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PH labor movement receives human rights award for ‘dedication’ amid danger
The Philippine labor movement is given the George Meany-Lane Kirkland Human Rights Award for its ‘dedication and courage’ amid dangerous conditions for trade unionists in the Philippines.....»»
SM’s Steven Tan named Winshang’s 2023 International Influential Person in Shopping Centers
SM Supermalls president Steven Tan was recognized as one of Winshang’s Golden Censer Prize winners for being "The International Influential Person of the Year 2023 in Shopping Centers" at the 2023 China (International) Shopping Center Summit in Shanghai on 24 August 2023. The Golden Censer Prize is a large-scale professional recognition of China's commercial real estate and famous brands initiated by Winshang, in collaboration with mainstream industrial media, based on field research, data analysis and media surveys, among others. Tan, who assumed the role of President of SM Supermalls in 2020, has been a key figure in the growth and innovation of the mall chain in the Philippines and China. As president, he oversees mall operations in both countries, carrying forward SM's 65-year legacy of retail innovation and outstanding customer service. SM Mall of Asia Complex Under his leadership, SM Supermalls withstood the challenges of the pandemic and rebounded as the economy slowly opened up amid the global health crisis. With the guidance of the Sy family, Tan made sure that SM responded with an agile, innovative and proactive approach to cater to the needs of all stakeholders, from employees and tenants to shoppers. SM City Yangzhou SM City Sto. Tomas The mall’s strategies -- adapting the tenancy mix, creating novel reasons to attract visitors to malls, targeting new customer segments through innovative marketing and developing omnichannel services -- enabled them to gain the trust and loyalty of modern shoppers during the pandemic. Because of this, SM managed to recover and exceed pre-pandemic revenues and income by 2023. In line with their latest expansion program, SM continues to open new malls in China and the Philippines. This brings the total number of shopping centers, locally and internationally, under Tan's stewardship to 93, featuring a cumulative construction area of over 10.8 million square meters and a daily foot traffic of more than 4.2 million. The latest malls to open were SM City Yangzhou last 28 September 2023 and SM City Sto Tomas, Batangas last 27 October 2023. Tan’s exceptional efforts were also honored by various international organizations over the years. He received numerous accolades including the 2021 Asia's Most Influential by Tatler Asia, the 2022 Asia Pacific Women's Empowerment Principles Awards Leadership Commitment by United Nations Women, and the Global Filipino Executive of the Year at the Asian Chief Executive Officer Awards, just to name a few. His dedication and visionary leadership continue to shape the landscape of shopping centers and commercial real estate, not just in Asia but also across the globe. Steven Tan receives the 2023 PeopleAsia People of the Year Award. Tan shared the Winshang Golden Censer Prize with his two co-awardees, namely Powerlong Real Estate Holding’s Co-president Chen Deli, and SCE Commercial Management Holdings' chairman of the board Huang Lun. SM Supermalls is a subsidiary of SM Prime Holdings Inc., with 85 malls in the Philippines and 8 in China. The post SM’s Steven Tan named Winshang’s 2023 International Influential Person in Shopping Centers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
U.S., Canada lambast PRC
The United States on Sunday denounced China’s actions in the West Philippine Sea that led to the collision of its ships with Philippine boats en route to a resupply mission to the Ayungin Shoal. In a tweet, US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson described China Coast Guard’s actions as a “disruption” of a “legal” resupply mission of the Philippines to the BRP Sierra Madre, its permanent military post in the West Philippine Sea. She tweeted on X that the US “condemns” China’s “latest disruption of a legal Philippine resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal, putting the lives of Filipino service members at risk. One of two boats contracted by the Philippines to bring supplies to the BRP Sierra Madre was bumped by a China Coast Guard Ship before a Chinese militia vessel did the same to a Philippine Coast Guard escort ship. Carlson said Washington “stands” with Manila in “protecting Philippine sovereignty and in support of a #FreeAndOpenIndoPacific.” Over the past months, the US had reiterated its “ironclad” alliance commitment to the Philippines amid the escalating tension in the WPS, a portion of the South China Sea claimed by the Philippines and China. In August, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III stressed that the Mutual Defense Treaty between Washington and Manila extends to the latter’s public vessels. Unlawful conduct Canada also condemned what it described as “unlawful and dangerous conduct” of the People’s Republic of China in the WPS, which “provoked two collisions with Philippine vessels engaged in routine operations inside the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone, in the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal.” “The PRC’s actions are unjustified. China has no lawful claim to the West Philippine Sea. Its actions are incompatible with the obligations of a signatory to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea,” the Canadian Embassy in Manila said. “Continuing acts of intimidation and coercion undermine safety, stability, and security across the region and increase the risk of miscalculation,” it added. Canada said it welcomed the news that no injuries resulted from the collisions and commended the “professionalism and restraint exercised” by the Philippine Coast Guard. “Canada affirms its support for a rules-based order in the South China Sea consistent with international law, including UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral decision, which is final and binding on the parties,” it said. Ayungin Shoal, also known as Second Thomas Shoal, is 105 nautical miles west of Palawan and is part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. On 12 July 2016, the Philippines won its arbitral case against China in the Permanent Court of Arbitration — a landmark decision that China continues to reject. Germany also expressed concern over the incident in the WPS. Senators enraged “Germany is very concerned about recent confrontations in the SCS involving Chinese coast guard ships and maritime militia vessels in the Exclusive economic zone of the Philippines,” German Ambassador to the Philippines Ambassador Andreas Pfaffernoschke said in a separate tweet. Pfaffernoschke called on “all parties to act in accordance with UNCLOS-rules and to respect the 2016 arbitral award. Senators also condemned China’s actions. In separate statements, Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, Senators Risa Hontiveros and Francis Tolentino expressed anger over the collisions that put the safety of the Filipino crew at risk. “I am one with peace-loving Filipinos in strongly condemning this latest abhorrent actions of the China Coast Guard and Chinese maritime militia that put in danger the lives of our brave countrymen who were on a routine resupply mission to our troops in Ayungin Shoal,” Zubiri said. Zubiri called on CCG to “respect human lives and abide by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and other international laws governing safe maritime travel.” “This latest collision is squarely the China Coast Guard’s fault,” Hontiveros said. “The 2016 Arbitral Award has resolutely invalidated China’s claims in the West Philippine Sea, making this incident a clear violation of international law.” For his part, Tolentino said the recent confrontation between the Philippines and China clearly shows China’s continuous disregard for international law. He noted that the incident should be investigated by the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea and the Code for Investigation ng Marine Casualties and Incidents of the International Maritime Organization. The post U.S., Canada lambast PRC appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
S. Korean migrant’s tale to open Asia’s biggest film festival
