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Singapore Open partners with ASICS shoes for regional tennis summit

SINGAPORE — There’s more to it in here the just the inaugural Singapore Open featuring some of the world’s best tennis players.

Putting premium on the development of the sport in the rising Southeast Asia (SEA), Singapore together with official apparel and footwear partner ASICS gathered representatives from neighboring countries for a Regional Tennis Summit over the weekend at the Kallang Tennis Hub here.

Athletes, coaches, officials, media representatives, influencers, content creators and sports enthusiasts from Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines vied in the summit featuring tennis seminar, workshop and clinic as it served as a prelude to the Singapore Open women’s singles and doubles finals on Sunday at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Singapore Open was the first-ever WTA 250 event here, where Filipina star Alex Eala also participated but got the early boot in the qualifiers.

World No. 14 Anna Kalinskaya, 2021 US Open Champion Emma Raducanu, and Grand Slam Doubles Champions Elise Mertens and Wang Xinyu, and recently crowned Australian Open 2025 Doubles Champion Taylor Townsend were among the star players in the historic tourney backed by ASICS, endorsed by icon Novak Djokovic as among its world ambassadors.

ASICS SEA regional sports marketing head Sin Ting Low and Malaysia national tennis team coach Mulyadi Jamal along with national tennisters from Malaysia and Singapore conducted the clinic in which the newest ASICS GEL-RESOLUTION X tennis sneaker was also unveiled.

The latest tennis shoe, which boasts a higher medial cut for ankle support, dynawall and dynace for stability and flytefoam technology midsole for cloud-like cushioning, was first launched in the Australian Open before its Southeast Asian release.

The continent included Filipino representatives led by former Ms. Universe-Philippines Gazini Gazados, celebrity-tennis athlete Maika Rivera and fashion designer-athlete Bang Pineda, who had a blast in the latest Asics release, a game-changer in comfort and stability for tennis players. — John Bryan Ulanday

Mohamed Salah helps Liverpool go nine points clear; Nottingham Forest hits seven

LIVERPOOL’S Mohamed Salah scored twice in a 2-0 win at Bournemouth that put them nine points clear atop the Premier League while Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood went one better with a hat-trick in a 7-0 rout of Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.

Newcastle United missed the chance to move fourth though as they surrendered the lead in a 2-1 home defeat by Fulham.

Bottom club Southampton enjoyed some rare joy as they beat Ipswich Town 2-1 away for only their second league win of what has been a thoroughly gloomy campaign.

Liverpool under Arne Slot has quickly acquired the habit of winning even when not completely at their fluent best and in Salah they have a weapon of lethal efficiency.

The Egyptian converted a penalty on the half-hour and then curled home his second goal in the 75th minute to secure the points and end Bournemouth’s 11-match unbeaten league run.

Salah now has 21 Premier League goals this season and 178 in his career, taking him sixth on the all-time list ahead of Chelsea great Frank Lampard.

Liverpool have 56 points from 23 games with Arsenal, who host fourth-placed Manchester City on Sunday, and Forest level on 47 points, though the Midlands side have played a game more.

Forest’s 5-0 loss to Bournemouth last weekend had some people suggesting their bubble may have burst. But Nuno Espirito Santo’s team put that notion to bed in devastating fashion.

Wood’s hat-trick and goals from Morgan Gibbs-White, Neco Williams and Jota Silva plus an own goal helped Forest consolidate third spot as they chase what would be their first Champions League qualification in 45 years.

Fulham substitute Rodrigo Muniz struck in the 82nd minute to secure a 2-1 win at Newcastle who had taken the lead when Jacob Murphy slammed home a shot after good work by Anthony Gordon.

Fulham leveled after the break when Murphy deflected in a shot by Raul Jimenez. In-form Newcastle striker Alexander Isak struck the crossbar before Muniz stole it for Fulham. — Reuters

Faith in James

There was pep in LeBron James’ step from the moment he set foot in Madison Square Garden on Sunday. He was clearly looking forward to the only game the Lakers would be playing at the Mecca of basketball for the season — perhaps even more than his recent bouts against the Knicks in recent memory. No doubt, his advancing age had much to do with the heightened anticipation; for all his remarkable capacity to defy Father Time, he understood that the end of his pro career was near. There were only so many more set-tos in his calendar, and he aimed to make the best of the opportunities afforded him.

To be sure, the Lakers were only too glad to ride on James’ coattails on Sunday. With Anthony Davis still out due to an abdominal strain, they knew well enough to rely on the leadership and direction of the 21-time All-Star if they were to have any chance of taking the measure of the Knicks. It wasn’t simply that they faced the holders of the league’s longest current winning streak. It was that their losing record on the road reflected the frailties of their uneven roster even more.

