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Amit Cup continues to attract bigger field
A bigger field is expected to see action when the fourth and last leg of the Amit Cup Season 2 kicks off early next year......»»
Stock markets dip as US inflation comes into view
Stock markets drifted lower on Monday as investors eyed the release this week of key US inflation data that could guide Federal Reserve plans for interest rates going into the new year. Oil prices fell nearly two percent before bouncing higher and then sliding back lower as dealers awaited a delayed meeting of OPEC and its allies to decide over output levels. With Wall Street seeing little action at the back of last week owing to the Thanksgiving break, traders had few catalysts to drive action, though analysts were upbeat about the end of the year. "Although there isn't much buying interest at the moment, it's more notable that there still isn't much selling interest," said Briefing.com analyst Patrick O'Hare. The retreat in equities comes after a recent run-up across world stock markets fuelled by bets the US central bank has finished lifting interest rates as inflation comes down and the jobs market comes off the boil. Expectations that the Federal Reserve is done with hiking rates continued to weigh on the dollar Monday. The main focus this week is the release Thursday of the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, the Fed's preferred gauge of inflation. "These numbers will be closely scrutinized for insights into inflation trends and their potential implications for monetary policy decisions," said SPI Asset Management's Stephen Innes. "While the current backdrop does not signify 'mission accomplished' in terms of addressing inflation, policymakers must now focus on planning for the next phase of the economic battle." Still, observers were upbeat about the outlook, with the latest weakness blamed on traders taking a breather after a strong month. Tony Sycamore, at IG Group, said early December could see some selling as investors "rebuild energy and (look) to set up for the end-of-year fireworks". Others said a drop in Wall Street's VIX "fear gauge" -- a measure of equity volatility -- to its lowest since January 2020 suggested investors were getting their mojo back. Eyes are also on developments at OPEC after the group and its allies, notably Russia, delayed a meeting aimed at agreeing production quotas, with some African countries said to be baulking at Saudi Arabian calls for more cuts. The group is thought to be close to reaching an agreement that could see the Saudis and Russia extend output reductions into the new year. OANDA analyst Craig Erlam said the OPEC+ group has shown in the past it usually can get a deal done, even if Saudi Arabia and Russia need shoulder bigger cuts. "But the question is how far they'll push it, given the recent trend in oil prices and increasing concerns around global growth next year," said Erlam. Crude prices have fallen in recent weeks as demand is seen coming down owing to slowing economies, particularly China's, and the Middle East conflict appears to not have expanded to include other countries in the region. Key figures around 1630 GMT New York - DOW: DOWN 0.2 percent at 35,338.58 points London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.4 percent at 7,460.70 (close) Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.4 percent at 7,265.49 (close) Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 0.4 percent at 15,966.37 (close) EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 0.4 percent at 4,354.41 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.5 percent at 33,447.67 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.2 percent at 17,525.06 (close) Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.3 percent at 3,031.70 (close) Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0935 from $1.0922 Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2611 from $1.2585 Euro/pound: DOWN at 86.70 pence from 86.79 pence Dollar/yen: DOWN at 148.94 from 149.56 yen West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.1 percent at $75.44 per barrel Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 0.3 percent at $80.36 per barrel .....»»
18 cage squads duke it out in Pilipinas Super League President’s Cup
The Pilipinas Super League President’s Cup has just gotten bigger and stronger with at least 18 professional teams seeing action starting Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum......»»
Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar: Scaling the realms of social responsibility
There is something quite riveting about Ana Margarita “Ginggay” Hontiveros-Malvar. Her gaze direct, her rhetoric fluid, she shares stories of immersing in conflict areas, of being in Leyte post-“Yolanda” and in Marawi post-violence, and within the same conversation, of her corporate hat within the “power, banking, food, land and infrastructure sectors.” Not so much as a vein mars her refined features. If not for those eyes, which reveal a depth of thought and feeling, hers would likely be a face some might take as just another classic beauty. Then again, her relationship with similarly strong-minded women cannot be discounted. She says, from the get-go, that she would rather not talk about herself or her sisters (Risa, the senator, and Pia, the broadcast news personality). Unlike them, she took the private route, but now unwittingly finds herself in the limelight. The Aboitiz Group, for which she handles a vital role, has many exciting things to share, Ginggay says. Smiling, she proceeds to rattle off some of these pillars — in education (“to create future leaders” who are solutions-oriented), in climate action and in enterprise and jobs. “For over 35 years, we’ve delivered probably over 5,000 CSR (corporate social responsibility) projects, spread over all the business units all over the Philippines. We’ve partnered with something like 600,000 individuals and organizations and we’ve invested the amount of P5.1 billion in all these different programs. We’re trying now to reevaluate what it is that’s next for Aboitiz Foundation, and then how we can serve our stakeholders better, and what are some of the things that we want to scale. Maybe to create a bigger impact in the country, help the country more, I think is what we want to do.” In the pipeline