The world premiere of Jang Kun-jae's "Because I Hate Korea" will open Asia's largest film festival Wednesday night as it looks to rally from a year marked by scandal and budget cutbacks. The South Korean director's tale of a disillusioned young woman who relocates to New Zealand is among 209 official entries from 69 countries set to unspool at the Busan International Film Festival, which runs until 13 October. Eighty will be making their world premieres in the southern port city. This year's edition comes as organizers grapple with the fallout from former festival director Huh Moon-yung's resignation in May amid accusations of sexual misconduct. The scandal saw BIFF's 2023 budget reduced by about 10 percent as sponsors withdrew in the wake of the allegations, according to organizers. Kang Seung-ah, now serving as acting deputy director, acknowledged they had endured a "difficult phase" before assembling a lineup she said was "more substantial than ever before". Opening night director Jang, who noted he'd attended BIFF far more as an audience member than a filmmaker, told a late afternoon news conference he had sought to address serious questions with his film. "I believe it's necessary to pay attention to the fact that many young people are finding it difficult to navigate through Korean society. I started questioning whether our society is providing a fair and equitable foundation for young people to pursue their dreams," he told reporters after a preview screening. Based on the best-selling Chang Kang-myoung novel, "Because I Hate Korea" received support from BIFF's Asia Project Market back in 2016. South Korea has transformed itself into a cultural powerhouse since then thanks to the explosive success of the Oscar-winning "Parasite" and the Netflix series "Squid Game". "Many people are now showing great interest in Korean content such as K-pop, K-movies, and K-dramas. Living in such an era, they might develop a certain fantasy about South Korea, I think," Nam Dong-chul, the festival's acting interim director, told reporters. But "I thought it might be good to consider these views from the perspective of people living in Korea and especially the youth in South Korea", he said of the opening night choice. "They might have different thoughts and experiences." Frequent Bong Joon-ho collaborator Go Ah-sung, who delivered a memorable performance as the protagonist of "Because I Hate Korea", was unable to attend the festival due to a back injury. 'Dear Jinri' Despite Go's absence, the festival will still feature serious star power, with acclaimed Hong Kong actor Chow Yun Fat scheduled to receive the Asian Filmmaker of the Year award. Three of Chow's films -- "A Better Tomorrow" (1986), "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" (2000) and 2023's "One More Chance" -- will be screened in his honour. Other highly anticipated screenings include "Dear Jinri", a documentary that features late K-pop star Sulli's last and incomplete project. Sulli, born Choi Jin-ri, took her own life in 2019 after a long struggle with online bullying. The film includes her final media interview, which has not been disclosed previously. Korea's filmmaking diaspora will also be showcased with a special series of screenings that includes "Searching" (2018), starring John Cho, and director Celine Song's Sundance favorite "Past Lives". Netflix's highly anticipated "Yellow Door: 90s Lo-fi Film Club" will also have its world premiere at BIFF. The documentary spotlights South Korea's renowned cinephile generation of the 1990s, acclaimed "Parasite" director Bong among them. "The Movie Emperor", director Ning Hao's satirical take on the Chinese film industry starring Hong Kong actor Andy Lau, is set to close the festival. Ning's comedy "deftly captures the fine line between the film industries in Hong Kong and mainland China", as well as the "delicate relationship between Western film festivals and Asian filmmakers", according to the program notes. The post S. Korean migrant’s tale to open Asia’s biggest film festival appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DoE identifies offshore RE sites
The Department of Energy or DoE has identified nine potential renewable energy, or RE, sites to establish offshore wind ports that can serve as offloading terminals for a more seamless and efficient establishment of offshore wind or OSW facilities in the country. Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of an energy forum hosted by the Nordic Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines on Tuesday, Energy Assistant Secretary Mylene Capongcol said these ports will be developed to become staging areas housing the foundation, turbines, blades, and other materials that will be used in building the OSW structures. Capongcol cited Ilocos Norte, Batangas, Bacolod, Mindoro and Cagayan Valley as among the initial locations where the planned ports will be assembled. The Asian Development Bank will assist in evaluating these sites. “These are just initial identification and these nine ports are based on the project developments. They are initially identified to support and advance project constructions in these areas,” she said. To further uncover the country’s OSW potential, the DoE said “suitably sized and strategically located ports are essential for the storage, assembly, construction and operation of OSW farms.” Potential private sector partner Recently, the state-run Philippine National Oil Company disclosed that it is looking for a potential partner from the private sector to convert its 19-hectare Batangas port into an OSW Power Integration Port. It also tapped the University of the Philippines National Engineering Center to “help us because the decision not to award the contract for the commercial port expansion and shift to an offshore integration port was only last month.” The DoE has been pushing for the development of OSW to ramp up local indigenous supply amid growing demand. Based on the Philippines OSW Roadmap launched in 2022, the country has about 178 gigawatts or GW of OSW potential. OSW contracts awarded To date, the DoE has awarded a total of 79 OSW Contracts with a total potential capacity of 61.931 GW, spread mainly North of Luzon, West of Metro Manila, North and South of Mindoro, Panay, and Guimaras Strait. These, according to Capongcol, are all under the development stage, which includes preliminary wind data gathering, application for endorsements, and request for System Impact Studies. Despite the vast supply available nationwide, the OSW roadmap showed that the tedious permitting process as well as grid assets availability should be resolved. As such, the DoE vowed to enhance the policies on the OSW development, taking into account the streamlining and stricter timeframe outlined in the Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop law on the processing and issuance of licenses and permits by the concerned national and local government entities. The post DoE identifies offshore RE sites appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tanduay optimistic about entry into competitive Taiwan rum market
Tanduay has a positive outlook about its entry into Taiwan amid stiff competition from other rum brands. “Based on early reviews, we think that the brand will perform well since the Taiwanese market already has a sophisticated taste and is very accepting of brands that offer them something new and unique,” said Marc Ngo, Tanduay International Business Development manager and senior brand manager. He compared the Taiwanese rum market to that of Singapore where people are willing to spend on quality spirits and cocktails. In entering Taiwan, Tanduay partnered with the distributor, Mr. Mixer, Ltd., one of the leading spirits and other liquor distributors in the country. “They believe in the brands and they share our passion for bringing our world-class rums to the Taiwan market,” Ngo said. Mr. Mixer, Ltd recently held a grand launch of Tanduay at Driftwood Bar in Ximending District and invited Taiwan’s premier mixologists Mars Chang and the members of “To Infinity and Beyond Team”, the 2021 World Class competition Taiwan champions, to showcase their outstanding mixology skills as they infused Tanduay rums into unique signature cocktails. Seven world-class rums Tanduay is making its award-winning and best-selling rums available in Taiwan. These include the Tanduay Asian Rum Gold, Tanduay Asian Rum Silver, Tanduay Double Rum, Boracay Rum Coconut, Boracay Rum Cappuccino, Tanduay Dark and Tanduay White. Ngo said they are currently focused on opening and partnering with on-trade accounts to feature their brands and for consumers to try. “At the same time, we are having discussions with big chain accounts for them to carry Tanduay rums in their stores. We are also planning to join the Tainan Cocktail Event on 20-21 October to feature our brands more to local consumers,” he said. The brand’s international business has been on a steady growth trajectory in recent years. Taiwan is the 19th country where Tanduay rums are being sold. In Asia, it is already available in China, Singapore, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. In Europe it is being distributed in France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, Austria, Poland, Georgia, Armenia and the Czech Republic. It is also available in the United States and Canada in Northern America and Costa Rica in Central America. Apart from its increasing global footprint, Tanduay has received numerous accolades from international competitions, such as the World’s Number 1 Rum recognition from Drinks International Magazine for six consecutive years, and Brand of the Year from the World Branding Awards. Not one to rest on its laurels, Tanduay is eyeing further international expansion in the coming months. The post Tanduay optimistic about entry into competitive Taiwan rum market appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Batangas offshore wind port eyed
As part of its drive to become a strategic power industry player, state-run Philippine National Oil Company or PNOC targets to convert its 19-hectare Batangas port into an Offshore Wind or OSW Power Integration Port. At a recent budget hearing of the Senate sub-finance committee last week, PNOC president Oliver Butalid said the company is currently looking for a potential partner from the private sector to complete the proposed venture. "We are exploring going into a joint venture with a port developer, and we are discussing now with the Public-Private Partnership Center. This is going to be a dedicated integration port for OSW. I think it is responding to the need rather than perceived to be changing direction," Butalid said. He noted that PNOC has also tapped the University of the Philippines National Engineering Center to "help us because the decision not to award the contract for the commercial port expansion and shift to an offshore integration port was only last month." Meanwhile, Senator Sherwin Gatchalia, vice-chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy, said that PNOC should ensure that the project would be feasible to justify using taxpayers' money for the undertaking. "I respect your corporate decision, but then I will be looking at what you have achieved after one year (because I )am accountable to our constituents on the money that is being spent on all these projects," the senator said. PNOC's proposed corporate budget for 2024 stands at P1.96 billion, 86 percent higher than this year's allocation, and 60 percent of which will be earmarked for the port project. Last year, PNOC remitted close to P1.7 billion pesos in dividends and about P1.2 billion in taxes to the government. Since 2010, the company has remitted a total of P21.12 billion to the national coffers. For PNOC, significantly investing in the Batangas facility will bankroll its conversion into becoming a dedicated OSW integration port from being just a general commercial port. The Department of Energy or DoE has been pushing for the development of OSW to ramp up local indigenous supply amid growing demand. As such, it vowed to enhance the policies on the development of offshore wind, taking into account the streamlining and stricter timeframe outlined in the Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop law on the processing and issuance of licenses and permits by the concerned national and local government entities. The Philippines OSW Roadmap launched last year showcases the country's potential OSW resources estimated at 178 GW. As of 22 June, the DOE has awarded 66 OSW Contracts with a total potential capacity of 53.85 gigawatts — enough to supply the country's future electricity demand. The post Batangas offshore wind port eyed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Famed environmental warrior graces RC Manila assembly
The Rotary Club of Manila had a brilliant, unique guest speaker at its last weekly members’ meeting at the Manila Polo Club — the famed, internationally acclaimed author, lawyer, environmental activist, and recipient, in 2009, of what is regarded as the Nobel Prize of Asia, the Ramon Magsaysay Award (non-category), Antonio Oposa Jr. For about an hour and a half last Thursday, 21 September 2023, RC Manila members, officers and guests at the MPC’s Turf Room alternately stood up to sing along and listen to Oposa’s telling of “good stories,” his way, he said, of promoting and creating awareness for his advocacies and his passion for the environment. Oposa earned a law degree from the University of the Philippines College of Law. For a short time, he worked in a law firm, until he realized that his heart was not in the practice of law but rather with nature and the environment. He traveled to Norway and enrolled in a course on energy and the environment at the University of Oslo’s summer program and afterwards, to Boston, where he pursued and later obtained his LLM at the Harvard Law School in 1997. [caption id="attachment_188497" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Valiant environmental warrior Antonio Oposa: ‘My biggest achievement is that I have turned some of my adversaries into co-advocates. And what could be more inspiring now than to see their own children out there, protecting the sea?’[/caption] In 1993, Oposa made global headlines for the landmark case, Minors Oposa v Factoran where the Supreme Court ruled that the 43 children counseled by Oposa, who filed legal action against the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, seeking cancellation by the agency of existing timber license agreements and stopping the issuance of new ones, ruled in favor of the plaintiffs. “The case was brought to court amid the government’s then granting over 90 logging companies permits to cut down nearly four million hectares of old-growth forest when only 850,000 hectares remained. And forests were being logged at a rate of some 200,000 hectares per year! I told the Court how my son, only three at that time, would no longer see these forests by the time he was 10. I couldn’t help thinking, that if this wasn’t stopped not a single old-growth forest would remain for him and future generations to enjoy,” Oposa said. The case had initially been dismissed in trial court on the ground that there was no legal personality to sue. Oposa elevated the case to the Supreme Court, and in a much-hailed case of intergenerational responsibility, the Supreme Court upheld the legal standing and right of the children to initiate action on their behalf and on behalf of generations yet unborn. What was so remarkable about the case is that Oposa sued on behalf of generations yet unborn and today that milestone case is known in Philippine and global jurisprudence as the “Oposa Doctrine.” For its part, the Philippine Supreme Court, too, carved a permanent niche for itself in environmental law with its promulgation of Oposa v Factoran. It secured its place in history, earning praises from the international environmental community and a reputation as a champion of the right to a healthy environment. Oposa also recounted at this talk at the RC Manila meeting last Thursday another epic landmark case involving the legal tussle he waged against 11 government agencies for the cleaning up of severely polluted Manila Bay. In December 2008, a decade after he filed that case, the Supreme Court issued a decision in his favor. In a continuing mandamus ruling, the Supreme Court ordered all defendant agencies to implement a time-bound action plan that would clean up Manila Bay and to give the Court a progress report on the matter every three months. Oposa talked about the Island Sea Camp he organized in 2001 in Bantayan Island where he gave children lessons on coral reefs, snorkeling and sustainable practices. In 2003, 2004, while holding weekend training camps for children in the Sea Camp “we noticed the rampant illegal fishing going on. Dynamite fishing and commercial fishing intrusions into prohibited coastal zones went unchecked. Something had to be done,” related Oposa. Thus, was born the Visayan Sea Squadron. “I organized a strike team with crack enforcers from the National Bureau of Investigation, Navy, fishermen, sea watch volunteers, lawyers, law students and even a few foreigners. The target was not small fishermen but crime syndicates and operators behind the sale of blasting caps and dynamite powder. Seizures and raids followed,” he said. Operations were so effective that word went out that his friend Jojo de la Victoria, the fearless Cebu City Bantay Dagat (Sea Watch) chief, and Oposa were targets of assassination. A local newspaper interviewed De la Victoria, revealing an intelligence report about illegal fishing operators putting up a P1-million bounty for him and Oposa. In 12 April 2006, 48 hours after he was interviewed, De la Victoria was felled by a hired gunman outside his house in Cebu City. “Jojo’s life was not in vain. After his funeral, a core team met for dinner to regroup. The tide of illegal fishing started to turn. Exploits of the Visayan Sea Squadron — and the courage and synergy of the men and women who made it happen — became known far and wide,” Oposa said. He continued, “Four years after Jojo died, Visayan Sea Squadron co-founder Alfredo Marañon was elected governor of Negros Occidental province. He gathered the other governors in the region to begin a restorative plan for the Visayan Sea which encompasses an area of over a million hectares. The governors passed a landmark joint resolution declaring the entire Visayan Sea a marine reserve.” For his valiant work as an environmental warrior, Oposa has been the recipient of many award in recognition of his valiant work as an environmental warrior. Aside from receiving the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2009, he was given the equally prestigious Center for International Environmental Law Award in 2008. Earlier, in 1997, he was conferred the United Nations Environment Programme Global 500 Roll of Honor, the highest UN honor in the field of the environment. Asked if there was anything about his attainments that gives him the most satisfaction, Oposa said, “My biggest achievement is not that I caught this violator and that violator when we were busy with our Visayan Sea Squadron operations; it is that I have turned my adversaries into co-advocates. Some of those who had opposed me are now supporting me in my advocacies. And what could be more inspiring than to see their own children helping us out there, protecting the sea?” The post Famed environmental warrior graces RC Manila assembly appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Reef harvesting being validated
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said Tuesday the government was validating if the reported coral reef destruction in the West Philippine Sea could be preparatory to China’s reclaiming land to build artificial islands. “We have to validate it because according to the arbitral award, that is a violation of an international treaty — the destruction of maritime life, particularly if the coral destruction is a cause of, or used for the reclamation of artificial islands,” Teodoro said. The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard had observed the destruction of the marine environment resources at Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal amid the swarming of Chinese militia vessels as early as July. AFP WesCom chief, Vice Adm. Alberto Carlos, reported a “concerning resurgence” of Chinese vessels at Rozul Reef in August, a month after they drove away around 50 Chinese maritime militia vessels from the area. China has reclaimed land in the Spratlys Group of Islands, where it built airstrips and radar and missile stations. Carlos said about 40 Chinese fishing vessels were spotted in the area on 15 September. He noted that the latest figure was higher than the 33 vessels spotted on 24 August and the 24 monitored on 7 September. Swarming was also observed at Escoda Shoal, where five Chinese fishing vessels were spotted, and at Baragatan Bank, where two CFVs were seen. This was followed by a report that the once abundant coral reefs at Rozul Reef were “extensively” destroyed after the Chinese militia ships left the swarmed area. In August, Carlos reported that they monitored more than 400 fishing vessels in the entire WPS, with 85 percent believed to be Chinese-owned. The post Reef harvesting being validated appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
The Advantage of Adopting the Right Digital Tools for your Business
Amid the uncertainty in customer behaviors and trends from the crisis, this much is clear: updating the business for a digital-first world, led by purpose, is now a must for almost every company. To do so, they must determine where new business value exists in the new normal, what digital business models will capture it, and which tools and behaviors will support the adaptability and resilience that these models require. On this section, we talked to the creators behind the award-winning platform made for businesses like yours. The Digital Advantage Companies need an understanding of 3rd Platform technologies to capitalize on improved decision-making and to deliver enhanced, customized experiences to stakeholders. The rapid acceleration of 3rd Platform technology adoption means that corporates need to actively be looking for ways to improve their operational efficiency and customer service, otherwise, they will be in danger of falling too far behind digitally-native competitors to ever catch up. Efficiency Past recessions show that controlling costs by improving operational efficiency—a task for which digital solutions are perfectly suited for—is more effective in sustaining businesses through financial turbulence than traditional cost-cutting measures alone. The biggest efficiency play is automation. Streamlining operations and automating manual processes result in greater speed, less waste and more focus on revenue-generating activities. The economics of automation is simple: the same work is performed faster and with fewer mistakes, while human capital resources can be redeployed to higher-value tasks or to fill critical gaps. Convenience Company bank accounts are available in any device, the only things you need are internet connection and a few taps on the screen. This brings about an increase in customer satisfaction as they are able to constantly keep track of their account balances and manage the information on their personal profile (i.e. add new mailing address, e-mails, telephone numbers, etc.). In addition to this, there is no need to go to the bank to get checks as they can be instantly sent via email. 24/7 Reliability Online banking services are available 24/7 all year round, even on weekends. There is no need to line up and wait for the bank to open in order to conduct certain operations. This is a huge advantage that comes with digital solutions Security With all the recent news about data breaches, you might be wondering about the security of mobile and online banking. Security is top priority for banks when choosing whether or not to offer online banking. All banks use “Pentagon-grade” encryption technology and sophisticated firewalls. Mandatory security upgrades are required by bank regulators, so you can be confident that keeping your information secure is one of your bank’s utmost priorities. As digital transactions increase and productivity grow, companies must take proactive steps to protect their data privacy and security and adopt models that give them governance over their data. Today’s Platform Driven Solutions Self-service account management, bills payment and electronic fund transfers are considered the basic banking functions that each business should have. Account management allows viewing of account balances and transaction history without going to the bank. All these were made easy and accessible, by just logging into UnionBank’s The Portal app. Bills Payment, on the other hand, gives businesses access to a large list of billers. They can pay their water, electricity, telco, and other utilities online. BIR ePayment is also available, allowing users to pay taxes online. If the company is an accounting firm, they can also pay for their client’s taxes on The Portal app. Electronic fund transfers save companies time and reduce their risk exposure. Just upload the batch crediting file on the platform and it automatically disburses it to their recipients. Clients can also set up their recipients in UnionBank Business Banking so they receive email and SMS notifications every time they are credited. All these are made possible without stepping inside a branch. Batch Electronic Funds Transfer is also now made available for UnionBank Transfers and PESONet. This enables the streamlining of bulk account to account transfers to another UnionBank account or to other bank accounts. This has highlighted the ease and convenience of going digital to corporate clients versus processing transactions through the traditional way of banking over-the-counter or paying via cheques. Going beyond the basic functions of a normal digital banking tool, The Portal’s self-enrollment feature allows businesses to conveniently self-enroll their nominated accounts and users through the simple enrollment steps. Once completed, access to The Portal is granted and clients may enjoy the convenience of processing their funds transfer instructions online. In addition, there is an option to initiate the enrollment of the beneficiary accounts individually or in bulk. This can be essential for clients that need a payee maintenance feature to ensure that the initiated transactions are only credited to enrolled account. With the convenient, hassle-free and straight-through processing in The Portal, businesses can easily push fund transfers in the comfort of their own homes or offices. This pandemic serves as a widespread test case for the effectiveness of these digital solutions, many of which will be permanent fixtures and lead to long-term changes for many businesses. Organizations that embrace digital solutions have greater resiliency in the face of adversity and are way ahead of the competition, which will enable them to recover faster and pivot from playing defense to chasing growth. While many believe it is too idealistic to have a good workplace culture and excellent compensation, many jobseekers significantly consider these two factors when applying for a job, according to two studies. The 2021 Employee Experience Survey by Willis Towers Watson reported that 89 percent of respondents believe a positive employee experience is a crucial driver of engagement, while a 2023 survey from the online recruitment platform JobStreet found that 53 percent of Filipino job seekers would like to know the salary range offered while still in the recruitment process. Aside from great benefits and compensation, employees in the IT industry pointed out that a good work culture and environment, as well as training programs, are the top priorities of job seekers. Vanessa Liwanag, business development director at Yondu, acknowledged the company’s role in her growth, “Yondu has helped me develop my leadership, decision-making, and communication skills through its effective leadership training programs. The company also helped me grow personally because of its hybrid setup. This allows me to have a work-life balance. I can still care for my family and health while contributing to the organization.” Leather, who specializes in securing networks from vulnerabilities, noted that training programs are essential as trends continuously evolve. IT professionals need to keep up in order to be efficient. Steph, a software solutions engineer, echoed this, adding that since the industry is highly competitive and fast-paced, getting equipped with the right skills and knowledge is essential. Grace, a malware researcher, said that one advantage in the IT field is that since it’s a broad industry, there is always much to learn and room for improvement. Yondu, an IT solutions company wholly owned by Globe, offers all these benefits and compensation, a good working environment, and training programs to Yondudes, a nickname for its employees. Competitive pay and benefits are OK for Yondu as the company ensures this through regularly benchmarking market data and best practices. There are also tailor-fitted rewards programs according to talent segments. Yondu also ensures its employees remain competitive and well-equipped by industry standards through various training, reskilling, and upskilling programs to hone their skills in the constantly changing tech industry. Despite the fast-paced sector continuously evolving, Yondu still values work-life balance and provides programs to support Yondudes’ well-being further. “What sets Yondu apart from other organizations is its genuine focus on understanding and supporting its employees,” said Javen Babac, lead application support specialist at Yondu. “The company recognizes that employees perform their best when they feel valued and supported, and this philosophy sets Yondu apart by fostering a positive and inclusive work environment. The organization’s commitment to understanding its employees and providing the necessary resources demonstrates its dedication to employee well-being and sets a strong foundation for professional growth and job satisfaction.” The post The Advantage of Adopting the Right Digital Tools for your Business appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BRP Sierra Madre resupplied amid new CCG harassment
China attempted anew to block a Philippine resupply mission to the latter’s permanent outpost in the West Philippine Sea, the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal. The Armed Forces of the Philippines confirmed this yesterday, saying that Chinese ships conducted dangerous maneuvers against Philippine vessels conducting a third rotation and logistics run to the Sierra Madre. Nonetheless, the AFP Western Command and the Philippine Coast Guard successfully delivered fresh troops and supplies to the World War 2-era ship, according to the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS). AFP spokesperson, Col. Medel Aguilar, said the government will remain firm in asserting the country’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction over Ayungin Shoal, it being part of its exclusive economic zone. “The unprofessional acts and dangerous maneuvers conducted by the China Coast Guard and its maritime militia will never prevail over our conduct of legal and legitimate operations that support a rules-based international order,” he added. Nansha Islands China defended its attempt to intercept the Philippine vessels by saying the two replenishment ships and two PCG vessels entered waters adjacent to Ren’ai Reef in its so-called Nansha Islands. It claimed the PCG and AFP boats entered the area “without the permission of the Chinese government.” “The China Coast Guard strictly warned the Philippine vessels in accordance with the law, tracked and monitored the vessels all the way and effectively regulated them,” CCG spokesperson Gan Yu said in an interview. Yun averred that Beijing has “indisputable sovereignty” over the Nansha Islands, including Ren’ai Reef and its adjacent waters, and firmly opposes the illegal transportation of construction materials by the Philippines to the grounded warship. “The China Coast Guard will continue to carry out law enforcement activities in the sea areas under China’s jurisdiction according to the law,” Yu said. Yu’s comments earned a rebuke from the NTF-WPS, describing the CCG actions as illegal, aggressive, and destabilizing. It may be remembered that the CCG used a water cannon against a Sierra Madre resupply mission earlier. “We reiterate and reemphasize that these operations are pursuant to our government’s legitimate exercise of its administrative functions and jurisdiction over the West Philippine Sea, firmly anchored on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the final and binding 2016 Arbitral Award,” the NTF-WPS said. Humanitarian mission Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said the Senate is “constantly monitoring” developments in the WPS. “This is a humanitarian resupply mission. Only barbarians at the gate will delight in seeing soldiers on a peaceful mission denied food,” he said. “As long as the law and truth are on our side, illegal barriers to what is ours will continue to be pierced — by the sharp tip of world opinion that upholds our cause as just,” he added. He said the Senate is ready to assist the AFP and the PCG through their budgets for the coming fiscal year “with the aim of developing a credible self-defense posture that will allow them to continue protecting our country and our people.” The post BRP Sierra Madre resupplied amid new CCG harassment appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
New characters join ‘FPJ’s Batang Quiapo’
FPJ’s Batang Quiapo is adding new characters and actors, led by Jaclyn Jose and Ivana Alawi, who are set to add more excitement to the new chapter of Tanggol’s (Coco Martin) life as they join the hit Kapamilya primetime series. Aside from Jose and Alawi, the star-studded cast of also welcomes Robert Seña, Soliman Cruz, Lao Rodriguez, Jess Evardone, Vandolph, Romy Romulo, Zeppi Borromeo, Michael Rivero, Pambansang Kolokoy and Haprice. [caption id="attachment_178691" align="aligncenter" width="1792"] JACLYN Jose in ‘FPJ’s Batang Quiapo.’[/caption] The new characters will get involved in Tanggol’s life as he braces himself for more hardships and begins his sentence of life imprisonment. Amid the challenges, Tanggol will also get to meet Bubbles (Alawi), an alluring lady who could possibly open up Tanggol’s heart to love once again while he spends time away from his long-time love, Mokang (Lovi Poe). Meanwhile, Tanggol’s loved ones will encounter challenges of their own. More family problems will pile-up for Marites (Cherry Pie Picache), while Tanggol’s half-brother, David (Mccoy De Leon), will go to extreme lengths and continue to pretend to be Tanggol so that he can take advantage of his father’s wealth. With over 2.7 billion total online views since its premiere in February, FPJ’s Batang Quiapo continues to win the hearts of viewers for its heartwarming lessons about family and its non-stop action-packed scenes. With the new addition of actors, the action-comedy series promises a lot more exciting twists and dramatic confrontations as it continues to level-up its roster of artists who join the likes of award-winning actors Poe, Picache, Charo Santos, Christopher de Leon and many more. FPJ’s Batang Quiapo, which is inspired by the original story of Regal Films, shows on weeknights at 8 pm on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, TV5, iWantTFC, and Kapamilya Online Live on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel and Facebook page. Viewers who use any digital TV box at home such as the TVplus box only need to rescan their device to be able to watch FPJ’s Batang Quiapo on TV5 and A2Z. The show is also available to viewers in and out of the Philippines on iWantTFC, while viewers outside of the Philippines can watch on The Filipino Channel on cable and IPTV. The post New characters join ‘FPJ’s Batang Quiapo’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl slams China’s ‘coercive, unlawful, unjustifiable’ acts in WPS
The Philippines on Monday maintained its territorial rights over the Ayungin Shoal, stressing that it would never leave the area amid the continued escalation of geopolitical tensions in the South China Sea. At a joint press conference, members of the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea such as the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the National Security Council and the Philippine Coast Guard condemned China’s recent use of water cannon and dangerous maneuvers against Philippine vessels that were en route to Ayungin Shoal for a routine troop rotation and resupply mission for the BRP Sierra Madre, the decommissioned ship grounded on the shoal to serve as an outpost for Philippine troops stationed on the shoal. “The Philippines condemns in the strongest terms the latest incident of harassment perpetrated by China Coast Guard, People’s Liberation Army Navy and Chinese maritime militia vessels, on August 5, against Philippine vessels, on a routine resupply mission in waters surrounding Ayungin Shoal, in the West Philippine Sea,” the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said. “The Philippines demands that China immediately stop its coercive, unlawful and unjustifiable activities in our maritime zones,” it added. Ayungin Shoal is located 105 nautical miles west of Palawan and is part of the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of the Philippines. NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya asserted the Philippine government would keep its position in Ayungin Shoal through the BRP Sierra Madre. “For the record, we will never abandon Ayungin Shoal. We are committed to Ayungin Shoal,” Malaya said when asked about the Philippines’ next actions following the incident. “They’re probably looking for weaknesses in the Philippine position or are trying to gauge our commitment to supply our troops in the shoal, and we are here precisely to reassure the Filipino people that as directed by our President, we are consistent with the President’s directive during the SONA that we will not lose an inch of our territory,” he added. The BRP Sierra Madre is a World War 2 landing ship tank that has been stationed at the Ayungin Shoal since 1999. Asked how the government would maintain its presence in the Ayungin Shoal, AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said the government has heightened its assets in the area. “We have already increased the number of our assets in that area for the conduct of maritime patrols and of course, to do rotation and reprovision missions,” Aguilar said. “As to what we will do exactly, that we cannot tell you for security reasons,” he added. Diplomatic processes For its part, the DFA condemned China’s “aggressive” actions in Ayungin Shoal and called on China to stop its “illegal activities” in the country’s maritime zone. “The Department of Foreign Affairs is one with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard in their pursuit of our shared mandate to protect and uphold our legal maritime entitlements,” DFA spokesperson Tess Daza said. “The DFA is making full use of our diplomatic processes and is exercising all possible actions available to us, including the summoning of the Chinese ambassador over this incident,” she added. Daza noted that Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian was summoned by the DFA on Monday morning to convey the Philippine government’s strong protest against on the water cannon operation of the CCG and Chinese maritime militia vessels against Philippine indigenous boats conducting regular rotation and resupply and humanitarian missions to Ayungin Shoal. The DFA personally handed over Huang the note verbale of the Philippines for the 5 August incident. As of 7 August, the agency said the country has filed a total of 445 diplomatic protests in the past three years. For this year alone, the country has filed a total of 35 diplomatic protests. The Philippine government, through Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime FlorCruz, also handed the country’s diplomatic protest in Beijing over the incident. The DFA firmly asked China to direct its vessels to “stop” their “illegal actions” against Philippine vessels and to “stop interfering” in legitimate Philippine government activities. It also urged China to comply with its obligations under international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, the 2016 Award in the South China Sea Arbitration, and the 1972 International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, and adhere to its commitments under the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. According to the DFA, the incident “undermines efforts to strengthen mutual trust and confidence” between Manila and Beijing. “We value our relations with China and we hope that they too value the relations with the Philippines, but clearly, this incident undermines efforts to strengthen mutual trust and confidence – a crucial element in friendly relations among states,” Daza said. “It does provide tension in our bilateral relations,” she added. The post Phl slams China’s ‘coercive, unlawful, unjustifiable’ acts in WPS appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Building success: Young business leaders
Building a business is challenging as global statistics show many owners, or 20 percent, fail in their first year of operations. For business leaders of the food franchise Shawarma Shack and Rising Tigers, a business magazine, learning how to adapt and become good listeners will help fellow entrepreneurs overcome challenges. Shawarma Shack’s founder Walther Buenavista, 34, has made in a habit as he looks to expand the business in Indonesia and Malaysia next year. Currently, it has 750 branches across the Philippines, with 170 of them operating in Luzon. As shawarma lovers themselves, Walther and his wife grew the business over eight years after being rejected by managers of tycoon-owned SM Malls of the Sy family. “We started in Tutuban Night Market, where we put up a temporary stall. Then, we applied for space at Victory Mall, where we had our break and expanded to six branches. After that, we were accepted by SM,” Walther told the Daily Tribune on its show Usapang Business on Monday. “It’s difficult to get a space when you are still a new brand. But things come easier when you’ve built a good performance record. The mall operators themselves will be the ones to approach you.” Despite the first hurdles, Walther managed to pivot fast to smaller malls but still crowded environments to introduce his business and gain traction. He applied this lesson again during the pandemic to serve most customers amid the Covid-19 lockdowns. “We thrived during the pandemic because of the no-dine-in policy and mom-and-pop stores in prime locations. Unlike Shawarma Shack, they have no multiple branches, so they have less capital.” Walther seized this opportunity, turning them into Shawarma Shack franchisees and adding 200 branches to his business. “Some of the original companies were selling tapsilog, a breakfast meal consisting of fried rice, egg and beef strips. Moving forward, Walther was excited to explore the Malaysian and Indonesian markets as another step in honing his adaptation skills. “Everything is under development, similar to how we started developing our franchise in the Philippines. We want to ensure a successful franchise when entering these overseas markets first.” Andria Terese Nicolas, chief marketing officer of Rising Tigers magazine, for her part, said choosing the business leaders with the most inspiring stories for other entrepreneurs takes most of her time. Rising Tigers pool stories of business leaders in Asia impacting their industries and nations. “We’re asking our board to check out the people who want to be part of the magazine. But honestly, I think all leaders who want to join our Rising Tigers are very determined. Still, the main purpose of Rising Tigers magazine is to inspire other entrepreneurs, especially startups,” the 23-year-old political scientist and aspiring lawyer said. She stressed, “We’re looking if they’re philanthropists, and we want them to be distinguished by emphasizing how they’re giving back to the people.” Andria said another challenge is searching for a significant venue for hosting award ceremonies for business leaders. She hoped their stories would translate into helping the Philippines become a model for socioeconomic progress in Asia. “I see Rising Tigers in the future to leave a legacy in our country by helping it become Asia’s number one business hub.” As social media continues to control many aspects of our lives, Andria said the magazine, also sold at National Bookstores, managed to share stories and receive feedback from readers during the pandemic. “Well, it was an eye-opening event as the pandemic removed normality. So, what a person should be doing, especially entrepreneurs, is they should learn to adapt, and everyone is on social media, so there’s an upper hand for media companies. Andria agreed with Walther that business leaders should also learn to control their temper by listening to their teams to determine where they excel and how to improve. “I let the consultants and industry experts train the staff. I learned from my fault for doing all things, not asking for help when I was younger. Back then, I felt I was so smart and unstoppable.” Walther said he does not micro-manage his staff as he has seen them become more self-reliant. “I no longer stay too hands-on because, like a child, the team learns to walk on their own feet as I also become more mature in dealing with franchising challenges.” The post Building success: Young business leaders appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
OCD honors disaster resilience champions
In celebration of the National Disaster Resilience Month (NDRM) last July, the Department of National Defense (DND) - Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) concluded the NDRM with a culminating activity themed “Pagpupugay sa Bidang Pilipino”. DND-OCD and its partners, NDRRMC, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), National Resilience Council (NRC), and ARISE PH co-presented the “Dangal Bantayog ng Katatagan” awards, which recognize national decision-makers, local actors, and changemakers on the ground. The four awardees include SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SMPHI) Chairman of the Executive Committee Hans Sy, DENR Secretary Maria Antonia “Toni” Yulo-Loyzaga, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Renato Solidum, Jr., and Center for Disaster Preparedness President Zenaida Delica-Willison. In his welcome remarks, OCD Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said, “The impeccable performance [of our awardees] over the years inspires the Bayanihan spirit and contributes to a safe, secured, and resilient way of life for every Filipino. They exemplify the value that no one is left behind amid managing disaster risks.” Meanwhile, DND Undersecretary Irineo Espino, on behalf of DND Secretary and NDRRMC Chairperson Gilberto Teodoro Jr., extended his congratulations to the awardees and urged stakeholders to continue working together, coming up with new ideas, and advocating for policies that increase the resilience of the country. The Dangal Bantayog ng Katatagan awardees DENR Secretary Maria Antonia “Toni” Yulo-Loyzaga was conferred with “Dangal ng Pilipino sa Pagtataguyod ng Pampublikong Katatagan” for her exemplary service as the incumbent Secretary of the DENR and Chairperson on Climate Change Adaptation, Mitigation, and Disaster Risk Reduction of the Cabinet Cluster. DOST Secretary Renato Solidum, Jr. on the other hand, received the “Dangal ng Pilipino sa Pagpapaunlad ng Kagalingan at Katatagan” award, recognizing his decades of public service in the field of DRR management and his fundamental contributions in research and development as a scientist. Another staunch advocate of DRRM is Zenaida Delica-Willison who received the “Dangal ng Pilipino sa Bayanihan at Kaligtasan ng Pamayanan” for pioneering the advancement and promotion of community-based DRRM at the national, regional, and international levels. Hans Sy was awarded the “Dangal ng Pilipino sa Pag-Agapay sa Ligtas na Sambayanan,” the first-ever awardee from the private sector. “I stand here today as a believer in the whole-of-society approach as well as the use of science and technology. This and the public-private collaboration are pivotal in addressing systemic risk and reducing disaster losses,” he said. “Let us all bounce forward and embrace the spirit of resilience in everything we do. Together, we can create a world not only that endures but thrives in the face of challenges.” Sy is the Chairman of the Executive Committee of SPHI, Co-Chair of the United Nations DRR Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies or ARISE Philippines, and Co-Chair of the National Resilience Council for the Private Sector. Under his dedicated guidance, SMPHI has continuously promoted environmental sustainability and disaster resilience, giving the next generations hope for progress and prosperity. Expanding DRRM partnerships A summit with a number of seminars was held during the morning session before the awards presentation. The summit's talks were put in motion by one of the keynote speakers, Senate President Pro-Tempore, Senator Loren Legarda. She underlined in her message that improving the nation's resilience to climate change and natural disasters requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-nation strategy. Sen. Legarda also highlighted the need to effectively apply all pertinent legislation in order to achieve the objective of creating communities that are more secure and resilient. See more photos here: The post OCD honors disaster resilience champions appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Coast guard vows transparency regarding CHN incursions
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Sunday vowed to keep disclosing Chinese incursions in the West Philippine Sea and noted that its efforts have been "effective" in preventing China's aggressiveness in the disputed waters. PCG West Philippine Sea spokesperson Commander Jay Tarriela made this claim in a television interview after the Philippines on Wednesday again charged China of "blocking" the passage of two of its two boats in the South China Sea. Tarriela explained that the "transparency initiative" is one of the efforts that PCG is doing to keep Chinese forces out of the targeted zone. "We realized that for the Philippine government to drive away Chinese forces, we need to expose them publicly, create public awareness, and have them criticized by the international community," said Tarriela. He further stated that both the PCG and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) would conduct maritime patrols amid the said initiative. "For the PCG and AFP, it's our commitment to the Filipino people and of course, in compliance with the guidelines of the president, to sustain our presence dito sa West Philippine Sea, and to keep on monitoring what's happening," he said. Envoys of the United States and Japan to the Philippines expressed concern for China's actions. "We are concerned by the unprofessional maneuvers of the China Coast Guard against the Philippines Coast Guard. The PRC’s irresponsible behavior in the South China Sea threatens the security and legal rights of our treaty ally, the Philippines," US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson said in a tweet. "As China’s unilateral actions such as repeated intrusions into Japan’s waters around the Senkaku Islands in the ECS, China's dangerous behavior in the South China Sea in defiance of the 2016 arbitration award is a grave concern for regional peace and stability," Japanese Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa also tweeted. The post Coast guard vows transparency regarding CHN incursions appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Subservient no more
