Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube
Home Blog Page 12683

Volkswagen boosts Golf GTS wagon’s appeal by adding new Highline variant

THE wagon version of the Golf now has a new variant available in the Philippines.

Called Golf GTS Highline, the freshly released car adds to the Golf GTS Business Edition and Business Edition+ sold locally since May 2017.

Volkswagen Philippines said the Golf GTS — standing for Grand Touring Sport — offers 350 liters more of cargo space compared to the Golf hatchback. The distributor added the GTS is “ideal for those who love the power and performance the Golf has been known for over the years, yet still value the comfort and space of a wagon.”

VW Golf GTS 2
The GTS is a Golf with extra room for luggage in the back.

Initially priced at P1.340 million — offered until cars imported prior to the imposition of higher vehicle taxes are available — the GTS Highline is equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels, bi-Xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lights, fog lamps with static cornering lights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, heated side-view mirrors with turn signals, front seats with two-way power-adjustable backrests, leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters and multimedia controls, smart entry, and an infotainment system with a 6.5-inch touch screen panel, Bluetooth connectivity, App Connect, voice control and eight speakers and a subwoofer.

Powering the GTS Highline is a four-cylinder 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine that’s mated to a six-speed DSG transmission. The engine makes 147 hp from 3,500 rpm to 4,000 rpm and 340 Nm of torque from 1,750 rpm to 3,000 rpm. Volkswagen Philippines said the car’s electromechanical speed-sensitive power steering, 15-inch ventilated disc brakes, a front suspension composed of struts and three-point wishbones with a stabilizer bar, and a torsion beam setup in the rear all make the GTS Highline feel “premium.”

The car is available in black, Blue Silk, Night Blue Metallic, Platinum Grey, Pure White, Reflex Silver, Tornado Red or Tungsten Silver paintjobs while its cabin can come in Titan Black or beige palettes.

1,200 Olympic security guards withdrawn over virus outbreak

PYEONGCHANG, SOUTH KOREA — More than 1,200 security guards have been withdrawn from the PyeongChang Winter Olympics because of a norovirus outbreak, organizers said Tuesday.

Out of the group, 41 suffered a sudden onset of vomiting and diarrhea on Sunday.

They were transferred to hospital and most were diagnosed with a norovirus infection.

Norovirus is highly contagious and can also be spread through food or water contamination.

“The 1,200-odd people were pulled out from their duties,” an official of the PyeongChang Olympic Organizing Committee told AFP. “They were replaced by some 900 military soldiers.”

Health authorities were investigating the origin of the virus, he said.

The security guards, all employees from a security company, had been accommodated at a youth training center in PyeongChang, separate from the athletes’ village. — AFP

Squid tactics

Two parallel issues (call them controversies or scandals — your choice) involving the occupants of the White House and Malacañang have been hogging the headlines of late. In both cases, squid tactics are apparently being used to muddle public perception of culprit and victim, accuser and accused, right and wrong. In both cases raw political power is being wielded.

On the US side, there is the recent decision of President Donald Trump and the Republicans to release a memo that tends to cast a bad light on the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the US counter-intelligence agencies, the Department of Justice, and Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

The memo is in connection with the surveillance by the FBI of Trump campaign associate, Carter Page, in the course of its investigation of Russia’s interference in the last US presidential elections, the possibility of collusion with the Trump campaign, well as the possibility of obstruction of justice by Trump himself.

The Republicans, who dominate both Capitol Hill and the White House, have accused the FBI of abuses in its handling of the investigation, thus putting the premier law enforcement agency of America under a cloud and, in effect, providing relief for heretofore culprit, Page and possible major culprit, Trump.

The FBI’s alleged misconduct in its surveillance of Carter Page has been characterized by Republican spin specialists as “worse than Watergate.” The focus of their spin is the allegation that the FBI partly based its suspicion of Page’s Russian links on a dossier prepared by a former British intelligence operative funded by the Democrats and the Hillary Clinton campaign.

