BusinessMirror October 13, 2019

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PUERTO PRINCESA MAYOR BARES AMBITIOUS MULTIBILLION-PESO PLAN TO BUILD TALLEST EDIFICE, DEVELOP SIX STATE-OWNED PROPERTIES THE Prinsesa ng Baybay, a fiber-glass sculpture by Ronel F. Roces, welcomes seafarers to Puerto Princesa, named after the mythical princess. NAMHWI KIM | DREAMSTIME.COM

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By Roderick L. Abad | Contributor

RUE to its erstwhile recognition as “Unos de los mas bellas,” or one of the most beautiful towns in the Philippines during the Spanish era, Puerto Princesa keeps on bringing pride to the “Pearl of the Orient” as it endeavors to fulfill an ambitious project that will give her another crown jewel, besides its wonderful underground river.

The proposed Princesa Tower, as it is called, is envisioned as a symbolic towering structure the entire world will look up to (and the tallest structure of its kind) at 680 meters high, taller than the Grand Hyatt, and even the Trump Tower in Manila.

“When we first mentioned it, a lot of Puerto Princesans were laughing at us, and they were saying that we are fools to think of putting up one of the tallest towers in the world,” Mayor Lucilo R. Bayron recalled during the first Puerto Princesa City Business Forum held recently in Pasay City.

Amid criticisms, the mayor is determined to pursue the project after raising a total of P27.55 billion worth of investments pledged by 12 local and foreign companies during the event.

“The Philippines cannot boast of any iconic building. They have one in Malaysia and in several parts of the world, but none for the Philippines. So the only place where you can build a tall tower that will be safe is in Puerto Princesa,” he said, adding that the city is not prone to earthquake, typhoon and even volcanic eruptions.

The proposed 128-floor edifice

forms part of the proposed Sta. Lucia Environmental Estate, one of the six state-owned properties that the city government of Puerto Princesa plans to develop into tourism, agriculture and commercial hubs that will not only spur economic activities, but also generate livelihood and employment opportunities.

“We are offering all these properties for partnership, either by joint venture, public-private partnership [PPP], or long-term lease,” Bayron said.

Pawikan home

SITTING just across the bay of

Puerto Princesa, the sprawling 1,702-hectare estate stands to be a home also to the Pawikan International Convention Center (PICC).

Its conceptual design, highlighting six exposition hubs that resemble the sea turtle (one of the marine creatures the city is famous for), will certainly break the prestige of all iconic structures in the world.

With a capacity to sit 35,000 people, it seeks to cater to the growing meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions, or MICE, market.

Continued on A2

Trouble is brewing in the darkest corner of China’s shadow banking

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NALYSTS on the lookout for China’s next financial shock are training their sights on the least regulated corner of the nation’s sprawling shadow banking system.

Their concern centers on socalled independent wealth managers, which have expanded rapidly in recent years by selling high-yield products to affluent investors.

Largely untouched by a government clampdown on nearly every other form of non-bank financing, the industry has grown from obscurity into a major source of funding for cash-strapped Chinese companies.

The worry now is that products arranged by independent wealth managers will face mounting losses as China’s economic slowdown deepens and corporate defaults surge. Confidence in the industry has plunged since July, when Noah Holdings Ltd. said that 3.4 billion

yuan ($477 million) of credit products overseen by one of its units were exposed to an alleged fraud by a Chinese conglomerate. USlisted shares of Noah, one of China’s biggest independent wealth managers, have tumbled 38 percent in the past three months.

“I wouldn’t be surprised to see some losses,” said Jasper Yip, Hong Kong-based principal of financial services at Oliver Wyman, a consulting firm. “More borrowers will run into payment difficulties in a slowing economy.”

The repercussions could be significant if losses on such products fuel a broader retreat from highyield assets in the world’s secondlargest economy. One factor that

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 51.6890

THREE iconic skyscrapers of Pudong’s financial district: the Jinmao Tower, the Shanghai World Financial Center, and the Shanghai Tower, seen from street level in Shanghai, China. QILAI SHEN/BLOOMBERG

concerns analysts: Because the products are opaque and regulation is minimal, nobody knows exactly how much money is at risk.

What’s clear from financial statements published by Noah and Jupai Holdings Ltd., another USlisted independent wealth manager, is that the industry has experienced breakneck growth.

Assets under management at a Noah unit that structures its own products climbed 40 percent to 169.2 billion yuan in the two years ended December 2018—a period when the broader Chinese shadow banking system shrank because of tighter regulations. Jupai’s assets under sole or shared management have more than quadrupled since 2015 to 56.8 billion yuan, according to the company. Official industrywide figures don’t exist, but Noah estimated in 2016 that China had upwards of 8,000 independent wealth managers.

While the firms offer a wide variety of investments including Continued on A2

n JAPAN 0.4788 n UK 64.3270 n HK 6.5916 n CHINA 7.2648 n SINGAPORE 37.6029 n AUSTRALIA 34.9469 n EU 56.8993 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.7815

Source: BSP (October 11, 2019 )

NewsSunday BusinessMirror

A2 Sunday, October 13, 2019

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Tower of (tourism) power Continued from A1

“We now have a policy here in the Philippines, where the professionals have to undergo continuous education, [through] yearly conventions or seminars.

If we concentrate on the Professional Regulation Commission’s policy of requiring professionals—nurses, teachers, lawyers, doctors, and others—to undergo continuous education, then that convention center can be of big use to the City of Puerto Princesa,” the mayor said.

Complementing the PICC and the Princesa Tower are the highrise commercial and residential buildings, theme parks, golf courses, and several other tourism-related entities.

Cuyito property

RECLAMATION in this 8-hectare property has already begun to give way to the city’s proposed Cruise Ship Tourism Development Plan.

Known as the country’s capital for such luxurious sea activity, the Port of Puerto Princesa accommodates an average of 12 cruise ships annually.

In 2018 alone, they carried over 9,000 persons, more than 6,000 of which were passengers and about 3,000 were crew members.

The reclamation project will,

likewise, see the establishment of the second biodiversity museum in the world.

According to Byron, this is better than the first and existing one that is located in Canada since Puerto Princesa and Palawan are within the “biodiversity hotspot of the world.”

Also part of the proposal for the Cuyito reclaimed area is a shell-like convention center, with a 12,000-seating capacity. Adjacent to it are the Marina office and the lighthouse tower.

“We also envision the construction of hotels in partnership with hotel owners. These will be fronting the Puerto Princesa Bay,” Bayron said, while adding that dining and amusement facilities will be put in place. “We also propose the establishment of restaurants, disco, dance studio, Internet cafes, and anything that will serve the interest of our tourists.”

Coliseum lot

RIGHT at the heart of the city, the coliseum never fails to attract a horde of people who flock to it for various social events.

Because the area lacks space for vehicles to park in, bottlenecks usually build up in the surrounding vicinity, especially during rush hours.

“So we proposed the construction of a steel park building,” the

local chief executive said of their plan for the 6-hectare vacant lot.

“It’s also intended for the establishment and construction of commercial buildings, with BPO [business-process outsourcing] facilities,” he added.

What’s more, the mayor bared that the coliseum lot will also pave the way for a proposed elementary school complex.

Irawan Integrated Agriculture Center

FRONTING the Crocodile Farm, this 13-hectare property will be developed into a mix-used area for the city’s burgeoning trade and agriculture industries.

The lot was handed to the local government of Puerto Princesa by the Provincial Government of Palawan on their usufruct for 99 years.

“We are looking for partners to invest in a halal slaughterhouse,” Bayron said of the planned abattoir that follows the practice of killing animals for consumption in a manner permissible according to Islamic law.

Accessibility is guaranteed in this integrated center because of its strategic location: it faces the six-lane-wide highway that will connect Northern Palawan to its southern part.

“We are anticipating the arrival of tourists from Malaysia using

THE dome-shaped Palawan Provincial Capitol building in Puerto Princesa. KLODIEN | DREAMSTIME.COM

the Ro-Ro [roll-on/roll-off] connection from Kudat to Southern Palawan. If we’ll be able to establish a halal slaughterhouse there, we’ll be able to cater to all these people because there’s no such kind of facility yet in our province,” he explained.

Soon to rise there also are two public markets. The bigger one will be built for the producers for the wholesale trade of their agricultural products, while the smaller structure will be for retail purposes.

What’s more, a dormitory, police building, souvenir shops and restaurants will open in the area.

There will also be a bus and jeepney station for public transport.

“We have a terminal now at Barangay San Jose, but we have decided to transfer that to this area because we know that five years from now, that community will be full of vehicles, thus causing traffic there. So to lessen the impact, we’re going to transfer the land transport terminal to this Irawan Integrated Agriculture area,” the mayor said.

Beach estates

SURROUNDED by the ocean, Puerto Princesa boasts of coastal areas teeming with fine sand and crystal-clear water.

Two of the beach properties owned by the LGU are located in barangays Simpocan and Inagawan.

The former is around 3.5 hectares facing the West Philippine Sea, while the latter is about 55 hectares fronting the Sulu Sea. “They are very attractive areas, where you can put up tourism-related businesses,” Bayron said.

Bullish prospects

WHILE plans for all of the stateowned properties are still on the drawing board, Bayron disclosed the favorable response that they have been already receiving from prospective investors.

“We have talked to some, but we are still waiting for them to submit their proposals for evaluation,” the local chief executive told reporters at the sidelines of the forum.

Potential partners, in particular, have shown interest in the Simpocan beach property, coliseum lot, and Sta. Lucia Environmental Estate.

Yibu Education Technology Co. Ltd., for instance, has committed to put up an academic institution within the latter property.

With a pledged investment of P2.1 billion, this Japanese firm plans to build a new university

that will offer programs to Chinese nationals and help facilitate their studies in the country.

“Puerto Princesa provides a supportive environment that addresses investor needs,” Bayron said. “We have instituted sound business reforms to promote a better environment for investments.”

The city government, through the Local Enterprise Investment Project Office, provides financial and non-financial incentives for business locators. Also, it offers fast response to investor needs and requirements.

“We have a simplified process in business registration and in securing building permits and certificates of occupancy,” he said of the required documents that can be issued in as fast as three days.

Likewise, the mayor gave credit to their continuous overhaul of roads, improvement of transport and communication systems, ample supply of basic utilities like water and electricity, and expansion of local and international gateways through airports, seaports and even RoRo facilities.

“I invite you to consider investing in Puerto Princesa City,” he said. “Come, join us and let us make history together. I look forward to welcoming you to the City of Puerto Princesa.”

Trouble is brewing in the darkest corner of China’s shadow banking Continued from A1

plain-vanilla mutual funds, many of the products are backed by highyield loans to companies—often property developers—that lack access to traditional sources of funding like banks.

Because the credit products are sold only to investors who have at least 3 million yuan of financial assets or earned an average 500,000 yuan in the past three years, they fall outside the increasingly strict rules governing mainstream wealth management products offered by Chinese banks. While WMP holdings of non-standard credit assets (mostly corporate loans) are capped at 35 percent, the credit products issued by independent wealth managers aren’t subject to any such limits.

That has allowed them to ramp up exposure to riskier debt and offer higher yields, a major draw for investors at a time when the rates on traditional WMPs have been falling. Marketing materials for some of Noah’s products show an expected annualized return of 7.7 percent for an investment duration of 9 months, five times higher than the benchmark deposit rate.

Critics of independent wealth managers including Sun Jianbo,

president of China Vision Capital Management in Beijing, argue that the firms often understate the risks of their products when marketing to investors.

