Mapua survives late LPU rally for NCAA Season 100 semis slot

October 29, 2024 | 7:05 pm

Games on Wednesday
(Filoil EcoOil Arena)
11 a.m. – Letran vs EAC
2:30 p.m. – UPHSD vs CSB

LAWRENCE MANGUBAT took charge late in the fourth quarter as Mapua University survived a furious Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) fight back with a 69-68 victory on Tuesday to advance to the NCAA Season 100 Final Four at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.

The sweet-shooting rookie guard ended up leading his team with 16 points, half of which came in the final period when the Cardinals survived the Pirates’ pillaging and snared an 11^th win in 14 outings, which was enough to seal it a semis seat.

It also gave leader College of St. Benilde (11-2) a Final Four berth on a silver platter.

Mr. Mangubat’s wrath was felt most in the dying seconds when he scored five points in a hurry — a jumper that knotted it at 66 with 21 ticks left and a triple with five seconds remaining that gave Mapua the lead for good.

While Mr. Mangubat served as the fireman that extinguished the fourth quarter fire, Chris Hubilla, Marc Cuenco and team captain Clint Escamos did most of the dirty job and finished with 14, 11 and 10 points, respectively.

The win also bolstered Mapua’s bid to finish in the top two and clinch the precious twice-to-beat incentive that goes with it.

But the win almost slipped away as Mapua watched its once mighty 16-point lead late in the third canto vanish amid the fourth-quarter maelstrom whipped up by LPU that saw the latter snatching a two-point lead twice.

The last came at 68-66 with five seconds to go when Pirates captain Renz Villegas drilled in a jumper.

Enter Mr. Mangubat, whose massive tripled hammered in the final nail in LPU’s coffin.

The Pirates dropped to 6-8. — Joey Villar

The scores:

Mapua 69 – Mangubat 16, Hubilla 14, Cuenco 11, Escamis 10, Concepcion 6, Igliane 4, Recto 4, Jabonete 2, Ryan 2, Abdulla 0, Bancale 0, Garcia 0

LPU 68 – Villegas 22, Montaño 9, Cunanan 8, Aviles 7, Daileg 7, Guadaña 5, Barba 5, Peñafiel 3, Versoza 2, Caduyac 0, Moralejo 0

NU guns for twice-to-beat edge against vastly improved UE

October 29, 2024 | 7:04 pm

Games on Wednesday
(Rizal Memorial Coliseum)
11 a.m. – NU vs UE
2 p.m. – UP vs FEU
5 p.m. – CSB vs La Salle

BACK-TO-BACK champion National University (NU) shoots for the last twice-to-beat quarterfinal bonus against University of the East (UE) at the close of the Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-Season Championship second round on Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Game time is at 11 a.m. with the Lady Bulldogs looking to salvage the reward opposite the vastly-improved Lady Warriors after the duels between University of the Philippines-Far Eastern University at 2 p.m. and De La Salle University-College of St. Benilde at 5 p.m.

NU saw its 28-game winning streak since 2022 get snapped by La Salle last week before taking care of St. Benilde to tie UE at 1-1 in Pool E. Leading the pool is La Salle, at 2-0, to leave the only other incentive up for the taking between the Lady Bulldogs and the Lady Warriors.

FEU, for its part, is also out to clinch the top-seeding and win-once bonus in Pool F with no plan of figuring in a complicated three-way tie with UP (1-1) and Santo Tomas (2-1).

Following a 25-18, 25-18, 25-19 win over Ateneo, the Lady Tamaraws control their own fate with a bonus-clinching victory that in the process would also assure the Tigresses the other reward.

La Salle eyes to complete a sweep to stay on course of redemption after missing the finals won by NU in the UAAP Season 86. — John Bryan Ulanday

Spain’s Rodri wins Ballon d’Or for best player in the world

October 29, 2024 | 7:03 pm

PARIS — Spain and Manchester City midfielder Rodri won the Ballon d’Or award for the best player in the world on Monday, beating Brazil’s Vinicius, Jr. and England’s Jude Bellingham, both of Real Madrid, to the prestigious prize.

Barcelona’s Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati won the women’s award for a second time.

