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A broader look at today’s business Sunday, March 25, 2018 Vol. 13 No. 165

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‘BBB’ fast becoming a threat to property developers T

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By VG Cabuag

he Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) program promises to usher in a “golden age” in infrastructure buildup in the country to boost the economy and subsequently improve the lives of Filipinos as the Chief Executive promised in his campaign sorties in 2016.

However, almost two years after President Duterte assumed power, the construction industry sector is yet to experience the fulfillment of that promise, or even just half of it. A company executive has noted that the Duterte administration only has a handful of bigticket projects to boast, while real-estate prices continue to soar by the day.

Waiting game

“The TRAIN has been completed, hopefully the ‘wait’ is finally over and the ‘build’ will start,” a company executive said, referring to the first phase of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion, or TRAIN, law that took effect early this year. Thus, as companies wait for the machines to actually dig the ground, many investors are instead putting their money into real estate. “They have so much liquidity, and they don’t know where to put it. We all thought that once we signed the documents [for the infrastructure deal], that’s it, the project will be started. But until now we’re still waiting,” the executive said.

Land sellers’ market

In the Philippines, only a few companies can carry out these big-ticket projects, with the likes of the Ayalas, the Sys of the SM group and Aboitiz, along with the companies headed by businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan. Ayala Land Inc. and the SM group, for instance, are rushing to acquire parcels of land for development in the reclaimed area of Entertainment City in Parañaque, as both ride on the tourism windfall of the huge integrated resort-casinos in the area. A new Ayala mall will rise at

the Aseana City complex adjacent to Pagcor Entertainment City, while the SM group is reportedly shopping for available land in the area, possibly the Ashmore property that sits right across Solaire Resort and Casino. The Wenceslao group, a construction firm, is also rushing to complete its Aseana City. According to Isidro A. Consunji, chairman of construction firm DMCI Holdings Inc., land prices will be skyrocketing over the next five or six years, and that prices already went up some five times in about six years in places like Pasig, Mandaluyong, Mall of Asia (MOA) in Pasay and Bonifacio Global City (BGC). “That’s good if you are selling land. But if it’s your raw material, then you will have problems because I think the price increase is too high,” Consunji said. DMCI is not as big compared with Ayala Land and SM Prime Holdings Inc., but it is in the business of property development since the 1980s, focusing on the residential part of the sector and not much into township. Consunji said in some areas in BGC, prices are now selling at P1.3 million per square meter and, in the MOA area, the price is at P300,000 per square meter. “It’s just unbelievable pricing. That [MOA area land prices] is expensive since you have to spend a lot on your foundation and then there’s a maximum height ceiling [of between 45 meters and 65 meters],” he said.

Double-whammy effect

According to Frederick Rara, research and consultancy manager of property broker KMC-Savills, there may be a double-whammy effect of the depreciating peso and rising oil prices on the Continued on A2

Workers at a construction site on Ayala Avenue, Makati City. Nonie Reyes

DOE embarks on crucial step in renewed renewable-energy push

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By Lenie Lectura

n a bid to give power industry players enough time to comply with the renewable portfolio standards (RPS), the Department of Energy (DOE) has set a two-year period—from 2018 to 2019—as transition years to prepare the mandated participants in developing their compliance plans to the minimum RPS requirements. PESO exchange rates n US 52.1580

This is so since the success of the RPS, a DOE order that mandates distribution utilities (DUs) and retail electricity suppliers (RES) to source a portion of their power supply from eligible renewable-energy (RE) sources, relies on the power sector’s big players’ compliance. Violators are slapped with fines ranging from P100,000 to P500,000 or, upon the DOE’s discretion, revocation of license, franchise or authority to operate, and imprisonment of one to five years. This can easily be shelled out

by the big players, as most of them are also in the distribution and supply business.

Target

“[The] RPS is a good mechanism to help achieve the 35-percent renewables target. Enforceability and compliance are critical to make this an effective mechanism, and the current policy may need to be enhanced along these lines,” AC Energy President Eric Francia noted in an interview. “The DOE is giving the industry a head start to give time to build RE plants,” he added.

The DOE has issued Department Circular DC2017-12-0015, which prescribes the rules and guidelines in the establishment of RPS for on-grid areas. The circular mandates DUs and RES, including power-generation companies serving direct connection to customers, to source or produce a certain percentage of their electricity requirements from eligible RE resources. In particular, it should be less than 1 percent of their annual energy demand over the next 10 years. It also provides that eligible RE participants may use biomass,

waste-to-energy technology, wind energy, solar energy, run-of-river hydroelectric power systems, impounding hydroelectric power systems, ocean energy and geothermal energy, among the other systems, as defined in the RE Act. The RPS for on-grid areas is initially anchored on the country’s aspirational target of 35-percent RE share in the energy mix by 2030, which will be reviewed under the forthcoming updating of the National Renewable Energy Program (NREP). Continued on A2

n japan 0.4955 n UK 73.5323 n HK 6.6461 n CHINA 8.2414 n singapore 39.6126 n australia 40.1147 n EU 64.1700 n SAUDI arabia 13.9088

Source: BSP (March 23, 2018 )

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A2 Sunday, March 25, 2018

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‘BBB’ fast becoming a threat to property developers

Construction cranes sprout from a reclaimed land in Parañaque City on January 26, 2017. AP/Bullit Marquez Continued from A1

prospects of the real-estate industry in the country. Add to that the effect of the TRAIN and the possibility of a rate increase by the Central Bank as inflation rate rises. “In theory, all of that are dampers [of real-estate industry growth]. But we don’t know what

will happen on the ground, it’s still a matter of price,” he said in an interview. Rara explained rents are increasing at an average of 10 percent to 15 percent, and if construction costs rise by about 10 percent, developers still have the incentive to build even more. “In the real estate, we’re all derivatives here. We’re still following

what the market is doing. Let’s say, for now, they’re willing to buy even at higher rates,” he said. With the government’s BBB program, the real-estate industry may face another challenge, this time on the possible manpower shortages.

Manpower factor

Public Works Secretary Mark A.

Villar said the government is embarking on a massive hiring program—especially for technical people—that will be called “Jobs, Jobs, Jobs,” or JJJ. “We’re still working with the DOF [Department of Finance], we’re working with other agencies, the BBB team, in order to undertake matching with jobs. We are already looking for people. We are recruiting and we are aggressive in recruitment. We will have the Jobs, Jobs, Jobs program for matching,” Villar said. The program will be launched in May. Villar revealed that the JJJ will cover Filipino professionals in the country and abroad, and recognized that the government would be competing with private employers, including salary rates, to get the required number

of skilled people to improve the implementing agencies’ absorptive capacity. “The cost of labor will go up… but many will be coming back from overseas. Before, I was in [the] housing [sector], and our engineers were going abroad. Most of them are still abroad. But, if the salary here would be competitive, even if not as high, they will come back. That will become the dynamic,” he said. At the moment, protecting its pool of manpower is one of the trade secrets of many property developers. Semirara Mining and Power Corp., for instance, has to peg the salary of some of their skilled workers—or those who operate huge trucks to haul coal from its site on Semirara Island in An-

tique—on overseas rates, and in dollars, to prevent their workers from leaving the Philippines. These workers are being poached by other mine sites mainly in Australia and other parts of the world. The same is true for the likes of Wilcon Depot Inc. for its container truck drivers, whose pay starts at $1,000 at the minimum. 8990 Holdings Inc., a developer of mass-housing projects all over the country, also felt the shortage of workers even before President Duterte came into power. “And with Digong’s [Duterte’s] Build, Build, Build program, the scarcity of labor will be even more felt,” former 8990 president Januario Jesus Gregorio B. Atencio said.

DOE embarks on crucial step in renewed renewable-energy push Continued from A1

RE certificates

A proof, in the form of certificates, is issued to complying firms. RE certificates (RECs) will be issued by the RE registrar to electric power industry participants showing the energy sourced, produced and sold or used. The REC may be traded in the RE market in complying with the RPS. RE market refers to a market where trading of RECs is made. The RE registry will be created by the DOE. “For the purpose of this circular, the REC shall represent all RE and environmental attribute form 1 megawatt-hour [MWh] of electricity generation sourced from duly registered eligible RE facilities,” stated the circular. Francia explained that these certificates are somewhat similar to the concept of carbon trading, except that RECs are specific to RE as opposed to a certified emission reduction (CER). Francia emphasized that REC is specific to RE. “The CER is much broader because it does not only involve RE, but also waste-to-energy, waste management, forest protection, etc…. There is a trading scheme in the Philippines, but a very specific trading scheme through the RPS, which requires us to purchase a certain percentage of demand to supply RE source. Now, the REC serves as the proof,” he said. CER is issued per ton of carbon dioxide avoided and serves as currency in carbon trading, which is the sale of carbon-emission reduction based on specific baselines or carbon-emission standards. “[Carbon trading] is not newsworthy. It’s not being practiced here anymore,”

Francia noted. DOE Director Mario Marasigan agreed. “Carbon trading happened here in the country, but that was a very long time ago,” he said. Don Mario Dira, Bronzeoak Philippines director, said via e-mail that carbon trading has minimal impact to date due to a very low market value. “Trading of this [carbon] is down. However, there is still perceived value on carbon credits for those positioning for the long term. Not until the US and China sign out on the climate-change protocols, carbon credits are still low tradable assets,” Dira said, adding that carbon trading is not present in the country and practiced “only in Europe and the US.”

