BusinessMirror March 13, 2021

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Terrorists and suicide bombers in skirts are the new grim challenge to those trying to roll back the resurgence of extremism in the South.

ALL-WOMEN

‘FAMILY TRADE’

T

By Rene Acosta

was identified among the architects of the twin suicide bombings.

A second raid, this time at Zone 3 in Barangay Tulay, Jolo, led to the arrest of Nudzha Ismani Aslun, 26, who was initially reported as a widow of ASG member Amirudin Dimakuta, alias Jabar, one of the followers of Mundi, and Nurshahada Isnain, 19, wife of another ASG member, also under the group of Mundi.

Dimakuta surfaced and surrendered on Wednesday to soldiers.

During a debriefing, he told authorities that he had been with the group of Sawadjaan since 2013 and joined the group of ASG subleader Ben Wagas when Sawadjaan died.

According to Vinluan, the operating team recovered suspected Anfo, a push button switch, a battery, electric blasting cap, detonating cord, GI pipe, a grenade and 340 pieces of one-inch concrete nail, a booklet entitled “Jihad Fil Sabilillaah,” several identification

HE recent arrest of nine women would-be suicide bombers following a military sweep in Sulu province has exposed a “disturbing” possibility that the Islamic State (IS) and its local fronts, collectively known as Daulah Islamiyah (DI), have turned to widows and other “orphans of war” in their recruitment in a bid to bolster their terror campaign in Mindanao and elsewhere.

Post-operation investigations revealed that all of the women are close relatives, either by affinity or consanguinity, while some are widows of key leaders and members of the Islamic State and the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) killed in the relentless counterterrorism operations in the province.

cards and a rough sketch of a terror plan.

A search warrant covering the third raid was also carried out on a target in the town of Indanan, but the suspects eluded arrest.

Another raid in Barangay Bangkal in Patikul led to the apprehension of the two daughters of Sawadjaan: Isara Jalmaani Abduhajan, 36; and Jedah AbduhajanAmin, 28. Vinluan said they also yielded similar bomb components that were seized in the earlier three raids, including 265 pieces of one-inch concrete nails.

‘Indoctrination’ process

“WE have been monitoring and guarding them [the nine women] for a long time, and when a subleader of the ASG reported to us that homemade bombs were being made and assembled in those houses, the operations were conducted,” Vinluan said.

Continued on A2

Few male takers

“THEY are already using widows, wives because they are having difficulty in recruiting male suicide bombers, and it is harder to identify and detect female suicide bombers. So they are using women now,” said Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) commander Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr.

The tagging of the nine women as “suicide bombers in-the-making” indicates that the radicalization espoused and persistently being pushed by the IS in Mindanao right after its defeat in Marawi City almost four years ago has already seeped among some Moro women.

During the court-warranted raids in Sulu, the operating teams bagged Elena Tasum SawadjaanAbun, 40; Linda Darun Maruji, 66;

VINLUAN: “They are already using widows, wives because they were having difficulty in recruiting male suicide bombers, and it is harder to identify and detect female suicide bombers. So they are using women now.”

Firdauzia Said, Risa Jalil and Sharifa Rajani in Barangay Bangkal in the municipality of Patikul.

Sawadjaan-Abun is a daughter of Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, a commander of the ASG in Sulu who became the leader of the IS in Mindanao right after the death of Isnilon Hapilon, the “emir” of the IS in Southeast Asia, during the war in Marawi City. Sawadjaan was killed in Patikul, Sulu, in July last year by soldiers.

Abun is a widow of ASG sub-

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 48.5190

SULU Governor Abdusakur M. Tan (third from left) and Australian Ambassador Steven J. Robinson (fourth from left) are joined by WestMinCom Commander Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr. and Australian Embassy staff at the Sulu Provincial Capitol during a visit on February 25, 2021, by Robinson to discuss how Australia can continue to assist peace and development in Sulu.

FACEBOOK.COM/PIO.SULU

leader Walid Abun.

Maruji, who goes by the alias Appuh Yayang, is a sister of Sawadjaan, while Said is a widow of ASG sub-leader Mannul Said. On the other hand, Jalil is the wife of ASG member Nasser Sawadjaan Hadjail, a nephew of Sawadjaan. Rajani is a wife of ASG member Mukti.

According to Vinluan, seized from the women were components and ingredients for homemade bombs that included suspected ammonium nitrate fuel oil (Anfo), a battery with snap switch, an elec-

tric blasting cap, a detonating cord, a GI pipe and nearly 200 pieces of one-inch concrete nails.

Anfo is the same ingredient of the bomb that an Indonesian couple carried and used during their suicide attack on the Jolo Cathedral in Sulu in January 2019 that killed at least 21 people and wounded more than 100 others.

The attack, which was owned by the IS, was carried out with the group of Sawadjaan, whose nephew, Mundi Sawadjaan, is a subleader of the ASG, also in Sulu. Mundi

n JAPAN 0.4472 n UK 67.8975 n HK 6.2537 n CHINA 7.4708 n SINGAPORE 36.2244 n AUSTRALIA 37.7817 n EU 58.1646 n SAUDI ARABIA 12.9377

Source: BSP (March 12, 2021)

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A2 Saturday, March 13, 2021

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Ghost towns of Fukushima remain empty after decade-long rebuild

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Robots and hydrogen

By Isabel Reynolds | Bloomberg News

AID waste by a nuclear disaster a decade ago, Japan’s Fukushima is still struggling to recover, even as the government tries to bring people and jobs back to former ghost towns by pouring in billions of dollars to decontaminate and rebuild.

But reconstruction efforts from the mundane—supermarkets and transport infrastructure—to a cutting-edge hydrogen energy plant have yet to entice more than a small fraction of the former population to return.

As the country marks the 10th anniversary of the March 11, 2011, earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown, parts of Fukushima are still off limits and the prefecture remains a laggard in recovery. Its future is clouded by the 30 to 40 years it may take to decommission the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, near which millions of gallons of treated radioactive water are in storage.

Namie, where a stone monument lists about 200 townspeople who died in the tsunami, emptied out overnight following the accident at the nuclear plant about 8 kilometers south. The entire population of 21,000 people was forced to leave, as prevailing winds spread radiation from the crippled Tokyo Electric Power Co. Holdings Inc. facility.

Even now, four years after part of the town was re-opened for residents to return, only about 1,600 have moved back, a population drop of more than 90 percent.

Surveys show more than half of those who were evacuated have no intention of returning, and even the town’s most loyal cheerleaders aren’t trying to turn back the clock.

“It’s not going to return to how it was before the disaster,” said Akihiro Zenji, 39, an executive in his family’s heavy machinery leasing company, who was among the workers who went in to help control the situation at the plant after the meltdown. In 2019, he bought a house in Namie, where he intends to start a family with his wife, Ryoko, 29.

“The people who really want to come back have come back. Other people my age return to help out, but none of them has come back to live,” he said.

Hollowed out

A DECADE after the triple disas-

DOWNTOWN Namie, Fukushima, on March 9, 2021. Less than 10 percent of its former residents have returned to live there after being evacuated a decade ago. BLOOMBERG

ter, new homes and refurbished roads on Japan’s northeast coast showcase one of the world’s costliest restoration projects, coming in at about $300 billion. Yet the area contends with another threat—a decline in the economy and population affecting regional Japan that is particularly worrisome in this region, hollowed out by the disaster.

The problem is markedly worse in Fukushima prefecture,

which saw its population shrink by 10 percent to 1.8 million in the past decade, compared with a fall of only about 2.5 percent in neighboring Miyagi. Fukushima’s economy grew by 8.1 percent between 2010 and 2018, the latest year for which data is available, compared with 19 percent for Miyagi.

The return of Fukushima’s manufacturing capacity has lagged behind others, according to economist Yutaro Suzuki at Daiwa Institute of Research Holdings. While neighbors Iwate and Miyagi prefectures recovered manufacturing output to pre-disaster levels in 2012 and 2013 respectively, it took Fukushima until 2017 to get there stably, Suzuki wrote in a report ahead of the anniversary.

The tourism industry, which had inched back to almost pre-disaster levels, has been crushed again by the pandemic.

More than 160,000 people were evacuated from the region surrounding the plant after the magnitude 9 earthquake, the biggest ever recorded to hit Japan, caused a massive tsunami that overwhelmed the facility, shut off power to cooling systems and led to meltdowns of three reactor cores. The disaster left about 20,000 people missing or dead.

While areas further north that were worse hit by the tsu-

nami could get to work quickly on rebuilding, the lingering radioactive contamination in Fukushima means some areas have yet to reach the start line.

Shipments of manufactured goods from the Futaba area around the plant were still at a quarter of pre-disaster levels in 2018, while the once-bustling fishing port of Ukedo remains half-deserted as many consumers avoid food from Fukushima, despite extensive testing.

Trucks rumble continuously across the coastal area, transporting plastic sacks full of topsoil and vegetation still being removed from residential areas.

The cleanup drive is meant to allow people to eventually return to their former homes, but, tired of waiting, many of them have put down roots elsewhere.

“It’s important for the recovery that we press ahead simultaneously with policies to restore everyday life, and those that look ahead to a new future,” Masao Uchibori, governor of Fukushima prefecture, told reporters Wednesday.

Those everyday things include an Aeon supermarket that opened in Namie in 2019, with a branch of Muji set to follow nearby later this month, and a restored train line running right up the Fukushima coastline from Tokyo.

LOOKING to the future, the Fukushima Innovation Coast, a series of projects promoting environmentally friendly energy, robot technology and other hightech industries, is meant to rebuild industrial output.

One such venture is the hydrogen research and production plant built in Namie, on a site previously earmarked for another nuclear plant. The atomic energy plan was formally abandoned in 2013 and the land handed to the local government, making way for the Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research field.

Slightly further north, on a site no longer considered suitable for housing after the tsunami, the government built a ¥7.7-billion ($71 million) robot testing ground that boasts facilities from a wind tunnel for testing drones to a pool for research into underwater robotics.

While its premises are impressive, the Robot Test Field, the size of Tokyo Disneyland, employs about 40 people. The Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research Field has no full-time staff, while the solar plants that blanket abandoned hillsides in contaminated areas also provide few jobs.

Hidehiro Asada, 53, who returned to Namie to restart his family lumber company, says it’s the lack of employment opportunities hampering recovery efforts in the town. He now employs 21 people, compared with 30 at the time of the disaster.

“Even if they come back, there aren’t any jobs,” he said. “Retired people will come back, but young people have found work and put down roots where they are. So they won’t come back easily.”

But Zenji, whose heavy machinery leasing company has expanded to 70 people from 15 before the disaster, said he can’t find local people to fill vacancies. He’s also frustrated at the failure to acknowledge progress on the reconstruction to which he has devoted much of the past decade.

“If people say it’s not progressing, or it’s slow, that’s not the case,” Zenji said. “I’ve been watching it all along from the time when the reactor exploded, and there was no one around, the traffic lights didn’t work, there were no lights and everything was silent. People are now able to live here.”

All-women ‘family trade’ Continued from A1

The military commander in Western Mindanao said the manufacture and assembly of the homemade bombs were carried out while the widows are being indoctrinated to be suicide bombers.

Whoever is the widow that would be indoctrinated, “it is her who would be the suicide bomber,” Vinluan said.

When Norman Lasuca carried out a suicide bombing on the camp of the Army’s First Brigade Combat in Indanan in July 2019 just a month into the brigade’s deployment for counterterrorism operations in Sulu, military officials right away theorized he could not be the last local suicide bomber.

Lasuca, the first Filipino on record to die in a suicide bombing, was radicalized while with the group of Sawadjaan. The radicalization of some Moro extremists or terrorists was a feat that the IS achieved, and something that the al-Qaeda and even the Jemaah Islamiyah failed to do during their active presence in the country.

Getting bolder

THE radicalization of members of local extremist groups prompted then Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, who later became the Army chief— and now, the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines—

to declare that local terrorists are now bolder and potent, as he cited the case of Lasuca.

Less than a year later, or in August 2020, two women carried out two suicide bombings around the plaza of Jolo, killing at least 14 people and wounding more than 70 others.

Vinluan said two widows of ASG members carried out the twin suicide bombings. The death missions confirmed that the movement for radicalization and the recruitment of suicide bombers has shifted focus on orphans of war.

He said the IS and the DI are working to persuade relatives of terrorist members who have been killed to sacrifice themselves, “especially the widows and the direct relatives of slain leaders.”

Why women?

WESTMINCOM spokesman Lt. Col. Alaric Avelino delos Santos said they see three reasons why the IS and its local fronts, especially the ASG, have focused their recruitment on women as suicide bombers.

“First is the cultural sensitivity.

The ASG knows that because of cultural sensitivity, we have not been frisking [Moro] women and they knew that men are considerate [or lenient] with women,” he said.

“Second, the ASG is playing on the emotions of the widows, daugh-

ters and relatives of notorious ASG leaders and members…they could be easily exploited because of their hard feelings over the death of their husbands who are notorious terrorists,” delos Santos explained.

The regional military spokesman said the ASG is also capitalizing on the gender equality factor, thinking along the lines that “if men can do it, women can also do it, too.”

Delos Santos conceded, “We could not just dismiss the capability of women.”

In order to stop the recruitment of potential suicide bombers, the military’s Joint Task Force Sulu under its commander Major General William Gonzales has been working with the provincial government of Sulu and religious leaders in the province to address the radicalization of Moros.

The effort is being undertaken through various programs under the “Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE),” which is paired with the Provincial Task Force to End Local Armed Conflict under Governor Abdusakur M. Tan. “Salient in the PCVE program is the deradicalization of perceived individuals or groups of individuals to become a productive citizen with right religious perspective, teachings and understanding of Islam,” delos Santos said.

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Saturday, March 13, 2021

A3

BBQ-chicken tycoon gears up to deliver another ‘hot’ IPO

A

Philippine tycoon whose two previous initial public offerings flew off the shelves against all odds, could deliver another winner this month, if history is any guide.

Edgar “Injap” Sia’s grocer MerryMart Consumer Corp. defied a market slump when it jumped 50 percent in its June debut amid the global pandemic, matching the gain of his DoubleDragon Properties Corp. in 2014. His DDMP REIT Inc.’s IPO of up to P14.7 billion ($303 million) will take the spotlight on March 23 when the shares become the first of 2021 to list on the nation’s bourse.

“It could f ly because of its affordable price and attractive y ield,” said Claire A lv iar, an analyst at PhilStocks Financial Inc. “Investors also like DDMP

b e c au se Si a’s pre v iou s I PO s per for med wel l.”

