BusinessMirror September 13, 2018

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Thursday, September 13, 2018 Vol. 13 No. 334

Tax perks bill to cause bigger trade gap: JFC

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By Elijah Felice E. Rosales

@alyasjah

HE country will suffer from a larger trade deficit if the government insists on rationalizing tax incentives, as foreign exporting firms will most probably move their operations to neighboring Southeast Asian countries, according to the Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines (JFC).

See “Perks,” A8

People are asking if I am investing in this country, what is my biggest worry? My biggest worry is that someone will tinker with the BPO [businessprocess outsourcing] industry and, as a result, you have a decline of money available to spend.”—Raeuber

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@BNicolasBM

HE Economic Development Cluster (EDC) will submit to the Office of the President a draft executive order (EO) removing the administrative constraints and nontariff barriers on the importation of fish, rice, sugar, meat and vegetables, Malacañang said.

Presidential Spokesman Harry L. Roque Jr. said in a Palace briefing on Wednesday that this would mean that the draft order meant “simplifying the process of food importation.”

“The EO has to do with the nontariff barriers and nontariff impediments. But we are already doing the other measures, such as food importation, removal of some restrictions to importation. We are already doing it,” he said.

Roque said the EDC also had an earlier briefing with the President on their joint statement on the August inflation, including their proposed measures to address food inflation.

A copy of the statement was also distributed during the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

This followed the unveiling by the EDC last week of measures to ease high food prices after August inflation surged to a nine-year high of 6.4 percent, bringing the yearto-date inflation at 4.8 percent.

The August inflation is beyond the upper end of Central Bank’s forecast range of 5.5 to 6.2 percent.

According to Roque, among the short-term policy recommendations listed by EDC include: imme-

Can ‘BBB’ promote decent jobs?

Rene E. Ofreneo

LABOREM EXERCENS

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NDER the Duterte administration, the chosen motor of economic growth is infrastructure development. The scheme calls for the implementation of a massive “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) program that will cost the country a staggering cumulative total of P8 trillion to P10 trillion by the end of 2022.

This level of spending, equivalent to roughly 7-8 percent of the annual GDP, will be the highest in the country’s history, so said Budget Secretary Ben Diokno.

Continued on A7

Ompong’s worst seen to shut down Naia

“The EO has to do with the nontariff barriers and nontariff impediments. But we are already doing the other measures, such as food importation, removal of some restrictions to importation.

We are already doing it.”—Roque

diately release 4.6 million sacks of rice available in warehouses of the National Food Authority to the market across the country and allocation of 2.7 million sacks of rice to Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi; import 5 million sacks of rice, which arrive over the next one-and-a half months and another 5 million sacks early next year; simplifying and streamlining the licensing procedures for rice imports of the NFA; forming monitoring teams for surveillance of rice from ports to NFA warehouses and outlets; urging the Senate to immediately pass the rice tariffication bill within the month; allowing fish imports to be distributed in Metro Manila and other markets in the country; setting up public markets where producers can sell directly to the end customer, as well as provide cold storage facility for this purpose; simplifying procedures to allow importation of sugar to direct users to moderate cost to consumers; improve logistics, transport distribution and storage of vegetables, which would reduce prices.

Continued on A8

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Cabinet readying draft of inflation-busting EO

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

2016 EJAP JOURNALISM AWARDS

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With no ‘BBB’ funds for water, scarcity feared

By Cai U. Ordinario @cuo_bm

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HE Philippines is still at risk of experiencing a water crisis due to the bleak water-availabilityper-capita situation in the country, according to experts.

This grim scenario came from a policy brief released during the Arangkada Philippines Forum 2018 on Wednesday, authored by former Chairman of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Ramon B. Alikpala and 3M Philippines Government Affairs and Markets Leader Christopher A. Ilagan.

The authors used the projected

population of 107 million for 2018 and the fixed renewable fresh water supply of 146 billion cubic meters (BCM) to arrive at the water per-capita availability of 1,553 cubic meters (m3) per year.

“This means the country already falls below the international ‘water stress’ threshold of 1,700 m3/year and is fast approaching the ‘water scarcity’ threshold of 1,000 m3/year,” the authors said.

Alikpala told the Arangkada Forum that the lack of water supply and sanitation projects in the government’s infrastructure initiative, the “Build, Build, Build,”(BBB) makes the country’s position on water security a cause of concern.

Based on the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) list of flagship projects, one of the major water projects is the P12.2-billion New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project.

The project is being financed by a loan from the Chinese government and is projected to be completed by 2022, when the President’s term ends.

The project is “an integrated system that includes the 600-million-liter-perday Kaliwa Dam, its intake and other appurtenant facilities and a 2,400-MLD capacity raw water conveyance tunnel,” said the Neda.

HE Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) will be closed to operations when Typhoon Ompong (international code name Mangkhut), with the potential of developing into a super typhoon, strikes the country.

Airport General Manager Ed Monreal announced this on Wednesday afternoon shortly after meeting with members of the Airline Operators Council (AOC).

Monreal told the AOC to forward their advisories regarding planned cancelations or delays in flight schedules, “so we can disseminate the information to all passengers and employees who will be affected by the typhoon.”

He said the “Passengers Bill of Rights will be strictly implemented during the closure of the airport.”

He also appealed to the airline operators to coordinate with the Naia in advance if they will conduct “recovery flights.” This reminder arose from the chaos that ensued when dozens of “unslotted” flights clogged the Naia terminals recently as airlines sought to make up for the 36-hour airport shutdown caused by the overshooting of runway 24 by a Xiamen Airways plane that struggled to land during heavy rains.

Inside PAR HEAVY to intense rains, strong winds and storm surges threaten Luzon as Typhoon Ompong entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Wednesday

See “Water,” A8

n JAPAN 0.4831 n UK 70.3061 n HK 6.8703 n CHINA 7.8470 n SINGAPORE 39.2175 n AUSTRALIA 38.4047 n EU 62.6004 n SAUDI ARABIA 14.3774

See “Ompong,” A8

Source: BSP (12 September 2018 )

PHILIPPINE MILITARY ACADEMY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION INC. (PMAAAI), EAGLE FRATERNAL CHAPTER UNILATERAL DECLARATION OSTRACIZING

SENATOR ANTONIO F. TRILLANES IV AND RECOMMENDING FOR HIS OUSTER FROM THE PMAAAI 12 September 2018 The Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association Inc. (PMAAAI), Eagle Fraternal Chapter, an association of Mindanao-based PMA graduates in government, AFP/PNP active service, Business, Industry, Corporate and Retirees (BIRC) sector, is hereby declaring this manifesto in behalf of its officers and members, ostracizing Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV and recommending for his immediate ouster from the PMAAAI roll of members for acts unbecoming of a PEEMAYER, through actions and behavior contrary to the Academy’s motto of COURAGE, INTEGRITY, and LOYALTY, thereby seriously damaging the honor and prestige of this revered institution, as follows:

Inciting to sedition, proposing to commit coup d’etat, and graft. In a 15-page complaint-affidavit filed by Manuelito Luna, Glenn Chong, Nasser Marchomsalic, Nestor Ifurung Eligio Mallari and Eduardo Bringas, and Louise Biraogo before the Pasay City Prosecutors Office, the senator was accused of inciting to sedition, proposing to commit coup d’etat, and graft. The complaint states, “Trillanes not only repeatedly uttered seditious words or speeches and unabatedly circulated scurrilous libels against the President, which tend to disturb the public peace, but also repeatedly incited others to inflict any hate or revenge upon his person,” thus, “ committed conspiracy or proposal to commit coup d’etat for encouraging the military to rise up in arms against the President.”

Committing the crime of Coup d’ Etat. Sen. Trillanes was found guilty for violation of Art 134-A of the Revised Penal Code (Coup de Etat) and violation of Articles of War 63 (Disrespect toward the President). Articles of War 67 (Disrespect toward a superior officer), and Articles of War 97 (Disorders and neglects to the prejudice and good order and military discipline) m connection with the July 27, 2003 failed Oakwood Mutiny, but was later granted amnesty by President Aquino in 2011 Graft and corruption. Sen. Trillanes along with five of his staffers and a businesswoman. Janet Lim-Moe. were indicted for graft and corruption before the Sandigangbayan. Complaint states, *The senator with the help of his aide and Moe have allocated millions of dollars from their official ’pork barrel* funds to bogus non-government organization which then gave them huge kickbacks. Another group, the Coalition for Investigation and Prosecution led by former Manila councilor Greco Belgica, also accused Senator Antonio Trillanes IV of misusing pork barrel funds he received during the previous administration. Citing records from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the group together with the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption led by its founding chairman Dante Jimenez, said Trillanes has received a total of P245 million in DAP funds in three tranches (P100 million. P50 million and P95 million). The anti-pork barrel coalition said the senator donated P10million from his DAP funds to a non-government organization that allegedly turned out to be a donor and not a recipient of donations.

Disrespect and arrogant behavior towards senior officers and the President. Sen. Trillanes publicly humiliated of the late Secretary ANGELO REYES, PMA batch 1966, during Senate deliberations, to quote. ‘You have no reputation to protect*, and brought great anguish and embarrassment to the latter. His disrespect and arrogance toward senior officials, particularly calling the President by his family name, not only brings dishonor to the person but also to the esteemed highest position of the land. His use of provocative language during the August 31 hearing of the Senate blue ribbon committee bespeaks of his pretentiousness which even prompted Senator RICHARD GORDON to say. “ The continuing, schematic, and incorrigible abrasive conduct of Senator Trillanes should be dealt with accordingly; maybe a censure is not enough”; Treasonous acts. Sen. Trillanes’ acts of nondisclosure of information about his backdoor negotiations with China in 2012 over Scarborough Shoal, his recent visit to US spreading baseless accusations of rampant extra judicial killings, corruption and human rights violations, painted a negative image of the country, allowing himself to be manipulated by foreign countries thereby compromising our national survival and security interests. These acts are evident manifestation of disloyalty to the Constitution and the Filipino people tantamount to treason; Engaging in propaganda activities. His constant agitation and propaganda by inciting dissension for the ouster of the President in order to propel his political interests has created division amongst our people His blatant attack against the present administration as if he has credibility and combat experience while in the Navy defines his bad attitude, character and evil intent, ignoring the negative effect to the country’s economic progress just to topple down the President for his personal gam; Constant annoying actions. Being haughty both in Senate and in media interviews, promoting discontent and withdrawal of support on the present Administration’s programs for the country’s growth and prosperity contradict the Academy’s core values of "Selfless service to God and country, honor and excellence.’; Propagating a blatant lie. Sen. Trillanes’ continuous allegations that ’PMAyers* are his growing supporters is a blatant lie and discredits the highly respected apolitical nature of PMA and its graduates

His pattern of behavior shown in several instances as: a coup plotter during the Oakwood Mutiny in 2003 and the Manila Peninsula Siege in 2007; a senator with abrasive behavior during Senate hearings; a Filipino citizen with utter disregard and rudeness to authorities such as the Office of the President is an obvious display of conduct unbecoming of a public official and questionable mental health. fond of creating discord and divisiveness instead of his supposed duties to create policies to establish a well-ordered society; In view of the foregoing facts and circumstances, we, the members of the PMAAAI, Eagle Fraternal Chapter, based in Mindanao do hereby affix our signatures below to affirm and reiterate our collective stand ostracizing Senator Antonio F Trillanes IV and ousting him as PMAAAI member for conduct unbecoming of a public official, hereby putting in bad light the PMA ideals of 'courage, integrity and loyalty”, a disgrace to the Alma Mater, a great embarrassment to its alumni and a very unworthy role model to the Cadet Corps Armed Forces of the Philippines (CCAFP).

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who intends to carry a fit size baby chair on board, shall apply to the Tigerair Taiwan Customer Service Center and purchase one additional Seat five (5) days prior to the date of scheduled flight. All Passengers are cordially advised to check and verify the details for acceptance clauses through Tigerair Taiwan’s Official Website. For all other details, please browse and peruse the regulations on Tigerair Taiwan’s Official Website.

Terms and Conditions for Passenger and Baggage Carriage of International Routes Effective date: April 15 , 2017 Table of Contents Article 1: General Provisions Article 2: Applicability Article 3: Validity Article 4: Fares Article 5: Reservation Article 6: Check-in and Boarding Article 7: Connecting Flight and Code-Shares Article 8: Refusal and Limitation of Carriage Article 9: Baggage Article 10: Schedules and Cancellations of Flights Article 11: Refunds Article 12: Onboard Behavior Article 13: Limitations of Liability Article 14: Time Limits for Baggage Complaints and Rights to Claim Article 15: Applicable Law and Jurisdiction Article 1: General Provisions 1.1 Definitions

Terminology used in the Terms and Conditions for Passenger and Baggage Carriage of International Routes (the “Terms and Conditions of Carriage”) define thereof: • “Airline Codes” means the codes composed of 2 or 3 English letters and/or numbers intended to identify specific airlines.

• “Baggage” means personal property carried by the Passenger on schedule flight.

Unless otherwise specified, it includes both checked and unchecked carry-on baggage of the Passenger.

• “Baggage Identification Tag” means the document issued by Tigerair Taiwan for identification of each piece of checked Baggage.

• “Carry-On Baggage” means other than the Checked Baggage, the Baggage which the Passenger carry-on to the aircraft.

• “Checked Baggage” means the Baggage which is checked, carried and issue a Baggage identification tag by Tigerair Taiwan.

• “Code-Shares” is when Tigerair Taiwan made arrangements with other airlines for joined flights services. This means, when the Passenger books a flight with Tigerair Taiwan, the Itineraries may show as Tigerair Taiwan flight, but the actual flight may be operated by another airline and by their aircraft..

• “Contract Terms” means the Terms and Conditions of Carriage, and all regulations and notice availed through Tigerair Taiwan Official Website, offices, and check-in counters at airport.

• “Damage” means death of the Passenger, bodily injured, delayed transport of the Passenger or Baggage, lost or partially lost, or other damage resulted by Tigerair Taiwan during the process of carriage or services.

• “Days” means the day calculated based on calendar days. If sending a notice to the Passenger, the day on which a notice is served is exclusive from the counting of days.

• “Fares and Handling Charges” means the fees and charges expressly specified on Tigerair Taiwan’s Official Website or in Fares regulations.

• “Fares Regulations” means information all fees, charges as well as applicable terms published through electronic or form in writing by Tigerair Taiwan.

• “Flight Segments” means the flight journeys starting from the airport of departure to the airport of destination.

• “International Flights” means the flight between Nations.

• “Itineraries” means the document contains the flight information and Reservation Records.

• “Montreal Convention” means the Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air, adopted in Montreal, Canada in 1999.

• “Official Website” means Tigerair Taiwan’s Official Website and all information contained therein. For details of the Terms and Conditions of Carriage, please also refer to the Official Website.

The website address: www.tigerairtw.com • “Passenger” means any person other than members of the operating crew, who holding a valid ticket to be carried, or is to be carried on an aircraft.

• “Passenger Itineraries” means the documents issued by Tigerair Taiwan in electronic or other forms, which include reservation codes; the document is for the purpose to confirm the flight reservations of the Passenger.

• “Reservation Records” means the Itineraries issued by Tigerair Taiwan, which detailed information with reserved record of schedule flight of the Passenger.

• “Rules and Regulations” means the content in the Terms and Conditions of Carriage .

• “Seats” means the Seats on board of Tigerair Taiwan flights.

• “Tigerair Taiwan” means “Tigerair Taiwan Co., Ltd., with Taiwan Unified Business Number 54381049”.

• “Warsaw Convention” means: • The term “Warsaw Convention” as set forth herein denotes the Convention for The Unification of Certain Rules Relating to International Carriage by Air, signed

by ICAO members in Warsaw on 12 October 12, 1929 (hereinafter referred to as Warsaw Convention ); • Warsaw Convention as amended in The Hague on September 28, 1995; • Guadalajara Supplementary of 1961; • Warsaw Convention as amended under Additional Montreal Protocol #1 (1975); • Warsaw Convention as amended under Additional Montreal Protocol #2 (1975); and • Warsaw Convention as amended under Additional Montreal Protocol #4 (1975).

1.2 Headings

The headings provided under the Terms and Conditions of Carriage are intended to facilitate reference only and are not intended to support certain interpretations.

Article 2: Applicability 2.1 Carriage by flight

The Terms and Conditions of Carriage is applicable to the Passenger and Baggage of Tigerair Taiwan or person performance assistants for Tigerair Taiwan, and related issues of transportation and traffic. When Tigerair Taiwan arranges transportation other than through flight for the Passenger, (e.g., a bus, train, vessel, rented vehicle or arranges lodging) Tigerair Taiwan only act as agent for the provider of transporter or lodging.

Regarding to the above-mentioned transportation other than through flight, Tigerair Taiwan may provide additional clauses or arrange different terms and conditions, if such arrangement provides lower stander than the Terms and Conditions of Carriage, the arranged terms and conditions shall prevail, compensation limit shall also apply to the lower stander as arranged terms and conditions.

In an event where Tigerair Taiwan arranges a Flight Segment, reservation, produces and issues the Passenger Itineraries or Baggage identification tags in a code designated by another airline, Tigerair Taiwan only act as an agent for that airline. If situation occurred during the arrangement, the applicable terms and conditions of carriage shall be the arranged airline’s policy, not the policy of Tigerair Taiwan. Tigerair Taiwan only obligated and liable for a damage occurred to the Passenger within the flight of Tigerair Taiwan.

2.2 The Terms and Conditions of Carriage supersede other provisions

Whenever the provisions of Terms and Conditions of Carriage are found inconsistent with other provisions published by Tigerair Taiwan, the Terms and Conditions of Carriage prevail. Any single clause among the Terms and Conditions of Carriage at risk of being identified as null and void, unlawful, or unenforceable, it must be interpreted with the maximum possible as valid, to ensure that the clause does not become invalid. Any clause is unlawful or unenforceable, shall not adversely affect the validity of other clause in the Terms and Conditions of Carriage.

2.3 Language

The original Terms and Conditions of Carriage is enacted in the Chinese language. Where a translated version of the Terms and Conditions of Carriage is found inconsistent with the original Chinese version, the Chinese version shall prevail.

2.4 Conflict of laws

Where the content of any single clause contained in the Terms and Conditions of Carriage is found in contravention of a law prevalent in a territory of competent jurisdiction, that clause is deemed not applicable. Any clause(s) that become(s) invalid does(do) not adversely affect the validity of other clauses of the Terms and Conditions of Carriage. The Terms and Conditions of Carriage is not at all intend to rule out or restrict any other laws in applicability.

Article 3: Validity 3.1 The prima facie evidence for carriage contract

The Reservation Records function as the prima facie evidence for the carriage contract executed by and between the Passenger and Tigerair Taiwan. The Passenger and Baggage must be carried exactly and completely pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth under the carriage contract and the Rules and Regulations published by Tigerair Taiwan and Tigerair Taiwan’s agent(s).

3.2 Validity

The Reservation Record is effective only when the Passenger name and the flights valid on the Itineraries. The Rules and Regulation of flight change content in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of Carriage. In the event that a Passenger fails to board the designated flight on the day scheduled for takeoff, the Reservation Record becomes null and void, and non-refundable. A Passenger who intends to change a booked flight before the date of scheduled, the Passenger may change or reschedule the flight by change the Reservation Record with the instruction and rules on Tigerair Taiwan’s Official Website; all related Fares and fees will be charged.

Article 4: Fares 4.1 The most recently published price is the correct price for the Fares.

All Fares, flight schedules and Flight Segments published by Tigerair Taiwan are deemed as correct information at the moment of publication. Tigerair Taiwan reserves the right to amend and update the aforementioned information at any time without a need to keep the Passenger informed beforehand.

4.2 Items contained in the Fares and fees:

Unless otherwise stipulated by Tigerair Taiwan, all ticket prices only include carriage Fares from the airport of departure to the airport of destination. All prices of transportation services at an airport, surface transportation between an airport and a downtown area, and taxes or expenses levied by the government or other entities, are exclude from the ticket price. Besides, unless otherwise specifically remarked at the moment of reservation, all ticket price shall not include price for meal, snack or checked Baggage. All on board meals, snacks or checked Baggage services will be charge by Tigerair Taiwan additionally.

Moreover, unless expressly prescribed by Tigerair Taiwan at the moment of reservation, whenever a Passenger misses the relevant flight—either a Tigerair Taiwan flight or the flight of another airline, by the reason which cannot attributable to Tigerair Taiwan, Tigerair Taiwan will not be liable for the situation under any circumstances. The Fares are calculated based on the price applicable at the very moment of reservation. After completing the reservation process, all need of change flight schedule will be charged extra based on the Rules and Regulations for Fares.

4.3 Passenger under 18 years old • Ages shall be calculated as of the day of travel, as defined below: • Newborn infant: A newborn infant is less than 7 days old.

• Infant: An infant is above 7 days old, butt less than 2 years old.

• Child: A child is above 2 years old, but less than 12 years old.

• Juvenile: A Passenger above 12 years old, but less than 15 years old.

• Young adult: A Passenger above 15 years old, but less than 18 years old.

4.3.1 Newborn and infant

Age will be calculated as of the very day of travel; a newborn infant shall not board a flight. An infant above 7 days old, but less than 2 years old; will be held by an adult on the lap (without taking a seat), and is entitled to infant fare and one baby stroller as checked Baggage. Each adult (above 18 years old) may care only one infant, each Tigerair Taiwan flight is limited for numbers of infant to be on board of aircraft. A baby chair in the size accordance to the regulation is acceptable in the cabin of aircraft. A Passenger

behavior on a previous flight and the behavior of such attribute is likely in repeating.

• An event where a Passenger fails to comply with, or likelihood to defy any instruction given

by Tigerair Taiwan.

• An event where a Passenger rejects a security check for body or Baggage.

• An event where a Passenger fails to pay all applicable fees or any charges or taxes, or fails to comply with the rules and regulations regarding credit cards which executed by and between Tigerair Taiwan and Passengers (or the payers on behalf).

• An event where a Passenger fails to present appropriate travel documents, or where a Passenger fails to hold or fails to present appropriate document(s) in category as Tigerair Taiwan may request, or where a Passenger fails to identify the identity to Tigerair Taiwan flight crew.

• An event where the Fares or the reservation fees paid by a Passenger is allegedly implicated in a fraud or other unlawful act, or where a Passenger purchases Tigerair Taiwan services from a person not officially authorized by Tigerair Taiwan.

• An event where the credit card used by a Passenger to pay for Fares has been declared lost or stolen, implicated in criminal behavior, or where that amount paid with the credit card has been dishonored by the issuing bank.

• An event where a Passenger’s Itinerary has been tampered by a person not employees of Tigerair Taiwan, or an agent not authorized by Tigerair Taiwan, or has become fragmented or illegible to read.

• An event where the person who check-in or boards the flight fails to proof as the Passenger name on the Itinerary.

• An event where a Passenger arrives to check-in after the check-in counter has been closed.

• Tigerair Taiwan reserves the right to define eligibility of the Passenger for air travel for any reason.

4.3.2 Child

For a child Passenger above two years old, must reserve a Seat, and all Seats are priced as Adult rate. A Passenger who intends to board with a child safety chair, is cordially advised to check and verify the details for acceptance clauses through Tigerair Taiwan’s Official Website.

4.4 Taxes, fees and other charges:

Unless otherwise stipulated by Tigerair Taiwan, all taxes, Fares and Handling Charges levied or charged by the government, other entities or airport administration for any services or facilities used by the Passenger will be added on to the amounts of Tigerair Taiwan’s Fares, administrative Fares and Handling Charges, collected by Tigerair Taiwan on behalf and borne by the Passenger in full. The aforementioned taxes, Fares and Handling Charges might be charged extra based on the floating rate of the Flight Segments; such charges may be changed at any time and will be collected additionally, even when a Passenger completes change process on the same day. Unless otherwise stipulated, the Passenger must complete payment in full for the aforementioned taxes, Fares and Handling Charges before the scheduled flight take-off.

4.5 Currency

Unless otherwise agreed by Tigerair Taiwan, all Fares and Handling Charges must be paid in the currency published by Tigerair Taiwan.

Article 5: Reservation 5.1 Reservation requirements

Unless otherwise stipulated, the Passenger must pay all Fares in full to successfully completes the reservation process. If the Passenger fails to pay the Fares in full upon confirmation of the reservation, whatever the reason may be, Tigerair Taiwan reserves the right to cancel the reservation and reject the Passenger for board. Reservation by a Passenger does not become effective and complete until all Fares have been paid in full and Itinerary produced by Tigerair Taiwan is served to the Passenger. Once the reservation is confirmed and the payment completed, the reservation cannot be cancelled.

If cancelation occurred, no payment can be refund to the Passenger, unless Rules and Regulation in the Terms and Conditions of Carriage specified. The Passenger must pay for the reservation by credit card or other means as instructed on Tigerair Taiwan’s Official Website. A single reservation for ten or more Passengers must be handled in accordance with the means as instructed by Tigerair Taiwan’s Official Website.

5.2 Change flight or Passenger’s name

Subject to flight availability, the Passenger may change reserved flight or name after the reservation and payment have been completed, and all changes will be charge with price differences of the Flight Segment, applicable Fares and Handling charge as enumerated on Tigerair Taiwan’s Official Website. In the event that the applicant rate for the newly changed reservation is lower, the Passenger cannot request refund for the price differences. Except for the content specified under this clause, all reservation information, dates and times scheduled for the flight cannot be changed after the payment has been completed.

5.3 Personal information

The Passenger acknowledge and agree to provide and allow usage of personal information

by Tigerair Taiwan for the purposes of flight reservation and confirmation of Reservation Records. The Passenger further consent to provide the personal information for the usage during the process of departure and arrival of the country, arrangements for lodging, land, sea and air transportation, accounting, billing processes and audits, checking and verification of credit cards or other payment cards, public security, administrative and legal operations, system testing, maintenance and development, statistical analysis and any purposes that help Tigerair Taiwan render more efficient performance for transactions to the Passengers hereafter. With regard to the aforementioned purposes, through the carriage contract executed with Tigerair Taiwan, all the Passengers authorize Tigerair Taiwan to retain and use their personal information and to transmit their personal information to Tigerair Taiwan’s offices, authorized agents, government authorities, other airline companies or aforementioned service providers. For more details, the Passengers are advised to consult the privacy policy through Tigerair Taiwan’s Official Website.

Tigerair Taiwan render flight carriage services exactly in accordance with its company privacy policy which forms integral part of the Terms and Conditions of Carriage.

5.4 Seats

Tigerair Taiwan will not guarantee availability of specific Seats on any flight. Due to the need of business operations and indispensability in safety and security, Tigerair Taiwan reserves the right to assign or reassign Seats for the Passengers at any moment, even after the Passengers boarded aircraft. The Passenger consent to Tigerair Taiwan for assignment and arrangement of any Seats after boarding of the flight. Smoking (including electronic cigarettes) is absolutely prohibit on all Tigerair Taiwan flights. Any devices that would obstruct front Seat from tilting backward, is also banned from all Tigerair Taiwan flights.

Article 6: Check-in and boarding 6.1 Check-in limitation and rules:

To assure a smooth and successful check-in and boarding process, all Passengers must complete check-in and boarding process before the counter close time and must faithfully comply with all guidelines for check-in at the airport in person or through the Internet. For further details, please refer to the relevant guidelines and instructions on the Tigerair Taiwan’s Official Website. The check-in counter close time depends upon the substantial situations of the airports, specific flights, and needs for Checked Baggage.

Under all circumstances, the Passenger fails to arrive in time at the check-in counter at the airport and complete the check-in process (or known as “check-in counter close” in brief) 45 minutes before the time scheduled for takeoff, Tigerair Taiwan reserves the right to reject Passenger for boarding. All Passengers are obliged to faithfully comply to the check-in process before check-in counter close and all other requirements. After the check-in time has passed, the Passenger will not be able to complete the check-in process anywhere. Under no circumstances does Tigerair Taiwan defer takeoff because of a belated Passenger. Whenever a Passenger fails to complete the check-in process before the specified time, whatever the reason may be, Tigerair Taiwan is not required to refund to the Passenger, nor is Tigerair Taiwan obliged to assume any liability of indemnity.

6.2 Requirements for identification upon boarding process

Upon the moment of boarding, all Passengers must present their Itineraries and identity related documents including but not limited to the Passengers’ Itineraries and passport or travel papers, which able identify Passengers’ status backgrounds disregarding whether check-in through Internet or at the check-in counter in person. For further details, please refer to Tigerair Taiwan’s Official Website. The Passenger who check-in at the check-in counter might be required for additional fees.

6.3 Boarding process

The Passenger must arrive at the boarding gate thirty (30) minutes prior to the scheduled takeoff. The boarding process must completed ten (10) minutes prior to the scheduled for takeoff. A belated Passenger cannot be accepted to board the aircraft and the checked Baggage will be unloaded, and Tigerair Taiwan will not refund for belated Passenger. If the belated Passenger wishes to flight out on a next Tigerair Taiwan flight, the Passenger must book a new Seat with current rate and pay all Fares and fees.

6.4 Faithful compliance with requirements and security check

All Passengers are obliged to faithfully comply with laws, rules, decrees, requests published by the countries of departure and destination, and compliance with the Terms and Conditions of Carriage and all announced announcements and instructions of the Tigerair Taiwan. The Passenger must further present and submit all documents regarding security check or health examinations conducted by the competent authorities of the government or airports or Tigerair Taiwan. Tigerair Taiwan is under no obligation to obtain essential documents or provide the same orally, in writing or in other means, nor is Tigerair Taiwan required to comply with such laws, requirements, decrees, requests or instructions for and on behalf of the Passenger, nor is Tigerair Taiwan required to assume any liability for indemnity because of consequences where a Passenger fails to obtain such documents, or is found in contravention of such laws, requirements, decrees, requests or instructions.

6.5 Travel documents

All Passengers are obliged to bring forth departure and arrival permits or documents, health and other supporting documents required under the rules and regulations, decrees or requests of the Countries covered in the stopover points and transit points, or by Tigerair Taiwan. Tigerair Taiwan reserves the right to reject carriage Passenger who proves to fail to comply with the laws, requirements, decrees or requests, or who holds travel documents inconsistent with such laws, requirements, decrees or requests. For more details about travel documents, please refer to Tigerair Taiwan’s Official Website or websites of the designated Countries.

6.6 Rejection entry, fines and retention fees

Where a Passenger is denied from entry at a stopover point or a destination where Tigerair Taiwan is requested by the local government to repatriate such Passenger back to the place of origin or elsewhere, that Passenger must pay in full for all expenses and fines as necessary. In such an event, Tigerair Taiwan is not required to refund any expenses or fees such Passenger has previously paid.

In the event that a Passenger fails to comply with the laws and regulations, decrees or requests by the country of origin or another country covered within the flight and, as a result, Tigerair Taiwan is required to pay fines or other fees on behalf of the Passenger, that Passenger must reimburse the aforementioned expenses in full payment to Tigerair Taiwan. Tigerair Taiwan may use that Passenger’s unused expenses for Flight Segments or prepay fees to offset the aforementioned expenses.

Article 7: Flight connections and code-shares 7.1 Flight connection

Tigerair Taiwan is entitled to sell two or more flights segments with a same reservation record. A Passenger must reserve minimum of two hours (i.e., 120 minutes) required for flight connection, for the purpose of ability to complete the flight connection procedures after arrival at the stopover airport. A Passenger must faithfully comply with the requirements of the respective airports during the stay inside the control zone of an airport.

7.2 Code-Shares

On certain flight routes, Tigerair Taiwan may team up with other airlines to jointly render flight services. In such an event, the code designated for Tigerair Taiwan (IT) may be implanted onto another airlines to co-share the flight code in flight services. Which means, a Passenger who has booked a Tigerair Taiwan flight Seat where the airline code is shown as “IT” may be carried by another airlines and by that airlines’ aircraft. Where other airlines operates a flight with Code-Shares with Tigerair Taiwan, either Tigerair Taiwan or another airlines or the agent(s) thereof may keep the Passenger informed of the identification data of the airlines that actually operates the flight at the moment while the Passenger books the Seat. Passengers who board the flight of other airlines must faithfully comply with the rules, regulations, and clauses enacted by the other airlines, including but not limited to those relevant issues enumerated below: • check-in procedures; • terms to deny carriage and restriction on carriage; and • weight of Baggage acceptable to the flight, weight of complimentary Baggage and charges for excess Baggage.

7.3 Missing connecting flight:

Pursuant to the Terms and Conditions of Carriage and any laws or regulations applicable, Tigerair Taiwan is not required to assume the liability of indemnity to the Passenger who misses a connecting flight as a result of a factor not attributable to Tigerair Taiwan.

Article 8: Refusal and limitation on carriage 8.1 Tigerair Taiwan’s right to refuse carriage

Upon occurrence among those enumerated below or any circumstances convinced to Tigerair Taiwan, Tigerair Taiwan is entitled to deny, refuse, or reject carriage of the Passenger and their Baggage: • A concern and effort to assure the health, comfort and well-being of other Passenger or considerations of safety and security of the flight crew.

• A mandatory need to ban the Passenger from check-in or boarding amidst the required compliance of rules and regulations for entry, exit, or compliance with the laws, on a regular basis or decrees of any Countries. Autonomous entity or special administrative zone where the flight passes by or compliance with the requirements of any government or other authorities.

• An event where the Passenger requires extraordinary assistance for behavior, age, mentality, physical conditions or Baggage, implies any hazard or risk.

• An event where the Passenger is found with a record having conducted inappropriate

8.2 A young adult traveling alone

As instructed and published on Tigerair Taiwan’s Official Website and as required by laws enacted by Countries throughout the world, regarding carriage of an unaccompanied juvenile or a young adult; a child less than twelve years old is unacceptable to airlines for boarding a flight without accompanied by an adult older than eighteen years old and assume the liability for safeguarding that child throughout the flight. A juvenile above 12 years old, but less than 15 years old is acceptable to airlines for boarding alone, under the condition of either one parent or legal guardian agree and sign the disclaimer agreement at the moment of check-in at the airport.

Such person who signs the disclaimer agreement must accompany that juvenile at the airport until the flight takes-off. A Passenger older than fifteen years old is allowed to board a flight alone without the needs to be accompanied by others.

8.3 Passenger require special support

Tigerair Taiwan is lack of ability to rendering care services to Passenger unable to flight alone. Tigerair Taiwan can only provide limited support for the Passenger in needs, all details listed within Tigerair Taiwan’s Official Website. The Passenger require special assistance, must notify Tigerair Taiwan at least five (5) days prior to the scheduled flight for takeoff, special assistance may be charged additionally. In the event that such a Passenger fails to notify Tigerair Taiwan five (5) days in advance, when resulted unable to flight with Tigerair Taiwan’s aircraft, Tigerair Taiwan assumes no liability for such result.

Special assistance be limited at Flight Segment, due to the subject of certain restrictions at an airport, laws, and ordinances concerned or other circumstances.

8.4 Pregnant Passenger

The pregnant Passenger must of her own initiative, to report her pregnancy status, expected date of confinement (EDC), and number of pregnant weeks. The Passenger with pregnancy of 30-34 weeks at the moment of take-off, must submit a flight eligibility certificate issued by a doctor to justify her rights to board the flight. Tigerair Taiwan is unable to render carriage services to the Passenger with 34 weeks or more weeks of pregnancy weeks at the time scheduled for take-off. Please kindly refer to Tigerair Taiwan special assistance policy for more details.

Article 9: Baggage 9.1 Carry-On and Checked Baggage

Subject to Tigerair Taiwan’s regulations and terms of Carry-On Baggage, the Passenger is entitled to carry Carry-On Baggage with a limited volume accordance to the Contract Terms to board a flight. An infant without a Seat is not entitled to a Carry-On Baggage quota, but is entitled to checked one baby stroller with free of charge. Other than the limited free Carry-On Baggage, all Checked Baggage will be charge for service fees. All Baggage must be accepted or denied exactly in accordance with the Rules and Regulations published by Tigerair Taiwan through the Official Website (including but not limited to restrictions upon dimensions, weights and criteria of charges). During the process of reservation, the Passenger may purchase an appropriate weight quota for the Checked Baggage. Where a Passenger carries Checked Baggage in excess of the pre-ordered weight, or over size by 30 kg of weight, the Checked Baggage may be either accepted or denied exactly dependent upon the room available on the flight. Once the Checked Baggage is accepted, the charge must be paid at the check-in counter, based on the criteria published by Tigerair Taiwan.

9.2 Forbidden items must not be carried as Baggage on flight

Whenever any item consistent with the conditions enumerated below are found in Baggage, Tigerair Taiwan reserves the right to deny carriage: • An item which is not appropriately contained in the Baggage trunk or another appropriate container.

• An item that is extremely likely to endanger the flight, Passengers on board or to the property, including but not limited to the Articles and circumstances published by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) or the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

• An item which has been banned from carriage under the laws and ordinances concerned or decrees prevalent in any state, country, autonomous entity or a special administrative region.

• An item that Tigerair Taiwan considers not suitable for carriage with regard of the weight, appearance, dimensions or characteristics.

• A fragile or easily perishable item.

• An item as animal, either alive or dead.

• Remains of humans or animals.

• A firearm or ammunition.

