BusinessMirror May 19, 2024

HEALTH IS WEALTH: IF YOU CAN ACCESS IT

By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto

striking pain and prolonged symptoms or let a disease take over their lives rather than seek medical help.

With holdings of $3.4 trillion, private buyers of US Treasuries set to surpass central banks

By Ye Xie and Liz Capo McCormick Bloomberg

FOR the first time on record, private investors overseas are poised to overtake foreign central banks as the second-largest holder of US government debt.

That watershed moment stands to materialize when the Treasury Department releases its data for March, given the recent pace. It’s a shift that would leave global investors second only to the Federal Reserve—and potentially usher in an era of greater volatility for the bond market.

“You have a sort of unstable equilibrium where there is more foreign private demand,” said Torsten Slok, chief economist at Apollo Global Management. For example, “if you suddenly have the European economy picking up again, then the risk for Treasuries is that investors will take money out of the US market and back to their own backyard.”

As the US government floods the market with an unprecedented amount of debt to finance its spending, private buyers have been stepping up, easing concerns of a buyer’s strike. Investors from Can-

ada to France are drawn to higher US yields as the Federal Reserve remains one of the last central banks to hold off cutting interest rates. The rising importance of private investors also points to less predictability when price-sensitive players replace the steady hands of foreign central banks as the marginal bond price-setters.

The gap narrowed in the last reading when Treasury data for February showed holdings of long-term US Treasuries by nonofficial foreign investors jumped about 52 percent over the past three years to $3.4 trillion. In comparison, the stockpile from foreign central banks and sovereign wealth funds shrank by about 9 percent to $3.5 trillion. Meanwhile, the Fed’s own holdings have declined to $4.2 trillion from a 2022 peak of $5.3 trillion, by Bloomberg’s calculations.

For decades, foreign central

banks such as China had been the largest US creditors, occasionally raising concerns that their dumping bonds could crash the market. But more recently, their role in financing the yawning US deficit has been diminished.

As Sino-US relations deteriorated, China—the second largest sovereign investor in the US bond market after Japan—saw its holdings of Treasuries drop 41 percent to $775 billion from a 2013 peak. For other central banks, a stronger dollar provides less incentive to add Treasuries to their foreign reserves.

“The official sector demand is purely a function of where FX is,” said Meghan Swiber, director of US rates strategy at Bank of America. “A stronger dollar means just a lon-

ger period of time before we can see the official sector turn to be buyers again.” Instead, private investors have swooped in to fill the void as the Fed’s most aggressive tightening in decades pushed 10-year US yields up to around 4.5 percent from an all-time low of 0.3 percent in 2020. That’s compared with a 3.7-percent rate in Canada, 2.5 percent in Germany and 0.9 percent in Japan.

With Treasury yields moving substantially higher, “it’s not com-

pletely surprising to see the rise in private foreign demand,” said Amar Reganti, fixed-income strategist at Hartford Funds.

Reganti, who previously served as deputy director of the US Treasury’s Office of Debt Management, views the development as positive for building a wide-ranging base of investors.

“Diversification is really quite critical,” said Reganti. “You don’t want there to be a scarcity.”

The popularity of the basistrade strategy is at least partly responsible for the shift, market watchers say. In such a trade, hedge funds, often registered in tax havens such as the Cayman Islands, buy cash bonds and sell futures to exploit the tiny price differences in the two markets. Cayman Islands investors held $303 billion in US debt, up from $216 billion three years ago.

Foreign holdings—including both official and private—accounted for about 31 percent of the total Treasuries outstanding, down from 50 percent a decade ago. US domestic investors, such as households, mutual funds and moneymarket funds, have stepped in to absorb additional debt.

Even so, foreign private investors are a force to reckon with, according to Earl Davis, head of fixed income and money markets at BMO Global Asset Management.

“Marginal buyers are significant. They determine the price of an asset,” said Davis. The downside is that private investors are much more fickle, he added. “If markets do turn around, it most likely will not be the private investors that support the market.”

Health is wealth: If you can access it

Continued from A1

basic furniture and appliances; repainting; and redesigning to include lobbies and waiting areas, offices and pantries for healthcare workers, birthing clinics, consultation rooms, treatment rooms, and pharmacies.

It also includes the establishment of breastfeeding stations to provide privacy for breastfeeding moms, play areas for the kids, and waiting lounges for the elderly if there are available spaces. The foundation will also allow a onetime minor upkeep after four to five years if needed.

Deriquito shared that whenever they would turn over the renovated health center, the community it serves would be beaming with joy.

“Sabi nga ng mga pasyente, ‘Pagpasok mo pa lang [ng health center] parang kalahati ng sakit mo nawala na ’ [Patients would say, ‘Just entering the health center would make you feel as if half of your disease has been cured’],” Deriquito recounted.

A retiring municipal health officer in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, shared that throughout her career, the renovated health center was the “best” workplace she ever had.

Built by a community

ACCORDING to Deriquito, the bank considers itself as a part of the community where its bank branches are located. As part of the community, BDO has an obligation to help. “Bawat bayan, bawat lungsod, may presence ng BDO [Every town, every city, BDO has a presence],” Deriquito said. With over 1,700 operating branches all over the country, the bank, Deriquito said, aims to help both at the local and national level, supporting the universal healthcare goals of the Department of Health (DOH). But for this goal to

be realized, Deriquito notes that the local health delivery system, specifically the rural health centers, has to be strengthened since it is in the grassroots.

From the northernmost provinces in the Philippines, such as Ilocos Norte, down to the south in Zamboanga del Sur, Deriquito said the endeavor wouldn’t be possible without the help of the bank’s community banking arm, BDO Network Bank, present in the remote areas. These rural banks’ officers, Deriquito added, play a key role in identifying health centers in rural communities needing rehabilitation that the foundation cannot do alone, having only eight employees on their roster.

Despite that, over the course of 12 years, the foundation made it possible and even branched out to other initiatives, such as implementing financial education programs together with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), and conducting disaster relief operations.

Other pillars

DERIQUITO cited studies from the BSP, Asian Development Bank and World Bank that all showed the low financial literacy levels of Filipinos. That’s when the BDO Foundation stepped in to improve the financial literacy levels of Filipinos by educating them in a way different from the usual seminars.

One of BDO Foundation’s notable financial literacy programs is the award-winning Fish N’ Learn, a gamified teaching tool and training intervention co-developed by partners to help improve the financial literacy, productivity, and incomegenerating capability of 1.9 million fishers in the country.

The game simulates real-life situations that can impact how fisherfolk would act when faced with financial problems, such as debt, spending for occasions like birthdays and fiestas, and saving.

The foundation also developed

another award-winning project— five curriculum-based videos on early numeracy to teach and instill numeracy skills to young learners made available for viewing on-air, online, and offline platforms.

When it comes to disaster response, BDO Foundation banks on its officers and staff in bank branches across the country to volunteer to distribute relief goods to those affected in different provinces.

Over 36,000 families hit by volcanic eruptions, typhoons, oil spill and other disasters have received aid from BDO Foundation.

Onwards

DERIQUITO said the foundation remains open to every possibility to contribute to communities.

One of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations that BDO supports is Goal 2: Zero Hunger to achieve food security.

“Maybe we can find ways to help our farmers and fisherfolk to improve their harvest and catch to contribute to the food security of the country,” he suggested.

Among the 96 members of the League of Corporations, BDO is just one of the companies that also has its own ways of doing corporate social responsibility.

However, BDO Foundation is the only one in the private sector that focuses on the rehabilitation of health centers and is at the forefront when it comes to financial education, according to Deriquito. According to him, the foundation wants to establish a project not just for the purpose of looking good in press releases but ultimately, to uplift the lives of those they help.

“We want to change lives and make living comfortable for them,” he said.

With the unibank as its partner, it may not be hard to expect that together, they will “find ways” to fulfill this mission.

NUSTAR TO HOST GRAND OPENING WEEKEND OF

CEBU FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL 2024

THEMED “Taste Cebu,” the Cebu Food and Wine Festival 2024 is set to delight all senses and celebrate the rich culinary heritage of Cebu this whole month of June. This multisensory gastronomic experience will showcase the best of Cebu’s produce, people, and places.

The World

Cocaine superhighway brings drugs and violence to Europe

By Max Ramsay, Lyubov Pronina & Cagan Koc

ON a chilly night in March, harbor police at Belgium’s Antwerp port nabbed three youths crawling over a barbed-wired fence at one of its quays. A few nights later, two more were caught in the same area. The five teenagers—three of them minors—were all Dutch and were looking for one thing: a shipment of cocaine.

The increased frequency of such incidents are a telling sign of how criminal gangs, often using minors who get lighter penalties, have brazenly turned Europe’s second-largest port into a key entry point of what’s become a cocaine superhighway.

Cocaine seizures through Antwerp have grown more than 20-fold over the last decade, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. By the Belgian customs service’s own admission, it manages to capture just 10 percent to 40 percent of the cocaine coming through the port—noting that even that measure could be way off the mark since the scale of the problem is hard to determine.

The European Union’s drugs agency puts the minimum retail value of the bloc’s illicit substances market at €31 billion ($33 billion), with a street value of the roughly 120 metric tons of cocaine seized at Belgium’s largest port in 2023 in the billions of euros by the most conservative estimates.

With drugs flooding into already troubled neighborhoods of cities across Europe, bringing gun violence and gang wars, the issue is becoming one politicians can no longer ignore. It’s also bubbling up in Belgium’s upcoming national election on June 9. The Belgian government, which currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency, has made the war on drugs a top priority and is drumming up support from other member states.

“It is not a problem of Antwerp. It’s not a problem of Brussels. It’s not a problem of Belgium. It’s not a problem of Europe. It’s a worldwide problem,” Justice Minister Paul Van Tigchelt said in an interview in his office in Brussels, noting that the country cannot tackle the challenge of drug crime on its own.

The surging trafficking at the port has made Antwerp Europe’s cocaine capital, according to wastewater data collected in 88 cities from 24 countries by an EU agency called the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction. Five cities from the Netherlands also made it into the top 10.

Efforts to address the issue have included increased scanning of shipping containers, stepped-up security at ports and the creation of a region-

wide port alliance to stem a so-called water-bed effect, where tightening security at one place pushes traffic to another. Although the steps are a good start, they don’t go far enough to address the problem, says Bart De Wever, who has been the mayor of Antwerp for the last 11 years.

“There’s too little budget to take the real measures that could make a difference,” De Wever said in an interview. “To root it out is impossible but to limit it to, say, an acceptable level, that should be possible. If that is not our ambition, then we’ve simply given up.”

