blue Economy,” he said.

Essentially, the Blue Economy approach to reducing poverty involves addressing marine or ocean plastic pollution as it involves the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, and ocean ecosystem health—all under threat from plastic waste that found its way to the ocean.

ConNECt, which aims to showcase scientific projects, research works and accomplishments in the field of engineering—in this case, on marine plastics—also aims to raise awareness on the value of engineering and science and their critical roles in improving the quality of life of ordinary people.

Under the sea

CITING various sources, Parco said the world uses 300 million tons of plastic a year and that 8 million metric tons of plastic winds up in the oceans each year.

The Great Pacific Garbage

WORKERS put finishing touches on an installation art of a beached blue whale with its intestines full of plastics to depict the plastics pollution of the world’s oceans, on April 26, 2019, on the front lawn of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Manila.

The Cry of the Dead Whale was the brainchild of Filipino artist Biboy Royong and executed by fellow artist Roderick Banares. AP/BULLIT MARQUEZ

Patch alone, he said, is now three times the size of France with nearly 2 trillion pieces of plastic.

It is located between Hawaii and California.

Even beaches in the farthest area are besieged by plastics, making its proliferation in the ocean a global concern.

“Under a business-as-usual scenario, there will be more plastics than fish in the ocean by 2050,” Parco warned.

He said the Philippines ranked third among 20 countries in terms of mass of mismanaged plastic waste in 2010, with 1.88 million metric tons/year. It was next to China with 8.82 million metric tons per year and Indonesia with 3.32 million metric tons per year.

By 2025, this mass of mismanaged plastic waste will increase further, he added, citing the report “Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean” by Jenna Jambeck of the University of Georgia. The Philippines will still rank third at 5.1 million metric tons per year, while China and Indonesia’s contribution will grow to 17.8 million metric tons per year and 7.42 million metric tons per year, respectively.

“We don’t import much plastic but we emit a lot of plastic in the ocean. This is a problem,” he said. “We are not a big economy but, based on studies, the plastic we dispose of compared to our imports is proportionately large.”

Parco said this is alarming, considering that the Philippines is at the epicenter of Earth’s marine biodiversity.

Slipping to oceans

OCEAN plastic leakage is attributed to poor solid waste management, according to Parco.

Of the total 2.7 million tons a year of plastic waste, about 84 percent or 2.27 million tons are collected. About 16 percent or 432,000 tons are uncollected.

Of the tons of uncollected plastic waste, 31 percent or 135,000 tons (about 26 percent) are leaked to the ocean.

Meanwhile, of the million tons of waste collected, 17 percent or 386,000 tons are leaked to the ocean.

This is because private hauler companies unload trucks en route to disposal sites in order to cut costs, mostly to poorly located dumps.

“This means that even if waste [is] properly collected, some of [these are] still leaked to the ocean.

This means we are all contributing to ocean plastic pollution,” Parco explained.

“Many open dumps are located adjacent to waterways. Are they properly covered? No. In the event of a typhoon, a lot of it is washed away into the nearest water body like Manila Bay,” he added.

Meanwhile, tons of uncollected waste are leaked to the ocean because of limited or zero collection at informal settlements that prompt residents to deposit waste at informal sites.

This is aggravated by small litter and waste that find their way into canals or creeks that eventually flow directly into waterways.

Ingested microplastics

PARCO noted that plastic is causing deaths of marine wildlife that ingest it, like whales and marine turtles.

Despite efforts to remove plastics, such as annual coastal cleanups, a huge volume of plastic waste stays in the ocean.

“This is because 80 percent to 90 percent of plastics do not float.

They stay underwater,” Parco said.

A more disturbing report is the fact that plastics are nonbiodegradable.

In time, plastics break down and become smaller and smaller, until they become invisible to the naked eye and become microplastic, which are consumed by fish that is part of the human diet.

Adelina C. Santos-Borja, Resource Management and Development Department head of the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), said that even freshwater

environment is adversely affected by plastic pollution.

Microplastics, which easily pass through water filtration systems, end up in the ocean and lakes, posing a potential threat to aquatic life, according to SantosBorja.

Citing a five-year trash audit conducted by Mother Earth Foundation, Parco revealed that in the Philippines, 163 million plastic sachets, 48 million plastic bags and about 3 million baby diapers are used and disposed of every day.

More than half (54 percent) of these are branded plastic waste, of which 60 percent can be traced to only 10 major manufacturing companies.

Near manufacturers

ACCORDING to Santos-Borja, “floating plastic waste is often mistaken for food by marine animals and, once ingested, these animals

will die slowly of starvation as their stomachs are filled with plastic debris.”

As much as possible, proper solid waste management, reducing waste that includes plastics by recycling or repurposing will help address the problem, she said.

Maria Antonia N. Tanchuling of the UP Institute of Civil Engineering in Diliman observed that plastics comprise 25 percent to 50 percent of trash, based on waste analysis and a characterization study they conducted of the samples they collected from river mouths.

“The most dominant were polymer-shape fragments, originating from bigger plastic materials,” she said, which means that the plastics were there for a very long time that they became smaller and smaller.

Tanchuling, who presented a recent study on microplastics in

Metro Manila’s rivers, said there were also pellets found in areas where plastic manufacturers operate. Such is the first real evidence that manufacturing companies are also guilty of direct discharge of plastic waste into Metro Manila rivers, notably, in Valenzuela City, the so-called Plastic City.

Environmental costs

ACCORDING to Parco, the cost of ocean plastics to the tourism, fishing and shipping industries in the Asia-Pacific alone was $1.3 billion in 2008; while damage to marine ecosystems is estimated to be at least $13 billion per year.

“As the Philippines has one of the longest coastlines in the world, managing plastic waste is somehow a problem,” he said.

According to Parco, addressing ocean plastic pollution, even plastic pollution alone, has an accompanying price tag.

aderLook

sMirror

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace | Thursday, June 27, 2019

A5

ckons with managing trash 88 percent of its waste (about 15.38 million kilos) last year. It is unclear, however, how the mall operator arrived at that figure, only that it “engages their tenants, vendors and customers in recycling activities.”

Property developer and mall operator Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) applied a different tack. ALI established a program to become carbon-neutral in about three years or by 2022. The term “neutral” mainly refers to offsetting what they produce by doing another thing to protect the environment. In this case, ALI will plant trees in certain areas equivalent to every carbon dioxide it releases to the environment.

At the moment, its malls and offices produce about 68,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year. Such figure is expected to grow as the company also plans to double its income and revenue by 2020.

Main pollutant

NEUTRALITY is now becoming a buzzword among companies as they can choose which effort to do to clean up their act rather than focusing on the main problem of waste management.

The companies led by the Po family, the makers of Century Tuna and the owner of the Shakey’s Pizza brand in the Philippines, want to become “plastic-neutral” by 2020.

They recently sealed a deal with Aboitiz-led Republic Cement to coprocess consumer plastic waste, converting these to energy as an alternative fuel in producing cement.

“The amount of plastic that the organization produced will help other companies like Republic utilize [for their manufacturing].

There’s some cost involved because there is collection and that’s what we take care of, the cost of collection,” Shakey’s Pizza Ventures Inc. president Vicente Gregorio said.

“Sometimes it’s not just about lowering the cost. There will be extra costs, but we just have to do our part to go green,” he said.

Packaging, such as plastic bottles and bags, has always been blamed as one of the Earth’s main pollutants.

VICNT | DREAMSTIME.COM

Investing in recycling

For instance, he said, the use of sachets is common among poor consumers.

“If you ban sachets, the first to be affected are the poor. So you don’t just come up with a policy banning plastic because it affects the poor,” Parco said.

However, using an alternative to plastics, like cardboard or paper, also has its disadvantages, he said.

Cardboards and papers easily fill up landfills. The environmental cost of producing paper or cardboard is also a disadvantage, Parco noted, adding that using glass also entails additional cost in terms of energy use.

All in all, the environmental cost of plastic in the consumer goods sector under a business-asusual scenario is estimated at $139 billion. An alternative to plastic will entail a much bigger cost at $533 billion.

“Other packaging materials

will entail 80 percent more energy cost and 130 percent more greenhouse gases.

“Plastics use less energy to manufacture and transport than alternative materials,” he noted.

Moreover, Parco said plastics generate fewer greenhouse-gas emissions and less waste.

Seeking solutions

THERE are, nonetheless, initiatives addressing waste.

For one, Nestlé Philippines became the first manufacturer to implement a residual waste-recovery program in partnership with Valenzuela City, the Department of Education (DepEd) and Green Antz Builders Inc. Through its “May Balik! Sa Plastik!” campaign, the company focuses on the collection of packaging materials that end up in sanitary engineered landfills or open dumps.

The program targets the re-

covery of waste laminates such as postconsumer sachets and used beverage cartons. Incidentally, Nestlé Philippines was named by environmental group Greenpeace as the top culprit of ocean pollution as a result of brand audits it conducted in the past two years.

Parco said there are various ways to address plastic pollution, whether inland or in the ocean, beyond the usual coastal clean-ups.

Improving solid waste management—from collection to recycling and proper disposal in sanitary landfills to prevent leaks to the ocean—will help address the problem, he said.

Also, the use of advanced technology and solution to plastic is something to look forward to— like using plastic as construction material for road construction, for instance.

According to Parco, there are many ways to dispose of plastic,

particularly single-use plastics that end up as residual waste because they cannot be recycled, like sachets or packaging materials with aluminum foils.

“Use them to make roads. Why not? San Miguel is already doing this,” he said.

Still fragmented

HOWEVER, private-sector efforts on waste management have been fragmented. The latter rests on their notion that it costs more to recycle rather than use new raw materials. Hence, companies create their own standards on how to go about managing what they produce.

For instance, a shopping mall such as SM generates close to 18,000 cubic meters, or about 18 million kilos, of waste every year.

And that number is increasing.

According to its sustainability report, SM was able to recycle

BOTTLING firm Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc., now a unit of Atlanta’s The Coca-Cola Co., will spearhead a P1-billion project to put up a food-grade recycling facility that will transform used PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic bottles into new and recyclable beverage bottles.

These plastic bottles, however, are already being collected by poor communities but shipped out of the country to be processed elsewhere in the world since there’s no local facility to remanufacture these.

Gareth McGeown, president of Coca-Cola Philippines, said the facility will be located outside Metro Manila. It will collect, sort, clean and wash post-consumer plastic bottles and turn these into new bottles that the company itself will use or be sold to other beverage firms, even if these are their competitors.

The company said it plans to use at least half of the recycled content in their packaging by 2030.

McGeown said the facility will have a capacity of 16,000 tons a year and will be the first in Southeast Asia. It will start construction of the facility toward the end of the year and may be operational by 2020.

The total being produced in the country using PET bottles are about 130,000 tons.

McGeown said the local Coke softdrinks maker will only own a portion of the said facility and the rest will be by its local partner and an international technology partner.

Researching alternatives

COKE’S former owner San Miguel Corp., on the other hand, claimed that before sustainability even be-

came a buzzword, its packaging business was already practicing recycling since it uses bottles for its beer business.

“Having swapped plastic bottles for reusable glass and metal, consumers are turning to more sustainable alternatives like biodegradable packaging formats, or visiting refilling stations with used containers rather than buying brand-new products,” San Miguel said, adding that more people are holding manufacturers accountable for managing post-consumer waste.

Even other bottled water companies are slowly placing their produce in bottles as they try to reduce plastic usage.

As many cities in the country are now banning single-use plastic bags—because these clog waterways—manufacturers are producing more waste than ever, such as paper bags and reusable eco-bags made of cloth or any other material other than plastic.

Many consumers are finding the use of paper bags very impractical since they tear easily and cannot be used for wet products.

“The only way to make paper products stronger is to add wax,” D and L Industries Inc. (DNL) president Alvin Lao said. However, Lao said wax is not biodegradable and increases the cost of paper packaging.

RA 9367

BIODEGRADABLE plastic is just as strong as regular plastic bags and also cheaper than paper bags and has less environmental impact because it does not require the cutting of trees, Lao explained.

He claims DNL is “doing a lot of research and development on the use of plastic bags but there has to be a law such as the ‘Bio Fuels Law’ [Republic Act 9367] so that there will be consistencies in the execution.”

Lao said he and other DNL executives are meeting with officials of the Marikina local government to discuss the difference between a regular plastic and biodegradable plastic. The latter uses mainly plant-based material and the biocompostable products, which can decompose under certain conditions. However, many of the LGUs still think that all plastic bags are created equal.

If a regular plastic bag, for instance, takes about 50 years to decompose, the biodegradable ones only take months to become part of the environment, Lao explained.

“People are becoming aware of the issue [on plastic use] but the alternatives are still being discussed until now,” he said. “We are helping them to find the alternatives.”

Lao noted there is no unified rule yet on the use of biodegradable plastics; thus, some LGUs totally ban all plastics while some LGUs allow the use of biodegradable plastic.

“What is needed is a legislative mandate for the uniform use of biodegradable plastics,” Lao said.

Replication efforts

DNL has a starch-based product that can replace plastic, though it costs more. It’s currently being used in mulching films, as well as garbage, compost and shopping bags. New applications include using laminates in the paper industry.

Still unsegregated waste is not that bad.

The Metro Pacific Investment Corp. has proposed to build a P22billion facility to convert all the Metro Manila waste being dumped in Payatas in Quezon City into energy. The said facility will convert 3,000 metric tons of waste into 36 megawatts, or more than the city’s requirements.

If successful, the company said it will replicate the effort in many local government units around the country that do not have their own proper waste disposal system.

With Jennina Marie Mora, Intern

A6 Thursday, June 27, 2019 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

Global implications of US-Iran conflict

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HE US has increasingly imposed tough sanctions against Iran after President Trump’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal in May 2018. What’s alarming is that Tehran and Washington’s diplomatic confrontation is escalating, which increases the risk of a military conflict.

A recent AP article, “Iranians say their ‘bones breaking’ under US sanctions,” said that as the US piles sanction after sanction on Iran, it’s the average person who feels it most. This prompted Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations Majid Takht-e Ravanchi to ask the UN to intervene.

He said: “With no bright prospect in sight, the international community in general, and the United Nations, in particular, cannot and must not remain indifferent with regard to addressing the root causes of the current state of affairs. If the issues are not thoroughly addressed, the eruption of any possible conflict will soon cross over from the regional level and will definitely have serious and extensive implications on international peace and security.”

Trump has threatened to crush Iran if it attacks the United States. On the other hand, Iran deters the threat of an air attack by its own threat to attack sea lanes. Experts said “such attacks would not be effective, but even a low-probability disruption of the world’s oil supply is a risk not worth taking.” That’s because sharp dips in Middle East oil production would push energy prices up worldwide. A long shutdown in the Strait of Hormuz, for example, would wreak havoc among Asian economies by restricting their oil supplies, carrying adverse consequences to the global economy.

In recent weeks, Washington and Tehran have attempted to outmaneuver each other without resorting to open conflict. The US is signaling to Iran that it must come to the negotiating table again for a new deal or face economic collapse. On the other hand, Iran is trying to show the US that the costs of imposing its power on Iran outweigh the benefits— and that Iranian forces are willing to retaliate against US pressure, be it economic or military.

A news story by the Associated Press (See B3, “Experts fear ‘snowball effect’ as Iran abandons nuclear deal”) said that by Thursday “Iran says it will have over 300 kilograms [660 pounds] of low-enriched uranium in its possession, which would mean it had broken out of the atomic accord.” The danger comes on July 7, the deadline Tehran imposed on European countries that are still a part of the nuclear accord to offer a better deal and long-promised relief from US sanctions. Otherwise, Iran will begin enriching its uranium closer to weapons-grade levels.

Experts said “once Iran starts going beyond the terms of the nuclear deal, one fact remains indisputable: The time it needs to have enough material for a possible atomic bomb starts dropping.”

What if war is triggered by mistake? A US-Iran war would have a devastating impact on global energy markets, the Philippines included.

This reminds us of the time when President Duterte called for “sobriety” and “cooler heads” in order to avoid a nuclear war. Speaking at a climate-change conference in July last year, two months after Trump dropped the Iran nuclear deal and the US-Iran conflict started to escalate, Duterte warned nations to avoid “egging Iran to go to war” in order to avoid a nuclear explosion. The Chief Executive added: “Let us decide that we avoid war because that would be disaster. I think it would be the end of planet Earth.”

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OUTSIDE THE BOX

I

N the first week of November 1989, then-President Corazon C. Aquino was welcomed to the floor of the New York Stock Exchange to launch the listing of Clemente Capital’s First Philippine Fund. The fund was designed to allow US investors to take part in the boom of the local stock market that had seen the composite index move from 800 to 1,400 in 1989.

Unfortunately, less than 30 days later, the Reform the Armed Forces Movement staged a violent attempt to bring down the government. Interestingly, as the local market index moved from 1,400 to 550 during the next 11 months, Clemente Capital promoted its “foresight” that the fund was only down 13 percent in 1990 as most of its funds were invested in US Treasury bonds.

That sort of begs the question of why it was called the First “Philippine” Fund.

Back then though, there were placements in locally listed stocks by international financial institutions through their investment funds. The largest was from a firm

that had been in business since the early 1800s. This fund was probably managed by the “I-justgot-out–of-drug-rehab” nephew of one of the higher executives as the total value of the fund was $7 million. At the time, the company managed a portfolio of $100 billion.

During the course of three decades, foreign investment has flowed to Philippine stocks. Maybe “flowed” is too strong; “trickled” is probably more accurate. The progress has been difficult for both local companies and foreigners. Political instability was a constant threat even into the 21st century with the Estrada impeachment. The dismal state of the

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government finances and ever increasing foreign-denominated debt was not corrected until the Arroyo administration.

Most substantial investment came in directly such as the buy-in of San Miguel Corp. by the Japanese beverage company Kirin and from the foreign telecommunications companies. Other local companies listed their shares for the purpose of attracting foreign ownership.

Listed companies have an advantage as there is greater transparency and oversight with public companies not found in private corporations. Further, an investment in a listed company is easier to value for accounting purposes because of the daily market price.

Most investors and stock-market watchers are only focused on price movement with little understanding of what goes on beneath the surface. While the stock market is not a benchmark of the economy, decisions made in the boardroom do give some insights for the future.

Before buying into a local listed company, foreign money moves cautiously and one way to do that is through buying both listed and unlisted “preferred shares.” Preferred shares offer a set income and return on investment. Nonconvertible

preferred shares do not dilute the common share ownership. Often, these shares are purchased by existing company majority owners as a way to increase their income through the cash dividends.

However, those preferred shares that also included “voting rights” give an added incentive for foreign money as this gives the holders a voice in decisions and often a minority seat on the board of directors.

This year there have been several preferred share offerings, including from Petron and most recently from ArthaLand Corp. While the Petron offering was to replace previously issued preferred shares and the ArthaLand shares are nonvoting, the cash dividend return is attractive to foreign money.

Nonetheless, other listed companies are in the process of readying to offer more preferred shares including with voting rights. They may not have suitors waiting at the door just yet. But they are prepared when it happens and the day will come. Philippine companies are becoming too valuable to pass up.

E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Visit my web site at www.mangunonmarkets.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE stockmarket information and technical analysis tools provided by the COL Financial Group Inc.

Solon could also be wrong in blaming malls for causing traffic jams on highways

Lourdes M. Fernandez

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Foreign money buying local companies

S

EN. Richard J. Gordon could be right when he flared up at malls located along the Edsa and other roads in Metro Manila that are allegedly causing monstrous traffic jams costing multibillionpeso a day in lost opportunities.

But he could also be wrong if he takes a second look at the situation because these malls and corporate offices actually also served as traffic mitigators.

Gordon said: “Traffic in Metro Manila continues to get worse, now it costs about P3.5 billion a day. Other cities in the country are now having traffic problems, too.

“This problem is caused by the malls built by rapacious, greedy, avaricious, predatory and opportunistic people who take unfair advantage of the country’s infrastructures and corrupt officials who allow them. If you notice, all malls are located in high traffic density areas.”

The Philippine office of the

Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) has reported that the worsening traffic in Metro Manila now costs P3.5 billion in lost opportunities per day, and highlighted the need for new and modern infrastructure to ease congestion.

“It’s about time that this country plans its cities right. In other countries, you cannot see malls along the highways—they are built in the middle of the town and people flocking to the malls do not cause traffic to grind to a halt. Dito sa atin, nasa tabi ng highway ang malls kaya ang traffic hindi umaandar. Dapat hindi pinapayagan na magtayo ng malls along highways and national roads,” Gordon said.

Why Gordon could also be wrong is that these malls along Edsa in Parañaque, Pasay City, Makati, Mandaluyong, Quezon City, Caloocan City, Malabon and Navotas also unmistakably served as traffic mitigators.

Just imagine if the hundreds of vehicles parked in more than 100 shopping malls and corporate offices during office hours and late at night are also moving along Edsa and other thoroughfares, traffic would definitely escalate from bad to worse in the metropolis.

So you see, these malls are not entirely traffic liabilities but also served as traffic mitigators during rush hours.

If we quantify the number of vehicles parked in these malls and use it as an economic variable, I don’t think the P3.5 billion daily cost of traffic in lost opportunities is really that accurate.

In the economy of distance and time, there are also important variables our planners and lawmakers must consider. Among these are motorists who do not understand the meaning of solid, double solid, broken lines and other traffic signs that are often violated especially by those who got their licenses to drive from equally ignorant fixers

and corrupt motor vehicle officials who do not follow strict procedures in examining and actually testing prospective drivers.

What Mr. Gordon should look into is what happened to the Traffic Impact Assessment for Sustainable Traffic Management and Transportation Planning in Urban Areas done many years ago by Engr.

Jose Regin F. Regidor, assistant professor of civil engineering at the University of the Philippines, and Engr. Rene Val R. Teodoro of the UP’s Extension Specialist National Center for Transportation Studies.

Part of their studies, called traffic impact assessment (TIA), is a powerful tool for engineers and planners to determine the possible effects of a project on the transportation and traffic system. Often it is applied only to the direct impact area and countermeasures for potential negative impacts are specific for the development.

Their study was a useful tool for local governments, especially for managing traffic and in planning their respective transportation systems. Two cases involving projects that were required to undertake TIA are compared, and results are See “Arillo,” A7

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BUSINESSWISE

ALÁLAONG BAGÁ

EAVY rains submerged a large swath of Metro Manila on Monday with most homes having to endure a knee-deep flood intrusion into their living rooms.

SPECIAL didactic perspective in the gospel by St. Luke is Jesus on the road to Jerusalem, the city of His passion and death. We are invited within this travel narrative to trace the steps of Jesus and to follow Him toward His and our Passover (Luke 9:51-62).

The sad part is that many of these households have been experiencing interrupted water supply for weeks.

If only the unwelcome floodwater flowing into their living spaces could be turned freely and immediately into potable water!

Such is the sorry state that Metro Manila residents have to face daily, aside from the stress of being late for work or school because of heavy traffic, combating inflation, and a host of other worries.

Now, the country’s water managers could only wish for a timely intervention from nature. They are hoping for massive storms to fill up Angat Dam, the country’s main water reservoir. Perhaps, they should all consider doing a rain dance, a ritual to invoke rain performed by many North American tribes to induce rain, or copy Thailand’s “Cat Parade.”

But such desire could have disastrous consequences. The storms could wreak havoc on the agricultural sector; not to mention deaths and untold devastation on properties, which could displace thousands of communities directly on the path of the tropical storm.

As expected, the most our “distinguished” elected officials could do is to conduct another legislative investigation which, as previous experience has shown, oftentimes prove futile beyond giving them the opportunity to showcase their grandstanding skills for gutwrenching soundbites.

Is there no win-win solution to this problem? Water levels at Angat Dam, which supplies water to Metro Manila and Central Luzon, could dive to the 160-meter critical level at any time. If and when that happens, Metro Manilans should expect the worst. Their allocation would be further reduced to 36 cms.

Manila Water Co. says it was “constrained to implement this new rotational scheme.... The additional reduction of 4 cms translates to a deficiency of 350 million liters per day, equivalent to the consumption of almost 700,000 population per day.”

The water provider, a subsidiary of Ayala Corp. in partnership with British and Japanese investors, adds that it needed to interrupt service “to almost all of our customers” to distribute “more equitably” the limited supply.

Maynilad Water Services, for its part, explains that it was forced yet again to interrupt services throughout its concession area to maximize the limited stock and ensure that all customers will have some daily water allocation. Maynilad is owned

by Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and DMCI Homes.

It’s disheartening, to say the least. The country has abundant water resources from lakes, river systems and groundwater. It is estimated that we have fresh-water availability at 149.5 billion cubic meters per year. Despite this, millions of us still lack access to safe, clean and affordable water because of corporate greed.

Water distribution is being increasingly privatized, but access to affordable and uninterrupted water supply remains unresolved.

Water privatization started in 1995 due to such issues as government

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examined in relation to the sustainability of traffic management and transportation planning strategies in Metro Manila and in other cities, as well.

The experiences presented and

inefficiency and corruption. Manila Water and Maynilad vowed to provide uninterrupted, cheap, safe and secure water supply. But what happened is that water supply has become erratic and overpriced for corporate profit.

Government records show that water rates have increased since 1995 by almost 900 percent for Manila Water and 600 percent for Maynilad. Net profits by the two companies have steadily increased through the years, reaching P3.3 billion for Manila Water and P5.6 billion for Maynilad as of 2018.

The country’s water distribution system continues to suffer from supply problems and infrastructure defects, even as Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewarage System (MWSS) continues to fail in properly supervising and controlling water and sanitation services.

The Local Water Utilities Administration is, likewise, powerless to regulate privatization because the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) has limited LWUA’s role to a mere observer during the so-called negotiations for joint-venture agreements between target water districts and the private proponent.

My sources are saying that a “private proponent resorts to bribing local government units to influence, force or coerce resisting local water districts to agree to a jointventure agreement.” As allowed by the Build Operate Transfer (BOT) law, JVA is just one of the many— but intriguingly the most commonly used —modes by private proponents under the private-public partnership scheme, despite the fact that other modes do not require private takeover of water system management and operation.

According to my sources, water district consumers are not informed or consulted, and are generally unaware that their water district has already been privatized.

Note that before a water district can be established, the agreement of the affected people should firstly be secured and confirmed by Local Legislative Resolution through a series of public hearings. It is LWUA that confers the water districts a sort of franchise through a conditional certificate of conformance.

By what legal authority is the privatized water district operating now?

That is the big question because, as private entities, they are no longer under LWUA. The bottom line is that the government is not only defaulting on its responsibilities to provide water in major urban areas, but also failing to regulate and hold accountable the private-sector players who have been raking in billions in profits, despite and even if they may not actually and fully fulfill their part of the agreement to provide customers with excellent water and sanitation services. Real big losers here are the consumers, particularly the poor and middleincome earners who have to bear the ever-increasing water bills to satiate the profit-making orientation of private business.

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No passing through BRACKETING the journey of Jesus is the dimension of rejection, here at the beginning and at the end (Luke 19:28). Jesus and His companions traveling to Jerusalem had to pass through the territory of the Samaritans. As Jesus was “resolutely” determined to go to the city of His destiny to fulfill the Father’s will, so were the Samaritans in their bitter quarrel with the Jews adamant in their view that there really was no necessity for anyone to go to Jerusalem in order to worship God. And they would not allow Jesus and His followers to pass through.

The rejection by the Samaritans elicited a violent reaction from the

“sons of thunder,” James and John, who would very much like to have Jesus order lightning from above to strike at these preposterous people.

His disciples thought it proper if Jesus would behave like Elijah of old who called down fire from heaven to destroy the men sent against him by the king (2 Kings 1:10-12). But Jesus’ mission was one of mercy and forgiveness (Luke 6:27-35). He would not be pushed into some retaliatory action against anyone by His followers who were children of their time known for the prevalent attitudes of revenge and violence.

Not for the attached

PARADOXICALLY, to follow Jesus who would use no violence against

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anyone means, at the same time, that one must be rather violent to self. Three would-be followers of Jesus illustrate the radical cost of following Him. To one who said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go,” Jesus clarified that what lies in prospect is not just walking behind Him or somehow traveling the same road with Him, but adopting His way of life in a symbiosis that includes suffering and self-abnegation. As “aliens and sojourners” on this Earth (1 Peter 2:11), Christians have no fixed dwelling here but are on the way toward “the one that is to come” (Hebrews 13:14).

To the other whom Jesus invited, “Follow me,” but who would like to go first and bury his father, he said in effect that not even good traditional obligations should deter or distract His disciples from proclaiming the kingdom of God. The work with Him is second to none; it is absolute priority. “Let the dead bury their dead”— let others take care of such acts; give yourself completely to the spreading of the gospel of life. Do not delay; do not say you have to wait until your parents are dead and gone. And the third applicant would like to follow Jesus but requested, “Let me first say farewell to my family at home.”

Many have stumbled in following Jesus because of their engrossing

attachment to their families. Luke elsewhere noted the words of Jesus: “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26). One must be single-hearted. A man at the plow who is not focused will produce crooked furrows.

Alálaong bagá, the high cost of following Jesus may seem harsh and cruel, but it simply underlines the fact that keeping “our eyes fixed on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2) means saying with Paul, “For His sake I have accepted the loss of all things and I consider them so much rubbish, that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8). We are on the road to Jerusalem with Jesus, in our own respective time and place, following Him to His Passover and ours.

It is a long and tortuous road, so we need to be resolute as Jesus was, dealing with rejection and refusal.

We must keep our cool and abhor violence. No delay, no looking back, not put off by hardships, and no attachments. We are called to follow Jesus His way all the way.

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.

Missing elements in the debate on minimum-wage fixing

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

She also mentioned some studies of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, Neda’s research think tank, which show the possible adverse impact of huge minimumwage adjustments on employment.

Accordingly, higher wages discourage job-creating investments and often lead to a vicious cycle of lower growth, higher unemployment and higher poverty. The PIDS economists have also produced research articles critical of the demand of the trade unions to restrict, if not prohibit, various forms of labor outsourcing and contractualization.

On the other hand, the demand of the trade unions for a P750 daily wage is closer to the P20,000 monthly income that a family of five should have in order to be not rated as poor in 2018, per the Social Weather Stations survey on self-rated poverty.

