Safeguard aids with hand hygiene kits as COVID-19 vaccination for minors roll out

December 17, 2021 | 5:07 pm

Now that the country has fully implemented the roll-out of vaccines for minors aged 12-17, Safeguard strengthens hand hygiene support to hospitals and vaccine hubs to help ensure that healthcare workers, frontliners, and children are safe from any illness that can be transmitted from improper hand hygiene.

A total of ₱6.1 million in Safeguard Foaming Hand Wash products are donated to hospitals and vaccination hubs like St. Luke’s Medical Center and vaccination operations inside Megaworld Lifestyle Malls. As the Philippine’s #1 family germ protection soap, Safeguard aims to help in keeping the nation safe from the threats of germs and bacteria.

Safeguard continues to provide aid in proper hand hygiene education and practices through donations to facilities that need it the most during the fight against COVID-19. The brand has partnered with numerous organizations including LGUs, malls, and provided handwashing facilities in urban areas as well, through the #SAFEWash campaign.

For more than 56 years, Safeguard has continued to keep Filipino families safe with 99.9% germ protection, and continues to expand its protection to frontliners, healthcare workers, and those that are at risk of germs and bacteria. Safeguard hand soaps are powered by Infinishield Technology that effectively inhibits the growth of disease-causing germs. After handwashing, it provides with a protective shield against germs for up to 24 hours.

As the country remains in battle against the pandemic while also easing health protocols for a better new normal, proper health protocols and hand hygiene should be maintained. Safeguard is in arms with Filipinos, and with your efforts, we can look forward to a SAFE Philippines.

Do your part in making sure your family and loved ones are safe through each #SafeWash. Protect yourself from illness-causing germs and bacteria by shopping Safeguard in leading supermarkets, drugstores, or through the official Safeguard malls in Lazada and Shopee.

Spotlight is BusinessWorld’s sponsored section that allows advertisers to amplify their brand and connect with BusinessWorld’s audience by enabling them to publish their stories directly on the BusinessWorld Web site. For more information, send an email to online@bworldonline.com.

Join us on Viber to get more updates from BusinessWorld: https://bit.ly/3hv6bLA.

US curbs Chinese drone maker DJI, other firms it accuses of aiding rights abuses

December 17, 2021 | 4:29 pm

WASHINGTON — The US government put investment and export restrictions on dozens of Chinese companies on Thursday, including top drone maker DJI, accusing them of complicity in the oppression of China’s Uyghur minority or helping the military, further ratcheting up tensions between the world’s top two economies.

Blaming DJI and seven other tech firms for supporting “the biometric surveillance and tracking” of Uyghurs, the US Treasury Department added them to a list of entities suspected of having Chinese military links, barring Americans from trading in their securities.

Separately, the Commerce Department added China’s Academy of Military Medical Sciences and its 11 research institutes to a trade blacklist, restricting access to US exports. It said such aid included “purported brain-control weaponry” without defining the technology further.

The department also added HMN International, formerly Huawei Marine, Jiangsu Hengtong Marine Cable Systems, Jiangsu Hengtong OpticElectric, Shanghai Aoshi Control Technology Co, Ltd, and Zhongtian Technology Submarine Cable to the list over US allegations of acquiring, or attempting to acquire, technology from the United States to help modernize the People’s Liberation Army.

The Chinese embassy in Washington called the actions “unwarranted suppression” that violated free trade rules, adding that Beijing would take “all essential measures” to uphold the interests of Chinese companies and research institutions.

“China’s development of biotechnology has always been for the well-being of mankind. The relevant claims of the US side are totally groundless,” embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu said in an email.

A DJI spokesperson declined to comment on the US announcement on Friday, but directed Reuters to the company’s statement when the US Commerce Department put it on the so-called entity list a year ago for the same reasons. That step barred it from buying or using US technology or components.

At the time, DJI said it had done nothing to justify the move and would continue to sell products in the United States.

UN experts and rights groups estimate that more than a million people, mainly Uyghurs and members of other Muslim minorities, have been detained in recent years in a vast system of camps in China’s far-west region of Xinjiang.

China denies rights abuses in Xinjiang and has pushed back against US “interference” in its affairs, vowing to protect its companies against US sanctions.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said China is choosing to use biotechnologies “to pursue control over its people and its repression of members of ethnic and religious minority groups.”

“We cannot allow US commodities, technologies, and software that support medical science and biotechnical innovation to be diverted toward uses contrary to US national security,” she said in a statement.

Thursday’s announcement coupled with last week’s investment ban on Chinese facial recognition company SenseTime could worsen already rocky relations between Beijing and Washington, despite President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.’s trying in a November virtual meeting with China’s leader Xi Jinping to establish “guardrails” to prevent the two superpowers from sliding toward conflict.

Also on Thursday, the Senate passed the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. Mr. Biden has said he will sign it into law. The bill would ban imports from China’s Xinjiang region over concerns about forced labor.

SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY

The investment ban, which will also apply to Megvii Technology Limited and Cloudwalk Technology Co Ltd, was first imposed by Donald Trump’s administration and revised by Mr. Biden.

It prohibits US entities from investing in dozens of Chinese companies with alleged ties to the defense or surveillance technology sectors. It now spans dozens of companies, from China’s top chipmaker SMIC to oil producer CNOOC.

All eight companies added to the list on Thursday are already on the entity list. The list has become a go-to tool for Washington in the US-China tech feud. Suppliers to companies on the list must seek a special license from the Commerce Department to ship goods to the targeted company. The license requests face a tough standard of review.

Megvii said it opposed the US Treasury’s decision and that its inclusion on the list would not impact the company’s daily operations.

Beijing and Washington have clashed over several issues, including US criticism of China’s expanding nuclear arsenal and the Biden administration’s decision this month for US government officials to boycott the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics over rights abuses.

China’s telecommunications equipment company Huawei Technologies was added to the entity list in 2019. Submarine cable maker HMN Technologies was added later that year.

Washington has become increasingly concerned about security threats posed by the company’s role in building undersea internet cables, which have far greater data capacity than satellites. Last year, it sent warnings to Pacific Island nations about HMN’s bid to participate in a project to improve communications in the region, Reuters reported.

Beijing says it has no intention of using cable infrastructure for spying. — Alexandra Alper and Daphne Psaledakis/Reuters

Wall Street firms retreat from office, holiday parties as virus spreads

December 17, 2021 | 4:26 pm

Wall Street banks and investment firms are retrenching from their push to get staff back to the office, with Citigroup Inc., Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Carlyle Group Inc., Blackstone, and MetLife among the latest to adjust plans as the Omicron variant of the coronavirus spreads.

The institutions are rethinking their plans to return to business-as-usual amid a spike in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in New York and other financial hubs and growing concerns over the fast-spreading Omicron.

“Even before Omicron, it was clear that there was not going to be a full ‘back to normal’ in most office-based jobs — some form of work from home is likely to endure into the future,” Rachel Lipson, Project on Workforce at Harvard University’s Malcolm Wiener Center for Social Policy, said in a recent interview.

Citigroup told staff at its New York metro area offices on Wednesday they should work from home if they are able to, a person familiar with the matter said on Thursday. Vaccinated staff had been allowed to return to some Citigroup offices in recent months.

US insurer MetLife Inc. on Thursday told its nearly 14,000 US staff it had postponed plans for them to return to the office to March from Jan. 10 previously, a spokeswoman for the company said. Blackstone employees were welcome to work from home through the rest of the month given the increasing spread of COVID-19 in the United States, a spokesperson said.

Goldman Sachs, which has not sent staff home, had hosted holiday parties over the last few weeks but on Thursday said it was canceling remaining gatherings due to worries over COVID-19, according to a source familiar with the bank’s plans.

Morgan Stanley is expecting staff who are not required to be in the office to take advantage of that flexibility and work from home and spend more time with their families, but it is not sending staff home and doesn’t have a work-from-home policy, a source familiar with the situation said on Thursday.

Investment firms followed suit. Carlyle is encouraging its U.S. employees to work from home for the remainder of the year and plans to return to a hybrid work model in the new year, a source familiar with the situation said. It is also not planning a firm-wide holiday party, the source said.

The Omicron variant has been detected in 77 countries since it was first identified three weeks ago, fueling concerns that its large number of mutations will help it spread faster and evade protection provided by COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics.

“We are in transition period still,” Morgan Stanley Chief Executive James Gorman said in a CNBC interview on Monday. “I thought we would be out of it by Labor Day, past Labor Day. We’re not. I think we will still be in it through most of next year. Everyone is still finding their way.”

Earlier this week, JPMorgan Chase & Co told unvaccinated staff in Manhattan to work from home, while investment bank Jefferies Financial Group last week asked staff in Manhattan and elsewhere to again steer clear of the office due to a spate of COVID-19 cases. A similar situation is occurring with institutions in Canada offices amid growing concerns over the spread of the Omicron variant in that country. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and National Bank of Canada said on Wednesday they have asked staff in Canada to work remotely, joining Bank of Nova Scotia in halting plans for a return to work. — Noor Zainab Hussain, Matt Scuffham and Chibuike Oguh/Reuters

BW Insights | Empowering Filipino Innovation and Creativity for a Post-Pandemic World

December 17, 2021 | 4:12 pm

Earlier this year, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III urged Philippine businesses to invest in digitalization and innovation to stay competitive in a world that has been radically changed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This was followed by a World Bank report which found that most developing economies in East Asia, including the Philippines, have underperformed in terms of adopting new technologies and discovering new ones.

What does this mean for the Philippines’ post-pandemic future? What can the public and private sectors do to spur innovation to better equip the country moving forward?

Learn that and more in BusinessWorld Insights, in partnership with Globe, themed “Empowering Filipino Innovation and Creativity for a Post-Pandemic World.”

