New laws set up sports, arts school in Baguio

January 13, 2025 | 8:15 pm

BAGUIO CITY — President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has signed laws establishing the Baguio City Sports High School and Baguio City High School for the Arts, catering to talented youth in Baguio, the Cordilleras, and across Northern Luzon.

On Jan. 3, Mr. Marcos signed Republic Act (RA) 12119, which mandates the creation of the Baguio City Sports High School that shall offer sports-focused education, and RA 12118, which establishes the Baguio City High School for the Arts intended to “promote the sustained development of young Filipinos whose aptitude and skills in culture and the arts shall be properly encouraged and honed through education and specialized training programs.”

RA 12119 mandates the Baguio City Sports High School to implement a general secondary education curriculum as prescribed by the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 to students with potential in sports, in addition to developing learners’ athletic skills through subjects related to physical education and sports.

This specialized high school for sports will be administered by the Department of Education (DepEd) in coordination with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the National Academy for Sports (NAS). It will be administered and operated in accordance with the policies, guidelines and criteria to be issued by the NAS System Board of Trustees.

RA 12118 establishes the Baguio City High School for the Arts, which will also implement a general secondary education curriculum administered and supervised by the DepEd, in close coordination with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

The NCCA and CCP will provide policy direction and technical assistance to the school through the DepEd Cordillera Administrative Region Regional Office and the Schools Division Office of Baguio City.

Initial funds for the schools will be allocated from this year’s appropriation of the Schools Division Office of Baguio City, while subsequent funds for their operations shall be included in the annual national budget. — Artemio A. Dumlao

10 hurt in South Cotabato highway mishap

January 13, 2025 | 8:15 pm

COTABATO CITY — Ten individuals were badly injured in a road accident involving a tricycle and a light truck carrying a ton of assorted fishes in Barangay Palian in Tupi, South Cotabato on Sunday.

The accident left the driver of the light truck, Almasri L. Guiapal and his helpers, Haron S. Japal, Johari D. Moncao, Fahad B. Mohammad, Mujahirin P. Bagundang and Saud K. Macalutang, all residents of Maguindanao del Norte province, injured.

The driver of the tricycle, Raul T. Dolendo and his passengers, Leah W. Osorio and her sister, Gemma, and a nine-year-old boy, also sustained wounds and contusions in different parts of their bodies.

In a report released on Monday, the Tupi Municipal Police Station stated that the driver of the light truck, en route to Koronadal City from General Santos City, lost control of the wheel while maneuvering through a stretch of the highway in Purok 1A in Barangay Palian in Tupi when one of its front tires exploded, hitting the tricycle it was trailing behind.

Both vehicles veered to the side of the highway and plunged into a concrete flood control ditch along the route.

The owner of the light truck, who peddles fishes from General Santos City to retailers in the neighboring Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur provinces, had reportedly assured to help pay for the hospital bills of the injured passengers of the tricycle and its driver. — John Felix M. Unson

Hoey stalls out at Sony Open with bogey-plagued 4^th round

January 13, 2025 | 7:49 pm

RICO HOEY of the Philippines struggled with a two-over 72 in the fourth round to finish with a share of 59^th in the Sony Open in Hawaii on Sunday.

Mr. Hoey’s bid to make a final charge fizzled out as he stumbled with three bogeys in the first seven holes at Honolulu’s windy Waialae Country Club.

The Pinoy ace went on to fire birdies on No. 9 and 18 in between a fourth bogey on No. 15 to card a 37-35 round that sent him 30 places down in the final standings of the PGA Tour’s season opener.

Mr. Hoey, who was in contention and ran 11^th after an eagle-powered 64 in the second round before fading in the finish, assembled a 275 total — 11 strokes off the 264s of eventual winner Nick Taylor of Canada and runner-up Nico Echavarria of Colombia.

The 29-year-old Fil-Am earned $19,314.

Meanwhile, Mr. Taylor drained a birdie on the second playoff hole to beat Mr. Echavarria for his fifth career PGA Tour title and bag the $1,566,000 top prize. Mr. Echavarria banked $948,300. — Olmin Leyba

Taylor prevails in Sony Open playoff for fifth PGA Tour win

January 13, 2025 | 7:47 pm

WINNING the Sony Open almost became an afterthought for Canada’s Nick Taylor during Sunday’s final round.

But get this guy into a playoff, and he knows what to do.

Taylor knocked in a birdie putt from less than 3 feet away on the second playoff hole to win the tournament in Hawaii at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu.

