Facebook Instagram Linkedin X Youtube
Home Blog Page 2205

Stress-free family vacations with Emirates: Unwind and connect

After a hectic year, what we truly need is a vacation where we can relax and enjoy quality time with our loved ones. At Emirates, we understand that family vacations are about creating cherished memories, not stress. That’s why we’ve designed every step of your journey to ensure comfort, convenience, and joy for travelers of all ages.

With the travel season in full swing, it’s the perfect time to plan a family getaway. From seamless check-ins to thoughtful in-flight amenities, Emirates goes above and beyond to make family travel a stress-free and enjoyable experience. Here’s how we can help you unwind and connect with your loved ones, every step of the way.

Check-In Made Easy

Planning a family trip can be overwhelming, but a smooth start sets the tone for a relaxing vacation. Emirates offers several convenient options to make the check-in process hassle-free:

  1. Home Check-In Service: Skip the airport rush with our exclusive home check-in service, available at Dubai International Airport. Our agents will take care of your bags and boarding passes right at your doorstep, leaving you free to enjoy a stress-free journey to the airport. This service is available to all First-Class passengers and Skywards members.
  2. Online Check-In: Save time by checking in online via the Emirates website or app. You can access your flight details and digital boarding pass as early as 48 hours before departure. With just a few clicks, you’re ready to go.
  3. Early Luggage Drop-Off: Avoid the hassle of heavy bags by dropping off your luggage the night before your flight at no additional cost. This service is available at Dubai International Airport and ensures a lighter, smoother check-in experience on the day of travel.

Seamless Onboarding and Departure

The Emirates experience doesn’t stop at check-in. From the moment you arrive at the airport, we ensure that every detail is taken care of:

  • Family-Friendly Facilities: Traveling with young children? At Dubai International Airport, we’ve got you covered with complimentary strollers and airport passenger buggies for added convenience.
  • Dedicated Lounges: Families can relax in our First and Business Class lounges, featuring dedicated play areas equipped with arcade games and video consoles. For unaccompanied minors, we provide a dedicated lounge with Wi-Fi, video games, and other amenities to ensure a comfortable wait.
  • Special Assistance: For families traveling with infants or children with disabilities, our “Meet and Assist” service offers personalized help from check-in to boarding.

Onboard Comfort for Every Family Member

Once on board, Emirates ensures your family’s journey is as enjoyable as the destination:

  • Child-Friendly Meals and Entertainment: Young travelers can enjoy delicious and nutritious meals tailored to their preferences. Our award-winning entertainment system offers a wide variety of movies, games, and shows to keep them entertained throughout the flight.
  • Essential Amenities for Parents: Parents can relax with amenity kits packed with baby essentials, while select seats feature bassinets to ensure infants sleep soundly during the flight. Bathrooms equipped with baby-changing facilities add to the convenience.
  • Thoughtful Service: Our cabin crew, trained in family-friendly hospitality, go the extra mile to make every passenger feel at home.

Creating Unforgettable Family Memories

At Emirates, we believe that prioritizing comfort and convenience transforms any journey into an unforgettable experience. From the moment you check in to the time you land, we ensure every detail is tailored to meet the needs of your family.

Ready to make cherished memories with your loved ones? Visit Emirates.com to explore our family-friendly travel options and book your next adventure today. Let us help you unwind, connect, and create moments that last a lifetime.

 

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.

Smart home solutions to kickstart 2025

We are finally winding down another year and yet again we find ourselves on a renewed quest to improve our lives. Before we set the big holidays behind us, let’s welcome positivity and set intentions for the year ahead. Conclude 2024 with a grateful heart and reflect on how we can make life easier and more intentional for the coming year.

Small improvements such as refining routines or creating spaces that truly support your lifestyle can set the pace for a smarter, and more rewarding year ahead. Here, we’ve gathered some hacks and smart home items for the most-visited rooms. To those who want to start fresh. Making simple but thoughtful upgrades can create a space that not only works harder for you but also inspires a sense of ease and purpose as you move into 2025.

