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COMP vows to go beyond mining-policy compliance to win back public support

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By Jonathan L. Mayuga

espite the “policy storm” that saw mining investment in the Philippines slow down, the industry’s big players under the aegis of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) remain upbeat, as the group promises to lead membercompanies toward more responsible mining operations that will pass international standards as directed by President Duterte.

Interviewed by the BusinessMirror during the culmination of the three-day Mining Philippines 2017: International Conference and Exhibition at the Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City on Thursday, COMP Executive Director Ronald Recidoro said in the next few weeks, a reinvigorated COMP will make its presence felt, starting with a new board of trustees with a fresh mandate.

“We will be more aggressive in communicating our environmental protection and social development activities. More important, we will increase our engagements with government and other key stakeholders, to hear their position and consider them in our advocacies. All these changes are in response to President Duterte and [Environment] Secretary [Roy] Cimatu’s call for the in-

dustry to be responsible miners. Our aim is not just to follow the law, but to do better,” Recidoro said.

“The Mining Philippines 2017 Conference saw an increase in the number of participants and exhibitors keenly taking part this year. The conference’s discussions aimed to enhance knowledge on best mining practices in terms of operation, social development and environmental protection,” he said.

For the past two years, the mining industry experienced turbulent policy changes, starting with the imposition of the mining moratorium for new mining projects, the signing of Executive Order (EO) 79, which called for a periodic review of mining operations and declaration of mining no-go zones under the previous administration—and under the

Duterte administration, a 10-month crackdown on irresponsible mining by the new administration’s first environment secretary, Regina Paz L. Lopez, which saw the issuance of closure or suspension orders affecting more than two dozen large-scale mines, the ban on open-pit mining method, and the cancellation of 75 mineral production sharing agreements (MPSAs).

Sustainable mining practices With this year’s theme “Responsible Mining: Moving Beyond Compliance”, the conference saw international experts presenting sustainable mining models in Canada and Australia.

According to Recidoro, the presentations of mining models from Canada and Australia gave COMP members ideas of how the indus-

ohn Hix | Dreamstime

Miners rise above ‘policy storm’

try can move forward, while correcting the public’s misconception about mining, its pros and cons, cost and benefits.

“The chamber will take a serious look at the mining standards of other countries, such as the Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) initiative of the Mining Association of Canada (MAC), and study how these may be adopted for use by our members,” he said.

He added that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) will be updated by COMP every step of the way in shifting toward the TSM model.

According to Recidoro, adopting the TSM protocols on indigenous peoples and community outreach, Continued on A2

Nations rush to help islands devastated by Hurricane Irma

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rench, British and Dutch military authorities rushed aid to a devastated string of Caribbean islands on Thursday after Hurricane Irma left at least 11 people dead and thousands homeless, as it spun toward Florida for what could be a catastrophic blow this weekend.

Meanwhile, with the safety of about 3,000 Filipinos in the path of Typhoon Irma in the Caribbean at risk, the Philippines, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), already placed its embassies in Washington and Mexico on a higher state of readiness to ensure quick response.

This is to allow them to immediately come to the rescue of Filipinos in the United States and the Caribbean who may be impacted by Hurricane Irma.

“We have seen how powerful and destructive Hurricane Irma is,”

Foreign Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano said. “We should not be taking any chances and should be ready to assist our nationals who may get caught in the middle of this storm.”

Cayetano has instructed Chargé d’Affaires Patrick Chuasoto of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., and Ambassador Eduardo de Vega of the Philippine Embassy in Mexico to be ready to deploy teams to hurricane-affected areas in case there are Filipino nationals there that would need assistance.

Continued on A2

PESO exchange rates n US 51.0230

Water from Addicks Reservoir flows into neighborhoods as floodwaters from Tropical Storm Harvey rise in Houston on August 29, 2017. AP/David J. Phillip

n japan 0.4705 n UK 66.8554 n HK 6.5294 n CHINA 7.8678 n singapore 38.0797 n australia 41.0531 n EU 61.3552 n SAUDI arabia 13.6058

Source: BSP (8 September 2017 )

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A2 Saturday, September 9, 2017

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Miners rise above ‘policy storm’ Continued from A1

emissions and tailings management, biodiversity conservation, and safety and health, will have positive impacts on mining operations, environmental protection and social development.

He said one company already tested it and the feedback is positive. “We can do it here. All we need is to dedicate resources, staff and fund,” he said.

COMP has also formed an oversight committee vested with the powers to investigate and recommend action on complaints against mining operations with the objective of policing its own ranks and bringing up its own standards for membership participation.

Best practices

“The Chamber of Mines has al-

Irma…

ways espoused best practices, not just responsible mining, one that goes beyond mere compliance. The Chamber of Mines is a very active proponent of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative in the country, which institutionalized transparency in the areas of revenue sharing and taxation. It was also the chamber that introduced the Minerals Reporting Code in the Philippines, standardizing and regulating the information on mineral resources to protect and guide the investing public and the government,” Recidoro said.

Moving forward, Recidoro said COMP member-companies will also fine-tune their Social Development Management Program (SDMP) and corporate social responsibility activities to encompass environmental protec-

Continued from a1

Cayetano said the DFA is still waiting for reports on the condition of Filipinos in the affected areas.

The Philippine Embassy in Washington said there are 72 Filipinos in Anguilla; 32 in Antigua and Barbuda; and 264 in the British Virgin Islands. Of particular concern to the DFA is Turks and Caicos, which hosts a Filipino population of around 2,327, the largest in the Caribbean.

The islands, with a population of more than 31,000, is at risk of a storm surge with destructive waves as high as 20 feet.

Cayetano said he has instructed Foreign Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola to make sure funds are available to assist Filipinos who would be affected by the hurricane.

Described by weather experts as the most powerful storm in the Atlantic in over a decade, Irma left a trail of death and destruction after it swept across the islands of Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, St. Barthelemy and St. Martin.

Warships and planes were

dispatched with food, water and troops after the fearsome Category 5 storm smashed homes, schools and roads, laying waste to some of the world’s most beautiful and exclusive tourist destinations.

Hundreds of miles to the west, Florida braced for the onslaught, with forecasters warning that Irma could slam headlong into the Miami metropolitan area of 6 million people, punish the entire length of the state’s Atlantic coast and move into Georgia and South Carolina.

More than a half-million people in Miami-Dade County were ordered to leave as Irma closed in with winds of 165 mph (270 kph).

“Take it seriously, because this is the real deal,” said Maj. Jeremy DeHart, a US Air Force Reserve weather officer who flew through the eye of Irma at 10,000 feet (3,048 meters).

The first islands hit by the storm were scenes of terrible destruction.

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said four people were confirmed dead and about 50 injured on the French side of

tion and social development and address climate-change resiliency and adaptation.

“This is an imperative. We will also engage with developmental experts and agencies to make the SDMP a more potent and effective weapon to fight poverty,” he said.

In looking at the TSM initiative, Recidoro said more talks with the Mining Association of Canada will ensue. Crucial to this initiative, he said, is to convince COMP members to commit to the process “because it requires resources” to adapt to such sustainable mining model.

TSM, which calls for broader participation of the so-called “community of interest”, including civil society organizations (CSOs), will be observed, Recidoro said. “We may invite members of the Mining Association of Canada to go here so we

St. Martin, an island split between Dutch and French control, where homes were splintered and road signs scattered by the fierce winds.

The cafes and clothing shops of the picturesque seaside village of Marigot were submerged in brown floodwaters. The toll could rise because rescue teams had yet to get a complete look at the damage.

The US Consulate General in Curaçao said it believes about 6,000 Americans are stranded on St. Martin and is collecting their names and locations. It said it was working with the US and other governments to try to figure out how to get the Americans off the island either by air or boat. Frantic Americans were calling home to relatives to try to get them off the island, especially because Hurricane Jose threatened a second blow to the tourist Mecca.

At least four people were killed in the US Virgin Islands, and officials said they expected to find more bodies. Authorities described the damage as catastrophic and said crews were struggling to reopen roads and restore power.

Three more deaths were reported on the British island of Anguilla, as well as Barbuda and the

can learn more about their model for adoption by our members.”

Majority representation

part of the promise to heed Duterte’s call for responsible mining by taking care of the environment as well as its host communities.

“We have to go deep into this.

The community of interest of partners would have to be sober and rational and impacted [by operations].

[The antimining group] ATM (Alyansa Tigil Mina) is not being rational on the issue. They are interest groups based in Manila,” he said.

Earlier, COMP Chairman Gerard H. Brimo clarified that COMP does not represent the industry as a whole, but only a number of big players who belong to the association.

Brimo said members of COMP who are accused of wrongdoings will be investigated by the oversight committee as part of the policy to police its ranks. He was, however, quick to say that the investigation aims not necessarily to sanction members but to ferret out the truth about the complaints.

According to Recidoro, as far as COMP is concerned, the leadership will facilitate interactions to learn more about TSM, and encourage members to adopt the system, as

Community of interests

Dutch side of St. Martin.

Irma also slammed the French island of St. Barts, tearing off roofs and knocking out electricity in the high-end tourist destination.

French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said 100,000 food rations were sent to St. Barts and St. Martin, the equivalent of four days of supplies.

“It’s a tragedy. We’ll need to rebuild both islands,” he said. “Most of the schools have been destroyed.”

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the storm “caused widescale destruction of infrastructure, houses and businesses.”

“There is no power, no gasoline, no running water. Houses are under water, cars are floating through the streets, inhabitants are sitting in the dark in ruined houses and are cut off from the outside world,” he said.

The hurricane was still north of the Dominican Republic and Haiti on Thursday evening, sweeping the neighboring nations on Hispaniola island with high winds and rain while battering the Turks and Caicos islands on its other side.

Big waves smashed a dozen homes into rubble in the Dominican fishing community of Nagua,

but work crews said all the residents had left before the storm. Officials said 11,200 people in all had evacuated vulnerable areas, while 55,000 soldiers had been deployed to help the cleanup.

In Haiti, two people were injured by a falling tree, a national roadway was blocked by debris and roofs were torn from houses along the northern coast but there were no immediate reports of deaths.

Officials warned that could change as Irma continued to lash Haiti, where deforested hillsides are prone to devastating mudslides that have wiped out entire neighborhoods of precariously built homes in flood zones.

“We are vulnerable. We don’t have any equipment to help the population,” Josue Alusma, mayor of the northern city of Port de Paix, said on Radio Zenith FM.

About a million people were without power in Puerto Rico after Irma sideswiped the island overnight, and nearly half the territory’s hospitals were relying on generators. No injuries were reported.

In the US Virgin Islands, Gov. Kenneth Mapp said the US military was sending troops to aid relief efforts.

He defined “community of interests” as the various stakeholders affected by mining operations—the host communities as represented by local government units, barangays, faithbased groups, academe and community-based organizations.

To recall, COMP strongly opposed the inclusion of civil society

organizations (CSOs) as part of the mine-audit teams that evaluated the performance of mining operations at Lopez’s instructions. In particular, COMP questioned the CSOs’ inclusion, saying some groups within belong to the network of organizations under the ATM, an antimining group.

According to Recidoro, ATM and its networks of antimining groups do not qualify as a “rational group” in the first place, or even be in the “community of interest” referred to under the TSM process.

However, he said community organizations that will be affected by, as well as reap benefits from, mining operations will be welcome to take part under the TSM mechanism.

The primary focus for now is “making sure people have meals, water and shelter,” Mapp said. “An event of this magnitude is very chilling.”

The territory’s two islands were battered by 150 mph (241 kph) winds for four hours. Two fire stations, two fire police stations and the hospital on St. Thomas were destroyed. A curfew was ordered for St. John and St. Thomas that also covered about 5,000 tourists who were unable to leave before the storm.

Farther out in the Atlantic, Hurricane Jose strengthened into a Category 3 storm with 120 mph (195 kph) winds and posed a potential threat for Saturday to some of the same islands ravaged by Irma.

Irma, the most potent Atlantic Ocean hurricane ever recorded, appeared increasingly likely to rip into heavily populated South Florida on Sunday afternoon after threatening parts of the Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas on Thursday night and Friday and sweeping along Cuba’s northern coast on Saturday.

People in Florida rushed to board up their homes, take their boats out of the water and gas up their cars. With gasoline running out and tensions rising, the Florida Highway Patrol escorted tanker trucks sent to replenish gas stations.

“It is wider than our entire state and could cause major and life-threatening impacts from coast to coast. Regardless of which coast you live on, be prepared to evacuate,” Gov. Rick Scott said.

French President Emmanuel Macron’s office said he would go to the islands as soon as the weather permits it. Saying he was “grief-stricken,” Macron called for concerted efforts to tackle global warming to prevent similar natural disasters.

Two Dutch navy ships were in St. Martin with vital supplies. And two Dutch military aircraft were being sent to the island of Curaçao and on to St. Martin to deliver food and water intended to last the population of 40,000 five days. The aircraft were carrying 100 extra troops to deliver aid, repair infrastructure and restore order.

Britain was sending hundreds of troops and the Royal Navy flagship HMS Ocean to Anguilla, Montserrat and the British Virgin Islands.

In Anguilla, officials reported extensive damage to the airport, hospitals, shelters and schools and said 90 percent of roads were impassable.

On Barbuda, nearly every building was damaged when the hurricane’s core crossed almost directly over the island early Wednesday. About 60 percent of its roughly 1,400 residents were left homeless, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne said.

He said roads and telecommunications systems were wrecked and recovery will take months, if not years.

“It is just really a horrendous situation,” Browne said.

Recto Mercene, AP

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S. Korea braces for another possible N. Korea missile test S

outh Korea is closely watching North Korea over the possibility it may launch another intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) as soon as Saturday, when it celebrates its founding anniversary.

Seoul’s Unification Ministry Spokesman Eugene Lee said on Friday Pyongyang could potentially conduct its next ICBM tests this weekend, another North Korean holiday marking the founding of its ruling party.

North Korea has previously marked key dates with displays of military power, but now its tests appear to be driven by the need to improve missile capabilities.

The North is just coming off its most powerful nuclear test to date in what it claimed was a detonation of a thermonuclear weapon

built for its ICBMs that have been flight-tested twice.

As the world waits for Kim Jong Un to blast another ICBM to mark North Korea’s founding on Saturday, analysis of past provocations point to little correlation between key anniversaries in the country and its testing cycle.

NK Pro, a US subscription-based web site that provides analysis on North Korea, published a report on Thursday analyzing 75 rounds of missile launches since 1990. It found no link between key dates and rocket tests. Instead it showed

a higher correlation with overseas events such as elections, visits

by Chinese delegations and USSouth Korea military exercises.

