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THE FOOD CONUNDRUM Amid high levels of undernourishment and food insecurity, the Philippines has one of the highest numbers of overweight children and obese adults in Southeast Asia, says a UN report.

By Cai U. Ordinario

ILLIONS of Filipinos are undernourished and foodinsecure, but the Philippines has one of the highest numbers of overweight children and obese adults in Southeast Asia, according to the World Hunger Report 2018.

IN this September 6, 2010, file photo, threeyear-old homeless child Minerva Botongan bites a plastic spoon as she takes a meal given to her and her family by good Samaritans on a street in Manila. AP/BULLIT MARQUEZ

The report, released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Fund for Agriculture Development, the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO), showed there are 14.2 million undernourished Filipinos and 13.3 million foodinsecure Filipinos. However, there are 400,000 overweight children aged 5 years and below, and 3.8 million adults

aged 18 years old and above who are regarded as obese. “Food insecurity contributes to overweight and obesity, as well as undernutrition, and high rates of these forms of malnutrition coexist in many countries. The higher cost of nutritious foods, the stress of living with food insecurity and physiological adaptations to food restriction help explain why food insecure families may have a higher risk of overweight and obesity,” the report stated.

CONFRONTING

THE ‘KILLER’ NKTI acquires new ‘weapon’ in uphill battle vs leptospirosis’s deadly complications

By Roderick L. Abad | Contributor

ITH the rainy season far from over, the threat from the floodborne leptospirosis continues to send chills down the spine of both the public and the health-care sector, which continues to fight an uphill battle against the deadly disease. PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 54.0040

A DELIVERY van lies on its side after it was swept by heavy rains and strong winds brought about by a tropical storm that flooded Marikina City on August 12, 2018. AP/BULLIT MARQUEZ

Climate-change factor

IN Southeast Asia, Indonesia has the highest number of undernourished citizens at 20.2 million. It also has the highest number of obese children at 2.8 million and 12 million adults who are overweight. Further, the report stated that the Philippines’s hunger and nutrition challenges are compounded by the ill effects of climate change. The report stated that mediumand large-scale disasters negative-

ly impact the food value chain. Between 2006 and 2013, the report added, the Philippines was struck by 75 disasters—mostly typhoons, tropical storms and floods. These caused damage and losses worth $3.8 billion to the country’s agriculture sector, or an average of $477 million annually. This, the report stated, accounts for a quarter of the country’s budget allocation for the farm sector. Continued on A2

This, notwithstanding the impressive number of successful cases of managing this dreaded floodborne disease as compared to other countries, according to a ranking official of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI). “Based on our history, flood has been there since time immemorial. So leptospirosis will be there and we cannot solve this in just a short period of time,” Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenator (Ecmo) Medical Team Head Dr. Joselito Chavez told the BusinessMirror in Filipino, following his team’s news briefing held last week at the hospital’s diagnostics center in Quezon City. Leptospirosis, known in most countries as a rare disease, is endemic in the Philippines. It is an illness caused by bacteria found in the urine of animals, especially mice. It is spread to humans through direct contact with it or with water or soil contaminated by Continued on A2

n JAPAN 0.4825 n UK 70.7938 n HK 6.8814 n CHINA 7.8996 n SINGAPORE 39.4190 n AUSTRALIA 38.8397 n EU 63.1415 n SAUDI ARABIA 14.3988

Source: BSP (September 14, 2018 )

NewsSunday A2 Sunday, September 16, 2018

BusinessMirror

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CONFRONTING THE ‘KILLER’ Continued from A1

the fluid metabolic waste product of the rodent. One of the many ways that make one become afflicted by this deadly infection is wading through inundated areas caused by excessive rains. Symptoms of leptospirosis include high fever, headache, chills, vomiting, abdominal pain and red eyes. Globally, 20 percent to 70 percent of people affected with such zoonotic bacterial disease experience pulmonary complications. Their chances of survival are slim. In most countries, the average mortality rate of leptospirosis patients is from 3 percent to 20 percent, a majority of which is due to pulmonary hemorrhage. However, in the Philippines, it stands at 15 percent. In the NKTI alone, a total of 364 leptospirosis cases have been recorded since June 2018, and 55 of them have died. “We’ve been studying it through the years and we have changed our protocol,” according to Dr. Romina Angangco-Dañguilan of the NKTI’s Nephrology Division. “We’ve been able to lower the mortality: where before, it was about 25 percent to 30 percent, it’s now down to about 15 percent,” said the noted nephrologist.

PHL success rate

THE Philippines, through the NKTI, has set a world record for having the most number of leptospirosis patients with lung hemorrhage that were treated using the revolutionary Ecmo machine.

From June to August of this year, four disease-afflicted Filipinos survived through this German technology—four times the number of each case from the United States, Japan, Cayman Islands, Chile and Taiwan reported in scientific literatures and studies. “So far among the four [patients], the outcome has been good. They’re still alive,” stated Chavez, who also serves as the deputy executive director for medical services. “Unlike in other countries, the first five or 10 patients who underwent treatment through Ecmo technology mostly died.” This feat, he added, is a first in a state-owned hospital and the country to have a 100-percent survival of patients who availed themselves of this so-called artificial lung. “We can be proud of it because it means that we are on a par with international experts in curing leptospirosis,” Chavez said. “We are happy this technology is now with us. The experts will help one another to give them a second chance in life.”

Innovative technology

PULMONARY hemorrhage is the most fatal complication of patients diagnosed with leptospirosis since it leads to almost 100-percent mortality. While acute kidney injury can be successfully managed with dialysis that enables treatment of the metabolic abnormalities as it gives the kidney time to recover from the disease, it’s a different case with lung hemorrhage. Once the latter ensues, mechanical ventilation

may not be sufficient to provide the patient with adequate oxygenation and carbon dioxide removal. With Ecmo, treating leptospirosis patients with pulmonary hemorrhage is now possible. “Studies say that patients with mechanical ventilation in less than three days, they benefit more on Ecmo,” revealed pulmonologist Dr. Joanne Kathleen Ginete-Garcia. The Ecmo is where blood is oxygenated extracorporeally. It allows adequate respiration while the patient’s lung is allowed to recover through mechanical ventilation at lung rest settings. From the four NKTI patients successfully managed using Ecmo, two of them had a weeklong history of wading in floods, while the others lived in rat-infested areas. Symptom-wise, they experienced cough, myalgia, fever followed by conjunctival suffusion and consulted nearby hospitals. They were found to have an elevated creatinine, low urine output and progressive difficulty of breathing. While admitted in the hospital’s gym, which now doubles as a leptospirosis ward, they were given intravenous steroids, blood component transfusions, antibiotics and dialysis. Soon, they developed hemoptysis, increasing infiltrates on chest x-ray and reduced arterial oxygenation and/or increased carbon dioxide, eventually requiring mechanical ventilation. Even if they were given maximum ventilatory support, however, they had extreme respiratory and metabolic acidosis and were thus put on Ecmo.

“This lifesaving machine was delivered in May or June 2018,” NKTI Executive Director for Administration Dr. Rosemarie Liquete said, citing the acquisition as timely, amid the surge of patients admitted to the hospital when the Department of Health (DOH) declared an outbreak of the deadly infection in Metro Manila during the time. Such machine, which was financed by the DOH, provided the “charity case” patients with adequate oxygenation and carbon-dioxide removal from five to 17 days, allowing time for the lungs to heal. They were, eventually, extubated and discharged.

Back to normal lives

BY and large, leptospirosis is viewed as a deadly illness. Nevertheless, the public is advised to think of it as a preventable and manageable disease if given the right treatment. “What is important is that the patients can survive and go back to their normal lives,” Chavez added, proof of which is Richard Verdejo, a 47-year-old vendor from Bicutan, Taguig City. He underwent the Ecmo treatment last June 24 after he showed symptoms like blood in cough and decreased oxygen supply in the lungs. After five days, he recovered and was discharged from the hospital. “The Ecmo machine was indeed a big help for people diagnosed with leptospirosis because it’s effective to prolong the life of a patient,” Verdejo said in Filipino. “I’m now back to my normal life. I’m now running our sari-sari store.” Another patient named Ronel Calinao was placed on Ecmo for 17 days. The unemployed 38-year-old resident of Las Piñas City, unfortunately, was stricken by the disease

during the time when he was attending to his sick mother. “Currently, Ronel is fully recovering…doing what he used to do,” said Rachelle Calinao, his sister-in-law. “We are happy because he was given a chance to be treated for free since we were hopeless back then that he wouldn’t survive.” Thankful for the innovative lifesaving machine, Verdejo also personally expressed his appreciation of the hospital’s benevolence for underprivileged patients like him. “I’m very thankful to the NKTI and all the doctors because they did everything they could to treat me,” he said. Seeing the need to help more patients who need proper care of pulmonary hemorrhage while suffering from leptospirosis, the government hospital is spending the P16-million funding it received from the DOH to purchase two more units of Ecmo machine in the next couple of months. “Rather than they ending up with end-stage kidney disease, [or undergoing] dialysis for life, [leptospirosis] is a disease that one can recover from. It’s good that we [also]…[provide for] the needy for their recovery,” said Angangco-Dañguilan.

Better than cure

THE spike of leptospirosis cases in the country is feared as the country braces for Supertyphoon Ompong (international code name Mangkhut) which approached the Philippines on Thursday, packed with strong winds with possible heavy rains. Liquete raised the alarm on the possible outbreak of the infectious disease since floods, especially in low-lying areas, are expected to occur.

Precautions, above all

WITH this in mind, she reminded the public to take precautions not to get infected by this fatal illness. “It’s our environment that affects our patient population,” she said. “If our surroundings are clean, without rats and garbage thrown everywhere, we can prevent contracting this,” Liquete said. Chavez, for his part, also encouraged local government units (LGUs) to implement strict and regular waste collection and to drain potentially contaminated waters. He, likewise, suggested that LGUs report cases and beef up information campaigns on leptospirosis to make the public betterinformed about the disease and its symptoms. “What the government is doing on its part is really good, such as media blitz to increase awareness. It also helps in distributing medicines, especially in community health centers. In addition, the DOH regularly meets on how to address this concern, especially when there are outbreaks,” he said. While the NKTI currently attends to 12 leptospirosis patients, the hospital is not complacent as it is determined to sustain the success rate of managing pulmonary hemorrhage in leptospirosis. According to Chavez, they are now focused on their “team effort, close watch of patients, and utmost support of the administration, especially on resources.” The leader of the Ecmo Medical Team conceded that the leptospirosis problem in the country will remain unsolved if preventive ways are not considered and done. “This is a public health problem that we really need to be proactive [about] if we want to address it fully,” Chavez stressed.

The food conundrum $3.8B

Estimated total damage to PHL agriculture sector between 2006 and 2013 caused by 75 disasters— mostly typhoons, tropical storms and floods, or an average yearly loss of $477 million.

RESIDENTS stand on the damaged Caraycaray Bridge after Tropical Storm Urduja hit the island province of Biliran on December 18, 2017. ROBINSON NINAL JR./ MALACANANG PRESIDENTIAL PHOTOGRAPHERS DIVISION VIA AP

Continued from A1

“In the Philippines, for example, more intense typhoons have important consequences for food security. They have significant negative effects on households that depend on farming livelihoods,” the report stated. “And there is also evidence that El Niño has been equally destructive by lowering rainfall in some Philippine regions with severe impacts on incomes, affordability of food, livelihoods, nutrition and dietary diversity,” it added.

Sustainable shift

THE challenges faced by countries are making it more difficult for them to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those indicators that are geared toward ending multiple forms of malnutrition and hunger. The report called for implementing and scaling up interventions aimed at guaranteeing access to nutritious food and

breaking the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition. Policies must pay special attention to groups who are the most vulnerable to the harmful consequences of poor food access: infants, children aged under 5, school-aged children, adolescent girls and women. At the same time, the report stated that a sustainable shift must be made toward nutrition-sensitive agriculture and food systems that can provide safe and high-quality food for all.

Clear warning

THE report also called for greater efforts to build climate resilience through policies that promote climate-change adaptation and mitigation, and disaster-risk reduction. “The alarming signs of increasing food insecurity and high levels of different forms of malnutrition are a clear warning that there is considerable work to be done to make sure we ‘leave no one behind’ on the road toward achieving the SDG goals on

food security and improved nutrition,” the heads of the UN FAO, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, Unicef, the WFP and the WHO warned in their joint foreword to the report. The number of hungry people in the world in 2017 reached 821 million, or 1 in every 9 people; in Asia, 515 million; in Africa, 256.5 million; and in Latin America and the Caribbean, 39 million. Children under 5 affected by stunting (low height-for-age) reached 150.8 million or 22.2 percent of the total; children under 5 affected by wasting (low weightfor-height), 50.5 million or 7.5 percent; and children under 5 who are overweight (high weight-forheight), 38.3 million or 5.6 percent. The percentage of women of reproductive age affected by anemia accounts for 32.8 percent; the percentage of infants aged below 6 months who were exclusively breast-fed, 40.7 percent; and adults who are obese, 672 million, which is 13 percent or 1 in 8 adults.

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

The World

TURKEY CENTRAL BANK RAISES BENCHMARK RATE TO 24 PERCENT

N a remarkable display of choreography, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan banned the use of dollars in most contracts, railed against high borrowing costs and then stood back as his central bank announced the biggest rate hike of his rule. The end result of Thursday’s show was a rally in the ragged lira that cut the cost of dollars by almost 4 percent—prompting Turkish bargain-hunters to snap up about $1 billion in an hour. That compares with an average of $400 million a week in net selling since the start of this year. Now Erdogan, long derided for his contrarian view that cutting rates slows inflation, is suddenly being lauded for allowing monetary authorities to follow orthodox prescriptions for common ills— all while enhancing his reputation as the defender of small businesses struggling with the rising price of money. “It’s a clever move,” said Anthony Skinner, a direc tor with UK-based forecasting company Verisk Maplecroft. “By saying the central bank is independent while criticizing it for misguided policies, Erdogan is pointing the finger of blame at the central bank.” The bank increased its one-week repo rate to 24 percent, a jump of 625 basis points that was almost double what forecasters expected. The surprise move buoyed markets that had been mired in a monthlong slump, triggered by a diplomatic row with the US and then amplified by central bank inaction. The yield on the government’s 10-year lira bonds fell the most in five years, to 19 percent, and stocks gained along with the lira. Turkey’s troubles have helped fuel an investor exodus from emerging-market assets worldwide—including from the Argentine peso and South African rand. Rising US interest rates have discouraged the riskier reach for yield, deepening homegrown crises.

