Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube
Home Blog Page 12520

Barangay Ginebra cuts San Miguel’s series lead

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

THE Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings staved off being pushed to the brink of elimination in the PBA Philippine Cup after beating the defending champions San Miguel Beermen, 95-87, in Game Three of their best-of-seven semifinal series on Tuesday night at the Mall of Asia Arena to cut their deficit to two games to one.

Pushed to a must-win situation after dropping the first two games of their Philippine Basketball Association semifinal series, the Kings delivered on the back of steady play and composure of their players all throughout the game to finally barge into the win column.

The Kings had a good start as their frontcourt of Japeth Aguilar, Prince Caperal and Joe Devance made their presence felt on offense.

They sprinted to a 19-8 lead two-thirds of the way in the first quarter before Marcio Lassiter and the Beermen narrowed the gap as the period wore on.

The score was at 19-15 at the end of the first canto with Barangay Ginebra still ahead.

In the second period, offense further picked up for both teams.

San Miguel came within three points, 25-22, at the 8:55 mark of the frame.

But the Kings responded with a 7-0 blast in the next two minutes to give themselves further breathing room, 32-22.

The Beermen continued with their attack thereafter only to see the Kings stand their ground and maintain control all the way to the halfway juncture of the match, 45-39.

Barangay Ginebra continued to hold sway as the third canto got under way, outscoring San Miguel, 19-13, in the first six minutes to take a 64-52 advantage.

Forced to play sans starting point guard Chris Ross in the second half due to a right thigh strain, the Beermen tried to fight their way back with a “reconfigured” lineup.

The Kings though would not give them much ground as they sustained their pounding of the Beermen to establish a 79-65 lead heading into the final quarter.

To start the fourth quarter, the Beermen cranked up their play on both ends of the court to put themselves in a position for a strong wind-up.

They cut Barangay Ginebra’s lead to just five points, 83-78, at the 7:36 mark of the period with Arwind Santos, Mr. Lassiter and Brian Heruela on the firing end.

San Miguel further reduced it to three points, 83-80, after two free throws from Alex Cabagnot with six minutes remaining.

The Kings stopped the bleeding as Mr. Caperal hit a shot clock-beating triple to give his team a six-point cushion, 86-80, which they would use as a springboard for a 4-1 run after to stretch their lead to nine points, 90-81, with under five minutes to play.

San Miguel cut its deficit back to three points, 90-87, as the game hit the last two minutes.

Mr. Aguilar scored off a dunk at the 1:46 mark to give his team a five-point advantage, 92-87.

The Beermen had their chances to cut the Kings’ lead but could not complete them.

An and-one play by LA Tenorio with 32 ticks to go stretched Barangay Ginebra’s advantage to eight points, 95-87, which eventually wound up as the final score.

Mr. Aguilar finished with a double-double of 25 points and 12 rebounds with Mr. Tenorio adding 18 points.

Mr. Caperal and Jervy Cruz each had 12 points while Mr. Devance wound up with 11.

San Miguel, meanwhile, was paced by Mr. Fajardo with 23 points and 16 boards.

Mr. Lassiter had 14 points before fouling out with Messrs. Santos and Cabagnot each having 13 markers.

“It was a grind-out game and key stops and hustle plays in the end made a difference for us,” said Mr. Aguilar of their hard-earned win.

Game Four of the series is tomorrow at the Mall of Asia Arena.

GOCC subsidies rise 27% in 2017 led by PhilHealth

SUBSIDIES granted to government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) in 2017 grew 27%, with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) continuing to take the largest share.

The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) said subsidies provided by the national government hit P131.09 billion in 2017, compared with P103.19 billion in 2016.

The government had budgeted P152.22 billion for subsidies, which are granted to state firms to cover operational expenses that are not supported by their respective revenues.

PhilHealth received P47.19 billion in additional funding last year, equivalent to 36% of the overall subsidies given.

This was followed by the National Irrigation Authority (NIA), which received P30.16 billion, or 23%, and the National Housing Authority (NHA), which took in P19.56 billion, or 14.92%.