The size of the Antwerp port—equal to more than 22,000 football pitches—and the massive scale of the products it handles have made it a sweet spot for dealers, turning Belgium into a transit hub. The amount of goods unloaded and loaded has more than doubled over two decades, with 271 million metric tons handled last year.

The port is the primary European destination for Latin American goods, the main source of cocaine entering the region, making it an obvious target for drug cartels. Sprawled over a territory larger than Paris, the port handles over 12 million containers annually, creating a range of challenges for police—and opportunities for organized crime.

In an event last week, Antwerp maritime police described one frequent tactic: the use of Trojan Horse containers, where young men hide inside empty containers that are moved to the port so they can sneak out and retrieve cocaine from another inbound container. They return to their original container, which is then retrieved from the port.

The whole operation often takes several days.

While drug seizures at Europe’s ports have continued to hit fresh records every year, it’s taken the spillover of violence into daily life to jump-start a response from authorities. Shootings have become almost a weekly occurrence in Brussels, even in the capital’s most high-end neighborhoods. Data tracked by daily newspaper Le Soir shows the numbers of shooting increased steadily over the past two years, coupled with bombings in Flanders and

threats against public officials.

Dutch pipeline

ONCE the cocaine arrives in Antwerp, some 90 percent of it is believed by Belgian customs officials to move across the Dutch border to be treated and parceled before being sent across Europe through a labyrinthine network of dealers and thugs.

While Rotterdam was once a favorite port of entry for the raw product, tightened security there pushed the trade toward Antwerp.

Dutch officials have been intercepting an increasing amount of cocaine in recent years. Seizures jumped 18 percent to 60,000 kilograms in 2023 from a year earlier, according to the Netherlands’ customs data. In one incident alone, Dutch authorities at the port of Rotterdam last year seized a record 8,064 kilograms of cocaine that had been hidden in a container with bananas, with a record street value of €600 million. In 2022, Bloomberg reported on Balkan gangs operating in the Netherlands and Belgium that infiltrated container ship crews over more than a decade. They used speedboats, bribery and

threats to get their cargo aboard.

Another frequent method of smuggling cocaine through container ships involves attaching the drug to the hull underwater using magnets, ropes or even welding, according to Dutch authorities. Catching such shipments requires diving under the water to inspect the hulls of giant vessels. A diving team from the Dutch customs is deployed in Antwerp to help Belgian authorities with such inspections, according to the Netherlands’ State Secretary for Customs Aukje de Vries.

It was the murder in 2019 of Derk Wiersum, a lawyer defending a key witness in a case of drug killings, followed by the shooting of crime reporter Peter R. de Vries in 2021 that brought the issue into focus in the Netherlands. The country’s drug-related violence has spiked dramatically over the past few years with more than 250 house explosions this year alone related to gang turf wars, according to the Dutch police.

Brazen attacks IN Belgium, the turning point came when an 11-year-old girl was killed in the crossfire from

a drug-related shooting last year. Former Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne also spent months living under round-the-clock protection, taking shelter in safe houses following threats of kidnapping. In France, some suburbs of cities like Paris and Marseille see regular battles for turf control between gangs.

“It’s getting worse,” EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said in a recent interview. “As we have these record seizures, we also see prices are not going up and purity is going up so that means there is a lot of available cocaine in the European market.”

Unlike the US, EU member countries have never really waged an official war on drugs.

The authorities learned the hard way how little criminals used to worry about customs checks at ports, says Kristian Vanderwaeren, the head of Belgium’s federal customs service. The cracking of encrypted telephone services Encrochat and Sky ECC in 2020 and 2021 led to thousands of arrests and the seizure of hundreds of millions of euros in illicit revenues from criminal activities. The investigation

gave law enforcement an unprecedented insight into the network and, Vanderwaeren says, examples of how criminals were “laughing” at port checks, something he thinks is starting to change.

The audacity of the gangs was evident when over the course of a month late last year they made three attempts to take back cocaine shipments that had been seized by the Port of Antwerp, armed on one occasion with automatic weapons and on another with machetes.

“It was out of control,” Vanderwaeren said in an interview. “I really feared for the security and safety of my people.” He thinks these attacks are evidence that his officials are finally starting to impact drug gangs’ business, with seizures of previously unprecedented quantities of cocaine in the port.

“We need to stay here and make their lives as difficult as possible,” Belgian Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden said last week in an interview.

More inspections

BELGIAN authorities plan to step up the scanning of inbound containers, aiming next year to double the current capacity of 40,000 per year, and to continue increasing the monitoring until they dent the influx of cocaine, according to Vanderwaeren. Port workers, who number 16,000 in Belgium, will also undergo stricter security screenings.

At the EU level, Johansson set out a road map last year, with a particular focus on reinforcing ports. It included creating a Ports Alliance, a forum of port and security officials, which has started meeting.

The heads of ports have shared the fears they have for their workers, particularly with criminals working to corrupt and intimidate them to secure their compliance, according to a commission official.

Amsterdam’s mayor, Femke Halsema, has suggested the legalization and regulation, not just of cannabis, but also of substances like cocaine. It’s a view not widely shared among EU officials and national ministers.

Officials say the way to crack down on the leaders of organized crime is to limit their impunity and seize their assets.

Belgian officials have sought to make progress on extraditions from countries where criminals tend to hide, including the UAE, Morocco and Turkey, and have called for more international pressure on those countries.

In March, Belgium secured a long-sought extradition order under drug trafficking charges from Dubai, which minister Van Tigchelt hailed as a sign of important progress.

“There is no miracle solution,” he said in a separate interview last week at the Port of Antwerp. “We will never ban cocaine, we will never win the fight. But I am convinced that we can break the backbone of the mafia, the business model of the mafia.”

Google infuses search with AI in ‘fully revamped’ experience

By Davey Alba & Julia Love

FOR nearly two years, Google has been locked in a race with OpenAI and others to bring generative artificial intelligence—which can answer complex questions in a conversational manner—to the public in a way that most consumers will actually adopt. On Tuesday, Google fired a clear shot at competitors, signaling it has no intention of losing its leading position as the world’s most popular search engine.

The act of “Googling,” which has been synonymous with search for the past two decades, will now become supercharged with the technology from Alphabet Inc.’s powerful AI model, Gemini, the company said at its annual developer conference in Mountain View, California.

“Google search is generative AI at the scale of human curiosity,” Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai said onstage in announcing the new features at the company’s I/O summit.

In front of a live audience, Google unveiled what Pichai called a “fully revamped, new search experience” that will roll out to all US users this week, with the new Geminipowered search coming to other countries “soon.”

“We see so much opportunity ahead of us for creators, for developers, for startups, for everyone,” Pichai said in a call with reporters ahead of the event.

The biggest single change in Googling is that some searches will now come with “AI overviews,” a more narrative response that spares people the task of clicking through various links.

An AI-powered panel will appear underneath people’s queries in the famously simple search bar, presenting summarized information drawn from Google search results from across the web. Google said it would also roll out an AI-organized page that groups results by theme or presents, say, a day-by-day plan for people turning to Google for specific tasks, such as putting together a meal plan for the week or finding a restaurant to celebrate an anniversary. Google said it won’t trigger AI-powered overviews for certain sensitive queries, such as searches for medical information or selfharm.

Shortly after its founding in 1998, Google surpassed Yahoo! to become the clear global favorite search engine, a result of its algorithm, which was faster and more accurate than anything else at the time. Its dominance has been so unshakeable that it’s the subject of a federal antitrust lawsuit. (A ruling in the case is expected later this year.)

Yet the nature of online search is fundamentally changing—and Google’s rivals are increasingly moving in on its turf. The search giant has faced enormous pressure from the likes of OpenAI and Anthropic, whose AI-powered chatbots ChatGPT and Claude are easy to use and have become widely adopted — threatening Google’s pole position in search and menacing its entire business model.

In a strategically timed announcement on Monday, OpenAI, which is backed by billions from Microsoft Corp., introduced a faster and cheaper AI model called GPT-4o that will power its popular chatbot. The new AI model will let people speak to ChatGPT or show it an image, and OpenAI says it can respond within milliseconds.

As Google unveiled its latest products on Tuesday, it faced a tricky balancing act: showing it hasn’t fallen behind OpenAI, without cannibalizing the search advertising business that remains its lifeblood.

“By showcasing its latest models and how they’ll power existing products with strong consumer reach, Google is demonstrating how it can effectively differentiate itself from rivals,” said Jacob Bourne, an analyst at Emarketer. “To maintain its competitive edge and satisfy investors, Google will need to focus on translating its AI innovations into profitable products and services at scale.”

If last year Google showed a willingness to experiment with generative AI features in its main products and services, this is the year the company is diving right in, with fundamental and noticeable changes in its iconic platform.

The shift poses challenges for the economics of Google’s core search business, which delivered more than $175 billion in search advertising last year. Investors have noted that delivering generative AI search responses will require more computing power than producing a list of links, potentially eating into the margins of Google’s hugely profitable search machine. In an interview with Bloomberg last week, Liz Reid, Google’s vice president for search, said the company has made progress

in bringing down the cost of generative AI search. She said the company had no plans for the AI-powered additions to be tied to a subscription, as has been reported in the press. By bringing more generative AI to its search engine, Google hopes to reduce the time and mental load it takes for users to find the information that they are looking for, Reid said.

“Search is a very powerful tool. But there’s lots of times where you have to do a lot of hard work in searching,” Reid said. “How can we take that hard work out of searching for you, so you can focus on getting things done?”

Reid said the new AI-powered Google search will be able to process billions of queries.

But Google must also take care not to rock the boat too much. People may click on fewer ads if the AI overviews fully address their questions.

The ecosystem of news sites and other websites that rely on the search giant for traffic may also see fewer visitors because of Google’s changes. Reid tried to project an air of calm for advertisers and publishers.

Ads will continue to appear in dedicated slots throughout Google search results, with labeling to distinguish sponsored items from organic results, she said. The company’s tests, meanwhile, have shown that generative AI searches are a jumping-off point to other websites for users, not the end of the road, she added.

Reid declined to say how often users will see the overviews but said that Google the company will focus on delivering them when they

can provide “meaningful value” on top of the traditional search experience.

Yet publishers, in particular, are wary. Raptive, a company that helps digital creators build brands, estimates that 25% of search traffic to publishers will disappear if Google broadly rolls out “search generative experience,” or SGE, like the generative AI search engine that Google introduced on Tuesday. “By building an experience that is designed to keep more traffic inside of Google, fewer people will visit individual websites and creator revenue will be hit,” Marc McCollum, chief innovation officer at Raptive, wrote in an email. “So Google will gain share and revenue, while the very people who created the content that they have used to build SGE will languish.”