Democrats have accused the Republicans of besmirching the reputation of the FBI and the Justice Department ahead of any findings by Mueller that may be adverse to Trump. In other words, they are cushioning the possible impact on Trump of the Mueller investigation, and also providing a justification for firing Mueller and the Deputy Attorney General, Rod Rosenstein, who has direct supervision of the Special Counsel.

Talk about turning the accuser-culprit-victim paradigm upside down, this is one is a classic.

But wait, in the Philippines there also appears to be a parallel case of making the accuser the accused and portraying as victims the alleged wrongdoers.

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the suspension of Overall Deputy Ombudsman Arthur Carandang, who has been tasked with looking into allegations of billions in unexplained wealth of Duterte and members of his family. Duterte’s order is said to be in utter disregard of a Supreme Court position on the issue and in the face of resistance by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.

Like the Special Counsel in the US, the office of the Ombudsman is supposed to be beyond the clutches of partisan politics.

Carandang’s sin? He reportedly leaked to media bank documents obtained from the Anti-Money Laundering Council that may confirm earlier accusations of Duterte’s unexplained wealth made by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

According to Duterte, Carandang secured the documents without the knowledge of the AMLC. Of course, Duterte denies the allegations and questions the authenticity of Carandang’s purported findings.

Duterte and his allies have characterized Carandang’s violation as deserving his suspension even if that act also constitutes another violation. A violation of the Constitution.

Like the anti-FBI memo of the Republicans, turning the tables on Carandang is said to be a squid tactic to cover the more serious issue of unexplained wealth hovering over a president who claims to be incorruptible (“I hate corruption. P — ina!”).

In the US case, one would have expected right-thinking representatives of the American people to vent their ire on Russia and on Carter Page (after all, Russia is supposed to be an adversary of America) — but no, the Republicans have cast Page and, by implication, Trump, as “victims” of FBI misconduct, rather than as possible Russian bogey men. The FBI, the Justice Department, the US intelligence community and, by implication, Special Counsel Mueller have been cast as the villains.

To rub in the point about the “villainy” of the FBI, the memo, crafted by Republican Rep. Devin Nunes, glosses over the fact that the dossier only served as part of the basis for suspecting Page and that other independent and verifiable intelligence information had raised red flags on Page. The Republicans also appear to be completely ignoring the many contacts with the Russians made by Trump associates, including Donald Trump, Jr. (who met with Russian agents who had promised “dirt” on Hillary Clinton).

Worst of all, the Republicans appear to be completely overlooking Russia’s meddling in the US elections and possible treasonous acts committed by certain US citizens. This inexplicable stance of the GOP has been summed up by maverick Republican Senator John McCain as “doing (Vladimir) Putin’s job.”

In a prepared statement, McCain said: “In 2016, the Russians engaged in an elaborate plot to interfere in an American election and undermine our democracy. While we have no evidence these efforts affected the outcome of our election, I fear they succeeded in fueling discord and dividing us from one another.

“The latest attacks on the FBI and Justice serve no American interests — no party’s, no president’s, only Putin. The American people must know all the facts surrounding Russia’s ongoing efforts to subvert our democracy, which is why special counsel Mueller’s investigation must continue unimpeded.”

McCain accused Trump of creating “partisan side shows” to distract from the investigation — adding that the partisan attacks on American institutions means, in effect, that “we are doing Putin’s job for him.”

The motives of both the Republicans and the Duterte camp appear too obvious and too brazen (there is a Tagalog term for it, garapal) for them to expect the citizenry to believe them. Unfortunately, their respective battalions of loyal supporters are standing by them.

Trump’s spin specialists have proven themselves expert at portraying an apple as a banana (to cite a CNN TV spot on the need to purvey truth in journalism). And Trump himself has lied so often and so habitually that his supporters and the Republicans no longer see anything wrong with it. In the process they seem to be discarding loyalty to country in favor of party loyalty.

Duterte and his information machinery have also been conducting a vigorous media and social media campaign to justify Carandang’s suspension, as well as the possible impeachment of Ombudsman Carpio-Morales, if she continues to be defiant.

