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PLDT-Smart: Customers now clicking less on spam texts

BW FILE PHOTO

PLDT, Inc. and its wireless arm Smart Communications, Inc. on Sunday said subscriber clicks on spam text messages have declined after a massive awareness campaign.

“Upon examination, the teams have observed a lower count, particularly on Dec. 4 with 9,117 access blocked, a lot less than the number of blocked access in the previous days,” PLDT and Smart said in a joint statement on Sunday.

“As of Dec. 4, PLDT and Smart’s threat intelligence, cybersecurity and cybercrime investigation units have already blocked more than 100,000 attempts to click on or access domains directly related and involved in the ongoing SMS spam modus,” the PLDT group added.

The National Privacy Commission (NPC) said on Nov. 29 that it had formally launched an investigation into whether the country’s telecommunications companies exercised “due diligence and accountability in transacting with data aggregators linked to sending of texts.”

The unsolicited text messages offered spurious job offers and promoted investment scams.

“At the meeting with the NPC on Nov. 24, the data protection officers of Globe Telecom and Smart Communications revealed a complex chain of data aggregation and handling, involving data brokers, that is bringing new challenges to compliance and enforcement,” Privacy Commissioner Raymund E. Liboro said in a statement.

The NPC said the unsolicited text messages were traced to China and India-webhosted companies.

“Despite the sudden influx of spam messages, the decline in number of access blocked suggests that more Filipinos are now more aware and suspicious, and therefore do not click on the domains that are sent to them via these fraudulent SMS,” said Angel T. Redoble, the chief information security officer of PLDT and Smart’s cyber security operations group.

“More mobile users are now practicing vigilance in response to the emerging threats in cybersecurity,” he added.

Ten government agencies, including the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Department of Justice, have coordinated efforts to catch those behind the recent text spams.

“Spearheaded by the CICC (Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center), the group includes the NPC, Department of Information and Communications Technology, National Telecommunications Commission, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Trade and Industry, National Security Council, and Anti-Money Laundering Council,” the agency said.

The group plans to set up a hub that will handle complaints.

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

Prada sees second-hand fashion as opportunity, weighs partnerships

WWW.PRADAGROUP.COM

VALVIGNA, Italy — Italian fashion group Prada sees opportunity in the booming second-hand fashion sector which it can develop both in-house and through partnerships, marketing chief and heir designate Lorenzo Bertelli told Reuters.

The market for pre-owned chic bags and clothes has surged over the last three years, driven by younger, more environmentally conscious shoppers looking for affordable high-end goods.

It is expected to reach 33 billion euros ($37.2 billion) in size this year after growing by 65% between 2017 and 2021, according to consultancy Bain. This compares with 12% growth for brand new luxury goods.

Some rival luxury companies are already exploring the sector. Earlier this year, French conglomerate Kering took a 5% stake in Vestiaire Collective, a leading platform for second-hand clothes and handbags. Kering’s star brand Gucci also formed a partnership with US-based resale platform The RealReal last year.

“Second hand is a strategy we have been investigating for more than a year,” Lorenzo Bertelli, the eldest son of co-Chief Executives Patrizio Bertelli and Miuccia Prada and the future brand leader, said in an interview at the Reuters Next conference aired on Wednesday.

“I cannot disclose too much but for sure second hand is there. We will take it as an opportunity.

“It can be a partnership with a player or it can be something more in-house, or both of them, a sort of hybrid solution like for e-commerce,” he said.

The heir to Prada’s empire, who told Reuters he wants to keep the family-controlled group independent when he takes the reins in a few years, doesn’t seem fazed by the future challenges of the ever-changing luxury sector.

For that, he thanks his experience as a rally driver.

“Rallying and sport in general taught me a lot. (It) teaches you to never give up and also a lot of humility, in the sense that you have to learn,” he said. “Sometimes sport is cruel, when you want to measure yourself.” —  Reuters

Geely PHL network grows to 22 with Isabela showroom opening

IMAGE FROM GEELY PHILIPPINES

SOJITZ G Auto Philippines (SGAP), official country distributor of Geely, has just opened its 22nd dealership. Geely Isabela is owned and managed by Motorcentrum Corp. under the Guanzon Group of Companies. The group also operates Geely Dagupan, which opened just last September.