Of the 49 GOCCs, the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority received no supplementary funding from the national government.

In December, GOCCs received P31.23 billion, up sharply from P5.07 billion in the same month a year earlier and the P5.96 billion total for November 2017.

PhilHealth led the December recipients with P13.07 billion or 41.85% of the total. It was one of 43 to receive such grants that month. It was followed by the NHA at P7.56 billion, or 24.21%.

This year, the national government expects to provide P188.93 billion worth of budgetary support to GOCCs, up 24.11% on the 2017 target, and up 44% on the actual subsidy levels for that year. — Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan

DoF focused on broad bank secrecy easing, not gov’t officials’ bank accounts

THE DEPARTMENT of Finance (DoF) said its focus is on effecting a broad easing of bank secrecy to facilitate tax evasion or money laundering investigations, and is not specifically concerned with accessing the bank records of government officials.

“The bill we are supporting is for everybody to be [included] but, subject to suspicions or evidence of tax evasion. You can’t just let anybody open bank records. But we are not limiting it to public officials. We are covering everybody, again subject to suspicions of money laundering for the purpose of tax evasion,” Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III told reporters last week.

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos T. Zarate filed last month House Bill No. 7146 which requires public officials to provide prior written permission to the Office of the Ombudsman to examine, inquire into or look into their bank deposits. The measure is designed to amend the Bank Secrecy Law, or Republic Act No. 1405.

The DoF is currently pushing for the relaxation of bank secrecy restrictions, which gives the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) the power to investigate suspected tax evaders.

The measure complements a tax amnesty proposal contained in the follow-up tax reform package, referred to by the DoF as “Package 1B.”

Both measures are currently pending at committee level in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The follow-up package is intended to bridge the revenue gap created when tax reform, originally projected to earn P133.8 billion, was watered down by both chambers of Congress.

The package includes a proposed increase to the motor vehicle users tax that is likewise pending at committee level.

The DoF has said that it expects Congress to approve Package 1B in the first quarter. — Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan

BoI registers nearly P86B worth of projects by Solar Philippines

THE Board of Investments (BoI) said it approved the registration of eight solar projects of Solar Philippines Commercial Rooftop Projects, Inc. with a total value of P85.96 billion.

“The firm is at the forefront of producing renewable and affordable energy to address the growing power requirements of the country with the manufacturing resurgence and infrastructure programs in full swing,” Trade Undersecretary and BoI Managing Head Ceferino S. Rodolfo said in a statement Tuesday.

“By taking advantage of the tropical climate of the archipelago, Solar Philippines is not only producing energy through its solar farms but also producing its own solar panels as it aims to become one of the world’s largest solar panel manufacturers and exporters.”

The agency said the projects complied with the Special Laws List of the current Investment Priorities Plan through Republic Act No. 9513, otherwise known as the Renewable Energy Act of 2008.

The BoI added that these projects are compliant with the law’s National Renewable Energy Program (NREP) which aims to reduce the country’s reliance on fossil fuel for energy.

These projects include an P18.99-billion solar facility in Paluig, Zambales. Once operational, it will have a capacity of 140.64 megawatt peak (MWp) for direct current capacity or 140 MWac for alternating current capacity. Operations for the plant are expected to start by February 2020.

In addition, the firm is constructing a P13.56-billion solar farm in Tarlac which will have a capacity of 293.76MWp or 200 MWac. A P13.56-billion solar facility with the same power capacity will rise in Balayan and Calaca towns of Batangas. These projects are scheduled to be operational by January 2019 and February 2020, respectively.

In Cavite province, Solar Philippines is putting up two solar facilities, each with an investment of P8.64 billion with combined capacity of 196 MWp or 140 MWac. Both are due to be operational by October 2018.

The remaining projects will be established in Sta. Rosa and Tarlac where the power generated by these projects will be sold through the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market at competitive prices.

These projects will generate 243 jobs.

Solar Philippines operates the first Philippine-owned solar factory in Batangas, which began operations in March 2017. The capacity at this plant is targeted to increase to 800 MW in its initial year and, eventually rising to 2,000 MW a year.