‘Great decision’

BEFORE the central bank’s decision in Ankara, the run on the currency forced it to raise rates where it could without further damaging the prospects for economic growth. The bank increased the cost of cash to commercial lenders by around 150 basis points last month by forcing them to use a borrowing tool costlier than the one-week repo rate. Taking that into account, the latest hike will result in an additional tightening of 475 basis points, somewhat less than the headline number suggests. What’s more, the initial reaction to the increase from local

investors shows the currency still faces an uphill struggle. Turkish companies sit on a net foreignexchange shortfall of $216 billion, and analysts say they are likely to view any bouts of lira strength as an opportunity to rebuild their dollar reserves, slowing any gains. Still, the central bank deserves credit for doing the right, if unpopular, thing, according to Bluebay Asset Management Llc. strategist Tim Ash. “It was a great decision,” Ash said.

‘Total chaos’

E A R L I E R in the day, Erdogan sowed confusion throughout the business community by publishing a decree making the lira the only currency that can be used in contracts between Turkish entities. Many of his government’s own contracts, including for building motorways and operating airports, are currently priced in dollars or euros. All agreements that are either priced in or indexed to foreign currencies will have to be amended within 30 days, though some will be exempt, according to the decree. The government has yet to clarify the new rules. The measure will create “total chaos” and probably can’t be implemented within the allotted time frame, said Hulusi B elgu, head of the national shopping-mall association. He said his industry has $15 billion of debt and 70 percent of all rent contracts are priced in foreign currency. It’s common in Turkey, a country that’s long struggled to contain inflation, to index prices in dollars or euros for everything from cars to legal services. About half of the Turkish banking system’s deposits are in foreign currencies.

‘My friend’

ERDOGAN told a group of craftsmen and merchants that Turkey is fighting an economic war and tough times require tough measures. He was speaking in a televised address after the decree on contracts was published and before the rate decision was announced. “Anyon e who i s no t involved in exports or imports shouldn’t see his path intersect with foreign currencies,” the president said. Erdogan also used his speech to attack the central bank for consistently missing its inflation targets, and faulted policy makers for failing to see what he considers to be the true relationship between the cost of credit and consumer prices. Bloomberg News

BusinessMirror

Sunday, September 16, 2018

China firms’ debt-servicing firepower slumps to ’15 low

HINESE companies’ debtservicing firepower has slumped to a three-year low even as authorities move to support their financing, showcasing the difficulty of getting stimulus through to the real economy. Listed nonfinancial companies had cash and equivalents to cover only 81 percent of debt due in the coming year, the worst since 2015—when China was battling hard-landing fears—data compiled by Bloomberg show. Materials, utilities and energy sectors are particularly vulnerable as their cash levels were at about half of short-term obligations. Businesses are having a tough year raising funds and boosting profits, thanks to the lingering effects of a crackdown on shadow financing and a slowdown in economic growth as trade tensions with the US rise. In July, China moved to boost domestic demand and infrastructure spending, building on previous efforts to sustain lending to smaller firms. Even so, analysts question whether it’s enough to halt a record run of defaults. “A worsening cash-to-debt ratio is mainly a result of China’s efforts to cut leverage,” said Shi Min, credit investment director

from Beijing Lerui Asset Management Co. “It’s unclear whether the recent easing measures will result in more money flowing to less creditworthy companies in the private sector.” There have been over 40 billion yuan, or $5.8 billion, in local-bond defaults this year, an unprecedented tally. Many companies have had to tap internal cash to

repay debt. That’s depleted their cash reserves, making it harder for them to repay upcoming borrowing if credit markets remain tight. Even after the targeted steps China unveiled in July, defaults have yet to slow. Coal miner Wintime Energy Co. failed to roll over a local bond that month, triggering delinquency on its other notes and making it the biggest defaulter in China this year. Firms such as oil trader CEFC Shanghai International Group Ltd. and Dandong Port Group Co. reneged on payments in August. “We see a divergence in refinancing ability currently, and investors—spooked by defaults earlier this year—still favor stronger credits,” said Tan Chang, an analyst at China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co. “The ones that are exposed to a high debt burden and negative media

We see a divergence in refinancing ability currently, and investors—spooked by defaults earlier this year—still favor stronger credits. The ones that are exposed to a high debt burden and negative media coverage will face pressure on refinancing.”—Tan

coverage will face pressure on refinancing.” Shanghai-listed HNA Innovation Co. hasn’t repaid 300 million yuan in trust loans that were due on Monday because of a liquidity squeeze. Some of its assets in the eastern province of Zhejiang were frozen, which affected the refinancing, the unit of HNA Group Co. said on Thursday. It’s not a l l doom and gloom, as there are some sig ns in recent months of a r ising appetite for loca l notes. Net bond issuance was positive in June through August, bouncing back from a negative fig ure in May. Property developers are among the few sectors benefiting from the trend and saw their debt ser vicing ability improve; their cash to shor t-ter m debt ratio rose to 113 percent at the end of June, up 13 percentage points from December. Still, caution remains. Zou Weina, who manages one of the top performing bond funds in China this year, has been slashing risk and avoiding lower-rated notes. She believes the easing measures aren’t likely to meaningfully help weaker firms, she said in an interview in August. “China’s economic stimulus has raised expectations of a rebound in the real economy,” said Li Qilin, the chief macroeconomic researcher at Lianxun Securities Co. “But credit risks will remain high because financial-market regulations are still tight.” Bloomberg News

AIRLINES’ BIOFUEL-POWERED FLIGHTS MIGHT SOON TAKE OFF

OR years, airlines have experimented with biofuels, aiming to reduce both carbon emissions and their reliance on fossil fuels. It’s been a turbulent journey buffeted by inconsistent investment and the periodic lure of cheap oil. But several major carriers are planning larger-scale usage of biofuel in 2019 and 2020, including JetBlue Airways Corp. and Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. United Continental Holdings Inc. said onnThursday that it would cut its carbon emissions by half over 2005 levels, by 2050, matching an industry target set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Airlines account for about 2 percent of annual global carbon emissions, but the industry’s rapid growth and future expansion across emerging markets has made aviation’s environmental impact a top issue for executives and regulators. “I would describe the biofuels in aviation as an evolution over time,” said Aaron Robinson, senior manager for environmental strategy and sustainability at Chicago-based United, which first made biofuel part of its routine operations in 2016 at its Los Angeles hub. The company in 2015 invested $30 million for a stake in Fulcrum BioEnergy Inc., which takes household solid waste and converts it to a liquid that is blended with regular jet fuel. Beyond the supply at LAX, airports in Oslo, Stockholm and Bergen, Norway, offer biofuels to blend into existing fuel supplies. As of June, more than 130,000 commercial flights have been powered by biofuel, according to the IATA. Such flights are currently limited by industry standard to a maximum 50-percent

blend with regular jet fuel. The biofuel in Los Angeles, supplied by World Energy Llc., is refined near the airport and is “cost-competitive” with traditional fuel, Robinson said on Thursday in an interview. “Five years ago, the question was: How are we going to have enough plants to be able to do it?” he said. “Today, I think the real question is: What is the financing?” Part of that investment is coming from the airlines. Next year, JetBlue plans to begin taking delivery of about 33 million gallons of biofuel annually as part of a 10-year deal with Philadelphia-based SG Preston Co. The fuel agreement will cover about 20 percent of the airline’s annual fuel use at JFK International Airport. Cathay Pacific and Qantas Airways Ltd. also have large biofuel supply agreements that will begin in 2019 and 2020, respectively, according to IATA. Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. announced on Thursday that it would use a biofuel derived from waste gases emitted by steel mills in a process developed by LanzaTech Inc. The demonstration will occur next month on a Virgin 747 flight from Orlando, Florida to London. United plans to achieve its emissions goal through the greater use of biofuel and more efficient aircraft. The airline will purchase nearly 1 billion gallons of biofuel from Fulcrum over 10 years. The Californiabased company broke ground in May on a plant to convert residential waste into fuel east of Reno, Nevada. Starting in 2020, Fulcrum expects to produce 10.5 million gallons of fuel annually at the plant. The company plans to open a second plant to supply United. Bloomberg News

IN this April 21, 2017, file photo Volkswagen Beetles are displayed during the annual gathering of the “Beetle Club” in Yakum, central Israel. Volkswagen says it will stop making its iconic Beetle in July of next year. Volkswagen of America on Thursday announced the end of production of the third-generation Beetle by introducing two final special editions. AP

VW to stop making iconic Beetle next year

ETROIT—After selling it on and off in the US for nearly seven decades, Volkswagen has decided to squash its iconic Beetle. The company’s American unit announced on Thursday that it would end global production of the third-generation bulbous bug in July of next year after offering two special editions for sale. The compact Beetle was introduced in Germany in 1938 during the Nazi era and came to the US 11 years later, where it became a symbol of utilitarian transportation often used by hippies. The iconic car sold for about 30 years before US sales stopped in 1979. The last of the original bugs was produced in Puebla, Mexico, in 2003. Volkswagen revived it in the US in 1998 as a more modern “New Beetle,” but it attracted

mainly female buyers. The company revamped it for the 2012 model year in an effort to make it appeal to men, giving it a flatter roof, less bulbous shape, a bigger trunk and a navigation system. US sales rose fivefold to more than 29,000 in the first year, rising to just over 46,000 in 2013 but tailing off after that. Last year VW sold only 15,166, according to Autodata Corp. The special editions, which come in coupe and convertible body styles, get unique beige and blue colors in addition to the normal hues. They also get standard extra chrome, new wheels and three-color ambient lighting inside. Volkswagen has no immediate plans to revive the Beetle again, but the company wouldn’t rule it out. “I would say ‘never say never,’” VW of America

Chief Executive Officer Hinrich Woebcken said in a statement. The company plans to roll out an electric version of the old Bus in 2022 called the I.D. Buzz. AP

Sunday, September 16, 2018

The World BusinessMirror

US readies sanctions vs Russia for using banned nerve agent

HE United States is working on a second, more punishing round of sanctions against Russia to be imposed in November for its nerveagent attack in the United Kingdom, a State Department official said. “We plan to impose a very severe second round of sanctions,” Manisha Singh, the assistant secretary for the department’s Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, told Congress on Thursday. She said it will include “ banking sanctions, prohibition on procurement of defense articles, aid money—it’s a laundry list of items that will penalize the Russian government.” Russia hasn’t allowed on-site inspections or provided the US with “verifiable reassurance” that it won’t use banned chemical weapons again, Singh said. Members of Congress have complained President Donald Trump is too slow to impose penalties on Russia as he emphasizes improving

relations with President Vladimir Putin. But administration witnesses appearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee underscored the prospect of more strife—and more sanctions—over issues, including any interference in November’s midterm elections. Russia’s ruble pared earlier gains after the US comments and was up 1.2 percent against the dollar at 68.2125 as of 9:49 p.m. in Moscow. Sanctions are required

under the 1991 Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act, which requires penalties on countries that use chemical weapons in violation of international law. The US last month announced new restrictions to punish Putin’s government for the March 4 nerveagent attack on former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the UK. That first wave of sanctions took effect on August 22. The initial round of sanctions limit exports to Russia of US goods and technology considered sensitive on national security grounds, including electronics, lasers and some specialized oil and gas production technologies. The action could block hundreds of millions of dollars in exports. Waivers will be allowed for space-flight activities and US foreign assistance, according to the State Department. Russia, which has denied it was

We plan to impose a very severe second round of sanctions.” —Manisha Singh

behind the attack in the UK, has threatened to retaliate but stopped short of specific measures pending more detail on US plans. The two Russians accused by the UK of carrying out the attack appeared on Russian state TV on Thursday to assert they were just tourists eager to see an ancient English cathedral. A day after Trump announced an executive order generally threatening financial sanctions if foreign powers interfere in the coming elections, a Treasury Department official also applied that warning to Russia in particular. US intelligence agencies found that Russia meddled in the 2016 election in an effort to hurt Democrat Hillary Clinton and ultimately to help elect Republican Trump. “The message has been sent very clearly by the Treasury Department that there will be consequences and costs—including personal costs— imposed for the intolerable and unacceptable continued efforts to manipulate our electoral processes,” said Marshall Billingslea, the Treasury Department’s assistant secretary for terrorist financing and financial crimes. He also testified at the House committee hearing. Bloomberg News

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

Indonesia wins IMF backing for response to EM rout

HE Inter nationa l Monetary Fund (IMF) backed Indonesia’s response to a sell-off in its currency, saying higher interest rates and foreignexchange intervention were appropriate steps to help lessen the volatility. Authorities can’t get too comfortable though, and should continue to reduce the risks that make the economy vulnerable to foreign outf lows, according to Luis Breuer, the IMF’s division chief for Indonesia. “Overall the policy reaction has been broadly appropriate but obviously things can change quickly and this calls for vigilance,” he said by phone from Washington. Southeast Asia’s biggest economy has been rattled by the emerging market (EM) rout, with the rupiah dropping to a two-decade low of almost 15,000 to the dollar this month. Bank Indonesia has been the most aggressive of the central banks in Asia, raising interest rates four times by a total of 1.25 percentage points and draining foreign reserves by almost 10 percent this year. At the same time, the government has taken steps to curb imports and rein in a current account deficit of 3 percent of gross domestic product, a key reason cited for Indonesia’s risk to foreign outflows. “Now, we think the situation is

manageable,” Breuer said. “But it requires vigilance and monitoring the situation very carefully and addressing those sorts of vulnerabilities that generate the contagion domestically from the external developments.”

Bali summit

HE added the currency market intervention was “to avoid disorderly market conditions, not to try to anchor the exchange rate at a certain level,” which he said would be “a mistake.” The IMF official spoke a month before the world’s financial elite gather on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali for the IMF-World Bank’s annual meeting. The fund gave a positive assessment of the economy and business reforms undertaken by the government in the two decades since the Asian financial crisis rocked the country. In a new book ahead of the summit, the IMF said Indonesia needs more policy action over the longer term to boost growth. In particular, further reforms were needed to improve “rigid” labor laws, opening up sectors to foreign investment and reducing the influence of stateowned companies in the economy. T he employ ment laws had contributed to a large informal labor market and a high number of workers being employed on short-term contracts, according to the IMF. Bloomberg News

TRUMP DEFIES SCIENCE WITH REBUFF OF PUERTO RICO DISASTER DEATH TOLL

RESIDENT Donald Trump rejects the official death toll of 2,975 from last year’s devastating hurricane in Puerto Rico. Yet the figure, which has been adopted by the island’s government, is one of several estimates from prestigious universities that have employed

established scientific processes to come up with casualty counts in the thousands. Trump, in a series of tweets on Thursday as Hurricane Florence assaulted the Carolina coast, accused Democrats of padding the figure for political gain. He offered no substantiation.