Said SGAP President and CEO Yosuke Nishi, “We are seeing a good market potential in Isabela, as it is considered the trade and industrial center of Northeastern Luzon. I would like to thank Motorcentrum Corporation for once again investing and trusting us by opening their second Geely dealership.”

He added, “We are happy to give Cagayanos an easier access to our car lineup: the fun Coolray, the refined Azkarra, and the wonderfully distinct Okavango as we also provide our utmost customer-centered service which promotes the Geely quality that has been slowly making a mark to more and more Filipinos all over the country.”

The Geely Isabela showroom is located on Garcia Street., Brgy. Mabini, Santiago City, Isabela. The dealership is open from Monday to Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Fisherwomen in northwest Spain’s Galicia passing on traditions to new generation

REUTERS

NOIA, Spain — Just before dawn breaks over the Noia estuary in Spain’s Galicia region, hundreds of women descend by torchlight into the waist-deep waters to gather cockles and clams from the riverbed using techniques that have been passed down through generations.

Wearing windproof jackets over their wetsuits, they dredge up shellfish from the nutrient-rich silt of Galicia’s chilly Atlantic estuaries — known as Rias — using nothing more than long-handled rakes attached to metal baskets.

Some 4,000 people, almost all women, work as traditional shell fishers in the inlets that crisscross the region’s rugged coastline, earning up to 2,000 euros ($2,264) a month for the six-month season, but for many it is more than a job.

“This work is freedom. You’re like a seagull, you’re free,” said 58-year-old Conchita. “It’s always called to me ever since I was a little girl,” she said, recalling how she used to skip school to watch boats unloading on the quay.

Mari Carmen Rosende Mayo, 65, who is reluctantly preparing to retire at the end of December after 31 years, feels the same. “When I walk by the sea, I forget all my problems. I relax and I have no cares,” she said.

SUSTAINABLE
Under the light of her headtorch, she deftly picks out the best cockles from her basket and places them in a bucket floating on a rubber ring tethered to her by a short cord. To ensure the sustainability of shellfish stocks, only licensed fisherwomen can participate and the season is limited to October-March.

The practice is strictly regulated by a European Union-funded project which promotes sustainable management of cockles in six Atlantic coastal communities, including Galicia. At the end of the day, each woman’s catch, which cannot exceed a 3-kilogram quota of clams or 16kg of cockles, is weighed and processed before being shipped off.

Ms. Mayo has seen perceptions of her work change over time. “They used to say, ‘What’s your job? Are you a fisherwoman? Yuck!’… Now, many would like to be shell fishers.”

Alida Elena, 35, is one of a new generation of women learning the ropes. “Working at sea infatuates you. As soon as the day is over, I can’t wait for the next day to come,” she said. Back on shore, Ms. Mayo gives her tips about areas to avoid and reminisces about having to be rescued once from a nearby estuary when the tide began to rise suddenly. “Apart from that, my experience has been very good, very, very good. It’s beautiful.” — Reuters

Mark Calado eyes national team

PNVF Champions League MVP Mark Frederick Calado — PNVF

By John Bryan Ulanday

MAKING it to the national team is the next big goal for volleyball rising star Mark Frederick Calado.

Fresh off a stellar Most Valuable Player campaign in the first Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Champions League, Mr. Calado wants no letup in a bid to crack the Philippine men’s team lineup hopefully for a busy international stretch next year.

“I’m ready to do everything just to be in the national team. That has always been my dream,” said the FEU stalwart after leading Team Dasma Monarchs to a sweet Champions League title with a big upset win over fancied Go For Gold-Air Force in the finals.

“That’s what I want to achieve, to compete to the highest level with the national team in international competitons.”

At only 21 years of age, the former UAAP juniors Most Valuable Player (MVP) indeed has showed immense potential worthy of a possible national call-up with a statement performance in the PNVF that featured a crop of seasoned players and national team members.

On top of his MVP performance, Mr. Calado was also hailed as the Best Outside Hitter to lead the Champions League’s list of individual awardees.

But first thing’s first for Mr. Calado before making a run for national team inclusion as he and the Monarchs are set for their own international tour of duty next year.

Along with women’s champion F2 Logistics, Dasma has booked a seat for the 2022 Asian volleyball club championsips as the country’s representatives.