‘Detrimental’

The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) had stated that it will defer the implementation of RPS until further comprehensive studies on the feasibility and necessary policy mechanism are conducted. Meralco said mandating the RPS will definitely reduce RE developers’ incentive to be more and more cost-competitive, to the detriment of consumers. “However, if we allow the market to work, without distortionary policies like the RPS, we may see more and more RE being integrated into the system without adverse consequences on prices and on the reliability and quality of electric service,” Meralco Vice President and Head of Utility Economics Lawrence Fernandez said. He added there should first be an assessment of what REbased projects will be available for compliance. Equally important, he stressed, is the capacity of the

grid to absorb them should they be studied ahead of any RPS implementation. The Meralco official also pointed out that before penalties are imposed, it must first be ascertained that there is actually enough costcompetitive RE in the market that will allow all DUs nationwide to comply with the RPS mandate. “For DUs, charges, whether from RE or conventional resources, are pass-through costs from which DUs do not earn anything. The penalties of the RPS rules on buyers like DUs do not incentivize RE sellers to provide least-cost power, which will be borne by consumers,” Fernandez said. Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi has assured, though, that this will not happen. “The RPS for ongrid rules outlined various safety nets to protect the electricity endusers and to ensure that this new venture will not result in higher electricity rates,” Cusi said. He said a team will be created to assess rules to ensure compliance, determine the impact on consumers and establish whether the imposed minimum RE requirement should be continued or adjusted. To further protect consumers, the RPS policy will also be complemented by the competitive selection process (CSP) policy, which requires all DUs and other mandated participants to undertake competitive bidding in sourcing their compliance to ensure the “no higher rates” policy. Cusi said the requirement to comply with the CSP ensures a transparent mechanism that ascertains least cost procurement of power supply and ensures competition among the players.

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Finland PM criticizes Trump’s trade policy

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he trade war being threatened by US President Donald J. Trump is a “shortsighted ” move that has small economies particularly worried. That’s according to the prime minister of Finland, Juha Sipila. He’s a self-made multimillionaire who earned his fortune in an industry that ultimately succumbed to globalization. In an interview in Helsinki, Sipila said Trump’s import tariffs “are guided by an old-fashioned and short-sighted view of building competitiveness.” He also said it’s increasingly clear that Europe is on a very different path. “There are occasional bouts of protectionist views in the European debate, but we agree on the big picture.”

EU vs China

Sipila is against a EU proposal intended to prevent China from wielding too much inf luence in the bloc by requiring additional screening before external investments are per mitted. He says a national review is enough without any EU involvement, and notes t hat “Fin land has welcomed outside investments.” The prime minister, who leads a center-right market-friendly coalition in the northernmost euro nation, amassed his fortune manufacturing parts for telecommunications equipment in the 1990s. His first major success was a company

that made radio-frequency components for telecoms networks. Since then, most of the production of such components has shifted to Asia, particularly to China. “I was in the telecommunications industry when it opened up to competition, and the countries that embraced the competition— Finland included—saw the industry thrive the longest,” Sipila said. Trump has blamed globalization for the loss of American jobs and the income inequality that has ensued, and pointed to China as a key culprit in undermining the sustainability of what were once thriving industries in the United States.

Nokia

Finland has borne several blows from globalization. The country witnessed the demise of Nokia Oyj’s consumer-electronics business over the past decade, as Apple Inc. roundly beat it in the business of making state-of-theart mobile phones. But Nokia has reemerged as a network provider, and Finland is home to a healthy tech start-up scene. Sipila says Finland’s experience shows the only way to respond to global competition is to get better. “If costs, say labor costs, begin to matter too much in any given industry, then we need to find something new to replace that,” he said. “In the long-term, competitiveness comes from know-how.” Bloomberg News

Sunday, March 25, 2018

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Electric cars may be cheaper than gas guzzlers in 7 years

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lectric cars may be cheaper than their petroleum counterparts by 2025 if the cost of lithium-ion batteries continues to fall. Some models will cost the same as combustion engines as soon as 2024 and become cheaper the following year, according to a report by Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF). For that to happen, battery-pack prices need to fall, even as demand for the metals that go into the units continues to rise, the London-based researcher said on Thursday. The clamor to roll out electric vehicles has grown louder as countries and companies race to clean up smog in their cities and hit ambitious climate goals set by the Paris Agreement. United Kingdom lawmakers started an inquiry into the market in September, probing the necessary infrastructure and trying to determine whether to bring forward the 2040 deadline to end the sale

of gasoline and diesel cars. With incentives, the UK could lower its automotive trade deficit by 5 billion pounds, or roughly $7 billion, the Green Alliance reported. The World Wildlife Fund said that phasing out diesel and petrol cars earlier could add an extra 14,000 jobs to the industry. In separate reports this week, both groups urged Britain to bring forward the ban on petroleum-fueled cars to 2030. China, the world’s biggest polluter, is looking to lead the world in electric-vehicle adoption with the government implementing production quotas aimed at increasing sales. The billionaire founder of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Li Shufu, bought a €7.3 billion, roughly $9-billion, stake in Daimler AG last month.

Juha Sipila, Finland's prime minister, poses for a photograph before an interview at the prime minister’s official residence at Kesaranta in Helsinki, Finland, on Tuesday, March 20, 2018. Sipila said US President Donald J. Trump's import tariffs “are guided by an old-fashioned and shortsighted view of building competitiveness.” Roni Rekomaa/Bloomberg

The expected increase in mass manufacturing of lithium-ion storage should help drive battery prices to as low as $70 a kilowatt hour by 2030, BNEF said. Battery packs averaged about $208 a kilowatt hour in 2017, squeezing profit margins and representing some two fifths of the total costs of electric vehicle.

“Electr ic-vehicle sa les w il l continue to ramp up in the coming years, but battery prices still need to decline further for real mass-market adoption,” said Colin McKerracher, transport analyst at BNEF. “If battery-material costs keep rising sharply this could push back the crossover point.” Bloomberg News

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White House rift over Russia ties deepens after Trump’s Putin call

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battle within the White House over how to address Vladimir Putin is intensifying, as US President Donald J. Trump shows little desire to confront the Russian leader on the most controversial issues facing the two nations.

In a readout of a call between Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday, the White House said the two leaders reiterated their solidarity with the UK and agreed on the need to take action to hold Russia accountable. Trump defended his call with Putin on Twitter on Wednesday, dismissing those who “wanted me to excoriate him.” “ T he y a re w rong! ” Tr u mp wrote. “Getting along with Russia [and others] is a good thing, not a bad thing.” Trump’s strategy carries significant political risk, as it fuels perceptions that he’s currying favor with Putin even while Special Counsel Robert Mueller investigates whether the president’s 2016 campaign colluded with Russia. It’s also a test for key European allies—particularly the UK, which recently expelled several diplomats after determining Russia had attempted to assassinate the former spy, Sergei Skripal.

Trump vs his aides In this 2017 file photo, US President Donald J. Trump (right), meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany. The Kremlin said Trump called Putin to congratulate him on re-election, and White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed that Trump spoke with Putin on Tuesday. AP

The internal divisions f lared this week after Trump congratu lated Putin on his reelection without first reviewing written g uidance for the phone ca l l, according to a person familiar w ith the matter. Tr ump’s fe l ic it at ion prompted objections from senior Republican law ma kers and worsened tensions among W hite House aides involved in Russia matters. The Washington Post reported that talking points for the call advised the president not to congratulate Putin for an election regarded in the West as fraudulent. In a verbal briefing before the call, Trump’s advisers didn’t address the matter, the person said. A camp that includes National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster is pressing the president to take a tougher public posture toward Putin, people familiar with the matter said. Another group including Secretar y of State-designate Mike Pompeo reinforces Trump’s inclination to forgo face-to-face confrontation and seek cooperation with Russia, describing the approach as realistic in part because of the inf luence Russia wields in much of Europe as a key energy supplier, they said. The split is deepening as the Trump administration decides how to respond to the nerve-gas poisoning of a former Russian spy living in England that the UK has blamed on Putin’s government. The administration plans new actions against Russia that may be announced within days, according to two people familiar with the matter who declined to describe the moves. Substantively,

US policy toward Russia has become tougher in recent months, though Trump’s critics say he has dragged his feet in responding to Putin’s provocations. All of the people who discussed the administration’s divide over Russia did so on condition they not be identified.

Won’t ‘excoriate’

Trump, who’s aware of the disag reement a mong h i s a ides, didn’t mention such sensitive issues as the UK poisoning or ongoing concerns over Russian interference in US elections during his 30-minute call with Putin. Trump has been willing to adopt increasingly tough policy stances on Russia. But the president places a priority on maintaining a personal relationship with the Russian president, won’t publicly insult him, and doesn’t see any benefit to the US in confronting Putin in one-on-one encounters, one administration official said.

Some Russia analysts outside the administration describe the divide as essentially between Trump and all of his staff. Privately, these analysts say, none of Trump’s advisers believe Putin is anything less than antagonistic toward US interests, regardless of what they tell the president. “ There’s the president and then there’s everybody else,” said Richard Fontaine, president of the Center for a New American Security and a former foreign policy adviser to Senator John McCain of Arizona. Much of the Trump administration’s official policy toward Russia has grown more strident, regardless of the president’s own rhetoric. A national defense strategy assembled by the Pentagon under Defense Secretary James Mattis and publicly summarized in January describes China and Russia as the US’s top global adversaries. Last week the administration slapped financial sanctions against a Saint Petersburg-based Internet “troll farm” and its alleged owner—a close Putin ally—that Mueller indicted for a covert social-media campaign to influence the 2016 US election.

It seems to me just about everybody has staked out a fairly hawkish position [on Russia] except for the president. He is the minority of one, but he is the one that matters. Everyone else seems to be holding a very dim view of Putin, Russian policy and the prospects for the next six years.” —Rumer

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authorities declined to release amid the ongoing investigation. Conditt was tracked down using store surveillance video, cell-phone signals and witness accounts of a customer shipping packages in a disguise that included a blond wig and gloves. Police finally found him early Wednesday at a hotel in a suburb north of Austin. Officers prepared to move in for an arrest. When the suspect’s sport-utility vehicle began to drive away, they followed. Conditt ran into a ditch on the side of the road, and SWAT officers approached, banging on his window. Within seconds, the suspect had detonated a bomb inside his vehicle, blasting the officers backward, Manley said. One officer then fired his weapon at Conditt, the chief said. The medical

examiner has not finalized the cause of death, but the bomb caused “significant” injuries, he said. Law enforcement officials did not immediately say whether Conditt acted alone in the five bombings in the Texas capital and suburban San Antonio that killed two people and badly wounded four others. Fred Milanowski of the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said investigators were confident that “the same person built each one of these devices.” Investigators released few details about Conditt, except his age and that he was white. Neighbors say he was home schooled. He later attended Austin Community College from 2010 to 2012, according to a college spokesman, but he did not graduate. In a 2012 online blog that the college

Can Zuckerberg’s media blitz take pressure off Facebook?

