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Adele tops IFPI 2021 album charts with hit comeback record 30

LONDON —  British singer Adele has added another accolade to her long list of honors, with her latest record 30 winning the Global Album All Format Chart for 2021, IFPI, the recorded music industry representative body, said on Tuesday.

The album 30, which went to No.1 around the world upon its release in November, also topped IFPI’s Global Album Sales Chart and its inaugural IFPI Global Vinyl Album Chart.

The album, Adele’s fourth, was her first in six years since 2015’s Grammy Award winning 25. Last month, 30 won album of the year at Britain’s pop music honors, the BRITs.

“It has been wonderful to have Adele back and releasing music over the second half of last year,” IFPI Chief Executive Frances Moore said in a statement.

“Her dominance of all three IFPI Album Charts speaks to her unique song-writing talent, her iconic voice and unrelenting global popularity.””

Known for her ballads about heartbreak and nostalgia, Adele said she wrote 30 to explain her divorce to her young son.

“Following its release in Nov. 2021, 30 surpassed over five million physical album equivalent units in 2021 alone, in under two months,” IFPI said.

American singer Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour was second in the Top 10 Global Album All Format Chart, followed by Canadian pop star Justin’s Bieber’s Justice.

ABBA’s Voyage, the Swedish supergroup’s first album in 40 years, was no. 2 in the Top 10 Global Album Sales Chart, followed by K-pop band SEVENTEEN’s Attacca.

For the vinyl album chart, Harry Style’s Fine Line and Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours completed the top 3. — Reuters

LANDBANK online transactions increase 46% to P2.45 trillion

THE VALUE of online transactions done with Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) surged in 2021 as the lender continued to roll out digital services during the public health crisis.

LANBANK’s electronic banking transaction value jumped by 46% year on year to P2.45 trillion, the state-run bank said in a press release on Wednesday.

The volume of transactions rose by 19% to 136.3 million.

These transactions include mobile banking, government disbursement, retail banking, institutional banking, and bulk credit.

Broken down, LANDBANK’s mobile banking app recorded over 100 million transactions worth a total of P172.39 billion last year. The transaction value more than doubled the 2020 figure.

Its electronic payment facility or Link.BizPortal recorded close to four million transactions. The total value went up by 31% to P10.45 billion.

Meanwhile, LANDBANK’s institutional internet banking platform weAccess logged over 20 million transactions, with the value increasing by 24% to P489 million.

Its iAccess internet retail banking channel saw a 30% jump in transaction value to P15.4 billion.

On the other hand, LANDBANK’s electronic modified disbursement system recorded over 20 million in transactions, with the value rising by 24% year on year to P488.98 billion.

“The LANDBANK Bulk Credit System (LBCS) also posted unprecedented annual growths of 105% and 1,181% for volume and value, respectively,” the bank said.

LANDBANK President and Chief Executive Officer Cecilia C. Borromeo said the bank is delivering digital banking services for the “new normal.” Pandemic-related restrictions allowed for limited face-to-face transactions.

“We will continue to bank on digital infrastructures as we push for greater digital adoption and advance financial inclusion in the country,” she said.

LANDBANK’s net income in 2021 rose by 27% to P21.75 billion year on year due to the lower cost of funds. This was higher than its P19.68-billion profit target for the year. — J.P. Ibañez

Yulo leads sport personalities at MVPSF Gymnastics Center inauguration on Saturday

CARLOS YULO FB PAGE

TWO-TIME world champion Carlos “Caloy” Yulo will be the special guest when the Manny V. Pangilinan Sports Foundation (MVPSF) Gymnastics Center holds its inauguration on Saturday in Intramuros, Manila.

Mr. Yulo, who planed in Monday along with Japanese coach Munehiro Kugeyama and trainer Jumpei Konno, will join several sports officials, including possibly Mr. Pangilinan himself, in the opening of the training facility that the national team will use in preparation for the Hanoi Southeast Asian Games set on May 12 to 23.