The BoI said power projects including renewable energy totaled P268.2 billion last year, up 28%. These projects accounted for 43.5% of the P616.8 billion total investment approvals recorded by the BoI in 2017. — Janina C. Lim

Bird flu triggers ban on some Dutch poultry imports

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it renewed a ban on poultry-related products from Groningen in the Netherlands due to a bird flu outbreak there, reimposing a ban initially implemented in early February.

In an order signed March 1 by Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol, the ban was reissued after the Netherlands confirmed an H5N6 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreak there.

The February ban was based on an initial report filed by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Chief Veterinary Officer Christianne Bruschke to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) on Dec. 10.

Ms. Bruschke again reported to the OIE in late February that HPAI continued to be found in the area.

The DA ban bars the entry of both domestic and wild birds as well as its by products such as poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen.

Likewise, all processing and evaluation of applications and the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary clearances have been suspended.

Shipments will also be confiscated upon entry by the department’s Veterinary Quarantine Officers.

“However, frozen poultry meat with slaughter [or] process date of 21 days prior to the HPAI outbreaks are allowed to enter the country subject to veterinary quarantine rules and regulations,” the DA said. — Anna Gabriela A. Mogato

ADB to fund air pollution study in Cebu industrial town with $1-million grant

THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT Bank (ADB) said it approved a $1-million technical assistance (TA) grant to reduce air pollution in Naga City, Cebu.

ADB project documents available online show that it approved on Monday the grant for Air Quality Management in connection with the Visayas Base-Load Power Development Project.

“This TA aims to improve air quality in Naga City, Cebu and promote mitigating measures that will include improved delivery of public health systems and foster development of sustainable communities,” the document read.

The funds will support air dispersion modeling studies, and capacity building at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) office in Cebu, which is the implementing agency.

Studies for the project will include the preparation of an air pollutant emissions inventory for major sources, data collection on pollutant emissions, ambient air quality monitoring, air dispersion modeling and prediction to assess compliance with national ambient air quality standards and evaluation according to international guidelines.

According to the regional lender, Naga City is home to two cement facilities operating there since 1994, which aside from quarries and motor vehicles in the city, are contributing to air pollution.

“The outcome will be the enhanced capacity of the local DENR office and selected qualified members of the project multipartite monitoring team and Airshed Governing Board to monitor and mitigate air pollution in the project area,” the ADB said.

In its 2018-2020 Country Operations Business Plan, the ADB has some $968 million available for financing government projects this year, $1.4 billion in 2019, and $1.36 billion in 2020. — Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan

Truck body makers to join jeepney modernization, Eco-PUV programs

THE Automotive Body Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (ABMAP) said it will participate in both the PUV Modernization Program (PUVMP) of the Department of Transportation (DoTr) and the Eco-PUV Program of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

ABMAP, an organization of truck body builders, said that it will manufacture products conforming to and avail of possible incentives that will be made under the PUVMP, and the soon-to-be-finalized Eco-PUV Program, programs intended to overhaul and modernize the PUV system and to promote the use of energy-efficient PUVs.

The DoTr is currently undertaking the initial planning phases of the PUVMP while DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez has been reported as saying that the government is finalizing the Eco-PUV program.

ABMAP said that in line with the PUVMP, the modern PUV its members will produce will be either compliant with the Euro 4 emission system or powered by an electric motor.

“So it will be generating less pollution or none at all as required by the Clean Air Act. This will help reduce air pollution and make the air we breathe cleaner,” the association said in a statement.

The association said that the vehicle body will be manufactured locally and assembled to conform to the new PNS 2126:2017 of the Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS). It said that there will be four classes based on passenger capacity, driving environment, and vehicle size. The DTI’s BPS approved last year the draft standard on dimensions for Public Utility Vehicles Class 2 or PNS 2126:2017.

Class 1 will have from 9 to 22 passengers and a driver, all seated; class 2 will have 22 passengers and will allow for standing passengers “to augment the driver’s income”; class 3 will accommodate above 23 passengers in an all-seater configuration; and class 4 will also be for 23 or more seated passengers with provisions for cargo.

ABMAP added that the doors, windows, gangways, hand rails, step boards, external protrusions all around and the driver’s line of sight are also all governed by international standards. An emergency exit will be also provided and there will be provisions for PWD and even an air-conditioning system in some PUVs.

An automated fare collection system will also be installed, as well as other features like Wi-Fi and GPS. — Patrizia Paola C. Marcelo

DoLE Initiative in curbing the perils of a sedentary life

On Oct. 18, 2017, the Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) Silvestre H. Bello III issued Department Order (DO) 184, Series of 2017, entitled “Safety and Health Measures for Workers Who, By the Nature of their Work, Have to Spend Long Hours Sitting.”

DO 184-17 came at an opportune time, with the influx of business process outsourcing companies in the Philippines whose employees are customarily made to sit in front of their computer screens for the entire duration of their shifts. With a good percentage of the country’s population seeping into these industries, there is room for concern as to the long-term and short-term effects of sedentary work. In fact, studies have linked sitting for long periods of time to a bundle of health risks, including obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, and musculoskeletal disorders. Worse, experts say that exercising to offset the effects of a sedentary lifestyle will be futile, as the solution is not through surges of sudden mobility but through gradual decrease in habitual immobility.

Specifically to curb the cluster of health conditions and consistent with the Secretary of Labor and Employment’s mandate to enforce occupational safety and health standards to ensure safe and healthful conditions in all places of employment in the country, DO 184-17 directs all employers and establishments to institute appropriate control measures to eliminate or, at the very least, minimize the health risks of prolonged sitting. These measures shall include the following:

• Regular five-minute breaks for every two hours of sitting time;

• Reduction of sedentary work by substituting sitting time with standing and walking;

• Appropriate designs for workstations for the type of work involved;

• Change of work systems which facilitate easy mobility of workers;

• Redesigning work tasks to enable greater variability in movement or posture;

• Organize activities that promote health and allow workers to do more physical exercise after work;

• Initiatives to raise awareness on the health effects of prolonged sitting and sedentary work; and,

• Medical surveillance of workers who are at risk of getting the deleterious health effects of prolonged sitting and sedentary work.

Notably, DO 184-17 applies not only to workers in the BPO industry, but to all workers who have to spend long hours sitting at work, such as those involved in administrative and clerical work, those working in highly mechanized establishments, and those working in the fields of transportation, among others.

employees

It further directs the concerned employers or establishments to strictly implement the safety and health measures required by the order and to notify DoLE, through the Regional Office which has jurisdiction over the workplace, of such adoption.

While the issuance does not provide for a penalty should the establishment fail to adopt its directives, pertinent DoLE Regional Offices are delegated to monitor the strict implementation thereof, so much so that such failure may warrant the issuance of an Order of Compliance upon DoLE’s inspection of the employer’s premises and practices.

Concomitantly, DO 184-17 houses only one of the many mandatory workplace policies required by DoLE and prescribed by several labor legislations to be adopted by Philippine employers. In fact, the said issuance is only complementary to an earlier order, Department Order 178, Series of 2017, which requires employers to give sitting breaks to employees who customarily stand due to the nature of their work.

These mandatory workplace policies on health and safety, including those that aim to control and prevent tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and Hepatitis B, those that regulate smoking in the workplace, and those that seek to maintain an alcohol- and drug-free workplace, are all in furtherance of the mandate to foster safe and comfortable working conditions for workers.

However, most of these policies, when enforced, merely allow for concessions in favor of the employees rather than impose rules against them. Thus, whether to conform with the purpose of these policies and comply with the guidelines ultimately rests not with the employers but with the workers who stand to be benefited by these government initiatives.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. This article is for general informational and educational purposes only and not offered as and does not constitute legal advice or legal opinion.

 

Gilyen Ezra Marie L. Li is an Associate of Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices (ACCRALAW).

(632) 830-8000

glli@accralaw.com

Developing government’s cybersecure culture

Cybersecurity in the Philippines remains in its infancy stage. Several initiatives to address cybersecurity concerns have been undertaken in the previous administrations, all of which were inadequate in deterring a good number of cyber threats that transpired in recent years.

In March 2013, after the Lahad Datu incident in Sabah, Malaysians defaced Philippine Web sites apparently to send a message to Filipinos to keep away from Sabah. In retaliation, Filipinos likewise defaced Malaysian Web sites. In May of the same year, Taiwanese hackers defaced Philippine Web sites to compel the Philippine government to apologize for the death of a Taiwanese fisherman due to a shooting incident involving Philippine Coast Guard personnel.

There are numerous other examples. On Nov. 2014, government Web sites were hacked by Anonymous-affiliated hackers to show discontent over the alleged incompetencies of government officials in addressing the aftermath of Yolanda. On April 2015, in response to the (illegal) reclamation done by China in the West Philippine Sea, Filipino hackers defaced Chinese government, educational and commercial Web sites.

Two of the biggest blows came next. In Feb. 2016, hackers breached the computer system of Bangladesh Bank and attempted to withdraw $1 billion from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Out of the $1 billion, $81 million was successfully transferred to the Philippines. Then in March, Anonymous Philippines hacked the Web site of the Commission on Elections, stole sensitive personal information of registered voters, and compelled the Commission to implement the security feature of the precinct count optical scanners. In July of the same year, after the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of the Philippine in the West Philippine Sea, some Philippine government Web sites were hacked.

These incidents show that data networks of the Philippine government are not as secure as they should be. As technology advances, so does the knowledge of hackers. As such, the government should not remain complacent in maintaining cybersecurity. Continuous improvements of security measures in cyberspace should be vigorously pushed.

key

Hopefully, this will change with the implementation of the National Cybersecurity Plan (NCSP) 2017-2022, which was launched by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) in May. The launch is seen as a crucial first step in building the country’s security posture in cyberspace. The formulation of the NCSP not only provides strategic directions for the government in addressing cybersecurity concerns, but more importantly, it shows the government’s commitment to include cybersecurity in its priority agenda.

Under the NCSP, among the key government agencies tasked in maintaining security in the cyberspace include the DICT, the Department of National Defense (DND), the Armed Forces, and the Philippine National Police (PNP). While these agencies appear to have interlocking jurisdictions, the roles and functions of these agencies are clearly defined in the law.

The DICT has four main thrusts: make critical infrastructure trusted and secure; make government information environment secure; raise cybersecurity awareness of individuals; and make business and supply chains secure. Taking into account these trusts, DICT is the primarily responsible in the formulation, recommendation and implementation of national policies, plans, programs and activities related to cybersecurity activities. It shall likewise provide technical expertise to government agencies governing cybersecurity.

On the other hand, the PNP shall be the lead agency in the investigation, enforcement, and prosecution of cybercrimes; and likewise lead in domestic national security operations. DND, together with the Armed Forces, shall be the lead agency for National Cyber Defense, which would include the defense of military network from cyber attacks; gathering of foreign cyber threat intelligence and determination of attribution; and investigation of cybercrimes under military jurisdiction, among others.

Interestingly, the Philippine Cybersecurity Conference of the DICT held Feb. 26-28 shed light on the programs and initiatives undertaken by these government agencies to fulfill these roles and functions. Applaudingly, these agencies have carried out measures focused on legal, technical, organizational, capacity-building and international cooperation that would improve its cyber-readiness.

It is reassuring to know that these government agencies are working hand in hand to faithfully carry out the objectives of the NCSP. However, maintaining a secure cyberspace requires the collective effort of not only key government agencies but private individuals and businesses. Indeed, the roles and functions of government are just but a piece of the cybersecurity puzzle. As the capacity of our government to address cybersecurity is still being improved, the private sector can play a critical role by forging partnerships with the government with the aim of sharing best practices and collaboratively addressing cybersecurity challenges.

 

Katrina Clemente-Lua is Executive Director of Stratbase ADR Institute.

If Trump were President of the Philippines

At my favorite watering hole in Daly City, the guys are discussing the travails of President Donald Trump, some with sympathy, most with derision. Because the folks at the bar are all male, the focus of the discussion is understandably Stormy Daniels, the porn star who claims to have had an affair with Trump before he became president.

“Ang galing naman niya,” says Pete, while caressing his cold bottle of beer as if it were the porn star’s shapely body. “Imagine being paid $130,000 not to talk about her affair with Trump. Now, she’s suing Trump and trying to get out of their agreement.”

“Maybe she just wants more money,” quips in Danny the bartender.

Then Ramon, who has just returned from Manila, speaks up: “If Trump were president of the Philippines, he would have no such problems.”

“What do you mean?” ask the guys.

“Well, for one thing, if Trump were president of the Philippines, he would not even bother to deny his affair with Stormy Daniels. He would be boasting about it. That woman is va-va-voom!”

The guys at the bar are all ex-Manilans and have fond memories of its wild and woolly days. “Sabi nga ni Erap Estrada, so what kung babaero ako? Better than being lalakero.”

Erap Estrada, in case the notoriously forgetful Pinoys have forgotten, is the former president of the Philippines who didn’t mind bragging about his womanizing. His logic was that it was preferable to “man-izing.”

“You don’t need to use Erap as an example,” cuts in Danny. “President Digong Duterte has boasted about his two mistresses and two girlfriends. During the campaign, he reasoned that he needed to make use of this (pointing to the bump in his pants), otherwise what was it for?”

“And the Speaker of the House, Panty Alvarez…” adds Pete.

“You mean, Pantaleon Alvarez,” Ramon corrects him.

“I call him Panty Alvarez dahil mahilig sa panty,” says Pete. “He has been showing off his girlfriend — not his wife — and bringing her with him on official trips.”

“That’s only one side of the situation,” says Ramon, who has been following developments in Manila. “If Trump were president of the Philippines, do you think any woman would dare expose him to the media or shake him down for blackmail money?”

“Let me guess,” says Danny knowingly. “Option one — Suppress relations. The media would have several thousand reasons not to publicize the scandal.”

Pete cuts in: “Option two — Tokhang. Stormy Daniels would have the PNP knocking on her door (tok-tok) and ‘requesting’ her (hangyo) to go with them. That would be the last that would be heard of her.”

And Pete adds, “That’s not all. I think the PNP would ravish her first, before killing her and burying her somewhere difficult to trace.”

“Option three — A congressional investigation,” Danny continues. “The members of the House of Representatives would conduct an inquiry covered live by television where they would accuse her of being a prostitute (they call porn movies ‘Fighting Fish’ in Manila) and make her publicly recant her accusations against President Digong Trump.”

“Digong Trump???”

“Well, okay… Donaldong Trump.”

“Or course, that congressman from Ilocos — the one who had a sex tape years ago, remember? — will first make her describe in detail her lovemaking with Trump before dismissing it as all lies,” says Pete.

“Option four,” Ramon now volunteers. “Vitaliano Aguirre, the secretary of Justice, would line up witnesses against Stormy Daniels from the whorehouses in Pasay and toros from Tagalog bomba movies to testify against her. Then she would be thrown in jail.”

“Just like Leila de Lima?

“Yep, just like Leila de Lima,” concludes Ramon.

“But that would only happen if Stormy Daniels were an ordinary Pinay,” says Paul. “Not if she is American.”

“How do you know that?” the guys at the bar ask.

“Remember Dovie Beams?” asks Paul.

“Dovie Beams? You mean the Hollywood actress who became a mistress of President Marcos?” the guys ask like a choir.

Paul recalls how Dovie Beams had gone to Manila to star in the movie, Maharlika, which was supposed to be about the war exploits of Marcos. Marcos took a liking for her and they had an affair that lasted two years.

“Well, Dovie Beams made tape recordings of her and Marcos in bed and of him singing love songs to her,” says Paul.

Paul pulls out a printout from Wikipedia and reads parts of it: “In 1970, a huge scandal hit the Philippines over the stormy break-up between then President Ferdinand Marcos and his mistress of two years, Hollywood starlet Dovie Beams. On many occasions, she had hidden a tape recorder under a bed while making love to the president.”