Rodri, a first-time winner of the award, was instrumental in helping his team win an unprecedented fourth successive Premier League trophy last season. He was also named best player at this year’s European Championship after Spain lifted a record-extending fourth title. — Reuters

Fever mentor

October 29, 2024 | 7:03 pm

On paper, the firing of Fever head coach Christie Sides was a shocker. After all, she did just lead the blue, red, and gold to their first playoff appearance in eight years. Not since all-time-great Tamika Catchings burned rubber had they tasted any postseason action, and she played a not insignificant part in their progress. Moreover, she had just finished the second of a four-year contract, and the length of her accord indicated management’s predilection for patience.

Admittedly, Sides was on the hot seat early in the Fever’s campaign. Compelled to go through the toughest curtain-raising schedule in the Women’s National Basketball Association, they managed to win only one of their first nine contests. However, as their campaign normalized, and as she became more familiar with the predilections of her new-look roster starring rookie sensation Caitlin Clark, the victories began to come, and the trickles became enough of a steady stream for them to finish the regular season with a .500 mark.

To be sure, the remarkable progress was due in large measure to the rest Clark was given due to the Olympic break, and the renewed confidence she thereafter displayed. Having plied her trade for nearly a year sans any stoppage, she benefited from getting her sea legs back; her vaunted stamina returned, and she no longer left her shots — particularly those long-range bombs that catapulted her to stardom — short. Little wonder, then, that the Fever led the league in offensive rating down the stretch and heading into the playoffs.

Creditably, Sides knew enough to rejigger her system to make the best use of Clark. She handed the first overall pick in the draft the keys, and then instructed the rest to follow. That said, there can be no glossing over the Fever’s failure to not just move past the first round of the postseason, but to even claim a single match and bring the series back to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Also, she wound up antagonizing a number of players who chafed at her preference to ride starters at their expense.

Interestingly, president of basketball operations Kelly Krauskopf acknowledged the strides Sides had made and seemed to give her support for the bench tactician in her introductory presser last month. Given that the Fever likewise named a new general manager in Amber Cox vice erstwhile fixture Lin Dunn, perhaps they felt a shakeup on the bench was but fitting. And, no doubt, the fact that six other franchises also let go of their mentors figured into the equation.

If there’s anything the Fever’s upheaval signals, it’s that they will not be happy with anything less than a deep playoff run next year. No more small steps; giants leaps have become the order of the day. Which, in a nutshell, is why they may yet find their best option for the hot seat to be someone who still had a job until yesterday. Indeed, immediate past Sun coach Stephanie White should be their primary target. Having already laid the groundwork by giving Sides the pink slip, they would do well the spread the welcome mat for the only choice that makes perfect sense.

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.

China warns of deep-sea spying devices, underwater ‘lighthouses’ that guide foreign submarines

October 29, 2024 | 6:28 pm

BEIJING — China’s Ministry of State Security said on Tuesday that it had retrieved spying devices both on the ocean surface and in the depths of the sea, including underwater “lighthouses” that could guide the transit of foreign submarines.

The ministry said it had uncovered devices that had been hidden on the ocean floor and were sending back information that could “pre-set the field for battle,” in an article on its official WeChat account, China’s most popular social media app.

Recent sea and air confrontations in the South China Sea between China and the Philippines over competing territorial claims in the highly strategic waterway have raised the risk of an escalation that could eventually involve the US, which is treaty-bound to defend the Philippines if it is attacked.

China has also recently staged war games around Taiwan in which it simulated attacks and deployment of ships and aircraft, drawing condemnation from the democratically governed island’s government and the United States.

“National security forces have seized a variety of special technical devices used for spying on marine information and data, hidden in the vastness of the sea,” the state security ministry said, without specifying where the devices were found.

“Some act as ‘secret agents,’ drifting and floating with the waves, monitoring the situation in our territorial waters in real time. Some act as underwater ‘lighthouses,’ indicating the direction for foreign submarines that have invaded our waters.”

China claims sovereignty over nearly all the South China Sea, including areas claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Beijing has also said it will never renounce the use of force over Taiwan, which rejects China’s sovereignty claims and says only the island’s people can decide their future.

A submarine arms race is intensifying between China and the United States and its allies, analysts say, with Beijing on track to have a new generation of nuclear-powered and -armed submarines in operation by the end of the decade.

