Businessmirror march 19, 2017

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Death-penalty bill may not have the numbers in Senate

‘TOO CLOSE TO CALL’

A protester wearing a mask of President Duterte holds pictures of congressmen allegedly supporting the death penalty during a rally outside the House of Representatives in Quezon City on March 7. Groups held demonstrations to oppose the revival of the death penalty by Congress. AP/Aaron Favila

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By Butch Fernandez

he Senate went on a six-week break on Wednesday, with one of the Duterte administration’s pet bills—reviving the death penalty— hanging in midair, after senators suspended committee hearings and Senate President Aquilino L. Pimentel III acknowledging the vote in the 24-member chamber is “too close to call”. The death-penalty bill was expected to be reported out by the Senate’s Justice and Human Rights Committee for plenary delibera-

AP/Aaron Favila

This, despite the overwhelming number of solons who passed the bill on third reading in the House of Representatives.

tions. However, panel hearings have even been deferred, as senators await a Department of Justice (DOJ) opinion on whether a treaty banning the imposition of capital punishment—known as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which the country acceded—is part of the law of the land and, hence, would be violated by passing this pending measure. Sen. Richard J. Gordon, committee chairman, tossed the question to the DOJ, after Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon raised the matter of conflict with the treaty in the last hearing. Earlier, Drilon’s incarcerated Liberal Party ally, Sen. Leila M. de Lima, had also warned against violating the country’s commitments to such international conventions that re-

flect the growing trend worldwide to shun capital punishment. Gordon, who replaced de Lima as Justice Committee chairman last October, elicited an admission from a resource person at the last hearing that treaties and international conventions to which the Philippines accedes become part of the law of the land. That threw the hearing into a tizzy, prompting Gordon to suspend further panel hearings. The senators present agreed to his initiative to ask the DOJ for a formal opinion.

Voting 50-50

Pimentel had earlier acknowledged that voting on the bill in the upper chamber appears to be “50-50”. Continued on A2

Ratification of Paris pact gives PHL access to $200-M global green fund

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By Jonathan L. Mayuga

ollowing the Senate’s ratification of the Paris Agreement, where the Philippines committed to reduce its greenhouse-gas (GHG) emission by 70 percent, the Duterte administration is eyeing to access a whopping $200 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said. PESO exchange rates n US 50.1910

Environment Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Marlo D. Mendoza said the DENR will start planning the next step and buckle down to work to reduce GHG, particularly carbon, and enhance the country’s carbon-absorption capacity by expanding forest covers. He said that, with the Paris Agreement ratified, the Philippines’s chances of accessing the multibillion-dollar GCF is enhanced, adding the government is looking at GCF’s financing of major “greening” programs, ranging from $100 million to $200 million this year alone. The Paris Agreement, signed in December 2015 at the United

Nations headquarters in New York, aims to limit global temperature increase below 1.5 degrees.

Target sector

While not a major emitter, the Philippines, through its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution submission in October 2015, made a promise to reduce its GHG, on the condition that it will get support from developing countries. “We [are] ready to make an operational…framework plan [on] how [we could] comply. We have proactive projects to reduce our greenhouse-gas emission. We are looking at reducing greenhouse gas by sector, ” Mendoza said.

The potential of reducing GHG in the transport sector, he pointed out, is huge, noting that it is a major source of pollution and emission. “We are looking at it by sector. We will look into the possible GHG reduction in transportation, energy and agriculture. These sectors are contributors. The other side, which is capture, will require massive tree-planting,” he said. Mendoza, a forester, said the DENR will come up with a more refined framework plan for mitigation. “When you said mitigation, it means reduction of greenhouse gas. The other side is carbon capture. One of the concerns is prevention

“We are already making a proposal to access the GCF. We are making a proposal for mangrove- and bamboo-plantation establishments. The secretary wants at least a million hectares of bamboo and mangroves.” —Mendoza

Continued on A2

n japan 0.4430 n UK 62.0461 n HK 6.4649 n CHINA 7.2737 n singapore 35.8328 n australia 38.5316 n EU 54.0457 n SAUDI arabia 13.3882

Source: BSP (17 March 2017 )

NewsSunday BusinessMirror

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‘TOO CLOSE TO CALL’ Continued from A1

He told the BusinessMirror in an interview the votes for or against the measure could be 10-14 for either side, or even end up with a split “right down the middle” at 12 senators for and 12 against. The Liberal Party (LP), to which Drilon and de Lima belong, constitutes a solid bloc against death penalty. The party’s president, Sen. Francis Pangilinan, categorically declared: “We will vote against it in the Senate.” Besides Pangilinan, Drilon, de Lima and Bam Aquino, the LP bloc counts in the antideath-penalty group Sens. Risa Hontiveros, Antonio Trillanes, Francis Escudero and Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto. Drilon had made clear the party’s stand early on. “When it [death-penalty bill] comes to the Senate floor, we will state our position, and we will accordingly express our opposition,” Drilon told reporters in February, adding that their position is “nonnegotiable”. While the House leaders had rushed their vote on the measure last week, Drilon said the same thing happening at the Senate could not be predicted. Besides the fact that committee hearings were suspended by panel chairman Gordon to await the DOJ opinion on the treaties, Drilon observed: “The Senate has always been an independent body and the senators have always taken positions on the basis of their own beliefs.” Sen. Panfilo Lacson Sr., who favors death penalty, agreed, describing the chamber as consisting of “24 republics”. Lacson admits it’s not easy to predict how the Senate vote would

go. “’Di pwede na magbotohan based sa usap-usapan lang. Dito sa Senado all 24 of us would like to be heard and would like to argue kung ano ang kanilang conviction on certain issues.”

Nancy Binay’s list

For her part, Sen. Nancy Binay, though not an LP member, has declared herself against death penalty, and was quoted earlier in one interview as having ticked off at least nine names she knew would vote against the measure. Besides herself and the LP bloc, she also listed Trillanes, Escudero and Recto, whose wife, Rep. Vilma SantosRecto, voted against the measure in the House. She, thus, lost her committee position in the purge enforced by Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez on March 15. Sources confided that Gordon himself, who presides as justice panel chairman, is also seen to be against death penalty.

No hard-sell pitch

Meanwhile, despite the perilous count of support in the Senate for his pet measure, President Duterte did not seek the senators’ support to vote for the death penalty during the “intimate” dinner he hosted at the Presidential Guest House on Tuesday, even when he discussed his war on drugs—the main justification he has been using for the reimposition of capital punishment. “He did not mention anything that seeks support for any subject matter,” Senate Majority Leader Vicente C. Sotto III told the BusinessMirror. Sixteen senators attended the dinner meeting with Duterte, but not one committed anything to the President, Senate sources privy to the meeting said.

Students from a Roman Catholic-run university go out on the streets as they urge motorists to honk their horns to show their opposition to the restoration of the death penalty, a day after the Lower House voted to revive the capital punishment on March 8 in Manila. On Tuesday the Lower House voted 216-54 on the third and final reading to pass the bill for the restoration of the death penalty. The bill will now be debated in the Upper House. AP/Bullit Marquez

Ratification of Paris pact gives PHL access to $200-M global green fund Continued from A1

of forest fires,” he added. Policy and actual on-ground operations, he said, will be enhanced. “Prevention of forest fire, kaingin, which causes forest fires, will have to be reduced,” Mendoza said.

Defense enhancement

The DENR chairs the Cabinet cluster on climate change and works closely with the Climate Change Commission (CCC). “We are already making [a] proposal to access the GCF. We are making a proposal for mangrove and bamboo plantation establishments. The secretary wants at least a million hectares of bamboo and mangroves,” he said, adding that it will also enhance the country’s natural defense against climatechange impacts, like storm surges and tsunamis. This was confirmed by Environment Secretary Regina Paz L. Lopez. Lopez, sought for comment, expressed elation over the Senate’s ratification of the Paris Agreement. Among the members of the

Cabinet, Lopez was instrumental in convincing President Duterte to approve of the country’s support to the Paris Agreement. She said access to the GCF will enable the Philippines to boost climate-change mitigation and adaptation capacity. Lopez, who is currently on a retreat abroad, said it is going to happen within the year. “Oh, we are accessing funds to plant 380,000 hectares of mangroves this year…to protect our country against climate change… and we want to plant 1 million hectares of bamboo in three years…for climate-change mitigation,” Lopez said in a text message to the BusinessMirror. According to Lopez, the DENR will start with its own budget prior to accessing more funds from the GCF kitty. “Both endeavors will kickstart the local economy. It’s exciting,” Lopez said. Lopez said bamboo absorbs carbon 400 times more than ordinary trees. By planting more bamboos, she said the country will enhance its carbon-absorption capacity enormously. Mangroves, she added, absorb a lot of carbon, too. “We are going [on a] massive tree plantation [for] a massive green economy.

Smoke belchers

“The key is people should benefit, otherwise the strategy will fail. Then we have to address the vehicular emissions. That’s together with the DOTr,” Lopez said, referring to the Department of Transportation. Lopez, in a news statement, commended and thanked members of the Senate, led by Sen. Loren Legarda as chairman of the subcommittee on the Paris Agreement and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano as chairman of the Commit-

tee on Foreign Affairs, for its expeditious concurrence to the accession of the Paris Agreement. “This reflects the sense of global urgency needed to hold the increase in the global average temperature to 1.5 ºC above preindustrial levels agreed under the Paris Agreement, which the Philippines strongly advocated for,” the statement read. According to the CCC, the concurrence of the Senate follows the signing of the instrument of accession by Duterte upon the endorsement of 33 government agencies that are members of the CCC Advisory Board. With its accession to the agreement, the Philippines confirms its commitment toward global climate action and affirms its leadership in pushing developed countries to undertake more ambitious action and to provide more support to developing countries. The instrument of accession will be deposited to the United Nations in time for the climate negotiations in May. Meanwhile, the commission shall work on finalizing, and later mainstreaming, the country’s obligations under the agreement into national policies, plans and programs. Lopez, who ordered the controversial closure and suspension of 28 mining operations and canceled 75 mineral production sharing agreements to protect the country’s watersheds and prevent further environmental degradation, has been deemed bypassed by the powerful Commission on Appointments. Duterte, however, maintained his support behind Lopez, and said he is willing to let go of the P70billion revenue from mining. Lopez also enjoys overwhelming support from environmental groups, who credited Lopez’s political will in ordering the mine closures. Environmental groups also backed the Senate’s ratification of the Paris Agreement.