That worry has only deepened in recent months as China’s economy slowed to the weakest pace since at least 1992 and the nation’s companies defaulted on domestic bonds at the fastest pace on record. Noah’s failure to spot the risks of lending to Camsing International Holding Ltd., the conglomerate it accuses of fraud and whose chairman was detained by Chinese police in June, provided another reason for caution. The Camsing case is still under investigation by police, who haven’t announced any charges.

Noah said in an emailed statement that it’s offering loans at preferential rates to some clients whose money is tied up in products affected by the case. Camsing and the China Securities Regulatory Commission didn’t respond to requests for comment. Jupai, whose stock has dropped 50 percent in New York this year, didn’t reply to questions on its market performance.

Because independent wealth managers focus on affluent investors, they may pose less of a systemic risk than other segments of

China’s shadow banking system that cater to the nation’s masses.

And while China’s financial regulators have so far refrained from tightening restrictions on the industry, that could soon change.

The CSRC published draft rules in February for wealth managers and distributors of investment products that would increase punishments for those that fail to disclose risks properly. The Shenzhen Asset Management Association last month published draft rules on winding down products that run into trouble, saying that some wealth managers have failed to meet professional standards.

The proposed regulations will help reduce risks, but in all likelihood the industry’s problems are bigger than most investors realize, according to Liu Shichen, Shanghai-based head of research at ZBen Advisors, a fund management research firm.

That’s partly because many wealth managers have been using their own capital to make clients whole when products suffer losses, he said. (Both Noah and Jupai said they don’t use their own cash to repay investors.)

“What we have seen is only a fraction of the problematic products,” Liu said. Bloomberg News

Editor: Angel R. Calso

The World BusinessMirror

What to watch to see if world econ is heading into recession

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he hottest topic in global financial markets is whether the world economy is heading for recession, but defining such a slump is easier said than done.

The marker for most developed economies is two successive quarters of contracting gross domestic product.

In the United States, it’s the lagging decision of a panel of academics formed by the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Calling a recession for the whole world is a lot harder. Once it was a case of tracking powerhouses, such as the US and Germany, but emerging markets now account for a bigger share of global gross domestic product (GDP) and a slump by them to even moderate expansion rates is a problem. China, for example, would be ringing alarm bells well before its economy actually started shrinking.

A decade ago, when the world was last in a downturn, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) sought to redefine a global recession having previously used growth beneath 3 percent as benchmark.

In the April 2009 study, its economists decided that declining per-capita GDP was the main indicator to monitor along with the global rates for unemployment, trade, industrial production and oil demand.

Applying such criteria points to global recessions in 1975, 1982, 1991

and 2009, the latter being the worst since the Great Depression. Some economists include 2001.

So what’s the current outlook?

While the IMF is set this week to cut its forecasts for global growth this year from 3.2 percent, which is already the weakest since 2009, it’s not declaring a recession on the horizon. Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, for now, prefers to warn of a “synchronized slowdown.”

Economists at Danske Bank A/S have, though, developed a trafficlight indicator based on the IMF’s five measures. As recently as the first half of 2018, all was fine with every metric on “green.” But as of the second quarter, falling trade is flashing “red” and the others “yellow.”

That’s enough for them to warn of a 30 percent chance of a global recession over the next two years.

“While the momentum in the global economy has clearly slowed over the recent year, we still think the risk of a global recession is only about 30 percent over the next two years,” said Jakob Ekholdt Christensen, Danske’s head of international macro. “One reason is that we still see scope for central banks and national governments to stimulate their economies to mitigate a possible further downturn. The biggest risk to the global economy in our view is a further escalation of the trade war between the US and China.”

Sunday, October 13, 2019

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Singapore to set world’s first ad ban for high-sugar drinks

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ingapore, one of Asia’s biggest per-capita consumers of sugar, plans to implement a total ban on ads for packaged drinks with very highsugar content in an attempt to reduce illnesses in the rapidly aging city state.

Such drinks, as well as medium- to high-sugar content beverages must also carry a label on the front of the pack to signal that it’s unhealthy, Senior Minister of State for Health Edwin Tong told a conference Thursday. The city state will be the first countr y in the world to implement a ban on ads for ver y high-sugar drinks, according to a Straits Times report.

“Our rapidly aging population and rising prevalence of chronic diseases will lead us to an unsustainable, costly system with poorer health outcomes if we do not intervene,” Tong said, according to a transcript. The number of Singaporeans aged 65 and over will double in the next 10 years, he said.

Southeastern Asian countries, including Singapore and Malaysia, are among the world’s top consumers of sugar on a per-capita basis, according to Bloomberg Intelligence.

That’s led to an increase in health issues, with diabetes and obesity among top diseases, similar to other developed economies.

The timing of the new measures and exactly what will be affected are set to be announced next year, with implementation expected to take one to four years.

Singapore adopted other measures to improve the health of its citizens. In 2017, the government said it had convinced soft-drink makers to reduce the sugar content sold in the city state. Smoking has also been a target, with a ban in

A glass of cola is arranged for a photograph in New York, Thursday, August 23, 2007. Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

certain public areas in the 1970s progressively expanding over time.

War on Diabetes

Consumers globally are cutting back on the sweetener with food companies committing to reducing sugar and calorie content, Pablo Sher well, head of food and agribusiness research for North America at Rabobank,

said last month. These initiatives could accelerate a slowdown in consumption, Sherwell said.

For Singapore, the government had asked for feedback on the possibility of introducing an excise duty or a tax on manufacturers and importers, as well as an outright ban on the sale of high-sugar beverages, said Tong, calling the move a “the War on Diabetes.” Bloomberg News

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The World BusinessMirror

Sunday, October 13, 2019

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Future of genetically modified babies may lie in Putin’s hands

By Stepan Kravchenko

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Bloomberg News

h i s s u m me r, a f t e r a Russian biochemist announced plans to follow in the footsteps of a rogue Chinese researcher and produce genetically modified children, a 150-year-old academic journal that reflects the current scientific consensus called on the world to stop him.

“Time is of the essence,” Nature said. The dangers of altering human DNA that will be passed on to offspring simply aren’t understood well enough to allow Denis Rebrikov, a prorector of one prestigious Russian institute and a lab director at another, to proceed, the British publication argued.

Six weeks after Nature’s call to action, some of Russia’s top geneticists convened a secret meeting with health officials at a facility in southern Moscow that included a special guest with unusual access to the Kremlin: Vladimir Putin’s eldest daughter, according to three people who were there.

Figur ing that in Russia, only Putin can decide how to regulate an emerging technology capable of changing the code of every living cell, the geneticists wanted to present their conflicting opinions about Rebrikov’s intentions in front of Maria Vorontsova, an endocrinologist whose views on bioethics are becoming increasingly influential, the people said.

Crispr For three hours, Vorontsova listened intently to arguments for and against Rebrikov’s planned use of the geneediting technique known as Crispr, participants said. Rebrikov, a brash former wrestler, is working with a deaf couple who want him to prevent a planned child from inheriting their condition by neutralizing defective GJB2 genes during artificial insemination.

The proponents of Rebrikov’s crusade who were at the closed-door session said they came away optimistic Vorontsova may champion their cause. She didn’t say “yes” or “no,” they said, but she did agree that scientific progress can’t be stopped and that human DNA editing should be prohibited in the private sector and confined to state-run facilities to maximize oversight.

Rebrikov’s opponents, including the vast majority of experts, say approving the application he’s preparing to submit to the Health Ministry in October would only encourage other scientists to conduct risky experiments with human sperm, eggs and embryos before a global framework can be put in place to govern one of the most controversial areas of science.

Vorontsova, who specializes in pediatric growth disorders, didn’t respond to requests for comment sent to the National Endocrinology Research Center, where she works, or the Russian Association of Assistance to Science, where she sits on the presidium. The Kremlin has never publicly confirmed that Vorontsova is Putin’s daughter.

Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, declined to comment on gene editing, saying “it’s not a presidential issue.”

Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova, when asked if Rebrikov’s proposal will get the greenlight, told Bloomberg that “an ethics committee will deal with this very complicated issue.”

‘More terrible than a nuclear bomb’ In several interviews in Moscow, Rebrikov, 43, said he’s openly pushing ahead with the project because he’s both confident in the procedure’s safety and tired of waiting for officials to establish legal parameters for Crispr’s use. Russian law doesn’t address the issue directly and it may take the World Health Organization another year or more to establish formal gene-editing guidelines.

“Everyone is just yammering,” Rebrikov said during a break at one his labs.

“I want the rules to be set, but nobody is doing this.”

While known experiments with Crispr—to improve crops, modify malaria-carrying mosquitoes, treat cancer—are constantly expanding, no government has approved wielding the tool to manipulate what’s called human germlines. China condemned the work of researcher He Jiankui last year as “unlawful” after He announced the birth of twin girls who were genetically altered to be resistant to HIV. He’s not been heard from since and rarely seen.

One senior Russian official involved

in the Rebrikov debate said the potential misuses of Crispr are so profound that Putin, despite what his spokesman says, will “definitely” make the final call on the matter, even if the decision is communicated privately.

Putin, 66, has made it increasingly clear in recent years that he expects genetic engineering’s eventual impact on society to be as great as or even greater than artificial intelligence—in ways both good and bad. In 2017, he predicted “people” would start editing pre-birth human DNA “very soon,” a development with possible military applications that he’s warned could be “more terrible than a nuclear bomb.”

Last year, before He revealed his achievement, which was widely condemned, Putin allocated about $2 billion for genetic research and named Vorontsova to the 30-person panel overseeing the work. It’s an area of study that Putin has said will “determine the future of the whole world.”

Rebrikov, a native Muscovite, is a Russian patriot who speaks of his own research in geopolitical and religious terms that seem designed to appeal to Putin’s sensibilities.

Reckless, disastrous With China now strictly regulating human-embryo editing and the US recently extending its ban, Russia has the chance to become the prime mover in an industry with unfathomable upside, the scientist said. He compared the quest to perfect germline editing to the arms and space races of the Cold War, only with more runners.

Little is known about Crispr’s longterm effects on the human body. The first detailed report of doctors using Crispr to manipulate the DNA of a living patient in an effort to cure disease—a case study of just one man with cancer—was only published in September.

Critics say we may be more than a decade or more away from having enough knowledge to safely edit embryos that are implanted for pregnancy. Rebrikov’s actions, they argue, could prove disastrous.

“He is being somewhat reckless,” said

Victor Dzau, president of the US National Academy of Medicine. “The question is why? What is his motive to proceed and disregard the international scientific and medical community?”

As with cloning, Rebrikov said he’s “fairly certain” there are dark sites around the globe where scientists are already violating the social taboo against tinkering with human embryos—so it’s only a matter of time before the practice goes mainstream.

“It currently costs about a million rubles [$15,500] to genetically change an embryo—more than a lot of cars— but prices will fall with greater use,” Rebrikov said. “I can see the billboard now: ‘You Choose: a Hyundai Solaris or a Super-Child?’”

Benefits vs risks But three things need to happen before that vision becomes reality, Rebrikov said. The first is to show clearly that the benefits far outweigh the risks, which is what he said his application to the Health Ministry will do. The second and third, political will and social acceptance, are directly correlated in Russia and depend on Putin.

For these reasons, Rebrikov said he has to start “small,” focusing on providing an obvious benefit to a tiny subset of the population: prospective parents with hereditary deafness. Rebrikov originally wanted to experiment on prospective parents with HIV, but couldn’t find a suitable couple, so he switched to deafness after consulting with audiologists.

“This situation is completely analogous to developing an atomic bomb,” he said.

