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Converge, ABS-CBN’s Sky Cable top Netflix’s Dec. internet speed index in PHL

CONVERGE ICT Solutions, Inc. and ABS-CBN Corp.’s pay television and broadband arm Sky Cable Corp. are the fastest internet service providers (ISP) on Netflix, the media-streaming company’s December ISP Speed Index Leaderboard showed.

With a speed of 3.6 megabits per second (Mbps), Converge and Sky Cable have topped the list of major ISPs in the Philippines that provide the best Netflix streaming experience.

Netflix, an American subscription streaming service and production company, said that its ISP Speed Index is a “measure of prime-time Netflix performance on particular ISPs around the globe.”

“It is not a measure of overall performance for other services/data that may travel across the specific ISP network.”

Both Globe Telecom, Inc. and PLDT, Inc. ranked second with a speed of 3.4 Mbps for the month of December.

Cable and satellite company Royal Cable was third with 3.2 Mbps.

Converge, SKY Cable, Globe, and PLDT all registered an average speed of 3.4 Mbps in October and November, while Royal Cable recorded a speed of 3 Mbps in both months.

For standard definition quality, Netflix recommends a minimum internet download speed of 3 Mbps.

A minimum of 5 Mbps is recommended for high-definition quality.

“Video streaming is one of the most demanding applications on the Internet. It not only requires speed but high-quality connection as well, otherwise users experience buffering, pixelization and slow-loading times,” Converge Chief Operations Officer Jesus C. Romero said in an e-mailed statement on Tuesday.

“We have designed our network to have low-delay or latency, no congestion, no packet loss and minimal outages to ensure that our customers have an enjoyable and uninterrupted video viewing experience. We recognize our position in the Netflix ISP Speed Index Philippines as affirmation of the quality service we offer our customers,” he added.

Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Gainsborough’s The Blue Boy back on show in London after 100 years

Thomas Gainsborough’s 18th century painting The Blue Boy — EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG

LONDON — Thomas Gainsborough’s 18th century painting The Blue Boy goes on show at London’s National Gallery this week, 100 years after it was bought and shipped from Britain to the United States.

The portrait of a young boy dressed in blue is on display as part of an exhibition opening on Tuesday — 100 years to the day after it was last shown publicly in London.

“The Blue Boy is not only one of the most famous pictures by Gainsborough, I think it’s one of the most famous pictures in British art altogether,” Gabriele Finaldi, the National Gallery’s director, told Reuters.

The painting had hung at the gallery for three weeks in the winter of 1922 before crossing the Atlantic Ocean after it was bought by US railroad magnate and art collector Henry E. Huntington from the Duke of Westminster.

“It is a remarkably beautiful picture, it’s striking, it’s moving, it’s beautifully painted, it’s enormously sort of romantic,” Finaldi said of Gainsborough’s 1770 work.

In order to show Gainsborough’s passion for Anthony Van Dyck, The Blue Boy is on display along with a couple of the Flemish artist’s works as well as two other paintings by Gainsborough.

“Van Dyck was very important for the consciousness of the history of Britain (and) also British painting… And so he (Gainsborough) dresses this anonymous young man, we’re not quite sure who he is — in Van Dyck costume,” Finaldi said.

The London exhibition marks the first time The Blue Boy has been loaned from the California-based Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. — Reuters

Medical groups reassert opposition to vape bill

REUTERS

MEDICAL GROUPS renewed their plea to President Rodrigo R. Duterte to veto entirely the proposed Senate Bill No. 2239 or Vaporized Nicotine Products Regulation Act, which was recently approved by the bicameral conference committee of both houses of Congress.  

Claims by lawmakers that the vape bill will save lives through the regulation of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are false, according to doctors from various medical societies in an online press conference held on Monday.   

“This vape bill will actually break the vow you made to Filipino people to fight addiction,” said Dr. Maricar B. Limpin, pulmonologist and president of the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP), one of over 55 medical groups decrying the bill and its supporters.   

In December, these groups, which include PCP, the Philippine Medical Association, the Philippine Pediatric Society, and the Department of Health, called out the misinformation being spread regarding the bill. They pointed out that vaping has always been available to smokers and that the bill will only expand its reach to non-smokers.  