“I’m a bit stunned this worked out this way,” Taylor said.

It’s his fifth PGA Tour victory. The last three have come in playoffs.

“I feel like I can rise to the occasion,” Taylor said. “It’s pretty fun.”

Taylor, who had a dramatic eagle to conclude the final round, matched Colombia’s Nico Echavarria with 16-under-par 264s. They both turned in 5-under 65s in the final round.

Taylor and Echavarria were forced to repeat the par-5 No. 18 after they both birdied it on the first extra hole. Taylor made a 10-foot putt and Echavarria followed by draining a 5 1/2-footer. On the second playthrough, Echavarria missed an 8 1/2-footer for birdie to set up Taylor for the win.

Echavarria, 30, was trying to post a PGA Tour victory for the third consecutive year. In regulation, he birdied No. 18 after blasting from a bunker.

But on the second playoff hole, he used three putts to reach the hole.

“One bad putt can’t define a great week,” Echavarria said, bemoaning the first attempt after reaching the green.

Taylor’s chip-in from the fringe for an eagle 3 on No. 18 catapulted him into contention before waiting for others to finish to see if it held up.

That put him 6 under for the final 11 holes of regulation. It also was redemption after he missed back-to-back birdie putts from less than 5 feet away on the back side. — Reuters

Tsitsipas first big name to fall at Aussie Open, losing to Michelsen

January 13, 2025 | 7:47 pm

MELBOURNE — American Alex Michelsen claimed the biggest win of his career when he stunned Stefanos Tsitsipas, 7-5, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, in the first round of the Australian Open on Monday as the Greek 11^th seed became the first major casualty at Melbourne Park.

Michelsen had beaten Tsitsipas at the Japan Open last year and the 20-year-old American kept his unbeaten record against Tsitsipas, a 2023 finalist at the Melbourne Grand Slam.

Michelsen kept his cool under pressure on rallies and found success at the net while his baseline game looked effortless as he fired 46 winners past Tsitsipas, who had pulled out of the doubles draw at Melbourne Park to focus on his singles campaign.

“My whole role was to try to go deep into the Australian Open. I knew the first thing I had to consider was not play doubles,” said Tsitsipas, who also exited last year’s US Open in the first round.

“I guess karma hit me, I was not able to deliver or play the way I was hoping to… The whole purpose was just to save up on some energy and be fresher hopefully in the deeper draw of the tournament.”

Tsitsipas looked well in control in the first set but midway through he began making several errors off Michelsen’s serve before the American pounced in the 12^th game, taking the set with a backhand winner down the line.

The turning point in the second set came when Michelsen was 4-3 up and he produced a disguised forehand drop shot that left Tsitsipas well short as the crowd roared its approval.

Michelsen even put his hand up in apology even though the ball did not touch the net cord on its way over and Tsitsipas never recovered as his young opponent went 5-3 up and served out the set to love in the final game.

But the Greek began the third set with renewed focus as he raced into a 4-1 lead and seemed to have rediscovered his range on his first serve, forcing plenty of errors from Michelsen.

With the American serving to stay in the set, Tsitsipas had set point when he fired a backhand down the line and this time he read another drop shot from Michelsen to smash a forehand winner to get on the scoreboard.

Tsitsipas’s momentum evaporated in the first game of the fourth set, however, when Michelsen broke the 11^th seed, who was left fuming as he smashed his racket on his kit bag.

A flurry of searing return winners from Michelsen at 4-4 gave him the opportunity to serve for the match and he sealed victory with another powerful serve.

“I just tried to stay super composed out there today, I knew it was going to be a battle in the end,” Michelsen said.

“I came in with the proper mindset and I executed the game plan.”

Michelsen will play either Australian wildcard James McCabe or Spanish qualifier Martin Landaluce in the next round. — Reuters

Amorim sees improvement after Manchester United shootout win over Arsenal

January 13, 2025 | 7:46 pm

LONDON — Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim said his team is still improving, as Sunday’s dramatic FA Cup penalty shootout victory over Arsenal points to a more positive future after a difficult start to life at Old Trafford.

United fans have suffered several false dawns in recent seasons, with development under Amorim’s predecessors Erik ten Hag and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer largely a case of one step forward and two steps back.

Amorim may have wondered if he had taken on a poisoned chalice when a three-game unbeaten run to begin his reign was followed by a woeful run of results, with an unlikely victory over Manchester City in the middle.