This session of #BUSINESSWORLDINSIGHTS is supported by British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Management Association of the Philippines, and The Philippine STAR.

Citing ‘tremendous growth’ of e-commerce, Locad launches shipping platform for SMEs

December 17, 2021 | 3:33 pm

Spurred by the “tremendous growth” of e-commerce, as seen from online mega sales generating several billions’ worth of transactions, cloud logistics provider Locad launched a shipping solution that allows small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to manage multiple couriers and deliveries.

“Through the shipping platform, SMEs who are banking on the strong growth of e-commerce, especially this coming holiday season, will be able to tap Locad’s wide third-party logistics integrations,” said the company in a statement.

Constantin Robertz, Locad’s co-founder and chief executive officer, recently told ANC that the estimated sales coming from 12.12 this year is P15 billion in total, reflecting the exponential growth of the Philippine e-commerce industry in the pandemic.

“I think Philippine e-commerce has seen a tremendous growth spurt, with industry estimates at $12 billion or P600 billion for total [in] 2021,” he told ANC. “12.12, as well as 11.11, are big drivers of that where we see up to 10x growth versus normal day.”

After a successful beta run with Kumu and Havaianas this year, Locad’s modular service is piloting in the Philippines, with indefinite plans of expanding to the rest of Asia Pacific.

This iteration aggregates trusted third-party logistics providers (3PL) such as NinjaVan, J&T Express, DHL, Entrego, XDE, LBC, and Lalamove, among others.

The platform also enables direct-to-consumer (D2C) e-commerce brands to access various delivery options, from same-day delivery to affordable day-definite shipping. This should ease the challenge of “managing multiple platforms,” according to Locad.

Citing the 2021 e-Conomy SEA report by Bain & Company, Google, and Temasek, Locad pointed out that 95% of consumers will continue to use at least one digital service even after the pandemic, with 7 out of 10 rating delivery as the most important factor in online shopping.

The holidays are expected to “drive the rising demand in 3PL services, which further supports the need for efficient shipping management.” — B. H. Lacsamana

Facebook exposes mercenary spy firms that targeted 50,000 people

December 17, 2021 | 3:06 pm

REUTERS

WASHINGTON — Facebook owner Meta Platforms Inc. is calling out half a dozen private surveillance companies for hacking or other abuses, accusing them in a report published Thursday of collectively targeting about 50,000 people across its platforms.

The company’s fight with the spy firms comes amid a wider move by American tech companies, US lawmakers, and President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.’s administration against purveyors of digital espionage services, notably the Israeli spyware company NSO Group, which was blacklisted earlier this month following weeks of revelations about how its technology was being deployed against civil society.

Meta is already suing NSO in a US court. Nathaniel Gleicher, Meta’s head of security policy, told Reuters that Thursday’s crackdown was meant to signal that “the surveillance-for-hire industry is much broader than one company.”

Meta’s report said it was suspending roughly 1,500, mostly fake accounts run by seven organizations across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Meta said the entities targeted people in more than 100 countries.

Meta did not provide a detailed explanation of how it identified the surveillance firms, but it operates some of the world’s biggest social and communications networks and regularly touts its ability to find and remove malicious actors from its platforms.

Among them is Israel’s Black Cube, which became notorious for deploying its spies on behalf of Hollywood rapist Harvey Weinstein. Meta said the intelligence firm was deploying phantom personas to chat its targets up online and gather their emails, “likely for later phishing attacks.”

In a statement, Black Cube said it “does not undertake any phishing or hacking” and said the firm routinely ensured “all our agents’ activities are fully compliant with local laws.”

Others called out by Meta include BellTroX, an Indian cyber mercenary firm exposed by Reuters and the internet watchdog Citizen Lab last year, an Israeli company called Bluehawk CI, and a European firm named Cytrox — all of whom Meta accused of hacking.

Cognyte, which was spun off from security giant Verint Systems Inc. in February, and Israeli firms Cobwebs Technologies were accused not of hacking but of using fake profiles to trick people into revealing private data.

Cognyte, Verint, and Bluehawk did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

In an e-mail, Cobwebs spokesperson Meital Levi Tal said the company drew on open sources and that its products “are not intrusive by any means.” Messages left with Ivo Malinovski — who until recently identified himself as Cytrox’s chief executive on LinkedIn — received no immediate response. BellTroX founder Sumit Gupta has not returned Reuters reporters’ messages since his firm was exposed last year. He had previously denied wrongdoing.

Mr. Gleicher refused to identify any of the targets by name but Citizen Lab, in a report published at the same time as Meta’s, said that one of Cytrox’s victims was Egyptian opposition figure Ayman Nour.

Mr. Nour blamed the Egyptian government for the spying, telling Reuters in an interview from Istanbul that he had long suspected he was under surveillance by officials there.

“For the first time I have evidence,” he said.

Egyptian authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Mr. Gleicher said other targets of the spy firms included celebrities, politicians, journalists, lawyers, executives and regular citizens. Friends and family of the targets were also swept up in the espionage campaigns, he said.