Of course what is happening in the Philippines is not unusual. Our people are resigned to the fact that President Manuel Quezon’s noble assertion, “My loyalty to my party ends where my loyalty to my country begins,” is absolutely meaningless in Philippine politics.

What resonates are the immortal words of Senate President Jose Avelino, “What are we in power for?” Aptly translated into Erap-speak: “Weather weather lang iyan!”

 

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

China’s power and territorial expansion

Although I am certain of being at least 37.5% Chinese from my maternal grandparents, I have only seen the mainland from a hill in Hong Kong. But I guess I have tried to explore my Chinese-ness through my readings (in English translation) and, when I was younger, learning and practicing T’ai Chi almost every day.

A fascinating book that I have recently begun to read is The Hundred Year Marathon by Michael Pillsbury. The book is described on it is cover as “China’s Secret Strategy to replace America as the Global Superpower.” The Hundred Year Marathon has for its starting line the rise to power of Mao Tse Tung in 1949; and therefore, the strategic goal is for China to be the greatest global power by 2049.

Pillsbury’s impressive credentials include being an analyst at Rand Corporation, staff work for US Congressional Committees, and research fellowships at Harvard. He has worked with the CIA and the Department of National Defense of the United States. He learned to read, write, and speak Mandarin as a young man; and in his career, obtained access to many confidential Chinese government papers, including those on Chinese culture and strategy. He admits to have made many mistakes in his earlier recommendations due to faulty and probably naïve analysis of the Chinese situation.

From what I have read so far, I have come to the conclusion that nothing will stop China from taking over the South China Sea, as it already has in fact done de facto. And nothing will stop it from controlling Benham (Philippine) Rise and the Sulu Seas, which our President is allowing them to patrol. I do not presume to know what really is our President’s reason for the generous hospitality toward the Chinese; but certainly, the United States, notably under President Trump is probably too naïve to realize that these moves are just part of executing China’s strategy to become the world’s greatest power, economically, politically, and eventually, militarily. Besides, the US has to temper its moves with China since it needs China’s help to rein in North Korea’s missile aggressiveness. Fat chance that China will in fact accommodate the US far enough on this. It is more advantageous for China to keep the North Korea ace vs. US global power. For instance, it seems to me that the US cannot get too aggressive on the South China Sea issue for fear of offending China.

The warring states through the centuries among the numerous regions that now comprise China spawned strategic political and military thinkers some of whom wrote down their ideas. The most famous of these of course, is Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. There are other writings, it seems, on for example, The Art of Governance. Pillsbury studied these materials in their original versions, and thus was able to understand more deeply their meanings than he would have if he had relied on translations. For example, we are reminded that, as in T’ai Chi, rather than face force frontally with force, one should astutely move obliquely and use the enemy’s own force to defeat him/her.

It seems Chinese culture encourages discretion and appropriate secrecy in matters of business, politics, and war. Timing, it seems is everything. Even deception should be used, if necessary, to throw off the enemy. If necessary, one must be willing to lose, or accept humiliation in the context of the bigger victory desired (palugi muna). This is probably the reason why China has only now begun to assert its military might, by building military bases on islands in the South China Sea. It doesn’t matter if they destroy corals and deplete marine life in the process. It doesn’t matter if fisherfolk in the ASEAN area suffer from loss of incomes. They are focused on their goal to control power and the sea lanes in this part of the world.

The United States is less than 300 years old as a nation, if we count from the Declaration of Independence. Chinese culture and civilization dates back through several millennia. Of course, Confucian ethics seems closer to what Western democracies can appreciate. And the laudable educational and civil service systems of China owe their traditions to Confucianism. However, Pillsbury refers to the “hawks” in the Chinese government, who were once considered a fringe element in the Communist Party vs. the “doves” who tended closer to Confucian values. Pillsbury concludes that the US intelligence agencies have failed to appreciate that the “hawks” are no longer on the fringes of policy and governance; but that they are in fact now the dominant influence. Pillsbury describes Xi Jin Ping as the “superhawk” who due to his relatively young age, can be expected to remain in power longer than his more dovish predecessors. The marathon to become the world’s most powerful nation on earth is thus expected to proceed consistently toward its goal.