Fast forward to the end of the contest, and the Lakers found their faith in James rewarded with an emphatic win. Needless to say, James was nothing short of outstanding; he put up 33, 11, and 13 in 37 minutes on the court to spearhead a balanced effort which saw four more stalwarts of the purple and gold score at least 15 points. More importantly, he anchored the defense as well; he called out the Knicks’ plays as they were happening, enabling excellent coverage that limited the effectiveness of newly named All-Star starters Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.

Only time will tell how many more spectacular showings James can still summon, but it’s clear that the Lakers have bet on the under. High fives for the triumph against the Knicks were still being exchanged when stunning news came of Luka Dončić’s impending arrival vice Davis. The trade deal, akin to a succession plan, has major implications. It sets up their future once the leading scorer in National Basketball Association history hangs up his jersey, but it likewise handicaps them in the immediate term.

Make no mistake. The Lakers got the much better end of the swap; the offer was just too good for them to pass up. That said, they have also effectively ended any chance of James exiting with another championship. Even as they were hardly among the established elite with Davis, their chances to claim the hardware are much worse now without him. They have taken a step back, but, admittedly, are also poised to forge two steps ahead. Against the Knicks, they handled the business of basketball; with the Mavericks, they handled basketball as a business.

 

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.

Philippines deploys coast guard plane to check Chinese ships near Pangasinan

PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD PHOTO

THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Sunday said it had deployed an aircraft to check the “illegal presence” of two Chinese vessels 63 kilometers from the coast of Pangasinan province facing the South China Sea in the country’s north.

In a statement, the PCG said its Islander aircraft confirmed the presence of the China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels with bow numbers 3301 and 3104 at 9:30 am on Sunday.

“Notably, the CCG vessels did not respond to the radio challenge issued by the PCG,” it added.

It said two 44-meter PCG vessels — BRP Cabra and BRP Bagacay  — were dispatched to Bolinao, Pangasinan, “to address the illegal presence of the China Coast Guard.”

The vessels reinforce the Philippine government’s position against the “normalization of illegal patrols” by China within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea.

On Saturday night, the Philippine Coast Guard said BRP Teresa Magbanua had “successfully maneuvered” to drive CCG 3304 further away from the Zambales coastline.

This prompted China to replace CCG 3304 with CCG 5901, China’s “monster” ship, the PCG said.

“The crew aboard BRP Teresa Magbanua demonstrated remarkable courage and resolve, remaining undeterred by the presence of the massive CCG 5901,” it said.

BRP Teresa Magbanua, the Philippines’ biggest coast guard ship, can displace 2,265 tons of water, compared with 12,000 tons for China Coast Guard ship 5901, the largest coast guard cutter in the world.

The PCG said the actions of the Chinese vessels are illegal violate the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to which China is a signatory.

“The PCG reaffirms its commitment to the President and the Filipino people, ensuring that our dedicated personnel will continue to protect Filipino fishermen, uphold our maritime rights, enforce international law and work towards the de-escalation of tensions,” it said.

The Philippine Coast Guard last week said its biggest ship had been issuing hourly radio challenges to CCG 3304 near the Zambales coast.

The Philippines has accused China of intimidating Filipino fishermen near Scarborough Shoal and normalizing its “illegal presence” after Beijing sent the monster ship into its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on Jan. 4.

China, which claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, has repeatedly accused Philippine vessels of encroachment on its territory. Bilateral ties are at their worst in years after repeated confrontations and heated diplomatic rows.

A United Nations-backed court in the Hague voided China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea in 2016, as it ruled the shoal is a traditional fishing ground for Filipino, Chinese and Vietnamese fishermen.

Teresa Magbanua replaced the 44-meter vessel BRP Cabra, which arrived at Subic Port on Jan. 28 to unload the body of a Filipino fisherman that it recovered a day earlier.

The PCG on Monday night accused China Coast Guard 3304 of shadowing its ship that was rescuing the fisherman’s fishing boat. It said BRP Cabra navigated through heavy waves to retrieve the body using its crane.

Tensions between the two nations have worsened in the past year, with Manila accusing Beijing last month of using a long-range acoustic device (LRAD) against its vessel near the Zambales coast.

During their 10th consultation, representatives from both sides agreed to continue the conduct of rotation and resupply missions to Second Thomas Shoal and sustain the de-escalation of tensions in the area, the Department of Foreign Affairs said last month.