Meta cybersecurity official David Agranovich said he hoped Thursday’s announcement would “kickstart the disruption of the surveillance-for-hire market.” There were some signs that other social media firms were taking similar action, with Twitter announcing the removal of 300 accounts a few hours after Meta’s announcement.

Whether the takedowns deal the companies involved more than a temporary setback remains to be seen. Two of the companies, Black Cube and BellTroX, have bounced back after being embroiled in previous spy scandals.

Mr. Gleicher said that targets of the spy firms would receive automated warnings, but he said Facebook would stop short of identifying the specific firms involved or their clients. That’s despite the fact that Facebook said it had identified several customers of Cobwebs, Cognyte, Cytrox, and Black Cube — the latter of which includes law firms.

Marta Pardavi, one of several Hungarian human rights defenders who say they were targeted by Black Cube in 2017 and 2018, said she was gratified by the news of Facebook’s report but wanted more information.

“They name law firms,” she said. “But law firms have clients. Who are the clients for these law firms?” — Raphael Satter and Elizabeth Culliford/Reuters

Information Security Officer’s Group closes 2021 with successful cybersecurity campaign

December 17, 2021 | 3:00 pm

More than 3,000 information technology (IT) professionals across the country viewed and joined the Information Security Officers Group (ISOG)’s month-long cybersecurity campaign named “I Am Secure 2021: The Great Shift,” which provided learning and networking programs that strengthen the country’s cybersecurity strategies in the new normal.

The campaign kick-started with a virtual augmented venue opening on Oct. 8. Followed by a 3-day conference held on Oct. 13 to 15, the online conference with the theme Securing the New Cyber Norm aimed to reinforce the professionals, experts, and decision-makers in the field of cybersecurity. The online event was graced by local and international C-level executives, Chief Information Security Officers, Chief Technology Officers, Data Privacy Officers, Security Architects, Risk and Compliance Heads, experts in cybersecurity, data privacy, banking and finance industries, and even professionals from the academe, public, and private sectors.

“As we continue to adjust to the changing needs of the new normal, ISOG’s goal is to help empower the companies and institutions that strive hard to keep our country’s economy afloat by strengthening their strategies against digital disruption and cyber-attacks,” ISOG President Archie Tolentino said.

Attendees got insightful messages and action plans from keynote speakers including Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor of the Financial Supervision Sector Chuchi Fonacier, National Privacy Commission Chairman and Commissioner Raymund Liboro, Bankers Association of the Philippines President Jose Arnulfo Veloso, and Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Gregorio B. Honasan II.

A roster of thought leaders and speakers from various global organizations also provided informative presentations on artificial intelligence in cybersecurity, securing the edge in the new norm, network detection and response, and financial cyber threat, among others. To give the attendees an engaging summit experience, the presentations and webinars came with an augmented staging in a 3D digital venue. The state-of-the-art and globally awarded virtual venue platform gave the attendees access to an interactive lobby, breakout rooms, halls, and networking lounge.

“At ISOG, it is our mission to constantly improve cybersecurity defenses and capabilities essential in combating sophisticated cyber threats. This event summit is one of our ways to equip, engage, establish and empower more and more IT professionals in the country with a resilient and strategic cybersecurity mindset,” ISOG Vice-President and 2021 ISOG Summit Chairman Chito Jacinto stated.

The event summit was followed by special webinars held on Oct. 28 and Nov 4. The webinars were graced by representatives from government institutions and influential personalities such as Commission on Elections Spokesperson James Jimenez, Director General of Anti Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Sec. Jeremiah Belgica, Deputy General of ARTA Bgen Carlos Quita, and The Apprentice One Finalist and Philippine representative Louie Sangalang. Likewise, leaders from top cyber security companies shared their insights and experiences on how to lead organizations in establishing a culture of cyber resilience in the new norm.

A part of the proceeds of this campaign were used for ISOG’s corporate social responsibility projects, Balik Eskwela Program and E-sikyo. The Balik Eskwela Program provided 100 dual sim tablets and wi-fi load to public schools in Metro Manila, namely Gat Andres Bonifacio Elementary School in Taguig, President Diosdado Macapagal High School in Taguig, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo Highschool in Quezon City, and Batino Elementary School in Quezon City. Moreover, the Balik Eskwela Program gave scholarship grants to Manila Science High School Foundation and Adamson University. Meanwhile, the E-sikyo provided Decathlon bike helmets to security guards of ISOG core incorporator banks and other institutions such as Landbank, Eastwestbank, RBCB, PSBank, Metrobank, Cebuana Lhuillier, Veterans Bank, Citibank, Chinabank, UCPB, and Accralaw.