toward this goal of creating a bigger impact on development, Aboitiz Foundation is seeking more collaboration — “more conversations between organizations that are doing a lot of work already here in the country, and probably having a stronger voice and then putting that voice out there,” she enthuses. Clearly, Ginggay is in her element in the world she inhabits — at the heart of an “old legacy conglomerate,” her words, that now sees the need to transform along with the climactic times. “I lead a department called Reputation Management. We cover brands, media, corporate communications, sustainability — the ESG (environmental, social and governance) journey for the Aboitiz Group. We provide strategy, direction, governance and then very recently, just this year, we have our CSR arm which is called Aboitiz Foundation. It was recently also placed under us. Because at the end of the day, Aboitiz Foundation is like the big ‘S’ in our ESG — it’s really all about the social impact, the social good that we want to continue,” Ginggay tells the DAILY TRIBUNE in an interview on Pairfect. Ginggay is currently vice president for Reputation Management and Sustainability at Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., a holding company of the Aboitiz Group. For the Aboitiz Foundation, meanwhile, she works to help “scale its impactful programs for systemic change.” The mother of two is also communications lead for the Philippines’ Private Sector Advisory Council and team leader for APEC Business Advisory Council, which are areas where the visionary leader, Aboitiz Group chief executive officer Sabin Aboitiz, holds key roles. Grateful her children are adults now, Ginggay keeps her nurturing side on overdrive with her current responsibilities. “Aboitiz is a group,” she emphasizes. “And as a family of organizations, our priority has always been about people. That’s always been our passion, whether it’s the well-being of our own employees or the well-being of communities where we have our businesses. It’s really always been about people. “We don’t feel it’s right that a business does well and then the community that it’s in doesn’t. It cannot be like that — it has to go hand in hand. So, we’ve always been like that. Very people-centric. I think what we’re trying to change now in our transformation or evolution is to see how can we use more of technology and innovation and balance it with our people-centric approach. So maybe we can be a little bit faster, be better, be more data-driven in the kinds of things that we’re doing,” she says. And has her heart always been in this kind of work — one she freely admits is demanding and sometimes even emotion-driven? “My dad was pretty laidback. And he usually let us do what we want to do as long as you know, like, please do well in school, and things like that,” Ginggay recalls. “My mom was very attentive to us and she just wanted to make sure that aside from doing well in studies, you also had to do well in something else. And then, very ingrained, I think, in our DNA, I think as a family also, is that aspect of service, whether it’s public service, or you know, just service in general — whether it’s to your community or to your family, or your immediate set of, I suppose, stakeholders. So, it’s almost been like part of my DNA or something like that, or probably my character as well.” With so much on her plate, and a daily grind that consists of steering various teams to ensure the conglomerate is moving toward its goals smoothly, Ginggay makes sure she takes time — even just 30 minutes a day, she says — disconnecting from it all and connecting with herself. “Our days are very fast — they are jam-packed with schedules, meetings, a lot of stakeholder engagement activities,” she says. “There’s a lot of collaboration also that goes on between our team and the rest of the business units in the Aboitiz Group, and then a lot of meetings as well with the board just to check in on directions and things like that. It’s very fast-paced. It’s very demanding. It takes a lot of time and I think a lot of commitment… and this is what I see from all our team leaders and team members — people are really passionate about what they do. I think that’s important.” For Ginggay, certainly, such passion is necessary to lead the company toward its goals including “delivering on communications and brand that are integral to the transformation of the group into the Philippines’ first techglomerate.” Techglomerate, she explains, “is a dream in Aboitiz Group, something that we have really been working hard on for the past few years. We kind of coined the term from ‘technology’ and ‘conglomerate,’ putting it together — and it is really about trying to be more technologically advanced but we also want to incubate exciting businesses which are more in the techspace or, say, data science. To incubate all these new companies and hopefully lead in certain industries… and I think at the end of the day we realized we have a much greater responsibility to the country.” And what’s next? “We realized that to stay ahead, we also need to transform… and I suppose that transformation should happen first and foremost at the level of the person. We’re also really focused on building a new kind of culture for the Aboitiz Group, still very much rooted in our core values of responsibility, innovation, teamwork, integrity. But now, probably trying to imbibe more of the behaviors like being more entrepreneurial, trying to be more articulate, being better storytellers, being more open to new things, being more data-driven in our decisions, you know, and a lot of other things that we’re trying to do in terms of helping to develop this new culture.” In her capacity as first vice president at Aboitiz, as well as in her other roles — senior adviser for Agripreneurship at Go Negosyo, for example — Ginggay keeps her “eye on the prize” no matter what challenges come along. This “multi-disciplined, results-oriented and multi-awarded leader,” as she is described in the Women of the Future, may prefer to keep herself below the radar, but Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar will certainly not stay unnoticed. The post Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar: Scaling the realms of social responsibility appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Helper woes
