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MALLS FACE CHALLENGES FROM FAST-RISING GLOBAL E-COMMERCE ERA

By Roderick L. Abad | Contributor

HE so-called malling phenomenon remains stronger than ever in the Philippines, proof of which being the continuous development of various shopping centers across the country that offer more retail spaces for merchants and a wider range of experiences to customers. E-commerce on the rise

AGAINST all odds, e-commerce keeps on flourishing in this country as it is projected to increase its contribution to the economy by 50 percent in the next three years. “With an impressive annual growth rate of 12 percent, the ecommerce revenue in the Philippines is expected to reach $1.3 billion by 2022,” Anchanto Country Head for the Philippines Abhimanyu Kashikar said of the industry forecast from research group Statista. This is indicative of how lucrative this market is in Southeast Asia, wherein retail sales are seen to almost double to $1.38 trillion in 2025 from $720 billion last year. But as the heat begins to turn up in the region amid exponentially growing customer expectations, businesses need to move ahead in a market that is inherently fragmented, and still a long way from being what can be called as “mature.” “That being said, it is now imperative for all businesses to implement an innovative, scalable and robust technological solution that will not only streamline their backend operations, but also allow them to connect with other ecosystem players,” Kashikar stressed.

KCHUNGTW | DREAMSTIME.COM

For majority of Filipinos today, malls are popular “all-in-one” destinations that not only provide shopping, dining and entertainment but also offer community events, access to government and utility services, and even spaces allotted for worship. Despite this favorable market reception, local sellers still face some challenges to make a mark in this fragmented market. These include the rise of e-commerce, changing consumer tastes, increased competition and other developments in both the retail landscapes here and abroad. With this in mind, they are encouraged to pursue innovations in their physical and online stores to not only scale up their revenue massively, but also to bring the overall buying experience of their clients to a new level. “The global shift in consumer behavior puts pressure on retailers around the world to rethink their customers’ journey and experience in their online and offline stores,” said Aptos Inc. Vice President for Retail Innovation Nikki Baird at the recent National Retail Conference and Expo (NRCE). “In response to this, brands are embracing digital and behavioral innovations to deepen customer relationships, provide in-store services, use stores as fulfillment centers, harness rich customer data, host in-store events, and offer store-only exclusives,” she added.

‘Technology jungle’

GIVEN the upbeat outlook on the e-commerce sector, the importance Continued on A2

In markets gone mad, investors find rare comfort in data science By Liz Capo McCormick & Anchalee Worrachate

Bloomberg News

HE Phillips Curve is in doubt, the bond market is distorted and a tweet from President Donald Trump can shift the trajectory of global markets in a matter of seconds.

In a world where traditional touchstones of fund strategies are being challenged by unprecedented economic-policy uncertainty, investors are seeking information not tapped before or better ways to sift through it. Some are stepping up the use of machine-learning to capture market sentiment on everything from the trade war to recessions. Whether these strategies are more effective than conventional methods remains to be seen, but they’re already paying off for some funds.

In a Bleecker Street loft in downtown Manhattan, Vasant Dhar, the founder of a $400-million hedge fund and a pioneer of Artificial Intelligence (AI) investing, finds his computer-driven trading is just the thing for the Trump era. He uses a program that captures not just securities prices, economic data and news sentiment but also market fears—studying patterns of volatility. In Boston, Eaton Vance Corp. has a four-person data science team studying anonymous credit-card

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 52.0010

spending information, customer sentiment from social media and exchange traded fund (ETF) flows on top of the fundamental work of its equity portfolio managers. “At times, the market has been behaving like a naïve schizophrenic that puts all faith in only the most recent trade tweet,” said Eddie Perkin, chief equity investment officer at Eaton Vance. “As humans, we know we have intellectual biases that can lead us to flawed decisionmaking such as reacting to false signals from the market. We have built our investment processes to address this and help keep us out of trouble.” The approach has helped Eaton Vance’s Small-Cap Fund gain 22 percent year-to-date, almost double the Russell 2000 Index’s 11.6-percent increase. A lot that markets relied on in the past has been turned on its head. The challenge to the Phillips curve— the notion of a trade-off between Continued on A2

THE sun rises on Wall Street near the New York Stock Exchange on December 27, 2018. JOHN TAGGART/BLOOMBERG

n JAPAN 0.4811 n UK 64.1484 n HK 6.6464 n CHINA 7.3077 n SINGAPORE 37.8217 n AUSTRALIA 35.7039 n EU 57.5391 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.8621

Source: BSP (September 13, 2019 )

NewsSunday BusinessMirror

A2 Sunday, September 15, 2019

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Going ‘online’ while offline ‘Go-to’ e-commerce solutions

FOR retailers seeking to have an interconnected cutting-edge ecommerce channel to provide to their customers, various foreign and local solutions providers offer them the right packages suited to their requirements. The Singular Commerce platform of Aptos, for instance, delivers every shopper a personalized, empowered and seamless experience anytime, anywhere. “As an end-to-end solutions provider, we are fully committed to supporting local retailers in their transformation journeys, from planning products to point of sale and beyond,” Hassan said. Working with more than 1,000 retail brands across 65 countries, the company offers retailers “an immediate competitive advantage,” boasted the firm’s regional VP for Asia Pacific. “Aptos leverages global retailing insights to tailor solutions specific to the needs of the Philippine market, helping retailers be more efficient, increase productivity, and be better prepared to meet the needs of savvy consumers,” he said. Anchanto, on the other hand, is a software-as-a-service logistics technology firm. It connects ecommerce sellers, brands, retailers and warehousing and fulfillment

PAVLO SYVAK | DREAMSTIME.COM

Continued from A1

of connecting digital—where consumer shopping begins—to the retail store will only increase in the Philippines. “Businesses today are forced to navigate the technology jungle to figure out the right applications needed to run their operations— this is no different, and can be even more challenging, in commerce,” said Gibu Mathew, vice president and general manager, Asia Pacific, Zoho Corp. For IDC Digital Commerce and Enterprise Applications research manager Jordan Jewell, the digital commerce is very competitive that innovation and high-quality customer experience are needed for organizations looking to successfully sell online. To do so, retailers must invest in innovations and technologies so as to make sure that each of their stores offers optimal service and the right inventory to meet the personalized tastes and needs of every shopper. “Filipino retailers need to increasingly merge their brick-andmortar and digital touchpoints to ensure the most seamless experience for the consumer and the most productive and profitable use of inventory across their network,” said Zaki Hassan, regional VP for Asia Pacific at Aptos.

service providers to e-commerce sales channels. Kashikar said their company is providing tools that can help local businesses to increase their rev-

enue while empowering them to grow businesses more in this field. Meanwhile, Zoho’s new and comprehensive platform—Commerce Plus—is a fully integrated, end-to-end channel for the commerce vertical. From sales to fulfillment to customer loyalty, it takes advantage of the firm’s customer experience, finance, analytics and intelligence software to provide businesses an interconnected, first-of-its-kind commerce experience platform. “With CommercePlus, we offer one platform to run an entire commerce business, allowing businesses to focus on what is important for success. Built on Zoho One, Commerce Plus is the operating system for commerce,” Mathew explained. “Zoho’s new CommercePlus product offers a unique approach to commerce as it offers native integrations with both front- and

back-office applications, betterequipping customers to achieve omni-channel commerce operations,” Jewell added. In support of the government’s initiatives to provide the needed mechanisms and technology to boost and promote online shopping in the country, GCash is gearing up to be at the forefront for the development of the e-commerce space by providing Filipinos with a digital wallet, which they can use for online transactions. “We at GCash believe that the e-commerce industry will help fuel the Philippine economy, just like how it has been helping Indonesia grow its local output. With our secure and reliable payments platform GCash, we will be able to help drive the projected growth rates and aid in shaping the future of the country,” GCash President Anthony Thomas said.

Data science… Continued from A1

low unemployment and higher inflation—is clear, with Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell saying in Zurich last week that it’s “not what it was.” Many say the bond yield curve, once a barometer for economic outlook, has lost its predictive edge after central banks’ unprecedented monetary stimulus. A US president who makes major policy announcements through tweets has many funds scrambling to account for the heightened turmoil. The US-China trade war, Brexit and political tensions in Hong Kong are just some of the points of global uncertainty that could cause further market turmoil. Trillions in government-debt purchases by central banks have driven the term premium—or the extra compensation investors required to own long maturities rather than roll over a shorter-dated obligation—to record lows. More than $15 trillion in global bonds now have yields below zero and the voracious search for safety has sent Treasury yields plunging. The level of global policy uncertainty is not only palpable to investors but also measurable. A global composite index of economic-policy uncertainty of 20 countries hovers near a record high reached in December. Against that backdrop, analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. have created an index to gauge the impact of Trump’s tweets on US interest rates, which they say is on the rise. The “Volfefe Index,” named after Trump’s mysterious “covfefe” tweet, suggests that the President’s posts are having a statistically significant impact on Treasury yields. Quants at Citigroup

Inc. are sending currency-market clients notes analyzing Trump’s missives on Twitter. “I don’t think a lot of people are systemically hedging their trade-factors exposures,” said Basil Qunibi at Atom Investors LP, a hedge fund in Austin, Texas, he founded. “That explains the fact that when there is a tweet or a significant change in tariffs or the trade war overall, people tend to react in a pretty aggressive way.” The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid as much as 600 points on August 23 amid a Trump tirade after China imposed new tariffs on American goods. Trump followed with tariffs on roughly $110 billion in Chinese imports on September 1. Trade woes have added headwinds to the Fed’s struggle to get inflation toward its 2-percent target even amid a robust US labor market, which includes an unemployment rate hovering around half-century lows. The European Central Bank (ECB) is so concerned about its failure to lift inflation, it’s seen announcing a large stimulus package on Thursday. For people like economistturned-investor Stephen Jen, who’s the chief executive officer of Eurizon SLJ Capital, the market is right to pay attention to Trump’s tweets because the US president tends to do what he says. Jen’s more worried that central banks may have failed to catch up with the structural changes in inflation, which is increasingly being influenced by globalization, technology, and demographics. That’s due in large in part to players like Amazon.com and Alibaba Group Hold-

Recently, it tied up with Lazada, the leading e-commerce platform in the country, to provide the domestic market with a more convenient way of paying for their purchases. Users simply have to link their GCash accounts to their Lazada profiles, select GCash as their payment option, and check out. The Ayala-led digital wallet provider has, likewise, empowered micro, small and medium enterprises as well as social sellers to expand their payment options and give their customers a better, more convenient way of paying for their purchases. “We are always open to partnering with e-commerce platforms to help the government achieve its goal of increasing the contribution of the e-commerce industry by 2022,” Thomas said.

ing Ltd. who source and deliver all over the world. “Inflation is now a global variable, not a local variable, and it should be dealt with in a global context,” said Jen. “We are now left with a situation where central banks are still committed to inflation targeting they set up 20 years ago. Their navigation system may be outdated, and we might end up being an 18-wheeler that gets stuck in a small village.” Falling inflation expectations, plunging bond rates and flatter yield curves all point to mounting doubts in financial markets over whether monetary policy makers have what it takes to reflate their economies and avert a global recession. Uncertainty has become a global whack-a-mole game, with the temporary calm in one hot spot merely being surpassed by blow ups in others. As the geopolitical twists and turns and the streams of tweets from Trump roil markets, in his loft in Manhattan, Dhar, who’s also a professor of data science and AI at New York University, is pleased that some years ago he put computers in full control of the Adaptive Quant Trading program that he developed for his hedge fund SCT Capital Management LLC. “You just can’t figure out what will happen with the trade war,” he said. “It doesn’t mean you’re not concerned, but you’re not chasing your own tail and wondering what to do next and what’s Trump going to say, what’s he going to tweet. That stuff factors into the fund’s positioning but indirectly through the patterns it sees in prices and volatilities.”

Editor: Angel R. Calso

The World BusinessMirror

Forever 21 eyes to shutter 100 stores in bankruptcy

OREVER 21 Inc. is preparing to close at least 100 stores as part of a restructuring that calls for the trendy retailer to file for bankruptcy as early as this month, according to people with knowledge of the preparations. The apparel merchant is working on obtaining a financial package that would provide about $75 million for its restructuring in the court process, said the people, who asked not to be named discussing private negotiations. The plan envisions a Chapter 11 filing, which would allow the company to keep operating while it works out a way to pay its creditors and turn the business around. Even as these plans firm up, advisers could still strike an agreement that buys the retailer more time before resorting to bankruptcy, the people said. Founded in 1984, Forever 21 operates more than 800 stores in the US, Europe, A sia and Latin America. Representatives for Los Angeles-based Forever 21 didn’t comment on the preparations, but referred to a statement it released Wednesday in response to a Wall Street Journal report that the retailer was planning to file for bankruptcy as early as Sunday.

Troubled malls

“FOREVER 21 is not planning

to file for bankruptcy on Sunday,” the statement read. “Our stores are open and it is our intention to continue to operate the vast majority of US stores, as well as a smaller amount of international stores, providing customers w ith great ser v ice and the curated assortment of merchandise that they love and expect from Forever 21.” Bankruptcy protection would help the bargain apparel firm shed unprofitable stores after expanding too far and too fast in recent years, the people said. It could also stress major mall owners, including Simon Property Group Inc. and Brookfield Property Partners LP. Forever 21 is one of the biggest mall tenants still standing after a wave of bankruptcies in the retail sector that has seen more than 8,200 outlets close this year. The landlords may consider unusual means to preserve Forever 21’s survival, people with knowledge of the developments said last month. Mall owners and company representatives have discussed easing Forever 21’s rent in exchange for an interest in the retailer. Bloomberg first reported last month that Forever 21 was preparing for a potential bankruptcy filing. Bloomberg News

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Free bank accounts may soon be a thing of the past in Japan

APAN’S long-suffering savers have put up with virtually zero interest for years, but at least their bank accounts have remained free. That may change as speculation for further monetary stimulus mounts. Lenders could begin imposing maintenance fees for retail deposit account holders if the Bank of Japan deepens negative interest rates from minus 0.1 percent, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co. analyst Rie Nishihara. A central bank board member also warned last month that banks may have to consider such a change. While such fees are commonly charged in markets such as the US, Japanese banks have long felt obliged to avoid punishing people for parking their money in accounts. “So far it’s taboo, but if a further rate cut happens, I expect at least a discussion of charging deposit account fees to happen,” Nishihara said. Since negative rates were introduced in 2016, Japanese bank

shares have languished as their lending profitability dwindles. Nishihara estimates another rate reduction could wipe out as much as ¥500 billion ($4.6 billion) of bank profits, though lenders could make up ¥300 billion if they charge ¥1,000 per account annually. Other banks around the world have also been grappling with the topsy-turvy world of negative rates, with some in Europe already taking the more drastic step of passing them on to depositors directly. In Japan, even central bank officials—who meet next week—have signaled that something has got to give. “If lending rates decline further, financial institutions that are no longer able to withstand increased downward pressure on

their profits may start to charge fees and commissions on deposits, thereby making deposit rates virtually negative,” Bank of Japan board member Hitoshi Suzuki said in a speech in August. Underscoring the risk of more monetary stimulus in Japan, the European Central Bank on Thursday cut its deposit rate to minus 0.5 percent from minus 0.4 percent. Japanese bank stocks fell on Friday morning, snapping a six-day winning streak. A few banks in Japan charge depositors for keeping inactive accounts or those with small balances, but the practice is rare. Among Japan’s biggest lenders, a spokesman for Mizuho Financial Group Inc. said the company is always conducting various studies on its services, but nothing has been decided. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. hasn’t decided anything about account fees, including whether it will introduce them, a spokesman said. A Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. representative declined to comment. Such levies could help to address Japan’s unusually high nu mb e r of accou nt s, e a s i ng

costs for banks, then-central bank Deputy Governor Hiroshi Nakaso said in 2017. There are about seven accounts per adult in Japan, the most in the world, according to International Monetary Fund figures. Banks have resisted imposing account maintenance fees for two main reasons, according to Nakaso. One is the historic competition for deposits that emerged after World War II, and another is the culture of providing accounts as a service, he said. “Probably, the social norm in Japan is something along the lines of ‘there is no way that fees are charged on hard-earned money deposited in a bank,’” Nakaso said in a speech. “But I think the time has come for the Japanese people to discuss fair compensation for financial intermediation services.” Account fees could become a stable revenue source for banks, which need to invest in areas such as digital banking to remain competitive, said Hiroshi Oka, a senior fellow at Fujitsu Research Institute. “Banks can use the fees to create new services,” he said. Bloomberg News

Sunday, September 15, 2019

The World BusinessMirror

Afghan Taliban stronger than ever after US spends $900B

OR many Afghans like Zohra Atifi, whose husband was killed under Taliban rule, the American invasion in 2001 marked a chance to start over after living under an oppressive regime. Yet 18 years later, after the US spent nearly $900 billion and more than 147,000 people died, the Taliban are growing more confident of returning to power. The militant group controls or contests half of the country, more territory than any time since they were toppled in 2001. And they’ve come close to a deal with the US that could give them even more power, even after President Donald Trump abruptly put the talks on hold. What’s worse for the US and its allies: Many Afghans are growing disillusioned with the Americanbacked regime in Kabul and its inability, along with its foreign allies, to contain not just the Taliban but another deadly insurgent group—the Islamic State. “The collapse of their brutal regime by the Americans once gave us a hope—a cheerful hope—that we will all again be free of fears and violence like other countries,” Atifi, 45, said at her stone house in the capital’s Kart-e-Sakhi neighborhood. “But that didn’t happen.” The high cost of the war, and the lack of clear gains on the battlefield, have contributed to a growing argument that it’s time for the US to cut its losses and move on. Trump himself has signaled a determination to withdraw from what he’s described as an “endless war,” even as concerns mount in Afghanistan that such a move could lead to an all-out civil war.

“We’ve spent over $30 billion a year in Afghanistan for decades now,” Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said on Sunday. “That’s not a sustainable model. We’ve got to get it right.” Concern over America’s presence in A fghanistan reac hes across par t y l ines. Dur ing a Democratic presidential debate Friday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren said she’d bring US troops home without a peace deal, while former Vice President Joe Biden said the American military presence in the country isn’t working.

High cost

SINCE ousting the Taliban, the US alone has spent about $877 billion until March 2019 to restore stability, rebuild the country and fight the Taliban and other insurgents, according to a report by Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, a Pentagon Watchdog. About 14 percent ($121 billion) was for the reconstruction costs in both the civilian and security sectors. Despite the sacr if ices and s i g n i f i c a nt f i n a n c i a l c o s t s , the US efforts have failed to produce a secure or developed Afghanistan, said Afghan lawmaker Breshna R abi. “The Taliban are stronger than at any time and are capable of spreading violence everywhere in the country, even under the nose of foreign forces’ headquarters,”

said Rabi, who represents Balkh province in the lower house of parliament, and was one of more than 60 women elected in the 2018 poll. “Some of the US billions have been lost to corruption,” she said. “The US money never reached the remote areas to improve the living standards of the poor people.” The US now has just 14,000 of the 22,673 foreign troops in Afghanistan, down from a peak of 100,000 in 2011. More than 2,400 US soldiers and 1,144 Nato coalition soldiers have been killed, according to icasualties.org that tracks US and Nato fatalities in Iraq and Afghanistan, while more than 20,500 American soldiers were wounded, it said. Afghans have suffered even more. More than 32,000 Afghan civilians have been killed and about 60,000 wounded since 2009 by Taliban bombings, Afghan and foreign air strikes and in the crossfire, a UN report found. A separate 2018 report by Brown University says a total of around 140,000 Afghan forces, civilians and Taliban militants died in the conflict. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani told a summit in Davos the toll was far higher: his government estimates more than 45,000 Afghan forces were killed just since he took office in 2014.

Sliver of hope

STILL, Afghanistan has come a long way since the Taliban’s brutal regime was ousted. The media sector is thriving, with more than 1,800 print, broadcast and digital news outlets now operating in the country. Art and music scenes are flourishing, more than 3.5 million Afghan girls have enrolled in schools and many women have entered politics, now accounting

for almost a third of 250 parliament seats. All these activities had been previously banned by the Taliban. Over the years, the conflict has been both positive and negative for the Afghan economy, Tamim Asey, a former deputy defense minister, said by e-mail. US contracts and development aid has boosted incomes, but the ongoing violence had inflicted a heavy human toll. “The life of the Afghan people is definitely better—their living standards have gone up and at least they have a functioning government and a local economy,” Asey said. “But due to the war economy nothing is sustainable. Everything could fall apart once the US cuts off its aid and withdraws its troops from Afghanistan.” The agreement between the US and the Taliban would’ve allowed the US to withdraw about 5,000 troops out of total 14,000 from five bases 135 days after the signing of the deal. More than 10,000 Americans military contractors and more than 8,600 military personnel from 40 Nato allies and non-Nato partners are also in the country to train and advise Afghan forces. But even as the peace talks were coming to an end, the Taliban intensified its campaign of violence. Trump questioned whether they could negotiate a meaningful agreement: “How many more decades are they willing to fight?” he asked on Twitter. He received the answer late Thursday—the Taliban addressed the president directly on Twitter, saying he has “yet to grasp the type of nation he is dealing with.” Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed went on to refer to Afghanistan by its infamous epithet, the “graveyard of empires.” Bloomberg News

The trade war spurs China’s tech innovators into overdrive

N Shenzhen’s glitzy financial district, a five -year- old outfit creates a 360-degree sports camera that goes on to win awards and draw comparisons

to GoPro Inc. Elsewhere in the Pearl River Delta, a niche design house is competing with the world’s best headphone makers. And in the capital Beijing, a little-known

start-up becomes one of the biggest purveyors of smartwatches on the planet. Insta360, SIVGA and Huami join drone maker DJI Technology Co. among a wave of start-ups that are dismantling the decadesold image of China as a clone factory—and adding to Washington’s concerns about its fast-ascending international rival. Within the world’s No. 2 economy, Trump’s campaign to contain China’s rise, is in fact, spurring its burgeoning tech sector to accelerate design and invention. The threat they pose is one of unmatchable geography: by bringing design expertise and innovation to the place where devices are manufactured, these companies are able to develop products faster and more cheaply. “ N i n e t y p e rce nt o f t h e wo r l d ’s headphones are produced in China, 90 percent of China’s headphones are produced in Guangdong, and 90 percent of Guangdong’s headphones are made in Dongguan,” explains SIVGA cofounder and product chief Zhou Jian, an 18-year audio industry veteran who has done work for global brands like Sennheiser Electronic GmbH & Co., Sony and Bose. His company is based in Dongguan because, he says, “Dongguan’s industrial chain is near perfect.” Zhou estimates there are hundreds of specialist factories in the area focusing on a particular component, such as screws, and his network of contacts among those suppliers has been invaluable. It was “support from these good friends” that got SIVGA, short for Sound Impression Via Genuine Artwork, off the ground. Now employing more than 30 people and offering a premium brand called Sendy Audio, SIVGA sells a luxury pair of $599 headphones called Aiva. Featuring

h a n d c ra f te d wo o d e n e a r c u p s a n d intricately detailed metal grilles, the Aiva have shipped more than 2,000 units into a niche, high-margin market that’s usually reserved for US boutique outfits like Audeze and Campfire Audio. “As far as we know, we are the only company in Dongguan with a woodworking department,” Zhou says, while also pointing out that at SIVGA “the development time is short and many decisions can be made on the spot.” This instant design responsiveness is a signature feature of China’s new tech upstarts, and Zhou sums it up with an old Chinese proverb: “small boats change course easier than big boats.” DJI is the pioneer that proved Chinese tech companies could aspire to be more than just manufacturing contractors or fast copiers. “DJI leads the industry with features like automatically avoiding obstacles in flight, which it implemented first,” notes Techsponential lead analyst Avi Greengart. “Rivals in the US, France and Taiwan have not been able to catch up.” DJI’s lead is based on the same geographic synergies as SIVGA’s. When a US rival suffers a manufacturing hitch or defect, its ability to identify and react to the problem is hampered by the distance between its designers and manufacturers. DJI doesn’t have that problem, which has helped propel it to being the top drone maker in the world. “These are Chinese companies that want to be industry leaders and innovators. DJI and Insta360 are perfect examples of that movement,” says Anshel Sag, mobile industry analyst for Moor Insights & Strategy. “A big part of it comes from the entrepreneurial spirit of Shenzhen.” Bloomberg News

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Shipping fears linger that fuel switch may lead to accidents

HE global shipping industry is about to undergo one of the biggest changes in its recent history with concerns lingering about just how safe the shift is going to be. Starting in January, vessels the world over will have to drastically reduce sulfur content in their fuel to comply with rules set out by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London. The trouble is that there will be multiple new fuels that allow vessel owners to comply, where today there’s one predominant type. And, while having similar characteristics to one another, the 2020-compliant fuels can be made through different refining processes, meaning they shouldn’t be mixed. “Let’s hope there are no accidents, that’s my worry,” said Guy Platten, the secretarygeneral of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), which ultimately represents owners of 80 percent of the global merchant fleet. “The shipowners are preparing as best as they can.” While such safety concerns are not new—the ICS said as long as 16 months ago that it foresaw “potentially serious” issues— they’re becoming more pressing because the deadline to switch is fast approaching. In 3 1/2 months’ time, a majority of vessels are meant to limit sulfur content in their fuel to 0.5 percent, down from 3.5 percent in most parts of the world today. The IMO is part of the United Nations. Platten said one thing that would help mitigate incompatibility risks is mandatory licenses for ship-fuel suppliers to help ensure vessels are getting the product they’ve been sold.

Do not mix

TO be ready in time, ships must soon start using up their last onboard supplies of highsulfur oil in order to replace them with the newer varieties, according to Mark O’Neil, president of Columbia Shipmanagement, which manages about 380 vessels and employs 15,000 people. Other carriers are getting scrubbing equipment installed,

allowing them to keep burning today’s higher-sulfur product that’s expected to be cheaper. But the 2020-compliant fuels can be made in different ways. They can be predominantly the residue left over after crude has been refined, or they can be diesel-like fuels known by traders as distillates. Such products can’t necessarily be mixed.

Catastrophic

“IF your chief engineer puts a low sulfur fuel on top of another low sulfur fuel and they are incompatible you can have a catastrophic engine failure, you can have vessel breakdown at sea, you can have all sorts of huge problems,” said O’Neil. “I don’t think at the moment some of the issues are even known to be contemplated.” Incompatible fuel oil blends will create operational and logistical challenges but shipping companies should be able to obtain compatible, compliant fuels in most parts of the world, according to Richard Chatterton, an analyst for BloombergNEF in Singapore. Vessels that don’t have fixed trade routes—so-called tramp ships—are the ones most at risk of facing complications with compatibility so may be forced to switch to marine gas oil where issues arise, he said. For its part, the IMO says owners can sharply reduce any risk to safety through good management. “There are naturally concerns about it because potentially we’re going to deal with fuel blending,” said Edmund Hughes, an official at the IMO who’s heavily involved in implementation of the new regulations. “I’m not going to say there’s no risk. The way to manage and mitigate that is through good practice, which is already exercised by the shipping sector.” Fuel will generally be available, even if there could be some localized shortages, he said, adding that the IMO also looked into licensing suppliers but some member-nations resisted that approach. Bloomberg News

THE NEXT GENERATION OF AIRCRAFT WILL TRACK YOUR BATHROOM VISITS

TTENTION airline bathroom loiterers: The nex t generation of Airbus aircraft will track how long you’ve been in there. It’s all par t of an effor t to make commercial cabins a digitally aware domain. The program is Airbus’s bid to raise the Internet of Things—that buzz-phrase for connected household gadgets—to cruising altitude. The Airbus Connected Experience aims to give flight attendants a more detailed survey of the cabin, with sensors for such critical data as when bathroom soap is running low and how much toilet paper remains in each bathroom. But the rethinking of the passenger environment doesn’t just stop with the lavatory. At each seat, your belt will signal red for unbuckled and green when fastened. The goal is faster boarding and departure, dispensing with those lap-scrutinizing walk-throughs flight attendants must per form. The crew will also have access to information on what’s onboard and where, like which galley carts contain specific meals, such as preorders or vegetarian selections. “It’s not a concept, it’s not a dream: It’s reality,” Ingo Wuggetzer, Airbus’s vice president of cabin marketing, said Tuesday at an aviation trade show in Los Angeles. Airbus has begun flight testing the connected cabin on its A350 test aircraft and plans to introduce it on the A321 family in 2021, followed by the larger, two-aisle A350 series two years later. As cool as all of this may seem to you, the passenger, it’s just another way for airlines to squeeze more profit out of operations. While data from these various areas will be sent to flight attendant tablets or smar tphones in real time, the crunching of that data over time is where the real value lies. The connectivity Airbus envisions for its cabins will provide an enormous trove of information airlines can use to analyze and optimize in their never-ending quest for cost efficiencies.

From the time it takes a flight attendant to respond to a call button, to preferences for prosecco versus chardonnay, to which bathroom gets the most use —the information can help optimize all aspects of flight. “You can make the service more attentive,” said Ronald Sweers, an Airbus cabin-products director. While the digital doodads are expected to simplify flight attendant workloads, their true value may lie in giving airlines more insights about what happens in the cabin. That space, Wuggetzer noted, is a virtual “black box” to carriers once the plane leaves a gate. But not for much longer. Airbus also plans to offer airlines the option of cameras at each lavatory (on the outside, mind you) to count how many passengers are waiting, a feature which may help flight attendants redirect some of that traffic on larger jets. While certainly helpful to that man in 17C who had one too many sodas, the data will also show airlines the length of wait times on various flights, and on different aircraft types. More seriously, it can also alert a flight attendant that someone inside may be ill or need assistance, Wuggetzer said. The crew will also be able to control features such as window shades and public address volume from their mobile devices. The system will know which overhead bin spaces are open, with green lights along the cabin, much like the lighting schemes used in parking decks to signal drivers toward unoccupied spaces. That should, in theory, speed boarding, Airbus says. As far as Airbus is concerned, the cabin’s platform is open so customer airlines can attach their own crew applications or other software, Sweers said. Many large carriers have customized or proprietary software for such onboard tasks as catering. “The feedback we heard from airlines was, ‘OK, Airbus, we don’t believe you’re able to give us an application that will work with our systems,’” Sweers said on the trade show floor, discussing the galley equipment. Bloomberg News

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KOSHAK Mahal

INDIA Into the center of Jain culture and history of Chanderi

Story & Photos by Marky Ramone Go

ROM where I sit on a balcony of a hilltop hotel, I can see the many monuments built during the era of the Bundelas—a Rajput clan of Central India who lorded over this part of Madhya Pradesh beginning in the 16th century. CHANDERI Fort where many bloody battles were fought

THE architecturally gifted Jama Masjid

THE author enjoys the view of Chanderi Town

In that moment I savored the solemnity of finding myself some quiet time in between our busy media tour. Trailing my eyes from the top of an opposite hill into the rows of houses below, I became perplexed at the sight of jam-packed edifices below. As if sensing my confusion, our tour guide pointed to me “look at the center, and you will see Chaubisi Jain Temple. It has more than 20 shikharas [towers] and over there is the Chanderi Fort.” Following the direction of his finger, I got the idea of how compressed the town of Chanderi was fashioned through centuries of blossoming trade, religion and culture. Enveloped by the forested ridges of the Vindhya mountain range and dotted with glass-like lakes, it is easy to see why this town became the site of a flourishing economy dating back to the 11th century. The population of Chanderi peaked to hundreds of thousands when a branch of the Silk Route passed through it. During the British rule in the 19th century, Chanderi was cut off from the Silk Road highway—consequently dwindling trade activi-

ties—and eventually, slashing its population to a half. Despite losing much of its past economic luster, Chanderi remains a “major center of Jain culture” and one of the most historic towns in India.

THE 45-feet tall carved portrait of Rishabhanatha

Center of Jain culture

IN a nation teeming of birthplaces of a variety of spiritual disciplines, I embraced the opportunity of learning a new one: Jainism. Older than Buddhism and similar in a lot of ways with Hinduism—Jainism also conveys the principles of reincarnation, nonviolence, nonattachment to material things and good karma. Despite the many likenesses with Hinduism, Jainism practitioners only comprises less than 2 percent of India’s population. Beautiful remains of Jain temples can be found all over Chanderi; one of which is the 45-feet tall rock cut portrait of Rishabhanatha (who in Jainism belief—is the teacher of rebirth and death, and propagator of the Dharma). Apart from learning more about the religion of Jainism, we also visited a few landmarks around Chanderi to learn more about its

THE Badal Mahal Gate is one of the most prominent monuments in Chanderi

captivating history.

Splendid architecture abounds

AS we go about our exploration of Chanderi, we laid eyes on some of the town’s finest architectural marvel from centuries past; Koshak Mahal, Badal Mahal Gate, Jama Masjid and Chanderi Fort. Even in ruins, the Mandu-style architecture of Koshak Mahal remains a stunner. Its derelict condition only highlighted the beautiful arches more, as it leads your eyes to a maze of fascinating patterns. Originally envisioned as a victory monument to rise seven-stories high by Mahmud Khalji—a 15th-century sultan of the Indian Kingdom of Malwa Sultanate (present day Madhya Pradesh

state), but only two of the threestories were constructed during his life. Despite its unfinished state, it remains as an architectural eye candy to this day. The 13th-century Jama Masjid is Chanderi’s biggest mosque highlighted by an open court leading to the square hall that can sit 2,000 devotees. Exhibiting a hint of Mughal architecture, and a unique set of intricately designed pillars, the mosque stands in perfect cohort to the 15th-century Badal Mahal Gate—a 100-foot historic gate built by Sultan Shah Khilji, standing across the street.

The battle-shaped Chanderi Fort

BUILT upon the orders of Pratihara, Kirti Pal in the 11th century,

Chanderi Fort has since saw numerous renovations in the succeeding centuries, as it fell into the hands of one conqueror from one kingdom to another. The walls that remain heavily fortified today were the result of buttresses reinforcement constructed by the men of Mughal Emperor Babur after conquering Chanderi in the early 16th century. One chilling spot within the fort is called the “Johar Smarak.” This was where dozens of Rajput women chose selfimmolation over capture, after one of Rajput’s most decorated warrior Medini Rai, died against the army of Mughal Emperor Babur. After capturing Chanderi in 1586, the victorious Bundela Rajputs constructed the palace inside

the fort. Because Chanderi was once an integral part of a trading route leading to the ancient port of Gujarat, it became a hotly contested location between the Mughal and Hindu Rajput rulers. After hearing about these enthralling facts about Chanderi Fort, I hurriedly separated myself from our group to explore the rest of the place. Compared to the other forts I visited in India, Chanderi Fort appears a lot smaller. But what they said about how small things create a broader impact in history? —I saw this place as a fitting representation of that adage. Living up to my belief that India is a nation swarming with locations full of engrossing tales, the little old-world town of Chanderi dishes a spectacular set of visual feasts, historic anecdotes and charming vibe that shall certainly add up to one’s wanderlust attraction to India.

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METRO’S MONSOON RETREATS

CITADINES Bay City Manila pool

SELAH Pods Hotel

U Hotels Lobby Lounge

U Hotels artsy room

By Bernard L. Supetran

HEN the unpredictable weather this monsoon season gives you second thoughts on your travel plans, the tendency is to look inwards to the proverbial urban sanctuaries which can mimic an out of town weekend experience. While there is a plethora of popular hotels in the metropolis, even jaded travelers look for a departure from the predictable niceties and amenities offered by the luxury brands. Many families want to explore the below-the-radar intimate and cozy places which may offer unexpected finds at a friendly budget. Here are some of the urban hideaways you can check out this monsoon, while waiting for the year’s second travel season to kick off.

U Hotels Makati

STANDING quietly in the buzz of the city’s Población district is this nine-story edifice which prides itself as “The First Art Hotel in Metro Manila” for incorporating artworks in its overall design. The lobby exudes an Old World charm and a garden feel, punctuated with welcome greetings in various foreign and Philippine languages. Each floor acts as mini-galleries by featuring the works of a popular Filipino painter, with each room made up of modern minimalist interiors, industrial fixtures, five-

star hotel quality bed and a handpainted mural that is unique to each wall. During its first anniversary, the hotel spearheaded a mural painting activity at the Población neighborhood to jazz up the area with street art and add soul to it, being the heart of the pre-gentrified old Makati. It also eyes doing culturally engaging initiatives in the area, starting with occasional art lessons with the hotel guests. It may not look like it, but U Hotels Makati boasts of a wide selection of American, Chinese, Japanese and Filipino cuisine, most of which consist of the owner’s heirloom dishes. As a proof of its culinary prowess, it hosted the country’s first Bourdain Day a few months back which recreated the dishes associated with the late TV celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain. Curated by youthful chefs Sharwin Tee and Karla Reyes, the five-course dinner is a fund-raiser for a public school library which organizers aims to put up next year. Just over a year into operation, the hotel has already earned the nod of the market with the Guest Review Award 2019 of 9/10 rating

CITADINES Bay City Manila suite

by the popular Booking.com site.

Citadines Bay City Manila

THOSE dreaming of a seaside interlude can find a worthy alternative in this spanking new serviced residence by the bay known for its most beautiful sunset. While located in a commercial zone, this apartment hotel evokes a laid-back feel with tree-lined and masterplanned environs. Managed by a Singapore-based group, the apartment property has 212 fully furnished units with modern amenities, including kitchens which are designed for long-staying guests. The country’s largest chain in its category, which also carries the prestigious Ascott and Somerset brands, Citadines Apart’hotels which gives the best of both worlds with the luxury of a hotel and the comforts of home, with services, such as laundry, dry cleaning and grocery shopping. A modern fitness center, outdoor jogging path, and group exercise area will keep you fit while binging on a staycation. Adjacent is a 25-meter swimming pool, a kids’ wading pool, a pool bar, and a sun deck, which lend a tropical

resort touch in the midst of the concrete jungle. Completing the “Inspired Lifestyle” experience, Citadines’s is peddling delectable cuisine, which covers all-time favorites to seasonal promos and surprise offerings.

Selah Pods Hotel

COINED from the Hebrew word for “rest,” this 11-floor urban oasis is tucked in Pasay City’s old genteel area overlooking the postcardpretty Roxas Boulevard and Manila Bay. A masterful handiwork of youthful architect and designer Jefferson Tomas, it has an assortment of stylish lodging for millennials, couples, families and groups tailor fit for hip lifestyles. It also has hanging pods suspended on cables where you can swing 30 feet above the ground. Rated as three-stars, this 108room boutique hotel’s banquet hall has a mesmerizing view of the kaleidoscopic dusk by the bay, as well as the night lights of the Makati skyline by the pool deck bar and lounge. Guests are welcomed with the modern chic foyer adorned with native-themed but exquisite furnishings which are reflective of

Filipino character and artistry. The whole facility exudes understated elegance to take away the trappings of luxury accommodation and make the staycation feel closer to home. Selah Pods is a fitting sequel to its sister property, Selah Garden Suites, a three-story green getaway known for its canopy of centenarian hardwood trees, hydrophonic hanging gardens, and native furnishings. Its piece de resistance is recreational facilities like outdoor wall for rappeling and wall climbing, a mini zipline and hanging bridge which even children can try. Schumacher’s “small is beautiful” maxim must have been the guiding principle behind these hotels, as they don’t feel cramped because of the open spaces and greeneries, despite the constraints in the land area. Take a gustatory tour through their menu which is a remarkable crossover of homestyle comfort food and fancy hotel cooking. As raindrops keep falling on our heads, this is an opportunity to rediscover the urban soul through the metro’s not-so hidden retreats this monsoon season and beyond.

Belmont bags World Luxury Hotel plum

ELMONT Hotel Manila, one of seven acclaimed hotel brands in the country’s premier entertainment and lifestyle destination Resorts World Manila (RWM), reaped yet another international recognition as one of the winners in The World Luxury Hotel Awards this year. Defining excellence in global hospitality since 2006, The World Luxury Hotel Awards gather votes from over 300,000 international hotel guests in a four-week span to determine the top brands that connote luxury and the finest quality service for a given year. Belmont Hotel Manila was nominated in three of the award-giving body’s over 100 categories, including Luxury Airport Hotel category for its convenient location across the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 3 and ac-

cessibility via the upscale footbridge Runway Manila. It was also nominated for the Luxury Business Hotel category as voted by travelers who mix work, play, and pleasure; and Luxury City Hotel category highlighting its proximity to Resorts World. Last year, the brand was, likewise, recognized as the Airport Hotel of the Year by the London-based Travel and Hospitality Awards. Belmont Hotel Manila’s big win will be announced at the awarding ceremonies to be held in Helsinki, Finland, this October. Located at the Newport City in Pasay, the 10-story business hotel has 470 well-appointed room, and features the all-day restaurant Café Belmont, fitness center with sauna, steam room and shower areas, a business center, meeting rooms and function rooms, and an out-

door swimming pool jacuzzi, kiddie pool, and rooftop bar overlooking the Naia Terminal 3 runway. This September, the hotel is offering a special 50-percent discount when booking an overnight stay for grandparents. Promo includes an overnight stay in a Superior or Deluxe room, breakfast for two persons, and 10-percent discount on food and beverage at Café Belmont. It is also treating birthday celebrators to a relaxing and sweet staycation on their birth month for only P5,000 nett, which includes overnight stay in a Superior or Deluxe room and breakfast for two, a birthday cake and a Bailey Bear. For details of Belmont’s other promos, log on to www.belmonthotelmanila.com or visit www.rwmanila.com for more information on Resorts World Manila’s 10th anniversary celebrations.

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Sunday, September 15, 2019 A7

Lio Beach takes environmental awareness to the next level

N addition to raising awareness for the global marine environment, this September’s International Coastal Cleanup Day at Lio Beach in El Nido, northern Palawan, has evolved into a full-scale celebration of its unique and biodiverse ecosystems.

BLAAN women with percussion

Blaan tribal museum gets CSR award

AMLIFEW Village Museum, the country’s first community tribal museum and showcase of organic farming, recently won in the Outstanding Corporate Social Responsibility Project in Arts and Culture of the League of Corporate Foundations Guild Awards. One of the top ecotourism and cultural spots of Sarangani province, it bagged the prestigious award under the auspices of ABS-CBN Foundation’s Bantay Kalikasan. Situated in the interior barangay of Datal Tampal in Malungon town, the quarter-hectare complex is noted for the Eco-Cultural Experience, where guests are immersed to the way of life of the Blaan tribe through music, dance, weaving, craft, cuisine and their affinity with nature. Its core structure is the gumusek or museum, designed after the typical tribal house, which serves as repository of the handwoven regalia, musical instruments, accessories and traditional house implements.

It also has a gumabal or weaving center and the Blaan School of Living Traditions where the exquisite mabal tabih fabric, considered as the crown jewel of Sarangani’s cultural resources, is woven. It is one of the indigenous center schools supported by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. A community undertaking of the Lamlifew Tribal Women’s Association, it also named among the 10 social enterprise awardees of the BPI Foundation’s BPI Sinag Accelerate in 2017. For the award, it was given by the foundation business-incubation training and seedfunding grants. Launched in 2007 at The National Museum in Manila, Lamlifew was also hailed by the Department of Tourism Region 12 as the Best in Tourism Product: Heritage Conservation at the first SOX Awards in 2016. The museum, which is known for organically grown upland black rice, is also supported by the provincial government under the Sulong Sarangani—Sulong Katutubo program of Gov. Steve Solon.

51Talk signs MOU with Huawei

EADING online English education platform, 51Talk continues to break ground for the EFL (English as a foreign language) industry as the company recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with global tech giant Huawei. The MOU represents collaboration between 51Talk and Huawei on the promotion of digitalization and transformation, as well as the promotion of the use of information and communications technology (ICT) and offers opportunity for qualified Filipinos to become online English teachers and improve lives through digital livelihood and learning.

With this partnership, it is expected that more Filipinos would benefit from both organizations’ wealth of knowledge and expertise on digital technology and online teaching. This signed MOU between Huawei and 51Talk, two giants in their respective industries, is an innovative step toward promoting better understanding of home-based online English teaching while showcasing the talent and skills of the Filipinos as online English teachers and leveraging technology for human development. To learn more about 51Talk and how to become an online English teacher, visit www.51Talk.ph.

On September 21, a series of activities at the beach which is the centerpiece of Lio Tourism Estate by Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) will highlight key ecosystems supporting over 900 species of fish and 5 out of the 7 species of sea turtles, over 110 species of birds and other flora and fauna that thrive in the area. At 7:30 a.m., simultaneous coastal cleanups at the estate’s 4-kilometer stretch of pristine beach and each of the island resorts developed and managed by ALI subsidiary Ten Knots Development Corp. will jump-start the events. An eco-run through Lio Beach dubbed as “plogging” will simultaneously kick-start the day. The “ploggers” will each carry a sack while jogging through a specific 6-kilometer route. The participants will be timed as they traverse the route and the litter they collect will be weighed. Ploggers with the shortest time and heaviest sacks will receive recognition.

Joey Bernardino, TKDC director of sales and marketing, observes: “These cleanup activities highlight that what happens to the oceans affects all of us. We firmly believe that marine debris is a threat to ocean life even in our protected area in Palawan and have been participating in International Ocean Cleanup Day for over a decade now.” In the afternoon, TKDC will launch the 3.8-kilometer Lio Hike Trail which will bring trekkers through Lio’s forests to a viewdeck 82 meters above sea level with stunning and panoramic views of Cadlao Island and sunset in Bacuit Bay. The do-it-yourself tour allows hikers opportunities to identify and encounter the Palawan hornbill and white vented shama, the Philippine mouse-deer, the longtailed macaque, lizards and other animals endemic to the Palawan archipelago. A P100-conservation fee will be charged to each guest for the upkeep of the trail.

THE newly launched Lio Hike Trail will allow trekkers opportunities to identify and encounter animals endemic to the Palawan archipelago like the (clockwise) long-tailed macaque, squirrel, Palawan hornbill and Olive ridley sea turtle

“Our goal is to provide Lio visitors distinct holiday experiences in the outstanding natural settings of Lio Tourism Estate,” Bernardino discloses. “We have realized that our success as a tourist destination lies in raising awareness that we have a highly unique environment that deserves to be enjoyed by future generations.”

Popeyes opens in SM City San Lazaro

FTER a successful opening in Arcovia City in the east and Alabang Town Center in the south, Popeyes is now in the capital, Manila City, popping up its third restaurant in SM City San Lazaro. This is the first Popeyes store to open in an SM Mall. Manileños can now get to taste Popeyes’ signature dishes: From the highly-anticipated original honey biscuits, and Cajun fries to the well-loved Popeyes fried chicken that’s made fresh daily and is packed with distinct Cajun-inspired flavors from Louisiana, USA. Customers will also get to enjoy new treats, such as the hazelnut and white chocolate biscuits, two delightful flavors which can be paired with your fried chicken or can be served as dessert; and Popeyes Spaghetti, a sweet, meaty meal that’s exclusive to the Philippines.

SIGNING on behalf of 51Talk is Jennifer Que, country head (second from left), and Gou Zhi, vice president, Huawei (second from right) joined by Nelson Tan, business development, 51Talk, and Karenina Buenafe, public affairs and communications department head of Huawei during the MOU signing ceremony

DINING WITH A VIEW AT THE CONNECT LOUNGE

KUYA J Group CFO Francis Reyes (from left), Popeyes Philippines Chief Operating Officer Rami Chahwan, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Apac Area Franchise Lead Arin Aghazarian, Kuya J Group President Winglip Chang and COO Gretz Rivera

SKAL HOLDS 29TH TOURISM PERSONALITY AWARDS

These activities will be complimented by the installation of murals within the tourism estate by some of Palawan’s visual artists like Frances Mendoza and Jonathan Benitez to further emphasize the richness of the Lio environment. In the evening, a concert by Paulo Alampay and the Bossa Girls will cap the daylong celebration.

KAL International Makati presents the 16 recipients of its prestigious 29th Tourism Personality Awards, in partnership with Philippine Airlines(PAL), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), Department of Tourism ,(DOT), Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), New World Hotel Makati, and Ralphs Wines and Spirits. Shown in above photo were Skal officers led by its Chairman Robert Lim Joseph (sixth from

right) together with awardees (from left) Atty. Rafael Cornejos ( for Emmanuel Gonzales of Plantation Bay), Susie Moya Benitez, Rafael Dionisio, Peggy Angeles (representing Elizabeth Sy), Arnel “AA” Patawaran, Patrick Tan, Cynthia Carrion, Jaime Bautista, Miguel Belmonte, Pia Guanio (for Eat Bulaga), Dina May Flores, Michelle Tiotangco, Warren Andrade, Skal VP Angel Bognot and Skal Secretary-General Deedee Ledonio.

ORE than just afternoon tea and cocktails, Connect Lounge introduces new dishes that guests can enjoy any time of the day while relishing stunning views of the Metro. Located at the sky lobby of Marco Polo Ortigas Manila on Level 24, Connect Lounge brings guests a refreshing dining experience. Following the Connect Lounge’s artful take on afternoon tea, the Lounge is now serving more selections for guests to enjoy. Relax and dine, starting off with some appetizers and salads with Seared Tuna with Balsamic Syrup and Lemon Herb Vinaigrette, and Romaine Lettuce Leaves with Caesar Dressing. Also available as part of the new menu selections are savory small plates, such as Gratinated Potato Wedges with Spicy Chili Cheddar Cheese and Sour Cream, Oven-Baked Nachos, and potato favorites, wedges and fries. Guests seeking more filling dishes can choose to also enjoy the US Angus Beef Burger, the Strozzapreti with Shaved Chicken, Garden Peas, and Crisp Potato in Basil Pesto, as well as the Nasi Goreng or Dhal Curry. Pizza selections, such as Pork Sisig and Four Cheese are also available for guests to share. Top the meal off with halohalo for dessert. These dishes are always best to be paired with a choice of coffee, tea and juices, or have it with a kick of available alcoholic beverages such as the Lounge’s wines and spirits. Connect Lounge is open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. for drinks, with dining starting at 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. Please log-on to www. marcopolohotels.com for more details on the hotel’s ongoing promotions. Subscribe to updates via social media through the hotel’s official social-media accounts: facebook.com/ MarcoPoloOrtigasManila and @MarcoPoloManila on Twitter and Instagram.

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The kindness world tour

THE TOURISM ADVOCATE

N my scant 43 years, I have had the privilege to travel to many foreign cities I only imagined as a kid growing up in Malolos (an equally beautiful and elegant city). I dreamed of astonishing architecture, exotic food and strange cultures.

Even today, none of that has lost its appeal, in many ways, every time I step off the airplane, I’m still that little girl who dreamed of foreign lands, I still have butterflies in my stomach when I explore someplace new. But when I think back about those cities, It’s not the hotel, or the food, or the sites that jump into my memories first; it's the way I was treated in those cities I wandered through that sticks with me even years later. I don’t think I can call myself a gourmand, or an expert in architectural history but I am a connoisseur of human kindness. Not that institutionalized, laminated, faux politeness, but those unscripted moments of sincere human interaction. And I will say it for the record: Its kindness, far more than any other feature, that makes a city great. Here are some of the highlights in my world tour of kindness:

Palestine

THIS is where I find kindness in the most unlikely place, hidden in conflict, among the most oppressed. I found the kindest hearts. The West Bank, in Palestine. I would drop everything and go there in a heartbeat if I could. Loving Samaria, Hebron, Bethlehem, Negev, Ramallah, all must-visit plus when you visit the region.

Kigali (Rwanda)

I PAID my respects to the anniversary of the genocide in April of 2018 of the Tutsis, Twas and Hutus. This is the one country, perhaps, where all the facets of colonialism reared it’s ugly head. Culminating in the genocide of 1994.

Istanbul

I WILL never forget the kindness of a hotel manager who patiently taught me backgammon and, who, after 15 years, took time to spend a few hours with me during a layover and chasing after then salmon sandwich over the Bosphorus.

Kuala Lumpur

MY other home in Asean is Kuala Lumpur and that’s because of the family who chose to adopt my weirdest eating habits. From travel to Ipoh to worshipping in Malacca, I have felt like family from the first time I met them more than 10 years ago.

Buhoma (Uganda)

BWINDI Impenetrable Forest. They might have named it “impenetrable” to precisely prevent us from venturing because it’s so beautiful and life changing inside. Tracking mountain gorillas has been one of the toughest, physically grueling challenges in my life. But I highly suggest it to everyone.

Edinburgh

FROM the moment I landed, I knew I was home. The universal kindness of the Scots are legendary and I felt it from the street cleaners all the way to the chefs who, to this day, a year after, continue to update me almost everyday with photos from my most favorite city. I heard those who lived in Glasgow are even nicer.

Kyoto

A STRANGER gave us directions on the street and ended up hosting us for a new year dinner.

Havana

WHEN they let you in on your most secret rituals as the Santeria, and give you insights into your life that can change it. Havana, the alternate reality of Manila.

New York

A PLACE not known for kindness, I found a cheesemonger, an award winning one at that, who patiently gave me a two-hour afternoon master’s degree in cheesemongering! Some people have said to me that their experience of these places was very different, especially in Palestine. I can’t speak on behalf of what other people have gone through, but I do know that more often than not, you get back what you put out in the world.

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

24TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME: ‘LUKE 15:1-32’

God is a forgiving Father MSGR. JOSEFINO S. RAMIREZ SUNDAY GOSPEL IN OUR LIFE

HE last part of this gospel reading is about the prodigal son. We are all familiar with the tale of that young boy, blinded by his sudden riches, living a dissipated life only to find himself at the lowest level of society, abandoned by his apparent friends and left with a penny. The figure of the prodigal young heir is not new to us, nor to the listeners of Jesus Christ at that time. But what have struck Jesus listeners, and what strikes us now, is the figure of the father of the prodigal son. That man forgave the son wholeheartedly. He did not even give him a “sermon” or some symbolic punishment. He simply forgave him, and restored him to the same honor as before. Not too many of us would be capable of reacting in the same way. A fatherly heart would tend to react that way; we could probably see some sense in the father’s way of acting. But deep inside, we may think that he should also be more “practical” and give that boy a lesson he would never forget. Here is the novelty of the parable. That father, that benevolent and indulgent father, represents God, with respect to the sinner. We are all like the prodigal son. We are easily carried away by the wiles of riches or pleasures, to the extent of losing sight of the true value and role of these goods. As a consequence, we forget where our true dignity and greatness lie—in our condition as children of God. Sin, that turning away from the good God, in favor

of the limited and apparent goods of creatures, ends up depriving us of true joys and happiness. Sin ends up enslaving man and dragging him down. We are fortunate indeed that Jesus Christ has revealed to us that God has a father’s heart. He never turns aside a sinner who is truly repentant. The prodigal son’s father, for all his readiness to accept his son back, could not do so unless the son himself had realized his foolishness and decided to return home. No matter how much God would want us to repent, God cannot do the repenting for us. We have to make a move. That move consists of two things: first, to recognize our guilt; and second, to decide to turn away from it and to turn back to God. After all, we are free creatures. But yes, the parable of the prodigal son encourages us to do precisely those things, because it shows us how ready God is in accepting us. God is a God of justice, but He is not a God of hatred. God will require due payment for our actions and their consequences, but not in a cold and merciless way. He is ready to restore our lost dignity to us, and to let us reside once again in our Father’s home. Those two steps are fulfilled when a person accuses himself in the Sacrament of Penance. And God’s readiness to forgive comes with the priest’s absolution, done in the person and in the power of Christ.

PUBLISHER: A GOOD BOOK CAN CHANGE LIVES

‘F

OR Christmas or any other special occasion, why not give as a gift a Catholic book that helped you in living your faith?” This was the remark of a Catholic publisher as he and thousands of book distributors and book lovers gear up for the country’s biggest annual book event, the five-day Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) that is taking place at the SMX Convention Center at the Mall of Asia Complex until September 15. “A good book can change lives. We have heard of stories of how a book had changed the life of a person for the rest of his life,” said Luis Uson, president and managing director of Sinag-tala Publishers Inc., according to the CBCPNews. “One of the spiritual works of mercy is to counsel the doubtful,” he pointed out, “and one concrete act that any Catholic can do is to give a book that could help his neighbor in dealing with his faith concern.” “In this, Catholic publishers and distributors have a very important role,” Uson stressed.

80th year of a spiritual classic

AM O N G the many books made available by Sinag-tala Publishers Inc. is a “spiritual classic” that marks on this month its 80th year since its first publication: The Way by Saint Josemaria Escrivá. Uson said it is the most widely circulated among the books written by the founder of Opus Dei. According to him, it has sold more than 4.5 million copies and it is still being translated into more than 43 different languages. “It is a type of book that people reach out for, and reading it, would like others to have and read,” Uson said. The Way has 999 of Saint Josemaria’s famous aphorisms which he wrote to promote selfexamination and spiritual growth. It presents Christian living as an undertaking that one must carry out in his day-to-day activities.

A conversion story

USON shared a story of a 24-year-old woman, bedridden with pleural tuberculosis, who gave birth to a son after a very difficult pregnancy. The illness was destroying her body and her spirits were so low that she began to lose hope. One day, she confided to her doctor that she was afraid that she might die. The doctor told her very gently not to fear death and lent her the book, The Way. “She was not particularly interested but

started to read—and was soon unable to put it down. The book spoke about being grateful for what you have and to focus on the good, not the bad. For the first time in months, she felt at peace,” the book publisher related. “By that Christmas, she was able to get up and have dinner, and four weeks later she was strong enough to care for her son and have him baptized. The woman said. ‘I love this book—it changed my perspective on life,’” Uson was quoted by CBCPNews.

#ReadMoreLiveMore with OMF Lit

MEANWHILE, OMF Literature (OMF Lit), one of the leading Christian publishers in the country, is encouraging all book lovers to #ReadMoreLiveMore through their books. OMF Lit will launch 10 new, original titles in their booth on Aisle I at the MIBF 2019. The new original titles from OMF Lit are as follows: Find out how God guided celebrity mom Bettinna Carlos through her Heartbreaks and Breakthroughs. Poetry lovers will be delighted with Joyful Light, a collection of modern Christian poetry by 10 Filipino women. Ronald Molmisa talks about how to love and understand your parents better in Papunta Pa Lang Kami, Pabalik Na Kayo. Dawns, by Isa Garcia, Janina Marie Rivera and Ida Torres, is a weekly devotional for millennial women interested in self-care and spiritual growth. Feeling overwhelmed? Authors Kerlyn Bobadilla, Larizza Dulay, Manuel Zabat II, Marts Valenzuela and Rigel Fortaleza help Gen Z readers reflect on their fast-paced lives in the devotional Kaya ko pa, Bes! Meanwhile, kids and kids at heart are sure to enjoy the latest Hiyas (an imprint of OMF Lit) releases: Read the facts behind circumcision in a light-hearted and informative way in Tuli o Di Tuli by Luis “Tito Dok” Gatmaitan, with illustrations by Manix Abrera. Learn the secret behind The Last Tree, written and illustrated by Gutch Gutierrez. Justine Hail continues the story of Shy Shelly in the third book of the series, Shy Shelly and the Big Lie, with illustrations by Tristan V. Yuvienco. Rediscover the story of Esther and the Extraordinary Deliverer (part of the Wow God! Series), as retold by Lauren V. Macaraeg and illustrated by Abi Go. Younger children can learn how to “Bee Thankful” with Dee the Bee, written by Joyce Piap-Go and illustrated by Maria Cristina Sison.

Sunday

Sunday, September 15, 2019 A9

Report: Over 120 Syrian churches damaged by war

EIRUT—A Syrian war monitor associated with the opposition said last week that over 120 Christian places of worship have been damaged or destroyed by all sides in the country’s eight-year conflict. Some of the attacks were deliberate, such as the Islamic State (IS) group using bulldozers to destroy the ancient Saint Elian Monastery in Homs province in 2015. The majority, however, were caused by front-line combat, shelling or rockets. Christians made up about 10 percent of Syria’s prewar population of 23 million, who coexisted with the Muslim majority and enjoyed freedom of worship under President Bashar Assad’s government. Most have left for Europe over the past 20 years, with their f light significantly gathering speed since the start of the current conflict. Around half of all Syrians are

now either internally displaced or have left the country. The report was issued by the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR), which is registered in the United Kingdom and whose founder and chairman lives in Qatar. The group, which collects statistics on the war, said government forces were responsible for 60 percent of the 124 documented attacks since fighting erupted in March 2011. The rest were blamed on IS militants, the al-Qaida-linked group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other factions of the armed opposition. There was immediate comment from the government, which rarely comments on reports from

A SYRIAN flag is raised over the damaged Saint Mary Roman Orthodox church at the mountain resort town of Zabadani in the Damascus countryside, Syria, in this May 18, 2017, photo. AP/HASSAN AMMAR

foreign organizations. “Targeting Christian places of worship is a form of intimidation against and displacement of the Christian minority in Syria,” said Fadel Abdul Ghany, the founder and chairman of SNHR. The report said IS was behind 10 attacks on Christian sites, five of which were in the northern city of Raqqa, once the extremists defacto capital. The group was known for displacing and killing Christians in areas it controlled

and confiscating their properties. Hardest hit was the northern province of A leppo, with 34 attacks, 24 by rebels and six by the government. The highest number of attacks by government forces—27 out of 29—was in the central province of Homs. SNHR’s repor t a lso placed blame on Syrian government allies Russia and Iran, but did not specify how many of the attacks they’d caused. AP

Most Holy Name of Mary By Corazon Damo-Santiago

OD destined the Blessed Virgin Mary, the epitome of sanctity, to be the Mother of Christ, so she was fashioned with exceptional holiness. She found “favor with God” (Luke 1:30), which she acknowledged with total humility. “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord, (Luke 1:38).... The Mighty One has done great things for me and holy is His name” (Luke 1:19). Her birthday has been set on September 8, and her most holy name is celebrated on September 12.

A Virgin is born

MARY, a common name, is Maria in Latin; Marian in Greek; Myram or Maryam in Hebrew and Mara; which means Lord, in Aramaic. She was born in Nazareth to Saints Joachim, 62, and Anne, 44, who lived in Sapphoris, the most important city in Galilee. Mary, destined to be the mother of the Messiah, was conceived free of original sin. According to the mystics, a dazzling light surrounded Anne and a beautiful radiant baby appeared on her hands. She gazed at the baby and embraced her with tears of joy. The mystics narrated that people of good heart felt an unusual exaltation without knowing why “many evil and possessed persons felt sorely disturbed.” Near the Jerusalem temple, Simon, the old holy priest, was awakened by the shouts of a possessed man: “I must flee! A virgin has been born.” According to Mar iologists, Mary was probably born in 20 BC in Nazareth, a Roman territory during the reign of King Herod, “when the building of the temple of Jerusalem had started” to be built. When she was 13-and-a-half, God spoke to Saint Simon in his sleep, commanding him to arrange the marriage of Mary with a bachelor from the lineage of David. Among the many men who vied for her, Joseph was chosen. But Joseph found out before the mar r iage that Mar y was pregnant, so anguish and sorrow filled his being. A righteous man and unwilling to expose her to shame, he decided to divorce her quietly (Mt. 1:19). His plans did

not materialize because an angel told him in a dream to cast away his doubts. “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For it is by the Holy Spirit that she has conceived. She will have a Son and you will name Him Jesus—because He will save the people from their sins” (Matthew 1:18-21).

Birth of Jesus

ROM A N Emperor Caesar Augustus decreed that a census be made and everyone should register in his own hometown. So on a cold winter morning Mary and Joseph left Nazareth for Bethlehem to register. Bethlehem in Israel is about 105 km away which required several days of travel. It was a tedious journey for Mary, who was heavy with a child, that made Joseph very sad to see how patiently she endured her pains. It was time for her to deliver her baby but all the lodging places were full. Only a shepherds’ shelter outside the town was available. As narrated by the mystics, as soon as they reached the shepherds’ shelter, Joseph saw Mary praying on her knees, surrounded by supernatural light. Filled with reverent fear, he threw himself on the ground and was soon rapt in ecstatic sleep. In the blink of an eye, the infant Jesus was born. Mar y woke Joseph, who prostrated himself with devotion, humility, joy and gratitude with tears of happiness. One night, God told Joseph in a dream to flee with Mary and Jesus to Egypt to escape from Herod’s wrath, after he ordered all children under 2 years old killed. They reached the fertile land of Egypt after 10 days of traveling the sands of the desert. When Herod died, the Holy Family returned to Nazareth and lived a simple, prayerful life.

Mary with Jesus in His public ministry and passion

WHEN Jesus was 27, He started to mingle with people and took trips that lasted for several days. Mary accompanied Him on His trips to the towns and villages in Galilee. When the time came for Jesus to travel alone, Mary spent most of

MADONNA of the people by Federico Barocci, 1579 WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

her time in prayer and had visions of the important incidents in Jesus’s life, the threefold temptation of her Son by Satan. She considered Jesus’s first apostles—Andrew, John, Peter, Philip and Nathaniel as her spiritual children, too. When the day arrived that Jesus had to leave Galilee for Jerusalem for His passion, Mary prayed and wept quietly. Before Jesus died, He said to Mary, “Behold your Son,” and to John the only apostle who accompanied Jesus to Calvary, “Behold your Mother” (John 9:26-27).

Mother of the Church

“MOTHER of the Church” is a title which the “Roman Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans and Protestants could agree” for Mary, according to Fr. Felipe Gomez, SJ, quoting John Macquarrie in Principles of Christian Theology. “ Hodoget r i a ,” or She who shows the way, is the name given her by the Orthodox church. When her earthly life ended, Mary was taken up body and soul

into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more conformed to her Son, the Lord of Lords and conqueror of sin and death. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son’s Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians (Catechism of the Catholic Church 966). The Blessed Mother heralds the dawn of a new creation. “For just as the morning star together with the dawn precedes the rising sun, so Mary, from the time of her Immaculate Conception, preceded the coming of the Savior, the rising of the Son of Justice in the history of human race.” (Redemptoris Mater) Damo-Santiago is a former regional director of the Department of Education National Capital Region. She is currently a faculty member of Mater Redemptoris Collegium in Calauan, Laguna, and of Mater Redemptoris College in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija.

Science

BusinessMirror

A10 Sunday, September 15, 2019

Sunday

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

Pushing for better mines through R&D

Minahang Bayan

Story & photo by Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

S there a way to put more science to boost mining in the Philippines? Through research and development, says science and technology experts. The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), through the Philippine Council for Industr y, Energ y and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD), has been funding various research and development under its mining and minerals program to make the industry more environment friendly and sustainable. The DOST-Caraga Regional Office and PCIEERD recently held the Better Mines Forum as part of Luwas Pilipinas, Ligtas Pilipinas S&T Caravan in Butuan City to showcase its various programs to boost mining in the Philippines. Discussing PCIEERD’s initiatives, Engr. Raul C. Sabularse said research and development for metallic and nonmetallic minerals are being conducted by various institutions funded by the DOST. The deputy director of PCIEERD, Sabularse said the programs include value-adding of metallic minerals—for gold, copper, nickel, iron and chromite, and rare Earth elements, such as scandium, yttrium and lanthanide series. Sabularse, in his presentation, titled “DOST Solutions for the Mining Sector,” identified the various programs of PCIEERD. “I cannot claim that it will be the perfect solution; it’s just an option. There are so many factors affecting mining operations. Social, cultural and political issues affect the mining industry,” he said. PCIEERD, he said, is not doing the research but only give grants to universities to do the research.

CLINN-GEM

ONE such successful PCIEERDfunded research is the project du bb e d C L I N N - GEM , w h ic h stands for Community-led Integrated Non-Mercury Non-Cyanide Gold Extraction Method. A project by the University of the Philippines (UP), CLINN-GEM is a product of a 10-year research in a gold mining processing technology developed, researched and tested in partnership with smallscale mining communities in four pilot areas in the Philippines. Its implementing models are in Benguet in the Cordillera Administrative Region; Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte, in the Bicol region; Del Pilar, Agusan del Norte, in the Caraga region; and Compostela Valley in Davao region.

Processing facility

DOST-PCIEERD, to test the technology, also funded the construction of processing facilities. One such facility is in Barangay del Pilar, Cabadbaran City, Surigao del Norte, during the Luwas Pilipinas, Ligtas Pilinas Caravan, that was toured by media. It can process 5 tons of ores a day. Dr. Herman Mendoza, a professor at the Department of Mining, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering in UP Diliman, told reporters his team started to conduct research and development in 2008. The UP department developed the environment-friendly gold-processing technology, including the construction of the processing facilities. The facilities, Mendoza said,

DR. Herman Mendoza, a professor at the Department of Mining, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering in UP Diliman, gestures during a media tour of the CLINN-GEM gold-processing facility in Cabadbaran City, Surigao del Norte, as part of the Luwas Pilipinas, Ligtas Pilipinas science and technology caravan organized by DOST-PCIEERD.

were designed to have mine wastes treated before they are disposed of.

Flotation

FROM 2008 to 2012, Mendoza and his team worked on developing better alternatives to amalgamation and cyanidation. Amalgamation is the process, which uses mercury to separate gold from other minerals, while cyanidation, the most common leaching process for gold extraction, uses hydrometallurgy to extract gold from low-grade ore by converting the gold to a watersoluble coordination complex. Mendoza’s team also developed better ways to collect gold from very fine ores, hence, resulting in a high rate of gold extraction. The CLINN-GEM technology makes use of both flotation and leaching.

Decade of work

MENDOZA said the research and development compelled his team to learn from small-scale miners themselves. They conducted site visits in small-scale mining areas to identify the problems besetting the sector. “We toured every small-scale mining area in the Philippines to learn more about the process and the problems posed by [the industry],” he said.

A f t e r d e v e l o p i n g t he a p propr iate technolog y they had field testing. “Initially, we thought of field testing in 10 pilot sites but we decided it will cost too much, so we identified four strategic areas where small-scale mining is robust,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Game changer

THE establishment of the goldprocessing faci lit y using the CLINN-GEM technology will be a game-changer for the small-scale mining industry, said PCIEERD Executive Director Enrico Paringit, justifying the investment made by PCIEERD for the project. In Cabadbaran City alone, the construction of the processing facility costs around P37 million. It can process mineral ores from 5 metric tons to 15 MT, with a 40-percent gold-recovery rate, higher than the small-scale industry standard. He said the facility was designed to prove that there is a better way of mining gold by small-scale miners. Par ing it said the use of a common facility by small-scale miners run by a team trained by Mendoza and PCIEERD’s team of experts will boost the government regulation of small-scale mining in the Philippines.

THE facilities were designed for small-scale mining stakeholders, like local government units (LGUs), people’s organization or mining cooperatives, to boost small-scale mining and ensure environmental safeguard, Paringit and Mendoza said. But such facilities, including the technology developed t h rou g h e x t e n s i v e re s e a rc h and development, w ill all be for naught without a Minahang Bayan where small-scale miners can legally extract gold. Mendoza is calling on concerned authorities to work with LGUs and small-scale miners to establish Minahang Bayan as mandated by law. Mina hang Bayan is estab lished by the LGUs through the Provincial or City Mining Regulatory Board but needs the approval of the DENR through the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), the government’s main mining regulatory body. According to Paringit, the project’s business design models are cutout wherein the technology and the facility will be run and operated by the community, people’s organizations, small-scale mining cooperatives or LGUs themselves.

Illegal mining

THERE is a direct link between illegal small-scale mining activities and lack of Minahang Bayan, where a processing facility should be built under government rules and regulations, particularly Executive Order 79. In the Caraga region alone, according to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Caraga Regional Office, there are 465 illegal smallscale mining operations and 87 illegal mineral processing plants. This is because there are only three Minahang Bayan and only one approved mineral processing plant in the region. There are also 19 Minahang Bayan applications pending for approval, while 25 applications have been denied.

Monitoring production, reducing health impacts

MORE important, Paringit said the establishment of processing plants in Minahang Bayan would also help the government monitor gold production. This will help increase the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’s gold purchases, which continue to experience steep drop as early as 2012 because small-scale gold miners opt to sell to the black market for a higher price and to avoid taxes. Mendoza’s team assessed that the small-scale mining industry in 30 provinces contributes about 70 percent to 80 percent of the country’s gold production. Worse, because of inefficient gold-processing technique mostly done in “ backyard-processing plants” where wastes are dumped anywhere, the health risks to people and t he env ironment are high. Globally, the small-scale mining industry is responsible for approximately 37 percent of mercury-emission and the largest source of air and water pollution, Mendoza said. Paringit said currently, the facility in Cabadbaran City is being operated by the Caraga State University. Hopefully, he said, they can finalize the transfer of “ownership” to its would-be user soon. “The concept is for this facility to be a common facility where small-scale miners can bring their ores for processing. It can be run by local communities, or by LGUs,” he said. As such, he said the establishment of Minahang Bayan could be complemented by the environment-friendly gold extraction technology developed through funding by the DOST-PCIEERD. According to Par ingit, PCIEERD and its partners are willing to provide the training to LGUs and small-scale miners on how to operate such facility— which are all a result of putting more science to mining through research and development.

PHL’S ULYS3ES SPACE RESEARCH HUB INAUGURATED

HE University Laboratory for Small Satellites and Space Engineering Systems (ULyS3ES), the pioneering hub for university space research innovation and collaboration for small satellites, was inaugurated recently at its home in the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD). Held at the UPD Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute (UP-EEEI), the event was spearheaded by the Space Technology and Applications Mastery, Innovation and Advancement (Stamina4Space) Program.

Sustained support for local space technology development

SCIENCE Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña, in his message during the event, noted the timeliness of the inauguration of ULyS3ES in view of the recent passage of the Republic Act 11363, which marked the creation of a Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA). All space science and technology applications in the country will be centralized under PhilSA. This includes the crafting and implementation of space policies, research and any related development program. De la Peña affirmed the agency’s support in space initiatives with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) having invested a total of approximately P7.48 billion on space-related research and development over the past 10 years. This includes 15 space-related programs and projects implemented by different universities and agencies across the country. Executive Director Dr. Enrico Paringit of DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD), and Science Undersecretary for Research and Development Dr. Rowena Guevara echoed their support, having witnessed and been closely involved with the growing number of space initiatives under DOST.

Dr. Joel Joseph Marciano Jr., acting director of DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI) and program manager of Stamina4Space Program, said: “Apart from supporting academic research, the facility was built with local industry in mind as part of ensuring sustainability.” “There are companies in the Philippines that design, manufacture and test wireless communication systems and they can avail of the facility’s services,” Marciano added. Key UP Diliman officials—Chancellor Michael Tan, Vice Chancellor for Research and Development Fidel Nemenzo, UP-EEEI Director Dr. Michael Pedrasa and College of Engineering outgoing Dean Dr. Rizalinda de Leon—also shared their messages of support and enthusiasm over this new addition to the university.

Hub for space R&D

BUILT as part of the Development of Philippine Scientific Earth Observation Microsatellite (PHL-Microsat, 2014-2018), which was succeeded by Stamina4Space Program (20182023), ULyS3ES is an interdisciplinary facility that serves as an academic hub for R&D and instruction innovations in space technology in the Philippines. The PHL-Microsat and Stamina4Space programs are implemented by UPD and the DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI), with support from the DOSTPCIEERD and the DOST Grants-in-Aid. Comprised of two buildings, ULyS3ES-1 and ULyS3ES-2, the laboratory enables engineering and science researchers to collaborate on the development of small satellites through relevant mission planning and the corresponding design, implementation and test of satellite bus and payload systems. The collaboration also aims to develop courses that can be incorporated in undergraduate or graduate curricula and subsequently replicated or adopted by other universities.

Dedicated spaces for R&D in small sats

THE facility includes shared spaces for researchers and staff, laboratories, testing facilities as well as an exhibit area. The exhibit area showcases mock-ups of the 50- kg microsatellites Diwata-1 and Diwata-2, the 1 -kg nanosatellite Maya-1, examples of electronic components developed for the small satellites, as well as other milestones of program for the information of visitors and guests of the facility. ULyS3ES-1 contains the equipment for functional testing of small satellite components and integrated systems, “clean booths” for small satellite assembly, a thermal vacuum chamber for space environment testing of nanosatellites, as well as rapid prototyping equipment. The ULyS3ES-1 laboratory also houses the engineering model of Diwata-2 and a flight model of Maya-1, which are functional replicas of the actual satellites that were deployed in space and used by Stamina4Space researchers as test beds for further experimentation and instruction. The PHL-Microsat Program launched the Maya-1 cube satellite, and two microsatellites, Diwata-1 and Diwata-2.

Tour of the facility

THE researchers conducted a demonstration of the various components of small satellites— such as the communication subsystem and image capture capabilities—to enable the guests better appreciate how these facilities enable the design and development process of small satellite systems. The guests were also able to witness the visualization of Diwata-2’s actual behavior in orbit using the Diwata-2 Engineering Model table satellite setup. The guests’ tour included a demonstration by the Stamina4Space Program’s Optical Payload Technology, In-depth Knowledge Acquisition and Localization Project, led by Dr. Maricor

Soriano of the UP Diliman National Institute of Physics, of a prototype electro-optic camera payload for a small satellite. The Ground Receiving, Archiving, Science Product Development and Distribution component of Stamina4Space also explained how satellites are tasked through uploaded commands and how acquired imagery and other data are then downloaded to the ground station, specifically through DOST-ASTI’s Philippine Earth Data Resource and Observation (Pedro) Center. The raw data are then processed, archived and then made accessible online by the Stamina4Space Program at no cost. The ULyS3ES-2 has a Full Anechoic Chamber (FAC) that is used to measure and test the radiation pattern of antennas. The first of its kind in the Philippines, it enables faster development cycle for a satellite’s communication system through in situ or still antenna measurements and performance verification of the onboard radios or transceivers. The efficient performance of antennas and radio systems is a crucial ingredient in ensuring the success of the satellite mission. “Command, control and communication will not be possible if the satellite’s antennas or radios fail. The FAC provides us with the means for testing the functionality of those critical subsystems,” said Keziah Bartilad, a member of the Stamina4Space Program and manager of the FAC facility. The ability to perform these measurements locally is a much welcome development, according to representatives from local semiconductor and electronics companies and academic institutions who attended the inauguration. During the tour, guests were able to witness the actual testing of an antenna system prototype built by a local company and hear from the company representatives about the benefits of the facility. Both buildings are also fitted out with offices

DEPARTMENT of Science and Technology, and University of the Philippines leaders officiate the launching of the ULyS3ES space hub in UP. (From left) Dr. Michael Pedrasa (director, UP-EEEI), Dr. Rizalinda de Leon (outgoing dean, UP Diliman College of Engineering), Dr. Fidel Nemenzo (vice chancellor for research and development, UP Diliman), Dr. Giovanni Tapang (dean, UP Diliman College of Science), Dr. Michael Tan (chancellor, UP Diliman), Dr. Joel Marciano Jr. (acting director, DOST-ASTI and program leader, Stamina4Space), Science Secretary Fortunato de la Peña, Dr. Rowena Guevara (undersecretary for research and development, DOST), Dr. Leah Buendia (assistant secretary for International Technology Cooperation, DOST), Dr. Josette Biyo (director, DOST-Science Education Institute) and Dr. Enrico Paringit (executive director, DOST-PCIEERD). STAMINA4SPACE PROGRAM

for researchers, students and staff, meeting rooms and other shared spaces that were designed to provide an environment conducive to collaboration. The spaces also support instructional activities, such as the implementation of the nanosatellite engineering track and scholarships in the master of science and master of engineering in electrical engineering programs of UPD-EEEI being implemented by the Space Science and Technology Proliferation through University Partnerships component of the Stamina4Space program.

To inspire students to pursue careers in S&T

BY establishing a physical environment for space R&D, ULyS3ES also aims to encourage and inspire students to pursue careers in science and technology. While abbreviated (after the eponymous Latin name of the Greek hero Odysseus in Homer’s epic poem, Odyssey), Marciano shared that the name “ ULyS3ES” might just as well have been inspired by the legendary Greek hero’s travels—“likening our foray into space technology to an adventure or journey. “ “[An epic journey] beset by challenges but also profuse with opportunities,” he said. “Like

Odysseus who wanted to come back home and toiled for 10 years after fighting the Trojan war, our scholars—who were ‘sent to battle,’ yearned for home as well. Not just to reunite with their families, but also to find a home for the application of their training. That academic home is ULyS3ES.”

Building a space for the future of space

“THIS building has the power to inspire students to pursue careers and goals in space technology, [while] establishing and developing sustainable space program. SpaceTech is now within our reach. We need to show that science and technology is indispensable for national development as we can apply it for applications like weather prediction, disaster risk reduction and management, agriculture, and national planning,” Nemenzo said. He added that ULyS3ES is an opportunity to do science and technology for clear national goals, and an opportunity for UP to fulfill its mandate as a public service university. “Here’s to designing and innovating our country’s needs as we move toward becoming a space-capable nation,” Nemenzo said. Asti.dost. gov.ph and Stamina4Space Program

Tourism&Entertainment BusinessMirror

Editor: Carla Mortel-Baricaua

Sunday, September 15, 2019 A11

The small town charm of Vladimir THE Assumption Cathedral is one of the most beautiful and oldest churches in Vladimir.

VLADIMIR is an unassuming former capital with an old-world charm.

THERE are many old churches in Vladimir that give it a sense of history.

THE Golden Gate dates back to the late 1150s to the mid 1160s.

VLADIMIR has its own charm with its laidback ambiance and slow, easy pace.

THE Saint Demetrius Cathedral was built in 11941197 and is part of Unesco’s World Heritage List.

Story & photos by Joshua Berida

OSCOW is a big city with its imposing buildings from the imperial times, to the Soviet era, to the skyscrapers of its business district. I was constantly reminded of the city’s glorious past and grand future. However, I was eager to take a break from the frenetic pace and the sprawl of the urban jungle, so I booked a train ticket to Vladimir, a small city that’s full of history.

The city after dark

IT was late in the afternoon when the train left Moscow for Vladimir and I was the only foreigner in the cabin. I looked for my seat amid the usual hustle and bustle of passen-

gers sitting and standing or fixing their luggage. I felt the slow nudge and jerk of the train as it accelerated. I sat down and stared out the window; the buildings of the big city receded as the pace of the wheels quickened and reached their steady speed. It was late when I arrived at the Vladimir train station. Upon first glance, I couldn’t imagine the city used to be the capital of Russia sev-

eral centuries ago. I stepped outside and into an ordinary looking street, trees lining the side, a nondescript restaurant that’s about to close for the day and local passengers picking up their family or friend. I went to the first taxi I saw and pointed at the address of my accommodation. It was already dark when I reached Vladimir’s old town. I saw the centuries’ old buildings and churches bathed in a pale evening light from the nearby lampposts. This small part of the city displayed more than 900 years of history. There were a handful of people walking around, mostly locals. There was little noise, no dance club beats or hawkers calling out for customers. Only the intimate conversations with friends and family seeped out of the corners and crevices of nearby restaurants and bars. I was here to take things slow and maybe find something familiar, so I left after getting a glimpse of the city in the dark.

Something special in the ordinary

I GOT up early to just walk (like the locals, Russians like long walks). Maybe I’ll meet a kind stranger or discover something profound, under a yellowing autumn-stricken tree or just start an ordinary conversation about the weather or a topic as far as the English of the other person can go. I returned to the old part of town to get a different perspective of it; this time under the flickering and shifting lights of the sun. Learning about history is no fun in the dark; there’s only looting, plunder and secrets. Prince Vladimir Monomakh established the town from the ground up, first as a fort to fend off invaders. This all took place in 1108. Then his son, Prince Yuri Dolgoruky, built on the legacy of his father. And then his son, Prince Andrew Bogolubsky, elevated it to its Golden Age in the 12th century. During this time, the

White Stone structures arose in the form of cathedrals, monasteries and towers. This glorious epoch ended when the Mongols invaded in 1237. The Mongol-Tatars overran the city in 1238. It’s amazing how one can summarize the rise and fall, and how a place plateaud just in a few sentences; from point A to point B, one-two-three. I entertained this thought as I weaved in and out of the still, almost empty alleys that I just walked around in the night before. Some of the white structures that burned to the ground or were substantially damaged centuries ago, are still here, repaired and restored. I walked into a restaurant and asked for an English menu. It took a while before they got one, it seemed like they don’t get many foreign customers during this time of the year. I browsed it for a while, looked at the list. However, I didn’t like what was on the menu and decided to leave.

Upon leaving

I ALREADY bought a bus ticket for Suzdal and was at the station. I decided to stay because I wouldn’t have enough time to experience another ancient town fully. I was unsure of what to do in the last few hours I had in Vladimir. I just lingered in the station’s office waiting for my train to arrive. I let the experience sink in, the colorful houses on a hill, the white stone churches that were centuries old and the conversations I had with strangers (I don’t even remember what we talked about), history and its fickleness, how things can change so quickly, and how something ordinary can be something special. I led these thoughts by the hand back to their place, some tidy in a closet, others on the floor. My train arrived on schedule, I took my bags and went to my cabin. I looked back at Vladimir one last time before boarding.

Royale Parc Hotel Tagaytay offers tranquil ambience with the finest service DOT hails CNN pick of Vigan

as Asia’s most picturesque town

HERE is a new hotel in Tagaytay that promises not only a tranquil ambience but also one that is complemented with the finest hospitality service. Stepping into the new Royale Parc Hotel Tagaytay is similar to entering a world that is more serene and peaceful. Guests are transported to a tranquil world as the hotel’s lobby effortlessly merges the warm tones of wood with the fine lines of steel. There are comfortable seats and sofas to lounge in while one basks under the glow of golden lights and surrounded by the design of an upscale barn-style architecture. “Guests who will enter Royale Parc Hotel Tagaytay will immediately feel the warmth and hospitality of our place. It is the start of a journey to tranquility, where time stands still and where the stress of life and work are left behind the door,” said Nilda Diaz Serrano, the hotel’s corporate general manager. Before one reaches the rooms and the recreation area, one will see an actual pine tree thriving in the middle of the concrete corner in one of the hotel’s area. Aside from being an Instagram-worthy backdrop, the pine tree exudes the Tagaytay vibe and relays to guests the hotel’s commitment to green practices and sustainability. Royale Parc Hotel Tagaytay currently has 44 well-appointed rooms. Each one is unique since no two rooms have the same design. The rooms are a treat in itself. Again, the design statement of the hotel permeates to the

ROYALE Parc Hotel façade

ROYALE Parc Hotel façade at night

room as wood and steel elements are still present. The use of repurposed items in the rooms—such as metal pipes and corrugated steel now serving as design elements—underscores the sustainability commitment of the hotel during its construction. The rooms also have a balcony with a view of the pool which can accommodate more than a hundred people and outdoor Jacuzzi. For food cravings, one does not need to go far. The hotel has an in-house Filipino restaurant called Dekada which is run by the group behind SumoSam. Dekada specializes in presenting heirloom recipes served with “history” and harks back to tales of our heroes’ conquest and bravery. For events or any occasions, Royale Parc Hotel Tagaytay has four function rooms and one main

ballroom that can fit any corporate, government, association and social events. The ballroom, situated on the third floor, also offers panoramic views of the Taal Lake. From the start, the owner envisioned the hotel to be a premium vacation getaway, similar to the original hotel structure that stood there decades ago. Since it is an old property, it has retained a bit of nostalgia and the owner remembered it for its sentimental value. Upon purchasing the old structure, the owner refurbished the old hotel and expanded it in the same location, thus the new Royale Parc Hotel Tagaytay was born. As for the personal touch and service excellence, it is now on the hands of Serrano, a seasoned hotelier whose stint all over the world is marked by passion. She has over 25 years of

experience in hotels and resorts located in the Philippines and China. She brings to Tagaytay a wealth of experience and the touch of success. The team she has created is trained and ready to serve guests any time of the day. The team elevates guests’ experience of Tagaytay by serving them with a smile and recommending to them activities that they may do within the vicinity of the hotel. Royale Parc Hotel Tagaytay is in an ideal location. Just beside the main highway of Tagaytay, it is accessible not only by private vehicles, but also via public transportation such as the Nasugbu-bound bus from Manila. It makes it easier for families or group of friends to reach the hotel as the bus fare is very budget-friendly.

HE Department of Tourism (DOT) welcomes the selection of the City of Vigan as among the CNN’s 13 of Asia’s Most Picturesque Towns. “The City of Vigan’s heritage, the Hispanic architecture, and the food make it a pictureperfect site and deserving of the spot in the CNN’s list,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat said of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) World Heritage City. Vigan City, described by CNN as “one of the best places to experience Spanish colonial-era architecture in Asia,” is the capital of Ilocos Sur Province, an ideal destination for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE). CNN’s Kate Springer also noted the plethora of must-see Instagrammable landmarks at Vigan City, including Plaza Salcedo, the restored church of Saint Paul’s Cathedral, and the trade center at cobble-stoned street Calle Crisologo. Vigan’s traditional Hispanic checkerboard street plan, grid street pattern and historic urban layout reflects its rich history, recognized as the best-preserved model of a Spanish colonial town in all of Asia. “The CNN citation of the City of Vigan means that sustainable tourism is not just about environmental protection but also the preservation of the country’s history and culture,” Romulo Puyat pointed out. The DOT chief says Vigan City showcases the local government’s efforts in preservation of

its ancestral houses by mandating thorough research and documentation of the building’s original design before permitting any restoration work. A touch of Spanish colonial style is also a requirement for the design of new structures in the area to complement the city’s preservation and tourism program. Family ancestral houses are transformed into museums, souvenir and antique shops, and restaurants while maintaining its original Spanish style influence. Selected as one of the New 7 Wonders Cities in 2014, Vigan’s attractions include the pottery workshop, food adventures with its established culinary scene that features unique native dishes, such as the bagnet, a deep fried crispy pork belly dish, poqui-poqui, a mixed vegetables dish, and the empanada, a stuffed fried pastry. The other localities completing the “13 of Asia’s Most Picturesque Towns” are Thailand’s Phuket Town, Hong Kong’s Sai Kung, China’s Zhouzhuang and Japan’s Yufuin.

A12 Sunday, September 15, 2019

PLAYER OF THE YEAR P

ONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida—Rory McIlroy is the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Tour player of the year, and even he was a little surprised. In a vote of the players, who presumably gave

IT’S the third time Rory McIlroy won the award, and the first time without him having won a major. AP

as much weight to the whole season as the four biggest weeks, McIlroy won the Jack Nicklaus Award over Brooks Koepka. It was the third time McIlroy won the award, and the first time without having won a major. “I’m at a loss for words,” McIlroy said Wednesday. Moments earlier, McIlroy was sitting down with Nicklaus at The Bear’s Club in South Florida to receive the Byron Nelson Trophy for having the lowest adjusted scoring average when a bronze of the Nicklaus Award was placed on the table. McIlroy looked at it and said, “I’ve already got two of those,” he said.

Sports BusinessMirror

“Well, you’ve got three now,” Nicklaus told him. McIlroy won three times, including The Players Championship and the Tour Championship to capture the FedEx Cup and its $15 million prize. He also had a tour-best 14 top 10s and finished out of the top 20 only four times in the 19 tournaments he played. “I couldn’t be more proud to win this award for the third time,” McIlroy said. “Yeah, very... somewhat surprised, but honored that my fellow players thought enough of my year to award me this honor again.” Koepka, who won the PGA of America’s player of the year based on points, was seen as the favorite for the tour’s award. He won three times, same as McIlroy, led the FedEx Cup in the regular season and won the money title by nearly $2 million over McIlroy.

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

What stood out the most in Koepka’s season, however, were the majors. He won the PGA Championship, joining Tiger Woods as the only back-to-back winners since the PGA switched to stroke play in 1958. Koepka was runner-up at the Masters and the US Open, and he tied for fourth in the British Open, nine shots behind. Nicklaus (1973), Woods (2005) and Jordan Spieth (2015) are the only other players to have finished in the top 4 in every major for the year. “Brooks had an incredible year—an incredible two, three years, whatever it is,” McIlroy said. “He’s the No. 1 player in the world golf ranking.... I think this speaks volumes of what PGA Tour players feel is important. I think players don’t just feel that four weeks a year is important. It’s more than that. We play a lot

more. Why do we play 25 times a year if only four weeks are important?” “I think that’s a huge vote of confidence from the players that we play for more than maybe what the narrative suggests.” Koepka, who beat McIlroy in the final group for a World Golf Championship among his three titles, was thought to be a shoo-in for his second straight Jack Nicklaus Award until the Tour Championship. McIlroy thought he would still have a chance if he won the FedEx Cup, and then he posted four rounds in the 60s to win, beating Koepka in the final group at East Lake. McIlroy joined Woods as the only players to win the FedEx Cup twice since it began in 2007. “I know it’s going to sting because he most likely will win player of the year,” McIlroy said. The sting turned into surprise. AP

players in professional sports? Rodman: I just think that percentage-wise in sports, I think there’s a lot. There’s probably more bisexual than gay in sports. I’m sorry guys, to expose everybody. I wish all of them would come out. It’s acceptable today. Just come out, man. Have a good time. Enjoy yourself.

ground, I broke levels of leadership and stuff like that. And people don’t give me credit for it, which I don’t care.... I didn’t expect to be friends with this guy. Like I say, he hasn’t done anything to me, but to the world, he’s probably damaging to the world. But he respected me and I respected him in a friendship-type manner.... He was a very courteous, nice individual. Trump seems to want to do his political thing. You know like, “I’m saving the world for all of us.” I said, Donald, don’t forget, I met him first. (Laughs.) I hope everything works out between North Korea and America. And it should in the future—unless someone mess it up. And it ain’t going to be me.

AS SURPRISING AS DENNIS WANNA BE L OS ANGELES—Dennis Rodman keeps finding new ways to surprise. The 58-year-old former National Basketball Association (NBA) star built his own personal brand of flamboyant individualism well before social media made every pro athlete accessible to fans, and outside the traditional endorsements-and-corporate partnership framework. At the peak of his fame in the 1990s, Rodman pulled

the spotlight toward himself by swapping out hair colors, adding tattoos and piercings, dressing in drag and dating Madonna. “I branded Dennis Rodman being different,” he says. “I was just being free...because I was becoming so bored about life and about playing the game of basketball, I had to do something to spark my life.” After winning two championships with the Detroit Pistons and three with the Chicago Bulls, Rodman

flamed out of the NBA in 2000. He spent years pursuing lackluster side hustles—and partying— then found his way back in front of microphones and cameras by forming a relationship with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un. Rodman’s spectacular personal highs and very public lows are the subject of the new ESPN 30 For 30 documentary Dennis Rodman: For Better or Worse. While making promotional rounds for the film, he wore a t-shirt depicting himself in a wedding dress at a 1996 book promo event. Rodman spoke with The Associated Press about finding his niche as an entertainer, locker-room etiquette and President Donald J. Trump’s North Korea diplomacy.

AP: Sometimes being out of control led to the things that were best for you, and sometimes the worst for you. How do you think about that? Rodman: I think the worst things that I was doing that people called bad—me drunk driving or me going to jail—was the best thing that happened to me. And all the good things that happened to me, I pretty much damaged those on my own because the way I was living and the way I was doing things in my life. But I think that title for the documentary is so appropriate: “For Better or for Worse.” Because when I was building this individual, Dennis Rodman, and I was building this brand—which I didn’t know was a brand back then—I did this all by myself. I don’t have anybody to help me, to make Dennis Rodman. Michael Jordan got Nike, Kobe got Nike.... One of the things I was proud of the most back then—I actually brought the gay community to the forefront for sports because of the things I was doing. I did a Sports Illustrated cover where I went in in a bathing suit and had makeup and stuff like that. And I was so flamboyant when I was doing it and stuff like that and people are like “Wow, we like this guy because he’s not afraid to go out the box.” AP: Given what you did 20 years ago, are you surprised there still aren’t more out gay

AP: Did you see those conversations happening in the locker room? Were people having those talks? Rodman: I don’t know any man on this planet—any man on this planet—that don’t go in the shower and look at another man. I don’t know any man that don’t do that. Gay or not gay, I don’t care who you are—a man is going to look at another man. I don’t give a damn how you look at it. He’s not gay though, but you got that pride and that image. AP: (With North Korea), you weren’t intentional about necessarily going in order to make a name for yourself? Rodman: It was a learning experience. It was a great experience. I mean a lot of people wish they can do what I did. I broke

AP: Are you worried that Donald Trump is going to mess it up? Rodman: It should work out. Let things pan out. I’m not going to mess it up, but I hope someone would just make sure that everything is cool. That’s it. Enough said. AP: Do you consider yourself a Donald Trump supporter now? Rodman: Nah. I like Donald no matter what. I mean Donald as president, I don’t care if he’s president or not, I just like him as a friend. That’s it. Now as president, I don’t know what he’s doing. As a friend, I just go shake his hand, we break bread. That’s it. I don’t hate nobody. I don’t care what you do, whatever. If you’re friendly to me, you’re nice to me, I’m good. AP

DENNIS RODMAN just keeps finding new ways to surprise. AP

MLB sets record for most home runs in a season

AJOR League Baseball (MLB) hitters have punctuated a power-packed year by shattering the record for most home runs in a season. Jonathan Villar of the Baltimore Orioles connected Wednesday night for the 6,106th homer. That topped the mark of 6,105 set in 2017. There are plenty more to come, too—the record was broken with 18 days left in the regular season. The rise in home runs during recent seasons has been tied to changes in the baseballs that have made them fly farther. Villar’s three-run shot off Caleb Ferguson of the Los Angeles Dodgers at Camden Yards was the 22nd home run of the night. It was Villar’s career-high 21st homer. “Somebody told me after the homer. That’s unbelievable,” Villar said. “That’s impressive for me, not for me, it’s for the team because we hit it here. That’s awesome. They put the bat in the Hall of Fame. I’m excited for that.” The Orioles have allowed a record 280 homers.

JONATHAN VILLAR of the Baltimore Orioles connects on Wednesday night for the 6,106th homer—that topped the mark of 6,105 set in 2017. AP

“The home runs are up everywhere and it’s tough to keep the ball in the ballpark. It’s tough to keep the ball in this ballpark on a humid night when the ball was traveling,” Baltimore Manager Brandon Hyde said after a 7-3 win. “I’ve seen enough home runs here from the other side so it’s nice to get one from our side.” New York Mets rookie Pete Alonso leads the majors with 47 home runs. The Minnesota Twins top the majors with 277 after Jorge Polanco connected in the third inning against Washington ace Stephen Strasburg at Target Field. The Twins’ total is the most for a team in a single season. In August, big league batters broke the monthly home run record for the third time this year when they hit 1,228 home runs, the Elias Sports Bureau said. That surpassed the 1,142 in June and 1,135 in May. There were 5,585 home runs last year. In 2017, Alex Gordon hit the record-breaking 5,694th homer of the season. That topped the mark set in 2000 at the height of the Steroids Era. AP

In Nazareth, CDO, millennials find purpose with microfinance group

In Nazareth, CDO, millennials find purpose with microfinance group By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

N a Cagayan de Oro village named after the known home of Jesus Christ are two young people who have found a sense of purpose in life working with a microfinance group. They are Jayson Empase and Jay Ann Mamintas, and both work for ASA Philippines Foundation Inc. at Nazareth, a village about 7.15 kilometers from the city. The two told the BusinessMirror that working with ASA gives them purpose as they are given the opportunity to help make a difference not only in their families but also the marginalized sectors of society. The 22-year-old Empase relates with the latter as he described his childhood as full of challenges and difficulties. In an interview with the BusinessMirror, the graduate of computer programming course from Saint Jude College of Science and Technology Inc. in Midsayap, North Cotabato, recalled he was already a working student in his elementary days until high school. “I was already up at 5:30 a.m. to sell puto [steamed rice cake] and attended classes after I have finished selling it,” he recalled. After classes, Empase collected the payments for the goods he sold in his morning sales. The evening had been allotted to study his lessons.

Making a difference WHEN Empase finished secondary school, he went to Midsayap to study college. Empase said he had to double, if not triple, his efforts to finish his college. To save money, he worked as a cleaner at his boarding house so he can stay there for free. “I was blessed when I went to Midsayap when those kind souls supported me in my college studies,” the native of Parang, Maguindanao, pointed out. To be able to support his family particularly his parents, he applied and worked in a fast-food chain for seven months. Nevertheless, he sought greener pastures because his monthly income was insufficient to support his family. And then he applied at ASA Philippines, a nonprofit, nonstock corporation specializing in microfinance. ASA Philippines, was a familiar name to Mamintas since his parents were members of the group founded in Jakarta, Indonesia. In fact, his parents encouraged him to work

JAYSON EMPASE at his desk at the office of ASA Philippines Foundation Inc., an organization that provides microfinance to indigent families of Nazareth, Cagayan de Oro. ASA PHILIPPINES FOUNDATION INC. in the organization. “They urged me to work in ASA Philippines because they told me it is a great organization,” he told the BusinessMirror. His first assignment was assigned at Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte, in 2016. “After my stint there, I realized it is a great employer that aims to make a difference in the lives of the marginalized,” he added.

ASA’s assets MAMINTAS, 24, said she chose to work with ASA because it was a generous employer and at the same time helps the marginalized sector in improving their lives. Mamintas, a graduate of BS Education at Governor Alfonso Tan College, said she decided to work in ASA Philippines because she wants to help the family in their daily needs, especially to support her younger sister in her studies. “Since I am the only one in the family who has a college degree, I am in a better position to help the other family members who are in need of my assistance,” she said. “ASA Philippines has also given me the opportunity to make my life better.” Mamintas said she enjoys working with ASA Philippines because the organization helps her in developing her character and personality. Since the clients of ASA Philippines come from the bottom of the pyramid, she said she needed a lot of patience in dealing with clients. “We need to be patient with our clients because they are our assets,” Mamintas said.

Given the chance EMPASE said working with ASA Philippines has given him a high degree of satisfaction, as well as the financial capability to support his parents. “As a company, I realized that working

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here is great [and] has helped me [a] lot, [which] I have been given the chance to help my other family members,” he said. Empase has learned a lot of skills when interacting because each client has different types of personalities. Mamintas, now on her seventh month with ASA Philippines, said she has experienced different situations in dealing with clients regarding their loans. “As a microfinance officer, I am aware of their situation because I was also in that situation.” She added her education background has been helpful in dealing with various situations involving the clients. “I need to develop a high degree of patience in dealing with stubborn clients.”

Harmonious relationship FOR Empase, dealing with clients is on a case-to-case basis. He said a microfinance officer must also know how to inspire and motivate the clients so he or she will know how to maximize the benefits of loans from ASA Philippines. “We treat them like our parents so they develop a strong working relationship with us.” Mamintas concurred that a microfinance officer needs to develop different skills when they’re interacting with clients because each client is unique in their situation and status. “At first, it was challenging in the early months,” she said. “Later, I learned to adjust which made my job easier.” Empase said their batch brings fun and sense of humor to make meetings livelier and funnier. For Mamintas, millennials can make a connection with the clients in a shorter span of time because of their open and more casual attitude. Empase said ASA Philippines knows well to motivate the staff. “If they ask you to increase your target SEPTEMBER 15, 2019

JAY ANN MAMINTAS poses at the office of ASA Philippines Foundation Inc., an organization that provides microfinance to indigent families of Nazareth, Cagayan de Oro. ASA PHILIPPINES FOUNDATION INC. and you were able to achieve it, they will give incentives,” he said. Empase said microfinance officers need to embrace positivity to develop a strong rapport with clients so they can develop a strong and harmonious relationship.

ASA’s face ASA Philippines Regional Administrator Lenie Delguera said their microfinance officers were given the proper guidance and values to become responsible citizens toward nation-building. They are molded to become disciplined citizens. Part of their regulation is that microfinance officers are discouraged to smoke and drink alcohol. Moreover, microfinance officers also receive salaries above the minimum wage. Since some of them are breadwinners in their families, the compensation they receive is a big factor in tiding over the expenses, Delguera said. She added that ASA staff stay in a staff house for free and are given rice and laundry allowance. “We want to motivate and inspire our MFOs for their work in helping common people to uplift their lives,” she said. Empase and Mamintas were two of the microfinance officers whom ASA Philippines Foundation Inc. President and CEO Kamrul Tarafder recently hailed as the true heroes during the group’s recent 15th anniversary celebration. “The task of microfinance officer is extremely difficult. Some of them have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. Their task is not a mere job but a vocation to improve the quality lives of their poor countrymen,” Tarafder said in his opening remarks during the celebration. “Without them, we would not have come.” He credits microfinance officers for the ability of their group to reach out to 1.8 million families across the country. “The face of the microfinance officer is the face of ASA Philippines.”

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MUSIC

Photo By Nyll Renmar Acosta and Nathaniel Estenzo

RIOT LAUNCHES THE SOUNDTRACK OF YOUR LIFE By Darwin Fernandez

EHIND every long-haired vocalist and a group of people in black t-shirts is a rich history of friendship, and long enduring love for music that sounds so much sweeter just because you’re performing it beside peers who make you feel yourself.

Launching their first full-length album, RIOT hopes to share lyrics that listeners can see their selves in, delivered through the rough and rowdy speakers of Pinoy Rock but not missing that fun and comical side of solid OPM. Started by Johnny Riot (Vocals), PQ Moi (Bass), and Ryan Tabag (Drums), they enrolled the talents and matching vibes of guitarists Robin Tagalog and Galileo Galilei Abella to complete the riot and make a brand of music that is both new and familiar. “Binuo namin ‘to kasi talagang

‘di namin mapigilan na tumugtog at mag-perform,” Johnny said reminiscing on why he started the band. “Masaya yung pakiramdam pag nakakagawa kami ng kanta tapos nakakapagpasaya kami ng ibang tao.” (We formed the group because we couldn’t resist the urge to play music and perform. It’s a great feeling when we make a song that makes other people feel happy.) Influenced by the styling of new and classic bands, the album plays a hint of edgy modern rock with this care-free vibe but layered

with strict, precise, instrumentals that is more than just a good time. “Yung pagcompose ng kanta nanggagaling sa kung saan-saan eh, kadalasan ang simula idea o konsepto, puro kalokohan on the surface pero may konsepto behind it,” Johnny smirked, “minsan [inspired by] emotion, experience or nakita namin sa iba tapos naisip namin nakakatawa. Halos sabay ang [pag-compose ng] lyrics at melody. (When it comes to composing the songs, it comes from anywhere,

most of the time it starts with an idea or concept, all goofingaround in the surface but there’s a concept behind it. Sometimes, it’s [inspired by] emotion, experience or something we saw that was comical. Almost the melody and lyrics are made at the same time.) On this first RIOT full-length album the group wanted to emphasize their identity as a group and ensure that it’s not just a one-time thing. “Walang paligoy-ligoy, unang Continued on page 5

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MUS

KAMIKAZEE’S JAY DECL BAND’S “NARDA” IS BET By Carla Mortel-Baricaua Photos courtesy of Uchusentai Noiz PH

he much awaited collaboration between

Kamikazee and UCHUSENTAI:NOIZ finally took place on stage at 19 East in Muntinlupa on September 1. The momentous collaboration between the two bands was first raised and dreamed by fans when Jay Contreras, Kamikazee’s lead vocal, met the Japanese band in the country in 2015. Announced just days before, the benefit concert was staged to raise funds for the medical procedures of Edwin Tuyay, the father of guitarist Led. It was Jay, through personal messages, who invited the Japanese rockers to join him and Kamikazee in the benefit gig.

Fresh from their special performance from the Best of Anime convention, UCHUSENTAI: NOIZ members Angel-Taka, Masato, Kyo, Kotaro and Yamato hurriedly proceeded to the venue where fans of both bands were already waiting. After hurdling some technical difficulties, the visual kei rock band opened the show by performing “Liwanag Sa Dilim” and immediately followed it up with their popular version of “Narda” that left the crowd clamoring for more. The band responded by performing other OPM covers such as “Superhero,” and “Pinoy Ako.” They also performed their own original Japanese songs titled “Beam Bing Bambino,” and “Gang.” Another performance of “Narda” closed their set after the fans shouted for a repeat. Jay and the rest of Kamikazee, Jomal Linao, Led Zeppelin Tuyay and Jason Astete, plus Macoy Estacio on drums, then equally

pumped up the audience as they delivered their own tracks “Halik,” “Martyr Nyebera,” “Unang Tikim,” “Agimat,” “Cahaya”, “Sobrang Init,” “Seksing Seksi,” and “Huling Sayaw.” The band’s drummer Allan Burdeos was also present but stayed on the sideline during the event. During his spiel, Jay sincerely thanked the audience. “Thank you for coming. I didn’t really expect that people will be coming to the benefit concert. We came up with this for Edwin Tuyay. I also would like to thank NOIZ for joining us tonight.” He then introduced the Japanese rock band. “Mga pre (friends), did you know that UCHUSENTAI: NOIZ had been coming to the Philippines for a long time now, this is because they do charity work in Davao. That’s why they’re here, they help people in need. It’s no joke. They are of different race but they come here to help us, Fiipinos. So, please give them a big hand. Also, did you know

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why they chose to cover ‘Narda?’ Because the children they were helping through charity were the ones who requested it. Did you listen to it? It is better than our version!” Then he spoke to Angel in jest, “Your version is better than ours! You go to hell! You get our jobs! (laughs) But seriously, thank you for coming (addressing the audience). Thank you, UCHUSENTAI: NOIZ!” For his part Angel-Taka responded, “If ever they come to Japan, we will invite them to perform with us.” Capping the night’s event was the epic number where both bands got up on stage to sing “Narda,” the Kamikazee way. With voices singing as one, Jay and Angel Taka led the crowd as the song marked the end of a very memorable show.

Riot...

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album pa lang ‘The best of’ na agad,” Johnny beamed. (No beating-around-the-bush, the first album is ’The best of’ already.) “Gusto namin na mapaheadbang, kiligin at ma-enganyo sila na mapanood kami in the flesh,” added Moi. (We want them to headbang, feel giddy, and be encouraged to watch us live.) Though sadness, heartbreaks and socio-political topics are a common them in many of the mainstream songs as well as in Punk and Rock, RIOT offers to its listeners life in all its nakedness and hope that whenever certain events happen to them, they’re reminded of a RIOT song playing in the background. “Gusto namin na maramdaman nila na may mga taong nakakarelate sa kanila kasi yung mga kanta namin nangyayari talaga e.” Johnny said, “Utang, Pag-ibig, Hangober mga ganyan.” “Gusto namin mag-enjoy sila at sana maging soundtrack ng buhay nila yung mga kanta.” (We want them to feel that someone relates to them because our songs actually happen in real life. Debt, love, hangover, stuff like that. We want them to enjoy and hopefully it becomes the sountrack of their life.) (For more details follow them through their social media sites and Music MVs are out in their YouTube site.)

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MUSIC ON PRINT

TEETHING: A MANILA HOMECOMING AND BEYOND

by rick olivares

25-hour flight with three stop overs across three time zones can be challenging for any traveling band. More so when they have to play their first show in less than 24hours. Yet, as Teething, the Madridbased hardcore quartet, planed into Manila, the excitement levels significantly ramped up. If for Teething, the Southeast Asian tour was a massive step forward in the band’s eight-year career as they had gone out of their comfort zone in Europe, imagine what it was like for vocalist Luis Ifer. Luis was born in Quezon City to a Filipina mother and a Spanish father. He lived in Manila in his early years before moving to Spain. The last time he was in Manila was six years ago to visit an ever-dwindling number of relatives (his mother had also since passed away). “Yes, it is a massive step for the band, but it is extra special because it is like a homecoming,” he noted. One other member of the band on the other hand, was apologetic. “I am sorry,” fessed up bassist David who apologized for 333 years of Spanish rule in the Philippines. No worries, we say, everything has its good and bad, and there too has been lots of good. The country is proud of its Spanish heritage and relationships between the two countries are both warm and friendly. In fact, three days after the show at Mow’s, the

frigate, Nunez, became the first Spanish warship to make a port call in Manila in 121 years. “Then let’s go rock the country,” rallied Luis. After two shows – in Batangas and in Lucena – Teething was at Mow’s in Quezon City for their September 2 show. “Tonight is going to be extra special,” teased Luis. The band recorded their entire blistering one-hour set both on audio and on video for a planned vinyl release. The last foreign band to do that domestically was Boston-based band, The Saddest Landscape that released a split 7-inch single with local post-rock band, Legarda. “This is going to be full-length and I am going to make sure that this isn’t too much of a limited edition and a lot of people can get the record,” promised Luis. Teething has been nothing short of prolific. In their eight-year history and true punk fashion, they have released 10 extended play albums and split records to go with one fulllength album. In addition to the tons of merchandise that they sell, they are probably the only band to have their own action figure, a nearly four-inch

figure of the band’s mascot, Ralph, who appears on their album covers. Their action figure sold out quickly. And according to independent concert promoter Sleeping Boy Collective that was instrumental in making the tour happen, their shirts and records sold rather well. “The band sacrificed playing in Manila for the weekend that would have meant more people just to give the provincial shows a boost,” noted Sleeping Boy Collective’s Jonathan Flojo. Yet, the Monday night gig at Mow’s, notoriously poorly attended given it is the first working day of the week, saw a lot of fans come over to the show. “I think it is also because of Luis’ Filipino heritage,” added Tan of interest in the Teething shows. “I mean, this is a guy who has played in festivals and gigs all over Europe so local fans are excited to see him and the band.” “I remember when Luis first told the band about the possibility of a Southeast Asian tour, and I went, ‘You’re kidding,’ related guitarist Antonio. “But he wasn’t joking. It is a tremendous adventure and opportunity. It is a gift.” “It is an incredible idea and it made sense since Luis was born here,” added David. “We have toured Europe five times and any time we experience new cultures is good for us.” For Luis, it would be the first time that he would perform in front of relatives who were all coming to watch Teething at Mow’s. He did have one regret, “I wish my mom were alive to see this.” What followed was a night of

mayhem, moshing, and great live music. According to music fan and frequent gig attendee Channa Silva, he thought that the Teething show was one of the best of the year. The band raced through 20 songs and even played an unplanned encore. Added fellow fan Carlito Buenaventura who was right in the middle of the mosh pit, “And I have the bruises to show for it.” After the show as fans asked for selfies and autographs, Teething’s drummer, Alvaro, was happy at the response to their music and the show. “Music and being in a band is the best thing to happen to our lives and we are glad because we can do things and go to places we probably never would go to if we just go about our regular jobs.” Chimed in Luis, “We’re working class people. Our free time is spent focusing on music and Teething. My life revolves around Teething. My best friends, my girlfriend, and my dog are all because of Teething. If I didn’t have the band I would be a totally different person.” The Southeast Asian Tour also has a bittersweet feel to it for David. By year’s end, he will be relocated to the United States with his girlfriend. “We don’t imagine that people will like our music. When they buy our merch or records, it is a good feeling. When people come to your shows like here in the Philippines, it is a good feeling. All these experiences, even when I leave for the USA, I will never forget.” “I will make sure to pack a few copies of the live record in Manila when it comes out because these things you will never forget.”

Millennials, not taxes, get blame for India’s falling auto sales

ILLENNIALS’ preference for ride-hailing services such as Uber and Ola over owning cars, and not high taxes, is among the reasons behind India’s slumping vehicle sales. That’s the argument advanced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman last Tuesday when she spoke about steps the government has been taking to revive demand and bolster economic growth from a six-year low of 5 percent. While automakers have been seeking a cut in tax on vehicle sales to 18 percent from 28 percent to boost demand, Sitharaman said: “the mindset of millennials, who now prefer to have Ola and Uber rather than committing to buying an automobile” is part of the reason sales have been hurt. This isn’t the first time services provided by Uber Technologies Inc. and ANI Technologies Pvt. have been blamed for poor sales. A study by the Reserve Bank of India in April said the decline in overall four-wheeler sales in the last two years can, in part, be attributed to the rise of ride-hailing apps. Last week, Uday Kotak, Asia’s richest banker, said his son was “more comfortable” with Ola and Uber, suggesting cars were no longer a status symbol. “What the auto sector really needs to focus on is be aware of some of the structural changes which are happening in front of us.”

NIRMALA SITHARAMAN T. NARAYAN/BLOOMBERG

Slowdown’s nature WHILE the jury is still out on Sitharaman’s views, automakers face another speed bump: used cars. The market for pre-owned cars grew from 0.8 times of new cars in 2012 to 1.2 times in the year ended March 2019, analysts led by Chirag Shah at Edelweiss Securities Ltd. wrote in a note. The spurt pushed up the annual growth rate of the segment to 11 percent versus 4 percent for new cars in the period, the analysts said. New car sales suffered their biggest monthly decline on record in August, as deliveries fell 41 percent from a year earlier to 115,957 units. “The nature of the current slowdown coupled with slowing income growth, household savings and the evolving buyer profiles are likely to rev up used car sales at the cost of new car sales,” the note said. Last seven years have seen a steady rise in the number of organized players in the used car segment, helping boost consumer trust. Pre-owned vehicles are now perceived to offer better “value-for-

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money” than newer models, according to the analysts. The attractiveness for used cars improved further after the government slashed tax on pre-owned vehicles to 12 percent-18 percent from 28 percent depending upon the engine size. The price gap also widened after regulatory changes made new cars more expensive, the note said.

Truck sales SITHARAMAN last month took steps to support the industry that included enhanced tax breaks on new vehicle purchases and lifting curbs on government department from replacing old automobiles. Car sales suffered their biggest monthly drop on record in August, as deliveries fell 41 percent from a year earlier to 115,957 units. It isn’t only car sales that have been hit. Truck and bus sales dropped 39 percent in August, underlining the problem of waning demand in the economy that extends beyond millennials and their preferences. Bloomberg Opinion SEPTEMBER 15, 2019

REDISCOVERING MY FATHER By Vernon Velasco

MILLENNIALS UNIVERSE

Y father is a nice guy. He never hit us. But I used to think he’s distant. Not that he doesn’t value our opinions or that there’s nary a chance to talk. When he’s home, for instance, I could pull him aside while he did all things household like a hard-scrabble pioneer wife or while he’s working at his “station” on a weekend. Unlike my mom, with whom I can hold endless conversations no matter the circumstance, I would engage my father economically with a sweat on my brow and evasive eyes. There’s just nothing to talk about. It was late one evening and I was off to get ice for some night cap, when he finally decided to open up. News was on the TV: A celebrity could not play Darna apparently on account of a broken finger. And there, apropos of nothing, my father asked me about my piss-take on President Duterte. “I don’t know, Pops,” I sighed. “I don’t read the news.” I should have kept a few expert soundbites from newspaper cutouts in my wallet in occasions such as this. “You claim to be a journalist and you don’t read the news?” “Well, writing doesn’t mean you have to be a reader,” I explained, adding that everybody isn’t served the same helping of experience. How about we talk about “Shakespeare’s Sonnets,” Chopin’s Mazurkas, The Beverly Hillbillies, the space aliens? I did not expect these things to come to mind, but, really, if I had a son I had been meaning to talk to, my first impulse would be to ask him about the girls! He went on to denounce the president’s moral hygiene, frowning upon the lashings of the old ultra-violent. He curses between grit teeth. And I laughed so hard that whiskey sprayed out of my nose. “This country may have its ups and downs, but I still believe in the Philippines,” he said. “It may not happen now, it may not happen in the next 100 years, but it will happen.” I didn’t know my father reads Diana Vreeland but, I said with wideeyed wonder that, on that, we agree. “Bourbon would be lovely,” he winked. I didn’t reckon being holed up in the living room to drink alone with my father would be particularly exciting but, to this day, sometimes at the expense of our otherworldly affairs, we drink whenever we’re both home until we’re crazy enough to think we’re lords of all creations. He still gripes about Duterte, and I still laugh, sometimes wondering if he’s really nice, especially when drunk.

Hudson’s Bay: Millennial shoppers shun department stores

HEN Sears Canada announced it was closing all of its stores in 2017, Hudson’s Bay Co. saw an opportunity: HBC’s Canadian department store chain would swoop in and snatch Sears’s customers. Managers gradually added mid-price apparel to stores from Nova Scotia to British Columbia and waited for sales to take off. The plan worked at first. But then the Bay—as the Canadian division is popularly known—started losing fashionistas in cities like Montreal and Toronto. The numbers tell the story: Comparable sales—an industry benchmark the retailer recently resumed sharing after five years—fell for the past two quarters. HBC Chief Executive Officer Helena Foulkes says the strategy was ill-considered. “We have 53 stores that are in the same mall location with a Sears and we knew the stores were closing and those customers are looking for lower price points,” she says. “Unfortunately we took that strategy too far” to all 89 stores.

Internal distractions FOULKES, recruited last year from CVS Health Corp. to help turn around Hudson’s Bay, has since rectified the problem. She has also been closing stores and selling assets—most recently New York’s Lord & Taylor—to put the company on more solid financial footing. Now she can focus on the two remaining “crown jewels” in her portfolio: Saks Fifth Avenue and the Bay. Luxury-focused Saks has been the star of late, selling more at full price and connecting online shoppers to store sales staff for advice. The Bay, which gave the company its name, is having a harder time as a mid-range department store, a corner of retail that’s particularly vulnerable to the likes of Amazon.com Inc. and Walmart Inc. It doesn’t help that Foulkes is dealing with internal distractions. The Bay’s last president stepped down six months ago, and hasn’t yet been replaced. Meanwhile, plans by Chairman Richard Baker to take HBC private and ease investor pressure for a quick turnaround is being resisted by some shareholders who consider his $1.31-billion valuation of the company

HELENA FOULKES too low. The shares have gained since Baker’s June 10 offer but are down about 40 percent from five years ago.

Fur trade AND while Foulkes is correcting merchandising mistakes, improving service and making the e-commerce experience smoother, experts say the Bay has deeper issues. With millennial shoppers keener to buy online or directly from brands, the retailer has yet to offer something they can’t find somewhere else and risks drifting into irrelevance. “Overall the department-store sector is in decline and when you look at the Bay there isn’t a lot in its current form that really differentiates it,” says Bruce Winder, cofounder and partner at the Retail Advisors Network in Toronto. “Why would you shop at the Bay? That’s what they have to answer.” For much of the 20th century, Canadians had plenty of reasons to shop at the Bay, a storied company whose 349-year history is deeply entwined with that of the nation. The department store’s epic beginnings as a fur trader founded by two French adventurers and their influential British backers have inspired Hollywood movies, including the 1941 historical drama Hudson’s Bay, which starred a young Vincent Price among others. The company’s subsequent transformation into a full-fledged merchant paralleled the birth of Western cities like Winnipeg and Edmonton. And its coast-to-coast presence was built buying other household names in retail. Half of the country’s population lives within 10 miles of the Bay.

Temples to consumption THE original stores, situated on fashionable downtown avenues, were imposing temples to consumption. The Winnipeg downtown location, which opened in 1926, boasted a fur storage vault kept at a constant 36 degrees Fahrenheit (2.22 degrees Celsius) and

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capable of housing 12,000 garments. The store catered to shoppers of the day with a beauty parlor, post office and library. Later, management opened an auditorium with an orchestra. Like its American counterparts, Hudson’s Bay operated restaurants with names like the Jolly Canuck and the Paddlewheel. CEO Foulkes believes the Bay retains much of its cachet. “There’s definitely not a brand in the United States that has the connection that the Bay does with its customers,” she says. That legacy comes at a cost, including 15.7 million square feet of physical space to maintain—three times that of Saks. With cash short, the company is renovating its urban, flagship stores. The Winnipeg store echoes the company’s deterioration. From a distance, the Beaux Arts building remains impressive but the wear and tear becomes obvious close up: the brass doors are weathered, the floor tiles peeling, and an escalator to the second floor is out of service. The Bay now occupies just two of the six floors of a former flagship that once sprawled over 655,755 square feet.

Younger shoppers ELLEN FROVICH, a 60-year-old customer who remembers making the trip downtown to watch window displays for Christmas as a teenager, said Hudson’s Bay “used to be more of a destination.” Frovich, who was at the store browsing one afternoon in July, says she continues shopping there for the variety and quality of clothing. But the Bay must appeal to younger shoppers, too. A decade ago, it dusted off its image under then-President Bonnie Brooks—now CEO of women retailer Chico’s FAS Inc.—who overhauled women’s apparel and accessories to cater to fashionistas. While that gave the company focus, simply selling products no longer suffices in an age where brands like Millennialmagnet Frank and Oak, athletic wear SEPTEMBER 15, 2019

Lole or parka maker Canada Goose develop a direct relationship with customers. The Bay could carve out a new role, says David Zietsma, a senior vice president at Toronto-based consultancy Jackman Reinvents, by helping clients discover and learn about brands. “There are definitely consumers out there that want more than just a pricefocused, convenience-focused purchase but don’t have the confidence to go directly to fashion brands, don’t know how to discover,” says Zietsma, a former Sears executive who once consulted for the Bay. They’re asking: “Help me find what works for me.”

More confused THE Bay has another problem, according to Robert Soroka, a business professor at Concordia University in Montreal. While it has positioned itself as a fashion house of sorts, the retailer constantly advertises discounts and promotions, sending a muddled message to customers about what kind of retailer it exactly is. Selling cheaper products to appeal to Sears shoppers confused shoppers even more. The company has cut out 300 home and apparel brands and added 100 new ones. It has been experimenting with pop-ups, including with FAO Schwarz last holiday season. And two floors of the Bay’s flagship store in Toronto, will be converted into WeWork coworking space, bringing more millennials through the doors. Retail Advisors Network’s Winder has a more drastic suggestion: Draw on the Bay’s history and go full Canadiana. While the Bay already carries a selection of signature heritage products, such as a wool point blanket first sold in the late 1700s, he says the chain could build stores around such merchandise. “It has huge history and it has a huge pedigree and a story to tell,” he says. “Shrink it and make it more profitable, redefine it, and then start to grow it.” Bloomberg Opinion