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Davao City council IP seat still vacant

THE SEAT for the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) in the Davao City council has been vacant since April as the chosen indigenous people candidate allegedly lacks the the required genealogical qualification. The National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) said Cherry Ann Ortiz-Codilla, who has been chosen IPMR following the prescribed selection process, does not meet the minimum genealogy of at least 25% of the represented tribe, in this case the Bagobo Klata. NCIP Davao Region Director Geroncio R. Aguio said their findings show that Ms. Codilla only carries 12.5% Ubo-Manuvo blood, 6.25% Bagobo Klata, and 2.25% Bagobo-Tagabawa. “Based on (these) findings, the NCIP cannot issue a Certificate of Affirmation to the selected IPMR because she does not possess that mandatory requirement of 25% genealogical qualification as well as her failure to have a five years track record certified by the NCIP as per required by the local guidelines,” Mr. Aguio said. The city council passed a resolution two weeks ago urging the NCIP to issue a COA to Ms. Codilla. Vice Mayor Bernard E. Al-ag, who chairs the council, said IPs are worried that projects intended for their communities would be affected without an IPMR. “They do not have a representative for the past twelve sessions already and we have to do something about this since we might be approving ordinances that might be stepping on the IP’s rights,” Mr. Al-ag added. — Carmencita A. Carillo

Registered businesses in Zamboanga City drop

By Albert F. Arcilla, Correspondent
ZAMBOANGA CITY has recorded a significant drop in business permit renewals and new business registrations since January this year following stricter policies on zoning and license releasing.
Data from the city administrator’s office show that from January to date, new business permits released were 309, down 60% from 778 in the same period last year.
Permit renewals, meanwhile, stood at 6,231 against 9,543 during the period in review.
City Administrator Marie Angelique C. Go said in an interview these decreases are mainly due to the stricter implementation of the zoning ordinance and the related documents required from businesses.
“Most are pending with the planning office due to setback and ownership issues, lease contract that were not submitted, and some did not go back for follow-ups,” Ms. Go said.
She also said that the cancellation of the issuance of temporary business permits caused the drop.
In 2017, the city government allowed 2,467 businesses, which lack some of the requirements, to operate with temporary licenses.
Ms. Go said they stopped implementing that policy this year, leaving 5,484 pending business permits.
The administrator admitted that the local government is worried that this would affect the city’s ranking in the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) index.
“We are worried about that low figure as it will affect our competitiveness ranking,” Ms. Go said.
In 2017, Zamboanga was 16th in the NCC list among 33 highly urbanized cities and 28th among all 145 cities.
The Zamboanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc. (ZCCFI), meanwhile, is more confident that the issues relating to the pending permits would be resolved.
“The low turnout of the issued business permit is primarily because of the no temporary permits allowed,” ZCCFI Executive Director Ronnie A. Natividad told BusinessWorld via text message.
“Meaning, they have not processed the licensing step by step or skipped in one of them,” he added.
Mr. Natividad also confirmed Ms. Go’s assessment that most of the affected establishments need to renew their lease contracts or submit an affidavit of occupancy.
“This is expected to be resolved or permits are to be released by the end of June except those tagged with red flags that would really require to comply with mandated requirements without any deviation,” he said.