“What will happen is it will increase addiction to cigarettes … Once passed, this bill will deregulate the nicotine industry and go directly against your promise,” said Dr. Limpin.  

Vaping has always been regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) through Republic Act 11467 and Executive Order 106, and the Vape Bill only loosens these regulations by transferring it to the jurisdiction of the Department of Trade and Industry, according to a statement from groups opposed to the bill.  

“These products have a pharmacological and physiological effect on one’s body. Thus, the regulatory body needs to be able to test the products for harmful substances, which only the FDA is capable of doing,” said Eric Domingo, FDA’s former director general.  

Dr. Maria Corazon M. Avanceña, a pediatric pulmonologist, added that the bill is also a hazard to the youth since it will remove the existing two-flavor restriction and lower the minimum age of those who can buy vape from 21 to 18 years old.  

“The real motive of the tobacco companies behind this bill is to expand their market by targeting the youth,” she said, zeroing in on the risk given that the Global Youth Tobacco Survey found 1 in 7 Filipino students aged 13 to 15 to be e-cigarette users.  

The bill is essentially a deregulatory measure, the various medical groups said. — Brontë H. Lacsamana

Obiena can still jump at SEAG

OLYMPIAN pole-vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena will get to see action in the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) slated for May 12-23 even if he will not be endorsed by the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) and not funded by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham Tolentino on Tuesday said during the online Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum that Mr. Obiena was listed in the 80 athletes who will finance their own trip to the biennial event just in case the latter would be expelled from the national team.

“There is a provision in the IOC (International Olympic Committee) charter that emphasized the NOC’s (National Olympic Committee) sole authority to submit the delegation proposed by its NSAs (national sports associations) as the final list in all Olympic, regional, continental and world multi-sports events patronized by the IOC,” said Mr. Tolentino.

“It will not only be based from their performance of athletes but also from their ability to serve as an inspiration to others.

“Let him (Mr. Obiena) play,” he added.

Mr. Tolentino’s statements came just a day after Mr. Obiena formally declined the mediation proposed by the Philippine Sports Commission.

And the decision could pave the way for Mr. Obiena’s expulsion from the national squad as PATAFA’s moratorium on delaying the former’s national team removal and filing of estafa case has expired.

Without PATAFA’s endorsement, Mr. Obiena’s funding from the PSC could also be cut.

“That’s why we have a Group B. EJ is part of the 80. If he isn’t endorsed or given funding, the POC will help him and look for private funding,” said Mr. Tolentino.

PSC STATEMENT
Meanwhile, the Philippine Sports Commission has received communication from Mr. Obiena, sent through his lawyer via e-mail, that Mr. Obiena “will no longer participate in the mediation proceedings.”

As mediation requires for the voluntary agreement of both parties for the process to proceed, we inform you that mediation is temporarily on hold.

Despite this development, we maintain our stand that mediation is still the best option to resolve this matter.

Mr. Obiena has submitted his liquidation reports. The PSC’s accounting office and the Commission on Audit shall proceed with their normal post-audit process of checking and verification on submitted liquidation documents. — Joey Villar

Cemex says co-processing boosts climate initiatives

LISTED construction firm Cemex Holdings Philippines, Inc. achieved a six-time net waste reduction record through co-processing, which is in line with its climate change initiatives.

In a statement on Tuesday, Cemex said it now co-processes six kilograms of waste for every kilogram it generates. From 2016 to 2020, it was able to co-process 214,772 tons of waste compared to the waste generated by its cement facilities at 35,850 tons for the same period.

“Co-processing more than the waste we generate is proof-positive of our solid commitment in ensuring we are drivers of the circular economy, helping increase the use of waste as alternative fuels, reducing greenhouse gas emissions as these wastes provide replacement for fossil fuels,” Cemex President and Chief Executive Officer Ignacio Alejandro Mijares Elizondo said.

In a statement last year, Cemex said its co-processing procedure involves taking the plastic and rubber-based parts of waste materials, which will then undergo a pre-treatment process before being used to manufacture cement.

Meanwhile, the non-recyclable waste is converted into “usable heat to help power the cement kiln.”

“Co-processing helps divert these wastes which otherwise would end up in landfills and waterways,” Mr. Mijares said in the statement on Tuesday.

With the 214,772 tons of waste co-processed within the 2016 to 2020 period, the company said it was able to avoid 327,742 tons of CO2 emissions. That translates to cutting emissions produced by 71,278 passenger vehicles in a year or 362,248 tons of coal burned.

In 2020, global Cemex said 91% of its plants collectively co-processed 2.7 million tons of waste to alternative fuels, which is equivalent to a 25.3% substitution rate and 1.6 million tons of coal replaced.

“We take earnest steps in making sure that we maximize environmental opportunities in our operations, including [the] use of alternative fuels through co-processing,” Mr. Mijares said.

The company has a “Future in Action” agenda that focuses on addressing climate change via cutting down CO2 emissions by 35% and aims to reduce its emissions by 40% come 2030. The company hopes to invest $60 million every year for the program.

Cemex is also trying to improve its production efficiency as part of its climate action initiatives, such as investing in energy efficiency, using alternative fuels, expanding its use of renewable energy, and increasing its use of clinker substitution.

On Tuesday, shares of Cemex Holdings went up 0.93% or one centavo to close at P1.08 apiece. — Keren Concepcion G. Valmonte

Sony Music says it acquired Bob Dylan’s catalog of recorded music

Bob Dylan — ALBERTO CABELLO/ EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG

SONY Music Entertainment said on Monday it has acquired Bob Dylan’s catalog of recorded music, including his performances of such popular songs as “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” as well as the rights to future releases.

The deal is the latest in Sony Music’s six-decade relationship with the artist, and covers Mr. Dylan’s body of work since 1962. Variety cited sources who valued the deal at $150 million to $200 million.

Neither Sony nor Mr. Dylan’s representative would comment on deal terms.

Mr. Dylan, 80, sold his songwriting catalog to Universal Music Publishing Group in December for a reported $300 million. He was among a group of aging artists, including Neil Young, Stevie Nicks, and Paul Simon, who have sold the rights to their compositions to investors, who seek to capitalize on the opportunities created by music streaming.

Sony and Mr. Dylan said they will collaborate on future catalog reissues in the artist’s Bootleg Series, which began in 1991 and includes 14 releases through last year’s lauded Springtime In New York: The Bootleg Series Vol. 16 (1980-1985). — Reuters

Hanoi SEA Games reduced to race to a second place

TEAM Philippines at the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

WITH Vietnam getting all the advantages as host country, the 31st Hanoi Southeast Asian (SEA) Games set on May 12-23 has been reduced to a race to second place for the rest of the 11-nation field including defending champion Philippines.

“It will be a fight for No. 2 among Thailand, Malaysia and us Philippines,” said Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham Tolentino in Tuesday’s online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.

The congressman from Tagaytay said the Vietnamese would be hard to beat considering they retained the sports they are strong at and even added new ones favorable to them while removing disciplines they are a hard time striking gold.

Add to that the fact that Vietnam did their preparation much earlier compared to the Filipinos who would only resume preparations possibly next month.

“Vietnam never stopped training,” said PhilCycling chief.

Mr. Tolentino, however, said retaining the overall championship is not far-fetched.

“We has a chance to successfully defend, but it would be an uphill battle,” he said.

As host, the Filipinos ran away with the overall crown in the 2019 SEA Games division with a record haul of 149 gold, 117 silver and 121 bronze medals.

Mr. Tolentino mentioned as among the country’s possible gold mines in Hanoi are boxing, Carlos Yulo in gymnastics, wrestling, karate, taekwondo, weightlifting, basketball, and e-sports.

The country will field in a total of 663 athletes including 80 who are self-funded due to budgetary contraints. — Joey Villar

Gov’t makes full award of bonds

BW FILE PHOTO

THE GOVERNMENT made a full award of Treasury bonds (T-bonds) it auctioned off on Tuesday as the tenor’s average rate was close to the secondary market level.

The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) borrowed P35 billion as planned via the reissued seven-year securities it auctioned off as total tenders reached P55.62 billion, making the offer more than 1.5 times oversubscribed.

The debt papers, which have a remaining life of six years and six months, were awarded at an average rate of 4.689%, up by 22.1 basis points (bps) from the 4.468% quoted when the series was last awarded on Oct. 26, 2021.

The average yield fetched for the debt papers was also slightly higher than the 4.6788% quoted for the seven-year tenor at the secondary market prior to the auction, based on the PHP Bloomberg Valuation Service Reference Rates published on the Philippine Dealing System’s website.

Amid strong demand and with the tenor’s average rate close to the secondary market level, the BTr opened the tap facility to raise another P5 billion via the securities.

National Treasurer Rosalia V. de Leon in a Viber message to reporters said the Treasury made a full award of the reissued bonds as there was a decline in the submitted rates from those seen when the series was last offered.

The highest rate submitted when the same bonds were offered on Jan. 4 was 5.2% compared with the 4.75% on Tuesday, she said.

“(The) average tracks secondary level,” Ms. De Leon added.

At the Jan. 4 auction, the Treasury rejected all bids for its P35-billion offer of the same seven-year T-bonds even as tenders reached P41.42 billion. Had it made a full award, the tenor would have fetched an average rate of 4.814%.

Meanwhile, a bond trader said the market is mainly looking at the US Federal Reserve’s meeting on Jan. 25-26.

“The Fed is expected to have a hawkish tone as they may set the rest of the year for rate hikes.”

The Fed is widely expected to raise rates three times this year starting as early as March, median forecasts from a Reuters poll showed.

The Treasury plans to raise P200 billion from the domestic market this month, or P60 billion via T-bills and P140 billion from T-bonds.

The government borrows from local and external sources to help fund a budget deficit capped at 7.7% of gross domestic product this year. — J.P. Ibañez

Prevention is better than cure, says DoH

PIXABAY

THE Department of Health (DoH) is moving toward people-centered primary care from a curative care-focused system, according to a medical expert. 

“Universal health care (UHC) is founded in primary care, which addresses more than 80% of people’s common health needs throughout their lives,” said Christian Edward L. Nuevo, chief health program officer of the DoH Disease Prevention and Control Bureau, at a Jan. 18 event by Liveable Cities Lab, an innovation-sharing platform. “UHC is all about the environments individuals are situated in.”   

People-centered primary care, Mr. Nuevo told the webinar, is defined as the matching of every Filipino family to a primary care provider. The primary care provider determines if family members need to receive services in a hospital, or if they can be helped at the primary care level. 

 Primary care, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), covers an individual’s physical, mental and social well-being. In addition, it is “a whole-of-society approach that includes health promotion, disease prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care.” 

Added Mr. Nuevo: “Why primary care?… It is fair and equitable, and provides people with access to essential health services in their communities.” 

According to the WHO, social determinants of health — such as the circumstances in which people are born, grow up, live, work, and age, and the systems put in place to deal with illness — account for between 30–55% of health outcomes, as shown by numerous studies. 

Mr. Nuevo enumerated six enablers for people-centered primary care: improving health literacy; defragmenting the local health system; expanding primary care facilities; strengthening the competencies of primary care workers; standardizing who does what; aligning incentives, benefits, and financing; and ensuring the interoperability of data within networks.   

FINANCING MECHANISM
It is impossible to finance UHC through the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), according to Dr. Ernesto O. Domingo, a national scientist of the Philippines, liver cancer specialist, and professor emeritus at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine.  

“It must be based on tax money, and that’s what the law says,” Dr. Domingo said at the Liveable Cities Lab event. “The money will come from taxes [such as the] sin tax, be incorporated into a global fund, and entrusted to [local governments] for them to budget in the coming year.”  

Although out-of-pocket expenditure has declined from 2014 to 2020, the Philippine Statistics Authority in 2020 reported that household out-of-pocket payments amounted to P379.7 billion, or 47.9% of the country’s current health expenditure.   

Dr. Domingo said an efficient system will result in considerable savings, pointing out that an executive checkup worth P100,000 is not necessarily better than one worth P10,000.  

“If the healthcare provider is careful and knows what he is doing, then he doesn’t have to have so many examinations to diagnose a disease… Why order a chest X-ray for someone who has the sniffles?” he added in the vernacular.   

Tightening the screws by requiring requests that have to be justified, Dr. Domingo said, will generate a lot of savings in the healthcare system.  

Republic Act 11223, or the Universal Health Care Law, was signed into law by President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Feb. 20, 2019. It redirects healthcare towards a preventive care-focused system, and guarantees equitable access to affordable and quality health services. — Patricia B. Mirasol

Kai Sotto resets career high with limited minutes

KAI SOTTO — ADELAIDE 36ERS FB PAGE

FILIPINO tower Kai Sotto reset his career-high in the Australia National Basketball League but the Adelaide 36ers still fell to the Illawarra Hawks, 100-89, on Monday night at the Win Entertainment Center.

Mr. Sotto made the most out of his limited action anew, finishing with 12 points on a perfect 8-of-8 free throw shooting plus five rebounds in only 13 minutes of play.

The 7-foot-3 prodigy previously tallied six points and eight rebounds against reigning champion Melbourne United, making up for lost time following a knee soreness issue.

Mr. Sotto missed his team’s first four games due to the said injury before reaching full recovery as Adelaide got sidelined for exactly a month due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) protocols.

Hopes will be high once again for Mr. Sotto this Friday as the 36ers, at 3-5, march to their fourth straight game in a week against the Tasmania JackJumpers. — John Bryan Ulanday

PCC checking Robinsons’ scope after Ministop deal

THE Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) is monitoring the scope of a Gokongwei-led firm in the consumer retail sector after it announced the acquisition of the remaining stake of its Japanese partner in local convenience store chain Ministop.

PCC Chairman Arsenio M. Balisacan said in a statement on Tuesday that the agency had received reports “of Ministop Japan’s sale to Lotte, including its sale of its joint venture stake in the Philippines.”

His statement comes after Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. said on Monday that it plans to “repurpose” and “rebrand” its Ministop stores after it fully acquires the franchise in February.

The listed company plans to buy the stake of Japan-based Ministop Co., Ltd. in Robinsons Convenience Stores, Inc. (RCSI) for an undisclosed price. The transaction will bump its stake in RCSI, which is the exclusive franchisee of Ministop in the Philippines, to 100% from its current 60%.

“Based on PCC’s merger rules, the commission acknowledges that Robinsons’ current majority stake in Ministop already affords them control, and Robinsons is no longer required to notify the proposed acquisition to the antitrust commission,” Mr. Balisacan said.

“PCC takes note, however, of the scope of Robinsons’ portfolio in the consumer retail sector which includes supermarkets, department stores, and community malls, among others,” he added.

According to Mr. Balisacan, merger reviews are concentrated on the effects and changes of market behavior in the possession of new owners or stakeholders.

“This transaction may result in a change in ownership of a significant portion of equity, but it is not likely to have an effect on the economic behavior of the target firm,” Mr. Balisacan said.

“[PCC] will continue to monitor on acquisitions of notable brands and sizable firms to prevent the substantial lessening of competition in the market,” he added. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

French fashion designer Thierry Mugler, 73

French fashion designer Thierry Mugler — FACEBOOK.COM/MANFREDTHIERRYMUGLER

PARIS —  French fashion designer Thierry Mugler, who dressed Beyonce and Lady Gaga, has died aged 73, according to a statement on Mugler’s official Facebook page confirming earlier French media reports.

“We are devastated to announce the passing of Mr. Manfred Thierry Mugler on Sunday January 23rd 2022. May his soul Rest In Peace,” said the statement.

Mr. Mugler, who reigned over fashion in the 1980s, was known for his daring theatrical designs featuring broad shoulders and plunging necklines. He dressed the likes of Beyonce, Lady Gaga, David Bowie, Diana Ross and Duran Duran —  among many others —  during his career at the top of the fashion industry.

“I am deeply sad to hear that yet another of fashion’s great innovators has left our world this week. Thierry Mugler, literally shaped the 1970s and ’80s with his spectacular sharp designs,” wrote Nick Rhodes on Duran Duran’s Facebook page.

Singer Diana Ross wrote on her Twitter account: “I will miss you Thierry Mugler, this was a wonderful time in our lives.””

Mr. Mugler also notably designed the outfits of singer George Michael’s “Too Funky” music video in the early 1990s featuring a host of supermodels including Linda Evangelista.

Mr. Mugler’s designs were recently featured in an exhibition at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris entitled “Thierry Mugler, Couturissime”. — Reuters

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