North Korea launched its its first successful ICBM on July 4—US Independence Day. Last year, North Korea detonated a nuclear device on September 9 to mark the occasion.

The probability of a test occurring on or next to a key date is 10.7 percent, NK Pro said.

Meanwhile, President Donald J. Trump said it’s not “inevitable” that the US will wind up in a war with North Korea over its continued development of nuclear weapons, but that military action remains an option.

“Nothing’s inevitable,” Trump said in a news conference on Thursday at the White House with the emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah. “I would prefer not going the route of the military, but it is something certainly that could happen.”

He declined to say whether he’d

The Net Group, Emotors launch free electric shuttle service in BGC

By Rosabell C. Toledo Correspondent

I

n an effort to further improve workplace experience for locators and their employees, building developer The Net Group (TNG) now offers free electric-vehicle shuttle services for employees working in their newest office building on 5th Street, Bonifacio Global City (BGC).

From Net Park to Market! Market! and back, e -vehicles provided by Emotors Inc. (EMI) are expected to ease the transpor t of selected employees to and from work. This initiative is par t of the #TNGhappyatwork project, TNG Co-President Ramon Fernando D. Rufino explained.

“The most important thing for us is to have happy tenants and happy employees. So we developed this program called the #TNGhappyatwork program—activities and projects aimed at the happiness of all 30,000 employees who work in our office buildings,” Rufino said at the launch of the e -vehicle shuttle ser vice program at the Net Park Building on Friday.

Before the new shuttle service program, TNG opened electric-car charging facilities in Net Park and Net Lima, making it one of the first to introduce office-based electriccar charging. Rufino bared that the group has truly been trying to promote the use of electric vehicles.

“We think electric vehicles are the future. With low to zero emission, they are very, very light on the environment, as

Ramon Fernando D. Rufino (from left), co-president, The Net Group; Charlie Rufino, CEO, The Net Group; Atty. Tina Samson, copresident, The Net Group; and Beth Lee, president of Emotors Inc., during the electric-vehicle launch. NONOY LACZA

we are also able to charge these vehicles using renewable energy,” Rufino explained.

EMI Founder and CEO Elizabeth Lee praised this move, and expressed delight in providing TNG the vehicles it needs for the free shuttle service program.

“When it comes to building green office spaces, TNG really walks the talk,” Lee said.

Likewise, she added She is happy to be contributing to the environmental dedication of the Mayor Lani Cayetanoled city of Taguig, which had been cited numerous times for its green initiatives, like urban farming.

For EMI’s part, Lee explained the new TNG service also achieves three major societal issues.

“First, it promotes women’s welfare, as a majority of our pilots [drivers] are actually women. Second, it is a lucrative recreation,

as drivers also have the opportunity to earn an extra living. Finally, it helps protect the environment, by limiting environmental degradation, pollution and supporting clean-air efforts,” Lee said.

For Rufino, the project fulfills needs identified by their tenants and their employees themselves.

“Many employees say that while they like the office building, the getting-there is still problematic. What about access? What about transportation to the building, they ask. This is our response,” he said.

TNG also launched shower facilities and the display of National Artist for Visual Arts Francisco Coching’s Komiks works along Net Park’s stairways, to promote the health of their tenant-employees by encouraging them to bike to work and use the stairs more often.

Mexico hit by biggest quake in century, 5 killed

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ma jor earthquake off Mexico’s southern coast killed at least five people, with the president saying on Friday it was the biggest in a century to hit the country. Houses toppled and the quake produced tsunami waves and sent people running into the streets in panic.

The US Geological Sur vey (USGS) reported the earthquake’s magnitude as 8.1, but President Enrique Peña Nieto said it was 8.2, making it the largest in Mexico in 100 years. He also said it was bigger than the one in 1985, when thousands were killed in four Mexican states.

“It was a large-scale earthquake,” Peña Nieto said. “It had a bigger magnitude than the one Mexicans knew in 1985.”

He said 62 aftershocks followed the

quake and it’s possible one as strong as 7.2 could hit in the next 24 hours. Peña Nieto also said that serious damage had been caused and that 1 million customers i n i t i a l l y h a d b e e n w i t h o u t p o we r following the quake, but that electricity had been restored to 800,000 of them.

The USGS said the quake struck at 11:49 p.m. on Thursday local time and its epicenter was 165 kilometers (102 miles) west of Tapachula in Chiapas, not far from Guatemala. It had a depth of 69.7 kilometers (43.31 miles).

The Philippine Institute of Vo l c a n o l o g y a n d S e i s m o l o g y o n Friday advised coastal communities to monitor updates. It later said the Mexico quake was not expec ted to

have destruc tive tsunami threat to the Philippines. “We ask our people, par ticularly residents of coastal communities, to get updates on sealevel change monitoring advisor y from government web sites following the 8.0-magnitude ear thquake that hit the coast of Mexico,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a Friday statement.

The quake was so strong that it caused buildings to sway violently in Mexico’s capital more than 1,000 kilometers (650 miles) away. Residents fled buildings, many in their pajamas, and gathered in frightened groups in the street. Some neighborhoods remained in darkness after electricity was knocked out. AP

accept a nuclear-armed North Korea that can be successfully deterred from using atomic weapons. A senior administration official later told reporters that the US will not allow North Korea to extort or threaten the world with its nuclear program, and that the administration is not sure the country can be deterred.

The Trump administration is seeking to ratchet up pressure on North Korea after the country tested what it claimed was a hydrogen bomb on Sunday, following several successful tests of ballistic missiles with intercontinental range.

The official said the danger of war is rising, and that the US is also concerned about North Korea exporting its nuclear technology to other nations or to terror groups.

Any threat to the US or its allies will be met with a massive military response, the official said. “North Korea is behaving very badly and it’s got to stop,” Trump said at the press conference.

South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon on Thursday fueled speculation of an imminent launch, saying that North Korea may fire its next missile on Saturday—on the anniversary of its founding.

A n a n a ly si s publ i shed on Thursday by NK Pro points to little correlation between key dates in the country and its testing cycle.

NKPro is a US subscription-based website that provides analysis on North Korea.

Draft resolution

The US is circulating a draft resolution at the United Nations that would bar crude oil shipments to North Korea, ban the nation’s exports of textiles and prohibit employment of its guest workers by other countries, according to a diplomat at the world body.

The proposal also calls for freezing the assets of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. But China and Russia, both of which have veto power in the Security Coun-

cil, have indicated resistance to imposing more sanctions on North Korea.

The US is willing to risk a veto of its proposal rather than see it get watered down, according to a Security Council diplomat who asked not to be identified because negotiations continue. The US has called for the council to take up its resolution on September 11.

Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke for 45 minutes Wednesday as the US president seeks China’s help in putting pressure on Pyongyang. While both sides released statements agreeing on the goal of eliminated nuclear weapons from the Korean Peninsula, there was no mention of next steps.

Top Trump administration officials including Defense Secretary James Mattis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Joseph Dunford briefed Congress on Wednesdayabout the crisis and the administration’s approach. AP, Bloomberg News

ExecutiveViews BusinessMirror

A4

Saturday, September 9, 2017 | Editor: Max V. de Leon

“But I don’t look back too long. I learned that when I stop too long to reflect and start praising myself, I fall into complacency. Complacency stunts growth, both intellectually and spiritually, and wars against what I aim to accomplish. Complacency is the state of mind that can destroy ambition and knock us down.”

—Chua

By Anna M. Chua-Norbert

ome of the largest companies in the world have emerged from circumstances most people don’t know about or would not even expect. Many CEOs have built their business through what turned out to be some inspiring motivation.

DDB Group Philippines is one of those corporate organizations. Operating out of five cities and represented in seven other locations nationwide, it has a comprehensive presence across the length and breadth of the country. It has close to 3,000 projectbased and 250 regular employees, with reach across 10 million students, providing integrated creative business solutions to delight its clients and their customers.

Our yearly catch-up with visionary leader, DDB Group Chairman and CEO Gil Chua, where we caught him in Baguio at the MSAP’s 2017 Media Congress, yielded some answers to questions we’ve been dying to ask all year.

This time we got him to answer more, as we are celebrating his 60th birthday and 40 years working in our thriving industry.

Good morning, Sir and Happy 60th Birthday! I know you are extremely busy with quite a lot of activities for this blessed occasion. Thank you for taking time today, for us to get to know more about you, and learn from you.

On being 60 years old

Why is it important to look back to one’s life? Or is it still necessary to look back at one’s life?

“One time per week, I try to reflect on what I’ve accomplished, the status of my businesses, my relationships with my partners and clients, and whether I feel I’m providing value. I assess my goals to make sure they fit within the plan I have put together.

I have deep faith in God and I owe my success to Him and His blessings. I take time to pray and be grateful for all He has given me. I enjoy the moment, and do all the things necessary to get what I want and need to do. I always try to make meaningful and lasting connections.

But I don’t look back too long. I learned that when I stop too long to reflect and start praising myself, I fall into complacency. Complacency stunts growth, both intellectually and spiritually, and wars against what I aim to accomplish. Complacency is the state of mind that can destroy ambition and knock us down.”

One of my favor ite quotes is from Pastor and Bible teacher Gillis Triplett who said: “Of all the possible avenues of life there are to live for, complacency should be viewed as the switch that killed the will to build.”

What was your dream when you were 6 years old? A child at 13? When you were 18? When you were 25? At 30? At 40? How would you compare your dreams through the years to your present reality?

“When I was 6, my dream was to be the Lone Ranger. When I was 13, I wanted to be Namor, the sub-mariner, Prince of the ocean. At 18, I wanted to finish college, and help out my mother. At 25, I had three kids, and I wanted to secure their future, so I worked extremely hard, to learn the ropes of media.

When I was 30, I was already a managing partner for Advertising Marketing Associates Inc., we called

it vice president then, leading accounts handling Nestlé and I wanted to be president. At 40, I became president and CEO, remained so for 10 years, until 2008 when my family and senior partners took over majority ownership of the business.

When I turned 51, from an employee to a major stake holder became the tipping point. That’s when I knew I had to work fast to make my dreams come true which are: n To future-proof my company by diversifying key services; n Grow the business to be the first integrated business solutions provider; n Continue to be the agency of choice of our clients, by having a trusted relationship, providing valued business solutions; n Build lasting friendship with my partners; and n Secure a solid future for my grandkids.

I’ve gone full circle—I am now the Lone Ranger. To be a leader, you need many people to believe in you to achieve your dreams. But to make a decision to lead, that you have to do on your own.

Thank goodness for my Tonto.”

What are you most proud of as a man of 60?

“Hav ing my children. They are, and forever w ill be, the better version of myself. They are not me, so I know I cannot control their lives in any way, but they are w ith me, as my par tners in business, my con f id a nt s, my i nspi rat ion, my source of fun, and my legacy. I am always grateful to God for blessing me w ith them, to share my life.”

You may be too young for this question, but what would you like to leave as a legacy that will make your children and grandchildren proud? “ T he one thing I love about this organization is that we help people e x per ience the g if t of work. We help ta lented Fi lipinos live meaningful lives, part of which involves hav ing a job —a place to go each d ay where t hey get to contr ibute, feel a sense of pur pose and prov ide va lue to the nation, and the communit y around them.

So my wish is for them to embrace the gift of work, to grow the business, provide more job opportunities to Filipinos.”

Congratulations, Sir, on celebrating your 40th year in our industry. What stands out in your memory as:

The most challenging

“CEOs and leaders face many c h a l lenges a nd it i s ou r job to prov ide solutions, r ight? People are not bor n w ith qua lities li ke ef fective leadership and innovation. T hese can only be lear ned a nd ea r ned t h roug h h a rd work and diligence. Sometimes, cr itica l fa i lures and over whelming odds can easi ly brea k anyone and ma ke them lose sight of our aspirations.

But CEOs do not have this lu x u-

r y. We have to be the role models and consistent ly demonstrate the conduct that w i l l ma ke a company productive and prof itable.

My biggest challenge has been succession. Why? Because the moment we get them trained to the caliber we want, they get poached.

And then there’s no room for growth for my leaders, because they can’t go anywhere without a successor. But we’re working on it.”

How did you handle it?

“ T his is why we st a r ted T he Bernbach School. It’s a people development program to prov ide our future leaders and managers w ith the skill sets, training and tools they need to be the leaders they aspire to become one day.

The Bernbach School leadership and management programs a re intensive live-in on-site, mini-MBA. The participants go through four days of mastery level Harvard Business School and Omnicom University case studies. The session is led by our chief development officer, Craig Lonnee, powered by my managing directors, and aided by our talent management team. The program runs once a year, with supplementary leadership dialogues and mentoring of our leaders all year long.”

How has it changed you?

“It made me understand that I have a responsibility for the future of my people, whether they stay or go. I see them as my people and want them to be better versions of themselves, because it is important for me to help others rise. Our culture of ‘People First’ made it our company goal to make the people around me and all whom I work with better, and impacting their lives through learning and sharing knowledge.”

Most inspiring.

How did it inspire you?

“I am a proud homegrown CEO. Yes, I have been lucky to have amazing mentors in clients and peers from all over the world, but what makes me get out in the morning daily is knowing I have—through the work that we do—the power to influence and change society for the better.

A few years back, I was talking to a couple who I worked with. The husband was overseas, to get better pay, leaving his kids and family behind.

I thought, “another latchkey child growing up with daddy issues…” but this is a perpetual problem in our country.

So I promised myself to be part

of the solution. One day, when I am in the position to help, I will provide job opportunities to Filipinos so they don’t have to leave their families behind. It is important for any child to have a parent with them growing up.

Society will improve because the values get passed on.

We started Field Outsource Asia in 2011 with 10 key champions. Today, it is 3,000 strong and with a nationwide reach. We hire and provide jobs from their respective provinces, so they always have their families nearby and they don’t have to travel far. My challenge for myself before I retire is to provide 50,000 jobs for Filipinos.”

Lowest moment. What it did to you?

“There is nothing quite like too much success to create failure.

Many already know this, so I won’t dwell on the past but more of what I learned.

Earlier in my career, transparency is integral to any business. I learned to take control of all aspects crucial to our survival and growth, people, product, profit.

With complacency, questionable business practices set in. Turning around an organization means more than improving the numbers. This happened to DDB, and then I took the helm in 2008 and became chairman and CEO. The only way to restore what was now “ broken” to become the “ best” was with values-based leadership. I define values-based leadership in terms of DDBEST5: best self, best team, best partner, best investment and best citizen. Cumulatively, these five bests encompass the focus, discipline, integrity, humility and consistency required to generate credibility, engagement, trust and achieve a turnaround.