Google executives have stressed that search will remain central in the new age of AI. Reid, for instance, described a new “visual search” feature coming soon to Google’s optin Search Labs experiment that will allow people to take a video of a malfunctioning gadget, like a record player, and ask Google for an AI overview to help them troubleshoot the problems.

In a call with reporters on Monday, Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google’s AI lab DeepMind, went even further in showcasing Gemini’s ability to respond to queries. Hassabis showed off Project Astra, a prototype of an AI assistant that can process video and respond in real time. In a prerecorded video demo, an employee walked through an office as the assistant used

The shift poses challenges for the economics of Google’s core search business, which delivered more than $175 billion in search advertising last year. Investors have noted that delivering generative AI search responses will require more computing power than producing a list of links, potentially eating into the margins of Google’s hugely profitable search machine.

the phone’s camera to “see,” responding to questions about what was in the scene. The program correctly answered a question about which London neighborhood the office was located in, based on the view from the window, and also told the employee where she had left her glasses. Hassabis said that the video was captured “in a single take, in real time.”

“At any given moment, we are processing a stream of different sensory information, making sense of it and making decisions,” Hassabis said of the Project Astra demo.

“Imagine agents that can see and hear what we do to better understand the context we’re in and respond quickly in conversation, making the pace and quality of interaction feel much more natural.” Pichai later clarified that Google is “aspirationally” looking to bring some features of Project Astra to the company’s core products, particularly Gemini, towards the later half of this year.

In order to keep advancing in artificial intelligence, Google has also had to update its suite of AI models, and the company shared more progress on that front on Tuesday. It announced Gemini 1.5 Flash, which Google says is the fastest AI model available through its application programming interface, or API, typically used by programmers to automate high-frequency tasks like summarizing text, captioning images or video, or extracting data from tables.

It also unveiled updates to Gemini Nano, Google’s smallest AI model, expanding beyond text inputs to include images; introduced a newer version of its family of open models, Gemma 2, with improved efficiency; and said the company had achieved better benchmarks on its powerful AI model, Gemini 1.5 Pro.

On Tuesday, Google confirmed that developers can use Gemini 1.5 Pro to process more text, video and audio at a time—up to 2 million “tokens,” or pieces of content. That amounts to about 2 hours of video, 22 hours of audio or over 1.4 million words. Google says this amount of processing far outpaces other AI models from competitors, including OpenAI. Google also highlighted its

generative media tools and services, introducing new models and updating existing ones. It announced a new video generation model on Tuesday that the company is calling Veo, which generates highquality videos lasting beyond a minute—a response to OpenAI’s buzzy video generation tool, Sora. Google is letting creators sign up to join a waitlist for testing the product, and said it would bring some of Veo’s capabilities to YouTube Shorts and other video products “in the future.”

Google announced updates to Imagen 3, the third iteration of its text-to-image AI model, which includes improvements such as fewer image distortions. And, Google is continuing to experiment with AI-generated music with a service called Lyria, as well as a suite of music AI tools known as the Music AI Sandbox.

Much of the battle for AI superiority relies on having powerful semiconductors that are able to handle all the data being processed. To that end, Google announced a new version of its in-house-designed chip for data centers, the sixth version of its TPU, or Tensor Processing Unit. The latest one will be 4.7 times faster than its predecessor, have access to more memory and feature faster connections with other chips, Google said.

Amid growing concerns about how companies should deal with the wave of AIgenerated content and concerns over copyright, Google said it would roll out a system for watermarking created by Gemini and the video model Veo. The system, called SynthID, embeds imperceptible digital tags into AI-generated images, audio, video and even text, so that people can track a particular piece of media’s provenance. Google plans to release the technology in open source form this summer so outside developers can use it. Google also tried to frame Gemini as a powerful agent that can assist users as they go about their daily lives. Users who pay $20 a month for Google’s AI premium subscription plan will gain access to a version of Gemini that can process 1 million tokens—or about 700,000 words—at once, which Google said is the largest of any model that’s widely available to the general public. That means people can ask the AI model to digest large volumes of data for them, such as summarizing 100 e-mails, the company said. A new feature called Gemini Live will let Google’s premium subscribers speak naturally with the company’s AI software on their mobile devices, even pausing or interrupting Gemini Live mid-response with questions.

Google said that people’s files will remain private and aren’t used for training AI models. Subscribers will be able to create custom versions of Gemini, known as Gems, to serve a specific purpose, such as coaching them on their running. With assistance from Ian King/Bloomberg

GOOGLE’S Bay View campus in Mountain View, California. Google has been synonymous with search for more than two decades. DAVID PAUL MORRIS/BLOOMBERG

BORACAY Island isn’t a hidden gem anymore in the Philippines. Since the 1970s, when backpackers first fell in love with this beautiful island, Boracay has been wowing visitors with its stunning beauty. With its crystal-clear blue waters and powdery white sand beaches, Boracay is truly a paradise on Earth. When it comes to Boracay, the decision isn’t about whether to visit or not, but rather, where to stay. Days spent at the beach should be all about soaking up the sun and having a blast. When you choose to spend your vacation at Boracay, it’s all about embracing the tropical

For one, you can enjoy its private saltwater pool for a truly relaxing experience. If you’re looking to capture some amazing Instagram and TikTok moments, you’ll love the main swimming pool at Astoria Current. It’s right in the center and offers perfect photo and video opportunities, especially with its cool transparent glass side. And if you have children with you, they can have a blast with all the fun water activities they can have there, so remember to bring your camera! At Astoria Current, they know how easy it is to have a blast and indulge. That’s why they have fantastic facilities to help you find that perfect balance. If you’ve been loving the value of delicious buffets and treats, no worries - you can work it off at their great

na Baka sa Pakwan and Marinated Chicken Barbecue. Another fun meal to have with your family or barkada is Parasol’s Boodle Fight! With a luxurious version, complete with multiple viands, rice and fruits, you can feast to your heart’s content for a very reasonable price.

At Citrine, you can enjoy a relaxed dining experience that’s great for team lunches or get-togethers with friends. And don’t forget to check out Stratos, Astoria Current’s rooftop bar, for a drink with a view of the stunning sunset and more. No matter where you decide to have your drinks, you can always count on classic favorites from Astoria Hotels and Resorts’ Astoria Gourmet Takeaways, like the signature and awardwinning dessert Astoria Bibingka.

paradise around you and making the most of your time on the island. When the day ends, your resort should offer you an equally amazing experience to remember.

Great Value Means an Even Greater Time Such a resort should be able to offer spacious and cozy rooms, scrumptious food options from a unique and evolving menu, top-notch service from friendly staff, fantastic facilities that guests rave about, and affordable rates that won’t break the bank. Make sure your chosen resort ticks all these boxes for a great vacation experience. When you don’t have to stress about your accommodation, you have more time to create amazing memories on the island. And guess what? You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the great value

Go with the Current Astoria Current’s previous guests have raved about their experiences, and they are unanimous in saying that they love all the amazing offerings. Small wonder, because Astoria Current also provides fantastic value for your money because booking direct on their website, for example, will mean spending as little as P6,250 per night, with a stylishly designed room that can accommodate up to four guests.

Staying at the Astoria Current is simply wonderful and the ideal match for a vacation at one of the world’s best beaches! It’s a thrill to share that Astoria Current has received an outstanding 8.8 rating from Booking.com’s

Don’t miss out on trying its most-loved dishes like Sinigang

Editor: Tet Andolong

Living the community ‘lyf’ in Manila and Cebu

Story & photos by Bernard L. Supetran

THE unprecedented growth of the country’s hospitality industry in recent years has revolutionized the hotel landscape with the entry of global brands, as well as exciting concepts to cater to a diverse market.

One unique lodging concept which recently set foot in the country is “lyf” (pronounced as “life”) of Singapore-based The Ascott Limited which is known for its chain of luxury serviced residence properties.

Making its presence felt in Manila last year and in Cebu early this year, the new brand offers a co-living experience which offers value-for-money accommodations to a new breed of travelers.

“We are thrilled to be open our first property in the Philippines. With the rise of digital nomads and remote working opportunities, we believe that lyf Malate Manila will provide the perfect environment for travelers to work, live and play, while also fostering a sense of community,” says Ascott’s country general manager Philip Barnes.

Situated along Malvar St., once the elite community of old Manila, lyf has literally breathed new life to this eclectic neighborhood by offering luxe features at a price that don’t. A 3-star, 203-room high-rise

developed by Torre Lorenzo, many of its units has the comforts of home such as kitchen, dining set, microwave and washing machine to enable you to savor freshly-cooked dishes for the family. Guests who don’t have the home amenities can cook, store food, and dine at the Bond at the roofdeck which has a stunning view of the city and the famed Manila Bay sunset.

Also at the roofdeck are the Wash and Hang the laundry area and Unwind, the rooftop clubhouse, where you can do your home chores away from home, and gain new friends along the way.

It also boasts of a trendy, pastel-colored Instagrammable coworking lounge at the mezzanine dubbed Connect, and the Nook for a more secluded working space, which are both powered by highspeed Internet. The floor also has table games and a dry pool where you can unleash the child in you, and a 24-hour fitness center named Burn, for people who always want

to be in tip-top shape. Due to its enviable location, lyf also curate special events for guests such as tours around the nearby tourist spots to forge connections and nurture community bond. The property is just minutes away by car to Intramuros, Binondo, Paco Park, the National Museum, and Rizal Park, and is walking distance to the district’s cultural gems of Remedios Circle, the Our Lady of Remedies Church, Taoist Temple, Ellinwood Malate Church, UP Ma-

nila, Plaza Rajah Sulayman and Roxas Boulevard. The vicinity is also ideal for biking so you can admire the heritage structures and interesting corners on the slow lane.

Meanwhile, down in the Queen City of the South, lyf Cebu City Hotel is making its presence felt and giving the industry’s old boys club a decent competition. Just a few hundred meters away from the iconic Fuente Osmeña Circle and Provincial Capitol, this 159-

Expo boosts potentials of PHL’s food tourism

THE potential of the country's emerging food tourism sector got a major boost at the 16th Philippine Food Expo held recently at the World Trade Center Metro Manila.

Organized by the Philippine Food Processors and Exporters Organization (Philfoodex), the 3-day exhibit featured 320 exhibitor firms from export-ready food and beverage, local delicacies, franchising opportunities, and equipment, packaging and food technology solutions.

Themed “The Best of Filipino Flavors,” it showcased the worldclass agricultural produce and processed food which will form part of the gastronomic experience of foreign tourists visiting the country.

Co-presented by the Department of Agriculture, the Expo also featured the DA’s key programs through a pavilion exhibit representing the best farm produce from across the country’s different regional field offices.

According to agriculture secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr., the partnership between the Department and Philfoodex through the Expo has been a vital avenue in providing farmers and agri-based entrepreneurs a platform to sell

their products and network with buyers, suppliers and other stakeholders.