A Smarter Kitchen

The kitchen is the hub of activity in any home, and smart upgrades can make it more efficient and enjoyable. Start with the Hamden Built-In Induction Hob, perfect for small spaces. It is a touch-control built in hob that also features a sleek design, and precision cooking capabilities. Pair it with the Hamden Range Hood Touch Control to maintain a clean, odor-free environment while adding a modern aesthetic. These appliances combine form and function, making your kitchen work smarter while looking its best.

Bathrooms with a Twist

Make the most of your bathroom experience with products that blend innovation and comfort. The GROHE Euphoria 180 Shower System delivers a luxurious shower while conserving water, and the GROHE Smartcontrol Trimset Shower Mixer lets you customize every detail for an optimized experience.

The Kohler Intelligent Toilet merges sleek design with advanced performance, featuring a compact, tankless build and chair-height seating for added comfort. Its stainless steel wand offers adjustable spray settings for water pressure, temperature, and pulsating options, while a heated seat, warm-air dryer, automatic deodorizer, and hands-free lid operation add convenience. Self-cleaning UV light technology, an LED nightlight, and an emergency flush system provide reliable hygiene and functionality.

For the ultimate upgrade, the Kohler Veil Intelligent Toilet stands out with its automated features and space-saving design, redefining modern bathroom luxury.

Comfort Meets Smart in Living Spaces 

Your living room and bedroom deserve the same level of attention when it comes to comfort and functionality. The Heim Mattress offers a perfect balance of comfort and adaptability. It is designed with innovative foam technology to cater to your body’s comfortability. Choose from standard, deluxe, or premium options—all crafted to provide maximum relaxation and peace of mind.  The Heim Mattress is also made with memory foam free from harmful compounds. This attention to detail allows you to recharge in a safe and health-supporting environment.

Complement this comfort with the Alphalux Radiant Series 5-star rated LED bulb. It is known for its exceptional brightness, long-lasting performance of up to 25,000 hours, and cost-saving efficiency. You can light up any space in your home with Alphalux.

Smart Solutions for Every Room

No smart home is complete without efficient water heaters from Ariston. Compact and energy-conscious, it provides instant hot water for your bathroom or kitchen needs. These products aren’t just upgrades—they’re investments in a smarter, more convenient future.

Start 2025 Smarter

Make 2025 the year of smarter living. A smart home isn’t just about adding technology to your homes. It is also about creating spaces that seamlessly fit your lifestyle and make daily routines effortless. With Wilcon Depot’s thoughtfully selected smart home solutions, upgrading to a more intuitive and efficient home has never been simpler.

Visit Wilcon Depot and start your year with these smart additions to your home. Make 2025 the year of smarter living.

For more information about Wilcon, visit www.wilcon.com.ph or follow their social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Tiktok. or subscribe and connect with them on Viber Community, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Or you may contact Wilcon Depot Hotline at 88-WILCON (88-945266) for inquiries.

 

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.

FMF Development Corp. sets virtual Special Meeting of Stockholders on Jan. 9

 

 

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.

Metro Manila Film Festival 2024: Filipino found footage horror finds its footing

Source: https://www.imdb.com/

By Brontë H. Lacsamana, Reporter

Movie Review
Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital
Directed by Kerwin Go
Produced by Reality MM Studios and Creative Leaders Group 8

TECHNOLOGY, social media, and the horrors that come with it are themes that resonate with younger audiences today. Much of our lives is filtered through a lens, be it that of a phone, laptop, or actual camera. Never mind the shaky movements, the off-kilter framing, or the unpredictable elements that pop up onscreen — these days, the cameras are always rolling. And if they’re not, you’re missing out.<

This is the context that motivates the adventurous ghost-hunting team of celebrities and online influencers in Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital. Starring Enrique Gil, Jane De Leon, Alexa Miro, Rob Gomez, MJ Lastimosa, Raf Pineda, and Ryan Azurin as exaggerated versions of themselves, this film delves into the consequences of always being “on,” for clicks, for clout, for cash.