I le a r ne d t he i mpor t a nce of con s t a nt com mu n ic at i n . I lo s s a lot of people when I wa s at my lowest due to l ac k of t h is. But I ’m h appy t h at I k now who my rea l f r iend s a re who st uc k w it h me du r i ng t hose low t i mes.

That all business leaders must always practice integrity. Trust opens doors for you. Trust will make your business not just survive but thrive.

Proudest moment

“There have been so many firsts that we’ve done for our country. We won for the Philippines its first, and five at that, grand prix awards from multiple international awarding bodies for SMART TXTBK in one year. I can also mention the time when we won our country’s first GOLD AMES for #PACQUIAOPOSITIVE; when we

won the country’s first Campaign Brief Asia Agency of the Year for Talent Management team; and, a Gold Stevies for our client, Meralco.

The design for Lotus Awards created by young DDB PHL art director was chosen among hundreds of entries. We won the J&J James Burke Marketing awards for uncommon courage. It was us who represented our country in the South Korea AD Star New Star Competition, by our very own ladies from Tribal and they placed Crystal.

All these gave me immense joy.

W h e n t h e w o r k o f a t e a m gets praised public ly by our c lients, that ma kes me proud and happy. W hen my people are hap py a nd h ave h igh le ve l s of engagement, that ma kes me happy.

W hen we de ve lop more leaders and when I see my people worki ng h a rd toget her to ac h ie ve a common goa l to better the life of each other. W hen I look back to where we were when we star ted from 27 people to today...a l l these moments ma ke me proud.”

The secret to your success “Making time for myself. Selfref lection. Prayer gives me selfknowledge and self-awareness to align my values, goals, what I stand for and what matters most to me.

For a leader, this is crucial: If I don’t know myself, I cannot lead myself, and if I can’t lead myself, I cannot possibly lead others. I also practice consistency. If you cannot replicate success then you fail making more leaders and reaching our goals to provide job opportunities.

Leadership is about hav ing a compe l l i ng long- ter m v i sion , a comprehensive plan with a relentless desire for stor y tel ling, and generals that know how to implement and ma ke ta lented people work together to achieve the goal.

It is about taking time to make our people understand that we, too, want to live meaningful lives.

A ll of us know that we are doing great things, that we are touching a lot of people, and that what we, are doing is something bigger than ourselves. I am proud that my partners have embraced this through the work they do w ith our clients and through DDB Cares.”

Future of the business, predictions

“Work is such an important part of what I do in life. I’m lucky to see the transformation of the advertising space. When I was starting, it took a week to make one print ad.

One month to make a good film commercial. Announcer on radio board

was the fastest way to get an urgent message out to consumers.

Then came video and digital.

My smartphone is my computer now! I can now respond right away. Quick and nimble has always been the mode of DDB. With the help of technology, we continue to be so.

P red ic t i ng t he f ut u re i s not easy. But, our core values will remain as our guideposts in our journey to tomorrow.

Because of all the technology available, advertising of the future will have these backbones—creativity, consistency with integrity.

I always remind members of the DDB family that what got us here, won’t take us there.

So embrace change.

But never forget that effective creativity, unparalleled integrity and consistent great service are keys to the success of any business.”

If you were 20 years old all over again, what would you tell yourself that you would tell others who are also starting their career in the industry?

“First, if you don’t know yourself, find yourself through the work you identify best with so you are contributing to society, building your confidence and learning new things. You have to work hard and not be afraid to make mistakes. You have to try something new. New is always needed if we want anything to change.

Second, t here w i l l a lways be people bet ter t h a n you, sm a r ter or richer. It doesn’t matter— just bring out the best version of yourself ever y day. If you don’t have a better solution to a problem, don’t waste time complaining.

Third, don’t let success get to your head. Life has a way of balancing your experiences to make you well-rounded, to make you the better and stronger person you are meant to be. Stay humble and be kind. The blow will be bearable when the chips are down.

Last, and this is probably the most difficult, begin with the end in mind. How will people remember you? What would you like them to say about you? Make sure when you look back, you’ll have plenty to smile about, just as I do.”

Coming full circle at 60, the Lone Ranger is not about to ride into the sunset yet. The visionary and legend that he is, the DDB CEO journeys on to see more glorious sunrises and increasing territories driven by his passion to provide valued business solutions to our clients and provide job opportunities to Filipinos, guided by his deep faith.

Sports PROVISIONAL LEADER BusinessMirror

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

R Younghoe Koo: It’s exciting for me. AP

Korean blazes path as Chargers kicker

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OSTA MESA, California—Younghoe Koo didn’t know much about football when he saw his new seventhgrade classmates in New Jersey playing two-hand touch during lunch recess.

Koo got invited to kick off, and the South Koreanborn, soccer-loving middle schooler booted the pigskin with authority. So he signed up for tackle football—and he discovered he really liked hitting people, too.

“I just fell in love with the whole thing,” Koo said.

Koo recounts the story in the Los Angeles Chargers’ locker room, where he has earned a seat. The undrafted rookie from Georgia Southern has beaten out veteran Josh Lambo to become the Chargers’ kicker, and he makes his debut on Monday night in Denver.

“I knew I was going to have to earn everything, but mentally, I just [wanted to take] small steps to just prove I belong here and I can compete with these guys,” Koo said. “It was huge to find comfort inside to compete at a higher level.”

Koo is the fourth South Korean-born National Football League player, joining Hines Ward, Kyle Love and former University of California, Los Angeles kicker John Lee. Although he only missed one field goal during his outstanding senior year at Georgia Southern, he was best known for the viral videos of his incredible backflip trick kicks before getting his shot with the Chargers.

“I felt good because I thought I did everything I could out there during the preseason,” Koo said. “But at the same time, you don’t know what’s going to happen.

They’re going to make the decision based on whatever they’re looking at.”

Whatever it was, Koo had it. After Lambo missed a handful of important kicks last season, the Chargers are entrusting the job to their third kicker in four years—a rookie with a burning desire to succeed in his adopted country’s favorite sport.

Koo loved youth football in Ridgewood, New Jersey, but he still pursued soccer until high school, when he had to choose one sport because their seasons were simultaneous. Koo credits his middle-school football coach with persuading his father that kicking could lead to a college scholarship and more.

Koo played kicker and defensive back in high school before heading to Georgia Southern, where the 5-foot-9 ex-cornerback reluctantly gave up defense.

“Going into college, I kind of had to calm down,” Koo said. “I had to accept the fact that I was just kicking a football. I wanted to [keep playing defense], but they were kind of bigger in college.”

Koo’s father, Hyungseo Koo, is now a business professor at Induk University in Seoul. His mother, Seungmae Choi, is a nurse in Georgia. Neither can be in Denver to watch his debut next week, but Koo hopes to get them to a home game soon.

“Football isn’t really big back there, but now my dad is getting attention from his colleagues and he’s letting me know,” Koo said.

Koo realizes that if he is successful, he should attract enormous interest to the Chargers from the Los Angeles area’s estimated 200,000 Korean immigrants — the largest such community in the US. Koo would welcome the chance to build his lessfamiliar pastime among the same sports fans who embrace Dodgers pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu with fervor.

“It’s exciting for me,” Koo said. “Obviously, there aren’t that many [Korean players in football].

Hopefully, it will start the trend a little bit, and have people out there playing and see if we can get that going. But I love to represent.” AP

UFINO BAYRON hobbled at the finish and barely grabbed the clubhouse lead with a 68, as Tony Lascuña faltered with a 73 in windy condition at Taal Splendido in the second round of the $100,000 International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Splendido Classic on Friday in Tagaytay City.

Bayron bogeyed two of the last four holes in a shocking meltdown for a player who impressed the elite field with his awesome shotmaking and superb iron game that netted him a bogey-free 69 on Thursday and a six-birdie feat after 14 holes that shoved him past Lascuña on the leaderboard on Friday.

But Bayron succumbed to pressure when the going got tough in the closing holes, as he stumbled to his first bogey on No. 15 then dropped another shot on the closing hole.

Still, his seven-under 137 kept him on top of the heap as Lascuña slid to second at 138 with a 73 after a 65, while Jhonnel Ababa also moved into contention with at 139 after a gutsy bogey-less 68 in scorching heat.

Clyde Mondilla also wavered despite hitting an eagle on No. 2, as he staggered with four bogeys with only a birdie to show in a wind-blown 73 at the challenging mountaintop course. He pooled a 141 and stood four behind in the company of Jerson Balasabas, Rico Depilo, Nelson Huerva and Macedonian Peter Stojanovski.

Balasabas birdied three of the first 10 holes at the back and added two more on Nos. 4 and 5, but dropped a stroke on the sixth for a 35-33 card; Depilo hit six birdies to negate a double-bogey and two bogeys; Huerva fought back from a 74 start with six birdies after 16 holes, but fumbled with a bogey on the 17th; while Stojanovski birdied two of the last three holes to stay in contention.

But nearly half of the starting 99-player field were still on the fairway, each eager to shoot low scores and make the 50-plus tie

Saturday, September 9, 2017

to vie for the top $17,500 purse in this second leg of the PGT Asia Tour sponsored by ICTSI. They include American Micah Shin, at five under with seven holes to play, John Michael O’Toole, also of the US, who was at four under after 12 holes, Elmer Salvador, at four under with

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three holes left, and Thai Pasavee Lertvelai, the PGT Asia Tour Q-School topnotcher, who had a two-under card with three holes to play.

The projected cut-off score is at four-over (148) with Mhark Fernando (75-149), Korean Hywang Myung Chal (75-149), Singaporean Dengshan Koh

Powerhouse teams clash in PVL tourney

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RUFINO BAYRON consults his caddie before he makes his putt in the 12th hole on Friday. ROY DOMINGO

LET THE GAMES BEGIN! T

HE spotlight is on De La Salle as the defending champion but attention is also expected to spread to other sports—particularly in women’s volleyball next semester—as the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) opens its 80th season today at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Season host Far Eastern University (FEU) will unveil a season that will be carry the theme “Go For Great” and will honor the legends of each of the eight memberschools’ athletic program in the traditional colorful ceremony starting at 12 noon.

The men’s basketball tournament gets going after the opening ceremony with National University facing University of the East (UE) at 2 p.m. and Ateneo de Manila battling Adamson University at 4 p.m.

The Blue Eagles are parading the core of team that finished runner-up to the Green Archers last season.

Coach Tab Baldwin still has his reliable rotation composed of Isaac Go, Mike Nieto, Thirdy Ravena,

(74-149), and Dutch Guido van der Valk (74-149) hoping to still make it to the weekend play of the event, backed

by Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, Champion, Summit Mineral Water, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, KZG, PLDT and MY Shokai Technology Inc. After a solid 69 start in an early start, Bayron sustained his form despite a late second start tee-time, birdieing three of the first nine holes, including on No. 9. He made it a four-birdie binge up to the 12th and went three-up over Lascuña at nine-under overall. He parred the next two holes but hit an errant shot into the greenside bunker on No. 15 and made his first bogey.

He kept a two-stroke lead with pars in the next two but dropped another stroke on the par-4 18th to enable Lascuña to stay within striking distance heading to the last 36 holes of the event, held to help develop the games of the local pros and at the same time promote the country as a top golf tourist destination.

Lascuña actually birdied No. 10 to launch his second-round bid but bogeyed t wo of the next three, gunned down another birdie on the 16th but bogeyed the next t wo to drop off the lead.

He hit another birdie on the second but dropped another stroke on the seventh, needing to hole out with a birdie to move within one of Bayron.

Aaron Black, Anton Asistio and Raffy Verano, and will also parade rookies BJ Andrade, Troy Mallillin, Gian Mamuyac and Tyler Tio. “Last year our team caught a lot of people by surprise, we did well,” Ateneo Assistant Coach Sandy Arespacochaga said. “It’s also a challenge for us to be more consistent in the way that we play, and we’re hoping that our veteran core would do that this year.”

The Soaring Falcons, on the other hand, are no longer pushovers.

After a successful return in the UAAP last season, Adamson University Head Coach Franz Pumaren has transformed the Soaring Falcons to a dangerous side with Papi Sarr, Robbie Manalang, Sean Manganti, Jerrick Ahanmisi and Ateneo transferee Jerie Pingoy manning the frontline.

But Pumaren preferred to keep his aces up his sleeves.

“If you look at our team, we’re still a very young team, we’re composed of only four veterans with more than three years experience,” Pumaren said.

“Hopefully, we can perform better than what we did last season.”

Focus will be on NU’s new Coach Jamike Jarin, who was tapped out of San Beda.

“We’re going to be very competitive this season. We got a very young team but we promise everyone that we will do our best,” said Jarin, who steered San Beda two National Collegiate Athletic Association titles in his three years with the school.

NU wound up fifth last season with a 5-9 won-lost record and will face a Derick Pumaren-coached UE that won only three of its 14 matches last year.

Lance Agcaoili

T will be an early clash of the titans as Ateneo de Manila faces Far Eastern University (FEU) in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Collegiate Conference today at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

The Lady Eagles and Lady Tamaraws, who opened their Group A campaigns with convincing victories, take the floor at 6:30 p.m.

Arellano University, meanwhile, shoots for its third straight win against against Adamson University (0-1) in a Group B duel at 4 p.m.

In men’s action, Ateneo and University of Santo Tomas Tigers clash for the solo No.1 spot at 8 a.m., while FEU and De La Salle take the floor at 10 a.m.

The Blue Eagles and Tigers won their first two matches while the Tamaraws and Green Spikers are toting similar 1-0 won-lost cards.

Jia Morado opted to forego one more year of eligibility for Ateneo, but the Lady Eagles made up for the absence of their ace setter—as well as opposite spiker Michelle Morente—and blasted Jose Rizal University, 25-17, 25-15, 25-15, in their last outing.

The Lady Tamaraws also made their presence felt early and downed a now Gretchel Soltones-less San Sebastian College, 25-17, 25-21, 25-14.

FEU’s new Head Coach George Pascua wanted to draw the same firepower from reliable Bernadeth Pons, Chin Basas, Jerrili Malabanan, Heather Guino-o and Celine Domingo when he faces Thai Coach Tai Bundit for the first time.

Bundit’s side remained formidable behind skipper Bea de Leon, Jho Maraguinot, Kat Tolentino, Jules Samonte, Maddie Madayag and libero-turned-setter Deanna Wong.

High-school volleyball action in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines will be in the program of PVL organizer Sports Vision as it features the University of Santo Tomas-University of the Philippines Integrated School clash at 12 noon and the Adamson University-University of the East duel at at 2 p.m. Lance Agcaoili

GERMANY OPENS MEMORIAL FOR ’72 OLYMPICS B ERLIN—The presidents of Germany and Israel on Wednesday inaugurated a memorial to 11 Israeli athletes and coaches and a West German police officer killed 45 years ago during an attack by a Palestinian militant group at the Munich Olympics.

