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Subic Bay sailboat race now seeks to bolster Philippines’ legacy as a seafaring nation

Quest for maritime heritage

Standard Insurance Centennial III (Philippines) competes in the Subic Bay Cup Regatta.

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By Henry Empeño

UBIC BAY FREEPORT—It’s sailing season on Subic Bay, but this year it would be for something far deeper.

As the sleek, silent and swift sailboats wrest dominance of the waters here from the bulky cargo vessels for several weeks of sailing events, organizers would try to inject awareness of the country’s maritime heritage, and the natural prowess of Filipinos as sailors and seafarers.

Subic, steeped as it is in the tradition of naval commerce and having played an important role in the maritime history of the Philippines, couldn’t be any more appropriate as the starting point of “sailing with a cause,” said Zed Avecilla, event director of the ongoing Subic sailboat races.

“All throughout history, Subic Bay has been a ship’s refuge that was most coveted by foreign powers like Spain, Great Britain, the United States and Japan. From fishermen’s dinghies to Spanish galleons, from steamships to the most sophisticated warships, to the modern cruise ships and racing yachts, Subic Bay has provided them all a safe haven with its naturally deep harbor and protected coves,” Avecilla noted.

“Now, we are trying to give Subic its place of honor by helping promote our rich maritime heritage through these sailing events and proving once more that Filipi-

nos are among the best sailors in the world,” he added.

True domain

The move to promote Philippine maritime heritage was rooted in the government’s Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (Mana Mo) campaign that was launched in Malacañang in September last year.

Avecilla, who is area coordinator for Zambales of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) project, was invited as a special guest during the opening of the Mana Mo campaign, which aims to enhance the awareness and con-

sciousness of Filipinos on the important features and concerns of the Philippines as a maritime and archipelagic domain.

Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea, chairman of the National Coast Watch Council, presided over the ceremony and called for maritime stakeholders “to advocate for awareness of the distinctly sea-based heritage of our proud nation.”

“Secretary Medialdea challenged us to help raise the level of awareness of our marine wealth and endowments, as well as the challenges and opportunities in harnessing such resources,” Avecilla recalled.

“I would like to think that even in a small way, we are now committing ourselves to address that challenge,” he added.

Underwater ‘treasures’

In Subic the marine resources do not consist only of the rich marine life that abound in the bay, or the beautiful beaches that helped make the Subic Bay Freeport one of the most visited tourism attractions in the Philippines today.

Under the still waters of the blue bay are sunken artifacts from the global wars that saw Subic actively defending the western coast Continued on A2

Duterte’s re-extension of dela Rosa’s PNP term draws mixed reactions from police ranks

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By Rene Acosta

omething unprecedented happened at the Philippine National Police (PNP) a few days ago when Director General Ronald dela Rosa announced that his extended term as chief of the organization has been re-extended

by President Duterte even before he could fully serve it.

The second extension to be exact—for an “indefinite” period to borrow the quoted word of dela Rosa, who is known as the “Rock” owing to his imposing physique—made history for both dela Rosa and Duterte, as this is the first time that a PNP chief has been extended twice on an expiring term.

For those who are closely fol-

lowing developments in the organization, which is racing to make Duterte’s promise of ridding the country of illegal drugs a reality, the repetitive extension elicited both positive and negative connotations for the 180,000-strong organization.

Some even conjured beliefs that the President may be up to something, that he needs some-

PESO exchange rates n US 52.0150

body he can deeply trust to command the PNP.

Good and bad moves

One police official views the restretched term of dela Rosa, which the PNP chief sees as a reaffirmation of Duterte’s “trust and confidence” on his capability to steer the PNP amid its campaign against illegal drugs and the ongoing internal cleansing, as a good move for the PNP.

“It will afford the chief PNP the full leverage to follow through and put finishing touches to his programs, especially on the war against drugs and in cleansing the organization of undisciplined members,” he said. “With his indefinite term, there should be no reason he will not succeed.”

The statement jibes with dela Rosa’s earlier view on his extension, which, for him, even comes as a sort of pressure.

“That's the essence of it. That Continued on A2

IN this July 1, 2016, file photo, President Duterte smiles with new Police Chief, Director Gen. Ronald dela Rosa, during the “Assumption of Command” ceremonies at Camp Crame, Philippine National Police headquarters, in Quezon City. AP/Aaron Favila

n japan 0.4899 n UK 71.6559 n HK 6.6453 n CHINA 8.1817 n singapore 39.3071 n australia 40.3532 n EU 63.7964 n SAUDI arabia 13.8699

Source: BSP (March 2, 2018 )

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A2 Sunday, March 4, 2018

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Duterte’s re-extension of dela Rosa’s PNP term draws mixed reactions from police ranks Continued from A1

is why you have been extended in order to work, so you should not fail the President. It is not good that you will just enjoy the trust and confidence of the President without delivering, that’s a bad thing. You really have to deliver, that is why we will have to intensify further the war on drugs,” the ranking official, who requested anonymity, said.

On the other hand, another policeman sees the decision of Duterte to recycle dela Rosa’s extended term as conveying a bad message to the PNP, particularly on the issue of leadership and professionalism, although he recognized such a decision is truly a presidential prerogative.

The policeman said that in continuously putting the center of gravity to just one man, the President is delivering the message that he trusts no one but dela Rosa, and believes that he is the only one capable of leading the PNP, which is bad for the organization since it is composed of 180,000 members and officers.

The message also cascades down the ranks: That men and women must gravitate toward dela Rosa if they want to move up or get sensitive positions.

“The decision stunts the growth of the PNP, both morally and professionally. It goes against the ‘tradition of merits and de-

merits’, which is the traditional bedrock of promotion and designations in the organization,” the policeman said.

Since the operative words are trust and confidence, of course, the PNP chief also designates people who have his trust and confidence to key positions, and it comes just as the PNP is waging its campaign to instill discipline and professionalism within its ranks.

However, dela Rosa, anticipating such a backlash, said he would not be another Fabian Ver, referring to the late chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, who appointed favored officers to top posts in the military and let them hold on to it during the country’s darker years.

He also said the extension and re-extension only work for his position, meaning the old rules apply to other PNP officers.

As a rule, every commander or officer must move from his or her post every two years, dela Rosa said.

Distressing decision

The PNP chief understood that his extended term’s re-extension will not please some of his subordinates, including maybe those who were eyeing to succeed him.

He, however, could not go against the wish of Duterte, and this is not a tough act to follow.

Still, he is banking on the professionalism of his fellow senior officials, emphasizing that becom-

Philippine National Police Chief Director Gen. Ronald dela Rosa holds a machine gun as a chaplain sprinkles it with holy water during blessing rites of newly procured equipment at Camp Bagong Diwa on February 1, 2018. AP/Aaron Favila

ing a PNP chief is a destiny.

“I know that those who were supposed to replace me are very professional. They can take and take because they know that becoming the chief PNP is destiny, that cannot be [a mere end result of] personal ambition,” dela Rosa said.

“I only have the biggest respect for them and I know that

they also respect me, even some of them are my upperclassmen.

They know that this is not my wish, it is the President’s desire, it is his prerogative, and you cannot question that,” he added.

Dela Rosa also knows that his extension could only be for a period of one year since under the law, the President can only extend the term of the head of the PNP for a maxi-

mum period of one year.

Against his wish

To dispel notions that he was basking under the glory of his term’s re-extension, dela Rosa said that Duterte’s decision frustrated him and his family, although they also know that they could not say no to the President to continue serving the country.

Before the decision was

reached and announced, the PNP chief said he was already looking forward to a much relaxing vacation with his family.

“If you would tell me that I am raring to go after my extension, I am not. I am raring to retire, I wanted to relax, but I could not just leave the President if he still wants my service. I could not leave him,” dela Rosa said.

Quest for maritime heritage Continued from A1

of Luzon as a strategic military outpost.

Among the more famous shipwrecks in Subic Bay are the socalled “Hell Ship” SS OryukoMaru, a Japanese ship that carried prisoners of war that was sunk in Subic Bay during World War II; the SeianMaru, which ran aground in 1944 and was sunk by American aircraft artillery; the San Quentin, which was scuttled by the Spanish during the Spanish-American War and, perhaps, the oldest existing wreck in the Philippines; the USS New York, a World War I ship; and the El Capitan, built in 1919 and used for supply runs for the US military.

Aside from these, there are also at least three aircraft wrecks in the bay that are now among the most popular diving spots in Subic.

To preserve these artifacts, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has coordinated with the National Museum and private experts in efforts to locate, identify and catalog the underwater treasures.

New course

As steeped into Subic’s maritime heritage as can be, this year’s sailing events also gave participating sailors a new challenge to tackle, and an opportunity to make an environmental statement.

For several years the Subic Bay to Boracay Race (SBBR) and the Boracay Cup Regatta (BCR) , which are both organized by Standard Insurance, were annual events that kicked off the Subic sailing season from February to April.

This year, however, organizers decided to forego the Boracay races and opted, instead, for the Subic Bay around Verde Island Passage Race (SBVIPR) and the Subic Bay Cup Regatta (SBCR).

Standard Insurance Chairman Ernesto Echauz said the move to bypass Boracay is an expression of support to the “alarming environmental concern” on Boracay Island that was recently raised by no other than President Duterte.

“We are a responsible insurance company in the business of

protecting clients from accidents, including health-related risks. We apologize for the inconvenience to those who have made prior arrangements for flights and hotel bookings in Boracay, but we adhere to strict environmental compliance and, therefore, are loath to exposing the regatta, its organizers and participants to health risks in an unhealthy environment,” Echauz explained.

He added that the replacement race is also a 200-mile course, the same distance as the Subic to Boracay run.

“Fittingly, the offshore race highlights Verde Island passage, which is an acknowledged center of marine biodiversity,” Echauz added.

Racing classes

Meanwhile, another new feature highlights the Subic Bay Cup, which began right after the SubicVerde Island run. This is the debut of the FarEast 28R boats that Standard Insurance recently acquired and donated to the Philippine Sailing Association (PSA).

Avecilla said that with these boats, there are now four classes for participants in the Subic races: International Racing Class 1 (IRC1), International Racing Class 2 (IRC2), Cruising Class and the FarEast 28 Class.

Under IRC1, four boats are now in the running: Karakoa, which is from the Philippines; Antipodes, from Hong Kong; Freefire (Hong Kong); and Standard Insurance Centennial III (Philippines).

The IRC2 class is being contested by seven boats: Mandrake III (Hong Kong), Sabad (Philipines), Emocean (Germany), Selma Star (Philippines), Bella Uno (Philippines), Misty Mountain (Philippines) and Bella Trix.

Meanwhile, two boats are racing in the Cruising Class: Asia Pacific Sailing and Apsaras, which are both from Hong Kong.

Under the new FarEast 28 Class, six local and foreign teams are competing: Centennial II (Philippines), Standard Insurance-PSA (Philippines), Japan (Japan), SMU Sailing (Singapore), Taiwan (Taiwan) and the local

bet Subic Sailing Team.

Honoring sailors

“In all these races, Filipinos are proving their mettle against the topnotch sailors from all over the world,” Avecilla said.

He noted that as the Philippines is acknowledged as the No. 1 producer of seafarers all throughout the world, supplying about a fifth of the world’s maritime workers, “there is more reason to showcase the skills and capabilities of Filipino sailors.”

Fortunately, Avecilla added, more races will be held in Subic Bay from April 2 to 7 with the hosting of the 10th Commodore’s Cup Regatta (CCR), an event of which the Subic Sailing Club is the main organizer.

He said some of the participants in the CCR are participating in the Rolex China Sea Race, a bi-annual 500+ nautical-mile race from Hong Kong to Subic Bay.

“We have several divisions in this regatta, from the small dinghy boats for kids to large cruising boats to high-performance racing boats. Here, we can show our support to our local Filipino sailors as they battle it out with the best in sailing,” he added.

“We hope that this event will show just that—that Filipinos are on a par with the best,” Avecilla said.

Filipino pride

As an added attraction to the Commodore’s Cup, the organizers have invited a distinctively Filipino sailing vessel to the event.

This is the Balangay, a replica of the ancient balangay boats that Filipino forefathers are thought to have used in their maritime exploits.

Avecilla said three units of this modern balangay have sailed around the Philippines and Southeast Asia seven years ago to prove that Filipinos have a strong maritime heritage.

“The arrival of the Balangay in Subic in time for the races will remind us of what we have been in the past and what we can be in the future,” Avecilla added.

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The World BusinessMirror

America’s wage growth remains slow and uneven, analysis shows

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Nited States wage growth remains slow and uneven, with AfricanAmericans and women still at a clear disadvantage while the wealthiest are accumulating more money than ever, a new analysis of census data shows.

Median real wages grew only 0.2 percent over the past year, according to a report to be released on Thursday by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), a progressive think tank. Wages for African-Americans declined in most wage brackets, while women with graduate degrees made less money than men with only college degrees.

By contrast, those in the 95th wage percentile saw an average pay hike of 1.5 percent over the past year.

The report had some positive news, however. The strongest wage growth came among workers in the bottom tenth of the distribution, where minimum wage hikes in some states helped average pay climb 3.7 percent. That’s a departure, however, from the overall trend since 2000. Generally, wages have risen fastest for those already paid the most, further

exacerbating broad income inequality in the US. The past 17 years have been marked by slower growth for black workers compared with whites in ever y wage bracket, according to the report.

The gender-wage gap also remains s t a r k , t h o u g h a m o n g wo m e n , t h e differential between rich and poor was smaller than among men. Women in the 95th percentile made 5.5 times what those in the tenth percentile made, whereas similarly situated rich men made 7 times as much as their poorer brethren.

The wage gap between workers with college degrees and those without them narrowed a bit over the past year, but the “college premium” remains wider than it was in 2000. The EPI said those with a degree now reap a regression-adjusted premium of almost 50 percent. But that premium, EPI contends, isn’t enough to explain the widening US wage inequality.

In fact, at the bottom half of the wage distribution for workers with college degrees, wages are lower today than they were in 2007 or 2000. Bloomberg News

Sunday, March 4, 2018

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Xi’s warning to investors: Any Chinese billionaire could fall P

resident Xi Jinping’s government has fired another warning shot at global dealmakers doing business with Chinese billionaires: Not even the most well-connected tycoons are safe.

Ye Jianming, a globe-trotting Chinese tycoon who runs the conglomerate CEFC China Energy Co., has been investigated by authorities, according to people with knowledge of the situation.

The news, first reported by local media outlet Caixin, comes shortly after X i ’s government seized Anbang Insurance Group Co., a global empire whose onceinf luential founder, Wu X iaohui, is detained while facing fraud charges.

The scrutiny Ye is now drawing shows how little protection wealth

and international connections provide elites in Xi’s China. While many billionaires continue to thrive—including Alibaba Chairman Jack Ma and Pony Ma, the founder of Tencent Holdings Ltd.— others have seen a swift downfall as Xi uses his increased powers to crack down on financial risks.

The reported investigation “shows that Chinese politics is not just opaque to outsiders, but to insiders as well,” said Trey McArver, cofounder of Trivium/ China, which advises companies that work in the country. “Both Ye and Wu convinced a lot of people within China, including powerful businessmen, regulators, etc., that they were well connected.”

A Shanghai-based spokesman for CEFC declined to comment.

Xi’s crackdown

Since coming to power, Xi has moved to halt the debt-fueled expansion of China’s biggest businesses, and pushed an anticorruption campaign that has already nabbed more than 1.5 million Communist Party cadres. Other high-profile figures—including several billionaires—have found themselves in Beijing’s cross hairs, including financier Xiao Jianhua, whose Tomorrow Holding Co. was ordered to divest from many of its financial assets.

Xi is set to strengthen his grip on power this month when China’s rubber-stamp parliament meets to pass laws that would allow Xi to rule indefinitely and give him greater control over the levers of money and power.

Some of China’s biggest tycoons, including Pony Ma and Li Shufu, the billionaire founder of automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., are also lawmakers.

Ye’s obscure energy company vaulted onto the international scene last year after it agreed to buy a 14-percent stake in the Russian oil behemoth Rosneft PJSC for $9 billion, a deal that is yet to close. The Chinese firm also has other holdings around the world.

Czech President Milos Zeman appointed Ye as an adviser on economic policies in 2015, and company press releases list him meeting with everyone from European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to the senior officialsfrom Georgia.

Bloomberg News

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The World BusinessMirror

Sunday, March 4, 2018

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

US banks on diplomacy with NoKor, but moves ahead on military plans

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ASHINGTON—A classified military exercise last week examined how US troops would mobilize and strike if ordered into a potential war on the Korean Peninsula, even as diplomatic overtures between the North and the Trump administration continue.

The war planning, known as a “tabletop exercise,” was held over several days in Hawaii. It included Gen. Mark A. Milley, the Army’s chief of staff, and Gen. Tony Thomas, the head of Special Operations Command.

They looked at a number of pitfalls that could hamper a US assault on North Korea’s well-entrenched military. Among them was the Pentagon’s limited ability to evacuate injured troops from the Korean Peninsula daily—a problem more acute if the North retaliated with chemical weapons, according to more than a halfdozen military and Defense Department officials familiar with the exercise.

L arge numbers of sur vei llance aircraft would have to be moved from the Middle East and Africa to the Pacific to support ground troops. Planners also looked at how US forces stationed in South Korea and Japan would be involved.

Pentagon officials cautioned that the planning does not mean a decision has been made to go to war over President Donald J. Trump’s demands that North Korea rein in its nuclear ambitions.

A war with North Korea, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has said, would be “catastrophic.” He and Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have argued forcefully

for using diplomacy to address Pyongyang’s nuclear program.

Commanders who attended the exercise in Hawaii were told that roughly 10,000 Americans could be wounded in combat in the opening days alone. And the number of civilian casualties, the generals were told, would likely be in the thousands or even hundreds of thousands.

The potential human costs of a war were so high that, at one point during the exercise, Milley remarked that “the brutality of this will be beyond the experience of any living soldier,” according to officials who were involved.

So, too, would be the sheer log istica l enter pr ise of moving thousands of US soldiers and equipment to the Korean Pen i nsu l a. Moreover, sen ior militar y of f icia ls wor r y that after 17 years in Afghanistan and Iraq, US troops have become far more used to counterinsurgency fighting than a land war against a state, as an attack on North Korea would likely bring.

But Mattis also has ordered top Pentagon leaders to be ready for any possible military action against North Korea. Already, ammunition has been prestaged in the Pacific region for ground units.

And Trump’s words—“Military solutions are now fully in place, locked and loaded, should North Korea act unwisely,” he said in an

August post on Twitter—have left senior officers and rank-and-file troops convinced that they need to accelerate their contingency planning.

A White House decision to attack is almost wholly dependent on cooperation from South Korea— not only in committing its troops or other assets to the battle but also accepting the risk of widespread bloodshed on its civilian population if the North fires back.

With a revival recently signaled on the long-dormant diplomatic track to resolve the Korean crisis, Pentagon officials said they did not want to disrupt any chance for a negotiated resolution. North Korea’s declaration at the end of the Winter Olympics that it was willing to open a dialogue with the United States offered a small amount of hope the political pageantry of the games would lead to more substantial results.

Tr ump’s response that the United States, too, was interested in talking compounded that hope.

“We want to talk also,” Trump said earlier this week, but “only under the right conditions.”

But Trump administration officials still insist the United States will not sit with North Korea unless Pyongyang agrees to open negotiations on its nuclear program, a condition the North has rejected.

And so the planning continues.

Mattis and other senior military leaders fear that a stray incident could spark a sudden conflict with the North. Of particular concern is the “ladder of escalation”— a chain of actions prompted by the shooting down of a North Korean

or American jet, or sinking of a ship, of which Mattis and other Pentagon leaders could quickly lose control.

Harsh new sanctions the Trump administration announced last week are a prime example.

The economic penalties target 28 ships registered in China and seven other countries, and intend to further cut off North Korea’s imports of oil and exports of coal.

But by going after the shipments, the United States is edging closer to the imposition of an economic blockade on the North.

While Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin stopped short of saying the US Navy would forcibly board ships on the high seas, administration officials privately have said that sailors may yet be called upon to do so, if hostile foreign vessels are suspected of transporting certain material to North Korea.

That, Defense Department officials say, could easily spark an incident that could escalate.

Trump recently referred to another type of incident US officials fear could spark a war.

During a speech in Seoul last year, he brought up North Korea’s 1969 downing a US spy plane that had been flying over the Sea of Japan. All 31 Americans aboard were killed in the attack by two North Korean MiGs. At the time, President Richard M. Nixon chose not to retaliate. It is unclear if Trump would follow the same course; in bringing up the episode last year, he warned, “Do not underestimate us, and do not try us.”

The brutality of this [potential war between the US and North Korea] will be beyond the experience of any living soldier.”—Milley

The Hawaii planning exercise looked at a wide range of military capabilities and missions. They included: n How many conventional and Special Operations forces could be deployed, in phases, to target North Korean nuclear sites. n Whether the Army’s 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions could be charged with fighting in tunnels. n Exhaustive plans to take down North Korea’s integrated air defenses, allowing US manned and unmanned aircraft into the reclusive country. n Plans for the morbid, but necessary details of personnel recovery plans, such as if pilots are shot down, and the evacuation of the dead and wounded.

In a meeting Monday in “the Tank”—a secured space in the Pentagon where the Joint Chiefs of Staff discuss top-secret issues— Milley told senior military leaders about the exercise, but did not outline details of the war plans, officials said. The Army holds around eight tabletop exercises every year for different countries and scenarios.

In April, a larger meeting is being planned between Mattis and the global combatant commanders. It is one of the periodic meetings Mattis has with the top military brass, but is expected to heavily focus on North Korea.

Special Operations forces have been briefed on some details of a plan that is separate but related to a potential strike on North Korea, officials said. However, Special Operations forces have yet to change course from their current operations.

Although the planning is continuing apace, a military operation against North Korea has yet to be given a formal name. Special Operations units, however, have already been assigned to specific task forces with names, such as Trident and Falcon.

New York Times News Service

China warns US: Keep ‘one China policy’ commitment

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h i n a warned the United States against disrupting relations after the US Congress sent President Donald J. Trump legislation seeking greater diplomatic exchanges with Taiwan.

The Senate on Wednesday unanimously passed a bill encouraging visits between the US and Taiwan “at all levels,” specifically citing “Cabinet-level national security officials.” Such exchanges would effectively raise the diplomatic status of the democratically run island, which US officials have avoided since recognizing the government in Beijing under the “oneChina” policy in 1979.

Foreign Ministr y Spokesman Hua Chunying said China was “extremely dissatisfied” with the legislation, which “seriously contravenes” the understanding between the two countries.

“We have lodged solemn representations with the US,” she told a regular briefing on Thursday in Beijing. “The one-China principle is the political foundation for US-China relations. We urge the US to honor its commitment on Taiwan-related issues.”

The bill, which passed the House in January, needs only Trump’s signature to become law. Although the US has often played down its military aid and unofficial diplomatic support for Taiwan over the years, the Trump administration has taken a more confrontation tone toward China over trade and was expected to announce steep tariffs on steel and aluminum on Thursday that would make the country’s exports more expensive.

China and Taiwan have been ruled s e p a rate l y s i n ce C h i a n g K a i - s h e k ’s Nationalist government fled to Taipei in 1949, and the Communist Party regards the island as a province to be taken by force if necessary. Efforts to improve ties between the sides soured in 2016, after Tsai Ing-wen, the leader of the proindependence Democratic Progressive Party, was elected president.

“China has made a concerted effort to isolate the people of Taiwan, and only US leadership can push back against this aggression,” Sen. Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, said after the bill’s passage.

“Now, the administration should act on it by sending senior US officials to meet with their Taiwanese counterparts.”

Bloomberg News

Trump loses key loyalist Hicks as Russia probe, midterms loom

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ope Hicks’s departure from the W hite House punctuates the attrition in President Donald J. Trump’s inner circle, the close aides and confidantes that buoyed him in his first year in office but who are hitting the exits as his presidency encounters its worst turbulence.

Trump’s communications director, the fourth person in that position since his inauguration, announced on Wednesday that she would resign. She follows several other top aides who’ve left since the start of the year. But Hicks’s exit is more personal—she has been described as having a near father-daughter relationship with the president.

Compounding matters, more than 30 aides saw their interim top secret clearances reduced to secret last week after a review by Chief of Staff John Kelly, essentially sidelining them and forcing their most sensitive work to be parceled out to colleagues. Among them are Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser.

The resulting reshuffle of policy portfolios will make it even harder for the White House to carry out its agenda. At the same time, Trump will have far fewer of the allies who helped sweep him to victory in 2016 at his side as the investigation into Russian election tampering escalates and midterm congressional elections approach in November.

It ’s d i f f ic u lt to overst ate Hicks’s influence with Trump. She

has been tethered to his side from the nascent days of his campaign, and while her official duties include managing the president’s often tumultuous relationship with the press, fellow aides described her as a consigliere, attuned to his whims and moods.

Se vera l people spec u l ated that a White House communications adviser, Mercedes Schlapp, is a likely candidate to replace Hicks. She already does much of the work of a traditional communications director, such a long-term strategic planning, and is considered to be liked and admired by Kelly.

T he resig nation a lso came week s af ter t he sudden departure of for mer Staf f Secretar y Rob Por ter, who lef t t he W hite House af ter repor ts t hat t wo e x-w ives had accused him of domestic v iolence in bac kg rou nd i nte r v ie w s w it h t he FBI. T he news sparked outrage not just over t he a l legations but a lso because Por ter, who control led t he f low of paper t o a nd f ro m t he p re s i d e nt , had been operating w it hout a per manent secur it y clearance.

Hicks had been romantically involved with Porter, but people close to her said that played no role in her own resignation.

The Porter episode drew attention to the W hite House’s security clearance process and ultimately led Kelly to institute a new policy curtailing interim clearances like those of Porter, Kushner and others. The new directives have curtailed access to top secret material and meetings for the more than 30 people affected, including Kushner.

‘White lies’

Policy consequences

Strengthening Kelly

Some Trump allies outside the White House see Kelly’s hand in her departure, regarding it as a move that will allow him to assert greater control over West Wing staff and access to the president.

O t her a ides sa id her e x it could bring more chaos to the W hite House because she has sometimes reined in Trump’s worst impu lses, occasiona l ly even criticizing him when she thought he was in the wrong. His few remaining loyalists who’ve been with him since early in the campaign include Dan Scavino, his former caddy-turned-social media manager, and senior adviser Stephen Miller.

Some advisers argued that Trump benefits from being surrounded by people who know how to govern and want to advance a conservative agenda—and Hicks had no background in government or politics.

She wielded significant power in the West Wing by virtue of her daily proximity to the president and her standing as one of the few aides Trump trusts completely. She is descr ibed as tapped into the president’s

In this February 27, 2018 photo, White House Communications Director Hope Hicks, one of President Trump's closest aides and advisers, arrives to meet behind closed doors with the House Intelligence Committee, at the Capitol in Washington. Hicks, one of President Donald Trump's most loyal aides, is resigning. In a statement, the president praises Hicks for her work over the last three years. He says he “will miss having her by my side.” The news comes a day after Hicks was interviewed for nine hours by the panel investigating Russia interference in the 2016 election and contact between Trump's campaign and Russia. AP/J. Scott Applewhite

thoughts and feelings, and has witnessed his unfiltered emotions, including occasional angry outbursts. She knows his shortcomings and his quirks.

Picked battles

But Hicks also knew when to pick her battles, at times siding with Trump against other staff, arguing that he knew best. For example, she supported hiring financier Anthony Scaramucci as communications director in July, despite arguments that it wouldn’t be wise to hire such an unseasoned figure for the role.

He left after 11 days.

Publicly, Hicks was ag gressively loyal to Trump and fiercely defensive, occasionally lashing out w ith irritation about damaging claims reporters presented to her for fact-checking.

Hicks announced her resignation a day after testifying behind closed doors before the House Intelligence Committee, which is investigating the FBI’s probe of Russia’s 2016 campaign interference. Hicks was said to have told the panel that her work occasionally required her to tell “white lies,” but later clarified that did not apply to substantive matters.

This could have significant consequences for a White House that has at times struggled to get hold of the range of complex policy issues it faces. While none of the affected officials have been asked to leave the administration, their portfolios on top secret matters now need to be distributed to other staff, people familiar with the matter said.

Kushner, for instance, has lost access to certain files, including those containing intelligence on foreign leaders and diplomats that can be used to gain an advantage in negotiations, one of the people said.

The White House said Kushner’s work, which has included developing a new Mideast peace plan, wouldn’t be affected.

Attrition is the natural course of any White House, where hours can be grueling, pay pales in comparison to the private sector, and media scrutiny can be relentless.

But Trump is alienating other allies, including Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Early Wednesday, the president blasted Sessions as “disgraceful ” for suggesting that an inspector general, rather than the department itself, investigate the president’s claims of sur veillance abuse under the previous administration. It was the latest evidence that the relationship between Trump and Sessions had soured over the president’s frustration with the ongoing Russia investigation.

And the president’s family members, installed as senior advisers, have also been hobbled.

Kushner, in addition to grappling with his security clearance downgrade, faces new questions about his overseas contacts and business relationships, as well as a report that foreign governments had discussed ways to manipulate him. Bloomberg News

Sports BusinessMirror

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

A

SUNCION, Paraguay—A young Lionel Messi dribbles a soccer ball or poses for a photograph with his grandmother. As an adult, he embraces his children, kisses his wife, or points two fingers to the sky in memory of his grandmother after scoring a goal with Argentina.

The hand-painted images on a pair of soccer boots by a young Paraguayan artist relive some of the most memorable moments in the personal life and career of the best player of his generation. Artist Lilian Cantero sent the boots to Messi as a gift to Barcelona, and he recently displayed them in a photo on a post that went viral on social media. Now, she is getting demands for her work from all over the world.

“It was such an incredibly humble gesture on his part,” Cantero, 25, said at her atelier in the outskirts of Asuncion, surrounded by colorful designs posted on the walls. “For Messi to have one of my works was my dream since I began painting soccer boots.”

Growing up, Cantero remembers flipping through the pages of an encyclopedia at home, mesmerized by the works of famous painters. In school, she once decorated white sandals with bright motifs. In college, she painted sandals again as part of an assigned project, where students launched their own small businesses. By word of mouth, friends who played soccer began asking her to paint their boots. Eventually, she began designing for a local sports store and getting requests from Paraguayan professional players.

But it was Messi’s remarkable career that she wanted to bring to life.

Through documentaries and interviews, she learned how from an early age, Messi would dazzle with a soccer ball at his feet in his native city of Rosario; how he was encouraged by his maternal grandmother, Celia, to overcome challenges and become a professional player; and how Barcelona took a gamble on a 13-year-old undersized kid and paid for his growth hormone treatment. The five-time Fifa world player of the year would go on to win it all with the club, leading to comparisons with Pelé and Diego Maradona, the game’s greatest players.

“I chose Messi because he’s one of the greatest players in history, but also because of his own history— his childhood, which demanded so many sacrifices,” Cantero said. “That’s what I wanted to express.”

Cantero sent the boots all the way from her country in the heart of South America to Barcelona with a friend who dropped them off in October at the Camp Nou stadium. In January she could hardly believe it when she saw the photo of a smiling Messi,

Sunday, March 4, 2018

A5

MESSI ART ON SOCCER BOOTS

holding the boots in his hands. She also got a message from Rodrigo Messi, one of the player’s brothers, thanking her for the gift.

Messi’s boots are decorated on one side with the horizontally striped sky-blue and white colors of the Argentine flag and its golden sun. A phrase from the national anthem and the names of Messi’s wife and children are painted on a side next to photos of a young Messi with his grandmother, playing at Grandoli, his childhood club, and in the lower divisions of Argentina’s Newell’s Old Boys.

The boots are adorned on another side with the blue and garnet colors of the Barcelona club shirt and images of Messi.

They include his celebration of his first goal at the club with Brazilian player Ronaldinho, and when he lifted his number 10 shirt at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium after scoring his 500th career goal for Barcelona.

Messi has faced criticism in Argentina because he has never brought the country a major title, in contrast to his repeated success at Barcelona. All eyes will be on “The Flea” at the World Cup in Russia this year in a tournament that could crown his career. Regardless of the outcome, though, he is already praised both at home and abroad for keeping his common touch.

Since Messi published the photo, Cantero’s career has taken off with requests for her designs from professional players, including Peru’s Paolo Guerrero and Panama’s Gabriel Gavilan. She is also in talks with Argentine players and a member of the US national team. Her goal is to reach out to as many players as possible, and eventually, to get a shot as an official designer for an international athletic company.

“Many people have told me that I’m a source of pride for my country,” she said, smilingly. “But I still can’t believe all of this.” AP

Paraguayan artist Lilian Cantero paints a pair of soccer cleats in San Lorenzo, Paraguay. AP

SOUTH KOREA BITTEN BY CURLING BUG S

SOUTH Korea’s Kim Yeong-mi watches during her women’s curling final in the Gangneung Curling Centre at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea. AP

SCRATCH CHAMP

The Netherland’s Kirsten Wild takes the first title awarded—Women’s Scratch Race—in the International Cycling Union Track Cycling World Championships on Wednesday in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands. UCI News

PAPA JOHN’S OUT, PIZZA HUT IN

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EW YORK—So long Papa John’s, hello Pizza Hut. The National Football League (NFL) announced a multiyear marketing deal with Pizza Hut on Wednesday, one day after the league and Papa John’s said they mutually agreed to cut ties. The league’s relationship with Papa John’s frayed last year when the pizza maker’s founder John Schnatter criticized NFL leadership over national anthem protests by players.

The Louisville, Kentucky-based Papa John’s says it will remain in football through marketing deals with 22 of the league’s 32 teams.

Pizza Hut said its marketing partnership with the NFL will begin with the league’s April 2018 draft in Arlington, Texas, just miles from the pizza restaurant’s headquarters in Plano.

Pizza Hut is owned by Yum Brands Inc.

EOUL, South Korea—In South Korea’s sudden craze for curling, it really is all in a name.

Free flights and baseball tickets are just some of the freebies South Korean companies are offering to anyone named Yeong-mi (yuhng-MEE), the first name of the lead sweeper for the women’s curling team that won an unexpected silver medal at the recently completed Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

The five-member team, from a remote province famous for its garlic, captured hearts in a country that hardly knew curling before.

Dubbed the Garlic Girls, they have become sought-after models for commercials and inspired countless online memes and catchphrases.

Among them is “Yeong-mi ya,” or “Hey

Yeong-mi,” which the team’s skip, or captain, repeatedly called out to give guidance to lead sweeper Kim Yeong-mi. Commentators dissected the skip’s intentions based on how she called Kim’s name or how many times she said “Yeong-mi,” a common first name.

And so a marketing campaign was born.

Budget carrier Tway Air is giving away 200 round-trip tickets to Nagoya, Japan, to people named Yeong-mi. Hundreds have left a comment on the airline’s web site identifying themselves as Oh Yeong-mi, Cho Yeong-mi, Lee Yeong-mi, etc.

The Samsung Blue Wings baseball team is inviting anyone with the name to

its opening day K-League game. The Lotte World amusement park is offering discounts through mid-

March to people who have either “Yeong” or “Mi” in their names.

In the team’s home province of North Gyeongsang, the BlueOne Water Park is being even more generous: It is giving free entrance to those sharing the first name of any of the five team members.

Curling is relatively new to South Korea. The first curling center opened in 2006 in Uiseong, where four of the five Garlic Girls attended the same high school. The team, which came into the Olympics ranked eighth in the world, crushed heavyweights Canada and Sweden before beating Japan, 8-7, in the semifinals.

It fell to Sweden, 8-3, in the finals. By then, the team members, with their success and quirky nicknames based on their favorite breakfast foods, had become a sensation. AP

NU gals eye redemption; Adamson U tries to extend streak

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ATIONAL University (NU) hopes to bounce back from its only loss so far dealt by a dark horse, as the Lady Bulldogs focus on the University of the Philippines (UP) Lady Maroons at the close of the first-round eliminations of Season 80 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s volleyball action today at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

Licking the wounds from a 22-25, 27-25, 13-25, 20-25 defeat to Far Eastern University on Wednesday, the Lady Bulldogs try to regain their winning ways right away when they take on the Lady Maroons (2-4) at 2 p.m.

Adamson University, meanwhile, seeks to end the first round with four straight wins when it battles winless University of the East (0-6) at 4 p.m.

Jaja Santiago was grieving the loss of her grandfather but decided to play last Wednesday only to be limited by FEU’s brilliant game plan to 13 points.

For the 6-foot-5 star, the rest of the team did great but the Lady Tamaraws wanted the win more and were well-prepared to stop them.

And Santiago wanted her team to forget about that defeat.

“Let’s move on, that game’s over,” she said.

“Coach [Babes Castillo] remains optimistic about us, so we have to follow him and just move on. We’re back to reality and we have to win this game.”

The Lady Maroons are coming off a huge morale-boosting win over the University of Santo Tomas Tigresses, 31-33, 25-23, 25-16, 2512, also on Wednesday.

“Facing NU—that’s what we’re looking forward to. That is a very interesting game. We are finding our footing so I believe we now know what to do,” UP’s Kenyan coach Godfrey Okumu said.

Okumu is going to lean on anew on the dynamic duo of skipper Tots Carlos and Isa Molde, who both made career-highs of 32 and 24 points, respectively, in their recent win.

In men’s play, NU (5-1) tries to keep its share of league lead when it faces UP (2-4) at 8 a.m.

Adamson University (1-5) tackles UE (0-6) at 10 a.m. Lance Agcaoili

Faith

Sunday

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

A6 Sunday, March 4, 2018

Saint Bride’s: The ‘Journalists’ Church’

By C. Mendez Legaspi

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Photos by Jowee Winstanley-Morel

ONDON, England—During the “Space for Silence” hour, between 5 and 6 p.m., only the flicker of candles illuminate the interior of Saint Bride’s Church tucked in a corner off Fleet Street.

The atmosphere hearkens one back to the Middle Ages, when such lighting was then the mode.

Quite fitting for this church, which became the “Cathedral of Fleet Street” after Wynkyn de Worde established a printing press with movable type in the church premises in 1501.

The location for de Worde’s business, between London and Westminster, was strategic because the clergy were the most literate social class at the time, and were, thus, the target market.

Soon after, Fleet Street eventually attracted poets and playwrights, and became a haven for print journalists.

In 1702 the Daily Courant, London’s first daily newspaper, began publishing. It was followed by the Morning Chronicle. By the 1880s the “penny press” (newspapers selling at 1 penny) became popular.

By the 20th century the national media (including the Daily Express and the Daily Telegraph) called Fleet Street its traditional address. But, in 1986, Rupert Murdoch’s News International (which publishes The Times and The Sun), claimed that it was impossible to be profitable at Fleet Street anymore, and moved his offices to Wapping East London.

Though other publications also moved away, Fleet Street today is still associated with the printing and publishing sector, and Saint Br ide’s remains the spir itual home for journalists.

Ancient Church

Saint Bride’s is said to be named after Saint Brigid of Kildare, or Brigid of Ireland (c. 451-525), one of Ireland’s patron saints.

But the church site, as some reports claimed, was used by the Romans as a temple some six centuries earlier.

The church was one of the structures destroyed by the Great Fire of London in 1666. It was rebuilt by the great English architect Sir Christopher Wren, who also built Saint Paul’s Cathedral,

his masterpiece which is a few steps away from Saint Bride’s.

In 1940 the church was again demolished by German bombs in World War II. Before rebuilding was completed, the medieval archaeologist Professor W. F. Grimes made astonishing discoveries amid the rubble: the foundations of all six previous churches on the site, including the remains of temple mosaic pavements dating back to Roman times.

Another surprise was the excavation of 7,000 skeletons interred at the crypt of victims of the Great Plague of 1665 and the cholera epidemic of 1854. Some tombstones can be viewed at the crypt museum below the church.

There is also a chapel underground that serves as a memorial to the Harmsworth family (the mass-circulation newspaper proprietors like the Daily Mirror) and the staff of Associated Newspapers (Daily Mail, MailOnline, Mail on Sunday, Metro) who were killed in the line of duty covering the two world wars.

Romantic connection

Spared from devastation from the German onslaught, fortunately, was the distinctive multi-tiered tower that architect Wren added to Saint Bride’s in 1703.

Legend has it that a baker named William Rich wanted to make a special cake for his wedding to a master baker’s daughter.

He got inspired by the steeple of Saint Bride’s, the venue for their wedding. So he created a cake in tiers, with each tier smaller than the previous one. Thus, giving birth to the traditional design of the wedding cake we are familiar with to this day.

Journalists’ altar

The English Baroque church is a Grade I-listed building, which means it is deemed by the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England to be of “exceptional interest.”

Knowing this and its importance to my chosen profession,

Saint John Joseph of the Cross

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By Corazon Damo-Santiago

ohn Joseph of the Cross went to the cathedral to venerate the blood of Saint Januarius, bishop and martyr, who was beheaded in 305 by Emperor Diocletianus. The blood liquefied 18 times a year.

The “dark, solid, opaque mass” in a 4-inch glass container was fixed on a metal reliquary. It turned to liquid on Saturday before the first Sunday of May, the day of the relic’s transfer to Naples, and on the following eight days, on September 19, the feast of the saint, during its octave, and on December 16, the anniversary of Naples deliverance from the threatening eruption of Mount Vesuvius on December 16, 1631.

John Joseph’s cane was lost in the crowd so getting out was an ordeal. At the church door, he paused and prayed, “My hobby horse has run away, Saint Januarius will bring it back.”

Inside the cathedral people cried loud: “A miracle, a miracle!” The spectacle—a flying cane that descended on the hand of Saint John Joseph.

The cardinal encased the cane and is now a precious relic of the saint.

Model of virtues

Named Carlo Gaetano Calosirto, he was born on August 15, 1654, the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Mother on the

Island of Ischia near Naples, Italy.

As a child, he was a model of virtue and humility and love for the poor. The most secluded room in the house was his quarter, where he made an altar of the Blessed Lady. At a young age, he allotted the choicest portion of his meals and pocket money for the poor.

At 16, he entered the Franciscan Order of the Strictest Observance, or the Reform of Saint Peter of Alcantara, and assumed the religious name John Joseph of the Cross.

The first Italian to join the order, he fasted constantly, abstained from wine and slept only three hours each night. He was ordained in 1677.

Impressed with his piety he was sent to establish a monastery in Piedmont after three years, which he helped build with his hands. A man of great humility, he carried wood and water for the friars and was always available for most of the unwanted works in the community.

At 24, he was assigned as master of the novices. As superior, he set the example of a strict observance of rules, silence, prayer and recollection, and personified the strides to heroic perfection.

When the convents of Italy were formed as a separate territory, he was assigned as the provincial.

Life of self denial

It was usual for John Joseph to be absorbed

The BusinessMirror at the “Journalists’ Church”

Saint Bride’s Church steeple

Wooden Madonna from Berlin

Journalists’ altar

missing, imprisoned or held hostage; and we also hold in prayer those who are out in the field, covering stories at great personal risk to themselves.”

Looking at the pictures at the altar, I couldn’t help but wish that the 34 journalists killed in the 2009 Maguindanao Massacre are part of the memorial. The Committee to Protect Journalists (founding honorary chairman was Walter Cronkite, the Philippines’s Sheila Coronel of the Graduate School of Journalism, Columbia University is a board of director), has called it “the single deadliest event for journalists in history.”

my filmmaker/host/friend and I entered the church with bated breath. Wrapped in darkness, the mood is so solemn and the silence so comforting after our frantic rush from the Buckingham Palace.

There are candles at the main altar. A few churchgoers, seeking sanctuary from their toxic workplace outside, sit in complete reverie at the pews.

But what draws the eye more are the candles on the north aisle, the Journalists’ Altar, where every day prayers are being said for media practitioners who put their lives at risk to spread the “truth at all costs.”

Pictures of the dearly departed, who worked for media entities, are displayed atop the altar. Some of them died naturally, while most perished in the line of fire.

Below the names and photographs is the biblical passage: “And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us.”

This altar was the site for allnight vigils for prayers for journalists John McCarthy (United Press International Television News), Terry Anderson (the Associated Press) and all the other hostages

held by Islamic jihadists during the Lebanon Crisis from 1985-1991.

After their release, the altar “serves as a constant vigil for those across the globe who have put themselves in grave danger so that we can be informed of events and regimes that could otherwise go unscrutinised,” stated in Saint Bride’s literature.

A marker reads: “At this altar day by day, we pray for all those who face danger, persecution and death in bringing the truth in word and pictures to a trouble world.”

The literature continues: “Our ministry to journalists, and to those working in every area of the media industry, remains one of the most important and distinctive aspects of our life at Saint Bride’s.

That ministry is never more apparent than at our annual Journalists’ Commemorative Service, which is attended by leading figures in the world of the press, television, radio and digital media.

“During the service we light candles for journalists, photographers, camera crew and support staff who have died or who have been killed on the frontline; we remember also those who are

in ecstasies, stood like a statue with a halo of light encircling his head and awakened when he appears as a burning coal, narrated Rev. Alban Butler in the Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and Other Principal Saints.

Daily, he scourged himself, spending long hours of prayer and self-sacrificing love. He wore several iron crosses with sharp points on his back, chest and shoulders to share Jesus’ sufferings.

An instrument of suffering he devised for himself was a foot-long cross fastened tightly on his shoulders which opened a wound which never closed. A rough heavy habit entirely hid it.

Barefoot, he was obliged to wear sandals but he placed nails placed between them and his feet.

Saints have said that the way to heaven can be through mortification “if men could consent to sacrifice to virtue but one half what they sacrifice to feed their passions!”

Saint John Joseph of the Cross has a gift of prophecy, healing, bilocation and levitation during ecstasies.

The saint who exemplified self-denial as never and end in itself but only a help toward a greater charity, died of apoplexy, bleeding within an internal organ on March 5, 1734.

He was beatified by Pope Pius VI in 1789 and canonized by Pope Gregory XVI in 1839.

His feast day is March 5.

Pilgrim relic of Saint Therese visits Laguna, Cavite, Batangas

Santiago is a former regional director of the Department of Education National Capital Region. She is currently a faculty member of Mater Redemptoris Collegium in Calauan, Laguna, and of Mater Redemptoris College in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija.

Prayer for journalists

“Saint Bride’s, Fleet Street is a warm and welcoming Christian community, and one of the most famous and most fascinating historic churches in Central London,” Alison Joyce, rector of Saint Bride’s, said in a message.

“A place of Christian worship for 1,500 years, we continue to proclaim the love of God here.

Whether journalist, tourist, city resident or worker, you will always be made welcome.”

T

he pilgrim relic of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, which is visiting the country for the fourth time, has traveled to the North and Central Luzon and some parts of Southern Luzon since it arrived on January 12. The relic will be in the country until May 31.

Based on the itinerar y from the organizing committee of the pilgrim relic’s visit, it will have its farewell Mass at Saint Mark Cathedral in Infanta, Quezon, on March 4 at 6 a.m. before it travels to the Carmel of the Incarnate Word in San Pablo, Laguna.

Its succeeding schedule will be as follows: n March 4: 12:30 p.m. welcome rites, Mass and overnight veneration at Carmel of the Incarnate Word, San Pablo, Laguna; n March 5 to 7: 8 a.m. farewell Mass at Carmel of the Incarnate Word; motorcade to, welcome Mass and veneration at the Diocesan Shrine of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus in Los Bañoa, Laguna; n March 7: 4 a.m. rosary, lauds and farewell Mass at the Diocesan Shrine of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus in Los Baños, Laguna; 7 a.m. transfer to the Diocese of Imus, Cavite; arrival at Saint

Joseph Parish, Carmona, Cavite; motorcade to La Salle Dasmariñas Chapel; procession to, Mass and veneration at Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish, Damariñas; motorcade to Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish Imus Cathedral; Solemn Office of Readings and Te Deum at Our Lady of Pilar Cathedral Parish; motorcade to Imus Cathedral, Umboy, Tanza; caracol to, welcome Mass and veneration at Diocesan Shrine of Saint Agustine in Tanza; n March 8: 12 a.m. and 6 a.m. Masses

When press freedom is under attack, and fake news and disinformation prevalent in the Philippines at present, a visit to the Journalists’ Church takes on more meaning.

Saint Bride’s offers a prayer from Saint Francis de Sales, patron saint of writers and journalists: “Almighty God, strengthen and direct, we pray, the will of all whose work it is to write what many read, and to speak where many listen.

May we be bold to confront evil and injustice: understanding and compassionate of human weakness; rejecting alike the half-truth which deceives, and the slanted word which corrupts. May the power which is ours, for good or ill, always be used with honesty and courage, with respect and integrity, so that when all here has been written, said and done, we may, unashamed, meet Thee face to face. Amen.”

As w ith the rebuilding efforts after World War II, Saint Bride’s relies on the generosity of benefactors for its continued maintenance. You can help t h rough htt p://w w w.stbr ides. com/worship/donate-to-help-stbrides.html.

and veneration at Diocesan Shrine of Saint Agustine in Tanza; 7:30 motorcade to Cavite State University (CSU); procession from CSU to Saint Gregory the Great Parish in Indang, Cavite; motorcade to Pajo, Alfonso; caracol from Pajo to Saint John Nepomuceno Parish in Alfonso, Cavite; n March 9: Farewell 4 a.m. Mass in Saint John Nepomuceno Parish; penitential walk and turn over to the Archdiocese of Lipa; motorcade to Kaylaway; welcome rites at Saint Francis Xavier Parish in Nasugbu, Batangas; motorcade to San Rafael Parish in Calaca; welcome rites, Mass and veneration at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus in Santa Teresita, Batangas; n March 10: 6 a.m. farewell Mass at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus; motorcade to, welcome rites, Mass, vigil and veneration at the Immaculate Conception Parish, Basilica, Batangas City; motorcade to, Mass, vigil and veneration at the Most Holy Trinity Parish in Batangas City. n March 11: 6 a.m. farewell Mass at the Most Holy Trinity parish; motorcade to, Mass, vigil and veneration at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Monastery in Lipa.

Tourism&Entertainment BusinessMirror

Editor: Carla Mortel-Baricaua

Sunday March 4, 2018

A7

Baguio: More than just the summer capital

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Story & photos by Joshua Berida

aguio has always been the go-to destination of many from Manila or other parts of the country during summer. Its cold temperature and familiar attractions make it a suitable place to spend a few days or weeks.

Recognized under the crafts and folk arts category, Baguio recently became a part of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (Unesco) Creative Cities Network, which includes 180 members from around 60 countries. A first for the country, Baguio deserves a second look from tourists who are out for a culture crawl for their next visit.

As a new member of the Creative Cities Network, Baguio’s main objective is to promote creativity as a means, not just for artistic expression, but also for sustainable development, integration of creativity and culture into development of local communities and the creation of innovative and creative hubs that would provide opportunities for the artists.

In celebration of the UNESCO designation, the city sponsored “Creative Baguio” in February that brought together artists from different specializations with distinct narratives based on their diverse backgrounds.

Staged in Malcolm Square, the occasion gathered Baguio’s artists known for their skills in basket weaving, metal crafts, tattoo art, carving and sculpture. Baguio Creative Council Chairman Adelaida Lim, Secretary-General of the Philippine National Commission to Unesco Lila Ramos Shahani

and Baguio City Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan graced the event that showcased the city’s creativity and culture. National Artist for Visual Arts Benedicto R. Cabrera, popularly known as Ben Cab, unveiled the Baguio Creative City logo.

On exhibit was the native basket, one of the main products of the region. The weaving required to make the basket represents the different sectors involved that worked for the Creative Cities listing. “It’s also about connectivity, the booths in the pavilion show, the connectivity of one sector to another,” University of the Philippines Chancellor of Baguio Dr. Raymundo D. Rovillos said. “Creativity thrives in a culture of openness,” he further added.

The city’s addition to the Creative Cities list will hopefully draw tourists’ attention to creative spots, such as Arko ni Apo, Tamawan Village and the Woodcarvers’ Village. The large mural painted on the Stobosa houses in nearby La Trinidad is also a must-see.

Means of storytelling

The city has a creative vibe even before it was named by the Unesco.

One of the popular destinations during a weekend trip is the Ben Cab Museum that features a collection of the artist’s work. After

A showcase of dance, traditional attire and culture during the event

the inclusion on the list, Baguio aims to broaden their artist base by promoting and showcasing their talents. One such artist is Lito Malaggay, who creates wire sculptures and hails from Sagada. He unwittingly discovered his artistic talent while composing songs. “I just found a piece of wire and started to sing. After my song ended, I forgot I was holding a wire. When I looked at it, I saw that it had a shape,” he said.

“I’m not into welding [wires], I just use my hands to make a sculpture. I want to tell my story as an Igorot. I want to transfer my skill to others and change misconceptions about us. [Now] I help prisoners make something extra. The skill [that] I managed to teach helps them to earn a living. I also learned more about myself and my culture

Local artist demonstrate the process of their art.

Baguio Creative celebration comes with a toast, prayer and offerings.

A display of musical prowess marks the launch of Baguio as a Creative City.

through my work,” he further added.

The tattoo art of the Cordilleras, the basket weaves, the wire sculptures all carry the narratives and skills of those who made them and form a huge part of the cultural

heritage they want to pass on.

Passing the baton

“One of our challenges is how can we transfer these skills to the youth,” Rovillos said. “That’s why

Mövenpick Resort & Spa Boracay maintains its global environmental sustainability

Open your world to new experiences with special rates from Emirates

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By Marane Plaza

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orld-renowned hotel management Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has recently launched its newest beach resort-hotel property on the shores of Boracay Island, Philippines.

Mövenpick Resort & Spa Boracay introduces Swiss-rooted hospitality to the famed tropical island, with its world-class accommodation, dining and beachfront entertainment.

The official opening of the MÖvenpick beach resort in Boracay was celebrated in an elaborate party and gala dinner event attended by VIP guests that included Gov. Florencio Miraflores of Aklan Province; Mayor Ciceron Cawaling of Malay; Ambassador Alfredo Yao; Chairman of Summit Hotels & Resorts Specialist Inc., Andrew Langdon, chief development officer, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts; and Mark Willis, President Asia, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts.

Themed “Cirque du Paradiso,” the launch event featured performances by Boracay drumbeaters and showgirls, fire dancers, wheel stunts, aerial dancers and a firework show. The after party featured live music from a rockaoke band followed by local DJs spinning dance-floor tunes on

the poolside stage and three special sets by international DJ Tom Taus at the resort’s Sol Marina Beach Club.

“We are delighted to launch this resort with such a spectacular event and to offer domestic and international visitors an exciting new place to stay and experience the best of Boracay,” Willis said.

“The island is fast becoming one of Asia’s top choices for beach holidays, and the unique design and world-class facilities on offer at Mövenpick Resort & Spa Boracay raise the bar in terms of island hospitality, supported by our renowned service philosophy and attention to detail,” he added.

Indulgent tropical holiday with Mövenpick

Overlooking the azure waters of Punta Bunga Cove on the island’s exclusive northwest coast, the 312-room Mövenpick Resort & Spa Boracay is an attractive low-rise resort designed to blend with the natural environment on a secluded 200-meter private stretch of white-sand beach.

The five-star beachfront boasts of its 312 rooms and suites, including a beach villa. It also takes pride in its multilevel swimming pool spanning some

3,300 square meters, as well as its seven restaurants serving top-class local and international cuisines for a sumptuous, top-notch dining experience.

Its entertainment hub, the Sol Marina Beach Club, regularly hosts international DJs and performers. The resort’s indoor and outdoor meeting and event venues are designed to suit all occasions, from board meetings and group workshops to romantic weddings, amid tropical beachside gardens beneath swaying palms.

Nestled among a lush tropical landscape and an exceptional private beach with turquoise blue waters, this upscale destination offers guests a chance to experience Boracay in an opulent way.

Located on the northern tip of Boracay Island in Punta Bunga Cove, Movenpick Boracay is only 30 minutes away from Caticlan Airport.

Family-oriented stay at Mövenpick

Aside from its top-of-the-line accommodations and world-class facilities, Movenpick offers very unique family-oriented services that will surely make for a hassle-free family vacation.

“Mövenpick Resort & Spa Boracay offers its own special brand of family-friendly hospi-

tality. We have the ‘Mövenpick Family Program,’ which means that parents traveling with babies and toddlers are offered a helping hand,” Ocasio shared.

“They can borrow childcare equipment, such as baby cots, baby baths and night-lights, and the unique Mövenpick Power Bites menu features fun, healthy meals for kids. We have a varied kid’s activity schedule that is packed with engaging pursuits, many with an ‘edutainment’ focus so that children pick up new skills while enjoying themselves,” he shared.

Not your ordinary island haven

Boracay, named the world’s most beautiful island by Conde Nast, has recently been making headlines because of its sewer system that allegedly may cause danger to people’s health.

Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu released in January this year a list of resorts and hotels on the island that are allegedly not connected to the existing sewer system, causing President Duterte to issue a warning of a shut down of the famous whitesand destination.

Albert Ocasio, the beach property’s general manager, stated that Mövenpick Resort & Spa Boracay underwent all the necessary inspections prior to obtain-

ing a business license, assuring that the island resort is fully compliant with local laws and regulations regarding the treatment and disposal of wastewater.

“The public sewer system does not yet extend to the part of the island where Mövenpick Resort & Spa Boracay is located.

We therefore installed a dedicated sewage-treatment plant to ensure that the disposed water does not go into the ocean. All our wastewater is fully treated before being collected by the Boracay Water Co. and this process is fully compliant with local environmental laws and regulations, “ Ocasio explained.

“The health and safety of our guests and employees is of the utmost importance to us at all times. As a company deeply committed to environmental sustainability, we are ready to assist the authorities in every way possible to protect and preserve Boracay’s stunning natural assets, as we are aware of recent reports regarding the closure of certain establishments on Boracay that do not comply with environmental standards. We will continue to be fully compliant with local laws and regulations regarding the treatment and disposal of wastewater, and to help monitor the situation and act accordingly,” he added.

we have plans and proposals to transmit these skills through vocational courses. Other than these, we also propose [giving] assistance to the artists, [and find ways] on how different sectors can help them so they can continue their craft, [by having] just and fair labor relationships, and incentives.”

Being the first Philippine city in the Unesco Creative City list, it is the local officials’ and tourism officers’ hope that other cities will garner the same recognition, given the country’s rich cultural heritage. An inclusion in this network opens doors for both artists and cities where growth is promoted by integrating creativity and art into their programs that can lead to job creation, sustainable development and richer cultural identity of their respective cities.

mirates is inviting customers to go on an adventure and open their world to something new as the airline is offering special rates for flights from Manila, Cebu and Clark to destinations in Europe, the US, Africa and the UAE from February 26 to March 7.

Book your flight online from February 26 to March 7 and enjoy rates for as low as $629 for Economy Class and $2149 for Business Class. Experience the rich history of the Western world through flights to France, Rome, Spain, Portugal, the UK and the US. For adventure-seekers, the dynamic culture and golden scenery of Africa await. If you’re aiming for a wonderful experience that will last a lifetime, then Dubai is the place to be.

Travel period for Business Class is from March 5 to November 30, while travel period for Economy Class is from March 1 to November 30.

These rates are for flights from Clark. To view the special rates for flights from Manila and Cebu, please visit the Emirates website at www.emirates.com/ph.

Emirates offers flexibility for customers to book flights to one city, and return from another city, allowing Filipino travelers to make the most of their holiday in Europe, for example. Furthermore, Emirates’s code share partnership with flydubai, removes the barriers to experience more cultures and go to more destinations.

Get the most out of your trips—and your money—with Emirates’s top-notch services and onboard offers. Discover new flavors with the airline’s exquisite in-flight meals, and be entertained with the airline’s award-winning in-flight entertainment system ice Digital Widescreen, where you can access more than 3,000 channels, including Filipino content, for high-quality on-demand entertainment. Stay connected and in the loop with the free onboard Wi-fI. With Emirates, every Mile counts with Skywards, the carrier’s award-winning frequent flyer program.

Earn Miles each time you fly Emirates and spend them with Emirates and its wide network of partners.

Emirates currently operates 18 weekly flights from Manila to Dubai, as well as a daily service from Cebu and Clark to Dubai, connecting passengers to a wide number of destinations in Europe, the Middle East and the Americas.

Science

BusinessMirror

A8 Sunday, March 4, 2018

Scientific treasures abound on Madia-as Mountain Range

By Jun N. Aguirre Correspondent

I

bajay, Aklan—Unknown to many, the Madia-as Mountain Range in the Central Panay is a possible home to several scientific treasures that would still be explored and discovered.

According to Science Undersecretary Renato U. Solidum Jr., scientists believe that the Madia-as Mountain Range originated from the seabed thousands of years ago.

The mountain range, which is considered a dormant volcano, was the highest peak on the island of Panay at 2,117 meters above sea level. It is located in the province of Antique but connects with the tributaries of Aklan River. “ T he mountain range may have been formed from the collisions under the sea with the help of several fault lines, including West Panay Fault and the Tablas Fault. Currently, the mountain range is still growing,” said Solidum, also the OIC of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) .

Solidum was in Ibajay on Tuesday for the launching of the stateof-the-art Phivolcs monitoring station inside the campus of the Aklan State University in the town.

Several years ago, some explorers from the nearby Negros Occidental reportedly found a piece of mineral dubbed as “Panayanites.”

The mineral was said to be a common undersea material.

“A c c o rd i n g t o g e o l o g i s t s , Panay was once connected to Pa lawan and ma in land A sia.

There are still numerous treasures in Madia-as that is yet to be explored and examined by the scientists,” Solidum added.

R esident s l iv i ng nea r t he Madia-as Mountain R ange repor ted the presence of var ious species of f lora and fauna, including rare orchids, pitcher plants, w ild herbs, w ild deer and boar, cloud rat, a bonsai forest, a lagoon and a rainforest that prov ides the mountain a weather of its ow n.

It is also one of the favorite trekking spot by mountain climbers from all over the country.

WHO scientist to speak at PCHRD 36th yr celebration

D

r. Bernadette Ramirez, World Health Organization’s (WHO) scientist, will deliver the keynote address at the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development’s (PCHRD) 36th anniversary celebration on March 16 at the Philippine International Convention Center.

R amirez joined t he W HO Specia l Prog ramme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases in June 2007 with over 20 years academic and research ex per ience in hea lth-product i n no v at ion , d r u g d i s co ve r y, vaccines and the development of d iag nostics for infectious tropical diseases.

She provides support and coordinates projects that studies population health vulnerabilities, vector-borne diseases and ways to increase population resilience against the climate-change impact in Africa.

Joi n i ng R a m i rez a s g uest speakers are Science Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III and University of the Philippine

(UP) Manila Professor Mary Ann Lansang. The PCHRD 36th anniversary celebration will highlight social innovations in health.

Part of the program is the recognition of good practices in social innovation in health, including the winners of the 2017 Search for PHL Social Innovation in Health Initiative Solutions.

A panel discussion fol lows, which w il l discuss oppor tunit ies a nd appropr i ate f ra me works on socia l innovation in hea lth research.

The panelists include UP Manila Professor Noel Juban, UP School of Economics Professor Aleli Kraft, Ateneo de Manila University Institute of Philippine Culture Research Associate Dennis Batangan and One Health Boat Project Founder Katerina Nono-Abiertas.

Awarding of newly accredited Research Ethics Committees and winners of the “Visualize Health Research: Visual Abstract Contest” will also be conducted.

PCHRD is the national coordinating and monitoring body for health research. S&T Media Service

Linking 2 consortia of 70 universities pushed to boost agricultural research

A

t a recent Tokyo symposium, the Philippine government-hosted Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) pushed to link two university consortia that share interests in agriculture and related sciences.

The Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC), which was launched

by Searca in 1989, counts among its members the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and eight other leading agricultural universities in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, Canada and Germany.

On the other hand, 68 universities in Asean, Japan and Korea are participating in the Asean International Mobility for Students (AIMS) Programme, led by the Bangkokbased Southeast Asian Regional Center for Higher Education (Rihed). Four of the nine UC members are among the 68 universities in the AIMS Programme.

Searca and Rihed are two of the 24 centers of excellence and network of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization, wherein the Philippines is represented by Education Secretary Leonor M. Briones.

At the Tokyo symposium on “Challenges for Campus to Campus, Establishment of Connectivity in Research and Education Beyond Borders” held last month, Searca presented the merits of opening the

prestigious UC Graduate Forum to the AIMS universities to enable students to attend and present their research results.

Of the 10 major study fields that AIMS focuses on, agriculture, biodiversity, environmental management and science, food science and technology, marine science, and economics align with Searca’s priority thrusts to promote inclusive and sustainable agricultural and rural development.

“As such, Searca sees that drawing in AIMS scholars and researchers to the UC Graduate Forum can be an impetus for collaborations in new research among constituents of the UC and AIMS to boost agricultural and rural development,” Searca Director Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit Jr. said.

In addition to joining the UC Graduate Forum, Saguiguit noted that Rihed is also considering conducting summer schools and developing massive open online courses for students who cannot go to other countries.

Since the UC has been organizing graduate forums, summer schools and research collaborations and exchanges, Saguiguit said it would be seamless to tie up these activities to those of AIMS. He added that Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and University of Tsukuba have expressed interest in supporting these collaborations by funding the participation not only of students, but also of university faculty and researchers.

Sunday

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

Astronomers glimpse the cosmic dawn, when the stars switched on

W

ASHINGTON—After the Big Bang, it was cold and black. And then there was light. Now, for the first time, astronomers have glimpsed that dawn of the universe 13.6 billion years ago when the earliest stars were turning on the light in the cosmic darkness.

And if that’s not enough, they may have detected mysterious dark matter at work, too.

The glimpse consisted of a faint radio signal from deep space, picked up by an antenna that is slightly bigger than a refrigerator and costs less than $5 million but in certain ways can go back much farther in time and distance than the celebrated, multibillion-dollar Hubble Space Telescope.

Judd Bowman of Arizona State University, lead author of a study in Wednesday’s journal Nature, said the signal came from the very first objects in the universe as it was emerging out of darkness 180 million years after the Big Bang.

Seeing the universe just lighting up, even though it was only a faint signal, is even more important than the Big Bang because “we are made of star stuff, and so we are glimpsing at our origin,” said astronomer Richard Ellis, who was not involved in the project.

The signal showed unexpectedly cold temperatures and an unusually pronounced wave. When astronomers tried to figure out why, the best explanation was that elusive dark matter may have been at work.

If verified, that would be the first confirmation of its kind of dark matter, which is a substantial part of the universe that scientists have been searching for over decades.

“If confirmed, this discovery deserves two Nobel Prizes” for both capturing the signal of the first stars and potential dark matter confirmation, said Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb, who wasn’t part of the research team.

Cautioning that “extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence,” he said independent tests are needed to verify the findings.

Bowman agreed independent tests are needed even though his team spent two years double- and triple-checking their work.

“It’s a time of the universe we really don’t know anything about,” Bowman said. He added the discovery is “like the first sentence”

in an early chapter of the history of the cosmos.

This is nothing that astronomers could actually see. In fact, it’s all indirect, based on changes in the wavelengths produced by radio signals.

The early universe was dark and cold, filled with just hydrogen and helium. Once stars formed, they emitted ultraviolet light into the dark areas between them. That ultraviolet light changes the energy signature of hydrogen atoms, Bowman said.

Astronomers looked at a specific wavelength. If there were stars and ultraviolet light, they would see one signature. If there were no stars, they would see another. They saw a clear but faint signal showing there were stars, probably many of them, Bowman added.

Finding that trace signal wasn’t easy because the Milky Way galaxy alone booms with radio wave noise 10,000 times louder, said Peter Kurczynski, advanced program

technology director for the National Science Foundation, which helped fund the research.

“Finding the impact of the first stars in that cacophony would be like trying to hear the flap of a hummingbird’s wing from inside a hurricane,” Kurczynski said in an NSF video.

Because the high end of the frequency they were looking in is the same as FM radio, the astronomers had to go to the Australian desert to escape interference. That was where they installed their antennas.

They then labored to confirm what they found, in part by testing it against dummy signals in the lab, and it all showed that what they spotted was the existence of the first stars, Bowman said.

So far, the scientists know little about these early stars. They were probably hotter and simpler than modern stars, Ellis and Bowman said. But now that astronomers know where and how to look, others will confirm this and learn more, Bowman said.

The research does not establish exactly when these stars turned on, except that at 180 m i l l io n y e a r s a f t e r t he B i g Bang, they were on. Scientists had come up with many different time periods for when the first stars switched on, and 180 million years fits with current theory, said Ellis, a professor at University College London.

When this signal was found and examined, it showed that the hydrogen between stars was “even colder than the coldest we thought

possible,” said Rennan Barkana, a Tel Aviv University astrophysicist who wrote a companion study on the dark matter implications of the discovery.

The researchers expected temperatures to be 10 degrees above absolute zero, but they were 5 degrees above absolute zero (minus 451 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 268 degrees Celsius).

“The only thing we know from this signal is that something very weird is going on,” Barkana said.

What seems likely is dark matter—which scientists have never seen interacting with anything— may be cooling that hydrogen, he said. Dark matter makes up about 27 percent of the universe, but scientists know little about it except that it’s not made of normal matter particles called baryons.

Scientists have known dark matter exists, indirectly, through measurements based on gravity.

If this interpretation of the data is correct, it would be the first conf ir mation of dark matter outside of gravity calculations, Barkana said.

It a lso potentia l ly revea ls something new about the nature of dark matter.

“If the result is correct it constitutes an indirect detection of dark matter and, moreover suggests something of fundamental importance [its interaction with baryon],” Johns Hopkins University astrophysicist Marc Kamionkowski, who wasn’t part of the study, said in an e-mail. “This, therefore, is about as important as you can get in cosmology.” AP

This image, provided by the National Science Foundation, shows the timeline of the universe. Scientists have detected a signal from 180 million years after the Big Bang when the earliest stars began glowing. The findings were published on February 28 in the journal Nature.

N.R. Fuller/National Science Foundation via AP

This burger saves emissions like taking 2M cars off the road

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ASHINGTON D.C.—Burgers are possibly the most ubiquitous meal on Americans’ dinner plates, but they’re also among the most resourceintensive: beef accounts for nearly half of the land use and greenhouse-gas emissions associated with the food Americans eat.

Although there’s growing interest in plant-based burgers and other alternatives, for the millions of people who still want to order beef, there’s a better burger out there: a beef-mushroom blend that maintains, or even enhances, that meaty flavor with significantly less environmental impact.

Americans eat approximately 10 billion burgers each year. Replacing 30 percent of the beef in those burgers with mushrooms would: n Reduce agricultural production-related greenhouse-gas emissions by 10.5 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, equivalent to taking 2.3 million cars (and their annual tailpipe emissions) off the road.

That’s like the entire county of San Diego going carless;

n Reduce irrigation-water demand by 83 billion gallons per year, an amount equal to 2.6 million Americans’ annual home water use; and n Reduce global agricultural-land demand by more than 14,000 square miles, an area larger than the state of Maryland.

Tastes great, less impact

The Culinary Institute of America and others recommend blending plant-based foods into meat-based dishes as one way to shift mainstream consumers’ diets without requiring lifestyle changes.

Mushrooms have a meat-like texture, moisture-retention properties, and an umami taste that can enhance the burger’s flavor while enabling chefs to also cut back on salt content.

Beef-mushroom burgers can also be lower in calories and saturated fat than all-beef burgers, making them a healthier choice.

Across a variety of important consumer attributes—including flavor, texture,

appearance and the ability to make a consumer feel full at the end of the meal— the beef-mushroom blended burger stacks up favorably to a conventional all-beef burger.

Good for business

Blended burgers represent an exciting sustainability opportunity for restaurants and food-service operators, as beef accounts for a sizable portion of these companies’ greenhouse gas emissions.

McDonald’s, for example, estimates that 28 percent of its corporate carbon footprint—an amount similar in size to the footprint of its energy use across all of the company’s restaurants and offices—results from beef production.

Similarly, agricultural supply chains tend to account for 90 percent or more of a food company’s total water footprint—and beef production is a particularly thirsty user of water, requiring more irrigation water per pound of product than any other animal-based food.

With companies increasingly setting science-based greenhouse-gas emissions

reduction and water-stewardship targets, the blended burger is a sustainability strategy that could sit alongside renewable energy, energy efficiency, water efficiency and wastereduction measures to make progress toward ambitious environmental goals.

Encouragingly, the beef-mushroom blended burger also appears to not increase costs for food-service operators. Effects on costs and profitability will depend on the relative prices of beef and mushrooms, the effects on meal-preparation time, necessity for additional chef training and kitchen equipment, and the listed price of the blended burger on menus.

A 2014 to 2015 trial in a Baltimore public school suggested that the blended burger could be at least cost-neutral compared to traditional beef burgers. Over time, if meat producers and distributors sell preprepared blended burgers, economies of scale could make the blended burger an even more attractive business proposition to food service.

Richard Waite, Daniel Vennard and Gerard Pozzi, WRI/IPS

RegionsSunday

www.businessmirror.com.ph • Editor: Efleda P. Campos

BusinessMirror

Sunday, March 4, 2018 A9

Gen. Santos City’s kaleidoscope of cultures Story by Bernard Supetran

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Special to the BusinessMirror Photos by Rodrian Gonzalez

ENERAL Santos City conjures images of the world’s best-tasting tuna caught off its waters which has tickled the palate of gastronomes around the globe.

But beyond being acknowledged as the country’s “Tuna Capital,” GenSan, as it is fondly known, is a city of divergent cultures being a frontier land in Mindanao once upon a time.

This kaleidoscope of cultures was brought to the fore once more as it recently celebrated its 79th foundation day as a municipality with the multiawarded Kalilangan Festival.

The city traces its roots to February 27, 1939, when Gen. Paulino Santos, head of the National Land Settlement Ad m inist rat ion of the Commonwealth government under President Manuel L. Quezon, landed at Rajah Buayan village on the shores of Sarangani Bay. A native of Camiling, Tarlac,

he led the relocation of 62 Christian settlers from Luzon aboard the steamship Basilan of Compañia Maritima, composed mostly of agricultural and trade graduates to cultivate the area which was then under the American-era Empire Province of Cotabato.

After the first influx of pioneers, thousands more Christians from Luzon and the Visayas subsequently moved into the promising land for farming and fisheries.

The migrants dwelt among the B’laan and T’boli indigenous tribes, as well as the Moro communities who have been inhabiting the area since time immemorial.

By virtue of its strategic loca-

tion, the town known as Dadiangas became the hub of commerce, education and transportation of South Central Mindanao.

As the municipality prospered economically, it was converted into a city on September 5, 1968, and named after him. Over the years, General Santos has grown into a first-class city and an important urban center in southern Philippines, being the hub of business and the tourism gateway of Region 12.

The city’s economic and cultural evolution is portrayed in Kalilangan, derived from the word Kalilang, which means celebration in the Maguindanaon language.

The festival derives its inspiration from the traditional Muslim social gathering marked by the exchange of amenities among ethnic leaders, elders and townsfolk for a stronger community life.

With this year’s theme “Cultivating Cultures: Inspiring New Ways,” the weeklong event brings to the fore the convergence of the lowland Christian population, the Muslim tribes and the indigenous peoples who have made General Santos their home.

General Santos City Mayor Ronnel Rivera said the festivity is a tribute to its founding pioneers

including its early inhabitants, emphasizing their shared histories, cultural heritage, tapestry of traditions, especially their decades-old harmonious coexistence.

Major events included the cultural village-themed exhibit which showcased the way of life and rich heritage of the city’s tripeople—the lumad tribes, the Moros and the Christian settlers.

The festival’s locus is the “Parada ng Lahi: Kadena de Amor,” a dawn reenactment of the landing of Gen. Santos and the so-called pioneers to demonstrates the people’s unity as they march together toward the public plaza for the commemorative program.

“I would like to emphasize that although our gathering is indeed a manifestation of our deep love, loyalty and dedication to our pioneers, this is also our way to make sure their legacy will be remembered and passed on to the next generations,” he said during the Parada ng Lahi rites.

A central activity within the program is the wreath-laying of the city’s local officials and descendants of General Santos and the pioneers at the Plaza Heneral Santos to honor their entrepreneurial spirit.

“The General Santos City gov-

ernment is sincere in its effort to preserve the legacy of our pioneers. In fact, more than continuously holding the Parada ng Lahi and celebrating the Kalilangan, we pursue the preservation of our culture and traditions, not only by building the City Museum, but also integrating Gensan history in the academe,” Rivera said.

He added that the city recently launched the renaming of the Circumferential Road as Albert Louis Morrow Boulevard to commemorate the 75th year of heroism and martyrdom of Morrow, an American civil engineer who died during World War 2 to spare the lives of Filipino hostages by the Japanese troops.

Morrow designed and supervised the construction of the city’s irrigation system, as well as its settlement plan and urban layout.

Capping the festivity was the Kadsagayan or street dance parade around the main thoroughfares and culminates at the city oval. But far more than the typical display of pomp and pageantry, the parade mirrors the city’s tri-people’s way of life as interpreted by the participating school contingents from General Santos and nearby provinces.

Adding spice to the celebration are the Aral di Munan indigenous

peoples’s dance showcase, Kadidang sa Tademan Moro dance tilt, the Sayaw Pinoy lowlanders dance competition and the Sonata sa Kahaponon which featured senior citizen musical talents.

There was also a variety of sporting, entertainment, musical, socio-civic and community-oriented special events which put the spotlight on home-grown talents and less on showbiz celebrities who often grace provincial shows.

Now on its 29th edition, Kalilangan is organized by the Mindanao State University (MSU) General Santos campus under its chancellor Abdurrahman Canacan.

Under MSU’s watch, Kalilangan Festival has been elevated to the Hall of Fame by the Association of Tourism Officers in the Philippines for having won top honors for three straight years in the Best Tourism Event (Culture and Arts Category, City Level) search.

“Their [pioneers] experiences continuously inspire and motivate us to become more grateful despite all the challenging times.

We take pride of the growth and development of our city amid diversity and adversity. We learn to thrive despite our differences,” Rivera said.

A10 Sunday, March 4, 2018

RegionsSunday BusinessMirror

Editor: Efleda P. Campos • www.businessmirror.com.ph

Bulacan celebrates Fiesta Republica 2018

“DULANSANGAN,” a street dance-drama competition showcasing the different historical events in pursuit of Philippine freedom and sovereignty, features historical vignettes staged in the city’s streets.

Story and photos by Catherine Joy L. Maglalang

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Correspondent

ITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan—The city government of Malolos yearly leads the Fiesta Republica (FR) celebration as an official festival in the province of Bulacan.

The occasion was a weeklong celebration of Philippine democracy and a festival of Filipino history, arts and culture, celebrated from January 17 to 23, each year, in the city of Malolos.

Fiesta Republica 2018’s theme is “Kasarinlan at Demokrasya, Pamana ng Kasaysayan sa Kabataang Pilipino.”

FR featured this year various sociocultural events, such as the “Parada para sa Republika,” a lyreband competition; and “Dulansangan,” a street dance-drama competition showcasing the different historical events in pursuit of Philippine freedom and sovereignty. It is a parade of historical vignettes staged in the streets depicting the distinctive historical event in their

respective locality; “Kulaysaysayan,” a painting, sculpture and photo competition; “Kalutong Malolos,” an ensaymada festival; Malolos Bike Festival; Republica Cup; Cine Republica; and other meaningful activities participated by different provinces all over the country and various municipalities of Bulacan, aside from the participation of 51 barangays, universities and schools in the city of Malolos.

As part of the annual culmination of the celebration, Bulakenyos observed the 119th anniversary of the Malolos Congress, the first Philippine Republic dubbed “Unang Republikang Filipino, Patnubay sa Pagsulong ng Bansa,” on January 23, at the historical Barasoain Church in this city.

MALOLOS City Mayor Christian D. Natividad leads the grand opening of the P300million Xentro Mall, central transport terminal, and commercial hub, the first-ever public-private partnership project in Central Luzon in Barangay Bulihan.

THE float of Malolos City sponsored by Xentro Mall joins Dulansangan 2018 from the Barasoain Church to the Malolos Sports and Convention Center.

“The Malolos Congress marked our independence as a nation. Today we are recognized as legitimate citizens of the Philippines. There is a big difference between recognizing us as a race and as citizens of a republic. During the 19th century, we were known as ‘Indios’ answering to the directives of a foreign

power,” Christian D. Natividad, the mayor of the city of Malolos, said in Filipino.

We suffered for 400 years under Spain. Let us cherish the sacrifices of our ancestors and cherish the seeds of independence sowed by the first Philippine Republic,” he said.

The historical event is now

MARJORIE N. Jalosjos, the Interior and Local Government assistant secretary for human resource and special concern, attends the observance of the 119th anniversary of the Malolos Congress, the first Philippine Republic, dubbed “Unang Republikang Filipino, Patnubay sa Pagsulong ng Bansa” on January 23, at the historical Barasoain Church in Malolos as the guest speaker.

called “Araw ng Republikang Pilipino, 1899,” based on Proclamation 533, which took effect in 2013. It gathered hundreds of Bulakenyos who participated in this important event.

National Historical Commission of the Philippines Director Ludovico Badoy; Chief Supt. Ama-

dor V. Corpuz, Philippine National Police director in Central Luzon; Julie J. Daquioag, director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Region 3; Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado; Cong. Jose Antonio R. Sy-Alvarado; Vice Gov. Daniel R. Fernando; Malolos Mayor Natividad; Vice Mayor Bebong Gatchalian, other local officials, government employees, senior citizens, volunteer workers, veterans, teachers, students and other non-governmental organizations graced the activity.

Marjorie N. Jalosjos, the Interior and Local Government assistant secretary for human resource and special concern, who attended as the guest speaker, said “the courage, concern and unity of our ancestors, along with their burning love for the country, made the Filipino race known to the world.”

The program started with a flag-raising ceremony, followed by a wreath-laying activity at the monument of Emilio Aguinaldo, the first Philippine president. Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea issued Proclamation 394, also known as “Declaring Tuesday, January 23, 2018, as a Special [Non-Working] Day in the Province of Bulacan,” to give Bulakenyos the full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion.

THE wall of the Xentro Mall features the historical places in the city of Malolos.

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www.businessmirror.com.ph • Editor: Efleda P. Campos

BusinessMirror

Sunday, March 4, 2018 A11

Legend of the Ati-atihan Fest in Aklan

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Story and photos by Jun N. Aguirre Correspondent

ALIBO, Aklan—Every January, Filipinos all over the world celebrate the Atiatihan Festival, which is primarily devoted to the Santo Niño, or Child Jesus.

But unknown to the millennial or younger generation, the history of the Ati-atihan is steeped in faith and Filipino culture.

In 1975 Catholic priest Msgrs.

Jose Iturralde wrote the history of the Ati-atihan could be traced to the old fishermen couple in Barangay Naile in the western part of the province.

Iturralde said that in the early1700s, an unnamed male fisherman went into the river to catch fish.

But along the way, he considered it unfortunate that he caught a piece of wood, instead of fish. He tried to throw the wood away, but it repeatedly returned to his net. Dismayed, he decided to bring the wood home and threw it in a pile to use as fuel to cook their meal. The fisherman with his wife sleeps for a while and later they heard a beating sound nearby.

When they look where the sound beatings where, they found the piece of wood has carving of a child.

The fishermen then decided to place it in their altar. From there on, the family received blessings, including good fish harvests. Several weeks passed, and the fisherman decided to seek advice from a priest.

The priest asked the fishermen to place the wood at the Ibajay Parish. Several days later, the residents wondered why the piece of wood always disappeared and was repeatedly found at the roof of the fisherman’s house.

The Ibajay residents interpreted the incident as a call for them to seek forgiveness of their sins. Part of their penance was for the residents to blacken their faces with coal and to dress in rags. After doing this, the piece of wood no longer left the parish.

One day, a group of Spaniards known as the Moros from nearby Mindoro province tried to invade the town of Ibajay. The residents fought back, dedicating their victory to the piece of wood.

Until now, the symbolic fight between the natives against the Spaniards is being commemorated as part of the Ibajay Ati-atihan Festival.

In 1798 Padre Fernando de Legaspi, based in the town of Malinao, heard about the yearly celebration being held in Ibajay. He walked several kilometers to Ibajay town as there was no transport made at that time. Upon witnessing the revelry, he decided to duplicate the revelry in Malinao town. In 1800, when he was assigned in the town of Kalibo, he also duplicated the Kalibo Atiatihan Festival there.

On June 11, 1871, a testament was signed by the Kalibo priest with businessmen in town to institutionalize the holding of the annual Kalibo Santo Niño Ati-atihan Festival.

Among those businessmen who signed the testament were Jose Gomez, Basilio Gomez and Pedro Fuentes. The testament was legalized by Ramon Barrios, who was the gobernadorcillo of Kalibo during that time. Witnessing were Jose Isturis and Lucas de la Concepcion.

During those times, the revelry was held every noon as a sign of penance while holding dancing in the streets.

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) named the Kalibo Santo Niño Ati-atihan Festival as “The Mother of Philippine Festivals.” It was through the Kalibo Ati-atihan Festival that inspired the origin of the Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo, the Sinulog Festival in Cebu, among others.

In the 1970s then-President Ferdinand Marcos mandated the Department of Education to help promote the Kalibo Ati-atihan Festival every January.

Another legend connected to the history of the Kalibo Ati-atihan was when 10 Bornean datus sailed to Aklan to escape the dictatorship of their ruler. They accidentally landed in Panay Island where they were

greeted by the friendly residents, the Aytas.

The 10 Bornean datus reportedly bought the entire Panay Island from the Aytas with gold jewelry.

This legend was, however, officially declared a myth by the NCCA. A highlight of the Ati-atihan Festival is the annual holding of the Higante Contest.

Thousands of devotees also narrate their miracles taking place while attending the Kalibo Ati-atihan Festival.

The Kalibo Santo Niño Ati-atihan Festival was named one of the 300 best festivals in the world for 2017 by two global digital festival discovery communities, the F300 and EverFest.

Other travel web sites also named the Kalibo Ati-atihan as one of the greatest street parties in the world. In 2016 the Kalibo Santo Niño Ati-atihan Festival Inc. introduced neon lights color among the competing tribes to enter a new era of colorful revelry.

RegionsSunday BusinessMirror

A12 | Sunday, March 4, 2018 • Editor : Efleda P. Campos

ON a farm tour, the author enjoys the pick-and-pay promo of a cut-flower farm in La Trinidad, Benguet.

How Baguio City keeps strawberry fields sustainable and cut flowers blooming Story and photos by Suzanne June G. Perante Special to the BusinessMirror

W

HEN one thinks of Baguio City, strawberries, salad vegetables and cut flowers come to mind.

The red, heart-shaped ground berries, salad-type vegetables and lovely blooms have always been associated with the Pine City, otherwise known as the summer capital of the Philippines. Today you do not even have to go to Holland to see tulips in bloom. Baguio City plants the flowering bulbs.

Because of its semi-temperate climate, Baguio does not only favor the growth of pine wood and salad vegetables but has also become a favorite vacation spot for visitors, local or foreign. Many students from the lowlands—like me, from Isabela, who goes to school at the University of the Philippines Baguio—find it conducive to learning. But, of all these favors that the upland terrain and climate provide, a Manilabased company discovered the great potential of growing in commercial scale what are said to be Baguio’s “glamour crops”—strawberries, cut flowers and salad vegetables.

In the early 1970s, Vicente Puyat’s Manila Newtown group purchased a 200-hectare rolling terrain along Asin Road, 3 kilometers west of Baguio City. Initially, the rocky slopes designed were for a housing and golf-course project, but the country’s worsen-

ing economic stability at that time prompted the real-estate firm to freeze project development.

To keep themselves busy, caretakers of the land had to cultivate some portions of the area (for home consumption) into vegetable gardens and strawberry plots in experimental quantities. This gave birth to King Louis Farm.

Large commercial production of strawberries was soon launched.

Applying Israeli strawberry technology, King Louis was able to introduce superior-quality berries for the domestic market, with an average production of 120 tons per season. With the brand Angelo, King Louis’s strawberries were shipped domestically to Metro Manila, Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo, and Davao. The seasonal harvest, moreover, made room for substantial export to Hong Kong.

King Louis directly supplies RFM Corp. with sugar-packed strawberries for its Selecta Ice Cream.

Likewise, Griffith Laboratories is a major supplier of strawberry puree for Presto Ice Cream and Jollibee’s strawberry sundae.

King Louis is the strawberry supplier of Mountain Maid Training Center, a food-processing center

AMAZED by the elevated hydroponics technology on potted strawberries in a greenhouse in La Trinidad, Benguet, the author looks attracted to pick and pay the fresh and clean raw berries.

LOCATED on the hillsides of La Trinidad, Benguet, a landscape view of strawberry plots welcomes visitors to the wonders of nature.

operated by nuns of the Good Shepherd Congregation with students as working staff. The custom fruit-processing center located at the Mines View Park is famous for its fine strawberry jams, jellies and syrups.

More often than not, Baguio visitors would flock and fall in line just to avail themselves of Good Shepherd products. The nuns only process the best fresh strawberries.

This tops their ingredients in maintaining quality products, and to do it is to get their raw materials from equally quality-conscious sources like King Louis.

King Louis General Manager Efren Chatto who is now the vice mayor of Balilihan, Bohol recalled in a phone interview with the BusinessMirror that his company is not only quality conscious, but also a trendsetter.

“Ever since we went into the farm business, we have always been

introducing new strawberry or cutflower varieties in the market. We had to sacrifice time just to let people know a new product. We had to break Baguio’s conventional standards for us to sell our ‘imported’ breeds,” Chatto said.

Mary Rose Abes, a classmate of mine and a self-confessed strawberry lover, says she doesn’t mind the distance between the city proper and the strawberry farms in La Trinidad, Benguet, just to get the fresh berries.

“It’s nice to have the berries harvested before your eyes, especially when you eat them raw,” she claimed.

To get to know the real picture on how the three aforementioned high-value crops get sustainable production and a steady supply for the domestic market, Mary Rose and I decided to go to La Trinidad, Benguet. We randomly interrogated

At a farm in La Trinidad, Benguet, a farm trader packs newly harvested lettuce crops for whole-sale buyers. The semi-temperate climate of the upland town favors the growth of salad-type vegetables.

a group of local farmers and toured strawberry fields, cut-flower farms and verdant lettuce plantations.

We first landed on a strawberry green house owned and managed

by Jade Palayen, who claimed he pioneered elevated strawberry farming using hydroponics technology, which uses water instead of soil. Palayen is associated with other farmers in the area, who apply modern farming method. He made his green house available for strawberry pickings to tourists who enjoy the pick-and-pay opportunity. Likewise, the elevatedtechnology berries are prevented from touching the soil and kept fresh and clean.

Anton Aquishion, a farmer engaged in strawberry farming for more than a decade, recalled that the area owned by Benguet State University he rents used to be a grazing area for livestock. He said

he pays the university P7,500 per 500 square meters annually.

Camillo Perez, 64, used to cultivate a farm along the mountain trail, but opted to transfer to La Trinidad since the market for his crops is nearer. He likewise rents a half-hectare farm lot from BSU. Perez said he practices crop rotation. He then plants lettuce, which takes 50 days at the seedling bed and, when the leafy salad vegetable reaches 100 days, it is ready for harvest. He usually harvests 2 tons per cropping season. To sum it up, there are three cropping periods in a year to produce an estimated yield of 6 tons. Alternately, he would plant strawberries the following year.

We walked further into a cutflower farm in Bahong village, owned by Presley and Willinia Cayat and managed by a certain Joel Dumadag, who concentrates on growing Malaysian mums and potted roses, which they claim to be their best sellers. We were informed the price of Malaysian mums at farm gate is P100 per dozen, while roses command a staggering P450 a dozen during peak seasons like Valentine’s Day. They supply the blooms to Baguio City and Dangwa in Metro Manila.

We concluded that, using modern-day technology on strawberries, salad veggies and cut flowers has kept sustainable production and a steady supply for the domestic market.

The blooming cut-flower industry has institutionalized and converted the rolling terrain into a cutflower capital.

Back in 1995, Panagbenga, a native term meaning “blooming season” was used to launch Baguio City’s Panagbenga flower festival.

EXCITED to see up close plots of enormous Malaysian mums, UP Baguio Communications coed Mary Rose Abes looks enticed to buy a bundle of the immaculate blooms.