The pursuit of fame and fortune takes the group to Taiwan’s infamous Xinglin Hospital, one of Southeast Asia’s most haunted locations, where they expect to simply generate hype and act out viral-worthy moments for their webseries — until actual paranormal phenomena start to happen.

As a fan of found footage horror (a genre of horror characterized by handheld, shaky camera movement or grainy camera quality due to the footage being “self-recorded”), I was so ready to be disappointed by this. It was probably the unbelievably low level of expectation that made this film such a pleasant surprise for me. It’s actually well-executed, director Kerwin Go was seemingly given a decent budget for the creepy atmosphere and demonic visuals to come to life.

Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital is directly inspired by the 2018 Korean horror film Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum, a fact that it wears on its sleeve with the characters even mentioning it as one of their favorite movies. What people usually ask about Filipino adaptations of Korean movies is whether it’s a trying-hard version of the source material. I’m happy to report that it’s not better or worse, instead becoming a thing of its own. Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum had less distinct characters but more hair-raising scares from what I remember, while Strange Frequencies brings in more memorable character dynamics with some promising scares. Not bad.

(Spoilers ahead!)

Jane De Leon is the stand-out here, her facial expressions, voice, and body language perfectly suited for this genre. So much so that I wish she had been one of the last two to survive. She hit that sweet spot of desperate and smart-but-ultimately-doomed that befits a Final Girl.

With that said, the entire cast did their job, each of them playing up their celebrity qualities well: Enrique Gil’s hubris, Alexa Miro’s cutesy excitement, Rob Gomez’s asshole demeanor, Raf Pineda’s dramatic delivery of lines. Even Ryan Azurin, who is one of the first to die, and MJ Lastimosa, who’s an annoyingly emotionless beauty queen, do their part. It is with this cast that tensions rise and personalities clash, giving us the impression that living in the public eye has messed up their sense of integrity (Fake viral moments to get more views? No problem!).

Of course, none of it completely makes sense. The malevolent entity haunts and plays with them like pawns at times, while leaving them to wander around obnoxiously at others. Some characters die instantly; some are hunted and teased for extended periods. Certain abilities of this demonic spirit are introduced, but its hauntings are inconsistent.

To be even more nitpicky, the rules behind the footage get thrown out the window pretty quickly, with us seeing first-person handheld camera visuals mixed with third-person POV shots. I’m aware that purely found footage would be difficult to pull off, especially with this film that had a lot of moving parts, but some moments could have been better timed to leave more of an impact when there’s a switch from one mode to the other.

A bit more work could have also been done to lessen the glaring plot holes.

For example, they supposedly streamed their whole adventure live and never got caught (when they revealed clearly illegal machinations behind-the-scenes) or got help (when they started getting hurt and dying and were pleading with followers for it). Sure, it could have been a creative choice on the filmmakers’ part to show how desensitized netizens are to viral, clearly sensationalized content online, choosing to believe it’s all fake and therefore not reacting normally, but even then there’s a limit to that conceit.

The ending had a solid message though, which could have been finessed.

The last moments and deaths of certain characters drove home themes of fame and virality that motivate celebrities, content creators, and horror-related content today. Being stupid, inauthentic, irrational, and disrespectful (towards both the living and the dead) yields horrific consequences. It was riveting stuff that evoked the satirical elements of the 2023 American horror-comedy Deadstream, and the thought-provoking yet fast-paced sensibilities of various segments of V/H/S, a popular found footage horror film series.

Strange Frequencies’ meta approach is interesting, its creepy vibe and fun scares definitely worthy of screams in movie theaters — a good sign that Filipino found footage horror has found its footing. The last good attempt was the 2015 Mindanao-set film Salvage by Sherad Anthony Sandhez, and the genre hasn’t really been played with effectively since then. Hopefully we see more of it soon!

MTRCB Rating: R-13

Metro Manila Film Festival 2024: Vice Ganda goes serious, for a moment

Source: https://www.imdb.com/

By Edg Adrian Eva, Reporter

Movie Review
And the Breadwinner is
Directed by Jun R. Lana
Produced by Star Cinema and The IdeaFirst Company

Vice Ganda’s films have consistently drawn polarized reactions over the years. While they undeniably connect with their target mass audience through Vice Ganda’s signature comedic style — made up of one-liners, puns, and parodies — some critics find the movies’ reliance on a repetitive formula less than appealing. The heavy use of slapstick humor and exaggerated scenarios is entertaining to many, but for some it often detracts from the films’ depth and artistic value.

However, in Vice Ganda’s newest film, And the Breadwinner Is, for this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival, the buzz suggests a potential shift in tone. The teaser hints at a more serious and dramatic narrative, balanced with the familiar nuances of comedy that have defined Vice Ganda’s style. This fresh direction is intriguing, particularly for someone who grew up watching Vice Ganda’s films.

As the film’s title suggests, Vice Ganda, playing Bambi Salvador, is established as the breadwinner of her family, taking on multiple jobs in Taiwan to support her big family in the Philippines. The movie starts strong, with Bambi narrating her hardships, supported by visuals that effectively show her unwavering dedication to building her family’s dream house.

Of course, it’s a Vice Ganda film, so comedy is always present, but what makes it more effective is how the comedy appears in the most unexpected scenes —moments that are sad or frustrating in nature. For example, in one scene the OFWs use the coffin of a recently deceased coworker to store their pasalubong or balikbayan items (gifts for those at home) — it’s a bit disturbing but hilarious at the same time. That they are unexpected makes the comedic moments in the initial part of the movie more effective.

However, when Bambi returns to the Philippines, the movie’s plot takes a downturn. What began as a balanced comedic-dramatic story shifts into full-blown comedy, reverting to the old formula. These moments could have been used to develop the character of Baby Salvador — Bambi’s older sister (played by comedian Eugene Domingo) — whose abandonment of her responsibilities is crucial to Bambi becoming the family’s sole breadwinner.

The comedic and swift reconciliation of Baby with her family, after being absent for more than 15 years, feels emotionally unrealistic. The family immediately accepts her with warmth, except for Bambi, who eventually accepts her as well. This feels like lazy writing, given how her character was established at the beginning of the film.

A visual portrayal of Baby leaving the family, Bambi’s turning point as the breadwinner, and Baby’s reasons for leaving and returning would have added depth to the characters, making their motivations more compelling — in a similar manner with how the initial narration was supported by effective visual cues.

While there are attempts to address these conflicts through occasional confrontational scenes, the movie’s shift to full-blown comedy and its rapid emotional transitions makes these scenes feel forced, as if they are included just to keep the plot moving forward.

The highlight of the movie is the single-camera confrontation scene between Bambi, Baby, and the rest of the family, notably younger brother Biboy Salvador, played by Jhong Hilario. As mentioned in an interview with the press, this intense moment was filmed in just one take.

Director Jun Lana’s vision for the scene is clear — he aims to immerse the audience, making them feel as though they are right there, witnessing the confrontation. However, this method has its drawbacks, as the single camera angle doesn’t fully capture the characters’ facial expressions. This scene is pivotal for Bambi and for the family to express their repressed emotions, and had it been executed better, like the confrontational scenes in Anak or Four Sisters and a Wedding, it would have been more effective.

Nonetheless, Vice Ganda’s acting workshop clearly paid off here, as she effectively conveys the burden and exhaustion of being the family’s breadwinner for so long.

Overall, And the Breadwinner Is holds strong appeal for Filipino families, thanks to Vice Ganda’s enduring star power and its family-centric theme. Had the film focused more on Bambi’s struggles and further explored how her years of hard work led to disappointment, while delving deeper into her conflict with Baby, with a more nuanced use of comedy, it could have been a standout moment in Vice Ganda’s movie career.

MTRCB Rating: PG

PHL stocks, peso close mixed on last trading day of 2024

PHILIPPINE STOCKS inched lower while the peso continued to rise against the dollar on Dec. 27, the last trading day of 2024

PHILIPPINE financial markets closed mixed on Friday — the last trading day of 2024 — as a volatile year that saw both the main stock index and the peso post multi-month lows came to an end.

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) inched down by 0.15% or 10.23 points to end at 6,528.79, while the broader all shares index rose by 0.44% or 16.73 points to 3,748.51.

Still, the main index managed to post a year-on-year gain as its end-2024 close was 1.22% or 78.75 points higher than its 6,450.04 finish in 2023.

“The year’s last trading session saw the PSEi post a slight dip from the prior day’s close but just enough to end 2024 with a modest gain,” China Bank Capital Corp. Managing Director Juan Paolo E. Colet said in a Viber message.

“The PSEi ended 2024 lower, mirroring US market trends, as jobless claims fell to 219,000, below the 225,000 forecast, while continuing claims rose to 1.91 million the highest since November 2021,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan said in a Viber message.

PESO AT THREE-WEEK HIGH
Meanwhile, the peso closed at P57.845 versus the dollar on Friday, appreciating by 12.5 centavos from Thursday’s P57.97 finish, data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines’ website showed.

This was the local unit’s best finish in three weeks or since it ended at P57.735 a dollar on Dec. 6 as holiday and year-end flows continued to prop up the currency.

However, the peso weakened year on year, declining by P2.475 or 4.28% from its end-2023 finish of P55.37 versus the greenback.

“The peso closed today on a stronger note from holiday remittances and increased volume from year-end transactions,” a trader said on Friday. “Hawkish hints from the Bank of Japan has also chipped away some dollar strength in the global markets today.” — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave and Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

Global Dominion: A leader in talent development and growth

By: Ariel Dizon

Every growing organization prioritizes expansion as a primary strategy for sustainable growth, whether by widening its reach or diversifying its products and services. For Global Dominion, developing its people plays a pivotal role in achieving growth. Staying true to its purpose of igniting and accelerating the growth of people and organizations, the company transforms lives for the better.

With its tagline, “Ka-partner mo sa pag-angat,” Global Dominion heavily invests in its employees through training, fostering internal mobility, and creating transparent career pathways. From onboarding to career advancement, employees are supported at every step. The company has nurtured many successful interns, several of whom have advanced to leadership roles—proof of its commitment to developing future leaders.

“As someone who started my journey within the Global Dominion family, I am a testament to the company’s dedication to nurturing talent and providing opportunities for growth. The culture of learning, mentorship, and internal mobility here has been instrumental in shaping my career,” says Jethro Penamante, President of Cycle Financing Corporation, a subsidiary of Global Dominion.

Global Dominion’s impressive 92% internal promotion rate underscores its dedication to recognizing and fostering talent from within. This approach aligns with the creation of six new divisions offering a range of loan products: Car Financing, Truck Financing, Real Estate Mortgage, Real Estate Financing, Brand New Car Financing, and Branches Divisions. Each division is led by seasoned general managers, supported by assistant general managers and middle managers, ensuring robust opportunities for employee growth and leadership development. This structured growth strategy has driven the company to achieve remarkable milestones, including record-breaking loan bookings of 1 billion pesos in a month.

Global Dominion is also deeply committed to its employees’ learning and development. By implementing programs like Innov8’s Leadership Trilogy and mandatory technical and professional courses, the company fosters self-awareness and leadership effectiveness. This commitment reflects its dedication to nurturing talent and enhancing capabilities.

Through its comprehensive talent pipeline strategy, Global Dominion has successfully aligned organizational growth with employee development. These initiatives not only improve operational efficiency but also cultivate a culture of continuous improvement, positioning Global Dominion as a model for organizations that prioritize employee empowerment and sustainable growth.

 

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.

South Korea’s parliament impeaches acting president Han, as Yoon goes on trial

Acting South Korean President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo  / Yonhap via Reuters

SEOUL – South Korea’s parliament impeached acting President Han Duck-soo on Friday over a short-lived martial law, plunging the country deeper into political chaos, as the Constitutional Court said it would swiftly trial suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol.

The impeachment of Han, who has been acting president since Yoon was impeached on Dec. 14 for declaring martial law on Dec. 3, has thrown South Korea’s once-vibrant democratic success story into uncharted territory.

The motion led by opposition parties passed with 192 of the 300 votes amid rowdy scenes by ruling People Power Party members who surrounded the speaker’s podium chanting the vote was invalid and parliament had committed “tyranny.”

Ahead of the parliamentary session, opposition leader Lee Jae-myung said his Democratic Party, which has majority control of parliament, will go ahead with the plan to impeach the acting president, accusing Han of “acting for insurrection”.

“The only way to normalise the country is to swiftly root out all the insurrection forces,” Lee said in a fiery speech, adding the party was acting on the public order to eradicate those who have put the country at risk.

There has been overwhelming public support for Yoon’s removal, according to opinion polls conducted after his martial law attempt.

The plan for a vote to impeach Han was unveiled on Thursday by the main opposition Democratic Party after he declined to immediately appoint three justices to fill vacancies at the Constitutional Court, saying it would exceed his acting role.

Until just before voting began, it was unclear how many votes were needed to impeach Han as acting leader. The threshold for a prime minister is a simple majority, while a two-thirds majority is needed for a president.

Speaker Woo Won-shik declared a simple majority would constitute parliamentary approval.

Han said in a statement after the vote that he would step aside to avoid more chaos and will await a Constitutional Court ruling on his impeachment.

By law Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok will assume the acting presidency.

Choi earlier pleaded with parliament to withdraw the plan to impeach Han, saying it would do serious damage to the country’s economy.

The South Korean won retreated to 1,475.4 per dollar, down 0.53% at 0707 GMT ahead of the parliamentary vote.

The vote to determine Han’s fate comes on the same day the Constitutional Court held its first hearing in a case reviewing whether to overturn the impeachment and reinstate Yoon or remove him permanently from office. It has 180 days to reach a decision. — Reuters

DigiPlus and PAGCOR join forces to promote responsible gaming

“Together, we aim to elevate the industry by prioritizing player welfare.” – PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco and DigiPlus Interactive Chairman Eusebio Tanco underscore the importance of a joint campaign on responsible gaming.

DigiPlus Interactive, together with its flagship brands BingoPlus, ArenaPlus, and GameZone, and its social development arm BingoPlus Foundation, has partnered with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to formally launch a nationwide responsible gaming campaign. This collaboration reinforces DigiPlus’ steadfast commitment to making responsible gaming a priority, ensuring that gaming remains an enjoyable and positive experience.

As the home of trusted entertainment platforms, responsible gaming has long been central to DigiPlus’ mission. Under its “Pusta de Peligro” campaign – a colloquial reference to “Petsa de Peligro” – BingoPlus Foundation has spearheaded initiatives aimed at educating and empowering players to exercise caution and discipline in their gaming. These include the Tamang Laro, Tamang Panalo webinar series, which not only guided players on maintaining balance and control in their gaming habits, but also addressed mental health and intervention support. Other efforts include personalized financial coaching provided to the record-breaking P154 million BingoPlus jackpot winner, helping ensure sound money management; and responsible gaming videos that reached millions nationwide.

Through BingoPlus Foundation, DigiPlus promotes its “Pusta de Peligro campaign” via responsible gaming content, financial coaching for winners and the “Tamang Panalo, Tamang Laro” webinar series on mental health and financial tips for players.

PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco underscored the significance of this joint effort, “Gaming is meant to entertain, but it must always come with safeguards to protect players. We are proud to join DigiPlus and BingoPlus Foundation in this vital advocacy, which educates players and promotes a culture of responsibility. Together, we aim to elevate the industry by prioritizing player welfare.”