“Go on, go on,” the guys urge Paul.

“Before leaving the country, Beams held a press conference, and delighted the press and public by playing erotic recordings of herself with Marcos. According to her, she was forced to publicize her ‘love affair’ as ‘protection’ since there were many threats to her life.”

“I’m willing to bet that the reason Dovie Beams was able to leave the Philippines alive was because Marcos didn’t want to get into trouble with the US,” ventures Rudy. “If she had been a Pinay, na-tokhang na iyon.”

Danny corrects Rudy. “Tokhang was not in fashion then. They called it salvage.”

“I agree that if she were not a US citizen, Dovie Beams would have been picked up in the middle of the night,” says. Paul. “But according to Dovie Beams, Imelda Marcos tried to have her killed.”

Apparently, Imelda had arranged to load Dovie Beams in a plane to get her out of the country and get the scandal off the media. This was with the cooperation of the US embassy.

Paul refers to his Wikipedia printout and reads some more: “She was soon brought on to the plane by a staff member of the US embassy, but as soon as she left the plane, the seat next to her was taken by Delfin V. Cueto, whom she knew to be Marcos’s ‘No. 1 hatchet man.’ He made no approach to her during the flight, but she was thoroughly frightened and on arrival in Hong Kong moved hotels frequently.”

“Did Dovie Beams get killed?” the guys chorus again, eagerly.

“No, she got married to someone named Sergio de Villagran and they lived in a huge mansion in Pasadena,” says Paul. “People suspect that she had been paid off by Marcos but she denied it and insisted that she made her money from her movies and her husband’s businesses.”

At any rate, according to Paul, Dovie Beams and her husband were indicted in California for multimillion-dollar bank fraud and, at the time of the news report, they faced the possibility of long jail sentences.”

“Well, if they were in the Philippines, that would not have happened,” says Ramon. “They would negotiated their way out of the indictment.”

“What made you say that?” ask the guys at the bar.

Of course they all knew the answer to that and they chorused:

“Because in the Philippines, everything is negotiable. That’s why it’s more fun in the Philippines.”

 

Greg B. Macabenta is an advertising and communications man shuttling between San Francisco and Manila and providing unique insights on issues from both perspectives.

gregmacabenta@hotmail.com

VUCA in the here and now

By Raju Mandhyan

A FEW MONTHS AGO, I took a budget flight to Singapore while carrying only a backpack for the one night that I was to spend there.

At the airport check-in counter, they found my backpack to be heavier than the seven-kilogram limit. I also had a one-kilogram binder of notes and papers in my hand aside from the laptop and personal stuff in the backpack.

The girl at the counter had issues with that excess. I looked around and there were people carrying shopping bags, chocolates etc., while she had me move my stuff in and out of my backpack and nearly had me courier my binder back home before I boarded.

I asked for the supervisor and she claimed that she was, in fact, the supervisor. My ears were turning red with embarrassment when she eventually said that it was okay for me to board. I thanked her a bit tersely and she came back with, “Next time, please make sure to limit your hand-carried luggage to seven kilograms.” “Next time, I am not taking this airline,” I retorted. “We will take note of that, sir!” was her quick comeback.

I walked away — still embarrassed — but it slowly dawned on me that, if not for my feeling embarrassed, she, the supervisor, was really doing her job and had done her best to help me. As I boarded, I reflected upon my attitude and felt like making amends but got no chance to do so.

Today, I am thinking about how much customer-service people and their supervisors have to deal with in this highly volatile, uncertain, changing, and ambiguous (VUCA) world. Amid all the chaos, they have to be disciplined in order to maintain a calm demeanor under all the strain and stress.

I am tempted to believe that those who tend to not just survive but succeed in this VUCA world need to lean in and depend on their own VUCA. What is our own definition of the managerial acronym VUCA?

Values: Values that we hold near and dear are those that we live out loud. They are our absolute anchors, keeping us grounded and on keel. Whether we man the front lines or the boardrooms of our work lives, we need to get absolute clarity on the things we believe in and make those values our identity.

Uber-awareness: It is not just a matter of knowing what is going on at the surface but also of knowing what is going on beyond the limits of our sight, sound, and touch. It is being aware of space, of surroundings, and also of the emotions thriving within us and others. More importantly, it is an awareness wrapped in curiosity and kindness of what’s going on within the hearts and minds of others.

Courage: Many times, in all the things we are involved in, we do one of two things: We either hold ourselves back from getting involved or we interfere and intrude way too much into events. Courage is important and courage at the right time is much more important. We sometimes hold back because we may get hurt or lose face. Other times, we step in too much to exercise control or win favors or recognition. Proper balance is needed and that balance is weaned on our values.

Agile Adaptability: The last 100 years — the last three decades, especially — have seen incredible changes in how we are as a civilization. We can circles around the 25,000 miles of the earth in less than 72 hours. We can transfer millions of dollars from east all the way to the west in under 30 seconds. We can even board a plane and spend a night in another country with just seven kilograms of luggage.

It is a fast-changing world and people are required to adapt equally fast. Adapting quickly to changing circumstances requires openness, flexibility, and a huge desire to live this life out loud and to its fullness.

So — whether you are a humble traveler or a high-and-mighty supervisor behind a shiny check-in counter of an airline, a bank, or a call-center — what will make you a mover and a shaker in this VUCA world are your values, your uber-awareness, your courage to act at the right time and place, and your ability to adapt to a fast-changing world.

Success in work and life is not about regretting and ruminating over the past, nor is it about constantly fantasizing about the future: it is about being in the here and now — right now!

 

Raju Mandhyan is an author, coach, and trainer.

Peso flat ahead of Fed, BSP policy reviews

THE PESO ended flat against the dollar yesterday as market players stayed on the sidelines ahead of the US inflation data.

The local currency ended Tuesday’s session at P52.04 versus the greenback, flat from its finish the previous day.

The peso traded sideways the whole day, opening the session at P52 per dollar, which was also its best showing for the day. Its intraday low, meanwhile, was at P52.06 versus the greenback yesterday.

Dollars traded declined to $359.8 million on Tuesday from the $507.9 million that changed hands in the previous session.

Traders said market players preferred to stay on the sidelines waiting for fresh leads, particularly US inflation data which was set for release yesterday evening.

Inflation has been a focal point for the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy, and could speed up the tempo of interest rate hikes this year.

“The peso stayed at the sides [yesterday] amid uncertainty on the US inflation data…,” a trader said in an e-mail.

According to Reuters, the US consumer price index (CPI) likely landed at 0.2% for both headline and core inflation month-on-month. This is lower than the higher-than-expected 0.5% increase in headline inflation in January and the 0.349% gain in core inflation.

For Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion, chief economist at UnionBank of the Philippines, the inflation rate will slightly pick up from January.

“I expect a slightly higher inflation rate from January,” he said in a text message, adding that this would suggest for an interest rate hike coming from the US Federal Reserve next week.

“This suggests that interest rates are surely to be increased during the upcoming Fed meeting. Thus, there will be a downward pressure on the peso largely this week.”

Aside from US inflation data, a second trader said market players are also waiting for fresh leads from the monetary policy meeting of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas next week.

Mr. Asuncion said he is not expecting an interest rate hike from the domestic central bank.

For today, the traders are expecting the peso to move between P51.95 and P52.20.

“[T]he local currency is expected to depreciate amid indications of a likely stronger US inflation reading,” the first trader noted.

Most Asian currencies traded in a tight range ahead of the crucial inflation data from the United States.

“Today’s movement is relatively small but steady because there is US inflation data due this evening… if the consumer price index comes in the middle of or below market expectations, you’ll see a rise in risk appetite, but if the CPI comes in higher, I think it will dent market sentiment,” Gao Qi, Asia FX strategist at Scotiabank, said on Tuesday. — Karl Angelo N. Vidal with Reuters

1...12,51912,52012,521...13,852Page 12,520 of 13,852
© 2024 BusinessWorld Publishing.
All rights reserved.
Read our privacy guidelines
Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube