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Holiday hot spots

WAKING UP to the warm weather, struggling through heavy traffic for three hours (or more) daily, finishing pending tasks at work, stressing over ≈≈ shopping, or being away from your family are not exactly conducive to entering into the upcoming holiday’s festive mood. Still, this season’s trend towards light shows and flamboyant Christmas decorations in commercial areas and business districts make up for the usual gloomy sights of the city. Whether you are avoiding rush hour traffic before going home or looking for a place to hang out with friends and family over the weekend, head over to these places for a bit of the holiday vibe. The listing takes one from the north to the south of the metro.

• The 45-foot-tall Christmas tree at Centris

For those who opt to commute to Quezon City rather than drive through EDSA’s near standstill traffic, get off at the MRT’s Quezon Ave. station to view Centris’ giant Christmas tree, illuminated with red and gold accents, and take a breather from the rush hour insanity before hopping on a UV Express or jeepney to your destination. Centris has also lined up a series of activities under the heading “Magnifique Noel” — to catch renowned chorales and choirs perform on Friday nights while the night sky on Saturdays light up with a fireworks display. For a good reminder of the reason for the season, Misa de Gallo will be held at the Centris Walk at 6 p.m. daily beginning Dec. 15.

• Shangri-la Plaza’s The Great Yuletide Escapade

The mall’s snow-covered gates welcome visitors to what seems to be Santa’s cozy stable for his reindeers, many of which seem to fly from the ground to the sixth floor. Shoppers can meet Santa’s reindeers and come across snow-covered gingerbread houses in selected areas of the mall.

• Ayala Triangle Gardens’ Festival of Lights

Nothing relieves one’s stress and worries like the spectacular Festival of Lights which has captivated Makati’s denizens for the past eight years at the Ayala Triangle Gardens. The light show — more than 1.6 million LED lights are used — is expertly choreographed by award-winning director Voltaire de Jesus and Luther Gumia. The musical medleys include three distinct themes: “Pinoy Fiesta” by Roy del Valle, “Traditional Christmas” by Von de Guzman, and “Techno” by Tris Sunguitan. One medley is staged every 30 minutes nightly. Catch the musical lights show until Jan. 7, 2018.

• Megaworld’s Beary Merry Christmas

Stuck in traffic? Taking a moment to look up at the Alliance Global Tower in Uptown Bonifacio for a glimpse of the country’s largest lighted Christmas bear. Megaworld’s 50-foot-tall and 70-foot-wide white Santa teddy bear can be seen from Makati City, C5, and areas in Ortigas.

• BGC’s Sights and Sounds show

Visiting the restaurants and shops of Bonifacio High Street becomes a festive activity as the entire stretch is now surrounded with colorful lights, with a gift box made of crystal light bulbs as the centerpiece. A lights show designed by award-winning lighting director Voltaire de Jesus is accompanied by a three-part musical arrangement by acclaimed musician-composers Von De Guzman, Roy del Valle, and Tris Sunguitan featuring Filipino Christmas songs, followed by a mix of traditional and popular foreign holiday tunes, and ending with a chorus singing “Joy to the World.” Visitors may catch the BGC Sights and Sounds show every 30 minutes from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. until Jan. 7, 2018.

• CCP’s Habi ng Pagkakaisa

Nuvali’s light tunnel
Nuvali’s 50-meter-long light tunnel.

Motorists passing down Roxas Blvd. this holiday season will not miss the eye-catching 50-foot-tall Christmas tree standing at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Liwasang ASEAN Park, which was inspired by traditional Filipino weaves. Those who opt for a breather from the holiday traffic by taking a walk along nearby Harbor Square should make their way to the Christmas tree, enter its base, and look up to see the hidden star in the interior.

• Lumina: Walkway of Lights

After fetching your balikbayan relative at the airport’s Terminal 3, share stories with them while walking around the 110-meter pedestrian Walkway of Lights at the second floor of Newport mall, Resorts World Manila. Take photos with the 100,000 multi-colored LED bulbs as a background for a hip and sparkling new Facebook profile pic.

• Sparkle of Christmas at Filinvest City

This year, Filinvest city showcases a 3D-mapped giant Christmas tree and a dazzling light show called the Sparkle of Christmas that transforms the newly opened Spectrum Linear Park into a Christmas wonderland. The Sparkle of Christmas at Filinvest City runs every weekend until Dec. 31.

• Nuvali’s Magical Field of Lights

In Southern Luzon, the football field of Ayala Land’s Nuvali eco-community estate is currently covered in 5,000 LED bulbs shaped like tulips. The Magical Field of Lights is a lights and sounds show featuring colorful light spheres scattered all over the field, a 50-meter-long light tunnel, festive LED Christmas trees, and dandelion light installations. The night show can be viewed at the Nuvali football field from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. until Jan. 8, 2018. — Michelle Anne P. Soliman

Arab ministers demand Trump rescind Jerusalem decision

CAIRO — Arab foreign ministers on Saturday called on the United States to rescind its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and for the international community to recognize a Palestinian state.

In a resolution after an emergency meeting in Cairo, Arab League member ministers said that the United States had “withdrawn itself as a sponsor and broker” of the Israel Palestinian peace process with its controversial move.

The ministers met at the league’s headquarters in Cairo to formulate a response to the US decision, which has been roundly criticized in the Arab world and internationally.

The move by US President Donald J. Trump is “denounced and condemned,” Arab League chief Ahmed Abul Gheit told the ministers at the beginning of the meeting.

The ministers agreed on “demanding that the United States rescind its decision on Jerusalem…and the calling on the international community to recognize the state of Palestine…with east Jerusalem as its capital.”

They also said they would head to the United Nations Security Council for a resolution condemning the US decision as a violation of international law.

The decision has sparked protests and clashes in Palestinian territories since Mr. Trump announced the decision on Wednesday which drew criticism from every other member of the UN Security Council at an emergency meeting on Friday. — AFP

Caleb Truax shocks James DeGale

LONDON — American Caleb Truax stunned Britain’s former Olympic champion James DeGale on a majority decision to win the IBF world super-middleweight title in London on Saturday.

The 31-year-old DeGale was making the fourth defence of his title in his first fight on home soil for three years, but the 2008 Beijing gold medallist was condemned to just the second defeat of his career.

Two judges scored in favor of Truax, the American ahead 115-112 and 116-112 on those cards, with a third judge scoring the fight as a draw as DeGale was dethroned by the challenger.

“Crazy. I can’t believe it. I’ve got to go back to the drawing board and change things. I thought I won it but I have to go back and sort a couple things,” DeGale told BT Sport.

It was DeGale’s first bout since surgery on his right shoulder following his bruising draw against Badou Jack in January, but Truax refused to adhere to his underdog tag and offered constant pressure.

Truax, 34, unleashed a series of fierce blows against DeGale in round five that left the British fighter bloodied and up against the ropes, with the American then catching his foe with a heavy uppercut in the 10th.

DeGale launched a spirited response in the final two rounds but Truax stood firm before sinking to his knees in anticipation of a victory that was confirmed moments later. — AFP

Major souvenir shop, more inter-island water taxis lined up in Cebu

BIG-TICKET tourism projects will be unveiled in Cebu next year, boosting the tourism edge of the province, Department of Tourism-Central Visayas (DoT-7) Regional Director Joshur Judd S. Lanete II bared. Mr. Lanete said among these projects, which are already approved by DoT Secretary Wanda T. Teo, are a big souvenir center in Mandaue City that will carry products from around the country and more water taxis that will link mainland Cebu to neighboring islands. He also mentioned the formal commercial opening of the sprawling Carmen Zoo owned by jewelry magnate Michel Lhuillier next year. — The Freeman

PHL cites agri, MSMEs as its WTO priorities

THE PHILIPPINES is seeking to limit developed-country subsidies for agriculture and expand international trade opportunities for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) during the 11th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Buenos Aires this week.

Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez in a statement said that the Philippines will attempt to bring the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) back in focus as the overall framework for the negotiations, as it seeks to lower trade barriers.

“In particular, the DDA highlights the need to provide a discipline on the subsidies being given by developed countries to their agriculture; and provide more effective temporary protection from price volatilities to poor, vulnerable farmers,” he added.

According to the declaration in 2001 when the DDA was formed, the agenda recognizes the role of trade in the promotion of economic development and the alleviation of poverty.

MSMEs are the leading class of enterprise in the Philippines, but Mr. Lopez said that they only account for 35% of total output. Despite robust economic growth, the poverty incidence rate remains high at 21.6%, according to Philippine Statistics Authority data for 2015.

Mr. Lopez said that they will also seek arrangements to establish a working group under the general council “to consider how the multilateral trading system can impact and benefit MSMEs, with particular consideration to the needs and interests of developing and least-developed countries.”

He added that the Philippines is expecting a ministerial decision delivered on an MSME work program that considers the development levels of each country to support the “inclusive globalization,” which President Rodrigo R. Duterte has been pushing since the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit last month.

The Philippine delegation is also lobbying to further special safeguard mechanism (SSM) for agriculture, an initiative which stalled in 2015. Similar to the DDA, the SSM grants developing economies the authority to increase taxes on imported agricultural products temporarily should there be a need to balance the playing field for the sector.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol, who will be co-leading the delegation, will be present during the dialogue to discuss the rules on domestic support and export restrictions under the SSM.

“It prevents irreversible injury to every vulnerable farmers against price volatility. It also serves to balance large subsidies given to agricultural products in rich countries,” Mr. Lopez said. — Anna Gabriela A. Mogato

Kings over Jerusalem

Herod the Great was named by the Senate as “King of the Jews,” with a tacit order for him to control the Jews, who by their numbers were a force for the Roman Empire to contend with in the satellite kingdoms of Jerusalem and Judea. He ruled as tyrannical King for some 40 years, calling himself a believer in Judaism — though his subjects, the Jews, did not trust him, knowing that support from the Roman Empire was a major factor in enabling him to maintain his power (Biblical Archaeology Society, 1999). Herod was disliked for his lavish lifestyle that drained tax collections and for his inability to take criticism or any show of disloyalty. For his loss of trust on them, he had his wife (one of many) and several sons killed (Perowne, Stewart, Herod the Great, cited in wikipedia.com).

In the Christian Gospel of Matthew, Herod is the ruler of Judea who orders the Massacre of the Innocents at the time of the birth of Jesus (Matthew 2:16–18). By the warning of an angel, Joseph and Mary were able to escape to Egypt and save the Infant Christ, who was born in Bethlehem. And so Christians in the world — 32% of total population today — have been joyfully remembering the birth of Jesus for the past more than two millennia. The 68% non-believers in Christ the Redeemer nonetheless celebrate a “Christmas” in their own fashion, in December of each year. Peace on earth, goodwill to men.

Yet just when it is Christmas time again, world peace is gravely threatened, as Herodian rulers of the world ruthlessly compromise what should be a humanitarian moratorium on challenges to already-tender old wounds among nations and peoples. How unimaginably lacking in timing that US President Donald Trump should rouse and rile the more-than a century-old Arab–Israeli conflict over Jerusalem on the first week of the Christmas month!

“Trump reversed decades of US policy and recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, imperiling Middle East peace efforts and upsetting Washington’s friends and foes alike. Trump announced his administration would begin a process of moving the US embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a step expected to take years and one that his predecessors opted not to take to avoid inflaming tensions. (Reuters, Dec. 7, 2017).”

Arabs and Jews have long been fighting for territory and principle in the long-running conflict between Palestine and Israel. Jerusalem is home to sites holy to the Muslim, Jewish, and Christian religions, and decision on the status and ownership of this divided capital right in the middle of Israeli territory is one of the biggest obstacles to reaching a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestine. How can US President Trump just suddenly and unilaterally decide that Jerusalem belongs to Israel? Does he think himself Herod, and self-appointed “King of the Jews?”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Trump’s announcement as a “historic landmark (Ibid.).” But interviewed by Christian Amanpour on CNN, former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak agreed that Trump’s announcement “was a good idea…but this did not pass everything to Israel,” meaning, the controversy over Jerusalem is still not solved (CNN, Dec. 9, 2017). Ehud Barak said that he listened very closely to what Jared Kushner, senior adviser to his father-in-law Donald Trump said about the US President’s announcement, and it was clear that peace talks and negotiations will still have to proceed between Israel and Palestine.

Ehud Barak stressed that “we do not necessarily want everything US (Ibid.).” To this, Amanpour showed her year-2000 interview separately with Netanyahu and then Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat. She pointed out Netanyahu’s hard line stand in wanting Jerusalem all for Israel, vis-à-vis Arafat’s conciliatory offer of shared sovereignty over Israel. Ehud Barak commented that “Arafat was not the best truth-teller” and judged that Arafat did not deserve the Nobel Peace Prize but should have won the Oscar for his performance (Ibid.).”

Today Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stated, “We reject the American decision over Jerusalem. With this position the United States has become no longer qualified to sponsor the peace process (Reuters, Dec. 8, 2017).” Even former US Ambassador to Israel Daniel Kurtzer said “(Trump) cannot expect to side entirely with Israel on the most sensitive and complex issues in the process, and yet expect the Palestinians to see the United States as an honest broker (Reuters, Dec. 7, 2017).”

The international community does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over the entire Jerusalem, believing its status should be resolved in negotiations. No country (except the US in after two years setup) has its embassy in Jerusalem (Reuters, Dec. 7, 2017).

Egypt, the first Arab nation to sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, denounced Trump’s decision, describing it as a violation of international resolutions on the city’s shared-sovereignty status. Egypt is worried about the impact of the US move on the stability of the region and about its “extremely negative” impact on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process (Time, Dec. 7, 2017).

“Jordan’s King Abdullah II, whose country like Egypt has a peace treaty with Israel, said he had expressed his concerns to Trump in a phone call Tuesday, saying that ignoring Palestinian, Muslim and Christian rights in Jerusalem would only fuel further extremism (Ibid.).”

“Pope Francis called for Jerusalem’s status quo to be respected. China and Russia expressed concern the move could aggravate Middle East hostilities. British Prime Minister Theresa May said London called the US decision ‘unhelpful in terms of prospects for peace in the region.’ The United Nations Security Council is meeting over Trump’s decision, diplomats said last week (Ibid.).”

Protests ran in Jordan’s capital, Amman, inhabited by Palestinian refugees, and several hundred protesters gathered outside the US consulate in Istanbul denouncing Trump’s intervention and urging Jordan’s government to scrap its 1994 peace treaty with Israel. Palestinian Islamist group Hamas accused Trump of a “flagrant aggression against the Palestinian people (Ibid.).” “This has opened the gates of hell.”

Palestinians switched off Christmas lights at Jesus’ traditional birthplace in Bethlehem on Wednesday night to protest Trump’s move (Ibid.).

Peace on earth, goodwill to all (?).

 

Amelia H. C. Ylagan is a Doctor of Business Administration from the University of the Philippines.

ahcylagan@yahoo.com

Krampus: Santa’s creepy chum gives Austrians a scary thrill

SCHWADORF, AUSTRIA — Austrian financial adviser Ernst Eigner is ugly and scary. But only in his “Krampus” costume with red glowing eyes and horns to frighten naughty children and “evil spirits.”

His troupe is just one of an estimated 850, with 10,000 members around Austria marauding through towns and villages over the Christmas period in “Krampuslauf” parades.

“We are spreading the tradition of scaring away evil spirits,” Eigner told AFP as he donned his outfit before one such event in Schwadorf near Vienna.

“Just symbolically though of course,” he said, resplendent in his shaggy Roman centurion-cum-zombie costume, animal bones dangling here and there.

It starts off innocently, with Santa — or rather Saint Nicholas — giving out sweets. But fear is in the air because soon come his satanic sidekicks, dozens of them.

Wave after wave bound in, stomping around a roaring fire that sends sparks into the night sky, clanging cow bells attached to their backs and brandishing whips and blazing red flares.

With heavy metal blaring, the several hundred spectators in the market town watch behind safety barriers as the demonic creatures prowl around menacingly, leering at the public.

But apart from one tearful little girl, everyone has fun. The monsters high-five with kids as they slope off back to their lair — actually the local school — to get changed.

“We are trying to make it look brutal but our whips are only made of horse hair,” Eigner assures us. “People can hardly feel it if we hit them.”

BLACK ANGELS AND ORCS
It’s a booming trend, with ever more groups springing up to satisfy a seemingly insatiable demand, and not just in Austria but in southern Germany and further afield too.

One of Austria’s biggest parades, in Schladming south of Salzburg, involves some 800 monsters and attracts 8,000 spectators paying €12-15 ($14-18) per adult.

Yet, while it may be inspired by past customs, the phenomenon has moved and evolved far beyond its supposed origins in the remote valleys of the Alps.

Head-to-hoof in dark fur with horns, a tail and a lolling red tongue, from the 16th century Krampus traditionally appeared on Dec. 5, the eve of Saint Nicholas Day.

“Children would be tested on religious knowledge by Saint Nicholas. He would reward them but couldn’t punish them. That was Krampus’s job,” ethnologist Helga Maria Wolf told AFP.

“Even into the 1960s, the pair would visit families on request,” she said.

“Perchten” meanwhile, figures of good and evil whose origins are possibly pagan, would emerge in early January or in the carnival season before Lent, the Christian period of fasting.

Traditional Perchten processions still exist, such as in Gastein in western Austria where 140 creatures from mythology and legend “drive out winter” every four years.

But in recent decades, Krampus and Perchten have merged into hybrids, incorporating other influences from horror movies to heavy metal music, and appearing from early November onwards.

In Schwadorf there was Death himself and an assortment of witches, monks, red-faced Satans, black angels, and other beasts resembling Lord of the Rings orcs.

CONFRONTING FEARS
Every Krampus season however, Austrian newspapers are full of stories about drunken young men dressed up as monsters causing injuries and mayhem.

In one such recent event in the town of Voelkermarkt, police were called after at least six people were injured, reportedly after two rival Krampus groups clashed.

One therapist near Salzburg, Andrea Hammerer, runs a yearly seminar helping people who are scared to go outdoors at this time of year.

“The sound of the bells goes right to the unconscious,” Hammerer told AFP. “We get people to confront their fears, we bring in people dressed up as Krampus.”

Krampus performers say spectators can be the problem, grabbing their horns and throwing beer to wind them up.

Some groups held a demo in Klagenfurt recently to protest against negative media coverage.

But a whiff of danger is perhaps also part of the fun.

“There’s a nice word for it — ‘angstlust,’” the pleasure of fear, Wolf said. “People love rollercoasters for example. There’s a kind of comforting frisson about it.”

“When I was little I was a tiny bit scared,” said Lukas, 13, getting ready in Schwadorf to appear in his Krampus disguise. “But then I became one.” — AFP

TIEZA wants travel tax replaced with charge on foreign tourists

THE Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) is proposing the removal of the travel tax, a move which is expected to encourage more travel.

“That’s the plan. We have submitted the proposal to the President,” TIEZA General Manager and COO Pocholo J.D. Paragas told reporters on the sidelines of a TIEZA event.

Mr. Paragas said they directly submitted the proposal “a couple of months ago” to President Rodrigo R. Duterte, seeking an executive order abolishing the tax. A bill proposing the same is also in the House of Representatives.

Airline passengers leaving the Philippines are charged a full travel tax of P1,620 for those in economy class, and P2,700 for those in first class. Overseas Filipino workers and Filipino permanent residents abroad are among those who are exempt from paying the tax.

Under Republic Act No. 9593 or the Tourism Act of 2009, 50% of travel tax collections go to TIEZA, some 40% is allotted to the Commission on Higher Education for tourism-related educational programs, and the remainder will be given to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

To answer the need for funds for infrastructure development, TIEZA proposes the creation of a tourism development fund, similar to what is being collected in other countries, which will come from a fee added in the airfares of incoming foreign tourists.

“It will be used to make their next trip better,” Mr. Paragas said. He added that the fee will be adjusted based on funding needs.

Mr. Paragas said that he is “not positive” that the request will be granted anytime soon, but said he sees the possibility of the removal of the tax before the end of the term of Mr. Duterte.

In the meantime, TIEZA hopes to include the travel tax in online bookings, including bookings done through third-party websites or travel platforms.

“Our target is literally by the end of next year, 90% is all online. Right now we have Cebu Pacific. We’re also doing it for PAL (Philippine Airlines). We’re doing it also with other foreign, international airlines. In addition to that, even (travel booking service) Trivago,” Mr. Paragas said.

TIEZA last week partnered with Cebu Pacific, a unit of Cebu Air, Inc., to include the travel tax in tickets booked through the airline’s website and mobile application.

The possible removal of the travel tax is expected to boost tourism, as well as the airline industry.

Philippines AirAsia, Inc. has been proposing to the government the removal of the travel tax as well as airport fees for a period of five years, as the budget carrier says it can stimulate outbound tourism.

Cebu Pacific Vice-President for Corporate Affairs JR Mantaring told reporters on the sidelines of the TIEZA event, “If there’s a plan by TIEZA to remove travel tax, we support that… If travel tax is removed, more passengers will be encouraged to travel because that’s P1,620 less to pay for.”

A spokesperson for Philippine Airlines said the airline cannot comment until it has more information on the matter. — Patrizia Paola C. Marcelo

Cebu Pacific gets brand new ATR 72-600

CEBU PACIFIC added a brand new ATR 72-600 aircraft to its fleet, which will be used by subsidiary CebGo for domestic flights.

In a statement, the Gokongwei-led carrier said that new turboprop is the eighth of the 16 orders Cebu Pacific made last year with the Franco-Italian aircraft manufacturer. This also brings its total fleet size to 62.

“The ATR fleet, used primarily by Cebu Pacific’s subsidiary Cebgo, supports the expansion of the carrier’s footprint across the Philippines, bringing air connectivity to smaller cities and communities,” the company said.

Cebgo currently offers flights to 27 Philippine destinations using eight ATR 72-500s and eight ATR 72-600s.

The ATR 72-600 also features modern cabin interiors, with thinner seats, larger overhead bins and LED lightening for an optimal passenger experience.

Cebu Pacific fleet now has 62 aircraft, composed of two Airbus A319s, 36 Airbus A320s, eight Airbus A330s, eight ATR 72-500s, and eight ATR 72-600s. 

Between this year and 2022, the airline expects delivery of 47 brand new aircraft, composed of seven Airbus A321ceos, 32 Airbus A321neos, and eight ATR 72-600s.

Cebu Pacific recently launched two new domestic routes, from Laguindingan to Dumaguete and Caticlan (Boracay). It also designated Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental as its seventh hub.

Cebu Pacific previously said it aims to carry 20 million passengers by yearend. — Patrizia Paola C. Marcelo

Pence to face difficult Middle East visit in wake of Jerusalem step

JERUSALEM — Neither the Palestinian Authority president nor the head of the Coptic Church in Egypt plan to meet with US Vice-President Mike Pence when he visits the Middle East later this month, to protest the US declaration that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.

The rejections emerged as the Anadolu Agency said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to work together to persuade the US to change its stance on Jerusalem. Palestine Liberation Organization executive committee member Hanan Ashrawi said the United Nations Security Council should now move to “bring the US to compliance.”

Protests against the US move extended for a third day in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem. The Gaza Health Ministry said four Palestinians were killed in the past 24 hours in clashes with Israeli soldiers or by Israeli air strikes, launched in response to rocket fire on southern Israeli towns.

Mr. Trump’s decision, presented as being in “the pursuit of peace between Israel and the Palestinians,” has been denounced across the Arab world. Members of the Security Council condemned the move Friday as contradicting international law and prejudging the outcome of negotiations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called the decision ”courageous” and “just.”

TWO-STATE SOLUTION
Palestinians claim the eastern sector of Jerusalem, with shrines sacred to Muslims, Jews and Christians, as the capital of a future state. Israel’s current government sees the area as part of the nation’s eternal capital.

Jerusalem’s status must be worked out in peace negotiations with Israel, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki said in Cairo, where he added that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas wasn’t planning to meet Mr. Pence and stressed that the peace process needed a new mediator.

Pope Tawadros II, head of the Coptic Church in Egypt, also won’t meet Mr. Pence because the US administration’s decision fails to take “into consideration the feelings of millions of people,” the church said on its Facebook page.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, said Mr. Trump’s Jerusalem announcement “extended a lifeline to terrorist groups and armed organizations, which have started to lose ground in the region.” He expressed hope that Mr. Trump would retract it, according to state-run WAM news agency.

Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, said Friday that the Trump administration supports a two-state solution if agreed to by both parties, and added that an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement is within reach.

That did little to pacify Muslims. The Hamas group, which rules the Gaza Strip and has called for a new uprising, sent out a leaflet on Saturday urging Palestinians to continue to confront Israeli forces to protest the US move. The militant Islamic Jihad in Gaza and other Palestinian factions in the West Bank issued similar calls.

BELL RINGING
The West Bank groups instructed Palestinian churches to ring their bells as a show of unity, and called for demonstrations in front of US government buildings in the West Bank on Monday. Palestinians should block roads and confront Jewish settlers on Friday, they said.

In Lebanon, army chief General Joseph Aoun instructed the military to be “on alert and prepared to react to possible repercussions of the crisis.” He also said troops on the country’s southern border with Israel should be prepared “to confront any Israeli aggression or any breach of security.”

Dennis Ross, a former negotiator on Middle East peace talks who served three US presidents, said Mr. Trump’s declaration would have been better delivered in the context of a deal that offered Arabs something positive. The issue is “probably the most emotional one of all those involving Israelis and Palestinians,” he told Bloomberg TV. — Bloomberg

Biggest cage show is coming home

So the biggest basketball show is coming home.

Yes, the Philippines will host the 2023 World Cup for the first time since 1978 alongside Indonesia and Japan and the entire nation is celebrating.

It comes as no surprise as the Philippines is considered as a basketball country.

The Philippines has been knocking on FIBA’s doors as early as 2015 where they bid for the 2019 World Cup. The country became finalists along with China, but the world’s governing body in basketball awarded the hosting rights to the Chinese, owing to their readiness, the infrastructure and venues available and their capability of hosting multi-sporting events such as the Olympics and the FIBA Asia Championships, which it hosted several times.

This time, there’s no denying the Filipinos from seeing the world’s best players playing in the world’s biggest basketball event.

The Philippines has come a long way in terms of staging major international events.

Back in 1978, the country staged the World Basketball Championship in two venues — the Rizal Memorial Coliseum and the Araneta Coliseum.

Nearly 40 years since the last hosting of the event, these two venues will certainly need major upgrading.

Rizal Memorial, which can accommodate 8,000 spectators, is definitely out as among the venues to consider.

The Araneta Coliseum remains to be the centerpiece of sports and entertainment, but as far as FIBA is concerned, the venue should also be upgraded and meet certain standards. When the country bid for the hosting of the 2019 World Cup, the Big Dome didn’t made the requirements set by the world’s basketball federation.

Of course, there are two more venues that can be considered — the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay and the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

The MOA Arena was the site of the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship where the Philippines placed runner-up and made its way back to the world stage.

Philippine Arena, on the other hand, has hosted major events, most notably the PBA games.

Last October, the Philippine Arena drew 54,086 fans who watched Game 7 of the Finals series between Barangay Ginebra and Meralco.

Of course, Filipino fans expect to see Gilas Pilipinas holding their own against the world’s best.

The Philippines, which played in the 1978 World Championship by virtue of the country hosting the event, failed to win any games.

Through the years, the Filipinos had improved by leaps and bounds.

In its return to the world stage in 2014, the Philippines, coached by Chot Reyes, was able to push its rivals to the limit, making things difficult for powerhouse teams like Argentina and Puerto Rico before winning over Senegal.

There’s still enough time to prepare for the 2023 World Cup and by then, our young PBA players like Kiefer Ravena, Terrence Romeo, Calvin Abvueva would probably be joined by the future of Philippine basketball like 6-foot-9 AJ Edu and 6-foot-10 Kai Sotto.

We could only hope for great things to come. For now, let’s savor the great news.

 

Rey Joble has been covering the PBA games formore than a decade. He is a member of the PBA Press Corps and Philippine Sportswriters Association.

reyjoble09@gmail.com

DoH-6 calls on parents not to get scared with other vaccines amid Dengvaxia fiasco

THE DEPARTMENT of Health-Western Visayas (DoH-6) has urged parents to remain confident in submitting their children to the routine immunization program in health centers and schools amid the fiasco on the dengue vaccination program. Dr. Reynilyn D. Reyes, head of the DoH-6 family, health and nutrition cluster, said while Western Visayas did not serve as a pilot area for the national school-based immunization program using Dengvaxia, there could be an impact in terms of hesitation among parents to participate in the government’s other programs. At the same time, Ms. Reyes said they will be will assisting in the monitoring of children who were immunized with Dengvaxia. The Dengvaxia pilot areas were Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and the National Capital Region, and was later expanded in parts of Central Visayas. The Philippine Pediatric Society, Inc. — Iloilo Chapter will gather on Dec. 19 in Iloilo City for a meeting about Dengvaxia. — Louine Hope U. Conserva

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