The trade unions further argue that the ideal living wage is P1,000 daily, or nearly double the present daily minimum wage in the National Capital Region.

Like the labor-only contracting issue, minimum-wage fixing is an issue that has polarized the Philippine tripartite actors—government, industry and labor—since the Edsa I People’s Revolt of 1986. The rhetorics for or against the upward adjustment of minimum wages have become louder and louder through the years, and has put the leadership of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on the spot.

To avoid getting embroiled in debilitating debates on the appropriate minimum-wage adjustment, DOLE secretaries routinely refer the task

of adjusting minimum wages to the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards, citing the “legislative” power of the boards to issue Regional Wage Orders under the 1989 Minimum Wage Law. Moreover, the RTWPBs are usually convened to deliberate on new wage proposals only when there are “supervening events,” such as a situation of high inflation. On the proposal to have only one national minimum wage, the DOLE’s stock answer: It is all up to the legislature, if it wants to bring the country back to the old system of having only one national minimum wage.

Now back to the conversation with Prof. Monsod. In the conversation, we cited the following: a) the importance of collective bargaining and employer-employee wage bargaining as the appropriate institutions for wage fixing, b) the need for the government to strengthen the system of dialogue and consultation among the parties on an industry-to-industry basis, c) the abysmal lack of the culture of sharing between industry and labor, and d) the imperative of having industry-labor-government or tripartite agreement on how to build up productivity and industrialization on an industry-by-industry basis. To our mind, these are the elements missing in the present system of wage fixing, as well as in the ongoing national debate on whether to restrict or liberalize outsourcing and labor contractualization.

Let us elaborate on these elements: First, on the role of collective bargaining and employer-employee

wage bargaining. In modern and democratic industrial relations, wage fixing is generally a function of employer-employee bargaining. Plantlevel and industry-level bargaining enable the two sides to come up with realistic wage rates, which do not affect the viability and profitability of various industries and enterprises.

However, the wage agreements are also usually tied to cooperation on how to build up productivity and grow the industry at a higher and higher level.

In countries with high levels of unionization, such as those in Western Europe and North America, the minimum wage is rarely adjusted, for, after all, industries and unions rely on bilateral wage bargaining as the primary mode of wage fixing. Yes, there is a minimum wage, but this is retained or maintained mainly as the safety net wage for the unorganized unskilled/semi-skilled workers.

The problem in the Philippines is that the institution of unionism has been declining, and so is the institution of collective bargaining. The 2017 ILO diagnostics on decent work indicate that only around 200,000 workers or so were covered in that year by CBAs—in an economy with 42 million to 44 million work force!

Hence, minimum-wage adjustment has become a big union issue because this directly affects the bargaining power of the union movement. The increase in minimum wage also becomes a major instrument in union organizing.

Nevertheless, even if there is no union in the enterprise, the Labor Code, under Article 267 (formerly Article 255), provides that workers, without exception, have the right to “participate in policy and decision-making processes of the establishment where they are employed insofar as said processes will directly affect their rights, benefits, and welfare.” Further, the same Article states that the employees and the employers may form for this purpose labor-management councils. In short, plant-level wage bargaining through the LMC can be done even if there are no unions.

The question then is why is this not happening? Calling the attention of

discussed in their paper underline the need for the government to take an active role in promoting TIA. This will ensure that stakeholders would participate in the TIA process, leading to the careful and substantive assessment of impacts of proposed developments.

Their study said: “Traffic impact studies are a fundamental part of

the environmental impact assessment process for projects. These are not usually required in the Philippines yet recently more developers in Metro Manila have been required to undertake TIA to secure an environmental compliance certificate for their projects.

“The TIA includes formulation of traffic management schemes

and recommendation of infrastructure for possible transportation and traffic problems that will be encountered during the construction and operation phases of projects. However, these specific traffic management schemes need to be integrated with other developments along with the overall scheme of the government.”

Their paper examines the common practices among developers in conducting traffic studies and compares two projects that were required to undertake TIA. Employing TIA for an integrated approach to traffic management and transportation planning is discussed and recommendations are made to promote TIA in this regard.

Dr. Rene E. Ofreneo

LABOREM EXERCENS

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N a recent conversation on minimum-wage fixing, Prof. Solita Monsod of Bawal ang Pasaway expressed alarm over the huge minimum-wage demand of organized labor: P750 daily. This, she said, is unaffordable to many business firms, the micro, small and medium enterprises, in particular.

DOLE on this.

This brings us to the next point: the weak system of dialogue and consultation among the tripartite parties. Why are there no joint ECOPtrade union studies on appropriate level of wages for various industries?

Why are employers simply reacting to union demands as a matter of habit? Why are they not proposing an alternative road map on cooperative system of wage fixing?

The absence of dialogue is unusually pronounced in the country’s leading corporations or top 100 firms.

The heads of these industries hardly attend any tripartite gatherings or consultations. It is always their lawyers who attend the meetings even if many of them do not have the authority to make commitments on substantial issues such as the outsourcing of work. We join Prof. Monsod in her biting observation: why is the culture of sharing so weak and underdeveloped in many Philippine industries? In our conversation, we also cited the observation that some of the industries that are doing very well in the market and earning fantastic profits, such as those in the ICT and telecom industries, are the ones most heavily engaged in the outsourcing of work even if they are in a great position to regularize the majority of the workers and pay them higher wages. The share of labor cost in these industries is likely to be less than 10 percent of the total cost of doing business.

Finally, one win-win approach to wage fixing missing in the Philippines: a comprehensive program of industry-labor consultation/ dialogue in support of cooperation in sustained productivity and sustained gain sharing between and among the parties. However, such programs of dialogue/consultation leading to cooperation in productivity and gain sharing should be supportive of the overall program of continuous industrial upgrading. There is no way industry can meet the requirements of labor for higher wages and of the economy for higher growth if industry remains stuck at the lower level of development, or at the low ends of the global value chains of multinationals.

These are the things that Senator Gordon should look into, whether or not the idea to solve the worsening traffic in the metropolis is still being followed by those concerned in solving the traffic problem in the metropolis.

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

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Charter flights halt costs Boracay resorts ₧2B

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

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@akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror

ARELY recovered from their massive losses from the six-month closure of Boracay Island last year, hotels and resorts in this so-called crown jewel of Philippine tourism face close to P2.1 billion in losses in the next three months.

The unfortunate development arose from the sudden suspension by the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) of new and additional char-

tered flights to Caticlan and Kalibo in Aklan, both gateways to the popular resort island.

In a n inter v iew w it h t he

7,000 Rooms on which resorts will lose money because of the CAB moratorium. With an average nightly rate of P2,500, these resorts could lose P735 million in one month alone, or close to P2.21 billion from July to September

BusinessMirror, Christine Ibarreta, president of the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association Inc. (HSMA), said, “almost all hotels [are affected by the CAB memo].

Tenders for BSP TDF hit ₧31.4B

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NVESTORS in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’s (BSP) term deposit facility (TDF) proved to be liquid as tenders for the facility during the auction on Wednesday amounted to P31.407 billion.

The Central Bank awarded the full P10 billion on offer for the seven-day TDF w ith tenders amounting to P14.410 billion, while the 14-day tenor bucket was also awarded the full P10 billion on offer as bids amounted to P16.997 billion.

The 28-day tenor was not offered during the TDF auction on Wednesday.

The term deposit facility is one of the BSP’s liquidity-absorption facilities to manage circulation in the economy. As banks bid to park funds in the BSP’s facility, the TDF effectively siphons off a part of this structural liquidity from the financial system to bring market rates closer to the BSP’s main policy rate.

In terms of the rates, the sevenday TDF posted a rate of 4.6240 percent, lower than the 4.6278 percent reported during the TDF auction on June 19, 2019.

The 14-day TDF saw rates decline to 4.7002 percent coming from

TROPICAL DEPRESSION “DODONG” 750 KM EAST NORTHEAST OF BASCO, BATANES LOW PRESSURE AREA 435 KM WEST NORTHWEST OF CORON, PALAWAN SOUTHWEST MONSOON AFFECTING LUZON AND VISAYAS as of 4:00 pm - June 26, 2019

the previous rate of 4.7107 percent in last week’s TDF auction.

The 28-day tenor was also not offered during the June 19 TDF auction.

In May, the BSP’s Monetary Board moved to cut its deposit requirement on smaller banks in the system, after earlier cutting the rates for the universal and commercial banks reserve requirement ratio (RRR).

Monetary authorities decided to cut the RRR of thrift banks by 2 percentage points from 8 percent to 6 percent. Rea Cu

They [hotel rooms] are all blocked and paid in advance.”

Specifically, of the 14,000 rooms available on the island, resorts will lose money on some 7,000 rooms because of the CAB moratorium. Using an average nightly rate of P2,500, these resorts stand to lose a total of P735 million in one month alone, or close to P2.21 billion for three months — from July to September, considered the lean season on the island. “That’s already a conservative estimate,” Ibarreta said, as the projection is made using the lowest average nightly rate.

Many of these charter flights, she noted, affected their Chinese clients.

Regarding the memo’s basis, CAB Deputy Executive Director Al-

exander Paul T. Rivera explained: “The moratorium was issued as a followup measure to the Boracay environmental cleanup ordered by the President, to sustain the gains and benefits to protect the island.”

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat, who is vice chairman of the CAB, failed to respond to this paper’s request for comment on the matter.

Meanwhile, officers of the three tourism stakeholders associations on Boracay—the Compliant Association of Boracay, Boracay Foundation Inc., and Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industry—confirmed that they were not consulted by the Department of Tourism (DOT) nor any member of the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force, before

NG’s local borrowings down to P230B for 3rd qtr

Bananas. . .

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HE national government’s local borrowing program for the third quarter of 2019, at P230 billion, is lower by 23.3 percent than the P300 billion made in the same period last year, according to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr).

The planned P230-billion local borrowing is also lower by 26.98 percent than the borrowings programmed in the second quarter of this year, amounting to P315 billion.

Broken down, borrowings in the form of Treasury bills (T-bills) for the third quarter amount to P90 billion, and for Treasury bonds (Tbonds), P140 billion.

The auction for government securities is scheduled every other week, with the auction of T-bills happening on Mondays, bearing an offering of P15 billion at each auction.

The auction for T-bonds is slated every other Tuesday, with an offering volume of a total of P30 billion for July, P45 billion for August and P30 billion for September.

Earlier, National Treasurer Rosalia V. de Leon said the Treasury will have to assess its cash operations report in line with recalibrating the government’s borrowing program, as the government operated under a 2018 reenacted budget during the first four months of this year. “[The volume will depend] on the spending. We have a cash programing meeting this week...We will have to calibrate, because there’s a catch-up plan in terms of the disbursements, so that would be running now...So, we will have to see how spending goes this month,” de Leon said.

The 2019 budget standoff between the House of Representatives and the Senate, which accused House leaders of manipulating the bicameral version even after ratification in plenary, caused the delay in the signing of the money measure. The 2019 General Appropriations Act (GAA) was signed by President Duterte only last April 15.

Earlier, the BTr said the national government has programmed its gross borrowings for both domestic and foreign IOUs at P1.19 trillion, with the government eyeing a borrowing mix of 75:25, with the bulk in domestic borrowings.

In March, the national government reported that its gross borrowings for 2018 nearly hit the P1-trillion level as it inched up by 5.08 percent to P947.551 billion.

In 2017, when the government firmed up its “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) program, gross borrowings hit P901.672 billion. Rea Cu

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China’s customs data disclosed to the International Trade Center (ITC) the confirmed increase in the shipments of Philippine bananas to the Chinese market, but there is a disparity between the figures of the ITC and the PSA. This is because data from the ITC indicated that the country’s shipments of bananas to China were lower at 359,223.36 MT. This volume is nearly 28 percent higher than the 280,829.715 MT it purchased in the same period last year.

Data from the PSA showed that Japan, now the country’s second top buyer of bananas, increased its purchases of the tropical fruit by 90.45 percent to 441,929.866 MT. The shipments were valued at $222.229 million.

South Korea’s purchases of local bananas during the four-month period went up by 87.96 percent to 207,445.816 MT from 110,361.755 MT, according to PSA data.

‘Saturated markets’

HOWEVER, official customs data disclosed by Japan and South Korea to the ITC painted a different picture of Philippine banana exports: the country’s market share in the two East Asian countries is on the decline.

Locsin. . .

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“To strengthen our frontline processes, we continue to implement the Department’s Quality Management System. In December 2018, our passport and authentication services were recertified to the ISO 9001:2015 standard.”

The Harvard-trained lawyer, and former journalist and lawmaker said the “department’s work is not easy.”

“We are on call at all times. And that is why, as we celebrate our foundation day, we recognize the men and women who have gone above and beyond the usual call of public service of sitting on their butts and waiting for the time to pass for the dismissal bell to ring.”

He also said the DFA recognizes the loyalty of its employees and their dedication to various organizations that significantly contributed to the success of the Department.

“These organizations need our financial assistance. It is my hope to realign many budget items for travel toward relieving their financial distress,” he added, as he urged the audience to applaud this year’s awardees.

Gawad Mabini awardees THE Gawad Mabini recipients are honored for being instrumental in forging the country’s bilateral and multilateral alliances in pursuit of its interests domestically and abroad.

Awarded the Gawad Mabini Grand Cross with the rank of Dakilang Kamanong: Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola, Ambassador to Malaysia Charles Jose and Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., Consul General Renato Pedro Villa.

Awarded the Gawad Mabini

or after the CAB memo was issued.

“We’re not saying it’s wrong,” said Virgilio Sacdalan, vice chairman of the Compliant Association of Boracay. “We just want to know why [CAB issued the memo], considering we are already in the lean season,” he pointed out.

For her part, one sales and marketing director of a 300-room resort on the island said: “Everyone was shocked when the memo from CAB came out on June 11.”

She declined to be named as she was not authorized to speak on the matter.

For her hotel alone, the bookings cover 1,450 room nights in July, which is equivalent to a P20million loss.

See “Boracay,” A2

ITC figures revealed that purchases of Philippine bananas by Japan and South Korea during the four-month period contracted in terms of volume and value, which Antig said, is a cause for concern.

Japan’s banana imports from the Philippines declined slightly to 263,536.820 MT, from 265,893.058 MT last year, while the value of total purchases fell 1.22 percent to $228,608 million, ITC data showed.

ITC data also indicated that South Korea’s purchases dropped by nearly 7 percent to 105,556.537 MT, from 113,460.372 MT last year. The total value of imports declined by 16.68 percent year-on-year to $83.215 million.

There were also glaring discrepancies between the export data of the PSA and import data of Japan and South Korea.

Antig explained that the contraction in imports as reported by Japan and South Korea showed that the Philippines is losing its market share to Latin American producers.

He said Japan is already a “saturated” market for the Philippines due to its aging population while South Korea is purchasing more bananas from Latin American countries like Ecuador.

“I would say that Japan and Korea’s data are reliable. For one, our market share in South Korea has gone down to 72 percent from 98 percent,” Antig said in a separate interview on Wednesday.

Commander with the rank of Dakilang Kamanong was DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Concerns Special Assistant Raul Dado.

Also bestowed the Gawad Mabini Member with the rank of Kasugo was DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs (DFAOUMWA) staff Hussain Hadjinoor.

Meanwhile, six officials were conferred the Felipe Agoncillo Lifetime Service Award (Falsa): Ambassador to Thailand Mary Jo Bernardo-Aragon, Philippine Embassy in Baghdad Charge d’Affaires Julius Torres, Consul General to Calgary Gilberto Asuque, Consul General to New York Claro Cristobal, Consul General to Sydney Teresa Taguiang and Consul General to Chongqing Crescente Relacion.

Recognized as Best Organization for the year were the Office of Treaties and Legal Affairs headed by Office of Administration Officer In Charge J. Eduardo Malaya and the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah headed by Consul General Edgar B. Badajos.

Bestowed the Assistance to Nationals Award were Philippine Embassy in Riyadh’s Maribelle Facundo, Philippine Consulate General in Dubai’s Shiela Mupas, Philippine Embassy in Kuwait’s Russell Grace Ocampo and DFA-OUMWA’s Najela Raymundo (individual category); and the Philippine Consulate in Dubai’s Assistance to Nationals Unit (group category).

Then-President Emilio Aguinaldo established the DFA on June 23, 1898, one of the first government agencies created under the revolutionary government. He tasked Apolinario Mabini, the first foreign affairs secretary, to win international recognition for the Philippines as an independent state, and to establish diplomatic relations with other countries.

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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. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

Editor: Efleda P. Campos

Companies BusinessMirror

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IC allows insurance, pre-need companies to invest on REITs

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By Rea Cu

@ReaCuBM

HE Insurance Commission (IC) has issued a circular in line with allowing insurance and pre-need companies to invest in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), to help them prepare for the government’s “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) infrastructure program.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Insurance Commissioner Dennis B. Funa stipulated under Circular 2019-27 that the REIT must have prior approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and shall be limited to publicly listed REITs only for it to be treated as admitted assets of an insurance or pre-need company.

“While the Insurance Code specifically allows insurance companies

GCash to plant 365,000 trees in Ipo Watershed in 2020

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CASH, operated by Globe Fintech Innovations Inc. (Mynt), has moved to adopt the Ipo Watershed by planting roughly 365,000 trees next year through the help of its users, as it aims to help prevent a repeat of the water crisis that Metro Manila has been facing for the past few months.

Tuesday night saw the mobile wallet launching GCash Forest, a new feature that gives account holders the ability to grow virtual trees through the app by doing simple tasks that lessen their carbon footprint such as walking, paying bills through their mobile phones and using recyclable materials, among others.

GCash, which partnered with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (Biofin) for this new feature, is creating a database of all virtually grown trees, and will then plant them at the Ipo Watershed in July 2020.

“This initiative is all about forest for water, water for agriculture and agriculture for food. It is very important that we rehabilitate our forests…and it is critical that we take care of this, since 50 percent of the Ipo Watershed is actually degraded,” WWF President Joel Palma said.

GCash Forest is inspired by its investor Ant Financial’s Ant Forest.

In China, Ant Forest was able to entice Alipay users to join the greening movement, which has resulted in 100 million trees planted in the country’s arid regions.

“From our perspective, it’s how to get millions of Filipinos every day to do something small as part of their daily lifestyle,” Thomas said. “GCash Forest is about making it easier, more convenient, and even rewarding for everyone to take care of our environment for the benefit of future generations.”

Based on data from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Philippines loses 47,000 hectares of forest cover annually.

“Many Filipinos, especially the younger ones, care about the environment, but a lot of them don’t know how they can actively take part in environmental protection. This is a barrier that GCash Forest addresses because they only need to use their smartphones—an already integral part of their daily lives—to make a difference,” Thomas said. Lorenz S. Marasigan

to invest in REITs, it is not a selfexecutory provision. In other words, there is a need for the issuance of implementing rules and regulations,” Funa said.

The IC said the aggregate placement of a life insurance company or mutual benefit association in REITs should not exceed 10 percent of its total admitted assets, while that of a non-life insurance company or professional reinsurance company

should not exceed 20 percent of its net worth.

For pre-need companies, the new regulation provides that investments in REITs should not exceed 15 percent of its total trust fund.

“The new regulation will allow the insurance and pre-need companies to hit the ground running as early as the first listing of a Philippine REIT,” he added. Investments of insurance companies shall be subject to a riskbased capital charge of 25 percent pursuant to the Amended Risk-Based Capital Framework.

“Despite the fact that a decade has passed since the REIT lapsed into law, no Philippine REIT has been incorporated or established. This can be attributed to the claim of market players that legal and administrative requirements have made investment in the Philippine REIT market difficult. However, we deemed it necessary to issue the new regulation on investments on REIT of insurance and pre-need companies,” he said.

Funa said REITs would provide for additional investment options for

insurers in the country and is seen to contribute to the enhancement of their participation in capital markets that will help them boost their returns providing a closer match with its liabilities.

“Taking into consideration muchanticipated amendments to the implementing rules and regulations of the REIT law by the SEC and the BBB infrastructure program of the Duterte administration, the issuance of the investment guidelines in REIT for the insurance and pre-need companies is very timely to ensure that insurers and pre-need industry players are well-prepared,” he said.

Under Republic Act (RA) 9856, or the REIT Law of 2009, a REIT is defined as a stock corporation incorporated to own income-generating real-estate assets.

There are listed companies that own and operate infrastructure facilities such as toll ways, airports and highways, and income-producing real estate such as condominiums, shopping centers, office spaces, hotels and resorts, and hospitals.

Yard use at Port of Manila very close to historic lows

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

T

HANKS to the removal of the overstay ing import containers from the Port of Manila, yard utilization rate at the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) is tracking close to historic lows.

Christian Gonzalez, who sits as the global corporate head at the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), said the flagship port recently dropped to 58 percent despite a series of holiday periods and low trucking activity.

Ports usually target to keep their utilization rates at lower levels to ensure faster movement of cargoes in the terminals.

“The significant efforts in which both the private sector and the Bu-

Pepsi PHL launches 1st sustainability report a year ahead of SEC requirement

By Jonathan L. Mayuga

FNI eyes $50-M steel plant P

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

L

ISTED mining firm Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc. (FNI) said it would spend at least $50 million (about P2.6 billion) for a steel plant that it eyes to operate by 2022, as it seeks to benefit from the country’s growing infrastructure development.

FNI, the country’s second-largest nickel producer, said it would spend $20 million for the construction of the rebar steel-rolling plant and about $20 million to $30 million for its operational expenses.

FNI President Dante Bravo said FNI would shoulder 51 percent of the expenditure, while its partner Hong

Kong-based Huarong Asia Ltd. (Huarong) would spend for the remaining funding requirements.

Bravo also noted the firm may acquire loans to support the plant’s financial requirements.

“We are seriously looking at it because of the heavy importation.

Local manufacturers cannot cope with local demands. It’s really an opportunity for us,” Bravo said in a press briefing ahead of the firm’s annual stockholders’ meeting on Wednesday.

Bravo said they are eyeing to capture 5 percent of the 10-millionmetric-ton (MMT) local steel market with their latest business venture.

Bravo added they are still looking for a feasible and viable area in Lu-

zon where the steel plant would rise.

“We are still studying areas with availability of power, [easy] hauling of raw materials, near to ports...

We’re looking for an area that has good port facility and near a power plant. Hopefully, it’s an industrial zone,” he said.

On March 29, FNI disclosed to the local bourse it entered into a joint venture with Huarong for the construction of a rebar steel-rolling plant that has an annual production capacity of 600,000 metric tons.

“This management’s decision is a testament to their commitment to promote business diversification and to proactively take advantage of the growing market opportunities,” the firm said.

Epson now passes food-contact materials regulations in EU, Asia

By Roderick L. Abad @rodrik_28 Contributor

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PSON said it has successfully met regulations in the European Union (EU) and Asia on food-contact materials to leverage on the strong demand for special food-grade inks worldwide.

Smithers Pira, the global authority on the packaging, print and paper supply chains, said food-safe printing inks will grow faster than the food packaging market as pressure from brand owners and regulators are leveraging it for bigger amounts of food packaging. The market for food-grade inks also increases at 6 percent annually.

Given these positive trends, it’s timely that Epson invests directly in systems and hygienic processes to produce its own ink for its digital inkjet press and printer solutions.

Among these developments is the compliance of its facilities to the internationally recognized Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards (EC) 2023/2006 EU Regulations and corresponding United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cGMP.

Epson SurePress digital inkjet label presses and ColorWorks ondemand color label printer inks are manufactured with food-grade hygiene management, implementing Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) risk assessment at each stage of production.

Its very own inks also meet the Swiss Ordinance on Materials and Articles in Contact with Food (RS817.023.21). Their ingredients have been registered or submitted to the Swiss Positive Lists A and B, published by Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) approved for food labelling and packaging printing.

What’s more, Epson is a member of EuPIA and sticks to the guidelines on printing inks applied to the food packaging materials and articles, according to GMP (EC) 2023/2006 under European Framework Regulation (EC) 1935/2004.

In compliance with EU Regulation framework (EC) 1935/2004, its SurePress and ColorWorks inks are not intended for direct-food contact applications. When using them, it is recommended the nonfood contact side of pressuresensitive food labels is separated by

aluminium, glass, plastic or other materials that act as a functional barrier, as defined by local regulations, preventing migration of the ink components to the food.

“Our customers can be assured that the printers they have installed in their manufacturing facilities are compliant with food-contact materials regulations,” said Jocelyn Tan, regional senior manager, Printers Solutions Division, Epson Singapore.

“Epson will continue to meet and exceed customers’ needs in the production of food and beverage labels and packaging.”

Global technology leader Epson manufactures inkjet, visual communications, wearables and robotics.

Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corp., the worldwide Epson Group generates annual sales of more than $10 billion.

Its business in Southeast Asia spans an extensive network of 11 countries with a comprehensive infrastructure of close to 500 service outlets, seven Epson solution centers and seven manufacturing facilities.

In the Philippines, Epson has an extensive network of 94 authorized service partners in 130 locations nationwide, over 400 dealers and more than 800 shops across the country.

reau of Customs to release longerstaying imports at the terminal has resulted in lower overall container dwell times, allowing us to efficiently utilize the ample capacity to accelerate volume growth,” Gonzales said.

This new yard usage rate comes from the 90-percent average in January. It was toned down to 70 percent in April after the government and the private sector moved overstaying cargoes out of the Port of Manila.

“We call on stakeholders to embrace these gains by not reverting to the old ways, which has been common in previous years when utilization rates dropped,” Gonzales said.

To recall, Manila dealt with huge spikes in yard usage rates due to overstaying empty containers, which was exacerbated by weather-related vessel delays, holiday peak season and the import-export imbalance.

@jonlmayuga

EPSI-COLA Products Philippines Inc. (PCPPI) has released its first-ever sustainability report highlighting how the company dealt with depleting resources and worsening environmental situation over the years.

Publicly listed PCPPI is the exclusive manufacturer of PesiCo food and beverage products in the Philippines. It is a manufacturer of carbonated drinks Pepsi, Mountain Dew, 7Up, Mirinda, Mug, Milkis, and non-carbonated drinks Gatorade, Sting, Tropicana, Lipton, Aquafina and Premier.

Recently, the company has diversified to snack foods, with the manufacture of the Cheetos brand.

It maintains and operates a total of 13 manufacturing plants across the country.

The sustainability report was released a year ahead of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requirement for sustainability reporting in 2020.

At a press conference at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City, PCPPI executives presented its sustainability report, entitled “Win as One,” where it highlighted various initiatives to reduce costs in packaging, water conservation and fuel use, while optimizing returns or savings in implementing proper solid waste management.

In 2018 alone, the company was able to record a savings of P108 million in power cost due to internal and supplier-energy initiatives.

From 2017 to 2018, PCPPI was able to effect a 10.7-percent reduction in water consumption, 11.3-percent improvement in electricity yield, 12.9-percent improvement in fuel yield, 14-percent improvement in recycling, and 38.3 metric tons less plastic resin due to packaging innovations.

Developed in partnership with Drink, a company that specializes in sustainability communication, the report recognizes the success and progress of PCPPI’s sustainability venture through the collaborative work with its partners, stakeholders and communities.

PCPPI for Legal, Government and Corporate Affairs executive Manuel Lope Jr. said for 70 years, the company served its purpose as a beverage company, providing Filipinos with quality snacks and liquid refreshments. However, with depleting resources and the worsening environmental situation, he said

the company is determined to serve the Filipinos better with its sustainable transformation.

Since 2014, PCPPI launched various sustainability report meant to reduce cost and optimize resources, including recycled wastes.

“Our ‘Win as One’ Sustainability Report is a testimony of us embracing sustainability, and an update of where we are in this journey,” he said.

Lope said taking off from its remarkable improvement in waste and water consumption reduction, as well as deeper community involvement through its growing partnerships and greener initiatives last year, PCPPI is now guided by the United Nations’s Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDG), the National Economic and Development Authority’s (NEDA) Ambisyon Natin 2040, the Philippine Development Plan (PDP 2022) and PepsiCo’s Performance with Purpose.

In terms of packaging, since 2014, the company has diverted tons of solid waste from landfills through “material lightweighting” or the reduction of the amount of material that goes into its packaging.

In a span of four years, the lightweighting program has reduced a total of 863.4 metric tons of plastic resin used in PET or plastic bottle containers, 6,467.5 MT, PCPPI Senior Vice President Allan Frias II said.

As a result, PCPPI’s manufacturing is now more environmentfriendly. It has manufactured highly sustainable and recyclable packaging, with 71 percent of its packaging being returnable glass bottles, 1 percent is metal that goes into canned drinks, and 30 percent goes into special packaging for premixed beverages for commercial partners.

Only 8 percent of PCPPI’s packaging is PET bottles made of high-value recyclable.

PCPPI said from 2014 to 2018, the company was able to meet the 10-percent year-on-year reduction goal for water consumption. In the last four years, water conservation resulted in a reduction of 32 percent.

In the same way, PCPPI also improved fuel and electricity yield. The electricity yield had increased by 36 percent, which surpassed the 5-percent year-on-year target.

Fuel yield also continuously improved since 2014, with a total of 28-percent yield improvement as early as 2017. Also, the company reported an 81-percent recycled inplant waste driven by the company’s “Luntiang Yaman” program for overall water, electricity and material sustainability.

B2

Companies BusinessMirror

Thursday, June 27, 2019

ERC approves Meralco, PFBS supply agreement

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By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

HE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has approved the long-term power supply agreement (PSA) between the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) and the PowerSource First Bulacan Solar Inc. (PFBS).

“The joint application filed by Meralco and PFBS for the approval of their PSA is hereby approved,” said the ERC in its 67-page decision. The regulator approved the PSA application because this “will

be beneficial to Meralco’s consumers by way of reliable, continuous and efficient supply of power within its franchise area at reasonable costs.”

Under the approved PSA, PFBS

will supply Meralco 50 megawatts (MW) for P4.69 per kilowatt hour (kWh), subject to 2-percent annual escalation.

PFBS will source power from its proposed solar-plant site located in San Miguel, Bulacan. The project costs P3.95 billion.

The rate, the ERC said, is “reasonable” because the PSA underwent the competitive selection process (CSP). Even with the application of the 2-percent annual escalation, the rate of P4.69 per kWh is “still significantly lower than the prevailing feed-in-tariff (FiT) rate and most of the approved rates for solar power plants.”