Also expected to grace the 3 p.m. ceremony are International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) president Morinari Watanabe, Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez, Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham Tolentino and Gymnastics Association of the Philippines head Cynthia Carrion

Japanese Ambassador to the country Kazuhiko Koshikawa was also invited.

The MVPSF reportedly spent millions for the world-class training center and is reportedly erecting a high-ceiling tent beside it that would be used for rhythmic gymnastics.

For PSC, it will reportedly shoulder the monthly rent.

Gymnastics is one of several sports where the country can produce gold medals in international events including the Olympics.

And there is hope that the new facility could help achieve that goal. — Joey Villar

Waterfront Philippines plans to borrow P3B more

WATERFRONT Philippines, Inc.’s board of directors gave the go signal for the company to secure up to P3.05 billion in additional loan or credit from the Philippine Bank of Communications.

In a disclosure to the exchange on Wednesday, the company said the additional funds will be used for renovations, land acquisitions, and to refinance its loan obligations due in September this year.

Waterfront Philippines is planning to renovate its Cebu, Davao, and Mactan hotels.

Meanwhile, the company is planning an equity investment via subscription to its wholly owned units to acquire more land for the development and expansion of hotel operations.

Waterfront Philippines has more than a dozen subsidiaries based across the country. The list includes Waterfront Cebu City Casino Hotel, Inc., Waterfront Mactan Casino Hotel, Inc., Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao, Inc., ACESITE (Phils.) Hotel Corp. or Manila Pavilion Hotel, Waterfront Hotel Management Corp., and Mayo Bonanza, Inc.

The other subsidiaries are Waterfront Entertainment Corp., Waterfront Food Concepts, Inc., Waterfront Wellness Group, Inc., Grand Ilocandia Resort Development, Inc., Waterfront Promotions Ltd., Waterfront Puerto Princesa Hotel, Inc., and Waterfront Cebu Ventures, Inc.

Shares of Waterfront Philippines declined 1.09% or 0.005 centavos on Wednesday to close at 0.455 centavos each. — Keren Concepcion G. Valmonte

The Batman stars ‘scared and very excited’ to see audience response

IMDB.COM

LOS ANGELES —  Robert Pattinson and Zoe Kravitz team up as Batman and Catwoman in the latest cinematic outing of the famed DC Comics figures for The Batman.

The nearly three-hour movie is very much a film noir, with the two characters playing detective to find a missing girl and locate The Riddler, who is murdering high-profile figures in Gotham City.

The new direction has Mr. Pattinson and Ms. Kravitz a little worried about how audiences will respond.

“I feel scared and very excited at the same time but definitely intimidated,” Ms. Kravitz told Reuters in an interview.

“Hopefully it will go down well. I wish we did press after the movie came out. It would be so much easier,” Mr. Pattinson added.

Mr. Pattinson’s Batman has a different silhouette from previous incarnations. In this film, directed by Matt Reeves, he has a much slimmer pointy-eared mask.

“I couldn’t hear anything. I also had an earpiece in which I was having direction through… occasionally they’d leave on every single person’s walkie-talkie on the entire set and I couldn’t get it out myself so I’d be literally listening to every single thing that’s happening,” Mr. Pattinson said. “Sometimes (Reeves would) leave the mic on and you could hear, if it was a tense scene, his breathing would accelerate.”

Set in fictional Gotham City, the film addresses politics, corruption, poverty and crime.

“The ways in which Matt has co-opted this genre and the Batman series to make it a film about Batman, yes, but also about the world in which we live, I think was just really brilliant,” said Jeffrey Wright, who plays Batman’s police ally, Lieutenant James Gordon.

Colin Farrell looks unrecognizable as The Penguin, spending up to four hours a day in make-up.

As well as rumors of a sequel, Warner Bros have announced a spin-off television show featuring The Penguin.

“To have six to eight hours or whatever, it would be just a joy to explore this character because it didn’t feel like a one-trick pony,” Mr. Farrell said.