The Chinese it seems, having an older culture, tend to think more deeply, more astutely, and longer term than Western democracies. Their economic moves through high investments in resource rich Africa, and the concrete initiatives to build the Silk Road toward the West are strategic and long term. The goodwill investments in ASEAN in competition with the USA have borne much fruit, especially with the Duterte government’s acquiescence.

It seems a certainty that smart, astute China will be the eventual winner in this game of global dominance. What will happen to our little but strategically located country in the context of these developments depends on how skillfully we dance the Tinikling or do the T’ai Chi. Shall we benefit, or do we suffer?

 

Teresa S. Abesamis is a former professor at the Asian Institute of Management and an independent development management consultant.

tsabesamis0114@yahoo.com

Filinvest breaks ground for Meridian Place Phase 2

FILINVEST Land, Inc. (FLI) has broken ground for the second phase of its mass housing project in Cavite, amid strong demand from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

In a statement issued Tuesday, the Gotianun-led property developer said it has started the development of Phase 2 of Meridian Place in General Trias, Cavite. 

“The ground breaking for Phase 2 is an affirmation of our clients’ support for this project.  We are also proud that we are able to serve the increasing demand for quality homes that are easy on the pocket,” Reynaldo A. Ascaño, Filinvest senior vice-president for the South West North Luzon cluster, was quoted as saying in a statement.

The entire development offers a total of 1,310 house-and-lot units, which each unit priced between P900,000 and P1.3 million. The company said it has already sold 80% of the units from Phase 1, and 14% of units from Phase 2.

Homebuyers can choose from three model units from Meridian Place, namely Bernice, Caroline, and Danessa. Floor areas range from 27 to 37 square meters (sq.m.), standing on lots that span 60 to 75 sq.m.

Amenities include a swimming pool, clubhouse, basketball court, children’s playground, outdoor events lawn, and a park lane. The company has launched the amenities area of the Meridian Place alongside the development of the second phase.

FLI looks to complete the second phase by 2019. It is currently turning over units from the first phase.

The company is banking on the large demand for housing units in the country, citing government estimates that an average of 345,941 units are required every year from 2012 to 2030. Of this, 42% account for economic housing, while 10% are from low cost housing. 

FLI is targeting the OFW market with its projects. “We also hope to cater to OFWs. They remain as one of the main driving forces of the property industry with more than 60% of remittances go to real-estate investments,” Mr. Ascaño said.

FLI saw a 7% uptick in earnings in the first nine months of 2017 to P3.7 billion, following a 7% increase in revenues to P14.52 billion during the period. This was boosted by higher rental revenues as new office and retail buildings started contributing to the company’s top-line.

Shares in FLI gained a centavo or 0.55% to finish at P1.84 each at the stock exchange on Tuesday. — Arra B. Francia

Frasier dad John Mahoney, 77

CHICAGO — Actor John Mahoney, who portrayed the no-nonsense father in the TV sitcom Frasier, has died in Chicago at the age of 77, his longtime theater company said Monday.

Mahoney played the iconic role of Martin Crane for all 11 seasons of the popular sitcom until 2004. He won numerous acting accolades including nominations for Emmys and Golden Globes.

The Steppenwolf Theater Company in Chicago said Mahoney, who was a member of the ensemble for 39 years, died Sunday due to complications from cancer while in hospice care.

The character actor was born in England, but moved to the United States at the age of 19 to teach English at a college in Illinois, according to Variety.

Chicago was his longtime home, and he had said he felt happiest when in the Windy City.

“John Mahoney was a fixture on the Chicago stage,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in remembrance. “Even as his fame grew through his fantastic work in movies and television, John stayed connected to his artistic home here in Chicago.

“Though he will be missed, his work and impact will endure for generations to come.”

Mahoney got his acting start in Chicago relatively late, when he was 40 in the late 1970s, after fellow actors John Malkovich and Gary Sinise invited him to join the then nascent Steppenwolf, according to the Chicago Tribune.