“Can bad people use technology for bad purposes? Of course. But did ethical concerns stop the Soviet Union from doing so?”

That’s not a persuasive argument to Sergei Kutsev, Rebrikov’s most outspoken—and credentialed—opponent.

Kutsev, who is both the chairman of the Health Ministry’s ethics committee and its chief geneticist, said it’s plainly unethical to edit human DNA meant for pregnancy when so many questions about the potential ramifications of such a procedure remain unanswered.

Legislative vaccum The main problem in Russia now is the “legislative vacuum” surrounding the use of Crispr, a legal opening that encourages maverick researchers like Rebrikov to take risks they shouldn’t, Kutsev said in an interview at his office in Moscow.

The mutations of the GJB2 gene found in Rebrikov’s patients harm cells in the part of the inner ear that regulates auditory signals—a condition that effects about 10 newborns a year in Russia. Rebrikov said the only available treatment, surgically fitted cochlear implants, is expensive, discomforting and requires years of rehabilitation.

But modifying the GJB2 may be worse because the gene is linked to other diseases that effect eyes and skin, according to Bionews, a British publication that covers genetics and stem-cell research.

Kutsev, 54, said he couldn’t sleep after he learned Rebrikov had finally found a couple for his experiment and worries he’ll proceed with or without state approval, something Rebrikov says he doesn’t intend to do. Kutsev said he’d like to invite the deaf couple, whoever they are, to his institute so he can fully explain what’s at stake.

“While that Chinese scientist worked in secret and was held personally liable for what he did, Rebrikov is declaring his intentions to the world. He’s making all of us responsible to humanity,” Kutsev said.

Step to the right direction?

But Rebrikov is far from alone.

The application he’s working on, which will include reams of research and detailed risk assessments, will actually be filed under the authority of the Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, which houses a laboratory Rebrikov uses. The institute is run by Gennady Sukhikh, one of the most influential medical figures in Russia.

Sukhikh, 72, was an early pioneer of controversial stem-cell therapies that cater to wealthy people seeking to rejuvenate their bodies and extend their lives. One of his patients was Putin’s predecessor in the Kremlin, the late President Boris Yeltsin, according to a book by Alexander Khinstein, a former journalist who’s now a lawmaker in Putin’s United Russia party.

“Such great events should be approached very sensibly,” Sukhikh said by phone, adding that Rebrikov’s application may take months to complete. “Our country is moving strictly in accordance with international ethics.”

Another potential stumbling block for Rebrikov and his backers is the Russian Orthodox Church. Key scientists have been quietly sounding out leading clerics to gauge the level of pushback, if any, they can expect if the experiment goes ahead.

So far, they’re not getting much, a person familiar with the matter said.

The Moscow Patriarchy published a “preliminary” position on its web site in June saying that while genetic editing has the potential to prevent inherited afflictions, the procedure should be prohibited if an embryo’s viability is threatened. The church is urging members to submit their own opinions by September 30.

For Rebrikov, anything short of outright condemnation by the priesthood is a step in the right direction.

“What we do is God-pleasing,” he said in early September. “We heal, just like Jesus did.”

When asked if he had any final comments for this story, Rebrikov said he’s taking a break from speaking to the media. He wouldn’t say why.

Faith

Sunday

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

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time: ‘Luke 17:11-19’

Our sense of gratitude to God Msgr. Josefino S. Ramirez SUNDAY GOSPEL IN OUR LIFE

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he gospel of today narrates the incident of the 10 lepers who were cured by Jesus Christ. Of them, only one came back to manifest his gratitude, and it seems that Christ missed this gesture on the part of the other nine.

“Were not the 10 made clean? But where are the nine? Has no one been found to return and give glory to God except this foreigner?” (Luke 17:17-18).

I once came across a poster that said, “I was very, very sad because I had no shoes.

Until I came across a man who had no feet.”

Very often, we are oblivious of the many blessings that we have received from God; and instead, we complain of the different hardships—always relative in nature— that we experience in our life.

Sometimes, we even blame God for these hardships, without taking into account all the good things He has given us.

In a general way, let us see some of these gifts of God. In the first place, God gave us the gift of life. We didn’t have to exist at all. And not only that. God continues to sustain us, if He were to forget us for a moment, we would just vanish into nothingness.

Besides that, God decided to make us human beings. As men, we were at the summit of the material universe. We do not follow the laws of our nature blindly, like the irrational creatures. We are free and responsible beings, able to appreciate all the goodness and beauty that surround us.

But the greatest gift of all, a gift we can hardly suspect, is the privilege of becoming children of God. We are called to a destiny that far exceeds even our noble human nature. God has given us the possibility to

share His own intimate life, just like a King who has called a poor orphan to become a prince in his own castle.

For all these, we have to be thankful to God. God expects this gratitude from us but He does not expect it out of egoism or selfishness on His part. God gives without seeking any recompense.

In the answer of Christ, we see God’s attitude. “Has no one been found to return and give glory to God?” God does not seek gratitude for His own sake, like the hen that truts about noisily after having laid an egg. God wants us to be grateful for our sake. The one that benefits from the display of gratitude is the one who give thanks.

By being grateful to God, we are set on the right path in our relationship with God. It makes us more aware of our condition as creatures, and, thus, helps us to relate to God in the only way that we properly and truly can.

The Preface of the Eucharistic Prayer has a wonderful dialogue that we can all profit from. The priest says, “Lift up your hearts,” and we answer, “We lift them up unto the Lord.” Then he continues, “Let us give thanks to the Lord our God,” and we answer, “It is right to give Him thanks and praise.” The priest proceeds with the prayer, “It is truly right to give Him thanks and praise...” and adds the motivates for that thanksgiving.

Let us be more aware of all the motives for thanksgiving that we have. And we can be assured of a greater union with God and an appreciation of the things around us.

Only with a profound sense of gratitude can we be truly happy here on Earth.

Depressed? Try prayer, Saint Teresa’s way

By Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS

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rom t he way more and more young people these days would claim to be “depressed” it seems depression is actually becoming fashionable.

W hy would students, young professiona ls and mi l lennia l parents who, are, other w ise, normal in every way so casually declare “I’m depressed ” in the same tone they would utter “I’m pissed off?”

Note their comments in social media—shamelessly announcing they are “ depressed ” for all the world to see, along with photos of partying and traveling meant to say they’re special and deserving of thousands of Likes.

Do they really know what it’s like to be really depressed? Or is depressed for them merely a term that has evolved from nakakainis, nakakapundi, nakakaasar, nakakairita, nakaka-stress? Except that “depressed” sounds cool.

I have yet to meet a young person claiming to be depressed who shows symptoms of genuine depression. Most who tell me that they are seem only lonely or frustrated, feel overwhelmed by problems, feel unloved, or need someone to talk to or to listen to them.

When these persons tell me they’re depressed, the first question I ask them is “How is your prayer life?”

This is because I sincerely believe they feel depressed because they do not know that they are loved by God. And prayer is a relationship wherein God lets us know that we are loved.

Sadly, so many people, having a rather poor concept of prayer, turn away from it.

People having trouble “connecting w ith God ”—in other word s, pray ing— ca n lea r n a thing or two from Saint Teresa of ávila whose feast we celebrate on October 15.

S he i s not dubbed “m a ster of prayer ” for not h i ng. T he C at hol ic C hu rc h n a med her a Doctor of t he C hu rc h at a t ime a l l her Doctors were ma le, prec i se ly bec au se her teac hi ng i n t he rea l m of prayer i s so u n ivers a l t h at a nyone c a n benef it f rom it.

Saint Teresa’s way of prayer offers no method and requires no lofty academic titles, but emphasizes the importance of disposition in relating with Jesus.

Praying is not thinking much, but loving much, she taught. It’s not analyzing things but simply allowing yourself to love and be loved by your Creator.

She also said, “Mental prayer is but a frequent conversation with a friend whom you know loves you very much.” Frequent.

Conversation. Friend. You know you are loved.

There’s an anonymous saying that goes “The greatest harm that can ever befall man is to have lived and died without knowing that he is loved by God.” How true! Saint Teresa’s teaching on prayer saves us from the harm caused by ignorance of God’s love of us. But we must give our Lover quality time (as we do with human loves)—frequent.

We must be open both ways, listening, ta l k ing—conversation. We must be at home with Him—Friend.

We do not doubt because we know our Friend loves us.

At the risk of sounding simplistic, I would dare say that mental prayer as taught by this universally acclaimed Teacher of Prayer is a little known but highly recommended remedy for so many ills.

If we spend even a fraction of the time we devote to Facebook in conversation with this “Friend ” of Saint Teresa—there would be no room for depression, imagined or other w ise.

And that’s the truth.

Sunday, October 13, 2019 A5

Pope seeks ‘courageous’ debate over Amazon priest shortage

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ATICAN CITY—Pope Francis urged South American bishops last week to speak “courageously” at a high-profile meeting on the Amazon, where the shortage of priests is so acute that the Vatican is considering ordaining married men and giving women official church ministries.

Francis opened the work of the three-week synod, or meeting of bishops, after indigenous leaders, missionary groups and a handful of bishops chanted and performed native dances in front of the main altar of Saint Peter’s Basilica with a small wood canoe containing religious objects.

Led in procession by the pope, the bishops then headed to the synod hall to chart new ways for the Catholic Church to better minister to remote indigenous communities and care for the rainforest they call home.

Among the most contentious proposals on the agenda is whether married elders could be ordained priests, a potentially revolutionary change in church tradition given Roman rite Catholic priests take a vow of celibacy.

The proposal is on the table because indigenous Catholics in remote parts of the Amazon can go

months without seeing a priest or receiving the sacraments, threatening the very future of the church and its centuries-old mission to spread the faith in the region.

Another proposal calls for bishops to identify new “official ministries” for women, though priestly ordination for them is off the table.

Cardinal Claudio Hummes, the retired archbishop of Sao Paulo and the lead organizer of the synod, said the priest shortage had led to an “almost total absence of the Eucharist and other sacraments essential for daily Christian life.”

“It will be necessary to define new paths for the future,” he said, calling the proposal for married priests and ministries for women one of the six “core issues” that the synod bishops must address.

German Cardinal Reinhard Marx, who himself is under pressure to relax celibacy for priests in his native Germany, said the

married priest question is complicated, since any moves taken to address the priest shortage in the Amazon will invariably echo throughout the universal church.

“The participants of the synod know, and also the pope knows, that this is also a discussion in other parts of the world, so they have to be very prudent,” he said. “But they will speak about it, that’s clear.”

Francis opened the meeting by extolling native cultures and urging bishops to respect their histories and traditions, rather than imposing ideologies on them in a new form of colonization.

History’s first Latin American pope has long had great esteem for indigenous peoples, and has repeatedly denounced how they are exploited, marginalized and treated as second-class citizens by governments and corporations that extract timber, gold and other natural resources from their homes.

Speaking in his native Spanish, Francis told the bishops how upset he became when he heard a snide comment about the feathered headdress worn by an indigenous man at mass on Sunday opening the synod.

“Tell me, what is the difference between having feathers on your head and the three-cornered hat worn by some in our dicasteries?” he said to applause, referring to the three-pointed red birettas worn by cardinals.

Francis urged the bishops to use the three weeks to pray, listen, discern and speak without fear. “Speak with courage,” he said.

Pope Francis walks in procession on the opening of the Amazon synod, at the Vatican last week. AP/Andrew Medichini

Saint Luke the Evangelist

By Corazon Damo-Santiago

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HE four evangelists of the New Testament wrote differently. Matthew’s style is that as a teacher; Mark, a preacher; John, a theologian; and Luke, a historian.