• An explosive, inflammable or non-inflammable gas (e.g., aerial fog spray, butane, lighter refilling gas), frozen gas (e.g., steel cylinder to refill scuba, liquid nitrogen), flammable liquid (e.g., oil paint, diluent, solvent), flammable solid (e.g., match, lighter）, organic peroxide (e.g., resin), poison, infective (e.g., virus, bacteria), radioactive substances (e.g., radium), corrosive substances (e.g., acid, alkaline, mercury, thermometer), magnetic substances, oxidants (e.g., decolorizer).

• Weapons, e.g., antique gun, sword, knife and similarity thereof.

• Other item banned from carriage not adequately enumerated, updated here must be pursuant to the norms published at the airports at the origins, stopovers and destinations.

Where a Passenger carries any item as enumerated under clause 9.2., regardless of whether it is banned from being carried as Checked or Carry-On Baggage, the Passenger must faithfully comply with the terms and conditions for Baggage carriage services and must comply with applicable clauses of limited indemnity and charges.

9.3 Item can be carried as Baggage on flight

All specific item must follow the rules of the terms and conditions published at the airports at the origins, stopovers and destinations and Tigerair Taiwan’s Official Website.

9.4 Valuable and fragile item

Valuable and fragile item of any and all categories, i.e., money in cash, rare metals, silver, electronic materials, computers, cameras, film broadcasting equipment, cellphone, negotiable instrument or stock, securities or other important documents, passport and other identification certificates, ownership titles, cultural or historical relics, manuscripts and similarities thereof must not be carried as Checked Baggage. Whenever item among those enumerated herein is found contained in Checked Baggage, that suggests the Passenger agrees to solely assume the risks of all kind for such item. Tigerair Taiwan is only under obligation of a limited quota of indemnity in case of Damage indemnity for Checked Baggage (cf. clause 13 for details). Tigerair Taiwan grants indemnity exactly in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of Carriage.

9.5 Authorized inspection

Due to the reason of safety and security, Tigerair Taiwan requests all Passengers to accommodate for safety and security checks for body and Baggage, by Tigerair Taiwan, the government or airport officials through X-ray or other scan type equipment and facilities. A Passenger is supposed to be present aside with the Baggage. In an event where a Passenger is found not aside with the Baggage, Tigerair Taiwan reserves the right to check and inspect the Baggage. In the event that a Passenger is unable to comply with these safety and security check or scanning inspection, Tigerair Taiwan reserves the right to reject carriage of such Passenger and Baggage without any obligation to refund any expense or grant indemnity. In the event that the check or scanning inspection leads to the damage of the Passenger or Baggage, Tigerair Taiwan is not required for indemnity the damage or injury, unless such Damage or injury is proven as resulted from Tigerair Taiwan’s willful misconduct or gross negligence.

9.6 Checked Baggage

All Passengers are obliged to proceed with Checked Baggage process exactly in accordance with the timeframe and instructions as published on Tigerair Taiwan’s Official Website before the time scheduled for takeoff. Once a piece of Baggage has been accepted as Checked Baggage, Tigerair Taiwan will produce and issue a Baggage identification tag for each piece of Checked Baggage. A Checked Baggage tag must bear the Passenger’s name and mark to identify the status. For reasons of safety and security or operating needs, Tigerair Taiwan may deliver Passenger’s Baggage to another flight for carriage. Unless otherwise stipulated in applicable laws which require delivery of Baggage within a specific period, where a Passenger’s Checked Baggage is carried through a follow-up flight, Tigerair Taiwan will deliver the Baggage to the Passenger within a reasonable period after arrival of the follow-up flight.

9.7 Baggage claim and release:

The Passenger must claim the Baggage as soon as upon the arrival of the Baggage at the destination or stopover airport. In the event that a Passenger fails to claim the Baggage within a time limit and, as a result, such Baggage is stored elsewhere, Tigerair Taiwan will charge custodian fees. In the event that a Passenger fails to claim for the Baggage within fourteen (14) days from the claimable moment, Tigerair Taiwan may dispose or take any action to the Baggage, and will not be liable for indemnity for such action. Only the Passenger with Baggage identification tag entitles to claim Baggage. In the event that a Tigerair Taiwan’s Passenger claims ownership of a piece of Baggage, but is by any reason unable to present the Baggage identification tag, Tigerair Taiwan will not allow such person to claim the Baggage, unless such person is willing to provide adequate guarantee to exempt Tigerair Taiwan from any damage or payment of any expense after release of the Baggage. The Baggage is deemed having been satisfactorily carried to the destination at the moment when the Baggage identification tag holder claims the Baggage without objection and leaves the Baggage control zone of the airport.

Article 10: Departure times and cancellation of flight 10.1 Departure and arrival times of flight

Tigerair Taiwan makes maximum efforts to prevent flights delay and to carry Passenger and Baggage exactly in accordance with the timetable on the day or journey in a reasonable manner. The departure and arrival times, the flight schedule, or other similar documents are subject to change under multiple reasons. Tigerair Taiwan is under no obligation to assume any liability for indemnity in case of damage suffered by the Passenger due to the result of change flight schedule; except in the event where the damage is resulted by the willful misconduct or gross negligence of Tigerair Taiwan.

10.2 Cancellation and changes in departure and arrival times of flight

After the reservation process has been completed, Tigerair Taiwan may adjust, cancel, terminate the departure and arrival times, to change the routes, or postpone a flight at any time. Pursuant to clause 2.4, Tigerair Taiwan may provide the Passenger with certain remedial measures. The remedial measures set forth under clause 2.4 are the sole and specific remedial measures that Tigerair Taiwan provides to the Passenger. Otherwise, Tigerair Taiwan is not required to assume any liability for indemnity in any flight schedule change.

Whenever a flight schedule is changed (including cancelled) under the circumstance beyond Tigerair Taiwan’s control, Tigerair Taiwan will make maximum efforts to arrange the Passenger to board the nearest available flight to the same destination and waypoint, no extra charge. If the above mention alternative solution is unacceptable to the Passenger, Tigerair Taiwan may reserve the Passenger’s ticket price and additional Handling Charge into personal credit account for rebook a flight and complete travel within 180 days. Tigerair Taiwan assumes no liability toward any damage or costs incurred by a change or cancellation of a scheduled flight.

In case of change (including cancellation) of flight under a situation controllable by Tigerair Taiwan, according to each reason of change, Tigerair Taiwan may: • Arrange the Passenger to board the nearest available flight to the same waypoint for no extra charge, or;

• To reserve Passengers’ ticket prices and additional Handling Charges into personal credit account to for Passengers to rebook another flight and complete such travel within 180 days.

Tigerair Taiwan will try by all possible means to keep the Passenger informed for major schedule change (including cancellation) for flight before the Passenger’s schedule travel date.

E-mail is the principal communication channel for Tigerair Taiwan to serve notices. The Passenger must expressly fill out a correct e-mail which is valid and frequently checked.

In case of an error in the e-mail setup or operation which makes a Passenger unable to receive updates from Tigerair Taiwan and, in turn, leads to any loss or expenditure, Tigerair Taiwan will not be liable for any obligation.

10.3 Denial for boarding

Tigerair Taiwan accepts overbooking for flight, when the Passenger is denied for boarding a scheduled flight, that issue must be manage in accordance with Tigerair Taiwan’s policy of denial for boarding.

Article 11: Refunds 11.1 General Provisions

Except for these expressly provided Rules and Regulations, all Fares and fees (expenses) paid to Tigerair Taiwan cannot be refunded.

Tigerair Taiwan holds the right for all final decision on each exceptional refund case, all applications of the exceptional refunds must provide lawful certified documents (including but not limited to documents of medical proof of unfit for flight or official death certificates) in advance of the scheduled flight. The exceptions of refund follow as: • Death of the Passenger; Tigerair Taiwan may fully refund for this situation; however, official documents must be provided in accordance with the specified time period.

• Before scheduled flight, if emergency medical condition occurred to the Passenger, and which the Passenger is disabled or injury, and unfit for flight travel.

Terms in this clause can only be applied to the Passenger who complete reservation of the scheduled flight through Tigerair Taiwan Official Website; for the Passenger who reserved through other means, must follow the rules and regulations by the provider of that means.

11.2 Tax

In the event that the Passenger decided not to fly with Tigerair Taiwan after completed the booking process, the Passenger is entitled to claim refund for the paid tax, due to the fact of Tigerair Taiwan is no longer obliged to pay the tax on behalf of the Passenger to the government or other entity. When the Passenger demand for tax refund, Tigerair Taiwan will charge a handling fee for refunding procedure. Such refund process must be handled in accordance with the provisions published on Tigerair Taiwan’s Official Website.

11.3 Appropriate refund methods and recipients

Tigerair Taiwan will refund the Passenger in the same method as the method which the Passenger used to paid for the reservation; and the receiver of such refunds will be the same primitive payer who paid for the flight reservation. During the refunding process, Tigerair Taiwan may request the primitive payer to present evidences of identity certificate and proof of the payment.

11.4 Currency

In all cases, the refund must be conducted in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations, rules and regulations and the decrees published by the country where the refund is conducted. The refund may be granted at any currency as applicable to each case.

Article 12: Onboard behavior 12.1 Passenger self-discipline

Tigerair Taiwan is entitled to adopt all sorts of reasonable measurement to ensure the safety, security and comfort for the flight, flight crew and the Passenger. Whenever the Passenger on board endanger of the aircraft, person onboard or property; resist the flight crew from perform their duty; causes discomfort, inconvenience, injury or damage to other Passenger or crew, Tigerair Taiwan is entitled to restrict the Passenger for such conduct or to expulsion the Passenger from the flight. Such Passenger may be expulsion at any airport, holds no right in request carriage on the flight, and may be prosecuted for the wrongful behavior on the flight.

12.2 Re-routing costs

In the event that Tigerair Taiwan must re-route a flight through another waypoint (airport) as a result of the behavior and action of the Passenger, that Passenger is obliged for all expenses and damages incurred by the re-routing.

12.3 Restriction on certain equipment or devices

For the safety reasons, Tigerair Taiwan may restrict or forbid the usage of electronic devices on board, including but not limited to mobile phone , laptop computers, portable tape recorders or radio, CD players, video game consoles or transmission devices including wirelessly controlled toys and intercom. Hearing aid and artificial pacemaker are acceptable on board.

Article 13: Limitation of liability 13.1 Terms on Warsaw Convention, Montreal Convention

The Warsaw Convention and the Montreal Convention will apply to the Passenger whose terminal destination or stopover point is beyond the country of departure. The Warsaw Convention and the Montreal Convention provide certain limitations of liability for bodily injury or death casualty, loss in Baggage or damage indemnity incurred on carriage flight.

Tigerair Taiwan holds no obligation of liability for the Passenger’s disease, disable or death resulted by the Passenger’s already existing medical factors, nor is Tigerair Taiwan under any obligation of liability for the Passenger’s worsening in health by the existing medical condition, such as disease, disablement or injury.

13.2 Guidelines of liability limitation for Baggage compensation

Baggage compensation is subject to specified limitations, unless the Passenger has declared its excess value and paid for excess-valued Baggage extra beforehand.

13.3 Circumstances unable to apply Warsaw Convention or Montreal Convention:

Whenever the compensation clauses set forth under Warsaw Convention or Montreal Convention do not apply to the circumstances, the rules and regulations enumerated below will prevail: • Pursuant to applicable laws, Tigerair Taiwan is subject to the applicable clauses governing the liability of damage to the Passenger in the event of compensation culpae.

• Tigerair Taiwan is under no obligation of compensation for damage to Baggage, either checked or non-checked, except damage incurred within the scope of Tigerair Taiwan’s willful misconduct or gross negligence.

• Under the permission by laws for allowing compensation for checked and uncheck Baggage, Tigerair Taiwan’s compensation for damage to Baggage is subject to the maximum limit of USD 20 per kg in case of checked Baggage and maximum limit of USD 400 per Passenger for all unchecked Baggage; unless the damage is proven to be resulted from willful misconduct or gross negligence by Tigerair Taiwan or Tigerair Taiwan’s agent.

The weight of checked Baggage is expressly indicated on the tag; if not, the weight will be calculated less than 15 kg.

• Tigerair Taiwan will not be liable for obligation for compensation in the event of damage incurred due to the compliance with applicable requirements by law or by government, or damage incurred by a Passenger’s defiance of applicable requirements by law or by government.

• Unless otherwise expressly stipulated in the Contract Terms, Tigerair Taiwan is obliged to compensate the Passenger only for the cost incurred for repair of a damage, in which the Passenger must provide relative evidence.

• Tigerair Taiwan is under no obligation of compensation where the Passenger’s Baggage causes damage to another person, Passenger or to Tigerair Taiwan. The Passenger will be liable for indemnity when the Baggage causes damage to the property of another person, Passenger or Tigerair Taiwan.

• Tigerair Taiwan is under no obligation of compensation resulting from a damage incurred by item not permitted to be carried in either checked or unchecked Baggage, including but not limited to the item in clause 9.2 and 9.4.

• Tigerair Taiwan will not be liable for the Passenger’s diseased, disabled, injured or death as a result from personal medical condition. Nor is Tigerair Taiwan obliged for a disease, disablement or injury which worsens as a result of the Passenger’s personal medical condition.

• Where Tigerair Taiwan hire and prepay on behalf of the Passenger for a third-party agent to render special assistance or services to the Passenger, Tigerair Taiwan only plays the role of representing for the Passenger and the third-party. The Passenger must check and verify beforehand all potential risks and hazards, including death, human injury, damage or other loss which may possibly result from the special assistance or services rendered by such third-party. For any indemnity or claims related to such special assistance or services, the Passenger must will directly contact the third-party for obligation and liability.

• In a case of death, human injury or damage compensation incurred by a reason cannot be attributable to Tigerair Taiwan, then Tigerair Taiwan, its agent, and staff will not be liable for any obligation or indemnity (unless such incident results from a willful misconduct or gross negligence of Tigerair Taiwan, its agent or staff.).

• Tigerair Taiwan, its agents, staff, employees and representatives are applicable to the carriage contract, including the Terms and Conditions of Carriage, exclusion criteria, and limitation on liability for indemnity. Where Tigerair Taiwan is proven liable for indemnity, and the aggregate total of indemnity payable will be the total amount added

by Tigerair Taiwan, Tigerair Taiwan’s agents, staff, employees and representatives, and will not exceed the limitations of Tigerair Taiwan’s liability for indemnity.

Unless otherwise expressly stipulated, the Contract Terms do not waive any exclusion criteria or limitations of Tigerair Taiwan’s compensation under the Warsaw Convention or other convention(s) or applicable local laws. Under no circumstances will Tigerair Taiwan be liable for indemnity incurred through any direct damage or joint and several liabilities.

The aggregate total liability for Tigerair Taiwan is supposed to assume will not exceed the limitations of liability for indemnity set forth under the Terms and Conditions of Carriage.

Article 14: Time limits for the Baggage complaints and rights to claim 14.1 Claim for Baggage compensation

Except when proven otherwise by the party concerned, Baggage is deemed to have been satisfactorily carried in intact shape exactly in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of Carriage, at the moment when the Baggage identification tag holder has claimed the Checked Baggage and leaves the Baggage control zone of the airport, without having raised an objection. The Passenger who has any concern regarding to the Baggage must file claims for compensation to the Tigerair Taiwan’s ground crew, before leaving the arrival Baggage carousel zone of the airport. No Baggage claim for compensation will be accepted by Tigerair Taiwan for the Passenger and Baggage which have left the airport. A Passenger who intends to claim for the Baggage compensation, must provide supporting certificate(s) (photocopy of passport/boarding pass/receipt of Checked Baggage / photo file of the damaged part of the Baggage) within seven (7) days from issuance of the Baggage abnormality declaration memo. In case of belated Checked Baggage, the Passenger must apply to the agent designated by Tigerair Taiwan for investigation with the application along with other supporting certificate(s) (photocopy of passport/boarding pass/receipt of Checked Baggage) by e-mail within 21 days after arrival at the destination.

A claim for compensation application exceed the assign period, will not be accepted by Tigerair Taiwan. The claim for compensation must be notified in writing to Tigerair Taiwan within the assign period, either by mail or in person.

14.2 Limitations to claim for compensation

The right to claim for compensation under the Terms and Conditions of Carriage ceases to exist and becomes extinguished, unless litigation is filed within two (2) years from arrival of the flight to the destination or from the date when the carriage was discontinued. The calculation for the period of limitation, must be conducted in a formula pursuant to the governing laws of the competent court.

Article 15: Governing laws and jurisdiction 15.1 Jurisdiction

All clauses set forth under the Terms and Conditions of Carriage are subject to laws of the Republic of China (Taiwan), unless otherwise stipulated in Convention or any applicable laws, government provisions, decrees or requests. In the event of dispute beyond the Contract Terms, the court of Republic of China (Taiwan) will not be exclusive jurisdiction.

15.2 Rights of third-parties

Any person that is not a party to the carriage contract, will not be entitled to file any claims under the Terms and Conditions of Carriage.

15.3 Modifications and waivers of the Contract Terms

No agent, employee, or representative of Tigerair Taiwan holds the right to change, modify, or waive any provisions set forth under the Terms and Conditions of Carriage.

BM: SEPTEMBER 13 & 20, 2018

TheBroa The inflation train: Are po A4

Business

Thursday, September 13, 2018 | Editor: Dennis D. Estopace

E

By Cai U. Ordinario

VERY scoop of rice that canteen owner Lolit Gogolin puts on a customer’s plate is getting costlier as inflationary pressures increase every day.

Still, Gogolin has kept the price of the meals served in her canteen in Cavite, below P60 ($1.11) to keep customers coming in. She sells a cup of rice for P6 and viands range from anywhere between P15 and P30 each. Vegetable dishes can sell for P15 to P20 while meat dishes sell for P25 per serving to P30 per serving.

Since most of her customers are factory workers, they require more carbohydrates such as rice or noodles, Gogolin pointed out, adding these are her bestsellers. Her low prices also allow blue-collar workers to afford the food they need to perform hard labor.

But with the high prices of

food items—particularly rice— there is no telling how long she can hold out boarding the inflation train. Gogolin said she can already feel the pressure especially with the recent decline in her sales and the reality that most of her customers are earning a minimum wage of only P370 ($6.85) a day or P11,100 ($205.59) a month.

“Our sales went down. But even if this is the case, we continue serving our clientele. As long as we are able to pay our people, ensure that we get some profit and meet our daily needs in the canteen, we will continue,” Gogolin said in Tagalog.

“But we are looking at other ways to cut our costs.”

Causes

THE Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that the country’s inflation rate—the rate of increase of food and nonfood items—reached 6.4 percent in August.

This was higher than market expectations that were at near-6 percent or 6 percent. The national government, for its part, thought the 5.7-percent inflation rate in July was already the worst level that prices would increase.

The August rate brought yearto-date inflation to 4.8 percent, beyond the upper band of the government’s full-year inflation target of 2 percent to 4 percent. This was slightly below the revised full-year inflation forecast of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) of 4.9 percent. Even month-on-month inflation accelerated to 0.9 percent, from 0.5 percent in July 2018.

There’s enough blame to go around.

As far as Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia and Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno are concerned, high commod-

REP. Jose Sarte Salceda: “Unless we do nothing and do more silly things, 6.4 percent should already be the peak in this inflation cycle.”

NONIE REYES

ity prices were brought about by two factors: fuel and agriculture.

The government could not do anything with the former since fuel prices are at the mercy of external factors. The economic team, however, said they intend to meet

A PICTURE of President Duterte is seen on a mock train as protesters carrying wooden crosses reena dramatize the plight of the urban poor under the government of Duterte. AP/AARON FAVILA

head-on the agriculture factor in inflation.

“The highest contributors to inflation in August are electricity, gas and fuels, fish, rice, personal transport, vegetables and meat,” the economic team said in a joint statement on the release of the August inflation report from the PSA.

Complications

FOR economists like Alvin P. Ang, the cause of the recent spike in inflation are basically supply issues that needed to be solved.

Ang told the BusinessMirror that despite farm-gate prices remaining weak, retail prices are high. This could only mean middle men are earning unforeseen profits.

For Filomeno Sta. Ana III, coordinator of nongovernment group Action for Economic Reform, the causes of high inflation rate are purely man-made.

Sta. Ana particularly noted that inflation should not be blamed on the recently passed Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, which increased excise taxes on fuel and imposed taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages, among others.

Sta. Ana told the BusinessMirror that one major factor for high inflation is the rice shortage that could have been avoided if the National Food Authority (NFA) only allowed the private sector to import rice at the right time.

Another factor is high fish prices, which were caused by “a combination of calamity and depleting aquatic resources because of overfishing pollution and the like, compounded by regulation and governance failure.”

Consequences

ANG, director of the Ateneo

de Manila University’s Center for Economic Research and Development, said failing to address the factors could lead to prolonged supply issues and high-inflation regime up to December. The only consolation is that prices would not see double-digit increases, he added.

Ang said that based on his estimates, “prices will continue to increase until September but with the way governance is going, this could even continue until December.”

However, given the increase in prices and the sensitivity of Filipino households to cost increases, it is easy for economists to foresee an increase in poverty and hunger.

Constraints

FOR Rep. Jose Sarte Salceda, the root of the country’s inflation problem is government ennui.

Salceda said the only notable government response was the 50-basis-point increase in monetary policy rates. However, this measure will take anywhere between 6 months and 18 months to gain traction and contain aggregate demand, the former economic adviser of then President Gloria Arroyo added.

Still, there are also “the usual suspects,” he said. These include supply constraints due to rains in Luzon that affected vegetables, the weakness in NFA intervention that caused rice price spikes and the high prices of meat and chicken.

Salceda shares Sta. Ana’s view that other factors included high fish prices and more expensive oil due to the weakness of the peso and high global prices. He noted that the peso in August was at P53.4 to the greenback.

“Ultimately, the 6.4 per-

aderLook olicy-makers all on board?

sMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph | Thursday, September 13, 2018

He added the BSP needs to consider another 50-basispoint policy rate adjustment, which Salceda believes could lead to an average inflation of 5.2 percent this year.

Like the economic team, he also believes rice tariffication will ease rice prices by next year and increasing public investments in agriculture will contribute to stabilizing prices.

“With the ongoing cashbased budgeting deliberations, the DA budget will increase from 1.6 percent of total budget to 2.2 percent,” Salceda explained. “During [the Arroyo administration], inflation

act the sufferings of Jesus Christ during a rally on Holy Week in Manila on March 27, 2018. The group used the demonstration to

cent was really due to the fact that we did little or nothing,” Salceda said.

“We can no longer blame market opportunists, profiteers and rice hoarders.”

Christmas

SALCEDA added that high commodity prices can lead to wage increases. He noted Davao’s approval of an increase of P26 in daily wages this year and another P30 per day increase by February 2019.

The government itself increased the wages of military and uniformed personnel as well as civil servants.

Doing so has set back the government by some P154 billion for military wage adjustments and P54 billion for civil servants.

“This poses a more problematic context to policy-makers,” Salceda said. “[We should be] quite loud in slaying the inflation monster with draconian measures so they would not show up as widespread demand for higher wages.”

Nonetheless, Salceda said he expects the September inflation to slow to 6.1 percent due to base effects. Inflation in September 2017 increased to 3 percent due to the feed-in tariffs for electricity.

“Unless we do nothing and do more silly things, 6.4 percent should already be the peak in this inflation cycle. But a return to 4 percent within 2018 is no longer possible, especially [since] we are now into the world’s longest Christmas season characterized by higher consumer spending.

Returning to 4 percent is more likely to be achieved

by August next year.”

Congress

THE country’s economic managers believe stabilizing rice prices may address inflation.

To achieve this objective, the government is making available 4.6 million sacks of rice in NFA warehouses to markets nationwide. The President’s economic team also expects two million sacks of rice to be delivered by September.

The DOF, Neda and the DBM said the NFA Council also authorized the importation of five million sacks that will be arriving over the next one-and-a halfmonths and another five million sacks will be imported early next year.

“To address the reported shortage in Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu and TawiTawi, 2.7 million sacks will be allocated to these areas.

In addition, harvest has also started in many parts of the country, with the projected harvest for 2018 of 12.6 million metric tons (MT) of rice, the equivalent of 252 million sacks,” the DOF, Neda, and DBM joint statement said.

The President’s economic managers have also pinned their hopes on the President’s issuance of a directive to further simplify and streamline the licensing procedures for rice imports of the NFA. They also urged the Senate to immediately pass the Rice Tariffication bill within September.

According to Sen. Cynthia A. Villar, the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food has already completed its report on the Rice Tariffication bill.

Countermeasures

AMONG the list of inflation-busting measures Arroyo submitted are the reduction of tariffs on meat, fish and poultry.

However, the Committee on Tariff and Related Matters thumbed down these proposals, saying the reduction in tariffs would not lead to significant reductions in prices as the duties imposed on these imported products are already low.

Nonetheless, Arroyo said the Lower House remains open to consider other legislative measures to help Duterte’s economic team to manage inflation.

“I’ve been asking for Salceda so we can sit down again and see if there are things that we suggested before that we need to stress again, or whether there are new causes of the inflation or there are new steps that need to be done so that’s on the part of Congress,” she said.

Considerations

IN hopes of helping the economic team, Salceda offered short-term and medium-term measures to curb inflation.

Foremost among his recommendations in the short term is to increase NFA rice importation and distribution to rice-deficit and food-deficit areas.

Salceda reiterated his earlier suggestion to reduce tariffs on meat products. He also urged the DTI to continue trade coordination with domestic manufacturing and trade associations for self-restraint via the Suggested Retail Price (SRP) system.

also spiked but she was able to lower it by increasing the agriculture budget to 6 percent.”

He said increasing the agriculture budget by another P25 billion from the current P56 billion will be better used to increase mechanization, technology adoption such as hybrid rice, improve irrigation, technology extension, especially to local agricultural technologists and diversification into high-value crops.

Consumption

SALCEDA cited the need to stop the inflation momentum given the higher consumption during the “ber” months. It is

important that government provides immediate relief to consumers, he said, and this will make it easier for the government to bring down inflation to 4 percent by April 2019.

Meanwhile, Marikina Second District Rep. Romero S. Quimbo reiterated his call for a moratorium on fuel excise taxes under TRAIN through the immediate passage of House Bill (HB) 8171.

HB 8171, filed by Quimbo and other lawmakers who are Liberal Party members, seeks to roll back and return to zero the excise taxes on kerosene and diesel imposed under Republic Act 10963 or the TRAIN law.

A5

It also provides for the automatic suspension of the implementation of fuel excise tax increases under TRAIN whenever inflation exceeds the government’s target—a situation that the country now finds itself in.

“If for some reason it wasn’t evident to many in government before, this latest inflation figure should make it crystal clear that we need to act soon to prevent runaway inflation,” Quimbo said. “We have offered a solution in the form of HB 8171, and I hope our colleagues as well as the administration heed our call.”

A6 Thursday, September 13, 2018 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

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editorial

An Asian-American to dethrone Trump?

T

HE Fourth Industrial Revolution, a shift to automation and artificial intelligence (AI) that threatens an old model for growth based on lowcost export manufacturing, could potentially bring about a tectonic shift in American politics. As the US president intensifies his trade war against China and demonizes the immigrants who helped make America a great nation, dozens of Asian-Americans are running for federal office and playing up their Asian roots.

The Associated Press identified at least 80 candidates of both parties—Democrats and Republicans—including incumbents gunning for federal positions. “There are currently 18 Asian-Americans or Pacific Islanders in Congress; three are in the Senate.”

Here’s the potential game changer: New York-born second-generation Taiwanese American entrepreneur Andrew Yang has announced he will run for US presidency in 2020.

Yang’s presidential campaign slogan is “Humanity First,” playing up on the belief that automation and AI could potentially wipe out millions of jobs in the US. Riding on his success in the high-tech world, the entrepreneur said the only way to keep the US stable and prosperous is to launch a universal basic income that offers each American adult a certain amount of cash on a monthly basis, whether they have work or not. If American voters push him into the Oval Office, he said he will fulfill his promise to give $1,000 a month UBI to all American adults.

The money for this wealth redistribution program will come from adjustments in the tax structure.

Yang’s UBI proposal is not a new idea. Some Western thinkers had been playing with this as early as the 18th century. In the 1970s some countries launched experiments on the concept on a small scale. But it’s not until the past few years that the idea picked up momentum, thanks to the advent of automation and AI that continue to threaten millions of jobs not only in the US but also in other advanced countries.

There’s common agreement that the development of AI may have a far greater impact on human society than any previous technology revolutions. In 2017 a report from the McKinsey Global Institute found that 800 million workers worldwide will lose their jobs to robots by 2030, including 39 million to 73 million in the US. This is the scary scenario that’s helping Yang get serious attention.

The only potential 2020 presidential candidate who is running on UBI so far, Yang hopes the idea will help him become the first AsianAmerican president. Ironically, he draws inspiration from Trump who joined the presidential fray a complete political outsider. Like Trump, he hopes to get the support of Americans who were fed up with the negative impact of automation.

The first Asian-American Democrat ever to run for the Oval Office campaigned in Kennedy-country in June, trying to bring attention to automation and AI that are dissolving American jobs. According to Apple Daily, the 43-year-old Yang has raised $130,000 after filing the necessary paperwork at the Federal Election Commission, and is expected to raise millions for his campaign. The New York-born Yang believes that if he can make it in the Big Apple, he can make it anywhere, the White House included. As long as the idea that the US is the land of opportunity persists, will we see the first Asian-American president in 2020?

Since 2005

BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business

‘Stock Market 008: Being Lucky’ John Mangun

OUTSIDE THE BOX

L

UCK—success apparently brought by chance—is something we all want. The wisdom on luck ranges from believing that there is no such thing all the way to trying to attract it.

The Latin phrase fortis Fortuna adiuvat that was first written in 161 BC means “Fortune favors the bold/ strong/brave.” And Fortuna was the goddess of good fortune and luck.

Frank Sinatra made “Luck Be A Lady” one of his signature songs.

Because we do not want to have our success—or failure—in the hands of random chance, we come up with ideas to explain why someone else seems to have “all the luck.”

“Mark Maltz, a 42-year-old tow company employee from Waterford, Michigan, won the lottery three times last Friday. His biggest prize: $325,184.” From www.news.com.au: “A Sydney man is nearly $2.5 million

richer after winning the lotto not once but twice in the space of a week.”

“Antulio Mazariegos of Van Nuys, California walked into a donut shop and purchased scratch-off lottery tickets—one of those tickets was a $1 million winner. Mazariegos decided to keep trying his luck. This time, Mazariegos won a whopping $5 million, just six months after his $1 million win.”

How do those stories make you feel about luck? We have a love/hate relationship with “Lady Luck.”

We try to explain it all with this thinking. Thomas Jefferson: “I’m a greater believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have

Political idolatry

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Part Four

It is easier to pick martyrs off the streets

I

F they are undeserving to become heroes, could Ninoy at least qualify as a martyr, in the secular sense of the term? Perhaps—if he died for what he believed in, according to the norm voiced by the eminent writer Nick Joaquin in A Question of Heroes. But the only person or people who could possibly shed light on this is, or are, whoever killed him in 1983—not the public, not Cory.

Only the killer/s knew why Ninoy had to die. Others can only speculate. If the motives of the killer/s had nothing to do with the causes Ninoy espoused, then he was simply just another murder victim, not a martyr.

But the late Jaime Cardinal Sin, as if he knew the motives of the killer/s for certain, had already jumped to the conclusion that Ninoy indeed died for his ideals. At the end of the one-year mourning period for Ninoy, he had declared: “We all know the ideals he died for—peace and unity throughout the land, freedom and justice for all the people.” Although it came from an archbishop, the statement is of limited value, for it is one unsubstantiated opinion, rather

than a conclusive determination of the truth.

It is easier to pick martyrs off the streets, from the hovels. The Philippines has martyrs by the millions: the poor, the plebian martyr. Neither Ninoy nor Cory was ever one of them, for they were never poor. The martyr is the martyr of the involuntary kind, the victim of birth unto misery.

But the martyr is also the martyr of the voluntary type, for the martyr makes the daily sacrifice of putting body and soul to torture, to be able to maintain the family at a level approximating subsistence. If Ninoy in death was used to promote a cause—that of stirring up the people against President Marcos—the

of it.” General Douglas Macarthur: “The best luck of all is the luck you make for yourself.” Some people are really antagonistic about luck, “Luck is merely an illusion, trusted by the ignorant and chased by the foolish.” Try telling that to the lottery winners.

But if luck does depend on something we control, then Roman philosopher Seneca may have the answer. “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

Perhaps that idea is better expressed as “being in the right place at the right time.”

The “luckiest” stock market investor is one who gets in near the bottom of the price movement and out near the top. Of course, that is an optimum situation but that is what the investing game is all about. But we know—as one expert puts it—“Only two people know top and bottom of the market: God and a liar.” The same is probably true for picking six out of 58 numbers to win P500 million. But someone is going to do that.

We are told, “Timing is not important in the stock market if you are a long-term investor.” Interestingly, that thought is usually from

a mutual fund manager that wants to hold your investment for the long term, the really long term.

However, long-term buy-andhold stock market investing is the best investment you could have made except maybe for buying a Philippine Stock Exchange seat or an empty lot in Ayala-Alabang 25 years ago. Shortterm investing is extremely risky, but that is where the big money is made.

If you had invested in the top performing US mutual fund 20 years ago, the annual return is 15.28 percent. The best from 40 years ago is 14.8 percent. The best 10 year is 15.8 percent.

That is great but terrible if you compare those returns with dozens of locally listed companies’ stock performance in 2018 alone. To do that, you must get “lucky,” being in the right place at the right time. That is buying low and selling high. And it is much easier than getting lucky with the Lotto.

ordinary martyr also serves a cause in death, in raising little donations for the upkeep of the bereaved family while they adjust to his absence.

Now, in the religious sense, would Ninoy qualify as a martyr? In the Oxford Concise Dictionary of the Christian Church, the term is “reserved for those who had undergone hardship for the faith,” ending in death. Even among our Muslim brothers, a martyr is also one who dies for the faith.

Ninoy may have learned to be prayerful in the last years of his life, but if he ever did taste suffering, it was not for his religious faith but for his worldly misdeeds and political ambitions.

From martyrdom—the middle ground between earthly heroism and religious sainthood—let us now proceed to the proposal that Ninoy be declared a saint.

What is a saint? Among Roman Catholics, a saint is a person who has died and has been canonized by the pope. In this modern era, a candidate for sainthood often has to pass through beatification, the pope’s declaration that this person is “blessed” and may thereupon be the object of limited public veneration.

Canonization is the pope’s certification that a person’s soul has entered heaven and that he or she may henceforth be venerated as the object of a cult or devotion. As a rule, for a candidate to qualify for canonization, some prayers made for his or

her intercession in heaven must be answered by what Kenneth L. Woodward, in his highly acclaimed book Making Saints, specified as provable miracles.

Miracles, Woodward said, are required by the Catholic Church as “divine confirmation of a candidate’s sanctity.” In this scientific age, the Vatican’s process of proving miracles has come to rely more on science, than on testimonials. Miracles in the form of cures, for example, must be complete, permanent, and scientifically inexplicable, as certified by doctors in Rome retained by the Church.

Do the Aquinos merit sainthood?

What miracle has heaven bestowed in their names. In modern Philippine folklore, the Aquinos are credited with the miracle at Edsa, the Edsa People’s Power Revolution of February 1986.

Supposedly, in Ninoy’s name, a sea of people parted a band of mutineers from loyal government forces sent to crush the enemy. In the process, the people expelled the Pharaoh Marcos from Malacañang, while they reclaimed the land of promises. “This is the modern day version of Moses and the Exodus, in reverse,” said historians Escalante and De La Paz.

E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Visit my web site at www.mangunonmarkets.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE stockmarket information and technical analysis tools provided by the COL Financial Group Inc.

To be continued To reach the writer, e-mail cecilio.arillo@ gmail.com.

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Opinion

Duterte, undressed

As the Messiah, so His followers

BusinessMirror

Msgr. Sabino A. Vengco Jr.

Val A. Villanueva

BUSINESSWISE

ALÁLAONG BAGÁ

RESIDENT Duterte’s zealous obsession to get back at his staunchest critic, Sen. Antonio F. Trillanes IV, reminds me of Hans Christian Andersen’s tale “The Emperor’s New Clothes.”

FTER the last two Sundays’ emphasis on the imperatives of not exchanging God’s commandments for human traditions, and on being all ears to God’s word and open to praise and proclaim Him, Jesus directs attention to the real significance of the awaited Messiah and challenges us to think as God does (Mark 8:27-35).

P

The story tells of an emperor who loved wearing new clothes, the grandest that his people’s money could buy. He didn’t care about any official duty that an emperor is supposed to do, except to ride in his carriage to show off his new clothes. In fact, he had a coat for every hour of the day.

One day, two swindlers visited the empire, posing as weavers of the most magnificent fabrics imaginable. They were able to convince the emperor that the colorful and highquality fabrics they would weave for him could be made into clothes that would become invisible to those who were incompetent or stupid.

The emperor fell for the ruse, and paid the swindlers a handsome sum to create such an outstanding cloth.

The foolish emperor thought that he could use the fabric to ferret out who among his subjects were unworthy and foolish. The swindlers of course delivered an invisible cloth. Afraid that they would be thought stupid and unfit for office, the emperor and his advisers declared the fabric “stunning.” The weavers were then tasked to make new clothes for the emperor out of the invisible fabric.