But having outperformed expectations with a brilliant display against Liverpool last weekend, United followed that up at Arsenal to keep its FA Cup defense alive.

Amorim said he was particularly pleased with United’s improvement in its 2-0 league defeat by Arsenal last month, when both the Gunners’ goals came from set pieces.

“I think we played, especially in the first half, we played better than in the first game,” Amorim told reporters.

“We were better in set pieces today, more aggressive. We showed a different spirit, even with 10 men, we are improving on that aspect.”

Second-choice goalkeeper Altay Bayindir and forward Joshua Zirkzee were ultimately United’s heroes on Sunday after recent criticism.

Zirkzee was booed off as a first-half substitute in last month’s defeat to Newcastle United, while Bayindir was blamed for United’s League Cup exit against Tottenham Hotspur.

But both were key contributors to United’s third round win, where they were reduced to 10 men, which Amorim said was a lesson for his squad.

“Your life as a footballer has cycles and moments and sometimes in one week your life can change,” he said.

“You can see Altay — against Tottenham everybody was pointing the finger (at) Altay and I understand that and today he was our hero also.

“Joshua a few weeks ago had a small problem with our fans and today every time he’s going on the pitch you feel the support from the fans.

“Then he has the last penalty, so life is like that and you have to continue (being) humble, to work every day, your time will come.”

Amorim also said he was not sure if forward Marcus Rashford, who was again left out of the squad, had played his last game for United.

“He’s a player for Manchester United, we’ll see, he has to work, he has to represent his club and he loves his club, but I have to make choices,” he said. — Reuters

Conte hails McTominay, Lukaku as Napoli extends lead over Serie A rivals

January 13, 2025 | 7:46 pm

NAPOLI manager Antonio Conte praised the impact of Scott McTominay and Romelu Lukaku, both in their first season at the club, after their 2-0 Serie A win over Hellas Verona on Sunday.

Napoli broke the deadlock early on when Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s shot hit the post and rebounded off goalkeeper Lorenzo Montipo, while Frank Anguissa sealed the victory with a powerful long-range shot.

Conte said he is still trying to find the right tactics to suit his squad, even as it secured a fifth successive league win, but that the new signings were integral in helping Napoli lead the standings by four points ahead of Inter Milan.

“There have certainly been changes since the beginning of the summer, especially as I am still trying to find the right tactics for this team,” Conte told DAZN.

“The arrival of Scott McTominay and Romelu Lukaku, in particular, made a big difference to the switch to 4-3-3. We tried a couple of different formations before we settled on this one.”

The coach added that he was pleased with the team’s development, as “there is more confidence, and the whole squad is involved.”

After revealing that forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia wanted to leave the Serie A club, Conte said he bore no ill will toward the Georgian and that he was more disappointed with himself.

“It’s a disappointment for me, not for the player or the club,” Conte said. “In six months I failed to change the situation.

“I believe a coach should help a club to make decisions and advise on what players to sign. When I realize that I was unable to make a difference here, that is my disappointment.

“I take nothing from Khvicha, he’s a good lad, but everyone has to decide their own destiny, just as the club has to make its decisions.” — Reuters

Nuggets rally from big deficit, take down Mavs

January 13, 2025 | 7:46 pm

NIKOLA JOKIC had 19 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists, Russell Westbrook finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds and the visiting Denver Nuggets used a big fourth quarter to rally past the short-handed Dallas Mavericks 112-101 on Sunday.

Denver outscored the Mavericks 33-12 in the final 12 minutes to take a 2-1 advantage in the season series, which resumes on Tuesday in Dallas.

The Mavericks played again without leading scorers Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving and are 2-3 without the duo. Klay Thompson scored 25 points, Spencer Dinwiddie and Naji Marshall had 16 each and Dereck Lively II contributed 14 points and eight assists for Dallas.

Jamal Murray scored 17, Aaron Gordon returned after a nine-game absence with 13 points, Michael Porter, Jr. also had 13 points and Peyton Watson finished with 10 for Denver. The Nuggets have won three straight.

Denver opened the fourth quarter on a 15-4 run to go ahead 94-93. Daniel Gafford had a dunk and Dinwiddie split a pair of free throws to put the Mavericks back in front 96-94 before the Nuggets took control.

Westbrook hit two layups, Jokic made a hook shot and then fed Watson for a corner 3-pointer to put Denver ahead 106-99 with 2:21 left.