He said that the Department also put the spotlight on the Young Farmers Challenge, a program which seeks to challenge the youth to engage in agriculture-related careers and empower young agriculturists to take active roles in the government’s food security thrust.

Other key personalities at the opening ceremonies included Senator Cynthia Villar, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) undersecretary Cristina Roque, and

Department of Tourism (DOT) undersecretary Ferdinand Jumapao, whose agencies are main supporters of the exhibition.

The DTI is the lead government agency in the successful One Town, One Product (OTOP) which displays processed local farm and fishery produce, while the DOT oversees culinary tourism which promotes native dishes, farm-totable food and beverage, and valueadded pasalubong items.

Founded in 1986, Philfoodex is the country’s leading food association with around 250 members, and is recognized by the business sector and the government as the voice of food manufacturers and exporters.

Dubbed as the country’s leading all-Filipino food and beverage show, this is the second postpandemic Expo, which provided a comprehensive platform for business-to-business, and business-toconsumers transactions.

Visitors who flocked to the event were treated to student culinary competitions, live cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs, product demos, interactive workshops and seminars, and product samplings, among others.

Organized by Cut Unlimited

as exhibitions manager, the Expo is also backed by the Export Development Council, Philippine Exporters Confederation (Philexport), and the UnionBank of the Philippines.

Philfoodex also renewed its partnership with UnionBank to boost local micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) who took part in the Expo. With the partnership, local food processors, exporters and MSMEs were able to access a wide range of online banking services which will enhance their competitiveness by helping them adapt to the local and global market trends.

room, 3-star tower is a southern counterpart to its Malate sister with the same concept, amenities and room types.

A prime development by Cebu Landmasters Inc., it is clustered with the mid-end Citadines serviced apartments with a couple of commercial shops and dining outlets jazzing up the city’s midtown neighborhood.

Discarding the stiffness of the conventional hotel, it takes pride in its fanciful blend of snapshot-wor-

thy walls, nooks, and communal spaces, creating a jazzy but classy atmosphere which can satisfy even the jaded frequent flyers. The Connect Coworking Space on the fifth floor provides a conducive ambiance for those on WFH (work from hotel) mode. Also on the said floor are a gym, swimming pool, function room, pastelcolored cocoons, and playpens which would delight the young and old alike.

Guests can choose from a selection of the fancifully-named units such as One of a Kind (studio), Side by Side (twin), and All Together (two- and four-bedroom) apartment units. The latter room types, which are tailored for families and small groups, are ideal alternatives to the typical hotel which can save you up on food expenses by cooking your own dishes and create bonding moments in the process. In line with its work and play principle, lyf Cebu City Hotel can easily put together a guided tour of the city’s must-see places, which includes the newly-opened The Tops mountaintop dining colony in Busay. On weekends, the solicitous hotel personnel pulls out surprise events for guests, so there will never be dull and boring moments. And the good thing is checkedin visitors can get handsome discounts and treats in other properties under the Ascott Unlimited rewards program.

With the elegance of a hotel, warmth of home, and the sense of community it offers, lyf has made life more exciting.

LYF Cebu’s infinity pool

LYF Malate’s Connect and play place

UNWIND, lyf Malate’s roofdeck for breakfast

THE All Together 2-bedroom unit

PLAY corner at lyf Cebu’s communal space

MANILA Bay skyline seen from lyf Malate

By Sebastian Montemayor

THE head of Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines (BCP) warned that the Philippines may lose its biotechnology scientists following the Court of Appeals’s (CA) commercial ban on Golden Rice and Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) eggplant, along with the importation of genetically modified (GM) crops.

The Philippines’ CA issued a writ of Kalikasan last April 17, putting a stop to the commercial propagation of GM crops Golden Rice and Bt talong.

The main opponents of the GM crops cited health and environmental impacts, and corporate control of the produced crops.

But BCP Chairman and President Dr. Saturnina Halos said that there are many other GMO crops commercially produced in the Philippines with little to no negative impact on environment or health, such as corn and cotton.

She noted “how such regulations [CA ruling] discourage them [scientists] from doing their work with already so few research programs in effect.”

A Berkley-trained biotechnology scientist, Halos said the court ruling is “already discouraging students from going into the field, after seeing more than 20 years of research and development will just be stopped because of a decision made with no scientific basis.”

Brain drain “OF course [I feel sorry] for the scientists working on GMOs [GM organisms]. Actually, right now, I don’t know any scientists working on it,” Halos said in an interview partly in Filipino.

“It is because of the products that are cut off from production, just like Bt talong and Golden Rice,” she added.

Ban on GMOs a discouraging move, BCP head warns

the United States have declared Golden Rice safe for consumption.

Regarding corporate control of the crops, Halos belied this, saying both Bt eggplant and Golden Rice were developed for the Philippine situation by national government programs at the University of the Philippine Los Baños and the Philippine Rice Research Institute, respectively.

Lack of educationunderstanding,

HALOS said that one of the biggest issues in the Philippines regarding GMOs is a lack of understanding and education.

She cited how relevant technologies, such as cellphones and computers, were easily accepted by the public, without fully appreciating the research and development that went into them, while GMO crops, despite going through more than 20 years of development and being potentially beneficial to society, were not easily accepted.

Halos pointed out that perhaps “education in the Philippines regarding science is largely based on memorization, which leads to a lack of understanding of modern and developing technologies.”

Since the early 1970s, highly skilled practitioners in specialized fields, such as in medicine, education, maritime, and engineering have been migrating to other countries offering better opportunities and support for their vocation.

This, she warned, could lead to another brain drain in the Philippines.

‘IENJOY studying about sciences !” This is w hat Ky e A ndrei A ragon a G rade 11 STEM student at S anchez M ira N ationa l H igh S choo (SMNHS) shared after participating in the nu L ab sessions.

O nce again the w hee s of the D epartment of S cience and Techno ogyS cience E ducation I nstitute s (DOST-SEI) ca ll ed nu L ab: STEM in M otion , continues to reach more youth and de v er exciting and transformati v e l earning experiences in S cience Techno ogy E ngineering and M athematics (STEM) Bringing science closer to people

THE four - day earning experience a ll o wed the young K agay - anons to embark on an enthra ll ing v oyage and de lv e into the rea l m of scientific mar v e l s. T hrough modu l es that bring the w onders of science and expand the hori z ons of scientific in q uiry the students found themse lv es thorough l y immersed in the acti v ities en j oying the time of exp oration and disco v ery. J aine ll e of S anche z M ira S choo l of A rts and Trades described her nu L ab experience to be nothing short of en oyab l e and exciting.

S he a so expressed ho w the handson acti v ities capti v ated her interest and enriched her understanding of science insti ll ing a sense of w onder and curiosity

that she intends to carry for w ard.

“A fter our session on Coasta l H a z ards natuwa po ako kasi the nu L ab setting added more excitement to earning. Mas naantig din po akong mag- take ng science - re ated course. Naisip ko po na bilang isang STEM student , magagamit ko ang mga natutunan ko sa nu L ab para makatulong sa kapwa ko mamamayan ng Cagayan Va ll ey sa pamamagitan ng science and techno ogy,” J ane ll e said. B esides the initiati v e to make science more accessib l e engaging and re l e v ant to students , the nu L ab bus is more than j ust a ro ll ing c l assroom and l aboratory. I t is a v ehic e of possibi l ities and opportunities fostering a robust cu ture of science that empo w ers indi v idua l s to seam ess y integrate scientific methods and concepts into their dai l y l i v es. H ence part of e v ery road trip is the “#P ush 4S cience: M aging DOST scho l ar ka”! campaign that promotes the pursuit of scientific kno wl edge through scho arships that pro v ide tangib e support for students and break do w n barriers to education to un l ock the potentia l of aspiring scientists and inno v ators.

“I w as encouraged to app l y for a scho arship from DOST-SEI I thought

gran the opportunity,” said Fl orde yn M ay Bl anco, a G rade 11 student at SMNHS, as she enthusiastica ll y shared her nu L ab experience.

Unlocking curiosity TRAVELING a distance of 647 ki l ometers , the mobi e l aboratory bus v isited the scenic to w n of S anche z M ira

E arth S cience ( specifica ll y on Coasta l H a z ards ), E arth q uakes , and M arine S cience modu es the students experienced STEM in a different w ay that sparked curiosity and excitement through the modern scientific e q uipment and techno l ogies inside the nu L ab bus ; and the opportunity to interact w ith scientists and STEM professiona l s , engaging them in authentic in q uiry and reasoning. Yung nasa loob [niya] po ay interesting and exciting. Nalaman ko na it s a ll about the sciences. I’m v ery fascinated by the idea na makakaexperience kamingmga STEM students na may ganitong opportunity na papasok sa aming buhay,” said A ragon , w hen asked about his experience inside the bus.

Many food in US with GMOs IF GMO crops were truly dangerous to health, Halos noted that “everyone in the US would have cancer with the large quantities

of GMOs in their food supply because nearly all of their food there is made with GMOs.”

Food safety regulators in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and

“If it were made to be more practical, people would more easily see the benefits of biotechnology and be more accepting of GMO crops,” she explained.

“We have many products of science that we easily accept, [including vaccines and medicines], but the food that brings massive benefits to farmers and protects our health are hindered,” she said.

PHL, US execs meet for S&T collab

IN a significant stride toward advancing bilateral relations in science and technology, the Philippines and the United States convened the first PH-US Joint Committee Meeting on Science and Technology in Washington, D.C, on April 30.

The meeting was led by Undersecretary Leah J. Buendia from the Philippines’ Department of Science and Technology, and Deputy Assistant Secretary Rahima Kandahari from the US State Department.

It served as a platform to identify the priority areas for collaboration in key areas, such as OneHealth, biotechnology, biosecurity, artificial intelligence, energy, environment, and scientific

B esides the interacti v e science acti v ities the series of nu L ab l ectures a igns w ith the DOST’s H anda P i l ipinas E xposition ’ s ob j ecti v e to acti v e y promote disaster risk reduction and management techno l ogies resi l iency and sustainabi l ity.

“Ang nu L ab ay pumunta sa S anche z M ira para tulungan ang mga tagaCagayan ng R egion 2 para maghanda sa paparating na pagbabago ng ating klima at pagbabago ng ating panahon,” emphasi z ed J effrey M a l o l es a marine scientist and DOST-SEI scho l ar - graduate w ho faci l itated the modu e on C imate Change and S ustainabi ity. M a l o es s modu l e high ighted the v ita l ro e that informed citi z ens especia ll y the younger generation p l ay in shaping a sustainab e future.