The Batman begins its global cinema roll-out from Tuesday. — Reuters

Juico files a case against Obiena and POC at CAS

THE supposed mediation between Olympian pole-vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena and the Philippine Track and Field Association that was agreed in principle in the Senate hearing less than a month ago did not happen.

This after Mr. Obiena and the Philippine Olympic Commission (POC) will engage PATAFA in a battle at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after PATAFA President Philip Ella Juico filed a “statement of appeal” to CAS last Feb. 11 against the former two.

POC President Abraham Tolentino on Wednesday questioned PATAFA’s motive for it, describing it as a breach of integrity and putting a damper on the Senate’s effort to resolve the impasse.

“So what happened to the truce forged through the Senate? The mediation that both parties — Mr. Obiena and the Patafa (Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association) agreed on before our honorable Senators?” said Mr. Tolentino.

Mr. Juico’s filing of a case at the Lausanne-based CAS was done four days after the Senate hearing where Mr. Obiena and PATAFA publicly agreed to a mediation.

Apparently, it didn’t materialize.

“Where’s the good faith there? The POC thought they [PATAFA] were for mediation and even EJ already agreed to the procedure,” said Mr. Tolentino. “Filing a complaint against Mr. Obiena and the POC means the Patafa is included in the complaint because Patafa is a member of the organization.”

The POC Executive Board, in a hybrid meeting at the Knights Templar Ridge Hotel in Tagaytay City, authorized Mr. Tolentino to hire a lawyer and appoint a CAS juror, as well as appropriate still undetermined fees for the defense.

All except chairman Steve Hontiveros and first vice-president Alfredo Panlilio attended the meeting, with Atty. Charlie Ho of netball, who ran under Mr. Juico’s ticket in the November 2020 POC elections, filing the motion for the appropriation of lawyers and CAS fees.

According to POC Chief Legal Counsel Atty. Wharton Chan, Mr. Juico filed the complaint through his lawyers, the Aranas Cruz Araneta Parker & Faustino Law Offices. The complaint cited the POC’s breach of jurisdiction on the Mr. Obiena issue, dismissal of the case Mr. Obiena filed with the POC through its Athletes Commission and withdrawal of the persona non grata sanction on Mr. Juico.

Mr. Chan said the POC could not be cited on issues over jurisdiction on the Mr. Obiena case, saying the POC “is not a judicial body, but a corporate one and the focal issue is on the attitude and unethical conduct” on Mr. Obiena’s complaint of harassment against the Patafa.

“The CAS asked for more evidences from the PATAFA such as proof of notices, among others,” said Mr. Chan,

The International Olympic Committee created the CAS “to bring about the resolution of sports-related disputes which are submitted to it through ordinary arbitration or through appeal against the decisions of sports bodies or organizations.” — Joey Villar

Russian cyber war seen to pose threat to insurers

RUSSIAN DIGITAL WARFARE against Ukraine and potentially other nations as part of its invasion is prodding cyber insurers to beef up language protecting them against losses, and has left policyholders uncertain about the extent of their coverage.

Insurers, still dealing with the fallout from an infamous hack in 2017, have ramped up efforts to refine policies and spell out exactly what does and doesn’t get covered in the event of a retaliatory attack by Russia for sanctions and other actions imposed by the US and its allies. Cyber coverage is a relatively young industry, and lacks defined standards of accountability. 

The issue of coverage “is one that’s going to be answered on a case-by-case basis, based on the facts of any cyber incident and the specifics of an insurance policy,” said Darin McMullen, cyber product leader with insurance broker Aon Plc.

Ukrainian officials have alleged that Russian operatives launched hacks against government and corporate systems ahead of the invasion. The prospect of wider-ranging intrusions leaves insurers and policyholders uncertain about whether they will bear the costs if systems are breached.