“Facing a serious and complicated covert struggle for deep-sea security and the real threat of foreign espionage and intelligence agencies… (the ministry) will firmly defend China’s sovereignty, security and development interests and contribute to the construction of a strong maritime nation,” the ministry said. — Reuters

Washington Post’s Bezos defends decision to end presidential endorsements

October 29, 2024 | 6:27 pm

THE WASHINGTON POST owner Jeff Bezos on Monday defended the newspaper’s decision not to endorse a US presidential candidate after a report that more than 200,000 people had canceled their digital subscriptions following the move.

The decision blocked an endorsement of Democrat Vice-President Kamala Harris, the National Public Radio (NPR) report said, and many people in messages on the newspaper’s website criticized Mr. Bezos, the billionaire founder of Amazon.com and rocket company Blue Origin.

Mr. Bezos, in an opinion piece late on Monday, said “most people believe the media is biased” and The Washington Post and other newspapers needed to boost their credibility.

No candidate was informed or consulted about the decision and that there was “no quid pro quo,” Mr. Bezos said, adding that there was no connection between the decision and a meeting between Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and Blue Origin’s chief executive officer (CEO) on the same day.

“Presidential endorsements do nothing to tip the scales of an election,” Mr. Bezos wrote. “What presidential endorsements actually do is create a perception of bias. A perception of non-independence. Ending them is a principled decision, and it’s the right one.”

The subscription cancellations as of midday represented about 8% of the paper’s paid circulation of 2.5 million subscribers, which includes print as well, reported NPR, which said a series of columnists had resigned their positions in protest.

The Washington Post declined to comment on the report when contacted by Reuters.

In a post on Friday, William Lewis, The Washington Post’s publisher and CEO, said the newspaper would not be making an endorsement of a presidential candidate in the Nov. 5 election, nor in any future presidential election.

“We are returning to our roots of not endorsing presidential candidates,” Mr. Lewis wrote.

“The Washington Post’s decision not to make an endorsement in the presidential campaign is a terrible mistake,” wrote 20 columnists in an opinion piece on the Post’s website, adding that it “represents an abandonment of the fundamental editorial convictions of the newspaper that we love.” — Reuters

Founder of TikTok owner ByteDance is now China’s richest person

October 29, 2024 | 6:23 pm

SHANGHAI — ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming is China’s richest person, with personal wealth of $49.3 billion, an annual rich list showed on Tuesday, although counterparts in real estate and renewables have fared less well.

Mr. Zhang, 41, who stepped down as chief executive of ByteDance in 2021, becomes the 18^th individual to be crowned China’s richest person in the 26 years since the Hurun China Rich List was first published.

He overtook bottled water magnate Zhong Shanshan, who slipped to second place as his fortune dropped 24% to $47.9 billion.

Despite a legal battle over its US assets, ByteDance’s global revenue grew 30% last year to $110 billion, Hurun said, helping to propel Mr. Zhang’s personal fortune.

Third on the list was Tencent’s low-profile founder, Pony Ma, while Colin Huang, founder of PDD Holdings, slipped to fourth place from third last year, even as his firm’s discount-focused e-commerce platforms, Pinduoduo and Temu, continue to show healthy revenue growth.

The number of billionaires on the list dropped by 142 to 753, shrinking more than a third from its 2021 peak.

“China’s economy and stock markets had a difficult year,” said Hurun Report Chairman Rupert Hoogewerf.

The most dramatic falls in fortunes have come from China’s real estate sector, he added, while consumer electronics is clearly rising fast, with Xiaomi founder Lei Jun adding $5 billion to his wealth this year.

“Solar panel, lithium battery and EV (electric vehicle) makers have had a challenging year, as competition intensified, leading to a glut, and the threat of tariffs added to uncertainties,” said Hoogewerf, who is also the list’s chief researcher.

“Solar panel makers saw their wealth down as much as 80% from the 2021 peak, while battery and EV makers were down by half and a quarter respectively.” — Reuters

As UN COP16 nature talks are gridlocked, scientists warn of extinction risks

October 29, 2024 | 6:22 pm

Caparaó_e_a_Mata_Atlântica — Heris Luiz Cordeiro Rocha/CC BY-SA 3.0/Wikimedia Commons

CALI, Colombia — Countries were at an impasse over how to fund nature conservation and other key decisions as the United Nations (UN) Conference of the Parties (COP16) biodiversity summit entered its second week on Monday in the Colombian mountain town of Cali.

With nature in unprecedented decline and species going extinct faster than ever, scientists warned the world’s governments that there is no time to waste.

As of today, roughly 38% of the world’s tree species — totaling 16,425 species — are at risk of extinction thanks to timber logging and clear-cutting to make way for farming, mining, road-building and other development efforts, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).

“We need to take urgent action … if we really want to keep these tree (species) alive,” IUCN Director Grethel Aguilar told a news briefing in Cali.

The summit, which marks the 16th meeting of parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), is tasked with figuring out how to implement 23 goals outlined in the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework aimed at halting and reversing nature loss by 2030.

Chief among those goals is having each country of the world set aside 30% of its land and sea territory for conservation — a target known as the 30-by-30 goal.

By the summit’s end on Friday, negotiators and observers hope to achieve progress on a raft of issues touching on financing, genetic material, Indigenous representation and conservation policy.

“The discussions are going well, but it’s a heavy agenda,” said David Ainsworth, a spokesperson for the secretariat.

While the intensity of these discussions shows countries’ engagement, it is also in some cases is a sign “of a relatively low level of trust” between countries, Ainsworth said. “They have a lot of work to do this week.”

So far, delegates are close to agreeing on a measure to recognize and include Indigenous groups in biodiversity decision-making, including with a new permanent presence for these groups within the official UN CBD process.

But many are watching for COP16 to deliver strong options for funding conservation as a measure of the summit’s success.

Summit talks on how to mobilize the billions of dollars needed to halt biodiversity loss this decade were stuck on Monday, as country delegates debated whether there should be an additional fund created to handle this financing. — Reuters

Israel votes to ban UN aid agency

October 29, 2024 | 6:22 pm

JERUSALEM/CAIRO — Israel’s parliament passed a law on Monday to ban the United Nations (UN) relief agency UNRWA from operating inside the country, alarming some of Israel’s Western allies who fear it will worsen the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Israeli officials cited the involvement of a handful of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees’ thousands of staffers in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel and a few staffers’ membership in Hamas and other armed groups.

“UNRWA workers involved in terrorist activities against Israel must be held accountable,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

The head of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, said the vote opposes the UN charter and violates international law. “This is the latest in the ongoing campaign to discredit UNRWA and delegitimize its role towards providing human-development assistance and services to #Palestine Refugees,” he wrote on social media platform X.

The vote came the same day Israeli tanks thrust deeper into northern Gaza, trapping 100,000 civilians, the Palestinian emergency service said, in what Israel’s military said were operations to eliminate regrouping Hamas militants.

The Israeli military said soldiers captured around 100 suspected militants in a raid on a hospital in the Jabalia camp. Hamas and medics have denied any militant presence at the hospital.

The Gaza Strip’s health ministry said at least 19 people were killed by Israeli airstrikes and bombardment on Monday.

The Palestinian Civil Emergency Service said around 100,000 people were marooned in Jabalia, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun without medical or food supplies. Reuters could not verify the number independently.

The emergency service said its operations had come to a halt because of the three-week Israeli assault into northern Gaza, where Israel had said it wiped out Hamas combat forces earlier in the year-long war.

CEASEFIRE TALKS
Talks led by the US, Egypt and Qatar to broker a ceasefire resumed on Sunday after multiple abortive attempts. Egypt’s president proposed a two-day truce to exchange four Israeli hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners, followed by talks within 10 days on a permanent ceasefire.

Mr. Netanyahu had said mediators would resume talks in coming days “in a continued attempt to advance a deal.”

Israel has repeatedly said the war will go on until Hamas is eradicated while the Islamist movement has ruled out any end to fighting until Israeli forces leave Gaza.

Gaza’s war has kindled wider conflict in the Middle East, raising concern about global oil supplies, with Israel bombing Lebanon and sending forces into its south to disable Iran-backed Hezbollah, a Hamas ally.

At least 16 people were killed in Israeli strikes on three villages in eastern Lebanon’s city of Baalbek, the Lebanese health ministry said on Monday.

The conflict also triggered rare direct clashes between regional arch-foes Israel and Iran. Israeli warplanes pounded Iranian missile production sites during the weekend in retaliation for an Oct. 1 Iranian missile volley at Israel.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Tehran would “use all available tools” to respond.

‘EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY’
Israel continued battering Lebanon on Monday, including an early-morning airstrike on a district in the southern port of Tyre that left seven dead, the Lebanese health ministry said.

Lebanon’s health authority said Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed at least 2,710 people and injured 12,592 others in the past year.

The Israeli military later issued an evacuation order for much of Tyre, including areas that included neighborhoods near a seaside hotel where journalists are usually based.

Footage circulated online of civil defence workers urging people to leave. “For your safety, because of the warning, evacuate immediately!” one shouted into a megaphone attached to a car.

Israel’s expanding evacuation warnings have made ghost towns out of much of southern Lebanon, including Tyre, and the bombing campaign has left many towns in ruins.

Hezbollah carried out attacks on Israeli troops within Lebanese territory and on military targets within Israel.

‘NONSENSE TALK’ OF CEASEFIRE
North Gaza’s three major hospitals, whose officials refused Israel’s orders to evacuate, were hardly operating. At least two were damaged and had run out of medical, food and fuel stocks. At least one doctor, a nurse and two child patients had died.

North Gaza residents said Israel was besieging shelters housing displaced families, ordering them out before rounding up men and pushing women and children to leave.

Only a few families headed toward southern Gaza as the majority preferred to relocate temporarily in Gaza City, fearing they could otherwise never regain access to their homes.

Some said they had written their death notices.

“While the world is busy with Lebanon and new nonsense talk about a few days of ceasefire (in Gaza), the Israeli occupation is wiping out north Gaza and displacing its people,” a resident of Jabalia told Reuters via a chat app. — Reuters

SM Supermalls opens 67^th Cyberzone in Cebu

October 29, 2024 | 4:20 pm

Premier all-in-one tech hub strengthens presence in the Queen City, within SM’s newest mall

“This milestone of expanding our footprint in Cebu, further amplifies the commitment of Cyberzone as the largest and premier tech and lifestyle hub in the Philippines. Cyberzone taps on a wider market segment who continues to search for, utilize, and evolve with more tech and gaming experiences in every life stage”, says Patrick G. Pacla, Vice-President — Operations and Marketing (Sponsorship and Cyberzone), SM Supermalls.

SM J Mall is officially SM Supermalls’ 87^th mall chain in the country. Nestled in Mandaue, Cebu City, J Mall is built on the seamless convergence of nature and lifestyle — touting a prime selection of local and global brands, while boasting state-of-the-art eco-friendly technology, such as a rainwater catchment system.

Like the rest of the J Mall, the 67^th Cyberzone boasts a handpicked selection of the most trusted names in tech. The hub showcases top brands, such as Samsung, Oppo, realme, Huawei, and Apple via the Power Mac Center. When it comes to peripherals and accessories, mallgoers will find no shortage of options at specialty shops like Digital Walker, Gaming Grounds, and Tech101. With the Cyberzone’s array of stores, each one guarantees the latest in tech releases alongside reliable after-sales services.

Now Open to Every Tech Aficionado in Cebu

SM J Mall’s Cyberzone is now open for every tech want and need. When you go to Cyberzone, you can be sure to find world-renowned brands, exclusive deals to get the most out of your purchases, legitimate tech experts to guide you, and the latest flagship releases right as they drop. You’ve got them all at the country’s ultimate tech and gaming hotspot: Cyberzone. #GotITatCyberzone!

Don’t forget to stay updated on the latest and greatest in tech deals by checking out Cyberzone at an SM Mall near you or through the SM Malls Online app. Make sure to also follow SM Cyberzone on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, or by visiting www.smcyberzone.com for all your tech and gaming needs!

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.

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Nicole Cordoves joins Mr. and Ms. Chinatown Global as the first ambassador

October 29, 2024 | 3:00 pm

1--Mr.-&-Ms-OL — To celebrate the 15th anniversary of CHiNOY TV, Mr. and Ms. Chinatown Global is launched with candidates of Chinese descent from around the world. In photo are Fil-Chi Media Productions, Inc. (CHiNOY TV) President and CEO Alvin Kingson Tan (extreme right) together with Mr. and Ms. Chinatown Global team (from left) Creative Director Mika Reins, Pageant Director Frances Cham Chua, and Ambassador Nicole Cordoves.

Next year marks the 15^th anniversary of CHiNOY TV, the premier platform elevating Chinese-Filipino content and celebrating the rich cultural heritage and values of the Chinese-Filipino community. Over the years, CHiNOY TV has spearheaded notable initiatives like the “Chinese by Blood, Filipino by Heart” campaign, which bridges cultures and promotes a harmonious dual identity.

To commemorate this milestone, CHiNOY TV is launching the first-ever Mr. and Ms. Chinatown Global (MMCG), a global cultural movement designed to highlight the diverse backgrounds of its participants, representing their dual cultural identities while promoting inclusivity. MMCG empowers individuals to stay connected to their roots while embracing the country they call home, fostering a deeper understanding of Chinese identity worldwide.

The event took place at Grand House in Wilson Street, San Juan, welcoming key media for an afternoon of culture and celebration. The spotlight was on Nicole Cordoves, a Chinese-Filipino beauty queen and television personality, who will help drive MMCG’s mission of inclusivity, representation, and cultural pride.

Bridging Global Chinese Communities

The first Mr. and Ms. Chinatown Global pays tribute to Chinese heritage while also celebrating the beauty of dual identities across continents. Fil-Chi Media Productions, Inc. (CHiNOY TV) COO Loraine Tan, and President and CEO Alvin Kingson Tan flank Mr. and Ms. Chinatown Global team (from left) Creative Director Mika Reins, Pageant Director Frances Cham Chua, and Ambassador Nicole Cordoves.

Among the many Chinatowns around the globe, none can compare to Binondo in Manila, Philippines — the oldest Chinatown in the world — which makes it the perfect setting for MMCG. Hosting the pageant here honors the rich Chinese-Filipino culture and highlights the important role of Chinese heritage as it integrated into the broader society, making Binondo an ideal setting for this international celebration.

This pageant will showcase male and female candidates of mixed Chinese descent, open to individuals aged 18 to 30 from the Philippines and globally. The media launch represents the initial step in our journey to expand our global presence, celebrating diverse expressions of culture through a shared connection to Chinese heritage.

The Manila screening will be held on Oct. 26th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Ramada by Wyndham Manila Central in Binondo, Manila.

Nicole Cordoves Takes on Ambassador Role for Mr. and Ms. Chinatown Global

Nicole Cordoves, Ambassador of Mr. and Miss Chinatown Global

Mr. and Ms. Chinatown Global proudly announces Nicole Cordoves as its new ambassador, celebrating her Chinese and Filipino heritage. Nicole first gained recognition as Miss Chinatown 2014 and has since established herself on the global stage, winning titles such as Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2016 and 1^st Runner-Up at Miss Grand International 2016.

Throughout her career as a beauty queen, television host, and judge on popular shows like It’s Showtime and Drag Den Philippines, Nicole has supported inclusivity and cultural pride, deeply rooted in her Chinese and Filipino identity. As an ambassador, she aims to promote and showcase the rich dual heritage among the contestants.

Each contestant embodies their unique identities as Chinese individuals influenced by their local cultures, including Chinese Filipinos, Chinese Malaysians, Chinese Australians and among others.

Looking Ahead

The Mr. and Ms. Chinatown Global (MMCG) pageant will run from Jan. 12 to 25, 2025, culminating in an exciting Winner’s Night at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, coinciding with the celebration of Chinese New Year. The event celebrates cultural diversity and community engagement.

Stay connected for the latest updates by following Mr. and Ms. Chinatown Global on Facebook and Instagram.

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.

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A step ahead: The resilience and transformation of SM’s business

October 29, 2024 | 2:15 pm

Shoemart-(Parisian)-top-view-OL — The old Shoemart Parisian shoebox design with the iconic Eiffel Tower; back then, Europe was a symbol of the highest aspiration, hence the name Parisian for Mr. Sy’s first shoe brand.

In the late 1950s, a small shoe store called Shoemart opened in the bustling shopping district of Rizal Avenue in downtown Manila. While this is a well-known chapter in SM’s history, few realize that one shoe brand — Parisian — grew alongside Shoemart, marking a significant milestone in the legacy of its founder, Henry Sy, Sr.

Mr. Harley Sy, Executive Director of SM Investments and Co-Vice Chairman of SM Retail, shared this interesting piece of history. “Shoemart was established in October 1958 and my father’s shoe brand Parisian for ladies was also established in 1958, born from his travels abroad in search of quality footwear for Filipinos. His obsession with shoes was well-known; he believed that comfortable, well-fitting shoes should be an affordable aspiration for everyone,” Mr. Harley recalled.

The Legacy of Parisian

The name Parisian reflects Mr. Sy, Sr.’s admiration for European craftsmanship, symbolized by the iconic Eiffel Tower that adorned the brand’s original shoebox design. Mr. Harley described how his father’s journey mirrors not only the evolution of a brand but also his growth as a retail visionary. “In his travels to Boston which was the shoe capital of the world then, he sought out shoe agents for showroom samples. It was daunting for him to navigate the shoe trading houses, speaking limited English. But many of them eventually started selling to my dad since he was buying in bulk. These were typically small sizes which would fit Filipino feet, leading to his shoe-trading venture,” he explained.

During the local industry’s heyday in the 1950s and 60s, Mr. Sy, Sr. engaged with Marikina’s shoe manufacturers. Mr. Harley fondly recalled that he would hear from Tatang’s people that his father would sample shoes at the Carriedo store after office hours from 10 o’ clock in the evening to 12 midnight.

Shoe stores abroad visited by Mr. Sy in the 1950s

Craftsmanship and Comfort

Mr. Sy, Sr. had specific non-negotiables regarding the shoes he offered. It was during the 1980s that Mr. Harley worked with his father closely at the store and understood more about the anatomy of a shoe. To illustrate this vital lesson, Mr. Harley picks up his casual office shoes. He makes a reverse L sign with his thumb, index and middle fingers and inserts them just above the insole. “Look for the middle part of your finger. The counter of your shoe, or the back part that gives support, should end there at the middle part,” he said as an indicator of shoe comfort.

“This was a learning experience that forged my appreciation for detail and hard work,” he said.

“Tatang would closely look at the shape and fit of every shoe. He would even get a white-tipped drawing pencil or chalk and point to the parts of the shoe that needed to be corrected. These were very important,” Mr. Harley said. “Comfort was paramount. My father had an innate ability to assess fit and quality. He could identify flaws just by looking at a shoe.”

This meticulous attention to detail had been passed down through the generations and all the merchandisers learned from Mr. Sy. “Tatang had the eye of a master shoe craftsman, honed through years of listening to customers and nurturing his passion for shoes,” Mr. Harley noted.

As Mr. Sy, Sr. developed his shoe brand, he envisioned a transformation in retail. Inspired by the emergence of department stores and malls in the US, he was always a step ahead as he introduced innovations that laid the blueprint for SM’s growth. “Shoemart was the first shoe store in Carriedo to have air-conditioning, creating an inviting environment that drew customers in,” Mr. Harley explained.

Parisian Today and Tomorrow: Aspiration, Adaptation, and Evolution

Today, Parisian shoes and bags remain staples in all SM stores, continuously updated to reflect contemporary styles. Since its inception, the SM Store had sold millions of pairs of Parisian shoes.

Felanie Lim, Shoes and Bags Senior Vice-President, elaborates, “We decided to expand Parisian to offer new, high-quality choices while maintaining attractive price points. With categories like Parisian Comfy, Parisian Plus, and our premium line, Parisian Limited, we adapt to evolving market demands.” The brand currently boasts a diverse inventory of thousands of styles ensuring there’s something for everyone.

The relevance of the Parisian brand lies in its ability to inspire, adapt, and evolve. Mr. Harley emphasizes, “Innovation is key to staying relevant. The market is always changing, and we must evolve with it. Tatang was a constant innovator, reinventing himself — from shoes to department stores, malls, specialty stores and to what SM is today. We will continue to adapt to the market’s aspirations.”

The Parisian brand remains a testament to the enduring spirit of SM’s business and poised to meet the aspirations of future generations. Anchored on its legacy of resilience, innovation, and dedication to its customer’s needs and wants, Parisian continues to thrive, working constantly to be a step ahead in the industry.

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