Dear Atty. Joji, Our house helper absconded from her job without prior notice. While having to find her replacement is one issue, the bigger concern is that she owes us almost P100,000. We want to take legal action because such amount of money is hard to come by. What type of case can we file to pursue this matter legally? Maris *** Dear Maris, Based on the facts you provided, filing a “Small Claims” case before the lower-level court or the Metropolitan Trial Court is applicable in your case. A.M. No. 08-8-7-SC or “The 2016 Revised Rules of Procedure for Small Claims Cases” provides: Small claims refer to cases involving monetary disputes where the amount in question does not exceed P1,000,000, excluding interest and costs. The purpose of a small claims process is to provide a simpler and a more inexpensive and expeditious means of settling disputes involving purely money claims. The claim or demand may be: (a) For money owed under any of the following: Contract of Lease; Contract of Loan and other credit accommodations; Contract of Services; or Contract of Sale of personal property, excluding the recovery of the personal property, unless it is made the subject of a compromise agreement between the parties. The procedure on small claims cases was promulgated for faster resolution of claims. Since the amount of claim is relatively small, it is the court’s policy not to keep these cases from dragging for long periods before finally being decided. Since the proceedings must be speedy, inexpensive, and informal, the procedure was simplified. However, it is important to note that in Small Claims Cases, parties are generally not allowed to be represented by lawyers. A case for Small Claims may be commenced as follows: SEC. 6. Commencement of Small Claims Action. — A small claims action is commenced by filing with the court an accomplished and verified Statement of Claim (Form 1-SCC) in duplicate, accompanied by a Certification Against Forum Shopping, Splitting a Single Cause of Action, and Multiplicity of Suits (Form 1-A-SCC), and two (2) duly certified photocopies of the actionable document/s subject of the claim, as well as the affidavits of witnesses and other evidence to support the claim. No evidence shall be allowed during the hearing which was not attached to or submitted together with the Statement of Claim, unless good cause is shown for the admission of additional evidence. Alternatively, an action for breach of her employment contract, if any, may be filed against her for her sudden departure without providing proper notice. Hope this helps. Atty. Joji Alonso The post Helper woes appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Circular Explorer boosts Manila Bay rehab
A solar-powered, marine waste-removing vessel has removed and recycled 600,000 tons of plastic waste from Manila Bay from January, when it started its cleanup of the polluted body of water, to June. On 10 September, the Circular Explorer also collected 18,415 kilograms of waste, including 7,965 kilograms of plastics, in 3.84 million square meters of the bay. With the significant accomplishment of the Circular Explorer, which is operated by the Holcim Group and One Earth-One Ocean, a partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is now in the works to align the vessel’s activities with the agency’s Manila Bay rehabilitation program. “We are proud to see the Circular Explorer in action and responding to the enormous challenge of marine pollution. The vessel also plays a key role in amplifying our message on the importance of circularity to preserve natural resources and minimize waste,” Holcim Philippines president and CEO Horia Adrian said. “With the first months of cleanup operations, a vision has become reality. We are now actively helping clean Manila Bay with this unique prototype vessel,” OEOO Circular Explorer project manager Daniel Scheler said. The Philippine Coast Guard Marine Environmental Protection Command participate in the Circular Explorer’s daily cleanup of the bay. The vessel has special sensors for collecting data on marine microplastics, huge concentrations of which endanger aquatic life. The gathered information is shared with the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute, which is studying waste management and aquatic conservation strategies. The vessel is also spreading awareness on the importance of a circular economy through an education campaign with the advocacy organization Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation. “I am stoked to see even more important milestones coming up soon, as we are about to take the next exciting steps toward consolidating our Education and Scientific pillars,” according to Scheler. Holcim Group Circular Explorer project manager Christine Bellen, for her part, said, “We are excited to see the Circular Explorer reach new milestones under its waste collection, science, and education pillars in collaboration with our amazing partners. As it gathers more support in its mission, we are confident in seeing it deliver a bigger positive impact that can extend beyond the Philippines.” The education campaign will be run in a number of public and private elementary schools to embed the value of protecting seas and conserving resources among elementary and high school students. The post Circular Explorer boosts Manila Bay rehab appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Aboitiz, GCNP spotlight corporate sustainability and SDGs