“So many wonderful plays together over the years,” Sinise reminisced on Twitter. “A wonderful actor I’ll never forget his 1985 performance in Orphans (Chicago and New York).”

Mahoney appeared in more than 30 productions at the prestigious theater, including The Rembrandt in September.

“John was a beloved member of our Steppenwolf family who was known for his extraordinary kindness, generosity of spirit and quick smile,” Steppenwolf spokeswoman Madeline Long said in a statement. “John’s impact on this institution, on Chicago theater, and the world of arts and entertainment is great and will endure.”

Mahoney appeared in numerous films and TV shows, and continued to appear on television as recently as 2015 in the TV series Foyle’s War.

His more than three decades-long career in film saw him appear in movies such as The American President, Moonstruck, and Say Anything.

Mahoney won a number of acting awards, including Tony and Screen Actors Guild trophies. — AFP

Boxing out?

If you happened to be a fan of amateur boxing in the Olympics, there is a possibility that you will be left disappointed in the next Summer Games in 2020 in Tokyo, Japan, if the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) concerns over it are not addressed and decides to push through to scrap the event altogether.

Following executive board meetings in PyeongChang, South Korea, ahead of the Winter Games later week, it has been reported that the IOC expressed dissatisfaction with the Amateur International Boxing Association (AIBA) over, among other things, the governing body’s “financial management and questionable choice for leadership.”

So concerned was the IOC that it was said that it is ready to make bold decisions regarding the issue, including the possibility of scrapping amateur boxing in the Tokyo Games.

The issue touches on how AIBA finances are being handled, the naming of Gafur Rakhimov as AIBA’s interim president as well as concerns over judging in the 2016 Rio Olympics, including in medal matches.

After the meetings, it has been reported that the IOC “is extremely worried about the governance in AIBA” and it wants everything in order.

In relation to this, the IOC suspended funding for the AIBA until it could prove it had tightened up its governance.

For its part, AIBA downplayed the possibility of amateur boxing not being part of the Tokyo Games, saying it is confident that it can satisfy the concerns of the Olympic body by working together with the IOC to improve that handling of its affairs.

It went on to say that it has started undertaking reforms to correct its ship moving forward.

The AIBA is expected to present further report by the end of April.

Now in the event that IOC’s plans to scrap boxing in the Olympics are consummated then it is definitely bad news for countries like the Philippines.

As things stand, we are already hard-pressed to win our first Olympic gold medal with boxing part of the program, what more if it is removed.

Of all the disciplines that the country is competing in at the Olympics, boxing undeniably has shown a wider window for us to win medals.

To date, the Philippines has won a total of five Olympic medals care of boxing — two silver and three bronze medals.

The silver medals were from featherweight Anthony Villanueva (1964) and light flyweight Mansueto Velasco (1996).

Bronze medals, meanwhile, were won by bantamweight Jose Villanueva (1932), light flyweight Leopoldo Serantes (1988) and light flyweight Roel Velasco (1992).

Taking away boxing would make it harder for the Philippines to finally break through for gold.

Of course, by saying this it does not mean that other athletes of ours do not have a chance outright but considering the track record we have in the Olympics one cannot be blamed for feeling as such.

Whether boxing is in or out in the Olympics in 2020 remains to be seen. But hopefully those concerned, particularly AIBA, get their act together lest they find things too late to remedy. Here’s hoping for the best.

 

Michael Angelo S. Murillo has been a columnist since 2003. He is a BusinessWorld reporter covering the Sports beat.

msmurillo@www.bworldonline.com

Dashboard (02/07/18)

Hyundai donates vehicles to Gawad Kalinga

FIVE Hyundai vehicles were donated on Jan. 22 to Gawad Kalinga (GK) by the corporate social responsibility arm of Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), called HARI Foundation, Inc.

This is according to HARI, which said it has renewed its commitment to support GK’s social entrepreneurship program. Three of the vehicles will be used to transport from farm to market the products of GK communities. The two others are intended to support GK’s Kusina ng Kalinga, a platform that addresses hunger and malnutrition among children in public schools, on the streets, and in conflict areas.