The Philippines grounded BRP Sierra Madre, a Word War II-era vessel, at the disputed shoal in 1999 to assert its sovereignty. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Push for wage hike bill may be a ‘hard-nosed’ political move — analysts

BW FILE PHOTO

By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio and Chloe Mari A. Hufana, Reporters

THE House of Representatives’ sudden push for a P200 across-the-board daily wage increase for private-sector workers reeks of politicking, political analysts said at the weekend, as the campaign period for Philippine midterm elections kick off next week.

The House labor committee approved a consolidated bill last week. Rizal Rep. Juan Fidel Felipe F. Nograles, who heads the committee, denied the approval constituted politicking.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez last week ordered the chamber to fast-track the wage hike bill a week before Congress goes on a four-month break for the midterm elections on May 12.

“Given the timing, one can consider this as another case of hard-nosed, if not cynical politicking working for the public good,” Anthony Lawrence A. Borja, an associate political science professor at De La Salle University, said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

“Moreover, it could be meant to project a narrative that despite passing a questionable budget, Congress can still satisfy the public good,” he added, referring to the P6.326-trillion national budget for this year, whose legality has been challenged at the Supreme Court.

Politicians running for reelection could use the bill’s approval to bolster their campaigns, said Arjan P. Aguirre, who teaches political science at the Ateneo de Manila University.

“This can be politicized and used for the campaign,” he said in via Messenger chat. “They want to look like they are prioritizing workers over other issues.”

But lawmakers should take the bill “seriously,” he said, noting that Filipinos struggle to make ends meet amid persistently high prices.

Civil society groups and media organizations should keep an eye on the progress of measures in Congress to help gauge lawmakers’ effectiveness in crafting laws, Mr. Borja said. “We must keep an eye on delays and use such to measure their performance instead of merely relying on what these prospective reelectionists help pass.”

Labor groups and lawmakers are pushing the passage of the proposed P200 wage hike at the House of Representatives this week, ahead of the congressional recess this week.

Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) Legislative Officer Carlos Miguel S. Oñate said the bill would reach the House plenary this week, with three more session days left.

“But we’re still calling for it to be certified as urgent to fast-track the process,” he told BusinessWorld in mixed English and Filipino. “Otherwise, the three-session-day rule between the second and third reading will apply.”

Federation of Free Workers (FFW) President Jose Sonny G. Matula said the P200 daily hike should “ideally take effect in June” this year, considering the second reading approval of the bill scheduled this week.

The hike should reach everyone, including contractual and provincial workers, he added.

Mr. Matula said the legislated wage increase could be a “game-changer” by encouraging more workers to stay in the formal sector, boosting productivity and the economy.

On the other hand, week enforcement would let employers go around the proposed law by hiring more contractual workers, he said.

“This is why labor groups aren’t just fighting for the wage hike but also for airtight enforcement so that employers don’t turn wage increases into an illusion,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECoP) opposed the measure, calling it “catastrophic.”

ECoP President Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis, Jr., in a statement at the weekend said only 16% of the 52 million private sector workers would benefit from the wage increase.

This leaves behind 84% of those without employers to suffer, as they will have no earnings growth but will have to cope with the inflation that will likely ensue,” he added.

“It will be a catastrophe. A company paying P600 plus in salary will now have to raise it to P800 plus. Which company can afford it?” he asked.

Mr. Ortiz-Luis said the government should create more jobs instead of raising wages, adding that regional wage board should decide on the increase.

Minimum wages in the country are set by regional wage boards. But slow and meager increases amid rising prices have prompted lawmakers to push the legislated wage hike.

The Senate approved a counterpart bill for a P100 daily wage increase for private-sector workers a year ago.

Comelec seeks BSP help in anti-vote buying campaign

PHILIPPINE STAR/ RUSSELL PALMA

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) is intensifying its crackdown on vote-buying ahead of the midterm elections in May by asking the Philippine central bank to order banks to flag and bar the exchange of large sums of money into smaller bills.

Comelec would meet with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) this week to discuss the proposal, Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia told BusinessWorld on the sidelines of a news briefing at the weekend.

“We will talk to the Philippine central bank so they could issue a circular to banks concerning massive exchanges of money two weeks before the election proper,” he said in an interview. “Why would you exchange P10 million or P20 million into P100 or P200 bills? Massive exchanges of money could be used for vote-buying, and that should not be allowed.”

Filipinos will pick a new set of congressmen and 12 of the 24-member Senate, along with other local officials on May 12. The Comelec has set the campaign period for Feb. 11 to May 10. 