I n the face of esca l ating en v ironmenta l cha ll enges his sessions e q uipped the youth w ith a deep understanding of sustainabi l ity the greenhouse gas effect and internationa l c l imate po l icies to become informed and acti v e contributors to c l imate action.

O n the same initiati v e ,M axine P rado -D e Vega of the U ni v ersity of the P hi l ippines M

enhancement.

Buendia highlighted the pivotal role of the meeting in providing a clear and focused direction for the next two years.

The commitment to collaborate was evident in the constructive dialogue and shared vision in fostering innovation and knowledge exchange between the two nations.

This meeting marked the first bilateral gathering since the signing and renewal of the PH-US Science and Technology Agreement in 2019. It symbolized the enduring partnership between the two countries, signifying a renewed commitment to deepening cooperation in science, technology, and innovation.

students about the comp l ex dynamics found beneath the ocean , and the importance of exp l oring conser v ing and protecting them.

Charmaine V i ll ami l, from DOSTP hi l ippine nstitute of Vo l cano l ogy and S eismo l ogy and a DOST scho l ar - graduate , on the other hand sparked the young K agay - anons ’ interest and curiosity on the science behind earth q uakes as she de lv ed into the critica topic of “T he B ig O ne.” H er discussions e l ucidated the concept of p ate tectonics p ate boundaries and the different earth q uake intensity l e v e l s w hich underscored the imperati v e for community preparedness in Cagayan Va ll ey. A nother modu l e pro v ided for this road trip is on Coasta l H a z ards by D r. J ane ll L ea S oria - a geo l ogist , 2019 B a l ik S cientist and a professoria ecturer at the UP-I nstitute of E n v ironmenta l S cience and M eteoro ogy. L ea s expertise in Coasta l H a z ards discussed the comp l exities of the en v ironmenta v u nerabi l ities of coasta l regions shedding l ight on the v arious ha z ards facing the coasta l communities of Cagayan Va ll ey from storm surges to tsunamis , emphasi z ing the critica l importance of integrated coasta l management. F or this road trip, the nu L ab bus

The meeting was attended by the executive directors of the Councils of the DOST—including those from the Philippine Councils for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development; for Health Research and Development; for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development; and the National Research Council of the Philippines.

Also present were the Agriculture Counsellor and the head of the Economic Section of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Looking ahead, the outcomes of the first PH-US JCM will lay the groundwork for a resilient partnership characterized by mutual respect and shared goals.

headed for yet another remarkab l e scientific exp oration as part of the DOST’s R egion 02’s A gridam Cagayan Va ll ey 2024— a regiona version of DOST’s H anda P i l ipinas , sho w casing the agency s “ready - to - adopt ” techno ogies

DR. Saturnina Halos

GOLDEN Rice

NON-Bt eggplant (left); Bt eggplant (right)

THE delegates from the Philippines and the United States who attended the recent Joint Committee Meeting on Science and Technology in Washington D.C. DOST PHOTO

A10 Sunday, May 19, 2024 Editor: Lyn Resurreccion • www.businessmirror.com.ph

CBCP head: Seek a peaceful solution to WPS dispute

ACIVILIANLED supply mission to the West Philippine Sea has received backing from the head of Catholic bishops’ leadership, who urged a peaceful resolution of the territorial dispute.

Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said a “stubborn” civilian presence is indeed the peaceful approach to the conflict “instead of a joint military show-of-force”.

“This is a better way to express our unity as a nation and assert our sovereignty towards China,” David said.

“This is also a good test case of civilian supremacy over the military, which is essential in a true democracy,” he said.

The bishop warned against succumbing to the demands of those “who are eager to involve us in a

violent proxy war that would only benefit the major arm industries.”

“No to imperialist bullying and no to geopolitical warmongering. Yes to peace and mutual respect of sovereignty among civilized nations! God bless our homeland,” he added.

Atin Ito Coalition on Thursday declared “mission accomplished” as the advance team it sent on May 14, a day before the official supply mission began, reached the Scarborough Shoal, or Bajo de Masinloc, evading China’s blockade.

Calling it a “significant breakthrough,” the coalition of civic

and fisherfolk and farmer groups said the team swiftly delivered crucial provisions, including fuel and food packs, to Filipino fishermen working in the area.

In February, six bishops whose dioceses are in areas near the WPS urged the government to shield the fisherfolk from China’s “aggressive intrusions”.

In a pastoral exhortation, they underscored that the WPS is not

merely a territorial issue but also concerns the lives, well-being, and the future of the local fishermen.

However, the bishops emphasized that resorting to war cannot be considered a “moral option.”

“But neither is it just for the leaders of our country to allow our own fisherfolk to be driven out of fishing grounds over which international law recognizes our rights,” they said. CBCP News

Cebu Carmelites mark 75th anniversary of foundation

THE presence of the Carmelite community in the Archdiocese of Cebu has greatly contributed to the faith of Catholics for 75 years, Archbishop Jose Palma said. Palma on March 13 officiated the Mass to celebrate the diamond jubilee of the Carmelite Sisters of Cebu at the Carmelite Monastery in the city’s Mabolo district.

It was a time of prayer, reflection, and thanksgiving for the founding nuns who arrived in Cebu

VATICAN—The Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee was proclaimed recently by Pope Francis, who presided over a formal reading of the jubilee’s papal bull of indiction.

The papal bull, titled “Spes Non Confudit,” meaning “Hope Does Not Disappoint,” declares that the Jubilee Year will officially begin with the opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica on Christmas Eve 2024.

The pope further decreed that every Catholic cathedral around the world should offer Mass on December 29, 2024, as the solemn opening of the Jubilee Year for their local communities.

Pope Francis encouraged dioceses to organize pilgrimages to the cathedrals for the occasion.

The 2025 Jubilee will conclude with the closing of the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica on January 6, 2026, on the solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord.

on May 13, 1949, and those who followed since then.

“I know what this community means for us here in Cebu… this celebration is a testimony of how much Carmel means to us,” Palma said in his homily.

“I am fully convinced that Carmel is living in the presence of God, and witnessing to the world that living in the presence of God brings peace and joy and fulfillment to one’s heart,” he said.

Through the years, the archbishop has stressed that the

“May the Jubilee be a moment of genuine, personal encounter with the Lord Jesus, the ‘door’ (cf. Jn 10:7,9) of our salvation, whom the Church is charged to proclaim always, everywhere, and to all as ‘our hope’ (1 Tim 1:1),” Pope Francis wrote in the papal bull.

A jubilee is a special holy year of grace and pilgrimage in the Catholic Church. It typically takes place once every 25 years, though the pope can call for extraordinary jubilee years more often, such as in the case of the 2016 Year of Mercy or the 2013 Year of Faith.

Tradition dictates that each jubilee is proclaimed through a papal bull of indiction, a document written in Latin that bears the seal of the pope. Pope John Paul II proclaimed the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 with the bull Incarnationis Mysterium, meaning “The Mystery of the Incarnation.”

At the beginning of the ceremony, Pope Francis delivered copies

monastery is a testimony that “here is the abode of God and here we find peace, contentment, and joy”.

The presence of the Discalced Carmelite sisters, he said, is also a reminder that “we should find peace and joy where God is”.

“They accompany us to God, they bring us closer to God,” Palma added.

The archbishop declared a “Special Year of Grace” for the Carmelite Monastery from May 13 until the same day of next year.

of the papal bull to cardinals and bishops from different parts of the world, including Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle representing all of the bishops of Asia, and Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu representing all of the bishops of Africa.

Excerpts of the papal bull were then read aloud by a prelate in the atrium of St. Peter’s Basilica.

“During the Holy Year, we are called to be tangible signs of hope for those of our brothers and sisters who experience hardships of any kind,” Pope Francis wrote. Pope Francis revealed that he would like to open a Holy Door within a prison during the 2025 Jubilee “as a sign inviting prisoners to look to the future with hope and a renewed sense of confidence.”

The pope also encouraged governments around the world to bring hope to prisoners through forms of amnesty or pardon, as well as reintegration programs to

During this period, the faithful can obtain a plenary indulgence by making a pilgrimage to the monastery and by fulfilling the usual conditions of sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion, and prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father.

Last year, the Order of the Discalced Carmelites celebrated its 100 years of presence in the Philippines, which began with the arrival of French Carmelite nuns in Jaro, Iloilo, on November 9, 1923.

CBCP News

help prisoners return to the community with a greater respect for the law.

Historically, jubilee years included the freeing of slaves and prisoners, as well as the forgiveness of debts as manifestations of God’s mercy, as called for in the Book of Leviticus in the Old Testament. Pope Boniface VIII reestablished the jubilee tradition in 1300 with a Christian focus on the forgiveness of sins.

Holy Doors are a central part of any jubilee. These doors, found at St. Peter’s Basilica and Rome’s other major basilicas, are sealed from the inside and opened during a jubilee year.

The opening of the Holy Door symbolizes the offering of an “extraordinary path” toward salvation for Catholics. Pilgrims who walk through a Holy Door can receive a

q ue re igiosity,” he said. “I n Cuba it s not uncommon that someone goes to meet a baba l ao [S anteria high priest ] in the morning and can v isit a Pentecosta l temp e in the afternoon and at night goes to M ass and doesn t see any type of conf l ict in its spiritua l ity,” Tru j ll o said.

Today di verse be iefs can be found mixedtogether on a l tars in homes w ith the Virgin M ary sharing

“You cou l dn t say anything about re l igion ,” said S uarez The Catho l ic Churchtook an anti - communist stance short l y before Fide Castro dec l ared Cuba to be socia l

state re ations began to warm three decades later when Castro met with evangelical l eaders and representati ves from the oca J e w ish community.

I n 1992, the government dropped its constitutiona l

Judaism

Santeria Cuba has numerous smaller but vibrant faiths. Among them:

AT Cuba s l argest synagogue, ancient J e w ish traditions and Cubanness often b l end. At times, S abbath dinners at B eth S ha l om

THE “Atin Ito” civilian mission’s advance vessels breached China’s blockade and reached Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea to distribute supplies to fishermen on May 16. PHOTOS COURTESY OF ATIN ITO

ARCHBISHOP Jose Palma celebrates Mass for Cebu Carmel’s Diamond Jubilee at the Carmelite Monastery in Mabolo, Cebu City on May 13. SAMMY NAVAJA

Editor: Lyn Resurreccion

Biodiversity Sunday

strategies and co ll aborations to tack l e the issue.

K ey officia l s from the P hi l ippines

D epartment of E n v ironment and N atura R esources P hi l ippine Coast G uard , N ationa B ureau of I n v estigation , R egiona L a w E nforcement , N ationa l Po l ice and N a v a Forces , as w e ll as ndonesian officia l s from the D irectorate of P re vention and protection of en v ironment and forestry, D irectorate

G enera l of Conser vation on N atura l R esource

E cosystem , and L a w E nforcement A gency of M a l uku and Papua R egion engaged in the dia ogue hosted by H aribon Foundation.