A doctor by profession honed in sk il ls of investigation, ver ification of facts, accurac y and sequenc ing , rel i abi l it y a nd t r ust wor t h iness of infor m at ion, Lu ke w rote w it h order and clar it y. He, likew ise, ack nowledged the contr ibution of others in his w r itings.

He is the only evangelist who started the gospel with a prologue as Hellenistic Greek writers do.

“Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of events that have been fulfilled…. I, too, have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in orderly sequence…that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received,” he wrote.

Beloved physician

Luke, Saint Paul’s “beloved physician,” wrote the most number of pages in the New Testament— the third gospel and the Book of

the Acts. The information on how the early Christians lived was attributed to Luke’s writings on the spread of Christianity from Jerusalem to the Roman Empire, the center of the pagan world.

The gospel writers wrote on the different aspects of Christ’s life on Earth. Matthew emphasized Christ’s sermons, Mark on miracles, John on doctrines and Luke on parables, according to Dr. HL Willmington’s Guide to the Bible.

This description is substantiated by Luke’s gospel, which relates “six miracles and 18 parables not mentioned in the other gospels,” according to Fr. Nil Guillemette in The Cedars of Lebanon.

The four evangelists considered the culture of their readers: Matthew for the Jews; Mark, the Romans; John, the world; and Luke, the Greeks.

Luke’s gospel emphasized love, compassion and forgiveness. To him the Christian world owes the parables of the Prodigal Son and God Samaritan, the two favorites.

Fat h e r G u i l l e m e t t e s u m s Luke’s personhood as compassionate. “A ll his writings are full of human interest, human sympathy, concern for the poor,

“Even if you are ashamed, say what you feel.”

The synod is opening with global attention newly focused on the forest fires that are devouring the Amazon, which scientists say is a crucial bulwark against global warming. It also comes at a fraught time in Francis’s six-year papacy, with conservative opposition to his ecological agenda on the rise.

Francis’s traditionalist critics, including a handful of cardinals, have called the proposals in the synod working document “heretical” and an invitation to a “pagan” religion that idolizes nature rather than God. To that criticism, Hummes denounced Catholic “traditionalism” that is stuck in the past versus the church’s true tradition, which always looks forward.

“The Church needs to throw open her doors, knock down the walls surrounding her and build bridges,” he said.

But there are limits to how far the church will go. Despite appeals from religious sisters and women’s groups, no nun will be able to vote on the final synod document, even though women do the lion’s share of the Church’s work in the Amazon.

Sister Alba Teresa Cediel Castillo, a Colombian nun participating in the synod as an expert delegate, said the time will come eventually.

“That there must be greater participation of women in ecclesial life, I think yes,” she told reporters. “We’ll get there, but little by little. We can’t pressure. We can’t fight. We have to dialogue.”

In keeping with the meeting’s environmental message, the synod organizers themselves are taking measures to reduce their own carbon footprint.

Organizer Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri told the bishops there would be no plastic cups or utensils at the meeting, that synod swag, such as bags and pens were biodegradable, and that the emissions spent to get more than 200 bishops and indigenous from South America to Rome— estimated at 572,809 kilograms of carbon dioxide—would be offset with the purchase of 50 hectares of new growth forest in the Amazon. the only one to care for Paul in Rome who feels somewhat abandoned at a time he needed the presence of his coworkers.

Saint Paul wrote to Timothy: “Only Luke is with me.”

Sense of God in history

Luke the Evangelist painting the first icon of the Virgin Mary. Wikimedia Commons

chiva lr y toward women…and avidly collected for his gospel, the record of Christ’s countless works of mercy.”

“No gospel w r iter is more concerned than Luke with the mercy and compassion of Jesus, and the role of the spirit in the life of Jesus and Christian disciples,” according to the New American Bible.

Thus, his evangelistic work is represented by a calf or ox, the beast of burden.

Ma lcolm Day, in A Treasur y of Saints, said that the ca lf is a “suitable sy mbol for one whose life and works were for the welfare of others.”

Selfless and caring, Luke was

The physician is also an artist, and painted an icon of the Blessed Mother. Thus, he is not only the patron saint of doctors and surgeons, but of artists, too.

Although Luke never met Jesus, Robert Ellsberg, in All Saints, considered him as one with the “most vital sense of God’s presence in ongoing history.”

Ellsberg said Luke’s gospel does not end with Jesus’ resurrection, but with the Pentecost—“Christ’s presence in the life of the church and in the midst of the world.”

After Paul’s death in Rome, Luke went to Greece to preach the words of God. He died in Boetia at the age of 84.

His relics are honored in the Church of the Apostles in Constantinople, now Istanbu l in Turkey.

Damo-Santiago is a former regional director of the Department of Education National Capital Region. She is currently a faculty member of Mater Redemptoris College in Laguna.

Science

BusinessMirror

A6 Sunday, October 13, 2019

Sunday

Dar: PHL entering ‘age of new agri revolution’

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Story & photo by Lyn Resurreccion

ndeed, we are now entering the age of a new agricultural revolution,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said in his speech at the “Symposium on Risk Assessment and Regulation of Genome Edited Plants” on October 8 and 9 at a hotel in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

“The discovery of a powerful new gene editing technolog y, known as CRISPR-CAS, allows us access to technolog ies which can be used to precisely desig n the crops we grow to improve qua lit y, disease resistance and climate resilience,” Dar said in his speech read by Dr. Dionisio G. A lv india, Scientist III at t he Phi l ippine Center for Posthar vest Development and Mechanization.

CR ISPR- C AS9, or clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR-associated protein 9, is a genome editing tool that is creating excitement in the science world these days because it is faster, cheaper, more accurate, and more efficient than other genome editing methods.

Genome, or gene editing, is among the technologies that allows scientists to change an organism’s DNA. It allows genetic material to be added, removed or altered at particular locations in the genome.

Dar said this development “makes us particularly excited about the future of biotechnology in the Philippines and its enormous benefits to producers in terms of

improved productivity and higher incomes, and consumers in terms of quality and affordable food.”

He said in the last few months, the academe, industry, scientific advisory bodies and regulatory agencies were proactively engaged to new breeding techniques, including the CRISPR-CAS. “Our scientists are eager to learn about the intricacies of these new breeding techniques and unleash their full potential to feed the world,” he added.

Because science-based solutions are the way of the future, he said the Department of Agriculture is vigorously pursuing inclusive, science-based and marketoriented development strategy, as part of our “New Thinking for Agriculture” framework.

“A modernized, inclusive agriculture sector can successfully thrive with sufficient public and private-sector support for technology, innovation and enterprise development,” Dar explained.

“Our aim is clear: Attain inclusive growth and development through bountiful harvest [ani] and higher income [kita].”

Dr. Saturnina Halos, president

Scientists, risk assessors, regulators and other specialists on plant breeding and genetics from the Philippines, the United States, Europe, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Indonesia and Vietnam attended the “Symposium on Risk Assessment and Regulation of Genome Edited Plants” on October 8 and 9, in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

of Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines (BCP), said the speech of Dar was “very encouraging.”

“He was the first [agriculture] secretary who was gung ho on biotech. He is convinced that biotech will help our farmers,” Halos, an agriculture genetics expert and one of the pillars of biotechnology in the Philippines, told the BusinessMirror at the sidelines of the symposium.

She said Dar was among those who placed biotech as tool of agriculture modernization in the country’s Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997.

An agriculturist, Dar was the agriculture secretary in 1998 and 1999, under then-President Joseph Estrada.

He was a longtime director general of the global India-based International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, which he successfully led from 2000 to 2014.

“He is as forward thinking as early as 1997,” Halos said. “It is very encouraging. We hope we have

more scientists in the government and in the private sector.”

The symposium was hosted by the DA-Bureau of Plant Industry, the Washington-based International Life Sciences Institute and the BCP. It gathered scientists, risk assessors, regulators and other specialists on plant breeding and genetics from the Philippines and other parts of the world, including the US, Europe, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Indonesia and Vietnam.

The objective of the event was for the scientists, risk assessors and regulators to learn about how risk assessment and regulation of gene edited plants, as well as how the products of other new plant breeding techniques, are being considered or evaluated in other countries.

Dar said the holding of the conference is an impetus for the Philippines to vigorously pursue its biotechnology program, “which we expect would contribute to attaining our goals of food security and sufficiency, and creating more livelihood and employment opportunities in the countryside.”

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

Regulators urged to ease rules on smoke-free nicotine products

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ublic-health advocates who met in Australia urged international health bodies and government regulators to ease the restrictive rules against noncombustible, smoke-free nicotine products that are regarded as much safer alternatives to cigarette smoking.

“We have the evidence that harm reduction products—snus, vapes and heat-not-burn tobacco—are at least 90 percent safer,” said Dr. Colin Mendelsohn, a tobacco treatment specialist and conjoint associate professor in the School of Public Health and Community Medicine at the University of New South Wales, during the Ninth International City Health Conference held in Melbourne, Australia, early this month.

The Progressive Public Health Alliance, a group of health professionals, researchers and publichealth advocates, organized the conference in Melbourne that focused on urban health and harm reduction in all its forms, the conference news release said.

Harm reduction refers to an approach designed to reduce the negative impact associated to cigarette smoking. The approach is being opposed by people who feel they have an obligation to defend their moralistic views.

Participants in the conference also urged the public not to be swayed by the recent hysteria against vaping, saying noncombustible, smoke-free nicotine products from reputable suppliers are always safer than smoking, the news release said.

Amid recent reports of an outbreak of vaping-related illnesses in the United States, the United Kingdom, which has the most advanced regulation on electroniccigarettes, has not recorded any vaping-related deaths so far.

Public Health England, an agency of the Department of Health and

Social Care in the UK, reported in 2015 that the use of electronic cigarettes was 95 percent less harmful than cigarette smoking.

The US outbreak is now being investigated for the possible use of illicit vaping liquids, or tetrahydrocannabinol.

Two US Army soldiers have fallen ill with a severe lung illness linked to vaping, joining more than 1,500 cases either confirmed or under investigation across the country, NBC.com reported on October 10.

Public health advocates in Melbourne said the US issue should not grab the attention away from the much greater harm caused by cigarette smoking.

“Tobacco smoking kills 19,000 people in Australia every year,” Mendelsohn said.

Globally, 20,000 smokers die of cancer and other related illnesses each day, translating into a death every 4.5 seconds.

Mendelsohn said that unfortunately, the rate of decline in smoking rate in Australia has stagnated over the past six years because of the government’s ban on harm-reduction products.

“Ha r m-reduct ion products are safer. We are the only western democracy to ban them,” Mendelsohn said. “ We k now there are three types of tobacco harm reduction—snus, which had a huge success in Scandinavia, vaping a nd heat-not-bu r n products.

These are different options, all of which are effectively illegal in Australia,” he said.

Health advocates noted that countries that allow harm reduction products have experienced a rapid decline in smoking rate.

Japan, for example, saw a third of its cigarette market disappear since heated tobacco products, such as IQOS, was introduced in the country in 2014.

15 senior HS teams qualify in imake.wemake innovation contest

DOST-SEI Director Josette Biyo and Dr. Ruby R. Cristobal, SEI chief science research specialist, pose for a photo with officials from C&E Publishing and student innovators who will compete in this year’s imake.wemake competition.

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ifteen senior high-school teams from public and private schools in the country were selected to participate in the five-day training/workshop on Arduino programming recently at a hotel in Manila.

The event was part of imake.wemake, an innovative technology contest organized by the Department of Science and TechnologyScience Education Institute (DOST-SEI) in partnership with C&E Publishing Inc. The qualifying school teams are Adelle Grace Montessori School, Bayambang National High School, Far Eastern University High School-Manila, Liceo-De La Salle

Senior High School, Malinta National High School, Manila Science High School, New Era University-General Santos, New Era University-Lipa City, New Era UniversityMain Campus, Pavia National High School, Philippine Science High School-Central Luzon Campus, Ramon Magsaysay Cubao High School, Rizal High School, Science Technology Education Center Cebu, and Saint Scholastica’s Academy Marikina.

Each team, composed of three senior high-school students and one teachercoach, attended the training facilitated

by Thinklab Philippines. They were chosen

as finalists after besting 70 other school teams who submitted project proposals for the competition.

The panel of judges, composed of UP Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute professor Engr. Percival Magpantay, Ateneo de Manila University Professor Engr.

Carlos Matti Oppus, and C&E Publishing Business and Market Research Head Rodel Cruz selected the finalists’ proposals based on project viability and potential to address important societal and community issues, such as food safety, security, traffic/road congestion, health, education, disaster

mitigation, entrepreneurship, agriculture and environment.

The competition, now in its third run, was launched on July 17, during the National Science and Technology Week celebration with the signing of the memorandum of agreement between DOSTSEI and C&E Publishing.

DOST-SEI Director Josette Biyo graced the opening ceremony of the training along with C&E Publishing Vice President Gerric Gomez.

Biyo thanked C&E for their support in the project and congratulated the students for their selection in the competition.

“We wish to create a space where you can share resources and knowledge as you work on your projects. Hopefully, at the end of the process, you will have your technology solution for your respective communities,” Biyo said.

Imake.wemake seeks to unleash the creativity of young Filipinos in innovation using accessible technologies.

This year participants will use the Arduino CTC 101 kits provided by C&E Publishing to build their projects. During the event, they were also given free kitof-parts to start their project prototype.

“C&E is committed to actively raise the quality of creative and innovative minds of every Filipino student, especially with the advent of integrated STEAM [science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics] education or STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] education in the global arena,” Gomez said.

The teams were given three months to build and test their projects. They will convene again in December 2019, for the final presentation and awarding ceremony where the winning top three teams will receive P100,000 cash prize and the Youth Innovation Prize each. S&T Media Service

Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio (fifth from left), Searca director, was awarded the 2019 Crop Science Society of the Philippines Honorary Fellow. With him are with Marissa V. Romero (left), chairman of the CSSP Awards and Recognition Committee; Edna A. Anit (right), CSSP president; his wife Myla Beatriz Audije (fourth from left) and two of their six children.

Rice scientist honored for pioneering breeding research

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scientist, research manager and teacher in national and international public and private institutions, Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio was recently awarded the Crop Science Society of the Philippines (CSSP) Honorary Fellow.

Currently the director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca), Gregorio was recognized for his significant contributions to crop science through his pioneering breeding research.

These include having led the development of at least 20 rice varieties with tolerance to abiotic stresses, while at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) as Senior Plant Breeder.

His studies on the genetics and molecular mapping for salinity tolerance, and his development of rapid screening techniques resulted in the first batches of salt-tolerant varieties in the Philippines, and other countries in Asia and Africa.

The iron-enhanced rice, he and his team developed was proven to significantly increase levels of total body iron in the blood of women.

A prolific author, he has 112 scientific publications to date. He has also mentored many undergraduate and graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows in the Philippines, and other countries.

The award was presented during the recent 25th Federation of Crop Science Societies of the Philippines, and the first Federation of Plant

Science Associations of the Philippines Scientific Conference in Davao City.

CSSP promotes human welfare through the discovery and dissemination of knowledge concerning nature, utilization, improvement, and interrelationships of plants and their environment and people.

The society holds an annual scientific conference and publishes the Philippine Journal of Crop Science.

In his acceptance speech, Gregorio said receiving such a prestigious award could dissuade one from making mistakes, and, thus ,making one hesitant to explore and trying new and different things more daunting. But he affirmed that it will not be so for him. He still wants to explore and take risks.

He also pushed young crop science professionals to “continue to explore and enjoy; to try and to be ready to fail and learn from it. We tried it; succeed or fail, we always learn. Explore, dare, be different and take risks for the sake of science. But, at the same time, be patient. Perseverance is the key.”

Gregorio added that “there are three types of people who are likely to be great or successful: those who are related to great people, those who are pioneers or the first in doing things, and those who are different. Most of us cannot be the first two, so be different.”

Tourism&Entertainment BusinessMirror

Editor: Carla Mortel-Baricaua

Sunday, October 13, 2019

A7

Chasing the last summer days in Osaka and Kyoto

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Story & photos by Carla Mortel-Baricaua

saka’s warm sunny day was a welcome respite that broke the wet spell from the downpour that we have been enduring for days in Manila. Courtesy of AirAsia that now flies the Manila to Osaka route, our media group went on a three-day sponsored tour that left us dreaming and planning for more adventures in the Kansai region.

Our AirAsia flight took off on time and, just our luck, landed at the Kansai International Airport 15 minutes early. Mostly eager to begin our tour right away, we boarded the transit train that will take us to the Namba Station on high spirits. It was such a treat since we boarded on the Super seat coach of the Nankai Electric Railway that gave us a ride that was super smooth and super fast.

Just under 35 minutes, we loaded off and readily checked in to the Swissotel Nankai Osaka Hotel since it sits just right on top of the station.

Around the Golden Pavilion, the garden and buildings represent the Pure Land of Buddha in this world.

Author is underneath one of the thousands vermillion Torii.

Yasaka shrine, aka Gion shrine, is a spiritual spot for love and connection.

Tatsumi Daimyojin Shrine protects the Gion district.

Osaka food adventure

Osaka is called “Japan’s kitchen” for its rows upon rows of food outlets and restaurants, and visitors inevitably go on a food trip in this city even if they had not originally planned to. As a tourist, you haven’t really been to Osaka if you have not eaten a takoyaki, or okonomiyaki and there’s a lot to choose from. There’s even a takoyaki point listed in the Michelin guide, the Dotonbori Akaoni. We had the chance to taste takoyakisen, a takoyaki sandwich made of octopus balls served between a couple of rice crackers. Manila had not seen one yet, just like the cheesecakes of Rikuro Ojisan’s Shop. However, the highlight of our Osaka eating adventure was the dinner served at the Minami Teppanyaki Restaurant, hosted

by Swissotel Nankai Osaka Hotel.

The special dinner set started with a serving of Kamotsuru Tokusei Daiginjo sake in a flute glass.

Sourced from Hiroshima, this golden sake is smooth, but quite strong to the taste that readied our palates to fine dining, Teppanyaki style. Chefs Komoto and Hashimoto entertained us with their sharp knife and cooking skills, and more important, served prawns, scallop, and sauteed fish; sushi set of tuna, salmon, shrimp and eel and cucumber roll; and A4 grade prime wagyu beef from Kagoshima. The Kagoshima Black Beef is known to be tender, has full-bodied flavor and well-balanced fat marbling.

The selection of scorched vegeta-

Chef cooks A4 wagyu beef on hot teppan.

bles, garden salad and assorted fruit dessert gave the set menu the perfect balance of taste and texture.

With happy tummies, we hit the shopping streets of Ebisubashisuji and Shinsaibashi-suji, as part of the Minami’s vibrant night life.

Stretching from north to south for about 1 kilometer, these commercial avenues host ultra-trendy shops, staple brands, and even thrift stores like Daiso. I particularly looked for Book Off for preloved items, such as CDs and DVDs. I also spotted Tower Records and a Jump shop that sells official merchandise based on the characters of the Shonen Jump manga, but never got to check them out due to time constraints. Walking in these shopping districts, it is hard to miss some street performers and selfie traps like the famous Glico running man, or the Kani Doraku restaurant in the background. Of course, we also trooped to some snack shopping at Don Quixote Dotonbori store and the konbini (convenient) stores like 7-Eleven and FamilyMart.

Kyoto day tour

From Namba, Kyoto is an hour away by train, and an hour and a half by private car, so our group started early to get most of day tour as provided by KKday.

Our first stop was the Kinkaku

Teppanyaki style: a serving of prawn, scallop, and sauteed fish

(The Golden Pavilion) which is part of the temple that is formally named Rokuon-ji. The Kinkaku is a Buddhist hall that contains relics of Buddha. From afar the temple emits a yellow glow because of the gold foil on lacquer that covers the upper two levels of Kinakaku. On top of its shingled roof stands a shining phoenix. Kinkaku represents the Muromachi period in architecture.

In 1994, Rokuon-ji Temple was registered as a World Cultural Heritage site while its garden, typical of the Morumachi period, is listed as a National Special Historic Site and Special Place of Scenic Beauty. During the Edo period, a detached teahouse was built for the pleasure of viewing the Kinkaku, especially under the late afternoon sun. Covered

The façades of eateries in Dotonbori are definitely Instagram-mable.

with yuki (snow), the temple is most beautiful in winter, according to locals.

For lunch, we went to Nishiki, a traditional fresh food market street where you can also find souvenir stores selling wood sandals shops, novelty chopsticks and other Kyoto made collectibles. We ate in a ramen shop after salivating over the street food items such as the wagyu skewers, grilled mochi and macha sweets.

Right after we headed to the Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine that’s famous for its Mount Inari trails and thousands of vermilion Torii gates. When we got there, and as expected, the network of trails and shrines were packed with tourists.

Nevertheless, we got to experience the local custom of properly pre-

senting ourselves to the god Inari, the god of rice harvest, commerce and business by cleansing, praying, and wishing our good intentions. We’re not really set to hike two to three hours just to reach the peak, so right after we reached the main hall, our group took the steps to the junction of Torii gates, turned right, and descended back to the main gate.

Our last tour stop was in the Gion district, Kyoto’s most famous entertainment district and the center of its traditional arts.

Most tourists go here to promenade and get a glimpse of maikos and geikos (the word for geishas in Kyoto), and for the feel of old Japan. En route we passed by the Yakasa shrine at the east end of Shiro-Dori and politely asked

H.S.M.A. Virtus Awards’ Ruby Year Recognizes Outstanding Hotel Sales and Marketing Professionals and Campaigns

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n October 14, the fifth annual Vir tus Awards and the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association’s (HSMA) 40th founding anniversary will take place at the Forbes Ballroom of Conrad Manila.

The announcement of Virtus nominees and winners for Outstanding Sales and Marketing Associate, Outstanding Sales and Marketing Manager, Outstanding Sales and Marketing Leader and Marketing Campaign of the Year, is the culmination of

an extensive six-month nomination and vetting process spearheaded by a committee comprised of Virtus Awards Chairman Rose H. Libongco and the sitting HSMA board comprised of HSMA Chairman Margie Munsayac of Bluewater Resor ts, President Christine Ann Ibarreta of Golden Phoenix Hotel Manila, Vice President Benjie Martinez of Bayleaf Hotels, Treasurer Carmela Bocanegra of Chroma Hospitality, Memberships Director Tet Romualdo of Linden Suites, Programs Director Amie Villena of Bellevue Resorts Bohol and

PR Director Pearl Maclang of Marco Polo Davao.

This year’s immensely competitive group of nominees came from Bayleaf Intramuros, Bellevue Hotels and Resorts, Bluewater Maribago Beach Resort, City of Dreams Manila, Conrad Hotel Manila, Crimson Hotel Filinvest, Crimson Resort and Spa Boracay, Diamond Hotel Philippines, Golden Phoenix Hotel Manila, Hotel 101 Manila, Hotel Jen Manila by Shangri-La, Joy Nostalg Hotels and Suites Manila, Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, Lima Park Hotel, Midas Hotel and Casino, Oxford

Suites Manila, Quest Hotel and Conference Center Cebu, SEDA Hotel Abreeza, Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila, Solaire Resorts Manila and Taal Vista Hotel.

Forward at 40

Inspired by HSMA’s 40th anniversary, the award ceremony’s color theme is ruby. It has been 40 years since Rose Libongco, then with the InterContinental Manila, and contemporaries Melvin Cruz of Hyatt Hotels, Aurora Patricio Paredes of Manila Hilton, Michael Cuisia of Manila Hotel and Peter Litgeib of Mandarin Oriental

Manila, formed an informal association of hospitality sales and marketing practitioners in Manila. “The need then was to put system and order in the fast-expanding hotel industry as a result of the Philippine hosting of the World Bank IMF Conference,” Libongco recalls.

Today, there are 110 members, with growing membership nationwide.

“From a handful of members in the late ‘70s to a country-wide organization with a say in national tourism industry policies today, we have so much to be thankful for,” adds HSMA President

some young ladies dressed in yukata for photos because they’re simply so pretty.

In Hanami-koji, we first visited the famous and historic Ichiriki Chaya ochaya, or teahouse.

This wooden tea house is said to be the setting of Arthur Golden’s Memories of a Geisha and where the 47 Ronin conspired way back in the 18th century. This superexclusive ochaya is where patrons are entertained by geishas and guests are by invitation only. After a 10-minute walk, we reached the Shimbashi-Dori street, known to be the prettiest street in all of Gion.

What really caught our eye is the Shirakawa canal that looked peaceful and charming with its cherry trees, and the calming sound of its rolling waters. We also spotted the Tatsumi Daimyojin Shrine that is usually visited by geishas and newlyweds before heading back for some well-deserved rest.

Needless to say, our stint in Osaka and Kyoto is not enough.

There’s just too much to see and do in both cities; giving us more reasons to come back and fulfill our Nihon dreams while chasing the last days of summer.

Special thanks to AirAsia, Swissotel Nankai Osaka Hotel, Flytpack (mobile Internet provider), and KKday tours.

Christine Ibarreta. “The HSMA today is still guided by the counsel and wisdom of our founding members. We are inspired by their example and we build on what they’ve achieved, particularly in the areas of government and private-sector initiatives to grow and enhance the tourism and hospitality industry of our country.”

The Virtus Awards 2019 is supported by Conrad Manila Hotel, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Golden Phoenix Manila, Philippine Airlines, and Turkish Airlines. Official spirits sponsors are Emperador Distillers and Destileria Limtuaco. Official media partners are B usiness M irror , Pilipino Mirror, Philippine Graphic, Cook, and Health & Fitness.

Sports A8

BusinessMirror

Sunday, October 13, 2019

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

NBA ENTERTAINMENT Filipino fans enjoy heart-pumping action during the NBA 3X

Philippines 2019 presented by AXA at the Philippine International Convention Center Forum Tent recently with participants getting a chance to win exclusive prizes at the AXA booth and during the blindfolded free-throw shootout challenge, which saw a brand-new Nintendo Switch being awarded to Ateneo’s Thirdy Ravena, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 81 Finals MVP and a contestant who wins the challenge. With Ravena is AXA Philippines Chief Customer Officer Amor Balagtas.

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (right) tries to score against Sevilla’s Ever Banega during their La Liga match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona over the weekend. Messi scores once in his team’s 4-0 victory. AP

MESSI: I CONSIDERED LEAVING BARCELONA B

ARCELONA, Spain—Lionel Messi considered leaving Barcelona after being targeted by Spanish tax authorities in the early 2010s.

Messi said in an interview with Catalan radio station RAC1 on Wednesday that he felt he wasn’t treated well in Spain and didn’t want to stay in the country after being accused of not paying his taxes properly.

“I thought about leaving,” Messi said. “Not because I wanted to leave Barcelona, but because I wanted to leave Spain. I never had an official offer, because everyone knew that I wanted to be with Barcelona, but it was a situation that went beyond what I felt about the club.”

Messi’s problems with the Spanish authorities started in the 2013-14 season and he eventually received a suspended 21-month jail sentence after being found guilty of defrauding tax authorities of €4.1 million (then $4.6 million).

“It was a very difficult time for me and for my family,” he said. “A lot of people didn’t know exactly what was going on.”

Messi said he felt he was used as an example by Spanish tax authorities because he was the first top player to be targeted.

“It was really difficult because I was the first one,” Messi said. “They started with me and then went after everyone else.”

Several other players were later accused of wrongdoing by Spanish tax authorities, including former Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi said he wished Ronaldo would have stayed at Real Madrid because his presence was good for the Spanish league and the rivalry with Barcelona.

Messi also reiterated his wish to have Neymar

back with the club, and that he believed the Brazil forward would have ended up playing for Real Madrid if he didn’t join Barcelona.

“I thought [Real Madrid president] Florentino [Pérez] would have done something to sign him,” Messi said.

Messi said when former teammate Xavi Hernández decides to coach Barcelona the team will play similarly to how it did under Pep Guardiola, but he doesn’t know if he will still be playing when that happens.

Messi said his goal is to retire with Barcelona, and he feels the club should have won another Champions League title in the last few years.

The 32-year-old Argentina playmaker said he is getting to an age in which everything becomes harder on his body, but he will continue evaluating his playing condition year by year.

On Thursday, Messi is expected to attend the opening Cirque du Soleil show that was inspired by him.

A weakened Argentina side, meanwhile, came from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw against an injury-hit Germany team in their friendly on Wednesday.

Playing without the suspended Lionel Messi—and the likes of Gonzalo Higuaín, Ángel Di María or Sergio Agüero—the visitors still managed to cancel out first-half goals from Serge Gnabry and Kai Havertz with second-half strikes from Lucas Alario and Lucas Ocampos, who scored on his debut.

Germany Coach Joachim Löw gave four players their international debuts in Dortmund, including Freiburg teammates Robin Koch and Luca Waldschmidt, and Nadiem Amiri and Suat Serdar, who came on in the second half.

But Löw’s side lost control in the second half

and allowed the visitors to level after Bayern Leverkusen forward Alario came on for the ineffective Paulo Dybala in the 62nd minute.

Alario scored in the 66th and set up Ocampos to equalize in the 85th.

“Basically you’re always annoyed when you’re leading 2-0 and then draw 2-2,” Löw said. “They brought in some quality from their substitutions.

In the second half we lost the ball a few times. We weren’t so courageous and got into difficulties.”

With Barcelona’s Marc-André ter Stegen goal in place of regular No. 1 Manuel Neuer, it was the first time Germany started without a World Cup champion on the field since winning the trophy in 2014.

Niklas Stark, who had been called up six times already, had to keep waiting for his Germany debut due to gastrointestinal problems. The Hertha Berlin defender has waited longer than any other player since his initial call-up under 13 years of Löw.

Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah dropped out earlier Wednesday due to flu, leaving Löw with just Niklas Süle and Koch as the only central defenders in his squad. He had already resisted calls to bring Dortmund defender Mats Hummels back after sending him to early international retirement.

Löw’s injury list also included Timo Werner, Ilkay Gündogan, Toni Kroos, Jonas Hector, Antonio Rüdiger, Leon Goretzka, Kevin Trapp, Nico Schulz, Leroy Sané, Julian Draxler and Thilo Kehrer.

Counterpart Lionel Scaloni was also forced to improvise with Messi suspended for making allegations of corruption at the Copa América, and other stars missing. The visitors were all but overrun in the first half.

Joshua Kimmich captained Germany for the first time and was booked for a bad challenge in the 11th, four minutes before Bayern Munich teammate Gnabry broke the deadlock after Angel Correa lost the ball in midfield. Lukas Klostermann surged forward and crossed for Gnabry, who beat three defenders to the ball before dinking it over Agustin Marchesin to score.

Gnabry crossed for Havertz to score in the 22nd after another lost ball in the Argentina midfield. It was the Leverkusen midfielder’s first international goal.

Marcel Halstenberg struck the crossbar with a free kick for Germany, before Rodrigo de Paul replied by hitting the post at the other end. It was the only real chance for Argentina before the break, when the home side was applauded off the pitch. AP

Toby’s cops franchise award for retail

TOBY’S Sports Founder and Chairman Emeritus Roberto Claudio (fourth from left) poses with (from left) Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) Chairman Dr. Alan Escalona, UA&P University President Dr. Winston Conrad Padojinog, Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Rowel Barba, Toby’s Sports Store Operations and Franchising Head William Llaguno and Business Unit Head for Shared Services Louie Claudio, Philfoodex President Bobby Amores, Committee Chairman for the Franchise Excellence Awards Atty. Alex Cabrera and PFA President Richard Sanz.

T

OBY’s Sports again received the prestigious Outstanding Filipino Franchise Award for Retail (Large Scale Category) from the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) at the Franchise Excellence Awards held recently at Edsa Shangri-La Plaza.

It was Toby’s Sports’ second recognition in the same category, making it a Hall of Fame Awardee.

The Franchise Excellence Awards (FEA)

recognizes the country’s best-managed companies that serve as benchmarks for all franchising businesses based on growth performance, brand value and ethical business practices.

FEA is a joint partnership between the PFA, Department of Trade and Industry, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Philippine Retailers Association.

“We have been in the franchise business

for over 20 years and being inducted in the Hall of Fame at the prestigious Franchise Excellence Awards is truly an amazing honor and a huge milestone for us,” said William Llaguno, head of store operations and franchising at Toby’s Sports.

“We are confident that this recognition will inspire Toby’s Sports to continue its pursuit of excellence and we look forward to seeing greater achievements from the country’s largest sports retailer,” Dr. Alan Escalona, PFA president, said.

Redefining agriculture Cherrie Atilano on her mission to present farming as ‘cool and sexy’

Redefining agriculture Cherrie Atilano on her mission to present farming as ‘cool and sexy’

By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

C

herrie Atilano was among the distinguished speakers at the first EAT Asia-Pacific Food Forum in Jakarta in 2017.

She began her speech with a comment about her footwear, saying her presentation was a chance to wear 6-inch heels, a posh break from walking in the fields barefoot or in boots.

Over the course of nine minutes, Atilano commanded the room with an engaging talk about her passion and expertise on sustainable agriculture. She discussed her childhood dream of being an agribusiness entrepreneur with a company that would give back to farmers; the achievement of that dream through AGREA, her agro-social enterprise; as well as how farmers are “endangered specie” and how we need to see not the dirt, but the gold in soil.

The devotion of Atilano to agriculture sprouted at an early age. When she was turning 12, Atilano came across a book that said 100 percent of the income of the poor goes to food, leaving no budget for education, shelter or clothing. The book also stated that one can save as much as 70 percent of income to address other needs just by planting vegetables at his or her own house.

“My mom was very strict with gifts, and we can only receive one during Christmas or birthdays. On my 12th birthday,” Atilano said at the EAT Forum, “I asked my mom for a bike because I wanted to go to farmers and teach them about the lessons from the book.”

By the time she was 22, Atilano had already traveled to 81 provinces in the Philippines to spread her advocacy. She pursued her passion in college and graduated magna cum laude with a Major in Horticulture Specializing on Tissue Culture from the Visayas State University in Leyte.

“That entire four years [in college] opened so many possibilities and opportunities that agriculture is not just tilling the soil, but it is a vast money-making venture that is so impactful to a lot of people, from the producers to consumers,” Atilano, now 33, told the BusinessMirror in a recent email interview.

The agriculture champion has garnered tons of recognition for her work. In 2007,

“Agriculture is not just tilling the soil, but it is a vast money-making venture that is so impactful to a lot of people: from the producers to consumers,” said Cherrie Atilano, one of 26 newly appointed ambassadors of the UN Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement. she was named as one of the 10 Outstanding Students of the Philippines for her academic excellence, exemplary leadership and strong social responsibilities. She is also a “Global Shaper,” tied to the World Economic Forum, and was named Young Global Laureate 2014 by the International Youth Organization-Youth Action Net.

UN appointment Atilano’s latest accomplishment came last month, when she was appointed by United Nations SecretaryGeneral António Guterres as a highlevel ambassador of the UN Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement.

The SUN Movement is “committed to the understanding that good nutrition is the best investment of the future,” successfully catalyzing the fight against malnutrition in 60 countries, including the Philippines.

“I see myself helping a lot, not only in advocating, but facilitating collaboration among public-private and international organizations to create action-driven solutions to this global problem of malnutrition,” Atilano said.

The new SUN Movement ambassador was appointed along with 26 others across the globe in recognition of her strong commitment to the fight against malnutrition, as evidenced by her grassroots work toward rural development through sustainable agriculture in AGREA, where she holds the titles president, CEO and “Founding Farmer.”

According to its web site, AGREA is an innovative and inclusive enterprise founded on fair trade and sustainable agriculture, based in the island province of Marinduque. AGREA is creating the first replicable model of a one-island economy that is zero hunger, zero waste and zero insufficiency.

Atilano said the UN appointment is both a humbling experience and a great

2 BusinessMirror

honor for the country. She added that the privilege is a good opportunity to scale up their work in AGREA on a global level, including its programs.

One of which is The Garden Classroom, which turns barren and forgotten school gardens in elementary schools into blooming centers for learning. Another is Farm School, designed to train and enable farmer-leaders, farmer-scientists, and farmeragripreneurs to offer good and nutritious food for the people.

“I will also provide strategic oversight of the SUN Movement, encouraging coherence and collective accountability for results,” Atilano said. “With this, I can influence in strengthening both policy and action in terms of solving malnutrition across the globe. But of course, I would like to focus and give emphasis on our policy and efforts here in the Philippines and the Asean region.”

schools, where the produce can be used for student feeding programs.

“The government can also partner with private institutions that develop nutritious products to be promoted in the country, and can put strict restrictions on junk foods,” she said.

One of the bigger obstacles in winning the fight against hunger and malnutrition is population. At 105 million people, the country’ population problem has been exacerbated by the decline in agricultural productivity.

“There is scarcity of food, the demand is high and the supply is very low, especially within the country,” Atilano said. “Our production is not enough to sustain the need of our population. If there is, only those who can afford can have access to nutritious food. There is also a need to educate Filipinos to eat more vegetables and go for healthier diets.”

Local challenges and solutions

‘Farming is cool and sexy’

The current state of Philippine agriculture, according to Atilano, is going to have a big impact in the fight against hunger and malnutrition. To succeed, she said everything must begin with education, particularly informing communities to grow their own food and eat healthy.

“I always promote family farming as an approach to solve our malnutrition problem so that it will not be a reactive solution to do a feeding program, but more of a proactive approach starting from the home,” she said.

Atilano also stressed the government’s role in supporting agriculture, saying there should be more focus on research and development on food fortification, breeding, and food processing to produce more nutritious food. Another key factor is encouraging the planting of vegetables in rural communities, as well as in public elementary

To attract the younger generation to farming, Atilano says behavioral change is necessary. She said that children must be taught at an early age the importance of growing their own food, eating healthy and loving the environment.

“We also need to showcase more successful stories in agriculture—focusing that it is a profitable business, as long as there are people to feed, there is business in food production,” she said. “There is a need to change the narrative of agriculture; we need to stop telling them that agriculture is always associated to poverty and drudgery.”

Atilano has a message as well for the youth about farming.

“I truly believe that at the end of the day, farming is cool and sexy for young people to venture,” she said. “We need to make agriculture sustainable and take good care of our food now and the future generation.”

October 13, 2019

BusinessMirror

YOUR MUSIC OUR BUSINESS

COLLECTIVE SOUL

THE RANSOM COLLECTIVE’S NEW DIRECTION PAYS OFF IN A BIG WAY

I

By Edwin P. Sallan

T has been three years since the indie band The Ransom Collective first took the local music scene by storm.

Composed of Kian Ransom (vocals, guitar), Redd Claudio (drums), Jermaine Choa Peck (percussions, vocals), Leah Halili (bass, vocals), Lily Gonzales (keyboards, vocals), and Muriel Gonzales (violin, vocals), the band first waves when they won the Wanderband competition in 2014.

But it wasn’t until 2017 when they released their first full-length studio album, “Traces,” that they became sought after in the live circuit.

Characterized by propulsive backbeats, jangly strings and introspective vocals, The Ransom Collective has crafted a unique and layered sound that has won the hearts of the more discriminating and progressive music fans. It came as no surprise that they quickly

became one of the most sought after alternative acts in the live circuit.

Now two years after “Traces,” the band is back not just with a new recording but also with a new, reinvented sound and a fresh physical makeover. “[W]e’ve changed. In the span of three years, we’ve graduated college, signed up for first jobs, traded the corporate world for a freelance (or part-time) life, and/or even got married. We’ve shed our happygo-lucky youth for a more mature, hardened early mid-twenties vibe,” the band noted in the describing the evolution of its latest single, “I Don’t Care.”

The band says the song is about discovering oneself, and all the ugliness and beauty that comes with

THE RAMSON COLLECTIVE. Jermaine Choa Peck, Muriel Gonzales, Kian Ramson, Leah Halili, Lily Gonales, and Redd Claudio (Photos from the band's official website and Facebookpage)

the process.

“Life has been tough, but it has been nothing we haven’t been able to overcome. Yes, our lyrics aren’t happy, but our music still uplifts

you to a certain degree (or at least we’d like to think), and so it is with life. Though we will leave the song’s Continued on page 6

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Sound BusinessMirror

OCTOBER 13 , 2019 | soundstrip.businessmirror@gmail.com

MUS

‘BABA YETU’ WORSHIP THROUGH MUSIC AT ELLINWOOD CHURCH

A

S part of its 112th founding anniversary celebration, the UCCP Ellinwood-Malate Church will hold a “Worship Through Music” on October 13, 5PM at its Main Sanctuary at 1660 Dr. A Vasquez St., Malate, Manila.

Laden with Baroque classical compositions, hymns, sung prayers, and contemporary inspirational songs to be rendered by the Vesper Choir and accompanied by the Ellinwood

George Bernard Supetran

Ellinwood Chamber Orchestra

Chamber Orchestra, the event is a worship service designed for a more edifying and meaningful encounter with the Divine.

The liturgical celebration is titled “Baba Yetu” (Our Father),

George Bernard Supetran

Jim Rey Baloloy

Ellinwood Malate Church Vesper Choir

the Swahili sung version of “The Lord’s Prayer” penned by Christopher Tin, which will also serve as the introit to set the mood for worship.

Classical pieces include “Thine Be The Glory,” an adaptation from the 58th movement of Handel’s oratorio Judas Maccabeus; “Intermezzo” from Mascagni’s opera Cavalleria Rusticana; and “Andante Festivo”

by Jean Sibelius.

Anthems include Rutter’s “Look at the World,” Sorenson’s “God of Heaven,” “Il Signore (Prayer of St. Francis Assisi)” by National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab, and “When You Believe” from the Dreamworks animated movie Prince of Egypt.

The Vesper Choir, the resident vocal ensemble of the Ellinwood’s Vesper Service, will be conducted

by Israel Comandante and Jim Rey Baloloy of Novo Concertante. The Ellinwood Chamber Orchestra is the three-year old string and wind ensemble of the church conducted by George Bernard Supetran, former principal violist of the UST Symphony Orchestra.

The service will be capped by “Hallelujah” from Handel’s oratorio masterpiece, “Messiah”, with congregational singing participation.

d trip

soundstrip.businessmirror@gmail.com | OCTOBER 13 , 2019

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SIC ON PRINT

CREATING MORE SMILES SMILE TRAIN PARTNERS WITH LIGHTHOUSE CLUB MANILA the support of its donors and partners around the world, have supported safe and quality cleft care for more than 1.5 million children and will continue to do so until every child in need with a cleft has access to the care they deserve.

For more information about Smile Train’s global efforts and to make a donation, visit smiletrain. org. Follow Smile Train on Twitter and Instagram @SmileTrainPh, and on Facebook at @ SmileTrainPhilippines.

SMILE TRAIN SOUTH EAST ASIA. Kimy Coseteng Flaviano, actress Natalia Santanavia Escano, Rozal Gutierrez, actresses Omelia Cuzilao-Buser, Tricia Canilao-Buser and actor Laurence Mossman

T

HE world’s leading cleft charity, Smile Train and construction industry charity, Lighthouse Club Manila recently held a fundraising event to support their programs, namely, life-changing cleft treatment and scholarships of the Philippine construction community and its families.

The initiative was held in commemoration of “World Smile Day,” an annual celebration every first Friday of October encouraging acts of kindness around the world.

“The booming construction sector in the Philippines calls for industry players to support the overall welfare of its employees and extend benefits to their families.

Through this partnership with Smile Train, we aim to highlight the importance of the industry’s workforce and their contribution to building infrastructure for the country’s long-term progress,” says Lighthouse Club Manila Chairman, Mr. Samuel Powell.

The event welcomed a roster of talented musical theater artists such as Laurence Mossman and Tricia Canilao from the local adaptation of Kinky Boots, Canilao’s daughter Ornella Canilao-Buser, and

Natalia Santamaria Escano from Annie the Musical. Valuable art pieces from local artists including renowned sculptor and abstract painter Manuel Baldemor, figurative painter Nilo Badojos, and abstract artist Chris Pizzaro, were also auctioned off during the fundraiser.

“As Smile Train celebrates its 20th Anniversary and bringing forever smiles to Filipinos, we recognize the role we play in uplifting lives and reaching out to more underserved sectors in our country. We look forward to partnering with more organizations that are passionate about our cause and vision of giving every child with a cleft the opportunity for a brighter future,” said Kimmy CosetengFlaviano, Smile Train’s Area Director for South East Asia.

Since 1999, Smile Train, with

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OCTOBER 13 , 2019 | soundstrip.businessmirror@gmail.com

Sound trip BusinessMirror

MUSIC ON PRINT

RHYTHM & RHYME

by Kaye Villagomez-Losorata

Time to talk about your daily soundtrack I N the 1965 classic film “The Sound of Music,” there’s that part where the nuns were trying to solve “a problem like Maria.” While trying to figure out the character played by Julie Andrews, they asked while singing the Maria song: “How do you hold a moon beam in your hand?” That’s Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II for you, assembling a moviemusical masterpiece that would transcend generations.

Today, that’s exactly what the songs on your current playlist afford you—it allows you to hold a moon beam in your hand when you try to drown out office stress with earphones and your mobile phone or escape for a quick lunch break armed only with your digital music library.

It doesn’t matter if your go-to escape is The Sound of Music soundtrack or Senorita on repeat; what’s important is that for 3 minutes and 10 seconds, Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello took you somewhere else, some place of your own choice unlike the meeting that you have to go back to after the break.

So let’s talk songs and music right here on this space from now on. I used to do CD reviews back in the 2000s for my ex-

Collective Soul...

from page 3

meaning for you to interpret, we hope you can hear our stubborn youngadult optimism shine through the cracks of heavy quarter note beats.”