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

The World

Trump scraps mileage rule, accusing Obama of assault on auto industry

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PSILANTI, Michigan— President Donald J. Tr ump came to t he heart of the auto industry on Wednesday with a manifesto for American manufacturing: to remove the shackles of regulation and restore an age of industrial glory. Granting the automakers their top wish, Trump halted an initiative by the Obama administration to impose stringent fuel-economy standards by 2025—rules meant to cut carbon emissions and meet international commitments to address climate change. Instead, Trump vowed to keep cutting regulations as a means to accelerate economic growth and add jobs. “The assault on the American auto industry is over,” he declared. The move to reopen the government’s review of the standards will allow automakers to argue for less stringent— and less costly—mileage standards than the target of 54.5 miles per gallon set in 2012 by President Barack Obama. But the Trump administration is expecting things from the automakers in return for its pro-industry stance: new American jobs and less investment in foreign operations. And while he vowed to improve business conditions at home, Trump pledged again to stop the flow of automotive investment and jobs to Mexico under the North American Free Trade Agreement. “We

want to be the car capital of the world again,” the president said. “And we will be.” T he a n nou ncement on pollution standards brought sharp criticism from environmental groups contending that laxer regulations would increase global warming and hurt consumers. But Trump had little to say about climate change or fuel prices on Wednesday, preferring to focus on his evolving economic doctrine, which he termed “the American model” for stimulating growth and business expansion. “Under this system, we will reduce burdens on our companies and on our businesses,” Trump said. “But, in exchange, companies must hire and grow in America.” One auto industr y analyst said the decision to reopen fuel-economy negotiations appears to have been brokered during meetings between the president and the chief executives of the t hree big US automa kers shortly after he took office. “We believe an ‘art of the deal ’ may have been struck trading jobs for regulator y relief,” the analyst, Brian Johnson of Barclays, wrote on Wednesday. Environmental activists argue that the auto companies have the necessary technology to meet the 2025 standards set by the Obama administration. New York Times News Service

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Fingerprints, iris scans

An ambitious government-run project — just like the Internet at the time of its creation decades ago—Aadhaar began in 2009 to target payments to the poor across India’s vast hinterland. Other governments are already interested in its potential. Countries, such as Tanzania, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, have visited India to talk about the system, said Nandan Nilekani, billionaire cofounder of the technology company Infosys Ltd. and former chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India, who created Aadhaar. Russia, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia have also indicated their interest in Aadhaar, R.S. Sharma, chairman of the telecom regulatory authority of India, told the Mint newspaper in July 2016. “They’re all keen to see how they can

replicate this in their countries,” Nilekani said by phone. “This is a great example of how governments can build the most modern digital public infrastructure, and make it available as a public good to everybody.” In its World Development Report 2016, the World Bank said “a digital identification system, such as India’s Aadhaar, by overcoming complex information problems, helps willing governments to promote the inclusion of disadvantaged groups.” Here’s how it works: a unique 12-digit number is assigned to Indian residents, backed by biometrics including fingerprint and iris scans stored in a central database. If an individual wants to open a bank account or buy a mobile SIM card, they need to provide their Aadhaar number and place their finger on a scanner. This action permits the bank or utility to ask the Aadhaar database to verify their credentials. Earlier, a sheaf of documents were needed as proof of identification, a tough task in a country of 1.3 billion, where 40 percent aren’t registered at birth and 30 percent can’t even read or write their own name. About 99 percent of adult Indians hold an Aadhaar ID that links to some 84 government services, which will soon include the whole of India’s food distribution system, the world’s biggest welfare program. The Aadhaar is saving Modi’s administration about $2 billion a year and this could rise to $7 billion by March 2018, or 0.35 percent of GDP, according to research firm CLSA.

Skype Lite

The private sector is also benefiting from Aadhaar. Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd., controlled by India’s richest man Mukesh Ambani, sold 100 million sim cards in six months—or about seven each second—by using this system to verify customers’ IDs, while Google is in talks with the government to use Aadhaar. Smaller companies are creating blood donation registries based on it, and people can withdraw money or make cashless transactions using Aadhaar without needing a secret code or even a card. India is upgrading hardware to ensure the Aadhaar can carry out 100 million authentications a day, lawmakers were told last week. Microsoft Corp. in February created a lightweight version of Skype for Indians, who can use Aadhaar to identify themselves. “What’s happening is Aadhaar servers are saying ‘yes, this person is who they are saying they are’,” said Eve Maler, vice president of innovation and emerging

A3

Wall Street keeps faith in oil recovery even as prices drop

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rices have sunk, stockpiles ballooned and doubts about the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Counties’s (Opec) effectiveness grown, yet Wall Street hasn’t lost faith in oil’s recovery. Crude plunged below $50 a barrel in New York last week on signs that Opec’s production cuts aren’t clearing a global glut quick ly enough, and that US shale drillers are ready to fill in any shortfall. Nonetheless, Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Morgan Stanley, Bank of America Corp. and Citigroup Inc. say they’re still confident prices will climb by the end of the year. Given a bit more time, the world ’s bloated oil inventories will decline as production cuts by the Opec and Russia take effect, while fuel consumption remains strong, the banks predict. “The outlook is no less bullish,” said Seth Kleinman, global head of energy strategy at Citigroup, who sees crude exceeding $60 a barrel later this year. “Bringing oil inventories down is a messy process, but the Opec cuts are real, demand in Asia is decent and ultimately the market is tightening.” There are plenty of reasons to doubt the bullish case. Despite Opec’s unusually strong

India ID plan wins World Bank praise amid ‘big brother’ fears new Internet is being built: it has 1.1 billion users, a third of the world wide web. Indian banks are running transactions on it and Microsoft has embedded it into Skype. The biometric identifier program Aadhaar—or “foundation” in Hindi—has taken on a life of its own, authenticating loans and job seekers, pensions and money transfers across India. And last week’s landslide state election win could embolden Prime Minister Narendra Modi to push Aadhaar beyond its early cost-saving goal, even as questions are raised about the security of its data and the proliferation of private companies seeking to profit from the information it stores. Other countries are also looking at similar programs, but research shows it’s best to develop one standardized system so people can carry their IDs wherever they go in the world, said Paul Romer, chief economist at the World Bank. “The system in India is the most sophisticated that I’ve seen,” Romer said. “It’s the basis for all kinds of connections that involve things like financial transactions. It could be good for the world if this became widely adopted.” Identification is the first step to accessing services, such as health and education, in a world where 1.5 billion people can’t prove who they are. The United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals aim to provide legal IDs to all by 2030, triggering the creation of a range of platforms that offer basic rights to citizens of poorer countries, while allowing those in the advanced world granular control over their digital data, such as school or medical records, and streamlining immigration.

Sunday, March 19, 2017

technology at ForgeRock Inc., who’s worked with governments, including New Zealand, on data protection. The question is, she says, “how much information comes along with that authentication event”?

‘Big brother’

For all its potential, Aadhaar has also been criticized as enabling the creation of a ”big brother” surveillance state. Indeed, Modi opposed Aadhaar before coming to power, saying it violated national security and the privacy of citizens. Now he counts it as a key part of his push to move India toward cashless transactions and save money on the payment of social security benefits. “Centralized databases, even if the information contained therein on any one individual is kept to a minimum, pose a risk,” said Dakota Gruener, executive director at ID2020, a public-private partnership that aims to create digital IDs for refugees. The individual’s “root identity” should be treated as a fundamental right and anyone wishing to do ill—even a government—shouldn’t be allowed to alter or delete it, she said. There has been no incident of misuse of Aadhaar biometrics leading to identity theft and financial loss during the last five years, the issuing authority said in a statement on March 5, in response to a spate of news reports about breaches. However, in a briefing, it said it had shut 12 private web sites and 12 mobile applications and was on the verge of closing 26 more for illegally obtaining Aadhaar numbers or enrollment details.

Privacy at risk

The debates surrounding Aadhaar—identity proofing, privacy—are similar to those playing out in the wrangling over the revision of standards governing the Internet, as government and business struggle to find the perfect tool to authenticate people’s identity and safeguard their data. The UK announced in 2010 it was scrapping a plan for a national identity register after objections that it infringed on civil liberties, but it continues to issue biometric residence permits for foreigners. France is debating a mega database for biometric details of citizens. The US Federal Trade Commission said identity theft complaints were the second-most reported in 2015, even as calls intensify to create a biometric identification for all legal US workers. Bloomberg News

adherence with its own targets, US crude inventories are near record levels, the nation’s production at a one-year peak and the number of drilling rigs has almost doubled since May. Opec’s partners, including Russia and Kazakhstan, have lagged behind in delivering their promised cuts, and Saudi Arabian production rebounded last month. St i l l, oi l dem a nd rem a i ns poised to overtake supply in the second quarter and start depleting global inventories, according to Goldman Sachs, which sees US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) topping $57 a barrel in three months.

“The oil market rebalancing is still progressing,” Jeff Currie, head of commodities research at Goldman Sachs in New York, said in a report on March 14. In a note two days earlier, Currie said “the market needs a little patience” for the effect of Opec’s cuts to kick in. WTI rose 1.3 percent to $49.50 a barrel as of 7:45 a.m. in London on Thursday, while Brent added 1.5 percent to $52.56. US crude prices will climb to

The outlook is no less bullish. Bringing oil inventories down is a messy process, but the Opec cuts are real, demand in Asia is decent and ultimately the market is tightening.” —Kleinman

at least $64 a barrel in the third quarter as the surplus begins to disperse, Francisco Blanch, head of commodities research at Bank of America, said in a report on March 10. T he four banks confir med they’re sticking with their forecasts, even as prices dipped further at the start of this week. The bulls’ case received a boost on Wed nesd ay, when Energ y I n for m at ion A d m i n i st rat ion data showed US crude inventories declined for the first time in 10 weeks. The rebound in US drilling will slow down before output can make up for Opec’s reductions, according to Morgan Stanley, which sees Brent reaching $62.50 a barrel by the end of the year. “The case for further rebalancing in the rest of the year remains robust,” said Martijn Rats, a managing director at the bank. Bloomberg News

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The World BusinessMirror

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

Japan’s college graduates have rare luxury of too many jobs available G

raduate recruitment in Japan looks a bit like a scene from the movie The Matrix. Hordes of students dressed in identical black suits and white shirts make the rounds of seminars, tests and interviews. Even as jobs outnumber applicants, these “Agent Smiths” still fight it out for coveted positions at big-name companies, while leaving smaller employers out in the cold. “Popular firms in industries like finance have seven applicants for one job. For us, we have seven competitors going after one candidate,” said Shuto Kuriyama, who works in human resources at regional furniture chain Shimachu Co. He was trying to attract students to the company’s presentation at a graduate recruitment fair in Chiba near Tokyo this month, while nearby booths for big-name firms were heaving with job seekers. The low birth rate and slowly recovering economy are keeping Japan’s job-to-applicant ratio at

a 25-year high, with the figure at 1.43 for January. In Tokyo there are more than two jobs for every applicant. Small companies are the worst hit by the shortage of workers, but even some better-known employers are gradually changing their rigid hiring and employment practices—and some are beginning to consider foreigners. With one of the lowest unemployment rates in the developed world, Japan stands in contrast with Europe and the US, where a lack of good jobs has fueled support for politicians who want to crack down on free trade and immigration. Only 3 percent of Japanese are out of work, compared with 9.6 percent in the euro region and 4.7 percent in the United States, the

latest figures show. Looking for a job in Japan means not only buying a suit and fine-tuning a resume, but learning the elaborate rituals of the nation’s business etiquette, including how to enter a room, bow and sit correctly, and the right levels of polite language to use when speaking to interviewers or clients.