From P4.69 per kWh, the rate will go up to P5.7516 per kWh on

the 20th year. The ERC said this is still lower than the prevailing FiT rate of P8.69 per kWh for solar.

The ERC told Meralco it cannot pass on to consumers any additional charges due to interest rates or penalties imposed by PFBS under the PSA. It, however, allowed Meralco to pass on to its consumers any benefit it availed of from excess energy of the PSA. The 20-year term of the PSA will not be extended, the ERC said.

Meralco was also directed to submit the monthly generation rate and its audited financial statements.

The decision was dated February 28 this year but was only approved for posting this month.

GCredit pioneers mobile lending, extends P1-B credit to consumers

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CREDIT, the first mobile QR-based credit line available in the Philippines, has extended a P1-billion credit line to consumers a year after it was introduced in the country.

With 250,000 credit lines and

impressive default rates, GCredit has successfully scaled an emerging lending model that is datadriven and fully digital to provide loan solutions to the underserved.

Anthony Thomas, CEO and President of Mynt (Globe Fin-

tech Innovations) which operates GCredit, said the mobile credit facility promotes Mynt’s vision for financial inclusion by giving people access to credit based on trust instead of the usual tedious documentation.

“GCredit marks the realization of our commitment to lend to every Filipino. I am happy to share that this is exactly what we have done in the past year, and this is what we will continue to do to ensure a more inclusive future for all Filipinos,” Thomas said.

GCredit is a feature within the GCash mobile wallet app that allows people to pay their bills and buy from GCash partner merchants using credit, which they can access within the app. Their credit limit depends on their GScore, the first tr ust-based score in the country, which is built around users’ GCash transactions: the more they use GCash, the higher their GScore; the higher their GScore, the higher their credit limit.

Because GCredit availment is closed-loop—meaning via QR or Pay Bills only—it shows Mynt where customers use their loans, allowing the company to constantly improve the GScore model based on customer insights.

Cost of living soars in Manila

E

VEN foreigners are now taking notice of the soaring cost of living in Manila.

Manila has now claimed the 109 spot of the Mercer’s 25th Cost of Living Survey, which covered 400 locations of popular spots for expats.

Manila’s latest rank is 29 spots higher from its ranking in the previous Cost of Living Survey, which made it among the four destination with the sharpest climb together with Ashgabat in Turkmenistan, Phnom Penh in Cambodia and Havana in Cuba.

Mercer’s survey ranked each location based on how expensive it was for foreigners to work there using factors like currency fluctuations, cost of inflation for goods and services, and volatility in accommodation prices.

Claiming the top spot as the most expensive for expats to work in is Hong Kong.

It was followed by Tokyo, Japan; Singapore; Seoul, South Korea; Zurich, Switzerland; Shanghai, China; Ashgabat, Turkmenistan; Beijing, China; New York City, US; and Shenzen, China.

Mercer said the government should consider addressing the cause of the trend since it could affect the attractiveness of Manila to foreign workers.

“The findings of Mercer’s 2019 Cost of Living study should signal its public and private sectors to take a deeper look and start a conversation on which factors are behind the dramatic increase in its cost of living from 2018 to 2019, and how they can be addressed or mitigated to ensure the country’s continued competitiveness,” Mercer Mobility Leader for Asia, Middle East, Africa and Turkey Mario Ferraro said. Samuel P. Medenilla

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Biz groups warn NG not to give Solar Para sa Bayan edge over rivals

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USINESS groups on Wednesday asked President Duterte to allow his economic team to review the franchise bill of Solar Para sa Bayan Corp. (SPBC) on issues of competition and alleged lack of deliberation.

In a joint statement, business groups said granting Solar Para sa Bayan the franchise will accord it with competitive edge over rival renewable-energy firms operating in the Philippines. Citing competition concerns, they appealed to the President to pass on House Bill 8179, the franchise measure, to his economic managers for their assessment.

Solar Para sa Bayan, owned by Leandro L. Leviste, son of Sen. Loren B. Legarda, has been granted by Congress a 25-year-franchise to put up and operate solar grids in remote and unviable, unserved and underserved areas in the country.

“This [HB 8179] will make less viable the operations of the other renewable-energy companies and qualified third parties, which have been operating after compliance with substantive and formal requirements set by law. In other words, the grant of the franchise may defeat the President’s objective of leveling the playing field in the renewable-energy sector and could prejudice power consumers,” the statement read.

“We understand that Solar Para sa Bayan’s franchise bill was approved so swiftly and, thus, may have been approved without sufficient deliberation to thresh out fundamental constitutional, legal and economic issues,” it added.

The House of Representatives and the Senate on June 4, one of their last sessions before sine die adjournment, ratified the franchise bill. The measure was ratified in spite of objections from Sen. Sherwin T. Gatchalian, who opposed an insertion in the bicameral report, which he argued “will negatively affect the power industry.”

“This insertion is in the definition of an underserved area, which will now include areas ‘where electricity services have been interrupted at least 12 times in the 12 months preceding the date of the determination that

MUTUAL FUNDS

such area is underserved,’” Gatchalian said in his objection speech.

Business groups said Duterte approving the franchise bill will put Solar Para sa Bayan’s competitors at a disadvantage. As a resolve, they asked the President to leave the dirty work of reviewing the measure’s impact on competition, as well as to consumers, to government economists.

“In view of the impact of Solar Para sa Bayan’s franchise bill on small, mini and micro grids now operating in the country, as well as to the power consumers in general, we appeal to His Excellency to have the members of the economic cluster of the Cabinet review this franchise bill prior to any executive action,” the statement read.

The joint statement was signed by the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, Makati Business Club and the Management Association of the Philippines. The Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation Inc. and the Women’s Business Council Philippines also signed the statement.

An online petition launched by nonprofit Philippine Solar and Storage Energy Alliance is asking the return of HB 8179 to Congress for it to be deliberated again.

The petition claimed the franchise bill has no electrification obligations for Solar Para sa Bayan, will favor only one firm, will eliminate competition and was approved by lawmakers without due process and only after one public hearing. It is targeting to garner 10,000 signatures, and has 7,666 as of writing.

In its web site, Solar Para sa Bayan claimed an estimated 12 million Filipinos lack access to electricity as of 2016. This translates to 10.4 percent unelectrified households in the whole of the Philippines. By island, 5.2 percent of households in Luzon is in need of power access, 7.6 percent in Visayas and 27.6 percent in Mindanao.

The Department of Energy is eyeing to achieve 100-percent electrification by the end of Duterte’s term in 2022. Elijah Felice E. Rosales

June 26, 2019

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

PER SHARE RETURN* RETURN STOCK FUNDS ALFM GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 267.33 10.88% -0.15% 1.19% 5.99% ATRAM ALPHA OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. -A 1.6538 14.33% 8.45% 3.11% 14.78% ATRAM PHILIPPINE EQUITY OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. -A 4.1452 8.23% -0.04% 0.38% 6.21% CLIMBS SHARE CAPITAL EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND CORP. -A 0.9596 12.56% N.A. N.A. 7.76% FIRST METRO CONSUMER FUND ON MSCI PHILS. IMI, INC. -A 0.8857 12.8% N.A. N.A. 7.92% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN EQUITY FUND,INC. -A 5.5342 12.01% 0.84% 1.01% 4.99% MBG EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND, INC. -A 121.63 11.33% N.A. N.A. 4.44% ONE WEALTHY NATION FUND, INC. -A 0.8898 10.62% -3.81% N.A. 6.9% PAMI EQUITY INDEX FUND, INC. -A 52.9793 14.46% 0.74% N.A. 7.67% PHILAM STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 551.59 12.28% -0.18% 1.02% 7.16% PHILEQUITY DIVIDEND YIELD FUND, INC. -A 1.3417 13.66% 1.71% 3.5% 6.99% PHILEQUITY FUND, INC. -A 39.3831 14.22% 2.35% 2.93% 7.51% PHILEQUITY MSCI PHILIPPINE INDEX FUND, INC. -A,3 1.0635 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. PHILEQUITY PSE INDEX FUND INC. -A 5.3747 15.63% 1.72% 3.29% 8.39% PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND CORP. -A 897.54 15.66% 1.43% 3.25% 8.33% SOLDIVO STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 0.9401 15.14% 0.82% N.A. 9.16% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE EQUITY FUND, INC. -A 4.3856 14.65% 1.6% 2.6% 8.05% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND, INC. -A 1.0312 15% 1.35% N.A. 8.06% UNITED FUND, INC. -A 3.7755 13.25% 3.18% 2.84% 7.84% EXCHANGE TRADED FUND FIRST METRO PHIL. EQUITY EXCHANGE TRADED FUND, INC. -A,C,2 120.1827 16.11% 2.36% 4.32% 8.52% ATRAM ASIAPLUS EQUITY FUND, INC. -B $0.9949 -4.59% 6.21% 0.09% 7.08% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY WORLD VOYAGER FUND, INC. -A $1.3046 0.63% 8.77% N.A. 18.05% BALANCED FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ATRAM DYNAMIC ALLOCATION FUND, INC. -A 1.7533 9.99% -1.11% -1.04% 6.18% ATRAM PHILIPPINE BALANCED FUND, INC. -A 2.3377 6.66% 0.34% 0.92% 5.82% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN BALANCED FUND INC. -A 2.6818 8.95% 0.05% -1.14% 5.42% GREPALIFE BALANCED FUND CORPORATION -A 1.3638 6.02% N.A. N.A. 4.56% NCM MUTUAL FUND OF THE PHILS., INC. -A 1.951 8.84% 0.67% 1.5% 5.85% PAMI HORIZON FUND, INC. -A 3.7759 9.73% -0.4% 0.76% 6.99% PHILAM FUND, INC. -A 17.0024 10.37% -0.24% 0.79% 6.88% SOLIDARITAS FUND, INC. -A 2.1645 8.35% 0.78% 1.98% 4.45% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BALANCED FUND, INC. -A 3.9094 11.32% 0.83% 1.72% 7.07% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2028, INC. -A,D,4 1.0269 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2038, INC. -A,D,4 1.0256 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2048, INC. -A,D,4 1.0221 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DYNAMIC FUND, INC. -A 1.004 11.42% 1.09% N.A. 8.93% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES COCOLIFE DOLLAR FUND BUILDER, INC. -A $0.03757 7.68% 1.85% 2.16% 6.58% PAMI ASIA BALANCED FUND, INC. -A $0.992 -2.97% 3.8% -0.59% 5.96% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ADVANTAGE FUND, INC. -A $3.7669 2.65% 6.58% 2.88% 13.86% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR WELLSPRING FUND, INC. -A $1.1123 3.8% 4.1% N.A. 10.13% BOND FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM PESO BOND FUND, INC. -A 350.11 3.49% 1.99% 2.23% 1.96% ATRAM CORPORATE BOND FUND, INC. -A,1 1.8988 2.19% 0% -0.15% 2.13% COCOLIFE FIXED INCOME FUND, INC. -A 3.0473 5.57% 5.28% 5.27% 2.58% EKKLESIA MUTUAL FUND INC. -A 2.1865 3.37% 1.21% 1.92% 2.63% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN FIXED INCOME FUND,INC. -A 2.3154 4.46% 1.14% 1.4% 4.8% GREPALIFE FIXED INCOME FUND CORP. -A P 1.606 2.2% -0.97% 0.07% 2.66% PHILAM BOND FUND, INC. -A 4.1822 6.06% 0.01% 1.27% 6.69% PHILEQUITY PESO BOND FUND, INC. -A 3.6821 5.76% 1.28% 1.56% 4.69% SOLDIVO BOND FUND, INC. -A 0.942 4.31% -0.33% N.A. 5.53% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BOND FUND, INC. -A 2.9594 8.08% 1.72% 2.16% 7% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY GS FUND, INC. -A 1.6459 8.15% 1.38% 1.7% 6.88% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES ALFM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $458.12 3.55% 1.89% 2.76% 2.2% ALFM EURO BOND FUND, INC. -A Є217.4 2.05% 1.53% 1.47% 2.23% ATRAM TOTAL RETURN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -B $1.184 6.54% 1.95% 2.46% 5.17% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $0.0256 3.64% 1.06% N.A. 3.23% GREPALIFE DOLLAR BOND FUND CORP. -A $1.7157 1.31% -1.36% 0.67% 1.51% PAMI GLOBAL BOND FUND, INC -A $1.0888 5.21% 0.07% -1.87% 4.93% PHILAM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $2.3476 9.59% 1.55% 3.31% 8.12% PHILEQUITY DOLLAR INCOME FUND INC. -A $0.059137 4.26% 1.61% 1.83% 3.78% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ABUNDANCE FUND, INC. -A $3.086 7.05% 0.81% 2.74% 7.45% MONEY MARKET FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A 123.45 3.7% 2.39% 1.92% 2.16% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A,5 1.0145 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. PHILAM MANAGED INCOME FUND, INC. -A 1.2137 3.89% 1.7% 1.05% 2.69% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A 1.2437 3.66% 2.64% 2.02% 2.03% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR STARTER FUND, INC. -A $1.0279 2.14% N.A. N.A. 1.18%

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

SEOUL: U.S., NORTH KOREA IN TALKS TO SET UP 3RD TRUMP-KIM SUMMIT

S

EOUL, South Korea—North Korean and US officials are holding “behind-thescenes talks” to arrange a third summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on the fate of the North’s expanding nuclear arsenal, South Korea’s president said, four months after a second meeting between the leaders in Hanoi collapsed without any agreement.

There have been no public meetings between Washington and Pyongyang since the breakdown of the Hanoi summit. But the prospects for a resumption of US-North Korea diplomacy have brightened since Trump and Kim recently exchanged personal letters. Trump called Kim’s letter “beautiful” while Kim described Trump’s as “excellent,” though the contents of their letters have not been disclosed.

In a response Tuesday to questions by The Associated Press and six other news agencies, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said that Trump’s and Kim’s “willingness to engage in dialogue has never faded” and that their recent letter exchanges prove that.

Moon, a liberal who met Kim three times last year, has made dialogue with the North as a route to forging peace on the Korean Peninsula a centerpiece of his presidency. He has played a central role in facilitating US-North Korean negotiations, even if those efforts have at times been overshadowed by the Trump-Kim talks that he helped broker.

Moon said he doesn’t see the Hanoi summit as a failure. He said he thinks the meeting served as a chance for both Washington and Pyongyang to better understand each other’s positions and “put everything they want on the negotiating table.”

“The success of denuclearization and the peace process on the Korean Peninsula cannot be determined by a summit or two,” Moon said, adding that discussions in Hanoi will form the basis for future talks. “Both sides clearly understand the necessity for dialogue,” he added. Despite the deadlocked nuclear negotiations, both Trump and Kim have described their personal relationship as

good. When asked whether Kim’s recent letter included a mention about another summit, Trump said, “May be there was.”

“But we, you know, at some point, we’ll do that,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday. “Getting along very well. He’s not doing nuclear testing,” he said.

In yet another reminder of North Korea’s continued mistrust of the United States, its foreign ministry said earlier Wednesday it won’t surrender to US-led sanctions and accused Washington of trying to “bring us to our knees.”

Kim has said the North would seek a “new way” if the United States persists with sanctions and pressure. Following his setback in Hanoi, Kim traveled to the Russian Far East in April for his first summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kim also hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping in Pyongyang last week for their fifth summit since March last year, and experts say the North’s outreach to its traditional allies is aimed at strengthening its leverage with the Trump administration.

Moon said he views the North’s expanding diplomacy with Beijing and Moscow as a positive development in efforts to resolve the nuclear standoff. “China and Russia have continued to play constructive roles so far to peacefully resolve the Korean Peninsula issue,” he said. “I hope that China and Russia will play specific parts in helping the North resume dialogue at an early stage.”

Moon didn’t elaborate whether US and North Korean officials had face-to-face meetings and if so where they took place.

He also didn’t clarify who were interlocutors or how close they were in setting up a third Kim-Trump summit.

Trump’s top envoy on North Korea, Stephen Biegun, is to visit South Korea on Thursday, and some experts said he may use his trip as a chance to meet North Korean officials at a Korean border village. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday the US was prepared to resume talks with North Korea “at a moment’s notice” if the North signaled it wanted discussions about denuclearization. AP

FEDEX SUES U.S. GOVT OVER EXPORT RULES IN HUAWEI CASE

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ALLAS—A lawsuit filed by FedEx against the US government over export rules follows a dispute over diverted shipments that were intended for Huawei Technologies, the Chinese telecommunications-equipment giant.

The lawsuit challenges changes to export rules designed to keep technology out of the hands of entities or people that the US government considers potential risks to national security.

In May, the US government added Huawei to a list of entities and people barred from receiving US technology without a special license from the Commerce Department. Shortly after that, Huawei complained about FedEx diverting several company shipments.

FedEx apologized to Huawei for the missed deliveries, which it said were accidental. However, China announced that it was investigating FedEx over the matter. The delivery company complains that the rules “essentially deputize FedEx to police the contents of the millions of packages it ships daily even though doing so is a virtually impossible task.”

FedEx Corp. sued the Commerce Department and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in federal district court in Washington on Monday. It asked the court to block the government from enforcing export controls against it.

The Commerce Department said in a statement that it has not reviewed the complaint but looks forward to “defending our role in protecting US national security.”

FedEx Chairman and CEO Fred Smith said the lawsuit was broader than “the Huawei issue... which was three packages out of 15 million packages a day.”

“The Huawei packages were only peripherally involved in this lawsuit that we filed, and in fact it goes back many, many years,”Smith said Tuesday on a conference call to discuss the company’s quarterly results with analysts. He said the final straw was Friday, when the Commerce Department added five more entities covered by the same rules.

On Sunday, the Huawei dispute flared again when the Chinese company complained on Twitter about FedEx blocking shipment of a Huawei phone from the United Kingdom to the US. Smith called it a mistake by a junior employee.

“We are expected to be policemen for these export and import controls, and there are about 1,100 entities now on this list,” Smith told Fox News. If the company makes a mistake on any shipment, he said, it can be fined $250,000 per piece without having a trial or due process of law. AP

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comments Tuesday by James Bullard, head of the Fed’s St. Louis regional bank, who said that he believed a quarter-point cut in July would be sufficient as an insurance move against a possible severe economic slowdown.

The S&P 500 dropped 1 percent to 2,917, its biggest loss of the month, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 179 points or 0.7 percent, to 26,548.

In addition to disappointment with the Fed comments, reports showing a drop in consumer confidence and weakness in the housing market added to investor gloom.

In an interview with Bloomberg television, Bullard said an “insurance cut” of a quarterpoint would be enough to protect against a sharper-than-expected slowdown in economic growth and a half-percentage point cut would be “overdone.” Bullard last week cast the lone dissent from the Fed’s decision to hold rates steady, favoring instead an immediate rate cut.

Trump on Monday tweeted that the Fed “blew it” by not cutting rates at its meeting last week. At that session the Fed kept its policy rate unchanged in a range of 2.25 percent to 2.5 percent but dropped a previous pledge to be “patient” in changing rates in coming months.

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Experts fear ‘snowball effect’ as Iran abandons nuclear deal

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UBAI, United Arab Emirates— As Iran prepares to surpass limits set by its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, each step it takes narrows the time the country’s leaders would need to have enough highly enriched uranium for an atomic bomb—if they chose to build one.

The United Nations says Iran has so far respected the deal’s terms. But by Thursday, Iran says it will have over 300 kilograms (660 pounds) of low-enriched uranium in its possession, which would mean it had broken out of the atomic accord.

European countries that are still a part of the nuclear accord face a July 7 deadline imposed

by Tehran to offer a better deal and long-promised relief from US sanctions, or Iran will also begin enriching its uranium closer to weapons-grade levels.

Breaking the stockpile limit by itself doesn’t radically change the one year experts say Iran would need to have enough material for a bomb. Coupled with increasing enrichment, however, it begins to close that window and hamper any diplomatic efforts at saving the accord.

“I worry about the snowball

effect,” said Corey Hinderstein, a vice president at the Washingtonbased Nuclear Threat Initiative who once led the US Energy Department’s Iran task force. “Iran now takes a step which puts Europe and the other members of the deal in an even-tougher position.”

Under terms of the nuclear deal, Iran agreed to have less than 300 kilograms (661 pounds) of uranium enriched to a maximum of 3.67 percent. Previously, Iran enriched as high as 20 percent, which is a short technical step away from reaching weapons-grade levels. It also held up to 10,000 kilograms (22,046 pounds) of the higherenriched uranium.

Experts who spoke to The Associated Press described the enrichment and stockpile limits in the deal as a sort of sliding scale. Balancing both elements keeps Iran a year away from having enough material for a nuclear weapon,

something Iran denies it seeks despite Western concerns about its program.

At the time of the deal, which was signed by Iran, the United States, China, Russia, Germany, France and Britain, experts believed Iran needed anywhere from several weeks to three months to have enough material for a bomb.

However, the stockpile limit isn’t an immediate worry from a nonproliferation standpoint, experts say.

“Going over the limit doesn’t immediately signif y that Iran has enough mater ia l that could—if further enriched and processed—be used in a nuclear weapon,” said Tom Plant, the director of proliferation and nuclear policy at London’s Royal United Ser v ices Institute for Defense and Security Studies.

“It does mean that it builds up reserves of material that could in the future support a more rapid push to the higher levels of enrichment that are suitable for weapons use,” Plant said.

The danger comes July 7, if Iran begins enriching uranium to higher levels.

“If Iran begins stockpiling uranium enriched to higher levels, the breakout timeline would decrease more quickly,” said Kelsey Davenport, the director of nonproliferation policy at the Washingtonbased Arms Control Association.

Both Davenport and Ian Stewart, a professor at King’s College

IN this April 9, 2018, file photo, released by an official web site of the office of the Iranian Presidency, President Hassan Rouhani listens to explanations on new nuclear achievements at a ceremony to mark “National Nuclear Day,” in Tehran, Iran. As Iran prepares to break through limits set by its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, each step narrows the time its leaders would need to have enough highly enriched uranium for an atomic bomb­­­—if they chose to build one.

By Thursday, June 27, 2019, Iran says it will have over 300 kilograms of low-enriched uranium in its possession, which would mean it had broken out of the atomic accord. IRANIAN PRESIDENCY OFFICE VIA AP

FED CHIEF SAYS U.S. ECONOMY FACING GROWING UNCERTAINTIES ASHINGTON—Federal Reser ve Chairman Jerome Powell said Tuesday the outlook for the US economy has become cloudier since early May, with rising uncertainties over trade and global growth causing the central bank to reassess its next move on interest rates.

Speaking to the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, Powell said the Fed is now grappling with the question of whether those uncertainties will continue to weigh on the outlook and require action.

Powell did not commit to a rate cut but said the central bank will closely monitor incoming data and be prepared to “act as appropriate to sustain the expansion.”

“The crosscurrents have reemerged, with apparent progress on trade turning to greater uncertainty and with incoming data raising renewed concerns about the strength of the global economy,” Powell said.

Many economists believe the Fed could decide at its next meeting on July 30 and 31 to cut its key policy rate, something it has not done since 2008.

But markets showed disappointment with Powell’s comments, which suggested a rate cut was not certain. That followed separate

Thursday, June 27, 2019

Trump reportedly has considered either firing Powell or demoting him from the chairman’s job but has been told by the White House legal team that he does not have the power to do either.

Asked about the repeated criticism by Trump, Powell said, “We are human. We make mistakes. I hope not frequently but we will make mistakes. But we won’t make mistakes of integrity or character.”

Powell said that the Fed’s independence from direct political control had served the country well and when central banks do not have that protection “you see bad things happening.”

The baseline outlook for the US economy remains favorable for continued growth, Powell said, but “the risks to this favorable baseline outlook appear to have grown.”

In early May, Trump more than doubled the tariffs on Chinese goods after US-China trade talks broke down. The president has threatened to essentially hit all Chinese imports with tariffs if China does not meet the administration’s demands for greater protections for US technology.

Trump’s moves sent financial markets tumbling because of concerns the trade conflict could end the current 10-year economic

expansion, which in July will become the longest in US history.

Trump is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping later this week at the Group of 20 economic summit in Japan, a meeting that is being closely watched for signals that the two sides are prepared to resume talks in search of a trade deal.

In addition to rising trade tensions, Powell said since May incoming data has raised new concerns about the strength of the global economy, noting tentative signs that investment by US businesses has slowed from earlier this year.

Many Fed officials believe the case for easier monetary policy has strengthened, but “we are also mindful that monetary policy should not overreact to any individual data point or shortterm swing in sentiment,” he said.

Powell said that would risk adding even more uncertainty to the outlook.

Earlier this year, economists believed the Fed would keep its key policy rate unchanged all year long after four rate hikes last year. Now private economists believe from two to four rate cuts are possible this year, although some analysts think the Fed could keep policy unchanged if trade tensions are resolved without harming the economy. AP

London who runs its antiproliferation studies program called Project Alpha, worry about miscalculations from Iran, the US or the West, amid the brinksmanship.

“This highlights the real tension at play in Iran: doing enough to satisfy Iranian hard-liners while also maintaining EU, Chinese and Russian support” for the deal, Stewart said. “There’s a real risk of miscalculating, not least because it’s not clear at which point the EU will have to back away from a noncompliant Iran.”

Davenport says Iran’s moves probably are aimed at gaining leverage in negotiations.

“Even if Iran decided to pursue a nuclear weapon, it would still take months to further enrich and weaponize the uranium,” she said. “It is critical that the United States does not overreact to a stockpile breach and use it as an excuse to further ratchet up tensions in the region.”

A year after President Donald Trump’s unilateral withdrawal from the nuclear deal, the US and Iran are already locked in a volatile standoff. Last week Iran shot down a US military drone, saying it violated Iranian airspace, though Washington said it was above international waters. The US has blamed Iran for mysterious explosions targeting oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran denied any involvement.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Israel has bombed nuclear facilities in Iraq and Syria in the past, and reportedly pushed for a similar strike in Iran prior to the 2015 deal.

Iran, for now, allows UN inspectors to monitor its nuclear facilities via in-person checks and surveillance cameras. It also has yet to begin widespread use of advanced centrifuges that would speed its enrichment. Experts fear either of those happening.

Once Iran starts going beyond the terms of the nuclear deal, one fact remains indisputable: the time it needs to have enough material for a possible atomic bomb starts dropping.

“As soon as they go over 300 or above 3.67, that number is starting to count down from one year,” Hinderstein warned. “So if they do both, then it’s just going to steepen that line from one year to wherever they end up.” AP

OIL JUMPS TO 4-WEEK HIGH ON REPORT OF FALLING U.S. STOCKPILES

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IL rose to a four-week high after an industry report signaled a bigger-than-forecast drop in US crude stockpiles, adding more impetus to a rally that’s been driven by a tense standoff between Washington and Tehran.

Futures in New York climbed as much as 2.3 percent after closing down 0.1 percent Tuesday in the first drop in four days. The American Petroleum Institute reported that inventories fell by 7.55 million barrels last week, according to people familiar with the data. That would be the biggest decline in more than three months, if confirmed by government figures due Wednesday. Gasoline futures jumped in New York after Reuters reported that Philadelphia Energy Solutions is expected to close its refinery, the largest on the US East Coast.

Oil has rallied around 15 percent since the middle of the month as the increasingly tense situation in the Middle East took over from the USChina trade war as the main price driver. A meeting between the presidents of the two countries at the G-20 summit in Japan over the weekend is generating some optimism that trade talks may be restarted. Meanwhile, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allied producers will decide on production levels for the rest of the year at a meeting next week.

A sustained reduction in US inventories moving into the peak summer driving season in the northern hemisphere will support oil prices, said John Driscoll, chief strategist at JTD Energy Services Ltd. in Singapore. The Opec+ coalition is also expected to rollover its output cuts when it meets next week, he said.

West Texas Intermediate for August delivery rose $1.25, or 2.2 percent, to $59.08 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange at 7:27 a.m. in London. It climbed to $59.13 earlier, the highest intraday level since May 30. The contract rose 7.7 percent in the three sessions through Monday.

Brent for August settlement advanced $1.14, or 1.8 percent, to $66.19 a barrel on London’s ICE Futures Europe Exchange. The global benchmark crude traded at a premium of $7.13 to WTI. The gap was as low as $6.86 earlier, the least since early April.

The API figures compare with the median estimate in a Bloomberg survey for a 2.87-millionbarrel decline in American stockpiles. Inventories fell by 3.1 million barrels in the week to June 14, according to Energy Administration data. The US summer driving season typically boosts oil demand and has helped narrow the Brent-WTI spread. Bloomberg News

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SHAKEY’S:‘LOVE THE PLANET LIKE YOU LOVE OUR PIZZA’

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OR over 40 years, Shakey’s has been an avenue of great times and great memories in the country. What started as a dining hub became a family tradition, a place where people come together and share a love for what they are known for—piping-hot, delicious thin-crust pizza.

And now more than ever, Shakey’s recognizes the need to take that love and share it with a greater purpose.

Shakey’s is committing to sustainable development by becoming more involved in social and environmental causes by partnering with World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), through the #AyokoNgPlastik movement. The alliance was formalized at Shakey’s WOW Center in Parañaque City, the signing of a memorandum of agreement between Vic Gregorio, president and chief executive officer of Shakey’s Pizza; and Jose Angelito M. Palma, president and CEO of WWF Philippines.

The MOA seeks to lessen and, eventually, eliminate single-use plastics in the country by raising awareness, through transformative partnerships with

corporations. Shakey’s will start by switching to more environment-friendly packaging and applying recyclable materials to their pizza boxes, takeout containers, packaging and other advertising materials.

They will also start a strawless campaign within their stores and switch into using recyclable brown paper napkins. Consumers will also be part of this advocacy when they order online, as donations will be part of their online ordering system.

“It is our duty both to our guests and [the] nature to protect the world we live in,” Gregorio says. “What we have here is a platform that can raise awareness, educate and create a positive lasting impact to our environment. There is no better time to start than today.”

There is no doubt that, for the years to come, Shakey’s will continue to do what they do best: Give their guests great memories and great food, while doing its share in caring for Filipino families by saving the planet and helping ensure a better future.