DDMP ’s IPO comes as the Southeast Asian economy reels from a virus-induced recession and a battered stock market under siege from a foreign investor exodus. It’s the nation’s second real-estate investment trust to go public. AREIT Inc., the first, slid 7.8 percent on its debut in August.

For the 44-year-old college dropout who built a $100-million barbecue chicken restaurant chain in just seven years, Sia’s knack of attracting investors will be tested again. MerryMart shares have

surged 400 percent from its IPO price, while DoubleDragon has soared more than 600 percent since its 2014 debut.

Sia said in November that DDMP will be a “compelling REIT” and a good stock to give as “inheritance” because it owns the land where its leasing portfolio is built, which should “keep on appreciating decade after decade.”

Top end pricing

DDMP, which owns offices carved out of DoubleDragon, was priced at the top end of its target range, indicating strong demand. Brokers like AP Securities Inc., Papa Securities Corp. and PhilStocks Financial had their allocations already fully taken up even before the sale started.

The IPO price of P2.25 a share offers a yield of 5.07 percent and 5.45 percent based on its 2021 and 2022 projected dividend per share, according to its prospectus. That’s a premium to the 10-year Philippine government bond’s 4 percent.

Senate to update 80-year-old Public Service law, dismantle monopolies

By Butch Fernandez

T

he Senate is moving to update the Commonwealthera Public Service law enacted 80 years ago empowering Congress to review and grant franchises for public utilities.

In sponsoring the remedial legislation for plenary deliberation, Senator Grace Poe, who chairs the sponsoring Public Services Committee, said the panel was presenting “a measure that has been a long time coming.”

“In a nutshell, the proposed amendments to Commonwealth Act 146, more commonly known as the Public Ser vice Act, seek to improve the quality of public ser vices and goods and have it at a lower cost by encouraging more competition in its provision,” said Poe, adding, the move “seeks to finally amend an 85-year-old law which probably never envisioned a population of 110 million people all reliant on ver y few providers for its basic ever yday needs.”

Poe pointed out t hat in or der to ac h ieve t h is goa l, t he remedia l leg islation is “ fina l ly c le a r i ng t he a mbig u it y su r rou nd ing t he interc ha ngeably used ter ms publ ic ut i l it y a nd publ ic ser v ice.”

This, she added, is “in recognition of the much broader nature of the umbrella term, so to speak, ‘public service’ as against its subset term public utility.”

The term “public utility,” the senator added, will be limited to just three services, namely, distribution of electricity; transmission of electricity; and water

pipeline distribution and sewerage pipeline systems.

She stressed that this distinction is “not trivial” and carries with it huge ramifications in terms of the constitutional restriction on foreign equity, asserting that “public utilities” are to be treated as natural monopolies, which must be restricted pursuant to Section 11, Article 12 of the Constitution.

A l l other “public ser v ices” that are not natural monopolies, the senator said, will be freed from such foreign equity restriction but not from any of their other responsibilities as public ser vice providers. “ We a re not re d e f i n i n g things,” Poe clarified. “We are declaring as public policy that the expansion of the investment base will benefit the public by allowing meaningful competition with more players, domestic and foreign, to slug it out to win the satisfaction of the Filipino people.”

This way, Poe projects that this will trigger competition in providing quality services and products at the least expense for consumers, airing hopes this will also put an end to “take it or leave it” attitude of monopolies that benefited in the past century.

The senator expects that as the realm of public services evolves, the bill gives the National Economic a nd Development Authority, Philippine Competition Commission, and all concerned agencies, power to recommend to Congress to reclassify public services as public utilities based on the following criteria:

1. The service regularly supplies and directly transmits and distributes to the public through a network a commodity or service of public consequence; 2. The service is a natural monopoly; 3. The service is necessary for the maintenance of life and occupation of the public; and 4. The service is obligated to provide adequate service to the public on demand.

Second, she added, “it is about time that we see public service providers as partners and not enemies of the people just because they collect and we pay. The measure acknowledges the need for a flexible methodology for rate setting that will allow recovery of prudent and efficient costs and a reasonable rate of return.”

Third, Poe reminded “ it is also time to amend the old fines of er r ing public ser v ice pro viders,” noting that “a measly P200 per day of v iolation isn’t enough disincentive to do right by the public.”

Moreover, Poe projected that once enacted into law, a violator will now be fined up to P2 million plus “disgorgement of profits” and additional “treble damages.”

If public interest is not enough incent ive, we cer ta in ly hope that these updated fines will,” she added.

Lastly, the senator assured that several “safeguards” were provided in the proposed legislation aimed at protecting the country’s interest as well as the public, and ensure that no monopoly will “lord over the public sector.”

Security Bank to provide free smartphone insurance

S

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

ec u rit y B ank Corp. has inked a partnership with an insurance technology (insurtech) player to provide smartphone protection coverage.

In a news statement issued on Thursday, the listed bank said it collaborated with bolttech to give Security Bank cardholders f re e o n e - m o n t h s u b s c r i p t i o n t o i t s accidental breakage and liquid breakage or screen breakage program.

The announcement failed to lift shares in Security Bank, which fell by 1.59 percent, or P2, to settle at P123.70 each amid the 1.31-percent dip for the benchmark index on Thursday.

The bank said smartphones bought using its credit card and debit card within the last 45 days qualify for the said subscription.

The bolttech’s services include repair or

replacement of the damaged devices.

After the free subscription expires, Security Bank said that cardholders may continue to use the service but with a monthly fee.

“Our smartphones have become our daily companion for both work and play, hence, making sure it’s protected from accidents is a must,” said Celeste Lim, head of SB Cards Business Development and Operations Group.

“Through our partnership with bolttech, Security Bank cardholders can remain at ease knowing that their hard-earned devices are protected and is ready to be serviced by bolttech in as fast as 24 hours.”

“Together, Security Bank cardholders can enjoy fast and seamless repairs so they can always stay connected in a digital-first world,” bolttech Chief Executive Officer of Device Protection Mark Simmons said.

Bolttech is an international insurtech business launched in 2020 with three capabilities including device protection, insurtech exchange and digital insurance.

It is present in Austria, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Ireland, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, and the United States.

Last year, Security Bank saw its net profits plunge by 26.43 percent to P7.4 billion from P10.10 billion in 2019 due to heightened bad loans provisions. Credit loss buffer in the past year was raised by six times to P26.4 billion.

The bank’s total assets stood at P653 billion as of end-December 2020. Capitalization was at P123 billion, with common equity tier 1 ratio of 19.2 percent and capital adequacy ratio of 20.1 percent.

DDMP’s yield is comparable to AREIT and above average, but lower than the average of the top 5 dividend-paying stocks, said Kerwin Chan, an analyst at COL Financial Group Inc. Shares of DoubleDragon, which will get the bulk of the IPO proceeds, rose as much as 1.4 percent before sw i ng i ng to a 0.4 percent loss in Manila trading. MerryMart, a client for DoubleDragon’s warehouse and logistics venture, advanced as much as 3.7 percent.

While there is strong interest in DDMP, its outlook is not without risks, said Rachelle Cruz, analyst at AP Securities.

Its large exposure to offshore gaming operators and gaming-related companies makes it sensitive to any unfavorable developments to the industry, she said. Also, “investors should consider the size of the offering, this is bigger than MerryMart and DoubleDragon,” she added. Bloomberg News

72-year-old ex-AC mayor Pamintuan says he’s inclined to shun politics, at least at the moment

By Ashley Manabat

C

LARK FREEPORT—The former mayor of Angeles City who currently sits as chairman of the Board of Directors of Clark Development Corp. (CDC) on Thursday said he is likely to shun politics and that he harbors no plan to run for any elective position, at least at the moment.

“I’m 72 years old in February [next year]. I’ve been telling everybody I’m not running for mayor,” Ed Pamintuan, a feisty, elderly and popular local politician, said at the Balitaan media forum organized by the Capampangan in Media Inc. [CAMI] in cooperation with the CDC at the Bale Balita here last Thursday.

“I don’t have any plan to be here [CDC], even political [any] ambition,” he said, stressing he was merely persuaded by Sen. Bong Go whom, he said, was persistent on calling him because President Duterte wants him in CDC. Pamintuan mentioned two local political figures that are likely to slug it out in the May 2022 elections for Angeles City’s top elective post.

“There is Bryan Nepomuceno.

Andyan pa rin si [There is still Alex] Cauguiran, andyan pa rin ang kaibigan kong ambisyoso [my friend who has ambitious political aspirations is still there],” he quipped. “The government machinery will not stop because of Ed Pamintuan,” the septuagenarian politician said.

On his advice to the incumbent Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr., he said, I can only tell Pogi, just concentrate on good governance, gawin lang niya ang maganda wala siyang problema [ just do the good thing, he will have no problems]. Rendahan niya ang mga konsehal niya [Rein in his councilors].” “ Tapusin nya ang mga proyekto ko tapus na [Finish my projects and everything will go well for him],” he added. “ Huwag na nila akong galitin .

Huwag na nila akong isali sa usapan [Don’t court my anger please. Don’t even mention me in political intrigues],” he said.

Pamintuan added that he has no plan to make any immediate announcement on whom to support for mayor of Angeles City in the coming elections in May next year.

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55.

TIAN, XIAOYU Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

DA SUCCESS BUSINESS TRADING INCORPORATED 2503 The Finance Centre 26th Street Corner 9th Avenue Fort Bonifacio Taguig City 56.

SHOU, MINYU Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING MARKETING SPECIALIST

FIRST GREAT COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES INC. Lot 5 Sta. Agueda Cor. Queensway Pagcor Drive Sto. Niño Parañaque City 57.

YUAN, HUIXIANG Chinese

IT TECHNICAL MANDARIN

GATEWAYSOLUTIONS CORP. 8/f Edsa Cor. Sultan Brgy. Highway Hills Mandaluyong City 58.

WANG, PINGJIAN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

GOLDENSKY INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC. Midas Hotel 2702 Roxas Blvd. Brgy. 076 Pasay City 59.

CAO, XINYU Chinese

CALL CENTER AGENT MANDARIN SPEAKING

60.

FU, JUN Chinese

CALL CENTER AGENT MANDARIN SPEAKING

61.

HALIM WIJAYA Indonesian

CALL CENTER AGENT MANDARIN SPEAKING CALL CENTER AGENT MANDARIN SPEAKING

20.

BUI VAN HIEN Vietnamese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

62.

MASLI JAYA Indonesian

21.

CAI, KUI Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

63.

SUN, YUNLONG Chinese

CALL CENTER AGENT MANDARIN SPEAKING

22.

CHONG CHEE THONG Malaysian

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

64.

WEI, ZHIZHEN Chinese

CALL CENTER AGENT MANDARIN SPEAKING

23.

DONG, HUIFANG Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

65.

ZHAO, KUN Chinese

CALL CENTER AGENT MANDARIN SPEAKING

24.

TRAN THI THUY VAN Vietnamese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

66.

ZHU, WENYAN Chinese

CALL CENTER AGENT MANDARIN SPEAKING

25.

WANG, HONGTAO Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

HAMMERTIME CONSTRUCTION INC. Unit 203-s3 2nd Flr. Fbr Arcade Bldg. #317 Katipunan Ave. Loyola Heights 3 Quezon City

ACCENTURE, INC. 7f Robinsons Cybergate Tower 1 Pioneer St Mandaluyong City 26.

TIAS PURNOMO TEJO Indonesian

TRANSACTION PROCESSING ANALYST

ANOC99 CORPORATION 5/f Ayala Malls Manila Bay Building D. Macapagal Blvd. Cor. Aseana Street Tambo Parañaque City 27.

FADHILAH NOVIA CHANDRA Indonesian

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

BIG EMPEROR TECHNOLOGY CORP. 5f-13f, Jiaxing Tower Building Aseana Avenue, Aseana Business Park Tambo Parañaque City 28.

KOO CHEE HUI Malaysian

COMPUTER SYSTEM ANALYST

29.

GUO, PAN Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE

30.

LI, JINYAN Chinese

31.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

NO.

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS POSITION

JIANGSU DIBANG CONSTRUCTION PHILIPPINES CORPORATION Unit 2106-a West Tower Psec Exchange Road, Ortigas Center San Antonio Pasig City 88.

CHEN, YUSHENG Chinese

QUALITY ASSURANCE CONSULTANT

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.- PHILIPPINE GLOBAL SERVICE CENTER 23/f Net Plaza 31st St. E-square Zone Fort Bonifacio Taguig City 89.

PINTO, CLINT JOVIT Indian

VICE PRESIDENT

KAJIMA PHILIPPINES INCORPORATED 12/f Makati Sky Plaza 6788 Ayala Avenue San Lorenzo Makati City 90.

IIJIMA, RYO Japanese

CHIEF DESIGN COORDINATOR (STRUCTURAL DESIGN)

KHI DESIGN & TECHNICAL SERVICE, INC. 1503-p, 15f, Five Ecom Center Pacific Drive Mall Of Asia Complex Pasay City 91.

CHIBA, TATSURO Japanese

ASSISTANT MANAGER OF ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP

92.

UENO, RYOSUKE Japanese

MANAGER OF ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP

KINDOSAR PROCESS SOLUTIONS INC. Unit 5d, Rose Industries Bldg. Pioneer St. Kapitolyo Pasig City 93.

BAK, SANG UK South Korean

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER (KOREAN SPEAKING)

94.

CHOI, KYUNGMIN South Korean

FOREIGN FINANCE AND BUDGET OFFICER

KOREA SME BUSINESS CENTER CORP. U-1807 18/f One San Miguel Avenue Condo. San Miguel Ave. Cor. Shaw Blvd. Ortigas Center, San Antonio Pasig City

CHINESE CALL CENTER AGENT (MANDARIN SPEAKING)

131.

WANG, GUAN Chinese

CHINESE CALL CENTER AGENT (MANDARIN SPEAKING)

132.

WANG, HAO Chinese

CHINESE CALL CENTER AGENT (MANDARIN SPEAKING)

133.

XIE, MINGCONG Chinese

CHINESE CALL CENTER AGENT (MANDARIN SPEAKING)

134.

YIN, WEIGANG Chinese

CHINESE CALL CENTER AGENT (MANDARIN SPEAKING)

135.

YU, LIBO Chinese

CHINESE CALL CENTER AGENT (MANDARIN SPEAKING)

136.

ZHANG, JUNFENG Chinese

CHINESE CALL CENTER AGENT (MANDARIN SPEAKING)

MEGA-WEB TECHNOLOGIES INC. 6,7,8,9,10,11/f Met Live Bldg. Edsa Cor. Macapagal Blvd. Brgy. 076 Pasay City 137.

XU, LIN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

138.

CHEN, XIAO Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

139.

CHEW CHIEW YUAN Malaysian

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

140.

CHIN, GEE KIUN Malaysian

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

141.