In the recently held GT Capital Thought Leadership Series at the Grand Hyatt, Manila, the Aboitiz Group emphasized the fundamentals of corporate sustainability by highlighting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and the company’s alignment with the global framework. As a board member of the UN Global Compact Network Philippines, Aboitiz Equity Ventures’ FVP and chief reputation and sustainability officer Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar presented essential strategies for enterprises to maximize their impact in fostering positive societal change and environmental stewardship. Hontiveros-Malvar cited the connection between responsible business practices and global sustainable development. The principles, communicated through voluntary reporting mechanisms, facilitate transparent communication of corporate values aligned with the 17 SDGs. “Sustainable development is a concept that focuses on meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It recognizes the interconnections between economic development, social inclusion and environmental protection,” she said. “In other words, sustainable development aims to achieve a balance between economic growth, social well-being and environmental stewardship,” she added. Hontiveros-Malvar also touched on the nation’s progress in terms of SDG integration, underscoring the necessity of coordinated efforts between government and non-government actors to optimize resource management and maximize SDG progress. “In the last few years we celebrate many businesses that have come together to create this era of action and attract others to join this global movement. May all of us continue to act responsibly, find opportunities and continue to inspire and advocate. We are united because this is bigger than just one business. We are stronger together and better together. And when we act collectively, imagine the change we can drive, and the better future we can shape as one. The possibilities are endless,” she said. Together with UN GCNP, the Aboitiz Group places utmost importance on sustainability as part of the group’s transformation into becoming the Philippines’ first “Techglomerate” by utilizing innovation, sustainable solutions and community empowerment. The post Aboitiz, GCNP spotlight corporate sustainability and SDGs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Aboitiz, GCNP spotlight corporate sustainability and SDGs
In the recently held GT Capital Thought Leadership Series at the Grand Hyatt, Manila, the Aboitiz Group emphasized the fundamentals of corporate sustainability by highlighting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and the company’s alignment with the global framework. As a board member of the UN Global Compact Network Philippines, Aboitiz Equity Ventures' FVP and chief reputation and sustainability officer Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar presented essential strategies for enterprises to maximize their impact in fostering positive societal change and environmental stewardship. Hontiveros-Malvar cited the connection between responsible business practices and global sustainable development. The principles, communicated through voluntary reporting mechanisms, facilitate transparent communication of corporate values aligned with the 17 SDGs. “Sustainable development is a concept that focuses on meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It recognizes the interconnections between economic development, social inclusion and environmental protection,” she said. “In other words, sustainable development aims to achieve a balance between economic growth, social well-being and environmental stewardship,” she added. Hontiveros-Malvar also touched on the nation's progress in terms of SDG integration, underscoring the necessity of coordinated efforts between government and non-government actors to optimize resource management and maximize SDG progress. “In the last few years we celebrate many businesses that have come together to create this era of action and attract others to join this global movement. May all of us continue to act responsibly, find opportunities and continue to inspire and advocate. We are united because this is bigger than just one business. We are stronger together and better together. And when we act collectively, imagine the change we can drive, and the better future we can shape as one. The possibilities are endless,” she said. Together with UN GCNP, the Aboitiz Group places utmost importance on sustainability as part of the group's transformation into becoming the Philippines’ first “Techglomerate” by utilizing innovation, sustainable solutions and community empowerment. The integration of sustainability into the Aboitiz Group's DNA has been showcased through various programs that demonstrate the group's commitment to sustainable practices that benefit both society and the environment. Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. is the portfolio management company of the Aboitiz Group, with investments in power, banking and financial services, food, infrastructure, land and cutting-edge fields like data science and artificial intelligence. The post Aboitiz, GCNP spotlight corporate sustainability and SDGs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Greece blaze is ‘largest wildfire ever recorded in EU’
A forest blaze in Greece is "the largest wildfire ever recorded in the EU" and the bloc is mobilizing nearly half its firefighting air wing to tackle it, a European Commission spokesman said Tuesday. Eleven planes and one helicopter from the EU fleet have been sent to help Greece counter the fire north of the city of Alexandroupoli, along with 407 firefighters, spokesman Balazs Ujvari said. The EU's civil protection service said the fire has burnt over 810 square kilometers (310 square miles) -- an area bigger than New York City. "This wildfire is the largest in the EU since 2000, when the European Forest Fire Information System began recording data," the service said. Greece's fire service told AFP that the blaze was "still out of control" in the northeast region's Dadia National Park, a major sanctuary for birds of prey. Since it began on 19 August, the blaze has claimed the lives of 20 people, 18 of them migrants whose bodies were found in a region that is often used as an entry point from neighboring Turkey. The EU currently calls on a fleet of 28 aircraft -- 24 water-dumping planes and four helicopters -- supplied by member countries to help battle blazes in the bloc and in nearby neighbors. It is working on creating a standalone, EU-funded air wing of 12 aircraft that will be fully in place by 2030. "We do know that fires are getting more severe," Ujvari noted. "If you look at the figures every year in the past years, we are seeing trends which are not necessarily favorable, and that calls for of course more capacities at the member states' level." Greece has been ravaged by numerous fires this summer which the government attributes to climate change. The EU air deployment "underscores our commitment to swift and effective collective action in times of crisis," the EU's commissioner for crisis management, Janez Lenarcic, said. The post Greece blaze is ‘largest wildfire ever recorded in EU’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
The AI race we need