Denver scored the first four points of the third quarter to take a 62-61 lead, but the Mavericks heated up.

Lively scored six points, Marshall hit a jumper and Thompson scored the next eight Dallas points to put the hosts ahead by 12.

Thompson hit another from deep as part of a 16-2 run that gave the Mavericks an 87-69 lead with 3:59 left in the third before the Nuggets cut the deficit to 10 heading into the fourth.

Dallas was 10-for-15 from 3-point range in the first half, led by Thompson’s four from deep, and led by as much as 17 before the Nuggets rallied to make it 41-34 early in the second quarter.

Denver scored the last seven points of the first half to trail just 61-58 at halftime. — Reuters

PHL deposit insurance levels at international standards even after remittance of idle funds to BTr

January 13, 2025 | 5:38 pm

The country’s deposit insurance levels are consistent with international standards even after the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC) remitted its idle funds to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) in support of government-wide efforts to boost the economy by funding the national government’s priority projects.

“We assure the public that after the remittance, the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) of the PDIC remains adequate to cover risks in the banking system and that the PDIC is still capable of delivering its services effectively, in case of insurance calls,” PDIC President Roberto B. Tan said.

“The DIF continues to be maintained within the target level set by its Board of Directors based on international best practices,” he added.

The PDIC remitted P107.23 billion in compliance with the Congressional mandate under the General Appropriations Act of 2024 and strictly in accordance with the opinion rendered by the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC).

The PDIC’s multibillion-peso remittance to the national government went to projects aimed at spurring economic activities, which are envisioned to lead to higher deposits in banks and growth of financial institutions to provide more financial products and services to Filipinos nationwide.

These include major infrastructure and social programs such as the maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation of major infrastructure facilities; the Protective Services for Individuals and Families in Difficult Circumstances/Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations; the Philippine Food Stamp Program; and various projects to advance the government’s disaster-related infrastructure projects; and rural electrification efforts through the Financial Subsidy for the Purchase of Photovoltaic Mainstreaming (Solar Home System).

Additionally, the unutilized funds were used to support counterpart financing for foreign-assisted projects, including the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges; the Metro Manila Subway Project; the Philippine Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Project; the Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project; the Cebu-Mactan Bridge and Coastal Road Construction Project; the North-South Commuter Railway System; the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling Project; the Teacher Effectiveness and Competencies Enhancement Project; and the Philippine Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency Project, among others.

These projects are envisioned to drive economic growth by generating employment, boosting incomes and reducing poverty, thus creating a positive multiplier for society.

Following the remittance of P107.23 billion to the national government, the DIF now stands at P202.85 billion, or 5.8% of the country’s estimated insured deposits. The target range ratio level set by the PDIC Board is from 5% to 8%.

The International Association of Deposit Insurers (IADI) recommends that most jurisdictions set a target reserve ratio between 2% and 5% of insured deposits, though the specific target may vary based on the risks and banking environment of a country.

For example, the United States target reserve ratio for their DIF is 2% of insured deposits, while in Canada the target is typically around 1.05% of insured deposits.

The IADI is a global standard-setting body dedicated to enhancing the effectiveness of deposit insurance systems worldwide. Established in 2002 and headquartered at the Bank for International Settlements in Basel, Switzerland, the association promotes financial stability by developing international standards and providing guidance for deposit insurance practices.

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.

Taiwan reports rise in suspected Chinese espionage

January 13, 2025 | 5:29 pm

China-Taiwan-Chess — CHESS PIECES are seen in front of displayed China and Taiwan’s flags in this illustration taken Jan. 25, 2022. — REUTERS

TAIPEI — Taiwanese charged with suspicion of spying on behalf of China rose by a third to 64 people last year, the island’s National Security Bureau said, adding most were current or retired soldiers.

China has stepped up political and military pressure in recent years to back its claim that democratically governed Taiwan is its own territory. This has included daily military drills, balloons near the island and an espionage campaign.

The increase in the number of Taiwanese charged with attempted espionage for China represented a “significant rise” from 48 and 10 people in 2023 and 2022, respectively, according to a report by the National Security Bureau on Sunday.

The report did not provide an explanation for the increase in cases.

“The Chinese Communist Party continues to use diverse channels and means to infiltrate all walks of life in order to absorb citizens to help them develop networks or gather sensitive government information,” the report said.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Among those who were charged last year, two-thirds were current or retired members of the armed forces, the report said, adding these demographics were the “main target” of China’s infiltration of Taiwan.

Through criminal gangs, underground banks and religious groups, some retired soldiers tried to recruit serving members of the military to acquire sensitive military information or build spy networks, the report said.

In some unspecified cases, the report said, some gangsters were asked to serve as planted agents to “sabotage” and raise China’s flag in the event of a Chinese invasion; Some retired military officers were instructed to gather photos and the coordinates of a foreign government office in Taiwan in a move to build a “sniper team” for an “assassination assignment.”

Seven retired military officials were prosecuted last year on suspicion of Chinese espionage including mapping out the coordinates and details of several military bases and the de facto US embassy in Taipei, the official Central News Agency reported last week.

Beijing has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control. The government in Taipei strongly rejects the Chinese sovereignty claim and vows to defend its democracy and freedom. — Reuters

Thailand’s cabinet approves draft law to legalize casinos and gambling

January 13, 2025 | 5:29 pm

Gambling-casino — STOCK PHOTO | Image from Rawpixel

BANGKOK — Thailand’s cabinet has approved a draft law that would legalize gambling and casinos, a move aimed at boosting tourism, jobs and investment, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said on Monday.

Under the government’s plan, the law, which will be sent to parliament for deliberation, would see gambling take place in large-scale entertainment complexes.

Casinos and most forms of gambling are illegal in Thailand but soccer betting and underground gaming activities and lotteries are rife, with vast sums of money changing hands.

Only some gambling is permitted, such as state-controlled horse races and on an official lottery.

Neighbors, Cambodia, Singapore, the Philippines, Laos and Myanmar have benefited from large casino complexes and Thailand’s government has argued the absence of legal casinos means it is turning its back on revenue and not reaching its tourism potential.

Tourism is a key driver of Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy and Thailand is forecasting record visitor numbers in the next few years.

“Legalization will protect the public and would also generate more state revenue,” Ms. Paetongtarn told reporters.

Successive Thai governments have sought to legalize and regulate gambling to boost the economy but each attempt has faced pushback from conservatives in the Buddhist majority country.

The latest move could see foreign visitor numbers grow 5% to 10% and tourism revenue increase by about 120 billion baht to 220 billion baht ($3.45 billion to $6.32 billion), said Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat.

About 9,000 to 15,000 new jobs would be created, he added.

A key advocate of legalizing gambling has been billionaire former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn’s father, an influential figure in the ruling party. — Reuters

Tokyo museum offers visitors ‘flashback’ to defunct technology

January 13, 2025 | 5:26 pm

JAPAN-MUSEUM-CAMERA — OLD CAMERA MODELS are displayed at Extinct Media Museum, a private museum showcasing a collection of defunct gadgets including old cameras, cassette tapes and cell phone, in Tokyo, Japan, Jan. 11, 2025. — REUTERS

TOKYO — Tucked away in a corner of central Tokyo, the Extinct Media Museum lives up to its name.

From Betacam videotapes to floppy disks and vintage Sony devices, the museum is a showcase for old cameras and telecom equipment, including a 1916 Japanese-made “Lily” still camera, its oldest exhibit.

Amidst the three-roomed museum’s cluttered shelves, visitors like 59-year-old Mika Matsuda can rewind to the past and the gadgets that were once in everyday use.

“It is fascinating not only for generations unfamiliar with these items, but also for those who lived through those times,” Ms. Matsuda said on Saturday.

“Seeing these pieces feels like I’m having a flashback of our own lives. It reminded me of how things were back then — I used to have so much fun,” she said.

Opened in January 2023, the museum was founded on the belief that all media equipment, except for paper and stone, will eventually “die out,” explained deputy museum curator Barbara Asuka.

The mostly donated items are displayed so that visitors can pick them up, encouraging a full sensory experience, she added.

“There’s a lot of information you can gain by holding it, like the smell,” Ms. Asuka said.

“We want visitors to experience these items with all five senses, rather than just looking at the display through glass,” said Ms. Asuka.

The museum regularly accepts donations from museum-goers like Hisashi Ito, who brought in a small hand-held watch and cassette tapes from his personal collection on Saturday.

“Even if I keep these gadgets at home, they will probably just be thrown away when I die. It’s better to share them and let people enjoy them,” the 56-year-old car designer said.

The Extinct Media Museum’s hours vary, according to its website, with general admission priced at around 2,000 yen ($12.70). Tickets for donors and students are 1,000 yen. — Reuters