HARI said the turnover of the vehicles capped the 5th Global Social Business Summit held at the Hyundai Center for Green Innovation in the GK Enchanted Farm in Angat, Bulacan. The company added its foundation has been supporting for more than a decade GK’s mission of ending poverty for five million families by 2024.

Ford DSFL
Personalized instructions guarantee better results.

Ford expands driver training program

ITS Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) training program has reached an estimated 20,000 drivers since 2008, Ford Philippines said in a news release.

The company added that, for the first time last year, it conducted DSFL in Pampanga, Batangas, Cebu and Davao, as well as in several schools in Metro Manila. Together with program facilitator Tuason Racing School, Ford said it has also increased the number of hands-on driving sessions to ensure that participants are able to apply their learning from the classroom sessions.

“2017 has been a great year for our DSFL program and we are happy to bring it outside Metro Manila to educate and train more drivers on the proper driving skills while on the road. Seeing the growing number of participating drivers and partner-institutions inspires us to make the DSFL program more inclusive for our road safety advocacy,” said EJ Francisco, AVP for communications at Ford Philippines.

Ford said it recently trained more than 700 Uber drivers. The effort was part of DSFL’s strengthened focus on training more drivers of public utility vehicles.

Phoenix gas station

Phoenix opens 100th updated station

PHOENIX Petroleum said it opened on Jan. 22 its 100th service station that features its new look. The station is located on West Service Road in Muntinlupa City.

Phoenix said it has been upgrading its stations nationwide to “reflect the company’s aspiration of becoming the next-generation fuel company catering to the needs of the next-generation drivers.”

“The new look of our stations is just the start of our improved products and services to our customers as we set the tone for the future. Our goal is to exceed customer expectations and engage with the community we are part of through our improved stations,” said Phoenix Petroleum COO Henry Fadullon.

Phoenix said it operates more than 500 stations nationwide. It added it has also entered the convenience retailing business with its acquisition of Philippine Family Mart, and is set to start a joint venture with TIPCO Asphalt of Thailand and PhilAsphalt.

LRMC to add more LRT-1 trains

LIGHT RAIL MANILA Corp. (LRMC) is set to add more trains to the Light Rail Transit Line-1 (LRT-1) this year.

LRMC President and Chief Executive Officer Juan F. Alfonso said the company is planning to add 15 more light rail vehicles (LRV) by late 2018.

“A big portion of our trains are generation 1. We’re starting the rehabilitation of generation 2 trains that will add about another 15 trains in the system,” he told reporters on Tuesday.

This would allow the company to deploy more LRVs to accommodate an expected increase in passengers once the LRT extension to Cavite starts operating by 2021.

“Because for the Cavite Extension, the forecast of that is about 800,000 [passengers] or higher so for that, we’ll have JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) [which will add] around 30 plus coaches,” Mr. Alfonso said.

The company currently has 109 LRVs with a total capacity of 500,000 passengers.

LRMC turned one of its LRVs into a “Love Train” decorated for Valentine’s Day. The Love Train aims to promote environmental awareness.

“We’ll keep it because it’s like a wallpaper on the train, so we’ll keep the theme so when it fades, that’s when we’ll change it,” Mr. Alfonso said.

LRMC’s P500-million station improvement project, which started in 2016 with the expansion of its Doroteo Jose station, is set to finish by next year. — Anna Gabriela A. Mogato

New IPO Guidelines for patent examination

In line with its goal to deliver timely and quality patents, utility models and industrial designs, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPO) recently released the Manual for Patent Examination Procedure (MPEP). The MPEP describes in detail certain procedures and practices on matters of patent law and interpretation and serves as a comprehensive guide for administrative officers and patent examiners of the IPO and the general public.

The MPEP is divided into two (2) parts.

Part 1 of the MPEP outlines the procedures for the filing of papers with the IPO, formality examination of applications, publication, granting and post-grant of patents, registration of utility model and industrial designs, Patent Cooperation Treaty procedures, and the Community Review Process. Substantive requirements of these procedures are explained in Part 2.