Melody-wise, the song opens with “crashing cymbals and cutthroat synths” which the band says is far from the “twinkly sound and acoustic-folk” that they are known for. While the lyrics takes a more serious tone, its backing track provides a sense of fun and lightness with its upbeat, retro feel.

newspaper before I crossed over to corporate PR. CD what? Yup, they’re long gone along with the portable Sony players we used to carry with us everywhere but the habit of turning to a song for breather remains.

After all, we all have those moments when we turned to our soundtrack to get through the day.

Speaking of great music escapes, we can unanimously agree that U2’s forthcoming Philippine tour is the year’s biggest for Filipino concert-goers. Fans of the Irish rock group are Philippine

Arena-ready and traffic-proof as early as now because they know that they will get to live their U2 anthems on December 11.

But Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen, Jr. are also famous for brave covers of other artists. Bono is not scared of covering The Beatles and previously performed “Help” and “Helter Skelter.” Bono famously intro-ed the latter with this statement, “This is a song Charles Manson stole from the Beatles. We’re stealing it back.”

I wonder if U2 has another brave cover up its sleeve when

they perform here for the second to the last leg of The Joshua Tree World Tour made possible

by MMI Live and Smart. We, at SoundStrip, will get back to you with more live concert updates and even exclusives on which artists are expected for 2020 concerts here so we can prepare our wallets for tickets.

(The author is a former entertainment reporter and editor before shifting to corporate PR. Follow @kayevillagomez on Instagram and Twitter for more updates.)

Since its launch last May 3, the single has been well-received by music fans of varying persuasions, as evidenced by its Top 10 performance in iTunes Philippines All-Genre Chart. Not surprisingly, the song also made it to the number one spot in iTunes Philippines Alternative Chart.

With over 83,000 views for the song’s official music video on YouTube and Facebook, “I Don’t Care” has also been performed live on the popular Wish 107.5 Bus that generated an additional 64,000

views. On Spotify, The Ransom Collective has over 77,000 monthly listeners—a pretty solid following for alternative act that’s slowly crawling its way into the mainstream.

As for their new look, the band has this to say, “We wanted our looks to reflect the evolution of our sound without compromising our unquenchable thirst for life. We didn’t want to appear too young, but we didn’t want to be taken too seriously either. The answer? Colors, colors, and more colors.”

The Ransom Collective will perform next at Santelmo: Halloween Music Party at Filinvest City Events Grounds in Muntinlupa City. Happening on October 31 to November 1, the concert will be headlined by UDD, December Avenue, Aegis, Callalily, Autotelic, Sud, Cheats, Nathan & Mercury and many more.

(This article is an updated version of a story originally posted by the author on ScreenRaven.com.)

The key to success

By Luis Delos Santos

‘M

ag-aral ka nang mabuti para pagtanda mo, may magandang trabaho ka.”

Parents always, always tell us to study and finish school because who would not want their child to succeed in life? As I write this article, however, the ringing question comes to mind. Does the age-old advice really apply to everyone?

We are programmed to work for eight hours, or go to school at 7 in the morning and go home at around 4 in the afternoon.

Some of us will be stuck in the routine until retirement. But then I look at the “successful people” in our country: The old rich, those with silver spoon as twins.

Most of them are businessmen and none are your regular office people. One might argue that their fortunes have been inherited, but still.

What if there’s a fail-proof formula for success, one that can be easily accessed by everyone? A world where everyone can live a good life with a roof on top of their heads,

food on their plates, and are capable of traveling and buying all kinds of stuff—all of the earthly pleasures one ought to enjoy.

I recently had the chance to talk to my uncle, Zandro de los Santos, an entrepreneur. I thought he had the formula we’ve all been looking for, so I asked him questions about his career and how he started his own business.

He said the plan to be businessman was made after college. He wanted to put up a burger stand beside the sarisari store owned by his mom. He started

selling burgers beside the store, which sold drinks for the customers; a winwin setup for both businesses.

I asked my uncle about the income of his burger stand, and he said it was P10,000.

Not bad for a burger stand. But that wasn’t enough for him. Soon, his friend invited him to try his luck as a motorcycle salesman, and he got the job.

He did well in selling motorcycles and was up for promotion. But my uncle turned down the opportunity and looked for another gig, this time as a sales agent for a

big cigarette company, where he found even more success. Eventually, he was able to open a computer shop near our place.

The new business was doing good on the side. On the career front, things were brighter. My uncle received another job offer, which he accepted and concentrated on.

Focused on his new post, my uncle’s computer shop started to dwindle as his computers started to break down due to poor maintenance. But he refused to give it up. He wanted to save the business and thought of a new gimmick and insert new life to his computer shop. He decided to add a hobby shop, but, unfortunately, to no avail. Both shops were closed.

His sibling approached him with a fresh idea: A milk-tea shop. My uncle was understandably reluctant to entertain the idea, but he eventually attended milk-tea seminars. Soon, he reopened the computer shop/ hobby shop as a milk-tea café. Just a month in, business has already picked up steam.

I witnessed my uncle struggle with his business. I was there during the highs and the lows.

Indeed, there’s no secret formula on having a successful business or a successful life. I guess success really comes from within. If one is goal-oriented and determined, success might follow. And that’s just about the closest key to success that we have.

Young entreps launch grant facility to promote social impact in business

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he Roots Collective, in partnership with Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF) and Forest Foundation Philippines (FFP), recently launched the Sibol (growth) Program Fund in Taguig City to enable start-ups to develop and improve their enterprises that helps in increasing the income of local communities and protecting the environment.

The three-year special grant facility, which will run starting January 2020, aims to ensure sustainability of social enterprises through product enhancements, sales generation, income generation for partner communities, and increased of areas for environmental protection.

According to Jamir Ocampo, chief executive officer of Roots Collective, the Sibol Fund is essential in promoting marketability of products while retaining the impact they bring to communities they support.

“Advocacy for entrepreneurs is not just about the message,” he said. “It’s about proving that this advocacy will work with products through market acceptance. It’s also our capacity to generate our own resources to take on developmental initiatives.”

The future of social enterprises rests on the young people PEF Executive Director Roberto Calingo,

“Sana hindi ito one isolated success. My vision is that, someday, we can have the session in Visayas, Mindanao, and in key cities with a lot of linkages happening in the communities. Today is the first step toward that vision,” he said.

Partner for environment conservation

Forest Foundation Philippines Executive Director Atty. Jose Andres Canivel and Peace and Equity Foundation Executive Director Roberto Calingo meanwhile, noted that the youth sector is becoming the key players and influencers of the market and the need to engage them is vital to help poor communities.

“May pag-asa ang mga poor communities if we can combine their efforts with the efforts of the youth in looking at ways

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to improve the product, and ways to bring the product to the market,” he said.

Calingo added that PEF is looking forward to the expansion of the project to connect young social entrepreneurs for lasting impact to poor households and communities.

October 13, 2019

FFP Executive Director Atty. Jose Andres Canivel believes that the youth sector offers fresh ideas in resolving pressing problems that plague the environment, saying that in this time of forest degradation and climate emergency, “we need all of the innovation, we need all of the creativity, and we need all of the passion that young people can bring into our work.”

Canivel also stressed that young entrepreneurs have been an important partner in developing sustainable livelihood that promotes forest protection and conservation.

“We were looking for a way to link our partner communities to the market,” he said. “That drew us into working with social entrepreneurs.”

The launch of the Sibol Program Fund is a part of a weeklong Roots Commune, an exhibit at Uptown Bonifacio Mall that showcases a wide array of ethically made products that highlights sustainability and local creativity.

Don’t ignore the signs of financial abuse

In this August 11, 2019, photo, a woman signs a check at a restaurant in New Orleans. For every 10 millennial women you know, odds are that seven of them have had a partner use money to control or manipulate them, according to a 2017 survey of 2,000 people ages 18 to 35 by CentSai, a financial wellness web site. AP

By Kelsey Sheehy NerdWallet

N

early 70 percent of millennial women have experienced financial abuse by a romantic partner.

Let that sink in for a second.

That means, for every 10 women you know in that age group, odds are that seven of them have had a partner use money to control or manipulate them, according to a 2017 survey of 2,000 people ages 18 to 35 by CentSai, a financial wellness web site.

Sadly, it’s not surprising given that 1 in 4 women will experience intimate partner violence in their lifetime—often for the first time before they are 25 years old, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And financial abuse is present in nearly all domestic abuse cases.

But financial abuse can and does occur absent of any physical violence. And it isn’t strictly a millennial problem, nor is it something that happens exclusively to women.

Almost 50 percent of men in the survey by CentSai said they experienced some form of financial abuse.

Recognizing financial abuse Financial abuse can run the gamut from subtle to egregious.

It might look like a partner who can’t keep a job or pay their share of the bills. Or one who makes you feel guilty for spending your own money. But it could also be a partner who offers to handle the household finances, then gradually restricts your access to those accounts.

Some other common forms of financial abuse: n They open credit cards in your name without your knowledge. n They default on accounts in your name, ruining your credit. n They make you take out loans or borrow from your family, but don’t pay it back. n They hide money from you. n They refuse to let you work or try to sabotage your career.

If you feel like you’re being taken advantage of financially, bring it up with your partner. How they react will tell you a lot.

Do they get angry? Do they shift the blame to you? Do they make you feel guilty for questioning them? Or do they apologize and take meaningful steps to remedy the situation?

“A good sign is if you feel like you can have that conversation and your partner is receptive to it,” says Katie Hood, CEO of the One Love Foundation, a nonprofit that

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teaches young people how to identify and avoid abusive relationships.

But if you’re avoiding these types of conversations out of fear for how your partner could react, that might be a warning sign.

“When someone is in an abusive relationship, they basically start managing their life around another person’s anger and volatility,” Hood says.

Look for patterns Financial abuse, like most forms of abuse, typically isn’t a one-off behavior, but part of a trend that escalates over time, so it’s important to look for the patterns, Hood says.

“I think about it like falling down a rabbit hole,” Hood says. “It starts out great— you’re adored. The next step is isolation; they basically pull you away from your support network and tether you to them.

Then, they start the emotional abuse—manipulating you, being controlling, sabotage, calling you names, calling you crazy.”

How to get help First, assess your risk level. If you fear for your safety, call the National Domestic Violence hot line at 800-799-7233 or TTY 800-787-3224 or contact a local hot line immediately (In the Philippines, you may contact the Department of Social Welfare and Development at (02) 931-8101 to 07 or your local social welfare office, the October 13, 2019

PNP-Women and Children Protection Center at 410-3213 or your local barangay women and children’s desk, or the NBI-Violence Against Women and Children Desk at 5238231 to 38/525-6028—Ed.) They can connect you with resources and help you get out of the relationship safely.

If you’re not concerned for your safety, start building an exit plan.

“The first step is to be aware. The second is to start doing some protection,” says Shannon Thomas, author of Exposing Financial Abuse. At this stage, it’s important to not tell your abuser you’re going to leave. “I’ve talked to folks that confronted the abuser, and the next day all the money was out of the account.”

Instead, get educated. Find out where your joint accounts are and how to get access to them. Bank staff can be helpful, Thomas says. It’s difficult, but important, to be honest about what you suspect is going on. Remember, it’s something they’ve likely heard before.

If you suspect a loved one is experiencing financial abuse, express your concern without berating their partner.

Point out patterns that you see and ask for their assessment.

“They may get defensive. They may push back,” Thomas says. “But if someone gently asks and says ‘I’m seeing this and I’m concerned,’ it opens the door.” AP