DigiPlus Chairman Eusebio Tanco echoed the sentiment, highlighting the company’s dedication to responsible gaming: “Responsible gaming is not just an advocacy for us at DigiPlus, but a fundamental principle. Beyond offering entertainment, we are deeply committed to delivering gaming experiences that are not only fun but also responsible. This campaign with PAGCOR is an important step in advancing our mission to empower players, promote financial literacy, and foster balanced gaming practices.”

The campaign will focus on empowering players through prevention, education, and intervention. BingoPlus Foundation will be expanding its public awareness initiatives, featuring new digital and on-ground campaigns to educate players about maintaining balance and control while gaming. Building on the success of the webinar series, live events and community workshops will further amplify the advocacy.

By joining forces with PAGCOR, DigiPlus reaffirms its dedication to raising the bar for responsible gaming practices in the Philippines. This campaign is not just an initiative, but also a statement of BingoPlus Foundation’s unwavering commitment to redefine gaming as a responsible and enriching activity.

 

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.

Brazil says workers at China’s BYD site are victims of human trafficking

STOCK PHOTO | Image by wal_172619 from Pixabay

RIO DE JANEIRO/SHANGHAI – Chinese workers at a construction site in Brazil for a factory owned by China’s electric vehicle producer BYD are victims of human trafficking, Brazilian labor authorities said on Thursday in a growing controversy in BYD’s biggest overseas market.

BYD and contractor Jinjiang Group have agreed to assist and house the 163 workers in hotels until a deal to end their contracts is reached, Brazil’s Labor Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement issued after meeting representatives from both firms.

The brief statement did not provide details on how prosecutors had reached their conclusion.

BYD and Jinjiang did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Jinjiang rejected the Brazilian authorities’ assessment on Monday that the workers at the site in the eastern state of Bahia were operating under “slavery-like conditions”.

Jinjiang said, in a social media post reposted by a BYD spokesperson, that the portrayal of the workers as “enslaved” was inaccurate and that there were translation misunderstandings.

BYD initially said it had cut ties with Jinjiang, but a BYD executive later accused “foreign forces” and some Chinese media of “deliberately smearing Chinese brands and the country and undermining the relationship between China and Brazil”.

China’s foreign ministry on Wednesday said its embassy in Brazil was communicating with the Brazilian government to verify and address the situation. The ministry did not immediately respond on Friday to a request for comment on the trafficking claim.

The Brazil prosecutors said they would meet again with the companies on Jan. 7 and propose a deal.

 

CHINA’S GROWING INFLUENCE IN BRAZIL

A deal could clear BYD and Jinjiang from an investigation by labor prosecutors, but they could still face scrutiny from labor inspectors and from federal prosecutors, who have requested the sharing of the evidence so that “measures can be adopted in the criminal sphere”, the statement said.

BYD has been building the factory to produce 150,000 cars initially as part of plans to start production in Brazil, the Chinese EV company’s largest overseas market, in early 2025. Nearly one in five cars BYD sold outside China in the first 11 months of 2024 was in Brazil.

The factory has become an important symbol of China’s growing influence in Brazil, and an example of a closer relationship between both countries. BYD has invested about $620 million to set up the Bahia factory complex alone.

The reports of irregularities in Bahia could prove to be a major sticking point in their relations.

Brazil has long sought more Chinese investment. But China’s model of taking Chinese workers to the countries where it invests presents a challenge to local job creation, a priority for President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

The investigation also brings unwelcome attention to BYD at a time when it is seeking to expand globally after having gained dominance in China, the world’s largest auto market, where it now takes up more than a third of the market of EVs and plug-in hybrids.

BYD, which is poised to outsell Ford and Honda globally in 2024, has been on an extraordinary expansion this year both at home and abroad, growing capacity and undertaking a massive hiring spree. The company had nearly 1 million employees as of September.

While it still makes more than 90% of its sales in China, BYD has been building passenger vehicle factories in Hungary, Mexico, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Brazil to serve its major overseas markets and increasing investments in marketing abroad.