They discussed about the rising popularity demand and w orrying popu ation trends of these birds from B ird L ife I nternationa l, its partners B urung ndonesia and the H aribon

F oundation and net w ork organisations before de v e oping mu l ti atera so utions that uti ise strengths in capacity bui l ding and impro v ed enforcement.

A nson M Tagtag chief of the Wi l d l ife

R esources D i v ision of the B iodi v ersity

M anagement B ureau , said he “l auds the initiati v e of the H aribon Foundation and the B ird l ife I nternationa in con v ening the meeting and w orkshop that i ll uminated the trafficking of parrots at the borders of P hi l ippines and I ndonesia.” Certain l y the information gathered on the nature of the i ll ega parrot trade and the course of action identified to address them are critica l inputs in the P hi l ippinendonesia cooperation to upsca e measures against w i l d l ife trafficking occurring at their remote borders , e v en as both countries intensi v e y imp ement their nationa l a w s to break the supp l y and demand chain of ll ega parrot trade. Philippines, Indonesia seek solutions vs illegal parrot trade

the co ll ecti ve commitment to preser v ing our natura l treasures.” The DENR chief ca ll ed on a ll stakeho l ders to rene w their dedication to the conser vation and sustainab l e management of Pasonanca and other protected areas across the country. S he emphasi zed the need for continued efforts to ensure that our natura l wonders are safeguarded for

s eco l ogica l comp eteness and conser v ation significance ser ve as a beacon of hope for biodi versity conser v ation efforts in the region. “The ourney of Pasonanca N atura Park to this prestigious

FAMILY of saddleback clownfish protect

anemone in

TBy Jonathan L. Mayuga

WO government agencies and three of the country’s biggest business conglomerates have joined hands to protect and conserve the Verde Island Passage (VIP), a region described by scientists as the center of the center of global shorefish biodiversity.

Spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in partnership with the Department of Energy, and the private companies—Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV), Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), and San Miguel Corp. (SMC)—it is the first big step toward protecting and conserving the VIP.

The move was the first with such magnitude for a public-private partnership (PPP) for environmental protection and conservation of a vast marine ecosystem.

Under a memorandum of understanding (MOU), AEV, MPIC and SMC assume joint stewardship of the critical waterway between Luzon and Mindoro islands.

Productive ecosystem

ONE of the most productive ecosystems in the world, the 1.14 million hectare VIP, named after Verde Island, a small island in Batangas province, is the center of economic activities in the Southern Tagalog region.   Fishing and shipping, as well as tourism activities, are booming in the area, and they continue to contribute to the country’s growth and development.

Lately, the passage has become central to power generation with the entry of liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants in the area.

The VIP’s sea lane has been one of the busiest in the Philippines, being a corridor from the Port of Manila to the Visayas and Mindanao in the south.

Ferry services cross the VIP and connect the surrounding five provinces of Batangas, Marinduque, Occidental and Oriental Mindoro and Romblon.

The critical waterway spans the waters between Luzon and Mindoro islands, and encompasses the five provinces.

Biodiversity-rich region

SCIENTISTS have called the VIP as

In protecting VIP: ‘Walk the talk’

the center of the center of shorefish biodiversity. It is home to over 1,700 fish species and 300 coral species.

This highlights the fact that the Philippines is at the apex of the Coral Triangle, a biodiversity-rich region.

Besides the commercially viable fishes, the VIP is home to threatened charismatic species—including sea turtles like hawksbills, olive ridleys, and green turtles; humphead wrasses, giant groupers, and giant clams.

It is also known to harbor large marine wildlife like whale sharks; manta rays and dugongs.

Under siege

THE VIP, like other coastal and marine ecosystems in the Philippines, is threatened by destructive human activities.

Overfishing, destructive fishing methods, poaching of marine wildlife, unsustainable tourism practices, pollution, and unbridled coastal development remain a serious threat.

As such, concerned government agencies and the private sector coming together to protect and conserve the VIP is a mush-welcome development.

Government-business partnership

“RECOGNIZING the imperative of safeguarding this natural treasure, the government, in collaboration with major business conglomerates, has embarked on a landmark partnership for the protection and conservation of the [VIP],” said Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga in a statement issued during the signing of the MOU on May 7.

The parties affirmed their commitment to pursue seven key objectives for VIP.  Among them is going hand in hand with the government’s clean energy agenda through resilient and sustainable low-carbon development in the VIP.

The partners are also called to collaborate with relevant local government units (LGUs), nongovernment organizations, the academe, international development agencies, coastal communities, people’s organizations, and other private entities for the protection and enhancement of the biodiversity and coastal marine resources of VIP.

The MOU takes effect five years from its signing, with possible extension, and with funding from each of

the five signatories that will ensure the VIP and the nearby provinces will thrive as marine protected areas.

During the five-year implementation of various activities under the initiative, the parties commit to improving the lives of the communities in the VIP.

‘Risky’ fossil gas business

SOUGHT for a comment, Protect VIP, a network of civil society, communities and people’s organizations advocating for the protection of the Verde Island Passage, raised concerns over the partnership.

Gerry Arances, a convenor of Protect VIP, told the BusinessMirror via Messenger on May 11 that the MOU was signed without proper consultation with the stakeholders.

The group has been actively raising alarm over the massive development of fossil gas facilities in Batangas, of which the three companies are also proponents.

Protect VIP raises questions on the sincerity of the MOU, citing the fossil fuel gas business in the area, which he said, is one of the worst risks confronting the VIP.

“By building more fossil gas power plants in the VIP [area], it is exposing the marine corridor and adjacent communities to pollution, biodiversity and livelihood disruption, and exacerbated effects of the climate crisis,” said Arances, also the executive director of sustainability think-tank Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development.

According to Protect VIP, five of six existing fossil gas facilities, four of seven proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, and nine of 39 gas power plants proposed in the Philippines are located in Batangas.

The AEV, MPIC and SMC, Arances added, have recently signed a $3.3-billion energy deal for the completion and operation of the 1,750 MW Excellent Energy Resources Inc. LNG power plant, set to be the first such plant to operate in the country that is targeting to start before the end of 2024.

“If SMC, AEV, and MPI are genuine in their ‘joint stewardship’, building a multibillion gas project that would only bring harm to the VIP shouldn’t push through in the first place,” Arances said.

“These three conglomerates can

show their sincerity in protecting the VIP by stopping their fossil gas expansion plans, prioritizing instead the development of clean energy from renewables, and helping contribute to building the resilience of marine and coastal biodiversity and communities,” he added.

Strong opposition

FOR his part, Fernando Hicap, national chairman of the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas expressed his strong opposition to the plan to grant AEV, MPIC and SMC the alleged stewardship over the VIP.

“We are certain that nothing beneficial for the marine ecosystem will ever come out from this partnership which is certainly a corporate greenwashing. The DENR and DOE are detestable in directly involving these corporations in purportedly protecting the VIP. These companies will only take profit out of our abundant resources,” Hicap told the BusinessMirror via Messenger on May 12.

‘Walk the talk’

OCEANA Philippines Vice President

Gloria Estenzo-Ramos said the importance of the VIP is immense, highlighting urgent measures, such as its declaration as a national protected area.

“Known as the epicenter of marine shorefish biodiversity, the VIP nurtures all lifeforms therein and nourishes people especially those who directly depend on them,” EstenzoRamos told the BusinessMirror in an email on May 13.

“Hence, it requires urgent legal measures, such as its recognition as a national-protected area and the strict enforcement of environment laws, aimed at protecting marine ecosystems and coastal communities against existing threats such as the aggressive expansion of LNG plants,” she added..

According to Estenzo-Ramos, an environmental lawyer, the DENR, in a public-private partnerships in the VIP, must balance its goals as dutybearers to protect the VIP, and, at the same time, steer the course toward a more sustainable future.

On the other hand, she said the private sector” must not just talk about sustainability, but, instead, integrate it in all their business operations.”

“Walk the talk, as we all say,” she pointed out.

THE Pasonanca Natural Park also contains several rock formations, springs and waterfalls, including the Dulian Falls

GREEN sea turtle PHOTO BY JOHN KENZO GINES

DIVING enthusiast John Kenzo Gines strikes a pose with a collection of colorful corals. PHOTO BY DANNY OC AMPO A

ALTERNATIVES

When a day off isn’t a day off

for world’s top tennis players

ROME—More competition days, more tickets sold, more TV time, more money.

For tennis organizers, the long-sought upgrade of tournaments in Madrid and Rome—expanding them from eight days to nearly two weeks—has been a bonanza.

For the players? Well, they haven’t been nearly as enthusiastic.

With Madrid and Rome following already established two-week events in Indian Wells and Miami, several of the highest-ranked players—the ones who consistently reach the final stages of these tournaments—are growing weary of spending so much more time on the road.

“You got to be some type of superhero to be consistent back-to-back 10 days in each event getting to the very end of it,” recent Monte Carlo champion Stefanos Tsitsipas said in Rome. What bothers the top players

is that these Masters-level tournaments are being modeled after Grand Slams but they’re still not as prestigious as the Grand Slams: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.

In essence, the tournaments in Madrid and Rome are merely warmups for Roland Garros.

“We wanted more drama and then we stretched the drama a bit too much, where it kind of becomes like the ‘telenovela’ that was too many seasons,” said Victoria Azarenka, who was formerly ranked No. 1. “Hopefully we make some adjustments, because it’s too long.”

Next year, the Cincinnati Open—a warmup for the US Open— will also be expanded to the two-week format, which increases the draws from 64 to 96 players.

“People want to watch top players play against each other, week in and week out.… There is a market for that, but there has to be

a thought to make sure we do take care of our players,” Azarenka said.

The top 32 seeds in the expanded events get byes to the second round, and all players get days off between matches—which is a change from the old format.

“The two-week Masters 1000 events is great for players that are ranked between 50 and 100 in the world because they get a chance to play a main-draw event at a Masters 1000 event. It’s not great for top-10 players,” fifth-ranked Alexander Zverev said.

“Yes, you do get told you have a day in between, you don’t have to play every day. At the end of the day that’s not resting. Resting is when you’re spending time at home, when you’re sleeping in your own bed, maybe with your family, maybe with your dogs, maybe with your kids if you have kids, right?...A day between matches, if you’re at a different place, that’s not resting.

If you’re trying to make semifinals or finals of every event, you’re just away a lot longer, and you have to work a lot more.”

The schedule has been a hot topic lately because of injuries to the men’s tour’s two top young players, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, even if their injuries might not be a direct result of the longer tournaments.