“It seems to me just about everybody has staked out a fairly hawkish position except for the president,” said Eugene Rumer, director of the Russia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “He is the minority of one, but he is the one that matters. Everyone else seems to be holding a very dim view of Putin, Russian policy and the prospects for the next six years.”

Post leak

Frustration within the West Wing boiled over Tuesday after the Post’s report on Trump’s call with Putin. The story prompted a rare statement from the White House, hinting that officials would search for the leaker. Trump has removed several people who sought to temper his impulses on policies ranging from trade to foreign policy, including Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who had pushed for a tougher approach to Russia and was fired in a tweet last week. Pompeo, currently the CIA director, will be nominated to succeed Tillerson, the White House has said. The inf luence of McMaster, the most vocal West Wing proponent of a more confrontational approach to Putin, appears to be waning. Trump rebuked McMaster in February for saying that Russia had interfered in the US election—chastising his aide for failing to note that any meddling hadn’t contributed to the president’s victory. Chief of Staff John Kelly has recently inquired at the Pentagon about possible military posts for McMaster, a three-star general.

Tillerson’s last policy

Trump faces pressure to take a stronger stance against Putin in Congress, which passed legislation in August giving lawmakers the power to block the president from lifting punitive measures imposed after Russia’s intervention in Ukraine and its alleged interference in the US election. And before his firing, Tillerson’s State Department had begun to ramp up criticism of Russia in speeches and tweets from spokesman Heather Nauert’s Twitter account—the result, in part, of one of Tillerson’s last policy decisions. Tillerson, who had spearheaded efforts over the last year to find common ground with Russia on Syria’s civil war and North Korea’s nuclear program, had recently come to the conclusion that the initiative wasn’t working and it was time for a tougher stance. “I’ve become extremely concerned about Russia,” Tillerson told reporters on his plane as he returned from Africa last week, hours before he was fired. “We spent most of last year investing a lot into attempts to work together, to solve problems, to address differences. And quite frankly, after a year, we didn’t get very far.” Bloomberg News

Bomber’s motive still unknown despite video, Austin police say FLUGERVILLE, Texas—A 25-minute cellphone video left behind by the bomber whose deadly explosives terrorized Austin for weeks details the differences among the weapons he built and amounts to a confession, police said. But his motive remains a mystery. Mark Anthony Conditt, an unemployed college dropout who bought bomb-making materials at Home Depot, recorded the video hours before he died after detonating one of his own devices as SWAT teams closed in. It seemed to indicate the 23-year-old knew he was about to be caught, said Austin Police Chief Brian Manley. “It is the outcry of a very challenged young man talking about challenges in his own life,” Manley said of the recording, which

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

spokesman said Conditt created as part of a US government class project, he gives his opinion on several issues, often in response to someone else’s commentary. Conditt wrote that gay marriage should be illegal, argued in favor of the death penalty and gave his thoughts on “why we might want to consider” eliminating sex-offender registries. In the “about me” section of the blog, Conditt wrote that he wasn’t “that politically inclined,” but did view himself as conservative. Jay Schulze, who lives in Pflugerville, said he was jogging last Tuesday night when he was stopped by police and asked about the bombings. He said police flew drones over Conditt’s home for about six hours between Tuesday evening and early Wednesday morning. AP

Zuckerberg

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EW YORK —In the wake of a privacy scandal involving a Trump-connected data-mining firm, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg embarked on a rare media mini-blitz in an attempt to take some of the public and political pressure off the social network. But it’s far from clear whether he’s won over US and European authorities, much less the broader public whose status updates provide Facebook with an endless stream of data it uses to sell targeted ads. On Wednesday the generally reclusive Zuckerberg sat for an interview on CNN and gave another to the publication Wired, addressing reports that Cambridge Analytica purloined the data of more than 50 million Facebook users in order to sway elections. The Trump campaign paid the firm $6 million during the 2016 election, although it has since distanced itself from Cambridge. Zuckerberg apologized for a “major breach of trust,” admitted mistakes and outlined steps to protect users following Cambridge’s data grab. “I am really sorry that happened,” Zuckerberg said on CNN. Facebook has a “responsibility” to protect its users’ data, he added, noting that if it fails, “we don’t deserve to have the opportunity to serve people.” His mea culpa on cable television came a few hours after he acknowledged his company’s mistakes in a Facebook post , but without saying he was sorry. Zuckerberg and Facebook ’s No. 2 executive, Sheryl Sandberg, had been quiet since news broke last Friday that Cambridge may have used data improperly obtained from roughly 50 million Facebook users to try to sway elections. Cambridge’s clients included Donald J. Trump’s general-election campaign. Facebook shares have dropped some 8 percent, lopping about $46 billion off the company’s market value, since the revelations were first published. W hile several experts said Zuckerberg took an important step with the CNN interview, few were convinced that he put the Cambridge issue behind him. Zuckerberg’s apolog y, for instance, seemed rushed and pro forma to Helio Fred Garcia, a crisis-management professor at NYU and Columbia University. “He didn’t acknowledge the harm or potential harm to the affected users,” Garcia said. “I doubt most people realized he was apologizing.” Instead, the Facebook chief pointed to steps the company has already taken, such as a 2014 move to restrict the access outside apps had to user data. (That move came too late to stop Cambridge.) And he laid out a series of technical changes that will further limit the data such apps can collect, pledged to notify users when outsiders misuse their information and said Facebook will “audit” apps that exhibit troubling behavior. That audit

will be a giant undertaking, said David Carroll, a media researcher at the Parsons School of Design in New York—one that he said will likely turn up a vast number of apps that did “troubling, distressing things.” But on other fronts, Zuckerberg carefully hedged otherwise striking remarks. In the CNN interview, for instance, he said he would be “happy” to testify before Congress— but only if it was “the right thing to do.” Zuckerberg went on to note that many other Facebook officials might be more appropriate witnesses depending on what Congress wanted to know. At another point, the Facebook chief seemed to favor regulation for Facebook and other Internet giants. At least, that is, the “right” kind of rules, such as ones requiring online political ads to disclose who paid for them. In almost the next breath, however, Zuckerberg steered clear of endorsing a bill that would write such rules into federal law, and instead talked up Facebook’s own voluntary efforts on that front. “They’ll fight tooth and nail to fight being regulated,” said Timothy Carone, a Notre Dame business professor. “In six months we’ll be having the same conversations, and it’s just going to get worse going into the election.” Even Facebook ’s plan to let users know about data leaks may put the onus on users to educate themselves. Zuckerberg said Facebook will “build a tool” that lets users see if their information had been impacted by the Cambridge leak, suggesting that the company won’t be notifying people automatically. Facebook took this kind of do-it-yourself approach in the case of Russian election meddling, in contrast to Twitter, which notified users who had been exposed to Russian propaganda on its network. In what has become one of the worst backlashes Facebook has ever seen, politicians in the United States and Britain have called for Zuckerberg to explain its data practices in detail. State attorneys general in Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey have opened investigations into the Cambridge mess. And some have rallied to a movement that urges people to delete their Facebook accounts entirely. Sandy Parakilas, who worked in data protection for Facebook in 2011 and 2012, told a UK parliamentary committee last Wednesday that the company was vigilant about its network security but lax when it came to protecting users’ data. He said personal data including e-mail addresses and in some cases private messages was allowed to leave Facebook servers with no real controls on how the data was used after that. Paul Argenti, a business professor at Dartmouth, said that while Zuckerberg’s comments hit the right notes, they still probably aren’t enough. “The question is, can you really trust Facebook,” he said. “I don’t think that question has been answered.” AP

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Sunday

Sunday, March 25, 2018

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DOST, Toon City partner in training animators

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By Rizal Raoul Reyes

@brownindio

iven the right trainings and opportunities, Filipino animators can be on a par with, if not better than, their foreign counterparts.

Many might not be familiar with the names of Ronnie del Carmen and Gini Cruz Santos. They are just two of the prominent Filipinos animation artists in the global arena. Internet search revealed that del Carmen co-directed and was one of the writers of the 2015 Pixar film Inside Out, for which he bagged an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay. Meanwhile, Santos works as an animator at Pixar Studios. Her works include Toy Story 2, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, A Bug’s Life, The Incredibles, Ratatouile, Toy Story 3, Up, Lifted and Brave. In 2004, she was nominated for an Annie award for her detailed, lifelike animation of Finding Nemo, and was nominated by the Visual Effects Society for an

award for this project, as well. To enhance the capabilities of Filipino animators and to usher the growth of the country’s creative industries, the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) of the Department of Science and Tec h nolog y ( DOS T ) recent ly signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Toon City Academy in Mandaluyong City. The move was in response to the PCIEERD’s recent inclusion of “Creative Industries” to its sectoral coverage that aims to spur an increase in people capacity and employment opportunities through the proper cultivation of talents and adequate trainings. “I believe it is high time that

The Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) of the Department of Science and Technology recently signed a memorandum of agreement with Toon City Academy to enhance the capabilities of Filipino animators. The signatories are (from left) PCIEERD Deputy Executive Director Raul Sabularse, Science Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña, Toon City Academy President and CEO Juan Miguel del Rosario and Toon City Academy Vice President for Resources Development Roderico de Guzman. PCIEERD

we fully used our resources to boost our creative industries, as it is one of the driving forces of our economy and its continuing growth,” Science Secretary

Fortunato T. de la Peña said in his opening remarks during the MOA signing. Since animation is now recognized as an emerging market in

I believe it is high time that we fully used our resources to boost our creative industries, as it is one of the driving forces of our economy and its continuing growth.”—de la Peña

the business-process outsourcing sector, the DOST and Toon City decided to join forces and launch the pilot project to strengthen the local sector. The Animation Council of the Philippines Inc. (ACPI) said the country has 6,000 local animators. However, the Philippines is recognized as a fidgeting player because not every Filipino animator is equipped with skills recognized in the global market. Wit h t his init iat ive, Toon Cit y Academy, the only Emmyaward w inning studio in the Philippines, is a per fect fit for this endeavor. T he project, “Industr y-def ined 2D Basic A nimation Course,” was the result of this publ ic- pr ivate col l aborat ion. It involves a 12-week intensive basic-animation workshop, and actual work production through an internship program. Roderico de Guzman, Toon City Academy Vice President for resource development, lauded the partnership because it provides the necessary tools to 120 animators-in-training to improve their livelihood and to ensure that they acquire industry-standard skills. The animators are from Pangasinan and Iloilo City.