A parade was organized to flaunt the emperor’s “freshly minted” trouser, coat and mantle. The people heard beforehand what would befall them should they not be able to see the emperor’s new clothes. They offered the emperor thunderous applause and praise, until one little boy in the crowd exclaimed: “But the emperor has no clothes!”

Get the drift? Solicitor General Jose C. Calida could have been the “swindler” who did the research to support Duterte’s Proclamation 572, which voided the amnesty granted to Trillanes “ab initio.” Duterte’s own words were: “When the SolGen says there’s something wrong and that this has to be corrected, I cannot refuse.”

Calida’s critics suspect that the voiding of Trillanes’s amnesty was meant as a preemptive move. Calida has been accused of conflict of interest for cornering more than P300 million in government contracts.

He was scheduled to appear at the Senate on the day Duterte ordered Trillanes’s arrest.

On the other hand, Chief Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, Malacañang Spokesman Harry L. Roque Jr., Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra and die-hard Duterte supporters could be likened to the people in Andersen’s tale who joyously cheered on the foolish emperor. Trillanes, meanwhile, could be the boy who saw the Emperor’s “stark nakedness.”

In the tumultuous events of the past week, we’ve seen how Duterte has given Trillanes a potent platform to undress him. The media-savvy senator has taken advantage of the stage given him to unmask Duterte for what he really is: a dictatorial, fumbling, incoherent, whimsical leader whose level of governance is only good, as Trillanes said, for a barangay post. Of course, the people have already experienced Duterte’s style of governance.

He’s now being asked to account for each of his many campaign promises that have remained just that. The Trillanes caper merely served as a bold exclamation point.

In his two years as president, Duterte can only boast of killing people who are “suspected” of being involved in illegal drugs. Never in our history as a democratic nation have killings become an accomplishment!

Death toll estimates vary. News organizations have it at 12,000; Philippine National Police records placed it at 7,000, and the government claimed 4,200 have been killed as of April 30, 2018. Human-rights advo-

cates have recorded at least 12,000 deaths as of January 2018. Opposition senators claimed that the death toll is over 20,000 to date.

One wonders why the President expends his political capital going after his critics, while the majority of the people he has sworn to serve are living a practically hand-to-mouth existence. The long queue for rice ration, shown in photos published in traditional and online media, was unimaginable two years ago. Prices of goods have risen dramatically, beyond the poor’s buying capacity.

The problem is self-inflicted. Rice shortage due to the incompetence of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the National Food Authority (NFA) is a key driver of inflation, which now stands at 6.6 percent, the highest in nine years.

Yet, Duterte’s attention is preoccupied with unprovoked tirades against Vice President Leni Robredo, whom he has belittled to be unfitting to be his successor. He has expressed preference for either defeated vice presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos or Sen. Chiz Escudero to replace him once he steps down.

Again, Duterte’s thinking exposes his tendency to do away with Constitutional processes, in the same way that former chief Justice Maria Lourdes A. Sereno was unceremoniously booted out of office on an unorthodox quo warranto petition filed by SolGen Calida. Sen. Leila M. de Lima was jailed on what she claimed were trumped-up drug charges against her.

Have these acts made life better for Filipinos? The numbers do not lie. There are many factors why inflation has gone up, but I’d rather zero in on the escalating food crisis. At the outset, the government denied that there was a problem, and Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol even comically had for lunch weevil-infested rice—a cheap publicity stunt that does not justify the clumsy policies of the NFA. What he should worry about as agriculture secretary is that some regions just last month had experienced doubledigit rice-inflation rates. Government figures show that the condition is calamitous in Bicol, which did not only have the highest regional inflation rate at 9 percent, but also the highest inflation rate on rice at 12.5 percent. Vegetables prices also rose by 19.2 percent; corn, 12.6 percent; fish, 12.4 percent and sugary goods, 9.1 percent.

The peso is also not doing well.

The local currency ended Tuesday’s trading session at P53.91—its lowest level since December 2005. This was also a precipitous decline in the region. At the same time, the local stock barometer skidded down to the 7,518.01 level also on Tuesday as investors braced for further local monetary tightening amid rising inflation. And what is the government’s answer to all these? Arrest Trillanes!

Calida’s ab initio argument is woven around official gobbledygook that even legal luminaries, including the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, find absurd, with some lawyers even viewing it as laughable. And yet the Supreme Court, from which Trillanes sought relief through a temporary restraining order, decided to toss the case back to the Makati Regional Trial Court.

Why we are in this mess is partly because of either our apathy or cowardice. Don’t look at the “honorable” magistrates. They are not the only ones who couldn’t find the courage to say with conviction that “the emperor has no clothes!”

For comments and suggestions, e-mail me at mvala.v@gmail.com.

A

The anointed suffering one THE question of the identity of Jesus was inevitable, as He went about teaching, healing and exorcising. The people and Jesus’ disciples themselves were filled with speculations, ideas that were right but not enough. In the spirit particularly of John the Baptizer and Elijah, He was ushering in the messianic age, even as He denounced the failures of the covenant relationship with God and urged the return to the ways of God. Peter took a step farther: Jesus is no less the awaited Messiah, the Anointed One of God. True, but a title that in the popular mind has assumed too restricted a meaning about might and glory, and so Jesus

sternly ordered His disciples not to go talking about it.

Jesus elaborated on the true meaning of his messiahship. Its inner meaning is “Son of Man,” the enigmatic figure who lives in solidarity with God and others. It is the new humanity Jesus is bringing about from his own life. Admittedly something the religious elite with their own values could not welcome. In fact, they would try to suppress this new way of being human and make it suffer and kill it. But God’s power would be there to resurrect it—the measure of “three days” indicating too the limit of any power contrary to God. Suffering, death and resurrection put the messiahship of Jesus

Thursday, September 13, 2018 A7

in its proper perspective. This is now the whole truth, and Jesus said “all this openly”—different from the worldly speculations that are better not shared.

Thinking of the things of God

PETER clearly had something different in mind when he spoke of Jesus as the Messiah—things that have to do with triumph and power in glory, as popularly fantasized. He rebuked Jesus. And Jesus literally turned and moved into the deeper level of consciousness and poured it on His followers. He rebuked back Peter and asserted His role, demanding that Peter return to following Him: “Get behind me.” And He made clear that rejecting the suffering Son of Man meaning of Messiah is tantamount to joining Satan, who subverts God’s design. The reason: Peter’s mind is wrongly set, oriented on human things, not on divine things.

The things of God are faith (Mark 2:5), doing good (3:1-5), courage (7:28), losing one’s life for the Good News (8:35), being least and being servant (9:35; 10:43). Human things are lack of faith (4:40), fear (5:36), saving one’s life (8:35), being great and lording it over people (9:35; 10:42). There is evident need to clear up what discipleship is and is not about. It is focusing oneself

Can ‘BBB’ promote decent jobs?

Dr. Rene E. Ofreneo

LABOREM EXERCENS Continued from A1

A

CCORDINGLY, no less than 1.1 million jobs a year shall be generated by the BBB program. Further, with BBB, the Philippines can finally erase the five-decade tag that it is a middle-income developing country in the Asia-Pacific region. Like the Asian NICs before, the Philippines shall finally become a member of the world’s elite league of developed countries. Welcome then to the “golden age of infrastructures”!

This piece, however, is not about how the expensive BBB shall be funded. So much is already written on how BBB is used to justify the passage of the controversial TRAIN 1, which is being blamed by many for the unprecedented surge in the prices of prime commodities, especially rice.

Rather, this piece is about the potentials of BBB in the promotion of good quality jobs through the numerous job contracts or infra projects that the BBB shall generate. With trillions of pesos being allocated for the BBB, one can imagine the numerous infra projects—from roads and bridges to school buildings and hospitals—that are being lined up. According to a media report, the government has no less than 2,000 or so projects in the BBB list. Each of these projects can generate anywhere between 10 to a thousand or more jobs each. Remember Diokno’s target:1.1 million jobs a year.

The question is: Are these good quality jobs? Are they decent jobs?

Will these jobs be accorded respect and dignity? Will each BBB worker be protected from various occupational risks that are common in “hard” infra projects, such as steel works, diggings, high-rise buildings and so on? Will the BBB jobs be different from the “job order” jobs in the government?

In relation to the last question, there are numerous complaints that the government, through the job order program, is a major violator of labor laws and a leading perpetrator of the “casualization” program, which is widely denounced by the trade unions.

In the Senate hearings conducted by Sen. Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva, there are complaints about violations on security of tenure (many job-order employees have rendered years of service and yet have remained contractuals), noncoverage of social insurance

(as nongovernment employees, they are not enrolled with the GSIS), low wages and benefits, inability to form unions and bargain collectively, and so on and so forth. It is estimated that there are 600,000 to 700,000 “job order” employees. They are likened to workers in the “purgatory” of the labor market, because their status as government or private-sector employees is undefined and their rights are not fully secured.

Now, can the situation for the BBB workers be different? This column is proposing that Budget Secretary Ben Diokno and Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III should look into the good labor practices of other countries in the bidding out of government infra projects. In this regard, the US experience on the Troubled Assert Relief Program, launched by the Obama administration, to engineer American economic recovery from the 2008-2010 global financial crisis, is worth looking into.

TARP had a budget of close to a trillion dollars and the mandate given to the federal government is for it to distribute the fund in support of various state and federal projects that can boost economic growth similar to what the BBB of the Philippines seeks to achieve.

Patricia Shiu, director of the US Federal Contract Compliance Programs, reported in a Berkeley law roundtable that her office, in coordination with various government agencies, makes sure that projects that get federal funding are strictly compliant with labor standards. She even mentioned that her office priorities are “to reinvest and restructure workforce development; to build effective career ladders for at-risk youth and underserved populations;

on what is most valuable, inspired

by Jesus. Being concentrated, say, on saving one’s status and position in the world is inevitably to lose a larger life, to exclude other things more valuable. The larger, more valuable life for all is communion with God, our humanity in the embrace of divine love.

Alálaong bagá, honestly assessing where our mind dwells, on the things of God or the things of humans, we would probably find ourselves shoulder to shoulder with Peter. Our entrenched way of thinking human things can be frustrated with Jesus, because the Son of Man initiating us into the new humanity disappoints our expectations of being rich, respected, enjoying things we dream of, lording it over others, even as we fantasize about being spared from becoming sick, old and dying. Jesus points a radically different way to fulfilment to all who follow him: God’s way that seems to be the reverse of ours, denying ourselves and carrying our cross: those who lose their lives save them; the seed must die before it can bear fruit; Jesus will be killed but raised from the dead.

Join me in meditating on the Word of God every Sunday, from 5 to 6 a.m. on DWIZ 882, or by audio streaming on www.dwiz882.com.

to develop an unemployment insurance system that provides workers with income support and job training opportunities that they are really going to need, so that if they lose a job they don’t permanently fall out of the middle class; to support high-growth industries by training workers that they need to promote green-collar jobs, to expand retirement savings; to assure that workers get the wages that they have earned, working in safe, healthy and fair workplaces; and to assure that the door to opportunity is open to every American, regardless of gender, race, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability or other protected status.”

In short, part of the compliance program is to promote the role of project contracting not only in boosting economic growth but also, and more important, in insuring that such growth is inclusive, fair and “labor-respecting,” to borrow the term used by the South Korean government today.

Workers who will be employed in the various projects should enjoy all the relevant rights provided by law and should also be given the opportunity to build a post-project career through training, assistance in savings for the future and opportunity to explore new job prospects.

Does the Philippines have a similar assurance program complete with a compliance checklist? The point is that government contracts should not become a road to “low-road contracting”, not a Race-to-the-Bottom system where winning bidders forget that they have a social responsibility to the society and the government that provide them with profitable project contracts.

Amazon’s business-to-business threat grows

By Brooke Sutherland Bloomberg Opinion

A

MAZON.COM Inc. is no longer a looming threat for sellers of factory-floor basics, lab equipment and office products. It’s a fullblown competitor.

The e-commerce giant rattled distributors of industrial parts, information technology and medical supplies in 2015 when it launched a business-to-business platform that promised to make ordering supplies as easy and price-transparent as ordering diapers or toothpaste. On Tuesday it said that platform, Amazon Business, had hit an annualized rate of $10 billion in global sales. That compares with $1 billion in US sales in its first year of existence before Amazon expanded the platform into other countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany and Japan.

For context, W.W. Grainger Inc., the largest US industrial distributor, had

about $10.4 billion in sales last year and is expected to bring in $11.3 billion this year. This isn’t a perfect comparison, but it’s striking how neck-and-neck Amazon has become with incumbents after only a few years. In its characteristically vague fashion, Amazon says the platform now serves “millions of business customers.”

It could be 2 million or 10 million, I have no idea. But that compares with “more than 1 million” US customers as of July 2017 and either way, the ongoing growth seems like bad news for Grainger.

The $20-billion company has weathered Amazon’s push into its territory better than I had expected. Grainger is one of the best-performing stocks on the S&P 500 Industrial Index this year amid booming volume growth that’s due in part to draconian price cuts it implemented to stay competitive in the age of Amazon.

The true test for the company will be the back half of the year, when it faces tougher comparisons as it laps those cuts made in 2017. Grainger is expected to report

third-quarter results in mid-October.

RBC analyst Deane Dray has argued volume growth may be tempered without additional cuts as Grainger still doesn’t offer the lowest prices. That would put additional pressure on gross margins that are already expected to settle at the lowest level in more than a decade in 2018.

Over the longer term, I still struggle to see how Amazon’s entrance into the industrial distribution market doesn’t herald a deeper, more structural reset of incumbents’ profitability. Grainger is also at particular risk from the trade war.

The company sources the majority of its private-label products—which account for roughly a fifth of its sales—from China. Only a small portion of those were among the $50 billion of Chinese goods the US is currently targeting with tariffs, but as of its July earnings call, Grainger hadn’t dug in deep on the $200 billion of additional tariffs likely to take effect soon. The company said there were alternative sources available for effectively

every private-label item sourced from China that might be affected by tariffs, and it was looking into the economics of those moves, should they become necessary. Any major upheaval to its supply chain is likely to be expensive and pose another threat to Grainger’s profitability.

As a final note, Amazon’s steady march into the world of business-tobusiness commerce underscores the potential of its logistics investments. In its Tuesday statement, Amazon noted that third-party sellers drive more than 50 percent of the $10 billion in global sales.

Those are the types of vendors that may be interested in tapping Amazon to not only provide a marketplace for their products but to deliver them as well, opening up a much wider customer pool than sellers of consumer-facing goods.

Businesses tend to be more profitable customers for shipping companies because they order in bulk, and drivers don’t have to make as many stops.

This is a space to watch.

2nd Front Page BusinessMirror

A8 Thursday, September 13, 2018

It’s that bad: Export leader says a ‘flat’ growth is fine

A

By Elijah Felice E. Rosales

@alyasjah

N export sector leader has lowered his growth forecast for this year after July figures revealed exports only grew by 0.3 percent.

Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis Jr. of the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport) admitted in a recent interview with reporters he is no longer optimistic that exporters can hit their target of growing 5 percent this year. “[That

Perks. . .

Continued from A1

In a news briefing on Wednesday, JFC members stood united in opposing the administration’s move to rationalize tax incentives.

The measure is one of the two main objectives of the second round of legislation under the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP).

The House of Representatives, which approved it on third and final reading late Monday, has called it the Tax Reform for Attracting Better and High-Quality Opportunities, or “Trabaho” bill.

Michael K. Raeuber, former president of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, argued that the first taxreform program—embodied in the so-called TRAIN law, for Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion—had already reduced the purchasing power of Filipinos, amid a continuing blame game over the extent to which the TRAIN law accounts for the higher-thanexpected inflation, hitting 6.4

Ompong. . .

is a] tall order, but I really do not know,” he said.

“Frankly, I will be happy if we achieve a flat just to avoid a negative. As of now, we are negative,” Ortiz-Luis added.

Figures from the Philippine percent in August. The Trabaho bill will discourage the entry of new locators, he said.

“You already have TRAIN. You have tax reforms. You have higher taxes for several people. Others are getting relief, but the way it looks now, the others pay more.

I am afraid they have less money in their pockets. If they have less money in their pockets, then they have less to spend,” Raeuber said.

BPO, electronics threatened

“PEOPLE are asking if I am investing in this country, what is my biggest worry? My biggest worry is that someone will tinker with the BPO [business-process outsourcing] industry and, as a result, you have a decline of money available to spend,” he added.

The BPO industry is seen to take a hit from the rationalization of incentives, as a number of BPO firms are in economic zones operated by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza).

For his part, Julian H. Payne, president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce of

Statistics Authority reported exports improved by 0.3 percent to $5.85 billion in July, from $5.83 billion during the same month last year. Electronic products yet again made up more than half of the pie, after growing by 5.2 percent to $3.27 billion, from $3.11 billion.

However, year-to-date export figures are still on a slump. Exports from January to July amounted to $38.74 billion, down by 2.8 percent from $39.86 billion during the same stretch last year.

This is the reason Ortiz-Luis has tempered the sector’s growth forecast, as he believes it is now improbable to grow 5 percent for the year with less than four months left.

He earlier blamed the trade

conflict between the world’s largest economies for the weathered export performance this year.

He also cited the sweeping ban on contractualization as one factor exporters are hesitant to expand operations.

“Rather than be saddled with permanent employees that they might not need, what happened is that they waited for a resolution, a policy. That is why you will notice employment significantly went down,” Ortiz-Luis said in May. Exports last year totaled to $68.71 billion. The countr y’s top exports markets were Japan ($10.85 billion), the United States ($9.66 billion) and Hong Kong ($9.02 billion).

the Philippines, said the country might see a further decline in exports if the Trabaho bill is enacted into law. “If you look at your exports, they are primarily electronics,” he explained.

“If you look at where electronics grow, they are primarily in Peza zones. I think one of the key to exports is the efficiency of operating in Peza zones as now regulated. I think to encourage an increase in exports you have to be very careful in how you manage Peza zones because if these things are made less efficient, then you would see an adverse impact on exports,” Payne added.

Given all these concerns, foreign chambers were united in concluding that the country’s trade imbalance could slump f ur ther if ta x incentives are modernized. Trade deficit from January to July currently stands at $22.49 billion due to weak exports, according to figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority. It is nearly twice the $13.06 billion in the same seven-month period in 2017.

Fix one, ruin another

Water. . .

Continued from A1

Continued from A1

afternoon. In its latest update, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Ompong may reach a peak intensity of 220 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 270 kph on Thursday (September 13).

In a press conference on Wednesday, Pagasa Administrator Dr. Vicente Malano said the typhoon is expected to make landfall in Cagayan province on Saturday, and warned residents near coastal areas to evacuate early as storm surges are expected to reach as high as 6 meters.

Ompong could still not be categorized as a super typhoon but has the potential to become one. The super typhoon category is at 225 kph, Malano said.

He said very strong winds, storm surges over coastal areas and heavy to intense rains are expected in Cagayan and Isabela and the rest of Northern Luzon.

“The southwest monsoon plus rains brought by the typhoon could reach or even surpass Ondoy levels. Ompong’s winds are strong and so we are not just looking at the possible flooding but also storm surges once it makes landfall in Cagayan,” he said, in a mix of English and Filipino.

He also belied information circulating on social media that the typhoon could bring storm surges as high as 15 meters, saying there is no history of storm surges of that magnitude. During the onslaught of Supertyphoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) in November 2013, the recorded storm surge was 7 to 8 meters, he said.

Pagasa weather forecaster Rene Paciente said the typhoon’s peripheral effect would be felt in Catanduanes and several provinces in the eastern section of the country on Thursday.

The typhoon also enhances the southwest monsoon or habagat, which would bring occasional moderate to heavy rains on Wednesday in the Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao and the provinces of Siquijor, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, Dinagat Island and Lanao del Sur.

Recto Mercene and PNA

This will be crucial especially for Metro Manila which, Maynilad Water Services Inc. President and CEO Ramoncito S. Fernandez said, is 96 percent dependent on a single water source—Angat Dam. Fernandez said the lack of a new source for raw water supply and the recent dry spell have led to levels of water scarcity Metro Manila last summer.

“We don’t have any “Build, Build, Build” projects in the water sector. It’s interesting, though. In the previous administration, [Rogelio] Babes Singson who was the water czar, said ‘if the government can spend for roads and other infrastructure, why can’t it spend for transmission of water or water supply for provinces? That’s something that should be explored because it will impact on several areas,” Alikpala said.

He said this kind of project will help fourthand fifth-class municipalities get access to clean water. The lack of water projects in the BBB, he said, is lamentable.

Meanwhile, Ilagan said the Neda actually has a framework to improve water supply and sanitation nationwide, but more needs to be done to turn this framework into actual projects on the ground.

SDG investment

THE policy brief said meeting water-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 will require the country to invest P31 billion to P32 billion annually. Around P17 billion of this, Ilagan said, is only for meeting the minimum requirements for water-related indicators which is universal access.

This is a tall order given that the country’s actual investments for municipal/domestic water supply is only P2 billion to P5 billion a year. This means the country spends less than a $1 average capital investment in

EBB HINCHLIFFE of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines said he understands where the government is coming from.

However, he stressed, fixing the tax system must not be at the expense of losing investors.

He argued it will be better for this administration to focus on its big-ticket infrastructure projects that will aid exporters in their operations.

“First of all, you got to reach your goods from the factories to the ports. Second, [we need] to attract people to come here and export more,” Hinchliffe said.

“We need better infrastructure, better seaports, better airports, better roads and better rail. I do not think Trabaho will change the system that we are talking about.

Leave Peza alone,” he added.

T he House of Representatives, voting 187-14-3, recently approved the Trabaho bill. The measure is expected to face tough scrutiny in the upper chamber, according to Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III. municipal/domestic water supply. Financing the huge requirements, Ilagan said, cannot be done through the private sector or official development assistance (ODA) alone.

“I think you will need all the funding that you can get. It’s really a question of figuring out what should be funded by ODA and what should be funded by PPPs. Obviously, the private sector will be attracted to projects that have good returns. So there’s a role for everybody,” Ilagan said.

Based on the 2010 Global Water Intelligence figures, only 44.1 percent of the country’s population have Level III access to water, the highest level, and 11.2 percent have Level II access.

Around 32.4 percent have Level 1 access with as much as 12.3 percent of the population having no access to safe water at all.

Water security is Goal 6 of the SDGs. The primary target is to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all by 2030.

Apart from the primary target, there are five other targets—achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all; improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials; and substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity.

The targets also include implementing integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate and protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes.

The SDGs were adopted by 193 United Nations members, including the Philippines, in 2015. The SDGs have 169 targets and 233 indicators. The Philippines has data to monitor only 103 indicators while the rest are either inapplicable or are not available.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

briefs

➜House minority row to SC

A PETITION was filed before the Supreme Court (SC) challenging the minority leadership of Quezon Rep. Danilo E. Suarez in the House of Representatives.

Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo C. Fariñas Sr. and his allies also asked the Court to declare ABS Party-list Rep. Eugene Michael B. de Vera as the rightful minority leader.

Named respondents were Suarez, House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Majority Leader Rolando G. Andaya Jr. Fariñas insisted that de Vera should be recognized as the minority leader after most of Suarez’s bloc “abandoned” the minority by voting for Arroyo during the leadership change at the lower chamber on July 23. Suarez himself voted for Arroyo as Speaker.

The petitioners quoted House Rule II Section 8: “Members who vote for the winning candidate for Speaker shall constitute the Majority in the House and they shall elect from among themselves the majority leader.” Joel R. San Juan

➜Smuggled rice

CUSTOMS operatives, backed by a Philippine National Police (PNP) team, raided several warehouses in Marilao, Bulacan, on Tuesday, after receiving information that large quantities of suspected smuggled rice with an estimated market value of P300 million were stashed.

A joint Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) and PNP team conducted the raid on seven warehouses at the Federal Corp. Compound in Barangay Ibayo, Marilao, Bulacan, where some 125,000 sacks of imported rice were discovered. Initial reports said the rice were imported from Thailand, China and India. Representatives from the National Food Authority in Bulacan were present when the Customs’s CIIS and PNP raided the compound, where 7 out of the total 11 warehouses inside the compound were being used to store the smuggled rice.

Customs authorities are waiting for the warehouse owners, lessee or the owner of the imported goods, to present proof that payment of duties and taxes has been made for the imported rice. Rea Cu

➜P10B for NFA rice procurement

THE Makabayan bloc on Wednesday filed a joint resolution that seeks to provide a P10-billion supplemental budget to the National Food Authority (NFA) and allow the grains agency to increase its palay buying price from farmers.

House Joint Resolution (HJR) 28 eyes to raise the NFA’s current support price for palay, now pegged at P17 per kilogram, to P20 per kilogram to be able to procure more this harvest season. “The supplemental budget shall provide the NFA [with means to procure palay from famers], without [necessarily] exonerating its officials of their unauthorized diversion of procurement funds,” the resolution read.

“It shall be exclusively used for procuring palay from local rice farmers for the period of September 2018 to January 2019 at an enhanced price of P20/kilogram,” it added. The measures under the joint resolution seeks to arrest the rising prices of rice in the market, which was caused by the depletion of the NFA’s stockpile earlier this year. Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

➜Peso closes at 54.13

THE local currency closed at 54.13 to the greenback on Wednesday, a slight decline compared to the 53.94:$1 close on Tuesday. The last time the peso reached the 54 level was in December 2, 2005, at 54.15 to the US dollar.

Per the web site of the Bankers Association of the Philippines, the peso opened on Wednesday at 53.9, then rose to 54.14 during the day’s trading and declined to 53.89.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) closed at 7,449.20 points, falling 0.92 percent compared to the 7,518.01 points recorded a day ago.

Land Bank Market Economist Guian Angelo S. Dumalagan said that Philippine shares closed lower driven mainly by renewed trade tensions between China and the US. “Philippine shares closed lower once more, mostly on renewed trade tension as China lodged permission with WTO [World Trade Organization] to levy tariff on the US and crude oil rising on hurricane and the EIA [Energy Information Administration] WTI [West Texas Intermediate] outlook. US shares fell around the open after the WTO said China would ask for permission to retaliate against the US due to its failure to modify anti-dumping methodologies,” Dumalagan said.

In reports, China told the WTO on Tuesday that it wanted to impose $7 billion a year in sanctions on the US. The EIA cut its US crude output forecast to 11.5 million barrels a day in 2019 from the August estimate of 11.7 million. Production is also expected to be slightly lower this year at 10.66 million.

Last month ING Bank Manila Economist Joey Cuyegkeng said that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’s (BSP) openness to take further action to tame persistent inflationary pressures in the economy has kept the peso afloat, amid volatile global markets.

Cuyegkeng said that, while the peso weakened in line with most Asian emerging market currencies, the BSP’s recent stance kept the peso from incurring a greater depreciation during the period. In the same month, the BSP let out its most aggressive move in a decade, raising its main policy rate by 50 basis points on account of rising inflationary pressures for 2018 and 2019. This, after the Central Bank already made two 25-basis-point hikes in its previous meetings for the year. Rea Cu

Cabinet readying draft of inflation-busting EO Continued from A1

Moreover, Roque said the President wants to prioritize the release of essential food items in the port. “ This is why we said that there is a need for a designated person who is on-duty all the time to sign the documents pertinent to rice importation at Customs,” he said in Filipino.

Earlier, Malacañang said designating a full-time Customs person to authorize rice import permits will help address delays in the importation of NFA rice.

The arrival of rice imported by the NFA is expected to ease the increase in rice prices. Roque added the EDC also suggested mediumto-long term measures.

For agriculture, Roque said the cluster suggested facilitating better access to farming technologies, promoting research and development, developing resilient and high-yielding varieties of rice; promoting utilization of highyielding variety of crops; reassessing the country’s planting season

and crop viability in each region and local government units to aggressively impose the idle land tax.

In the fisheries sector, the EDC also suggested amending the Fisheries Code and other policies governing it.

President Duterte on Tuesday also announced that he is already seeking a replacement for NFA Administrator Jason Y. Aquino, who has asked to be relieved from his post. Duterte said Aquino was tired and he had disagreements with him all the time.

Duterte also said he will also be recommending to Congress the abolition of the NFA Council.

In a separate briefing, Trade Undersecretary Ruth B. Castelo disputed the President’s statement, saying that it has done its job.

“No, I don’t agree,” Castelo said when asked if she agrees that the council failed to perform its functions. “Because we have set the direction. The council has spoken about its position on the administration of… rice importation and distribution.”

Editor: Efleda P. Campos

Companies BusinessMirror

Thursday, September 13, 2018

B1

3 firms interested to develop BGC site into energy center

By Lenie Lectura

T

@llectura

HE Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) said three companies have indicated their strong interest to develop the state firm’s 5.3-hectare site in Bonifacio Global City into an energy center, which will include a so-called Tower of Power.

“There were many letters of intent, but those who were a bit complete came from three proponents.

But there are certain requirements they were not also able to comply with,” PNOC Senior Vice President for Legal, Administrative and Estate Management Services Graciela Barleta said.

One is a foreign firm from China and two are local. “Proposals came from well-known architects,” the PNOC official said.

The plan is to develop PNOC’s

property to include an iconic tower, similar to the Petronas structure in Malaysia. Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi’s office is also located on the same property.

“The proposals we received had commercial and residential establishments and would also house the Department of Energy [DOE], the PNOC and its subsidiaries, and other energy companies that would like to locate within the energy center,” Barleta said.

The project is currently in the

planning stage, which will include a master plan for the energy complex.

“Currently, we are already doing joint meetings with potential advisors for the iconic tower project. We intend to make a joint master plan for the entire complex. For now, we are talking with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority for the requirements in putting up the iconic tower and some other consultants to help us formulate the master plan,” she said. The PNOC previously received offers from interested par-

ties. However, the technical working group returned the proposals because these did not comply with the requirements of either the proposed joint-venture guidelines from the build-operate-transfer and the National Economic and Development Authority.

The land itself is already worth $1 billion. “The target given to us by the DOE should be within the term of the current administration.

We should start the project by next year,” the PNOC official said.

SMC prexy: We have capability, resources to build intl airport in Bulacan 5 foreign firms bid to build Zambo coal-fired plant

By VG Cabuag @villygc

C

ONGLOMER AT E Sa n Miguel Corp. (SMC) on Wednesday said it has a solid track record in delivering large-scale infrastructure projects along with a sizable war chest to build the world-class airport in Bulacan province.

Ramon S. Ang, SMC president and COO, said the company has—over a short period of time—proved it has the muscle to carry out the infrastructure project, building mostly expressways and bridges, such as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Expressway and the TarlacPangansinan-La Union Expressway.

“We believe our years of experience in building and operating major infrastructure projects are a key advantage when it comes to executing on this vital, ambitious project,” Ang said. “SMC has already undertaken a lot of major projects and have delivered on a number of them so the expertise, know-how and innovativeness are there. We also work with the best experts and contractors so when the time comes to start construction on the airport, we expect to hit the ground running,” he said.

SMC’s previous projects, which included the Boracay Airport runway expansion, Skyway improvement and its connector road linking South Luzon Expressway to its

northern counterpart, were worth more than P700 billion.

Ang said they were able to raise such fund over the years and they can raise it again to fund a single project.

San Miguel Holdings Corp., the infrastructure arm of SMC, manages the country’s largest infrastructure network. Its ongoing projects include the MRT 7 project, Skyway Stage 3, and the South East Metro Manila Expressway and Slex Toll Road 4 projects. It also operates the Skyway system, the South Luzon Expressway and the Star Tollway.

In terms of financial capability, Ang said parent company SMC is backing SMHC for the airport project. The company concurred with a Department of Finance position

that both companies sign a joint liability agreement. The project, estimated at close to $15 billion or about P800 billion, will be undertaken over a period of five to seven years to full completion. On average, spending spread is about P100 billion, at the level of the company’s cash from operating activities, on a simple annualized basis.

There is a substantial debt space to supplement cash requirements for SMC’s priority projects and those of its various business units.

Its net debt to Ebitda ratio is also way below the company’s debt covenant of 5.5 times. Ang promises an airport with four parallel runways, expandable up to six, and modern, world-class facilities.

A

LSONS Power Group, the energy business of the Alcantara family, has received bid proposals for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of its 105-megawatt (MW) San Ramon Power Inc. (SRPI) coal-fired power plant in Talisayan, Zamboanga City.

Five global construction and engineering companies based in China, Singapore and India have submitted proposals. These are Dongfang Electric International Corp. headquartered in Chengdu, China; Singapore-based Jurong Engineering Ltd.; Northeast No.1 Electric Power Construction Co. Ltd.—a wholly owned subsidiary of China

Energy Engineering Group; Shandong Electric Power Construction Co.—a subsidiary of Power Construction Corp. of China; and Pune, India-based ThyssenKrupp Industries India Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of Germany’s Thyssenkrupp AG. SRPI Project Manager Archimedes Donato expressed satisfaction that five reputable firms with extensive international experience have submitted bid proposals for the plant.

“The people of Zamboanga City and nearby areas can look forward to a state-of-the-art baseload power plant right here in the city to provide safe, reliable and affordable electricity,” he said. Lenie Lectura

B2

Thursday, September 13, 2018

Companies BusinessMirror

Jollibee to put up stores in UK, NY and Macau

By VG Cabuag

L

@villygc

OCAL fast-food giant Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) on Wednesday said it is set to open its first flagship Jollibee stores in three different milestone locations—the United Kingdom, Manhattan in the US and Macau in China—as part of its global expansion plans.

The company said the expansion is part of the company’s plan to even out the share of domestic to international sales.

The first Jollibee store in the UK will have its grand opening on October 20. A few weeks before that, the Macau branch will hold its

grand opening on September 28.

“The Manhattan, New York, store will open within a few months,” the company said.

“JFC is bringing the company’s well-loved brand to Filipinos abroad to give them a ‘taste of home,’” the company said.

On top of serving Filipinos overseas, the company said it has seen the success of Jollibee in catering to local markets. All of its customers in Vietnam and Brunei Darussalam are locals.

Jollibee is the fastest-growing chain in Vietnam. It is one of the top fast-food chains in Brunei. In Hong Kong and Singapore where it has added more stores, more than half of its customers are locals,

the company said.

In 2013 JFC became the No. 1 restaurant company in Asia in terms of market capitalization and is now the world’s largest Asian restaurant company. The fast-food giant is now aiming to be among the top 5 largest restaurant companies in the world in terms of market capitalization.

To achieve this, the company said it has identified focusing on the two largest economies in the world, China and United States, and for continued expansion in other parts of the world, while sustaining business growth in the Philippines.

The company said its growth locally is so strong that the growth of its international business cannot keep up.

DOTr to fine supplier for delayed delivery of vehicle-license plates

By Roderick L. Abad

@rodrik_28

Contributor

P

OWER Plates Development Concepts Inc. and J. Knieriem BV Power Plates (PPI-JKG) will be sanctioned by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for the alleged violation of its contract with the government to supply vehicle registration plates, specifically for the delayed delivery of the carlicense plates.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the penalties applicable for late deliveries in the past are being computed now by the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

Per the contract of the project under the Motor Vehicle License Plate Standardization Program (MVLPSP), PPI-JKG is required to supply 15 million new plates within a fiveyear period. But only four million have been distributed, resulting in a backlog of 11 million.

Tugade reiterated, though, that the deal amounting to P3.6 billion for the delivery of car license plates will remain the same.

“There will be no reduction in the contract price. It will remain the same. The savings generated due to change order [from finished plates to blank plates] will be used for the additional delivery of blank plates and RFID stickers,” he said.

The DOTr said in a statement “there is no legal basis to cancel the contract.”

The LTO made an advanced payment of P477.9 million to the carplate supplier.

On July 13, 2015, the Commission on Audit (COA) issued a notice of disallowance against it, claiming irregularities in the allocation of the agency’s budget.

In view of this order, outgoing Abakada Party-list Rep. Jonathan A. dela Cruz and incumbent Parañaque City Second District Rep. Gustavo S. Tambunting nixed the implementation of the LTO-MVLPSP. This led the Supreme Court (SC) to stop the DOTr and LTO from distributing 700,000 pairs of license plates turned over by the Bureau of Customs to the latter.

Their delivery was stalled for a

year at Manila port after PPI-JKG failed to settle its P40 million taxes and customs duties. They were just released to motorists early this year when the highest court in the country declared the funding for the MVPSP as legal.

The Supreme Court ruled the 2014 General Appropriations Act included an appropriation for the program and the use of the appropriation is lawful.

Then after six months, the COA also canceled the notification against the LTO license plate standardization program.

“In January 2018, the Supreme Court lifted its temporary restraining order and dismissed the petition questioning the constitutionality of

the procurement, while the Commission on Audit lifted its Notice of Disallowance on the advance payment for the deal last July, effectively clearing the contract of irregularities,” DOTr said.

Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. had made a statement that he would file a resolution into the decision of DoTr to reconsider the supposedly anomalous contract.

Apart from the company’s alleged clear violation of Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Act, he said PPI-JKG allegedly committed violations of critical provisions of its multibillion-peso contract, such as sub-contracting leading to the delivery of mediocre product output.

briefs

RANGER DRIVES FORD PHL AUGUST SALES

FORD Philippines said its August retail sales reached 1,706 vehicles, led by the Ranger, Everest and EcoSport. The Ranger posted August sales of 898 vehicles, pushing its year-to-date sales up 16 percent to 7,616 vehicles. The Everest midsize SUV recorded sales of 391 vehicles, driving its year-to-date sales to 3,979 vehicles.

The EcoSport mini-SUV contributed to the August total with 331 vehicles, pushing its year-to-date sales to 3,989 vehicles.

C.P.G. DROPS ‘FORBES MEDIA TOWER’ NAME

PROPERTY developer Century Properties Group Inc. (CPG) on Monday said it dropped the name of Forbes Media Tower, an office building in its property in Makati, to rename it Century Diamond Tower. The change of name was meant to build equity for the Century brand as it grows its leasing business along with the support of a strong and professional management team. VG Cabuag

www.businessmirror.com.ph

PSALM shells out ₧7 million to indemnify families affected by 2013 oil spill in Iloilo

By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

T

HE Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp.

(PSALM) has shelled out over P7 million worth of indemnities to the families and enterprises in Estancia, Iloilo, affected by the oil spill from Power Barge (PB) 103 at the height of Supertyphoon Yolanda in November 2013.

The 32-megawatt (MW) PB 103, owned by PSALM and operated by the National Power Corp., was swept aground by strong winds and rising storm surge whipped up by Yolanda.

“PSALM paid a total of P7,329,987 worth of indemnities from the first to the sixth batches of claimants,” the state firm said on Wednesday.

On September 3 the state firm said it resumed the distribution of compensation checks. The latest batch of beneficiaries hailed from several different barangays of Estancia.

In April this year, 110 of the 673

MUTUAL FUNDS

claimants had successfully processed and submitted Notices of Loss, prompting the GSIS adjuster, Claims Services International Adjusting Co., to endorse their claims for settlement by GSIS. The indemnity paid out for this recent batch of claimants amounted to P586,177.

In addition to the individual indemnity checks, PSALM, likewise, extended aid to the provincial government of Iloilo in November 2013 amounting to P2 million.

PSALM had awarded to Kuan Yu Global Technologies Inc. the P87.21million cleanup operations contract.

Kuan Yu Global Technologies Inc. was tasked to do the siphoning and transfer of usable fuel oil from PB 103 to 101-102, refloating of PB 103, towing of the refloated power barge to the dry docking facility, containment of oil spill and cleanup of the affected shoreline, and disposal and treatment of waste oil and debris.

September 12, 2018

NAV ONE YEAR THREE YEAR FIVE YEAR Y-T-D

PER SHARE RETURN* RETURN STOCK FUNDS ALFM GROWTH FUND, INC * 254.99 -8.3% 0.89% 2.13% -13.03% ATRAM ALPHA OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.* 1.4487 -12.16% 5.58% 2.85% -9.27% ATRAM PHILIPPINE EQUITY OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.* 3.9746 -9.49% 2.32% 0.89% -13.46% CLIMBS SHARE CAPITAL EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND CORP.* 0.9031 -10.26% N.A. N.A. -11.2% FIRST METRO CONSUMER FUND ON MSCI PHILS. IMI, INC. * ********* 0.834 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN EQUITY FUND,INC.* 5.2693 -6.92% 0.53% 1.22% -12.37% MBG EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND, INC. * ****** 114.67 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. ONE WEALTHY NATION FUND, INC.* 0.8401 -12.91% N.A. N.A. -15.37% PAMI EQUITY INDEX FUND, INC.* 49.731 -6.76% 2.15% N.A. -11.81% PHILAM STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC.* 516.39 -7.82% 0.64% 0.5% -12.25% PHILEQUITY DIVIDEND YIELD FUND, INC.* 1.2636 -5.5% 2.46% N.A. -10.02% PHILEQUITY FUND, INC.* 36.9146 -4.57% 2.97% 3.83% -10.17% PHILEQUITY PSE INDEX FUND INC.* 5.0047 -6.37% 2.9% 4.02% -11.8% PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND CORP.* 835.31 -6.5% 2.66% 3.71% -11.67% SOLDIVO STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. * 0.8608 -6.66% -0.03% N.A. -10.99% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE EQUITY FUND, INC.* 4.1008 -5.51% 2.39% 2.55% -10.47% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND, INC.* 0.9638 -6.46% 2.73% N.A. -11.84% UNITED FUND, INC.* 3.5361 -2.78% 3.97% 2.34% -9.2% EXCHANGE TRADED FUND FIRST METRO PHIL. EQUITY EXCHANGE TRADED FUND, INC.* *** 111.5924 -5.67% 3.89% N.A. -11.4% ATRAM ASIAPLUS EQUITY FUND, INC.** $0.9875 -5.55% 4% 0.8% -10.9% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY WORLD VOYAGER FUND, INC.* $1.2832 7.82% N.A. N.A. 1.42% BALANCED FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ATRAM DYNAMIC ALLOCATION FUND, INC.* 1.6666 -7.54% -2.35% -1.27% -10.57% ATRAM PHILIPPINE BALANCED FUND, INC.* 2.2346 -6.74% 1.02% 0.9% -9.05% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN BALANCED FUND INC.* 2.5383 -5.15% -1.57% -1.84% -8.36% GREPALIFE BALANCED FUND CORPORATION* **** 1.3271 -6.26% N.A. N.A. -8.78% NCM MUTUAL FUND OF THE PHILS., INC* 1.8478 -3.84% 1.07% 0.68% -7.26% PAMI HORIZON FUND, INC.* 3.5502 -6.64% -0.42% -0.37% -9.39% PHILAM FUND, INC.* 15.8675 -7.22% -0.57% -0.35% -9.63% SOLIDARITAS FUND, INC.* ******** 2.0695 -4.76% 1.12% 2.55% -7.7% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BALANCED FUND, INC.* 3.6813 -4.38% 0.63% 1.12% -7.88% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DYNAMIC FUND, INC.* 0.9388 -4.64% 0.35% N.A. -7.99% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES COCOLIFE DOLLAR FUND BUILDER, INC.* $0.03505 -3.07% -0.28% 2.88% -2.91% PAMI ASIA BALANCED FUND, INC.* $0.9644 -4.95% 3.19% -0.55% -7.89% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ADVANTAGE FUND, INC.* $3.6424 3.8% 5.54% 3.72% -0.28% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR WELLSPRING FUND, INC.* $1.0869 -0.88% N.A. N.A. -2.27% BOND FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM PESO BOND FUND, INC.* 341 1.55% 1.72% 1.66% 1.15% ATRAM CORPORATE BOND FUND, INC.* ******* 1.86 -1.7% -1.17% -0.21% -1.71% COCOLIFE FIXED INCOME FUND, INC.* 2.9263 5.38% 5.34% 5.33% 3.7% EKKLESIA MUTUAL FUND INC.* 2.1197 0.12% 1.06% 1.09% 0.83% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN FIXED INCOME FUND,INC.* 2.218 -0.08% -0.06% 0.2% 0.08% GREPALIFE FIXED INCOME FUND CORP.* P 1.5802 -1.66% -1.56% -1.47% -1.82% PHILAM BOND FUND, INC.* 3.9005 -4.93% -1.46% -0.62% -3.69% PHILEQUITY PESO BOND FUND, INC.* 3.4763 -0.29% -0.44% 0.12% -0.81% SOLDIVO BOND FUND, INC. * 0.8928 -4.4% -1.86% N.A. -3.29% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BOND FUND, INC.* 2.767 0.08% 0.11% 0.44% -0.36% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY GS FUND, INC.* 1.5349 -0.67% -0.34% -0.25% -0.96% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES ALFM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. * $444.81 -0.04% 2.31% 3.29% -0.25% ALFM EURO BOND FUND, INC. * Є213.12 0.29% 1.3% 1.73% -0.28% ATRAM TOTAL RETURN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC.** $1.1197 -1.25% 1.1% 2.09% -1.27% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC.* $0.0248 -1.2% 0.68% N.A. -0.8% GREPALIFE DOLLAR BOND FUND CORP.* $1.7029 -5.18% -0.11% 1.86% -3.87% MAA PRIVILEGE DOLLAR FIXED INCOME FUND, INC. N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. MAA PRIVILEGE EURO FIXED INCOME FUND, INC. ЄN.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. PAMI GLOBAL BOND FUND, INC* $1.0336 -5.1% -1.06% -2.04% -3.72% PHILAM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC.* $2.1621 -4.18% 0.86% 3.21% -3.95% PHILEQUITY DOLLAR INCOME FUND INC.* $0.0568319 -1.02% 0.98% 2.18% -0.64% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ABUNDANCE FUND, INC.* $2.8987 -4.84% 0.86% 2.35% -3.79% MONEY MARKET FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM MONEY MARKET FUND, INC.* 119.69 2.25% 1.63% 1.43% 1.77% PHILAM MANAGED INCOME FUND, INC.* 1.1728 1.72% 0.35% 0.36% 1.33% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY MONEY MARKET FUND, INC.* 1.2064 2.33% 2.11% 1.35% 1.76% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR STARTER FUND, INC.* ***** $1.0098 N.A. N.A. N.A. 1.11%

* - NAVPS AS OF THE PREVIOUS BANKING DAY ** - NAVPS AS OF TWO BANKING DAYS AGO *** - LISTED IN THE PSE.

**** - RE-CLASSIFIED INTO A BALANCED FUND STARTING JANUARY 1, 2017 (FORMERLY GREPALIFE BOND FUND CORP.).

***** - LAUNCH DATE IS NOVEMBER 6, 2017 ****** - LAUNCH DATE IS JANUARY 08, 2018 ******** - RENAMING OF THE FUND WAS APPROVED BY THE SEC LAST APRIL 13, 2018. ********* - BECAME A MEMBER SINCE APRIL 20, 2018. ******* - ADJUSTED DUE TO CASH DIVIDEND ISSUANCE LAST JANUARY 29, 2018

A BusinessMirror Specia

B4 Thursday, September 13, 2018 | www.businessmirror.com.ph

DPWH’s Mark Villar: Govt ready to fulfill ‘

A

By VG Cabuag

CONSTRUCTION executive once said: “The Philippines is like a teenager wearing kid’s clothes.

We have outgrown our clothes.”

As the economy grows, the country’s infrastructure, many of which were built during the Marcos era, cannot keep up.

Traffic jams are a common sight in many Metro Manila streets on almost the entire day and night times. These are also being felt in major cities in the country such as in Cebu, Davao and Iloilo.

The Duterte administration promised what they called the “Golden Age of Infrastructure” in the Philippine during his term as it seeks to continue what

the previous government has started. However, midway into his term and with the upcoming mid-term elections, critics say no significant infrastructure project has been started.

Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark A. Villar, however, is quick to say that big-ticket infrastructure projects take time as they are now following a master plan of most projects, instead of just patchy works.

“We have to manage expectations. These master plans are not easy to do. A feasibility for

the master plan of a large-scale project takes almost a year. The detailed engineering can take six months even if it’s a major project,” Villar explained at a recent BusinessMirror Coffee Club forum.

Villar, the son of former Senate President Manuel B. Villar Jr., said that the wait is over and that they are ready to fulfill’s Duterte’s promise of a golden age.

“So these will be the years when you will see the construc-

F2 LOGISTICS

ON THE MOVE TO NATION-BUILDING

By Leony R. Garcia

T

he government is set to spend P8 to 9 trillion from 2017 to 2022 for the Build, Build, Build (BBB) Infrastructure program, which seeks to accelerate infrastructure spending and develop industries that will yield robust growth, create jobs and improve the lives of Filipinos.

Now have we ever wondered how the massive project is being done simultaneously in these parts of the country with all the necessary materials and equipment ready all the time at the right places? Have we ever asked how these construction goods get delivered to them so quickly as soon as the project sites need or ordered them? One answer: Logistics Logistics, as a business concept, evolved in the 1950s with the increasing complexity of supplying businesses with materials and products in globalized supply chain. Today, the business sector uses this term to describe the efficient flow and storage of goods from point of origin to the point of consumption. Logistics plays an essential part in supply chain management. It is used to plan and coordinate the movement of products timely, safely and effectively.

“The supply chain is a vital part

of this process, including transportation, shipping, receiving, storage, and management of all these areas. At F2 Logistics, we have applied logistics to information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging, disposal, and security, said Efren Uy, President and Chief Executive Officer of F2 Logistics Philippines, Inc. Incorporated in 2006, F2 Logistics has grown to be a complete integrated business solution to partners that offers end-to-end and cost-efficient, diverse logistics services to all market segments in all channels across most industries with top clients and business partners coming from the Top 500 taxpayers rank of the Philippines.

For the construction projects, F2 Logistics delivers construction materials to partners construction companies for various infrastructures and establishments in the country such as Panay Island, Batangas, Cebu and Davao in Mindanao.

“On chartered vessel, for example, we load cement here from abroad, all the way down to whichever area they were intended to be delivered. From the whole vessel, we unload the cement, put them on the warehouse and deliver them to the provinces along with other

materials such as scaffoldings, etc.

We have been doing that, making us partner of the government in the construction and building projects,” he said.

As partner of business individuals and enterprises, F2 Logistics has also played as business solution provider. If one product needs to move from one area to another, F2 Logistics informs their customers to move deliveries to places where they are highly needed.

Packed with twelve years in the business of providing logistics solutions, F2 Logistics plays an important role on nation-building.

“We bring fresh food, medicines, basic commodities, construction materials, clothing, etc. direct to the people, so maybe it’s about time we can cut down costs for the Filipino people. We cut red tape and processing time, and hopefully it’s about time for people to enjoy cheaper commodities,” Uy explained.

“Logistics is a never-ending process. We cannot let the supply chain stop. We need to move as we also move the country’s economy.

Definitely, the BBB program is good for our industry. It will create more roads and bridges and make transportation seamless but more importantly, it is beneficial for all of us, Filipinos,” he concluded.

al Feature

BUILD, BUILD

www.businessmirror.com.ph | Thursday, September 13, 2018 B5

‘Golden Age of Infrastructure’ promise tion of many of these large-scale projects,” he said.

The DPWH, the principal engineering and construction arm of the government, is mainly focused on building roads and bridges, but it also has projects on flood control systems, water resource development projects and other public works geared towards the attainment of sustainable growth and development, according to the agency.

“The Philippine national road network is in a continuous state of improvement as it plays an important role in the economic development of the country. The condition of national roads is often used as an index to assess the extent of the country’s progress,” the DPWH said.

As such, the Duterte administration is pouring more money into the agency to carry out several infrastructure projects.

Villar pointed out that the agency now has a budget of P650

billion, or more than half of the P1.06-trillion budget for the government’s Build, Build, Build program. The said amount does not include the private-sector led initiatives.

He said DPWH’s current budget is a significant improvement from the budget allocated by the previous administration.

The Aquino administration gave a budget for the agency at just P110.63 billion in 2011 and improved this to P397.11 billion in 2016.

Villar, however, said with the current larger budget, the country was able to improve its investments in infrastructure to 5 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, from the previous administration’s 2 percent of GDP, the measure of all goods and services produced locally.

“But when compared with other countries, they are spending more in infrastructure. The GDP growth of China reaches 10 percent and even India at the

same pace of growth. If we want to achieve high growth we need to invest in high yielding investments like infrastructure,” Villar said.

As the Philippines still lags behind even its Southeast Asian neighbors on infrastructure spending, Villar said the government is making sure that it can hurdle any roadblock that will be in the way of the BBB.

Funding, he said, has been resolved for these projects since a number of financial institutions had earlier agreed to lend money to many construction firms. Finished projects and those that are already in operation can be listed at the Philippine Stock Exchange so the proponent can raise funds to pay off its debt.

Supply issues

ONE issue, however, that hounds the projects pertains to supply.

There were concerns of construction supply issues if and when the infrastructure projects start to roll.

HOLCIM PLEDGES STEADY CEMENT SUPPLY, INNOVATIONS FOR BUILD, BUILD, BUILD

T

OP officials of building solutions provider Holcim Philippines, Inc. recently met with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez to share the company’s initiatives to better support the government in upgrading the country’s infrastructure through stable supply of quality cement nationwide.

Holcim Philippines Chairman Tomas Alcantara, President and CEO John Stull and Senior Vice President for Sales William Sumalinog personally expressed the company’s willingness to further build up its production capacities in light of the increased cement demand driven by the government’s massive infrastructure investments. They also assured the DTI compliance to product standards to ensure highest quality and performance.

“DTI has implemented new initiatives and policies to encourage investments to create more employment opportunities, and at the same time support the government’s

plans for progress. I am happy to hear Holcim’s commitment to implement cement capacity expansion to ensure that our infrastructure and construction requirements will be well supported and generate additional employment,” Lopez said.

Holcim Philippines is currently implementing projects that will raise its cement capacity nationwide to 12 million metric tons by 2019 from the current 10 million metric tons.

The Company is studying further investments on additional clinker lines with the construction sector expected to sustain its strong growth amid the healthy economy.

“The Company recognizes the strong potential of the Philippine market and is committed to continue being a partner in its progress as seen by our efforts to improve operations and competitiveness,” said Alcantara.

For his part, Stull noted that the Company has been rolling out new technologies and approaches that enable local builders to deliver

projects within deadlines and budgets. A key focus is blended cements that are not as energy intensive to produce but deliver superior results for building.

“Our Company supports the DTI’s drive to maintain the high standards for cement which is critical especially at this time of high construction activity. We also want to reassure them that Holcim Philippines can be counted upon to provide the market not just with high-quality cement, but innovative construction solutions that help the country build better with certainty,” he said.

Holcim Philippines officials assure Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) their commitment to stable cement supply for the country’s building boom during a courtesy visit to Secretary Ramon M. Lopez on 24 August 2018. From left are Holcim Philippines Senior Vice President for Sales William C. Sumalinog, Chairman Tomas I. Alcantara, DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez and Holcim President and CEO John Stull.

Contractors, Villar said, have already done their massive investments in equipment and suppliers of construction materials are already reserving with their respective sources in anticipation of huge orders.

For example, SteelAsia, the country’s largest manufacturer of steel, has been ramping up its production the past few years, driven much by the growing demand from the construction industry. It recently reported topping the one million metric tons of rebars for the first semester.

Building solutions provider Holcim Philippines Inc. recently met with Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez to share the company’s initiatives to better support the government in upgrading the country’s infrastructure through stable supply of quality cement nationwide.

Holcim Philippines’ current projects are seen to raise its cement capacity nationwide to 12 million

metric tons by 2019 from the current 10 million metric tons.

Villar banks on the assurances of the government’s private partners. “There are still challenges. But people are coping because they are anticipating the BBB (implementation),” he said.

On the other hand, the skyrocketing inflation figures were feared to have put at risk some of the projects that have long been allocated a budget and are just waiting for the government’s go-ahead.

“I don’t see any delay. A lot of the prices in the inflation is fueled mostly by the agricultural [issues], so for us I don’t think the effect is that large. We have provisions,” he said.

“Regularly, we update our unit price analysis. We update our contracts regularly. The contractor are also a factor in these also. There would be fluctuations in price, that cannot be avoided.

But it’s (inflation) a short term problem the government will act

quickly,” he said.

Manpower

THEN there’s another supply issue—of skilled workers and laborers who will carry out such massive projects. Villar said the DPWH is regularly holding job fairs, every two to three months, in coordination with other government agencies, mainly in anticipation of these projects as it now competes with the private sector-led project that has the same magnitude.

He said they found out that most of the people that they accepted were returning engineers and laborers that came from Saudi Arabia and other Middle East nations.

“I’ve seen them personally; I've met them personally; and I’ve heard their stories. Some of them were hired by our contractors on the spot,” Villar said on the skilled workers. And with all the concerns in place, Villar said that they are making sure that the country’s Golden Age of Infrastructure will finally become a reality.

A4 B6 Thursday, September 13, 2018

News

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Ompong seen hiking farm-gate price of corn

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

T

HE farm-gate price of corn may go up further if Typhoon Ompong (international code name Mangkhut) would batter farms in Northern Luzon, according to the Philippine Maize Federation Inc. (PhilMaize).

“Definitely the prices would go up because there would be scarcity in supply.

Prices would really go up,” PhilMaize President Roger V. Navarro told the BusinessMirror in an interview.

The current farm-gate price of yellow corn hovers above the P14-per-kilograms level, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Navarro said farm-gate prices corn went up in recent months as farmers delayed their planting. Erratic weather conditions also affected production, he added.

The PhilMaize chief said he does not see the farm-gate price of corn going below P14 per kg in the succeeding months due to the expected increase in demand.

“We now have a different supply chain that needs a lot of corn. This supply chain is driven by the industrial market, which is determined to keep up the prices high,” he said. The industrial market includes cornstarch makers, beer producers and 3-in-1 coffee producers.

Navarro said industrial users are huge

volumes of corn at P14 to P16 per kg. “This will now be the norm in our prices.”

The Department of Agriculture earlier said the corn sector in Northern Luzon could lose as much as P6.2 billion due to Ompong. In its estimates, the DA said that about 483,000 hectares of corn fields are in the pathway of the typhoon.

The DA also projected that farmers in Northern Luzon could lose about 257,111.31 metric tons (MT) of corn due to the typhoon.

Based on the monitoring of the DA, corn planted in about 265,160 hectares, or about 54.84 percent of the total standing crops as of August 31, are already in their reproductive stage.

Region 1 is projected to suffer the brunt of Typhoon Ompong as it accounted for about 54.36 percent of the total standing crops, according to DA estimates.

In a worst-case scenario, Region 1 could lose 75,545.98 MT of corn planted in about 262,853 hectares with an estimated value of P2.982 billion.

Region 2, the country’s top corn producer, is also seen to incur losses of about P2.97 billion, from the possible destruction of about 201,487 hectares with an estimated output of 166,885.5 MT. “The moderate scenario shows an estimated corn damage amounting to P4.2 [billion],” Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said.

Address latent TB infection, solve a resilient disease S

By Marane Plaza

PEAKING before participants of this year’s annual convention of the Philippine Coalition Against Tuberculosis or PhilCAT, Dr. Aamir Khan, an epidemiologist and executive director of Interactive Research and Development based in Karachi, Pakistan, stresses that even if health systems were able to find and instantly treat every new case of tuberculosis or TB, the epidemic would still not be stopped.

“People who are already infected will continue to become future TB disease cases and spread the disease further. Shrinking that reservoir of people who are infected with TB is the only way to stop the epidemic,” he reminds his audience.

He explains that aside from protecting people from exposure to TB bacteria, there should be a campaign to treat people who have been exposed to TB with preventive therapy.

An effective strategy, Khan explains, is to screen people who live or work in settings with a higher active TB exposure risk so that they can be treated and protect others from infection.

Among these individuals include those who have spent time with someone who has active TB disease; those who live or work in high-risk settings (for example: correctional facilities, long-term care facilities or nursing homes, and homeless shelters); healthcare workers who look after patients with increased risk for TB infection; as well as infants, children and adolescents who are exposed to adults who may be harboring the active form of TB.

Preventive therapy

AFTER testing comes preventive therapy.

“What we have successfully done in Karachi [Pakistan] in terms of patient compliance is to employ shorter treatment regimens to treat latent TB infection: Rifapentine and isoniazid once weekly dosing for three months was offered as an alternative to the usual six months of isoniazid as preventive treatment. Another is Rifampicin plus isoniazid daily for three months. These shorter regimens helped our patients adhere to their treatment and complete it,” reports Khan.

The good news according to Khan is that preventive therapy can significantly reduce the chance of people belonging to high-risk groups of becoming sick with active TB disease if they are infected.

He tells his audience that he looks forward to implementing a similar guidelines in the Philippines as they offer a number of opportunities, including simpler, shorter, preventive TB regimens, that will help reinvigorate TB prevention for high burden countries like the Philippines.

This year, PhilCAT is campaigning to strengthen a campaign to identify those who have latent TB infection and give them prompt treatment.

Editor: Angel R. Calso | www.businessmirror.com.ph

Asian leaders fault US, say open global trade best growth option

H

ANOI, Vietnam—A top Chinese official and leaders of several Southeast Asian countries said on Wednesday that moves by the US to limit trade and protect American businesses pose a grave threat to the world economy.

Uncertainty and destabilizing factors threaten to undermine growth, Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua said at a World Economic Forum meeting in Hanoi, convened as Washington and Beijing have imposed penalty tariffs on tens of billions of dollars’ worth of each other’s products in an escalating trade conflict.

Hu, like the others, did not mention President Donald J. Trump by name but said some countries’ “protectionist and unilateral measures are gravely undermining the rules-based regime, posing a most serious hazard for the world’s economy.”

The consensus of speakers at the gathering in Vietnam’s capital, focused on how Southeast Asia will cope with the so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution—a shift to automation and artificial intelligence that threaten models for growth based on low-cost export manufacturing—was that opening markets further is the only option for future growth.

“History teaches us that self-isolation leads nowhere,” Hu said. “Openness and cooperation are the only correct choice.”

The economy of Vietnam has boomed as companies like Honda and Samsung have set up big production bases, making the country a major exporter but also leaving it vulnerable to trade friction.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo drew laughs by likening trade wars to “infinity wars” in a reference to this year’s movie Avengers: Infinity War, based on Marvel’s comics.

“We must prevent the trade wars from becoming the infinity war,” Widodo said. He did not mention Trump by name, but drew hearty laughs and claps when he quipped, “You may be wondering who is Thanos?” in a reference to the movie’s villain.

Thanos was not one single person, but “inside all of us,” Widodo said.

“It’s the misguided belief that in order for us to succeed, others must surrender. It is the misperception that the rise of some must mean the decline of others,” he said.

Singapore’s prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, likewise said the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations would work to keep markets and investment open and protect the “rules-based” trading system.

In big, fast-growing economies like Vietnam and Indonesia, 3D printing and digital-based businesses like ride-sharing company Grab are expanding quickly and creating new jobs to replace old ones lost as robots replace workers on factory floors.

In smaller, less-developed countries like Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar that are still struggling to catch up with their neighbors, the spread of relatively basic technologies, such as cell phones, is helping drive huge changes, said Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi. She noted that in just five years, the cost of a cell phone in Myanmar had plunged to just $1.50 from $1,500.

It’s not just leapfrogging but a “quantum leap,” she said. AP

CHINA PUTS OFF LICENSES FOR U.S. COMPANIES AMID TARIFF BATTLE

B

EIJING—Amid a worsening tariff battle, China is putting off accepting license applications from American companies in financial services and other industries until Washington makes progress toward a settlement, a business group says.

The disclosure on Tuesday is the first public confirmation of US companies’ fears that their operations in China or access to its markets might be disrupted by the battle over Beijing’s technology policy. China is running out of American imports for penalties in response to President Donald J. Trump’s tariff hikes, which has prompted worries regulators might target operations of US companies.

The license delay applies to industries Beijing has promised to open to foreign competitors, according to Jacob Parker, vice president for China operations of the US-China Business Council. The group represents some 200 American companies that do business with China.

In meetings over the past three weeks, Cabinet-level officials told USCBC representatives they are putting off accepting applications “until the trajectory of the US-China relationship improves and stabilizes,” Parker said.

Chinese authorities have promised to increase foreign access to areas including banking, securities, insurance and asset management.

“There seem to be domestic political pressures that are working against the perception of US companies receiving benefits” during the dispute, Parker said.

As for what improvement might entail, Parker said Chinese officials want an end to Trump’s tariff hikes and a negotiated settlement. He declined to identify the officials but, in a sign Beijing wants foreign companies to help lobby Washington, said the meetings represented “unprecedented access” for his group.

Beijing matched Trump’s earlier tariff increase on $50 billion of imports but is running out of American goods for retaliation due to their lopsided trade balance. China bought American goods worth about $1 for every $3 of goods it exported to the United States.

Trump is poised to decide whether to raise duties on $200 billion of Chinese goods. Beijing has issued a $60-billion list of goods for retaliation. AP

The World BusinessMirror

Thursday, September 13, 2018

B7

B8 Thursday, September 13, 2018

GETTING SMART ABOUT PACKAGING

I

NDUSTRY 4.0 is a hot topic among manufacturers, with attention focused mainly on the application of industrial Internet of things (IIoT) to advanced factory automation for discrete manufacturing. The promise to producers is of lower costs through reduced inventory and lower energy usage, improvements in quality control and productivity, and the insights management can gain from the greater availability of more accurate information.

Although the processes of batch manufacturing differ in fundamental ways from the exact precision required by discrete manufacturers, Industry 4.0 concepts definitely offer advantages to the food and beverage (F&B) industry, and consumers too will benefit from the application of Smart Factory principles.

Smart-sensing technology, for example, can be used to improve aspects of the manufacturing process such as food safety and track and trace, as well as improved packaging and new product development.

It is no secret that the way consumers shop is changing.

Increasingly, the customer journey involves online product research before purchase, and studies have shown that as many as 84 percent of shoppers in the US use their smartphones before or during a visit to a store to gather product information, and

those who do convert to buyers at a 40-percent higher rate.

Retailers and manufacturers are therefore under pressure to find ways to interact with the customer at the point of sale, in order to influence the purchase decision. This means smart packaging, labelling and POS collaterals that go beyond the traditional limitations and communicate with consumers on multiple levels.

Within Southeast Asia, Epson is also working with manufacturing customers in the region for RFID colorlabel solutions for packaging that utilizes color coding for easy identification of inventory in place of barcodes.

Data is encoded into the RFID label for identification, track and trace purposes or warehouse management, and can also help in counterfeit prevention.

HOLCIM, U.P. PARTNER FOR SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION COURSE

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UILDING-SOLUTION provider Holcim Philippines Inc. has tied up with the University of the Philippines (UP) for an elective course this year on how the construction industry can have a more positive long-term impact on development. Holcim Philippines’s Sustainable Construction course (CE197 Elective), offered to the UP Institute of Civil Engineering (UP-ICE) students, aims to teach the next generation of builders the advantages of sustainable construction or designing and executing projects that balances economic, environmental and social interests. This concept is the primary advocacy of the global LafargeHolcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction, which encourages the building industry to play a bigger role in shaping a sustainable future.

Guest lecturers from Holcim Philippines, as well as other industry experts, will discuss the topics under the course for the first semester of the current academic year.

The course will include topics such as sustainable design, environmental and social issues in construction, and the latest in building solutions and innovations.

Holcim Philippines President and Chief Executive Officer John Stull thanked UP-ICE for the partnership and

encouraged more young professionals in the building industry to take on the challenge of executing projects with sustainability in mind.

“The construction industry has a direct role in development. If the industry shifts toward a more sustainable path, it can have a more positive impact.

Through this program, we hope to raise awareness among some of the country’s future builders that they can help lead the industry towards building better,” he added.

In the fourth quarter, Holcim Philippines will also conduct a series of talks in engineering and architecture schools across the country to discuss and promote sustainable construction. The activity also intends to promote student participation in the global contest of the LafargeHolcim Foundation, the world’s most significant competition for sustainable design.

Held every three years since its launch in 2005, the contest rewards projects and visionary concepts that go beyond balancing environmental performance, social responsibility, and economic growth. $2 million in prizes are awarded every cycle for regional and global winners in the student and professional categories.

GENIETECH, RAMCO IN ASSOCIATION WITH P.M.A.P. HOST FREE LEARNING FOR PHILIPPINE H.R. COMMUNITY

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ITH the changing human resource (HR) landscape in the Philippines, technology-solution companies Genie Technologies Inc. (GenieTech) and Ramco Systems are pushing to help local HR practitioners through free learning sessions. These technology companies hosted their first free seminar in partnership with the People Management Association of the Philippines, in a bid to help human resource (HR) practitioners in driving the employee experience of the future.

The event focused on “Tsunami of HR Changes: Redefining Employee Experience of the Future.” It gathered more than 80 HR executives and decision-makers from various organizations across Metro Manila to share valuable insights on the latest trends in HR. Among the guests who graced the event was Rene Gener, executive director of PMAP. He noted that in today’s digital shift, it is integral for HR practitioners to refresh their knowledge of the latest HR technologies. He said that “these tools are now changing our workplaces as organizations integrate them into their operations to streamline HR tasks.”

Sharing his views, Harsh Vardhan, chief marketing and ecosystem officer of Ramco Systems, said that “HR technology plays an enhanced role in the digital landscape. As these digital technologies thrive, they also become instrumental in preparing the workplace, as well as the workforce, to embrace the tsunami of changes ahead. It urges HR professionals to

redesign their own function and ride on the wave of change rather than being swamped by it.”

Aside from discussing the role of technology, other resource speakers also highlighted valuable insights and best practices in HR. Among these speakers were Eric Riego De Dios, HR director of Baker McKenzie Global Services; Jeffrey John de la Cerna, HR head of National Grid Corp. of the Philippines; and Pryncess Esguerra, HR operations director of JG Summit Holdings Inc. GenieTech, together with its partners, continue conducting similar free sessions in the coming months to provide a venue for HR practitioners to learn and share their insights.

“As a company, we are serious with our aim to help transform how HR works in the Philippines. We believe that we can make this goal a reality through these free learning sessions,” said Allan Aniversario, sales head for Ramco HCM of GenieTech.

To learn more about GenieTech and its upcoming events, visit https://www.gti.com.ph/.

In photo are Prakash Ramnath, director of Global Marketing and Partnerships of Ramco Systems; Mahesh Gopinath, chief operating officer of GenieTech; de la Cerna; Almira Navarro, marketing manager of GenieTech; Esguerra; Aniversario; and Sirish Krishna Pallevada, country manager of Ramco Systems Philippines.

RAMCO SYSTEMS WINS MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR SOFTWARE DEAL FROM A.P. CARGO

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P Cargo Logistic Network Corp., the Philippines’s leading domestic provider of express logistics for air cargo and other goods, implements Ramco Systems’ logistics software to streamline its freight operations nationwide.

Ramco, an award-winning provider of enterprise software on cloud, mobile and tablets, beat local and global vendors to secure partnership with AP Cargo; and rolls out its integrated logistics platform benefiting more than 1,600 finance and human-resource (HR) employees, covering over 500-plus fleet, reducing manual workloads and generating cost savings while automating tedious administrative tasks.

The partnership comes at a time when Philippines is rapidly adopting information-technolog y solutions to ramp up its logistics capabilities and infrastructure. According to ResearchAndMarkets.com, the Philippine freight and logistics market is expected to be worth $60.22 billion by 2023, with the rise of e-commerce, Internet penetration and increased spending power anticipated to boost demand.

Ramco, which sets up its Philippine subsidiary in mid-2016, has been witnessing stupendous growth in the region, with nearly 40 percent of the new order booking for Asia Pacific in 2017 and this year coming from Philippines. Ramco’s continued thrust on logistics segment and focus on employing some of the innovative minds locally have been strengthening the company’s position in the region.

As part of the agreement, Ramco implements its unified, mobile-friendly

modules for transport-, hub-, warehouseand fleet-management visibility; and rating and billing, and finance and accounting integrated with end-toend HR- and payroll-compliant with Philippines’s statutory requirements at AP Cargo.

Say Virgilio R. Villacorte, president and chief executive officer (CEO); and Vincent John S. Villacorte, vice president for business operations of AP Cargo, “The decision to automate our manual systems with a future-ready logistics suite is part of a larger strategy to overhaul our supply chain. Ramco’s unified solution will offer real-time operational visibility and better planning capabilities, enabling us to arrest revenue leakage and boost productivity to drive overall growth. Ramco has a great track record as a logistics-software provider in the Philippines, and we are excited to work with them for our digital transformation.”

Says Virender Aggarwal, CEO, Ramco Systems, “We are pleased to announce AP Cargo as our latest customer in the logistics and shipping space. Logistics is the backbone of global trade, and the Philippines has enjoyed remarkable

growth in recent times. Our intelligent, mobile-friendly enterprise suite has won us the trust of customers throughout the Philippines, helping local enterprises optimise their operations and meet the changing demands of commerce in the region.

“Having already secured partnerships with leading logistics providers in the Philippines, we have built our solution to address specific pain points in this market and enable clients to leapfrog the competition. This win represents another milestone in our ongoing journey to strengthen our presence in the high-growth Asean economies,” Aggarwal adds.

Ramco logistics software is an integrated cloud-based platform for thirdparty logistics, freight forwarders and parcel-/courier-service providers seeking a high-performance logistics software.

An integrated end-to-end solution that can link every stage of a logistics chain and bring all the functionalities under a single technology platform, which is flexible, scalable, cognitive and ready to adapt to change is helping the solution attract customers worldwide.

BEYOND THE BOX WINS INTERNATIONAL TRAINING COMPETITION

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EYOND the Box Philippines proudly bagged the championship at a n i mprompt u t ra i n i ng video competition at the Bandung Trainers Camp held from July 16 to 20 in Bandung, Indonesia. Beyond the Box was represented by Arvin Dumo, training specialist; and Raffy Col ico, t ra ining super v isor. T he duo competed against trainers from several countries, namely, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Vietnam, Cambodia and Bangladesh.

The mini symposium and competition on July 19 was given a different twist from the question-and-answer format of previous years. This time around, the camp included participants from nine other countries, which made the competition more intense. “This was not my first time to represent the company in this camp, but this year not only were there more competitors, [but also] more effort was given by the trainers,” Colico said. “What made it different was the extra effort we all put in to make sure that our message would be easily and effectively delivered to those who would watch our video.”

“Before the competition started we were given guidelines to consider when creating our video, and what

stuck with us was to ‘Keep it simple.

Keep it local.’ This meant we needed to consider our audience, such as the use of language and terminologies that they are familiar with,” Dumo said.

“The importance of knowing who your audience was underscored throughout the entire process. You need to be able to simplify what you want to say. And how do you do that?

By knowing your audience well.”

Raffy, who has been with Digits Trading Corp. for 12 years, also shared how trainers can set themselves apart from the rest. “We [trainers] are similar regardless where we come from.

What differentiates us is on how we facilitate, how we tackle the topic, and approach the audience so that they learn during each training session.” During the camp Arvin, albeit, being relatively new in the company was also given the chance to talk about the company’s best practices.

This competition allowed the Training and Development team, headed by Bodjie Pamintuan, to showcase the skills of its trainers, which reflects on the company’s sales team performance and their ability to effectively market to

Filipino users.

Beyond the Box is proudly owned and operated by Digits Trading Corp.

For the latest on Beyond the Box, Like them on Facebook at http://www. facebook.com/pg/beyondthebox.ph or visit beyondthebox.ph.

CAPTURE, SHARE THAT SPECIAL #CLOUD9MOMENT

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VERY day ushers in significant moments that make our lives even more meaningful: The sweet reunion with an old friend, the much-awaited promotion, the romantic first kiss, the birth of a new family member. These are some of the many feel-good experiences, or “Cloud 9 moments”, that we can treasure.

What better way to appreciate and celebrate these Cloud 9 moments than to capture and share them with the world.

For the third year of its Cloud 9 Moments campaign, Jack ’n Jill Cloud 9 invites everyone to share life’s remarkable events with the “What’s Your Cloud 9 Moment?” online promo.

To join, participants can simplyuploadontheirFacebook account a photo or video of their Cloud 9 moment. They should also include a caption that tells the story behind it, post it with the hashtag #Cloud9Moment, and tag Jack ’n Jill’s Cloud 9’s Facebook page (@Cloud9Chocolate).

Cherish every feel-good moment and celebrate them with Jack ’n Jill Cloud 9’s delicious chocolate bars that are loaded with soft nougat, crunchy peanuts and luscious caramel. Bite into the rich milk chocolate goodness of Cloud 9 Classic or enjoy the creamy white chocolate taste of Cloud 9 White. Revel with the double chocolate treat of Cloud 9 Choco Fudge or delight in a bar of nutty goodness of Cloud 9 Overload.

Spread good vibes by telling the world about your #Cloud9Moment. Join What’s Your Cloud 9 Moment? online promo for a chance to win iPhone X units, GoPro Hero 6, and other amazing prizes. To join or learn more about Jack ’n Jill Cloud 9’s campaign and promo, visit its Facebook page (@Cloud9Chocolate).

THIS Mark Knight’s cartoon published by the Herald Sun depicts Serena Williams as an irate, hulking, big-mouthed black woman jumping up and down on a broken racket. The umpire was shown telling a blond, slender woman—meant to be Naomi Osaka, who is Japanese and Haitian—”Can you just let her win?” AP

POLITICALLY Sports CORRECT? BusinessMirror

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| Thursday, September 13, 2018 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

CARLOS RAMOS will work at the best-of-five Davis Cup series between the United States and Croatia. AP

By Rod Mcguirk

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The Associated Press

ELBOURNE—A controversial cartoon of Serena Williams that has been widely condemned as a racist depiction of the tennis great has been partially reprinted on the front page of the Melbourne-based newspaper that initially published it.

The Herald Sun newspaper printed an edited portion of the cartoon—featuring 23-time Grand Slam winner Williams jumping on a broken racket during her dispute with a chair umpire in the US Open final—among caricatures of other famous people on Wednesday under the headline “Welcome to the PC World.”

The newspaper has defended its cartoonist Mark Knight’s depiction of Williams and is asserting the condemnation, which has come from all parts of the world, is driven by political correctness.

“If the self-appointed censors of Mark Knight get their way on his Serena Williams cartoon, our new politically correct life will be very dull indeed,” the paper printed on its front page.

By Doug Ferguson

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The Associated Press

EWTOWN SQUARE, Pennsylvania—Justin Rose would like to have changed how he reached No. 1 in the world.

But not when.

Rose felt emotionally conflicted when the BMW Championship ended in a light rain at Aronimink Golf Club.

He was going for his third title in the Philadelphia area, including the US Open he won at Merion five years ago. He hit what he thought was one of the better putts he had ever struck under pressure, a 15-footer for par in regulation, only to see it spin hard around the back edge of the cup.

And then in a playoff, his five-foot par putt missed to the left, making Keegan Bradley a winner for the first time in six years.

The consolation prize was obvious: Rose replaced Dustin Johnson at No. 1 in the world.

“In the moment, we’re all about trying to win a golf tournament,” Rose said. “But give me half an hour maybe, and I might be able to say I really enjoyed it.”

Reflection came much sooner in the form of a tweet: “We did it Dad.... World Number 1. Thank you so much to my family, friends & everybody that has helped me achieve this incredible goal.”

The words were accompanied by a photo of Rose from that Sunday afternoon at Merion when he hit all the right shots and became a major champion. He is shown pointing to the sky to acknowledge his father, Ken, who died of leukemia in September 2002.

The day Rose became No. 1 in the world was the anniversary of his death,

Williams has won the Australian Open singles title seven times at Melbourne Park, including 2017 when she was pregnant. She is a crowd favorite at the first tennis major of the year, which is held each January at a venue that is within sight of the Herald Sun’s headquarters.

In comments published by News Corp., Knight said that he created the cartoon after watching Williams’s “tantrum” during her US Open final loss to Naomi Osaka on Saturday and that it was designed to illustrate “her poor behavior on the day, not about race.”

Knight reportedly has disabled his Twitter account after his post of the cartoon attracted tens of thousands of comments, mostly critical.

During the final against Osaka, Williams got a warning from the chair umpire for violating a rarely enforced rule against receiving coaching from the sidelines. An indignant Williams emphatically defended herself, denying she had cheated. A short time later, she smashed her racket in frustration and was docked a point. She protested and demanded an apology from the umpire, who penalized her a game.

Critics of Knight’s cartoon described it as a clear example of a stereotype facing black women, depicting Williams

a day the son never forgets.

No, he didn’t get the trophy awarded after four rounds.

Rose got a title earned over the last two years by a mathematical formula, and over the last 20 years by sheer determination.

“It’s boyhood dreams, know what I mean?” Rose said. “Today is all about the process, and there will be next week to win tournaments. But to get to world No. 1 is unbelievable. It’s something I can say now in my career I’ve been the best player in the world. I’ve been to the top of the game.”

And what a trip.

He was a 17-year-old amateur at Royal Birkdale in 1998 who holed out for par on the final hole to tie for fourth, soaking up a celebration that suggested golf could only get sweeter.

And then it went sour over the next year when he turned pro and missed 21 consecutive cuts on the European Tour.

It took him nearly four years before he won for the first time in Europe. He went 12 years before winning on the PGA Tour, rallying from four shots behind to win the Memorial and get that handshake with Jack Nicklaus. He won the US Open in 2013 by denying Phil Mickelson. He added precious gold to the collection of silver trophies when he won in golf’s return to the Olympics in 2016.

All he won on Monday at Aronimink was a designation that can’t be taken away.

Rose is the 22nd player to reach No. 1 in a world ranking that began in 1986. He is the fourth player from England, joining Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Nick Faldo. Argue about the math, but not the results.

In the last year Rose has four victories, including a World Golf Championship, and four runner-up finishes.

as an irate, hulking, big-mouthed black woman jumping up and down on a broken racket. The umpire was shown telling a blond, slender woman—meant to be Osaka, who is Japanese and Haitian—”Can you just let her win?”

“I was deeply offended. This is not a joke,” said Vanessa K. de Luca, former editor in chief of Essence magazine, who wrote a column about the US Open furor.

The cartoonist “completely missed the point of why she was upset,” De Luca told The Associated Press. “It was about her integrity, and anybody who doesn’t get that is perpetuating the erasure that so many black women feel when they are trying to speak up for themselves. It’s like our opinions don’t matter.”

In a social-media post, Peter Blunden, managing director of News Corp’s operations in the state of Victoria, said: “Australia’s finest cartoonist Mark Knight has the strongest support of his colleagues for his depiction of Serena Williams’s petulance. It’s about bad behavior, certainly not race. The PC brigade are way off the mark...again.”

RAMOS TO WORK U.S.-CROATIA CUP DUEL THE chair umpire who penalized Serena Williams a game in

Sure, it’s awkward to celebrate one title right after losing another. It’s not unusual, though.

Jordan Spieth reached No. 1 in the world for the first time with a runnerup finish in the 2015 Professional Golfers’ Association Championship.

Martin Kaymer was assured No. 1 when he reached the final of the Match Play Championship in Arizona, only to lose the next day to Luke Donald.

Greg Norman, Rory McIlroy and Vijay Singh each returned to No. 1 by losing in playoffs. The first time Nick Faldo reached No. 1, he was home recovering from a wrist injury.

Rose is the third player this year to be No. 1, following Johnson and Justin Thomas. He joins eight other players in the last 20 years to win a major and a World Golf Championship and reach No. 1 in the world. The others are Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Adam Scott, Jason Day, Rory McIlroy, Singh, Kaymer and Johnson.

How long will it last?

Rose is assured of staying No. 1 when he returns next week to the Tour Championship.

But it really doesn’t matter.

For Rose, the 20 years and seven weeks it took him to reach the top was as rewarding—certainly memorable— as the moment he got there.

From 21 consecutive missed cuts to No. 1 in the world.

Two months ago, he had to make an 18-foot putt on the 18th hole at Carnoustie just to make the cut. Two days later, he was runner-up at the British Open. It was only the latest example in a career filled with them that better days are ahead.

He has the No. 1 ranking to prove it.

the US Open final has been assigned to officiate the Davis Cup semifinal matches between the United States and Croatia, The Associated Press has learned.

International Tennis Federation (ITF) Spokesman Heather Bowles confirmed to the Associated Press on Tuesday that Carlos Ramos was chosen to work at the best-of-five series between the countries that begins on Friday and concludes on Sunday in Zadar, Croatia.

The US team includes Jack Sock, Sam Querrey, Steve Johnson, Mike Bryan and rookie Frances Tiafoe.

Ramos was in the chair at Flushing Meadows last Saturday when Naomi Osaka won her first Grand Slam title by beating 23-time major champion Williams 6-2, 6-4. That match descended into chaos—with thousands of spectators booing and both players crying during the trophy ceremony—after Williams confronted Ramos about his rulings.

Williams, a 36-year-old American, was fined a total of $ 17,000 by the US Open’s tournament referee the next day for three code violations.

On Monday the ITF, which oversees the Davis Cup, issued a statement defending Ramos, saying his

“decisions were in accordance with the relevant rules” and that his rulings were “reaffirmed by the US Open’s decision to fine Serena Williams for the three offenses.”

“Ramos undertook his duties as an official according to the relevant rule book and acted at all times with professionalism and integrity,” the ITF statement added.

The governing body’s support for Ramos came after the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), which operates the women’s tour, was critical of the way things went between him and Williams in New York.

“The WTA believes that there should be no difference in the standards of tolerance provided to the emotions expressed by men vs. women and is committed to working with the sport to ensure that all players are treated the same,” the tour’s CEO, Steve Simon, said in a statement. “We do not believe that this was done last night.”

Williams was cited by Ramos for getting coaching signals; for breaking her racket, which automatically cost her a point because it was her second code violation of the match; and for calling Ramos a “thief,” which cost her a game because it was her third code violation.

From 21 consecutive missed cuts to No. 1 in the world

REFLECTION for Justine Rose comes much sooner in the form of a tweet. AP

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Business

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SPORTS PLUS

B’Pinoy Nationals opening postponed THE Batang Pinoy National Championships in Baguio City will open on Monday—instead of Saturday—because of the potential threat of Typhoon Ompong, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William Ramirez announced on Wednesday.

The two-day postponement was a joint decision by Ramirez and Baguio City Mayor Atty. Mauricio Domogan.

Domogan, after consultations with the city’s Risk Reduction and Management Team and the PSC secretariat, decided to cancel the opening ceremonies—but promised a “grand closing celebration.”

Some 7000 athletes, coaches and officials are expected for the Batang Pinoy Nationals, according to PSC Deputy Executive Director Atty. Guillermo Iroy.

The games will be played primarily at the Athletic Bowl and in several venues in Baguio City and La Trinidad.

Ramirez assured the PSC will support delegations, which would need assistance because of the postponement.

3x3 Golden League reset to later date MEDIAPRO Asia and SINA have decided to postpone the 3x3 Golden League Manila tournament set on September 13 and 14 at the Taft Food by the Court and on September 15 at the Vista Mall Taguig because of Typhoon Ompong.

Tournament organizers came to a decision to postpone the event to ensure the safety of the participants as weather forecasters said Typhoon Ompong, is being categorized as a super typhoon, and is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility on Thursday.

“We decided to postpone the tournament on a later date for the safety of not just the players who will be competing but also our technical officials and even fans. Their safety is our top priority,” 3x3 Golden League Manila commissioner Allan Caidic said.

Caidic added the 3x3 Golden League Manila tournament will be moved to a different date, which will be announced in the next 48 hours.

60s team triumphs in Asean srs hoops

THE 60s team of the Filipino-Chinese Veterans Basketball Association (FCVBA) rolled to its second straight win by crushing Hat Yai-B, 73-42, to advance to the semifinals of the 27th Asean Basketball Veterans Tournament on Tuesday at the Prince Songkla University Gym in Hat Yai, Thailand.

Former Philippine Basketball Association player Elmer Reyes struck hardest for the 60s with 26 points, while ex-La Salle star Kenneth Yap and Danny Ching combined for 24 points.

The Edster Sy-coached FCVBA will go for a sweep when it battles Miri of Malaysia on Wednesday.

Backed by Rain or Shine’s Terry Que, Freego’s Eduard Tio and Ironcon’s Jimi Lim, the 65s are also bidding to sweep of the group eliminations when they take on the Malaysians from Miri.

Also contributing for the 60s were Andrew Ongteco, Aries Franco, Elmer Latonio, Jose Go and Ramon Mabanta.

The 60s squad is gunning for a fourth straight title in the annual tournament, while the 65s are eyeing a third consecutive title.

PBA sets deadline for Fil-foreign cagers FILIPINO-FOREIGN players hoping to join the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Rookie Draft will have until October 26 to submit their applications and requirements to become eligible for the December 16 exercise.

Contestability period on the eligibility of Filipino-foreign draftees will be from October 30 to November 29. Local born applicants, on the other hand, have until December 3 to apply and submit their requirements.

The league will also release the final list of eligible Filipino-foreign players on December 3.

The traditional Draft Combine will be on December 12 and 13, while the final list of draft applicants for the league’s 45th season will be issued on December 14.

Commissioner Willie Marcial will preside over his first draft proceedings two days later.

GUIAO’S ARMY READY FOR IRAN T

HE Philippines goes after powerhouse Iran in the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers on Thursday at the Azady Gym Tehran with a roster laced with new players.

The game is set at 8:30 p.m. (Manila time).

Head Coach Yeng Guiao named his final 12 lineup led by Christian Standhardinger, Gabe Norwood and Paul Lee, and also anchored by Beau Belga, Raymond Almazan, Poy Erram, Asi Taulava and Ian Sangalang.

Manning the backcourt are Alex Cabagnot, Marcio Lassiter, Scottie Thompson and Allein Maliksi.

“It’s going to be a tough team. The more we watch the video[s], the more we study how they play, the more the challenge gets bigger and bigger,” Guiao said.

“I’ve said this before—you play Iran anywhere, it’s going to be a tall order for you to beat them. But if you play them in Iran, that’s even a taller order,” he added.

It will be the Philippines first match since its ugly brawl against Australia last July at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan that resulted to the suspension of 10 Filipino players and Coach Chot Reyes.

Citing “unsportsmanlike behavior of its delegation members and of its public, as well as for insufficient organization of the game,” Fiba also fined the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas P13 million.

That was the last tour of duty for Reyes, who was tasked to focus on the 2023 Fiba World Cup. Now, with the task on the hand right on

Highlands Ladies golf tourney set

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HE Highlands Ladies Cup (THLC) will feature not only an 18-hole fun-filled competition but also focus on the organizing Tagaytay Highlands Ladies Chapter’s social commitment with proceeds of the 13th staging of the September 29 event benefitting the Sisters of Mary boys and girls town complex in Silang, Cavite.

The THLC has been assisting the Sisters of Mary, with the mission of education for employment, for the past decade as part of its social commitment to help the underprivileged youth fulfill their dreams by way of allotting part of the proceeds of the annual event for the center.

Another full-packed

Guiao’s shoulders, the retooled team tries stay in the top 3 of the zone to earn an outright berth to the World Cup next year in China.

Iran and Australia lead the group with 5-1 won-lost records, followed by the Philippines with 4-2.

Guiao opted to exclude 7-foot center Greg Slaughter, as the big man has yet to recover from an ankle injury.

National team revelation Stanley Pringle was also cut with Guiao going for ceiling and took Standhardinger instead.

As expected, 7-foot-2 mammoth Hamed Haddadi will be at the forefront of Iran’s assault.

Haddadi, a former National Basketball Association player, averaged 16.8 points and 12 rebounds in four games for his team.

“We worry a lot about Haddadi because of his size, because of his experience, and he’s very intelligent—he knows how to make use of his assets,” Guiao said.

Iran also has a slew of talented players led by veteran forward Nikka Bahrami and second-best scorer Behnam Yakhchali.

But Guiao believes his squad is capable of pulling off a surprise right in their turf.

“Coming off a decent Asian Games campaign despite a short preparation, I’m hopeful that we could put up a good fight against Iran,” he said.

roster braces for a friendly but competitive tournament backed by Auto Nation Group Inc., Pacific Online and W Group as Diamond sponsors.

It will be played under the System 36 scoring format with big prizes at stake in various categories and in the raffle draw during awards rites.

Three huge prizes will also be staked for hole-in-one feats, including a Royal Caribbean International cruise for two on No. 17 and the Kuala Lumpur and Coron trips on Nos. 3 and 6, respectively.

In case no one scores an ace, all prizes will be raffled off.

Powerball Gaming, San Miguel Corp. and Security Bank make up the Platinum sponsors list, Kaiser Health Group, Lucerne and Royal Caribbean Int’l are the event’s Gold backers while ComWorks Inc., HBC, New Golden City Builders, PLDT-SME, Regent Travel Corp. and SM Retail are Silver sponsors.

Other supporters of the annual event are bronze sponsors Baron Travel Corp., Burlington Socks, Concrete Masters, Dickies, First Life Financial Co. Inc., H&E Mfg., Liwayway Marketing Corp., Marie France, Orocan, Parola Maritime Corp., Peerless Products, RCW Construction Dev’t Corp., Santi’s, SL Agritech Corp., SM Hotels, Studio337 Salon & Spa, Unilever and URC, and donor Splendido Golf.

Ramon Rafael Bonilla ALEX CABAGNOT (from left), Marcio Lassiter and Scottie Thompson are bringing their act to the international stage.

HALL OF FAME NOMINATIONS DEADLINE EXTENDED

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OMINATIONS for the third batch of sports heroes who will be enshrined to the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame have been stretched to two more weeks.

This decision to move the deadline to September 30 was reached after the screening and review committees met on Tuesday at the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) offices at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.

PSC Chairman William Ramirez, who heads the Selection Board, led discussions where timelines, guidelines and parameters were reviewed by the body composed of Games and Amusements Board Chairman Abraham Mitra, Philippine Olympians Association President and former PSC Commissioner Akiko Guevara and national sports association representative from Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas Bernie Atienza.

“We have to be careful and thoughtful in selecting the next Hall of Famers,” said Ramirez after discussing the gravity and importance of bestowing the title on a Filipino athlete or coach.

The nomination is open for accomplished athletes, coaches and trainers between the years 1924 to 1984.

Hall of Fame Secretariat Head Anna Christine Abellana said that nomination forms, guidelines and criteria are posted at the PSC web site and Facebook page.

The review committee included Tabloid Organization in Philippine Sports President Ed Andaya and veteran sports journalist Jun Lomibao.

They will be joined by colleagues Randy Caluag, PSC-Philippine Olympic Committee Media Group President Jun Navarro, Philippine Sportswriters Association President Dodo Catacutan and two other sports journalists.

Milliam, Velez shine in Sarawak tilt

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LEXA MILLIAM pulled off victories in singles and doubles while John David Velez ruled his side as the Unified Tennis Philippines (UTP) junior national team stamped its mark the 13th Asian Tennis Federation tournament in Sarawak, Malaysia, recently.

Milliam rebounded from a tough second-set loss and routed Malaysia’s Lim Lim Zan Ning in the decider, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, to claim the girls’ 14-and-under crown, while Velez notched the boys’ singles title over compatriot Rupert Tortal practically via the same fashion, 6-1, 5-7, 6-1.

Milliam also took the doubles plum with Tortal teaming up with Brent Cortes to nail the boys’ doubles diadem.

The four-title romp came on the heels of the team’s two singles finals appearances in

the International Tennis Federation-AGS Junior Tennis championships in Indonesia last month.

“I have always believed that Philippine tennis has so much potential—and the way to produce champions is to make the game more inclusive, develop and scout for young Pinoy talents no matter where they may come from. Another key is a solid grassroots program that will hone the skills of the upcoming talents,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, president and founder of UTP, which includes Cebuana Lhuillier, Palawan Pawnshop, Babolat, Head, Chris’ Sports, Dunlop, Toby’s Sports, Wilson and Decathlon.

Up next in the UTP calendar is the Cebuana Lhuillier Girls’ Tennis Challenge where the champions will represent the country in the WTA Future Stars in Singapore next month.

COACH Roland Kraut (left) poses with (from left) John David Velez, Alexa Milliam, SLTA President Patrick Liew, Brent Signmond Cortes, Rupert Tortal and Rainier Selmar.

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UKA SASO and teammates Bianca Pagdanganan and Lois Kaye Go put premium on their careers over and above a windfall of cash incentives for their golden effort in the 18th Asian Games and opted to donate at least P4 million in bonuses from government to the national golf program.

The principal reason? They are barred from receiving any monetary reward for their exploits on the golf course.

In an official statement from the National Golf Association of the Philippines through its secretarygeneral, Bones Floro, which was e-mailed to media outfits late Wednesday, the trio announced their decision not to accept the cash incentives.

“Due to immutable circumstances...we are unable to accept any and all forms of financial reward. At present, two of us are actively playing in the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the United States, with the third, soon to follow. We will automatically lose our amateur status the moment we keep these incentives, as well as the opportunity to continue representing the Philippines in the future,” the ladies said in the statement.

“We unanimously agreed that, if it were possible to donate this money to support the national golf program—and thus help other aspiring golfers reach their goals—this would be the best scenario for us. “After consulting the world golf governing body, The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of Saint Andrews, we were advised that this was a viable option. We are thus confident that the NGAP will allocate these resources in a prudent, equitable and ideal manner, consistent with our intentions.”

Saso won the individual gold medal in the Jakarta Palembang Asian Games and helped Pagdanganan and Go to the team championship.

Counting the titles won weightlifting’s Hidilyn Diaz and skateboarding’s Margielyn Didal, the Philippines won four gold medals in the Games.

The cash incentives for gold medalists from government was doubled—now P4 million—after President Duterte ordered for another P2 million for the winners during ceremonies with the medalists in Malacañang on Wednesday afternoon.

The Athletes and Coaches Incentives Act provides for a P2-million bonus for a gold medal, with the private sector chipping in their own rewards—P2 million from the Philippine Olympic Committee and P1 million each from Siklab Foundation of Presidential Adviser for Sports, Secretary Dennis Uy, and Ambassador to Indonesia Lee Hiong Tan Wee.

FEU, Ateneo gals beat hoops rivals

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AR Eastern University (FEU) and Ateneo gained a share of the early lead after posting contrasting victories on Wednesday in University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 81 women’s basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Valerie Mamaril and Fatima Quiapo combined for 18 points, while graduating center Clare Castro pulled down 11 rebounds as the Lady Tamaraws beat University of the Philippines (UP), 69-55, for a 2-0 won-lost record.

Alyssa Villamor and Joanne Nimes each scored 18 points, while Jollina Go tossed in 15 markers as the Lady Eagles edged University of the East (UE), 68-66, to also post its second straight win.

The Lady Maroons and the Lady Warriors fell to 0-2.

FEU posted another double-digit win, following up its season-opening 52-34 romp of UE. Surviving another close game, Ateneo opened its campaign with a 64-60 squeaker over UP.

Pirates seek win No. 12 vs EAC 5

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YCEUM of the Philippines University tries to inch closer to sweeping its way straight to the finals as it faces off with Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) on Thursday in the 94th National Collegiate Athletic Association seniors basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

The Pirates booked their 11th straight win at the expense of a game Jose Rizal University (JRU) Bombers, 82-76, last Friday and will try to push the right buttons to extend their streak to 12 in their 2 p.m. game.

The Pirates swept all 18 games of the eliminations to advance to the finals last season— but were eventually swept in the Finals by the San Beda Red Lions.

But Lyceum Coach Topex Robinson doesn’t want to look any further.

“We’ll just try to focus on what we need to do each game and try to improve on whatever we do,” Robinson said. “If it comes, it comes.”

Robinson is more concerned on his team’s consistency, which was tested in a close 82-76 win over the upset-conscious Bombers.

It was a game where Lyceum trailed, 63-68, early in the fourth quarter before rediscovering its rhythm in time to turn things in its favor.

Interestingly, EAC (2-8) also gave Lyceum a scare before the Pirates dominated the fourth quarter to hack out a 106-97 win in the first round last July 13.

JRU (2-9) and Mapua (2-8) try to breathe some life to their dying Final Four hopes as they collide at 4 p.m.

Thursday, September 13, 2018

SASO AND CO. DONATE BONUSES TO GOLF BODY

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PART OF THE GAME

The UAAP Extravaganza

GOLD medalists Margielyn Didal, Hidilyn Diaz and Yuka Saso stand out in a historic photo for medalists in the recent Jakarta Palembang 18th Asian Games with President Duterte in Malacañang on Wednesday. Also in photo are boxing silver medalist Rogen Ladon, Executive Assistant Salvador C. Medialdea, Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William Ramirez, Philippine Olympic Committee Chairman Rep. Abraham Tolentino, Presidential Adviser for Sports Dennis Uy, Ambassador to Indonesia Lee Hiong Tan Wee and national sports association officials.

BLUE EAGLES IN WIN COLUMN A

TENEO kept University of the Philippines (UP) in check with a 87-79 victory on Wednesday to avoid what could be a disappointing start in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81 men’s basketball action at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Coming off from a shocking loss to Adamson University last Sunday, the defending champions came prepared to regain their lofty billing while frustrating the Fighting Maroons’ bid to go unbeaten early in the season.

But the Blue Eagles had to endure a 29-point outburst from UP’s Juan Gomez de Llano as well an 8-0 run by their Katipunan neighbors that cut the gap to 75-70 gap in the final quarter.

“It’s really hard. UP is a great team,” Ateneo Head Coach Tab Baldwin said.

The Blue Eagles were licking the wounds from a forgettable 70-74 loss to the Soaring Falcons. Baldwin, who is in his third year with the team, admitted that the league is a lot tougher than what they had in the summer.

“It’s the realization that the UAAP is a different animal from the offseason.

The intensity today was a better reflection of the team we want to be,” he said.

Thirdy Ravena registered a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds for Ateneo. His fellow starters Anton Asistio, Ivory Coast native Kakou Kouame and Matt Nieto combined for 42 points.

Only Paul Desiderio scored in double figures with 15 he complimented with six rebounds and

six assists for the Fighting Maroons, who beat the University of the East Red Warriors, 87-58, on opening day Saturday.

The young guns of University of Santo Tomas (UST), meanwhile, showed veteran wits in the waning seconds as the Growling Tigers outlasted the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 76-74 also, on Wednesday.

Rookie Germy Mahinay scored with one minute and 44 seconds left, while transferee Ken Zamora scored on a gutsy drive with less than 20 seconds remaining to give UST a 7671 breather.

Although Arvin Tolentino drained a triple in FEU’s next possession to trim the gap to two, the Growling Tigers held their ground to preserve the victory.

UST Head Coach Aldin Ayo could not hold back tears as he relived the rough campaign the school had in the past season.

“The [UST] community deserves the victory. They are giving a tremendous support to the program,” Ayo told the post-game press conference.

“I know it’s too early, but we should not be contented with this win,” he said.

“I just want to help the university.”

It was UST’s only fifth win in two seasons. In Season 80, the Growling Tigers won only one of the 14 eliminations games.

Henri Subido led the Growling Tigers with his 18 points, while Marvin Lee, Joshua Marcos and Steve Akomo scored 13, 12 and 10, respectively.

Prince Orize led the Tamaraws with game-highs 25 points and 15 rebounds.

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas’s Joshua Marcos is double-teamed by Far Eastern University’s Alec Stockon (2) and Hubert Cani. ROY DOMINGO

BULLDOGS BAG MEN’S CROWN N

ATIONAL University (NU) used a strong start and a stronger finish as it repeated over University of Santo Tomas (UST), 25-21, 2518, 25-14, to clinch the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Season 2 Collegiate Conference men’s crown via a sweep at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan on Wednesday.

Bryan Bagunas blasted in 18 kills and finished with 20 points, powering the Bulldogs to a sweep of their best-of-three series and a breakthrough PVL crown that came just four months after nailing the University Athletic Association of the Philippines title.

Unlike in Game One where NU needed to overcome an opening set defeat to post a 21-25, 25-23, 25-18, 25-17 victory, the Bulldogs imposed their will early, sustained their charge in the second frame before dominating the Tigers in the

third to complete the rout.

Far Eastern University (FEU) clinched third place, also via sweep, with a 25-21, 17-25, 30-28, 25-23 victory over Adamson University.

Meanwhile, University of the Philippines’s Isa Molde bagged the conference’s women’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) trophy after norming 15.14 points in the elims while 30.25-percent success rate in attacks and 0.48 service aces per set. The fourth-year Lady Maroon also played superb floor defense with 3.96 digs per set while powering UP to a breakthrough Finals appearance and eventually the first-ever championship.

Molde also bagged the 1st Best Outside Spiker award, while teammate Aie Gannaban took the 2nd Best Middle Blocker honors. Other awardees were Adamson’s Bernadette Flora (2nd Best Outside Spiker) and teammates Eli Soyud (Best Opposite Spiker), MJ

Igao (Best Setter), Adamson University’s Tonnie Rose Ponce (Best Libero) and FEU’s Celine Domingo (1st Best Middle Blocker).

Paolo Pablico shared center stage as the Adamson U skipper took the MVP plum in the men’s side after averaging 15.1 points with a 41.34-percent success rate in attacks in the elims.

Pablico, who also bagged the 2nd Best Outside Spiker trophy, placed third in the scoring department and eighth in the attacking percentage.

Other awardees were Bagunas (1st Best Outside Spiker), who was also named the Finals MVP; John Paul Bugaoan of FEU (1st Best Blocker), UST’s Jayvee Sumagaysay (2nd Best Blocker); UST’s Joshua Umandal (Best Opposite Spiker); Timothy Tajanlangit (Best Setter), and Ricky Marcos of NU (Best Libero).

THE University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) opened in a spectacular manner over the weekend, with no less than National Basketball Association (NBA) champion Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors gracing the opening. That made it historic, awesome and bombastic!

But Steph Curry was just one marvelous feature among others.

The whole opening ceremonies was like a mini Asian Games or even an Olympics type of opening. The colors were dazzling, the lights were magical, the performers captivating in their techno-neon garb. Truly starstudded in a showbiz kind of way, the UAAP opening staged by host school National University also featured pop heartthrob James Reid, K-Pop star Minzy and Sponge Cola in an extravaganza that made the crowd scream deafeningly, like in a rock concert.

Well, after all, it WAS a rock concert. Some say this season’s opening departed from the homegrown presentations of member schools, but judging from how the Mall of Asia Arena rocked and heaved with the surprises host NU had in store, this was the most crowd-applauded, jawdropping, scream-worthy UAAP opening ceremonies ever. Which makes Season 81 a class in itself already.

Here are five reasons why UAAP Season 81, is watch-worthy all season long.

1. That Opening Number OPENING ceremonies leveled up with the show by immrsv Asia Inc., the first Philippine-based company dedicated to 3D mapping, large-scale projections and immersive technology. The group transformed the Arena into a techno-wonderland of sensational images on a gigantic LED wall that enhanced the performances, added drama to all the presentations— from the parade of athletes to the oath of sportsmanship led by Steph Curry—and gave everyone present a “Cirque de Soleil” level experience.

There was a “cast of thousands” feel to the whole show: eight “Greek statues” led the eight member schools’ contingents, 25 dancers swirled and quick-stepped to the music, 47 NU Underdogs, the school’s street dance club, provided the funky flavor; 30 NU Pep Squad members added more thrills and visual excitement, 20 additional dancers upped the ante and a 50-piece NU chorale provided the solemn sounds for the occasion.

The audience came alive with twinkling immersive bands and glue sticks.

This opening number definitely set the bar high and should bring in more crowds for future UAAP opening ceremonies to come.

2. Up For Grabs IF previous seasons had clear winners already picked out even during opening day, Season 81 looks like an anything goes year. Judging from the way the eight teams performed during opening weekend, no one has a sure claim on the Season 81 trophy—although Ateneo, by way of being defending champion and because of their awesome performance in the Jones Cup, is still the favorite for Top Dog. The first games, except for the University of the Philippines’ rout of University of the East in the opener, were tight contests. There were no clear winners even in the final seconds. It’s gonna be a wild and wooly, unpredictable, super exciting basketball season.

3. New Look Teams EVERYBODY has stepped up—without exception. The most dramatic change seems to be with the UP Fighting Maroons who now boast of a Man in the Middle—Bright Akhuetie—and rookies like David Murrell, Will Gozum, James Spencer and Jaydee Tungcab who have boosted UP’s strength in various positions. UP’s opening day game showed no jitters at all. Instead, the Maroons oozed with confidence and seemed tougher, more relentless than anyone can remember in the league’s long history.

Yet, UE was a new look team as well, with former Ateneo Juniors coach Joe Silva now riding the bench, and rookie Allan Beltran already creating situations on the first day. Other rookies beefed up the Lepanto team: Ric Gallardo, Jan Sobrevega, Bryan Lacap and Jason Strait. And Alvin Pasaol looks svelter than ever.

Other new look features : Coach Aldin Ayo doing the same fiery things and super rookie CJ Cansino impressing for University of Santo Tomas; Jerom Lastimosa hustling and scoring for Adamson University; SJ Belangel and Angelo Kouame beefing up the Ateneo Blue Eagles with a slimmer Mike Nieto and a returning Adrian Wong; the Brothers Ildefonso, Shaun and Dave, hot starting for NU and breaking UST’s heart in the cliffhanger second game. De La Salle sporting Twin Towers in Taane Samuel and Brandon Bates, hadn’t Samuel suffered a “Gordon Hayward” experience just five minutes into the game against FEU; and the Far Eastern U Tamaraws appearing to be the steadiest of the teams in terms of personnel with no big change or addition to its core.

4. Brother Act WATCH out for the UAAP movie called “My Brother’s Keeper”. There are more brother acts to follow after Mike and Matt Nieto. The GDLs—Javi and Juan Gomez De Liaño—are showing they share chores not just at home but in the hard court as well. Get more used to seeing Juan dish out a pass, or a bounce, or an alley oop to Kuya Javi as the season moves on. Get a dose of the Ildefonsos entertaining the crowd as well with their well-oiled passes and I’ve-got-your-back-Brother mentality. Throw in Dad Danny Ildefonso into the mix too as he constantly gives pointers to either of his juniors during timeouts.

5. Spectacular Shots THAT midcourt shot by Jeric Ahanmisi with 3 seconds left before the half of the Adamson-Ateneo game was as spectacular as spectacular can get.

Ahanmisi made the Adamson crowd boil over with delight. Through sheer spirit and relentless execution of coach’s directions, the Falcons pulled off the unexpected: defeat highly touted Ateneo in the end game. Expect more spectacular plays all season long from the colorful cast of characters in the UAAP extravaganza.

6. More Surprises EVERY year, the UAAP adds something new to talk about. In Season 79, host school UST added a Ballroom Dancing Competition. In Season 80, host school FEU introduced the UAAP 3-on-3. This year, National University put on the very first one-on-one, Last One Standing, on show even before the season officially began. And yet, we hear there’s even more to look forward to. If we heard right, there will be an Arnis competition in the UAAP sometime this season. Three-on-three basketball will again be staged and formation ballroom will be back. This is really going to be an entertaining UAAP Season 81. The Opening Ceremonies set the tone for the season-long show. Now all we have to do is enjoy it.

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By Tim Dahlberg The Associated Press

AS VEGAS—For a sport often given up for dead, boxing is suddenly very much alive.

Turn on the TV and there’s probably a fight on from somewhere. Tune in, and there’s a good chance even the most casual boxing fan will find something to like.

The heavyweight division is coming back, and there’s a group of welterweights so talented they are bringing back memories of the 1980s, when fighters like Sugar Ray Leonard, Tommy Hearns and Marvelous Marvin Hagler ruled the ring and the biggest fights were magical affairs staged outdoors on the Las Vegas Strip.

Networks are getting into bidding wars for fights, and a string of new deals means there’s more boxing on free television than ever before.

And, of course, there’s Saturday night.

That’s when Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez step into the ring at the T-Mobile Arena to try to settle what they couldn’t the first time around in a hotly anticipated showdown with the middleweight title at stake. The fight is a rematch of their draw last September, and this time both fighters have made it clear they just don’t like each other.

It’s a combination that should make this a pay-perview worth reaching into the wallet for, though it’s not cheap. Boxing still insists on a buy-in for its biggest fights, and at $84.95 to watch at home, this fight needs to deliver in a big way to justify the cost.

Whether it does won’t be known until the two actually get into the ring together in a fight delayed from May after Alvarez tested positive for a performanceenhancing drug. But there’s a lot to like about two big punchers meeting to settle things at 160 pounds the way fighters used to do it back in the day.

“I believe it will be a big drama show,” Golovkin said.

“I wanted the first fight to be a big drama show, but he wouldn’t fight me.”

Golovkin’s complaint about Alvarez not standing toe-to-toe with him in the first fight isn’t his only issue with the rematch. He also believes Alvarez is a cheater, and dismisses his claim that eating tainted meat in his native Mexico led to the positive test for clenbuterol.

“It’s very strange because we know what happened.

He was caught for doing illegal substances,” Golovkin said through an interpreter. “As far as his stories about the meat, you have to be really stupid to believe these kind of stories after being caught doping.”

Golovkin’s other complaint centered on the purse split for the fight. Alvarez, who was a proven pay-per-view draw, got 70 percent of the take in the first fight, and was supposed to get 65 percent in the second, had it happened in May as planned.

But Triple G stood his ground, finally getting a 45-percent share after already booking another fight elsewhere that would have paid him only a

MUST-SEE T.V. CANELO ALVAREZ (left) and Gennady Golovkin pose during a weigh-in in Las Vegas in September 2017. AP

Sports BusinessMirror

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| Thursday, September 13, 2018 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

fraction of the millions both he and Alvarez will make for their showdown.

All of which, of course, has raised some bitter feelings in the Alvarez camp.

“It’s definitely more personal now. I really don’t like him,” Alvarez said. “It’s personal, and I take it that way. It will make me train harder and give it the extra push to knock him out.”

The fight itself is a classic matchup that has the potential to deliver more than the first fight, a good scrap that

lacked the drama of knockdowns and ended in a draw that satisfied neither fighter. Whether it does largely depends on the chances both fighters take—or refuse to take.

Golovkin, the Kazakh who lives in Los Angeles, thought he won the first fight easily, even though one judge had it 118-110 for Alvarez. Golovkin did win the early rounds, and seemed to be controlling the action until he faded late in the fight.

Golovkin, who has knocked out almost everyone put in front of him (38-0-1, 34 knockouts) has vowed

to be more aggressive in the rematch. Alvarez, too, says he has some new tricks he will pull out to try to regain a fan base upset with him after his positive test for PEDs. Whatever the strategy, it’s the kind of fight that might have taken place it in the 1980s, when the best fought the best under the stars at Caesars Palace. Boxing is on a roll again, and the biggest fight of the year should set a tone for the sport moving forward.

A year after they first met, Golovkin-Alvarez II is once again must-see TV.

MLB commemorates 9/11 anniversary

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EW YORK—In a way, Don Mattingly was about as far from the hustle and bustle of downtown New York City as an ex-ballplayer could be on the morning of September 11, 2001.

The former New York Yankees captain was cleaning out stalls on his horse farm in Indiana when he heard the horrible news on the radio: Two planes had crashed into the Twin Towers in Manhattan, destroying the World Trade Center landmarks and undoubtedly killing thousands of people.

So he went inside.

“I felt like I watched TV for like three weeks straight,” Mattingly said. “Just couldn’t take my eyes off the TV.” Within a month, he returned to New York for a visit.

“Unbelievable,” he recalled. “Devastating.”

Mattingly, now managing the Miami Marlins, was back in New York on Tuesday as Major League Baseball once again commemorated the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks with ceremonies at ballparks all across the country.

A moment of silence to honor victims and first responders was held before every game.

Players, coaches and umpires wore caps with a

DENNIS WINS TIME TRIAL ROHAN DENNIS dominates the 32-kilometer stage with a time of 37 minutes and 57 seconds.

“We Shall Not Forget” ribbon patch, and MLB planned to donate all royalties from the sales of those hats to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, the Pentagon Memorial Fund and the Flight 93 National Memorial.

At Citi Field, where the Mets hosted the Marlins, more than 100 representatives from the New York Police Department (NYPD), Fire Department of New York (FDNY), Port Authority Police Department, New York City Office of Emergency Management and the City of New York Department of Sanitation lined up in full uniform along the warning track and baselines.

Players and coaches from both teams stood alongside, interspersed between them and shook hands before the national anthem was performed

by NYPD police officer Makiah Brown .

Colors were presented by the Port Authority Police Department Honor Guard in center field, and children whose parents or grandparents have fought illnesses related to the September 11 attacks took the field with Mets players.

“Obviously, a tough day for a lot of people.

Obviously, a lot going on in the city,” Mattingly said. “It feels good to be a small part of that.”

Fire Department of New York Commissioner Daniel Nigro threw out the ceremonial first pitch to former Mets captain John Franco, who grew up in Brooklyn and wore an FDNY cap.

FDNY Firefighter Regina Wilson sang “God Bless America” during the seventh-inning stretch.

Before the game, Mattingly and Mets manager Mickey Callaway wore NYPD hats as they conducted interviews. AP

SPECIAL plaques to mark the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks mark the bases. AP

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ORRELAVEGA, Spain—Rohan Dennis won his second time trial at the Spanish Vuelta on Tuesday, while Simon Yates added a few more seconds to his lead over Alejandro Valverde.

Dennis dominated the 32-kilometer stage with a time of 37 minutes and 57 seconds, nearly a minute faster than his closest competitors, Joseph Rosskopf and Jonathan Castroviejo.

“I tried to control

the start and the finish and push in the middle section, and in the end, it worked out perfectly.”

Dennis said. “I knew I was on a good ride just looking at my power.”

Steven Kruijswijk was fourth-fastest and gained the most in the general classification by moving to third overall, 52 seconds behind Yates.

Nairo Quintana dropped to fourth and was more than a minute behind the pace.

“I’m happy with my performance. I extended my lead, so as far as I’m concerned, it was a very good ride,” Yates said. “But we have a long way to go. I’m wary of the coming stages.... It’s still a long road to Madrid. I’m expecting some hard days. Our rivals are still very close.”

Valverde lost seven seconds to Yates ahead of Wednesday’s 157-km 17th stage from Getxo to Balcon de Bizkaia in Basque country, where a tough climb will await riders.

The upcoming stages also suit Yates,” Valverde said. “We’ll go day by day, let’s see what comes out of it. I’m 38 years old now.”

Dennis, of the BMC Racing Team, was the only rider to maintain an average speed of more than 50 km per hour (31 miles) on the lumpy route from Santillana del Mar to Torrelavega in northern Spain.

The Australian had already won the time trial in the Vuelta’s first stage on August 25.

Enric Mas also had a solid run on Tuesday, moving to fifth overall. AP

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Loving God

OVING God, in Jesus Christ You teach us how to sow seed on good ground. Nourish our faith and receive this prayer: God, hear us. Make Your Church attentive to those who are poor and rich, marginalized or alienated in any way. Anoint servant leaders of nations and all who seek election with wisdom, compassion and honesty. Strengthen and uphold all who suffer persecution for the Gospel. May God who blessed Saint Lawrence, with the love for the poor, fill us with every grace and blessing we need to act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with God. Amen.

GIVE US THIS DAY, SHARED BY LUISA LACSON, HFL Word&Life Publications • teacherlouie1965@yahoo.com

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

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By BenJaMin layuG

ITIO Wawa in Rodriguez (formerly Montalban) in Rizal, lies in between the 426-meter high Mount Pamitinan and 424-meter high Mount Binacayan. Its abandoned reservoir is visited mostly by hikers and mountaineers as the jump-off point for the trek to either beginner-friendly mountain, two of three mountains in a well-loved trilogy hike (the other is 517-meter high Mount Hapunang Banoi). The two mountains form a scenic view that appears like a portal to the sky, hence the name wawa, the Dumagat term for “entrance.” Wawa Gorge is also the place to be for the relatively new, adrenaline-pumping and extreme sport of rock climbing. The gorge’s 400-meter high cliffs provide different levels of difficulty for rock climbers.

Legend has it that, in olden times, folk hero Bernardo Carpio, a demigod and giant of extraordinary strength (our version of Hercules or Atlas), was said to hold the two mountains apart with his mighty hands, to prevent them from colliding.

His enemy, the enchanted king of the mountains of San Mateo (whom Bernardo defeated by in a wrestling match) had his revenge when he enticed Bernardo to enter Pamitinan Cave.

The king blocked the entrance with two gigantic boulders of rocks, and trapped him inside forever, thus shackling him to prolonged bondage. When an earthquake occurs every 100 years, it is said to be Bernardo breaking one of his chains.

It is said that when all his chains have been broken, he would then liberate all his countrymen from their own slavery. Jose Rizal was said to have made a pilgrimage to the area to pay homage to this versatile symbol of freedom. The riverbed is said to have a boulder with a hollow that forms what looks like a gigantic footprint, attributed by locals to Bernardo Carpio.

Historically, the site was used as a hide out by the revolutionary leader Andres Bonifacio, who made one of Pamitinan’s caves as the Katipunan’s secret headquarters. Here, Bonifacio and eight of his men entered the cave on Palm Sunday and came out on Good Friday. Inside, they declared independence

from Spain on April 12, 1895, over a year before the Revolution started, by inscribing on the cavern wall, in what looks like charcoal (possibly soot from a torch), the words “Viva la Independencia.”

During a three-month-long battle in 1945, the cave was turned into a Japanese armory. Many Japanese died here from American fire. In 1977 a concrete marker commemorating them was fixed on the cliff wall over the cave’s mouth. Treasure hunters are also said to be attracted by rumors of gold buried in the caves. In 1985 the cave was declared a National Geological Monument. In 1996 the area was declared a Protected Landscape managed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Tourism.

The prominent landmark of Sitio Wawa is Wawa Dam (also known as Montalban Dam), a 500-meter trek, along a ridge, from the sitio. Along the narrow, paved trail are stores selling organic vegetables, river shrimps, crabs, eels, carp, charcoal, assorted fruits, snacks and beverages to tourists. On Tuesdays and Fridays, foot traffic is heavy on the trail, with young men carrying sacks of fruits and vegetables. The dam

is reached after crossing a metal footbridge. Coupled with the beautiful landscape of 80-160 feet high white rock walls, limestone crags and marble boulders, the dam is perfect for photography.

Wawa Dam is an 85 meter (279 feet) long and 12 meter (40 feet) high gravity dam constructed over the Marikina River. This slightly arched dam is situated in the 360-meter (1,180 feet) high Montalban Gorge or Wawa Gorge, a water gap in the Sierra Madre Mountains, east of Manila. During summer, cottages are built at the foot of the dam but, during the rainy season, they are removed because of the heavy impact of water. The dam, built in 1904, started operating in 1909 to provide the water needs for Manila but it was closed in 1962 due to deterioration and lack of water supply, and ultimately abandoned when it was replaced by the La Mesa-Ipo-Angat watershed system. Wawa Dam is still pictured in the official seal of the local government of Rodriguez.

For those who are not fans of mountain hiking, Wawa Dam has picnic spots. If you don’t want to bring your own food and beverages, sari-sari stores, food stalls and a wet market are available in the place. n

Taking life experiences to the next level

By Gianna G. ManieGo WHAT’S razor-thin, black as sin and will probably be the most coveted thing in the country in the next few weeks?

As “it” things go, this item is smaller than the latest Jag, more portable than a Louis Vuitton New Wave bag, and probably more exclusive than a weekend at Maldives.

In a world where plastic reigns supreme, the new BPI Visa Signature card, with its “leathery” finish and gold embellishments, is the about to turn retail therapy into an extreme sport and elevate your travel experience to a new level.

OPENING NEW EXPERIENCES WITH A SIGNATURE ALONG with Visa, the world’s leader in digital payments, Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) gives its clients the opportunity to live the way they want with the new BPI Visa Signature card.

Catering to the affluent market—minimum income must be P1 million annually—the BPI Visa Signature Card takes into consideration its cardholders’ picture of a quintessential lifestyle and empowers them to tailor their lifestyles according to what they need and want.

“We’ve seen a rise in spending in the past few years for luxury travel, experiences and products, and we want to provide our affluent clients a product that will further enhance their lifestyles,” says Jojo Ocampo, senior vice president and head of the Unsecured Lending and Cards Group of BPI.

“BPI Visa Signature is the result of extensive research done locally, so we can develop an exciting value proposition that reflects and elevates the lifestyle of our affluent clients,” says Ocampo.

“We always try to think of a product that would address the evolving needs of our clients that’s why we came up with BPI’s Visa Signature card, which provides the most comprehensive privileges,” Lacerna adds.

SIGNING UP FOR THE GOOD STUFF OVER lunch at The Grand Hyatt Manila’s The Cellar, Ocampo, along with Dan Wolpert, Visa’s head of Business Development for the Philippines and Guam, as well as other BPI executives, apprised media of the unique and attractive features of the Visa Signature Card.

These include lower foreign-exchange conversion rates compared to other banks, as well as special rates on a wide array of foreign exchange currencies, says Ocampo.

In addition, BPI assures its clients that they can make the most of travel and shopping experiences, while fully enjoying the privileges and benefits of the premium reward points.

Premium reward points can be earned with a lower conversion rate of one premium point for every P20 spent.

FROM left: Jojo Ocampo, SVP for BPI Unsecured Lending and Cards Group; Dan Wolbert, Visa head of Business Development for the Philippines and Guam; Jenny Lacerna, head of BPI Credit Cards Business.

TRAVELING IN STYLE ACCORDING to Jenny Lacerna, head of the BPI Credit Cards and Payments Group, the card is especially enticing for globetrotters, who can use its BPI myVoyage perks to book flights, hotels and car services using earned points.

Cardholders will also have unlimited access to Naia Terminal 3’s Pacific Club Lounge to unwind and relax along with a guest.

“It’s no surprise they love to travel, dine, shop and relax. With BPI Visa Signature, we found a way that would cater to all these needs, especially when they travel. We want to be there for them from the moment they book a trip until the end of their trip, providing them with the most satisfying rewards,” says Lacerna.

Cardholders also have access to a concierge 24 hours a day, seven days a week,

COLLABORATING FOR A BETTER EXPERIENCE “WE are extremely pleased to partner with BPI to launch the new BPI Visa Signature card, BPI’s first card made especially for the affluent segment in the Philippines,” says Stuart Tomlinson, Visa country manager for the Philippines and Guam.

BPI and Visa aim to help Filipinos create memorable experiences when they pay with Visa. He pointed out that cardholders can earn premium reward points while enjoying discounts at a wide range of luxury hotels through Visa’s Luxury Hotel Collection and dining privileges on the Visa Epic Experiences platform.

With BPI putting its customers front and center of its service, the 166-year-old bank vows to continue to improve the features of the product in the coming months while still maintaining robust financials for the bank.

To this end, it aims to closely monitor feedback from Visa Signature cardholders and calibrate its improvements from there.

“We are confident that this card will be extremely successful as it is thoughtfully designed to meet the lifestyle preferences of today’s affluent Filipino consumer,” concludes Tomlinson.

to help attend to their personal and business travel needs. Clients can enjoy this luxe experience and more at partner establishments like City of Dreams, Kerry Sports Manila and Anantara Vacation Club, and dining partner establishments such as Mireio at Raffles Makati, Xiu Fine Cantonese Dining, Crystal Dragon, City of Dreams, The Tasting Room and Nobu F&B.

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Thursday, September 13, 2018

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z

Today’s Horoscope

By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Lili Reinhart, 22; Ben Savage, 38; Jean Smart, 67; Jacqueline Bisset, 74.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Express your thoughts and feelings. Communication will be your ticket to success.

Travel or a change of pace and attitude, along with gathering information and making life adjustments that will push you in a direction that encompasses your hopes for the future, should be your goal. You have much to gain by following your intuition and your heart.

Your lucky numbers are 2, 13, 23, 29, 33, 37, 42.

a

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Channel your energy where it will do the most good. Helping others will make you feel good. A change in the way you feel or an unexpected response from someone you are in a partnership with will leave you feeling uncertain. HHH CHEFS of Newport Mall and RWM signature restaurants create a treasure trove of truffle dishes at the Philippines’s first Truffle Festival, hosted by Newport Mall. RWM Corporate Communications Director Joee Guilas (center) is joined by Chef Angelo Fabian of Italianni’s (from left), Chef Ron Rico Lintag of Parmigiano Ristorante Pizzeria, Chefs Roy Tan and Jess Celestial of Mr. Kurosawa, Chef Dan Giron of Impressions, Chef Angeli Santos of UCC Café Terrace, Chef Isaac Bravo of LUMU Filipino Kitchen, and Chef Sonny Mariano of The Red Crab (not in photo).

b

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Make a move if it will enhance your life. An emotional situation should be dealt with using common sense. Do what’s best for everyone; you’ll come out on top. A challenge will bring you closer to someone you love. HHH

c RWM takes ‘the most expensive food in the world’ to its dining halls d

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Be careful when dealing with institutions or while in unfamiliar places or situations. You’ll give or get the wrong impression if you aren’t savvy to the customs and traditions of the people around you. Ask questions if you are in doubt. HHH

By Pauline Joy M. Gutierrez

A

LBA or winter white truffles sell for as much as $6,000 to $10,000 per pound, making them and their fellow ectomycorrhizal fungi the most expensive food item in the world. This culinary gem finds its way to the Newport Mall as Resorts World Manila (RWM) stages its first-ever Truffle Festival, which runs until September 30.

Participating Newport Mall and RWM restaurants serve truffle-inspired dishes throughout the duration of the gastronomic event, and this year’s roster includes Parmigiano Ristorante Pizzeria, LUMU Filipino Kitchen, The Red Crab Alimango House, Italianni’s, RWM’s Impressions, UCC and Mr. Kurosawa.

“The popularity of the truffle is, in large part, because of its rarity. Despite technological advances, we still have not found a way to grow them and produce them,” said Director for Corporate Communications Joee Guilas at the recent launch of the monthlong festival at RWM’s EL Calle Food and Music Hall.

He continued, “There have been some success in cultivating them to encourage their growth but for most part, it all boils down to soil condition. As far

as I know, truffles have not yet been found in the Philippines. The truffles we have here have been flown in from France and Italy.”

Edible truffles are held in high esteem in international haute cuisine because they grow entirely underground, making them difficult to farm.

Also, you can only find them in very specific kinds of soil and trees as they have long-eluded techniques of domestication. Because of this, truffles are used sparingly. Supplies can be found commercially as unadulterated fresh produce or preserved, typically in light brine.

Truffles have a pungent aroma. Hogs proved to be the perfect domestic animal that can locate and extract the fruit bodies because of their sensitive noses and keen taste for truffles. However, dogs are now more commonly used because hogs have been known to eat too many truffles in the field.

In RWM, chefs were challenged to make the most of this valuable ingredient, signaling a Septemberlong journey of exotic flavor and culinary creativity.

Parmigiano Ristorante Pizzeria has Fettuccine Ai Funghi Porcini Salsiccia e Tartufo and Filetto Di Carne con Tartufo, a fettuccine dish with wild mushroom varieties, truffle cream sauce, Italian sausage, sliced black truffles and parmigiano reggiano.

LUMU Filipino Kitchen adds twist and depth to

Filipino comfort food with their Sizzling Black Truffle Bulalo Steak, which features a generous cut of forktender beef shank with bone marrow that swims in truffle-infused gravy.

Guests who want their truffle meal with rice will appreciate the Garlic Crab with Truffled Mushroom Rice from The Red Crab Alimango House.

Italianni’s array of truffle-infused dishes, which includes Italian Truffle Fries, Truffle Mushroom Pizza, Truffle Mushroom Risotto, and Truffle Chicken and Mushroom, showcases the fungus’s popularity in Italian cuisine.

RWM’s signature French fine dining outlet, Impressions, came up with a trifecta of the most exquisite truffle-based dishes: Cold Angel Hair Pasta with Black Truffle Ponzu and Caviar, Mixed Mushroom Soup with Black Truffle Duck Liver Ravioli and Chilean Sea Bass with Black Truffles, Carrot Risotto, Herb Salsa and Soy Sauce Cloud.

Finally, there’s Mr. Kurosawa’s Newport Mallexclusive Truffle Ramen. This meal also won media kudos in the truffle dish-tasting during the launch.

Since 2015 RWM has chosen a culinary ingredient to highlight every September. 2015 was for chocolate, 2016 had it was matcha and last year was coconut.

Guilas projects another successful iteration this year for “the diamond of the kitchen.” n

Discovery Hotels and Resorts cooks up their first Culinary Cup THE Discovery Leisure Co. Inc. (TDLCI, www. discoveryhotels-resorts.com), a homegrown group of hotels and resorts, held the first Culinary Cup, which would be an annual event, at the Columbus function room of Discovery Suites Manila. The friendly inter-hotel competition allowed TDLCI’s various Food and Beverage (F&B) teams to showcase their culinary skills. The event was sponsored by Wine Warehouse, San Miguel Beer and Meliomar, which provided fresh, sustainable seafood.

All five hotels of TDLCI (Discovery Shores Boracay, Club Paradise Palawan, Discovery Country Suites Tagaytay, Discovery Suites Manila and Discovery Primea Makati) competed for the Culinary Cup trophies in three categories: Culinary, Bartending and Table-setting.

Judges were renowned foodies: journalist

Cheryl Tiu, accomplished restaurateur Happy Ongpauco-Tiu, social influencer Spanky Enriquez and lifestyle blogger Chuckie Dreyfus. TDLCI President John Tiu and Chief Operating Officer Jun Parreño attended the event.

“Our F&B teams are a source of pride for us,” said TDLCI Corporate Chef and F&B Director Anthony Raymond. “Our bars and restaurants have the best local talents who are innovative and pioneering. I’m happy to say we made history with our first Culinary Cup.” Winners of the first Culinary Cups were chefs Ricky Bernas and Bernard Lauron of Discovery Shores Boracay, who won gift certificates for a stay in Discovery Country Suites Tagaytay. Albert Cartagena of Discovery Primea won the bartending competition, while Brienard Alavado of Discovery Suites Manila topped the table-setting contest.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You’ve got swagger and charisma. Get out and socialize, network and entertain those you want to collaborate with personally or professionally.

Improvements can be made that will enhance your life, relationships and standard of living. HHHHH

e

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Be reluctant to make a move because someone else does.

Stand on your own two feet and do whatever is to your benefit. Accept the inevitable, regroup and head in a direction that will encourage growth and stability. HH

f

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Travel, meetings and communication will encourage you to make an adjustment to your life that will result in greater stability and prompt you to revisit your relationships with others.

Improvements will enhance your imagination and lead to innovative options. HHHH

g h

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Do what you can and ignore how others react. It’s in your best interest to keep busy as well as to take better care of your health, wealth and reputation. HHH SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Be creative in the way you approach projects, problems and people. Having a clear and concise plan in mind that you dress up with innovative ideas will grab the attention of someone who will contribute to and enhance your plans. HHH

i

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Refrain from meddling in someone else’s affairs.

Concentrate on what’s expected of you, and do what has to be done in order for you to live up to your promises. Being responsible will help you avoid criticism and interference. HHH

j

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You’ll gain ground when it comes to getting what you want. Your experience and practical way of approaching situations will persuade others to help you reach your goals. HHHH

k

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Keep a low profile and don’t get sucked into following someone trying to take your money or influence you to try something that is excessive. Stick to what you know and trust, regardless of the temptation.

Don’t take a physical risk. HH

l CULINARY Champions from Discovery Shores Boracay: (from left) The Discovery Leisure Co. Inc. (TDLCI) Corporate Chef and F&B Director Anthony Raymond, Discovery Shores Boracay Chef Ricky Bernas and Chef Bernard Lauron, and TDLCI President John Tiu

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Be creative with your money, and negotiate on your own behalf. Settlements, contracts and financial gains can be made if you are innovative in the way you structure what you want to see happen. HHHHH BIRTHDAY BABY: You are innovative, motivated and courageous.

You are intuitive and resourceful.

‘d minus’ BY TIMOTHY E. PARKER The Universal Crossword/Edited by Timothy E. Parker

ACROSS 1 Stomached?

4 Foreign love?

9 Thicket of trees 14 L. ___ Hubbard 15 Stir up 16 DuPont fiber 17 Commissioned ropers selling carpets?

20 In a non-friendly manner 21 In other words, in Latin 22 Not be constant 23 Like casino VIPs 26 Insincere “service” 29 Extremity 30 Cocooned bugs 31 Assistant 32 Stomached? (Yes, again) 33 Seal for documents 35 Loving to scratch?

38 Camp transports 39 Japanese city 40 Has all rights to 41 Kingly English name

2 Cooking abbr.

4 45 Artist Yoko 46 Huge banquets 48 Shamu, for one 49 Raccoon relative 51 Expositions 52 Why tea is preferred in Paris?

57 Let music move you 58 Place over limply 59 Chinese philosopher ___-Tse 60 Poker payments 61 Some soup pods 62 Strumming twins?

DOWN 1 Make it 2 Tropical bird 3 Surround, old-style 4 Highfalutin’ 5 Milk-maker’s sound 6 Sharer’s word 7 Deploy 8 Cookbook offering 9 Dominated someone 10 Eyes, to Shakespeare

1 Novel feature 1 12 Asian sauce 13 Sunning triplets?

18 Cleverly tricky 19 Poem form 23 “The First ___ the Deepest” 24 Break the seal 25 Some tropical fruits 27 Caesar’s last day 28 Dear family friend 30 Magazine unit 31 Turkish military title 32 Id’s counterparts 33 Film-rating units 34 Yuck- inducing 35 When some start the day 36 Not guilty 37 Ain’t correct?

38 Sound from a pigeon 41 Beehive or bun 42 Thing of little value 43 React to a horror film 44 Leisurely strolls 46 Easily identifiable things

7 Numerical suffix 4 48 Clumsy one 50 “Fool me ___...”

51 Yankees and Red Sox, e.g.

52 It says no to drugs 53 Campaigned 54 Get under one’s skin 55 Golf goal 56 One whose days are numbered?

Solution to yesterday’s puzzle:

Parentlife BusinessMirror

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FOR IKEBANA LOVERS

THE Sogetsu Ikebana Manila Branch recently held its 29th annual exhibit at the Glorietta 2 Activity Center in Makati City.

The exhibit was open free to the public.

The Sogetsu School of Ikebana was founded by Sofu Teshigahara in 1927. He introduced the modern, or avant garde, style of ikebana by allowing the arranger more freedom of expression and incorporating the use of unconventional materials in the arrangement. This notwithstanding, he maintained that arrangements still have to conform with the basic rules of shape, line and form necessary in ikebana.

“At Home with Sogetsu” was the theme for the exhibit, with members of The Sogetsu Ikebana Manila Branch following the theme while using unconventional materials found in the home together with fresh flowers and leaves.

ONE of my biggest realizations as a parent is that free time is a key principle in time management for kids because it allows creative imagination. From left: My kids’ own hotel concierge; Meagan creates her own foot spa for Marcus; Marcus using his wooden Jenga blocks to form his own maze; and one of Marcus’s relaxing art times.

How important is time management for kids?

MOMMY NO LIMITS

MAYE YAO CO SAY

mommynolimits@gmail.com

HOW TO SURVIVE THE 2018 MANILA INT’L BOOK FAIR

THE 39th Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) is on. While it feels like there’s so much to keep up with because the MIBF gets bigger every year, this survival guide will help you make the most out the MIBF, which is ongoing until September 16 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City. Meanwhile, the Pop Hub: Comic Splash x Fandom Fest happens on September 15 and 16.

1. GET COMFY. With two floors of exhibit space, cover more ground by wearing clothes you can easily move in. Put on your trusty pair of rubber shoes for maximum comfort.

2. LIST, LIST, LIST! Book-shopping sprees are fun, but overspending isn’t. Make a list of all the books you’re planning to buy beforehand to help yourself stay within budget.

3. BRING TROLLEYS AND BIG BAGS. With so many publishers and distributors at MIBF, there will be lots of sales and discounted items. Bring sturdy tote bags or trolleys to help you carry your book load.

4. COME EARLY. The earlier you come, the less crowd there will be and the easier it will be to navigate through the abundance of booths.

5. CHILDREN’S AND YA BOOKS. The second floor of SMX will be a haven for books for younger readers. Find exclusive sales and new releases to take home as pasalubong for the little ones, or for your own reading enjoyment.

6. GET YOUR BOOKS SIGNED. Keep an eye out for book signings from local and international authors. Check out the social-media pages of National Book Store, Anvil Publishing House, PSICOM Publishing and more, and jot down your own list of absolutely cannot be missed book signings.

7. ATTEND BOOK LAUNCHES. Many authors will be gracing the MIBF to launch their books. Take note of launch times and dates and work your schedule around these MIBFexclusives. Keep posted on details from local publishers like Visprint, Adarna House, Precious Hearts Romances, OMF Literature and many more.

8. REPRESENT YOUR FANDOM. The MIBF weekend will be buzzing with activities for every fandom, so make sure you can be recognized. Whether you’re a Potterhead, Trekkie, Hamilfan or other, take pride in your fandom to geek out with fellow fans and make friends across fandoms at the Pop Hub: Comic Splash x Fandom Fest.

9. ATTEND TALKS AND WORKSHOPS. The MIBF isn’t just about coming in, buying books and leaving. Learn something new by attending talks and panel discussions by authors, artists and even enthusiastic fans, or get your hands dirty at the many art workshops lined up at the MIBF. 10. SUPPORT LOCAL ARTISTS. Aside from the many local authors at the MIBF, independent artists will be showcasing their works at the Artist Lane, in the Pop Hub. Show your support by purchasing stickers, prints, fanmade art and original works from various artists.

The MIBF is organized by Primetrade Asia Inc. in partnership with Asian Catholic Communicators Inc., Book Development Association of the Philippines, Philippine Booksellers Association Inc. and the Overseas Publishers Representatives’ Association of the Philippines.

Thursday, September 13, 2018

T

IME management with our kids has been an ongoing learning process for me. I have a son who has consistently adhered to his own schedule like clockwork. He wakes up at his designated time, washes up, has breakfast, has 15 minutes for playing, and then kisses us before going to school. He is my personal timekeeper for family schedules. He gets irked when these schedules aren’t followed. On the other spectrum, I have a daughter who chooses to do everything at her own pace. It takes at least three “5 minutes” prodding to wake her up in the morning. She would do everything first before her own homework, then ends up sleeping later than needed. Having said that, she is actually quite invested in doing more than what’s expected. She has managed to have two sports she is fully committed to and participates in other school activities.

A few weeks ago, when we were in the car, Meagan asked me, “Mom, were you always good at managing your time?” I told both my kids honestly that it was quite difficult for me to finish things on time, especially when I was in grade school. I actually stayed up later than usual because I was also a bit distracted. I told them that I continuously hone my skills in time management because I want to do more.

When I was in kindergarten to Grade 2, it helped that we lived with my dad’s family. My grand aunt was my tutor. She was working a full-time job, so she gave

me a routine to follow. When I got home from my halfday school schedule, I would have lunch and do all the homework I could do on my own. After that, I could play. I remember because Batibot, a local children’s show, was on at 4 pm and I’d make sure I was done by that time. Then I would paint, play with my action figures, water the plants, iron clothes with my nanny, or bike as much I wanted.

When it became a whole-day class in my first few years of grade school, I still wanted to keep my “free” time so I devised a way to “listen while studying” in class. If I did not understand the lesson, I would go to my teacher after class to ask. When I got home, I would browse through my assignment notebook, remember the lesson from class and still enjoy my free time, while waiting for my grand aunt for the Chinese parts of my assignments.

We moved out of our grandparents’ house when I was in second grade. There was less structure without my nanny and grand aunt. I also became more social in school. I spent most of the time on the phone chatting with my friends. It would be partly tutoring them, but also a lot of friendly conversations. Before I knew it, I’d find myself starting homework late, even at 9 pm then ending really late, up to 3 am, to ensure mastery. My parents’ condition was simple. As long as I never slid from being first honor, I was free to arrange my own schedule and join as many extra curricular activities I wanted.

I share my child experiences in time management here to drive my own premises in time management for my kids today. I believe the type of time management for kids vary at different ages. I believe that time management’s long-term goal for our kids is about finding the comfort of rhythm to produce valuable output, not to create overly rigid adults. Therefore, I believe that each person’s compulsion to maximize one’s time management abilities is somehow directly proportional to the amount of valuable work one wants to produce in his

or her lifetime.

Below are some of the time management tips I have learned and applied to our kids along the way: 1. START THEM YOUNG. Schedules help kids to form a good rhythm. It also gave my kids security.

For example, they know that every 7 pm is bedtime story time. Also, avoid “negotiations.” I learned the hard way that every time we give in to that—“Mom, another X minutes?”—these X minutes just get longer every time.

2. TIME ACTIVITIES THAT NEED TO BE REGULATED. I consider screen time as one of these activities, so at one point, I gave my two kids each a kitchen timer to measure how long they would be watching TV or using an iPad. It also helps children have a sense of “measuring time.” They experience what 5, 10 or 15 minutes is like.

3. FREE TIME IS IMPORTANT. There are different school systems available today. Each one involves different loads in homework. Pick a school setup that allows your children to learn, pursue their multiple interests, as well as allow free time. Free time for my kids is usually play and art time. I enjoy seeing them just doing nothing. I’m fascinated at how their creativity and character unfold during these times.

There was once they suddenly made a hotel concierge on our second floor landing.

4. LET THEM PLAN STUDY TIME. When my kids reached grade school, I start to inject more personal accountability in their grades. I don’t prod them as much but I guide them through introduction of tools, like highlighting their notes, making index cards or making test questions for self-review. I allow them to “own” their work for them to see the output of their efforts. This includes how they schedule their homework.

For me, time management is important, not only for our kids but for the whole family. It allows us to see the fruits of our time well spent, while valuing the free time to also just be. n

From Canada to Philippines with love CHRIS MILLS grew up in the Philippines with a Filipina mother. When he went to Canada for the university, he was amazed at the high-quality text books available.

Chris resolved that if he could get large number of such books to public schools in the Philippines, he would really have a big impact on students’ and teachers’ lives.

He spoke to a lot of people at his Canadian school to get his books-forPhilippines project off the ground but initially encountered a lot of difficulty. “I think everyone thought I was just a kid and couldn’t pull it off,” he recalls.

Everything changed when a key professor, Russell Turner, found out about the project and offered his support. Russell is a well-liked professor at two higher learning schools: Trent University and Fleming College, in the city of Peterborough, just outside Toronto in central Canada.

The half-Filipino “kid” went office to office with his friends at both schools selling his “Russell-sanctified” plan.

Amazingly, students, professors and college administrators all joined in and started collecting books. An entire community of people soon worked together for the project.

Many of the books are written by the world’s leading experts in their fields.

Typically, these textbooks cost Canadian students a lot of money.

Chris says he was “moved by how much Canadians really want to help Filipinos.” So many books were donated that, soon, the problem Chris faced was how to collect and store the thousands of heavy donated books.

Gladly, his fraternity pals (Tau Kappa Epilson) jumped in to help. The boys stretched their meager student finances to the limit, delivering half a ton or so of books to other cities on weekends and in between classes. They reported that they “almost gave up drinking beer and chasing girls because we got so broke.”

On one delivery trip, Chris made sure to bring his Canadian friends to the new Jollibee in Toronto and experience some Filipino culture.

The next problem the students faced almost stopped everything. When they found out the cost to ship the large load to the Philippines, it almost killed the project.

How could they ever pay? Luckily, Filipino courier company LBC came to the rescue offering to ship the entire load for free. They were saved.

The most recent shipment of more than 1,700 books arrived recently with an

FROM left: Chris Mills; Ace Itchon, CEO of Aspen Pharmaceuticals; Gilbert Gatchalian, vice mayor of Malolos City, Bulacan; Maria Pretty Lay Abdala, head librarian of Bulacan State University; and Rebecca Bustamante, president of Asia CEO Forum

estimated retail value of P8 million.

Top-ranked Bulacan State University was chosen to receive most of this year’s shipment. With 25,000 students, it is one of the country’s largest state universities outside of Metro Manila.

On hand to receive the shipment were Gilbert Gatchalian, the personable vice mayor of Malolos, the capital city of Bulacan province; Dr. Cecilia Gascon, president of

Bulacan State University; and Ace Itchon, prominent Malolos-born business leader.

Chris Mills is looking forward to ramping up his project to deliver more books to schools across Philippines. Chris says, “Canadians like helping Filipinos and are already asking me about next year.”

If you are a deserving school, contact Chris on his Facebook page at www. facebook.com/chris.mills.37669528.

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‘Goyo’: Lies our history teachers told us REELING

TITO GENOVA VALIENTE

titovaliente@yahoo.com

I

WOULD like to listen to lies next time. I have enough of truths about how unworthy our heroes are. I’m tired of realizing the heroes on stamps, the man on the white horse, and the person staring at me from bills are all unreal.

If you are wondering what I am ranting about, it is about the latest hero opus from Jerrold Tarog, Goyo.

Goyo is Gregorio del Pilar, the boy-general who, our teachers once told us, guarded Tirad Pass. He wouldn’t move. He was unafraid. The Americans, the enemies, outnumbered the Filipinos. The Americans had superior arms, but it didn’t matter.

One version of this heroic plot spoke of a young man alone in that sorrowful mountain pass. His men had all died and he was there waiting for the enemy. He would fight to the finish. He would be last man standing.

In Tarog’s film, nothing of the sort happens.

There’s no last stand. The Americans may have superior arms but their tactics are dismal. They just look good because the Filipinos are really bad. With a vantage point to target the Americans below the pass, the Filipinos nevertheless remain ineffectual.

They could not seem to hit the targets. From below, it appears the Americans could hide themselves from the Filipinos but when the camera shifts angles, we see the Americans as merely below the small hill on which the Filipinos have ensconced themselves.

Then, we assure ourselves: the Americans don’t know the terrain. The peak of the pass is measured to be more than 4,o0o feet but we do not feel this height in the film. The enemies indeed can’t find their way up the hill and the pass. But there’s an Igorot, the American officer remembers. In some accounts, the Igorot is identified as a Tingguian Igorot. The Igorot, seen in earlier scenes as being ridiculed and abused by lowland soldiers, shows the Americans the way.

Some American soldiers are able to clamber the opposite side of the mountain where there are no trenches. It’s but a few minutes that they, in the film, are able to surprise the Filipinos.

One of the first to fall is General Gregorio del Pilar.

A Filipino soldier shouts: El general está muerto. The general is dead.

The Filipino soldiers start to scamper. They run leaving their guns. As they come down from the hill, they are seen removing their rayadillo, the pin-striped military uniform. And in one quick and arresting cinematic metaphorical device, the young men are in their white long-sleeved shirts as they come down the mountain pass. The battle is terminated. The party is over. The revolution is, after all, one hell of a costume ball!

Aguinaldo has escaped. That, it appears, is the only good result from the defense of the pass. Aguinaldo has the very young Goyo to thank for. This is the same officer who chases after the remaining officers loyal to Juan Luna, whose assassination it’s implied Aguinaldo has ordered.

The issue of the other generals against Goyo is not only that he’s young—and inexperienced—but that he is blindly loyal to his boss-general, Aguinaldo. Goyo, in the film, doesn’t stand for any principle but only for

his president.

And so I rant. And so I’m sad. We don’t have any nation. We don’t have any bravery to write about and inspire us and the next generation.

Mabini is the only good, wise and able person in this epic tale of failures and hoax heroes. The problem is the greatest brain with the clarified principles in his mind has also been removed from the cabinet to allow the Buencaminos and other supposed patriots to welcome the new colonizers, the Americans.

In the end, what do we have and what do we get from this film Goyo?

The last hope for the Filipino (read “nationalist”) audience is to savor the macho allure of the twentysomething general. But even in love, he is a lousy and unfaithful lover. He leaves his girlfriends and keeps the letters written to him by those women who cry over him. Atop the mountain, wedged in Tirad Pass, he stands recklessly until a bullet hits him.

He falls and the American soldiers who get to him first strip him of his medals and insignia. He is left on that spot, according to early historical reports, for three days until another group of Americans see the corpse of Goyo and bury him.

If we are to accept the storytelling of Jerrold Tarog, there’s nothing valorous in Goyo at all. In fact, if we are to follow the paths that the other personalities tread around Goyo, there are very few or even no real heroes in our nation. If we are to pause and ponder on the tales told through the eyes of Aguinaldo and del Pilar and many others, then there’s no real revolution, no real independence and there’s no real nation formed at all when the smoke from the cannons and rifles have dissipated.

So, what about Goyo as plain cinema? I can’t disassociate Goyo and the performances of the actors that portray the historical characters anymore, as the ideology of the film has already taken over its form and content. For the sake of good old criticism, Eppie Quizon as Apolinario delivers a sincere performance—maybe because his character is the only sincere and morally decent element in the film.

Mon Confiado has always been a compelling character but his a__hole of a revolutionary is revolting already from its Heneral Luna outing and now in this Goyo episode, that it’s worthless to affirm anything about his presence.

As for Goyo himself, Paulo Avelino is a one-note, unidirectional volley.

One has to go through extracinematic measures, look for sources outside the screen to be assured that one’s national identity and collective past still matter after being wracked open by Goyo.

In Teodoro Manguiat Kalaw’s account, An Acceptable Holocaust: Life and Death of a Boy-General, the historian refers to us some lines from the diary of Gregorio del Pilar: “The General has given me a platoon of available men and has ordered me to defend this pass. I am aware what a di��icult task has been given me. Nevertheless, I feel that this is the most glorious moment of my life. I am doing everything for my beloved country. There is no greater sacri�ice.”

The Americans, by way of certain documents, are even kinder.

Richard Henry Little was a journalist of the Chicago Tribune and he was with the American army that made the attack in Tirad Pass that fateful day of December 2, 1899. He wrote: “It was a battle above the clouds. I saw the most youthful and the bravest of Filipino generals trying vainly to line up his soldiers to stave o�f the advance of the American troops who pursued him, with the purpose of covering Aguinaldo’s retreat. I saw him talking to his soldiers from trench to trench, inspiring pride in themselves, to ponder over their valor and love of country.... Later we saw from below one of our soldiers turn around, climb the top of a rock, and aim his ri�le at General del Pilar. We held our breath not knowing whether or not to pray to God that the soldier hit or miss his mark. A�terwards we heard a shot and the youthful

AS the title character in Goyo, Paulo Avelino is a one-note, unidirectional volley.

del Pilar fell....”

The journalist described Gregorio del Pilar as “cheering his men in the light.” He “heard his voice continually during the �ight urging his men to greater e�fort, scolding them, praising them, cursing them, appealing one moment to their love of their native land and the next instant threatening to kill them himself, if they did not stand �irm.”

According to the Chicago Tribune war correspondent, “It was a great �ight that was fought away up on the trail of lonely Tirad Pass on that Saturday morning of December 2. It brought glory to Major March’s battalion of the 33rd Volunteer Infantry who were victors. It brought no discredit to the little band of 60 Filipinos who fought and died there. Sixty was the number that at Aguinaldo’s orders had come down into the pass that morning to arrest the onward march of the Americans. Seven were all that went back over the pass that night to tell Aguinaldo that they had tried and failed.”

The rest of the fifty were either wounded or killed.

How do we make sense of this film then? If only for the fact that we have a film that dares question the heroism of those whose names are already inscribed in the histories and consciousness of this republic, then we can praise and be in awe of the filmmakers behind Goyo. Having said that, I’m left with this persistent pain in my mind and heart: If there is no worth to the deeds and life of Gregorio del Pilar, why make a film about him? The way to national debate is an expensive enterprise, indeed.

But if we are to believe what the film says, then, by all means, let us remove the name of Goyo from Fort Del Pilar, the location of the Philippine Military Academy, symbolically and geographically the putative last stand of this nation. Let us also bring down the statues of Gregorio del Pilar scattered all over Bulacan and other places. As for Aguinaldo and all the crimes ascribed to him and his regime, what does the raising of flag each year in Kawit still serve? n

SPAIN ON METRO CHANNEL BEEN itching to experience Europe with friends? Take a step forward and travel to a country seemingly set in a different time. Embrace a rustic and colorful culture for awesome and unique encounters. Take your best pals to the beautiful country of Spain.

Here are seven experiences to bond over: n HEAD TO THE BEACH. Spain boasts of exquisite and chill beaches. Start the day with a hearty plate of savory paella and fresh langoustines while you chill by the shore with your buds. n RELISH GREAT ARCHITECTURE. No slacking off in your hotel room. Get your travel buddies up and take in all the sights to see. Make sure to visit the beautiful high-ceiling church of La Sagrada Familia, the neoclassical monument of Puerta de Alcala and the historic cobblestoned street of Avignon. You lot want those Instagram-worthy photos, right? n EXPERIENCE AND SAVOR GREAT SPANISH WINES. Spain is the third-largest wine producer in the world, making it a wine tourism destination. Intriguing cellars with a rich history and a wide variety of spirits await. Enjoy the

intricate and authentic tastes of cava, chardonnay, pinot noir, tempranillo and more. n TREAT YOUR TASTEBUDS TO UNIQUE SPANISH CUISINE. The country is a paradise of scrumptious eats.

Tapas in forms of anchovies, crispy croquettes, butifarras are must-tries. Delicious cheese such as goat, manchego and gorgonzola go perfect with jamon iberico and a bottle of artisanal Spanish craft beer. El Botin’s tender cochinillos (roast suckling pig) with roasted potatoes is highly recommended. n ENJOY THE NIGHT SCENE. No more chill drinking as you set out to the festive alleys in Las Ramblas, Gothic Quarter, El Born and Raval. Score cocktails in sassy little spots hidden away in dark corners. It’s time to bring out the sangria, vodka, gin, vermouth and tequila and paint the town red. n WATCH A FLAMENCO SHOW. No dancing is more Spanish than this. Witness a lively show at sunset to complete an awesome experience with friends.

Check out all these exciting activities in Metro Channel’s The Crawl Spain with food crawlers Nico Bolzico, Dani Aliaga

and Chef Willy Trullas Moreno on Saturday at 8 pm. Replays are available every Sunday (10 am, 6 pm), Monday (8 am, 10 pm), Wednesday (12 nn), Friday (7 pm) and Saturday (9 am).

Metro Channel (SKYcable Channel 52 for SD and Channel 174 on HD) is now the home of chic living.

FOOD crawler Nico Bolzico in Spain

FROM CELEBRATING OPM TO SHOWCASING THE GREATEST LOVE SONGS

FRESH from the success of its ninth theater production, the all-Filipino musical Ang Huling El Bimbo, Resorts World Manila (RWM), along with their producing partner Musical Management Asia Pacific, once again gives the country pride by setting the stage for the world premiere of All Out of Love: The Musical at the Newport Performing Arts Theater (NPAT) on October 18.

All Out of Love is a musical told through the timeless songs of Australian pop rock duo Air Supply, with script courtesy of award-winning Canadian playwright Jim Millan.

An Australian creative team will be behind the musical that tells the story of a struggling rock star, his embattled promoter and the loves of their lives.

Headlined by theater stars Mig Ayesa, Rachel Alejandro, Tanya Manalang, Raymund Concepcion and Jamie Wilson, All Out of Love will feature 17 hits from Air Supply, including “Lost in Love,” “All Out of Love,” “The One That You Love” and “You are the Reason,” among others. Graham Russell, one half of the legendary duo of Air Supply, also wrote a song, titled “I Was In Love With You,” for the musical which fans will hear for the first time onstage when the show opens on October 18.

“Having grown up in the 1980s and hearing Air Supply love songs on the radio, I am excited to see these songs realized in a theatrical context,” said director Darren Yap, who has made the rounds directing musicals all over Asia for Cameron Mackintosh. “The story is a modern fairy-tale, set in New York in the music business. It’s a love story for all ages, beautifully woven together with the hit songs of Air Supply.”

The musical is six years in the making, according to producer Naomi Toohey, who assembled a team of prominent stage masters which includes musical arranger and orchestrator Stephen Amos, choreographer Yvette Lee, codirector Jacinta John, local musical director Joe Tolentino and set designer Bob Brunton.

All Out of Love: The Musical will have a limited run at the NPAT. Tickets are now available at the RWM Box Office and all TicketWorld outlets. Visit www.rwmanila.com or download the RWM Mobile App for more upcoming entertainment events at Resorts World Manila.

Envoys&Expats BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph | Thursday, September 13, 2018 E1

Spreading the voice, shining the light Social entrepreneurship is seen as a way to serve the underprivileged—one solar lantern at a time

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TALIAN designer and social entrepreneur Sergio Boero believes in making a world of difference by providing a “beam” of hope to an underserved portion of the Philippine populace.

Boero recently shared with the BusinessMirror his aspirations to help alleviate the situation, as well as the challenges he sees currently clouding the delivery of fundamental needs that impede comfortable living for many.

He pins his aspirations on the solar lantern he christened “Sunny Sonny Story” to provide basic lighting to millions of Filipinos, while he looks forward to the day when expatriates like him could exercise their rights equally within the country they live in and have learned to love.

ENVOYS&EXPATS: What was the idea behind Sunny Sonny Story?

BOERO: When I first arrived in the Philippines, I was working most of the time for local handicraft companies, and got the chance to go around and see the situation of the communities they operate in. I was negatively surprised with the fact that, after some time, laborers come in and then, they were soon gone. They cannot work anymore, simply because there was no light.

I realized they don’t have the basic access to electricity.

Coming from Europe and China,

I started to dig for insights and discovered that in the Philippines, there are around 30 million people without ready electrical power, and probably 2 billion more in Africa and in the whole of Southeast Asia within the same predicament.

By chance, a friend of mine, who is also my business partner in Italy, came from Hong Kong and showed me the lantern. He demonstrated that it could be useful for people who spend a lot of time in the outdoors, like camping and fishing.

So I had an idea of changing the positioning of the item: Instead of promoting it to ordinary people who have access to electricity, we made the lantern for (those) who are deprived of the basic utility.

That’s when it started—I arrived at a name, a brand image, a strategy and a brand story. Thus came about Sunny Sonny Story.

The lantern got its name from this guy called “Friendly Sonny,” and “Sunny,” that’s from the “sun” or solar power, and then “Story,” because we want to tell a story to everyone,

thus: Sunny Sonny Story.

If you go to our web site, you’ll see this cartoon of a boy with a lantern. He begins to tell his tale, so to speak, in the Philippines, and then all around the world, to give the lantern to people around, despite the casualties they experience, like those in Tacloban, Leyte, post-Haiyan.

You must have been around the world a lot, mostly for business.

I travel a lot to promote my social enterprise to business circles. Even in Italy, I meet with, for example, the Rotarians, who have been helpful with these kinds of ventures. I also network with entities like the Lions Club or philanthropists around the world—those who have the money to buy the lantern or the willingness to donate.

I started this (social enterprise) in the Philippines simply because I was already here. When I was going around for other reasons, I discovered there were so many people that don’t have access to electricity. That should have been in the hands of the

state: to provide water, light, education and opportunities for everyone.

You spoke about positioning earlier, which is now considered one of the “Ps” in marketing. Could you share a little about your professional background?

I just managed to establish a new company, based on my experience in design thinking and design management. Despite the fact that this is an existing item that we ship from one market to another, the resultant business model was an outcome of my previous experiences.

I have worked with the fashion industry for 15 years: around Asia, in the furniture business and mostly in design education, as well.

You seem to wear a lot of hats: as a designer, entrepreneur, and a marketer. What are you first and foremost?

That’s a good question. (Laughter.) If I have to define myself, I don’t have a “specific” role, because I had different experiences. Before I en-

tered the fashion (industry), my first job was actually in public relations (PR). I studied in Istituto Europeo di Design in Milan, so I have an overview of the design system.

Then I also mastered PR and marketing. After I worked about three to four years in PR, I had the chance to move. I entered into advertising, but that was different also. I started to manage a campaign for a fashion company—organized their shoot and productions, as well as managed their budgets.

In the years that followed, I was asked if I wanted to go into sales and marketing. I did just that. Then after 15 years, I was offered the chance to be a dean of the school, to which I said yes. Thus, I entered the Italian education system. I became a professor of the school where I studied. My mom was so surprised!

I started the process, and knew then how to do the job, with more inputs to start a foundation, like what I did with Sunny Sonny Story.

Continued on E2

Envoys& BusinessMirror

E2 Thursday, September 13, 2018

ART BY DESIGN

Fashioning and fabricating thru bamboo Story & photos by Recto L. Mercene

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@rectomercene

OMMEMORATING the 70th anniversary of the state of Israel and 60th year of its friendship treaty with the Philippines, the Ayala Museum recently hosted the artistic bamboo compilations of Anat Heifetz.

An Israeli designer, Heifetz was inspired by bamboos during her visit to various places in the country and found them growing profusely, especially in the Mountain Province.

“There are no bamboos in Israel where I grew up,” Heifetz admitted during a brief interview, and added that, as a fashion designer, she saw

“the resemblance between bamboo stalks and rolls of fabric.”

Since then, the designer started rendering different images and designs on the organic, circular surfaces of the bamboo pieces, then sought the expertise of woodcarvers from Paete, Laguna, to help in the laborious task of

carving and polishing.

It took her two years to finish the task, which provided a new dimension to her work by incorporating multiple styles and techniques gathered from her personal and professional experiences. “[This] is a fascinating array of bamboos of all sizes and patterns,” Heifetz noted, the results of which could eventually find their way into dresses and fabrics.

There are around 400 pieces of bamboo exhibits, in piles like a sculpture, pasted on walls and individual bamboos—150 pieces of which were painted, and the rest carved.

“The work is the tangible and visual union of two cultures: the natural material [of the] countryside in Philippine huts, and the design of a kilim—a traditional Moroccan

ISRAELI fashion designer Anat Heifetz and her creations

carpet, which are hung on the walls of [Heifetz’s] childhood home in Israel,” the Ayala Museum announced.

A cocktail party preceded the opening of the exhibit, which was attended by Israel embassy officials,

guests from the diplomatic corps, members of the local media and Heifetz’s friends.

Italian designer lends know-how at World Indl Design Week M ULTI-AWARDED Italian industrial designer Odo Fioravanti shared his design philosophy and process with industry professionals and student-artists during the World Industrial Design Week 2018 at the School of Design and Arts campus of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.

Known for his classy yet stylish chairs, Fioravanti highlighted the importance of form and taking inspiration from everyday things that contribute to the profoundness and mystery of a visually interesting and engaging design.

He also gave a preview of his eponymous studio’s own rigorous process, including advanced material-manipulation techniques in transforming concepts to actual products.

The sessions with Fioravanti helped guests learn from the culture and contemporary state of Italian craftsmanship—considered as the hallmark of industrial design.

BABLIA chairs

ODO FIORAVANTI gives a lecture before Saint Benilde students.

ESCAPE FOR EXPATS

Celebrate the power of the weave

FAVIA chairs

Spreading the voice, shining the light Continued from E1

I don’t have to convince (them) that their countrymen who are in the dark need some form of light source. If you think like me, we can try to do things together.

I’m also involved with a project in China, where we are building a 100,000-square-meter building in the province of Xiang. I am also working with fashion-design schools in Milan.

KANDAMA supports the women of Julongan village in Kiangan, Ifugao.

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OR the women of Julongan village in Kiangan, Ifugao, the weave goes beyond cultural practice. Their handloomwoven bags, clothes and modern accessories are powerful icons that represent both their heritage and their future—a craft passed through generations, creating a sustainable livelihood for their community.

Kandama, a social enterprise inspiring creative synergy among master weavers, designers and artists, has two weaving centers in Julongan supporting the livelihood of 28 Ifugao women.

Bringing the power of the weave to life, Kandama will hold the “Save The Weave: A Kandama Benefit Show” on September 27 at the Tanghalang Pasigueño.

Now on its second year, Kandama has partnered with Philippine Stagers Foundation for an event highlighting Filipino heritage and talent.

T he prog ra m w i l l feat u re cultural performances by indigenous peoples from Ifugao, a fashion show focusing on woven fabrics by master weavers, and a groundbreaking theater performance of Supremo Redux, who will mount a modern musical about the life of Andres Bonifacio.

A night of celebration, cultural conservation and craft empowerment awaits at Save The Weave.

Tickets are on sale for P1,200 and can be purchased via Ticketworld. The show starts at 7 p.m.

Save The Weave aims to raise funds and awareness toward Kandama’s mission: to preserve the tradition of handloom weaving, provide economic opportunities to the indigenous women of Julongan and protect the watershed that sustains the rice terraces— a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or Unesco, heritage site.

May we know your thoughts about doing business here in the Philippines?

It’s very difficult. First of all, there are laws (working) against the expat. Local limitations. If for anything, there is discrepancy of some (sort). It is really complicated. If you are a foreigner, you receive a special treatment. If you are a Filipino, you do not (experience) the same.

If you look the map of Asean, the Philippines should have been up to the task (of leadership, considering its geographical position). With its history (linked to) America, your country should have been the most advanced one, but it remained at a certain stage.

There are a lot of laws against people who are all for investing for a nation with 30 million people without lighting.

However, we are also here where it is very easy to live. I think it makes us very proud for staying here, while we fight for our rights. And also, we found love for Filipinos. I mean, we don’t want special laws for us (expats). We just want to have a fair set of laws that place everyone on (a level playing field; where) everyone has the same opportunity.

I’m talking about myself, and just thinking about the millions of other Filipinos.

BOERO (center, kneeling) makes a donation to an Aeta tribe in Angeles City, Pampanga.

THE Italian social entrepreneur (second from right) displays the Sunny Sonny Story solar lantern in a “buy-and-donate” event in Tokyo, Japan.

How far has been Sunny Sonny Story’s reach around the country?

From my point of view, we’re doing ver y slowly. Actually, I thought that it could go very fast

because, as I’ve said, (there are) 30 million of people without light. I thought it was a great idea when I talk to people.

I tried to talk to those who are aligned with the idea, because

What gives you fulfillment in everything you do?

Well, I believe that living in an area where I have some privileges while other people don’t doesn’t make me comfortable. So that’s one point.

Sometimes, when I talk to media people, they make me feel like I am a superhero or a special person. But without being offensive, I always say, “I’m a normal person.” (It is) not normal though when he/she does not think about the rest of the world surrounding him/her. That’s what I believe in.

And when I talk, I always try to make people aware of the problem, and then also try to get them to embark (on a cause). For this project, we need a lot of people to spread the voice, like talking to the media, not only here in the Philippines but all over the world.

W hen I was speaking with other journalists, I was saying I want to give to anyone. The lantern is for people who live in the dark. We cannot allow their dire situation to continue and say, “Oh, it’s their own problem.” We need to do something.

Sometimes, for some reason, if the government cannot do its part, I think we can try to make a way. I’m sure we are in the position to do something. Because if you complain or worry about something, but always wait for someone else to act, then it’s up to you if you want to wait or not.

Me? I don’t. Absolutely not!

&Expats

envoys.expats.bm@gmail.com | Thursday, September 13, 2018 E3

EMBASSIES, EVENTS, ETC.

Japan aids in scientific research outcomes, health-care delivery

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HE Embassy of Japan in the Philippines’s Second Secretary Takeo Okada and Department of Health (DOH) Director Mar Wynn C. Bello recently attended the turnover ceremony of the Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) Laboratory 1 under Japan’s grant aid at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

The embassy said the project “could dramatically improve the functions of the RITM” by enabling the conduct of research on higher-risk bacteria and viruses.

A biosafety level (BSL) is a set of biocontainment precautions required to isolate dangerous biological agents in an enclosed laboratory facility. The levels of containment range from the lowest biosafety level (BSL-1) to the highest (BSL-4).

Through this project, it is expected that the scientific institute will further contribute to the prevention and control of emerging and reemerging infectious and tropical diseases in the Asia-Pacific region.

The RITM was constructed through a grant aid from the Japanese government in 1981. It has played a central role in the field of research and human resources development in preventing the spread of infectious diseases in the Philippines for more than 30 years.

Meanwhile, Okada also led a similar ceremony for the construc-

tion of a health facility in Pateros, with Health Undersecretary Gerardo V. Bayugo, DOH-National Capital Region Assistant Director Maria Paz P. Corrales, local government officials and beneficiaries of the project.

This project aims to provide improved basic medical services to the people of Pateros, particularly to the 14,800 residents of Barangay Aguho and its nearby areas. It was approved in 2014 and is part of Japan’s official development assistance (ODA) through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).

In 2015 the embassy provided a financial assistance of $96,775, or approximately P4 million, to the local government unit of Pateros for the construction of the said health facility and the procurement of new medical equipment.

The government of Japan, as the top ODA donor for the Philippines, launched the GGP in the country in 1989 to reduce poverty and help various communities engaged in grassroots activities.

THE Japanese Embassy’s Second Secretary Takeo Okada (third from right), with Department of Health officials at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine’s Biosafety Level 3 Laboratory inauguration.

OKADA (fourth from left), with Pateros local government officials during the turnover rites of a health-care facility.

Presently, it has implemented 534 grassroots projects.

Japan believes that these un-

dertakings will not only strengthen the friendship of its peoples and the Filipinos, but also contribute in

sustaining strategic partnerships between the two countries. With a report from Recto L. Mercene

GHI envoy champions public health in Micronesia, Guam

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GANA—Special envoy of the President for Global Health Initiatives (GHI) and former Health Undersecretary Dr. Susan P. Mercado visited Micronesia and Guam to campaign for her candidature as regional director of the World Health Organization-Western Pacific Regional Office (WHO-WPRO).

During her visit to Micronesia, Mercado paid a courtesy call on the Secretary of Health and Social Affairs Magdalena A. Walter, as the former discussed her work with the WHO and her advocacy in promoting public health in the WesternPacific region.

In Guam Mercado met with Department of Public Health and Social Services Acting Director Leo Casil.

The two officials discussed the effects of tobacco, alcohol and vaping on Guam’s population, especially the youth.

Mercado shared some best practices being implemented by other

countries in the areas of mental health and prevention of noncommunicable diseases. She also mentioned various health initiatives and reforms she will pursue if elected regional director of the WHO. On July 13 the Legislature of Guam headed by Speaker Benjamin J.F. Cruz presented Resolution 468-34, which recognized and commended Mercado for her 30 years of service, as well as outstanding contribution in the fields of medicine and public health.

Mercado is a recognized national public-health champion, with extensive experiences in managing large health organizations and effectively carrying out health-systems reforms. If elected, she will be the first female regional director of the WHO-WPRO. The elections for WHO-WPRO regional director will be held at its regional office in Manila in October 2018.

GUAM Gov. Eddie B. Calvo shares a light moment with Dr. Susan P. Mercado. AGANA PCG PHOTO

Outgoing Spanish envoy receives Order of Sikatuna

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OREIGN Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano conferred on behalf of President Duterte the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Datu (Grand Cross), Gold Distinction on outgoing Ambassador of Spain to the Philippines Luis Antonio Calvo Castaño on August 30.

Calvo was recognized for his outstanding and dedicated service as resident Spanish envoy to the Philippines, as well as for his important contributions in further strengthening Philippine-Spanish bilateral relations. He ended his four-year tour of duty in the country on August 31.

The Order of Sikatuna is the highest honor a Philippine president can bestow

upon a foreign national.

“We thank you for your exceptional work toward the successful celebration of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries in 2017, and the annual celebration of Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day,” Cayetano said.

“As a friend to all and an enemy to none, and with our long shared history and partnership together, the Philippines and Spain are partners, all the more with your presence here,” he added.

The secretary also noted that, with Calvo’s full support and effort, the two countries concluded various high-level visits, consultations and agree-

ments, such as the Philippines-Spain Air Transport Agreement in June 2018.

For his part, the ambassador expressed his appreciation for the honor of being conferred the Order of Sikatuna.

Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines and Dean of the diplomatic corps Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, European Union Ambassador Franz Jessen, Spanish Embassy Deputy Head of Mission Amaya Fuentes-Milani, Instituto Cervantes Director Carlos Madrid and Anya Resort Managing Director Alfredo P. Roca witnessed the awarding ceremony.

Diplomatic relations between the Philippines

and Spain were established on September 27, 1947. In the first quarter of 2018, the Philippines’s total merchandise trade with Spain amounted to $316.5 million, with $111.4 million in imports and $70.4 million in exports.

The Philippines has made recent investments in Spain with the acquisition by Philippine businessmen of Torre Espacio, one of the four main skyscrapers in Madrid; Spain’s largest and oldest brandy Fundador Pedro Domecq; the largest and oldest brandy cellar Bodegas Fundador; and Terry Centenario, Spain’s top-selling brandy.

There is an estimated 35,372 Filipinos living and working in Spain as of 2017.

Australia, Unicef, PhilHealth bat for better care of disabled kids

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HE Embassy of Australia in the Philippines, the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) recently supported the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) in a study addressing the information gap and provision of data that will support the development of responsive national programs and services for children with disabilities.

The “Situation of Children with Disabilities in the Philippines” study of PhilHealth estimates that 1 out of 7—or around 5.1 million—Filipino children are living with disabilities, yet there is little information on the prevalence of disabilities among Filipino children.

The report underscores that children with disabilities continue to experience barriers to access basic social services. This is compounded by poverty, lack of data, weak governance and discriminatory attitudes related to disability in general.

Ambassador of Australia to the Philippines Amanda Gorely, DSWD Acting Secretary Virginia N. Orogo and Unicef-Philippines Officer In ChargeRepresentative Julia Rees attended the public presentation of the study.

“Children with disabilities are less likely to attend school, access medical services or have their voices heard in society. Their disabilities also place them at a higher risk of physical abuse [as well as] discrimination, and often exclude them from receiving proper nutrition or humanitarian assistance in emergencies,” Rees said.

The Unicef is working with PhilHealth to develop benefit packages for children with disabilities in the Philippines, as it helps establish three hubs for children with disabilities nationwide.

Gorely expressed her support to the endeavor: “The embassy [of Australia] is pleased to provide assistance to Unicef and our Philippine government partners for this important study that helps everyone understand the lives of children with disability and how we can improve their situation.

Disability-inclusive development is a priority of Australia’s Foreign Policy and underpins our engagement on human rights, development assistance [as well as] humanitarian action.”

The study, conducted by Development Academy of the Philippines, recommends putting in place a comprehensive service framework for children with disabilities and a strong referral system that integrates the different social services.

It also suggests addressing financial barriers to social services, as well as enhancing the disability inclusiveness of health, education, social welfare and transportation services.

While the Philippines has taken significant steps and continues to address the issues of persons and children with disabilities through laws, communitybased services, incentives and social cash transfers, the gathering agreed that more can be done to ensure their rights are fulfilled.

“Australia is proud to be one of the largest donors to the Philippines on social protection, and we are ready to assist through our existing partnerships with [the] DSWD and Unicef,” Gorely pointed out.

FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano (left) congratulates outgoing Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines Luis Antonio Calvo Castaño after the former bestowed the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Datu (Grand Cross), Gold Distinction on the envoy. DFA PHOTO BY NILO PALAYA

BusinessMirror

Health&Fitness September 13-19, 2018

MATTER IN MEDICINE? HOW TO TURN YOUR WALK INTO A WORKOUT

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WHY DO TREES

HEALTHY COFFEE I

S drinking coffee your one “vice?”

Believe it or not studies show that coffee drinkers may have a lower risk of developing several serious diseases as compared to noncoffee drinkers, that is, whether it’s brewed coffee, instant coffee.

What’s more, if it’s green coffee bean.

Caffeine found in coffee has been the subject of scrutiny by a lot of research and the findings suggest that depending on the quantities of caffeine consumed, caffeine as a stimulant can have positive effects.

Green coffee is found to be a rich source of several types of antioxidants and other beneficial compounds, including a number of polyphenols. One type of polyphenol called chlorogenic acid is found in high amounts in green coffee beans. Chlorogenic acid is considered one of the most beneficial things about consuming coffee beans and the reason that green coffee in supplements are said to act as natural weight loss aids and fat burners.

Did you know that evidence also reveals that consuming green coffee bean— may be beneficial for weight loss and disease prevention. Pure Nature 12-In-1 Green Coffee With Buah Merah And Stevia is gaining popularity among celebrities who discovered how drinking it regularly help them lose weight by reducing appetite and craving for food, minus the ugly side effects. Especially if it has buah merah, spirulina, wheatgrass, barley, mangosteen, agaricus mushroom, chlorella, ginseng, stevia! Unlike most commercial coffees that reduce antioxidant content significantly, Pure Nature 12-In-1 Green Coffee With Buah Merah And Stevia actually helps boost the anti-oxidant properties of the

drink because of the said superfood ingredients contained in every sachet.

Did you know that green coffee has also been associated with heart health, protection against neurological diseases, and various other antiaging effects associated with longevity, and so much more!

Just some of the health benefits found by drinking Pure Nature 12-in-1 Green Coffee With Buah Merah And Stevia: may help with weight or fat loss, can help normalize blood sugar, may help lower blood pressure, has anti-aging effects due to high levels of antioxidants, can help improve energy levels, can help improve focus and mood. Make sure the brand you choose only contains pure coffee bean extract and doesn’t contain additives, binders, fillers or cellulose. Pure Nature 12-in-1 Green Coffee With Buah Merah And Stevia is organically grown and is now available for your enjoyment in Shopwise, All Day and Landers supermarket and soon in Fisher Mall supermarket, Cash and Carry chain marts nearest you.

Health&Fitness

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2 Health&Fitness September 13-19, 2018

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WHY DO TREES MATTER IN MEDICINE? Story & photos by Henrylito D. Tacio

W

But there’s more to trees than wood and food. Tropical forests, from which most of the useful trees grow, are what Prof. Norman Myers considers as “the finest celebration of nature that has ever graced the face of the planet.”

“Their biotic diversity is legendary,” said Myers, a British environmentalist specializing in biodiversity who has been a consultant to several United Nation agencies, the World Bank, and other organizations. “A single bush in Peru, for instance, may feature as many ant species as there are in the British Isles.”

In the Philippines the Mount Makiling Forest Reserve in Los Baños, Laguna, is described as “an exceptional diversity of woody plant species, totaling more than the entire number of woody species found in the United States.”

Perhaps, doctors and other health professionals should take a closer look at the forests since they

4 Health&Fitness September 13-19, 2018

provide medicines for people who are sick. “Nearly 90 percent of human diseases known to medical science can be treated with prescription drugs derived from nature,” noted Dr. Paul Torrence, an Emeritus Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Northern Arizona University. “The benefits to humanity of nature-derived medicines are incalculable in terms of longevity, relief of suffering and increase in the quality of life.”

According to the Environmental Magazine, some 120 prescription drugs sold worldwide today are derived directly from rainforest plants.

The US National Cancer Institute (NCI) reported that more than twothirds of all medicines found to have cancer-fighting properties come from rainforest plants.

Examples abound. “One of the biggest breakthroughs against cancer in recent decades has stemmed from the Madagascar periwinkle [Catharanthus roseus], the source of

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HY there is so much ado about trees?

Everyone knows trees are utilized in building houses, making bridges and furniture, and cooking foods. In some instances, the fruits provide food for the hungry.

plinary fields of research that take traditional knowledge and culture as starting points in the search for new medicines.

“Folk medicine is the standard

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two potent drugs used against leukemia and Hodgkin’s disease,” Myers wrote.

It has been reported that the ingredients obtained and synthesized from a now-extinct periwinkle plant have increased the chances of survival for children with leukemia from 20 percent to 80 percent. The NCI believes tropical rainforests may well contain “at least ten further plants with similar potential against cancer.”

There are also compounds derived from rainforest plants that are now used to treat malaria, heart disease, bronchitis, hypertension, rheumatism, diabetes, muscle tension, arthritis, glaucoma, dysentery and tuberculosis, among other health problems.

“We cannot imagine a world without antibiotics, such as penicillins, cephalosporins, doxycycline, or erythromycin, without pain relievers, without muscle relaxants, without oral contraceptives, without cancer drugs like Taxol, without blood pressure lowering drugs like lisonopril, without digoxin for heart failure, without local anesthetics, and without anticoagulants like coumarins for thrombosis,” Torrence pointed out.

People should be thankful for the wealth of tropical forests next time they visit a pharmacy. “There is one-in-four chance that our purchase will derive from tropical forest plants,” Myers said. “It may be an antibiotic, an analgesic, a diuretic, a laxative, a tranquilizer or even just cough drops, among many other products.”

Not too many know that the contraceptive pill was originally manufactured from a wild yam growing in Mexico’s forests. Among the latest pills comes courtesy of a forest plant of West Africa. There is also some hope that a therapy to counter Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome lies with a plant in Queensland’s forests.

There has been a surge of interest in recent years in ethnobiology, ethnobotany and other interdisci-

source of medical treatment for at least three-quarters of the world’s people; some analysts set the figure as high as 90 percent,” said a publication published by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. In contrast, “Western” or technological medicine is readily available only to one person in four or five, worldwide.

Systems of folk—or alternative— medicine take many different forms but nearly all are based largely on plant extracts. India has more than 2,000 known medicinal plants, Malaysia around 1,000, while Brazil has at least 3,000.

Unfortunately, the tropical forests are fast disappearing. In fact, almost half of the world’s tropical rainforests have already been destroyed. “It is insanity to let this destruction continue,” deplored Myers. “Yet an area of rainforest the size of 6-football pitches is still being destroyed every minute of every day.”

The same thing is happening

in the tropical forests of the Philippines. Once upon a time, the country was totally covered by forest.

Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan, a noted environmentalist and wildlife photographer, wrote in an article that forest covered 70 percent of the Philippines in the 1900s. By mid-1960s only 13.5 million remained, of which barely 6.3 million hectares were considered primary forest.

During the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos, forests were decimated at an astonishing rate of 300,000 hectares per year, according to Robert Repetto, author of The Forest for the Trees? Government Policies and the Misuse of Forest Resources.

Toward the end of the Marcos administration, there was only 7.2 million hectares that remained of the country’s forest cover, of which bare 2.7 million hectares were reported virgin forests.

Today, we are paying for the sins of the past. As the Holy Bible states, “the wages of sin is death.”

Almost 25 years since the Catholic Church leaders warned against an ecological debacle in the country, the disappearance of forests remains.

Where have all our forests gone? “The Philippines is among the countries that are losing their forest cover fast, ranking fourth in the world’s top 10 most threatened forest hot spots,” deplored Marjorie Pamintuan, the spokesman of Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment. “If the deforestation rate of 157,400 hectares per year continues, the country’s remaining forest cover will be wiped out in less than 40 years. The area lost to deforestation every year is twice the land area of Metro Manila.”

Health&Fitness September 13-19, 2018 5

2018 MR. WORLD PHILIPPINES

2018 FAVES REVEAL FITNESS SECRETS

By Joee Guilas

M

ALE testosterone has been heating up the Resorts World Manila complex for almost a month now with some of the country’s most desirable men going around the area almost every day.

It truly is a challenge for the resort’s guests not to give these towering, be-muscled eye candies a second look given their truly superior physical attributes (not to mention the charming personality each one of them exudes). Having the chance to know them up close as a screening judge, convinces me that they actually deserve the attention they are getting. Getting them into the mold of a pageant king entails hard work, most especially in the physical department.

Competing for the Mr. World Philippines title will involve performing a talent, answering tough questions, and strutting your stuff in a swimwear in front of the entire country. So how do the contestants ensure that their bodies are TV cov-

6 Health&Fitness September 13-19, 2018

erage ready come competition night?

Each contestant seems to take a different approach especially with the coronation night fast approaching.

Malvar, Batangas, representative Denver Hernandez admits to injuring himself in efforts to fasttrack his bodily gains for the pageant. “I now have a stiff neck. The other day, I just trained without any warm up. I have to remind myself all the time to never do that.” However, this will not stop Hernandez from pushing on for his quest for a picture perfect form: “Since the coronation night is really close, I’m planning to do every day work outs and fasting cardio—which means doing cardio on an empty stomach. You’re going to burn more fat doing that,” he shared.

The same last-minute overloading approach on working out is shared

by Bay, Laguna, campaigner, Miguel de Castro. The emergency room nurse, who usually faces many toxic duty nights at work, is now closing in on his ideal body shape. “I do overall body work out to be in great shape. I work out every other day for 45 minutes to one hour. However, if work gets in the way of my working out,

I always remind myself that there should be no excuses for me. Kahit pagod [even if I’m tired], at least I can do 30 minute routines and that will be ok.”

When it comes to diet, de Castro believes in making healthy choices, rather than doing anything extreme.

“I don’t skip meals I have a diet of small, frequent meals. Every three to four hours, I make it a point na

makakain ako [that I’m able to take in food].”

Eating right is also the way to go for Laguna representative Robin Hanrath. The half-Filipino, halfDutch contestant underscores the importance, not just of exercise, but of having a healthy diet. “Fitness to me is 80 percent diet and 20 percent exercise. I was actually overweight for about a year and a half ago. I was 84 kg and I dropped to 65 kg in a matter of six months. Once I was comfortable with how lean I was, I started bulking up,” he reveals. For now, Hanrath subscribes to the much-talked about Intermittent Fasting diet, which he believes is highly-effective. Aside from ensuring he makes it to his five-day work out plans, he also never stops in constantly doing his homework.

“For home workouts: one is limited to what they have at home. For me that’s basically anti-gravity workouts, cardio and ab workouts.”

Likewise, an IF fan is top me-

dia pick, Marco Poli. Half-Filipino, half-Italian in descent, Poli shares how the popular diet works: “Right now, I don’t eat for 16 hours and then eat for eight hours. But during the 8-hour window for eating, I make sure that my body gets all the nutrients it needs. I eat gulay [vegetables], good carbs and a lot of protein.”

He is, likewise, not a fan of cramming in the gym for the pageant’s swimsuit round. “I keep fit everday. I go to the gym, do a lot of sports. I do boxing, calisthenics, total body work out. I also do football since I’m a football player,” he said.

San Jose del Monte, Bulacan’s pride Reymart Regis finds it hard to match Poli’s extended gym time. The chinito charmer has his hands full as a management student, a part-time model and now as a Mr. World candidate. “Hindi na po ako masyado nakakapag-workout kasi po masyado na pong nagiging busy dito, [I now find it hard to find

the time to workout since things are getting very busy lately].” However, he compensates by continuously dieting and by doing regular exercise routines at home. “Umiiwas po ako sa kanin at saka sa softdrinks. Tubig lang po ako lagi. [I try to avoid taking in too much rice and softdrinks.

I always make it a point to hydrate].

Being one of the youngest candidates in this year’s edition, Regis surely gets much needed help from his still dynamic metabolism.

More than just getting a crack at the best body plum, Hagonoy, Bulacan, teacher Joy Jerome Evangelista has a deeper reason motivating him to spend hours in the gym. “I was once overweight. Given my 5’10” frame, my weight should be about 75 kg. But no, there was a time when I reached 90 kg. I experienced body shaming. Halos ayaw ko nang makita sarili ko salamin (I almost did not want to see myself in the mirror).”

Considering that as his wake-up call, Evangelista turned to lifting weights

to achieve his physical goals, “My workout type is the strength type, which means high repetitions using heavy weights.”

Whichever formula works to win for these men the coveted Mr. World Philippines title, what’s important is really not just what looks good but what actually is good for their bodies.

“Kailangan pong alagaan natin ang katawan natin. Hangga’t maaga bigyan na po ito ng pag-aalaga at wag nang hintaying magkasakit pa [We need to take care of our bodies.

We need to prioritize our health and not wait for sickness to strike us],” said Regis.

Hernandez added: “It all boils down to self-discipline. The gym is just there to help us and make it easier for us to get in better shape.”

The country will get to know who will represent it in the Mr. World pageant on Saturday, September 15, at the Newport Performing Arts Theater. With all certainty, it will be one fit and healthy guy.

REYMART REGIS

MIGUEL DE CASTRO

MARCO POLI

JOY JEROME EVANGELISTA

ROBIN HANRATH

DENVER HERNANDEZ

Health&Fitness September 13-19, 2018 7

SPECIA

By Henrylito D. Tacio

SEX AND YO

‘L

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IFE without sex,” declared Henry Louis Mencken, “might be safer but it would be unbearably dull. It is the sex, which makes women seem beautiful, which they are once in a blue moon, and men seem wise and brave, which they never are at all. Throttle it, denaturalize it, take it away and human existence would be reduced to the prosaic, laborious, boresome, imbecile level of life in an anthill.”

In the past, talking about sex is a taboo. And when they do, it emphasizes on negative factors, such as disease, unwanted pregnancies or pedophiles. But sex is about pleasure, about having children and intimacy.

So, let’s talk about sex. First and foremost, what is the normal erection time for the male organ?

“There is no hard and fast rule,” writes Dr. Willie T. Ong in his book, How to Live Longer: Practical Health Tips from a Heart Doctor, “but the usual range for males is from 45 minutes to an hour.

“From a medical point of view, the male organ should remain erect as long as the sexual stimulus is present. And it should maintain its erection until it can perform its function, which is to ejaculate and release the sperm.”

Speaking of sperm, what is the normal amount of semen needs to be released? According to Dr. Eduardo Gatchalian, urologist and past president of the Philippine College of Surgeons, 3 milliliters of seminal fluid or close to a teaspoon is the normal amount. Anything less than 1.5 ml is considered abnormal and may be a sign of infertility, he added.

How many times should sex be performed? Dr. Gatchalian noted: “At 20, you have sex three times a

8 Health&Fitness September 13-19, 2018

day. At 30, you have sex three times a night [with your spouse]. At 40 and 50, you have sex three times a week. At 60, you have sex only thrice a month.”

What happens when you do the sexual act? “First, your heart rate increases, pupils dilate, nostrils flare and sweat glands open,” said Dr. Ong. “Female breasts enlarge by 25 percent. There is also increased blood flow to the lips, nose and sexual organs. All these changes build up to an orgasm.”

And other than the obvious gratification and pleasure that sex brings, there are several health benefits that people can derive from it. As Chris Sherwood, a journalist who specializes in medical and health research, puts it: “When being intimate with your partner, thinking about the health benefits of sexual activity is probably not the first thing on your mind. However, beyond the physical enjoyment of sex comes a list of beneficial side effects that can affect everything from your weight to your heart and even your immune system.”

Sex is a form of physical activity and exercise. Like any other physical activity, sex burns calories, which can contribute to health and weight loss. The number of calories burned during sexual activity varies depend-

ing on how long the session lasts, as well as how intense the session is.

“Sex burns between 75 and 150 calories per half-hour,” said Dr. Desmond Ebanks, founder and medical director of Alternity Healthcare in West Hartford, Connecticut. It’s comparable to other physical activities, he said, like yoga (114 calories per half-hour), dancing (129 calories per half-hour) or walking (153 calories per half-hour).

Bonus: Sex may also help your muscles stay lean in the process. “Sexual arousal and orgasm releases the hormone testosterone, which, among other things, is necessary to build and maintain bone and lean muscle tissue,” he adds.

Regular sexual intercourse may also help reduce prostate cancer risks for men. Men who ejaculated more frequently (more than 21 times per month) were found to have a reduced risk for developing prostate cancer, according to research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Among women, sexual activity and orgasm during menstruation has a potentially protective effect against endometriosis. In addition, women who continue to be sexually active after they reach menopause, with a partner or through masturbation, are less likely to have significant vaginal atrophy and are more likely to report sufficient vaginal lubrication.

Eating a healthy diet, and keeping your cholesterol low and sodium in check are great ways to stay on top of heart health, but so is having sex. “Sex is exercise that raises heart rate and blood flow,” said Dr. Ebanks.

In a study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, scientists found frequency of sex was not associated with stroke in the 914 men they followed for 20 years.

And the heart-health benefits of sex don’t end there. The researchers also found that having sex twice or more a week reduced the risk of fatal heart attack by half for the men, compared

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OUR HEALTH

with those who had sex less than once a month.

Several studies have demonstrated that those who have sex regularly are less likely to die from heart disease.

The Biological Psychology Journal contains the research reports from Scotland that sexual practices are helpful in maintaining normal blood pressure.

Unknowingly, sexual intercourse may increase your body’s ability to deal with stress, most noticeably by its effects on your blood pressure levels. In a 2006 study by researcher Stuart Brody, published in the journal Biological Psychology, it was found that the body reacts better to stress after intercourse than it does after other sexual activity or no activity at all. This was shown through the lower blood pressure results of those who had penile-vaginal intercourse before being placed in stressful situations.

Sexual intercourse may boost the capabilities of your body’s immune system. Sexual intercourse can increase

the presence of antibodies called immunoglobulin A (IgA) in your body. These antibodies help defend the mucous membranes of your body, such as your mouth, digestive tract and airways, against invading pathogens.

Scientists at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Philadelphia, took samples of saliva, which contain IgA, from 112 college students who reported the frequency of sex they had. Those in the “frequent” group (once or twice a week) had higher levels of IgA than those in the other three groups—who reported being abstinent, having sex less than once a week, or having it very often, three or more times weekly.

If you’re having a hard time sleeping well and common remedies aren’t doing the job, sex may help. During an orgasm, your body releases substances such as oxytocin, prolactin and vasopressin, each of which is normally produced directly before or while you are sleeping. The physical exhaustion that comes after sex may also help increase

your ability to fall asleep.

“The profound relaxation that typically follows orgasm for women and ejaculation or orgasm for men may be one of the few times people actually allow themselves to completely relax,” said Dr. Ebanks. “Many indicate that they sleep more deeply and restfully after satisfying lovemaking.”

Contrary to common belief, sex increases blood flow. “When we get aroused,” wrote WebMD’s Kathleen Doheny, “our blood starts to pump at a quicker rate and, thus, blood flow to our brain increases. Both an increased heart rate and more blood pumping through the brain result in better performance [in and out of the bedroom].”

What this ultimately means is that the fresh supply of blood pumping through your body provides the organs with a healthy dose of oxygen and rids the body of old and wasteful products. So, another health benefit of sex is a cleansed system.

Could sex make a woman more beautiful? It sounds far-fetched, but Dr. Eric Braverman, founder of PATH Medical Center in New York City, said having sex releases a key compound in the body that is good for all kinds of things—including improving your complexion. During sex, your body produces a hormone called DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone). “It can boost the immune system, give you healthier skin and even decrease depression,” he said.

When you’re in the mood, it’s a sure bet that the last thing on your mind is boosting your immune system or maintaining a healthy weight.

Yet, good sex offers those health benefits and more.

Meanwhile, those who survive a heart attack are usually wary of having sex with his partner. But the

chance of another heart attack during sex is a myth. In fact, the chance “is so low that it’s not worth worrying about,” said Dr. James E. Muller, a researcher who published a 2000 study, “Triggering of Cardiac Events

by Sexual Activity,’ in the American Journal of Cardiology. “The absolute risk is very low and should not be a consideration for those with stable coronary disease,” he points out.

Of course, it’s normal for patients to have sex less frequently in the weeks and months after a heart attack. A patient has “no choice but to abstain [from any sexual activity], by virtue of the fact that he or she is still recovering from the illness,” said Dr. Helen Ong-Garcia, a cardiologist at the St. Luke’s Medical Center.

Generally, patients can resume sex after a heart attack if they are “able to walk a couple of flights of stairs, if they’re able to walk on a treadmill, or do moderate-intensity activity without any chest discomfort or without any severe shortness of breath,” said Dr. Randal Thomas, a preventive cardiologist and director of the Cardiovascular Health Clinic at the Mayo Clinic.

The American Heart Association says a doctor may prohibit sex among those who survived heart attacks in the following instances: a few days after a heart attack, bothersome chest pains and shortness of breath.

Dr. Ong discouraged those who survived a heart attack to engage in sexual activities other than their wives. “The stress and excitement of having an unfamiliar partner in unfamiliar territory is equivalent to an hour of heavy cycling or rowing,” Dr. Ong said. “This explains why some people unceremoniously die in motels while ‘in action.’”

Health&Fitness September 13-19, 2018 9

‘IT’S GAME TIME’: TOBY’S SPORTS CELEBRATES 40TH YEAR

QUORUM Holdings Corp. Board of Directors (from left) Toby Claudio, Rodolfo Claudio, Cora Liza Claudio, Bobby Claudio, Jose Claudio Jr., Ana Isabel Recto and Victoria Vinas.

T

OBY’S Sports, the largest multibrand sports retailer in the country, marked its 40th year of dominance in the industry with a grand anniversary celebration called “It’s Game Time” on August 30, Thursday, at the Metrotent Convention Center in Metrowalk Plaza, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City.

The momentous occasion will pay tribute to the men and women behind the success of Toby’s Sports in the past four decades, as it coincides with the retirement of its chief executive officer, Bobby Claudio. During the event, Toby’s Sports will treat its sports-luxe-clad guests with special performances from “Mr. Pure Ener-

10 Health&Fitness September 13-19, 2018

gy,” multiawarded singer-songwriter Gary Valenciano; the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Salinggawi Dance Troupe, the winningest squad in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Cheerdance Competition; pop boy band and Myx Music Awardee for Favorite Group “The Juans” and DJ Jon Tupaz.

Evolving from being a modest toy shop to what is now Filipinos’ sports retailer of choice, Toby’s Sports prides itself in having the widest selection of products in the country.

It offers a well-curated lineup of the latest sports footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories from the world’s leading brands, including a diverse portfolio of its own in-house brands that combine performance with value.

Toby’s Sports has a team of sports specialists and enthusiasts who are ready to share their expertise with anyone who walks into any of its over 50+ stores nationwide. The establishment has also extended the shopping experience well beyond

mall hours with its e-commerce store, www.tobys.com.

Throughout its 40 years in the industry, Toby’s Sports has become more than just a store of sporting goods, as it continuously builds itself as an ally in sports and fitness of its millions of customers.

“Toby’s Sports is here not just to provide you with the gear that you need but, more important, to inspire you to succeed. In sports and life, We Got This,” Toby Claudio, president of Quorum International Inc., the parent company of Toby’s Sports, assure customers and clients.

Guided by a strong set of core values that propelled it to where it is now, Toby’s Sports remains committed to provide its patrons with the support and motivation that they need to succeed. As the company ushers in a new decade, Claudio further ensured that “Toby’s Sports will continue to expand and innovate with the times, remaining committed to improving itself so that greatness will be more achievable for every Filipino dreamer.”

How to turn your walk into a workout

By Joe Fleming

Y

OUNG or old, active or sedentary, practically anyone can appreciate the benefits a quick walk has to offer. As a form of low-impact exercise, walking serves as both cardiovascular and weight-bearing activity. Give your walking routine a makeover with these eight tips. where your feet can’t touch the bottom while wearing a buoyant aqua jogging belt that helps keep you afloat. You may think the weightlessness of being in water would simplify your walk; however, the resistance on your body is so much more than when you’re on dry land and it takes extra effort to get your heart rate up.

Join a club

MOTIVATING yourself to transform your walk into more of a workout may be as simple as tracking your progress—i.e., number of steps taken or distance traveled—and then setting new goals each week that increase those numbers by 5 to 10 percent. Wearable fitness technology like Fitbits and Bellabeats offer these capabilities and has become an evergrowing trend in the fitness world.

IF you need a little boost of support to take your walk to the next level, a walking group or club may be just the ticket. Walking with other people serves as a social activity and holds you accountable to more than just yourself when it comes to getting exercise. Look for local walking groups on Meetup.com or at your local gym or senior center. For people with mobility limitations, specialized mobility aids like walking canes or rollator walkers can help keep you moving while a walking club of similarly-abled individuals can help keep you inspired.

Walk in water

Go outside

Track your progress

EVER heard of aqua jogging or pool running? Often an avenue of rehabilitation for injured runners, this fun form of exercise is becoming more and more popular with different athletes and people simply looking to spice up their workout routine.

Aqua jogging involves walking or jogging in the deep end of a pool

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PERHAPS the easiest way to increase the calorie burn and challenge of your endurance is to increase the speed of your gait, as well as the distance you cover. Walking faster engages more muscles and increases your heart rate in a gradual but effective way, which helps strengthen the cardiovascular system and decrease the risk for lifestyle diseases like diabetes and obesity. One easy way to kickstart a quicker pace is to listen to music with an upbeat tempo while you walk.

TAKE your daily walks off the treadmill or outside the mall and into the wilderness. Hiking is essentially walking in nature but with more challenges to your balance, coordination, agility, and endurance because of the varying terrain. Look online for beginner hiking trails near you and head out on an adven-

ture with a friend. Don’t forget to wear sun protection, take plenty of water with you and map out the trail ahead of time so you don’t accidentally get lost.

Head for the hills

CHANGING your walking route to include more hills is a surefire way to engage more leg muscles and burn more calories. Moderate to steep inclines are more difficult to traverse and require added strength and coordination. By working in more hills during your daily walks—whether it’s a new route in your neighborhood or simply more incline on the treadmill—you’ll not only tone more leg muscles like your calves and hamstrings but you’ll build up endurance as well.

Ramp up the intensity PIXABAY.COM

Speed up and go farther

INCORPORATING small bursts of high-intensity interval training into your walk can play an important role in boosting your metabo-

lism and muscle gains. Thirty seconds to one minute of intense exercises like squats, planks, sprinting or plyometric jump squats sprinkled in every five minutes or so of your walk will rapidly get your heart rate up, and over time it may also improve your own anaerobic power, velocity and neuromuscular status.

Add weight

WALKING is considered a weightbearing activity because it requires your body to work against the force of gravity—i.e., in lifting up your legs one by one from the ground. When you add weight to your person, the energy and strength you need to counter gravity increases, thus helping you burn more calories and build more muscle. You can add weight to your walk by carrying a daypack with heavy items in it (like water bottles) or sporting a weighted vest under your workout clothes.

Source: www.bewellbuzz.com

Health&Fitness September 13-19, 2018 11

HEALTH MONITOR

CONTAINING AN OUTBREAK

W

ITH the Expanded Immunization Program (EPI), door-to-door campaigns and several information drives, the Department of Health (DOH) has implemented a thorough immunization program against the measles early this year. Addressing its alarming spread in January, DOH’s vaccination program tried containing the contagious disease that has already killed 13 individuals as early as March this year. According to DOH data released in April, these were seen in Taguig, Zamboanga, Davao and Negros Oriental.

Because of the air-borne characteristics of the virus, it is quicker to spread, as seen in the several provinces affected by the disease.

The DOH has already recorded 723 hospitalizations because of labconfirmed measles. Unfortunately, measles is not the only disease that could spread like wildfire and re-

sult to hospitalizations. At the start of the rainy season, the DOH has warned the public of several diseases that could be experienced. Mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, bacterial infections such as leptospirosis and viral infections like influenza are just some of the illnesses expected to surface this season.

Among these diseases, the most common is influenza, which, when left undiagnosed and untreated, can increase the risk of hospitalization, or worse, turn into a life-threatening disease that can claim lives. As the DOH has recorded more than 40,000 emerging influenza-like illness in its report published last April, the agency continues to warn the public of the circulating influenza virus that can develop into severe flu.

Flu is more than the commonly experienced cold, cough and high fever. It can be graver with nausea and severe joint and muscular pains.

These symptoms may already lead to complications such as bacterial pneumonia and multiple organ dysfunction. Unfortunately, flu is especially dangerous for high-risk individuals who are suffering from preexisting medical conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, kidney problems and HIV. Luckily, just like measles, flu

is a vaccine-preventable disease.

Medical experts recommend the public to get their yearly vaccination. Aside from the DOH, Philippine Foundation for Vaccination is also campaigning for the public to follow the immunization schedules that can help avoid starting an outbreak.

According to them, flu shot should be given yearly to both infants and adults. Parents can already protect their kids from the disease as early as six months. With their bodies also susceptible to flu virus, adults are also encouraged to get their shots. High-risk patients and elders who have weaker immunity are strongly advised to be vaccinated against flu.

The measles outbreak is a wakeup call for Filipinos to not take common diseases for granted. Vaccination may save more lives than reactive medication, and it may be high time to visit your physician.

Monsoon: Bringing in rain and diseases

T

HE Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration has already declared the start of the rainy season, with the country dealing with the combined effects of tropical storms and the southwest monsoon. With the sudden change in wind direction and temperature, the amount of rainfall increases, as well as the viral infections that come with it.

Coined as monsoon infections, Dr. May Montellano, former president of the Pediatrics and Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines, warns the public of its faster transmission due to the weather.

Often taken lightly, these diseases are more prone to become serious cases that can lead to hospitalization.

Know about the top 3 most common monsoon diseases that can put Filipinos’ health at risk, and the preventive measures that people can take to avoid hospitalizations.

Waterborne diseases

WATER borne diseases are usually transmitted by drinking polluted water and consuming contaminated food. The season’s cold temperature causes bac-

12 Health&Fitness September 13-19, 2018

teria to live and breed massively in fresh waters, which are food and water sources for many. In an advisory released by the World Health Organization (WHO), common diseases that fall under waterrelated illnesses are cholera, diarrhea, hepatitis A, amoebiasis and typhoid fever. If neglected, these diseases can cause severe infections in one’s digestive system.

How to prevent it: WITH water being a basic need, it is important to know where it comes from.

To avoid getting these diseases, it is best to boil water before using or drinking. Ensure to cook raw ingredients well and store food in places where insects cannot infest it.

Mosquito-borne diseases

LAST June the Department of Health also released a warning against mosquitoborne diseases such as dengue that are more prevalent during the rainy season.

Rains are ideal for mosquitoes because of puddles and other unnecessarily stored water that serve as mosquitoes’ breeding

grounds. With more rainfalls this season, mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, malaria and chikungunya are most likely to emerge. Though caused by tiny carriers, the symptoms of these diseases range from mild to serious, including high fever, severe joint pains, malaise, vomiting, and blood and organ infections.

one can also experience fever, severe joint and muscle pains, malaise and nausea. Severe manifestation of flu, as added by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, can even lead to hospitalization. It can also cause respiratory infections like pneumonia and may eventually lead to death.

How to prevent it:

How to prevent it:

MAINTAIN a mosquito-resistant environment by obstructing any possible nests for mosquitoes. Ensure that there is no stagnant water that can be a mosquito’s haven in your surroundings like old shoes or toys, flower pots and car tires. Use mosquito-repellent lotion and bug-deterring sprays to prevent mosquitoes from entering your homes.

FLU can be avoided by strengthening one’s immune system. Luckily, the disease is also vaccine-preventable. While it can also be avoided with the proper hygiene and stringent ways like the other monsoon diseases, its shifting virus strain can be very unpredictable.

With monsoons doubling the risk of virus transmission, it is best to avert flu through vaccination.

The rainy season has only begun, and it is likely to heighten with inevitable monsoon interference that the country experiences. As diseases surface in its presence, it is best to know what Filipinos are up against, as well as the preventive measures they can take against them. Visit your physicians and ask about vaccinations today.

Influenza

WHILE the cold weather is ideal for breeding mosquito and waterborne infections, it is also conducive in spreading viral infections like flu. With the monsoon even meddling with weather shift, it can also trigger a wide spread of influenza. The WHO said that cough and colds are not its only symptoms as

HEALTH MONITOR

How to have a smart baby

By Mary Jude Icasiano | Nutritionist

A

S an expectant mom, you want the best for your baby. That is why you do everything you can to ensure your baby’s health. But did you know that you could do a lot of things that can help give your baby a bright tomorrow?

Take these three simple steps to help promote proper brain growth and development of your baby while in the womb.

PIXABAY.COM

Stay fit and active

EXERCISING during pregnancy may not only improve your health but also, the brain development of your baby. The University of Montreal conducted a study where 18 expect-

ant moms and their babies found out that, after 10 days of exercising, their unborn children have a faster brain development.

This finding also suggests that being physically active during pregnancy can help increase your body’s blood flow, which can stimulate your baby’s overall development.

WWW.FREEPIK.COM

Talk to your baby

IT may seem like a silly thing to do but, talking to your unborn child can help create and establish a bond between you and your baby. In a 2013 study by Eino Partanen, et al., expectant women were given a recording that they will play toward the end of their pregnancy, which included a made-up word. The babies who heard the recording most frequently had the strongest response, suggesting that language learning begins in the womb.

Playing music is also beneficial to your baby since it helps trigger happy chemicals like serotonin, an important neuromodulator of brain development and the structure and function of neuronal circuits. These chemicals also encourage your baby to feel calm and even increase concentration power.

Eat healthily WWW.FREEPIK.COM

While your child is yet to be born, your pregnancy is a crucial time in his or her life. In fact, the World Health Organization says that the first 1000 days of your baby’s life, starting with the 270 days of pregnancy and first two years of a child’s life, is an optimum period to build a strong foundation for their health, growth and ability to learn in the future.

EVERY food you eat during pregnancy has a direct effect on your baby. Take this as an opportunity to eat healthy meals that will help with your baby’s growth and development.

There are certain foods that have been proven to effectively help your baby’s memory and ability to learn. For example, a study led by a researcher from Cornell University found that expectant moms who consumed nearly twice the recommended amount of choline each day during their last trimester gave birth to babies who showed better brain function.

Similarly, consuming foods rich in DHA, folic acid, and iodine, are essential for a healthy brain development.

It is also critical to provide your baby with the nutrients that will support your baby’s brain development. In addition to following a healthy diet, you also need a maternal milk to supplement you and your baby with essential nutrients.

ProMama is a delicious-tasting nutritional milk drink, scientifically formulated with key nutrients designed to support you during preconception, pregnancy and lactation.

It is rich in brain-building nutrients such as DHA, folic acid, choline, and Iodine. Proper growth and development early on can lead to better health outcomes later in life.

Caring for yourself is essential during pregnancy, since it supports all parts of your child’s brain growth and development. Creating a strong foundation built on healthy environment and diet can ensure that your baby will have a bright tomorrow.

Health&Fitness September 13-19, 2018 13

STRESS: THE #1 ENEMY OF WEIGHT LOSS

Stress, sleep, and weight issues

STRESS and sleep problems are closely tied togethe—and the third component, which often accompanies these problems, is a change in weight.

Stress and sleep create such a tightknitted cycle that sometimes it’s hard to determine which came first. Stress can keep you up at night by preventing you from falling asleep or staying asleep.

Once you realize that the night is slipping away, you become more stressed, willing yourself to fall asleep—which only keeps you awake for longer.

Sleep deprivation—due to stress, or for any other reason—exacerbates stress, and causes anxiety and even depression, with significantly elevated levels of cortisol in the body.

This vicious cycle of stress and sleep problems disrupt the functioning of our hunger hormones. It also sends signals to our body that we need more energy, so we compensate by eating when really all we need is sleep.

Reducing stress

NOW that we understand how stress affects the body—with weight gain or weight loss, and sleep problems—we may be more inclined to take action in reducing stress levels. Fortunately, there are many proven methods to stress relief that you can start implementing today.

1Meditate.

E

VER feel like you’re losing control over your weight? You’ve tried dieting; you exercise; yet you can’t seem to shed those stubborn pounds.

This cycle is, no doubt, just another number on the list of things, which are causing you daily stress.

You may think of stress as a mental state—a response in your brain to an overwhelming situation. It turns out is way more than that. Chronic stress becomes embedded throughout your whole body—and it may be one of the reasons you aren’t able to lose those extra pounds. Stress and weight gain are very closely connected.

It all starts with a perceived threat in your brain, which triggers a whole slew of biochemical reactions in your body, including the release of stress hormones adrenaline, CRH and cortisol. These hormones are released to kick your autonomic nervous system into high gear as part of the “fight or flight” response.

Your body senses danger, and it’s getting ready to either fight it or run.

Chronic stress happens when the perceived threat remains long-term.

Your cortisol levels remain high, and your body stays in a constant state of stress. Cortisol is linked to weight gain because of its effect on other hormones—including the “hunger hormone” ghrelin—and because of its influence on metabolism.

14 Health&Fitness September 13-19, 2018

What is cortisol?

CORTISOL is a hormone released by the adrenal glands during times of stress (including physical stress, like exercise). Cortisol has many functions. It regulates the metabolism by choosing, which source of energy to use—carbohydrate, fat or protein—at any given time. During times of stress, it suppresses immune function, raises blood pressure, decreases bone formation, and slows digestion. It also plays a role in memory, electrolyte balance, and fetal development.

Stress and weight gain

CORTISOL is the survival hormone that kicks in right after adrenaline gets us wired up and says “we’ve got to hold on to this energy for later.” It encourages fat storage in our midsection so that we’re never without an energy supply. It also has a close relationship with ghrelin, the hunger hormone.

Anxiety triggers eating, and this relationship goes way back to our ancestors—when the man used to hunt for food. Back in the day, we had the same

concerns and fears that wild animals have— an instinct for survival. Our stress kicked in when we would spend a lot of energy hunting to bring food back to our families. Cortisol and ghrelin worked together to keep us alive.

Now that food is readily available to us, we turn to it for comfort and stress release. Not only do we turn to food, but during times of stress, we prefer foods that are high in refined sugars and carbohydrates.

Stress and weight loss

EVEN though stress and weight gain are commonly linked, some people will have the opposite reaction in response to stress. High anxiety can impact one’s appetite leading to weight loss. People who experience weight loss during stress are eating fewer calories per day than they are burning.

This can be due to a lack of eating, increase in nervous movement or chronically high-stress hormones, which cause temporary but repeated boosts in metabolism.

People who experience weight loss due to anxiety are not necessarily lucky, though. Excessive weight loss can lead to low muscle mass, compromised immune system, osteoporosis, anemia and many other health complications.

The dangers of being underweight are just as pressing as the dangers of being overweight.

Studies show that meditation helps to reduce cortisol levels, beating stress and anxiety with a relaxation response.

2Exercise.

It’s no secret that regular exercise causes an increase in endorphins. Endorphins are the “feel-good” hormones that fight off the effects of cortisol. Not to mention that exercise will keep your metabolism up so that you can lose weight.

3Get it out

. It’s important to have a safe place to turn to when you need to vent or express frustration and anger. It doesn’t even need to be a person. Get yourself a journal and write it out when you’re feeling stresse—you may even find that writing things down will help you to find a solution.

4Eat well

. Eat more fruits and vegetables and less processed and refined foods. A 2017 study showed that higher fruit and vegetable intake is linked to lower levels of psychological stress.

5Socialize.

Studies show that people who keep to themselves have higher levels of cortisol. Plan to meet with friends once in a while and do a fun activity together. Socializing outside of your workplace and your home is important for keeping stress levels low.

Source: www.bewellbuzz.com

HEALTHY FINDS

n SENATE APPROVES P1.16-B ASSISTANCE FOR DENGVAXIAVACCINATED KIDS

THE Department of Health (DOH) welcomes the Senate approval of the P1.16-billion supplemental budget to assist children vaccinated with Dengvaxia.

The budget represents the amount refunded by Sanofi Pasteur to the DOH for the unused Dengvaxia vaccines that were returned.

After having been approved by both chambers of the Congress, the said bill is now up for the President’s approval and automatically becomes a law 15 days after publication in the

major broadsheets.

The use of the said fund is broken down into the following: 81 percent will be for medical assistance program of dengvaxia-vaccinees, 13 percent will be for public health management, and 6 percent for human resource and for [the] health development.

“Majority of the budget or some P945.8 million will be allocated for the medical assistance program for Dengvaxia recipients seeking treatment either confined at a hospital or outpatient," Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.

Additionally, Duque said, P148.3 million

will be spent on the assessment and monitoring of Dengvaxia recipients and for supplies and medicines; and P 67.6 million will be used in the deployment of health workers, who will follow up on complaints of the vaccine recipients.

“We are very pleased with the recent approval by the Senate of the DOH budget proposal which will certainly benefit, primarily the Dengvaxia-vaccinated children including their respective families. We deeply commend our Honorable Senators for this development,” the health chief concluded.

Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

n EDUCATION EXPERTS TALK ABOUT WIRED KIDS, GLOBAL LEARNING AND HOMESCHOOLING AS the world shifted toward technology, everything has started to move at a faster pace, even education. The digital world has had an impact on children’s learning and development, and not always on a positive note. With more distractions that are available for young learners, it has been increasingly difficult for educators to engage students in the traditional classroom setting.

The good news is that parents can actually provide their children a curriculum that is richly designed and tailor fit to their learning styles, as they also put a premium on raising them up anchored on the right values, not just filling their minds with knowledge.

The perils of ‘Digital Cocaine’ BRAD HUDDLESTON, author of Digital Cocaine: A Journey Toward iBalance and The Dark Side of Technology: Restoring Balance in the Digital Age is an expert on the effects of technology in molding young minds. He talks about the dangers of digital addiction. “In its simplest form, when someone cannot do without their digital device, they are addicted. This not only applies to entertainment media accessed through digital devices, but also includes technology that is required for work and school. When any activity, including interacting with digital devices, interferes with normal life, they are addicted.” This poses a problem for both parents and educators, he adds, and goes around the world to help them mitigate the effects of tech.

He also explains that because the world is connected to the same “pipe” known as the Internet, the resulting problems created by this relatively new medium are generally the same around the world. “This means that the rise in ADHD, cognitive breakdown, depression and anxiety disorders, etc. are common regardless of country or economic status.”

Touch and tech WITH homeschooling, however, there is a way to harness the powers of tech to truly build up kids

SHOWN in photo are the Global Homeschool Conference Workshop Speakers together with Homeschool Global President Edric Mendoza (back row, 3rd from right) who are excited to help you #LearnBetter on October 13.

in their studies and make gadgets a healthy part of a holistic learning experience. As Debra Bell, homeschool mom and author of the best-selling book The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling, explains, “Homeschoolers are early adopters of the technologies that are revolutionizing education and how we deliver learning around the globe. It continues to rise in the United States, as recent research has shown, and is on the rise dramatically around the world.”

The 21st century is about learning anytime, anywhere, through any means and homeschooling gives families the flexibility they need to balance work, family, travel, hobbies, and education.

Bell expounds that parents can actually marry being high-touch and high-tech through homeschooling. How? “[By] learning right beside your children with an Ipad or smartphone in hand.

Talking about what you are learning and they are learning online around the dinner table and throughout the day,” she advises.

The intentional parenting core of homeschooling keeps technology usage in check, wielding its power only for good so children #LearnBetter.

This and other topics on how to enrich learning in the digital age and how to make intentional

parenting work for you will be discussed by Brad Huddleston, Debra Bell, University of the Philippines Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan and other expert educators at the much-awaited 1st Global Homeschool Conference (GHC 2018) on October 13 to be held at SM Aura Premier BGC Taguig City. The event is organized by Homeschool Global (HG), a learning enrichment services provider with the vision to help change the world one family at a time through education.

GHC 2018 is not just for moms and dads, but also features special workshop tracks for teens and educators. It features exciting keynote messages and workshops by homeschool pioneers and alumni alike, a Homeschool Exchange (business opportunities for homeschoolers by homeschoolers), various fun-filled activities for kids, and more! To cap off the day, Homeschool Global will be hosting a “Showcase of Talents,” featuring talented homeschoolers who shine in their chosen fields, as well as sought-after band Ben & Ben, one of whose members, Poch Barretto, is a product of homeschooling.

To register for the 1st Global Homeschool Conference, visit http://www.homeschoolglobal.com/ ghc2018.html.

Health&Fitness September 13-19, 2018 15