Sinner (injured hip) and Alcaraz (right forearm) both withdrew from Rome.

But injuries to top players are nothing new.

“I like this two-week format,” fourth-ranked Daniil Medvedev said. “I like when there is a day off.… I don’t think injuries would come from this format.”

Added 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal, “At the end the players want to make money. The tournaments want to make money. Then it’s all [a] cycle that comes together. We accept that role.” AP

Sportswriters

By Aldrin Quinto

THE sun was just starting to peek through the clouds with the groundskeepers finishing up on the fairways and greens.

Waylon goes straight to the lockers, puts on his visor to complete the allNike outfit then heads out—it’s his Type A uniform, according to Marc. Like the thump of dance music drawing crowds to the bars, the explosive sound of golf ball meeting driver face at the practice range beckoned. Instead, Waylon makes a quick visit to the pro shop. He forgot his second glove, he tells the desk clerk, but actually just wants to scan around for anything on discount.

It’s the typical start of golf day for the average Juan, Pedro and Jose on the golf course.

By the numbers

SOME data indicate the average golfer should be able to swing a driver around 150 kilometers per hour.

That would yield an estimated carry of 214 yards.

But that doesn’t paint a clear picture.  What does the average Juan on the golf course actually look like?

An average player could develop a usable, repeatable swing but may not be able to fully understand the mechanics.

That’s why a massive slice would often be followed by a monster slice, and a huge chunk could be followed by a really fat one.

“The average player is likely to make the same mistake, hitting bad shots one after the other,” Tribune Golf editor Marc Reyes said. It sounded much like an admission as an observation.

“He starts the round confident, but a bad swing on the first hole and he is unable to recover.”

Reyes noted, though, that at that point, players begin to relax and thus end up enjoying their round more.

Driving distance

THIS is not always measured in yards for the golfing Juan.

For Waylon Galvez of the Manila Times, it’s in kilometers.

He once traveled from Manila to a mall in Alabang to check out discount golf apparel and went home empty-handed.

Galvez insists the player needs to know not only the fashion trends but dress codes at private clubs as well.

“So you don’t look like a fool,” Galvez said. “Hate to see newbies playing in stretch jeans.”

On and off course

GOLF is in their minds, even if they’re far from the golf course.

The average golfing Juan scans the online golf groups for gear more than once in a while, well before a scheduled round.

Randy Caluag of the Manila Standard, for instance, applied to join a golf trading group days before a midweek tournament. That is after already purchasing a new bag for the event.

“I’m not even sure I’m gonna play...But just to be sure,” Caluag said.

He now has two golf sets and wound up canceling his Wednesday game.

How frequent

RANDY CALUAG says the average player would be seen on the golf course once a week.

It’s the thing that’s keeping him from reaching average status, he says.

“Average golfers look forward to the next game, while still playing their round,” says Caluag.

“I intend to become one. A player with a regular schedule.”

The numbers don’t matter right now, Caluag says.

“When you finally get to play regularly, that’s the time you can set scoring goals.”

Grandiose de

GOLFERS, however, create

ridiculous expectations.

The average golfer will always remember that one pure tee shot years ago that flew 268 yards dead center. He does not have any memory of the 119 other strokes he made that day.

For this author, delusions of reaching “better player” status were fueled by one fantastic round of 88.

He reveals just now that it was made on a par 67 course up northwest central Luzon, on a day that allowed lift, clean and place.

Now he begins each round on a championship course with the firm belief he will break 90.

For the past two years, he has been telling each playing partner this pursuit of 89. Weight training, nutrition, and of course, tinkering with the swing. He has done it all.

And without fail, Koji would reach 90 with three or four holes left to play.

Quick exit FOR some of the average Juans, golf is No. 1 to 18 then back to the real world.

Philippine Star sports editor Nelson Beltran and assistant editor Abac Cordero will stick around for a few shots of whiskey after a round, while June Navarro of the Inquirer will slip out the back door.

Sportswriter-businessman Navarro says golf for now is just like a morning workout.

“Golf as an exercise, that’s it,” he says.

“Maybe in retirement, I’ll begin to analyze how certain types of golf ball affects my game. Right now, it’s all the same to me.”

GA12 SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph

Editor: Jun Lomibao

hands sign as standard vs racist abuse

ENEVA—FIFA wants all 211 national federations to make racist abuse a disciplinary offense, and designate a crossed hands gesture by victims to alert referees to abuse.

Soccer’s world body on Thursday detailed the tougher and more unified approach it wants to take to tackle racism after months of consulting with victimized players, including Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior.

The crossed hands gesture was made on a medal podium at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 by United States athlete Raven Saunders who won silver in women’s shot put. At the time, she said it was “the intersection of where all people who are oppressed meet.”

FIFA is encouraging players to use the gesture and for referees to then cross hands to indicate they are taking action.

There was little enthusiasm for it from Kick It Out, the British fans’ group that campaigns against racism. It said “rather than introducing new hand gestures, FIFA should focus on empowering players and their management to leave the pitch when they feel it’s appropriate.”

Teams whose fans or players racially abuse opponents could soon face disciplinary punishments such as forfeiting games, typically as a 3-0 loss, as part of a five-pillar pledge on tackling discrimination. The measures will be put to FIFA member federations on Friday at their annual meeting in Bangkok.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino promised months ago to make a worldwide proposal and has consulted with Brazil star Vinicius Junior, who is Black and has been repeatedly abused by opposing fans in Spanish stadiums.

He broke down in tears at a news

conference in March before Spain hosted Brazil in a friendly organized in fallout of the persistent abuse he has faced in his adopted home.

“The time has come for football to unite to unequivocally commit as a global community to address the issue of racism in the game,” FIFA said in a letter to member federations.

FIFA also wants to create a panel of players who will “monitor and advise on the implementation of these actions around the world.”

Soccer has struggled for more than a decade to deal with racism in stadiums, with previous measures including coordinated on-field responses by match officials and post-match disciplinary action by federations and competition organizers.

Tougher sanctions, such as match forfeits, points deductions or even disqualification from a competition, have been judged too difficult to enforce legally. They also risk enabling agitators to try and provoke incidents.

Soccer leaders in countries such as Italy and Spain have consistently denied the sport has a racism problem.

In some cases, investigations were dropped by soccer authorities, including UEFA, because there was no evidence beyond a claim by the player alleging abuse.

Black players who claimed they were racially abused by opponents or fans and tried to leave the field have themselves been shown a yellow card for their actions.

FIFA wants referees also use crossed hands to signal starting a long-standing three-step process at a game where racial and discriminatory abuse is heard: To pause the play and broadcast warnings in the stadium, to take teams off the field, then abandon games.

Kick It Out, which has worked in soccer since 1993, said the three steps had “failed to protect players for years” though it acknowledged FIFA’s intentions “appear to be genuine.”

That three-step process should be mandatory across all 211 federations, FIFA said on Thursday. They also will be asked to lobby their governments to make racism a criminal offense and prosecute cases, plus promote antiracism work in schools.

Before Saunders crossed her hands in Tokyo, the gesture was used by the men’s marathon silver medalist at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Feyisa Lilesa raised his arms above his head and crossed his wrists at the finish line in Rio in protest against government oppression at home in Ethiopia. Saunders initially was in trouble with the IOC for making the gesture which also was a broader statement celebrating

19, 2024

A RAUCOUS, TRIPPY RIDE

The Parokya ni Edgar musical is an otherworldly experience

Everything about ‘Buruguduystunstugudunstuy’ is wonderful in a festive, fantastical vein, though only the hip will probably laugh out loud upon hearing the line, ‘4:20 na!’

Publisher : Editor-In-Chief : Concept : Y2Z Editor : SoundStrip Editor : Group Creative Director : Graphic Designers :

T. Anthony C. Cabangon

Lourdes M. Fernandez

Aldwin M. Tolosa

Jt Nisay

Edwin P. Sallan

Eduardo A. Davad

Niggel Figueroa

Anabelle O. Flores

Contributing Writers :

Tony M. Maghirang

Rick Olivares

Jill Tan Radovan

Reine Juvierre S. Alberto

John Eiron R. Francisco

Pocholo Concepcion

Francine Y. Medina

Rory Visco

Bea Rollo

Trixzy Leigh Bonotan

Photographers :

Bernard P. Testa

Nonie Reyes

Y2Z & SOUNDSTRIP are published and distributed free every Sunday by the Philippine Business Daily Mirror Publishing Inc. as a project of the

The Philippine Business Mirror Publishing, Inc., with offices on the 3rd Floor of Dominga Building III 2113 Chino Roces Avenue corner Dela Rosa Street, Makati City, Philippines.

Tel. Nos. (Editorial) 817-9467; 813-0725.

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Circulation: 893-1662; 814-0134 to 36. www.businessmirror.com.ph

FOR boomers, the best way to enjoy and appreciate the Parokya ni Edgar (PNE) musical Buruguduystunstugudunstuy is to first indulge in herbal delights, or remember the times spent with friends tripping on psychedelics.

But for the rest of the theater audience, all it takes is an open mind to make sense of the otherworldly plot that drives the musical on high gear.

Four women—scavenger Jen (Marynor Madamesila), high school student Aiza (Kyle Napuli), security guard Girlie (Natasha Cabrera), and matron Norma (Tex Ordoñez de Leon)—rant about their life problems and discover they all have the same birthday, December 6.

A mysterious drumbeat (that’s how the show’s title, straight from PNE’s second album, sounds) catches their attention, drawing them together towards a portalet which—like the rabbit hole in  Alice in Wonderland—serves as the women’s entry into the strange new world of Parokyaverse.

Jen transforms into a techno creature, Aiza a mermaid, Norma an  aswang, though Girlie remains a lady guard. But life turns upside down for them as they meet the Bigotilyos led by Mr. Suave (Pepe Herrera).

Playwright Rody Vera uses the women’s metamorphosis to illustrate humanity’s preoccupation with desire, greed and evil— with endless doses of humor through the songs of PNE.

Vera succeeds, with director Dexter Santos, in accomplishing the difficult task of fusing the good-natured, often hilarious tunes (“Don’t Touch My Birdie” among the show’s 27 tracks) with the plot’s insightful moments.

One of the musical’s highlights, in which Girlie comes to terms with her sexuality, has Vera tweaking the track “This Guy’s in Love with You, Pare.”

The four women—all with rich theater experience—shine in their roles, especially Cabrera as a lesbian, and De Leon as a grumpy middleager whose aswang alter ego gets to devour Mr. Suave’s innards, just as the latter is on the verge of pursuing her with romantic notions.

Everything about the musical is wonderful in a festive, fantastical vein, though only the hip will probably laugh out loud upon hearing the line, “4:20 na! ”

The production is said to have reached a stratospheric budget due to the lavish sets and technical requirements, which Newport World Resorts can hopefully recoup in time.