Vote-buying remains a problem in the Philippines, where candidates woo voters with cash and other giveaways. Under the law, a political bet found guilty of vote-buying faces imprisonment of up to six years and will be barred from public office.

Mr. Garcia said they expect vote-buying activities to surge in the months leading to the elections. “It won’t start in February. The real spending begins in March and April.”

“Vote-buying can only be committed at least several days before the elections, and ultimately, a day before the election. That’s what we’re really monitoring,” he added.

The election body will launch a complaint desk against vote-buying this week, he said. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Friday protests reveal opposition remains weak, highlight need to unite — analysts

PHILIPPINE STAR/ WALTER BOLLOZOS

By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Reporter

THE three separate rallies on Friday that called for the impeachment of Vice-President Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio revealed that opposition forces in the country remain weak, analysts said, noting the need to unite ahead of the midterm elections.

“The fact that the opposition are still able to mobilize means the oldest and most consolidated section of civil society is still not down and out despite every loss it incurred over the last nine years,” Hansley A. Juliano, who teaches political science at the Ateneo de Manila University, said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

“However, the fact that it came on the heel of recent mobilizations by the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) and other evangelical groups in favor of incumbent politicians does point to an increasingly crowded, fragmented and differentiated civil society sector,” he added.

Three anti-corruption rallies were held on Friday, including two in EDSA (Epifanio de los Santos Avenue) and one at the Liwasang Bonifacio organized by groups under Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan).

One of the rallies in EDSA was led by Akbayan Party and Magdalo Party-list, which both focused on the calls for the impeachment of Ms. Duterte.

The Bayan-led rally in Manila and the EDSA protest concert organized by the Clergy for Good Governance and participated in by progressive groups such as Sanlakas and Partido Lakas ng Masa called for Ms. Duterte’s impeachment and heavily criticized President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez for what they called as “corrupt” 2025 national budget.

The rallies organized by the opposition forces were held weeks after INC drew millions of people to the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Jan. 13 in support of Ms. Duterte.

“The unity of the opposition forces — Liberal, Akbayan and Makabayan — in the 2025 senatorial slate would have been a genuine big force in previous years,” Mr. Juliano said.

“Now, however, in the face of still significant support for the Marcoses and Dutertes, it may ironically highlight their weakness and need to shore up each other’s numbers,” he said.

“There’s a way to reverse this if they can present a broader and more welcoming tent to potential market voters this May—not just on anti-corruption and moral political stances, but more so on development, economic and social welfare issues,” he added.

Mr. Juliano said they need a “serious and smart answer” to how their alternative options are more sustainable than the patronage politics that continue to dominate Philippine politics.

Anthony Lawrence Borja, a political science professor at De La Salle University likewise said with the INC rally at the backdrop, the Friday protests may be perceived as a “symptom of a weak opposition; a near insignificant nuisance.”

“The liberal and leftist opposition forces, especially the latter are too disparate to form a united front even if they are already bound together by common targets,” he said via Messenger chat.

The separate rallies on Friday will only reinforce pre-existing prejudices against the left — that it is “a disunited bunch of eternally disappointed actors.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Borja said Mr. Marcos reaction to these protests have generally been ambivalent, “with the President appearing in other events instead of reacting to it.”

“It is on brand though as this administration wants a supposedly depoliticized approach to such matters,” Mr. Borja said. “The lack of reaction from the chief will prompt his followers to make the same dismissal.

Mr. Juliano said the Marcos camp is still in a position of strength due to its incumbency.

“The real test is whether their endorsements/alliances to political dynasties hold in the local level and in the Lower House,” he said.

He noted that if the Marcos camp could retain its numbers in the House, it would be difficult to turn the President into a “lame duck,” but if they fail, it would be because of the Dutertes. This could prompt Ms. Duterte to reassert herself amid cases and allegations.

“Electoral victory does have the potential to wipe out the moral urgency of corruption cases, especially if it can be casted as pure partisan harassment.”

PhilSA chief up for CA approval

THE Commission on Appointments (CA) would deliberate the appointments of the Philippine Space Agency’s (PhilSA) chief alongside senior military officers and ambassadors before Congress adjourns next week, a congressman said on Sunday.

The constitutional panel would conduct its confirmation hearings on PhilSA Director-General Joel Joseph S. Marciano, Jr., together with 289 military officials and 10 ambassadors, said Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny T. Pimentel.

“Besides Director-General Marciano, there are 318 other officials pending confirmation as of January 27,” Mr. Pimentel, CA assistant minority leader, said in a statement.

The CA is composed of 12 members each from the House of Representatives and the Senate. It has the sole authority to approve or reject presidential appointments.

Mr. Marciano served as the first director general of PhilSA after being appointed in January 2020. He was reappointed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. in 2023. PhilSA was created in 2019 and is tasked with developing the country’s space program. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

House panel invites FB, Google

REUTERS

A HOUSE of Representatives committee has invited representatives of social media platforms and 40 “personalities” to allow lawmakers to understand how disinformation spreads online.

The House panel invited representatives from Google, TikTok, Facebook, alongside officials from the National Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice, and the national police to discuss challenges in regulating and enforcing mechanisms against online disinformation.

The invited social media personalities are known for engaging “in political discourse, news analysis and online commentary,” according to a statement by Sta. Rosa City Rep. Danilo Ramon S. Fernandez.

“We will not allow social media to be used to deceive our fellow citizens. It is time to implement stricter laws to combat fake news and disinformation,” said Mr. Fernandez.

He said the House joint panel on public safety, public information and communications technology seeks to “identify weaknesses” in existing regulations, while looking for ways to strengthen social media platform accountability and possibly impose penalties for persons deliberately spreading misinformation. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

New MCIA runway to boost tourism

MEGAWIDE.COM.PH

THE Department of Tourism (DoT) is expecting the establishment of the first parallel runway at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) to boost tourism in Central Visayas.

DoT Secretary Ma. Esperanza Christina G. Frasco said that the expanded runway will not only strengthen Cebu’s position as a top tourist destination but also boost tourism in Central Visayas by improving accessibility for international and domestic visitors.

According to the DoT, the runway is meant to enhance aviation safety, allow the accommodation of larger aircraft, and improve airport operational efficiency.

“Increasing flight frequencies and passenger capacity up to 18 million at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport through the parallel runway benefits all stakeholders in the aviation and tourism sectors,” said Ms. Frasco.

“This influx would not only bolster the local economy but also promote cultural exchange and foster greater global connectivity,” she added.

She said that the runway will also help in growing the province’s dive tourism and meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE).

“More importantly, this could support Cebu’s major tourism events and festivals, such as the Sinulog Festival,” she added.

In 2024, the MCIA admitted around 11.32 million passengers, representing a 13% increase from 2023. These comprise 8.51 million domestic passengers and 2.81 million international passengers. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

Probe sought on scam tech trade

BW FILE PHOTO

A PHILIPPINE senator has filed a resolution that seeks to look into the illegal trade of devices such as cell site simulators, used to steal and intercept calls and messages amid an influx of scam and hacking incidents in the country.

Senate Resolution No. 1294, filed by Senator Mark A. Villar, seeks a probe into the trade of International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catchers which are used to track locations, intercept calls and messages, and leak sensitive financial information.

“The proliferation of these devices is directly linked to modern scams such as “smishing,” which involves text messages impersonating legitimate financial institutions to trick recipients into providing sensitive financial information such as account numbers and passwords,” according to a copy of the resolution.

He said smishing scams have resulted in about P460 billion in losses to Filipinos from 2023 to last year.

Citing a Jan. 21 arrest of a Malaysian national over the supply of these IMSI devices, the senator said it is crucial to nab individuals behind this illegal trade since these can be hard to detect and could lead to more criminals stealing data.

“While the arrest represents a crucial step in curbing the root causes 18 of scam-related activities, it highlights the need to review existing laws, the sufficiency of regulations on rogue technologies, and enhancement of law enforcement’s ability to detect and monitor these illicit activities devices,” Mr. Villar said.

Last year, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. signed into a law a bill that imposed tougher penalties on those using financial accounts to commit crimes. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

LGUs told to boost programs vs early pregnancies, HIV

POPCOM.GOV.PH

A PHILIPPINE senator called for local government units (LGUs) to double their efforts to curb rampant teenage pregnancy and the rise in cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

“We have to also focus on getting the parents more involved, not just by meeting them regularly but by really mobilizing them,” Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian said in a statement.

“When we mobilize the parents, we make them aware of these issues and empower them by educating them on how to talk to their kids.”

Based on data from the local statistics agency, young mothers or very young Filipinos aged 10-14 doubled to 3,342 in 2023 from 1,629 a decade earlier.

The Department of Health said in December HIV cases in the Philippines would likely rise to 215,400 by the end of 2024, citing 4,595 confirmed cases from July to September 2024 alone.

Of the confirmed cases from July to September 2024, 1,301 or 28% had an advanced HIV infection at the time of diagnosis, based on Health department data.

The Senate is in the middle of scrutinizing the Department of Education’s implementation of sexual education amid concerns from conservative quarters. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

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