I have been following the development of AI for some time. Indeed, I told the General Assembly six years ago that AI would have a dramatic impact on sustainable development, the world of work, and the social fabric. But like everyone here, I have been shocked and impressed by the newest form of AI, generative AI, which is a radical advance in its capabilities. The speed and reach of this new technology in all its forms are utterly unprecedented. It has been compared to the introduction of the printing press. But while it took more than 50 years for printed books to become widely available across Europe, ChatGPT reached 100 million users in just two months. The finance industry estimates AI could contribute between $10 and $15 trillion US dollars to the global economy by 2030. Almost every government, large company and organization in the world is working on an AI strategy. But even its own designers have no idea where their stunning technological breakthrough may lead. It is clear that AI will have an impact on every area of our lives – including the three pillars of the United Nations. It has the potential to turbocharge global development, from monitoring the climate crisis to breakthroughs in medical research. It offers new potential to realize human rights, particularly to health and education. But the High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed alarm over evidence that AI can amplify bias, reinforce discrimination and enable new levels of authoritarian surveillance. Today’s debate is an opportunity to consider the impact of Artificial Intelligence on peace and security — where it is already raising political, legal, ethical and humanitarian concerns. AI is being put to work in connection with peace and security, including by the United Nations. It is increasingly being used to identify patterns of violence, monitor ceasefires and more, helping to strengthen our peacekeeping, mediation and humanitarian efforts. But AI tools can also be used by those with malicious intent. AI models can help people to harm themselves and each other, at massive scale. Let’s be clear: The malicious use of AI systems for terrorist, criminal or state purposes could cause horrific levels of death and destruction, widespread trauma and deep psychological damage on an unimaginable scale. AI-enabled cyberattacks are already targeting critical infrastructure and our own peacekeeping and humanitarian operations, causing great human suffering. The technical and financial barriers to access are low – including for criminals and terrorists. Both military and non-military applications of AI could have very serious consequences for global peace and security. The advent of generative AI could be a defining moment for disinformation and hate speech — undermining truth, facts and safety; adding a new dimension to the manipulation of human behavior; and contributing to polarization and instability on a vast scale. Deepfakes are just one new AI-enabled tool that, if unchecked, could have serious implications for peace and stability. And the unforeseen consequences of some AI-enabled systems could create security risks by accident. Look no further than social media. Tools and platforms that were designed to enhance human connection are now used to undermine elections, spread conspiracy theories and incite hatred and violence. Malfunctioning AI systems are another huge area of concern. And the interaction between AI and nuclear weapons, biotechnology, neurotechnology and robotics is deeply alarming. Generative AI has enormous potential for good and evil at scale. Its creators themselves have warned that much bigger, potentially catastrophic and existential risks lie ahead. Without action to address these risks, we are derelict in our responsibilities to present and future generations. We must work together for AI that bridges social, digital and economic divides, not one that pushes us further apart. We need a race to develop AI for good. To develop AI that is reliable and safe and that can end poverty, banish hunger, cure cancer and supercharge climate action; AI that propels us towards the Sustainable Development Goals. That is the race we need, and that is a race that is possible and achievable. Excerpts from the UN Secretary-General’s remarks to the Security Council on Artificial Intelligence, 18 July 2023. The post The AI race we need appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
At Ground Level | Protests to build up in Marcos Jr’s second year
A people’s counter-SONA protest action, noticeably broader and bigger than that of the previous year, presaged bigger and broader protests during Marcos Jr’s second year in Malacañang. The post At Ground Level | Protests to build up in Marcos Jr’s second year appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
Forked-tongue promises
Commitment to transparency is among the qualities of a corporation that investors and the public look at before making the crucial decision to either infuse some capital into it or buy its products. Power companies have the bigger responsibility for disclosures during the difficult period of rising prices, coupled with the global effort to save the earth from climate catastrophe as a result of greenhouse gases. In 2017, a movement among global big businesses for full disclosure of their projects that may impact the environment called Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures, or TCFD, was launched. Since then, the country’s biggest corporations have signed up to the global transparency movement but not San Miguel Corp. Instead, SMC said in its annual report that it “developed a comprehensive, standardized data template to capture pertinent data and disclosures on our material ESG topics from our various subsidiaries,” without actually signing up for the global accord. Among companies engaged in power generation, SMC also lags in terms of its climate commitments. Think tank Center for Energy, Ecology and Development said in 2019 that First Gen of the Lopez Group announced it will “lead the transition to a decarbonized energy system in line with the United Nations target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.” SMC, which now dominates energy production through fossil fuel, also has not made any commitments to align with the 1.5°C Paris temperature goal. CEED said that unlike some of the biggest conglomerates