UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST — FACEBOOK.COM/WEARETHEUAAP
Game on Wednesday (Mall of Asia Arena) 6:30 p.m. – Adamson vs UE
WIN or go home.
That will be the name of the game as the University of the East (UE) and Adamson University dispute the last Final Four seat in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Action erupts at 6:30 p.m. in a knockout set-to for the lone men’s game after the two-round eliminations with the survivor gaining a shot against No. 1 and reigning champion De La Salle University in the semifinals this weekend.
UE, once the hottest team in the league, wasted five chances to get into the Final Four with losses one after another as the stars aligned for Adamson in the nick of time to make the playoff duel possible.
Both were tied with similar 6-8 records, thanks to the Falcons’ 69-55 win over also-ran Ateneo and the Warriors’ 77-67 defeat to the second-seeded University of the Philippines (UP) to end the elims.
So now, the momentum is on Adamson and it’s out to pounce on it to the fullest while UE is still reeling from a costly five-game losing skid.
On top of that, the Falcons are enjoying a knockout experience in their third straight playoff match after ousting La Salle in 2022 and losing to Ateneo de Manila University last year.
UE, for its part, is starving to find an answer to its sudden struggle after an impressive 6-3 start marked by a stunning victory over La Salle.
And for coach Jack Santiago, this is the perfect timing to do that at last with their bid to enter the Final Four for the first time in 14 years up for grabs.
“I still believe we can make it to the Final Four,” he beamed.
Meanwhile, host and last season’s runner-up UP is already sealed to a Final Four duel against No. 3 seed University of Santo Tomas, which snapped a five-year drought with a 7-7 slate.
Like La Salle against either UE or Adamson, University of the Philippines will enjoy a win-once bonus for an inside track to a finals return for the fourth straight season. — John Bryan Ulanday
Game on Wednesday (Quezon Convention Center, Lucena) 4 p.m. – Biñan vs Quezon
TOP-SEEDED Quezon eked out a gutsy 25-19, 23-25, 25-18, 21-25, 17-15 Game 1 win over Biñan Tatak Gel 1-Pacman Partylist to zero in on the coveted Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA) title Monday night at the Alonte Sports Arena in Laguna.
The Tangerines erased a 10-13 deficit in the fifth set to escape with a 1-0 lead in the short best-of-three series entering the potential clinching Game 2 at home at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena Wednesday.
Cristy Ondangan came through in the clutch, delivering the final two points for the Tangerines in the extended decider to finish with 19 points on 15 hits, two aces and two blocks.
Ms. Ondangan, who converted a crosscourt hit before blocking May Ann Nuique’s attack for the win, complemented Rhea Mae Densing, who fired a game-high 22 points on 22 hits.
Mary Grace Borromeo and Mycah Go also threw in solid contributions with 18 and 14 points, respectively, as the Tangerines moved closer to the MPVA crown right away in their first season as an expansion squad.
Ms. Nuique (19), Erika Jin Deloria (16) and Shane Carmona (10) had their numbers but to no avail for the third-ranked Biñan in spite of its home crowd and a massive momentum from stunning No. 2 Bacoor in the semifinals.
Quezon eliminated No. 4 Rizal in one try in the semis as Biñan erased Bacoor’s twice-to-beat incentive to arrange an unlikely finale showdown, where it proved a worthy opponent before falling just short.
Meanwhile, Rizal St. Gerrard Charity Foundation blanked Bacoor, 25-21, 25-19, 25-22, to capture the bronze medal behind Johna Denise Dolorito (13) and Janeth Tulang (10).
Winnie Bedaña scored 11 but Bacoor absorbed its third straight loss in the biggest stage to settle for fourth place after reigning supreme in the inaugural but shorter edition without home-and-away format yet. — John Bryan Ulanday
JAYLEN BROWN and Jayson Tatum led a 51-point second quarter as the Boston Celtics stretched their winning streak to six games by beating the visiting Los Angeles Clippers 126-94 on Monday.
Brown scored 13 points and Tatum added 12 as Boston tied an NBA record by connecting on 12 3-pointers in the second quarter. The Celtics made 22 of 51 3-point attempts in the game (43.1%).
Kristaps Porzingis made his season debut for the Celtics, who own the NBA’s longest winning streak. Porzingis missed Boston’s first 17 games while recovering from an offseason foot surgery.
Porzingis made 6 of 12 field goal attempts and scored 16 points in 23 minutes. He also had six rebounds and two blocked shots.
Tatum led the Celtics with 20 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Payton Pritchard came off the bench to add 20 points, 18 of which came on 3-pointers.
It was the second stop on a four-game road trip for the Clippers, who allowed an opponent to score more than 100 points for the first time in their last five games.
Ivica Zubac had 23 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers. Zubac made 11 of his 14 field goal attempts.
Los Angeles received 19 points from James Harden and 11 from Derrick Jones, Jr. Terance Mann and Jordan Miller each scored 10 off the bench.
The loss ended the Clippers’ five-game winning streak.
Derrick White (19), Brown (17) and Neemias Queta (12) also scored in double figures for Boston. Queta matched Tatum with a team-high nine rebounds.
The Celtics led 27-20 after one quarter and 78-49 at halftime. Boston made 16 of its 34 3-point attempts in the first half (47.1%).
Los Angeles sliced its deficit to 19 points by starting the third quarter on a 10-0 run, but the Celtics had a 99-78 advantage heading into the final 12 minutes.
Boston played without Luke Kornet (hamstring) and 38-year-old Al Horford (second night of back-to-back games). — Reuters
MADRID — Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. will miss his side’s Champions League clash at Liverpool on Wednesday after sustaining a leg muscle injury in their 3-0 LaLiga win at Leganes at the weekend, the Spanish club said on Monday. Sources told Reuters that Vinicius is expected to be sidelined from three to four weeks. — Reuters
It’s easy to see why head coach Mike Brown got all worked up in the aftermath of a bang-bang play that saw the Kings fail to make a basket and then absorb a three at the other end of the court. The twist was brutal in and of itself, padding a deficit to 19 points and underscoring the hosts’ predicament a third into the second quarter. He felt Colby Jones, who sprinted for a layup after stealing the ball off a lazy pass by the Nets’ Ben Simmons, was fouled by the latter and should have been awarded two free throws. Instead, the no-call led to a five-point turnaround that provided a snapshot of their 2024-25 campaign to date.
Bottom line, Brown knew he had to do something — anything, really — to awaken the Kings from their stupor. They had lost two straight heading into the homestand, and he felt the encounter with the equally struggling Nets provided them with a grand opportunity to arrest their slide. Unfortunately, his charges appeared to be executing none of what they talked about extensively prior to the contest. And so he figured on making a spectacle of himself to get a rise out of them and, hopefully, coax them into competing.
In retrospect, perhaps Brown overdid things. He charged at referee Scott Twarodski in a manner that may well have justified an ejection instead of just a technical foul. In any case, he got what he wanted: The Kings did respond to his tirade, outscoring the Nets by 11 for the remainder of the period. That said, they still absorbed a loss at the buzzer; clearly, whatever has been ailing them requires more than just a stunt. As he noted in his post-match presser, they have struggled to put theory to practice for one reason or another.
Granted, the Kings have time on their hands. They may be a deflating 8-9, but 80% of their schedule is ahead of them. What’s more, they have a surfeit of talent at their disposal. Which is to say their fate is in their hands. The flipside, of course, is that they have to want to get better. In the highly competitive West, having a stacked roster isn’t enough; making the best use of it is a requisite. And Brown knows the onus is on him to get them to meet expectations. Whether he actually can remains to be seen.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
JERUSALEM/BEIRUT — US President Joseph R. Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron are expected to announce a ceasefire in Lebanon between armed group Hezbollah and Israel imminently, four senior Lebanese sources said on Monday.
In Washington, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said, “We’re close” but “nothing is done until everything is done.”
The French presidency said discussions on a ceasefire had made significant progress. In Jerusalem, a senior Israeli official said Israel’s cabinet would meet on Tuesday to approve a truce deal with Hezbollah.
Signs of a diplomatic breakthrough were accompanied by heavy Israeli airstrikes on Beirut’s Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs, as Israel pressed on with the offensive it launched in September after almost a year of cross-border hostilities.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office declined to comment on reports that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to the text of a deal. But the senior Israeli official told Reuters that Tuesday’s cabinet meeting was intended to approve the text.
Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations (UN), Danny Danon, said Israel would maintain an ability to strike southern Lebanon under any agreement. Lebanon has previously objected to wording that would grant Israel such a right.
US State department spokesperson Matthew Miller said gaps between the two parties have narrowed significantly but there are still steps they need to take to reach an agreement.
“Oftentimes the very last stages of an agreement are the most difficult because the hardest issues are left to the end,” he said. “We are pushing as hard as we can.”
Diplomacy is aimed at getting Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel to end fighting that erupted in October 2023 in parallel with Israel’s war against Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in Gaza. The conflict in Lebanon has drastically escalated over the last two months.
In Beirut, Elias Bou Saab, Lebanon’s deputy parliament speaker, told Reuters there were “no serious obstacles” left to start implementing a US-proposed ceasefire with Israel, “unless Netanyahu changes his mind.”
He said the proposal would entail an Israeli military withdrawal from south Lebanon and regular Lebanese army troops deploying in the border region, long a Hezbollah stronghold, within 60 days.
A sticking point over who would monitor compliance with the ceasefire was resolved in the last 24 hours with an agreement to set up a five-country committee, including France and chaired by the United States, he said.
STRIKES ON BEIRUT Despite diplomatic progress, hostilities have intensified. Over the weekend, Israel carried out powerful airstrikes, one of which killed at least 29 people in central Beirut, while Hezbollah unleashed one of its biggest rocket salvoes yet on Sunday, firing 250 missiles into Israel.
In Beirut, Israeli airstrikes leveled more of the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs on Monday, sending clouds of debris billowing over the Lebanese capital.
Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli attacks killed 31 people and wounded 62 across the country on Monday. Over the past year, more than 3,750 people have been killed and over one million have been forced from their homes, according to the ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its figures.
Israel has dealt major blows to Hezbollah, killing its leader Hassan Nasrallah and other top commanders, and inflicting massive destruction in Lebanon areas where the group holds sway.
Israel says its military offensive is aimed at enabling tens of thousands of Israelis to return to homes they evacuated when Hezbollah began firing across the Lebanese border into Israel more than a year ago. Hezbollah’s campaign followed the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel that precipitated the Gaza war.
Hezbollah strikes have killed 45 civilians in northern Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. At least 73 Israeli soldiers have been killed in northern Israel, the Golan Heights and in combat in southern Lebanon, according to Israeli authorities.
MISTRUST OVER DEAL Biden’s administration, which leaves office in January, has emphasized diplomacy to end the Lebanon conflict, even as all negotiations to halt the parallel war in Gaza are frozen.
US Middle East envoy Brett McGurk will be in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to discuss using a potential Lebanon ceasefire as a catalyst for a deal ending hostilities in Gaza, the White House said.
Diplomacy over Lebanon has focused on restoring a ceasefire based on UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the last major war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006.
It requires Hezbollah to pull its fighters back around 30 kilometers from the Israeli border, behind the Litani River, and the regular Lebanese army to enter the frontier region.
Israel and Hezbollah have accused each other of failing to implement it in the past; Israel says a new ceasefire must allow it to strike any Hezbollah fighters or weapons that remain south of the river.
An agreement could reveal rifts in Mr. Netanyahu’s right-leaning government. The far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, said Israel must press on with the war until “absolute victory.” Addressing Mr. Netanyahu on X, he said, “It is not too late to stop this agreement!” — Reuters
UKRAINE and Russian flags are seen through broken glass in this illustration taken March 1, 2022. — REUTERS
MOSCOW — Senior Russian security official Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday that if the West supplied nuclear weapons to Ukraine then Moscow could consider such a transfer to be tantamount to an attack on Russia, providing grounds for a nuclear response.
This as Russian forces are advancing in Ukraine at the fastest rate since the early days of the 2022 invasion, taking an area half the size of Greater London over the past month, analysts and war bloggers say.
The New York Times reported last week that some unidentified Western officials had suggested that US President Joseph R. Biden could give Ukraine nuclear weapons, though there were fears such a step would have serious implications.
“American politicians and journalists are seriously discussing the consequences of the transfer of nuclear weapons to Kyiv,” Mr. Medvedev, who served as Russia’s president from 2008 to 2012, said on Telegram.
Mr. Medvedev said that even the threat of such a transfer of nuclear weapons could be considered as preparation for a nuclear war against Russia.
“The actual transfer of such weapons can be equated to the fait accompli of an attack on our country,” under Russia’s newly updated nuclear doctrine, he said.
RUSSIAN ADVANCES The war is entering what some Russian and Western officials say could be its most dangerous phase after Moscow’s forces made some of their biggest territorial gains and the United States allowed Kyiv to strike back with US missiles.
“Russia has set new weekly and monthly records for the size of the occupied territory in Ukraine,” independent Russian news group Agentstvo said in a report.
The Russian army captured almost 235 square kilometers (sq. km.) in Ukraine over the past week, a weekly record for 2024, it said.
Russian forces had taken 600 sq. km. in November, it added, citing data from DeepState, a group with close links to the Ukrainian army that studies combat footage and provides frontline maps.
Russia began advancing faster in eastern Ukraine in July just as Ukrainian forces carved out a sliver of its western region of Kursk. Since then, the Russian advance has accelerated, according to open-source maps.
Russia’s forces are moving into the town of Kurakhove, a stepping stone towards the logistical hub of Pokrovsk in Donetsk, and have been exploiting the vulnerabilities of Kyiv troops along the frontline, analysts said.
“Russian forces recently have been advancing at a significantly quicker rate than they did in the entirety of 2023,” analysts at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said in a report.
The General Staff of Ukraine’s armed forces said in its Monday update that 45 battles of varying intensity were raging along the Kurakhove part of the frontline that evening.
The Institute for the Study of War report and pro-Russian military bloggers say Russian troops are in Kurakhove. Deep State said on its Telegram messaging app on Monday that Russian forces are near Kurakhove.
“Russian forces’ advances in southeastern Ukraine are largely the result of the discovery and tactical exploitation of vulnerabilities in Ukraine’s lines,” Institute analysts said in their report.
Russia says it will achieve all of its aims in Ukraine no matter what the West says or does.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly said peace cannot be established until all Russian forces are expelled and all territory captured by Moscow, including Crimea, is returned.
But outnumbered by Russian troops, the Ukrainian military is struggling to recruit soldiers and provide equipment to new units.
Mr. Zelensky has said he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s main objectives were to occupy the entire Donbas, spanning the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, and oust Ukrainian troops from the Kursk region, parts of which they have controlled since August. — Reuters
WASHINGTON — A US judge on Monday dismissed the federal criminal case accusing Donald Trump of attempting to overturn his 2020 election defeat after prosecutors moved to drop that prosecution and a second case against the president-elect, citing Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting president.
The order from US District Judge Tanya Chutkan puts an end to the federal effort to hold Trump criminally responsible for his attempts to hold onto power after losing the 2020 election, culminating in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol by a mob of his supporters.
The move came after Special Counsel Jack Smith, the lead prosecutor overseeing both cases, moved to dismiss the election case and end his attempt to revive a separate case accusing Trump of illegally retaining classified documents when he left office in 2021 after his first term as president.
It represents a big legal victory for the Republican president-elect, who won the Nov. 5 US election and is set to return to office on Jan. 20.
The Justice Department policy that the prosecutors cited dates back to the 1970s. It holds that a criminal prosecution of a sitting president would violate the US Constitution by undermining the ability of the country’s chief executive to function. Courts will still have to approve both requests from prosecutors.
The prosecutors in a filing in the election subversion case said the department’s policy requires the case to be dismissed before Trump returns to the White House.
“This outcome is not based on the merits or strength of the case against the defendant,” prosecutors wrote in the filing.
Prosecutors in the documents case signaled they will still ask a federal appeals court to bring back the case against two Trump associates who had been accused of obstructing that investigation.
Trump spokesman Steven Cheung hailed what he called “a major victory for the rule of law.”
Trump had faced criminal charges in four cases — the two brought by Smith and two in state courts in New York and Georgia. He was convicted in the New York case while the Georgia case, which also relates to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, is in limbo.
In a post on social media, Trump railed on Monday against the legal cases as a “low point in the History of our Country.”
The moves by Smith, who was appointed in 2022 by US Attorney General Merrick Garland, represents a remarkable shift from the special prosecutor who obtained indictments against Trump in two separate cases accusing him of crimes that threatened US election integrity and national security. Prosecutors acknowledged that the election of a president who faced ongoing criminal cases created an unprecedented predicament for the Justice Department.
Chutkan left open the possibility that prosecutors could seek to charge Trump again after he leaves office, but prosecutors would likely face challenges bringing a case so long after conduct involved in the case happened.
Trump pleaded not guilty in August 2023 to four federal charges accusing him of conspiring to obstruct the collection and certification of votes following his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden.
Trump, who as president will again oversee the Justice Department, was expected to order an end to the federal 2020 election case and to Smith’s appeal in the documents case.
Florida-based Judge Aileen Cannon, who Trump appointed to the federal bench, had dismissed the classified documents case in July, ruling that Smith was improperly appointed to his role as special counsel.
Smith’s office had been appealing that ruling and indicated on Monday that the appeal would continue as it relates to Trump personal aide Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, a manager at his Mar-a-Lago resort, who had been previously charged alongside Trump in the case. Both Nauta and De Oliveria have pleaded not guilty, as did Trump.
In the 2020 election case, Trump’s lawyers had previously said they would seek to dismiss the charges based on a US Supreme Court ruling in July that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution over official actions taken while in the White House.
Trump denied wrongdoing in all cases and argued that the US legal system had been turned against him to damage his presidential campaign. He vowed during the campaign that he would fire Smith if he returned to the presidency.
Trump in May became the first former president to be convicted of a crime when a jury in New York found him guilty of felony charges relating to hush money paid to a porn star before the 2016 election. His sentencing in that case has been indefinitely postponed.
The criminal case against Trump in Georgia state court involving the 2020 election is stalled. — Reuters
CoA Chairperson Gamaliel A. Cordoba leads the CoA delegation.
The Commission on Audit (CoA) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) held a meeting on Nov. 20, 2024 to discuss support for strengthening the CoA’s audit of foreign-assisted projects, public debt audit and Public Financial Management (PFM) reforms in the Philippines, including the PFM Inter-agency Initiative for Green Lane Fiduciary Arrangements as part of the CoA’s international commitments.
CoA Chairperson Gamaliel A. Cordoba led the CoA delegation composed of Assistant Commissioners Martha Roxana C. Sese, Adela L. Dondonilla and Alexander B. Juliano, Directors Corazon S. Rocas, Marilyn C. Briones, Haide T. Espuelas and Olympia P. Balugay, and OIC Assistant Directors Ameer S. Gamama and Eumaida P. Tiongson as well as the Supervising Auditors of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DoH), Department of Transportation (DoTr), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Local Water Utilities Administration, and Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System.
Meanwhile, ADB Philippines Country Director Pavit Ramachandran was joined by Ruth S. Farrant (Director, Public Financial Management [PFFM] 2), Karin Schelzig (Director, Human and Social Development Sector Director), Alain X. Morel (Country Operations Head, Philippines), Myra Evelyn P. Ravelo, (Financial Management Specialist, PFFM 1), Ruby U. Alvarez (Senior Project Officer [Infrastructure], Philippines), and Raffy D. Amos (Associate Financial Management Officer, PFFM 2).
The ADB discussed its Philippines project portfolio, noting the stronger partnership with the Philippine government in view of its growing volume of financial portfolio which is expected to increase by more than 100% in the next three years and a stronger reliance on the country’s PFM system which is crucial for ADB’s fiduciary responsibility.
The ADB also discussed Project Level Financial Management Issues under the Expanded Social Assistance Project (ESAP), Angat Water Transmission Improvement Project (AWTIP), and Health System Enhancement to Address and Limit COVID-19 (HEAL), among others.
The ADB expressed appreciation for the positive impact of the CoA’s participation in the recently concluded Tri-Partite Portfolio Review Mission and Philippines Program, and Portfolio Planning Retreat for ADB-financed projects, which affirmed the CoA’s vital role in ensuring that overall financial management systems are working effectively and efficiently.
CoA representatives gave an overview of the CoA’s audit of ADB-financed foreign-assisted projects in the DPWH, DoTr, DSWD and DoH such as the Improving Growth Corridors in Mindanao Road Sector Project, South Commuter Railway Project, Integrated Flood Resilience and Adaptation Project — Phase 1 and Metro Manila Bridges Project, Social Protection Support Project, ESAP, HEAL 1 and HEAL 2, among many others.
Also discussed were ADB-financed foreign-assisted projects implemented by government-owned and -controlled corporations including the Water District Development Sector Project, Emergency Assistance for the Reconstruction and Recovery of Marawi Project under Urban Climate Change Resilience Trust Fund, and AWTIP.
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FNI and INC with IP-BICAMM community and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) officials
As a majority–owned subsidiary of Global Ferronickel Holdings, Inc. (FNI), Ipilan Nickel Corp. (INC) is more than just a mining company. With operations in Palawan’s Municipality of Brooke’s Point, INC is committed to fostering growth, supporting the environment, and partnering with indigenous communities for a sustainable and prosperous future.
Underpinned by strong environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles, INC has forged a unique path in the mining industry, one built on respect, transparency, and mutual benefit. This commitment to responsible mining extends to building meaningful relationships with the indigenous peoples (IPs) in the area, known collectively as the IP-BICAMM barangays — Barong-Barong, Ipilan, Calasaguen, Aribungos, Mambalot, and Maasin.
“At INC, we believe that our success is deeply intertwined with the well-being of the indigenous communities we work alongside. By building relationships based on trust, transparency, and respect, we are not only securing a sustainable future for our operations but also creating lasting positive impacts in the lives of our partner communities,” says FNI President Dante R. Bravo. “Our commitment to sustainable development and corporate social responsibility remains steadfast, as we work together to foster economic growth, protect the environment, and preserve cultural heritage for generations to come.”
A Strong Foundation: The Certification Precondition
A key milestone that underscores INC’s dedication to responsible mining is the recently acquired Certification Precondition (CP). This certification is essential for any mining company operating within ancestral domains and highlights INC’s full compliance with regulatory requirements. The CP signifies not only INC’s commitment to regulatory compliance but also its dedication to upholding the rights and traditions of the IP-BICAMM communities.
After undergoing a series of community assemblies with the IP community and the rigorous Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) process,IP-BICAMM issued their Resolution of Consent for the renewal of MPSA No. 017-93-IV. This is a hallmark of INC’s approach to transparency and respect. Community members were engaged in a series of consultative assemblies, directly addressing environmental concerns and discussing how INC’s projects would coexist with their ancestral heritage. This process paved the way for the IP leaders to endorse INC’s operations, allowing the company to renew its Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA).
For INC, corporate social responsibility means going beyond compliance. It means actively investing in the people, environment, the overall upliftment of the quality of life of the communities that host its operations, and the generation of economic benefits for the IP-BICAMM barangays. Through the FPIC-MOA agreement, INC has dedicated millions of pesos toward enhancing livelihoods, education, and healthcare for the indigenous communities. Key initiatives include:
Over Php2 million in livelihood projects, including the “Hapag Katutubo Project,” which donated 170 fruit-bearing seedlings to local communities.
Employment of 274 IPs in various roles, exceeding regulatory requirements and fostering local job creation.
Educational support to nearly 1,600 students, from elementary to college, with college scholars receiving up to Php7,500 per semester, as well as Php9,000 quarterly subsidy for volunteer teachers.
Php1 million in funds allocated for medical and burial assistance, supporting community health and welfare.
Php73.9 million allocated for Royalty Shares, directly benefiting IP-BICAMM members.
Infrastructure investments such as Php4 million for a Tribal Hall and Php3 million for Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) processing.
Looking Ahead: A Sustainable Vision for the Future
With the Certification Precondition secured and a commitment to long-term investments, INC is primed for sustainable growth. INC’s dedication to environmental stewardship and the well-being of its partner communities ensures a balanced approach to mining that both enhances shareholder value and strengthens its reputation as a socially responsible corporate leader in Palawan.
INC’s partnerships with indigenous communities demonstrate how responsible mining can create economic growth while preserving cultural values and natural resources. Through this commitment, INC continues to set the standard for ethical, transparent, and impactful mining operations in the Philippines.
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DigiCon Day 1 Keynote speaker Steven Johnson, best-selling author and digital innovator
2500+ attendees converge to address key industry trends, challenges
The Digital Marketing Association of the Philippines (DMAP), the leading organization known for its excellence and innovation in digital marketing, has successfully hosted the ninth edition of the Digital Congress (DigiCon), with the theme, “REVOLUTION,” on Oct. 15 to 16, 2024, in Newport City, Metro Manila.
The two-day event gathered over 2,500 participants, including 100 global and local industry experts, thought leaders, and technology pioneers, coming together to discuss key insights across marketing, advertising, business, academia, media, and innovation sectors.
DMAP’s DigiCon is the premier digital marketing conference in Southeast Asia, providing a vital platform for innovators and industry leaders both locally and internationally to drive advancements in the digital landscape.
Following the conclusion of this year’s conference, DMAP shared key recommendations for the industry. One of them is the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), with DMAP urging its members to explore and integrate AI tools ethically and responsibly, focusing on data privacy, transparency, and avoiding the spread of misinformation.
DMAP also emphasizes the importance of investing in local digital talent by providing upskilling and reskilling initiatives to equip Filipino marketers with the latest digital competencies, particularly in areas like AI, data analytics, and Web3.
Additionally, DMAP underscored the importance of digital inclusivity, urging the industry to bridge the digital divide in the Philippines by expanding internet access and digital literacy programs across the country.
Other key imperatives from this year’s DigiCon included pushing for data-driven decision-making to improve customer engagement and encouraging collaborative innovation to create a more vibrant digital ecosystem.
DMAP President Manny Gonzales
“DMAP’s DigiCon REVOLUTION 2024 is a testament to DMAP’s broader goals of advancing the digital marketing transformation, fostering industry growth, and contributing to the Philippine economy. As we continue to navigate today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, we aim to champion the industry’s need to adapt and leverage emerging technologies for sustainable success,” says Manny Gonzales, DMAP President.
Best-selling author and digital innovator Steven Johnson, known for his work as the Editorial Director at Google’s AI division Google Labs, was the keynote speaker on the event’s opening day, exploring how AI can unlock new possibilities in business and marketing. He encouraged attendees to stay curious and explore the potential of advanced technologies.
“Go out there, enjoy yourself with the technology, explore those edges just for the sheer delight of it, because history teaches us that you will find the future where people are having the most fun,” Mr. Johnson said.
On the second day, David Beal, Head of Global Marketing & Global Chief Marketing Officer of Jollibee Foods Corp., delivered the keynote speech delving into values-driven digital transformation.
DigiCon Day 2 Keynote speaker David Beal, Head of Global Marketing and Global Chief Marketing Officer of Jollibee Foods Corp.
Mr. Beal emphasized the importance of openness to embracing technology for effective customer engagement, saying, “A true willingness is to know what we know, but also acknowledge what we don’t and work hard to learn and improve. When you couple that with a value like integrity, and when you reinforce it with a bias for action, a willingness to try, and an agile attitude, we can challenge what’s possible.”
Through DigiCon’s partnership with One Show Asia, attendees also gained insights from a distinguished lineup of international speakers, such as Masaya Asai, Chief Creative Officer of Droga 5 Tokyo; Angela Bassichetti, Head of Creative Shop of Meta; Kyungsin Pablo Kim, CEO of Paulus; and Tay Guan Hin, APAC Regional Director of The One Club for Creativity.
DigiCon 2024 panel session
DigiCon 2024 took over Newport City, with plenary talks held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, and breakout sessions at nearby Sheraton and Hilton hotels. Attendees engaged in five specialized tracks designed to address critical industry trends: “From Ecommerce to Digitally Enabled Commerce,” “From IMC to Customer-Centric Campaigns,” “From Digital Transformation to Business Evolution,” “From Data-Driven to Insight-Driven,” and “From I to AI.” These tracks highlighted trends like generative AI, short-form video content, the evolution of the metaverse, and the increasing importance of data privacy.
“DigiCon 2024 is all about equipping professionals to not just survive, but thrive in today’s digital landscape. As we navigate new technologies, we encourage everyone to recalibrate their perspectives, staying curious, open, and ready to explore and innovate,” said Alan Fontanilla, DigiCon 2024 chair.
DigiCon 2024 Co-Chair Alan Fontanilla
In a first for DigiCon, DMAP partnered with Certified Digital Marketer (CDM) to offer program certifications to attendees. This new offering provides professionals with opportunities to enhance their skills and bolster their credentials in the digital marketing world.
Since its first iteration in 2016, DigiCon has consistently been a pivotal gathering for the luminaries of Philippine marketing, advertising, and digital landscapes.
DMAP’s DigiCon REVOLUTION 2024 was sponsored by GrabAds, Jollibee Foods Corp., UnionBank, Panda Ads, Petal Ads by Huawei, Unilever, Aeroworx, Agile Data Solutions, Anymind Philippines, Blis, Dito Telecommunity, Double Verify, gimmefy, GCash, Google Philippines, KFC Philippines, McDonald’s Love ko ‘to, Meltwater, Metrobank, TikTok, and Truelogic, Inc.
Esteemed outlets, DOOH, GMA Network, MBC Media Group, AGC Power Holdings Corp., Cignal TV, The New Channel,The Pod Network Entertainment, ABS-CBN Corp., adobo Magazine, BusinessWorld, Dentsu Creative Philippines, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Meta Philippines, PumaPodcast, Rappler, The Business Manual, and The Philippine Star served as this year’s media partners.
Meanwhile, Amazing Pineapple Company, Inc., Carmen’s Best, Devant, Emperador, Enchanted Kingdom, Eventscape Manila, Future Proof PH, HIT Productions, Holiday Inn Express, Maggi, Outcomm, Inc., Primer Group, PICKUP COFFEE, Rebisco, Uniquecorn Strategies, Segway — The Autohub Group Philippines, One Asia, Lysol, Seda Manila Bay, Splash Corp., Synergy, Unilab, and Yoli Better Body Company served as the DigiCon 2024 event partners.
Furthermore, telecommunications company Eastern Communications served as this year’s connectivity partner, and Certified Digital Marketer served as Track Certification Partner.
Spotlight is BusinessWorld’s sponsored section that allows advertisers to amplify their brand and connect with BusinessWorld’s audience by publishing their stories on the BusinessWorld Web site. For more information, send an email to online@bworldonline.com.
Join us on Viber at https://bit.ly/3hv6bLA to get more updates and subscribe to BusinessWorld’s titles and get exclusive content through www.bworld-x.com.
SN Aboitiz Power Group (SNAP) invites professionals, business leaders, and individuals to join SNAP Conversations 2024: ESG Investing, an online forum on integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into sustainable investment strategies.
Happening on Dec. 4, 2024, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., via YouTube Live, the event will cover Philippine Regulatory Landscape for ESG: Current Policies and Future Directions, and Sustainable Finance in the Philippines: Green Bonds and ESG-Linked Investments.
The forum features two key sessions addressing key aspects of ESG investing in the Philippines.
The first session, Philippine Regulatory Landscape for ESG: Current Policies and Future Directions, will be led by Joelyn P. Cuchapin from the ESG Supervision and Surveillance Group at Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. This discussion will focus on the government’s role in promoting ESG, provide an overview of existing policies, and offer insights into upcoming regulatory changes aimed at enhancing ESG integration across sectors.
The second session, Sustainable Finance in the Philippines: Green Bonds and ESG-Linked Investments, will feature Jaime Mendejar, Senior Manager for Sustainable Finance at HSBC Hong Kong. This session will delve into financial tools like green bonds and ESG-linked investments, highlighting their potential to fund renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable infrastructure projects while providing key insights for companies and investors considering the adoption of these instruments.
As sustainability continues to reshape the way we invest and operate, navigating the evolving landscape requires a keen understanding of ESG principles, a commitment to responsible investing, and a strategic approach to sustainable finance. SNAP Conversations on ESG Investing offers a valuable opportunity to gain insights from industry experts and participate in a meaningful conversation about building a better, more sustainable future.
Register now for SNAP Conversations to explore how sustainability is shaping the way we invest and do business. Secure your spot by registering via this link: https://bit.ly/SC2024ESG_Registration.
SNAP Conversations is an online forum series led by the SN Aboitiz Power Group. It creates avenues that shed light on important issues, growth opportunities, and innovations surrounding the power sector and beyond. This sustainability forum is proudly supported by media partners BusinessWorld and The Philippine Star.
About SNAP Group:
SN Aboitiz Power (SNAP) is a joint venture of Scatec and Aboitiz Power Corp. (AP).
Scatec is a leading renewable energy solutions provider, accelerating access to reliable and affordable clean energy in emerging markets. As a long-term player, they develop, build, own and operate renewable energy plants, with 4.6 GW in operation and under construction across four continents today. They are committed to growing their renewable energy capacity, delivered by their 800 passionate employees and partners who are driven by a common vision of ‘Improving our Future’. Scatec is headquartered in Oslo, Norway and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ‘SCATC’. AP is the holding company of the Philippines-based Aboitiz Group’s investments in power generation, distribution, and retail electricity services. It advances business and communities by providing reliable and ample power supply at a reasonable and competitive price, and with the least adverse effects on the environment and host communities.
SNAP owns and operates the 112.5-MW Ambuklao and 140-MW Binga hydroelectric power plants in Benguet; the Magat hydroelectric power plant which has a nameplate capacity of 360 MW and maximum capacity of 388 MW on the border of Isabela and Ifugao; the 8.5-MW Maris hydro; and the 24-MW Magat battery energy storage facility in Isabela. The non-power components such as dams, reservoirs, and spillways are owned, managed, and operated by the government.
Spotlight is BusinessWorld’s sponsored section that allows advertisers to amplify their brand and connect with BusinessWorld’s audience by publishing their stories on the BusinessWorld Web site. For more information, send an email to online@bworldonline.com.
Join us on Viber at https://bit.ly/3hv6bLA to get more updates and subscribe to BusinessWorld’s titles and get exclusive content through www.bworld-x.com.
Esteemed outlets, DOOH, GMA Network, MBC Media Group, AGC Power Holdings Corp., Cignal TV, The New Channel,The Pod Network Entertainment, ABS-CBN Corp., adobo Magazine, BusinessWorld, 