At the same time, the IPO released the following Examination Guidelines on inventions that deal with specialized emerging technologies:

GUIDELINES ON THE EXAMINATION OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY AND COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED INVENTIONS
These guidelines are meant to assist patent examiners in assessing whether patent applications involving the fields of information communications technology (ICT) and computer-implemented inventions (CII) are patent eligible. ICT refers to the totality of electronic means to assess, create, collect, store, process, receive, transmit, present, and disseminate information. On the other hand, CII are inventions that involves computers, computer networks, or other programmable apparatus whereby prima facie one or more of the features of the claimed invention are realized by means of a program or programs. In particular, the ICT and CII guidelines aim to equip examiners with the ability to determine whether the combination of non-patentable subject matters with technical means or hardware in ICT related patent claims constitute “technical character.” Having technical character is an implicit requirement under the Intellectual Property Code in order for an invention to be patentable.

GUIDELINES ON THE EXAMINATION OF BIOTECHNOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS (BIOTECH GUIDELINES)
The Biotech Guidelines were formulated to address technical and ethical issues that the IPO has encountered with respect to patent applications involving the production, modification, and utilization of biological materials. Aside from providing important definition of biotechnology-related terms in the context of patent law as well as examples of eligible and non-eligible subject matters, these guidelines put together the best practices when examining biotechnological inventions, and guide the examiners to the most appropriate approach to most cases.

REVISED GUIDELINES ON THE EXAMINATION OF PHARMACEUTICAL APPLICATIONS INVOLVING KNOWN SUBSTANCES (QUALITY UNIVERSAL ACCESSIBLE MEDICINES ACT GUIDE)
The Quality Universal Accessible Medicines Act Guide is the administrative interpretation of the amendments to the IP Code pursuant to Republic Act No. 9502 or the Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008. It focuses on the methodology to be observed by patent examiners when examining patent applications involving drugs or medicines involving known substances.

It bears noting that the MPEP and the aforementioned guidelines were issued to streamline procedures, clarify substantive matters, and accommodate emerging technologies such as computer-related inventions, biotechnology, and applications involving drugs or medicines involving known substances. These guidelines do not constitute legal provisions. Therefore, in exceptional cases, patent examiners may depart from these guidelines. Patent applicants should still carefully check whether their applications are aligned not only with these guidelines, but also with the Intellectual Property Code and existing rules and regulations.

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

 

Danielle S. Cadiz is an Associate of the Intellectual Property Department at the Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices (ACCRALAW).

830-8000

dscadiz@accralaw.com

Too much monkey business

The New York Times article was pretty damning. In 2014, three German automakers funded a laboratory experiment in the American state of New Mexico which sought to make it appear that diesel fumes weren’t harmful to human beings.

The “study” — made known only when the story came out — had people around the globe howling in indignant protest. Ten monkeys were made to sit in airtight rooms while they cluelessly inhaled emissions coming out of the tailpipe of a diesel Volkswagen Beetle.

The car companies that financed the “research” were BMW, Daimler (Mercedes-Benz) and Volkswagen. With a healthy slice of their respective product lines boasting diesel propulsion, they all had a lot to lose from the rapidly deteriorating reputation of vehicles with oil-burners under the hood. In June 2012, for instance, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer officially classified diesel exhaust as “carcinogenic to humans.” Meaning you could develop cancer from breathing air contaminated with diesel emissions.

What investigators found was that the Beetle used in the experiment had been rigged such that it would emit far less harmful particles in a laboratory setting than it would in the real world. Obviously, a serious wrongdoing here is the willful intent to cheat. You will recall that Volkswagen had already run afoul of US regulators after equipping its diesel vehicles with a device that tampered with emissions tests in their favor — an offense that ultimately resulted in a $14.7-billion fine.

But an equally crucial transgression is the use of animals to accomplish what appears to be a political goal — a desperate lobbying effort to demonstrate to regulators and consumers that inhaling toxic diesel fumes is perfectly okay. What the Golf were they thinking?