Kane fires England to World Cup KO phase

NIZHNIY NOVGOROD, RUSSIA — Harry Kane struck a hat trick as England thrashed Panama 6-1 on Sunday to ease into the World Cup last 16 alongside group rivals Belgium.
Kane now has five goals in Russia, leapfrogging Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku in the race for the Golden Boot as the Central Americans were sent packing along with Tunisia.
Belgium and England — which meet in Kaliningrad on Thursday to battle it out for top spot in Group G — both have six points after two games and are level on goal difference and goals scored.
England recorded its biggest-ever victory at a World Cup despite the sapping heat in Nizhny Novogrod, playing with youthful zest and imagination against their disappointing opponents.
Two penalties from Kane and two goals from John Stones, plus an impressive strike from Jesse Lingard, gave England an unassailable 5-0 lead at half-time.
Kane completed his hat-trick in the 62nd minute and coach Gareth Southgate had the luxury of substituting his captain with tougher challenges ahead.
Felipe Baloy, 37, scored the first-ever goal for Panama at a World Cup to narrow the gap but it could not mask the vast gulf in quality between the two sides.
“I’m very proud. Not many players get to score a hat trick in the World Cup,” said Kane, who is only the third England player to score three goals in a World Cup match after Geoff Hurst and Gary Lineker.
“We have to enjoy this. It’s not every day we get to go through after two games.”
Southgate said he was pleased with his side’s ruthlessness.
“It was a different type of win to the other day (against Tunisia),” he said. “Then we had to go right to the wire and show qualities that are going to be really important to our resilience and sticking to our principles of play.”
Belgium hammered Tunisia 5-2 on Saturday, with two goals from both Lukaku and Eden Hazard.
‘DEATH THREAT’ PLAYER
Colombia coach Jose Pekerman dedicated his side’s crucial 3-0 win over Poland on Sunday to midfielder Carlos Sanchez after reports the midfielder received death threats for his red card in the earlier defeat to Japan.
Sanchez has had “a very hard time” dealing with the fallout from his third-minute sending-off in Colombia’s opening game, Pekerman said.
“This victory is dedicated to Carlos Sanchez, because he’s had a very hard time in the past days. I want, and we want, to share it with him,” he said.
Pekerman added: “We received certain information, but I can’t confirm anything. The player was deeply affected by this matter.
“It went beyond football. It’s a game that we play with a lot of hard work and dedication, but these things should not be taken lightly.
“Whether it’s confirmed or not… this is extremely painful.”
It evoked memories of the chilling murder of Colombia player Andres Escobar, who was killed after his own goal led to defeat to the United States in the 1994 World Cup and Colombia’s elimination from the tournament.
Colombia’s win in Kazan with goals from Radamel Falcao, Yerry Mina and Juan Cuadrado sent Poland crashing out of the tournament.
The quarterfinalists four years ago in Brazil can guarantee a place in the knockout phase by beating Senegal on Thursday.
Senegal blew its chance of victory against Japan which twice came from behind to force a 2-2 draw in an entertaining game in Yekaterinburg.
Sadio Mane scored first after woeful goalkeeping from Eiji Kawashima, but Takashi Inui equalized later in the first half. In the second period Moussa Wague re-established Senegal’s lead but substitute Keisuke Honda pegged them back again.
Honda, 32, is the top-scoring Asian player in World Cup history after his fourth goal in nine appearances.
Mane’s coach Aliou Cisse warned the Liverpool striker to raise his performance if Senegal are to progress.
Diego Maradona said he was “furious” with Argentina’s shambolic 3-0 defeat by Croatia and has asked to give the players a pep talk before their crucial final game against Nigeria.
“I’m furious and very upset inside, because anyone who wore that shirt can’t see it being trampled like that by a Croatian team that isn’t Germany, that isn’t Brazil, that isn’t Holland or Spain,” the 1986 World Cup winner told Venezuelan TV channel Telesur. — AFP

World Cup last 16 qualifiers

MOSCOW — Teams that have qualified for the last 16 of the World Cup after two group matches and those have been eliminated:
Group A
Qualified: Russia, Uruguay
Eliminated: Egypt, Saudi Arabia
Group B
Eliminated: Morocco
Still in contention: Spain, Portugal, Iran
Group C
Qualified: France
Eliminated: Peru
Still in contention: Denmark, Australia
Group D
Qualified: Croatia
Still in contention: Iceland, Nigeria, Argentina
Group E
Eliminated: Costa Rica
Still in contention: Brazil, Switzerland, Serbia
Group F
Still in contention: Mexico, Germany, Sweden, South Korea
Group G
Qualified: England, Belgium
Eliminated: Tunisia, Panama
Group H
Eliminated: Poland
Still in contention: Japan, Senegal, Colombia — AFP

Nation at a Glance — (06/26/18)

News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.

Kings guarded, knowing they are not out of the woods yet

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
THE Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings are currently on a roll as the elimination round of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup winds up. But they are being cautious not to get too caught up with it, knowing work still needs to be done and that they are not out of the woods yet.
Started their campaign in the midseason PBA tournament with a 1-5 record in their first six games, the Kings have racked up four straight victories to will themselves into the playoff picture and built much momentum.
Now at 5-5, Barangay Ginebra is at joint sixth in the standings along with GlobalPort Batang Pier, but mindful not to get satisfied with it to put itself in better position and avoid dropping to seventh or eighth place where it will find itself with a handicap in the next round.
As per tournament format, the no. 7 and 8 teams at the end of the classification phase are at a twice-to-win disadvantage against the top two teams in their battle in the quarterfinals.
“We’re really on a good groove. I really don’t know why. I don’t know what we’re doing that is making us play as well as we are but it’s working. I really don’t (know) what it is but we hope to continue doing it,” said Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone following their latest victory, a 105-86 rout of the Alaska Aces on June 24.
“We’re really playing well. Guys are sharing the ball. Our defense has really, really stepped up. But we’re not out of the woods yet. We are not in the top six. We need to get one more and we have GlobalPort next. I wish we are not taking a break right now because we are playing good basketball and we want to keep our momentum going but we’ll see what happens,” added the Kings coach, referring to the more than a week break that the league will have to give way to the third window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers where the PBA-backed national team will compete in.
Against Alaska, the Kings dominated right from the start, leaving the outcome of the contest pretty much known as early as the third period.
Justin Brownlee led the way for Barangay Ginebra with 28 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
LA Tenorio finished with 12 points while Japeth Aguilar and Sol Mercado each had 10.
Given where they are at and what they are facing, Mr. Cone said they have to stay on top of their game and recognize collectively what they need to do.
“Basketball is like that. You get on a roll and then you get stopped in your tracks and you struggle. We play a long season. We play 11 months and there is going to be times when teams play great and there will be times that you will struggle but you cannot avoid those ups and downs throughout the year. But you have to understand that and manage it. You have to expect that to happen and you can’t go too high or too low on things,” he said.
“Sure [the long break will affect us]. Long breaks like that are something we really have to battle. We have won four games straight and players may not go with the same intent as the last couple of weeks because of the break and then you lose your own momentum. And we as coach have to do good job at reminding our players against that. We are still in a must-win situation and we have to continue our focus. We have no margin for error,” added Mr. Cone, whose wards return to action on July 6 against GlobalPort.
Just the same, the multititled coach welcomes the sea change they are having and believes they can make noise come playoff time, especially given the right situation.
“I think we can make noise when we get in the playoffs. But we have to be there first. In a good situation. Not in twice-to-win. It is not a good situation to be in. We have to go for the top six,” he said.

Gilas in Taiwan for 3rd window of FIBA Asian Qualifiers

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
THE Philippine national men’s basketball team left for Taiwan on Monday to gear for its key encounter with the host country in the third window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers on June 29.
Sitting at second and third spots, respectively, in Group B of the competition, Gilas Pilipinas (3-1) and Chinese Taipei (1-3) look to book the victory in their Friday matchup to boost their cause moving forward.
Australia leads the grouping with a 4-0 record and Japan (0-4) still winless.
Bannering the Philippines’ campaign in Taiwan is a 15-man pool to be handled by national team coach Chot Reyes.
The players are Philippine Basketball Association stalwarts Jayson Castro, Terrence Romeo, Baser Amer, Jio Jalalon, Matthew Wright, RR Pogoy, Calvin Abueva, Troy Rosario, June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Allein Maliksi, Gabe Norwood and Carl Bryan Cruz.
Also included in pool are naturalized player Andray Blatche and Gilas Cadet member Troy Rike.
In their first game in the Qualifiers in November last year, Gilas defeated the Taiwanese, 90-83, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Philippines struggled to find form in the early goings of said game but managed to step up down the stretch to hack out the win, its second after defeating Japan in the previous game.
Mr. Castro led the way with 20 points followed by June Mar Fajardo with 17 points.
Messrs. Pogoy and Wright each had 11.
Mr. Blatche only had six points but had 14 rebounds, five blocks and three assists.
On the part of Chinese Taipei it was Quincy Davis III who showed the way with 20 points and nine rebounds with Yi-Hsiang Chou and Jhen Huang adding 17 and 16 points, respectively.
“We had a hard time beating them (Taiwanese) in Manila, and this time it will be harder because they have home court. We just have to be ready and have to be more aware of the mistakes we made when we last played them,” said Mr. Pogoy in the lead-up to the third window of the Qualifiers.
The Gilas Pilipinas-Chinese Taipei game will be played at the Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium.
It will be shown live on ESPN5 with livestream on ESPN5.com.

On the brink, Argentina handed a final shot at World Cup salvation

SAINT PETERSBURG — Held by Iceland and humiliated by Croatia, Argentina’s World Cup could already have been all but over, but Lionel Messi and the rest of Jorge Sampaoli’s troubled squad have one final shot at redemption against Nigeria on Tuesday.
Victory against the Africans, who Argentina have beaten in all four previous World Cup meetings, will secure qualification for the last 16 as long as Iceland don’t shock already-qualified Croatia.
Even if Iceland claim a first ever World Cup victory, Argentina could still progress on goal difference.
However, bouncing back will take a huge improvement in performance and strength of character so far unseen from the two-time world champions in Russia.
The Argentina federation were even moved on Saturday to confirm that Sampaoli would continue for the final group game among rumors of a rift between players and coach.
“I get the feeling there’s a general anger at the heart of the team,” said Argentina’s legendary 1986 World Cup-winning captain Diego Maradona.
“I’m furious and very upset inside, because anyone who wore that shirt can’t see it being trampled like that by a Croatian team that isn’t Germany, that isn’t Brazil, that isn’t Holland or Spain.”
For all his heroics with Barcelona at club level, Messi is still often compared unfavorably in his homeland for his inability to recreate Maradona’s success for the national team.
Messi led Argentina to the World Cup final four years ago and consecutive Copa America finals in the following two years, but all three ended in defeat.
TIME RUNNING OUT
And his 31st birthday on Sunday only served to highlight how time is running out for Messi to win a major international tournament.
Without the five-time World Player of the Year, though, it is highly unlikely Argentina would even have qualified.
Messi salvaged a disastrous campaign under three different managers with a hat trick away to Ecuador in the Albiceleste’s final qualifier.
In its hour of need, Argentina need Messi’s best once more.
“Leo is fine,” insisted veteran midfielder Javier Mascherano, who knows Messi better than most having spent eight years as his club teammate at Barcelona.
“He is a human being who has his frustrations because things haven’t worked out, but so are we all.
“Like it our not, we are the runners-up from the World Cup and we have to show it.”
So far in Russia, Messi has been held scoreless. He missed a penalty among 11 unsuccessful shots on goal in a 1-1 draw with Iceland before failing to make any meaningful impact in an error-strewn Argentine display against Croatia.
A month on from Messi’s rescue mission in Ecuador, he sat out a friendly as Nigeria beat Argentina 4-2 back in November to highlight how reliant even a squad containing Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala remain on their no. 10.
“It is the most critical situation I have experienced, along with the Ecuador game,” said Argentina midfielder Lucas Biglia on Sunday. “But sometimes you have to cling to something.”
Argentina are clinging to the hope their captain bails them out again. — AFP

Hamilton cruises to French GP win, reclaims championship lead

LE CASTELLET, FRANCE — A masterful Lewis Hamilton powered back to the top of the world championship Sunday when he roared to a polished lights-to-flag win for Mercedes at the French Grand Prix (GP).
The four-time world champion, making the most of his upgraded Mercedes engine, led from start to finish, bar one lap following a pit stop, as he claimed his first win in France, his third this year and the 65th of his career.
“This is a great day,” said reigning champion Hamilton. “I enjoyed the race, for me the best French Grand Prix I have ever had. The weather was great, too, and the fans were really enthusiastic.
“I am so grateful to my guys for a solid weekend. My guys continuously push the boundaries and they never give up.”
Hamilton came home seven seconds clear of Max Verstappen with Kimi Raikkonen taking third for Ferrari after passing his Red Bull team-mate Daniel Ricciardo with five laps remaining.
Hamilton’s consummate performance came after fellow four-time champion and pre-race leader Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari crashed into his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas on the opening lap.
Both suffered damage and, under an early Safety Car, limped to the pits for repairs.
Vettel had to serve a five seconds penalty, which he took at his second pit stop. — AFP

Wesley So wins Leuven Rapid/Blitz

The Grand Chess Tour (GCT) is a circuit of chess tournaments where the world Top 10 players compete for multiple prize pools. This started in 2015 and, as expected, world champion Magnus Carlsen became Tour Champion. In 2016, in a big shock heard around the world, the Filipino-American GM Wesley So became Tour Champion by winning both of the last two legs, the Sinquefield Cup and the London Chess Classic. In 2017 it was back to Magnus Carlsen as the Tour Champion.
This year the 2018 Grand Chess Tour consists of five events:
The Rapid/Blitz Tournament in Leuven, Belgium from June 12-16, 2018 is the first leg.
The second leg is in Paris, another Rapid/Blitz event, from June 20-24.
Third leg is the Saint Louis Rapid/Blitz tournament from Aug. 10-16.
The last two legs of the Grand Chess Tour are classical chess tournaments in Saint Louis, the Sinquefield Cup (Aug. 17-28) and the London Chess Classic in December 2018.
What do I mean a Rapid/Blitz event? Well, first you have 9 rounds of rapid chess split over the first three days, then 18 rounds of blitz on the final two. The time control for the rapid is 25 minutes + 10 second delay per move while in blitz it is 5 minutes + 3 second delay.
A time delay is not the same as an increment. When you are playing with a 10 second increment for example after every move 10 seconds is added to your clock, so if you play fast enough you can add time to your clock. On the other hand when you play with a 10-second delay you are given 10 seconds to make your move before your clock starts running. No matter if you move instantaneously, after one second or after 10 seconds, the additional seconds is not added to your clock.
If I may say so playing under these conditions with thousands of dollars hanging on the balance is very nerve-wracking since if you are down to your last second you will forever have one second left, unlike with increments you can make your moves instantaneously and build up some time again.
The rapid and blitz event scores are combined BUT the rapid scores have more weight – they are counted double. One win in rapid therefore is equivalent to two points and a draw as one.

Your Next Move Rapid & Blitz
Leuven, Belgium
June 12-16, 2018

Rapid Section
1. Wesley So, 7.0/9
2-3. Levon Aronian, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, 5.5/9
4-5. Sergey Karjakin, Hikaru Nakamura, 5.0/9
6. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, 4.5/9
7. Alexander Grischuk, 4.0/9
8. Fabiano Caruana, 3.5/9
9-10. Viswanathan Anand, Anish Giri, 2.5/9
Time Control: 25 minutes play-to-finish with 10 second delay
The first leg in Leuven, Belgium was won by Wesley So — first he dominated the Rapid Section with 5 wins, 4 draws with no losses — this is 7/9 and, given that the rapid section counts for double, contributed 14 points to his combined score.
He did not do as well in the blitz with three wins ten draws and five losses (8/18).
Blitz Section
1. Sergey Karjakin, 11.5/18
2. Hikaru Nakamura, 11.0/18
3. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, 10.5/18
4-6. Alexander Grischuk, Viswanathan Anand, Levon Aronian, 9.5/18
7-8. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Wesley So, 8.0/18
9. Fabiano Caruana, 6.5/18
10. Anish Giri, 6.0/18
Time Control: 5 minutes play-to-finish with 3 second delay
Wesley So had a 1.5 lead over Aronian and Vachier-in the Rapid event. Since the rapid games count for double this is equivalent to a 3-point buffer before the blitz tournament started, just enough for Wesley to finish 1st in the combined standings with 22.0/36, just half a point in the combined standings ahead of a resurgent Sergey Karjakin who won the blitz section with 11.5/18.
Combined Standings
1. Wesley So USA, 22.0/36 ($37,500)
2. Sergey Karjakin RUS, 21.5/36 ($22,500)
3. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave FRA, 21.5/36 ($22,500)
4. Hikaru Nakamura USA, 21.0/36 ($15,000)
5. Levon Aronian ARM, 20.5/36 ($12,500)
6. Alexander Grischuk RUS, 17.5/36 ($10,000)
7. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov AZE, 17.0/36 ($ 7,500)
8. Viswanathan Anand IND, 14.5/36 ($7,500)
9. Fabiano Caruana USA, 13.5/36 ($7,500)10 Anish Giri NED, 11.0/36 ($7,500)
Note: Rapid Scores x 2 added to Blitz Scores
Are the games from these quickplay events just pure rubbish with blunders following blunders and pure luck determining the final winners? Not at all. I will first show you Wesley’s best game.

So, Wesley (2778) — Giri,Anish (2782) [A29]
Your Next Move GCT 2018–Rapid Leuven (4), 13.06.2018

1.c4 Nf6 2.g3 e5 3.Bg2 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Nc3 Nb6 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.d3 Be7 8.0–0 0–0 9.Be3
Wesley used 9.a3 to defeat Topalov in the 2016 Sinquefield Cup. That game continued 9…Be6 10.Be3 Nd5 11.Nxd5 Bxd5 12.Qa4 (White covers the d4–square to rule out ..Nd4 which is one of Black’s main simplifying maneuvers) 12…Re8 13.Rac1 a6 14.Nd2 Bxg2 15.Kxg2 Nd4 16.Bxd4 exd4 17.Qb3 Rb8 18.e4!? dxe3 19.fxe3 Rf8 (19…Bf6 20.Ne4 is a bit awkward for Black) 20.Ne4 Qd7 21.Rf3 White’s pieces are more active. So,W (2771)-Topalov,V (2761) Saint Louis 2016 1–0 41.
9…Be6 10.Rc1 Nd5 11.Nxd5 Bxd5 12.Qc2 Re8 13.a3 a6 14.Rfd1 Bf6 15.Nd2 Bxg2 16.Kxg2 Bg5
With perfect hindsight I think Black should play 16…Re6 followed by …Be7 to keep an eye on the c5 square and then move over the rook to the kingside.
17.Bxg5 Qxg5 18.e3
Now it is not clear how Black can untangle on the queenside. White will play Nd2–b3(or e4)-c5.
18…Qe7 19.Ne4 Rac8 20.Nc5 Nd8
Everything is defended … so far.
21.d4 e4 22.d5 f5? <D>
POSITION AFTER 22…F5
Giri overlooks a shot. He should have played 22…h6.
23.Nxa6! Nf7
[23…bxa6 24.d6]
24.d6 Nxd6 25.Nxc7! Red8 26.Qb3+
This is the reason why 22…f5 was a mistake.
26…Qf7 27.Ne6 Rxc1 28.Rxc1 Re8 29.Nd4 Qxb3 30.Nxb3
Wesley goes into a K+R+N endgame a pawn up. This is not yet a clear win but gives the Cavite native a chance to spotlight his endgame technique. First step: create a passed pawn on the queenside.
30…Kf7 31.Nd4 g6 32.Rc3 Kf6 33.Rb3 Re7 34.a4 Ke5 35.a5 Kd5 36.Rb6 Rf7 37.b3 g5 38.a6 bxa6 39.Rxa6
Threatening Ra5+ which wins the Black knight.
39…Nb7 40.Rb6 Nd6 41.Ra6 Nb7! 42.Rh6
Ok, can’t make progress on the queenside swing over to the other side and try to win some pawns.
42…Nd6 43.Rh5 Rg7 44.Rh6
With the idea of Rxd6 followed by Nxf5+, forking king and rook.
44…Rf7! 45.Rh5 Rg7 46.h4 gxh4 47.Rxh4 Ke5 48.Rh6
Reviving the threat of Rxd6.
48…Rf7 49.Rh5 Kf6 50.Rh6+ Ke5 51.Kh3 Rb7 52.Rh5
The threat is now g3–g4 followed by the exchange of all pieces on f5 and then pushing the b-pawn.
52…Kf6 53.Rh6+ Ke5 54.Kh4
White is still after the f5–pawn. He intends 55.Re6+ Kd5 56.Rf6 Rf7 57.Kg5.
54…Nb5 55.Ne2 Re7 56.g4 Nd6 57.Nd4 1–0
There is the twin threat of Nc6+ as well as Rxd6 followed by Nxf5+. If Giri plays 57…Rd7 then 58.Rh5 Rf7 59.Nxf5 Nxf5+ 60.Rxf5+ Rxf5 61.gxf5 Kxf5 62.Kh5 and even a patzer like me can win this pawn endgame.
A really marvelous performance from the pride of the Filipinos. I will show you some more games on Thursday.
 
Bobby Ang is a founding member of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) and its first Executive Director. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA), he taught accounting in the University of Santo Tomas (UST) for 25 years and is currently Chief Audit Executive of the Equicom Group of Companies.
bobby@cpamd.net

Homeless Howard

Everybody has a backstory. In Dwight Howard’s case, it’s apparently not something he wishes to talk about in detail. For an eight-time All-Star and three-time Defensive Player of the Year, that’s saying a lot. “I want to be in a situation where I have an opportunity to help a team win. That’s my only goal,” he said, which is all well and good. The sentiment has been a familiar one for him since he forced his way out of the Magic in 2012. His accompanying statement, however, says a lot more. “All I need is a real chance to and a clean slate where it’s not people talking about my past.”
Where Howard will be gunning for hardware is anybody’s guess at this point. It won’t be with the Hornets, who shipped him out to claim addition by subtraction; so intent were they to sever their ties with him that they happily welcomed erstwhile benchwarmer Timofey Mozgov (and a hefty 2019-20 price tag) in exchange. And it won’t be with the Nets, who, despite missing the playoffs for the third consecutive year, didn’t believe a future Hall of Famer who just normed 16 and 12 in his last stop was worth a roster spot.
For Howard, the good need is that the buyout gives him options. With the Nets footing most of his $23.8-million salary, he can latch on to a bona fide title contender without having to fuss over the zeros on his paycheck. The bad news is that the aforesaid bona fide title contender will have to view his contributions to be more than worth the baggage he brings with him. There’s a reason his prospective employer will be his fifth in four years; by all accounts, he was productive on the court but poison off it.
That said, Howard is a tantalizing talent who can make a difference. For example, he’s decidedly better than, say, JaVale McGee and Zabat Pachulia with the Warriors. He’s also a good fit on paper for the Celtics, who prefer to have Al Horford at the four spot and who would have the type of culture and leadership to rein him in. Until he finds a new home, though, the extent of the speculation will mirror the polarizing figure he cuts.
 