DU, JIANSHENG Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

PARK, JEONGBAE South Korean

BUSINESS OPERATION CONSULTANT (KOREAN SPEAKING)

142.

FU, JIANPING Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

97.

WANG, JAE MIN South Korean

CUSTOMER SERVICE CONSULTANT (KOREAN SPEAKING)

143.

GUO, CHUNGANG Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

144.

HAN, BO Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

145.

HE, HONGYU Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

146.

HUANG, KAI Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

147.

KOK WENG SHION Malaysian

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

148.

KUANG, XIANG Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

149.

LI, JING Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

150.

LI, JIANG Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

151.

LI, YANJUN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

152.

LIANG, XIAYUN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

153.

LIN, WENLONG Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

154.

LIU, TAO Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

155.

LU, ZISHAN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

156.

LUO, WEIXIANG Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

PROCESS EXPERT - SPANISH SPEAKER

157.

PANG, YUE Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

MARKETROLE ASIA PACIFIC SERVICES, INC. 26/f, 27/f, 28/f The Enterprise Center Tower 1 6766 Ayala Ave. Cor. Paseo De Roxas San Lorenzo Makati City

158.

TAN HOOI CHEE Malaysian

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

159.

WANG, YAO Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

160.

WEN, HONGYING Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

161.

XIE, YANG Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

162.

XIE, RONGCHANG Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

163.

XING, ZHUAN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

164.

XU, ZI-CING Taiwanese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

165.

YANG, NI Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

166.

YI, CHENYU Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

167.

ZHAN, MINGXIN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

LG ELECTRONICS PHILIPPINES, INC. 15 Francisco Legaspi St. Maybunga Pasig City 98.

KIM, HEEYEON South Korean

ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT CORPORATE PLANNING

LOGICDOSE INC. 19f Marco Polo Ortigas, Sapphire Road Ortigas Center San Antonio Pasig City 99.

FENG, SUJUAN Chinese

CHINESE INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST

100.

YE, SHUANGSHUANG Chinese

CHINESE INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST

101.

ZHAO, BAIHUI Chinese

CHINESE INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST

102.

CHEN, ZHILING Chinese

CHINESE TECHNICAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST

103.

CUI, YUANLIN Chinese

CHINESE TECHNICAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST

104.

LU, SUI Chinese

CHINESE TECHNICAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST

105.

TAN KER ENG Malaysian

MALAYSIAN COMPUTER SYSTEM ANALYST

106.

HU, WEI-CHEN Taiwanese

TAIWANESE COMPUTER SYSTEM ANALYST

107.

CAO HOANG NGAN Vietnamese

VIETNAMESE TECHNICAL OPERATIONS SPECIALIST

108.

HO NHI PHUNG Vietnamese

VIETNAMESE TECHNICAL OPERATIONS SPECIALIST

LUO DA TRADING CORPORATION Unit 25d 2/f Zeta Ii Bldg. 191 Salcedo St. San Lorenzo Makati City 109.

LI, JIE Chinese

KEY ACCOUNT MANAGER

110.

WEN, CHUNYAN Chinese

KEY ACCOUNT MANAGER

LI, YAOTAO Chinese

MANDARIN TRADING MANAGER

68.

XIONG, ZHOUPING Chinese

ELECTRICAL AND INSTRUMENTATION CONSULTANT

MAERSK GLOBAL SERVICE CENTRES (PHILIPPINES) LTD. Levels 5-8 North Wing, Estancia Offices Capitol Commons Meralco Ave. Oranbo Pasig City

69.

XIONG, XIAOJUN Chinese

PROJECT CONSULTANT

ITECHNO SPECIALIST INC. U-608 Eastfield Ctr. Moa Comp. Macapagal Ave. Brgy. 076 Pasay City

WANG, ZHONGYU Chinese

96.

111.

ONLINE SUPPORT ANALYST

130.

BUSINESS OPERATION CONSULTANT (KOREAN SPEAKING)

67.

70.

POSITION

LEE, SEUNGHYUN South Korean

CHINESE EQUIPMENT SUPERVISOR

GAO, XING Chinese

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

95.

XIONG, CHUNCHU Chinese

HIKES GROUP HOLDINGS INC. 26th/f The World Centre 330 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. Bel-air Makati City

NO.

112.

ORELLANA SORIANO, WILSON ALONSO Salvadoran

113.

CHEN, LILIANG Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

114.

DUONG THI NGOC YEN Vietnamese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

115.

ERLINDA Indonesian

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

116.

GONG, BEI Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

117.

KU, MEI-LING Taiwanese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

118.

LAM CUN SANG Vietnamese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

119.

LIN, XINPING Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

120.

LO SIN VAY Vietnamese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

121.

SUN, ZHIGANG Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

71.

HUANG, CHUNTAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE SUPPORT

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE

72.

YU, HAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE SUPPORT

WU, HAIBO Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE

73.

CHEN, ZHIBO Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

32.

CHEN, WEIXI Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

74.

CHEN, SHUHANG Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

33.

WANG, LIMIN Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

75.

DOU, TING Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

34.

ZHENG, WEI Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

76.

HU, MENGCAN Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

35.

ZHENG, SHUNJIN Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

77.

HUANG, WEIJIE Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

36.

ZHOU, HUAIYU Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

78.

LI, LU Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

79.

MENG, BO Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

122.

SUWANDI Indonesian

80.

SHI, ZHENGRONG Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

123.

TEOH CHEK KEAN Malaysian

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

81.

WAN, SONG Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

124.

VEMON LOKE WAISENG Malaysian

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

82.

WEI, QING Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

125.

WENG, JIAWEN Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

83.

ZHANG, BIN Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

126.

WONG SIN YU Malaysian

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

84.

ZHAO, GAOGEN Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

127.

ZHANG, YAN Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

168.

LI, YUNYUE Chinese

MANDARIN MARKETING SPECIALIST

85.

CAI, ZHIHENG Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPEIALIST

128.

ZHU, SHUAI Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

169.

YANG, YANG Chinese

MANDARIN TECHNICAL SUPPORT

86.

CUI, ZE Chinese

CHINSES IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

MAX INFOTECH ACCENT INC. 18th Flr. Vector 3 Bldg. Northgate Cyberzone Fcc Alabang Muntinlupa City

87.

LUONG GIA QUYEN Vietnamese

IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

129.

BILLION DRAGON OUTSOURCE PHILS., INC. 3/f Ayala Mall Southpark National Road Alabang Muntinlupa City 37.

HE, LIN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CSR)

38.

TAN, YIPAN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CSR)

39.

WU, KAIZHI Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CSR)

40.

XU, LIZHEN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CSR)

41.

YU, ENZHENG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CSR)

42.

ZHANG, GUOCHAO Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CSR)

43.

ZOU, RONGFU Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CSR)

44.

ZOU, TIANMINGSHENG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CSR)

WANG, XIAOHU Chinese

CHINESE CALL CENTER AGENT (MANDARIN SPEAKING)

MINDSCAPE CREATIVES INC. Unit 19-o, Burgundy Corporate Tower 252 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. Pio Del Pilar Makati City

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. 4th-11th Flr. Nexgen Tower C4 Rd. Edsa Ext. Brgy. 076 Pasay City 170.

CAI, XUJIANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

171.

CHEN, HAOYI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

News

Saturday, March 13, 2021

www.businessmirror.com.ph

A5

PHL gets $1.2-B loans from 3 MDBs to boost Covid vaccination program

By Cai U. Ordinario

T

he Philippine government received a total of $1.2 billion worth of loans from multilateral development banks (MDBs) to purchase and distribute Covid-19 vaccines nationwide. The Washington-based World Bank approved $500 million worth of funding support, while the Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved $400 million in loans.

In a briefing on Friday, ADB confirmed that the amount is being extended together the $300-million loan from the Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which was earlier confirmed by the China-led MDB. “Covid-19 vaccines are critical to accelerating the recovery of the Philippine economy, rebuilding livelihoods and restoring quality jobs. With this financing, ADB seeks to help the countr y save lives and allow Filipinos to return to normal life as soon as possible,” ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa said in a news statement.

In a separate statement, the World Bank said the loan will be used to vaccinate the population based on vulnerability and risk. In an e-mail to the BusinessMirror, the World Bank said the amount will cover vaccines for 13 percent of the country’s population.

This, however, World Bank said, would be subject to the outcome of the negotiations of the national government and vaccine manufacturers, as well as the country’s vaccine procurement plan.

The Washington-based lender said the vaccines to be purchased are those that either have World Health Organization (WHO) prequalification or approval by one Stringent Regulatory Authority (SRA) listed by the WHO, including emergency use authorization.

Vaccines that can be purchased also include those that have already obtained approval by three SRAs, including emergency use authorization such as SRAs from at least two different regions.

“Please take note that besides the purchase of vaccines, the additional financing will also support the Philippines to continue to implement public health measures until a majority of the population has been vaccinated or is deemed safe based on global evidence,” the World Bank said in an e-mail.

Apart from the purchase of vaccines, the assistance will also support the implementation of the country’s public health measures until a majority of the population has been vaccinated or is deemed safe based on global evidence.

The use of Web platforms to gather citizen feedback on the vaccination program, as well as beneficiary feedback surveys to boost engagement with citizens will help ensure effective implementation.

“Procuring and administering vaccines provide the country an added layer of defense against Covid-19 on top of public health measures or interventions like social distancing, wearing of masks, and washing hands,” said Ndiamé Diop, World Bank country director for Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand.

Meanwhile, the ADB said the $700-million loan from ADB and AIIB will be used to finance the Second Health System Enhancement to Address and Limit Covid-19 under the APVAX (HEAL 2) project.

The ADB and AIIB loans will together fund the procurement of up to 110 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines for as many as 50 million Filipinos.

“This is expected to include 44 million doses from the Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access [COVA X]

House eyes ₧50-B budget to boost passage of on-site, in-city or near-city housing bill

T

he House of Representatives is eyeing to allocate P50 billion starting next year in a renewed push for the passage of an on-site, incity or near-city housing bill to address homelessness in the country.

House leaders gave the assurance as the committee on housing and urban development, in a resolution, recently declared a “housing crisis” in the Philippines.

Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, during a housing summit at the SJDM Convention Center in Bulacan, assured the House tie up with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) to address the 6.7 million housing backlog in the country in the next 5 years.

Velasco said the lower chamber is committed to help address the housing backlog as shown by the passage of the on-site, in-city or near-city housing bill.

Velasco said House Bill 8248 institutionalizes onsite, in-city or near-city resettlement program that upholds the urban poor’s right to the city under a people’s plan.

The bill is now pending in the Senate.

The housing summit was attended by Velasco, House Committee on Housing and Urban Development vice chairperson and San Jose Del Monte Rep. Florida Robes, DHSUD Secretary Eduardo del Rosario, National Housing Authority General Manager Marcelino Escalada Jr. and House Committee on Housing and Urban Development Francisco Benitez.

“In the 18th Congress, our priority is the onsite, in-city, near-city local government settlement program. We will build housing in the context of a community. You can count on Congress to accompany President Duterte in his commitment to building affordable and inclusive housing program that aims to provide decent and affordable housing to every Filipino,” Velasco said.

“The real challenge for us lies in providing decent and affordable housing to all Filipinos. Everyone deserves a safe place to live—every Filipino deserves decent houses. Proper housing for citizens is an important instrument to change the quality of life in society,” he added.

The Committee on Housing and Urban Development said housing programs should be prioritized as decent homes have a correlation to better health status, peace and order and higher productivity. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

whose cost-share will be financed by the project, and 6 million single doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The estimated coverage of up to 50 million Filipinos assumes a wastage rate of 10 percent,” ADB Southaest Asia Senior Social Sector Specialist Sakiko Tanaka said in a presentation on Friday.

HEAL 2 builds on and complements ADB’s Health System Enhancement to Address and Limit Covid-19 (HEAL) project, which was approved in August 2020.

In January 2021, ADB approved the reallocation of $25 million under the HEAL loan to fund the government’s advance payments to vaccine suppliers to secure the delivery of vaccines this year.

Further, ADB said any vaccine supply contract supported by ADB will follow its own procurement rules and guidelines, including its anti-corruption and integrity policy.

Under the HEAL 2 loan agreement, ADB will pay vaccine suppliers directly. The financing will also follow global best practices on safeguards measures, including waste management of medical supplies.

“We’re bringing in a total of $700 million. The government does have a robust vaccination plan. They have now started the rollout with the vaccination, AstraZeneca and Sinovac,” ADB Philippines Country Director Kelly Bird said in a briefing.

“There’s a technical assistance that’s also supporting the monitoring and surveillance of the deployment plan. With good progress that would allow quicker acceleration of reopening the economy and it would also be a boost to economic recovery,” he added.

ADB said the Philippines has one of the highest numbers of Covid-19 infections in Southeast Asia, with more than 600,000 confirmed cases as of Thursday, March 11.

DOH and FDA: No pause in AstraZeneca vax rollout

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

T

he Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday said there is no reason to halt the rollout of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines in the country, notwithstanding reports that some vaccinees in Denmark and Norway reportedly developed blood clots.

“At present, the DOH and FDA emphasize that there is no indication for the Philippines to stop [the] rollout of AstraZeneca vaccines. The DOH, National Task Force and FDA are closely coordinating on this matter,” the DOH explained.

To ease public concern and worry, the DOH assured they will “closely monitor all deployed vaccines.”

Both DOH and FDA admitted that they are aware that some countries in the European Union have recently paused their vaccination campaign with Covid-19 vaccine AstraZeneca. The latest country to follow suit, according to news wire reports, was Thailand.

“This has been decided as a precautionary measure while they conduct a full investigation to determine causality between the vaccination and the reported adverse events following immunization.”

Moreover, the European Medicine Authority (EMA) has also emphasized that there is currently no indication that vaccination has caused these conditions, which are not listed as side effects with this vaccine, saying, “The position of EMA’s safety committee—Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee [PRAC] is that the vaccine’s benefits continue to outweigh its risks and the vaccine can continue to be administered while investigation of cases of thromboembolic events is ongoing.

It added that PRAC is already reviewing all cases of thromboembolic events and other conditions related to blood clots following inoculation.

A6 Saturday, March 13, 2021

ExportUnlimited BusinessMirror

PHL’s food selections goes live on FOODEX JP online platform

T

HE Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (Citem) leads a delegation of 10 Philippine food companies for FOODEX Japan 2021, the largest food and beverage trade show in the Asian region. For the first time in its 45-year history, the 2021 edition of FOODEX takes on both physical and digital formats, the latter being a result of travel restrictions entailed by the pandemic.