Among the partners of ISOG in the success of this campaign were: Trends and Technologies; Globe Business; Cilynx; Qualys; BlueVoyant with Microsoft; Huawei; Trendmicro with Netsec Technologies and VST ECS Phils Inc; Exclusive Networks with Crowdstrike and Imperva; Westcon with Palo Alto Networks, CyCognito, Darktrace, Guardicore, Tanium; MDI-Novare with FireEye Mandiant; Fortinet, Netpoleon with Netscout F5; Nexus with Extrahop; Akamai; Group IB; Blancco; Tenable; Gigamon; Arcon; M-Security with RSA Netwitness; Aptsecure Technologies with Seclore; Everest IMS; ITSDI with Stellar Cyber; Recorded Future; TIM with V-Key; Computrade with Entrust; IPV Network; Solarwinds; Infoblox; Cohesity; and Inspira.

The media partners were Philippine Daily Inquirer, BusinessWorld, The Manila Times, Back End News, digi-ph.com, blog-ph.com, nonoynet.com, and The CODE Warrior.

ISOG, a team founded by information security experts from different Philippine financial institutions, has been organizing security summits since 2015 to strengthen cybersecurity awareness and espouses a secured network infrastructure. Next year, the organization will hold a series of hybrid forums to discuss the technological implications of the metaverse and the impact this will create in the enterprise landscape, especially in the banking and finance industries, as well as the public sector. To celebrate cybersecurity month and ISOG’s 7th anniversary as the premier cybersecurity organization in the country, ISOG will also hold the first ISOG Awards event in October 2022 to give due recognition to its members and partners for their valuable contributions to the success of the organization and its objectives.

Follow their linkedin page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/isog2021.

Youtube channel: https://youtube.com/channel/UCcFwdD0sXea5IsC4MZXgswA.

Spotlight is BusinessWorld’s sponsored section that allows advertisers to amplify their brand and connect with BusinessWorld’s audience by enabling them to publish their stories directly on the BusinessWorld Web site. For more information, send an email to online@bworldonline.com.

Join us on Viber to get more updates from BusinessWorld: https://bit.ly/3hv6bLA.

WTO chief says vaccine answer close, but facing effort to block it

December 17, 2021 | 1:24 pm

BRUSSELS — The World Trade Organization (WTO) is close to resolving a dispute over how to spread coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines more widely and fairly, but facing an “orchestrated effort” to block a deal, the body’s chief said on Thursday.

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told Reuters she had held talks this month with trade ministers from India, South Africa, the European Union and the United States on how to break an impasse over the issue of intellectual property (IP) rights.

Agreement is needed to allow some technology transfer to developing countries without manufacturers there at risk of being sued, she said.

This could help redress the gap between the vaccination rate in Africa of only 8% and 67% in developed countries that she pointed to, as well as providing vaccines that were affordable and easy to distribute.

“Ease of use, ease of distribution and affordability. These are things that could be unleashed much more if we came to these kinds of agreements,” she said.

“We are getting close to an answer, a solution,” she said. “On the other hand, it looks to me that there is an orchestrated effort to block success on the issue.”

India and South Africa have proposed waiving intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, but developed members such as the European Union, Britain and Switzerland argue it would be better to use existing WTO rules that allow countries to award licenses to local producers.

Discussions on the issue at the WTO, which takes decisions by consensus, have been deadlocked for more than a year. Ms. Okonjo-Iweala said she had brought the main actors together, with technical experts now trying to settle details.

However, the WTO head said information on delicate negotiations had since been exposed through leaks to the media, putting a “chill” on the process.

“It’s not inadvertent. I think it’s a deliberate means of stopping negotiations and stopping an answer. The thing is millions of lives depend on this … Continents like Africa are waiting for this,” she said.

She said it was hard to pinpoint who was responsible and did not refer to any particular report, but said they were causing mistrust.

In just one of several examples of purported details leaking out, sources in a report in trade publication Washington Trade Daily on Wednesday referred to a waiver of IP rights needing to go beyond just vaccines, as the United States has proposed, and talked of the “obdurate stance” of the European Union.

Ms. Okonjo-Iweala said all four parties to the talks had mentioned that they wanted a solution quickly and that she would continue her work towards this end. They had also agreed on a framework that could lead to a solution satisfactory to both sides.

“No one side will get 100%, but it’s a satisfactory solution that I think both sides could sign onto. We are very much moving in that direction,” she said. — Philip Blenkinsop/Reuters

Embracing change in times of uncertainty

December 17, 2021 | 1:19 pm

Life couldn’t be happier and the future brighter for Jordan Christopher Niu and his family until the COVID-19 pandemic came and cast a long shadow over everything. “At the start of the pandemic last year, everything seemed so uncertain,” Jordan relates. “It was a very stressful and anxious time for me as I tried to navigate my way through the pandemic. I needed to keep my mental health in check to adjust to staying home/working from home, not socializing and going out with friends. One of the biggest challenges for me was how to go about my work at Sun Life because most of my clients did not want to meet me face to face and even I myself was scared to go out to meet people.”

DIGITALLY READY

Armed and ready, Sun Life Philippines, the country’s leading and oldest life insurance company, faced up to the challenge. “We started doing business the digital way,” Jordan points out. “It was tough during the first few months as there were technical glitches here and fhere, and we were all new to this. But in time, it got way better.”

Jordan Christopher Niu, Palm, Macaulay Club Senior Vice President Qualifier

He elaborates, “One big challenge for me was learning the digitally-enabled processes of doing business, as introduced by Sun Life, from prospecting and selling to submitting the application, paying premiums and servicing our clients. It was difficult enough to close a sale in a face-to-face setting with a client, so I just couldn’t imagine how much more difficult it would be to close a sale while meeting over a Zoom or video call! It was a good thing some of our big clients were willing to meet with us at the beginning of the pandemic since they were also more comfortable discussing personally, but of course, we all had to observe the proper safety and health protocols.”

LESSON LEARNED

If there’s one lesson Jordan learned from this pandemic, it is that one needs to be resilient. He shares these tips, “As the pandemic continues to impact the financial aspect of our lives, you’ll need to plan and build your financial security, for yourself and your family. Save up more, build an emergency fund, trim your unnecessary expenses, invest part of your savings/excess funds whenever possible. Invest in Mutual Fund/Single Pay VUL (Variable Universal LIfe). Better yet, buy life insurance and health insurance since we don’t know when this pandemic will end.”

Most beneficial for families, Jordan recommends, are life insurance and health insurance. He specifies, “Breadwinners should be insured first to protect and replace lost income. I’d recommend the Maxilink Prime Regular Pay VUL product, as well as the Fit and Well products for critical illness protection. If they have excess money to invest, our Maxilink One Single Pay is a good product to invest in, specially for our high-networth clients. Aside from the potential appreciation/upside of the investment, there’s the additional 125-percent feature. The main advantage of this single pay product is that it’s estate tax-free, unlike mutual funds or traditional bank products.”

LITTLE WAYS MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE

This global crisis, says Jordan, has taught us that the world is but a family and we all need to look after each other. “In our own little way, we tried to help whenever we could, mostly by giving financial assistance or sending medicines to friends who got infected with COVID-19 or donating to various cause-oriented groups. During the lockdowns, we continued to give salaries to our secretary and driver so that they had a means of livelihood even if they did not go to work.”

Even mothers and housewives can help augment the family income by embarking on online selling businesses, like selling food, clothes, health and beauty products, or joining sales networking groups.

In addition, Jordan suggests, “Of course, for me, the best is for them to join our company to promote and sell life insurance to help secure the future of more families.”

While taking care of his family, Jordan made sure he was also physically fit and healthy. However, he confesses, “With all the food deliveries around and as you were likely to eat more while quarantined at home, staying healthy during the pandemic was a challenge. I played tennis whenever I could and also ran in my elliptical trainer. It’s important to exercise, eat healthy, get enough sleep, and to not stress yourself.”

Jordan can’t stress this enough: Embrace uncertainty. Plan ahead and be prepared. Don’t wait for the clouds to clear or the darkness to go away. For surely, tomorrow, the sun will shine.

Jordan Christopher Niu is a Senior Vice President Macaulay Club Qualifier.

For more information and inquiries, visit the Sun Life website at https://www.sunlife.com.ph/en/.

Spotlight is BusinessWorld’s sponsored section that allows advertisers to amplify their brand and connect with BusinessWorld’s audience by enabling them to publish their stories directly on the BusinessWorld Web site. For more information, send an email to online@bworldonline.com.

Join us on Viber to get more updates from BusinessWorld: https://bit.ly/3hv6bLA.

Celebrate the holiday season at Grand Hyatt Manila

December 17, 2021 | 1:00 pm

Grand Hyatt Manila welcomes the Christmas season with an exciting lineup of surprises, stays, feasts, and treats to delight one and all. This year’s decor displays a unique and rich hue of purple, blending elegantly with silver glitter ornaments and the iconic chandeliers of the hotel. The 24-ft stunning centerpiece makes a beautiful sight as guests walk in the grand lobby. Make your holidays brighter as you reconnect and create unforgettable memories with your loved ones by having a Grand festive celebration in the city.

A Grand and Safe Holiday Staycation

Have a worry-free and relaxing vacation without venturing too far from home. Book a 2-night holiday stay at Grand Hyatt Manila and get your 3^rd night for free, inclusive of complimentary breakfast for all registered guests, high-speed Wi-Fi, and access to the swimming pool, fitness center, and Illume spa. This offer is valid for stays from Dec. 15, 2021 to Jan. 15, 2022.

A Holiday Feast

Recover the times missed with family and friends and discover new moments of joy this wonderful time of the year while you dine at Grand Hyatt Manila’s world-class restaurants. The Grand Kitchen will serve a world of flavors thoughtfully curated in a Christmas set menu, available for Christmas Eve dinner, Noche Buena, and for lunch and dinner on Christmas day. The rate is at P3,800 net per person, which includes free-flow of chilled juices and iced tea. The New Year’s Eve dinner set menu is priced at P4,200 net per person.

1 of 4

Special menus are available on Dec. 24, 25 and 31 in the hotel’s specialty restaurants. Indulge in an extravagant 5-course dinner with a stunning view of the city at The Peak Grill starting at P5,000 net per person. Guests who opt for an al fresco dining by the pool can enjoy a sumptuous barbecue grill feast at the Pool House at P2,800 net per person for Christmas and P3,200 net on New Year’s Eve. The Cellar will be reopening on these special days with a dinner set menu starting at P2,500 net per person. Diners will feel the magic all around when they feast at The Lounge while enjoying the view of the hotel’s grand Christmas tree. Set dinner is priced at P1,750 net per person. A special festive afternoon tea is also available daily at The Lounge until Dec. 31, from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at P2,400 net for two persons. Feast on No. 8 China House’s best-selling Peking duck and other seasonal Cantonese dishes on Dec. 24, 25, 31, and Jan. 1 at P10,880 net for lunch and P12,880 net for dinner, good for 4 persons.

Families can also enjoy a Grand Hyatt experience at home with the hotel’s delectable culinary sets and festive savory dishes such as the traditional Christmas turkey, maple and cinnamon glazed ham, homemade dill cured salmon, roast mulwarra rib eye, and more, available until 2 January 2022, through the hotel’s Dine at Home. Visit bit.ly/DineAtHomeGHM to order.

Festive Gifts and Treats

Guests may take home the hotel’s handcrafted holiday hampers wrapped in elegant and festive packaging, perfect for gatherings at home or as a gift for loved ones. Choose from three varieties containing an array of confectionery goodness such as Grand Hyatt Manila’s signature coffee and chocolate, Florentine and gingerbread cookies, Christmas fruitcake, wines, panettone, and more. Price starts at P5,000 net.

Give Light to Your Festive Spirit

Grand Hyatt Manila, in partnership with its non-profit partner UPLiFT (Urban Program for Livelihood Finance and Training) and various Philippine artisans, has created a lineup of hand-poured scented candles that will surely illuminate the spirit of hope and joy in the lives of many.

1 of 4

These specially created candles are made of natural wax, infused with a special blend of essential oils, and packed in a beautifully crafted box, making it a perfect gift for loved ones this Christmas.

Grand Hyatt Manila revels in creating value for the community where access to resources and opportunities to prosper are within reach for all people at all times. The goal is to help individuals in these challenging times, to recover, rebuild, and thrive again. This partnership is in support of UPLiFT’s commitment to help entrepreneurial underprivileged communities achieve a brighter future through financial and social livelihood assistance.

Guests are invited to share the heartfelt joy of Christmas through a simple act of kindness that can go a long way in driving a sustainable planet and creating opportunities to help transform lives and communities. The bespoke candle collection is available exclusively at Grand Hyatt Manila’s Florentine.

Memorable moments await guests, who are encouraged to share their holiday stories with the hashtag #ChristmasAtGrandHyattManila. Guests may get a chance to win a staycation with breakfast for two persons at Grand Hyatt Manila when they post a photo with the hotel’s Christmas tree on their Instagram pages using the hashtag and by tagging @grandhyattmanilaph.

For inquiries or reservations, call +63 2 8838-1234 or email manila.grand@hyatt.com. Stay connected, like and follow @GrandHyattManilaPh on Facebook and Instagram.

Spotlight is BusinessWorld’s sponsored section that allows advertisers to amplify their brand and connect with BusinessWorld’s audience by enabling them to publish their stories directly on the BusinessWorld Web site. For more information, send an email to online@bworldonline.com.

Join us on Viber to get more updates from BusinessWorld: https://bit.ly/3hv6bLA.

Miss Universe Philippines 2021 Beatrice Luigi Gomez receives her brand-new MG ZS Alpha Crossover SUV

December 17, 2021 | 1:00 pm

Miss-U-PH-2021-Bea-Gomez-with-Lyn-Buena-of-MG-Philippines-OL — Lyn M. Buena, executive vice-president and director of Marketing and Communications Services for MG Philippines, with Miss Universe Philippines 2021 Beatrice Luigi Gomez at the ceremonial turnover of Ms. Gomez’s brand new MG ZS Alpha Crossover SUV.

Miss Universe Philippines 2021 Beatrice Luigi Gomez ends the year as an official MG owner.

After a successful run in the Miss Universe Philippines 2021 pageant, Ms. Gomez earned the highest honor and, along with the crown, was given the keys to her very own MG ZS Alpha Crossover SUV.

Ms. Gomez represented the Philippines at Miss Universe 2021 held in Eilat, Israel, and while she chases her dreams in the international stage, she is likewise eager to fulfill her duties as this year’s Miss Universe Philippines behind the wheel of her new MG ZS SUV.

“I’m going to name her ‘Raven,’ and she’s going to be my constant companion on all my roadtrips,” says Ms. Gomez. “I already know that Raven and I are going to make lots of extraordinary memories together, and I look forward to her being my daily drive as I start performing my local duties as Miss Universe Philippines 2021.”

Miss Universe Philippines 2021 Beatrice Luigi Gomez attends the ceremonial turnover of her MG ZS Alpha Crossover SUV from MG Philippines.