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994.

Why you should learn cloud computing, according to Amazon

With new technologies disrupting businesses, companies have no choice but to adapt to the changing landscape.

And as much as these advancements affect companies, they also have impacts on the labor force, with some jobs even feared to be totally replaced by computer programs. The automation of business operations made possible by technologies like artificial intelligence and internet of things, among others, impose a huge challenge to current workers to keep up and maintain having livelihood.

The only way for employees to survive is to up-skill or learn more complicated skills that will complement the use of these technologies.

If you ask Amazon Web Services (AWS), a subsidiary of American e-commerce giant Amazon, there is one skill that will help current and future workers remain in the game: cloud computing.

Cloud computing, as AWS defines, is the “on-demand delivery of information technology (IT) resources via the internet with pay-as-you-go pricing.”

“Cloud is now what we call the new normal. It’s no longer an experiment, it’s no longer an after-thought,” Vincent Quah, regional head of education, research, healthcare and non-profit organizations of AWS, told reporters in a media briefing during “Siklab Pilipinas 2018” on June 4 in Taguig City.

The three-day event provided around 800 students and 200 college educators with lectures and training on AWS cloud services.

Citing a study by World Economic Forum, Quah said cloud technology, along with mobile internet, is the top technological drivers of change in jobs in the next five years.

As businesses utilize the digital space for their operations, he said there is a wide use of and demand for cloud services, which results in a bigger demand for “cloud talent.”

“When you talk to most companies, it is [no longer about] why they should use cloud, but when they should use it,” he said.

AWS, for instance, currently provides cloud computing services to big companies and institutions like Airbnb, General Electrics, Netflix, NASA, and IMDb, to name a few.

The wide use of its cloud computing services also reflected in the profits of the company. AWS generated revenue worth $5.44 billion in the first quarter of 2018, a  49% increase year-on-year.

He added that it is also on top of LinkedIn’s list of most demanded skills since 2015. Certified AWS architects and developers, according to him, can receive an average salary of more than $100,000.

Education

A big role of preparing the next generation of workforce lies at the hands of the academe.

Educators, Quah said, should be equipped with proper knowledge and training to teach cloud computing courses and guide students in developing the country’s pool of cloud talents.

But according to him, learning cloud computing does not require skills in IT as it only requires “curiosity.”

“It’s not all about the IT skills. It’s really all about the ideas, what they can do with the technology.”

“As long as you are curious and you want to learn about certain things. This attribute is so critical because the world is gonna change so rapidly in the next few years and you don’t know what’s gonna happen so you want [people] to have that attribute, to want to learn.”

Palace bares list of new Duterte appointees

Malacañang on Monday, June 25, announced President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s new appointments, including three Assistant Secretaries at the Office of the President (OP), Department of National Defense (DND), and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
June 21 appointment papers, which Malacañan Palace released to reporters on Monday afternoon said Mr. Duterte has appointed Gregorio Angelo C. Villar, Angelito M. de Leon, and Antonio D. Molano, Jr. as Assistant Secretaries at OP, DND, and DPWH, respectively.
Mr. Duterte has also signed the appointment papers of the following new officials:
• Roseller A. Tolentino, Director IV, DPWH
• Ronaldo C. Cruz, Member, Board of Trustees, Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC), for a term of three years
• Desiderio G. Jurado III, Provincial Trade and Industry Officer, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
• Neil Frank R. Ferrer, ad interim Chief of Mission, Class II, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)
• Reynaldo C. Anfone, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR0
• Voltaire D. Mauricio, ad interim Career Minister, DFA; and
• Enrico T. Fos, ad interim Chief of Mission, Class II, DFA.
— Arjay L. Balinbin

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