D.O.F. TO TARGET AMBITIOUS G.D.P. GROWTH AMID INFRA PROJECTS

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HE wide-ranging economic impact of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Package 1 was among the many topics recently discussed at an interview given by

#MONEYGMENTMOVEMENT, AN ADVOCACY OF EVERY MOM

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Moneygment’s vision of being the top-of-themind app when it comes to government and other compliance payments has become even more relevant with the passage of the Domestic Workers Act, or what is commonly known as the Kasambahay law, which mandates the payment of our household helpers’ SSS, Pag-IBIG and Philhealth contributions.

In a gathering of moms led by Moneygment advocate Feliz Lucas, Ma. Jessica Palmiano, chief executive officer of Togetech Inc., the proponent of the app, reiterated the importance of diligently paying for our helpers’ contributions, saying that, by doing so, “We are not only protecting them but shows how much we value them.”

Furthermore, Palmiano expressed that “Moneygment shares with the moms the same advocacy of making sure that what we say and do help others in their daily lives. We are socially responsible for each other. We help deliver convenience in imbibing the values of—work, save, comply, invest and give—so that, by creating individual financial strength, we create a relationship

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With the end goal of building a financial footprint toward becoming economically resilient, Moneygment guarantees a secure, convenient, reliable and affordable payment platform that allows you to handle your money, as well as monitor expenditures.

Moneygment champions and fosters a financial culture that will make and achieve financial freedom, so that we can all have a better future. Join the #moneygmentmovement today.

The Moneygment app is available on the App Store and Google Play.

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez, to representatives of the Oxford Business Group (OBG).

Dominguez highlighted that the TRAIN 1 attained 108.1 percent of its revenue target in 2018, enabling the government to increase public-infrastructure investment.

“By 2020 the DOF [Department of Finance] aims to have all tax-reform packages in place, including the reduction of the corporate income tax from 30 percent to 20 percent; and the reduction in the number of capital income-tax rates from 80 to 42,” he added. “Even though the 5.6-percent GDP growth in the first quarter was lower than expected, now the national budget for 2019 has been enacted, the DOF continues to expect GDP growth to surpass 6 percent by the end of the year.”

Large-scale infrastructure development is a priority for the current administration, under the umbrella of its flagship Build, Build, Build program,

which includes 75 priority projects.

Although the concern of overreliance on the official development assistance (ODA) has been raised in some quarters, Dominguez outlined how the country has maintained a balanced source of financing. According to the DOF data, China and Japan have each committed $9 billion in ODA, while South Korea has pledged in $1 billion.

“With the tax-reform program creating a robust flow of revenue, we now have the means to invest in upgrading our logistics backbone,” Dominguez said. “These commitments complement the financial support received from multilaterals, such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.”

Furthermore, the secretary said that the DOF has taken precautionary measures ensuring economic returns on major projects far outweighing the costs of financing, thus, having a diverse pool of project funding.

OBG Philippine representatives interviewed Dominguez (in photo, center) as part of the The Report: Philippines 2019, the group’s forthcoming publication on the country’s economic development and investment opportunities.

NESTLÉ PHILIPPINES JOINS WORLD OCEANS’ DAY CLEANUP DRIVE

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EV ER A L Nest lé Phi l ippines employees in over 30 countries par ticipated in the cleanup dr ive of coast lines and water ways in celebration of the World Oceans’ Day, under the auspices of globa l employee volu nteer i ng prog ra m Nest lé Cares.

In Metro Manila Nestlé Philippines employees, led by chairman and Chief Executive Officer Kais Marzouki, cleaned up and audited those collected wastes on Freedom Island, or the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area, with the assistance of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and WFF Philippines.

“This activity is one of the many ways in which we work together to help shape a waste-free future,” according to Ma rzou k i. L a st Apr i l Nest lé committed to its recycled packaging by 2025. The company’s vision—none of its waste ends up in landfill or as

litter—is being pursued in three focus areas: Developing the packaging of the future; helping shape a wastefree future through collection and recycling; and addressing consumer beliefs and behaviors. “ We , a t N e s t l é Ph i l i p p i n e s , a re acce lerat i ng ef for t s to f i nd

solutions to the plastics problem.

It is imperative that, while we look for innovative packaging solutions among our initiatives, we also take immediate action to stop [its] leakage into water ways and oceans, and find ways to recycle our packaging,” Marzouki added.

LANDBANK PUSHES FOR DIGITAL BANKING

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HE Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) f ur t her st reng t hens its banking platforms and introduces innovative channels to promote g reater f i n a nc i a l i nc lu sion a nd banking convenience.

“Our efforts are geared toward incorporating as many Filipinos as possible to the financial mainstream, t h rough t rad it ion a l a nd d ig it a l platforms. We continue to invest on systems and technologies that will allow us to expand our reach, streamline processes and improve the delivery of our products and services,” said LandBank President and Chief Executive Officer Cecilia C. Borromeo.

To s t r e a m l i n e t h e a c c o u nt opening process and reduce lobby traffic in its branches, the bank implements a digital on-boarding system (DOBS). Less than seven m o nt h s s i n c e i m p l e m e nt at i o n , DOBS is now utilized in all 400 L a nd B a n k b r a nc he s a c ro s s t he cou nt r y, s i g n i f ic a nt ly re duc i n g a c cou nt - o p e n i n g t i me f rom 3 0 minutes to 15 minutes. At this period, more than 98,000 accounts have, so far, been opened through the system.

D OB S o f f e r s i nd i v i du a l a nd institutional clients a convenient w a y o f a c c o m p l i s h i n g a c c o u nt enrolment forms and reducing the

amount of time needed to complete the account-opening process.

DOBS will soon be linked to the bank ’s web site (www.landbank.com).

This will allow individual (including o ve r s e a s Fi l ipi no work e r s) a nd institutional clients to fill out forms, and upload IDs and documents in the comfort of their homes, offices or even via their mobile phones, prior in proceeding to the branch to complete the account-opening process.

“Moving forward, we are targeting to also roll this out in our lending units to streamline and simplify the loan-application process for our clients,” Borromeo added.

L a nd B a n k a l so cont i nues to ex pand trad itiona l touch points nationwide, with four new branches opened in the first half of the year and 10 more in the pipeline. This will bring its network to 410 by the end of the year. These are complemented by 44 lending centers, 2,066 ATMs and 120 cash-deposit machines deployed in strategic areas across the country.

Also in the pipeline this year is the deployment of a mobile branch and 10 additional mobile ATMs, which will benefit more remote areas by providing continuous deliver y of banking ser vices, even during calamities or disasters.

T h e s e w i l l c o m p l e m e nt t h e

bank ’s existing 10 mobile ATMs that provide convenient banking ser v ices to t he benef ic i a r ies of t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’s c o n d i t i o n a l and unconditiona l cash transfer program, payout of local government units, pension/salar y payout and loan proceeds of other government agencies, and other special events or calamities.

T he ba n k f ur t her look s onto installing 200 point-of-sale (POS) cashout units to br ing financial services closer to Filipinos in remote areas, through its network of partner institutions.

LandBank also continues to beef up its Internet- and mobile-banking platforms, such as the LandBank iAccess, the bank ’s retail Internetbank ing channel; the mobi lebanking app, which allows clients to perform banking transactions 24/7; and the LandBank Link.Biz portal, where individuals can conveniently pay their bills, taxes and other dues to government agencies and private merchants online.

“As we work toward our inclusive growth objectives, we are banking on technolog y to reach more unbanked v i l lages and tow ns, and prov ide greater convenience and accessibility to our clients,” Borromeo said.

I.O.C. HEAD HITS PROFIT-DRIVEN SPORTS EVENTS

Sports BusinessMirror

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| Thursday, June 27, 2019 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

INTERNATIONAL Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach asked local governments to resist promoting competitions he believes go against the Olympic ideal. AP

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The Associated Press

AUSANNE, Switzerland—Seeking to protect sports bodies from independently run events, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach asked local governments to resist promoting competitions he believes go against the Olympic ideal.

The organizers of profit-driven sporting ventures are “cherry picking” events without sharing the International Olympic Committee’s duty to use profits to help athletes around the world, Bach told Olympic leaders on Tuesday at their annual meeting.

Citing a global zeitgeist that encouraged “narrow self-interest,” Bach criticized “a purely market-based approach to sport that ignores the values we stand for.”

“This is why we are calling on public authorities to take this distinction into consideration whenever they take decisions that affect sport,” the IOC president said.

In swimming, three elite athletes filed an anti-trust case against governing body Fina in California last year.

Dozens more swimmers risked bans by supporting a privately owned league series which had a launch event planned in Turin, Italy.

Fina then withdrew the ban threat, increased prize money and launched its own

L CASTER SEMENYA is on track to defend her world title in September in Doha, Qatar. AP

By Graham Dunbar

new top-tier competition series.

Basketball governing body Fiba has been in a longrunning dispute with the club-controlled EuroLeague competition.

“Sport without values is just entertainment,” Bach said.

“Yes, Olympic sport must be entertaining, but it must not be just entertainment.”

He did acknowledge some businesses “deserve a profit” for presenting sports in innovative ways that engage young people.

“What is not fair at all, is that more and more public authorities are ignoring the differences between these purely commercial companies and us, as values-based organizations,” Bach said.

Bach often defends the authority of Olympic bodies and the IOC business model using games revenues to fund them rather than pay prize money directly to athletes.

The IOC also resists relaxing rules that limit Olympic athletes from promoting personal sponsors during a games period, despite losing a German federal agency ruling.

Bach has argued that top-tier Olympic sponsors, who paid more than $1 billion in the 2013-16 cycle, need protected exclusive rights to maximize IOC revenue for reinvesting in sports.

The IOC has allocated more than $500 million that its Solidarity Commission will distribute from 2017-20 to athletes and Olympic teams.

Bach said “legitimate athlete representatives”—elected within Olympic bodies—are the only recognized path for negotiation, and pledged more benefits for competitors.

“We did not always do our best to make the solidarity model transparent and understandable enough to the athletes and the wider public,” he said.

Later in the meeting, the IOC reported $165 million

profit in 2018 on income of $2.2 billion in the Pyeongchang Winter Games year. Revenue included $1.436 billion from broadcasting rights and $550 million from marketing income.

IOC spending included $1.153 billion to games organizers, national Olympics committees and sports governing bodies. There was $178 million in IOC operating costs and $133 million spent “promoting the Olympic Movement.” Overall project spending was $187 million on the Olympic House headquarters in Lausanne.

Also Tuesday, breakdancing moved closer to the 2024 Paris Olympic program, with a final decision due in December 2020.

The full IOC membership endorsed requests by Paris organizers and the IOC executive board to provisionally add breaking, and three other sports. Skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing already will be at the Tokyo Olympics next year.

A question was raised about a Senegalese fugitive from France’s investigation of suspected Olympic vote-buying, during a discussion of the 2022 Dakar Youth Olympics.

“This has nothing to do with the Youth Olympic Games,” Bach told IOC member Craig Reedie, the World Anti-Doping Agency president. Reedie asked for an update on Papa Massata Diack who is believed to be in Senegal avoiding questioning.

On Monday, French authorities said Diack and his father, Lamine—a longtime former IOC member when leading track and field’s governing body—should stand trial on money laundering and other corruption charges.

French pursuit of the Diacks was revealed in 2015 during a Wada investigation of extortion of Russian athletes linked to doping cover-ups. Papa Massata Diack is also implicated in suspected vote-buying in the 2016 and 2020 Olympics hosting races.

IAAF meets Swiss court deadline in Semenya case

AUSANNE, Switzerland—Track and field’s governing body says it met a Swiss supreme court deadline to explain why rules limiting female runners’ testosterone levels should be re-imposed during Caster Semenya’s appeal.

The International Alliance of Athletics Associations (IAAF) had until Tuesday to respond to a federal judge’s grant of a special interim order this month which suspended the rules.

The judge must now decide whether two-time Olympic champion Semenya can continue competing over 800 meters without taking testosterone suppressing medication pending the full appeal.

That final hearing with a panel of judges will likely take several months, but the next ruling from the single judge could come within days.

The South African is currently on track to defend her world title in September in Doha, Qatar.

She ultimately wants the Swiss Federal Tribunal to overturn a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling in May which upheld the IAAF’s rules applying to female middle-distance runners with “differences of sex development” (DSD).

In court, the IAAF described Semenya and others as “biologically male athletes with female gender identities.”

The track body says in a statement Tuesday it “continues

to believe in equal rights and opportunities for all women and girls in our sport today and in the future.”

Two Russian biathletes were banned for doping Tuesday based on computer data from a laboratory in Moscow.

The International Biathlon Union (IBU), meanwhile, handed four-year bans to Alexander Chernyshov and Alexander Pechyonkin because of “aggravating circumstances [participating in an organized doping scheme].”

The cases relied on information from the lab database, which held records of years of drug testing at a time when Russian officials routinely covered up cases.

MISSED CATCH Colorado Rockies shortstop Garrett Hampson cannot get to a ball hit for a single by San Francisco Giants’ Donovan Solano during the third inning of their Major League Baseball game in San Francisco on Tuesday. The Giants won, 4-2. AP

Breakdancing takes step closer to Olympic debut in Paris 2024

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AUSANNE, Switzerland—Breakdancing moved a step closer to the 2024 Olympics on Tuesday, and now organizers can look to book a street venue in Paris.

Called breaking in Olympic circles, its medal debut was last October at the Buenos Aires Youth Summer Games. The street dance competitions will have 16 athletes in each of the men’s and women’s medal events in Paris.

IOC members formally endorsed requests from Paris officials in February and their own executive board in March to provisionally add breakdancing to the program, pending a final decision in December 2020.

Paris wants to add four sports to its program, though the other three—skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing—will make Summer Games debuts in Tokyo next year.

“It’s important for us in our concept to put sports out of the stadiums and in the heart of the city,” said Tony Estanguet, the Paris 2024 president.

Estanguet said the search for a venue will only start on Wednesday now his fellow International Olympic Committee members have added their approval.

Breaking will likely also be attractive to 2028 Los Angeles Olympics organizers. The sports program for LA should be agreed in 2021, International Olympic Committee Sports Director Kit McConnell said.

Surfing will spread the Paris Olympics out of the capital, potentially in the southwest French city of Biarritz, with sailing races already set for Marseille.

“Paris 2024 will choose a venue offering natural waves, as France boasts a number of well-known surfing spots on its Atlantic coast and in its overseas territories,” the organizing committee said in a statement.

French Polynesia, the Caribbean and Indian Ocean could all be proposed, International Surfing Association President Fernando Aguerre noted.

“There’s a lot of options. A lot of them seem to be very, very positive,” Aguerre said, adding a decision was expected later this year.

All four sports must still prove themselves to Olympic observers, and could yet be removed from the Paris program ahead of final approval by the IOC board.

It is too late to add a replacement should any fall short, Estanguet said. AP

The IBU said that two other biathlon cases using the lab data are still ongoing. The athletes in those cases are Olympic gold medalists Evgeny Ustyugov and Svetlana Sleptsova.

Another Russian, Ekaterina Glazyrina, was banned for two years in 2018 because evidence of her drug use was covered up prior to the 2014 Olympics.

The IBU has prioritized clearing up older Russian cases as its own conduct comes under scrutiny. The IBU’s then-president and general secretary both stepped down last year after Austrian police raided the body’s headquarters as part of an investigation into alleged bribes to cover up Russian doping.

More doping cases could follow across multiple sports after the World Anti-Doping Agency gained access to more stored data and samples from the lab this year. AP

Spo

Business

C2 Thursday, June 27, 2019

RAPTORS PRESIDENT: KAWHI WILL BE BACK T

ORONTO—Still absorbing the magnitude of his team’s accomplishment, Raptors President Masai Ujiri is confident Kawhi Leonard and the rest of Toronto’s core will reunite next season in a bid for another title.

“We’re on to the next issue, which for us is coming back and being champions again,” Ujiri said on Tuesday in his first news conference since Toronto won its first title nearly two weeks ago. “We want to experience this moment here again and again and again.”

Retaining Leonard is the most pressing issue. The two-time finals Most Valuable Player is expected to opt out of the final year of his contract and become a free agent. Toronto can offer a five-year deal worth about $190 million—one year and some $50 million more than any other team.

“I know what we’ve built here,” Ujiri said. “I’m

confident, and you see how these things go.”

Ujiri stressed the main selling points of his pitch to Leonard: health, trust, success.

“I said we have to be ourselves, and we were ourselves for the whole year,” Ujiri said. “I think he saw that. I think we built a trust there.

“I believe winning a championship, him seeing who we are, working with his medical staff combined with our medical staff and getting him to where he wanted to be,” Ujiri added.

Injured for all but nine games in his final season with San Antonio, Leonard played 60 games this season and another 24 in the playoffs.

After averaging career bests of 26.6 points and 7.3 rebounds in the regular season, Leonard raised his averages to 30.5 and 9.1 in the playoffs.

Ujiri said he and Leonard have had multiple talks the past several days, discussions he called “positive.”

The Raptors will stay in touch and meet

formally once free agency begins on Sunday.

After that, Ujiri is not worried about how long Leonard takes to decide.

“I texted Kawhi last night, I talked to his uncle this morning,” Ujiri said. “For us, there’s that trust regardless of wherever it goes, and there’ll be constant communication.”

Center Marc Gasol also has a player option for next season, and guard Danny Green is a free agent.

“I think they know what the effect of Kawhi’s decision is, but we’re really approaching it like we want to bring everybody back on this team,” Ujiri added.

“That’s a priority for us.”

Less urgent is a potential extension for forward Pascal Siakam, a runaway winner of the NBA’s Most Improved Player award.

The parties plan to meet during the summer league.

“Pascal has gotten to a place where he’s definitely a priority for us and it’s definitely going to be a conversation that we’ll have,” Ujiri said.

Ujiri added little about his confrontation with a deputy following the Game Six clincher.

The deputy’s lawyer, David Mastagni, says his client is on medical leave with a concussion and jaw injury, and is considering a lawsuit.

Ujiri said his lawyers are updating him about the investigation.

“I am confident about who I am as a person, my character and as a human being,” Ujiri said. “For now, I’ll just respect their process there and wait for the next steps.”

Asked to address reports linking him to National Basketball Association (NBA) job offers, Ujiri stresses that his family loves Toronto.

“My kids are Canadians,” he said. “For me, the blessing is being wanted here and finding a place

RETAINING Kawhi Leonard is the most pressing issue for the Toronto management. AP

that makes you happy and finding challenges that really make you grow as a person.”

As for celebrating the NBA title with political leaders, Ujiri added that the team has yet to decide on a White House visit if invited.

He adds that seeing Canada’s prime minister

would be a “priority.”

Ujiri did have one regret on Tuesday—not bringing the Larry O’Brien Trophy with him. But minutes before the news conference ended, the golden trophy arrived and was placed on the table next to him. Ujiri carried it out as he left. AP

IOC DROPS AIBA

BERNAL: I WILL GO WITH ‘G’

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AUSANNE, Switzerland—The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has stripped Olympic status from troubled boxing body International Boxing Association (Aiba) and will now organize qualifying and final tournaments for the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Olympic inquiry panel Chairman Nenad Lalovic says Aiba created “very serious reputational, legal and financial risks” for the IOC and its American stakeholders.

The election of Aiba President Gafur Rakhimov, who is under United States federal sanctions for suspected links to eastern European organized crime, prodded the IOC last year to investigate boxing’s governance, debts and integrity of Olympic bouts.

International Olympic Committee members voted to endorse the executive board’s recommendation last month to suspend Aiba’s Olympic status. Lausannebased Aiba has said it is near bankruptcy with debts of about $17 million and no future income from Tokyo revenues.

Aiba has an emergency meeting scheduled for Thursday in Geneva. AP

TOUR de Suisse winner Egan Bernal vows to support Geraint Thomas in the Tour de France.

THE PACMAN YELL Manny Pacquiao gives out a yell while training

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GAN BERNAL’S victory at the Tour de Suisse has marked him out among the favorites for next month’s Tour de France but the Colombian has said that he is prepared to ride in the service of defending champion Geraint Thomas if the Welshman proves stronger than him.

“I don’t know. I don’t choose to say that I’m the favorite. In any case, I will go with G [Thomas]—he will be our leader,” Bernal said in a flash interview after sealing overall victory at the Tour de Suisse on Sunday. “I will try to help him. If he’s better than me, for sure I will help him. I don’t have any problems to help him; I’m just 22 years old so I think that I have a lot of Tours in front of me.”

Team Ineos will be without four-time Tour winner Chris Froome in July after he sustained a broken femur in a training crash on last week’s Critérium du Dauphiné, while Thomas’s own Tour preparation suffered a setback when he was forced to abandon the Tour de Suisse after crash in the finale of Stage 4.

Bernal, who placed 15th overall on his Tour debut in 2018, was initially slated to lead Ineos at the Giro d’Italia, but he was ruled out of the corsa rosa after breaking his collarbone in a training crash of his own a week before the race.

The Colombian showed few lingering effects of that setback at the Tour de Suisse, where he stepped seamlessly into the role of team leader following Thomas’s abandon.

“I think that things changed when Thomas crashed because he was our leader when we came here,” Bernal said. “So after his crash I became the leader and it changed a lot for me.”

Already winner of Paris-Nice in March, Bernal has enjoyed a fine 2019 campaign to date.

“I think I have to be more than happy with what I’ve done so far this year. I’ve won three WorldTour races,” Bernal said, though he was reluctant to entertain the idea that he might be above Thomas in the hierarchy. “Geraint Thomas is the defending champion of the Tour de France. I respect him a lot, and he’s in very good form, as well.” Cyclingnews

at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, California, where he did 10 rounds with two sparring partners. Pacquiao is training for his fight with Keith Thurman for the World Boxing Association super welterweight belt on July 20 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. PHOTO COURTESY OF WENDELL ALINEA

COACHES INFLUENCE HEALTH DECISIONS

MURRAY and his Brazilian partner Marcelo Melo bow to top-seeded Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah on Tuesday. AP

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Murray loses doubles match at Eastbourne E

ASTBOURNE, England—Andy Murray has lost in men’s doubles for the first time since returning from hip surgery in January.

Murray and his Brazilian partner Marcelo Melo were defeated, 6-2, 6-4, in the first round at Eastbourne by top-seeded Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah on Tuesday.

Murray, who struggled on serve, won the doubles title with Feliciano Lopez at the Queen’s Club on Sunday.

The 32-year-old Murray will partner PierreHugues Herbert in men’s doubles at Wimbledon.

Bianca Andreescu, meanwhile, won’t play at Wimbledon because she needs more time to recover from a shoulder injury.

In a Twitter post on Monday, Tennis Canada said “Unfortunately due to ongoing shoulder rehab and recovery, Bianca Andreescu has withdrawn from Wimbledon.”

The 19-year-old Andreescu is Canada’s highest-ranked player at No. 25.

Andreescu was seeded 22nd when she withdrew from the French Open ahead of her second-round match against Sofia Kenin because of the right shoulder problem.

She won the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells in March, becoming the first wild-card winner and second-youngest to claim the title in tournament history.

Andreescu started the year by reaching the final of the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, following upset wins over Caroline Wozniacki,

ORE than one-third of college athletic trainers said coaches influence the hiring and firing of their schools’ sports-medicine staffs, a finding that counters an NCAA-recommended protocol urging medical staff to make decisions about athlete health independent of coaches and administrators.

Among the 1,796 athletic trainers who answered a recent survey, more than 48 percent said their school was not following the NCAA-directed guidance. Nearly one in five respondents said a coach had played an athlete who had been deemed medically ineligible to participate.

The National Athletic Trainers’ Association sent survey questions to more than 9,200 athletic trainers who work in all divisions of NCAA, NAIA and two-year schools in an attempt to generate baseline data about how institutions are following NCAA Venus Williams and Hsieh Su-wei. She then raced from New Zealand to Melbourne to play qualifying for the Australian Open, and made the main draw of the season’s first major.

Wimbledon starts next Monday.

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, on the other hand, said she will decide later this week if she’s ready to play at the All England Club.

The 29-year-old Czech player injured her left forearm during training in Paris ahead of the

guidelines. About 775 of the 1,796 respondents said they worked in Division I. The crux of the guidelines call for coaches and administrators to be left out of the decision-making process when it comes to an athlete’s health.

But those who answered the survey painted a picture that shows those guidelines are far from being met—and portrayed coaches as still having an influence on who runs the programs’ medical staffs.

“When a coach comes to an institution and maybe gets rid of, fires, or replaces a sports medicine staff in place that’s doing quality work, is that right thing to do?” said Kansas Director of Sports Medicine Murphy Grant, who chaired the committee that conducted the survey. “The institution’s role is to take care of the student-athlete. We want to look at the influence of why those things occur.”

Nearly three in five of 537 athletic trainers who answered questions about whether they received pressure from nonmedical personnel about medical decisions said they did. Of those, 28.8 percent said they received pressure at least twice a month and 2.56 percent said they received pressure daily. AP French Open and has not played since. The injury prevented her from defending her title at the Birmingham Classic this week.

Kvitova wrote on Twitter that she was “Happy to tell you that my arm is improving and I just hit some balls on the beautiful grass for the first time.

The sixth-ranked Kvitova, who won the Wimbledon title in 2011 and 2014, reached the Australian Open final and won tournaments in Sydney and Stuttgart this year. AP

orts

sMirror

Elite field sees action in first Penong’s 5150

Thursday, June 27, 2019

MAKOTO IWASAKI cards a six-under 64 in the first round.

BERNARD TESTA

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ROS building up for bigger battles and triathletes toughening up for longer races mix it up for the first Penong’s 5150 Triathlon set on July 7 at the Waterfront Hotel in Davao City.

Aussies Mitch Robbins and Alex Polizzi, New Zealand’s Kieran McPherson and Czech Jakub Langhammer head the early roster of bidders in the men’s side of the centerpiece pro division of the event, all aiming for top honors and personal bests over the Olympic distance of 1.5-km swim-40-km bike-10-km run.

Multititled Dimity Lee Duke and Lisa Tyack, also from Down Under, Guam’s Manami Iijima, and Kiwi Laura Wood are tipped to dispute the women’s crown in the event organized by Sunrise Events Inc. (SEI).

Spicing up the event is the Sunrise Sprint, featuring a 750-meter swim-20-km bike-5-km run, with other titles also to be disputed in various age categories and relay competition.

Penong’s Barbecue Seafoods and Grill, Davao’s favorite barbecue house, is making its first foray in endurance racing with coowners Ma. Teresa Regis and Vanessa Mae Uy Santos, both avid triathletes, guaranteeing a successful staging of the event also aimed at promoting a healthy and active lifestyle among Filipinos and foreigners alike.

“This is an opportunity to show everyone that the company is also focused on promoting a healthy lifestyle. This is doing something for the good of everybody,” said Regis.

SEI founder Wilfred Uytengsu also said that the shorter distance event is designed to encourage people, particularly the youth, to embrace multisport training and racing.

“The distance is still challenging for the novice triathlete and we hope to encourage many individuals to start with this distance. As more and more people seek a healthier lifestyle, triathlon is well positioned to attract many new participants,” Uytengsu said.

The two short-distance races are ideal for newbies to the sport as well as those who have graduated from the IronKids, the youth version of the Ironman 70.3, and who want to continue in the sport.

JAPANESE SURPRISE LEADER IN ILOILO J

APAN’S Makoto Iwasaki bucked windy conditions and tricky greens and birdied two of the last five holes, dislodging Michael Bibat off the leaderboard with a solid six-under 64 as he emerged the surprise leader at the start of the rich International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Iloilo Golf Challenge in Iloilo on Wednesday.

Makoto came out strong following a missed-cut showing at Binitin and a oneround stint in Marapara, gunning down three straight birdies from the long range from No. 3 in one of the late flights, adding another on the ninth before capping his pair of 32s with birdies on Nos. 14 and 16.

“It was a perfect game,” said Makoto, himself a bit surprised over his performance on a par-70 course he hasn’t played before but mastered with superb iron game and putting.

“The greens are hard to read.

You have to be cautious here since a slight mistake could lead you to trouble,” said the 29-year-old campaigner from Chiba, who withdrew after shooting an 80 in the first round in Negros Occidental. His 64, however, fell two strokes off absentee and last year’s champion Jobim Carlos’s record card in the third round.

Bibat looked headed to grabbing the first day honors in the P3-million event put up by ICTSI as he overcame a bogey start and a shaky finish with a pair of birdie binges for a 65 until Makoto came in with that 64 in overcast skies.

The former Asian Games bronze medalist, who tied for second at Club Filipino de Cebu Invitational but struggled to finish joint 10th and 26th in Binitin and Marapara, actually fumbled with a bogey on No. 10 where he teed off. But he hit four straight birdies from No. 11, the last, a par-5, barely

missing an eagle putt from 6 feet.

He strung up three straight from No. 2 but bogeyed the par-4 sixth for a 34-31.

“Despite my flubbed eagle putt, I putted well all day. But the course is tough, you have to hit it on the right position to get a good shot at birdies,” said Bibat.

Aussie Fidel Concepcion and Thai Kammalas Namuangruk carded identical 66s, while American Lexus Keonin, Cebu leg champion Dutch Gudo van der Valk and Tim Stewart, also from Australia, matched Anthony Fernando’s 67 while another Japanese Kanata Nakagawa shot a 68 for joint ninth with Ira Alido and Jay Bayron, as the foreign bets took seven of the top 11 spots in one of their strongest starts in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. Juvic Pagunsan came out virtually cold while playing pressure-free after scoring back-to-back title romps in hometown Bacolod the last two weeks but remained a threat at 69 along with one-under-par scorers

Joenard Rates, Jhonnel Ababa, Art Arbole, Paul Echavez, Albin Engino, Rene Menor, JR Salahog, Colombia’s Mateo Gomez, Spain’s Marcos Pastor and Yudai Suzuki of Japan.

Suzuki spiked his 35-34 round with an eagle on the par-5 No. 4 and hit two birdies but made three bogeys although he hopes Makoto will sustain his big start unlike him who faltered in the last three rounds and ended up tied at 29th after surprising the elite field with a flawless lead-grabbing 64 in Negros.

Pagunsan seemed to have lacked the fire that spiked his recent victories, settling for pars in the first 10 holes from the back.

He even fell to one-over with a bogey on the second but regained the stroke on No. 4 and holed out with another birdie for a 35-34 as he joined 10 others at 12th in the event backed by Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, Champion, Summit Mineral Water, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, KZG, PLDT and MY Shokai Technology Inc.

Bolick named Player of the Week

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OBERT BOLICK showed he’s ready to take over the mantle at NorthPort following the shocking exit of top gunner Stanley Pringle.

Two games since the Batang Pier dealt Pringle to Barangay Ginebra for the trio of Kevin Ferrer, Sol Mercado and Jervy Cruz, the rookie guard out of San Beda jacked up his numbers in helping the team clinch a quarterfinals berth in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup. Bolick averaged 19.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 9.5 assists in an all-around effort to steer NorthPort to backto-back wins over Rain or Shine and Blackwater, and hike its record to a league-best 7-1 slate in a tie with TNT Katropa.

The impressive performance earned the 23-year-old native of Leyte his first PBA Press Corps (PBAPC)-Cignal Player of the Week for the period June 17-23.

Also getting a vote from the PBAPC was Bolick’s NorthPort

teammate Sean Anthony.

Others who contended for the weekly citation were Batang Pier Moala Tautuaa, Jayson Castro and Roger Pogoy of TNT Katropa, San Miguel Beer’s Alex Cabagnot, Paul Lee of Magnolia, Pringle, and Jericho Cruz of NLEX. In NorthPort’s first game without the 32-year-old Pringle, Bolick and Tautuaa carried the fight for the Batang Pier by rallying them from as much as a 25-point deficit to nip the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in overtime, 107-105.

Bolick hit 22 points and fired the pressure-pack three-pointer with 11 seconds left in regulation that sent the game into overtime.

Tautuaa finished with a career-high 34 points for NorthPort, which played with only an eighth-man rotation.

Three days after, Bolick was at it again, missing just a single rebound of completing a triple double in the team’s 127-99 rout of the Elite. He finished with 16 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists in the win that marked the first game of Mercado, Ferrer and Cruz with the team.

Bolick admitted he owed Pringle a lot for making him the player that he is with NorthPort right now.

BATANG Pier’s Robert Bolick is turning out to be a rookie sensation.

Cool Smashers beat Army belles

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REAMLINE slowed down trying to preserve its energy for the grueling Final Four but still subdued PacificTown Army, 16-25, 25-16, 25-22, 25-16, to bolster its bid for the top seeding in the Premier Volleyball League Season 3 Reinforced Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan on Wednesday.

Import Ale Blanco unleashed a 16-hit game, including 10 attack points, to power the Cool Smashers to their eighth straight victory after an opening-day setback to the PetroGazz Angels and join their tormentor at the helm heading to the final elims playdate on Saturday.

The Lady Troopers, who absorbed a shutout loss from the Angels the last time out, remained at No. 3 despite back-to-back setbacks, but their 4-5 won-lost card kept the

PARTICIPANTS of the San Carlos leg do the Cebuana Lhuillier pose at the San Carlos Tennis Courts.

fifth-running Motolite (3-6) in the semis race.

BanKo-Perlas was trying to tie PacificTown at third against winless BaliPure late Wednesday.

“We were a bit relaxed in the first set but in the next, it was different, especially with regard to our service,” said Blanco, who spiked her outing with four kill blocks to earn the game’s top honors.

The defending champions, who got back and stopped the Angels’ hot run at seven with a four-set romp last Saturday, struggled coming off that win, enabling the Lady Troopers to dominate the opening frame and coast to a big nine-point victory.

But the Cool Smashers quickly regrouped and reasserted their might over the Lady Troopers, whom they swept in the first round to force a 1-1 set count, then outlasted their rivals in a frenetic

endgame in the third to take command.

Looking good at 23-20, Creamline saw its lead cut down to one as PacificTown import Elena Lymareva-Flink came through with a kill and an ace.

But Creamline moved to matchpoint on a Flink miscue and Thai reinforcement Kuttika Kaewpin scored on a block as the Cool Smashers went up, 2-1.

The Cool Smashers sustained their charge in the fourth anchored on solid service, fluid offense and superb court coverage with Blanco taking charge of their defensive stand on the net.

They raced to a 20-13 bulge then Kaewpin combined with Jema Galanza to close out the match.

Creamline is tipped to stretch its win run further against BaliPure on Saturday with PetroGazz going up against Motolite and PacificTown Army and BanKo-Perlas disputing the coveted No. 3 spot.

Blaze Spikers clash with Cargo Movers in Superliga

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Age-group tennis unfurls in Makati

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HE Cebuana Lhuillier Age Group Tennis Tournament unwrapped the last leg of its summer series at the Makati Sports Club on Wednesday.

The leg is part of the yearlong series of tournaments sanctioned by Unified Tennis Philippines. Cebuana Lhuillier hosts numerous nationwide tournaments to support the grassroots development program of the UTP. The program aims to discover prodigies who will represent the country in international tournaments.

“I am happy with the number of participants who joined the summer tour of the Cebuana Lhuillier Age Group Tennis, truly this is a good avenue to scout fresh talents who will surely achieve great things in this sport,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, president and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier and also the UTP president.

The summer tour started in April and will end this month. A total of 1,060 participants signed up for the tour that visited 10 provinces, going as far as Kabacan, Cotabato.

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PAGCOR SUPPORTS PSC Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) Chairman Andrea Domingo (fourth from left) hands a

check worth P854 million to Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William Ramirez (third from left) for the sports agency’s infrastructure rehabilitation projects on Tuesday. Also in photo are (from left) Pagcor President and CEO Alfredo Lim, Director Reynaldo Concordia, Gabriel Claudio and PSC Executive Director Merly Ibay.

CLASH of bitter rivals is set as Petron and F2 Logistics lock horns in the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference on Thursday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Action starts at 7 p.m. with the Blaze Spikers and Cargo Movers—the top two clubs in the country—battling not just for the solo lead, but also for pride.

PLDT Home Fibr and Cignal, meanwhile, tangle in the 4:15 p.m. first game.

After a massive revamp in the off-season that netted them Filipino-American setter Alohi Robins-Hardy, May Luna and Norielle Ipac as well as the return of Jovelyn Gonzaga, the HD Spikers kicked off their bid on a sizzling note as they notched a 25-27, 25-22, 25-10, 25-21 win over struggling Sta. Lucia late Tuesday.

Robins-Hardy controlled the tempo, delivering 18 excellent sets on top of seven attacks, three aces and two aces, while national team mainstay Mylene Paat and skipper Rachel Anne Daquis chipped in 14 and 13 points, respectively, for the HD Spikers.

Still, all eyes will be on the battle between Petron and F2 Logistics.

With Kalei Mau and Ara Galang at the attack zone, the Cargo Movers started the conference

with three consecutive wins, boosting their morale against the Blaze Spikers, who blew hot and cold before escaping with a nail-biting 22-25, 16-25, 2516, 25-17, 15-10 win over Foton also last Tuesday.

Captain Frances Molina spearheaded the come-from-behind victory with 15 attacks, four aces and a block for 20 points, while Sisi Rondina chipped in 14 markers off the bench for the Blaze Spikers, who also drew impressive game from middle blockers Remy Palma and Mika Reyes.

Palma had 14 hits while Reyes tallied 12.

“Honestly, we’re sad with our performance in the first two sets. We failed to show our real game,” said Petron Coach Shaq de los Santos, looking forward to their titanic battle with the squad that they have been facing in the finals for the past three years.

“But we will be carrying this momentum when we face F2 Logistics on Thursday.”

But winning over the Cargo Movers won’t be easy as Mau, the 6-foot-2 former Arizona star, has been playing beautiful music with the core of Galang, Aby Maraño, Majoy Baron, Kianna Dy, Michelle Cobb and Dawn Macandili.

“She’s the missing piece to the team because we didn’t have a go-to guy like her for the past conference,” F2 Logistics coach Ramil de Jesus said.

Sports BusinessMirror

By Rob Harris

The Associated Press

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ENNES, France—Tears were still flowing from Saki Kumagai’s eyes more than 30 minutes later.

With victorious Dutch rivals passing her on the way out of the stadium, Japan’s captain seemed to find solace in speaking about the penalty long after it cost her team a place in the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup. With Tuesday night’s game entering the 90th minute locked at 1-1, Kumagai’s outstretched left arm blocked the shot Vivianne Miedema had aimed into the right side of the net.

“It had my hand for sure,” Kumagai said. “It’s difficult to accept but it’s also sad. I know that is football.”

Referee Melissa Borjas pointed to the penalty spot and Lieke Martens netted her second goal of the game in the 90th minute to seal a 2-1 victory that sent the Netherlands into the quarterfinals for the first time.

“We have made history,” Martens said. “I’m not usually taking the penalties but I felt really good this game. I asked Sherida Spitse if I could take it and she gave it directly to me and I felt quite relaxed about it.”

The reigning European champions will need to maintain that composure as they prepare for a meeting with Italy on Saturday after going one stage further than their Women’s World Cup debut four years ago.

“We were standing in the circle after the match and we were so happy, yelling at each other,” Netherlands Coach Sarina Wiegman said. “We were saying, ‘Let’s continue writing history.’”

It is journey’s end for Japan, which won the 2011 tournament and was the runner-up four years later.

The strength of the second-half display counted for nothing.

As befitting a meeting of the Asian and European champions, the game produced some of the slickest action of the World Cup. A backheel flick set up Martens to send the Dutch in front in the 17th minute and Yui Hasegawa equalized in the 43rd to complete a slick passing move.

But the post, crossbar and goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal thwarted Japan’s pursuit of a winning goal.

“I think we lacked the clinical edge,” Japan Coach Asako Takakura said. “We have to accept the result, we’re defeated, we’re very disappointed and for all the players, I feel very sorry for them

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| Thursday, June 27, 2019 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

EUROPEAN DOMINATION THE Dutch, the reigning European champions, need to maintain their composure as they prepare for a meeting with Italy on Saturday after going one stage further than their Women’s World Cup debut four years ago. AP

and frustrated.”

With the last Asian team eliminated, the Women’s World Cup will have a record seven European teams in the quarterfinals. Norway and England meet in Le Havre on Thursday and France takes on the United States the following night. After the Netherlands plays Italy on Saturday, Germany and Sweden will meet.

“It’s really tough to be here,” Netherlands forward Miedema said.

“Sometimes it kind of feels like a Euros.”

That is a title already won by this team, thanks to Miedema’s goals in the final two years ago on home soil.

The fans won’t have far to travel for the World Cup quarterfinal, with Valenciennes around two hours’ drive from the Netherlands.

It’s on: US-France World Cup clash

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ARIS—It wasn’t just the fans who were looking forward to a quarterfinal clash between France and the defending champion United States at the Women’s World Cup. Megan Rapinoe clearly was, too.

“I hope it’s huge and crazy. That’s what it should be,” Rapinoe said just after the match was set. “This is the best game, this is what everybody wanted. I think we wanted it, seems like they’re up for it, you guys are, of course, are up for it, and all the fans.”

While the players said the focus for the United States was always on one game at a time, Rapinoe voiced the underlying truth about the match in Paris on Friday: It was circled on everyone’s World Cup calendar since December’s draw.

“It’s going to be totally awesome.

This is what everybody wants. And these are the biggest games that you kind of dream about as a kid,” Rapinoe said.

The United States advanced with a physically challenging win over Spain in the round of 16, while France scored in extra time to get past resilient Brazil.

The top-ranked US team breezed through its group stage at the World Cup, pouncing on Thailand 13-0 before more balanced victories over Chile and rival Sweden. But Spain posed a challenge to the three-time

COLOMBIA’S national team gather during a training session in São Paulo, Brazil, on Tuesday. Colombia will face Chile on Saturday in the quarterfinals for the Copa America. AP

champions, relentlessly targeting Alex Morgan and using brawn to counter the Americans’ superior speed.

Rapinoe scored on a pair of penalty kicks for the 2-1 victory in Reims on Monday night, although the game-winner in the 75th minute was the result of what many thought was at best minimal contact between Spain’s Virginia Torrecilla and Rose Lavelle. The foul was confirmed after video review.

Lavelle insisted afterward: “I didn’t flop.”

Players said the difficult match was crucial to the team’s preparation going into the quarterfinal against the fourth-

It will be another chance for the orange-clad fans who danced and sang their way in a convoy to the stadium on Tuesday to stamp their mark on this tournament.

They were certainly given a game to savor, and an audacious opening goal.

Martens flicked in the opener after evading her marker to meet a corner and send the ball through the legs of Yuika Sugasawa into the net.

Sugasawa had a quick chance to tie, only to hit the post. But Japan did equalize by completing an intricate move.

Hina Sugita squared across the penalty area to Sugasawa, who passed back to Mana Iwabuchi on the edge of the penalty area. After holding off Jackie Groenen on the ranked French, the first time the US has faced the host in a World Cup. The Americans could also face No. 3 England if they go through to the semifinals.

“I think this game was extremely important to us, looking forward to France,” Morgan said. “It was a very challenging game and it showed a little bit of what we might see in France, so this was an important stepping stone for us looking forward.”

France also got a tough test out of the way.

Les Bleues finished atop their group with three wins before surviving their knockout opener. Captain Amandine Henry redirected Amel Majri’s free kick for a tiebreaking goal in the 107th

turn, Iwabuchi slipped the ball through to Hasegawa, who was free to delicately dink a shot over Van Veenendaal into the corner of the net.

It was some way to make the most of a first shot on target for a team that failed to score in two of its three group stage games.

But parity nearly didn’t last long.

Miedema received the ball from Shanice van de Sanden but with only Ayaka Yamashita to beat struck straight at the Japan goalkeeper.

Van Veenendaal came to the rescue of the Dutch in the second half by denying Emi Nakajima as Japan chased the winner.

“Japan is a world-class team and you saw that today,” Miedema said. “In the second half you can see they have loads of quality on the pitch.” minute of a 2-1 victory on Sunday night in Le Havre. Valérie Gauvin, whose first-half goal was disallowed in a video review, put France ahead early in the second but Thaisa tied the score 11 minutes later for No. 10 Brazil.

Afterward, French Coach Corinne Diacre was critical of her team, saying, “We weren’t at our best.”

“Obviously, I know my players inside out. I know that we weren’t 100 percent today and the objective is to hit that 100 percent for the next game,” Diacre said through a translator. “Will this happen? I don’t know. I don’t have a magic wand. I don’t have a crystal ball. I can’t see into the future. But it’s something that we’re working on.” AP

EMPTY SEATS? NO PROBLEM R

IO DE JANEIRO—Copa America organizers said on Tuesday that they believe the tournament in Brazil is running smoothly despite a large number of empty seats and criticism from players about the state of soccer fields.

Tournament executives said they expect attendances to rise to more than 30,000 fans a match in the knockout stage that begins on Thursday.

The Copa America opener between Brazil and Bolivia on June 14 had gate receipts of around $5.7 million, and Uruguay’s 1-0 win over Chile on Monday at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro had more than 58,000 fans.

But empty seats have marred the tournament, a problem evident on Monday night in Belo Horizonte when about 2,100 fans paid to watch Japan and Ecuador draw 1-1 though around 7,600 supporters watched the same game for free.

Agberto Guimaraes, director of operations for Copa America, says the organizing committee sees no trouble in some matches having more appeal than others.

“We are taking care of the whole, and on the whole we are on the positive side,” Guimaraes said.

Thiago Jannuzzi, general manager of the organizing committee, insisted the policy for setting ticket prices was correct.

“There is a balance between what one can charge and the costs of the event,” Jannuzzi said. “It was all successful. We are seeing important revenues to deal with our costs. Getting that right is important.”

Organizers said they are selling some tickets that cost as little as $15, the same price of popular seats for Brazilian championship matches.

Such tickets were hard to find or did not offer enough incentive to fans who largely skipped group stage matches like Paraguay versus Qatar, Bolivia versus Venezuela and Uruguay versus Ecuador.

Brazil, which hosted the 2014 World Cup with its stadiums almost always packed, is enduring an economic crisis since 2015 and has established its minimum wage at $256 for this year.

Jannuzzi said prices will not be reduced to avoid empty seats and that “we have prices that are very accessible.” AP

All powerful and ever-living God

D

EAR God, in Jesus You make the paschal mystery our joy. We delight in Your works and pray: Let us forever exult in You, oh God. Renew our vitality and help to live in hope this day. Rejoin families who are separated because of political conflict, war or disaster. Gladden the hearts of the elderly and those who live and work in nursing and care facilities. May God strengthen us to love tenderly, act justly and walk humbly in the light of Christ, now and always. Amen.

GIVE US THIS DAY, SHARED BY LUISA LACSON, HFL Word&Life Publications • teacherlouie1965@yahoo.com

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

❶

AN AtiAtihan-themed street dance

Life BusinessMirror

‘HOW’S YOUR DAY?’...

MY TAKE ON PARENTCHILD COMMUNICATION (PART I) D3

Thursday, June 27, 2019

D1

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THE Float Parade

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THE Street Dancing Competition

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THE Pandong Contest

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❷ BIRDS fly by as the sun rises in Frankfurt, Germany on June 24. Germany expects hot temperatures during the next days. AP

France put on hot weather alert as heatwave reaches Europe

BY SYLVIE CORBET The Associated Press

❹

❸

The Mardi Gras of the Philippines

T

BY BENJAMIN LAYUG

HE Pasayahan sa Lucena, a mammoth gathering of colors, outlandish costumes and symbolic floats held during the merry month of May, is a sea of frolicking humanity reminiscent of Mardi Gras in Rio de Janeiro (minus the women’s skimpy outfits) of Brazil and New Orleans (Louisiana, USA), but imbued with the Lucenahin’s local culture.

The festival had its beginnings on May 28, 1987.

It was conceptualized during the administration of the late human-rights lawyer and Lucena Officer in Charge Euclides “Ed” A. Abcede (a former congressional fellow at the United States Congress), and former Bureau of Internal Revenue local office chief Aguinaldo L. Miravalles to correct Lucena City’s image as a haven of the Communist New People’s Army, and to promote it as a great tourism and investment haven. Pasayahan is a Tagalog word for “merry-making.”

Initially started as a three-day celebration, the first festival ended on May 30, the feast of Saint Ferdinand, Lucena City’s patron saint, but as the years went by, it became a weeklong celebration usually held during the last week of May. The main highlight of the Pasayahan is the Grand Parade, or Mardi Gras, a parade of huge and colorful floats of the

participating companies and organizations, along with street dancing (and marching bands, a pandong (hat) completion, and the gay-friendly Carnival Queen competition.

The usual starting point of the parade is at Pacific Mall Lucena going to SM City Lucena or Perez Park.

The best float, best in street dance, and best in costume would be given some awards and cash prizes.

The parade, starting at 2 pm at Quezon National High School, went through M.L Tagarao Street, then turned right on Quezon Avenue and extended until Perez Park, then turned left on Merchan Street (Philippine Tong Ho Institute) and right to Gomez Street going toward SM City Lucena.

The Float Parade, the main event of the festival, featured the floats of the different companies, fast-food chains, shops, government agencies, nongovernment organizations, commercial outlets and service organizations. As always, the themes of the colorful floats were based on any of the three products of the city, all reflecting aspects of local culture—pansit chami (a native delicacy of egg noodles sautéed with soy sauce, pork and vegetables), coconut or tinapa, a smoked fish made from tunsoy (sardine) and galunggong (mackerel scad).

Each float, celebrating the products of the company and the entity involved, tried to outdo the others in vying for the approval of the judges.

Luxury and comfort awaits in Boracay EXPERIENCE all the great things and “savor the moment” at Belmont Hotel Boracay, opening on July 2019.

The new leisure offering provides sophisticated accommodation with a complete paradise experience that is perfectly situated at the Boracay Newcoast beach, a golden tropical island stretch of white powdery sand with pristine crystal-

clear waters.

Located at Newcoast Drive, Boracay Newcoast in Brgy. Yapak, Belmont Hotel Boracay (www. belmonthotelboracay.com) is a five-story hotel with three clusters that offers 245 deluxe twin rooms, 130 deluxe queen rooms, 49 premiere deluxe rooms, 12 executive suites and six specially-abled rooms with a total or 442 wellappointed rooms. The rooms

ranges 27 to 52 square meters mostly with balconies and stirring views of the ocean.

The rooms have a minimalist design and nature-inspired aesthetic, offering cozy and luxurious accommodation perfect for large groups and families. With this, Belmont Hotel Boracay provides guest an exceptional feeling that will allow them to relax, enjoy, rest and rejuvenate in their stay.

Each participating group (open to all organizations, companies, schools and barangays in Lucena City and each with a minimum of 50 members) in the lively street dancing competition performed to the music of the Pasayahan jingle, their execution and style each exhibiting the flamboyant and flashy carnival look.

Transgender women and gay men were afforded stellar participation in the Carnival Queen competition, an extravagant drag segment that showcased ostentatious and heavy costumes with elaborate headgear, capes, brightly colored feathers, gigantic flowers and masks. Drum majorettes and little drummer boys announced their arrival. The regal and beautiful “queens,” looking like the real thing, walked confidently along the streets, moving hips from side to side, in a way that attracted attention, before pausing before the jurors where they were introduced.

Notwithstanding the intense summer heat and heavy costumes, they all maintained their poise and smiled bravely.

The less spectacular but still colorful Pasayahan Pandong contest featured contingents wearing creative hats. The Pasayan also featured a photography contest; Longest Noodle Serving; a chami cooking and eating contest; a Singing Lolo and Lola contest; a talent contest; a Flores de Mayo; Battle of the Bands; and the Binibining Pasayahan. n

PARIS—The sunset had an orange glow. So did the extreme weather warning for Paris.

Meteorologists placed more than half of France, including around the capital, on alert for high temperatures Monday as a heatwave was expected to spread across continental Europe this week.

National weather agency Meteo France predicted the hot weather could produce temperatures of up to 40˚C (104˚F) across the country just as the summer tourist season shifts into high gear.

The French weather agency set the heat warning level at orange—the second-highest intensity on its four-level categorization system for potentially dangerous conditions requiring public “vigilance.”

In Paris, charity organizations patrolled the streets to provide homeless people with water, while local authorities organized air-conditioned public places where people could seek shelter from the heat.

French Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer, deciding it was too hot to study, ordered national exams taken by students heading to high school postponed from Thursday and Friday to next week.

International soccer federation Fédération Internationale de Football Association could face implementing heat precautions at the Women’s World Cup, which France is hosting. The precautions include holding cooling breaks during matches and postponing games if the heat is too intense.

Women’s World Cup matches are scheduled every day this week, except Wednesday and Sunday.

Luckily, most were set to be played at night.

France introduced a heat watch warning system after a long, deadly heatwave in August 2003. The highest temperatures in more than half a century eventually were estimated to have caused 15,000 heat-related deaths, many of them older people left in city apartments and retirement homes without air conditioning.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that vigilance was the watchword for the week. “As you know, at times like these, sick people, pregnant women, infants and elderly people are the most vulnerable. So we must be vigilant with them and have prevention measures in place in order to intervene as quickly as possible,” Macron said.

French Health Minister Agnes Buzyn said on Monday that “everything is ready” in retirement homes, hospitals and transportation systems.

“Yet, when people are fragile, even when everything is organized, there’s always a higher mortality rate,” she warned.

Meteorologists said hot winds from the Sahara Desert brought the scorching weather to Europe.

Similar heat is expected in Belgium, Switzerland and Germany. n Frank Jordans in Berlin contributed to the story.

D2

Thursday, June 27, 2019

Entertaining BusinessMirror

Throw a pork tenderloin on the grill tonight and chill out

BY AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN The Associated Press

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O turn a midweek dinner into something special, try cooking easy pork tenderloin on the grill.

To produce beautifully browned pork with a rich crust and tender, juicy meat, we started with a simple dry spice rub to add flavor; sugar aided browning while cumin and chipotle chile powder added savory smokiness.

The rub had some time to work its magic while we readied the grill.

Searing the meat first guaranteed the best crust and a rosy interior, and turning the tenderloins every two minutes delivered even color. Once the meat had a good crust, we moved it to the cooler side to finish roasting.

To add bright flavor and enhance the smoky char of the pork, we grilled wedges of pineapple and red onion to make a quick salsa while the meat rested. To ensure that the tenderloins don’t curl during cooking, remove the

silverskin from the meat. We strongly prefer natural pork in this recipe. If the pork is enhanced (injected with a salt solution), omit the salt in the first step.

GRILL-ROASTED PORK TENDERLOIN WITH GRILLED PINEAPPLE-RED ONION SALSA Servings: 4 Start to �inish: 50 minutes PORK: 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon chipotle chile powder 2 (12- to 16-ounce) pork tenderloins, trimmed SALSA: 1/2 pineapple, peeled, cored and cut lengthwise into 6 wedges 1 red onion, cut into 8 wedges through root end 4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil 1/2 cup minced fresh cilantro 1 serrano chile, stemmed, seeded and minced 2 tablespoons lime juice,

ADD SOME SPICE TO YOUR DELIVERY

plus extra for seasoning Salt For the pork: Combine salt, sugar, cumin and chile powder in small bowl.

Reserve 1/2 teaspoon spice mixture.

Rub remaining spice mixture evenly over surface of both tenderloins.

Refrigerate while preparing grill.

For a charcoal grill: Open bottom vent completely. Light large chimney starter filled with charcoal briquettes (6 quarts). When top coals are partially covered with ash, pour evenly over half of grill. Set cooking grate in place, cover and open lid vent completely.

Heat grill until hot, about five minutes.

For a gas grill: Turn all burners to high, cover, and heat grill until hot, about 15 minutes. Leave primary burner on high and turn off other burner(s).

Clean and oil cooking grate. Place tenderloins on hotter side of grill.

Cover and cook, turning tenderloins every two minutes, until well browned on all sides, about eight minutes.

z

For the salsa: Brush pineapple and onion with 1 teaspoon oil. Move tenderloins to cooler side of grill (6 to 8 inches from heat source) and place pineapple and onion on hotter side of grill.

Cover and cook until pineapple and onion are charred on both sides and softened, eight to 10 minutes, and until pork registers 140°F, 12 to 17 minutes, turning tenderloins every five minutes. As pineapple, onion, and tenderloins reach desired level of doneness, transfer pineapple and onion to plate and transfer tenderloins to carving board and let rest for 10 minutes.

While tenderloins rest, coarsely chop pineapple. Pulse pineapple, onion, cilantro, serrano, lime juice, reserved spice mixture, and remaining 1 tablespoon oil in food processor until mixture is coarsely chopped, 4 to 6 pulses. Transfer to bowl and season with salt and extra lime juice to taste.

Slice tenderloins into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Serve with salsa. n

Keeping it low for your enjoyment

THE wet months may have arrived—bringing a much needed reprieve from the blistering heat of summer—but that doesn’t mean your impromptu laidback fetes with girlfriends should do away with some spice.

Until month’s ends, Yellow Cab is offering a new deal that’s hard to resist: make your next delivery so worth it with 10 pieces of Sriracha Wings, yours for free with every minimum purchase of P1,000. Call up your squad and let your cravings take flight in this sweet and tangy feast, exclusive to ala carte delivery transactions within Metro Manila only until June 30.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

WHILE the price of goods continue to rise, enjoying something beefy, saucy and malinamnam to complete your day is still within your reach.

Fastfood giant Jollibee is keeping its Burger Steak at that here at the affordable price of P50 to whet appetites.

Waiting for you at the nearest Jollibee store is the delicious and appetizing combination of 100 percent beef patty and the mushroom gravy on a comforting cup of steamed white rice. The economical price tag means that treating yourself to a beefy-saucy meal whenever you want is always easy on the budget, whether you choose to enjoy it via dine-in, take-out, delivery, or drive-thru.

“When you’re on a budget and the craving for something delicious kicks in, there’s no better way to fill yourself up than with the Jollibee Burger Steak,” says Jollibee Marketing Director for Core Products Mari Aldecoa.

Today’s Horoscope

By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Ed Westwick, 31; Drake Bell, 32; Tobey Maguire, 43; J.J. Abrams, 52.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Set the stage for advancements.

Stay focused, think matters through and plan your actions with precision and detail. Make each move count, and be methodical when dealing with difficult situations. Learn from every experience, and make changes to ensure that you position yourself properly for similar situations. Look for alternative means and methods to make personal improvements. Your lucky numbers are 5, 9, 22, 27, 36, 42, 47.

a

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Take stock and replace what’s necessary. Take a critical look at your priorities and the way you have been living your life, and create adjustments that will point you in a healthy and vibrant direction. Make changes for the right reason. ★★★★★

b

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Weigh the pros and cons of any changes you want to make. Knowing ahead of time what you are up against will help you secure the best path forward.

Don’t lag once you are certain of the outcome. Use your time wisely. ★★★

c

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Make time to improve your surroundings, important relationships and personal attitude. Consider what’s getting you down or holding you back; take action to turn things in your favor. Personal physical alterations will lift your spirits. ★★★

d

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Emotions will begin to surface if you feel you haven’t been dealt with fairly or that you have missed out on something that you should have been a part of.

Assess whatever situation you face, and you will find an alternative route to take. ★★★

e

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Take your time.

Don’t feel pressured to act fast just because someone is pestering you. Doing things on your time and in your way will help you avoid letting temptation suck you into making a mistake. Don’t overreact. ★★★★★

f

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Put more pressure on those holding you back or causing you grief. Be blunt about what you want to see happen, and start to make changes that will keep you from falling behind. ★★

g

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Walk away from situations you cannot change. Put your time and effort into something that will help you make a difference or improve your life or personal, emotional and physical well-being. ★★

h

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Look beyond what’s right in front of you.

Recognizing your potential and how best to apply what you know to what needs to be done.

Display kindness and consideration, but don’t let the changes others make sidetrack you. ★★★★

i

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Set your sights on the improvements you want to enforce. A physical challenge will help you get into shape. The better you feel about the way you look, the more confidence you will have when dealing with others. ★★★

Philippine Culinary Heritage launched at Diamond Hotel

j

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Look at both sides of a situation before you make a decision.

You’ll have more than one option, and making sure you study where each will lead you will determine how successful you will be. Change is required. ★★★

DIAMOND Hotel Philippines recently launched “Philippine Culinary Heritage,” a Filipino Food Festival at the restaurant Corniche. The exquisite buffet, ongoing until June 30, has been made more spectacular by treasured heritage dishes prepared by featured Filipino Chef Christopher Carangian, culinary heritage advocate and the Punong Heneral of Culinary Generals of the Philippines.

Present during the opening ceremony were (from left) Vanessa Ledesma-Suatengco, general manager of Diamond Hotel Philippines; Robert Sewell, Lunchbox Theatrical Productions; Maria Lourdes Locsin, wife of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr.; Manila City Mayor-elect Francisco Domagoso (Isko Moreno); and Carangian.

Diamond Hotel Philippines is at Roxas Boulevard corner Dr. J. Quintos Street, Manila. More information is available at www.diamondhotel.com.

k

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Aim for greater stability. Timing will be important when dealing with situations that can change instantly. Keep an eye on what others are doing and compensate for any negative action you are confronted with when engaging others. ★★★

l

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Get your personal papers in order and look at investments that can help you achieve financial gains. Negotiate on your own behalf; you’ll get what you want. ★★ BIRTHDAY BABY: You are intense, particular and steadfast.

You are overprotective and demanding.

‘turning points’ BY JULES P. MARKEY The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Go ballistic?

4 Spunk 10 “Yadda, yadda, yadda”: Abbr.

13 Word before “gravy” or “grief” 15 Carriage named for an English county 16 MI6 : UK :: ___ : US 17 Extra effort in cleaning 19 MSNBC alternative 20 Like the Vikings 21 Itinerary word 22 Utah lily 23 Org. hidden in “flight safety” 24 Protesting at an NFL game 28 “Ohio” supergroup’s initials 29 Programmed to, as a thermostat 30 Best Picture of 2012 33 British brew 35 “Get ___!” (“Cool it!”)

38 Punch in the kisser 42 Longtime Dove rival 43 Positive aspect 44 Didn’t just pass 45 Jollity

48 “By Jove!”

50 Binge, or a hint to each starred answer’s body part and two letters above it 53 She-bear, in Seville 56 The Eternal City 57 Fort Worth sch.

58 Severity 60 Thurman of Gattaca 61 Marine, colloquially 64 Hidden Brain producer 65 Houston MLB team 66 Classic soda brand 67 Expression of gratitude in a text 68 Round vessels?

69 It may be deadly DOWN 1 Realtor, for one 2 Chocolate-caramel candies 3 King ___ (deadly snake) 4 Food additive letters 5 It borders the Atl. but not the Pac. 6 56-Across fountain 7 Amtrak vehicles 8 Gil Blas author

9 10 11 12 14 18 22 25 26 27 28 30 31 32 34 36 37 39 40 41 46 47 49 50

Seeing-___ dog Quirky Trace of color Lake transport Afro and dreads Dampens Klondike Gold Rush city Really uptight South Park kid Not much Drug once used in anesthesia Dog show org.

Genetic letters Brother of Chico, Groucho, Harpo and Zeppo Medium’s claim, briefly What a neat drink lacks Advanced deg.

Actress Sedgwick Like Death Valley It smells Forearm med. exam Greek goddess of sorcery “I’m mad, matey!”

Weightlifter’s sound

51 52 53 54 55 59 61 62 63

Zing ___-Grain Decorative moldings 2014 Winter Olympics site Alan of 30-Across Road trip stop ___ Cruces, New Mexico “Dear” Road curve shape

Solution to yesterday’s puzzle:

Parentlife BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

France may let lesbian couples use in-vitro fertilization PARIS—The French government is drafting legislation to give single women and lesbian couples access to in-vitro fertilization and related procedures in France instead of having to seek it abroad.

French law currently restricts assisted reproduction to infertile heterosexual couples.

French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche reported details of the government’s pending bill on Sunday. It would have the country’s health-care system cover the cost of assisted reproduction for all women under 43.

The bill would allow children once they reach age 18 to learn the identity of a sperm or egg donor, if the donor agrees.

The government has not decided whether to have the procedures legally recorded or to require parents to tell children they were born through reproductive technology.

The bill doesn’t cover surrogacy arrangements, which are banned in France. AP

New cleansing bar for toddlers A FEW years after launching their Cetaphil Baby line of products, Cetaphil (www.cetaphil.com.ph) is extending their range to include toddlers with the recent launch of the new Cetaphil Baby Gentle Cleansing Bar. The whimsical playroom-themed venue at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel served as a fun haven for toddlers as the moms joined the program hosted

by Patty Laurel-Filart.

Renowned dermatologist and blooming momto-be Dr. Mara Padilla Evangelista-Huber shared her expertise, discussing pediatric skincare and sharing how to give the healthy start that toddler skin deserves.

Celebrity moms Mariel Padilla and Andi Manzano-Reyes also shared the challenges of raising toddlers, as the audience fawned at the adorable Isabella Padilla and Olivia Reyes in attendance.

Both babies use Cetaphil Baby products in their bath time regimen, and the new Cetaphil Baby Gentle Cleansing Bar lets them enjoy the same gentle cleansing in a bath bar format for toddlers.

“Cetaphil Baby Gentle Cleansing Bar is our way of growing with the babies who started with our signature brand of gentle cleansing,” says Abe Mationg, brand manager of Cetaphil Baby.

“We want to give every toddler the right foundation for a healthy skin to ensure that it is protected, now and in the future.”

Thursday, June 27, 2019

‘How’s your day?’...

My take on parent-child communication (Part I) MOMMY NO LIMITS

MAYE YAO CO SAY

mommynolimits@gmail.com

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HEN I was growing up, I liked observing parent-child relationships of people around me. I would see the irony of friends who had the strictest parents ending up first to form those forbidden relationships. I had a friend who as early as Grade 5 rebelled tremendously against his family. I also got a preview from friends who were lucky to experience unconditional love from their families at their lowest times.

When I was in my late teens, I remember hearing one of my aunts expressing her surprise that we turned out well despite our parents’ marital issues, not to mention their thoroughly busy schedules. For me, it was largely because of communication. My nanny was there to ask me about my day as early as when I was in kindergarten. When I was teased by a boy, she would listen to the details and then advise me to be tough. When I was nervous for a test, she would encourage me with a prize if I get a good grade. When I came out from class and got a star, she would push me to do better the next day and get even more stars.

I felt the key was that I never felt any fear or shame in relating any part of my day.

More than that, my grand relatives were great in explaining our parents’ situation. When we heard screaming, they would hug and comfort us. When our parents were not there for birthdays or any awarding, they would give this a positive spin and

tell us our parents were working very hard for our future and so we should also do our part in school.

Our parents would spend more time with us on Sundays and vacations. Those pockets of time were filled with critical conversations and stories to guide us for future situations.

When I became a parent, I had fears on how to effectively relate with my child. I was unsure on how to balance being a friend and a disciplinarian.

Like many parents, I dreaded the scenario where my kids have come into their teen years and they get into substance abuse problems. But my biggest fear was having a child who would be one person in the house, and then be his or her true self in an external environment. I did plenty of research on this as early as when my daughter turned 2. One of the resources I found really helpful was the book How to Be the Parent You Always Wanted to Be by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish.

Below are some of the practical lessons I learned: 1. When children’s unhappy feelings are denied or dismissed, children often become more upset.

2. Even a logical solution from the parent doesn’t help.

3. It is good at times to just listen.

4. Sometimes an “oh” or “mmmm” lets them know you understand.

5. Sometimes it helps if you can name the feeling.

6. Most children appreciate it when you give them in fantasy what they can’t have in reality.

7. You can accept children’s feelings even when you need to stop or limit their actions.

Now that my kids are 13 and 9, I realize the tips in the book that I used the most were solving problems together with your kids. Whether it is about being afraid to try something new or being reprimanded in school, I would start by listening and acknowledging their feelings. Then I would invite them to search for the solutions. First listen to them, then go through the pros and cons with them, then work out a plan they know they can do. It was important for me from the

start to see that this is happening to my child and not to me. I empathize but I allow my child to “drive”. nnn WE celebrated Meagan’s 5th birthday with a trip to Enchanted Kingdom with our family.

There was a trampoline ride she saw and excitedly wanted to try. When it came for me to buy the tickets, she had a change of heart. We calmly found a seat nearby. I asked her why. She shrugged her shoulders.

I asked if she was afraid. She nodded. I asked her if she still wanted to try. She was quiet. I felt she wanted to but was overwhelmed by the height it went up to. Both of us were just there sitting down and watching people do the trampoline. I asked different questions and made different observations each time a person finished the ride. Do you imagine going up? I believe you are a brave girl. Didn’t the person look so happy after finishing the ride? I know you can do it.

After more than 30 minutes of back and forth with her, she finally decided to try the ride. After she did, she was jumping with joy as she came out of the ride. It was really helpful that my husband, my dad and our in-laws were very patient about the situation. I watched the video again this weekend and heard all the cheers she got from my dad, her nanny, my husband and my in-laws as she jumped higher and higher, with her smile getting wider and wider.

This was pivotal in my communication journey with Meagan because it showed her that she could be open about her wants and feelings to us. We did not go hard on her for changing her mind. We believed enough in her that she could do it. We were patient enough to wait till she was ready. And, more importantly, she knew that trying the trampoline was her decision to make. In the end, the elation and confidence she gained was priceless. This was similar to what happened with her first ballet recital.

Next week, let me share my own list of practical tips on communicating with kids. n

Easy ways to teach kids about money WITH so many online sites and television shows advertising toys, clothes and gadgets for children, today’s kids are tempted to buy all sorts of things at a very early age.

It is important that parents teach their children as early as possible how to manage money well.

One of the country’s leading insurance companies, AXA Philippines (www.axa.com.ph) offers some tips on how to teach children important financial lessons: n INTRODUCE THE CONCEPT OF MONEY. Helping children understand and respect money from an early age will help them manage it well when they become adults. Start by letting the child see and handle coins and small bills so they become familiar with money as part of everyday life. n START WITH A SAVINGS JAR. A piggy bank is a good idea, but a clear jar is even better. With a clear jar, the

children see their money growing.

Saving loose change or 10 percent of their allowances can make a big difference. Talk this through with them and stress the importance of savings. n LET THEM EARN. Summer jobs will help young people learn about business and hard work. The same goes for doing chores. If they get an allowance, call it a commission instead.

Allow kids to earn commissions for different household chores. n SHOW THAT THINGS COST MONEY. Do more than simply saying, “That toy car costs P300.” Let them get some cash from their jars to bring to the store and let them be the ones to hand the money to the cashier. This simple action will have more impact than a five-minute lecture on the value of money. n SET AN EXAMPLE. Children learn by example. The best way to teach them about saving money is to set a

healthy example for them that they will be much more likely to follow when they get older. Show children how prices differ and explain how

to make more intelligent choices.

Reiterate the message that every time they get money, they should save part of it to prepare for the future.

D3

FROM left: Meagan celebrating her 5th birthday at Enchanted Kingdom; the book How To Be The Parent You Always Wanted To Be

by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish; Meagan’s first ballet recital where it took us almost half a day to convince her to go on stage.

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Show BusinessMirror

Thursday, June 27, 2019

www.businessmirror.com.ph

The subversions and splendor of an Eddie Garcia REELING

TITO GENOVA VALIENTE

titovaliente@yahoo.com

CARDI B PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO NEW CHARGES IN STRIP CLUB BRAWL

BY VERENA DOBNIK The Associated Press NEW YORK—Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B was arraigned on Tuesday on new felony charges in connection with a fight last year at a New York City strip club.

“Not guilty, sir, honor,” said the rapper dressed in a dark blue and light pink pantsuit with her hair tinted blue as she pleaded in state court to two counts of attempted assault and various misdemeanor charges, including harassment, criminal solicitation, conspiracy and reckless endangerment.

The rap star, whose chart-topping hits include “I Like It” and “Bodak Yellow,” has showcased her fashion style at each of her court appearances. She didn’t speak to reporters as she entered and left the courthouse, but waved at a small crowd of fans who shouted her name and took video on their cell phones.

The 26-year-old Cardi B, whose real name is Belcalis Almanzar, and her entourage argued with a bartender at Angels Strip Club, police have said.

They say a fight broke out in which chairs, bottles and hookah pipes were thrown, causing minor injuries to the woman and another employee.

Cardi B had originally only been charged with misdemeanors. Prosecutors presented the case to a grand jury after she rejected a plea deal that would have given her a conditional discharge.

Two other defendants in the case who allegedly participated in the brawl also pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to similar charges.

The judge set September 9 as the next court date, but the rapper does not have to appear.

INNA MONTESCLAROS

PIANIST INNA MONTESCLAROS GIVES SOLO RECITAL FOR CHARITY

LONDON-BASED Filipina pianist, Inna Montesclaros will give a solo piano recital, Classics for a Cause, at the Francisco Santiago Hall, BDO Corporate Center, Makati Avenue corner H. V. de la Costa, on July 28 at 4pm. The concert is presented by the Lamdag Foundation for Women’s Project Inc. in cooperation with BDO. Sally C. Monteiro, president of the Davao Development Board Manila Chapter of the Lamdag Foundation, said the concert is a fund drive earmarked for the construction of its Dayao Center in Davao City. It will house the foundation’s activities for the total development of female students, young women professionals, housewives, and women helpers (kasambahay) not only in Davao but in nearby Southern Mindanao provinces, as well.

Montesclaros is a leading concert pianist in the country who is hailed for her expressive ability to communicate her passion for music through warm, articulate musical tones.

She will play Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Sonata No. 30 Op. 109;” George Enescu’s “Suite No.2 in D major;” Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s “Dumka in C minor, Op. 59” and Modest Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition.”

Montesclaros finished her Bachelor’s of Music in Piano Performance at the Royal College of Music (RCM) in London, with Ian Jones as her mentor. She pursued her Master of Arts degree in piano at the Royal Academy of Music (RAM) in London and Advanced Diploma in Piano, graduating with a First (Distinction) under the tutelage of the Ian Fountain.

For ticket inquiries, call Elsie at 0917-5236646 or Ditas at 0917-8627100. Tickets will also be available at the gate before concert time.

I

T is a disservice to talk about Eddie Garcia in terms of his chronological age. It is even worse to discuss his career by debating about how his physical life ended.

Long ago and even not long ago, there were already many things to talk about Eddie Garcia.

Eddie Garcia started as a villain in the 1940s and 1950s.

It was a difficult period to be a contravida when all around where character actors and natural scene-stealers like Johnny Monteiro, Van de Leon, Max Alvarado and many others.

Garcia was up there suave and debonaire. And yet with him around, Paraluman, Gloria Romero, Susan Roces and many other leading ladies playing women of the sweet and gentle kind were never safe enough.

On-screen, Garcia was the wife-batterer, the unwelcomed lover richer but evil; the perpetual enemy who was never happy with the bright fate of other men. He could be comic but, always, the mean streak took over because he just had to make the handsome man or the lovely girl unhappy or distressed.

In the 1950s, when films were lucid but rigid about the separation of good and evil, Eddie Garcia magnified the thin mustache above those lips naturally poised to smirk. He was no good, upon first impression. He was a bad love at first sight. He was the traydor. The audiences in those years hated his guts. And yet, they knew their more beloved heroes would never be heroes and would never be beloved without the character of Eddie Garcia setting into the motion the story of life. And what was this story but the simplistic myths about how men were either wrong or right from the start. There was no fall from grace in those films. The good man and the good woman never partook of the fallen nature of man. That fallen nature was left to Eddie Garcia to act out and articulate.

The villains of the period had to be identifiable like the stock characters of an opera buffa: one was either ugly or one wore a mustache. Eddie Garcia was not ugly but he had a mustache. It was a very thin mustache, fastidiously maintained. Its thinness hid the density of the character flaw being portrayed by the mustache-bearer. But it was not only the mustache that separated Eddie Garcia from the rest. There was the voice and the eternal inflection that never lost the umbilicus of angst and disdain from birth. That voice and the tone it affected accompanied us in our dreams, long after we had seen his character get his comeuppance, long after the bida rode into the sunset. We knew that in the next sunrise, Eddie Garcia will come back, in another form, more violations in the voice, more toxic in the tone.

It has been written by many that even if you put a hood or a box over the head of Eddie Garcia, you will always sense that smirk in his line, the contempt he throws at anyone exhibiting the de facto righteousness to his default revulsion about the order of things.

If Eddie Garcia merely perfected the antithesis to the lead narrator or to the Good Everyman, then we could have allowed him to go quietly into the night. But Eddie Garcia was a good actor and a keen director.

As a good actor, Eddie had played all kinds of roles. In one film in the 1970s, viewers were shocked to see this man who had raped and violated the loveliest of actresses on-screen fondle the bulging crotch of a young man in tight pants on-screen. (Fans and moral guardians must have quivered in silence.) The film was Tubog Sa Ginto, and the director was Lino Brocka. The smirk was still there but Eddie Garcia added a quivering mouth and eyes that seared through the

space. He was not gay for fun but gay for truth, although that truth remained in the closet. Till he was a gay revealed, the character also a liar to his wife. It was a difficult role because the film never promised that the father played by Garcia would soon see the light and become straight again.

Eddie Garcia would do more roles that transgressed social norms and mores. In film after film that pitted him against Fernando Poe Jr. he was the articulate officer—the chief or the general—who mouthed expletives as he berated or challenged the role played by Poe. Look again at their films. The meekness, chivalry and purity of heart of Poe and his characters had impact only because there was the Garcia character essayed with such acute harm. Garcia would be relentless in his tirades punctuated by phrases in English while Poe, in his trademark bend of the head, cowered in humility. The great thing about these confrontations is that, in the end, the meek persona of a Fernando Poe Jr. would triumph while that of Eddie Garcia would be punished.

Eddie Garcia did not remain in action and dramatic roles in the same way that he did not remain all throughout his life as an actor. He was also a respected director. In 1978, he directed Nora Aunor in the film Atsay. Aunor would win against a film directed by Lino Brocka who was noted as an actor’s director. Eddie Garcia did not have that reputation.

Eddie Garcia would later on develop Manoy. This was a reference to his many sex-comedy films where he played a lecherous man. Political correctness was not the hallmark of these films. Chauvinistic, the films poked fun at the sexualities of women. This Manoy or uncle would cross over into sex-action films. In these films, Eddie Garcia would utter obscenities or expletives but they would be in the Bicol language. In the movie house, whenever those cuss words were said, I would look around and find out who were laughing. They were Bicolanos or they knew the language, I told myself then.

The Manoy of Eddie Garcia did not appeal only to the Bicolanos. What I believe the other ethnic groups (the non-Manila or non-Tagalog) saw in Manoy was not so much

the Bicolano in Eddie Garcia but that sense of daring and chutzpah to mock the natives of the Imperial Center.

Eddie Garcia gave assurance to non-Tagalog speakers that it was okay to mouth words that were not understandable at the center. This was the revenge of the provinciano, and this was coming from someone who was nevertheless good with the tricks of city life.

This was Eddie Garcia’s invention and subversion: to talk in the language not understood by the dominant Tagalog. It was also a sense of locality. Garcia, in that locution, was using the roots of the expletives.

There is a word in Bicol language called oragon. In many places, Bicolanos consider it a “bad word.” In Juban or the entire Sorsogon, the word could connote sexual wantonness among women. In some other places, the word and its etymology have been recovered through research: the original reference was to power. When the Spanish came, the word was demonized so that local leaders would be stripped of their desire and claim for power. The woman who asserted her rights was also called oragon, with the term not anymore standing for power but for lust.

Eddie Garcia stood for everything oragon. He was a power unto himself. He stood also for contradiction in the Bicolanos—religious people and religious men, and yet given to profanities in their languages. Eddie Garcia was this young man from the town migrating into the city and not forgetting his language and his roots, dramatizing the identities through words that are only spoken for emphasis and drama. He was a man who laughed at himself, and was brave to tell his townmates his foolishness.

Now that Eddie Garcia has passed on, people want him to be national artist. With due respect to the honor that the award could bring to his name, I do not see the wisdom of the glory. In his films, Eddie Garcia has represented already the Filipino—the man who has fun at the expense of his sexuality, the counter-life who gives more life to heroes, the actor whose voice was a plot all by itself. Let the Pearly Gate open, for this must be the first time the angels shall welcome the Greatest Oragon from this world. n

QCinema announces lineup of documentaries for 2019 A 41-YEAR-OLD learning the ABCs, a woman living her life between Saudi Arabia and the Philippines, and an alien recounting the lives of Filipino men and women—these stories highlight the lineup of documentary films for this year’s DocQC category at the QCinema International Film Festival (QCinema).

For its seventh edition, QCinema will showcase three documentary films that will run from October 13 to 22.

These documentaries include For My Alien Friend by Jet Leyco, A is for Agustin by Grace Pimentel Simbulan, and Spring by the Sea by Aleia Garcia.

Jet Leyco’s For My Alien Friend is about stories of Filipino men and women, and other living things passing through similar objects, familiar spaces, nonlinear time, and dreams alike—all connected from the lens and experience of a stranger, an alien whose language is disconnected and demands an interaction from the viewer to reconnect these stories to find their own meaning.

A is for Agustin by Grace Pimentel Simbulan focuses on the life of 41-year-old Agustin Tiburcio, an illiterate indigenous man in a remote mountainous region in northern Philippines who wants to learn his ABCs. He gets fed up with being exploited by his employers and decides to go to school with the goal of making a better

GRACE PIMENTEL SIMBULAN, A is for Agustin

life for himself and his family.

Spring by the Sea is a film by Aleia Garcia, showing a woman alternating the Philippines and Saudi Arabia as her home and uses personal home videos and present footage to tell the story of her family.

The grantees for the documentary films have been

ALEIA GARCIA, Spring by the Sea

given a post-production grant of P500,000 each while retaining exclusive rights to their films.

Aside from DocQC, QCinema has also given grants to filmmakers for its QCShorts and Asian Next Wave competition category. More information is available at www.facebook.com/QCinemaPH.

Envoys&Expats

www.businessmirror.com.ph | Thursday, June 27, 2019 E1

Colombian envoy ‘enamorado’ with his country of assignment

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By Recto L. Mercene

@rectomercene

HE Philippines and Colombia share the same tropical latitude, and their citizens have about the same “Latin” temperament: passionate, warm, friendly, always smiling, and also lovers of good food.

Likewise, Ambassador Victor Hugo Echeverri Jaramillo said both republics share Spain’s legacy of Catholicism, and have an equal degree of fervor in celebrating all the other religious holidays.

Beyond those attributes, however, both Manila and Bogota do not register well across their respective residents’ minds. The envoy said, for instance, Filipinos tend to have the notion that Colombia is in Africa. In parallel, his compatriots think our country is in that same continent.

With whatever vague knowledge that we here in the Philippines have about his motherland, a quick association will generate the notoriety of Pablo Escobar and his nefarious trade as depicted in Netflix.

“But seldom mentioned is our great novelist, Gabriel García Márquez, who penned the classic, 100 Years of Solitude,” he rued.

This kind of ignorance saddens Señor Echeverri, who expects that, at least, people should have the basic knowledge that Colombia is a quality producer of coffee and oil, and that the latter represents more than 45 percent of their exports.

(Both our countries are producers of rice, fruits and flowers, sugar and its by-product rum—although he admitted, our Don Papa brand “is the best.”)

“Colombia has many things to offer, but we are not closing our eyes to our problems,” the diplomat admitted, then said the same problems that beset them are also mirror images of what ails the Philippines: rebellion, drug-related crimes, the call for land reform, as well as the huge divide that separates the rich and the poor, among many others.

The Republic of Colombia is a sovereign state largely situated in the

northwest of South America, which shares borders with Panama, Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru. It has a population of 45 million, which occupies 1.2 million square kilometers of territory. Part of the country’s eastern coastline is on the Atlantic side, while the western section faces the Pacific Ocean.

Always animated and with a penchant for addressing his guests with the term “dear,” the charming diplomat, who hails from the coffeeproducing city of Armenia in Western Colombia, yearns for his country to become a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec).

As an intergovernment forum of 21 Pacific Rim member-economies promoting free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region, Echeverri believes his country’s location in the globe makes them a natural partner.

The next Apec meeting would be in his country this November, and the Philippines will be there among other economies.

“We’ll see what happens for the very important business aspirations of Colombia,” confirmed the charismatic envoy.

Echeverri said “political cooperation” is what his country seeks for first. And if Colombia becomes a full-fledged member of Apec, it completes the participation of the foursided Pacific Alliance, which include Mexico, Chile and Peru.

“We share the same coastline.

It’s but natural that we partner with Apec, but not yet as of the moment.

Our application is still pending.”

The ambassador, who is also a doctor by virtue of his degree in Medicine, shared Colombia has the support of the Philippines to become part of Apec.

“It’s important [for the global community], because there’s the Pacific Alliance composed of four of the fastest-growing and most stable economies in Latin America.”

Expanding markets

AT the moment, there’s little economic activity going on between Colombia and the Philippines, something to the tune of $25 million per year in bilateral trade.

“But it could grow more,” Echeverri analyzed, as he revealed the International Container Terminal Services of the Razon family has invested in seaports in his country, with further plans for expansion.

He noted the strength in business-process outsourcing (BPO) of the Philippines, which is home to 851 registered companies.

The envoy said Amazon, the multinational technology company based in Seattle, Washington, D.C., would like to set up a BPO in our shores. “Amazon chose Colombia as core for business in Latin America.

The way they see it is that the Philippines would be exporting these kinds of services to [us].”

Since the Philippines is a member of the Asean, he knows that Filipinomade products can be exposed to the entire region. But if a local enterprise sets up one in Colombia with a local partner, its products could reach South America via the Pacific Alliance, penetrating the markets of the four member-countries.

“Sometimes your companies need to expand. They have Latin America to sell their products.”

“Nowadays,” the Colombian doctor-turned-diplomat added, “it’s not only about the exchange of goods; it’s about strategic partnerships. I think we’ll have very good potential, and we’re beginning to explore that.”

Bridging cultures

SPEAKING of bridging the divide between our peoples, Echeverri aims to close the gap through various means.

Colombia’s former ambassador to Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam, Echeverri wants to enliven the cultural exchanges of both countries. In fact, he has lined up several activities to highlight his country’s best in culture.

In the pipeline is the exhibition of a young muralist and the performance of an accomplished music conductor to commemorate the two centuries of independence of Colombia.

(This year marks his country’s victory in the Battle of Boyacá in 1819.

According to historical accounts, it is considered as the beginning of the independence of the northern region of South America from Spanish rule.)

“This event is meant also to celebrate our friendship with the Philippines,” the good envoy added, then revealed the Colombian composer would play some Filipino musical pieces.

Also in the works is the arrival of a Colombian chef “to showcase a bit about [our country’s] gastronomy.”

‘Hablando español’

IN terms of education, Echeverri disclosed that Colombia is offering scholarships to those willing to learn Spanish in Bogota, where they shoulder all the expenses of the seven-month program for East Asians, including the learners’ plane fares, trips for going around the country, as well as accommodations.

“The Spanish we speak is the purest form,” he proudly announced, as the original form they learned from colonial times was preserved “up to this moment.”

The envoy praised Filipino students for their ability to learn the language easily, surmising that there exists a “Spanish chip” embedded in their brains.

Continued on E2

Envoys& BusinessMirror

E2 Thursday, June 27, 2019

Colombian envoy ‘enamorado’ with his country of assignment Continued from E1

He pointed out the advantages of learning one of the “romantic languages,” despite Mandarin being spoken by more than a billion people, but is only understood in one part of the world.

“Spanish is spoken by half of the [population in the] United States, in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Spain, Equatorial Guinea in Africa, [and in] so many other places.”

By learning a lingua franca, such as Spanish, one gets to understand more about another culture, according to Echeverri.

“For your foreign affairs, it’s important because in the future, the Philippines might open an embassy in Bogota,” the diplomat hinted of the possibility.

Visa free to Bogota

IN the event of this happening, the highest representative of Colombia gave an idea of the travel to his native land. The way to get to Colombia, he described, is to initially fly from Manila to Turkey, a 13-hour trip with a stopover in Ankara. (No visa is needed for Filipinos transiting Ankara’s Esenboğa International Airport.)

From there, it’s another 14-hours aboard Turkish Airlines that would bring the passenger to Bogota’s El Dorado International Airport.

One incentive for those willing to endure the long journey is that there are no visa requirements for Filipinos to visit Bogota. Their immigration allows for a three-month stay.

To linger longer, a six-month stamp would be granted, including for those who want to study Spanish or invest in the country.

Because our neighboring countries like

Malaysia, Thailand, Japan and China require visas for his countrymen, Echeverri explained Manila is the ideal gateway for those in Colombia who wanted to explore Asia due to the waived visa prerequisite.

When in Luzon, he will recommend the unparalleled beauty of the islands of Coron in Palawan. Then, Colombians could access the rest of the country’s famed tourist spots, such as Boracay, Cebu and many more in Mindanao.

The ambassador added the country is doing so well promoting its tourism jewels with the successful and catchy tagline, “It’s more fun in the Philippines,” which he finds very apt.

“Really, it is more fun here!” he exclaimed.

Permanent presence in PHL

COLOMBIA had established diplomatic relations with the Philippines 60 years ago. It was during Echeverri’s watch that the South American nation was able to establish its embassy about a year ago at the pulsating environs of the Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig.

In just the brief time that he is in the country, the ambassador was up to that singular task that he was ordered to by his president, Iván Duque Márquez.

In March last year, the Colombian Embassy finally opened its doors after overcoming many obstacles, not the least was the financial side.

Previously, Colombia’s honorary consulate was under the helm of Stella Marquez Araneta, former titleholder of Miss International in the 1960s. She was instrumental in guiding Echeverri, as he went around Manila and eventually found the ideal location: at the 14th floor of the Inoza Tower at the BGC. Colombia’s move to have a permanent presence in the country was driven by the Philippine economy’s “6-percent sustained growth, which is very important [for a] stra-

AMBASSADOR Victor Hugo Echeverri (right) in his exclusive with the BusinessMirror’s Recto Mercene.

tegic partner in Southeast Asia,” he admitted.

The Latin American country’s former president, Juan Manuel Santos Calderón, recipient of the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize, came to our shores in one of the previous Apec summits and met his counterpart, Benigno Aquino III, with whom he broached the idea of an embassy.

“He [Aquino] said, ‘Yes, we should open [one] here in Manila,’” Echeverri retold. With the political will and accompanying budgetary efforts, the struggle paid off as the Colombians inaugurated their new Philippine office in the first quarter of 2017.

“My boss called and told me: ‘We are ready to open in Manila.’ I came here and started the process.”

In their local headquarters, Echeverri said Colombia would be able to craft the various programs they want implemented vis-à-vis its political and diplomatic relations with its host country.

Quite appropriate for the good envoy, whose surname, also being carried by many Filipinos (albeit in a slightly modified form), actually means “new house.”

oil, of which Colombia is the fourth-largest producer in the world. Sugar cane is converted into bioethanol for cars, while palm oil turned into biodiesel.

Colombian coffee is world-famous, which they export about 10 million sacks per year.

“It’s a very mild, delicious [kind of] coffee, like the one from Batangas,” he offered.

On the other hand, he was proud to say that Colombia also produces a million barrels of oil per day. This makes the country a “middle power” and a regional player in the Americas. Its diversified economy is the fourth-largest in Latin America, with macroeconomic stability and favorable long-term growth prospects.

Colombia’s road to progress is dictated by their four-year plans set for 2020, 2024 and 2028. Its current president is “on track with one of five courses of policy, for better equity of people.”

“If the [gap between the] rich and poor is bridged, then the [latter will have] money to fuel a better economy. Wealth would not only be in the hands of the few,” Echeverri observed.

Colombia’s challenges to progress

Capping his tenure

MEANWHILE, the gentleman from Colombia said that, similar to the Philippines, his government is addressing multifarious problems.

He said part of the peace treaty that their authorities crafted was to enroll their guerrillas to help in the manual uprooting of the coca plants. “The eradication of the crops is still going on.”

Colombia’s top representative to the country shared that their government, like the Philippines, had called for the surrender of small firearms by rebels, “which should be the start to have peace prevail, and for businesses to flourish.”

Their government has encouraged the production of coffee, sugar cane and palm

HAVING been in the country for the last three years, and leaving a legacy as he achieved his mission of setting up their Philippine embassy, Echeverri is heading back to Colombia in August this year. He said he is still to be appraised as to who would replace him.

Yet, his remarkable experiences with the friendly inhabitants and the pristine beauty of the Philippines’s countryside could make him decide to stay in this country for good.

“I am very happy to stay here forever, probably will come back for my retirement.”

However, he will ensure that the order from his higher up, President Iván Duque, which is to focus on three main pillars of the

Philippine-Colombian relations: cooperation, disaster management and cooperation on security, is carried out.

He likes to see the Philippine National Police and its counterpart in Colombia to cooperate in many fronts because “we have a long tradition of fighting transnational crime and anti-kidnapping. We have to acquire new skills in [the latter].”

In the course of his travels to Visayas and Mindanao, Echeverri was able to see Boracay “before its cleanup.” “I want to go back, [because] we have had the same problems in our islands. I want to see [it] after the process.”

“Of course, El Nido is wonderful, with so many things to do. It is so beautiful. And, of course, Tagaytay, [although I have not been] to the North.”

He said his wife wanted to see Batanes, but erratic weather always gets in the way.

Echeverri was asked, “What about [our] food?”

Upon hearing this query, the ambassador became more enthusiastic and wanted to convey how he savored local fares: “During the first months [that] I was here, I gained 5 kilograms.”

“What is, or are, to blame?” we dared to quiz him some more. The Colombian diplomat singled out bulalo, sinigang and lechon as culprits for the extra weight. “We have roast pig in Colombia, but the way you prepare [it] here, is what makes it more delicious.”

When it comes to desserts, he became fond of maja blanca, which he instantly liked on his first try. However, on subsequent outings, to his dismay, waiters could only shake their heads and offer the ubiquitous halo-halo.

Perhaps on Echeverri’s extended stay upon his return, he will have the time to discover where that delicacy is readily served.

He need not rush. His second home awaits for his comeback.

PHL eyes opening embassy in Colombia

I

N November last year, the Philippine News Agency reported that the Philippine government has “expressed willingness” to open an embassy in Colombia, as the two countries have started to explore ways to strengthen their bilateral ties. Manila and Bogota held at the end of that month the fourth Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) meeting headed by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Enrique A. Manalo for the Philippines and Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Luz Stella Jara for Colombia.

During the meeting, the Philippines welcomed the opening of the embassy of

Colombia in Manila, as it “expressed its willingness to consider opening the embassy [in the Latin American country].”

The two republics are now seeking to improve cooperation in the areas of security, climate change, culture, tourism, as well as sports, and enhance their engagements by exchanging research and study opportunities through the Foreign Service Institute, among others.

Both parties reaffirmed the importance of the BCM to further expand and deepen bilateral ties between the two countries, as they reviewed the agreed action points, as well as explored new areas and forms

of cooperation.

The two sides are set to convene the fifth BCM in Colombia this year as a follow-up on the previous discussions.

Agreements on environment, disasterrisk reduction and management, as well as complementary visa waivers between Manila and Bogotá, are still pending.

On economic cooperation however, both already committed to look at harnessing trade and investment opportunities in sectors, such as information technology and business-process outsourcing, “orange” (or creative) economy, electrical products and creative industries. Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/PNA

&Expats

envoys.expats.bm@gmail.com | Thursday, June 27, 2019 E3

FILM FESTIVALS

‘Eigasai’ 2019: Captivating Japanese films take center stage

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HE Japan Foundation-Manila is pleased to announce the full lineup of films, guests and special talks for this year’s Japanese Film Festival (JFF), more popularly known as “Eigasai.”

In honor of the PhilippinesJapan friendship month, Eigasai’s 22nd edition will run from July 3 to August 25, with 17 full-feature films of diverse genres selected for more than 135 screenings across seven major cities nationwide.

Expect a variety of film genres: romance, comedy, action/adventure, horror, mystery, feature, historical dramas and all-time favorite anime films to complete this year’s lineup.

This year’s opening film fea-

tures Samurai Marathon, directed

by Bernard Rose, which is based on Akihiro Dobashi’s novel about the Ansei Tooashi, or what is known as Japan’s first marathon.

Bringing additional excitement to the opening week of this year’s JFF-Eigasai is a special performance by Keisho Ohno, a master player of shamisen, a threestringed Japanese traditional music instrument. Accredited when he was only 12 years old, Ohno later became the first “authorized

successor of authentic Chikuzanbushi,” shamisen player two years after. He has toured worldwide, with stops in the United States, Europe, Africa and Brazil.

One of his original music compositions, “Samurai,” is used as the theme song for the ekiden, or marathon relay race, held and broadcast nationwide in the New Year in Japan.

Together with the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), the Japan Foundation-Manila’s continued support toward independent filmmakers brings another Japanese independent film to Manila: Lying to Mom, winner of the Best Film Award at the 31st Tokyo International Film Festival’s Independent Japanese Cinema category. The film is a drama mixed with humor depicting a family attempting to recover from sorrow.

Director Katsumi Nojiri will be present at the Philippine premiere of Lying… on August 3 at the CCP

during the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, an allied festival of Eigasai since 2016.

Screening venues are scheduled in the following venues: Red Carpet Cinema, Edsa Shangri-La Plaza (July 3 to 14), Robinsons Place Tacloban (July 18 to 21), SM City Naga (July 18 to 21), SM City Bacolod (July 25 to 28), Abreeza Mall Davao (August 1 to 4), CCP (August 2 to 11), SM City Rosales (August 8 to 11), Cine Adarna, University of the Philippines-Film Institute (August 14 to 17), Ayala Center Cebu (August 15 to 18) and Gateway Cineplex in Cubao (August 22 to 25).

The JFF-Eigasai is open to the public and is free of charge, with the exception of films to be screened at Red Carpet Cinema, which will be P100 per screening. For detailed screening schedules and inquiries, visit the Japan Foundation-Manila web site: www.jfmo.org.ph or call at (+632) 811-6155 to 58.

3rd Hungarian film festival reaches Davao, Cebu

Spanish films to be featured in Iloilo

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NSTITUTO CERVANTES, the Embassy of Spain and the Film Development Council of the Philippines will present “Contemporáneos,” a film cycle featuring four contemporary Spanish films.

The screenings will take place at the FDCP Cinematheque Centre in Iloilo City from July 3 to 6, at 6 p.m.

The series consists of three drama films and a documentary from 2017.

It will open on July 3 with the drama No sé decir adiós by Lino Escalera. Main character Clara receives a call from her father, with whom she has not spoken for a long time. He is suffering from a terminal illness, which Clara refuses to accept. Against everyone’s advice, she takes her father to be treated, both of them escaping the reality which neither can accept.

On July 4 will be Júlia Ist by Elena Martín. The future had been very clear for Julia, until she joined the Erasmus program in Berlin where

PHL MOVIES SCREENED AT ITALIAN FOREIGN SERVICE CORPS EVENT

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HE Embassy of Hungary, in cooperation with the Film Development Council of the Philippines and SM Lanang Premier Cinemas, is proud to present the Davao edition of the third Hungarian Film Festival in the Philippines.

Already in its third year, the festival is expanding to Visayas and Mindanao as it presents the essence of Hungarian cinema to more Filipinos.

The embassy said it also aims to expand the scope of the festival “in time, not just in space:” While the Hungarian Film Festival (HUFF3)

will remain a weeklong event in Manila, the cities of Davao and Cebu will be treated to monthly screenings, which will run from June until November 2019.

Inaugurating the HUFF3, the Embassy of Hungary and its partners screened Kincsem: Bet on Revenge on June 19 in SM Lanang Premier Cinemas in Davao City. It is a historical adventure film loosely based on the exploits of Kincsem, a world-famous racing horse of unparalleled speed.

Set against the backdrop of 19thcentury political turmoil in Hungary, the film is tale of love, revenge and sportsmanship.

Other films lined up will include Brazilok (Brazils), an ethnic tale with humor and tears about a gypsy football team. Also in the selection is Genezis (Genesis), a dramatic depiction of sin, catharsis and rebirth. With strong biblical roots, the story is told via the journeys of very different individuals from completely separate sections of society, whose paths never cross but whose fates become intricately entwined as they twist through the shadow cast by a horrendous crime.

Moszkva tér (Moscow Square) is a period piece set in April 1989,

during the collapse of Communist regimes in Europe. Four friends spend their evenings hanging around the clock tower in Moscow Square, while all around them, the “old regime” is nearing its end.

Tales from the Lakeside is an animated feature film that will please younger audiences. Fully dubbed in English, the movie introduces a wonderful microcosm around a small lake, where inspiring creatures defend their quiet corner of the world.

All screenings are free of charge and subtitled in English. For more information, visit the Embassy of Hungary Facebook page.

she was completely alone. She realized that she did not know herself that well, nor did she know what she wanted to do with her life.

Then on July 5, the cycle will screen the documentary Saura(s) by Félix Viscarret. This documentary features filmmaker and writer Carlos Saura through his conversations with his seven children.

Finally, the film cycle will close on July 6 at 4 p.m. with the drama María (y los demás) (2016). Ever since her mother died, María has been taking care of her family. She is responsible yet controlling, and when her father falls in love with his nurse and announces his engagement to her, María feels as though her life is falling apart.

Admission to the screenings is free on a first-come, first-served basis. For further information, visit the Instituto Cervantes web site: http:// manila.cervantes.es and its Facebook page: InstitutoCervantesManila.

OME—The Philippines was the country of focus at the International Cine Festival of the Association of Spouses and Employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (ACDMAE) held at Cinema Tiziano in Rome, Italy, on June 7.

The Philippine Embassy in Rome and Sentro Rizal-Rome Chapter, in collaboration with the Film Development Council of the Philippines, screened the movie Ano ang Kulay ng mga Nakalimutang Pangarap? through the FDCP’s Philippine Embassies Assistance Program.

Philippine Ambassador to Italy Domingo P. Nolasco thanked the ACDMAE for the opportunity to participate in its International Cine Festival, and to promote the Philippines and its culture through cinema.

With more than 160,000 Filipinos residing and working in Italy, the ambassador underscored that the event was also an occasion to strengthen Philippine-Italian people-to-people ties.

“We hope that this film will let our Italian audience have a preview of the Filipino psyche and society in the context of familial relations,

the consequences of migration, and the Philippines’s advancing economy,” Nolasco said.

In her remarks, Cecilia A. Nolasco, ACDMAE member and spouse of the ambassador, shared that the film tackles the subjects of sacrifice, old age and the consequences of migration. She said that the film was a good showcase of the various aspects of Philippine society and culture, including Filipino values such as selflessness and loyalty.

ACDMAE started its International Cine Festival in 2017 to promote cultural exchanges with countries that have diplomatic representations in Rome. Countries that have already been featured by ACDMAE, in collaboration with their respective embassies, include Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, South Korea, Dominican Republic, Finland and Greece.

The participation in the International Cine Festival is one of the embassy’s activities in celebration of the 121st anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine independence, and in commemoration of the 100 years of Philippine cinema.

Envoys&Expats BusinessMirror

E4 Thursday, June 27, 2019

www.businessmirror.com.ph

EMBASSIES, EVENTS, ETC.

EU to explore biz prospects in Mindanao

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MBASSADORS Franz Jessen (European Union), József Bencze (Hungary), Saskia de Lang (Netherlands), Harald Fries (Sweden), Chargé d’affaires, a.i. Mihai Sion (Romania) and Special Envoy of the Philippines to the EU Avelino Cruz attended this year’s Davao Investment Conference on June 20 and 21 as they explored possible trade and business opportunities in the country’s southern regions.

EUROPEAN Union diplomats and officials at the Davao Investment Conference 2019 @EUINTHEPH TWITTER ACCOUNT

Prior to the event, Jessen stated, “Our visit is a reaffirmation of our commitment and willingness to identify possible investment ventures or trade partnerships be-

tween the EU and [key locations in] Southern Philippines.”

He said that the EU supports the government’s focus on rural and regional economic development, es-

pecially in areas such as Mindanao.

While in Davao, the European ambassadors and diplomats paid a courtesy call on Davao City Mayor

Sara Duterte and met with business executives from the Southern Mindanao Business Council led by Chairman Tony Peralta.

Jessen said there are very promising prospects between the EU and the Philippines’s business and trade relations which can be looked at:

“The EU continues to see the Philippines as a large, fast-growing market—although there is further room for the latter to intensify and to mobilize [our] traders and investors, in line with the size and potential of [this country’s] market.”

The ambassador hopes that in the immediate future, more European businesses will invest in the Philippines to help create more quality jobs for Filipinos. At the same time, Jessen will also urge local business executives and entrepreneurs to maximize the trade benefits of the GSP+ preferential scheme for Filipino exports to the bloc.

In terms of Philippine exports, Mindanao-based products—particularly in the agricultural sector—have been benefiting from the GSP+ over the last five years.

For 2018 alone, almost €2 billion worth of Philippine products, mostly agricultural-food items, were exported to the EU at zero tariff.

Japan marks 65th year of self-defense forces Panama, new maritime firm

open doors for Filipino seafarers

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AMBASSADOR Koji Haneda (left) delivers his speech before defense officials of Japan and the Philippines.

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MBASSADOR Koji Haneda and Japan’s Colonel Kazunobu Akutsu hosted a reception for the 65th anniversary of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) on June 20 at the former’s residence.

Distinguished guests, including Defense Undersecretary Reynaldo B. Mapagu, government officials from Japan and the Philippines, members of the diplomatic corps, as well as Japanese nationals joined the reception to celebrate the founding of the JSDF and further strengthen relations between the two countries.

In his welcome remarks, Haneda expressed confidence that the “golden age of strategic partnership between Japan and the Philippines”

will continue and further deepen in the new Japanese imperial era called “Reiwa,” or “beautiful harmony.”

Noting the dynamic relations between the two nations in the area of defense cooperation and exchanges, Haneda cited the September 2018 goodwill visit of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel JS Kaga in Subic Bay, where President Duterte went onboard and observed its ongoing humanitarian assistance and disaster-relief activity.

The ambassador also mentioned the participation of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force in “Kamandag ‘18” last October to strengthen its interoperability with Philippine forces in humanitarian aid and disaster relief.

Likewise, he spoke about the first turnover of UH-1H helicopter spare parts to the Philippine Air Force in March, and assured that further deliveries will continue.

At the policy level, Japan’s envoy cited last week’s politico-military, military-to-military and maritime dialogues in Tokyo, where senior officials of both countries discussed wide-ranging issues to further both countries’ security cooperation. These, he said, clearly indicate that the Japanese-Philippine security partnership has now reached a higher level.

During the event, defense-related Japanese companies set up exhibits of defense-equipment models, as well as distributed company and product brochures.

ILIPINO seafarers are often regarded as equipped, hardworking, sociable and generally fit for work beyond Philippine shores. As overseas workers, their remittances form a significant part of the country’s gross domestic product.

Being family oriented, most of them send a huge fraction of their monthly income to their loved ones.

Thus, calling them a “breed of modern heroes” is a fitting accolade for the sacrifices and unconditional love they give to family and flag.

When Worldwide Maritime Operations Company (WMOC) Documentation Services inaugurated its new office at Marc 2000 Tower in Malate Street, Manila, on June 15, it had the benefit of Filipino seafarers in mind.

VIPs and key stakeholders with key links to the services of the company attended the grand event, which celebrated its success and continuing journey toward uplifting the status of seafarers.

Ambassador Rolando Guevara Alvarado of Panama led the set of dignitaries in attendance, as he acknowledged Filipino seamen as “world-class workers” who are preferred by most global shipping employers.

Panama, a small nation of about 4 million, has the world’s largest fleet of ships registered under its flag, with Filipino seafarers making up around 60 percent of its work force.

WMOC Documentation Services President Rachelle Orquiza re-

WMOC President Rachelle Orquiza (from left), Ambassador of Panama Rolando Guevara Alvarado, Manila Mayor-elect Francisco Moreno Domagoso and Phoenix LPG Luzon Operations Head George Operario

vealed that Guevara Alvarado was instrumental in the establishment of WMOC. In operation since 2006, WMOC facilitates necessary documents like maritime licenses and endorsements for seafarers who join various flag states, including the Panama Maritime Authority and Marshall Islands.

“We’ve been assisting job-seeking Filipino seafarers, especially fresh graduates from maritime schools, acquire their deserved slots through proper documents and quick processing. We can assure them that they can actually go off to sea without hassles [and] delays, then get paid accordingly,” said Orquiza.

Aside from Panama and Marshall Islands, WMOC’s services cover the license and endorsement papers of

PHL Embassy in UK cites entry of Pinoy words into ‘Oxford Dictionary’

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ONDON—The Philippine Embassy hosted an event at the city’s recently inaugurated Sentro Rizal on June 14, which celebrated the uniqueness and creativity of “Philippine English.”

One of the largest and longest-running language research projects in the world, the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has included a large number of words and senses from emerging varieties of English from across the globe. Its third and current edition saw the addition of a number of words originating in the Philippines.

There are new “iterations” of existing English words like gimmick, meaning, “a night out with friends;” and viand, describing “a meat, seafood, or vegetable dish that accompanies rice in a typical Filipino meal.”

Loanwords have been adapted from Filipino, like bongga (extravagant, flamboyant; impressive, stylish); halo-halo (dessert made of mixed fruits, sweet beans, milk and shaved ice); and kilig (exhilaration or elation caused by an exciting or romantic experience); from Chinese, like pancit (“noodles”); from Spanish, like pan de sal (bread roll) and despedida (a going-away

party); and formations in English that are only used in the Philippines, like kikay kit (cosmetics case), comfort room (a toilet), OFW (overseas Filipino worker) and trapo (from “traditional politician,” one perceived as belonging to a conventional and corrupt ruling class).

These words and many more were discussed at the event, attended by Ambassador of the Philippines to the United Kingdom Antonio Lagdameo, who officially opened the event, as well as led the signing and turnover ceremony of the latest edition of the OED. John Simpson, former chief editor of

the dictionary, represented the OED and talked about Philippine vocabulary that has been covered by the dictionary’s earlier editions. World English Editor Dr. Danica Salazar discussed about more recent Philippine additions.

“Filipinos have enriched the English vocabulary since the language was first introduced to the country on a wide scale at the turn of the 19th century. Since then Filipinos have not only contributed new words, but have also expanded the meanings of existing ones,” Lagdameo said. “The embassy,

through Sentro Rizal-London, is proud to work with the OED in sharing Philippine English’s [evolution] over the years.”

“The OED is pleased to have this opportunity to collaborate with Sentro Rizal-London and present its work on Philippine English to a Filipino audience in [the UK capital city],” Salazar explained.

She further noted that the dictionary is committed to make space for words from the Philippines. By doing so, it recognizes its Filipino speakers’ contribution to the richness and diversity of English. DFA

Liberia and Malta.

Manila Mayor-elect Francisco Moreno Domagoso also graced the event, as he expressed his excitement for the opening of the WMOC office in Manila.

The former actor-turned-localgovernment executive shared his mandate to encourage more investors—foreign and local—to open up more businesses in the capital city of the Philippines.

Domagoso narrated that, in his younger years, he had always wanted to be a seaman and eventually become a ship captain. Now as incoming mayor, he likens himself as the captain of the ship, and the citizens of Manila as his crew members, as he said, “We are going [toward] a new horizon.” Leony R. Garcia

BusinessMirror

Health&Fitness June 27-July 3, 2019

PILATES

WWW.FREEPIK.COM | DESIGNED BY SENIVPETRO

TIPS FOR BETTER POSTURE

SM MEGAMALL IS P.R.A. SHOPPING CENTER OF THE YEAR—LARGE CATEGORY

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M Megamall was named the Shopping Center of the Year–Large Category during the recent 21st Outstanding Filipino Retailers and Shopping Centers of the Year Awards at the Rizal Ballroom in Makati Shangri-La, Manila.

The 474,000-square-meter shopping center was honored in the large category. It is home to over 1,000 stores and has an average foot traffic of 500,00 during weekend. True to its promise of Endless Shopping, Endless Discoveries, SM Megamall offers a complete and comprehensive tenant mix.

Widely known to have spearheaded the malling phenomenon in the Philippines when it opened in 1991, SM Megamall is known to have revolutionized many exciting retail and leisure concepts. Earlier these included the Artwalk and Art Center’s gallery in the mall, which brought art closer to shoppers; the Mega Trade Hall; and an ice skating rink that highlighted the Filipino’s fire on ice by winning many world championships.

In 2008, the Mega Atrium was built, bridging the gap between Mega A and Mega B with exciting restaurants and retail concepts, as well as the Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord.

SM Megamall Building C, which was built in 2011, has the biggest Department of Foreign Affairs satellite branch for passport applications and renewals, BPO locator Convergys and six levels of parking to serve customers.

More recently, it has become a premier shopping, dining and lifestyle destination with the opening of the Mega Fashion Hall, its gamechanging new wing, in 2014. Known

SM Megamall was recently awarded as the Shopping Center of the Year—Large Category by the Philippine Retailers Association during the 21st Outstanding Philippine Retailers and Shopping Centers Awards held recently at the Rizal Ballroom in Makati Shangri-La Hotel, Manila. Known for spearheading the malling phenomenon in the Philippines when it opened in 1991, SM Megamall, today at 474,000 square meters, has since become a premier shopping, leisure and lifestyle destination with Endless Shopping, Endless Possibilities. In photo, SM Chief Operating Officer Steven Tan (third from the left) receives the award from PRA Platinum Awardee and Central Books President Ma. Alegria Limjoco (left), PRA Vice Chairman Mars Chua (second from left) and DTI Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya (right). Also shown in photo are SM SVP for Marketing Jon Jon San Agustin (second from right) and SM AVP for Operations Ian Mathay.

as the home of global flagships, it is the space for big-format high-street fashion and lifestyle brands, as well as exciting international dining concepts, including Michelin-star red restaurants.

The Mega Fashion Hall is also the base of upgraded leisure and entertainment offerings such as the Olympic-sized Ice Skating Rink, a fully computerized 14-lane bowling alley and an IMAX and director’s club cinema.

SM Megamall continues to grow with the opening of the Mega Tower in 2020, which will include offices, six levels of parking, retail shops, an Edsa driveway and digital art.

As a responsible member of the community, SM Megamall has spearheaded many corporate social responsibility projects, such as handicap-friendly facilities, and environmental endeavors like a sewage-treatment plant and the Trash for Crash recycling programs.

The annual search for the Outstanding Filipino Retailers seeks to recognize Filipino retailers who have

epitomized the model of a successful retailer in terms of growth and good ethical business practices.

Philippine Retailer’s Association (PRA) introduced the Shopping Cen-

ters of the Year category in 2002, which recognize the Philippines’ world-class shopping centers’s part in promoting the growth and development of the retail industry.

Health&Fitness

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2 Health&Fitness June 27-July 3, 2019

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however, you can expect to see strength gains in your arms and legs. Positions and movements used to activate core rely on extremities to control and/or apply loads to the core and, likewise, will benefit from Pilates.

By Kara Mayer Robinson

How it works

4 Health&Fitness June 27-July 3, 2019

Type

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PULL out your gym mat and get ready to do a series of movements that will stabilize and strengthen your core.

The exercises are usually done in a specific order, one right after another. The movements have names, like “The 100,” “CrissCross,” the “Elephant,” and the "Swan."

The moves may look simple, but they take a lot of precision and control. It’s not like doing a bunch of crunches; there’s a strong emphasis on technique.

You can do Pilates on an exercise mat, either in a class or at home, using a DVD. Or you can go to a gym or studio that has special equipment, a class or a trainer who can supervise you.

Pilates classes typically take 45 minutes to an hour, but you can do fewer moves in less time.

You’ll get stronger, more sculpted muscles and gain flexibility.

You may also have better posture and a better sense of well-being.

Plan on doing this workout a few days a week, in addition to cardio, since Pilates isn’t aerobic.

Intensity level: Medium

IT’S demanding, but it’s not the kind of workout that always works

up a sweat. It’s all about concentration and breathing. But you’ll definitely feel it in your muscles during each exercise.

Areas It targets

PILATES’ main focus is on core,

n Flexibility: Yes. The exercises in a Pilates workout will boost your flexibility and joint mobility. n Aerobic: No. This is not a cardio workout. n Strength: Yes. This workout will make your muscles stronger. You’ll use your own body weight instead of weights. n Sport: No. n Low-Impact: Yes. You’ll engage your muscles in a strong but gentle way.

What else you should know

n Cost: You can do it at home for the cost of a Pilates DVD (about $15). Or you can go to a Pilates class. Expect to pay $50 or more for a private session or $10 to $30 for a group session.

n Good for beginners? Yes. You can start with basic exercises then try advanced moves as you get better. If you’re starting out, opt for a class or private lessons so an instructor can keep an eye on your form to help prevent an injury. n Outdoors: No. Expect to go to the gym or be in a room with a TV for this workout. n At home: Yes. Pull out your mat and press play on your DVD player for a convenient at-home workout. n Equipment required? Yes, you’ll need a mat. Some gyms have special machines for Pilates, called a Reformer. You can get a modified version for your home, but you probably don’t need it.

What Dr. Melinda Ratini says:

WWW.FREEPIK.COM

IF you are looking to strengthen your abdomen and pelvi, as well as maintain good posture, then Pilates is for you. It also has a strong mind/body connection, so you may like it if you enjoy yoga but need a more intense core workout.

Pilates is great for strengthening and toning with a focus on your core and for increasing your flexibility. Since it is not designed to be an aerobic activity, don’t forget your cardio!

Pilates involves precise moves and specific breathing techniques.

It’s not for you if you prefer a less structured program. It also won’t fit your needs if you are looking for an aerobic workout.

Pilates can be very demanding, so start slowly. Instructors do not have to be licensed, so it’s best to get recommendations before selecting one.

YOU can tailor Pilates to your individual needs, so it can be a great addition to your aerobic workout, even if you have health issues like heart disease, high blood pressure and cholesterol. Check with your doctor first.

If you have diabetes, you may need to make some adjustments in your diabetes treatment plan, since adding muscle mass helps your body make better use of glucose. Your doctor can tell you what changes you need to make. Tell your instructor that you have diabetes and particularly if you have any complications such as diabetic retinopathy. You may need to avoid certain Pilates moves.

If you have arthritis, a strength-training program such as Pilates is a very important part of your exercise program. Research shows that a combination of aerobic exercise and strength training can help curb symptoms, maintain balance, keep joints flex-

WWW.FREEPIK.COM

Is it good for me if I have a health condition?

ible, and help you get to and keep an ideal body weight.

If you have had a recent back or knee injury, put off Pilates until your doctor clears you. Pilates strengthens the thigh muscles (quadriceps), and this may help prevent arthritis and knee injuries.

It may also help prevent greater disability if you have arthritis.

Ask your doctor if Pilates would

be a good choice if you have chronic low back pain. It will help strengthen your weak core muscles that may be adding to your pain.

For best results, seek out a Pilates instructor who has, at least, several years of experience working with people with low back pain.

If you are pregnant, check with your doctor. She will probably let you continue Pilates if you are already

doing it, as long as your pregnancy is going well. There may be some changes needed as your belly grows.

For example, after your first trimester you shouldn’t exercise while lying flat on your back because this reduces blood flow to your baby. There are also special Pilates programs for pregnant women that you can try.

Source: www.webmd.com

Health&Fitness June 27-July 3, 2019 5

FITNESS RULES

By Greggy H. Romualdez

Tips for better posture A T one point in our lives, we’ve been admonished by an elder to sit or stand up straight and avoid slouching. As it turns out, here happens to be wisdom in these words. Proper posture after-all, has been proven by science to have positive benefits on our health and well-being.

So what is having the right posture? First off, this entails distributing the force of gravity evenly throughout your body so no one part is over-burdened. If we were to visualize proper posture, this means that whether we are sitting or standing, the spine would be in a neutral position, with our chest out and our shoulders upright as if being held up by an imaginary string from above.

No slouching or rounding of the back. Visually, proper posture makes you look more confident, taller or even slimmer.

Our muscles and joints are also in proper alignment, making them work more efficiently and lessening the chances of aches, pains and injury. Correct posture also helps us breathe better, increases circulation and digestion since our internal organs are in their natural position, and are thus, able to function more effectively. Last, it keeps our spine healthy since we do not put undue stress on muscles and ligaments surrounding it.

Here are some simple tips to improve our posture:

Stand tall—When walking or standing, always be mindful of your posture. Cue yourself to stand tall with your back straight, chest out, shoulders held up and your stomach tucked in. Make like your head stretches toward the sky. You look taller, slimmer and so much more confident.

Strengthen your abs—Strong abdominal muscles help support your spine. When fat builds up around our belly, we

6 Health&Fitness June 27-July 3, 2019

will need strong muscles to support the spine. Doing front and side planks will help strengthen our core. Begin with 30 second front planks, add another 30 seconds for each side (left and right).

Do three sets for each exercise and try working your way up to one minute per side.

Don’t be a slouch at your desk—Sitting long

hours at a desk may give us the tendency to slouch while we work.

This may seem comfortable, but it’s a definite no-no. Be mindful of this and sit up straight at your workstation. Place a rolled up towel between the middle of your back and your chair, with your feet flat on the floor. This approximates the correct posture you should have while at your desk.

Reconfigure your smartphone use—We

normally look down on our smartphones or gadgets when we use them throughout the day. This would put unnecessary strain on our necks, and adding up the hours and hours we spend on our device, this may adversely affect our posture. Instead of straining our necks by looking down on our phones, we can try holding up our phones higher while keeping our posture upright and letting our eyes adjust to the level of our phones.

Always keep in mind that proper posture matters; whether you’re standing in line at the grocery, walking around the mall, sitting at your desk or lifting heavy weights at the gym.

DOH holds basic wheelchair training for PWDs of Calabarzon

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O instill to the users the proper procedure as well as the effective use of their wheelchair, the Department of Health-Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) has concluded the third batch of Wheelchair Service Training Package: Basic Level for service providers and persons with disabilities (PWDs) for Quezon province from June 18 to 21, 2019, at the Ciudad Christhia Resort 9 Waves in San Mateo, Rizal.

Ms. Paulina A. Calo, nurse V and PWD regional coordinator, stated that the regional office would target at least 150 PWDs, PWD coordinators and even companions of PWDs in the region to give them the necessary skills and knowledge.

“Most users are not familiar with the proper procedures in

the effective use of their wheelchair, that is why there are some who accidentally fall or tips over while using them. And through this training, they will be introduced, educated and trained in the proper use of the wheelchair.”

Calo added the regional office would also provide wheelchairs to those who really need them the most. “We will distribute wheelchairs that will be custom-fitted to their body size and tailored to their personal requirements because it is very important that a wheelchair fits the user to ensure safety and effective mobility.”

The four-day training program included various application of wheelchair services, including proper sitting position, proper lifting and transferring of a dis-

abled person from wheelchair to bed or chair, and avoiding pressure sores, which is one of the most commonly experienced problemsby a user due to improper wheelchair usage.

Calabarzon now has a total of 75 personnel trained in basic wheelchair service use and applications from the provinces of Laguna, Batangas and Quezon.

Today, the wheelchair is not only used by PWDs. Senior citizens also use them as form of mobility. Persons who suffered temporary disability due to accidents like fracture and persons with chronic illnesses like those needing dialysis to provide them movement in their daily routine.

A wheelchair is a chair fitted with wheels commonly used as a means of transport by a person who is unable to walk or has dif-

ficulty in walking due to illness, injury or disability.

The Wheelchair Service Training Package: Basic Level was developed by the World Health Organization in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), with the purpose of developing the minimum skills and knowledge required by personnel involved in wheelchair service delivery.

The basic wheelchair training for PWDs of Calabarzon was conducted through the directive and initiative of Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo under the regional health office’s special projects in support of Universal Health Care with the objective of providing more efficient, effective and sustainable health-care delivery for all. Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

Health&Fitness June 27-July 3, 2019 7

HEALTH

D.O.H. LEADS TALKS ON LESSONS LEARNED FROM E.U. HEALTH PR

T

HE Department of Health (DOH), together with the European Union and the World Health Organisation (WHO), recently held discussions on EU support to the Philippine health sector reform agenda, particularly key learnings from two budget support program implemented by the EU in the Philippines. The event took place on June 3 at the Manila Hotel in Manila City.

Aside from the budget support programs, the event also focused on recommendations and action plans for the recently enacted Universal Healthcare (UHC) law, an act that aims to promote equal access to essential health services while protecting beneficiaries against financial risk that these services may entail.

EU consultant Dr. Giovanni Cascone led the presentation on the second phase of the Health Sector Policy Support Programe and the Philippine Health Sector Reform Contract (PHSRC) evaluation. Both budget support programs by the EU that have enabled the local health department to deliver better healthcare services to people in many parts of the country.

Among the numerous key learnings from the implementation of these programs is the utilization of a demand-driven approach, which enabled PHSRC proponents to pro-

DOH Dr. Mario Villaverde and Dr. Mar Wynn Bello

8 Health&Fitness June 27-July 3, 2019

vide health care tailored to the needs of the population. Both programs also resulted in an increase in the number of Philippine National Health Insurance Program beneficiaries from 62 percent in 2010 to 92 percent in 2018, the establishment of drug recovery clinics offering evidenced-based drug abuse treatments, and improved sexual and reproductive health-care services for numerous beneficiaries in the last 10 years.

“The last 10 years have been fruitful for health reforms based on the evaluation. The programmes enabled countless Filipinos to improve their overall health, especially women and children in far-flung areas of the country who need access to quality healthcare the most,” said Cascone.

“It’s all thanks to the hard work of the DOH, and selfless individuals who contributed to health reforms over the years.”

DR. Giovanni Cascone

DR. Albert Domingo (from left), WHO Philippines representative; Dr. Mar Wyn Bello, DOH Health Promotion and Communication Service director; Dr. Gundo Weiler, WHO representative to the Philippines; Dr. Mario Villaverde, DOH Undersecretary; Dr. Diana van Daele, EU Delegation in the Philippines’ Program Manager Health, and Dr. Giovanni Cascone, team leader of experts evaluating the two budget support programs.

DOH Undersecretary Dr. Mario Villaverde and WHO Representative Dr. Gundo Weiler followed with discussions on recommendations related to the implementation of the UHC law in the Philippines. These recommendations include increasing support for DOH and PhilHealth in terms of health financing, implementation of new policies, health management and governance, and prioritizing the development of human resources for health, to name a few.

“The UHC law provides an actionable legal mandate for the integration of primary health care within the government health system and encourages sectoral reform cooperation and action on a wide range of health needs,” Weiler said.

Villaverde said that the three priorities of the UHC law should be the unification of the fragmented local health-care system, financing and efficient use of resources, and crafting a regulatory framework that cov-

DR. Gundo Weiler

H MONITOR

DOST-PNRI CERTIFICATION PROVES NS LEADING BRANDS OF VINEGAR, SAFE ROGRAM T HE country’s two leading vinegar brands, Datu Puti Vinegar and Silver Swan Sukang Puti (white vinegar), recently received certifications from the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) that their products are not blended with synthetic acetic acid from fossil-fuel derivatives and are safe for consumption.

The PNRI is a government agency under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Vinegar samples from Datu Puti and Silver Swan were tested for the presence of Carbon 14 (14C), a compound found in living organisms.

Both brands passed the test, registering high values of Carbon 14, which according to PNRI’s historical

data is the activity value in biogenic acetic acid—a clear indication that they undergo a natural fermentation process.

As part of its efforts to improve the standards of its consumer products, Datu Puti and Silver Swan have been subjecting its products to PNRI testing since 2001.

“Quality and safety have always been our top priorities. We constantly ensure product excellence across our range of products so that Filipino consumers can be confident of their purchase,” brand officials said. The release of the recent test results comes on the heels of an earlier announcement by the DOST in early May this year of a study that 8 out of 10 vinegar products

in the local market are “fake” and contain petroleum-based synthetic acetic acid.

Datu Puti and Silver Swan officials also added that they are “one with the government in ensuring food safety for the Filipino consuming public,” and further commending the DOST-PNRI and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for enforcing the standards and elevating the quality of vinegar available in the market.

Datu Puti Vinegar and Silver Swan, vinegar brands of NutriAsia and First PGMC, are approved by and registered with the FDA, while NutriAsia’s manufacturing plants have been certified for product safety compliance.

GIVING LIFE THROUGH GIVING BLOOD

n

ers pricing, quality and distribution of services. “By prioritising these, it will enable us and our partner organisations to lay the groundwork for a more comprehensive UHC later on.”

WHO Representative Dr. Albert Domingo said that aside from these, another priority should be the definition of roles of each organization involved in the UHC’s implementation. “The meat of the UHC law, among many other things, should be getting the roles clearly delineated and ensuring that there is accountability.”

“If we are able to define the rules and responsibilities by concretely assigning them to particular actors such as the province- and city-level systems, then we might be able to move things forward much more efficiently,” Domingo added.

Both the EU and WHO then pledged that they would remain committed to helping DOH fulfill its mandate of creating a more democratized healthcare system in the Philippines.

“We will always be ready to support and assist the Philippines in unity with other members of the UHC Partnership, because health for all must be health by all,” said Weiler.

P

FIZER Philippines’s CSR arm Pfizer Philippines Foundation, Inc. (PPFI), in partnership with the Philippine Blood Center, conducted an intercompany bloodletting activity

to commemorate World Blood Donor Day. “Blood donors are considered modern heroes because they help maintain the national supply of safe blood for patients in need,”

said PPFI Manager Geoffrey Garcia.

“The simple act of donating blood can save many lives because blood is separated into its components which can be used individually for patients with specific conditions.

Health&Fitness June 27-July 3, 2019 9

BULLETIN BOARD

PHILIPPINE CULINARY HERITAGE LAUNCHED AT DIAMOND HOTEL DIAMOND Hotel Philippines recently launched “Philippine Culinary Heritage,” a Filipino Food Festival at the Corniche restaurant. The exquisite buffet was made more spectacular by treasured heritage dishes prepared by featured Filipino Chef Christopher Carangian, culinary heritage advocate and the Punong Heneral of Culinary Generals of the Philippines.

Present during the opening ceremony were Vanessa Ledesma Suatengco, general manager of Diamond Hotel Philippines; Robert Sewell, Lunchbox Theatrical Productions; Maria Lourdes Locsin, spouse of the foreign affairs Secretary of the Philippines; Manila City Mayor-elect Francisco Domagoso; and Carangian.

Diamond Hotel Philippines is located at Roxas Boulevard corner Dr. J. Quintos Street, Manila. For inquiries, please call (632) 528-3000 or e-mail guestservices@diamondhotel.com. For more information on Diamond Hotel Philippines, please visit www.diamondhotel.com.

BOOK ON THE PHILIPPINE JESUITS SINCE THE RESTORATION BAGS IABC GOLD QUILL AWARD A COFFEE-TABLE book on the mission of the Jesuits in the Philippines has earned for the country a Gold Quill (Award of Merit) from the prestigious International Association of Business Communicators this year.

On the March, with Fr. Jose S. Arcilla, SJ, as principal writer, edited by John Nery and co-published

by Manuel P. Engwa and Ramoncito Ocampo Cruz of Media Wise Communications/Muse Books, was recognized for “exhibiting high-quality writing and superior production values,” according to the IABC awards committee.

The book chronicles the Jesuits’ ministry of education and the many aspects of their apostolate in the Philippines as they bring the faith to the most remote corners of the archipelago.

“On the March presents memories of the struggle and glory of the Jesuits who came by boat, hiked up the mountains, rode rickety rafts, went on horseback and then on foot to reach distant and sometimes treacherous missions,” said copublisher and Media Wise President and

10 Health&Fitness June 27-July 3, 2019

CEO Ramoncito Ocampo Cruz.

While there were setbacks and unexpected twists and turns, there was always a sense of constant movement in the Jesuit mission, Cruz added.

Cruz received the award last June 11during the 2019 IABC World Conference in Vancouver, Canada.

On the March is a fund-raising project for the Philippine Jesuit Aid Association, which helps elderly, retired and infirm Jesuits. PJAA is headed by Fr. Jose Quilongquilong, SJ. “This honor is not just ours alone,” Cruz said. “It shows that Filipino firms, even small ones, have the talent and the discipline to deliver world-class results.” Media Wise is one of only five Filipino teams to have been given the Gold Quill by IABC: Jollibee Foods Corp. and Stratworks Inc., Aboitiz Group, PAGEONE Group and Center for Health Solutions and Innovations Philippines Inc., and ABS-CBN Corp.

This is Media Wise’s second Gold Quill from the San Francisco-based IABC, with this year’s winners coming from 10 countries.

Two years ago, Media Wise received its first Merit Award for yet another book on the Jesuits, Jesuits In Mindanao: The Mission. This book also won the Philippine Quill Award of Excellence for Publications under the Communications Skills Division at the 2013 Quill Awards, and another at the IABC Asian Pacific Silver Quill Awards held in Singapore in 2017.

IABC’s Gold Quill Awards have recognized excellence in strategic communication worldwide for the past 40 years. Since 2008, there have been 4,451 projects entered in the Gold Quill Awards.

“Only exceptional work earns an IABC Gold Quill Award,” said Cindy Schmieg ABC, IABC fellow and chairman of the awards committee.

“GoldQuill Award winners demonstrate a mastery of all elements of strategic communication and have measurable business results to prove their success,” said Stephanie Doute, CAE, executive director of IABC. This year, On the March is the only entry from

the Philippines under the Publications category, which falls under the Communication Skills division.

“The book is well-organized, consistent...from the beginning to end. It flows well. It’s clear that [Media Wise] brought together the right mix of interviewers, writers, designers and publishers to produce a high-quality communication vehicle,” said the committee.

“Its heavy use of photography, artwork and postproduction treatments make most of the spreads in the book an invitation to dive in and learn. This book is easy to flip through and dive into the stories on every page.”

BULLETIN BOARD

TIMELESS TRADITION OF TING HUN AT NEW WORLD MANILA BAY HOTEL FOR most couples that commit to a promise of a life together, honoring their parents and preserving family traditions are as important as their wedding vows. A celebration known as Ting Hun or Chinese engagement is often held to gather family and friends as couples announce their marriage. At New World Manila Bay Hotel, celebrate the timeless tradition of Ting Hun and experience culinary excellence, impressive guest services and innovative concepts as you begin your journey to happily ever after.

New World Manila Bay Hotel houses welldesigned and functional venue spaces perfect for weddings and pre-wedding customs. The Ballroom, standing at the core of the hotel banquet facilities, boasts class and grandeur featuring minimalist yet modern chandeliers, high ceilings and an expansive space that can sit up to 400 guests. The Le Salon, accentuated

by its Swarovski chandeliers and large mirrored panels, is an ideal space for a more intimate yet sophisticated gathering. These event spaces are complemented with elegant table accessories, and are equipped with wired and wireless highspeed Internet access.

‘QUEZON’S GAME’ AND ITS NOSTALGIC SETTING ACCORDING to the movie’s screenwriter Janice Perez, Quezon’s Game was produced to shed light and honor the heroic feat of late President Manuel L. Quezon—when he fought for the country to open its doors to Jewish refugees at a time when everybody deliberately closed theirs.

True enough, the film highlights a chapter of Philippine history that most textbooks “do not even mention” or tend to overlook. Marking this unsung act in 1930s, Matthew E. Rosen’s masterpiece puts a spotlight on how Philippines showed defiancy to the rest of the world.

Under this noble man’s rule, the country was able to provide a safe haven for more than 1,200 Jewish “skilled” people from the Nazi’s unmerciful killing.

Set location plays a pivotal aspect in the totality of a film’s success. And the picturesque Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bagac, Bataan, simply gave justice to this outstanding piece.

Thanks to the open-air museum, the film looked as if it really did happened in the same era. In fact, the film became a virtual tour to the 26-hectare-wide property.

Las Casas, the only property in the Philippines to showcase the country’s colorful history through a rare collection of old restored houses, is owned by Bataan-native Jose “Jerry” Acuzar.

Plaza Marcelino at Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar FROM the old-style trains, wood rafts to crafted staircases, Las Casas’s unique architectural

treats became a perfect backdrop to the film where in fact most, if not all, of its scenes featured almost every corner of the 400-hectare heritage hotel.

Becoming a film-friendly destination, Las Casas is the same property where John Arcilla’s iconic dying scene as Heneral Luna was shot.

Quezon’s legacy is no doubt a remarkable one as it left a legacy of kindness not just to its fellow Filipinos, but to the rest of the world.

Taking inspiration from the mighty president, Manuel L. Quezon University (MLQU) standing bold and proud in Quezon City was founded on the same virtues that this man had imbued.

In October 2014, Acuzar acquired ownership of the university through its company New San Jose Builders Inc. MLQU, like Las Casas, opened doors to endless opportunities which then shall contribute to the nation building by honing nationalistic and competent graduates.

The Chinese engagement package comes with customizable authentic Cantonese Lauriat menus especially curated by the hotel’s Chinese master chef, ceremony rites including misua, sweet soup and tea for 12 persons, a round of standard nonalcoholic beverages, a bottle of champagne for toasting, a two-piece engagement cake to symbolize family reunion, elegant table centerpieces for the guest tables and use of the sound system with microphones. Couples may also keep the memories of their celebration with the complimentary access in selected areas of the hotel for the couple’s photo-shoot sessions. Additionally, the package includes an overnight stay in a Premier Bay View Suite with buffet breakfast for two persons at the Market Café and exclusive access to the Residence Club.

For inquiries and reservations, call +632 252 6888 or visit www.manilabay.newworldhotels.com.

MORE UNITS FOR ASPIRING HOMEOWNERS IN ALABANG AMAIA STEPS SPURRED by the brisk sales of its first five buildings—Aria, Blanca, Clara, Delicia and Esperanza—Amaia Steps Alabang is set to launch Helena, the newest building that aims to seamlessly provide more well-designed, modern spaces for Filipinos seeking high-quality homes in the Alabang area.

Amaia Land saw the need to fast-track the opening of Helena following the quick occupancy of Aria (98 percent), Blanca (97 percent), Clara (95 percent) and Delicia (93 percent). Esperanza, which was launched earlier this year, has sold 89 percent of its available units.

Amaia Steps Alabang’s Helena features stylish units that range from 24 square meters to 42 square meters, ideal for a one-bedroom or two-bedroom home. To be offered are 126 studio units, 98 deluxe units and 32 premier units, with prices ranging from P3,200,000 to P5,800,000. Easy and flexible payment schemes—cash, deferred cash and bank financing—are available, whereby prospective residents may purchase a home for as low as P11,000 a month.

Strategically set along Alabang-Zapote road in Almaza Uno, Las Piñas City, Amaia Steps Alabang is near key roads and highways, making it convenient for residents to travel to the Makati business district, head to the airport or take a quick trip to Laguna, Batangas or Tagaytay.

Amaia Steps Alabang also provides easy access to commercial establishments such as SM Southmall, Alabang Town Center and Festival Mall; business districts like Madrigal Business Park; schools such as De La Salle Zobel, San Beda Alabang and Southville International School; and hospitals like Perpetual Help Medical Center and Asian Hospital.

Alabang is projected to be the next booming in the real estate in the Philippines.

Amaia continues to serve prospective homeowners with affordable and sustainable developments that aim to elevate the Filipino living experience in a well-secured environment.

For inquiries about Amaia Steps Alabang and other Amaia properties, check out www.amaialand.com or like www.facebook.com/ AmaiaLand.

Health&Fitness June 27-July 3, 2019 11

THE EMPIRE FOR BEAUTY GETS BIGGER AND BETTER

T

HE Beauty Empire Face and Body Center held recently the soft opening of a new and bigger branch to provide its world-class services to more clients.

This top-notch skin care and aesthetic center, the brainchild of husband and wife team of Dr. Alvin and Mrs. Dorothy Joy Matulac, offers a wide array of quality beauty treatment services, enhancement procedures and beauty products.

The palatial-like, gold-colored interiors of The Beauty Empire also features exceptional beauty equipment that renders beauty treatments, all priced within reach but guarantees favorable and successful results that

12 Health&Fitness June 27-July 3, 2019

exceeds expectations.

The Beauty Empire takes pride in its line of treatments that represent the latest breakthroughs in beauty trends and technologies. These include their popular services like Empire Popular Facial, Celebrity Facial, Diamond Peel, Oxygen Infusion Facial, Empress Glass Skin, Hydra Facial, Jetpeel Facial, Hydra Peel Facial, Biolift Facial and Acne Control.

Other services, such as Carbon Laser, Nd Yag for Melasma, Maxilight

for Underarm, IPL Underarm, IPL Legs, Cavitation (Arms, Thighs, Abdomen), Radio Frequency (Face, Face

and neck, arms, abdomen, thighs), Electro Muscle Simulator (arms, abdomen, thighs), Microblading (eyebrows), Intense White, even Lip Tattoo. These procedures are done by The Beauty Empire’s partner-doctors that include some of the most reputable dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons in the country that everything is guaranteed safe.

For services fit for royalty that goes well beyond expectations, try The Beauty Empire Face and Body Center. The new and bigger branch is at 23 F. Bautista Street, San Francisco del Monte, Quezon City. The Beauty Empire Face and Body Center main branch, on the other hand, is at 35 Timog Avenue, Quezon City.

NEWEST PRODUCER OF WORLD-CLASS BREADS TO SUIT FILIPINO TASTE

By Kathy Solis

L

EOGANO Food Corp. (LFC) just officially launched in the country, but is already at the last stages of talks with the biggest hotels in the Philippines for its world-class offerings in taste and nutritional value. It is building in the Philippines communities of healthy and picky eaters through breads. From ovens, flour and bakers, the company crafts no less than quality breads: crispy to the touch, fluffy-soft upon bite and hearty and guilt-free meal.

“We define what a delicious bread is by our customized process.

Our stone-grinded flour is made in France, our ovens are hand-built and designed from Germany, our bakers are trained by a Taiwan-based master baker. That’s how we ensure quality control on our dough and baked goods,” said Leogano CEO Nelson Ong. Taiwan-based Japanese Chef Tomohiro Nogami, who has also served breads fresh off the ovens of culinary haven of France in his 34 years of baking, personally demonstrated the art of basic bread making to Filipinos during its launch at Leogano’s commissary in Las Piñas.

“I carefully observe their hands and feel, toss their dough to tell if it was properly kneaded and rolled.

One can also tell if the dough is ready for baking by simply feeling the temperature of the dough. Our breads are special because we don’t use additives or preservatives,” Nogami said with the help of an interpreter.

CHEF Tomohiro Nogami

Staying true to the company’s conscious production, cardiologist and Leogano President Susana Ong certifies its flour as organic or chemical free for all its breads, including loaf, dinner rolls, Kaiser rolls, croissant, baguette, ciabatta and ensaymada.

“As a doctor, I’ve seen many patients getting ill from cancer, stroke and diabetes because of lifestyle habits like eating pesticide-laden foods. With my visit to France and the popularity of bread in Taiwan, I realized Filipinos could also eat handy, palatable and healthy breads. We are now consuming more Western foods, but that shouldn’t mean we must stop being healthy,” Susana said.

Leogano makes this easier for their customers in households, hotels and restaurants with their

frozen dough and par-baked bread which is 90-percent cooked.

“We created these products because we want to make quality breads available to all Filipinos. This is the reason we also focus on delivering goods instead of putting up shops where only people nearby will be reached,” Nelson said.

The company is also distributing freezers and ovens that its electrical engineer CEO helped build. Unlike commercial ovens, Chef Nogami said Leogano ovens—the artisans’ modern stone ovens keep its temperature even when opened.

“To ensure freshness and distinct taste, we incorporate the dough recipe from Chef Nogami, teach techniques to Filipino bakers, allow customers to share in our baking experience with our frozen dough and par-baked bread. These are the

combinations that put the soul into our food,” Nelson added.

For more details, visit http://leoganofoods.com.

Health&Fitness June 27-July 3, 2019 13

HEALTHY FINDS

n MANILA DOCTORS JOINS BRIGADA ESKWELA 2019

VOLUNTEERS from Manila Doctors’ various departments trooped to its adopted schools, Rafael Palma Elementary School and Amado V. Hernandez Elementary School on the weekends of May and June to take part in the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Brigada Eskwela 2019 with the theme. “Matatag na Bayan para sa Maunlad na Paaralan.”

Mobilizing the Hospital’s staff, hundreds of volunteers donated their time and skills to do various repairs, maintenance work and cleanup of the schools prior to opening of classes.

Volunteers from the Executive Office, Finance, Audit, Corporate Communications, Nursing Stations, Medical Records, Pediatrics, Family Medicine, Vision Center, Facilities Management, to name a few, turned weekend warriors as they clean, paint, dust and mop to prepare the classrooms at Rafael Palma and Amado V. Hernandez Elementary Schools

n PAYMENTS FOR HERBALIFE PRODUCTS NOW ACCEPTED THROUGH BAYAD CENTER

PREMIER global nutrition company, Herbalife Nutrition recently announced that payments for its products are now accepted through Bayad Center branches nationwide, following a recent signing of the memorandum of agreement between the two companies. This new initiative allows Herbalife Nutrition members to make their payments through Bayad Center’s 30,000-plus touchpoints all over the Philippines.

“This is a landmark project for Herbalife Nutrition, as we celebrate 25 years in the Philippines this year,” said Sridhar Rajagopalan, senior director and subregion head for the Philippines of Herbalife

14 Health&Fitness June 27-July 3, 2019

Nutrition. “It coincides with our city-by-city campaign to reach out to more Filipinos nationwide, while striving to ease the way of doing business for our customers. With Bayad Center’s auto-posting payment feature and outlets in cities and towns across the country, our members have a reliable and convenient partner to support their businesses.”

Bayad Center is the country’s biggest and widest multichannel payment platform.

A subsidiary of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), it is the pioneer and market leader in the outsourced bills and bills collection payment industry.

Rajagopalan together with Bayad Center President Manuel Lorenzo Tuason led the contract signing. Likewise, executives from both companies who have worked on the details of the partnership were also present at the event.

“We have more than 30,000 payment touchpoints that Herbalife Nutrition members can easily access as the touchpoints of Bayad Center are available nationwide.

With the recent launch of the Bayad Center App, Filipinos now have the convenience of processing not only bills payments, but also other products and services. The Bayad Center App is secure, on-time and hassle free.

You can now process payments and more at your fingertips with the Bayad Center App,” Tuason concluded

n A GIFT OF HEALTHIER LIVER FOR DAD

FATHERS who spends most of their week in an office often claim the need to unwind with their friends every once in a while, this often lead to unhealthy lifestyle due to peer pressure. Bouts of drinking session with the barkada paired with pulutan can lead to a cycle that put men prone to fatty liver or worst, liver cirrhosis.

Fatty liver occurs when too much fat builds up in liver cells. Although it is normal to have a small amount of fat in these cells as long as it does not exceed to 5 percent of fat. While drinking too much may lead to the condition, factors such as the food we consume in the process of drinking can spell more disaster.

A more serious condition is liver cirrhosis,

HEALTHY FINDS

this occur due to liver scarring and growth of fibrosis, which severely impairs liver function.

Liver conditions can also affect other parts of the body and can lead to erectile dysfunction. Study shows that patients with liver disease have elevated sex hormone binding globulin and less albumin, which leads to decreased free testosterone levels.

Do something now to prevent these conditions by taking supplements that are proven to benefit the liver. Liverguard have a proprietary formulation of silymarin and lecithin that is designed to promote the overall health of the liver. This natural herbal supplement combines the two herbs known for thousands of years to boost general liver function.

Silymarin is a mixture of flavonolignans extracted from the milk thistle and has a long history as a medical plant that can treat liver diseases.

Lecithin, on the other hand, is a fat that is essential in the cells of the body. It can be found in many foods, including soybeans and egg yolks. Lecithin is taken as a medicine and is also used in the manufacturing of medicines. Lecithin is used for treating memory disorders, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease Supplementing with Liverguard helps detoxifies the body by repairing damaged liver cells and strengthens healthy liver function.

It also helps in fighting liver cancer.

Liver Guard is distributed by Bewell Nutra-

ceuticals. To know more about the product, as well as healthy tips, visit their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/liverguardtheliverdefender/. Liver Guard is available in all Mercury Drug and leading drugstores nationwide.

n WHEN YOU NEED MORE SPACE FOR THINGS THAT ‘SPARK JOY’

DOES your home “spark joy”?

Whether you’re a pack rat or a compulsive declutterer, you must have heard of Marie Kondo, the Japanese home organizing guru that bids her followers to let go of things that “do not spark joy.” Kondo’s method spurs you to comb through your stuff, saving only those that make you happy and disposing of the rest. “Keep only those things that speak to

your heart,” Kondo gently urges homeowners.

While a growing number of Filipinos are letting Marie Kondo “take the lead” in tidying up their messy, disorganized living spaces, there is a far greater number for whom sentiments and pleasant memories outweigh the need to create more space at home.

What if there are too many mementos, collectibles, and other cherished possessions that spark joy, but there is just not enough space in your home?

Loc&Stor 24/7, now with four branches— Pasig, Urban Makati, J.P. Rizal, and Slex—gives you the extra space you need in the form of individually secured units that come in different sizes. Every storage unit has individual alarms and storers use their own personal locks to ensure privacy.

To cap all security measures, Loc&Stor 24/7 facilities are in gated and flood-free compounds with 24/7 building security and full CCTV coverage. You can organize the items in your storage unit using shelves and containers for easy access.

So, you have treasured stuff you just can’t let go? As Marie Kondo asserts, “We should be choosing what we want to keep, not what we want to get rid of.”

And Loc&Stor 24/7 gives everyone a chance to do just that. For inquiries on rental fees and more vital information, visit their web site at www.locnstor247.com, or connect through social media on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

n IN THE HEART OF BUSINESS CELEBRATES 2ND THANKSGIVING

IN the Heart of Business, hosted by Golden Dove Awardee Marou Pahati-Sarne and seasoned Corporate Communications Specialist, Roni TapiaMerk is celebrating its second Thanksgiving, airing every Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 1 to 2 p.m. at dwIZ 882. In the Heart of Business features regular segments on Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Philippine Stock Exchange, and current news and current events with Sen. Cynthia Villar. In the Heart of Business aims to educate listeners on financial literacy, small and medium enterprises and the stock market, and others.

Health&Fitness June 27-July 3, 2019 15

5 13 in

T

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