“We are currently addressing capacity building outside Metro Manila. With the help of everyone here, we are creating employment for people who will not necessarily have this chance in their areas,” de Guzman added. De Guzman said: “ You are probably aware of the recent Oscar Awards. The theme song of Coco was written by a Filipino couple; and that animated feature film, while its characters are Mexican, the lead story writer is Filipino—Gigi Santos. I can run by many names,” and also mentioned del Carmen as codirector of Inside and Out. Paul Abadilla, a set designer in Finding Nemo and Finding Dory, was the animator behind the bahay kubo (nipa hut) in the first film, de Guzman also cited. “Now, our animation studio is working on two titles for Disney, and two blockbuster titles from French studios. All that to say that the talent for world-class animation is here,” he noted. Juan Miguel del Rosario, Toon City Academy president and CEO, said he is optimistic of the success of the program, believing that Filipino animators have what it takes to flourish in the global spotlight.

Promising targets for future pest-control methods 2 new projects to address ‘cocolisap’ problem in Zambo Cockroach genome provides ‘little mighty’ secrets

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OS BAÑOS, Laguna—With the ongoing coconut scale i n se c t (C SI ), com mon ly known as cocolisap, infestation affecting areas of Zamboanga region, key experts met to polish targets and strategies of the two newly approved projects that will implement rapid and efficient response to address the invasive coconut pest. The experts are from the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), De La Salle University (DLSU) and University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB). The epidemic caused by cocolisap has been reported in the whole Zamboanga Peninsula, after its infestation in Basilan reached the borders of Zamboanga City. This posed a serious problem as some of the largest coconut plantations and several important accessions of coconut are found in the region. Most important, it is a threat to the largest coconut germplasm collection in the world, which is located at PCA-Zamboanga Research Center (PCA-ZRC). Ramon L. Rivera, division manager of PCA-ZRC, and Dr. Divina M. Amalin, entomology and nematology expert of DLSU, will lead the projects. The project will identify suitable control measure, expand rearing facilities and assess efficiency of cocolisap pest response in the region. Rivera will focus on developing an Science and Technology protocol on the utilization of the parasitoid, Comperiella calauanica, and on the enhancement of natural controlling factors for the sustainable management of CSI at PCA-ZRC and Zamboanga City. Amalin, on the other hand, will

lead the implementation of integrated pest-management strategies through infestation mapping and proper pest control application to address the infestation in Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur. To provide technical guidance for the smooth implementation of the projects, Dr. Celia Medina of the Institute of Weed Science, Entomology and Plant Pathology of the College of Agriculture and Food Science of UPLB also attended the meeting. She encouraged close collaboration between the two implementing agencies in order to properly execute their work plans and effectively control the infestation. She added that a proper production system should be developed and quality standards should be identified based on what is more applicable on the CSI status in the region. According to the director of the Crops Research Division (CRD) of DOST-PCAARRD, Dr. Jocelyn E. Eusebio, these projects are already extensions of initial efforts made to control the infestation of CSI in the country. However, she still hopes that the meeting serves as a venue to identify and implement new strategies to rapidly address the problem of cocolisap in Zamboanga. With this action research, a system that will aid in pest-response detection will be established to address the infestation not only in the Zamboanga Peninsula, but also in other coconutgrowing areas in the country. The meeting was organized by CRD of DOST-PCA ARRD and Industry Strategic S&T Program Manager for Coconut Dr. Edna A. Anit. It was also attended by several DOST-PCA ARRD, PCA and National Crop Protection Center-UPLB staff members. S&T Media Service

he American cockroach is the largest common house cockroach, about the length of a AA battery. Also called the water bug, it can live for a week without its head. It eats just about anything, including feces, the glue on book bindings, and other cockroaches, dead or alive. It can fly short distances and run as fast as the human equivalent of 210 miles per hour, relative to its size. All these feats and more are encoded in the American cockroach’s genome, its complete set of genetic instructions, which was sequenced by Chinese scientists and published last Tuesday in Nature Communications. It is the second-largest insect genome ever sequenced (the first belonging to a species of locust), and larger even than the human genome. In China the cockroach is often called xiao qiang, meaning “little mighty,” said Sheng Li, an entomology professor at South China Normal University in Guangzhou and lead author of the paper. “It’s a tiny pest, but has very strong vitality.” His team found that groups of genes associated with sensor y perception, detoxification, the immune system, growth and reproduction were all enlarged in the American cockroach, likely underpinning its scrappiness and ability to adapt to human environments. Their study comes on the heels of the sequencing of the German cockroach genome, which was published in Nature Ecology and Evolution last month. While

Researchers decoding the genome of the American cockroach found a wide variety of genes that help the insects perceive tastes and survive harsh environments. Sheng Li via The New York Times

the German cockroach only inhabits human environments (particularly kitchens), the American cockroach flourishes in a wide range of habitats. Both species, however, succeed worldwide as omnivorous scavengers, and are notoriously adept at dealing with the insecticides and other pest-control methods we throw at them. They’re both frequent visitors to homes in the United States, though the German cockroach is slightly more common. That generalist lifestyle is reflected in the species’ genomes, both of which are massive, said Coby Schal, an entomology professor at North Carolina State University and an author of the German cockroach study. Consider, in comparison, more specialized insects like bedbugs or termites. Feasting

exclusively on blood, bedbugs no longer need sugar receptors. Most termites, which live in the dark, are blind. Cockroaches, on the other hand, need eyes, sugar receptors, ways to survive nasty environments—you name it. As a result, “cockroaches have to have a very large repertoire of proteins, and therefore a lot of genes,” Schal said. In the American cockroach, Li and collaborators annotated thousands of genes, including more than 1,000 thought to help the insect detect chemical cues from the environment. Among these are more than 300 genes associated with perceiving bitter tastes, which could help them decide which foods are safe. The scientists also interfered with more

than 20 genes thought to be related to immunity, reproduction and development, and found that doing so had damaging effects on the cockroaches. Genes such as these are promising targets for future pest-control methods, said Xavier Bellés, a research professor at the Institute of Evolutionary Biology in Barcelona. Such methods are already being developed for agricultural pests. In terms of basic biology, comparing the genomes of primitive cockroaches and termites—which evolved from cockroaches—will allow scientists to learn more about eusociality, a rare phenomenon in which organisms cooperate through sophisticated division of labor, said Tanya Dapkey, an entomologist at the University of Pennsylvania who was not involved in the new research. Termites evolved eusociality long before other insects like ants and bees. For now, Li will follow up on the American cockroach’s extraordinary healing capabilities: cut a leg off, and the insect will quickly regenerate it. His team is identifying the proteins and pathways involved in this process, with the hope that they can be harnessed for medical treatments. Cockroach extract has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to speed healing on cuts and burns. “We’ve uncovered the secret of why people call it xiao qiang,” he said. “Now we want to know the secrets of Chinese medicine.” New York Times News Service

Asean leaders receive training on sustainable value chains

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emaining upbeat in steering an inclusive and sustainable agricultural and rural economy, the Philippine government-hosted Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) brings to the fore the significance of value chain development toward improving market system productivity while highly regarding marginalized farmers’ inclusivity. This is the core of the Value Chain Development Course conducted by Searca from March 12 to 16. The academe, national government agencies, local government units, and non-governmental organizations are represented by participants from the Philippines, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. Searca pioneers the value - chain development course in keeping with its focus on inclusive and sustainable agricultural and rural development (Isard), which is aligned with the United Nations’ s Sustainable

Development Goal to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all. With social inclusion as one of Isard’s defining elements, the course pushes how marginalized actors can be given precedence to economically and socially include or upgrade them in the agricultural value chain. Searca Director Gil C. Saguiguit Jr. pointed out the importance of value-chain development in driving agricultural and rural development in Southeast Asia. He counts training course among Searca’s efforts to strengthen social inclusion to promote greater participation and productivity of farmers and rural producers. He noted that the training is a vital step in developing a value-chain framework that will facilitate the equitable integration of smallholder farmers and rural entrepreneurs in regionally integrated and borderless agribusiness markets. “We believe that efforts to integrate

small-scale farmers into commercial food systems is key to national and overall regional development, especially in view of the Asean economic integration,” Saguiguit said. Meanwhile, Prof. Wilfredo Carada of the University of the Philippines Los BañosCollege of Public Affairs and Development, who led the team of resource persons, affirmed that looking through a value-chain lens defines inclusive and pro-poor development in its truest sense. He advocated the use of “VCD4ISARD” as a call to action toward developing sound interventions for smallholders, small-scale businesses, landless laborers and women, who participate in agricultural value chains as producers, traders, processors, laborers and retailers. Carada noted that VCD4ISARD could be a tool to make these marginalized sectors get a fair share in the value-chain process. “What we need to embrace is the inclusive definition of the value chain. This means we

need to make the poor participate directly in economic activities, and make their participation translate into increased income and improved well-being. We must not merely rely on the ‘trickle down’ process in aiming for sustainable development,” Carada said. The five-day course is composed of three interactive workshops and nine lecture-discussion sessions. It combines the fundamental frameworks, principles, components and processes of the valuechain system and their practical skills and application. Workshop participants were tasked to work in groups that developed a value-chain development plan for cocoa, rice, abaca, sugar, coconut and swine—commodities identified as having great potential and relevance to Isard. Each plan includes a sector situationer, value-chain analysis and mapping, value-chain development strategy, institutional arrangements, and monitoring and evaluation design.