“I’m flabbergasted,” said Irwin Redlener, director of Columbia University’s National Center for Disaster Preparedness, a think tank. “People need to understand we’re not just counting immediate fatalities. We have to understand what happens long term with

DAMAGES in Barranquitas, Puerto Rico, following Hurricane Maria in October 2017. XAVIER GARCIA/BLOOMBERG

ongoing conditions.” The furor spotlighted the difficulty of accounting for the toll of disasters, which can continue to mount for months after the initial incident. Big storms keep punishing regions long after winds abate and floodwaters recede. Researchers attempt to estimate how many deaths can be attributed to a storm and how many would have occurred anyway. In Puerto Rico, residents coped with lost jobs, damaged homes, crippled roadways and months without electricity—all impediments to continued medical care. Estimates of deaths attributable to the storm have ranged from 1,139 to 4,645. The study commissioned by the island’s government and performed by the George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health tallied 2,975 excess deaths in Puerto Rico from September through February. Researchers came up with that figure by calculating an average death rate for previous years. They compared that to the number of deaths on the island in the months after Maria, making adjustments for seasonality and population size. “We stand by the science underlying our study,” the school said in a statement posted on its web site. “We are confident that the number—2,975—is the most accurate and unbiased estimate of excess mortality to date.”

But Trump disputed the number. In a tweet, he said “3,000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico. When I left the Island, AFTER the storm had hit, they had anywhere from 6 to 18 deaths.” The Trump administration has been criticized by government watchdogs for their performance during a record year of disasters in 2017, when Hurricane Harvey flooded southern Texas before Maria assailed Puerto Rico. Asked last month whether he still believed the federal government’s response to the hurricanes in Puerto Rico was sufficient, Trump said he believed “we did a fantastic job.” He cited difficulties delivering supplies to an island and problems with the island’s power grid as obstacles. “This was done by the Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible,” Trump tweeted on Thursday. Said Columbia’s Redlener, “This is definitely a head-shaking moment.” The GWU study, commissioned by Puerto Rico’s governor, concluded that the toll far outstripped the previous official tally of 64, which took into account only deaths immediately caused by the storm, such as those from structural collapses and drowning. Improper death certificates also drove down the official total, the report found. More people die in the months after a storm as vital medical care is cut off—for

instance, patients can’t get insulin, or respirators and kidney dialysis equipment fail as electricity quits. As months go by chronic diseases worsen, a trend amplified as qualified doctors and nurses leave because their clinics and practices are crippled, Redlener said. “2,975 is a number at the moment but it’s going to get higher,” Redlener said. “I’m predicting at least 4,000 deaths will be attributed to the storm by the end of 2018.” Alexis Santos, an assistant professor at Penn State whose study found an estimated 1,139 excess deaths from September through December in Puerto Rico, said “Most of the deaths occurred because people couldn’t get the services they needed to stay alive.” Like the George Washington study, his research compared actual deaths with the number expected, judging from patterns in previous years. A third study by Harvard University researchers pegged the death toll even higher, at 4,645 through December 31, 2017. John Mutter, a professor at Columbia University who researched fatality counts after Hurricane Katrina, said developing an accurate count can be difficult but isn’t impossible. “There is always some gray, but it’s not what is being said here,” Mutter said. “Calling it political is absurd.” Bloomberg News

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Editor: Tet Andolong

Sunday, September 16, 2018

The new Santa Fe turns heads on the road

THE classic beauty of the Santa Fe doesn’t seem to age. RANDY S. PEREGRINO AT LAS CASAS FILIPINAS DE ACUZAR

By Tet Andolong

E’RE not talking about just beauty and power. The all-new Hyundai Santa Fe, which was launched recently in Subic, Zambales, is loaded with safety features and maximum entertainment. If you’ve been praying for a premium quality sport-utility vehicle (SUV) that has refined strength infused with everyday versatility then, the Santa Fe could be your answered prayer. Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. (Hari), the Philippines’s official distributor of Hyundai passenger and commercial vehicles, in cooperation with the Hyundai Motor Co. Regional Headquarters (HMC RHQ), initiated the Regional Test Drive, entitled “Sea to Summit Conquest.” Local and international motoring journalists who flew in from neighboring countries, such as Malaysia, Cambodia and Singapore, participated in the event that gave us the opportunity to test the Santa Fe on the terrains of Subic and Bata-

an for a total of 146 kilometers from September 3 to 5. The Santa Fe’s three-dimensional honeycomb patterned and much widened cascading grille was based on Hyundai’s new family identity—separated headlight design (composed of LED projector lamps with dynamic bending and daytime running lights) and diamond-cut 19-inch alloy wheels, to a more muscular and taut shape. With a seating capacity of seven, the Santa Fe’s cabin is crafted from the finest natural materials combined with instinctive technology, including the head-up display that gives you the privilege to stay protected and in control regardless of the environment; audio system that possesses Bluetooth connectivity with

THE all-new Santa Fe is a pleasure to ride or drive. RANDY S. PEREGRINO

THE local and international delegates at Mount Samat HARI

voice recognition for Android Auto and Apple Carplay; deluxe leather seats that make any road trip feel effortlessly first class; cruise control; and anti-lock braking system. In his welcome remarks, “As you know, the first generation of Santa Fe was launched in 2000. It is the cornerstone of Hyundai’s longstanding SUV heritage and the fourth-generation Santa Fe will continue to impress customers with its premium design, spacious interior and advanced technology,” said Yong Suk Lee, director of HMC RHQ. Twenty units of the Santa Fe, which were allotted to the local and foreign delegates, rolled off in the morning of September 4. The flagoff also served as the start of the Power of Distance Fitbit Challenge, wherein the delegate who recorded the most number of steps during the entire test drive took home a

THE Santa Fe Driving Experience convoy in Bataan HARI

THE elegant interior, which is crafted from the finest natural materials combined with instinctive technology RANDY S. PEREGRINO

brand-new Samsung Galaxy Note 9, while the runner-up took home a brand-new Fossil smartwatch. My codriver Randy Peregrino of

the BusinessMirror won the challenge with a record of 52,100 steps, while Ronald de los Reyes of the BusinessMirror with 50,934 steps came in second place. Now you know who to beat not just in test drives but in fitbit, as well. Our first stop was at Mount Samat, the historic mountain that’s nestled in the rural town of Pilar. Found on top of Mount Samat is a national shrine (Dambana ng Kagitingan) commemorating the valor of the fallen Filipino and American soldiers of the World War II. Reaching the summit of Mount Samat was difficult, because we had to navigate the steep, winding roads, sharp curves, rough roads and the ongoing road constructions, but with the ve-

hicle’s powerful 2.2L CRDi engine, everything was smooth and calm with the Santa Fe. The Santa Fe is mated to an eightspeed automatic transmission with a maximum power of 200ps/3800rpm and maximum torque of 45kgm/1740-2750rpm. It has a monocoque structure that can give you quicker, crisper shifts with far, better controlled body roll for a more efficient and comfortable driving experience on a day-to-day basis. After Mount Samat, we drove to the Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, a 14-hectare land that is famous for being an open-air museum that possesses a collection of fully restored vintage houses. We savored a hearty, Filipino feast for lunch before participating in the Faith in History Photography Challenge—a game where we had to collaborate with our team the best photos of the Santa Fe inside Las Casas. The winning duo went to the team of Anjo Perez of Wheels Magazine and Dino Directo of Manila Times, who both received a brand-new Fujifilm X-T100 camera each. Our last stopover before we headed back to Sagara Villas in Subic where we were billeted was the Napot Point, home of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. Constructed in 1976, the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant is the Philippines’s only attempt at building a nuclear power plant. “Today will serve as the testament of the dedication, camaraderie and refined strength exhibited not just by the People of Hyundai coming from the Philippines, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea, but by each and every one who took the time to be here,” said Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo, president and CEO of Hari. No matter how short or long your journey, the all-new Hyundai Santa Fe is a pleasure to ride and drive. It is truly a head-turning vehicle priced at P2.338 million, which can give you the strength to enter the gateway of luxury driving.

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»life on the go

A6 Sunday, September 16, 2018

BusinessMirror

Editor: Tet Andolong

Mindanao’s northern lights the ancestral domains of northern Mindanao’s indigenous peoples. The eastern towns of Jasaan, Magsaysay, Media and Gingoog City are unheralded but equally exciting scuba-diving sites because of their lush marine sanctuaries, coral gardens and artificial reefs. Duka Bay Resort, a secluded beach hotel along Gingoog Bay, is arguably the top spot because of its underwater altar 60 feet below.

Bukidnon

THIS landlocked province offers something different—a mountain, ranch and tribal experience, being the domain of seven indigenous groups. The capital city of Malaybalay is sought-after for the Monastery of Transfiguration, a hilltop pyramid-shaped Benedictine church designed by Leandro Locsin. It is open to the public for Masses and occasional breakfast with the monks where guests can savor their organic Monks Blend products. A new novel attraction is the Hobbit-inspired lodge at the Mount Kitanglad Agri-Ecological TechnoDemo Farm and the Maputi Bird Preserve Camp. Valencia City, once a bucolic ranch town, is the commercial hub and “bedroom” with its small shopping malls and quaint lodging. Those looking for country charm and modern comfort can hit the sack at Double M, the most stylish hotel in the city and the home to food outlets which have been part of Valencia’s culinary scene. Not to be missed is the placid Lake Apo, which shuts you out from the hustle and bustle slowly creeping in Valencia. Once hailed as the region’s cleanest lake, it is ideal for rafting and picnics with its floating cottages.

TINAGO Falls in Lanao del Norte

Story & photos by Bernard L. Supetran

ON’T let embassy travel advisories and unsavory news stories about Mindanao deprive you the opportunity of exploring the hidden charm of the socalled Land of Promise. Its northern corridor, which spans five provinces, is a serendipitous getaway with its blend of culture, adventure and nature, and everything in between. And just like the fabled aurora borealis which exudes a natural light display in the sky, Region 10 may as well be the northern lights of Mindanao. I have been roaming the region since the early-1990s, when tourist establishments weren’t as sophisticated as they are now, but its innate allure more than compensated for its shortcomings in the frills department. But with the advent of high-class hotels, resorts, restaurants and activities, Northern Mindanao can now offer the charm of countryside and dash of modern lifestyle.

HOYOHOY Adventure Park in Tangub City

Lanao del Norte

ITS name might sound intimidating, but it is a most pleasant surprise you’ll encounter in your journey. The province is home to some of the most enchanting waterfalls in the country—the legendary Maria Cristina in Iligan City, Cathedral in Kapatagan and Tinago in the Linamon-Iligan boundary. The latter is the most enticing to nature lovers with is curtain-like drop and ice-cold blue-green pool. The capital town of Tubod is home to the Mindanao Civic Center, a massive sports complex which also doubles as the country’s

biggest motocross race tracks during tournaments. A stone’s throw away is a cozy resort hotel owned by the provincial government, which seem to transport you to an Asian tropical getaway.

Camiguin

Misamis Occidental

THIS intriguing province is a wellkept secret, perhaps because some other characters overshadowed its charm. Ozamiz City, its air and sea gateway, takes pride with its heritage spots—the circa-1750 Spanish fortress Cotta Fort Santiago which is now a museum and park, and the National Artist Leandro Locsindesigned Immaculate Conception Cathedral, which has a massive German-made pipe organ, the biggest in Mindanao and the country’s second biggest. Also within the city is the 9-hectare Naomi’s Botanical Garden, the province’s first farm-tourism site. The mountain-top Hoyohoy Highland Stone Chapel Adventure Park in Tangub City beckons with its breathtaking view of Mount Malindang Range, dual-line zipline, and a host of recreational facilities. The Belvedere Viewdeck at Fertig Hills is another viewpoint which has a sweeping panorama of the mountains and the sea. Come December, Tangub becomes a crowd-drawer for its “Christmas Symbols Festival” which boasts some of the most mesmerizing Yuletide displays you’ll ever see.

RANCH ambiance at Double M Hotel in Valencia

CAMIGUIN White Island Sandbar

Misamis Oriental

NICKNAMED Mis Or, it is the region’s gateway and most progressive province because of its airport and seaport. An obligatory pit stop is the Divine Mercy Shrine is a prayer and pilgrimage center in El Salvador City. The iconic 15-meter statue of Jesus Christ can be reached by ascending a 100-step staircase where devotees can say a prayer and marvel at the panorama. Opol town is known for its seafood restaurant row and the 7-hectare Seven Seas Waterpark, one of the country’s biggest inland resorts with 20 pool slides, rides and food outlets. Uphill is the Philippine Ostrich and Crocodile Farm, which is a sanctuary to some 600 species of flightless birds, crocodiles, Chinese chicken, sheep, pea-

cock and Hyacinth Macaw. Cagayan de Oro, dubbed the City of Golden Friendship, is Mindanao’s second most progressive center with scores of Department of Tourism-accredited establishments which have made it a favorite site for large conventions. Adrenaline junkies shouldn’t miss Mapawa Nature Park and Macahambus Gorge for canyoneering, trekking and rapelling, and the Cagayan River White Water Rafting. Take a peek at the Museo de Oro, the Museum of Three Cultures and City Archives Museum for a glimpse of the region’s rich heritage. The tribal-themed Gardens of Malasag Eco-Tourism Village in the city’s uplands is a must-see because of its cultural presentations and crafts which will virtually transport you to

SEVEN Seas Waterpark in Opol

WITH a land area of only 238 square meter and a 64-kilometer. circumferential road, this island province is a veritable paradise in a nutshell which you can have to yourself. Its most photographed spot is the White Island sandbar which was used by Philippine Airlines as a poster image in the 1990s, which has captured the fancy of beach bums. Because of its compact area, you can go around it in a day or two, and take Instagrammable shots of the Katibawasan Falls, Ardent Hot Spring, Sunken Cemetery, Taguines Lagoon Aqua Sports, Walkway to the Old Volcano, Santo Niño Cold Springs and Binangawan Falls. You can fly on a single-propeller Champion Super Decathlon plane of Camiguin Aviation so you can see the island from a different viewpoint, and do occasional heartpumping aerial aerobatics. For scuba divers, snorkelers or simply beach lovers, Mantigue Island is not to be missed with its diverse marine species, powdery sand and gin-clear water. At about this time of the year, the sweet and seasonal fruit lanzones is ready for picking, especially during the Lanzones Festival in late-October. The great thing about Northern Mindanao is it can be visited, or portions of it, in one seamless trip. With its eclectic charm waiting to be discovered, who cares about advisories?

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BusinessMirror

Editor: Tet Andolong

Sunday, September 16, 2018 A7

A convergence of faith, farm and ecotourism By The Department of Tourism Region 8

HE city of Baybay in Leyte may not be your usual destination for recreation and sight-seeing at first impression. But a closer look at this so-called City of Beauty, Serenity and Discovery will reveal that it is emerging as Eastern Visayas’s hub for faith, farm and ecotourism, which the Department of Tourism (DOT) is developing because of their growing markets. Declared a component city of Leyte in June 2007, it has been quietly attracting visitors because of the unique convergence of these three tourism sectors.

Faith tourism

BAYBAY is the home to the Diocesan Shrine of San Antonio de Padua, which draws hordes of pilgrims to venerate the centuryold image of the saint which is believed to be miraculous. Located in the coastal barangay of Pomponan, Catholic faithful from all over the country pay tribute to the saint every 13th day of the month, in an act of devotion which starts the day before. A traditional religious dance called sirong is performed during the saint’s patronal feast on June 13, which falls two days before Baybay’s cityhood day. The church, which receives over 300,000 devotees a year, constantly ranks as the top cultural attraction in Region 8. This number is part of the more than 647,045 day visitors who swing by annually in Baybay, the highest in the region based on data from DOT 8. Another religious spot is the Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, a classic example of a ba-

roque structure started in 1852 by Spanish friar Vicente Cronado and continued by Maestro Proceso. Gutted by fire in 1866, except for the Holy Cross Chapel, the church was completed in 1870 as renowed sculptor and painter Capitan Mateo Espinoso applied the finishing touches to lend magnificence to the house of worship. The church is in the heart of the “heritage lane” because of the wellpreserved Spanish and Americanera ancestral houses, which will transport visitors back in time as they visit these living museums. The parish celebrates its patronal feast on December 27 and the city government incepted the Binaybayon Festival on the said date to showcase the city’s rich cultural heritage.

Farm tourism

BAYBAY has been showcasing its agriculture potentials, long before Republic Act 10816 (Farm Tourism Development Act 2016) was signed into law, thanks to the Visayas State University (VSU), an institution of higher learning which has been in the forefront of agricultural education and research and development. Formerly the Visayas State Col-

VSU Seafront Suites

lege of Agriculture (Visca), this sprawling school has been quietly sowing the seeds of farm tourism for decades in this part of the archipelago with its vast gardens, demo farms and fertile plots. Sandwiched by the undulating Pangasugan mountain ranges and the Camotes Sea, this 1,479-hectare resort university houses the National Abaca Research Center, National Coconut Research Center-Visayas and the Philippine Root Crops Research and Training Center, and regional centers of agencies on agriculture and environment sciences. This expansive campus is conducive learning for its back-to-nature atmosphere and greeneries, which will bring out the proverbial green thumb in every student or visitor. Baybay also boasts of its 13,820-hectare coconut plantation, the biggest in Eastern Visayas, luring big agro-industries, SC Global Coco Products Inc. and SC Global Food Products Inc.

BAYBAY City icon

the world’s largest producer of organic coconut oil. The city is also host to Ching Bee Trading Corp. (CBT), the

world’s biggest traders of abaca fiber, and Specialty Pulp Manufacturing Inc. (SPMI), Asia’s biggest abaca pulp mill. These factories form the core of a specialized industrial tourism circuit for bench marking of best practices and technologies. THE city has the longest coastline in Leyte, where it coined its name which literally means “beach.” And it goes without saying that among its top tourist drawers is its cozy coasts, dissected by rivers and streams emanating from the Pangasugan ranges, which has remarkable flora and fauna. Lintaon Peak, the wind-swept highest point, offers a commanding view of the Camotes sea and islands across the channel. As part of 10th cityhood day last year, Baybay opened the 16,000 Blos-

soms Park adorned by 16,000 LED lights, which brighten the mountain at night. The park is comprised of white and red roses embedded in the grassy meadow forming the phrase “I Love Baybay.” The park will be developed into the Lintaon Ecotourism Zone, complete with an information center, view deck, pavilion, picnic areas and tourist facilities. A tall statue of the Immaculate Conception is also being planned to make it a pilgrimage site to supplement the San Antonio de Padua Shrine. Adventurers can explore the nearby Lintaon Cave, scale MountPangasugan which became the refuge of Filipino World War 2 guerillas, or dip at the icy rejuvenating waters of Bakwitan River and Falls. All these are for a consummate experience and convergence of faith, farm and ecotourism.

a good experience in a Seda hotel, guests are likely to book in other Seda destinations because they can happily predict what their stay will be like. That is very important to the traveler.” She pointed to BGC guests who have remained loyal to the hotel despite the proliferation of new hospitality brands in the

area, as well as to the growing number of Seda Edge Premier members, who earn additional privileges on account of their having stayed with Seda at least 15 nights a year. Membership to Seda Edge is free and will not expire as long as the member books at least one night a year at any Seda hotel.

Ecotourism

BAYBAY City's 16,000 Blossoms Park

SAN Antonio de Padua Church

Enjoy Seda Edge guest loyalty program

USINESS and leisure travel in the Philippines has gotten so much easier and more convenient with the Seda Edge

guest loyalty program of Seda Hotels, Ayala Land’s homegrown hospitality brand with eight properties throughout the country.

Seda Edge members earn points with every qualifying stay. They can use accumulated points to redeem upgrades, complimentary stays and dining vouchers for any Seda location. Through the program’s easy-to-understand online platform, they can easily keep track of and redeem points. “We established the program in 2015 as a means of rewarding our loyal customers. Members get exclusive privileges, special rate offers and the chance to redeem various rewards,” explained Christian Canda, Group Revenue and eCommerce manager. “Especially now that we are expanding to more destinations in the country, the advantages of membership will become indispensable as they enjoy VIP treatment in every Seda hotel they stay in.”

Seda is present in Ayala Land mixed-use developments in Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Laguna, Quezon City and Taguig. Before the year ends, two more hotels will open, including Seda’s first resort hotel in the Lio Tourism Estate in El Nido, Palawan, and its first serviced residences in the Makati business district. Canda revealed that Seda Edge membership has grown to more than 30,000 in a span of three years. This is not only a testament to the members’ appreciation of the program but also to guest satisfaction in the chain, which has a high repeat guest rate of 42 percent. Seda Edge Program Manager Aileen Alanano observes that guest loyalty programs work best with chains that have a high guest satisfaction rating. “Once they have

Journey BusinessMirror

»life on the go

A8 | Sunday, September 16, 2018 • Editor: Tet Andolong

ALL the decks in Sultanahmet have a view of the Blue Mosque. This is my neighborhood in Istanbul.

Meanderings of a business and thin spaces traveler A quick kaiseki lunch prepared me for another series of flights.

Istanbul, once Constantinople

THE TOURISM ADVOCATE

Part One

EPTEMBER is an epic time for business travel for me and, over a span of two weeks, I had traveled close to four countries and a thin space for me—one of the most sacred places on Earth. The Celts claim that the difference between heaven and Earth is only 3 feet and in “thin spaces” the difference is even narrower.

Business travel and airlines

WHEN I was growing up and bitten by the travel bug, I never quite understood the need to travel on business. I thought that paying for three to four times the price of coach was outrageous and could spell the difference for more adventures and more food outings. That was true until I started traveling hardcore for business a few years back. With sometimes barely 48 hours between you and your next destination, no lines, no queues, more legroom, a warm towel, unlimited blue cheese and port, socks and blanket could truly be a refuge in the harsh conditions of airports, rarefied air that’s brutal to the skin and the immune system. I took three various airlines and will compare it based on merits and areas that could be improved on.

Philippine Airlines from Manila to Narita

PROS: Nothing beats the warm hospitality of Philippine Airlines anywhere in the world and the general warmth and commitment is palpable like a caring aunt. Cons: The aircraft I take to Cebu at times is even more “business class” than the A321. The entertainment suite is not very updated and I ended up watching my own Netflix downloads.

Singapore Airlines from Haneda to Singapore, Singapore to Manila

MY very generous host, Locus Chain, has booked me on an SQ flight from Haneda to Changi which surprisingly took seven hours long. SQ on business is always impressive but the planes are not the newest. I was surprised to find the food options for both beef and fish were uncharacteristically dry and unappetizing and their cheese choices were largely limited. As always, their hospitality is five star and makes up for the lackluster food.

THE launch of the Philippines as a crypto hub in Asia Pacific held in Japan

Now, Changi is a good reason to skip the lounge altogether as my favorite Bakuteh places in Singapore has a branch in the airport. Super Shiok!

Turkish Airlines, Manila to Istanbul, Istanbul to Tel Aviv and back

THIS is my first time to ride Turkish on a long-haul flight, preferring usually Etihad or Qatar or even Emirates and, boy, was I impressed. They have a chef on call who indulged my obsession with Turkish coffee, and their seafood was perhaps one of the best I have had 35,000 feet above the ground. The fish was moist and juicy, the dessert selection included Turkish delight and various types of Baklava. I am always happy to have unlimited refills of blue cheese and port, the only solid food and liquid group at that altitude. They even have an (electric) candle light option that gives a very romantic timbre to the flight. I found it adorable that they make the bed for you. Woe to you, though, if you catch the middle seat in the business class section. But their warm Turkish hospitality is renowned in this side of the world.

(Ceza), reputed to vie for being the crypto capital in Asia Pacific. We were with Ceza led by Secretary Raul L. Lambino who has done a pivot from being a gaming capital to being a blockchain and crypto hub for the region. Rare Earth Technologies led by Enrique Gonzalez, Franco Varona and Emil Banno is determined to put the Philippines in the global blockchain map for offshore companies. Lambino, in his keynote, has reiterated why the Philippines is destined to be a tech and blockchain capital of the world from its attractive of tax-free, sizeable incentives to the human capital, not just for outsourcing but also for blockchain, the Ceza is a regulated jurisdiction—a safe harbor to provide licensed operations in the Philippines. The progressive leadership in Ceza in collaboration with thought leaders in the global blockchain

TECHNOLOGY has a way of making tourists of us all. The recently concluded DLD Innovation Festival in Tel Aviv brought some of the best minds in technology to their new innovation center. Minister Naftali Bennett of the education department addresses thousands of tech tourists who flocked to Tel Aviv.

community create a great atmosphere of good governance. (Watch out for my other story on technology tourism.) The hotel I stayed in is predictably luxurious and I highly recommend it because of its proximity to Tokyo Midtown Mall, which is a haven for Tokyo foodies like me but the real gem is their Japanese restaurant. Hinokizaka in the Ritz-Carlton, both a traditional yet contemporary Japanese restaurant, was awarded the Michelin One Star for 2010, and the only Japanese hotel restaurant to have earned this distinction. Hinokizaka is the best place to appreciate the vista of Tokyo, which features four areas: kaiseki, sushi, tempura and teppanyaki. I naturally chose kaiseki, which, for me, has always been about the changing of the seasons and eating what’s available in nature.

AN eight-hour layover in Istanbul and the kind help of the amazing Turkish Airlines staff allowed me a short return visit to one of my favorite cities in the world—Istanbul. I stand corrected by my barkada (friend) Hamit that it was close to 15 years ago when I was last in Istanbul. Istanbul is the city that has opened my eyes to the beauty of Islam that has grown from admiration to passionate advocacy especially in my work. The people are uncannily hospitable, as evidenced by the fact that they have received close to 4 million refugees from Syria when all other countries have either turned their backs or refused. I am now much older, look different, definitely more passionate about life and politics we packed in close to three hours of memories from nearly 15 years ago, a walk through my favored neighborhood of Sultanahmet, and created new ones from ice cream to the legendary “Balik Ekmek,” the fatty mackerel salad sandwich made famous in the Bosporus. I was surprised at how I easily I re oriented myself to street names, directions, feel, taste and words. Istanbul has been continuously inhabited for close to 3,000 years and while has since been marred by issues and challenges to security but she’ll always be the welcoming city that combines the most beautiful of the east and the west.

Japan and blockchain

MY first stop in this business rainbow tour is Tokyo. My second time in Tokyo this year was for the same reason, blockchain. This technology is truly making the world smaller and smaller and the Philippines, interestingly enough, is becoming an emerging global center with Cagayan Economic Zone Authority

THE Ritz Carlton’s Japanese restaurant is not only the best view of Tokyo for kaiseki, it is also the only Michelin-starred Japanese hotel.

TURKISH Airlines’s cheese selection is impressive.

Science

BusinessMirror

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

DOST-SEI, Smart bring Courseware to remote schools

ILIPINO elementary pupils and high-school students in remote areas will soon have access to the DOST Courseware—an interactive science and math resource conceptualized and produced by the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI). Thanks to a recent partnership between the DOST-SEI and Smart Communications, pupils and students in the most far-flung schools in the country will be able to use the DOST Courseware app. The app will come preinstalled in the tablets included in every Smart School-in-a-Bag package and will be given to students and teachers from 32 schools in Tawi-Tawi, Davao, Cagayan, Benguet, La Union, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Capiz, Iloilo, Cebu, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte and Maguindanao. The DOST-SEI provided sets of the courseware to Smart during the memorandum of agreement signing last month at the DOSTSEI office in Taguig City. The sets include modules in science and mathematics for elementary schools, Grades 1 to 6 mathematics, and Grades 7 and 8 science and mathematics.

While the app is primarily designed for use of pupils and students, teachers will find the K to 12-aligned resource valuable in enhancing their teaching of science and mathematics. DOST-SEI Director Josette Biyo encouraged teachers and students to take advantage of the DOST Courseware. “The DOST Courseware is engaging, educational and designed with Filipinos in mind. The characters, stories and activities are relatable to Filipino students,” she said. The DOST Courseware is a project of the DOST-SEI in partnership with DOST-Advance Science and Technology Institute and in cooperation with the Department of Education, Philippine Normal University and University of the Philippines National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education. Schools may request for free copies of the DOST Courseware. The app is also available for free download on Google Play with versions compatible for Android and Windows users. For copies, research inquiries, and other concerns, interested parties may e-mail arisedost@ gmail.com

SEARCA PHD RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIP OPEN TO FILIPINOS, SOUTHEAST ASIANS

HE Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) offers research scholarships to PhD students whose dissertation topics are relevant to its priority thrusts. For fiscal year 2018-2019, priority will be given to research grant applications that are anchored on any of the topics defined by the project “Agricultural Transformation and Market Integration in the Asean Region: Responding to Food Security and Inclusiveness Concerns.” The project is jointly implemented by Searca and the International Food Policy Research Institute, with financial support from the International Fund for Agricultural Development. These topics focus on priority commodities, such as root and cash crops, fruits, vegetables and livestock, as well as value-chain studies. The scholarship is open to Filipinos and other Southeast Asians from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. Headquartered on the campus of the University of the Philippines Los Baños, Searca provides research funds not exceeding $4,500 and optional internship at Searca for up to two months. Those who will avail themselves of the internship may be given additional scholarship funds to cover travel expenses to and from Searca, travel and accident insurance, and stipend during the internship period. Moreover, the scholars may use the resources and facilities available at Searca and its network of universities for their research. They will be able to work with Searca’s research and development staff on common areas of interests in agriculture and rural development. The scholarship will also support them in producing quality research papers for publication. The full list of application requirements is on the Searca web site at www.searca.org. The closing date of application is September 30. Applications must be submitted directly to Searca. The grants for this batch of scholars will be awarded in December.