in the country, SMC has yet to indicate unqualified support for TCFD. The body was created to develop recommendations on the types of information that should be disclosed by corporations to support investors, lenders and insurance underwriters in appropriately assessing and pricing a specific set of risks related to climate change. The Aboitiz Group, through its holding company Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., was the first local supporter of TCFD. The global movement said on its online site that companies that express support for TCFD recommendations “join a cohort of leading companies that take action against climate change and are thoughtful to consider how climate change will impact their businesses.” “Easing transparency makes markets more efficient, and economies more stable and resilient,” Michael Bloomberg, TCFD chairperson said. According to CEED, the disclosure of climate risks in key private undertakings would guide SMC and its shareholders in making informed choices in “an increasingly carbon-constrained world.” It added that the value of climate-disclosure information and SMC’s plans for a low-carbon economy are becoming increasingly valuable for stakeholders. SMC, by the way, has major shareholders affiliated with the Catholic Church that have kept silent amid the reluctance of the Asian giant for full disclosure. Church groups, ironically, have been calling for action and accountability from financial institutions, energy and extractive companies, and government leaders to contribute to efforts to save the planet. In July 2021, SMC announced plans to move away from building new coal facilities, including those that use “clean technology,” and move towards clean energy. SMC, however, never discloses which power plant projects will be dropped except for three projects in Quezon and Cebu that have total capacities of 1,500 megawatts. CEED said data from the DoE from July 2020 showed plans for new coal-fired power plants with a total capacity of 3,628 MW until a moratorium imposed by the Department of Energy disrupted these plans. SMC also stated that it is aggressively pursuing more sustainable sources of energy which include expensive liquefied natural gas. The duplicity is very apparent since the company’s environmental commitments clash with its actual program to dominate power generation through imported fossil fuel. The post Forked-tongue promises appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Protests to build up in Marcos Jr’s second year
A people’s counter-SONA protest action, noticeably broader and bigger than that of the previous year, presaged bigger and broader protests during Marcos Jr’s second year in Malacañang......»»
Another Marawi Siege?
Just as the trauma was wearing off, something terrible happened. The ghosts and demons of the 2017 siege that lurked at the back of their minds for the last six years have resurfaced. And it is giving them the creeps. They had not yet rebuilt their flattened homes when black-clad terrorists claiming to be Muslims cooked up another plot to again turn their city into a battleground. The timing and circumstances of the Wednesday, 14 June, firefight between ISIS-affiliated rebels and government militia where the former’s top commander, Abu Zacaria, was killed were eerily similar to the 2017 Siege. The firefight occurred at Barangay Bangon adjacent to the place where the 2017 war started. Both skirmishes came on the heels of a “korods,” or congregation of Islamic devotees, at the “markas,” a huge mosque and assembly building at Barangay Basak Malutlut. And both were sparked by government troops serving a warrant on the rebel commander. Sketchy newsfeeds reported the incident. But Maranaws saw more than what was reported. The rumor that went around, fueled by social media, was that there was a bigger sinister plan to wage war again in the Islamic City. In fact, some reports had it that there were sleeper cells in the remote barangays and even on the outskirts of Mindanao State University who were ready for action. Thanks to the timely action of the military under the command of Brig. Gen. Yegor Barroquillo Jr., commander of 103rd Haribon Brigade, the plan was thwarted, but not before it stirred fear among the residents. The military was prompted to impose a lockdown in the area of incident and adjoining barangays, restricting the movements of the residents. As a safety measure, they herded some schoolchildren to the nearby military camp, which was wrongly interpreted as a hostage-taking. The breathtaking drama was closely monitored by local lawyers and their “blow-by-blow” accounts were posted in the IBP chatroom. On reading the alarming report of a hostage situation, two leaders of the local bar threw caution to the wind and rushed to the military camp to help the civilians who were caught in the middle of the crisis, like the schoolchildren. It unintentionally made them the heroes of the day for daring to rush to the camp even if the dust of battle had yet to settle. They worked for the immediate release of the children, some of them the children of lawyer Farhanna Datudacula and others. Indeed, crisis makes heroes. Take a bow, lawyers Mino Macalandap, president of the MSU Golf and Country Club, and Provincial Attorney Faisal Cali. There was an upside to the incident. It was reported that the residents themselves had tipped off the military about the presence of armed men in their area. They had probably learned their lesson. Months before the 2017 siege, some residents had noticed the movements of rebels in the city. Yet they kept mum partly because of their belief that it was an issue between the rebels and the authorities in which they must not interfere. Some gullible residents believed the rebels who were waxing concern about Muslims being the subject of persecution, discrimination and injustice by the establishment. And they paid dearly for their silence. Had they alerted the authorities, the 2017 Marawi siege could have been averted. They have since come to their senses and resolved to cooperate with the authorities. They sent a clear message that never again will they allow their city to be a killing field with many of them declaring on social media that they themselves would take up arms against any element, Muslim or not, who will attempt to destroy their city. In other words, the 2017 siege awakened their dormant sense of patriotism and nationalism regardless of what the proselytizers of Islam say, who could in fact be snake oil salesmen. But are the authorities listening? Must they be reminded to always be on their toes? amb_mac_lanto@yahoo.com The post Another Marawi Siege? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Postpone BARMM barangay, SK polls
A call for action if sounded once may not gain traction. It could be the offshoot of a single event. But it deserves a second look when it is played up at various times during significant occasions. It could perhaps be a forewarning of future adversity if not addressed properly and timely. We see this premonition in the Muslim Autonomous Region. Having said that, the situation in the Bangsamoro Region is sui generis. It is dissimilar to other regions in the country. The autonomy it is presently enjoying came at a very high price — the lives of martyred mujahideen and the tears of mothers and loved ones. Under these circumstances, it deserves no less than special attention from the national policymakers. Thus, when its leaders take a stand over a certain issue it should be taken seriously, or else government might regret ignoring it. The postponement of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in the region has been the subject of serious discussion by leaders of BARMM in various fora. It’s at the top of their agenda and discussion has been belabored continuously. In fact, they launched a wide media campaign to get the attention of the national policymakers and the Commission on Elections. Foremost among the reasons advanced is the serious security problem in the area which might jeopardize any electoral exercise and result in failure to exact the people’s true will. It might even lead to election-related armed confrontations. In the meeting of the Regional Peace and Order Council in Maimbung, Sulu over the weekend, it was reported that the governors of BARMM had renewed their call for the postponement of the October election. In a position paper, they demanded the deferment “until after the former combatants of the MILF had fully given up their firearms under the peace accord decommissioning process.” What spawned the request is the peculiar situation in BARMM. While in other areas in the country, anyone who is not a member of the defense or security forces of government who displays a firearm faces arrest, we see MILF militia flaunting their arms before the public with impunity. They invoke the decommissioning agreement between the government and the MILF to justify their actions. The decommissioning process is part of the normalization mechanism agreed on by both the MILF and government peace panels. It was reported that around 30,000 to 40,000 MILF fighters need to be disarmed, but so far only about 19,000 combatants and some 2,000 firearms have been decommissioned. In the meantime, the MILF has revved up on full throttle their political party, the Bangsamoro Justice Party, which, according to their political lieutenants, will participate in the forthcoming election even if the barangay election is theoretically a nonpartisan activity. Reports have it they will either field their own candidates or support candidates who will lead the cadre of campaigners for the bigger and more important 2025 national and regional elections. They will test the ground to see how they will fare in the 2025 elections. As we have said in past columns, under the present circumstances, an election cannot be conducted on a level playing field if one party is allowed to publicly display their firearms while other partisans would face sanctions if they bore arms during the election period. With the barangay election only about four months away, there is no way to fully implement the decommissioning process. It’s a tedious procedure that needs ample space and time. To complicate the situation, last Wednesday the residents of Marawi City woke up to a heavy firefight between government troops and rebels during which a top ISIS local commander was killed. This incident followed a series of skirmishes involving the same group in the town of Marogong, Lanao del Sur. Sleeper terrorist cells are teeming, safely ensconced in the hinterlands. On the same day, a police car was ambushed by armed elements in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur, killing two policemen. An air of uncertainty is sweeping Morolandia brought about by the series of skirmishes. Are these enough reasons to postpone the election in the BARMM? We say yes. amb_mac_lanto@yahoo.com The post Postpone BARMM barangay, SK polls appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hundreds of cyclists join ride for climate justice, bigger climate financing
The Asia-wide bike protest on Sunday was the seventh since 2021 and was meant to create awareness on the climate crisis and to mobilize citizens to pressure corporations and governments to take climate action......»»
Building a community of leading gamers
Globe is leveling up its stake in the gaming world through its partnership with AcadArena, home of Southeast Asia’s campus gaming. Together, the partners are building a community of gamers aspiring to be leaders in esports, game technology, and pop culture. To kick this off, Globe is all set to empower gamers of all kinds at CONQuest 2023, the biggest gaming and pop culture convention in the Philippines set to unfold at the SMX Convention Center at the Mall of Asia Complex from 2-4 June 2023. CONQuest promises to be a thrilling spectacle featuring top streamers, influencers, shout casters, cosplayers, esports athletes, voice actors, and musical acts. International sensations Valkyrae, Pokimane, Lilypichu, Michael Reeves, and Tuonto are poised to share the stage with Korean indie rock band The Rose. Matching them step by step are Filipino powerhouses VeeWise, RikuPH, and a host of other local figures. The festival is gearing up to be an experience like no other, especially for Globe customers. Through the partnership with AcadArena, subscribers can get exclusive perks such as 10 percent discounts on tickets and chances to win tickets from different tiers, from day passes to coveted Premium passes, using their Globe Rewards points on GlobeOne. Globe users can also enjoy express lane entry simply by showing their proof of SIM registration. They also get the privileged opportunity to lay claim to special CONQuest 2023 merchandise. For a hassle-free trip, Globe customers can ride the shuttle service from SMX to three selected Ayala Malls using Globe Rewards points. On top of these treats, they also get the opportunity to score an academic scholarship and a CONQuest Premium Pass for a chosen student leader. Globe plans to ignite the venue of the much-anticipated event with an immersive, experiential booth that will reward gamers for their life’s wins. From getting freebies when they donate their Rewards points for a cause to indulging in free arcade plays and memorable meet-ups with their favorite streamers, the Globe gaming community is in for an action-packed, unforgettable weekend! "We in Globe are very much thrilled to once again present and enable AcadArena’s CONQuest, especially as it becomes a space for all types of gamers, with the event going beyond just games and esports and expanding into music and pop culture. It’s a perfect match as we aim to strengthen the Philippines' gaming community and provide festival goers with the most reliable mobile network in the Philippines.," said Ralph Aligada, Head of Globe Games and Esports. Ariane Lim, AcadArena COO shared, "With CONQuest getting bigger each year, we at AcadArena are very excited to see the festival goers in the activities and events that they will be able to experience. Our presenters, led by Globe, always give new gaming experiences each year, with 2023 shaping up to be the most novel one yet. We look forward to bringing our festival goers the best that AcadArena and Globe can offer." The post Building a community of leading gamers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
The long wait is over: Nintendo’s new ‘Zelda’ hits shelves
A six-year wait came to an end for "Zelda" fans across the world on Friday as Nintendo released the long-awaited next instalment of its 40-year-old gaming saga. Gamers began lining up outside a shop in Paris well before midnight, determined to get their hands on "Tears of the Kingdom" the minute it became available. "I'm going crazy actually, because it's been six years that we've been waiting for this game," 19-year-old Taylor Meguira told AFP as he waited in line. "When 'Breath of the Wild' came out, it was a real revolution in the world of games," he added, referring to the 2017 instalment of the saga. "Knowing that there is a sequel, which is coming out in an hour or a little less, it's just incredible, it just makes me so happy." The game featuring the exploits of Princess Zelda and the elf-like warrior Link has sold 125 million copies worldwide since its first edition in 1986. It helped forge "open world" games where the player is free to roam in virtual landscapes -- an idea later taken up by games ranging from "Grand Theft Auto" to "Skyrim". But its main challenge this year will be to boost earnings for the Japanese gaming giant and prolong the life of its Switch console, which experts say is in its dotage after seven years on the shelves. Clips circulating on the internet racked up millions of views before the release and the game is expected to be "by far the biggest contributor to Nintendo's sales this year", said Serkan Toto, an analyst at Kantan Games. Yet the franchise's 1980's launch was something of a gamble for a company then best known for "Donkey Kong" and "Super Mario Bros." 'A pioneer' The first edition, "The Legend of Zelda", plunged gamers into an unknown universe largely without instructions. "The scale of the game was huge at a time when most games were finished in an hour or two," said Kiyoshi Tane, an author specialising in the history of video games. "It was something of a pioneer of what open-world games would become." Zelda hit the market a few months after "Super Mario Bros". But while Mario runs from left to right through various platforms, Zelda "encouraged the player to explore, discover and map its world and take on its challenges", said Mark Brown, who analyses game design on his YouTube channel. It was a smash hit and pushed the boundaries of game design for the next two decades. By the turn of the 2010s, however, the franchise was struggling. Nintendo wanted to expand the game's appeal but only managed to create editions that satisfied nobody. Hardcore fans drifted away and its popularity waned. The designers rethought the basics of the game, eventually creating 2017's "Breath of the Wild", which launched alongside the Switch and has since become the best-selling edition of Zelda. "This game set a high bar for the open-world action-adventure genre, and Zelda is still at the top," Katsuhiko Hayashi, representative for Famitsu Group, which publishes industry magazine Famitsu, told AFP. 'So excited' Nintendo has issued a gloomy forecast for the year ahead, but Charles-Louis Planade, an analyst at Midcap Partners, reckons "Tears of the Kingdom" could become "the best-selling game in history," potentially approaching $1 billion in revenue. In Tokyo, Yutaka Hirai said the seemingly endless scale of previous Zelda games helped draw him in. "The world was so big, much bigger than I imagined... I played it for over 100 hours," the 30-year-old told AFP Daniel Olivo, a tourist from Mexico, even took time out from sightseeing to pick up the game in Tokyo. "I'm so excited, because since I was about five years old, I know this game," the 33-year-old told AFP. "In the end, I got the collector's edition, so it was amazing," he added with a broad smile. The post The long wait is over: Nintendo’s new ‘Zelda’ hits shelves appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Architects, engineers start hoop wars on March 17
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Sixth Architects + Engineers Basketball Club Corporate Cup promises exciting hardcourt action starting tomorrow, March 17, 2023, at the Aznar Coliseum in the Southwestern University-Phinma (SWU-Phinma) in Cebu City. The annual hoop wars featuring Cebu’s architects and engineers have grown bigger, this time, fielding in 12 teams, with two more […] The post Architects, engineers start hoop wars on March 17 appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
14 teams slug it out for PSL second conference crown
he Pilipinas Super League returns to action with a bigger field of 14 teams when it rolls off its second conference Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum......»»