Installing an emissions-cheating mechanism on cars was bad enough; making defenseless monkeys inhale diesel exhaust all day was the height of soulless idiocy. Finding out your favorite car brand refused to play by the rules in emissions tests would cause you to doubt its trustworthiness. Discovering it harmed animals just to advance its agenda would make you doubt its humanity.

Last week, Volkswagen announced that it had already suspended its chief lobbyist in the wake of the New York Times story. “The boundaries of decent and moral conduct were clearly crossed,” a Volkswagen official was quoted by Reuters as saying. “It appears as if some at VW have lost their ethical and moral bearings.”

Here’s the elephant in the room: What about Volkswagen Philippines and its diesel products? Surely, the distributor’s diesel cars are sourced from the same factories that spawned the fraudulent units. But the reality is this: Using our emissions standards — we only recently switched to Euro4 even as Western countries had moved up to Euro6 as early as 2014 — every single brand-new diesel car from Germany would be many times cleaner and environment-friendlier compared to the old jeepneys and trucks we still allow to run on our roads.

Think about it: The world got furious when 10 monkeys were forced to breathe toxic gases. Millions of Filipinos have been inhaling pollutants far worse than what those simians sucked into their lungs. Not to sound overly dramatic, but that’s the message being sent across by our inept government agencies every time they renew the registration documents of dilapidated vehicles that wouldn’t even pass for junk in other Asian countries — that the lives of apes have more value than those of Metro Manila residents. Chew on that thought.

The UK is now proposing “unlimited fines” for car manufacturers that deliberately sidestep exhaust regulations, while Germany is looking into the activities of two Bosch employees for their possible role in Chrysler’s own diesel emissions case in the US. What these tell us is that other nations take the air they breathe seriously. To them, contributing to a cleaner environment isn’t an option — it’s a must. Do so or go out of business (or even go to jail).

It’s time our lawmakers paid attention to what’s happening around the world. While others are vigorously fighting for their right to breathe clean oxygen, here we are willingly puffing noxious gases from rickety vehicles and imported discards on a daily basis.

Otherwise, we’re all better off caged in a zoo. Maybe there we’ll have a better chance of respiring speckless air.

Pistons took a gamble

“The hardest thing to do in this league is get a proven star,” Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy told scribes in the aftermath of a stunning deal that netted him Blake Griffin. “We know the injury history. That’s the risk on it, but that risk was worth it because of the talent we’re bringing back.” And for all the criticism he got in pulling the trigger on a trade that isn’t without downsides, he’s right; nothing in the National Basketball Association is free, and when you’re in a swoon that threatens to kill your campaign before you even reach the All-Star break, you take the gamble.

To Van Gundy’s good fortune (and, no doubt, relief), his bet has so far reaped dividends. In the week since he welcomed Griffin into the fold, the Pistons have reeled off three consecutive victories. So energizing was the latter, in fact, that the very news of the swap triggered an inspired outing from the red, white, and blue; they ended their January with a convincing shellacking of the imploding-of-late-but-always-dangerous Cavaliers.

It would, of course, be foolhardy to think the Pistons would run the table from here on. Even with Griffin headlining their cause, they’re nowhere near close to taking the measure of the league’s perennial contenders. That said, they now possess a better-than-even chance of not just making the postseason, but actually beginning it with homecourt advantage. Following yesterday’s emphatic triumph over the weary Blazers, they found themselves at .500 and tied for the eighth seed in the East.

Whether the Pistons will completely reap the benefits of Griffin’s presence remains to be seen. For one thing, his durability remains a question mark. For another, there is still much to improve on for his partnership with resident marquee name Andre Drummond to take off a la Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins with the Pelicans. Nonetheless, it’s clear that he has made a deep impact, even off the court. Little Caesars Arena is moving turnstiles, slowly but steadily, and fans now appreciate the trees as much as they do the forest. It’s a work in progress, but one with tremendous upside.

 

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is the Senior Vice-President and General Manager of Basic Energy Corp.

1...12,68212,68312,684...13,845Page 12,683 of 13,845
© 2024 BusinessWorld Publishing.
All rights reserved.
Read our privacy guidelines
Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube