Issuu

DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY

2018 BANTOG DATA MEDIA AWARDS CHAMPION

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Saturday, November 17, 2018 Vol. 14 No. 38

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A BROTHERHOOD FORGED IN HISTORY

ENVOY RENEWS ISRAEL’S VOW TO SUPPORT AFP MODERNIZATION, PHL COUNTERTERRORISM DRIVE

By Rene Acosta

HE enthusiasm of Israel’s new (just over three months here) ambassador to Manila is obvious: the shared history and current synergy between the two countries is so wide-ranging there’s so much he can do to keep expanding bilateral relations. In a word, it’s so hard to fail in keeping this relationship robust because the two peoples have so much in common: agriculture, science and technology, defense, culture, and the increasingly better climate for migrant workers.

ISRAEL’S Ambassador to the Philippines Rafael Harpaz at the BusinessMirror Coffee Club. NONIE REYES

In a recent visit to the BusinessMirror, where he engaged journalists at the BusinessMirror Coffee Club, Israel’s Ambassador to the Philippines Rafael Harpaz was coy on some facets of the two allies’ defense cooperation, especially details of some acquisitions. Nonetheless, he was clear about one thing: Israel will sustain its cooperation and level of support to the Armed Forces of the Philippines’s (AFP) modernization and counterterrorism efforts by remaining a key partner and supplier of its requirement for military technology and equipment. Tel Aviv is emerging as an important partner in the military’s capability upgrade program, with Israeli firms delivering superior military hardware—from missiles to monitoring equipment—to one of the region’s least developed armies. Continued on A2

US, China rivalry challenging entwined Asia-Pacific region By Annabelle Liang & Elaine Kurtenbach | The Associated Press

INGAPORE—The rivalry between the US and China in the Asia-Pacific is proving “awkward” for Southeast Asian nations that do not want to have to choose between their friends, Singapore’s prime minister said Thursday as he wrapped up a regional summit. “It’s easiest not to take sides when everybody else is on the same side. But if you are friends with two countries which are on different

sides, then sometimes it is possible to get along with both, sometimes it’s more awkward if you try to get along with both,” Lee Hsien Loong

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 52.9140

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong speak at a joint news conference at the Istana or Presidential Palace in Singapore, November 16, 2018. AP/YONG TECK LIM

said when asked about the competition between the US and China in the region at a news conference. Lee, who hosted the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), said countries whose economies and strategic interests are deeply entwined with both powers would prefer not to have to decide, “but the circumstances may come where Asean may have to choose one or the other. I hope it does not happen soon.” The comments appeared intended to send a message to the US, represented this week by Vice President Mike Pence in place of President Donald Trump, and to China, whose growing influence across the region is abundantly clear at such international gatherings. See “US-China,” A2

n JAPAN 0.4659 n UK 67.6294 n HK 6.7584 n CHINA 7.6267 n SINGAPORE 38.4717 n AUSTRALIA 38.5055 n EU 59.9674 n SAUDI ARABIA 14.1051

Source: BSP (November 16, 2018 )

A2 Saturday, November 17, 2018

News

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A brotherhood forged in history Continued from a1

“The Philippines and Israel have very friendly relations. We are brothers. We are willing to share with you…our knowledge and experience in many areas,” said Harpaz. Harpaz sat with the editors, executives and reporters of the BusinessMirror, the Philippines Graphic Magazine, Pilipino Mirror and DWIZ for nearly two hours last Tuesday for a discussion on IsraelPhilippines relations that gravitated on various issues, including defense and security.

Military assistance

WITHOUT dwelling on the specifics of Israel’s contribution to the continuing capability buildup of the AFP, Harpaz said Manila and Tel Aviv are enjoying good relations. “We have very good relations with the Philippines in so many areas, including on security cooperation, counterterrorism and defense,” the ambassador, who is barely warming his seat as Israel’s top diplomat to the Philippines, said. He was assigned to Manila in August, with just days to prepare for a major task: preparing for the historic visit of President Duterte to Israel in September. A part of his itinerary was a visit to an arms event, wherein he was shown with the best of Israel’s military products. During the visit, Duterte ordered the military to only buy intelligence and monitoring equipment from Israel, saying that while other countries have expressed their willingness to provide such similar equipment, these would, however, end up “listening” in on the Philippines, a euphemism for spying.

Among biggest buyers

THE Philippines transitioned into one of Southeast Asia’s biggest buyers of Israeli military equipment when it signed in 2016 a P2.68billion contract for the delivery of three air surveillance radars from Elta System Ltd., a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries. The radars were tapped to monitor the country’s airspace, including in the West Philippine Sea, and would complement the acquired squadron of FA-50 from South Korea. In February this year, the Philippine Air Force confirmed that it has already received one of three ELM-2288 AD-STAR that it ordered from Elta, which will give the country its much-needed capability to monitor its western territory. The ELM-2288 AD-STAR is an advanced 3D solid state longrange S-Band family of transportable radars designed to support air defense, early warning and traffic control activities. The radar project was subsequently followed by other contracts, including the delivery of Spike-ER (extended range) surfaceto-surface missiles for the Navy’s multipurpose attack craft (MPAC) by Rafael Advanced Defense Ltd. The missile was successfully test-fired in August from one of the missile-armed MPAC in Limay, Bataan, hitting a designated target that was 6 kilometers away from the firing platform. “The target was hit dead center even if the sea state condition was moderately rough with waves of at least a meter high, but within the normal firing conditions of the missile,” Navy Spokesman Cmdr. Jonathan Zata said at that time. The accuracy and potency of the missile prompted Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana to de-

clare that more Israeli missiles will be coming, even for the other vessels of the Navy.

Sensors for FA-50

THE BusinessMirror learned from a defense official that an Israeli firm has also been tapped to improve the sensor systems aboard the squadron of FA-50, the purpose of which cannot be disclosed due to its operational sensitivity. Aside from weapons, Lorenzana said, the military will acquire unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), other radar systems and force protection equipment from Israeli companies. But while Lorenzana made the statement right after Duterte’s trip to Israel, which he also joined, the Air Force has already reportedly locked down on Hermes 900, a drone manufactured by Elbit.

Counterterrorism

HARPAZ, meanwhile, said that another area where Tel Aviv and Manila are greatly cooperating is in counterterrorism, noting that both countries are similarly situated when it comes to the issue of internal threats. “We share the same threat. Terrorism is a global movement. It is not [only] a local movement here in the Philippines,” the Israeli ambassador said. He spoke just as Israel carried out air raids on Hamas’s lairs in retaliation for the latter’s rocket attacks—landing 300—inside the country. Without hinting that Manila should follow its stance in dealing with terrorists, Harpaz said Israel needed to be strong in facing its enemies who, he said, wanted nothing but the destruction of his country. Asked about one of the most significant highlights of the five-

ISRAELI President Reuven Rivlin stands next to President Duterte signing a guest book in Jerusalem, Israel, September 4, 2018. GALI TIBBON/POOL PHOTO VIA AP

month Marawi siege by IS-inspired homegrown terrorists, Harpaz nodded when asked if he knew that the weapons system mounted on one of the 28 armored personnel carriers that Elbit delivered to the military was responsible for the death of Isnilon Hapilon and Omarkhayam Maute, the two top leaders of the siege. Military officials have admitted that the death of Hapilon and Maute ended the rebellion, the purpose of which was to establish an Islamic State-inspired caliphate in Mindanao. Nonetheless, Harpaz sounded reticent in claiming credit for his country, beyond affirming their willingness to keep supporting the

US-China… Trade tensions between the US and China over Beijing’s technology policy and other market access issues have added to strains within the region, especially since Trump took office in early 2017. The two sides have imposed tariffs on billions of dollars of each other’s products in a standoff that has shown no sign of easing. Lee also remarked on Trump’s “America First” deal-oriented diplomacy, saying it was a departure from the past, when “they were generous, they opened their markets, they made investments, they provided regional security, and in the indirect benefits of a prospering region, the US prospered along.” “But now they say ‘no, that’s not good enough. I want every deal to come,’ and that will mean a different kind of relationship and we will have to get used to it if the US decides that this is the direction which they would go in the long term,” Lee said. In comments to the gathering earlier in the day, Pence stressed the American commitment to the region, where he said there was no room for “empire or aggression.” In a veiled swipe at China’s growing influence and military expansion in the South China Sea, he said that “Our vision for the IndoPacific excludes no nation. It only requires that every nation treat their neighbors with respect, they respect the sovereignty of all nations and the international rules of order.” The Asean meetings focus on enhanced trade and security in a region of more than 630 million people. They ended with commitments to work toward a regional free-trade agreement and enhance cybersecurity, counterterrorism efforts, e-commerce, disaster preparedness and environment protection. Many of the same leaders will head to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Papua New Guinea, where many of the same issues will be on the agenda.

Philippines’s defense modernization program. He said that, while Israel would never hesitate to help the Philippines in that regard, it would continue expanding activities in other areas for cooperation. At the BusinessMirror Coffee Club, he happily disclosed that, in fact, bilateral negotiations had just been concluded, and that Israel was about to cut, by 85 percent, the recruitment fees that had been unjustly imposed on Israel-bound Filipino job seekers by recruiters. He said Filipino workers are much-loved and admired in his country, mainly for their skills and their empathy. And, he added, because Israelis in general ac-

knowledge the part the Philippines played in their history: first, by opening its doors to thousands of Jews during their persecution by Hitler in World War II; and second, by its decisive vote in the United Nations that sealed Israel’s right to be recognized as a state. In the future, Harpaz said, he hoped to boost as well the tourist trade in a way that benefits both countries, happily noting that his country requires no visas for Filipino visitors. Indeed, the distance between the two countries is steadily being bridged by the constantly flourishing people-to-people relations. The “brothers in arms” are, beyond their shared weapons, after all, also brothers in spirit.

Continued from a1

While in Singapore, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang sought to reassure China’s neighbors over its expanding reach, both economic and military, across the region and urged fellow Asian leaders to help reassure world markets roiled by trade tensions. Southeast Asian countries and others in the region share China’s consternation over the Trump administration’s rejection of multilateral trade regimes and the global trade system that have helped them modernize and enrich their economies. Many of the leaders attending the meetings in Singapore have emphasized the need to fight protectionism and safeguard the rules that help govern global trade. The region needs to “take concrete action to uphold the rulesbased free-trade regime and to send a message—a positive message—to the market to provide stable, predictable and law-based conditions for the market,” Li said. Security issues, in particular managing conflict in the South China Sea, were another major focus of the meetings. The sea is a potential flashpoint, and a huge concern for the US and other countries that rely on the right of passage for shipping. China is pitted against its smaller neighbors in multiple disputes in the sea over coral reefs and lagoons in waters crucial for global commerce and rich in fish and potential oil and gas reserves. Asean leaders said they discussed the need for restraint in the area. “We all agreed on ways and means not to increase tensions in the South China Sea. And that means not bringing in warships and allowing for freedom of navigation,” Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed told reporters. “Small patrol boats are needed to deal with piracy, mainly, but big warships may cause incidents and that will lead to tension.” President Rodrigo Duterte,

who has relaxed his country’s stance on Chinese claims to islands also claimed by Manila, said it also was crucial that the countries involved finish work on a “code of conduct” to help prevent misunderstandings that could lead to conflict. “China is there. That is the reality,” he told reporters before joining the day’s meetings. “Strong military activity will prompt a response from China. I do not mind everybody going to war, but except that the Philippines is just beside those islands. If there is shooting there my country will be the first to suffer.” The sessions on Thursday followed scores of bilateral meetings among the leaders. While the gathering was typically focused on cooperation and goodwill, concerns over Myanmar’s treatment of its ethnic Rohingya Muslims flared with unusually sharp, public comments both by Pence and Mahathir to the country’s leader, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. More than 700,000 Rohingya have fled from western Myanmar’s Rakhine state to escape killings and destruction of their homes by the country’s military and vigilantes, drawing widespread condemnation and international accusations of genocide against Myanmar. Asked if Suu Kyi had agreed to his direct request that she pardon two Reuters journalists imprisoned in Myanmar, Pence replied, “We did not get a clear answer on that.” He said Suu Kyi had given some details on the appeals process and judicial handling of their cases. Asean groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Its annual summit includes meetings with various other nations. Next year’s summit is planned in Thailand, whose capital Bangkok was the site of the 1967 meeting that created Asean.

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Saturday, November 17, 2018

Pound ‘untradeable’ as Brexit drama fuels volatility spikes W A L L St re et i s f i nd ing it harder to trade sterling as the drama surrounding Brexit roils the British currency. The pound ’s shortlived rally on Wednesday after UK Prime Minister Theresa May secured Cabinet backing for her draft deal turned to aggressive selling on Thursday as several ministers resigned and questions

of a leadership challenge arose. Cable’s one-month implied volatility spiked to the highest level since 2016 as the pound posted its biggest drop in more than a year against the dollar. While passive algorithmic strategies can handle t he e x treme, head l ine-d r iven swings, it makes for a tough liquidity environment, according to Jefferies Llc.

Abe dials back foreign-worker plan despite Japan labor shortage

ACING a barrage of criticism from across the political spectrum, the Abe government has settled on a guest-worker plan that will deliver fewer than a quarter of the 1.5 million people Japan needs to plug a labor shortage over the next five years. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants to enact legislation by the end of December allowing up to 345,150 foreigners into the country over the first five years of the program to work in areas like construction and farming. The first workers could arrive in April. The figure is significantly lower than the 500,000 floated in the local media over recent months, suggesting the government’s intent is to ease its passage through parliament and to deflect concerns that the program is both too big and too rushed. Abe has the numbers in parliament to get it passed despite criticism of the program by opposition parties. Yet, even within his Liberal Democratic Party there’s lingering suspicion from conservatives despite his repeated denials that the system amounts to allowing “immigration.” Criticism also comes from some nonprofit organizations that support migrant workers but contend that preparations have been overly hasty. Many base their criticism on an existing program for foreign “technical interns” that the US State Department has cited for cases of forced labor. Officially intended to transfer technology to developing countries, the program became a means to import cheap workers for farms and garment factories. About 260,000 “interns” are working in Japan, mostly from Vietnam and China. They make up a substantial proportion of the total 1.3 million foreign workers in the country, but thousands of them abandon their jobs each year amid poor working conditions. “The gulf between the official policy and the reality, and the patchwork nature of the system have led to serious breaches of human rights,” opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker Shiori Yamao told parliament Tuesday. “This bill will leave the system intact and link it to a new one, ignoring the more serious problems that will emerge.” The Ministry of Justice says that while some interns leave their positions because of rights abuses, most have gone off in search of higher pay in other jobs. Yet given Japan’s aging and shrinking population, the government says the new guest-worker system is desperately needed. Business groups are also in favor of quickly bringing in more workers. There are more vacancies than job seekers in all Japan’s 47 prefectures, while in Tokyo there are two openings for every applicant. Unemployment is close to lows not seen since 1993. Sectors allowed to recruit the workers will include elderly care, the hotel and restaurant industries, agriculture and food manufacturing.

Pay dispute

SHIRO SASAKI, secretary general of the Zentoitsu Workers Union, said the problems facing foreign workers may not change under the new system. Among the cases Sasaki is dealing with is one involving a 36-year-old Vietnamese woman, who told Bloomberg she came to Japan in 2016 hoping to improve her sewing skills and learn about Japanese culture as an intern. Instead, the divorced mother of two, who declined to be identified while involved in a dispute with her former employer, said she was forced to work 14 hours a day without proper overtime pay at a garment factory in the northern prefecture of Yamagata. After querying her pay she says she was fired and ordered to leave the country within days.

Public opinion

PUBLIC opinion varies by age. A Nikkei newspaper poll published Oct. 29 found 54 percent of respondents in favor and 37 percent opposed to admitting more foreign workers. By age, 65 percent of 18-29 year-olds approved, compared with 42 percent of those over 70. In response to those worried about immigration by stealth, the government has said workers will be divided into two types, and those categorized as lower-skilled laborers won’t be allowed to bring their families or stay more than five years. Shigeharu Aoyama, a 66-yearold upper house LDP member, said in an interview that the government should focus on helping unemployed Japanese fill vacancies. Bloomberg News

“ The news f low is far from over, the market is still short and any good news sees violent pops, which is met by selling from a very skeptical investor base,” Jefferies foreign-exchange head Brad Bechtel wrote in a note on Thursday. The British currency “remains relatively untradeable at the moment, but I think the preference in the market is to

hammer rallies still.” The pound plunged as much as 1.9 percent to $1.2744 on Thursday, from as high as $1.3072 the day before. Hedge funds and other speculators have been bearish on the British currency, holding a net short position since June, according to data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The gyrations prompted Aber-

deen Standard Investments to exit their long pound position against the dollar, after wagering last week that cable could reach $1.50 in the three months following a deal. W hi le the pound ’s tur moi l may have some traders backing away, Societe Generale points out that sterling has been confined to a range against the euro and should continue to do so. Strate-

gist Olivier Korber recommends purchasing euro-pound one-year double-no-touch options to play that range, with a knock-out at 0.85 and 0.94. The pair is currently trading at 0.8867. Still, Jefferies isn’t alone in its caution. UBS Securities Llc. also recommended steering clear of the currency until the Brexit dust settles. Bloomberg News

BusinessMirror

A4 Saturday, November 17, 2018 S. No. 178 H. No.5000

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES METRO MANILA SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS THIRD REGULAR SESSION

(5) The necessary measures to ensure the compliance of designated payment systems with Republic Act No. 9160, as amended, otherwise known as the "Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001", and other related laws; (6) The mechanism for the protection of the rights of the end-users and participants to the designated payment systems;

(7) Principles on setting prices or pricing mechanisms in payment systems;

(8) Guidelines applicable to payment system management bodies, including the grant and revocation of accreditation; and

(9) Other pertinent matters as may be determined by the Monetary Board.

Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-third day of July, two thousand eighteen

(e) Issue, through the Monetary Board, directives and orders to any participant of a payment system whenever the Monetary Board has determined that it is necessary to ensure the safety, efficiency or reliability of a payment system or it is in the interest of the public to do so.

[Republic Act. No. 11127]

(f) Require participants of payment systems to submit reports on their operations and provide information for statistical, policy development, supervisory and regulatory purposes.

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE REGULATION AND SUPERVISION OF PAYMENT SYSTEMS Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: SECTION 1. Title. - The short title of this Act shall be "The National Payment Systems Act". SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State recognizes that payment systems are crucial parts of the financial infrastructure of the country and it is essential that they function safely and efficiently for the stability and effectiveness of the monetary and financial system. SEC. 3. Objectives. - The State shall promote, through the Bangko Sentral. the safe, secured, efficient and reliable operation of payment systems in order to control systemic risk and provide an environment conducive to the sustainable growth of the economy. SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. - For the purpose of this Act, the following terms shall refer to: (a) Bangko Sentral - the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas established under Republic Act No. 7653; (b) Clearing - the process of transmitting, reconciling, and in some cases, confirming payment orders prior to settlement, and the establishment of final payment obligations for settlement; (c) Designated payment system - the payment system that has been designated as such by the Bangko Sentral pursuant to this Act and its implementing rules and regulations; (d) Director - any member of the board of directors of a participant to the payment system, or a person considered as such under Bangko Sentral regulations; (e) End-user - any person who originally initiates the instruction to pay or the ultimate receiver of funds in a payment system; (f) Fund - any unit of value that forms the consideration or object of transactions; (g) Issuer - any person who provides the means or the instrument to hold or transfer funds; (h) Manager - any person of recognized competence in payment system designated by the Bangko Sentral to manage the operations of the operator of a designated payment system as provided under Section 17. hereof. For t his purpose, personnel of the Bangko Sentral may be designated as manager;

(i) Monetary Board - the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral;

(j) Netting - an agreed offsetting of obligations by participants of payment systems; (k) Officer - any person who is an employee holding a management position in any of the participants to the payment system, or a person considered as such under Bangko Sentral regulations; (1) Operator - any person who provides clearing or settlement ser vices in a payment system, or defines, prescribes, designs, controls or maintains the operational framework for the system; (m) Participant - the operator, issuer, service provider, or any person involved in the payment system other than the end-user; (n) Payment instrument - any instrument, whether tangible or intangible, that enables a person to transfer funds; (o) Payment order - an order or message requesting the transfer of funds to the order of the payee; (p) Payment system - the set of payment instruments, processes, procedures and participants that ensures the circulation of money or movement of funds; (q) Payment System, Management Body - the entity organized by participants of the designated payment system for the purpose of self-regulation; (r) Service provider - an entity that provides process arrangements, technology or infrastructure to operators of a payment system; (s) Settlement - an act that discharges obligations in respect of fund transfers between two (2) or more parties; and (t) Systemic risk - the risk that the failure of one (1) participant in a payment system, or in financial markets generally, to meet its required obligations will cause other participants or financial institutions to be unable to meet their obligations, including settlement obligations in a payment system, when due: Provided, That, such failure could threaten the stability of the system or financial markets. SEC. 5. Authority of the Bangko Sentral. - The BangkoSentral shall oversee the payment systems in the Philippines and exercise supervisory and regulatory powers for the purpose of ensuring the stability and effectiveness of the monetary and financial system. SEC. 6. Powers of the Bangko Sentral. - In the performance of its mandate under this Act, the Bangko Sentral shall have, in addition to its powers under existing laws, the following powers: (a) Designate a payment system if it determines the payment system as posing or having the potential to pose a systemic risk or the designation is necessary to protect the public interest. (1) Any such determination by the Bangko Sentral shall be conclusive. The designation of a payment system by the Bangko Sentral shall be effective until revoked. The Bangko Sentral may revoke such designation if it finds that the designated payment system no longer poses any systemic risk or it is no longer in the public interest that the system be designated. (2) Should the Bangko Sentral designate a payment system, it shall require the participants of the designated payment system to comply, within a reasonable period, with the provisions of this Act and its implementing rules and regulations. The Bangko Sentral shall give due consideration to the orderly transition of the operations of the newly designated payment system to ensure that it operates in a safe, efficient and reliable manner. (b) Require operators of the designated payment system to secure prior authority from the Bangko Sentral. (1) In granting the authority, the Bangko Sentral shall take into consideration the capability of an operator in terms of its financial resources, technical expertise, and reputation. The licensing process shall include, but not be limited to, an assessment of the ownership structure , governance, key personnel, business model, risk management and financial resources. (2) No person or entity shall be allowed to act as an operator of a designated payment system without prior authority from the Bangko Sentral. The determination of whether a person or entity is acting as an operator of a designated payment system without Bangko Sentral authority shall be made by the Monetary Board. To resolve such issue, the Monetary Board may. through the appropriate department of the Bangko Sentral, examine, inspect or investigate thebooks and records of such person or entity. (c) Accredit or require, when deemed necessary, a payment system management body organized by participants of the designated payment system for the purpose of self-regulation. (1) The accredited payment system management body may issue and enforce its rules and regulations and impose appropriate sanctions among participants of the designated payment- system: Provided, That, such rules and regulations shall be with prior Bangko Sentral approval and subject to its review. (d) Issue, through the Monetary Board, rules and regulations governing the following: (1) The standard of operation of payment systems and the conduct of examination of the participants of the designated payment systems, in such frequency as may be prescribed by the Monetary Board, to determine compliance with laws and regulations; (2) The adequacy of resources of operators of the designated payment systems to ensure that the designated payment systems have a high degree of security and operational reliability and have contingency requirements for timely completion of daily processing commitments; (3) The qualifications and disqualifications of individuals elected or appointed as directors or officers of operators of the designated payment systems with particular regard to their integrity, experience, education, training and competence. The Monetary Board may suspend, disqualify or remove any director or officer found unfit for the position; (4) The appropriate measures to ensure the confidentiality of payment information which, under the provisions of this Act and other existing laws, is considered confidential;

(g) Assess and collect from the participants of the designated payment systems an annual fee in such amount, as may be necessary to cover expenses related to or incidental to the conduct of supervisory functions over such entities. subject to the rules prescribed by the Monetary Board. (h) Such other powers as may be reasonably necessary to meet the objectives of this Act. SEC. 7. Adoption of International Standards and Practices. - In the exercise of its authority under this Act, the Bangko Sentral shall be guided by internationally accepted standards and practices. SEC. 8. Bangko Sentral Authority to Own and Operate a Payment System. - The Bangko Sentral shall have the authority to own and operate payment systems as may be deemed necessary by the Monetary Board. The Bangko Sentral shall have the authority to determine who shall be allowed to participate in payment systems owned and operated by it and who shall be allowed to open an account with the Bangko Sentral for settlement purposes. The Bangko Sentral shall adopt internal safeguards to ensure appropriate independent oversight of its operator functions. SEC. 9. Coordination with Other Government Agencies and Foreign Regulations. - The Bangko Sentral shall coordinate with other regulators and other concerned government agencies to avoid gaps, inefficiencies, duplications and inconsistencies in their respective regulation of other systems which are related to or interconnected with payment systems. The grant, suspension or revocation of any government license necessary for the conduct of business of a payment system operator must be done only with prior consultation with the Bangko Sentral. The Bangko Sentral shall coordinate with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to facilitate the orderly discharge of payment obligations arising from security transactions in securities trading, clearing and settlement systems under Republic Act No. 8799 or "The Securities Regulation Code". The Bangko Sentral shall likewise coordinate with the overseers of payment systems of other countries to facilitate safe, efficient and reliable cross-border payment transactions. SEC. 10. Registration of Payment System. Operators. - Within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act, all operators of payment systems as defined under Section 4 of this Act shall register with the Bangko Sentral. Operators of payment systems, which shall commence business or operations subsequent to the effectivity of this Act, shall register with the Bangko Sentral in such manner and within such reasonable period as may be prescribed by the Monetary Board. SEC. 11. Organization of Operators of Designated Payment. Systems. Operators of the designated payment system, except payment systems operated by the Bangko Sentral, shall be required to incorporate as stock corporations for the pm--pose of operating a payment system, and shall meet the minimum requirements as may be prescribed by the Monetary Board. Operators of designated payment systems, so long as they continue to be authorized by the Bangko Sentral to operate as such, shall not be included in the definition of a debtor under Republic Act No. 10142, otherwise known as the "Financial Rehabilitation and Insolvency Act (FRIA) of 2010". SEC. 12. Certificate of Authority to Register Operators of Designated Payment System. - The SEC shall not register the articles of incorporation of any operator of a designated payment system, or any amendment thereto, or otherwise issue a license to do business in the Philippines, unless accompanied by a certificate of authority to register issued by the Monetary Board, under its seal. The SEC shall also not register the by-laws of any operator of a designated payment system, or any amendment thereto, unless accompanied by a certificate of authority from the Bangko Sentral. SEC. 13. Transfer and Acquisition of Substantial Shareholdings. - No person shall acquire shares in an operator of a designated payment system that will result in ownership or control, directly or indirectly, of more than ten percent (10%) of the voting stock of such operator, without obtaining the prior approval of the Monetary Board. Prior to Monetary Board approval, no such transfer or acquisition of shares shall have legal effect nor shall the same be recognized in the stock and transfer books of the operator or in the records of any government agency. SEC. 14. Responsibilities of the Operator of the Designated Payment System. -The operator of the designated payment system shall be primarily responsible for the maintenance and operation of a safe, efficient and reliable payment system in accordance with rules and regulations. This includes the development of a process, which shall be subject to Bangko Sentral review, for the selection, monitoring and self-regulation. SEC. 15. Finality of Settlement. - Notwithstanding the provisions of existing laws to the contrary, settlement effected in accordance with the agreed procedures of a payment system shall be final and irrevocable and shall not be subject to reversal for any reason whatsoever : Provided, That , if it is shown and established that any such fund so paid and transferred was not legally due, the settlement shall remain and such amount shall constitute a new monetary obligation owed by the payee to the person who caused the payment. SEC. 16. Notification in Case of Insolvency of Participant in a Payment System. - The participant of a payment system shall notify in writing the opera tor of such payment system upon the issuance of a stay order or the declaration of insolvency, bankruptcy, rehabilitation or placement under receivership or liquidation of the participant on the day of the receipt of the order or resolution issued by the court or quasi-judicial agency. Upon receipt by the operator of such notice, the operator shall immediately stop the processing of any pending payment order involving said participant. The operator of a payment system shall notify in writing its participants and the Bangko Sentral upon the issuance of a stay order or the declaration of its insolvency, bankruptcy, rehabilitation or placement under liquidation on the day of the receipt of the order or resolution issued by the court or quasijudicial agency. SEC. 17. Designation of a Manager to Manage the Operations of the Operator of a. Designated Payment System. - In order to avert disruptions in payment systems which may adversely affect the country's monetary and financial stability, the Bangko Sentral may, upon determination of the existence of any of the circumstances enumerated below, based on the report of the head of the supervising or examining department, and with prior approval of the Monetary Board, designate without need for prior hearing a manager of recognized competence in payment systems to manage the operations of the operator of a designated payment system, as may be necessary or expedient. A threat to the safety , efficiency and reliability of the designated payment system exists as a result of any of the following:

(a) The violation of existing laws, rules and regulations by the operator;

(b) The failure of the operator to comply with any order of the Monetary Board;

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operator of a designated payment system. Once the certificate of authority is revoked by the Monetary Board, the provisions of Republic Act No. 10 142 shall apply. For this purpose, the Bangko Sentral may initiate the appropriate action under the aforesaid law.

The designation of a manager who will manage the operations of the operator of a designated payment system shall only be for such period during which any of therefore mentioned circumstances exists. The Monetary Board, however, may replace the manager as it may deem necessary. The manager so designated shall immediately control, manage, and administer the operations of the operator of a designated payment system. Effective immediately upon designation, the powers, functions, and duties, as well as allowances, remunerations and perquisites of the incumbent directors shall be suspended. The suspension shall also apply to the officers of such operator of a designated payment system, unless the manager gives its approval in writing for any officer to continue acting as such under such terms and conditions as the manager may determine. The relevant provisions of the articles of incorporation and by-laws of such operator are likewise suspended. The manager so designated shall determine within the period prescribed by the Monetary Board , but not to exceed one (1) year from the designation, whether any of therefore mentioned circumstances still exists or whether the operator of a designated payment system may be permitted to resume management with safety to its payment system participants and end-users: Provided, That any determination for the resumption of management of the operator of designated payment system shall be subject to prior approval of the Monetary Board. If the manager so designated determines that the operator of a designated payment system cannot continue its operation without causing damage to its participants, end-users or the public in general, the manager so designated shall notify the Monetary Board in writing of its findings and recommend the revocation of the certificate of authority of an

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES

The cost s and expenses in managing the operations of the operator of a designated payment system, including the remuneration of the designated manager, shall be paid first before other claims out of the funds and properties of the operator of a designated payment system. The Monetary Board shall issue implementing guidelines to govern the management of the operations of the operator of a designated payment system by the designated manager, including but not limited to:

(a) The responsibilities of the designated manager;

(b) The information required to be given by the operator, its directors and officers to the designated manager to facilitate the management of the operations of the operator; (c) The circumstances, terms, and conditions when the assets of the operator may be sold or disposed of; and (d) Other matters related to the effective management of the operations of the operator and the appropriate performance of the duties of the designated manager to manage the operations of the operator. SEC. 18. Netting. - Notwithstanding the prov1sions of existing laws to the contrary, when an operator receives from the participant a notice pursuant to Section 16, the operator may effect the netting of all payment orders received before such notice in accordance with the agreed procedures of the payment system. The insolvency, bankruptcy, rehabilitation, receivership or liquidation proceedings shall recognize any such netting as valid.

SEC. 19. Administrative Sanctions. -

(a) Without prejudice to the penalties and sanctions provided in Section 20 of this Act, the Monetary Board may, at its discretion, impose upon any participant of a designated payment system, its directors and officers, including any person or entity determined by the Monetary Board to be acting as an operator without the requisite authority from the Bangko Sentral, for violations of this Act or rules and regulations issued by the Monetary Board or any order or instruction of the Governor of the Bangko Sentral, fines in amounts as may be determined by the Monetary Board to be appropriate, but not to exceed One million pesos (P1,000,000.00) for each transactional violation or One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) a day for each continuing violation, depending on the nature and gravity of the violation or irregularity: Provided, That, in case profit is gained or loss is avoided as a result of the violation, an additional fine of no less than the profit gained or loss avoided but no more than three (3) times the profit gained or loss avoided may be imposed. (b) The Monetary Board may suspend, disqualify, or remove any of the directors or officers of the operator of a designated payment system, in any of the following instances:

METRO MANILA SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS THIRD REGULAR SESSION

Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-third day of July, two thousand eighteen.

[REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11114] AN ACT DECLARING DECEMBER 9 OF EVERY YEAR A SPECIAL NONWORKING HOLIDAY IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF AGOO, PROVINCE OF LA UNION, TO BE KNOWN AS “AGOO DAY’’ Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: SECTION 1. December 8 of every year is hereby declared a special nonworking holiday in the Municipality of Agoo, Province of La Union, in commemoration of its founding anniversary, to be known as “Agoo Day”. SEC.2. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,

VICENTE C. SOTTO III

(2) Willful delay in the submission of reports of publications thereof as required by the rules and regulations to be issued by the Monetary Board pursuant to this Act; (3) Refusal to permit examination into the affairs of the operator of the designated payment system;

GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

President of the Senate

Speaker of the House of Representatives

This Act which originated in the House of Representatives was passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on May 2, 2017 and September 10, 2018, respectively,

(1) Willful violation of the charter or by-laws of the operator of the designated payment system;

MYRA MARIE D. VILLARICA

DANTE ROBERTO P. MALING

Secretary of the Senate

Acting Secretary General House of Representatives

Approved: OCT 30, 2018

(4) Willful making of a false or misleading statement to the Monetary Board or Bangko Sentral examiners; (5) Willful failure or refusal to comply with any provision of this Act, rule or regulation or any order instruction issued by the Monetary Board pursuant to this Act, or any order or instruction of the Governor of the Bangko Sentral; and

RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE President of the Philippines O

(6) Willful commission of irregularities or the conduct of business that threatens the safety, efficiency or reliability of a payment system as may be determined by the Monetary Board. The suspension of directors and officers of the operator of a designated payment system shall not be more than one (1) year, depending on the nature and gravity of the violation or irregularity. Resignation or termination from office shall not exempt such director or officer from administrative or criminal sanctions.

PRRD 2016-008214

H. No. 1928

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

(c) Notwithstanding the institution or pendency of an administrative proceeding, if the participant of a designated payment system and its directors and its officers concerned continue with or otherwise persist in the commission of the cited practice or violation, the Bangko Sentral may issue an order requiring such participant and its directors and officers concerned to cease and desist from the cited practice or violation, and may further order that immediate action be taken to correct the conditions resulting from such practice or violation. The cease and desist order shall be immediately effective upon service on the respondents. (d) The. revocation of the certificate of authority of an operator of a designated payment system may be ordered by the Monetary Board on the following grounds: (1) The operator committed a violation of or has not complied with the provisions of this Act or the rules and regulations on orders and instructions issued by the Monetary Board or any order or instruction of the Governor of the Bangko Sentral, involving acts or violations which amount to fraud or expose its participants or the public to material loss or damage; or (2) The operator committed a violation of or has not complied with the provisions of this Act or the rules and regulations or orders and instructions issued by the Monetary Board or any order or instruction of the Governor of the Bangko Sentral, or failed to implement the rules of the payment system or a cease and desist order issued by the Bangko Sentral, and such violation or failure has been determined by the Monetary Board to be a threat to the safety, efficiency or reliability of the payment system or poses a risk to the stability of the monetary and financial system. (e) The cancellation of the registration of any operator of a payment system may be ordered by the Monetary Board, if it finds that the payment system operates to facilitate fraud and other transactions contrary to law, good morals and public policy. The Monetary Board may also order the suspension or revocation of the certificate of authority or the registration with the Bangko Sentral of an operator of a payment system on the basis of the suspension or revocation of its permits or licenses issued by other government agencies. SEC. 20. Other Penalties and Sanctions. - Whenever any person or entity willfully violates this Act, rule or regulation, directives or orders duly promulgated by the Monetary Board pursuant hereto, the person or persons responsible for such violation shall be punished by a fine of not less than Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00) or more than Two million pesos (P2,000,000.00) or by imprisonment of not less than two (2) years nor more than ten (10) years, or both, at the discretion of the court.

CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES METRO MANILA SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS THIRD REGULAR SESSION

Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-third day of July, two thousand eighteen.

[REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11115] AN ACT DECLARING JUNE 15 OF EVERY YEAR A SPECIAL NONWORKING HOLIDAY IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF VILLANUEVA, PROVINCE OF MISAMIS ORIENTAL, IN COMMEMORATION OF ITS FOUNDING ANNIVERSARY, TO BE KNOWN AS ÄRAW NG VILLANUEVA” Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: SECTION 1. June 16 of every year is hereby declared a special nonworking holiday in the Municipality of Villanueva, Province of Misamis Oriental, in commemoration of its founding anniversary, to be known as ‘’Araw ng Villanueva”. SEC. 2. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,

VICENTE C. SOTTO III

GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

President of the Senate

Speaker of the House of Representatives

This Act which originated in the House of Representatives was passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on May 15, 2017 and September 10, 2018, respectively,

SEC. 21. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. SEC. 22. Separability Clause. - Should any provision herein be declared unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of this Act. SEC. 23. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations or other issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

MYRA MARIE D. VILLARICA

RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE President of the Philippines O

Approved, PRRD 2016-008217

Speaker of the House of Representatives

VICENTE C. SOTTO III President of the Senate

This Act was passed by the Senate of the Philippines as Senate Bill No. 178 on August 28, 2018 and adopted by the House of Representatives as an amendment to House Bill No . 5000 on September 5, 2018.

DANTE ROBERTO P. MALING

MYRA MARIE D. VILLARICA Secretary of the Senate

Acting Secretary General House of Representatives

Approved: OCT 30, 2018

RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE President of the Philippines O

PRRD 2016-008304

Acting Secretary General House of Representatives

Approved: OCT 30, 2018

SEC. 25. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.

GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

DANTE ROBERTO P. MALING

Secretary of the Senate

SEC. 24. Transitory Pro vision. - Payment systems existing on the day of the effectivity of this Act shall be given sufficient time, as may be determined by the Bangko Sentral, to comply with the requirements of this Act.

(d) The capital of the operator has reached a level or is eroding in a manner that may detrimentally affect its participants, users or the public in general; or (e) Any other financial or business condition of the opera tor which may be considered by the Monetary Board to be prejudicial to the interests of its participants. users or the public in general. The actions of the Monetary Board taken under this section shall be final and executory; and may not be restrained or set aside by the court except on petition for certiorari on the ground that the action taken was in excess of jurisdiction or with such grave abuse of discretion as to amount to lack or excess of jurisdiction. The petition for certiorari may only be filed by the stockholders of record representing the majority of the capital stock within ten (10) days from receipt by the board of directors of the operator of the designated payment system of the notice from the Bangko Sentral advising of the designation of a manager to manage the operations of such operator.

H. No. 705

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

Keep shooting the way he did on Sunday against the Nuggets and he might challenge the “Splash Brothers” in Golden State for threepoint supremacy.

Sports

BusinessMirror

‘SPLASH MOUNTAIN’ By Genaro C. Armas The Associated Press

ILWAUKEE—A new nickname for Brook Lopez started floating around Twitter after the Milwaukee Bucks 7-footer had a career night from the three-point line. “Splash Mountain.” How appropriate for a self-described Disney aficionado who is quickly developing a reputation as one of the bestshooting big men in the National Basketball Association (NBA). “I’m pretty partial to that honestly,” Lopez said with a laugh about the moniker this week. “I’m a pretty big Disney geek...I wear it with pride on my sleeve.” Keep shooting the way he did on Sunday against the Nuggets and he might challenge the “Splash Brothers” in Golden State for three-point supremacy. Lopez hit a career-best eight threes and scored 28 points to help the Bucks beat Denver to split a four-game Western Conference road trip. This wasn’t just a one-night-only performance, either. Entering the Bucks’ game on

RADWANSKA RETIRES W ARSAW, Poland—Former Wimbledon finalist Agnieszka Radwanska announced on Wednesday she is retiring from tennis after a 13-year career. The 29-year-old Pole, who reached a career-high ranking of No. 2, says she is “no longer able to train and play the way I used to.” Radwanska won 20 Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) titles in her career. She reached the Wimbledon final in 2012, losing to Serena Williams in three sets. Radwanska also reached the semifinals at the All England Club in 2013 and 2015, as well as reaching the French Open semifinals in 2014 and 2016.

Saturday, November 17, 2018

“Taking into consideration my health and the heavy burdens of professional tennis, I have to concede that I’m not able to push my body to the limits required,” Radwanska wrote on her Facebook account. Radwanska says she’s not leaving tennis completely, adding “it’s time for new challenges, new ideas, equally as exciting as those on the tennis court, I hope.” Last year Radwanska married her coach and sparring partner, Dawid Celt. Poland’s President Andrzej Duda took to Twitter to wish her good luck and to thank her for all the “successes and wonderful promotion of Poland on courts across the world.” AP

Wednesday night against Memphis, Lopez was tied for seventh in the league in made threes (39) and was 14th in attempts (93), shooting 41.9 percent from behind the arc. A career 34 three-point shooter, Lopez said he had hoped coming into his first season in Milwaukee was to eclipse 40 percent. “Not necessarily that I’m going in worrying about makes or misses, but that’s a personal goal,” Lopez said. “You have to go in with a mindset, just if you’re open you’re going to shoot your shot.” It’s a remarkable goal when considering just how far Lopez has come along as a three-point shooter in such a short period of time. The 11-year veteran spent his first nine NBA seasons with the Nets after being drafted 10th overall in the first round out of Stanford in the 2008 draft. But he didn’t hit his first three until

January 10, 2015, when he was 1 for 2 in a 98-93 loss to the Detroit Pistons. It was the only three he would hit that season. He made just two the following season. The transformation happened before the 2016-2017 season, when Kenny Atkinson became head coach after serving as assistant under then-Hawks Coach Mike Budenholzer. “At the time, it was kind of the system that we ran in Brooklyn,” Lopez recounted in explaining why he took up the three. “It was something he wanted to implement, and he had great confidence that I could do it.” Lopez said he was already comfortable hitting midrange and long jumpers in game situations. Spotting up from behind the arc was something he did in pickup games with friends growing up, but he didn’t have the confidence to shoot threes in games. So he put in a lot of work on his shot before the 2016-2017 season, working out in team drills where they would practice five-out looks. Personal workouts were devoted to shooting threes. “It was a step just from shooting them,

BROOK LOPEZ hits a career-best eight threes and scores 28 points to help the Bucks beat Denver to split a four-game Western Conference road trip. AP

Without Butler, Wolves move on with warm welcome for newbies

INNEAPOLIS—When Robert Covington, Dario Saric and Jerryd Bayless walked into their hotel rooms in Minnesota, they found appropriate gifts from Timberwolves All-Star KarlAnthony Towns: winter coats. After the overnight temperature dropped to 7 degrees, the newest members of the team by way of the Jimmy Butler trade with Philadelphia appreciated the welcome from Minnesota’s best player. Butler’s awkward and drawn-out departure created an icy atmosphere around the organization, but now that the deal is finally done, the Wolves have begun trying to warm the atmosphere back up. “We can’t

wait to get on the court, put on that jersey and put it on for this city,” Covington said at a news conference inside Target Center on Tuesday afternoon that carried just a bit less buzz than Butler’s open-to-the-public introduction at the Mall of America less than 17 months ago. As Butler formally joined the 76ers, the Wolves pivoted forward after a pressure-relieving win over Brooklyn on Monday night following an 0-5 road trip. Neither Covington nor Saric played against the Nets, but they’re on track to take the floor on Wednesday night against New Orleans. Bayless is injured, rehabilitating a hyperextended right knee, and with a glut of point guards on the roster he’s not expected to see playing time even once he’s healthy. Both Covington and Saric were starters for the Sixers, who finished third in the Eastern Conference last season at 52-30. “They’re both young, and they’re going to get better. Both are very good defensively. They both shoot the three. We think they fit well with the guys that we do have,” said President of basketball operations and Coach Tom Thibodeau. “Once we got to that point where we felt we were getting multiple rotational players, then we felt it would be time to execute the deal. When we initially

started off, that wasn’t the case.” As for whether the Timberwolves could be better without Butler, the four-time All-Star with exceptional ability on both ends on the court, Thibodeau demurred. “We have to focus on who’s here. We think we have a good, young nucleus and we have to build off of that,” Thibodeau said. Covington is the centerpiece of the package. The 27-year-old, who went undrafted out of Tennessee State and began in the NBA with Houston in the 2013-2014 season, has career averages of 12.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game with a 35.9 shooting percentage from three-point range. The 6-foot-9 Covington was an All-Defensive First Team pick last season with a career-most 315 deflections and a defensive rating of 99.0 that led all forwards in the league with at least 30 minutes per game. He was ninth in the National Basketball Association in steals with an average of 1.7 per game. That’s the area where he’ll help the Timberwolves the most, the area that Butler was also acquired to help improve. “In order to stay in this league and be effective, you’ve got to be able to go down there and be able to stop somebody on the other end,” Covington said, adding: “I think I watched more film the first few years than I’ve ever watched my entire life, as far as just different guys and watching how they read certain things and build the habits of watching players and everything. So I’d say the past couple seasons is when everything started to click.” The 24-year-old Saric was named to the All-Rookie First Team in 2016-2017. The native of Croatia has career averages of 13.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. He shot 39.3 percent from three-point range last season. Covington will likely fill Butler’s starting spot. Thibodeau could move Taj Gibson to the second unit and keep Saric as a starter. The 6-foot-10 Saric, who was the 12th overall pick in the 2014 draft, is the classic “stretch four” with a power forward’s size and a small forward’s shot. He meshed well with Sixers center Joel Embiid, so Towns has the potential to similarly complement his game. “KAT is shooting so much better from the three-point line than Joel, and it seems like we can play with each other,” Saric said, adding: “If I find a way how to play with Joel, I think I can find a way how to play with KAT.” AP

(Wada) had argued was too lenient. Russia, meanwhile, will allow an international delegation to inspect its shuttered drug-testing lab this month, the (Wada) said recently. The visit is part of a deal between Wada and the Russian

government which allowed the country’s antidoping agency to be reinstated in September, following a suspension of almost three years because of widespread drug use. The September deal gave Russia a deadline of December 31 to provide full data from the lab, which has been closed since 2015, in the hope it could shed light on doping cases from previous years. Russia must also hand over samples from the lab for reanalysis by June 30. Wada President Craig Reedie said at a Wada board meeting on Thursday in Azerbaijan that a delegation will visit Russia on November 28. Wada didn’t immediately respond to an inquiry about who will take part in the visit or

whether the agency expects to receive all of the data during that visit. Wada said its board also approved the creation of an “independent ethics board,” a development which follows a dispute over alleged bullying at a meeting in September. It is not yet clear how the new ethics board would differ from the existing Ethics Panel’s advisory role, or if it could discipline Wada officials. “There are some details to work out on that in the coming weeks,” Wada Spokesman James Fitzgerald told The Associated Press. Also, Nigeria’s national drug-testing agency has been declared noncompliant by Wada. AP

THE Timberwolves’ Robert Covington holds up his new jersey. AP

AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA says she is “no longer able to train and play the way I used to.” AP

Weightlifting record holder banned 8 years for doping

AUSANNE, Switzerland—A former world record-holding weightlifter has been banned for eight years in a doping case which caused confusion at the 2016 Olympics. Lin Tzu-Chi of Taiwan held the world record in the women’s 63-kilogram category ahead of the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, but was suddenly withdrawn on the day of competition. Hours later, it emerged she had

failed a doping test ahead of the games. Deng Wei of China won the gold, breaking Lin’s record in the process. Lin, the 2014 Asian Games champion, has tested positive for the second time. The Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned a two-year ban issued earlier by Taiwanese authorities which the World Anti-Doping Agency

and my practice and workouts, and shooting them in games,” Lopez said. “You just have to have confidence to shoot them in games.” Lopez was 3 of 31 combined from threepoint territory over his first eight seasons. He was 134 for 387 (34.6 percent) in 2016-2017. Lopez moved on to the Lakers last season, when he was 112 of 325 from three (34.5 percent). He’s well on pace to shatter that his career bests in just 13 games with the Bucks. Milwaukee is undergoing its own transformation with Budenholzer now coaching of the team. He has instituted a similar system taking Milwaukee that stresses proper spacing and taking good shots. If a three isn’t there, All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo can be unstoppable driving to the lane. If defenses collapse on Antetokounmpo, he can find open shooters on the perimeter like Lopez. “You talk to old coaches, old teammates, front-office people that have been around Brook, you almost have to ask him to get off the court” in practice, Budenholzer said. Appropriately, Lopez took some extra time after practice, shooting threes with guards Tony Snell and Pat Connaughton before finally wrapping up.

A6 Saturday, November 17, 2018 | Editor: Mike Besa

LOOKING FOR A VALLEY GOLF CLUB’S NORTH CO SALVADOR

The #1 killer of the golf swing

By David MacKenzie

HROUGHOUT my work as a mental coach to golfers all levels (and my own experiences as a player), I’ve found that whether you’re a weekend golfer playing for bragging rights with friends, or a Tour player playing for your living, we all feel some pressure to play well. How you process this pressure will ultimately determine how well you play. If you fail to process it properly, you’ll end up with a broken swing and high scores. But if you are able to understand what pressure does to you mentally and physically and how to manage (and prevent it), you improve your chances of achieving the success you desire. I’ve worked with plenty golfers over the years who complain of inconsistency on the golf course. One round they play great and then in the next they have little control over the golf ball. So what changes from one round to the next? Most golfers immediately think their swing is broken and try to fix things by consciously thinking about positions during their swing, which usually makes things worse. Instead, we have to look at the source of the changes in swing mechanics. One of the main culprits of inconsistency from round to round is the amount of tension in the muscles. If we’re not aware of it, tension can change the timing and sequence of the swing. When your swing is fairly free of tension, you are able to use more of the bigger muscles and allow the weight of the club head to produce the swing. When there’s tension, the hands are too involved. This is also very important in the short game and putting where being able to feel the club and putter head is essential. The more tension you have the less feel you have.

WHY DO WE GET TENSE?

FEAR CAUSES TENSION IN THE GOLF SWING WE all want to play well on the golf course. That feeling

of winning and being successful is one that we all want to experience as much as possible. We also want to avoid the feeling of playing poorly. The more we think about these possible outcomes—about getting [or not getting] that result, the more performance anxiety we will suffer. Tension in the muscles and hence tension in the golf swing is a symptom of performance anxiety. TRYING TO CONTROL THE SWING CAUSES TENSION IN THE GOLF SWING IRONICALLY the more control you want to have over your golf swing, the less control you have of the outcome of the shot. Those rounds where you play well are usually ones where there are no swing thoughts and probably (something you are not aware of) low tension. WHAT DOES TENSION TO DO THE GOLF SWING? TENSION in golf swing destroys the fluidity and tempo of the golf swing and alters the whole sequence (movement of different parts of the body) that you are used to when playing without pressure. HOW DO WE PREVENT TENSION IN THE GOLF SWING? n Staying more present n Body scans and being more aware of tension n Practicing with different levels of tension on the range n Muscle-relaxation techniques n Breathing techniques n Put these techniques into action, and I’ve no doubt you’ll stay free on the golf course and see more of the good scores you know you are capable of (without trying too hard to get them!). n David MacKenzie is a performance coach focusing on the mental game of golf. He lives in Washington, D.C., and coaches players of all levels, from beginner to Tour Player.

DAYBREAK on the second hole of the North Course at Valley Golf Club.

Story by Mike Besa Photo by Arnold Chung

OLF-COURSE design is a tricky thing. Golfers come in all shapes and sizes and of many skill levels. The ideal golf course will challenge the best and entertain the rest. It’s a much more difficult proposition than many realize. To challenge the game’s best, the golf course must be long and difficult. Put a neophyte on such a golf course and the chances are good that he’ll never pick up a club again.

The best play for money and glory, and the rest of us play to have a good time. Shooting ugly scores on a PGA Tour level golf course, no matter how beautiful, is not a good time. While some compromise on one end of the spectrum or the other, the clubs that can will build 36 or more holes of golf. It’s quite literally the best of both worlds. Valley Golf and Country Club is a good example of such a property. The South Course measures 7,097 yards from the tips and is a match for the best golfers in the world. The course was the site of the Philippine Open in 1975, 1983 and 1991 and

hosted the XVI South East Asian Games that same year. It’s a real test for most club golfers. What has been forgotten about Valley Golf Club is that the club once was a 27-hole property. The club wanted an executive golf course that emulated the West Course at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club. Wack Wack’s East Course is one of the most difficult golf courses in the country and is just too much golf course for the recreational player, so having the more approachable West Course was an absolute necessity. The board of directors approved the development of

PLAYERS of the GPCCI 10th Anniversary Golf Tournament

THE GERMAN-PHILIPPINE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

Celebrates their 10th anniversary

HIS 2018 the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI) celebrated their 10th anniversary by holding GPCCI’s Annual Golf Tournament and Reception Dinner on the 11th of October 2018. The Annual Golf Tournament was held at Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club and was attended by members of the German-Philippine business community, representatives from the diplomatic corps and the Philippine government. This year, sponsors and players alike joined the tournament in support of Tuloy Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing residential care services, technical and vocational training, sports and health development, and performing-arts programs to abandoned, homeless, and abused children and youth. This year’s tournament was a game of Texas Scramble—or Captain’s Choice, where players played in assigned teams based on their handicaps. This also provided players the opportunity to get to know the rest of the participants and create new connections during the game. The ceremonial tee-off was led by Tournament Director Klaus Schroeder with the Deputy Head of Mission from the Germany Embassy Dr. Roland Schissau, Banco de Oro Vice President/Head of Europe Desk Maan Mariano, Deputy Executive Director of General Administration Atty. McJill Bryant Fernandez and BASF Managing Director Mr. Ronald Mercado. The players then proceeded to their assigned holes and enjoyed the game. Following the tournament, players and other members, partners and friends of the German-Philippine Chamber celebrated the 10th anniversary at the Reception Dinner held at the Palms Country Club in Alabang. The night began with some welcoming remarks from GPCCI Vice President Dr. Bodo Goerlich, as he enumerated the milestones that the Chamber has achieved in the past ten years. Dr. Goerlich also used this time to thank all those who have contributed to the success of the Chamber. The new GPCCI executive director, Dr. Martin Henkelmann, also shared a message of thanks and congratulations through a prerecorded video from Tunisia.

The evening also served as a platform for the Chamber to launch its new corporate video, showcasing the history, milestones and services of the Chamber. This was soon followed by a video message from GPCCI’s President Mr. Tristan Arwen “Bobbit” Loveres, thanking all who attended and made everything possible and wished everyone a good evening. German Ambassador to the Philippines, Dr. Gordon Kricke was also in attendance, and gave a short message congratulating GPCCI for a great ten years and expressed optimism for the future of THE Tuloy Choir German-Philippine bilateral performing at the business relations. reception dinner The night was an opportunity as well for the Chamber to present honorary memberships to two distinguished women in their own fields, who have stood by the advocacies and activities of the chamber, namely, Ms. Teresita Sy-Coson, vice chairman of BDO, and Ambassador Melita Sta. Maria-Thomaczek, former Philippine ambassador to Germany. Previous recipients of this membership included Mr. Washington Sy-Cip and former Philippine Economic Zone Authority Director General Ms. Lilia de Lima. During the reception dinner, Mr. Schroeder led the awarding ceremony for the winners of the

morning’s Annual Golf Tournament. As the game this year was a team competition, awards were given to Dr. Olaf Kliesow and James Ugarte for 2nd Runner-Up, and Tony Co and Jupiter Nuñez for 1st Runner-Up. Jojo Habana and Mike Besa walked away with the championship trophies for this year’s tournament. Exciting prizes were also raffled off for all in attendance. The GPCCI celebrated their 10th anniversary in style. The crowd was filled with a variety of guests, from founding members who saw the Chamber at its infancy to new faces who joined more recently. Everyone went home in high spirits as they wished the Chamber more successful years to come.

THE reception dinner held at The Palms Country Club

www.pinoygolfer.com | Saturday, November 17, 2018 A7

AOURSE GOOD TIME? HAS YOUR NUMBER

the North Course in 1989. It was decided that the new course would be constructed on the property on which the third nine sat. The property was roughly 41 hectares and to squeeze a new 18 on it, the club bought an adjacent piece property, which is now the driving range and a two of the surrounding holes, to provide more room for the new course. The club didn’t hire a golf course architect to design the new golf course. Mel Verano and several other members were appointed to design and build

By Chuah Choo Chiang

EAM competitions often bring out the best from athletes, especially when they proudly put on the national flag to represent their countries. Such a privilege can evoke an overflow of passion, competitive spirit and pride that subsequently create a wonderful theater for sports fans to enjoy and celebrate. In golf, the opportunity to represent your country in a team competition is few and far in between as the professional circuits, from the PGA Tour to the domestic tours around the world, regularly see golfers battling it out for individual honors on a weekly basis. Later this month in Melbourne, Australia, some 56 of the finest golfers in the world will team up to represent

KIRADECH APHIBARNRAT. SI-WOO KIM

PHOTOS BY GETTY IMAGES

it. Only four of the original third nine’s greens were retained—18 used to be the second green, 17 used to be number three, 16 was the old fourth and 13 used to be the seventh. According to former general manager Benjie Sumulong (who graciously provided the background information for this article), 16 has retained much of the old fourth hole’s character. The tee box was behind the creek of flanking the current 15th hole, and it was played as a long par 4 without the creek in front of the green back in the day. The old third nine was tough and complemented the South Course perfectly. The North Course plays to a par of 72 and measures just 5,839 yards from the blue tees. Interestingly, its course rating is 67.8 but its slope rating is 130, much higher that its length or course rating would indicate. In a nutshell, it’s an easy course for the scratch player and not that easy for the bogey golfer. They struck a good balance here; the course is manageable for the higher handicaps but tough enough that they can play it often without it ever getting boring. Interestingly, the North Course has an equal amount of par 3s, 4s and 5s, which explains the low course rating. Scratch golfers lick their lips at the prospect of a short par 5. It also makes it manageable for recreational golfers. The greens are perhaps a bit large for such a short course, but it goes back to the fact that the North Course was designed specifically for the higher handicap golfer. The fairways and rough are mostly carabao grass and zoysia matrella adorns the greens. Both are sensible, sustainable choices; they’re both endemic and are incredibly hardy. They also require minimal maintenance for optimal results. Cut the grass, aerate and roll the greens and it’s good to go. Although the fairways do get muddy during the wet season, which is normal, the greens are wonderful, they’re firm, fast and

roll beautifully, but well struck shots will hold. They define the playing experience on the North. They’re large and aggressively sloped, hitting it close may not provide the best chance for birdie. To play well here, it is necessary to hit it straight and keep the ball below the hole on the greens. Length is an asset, but it isn’t necessary. Hit it 200-yard straight and you’re competitive. With water in play on most holes, you’ll need to keep your wits about you and pick your targets. Aggressive swings at conservative targets will pay dividends. The hilly topography makes clubbing a challenge. Some shots will play 20-yards shorter, others, 20 yards more than indicated on your range finder or GPS. Finding the commitment to make the shot is half the challenge. The driving holes are tight. Seven, nine, 13, 16 and 18 will penalize you severely if you miss big. As short as 13 might be, leave the driver in the bag. A hundred and sixty or 70 yards off the tee is all you need. Lay up before the creek with a hybrid or fairway wood will leave you a wedge into the relatively small green. This short course has teeth. You can lose more golf balls here than on the longer and more difficult South Course. Ultimately, the North Course is a very enjoyable track. It has its challenges, but it also offers so many opportunities to score. The greens are a delight. They challenge the necessity of using imported turf grasses that cost much more to maintain to provide the best putting surface. The best micro-Bermudas are better but not by much. Zoysia has proven itself as an all-around solution for Philippine golf courses. Valley Golf Club has a little gem in the North Course. It is what it set out to be; a fun golf course for the recreational golfer and more. It’s also a really good time for the better player. With proper course management, a score under par is not beyond expectation. What’s more fun than that?

Team Asia at the forefront of the 2018 World Cup of Golf 28 countries to vie for one of the most prized team trophies, the World Cup of Golf. It is a team competition rich in history and tradition where past winning partnerships include great names, such as of Ben Hogan-Sam Snead, Peter Thomson-Kel Nagle, Arnold Palmer-Jack Nicklaus, David Duval-Tiger Woods, Davis Love III-Fred Couples and Ernie Els-Retief Goosen. For the Asian nations, the ISPS Handa Melbourne World Cup of Golf at The Metropolitan Golf Club from November 22 to 25 will offer another great stage to showcase the growing strength and depth of the game in the Far East. Since the event’s inauguration in 1953, which was initially known as the Canada Cup, Asian nations have been crowned World Cup of Golf champions on three occasions, with Torakichi NakamuraKoichi Ono of Japan winning on home soil in 1957, followed by Chinese Taipei’s Lu Liang-huan-Hsieh Min-nan in Melbourne in 1972 and later a second Japanese triumph by Toshi Izawa-Shigeki Maruyama in Mexico in 2002. All eyes will very much be on China’s Li Haotong and Wu Ashun who teamed up brilliantly to finish tied for second in Melbourne two years ago. They will forge their partnership and with their form very much intact—both have won on the European Tour this year— much is expected from the Chinese dynamic duo. “We enjoyed ourselves two years ago. With some luck, we could have won, so we’ll go there with the aim to challenge for a win. To have the chance to represent China again makes me very happy and we’ll do our best to make China proud,” said Wu, who won his third European Tour victory in the Netherlands in September. India’s Anirban Lahiri and Gaganjeet Bhullar could potentially provide a powerful partnership in the World Cup of Golf, as well. Lahiri, now an

established PGA Tour regular, said: “It’s very special, I’m very excited,” said Lahiri, 31. Bhullar, a nine-time Asian Tour winner, said: “This will be my second event in the World Cup with my previous one being with Anirban, so we really gel on the golf course. We’ve played a lot of junior and amateur golf together and understand each other’s game plan really well so I’m looking forward to the World Cup.” Kiradech Aphibarnrat, the first Thai to earn a PGA Tour card for the 2018-2019 season, has picked best friend Prom Meesawat, a two-time Asian Tour winner, as his partner as they attempt to impress at The Metropolitan. Winning the World Cup of Golf for the first time will have unimaginable consequences for the growth of the game, Kiradech said. “If we can win the World Cup, it’ll mean a lot. We’re playing for our country. We’re not playing only for ourselves, or for our caddies... we’re playing for 70 million Thai people. We’ve got the Thai flag on our chest. There’ll be more pressure that we have to handle playing for our country. If you win the World Cup, everyone will know you are from that country,” said Kiradech. Other Asian partnerships to look out for at the World Cup of Golf include South Korea’s Byeong-hun An-Si-woo Kim, the 2017 Players Champion, Japan’s Satoshi Kodaira-Hideto Tanihara and Malaysia’s Gavin Green-Ben Leong. An, who is now playing in his third season on the PGA Tour, said the World Cup of Golf could also be a nice prelude to his hopes of breaking into the International team for the Presidents Cup. “I missed last two Presidents Cup, so I would love to play for the Internationals next year” said An, a former US Amateur champion. Green, the Asian Tour No. 1 in 2017, was ecstatic to earn his first appearance in the World Cup of Golf as his career continues to trend upward. “It’s amazing that I’ve qualified for the World Cup of Golf. I’ve always wanted to play in the event and to have the opportunity to represent Malaysia.” Pride and passion, nation versus nation will very much be the main theme at the ISPS Handa Melbourne World Cup of Golf and Asia’s leading golfers will be aiming to bring honor and glory to their respective nations. n Note: Chuah is senior director,

communications for the PGA Tour and is based in TPC Kuala Lumpur.

OurTime

A8 Saturday, November 17, 2018 • Editor: Efleda P. Campos

BusinessMirror

2,335 Dumaguete seniors get over ₧3.5M in social pensions

By Juancho Gallarde | Philippines News Agency

UMAGUETE CITY—The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Region 7 has distributed P3.5 million worth of social pensions to 2,335 senior citizens in Dumaguete City. The distribution was held on November 7 during a whole-day third-quarter payout at the city high-school gymnasium supervised by DSWD Assistant Regional Director Shalaine Lucero. Federation of Senior Citizens

Associations of the Philippines (FSCAP) Dumaguete chapter President George Villamor said recipients of the P1,500 quarterly pension are senior citizens who have no family supporting them and do not have pensions from either the

Social Security System or Government Service Insurance System. Villamor heads the FSCAP, with more than 6,000 members, while Jun Dizon is president of the city Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (Osca), with more than 17,000 registered senior citizens. Dizon disclosed only 600 slots were added as beneficiaries this year and that they are pushing for an increased allocation next year because pending applications reached more than 2,000. He said the number of beneficiaries for this year is pegged at 2,335, and only those who died, numbering almost a hundred, could be replaced. To be given priority as replacements are senior citizens who need help the most, while plans

are afoot for the FSCAP, the Osca and DSWD to conduct actual visitation of senior citizens who are beneficiaries of the program starting next year due to complaints some of them are well-off and are supported by children who are either working abroad or gainfully employed in Dumaguete. The house-to-house visitation will form part of a screening process for applicants of the government’s social pension for senior citizens. Dizon, likewise, said he will be requesting the office of City Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo to lobby with the regional DSWD office to have additional slots for Dumaguete, the justification of which is the pending 2,000 plus applicants on the waiting list.