No gap years

At present, big companies and elite students have exactly seven months to find one another. The hiring season for third-year university students opened on March 1 and major firms will formalize their recruitment decisions by handing out certificates at ceremonies held on October 1. Most major employers will only take on recruits in April immediately after graduation—there are no postcollege “gap years” and few second chances. Polls of the most popular employers among students generally find major banks, trading and insurance companies, travel agents and airlines among the top 10. While large employers offer starting salaries little dif-

ferent from their smaller counterparts, the steeper pay trajectory—at least for men—means a foot in the door promises a far higher midlife income for those who stay the course. Some also offer benefits like company-subsidized accommodation or resort vacations. Michiyoshi Aoki, 22, among the 31,000 students at the recruitment fair, said his job search won’t include small companies. He already has his sights set on the big names in life insurance and automobiles, including Toyota Motor Corp., Nissan Motor Co. and Honda Motor Co.

Bigger opportunities

“There’s still a lot of competition to get into big companies,” he said. “But if you work at a large firm you’ll have bigger opportunities and more of a future.” The labor shortage for small and medium-sized companies— those with capital of up to 100 million yen ($880,000)—is the worst since the early 1990s, according to the latest business confidence survey from the Bank of Japan. With a market even tighter than before the global financial

crisis, large companies are beginning to loosen their hiring practices, and midcareer recruitment is growing. Big employers are widening their nets to make sure they get the best recruits, according to Masanori Ishida, senior managing director in sales and marketing at Pasona Group Inc., a temporary services and recruitment company. “Smaller companies have long accepted new recruits up to about three years after graduation,” Ishida said in an interview on March 10. “Now big companies are beginning to follow suit.” More inclusiveness, including for LGBT applicants, will gradually become the norm, he said. Food company Calbee Inc., for example, plans a new drive to recruit a handful of personnel this year who graduated as long as five years ago, in a bid to improve diversity. Trading company Mitsui & Co. is planning overnight camps in August to broaden the recruitment base to applicants who may be overseas earlier in the year. Hoshino Resorts Inc. is allowing students to answer questions by video for the first

time to make it easier for them to apply from afar. “Japanese companies will have to improve their work environment or we won’t be able to attract people,” Daiwa Securities Group Inc. President Takashi Hibino told investors on February 28. The company has already made changes to better enable women and older people to continue to work, Hibino added, but more must be done. Big companies are wa k ing up to another untapped source of recruits: foreign students at Japanese universities. A job fair for overseas students held at Pasona’s Tokyo headquarters on March 10 attracted 32 companies—including all the country’s major banks. Trading company Itochu Corp. and synthetic fibermaker Toray Industries Inc. were also represented. “I want to work in Japan,” said Vietnamese student Tuyet Ngan, 26, dressed in a black skirt suit like her Japanese counterparts. She said she was looking for a job in food or shipping. “Japan has a lot of old people, so I think they need young people.” Bloomberg News

Editor: Lyn B. Resurreccion

Science

BusinessMirror

Sunday

Sunday, March 19, 2017 A5

The 27th anniversary of the Philippine Science Centrum is graced by Philippine Foundation for Science and Technology (PFST) Chairman Engr. Meneleo J. Carlos Jr. (from left), PFST Executive Director May M. Pagsinohin, Foundation for Upgrading the Standard of Education Board of Trustee Member Dr. Ester A. Garcia, de la Peña and PFST President Engr. Filemon T. Berba Jr.

Tanks for storing contaminated water, with Reactors 1 and 2 in the background, at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in Fukushima, Japan, on February 21. Japanese officials wrestle with what to do with the ever-growing pile of radioactive waste at the nuclear-power station, six years after the accident there. Ko Sasaki/The New York Times

Science Secretary Engr. Fortunato T. de la Peña addresses the audience.

PHL Science Centrum marks 27th yr of ‘scienterrific’ interactive science

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ot everyone has to become a space scientist. If we can use space science as a leverage to get the people interested in science, that’s already a big thing. We consider that mission accomplished.” Thus said Dr. Rogel Mari D. Sese, a Filipino astrophysicist, at the Science Café held by the Philippine Science Centrum (PSC) during its recent 27th anniversary celebration held at the Science Hall of PSC in Marikina City. PSC is the Philippines’s pioneer interactive science museum. With the anniversary theme, “Driven@27”, PSC said it represents the continued commitment of promoting science and technology to the public, especially the youth. Sese said in his talk, titled “Reaching for the Stars”, that space education and astronomy, and having a space agency are beneficial for the nation and the people. “Everyone goes through the stage of being fascinated with stars. The problem is that the interest is not sustained,” said Sese, the focal person of the National Space Development Program and the “soon to be established” Philippine Space Agency. He said the study of space science could be used to make the schoolchildren interested in different fields of science—technology, engineering and mathematics. He cited some of the framework on how the future space agency will work: there should be enough manpower for research and development, and implementation of programs, and linkages between the government with the industry and academe, among others. In his inspirational speech at the event, Science Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña said over the years the PSC has brought so much fun, excitement and science education to students in the metropolis and in the countryside. He also recognized the Philippine Foundation for Science and Technology (PFST), a private foundation engaged in the promotion of science education in the country and the mother unit of PSC, as a valuable and strong partner of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in

Astrophysicist Dr. Rogel Mari D. Sese

promoting science consciousness and literacy among students and teachers through the interactive approaches. De la Peña also commended the PFST board of trustees, officers, management staff and the sponsors for making science more accessible and more interesting. De la Peña announced that P10-million grant to PFST from the DOST to accommodate 20,000 students and teachers of Central Mindanao and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in visiting PSC’s traveling exhibitions. The event was graced by members of academe, high-school students in Marikina City, and PFST trustees, officers and staff. The celebration highlight was the recognition of some institutions and individuals for their valuable contributions to the activities of PFST and awarding them with “scientific” tokens. The representatives of Riverbanks Development Corp., Children’s Hour, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Unilab Foundation, Wyeth Phils. Inc., EEI Corp., Tan Yan Kee Foundation and the Foundation for Upgrading the Standard of Education received their respective recog n it ion. PFST C h a i r m a n Engr. Meneleo J. Carlos Jr., PFST President Engr. Filemon T. Berba, PFST Executive Director May M. Pagsinohin and de la Peña led the awarding ceremony.

Nuclear waste’s toll, challenge in Japan, 6 years after disaster

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UKUSHIMA Daiichi Nuclear Power Station—Six years after the largest nuclear disaster in a quarter-century, Japanese officials have still not solved a basic problem: what to do with an ever-growing pile of radioactive waste. Each form of waste at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, where three reactors melted down after an earthquake and a tsunami on March 11, 2011, presents its own challenges.

n 400 tons of contaminated water per day

The Tokyo Electric Power Co. (Tepco) is pumping water nonstop through the three reactors to cool melted fuel that remains too hot and radioactive to remove. About 400 tons of water pass through the reactors every day, including groundwater that seeps in. The water picks up radiation in the reactors and then is diverted into a decontamination facility. But the decontamination filters cannot remove all the radioactive material. So for now, all this water is being stored in 1,000 gray, blue and white tanks on the grounds. T he tanks a lready hold 962,000 tons of contaminated water, and Tepco is installing more tanks. It is also trying to slow the f low of groundwater through the reactors by building an underground ice wall. Within a few years, though, and no one is sure exactly when, the plant may run out of room to store the contaminated water. “We cannot continue to build tanks forever,” said Shigenori Hata, an official at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. A ut ho r it i e s a r e d e b at i n g whether it might be acceptable, given the relatively low radioactive levels in the water, to dilute the contaminated water and then dump it into the ocean. But local fishermen are vehemently opposed. Many people still do not trust Tepco because of its bungled

962,000

The tons of contaminated water in 1,000 tanks at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

response to the disaster, the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl.

3,519 containers of radioactive sludge n

The process of decontaminating the water leaves radioactive sludge trapped in filters, which are being held in thousands of containers of different sizes. Tepco says it cannot quantify the amount of radioactive sludge being generated. But it says it is experimenting with what to do with it, including mixing it with cement or iron. Then it will have to decide how to store it.

n 64,700 cubic meters of discarded protective clothing

The estimated 6,000 cleanup workers at the site put on new protective gear every day. These hazmat suits, face masks, rubber gloves and shoe coverings are thrown out at the end of each shift. The clothing is compressed and stored in 1,000 steel boxes stacked around the site. To date, more than 64,700 cubic meters of gear has been discarded,

the equivalent of 17 million 1-gallon containers. Tepco says it will eventually incinerate all this contaminated clothing to reduce the space needed to store it.

Branches and logs from 220 acres of deforested land n

The plant’s grounds were once dotted with trees, and a portion was even designated as a bird sanctuary. But workers have cleared about 220 acres of trees since the meltdown spewed radiation over them. Now, piles of branches and tree trunks are stacked all over the site. Officials say there are about 80,000 cubic meters of this waste, and all of it will have to be incinerated and stored someday.

200,400 cubic meters of radioactive rubble n

Explosions during the meltdown filled the reactors with rubble. Workers and robots are slowly and carefully trying to remove this tangled mass of crushed concrete, pipes, hoses and metal. Tepco estimates that more than 200,400 cubic meters of rubble—all of it radioactive— have been removed so far and stored in custom-made steel boxes. That is the equivalent of about 3,000 standard 40 -foot shipping containers. n

3.5B gallons of soil

Thousands of plastic garbage bags sit in neat rows in the fields and abandoned towns surrounding the Fukushima plant. They contain soil that was scraped from land that was exposed to radiation in the days after the accident. Japan’s Ministry of the Environment estimates that it has bagged 3.5-billion gallons of soil, and plans to collect much more. It will eventually incinerate some of the soil, but that will only reduce the volume of the radioactive waste, not eliminate it. The ministry has begun building a massive, interim storage facility in Fukushima prefecture and negotiating with 2,360 landowners for the thousands of acres needed to complete it. And that is not even a long-term solution: The government says that after 30 years it will need another site—or sites—to store radioactive waste.