Presidents Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Reuven Rivlin were joined at the new memorial in the city’s Olympic Park by relatives of the victims.

“We’ve come here today to close a circle, a circle that can never really be closed,” Rivlin told a somber crowd.

He said the 1972 Munich Olympics, dubbed “the cheerful games” as the first in the country since the Nazis hosted the 1936 games in Berlin, “turned into an Olympiad of blood”.

On September 5, 1972, eight members of Palestinian group Black September climbed over the unguarded fence of

the Olympic village, burst into the building where the Israeli team was staying and took the athletes hostage.

Five athletes, six coaches and a West German policeman were killed at the village or during a botched rescue attempt. The Palestinian attackers demanded the release of prisoners held by Israel and two left-wing extremists in West German jails.

The memorial, with a grass-covered roof, is situated on a hill inside the Olympic Park and shows multi-media installations about the lives of the athletes and the police officer. It’s open to the public on a daily basis.

“The family members and the state of Israel had to wait for this moment for 45 years,” Rivlin said referring to the massive criticism by the Israeli families about the fact that it took more than four decades to dedicate a memorial to the

victims in the city where they were killed.

The bereaved families for years called not only for a memorial in Munich, but also for the International Olympic Committee to commemorate the murdered Olympians with a moment of silence during the opening of the Olympic Games.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach held a memorial ceremony and minute of silence for those slain during the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Bach also attended Wednesday’s event in Munich.

President Steinmeier said in his speech that the memorial is also a place where Germany has to face the truth, that “it did not provide the security needed, that Germany was not prepared for terror, even though Munich was not the beginning of terror.” AP

INTERNATIONAL Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach comforts Ilana Romano (left), widow of Israeli weightlifter Josef Romano, and Ankie Spitzer, widow of fencing coach Andre Spitzer. AP

BusinessMi

A6 Saturday, September 9, 2017 | Editor: Jun Lomibao

Froome named on Great Britain’s long list for World Championships

CHRIS FROOME should be bringing his acts to Bergen later this month.

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HRIS FROOME and Lizzie Deignan have both been included in the long list for Great Britain’s squad for the International Cycling Union Road World Championships later month.

British Cycling has named a provisional list of 13 riders for the elite men’s events, where there are nine spaces for the road race and two for the individual time trial, and 11 riders for the elite women’s events, with seven spots for the road race and two for the time trial.

The 2017 Worlds take place in Bergen, Norway, from September 17 to 24, with short punchy climbs the defining feature of the parcours.

Froome’s inclusion comes a week after he hinted he might compete at the Worlds for the first time since 2014, and in the time trial for the first time since 2009. The Team Sky rider won the Tour de France in July and is currently leading the Vuelta a España. He could try to hang onto his form to ride the individual time trial for Britain, as well as the team time trial for Sky. “If I come out of the Vuelta in good shape, and I’m hoping I’m not going to be on fumes in the last week, then I’d look forward to being part of the TTT [team time trial] over in Norway and potentially also the [individual] time trial,” he said. “I don’t think the road race suits me at all, the conditions and the course, and I’d rather give that opportunity to somebody else to go for it there.”

Steve Cummings could hardly be ignored after he claimed the road race and time trial double at the national championships in June, even if his relationship with British Cycling has been frosty over the years. In an interview with Cyclingnews before the Tour de France, Cummings said he felt like an “afterthought” with the governing body, but he has a strong case both to lead the road-race squad and take one of the two time-trial spots.

If Froome does take one of the time-trial spots, the coaches will have to decide between Cummings and Geraint Thomas, who won the opening TT at the Tour de France. There is no place on the long list for five-time national time trial champion Alex Dowsett.

Mark Cavendish, who won the rainbow jersey in 2011 and was a close second last year, has made the long list, and is currently riding the Tour of Britain in his first race since crashing out of the Tour de France in July. Along with Froome and Thomas, Owain Doull, Jon Dibben, Tao Geoghegan Hart, Peter Kennaugh, and Ian Stannard make it seven Team Sky riders on the 13-rider list. Also in the frame are Adam Blythe, who was the 2016 national champion, Ben Swift, who has twice finished on the podium at MilanSan Remo, Scott Thwaites, who impressed at this year’s spring classics, and Mark Christian, who’s currently riding his first Grand Tour at the Vuelta.

On the women’s side, 2015 world champion and current national champion Lizzie Deignan is included in the 11-rider long list, despite recently undergoing appendix-removal surgery.

Cyclingnews.com

TENS of thousands of fans come out to watch the races over the course of the week—with Bergen putting its best foot forward to make the 2017 Worlds unforgettable.

ENJOY THE RACES, ENJOY THE CITY T

HE International Cycling Union (UCI) World Championships is eight days of pure cycling spectacle. Each host city brings its own special flavor to the event and Bergen, Norway, the host of the 2017 UCI Road Worlds, will certainly do the same.

This will be the second time Norway has hosted the event, with the first taking place in Oslo in 1993.

The World Championships are the one time every year when athletes set aside trade team rivalries and don national colors to represent their country. Unique among sports, the winner of the world title in cycling is awarded the rainbow jersey, which they will wear during competition for the following 12 months, identifying them as the UCI World Champion, and adding their name to a select list of cyclists.

Women and men compete for world titles in two events at the UCI Road Worlds—the individual time trial, a race against the clock and the mass-start road race.

Athletes are divided into age categories— Junior, Under-23 (men only) and Elite—for a total of 10 world titles awarded. Since 2012, the UCI World Championships have begun with an event for men’s and women’s trade

teams—the team time trial.

Tens of thousands of fans come out to watch the races over the course of the week, beginning with the time trials and culminating in the Elite Men’s road race; this year on Sunday, September 24. One of the special things about cycling is that you can watch all the races for free, moving around the course to catch the riders in different places (while the majority of each circuit is free, there are certain key spots that require tickets, which are available through the organization website). Certain sections tend to attract the most fans— such as on the climbs or near the finish line—so you will need to get there early to grab a good spot.

It’s always a good idea to study the circuit map before you go, to determine transportation options, and where facilities such as toilets, food and drink, or souvenir stands are located. One favorite fan zone is always around the team buses near the start of each race, where the riders warm up before their event. This is where, if you are in the right place at the right time, you can get an autograph or even a photo with your favorite rider. You can pick up a program

T

UCI News

UCI DEFEN DOPING TE T

HE International Cycling Union (UCI) has responded to accusations that its tablet deviced struggles to detect the latest forms of mechanical doping and may throw up false positives by claiming the simple technique of magnetic resistance scanning using a tablet device has “proved to be highly effective both in tests and in actual use”.

The UCI claimed that “all stakeholders in cycling have a common interest to demonstrate that cheating has no place in our sport,” and provided an e-mail address for anyone to supply information about possible mechanical doping.

The effectiveness of the UCI’s tablet device has been doubted by another investigation from the French Stade 2 television show, with help from German television channel ARD and Italian journalist Marco Bonarrigo who writes for the Corriere della Sera newspaper.

The team of journalists managed to procure one of the UCI tablet devices and had it x-rayed and studied by the Fraunhofer Institute for Nondestructive Testing in Saarbrucken, Germany.

Testing indicated a number of false positives for rudimentary motors hidden in the downtube and apparently failed to discover the more advanced electro-magnetic motors hidden in wheels.

Stade 2 also revealed that the UCI’s tablet application was created by a tiny start-up company based in Britain, called Endoscope-i, which was created on the back of an iPhone app that works as an endoscope.

A POLITICAL ISSUE

UCI MTB World Championships returns down under to Cairns he 28th edition of the International Cycling Union (UCI) Mountain Bike World Championships has started in Cairns, Australia, after a 21-year absence.

The lush rain forest region on the northeast coast of Australia is world-renowned for the Great Barrier Reef, a Unesco World Heritage site.

Mountain biking’s most prestigious event brings together athletes from around the globe, with 527 riders representing 46 nations participating in the downhill (DHI) and crosscountry (XCO) over the course of five days.

The rainbow jersey of UCI World Champion will be awarded in Junior and Elite categories for DHI, and Junior, Under-23 and Elite categories for XCO. Unique among international sports, the reigning World Champion in each discipline and category is instantly recognizable as they compete in the distinctive jersey over the next 12 months.

The UCI Worlds open with the team relay on Wednesday, when teams of five riders compete in this five lap race on the XCO circuit. Each rider hands off to the next one on the team, and the lead can change every lap. Traditional powerhouses nations to watch for are France (winner of the last three

or download and print off a map from the organization web site.

Often, different nationalities or fan clubs pick a location and make it their own—the Dutch and the Norwegians are particularly famous for doing this, but this year the entire course will be Norwegian, with fans wearing their traditional Viking horned helmets! All the groups are happy to welcome visitors—and explain why their riders are the best!

Many of the fans bring national flags, or banners supporting a favorite rider, lending to the color of the event. While this is encouraged, it is important to make sure that flags or banners on the ends of poles do not impede the riders as they go by, or interfere with other spectators.

However, make sure you don’t forget to enjoy Bergen outside of the racing! Bergen— known originally as Bjørgvin—is the secondlargest city in Norway and is called the City of Seven Mountains (even though there are actually nine mountains).

It includes the aforementioned mountains, fjords and islands and is nearly a thousand years old. Despite being quite far north, the Gulf Stream keeps the weather mild.

years), Italy, Switzerland and Canada.

Last Thursday the first of three consecutive days of XCO racing begins, starting with the Junior Women and Men. The Under-23 Men race will take place on Friday and the XCO portion concludes on Saturday with the Elite categories for Women and Men. The Elite Women’s category has a sizable list on contenders, led by the recently crowned UCI World Cup winner Yana Belomoina of the Ukraine. Other strong podium chances include defending UCI World Champion Annika Langvad (Denmark), Jolanda Neff (Switzerland) and Maja Wloszczowska (Poland).

In the Elite Men, the big question is whether defending UCI World Champion Nino Schurter of Switzerland can extend his recordbreaking winning streak. Schurter, the reigning Olympic Champion, set a perfect record in the UCI World Cup this season, winning all six events. Winning the world title would make for what Schurter has termed a “perfectperfect” season. However, he will get strong competition from two former UCI World and Olympic Champions—Julien Absalon of France

and Jaroslav Kulhavy of the Czech Republic.

The final day of the UCI World Championships, on Sunday, is devoted to the downhill. The women’s field has seen four riders on the top step of the podium at the UCI World Cup this season, and any of them could win the world title. Myriam Nicole of France won the UCI World Cup overall title, but Tahnée Seagrave (Great Britain), Tracey Hannah (Australia) and defending UCI World Champion Rachel Atherton (Great Britain) could just as easily don rainbow stripes. Hannah, a native of Cairns who actually attends school at the university at the base of the course, will certainly receive support from the crowd.

The men’s competition is equally strong. Aaron Gwin of the United States won the UCI World Cup overall title after a seasonlong battle with Greg Minnaar (South Africa) and Australia’s own Troy Brosnan. Gwin has one of the best records in downhill over the past decade at UCI World Cup competition but, surprisingly, has never won the world title. Will this finally be his year, will Minnaar win a fourth title, or could Brosnan become the first Australian to win the Elite Men’s title since Sam Hill in 2010? UCI News

COMPETITORS would enjoy the lush rain forest region on the northeast coast of Australia, which is world-renowned for the Great Barrier Reef, a Unesco World Heritage site.

THE suspicions of mechanical doping have become a political issue because of the UCI presidential elections scheduled for September 21 at this year’s World Championships. French candidate David Lappartient, who has been the UCI vice president alongside Brian Cookson for the last four years, was interviewed for Sunday’s Stade 2 show and called for multiple techniques such as x-rays and heat guns and the dismantling of bikes to be used alongside the tablet device to search for hidden mechanical doping.

The UCI responded to the latest accusations by pointing out that Cookson introduced the rules

against what is officially called “technological fraud” during his first term as president.

The rules and lengthy bans came into force a few months before a hidden motor was discovered in the bike of Belgian rider Femke Van Den Driessche at the 2016 cyclo-cross World Championships. More recently, a similar hidden motor was discovered in the bike of an Italian veteran racer competing in an age-related race in Brescia. However, there have been several reports that far more sophisticated electro-magnetic wheels have been used in the professional peloton. Stade 2 accused the UCI of being unable to detect the so-called magic wheels.

In its statement the UCI did not specifically respond to questions about the failure of the tablet device to find the electro-magnetic wheels, claiming it has “analysed many alternative forms of detection” to “ensure a varied testing protocol”.

RESPONDING TO ‘STADE 2’

THE UCI suggested that “people using our device in Sunday’s Stade 2 report had had no training.”

That is true because the UCI has always refused to allow anyone to study the tablet device in detail. A simple demonstration was held in the spring of 2016 but the UCI has always been defensive of its technology and techniques and rebuffed questioning.

An independent report by the US-based Microbac laboratory highlighted that the positioning of the tablet device when searching for mechanical doping was vital, with an optimum distance of 10mm from the frame. Stade 2’s tests showed that there was a reaction from the tablet when passing over metallic parts of the bike, with closer and longer scans needed to provide a clear indication of a hidden motor. However, their documentary showed footage of UCI checks being carried out at races where the scanner was being moved rapidly and the checks completed in just a few seconds.

The UCI has always defended the use of the tablet device due to its ease and speed of use at races.

“Our training always emphasises that the scanner is for initial controls and that bikes must be dismantled should any suspicion of the presence

FULL OF EXCITEMENT, EMOTION A

THLETES from the world over took leave of the South African city of Pietermaritzburg after four days of high-level competition full of excitement and emotion.

The last morning of competition on Sunday produced five International Cycling Union (UCI) World Champions: in the men’s C1, 2 and 3 classes and the women’s C4 and 5 classes. All covered 10 laps of the 6.07-kilometer circuit.

Both fields settled into bunch races, with a few more riders being dropped each lap. Finally, a group of 12 men embarked on the last lap together.

All three men’s winners came from the same bunch sprint to the finish line: Sweden’s Henrik Marvig (C3), Canada’s Tristen Chernove (C2) and Germany’s Pierre Senska (C1).

For Chernove, it was his second rainbow

jersey of the Championships after time-trial victory on Friday, but Sunday’s win was particularly important.

“My last road race at this level was the Rio 2016 Paralympics where I crashed early and had to fight back from nearly last to finish 15th,” Chernove said. “Today I just wanted to keep in the front and stay out of trouble. It was really important for me to have a clean race. There was a group of us going into the last corner but I knew I still had some gas.”