Faith A6 Sunday, March 25, 2018

Sunday

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

Home of Hope recovery center for drug victims opens in Cebu

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Catholic Church-based drop-in center for people struggling with substance abuse has opened in Cebu City recently. The Home of Hope of Saint Camillus will offer immediate access to people and families needing support, especially the poor. The center augments the ongoing community-based drugrehabilitation program of the Cebu archdiocese and the Dilaab Foundation with the help of various local government agencies. Fr. Dan Cancino of the Camillian Philippine Province, who will run the center, said the facility also offers services to people with HIV, sexually transmitted infections, mental illness and other health problems. “This is a home where people can find hope and the real value of life,” Cancino, who is also the executive secretary of the bishops’ Commission on Health Care, told Radio Veritas. “This Home of Hope offers health promotion, medical and surgical, psychospiritual and social services,” he said. The center was opened with a simple ceremony led by Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Florencio. It ’s a “net work of ser v ices,” the pr iest added, based on col laborative par tnerships w it h t he gover nment and no n - g o v e r n m e nt a l a g e n c i e s .

“ This also affirms that we in the Church value life, and we stand firm in the power of God ’s love to transform, and we will not give up on our brothers and sisters who really want to change,” Cancino said.

‘Mercy ministry’ vs drug problem

From helping the families of victims of drug-related killings, the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan has widened its “Ministry of Mercy” to address the drug problem in Pangasinan province. Archbishop Socrates Villegas said it is going to be a “wider and more focused” program on the pastoral aspects of drug dependence, sale and abuse. Three interrelated approaches,

Camillian Fr. Dan Cancino, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Commission on Health Care, speaks during the recent opening and blessing of the Home of Hope of Saint Camillus in Cebu City. The Camillians

namely, education and prevention, community-based rehabilitation and pastoral, the prelate said, will help address the “socio-pastoral” problems of families of victims of extrajudicial killings. “We have a duty from the Lord to take care of the least of our brethren, and we will be judged at the sunset of life by what we did to the least of our brethren,” Villegas said.

This also affirms that we in the Church value life, and we stand firm in the power of God’s love to transform, and we will not give up on our brothers and sisters who really want to change.”—Cancino

To prepare the parishes for the program, the archdiocese will also hold a seminar workshop for the “ministers of mercy” on April 5 at the Lay Formation Center in Dagupan City. Last year the archdiocese opened the ministry of mercy to respond pastorally to the drug problem and the alarming cases of summary executions in the past two years. The ministry also offers sanctuary and protection to those willing to testify against cases of extrajudicial killings in the country. In October 2017 Villegas said several members of the police, who expressed willingness to “expose all” that they know about extrajudicial killings, have sought the protection of the Church. While not tolerating those involved in illegal drugs, he said the ministry of mercy also serves those who need the hospitality of the Church. Roy Lagarde/CBCP News

‘Faces of agony’: A Lenten paintings exhibit

Jesus Annointed at Bethany–Mark 14:1-15

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion Msgr. Josefino S. Ramirez SUNDAY GOSPEL IN OUR LIFE

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ark begins his narrative with a story about a woman who annoints the head of Jesus with a jar of expensive oil. This act of generosity, love and sacrifice evokes indignant remarks from those in the room who question why she didn’t sell the perfume to give to the poor instead of pouring it on Jesus’ head. Jesus addresses their statements by pointing out her good intentions and the ever-present opportunities they have to express generosity for the poor, which they apparently are not taking advantage of. In doing so, He is not diminishing the importance of practical charity but esteeming the sacrificial love of God manifested in the woman’s action. He is also pointing out the hypocrisy of those who criticize this woman because they themselves could be helping the poor if they truly wanted to. Judas, on the other hand, is the far opposite of the woman. He is an example of someone who uses Jesus for self-gain. He doesn’t care for the poor, nor for Jesus. Throughout history, there has always been a necessary relationship between our love of God and our love of neighbor. Our love of God is our first step in our ability to serve the poor. As Jesus approached His Passion, the woman responded with generosity, commitment, sacrifice and abundant

Redemption for all By Corazon Damo-Santiago

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t early morning on the first day of the week while still dark, Mary of Magdala went to the tomb of Jesus. She carried burial clothes and spices so Jesus can be buried properly in accordance with Jewish custom. The huge stone across the entrance of the tomb was removed. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and other disciples, and said: “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they put Him” (John:20:13).

Love in action

Nida Cranbourne’S My Favorite Sunflower Maryros e Gisbert’s Christo

After Jesus had driven away the demons that dwelt in Mary of Magdala, she followed Jesus and became his devoted follower. Called the “Apostle of the Apostles,” she accompanied Jesus on the way to Calvary, unafraid, unmindful of the crowd at a time when it was dangerous to be identified as Jesus’ follower, more so associated as a disciple who accompanied Jesus during his teachings. She was unaffected by the unruly Roman soldiers, volatile crowds of differing temperaments that could crush her to death. She stood at the foot of the cross with Saint John the Beloved and the Blessed Virgin Mary. She was with Jesus during his dying moments. Her love for Jesus knew no bounds.

An emptying love

Salvador Ching’s Hail the King

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embers of the Saturday Group, the countr y’s premier artists’ group, present more than 25 a r t work s t h at c apt u re t hei r inter pretations of the Lenten season in a ver y apt exhibit. “It’s our first Lenten group show,” said Saturday Group president Omi Reyes, who believes the season is appropriate for artists and their audience to “open conversations about God or our relationship with our Creator while it is also our expression of thanksgiving.”

Franklin Caña Valencia’s Faces of Agony

Focused on the artists’ individual artistic pursuits, the show is a way of “going back to one’s faith or to Him,” said long-time member Franklin Valencia, “as we delve on the passion, death and resurrection of Christ, or our inter pretations of them.” Velencia’s work, titled Faces of Agony, dramatically portrays the many aspects of Christ’s suffering on the cross, while Francis Nacion’s Roses and Thorns, Maryrose Gisbert’s Christo, Salvador Ching’s Hail the King, Anna de

Leon Marcelo’s In His Hand, Nida Cranbourne’s My Favorite Sunf lower and Reyes’s Ichtus offer varying depictions of Christ or symbols of salvation. Me a nw h i l e , t h e S at u rd a y Group is celebrating its 50th anniversar y this year w ith a milestone exhibit of close to 200 works by its founders, including A lfredo Roces and National A rtist Her nando R . Ocampo, and current members on view until May 6 at the Juan Luna Galler y of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Francis Nacion’s Roses and Thorns

The group’s roster of members includes 10 other national artists besides Ocampo: Carlos V. Francisco, Vicente S. Manansala, Cesar F. Legaspi, Arturo R. Luz, Ang Kiukok, Jose T. Joya, Benedicto R. Cabrera and Federico Aguilar Alcuaz for painting or visual arts, and F. Sionil Jose and Cirilo F. Bautista for literature. The group’s first Lenten exhibit that started on March 24 and runs until April 19 at The Saturday Group Gallery, Fourth Level, East Wing, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong City.

love of God; Judas responded with selfpreservation, self-protection, self-gain and self-interest. We are all unworthy. Not one of us is worthy. We are not perfect. We cannot do holy things all the time. We have our weak moments. We all sin. Let us not beat ourselves when we sin or be so hard on others when they sin. Let us allow it to be an occasion for mercy. The Christian life is not about being perfect, it is about being forgiven. It is about being in love with God and loving others so that they know God loves them. Staying connected to God through prayer and a life of service, so that we are transformed to be more and more like Him, more perfect. It doesn’t mean we will get it right all the time, it means we accept who we are and what we are in relation to God and love Him all the more for the amazing thing we will be celebrating this week. The story of this Holy Week, or Passion Week, should be filled with the thought that we are, indeed, unworthy to approach God, but He loved us so much in our sinful state that He was willing to die for us. He is willing to provide a way let Him in our lives as we recognize our weakness and ask for mercy. That is the way of God. It is the way of a sacrificial and selfless love given to us because of who God is, not because of who we are.

Aft er God created the heavens and the Earth, He created man, “crowned him with glory and honor and ruled over the Earth” (Psalm 8:6-7). But man never tacitly reciprocated God’s love. To exemplify the meaning of love, God became man except in sin to redeem men and make them worthy of heaven. Jesus taught men how to pray to His Father and be our Father, too. Sadly, though, men paid homage to many Gods, and ravaged the Earth’s bountiful resources to the core! Our God, Our Teacher, Our Savior a n d O u r B ro t h e r, s u m m a r i ze d H i s commandments into two. First: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.” Second: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself ” (Matthew 22:38-39). The key is a favorite object to exemplify love. The key to heaven and the key to a heart exemplify man’s desire for the heavenly joys and sharing of treasures, time, talents as tokens of love for others. After two decades Pope Francis warned the faithful of a “complacent and covetous heart in feverish pursuit of frivolous pleasures... caught up in its own interests and concerns” in Evangelii Gaudium (Joy of the Gospel). The social milieu during Jesus’ time

approximates the world today. There were melting pots of various religions, conclaves for the rich and underprivileged, immoral places and power struggle among leaders. That men live “amid the crisis of communal commitment” was emphasized by the pope. Adoration for the ancient golden calf (Exodus 32:1-35) has been renewed. It has been refined—“a new and ruthless guise in the idolatry of money and dictatorship of an impersonal economy.” Jesus was very emphatic in saying, “No servant can be the slave of two masters.... You cannot serve both God and money” (Luke 16:13). To those who would like to follow Him, He frankly told them to unpack their earthy baggage, sell their belongings and give the proceeds to the poor. Saint Matthew, the wealthiest among the apostles of Christ, was a tax collector of Caesar, and left his job to follow Jesus.

Keep faith

Faith is a total abandonment of will and intellect to God. It is trust—undivided, undaunted, unquestioning, unfaltering even in bad times. But it seems difficult to live our faith despite God’s assurance that when “we have faith, we have everything we need.” Faith is in the form of a cross. Our age implies the number of Lenten seasons we have lived. It also reminds us how many times the blessed ashes had been traced on our foreheads while the priest says, “you are dust, and to dust you will return.” The ashes had always been in the form of a cross. To remind everyone that it is the symbol of a true Christian. Jesus himself emphasized: “Whoever wishes to come after me, must deny himself, take up his cross everyday and follow me” (Luke 9:23). God never promised a life without c ro s s e s. Ne i t h e r d i d He p ro m i s e a custom-made cross, to suit our taste and preferences, more so capacity to endure. He even emphasized that He chastises those He loves and gives them crosses in life (Proverbs 3:12). To live well is to keep faith burning in our being. Our all-loving, all-knowing, all-merciful God never sends anyone a cross beyond endurance. For the cross is never a sign of criminality or punishment among children of God, but of love and compassion exemplified by the only Son of God and Father—Jesus. Santiago is a former regional director of the Department of Education National Capital Region. She is currently a faculty member of Mater Redemptoris Collegium in Calauan, Laguna, and of Mater Redemptoris College in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija.

Sports SAUDI ARABIA DRAWS SUPPORT FROM SPAIN BusinessMirror

Sunday, March 25, 2018

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

By John Duerden The Associated Press

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audi Arabia’s attempts to prepare for the World Cup are not confined to arranging friendlies or hiring worldfamous coaches. After years of Saudi Arabian players staying home, nine were sent to clubs in the top two tiers of Spanish football in January until the end of the current season. Three of those, Fahad Al Muwallad, Salem Al-Dawsari and Yahya Shehri, are established internationals and have been named in the latest roster to take on Ukraine and Belgium in World Cup warm-ups on Friday and next Tuesday. It is all part of a plan to give the players international experience for the World Cup. Saudi Arabia will kick off the tournament against hosts Russia in Moscow on June 14, and later meet Uruguay and Egypt. “The Saudi League does not have enough intensity to prepare players for a tournament like the World Cup,” Sami Al Jaber, a former Saudi international who played at four World Cups, scoring at three of them, told the Associated Press. “That is why players need to go overseas.” The issue for national team Coach Juan Antonio Pizzi is that none of the players have played a competitive game in Spain since they arrived. Whatever happens in Spain, all three internationals are expected to go to the World

Cup regardless, but regular tests in La Liga would be ideal preparation. “The idea is a good one but it just needs time to see whether it works for the World Cup,” Al Jaber added. “It is better if they are playing and so it is up to the coach to see how they perform in the friendly games.” A lack of international experience has been seen as a weakness for Saudi Arabia. When the team defeated Japan, 1-0, in September to qualify for a fifth World Cup and a first since 2006, the entire roster was based at home. Asian rivals South Korea and Japan have been exporting players to Europe for years. Fellow Arabian team and Group A opponent Egypt has Mohamed Salah, the English Premier League’s leading goalscorer with Liverpool. Al Jaber is one of the very few Saudi internationals to play outside the

country, spending time in England with Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2000. He hopes that others follow in his footsteps. “In England, you had to give 100 percent every time, it is a different environment.” The loan deals were done by the General Sports Authority (GSA) in Saudi Arabia and La Liga, with the league keen to increase its international popularity in the Middle East. Saudi authorities are hoping for long-term benefits. “This is a big step, a substantial move forward for Saudi sports. We have to put the national team interests above everything else.” said Turki Al-Alshaikh, GSA chairman, adding that there will be more to come. “It is our role, all of us, to back them in this experience.” Al Shabab, a Riyadh-based Saudi league

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club, has been the most supportive, sending five players, three of which are 20 or younger, to Europe. The loan deals are not the only unusual preparation for Saudi Arabia ahead of June. Days after Bert Van Marwijk clinched a World Cup spot in September, the Dutchman was replaced by Edgardo Bauza after Van Marwijk was unable to agree a new contract. Van Marwijk will coach Australia at the World Cup. Bauza was fired in November. New man Pizzi, who led Chile to the 2016 Copa America title, will be looking to take Saudi Arabia past the group stage for the first time since its World Cup debut in 1994.

Saudi Arabia’s Salem Al-Dawsari battles for the ball during a first-round match against China at the Asian Football Confederation Asia Cup in Brisbane, Australia, in January 2015. AP

Modern major league manager salesman as much as strategist By Ronald Blum

The Associated Press

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AMPA, Florida—Running a major league team for the first time in four seasons, 60-year-old Ron Gardenhire thought about all the data and video rammed into the microchip of his iPad, a slew of statistics his bosses hope transform defeats into triumphs. Baseball wasn’t like this four decades ago, when Gardy left college to begin his career as an infield prospect in the low Carolina League, down in Lynchburg, Virginia. “If you’re not changing, you’re probably not going to last,” the new Detroit Tigers manager said. “There’s so much information out there. You have to use it.” “I’m always going to be an old-school guy. I believe in prep and workouts and all that stuff and taking groundballs,” he added. “But the game has changed, and we’ve got a lot of information that’s going to help us.” Gone are the days of John McGraw, Leo Durocher, Gene Mauch and Billy Martin, martinets who ran their fiefdoms largely by guts. “Many of the managers were probably like the general type of personality,” Boston Red Sox President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski said. “They were just very strict: It’s my way. This is the way it is. Not all, but a lot of them. I don’t think that this goes over with this generation the same way. Not only in baseball, but just with the overall population.” Today’s manager is salesman as much as strategist, digesting behind-the-scenes dissections of dozens and persuading players to accept facts over faith. He must have a sweet smile as the franchise’s face, sitting in front of a backdrop with sponsor logos before and after 162 games a year—and hopefully more. “The manager in today’s world is an extension of the front office’s philosophies and the front office’s efforts and someone that you can collaborate and work with,” Yankees

General Manager Brian Cashman said. Gardenhire led Minnesota to six division titles from 2002 to 2014 and was the lone veteran big league manager hired during the offseason. Boston’s Alex Cora, the New York Mets’ Mickey Callaway, the New York Yankees’ Aaron Boone, Philadelphia’s Gabe Kapler and Washington’s Dave Martinez are all rookie skippers. Boone never held an on-field job since retiring as a player. Fresh and friendly are in. “The decisions still need to be made—when are you going to hit/ run, when are you going to take out the pitcher, when are you going to bunt,” Houston General Manager Jeff Luhnow said. “The amount of information available to managers is a multiple larger than it was five years ago, but it doesn’t mean that managers necessarily do anything differently. They still have to look at what’s going on on the field, assess it, use their best judgment and make decisions,” he said. Managers are certainly free to choose their moves. But if they don’t work out—or maybe even if they do—they’re definitely going to hear about it from fans and the media. GMs, too, usually debrief managers to learn reasoning. “If you talk to Tony La Russa after a game, he’ll tell you, ‘Well I considered these four alternatives and I thought option B was the best option,’” Dombrowski said. A decade or two ago, a manager would hear advice from coaches, a GM, an assistant GM and maybe a farm director. These days, the array of front-office titles is expanding like the universe. The World Series champion Astros have a special assistant to the GM for process improvement who was once a Nasa biomathematician, and a senior director

Starting goaltenders battle physical and mental fatigue

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EHIND the mask is a mind filled with a web of a thousand thoughts, worries and a singular focus of what it takes to win a game. Then the next game, then the one after that. “There is no shutoff for a goaltender,” retired goalie Brian Boucher said. “The mind doesn’t shut off.” A starting National Hockey League (NHL) goaltender bears a burden unlike any position in hockey and few others in sports, and the resulting pressure builds up over the course of a season. By this time of year, with the playoffs on the horizon, No. 1 goalies who have grinded through almost six months of work must battle fatigue that threatens to derail their team’s hopes. Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning is going through it for the first time, and 2016 Vezina Trophy-winner Braden Holtby of the Washington Capitals is used to it by now. Goalies of all ages have no choice but to

manage the physical and mental hurdles. “It’s one of those things that you’ve got find ways to make sure you’re prepared and ready to play every game,” Holtby said. “As a goaltender, there’s not much room to take nights off.” It’s worse for the goalies who can’t take nights off because their teams can’t afford to start a backup. Boucher started the final 13 games for the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010 to help them make the playoffs, two-time Stanley Cup winner Jonathan Quick started 20 of the final 21 games for the Los Angeles Kings when they tried to make a furious push to make it in 2015 and Kari Lehtonen could be counted on to play the final nine games of the Dallas Stars’ season now as they desperately claw for a spot. “You’ll go through the whole night thinking about tomorrow, show up to the rink in the morning thinking about tonight and then you show up to the game thinking about the game,” said Boucher, now an analyst for

in baseball operations for research and innovation. Boston’s staff includes a vice president of baseball research and development who oversees a director of baseball systems, a senior analyst of baseball R&D, three baseball R&D analysts, two senior developers, an assistant director and a data architect. The NL champion Los Angeles Dodgers have five senior analysts and four analysts, plus engineers and technicians. The Mets receive data from about five different firms. Sure different from the days when Buck Showalter was a minor league manager in the 1980s and had his wife, Angela, keep colorcoded spray charts on hitters.

ATENEO VS. ADAMSON U

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Philadelphia’s Gabe Kapler (left) and Washington’s Dave Martinez are all rookie skippers. AP

NBC Sports. “Not until that horn goes off at the very end can you finally go, ‘Whew,’ and take a deep breath and hopefully it’s in a celebration with your teammates.... You have a shower, you feel good about things, you go home, you kind of decompress and then the next day it starts again: the butterflies, the nerves, the thinking about your opponent. And that’s the mental fatigue that comes into it.” That’s what Vasileivsky is fighting for the first time at age 23, 58 starts into his first season as the full-time starter and the league leader in victories. He told The Tampa Bay Times earlier this month, “Tiredness is something that I probably never faced before.” The same goes for Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who is between the pipes for meaningful games and on the cusp of his first playoff appearance. Jets goaltending Coach Wade Flaherty talks to Hellebuyck almost daily about what he needs to be successful, and the staff pays careful attention to making sure the 24-year-old is good to go.

Coach Paul Maurice said the Jets are aware of the balance between rhythm and rest but aren’t holding Hellebuyck back. “There’s a fatigue component that a No. 1 goaltender also has to embrace,” Maurice said. “You’re not keeping a guy like that who’s going to play 65 games fresh every night. He has to learn how to play when he doesn’t feel 100 percent right because that’s basically going to be his life. It’s the mental part of the physical fatigue—when the pressure’s still in those games and you’re playing a lot.” Winnipeg has been able to give Hellebuyck blocks of two or three days completely off, a rarity for top goalies this time of year. The Nashville Predators have a big enough lead on the Jets atop the Central Division that they can afford to lighten Vezina candidate Pekka Rinne’s workload down the stretch, which could be a huge benefit. “I like thinking outside the box,” former goalie Martin Biron said. “You may have a Friday-Saturday game, have a Tuesday game,

have a Thursday game. You can play your starter on Friday-Saturday and not play him on Tuesday so he gets Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday [off] and then he gets ready for the weekend again for the Thursday. There’s a lot more days to be able to decompress and really think about how to reset and re-prepare.” Holtby got a 10-day reset from a monthplus of struggles as Philipp Grubauer started four games in a row. Having a reliable backup to turn to is a luxury Washington has that many other teams don’t, so coaches can keep Holtby from burning out. “You see it around the league when you’re playing a lot of hockey and coaches will give guys a rest,” Coach Barry Trotz said. “I think for Holts, I don’t think he’s tired, I don’t feel he’s tired, instinctively. I just think he’s gotten off a little bit and sometimes getting back to some really good foundations, getting back to those foundations of ballistic moves where you’re coming across the net really, really confident and tight and fast.” AP

TENEO tries to fan its fiery secondround streak as it battles Adamson University anew, with the Lady Eagles hoping to clinch at least a playoff for a Final Four berth in Season 80 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s volleyball action today at Smart Araneta Coliseum. The Lady Eagles and Lady Falcons, two birds flying high in the second round, collide at 4 p.m. National University (NU), meanwhile, tries to end a three-game skid when it tests the mettle of University of Santo Tomas (UST) at 2 p.m. The erstwhile leaders Lady Bulldogs are all bark and no bite and lost all their three second-round games so far. They were swept by De La Salle and Ateneo and absorbed a frustrating 19-25, 15-25, 25-18, 13-25 defeat to Adamson University last Wednesday. “They just need to grow. We were sad from our recent losses but the sun will shine again as soon as the players find joy in just working for excellence and working for exceeding themselves,” said NU Head Coach Babes Castillo, whose wards are facing an embattled UST (3-7). But the day’s focus would be on the Ateneo-Adamson University clash. The Lady Eagles, who seized solo second spot with a 7-3 card and remained undefeated in three games in the second round—they beat Far Eastern University, NU and labored for a 2514, 18-25, 25-13, 25-18 win over University of the East—are looking to clinch at least a playoff for a Final Four berth. “I think we just have to come out with a lot of energy,” said Lady Eagle Kat Tolentino, who has been consistently stabilizing the Tai Bundit-coached team in the second round. Besides Tolentino, Skipper Maddie Madayag, Jho Maraguinot and Bea De Leon try to repeat their 25-18, 14-25, 25-18, 15-25, 15-10 first round win over the Lady Falcons. But the Lady Falcons will not back down as they are trying to put a glimmer of hope on their Final Four campaign. They are currently at solo fifth slot with a 5-5 record. “This is do or die for us. They know the energy in our training has been like that, when you’re playing to survive, you die if you don’t win, and we don’t want to kill our season,” Adamson University Head Coach Airess Padda said. “We still want to keep fighting to the Final Four,” added Padda, whose wards are brimming with confidence following backto-back wins over UE and NU. Padda will continue to miss rookie Chiara Permentilla because of a sprained left ankle but has high hopes that skipper Jema Galanza, Mylene Paat, Eli Soyud and setter Fen Emnas would pull off surprises In men’s action, Final four-bound top placer NU (9-1) eyes its 10th win against third placer Adamson University (4-6) at 10 a.m., while joint No.3 teams De La Salle and UST clash for separation at 8 a.m. Lance Agcaoili

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Is the Asia-Pacific NJLA open to Philippines-based writers?

No.We have the regular Nick Joaquin Literary Awards for that, and the prizes are equal. The Asia-Pacific NJLA is to be conducted IN ADDITION to the NJLA we all know and love. The Asia-Pacific NJLA is for writers who live and work in Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore,Thailand,Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand— including expatriate Filipinos. Submissions to the regular Literary Section of the Philippines Graphic from authors located in other countries will be published in the Tony & Nick section of the BusinessMirror from here on in, if they make the cut.

What kinds of work will be published in Tony & Nick under the Asia-Pacific NJLA?

We are seeking short fiction and poetry in English. All works sent by writers in these countries/ territories must be in English—whether by translation or originally so.

What are the modes of submission to the Asia-Pacific NJLA?

We accept works submitted via email, to asia-pacific. njla@gmail.com. Please do send a brief bio note along with your work so we will know where you are located, as well as be able to tell our readers a bit about you. Because private messages on social media cycle so fast, we discourage the submission of literary work to us via attachment to a PM over Facebook, or via DMs over Twitter or Google +Hangouts. We would hate to miss your submissions just because they get swamped under other private messages.

What text formats do we accept?

We prefer to receive work formatted in MSWord, .txt and .rtf, with the font set at 12 points, Times New Roman. If their bylines are shorter versions of their full legal names, the authors should also include their full legal names, as appear on their valid government IDs (passports, driver’s licenses, social security IDs), as well as proof of residency in their home or host countries in the information they send along with their literary submissions.

How long must a manuscript for fiction be?

We accept manuscripts of between four to eight 8”X11” pages, double-spaced in 12 pt. Times New Roman typeface.

How many poems will you accept per submission?

We will accept between one and two poems for publication per submission. Any additional poetry may or may not be accepted for future publication. The Literary Editor will inform the author of this as part of the acceptance email she will send to the author, should this be the case.

What is the interval between pieces for authors making multiple submissions?

A minimum of three months is the set interval

between multiple submissions by the same author—if the Literary Editor deems these works good enough to see print. We do this so that we can give the best exposure to all qualified works by all the authors who send us their best work.

Does the Literary Editor read all literary submissions?

Yes. Each submission is read carefully and evaluated using literary criticism benchmarks set in the Philippines Graphic’s and BusinessMirror ’s Tony & Nick section’s editorial policies.

Do the contributors always get replies to their messages?

Due to the volume of submissions in the regular literary section of the Graphic and in Tony & Nick, the Literary Editor cannot reply to all emails/messages sent to our email. We will, however, always inform authors whose work has been selected that their

work will be published and we will answer queries as best we can.

How does the Literary Editor select which works will be published?

The basis for selection is really the quality of the work. When we encounter unusual or incorrect grammar and usage, we read the work over again to gauge if the author is deliberate in these verbal gymnastics and whether it contributes, overall, to the author’s intents in writing the piece. If not, we edit the manuscript to correct errors in spelling, usage and grammar before publishing the work—and we do that only if the piece is so compelling that we are willing to go the extra mile of editing to publish it. We do not publish works that use profanity just so the author can be profane. While we are not prudes and recognize that, in some pieces, profanity is an intrinsic part of the story or poem, we believe that, like strong spices in a

dish, profanity is best handled with care and specific purpose. What we seek are stories and poetry that will be good reads—and we will publish those.

Does the Asia-Pacific NJLA reprint previously-published work?

No, we do not.

How do I improve my chances of being published?

Send in your best work. Proofread your work before you submit it to the editors and avoid sending us “works in progress.” That will only delay the process of getting your pieces published, because we will know it is a draft and only a draft and our inclination to publish it will wane. We value professionalism in our authors and we would much prefer to see works that have been polished and sent in as error-free as possible. Then we can focus on reading what you have to say instead of on what you did not intend

Sunday, March 25 , 2018

to show. Professionalism means you take pains to remove all possible typographical, grammatical and usage errors from your text. Sloppy work sends us this message: You couldn’t care less about whether people will read you or not—all you want is the kick of seeing your byline - then we will not be inclined to publish you. This type of submission usually gets sent to the Recycle Bin Laden of our PCs or, if sent by snail mail, straight to the physical trash bin.

Does the Asia-Pacific NJLA publish only known authors?

No. We publish pieces we deem to be good. While established authors are already known for the quality of their work and are read for this reason, we are also open to new, untried talent. Part of the mission of the Philippines Graphic and the BusinessMirror in mounting this competition is to keep literature in the region alive and dynamic. We would not be able to fulfill that mandate if we limited ourselves to only the writers who have achieved success in whatever

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form or degree. We seek for fresh works from new voices.

What are the qualifications of the Literary Editor?

Alma Anonas-Carpio is a Palanca awardee and judge, as well as a member of Unyon ng Manunulat ng Pilipinas (Umpil, the Philippines’ writer’s union), the Manila Critics Circle (MCC), and a judge of the Philippines’ National Book Awards under the National Book Development Board. She is a journalist and literary writer whose poetry and fiction has been anthologized and published in the Philippines Graphic and other publications both local and overseas.

What should I do if my work is rejected/not published?

Keep writing. Keep honing your skills. Keep submitting your work to us until you do get published. If you feel that the rejection of your manuscript means writing is not for you, it isn’t.

Tourism&Entertainment BusinessMirror

A10 Sunday, March 25, 2018

Editor: Carla Mortel-Baricaua

HKTB names Jackson Wang

as 1st Tourism Envoy

Pyeongchang Winter Olympics: a springboard for attracting international conferences to Korea

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hile the enthusiasm of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics is still on fire, Korea Tourism Organization (KTO)MICE Bureau is organizing a series of road shows across America and Europe from March to April, to promote Korea as an ideal destination for international conferences and meetings. Korea is the most sought country for conventions according to the latest UIA Global Meetings Statistics report where Korea ranked No. 1, with 997 meetings hosted in 2016. Last year Korea had difficulties attracting business events due to certain political issues with North Korea. However, the amicable efforts shown by North and South Korea during the 2018 Winter Olympics have caught public attention. KTO leverages this historic moment of unity to showcase Korea as a safe country and to invite international associations and groups to host meetings in Korea. The road show began in Vienna (March 20), went to Brussels (March 22) and will continue to New York (April 3) Washington (April 5) and end in London (April 25). The delegation will be composed of officials from the Korea MICE Bureau, representatives of several regional convention bureaus, including Seoul, Incheon, Busan, Gangwon, Daejeon, Jeju, Goyang and selected venue, hotels, travel agencies and DMCs. The Korea MICE Road shows will have activities, such as destination presenta-

Jackson greets merrymakers during the Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Parade. By Carla Mortel-Baricaua

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Photos by Hong Kong Tourism Board

-pop idol Jackson Wang was recently appointed as the Hong Kong’s first tourism envoy by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB). He is now busy following a promotional campaign to highlight the diverse tourism appeal and vibrant travel experiences of his hometown.

HKTB Deputy Executive Director Becky Ip led the appointment ceremony, wherein Jackson was formally presented to guests and members of the media. In his acceptance speech, Jackson said, “I am honored to be invited by the HKTB to take up this role. As “Hong Kong Tourism Envoy,” I can now play a part in promoting my beloved home and birthplace to visitors from around the world.” In pursuit of his K-pop idol dream, the young Jackson left Hong Kong and a promising career in fencing. After years of training in South Korea, Jackson with six other members successfully debuted under the idol group GOT7, where he’s the rapper and dancer. With an ability to speak multiple languages (English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Shanghainese, Japanese and Korean), Jackson also does hosting stints, as well as represent different companies as its brand ambassador as a solo artist. As part of HKTB’s promotional activities, Jackson will be appearing in videos and photos to introduce Hong Kong’s exciting tourism spots that are waiting to be discovered by tourists involving arts, entertainment, sports, outdoor activities, gourmet food and night life. In an exclusive interview, Jackson shared to the BusinessMirror his favorite spots in his hometown. “As a Chinese that’s born in the city of Hong Kong, I feel that the city is very suitable [for travel], no matter [the reasons whether] if it’s for vacation, work, or business. If you ever want to stop by Asia, it’s always one of the best choices, because they have basically everything in Hong Kong,” Jackson said. Whenever he’s working overseas, Jackson badly misses Hong Kong, especially its outdoor eateries and restaurants called Dai Pai Dong and Cha Chaan Teng. “That’s the very, very traditional Hong Kong food that everybody eats. And for me, since right now, [I’m] working in different countries, my

best memory of Hong Kong is the food, the Dai Pai Dong and the one called Cha Chaan Teng. I always visit them whenever I’m back in Hong Kong.” Dai pai dong are open-air street stalls that serve cooked food and can be found almost anywhere in the city. The decades old ones are near the Central-Mid-levels escalator in Central, or in the neighborhood of Sam Shui Po in Kowloon. They commonly serve snack food, stir fry dishes, braised dishes, fried oyster omelette, and chilled crab and fish. Hong Kong diners, also called Cha Chaan Teng, offer dishes with Western influences at reasonable prices. Most of these diners have English menus and operate into the wee hours, or around the clock. They usually serve stir fry dishes, pineapple buns, and Chinese barbecue served in a local fusion style known as Soy Sauce Western. Whenever he’s back home, you would probably find Jackson hanging out in Tsim Sha Tsui. “If I want to have drinks with my friends, just chillin’ or have a very meaningful reunion, then I would go to TST, also known as Tsim Sha Tsui. It’s a very famous street in Central where there are a lot of bars. There is [another] very good place to be with your friends and have a drink, and it is called Lan Kwai Fong.” Jackson also recommends checking out Victoria Peak for its “night view and the Madam Tussauds Hong Kong museum, for its wax figures of celebrities and pop culture personalities.” When asked for that one place he would like to visit someday, Jackson said, “It’s a mountain called Dai Yu Shan. Shan means mountain in Cantonese. I have been there, but I’ve never hiked in Dai Yu Shan. So if there’s a chance in the future and if I have time, I would definitely want to go back there with my friends and family.” Dai Yu Shan, a.k.a. Lantau Island, is famous for its Buddhist ar-

tions, business-to-business meetings, gala dinners and offer opportunities to establish potential partnerships and create wider networks with over 200 MICE buyers invited to participate in this program. Taking into account the popularity of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and hansik (Korean food), the road show in Vienna was held in Kim Chingu, a Korean-style dining space owned by Korean Chef Sohee Kim. Meanwhile, road shows in New York, Washington and London will invite local celebrities and Winter Olympic medalists to share their travel experiences, their safe journey and other charms of Korea. “Following the successful hosting of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, along with the reconciliation of North Korea and South Korea—this is probably the best time to familiarize the American and European market on Korea. Through these road shows, we aim to educate MICE specialized agencies and buyers about Korea’s outstanding capabilities to host international conferences, promote ‘Korea Unique Venue’ and our convention support program, and further boost Korea’s image as a top destination for international conferences,” KTO-MICE Bureau Executive Director Kim Kap-soo said. Apart from the road shows, the Korea MICE Bureau also participates in major tradeshows and conferences, such as IMEX, IBTM, ITB and more.

Becky Ip, Deputy Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, appoints Jackson as tourism envoy.

Atty. Guiller Asido (left), Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon T. Teo and Director Rebecca Labit visit the San Agustin Church, one of the churches that pilgrims may visit during their visita Iglesia.

DOT urges public: Reflect, travel during Lent

Jackson Wang is the new face of Hong Kong.

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Jackson participates in the HKTB’s marketing efforts to promote Hong Kong’s diverse travel experiences.

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Jackson is well-versed in the city’s popular and newest attractions.

chitecture, long sandy beach and a mall of shopping outlets. Tourists usually go there to visit the Tian Tan Buddha (also known as the Big Buddha) and the Po Lin Monastery, to explore Ngong Ping 360, take a cooling dip at the beach, or hike to reach the Lantau and Sunset Peaks. If he is to accompany a young

lady tourist on a personal city tour, Jackson said, “I’ll probably take her to [the] famous, well-known Hong Kong dessert stores. And I’m always gonna stick with Dai Pai Dong and Cha Chaan Teng. This is the best choice. No matter who visits Hong Kong, they should definitely go [and] have a try [of the food].”

ourism Secretary Wanda Corazon T. Teo urged the public to visit faith-based tourism destinations and participate in the Lenten activities in the regions. The tourism chief made the assertion in a news briefing held recently at the Illustrados Restaurant in Intramuros, Manila. Teo noted that with the creation of the Faith and Farm Tourism sector, “The DOT [Department of Tourism] is poised to go full swing on piloting emerging faith tourism destinations this year, highlighting festivals and various Filipino traditions that will encompass a holistic pilgrimage experience.” Teo noted that she has given the sector the marching order to focus on the promotion of Faith-based tourism products in the different regions of the Philippines, the only Catholic country in Asia. Among the destinations and activities mentioned by the tourism chief are the shrines of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan, all of which are on the list of top recommended faith destinations in Region 1, where the Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion, a Unesco World Heritage Site, is located. For pilgrims who are to partake in the Visita Iglesia in Cagayan Valley, Teo noted that the region has created packages highlighting religious excursions in the provinces. “Region 4B Mimaropa is known for its famous Moriones Tableau, a century old tradition in Marinduque staged during the weeklong celebration of the Holy Week, where locals would perform a reenactment of Christ’s passion and death, with Longinus as the other central character, showing a glimpse of the province’s religious history.” Teo likewise noted that Western Visayas highlights the unique Holy Week celebrations in Bacolod City, Talisay City and Valladolid

while Bacolod City is known for “Kalbaryo ang Krus,” a street drama portraying the suffering and death of Jesus. The tourism chief encouraged pilgrims to visit the historic churches of Silay and Cadiz City, and participate in the Worship Festival, Pamalandong sa Tamborong, and Taltal in Iloilo and Guimaras. She invited tourists to visit the shrines and churches of Misamis, Lanao, Bukidnon, Camiguin in Northern Mindanao. “The Sunken Cemetery of Camiguin is a must-see for tourists and pilgrims alike, as well as the Saint John the Baptist Church, a known heritage site in Misamis Occidental. The region also celebrates a number of religious festivals for the Holy Week celebration, namely the Feast of the Divine Mercy, Hinuklog, Panaad and Patunob Festival,” Teo enthused. “It is interesting to note that Dipolog City in Western Mindanao will be staging its annual Katkat Sakripisyo on Good Friday, a depiction of the passion, suffering and death of Christ in Linabo Peak, where pilgrims will complete the 3,003-step katkat [climb] until the last of the 14 stations of the cross.” Faith and Farm DOT Undersecretary Marco Bautista noted that with him at the helm of the new sector, there will be an “enhanced promotions of the country’s rich cultural heritage embodied in the historical, architectural and religious significance of numerous churches and age-old traditions.” Meanwhile, Metro Manila residents who want to avoid the exodus of travelers going to the provinces, may opt to visit Intramuros where the Visita Iglesia, Senakulo and Via Crucis will be held on March 29 (Maundy Thursday) and 30 (Good Friday), Atty. Guiller Asido of Intramuros Administration said.