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1,573 nuclear fuel rods

The ultimate goal of the cleanup is to cool and, if possible, remove the uranium and plutonium fuel that was inside the three reactors at the time of the disaster. Hundreds of spent fuel rods are in cooling pools inside the reactors, and the company hopes to have cleared away enough rubble to begin removing them next year. The much bigger challenge will be removing the fuel that was in use in the reactor core at the time of the meltdown. The condition and location of this molten fuel debris are still largely unknown. In one reactor where a robot was sent in January, much of the melted fuel is believed to have burned through the bottom of the inner reactor vessel and burrowed into the thick concrete foundation of the containment structure. The plan is to completely seal the containment vessels, fil l them with water and use robots to find and remove the molten fuel debris. But the rubble, the lethal levels of radiation and the risk of letting radiation escape make this an exceedingly difficult task. In January the robot sent into one of the reactors discovered radiation levels high enough to kill a person in less than a minute. Another had to be abandoned last month after debris blocked its path and radiation disabled it. Tepco hopes to beg in removing fuel debris from the reactor cores in 2021. The entire effort cou ld ta ke decades. Some say the radioactive mater ia l may prove i mpossible to re move safely and have sug gested leaving it and entombing Fukushima under a concrete and steel sarcophag us, like the one used at Cher nobyl. But the Japanese government and Tepco say they are committed to removing all the waste and cleaning the site, estimated at a cost of $188.6 billion. “We want to return it to a safe state,” said Yuichi Okamura, general manager of the company’s nuclear power and plant-siting division. “We promised the local people that we would recover the site and make it a safe ground again.” New York Times News Service

Faith

Sunday

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

A6 Sunday, March 19, 2017

A.L.C. Group marks first death anniversary of founder and leader antonio L. cabangon Chua

‘Homecoming is God’s best gift to ALC’

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By Lizzie Radam Lazo

he best thing God created is rest, so said Anna, a little girl in the book Mr. God, this is Anna, a story about “a very special friendship between God and Anna.”

Mrs. Bienvenida Angeles Cabangon (center) poses with the priests Fr. Hans Magdurulang, Fr. Rufino C. Sescon Jr., Fr. Rey Adalid and Fr. Raymond Acuña; son D. Edgard A. Cabangon, daughter Cecille, son D. Edward A. Cabangon and his wife Jecelyn, D. Antoinette Cabangon Jacinto and some grandchildren. Photos by Alysa Salen and Ivee L. Johnson.

Most Distinguished UE Knights Award

Trophy from his alma mater University of the East

Anna is described as a precocious little girl whose faith that “God is in my middle”—referring to her belief that God is part of everybody and everybody is part of God—influenced those around her in many ways. Fr. Hans Magdurulang, in his homily at the Mass for the first death anniversary of Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua, echoed this vibrant faith. “On his first death anniversary, we celebrate his homecoming. This is the best gift of God to Amba and the rest of us, our homecoming and return to the Father.” Cabangon Chua is called by associates and employees as Amba or ALC. Father Magdurulang found it remarkable that the first death anniversary of the former ambassador to Lao PDR happened during the season of Lent. “The Lenten season is not just about tradition, it has a beautiful reason, which is for us to prepare and look forward to our homecoming at least once a year.” “We are in this world, but we are not for this world,” he added, assuring that with Lent, humanity is given a chance to prepare, “for blessed are they who follow the ways of the Lord”. Magdurulang, who had worked with the ambassador in the Catholic Mass Media Awards that the latter headed as president and chairman, said he remembered him best as “a simple man, simple in his faith, in his devotion to the Black Nazarene”. He even said good-bye to the world on a Friday, the day devoted to the venerated

image, on March 11, 2016. “Remember the example of Amba, who lived not just to enjoy life but make his life a life for others, too. Amba is God ’s one great blessing to us, and may his example of life, love and sharing be an inspiration to us,” Magdurulang said. A crowd of almost 200 filled the showroom of Gencars, the automotive dealership of the ALC Group of Companies, named after his initials that he founded. Present were family members, led by his widow, Bienvenida A. Cabangon, his sons J. Wilfredo A. Cabangon, chairman of the board of Fortune Medicare; D. Edgard A. Cabangon, president and CEO of Gencars and chairman and CEO of Eternal Gardens; D. Edward A. Cabangon, president of ALC Realty; J. Antonio A. Cabangon Jr., chairman of Fortune General Insurance Corp.; D. Arnold A. Cabangon, president of Fortune Life; and Cecile A. Cabangon, president of Clayton Learning Center. Besides Gencars, a dealer for many years of Isuzu vehicles, the group is composed of over 20 companies engaged in a variety of businesses—financial and banking services, memorial parks, pre-need products, media—including print, broadcast and television—property development and many others. The ambassador would have celebrated his 82nd birthday five months after his passing, or on August 30, 2016. Instead of a birthday celebration that year, however,

ALC’s golf bag and clubs

A portrait of his mother Dominga L. Cabangon (left), a painting showing his multifaceted personality (center) and a photo with his wife Bienvenida Angeles Cabangon.

A toy chopper, more plaques and vinyl records of his favorite songs

Mural by Ross Capili

Statuettes of the horse, the ambassador’s favorite good luck piece

mementoes from his full and productive life were gathered and put on display in the ALC Memorabilia Hall on the fourth floor of Dominga Bldg. III on Chino Roces corner de la Rosa Streets, his main headquarters during his working life. The Memorabilia Hall has been extended to accommodate more reminders of his achievements. The blessing of the expanded mini-museum highlighted the celebration of his life, with the Mass concelebrated by Fathers Magdurulang, Rufino C. Sescon Jr., Rey Adalid and Raymond Acuña. Designed by artist Ross Capili, the ALC Memorabilia Hall gives visitors a glimpse of the full and colorful life of the ambassador by showcasing some of his personal belongings and favorite things. Among the items displayed during the soft opening last year were his favorite blue jacket, which he

would often wear to work, as well as the black boots on which he briskly strode to his office from the numerous meetings he attended. There was, as well, a replica of the shoeshine box that he had used as a young boy to help his mother Dominga earn a living for their survival. T he e x tended ga l ler y now has six cabinets showcasing additional ALC souvenirs. There were the golf clubs that he used (for exercise, he had a regular day for golfing, one of his leisure activities). There were the different trophies and plaques conferred on him for his various extraordinar y achievements. There were even copies of the comic books featuring superheroes that he loved to read in his younger days, like Tarzan of the Apes, Phantom the Ghost W ho Walks and Conan. With these

comic books were a few vinyl records of songs like “Kalesa” by Sylvia La Torre, giving guests a hint of his taste in music. Besides the memorabilia, other interesting features of the museum are the mural painting depicting the highlights in the life of Ambassador Cabangon Chua, and his bust sculpture, which are both the works of Capili. The pleased and happy faces of Mrs. Cabangon and other family members and guests as they viewed the exhibits showed that the Ambassador ALC Memorabilia Hall is a fitting celebration and memorial to the life of a great man whose works made a big difference in the lives of so many people. It reminds everyone not only of the ambassador’s achievements in life and in his career, but also of his passion to serve his countrymen.

ALC’s shoeshine box (foreground) and artworks depicting the scenes from his biography A Saga of Success

Saint Joseph, his sorrows and joys as husband and father By Corazon Damo-Santiago

First for two parts

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ot a single phrase or word in the Scriptures can be attributed to this illustrious scion of David. Yet, he is the epitome of faithfulness to God’s will. According to the Holy Fathers, Saint Joseph’s silence in the gospel does not demonstrate an “empty interior”, rather, “the fullness of faith in his heart, permeated with the contemplation of the mystery of God in an attitude of total availability to the divine will.”

Sorrows and joys of Saint Joseph

Only Joseph, the obedient and chaste saint, according to theologians, could claim that

“at all times and in all places, I possess God in my heart.” It is to Joseph, the foster father of Jesus on earth, and his mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, that God entrusted His two jewels on earth. Joseph means “God will add”in Hebrew. An angel spoke to his parents, Rachael and Jacob of Nazareth, to name him Joseph. He died at 61 when Jesus was 29 years old. Jesus himself washed Joseph’s body crossed his hands over the breast and, blessed it to preserve him from corruption, according to Fr. Anthony Joseph Patrignani, SJ, in Manual of Practical Devotions to Saint Joseph. Saint Joseph, the patron of the Universal Church, is honored as the husband of Mary in the liturgical calendar of the church on March 19. His joys and sorrows had been made into a chaplet of prayers, although

they did not include the climax of all sorrows, the crucifixion of Jesus and the joy of the Resurrection of the Messiah. He “died before the Lord for he could not have endured the crucifixion of Jesus. He was too gentle and loving,” Venerable Anne Catherine Emmerich said.

An angel erased Joseph’s doubts

At the age of 3, Mary was presented in the temple and placed under the care of a prophetess, Anna. When she was 13-and-a-half the Lord spoke to Saint Simon, the high priest of the temple in his sleep, commanding him to arrange the marriage of Mary with a bachelor from the lineage of David. Among the many men who vied for her, it was Joseph who was chosen.

But Joseph found out before the marriage that Mary was pregnant. Anguish and sorrow filled his being. A righteous man and unwilling to expose her to shame, he decided to divorce her quietly, according to Matthew 1:19. His plans did not materialize for an angel told him in a dream to cast away his fears and doubts. “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her,” said in Matthew1:20. Joseph was instructed to name the child Jesus, because he will be the savior of many people.

Poverty of the Messiah’s birth

Joseph and Mary of Nazareth traveled

to Bethlehem, the city of David, in compliance to Caesar Augustus’s directive that people should be enrolled in the city they come from. During the trip, Mary’s time came to give birth. There was no room available in the inns so Jesus was born in a manger “filled with straw and moss with a cloth over it,” according to Luke 2:6-7. The pover ty of Jesus’ bir th made Joseph very sad. His sadness, though, was compensated by angels singing: “Glory to God in the highest...shepherds glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them” by the angels, as said in Luke 2:14-20, and the Magis who “paid their homage and presented their gifts,” said in Matthew 2:11.

Circumcision of Jesus

The Law of Israel requires every male child to be circumcised on the eighth day after birth. The mystics say this is the beginning of Jesus’ sufferings in obedience to God the Father’s will. According to the mystics, a towel was placed on the Blessed Mother’s lap and Jesus was placed on it. The priest performed the ceremony of circumcision with a small flint knife, while Saint Joseph recited the ritual prayer. True to his human nature, Jesus cried as other children do. Joseph was in sorrow for Jesus’ blood offering. But the name Jesus filled Saint Joseph with peace. He had the privilege of imposing the sacred and mysterious “name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb,” according to Luke 2:21. To be concluded

Tourism&Entertainment BusinessMirror

Editor: Carla Mortel-Baricaua

Sunday, March 19, 2017 A7

A Chao Phraya River cruise to remember

for two Mario Maurer fans

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Story & photos by Marky Ramone Go

ost travelers see Thailand as a nation teeming with culture and historical relics that extend to its numerous ancient cities—where iconic temples and reclining Buddha statues abound. To some, a shopping haven; to the younger generation, a multitude of isl a nd s r ipe for a n abu nd a nce of revel r y— es pecia l ly come f u l l moon nights a nd du r ing t he renow ned c u ltural festivals of Songkran and L oy K rat hong. For Irish Karunungan and Eisa Ireneo Adelante, the reasons for wanting to visit Thailand again range from culture, people and to food. “I decided to visit again to experience the good food, culture and hospitality of the people of Thailand. I first visited the country for 14 days a few years ago, but this time I wanted to share the trip with some of my best friends,” Adelante tells. “My family and I were debating bet ween v isiting T hailand or Hong Kong, and Macau for my nephew’s g raduation celebration. Hav ing been to both countr ies before, I knew that each had its own unique appeal. We ended up selecting T hailand, because when it came to cu lture, fantastic food and, of cou rse, awesome shopping— it ju st becomes t he obv iou s choice,” K ar unungan says. Unbeknown to the two travelers, at the time they purchased their plane tickets, their decision to book a trip to Thailand will present them an opportunity to meet and greet Thailand’s most popular actor, Mario Maurer.

That Mario Maurer surprise

While preparing for the 24th Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTA A) Travel Expo, which took place at the SMX Convention Center from February 10 to 12, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) organized a program that will reward two lucky travelers who will avail themselves a trip package to Thailand from participating travel agencies during the travel expo. T hat sur prise-of-a-gift turned out to be an all-expensepaid three-night trip to Bangkok and Pattaya, with the opportunity to go on an afternoon cruise with Maurer along the historic Chao Phraya River. The two fortunate winners turned out to be Karunungan and Adelante, who, after scoring good travel deals to Bangkok, also got the wonderful surprise of their lives when the TAT called and informed them of their Maurer date.

Experience Thailand with Maurer

Ever since the TAT tapped Maurer to be its tourism ambassador, the country has seen an uptick in the numbers of young visitors from China, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines. Walailak Noy payak, TAT executive director for the Asean, South Asia and South Pacific region, said, “The next generation

Eisa Adelante shares a camera shot with Mario Maurer.

Irish Karunungan with Thai heartthrob Maurer

so into taking selfies with me,” Adelante narrates.

#AmazingThailand

Popular actor Maurer greets everyone aboard the boat.

The Supanniga Cruise boat, where the river cruise event took place.

of potential travelers is going to be young people, especia lly w ithin A sia. We are happy that Mar io Maurer is work ing w ith us in promoting tour ism to T hailand among these new emerg ing markets.” Tr ue enough, the boy-nextdoor actor who wa lks w ith a ver y lik able and humble persona lit y, despite his snowba l ling popularity and the successes of his mov ies, such as Love of Siam, Pee Mak and the Philippine-produced film Suddenly, It’s Mag ic, which he costar red w ith Er ich Gonza les—Maurer appears genuinely and passionately committed to sharing the

many gems his countr y has to offer to travelers—most especia l ly to young people. Onboard the Supanniga Cruise boat that cruises the Chao Phraya River, Maurer privately met with the lucky fans and some members of the media at the back of the boat for an intimate talk. Having met Maurer, both Karunungan and Adelante weren’t able to hide their excitement and joy from their faces, as I sat down with them on the boat’s secondfloor dining area over a plate of delicious spring rolls. “Thailand’s biggest heartthrob certainly did not disappoint. He was very gracious and generous

with his time. Even when his leather shoes got soaked from the spray of the Chao Phraya River he just continued to chat and take pictures with me. The entire trip was such a surreal experience and meeting Mario Maurer was the proverbial icing on this cake,” shares Karunungan, as she beams in recollection of her private moment with the Thai actor. “Meeting Maurer was definitely a belated Valentine’s Day and advance birthday gift for me. I not only get to experience a different side of Bangkok by cruising the Chao Phraya River, I also had the chance to meet and talk to Maurer, who was so accommodating and

It’s coffee time...‘tayo na sa Antipolo’ By Leony R. Garcia

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Coffee cupping of local and international beans

Brewed coffee is available daily.

Antipolo staples: cashew nuts and suman sa ibos

he Sunday coffee date with select friends from the media and blogging community was one memorable experience, if only because we would be tasting coffee in Antipolo. Horray! Tayo na sa Antipolo...known for its manga, suman and kasuy. If you have not been to Antipolo for the last 10 years, like my husband and I do, you will marvel how this area in Rizal have grown by leaps and bounds. There are now more malls and various business establishments around. But the best thing is the road-widening that took place on Sumulong Highway. Urbanization has definitely come to Antipolo, but its charm as a provincial destination by the slopes of Sierra Madre Mountains, about 26 kilometers east of Manila, and barely two hours away from Manila still make it a perfect haven for tourists and foodies, as well. The once “Pilgrimage Capital of the Philippines”, where Manilans would spend the weekend to go to church and pay respects to the Virgin of Antipolo, or Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, now boasts of new dining hot spots. Because it was a Sunday and our host, public-relations practitioner-turned-fulltime painter Ginny Guanco, provided van service for us, the travel from Cubao was a jiffy. In no time at all, we were ushered in to a homey, well-lit, Scandinavian design interior of The Daily Beans owned by childhood buddies turned business partners: Joshua Tarraya (accountant), Dan Tarraya (manpower services), Jojit Restauro (travel sales manager) and Francis Guanco (creative director). Why a coffee shop? The Tarrayas own The Daily Beans along Kilometer 56, Manila East Road in Barangay Hulo, Pililia, Rizal. With a business name ready and a successful venture in that part of Rizal, they thought of branching out. And the result was the Antipolo coffee lounge and restaurant branch in the bustling area of San Roque, Antipolo City, along the

When in Antipolo, drop by The Daily Beans for coffee and pastries.

Sumulong Circumferential Road fronting Unciano Colleges, which had a successful soft opening during the Christmas holiday. The Daily Beans began its operation in 2011. According to store proprietress Sally Tarraya, the idea of putting up a coffee shop in the middle of a long road along Pililia Rizal, where daily commuters and travelers pass on their way to Caliraya Laguna, Quezon and other tourist destinations, was a smart move due to its ideally strategic location. The new branch in Antipolo is in another strategic location, since it is fronting a school and a hospital. And in the EM Gems building where it occupies, it is the only coffee shop amidst the other eateries. For the past five years, she said people of all ages have been frequenting this haven, where they can rest and chill while ordering their choices of freshly grinded coffee brewed and extracted on a daily basis, where they can select from Choco Java Chip and Mocha Peppermint Frappuccino; Cappuccino, Latte, Mocha for their Hot Coffee; with their favorite pasta or cheesecakes. The store has become a part of the everyday lives of its customers. For the opening salvo for the grand launch

this New Year, The Daily Beans Antipolo has added more new features, an extensive variety of dishes, and a diversity of drinks ranging from coffee, tea, served either hot or iced; frappes to smoothies made from fresh fruits; each carefully brewed, blended and mixed to bring out the best soothing taste to compliment the Filipino palate. I love coffee. The stronger it tastes and the aromatic it smells, the better for me. That’s why I always enjoy a trip to coffee shops and coffee-tasting or cupping activities. And we’re glad that Master Barista Dave Dource of Barista Guild Asia PH, was the special guest at the Sunday’s Grand Opening showing guests how to differentiate coffees from Brazil, Costa Rica, Ethiopia and Benguet, among others, as well as the different brewing methods. Overall, The Daily Beans coffee is smooth, the ice coffee is caramel-y, but not sugary, and the cappuccino is excellent with the coffee’s bitterness blending well with the foamy milk. Meanwhile, the crocheted mason jars for frappes and smoothies make the drinking experience more fun providing come on for the younger sets and the young at hearts.

The selection of pastries is excellent and the pasta dishes do not disappoint. With very reasonable price and big serving one couldn’t ask for more. Moreover, the homey feel, family ambience, quality and sincere service, warm relationship with their crew are outstanding factors for repeat visits. The Daily Beans has a wide assortment of food and beverages to choose from their menu. There are pastas, such as Tuna Casserole, Chicken Pesto, spicy Caliente or the all-time popular Spaghetti Meatballs. In the snacks section, one has a choice of Clubhouse sandwiches, Sloppy Joe nachos, Cheese n’ Chips and salads, among others. All-day breakfast favorite Beef Tapa come with free brewed coffee. Homemade pastries and cheesecakes of different variety with your beverage of choice are a must-try. “One thing we are really proud of is that we do not use additives, seasonings, like MSG or broth cubes. For our beverages we do not use pre-mixed powder. Everything is healthy and natural. We make our own chocolate sauce, sugar syrup and other fresh ingredients. Our homemade cheesecakes are authentic, rich and satisfying,” Dan Tarraya said. So the next time you’re around Antipolo, or, perhaps, after a visita iglesia of the famous Antipolo Church, head to The Daily Beans for a relaxing cup of coffee. The presence of the four friends or anyone of them, who all agreed to be on hand in the business, would be a big bonus. The owners are more than willing to chat with customers regarding their coffee experiences. Of course, no trip to Antipolo is complete without buying the troika of suman-manggakasuy. So we dropped by the pasalubong stall along the highway where piles of newly cooked suman (glutinous rice usually cooked in coconut milk and sugar then wrapped in coconut leaves), mounds of roasted kasuy (cashew nuts) and carabao mangoes were on sale. Other pasalubong goodies and delicacies available were broas, peanut brittle, polvoron, turrones de mani, lengua, uraro and glazed peanuts.

As we wrapped up the afternoon by navigating a scenic portion of the Chao Phraya River, we stared at the sun starting to slide underneath the horizon, while the distant old temples and towering skyscrapers of Bangkok slowly appear as silhouettes—a festive vibe reigns over the boat. A mid the shared laughter of everyone, from fans and even those who have limited knowledge of Maurer, such as myself, but similarly—all shared a developing fascination for Thailand; its colorful culture, jovial people, majestic sights and sumptuous cuisines. A look at each of our faces depicts nothing else, but the joyful contentment of being at that place at that exact moment. Amazing Thailand indeed, I told myself—and even without the promise of meeting another famed Thai personality, I am pretty sure even the two Filipinos and their fellow winners from Indonesia and Vietnam would agree; visiting and revisiting Thailandˆmuch like our own country; the Philippines, is a definite must for all travelers.

Sun Villa Hilltop: An oasis of calm and serenity in Boracay

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mid the hustle and bustle of Boracay is a private villa that offers an oasis of calm and quiet—the Sun Villa Hilltop. Located in Station 2, the Sun Villa Hilltop is a quiet refuge nestled in a lush tropical garden on top of a hill. Perfect for those who seek a more intimate setting, the 12-room boutique hotel has cozy and comfortable rooms that satisfy your accommodation needs. All rooms are airconditioned, with private toilet and bath, hot and cold shower, free Wi-fi and cable TV, among other amenities. In addition to its top-class facilities is the spacious Pavilion Restaurant and Lounge, where you can savor a variety of Filipino and other food specialties, drinks and snacks while gazing at the outdoor gardens and swimming pool. An ideal place for lounging with loved ones, Sun Villa Hilltop’s Pavilion Restaurant and Lounge is also the perfect venue for meetings and exclusive events. Sun Villa Hilltop’s swimming pool is the ideal place to laze around or take a dip and have fun with your loved ones. If you desire some quiet, alone time, you can also lounge on the chairs by the poolside while reading your favorite book. After a long day of frolicking on the shores of Boracay, pamper and soothe your tired body, mind and spirit with relaxing massages and other spa treatments at Sun Villa Hilltop’s SunSpa. The SunSpa offers a wide array of massages and other beauty services that match your rejuvenating needs, like body massage, ventosa (cupping) body massage, or stone massage. Sun Resorts Boracay also has two other charming resorts, Sun Villa Beachfront, an 18-room boutique resort along the middle of White Beach, between Stations 1 and 2; and Sun Garden Hilltop, a haven of peace and quiet designed for the budget conscious traveler located at Station 3.

A8 Sunday, March 19, 2017

Sports BusinessMirror

LADY ARCHERS EYE VENGEANCE D

EFENDING Champion De La Salle seeks vengeance against University of the Philippines (UP) in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 79 women’s volleyball tournament today at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City. The Lady Spikers would be avoiding a repeat of their 22-25, 21-25, 19-25 defeat to the Lady Maroons when they take the floor at 4 p.m. That loss was the first for De La Salle to UP in nine seasons or 16 matches. De La Salle Head Coach Ramil de Jesus said his wards would be more careful this time and avoid being aggressive or complacent against UP, which snapped out of a four-game skid with a 25-14, 18-25, 25-15, 25-10 win over seventh-ranked University of the East last Wednesday. “You cannot be complacent against UP even if they are struggling. They are still capable of beating us and it was evident in the first round,” de Jesus said. “We have to find a way to beat them because our target is to secure the first or second spot [in the Final Four], so when we make it to the semifinals, we have a twice-to-beat advantage.” National pool members Kim Fajardo, Kianna Dy and Dawn Macandili and the league’s reigning Best Blocker Majoy Baron will lead the Lady Spikers, who are running second with a 7-2 win-loss card. The Lady Archers have beaten Far Eastern University and National University (NU) to kick off their second-round campaign. The Lady Maroons have improved to 5-4 after that victory over the Lady Warriors last week. Season 78 Rookie of the Year Isa Molde, sophomore Diana Carlos, fifth year players Kathy Bersola and Nicole

Little League Phl set in Dumaguete

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ORE than 60 teams will compete in four divisions in the Little League Baseball Philippine (LLBP) Series set from April 4 to 12 in Dumaguete City. LLBP District Administrator Jolly Gomez said the tournament will hold competitions in the 12-, 13-, 14- and 16-under divisions. Scrapped from this year’s program is the 17-above category, where the country won a crown in the World Series. “Although we are strong in the 17-above category, the thrust of the Little League now is the 16-under,” Gomez told the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum recently at the Golden Phoenix Hotel. “We’ve really grown through the years and one of the targets is the youth program of the league.” Atty. Christine Cuisia-Remollo, representing her husband, Dumaguete City Mayor Ping Remollo, and LLBP Assistant Country Director Chito Gonzales joined Gomez in the public sports program presented by San Miguel Corp., Golden Phoenix Hotel, Accel and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. Only three divisions will be played in Dumaguete because the 13-under division will be disputed in the Palarong Pambansa also in April in Antique. The winner of the 12-13 division will compete in the Asia-Pacific tournament in South Korea, the 14-15 under champion will earn a berth in the regional meet in Saipan, and the 15-under champion will go to Singapore. The champions in the Asia-Pacific region will play in the World Series in the US. Remollo said P5 million has been earmarked by the city of Dumaguete for the hosting of the weeklong meet. “In terms of financial support, we have the private sector coming in because it’s easy to have the Little League franchise,” said Remollo, whose son once played for the Philippine team in the Asia-Pacific tournament.

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

Iligan City bet prevails in Tubod

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LIGAN City’s Rovie Baulete bagged three titles to emerge as the most successful participant in the recent Tubod leg of the Cebuana Lhuillier Age Group Tennis Championship Series in Lanao del Norte. Baulete beat Tubod’s Kristin Guia Bandolis, 6-2, 6-3, to win the girls’ 14-under title and annexed the 16-under crown after defeating fellow Iligan City player Anna Mae Mendoza, 6-2, 6-2. Baulete shared the 14-under doubles crown with Bandolis in the tournament supported by Dunlop. John Renest Sonsona made the hosts proud by winning the boys’ 18-under trophy following a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Al Vincent Macauyag of Baroy, Lanao del Norte. Mendoza recovered for her loss to Baulete by taking the 18-under crown with a 6-3, 6-7, 10-8 triumph over Baroy’s Voenn Pamaong. “This shows that there are young tennis talents all over Mindanao,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, president and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier. Baroy’s Andrei Cuevas went home with the boys’ 16-under crown after a comefrom-behind 1-6, 6-3, 10-1 victory over fellow perennial winner Brent Signmond Cortes of Tubod. The loss deprived Cortes of a double win after he collared the 14-under title with a close 6-4, 6-4 win over Euri Tagal of Maranding, Lanao del Norte. Nash Agustines of Oroquieta City beat Heinz Asian Carbonilla, 6-2, 5-7, 10-7, to top the boys’ 12-under division, while Ozamiz City’s Maria Judy Ann Padilla took the girls’ title at the expense of Bandolis, 6-3, 4-6 , 10-8. Abdel Qadzri Matarul of Pulacan, Zamboanga del Sur, dominated Lanao del Norte’s Vinz AJ Bering, 2-4, 5-3, 5-3, in the 10-under unisex final. Bering teamed up with Kale Cyd Villamarto turn the tables against Matarul and Bryzen Wyn Sanchez for the 10-under doubles crown, 4-0, 4-1. Agustines won a second title in the boys’ 14-under doubles with Tagal after the duo defeated Cortes and Ashton Benne Villanueva, 8-5. Cuevas and John Steven Sonsona prevailed over John Renest Sonsona and Joezer Malolot, 8-6, in the 18-under doubles final.

Tiamzon and setter Arielle Estrañero will be at the forefront of UP’s assault. “We just have to remember how we beat them in the first round. We really need to enjoy every point and if ever we commit mistakes, we should recover right away,” Molde said. NU (5-4), meanwhile, tries to regain its winning form against University of the East (1-8) at 2 p.m. The Lady Bulldogs will try to bounce back from their 21-25, 11-25, 25-15, 1225 lost to the Lady Spikers last week. National University (8-1) guns the second semifinals berth when it faces struggling third placer FEU (5-4) at 10 a.m.—after the 8 a.m. clash between De La Salle (3-6) and Adamson University (2-7)—in the men’s competition. Lance Agcaoili

EXPECT Kianna Dy and Dawn Macandili to churn in big games for De La Salle.

PROTECTING COLLEGIATE ATHLETES By Andrew Dalton

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The Associated Press

OS ANGELES—A California lawmaker is proposing that the state create a commission to protect the health and safety of collegiate athletes, something the legislation says the NCAA and school athletic departments have failed to do. The commission and its rules would apply to every competing college athlete in the state, from a community college volleyball player to an National Football League-bound university football star, and to injuries from lifelong brain degeneration to sprained ankles. Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, a San Diego Democrat, discussed the bill in a conference call with reporters Wednesday, the eve of the NCAA Tournament, the basketball extravaganza that is the organization’s biggest showcase. “March Madness is kicking off and millions of eyes will be glued on every moment of drama and athleticism on the court, but shockingly, despite the billions of dollars that college sports generates nationally, nobody is watching out for the health and safety of the players,” Gonzalez Fletcher said. Many of the regulations and guidelines would be created by the commission once it’s established, but AB-1435, the Athlete Protection Act, lays out some specifics of its mission. It would give special emphasis to chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, the degenerative neurological disease linked to football that has led to a $1 billion legal settlement in the NFL and serious scrutiny of the game at every level.

The bill says the NCAA “was originally founded to protect intercollegiate athletes, but now it denies that it has a duty to protect them, refuses to mandate comprehensive best practices regarding CTE and other serious injuries, and fails to enact remedies when made aware of athlete abuse.” The proposed commission would have a specialist in traumatic brain injuries as one of its nine appointed members and be allowed to establish practices to minimize it. The panel’s mandate would extend to all injuries and painkiller abuse, however, and require that every college and university maintain accurate medical records for each of its athletes. The bill says coaches, athletic directors and medical staffers have inherent conflicts of interest that prompt them to pressure athletes to play in dangerous situations and need more oversight to prevent that. “I am by no means trying to get rid of college football,” Gonzalez Fletcher said. “I was a Stanford University cheerleader. I value college sports in ways that I think a lot of folks can’t even realize — value it so much that (I) realize we have to change it.” The Pac-12 Conference, whose membership includes the most prominent universities in the state, said in a statement that it has not yet reviewed the bill but the conference has “been a leader on important initiatives around student-athlete health and reforming rules that govern student-athletes well-being, and we plan to continue our efforts to enhance the overall experience of student-athletes both in and out of the classroom.” The NCAA did not immediately reply to a message seeking comment.

RUSSIANS IN ACTION Russia’s Alla Loboda and Pavel Drozd perform during the Junior Ice Dance Short Dance at the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2017 recently in Taipei, Taiwan. AP

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Sugba Cove Rachel Peters

A-fishing we will go A

By Bernard L. Supetran

SK every middle-aged adult and, chances are, he or she has heard or hummed this nursery rhyme which goes “A-fishing we will go, a-fishing we will go, hi-ho the merry-o, a-fishing we will go”.

Siargao International Game Fishing Biggest Sailfish winner Paul Gabriel Minor

Down in the charming island of Siargao, fishing is no child’s play, as the world’s top anglers have been battling it for the supremacy in the open sea for the biggest catch and handsome prizes and bragging rights that go along with it. Come April 6 to 9, the bucolic coastal town of Pilar will burst to life once more with the 10th Siargao International Game Fishing Tournament, the largest event of its kind in the Philippines. While game fishing has been an elite recreational activity since the 1970s in the country, it is a fairly recent tourney in the island known more popularly for its world-class surfing. The event was hatched by Filipino-American angler Bong Castillo from Cebu, and presented to thenRep. Francisco Matugas the viability of making the town as haven for game fishing, inasmuch as the Philippine Game Fishing Federation has been using Pilar as its Pacific playground for almost 40 years. The country’s top clubs—the Philippine Game Fishing Foundation, Philippine Sports Fishing Club and Silver Jack Fishing Club of Manila— were tapped to seek their technical support in the inception of the inaugural contest. With the support of the Congressional Office of Siargao District, the Provincial Government of Surigao

del Norte, Municipal Government of Pilar and the Department of Tourism, the first-ever sport fishing tournament kicked off from April 16 to 20, 2008, with 64 anglers from 10 countries. Numbers fluctuate through the years, but stayed in the neighborhood of 50-plus anglers in this friendly, yet fierce, competition in the high seas. In last year’s edition, some 60 anglers from 12 countries dueled in the different categories, which was topped by Paul Gabriel Minor of the USA in the Biggest Sail Fish division, Dave Carl Quintanar of Cebu City in the Biggest Giant Trevally category, Angelo Bacolod of Angola in the Biggest Tanguige and Dave Sharpe of Canada in the Biggest Dorado. Siargao’s sport fishing areas around extend all along the reefs that border and protect the island’s east coast. The waters offer excellent sport fishing, which abounds in sailfish, marlin, yellow-fin tuna, wahoo, giant trevally and dorado. The island’s unique location at the edge of the world’s second-deepest ocean trench, make it one of the archipelago’s most exciting sport fishing locations, and perhaps, in all of Asia. What makes Siargao more unique is its predictable weather the wholeyear round, which is more conducive

Gov. Sol Matugas leading the ceremonial opening of the Siargao Game Fishing Tournament

Siargao Bleu Resort and Spa Jackie Santos

to longer vacations ideal for anglers and their families, especially from April to October. As a tourism event aimed at creating economic opportunities, competitors are encouraged to hire local fishing boats fishermen and guides to provide income for the community, through boat hire. Contestants, their entourage and visitors usually stay in the well-managed “homestay” accommodation offered by the townsfolk. “The provincial government will sustain the conduct of the Siargao International Game Fishing Tournament, as we continue to secure the livelihood opportunities of the people through fishing and tourism while promoting environmental preservation. The tournament is our

yearly manifestation of commitment for the advocacy of ecotourism in the province,” Gov. Sol Matugas said. She noted that this year’s tourney will be brought to a higher level, with the support from national leaders who hail from Mindanao—President Duterte, House Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez and Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon T. Teo.

Siargao showcase

Far from being a spectator sport, like dragonboat racing, watching game fishing can be a drab whose excitement only heightens when the day’s catch is brought in, scaled and the winners are announced in the late afternoon. For a front seat in the contest, guests can hire their own boat and sail

with the anglers’ entourage. Visitors can also bask in the sun at the talcum-fine Magpupungko Beach in Pilar, where Siargao’s iconic rock proudly stands. At high tide, Magpupungko Rock forms a natural seawater pool ideal for cliff diving and snorkeling. Pacifico Beach in neighboring San Isidro town is another powdery white-sand beach, which is known as the hub of skimboarding in the island. Guests can also navigate Del Carmen’s 4,000-hectare mangrove forests, the biggest of kind in the Philippines, and habitat to a rare species of saltwater crocodile. The cruise includes an educational component at the Mangrove Propagation and Information Center, where visitors

are made aware of the importance of mangroves in maintaining marine biodiversity. Passengers can also tour the picturesque Sugba Lagoon, where one is shut out from the outside world by its sheer beauty. Last but not least, there is the Cloud 9 surfing area in General Luna, where the best tourist establishments are clustered. One can get surfing 101 lessons, go hopping around the neighboring islands or laze in the pools of the resorts. Getting there: You can fly direct to Siargao via SkyJet, or from Cebu via Cebu Pacific. From the Sayak Airport in Del Carmen town, you can hire a vehicle or motorcycle to take you to Pilar, where there are homestays accredited by the municipal government.

A10 Sunday, March 19, 2017

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The quintessence of yachting

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By Rizal Raoul Reyes

@brownindio

ITH its 7,641 islands, the Philippines is one of the ideal places for sailing and yachting in the world. Moreover, the Filipinos are known to be passionate about water sports, and the country is regarded by travel authorities as one of the best cruising sites in the world. This scenario has attracted the major brands to seek the prospects in the local market. Monte Carlo Yacht (80-footer) Bow and Lounge

From left are Olivier Besson, CEO of Asia Yachting, and Alfred Gotianun, managing director of Asia

Ol iv ier Besson, CEO of A si a Yac ht ing , noted t he countr y is a g reat venue for water spor ts a nd tou r ing , a nd has a st rong potent i a l ma rket for boat ing. “ We def initely wa nt to st rate g ica l ly est abl ish ou r posit ion i n t he Ph i l ip p i ne s ,” B e s s on sa id in a recent inter v iew w it h t he BusinessMir ror . T he French-bor n Besson said he has been discussing the idea of introducing worldc l ass

Monte Carlo Yacht (70 footer) navigation

boat ing bra nd s to t he Ph i l ip pines w it h A l f red Got i a nu n, managing director of A sia Yac ht ing , d isc ussing t he idea of int roduc ing top - of -t he l ine brands, such as Monte Carlo in t he Ph i l ippines. “ We t hought ou r col l aborat ion wou ld have good business prospects.” Hong Kong-based Asia Yachting was established in 2007. It is an exclusive private-yachting dealership and brokerage

that has significant presence throughout Asia. With services covering new boat ownership, brokerage and boat manage ment, Asia Yachting represents outstanding boating brands in the world, including Monte Carlo Yachts, Monterey, Nautique, Scarab and more. Furthermore, Asia Yachting is a provider of a wide array of from multifunctional boats and luxury yachts, to sea scooters and inf latable

castles. It has also a group of seasoned professionals that can provide top-quality services to all its customers. Gotianun said the Philippine market is now ready to accept this type of product. He recalled it was quite different 10 years ago as it would be hard to see world-class sports cars on Philippine roads. “With us having more than 7,100 islands, it is a natural progression,” Gotianun pointed out.

JDI takes 158 customers to Jeju Island

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S a “thank you” to its customers, Ja rdine D istribution Inc. ( JDI) recently took them to South Korea’s Jeju Island, a place that is known in the travel industry as the “Island of the Gods”, for a four-day vacation. A total of 158 customers that included dealers, distributors and mango contractors—and six JDI representatives—joined the trip that lasted from January 4 to 7. The fun getaway featured trekking on Mount Halla, South Korea’s highest peak; a visit at the gravity- defying M y s te r i o u s R o a d ; a l o o k at o n e o f the nation’s monuments—the Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff ; and a glimpse of Seongsan Ilchubong, the “Sunrise Peak” formed 5,000 years ago by hydrovolcanic eruptions upon a shallow seabed. The happy vacationers also enjoyed

the attractions at Glass Castle, a glassart theme park; viewed the adorable displays at the Hello Kitty and Teddy Bear museums; strolled the gardens of and checked out the zoo at Hallim Park; visited the historic and cultural Seoungeup Folk Village; watched the classic Painters Show; and saw the famed sensual and erotic sculpture park, Love Land. During breaks from exploring tourist destinations, the travelers shopped and dined at Jeju Island’s shopping destinations: Ginseng Outlet, Duty Free and Chilseongro Street. Kaye Aguilan, JDI product manager, said, “We at JDI believe that this incentive trip is a way to thank our loyal customers, and, at the same time, strengthen our relationship with them.” “We value our dealers, distributors and contractors, and this is just one of the

many ways we can express our gratitude,” she added. The participants were from different provinces of the Philippines: B u l a c a n , N u e va Ec i j a , Pa n g a s i n a n , Benguet, Tuguegarao, Isabela, Batangas, Q u e zo n , Pa l aw a n , M i n d o ro, I l o i l o, Bacolod, Cebu, Davao, Butuan, General Santos and Cagayan de Oro. The trip was arranged to reciprocate the support of these customers in purchasing a p a c k a g e o f J D I a g ro p ro d u c t s — insecticides, herbicides, molluscicides, fungicides, seeds and yield boosters. JDI, a member-company of the Jardine Matheson Group, represents a number of leading brands in crop protec tion, local and foreign-made pesticides, plant growth regulators, plant nutrition, hybrid rice seeds and vegetable seeds. www.jardinedistribution.com.

Participants pose for a photo during their trip to Jeju Island, South Korea, a free gift from Jardine Distribution Inc.

“The Philippines is a great to go as far yachting is concerned. Any place traveler wishes to go, he would definitely see beautiful places on the islands,” he added. The partnership between Besson and Gotianun was formed easily because the two shared the same passion. Gotianun said sailing is in the family’s DNA, as his parents were enthusiastic sea travelers. As part of their initial marketing plan, Besson said Asia Yachting will develop two markets such as launching new boats, such as the Monte Carlo boats, and the enhance the brokerage by introducing second hand boats that he believes will attract more Filipinos to try boating. “The idea is to encourage Filipinos to step into the habit of boating by using second–hand boats for their initial stage,” Besson added. Besson said A sia Yachting plans to introduce seven new models in the Philippine market. Monte Carlo yacht models range from 65-foot to the 96 foot models. It has a 105-foot model that has been sold in Hong Kong. Besson said one unique feature of Monte Carlo is the customized look. Monte Carlo yachts are owned by the Benneto Group of Italy. Gotianun said he looks forward to market the Monte Carlo in the country because it is regarded the best brand in yachting in the world. “The interiors and the performance are the best that can be,”Gotianun pointed out. Once the infrastructure is ready, Gotianun believes more tourists will go to the country using their yachts to visit the popular tourist spots. B e s s on s a id Mont e C a r lo yachts put premium quality on their boats by partnering with the top suppliers around the world. Furthermore, Gotianun sees a market shift from sailing

to motor boats, as the market becomes more mature. Gotianun, who has experienced living in a marina for a certain period, said the introduction of Monte Carlo yachts can enhance the sailing experience of Filipinos because it uses topnotch equipment. “Basically, Monte Carlo Yachts uses the best engine, radar, electronics system and interiors. It does not restrict on the origin of the components. It just wants to get the best,” Besson said. A si a Yac ht ing recent ly a nnounced the inaug uration of its of f ic i a l dea lersh ip for lu x u r y It a l i a n y a c ht m a k e r Monte Carlo Yachts in the Philippines. Simu lt a neously, A si a Yachting is a lso ex pand ing the e x ist ing brokerage yacht business to t he beaut if u l waters of t he Ph i l ippines. T his marks a major step in the expansion toward the growing Southeast Asian market for Asia Yachting. “ The Philippines have the most beautiful waters in A sia, possibly even in the world , prov id i ng a fa nt a st ic yachting ground,” Besson said. “We are excited to explore the unlimited possibilities for us here.” Having maintained a well-established name in the yachting industry for 10 years, Asia Yachting is recognized as a luxury yacht dealer, brokerage firm and luxury yacht-management company with over 40 staff throughout the region. “It ’s ver y e xc it ing to br ing suc h a d ist ing u ished bra nd of yachts to the Phi lippines,” Gotianun said. “ With its timeless desig n a nd u n l im ited c ustomi z at ion, we’re hopi ng to see g reat resu lts in t he e x pa nd ing loca l ma rket.” Besson said developing a local yachting community will contribute to the economic development of the local communities. “It will require a lot of supplies for their crew,” he said. To celebrate the inauguration of this, Asia Yachting displayed Monte Carlo Yachts and a series of Asia’s best brokerage yachts at the ninth Philippine Boatshow and Nautical Lifestyle Expo and Conference recently at the SMX Convention Center. Asia Yachting is the official dealer of Monte Carlo Yachts in Hong Kong and Macau, delivering astonishing results for new yacht sales in the region including the successful sales of three MC Y105s, the f lagship vessel of the Monte Carlo Yachts collection. The company also has a strong presence in the brokerage boat market throughout Asia with transactions throughout Greater China and Southeast Asia. Monte Carlo yacht (65-footer) is priced at €2.5 million (P133.2 million).

Editor: Tet Andolong

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Sunday, March 19, 2017 A11

Premier Lounge

FaçAde and swimming pool

Downtown kind of summer By Margarita Medrano-Tupaz

For reservations and inquiries, visit http://novotel.com.

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HE hustle of the upcoming summer season, with school-age kids finishing up the school year, graduations, proms, vacation and summer planning, etc., it can easily leave parents exhausted and stressed out. For me, a quick fix is an in-town weekend getaway. An intimate escape is within reach in the heart of Araneta Ce nte r i n Q ue z on C it y. For people who spend most of their time in the southern area of the Metro, who would think that in the midst of all the bustle in this downtown area is a ver y i mpres sive a nd out st a nd i ng mid-scale hotel. Novotel Manila Araneta Center is next to Smart Araneta Coliseum and within wa lk ing distance to Gateway Mall. This business and leisure district also provides easy access to the Light R ail Transit (LRT) and Metro R ail Transit (MRT) stations. Downtown areas are rapid ly transfor ming into ultra-hip places to hang, so why not stay awhile? Outfitted with 401 rooms and suites, Novotel affords its guests modern comfort and amenities. Novotel Manila Araneta Center is the first Philippine hotel of global hospitality giant AccorHotels Group. They have over 3,700 properties in over 92 countries. The Araneta Group, one of the pioneers in entertainment and leisure development in the Philippines, invested in the constr uction of this P3 billion hotel to invigorate local tourism and bring in business revenues to Quezon City. At Novotel, everyone is free to live as they want—whether you’re on vacation or a business trip, alone or with family, everything has been designed to meet all your needs. All room accommodations feature a contemporary design that includes LCD televisions, iPod docking stations, lounges, workstations and

Gout de France promo

broadband Internet access. The rooms are beautifully appointed in a palette of bright colors—yellows and greens with splashes of teal, orange, turquoise and hues of light gray and beige. The furniture is hip and modern with clean, straight lines. T he 24 -stor y bui lding of fers guests privacy and security and topnotch housekeeping service. Entertain your palate in the casual atmosphere of Food Exchange Manila, unwind at the Gourmet Bar, the 6th Pool Bar & Lounge, or the Premier Lounge on the 24th floor and, of course, in-room dining in the privacy of your room is available 24/7. The ambiance in each of these outlets is very different from one another, so these in-house dining options are amazing. An array of activities is also available, including Kids Club by Novotel, a walking trail surrounded by flowers, a swimming pool, a stateof-the-art gym called Balance Fitness, and of course, everyone must experience the Swedish massage in the divine InBalance Spa. For special events, there is a grand ballroom, a bridal garden and spacious meeting rooms. One of my favorite parts of any staycation is exploring some of the local joints. And because we are from the South and hardly ever go to Quezon City, we enjoyed walking around like we were tourists. Right across the

street from the hotel, on one side was a market that had aisles and aisles of fresh f lowers. There are malls and restaurants all around t he proper t y, so it prov ides guests, especially tourists, the convenience of having options. To kick off the summer festivities, Novotel Manila Amanita Center has several offerings up their sleeves. Indulge in food, drinks, activities and much more. Grills N Skewers is a weekend barbeque buffet featuring grilled favorites, such as burgers, chicken, skewers, seafood, sausages, veggies and more. Enjoy this fare at the Food Exchange for a very affordable rate of P2,000 net good for two adults and two kids, from March 17 to April 30. GOUT DE FRANCE is a weeklong celebration in partnership with the French Embassy of Manila. Savor a delicious four-course French gastronomic treat from March 21 to 26 at the Gourmet Bar, for P2,000 net per person. And of course, the wonderful folks from Novotel Manila did not forget about the kids and the kids at heart. From March 29 to Ju ne 19, B er t L oz ad a Sw im School w il l be holding swimming lessons at the pool in Novotel. And on weekends, kids can enjoy stargazing, an outdoor f i l m show ing a nd a picnic at the Versailles Garden adjacent to the swimming pool area. W hat a treat.

Executive Suite

Kid’s Playroom

A different kind of radiance at Flow Spa

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ET your sk in shine and glow amid the heat that the summer brings as Flow Spa makes your pamper day even more refreshing and relaxing. Soothe your facial skin while enjoying a relaxing and nourishing treatment using a marine-based line all the way from France, Algotherm. This treatment utilizes seaweed extracts and other marine ingredients that brings visible results, even

from the first try. Stimulate the skin with the traditional salt scrub that cleanses the pores thoroughly for a smoother skin, followed by a mixture of aloe vera and other conditioning nutrients to further moisturize the skin. Release the tension from your neck down to your back with a back massage that will surely take the stress away. Enjoy all of these with Flow Spa’s Glow i ng Su m mer Sk i n

package at P5,000 for a twohour rela xing pamper day that will bring a different kind of radiance to your skin, only until this April. Flow Spa is at the 22nd floor of Marco Polo Ortigas Manila with its treatments starting at P1,800. Flow Spa is not exclusive to the Hotel’s in-house guests. Flow Spa is open daily from 9 am to 12 mn. For more information, book online via www. marcopolohotels.com

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Building on the momentum of an increasingly competitive tourism industry

THE TOURISM ADVOCATE

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E travel to see the beauty of souls in new landscapes,” influential Ghanaian writer and youth advocate Lailah Gifty Akita once said. Nothing can be truer than this, for when we travel to new places, we not merely stand in awe at the eye-catching landscapes but also bask in the beauty of the souls that we meet along the way.

The truth is that people love to travel, and they will do so whenever they get the chance. This is the reason tourism has always been an important part of any country’s development, not only because it touches on human beings’ natural inclination to seek out beautiful and exotic places, it also touches on people’s inherent penchant for showcasing their pride of place. This is also why tourism is one of the largest and fastest-growing sectors in the global economy.

The value of tourism

Tourism’s value cannot be overemphasized. Not only is it a major catalyst in the sociopolitical development of any country, it also stimulates economic activity and growth by generating the much-needed foreign exchange and hiking the country’s domestic earnings. Tourism also spurs cross-cultural interaction among the citizens of the world, thus promoting mutual understanding, cultural appreciation and even tolerance—something that we badly need today.

However, although tourism has always been a dynamic industry, it needs to constantly adapt to the tourists’ changing needs and desires, as well as the demands of a growing clientele to thrive. There must be a dynamic and flexible national plan that not only acknowledges that customer satisfaction and safety are the focus of the tourism industry but also recognizes the need to adjust the tourism objectives to the current sociopolitical situation. It is, therefore, important for any country that hopes to fully tap the potential of its tourist spots to constantly assess its tourism development plan and modify it when necessary.

The National Tourism Development Plan

The last National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) of the Philippines took effect from 2011 to 2016. In this plan, the medium-term framework was set to enhance the competitiveness of the country’s tourism sector. This was done by marketing diverse destinations

and products, improving international and domestic access, as well as connectivity and destination infrastructure, addressing policy and institutional reforms and improving the tourism sector’s human resource skills and capabilities. So much has been achieved in these areas, though. In fact, the Department of Tourism recently reported that more foreign tourists have arrived in the Philippines this year, even staying for more days at a time and spending more money. Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon T. Teo disclosed that January arrivals alone totaled 631,639, an impressive 16.48-percent growth from the 542,258 total in the same month last year. This year’s tourist arrivals generated a total of P21.681 million in receipts. In her report, Teo said, “We have to keep the momentum going now that we are in the implementation phase of the Tourism Development Plan for 2017-2022, which aims to unleash the potentials of our tourism industry and make it more competitive.” And making our country more competitive as a tourist destination is exactly what the new NTDP aims to

achieve. The 2016-2022 NTDP seeks to build and upscale the implementation of tourism programs through a focused and prioritized approach designed to deliver a more competitive, sustainable and inclusive tourism sector.

Untapped attractions

Although the previous Tourism Development Plan’s achievements were impressive, there is still a need to bring to fore and promote more

competitive destinations and products and develop potential new tourist attractions. Looking deeper into our country’s bag of beautiful tourist spots, we will find a lot of untapped attractions just waiting to be enjoyed—the raw and rugged beauty of Masbate, the great rock formations and long white beaches of Northern Samar, the amazing diving spots and unspoiled beaches of Tawi Tawi, and the secluded coves and paradise

beaches of Sipalay in Negros Occidental, to name just a few. If the tourist influx in the first month of the year is any indication, the Philippines may be experiencing a tourist boom in 2017. We just have to build on the momentum created by our successful hosting of the Miss Universe pageant in January and ensure that those who came here for the pageant will have more than enough reasons to stay longer or come back for more.