Among the biggest providers of cyber coverage are Chubb Ltd., Axa SA and American International Group, Inc., according to a 2021 report by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

At issue is the so-called war exclusion, a longstanding policy provision written by insurers. It states that losses inflicted by armed combat typically aren’t covered. While cyber warfare isn’t armed combat, the coordination of hacking and military action presumably could trigger the clause — and force insurers to alter policy language.

“Carriers are just going to be making more updates to their policies and further outlining very specific things that will or will not be covered because I think they’ve been bleeding cash for the last couple of years,” said Mark Lance, senior director of cyber defense at GuidePoint Security.

Uncertainty for the industry and its customers also followed the 2017 NotPetya hack, an event US officials tied to Russia, and which crippled companies including pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. The question of whether Merck’s $1.4 billion in losses were covered by its property and casualty policy ended up in court.

In January, a New Jersey judge ruled that the insurers were unjustified in blocking Merck’s claims and overreached in invoking a war exclusion. Defendants in the case included Munich Re, Lloyd’s of London, Allianz SE and Zurich Insurance Group AG.

“It was a learning experience for the industry and now the insurers are much more aware of having to amend that definition of war, which has traditionally excluded or not addressed cyberattacks,” said Jennifer Rothstein, who heads cyber insurance and legal business development for computer security firm BlueVoyant.

She said that carriers have recently been working with brokers to clarify coverage and refine the questions asked as part of the underwriting process. In the meantime, premiums are going up, and the criteria insurers use to determine whether to take on risks are becoming stricter. That means getting covered is harder.

A December report from brokerage Marsh McLennan said that US cyber-insurance pricing increased an average of 96% in the third quarter of 2021. The broker pinned the increase on factors including worsening losses brought on by an increase in the frequency and severity of ransomware claims, as well as the potential for a single attack to hit multiple policyholders at once.

There’s no guarantee that Russia will use its cyber capabilities to punish countries that have imposed sanctions since the invasion. Still, the Russian government has been linked to high-profile hacks before, including a 2020 intrusion that breached US government systems. — Bloomberg

Huawei eyeing digitalization partnerships in the Philippines

By Brontë H. Lacsamana

SHENZHEN-BASED multinational company Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. is looking to contribute to digitalization efforts in the Philippines through local partnerships.

Jay Chen, vice-president of Huawei Asia Pacific, said at a round table at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) on March 1 that the Philippines is “very dynamic” in its development of digital solutions.

“As per my understanding, in the last couple of years, the investments for the ICT (information and communications technology) industry in the Philippines are very huge, with very strong investments [compared to] many countries in the region,” he said.

He said Huawei has “a lot of potential for partnerships with [the] local industry” and will likely be able to “contribute something from our side.”

Last year, the company invested $100 million in technology startups in Asia-Pacific (APAC) countries including the Philippines, with the goal to build a sustainable start-up ecosystem in the region over the next three years.

It also invested $150 million in developing APAC’s ICT talent through its five-year program Seeds for the Future 2.0, which will benefit 3 million students in the region.

Huawei anticipates that ICT can help conserve ten times’ worth of the world’ energy while only consuming 2% of it, according to Michael MacDonald, chief digital officer and executive consultant of Huawei Asia Pacific.

“The good thing about this is that ICT can be used in interesting ways to help address the green elements of other industries,” he said at the round table.

Fifth-generation (5G), for example, consumes less energy than 4G and 3G, making a shift to the technology a good way to reduce overall carbon footprint.

“Once we have the connectivity, the cloud services, then we [can further improve] the green economy or green solutions,” Mr. Chen added.

SUPER DEVICE
One of Huawei’s initiatives to enhance connectivity is the new Super Device, an integrated software system unveiled at the Smart Office conference ahead of MWC. This ecosystem will enable PCs or laptops to seamlessly connect to a range of other devices like mobile phones, earbuds, keyboards, mice, and even a laser printer that are connected to a single Wi-Fi network.