Among close-knit retirees, worries for the many still not heard from By Julie Turkewitz

New York Times News Service

ARADISE, California—Has anyone heard from Billy? Susan? Betty? Their friends at the Ridgewood Mobile Home Park want to know. Four days after a blaze called the Camp Fire ripped through the small town of Paradise, the sheriff’s office said that more than 200 residents are still missing. It is a staggering number in a place that as of Monday night had lost at least 42 people in what is now the deadliest and most destructive fire in state history. When asked about his team’s progress in the search, Sheriff Kory Honea of Butte County said simply, “We have a lot of work to do.” Among the missing are many older residents of the mobile home park, a close-knit retirement community of 97 pastel-colored homes, where residents were so tightly bound that they ate together, took walks together and often prayed together, bowing their heads at the mailbox, or in the middle of the street, when they heard of another’s misfortune. Just 20 or so of those people are accounted for by the park’s owner, Glen Fuller. The Camp Fire, which erupted in Northern California on Thursday, has already burned through 113,000 acres of land. As of midday Monday it was just 25-percent contained. Ridgewood was flattened by the fire, a remarkable feat of destruction even for a blaze defined by its speed and brutality. Because the fire came from the east—the park sits east of downtown—it is likely that the people of Ridgewood were among the first to be hit by the flames. Compounding the danger, many of the residents were older, making a hasty escape difficult. This means that those who did

DEER statues at Ridgewood Mobile Home Park in the aftermath of the Camp Fire in Paradise, California, on November 12. The Camp Fire, which killed at least 29 people in Paradise, has already burned more than 110,000 acres and is only about 25-percent contained. JIM WILSON/THE NEW YORK TIMES

make it out—chased by the sound of exploding propane tanks—have been left to wait for news of the people they cared for most. “It’s awful. It’s just awful,” said Sheila Schriber Cox, 64, a retired family counselor who fled with her dog Daisy, leaving behind her walker, her oxygen tank and a stack of Bibles she had meant to distribute. She mentioned Betty, of Lot 127, a fellow Baptist churchgoer with a Labrador named Duck, who she had not seen since Thursday. “I loved her,” Schriber Cox said. “And I don’t know if I’ll ever see her again.” On Monday little remained of the park, save for ashes and a stone Bambi guarding the entrance. Kitchen tables had melted to the ground, rose gardens had turned to ash. Ridgewood was built in the 1960s and 1970s, and it quickly became a sanctuary for retirees from all over the country who were looking to live on a ridge amid the pines. Fuller took it over in 1996. By 2018 the neighbors had grown close, taking their dogs out for walks at 5 p.m., and stopping in Bob Wedman’s garage to marvel at his latest cabinet

project. When the fire hit, at least one new romance was blossoming. Many neighbors bonded over their shared love of church. The group was also getting older. At least one resident was deaf, another was blind. Several used walkers. Others had no cars. Still others did not own cell phones, doing just fine with their landlines. By Thursday morning, when the husband-wife manager team began banging on doors to tell people to evacuate, “so many people were just not aware of the fire,” Fuller said. Wedman, 82, a 21-year Air Force veteran, was readying to leave his home at Lot 40, placing his valuables in his car. Then he noticed his house was on fire and flames were shooting up the skinny pines. The blaze suddenly sounded like a jet engine. “I just left with the clothes on my back.” “I’m coping with it pretty good,” he said, speaking from the nursing home where he is bunking with his wife Ruth, a resident with an Alzheimer’s-like condition. Others at Ridgewood were not so lucky.

On Mond ay, a s wh ite a sh swirled around the neighborhood, a recovery team pulled a body from the rubble. A second team searched for the remains of others. This has been particularly difficult for Schriber Cox of Lot 126. She moved to the Paradise area in 1991 after fleeing an abusive relationship. She purchased her three-bedroom, two-bathroom modular home in Ridgewood in 2010 for $35,000, sometimes hosting community Thanksgiving. But she lives on just $900 a month, and she was never able to afford fire insurance. “I basically lost everything,” she said, speaking from her daughter’s home in the Bay Area, where she can stay for now. At Ridgewood, Schriber Cox liked to be social, and she rattled off the names of the friends she had yet to hear from: Clay and Mary. Elaine who went to the Nazarene church. Dot. Lee and Patty. And then there was Billy, an older woman without a car whom she had last seen about two days before the fire, walking with her cane, all bundled up despite the heat.

NCGH chief pushes for creation of senior citizens’ hospital

LONG-DELAYED passage of a bill institutionalizing the National Center for Geriatric Health (NCGH) has been pushed anew in an event for the elderly organized by the News and Information Bureau, an office under the Presidential Communications Operations Office. NCGH Chairman Melhammid Tomawis, in his remark, appealed for inclusion of the proposed measure converting NCGH into

a full-fledged hospital for senior citizens on Malacañang’s list of priority bills. “We appeal for inclusion of this proposed bill on the list of top 10 priority measures of the government,” Tomawis said during a recent health and wellness services program held at NCGH in San Miguel, Manila. “Because our beloved President [Duterte] is also a senior citizen, I’m sure he will support this [bill],”

he added. He also appealed to lawmakers in both the Senate and House of Representatives to support the passage of the bill. Tomaw is sa id t he countr y needs to have a general hospital that will cater to all the medical needs of nearly 10 million senior citizens. “So I hope that under the term of President Duterte, this [bill] will finally become a law and then,

hopefully, we will able to eventually build similar hospitals in the Visayas and Mindanao,” he said. He said institutionalizing NCGH can serve as “tangible and permanent” legacy of the Duterte administration. Established in 2010 through an executive order signed by former President and now House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the NCGH is just one of the attached hospital of Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center. PNA

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What’s in a number? Dutchman, 69, seeks age change to 49 By Mike Corder

The Associated Press

TRECHT, Netherlands—Self-styled positiv it y g ur u Emile R atelband thinks age is just a number. And his is a number the Dutchman wants changed. The 69-year-old TV personality has asked a court in the Netherlands to approve his request for a new birthday that officially would make him 49. Ratelband says his legal appeal is consistent with other forms of personal transformation that are gaining acceptance and government recognition in the Netherlands and around the world. “With this free[dom] of RATELBAND choice, choice of name, freeness of gender, I want to have my own age. I want to control myself,” he said on Thursday. Ratelband says he wants to avoid age discrimination in society—especially on dating web sites. “So when I ask for a mortgage, for example, they say it’s impossible,” he told The Associated Press. “If I go on Tinder, then I get women from 68, 69 when women are there.” How about just being economical with the truth about his age? “I don’t want to lie,” he said. “I want to be myself, so don’t force me to lie.” Marjolein van den Brink, who specializes in human rights and gender issues at Utrecht University’s law school, said age discrimination is a problem, but is different than the issues involved in reassigning gender. “It’s quite clear that elderly people have a much smaller chance of getting a job than younger people,” she said. “But that’s just one element, and it’s only something that happens to you once you reach the age of 40, 45, 50, depending a bit on your job. “Whereas gender is something that follows you from birth to grave, and it determines nearly everything—and not just in the labor market but everywhere,” she said. In rare cases, even race has also become more fluid. In Britain, theater director Anthony Ekundayo Lennon has attracted attention in part because, despite being the son of white Irish parents, he looks like a mixed-race man. He has also written and told journalists that he thinks of himself as black.

He says he was racially abused as a teenager because of his appearance, and when he started an acting career, he found it easier to pursue nonwhite parts. He also took an African middle name. Now some black artists are complaining because Lennon was recently given a paid traineeship in a program designed to give more black people a chance for careers in the arts. His case resembles in some ways that of Rachel Dolezal, a white woman in the United States who identified herself as black after she was raised by religious parents who had adopted four black children. She was working for the NAACP when her ruse was uncovered in 2015. Ratelband, the Dutch TV personality, says the Dutch government could benefit if it were to accept his age demand. He said he’d be happy to forfeit his monthly pension of around €1,200, rough—a concession he estimates wou ld save nea rly €30 0,0 0 0 ($343,000) over the 20 years he wants shaved off his age. The court in the central city of Arnhem is expected to issue a ruling in about four weeks. Ratelband, who makes a living urging people and businesses to be positive, denies that the age request is a publicity stunt. He claims he is seeking a personal positive effect. “Now I’m an old man. I have to save my money to give to my kids so that they can live,” said the father of seven. “But If I have that age again, I have hope again. I’m new again. The whole future is there for me again.”

Male nurse suspected of killing 6 elderly patients in Germany

ERLIN—German authorities said on Tuesday that they suspect a male nurse of killing six elderly patients, and attempting to kill at least three more, after he admitted to injecting them with diabetes medication. Munich police said the 36-yearold Polish man has acknowledged injecting 12 people in his care with unnecessary insulin shots from April 2017 until his arrest in February this year. The suspect, previously identified as Grzegorz Stanislaw Wolsztajn, denies intending to kill them, police said. He is also being charged with three cases of serious bodily harm. Wolsztajn worked for various Poland and Slovakia-based temp agencies in at least 68 locations across Germany since 2015, often staying only for short periods of time. The suspect is alleged to have sought out vulnerable patients in order to steal their belongings. When he failed to find valuables he would quit his job and

seek a new position elsewhere. Police believe further crimes were averted by the man’s arrest in February on suspicion of one killing, saying: “The accused already had new positions lined up.” German authorities initially reached out to police in England amid concerns that Wolsztajn may also have committed crimes there. But a spokesman for Munich police, Florian Hirschauer, said investigators determined this wasn’t the case. The suspect is believed to have started injecting the patients, aged between 66 and 91, with insulin only after he himself was prescribed the diabetes drug and informed of the risk of overdoses in January 2017, police said. The case echoes that of a former hospital nurse, Niels Hoegel, accused of killing 100 patients at two hospitals in Germany over a decade ago. The 41-year-old, who is already serving a life sentence for murder, went on trial in the northwestern city of Oldenburg last month. AP

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Editor: Gerard S. Ramos • lifestylebusinessmirror@gmail.com

Thinnest and smallest Dell XPS 15 unveiled DELL Philippines officially unveils refreshed XPS 15 laptop for those looking for a device that offers a blend of style, luxury and power. This XPS device maintains the XPS tradition of expert craftsmanship to deliver the best computing experience on the planet. “At Dell, we are passionate about creating technologies that go beyond the boundaries of what’s possible,” says Jay Ranola, consumer head of Dell Philippines. “The XPS 15 continues to flawlessly combine the sophisticated exterior only found in the XPS brand with the latest innovations that offer amazing computing performance experience for power users such as content creators, as well as for everyday users.” Powered by the latest 6-core 8th Gen Intel Core processors, the new XPS 15 delivers up to 50 percent more performance and up to 20 percent more graphic performance than the previous-generation processors, enabling users to enjoy maximum performance for what comes next in gaming and creation. Powered by up to NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050Ti graphics, memory up to 16GB and storage up to 512GB PCIe SSD, the new XPS 15 allows users to get the content they need quicker without being slowed down by memory-intensive applications. The new laptop features a stunning 4K UltraSharp 4K Ultra HD (3840 x 2160) InfinityEdge optional touch display with 100 percent Adobe RGB color. Dell Cinema completes users’ entertainment experience, bringing state-of-the-art sound, color and streaming. With weight starting from just 4 pounds, this laptop can last up to 11 hours and 30 minutes with UHD1, making it a perfect choice for creative professional on the go. All Dell XPS PCs come with Dell Premium Support Service and Accidental Damage support. The service packs the most features in one support plan. It is enhanced with features that include virus removal, repairs for accidents and automated PC healthoptimizing scans to keep PC running at its best. Premium Support comes with SupportAssist, Dell’s exclusive technology that helps make managing PC easier. Users can unlock its maximum performance when they select it. Users will also have expert help from a team that is ready to deliver personalized, one-on-one support for nearly any hardware or software issue. Whether it is setting up parental controls, backing up data, or optimizing your hard drive and software settings to get that like-new performance from the PC, Dell experts are ready to tackle the challenges users might face. More information is available at www.dell.com.ph.

Saturday, November 17, 2018 A9

Pocket money apps aim to help kids in cashless world

BY KELVIN CHAN The Associated Press

ONDON—For kids growing up in today’s cashless society, the piggy bank is going virtual. Father of two Roland Hall turned to a British start-up’s digital pocket money app because his kids were still too young to get bank cards from traditional banks. With prepaid debit cards linked to the app, Hall’s kids, aged 8 and 10, can spend their allowance and chore money by shopping online or by tapping at contactless payment terminals in stores. Sound like a recipe for splurging? Not so, he said. “When kids have cash they want to spend it quickly. They want to go to the shops and spend it on rubbish,” said Hall, an IT project manager. But an app lets them check their balances online, “which actually makes them start thinking about saving rather than getting rid of the money,” said Hall, who also prefers giving digital allowances because he never carries cash. The app, which is called goHenry and expanded to the United States in April, is part of a wave of digital money apps combined with prepaid cards for kids as young as six that parents have access to. They are powerful new money management and savings tools that replace old-fashioned piggy banks and account passbooks. Some say they can help enhance financial literacy even as the growth of cashless payments upends traditional notions of money. Globally, the number of noncash transactions rose 11.2 percent to 433 billion in 2015 from the year before and is forecast to nearly double by 2020, according to the World Payments Report by financial services firms Capgemini and BNP Paribas. Britain, Canada and Sweden are among the world’s most cashless countries, according to a 2017 ranking by currency web site ForexBonuses, with widespread use of “contactless” bank cards that let shoppers merely tap on payment terminals for small transactions. In China, where mobile payments rule, Alipay and WeChat Pay allow teens to hold accounts. Hong Kong offers a kids’ version of its stored value Octopus card, based on older technology. In the US, the fragmented banking sector means most cards still need to be swiped and, sometimes, require a pin number. Merchants in big US cities are increasingly going cashless because they can gather more customer data, which makes it harder for teens without bank cards, said Stuart Sopp, CEO of Current, a two-year-old US fintech start-up. “Parents are willing to pay to solve a problem that banks are not solving”—helping youngsters deal with digital money, said Sopp. Current, goHenry and others such as Britain’s Nimbl and Osper, Australia’s Spriggy and Famzoo and Greenlight of the US operate on similar principles. They typically charge a monthly or annual fee for prepaid debit cards. Parents can load money from

PADDY KELLY and his daughter Ailish use goHenry, one of a wave of digital banking apps for children, in London. AP

their bank onto their own account, set weekly allowance amounts and spending limits, list chores to earn extra money, and block certain types of transactions, like online shopping. Money is sent to kids’ linked accounts, which they can use to set savings goals. The Current app rounds up each transaction and sweeps the change into a savings account. Crucially, the apps send instant alerts about transactions, a feature parents love, said goHenry CEO Alex Zivoder. “You give cash to a kid, how do you as a parent know what he will do with this money?” he said. Hall said his son, Ralph, 8, uses it to save up to buy £70 ($92) soccer shoes and PlayStation video games while his daughter Lilly, 10, saves for shoes or clothing. They both also save up to buy extras on the video game Fortnite. He said he turned to the app because “I want them to understand what the value of money is.” The apps are making inroads amid growing adult uncertainty about how the shift to cashless payments is affecting children’s view of money. In one UK survey commissioned last year by Prudential, about 78 percent of teachers and 37 percent of parents said it hurt youngsters’ understanding of money. More than a quarter felt contactless cards encouraged them to spend more and didn’t help them

develop mental arithmetic skills as well as handling cash, the poll of 501 parents found. No margin of error was given. They’re valid concerns, said Russell Winnard, head of programs and services at financial education charity Young Money, a charity, but he added that apps can help parents explain to children how money works. “Young people are seeing less and less cash transactions, which just means that we have to be even more careful to talk about what is happening at each of those stages, because it has become more abstract,” said Winnard. Paddy Kelly, another gohenry user, says he started using it because he was looking for a better way to help his 8-year-old daughter, Ailish, both save money and improve her math skills. She had a piggy bank full of coins but her younger brother kept emptying it, Kelly said. He likes the app’s savings feature, which his daughter has used to set a goal of saving £20, at £2 per week, with the aim of buying a pet gerbil. Getting her to figure out how long it would take to reach that goal is better than forcing her to do abstract math questions, which just makes her “irate,” he said. “It gets her thinking about money in a slightly smarter way,” said Kelly. “Money is such an abstract concept, in today’s world it kind of makes sense” for kids to use digital pocket money apps, he said. ■

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DINNA CHAN VASQUEZ @dinnachanvasquez luckydinna@gmail.com

IT’S baffling how people can pay nearly P100,000 for a new iPhone and use a case that’s worth P250. I’m also guilty of buying phone cases because of the cuteness factor instead of considering how it can protect my phone, and I now realize how silly it is. Whether your phone is worth P10,000 or P100,000, it deserves adequate protection. OtterBox is a trusted brand in mobile phone protection. It recently unveiled a full portfolio of style, color and graphic case options available now for iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, and coming soon for iPhone XR. This year, the Symmetry Series case is slimmer than ever but without compromising the level of OtterBox protection that it’s known for.