As a new MG owner, Ms. Gomez will receive the same signature MG service and customer care that has endeared this British heritage brand to the more than 10,000 MG owners all over the Philippines.

“It is our absolute pleasure to welcome Ms. Beatrice Luigi Gomez to the MG Philippines family, and we are excited for her to enjoy all the great driving features of the MG ZS Alpha Crossover SUV,” says Lyn M. Buena, executive vice-president and director of Marketing and Communications Services for MG Philippines. “As a member of the MG Philippines family, Ms. Gomez will have access to the full suite of after-sales complements and customers benefits that come with owning an MG. But more than that, she will get to enjoy a safe and modern British heritage ride that’s easy to drive and a pleasure to ride in.”

Queen Bea represented the Philippines in the Miss Universe pageant last Dec. 12 in Israel (Dec. 13 in the Philippines). The entire MG Philippines family proudly supported her in her bid for the Miss Universe 2021 crown.
Congratulations again to Miss Universe Philippines 2021 Queen Bea Gomez! Expect to see more of her and Raven’s extraordinary journeys in 2022!

Spotlight is BusinessWorld’s sponsored section that allows advertisers to amplify their brand and connect with BusinessWorld’s audience by enabling them to publish their stories directly on the BusinessWorld Web site. For more information, send an email to online@bworldonline.com.

Join us on Viber to get more updates from BusinessWorld: https://bit.ly/3hv6bLA.

France halts British visitors, EU nations tighten borders as Omicron rises

December 17, 2021 | 12:49 pm

PARIS — France imposed travel restrictions on travelers from Britain on Thursday due to surging coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases there, and several European countries also strengthened border controls on visitors from other EU states.

Plans for Christmas celebrations in Europe and many countries across the globe have been thrown into disarray by the rapid spread of the highly infectious Omicron variant, which emerged in Hong Kong and Southern Africa last month.

Britain on Wednesday recorded its highest number of daily coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic. That prompted the French government to announce on Thursday that only certain categories of travelers, including truck drivers, would be allowed between the two countries. Anyone arriving from Britain would have to self-isolate.

“Our goal is to limit as much as possible the spread of Omicron across our territory,” French government spokesman Gabriel Attal said. “Tourism and business travel for people who are not French nationals or Europeans, people who are not French residents, will be limited.”

British hospitals were struggling to maintain staffing levels due to people having to isolate with COVID-19, a senior medic told Reuters. The 95-year-old Queen Elizabeth canceled a pre-Christmas lunch with her family as a precaution.

Sweden said it would require visitors from other Nordic nations to have a vaccine pass amid a jump in new infections in recent days.

Across the globe in Asia, South Korea said spiraling infections meant it too would reinstate strict rules constraining gatherings and closing restaurants, cafes and bars early.

The new wave of infections and the return to tighter restrictions comes just weeks before the second anniversary of the emergence of the coronavirus in Wuhan, China. Since then more than 5 million people have died of COVID-19 globally and more than 272 million cases have been reported.

Meanwhile, more than 8.5 billion doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered to combat the disease — an effort that is now challenged by the Omicron variant’s outburst.

ROUND THE BLOCK

At a summit of EU leaders in Brussels, tensions arose after Italy, Portugal and Greece said they would require people crossing their borders to have a negative COVID-19 test as well as a vaccine passport.

Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins said freedom of travel inside the EU’s border-free Schengen Area must not end.

Around Europe, vaccination booster campaigns and the administration of first doses to children aged 5 to 11 generated long queues that snaked around city blocks as hospitals, pharmacies and clinics struggled to cope with demand.

Preliminary data show vaccines are less effective against Omicron, but a booster increases protection.

England’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty said vaccinations could cut the numbers admitted to intensive care and shorten the time spent in hospital.

Travel operators and retailers said the tightening of COVID regulations would hit them hard in the run-up to Christmas.

Officials at the port of Dover on the British side of the Channel said France’s new travel curbs would dampen already significantly reduced tourist numbers.

British online fashion retailer Boohoo issued its second profit warning in four months, citing factors including a rise in partywear return rates amid canceled Christmas parties.

Weekendesk, a Spanish holiday website, said cancellations jumped 19% from the previous week and blamed a new requirement for vaccine passports in Catalonia, Valencia, and Andalucia.

SPORTING LIFE

The impact was also being felt across the world of sport, from international and elite level down to grassroots.

Hundreds of amateur clubs in Britain across a range of sports have cancelled weekend fixtures and closed clubhouses, despite there being no government advice to do so.

A fourth Premier League match of the week was cancelled on Thursday after Brentford manager Thomas Frank called for all games in the coming week to be postponed to allow clubs to recover their depleted squads.

The Swedish national soccer team canceled a planned friendly against Finland, while teams and leagues in the three major North American sports were trying to avoid cancellations

after a massive outbreak of positive tests among players. — Dominique Vidalon and Aislinn Laing/Reuters