“Seamless AI (artificial intelligence) life is Huawei Consumer Business’ next five to 10 years long-term strategy… Our target is to bring you boundless creation and seamless communication,” said Richard Yu, Huawei Consumer Business’ chief executive officer.

Along with this, seven new Huawei devices are now available in the Philippine market. These include MateBook X Pro and MateBook E laptops, the MateStation X desktop, MatePad and MatePad Paper tablets, laser printer PixLab X1, and the Sound Joy speaker.

With Super Device, all of these products would no longer have barriers to interconnection, improving productivity. Features include file access and transfers, use of phone apps via your Huawei laptop and faster pairing with peripherals.

Huawei plans to continue innovating in this space to make business “smarter,” Mr. Yu added.

AboitizPower gets SEC nod to issue P10-B retail bonds

ABOITIZ Power Corp. on Wednesday said it was allowed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to issue the third and final tranche of its P30-billion shelf-registered fixed-rate retail bonds.

“[The company] has received the Certificate of Permit to Offer Securities for Sale dated March 2, 2022 from the SEC,” AboitizPower said in a disclosure to the exchange.

The third tranche bonds will be offered on March 3 to 9 and will be issued on March 17. It has a principal amount of up to P7 billion and an oversubscription option of up to P3 billion.

The first tranche of the company’s shelf-registered bonds was completed on March 16, 2021 while the second one was done on Dec. 2, 2021. AboitizPower intends to list the third tranche with the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp.

“Proceeds of the [bond offering] will be used for refinancing and/or future renewable projects,” the company earlier said.

AboitizPower targets a portfolio made up of 50% renewables and 50% thermal energy by 2030, through investing in more renewable energy projects in the country and abroad.

The energy firm appointed BDO Capital & Investment Corp., China Bank Capital Corp., and First Metro Securities Brokerage Corp. as its joint issue managers. They are also joint lead underwriters and joint bookrunners along with Security Bank Corp.

In January, the final tranche of the company received the highest credit rating with a stable outlook from the Philippine Rating Services Corp.

At the local bourse on Wednesday, AboitizPower shares went up 20 centavos or 0.56% to close at P35.65 apiece. — Marielle C. Lucenio

Dining In/Out (03/03/22)

Bites & Brews Cocktail Concoctions

Eastwood Café+Bar serves dine-in guests again

EASTWOOD Richmonde Hotel’s Café+Bar is back to serving dine-in guests, with three special offerings that celebrate good food at great value. Plus, options for indoor and al fresco dining, visitors can choose their kind of safe restaurant space. The daily breakfast buffet is back, being served from 6 to 10 a.m., at the discounted promotional rate of P500 nett per person. In the evenings there is Bites & Brews, which offers an assortment of bar chow at the self-serve stations, which can be paired with one’s brew of choice, be it coffee, beer, or cocktails. The bar chow includes South American fare like Peruvian Chicken and Birria Tacos, Neopolitan pizzas, grilled sandwiches, and DIY dessert pies like peach almond, apple, and tablea smores. Bites & Brews is available every Friday and Saturday from 3 to 10 p.m. Lastly, end the week with a Pinoy-themed buffet every Sunday. From lechon to sugba and sutukil — sugba (grill), tuwa (stew), and kilaw (raw seafood in vinegar) — the buffets are sure to can satisfy one’s yearning for comfort food at P825 net per adult and P450 net per child aged six to 12 years old, inclusive of iced tea. Toddlers five years old and below eat for free. The Sunday Buffet Fiesta is served every week from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For inquiries and table reservations, call 8570-7777 or 0917-821-0333.

Richmonde Hotel Ortigas presents gastropub concept

AFTER a prolonged hiatus due to the pandemic, Richmonde Hotel Ortigas welcomes diners back to a new concept to re-introduce its after-office specials: the Richmonde Gastropub. It is serving an all-new menu of gourmet bar food including Queso Fundido, Shrimp Scampi, Pulled Pork Quesadilla, Bangers & Mustard Potatoes (choice of veal bratwurst or Hungarian sausage), and Blue Marlin Ceviche. Former best-sellers like Angus Burger, Beef Salpicao, and Gamberoni Pizza are also making a comeback to pair with wine, spirits, or a cocktail. The gastropub also serves its very own handcrafted caramel and butter beer (non-alcoholic). Featured cocktails include the Deconstructed Mimosa, Little Kiss Crusher, and the ever-popular Sangria. The Richmonde Gastropub serves unlimited wine pours for two hours straight for P800, and guests receive a free bottle of local beer for every four bottles ordered. Richmonde Gastropub opens daily from 4 to 10 p.m. on the 2nd floor of Richmonde Hotel Ortigas. For inquiries and table reservations, call 8638-7777 or 0917-534-4352 or e-mail richmondecafe@gmail.com.

Mimi & Bros cooks up a Lenten special

JUST in time for Lent, Mimi & Bros is offering its newest Big Fish Sandwich. The Big Fish Sandwich features a hefty fish filet, breaded and crisped, with the special house blend tartar sauce, in slightly toasted buttery brioche buns. Available for P275, the Big Fish Sandwich comes with a side of hand-cut fries. The Big Fish Sandwich can also be enjoyed with the barkada or with the family in the special Mimi & Bros’ Munch Box for P950. Mimi & Bros is at Crossroads, 32nd St, Bonifacio Global City. It is open for al fresco dining. For delivery, message Mimi & Bros on Messenger on m.me/mimiandbros, through Viber at +63 945 798 5176, or find Mimi & Bros in Grab, Foodpanda, Dingdong, and Pick.A.Roo.

Pizza Hut opens new Delco Store in Makati

PIZZA Hut customers in Makati City and nearby areas will have more options with the opening of a new Fast Casual DELCO branch along one of the City’s major thoroughfares. Customers can order for delivery or dine-in and take-out by visiting the store located at the ground floor of Panama Bldg., No. 117, Kalayaan Ave. in Brgy. Cembo. A Fast Casual DELCO branch is a Pizza Hut restaurant where customers can dine in or order for delivery or take-out. The newly opened store in Makati City marks Pizza Hut’s 56th DELCO unit nationwide. To view the full list of operational Pizza Hut branches nationwide (dine-in and DELCO branches), visit www.pizzahut.com.ph/store-list.

McDonald’s offers the Flavors of Asia

THE FLAVORS of Japan and Korea are back for a limited time at McDonald’s with the Flavors of Asia. It brings back fan favorite Japanese and Korean-inspired meals: the Ebi Burger, boasting of a tempura-coated shrimp patty paired with tangy Thousand Island sauce and lettuce, and the K-Chicken Burger, a crispy chicken filet with creamy cheddar cheese and served with kimchi and gochujang dressing. Both burgers come in black and white sesame seed buns.

Greenwich unveils new seafood offerings

GREENWICH is introducing two new savory seafood offerings to its menu, but for a limited time only. The Cajun Shrimp Overload Pizza and Creamy Shrimp Spaghetti are Greenwich’s own spin on its pizza and pasta favorites. The Cajun Shrimp Overload Pizza has a crust topped with cajun sauce and is loaded with seasoned shrimps, mushrooms, green bell peppers, sauteed onions, and three types of cheese. A nine-inch double-size pizza is priced at P319. The Creamy Shrimp Spaghetti has creamy aligue (crab fat)-flavored sauce with shrimps and mushrooms, and is topped with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. A solo serving is priced at P109, while a shareable pan good for three people is priced at P240. Greenwich’s newest pizza and pasta flavors are available on www.greenwichdelivery.com, via #5-55-55 hotline, Greenwich Barkada Messenger, GrabFood, Foodpanda, take-out, or for dine in. The list of Greenwich stores can be found here: https://stores.jfc.com.ph/greenwich.html.

Convenience store sells Suntory drinks

THIS YEAR, FamilyMart is leveling up the Filipino drinking experience with its extensive line of wines, spirits and beers which now includes Japanese alcohol brands and flavors. The store’s latest offering includes a line of drinks from Suntory, a popular brand of Japanese alcoholic beverages. This includes Strong Zero Beer, a Japanese chu-hi, which is a shochu — a traditional Japanese liquor made from barley or grains — mixed with carbonated water and different flavors. Also offered under the Suntory line is Haroyoi, a chu-hi beverage known for its sweet peach and pear flavors and vibrant colored cans. Meanwhile, Lemon-dou, another chu-hi drink from Japan, is also part of the lineup. This drink is made from crushed lemons and brewing with alcohol. The popular Japanese drinks and imported wine and spirit selections are now available in FamilyMart’s largest store located at the ground floor of Udenna Tower in Bonifacio Global City. The items are also available for purchase through the GrabMart app.

PBA all-out in backing Gilas Pilipinas schedule

PBA COMMISSIONER WILLIE MARCIAL — PBA IMAGES

ASIDE from manpower, Gilas Pilipinas seeks to get a lift from the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) in terms of schedule leeway as it gears up for a hectic calendar running up until its FIBA World Cup (WC) hosting in 2023.

Gilas team manager Butch Antonio said the team has laid out its full calendar to the PBA with hopes of meshing up with the league’s schedule before trooping to at least four major tournaments.

“The PBA is very much supportive of the program that the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) has put forth. We sort of synchronized schedules. We submitted a calendar of events and the PBA looked into it,” said Mr. Antonio in the SEAG Network after a meeting with the PBA.

“There will be more windows of the WC qualifiers, Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games and Asia Cup. Then the PBA will have their conferences and the EASL participation, so all of this have to come together perfectly so we can prepare for the World Cup,” he added.

Gilas has also submitted a wish list of 30 players bannered by majority of pro standouts for its expanded pool on top of the synchronized schedule proposal — all of which must gain nod from the PBA Board of Governors.

“That’s where we are with the PBA. All of this is towards the preparations to come up with the best team possible for the World Cup,” added Mr. Antonio, who was joined by Gilas mentor Chot Reyes in the PBA discussion.

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial, for his part, has told The STAR the league’s willingness to give an all-out backing to Gilas as he is set to bring up the SBP proposal before the PBA Board on March 7.

Gilas is coming off a split campaign in the February window of the WC Qualifiers against India and New Zealand. Its next stop will be in Hanoi for the 31st SEA Games (SEAG) in May before the next qualifying window in June, the Asia Cup in Indonesia in July and the Asian Games in China in September. — John Bryan Ulanday

SSS digital branches to help its pensioners use online platforms

SSS FACEBOOK PAGE

THE SOCIAL Security System (SSS) is rolling out digital branches to aid pensioners in using online portals and mobile applications.

The state-run social insurance agency launched its pilot digital branch in San Pedro, Laguna to offer multi-channel services to its members, employers, and pensioners.

The SSS branch in San Pedro has areas for SSS online registration, mobile app learning, and a customer care center for face-to-face transactions.

“As we continue our digital transformation, the SSS is aware of the current situation where some of the members and pensioners need assistance in using our My.SSS Portal and SSS Mobile App,” SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Aurora C. Ignacio said in a news release on Wednesday.

“Hence, we created a digital branch to encourage members to enroll in the My.SSS Portal.”

She said branch personnel will guide members and pensioners in using the electronic services so they could later use the online tools at home.

“We will continue to convert regular branches to digital in National Capital Region and selected provinces nationwide.”

The SSS in January said it has seen an increase in fraud incidents being reported by its members.

It warned the public against joining Facebook groups that offer online transaction help for a fee, noting that the groups are illegal and could be mining personal data.

SSS services are mostly free, charging a fee only for Unified Multi-purpose ID card replacement.

The SSS, along with the Government Service Insurance System, has been ramping up digitalization initiatives to deliver services during the public health crisis, the Finance department said. — J.P. Ibañez

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