All told,  Buruguduystunstugudunstuy is one hell of a raucous ride from selfish desire to humbling self-realization.

Buruguduystunstugudunstuy  runs till June 8 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater.

BEYOND THE HITS

Top 5 underrated songs by Ben&Ben

BBy Reine Juvierre S. Alberto

EN&BEN is known for making waves. Every time the nine-piece folk-pop band would release a new single, it would undoubtedly be a chart-topping hit a few days later.

Recently, the band released their new single “COMETS,” a pop-rock track that delves into how people, like a comet, orbit into one’s life and eventually, leave.

“Comets, which are beautiful things to look at, they only pass. They don’t stay,” vocalist and lead guitarist Miguel Guico told SoundStrip in a recent interview.

With their album Pebble House Vol. 1: Kuwaderno released in 2021, the band has gifted their dedicated fanbase fondly called “Liwanag” with succeeding singles all leading to their anticipated new full-length album to be released at the end of this year.

A musical, One More Chance: The Musical by the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA)  featured 22 songs by Ben&Ben to tell the story of the equally iconic love story of Popoy and Basha from the romantic movie “One More Chance.”

But with the band’s impressive roster of hit songs—with their music spanning various genres from folk, pop, to rock—some songs remain underrated and deserve to be repeatedly listened to as well.

Although almost all of Ben&Ben’s songs revolve around one central theme—love and its complexities—there are other lessons that can be unearthed and learned from them.

5. “Courage”

“All your struggles will be worth it

In the end, keep carrying on with courage

Your breakthrough is arriving

Until then, keep carrying on with courage”

With its straightforward title, “Courage” is a song that must be listened to at the end of a rough day. It is a

reminder disguised as a song for people struggling with mental problems. It simply tells someone to just be brave amidst all the anxiety, struggles, overwhelming feelings, and hopelessness.

Personally, this is an audacious move by a Filipino band in a country where talking about mental health is gradually becoming acceptable. Aside from serving as a reminder, “Courage” encourages people struggling to seek help. And that is okay.

Courage was released on December 1, 2023, with two versions—full band and acoustic.

4. “Sabel”

“Sinubukan nga akong sirain

Katotohana’y sinubukang baliktarin Akala ba nila, hahayaan ko sila?

Hindi na

Sabel

‘Di ka nila pag-aari

Sabel

Nariyan na ang bahaghari”

Ben&Ben’s “Sabel” is a refreshing take on moving forward women’s rights. In this song, the band referred to “Sabel” as a Filipino woman constrained by easily being a Filipina.

The lyrics are uncomplicated---Sabel was silenced, hurt, and twisted her words against her. However, “Sabel” was empowered to not let her voice be unheard anymore and to fight back against everything thrown against her.

“Sabel” was released in 2021, and included in the album “Pebble House, Vol. 1: Kuwaderno” sung together with OPM artist KZ Tandingan.

3. “Di Ka Sayang”

“Di kailangan na buhatin mag-isa

Di ka sayang, di kailangang manghinayang

Di ka sayang, di kailangang patunayan

Sarili ay mahalaga kahit pa anong tingin nila

Tanggap kita”

“Di Ka Sayang” is a celebration of simply being yourself. It validates one’s worth by recognizing who one is, without pretending to be someone, to be happy, or to prove something. Despite everyone turning their backs on you, there will always be a person rooting for you at the end of the day.

This reassuring song was released as a single on November 6, 2020, inspired by Paolo and Miguel Guico’s conversation on their career choices and fighting for what they want to do in their lives amid societal and family expectations.

2. Paninindigan Kita

“Paninindigan kita oo

Anumang sabihin ng magulong mundo

Kahit ayaw nilang ako’y sayo

Ika’y iingatan ko”

“Paninindigan Kita” is more than a catchy love song by Ben&Ben. The song is inspired by two of the band’s members, Patricia Lasaten (keyboardist) and Agnes Reoma (bassist), who are in a same-sex relationship. The two admitted that their relationship is not very public but expressing their love for each other in this single is a “fun challenge.”

Another taboo topic in the Philippines, “Paninindigan Kita” is a bold move by the band to be the voice for queer kids to not be afraid of letting the world know who they truly love and would fight for.

“Paninindigan Kita” was released as a single on May 1, 2022.

1. “Masyado Pang Maaga”

“Parang kay bilis ng ‘yong pag-alis

Teka lang teka lang teka lang muna

Sa’n nagkamali pwede bang bumawi (san nagkamali)

Teka lang teka lang teka lang muna

Masyado pang maaga

Para mawala ka”

Although this song is about hesitance in confronting issues in a relationship, “Masyado Pang Maaga” can also be applied to friends and family, particularly death and grief. Not much has been written about grief in the Filipino music scene and this song could possibly be one.

It could be interpreted as one’s sudden passing and being taken aback by how in the blink of an eye, everything is gone. We think of all the times we could have spent with them, maybe try to make up for the times lost. For those who were left by someone at a young age, it’s all too early for them to go.

“Masyado Pang Maaga” was released as a single on November 1, 2019, the day of the dead. The power of this poignant song is not lost on Myke Salomon who included it as one of the Ben&Ben tunes used in One More Chance: The Musical

PHOTO BY ERICKSON DELA CRUZ

Ben&Ben

PASSION OR PAY?

5 thoughts for new college grads seeking to find the right balance

By Christopher Wong Michaelson, University of St. Thomas & Jennifer Tosti-Kharas, Babson College

THE Class of 2024 had a college experience like no other, starting its first year during peak pandemic and graduating amid protests of the war in Gaza.

Many of its graduates will be joining a working world that holds their future in its hands and that was transformed by technological advancements and changing attitudes about work while they were in school. What can they expect from the world of work today?

As a philosopher and a psychologist who began our careers in management consulting—and now teach ethics and leadership and study why people work–we have five thoughts for new college graduates to consider as they head out into the “real world.”

1The good news: Overall, people are satisfied at work

THE 2024 report from The Conference Board, a nonprofit organization that studies workforce and other trends, shows that almost two-thirds of employees report being satisfied with their jobs. Overall satisfaction at work is at its highest point since the survey started in 1987, rising every year since the pandemic, although women report far lower satisfaction than men.

The factors influencing satisfaction increases have included flexibility and worklife balance, especially among employees who have remained with their employers

for more than three years. This suggests that some of the changes in work location and hours implemented by employers during Covid-19 are still valued higher than simply switching gigs for a better deal.

Employees still want Covid-19-era levels of autonomy, such as prioritizing Wednesdays over Fridays in the office. Facing a shortage of workers, some employers are seeking to deliver such perks to keep them.

2

The bad news: Employees are not engaged

Despite this record-level satisfaction, work engagement is at a 10-year low, continuing a downward trend. Employees may be compensating for a pandemic that led many people to work more hours, with at least half seeking to “quiet quit”—that is, doing the bare minimum required in their job descriptions and leaving work at work at the end of the day. Workers who are not engaged are not necessarily working fewer hours overall, but they may be less willing to bring their work home with them, literally or figuratively, or even to give their best effort during regular working hours.

Employers, meanwhile—recognizing that engaged employees generally perform better—are stuck paying more for satisfied employees who produce less. In a real-life game of “Would You Rather…?” workers should consider how they would prefer to spend the largest portion of their waking hours: being satisfied or engaged?

3

Seeking work with a purpose is a noble and understandable goal

Today’s graduates are famously considered part of the “Purpose Generation,” committed to solving the problems that prior generations have created.

Studies show that workers just entering the labor market care a lot about making

a difference through their work. We have studied what it means when people view their work as a calling or have a sense that work is meaningful, all-consuming and may make the world a better place. Those with a strong calling will be more engaged and satisfied with their work and will be happier in their lives as well.

Workers should think about what problem they most want to solve, are best qualified to solve, and that they might be able to get paid to solve. There is a lot of talk about a future world without work, but the world today needs workers who are committed to a better future.

4

It is also understandable to care about money

As much as new entrants to the labor market care about meaningful work and life, data shows that they care even more about high pay and financial security. Material rewards have increased in importance over time, compared with the priorities of prior generations.

With the state of the world that graduates are entering, including soaring home prices, student debt and the threat of inflation, it is not only materially unsurprising but also morally justifiable that many workers are seeking financial stability. Although seeking money at the expense of other goals can take a toll on workers’ well-being, workers need to be

cautious of employers who may attempt to exploit their passion for their work by paying less for more effort.

5

It is rare, but not impossible, to find meaningful work that pays

Although Covid led society to recognize the importance of “essential work,” such as health care and critical infrastructure, work that arguably does the most good in society, such as social service and education, is often paid the least.

Few graduates will find the perfect combination of meaning and money in the same job right out of college, but that does not mean that they cannot aspire to find both over the course of their careers—and, when they are in a position to do so someday, to pay their own employees what they are worth. As for the present, if new workforce entrants feel as though they must accept a lower than desired salary to do work that benefits society, it cannot hurt for them to ask for what they think they deserve.

Even meaningful work can lose its luster when workers feel underappreciated. At its best, however, work can make a meaningful contribution to the lives of workers and a world in need of repair. The Conversation

How to avoid drawbacks to following your passion

FOLLOWING one’s passion does not necessarily lead to fulfillment, but it is one of the most powerful cultural forces perpetuating overwork. Promoting the pursuit of one’s passion also helps perpetuate social inequalities due to the fact that not everyone has the same economic resources to allow them to pursue their passion with ease.

To avoid these pitfalls, people may want to base their career decisions on

more than whether those decisions represent their passion. What do you need from your work in addition to a paycheck? Predictable hours? Enjoyable colleagues? Benefits? A respectful boss?

For those who are already employed in jobs they are passionate about, consider diversifying your portfolio of the ways in which you make meaning—nurture hobbies, activities, community service and identities that exist wholly outside

of work. How can you make time to invest in these other ways to find purpose and satisfaction?

Another factor to consider is whether you are being fairly compensated for the extra passion-fueled efforts you contribute to your job. If you work for a company, does your manager know that you spent weekends reading books on team leadership or mentoring the newest member of your team after hours? We contribute to our own exploitation

if we do uncompensated work for our job out of our passion for it.

Every year, millions of high school and college graduates gear up to enter the labor force full time, and millions more reevaluate their jobs. It is vital that the friends, parents, teachers and career coaches who counsel them begin to question if advising them to pursue their passion is something that could end up doing more harm than good. The Conversation

Cover photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

“TODAY’S graduates are famously considered part of the ‘Purpose Generation’, committed to solving the problems that prior generations have created.” PHOTO BY COTTONBRO STUDIO ON PEXELS.COM