Darren Hicks (Australia) and François Lacroix (France) sprinted to second and third in the same time as Chernove.

Steffen Warias (Germany) and Fabio Anobile (Italy) took silver and bronze in the MC3 class, while Ricardo Ten Argiles (Spain) and Michael Teuber (Germany) completed the podium in the MC1.

The sprint for victory in the women’s C5 class

saw Germany’s Kerstin Brachtendorf take the win in the same time as second-placed Mariela Analia Delgado (Argentina) and bronze medalist Crystal Lane-Wright (Britain). Brachtendorf was astonished after crossing the line.

“I’ve always been bad at sprinting, and if it comes to a sprint I usually lose,” she explained. “I kept trying to attack around the back of the course but they stayed with me,” Brachtendorf. “So in the last lap, I just tried to keep cool then at 200 meters I went for it. I still can’t believe I’ve won!”

Her win went toward Germany’s total goldmedal haul of 10, which put them at the top of the medals table at the end of the four days of competition.

Shawn Morelli (USA) had a more clear-cut win in the WC4 class, claiming her second UCI World title in Pietermaritzburg. She rode home

irror CYCLING

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph | Saturday, September 9, 2017 A7

Aussies hoping to excel on home soil W HILE Australia has had exceptional athletes in all disciplines of mountain biking, it has been in the downhill (DHI) where the country has had most success at the International Cycling Union (UCI) Mountain Bike World Championships.

In 1999 Nathan Rennie became Australia’s first downhill UCI World Champion, winning the Junior title, and was a fixture on the UCI World Cup podium in the early-2000s, winning the overall title in 2003.

Sam Hill became the most successful Australian downhiller in history in the mid- to late-2000s with five UCI World Championship titles (two Junior, three Elite), 13 UCI World Cup wins and two UCI World Cup overall titles. More recently, Cairns native Tracey Hannah has had a Junior world title and four Elite UCI World

Championship medals, while Troy Brosnan has once again put Australia among the top nations on the men’s side, with two Junior world titles and two UCI World Cup wins. This year Brosnan finished second overall in the UCI World Cup and Hannah third.

So, with the UCI World Championships coming to Cairns, Australia, riders like Brosnan will be hoping to put on a show for the local fans.

Brosnan, who finished second in Elite Men at the last UCI World Cup in Cairns, held in 2016, is looking forward to racing on home soil.

“It is amazing to have a World Championship race held in Australia, and I am very pleased and excited to be racing in front of my home crowd and on a track I like.

Racing on home soil will be a crazy feeling

and having everyone there cheering me on will push me for the win.”

He also thinks it will spur on the next generation of Australian downhillers, “I believe it will have a big impact of DH in Australia. A lot of Junior riders will be there to watch and see the best in the world race right in front of them. Also, the media attention Worlds Champs get will only push all the Aussies to get excited and race harder.”

However, he admits that it won’t be easy: “The DH track is really good, and has really steep top corners and then a BMXlike jump section halfway down. Toward the bottom is twisty turns through the jungle and a solid 15- 20-second sprint to to finish line, making it an all-round track.

The rider who wins will have to be very fit and strong, and also be able to attack the top steep corners.” UCI News

Troy Brosnan has once again put Australia among the top nations on the men’s side.

NDS MECHANICAL ESTING PROCEDURE The UCI claimed that “all stakeholders in cycling have a common interest to demonstrate that cheating has no place in our sport,” and provided an e-mail address for anyone to supply information about possible mechanical doping.

ALBERTO CONTADOR: You have to decide what the amount should be. Because if budgets start to go through the roof, we’re going to find it difficult to attract sponsors at all.

Contador proposes salary caps for pros A

THE International Cycling Union hits back at claims the device can only detect rudimentary motors.

of a motor or any other hidden device be indicated,” the UCI press release states.

“The UCI has, of course, analyzed many alternative forms of detection, and indeed continues to make use of alternative methods in combination with magnetic resistance scanners to ensure a varied testing protocol. However, all alternative forms are not suitable to be the main or exclusive form of detection.

“Thermal imaging has been used on a number of occasions and can be useful, but is limited as it would only detect a motor when in use, or shortly after use when a motor is warm. We also occasionally use X-ray, but this is relatively slow, requires a great deal of space to ensure public safety, solo, 3:34 ahead of Italian Jenny Narcisi, with Australia’s Meg Lemon in third.

Brazil’s Lauro Cesar created sensation in the 14-lap (85 km) MC5 race. Part of an early two-man breakaway, he soon found himself alone in front and completed what amounted to an eight-lap time trial. He finished the race 2:12 ahead of Austrian Wolfgang Eibeck, with Dorian Foulon (FRA) 29 seconds further back.

“I didn’t expect to find myself at the front so early. I was just testing my legs,” explained the athlete who, despite numerous UCI World Championship medals and silver at the Rio Paralympic Games, has never won the rainbow jersey. “I was very motivated and I have been training hard in Brazil. This is a dream come true and I want to thank the whole Brazilian staff and team. We are like a family.

Another bunch finish in the MC4 race of the same length saw Germany’s Tobias Vetter claim gold in front of Kyle Bridgwood (Australia) and Sergei Pudov (Russia).

Sweden celebrated its second gold medal of the morning with Anna Beck (WC3) winning a four-way sprint for the three podium places. New to the international para-cycling circuit, the Swedish athlete was competing in her first UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships: “I still can’t believe it,” she said after pulling on her rainbow jersey. “At 200 meters from the finish, I told myself ‘you are going to have the gold medal.’”

Germany’s Denise Schindler and Japan’s Keiko Noguchi took WC3 silver and bronze, respectively.

UCI World Champion in the WC2 class is seasoned para-cyclist and para-skier Allison Jones (USA), with Colombian Daniela Carolina Munevar Florez taking silver and Dutch athlete Alyda Norbruis claiming bronze.

The tandems took to the roads in the afternoon. After 72.8 km, Irish duo Katie-George Dunlevy and Eve McCrystal confirmed their timetrial gold with a sprint win over Poland (Iwona Podkoscielna and Aleksandra Teclaw) and Greece (Eleni Kalatzi and Argyro Milaki). UCI News

and is subject to widely varying legislation from country to country.

“We continue to work with our partners to ensure we keep up to date with developments in this area and are grateful to the many people and organizations, which have helped us develop a highly effective suite of controls and the associated rules and sanctions for potential infringements.

“We remain committed to this work and welcome all input and suggestions as to how this can be developed further. All stakeholders in cycling have a common interest to demonstrate that cheating has no place in our sport. If anyone believes they have information that we should be aware of, we ask them to please contact us at materiel@uci.ch.”

CURTAIN comes down on 2017 International Cycling Union Para-cycling Road World Championships in South Africa.

LBERTO CONTADOR has made the case for a salary cap for professional cycling teams, in the interest of making the sport more competitive and sustainable.

As the Spaniard sat down for his final Grand Tour rest-day press conference ahead of the final week of the Vuelta a España, he was asked about financial inequality—an issue that has come under the spotlight recently as the wealth and spending power of Team Sky was juxtaposed with Cannondale-Drapac’s struggle to simply survive.

Sky’s Chris Froome leads the Vuelta after winning the Tour de France, with two of his support riders in the top 15, while Sky recently unveiled their futuristic “race hub” vehicle, as well as signing three of the sport’s leading U-23 riders in Egan Bernal, Pavel Sivakov and Kristoffer Halvorsen.

“I’ll tell you my point of view, but I want you to understand it isn’t aimed at any particular team—Sky or anyone else—but rather with the future of cycling in mind,” Contador began.

“I think there should be a salary cap. You have to decide what the amount should be, for example €15 million on rider salaries. Because if budgets start to go through the roof, we’re going to find it difficult to attract sponsors at all.

“Not all sponsors can meet sums that massive corporations can. When you go to a sponsor and ask for €12 million for a three-year project, that’s an investment of €36 million, and big outlays like that might not even see you fighting for the podium at the Tour de France.”

Froome voiced his opposition to the idea of budget restrictions when asked about the issue on the Vuelta’s previous rest-day last Monday. The four-time Tour de France champion conceded that the level of support

he and his teammates enjoy at Sky is, in a way, “unfair,” but he argued that any attempt to artificially redress the balance would be tantamount to communism.

“Everybody’s going to be the same. We should all ride the same bikes, have the same equipment sponsors, all eat the same rice and porridge every morning so no one’s got added fuel for the stage,” he said. “Where do you draw the line?”

The Spaniard’s ambitions were dealt a major blow as early as Stage Three with an off-day on the road to Andorra and, despite regaining his forces to repeatedly animate the race, he lost ground on the Sierra Nevada summit finish on Sunday.

“I’m pretty happy with my Vuelta so far,” Contador said. “On the Andorra stage, I was sick and struggling all day. Without that stage, it would all look very different now. But on the other hand, there have been some great stages, and I’ve done pretty well.”

Contador insisted he isn’t attaching undue importance to his final position in Madrid. He said he was “savoring every minute” of his final race, and lapping up the public affection he has received throughout. Once again making reference to his preference for attacking over conservatism, he vowed to stay true to himself in his final week as a racer.

“For me it is satisfying to enjoy the Vuelta a España the way I am doing, independent of the final result,” he said. “I think people will remember my final result of this Vuelta less than other results in my career. Personally, I’m going to remember the sensation more than the result.”

In other words, there should be at least enough action on the horizon to keep podcasting prognosticators busy for a little while longer. Cyclingnews.com

OurTime BusinessMirror

A8 Saturday, September 9, 2017 • Editor: Efleda P. Campos

news@businessmirror.com.ph

Aliens in foreign lands: The case of Filipino TNTs

By Cody Cepeda | Special to the BusinessMirror

W

HEN the Sun is on the verge of falling behind the horizon and the wind is finally cool on the cheek, people turn their porch lights on, anticipating the coming darkness.

In Daly City sundown is at 8:27 p.m. For Beth, this means rest. Her room is small and she has no door, save for a curtain that drapes where the door should be. It is a clean, welllighted place.

In the morning, Beth hauls herself from her single mattress and prepares breakfast not meant for her to eat.

“It’s for my alaga,” Beth whispers from the other end of the phone. It’s now 1 a.m. in the Philippines, but in San Francisco, it is only 10 a.m.

Most of Beth’s days are routine.

She gets up at 7 a.m. and prepares the necessary sundries needed for breakfast. If she finishes early, she might take a quick trip to the grocery and do a bit of cleaning before her patient wakes up.

“I clean up my patient when she wakes up. I change her diaper, take her blood-sugar reading, exercise her and help her into her wheelchair.

Then, I brush her teeth, place her in front of the TV and serve her breakfast. I do that every day,” Beth said in Filipino.

Beth left the Philippines in 2012

with a tourist visa, leaving behind two daughters, an ill husband and a failing water-station business.

She hasn’t been back since. When she first stepped foot on American soil, the immigration officer asked her what her purpose was for visiting. Beth, like many others before her, said it had always been her dream to see Disneyland.

With a stamped passport, she made her way to Florida and there, overstayed and became a “TNT” to work as a caregiver.

TNT, or tago nang tago, which translates to “always hiding”, is what Filipinos call fellow Filipinos who are undocumented immigrants or illegal aliens.

“Other Filipinos look at us differently, like we are scum, when they know you are TNT,” Beth said.

Beyond the comfort of home

WHEN Romy’s not walking with his head down, he is constantly looking over his shoulder. He said some Filipinos become whistleblowers and report TNTs to the US Immigration and Customs En-

forcement (ICE) to get monetary rewards. He figured if he spent the rest of his days as unassuming and indifferent as he could, then he would never have to face the contempt of other people.

Romy served in the Philippine military for 27 years before retiring, after which he went to America to work as a caregiver.

“I came to work in San Francisco for the sake of my family, even if I am undocumented. I’ve been here for seven years. I want to give them a good life, especially my grandchildren, and I will keep working until I cannot anymore.”

Whenever Romy finds himself missing his family, he windowshops in downtown San Francisco to amuse himself and while away the hours. He walks around Target and Costco, and buys Boy Bawang and chicharon from Asian groceries.

These small comforts are enough to keep his mind off of his loneliness until he has to work again the following week.

“I am very lonely here,” Romy said.

“But I pray and it helps me survive my situation. This is for my family, not for me, after all.”

Beth said it wasn’t the workload that make things difficult for her, but the crippling depression and loneliness. Being homeless and faceless in a foreign land, she spoke of nights when she’d cry herself to sleep, consumed with longing for her daughters and husband.

When Beth left, her youngest daughter was only in Grade 4. Her daughter, caught up in something beyond her understanding, couldn’t

comprehend why her Mama was leaving. But for Beth, choosing to leave meant giving up the chance to see her daughter grow up—a compromise to her own compromises.

“She is growing up without me.

That is what I miss the most. The thought of my daughter growing up without me, of being raised by other people. It is different if mother raises her own child,” she said.

Out of desperation, she would do and buy things that remind her of home. She subscribed to TFC (The Filipino Channel), and there she rifles through telenovela after telenovela to discuss with her daughters. She would cook her beloved adobong pusit for lunch and halayang ube for dessert, and in her cupboard, she stows jars of tuyo, Mang Tomas and salted eggs among yogurt and 2-percent milk in her tiny fridge.

On weekends, Beth would make her way to factory outlets and scour through racks of reduced-priced clothing, searching for overrun designer shirts and bags she would then cram in overfilled balikbayan boxes to send to her family. She figured if she couldn’t be physically around for them, she could —at least—give them a chance to have a nip at luxury.

‘Tiis nang tiis’

UNDOCUMENTED immigrants such as Beth and Romy work long hours, and earn just enough to support their families back home. With their uncertain status, they are left with no choice, but to take whatever job is available—sometimes,

even the dirtiest of jobs. But, as told

by Beth, the dirty job is rarely the problem and is often met with no complaint. Dealing with homesickness and depression appears to be the bigger struggle.

Meanwhile, their overall estimation for authorities remains only on fear and apprehension.

The moment they are discovered, they will be immediately deported and backlisted with no question.

So they continue to remain in the periphery of society, knowing better that one slip, one mistake, would mean deportation back to the Philippines.

Such is the haphazard life of a TNT, continuously walking on tiptoe and being invisible to survive isteytsayd.

Beth doesn’t find the term TNT derogatory, but she begs to differ when it comes to its definition. She redefines it for herself.

“Actually, for me, TNT means tiis nang tiis. Life and work are hard and full of uncertainty. We sacrifice for our family.”

Most times, however, it feels like living in a cage: Toiling in a house, but not a home, caring for strangers when they should be caring for their loved ones back home. Their efforts aren’t futile, however. It is what puts food on the table.