“We watch Apple improve and enhance its technology every year, and we are doing the same by enhancing the protection, style and design of each of our case series to make them better than ever,” said Jim Parke, OtterBox CEO. “Whether facing drops, dings or scratches, OtterBox protection keeps your device looking like new. That way, when it’s time to use Apple GiveBack, you will get every penny that you deserve.” Each iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR case design goes through at least a 24 tests across more than 238 hours to earn the OtterBox Certified Drop+ Protection seal. These tests ensure lasting protection from drops, bumps, scratches and dings. ■ The Symmetry Series has been redesigned with a slimmer form and easy-push buttons and comes in different colors and graphics in a sleek, one-piece design. ■ The Defender Series offers rugged protection for iPhone X, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR. The multilayer design absorbs and lessens shock, while port covers keep dirt and debris out. It is available in a variety of colors and even build-your-own options. ■ The Pursuit Series is OtterBox’s thinnest, most protective case with protection against drop, dust, dirt and snow intrusion. The two-piece design seals together around the iPhone and features audio

A10 Saturday, November 17, 2018

BusinessMirror

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Google bows to worker pressure on sexual-misconduct policy /

GOOGLE CEO Sundar Pichai speaks at the Google I/O conference in Mountain View, California, in May. Google is promising to be more forceful and open about its handling of sexual-misconduct cases, a week after high-paid engineers and others walked out in protest over its male-dominated culture. AP

BY MICHAEL LIEDTKE The Associated Press

AN FRANCISCO—Google is promising to be more forceful and open about its handling of sexual-misconduct cases, a week after thousands of high-paid engineers and others walked out in protest over its male-dominated culture. Google bowed to one of the protesters’ main demands by dropping mandatory arbitration of all sexual-misconduct cases. That will now be optional, so workers can choose to sue in court and present their case in front of a jury. It mirrors a change made by ride-hailing service Uber after complaints from its female employees prompted an internal investigation. The probe concluded that its rank had been poisoned by rampant sexual harassment. “Google’s leaders and I have heard your feedback and have been moved by the stories you’ve shared,” CEO Sundar Pichai said in an e-mail to Google employees. “We recognize that we have not always gotten everything right in the past and we are sincerely sorry for that. It’s clear we need to make some changes.” Thursday’s email was obtained by The Associated Press (AP). Last week the tech giant’s workers left their cubicles in dozens of offices around the world to protest what they consider management’s lax treatment of top executives and other male workers accused of sexual harassment and other misconduct. The protest’s organizers estimated that about 20,000 workers participated. The reforms are the latest fallout from a broader societal backlash against men’s exploitation of their female subordinates in business, entertainment and politics—a movement that has spawned the “MeToo” hashtag as a sign of unity and a call for change. Google will provide more details about sexualmisconduct cases in internal reports available to all employees. The breakdowns will include the number of cases that were substantiated within various company departments and list the types of punishment imposed, including firings, pay cuts and mandated counseling. The company is also stepping up its training aimed at preventing misconduct. It’s requiring all employees to go through the process annually instead of every other year. Those who fall behind in their training, including top executives, will be dinged in annual performance reviews, leaving a blemish that could lower their pay and make it more difficult to get promoted. But Google didn’t address protesters’ demand for a commitment to pay women the same as men doing

LENOVO IdeaPad 530S

LENOVO BOLSTERS IDEAPAD LINEUP WITH NEW WINDOWS 10 LAPTOPS

similar work. When previously confronted with accusations that it shortchanges women—made by the US Labor Department and in lawsuits filed by female employees—Google has maintained that its compensation system doesn’t discriminate between men and women. The changes didn’t go far enough to satisfy Vicki Tardif Holland, a Google employee who helped organize and spoke at the protests near the company’s Cambridge, Massachusetts, office last week. “While Sundar’s message was encouraging, important points around discrimination, inequity and representation were not addressed,” Holland wrote in an e-mail responding to an AP inquiry. Nevertheless, employment experts predicted the generally positive outcome of Google’s mass uprising is bound to have ripple effects across Silicon Valley and perhaps the rest of corporate America. “These things can be contagious,” said Thomas Kochan, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology management professor specializing in employment issues. “I would expect to see other professionals taking action when they see something wrong.” Some employers might even preemptively adopt some of Google’s new policies, given its prestige, said

Stephanie Creary, who specializes in workplace and diversity issues at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. “When Google does something, other employers tend to copy it,” she said. Google got caught in the crosshairs two weeks ago after The New York Times detailed allegations of sexual misconduct against the creator of Google’s Android software, Andy Rubin. The newspaper said Rubin received a $90-million severance package in 2014 after Google concluded the accusations were credible. Rubin has denied the allegations. Like its Silicon Valley peers, Google has already acknowledged that its work force is too heavily concentrated with white and Asian men, especially in the highest-paying executive and computerprogramming jobs. Women account for 31 percent of Google’s employees worldwide, and it’s lower for leadership roles. Critics believe that gender imbalance has created a “brogammer” culture akin to a college fraternity house that treats women as sex objects. As part of its ongoing efforts, Google will now require at least one woman or a non-Asian ethnic minority to be included on the list of candidates for executive jobs. ■

Epson launches T-series printers for technical users EPSON has announced the launch of the new high-speed T-series large-format printers available as desktop or floorstanding models, marking the brand’s entry into the low-tomid-range CAD plotter market. Offering one of the smallest footprints in its class, the wireless plotters feature a new minimalist, ergonomic and compact design suitable for the office. From printing of blueprints, line drawings to signages or classroom posters, the SureColour T-series offers reliable printing performance for professionals across a wide range of sectors, including architecture, engineering, CAD, GIS, education, corporate, home and small offices. The SureColor T-series are driven by Epson’s PrecisionCore MicroTFP printhead technology and Nozzle Verification technology to automatically detect and adjust nozzle condition, delivering precise detail and commercial-grade reliability. The high-performance range consists of the 36-inch

SC-T5430 and 24-inch SC-T3430 printers that produce at high speeds of 22 seconds and 25 seconds for A1 prints. The entry-model SC-T5130, SC-T3130 and SC-T3130N series prints A1 in 31 and 34 seconds, respectively, and can fit in well in a small office environment. Specifically, the SC-Tx130 series come with the unique auto-switching functionality enabling the printers to conveniently swap between large-format roll paper and A4/A3 size paper, without users having to touch the printer, ideal for small companies that have multipurpose print requirements in a limited workspace. Printouts are held in place until the next printout for ease of use. “The new SureColor T-series printers are designed for innovators—engineers, designers and architects—who are looking for a compact large format printer that can fit neatly into their workspace. The T-series printers build on Epson’s latest technology to deliver high-quality prints, enabling

users to wirelessly produce accurate and vibrant large-format prints from their mobile devices directly,” said Eduardo Bonoan, marketing director for Epson Philippines (www. epson.com.ph). Featuring integrated wireless and WiFi Direct connectivity, architects and designers can seamlessly print from tablets and smartphones, or use the new 4.3-inch color LCD touch screen with simple and intuitive menu control and navigation. The advanced printer driver enables users to make last-minute changes before printing, reducing the risk of misprint. Next-generation high-capacity UltraChrome XD2 pigment inks deliver durable archival prints with brilliant color and crisp lines on virtually any paper type. Easy to set up and designed for ease of use, the T-series printers come with the option to connect to Epson document scanners for seamless scanning of smaller documents to print enlarged copies.

Aboitiz Group’s unit introduces weather mobile app BY RODERICK L. ABAD Contributor SOCIAL enterprise Weather Solutions Inc. has launched a mobile application to keep businesses and communities updated on climate conditions. “We are pleased to offer the new Weather Solutions mobile app,” Weather Solutions General Manager Jojo Z. Marasigan said of their new offering that provides accurate seven-day, by-the-hour digital forecasts of specific locations. Using 826 automated weather stations deployed nationwide, it also helps users monitor areas of interest with hyper-localized weather data.

They now have access to color-coded warnings for rain, wind and temperature maps in the Philippines, based on world meteorological standards. The mobile app, likewise, gives an easy overview of selected locations’ weather information. It boasts of a fresh user interface and experience, with a swipe feature for hourly forecasts on each selected location. Free to download, the Weather Solutions mobile app is available via the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for iOS and Android users, respectively. “We believe being weather-wiser doesn’t have to be difficult or boring—we hope our users will be able to fully utilize our great new features and by doing so, adopt a weather-wise mindset moving forward,”

Marasigan said. Weather Solutions is a social enterprise founded by the Aboitiz Group. It offers available historical and real-time weather data, forecasting and consultancy to organizations across various industries. This entity “for-a-cause” aims to address the weather needs and fill in the information gaps of business and communities. Also in the coming years, it will provide highly accurate, platform-based weather information that will help enterprises enhance their operations and decision-making processes. The firm supports the group’s weather-oriented foundation, WeatherPhilippines Foundation Inc.

ANSWERING the need for a powerful yet budgetfriendly laptop, Lenovo refreshed its IdeaPad lineup by introducing three new devices suitable for casual users, on-the-go workers and students looking for the perfect productivity and study tool. These new additions come with a wide range of features at reasonable price points. They all come preinstalled with Windows 10 and are excellent options for those looking for a great deal. The most affordable of the trio, the IdeaPad 330 packs a punch with up to 8th Generation Intel Core i7 processor, allowing processing, storage and graphic configurations capable of handling day-to-day tasks. You can also choose from integrated graphics up to NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 for more intensive requirements that involve processing and graphics, such as photo editing and gaming. In addition, the device can have up to 16GB DDR4 memory and up to 2TB for storage. The IdeaPad 330 comes in 14-, 15-, and 17-inch antiglare screens, in HD and full HD resolution options. Starting at 4.6 lbs., the device is made up of sturdy PC-ABS material and promises up to eight hours of battery life. If you’re looking for a laptop that can keep up with your on-the-go lifestyle, the IdeaPad 330s is the ideal device for you. An upgraded version of the 330, it is slimmer, lighter and a notch higher in the looks department. It features an aluminum shell and true to the “S” in its name, which stands for “slim,” it starts at only 0.7 inches thick and 3.6 lbs., which is a pound lighter than the IdeaPad 330. It comes in Full HD 14- and 15-inch versions that use IPS (In-Panel Switching) technology providing better color reproduction and a wider, more accurate viewing angle. It can support up to an 8th Generation Intel Core i7 processor. Graphics options are AMD Radeon 535, AMD Radeon 540, or Intel Integrated, and its memory can be expanded up to 12GB DDR4, and storage of up to 2TB. The device also boasts of an eight-hour battery life. The most premium device of the lineup, the IdeaPad 530S features an all-aluminum polished metal chassis that is only 0.6-inches thin, weighing just a bit over 3 lbs. It also packs an impressive 10-hour battery life, good enough to last you through the day on a single charge. Its beautiful exterior is complemented with a vibrant 250-nits 14- or 15-inch IPS Full HD resolution display. The 14-inch version features an immersive Wide Quad HD (WQHD 2560 x 1440) wide-angle display. Running under the hood is an 8th Gen Intel Core processor and super-fast SSD storage up to 256GB M.2 PCIe. For graphics, you can up your game with the graphics coming from the NVIDIA GeForce MX150 card for a boost in light gameplay or video and photo editing. The IdeaPad 530S has 4GB DDR4 memory but can be upgraded up to have 16 GB Intel Optane.

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Saturday, November 17, 2018 A11

‘Share your Christmas’ campaign set by Caritas Manila

How Facebook wrestled with scandal: 6 key takeaways BY NICHOLAS CONFESSORE & MATTHEW ROSENBERG New York Times News Service

OR more than a year, Facebook has endured cascading crises—over Russian misinformation, data privacy and abusive content—that transformed the Silicon Valley icon into an embattled giant accused of corporate overreach and negligence. An investigation by The New York Times revealed how Facebook fought back against its critics: with delays, denials and a full-bore campaign in Washington. Here are six takeaways. ■ FACEBOOK KNEW ABOUT RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE. In fall 2016 Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s chief executive, was publicly declaring it a “crazy idea” that his company had played a role in deciding the election. But security experts at the company already knew otherwise. They found signs as early as spring 2016 that Russian hackers were poking around the Facebook accounts of people linked to American presidential campaigns. Months later, they saw Russian-controlled accounts sharing information with reporters that was from the Democratic National Committee’s hacked emails. Facebook accumulated evidence of Russian activity for more than a year before executives opted to share what they knew with the public—and even their own board of directors. ■ THE COMPANY FEARED TRUMP SUPPORTERS. In 2015, when the presidential candidate Donald

J. Trump called for a ban of Muslim immigrants, Facebook employees and outside critics called on the company to punish Trump. Zuckerberg considered it—asking subordinates whether Trump had violated the company’s rules and whether his account should be suspended or the post removed. But while Zuckerberg was personally offended, he deferred to subordinates who warned that penalizing Trump would set off a damaging backlash among Republicans. Trump’s post remained up. ■ FACEBOOK LAUNCHED A MULTIPRONGED ATTACK AND LOBBYING CAMPAIGN. As criticism grew over Facebook’s belated admissions of Russian influence, the company launched a lobbying campaign—overseen by Sheryl Sandberg, the company’s chief operating officer—to combat critics and shift anger toward rival tech firms. Facebook hired Sen. Mark Warner’s former chief of staff to lobby the Democrat from Virginia; Sandberg personally called Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., to complain about her criticism. The company also deployed a public-relations firm to push negative stories about its political critics and cast blame on companies like Google. Those efforts included depicting the billionaire liberal donor George Soros as the force behind a broad anti-Facebook movement, and publishing stories praising Facebook and criticizing Google and Apple on a conservative news site. ■ CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA RAISED THE STAKES. Facebook faced worldwide outrage in March after The New York Times, The Observer of London and The Guardian published a joint investigation into how user data had

been appropriated by Cambridge Analytica to profile American voters. But inside Facebook, executives thought they could contain the damage. The company installed a new chief of American lobbying to help quell the bipartisan anger in Congress, and it quietly shelved an internal communications campaign, called “We Get It,” meant to assure employees that the company was committed to getting back on track in 2018. ■ SOME CRITICISMS HURT MORE THAN OTHERS. Sensing Facebook’s vulnerability, some rival tech firms in Silicon Valley sought to use the outcry to promote their own brands. After Tim Cook, Apple’s chief executive, quipped in an interview that his company did not traffic in personal data, Zuckerberg ordered his management team to use only Android phones. After all, he reasoned, the operating system had far more users than Apple’s. ■ FACEBOOK STILL HAS FRIENDS. Washington’s senior Democrat, Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, raised more money from Facebook employees than any other member of Congress during the 2016 election cycle—and he was there when the company needed him. This past summer, as Facebook’s troubles mounted, Schumer confronted Warner, who by then had emerged as Facebook’s most insistent inquisitor in Congress. Back off, Schumer told Warner, and look for ways to work with Facebook, not vilify it. Lobbyists for Facebook—which also employs Schumer’s daughter— were kept abreast of Schumer’s efforts. ■

Spotify for Apple Watch helps you keep time with the music We’re constantly on the go—whether bouncing between the gym, work, school, errands or just chilling—and our smartwatches are the tool to help keep us up to speed. Today, Spotify is introducing a new app for the Apple Watch, giving you the ability to seamlessly access and control your favorite music and podcasts without missing a beat. The new Spotify app forthe Apple Watch allows users to enjoy an improved experience with better control and the ability to seamlessly connect to their speakers or devices. And while the company continues to innovate, it has many exciting things coming up—including the ability to listen to your music and podcasts offline. Smartwatches let us access the world with a flick of our wrists. Ready to start your run? Hit play from your Apple Watch without having to wrangle your phone out of its running case. Running into a friend as you head into the grocery store? Tap pause to grab a cart and a chat. Not feeling a slow song during your birthday party? Skipping to the track that matches your mood and activity is now as easy as checking your notifications. Or, while listening to your favorite podcast, easily rewind 15 seconds to catch that detail you missed. It’s all right there on the watch face. Speaking of parties, easily connect your speakers or devices via Spotify Connect to effortlessly DJ from your watch. The new integration with Apple Watch makes accessing your recently played songs simple, even with your phone

in your pocket. Plus, if you find a new favorite track while on the go, just tap the heart icon on your watch screen to save it to your collection—and then feel free to stream it over and over again.

This new experience will be rolling out to Apple Watch users over the coming week. Make sure that you have the latest version (v.8.4.79) of Spotify, or download it on the App Store—and look out for more updates coming soon.

AS the Christmas season approaches, Caritas Manila is extending its efforts to provide assistance and give joy to the poor through its #ShareYourChristmas online campaign. Caritas Manila Executive Director Rev. Fr. Anton Pascual said the online campaign reminds us that the real essence of Christmas is love and charity. “As we approach what seems to be a tough Christmas season due to the rising inflation rates, worse self-rated poverty statistics and an increase in the number of Filipinos experiencing involuntary hunger, we are calling all the faithful to remember our brothers and sisters in need,” Pascual said. Pascual also pointed out that aside from spending all the the extras we have, we can some of our blessings to help the poor during the Christmas season. “We are reminding all the Catholic faithful that material wants is not what we should prioritize during this season, but the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. And helping out our brothers and sisters who are suffering is a good way of preparing ourselves for our Savior,” Pascual added. #ShareYourChristmas is an online campaign platform of Caritas Manila that aims to bring the joy and spirit of Christmas to the less fortunate by providing assistance to them through cash donations. For more information, interested donors may visit the Caritas Manila #ShareYourChristmas web site at shareyourchristmas. caritasmanila.org.ph. Donors may also wish to sponsor Christmas novena Masses from December 16 to 24 (December 15 to 23 for anticipated Simbang Gabi Masses), which will be aired at Radio Veritas 846. Donors can call Caritas Manila at 5639311 or 562-0020 up to 25, or visit the Caritas Manila head office at 2002 Jesus Street, Pandacan, Manila, for inquiries.

50 countries vow to fight cybercrime– US and Russia don’t PARIS—Fifty nations and over 150 tech companies pledged Monday to do more to fight criminal activity on the Internet, including interference in elections and hate speech. But the United States, Russia and China are not among them. The group of governments and companies pledged in a document, titled “Paris Call for Trust and Security in Cyberspace,” to work together to prevent malicious activities like online censorship and the theft of trade secrets. The push is supported by European Union countries, Japan and Canada, as well as tech giants Facebook, Google and Microsoft, among others. French President Emmanuel Macron had pushed for the initiative, whose unveiling comes a day after dozens of world leaders gathered in Paris on Sunday for the centenary of the end of World War 1. Speaking at the Internet Governance Forum organized at the Paris-based United Nation cultural agency Unesco, Macron said it’s urgent to better regulate the Internet. The French leader also said that Facebook had accepted to let a team of French officials observe the way it monitors and removes hate speech content. It will happen in the early part of next year, and the goal is to “elaborate precise, concrete joint proposals about the fight against hate speech and offensive content,” Macron said. Speaking at another summit focusing on new technologies in Paris city hall, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, “One of the things we have to do as a society, as tech leaders, but also as government is reassure people that the innovation, technology...is going to empower them in ways they will feel part of the world we’re building, of the workplaces we’re creating.” AP

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos • lifestylebusinessmirror@gmail.com

BusinessMirror

Saturday, November 17, 2018 A12

From geeks and nerds to urbanized ‘technosexual’ THE TECHNIVORE ED UY

whereiseduy@gmail.com

N August 28, 2013, the phrase “Geek Chic” officially made its way to the Oxford Dictionary, and on that day, the once obscure comic/book/movie/gaming/ tech/(insert not so popular hobby here) lifestyle went mainstream and even became a trend. The definition may have been new at the time but the concept of nerdiness and geekiness, believe it or not, is already over a hundred years old—although with quite a different meaning. According to the web site www.todayifoundout.com, the first documented case of “geek” dates all the way back to 1916. But it was a very different scenario, as the term was used to describe sideshow freaks in circuses. Those acts that did crazy stuff were called “geek shows” originating from the word “geck,” a Low German word which meant someone who is a “fool/freak/simpleton.” The first documented case of “nerd” came a few decades later, 1950, from Dr. Seuss’s If I Ran the Zoo. The specific text was: “a Nerkle, a Nerd, and a Seersucker too.” The first documented use of the word came a year after Dr. Seuss’s book, appearing in a Newsweek magazine article, and was used similarly to how we use it today. The article further said there are two popular theories as to where the word was derived from. The first is that it was perhaps derived from “drunk” spelled backward, “knurd,” which descried people who studied instead of going out with friends and partying—and as a modification of “nut” or “nert” which meant crazy person. Question: Are nerds and geeks the same? Although they are used interchangeably, they are quite different species. The Urban Dictionary defines nerds as: “Smart, people who lack much of a social life. They often have very few friends. Nerds don’t talk much, and don’t expect others to talk much to them. They are usually nice people, but don’t have the social skills to go out and meet new friends.” Geeks, on the other hand, are different from nerds in the fact that they have social lives. “However, these social lives are often spent pursuing some passion that the geek is obsessed with (i.e. Pokémon). They spend all their time thinking about their one obsession, and play it in all of their free time. Geeks are usually only friends with other geeks, and attempts to converse with geeks is futile, unless, of course, you want to talk about Star Trek or whatever the certain geek is obsessed with.” Thanks to TV shows like The OC (remember the scene where Summer Roberts tried to win Seth over by donning a Wonder Woman costume?) and The Big Bang Theory, geeks and nerds had something to rally about and soon enough, ComicCons, ToyCons, Technology, Games and other sub culture conventions became more and more popular. Like

so many subcultures that are absorbed by the mainstream, geeks likewise started out as an anti-fashion statement. As anti-intellectualism fell out of fashion, geek became the new season trend, and the fashion world took notice. Marc Jacobs was one of the earliest champions of the Geek Chic movement. His diffusion label, Marc by Marc Jacobs, reimagined high-school cliques (cheerleaders, preppy kids, athletes)—which naturally lead straight to geeks. Other designers soon followed suit and now geek stuff is just about everywhere, almost losing itself in everyday fashion. Oh, and I know just how much you love those Black Milk designs. In the past few years, the concept of geeks and nerds have again been evolving as more people become obsessed with technology. Steve Jobs and Apple made tech sexy and being “technosexual” is the new hip, the new creative and the new cool. Who would’ve thought gadget accessories would become part of runway shows and create a new category for most fashion retailers and designers? Just look at the contents of your bag, or even the bag itself: I’m pretty certain you are using a bag with a padded laptop/tablet compartment, maybe a USB cable (for powerbank), or something which has several other compartments for your other gadgets/cables. Still using a not so gadget-friendly bag? Well, now might be the time for a much-needed upgrade. As we race through the so-called ber months, expect a more hectic schedule with invitations to holiday parties and reunions piling up, or maybe an upcoming trip you’ve been anticipating for months. In time for the holiday bustle, we will be featuring some comfortable and practical pieces to help you look stylish, as well our picks of great gadgets, accessories and other items you might want to gift, or get for yourself.

BAG ’EM UP

I ALWAYS travel with a backpack and a carry-on luggage trolley for those short trips, but for my most recent Taiwan trip, I decided to get my first CabinZero Bag. I’ve seen several travel bloggers rave about it, so I decided to try it out for myself. I got the Classic 44L Navy backpack, the one with flags (I want to add my own patches for each new country I visit). I was surprised that I could fit five pairs of pants, two pairs of shorts, nine shirts and a denim jacket and still have space for my gadget accessories. It’s also lightweight, so it easily passes the 7-kg weight limit and the size was made to fit the plane’s overhead cabin so I didn’t need to check it in. The fabric is made of waterproof polyester so you don’t have to worry about a sudden light downpour. And the best part of it all is its built-in global luggage tracker powered by Okoban. Register the code of your bag and you can trace it if it gets lost. It also has a 10-year warranty, which you can upgrade up to 25 years. For those who commute, you need a bag that can protect your personal belongings from this season’s unpredictable weather. The latest Nau Paper Backpack from Sherpani is ideal for work and day-to-day life. The main compartment is secured by a slight fold, zipper and modern crab hook for added peace of mind. The Nau is large enough to fit most laptops, and features include soft, adjustable backpack straps, and vegan leather accents. The best thing about this backpack—apart from its minimalist design which goes pretty well with your chic ensemble—is its inner and outer fabric materials that are durable and water-resistant.

Want to get that Ivy style? This Ivy League look is inspired by the preppy and traditional gentleman’s look which were widespread among Harvard, Yale and Princeton college students, dating back all the way to the early-1950s. The Prep look has a nautical appearance, while the Trad style, on the other hand, is a dressier version: think Mathew Davis from the 1990s classic Legally Blonde. While prep and traditional styles were generally for garden parties, sailing, and casual affairs, the Ivy style was for more casual occasions such as attending a class at Harvard Law. Fast-forward to today’s generation, and this staple men’s style is alive and pumped up with a newer version. Instead of the usual leather messenger bags, get the latest Backpack Click Pack from Korin. This will not only disrupt the whole preconceived notion of what an Ivy League style should look like, but you’ll also feel and look appropriate whatever the occasion is. This backpack is designed with anti-theft features which makes it ideal for everyday commute, with a generous compartment storage that can fit your 15-inch laptop and other personal belongings. As an added bonus, the outer materials were designed to repel a small amount of liquid, so it’s perfect for rainy days and out-of-town trips. If you plan to go out of town, use a backpack that’s spacious enough to carry all your essentials—from cosmetics to all your gadgets. The new Grind Vector Backpack (Black) from U is compact, durable and stylish enough for any occasion. It features easy front pockets and interior pockets so you can easily organize your things. With its two-tone minimalist design, you can be sure that it will always look good on you no matter what your outfit is. And since you’re gunning for the “weekend” look, be sure to have a decent sporty earphone with a laid-back style to complete the whole set. Complement these bag with everyday essentials such as the latest Thermal Suction Bottle (Yellow) from ArtiArt. The clever grip-pad design reduces spillage, and it works on all flat and non-porous surfaces such as desk or tables, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally spilling your drink on your newly bought outfit. Love coffee or tea? You might want to get the Coffee and Tea Press from Espro, which is ideal for long travels. Not only does it keep your beverage warm, but it also prevents your drink from spilling. And if music is life, you might want to get a sporty waterproof Bluetooth earphone from Elecom that will instantly double your sleek look. Besides, you wouldn’t want to get stuck in traffic without earphones, would you? Urbanize focuses on curating the best and most innovative brands in the market; allowing you to own and personalize your lifestyle while at the same time, making you well-equipped to take on the daily grind of city living. More information and store locations are available at www.urbanize.com.ph.

CHOETECH FAST WIRELESS CHARGERS

SINCE we’re talking about accessories, I’d like to share with you my thoughts about a couple of products from this company called Choetech. The company, based in Shenzhen, China, sells a wide variety of high-m quality electronic products, including mobile and PC accessories like wireless chargers, USB chargers, mobile cables, digital AV products and more. First is the Choetech T536-S Fast Wireless Charging Car Mount. If you are as directionally challenged as me, Waze

is probably your best driving buddy, and if you are using a smartphone that supports wireless charging, then this is a must-have device for you. With its gravity linkage design, all you have to do is put your phone on this mount and the side brackets will automatically squeeze in for a snug and secure fit. It provides fast wireless charging so you don’t have to worry about getting lost or draining the battery of your phone while you constantly find a better route to avoid the traffic. The Choetech wireless car charger is capable of fastcharging Qi-compatible devices at 10W, like the Samsung Galaxy S9, S9 Plus, Note 8, S8, S8 Plus, S7, S7 Edge, S6 Edge+; quick charge (at 7.5W) the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone X, iPhone 8, 8 Plus; and 5W regular charge for other Qi-Enabled devices. It has Anti-slip L-shaped hooks air vent mount to keep it tightly on an air vent outlet and prevents it from falling off. The side arms are spring-loaded and lined with soft silicone and is compatible with most smartphones, and the adjustable width and height allow it to accommodate almost all smartphone sizes. Just take note that a thick phone casing may affect charging efficiency. It also has all-around protection against overcharging, over-voltage, over-temperature and over-current, ensuring you and your device’s safety. For those who love to watch videos, the Choetech Fast Wireless Charging Stand is for you. Again, it is a wireless charger that doubles as a phone stand so you can rest your phone either vertically or horizontally while you watch. This Choetech Charging Stand uses double coils to wirelessly charge your Qi-compatible Apple and Android phones. The two coils allow phones to charge vertically or horizontally, and the vertical design can double as a desk stand. It has Triple Wireless Charging Modes—10W, 7.5W and 5W charging modules optimized to power various devices without negatively impacting them. The charging stand delivers 10W of quick charge capabilities to fast charging-capable Samsung phones, and 7.5W for the iPhone 8/8+ and iPhone X, and 5W for other models. Fast chargers are usually about 40-percent faster than standard charging, but it performs best on phones without a case. Make sure you also remove any other materials, such as credit cards or metal rings/plates from the case/phone before charging. The fast modes (10W and 7.5W) can charge a dead phone in two-and-a-half hours with the case on, which is a lot faster than normal (3 plus hours). I liked this charger because you can use it on almost all kinds of phones that support wireless charging and has a built-in device protection (overheating, short-circuiting and over-current and voltage protection) so you don’t have to worry about leaving your phone charging overnight. The top and bottom coils are there for portrait or landscape charging, and the anti-slip pads prevent your phone from sliding and falling off. So you can use portrait charging when making phone or Facetime calls, browsing your social-media feed, listening to music, and then switch to landscape mode when watching videos. So if you’re looking for a Qi wireless charger for your iPhone or Samsung Galaxy, do check out the Choetech Fast Wireless Charging Stand and Car Mount. It is available via most online stores such as Amazon, as well as local stores like Lazada and Shopee. More information is available at www.choetech.com. ■

NOVEMBER 17, 2018

WHATâ€™S INSIDE:

Saturday Edition

COOK CONNECTING FOODIES

PUBLISHER T. ANTHONY C. CABANGON BUSINESSMIRROR EDITOR IN CHIEF LOURDES M. FERNANDEZ COOK MAGAZINE EDITOR IN CHIEF DINO H. DATU MANAGING EDITOR MAGNOLIA S. SILVESTRE GROUP CREATIVE DIRECTOR EDUARDO A. DAVAD GRAPHIC ARTIST SHAIRA MAE B. BARNUEVO ONLINE EDITOR RUBEN M. CRUZ JR. PRESIDENT BENJAMIN V. RAMOS VP FINANCE ADEBELO D. GASMIN VP ADVERTISING SALES MARVIN N. ESTIGOY ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER MARLON A. ALDENESE ACCOUNT MANAGERS MARIBEL C. AVELIS LEAH CALING-BONOTAN MICHAEL N. PITUC

Y version is heavy with red bell peppers and Pimenton Dulce (sweet Spanish paprika). Of course, the “sweet” in the paprika isn’t really sugary, it’s more of a way to distinguish it from the hot kind of paprika. As I’ve said, the way I make Callos, or even Paella, is with lots of red bell peppers, cooked low and slow to form a sofrito, the base of sautéed aromatics, similar to our ginisa. As a foil to the sweet, salty chorizo and olives provide the savory component to the otherwise bland ox tripe. The spice comes from a bit of chili powder and black pepper.

EVENTS & MARKETING OFFICER CARLO M. ABALOS CIRCULATION MANAGER ROLANDO MANANGAN PRODUCTION MANAGER JOMAR ESCALICAS PRE-PRESS SUPERVISOR RODANTE B. INGLES

Callos my way BY CHEF DINO DATU

INGREDIENTS: FOR THE TRIPE AND FEET: 500 g ox tripe, cleaned 1 kg ox feet, cleaned 1 pc whole onion peeled and cut in half 1 head garlic sliced in half 1 tbsp whole peppercorns 2 pcs bay leaf 2 tbsp salt FOR STEWING: 3 pcs red bell peppers, sliced thinly or 2 jars roasted red bell peppers, drained and sliced 6 cloves garlic, chopped 2 pcs large onions, sliced thinly 2 pcs chorizo bilbao, cubed 1 can garbanzos 3 tbsp tomato paste 1 cup tomato puree or tomato sauce 1 bottle pitted green olives 3 tbsp olive oil 3 tbsp Spanish paprika salt to taste

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PROCEDURE: 1. In a large pot, combine tripe and ox feet and cover with water. 2. Add salt, peppercorns, garlic onion and bay leaves. 3. Boil until tripe and ox feet are very tender. Let cool down. 4. Once cool, slice tripe into bite-sized pieces and remove bones from ox feet and do the same. Set aside. Keep cooking liquid. 5. In another pan, place chorizo with oil and sauté for a minute. Add sliced bell peppers, sliced onions and garlic and continue to sauté until very soft. 6. Add tomato paste, tomato sauce, olives, drained garbanzos, paprika and a cup of the cooking liquid. 7. Add tender tripe and ox feet pieces and let everything stew for 20 minutes and adjust seasoning if needed. 8. Serve with toasted crusty bread. 6. Once the beef is tender, add the squash, sweet potato and corn. Continue cooking on low heat, uncovered, until the sweet potato and squash are tender, about 15 minutes. 7. Serve hot.

Contact us: Editorial: Tel. no. 814-0134 to 37 local 108; Website: www.cookmagazine.ph; e-mail us at editor@cookmagazine.ph. Advertising: Tel. No. 814-0134 local 152, 0915.769.0022 or e-mail advertising@cookmagazine.ph Circulation: for subscription; purchase back issues; and inquire about bulk orders; please call 893-1662 or e-mail circulation@cookmagazine.ph Copyright 2004 By Philippine Graphic Publications Inc. No reproduction without permission of Philippine Graphic Publications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Entered as second class mail at the Makati Central Post Office under permit no. 722-00 - NCR dated August 21, 2000. Subscription Rates: P1,800.00 for 2 years (Metro Manila); P3,000.00 (Provincial); P960.00 for 1 year (Metro Manila); P1,560.00 (Provincial). Cook Magazine - Connecting Foodies (ISSN:0119-9900) is a monthly publication of Philippine Graphic Publishing Inc. with editorial office at Dominga Bldg. III, 2113 Pasong Tamo cor. dela Rosa St., Makati City. Telefax No. 814-0134

CHEF Lester Marc Bergado, Harvest Hotelâ€™s executive chef

CRISPY Kani Salad

CRISPY Kare-kare

BEEF Buko Bulalo

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King Sue Piña Ham quiche with mushrooms and brie

King Sue Sweet Ham with peas and pesto FOR THE PASTRY INGREDIENTS: 1 1/4 cup flour 1/2 stick butter, cubed 1/2 tsp salt 3 to 4 tbsp cold water PROCEDURE: 1. Rub cold butter cubes and flour together until it resembles breadcrumbs. 2. Add a spoon of cold water at a time while mixing until a dough forms. 3. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. 4. After 30 minutes, roll dough out and place over a pie tin or pie plate. Press dough lightly into the pie tin/plate. Trim away excess dough. 5. Freeze dough for at least one hour. 6. Bake pie dough at 180˚C for 20 minutes. Set aside.

INGREDIENTS: 1 1/2 cups cubed King Sue Sweet Ham 200 g Farfalle pasta 1 cup frozen green peas 1 cup basil pesto 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 tbsp oil TO MAKE BASIL PESTO INGREDIENTS: 1 cup basil leaves 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 cup olive oil 2 cloves garlic 1/4 cup pine nuts salt and pepper to taste

PROCEDURE: 1. Make pesto by placing all the pesto ingredients in a blender and processing till smooth. Set aside. 2. Boil Farfalle pasta until al dente. Set aside. 3. In a pan, fry cubed King Sue Sweet Ham in a little oil until a little browned on the surface. 4. Add frozen green peas and sauté until heated through, around 2 minutes. 5. Place pasta in a bowl with pesto and grated cheese. Add King Sue Sweet Ham and peas. Toss till well combined. 6. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Creamy King Sue Chorizo Bilbao and chicken casserole

FOR THE FILLING INGREDIENTS: 1 cup cubed King Sue Piña Ham 3 pcs eggs, beaten 3 pcs fresh white button mushrooms, sliced 3 pcs fresh shiitake mushrooms, sliced 2 tbsp butter 1 small wheel Brie cheese, sliced 1 pc large onion, sliced

INGREDIENTS: 4 pcs King Sue Chorizo Bilbao, sliced into chunks 10 pcs boneless chicken thighs, cut into four 2 pcs potatoes, peeled and sliced into thin discs 1 can cream of mushroom 3 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese 1 tsp black pepper 1 tbsp oil

PROCEDURE: 1. In a pan, sauté onions and mushrooms in butter. 2. Add cubed King Sue Piña Ham and continue to sauté for 2 minutes. Set aside. 3. Layer mixture in partially cooked pie shell. Onions, mushrooms and ham, then Brie slices. 4. Once the layers fill the pie, pour in egg. 5. Cook in a preheated oven at 150°C for 15 minutes or just until the egg has set. 6. Let the pie cool down to room temperature before slicing.

PROCEDURE: 1. Boil potato slices until tender. Drain and set aside. 2. In a pan, sauté King Sue Chorizo Bilbao chunks in oil. 3. Add chicken and continue frying for a minute. 4. Pour in cream of mushroom plus half a can of water. 5. Simmer until chicken is fully cooked. 6. In a baking dish, layer potatoes, chicken and chorizo mixture and grated cheese. 7. Sprinkle cheese on top and bake at 200˚C for 10 minutes or until bubbling and golden on top.

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CHICKEN Parmigiano

GELATO Sushi Assortment

ARROZ a la Cubana

GELATO Assortment

MUSHROOM and Spinach Matagliati

CHICKEN and Waffles

RISOTTO al Funghi

ANGRY Bird

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KITSHO PREPS UP FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON

FTER secretarial hands have stashed away all of the Halloween trimmings in the office, and working parents have dutifully obliged their young tricksters to go “treat-seeking” as part of a school or neighborhood activity, the corporate world is setting its sight on the next agenda in their social calendar—the annual Christmas party! This is such a festive occasion that the work force looks forward to this year-end event with much hope (for more bonuses) and optimism (for promotions at work). Through the years, this affair has included the exchanging of gifts (monito-monita) and even some competitions in chorale renditions and dance. But the success of these gatherings depend much on the venue where they are celebrated. It must not only be spacious enough for the attendees but also offer good food to make the occasion much more special. In recent years, companies have either moved their Christmas parties before December or early the following year. Most, however, opt for the earlier (than latter) Yuletide cheer. With the traffic jams creating obstacles in movement, it is also imperative that the chosen venue be also accessible. With all the foregoing considerations, Kitsho Japanese Restaurant fits the bill perfectly! On the ground floor of Hotel Jen Manila right across the sprawling CCP Complex along Roxas Boulevard’s sunset strip on the historic Manila Bay area, Kitsho is easily accessed from all points in the Metro. Add to

that the splendid food, and you’re in for a party that will remain in the books for a long time. Executive Chef Mizumoto “Hiro” Masahiro can easily prepare a party menu depending on the budget of its corporate clients. Starting at P900 ( inclusive of Value Added Tax and service charge), guests will truly enjoy a set menu filled with all the tasty authentic Japanese fare that will satiate all cravings. Plus, to make the deal even sweeter, the 5 + 1 promo will be enjoyed by all corporate bookings, wherein another guest gets to enjoy the party for free for every five dining guests. And should the urge to try other dishes ever come up, an additional 15-percent discount is given to all a la carte orders. Kitsho will even make the restaurant exclusive for any company who will make reservations for at least 90 diners. Chef Hiro can even create a “drink all you can” or beverage buffet depending on the client’s allowed budget. For a P1,350 package (inclusive of VAT and service charge), Chef

Hiro will create for its corporate clients a food and drink smorgasbord. The beverage buffet will include all local beers, soft drinks, hot tea and iced tea. From the mouthwatering goodness of its Green Salad to the fresh sashimi and sushi selections, to the tempura options, main courses, side dishes and, ultimately, its homemade desserts, your Kitsho party will be truly memorable. Kitsho Japanese Restaurant is managed and operated by MCK Millennium Food Inc.

DIAMOND HOTEL LIGHTS UP ITS MAGICAL AND DREAMY CHRISTMAS TREE

IAMOND Hotel Philippines officially marked the beginning of the most wonderful time of the year by lighting up its magical and dreamy Christmas Tree. Hotel guests, corporate clients, partners and media friends joined the tree lighting event and expressed their admiration for the spectacular Christmas Tree decked out in festive decorations accentuated by blush, red and golden hues.

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The holiday celebration was made more meaningful with the presence of honored guests namely Director Danilo Intong of Tourism Standards and Regulation, Department of Tourism; Mr. Arnold Gonzales, deputy chief overlooking officer for Marketing & Promotions, Tourism Promotions Board; Miss Earth 2018 Phuong Khánh Nguyen; Miss Earth Fire Melissa Flores; Miss Earth Water Valeria Ayos; Miss Earth Air Melanie Mader; Father Nante

Tolentino, parish administrator and shrine rector of Immaculate Conception Parish and the National Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage; Ms. Carmela Ang, Diamond Hotel Philippines; and Ms. Vanessa Suatengco, general manager of Diamond Hotel Philippines. Altogether, they lit the mesmerizing Christmas tree and offered a toast to bring good tidings this season. Among the highlights of the event were the remarkable performances of Bayanihan, The National Folk Dance Company of the Philippines, the harmonious musical regale of the Pansol Choir, and of course, the gift of joy of Santa Claus. Kids from the Remedios Training Center also joined the merriment and were amazed by the joyful holiday experience. As part of the annual tradition of giving back to the community, the hotel has chosen Kanlungan ni Maria to be its official charity beneficiary. Kanlungan ni Maria is a nonstock, nonprofit organization with a mission to provide adequate and sufficient home care, basic and medical needs for the abandoned, sick and homeless elderly. The hotel invites guests to help spread the holiday cheer by donating P300 to the charity, and in return, the guests will be entitled to hang one Christmas ornament with their name on the tag at the Charity Tree at the lobby. For more information call Diamond Hotel Philippines at (632)528-3000. Diamond Hotel Philippines is at Roxas Boulevard corner Dr. J. Quintos Street, Manila. For inquiries, e-mail guestservices@diamondhotel.com. For more information on Diamond Hotel Philippines, please visit www.diamondhotel.com. For hotel updates and special offerings, follow the hotel on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at DiamondHotelPh.

THE FEED

POWER UP YOUR SNACK TIME WITH VITASOY CLASSIC

ROM working the entire day, to doing groceries, and even making time for gym workouts or hanging out with friends, living a hectic and active lifestyle may take a toll on your stamina. Help boost your energy throughout the day with Vitasoy Classic. Vitasoy-Universal Robina Corp. offers Hong Kong’s well-loved soy-milk drink to suit everyone’s on-the-go lifestyle. The nutritious answer to consumers’ snacktime needs, Vitasoy Classic is a great-tasting beverage made from high-quality soybeans that are free from cholesterol and genetically modified organisms. It is packed with the right nutrients and protein to power you through your hectic daily schedule. Vitasoy Classic is low in saturated fat, making it an ideal refreshment choice for fitness and wellness enthusiasts who want a healthy drink to accompany their diets. It is also lactose-free and packed with protein. Whether you’re craving for a quick snack in the morning or looking for a tasty treat in the midafternoon, be sure to power up your break time with a bottle of Vitasoy Classic.

Vitasoy Classic comes in an easy-to-carry 330-milliliter bottle that’s convenient to bring during your snack breaks. This tasty drink is available in three delicious flavors—Original, Chocolate and Coffee; and is available at convenient stores and all leading groceries and supermarkets nationwide. Get the latest from Vitasoy by following its Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/VitasoyPH/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/vitasoyph/) accounts; and Universal Robina Corp. web site at www2.urc.com.ph.

DENCIO’S PARTY BILAO FOR EVERY ‘HANDAAN’

IT’S A FEAST WITH NEW WORLD MAKATI HOTEL’S DECEMBER FESTIVE OFFERS

AT, drink and be merry! New World Makati Hotel prepares an exciting feast to celebrate the holidays! Throughout the month of December, Café 1228’s international buffet will be brimming with traditional Christmas favorites from around the world. Delight in classic European specialties like Honey-glazed ham and Prime rib at the carving stations, alongside Filipino favorites like Whole Native Lechon, and a host of scrumptious and beautifully presented seasonal desserts. Lunch is priced at P2,299 per person on weekdays and P2,599 on weekends. Dinner is at P2,699 per person. Make a toast this Christmas with free-flowing local beer, wine and soft drinks for just an additional for P699 per person. Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve dinner entitles you to one round of sparkling wine and standard drinks for P2,999 per person. Christmas Day and New Year’s Day lunch are priced at P2,599 per person. Have a hearty holiday at Jasmine and indulge

in authentic Cantonese feast at with Executive Chinese Chef Wong Kam On’s specialties. Choose from three festive set menus good for sharing, starting at P9,888 for six persons. You can also customize to your own liking with á la carte dishes, such as Peking Duck, live fish and seafood offers, and other Jasmine specialties. These holiday offers are available on December 24, 25 and 31, and January 1, 2019. Or treat yourself to a mouthwatering all-youcan-eat dim sum served Yum Cha style exquisitely handcrafted by Chef Wong Sing To for P1,388 net every lunch on weekends of December, and P1,688 every lunch on December 24, 25 and 31 and January 1, 2019. Cheers to a fabulous festive season at these best dining destinations in Makati City. For more information or to make a reservation, please call New World Makati Hotel at +(632) 811-6888 ext. 3387. Stay updated and follow New World Makati Hotel on Facebook (New World Makati Hotel) or Instagram (@newworldmakati).

ENCIO’S, a homegrown restaurant for 27 years, is giving its patrons another reason it will always be a constant choice whenever, wherever! Dencio’s is extremely excited to be part of every Pinoy handaan as it brings to the table its very own Dencio’s Party Bilao. Dencio’s Party Bilao features a selection of Dencio’s most loved Pinoy dishes perfect to be served and shared to large groups of families, friends and officemates. Every Pinoy handaan would not be complete without either pancit or spaghetti. Dencio’s gives its own take on spaghetti, adapting to Filipinos’ natural love for anything sweet. Dencio’s Pinoy Spaghetti Party Bilao is rich in sweet-style spaghetti meat sauce topped with hot dogs and grated cheddar cheese. On the other hand, pancit lovers may opt to order either Pinaputok na Pancit or Pancit Palabok, both of which are tasty in its own way. The Pinaputok na Pancit Party Bilao is a special combination of two famous noodle types: Canton and Sotanghon. Dencio’s Palabok Party Bilao is loaded with special palabok sauce topped with fried garlic bits, freshly chopped spring onions, slices of boiled egg and a dash of Dencio’s popular Krispy Sisig. Speaking of Krispy Sisig, all sisig lovers can now celebrate the goodness of this top pick pulutan outside the perimeters of Dencio’s, as it also comes in a takeaway box good for many servings. This classic Krispy Sisig has always been one of the bestsellers, and undoubtedly a trademark of Dencio’s because of its rich distinct flavor and perfect crispiness. Dencio’s also has Pork Bbq in a box. This pinoy finger food and ulam is pork loin grilled to tenderness, served with Dencio’s vinegar. All these bilaos are sakto for sharing and come in perfect timing in this “ber” month season. Starting October 30, Dencio’s Party Bilao will change the way you see and taste food in bilaos as you experience the goodness of a restaurant experience anywhere you want. Cheers to a more delicious salo-salo mga Ka-Dencio’s in any of the 16 branches! Be sure to like us on Facebook (https://www. facebook.com/denciosph), Instagram, Twitter and visit www.dencios.com.ph to learn more about the latest delectable dishes from Dencio’s.

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