Jinjiang also does construction for BYD in China, according to records on the Chinese companies information database Tianyancha. – Reuters

China’s Xi Jinping will visit Russia in 2025, Russian ambassador says

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping meet in Beijing, China, May 16, 2024. — SPUTNIK/SERGEI GUNEEV/POOL VIA REUTERS

China’s President Xi Jinping will visit Russia in 2025, Russia’s state-run RIA news agency quoted Moscow’s ambassador to Beijing as saying early on Friday.

“As for concrete bilateral events, I can say that the appropriate plans are actively being drawn up,” ambassador Igor Morgulov told RIA.

“What can be said that is no secret, in terms of priority, is that the chairman of the People’s Republic of China is expected in Russia next year.”

China’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation from Reuters.

Mr. Putin visited China in February 2022, proclaiming a “no limits” partnership days before he sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine. He was in Beijing again last May, after his re-election by a landslide, welcoming a “new era” of relations focusing on opposition to U.S. policy.

Mr. Xi was received in the Kremlin as a “dear friend” in 2023 after he obtained an unprecedented third term in office.

Mr. Morgulov also told RIA that China, which has refrained from condemning Russia’s 34-month-old war in Ukraine, understood the basis for the conflict “inasmuch as they are coming up against many of the same challenges — the U.S. and its allies are boosting pressure on China in the Asia-Pacific region”.

NATO, he said, is “devising plans to move its military infrastructure” into the region.

Russia and China had to respond to U.S. policy jointly, he said.

“In the international arena, it is up to our countries to respond further with a ‘dual counter-action’ to the ‘dual deterrence’ which the West is trying to pursue with regard to Russia and China,” RIA quoted him as saying.

China, working with Brazil, has put forward a peace plan for the Ukraine war, calling for a freezing of battle lines and taking into account the security interests of both sides.

Russia has expressed support for the proposals.

Ukraine, which has proposed its own plans to end the conflict – the latest of which includes a request for NATO membership – has dismissed the China-Brazil initiative as serving Moscow’s interests.

Russian forces currently occupy about 20% of Ukraine’s territory and have recently been advancing at their fastest pace since the early days of the war. – Reuters

US condemns Hong Kong bounties, passport revocations for democrats

Wikimedia Commons

WASHINGTON – The U.S. State Department said that Hong Kong’s offered bounties for six more pro-democracy campaigners who were deemed to have violated national security laws and the revoking of the passports of seven more amounted to intimidation efforts.

The State Department also separately condemned China for taking steps against two Canadian institutions and 20 people involved in human rights issues concerning the Uyghurs and Tibet.

“We reject the Hong Kong government’s efforts to intimidate and silence individuals who choose to make the United States their home,” the U.S. State Department said in a statement on Thursday, adding some of the targeted individuals were based in the United States.

There was no immediate response from China’s foreign ministry to Reuters’ request for comment on the State Department’s condemnations.

China-imposed national security legislation in Hong Kong has triggered U.S. sanctions and has been used to jail pro-democracy activists after violent street protests in 2019.

China’s office for safeguarding national security in Hong Kong said on Tuesday it supported the actions, as the individuals had engaged in “anti-China” and destabilizing acts.

Beijing on Sunday separately targeted Canada-based Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project and the Canada-Tibet Committee by announcing measures including asset freezes and bans on entry.

Rights groups accuse Beijing of widespread abuses of Uyghurs, a mainly Muslim ethnic minority that numbers around 10 million in the western region of Xinjiang, including the mass use of forced labor in camps. Beijing denies any abuses.

China seized control of Tibet in 1950. International human rights groups and exiles have routinely condemn what they call China’s oppressive rule in Tibetan areas. – Reuters

1...2,2042,2052,206...14,238Page 2,205 of 14,238
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
© 2024 BusinessWorld Publishing.
All rights reserved.
Read our privacy guidelines
Facebook Instagram Linkedin X Youtube