“We’re proud of our players. They worked hard for this so we’re excited to play for the country in the club championsips. There’s a lot more in store for them in the future,” said coach Norman Miguel.

Peso may strengthen on easing inflation

THE PESO could strengthen versus the greenback this week due to expectations of slower inflation in November and an improving job market.

The local unit closed at P50.36 per dollar on Friday, appreciating by four centavos from its P50.40 finish on Thursday, based on data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines.

The peso also gained seven centavos from its P50.43 close a week earlier.

The local unit appreciated versus the dollar due to positive market sentiment after two straight days of gains in the local stock market, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said in a Viber message.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index ended trading at 7,055.19 on Friday, up 22.65 points or 0.32% from its previous finish.

The all shares index also gained 17.7 points or 0.47% to 3,790.

Robust manufacturing data also helped boost the peso during the week, UnionBank of the Philippines, Inc. Chief Economist Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion said in an e-mail.

The Philippines Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) was at 51.7 in November, rising from its 51 reading in October, IHS Markit reported on Wednesday. This was the best reading since the 52.2 in March.

A reading above 50 shows expansion in manufacturing activity, while one below signifies contraction. November’s upbeat PMI data was backed by higher new orders, IHS Markit said.

Mr. Asuncion said the likely slower inflation last month could support the peso’s appreciation versus the greenback.

Headline inflation likely slowed last month due to slower increase in food prices and the reduction in global oil prices, analysts said.

A BusinessWorld poll of 18 analysts yielded a median estimate of 4% for the November inflation, which is closer to the upper end of the 3.3% to 4.1% estimate given by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for the month.

If realized, last month’s consumer price index will match the higher end of the 2-4% target of the BSP and be slower than the 4.6% in October and the 3.7% logged a year earlier.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) will release November inflation data on Tuesday, Dec. 7.

The market will also be monitoring job market data, Mr. Ricafort said. The PSA will also report the October round of the Labor Force Survey on Tuesday.

In September, the jobless rate rose to 8.9% from 8.1% in August. This is the highest this year as it matched the February print and is equivalent to 4.25 million unemployed Filipinos from 3.88 million in August.

For this week, Mr. Ricafort gave a forecast range of P50.15 to P50.55, while Mr. Asuncion expects the local unit to move within P50.20 to P50.60 per dollar. — L.W.T. Noble

PHL AirAsia starts Singapore, Hong Kong flights, assures safety

REUTERS

PHILIPPINES AirAsia, Inc. said on Sunday that it is now operating flights between Manila and Singapore after a two-year commercial hiatus due to the pandemic crisis.

The low-cost airline launched its inaugural flight to Singapore on Dec. 4 to service overseas Filipino workers and business travelers.

“Initially, we will cater to our Filipino workers and business travelers; but soon, as we slowly recover from the global pandemic, we hope to open this route for leisure travel also,” the company said in an e-mailed statement.

The airline said last week that it would also resume its Hong Kong flights starting Dec. 5.

The airline said it has set safety standards and is strictly adhering to the established health protocols amid the emergence of Omicron, a new coronavirus variant of concern.

“Our return to Hong Kong signifies our commitment to service our business travelers and overseas Filipino workers who have been wanting to come home to the Philippines for the upcoming holiday season,” the low-cost carrier noted.

“However, there should be no room for complacency,” it added, noting that its aircraft are equipped with high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, which “kill up to 99.9% of viruses.”

“On top of that, our flying crew are also 100% fully vaccinated against the virus. We also conduct thorough aircraft cabin cleaning and sanitation after each flight,” the airline added.

Fully vaccinated guests from green and yellow list countries must present proof of vaccination and a negative coronavirus test result taken 72 hours before their scheduled departure. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Style (12/06/21)

Guess launches fragrance in PHL

GUESS is introducing its latest fragrance for women, the Guess Bella Vita, in the Philippines. “This fragrance is for the woman who fearlessly takes life into her own hands to create her unique story,” says the Drom perfumer team of Christine Hassan and Valerie Garnuch-Mentzel. “We created Guess Bella Vita as a tribute to all the women out there who love themselves and believe in the power of their femininity.” This fruity-floral fragrance opens with playful and vibrant notes of Italian lemon, cassis and black cherries, followed by a velvety white floral heart composed of jasmine, tuberose and vanilla orchid. The packaging design draws inspiration from the brand’s fashion heritage. The bottle and the carton bear the iconic GUESS peony medallion in the center. Transparent glass reveals the warm, rich color of the fragrance, while the opulent gold cap adds a precious detail. For the Philippine launch, Rustan Marketing Corp. put the spotlight on Filipina beauty queen, model and actress, Kylie Verzosa, as the woman who epitomizes the scent and traits of Guess Bella Vita. The perfume is available in two sizes: Eau de Parfum 50 ml (P3,450) and Eau de Parfum 100 ml (P4,250). It is available at Rustan’s Department Store Shangri-la Plaza and Makati; rustans.com, and zalora.com.ph.

Power Plant holds PHL’s 1st digital Christmas raffle

ROCKWELL’S Power Plant mall works with Aimazing, the retail-tech platform, for a first-of-its-kind mall raffle campaign that offers customers opportunities to earn rewards in real time for their purchases at stores across the entire mall.  Customers will need to leverage their mobile devices and input the alphanumeric code found on their receipt on Rockwell’s loyalty app while shopping on the go. Shoppers need to spend between P1,000 to P3,000 at selected Rockwell locations and stores from Nov. 5 until Jan. 31, 2022 and enter their Christmas Raffle code on Rockwell’s loyalty app for a chance to win a Land Rover Defender worth more than P6.5 million.

Jacinto & Lirio present refill planners for 2022

JACINTO & Lirio has come out with the Alamat, Ati-Atihan, and Bucketlist with Fiesta refill planners for 2022. The Alamat planner is a versatile and customizable desk board planner made with water hyacinth plant leather. It has a built-in cork board to pin notes, a magnetic clipboard to keep any document firmly in place, refillable dateless monthly sheets, magnetic clipboard, and several elastic and garter holders for extra pens and documents. The Alamat vision board has handles on its covers, making it portable and convenient for those who will soon be on-the-go. The Ati-Atihan is a refillable vegan leather traveler’s notebook planner with zipper. Its extended flaps can store pens and mini-stationary while its organizer secures a phone and mobile cords. It also has a flat elastic holder that can mark a new journal entry from the two sets of dateless weekly inserts or the other two sets of dotted sheets. One can also stash their cards here and personalize it by painting on the canvas or adding some keychains on the exterior garter. Finally, there is the Bucketlist with Fiesta refill planners. These planners are also a travel/checkbook wallet that will not only hold a dotted or weekly planner sheets, but a passport as well. The sim card holders, card slots, and paper bill slits help the user keep their items from getting mixed with their cash, and the extra pockets are handy when it comes to getting important notes or documents in an instant. This planner is spacious enough to keep coins, phone, or even a power bank! It also has a retractable wristlet which keeps essentials secure.

Dickies brings its iconic silhouettes to PHL

DICKIES Philippines presents the Dickies Fall/Winter collection, featuring the brand’s five most iconic styles — the 874 Work Pant, Eisenhower Jacket, Work Shirt, Coverall and Bib Overall. The Bib Overall and the 874 Work Pant are now available on the Dickies Philippines website and in its Robinsons Manila Flagship Store. The Bib Overall (P6,498, available in Hickory and Black) is a timeless staple that dates back as the first product ever sold by Dickies nearly 100 years ago. The 874 Work Pant (P3,698, in Military Green and Mushroom) evolved from the original Dickies 100% cotton work pant. Redeveloped in the 1960s to be practically indestructible with a mix of 65/35 poly cotton blend.

Uniqlo opening in Dumaguete

JAPANESE apparel retailer, Uniqlo, is set to open its first store in Dumaguete on Dec. 17. Located at the ground floor of Robinsons Place Dumaguete mall, the store features 243 sqm of sales space which will showcase the latest lineup of LifeWear pieces for Men, Women, Kids, and Babies. From Dec. 17 to 19, for every single receipt purchase with a minimum spend of P3,000 in the new store, customers will receive one free Uniqlo Limited Edition Stainless Bottle and the first 250 customers in line on Dec. 17 will receive one free pack of 10 assorted Silvanas from Sans Rival Cakes & Pastries. During the opening weekend, customers can avail of special offers on select LifeWear pieces. For men these include U Crew Neck Short Sleeve T-Shirt (P390 from P590), Smooth Jersey Lined Parka (P1,490 from P1,990), Cotton Relaxed Ankle Pants (P790 from P990). For Women, these include the Wireless Bra (Shape Lift) (P990 from P1,290) and Ultra Stretch High Rise Leggings Pants (P790 from P990). For Kids, these are the Kids’ Easy Shorts (P390 from P590), and the Girls’ Smooth Cotton Dress (P590 from P790). For updates, visit Uniqlo Philippines’ website at uniqlo.com/ph and download the Uniqlo App via Google Play Store or Apple Store.

Y.O.U Beauty holds Christmas giveaway

WHILE Christmas is the season to be jolly, it can also be a stressful time for many of us. The pressure that comes with finding the perfect gifts, stretching one’s time between all the online get-togethers, and preparing for celebrations can manifest in different ways, sometimes even on one’s face. To help maintain a brilliant glow and healthy skin throughout the holidays, Y.O.U Beauty has a skincare solution to keep your face looking fresh no matter how demanding the Christmas season can get — The Radiance White Nourishing+ Serum. It contains 5% Niacinamide to reduce dull skin and hyperpigmentation, Vitamin C to actively brighten and even out skin tone, and Snow Mushroom to boost skin hydration and collagen production. For those with normal, dry, oily, sensitive, or even a combination skin type, the serum is ideal for use after cleansing and toning — as part of both a morning and nighttime skincare routine. The serum belongs to Y.O.U Beauty’s Radiance White series of skincare products, formulated and designed to clarify, refresh, nourish, and protect an all-day glow. This holiday season, Y.O.U Beauty has included the Radiance White Nourishing+ Serum in a special Christmas box which people can take home for free in three ways: on Instagram, follow Y.O.U Beauty (@youbeauty_ph), like, and leave a comment on the giveaway post, with a total of seven winners chosen between Dec. 6 to 12; post a public photo of the buyer with any of Y.O.U Beauty offline stores and their Y.O.U Beauty products haul purchases with the hashtag #GlowingXmasWithYOU, with three winners per day chosen from Dec. 13 to 24 (the store list can be found on the Y.O.U Beauty Instagram page); and finally, buy any Y.O.U Beauty product from the brand’s Lazada or Shopee stores from Dec. 12-14, with 20 winners (10 from Lazada, 10 from Shopee) chosen during the sale.

Trunc Mystery Boxes auction

TO CELEBRATE the season of giving, multi-brand online boutique Trunc is auctioning Mystery Boxes filled with luxury and premium items until Dec. 8. All proceeds will go to #MentalHealthPH, a non-profit organization that promotes and protects mental health in the Philippines. The auction is open to all residents of the Philippines. To join the auction, create an account at Trunc.ph, go to Offers page, and click the Mystery Box banner. Or visit truncmysterybox.ph. Once on the page, details about the campaign and bidding mechanics will be seen. Under it is the auction section where one can choose from a selection of Mystery Boxes whose retail values range from P9,890 to P98,000. Upon choosing a box, an electronic bidding form will appear, which should be filled out to place the bid. The minimum bid values range from P5,000 up to P48,000, depending on the preferred Mystery Box. Once the form is filled out, the customer will receive an e-mail to confirm the bid. For real time updates, refresh the page and click on the View Current Bids. The highest bidders will win their chosen boxes and will be notified through e-mail and the mobile number registered in their bidding form. They may choose to settle the amount for their boxes via bank transfer or PayPal. Once settled, Trunc will deliver the Mystery Boxes to the winners’ registered addresses. Join Trunc’s auction and support #MentalHealthPH. Visit Trunc.ph for more information.

Chery launches Tiggo 2 Pro

IMAGE FROM CHERY AUTO PHILIPPINES

WITH THE MOTTO “move for more,” Chery Auto Philippines is also setting its sights on addressing “the number of buyers who still need value but want more premium features and a sportier design.” This is what it invoked when it launched the 2022 Tiggo 2 Pro.

“We are excited to introduce the new Chery Tiggo 2 Pro to Filipino new car buyers. With its upmarket styling and premium features, we expect it to surprise and delight Filipinos who are eager to ‘move for more’ who want and expect to get more from this very affordable new car,” said Chery Auto Philippines President Erroll Dueñas in a release.

As with the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro launched earlier this year, the new Tiggo 2 Pro’s upscale European-inspired design was executed by Chery Vice-President and Global Chief of Car Design Kevin Rice. The Briton was instrumental in the design of Mazdas, including the MX-5 Miata, from 1999 to 2005 as Hiroshima’s European Design Director. He also worked with BMW on the exterior design of the previous 1, 3, and 4 Series.

The new Tiggo 2 Pro boasts a big, bold starburst grille and slim, high-mounted LED daytime running lights (DRLs) for enhanced road visibility. The headlights now have a “follow-me-home” feature to illuminate the occupants’ path as they walk away from the car. The lights then automatically turn off after a while.

The Tiggo 2 Pro gets chrome trims on the window beltline and along the rocker panel below the doors. It has distinctive character lines, power side mirrors with turn signals, roof rails, and 16-inch dual-tone alloy wheels with 205/55R16 tires. On the rear are chrome-tipped dual tailpipes housed within a silver-colored under-bumper diffuser, LED tail lights, and a spoiler.

Inside, the new Tiggo 2 Pro features black faux leather and a fabric-covered cabin. Elegant single stitching on the seats and silver trim on the doors, console, and leather steering wheel further add to the upmarket feel. The driver even has a footrest. A biggest-in-class nine-inch touchscreen four-speaker infotainment system boasts Bluetooth, Mirror Link, QDLink, and Apple CarPlay and USB connectivity, as well as a trip computer within the digital instrument panel.

Other premium Tiggo 2 Pro highlights include an Intelligent Remote Key with remote engine start that lets the driver start the engine and cool the interior even before entering the car, push-button engine start/stop, cruise control, reversing camera with dynamic guidelines and reversing sensors, tailgate remote open, headlight height adjustment, six-way adjustable driver’s seat, four-way adjustable front passenger seat, one-touch-down on all four windows, and multi-function control buttons for the tilt flat-bottom steering wheel.

Under the hood is a 1.5-liter, Euro 5-compliant, four-cylinder gasoline engine mated with a nine-speed continuously variable transmission (CVT) for fuel efficiency. The Tiggo 2 Pro’s suite of safety and security features include dual front air bags, four-wheel disc brakes, Isofix seat anchor, an electronic anti-theft system with engine immobilizer, and three-point seat belts for all five occupants.

The new Tiggo 2 Pro is priced at P818,000 and receives Chery’s standard 10-year/one-million-km engine warranty, a five-year/150,000-km general vehicle warranty, free three-year preventive maintenance service (PMS), and free three-year roadside assistance. For more info, follow Chery Auto Philippines on social media: Chery Auto Philippines (Facebook) and @cheryautophilippines (Instagram); call the 24/7 Chery Auto Philippines hotline at 0917-552-4379 or e-mail chery@uaagi.com for more inquiries.

Stocks to rise on expectations of slower inflation

PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

PHILIPPINE stocks may advance this week on expectations that headline inflation eased last month, but worries over the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) will continue to affect sentiment.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) gained 22.65 points or 0.32% on Friday to close at 7,055.19, while the broader all shares index went up by 17.70 points or 0.46% to 3,790.20.

Week on week, the bellwether PSEi fell by 223.25 points from its 7,278.44 finish on Nov. 26.

“[Last] week, majority of the sell-off in equities was attributed to panic induced by the Omicron variant. However, towards the end, bargain hunters dominated as they picked up oversold issues,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan said in a Viber message.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday told Asia-Pacific countries to boost their healthcare capacity and fully vaccinate their people to prepare for a surge in the COVID-19 cases as the Omicron variant spreads globally despite travel curbs, Reuters reported.

First detected in South Africa, the Omicron variant cases has reported in 38 countries, the WHO said. Since then, governments have tightened their border controls.

Worries over the new variant will continue to affect trading this week, Diversified Securities, Inc. Equity Trader Aniceto K. Pangan said in a text message.

“Market will continue to be volatile as the Omicron variant start to spread in other countries. Until definitive information on how this variant could be contained, it will continue to create uncertainties in the global communities,” Mr. Pangan said.