Beth is not ashamed of her work. “It may be lowly, but it is decent work.”

Recent reports of undocumented immigrants being deported spread terror among Beth’s community.

Earlier this year, the Department of Foreign Affairs released a report

that out of the 3 million Filipinos in the United States, more than 300,000 are undocumented immigrants. “We are stuck in limbo,” Beth said. While President Trump is adamant about deporting all illegal immigrants, President Duterte expressed his unwillingness to help and support them.

Beth doesn’t deny her wrongdoing and said if she were arrested, she would willingly go home.

Going back home to the Philippines, however, would mean joblessness, and crippling amounts of debt. At the moment, Beth and Romy are left wringing their hands over their situation. They continue to hang on to the sliver of hope that only undocumented immigrants with criminal records get deported.

Romy dreams of returning home to the Philippines someday, but only if he is certain his family can keep on without his support.

Due to the recent deportations of undocumented immigrants, however, Romy wonders if he’s better off going home anyway, instead of waiting to be arrested by the authorities.

Beth, too, has grand plans of returning home to reunite with her family. There is just one catch in this long-awaited reunion: Lianne, her eldest daughter, flew to San Francisco and overstayed to be a TNT like her. Lianne is pregnant. With a grandchild on the way, Beth has no choice, but to put off her homecoming yet again.

For now, she consigns herself to wishful thinking.

DSWD to prioritize upgrade of home for elderly

T

HE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will include in its priorities the improvement of its centers and institutions, especially the Golden Reception and Action Center for the Elderly and Other Special Cases (Graces) Home for the Elderly in Bago Bantay, Quezon City.

“I go to Graces several times a week these days. It is now top priority of the department, where all our resources will be put forth to make sure this center will be the haven it was meant to be,” DSWD Assistant Secretary for Centers and Institutions and Other Special Directives, Lorraine Marie Badoy, said in a statement released recently.

Graces, one of the DSWD’s four residential facilities for the elderly, takes care of at least 300 senior citizens who have been neglected or abandoned by their families.

Badoy’s team and a number of volunteers have been organizing a regular “Kamustahan with Lolos and Lolas” at Graces.

Over the weekend, Badoy was

joined by outgoing Social Welfare Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo, department officials and employees in a “Kamustahan” with the elderly at the center. They dined with the residents, bonded with them through singing and dancing, and gifted them with snack packs.

Graces can only accommodate up to 200 occupants, but the number of its residents has increased as senior citizens rescued from the streets by social workers and local government units (LGUs) have been brought to the center. This resulted in congestion and the lack of medical equipment, such as wheelchairs and walkers, as well as beds for the residents.

“I thank Sec. Judy Taguiwalo.

She gave me this assignment. I heard how she wept when she saw Graces and Jose Fabella Center for the first time. And when I went, I saw clearly why she did. These centers had fallen by the wayside and had ceased to be the havens for the least of us that they were meant to be,” Badoy said.

She said the department is creating a crisis-management team to take over these two centers, and has joined hands with the private sector, LGUs, nursing/medical schools and corporations “to ensure we give this project our best shot”.

Badoy added they welcome possible partnerships and volunteer work for the improvement of the center. Those who are interested may coordinate with her office at 709-1467 or 931-8101 local 420 and 421.

Meanwhile, in her one-year stint as social welfare chief, Taguiwalo appealed to the public to help the department provide better care and services to the elderly.

“The government should primarily respond to the needs of our residential facilities. However, the assistance it can provide is limited. Given this, it is also important that even private citizens and the rest of our communities help and pitch in so we can provide better care and services for our elderly, who rely on our compassion and assistance,” she added.

DOG AND MONKEY ACT Elders at the newly refurbished Malcom Square in Baguio City enjoy watching a costumed monkey clamber up a sleeping

German shepherd. MAU VICTA

USDA economist: China’s aging farm villages need reform now

A

A TYPICAL farm in rural China shows run-down huts and chickens freely roaming. NTY PHOTO

S China’s policy-makers work to reform how farmland is held—don’t call it ownership—they must overcome low productivity, high costs and an aging rural population, said a senior US Department of Agriculture economist who’s studied the sector for two decades.

The decades-old collective landholding system needs an overhaul to modernize the agricultural industry, said Fred Gale, a senior economist for China at the USDA’s Economic Research Service in Washington.

Land in China belongs to the state or collective; farmers contract to use it without owning it. Reforms would allow rural land to be more easily transferred or leased to companies, as well as be used as collateral for loans. While trials to encourage a more robust land rental market and farm consolidation

are under way, privatization remains off limits.

“The landless peasant thing is something that comes up often when officials discuss privatizing land,” Gale said.

That’s no small consideration for a country with an official rural population of 590 million. China’s agricultural economy, or primary sector, accounted for 8.6 percent of output last year, down from about a third in the early 1980s, and has been expanding at roughly half the pace of overall GDP. The following are edited excerpts from a recent interview in Beijing:

Empty villages Why land reform now, and why is landholding consolidation a key goal?

There’s an urgency to overhaul the farming system because they see the villages are emptied out of young and skilled people, and the people left are elderly and less skilled. One of the big themes is to try to raise productivity because officials realize agricultural products are expensive and uncompetitive, and that is attracting imports. So pressure to reform the land is coming from a combination of short-term pressure, because imports are cheaper than China’s products, and the long-term question of who will be our farmers.

Why has progress been slow?

This goes back to the third plenum of the 17th Party Congress in 2008, where there was a lot of anticipation that China would privatize land. But it was really kind of a tentative step and wasn’t a privatization: it was the lead-

ers saying it’s OK to trade land or rent out or lease or sublease land to other farmers. They started trying to issue land certificates and delineate where boundaries are.

City authorities worry about getting inundated by rural migrants.

So the strategy has been to try to create small towns to absorb the rural population so they don’t flood the cities and overwhelm the social welfare system.

Broken Contracts Why have we seen problems with contracts?

When grain prices were high, farmers were willing to pay the rent, but when prices fell, there was a lot of talk about farmers wanting to give up the land or renege on the contracts.

Bloomberg News

The Millennials BusinessMirror

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Saturday, September 9, 2017

A9

scholars cite benefits of internship program

By Rizal Raoul Reyes

I

@brownindio

N a developing country like the Philippines, the private sector plays an important role in providing access to Filipinos who are academically deserving but experiencing financial challenges in their daily lives.

Companies like Emerson Philippines are doing their share through the Emerson Scholarship program. Established in 2015, the program is now on its second year, the program seeks to “empower” students preferably in state colleges and universities. Right now, the program is recruiting scholars for the third batch of scholars.

Lilet Camara, brand and communications manager of Emerson Asia Pacific, said the company is willing to recruit the best talents in an area.

“As long as we see there are lots of students who are financially challenged in a certain school, we are interested to partner with universities in a specific area.

Emerson’s scholarship program, in partnership with American Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc., is designed to operate 40 scholars at one time, with current scholars coming from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), Rizal Technological University and Technological Institute of the Philippines.

Being a n eng ineer ing a nd technology company, Emerson is also active in supporting sci-

ence, technology, engineering and mathematics in several high schools initially in Metro Manila. The partnership involves the crafting of a curriculum and providing training programs to the teachers. “Our partner universities also receive donations in the form of laboratory equipment and instrumentation,” Camara said in a recent interview with the BusinessMirror.

The scholars

Anna Patricia Infante, Rajan Paul Garcia and Joshua Gloria are among the second batch of scholars of Emerson. Infante and Gloria expressed great satisfaction in their internship with the company, while Garcia is looking forward to join the program this November.

“Contrary to some perceptions that studying and working at the same time can be toxic, my life, both as an intern in Emerson and a student in PUP, is cool because it has helped fight pressure and stress. I enjoyed my stint in Emerson because they asked me to do real work for the benefit of my future,” the 19-year-old Infante said.

Anna Patricia Infante (from left), Rajan Paul Garcia and Joshua Gloria, the second batch of scholars of Emerson.

“I am looking forward to join the internship program of Emerson in November this year. It will prepare me for work after graduating—internship in Emerson prepares the student for the real work”, the 21-year-old Garcia said in an interview.

“I felt immediately at home with Emerson because they treated me like a family member. They also gave me the support to sharpen my skills. They are teaching me right now the things that I will do in the workspace. I will definitely have edge when I start to work,” the 21-year-old Gloria said.

Garcia juggles his time for study ing and extracur r icular activities before starting the internship program in November.

Right now, Garcia cherishes doing extracurr icular activ ities because this allows him to meet other people and do other things.

He is active in school organizations, such as Rotaract, Society of

Scholars and the student council.

“My leadership skills were developed because I learned to handle people, and, at the same time, my network grew as I had the opportunity to meet people from other fields.

Just like the typical responsible and loving daughter, Infante is eager to work for Emerson as an industrial psychology to her mother in supporting the family.

“As a single parent, my mother persevered to send her children to school,” she said.

“Now, I am going to have the opportunity to share in the burden of helping my mother in supporting the family,” she added.

Gloria has benefited from joining extracurricular activities because it has given him the chance to meet major people in the electronic engineering field from the national levels. Furthermore, his network became broader when he became the president of the

Under 30s are taking over tech funds, frustrating some founders

A

T the age of 27, Andre de Haes raised €30 million ($36 million) for his London-based venture capital fund, Backed VC. Now 30, he and his 29-year-old business partner Alex Brunicki are among a cohort of young investors who are having a greater say in how the billions that have flowed into European venture capital in recent years are spent.

But while younger investors argue that youth gives them a better understanding of what start-ups might resonate with their age group, some founders, who recount frustrating meetings with inexperienced venture capitalists (VCs), fear an overreliance on millennial investors’ intuition at the expense of know-how.

Last year venture capital investment in Europe reached its highest level since 2008, at €4.3 billion, according to Invest Europe.

Karen McCormick, chief investment officer at Beringea LLP, says the industry has recruited “pretty aggressively” in the past two years as money has flooded in, and that has brought in far more young workers in junior roles as analysts and associates. Venture capital firms are likely to promote those people “at earlier stages and earlier ages”, she says.

Those already in senior positions include 29-year-old Katie Leviten, a partner at JamJar Investments; Uwe Horstmann, who cofounded Project A at 25 in 2012; James Wise, who became a partner at Balderton Capital at the age of 29 last year; 25-yearold Abbas Kazmi, cofounder and managing partner of Collegiate Capital and Jonathan Becker, who became a principal at e.ventures last year, at 28. In the US, 23-year-old Adam Goldberg is a partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners, an early backer of Snap Inc. Young VCs say the phenomenon is a sign that their generation is interested in alternatives to the career paths pursued by their predecessors, such as law and banking.

“When I started five or six years ago, venture was never seen as a career,” Wise says. “You did it before starting your company or after making your millions.” Now Balderton Capital, which he joined in 2013, offers internships.

“There’s more awareness of the job, it’s more of a career path,” he adds.

‘Aren’t you kids?’

OF the seven young investors interviewed for

accounts for StreetTeam Software Ltd., which are unaudited and dated 31 December 2016, do not state revenue but show it made a loss of 2.6 million pounds ($3.4 million).

‘Frustrating’

There’s a new set of venture capitalists entering the market for raising technology funds, and they are young, which is rankling some veterans in the industry. Bloomberg

this article, only de Haes and Brunicki had full power to make investment decisions. The others go through investment committees or speak to other partners or colleagues to make final decisions.

De Haes started out fund-raising by asking for investment from university professors who had taught him at Stanford and Harvard. Backed VC has now raised a second round that de Haes says is a “significant jump” in size from the €30 million raised in the first. Unlike the first round that cultivated their personal network, institutional investors are now investing in the new round. He says investors always check references, but, in his case, one called 50 people, which seemed “a higher bar for us to get over” than more experienced investors.

Some potential investors would “say stuff like, aren’t you kids to be doing this, shouldn’t you wait five years or 10 years or, don’t you want to be working in another firm first for 10 years?” de Haes says.

He adds 14 of the 20 companies to which Backed has provided seed financing have raised follow-on funding, and have done so at valuations that are on average three times as high as when Backed invested.

Spotting potential

SOME founders enthuse about young investors.

“There’s this really interesting dynamic with a young venture capitalist under 30 who understands the mind-set of a young founder,” says Tim Armoo, the 22-year-old cofounder and CEO of Fanbytes, which helps brands to advertise on Snapchat.

“The people under 30 can empathize really quickly with younger founders. People over 30 have literally been like, back in my day, in the Yahoo days—and you’re like, mate, we’re not in the Yahoo days.”

Callum Negus-Fancey, the 27-year-old cofounder of StreetTeam, says his company’s early financial support came from young investors, including Backed, who “could relate to it more easily”.

His firm provides software for fans to sell tickets for events, such as music festivals, to their friends and is used by companies, including LiveNation Entertainment Inc. Older VCs needed “more proof” and showed an interest later, by which time they had missed out on “some of the upside”, he adds. Negus-Fancey says StreetTeam’s revenue has more than doubled each year since it launched in 2014. The United Kingdom

IT can be hard for young investors to win founders over.

Avin Rabheru, 34, founder of the cleaning start-up Housekeep, says he has had difficult meetings with some “junior guys” from venture capital firms: “There are very, very, very few things that are more frustrating than somebody who doesn’t know what they’re talking about trying to explain your business to you,” he says.

He adds some young investors have proven to be valuable, but his concern is about the idea that they might be given a greater role just because they are young. He is wary of a mentality that “some guy’s a millennial, he must know about millennials” and would rather find investors who understand young consumers “because they can understand what the data says about millennials”, regardless of their age.

And founders do not take kindly to what they see as lessons in business from young investors. Vivi Friedgut, 40, founder and CEO of the education-technology company Blackbullion, recalls her frustration during one meeting with a young investor.

“Having somebody talking down your business without asking any questions to understand it is a little bit patronizing,” she says. “And when it comes from a 25-year-old with no experience, that doesn’t tend to go down that well.”

Even so, younger investors say the benefits of youth more than make up for the frustrations that may accompany their lack of expertise. Age helps them spot good startups early, these VCs say, because they can see what would appeal to their peers, and to build good relationships with founders.

Founders are “going to be a little bit intimidated by someone who has done 10 to 20 IPOs [initial public offerings]” if they’ve only recently finished school, says Goldberg, from Lightspeed Venture Partners. “If there’s someone who’s your age and has a similar level of experience, I feel like you’ll confide in them a lot more.”

Bloomberg News Service

school’s radio club as he was able to meet the veterans in the engineering field.

Looking forward

Infante said her expectations on Emerson got higher when she had the opportunity to meet the officials from the region. She learned from the commitment of the company to help the company’s scholars.

Garcia believes his internship with the company will help him prepare for the board examination for industrial engineers.

Gloria said he is benefiting from the mentorship of Emerson because this will help him develop in his chosen career. “There is a big difference if you are being guided by people who are experienced in their fields,” he said.

C a m a ra sa id t he Emerson scholarship program seeks inspire young Filipinos to strive in their studies. Moreover, it wants

to prove that financially related challenges are not obstacles to learning. “We are doing this basically to showcase our scholars as testimonials that you can pursue your goals in life as long as you are determined and focus.”

Emerson would agree to hire the scholar upon graduation assuming the scholar maintains their grades and successfully completes their degree. The scholar would agree to work for Emerson a minimum of two years, although Emerson’s intent is for him or her to be a long-term employee.

Moreover, Camara said interns are asked what they plan to do after they graduate. “We want to ensure that the career path they will choose in their internship will also be the one after they graduate,” she said.

“We will support them as far as they want to go. We expect that they love what they do,” Camara added. with AP

Internet remains Millennials’ opiate

T

HE Internet is still the “opiate” of the millennials, according to the latest report of Google’s Philippines office.

Google said its eponymous Trends report revealed that 75 percent of Filipino millennials use the Internet as their first option when they want to get information. About 65 percent of the respondents said they use the Web for product search on Search, while 79 percent go online for fun. It added that 57 percent watch online videos to learn something new.

According to Google Philippines, the most popular categories include arts and entertainment, hobbies and leisure, travel and tourism, computers, family and community and vehicles. Other top searches include sports and fitness, apparel, finance and mobile phones.

In their search for adulting, creativity and experiences in the second quarter of 2017, the study said Filipino millennials searched on finance, vehicles and real estate.

Furthermore, the finance category saw a search growth of 24 percent, vehicles had 17 percent and real estate had 16 percent.

Other adulating categories include home and garden (15 percent), baby, parenting and family (15 percent) and job and careers (14 percent).

The study reported that creativity emerged as the most searched and most watched access theme for millennials. Watching movies, listening to music and catching TV shows on YouTube are the main sources of millennials for their creativity.

It reported Filipino millennials value experiences than products and services, resulting in a search growth of 19 percent for travel and tourism. This covered accommodations and attractions, while searches for restaurant reached 25 percent driven by fast-food and

restaurant reviews.

According to Global Web Index, an estimated 47 percent of Filipino millennials are not hardcore television buff and instead use other platforms for entertainment.

The study said watching movies, listening to music and catching TV shows on YouTube are the top ways millennials find inspiration to be creative.

Geia Lopez, Google Philippines industr y analyst, said brands should take the lead as enablers by providing millennials access to three things: adulthood, experiences and creativity.

“The choices and possibilities that millennials face are infinite,” Lopez said. “The challenge for brands is to make these three things accessible to millennials and make them feel confident and secure in the decisions they make to realize their objectives.”

She also noted millennials are serious to engage in the Experience Economy, where rich experiences are valued over material possessions.

“They go for bigger and more adventurous travel bucket lists with the goal of building unique experiences,” Lopez said. “This is shown on Google Trends, which re vea l s a 19 - percent sea rc h growth for travel and tourism in the second quarter of 2017, with 52 percent of travel searches coming from mobile.”

Restaurants also showed a 25-percent search growth driven by fast-food and restaurant reviews. Arts and entertainment, hobbies and leisure and family and community are also among the most searched experiencerelated categories. Meanwhile, Google Trends noted Filipino millennials experience a two-stage shopping modes called the high ticket, high preparation and the mad rush to delight when the so-called ber months comes in.

Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

BusinessMirror

A10 Saturday, September 9, 2017

www.businessmirror.com.ph

‘Angry Birds’ maker Rovio plans initial public share offering COPENHAGEN, Denmark—Rovio Entertainment, the Finnish maker of “Angry Birds” and other popular mobile games, says it plans an initial public offering and a listing of its shares on the Helsinki stock exchange. Chief Executive Kati Levoranta says the company “is stronger than ever” and well-positioned in the fast-growing mobile gaming market with a diversified games portfolio.

Levoranta added on Tuesday that recent launches—“Angry Birds Evolution”, “Battle Bay” and “Angry Birds Match”—have been doing well.

He called the share listing “an important milestone in developing Rovio into an even stronger games-first entertainment company.” The company, based in Espoo, Finland, didn’t give an estimated share price or company value. AP

Learning from millennials

Lenovo to pay $3.5M in settlement over preloaded software

PRIMETIME

TRENTON, New Jersey—A technology company will pay $3.5 million and change how it sells laptop computers as part of a settlement reached with federal officials and 32 states.

The agreement with Lenovo announced on Tuesday settles allegations that the firm, based in Morrisville, North Carolina, sold devices with preloaded software that made users’ sensitive personal information vulnerable to hackers.

The VisualDiscovery software was installed on hundreds of thousands of laptops to deliver pop-up ads to consumers. Lenovo stopped shipping laptops with VisualDiscovery preinstalled in February 2015, but some states contend some laptops with the software still were being sold by retail outlets as late as June 2015.

Under the settlement, Lenovo will now obtain consumers’ consent to use the software and provide a reasonable way for them to opt out of it or to disable or remove it.

The Federal Trade Commission said Lenovo “compromised consumers’ privacy” when it preloaded the software without their consent or adequate notice.

“This conduct is even more serious because the software compromised online security protections that consumers rely on,” acting Federal Trade Commission Chairman Maureen Ohlhausen said.

Lenovo said on Tuesday it “disagrees with the allegations” contained in the complaints about VisualDiscovery, but it said it was pleased to “bring this matter to a close”.

The company said it was unaware of any instances of a third party exploiting the vulnerabilities to gain access to a user’s communications.

It also noted that it stopped preloading VisualDiscovery and worked with antivirus software providers to disable and remove it from consumers’ computers after learning of the issues. AP

A

DINNA CHAN VASQUEZ @dinnachanvasquez luckydinna@gmail.com

S a person who’s older than most people on the Internet, I wasn’t only lacking in technical expertise when I first opened my social-media accounts. I was also very politically incorrect. I’m still a work in progress, actually.

Having been brought up by parents who were already alive during the end of the Japanese occupation, I had a different view of things.

Admittedly, I was kind of the I-have-gay-friends-so-Idon’t-hate-them sort.

I was probably one of the first journalists in the Philippines to write about transgender people.

But I wrote about them from the entertainment perspective because the transgender people I met were performers and beauty-pageant competitors.

Like most people, I enjoyed watching them onstage. However, it was when I saw how they prepared for their performances that I realized something. These women go through so much and it’s not worth it to look at them as just objects of beauty.

By that time, I knew I was on the right track. But I was still lost, I just didn’t realize it at that time.

A couple of years ago, I started following a Twitter user with the handle @Watdahel_Marcel, only

because I thought he was very witty. It turns out Stefan (his real name) was—and is—also a writer, which explains why he could pack in so much wit and intelligence into 140 characters.

Then, I started reading Stefan’s conversations with his friends and even his bashers. The thing about Stefan is that he’s so brave. Other people are so afraid to be attacked for their appearance. Stefan is unafraid as long as he knows he’s right, or at least he believes in what he is saying.

Stefan eventually followed me back. From time to time, I would ask him about things I didn’t understand. For instance, the word “queer” as used in the LGBTQ context was something Stefan explained to me. Writer Irish Dizon (who is now a hotel PR girl) was also one of the people I followed, and she gave me insights which made realize how I’ve lived in a bubble all these years.

“Millennials” is a word older people like myself don’t understand and even fear. The young people collectively known as “millennials” are often derided as being aimless loafers whose only goal in life is to take good selfies.

These millennials have helped guide me to understand how deeply marginalized certain groups of people are just because of labels.

From them, I learned that gender isn’t black and white. That nothing in this world is black and white.

What I like about these millennials is that they can have fun, too. They poke fun at themselves and their lifestyles. They dish it out and they can take it, too. They’re not perfect but I would say they lead meaningful lives because people like me learn from them. They don’t mean to educate people but they do so unintentionally.

I’m only speaking for myself when I say this, but learning by reading a few tweets and posts isn’t

corny for me. We need to learn new things in order to survive. It would be nice to stay in our comfort zones but that isn’t going to work for me.

I grew up in a generation for whom being fat was abhorrent, and fat and very thin people shouldn’t wear shorts. My mom has a term for fat girls who wore shorts or short skirts: Miss Courage. Now, I’m happy to note that despite half the general population still being in the dark about body-shaming, more and more girls are becoming confident and wearing what they like.

A reminder for people who hate fat girls in shorts—you don’t need to look, you know. If one passes by, turn your back on her. She isn’t doing it for you. For my mother’s generation, it was okay to have a gay child as long as “he or she is a productive citizen”. Looking back, I now realize how funny that is. I mean, it’s okay not to be productive if you’re straight, but the only acceptable gay people are those who have jobs/businesses?

I once worked at a place where the men spoke as if it were the Dark Ages, and where women were talked about as if they were objects.

When my mom talks with her friends on the phone, it’s like the Dark Ages all over again. But I don’t blame her or her friends. They were brought up that way. And if there is anything I’ve learned from millennials, it’s that nothing is anybody’s fault. It’s only your fault if you’re prejudiced or bigoted.

I’m not a big fan of the callout culture, though. I believe anyone can make mistakes. I would rather allow other people to learn from whatever mistakes they may have made.

Again, I’m not an outspoken netizen or anything like that. But I’m happy that despite some negative aspects, my Internet experience has been pleasant and educational, so to speak. ■

Huawei reveals future of mobile AI at IFA 2017 AT the just-concluded IFA 2017 in Germany, Huawei Consumer Business Group unveiled a new era in smartphone innovation.

As part of CEO Richard Yu’s keynote address, he revealed Huawei’s vision for the future of artificial intelligence (AI) with the launch of the Kirin 970. By combining the power of the cloud with the speed and responsiveness of native AI processing, Huawei is bringing AI experiences to life and changing the way we interact with our devices.

“As we look to the future of smartphones, we’re at the threshold of an exciting new era,” said Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group. “Mobile AI=On-Device AI+Cloud AI. Huawei is committed to developing smart devices into intelligent devices by building end-to-end capabilities that support coordinated development of chips, devices and the cloud. The ultimate goal is to provide a significantly better user experience. The Kirin 970 is the first in a series of new advances that will bring powerful AI features to our devices and take them beyond the competition.”

After years of development, Cloud AI has seen broad application, but user experience still has room for improvement, including latency, stability and privacy. Cloud AI and On-Device AI can complement each other. On-Device AI offers strong sensing capabilities, which are the foundation of understanding and

assisting people. Sensors produce a large amount of real-time, scenario-specific and personalized data. Supported by strong chipprocessing capabilities, devices will become more cognitive of user needs, providing truly personalized and readily accessible services.

Kirin 970 is powered by an 8-core CPU and a new-generation 12-core GPU. Built using a 10nm advanced process, the chipset packs 5.5 billion transistors into an area of only 1 cm². Huawei’s new flagship Kirin 970 is Huawei’s first mobile AI computing platform featuring a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU).

Compared to a quad-core Cortex-A73 CPU cluster, the Kirin 970’s new heterogeneous computing architecture delivers up to 25x the performance with 50x greater efficiency. Simply put, the Kirin 970 can perform the same AI computing tasks faster and with far less power. In a benchmark image recognition test, the Kirin 970 processed 2,000 images per minute, which was faster than other chips on the market.

New developments in AI require joint effort across the entire value chain, involving tens of millions of developers, and the experience and feedback of hundreds of millions of users. Huawei is positioning the Kirin 970 as an open platform for mobile AI, opening up the chipset to developers and partners who can find new and innovative uses for its processing capabilities.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

BusinessMirror

Microso�t promotes inclusive learning through digital technology

A

Top iPhone and iPad apps on App Store THE App Store Official Charts for the week ending September 3:

TOP PAID iPHONE APPS

1. Minecraft: Pocket Edition—Mojang 2. Heads Up!: Warner Bros.

3. Plague Inc.: Ndemic Creations 4. iSchedule: HotSchedules 5. Bloons TD 5: Ninja Kiwi 6. DEVICE 6: Simogo AB 7. Facetune: Lightricks Ltd. 8. True Skate: True Axis 9. Geometry Dash: RobTop Games AB 10. Tabs & Chords by Ultimate Guitar: Ultimate Guitar

BY RIZAL RAOUL REYES

CCESS to education is one of the challenges being experienced by Filipinos.

The lack of infrastructure is one main factor why many Filipinos are being deprived of education. However, the emergence of digital technology has lessened the gap, as more and more Filipinos nowadays can access learning without requiring them to travel to distant places.

Being a technology company, Microsoft Philippines Managing Director Bertrand Launay is doing its share to spread the benefits of learning by sharing the tools that will empower the country’s youth and children with special needs.

In his opening remarks, the newly appointed head of the local Microsoft office said it’s quite important for the country’s education sector to embrace digital technology because it is the path to the future. Citing the recent Microsoft Asia Digital Transformation Study done across 13 markets in Asia, Launay said 87 percent of business leaders from the education sector agreed that every organization, including educational institutions, needs to transform into a digital business to enable future growth.

Furthermore, the company stressed it’s quite important for the Philippines to empower its 25.4 million K to 12 learners and prepare them for the future. “We at Microsoft create technology that recognizes the diversity in learning and we have created tools that empower all students,” he said.

“Microsoft has a firm commitment in education to serve students, as well as people with special needs,” he added. Furthermore, the Department of Education (DepEd) cited the role of technology to engage all learners, including those with special needs, and our government needs to be able to harness the power of technology.

Last year the DepEd had 250,000 enrollees at the elementary level and 100,000 at the high-school level, with a continuing thrust to provide quality and inclusive education for all.

In a news briefing held on September 5, the local subsidiary of the software giant launched a video that shows one example of Microsoft’s commitment to inclusive learning, wherein the video focuses on technology for the visually impaired.

It showed students from the Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired (Atriev), and shows how

Saturday, September 9, 2017 A11

TOP FREE iPHONE APPS 1. YouTube: Google Inc. 2. Instagram: Instagram Inc. 3. Snapchat: Snap Inc. 4. Messenger: Facebook Inc. 5. Facebook: Facebook Inc. 6. Bitmoji: Bitstrips 7. Flip Master: Miniclip.com 8. Google Maps: Google Inc. 9. Remind: remind101 10. Gmail: Google Inc.

TOP PAID iPAD APPS MICROSOFT Philippines Managing Director Bertrand Launay talks up the efforts of the company’s “firm commitment in education to serve students, as well as people with special needs”.

visually impaired learners can gain important computer-science skills that will help increase their employability opportunities.

Atriev is a non-governmental organization that’s been partnered with Microsoft Youthspark’s Coding for Accessibility since 2008. Atriev and Microsoft have strengthened that partnership in 2016 and continue to help the blind and low vision be employable.

Clarissa Segismundo, education programs lead at Microsoft Philippines, said accessibility tools and assistive-technology tools, such as audio Narrator, were utilized to enable the students to apply basic office-productivity tools and even computer programming and coding. “This gives them a new opportunity and new chapter in their lives,” she said.

Moreover, the video also presented how visually impaired trainers teach other students. It showed how fundamental concepts can be better explained in

the context of the students’ special-learning needs and how assistive technology can truly transform a classroom to be 100-percent inclusive.

Segismundo said the video showed only one aspect of how Microsoft technology can help in special education. She added there are various classroom tools that were announced during the launch, such as a demo on the Learning Tools for Microsoft OneNote, which Forbes has described as “one of the most disruptive education technologies, yet”. These Learning Tools are a toolbar add-in that improves the reading and writing experience, especially for those with dyslexia.

“This video launched today is but one example of the many Microsoft learning tools created for learners with special needs.As evident in our programs and accessibility features that are present in all our software solutions, we remain steadfast in being the technology behind quality and inclusive education for all,” Launay explained. ■

1. Minecraft: Pocket Edition—Mojang 2. Notability: Ginger Labs 3. Procreate: Savage Interactive Pty Ltd 4. XtraMath:XtraMath 5. Dumb Ways JR Zany’s Hospital: Metro Trains Melbourne Pty. Ltd. 6. RotoWire: Roto Sports Inc. 7. Geometry Dash: RobTop Games AB 8. GoodNotes 4: Time Base Technology Ltd. 9. The Escapists: Team17 Software Ltd 10. Terraria: 505 Games (US) Inc.

TOP FREE iPAD APPS 1. YouTube: Google Inc. 2. Netflix: Netflix Inc. 3. Flip Master: Miniclip.com 4. Messenger: Facebook Inc. 5. Facebook: Facebook Inc. 6. Toon Blast: Peak Games 7. Barbie Fashion Closet: Mattel Inc. 8. Google Chrome: Google Inc. 9. Snake VS Block: Voodoo 10. ROBLOX: Roblox Corp. AP

Twitter launches digital education program TWITTER has launched its new media-agency program #TweetToTheTop—a yearlong digital education program dedicated to upskill young media professionals in Asia Pacific and bring them on a journey where the crème de la crème will stand a chance to attend Cannes 2018.

Eleven agencies from global media and advertising networks, including Dentsu, GroupM, IPG and Omnicom, will be participating in this initiative. #TweetToTheTop is the platform’s first yearlong agencyengagement program dedicated to young media executives in five countries in Asia Pacific: India, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and Australia.

In a recent eMarketer worldwide report, more than 60 percent of agency leads still have challenges measuring return of investment on social-media marketing, and more than 35 percent are challenged on tying social to business goals. Considering the increasing integration of social and

digital into everyday lives, especially in Asia Pacific, Twitter is leading the first digital education program dedicated to helping media-agency professionals navigate an increasingly dynamic and complex landscape. #TweetToTheTop aims to attract hundreds of young media planners and executives from the five markets to showcase their best work using Twitter solutions. The collaboration with the biggest agencies in Asia Pacific and the world will provide media-agency professionals with exclusive access to Twitter’s arsenal of solutions and global advertising tech leaders, including Jayanta Jenkins, Twitter’s global creative director; and Stacy Minero, Twitter’s global head of planning and creative agency development. The top 25 among them will compete to have their work entered into the Cannes Festival of Creativity in July 2018.

At each phase, hands-on training sessions will be offered

by Twitter marketing executives to selected young media-

buying professionals. The participants will work in groups on three separate challenge briefs on hot social and business issues over the upcoming months.

The Philippines is the third country to activate the workshop after India and Singapore. The yearlong program will be activated in three phases across six cities in five markets in the region.

“We’re proud to strengthen our collaboration with the top media agencies in Asia Pacific, leveraging Twitter’s resources to solve business challenges,” says Simon Brockman, Twitter head of global agencies for Asia Pacific. “As marketers increasingly look to their agency partners for brand insights, relevant real-time messaging and customer research, we believe that #TweetToTheTop will support media-agency talents to develop their digital knowledge and skills, and ultimately benefit brands by creating the best campaigns tailored to their needs.”

PlayStation 4 Gran Turismo Sport Special Edition is coming SONY Interactive Entertainment Hong Kong Limited Singapore Branch (SIES) will be releasing a bundle featuring a specially designed PlayStation 4 (HDD: 1TB) and the PS4 title Gran Turismo Sport as the limitededition “PlayStation 4 Gran Turismo Sport Special Edition” in the Philippines in October. This pack will be priced at suggested retail price of P20,900.

Both the PS4 console and Wireless Controller (DualShock 4) come in a striking and stylish design jet black and silver two-tone with the Gran Turismo logo featured in the center.

Gran Turismo Sport is packed full of content, including Vision Gran Turismo concept models and prototypes developed by Bugatti, Aston Martin and Mercedes Benz, as well as many other real cars for

a total of over 150 vehicles to choose from in game.

These cars can be raced in 17 fantastic locations with 28 different course layouts from all over the world to enjoy.

Compete against all of your rivals in races using the ultrarealistic handling provided by the game’s new physics engine and the wealth of customization options available. Also, with the introduction of the world’s first FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) approved championships, users can now enjoy realistic high-pressure Gran Turismo Sport competitions via online play.

SIES continue to strive to spread and expand the PS4 platform even further, so that even more customers can enjoy the unique world of entertainment available on the platform.

Angry Birds maker Rovio plans initial public share offering A10

BusinessMirror

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

Saturday, September 9, 2017 A12

TOP THINGS THAT CAN AFFECT WI-FI PERFORMANCE AT HOME

THE Samsung Gear 360 and Gear VR

THE Internet is everywhere.

Laptops, desktops and smartphones are always connected. Smart TVs with access to the Web are becoming commonplace, as are digital-media players.

Home-security devices—and soon enough, even refrigerators—will soon be linked as signs of the march toward the inevitable Internet of Things.

As each new electronic doodad introduced to the market is ostensibly “smart”, the scramble for bandwidth becomes fierce, weighing down the strength of your connection. But while connectivity can get noticeably slower, there are a few quick-fix ways to help the strength of your Wi-Fi signal at home.

1. PLACEMENT OF YOUR WI-FI ROUTER. It’s natural that the farther away from the router you are, the slower your signal will be. So try to place your router at your home’s central location. Be mindful of physical barriers between the router and your Internet-capable device. Walls made from dense materials, such as masonry, are obvious signal deterrents. Lighter materials, on the other hand, not so much.

2. PROXIMITY OF OTHER DEVICES. If your Wi-Fi signal is normally strong, then experiences occasional drops, there may be frequency interference from some home appliances. Common culprits are microwave ovens, hearing aids, cordless phones, lamps, refrigerators or other wireless devices. Your neighbors Wi-Fi network can also retard and degrade your signal, so change your frequency and/or your router channel.

3. UPGRADE YOUR SOFTWARE/HARDWARE. Manufacturers are always tweaking firmware to eke out a bit more performance from their devices. So sometimes getting optimum speed is just as simple as upgrading your router’s software. Regularly check to see if one is available. Sometimes, however, your old router just needs to be replaced.

4. CONSIDER A RANGE EXTENDER. Because routers are reliable only up to a certain distance, invest on an add-on device that can stretch your Wi-Fi signal. Called “repeaters” or “range expanders”, these devices will act like another client with its own IP address, pick up your signal, then extend it.

Just make sure that when buying one, it is indeed capable of broadcasting your specific signal.

5. CONTROL HOGS AND LEECHES. There is only a limited amount of bandwidth to go around. And when you have too many people connecting to your Wi-Fi, of course your connection will bog down. Sometimes family members may be downloading heavy torrent files, playing online games or video streaming, thus using up most of the bandwidth allocation. Other times, neighbors may have actually gained access to your wireless network and are getting a free ride.

Reminding family that the bandwidth is to be shared and changing your Wi-Fi password regularly will cure that.

6. INCREASED GADGETS AT HOME. Over the last few years, more and more Filipinos are carrying personal devices— smartphones being the gadget of choice—to fulfill many of their daily tech-based needs, like uploading and downloading files, personal and professional communication, online streaming and keeping up with the world at large. Many Filipinos still perform these bandwidth-heavy tasks at home at an average of four hours a day over Wi-Fi connections.

Bandwidth-heavy tasks can pose significant toll on Wi-Fi connections at home; users might observe slow and inconsistent connections at the peak of such activities.

Sometimes, it’s just a matter of strategically positioning your Wi-Fi router and the things around it, and looking into added routers if needed. Robust, reliable connections are necessary to enjoy world-class digital experiences at home—and strengthening your home Wi-Fi can be the key toward more opportunities for communication, learning and entertainment right where it matters.

Should you be saving up for a 360 camera?

THE TECHNIVORE ED UY

whereiseduy@gmail.com

“If you are out there shooting, things will happen for you. If you’re not out there, you’ll only hear about it.”

A

—JAY MAISEL

COUPLE of weeks ago, I was in Kuala Lumpur together with some friends from Air Asia for the opening of the 2017 Southeast Asian Games. As I was walking around the city, I decided to take out the Samsung Gear 360, which I had brought along for some test shots. As soon as I mounted it on a selfie stick and hoisted it up, people began staring at me or, rather, at the tiny orb I was moving around. It quickly got lot of attention, and there were even some who approached me asking what it was.

It was the same reaction I had when Karlo Samson brought out his Ricoh Theta 360 camera during last year’s Epson Fusion event. I immediately wanted one—until I learned about its 20k plus price tag. It was almost the price of a good camera, and I still wasn’t sure if I’d go crazy about taking 360 photos and videos.

Turns out, 360 cameras may just be the next big thing in the next few years. The Strategy Analytics Emerging Device Strategies Service recently released a report forecasting that global sales of 360 cameras will grow over 1500 percent over the next six years.

The popularity of the cameras, they say, will be driven by the sales of virtual-reality (VR) headsets, which will increase the consumption of 360 content through popular platforms.

The report adds the strongest growth will be

APPLE EXPECTED TO UNVEIL NEXT iPHONES AT SEPTEMBER 12 SHOWCASE SAN FRANCISCO—Apple’s faithful fans and investors won’t have to wait much longer to see what the iPhone maker has in store next.

The company sent out invitations to set September 12 as the date for an annual post-Labor Day showcase. As usual, the famously secretive Apple didn’t say what’s on tap, but this is typically when the company unveils new iPhones.

Much of the

anticipation is swirling around whether Apple will show off a dramatically different type of iPhone with a sleeker and even bigger screen to celebrate the device’s 10th anniversary. Even if a fancier version is unveiled, Apple will also likely announce upgrades to last year’s iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.

It’s Apple’s first event at the Steve Jobs Theater at its new headquarters in Cupertino, California. Apple’s invitation seemed to hint that something colorful is in store as it presented

a multihued depiction of the company’s famous logo. That choice will likely spur speculation that Apple’s new phone will feature a screen with organic light-emitting diode (OLED), which will display more vivid colors than previous models.

Rival phones from Samsung already use OLED. There have also been reports that the company intends to show off an upgrade to its Apple TV streaming box that will be capable of handling ultra-high definition, or 4K, video. AP

A TEST shot with a 360 view

within the “prosumer [semiprofessional] camera segment where bloggers and 360 video enthusiasts produce more content for consumption. The segment will witness a 5000-percent growth during our forecast period from 2016 to 2022.”

While the Samsung Gear 360 is certainly more affordable, the question remains: “Is it time for you to get one?”

Despite the rise in popularity and the drop in prices of VR headsets, I never thought I’d consider even shooting 360 photos videos. Most of my VR experiences were very quick, as it made me a bit nauseous. But then I watched the few short videos I took of my trip and realized it was a totally different way to tell my story.

With 360 pics and VR, you truly feel like you’re somewhere, not just experiencing it through someone else’s eyes. It’s not exactly like being there, but I guess it’s the closest thing to anything I’ve ever been able to capture or share before.

Sure, I could take photos with my Huawei P10 and instantly post it on Instagram, but there are some experiences that your ordinary photograph just can’t capture. Wide selfies are cool, but think about 360-degree group shots! Now you don’t have to ask your friends to squeeze in because everyone can be included in the picture. First-person video is thrilling, but only when the action camera is strapped to someone who is a bit crazier than you, so imagine watching video footage from a 360-degree camera and it expands that adrenaline rush even more dramatically.

And if you are a content creator, a YouTuber or blogger, just imagine the stories you can tell with your 360 videos. Pair that with a VR headset, and you could even help people visit places they physically can’t go to, transporting them into that moment and replicating your travel experiences.

The Gear 360 2017 version is the second 360-degree camera from Samsung. It retains the orbshaped camera but now has a handle and (detachable) strap for better grip. It looks like a cross between a GoPro and a webcam, but captures 360-degree photos and videos using two fish-eye lenses.

Download the Gear 360 app, and your phone becomes a viewfinder and shutter. You can then view the photos you take and share it to your friends on Facebook and upload your videos on YouTube. The

Gear 360 is best paired with a Samsung Gear VR headset, so you can actually move around the photo/ video and see the entire view.

The Gear 360 boasts of a CMOS 8.4MP x2 / f/2.2 lens with default output pixel count of 15MP for 360-degrees photos and is capable of 4K resolution video recording. View your photos in five different modes: 360°, Stretched, Round, Dual and Panoramic views. It also features an accelerometer, gyroscope and proximity sensors, and supports up to 256GB microSD for storage. Its 1,160-mAh battery can last up to 130 minutes.

With its Live Broadcast feature, you can pair your Gear 360 with your smartphone or PC, choose a platform and share your adventures with your friends and family as if they are right there with you.

One of the drawbacks, however, is that since it’s from Samsung, the only Android phones you can use it with are the brand’s phones from the Galaxy S6 series onward. But it is compatible with iPhone users: all you have to do is download the Gear 360 app from App Store.

So, yes, I know nothing can replace the real thing, but, with 360 cameras, you can make them see almost everything. Remember, the world is one big round place. The problem is, we’ve been looking at a cropped view of it for way too long.

The Gear 360 is priced at P10,990, while the Gear VR retails at P5,990.

/ TECH THOUGHTS: “Which of my photographs is my favorite?

The one I’m going to take tomorrow.”

—IMOGEN CUNNINGHAM

GOT questions? Or gadgets you want to be featured?

Send me an e-mail at whereiseduy@gmail.com with the subject TECHNIVORE.