Sunday, September 16, 2018

PHL space agency’s creation a step closer to reality

T DEPARTMENT of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute Director Josette Biyo (center) with Smart’s Education Program Head Stephanie Orlino (left) and Kristine Magadia of Smart Public Affairs SMART COMMUNICATIONS

Sunday

Story & photo by Stephanie Tumampos

HE Philippines is a step closer to the realization of having its space agency.

Dr. Rogel Mari Sese, one of the very few astrophysicists in the country, announced the sponsorship by Sen. Paolo Benigno A. Aquino IV to the Senate plenary this past week of Senate Bill 1983, or the “Act Establishing the Philippine Space Development and Utilization Policy and Creating the Philippine Space Agency, and for other Purposes.” In an interview with the BusinessMirror, Sese said, “Though it took a long time, we are one step closer to establishing our own Philippine Space Agency and our Philippine Space Development and Utilization Policy.” Coauthored by Sen. Loren B. Legarda and Sen. Vicente C. Sotto III, together with the Committees on Science and Technology, and Finance, the bill is also known as the Philippine Space Act.

Public reception

IN his sponsorship speech, Aquino, the chairman of Senate Committee on Sciernce and Technology, said based on respondents in an online poll, “a lot of them said that we need to solve the problems on the Earth first before we look up to outer space.” “Yet, with the immense capability and benefits of space applications through a solid space program,” the senator said in Filipino that he was convinced to push for the approval of the bill. He said the space program “can improve disaster management, enhance the lives of Filipino farmers,

speed up our Internet and telecommunication systems, and help us build more livable cities.” Sese said Filipinos can aim to further utilize space science and technology “by addressing and improving our national security, disaster management, communication, agriculture, environmental monitoring, science, industry and transportation through the Philippine Space Act.”

Space agency and development policy

THE Senate bill laid out the policies to address pressing national concerns, such as safeguarding the territory and sovereignty of the country. Another is “to support and commit to the development, application and utilization of science and technology that will foster patriotism and nationalism, and accelerate social progress.” This includes the development of space technology and applications to the advantage and benefit of Filipinos. The proposed law promotes space agency as “a sovereign right in the promotion of national security toward the attainment and protection of national interest.” It said that there is an urgent need to create a strategy for space development and utilization “to keep up with other nations in terms of space science and technology.” Sese noted that this must realized by the country’s policymakers. He said the Philippines

DR. Rogel Mari Sese

urgently needs to enhance space capabilities and catch up with regional neighbors. “In this day and age, developing countries like Indonesia, Nigeria and Bangladesh are already venturing into using space capabilities to address various socioeconomic issues,” Sese added. The proposed law also aims for the official representation of the Philippines in international space linkages, and that the country should ensure that it abides by the international space treaties and principles as mandated by the United Nations.

Bright future

SESE sees the future of the country’s space agency as bright. “We hope that after Senator Aquino’s sponsorship of the PhilSA [Philippine Space Act] bill in the Senate plenary, it will be similarly discussed in the plenary of the House [of Representatives]. We hope our legislators, together

with other agencies and the general public, would support and prioritize the passage of this crucial and timely bill,” Sese said. The astrophysicist is hopeful that the bill will be signed into law before the year ends. The House counterpart of the Senate bill is also being tackled. “The Congress [House] version was recently passed by the Committee on Appropriations and is currently being scheduled for plenary discussion,” Sese explained the status of the House Bill 3637, which was introduced by Reps. Erico Aristotle Aumentado and Seth Frederick Jalosjos in 2016. “If these bills are passed by both houses, they can proceed to the bicameral legislative [committee] and then, finally, to the president,” Sese explained. President Duterte has to sign it within 30 days or it lapses into law. Proponents of the Philippine Space Act are crossing t heir fingers.

Proposed whale sanctuary in S. Atlantic defeated in meet

LOR I A NOPOL IS, Brazil—A proposal to create a whale sanctuary in the South Atlantic was defeated at a meeting in Brazil of the International Whaling Commission this past week, amid a clash between countries that think whales can be hunted sustainably and others that want more conservation measures. Opponents of the plan argued the science didn’t support the case for a sanctuary and said that it wasn’t necessary because there isn’t any commercial whaling occurring in the South Atlantic. The measure received support from 39 countries at the meeting in Florianopolis with 25 opposed—falling short of the three-quarters majority to pass. Countries like Brazil, which proposed the measure, said it would have addressed threats to the mammals beyond whaling. Humane Society International called the defeat a “bitter disappointment” and said it would have helped protect whales from entanglement in fishing gear and ship strikes. Edson Duarte, Brazil’s environment minister, said he would not be deterred, even though the measure has repeatedly been defeated. “We will work in other meetings of this commission this year to ensure that the sanctuary will finally be created,” said Duarte. “It so important for the

A SOUTHERN right whale glides in the waters off El Doradillo Beach, Patagonia, Argentina, during the annual whale migration from Antarctica to Argentina’s Patagonia to give birth and feed their offspring in October 2017. AP/MAXI JONAS

conservation of whales in the entire world, but especially in the South Atlantic.” But some have suggested that the conser vation bloc won’t be able to push through such measures until they compromise with those countries that are asking for the return of at least some commercial whaling. T he commission banned commercial whaling in the 1980s, but Japan is proposing this year to reinstitute it with catch limits. Japan has hunted whales for centuries as a traditionally cheaper alternative source of protein.

“The sanctuary had some merits,” said Daven Joseph, ambassador-at-large for Antigua and Barbuda, which voted against the measure. But “the sanctuary is failing year after year because there is a lack of respect for the views of everyone in this organization.” Joseph said sustainable commercial whaling could provide an important food source in developing island nations, and other countries simply have a cultural preference for whale meat that should be respected. Conservationists say commercial hunting has proved difficult to manage in the past and

repeatedly threatened whale populations, while some countries say there is simply no place for it in the modern world. But Joseph predicted progress on many conservation measures would remain deadlocked until more overtures were made to countries that want commercial whaling. “I think that the ghost of Moby Dick is haunting a lot of countries” that had previously engaged in industrial whaling that led to the near extinction of some populations, said Joseph. “ That does not mean that we should deprive people’s cultural and nutritional

preferences for whales, as long as we can guarantee that they can be taken in a sustainable manner.” Several indigenous people also spoke in favor of their own subsistence hunting, which is allowed under commission rules. Catch limits for such hunting are up for renewal this year. “Since childhood, I have been trained to hunt,” Vladimir Piny, a native Chukchi whaling captain from northern Russia, said through a translator. “I cannot grow tomatoes or bananas—the Arctic would never allow me to do so.” AP

Faith

Sunday

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

A10 Sunday, September 16, 2018

Group appeals for prayer, penance to restore the Church To defeat the devil: 40-day prayer and fasting, and 9 consecutive communion of reparation vigils

N international Catholic movement is appealing to families in this time of “deep crisis in the Church” to pray and do penance “to help preserve, if not restore, the sanctity” of the Church and the family, and to make reparation for the sins of the shepherds and flock. Fr. Edgardo “Bing” Arellano, Alliance of the Holy Family International (AHFI) spiritual director, made the appeal through a video message sent to the faithful through social media. “In behalf of our AHFI movement, I urge all family members, including all associates all over the world, to join forces in heading the call of the Blessed Virgin Mary in this time of deep crisis in the Church, to pray and do penance to help preserve, if not restore, the sanctity of Holy Mother the Church, the family in general, and to make a reparation for the sins of the shepherds and flock,” Arellano said. Recent news reports disclosed global clerical sexual abuses and accusations of a cover-up that have shaken the Vatican. In response, Pope Francis on Wednesday summoned heads of all bishops conferences around the world for an unprecedented summit in February focused on preventing clergy sex abuse. Arellano said that since September 8 up to October 18, all Alliance of the Two Hearts Chapters worldwide are offering a 40-day prayer and fasting “as a concerted act and reparation for the evil of impurity that has desecrated the holiness of family life and the Catholic Church.” “We shall pray the rosary and the consecration prayer to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Chaste Heart of Saint Joseph after every Mass celebrated in the parish,” he said. He also urged the faithful in offering nine consecutive Fridays and Saturdays in communion of reparation vigils beginning September 7 and 8, 2018, up to May 3 and 4, 2019, in every parish, diocese and country where the Alliance of the Two Hearts Chapters have organized the reparation vigils. “Like the Ninevites during the time of Jonah, we hope the

fire from the sky, which has been prophesied to consume humanity if it does not repent of its impurity, will be prevented while there is still time,” Arellano said. “We can only defeat evil with God. We are not fighting flesh and blood, but the principalities of darkness,” he explained. He added: “We are already seeing cardinals against cardinals, bishops against bishops, priests against priests, as our Blessed Mother had predicted. The smoke of Satan has already entered the crux of the Catholic Church.” Because the “decisive battle in the family is already raging,” he said the “only recourse” is to anchor the Church to the pillar of the Blessed Mother, to the rosary and to the pillar of the Lord and the Holy Eucharist. He said the evil that has entered the Church can only be cast out by what Jesus said in Matthew 17:21: “But this does not go except by prayer and fasting.”

Therapist: Everyone needs to help make Church ‘safest place on Earth’

WITH the recent call of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to address the crisis of clerical sexual abuse in recent Church scandals, a member of the Vatican’s Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors highlighted the vital role of both the Church hierarchy and the lay faithful to effectively implement the existing guidelines for the protection of minors and vulnerable adults. “For our Church to be the safest place on Earth, this means

Everyone accountable

THE psychotherapist pointed out that a key component of abuse prevention is accountability at

all levels, but he lamented the general trend in many countries that many abusers continue to remain free of any accountability whatsoever. “ The way these crimes have been dealt with—the ‘old system’—was by systematic denial, cover-up and silence. Such horribly misguided actions done for the egregious reasons—to ‘protect the reputation of the Church ’ and ‘protect the vocation of the priest’—result in the neglect of the welfare of victims and their families and has enabled the crimes to continue,” he lamented.

Proactive participation

DY-LIACCO said this is where lay people can get involved and be more proactive about the issue. “Proactive participation of the laity in this matter means actively helping our local Church leadership in instituting comprehensive abuse - prevent ion efforts, as well as in demanding transparent accountability and responsibility from priests and, yes, from their leaders, too,” DyLiacco explained.

Bring Christ into every home

DY-LIACCO, a husband and father of five children, called on Catholic parents like himself to “ be true to our vocation to bring Christ into the middle of the world, into every home.” “We must be proactive in this ministr y. It is my hope that parents, especially those in the Family and Life ministries and covenanted communities, will respond generously to our Lord who calls us to this mission,” he said. Lyn Resurreccion and Fr. Mickey Cardenas/CBCPNews

Who is Jesus for You?

MSGR. JOSEFINO S. RAMIREZ SUNDAY GOSPEL IN OUR LIFE

the proactive participation of the laity, particularly parents, in taking responsibility for this mission, which is just as much a temporal affair as it is a spiritual one,” Dr. Gabriel Dy-Liacco of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors told CBCPNews. In addition to accountability at all levels, he emphasized that a key component of building a culture of relational safety is the proactive participation of all persons concerned. He acknowledged that, while necessary improvements in guidelines have been made to protect minors in the Church, words are not enough. “A s a psychotherapist who has been treating clergy perpetrators of sexual abuse and adults who were sexually abused as children, I can tell you the truth that outside of the United States, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and maybe now the United Kingdom, the implementation of safe environment systems in our Church leaves much to be desired, not for a lack of good intention, but for a lack of concrete action,” Dy-Liacco, a Filipino, explained.

We can only defeat evil with God. We are not fighting flesh and blood, but the principalities of darkness.”—Arellano

24TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME: ‘MARK 8:27-35’

ESUS went with His disciples to the villages of Caesarea. Along the way, He asked them, “Who do men say that I am?” (Mark 8:27) The apostles, with simplicity, started telling Him what people were saying. Some say You are “John the Baptist, others, Elias and others one of the prophets” (Mark 8:28). Indeed, there were many different rumors about Jesus. Now Jesus turns to His followers, with openness—how about them? “Who do you say that I am?” (v. 29) He is not asking them for just

FR. Edgardo “Bing” Arellano in a screenshot

one opinion more. He is asking for faith. After having spent so much time with Him, they ought to know who He is, without any hesitation. And Peter immediately answers, “You are the Christ.” The Lord is also asking from us a clear confession of our faith, in the midst of a world where confusion, ignorance and error seem to be the normal thing. Who do you say Jesus is? Who is Jesus for you? Our faith in Jesus moves us to have a close and intimate union with Christ, starting from our Bap-

tism. It is a communion of life that is much deeper than we could ever have with any other human being. Just as the hand united to the body is filled with the life of the whole body, so is the Christian filled with the life of Christ. Christ Himself taught this to us in a beautiful imagery—“I am the vine, you are the branches” (John 15:15). This union with Jesus is so strong that if a Christian truly strives to be holy, he can even say with Saint Paul, “It is no longer I that lives, but Christ who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). This closeness to Christ, like that of the apostles, should fill us with joy. If we form part of Christ’s mystical body, then we share in everything that Christ does. After Peter’s answer, Jesus explained to them that he had to suffer and die, he had to offer the sacrifice of the cross.

As members of Christ, we also share in this sacrifice. To be truly united to Christ, we have to be united to the cross. We share in Christ’s cross, especially at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Eucharistic Sacrifice. In each Mass, Christ offers Himself, together with the whole Church. We, the faithful, participate in the Mass above all as “offerers “ and as “offering.” It is the Mass that we enjoy the greatest possible union with Christ on earth. So if we attend the Mass well, it should change our lives for the better. And you, “Who do you say that I am?” In the Eucharistic Sacrifice, we get to know Christ well. There, our faith becomes more firm, and we strengthen ourselves to confess Christ openly—that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God who came to earth for the salvation of all men.

Saint Hildegard of Bingen, Doctor of the Church By Corazon Damo-Santiago

ILDEGARD of Bingen, “one of the few prominent woman in medieval church,” was declared saint by Pope Benedict XVI on May 10, 2012, in equipolente, or equivalent canonization. The pope signed a decree to make it official. Equivalent canonization was introduced in 1632 by Pope Urban VIII (1623-1644). It can only be used if the blessed candidate “has already a devout following as well as a solid frame for miraculous intercession.” The pope confirmed the existence of a cult—rituals, devotion to honor and show reverence—“does not introduce anything new” so there is no ceremony in Saint Peter’s at Vatican because “nothing new is added to the devotional life of the church.” On October 7, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI declared Hildegard as Doctor of the Church. She joined the ranks of Saints Teresa of Avila, Catherine of Sienna and Therese of Lisieux. Her liturgical feast day is September 17.

Benedictine abbess

SAINT Hildegard, also known as Sibyl of the Rhine, was born in Bockelheim, West Franconia, Germany, on September 16, 1098, the 10th child of noble parents. Her father, a soldier, served Meginhard, Count of Spanheim. Her parents, although engrossed in worldly pursuits, promised one of their children to serve God. Hildegard, a sickly child at 8 and with little education at home, was entrusted to Jutta, a sister of Count Meginhard. Jutta, a religious recluse as a Benedictine cloister in Disibodenberg, taught Hildegard how to read and sing Latin psalms. Hildegard wore the Benedictine habit at 15 or 18. When Jutta, who was later consecrated as blessed, died in 1136, Hildegard, then 38 years old, became the prioress. Hildegard started to have more visions “in full view with eyes of spirit and inward ears according to God’s will,” noted Robert Ellsberg in All Saints. Many aspirants flocked to the community. In 1147, while she continued to experience visions and prophecies, Hildegard was impelled by a divine command to transfer to Rupertsberg near Bingen. It was a decision “toward poverty in dwelling.” When the abbott refused her request, she went to the archbishop of Mainz for approval. With 20 nuns, they moved to an abandoned Carolingian monastery on a hilltop in Bingen in 1147 and named their recluse after Saint Rupert. W he n t he com mu n it y swelled to more than 50, she founded another community in Elbingen in 1165. Hildegard kept the visions to herself until she was 42, when God told her: “I am the living and inaccessible light, and I enlighten whoever I will. According to my own good pleasure, I show forth through any man marvels greater than those of my servants in the past. Write down that which you see and hear,” narrated Bede in Seven Flowers of Saint Hildegard von Bingen. Still reluctant, to share her visions, she became ill. Her confessor, Godfrey encouraged her to share them. The bishop of Mainz believed too

that the visions come from God and appointed Volmar to act as secretary and help record the visions. When Scivias was finished, it was forwarded to Pope Eugenius who convened a team of theologians, which included Saint Bernard of Clairvaux to review it. The verdict: the book was inspired by God and approved for publication. The pope also directed Hildegard to continue writing her visions. In Soul Weaving, the humble abbess, acknowledged God as the source of all the beauty in her life. “The marvels of God are not brought forth from one’s self. Rather, it is more like a chord, a sound that is played. The tone does not come out of the chord itself, but rather, through the touch of the Musician.”

Gifted by God

HAGIOGRAPHERS call her a remarkable abbess, a writer, pharmacist, composer, poet, preacher, theologian, holistic healer, reformer, polymath, visionary and mystic. Scivias (Know The Ways), her greatest work, includes 26 of her visions. Prophetic and apocalyptic the book depicts God in His holy mountain with mankind at its base man’s relationship with God, redemption and the end times. She also wrote Liber Vitae Meritorum (Rewards of Life—Christian Life of Virtues) and Liber Divinorum Operum (Book of Divine Works) and Lives of Saints. A composer who played the 10 stringed psaltery, her Ordo Virtutum, an early example of liturgical drama, was agreeably the oldest surviving morality play according to Barbara Newman in Hildegard’s Life and Times. Seventy-seven of her lyric poems, each with a musical setting, were collected in Symphonia, Armonie, Celestium Revelationum. An avid gardener, she studied the plants in the abbey’s herb garden, experimenting on the curative powers of herbs to heal the sisters’ ailments. She wrote a Treatise on Medicine and Natural History. Her medical book, Hildelgardis Curae et Causae, included the “general divisions of created things, the human body, ailments and causes, symptoms and treatment of diseases.” She was considered Founder of Scientific and Natural History in Germany. Her visions caused her to see humans as “living sparks of God’s love” and wrote Commentaries on the Gospels, Lives of Saints and The Athanasian Creed. She wrote about 300 letters to kings, emperors, archbishops and those who sought her advice. Two popes gave her permission to preach in public places against the Cathar Movement and challenges facing the Church, a practice then that was usually assigned to men. She died on September 17, 1179. Greatly venerated in life and death, her biographer, Theodric, called her saint because of miracles brought about by her intercessions and in her tomb. 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.

Tourism&Entertainment BusinessMirror

Editor: Carla Mortel-Baricaua

Sunday, September 16, 2018 A11

FOR THAT CASUAL AND EASY-GOING TRIP, A JOURNEY TO LAOS DELIVERS JUST THAT

Luang Prabang’s laid-back lure and rich heritage

Story & photos by Marky Ramone Go

REMEMBER sitting inside a cramped van negotiating the snaking countryside road of Lao PDR, feeling very excited as I reached my next destination. My high anticipation stems from the desire to unlock the truth behind the prevailing word-of-mouth on Luang Prabang. “The place is so laid-back,” fellow travelers would often rave. As simple as it may be, that description is music to my ears. Throw in the heritage structures and rich culture of the city, my giddiness got the best of me for the rest of my ride.

The allure of the historic district

NOT to be disappointed, the moment the van dropped me off at the Historic Center of Luang Prabang, I instantly felt the old-world vibe. The imposing grandeur of the Royal Palace promptly satisfied my fondness for tasteful architecture. As the sky turns red and on the verge of giving way to darkness, the night market stalls began popping up one by one, gradually lighting up the streets. Soon, the crowd thickens but I didn’t mind, as I gleefully continue my exploration on foot. Like a kid in a candy store, I stared with wide-eyed in wonder at the surrounding shops, restaurants and cafés—all housed inside the colonial-era establishments. Channel out the patrons busy fidgeting on their mobile phones, and you’d

feel like you’re back in the prewar decades. Monasteries, palaces, temples (or wats) and colonial houses abound in the pedestrian-friendly district of Luang Prabang. You could very well explore the whole place in a day, but who would want to sightsee in such haste? Definitely, not me. The charming vibe of Luang Prabang beckons, so I ended up staying for several days.

Witnessing the morning alms

ON the first morning, I woke up early to witness the morning practice of the monks asking for alms. Also known as the “Tak Bat,” this daily ritual has become an important part of Luang Prabang’s culture. However, it has generated controversy in recent years, when tourists began participating and giving away nonedible items such as money. With respect to their culture, it is more appropriate to let the locals and devotees of Buddhism be the donor and for tourists to politely keep a safe distance from the monks. Still, the experience of witnessing this ritual added a new layer to my spirituality, as I understand how the monks envisioned it to

WITNESSING the “Tak Bat”—the morning ritual of the monks asking for alms.

THE magnificent-looking Royal Palace

be—a practice in humility and detachment from earthly possessions. This humbling sight instills generosity and kindness that can never go wrong.

Wat-hopping on two wheels

THE next couple of days, I did my exploration by riding a rented bicycle and went on a wat-hopping tour. Wat is the most religiously apt word to describe a Buddhist and Hindu temple in Laos, Thailand and Cambodia. The word wat was derived from the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit, which

means “enclosure.” With more than a dozen centuries-old temples built around Luang Prabang, you will never run out of ways to observe how Laotian people and the monks practice their faith. I started off at the Wat Xieng Thong, a 16th-century temple built by King Setthathirat. Inside its walls, one can find intricate artworks depicting Laotian life, culture and religious practices. It is one of the most important landmarks in Laos because it was here where some of the earliest Laotian kings were crowned.

ALMOST all restaurants in the historic district typify Lao-French colonial architecture.

I spent the rest of the day pedaling to cover other temples until nighttime took me near the Royal Palace, where the adjacent Wat Mai monastery echoed the chants of the monks who were in prayers.

Food-tripping and quaint riverside cafés

DURING daytime, I would take a break from my cycling explorations by hanging out at the many quaint cafés all over town. Colorful shops, restaurants and coffee shops housed in colonial buildings added a new layer of appeal. I would sit down and order a Laotian latte and just stare at passersby. Nearing sunset, I would relocate to a riverside joint for an ice-cold Laotian beer while witnessing the sunset over the mighty Mekong River. “Duterte, Duterte!” a waiter at a riverside diner playfully chanted after I answered his question, “Where you from?” “Yes, he is our President,” I responded and then I took a moment to stop myself from sharing my unsolicited political opinion. The waiter proceeded to point out a standee of former US President Barack Obama drinking from a coconut. “That picture was taken here. Obama drank coconut here,” he proudly told me. It as it were, I

was just checking out the menu and wasn’t decided yet where to eat, but the Obama connection convinced me to book a seat. I ended up having an unforgettable early dinner with a stunning view of the golden dusk sky reigning over the quiet waters of the Mekong.

Standing on top of Mount Phousi

I CAPPED my first visit to Luang Prabang by taking a short hike on top of Mount Phousi, a 100-meter high hill planted at the center of the historic district. As the clock ticks nearing my departure time, I spent a whole hour just staring at the lush surrounding countryside and trailing my sight to the adjoining water lines of the Mekong River and the Nam Khan River. Looking at the charms of the old town from above, I thanked the heavens for bringing me to yet another destination teeming with history and colorful culture. As a flock of doves flew over me and into the sky, I saw them leave a track of shadows over the greens until they all disappeared into the blue. About the same time, I felt all my worldly worries vanishing and was quickly replaced by a sense of tranquility. I knew then, Luang Prabang had me lured and secured in its enthralling embrace.

CITY OF DREAMS MANILA TRAILBLAZES THE FIRST ‘SOAP FOR HOPE’ PROGRAM The Elegant Filipinas on its

ITY of Dreams Manila held a kickoff activity of the first “Soap for Hope” program in the country’s integrated resorts to strengthen its commitment to long-term sustainability of its operations through employee volunteerism, reduction of its environmental impact and development of local communities. With Soap for Hope, an award-winning global program of Diversey with hotels, the ini-

tiative aims to eliminate soap wastes from the 938 rooms of City of Dreams Manila’s luxury hotels—NÜWA, Nobu and Hyatt—by hygienically reprocessing used soaps into new soap bars and donating them to various charitable institutions and nongovernment organizations that the resort supports. Diversey Global Director for Creating Shared Values Stefan Phang was special guest at the

DIVERSEY Global Director for Creating Shared Values Stefan Phang (left) guides City of Dreams Manila Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Kevin Benning (center) and other volunteer trainers on turning leftover soaps into fresh soap bars.

kickoff, along with Mesa ni Misis Founder and Soap for Hope’s partner in the Philippines Juana Manahan Yupangco. The resort’s implementation of the Soap for Hope program is spearheaded by City of Dreams Manila Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Kevin Benning and implemented by a team composed of Human Resources, Hotels and F&B, Supply Chain and Public Relations. “City of Dreams Manila team is delighted to support the Soap for Hope program to help reduce waste for landfills and provide basic materials for sanitation to our adopted communities and orphanages in Parañaque and other nearby cities. This project will not be possible without our partner organizations—Diversey and Mesa Ni Misis and, most important, the unwavering enthusiasm and spirit of volunteerism of our employees. In 2017 alone, more than 4,000 employees have joined various CSR initiatives and, certainly, this number will continue to grow this year,” Benning stated. During the kickoff activity, Phang, assisted by Diversey staff, demonstrated to about 50 volunteer trainers how to properly recycle leftover soap bars with the use of a device custom-designed by

Phang. Used soaps from the hotels are cut into cubes, soaked in a sanitizing solution, molded into 120gram or 500-gram bricks and cut into fresh soap bars after drying. The volunteer trainers will eventually cascade the know-how and help roll out the program to other volunteer employees. A system and schedule are in place for an efficient recycling of used soaps. The program will start with 5,000 used bars of soaps collected over the past months. The Soap for Hope is a vital component and one of City of Dreams Manila’s evolving sustainability and social responsibility initiatives for environmental protection. Other current sustainable efforts of City of Dreams Manila include the practice of vermin composting to decompose solid food waste into natural and organic fertilizers for use on the plants within the premises of the integrated resort and an herb garden, which serves as good source of fresh herbs and spices for the culinary team; coastal cleanup drives along Manila Bay and various treeplanting activities in Nuvali, Laguna and Cavite mangrove as participated by 172 company volunteers within the first half of the year.

4th year at Diamond Hotel

IN the photo, (from left) Melanie Pallorina, public relations manager of Diamond Hotel Philippines; Vanessa Ledesma Suatengco, general manager of Diamond Hotel Philippines; Dr. TingTing Cojuangco, founder of Elegant Filipinas; and honorary consul general of Monaco, Dr. Fortune Ledesma.

IAMOND Hotel Philippines has been home to heads of state, women leaders, diplomats, international artists and celebrities, health and fitness influencers, society advocates and beauty queens. This year the hotel is proud to partner again with TingTing’s List: The Elegant Filipinas. Tingting R. Cojuangco, the founder of the program, was one of Harper’s Bazaar’s 100 Most Beautiful Women in the World. She will present the “Ten Women of Elegance” who made it to this year’s list in a glamorous gathering on September 25 at the Diamond Hotel Ballroom. The recipients of the award are KC Concepcion, Stephanie Zubiri-Crespi, Apples Aberin,

Jessica Kienle Maxwell, Marga Montemayor Nograles, MaiMai R. Cojuangco, Kai Lim, Carla Guevara Laforteza, Dr. Diane Cua and Small Laude. Albert Andrada, a world-class Filipino designer with a gleaming career in the Philippines and abroad, will feature his London and New York collection at Diamond Hotel. More than the glitz and glamour, the event will raise funds for the benefit of PLDT-Smart Foundation’s Gabay Guro, a program that fosters professional development among Filipino teachers, Consul General Fortune Ledesma announced. The hotel recognizes the significant role of women in today’s society and upholds great respect to their valuable contributions.

A12 Sunday, September 16, 2018

Sports BusinessMirror

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

France skeptical about Ryder Cup

CANDELARIA CABRERA (center) plays with her teammates against the Alumni Club in Chabas, Argentina. AP

GIRL VS. BOYS ON PITCH

HABAS, Argentina—At age 7, Candelaria Cabrera goes after the soccer ball with determination. She drives toward her rivals without caring much about getting hurt and deftly manages the bumps on the dirt field. She wears a loose white jersey from Huracan de Chabas, her hometown, located 370 kilometers north of the capital, Buenos Aires. Printed on the back and on her red shorts is a number 4. She uses white boots and shin guards. Her long, copper colored hair tied in a ponytail distinguishes her from the rest of the players. “Cande,” as she is known by friends and family, is the only girl playing in a children’s soccer league in the southern part of Santa Fe province, birthplace of stars including Lionel Messi, Gabriel Batistuta and Jorge Valdano. Former Argentine coaches Marcelo Bielsa, Gerardo Martino and Jorge Sampaoli were also born there. But a regional regulation that prohibits mixed-gender

teams in children’s categories threatens to take her off the field—a ruling that has helped dramatize the inequality in opportunities for men and women in this soccer-crazed county. “I had to sit down with her and tell her that there are some people who have to make rules in soccer and that these rules do not agree with what she wants,” said Rosana Noriega, Candelaria’s mother. “And, well, we both cried, and she said: ‘The people who make the laws are bad people.’” She was three years old when her parents gave her her first ball. They understood that it didn’t make sense to insist she play with dolls, even if there were “comments from other moms that they should not give her male toys because it would encourage her to be a lesbian,” Noriega recalled. Two months ago, the regional soccer authorities notified Huracan that the team could no longer include Candelaria. She could only play on a girls’ team—which does not exist where Candelaria lives.

Noriega took to social media to speak out about her daughter’s case and was surprised to find that she was not the only one. Girls wrote to her saying they were facing the same problem in nearby towns and more distant provinces. Of the 230 regional leagues recognized by the Argentine Football Association, only 68 have women’s teams. This is just one of the many disparities with men’s soccer. The most notable is financial: The best-paid contract in men’s first division is around $3 million a year. In contrast, women who play in their top category receive a travel voucher of $44. Argentina’s female players, who will play in a November runoff game for the 2019 World Cup, have struggled financially when their payments were delayed. They also expressed discomfort when adidas, the brand that sponsors a few members of the national teams of both genders, unveiled the new shirt for the Female America Cup this year with models rather than players. “The biggest lack is that they don’t have younger players.

They start playing at age 16, 17 and by then they’ve missed out on a bunch of issues that have to do with understanding the game,” said Ricardo Pinela, president of the Football Association’s Women’s Football Commission. “The important thing is that every club in every corner of the country gives a girl the possibility of joining a female soccer team, to play with other girls, even if it’s just for fun, and from there generate the necessary structure that...sets them on equal standing as the male players”, he argued. After Candelaria’s case became widely publicized, her regional league committed to reviewing the rule in an assembly at the end of the year—leaving her case in limbo until then. While she’s officially now banned, the team has let her keep playing—at least until an opponent objects. Candelaria’s most recent match ended with her team beating rival Alumni de Casilda, 7-0. “No one should say that a girl can’t play soccer,” she said. AP

VIAN-LES-BAINS, France—The head of France’s only golf major says hosting the Ryder Cup won’t help his country produce a star player. Asked at an eve-of-tournament news conference Wednesday about a stellar month for French golf, the women’s Evian Championship Chairman Franck Riboud dismissed what the Ryder Cup could achieve when it’s played from September 28 to 30 near Paris. The 12-man Europe team at Le Golf National has no players from France, and the top-ranked Frenchman is No. 97 Mike Lorenzo-Vera. “We need a [French] champion, that’s all,” Riboud said. “I think we need a project for the young French player to show we are a champion in the next five years.... We don’t have a golf culture, we have to build it.” Riboud is the longtime former chairman and chief executive of food giant Danone, which owns the Evian water brand. Danone is not a sponsor of the Ryder Cup but invests in golf tournaments for women and young players, including the Arnold Palmer Cup. “Perhaps you are surprised,” Riboud said. “Because personally I think the Ryder Cup is not building or helping to reach the objective” of developing talent. Though Tiger Woods is making a rare visit to France, Riboud played down the impact his selection for the United States team could have. “No, the best ambassador for golf in France is going to the next French champion at the same level [as] Tiger Woods,” the businessman said. “Perhaps it’s crazy but that’s the thing we have to dream about.” “It’s a champion who is pushing the young people,” Riboud added, comparing the influence French champions had on participation in other sports. He singled out Alpine skiing great JeanClaude Killy in the 1960s and tennis player Yannick Noah in the 1980s. Now retired from leading Danone, Riboud hinted he had ideas and time for the French golf federation. “I have a plan, I proposed a plan—I’m still waiting [for] the answer,” the 62-year-old said. “It’s not my job. It could become my job. We are very happy in Evian, which is golf country.” AP

Everyst to showcase next-gen Filipino writers, illustrators

ILLUSTRATIONS for “Out of Focus” by Lerie Ly on Everyst

VERYST, the social-fiction platform, has announced the addition of two new Filipino talents to its global roster of storytellers: Ramina Alexis Alfonso (@MiChan617) and Lerie Ly (@mocheekanon), both writers and illustrators. Everyst is a new storytelling platform that encourages readers to engage in real time through “social fiction”. Available across all mobile devices, Everyst provides readers with a fun and unconventional approach to manga—comics created in Japan—and light novels. Stories are told through a series of immersive “tweets” that make each read a compelling and characterdriven adventure. Made in Japan, Everyst found immediate success across Southeast Asia and now has its sights set on the Philippine market. “Everyst’s way of delivering its stories is very convenient for people on the go because it releases stories part by part all throughout the day,” Alfonso was quoted

in a statement as saying. “So the characters themselves deliver the story to you through tweets in a real-time format.” “I assumed the pieces would be oneshots or six-word stories I often see online,” Ly said. “I did not think the format was ideal until I read how Everyst adapted classic literary works like Dracula and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The ‘social fiction’ format made those classics more accessible and less intimidating. It convinced me that the ‘bite-sized storytelling’ format works!” “This is probably the most immersive story I’ve read,” Cesar Armando, a reader, said. “The fact that you feel or interact with them is an amazing idea.” “Never read a Twitter story before. This is genuinely cool! I love the character interaction,” Twitter user @LivingIn07 was quoted in the same statement as saying.

Pinoy storytellers ALFONSO is a 29-year-old writer from Cebu, and a graduate of the University of San Carlos. Primarily a freelance graphic artist by trade, her fiction centers on comedy, romance, and slice of life. The fusion of genres is perfectly captured in her debut story titled “Paper Cranes.” The story follows Mayu Arata, a young girl intrigued by the sudden appearance of paper cranes on her desk. “The story imparts an important lesson

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about selfless giving and how simple acts of kindness can leave an impact on someone’s life,” Alfonso said. “‘Paper Cranes’ teaches us that while life doesn’t always go the way you’d expect it to be, it is full of surprises!” The twenty-something Ly, on the other hand, is a graphic designer and dedicated cosplayer. She is no stranger to the print industry. Ly has worked on a number of Tagaloglanguage comic manuscripts for local imprints such as Black INK. Her story, “Unforgettable Taste,” was among the finalists for the Silent Manga Audition. Ly’s work touches upon elements of comedy and slice of life. Her debut piece titled “Out of Focus” tells the story of Aki, a freelance photographer in the midst of an existential crisis. In an attempt to put his life back together, Aki decides to document the wedding of his exgirlfriend and her fiancé. “It’s an ongoing piece,” adds Ly. “Nothing’s certain except self-deprecating humor and regular mentions of Splatoon and coffee.”

New way FOR Alfonso and Ly, getting the chance to develop stories for a platform as unique and immediate as Everyst enables them to advance the craft of storytelling. “If you can read on the go, you can also write on the go,” says Ly. “Just like the things I post online and tweet, ideas for

SEPTEMBER 16, 2018

stories tend to occur to me anytime and anywhere.” She added she finds “the spur-of-themoment lines more fitting to the story I’m writing and it also puts my knowledge of slangs and memes to good use, too.” “Everyst brings characters to life,” Alfonso said. “It’s not every day you get the characters delivering their thoughts or dialogues directly to the audience themselves. In Everyst we can do that!” Together, Alfonso and Ly represent the future of Filipino storytellers. Through Everyst, both women now have the chance to tell their stories and ply their craft to a global audience of young and excited readers.

Next-gen GIVEN how connected Filipinos are to social media, both Alfonso and Ly expect readers to catch on to the accessibility and vast library available on Everyst. “Everyst has a good chance of making it big in the Philippines given our fascination, if not obsession, with social media,” Ly said. “I think Filipinos, especially the younger generation, will embrace Everyst and its ideas on delivering stories as ‘social fiction’,” Alfonso added. “And because there’s a growing population of manga, comic and animé lovers, I’m sure that Everyst will be a hit locally. If other writers are interested, they can create and share unique stories with us. Our team is very open to new ideas.”

BusinessMirror

PHOTOS BY HANNAH OCHOCO

MUSIC

PASADA:

FROM OPM TO WORLD MUSIC by Darwin Fernandez

ITH the fast-paced living of modern life, we tend to forget about the things that remind us of our roots as they slowly fade into the background of the everyday hustle-and-bustle, especially as the world fuses into the so-called “global village.” That said, the group Pasada finds its purpose to preserve our identity as Filipinos—through our very own local brand of sound and music. As their first single “Bagong Komunidad” nears its release on September 19, the newly formed seven-piece ensemble made-up of Janis Anonuevo (vocals), Mark Estandarte (synths), Michael Sardea (guitar), Noel Taylo (acoustic guitar, kubing and gangsa), Pia

Pimentel (vocals and percussion), Kaloy del Puerto (bass) and Peter Panelo (drummer) hopes to amplify the reaches of world music in our archipelago and contribute to another dimension in Original Pilipino Music as we know it.

The culture

FAR from being in the mainstream, Pasada incorporates ethnic instruments in the songs they make that resonate the essence of Filipino culture. Beyond their love for music making is their loyalty to our cultural identity, such as playing the kubing and gangsa. Taylo shared the band’s advocacy to its music, which is, to define a sound true to the Filipino’s identity. “It’s sad to think that a lot of our youth aren’t aware of our native instruments. Our objective in Pasada is

to create sounds that are truly our own,” Taylo told SoundStrip in Filipino. “When we say reggae, we think Jamaican. But how come we Filipinos don’t have a sound like that? And in using our native instruments, we wish to create a distinct sound that when you listen to it, you can say, ‘Ah… It’s Filipino!’” Even with his previous band, Taylo relayed that they incorporate traditional instruments to promote the rich culture of Filipinos. He believes that our rich culture is a source of inspiration and can be integrated to fit the taste of the younger generation. Pasada hopes that when listening to their music, listeners could find more than just a decent tune. Pimentel shared that they want their music to make life easier to bear, and modern living a little lighter to carry on through. “That’s the theme of the music,

of the lyrics: to uplift your spirit,” Pimentel explained, as she described the band as a contemporary for world music, jazz, blues and funk that tries to incorporate all those with traditional instruments. When it comes to describing society, love is still centered in the band’s creative process as Taylo quipped, “When you make songs about social issues, it’s still about love. The reason you make songs is because you care.”

World music

TAYLO summarized the band’s source of inspiration: the movement of ethnic rock that we now call “world music,” which was popular in the 1990s. Its popular subgenre is reggae, one that is organic to Jamaica. Pasada aspires to popularize Continued on Page 4

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SEPTEMBER 16, 2018 | soundstrip.businessmirror@gmail.com

MUS

FIL-ITALIAN HARDCORE CREW C

by Rick Olivares

ILIPINO-ITALIAN hardcore punk band The Seeker recently released a split record with German powerviolence crew Arno X Duebel. The Seeker’s split side of the record is entitled “Parusa,” and follows the heels of last year’s blistering album, “Malaya.”

The opening track, “#SleepTon ightRevolutionTomorrow,” begins with the line, “What do you like in music? I like fast music.” And The Seeker delivers the pain, all right. Parusa features seven songs—all performed at breakneck speed. The carnage is all over in 4 minutes, 45 seconds. It just doesn’t end there. The album cover is striking and features an old photograph of a man being subjected to the garrote, perhaps dating back to the late Spanish times. Half of the Milan-based band is composed of Filipinos Michael Dee on guitars and Eddu Jan Lapitan on bass. Drummer

Andrea Covaz is Italian, while vocalist Dominik Dominak hails from Slovakia. “We were on tour when we met these awesome German lads,” said Dee, who founded the band. “Arno X Deubel opened for us in Berlin and after that packed show, we got heavily drunk and the magic just happened. A split record was proposed and we said, 'yes.'” Dee describes Parusa as being “faster and more chaotic.” As for the Filipino titles of their records, the guitarist says the rest of the band doesn’t mind. “The language may be different, but [their] message is the same,”

PASADA:

FROM OPM TO WORLD MUSIC Continued from Page 3

the same level of love for culture in defining Filipino world music. It first was popularized in the early 90s by bands like Pen-Pen and artists like Joey Ayala who incorporated traditional instruments to their songs. The band hopes that times and tastes have changed as they wish to share their music with a new set of audiences. “When we played at Malate 1951,” as Taylo referenced to his old band, “those who appreciated our music were expats. We were expecting to reach the younger generation.” Del Puerto, who is among the millennial members of the band, opened up about delving into an unpopular genre when he joined the band. “Simplest answer: I want to play music,” he explained. “I’m used to the indie scene. There’s blues, soul, [and] funk; but when it came to world music, it’s a new, dynamic experience. Always changing, but at the same time, it broadens my world view—not just as a musician, but as a person.”

Music with substance

REGARDING the limitations to exposure of some artists, Taylo lamented that, “No matter how or what indie bands perform, the problem lies in the existing system.”

“It’s still business. Passion is what drives us to continue with our music: beautiful music with substance.” For his songs, Taylo draws inspiration from immersions and living alongside communities of indigenous peoples around the country. In deeply knowing how they live and how they really are holistically as persons, his music becomes more genuine. “I used to just know Aetas only through books,” he cited an example. “Kinky hair, flat nose, dark color. It’s that simple. But when you get to know them, it isn’t just like that.”

Taylo hopes to share truthfulness in his work, as he assures his stories are as genuine as they should be: “It’s best that you return a song to its inspiration, because only then could you validate if your song is right.” More than their upbeat first single, Pasada’s body of work is about social issues and the environment which modern society affects deeply. Pimentel added, “When you write, there’s hope. The songs have a message, and hopefully someone will understand.” “Pasada” is a term used by a lot of Filipinos: Jeepney drivers mean it as a journey, much like the band seeing its

music as an adventure and a mission to enrich culture. To musicians, it’s to run-through a piece to perfect it. “In rehearsals, you hear: Isang pasada pa,” Taylo elucidated. “What about the band? Ilang pasada pa? ”this author asked, to which Taylo replied in an assured affirmative: “Madami pa.” (Witness Pasada launch its newest single on September 19, 8 p.m. at the Historia Boutique Bar and Restaurant, South Triangle, Quezon City, with performances from Chickoy Pura, Bobby Balingit, Datu’s Tribe, as well as Gin Rum and Truth.)

d trip

soundstrip.businessmirror@gmail.com | SEPTEMBER 16, 2018

SIC ON PRINT

COMES OUT WITH SPLIT RECORD clarifies Dee. “We all think and feel along the same lines. We all strongly believe in [them].” The band doesn’t shy away from politics in their native Italy, or even across their borders. Their songs rail against fascism, corruption and injustice. In fact, one of their songs on last year’s Malaya denounced extrajudicial killings in the Philippines. As for his home country, according to Dee, The Seeker has Southeast Asia and the Philippines on its tour radar. However, they need to work on logistics to make it happen. He said, “Maybe in a year or so, we can perform in the Philippines.” The Philippines’s very own underground label Delusion of Terror, Germany’s Knochen Tapes, Italy’s Here and Now Records as well as Zas Autoproduzioni Records funded the split record.

PhilPop song interpreters announced

HE country's premier songwriting competition PhilPop has recently announced its roster of interpreters for 2018. With the theme, “Music. Powered by Pinoys,” the foundation continues to defy expectations by championing homegrown talents from different backgrounds and music genres. Handpicked to interpret the compositions of the top 30 semifinalists are the following music acts: Davey Langit and the band for Kenneth John Pores’ AEIOU, Feel Day and Hans Dimayuga for Jeriko Buenafe’s “Ako, Ako,” Wincet Jacot and Medyo Maldito for Eamarie Gilayo and Jovit Leonerio’s “Away Wa'y Buwagay,” Michael Llave for his own song “Bumbero,” Ferdinand Aragon for his own composition, “Di Ko Man,” RJ dela Fuente for Mark Jay Felipe’s“Ikaw Ang Aking Pagibig,” Jex de Castro for Carlo Angelo David’s “Isang Gabing Pag-ibig,” Acapellago for Philip Arvin Jarilla’s “Kariton,” Ataska and Nash for Sarah Bulahan’s “Kelan Kaya,” Carlyn Ocampo and Joshua Feliciano for Karlo Zabala’s “kilabI,” Leanne and Naara for Jeremy Sarmiento’s“Korde Kodigo,” Cacai Bautista for Elmar Bolaño and Donel Transporto’s “Laon Ako,” Russ Cabico for his own entry, “LDR (Layong Di Ramdam),” Kyle Pulido for his own material “LGBT (Laging Ganito Ba Tayo?),” Bayang Barrios and Niliyagan for Agatha Marallos and Melvin Joseph Morallos’ “Lilipad,” BennyBunnyBand for Edgardo Miraflor Jr.’s “Loco De Amor!,” Carlo Angelo David for his own track, “Makisabay,” Caleb Santos for Paul Hildawa’s "Mahirap Magselos," Nitro for Marvin Blue Corpus’ “Malilimutan Din Kita,” Jeric Medina for Oliver Narags “MMRA,” Chud Festejo for his own composition “Nanay Tatay,” Thyro Alfaro for Aikee Aplacador’s “Oka,” Jem Cubil for Barry Villacarillo’s “Perfectly Imperfect Human,” Julian Trono for Sean Gabriel Cedro and John Ray Reodique’s "Pilipit,” Yumi Lacsamana for Aikee Aplacador’s “Promise Sorry Note,” The Juans for Agatha Morallos and Melvin Morallos “Pwede,” Katrina Velarde for Michael Rodriguez and Jeanne Columbine Rodriguez’s “Tama Na,” Therese

such as YouTube and Spotify on September 17 at 12 p.m.

Road to Top 10

FROM the shortlisted Top 30 semifinalists, only 10 will advance to the final round. They will be judged according to the following criteria: 50 percent, judges screening; 25 percent, online streaming, and 25 percent, Smart’s People Choice Award voting through SMS and Twitter’s conversational ad. The top 10 artists will be revealed via PhilPop’s social media pages and website on October 22. The finalists will be given a chance to showcase their original composition as interpreted by the chosen music acts on November 30 in the PhilPop Festival Finals Night that will be held at Capitol Commons in Pasig City. Log on to www.philpop.com.ph for complete instructions on voting for your favorite songs via SMS or Twitter.

Championing Filipino music

Villarante for Therese Marie Villarante and Henrick James Pestaño’s “Unang Adlaw nga Wala Ka,” Ignacio Dennis Roxas for his own song “Utang,” and Eunice Jorge of Gracenote for Donnalyn Onilongo’s “Yun Tayo (Formerly Taken).” A video featuring the 30 interpreters was showcased during the PhilPop Reveal and Listening Party on September 12 at the second floor of Cafe 1771, Pasig City. During the program, festival chairman and Philpop board member Ryan Cayabyab pointed out the importance of regional inclusivity and giving voice to underrated artists whose compositions have the

potential to impact the Filipino people's soul. “This year, we are happy to launch 30 songs that represent stories, struggles, ambitions, and dreams of people like us. We look forward to listen and enjoy these wonderful compositions,” Cayabyab noted. He expressed PhilPop’s advocacy of promoting topnotch Filipino music that matters. “Rest assured that we will stay true to our commitment to look for talented songwriters and give them a platform to realize their dreams of seeing their songs across the nation.” For its part, Viva Records supervised the official recording of the songs, which will be available on platforms

PHILPOP takes pride in its advocacy to provide a sustainable platform for Filipino music acts and develop their skills through a world-class mentorship program, as well as introduce them to standard music industry practices and strategies that could harness their potential in the long run. “This year’s PhilPop campaign emphasized the meaning of unity, camaraderie, mentorship, and most importantly, of generosity and the importance of giving back," PhilPop Executive Director Dinah Remolacio shared. “Former alumni and bootcamp coaches now serve as producers, arrangers, and even interpreters to some of the compositions. What was once a rigid competition with a coveted grand prize became an avenue to build and strengthen relationships among competitors and coaches.” PhilPop 2018 is an initiative of the PhilPop Music Foundation, chaired by Manny V. Pangilinan. This year’s PhilPop is supported by Mid Atlantic foundation for Asian Artists, Inc., NYXSYS Philippines, Maynilad, Meralco, Smart, Viva Records, Ortigas and Co., Coke Studio, NCAA, OPM, Gabi Na Naman Productions, and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals or PETA.

SEPTEMBER 16, 2018 | soundstrip.businessmirror@gmail.com

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MUSIC ON PRINT

Making music from sustainable materials

by John Aaron Macaraeg

ADE through the passion and pride of a Filipino artist, Tree;ty Drums is giving a different sound to Pinoy music, as it is filling up stages that are usually dominated by foreign brands of instruments. Behind the local brand of drums is Toks Paras, who creates Tree;ty Drums from scraps as well as recycled woods, then makes them truly sustainable and good-sounding. Paras’ first drum in 2014 was made from his mother’s antique narra furniture. He jokingly said that while he was crafting it, the parent scolded him, as she thought he was just wasting time. But when he was finished, the mom suddenly praised his work, and even pushed him to continue his art. When orders came pouring in, Paras then asked his longtime friend and full-time furniture maker Vitaliano Tumazar to join him in his journey of making drums.

Staying purely local THE wood types that Paras uses are only from those that are indigenous to the country: narra and mahogany. When asked if it is just about the hard quality of the wood, his rhetoric, told in Filipino, was: “Why would we let other countries take advantage of what is truly ours?” Paras even told the

BusinessMirror’s SoundStrip that it always saddens him how Filipinos could buy costly musical instruments, yet rant about how expensive local ones are. He even wondered why they could not just trust their countrymen on the quality of the works they are creating. The drum maker shared his thoughts on how foreign brands import raw materials from the country, then bring his final products back at a high price.

Discovering music to love the rest of the music they listen to. Within them, they can play songs in any order and skip as much as they like. The more they stream, the quicker these will become available. They can find these playlists from their home screen.

‘Art, not business’ PARAS shared with SoundStrip his future plans for Tree;ty Drums. He actually does not intend to make it as a business in the coming years. “For me, this is my art—as long as I’m enjoying, and I know that there is sense in what I am doing," Paras said. He added then that he just wants to contribute to the Filipino music scene and make use of his talent.

Loud enough THE first full set of Tree;ty Drums Paras made was used in Yuletide 2015 at the Luneta Park. He assured the organizer of the event that his drums would perform at that time. The percussion set indeed played, and made music the way it was meant and designed for. So far, Tree;ty Drums has never failed to deliver—even when it played nonstop during the Pepe Smith Rockfest in June. Paras’ creations are now available at Limitado event’s place in Marikina City. This has been made possible through his partnership with Leiz Jimenez, owner of Limitado. Follow the journey of Paras in making his sustainable Tree;ty Drums through its social media accounts on Facebook (facebook. com/Treetydrums) and Instagram (@treety_drums). Contact Paras at 09216308896, or Jimenez at 09167840522.

3. Find new music with Assisted Playlisting:

POTIFY believes in music for everyone, and making music accessible to every user. Now, it enables an even more personalized way to discover artists and "listen" to what users love–for free. In April 2018 Spotify launched the all-new, adsupported “All-New Free” to all global users on Android and iOS. This is a natural, next step as the music-streaming app continues to innovate and evolve for every user’s needs. With its redesigned mobile experience, the new Free on Spotify includes a number of features that make any listening experience more tailored to what listeners need to hear right now. Here are five must-use features in the new Spotify free experience:

1. Knowing users with Taste Onboarding: AFTER the first download and sign-in to the free app, users will be prompted to choose five or more artists they like. That means Spotify will be able to learn more quickly about favorite artists, songs and genres. From there, the app will make some great playlists—as well as tailor the home screen for easier music discovery. The more it is listened to, the more Spotify will learn, getting better with its recommendations and introducing users to artists they’re bound to love.

2. Enjoy On-Demand Playlists: SPOTIFY uses the data from the taste onboarding to present 15 personalized and curated playlists that will be particular to the users based on their music taste and how they stream on Spotify, meaning every user gets something different. From playlists such as “Discover Weekly” to “K-Pop Daebak” to “OPM Favorites” and up to six “Daily Mixes,” these lists will update frequently based on how users interact with them and with

USERS can start with a title, and then choose a few tracks. In the meantime, Spotify will start recommending songs to add with the tap of a button. It will show songs based on artists in the playlist, the taste profile, and even the title of the users’ playlist—particularly songs with that theme or word in the lyrics—as long as the users make sure to choose a title that really describes the vibe they want.

4. Personalize by ing and Hiding: BY using the new like and hide buttons, users will get recommendations tailored just for them. As they’re listening to songs, they can note which they “like” by tapping the heart icon ( ). They can also do this with artists, albums and playlists. This way, the app will get to know what they love and want to hear more of—helping with the personalization process even more. All their liked songs will appear in a new playlist called “Your Favorites,” and new tracks from artists they have listened to will appear in the Release Radar. On the other hand, tapping the “hide” ( ) icon will ensure users don’t have to hear that song, or others similar to it.

5. Browse using Data Saver: Many Spotify users around the world can’t enjoy music whenever they want because of how much mobile data streaming uses. That's why the app created Data Saver, a simple switch that optimizes the listening experience to use less mobile data. Data Saver streams at a lower bit rate so users can listen to more music with less guilt. Note that Data Saver isn’t a default setting, so users need to make sure to switch it on in their settings tab.

NUVOLANEVICATA | DREAMSTIME.COM

The hot college gig: Online brand promoter

OAH LAMFERS, a senior at the University of Northern Iowa, had never tried a 5-Hour Energy drink. But he still signed up to promote the brand online, getting paid to post images of himself and bottles of the product on his personal Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat accounts. He tagged each one with #5houruintern. Elizabeth Gabriel, a recent graduate of the University of Texas, posted a photo on Instagram of herself relaxing in her last year with a glass of wine and gazing at the latest Samsung tablet. It was one of 12 similar photos she posted for AT&T over 12 weeks. Her payment: a Samsung Galaxy smartwatch and an Apple TV. Alana Clark, a 21-year-old senior at Virginia Tech, is one of more than 200 college students across the country using their Instagram accounts to promote Victoria’s Secret Pink sportswear and undergarments. She also hands out free underwear on the quad. Paying college students to push products is nothing new for companies. The exu-

berant undergraduate wearing a Nike cap and giving out samples is as common on US campuses as football fans tailgating at homecoming.

Big action BUT now, like so much in the advertising world, the big action is online. As students return to campuses, they’re constantly checking their Instagram, Snapchat and other social-media accounts—so companies are turning to many of them to promote products right alongside photos of family, friends and the new puppy. For busy students, it is an easy, lowpressure way to make extra money or get

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free products. For marketers, it is a simple way to reach young people—a supplement to their other social-media efforts, including hiring full-time promoters. Though there are no comprehensive data for how many college students promote brands online, interviews with university officials, marketing consultants, brand representatives and students make it clear that the social-media platform is big business on campus. Many of the deals are for Instagram posts, but some brands also have students posting on other services, like Twitter and Facebook. Riddle & Bloom, a marketing agency specializing in building “meaningful relationships with millennial and Gen Z consumers,” employs students from more than 500 schools in all 50 states, according to its web site. On the Victoria’s Secret web site, you can search for the names of its representatives at 100 campuses, in schools from Columbia University to Grand Valley State University.

Credibility AT Virginia Tech, as many as 1,000 of the 30,000 undergrads are being paid to pro-

SEPTEMBER 16, 2018

mote products as varied as mascara and storage bins, according to an estimate by Donna Wertalik, director of marketing for the university’s Pamplin College of Business. “We see so many brands that have it,” Wertalik said. “A lot of start-up brands will do it. They’ll look for students with credibility and influence to give them credibility and influence.” Wertalik oversees a student-run ad agency called Prism. Of the 45 undergrads employed there, she estimated, half are paid to promote products on Instagram. Companies outline expectations for what the sponsored posts should include, such as specific hashtags or promotions for particular items. Many also ask students to hold or attend events on campus. Isabel Senior, a student at Duke University, worked for LaCroix, the sparkling water company. Each week for six weeks, she had to post one Instagram photo, one Instagram story and one post on a platform like Facebook or Snapchat. She also gave out cans of LaCroix at campus events like 5-kilometer races and university-sponsored concerts. Continued on Page 8

These are the best loved brands of fashion-forward millennials

THLETIC apparel and lingerie are prominent in the minds of fashion-forward shoppers, but there’s no guarantee they’ll go on Amazon.com Inc.’s site to buy those items. preferred retailer for clothes, it didn’t even make the top 10 for the so-called It Girls in the survey. “Fashion-forward consumers appear to be resisting this change” to online shopping, the analysts wrote in the report. “They choose to spend a greater proportion of their dollars in-store than mainstream spenders, and also grant less mindshare to Amazon.” Here are the top 10 brands and retailers loved most by the report’s It Girls:

Brand