Inflation data to be released this week could help calm these fears, analysts said.

“Easing inflation for last month likely near 4% and hopes for a seasonally strong fourth quarter of 2021 may temper Omicron-related jitters, keeping the PSEi resilient,” First Metro Investment Corp. Head of Research Cristina S. Ulang said in a Viber Message.

“A low inflation reading may induce some buying into the local bourse,” Regina Capital Development Corp.’s Mr. Limlingan added.

Headline inflation likely slowed in November due to base effects and slower increases in food costs and a decline in oil prices.

A BusinessWorld poll of 18 analysts yielded a median estimate of 4% for the November inflation, which is closer to the upper end of the 3.3% to 4.1% estimate given by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for the month.

If realized, last month’s consumer price index will match the higher end of the 2-4% target of the BSP and be slower than the 4.6% in October and the 3.7% logged a year earlier.

The Philippine Statistics Authority will release November inflation data on Tuesday, Dec. 7.

Diversified Securities’ Mr. Pangan said the PSEi could range from 6,900 to 7,200 this week. — Marielle C. Lucenio with Reuters

Russia considering wheat export quota of 9 million tons

REUTERS

RUSSIA is discussing setting a quota for the wheat export season that runs from mid-February through June of 9 million tons, according to people familiar with the matter.

The figure was proposed by the agriculture ministry, which also suggested a total grains quota of 14 million tons for the period, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private information.

Russia, one of the world’s biggest wheat exporters, has been taking steps to slow sales abroad to curb domestic food inflation. It’s also introduced a floating tax on grain exports, though the measures have had limited effects on total seasonal volumes.

However, the decision will be closely watched in the global wheat market, which is facing increasingly tight supplies after crops around the world were hit by droughts, frost and heavy rain.

Benchmark prices in Chicago reached a nine-year high last month.

Next year’s quota will be decided by the government based on a recommendation by the tariffs commission, a spokesman for the agriculture ministry said, without commenting on the figures.

The press service for the economy ministry, which is in charge of the commission, said it plans to discuss the specific dates and volumes of the quota for 2022 together with the ministry of agriculture “in the near future.”

Russia imposed a grains export quota of 17.5 million tons from Feb. 15 through June 30 this year. It didn’t have a breakdown for specific grains within the total.

Wheat futures in Chicago extended declines to trade 1.6% lower on Friday. — Bloomberg

Tokyo Olympic boxing medalists target 2024 Paris Games

By Joey Villar

OLYMPIC boxing medalists Nesthy A. Petecio, Carlo Paalam and Eumir Felix D. Marcial are not discounting the possibility of going for another shot at an Olympic gold in the 2024 Paris Games.

“Pinapangarap ko talaga gold medal sa Olympics (I’m really dreaming of an Olympic gold medal),” said Mr. Paalam during yesterday’s turnover ceremony of the house and lot he, Ms. Petecio and Mr. Marcial received in Tagaytay City.

The house and lot, a 125-square-meter property courtesy of Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham Tolentino and his brother Sen. Francis Tolentino, was rewarded to Ms. Petecio, Messrs. Paalam and Marcial for bringing home a silver, silver and bronze, respectively, in the Tokyo meet.

Weightlifter Hidilyn F. Diaz, who delivered the country’s first Olympic mint, was given a 220-square-meter property nearby also from the Messrs. Tolentinos.

And of the three, Mr. Paalam appeared to have the best shot at shooting for the gold in Paris as he is the youngest at 23 years old.

Mr. Marcial is 26 while Ms. Petecio is 29.

Mr. Marcial, who will juggle being a pro, an amateur boxer and an Air Force man, said he still have something left in the tank.

“Kaya pa (I can still do it),” said Mr. Marcial.

Mr. Tolentino said had encouraged the three, as well as Ms. Diaz, to go at it one final time.

“I think they can still do qualify in the Olympics and they’re still young enough to shoot for the Olympic gold,” said the congressman from Tagaytay and PhilCycling chief.

Mr. Tolentino said he dreams of giving future Filipino athletes a home if they will end up snaring Olympic medals.

“I will call it the Olympic Village,” said Mr. Tolentino.

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