Flavors harnessed from Philippine soils and seas will be showcased through the offerings of the following exhibitors: mango-infused vegetable drink mixes by Business Innovations Gateway Inc.; varied coconut-based products by Eau de Coco Inc., Limketkai Manufacturing Corp., and Pasciolco Agri Ventures; banana chips by Prime Fruits International and See’s International Manufacturing Corp.; fresh cavendish bananas and golden pineapples

by SL Agrifood Corp.; and tuna and sardine products by Century Pacific Food and Market Reach International Resources, respectively.

Magicmelt Foods Inc., meanwhile, will offer classic Filipino snacking options such as biscocho (buttered toast), rosquillos (round cookies), and otap (puff cookies).

All these products will be featured in the site, https://www.jma-buyers.com/fx_webguide_en/company. php?no=1012.

Citem Executive Director Pauline Suaco-Juan noted that the Japanese market requires only the freshest and top-quality food products to sustain their healthconscious lifestyle. She also said that the Philippines, having utilized its climatic and topographical conditions to bring out unique flavors, will meet the moment as consumers across the globe become more particular with the products they bring into their homes.

“Our mangoes and coconuts are sweeter, and our tunas are fatter,” Suaco-Juan said. “Flavor is second nature to us Filipinos, and our evolving understanding of wellness

Trade dept rolls out online import permit application

T

HE Import Regulation Division (IRD) of the Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB) rolled out its online processing of applications for Certificate of Authority to Import (CAI) through the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Integrated Registration and Information Systems, otherwise known as IREGIS. The online portal, which can be accessed at iregis.dti. gov.ph facilitates the processing of FTEB frontline services, including the application for import permit of used vehicles.

The online application and issuance of CAI is in line with the government initiative on Ease of Doing Business and Government Service Act of 2018, which aims to streamline frontline procedures and to reduce the processing time on securing government permits and licenses.

“The automation of our processes is intended to modernize not only our

office but private business enterprises as well, and we are hopeful that this move will contribute to a more seamless and simplified system in the future,” said Consumer Protection Group Undersecretary Ruth Castelo.

“Our clients can now secure their import permits at the comfort of their homes since everything can now be done through IREGIS—from filing of application, online payment, evaluation and approval down to releasing of certificates,” FTEB Director Ronnel Abrenica stated.

Further, DTI incorporated a technical support chat box in the IREGIS applicant dashboard that is available from 8 a.m to 5 p.m. on weekdays to assist the clients in navigating the recently launched online portal.

For more information and questions about online import permit application, you may send an e-mail to fteb_ird@dti.gov.ph or may call Consumer Care Hotline at DTI (1-384).

CITEM brings in 10 Philippine brands in support of the first-ever Asean International THE 10 brands—Acento Colleccions, E. Murio, Enpekei International, Goltrio, Junk Not, La Galuche, Mejore, Obra Cebuana, Prizmic & Brill, and Furniture & Furnishings Show VX 2021 (AIFFS VX) led by the Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines (CFIP).

Stonesets International—are also housed in FAME+ fameplus.com.

will show the world that whichever need may arise, the Philippine food industry is here to answer the call,” she added.

While the physical show in Chiba, Japan, will end on March 12, exhibitors and buyers can interact through online meetings and chats on the FOODEX online platform until October 8. Afterwards, the Philippine delegation for FOODEX joins other food companies in Citem’s flagship, homegrown food-sourcing platform, IFEX Philippines NXTFOOD ASIA (IFEX), happening in July 2021.

The Philippine participation at FOODEX Japan 2021 is made possible in coordination with the Philippine Trade and Investment Centers (PTIC) in Tokyo and Osaka.

AIFFS event

IN support of staging this year’s firstever Asean International Furniture & Furnishings Show VX 2021 (AIFFS VX) led by the Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines (CFIP), the Citem will also bring in 10 Philippine brands for the fully digital edition of AIFFS. Representing the best of Philippine craftsmanship in the home and lifestyle sectors at AIFFS are FAME+ exhibitors Acento Colleccions, E. Murio, Enpekei International, Goltrio, Junk Not, La Galuche, Mejore, Obra Cebuana, Prizmic & Brill, and Stonesets International. Each brand has shown its commitment to paying homage to Philippine culture through their designs.

Launched in October 2020,

FAME+ is Citem’s response to the evolving and rapidly digitizing demands of trade and export. The digital trade platform improves the searchability and discoverability of its over 200 exhibitors from the home, fashion, and lifestyle (HFL) sectors to buyers and design enthusiasts across the globe.

Through its digital magazine Touchpoint, FAME+ tells the story of Philippine design excellence as reflected in the materials, techniques, traditions, and people that make these export products.

“A keen emphasis on technique, particularly material manipulation, and design sensibilities rooted in our proud heritage are just some of the Philippine-design signatures you can expect to see at AIFFS,”

CITEM Executive Director Pauline Suaco-Juan shares that the export-promotion arm of the DTI is looking forward to sharing the story of Philippine design excellence at AIFFS.

Citem Executive Suaco-Juan said.

“We’re looking forward to sharing the story of our great artisanal tradition with our Asean neighbors and with buyers and design aficionados all over the world,” she added.

Organized by the Asean Furniture Industries Council (AFIC), the AIFFS will be hosted by the Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines Inc. (CFIP) and will be participated in by seven Asean countries: the Philippines, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Visitors can interact with exhibitors on the AIFFSS VX online platform from March 9 to 12, and can still view exhibitor catalogues from March 13 to 18, 2021. Visitors and buyers may log on to www.aiffsvx. com to register.

Exporters take unusual steps to ease container shortage

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OME of the world’s biggest exporters in Asia are intervening to alleviate a shipping container shortage that jeopardizes their overseas trading.

Gover nment-ow ned Indian Railways has moved empty boxes to inland depots like Delhi from seaports for free. South Korea has deployed an extra nine vessels on the Trans-Pacific route to help local manufacturers while China’s state-owned shipyard, Cosco Shipping Heavy Industry, has converted at least one freshly built paper-and-pulp carrier to transport the containers.

The state-backed companies and governments are working quickly to smooth disruptions on the supply side of global trade to avoid losing business, even as clogged ports like Los Angeles trigger import delays and freight costs remain high. Asian economies remain deeply reliant on exports to Europe and North America to line government coffers.

“The state has a far bigger role within shipping in Asia, with equity stakes in numerous shipping lines, shipyards and terminals,” said Simon Heaney, senior manager of container research at Drewry Shipping Consultants Ltd. “That influence is much less prevalent elsewhere in the world.”

Indian Railways is discussing if its current 25-percent discount for moving empty containers inland along some routes needs to be extended beyond March, according to Manoj Singh, executive director for freight traffic and transportation. The carrier offered free carriage at least twice last year and hasn’t ruled out waiving all charges again when it reviews the situation at the end of the month, he said.

Container Corp. of India Ltd., on whose board Singh sits, is also moving containers to neighboring countries such as Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to help ease the shortage, he said. Typically the company would

only move the boxes to facilitate domestic shipments.

That coincided with a turnaround in India’s trade, with both exports and imports witnessing two consecutive months of growth since December after record declines last year due to the pandemic.

“Exporters and their industry groups are noisier and more active lobbyists on these types of issues,” said Daniel Richards, a senior analyst at Maritime Strategies International Ltd., a shipping consultancy. “When you add to that the importance of the export sector to most Asian economies you can see why these governments have at least made efforts to be seen to be proactive.”

But even countries less reliant on exports than powerhouses like China or South Korea are looking at ways to unclog global trade arteries.

The UTLC Eurasian Rail Alliance reduced tariffs last April for transporting empty containers via its Europe-China link. The company

jointly formed by the state railways of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus said that this would help “avert the shortage of containers for loading in China.”

To some extent, state intervention can run counter to steps corporations have taken in response to disruptions driven by the pandemic. For instance, Hapag-Lloyd is raising freight rates next month to ship boxes from Europe to India’s Nhava Sheva port, the company said this month.

Government role is limited and market forces will ultimately determine how things pan out, said Ajay Sahai, director general at the Federation of Indian Export Organisations.

“The best thing governments can do is ensure rapid and effective vaccination of their populations so that landside logistics labor capacity and productivity can be restored to pre-pandemic levels,” said Heaney. “That will do a lot to improve the circulation of containers.” Bloomberg News

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www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Angel R. Calso • Saturday, March 13, 2021 A7

2 elderly practicing doctors in GenSan get Sinovac jab

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By Richelyn Gubalani

ENERAL SANTOS CITY— Two elderly practicing doctors have availed themselves of the Sinovac vaccine in the first two days of inoculation for priority frontline healthcare workers here, an official said.

Dr. Ryan Aplicador, deputy incident commander of the City InterAgency Task Force for the Management of Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, said Dr. Wilfredo Garcia, 70, and Dr. Benjamin Pagarigan Jr., 69, were vaccinated with their first doses on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.

He said the two, who are still serving at the local government-run Dr. Jorge P. Royeca Hospital (DJPRH), volunteered to get the CoronaVac, the

vaccine’s trade name, despite being properly informed that it was not recommended for them due to lack of clinical trials.

The Department of Health (DOH) only recommended the vaccine to individuals aged 18 to 59 years old based on its “higher efficacy” rate.

However, Aplicador said the two doctors signed waivers that they want to receive the CoronaVac vaccine and submitted clearances from

their personal doctors.

Aside from them, he said several health workers who have diabetes and hypertension were vaccinated after passing the mandatory screening.

“As of now, they are all in good condition and did not experience any adverse side effects,” Aplicador told reporters.

Pagarigan, a former chief of the DJPRH, said he has full confidence that the CoronaVac will give him enough protection against the Covid-19.

“At my age, I can’t risk that. I’ll do this anytime even without a waiver,” he told PNA before getting the vaccine.

He is hoping that their decision would inspire and encourage other health workers to get vaccinated early against the disease.

On the first day of inoculation, some 84 of DJPRH’s 549 active personnel were given the CoronaVac vaccine.

DR. Benjamin Pagarigan Jr., 69, gets his vital signs checked before receiving his first dose of the Sinovac vaccine on March 9, 2021, the second day of inoculation at the Dr. Jorge P. Royeca Hospital (DJPRH) in General Santos City. The former chief of the DJPRH, formerly known as the city district hospital, is the second oldest frontline health worker who got the vaccine after Dr. Wilfredo Garcia, a 70-year-old anesthesiologist at the same facility. PNA/RICHELYN GUBALANI

Aplicador said that from the initial 40 percent who signified and

gave their consent to be vaccinated before the rollout, the number has

so far increased to about 50 percent.

“We’re expecting that more will come forward until the [March 14] deadline,” he said.

DOH-12 delivered last Saturday a total of 3,138 vials of the CoronaVac vaccine for the first dose of priority health-care workers from six Covid-19 referral hospitals in the city.

These are the DJPRH, St. Elizabeth Hospital Inc.(SEHI), General Santos Doctor’s Hospital, Socsargen County Hospital (SCH), Mindanao Medical Center, and GenSan Medical Center.

Partial data showed that 100 workers of SEHI and 61 from SCH received the vaccines on Monday.

Citing the DOH’s guidelines, Aplicador said the unused vials will be returned to the agency’s main hub in Cotabato City after the end of the seven-day vaccination period.

He added that the second dose or booster shots of the recipients will be administered on April 5. PNA

Harvard professor ignites uproar over ‘comfort women’ statement

By Collin Binkley

In the 1990s, women began sharing accounts detailing how they were taken to comfort stations and forced to provide sexual services for the Japanese military.

Hundreds of scholars have sig ned letters condemning Ramseyer’s article, which united North and South Korea in sparking outrage. Last Tuesday, North Korea’s state-run DPRK Today published an article calling Ramseyer a “repulsive money grubber” and a “pseudo scholar.”

Ramseyer, a professor of Japanese legal studies at Harvard Law School, declined to comment.

Ramseyer’s article, titled “Contracting for sex in the Pacific War,” was published online in December and was scheduled to appear in the March issue of the International Review of Law and Economics. The issue has been suspended, however, and the journal issued an “expression of concern” saying the piece is under investigation.

Most alarming to historians is what they say is a lack of evidence in the paper: Scholars at Harvard and other institutions have combed though Ramseyer’s sources and say

AP Education Writer

C

AMBRIDGE, Mass.—A Harvard University professor has ignited an international uproar and faces mounting scrutiny for alleging that Korean women who were kept as sex slaves in wartime Japan had actually chosen to work as prostitutes.

In a recent academic paper, J. Mark Ramseyer rejected a wide body of research finding that Japan’s so-called comfort women were forced to work at military brothels during World War II. Ramseyer instead argued that the women willingly entered into contracts as sex workers.

His paper has intensified a political dispute between Japan, whose leaders deny that the women were coerced, and South Korea, which has long pressed Japan to provide apologies and compensation to women who have shared accounts of rape and abuse.

Decades of research have explored the abuses inflicted on comfort women from Korea and other nations previously occupied by Japan.

What Jesus can teach ad makers

By Nick Tayag

MY SIXTY-ZEN’S WORTH

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NE daily habit I picked up as a marooned senior during this pandemic is tuning in to online masses early in the morning before breakfast. While listening to some of the parables of Jesus during the Gospel part, I’ve come to realize they are really a form of advertising, conceptualized in a way that appealed to people of that time.

Parables were His way of conveying His succinct messages.

The technique was traditional and familiar to all throughout the region during His time. At its simplest the parable is a metaphor drawn from nature or common life, captivating the hearer by its vividness and as one theologian describes it, “leaving enough room in the mind about the precise application to tease it into active thought.” That’s what an effective ad does, to tease and provoke the target consumer to

action whether to try a product or to change his mind.

From the perspective of a retired advertising copywriter like me, Jesus was a consummate wordsmith and persuasive adman who knew how to hold an audience. I would not even go into His striking way of making memorable slogans (“Blessed are the peacemakers…”) or his way of capping His messages with a call to action (“Repent” or “Sin no more” or “Go now your faith has made thee whole” or simply “Take up your cross and come follow me.”

In His parables, which are the ancient equivalent of our public service messages today, he used the conceptual techniques of combination, analogy, contrast and comparison as well as appropriation or adaptation very astutely.

He also employed the conceptual technique of what I call “in-

there is no historical evidence of the contracts he describes.

In a statement calling for the article to be retracted, Harvard historians Andrew Gordon and Carter Eckert said Ramseyer “has not consulted a single actual contract” dealing with comfort women.

“We do not see how Ramseyer can make credible claims, in extremely emphatic wording, about contracts he has not read,” they wrote.

Alexis Dudden, a historian of modern Japan and Korea at the University of Connecticut, called the article a “total fabrication” that disregards decades of research. Although some have invoked academic freedom to defend Ramseyer, Dudden counters that the article “does not meet the requirements of academic integrity.”

“These are assertions out of thin air,” she said. “It’s very clear from his writing and his sources that he has never seen a contract.”

More than 1,000 economists have signed a separate letter condemning the article, saying it misuses economic theory “as a cover to legitimize horrific atrocities.”

A separate group of historians of

herent drama” by which He took what is old and giving them new life in the listener’s imagination.

He often appropriated excerpts from the scriptures, and mixed familiar experience and metaphors and images that people of His time could relate to and reinterpreted them.

He used things from His surroundings for His analogy technique. Vineyards, mustard seeds, weeds, yeast, pearls, oil lamps, wineskins, sheep, silver coins and other images—these were commonplace and well-known to the farmers, sowers, vineyard tillers, shepherds and fishermen who flocked to Him. Using these familiar images, Jesus was able to describe abstract ideas like kingdom of heaven in concrete terms they could understand and grasp.

Jesus’ parables do not indulge in the fanciful or the fantastic, but remain true-to-life. They are words made flesh, words that breathe, visually vivid and almost tactile.

In contrast John the Evangelist used another conceptual technique in Revelations: images that are surreal, weird and even terrifying designed to shock or jar you from your complacency or sense of comfort. The same technique employed by many ad makers and content makers of today

Japan issued a 30-page article explaining why the article should be retracted “on grounds of academic misconduct.”

At Harvard, hundreds of students signed a petition demanding an apology from Ramseyer and a university response to the complaints against him. Harvard Law School declined to comment.

A United Nations report from 1996 concluded that the comfort women were sex slaves taken through “violence and outright coercion.” A statement from Japan in 1993 acknowledged that women were taken “against their own will,” although the nation’s leaders later denied it.

Tensions flared again in January when a South Korean court ruled that the Japanese government must give 100 million won ($90,000) to each of 12 women who sued in 2013 over their wartime sufferings.

Japan insists all wartime compensation issues were settled under a 1965 treaty normalizing relations with South Korea.

In South Korea, activists have denounced Ramseyer and called for his resignation from Harvard.

to enthrall viewers.

His use of what is familiar and making them seem new is a good lesson for local ad makers and content makers. Our creative thinkers should cease being copycats and stop being awed and influenced too easily by foreign materials.

Instead, they need to mine from what is given in our culture as winning conceptual vessels to convey messages if we want to hook our Filipino audience.

There are images and feelings that are native and indigenous to us that can be evoked much more powerfully than foreign concepts, which can cast a more intensely enchanting spell on local consumers.

All we need is to dig into the matrix of our myths and folktales, go back to the original womb of our shared narratives where we absorbed our myths, legends and folk tales, the wellspring of our indigenous culture as well as beliefs and values that have shaped us and continue to mold us.

We have our treasure chest of bugtong, salawikain, idiomatic expressions, etymologies of our languages. Then there’s also our deep well of superstitious beliefs, and our native valhalla of folk heroes and gods. Why not appropriate from our local pop culture such as songs and street lingo? The closer the concept is to the native’s col-

Chung Young-ai, South Korea’s minister of gender equality and family, expressed dismay over the article last week.

“There is an attempt to distort [the facts about] the Japanese military’s ‘comfort women’ issue and tarnish the honors and dignity of victims,” Chung said, according to comments provided by her ministry.

Lee Yong-soo, a 92-year-old South Korean and survivor, described Ramseyer’s assertion as “ludicrous” and demanded he apologize.

An influential activist, Lee is campaigning for South Korea and Japan to settle their decades-long impasse by seeking judgment from the International Court of Justice.

When asked about Ramseyer last Wednesday, Lee said: “That professor should be dragged to [the ICJ] too.”

The controversy, amplified by its source at an Ivy League university, has yielded new scrutiny of Ramseyer’s other work.

In response to new concerns raised by scholars, The European Journal of Law and Economics added an editor’s note saying it’s

lective mind and experience, the more it easily endears the product to the consumer’s heart.

F. Sionil Jose, National Artist in Literature, once said: “What is important for our artists is to draw from indigenous sources to give our art a Filipino character, whether it be music, literature, the stage. When you do that, your art has a nationality. Makikilala kaagad.“ Probably what he also meant to say is that pasok agad sa kamalayan ng Pinoy.

But going back to parables, I like them better when heard than read. That’s probably why they were meant to be conveyed to people immersed in an oral culture. Jesus had no audio-visual means such as radio and TV and Internet to convey His short advertising to His ever-growing followers. Would Jesus have made better impact if He arrived at a later time? As a line from the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar puts it: “Why’d you choose such a backward time in such a strange land? If you’d come today you could have reached a whole nation.”

Hearing the words of the parables leaves them to resonate in our mind and enables the imagination to stir our senses. This of course requires not just casual hearing but being fully absorbed and captivated through mind-

investigating a recent piece by Ramseyer—this one studying Koreans living in early 20th-century Japan. Cambridge University Press said a forthcoming book chapter

by Ramseyer is “being revised by the author after consultation between the author and the editors of the book.”

Ramseyer repeated his claims about comfort women in a submission to a Japanese news site in January. In it, he alleged the women entered into contracts similar to those used under a separate, licensed system of prostitution in Japan. He rejected accounts of forced labor as “pure fiction,” saying the Japanese army “did not dragoon Korean women to work in its brothels.”

“Expressing sympathy to elderly women who have had a rough life is fine,” he wrote. “Paying money to an ally in order to rebuild a stable relationship is fine. But the claims about enslaved Korean comfort women are historically untrue.”

Opponents counter that many of the women were so young they would have been unable to consent to sex even if there was evidence of contracts.

ful listening. As we focus on the words, images start to form from the well of memory and experience and through the power of imagination, they become virtually three-dimensional.

It is like listening the way a child does when a father or mother reads a story about dragons and fairies and forests before bedtime. Or our grandfolks with their tales of Bernardo Carpio, Maria Makiling, Juan Tamad, diwatas and nuno sa punso, tikbalang and other characters from our myths and legends.

The child is completely focused and absorbed as the images play out in his mind.

This brings me to something I read that says that the best communication is bringing it before the senses, hence prae sensae, meaning right in front of the senses as in up close.

So to the young makers of ads and viral videos, during this Lenten season, read the parables aloud and learn from a man who delivered ads of good tidings from the top of a wooden stool or box, in a village synagogue, on a prow of a boat or on a hill. He may have chosen a backward time but nevertheless He was so effective that His short “public service messages” are still frequently quoted and made into viral memes more than 2,000 years after they were first delivered.

Education BusinessMirror

A8 Saturday, March 13, 2021

Editor: Mike Policarpio

Tesda’s online tourism courses in demand among OFWs

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By Roderick L. Abad

VERSEAS Filipino workers (OFWs) have taken preference to online programs on tourism, notwithstanding the said industry being badly hit by the pandemic since last year.

Based on data released by the electronic-Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (e-Tesda), a total of 23,818 OFWs or their dependents enrolled in courses under the tourism sector from March 16 to December 31, 2020, through the Tesda Online Program (TOP). This was followed by programs under human health/ health-care and entrepreneurship sectors with 12,368 and 11,416

enrollees, respectively.

The 80 courses available in TOP are divided into 21st-century skills: agriculture; automotive; electrical and electronics; entrepreneurship; heating, ventilation and air-conditioning; human health/health care; information and communications technology; lifelong-learning skills; maritime; processed food and beverages; social, community development and

TESDA Secretary Isidro S. Lapeña PNA

other services; tourism; as well as technical-vocational education and training. Some courses in other industries are yet to have more OFW-enrollees.

While the tourism sector can

further enrich OFWs’ skills, Tesda Secretary Isidro S. Lapeña noted that it is to their advantage if they also learn some agricultural skills and, eventually, become “agripreneurs.” He said: “It be-

UST holds media training workshop L EADERS of academic institutions, at certain instances, take on the role of spokespersons. They do not only bring with them their expertise, but also their skills for responding to questions asked by the media.

To assist them in this role, the University of Santo Tomas (UST), through its Office of Public Affairs (OPA), organized for these educators a virtual media training workshop on February 19. Sharing their expert insights were Emmy Award-winning international journalist and former president of CNN Philippines Armie Jarin-Bennett, as well as prolific author, translator and columnist Assistant Professor Joselito De Los Reyes, PhD. They offered new solutions to stakeholders by imparting knowledge on systematic messaging and strategic communications.

Jarin-Bennett discussed “Thinking Like a Journalist,” while de los Reyes discoursed on “Netika: Ang ating birtwal at kinakatawang pagiral sa avenida ng mga mainipin” (“Net ethics: Our virtual and embodied existence on the road of the impatient”).

UST Secretary-General Rev. Fr. Jesús M. Miranda Jr. OP remarked that shifts in mindsets, policies and processes have become inevitable due to adjustments brought about by the pandemic. In particular, he said trained spokespersons can effectively bridge the gap between the academe and the general public.

As UST-OPA Acting Director Asst. Prof. Virginia A. Sembrano explained in her message, “Administrators have the responsibility

shared Jarin-Bennett. “[With the surge in disinformation,] we are more empowered than ever to ensure that the information we share is accurate, fair and balanced.”

Industry heavyweights

JARIN-BENNETT (upper left) and de los Reyes (bottom)

of being trusted to represent the institution in various capacities as leaders and experts, but there are different nuances to communicating with the media that differ from the usual classroom interactions and conference presentations.”

Responsible info-sharing

THE first talk, delivered by de los Reyes, focused on the dynamic world of new media encompassing the gamut of digital, social and online media. Despite its below-average connection speeds, the Philippines has been noted to have the most time spent on social media, especially Facebook, said de los Reyes, as he added that the dopamine-inducing effects of notifications for the reward area of the brain help associate social media’s instant gratification with positive reinforcement.

An author of two books on social media, de los Reyes encouraged the

audience to be more critical of the way their real and virtual existences are maintained through digital technology and social platforms— especially on protecting their credibility as persons in authority. Particularly, he recommended prudent and well-thought-out responses if there really is a need to engage, avoidance of disseminating disinformation by being cautious of sources, and being mindful of what should and should not be posted.

Meanwhile, Jarin-Bennett’s talk positioned participants in the perspective of the journalist, as she shared lessons on engaging with traditional media. She highlighted the way journalists prioritize and pursue stories, how institutions can plan responses to crises, and how spokespersons can prepare for interviews.

“I truly believe…it is through the work of the journalist that we can share information people can trust,”

THROUGH her 25-plus years in journalism, Jarin-Bennett has worked for 16 years in CNN’s Global Headquarters from 1997 to 2013 as an executive producer, won an Emmy Award for CNN’s coverage of the revolution in Egypt, and oversaw CNN’s content sales in the AsiaPacific region.

On the other hand, de los Reyes is a recipient of the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts Writers’ Prize for Fiction, the National Book Awards for the Essay, the National Book Awards for Nonfiction, and the Makata ng Taon from the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino. He is also a regular popular culture and new media opinion contributor for multiple publications, a resident fellow of the UST Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies, and the coordinator of the UST Bachelor of Arts Creative Writing program. Currently, he teaches writing, new media, and literature subjects at the UST Faculty of Arts and Letters, UST College of Education, and the UST Graduate School.

Almost 100 administrators and academic officials attended the online learning event organized by the UST-OPA, in coordination with the UST Communications Bureau and UST Educational Technology Center. It can be viewed through the UST-OPA’s Facebook page.

DLS-CSB FDM program to stage virtual showcase

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HE Fashion, Design and Merchandising (FDM) program of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde will present “Sinulid Epilogue 20-21,” a virtual affair on March 19 and 20, which will showcase the works of FDM students during the pandemic.

This will be the FDM’s first virtual event since the local fashion industry took a hiatus because of the current health crisis. According to the program’s students, “Sinulid…” will be a form of encouragement and support for them in pursuing their dreams in the fashion industry.

The show aims to be a platform of advocacy to all students and industry practitioners in the fashion industry, as well as harness their talents and crafts for them to prevail and be utilized for good causes.

Instead of a customary annual graduation fashion show, the FDM said it chose to be of service to fellow Filipinos during these difficult times. Last year, the program’s students and faculty members initiated

a community service by creating personal protective equipment and face masks as donations to frontliners.

“The virtual affair is a way for us to motivate young fashion dreamers by showcasing their resourcefulness, creativity, and innovativeness through the different activities planned,” the FDM said in a statement. “For ‘Sinulid…,’ we will have the official launch of [our web site and three-week virtual gallery exhibit parading the graduation collection of our students, a fashion parody competition entitled ‘#FDMRECOUTURE,’ and a series of webinars which will feature] industry leaders such as Maco Custodio, Nina Opida, Josef Werber, and more.”

The virtual show is being organized in cooperation with Triple K, Manila Fashion Supplies, Manila Bay Thread Corp., Humble Sustainability and Beatriz Accessories. Check out event details and updates through FDM’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/ BenildeFDM.

came more difficult to earn this pandemic, because many Filipinos have lost their jobs and livelihood, especially in the tourism sector. However, [they can also take courses under the agriculture sector; that way, they can ensure more of them will learn ways to produce food for their] families and loved ones.”

A total of 2,679 enrollees for the fruit-grower course was recorded by e-Tesda by the end of 2020.

However, the agriculture sector’s eight other courses have yet to receive enrollees.

Apart from online courses, faceto-face training under the agrifishery sector is also available. The Tesda chief pushed for a special feature in their mobile app, where OFWs can register and avail of the programs prepared for them.

The agency earlier reported that TOP registrants totaled 1,238,522

EDUCATORS SPEAK

UP prof pines for times gone by Interview by Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

F

ORMER English and Comparative Literature professor Helen Mendoza of the University of the Philippines-Diliman grew up in a pristine setting in Zamboanga City. There, she experienced momentous events worth documenting in a book....

A PhD holder and now at 94, Mendoza grew up in the said city where she finished her elementary and some of her secondary studies, at a time it was still an idyllic and serene environment. For her, they are now just memories.

The former educator told the BusinessMirror in an e-mail interview that the Zamboanga City of today is quite different compared to what’s was in the 1920s and 1930s.

“Before, our elders on some nights would treat us to an evening merienda by sending the houseboy to buy pancit from the Chinese restaurant,” the former department chair of Literature in UP Diliman said. “It was [simple, but we enjoyed it. Now, people just go out to quick-serve restaurants]. It is not the same....”

Mendoza also recalled their favorite pastime of taking a walk at Pettit Barracks—the headquarters of the American Army under General James Pershing during the American Occupation. As a little girl, she used to hear the sound of a bugle at 9 p.m. and the wake-up call at 7 a.m. the next day.

“Unfortunately, the government today destroyed the buildings and the big acacia trees that used to line the streets,” she lamented. “[In their stead, the government built edifices] at random.”

Nevertheless, there’s a bright spot as Fort Pilar, which the Spaniards erected during the Spanish era, is still there and now a world heritage site.

While Zamboanga City today shows the reality of urbanization, one place has also remained untouched: Pasonanca Park, up on the hills facing Mt. Pulong Bato.

There is a natural swimming pool, the water of which comes trickling down from the mountain. She said there are many trees and paths where one can take a walk among the trees. The park also has many green hills with trees artfully arranged, where one can have picnic with friends.

“I was told Daniel Burnham designed Pasonanca Park—the same man who designed [the park that bears his name] in Baguio,” she said.

With rapid urbanization taking over Zamboanga City, Mendoza said the quiet streets and the little Chinese restaurants which sold mongo con hielo are but just a memory: “I used to listen at night to the sound of horses as calesas drove by. But...the sounds and sights of my childhood are gone....”

War years, liberation

SAMPLE creations for unveiling at the virtual event

since the pandemic started until the end of last year. Of the figure, the number of OFWs reached 60,937; 7,099 are their dependents, while 18,064 were categorized as “returning.”

Meanwhile, 36 percent of the total number of enrollees, or 31,435, have completed their courses. The tourism sector has the highest number of course completers with 7,325; followed by human health/ health care with 6,456 graduates; and entrepreneurship with 3,854 finishers.

The data also disclosed that 20.54 percent of the overall number of enrollees, or 20,478 individuals, are from the Cavite-LagunaBatangas-Rizal-Quezon region, or Calabarzon; 18.04 percent, or 17,992, were from the National Capital Region; and 13.29 percent, or 13,247, hailed from Region 3, or Central Luzon.

JUST before the World War 2 broke out, Mendoza’s father was assigned to Iloilo City, where armed conflict caught up with them. Her family evacuated to the mountains when the Japanese invaded the Philippines, then returned to the city when a civilian government was established. They stayed there for about a couple of years.

When the family experienced a dearth of resources, her father decided to go to Manila where they rented an apartment. It was small, so some family members decided to just stay in Mendoza’s father’s hometown of Balagtas, Bulacan. She chose to remain in that town be-

DR. Helen Mendoza

cause of its more laidback lifestyle.

“I was there when the United States’s forces came back to liberate us from the Japanese,” she recalled. “The 37th Infantry Division came to town and waited, while engineers of the US Army were constructing the pontoon bridge that the Japanese blew up.”

One day, while watching engineers work, she noticed a jeep stop beside her. To her surprise, it was General Douglas MacArthur in the vehicle. Her uncle Badong Constantino told her to sing “God Bless America” to the famous American military commander, and she obliged.

For the younger generation to be aware of these experiences, Mendoza poignantly captured these recollections in her books Childhood Memories of Zamboanga and Memories of the War Years (Based on my Diary during the Japanese Occupation and the Liberation of the Philippines). Both are published by and sold at Popular Bookstore.

Street parliamentarian

MENDOZA took up summer studies on Norwegian language and literature at the Oslo University, as well as the said subjects in German at the Freiburg University in Germany. She also pursued graduate studies abroad, finishing her Master of Arts degree in English Literature at Stanford University in California, and her PhD in American Literature at the University of Minnesota, where she also worked as a resident counselor at Comstock Hall girls’ dormitory.

The former UP professor had also traveled extensively, having set foot on Austria, Spain, Bulgaria, Greece, India, Malaysia, Italy, Japan, Indonesia and Taiwan.

As a socially aware citizen, Mendoza was also a street parliamentarian during the Marcos dictatorship. She joined various protest marches and fora: from Mendiola, to the Welcome Rotonda and Liwasang Bonifacio.

Moreover, she was active in the confetti marches along Ayala Avenue in Makati City in the tumultuous years of the 1980s. As a member of Women for the Ouster of Marcos and the Bases or WOMB, she joined fellow progressives in the campaign for the removal of American bases in the Philippines.

Mendoza also opposed the construction of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. “Since I was a member of NO NUKES, I was invited by a large Japanese organization to speak during the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.” ”I also was active in the environmental movement. It goes without saying that I support women’s issues,” she stressed.

To sum it up, Mendoza’s recollection of the country’s history is nothing short of colorful, as she was given the opportunity to witness changes that swept Philippine society.

Tourism&Entertainment BusinessMirror

Editor: Carla Mortel-Baricaua

Saturday, March 13, 2021 A9

Explore Surigao City’s island mangrove getaway of Day-asan

Tourists enjoy swimming in the clear waters along the open balcony of La Isla Resort.

DAY ASAN floating village is also known as “The Little Venice of Surigao City.”

I

Story & photos by Klesteer Macasero

magine a tourist destination in North Eastern Mindanao that blends accessibility and affordability with white-sand beach, crystal clear blue waters and lush green scenery of the mangroves, a hidden paradise known to most Surigaonon as Day-asan.

Known as the gateway to the farthermost tip of Northern Mindanao, Surigao City to this day lives up to its reputation as the city of island adventure as local tourism continues to thrive amid the limitations and constraints imposed by the coronavirus pandemic.

While the massive tourism industr y of Surigao City was crippled after the emergence of travel restrictions brought by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, residents in Surigao City and those living in the towns of mainland Surigao del Norte province started looking for alternative tourist destinations once quarantine restrictions eased within in the province.

My adventure brought me to

one of these destinations, the coastal village of Day-asan, known to locals as a floating village as most of the houses are made of stilts situated within a mangrove area about 9 kilometers from the busy city center of Surigao.

This is not the first time that I visited the floating village, but a lot has changed over the past decades. While there are more houses and the population has certainly increased within the water’s edge, several new tourist destinations have emerged within the area, such as the resorts on stilts constructed within the water bordering the mangrove trees and the several white-sand beaches among the mangrove islets in the area.

In search for something dif-

A boat carrying nipa shingles casts a silhouette along the open balcony of La Isla Resort as the sky slowly changes its colors after sunset.

ferent, I discovered something I did not expect to find within the vast mangrove cover of Day-asan, the white-sand beaches traversing the numerous islets which are connected by shallow crystal clear waterways.

A boat ride to the island and the resorts on stilts can be accessed from the Tourism Pavilion situated on the small village fishing port which is managed by the city tourism office.

From the port, a boat charges P500 for a boat ride that can accommodate up to five individuals with the required social distancing in place. Food can also be brought along for the trip, but the tourism office discourages one time use disposable plastic bottles and

containers as fines are in place to penalize would-be violators.

One of my recommended places to visit would be an island covered with lush vegetation of mangrove and an amazing whitesand beach known to locals as Birok situated in the eastern part of Kabo island.

The beach on the southern tip of Kabo island is where the cottages are located and where you get to experience fine white sand with crystal clear waters that is almost undisturbed by waves as it beach is facing another mangrove inlet.

With a group of friends or for a lone traveler, small open cottages are available for rent for P500 for an entire day while enjoying the

BIROK beach is situated in the island of Kabo in Barangay Day-asan, Surigao City.

waters or enjoy a nearly two-kilometer hike while exploring the rest of the island.

Visitors of the island can also enjoy casting their makeshift fish lines as the waters are teeming with life.

Other white-sand beaches are situated in the other mangrove islets, but the sand is not as fine as those found on the Birok beach.

After a draining but refreshing day in the sun, sand and blue waters of Birok, a cool down time watching the sunset in the horizon would be best enjoyed along the terrace of one of the five resorts in the area.

One of the resorts that offer good, affordable food, Instagramable cozy ambience and a good

bed for a good night’s rest is La Isla Resort.

In the resort, you can still enjoy the quick dip in the water while drinking a good cocktail or beer as the sun sets on the horizon.

The place has a fine comfortable dining ambience with the bamboo rattan themed chairs and tables.

If you want to drain and slowly melt away into the night with the cool breeze while enjoying the stars, a 2nd floor balcony area is the best place to be.

I haven’t fully explored much of the other islands and resorts in the area, hopefully my return to Day-asan would give me more than the adventures I’ve been eager to experience but surely a place I will have to return to.

A #SAFEcation you deserve at Hotel Casiana

T

ourism is not yet back to its normal state, but a lot of hospitality establishments have learned how to adapt to the “new normal.” One of those who has adapted well is the newest hotel that opened in Tagaytay—Hotel Casiana.

Upon its opening, Hotel Casiana strictly practiced and observed the health protocols mandated by the IATF and the Department of Tourism (DOT), guaranteeing to its guests the ultimate #SAFEcation they could experience.

Here are the measures that Hotel Casiana is implementing to ensure not only the safety of its guests but also the hotel’s staff.

The standard health protocols are observed at Hotel Casiana, such as wearing of face masks and face shields, enforcing of physical distancing, following age restrictions, checking of body temperature, and placing of alcohol dispensers at strategic

common areas such as entrances to the lobby and elevators.

Upon entering Hotel Casiana, guests have to fill up a health declaration form for contact tracing. Online reservation is encouraged but for those who want to coordinate with the front desk, a plexiglass barrier ensures the guests’ utmost safety.

Physical distancing is observed at the hotel—lobby, elevators, café, and restaurant.

Sticker markings are placed on the floor, seats, and tables to guide and remind the hotel guests. The hotel staff is also in proper safety gear, all the time.

Each room at Hotel Casiana is guaranteed to be the safest there is. Each room has a commercialtype air purifying machine to ensure a germ, bacteria, and virus-free stay. All corners are sanitized—from bathrooms to beddings, curtains to closets.

Furthermore, high-touch surfaces such as elevator buttons are

also sanitized.

For extra hygienic purposes, guests are provided with a care kit containing alcohol, face masks, and disinfecting wipes.

In addition, a trash bin specifically for face masks is available.

Once guests check out, the room is sanitized by the hotel staff who are all in full PPE gear.

They also use a deep cleaning steam machine to ensure the ultimate clean room.

Spa service is also offered at the comfort—and safety— of your own room. Appropriate health protocols are observed— massage therapists wear proper PPE and face masks, and bring their own luggage containing sanitized towels and linens.

Answering of a health declaration form and checking of body temperature are once again done before proceeding with the massage.

During the colder days at Tagaytay, hotel guests will surely enjoy the benefit of Hotel Ca-

siana’s heated pool. Health and safety protocols are also implemented for those who want to use the pool. Aside from physical distancing (reservation is required at the front desk to minimize interaction with other guests) and body temperature checks, clean sanitized towels are provided for guests.

Experience a safe and worryfree staycation that your family deserves at Hotel Casiana.

Your utmost #SAFEcation is our top priority since IATF and DOT approved health protocols are strictly implemented to protect you and your family.

Hotel Casiana is located along the Tagaytay-Nasugbu main highway, near the Mahogany Market and Taal Lake.

For inquiries or reservations, call 0916-5016060 (Globe), 0968-4121333 (Smart), or 0464237473. You could also e-mail: reservations@hotelcasiana.com or visit the official Facebook page: Hotel Casiana.

HOTEL facade

Rooms and facilities are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

BusinessMirror

A10 Saturday, March 13, 2021 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Enhancing the digital capabilities of MSMEs

BY RIZAL RAOUL S. REYES CONSISTENT in its goal of empowering the country’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) recently introduced the country’s very first mass retail banking hub, as part of the bank’s goal of enabling inclusive prosperity amid the current global health crisis.

Manuel G. Santiago Jr, UnionBank Chief Mass Market and Financial Inclusion Executive, recently told the media that the hub is an amalgamation of all entrepreneur-centric solutions offered by the bank that will provide a one-stop center for resources that MSMEs might need in order to support their businesses regardless of size—such as financing, logistics, and buyer-seller network, to name a few—all made accessible to mass market customers.

With around 99 percent of registered businesses in the country belonging to the MSME category, it is important for both the government and the private sector to help them to

Leading tech company slashes price of top smartphone model COMING at the heels of the well-received launch of digital lifestyle experience realme TechLife and the recent cutback on the realme 7 Pro selling price, the leading smart technology company reinforces its aim of making interconnectivity attainable for every Filipino with another price drop, this time on the realme 7. The midrange model is now available for only P11,990 via Lazada, Shopee, and official realme dealers and stores across the country.

The realme 7 is the first smartphone in the world to be powered by the MediaTek Helio G95 Gaming Processor.

Boasting industry-leading features and cutting-edge capabilities, the realme 7 is also the first to receive the TÜV Rheinland Smartphone Reliability Verification. This certification, which includes 22 major and 38 minor tests, vouches for the product’s durability and reliability for various daily-use scenarios. Introducing the model’s new cut-rate price tag is among realme’s steps to make “Smart Living” more accessible to all.

“With digital increasingly becoming the primary platform and norm for our modern communities, realme is working to make sure that a highly efficient and enjoyable Smart Living ecosystem is available in the market at a competitive rate,” said Austine Huang, realme Philippines vice president for marketing. “We want to bring the wonders of tech to the Filipinos’ fingertips. And that, of course, begins with the most-used device: the smartphone.”

The realme 7 packs value for money with its Octa-core CPU paired with a super Carbon Fiber Cooling System. This combo makes for a device with the power to host large apps and massive games, with zero lag. Users can finally say goodbye to AFKs and an overheating unit.

Users are also enabled to snap a carbon copy of reality with the help of realme 7’s Sony 64MP Quad Cam. This produces ultra-high resolution pictures with unparalleled clarity. The smartphone’s seamless 6.5” mirror-designed screen also lets you enjoy your photos, watch your favorite films, join video conferences, and view other displays in incredible detail. realme 7’s massive 5,000mAh battery can support extended hours, giving users time to immerse in and maximize the phone’s capabilities, with a low turnover time for charging.

On a single full-charge, digital natives can game for nine hours, binge movies for 15 hours, or listen to their favorite music for 81 hours—all uninterrupted.

The realme 7 series is fully integrated into the realme Smart Living ecosystem, with capabilities and applications that work with and complement both the recently launched realme Smart TV and the realme Watch S Pro.

boost economic inclusivity.

In UnionBank’s recently-held E-Talk Tales, Santiago zeroed in on how the bank addresses the typical challenges being faced by entrepreneurs, especially during the pandemic.

Santiago opened the discussion by explaining the hub’s target market, which he defined as “the middle-middle income level going down” which is also a mix of banked, underbanked, unbanked customers. “I think the definition for SMEs is much more defined where we’re really looking at micro, small and medium enterprises. So, these are your businesses with—for micro—P3 million in capital, and then you have P15 million for small, and for medium, it’s about a hundred million in capital,” Santiago explained.

According to Santiago, UnionBank calculates that this market at about 50 million customers, with the majority belonging to the lower income segments.

Moreover, the bank said about 60 percent of this customer market classify themselves as self-employed entrepreneurs.

“It’s a large market and we think this is a segment that needs

attention at this time, and we’re putting our efforts into that.”

Santiago pointed out that a big number of the current entrepreneurs are quite cautious about their business matters, caused by the uncertainties brought about by the current health crisis. This “wait and see” mindset is evident even in those who have immediate access to financing.

“We’ve seen that in the way they apply for loans. You would think that because you have loans available, people are going to flock and apply,” Santiago said.

“In fact, even those existing loans that we have that have reached the renewal stage, MSMEs would even say, ‘Can you renew that at half the amount only, and I will just come back to you when things are better?’” Santiago said.

“It’s a good thing because it shows a sign of maturity, and you know in this time, you can’t be very aggressive. You really need to think about your next steps to be able to survive this crisis. By being the leader in empowering SMEs through digital initiatives, Santiago stressed that UnionBank has already rolled a lot of ground work even before the pandemic

to address SME challenges. “It is a natural for us to push digitalization for the SMEs. They would have to adapt to digitalization as part of the changing landscape. It would be difficult for SMEs to survive if they rely on the brick-andmortar model,” he said. One of the bank’s programs for this segment is the UnionBank Business Loan via UBX SeekCap, an online Loan Marketplace where business owners and SMEs may easily browse short-term business loan products and apply digitally.

SeekCap allows SMEs to get approval within hours.

Furthermore, the bank has also established the SME Business Banking App, an online platform that enables SMES to manage their financial transactions by streamlining all business payments with the most comprehensive list of government and utility billers, transferring funds to both local and international banks, customizing complex business approval flows, enrolling all companies and subsidiaries in a single login setup, and opening and managing payroll accounts for their employees, among others.

Looking back a�ter a year in lockdown I

T’S been a year since the lockdown. Some people have resumed their normal lives and are now going back to the office, seeing family members and friends and even dining out. Others, particularly the elderly and those with preexisting conditions, are opting to stay home.

Whatever you’re choosing to do right now, all our memories about March 2020 are the same—we stayed home and waited, hoping that Covid-19 would be over soon. Everyone will remember how difficult it was to get supplies then. A bottle of rubbing alcohol was so precious that my brother asked his driver from Alabang to go to Fairview to get a small one from our house.

Before everyone learned how to bake, bread was also very precious. I remember that my husband would wake up really early just to get bread from 7-Eleven.

Everything—from cooking oil to cheese—was precious and hard to come by. Having lived through Martial Law, this was not an alien concept to me.

But for someone like my daughter, it was a traumatic time.

Their generation had never experienced anything remotely like this. This was something new.

Our household had, by the end of March, devised ways of getting supplies as we didn’t really want to go out.

We discovered that you could call the Watsons branch nearest you and order vitamins,

OTC medications, toiletries and other stuff. We got groceries via Grab Express and an enterprising person in the neighborhood who had a motorcycle and was willing line up for hours.

We also scoured Instagram for shops selling food and groceries. At this time, many restaurants didn’t even start doing takeout and deliveries yet. Even our old reliables McDonald’s and Jollibee didn’t have everything in their menu. Sometimes, they’d run out of burgers by the afternoon.

Meat and fresh produce were so expensive. I cannot imagine the hardships that most Filipinos went through at this time. I remember that we received food packages, popularly known as “ayuda,” from our local government units.

Ayuda is the Tagalog word for “help.” I’m explaining this because I know some people who apparently thought that it was a newly-invented word. With the number of Covid cases in Metro Manila rising again, there are talks that there will be another lockdown soon. This is what I’m thinking: We are now better

prepared if this happens. We know what to do.

I’m happy to hear that foodpanda has introduced pandamart, a quick on-demand delivery service for daily essentials and food products.

Pandamart is a time-saving and convenient way to choose from over 3,000 items that include daily essentials and food products such as snacks, beverages and ice cream with a fast delivery time of about 25 minutes. They have the Weekly Deals wherein products are refreshed weekly.

Pandamart offers the public safety, speed, convenience and effortless delivery.

Health and sanitation practices are observed at all times with contactless delivery as an available option. Experience the convenience of online grocery shopping via pandamart by downloading the foodpanda app for free on Google Play Store or the App Store.

Once you have the app, you can access pandamart via the “Shops” function, which works like other grocery delivery services. ■

Barça fans, here’s your chance to send your questions to fave player AS the football 2020/2021 season heats up, popular messaging platform Rakuten Viber is kicking off a new chapter of its longtime partnership with FC Barcelona by offering fanfirst experiences for the club’s supporters at various touch points on its messaging app.

Viber is giving users an exclusive access to Barça players through an exclusive meet-andgreet with Marc-André ter Stegen, Frenkie de Jong, Miralem Pjanić, Sergiño Dest, Clément Lenglet, and Antoine Griezmann this month.

The virtual event features a question and answer session where the players can

personally answer questions from Viber users. The company is giving users the unique option to send their questions via member-tomember messaging in all FC Barcelona Viber Communities.

Barça fans are also treated to a day with a legend, as an FC Barcelona player takes over the Community this season and gives users a special glimpse into his everyday life.

Moreover, users have a monthly opportunity to win autographed 2020-2021 jerseys by simply predicting the winner of the match—an easy way for every fan to own a must-have

token. Viber and Barça are also giving them an opportunity to be one of the stars of the Community every month. All they have to do is share their personal story and journey as a supporter of FC Barcelona.

To reach more fans in all corners of the world this season, the messaging app and the club are also launching an official global FC Barcelona Community in Russian, in addition to other Communities in English, Spanish and Arabic. To mark this new addition and celebrate the club’s continuous growth, more special giveaways are now up for grabs.

Viber is also launching a brand-new FC Barcelona sticker pack to kick off the new football season.

Unlike last year’s cartoon-based stickers, the new pack features the real faces of all the players this season.

“We’re delighted to double down on our fan-first FC Barcelona partnership going into 2021,” says Anna Znamenskaya, the chief growth officer at Rakuten Viber.

“This cooperation has been a success since it began in 2017, and we’re thrilled to bring fans closer to their team’s players

through Viber, just as we connect between all of our users.”

One of the world’s leading apps for free and easy communication, Viber started its partnership with FC Barcelona in the 2017/2018 season, as the club made the platform its official channel of communication.

In 2020, Viber gave GMA artist Gabbi Garcia an unforgettable experience by giving her a front-row seat to one of FC Barcelona’s matches. She also received an exclusive tour of Camp Nou, FC Barcelona’s historic home stadium.

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

SMART, CHRIS EVANS JOIN FORCES FOR A BETTER WORLD HOLLYWOOD star Chris Evans (Captain America: The First Avenger, Avengers: End Game) was recently unveiled as the face of Smart Communications’ “Live Smarter for a Better World” 2021 campaign.

The surprise coup was retweeted by Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan on his own official account on March 4. Viewers were in for a treat as Chris ended the two-minute commercial film declaring “Simple, Smart Ako!” As Smart’s first-ever Hollywood A-List brand ambassador, Chris appears in the world-class commercial helmed by Pascal Heiduk. The German-born director has worked with the likes of Hugh Jackman and Lewis Hamilton, and has done commercial film work for renowned brands such as BMW, Montblanc and Mercedes Benz AMG. Through its “Live Smarter for a Better World” campaign, Smart intends to inspire people to commit to sustainable actions with lasting, positive impact to society. The brand encourages everyone to ignite their passions to help change the world for the better.

Over the years, the telco has been known to support and promote various causes, including gaining a strong foothold in innovation, sustainability and nation-building. Smart has also been empowering the Filipino people with simple and easy access to cutting-edge technology.

“There’s nothing like the current challenges the world is facing to make us all realize that we are all interconnected, and that our personal actions have broader impact. Through our Live Smarter for a Better World initiative, it is our aim to create that spark in everyone to help change the world for the better rather than just settling for ‘good,’” said Alfredo S. Panlilio, Smart Communications president and CEO. Almost two years since Avengers: Endgame hit theaters, Chris remains as one of the world’s most popular and well-loved among Hollywood actors. He is the star of the blockbuster Captain America films. Avengers: End Game remains the highest grossing film of all time and among the superhero franchises, earning over $2.79 billion at the worldwide box office.

Last year Chris launched A Starting Point, a civic engagement platform where he interviews various US politicians and stakeholders in minute-long videos to discuss American policies and newsworthy topics.

“We’re truly honored to collaborate with Chris on this project. He captivated the world for being a hero not just in film but also in real life by using his influence to help shape a better world for all. By lending his star power and appeal to support our campaign, we hope to inspire more people to bring out the hero within them and unleash their own power to help change the world—one positive action at a time,” added Jane J. Basas, senior vice president and head of consumer wireless business at Smart.

Chris Evans’ campaign can be seen on Smart’s official accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

More information is available at www.betterworld.smart.

HOLLYWOOD A-lister Chris Evans

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Saturday, March 13, 2021 A11

Are cloud kitchens the future of restaurants?

O

VER 110,000 eating and drinking establishments closed in the US due to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to an article

by Fortune.

Here in the Philippines, although there are no records to show the exact number of restaurants that were forced to shutdown (many permanently), or how much they were affected by the pandemic, you don’t need any official statistics to know that things have gotten very bad.

If the big and mighty Jollibee was forced to close 255 of its stores, what chance do the smaller ones have? But restaurants are not giving up without a fight. And cloud kitchens might just be the weapon they need.

A cloud kitchen—also referred to as a “virtual kitchen” or “ghost kitchen” or—is a commercial kitchen space that provides food businesses the facilities and services needed to prepare menu items for delivery and takeout. Unlike traditional brickand-mortar locations, cloud kitchens allow food businesses to create and deliver food products with minimal overhead.

The GrabKitchen in Makati was one of the first cloud kitchens to open in the country before the pandemic struck last year. The concept was first introduced in Indonesia in 2018 and has since become the largest regional cloud kitchen operator in Southeast Asia.

GrabKitchen has over 50 branches in Southeast Asia including Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, and the Philippines.

Last month GrabKitchen opened its second cloud kitchen in Sampaloc, Manila housing eight brands.

The merchant-partners include; Conti’s, Sinangag Express, CoCo Fresh Tea and Juice, Omakase, Mister Kabab, Army Navy, Pizza Telefono, and Happilee.

Omakese and Happilee are opening their kitchens in Manila for the first time, while the others hope to gain more customers through GrabKitchen.

Grab Philippines Head of Deliveries EJ Dela Vega said GrabKitchen is one way to support food and beverage entrepreneurs to grow their business in the digital economy. It aims to provide food entrepreneurs the opportunity to launch their brands in new locations with a lower setup cost and to reach a wider base of customers through GrabFood.

Through GrabKitchen, merchants can expand and serve new locations without the costly capital investment that comes with putting up new brickand-mortar stores.

Because the merchants are housed under one cloud kitchen, there are other benefits as well, such as the mix-and-match feature. Consumers can order multiple dishes from multiple brands, and get them delivered as one order, with just one delivery fee.

Suitable for at-home family celebrations or office lunches, GrabKitchen seeks to make it easier for families and friends to share meals from the comfort

of their homes or offices.

“For example, if you’re ordering food for the family and want a spread of sushi, cake, milk tea and pizza, normally you would have to order from separate restaurants for each of these dishes. But with GrabKitchen, you can get it all in one order without having to worry about the hassle of monitoring multiple orders and the additional cost of multiple delivery fees.”

Dela Vega said putting up the second GrabKitchen at the height of the pandemic had its challenges. “For one thing, we had to revise our timeline to make sure that the construction of the facility followed the necessary safety protocols. We had to make sure that the team who worked on the facility underwent health screening. Once the facility was ready, we then had to conduct food preparation training to all merchant staff. While we did so, we had to reiterate the importance of sanitation, wearing of the appropriate protective gear, and constant checks to ensure food safety and workplace integrity.”

As for safety protocols, GrabKitchen Sampaloc dela Vega assured follows a strict safety and hygiene protocol to ensure the health and safety of Grab and restaurant staff. “We have sanitizers and footbath mats placed at the entrance for proper disinfection.

We also have temperature checks for everyone inside the facility every 3 hours and health monitoring forms that everyone must fill-up to identify any person who may have symptoms of any illness. At their stations, employees are required to wear gloves, masks and proper headgear to ensure food safety.

These protocols are also in place in our first branch in Makati, as part of our commitment to food safety and sanitation.”

Grab said its goal is to open even more locations over the coming months leveraging on data to study the food landscape and identify cuisine gaps. With more Filipinos getting used to take-outs, and food deliveries, cloud kitchens might be the answer to keep

more restaurants open even post pandemic.

APP FOR STAFF TRANSPORT

WE all have friends or relatives who work in BPOs, and even though they aren’t frontliners, they too had to report to work almost everyday and put their health at risk. So it was crucial for BPO companies to organize their own transport systems to ensure their employees’ health and safety. One of those was Concentrix, the largest private employer in the Philippines. Since the pandemic started, Concentrix put a priority on staff security, health and wellbeing, providing various forms of employee benefits and assistance, including its most recent announcement on offering free Covid vaccination for all staff who opt to avail. Aside from deploying a significant portion of its workforce to work at home, Concentrix also reconfigured its offices and even added micro-sites to help staff remain safely productive for operations that remained on-site. This included transport assistance to ensure that employees can reach their workplaces safely. After 12 months, the company has expanded the transport program even further, to ensure staff continue to be cared for.

Covering the areas of Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite and Bulacan, as well as Laguna, the expanded transport is now in the form of 50 serviced fullybranded and dedicated Concentrix buses. Fully equipped with airconditioning and WiFi Internet, the company-provided buses are also compliant to all safety guidelines including sanitation per trip.

Staff will be able to conveniently locate the routes, bus location, distance and available seats using an app for this program. The buses operate daily in support of night-shift staff, and traverses 15 routes to reach 27 Concentrix offices. Concentrix was recently recognized in the Asia CEO Awards as Wellness Company of the Year, and in the ICT Awards as Best Company, Best Employer, Best BPO and Best Foreignowned company. ■

Antivirus software creator charged with cheating investors NEW YORK—Antivirus software entrepreneur John McAfee was indicted on fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges alleging that he and cohorts made over $13 million by fooling investors zealous over the emerging cryptocurrency market, authorities said on Friday. McAfee, 75, was charged in a newly unsealed indictment in Manhattan federal court along with Jimmy Gale Watson Jr., who served as an executive adviser on what prosecutors described as McAfee’s “so-called cryptocurrency team.”

Prosecutors said Watson, 40, was arrested on Thursday night in Texas and would make an initial appearance on Friday before a federal magistrate judge in Dallas.

McAfee, authorities said, is detained in Spain

on separate criminal charges filed by the US Justice Department’s tax division.

Attorney Arnold Spencer, representing Watson, said his client is a decorated former Navy Seal.

“He fought for other people’s rights and liberties, and he is entitled to and looks forward to his day in court to exercise some of those very rights,” he said in an e-mail.

“Criminal indictments are blunt instruments, not precise scalpels,” Spencer added. “This is not the right place to debate whether cutting edge technologies like cryptocurrencies are securities, commodities, or something else.”

It was not immediately clear who might represent McAfee. There was still no lawyer listed for him in the

Memphis, Tennessee, federal court where tax charges were lodged against him in October.

“McAfee and Watson exploited a widely used social media platform and enthusiasm among investors in the emerging cryptocurrency market to make millions through lies and deception,” US Attorney Audrey Strauss said in a statement describing crimes in 2017 and 2018.

“The defendants allegedly used McAfee’s Twitter account to publish messages to hundreds of thousands of his Twitter followers touting various cryptocurrencies through false and misleading statements to conceal their true, self-interested motives,” she added.

In October, McAfee was charged in Tennessee

with evading taxes after failing to report income made from promoting cryptocurrencies while he did consulting work, made speaking engagements and sold the rights to his life story for a documentary.

McAfee developed early Internet security software and has been sought by authorities in the US and Belize in the past.

The Tennessee indictment said McAfee failed to file tax returns from 2014 to 2018, despite receiving “considerable income” from several sources.

In July 2019, McAfee was released from detention in the Dominican Republic after he and five others were suspected of traveling on a yacht carrying highcaliber weapons, ammunition and military-style gear, officials on the Caribbean island said at the time. AP

Sports BusinessMirror

Eala, Casimero, Taduran honored in virtual PSA Annual Awards Night

A

YOUNG tennis prodigy and two world champions make up the short list of major awardees to be recognized during the San Miguel Corp. (SMC)-Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) virtual Awards Night on March 26.

Alex Eala and world boxing titleholders Johnriel Casimero and Pedro Taduran made it to the 2020 honor roll of the country’s oldest media organization headed by President Tito Talao, sports editor of the Manila Bulletin.

The traditional Awards Night will be held virtually for the first time in PSA history at the TV5 Media Center. The event is co-presented by the Philippine Sports Commission and Cignal TV, with 1-Pacman Party-list and Rain or Shine as major backers.

Lady golfer Yuka Saso was the unanimous choice for 2020 Athlete of the Year, an award solely bestowed by the 72-year-old media group.

Eala, 15, was among the few bright spots for Philippine sports during the pandemic after she bagged her maiden grand slam juniors title at the Australian Open girls’ doubles tournament together with Indonesian partner Priska Madelyn Nugroho. They beat the pair of Ziza Falkner of Slovenia and Matilda Mutavdzic of Great Britain in the final.

The charming teener later reached the semifinals of the French Open girls singles, but lost to hometown bet Elsa Jacquemot.

Her strong showing in both grand slam tournaments sent Eala to as high as No. 2 in the girls’ world rankings by the end of the year.

A full scholar at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain, Eala has turned pro and campaigned in various tournaments in Europe that allowed her to achieve a current Women’s Tennis Association singles ranking of No. 763.

Like Eala, Casimero also made noise last

year by successfully retaining his World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight title against Duke Micah of Ghana at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut.

Originally set to fight unbeaten Japanese champion Naoya Inoue in a title unification match, the 31-year-old pride of Ormoc City saw his dream match go up in smoke after it was twice postponed because of the pandemic.

Micah, a last-minute replacement, then bore the brunt of Casimero’s wrath as the Filipino destroyed the 2012 Olympian in just three rounds to retain his 118-pound belt.

Taduran also kept his International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight crown as he settled for a fourth round technical draw against Mexican challenger Daniel Valladares in Guadalupe, Mexico, shortly before the outbreak of Covid-19.

It was the first title defense for Taduran, who scored a fourth round stoppage of fellow Filipino Samuel Salva in September 2019 to win the 105-pound version of the IBF. The 24-year-old native of Libon, Albay, however, lost his title early this year with a unanimous decision loss to compatriot Rene Mark Cuarto.

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IGUEL TABUENA broke a mediocre run of form with a two-stroke victory in the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Eagle Ridge Challenge on a closing 68 on Friday, fighting back from three down off Justin Quiban with a frontside birdie-spurt then thwarting Zanieboy Gialon with clutch hits at Aoki course’s finishing holes in General Trias, Cavite.

To say that he saved his best for last would be an understatement. The former twotime Philippine Open champion and former Philippine Golf Tour (PGT) Order of Merit winner fumbled early but used his experience to rebound strong, producing four birdies in a seven-hole stretch from No. 3 to storm ahead.

As Quiban faded with a disastrous triplebogey 7 on No. 13, Tabuena held sway and claimed a two-stroke victory on a birdie-birdie feat from No. 16, frustrating Gialon, who eagled the par-five 16th and birdied the next, no end.

“We just stuck to our game plan and everything worked pretty well for me,” said Tabuena, after nailing the victory on

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| Saturday, March 13, 2021 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

TABUENA TRIUMPHS a 282 total worth P360,000, his first since ruling the Queen’s Cup of the Asian Tour in 2018.

“We knew Justin won’t give up as well as Zanieboy. But I guess I have the experience, having played here a few times,” said Tabuena, who notched his second Philippine Open at The Country Club in early 2018, his last local triumph before shifting his campaign abroad. “I was pretty familiar with the conditions and it wasn’t the hardest because the greens were actually in good shape and it was pretty easy to read the putts.”

Tabuena, who never figured in the title chase in PGT’s return in new normal at Riviera, actually fell by as many as three in the early going as Quiban turned a one-shot lead after 54 holes into a threestroke cushion on a two-shot swing (birdie-bogey) on No. 2. But he birdied Nos. 3, 5, 6 and 9 to wrest control then watched Quiban crumble on No. 13 before foiling Gialon’s charge at the finish.

Gialon, who threatened to within one after that eagle feat, closed out with a 70 and ended up second with a 284 worth P236,000 while

Richard Sinfuego snatched third place with a 287 after a 72 and received P136,000.

Quiban, who took charge with a tournament-best 65 in the second round and stayed ahead despite a 73 Thursday, bounced back with a birdie on No. 15 but yielded the stroke on the next and ended up with a 75 and a 288 for fourth worth P106,000.

Michael Bibat, who tied for the lead halfway through the P2-million championship marking the start of the new ICTSI-sponsored circuit, failed to recover from a third round 76 and hobbled with a 74 for fifth at 290 while Jobim Carlos placed sixth at 291 after matching par 72.

Ira Alido, who dominated the stellar field to score a breakthrough at Riviera Langer, finally broke par 71 and could only tie for seventh at 292 with Rupert Zaragosa, who carded a 72.

Jolo Magcalayo also shot a 72 to tie Alido and Zaragosa and claimed the low amateur honors in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.

9 athletes, 1 coach named to PHL Sports Hall of Fame TO say that Miguel Tabuena saved his best for last would be an understatement.

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EN men and women who made the country proud and honored make up the fourth batch of enshrinees to the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame (PSHOF).

The PSHOF Selection Committee confirmed on Friday the enshrinement of Paulino Alcantara (football), Eric Buhain (swimming), Dionisio Calvo (coach for basketball and football), Arianne Cerdena (bowling), Robert Jaworski (basketball), Gertrudes Lozada (swimming), Elma Muros-Posadas (athletics), Rogelio Onofre (athletics), Leopoldo Serrantes (boxing) and Roel Velasco (boxing).

The induction ceremony is set on April 30 at a still to be determined venue.

The PSHOF is mandated by Republic Act 8757, otherwise known as the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame Act. Induction to the Hall of Fame is done every two years.

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William Ramirez heads this year’s selection committee with Philippine Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham Tolentino as vice chairperson.

The members are Games and Amusement Board Chairman Abraham Mitra, Philippine Football Federation Secretary-General Atty. Ed Gastanes Philcycling Secretary-

General Atty. Billy Sumagui (national sports association representatives), Philippine Olympians Association President Akiko Guevara and University Athletic Association of the Philippines Executive Director Atty.

Rene Andrei Saguisag Jr. as private group representatives.

“I would like to thank everyone for all their work. It is very enriching for me to be part of this awards,” Ramirez said. “I am pleased with the choices of both the review and selection committees. Congratulations to all the fourth batch enshrinees!”

Tolentino appreciated the work of the both committees and thanked them “Let this recognition of our sports heroes as an inspiration to all,” Tolentino said.

The enshrinees will each receive a PSHOF trophy and P200,000, double the amount given to the members of the first three batches.

The review committee was composed of Ed Andaya (People’s Tonight), Joe Antonio (People’s Journal), Rey Bancod (Tempo), Dodo Catacutan (Spin.ph), Quinito Henson (Philippine Star), Tessa Jazmines (Larc&Asset PR), Jun Lomibao (BusinessMirror) and Tito Talao (Manila Bulletin).

Three more teams join pro league PVL

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ALK about visions becoming reality and the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) is basking in the run-up to the inaugurals of the country’s first-ever professional women’s volleyball league with the stars literally aligning the past week.

And PVL President Ricky Palou is grateful for the trust given to him by F2 Logistics, Chery Tiggo and Sta. Lucia.

“We are delighted to have F2 Logistics, Chery Tigo and Sta. Lucia into our fold and words could not express the gratitude I have for their respective team owners,” said Palou, referring to Efren Uy, Rommel Sytin and Exe Robles, respectively.

“Their presence will not only bring out the best in which our beloved sport brings but also adds more depth to the talent pool of the national team gearing up for various international competitions,” he added.

F2 Logistics, five-time champions in the Philippine Superliga, announced its decision to change course the other day. Earlier in the week, two-time champion Chery Tiggo and Sta. Lucia decided to turn pro.

Cignal, a founding member of the PSL, and PLDT Home Fibr also transferred to the PVL as it was part of

the Manuel V. Pangilinan-group’s commitment to help develop and promote the league.

That brings to 12 the total number of teams set to dispute the crown and the bragging rights as the first pro volley champion with the PVL targeting a May 8 inaugurals at a still undisclosed venue.

“Things are getting clearer and better for not just for women’s volley in particular but for the sport in general. The ongoing global health crisis may have held back our programs but it has also created camaraderie among all of the sport’s stakeholders which led to this monumental moment for volleyball,” added Palou, whose Sports Vision revived the once-dormant sport in 2004 and helped turn it to what it is today.

Besides the five transferees, Palou also expressed his gratitude to the holdovers, namely, Creamline, Petro Gazz, Choco Mucho, Perlas, BaliPure, and Army, as even in an uncertain times, they still continued to support their athletes. He also praised newcomer Unlimited Athletes Club for helping some players from Motolite, Petron, Generika-Ayala, and Marinerang Pilipina find a new home.

Equally thankful is the entire organization to Cignal TV, the league’s new

PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino (right) turns over to Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William Ramirez the country’s entry by numbers for the Vietnam 31st Southeast Asian Games.

626 athletes vying in 39 sports in Vietnam SEAG–Tolentino

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By Josef Ramos

HILIPPINE Olympic Committee (POC) President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino wanted to make sure the country gets more opportunities to repeat as overall champions by expanding Team Philippines’s entry by numbers for the Vietnam 31st Southeast Asian Games.

Tolentino turned over to Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William Ramirez on Friday the documents containing Team Philippines’s entry by numbers for the Games Vietnam is hosting for the second time since 2003.

Team Philippines will be composed of 626 athletes who will be competing in 39 of the 40 sports on the Vietnam SEA Games program.

Previously, the POC announced a 560-athlete delegation to the November 21 to December 2 Games, but Tolentino said 66 athletes were added to the list following comprehensive discussions with officials of the 39 national sports associations involved.

“After a careful review—with the mindset of defending our overall title—we came up with these numbers,” said Tolentino, who personally presented the documents to Ramirez at the PSC offices at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

Athletics topped the list with 63 athletes—38 men and 25 women, with basketball having 30—15 for gender, cycling 39, gymnastics 25, taekwondo 24, volleyball 30, football 28 and wushu 21.

Fencing had 24, eSports 18, aquatics 17, boxing 13, canoe-kayak 19, pencak silat 16, golf seven, handball 10, judo 17, jiu-jitsu six, kickboxing 12, karatedo 15, kurash 10, muaythai 12, table tennis three, tennis eight, triathlon eight, beach volleyball six, weightlifting 14, wrestling 13, vovinam six and wushu 21.

Tolentino also said that with the turnover of documents, the PSC can now start deliberating on the budget for the athletes’ training, preparation and participation in Vietnam.

The discussions with NSAs on the entry by numbers were done in collaboration with PSC Commissioner Ramon Fernandez, Team Philippines chef de mission to the Vietnam games.

palou broadcast partner, lead by its Channel and Content Marketing head James Meneses.

“This should also pave the way for the unity long sought for the sport,” said Palou. “Thank you to our originals, or OGs as the kids call it, and to Chairman MVP [Manny V. Pangilinan] who promised to give us the best coverage possible.”

The PVL top honcho also cited the fans’ roles in boosting the league’s team composition.

Supporters flooded the social media with the hashtag “#LetsMoveNow” to encourage F2 Logistics to make a similar transfer.

This early, fans are looking forward to a face-off by the protagonists in a number of classic Ateneo-La Salle duels in UAAP women’s volley with Creamline’s Alyssa Valdez and Jia Morado leading the Lady Eagles, and F2 Logistics boasting of former Lady Archers led by Aby Maraño, Ara Galang, and Kim Fajardo, among others.

Thompson’s contract extended

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EARL SCOTTIE THOMPSON makes sure he remains with Ginebra.

ARL SCOTTIE THOMPSON, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel’s hardworking do-it-all guy, signed a three-year contract extension, according to player-agent Danny Espiritu.

Espiritu told BusinessMirror that Thompson signed his new contract on Friday at the San Miguel Corp. headquarters at the Ortigas Center.

The 6-foot-1 all-around player’s contract was supposed to expire in August 21 this year.

“He [Scottie] told me he already signed with Ginebra but he asked me not to reveal the details as requested by his team,” said Espiritu, adding the former University of Perpetual Help guard-forward

wanted to waive his rights to become a free agent next year because of his deep interest to remain a Gin King under Coach Tim Cone.

Although details of the contract weren’t revealed, BusinessMirror learned Thompson got the maximum terms for three years which is worth P420,000 a month.

Jerrick Balanza, meanwhile, followed 7-foot Greg Slaughter from Ginebra to Northport after he was traded for a second round pick (13th overall) in this Sunday’s Philippine Basketball Association online Rookie Draft.

The Gin Kings also have the 12th overall pick in the draft. Josef Ramos