While the United States and China face off in the West Philippine Sea, the balanced diplomatic policy of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. enables him to keep the lines open to both superpowers. The Philippines has a “traditional” alliance with the United States imbued, as a former colony, with a cultural affinity that had resulted in deep relations. Both countries share experiences in history, primarily in World War 2 where the commitments of both countries to defend each other emanated. Former President Rodrigo Duterte tried to deviate from the norm and sought closer relations with China while asserting that the Philippines should not be subservient to the Americans, which was a track that showed success but Beijing fell short of its commitments. A more pragmatic tack was taken by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. which is gaining recognition as the right approach with China and the United States. The country has resumed its normal relations with the US while BBM works for deeper economic and diplomatic relations with the mainland. The direction President Marcos has taken is meant to prove to the two superpowers that it is in the best interest of the Philippines that its relations remain strong and balanced with all countries. The US helps with military modernization, while both countries maintain assistance with various development projects, mainly infrastructure. The country’s role in the volatile West Philippine Sea issue is then relegated to the background. The Philippines has the international community behind it as a result of the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling which, even as it avoided settling the territorial claim, favored the Philippines in terms of the exercise of maritime rights. The 2016 arbitral award significantly invalidated the nine-dash line claim of China on the West Philippine Sea. Enforcing the ruling is difficult since China did not recognize the proceeding but the importance of the decision has emerged in terms of being a reference of countries in addressing the incursions in the West Philippine Sea. Elbridge Colby, former Pentagon Deputy Assistant Secretary and co-founder of the think tank Marathon Initiative, said in a recent forum that the Philippines is “on the right track in building up its defense capabilities.” Building such capabilities will “blunt” potential aggressions in the region, he added. Colby, who engineered the United States 2018 National Defense Strategy, said, “The Chinese are not going to take your diplomacy seriously if you’re operating from a position of weakness; they take it seriously if it’s backed by force that they don’t think they can mess around.” The twin moves of President Marcos to strengthen defense capabilities through the long-held pacts with the US while modernizing the Armed Forces of the Philippines have become a cornerstone of the defense strategy in deterring maritime aggression. Colby underlined the importance of effective deterrence which is meant to avoid the escalation of conflict in the region. Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro is firm in asserting the position of the country to be independent of the superpowers as it tracks its course amid the heightened geopolitical tensions in the region. President Marcos added that he will not allow provocative actions by any country nor allow the Philippines to become a staging post for any kind of military action. The position of strength comes from the ability of the nation to express what it wants within its international rights that other countries should learn to respect. The post Subservient no more appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Steve Aoki, JJ Lin collab on ‘The Show’
Steve Aoki, two-time Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum artist, producer and DJ, has joined forces with chart-topping international sensation JJ Lin to create a stellar new track, “The Show.” The single is the first release from FLUXGEN, a new partnership between Steve Aoki and 88rising. “The Show” presents a colorful music video filmed in Singapore and directed by Edgar Estevez (Ice Spice, Nicki Minaj, French Montana, Doja Cat, Wiz Khalifa) and Jon Primo of Blank Square. In the video, Aoki and JJ Lin find themselves amid an array of dancers and glowing visuals inspired by the vibrancy of Singapore. The video ends with fireworks above the Singapore skyline, boasting the ultimate party vibe. The jellyfish seen in the video were also designed based on the jellyfish of the legendary S.E.A. Aquarium. Several scenes used AI-generated textures which were created using Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform. JJ Lin’s popularity soared throughout Asia with his consistent release of award-winning chart toppers throughout his illustrious career of 20 years, making him one of the most sought-after artists worldwide. Steve Aoki, who centers every one of his artistic endeavors on creativity and community, is also known for his relentless touring and global following, taking the stage more nights of the year than not. He is also a Guinness World Record holder as the “Most Traveled Musician in One Year,” a title he has held since 2012. The post Steve Aoki, JJ Lin collab on ‘The Show’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BCDA sole government agency to win Gold Quill award
Of the 395 entries worldwide, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority is the only Philippine government agency that bagged the most coveted 2023 Gold Quill Award of Excellence for its innovative annual report publications in the past three years. By pushing innovation to improve public’s access to information as well as telling stories behind financial data and technical reports to make it more appealing to its audiences, the “One Nation, One Legacy” BCDA annual report series from 2019 to 2021 met the high standards of the International Association of Business Communicators’ Seven-point Scale of Excellence, taking home the Gold Quill Award of Excellence in Publications. “This is not an ordinary feat for the Philippine government. At a time where many people and organizations were overwhelmed, this recognition demonstrates how important impactful, innovative and clear communication is to its stakeholders. We are humbled by this award that puts BCDA among the ranks of the best communicators in the world. Our vow is to continue setting the bar by reporting accurate financial and operational performances that are accessible and engaging to the public,” said BCDA president and chief executive officer Aileen R. Zosa. Deviating from traditional government reports, BCDA’s “One Nation, One Legacy” series went beyond the usual financial statements by including human interest stories and eye-catching infographics and visuals anchored on corporate governance, business development, project management, and corporate social responsibility initiatives to communicate BCDA’s role as a catalyst of national growth and provider of economic opportunities for Filipinos. “We Win As One” (2019) featured New Clark City’s world-class sports complex completed in record time for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. “We Heal As One'' (2020) focused on BCDA’s role in the whole-of-nation approach in dealing with the pandemic. And lastly, “We Build As One” (2021) highlighted how BCDA exercised political will amid a crippling health crisis to push for the completion of big-ticket infrastructure projects, such as the Clark International Airport terminal. For more than 40 years, IABC’s Gold Quill Awards have recognized and awarded excellence in strategic communication worldwide. The Gold Quill Awards honor the dedication, innovation and passion of communicators on a global scale with a focus on achieving solid business outcomes. Since 2008, more than 5,000 projects have been entered in the Gold Quill Awards. The IABC Gold Quill Awards program recognizes business communication excellence globally, and is acknowledged as one of the most prestigious awards programs in the industry. The post BCDA sole government agency to win Gold Quill award appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Fans in frenzy as Beyoncé kicks off concert tour
Ecstatic Beyoncé fans sang and danced in feverish excitement in Stockholm Wednesday as the superstar kicked off her first solo tour in seven years with a futuristic spectacle featuring a lunar rover, an airborne horse, and wall-to-wall rhinestones. Hours before the doors opened hundreds of people were thronging outside the stadium, including some who had traveled halfway around the world to catch the show, anxious to see the global music icon -- one of the world's best-selling artists. Once the concert was about to begin, the tens of thousands of fans in the 60,000-capacity Friends Arena -- filled to the brim -- erupted in cheers as their "queen" emerged on stage. "Just want to say: Y'all make me so happy," Beyoncé said as the concert began. "I see familiar faces, people that flew from very, very far to come see the first show tonight," she told the audience at the outset of the three-hour space and science fiction-themed show. The show features Beyoncé performing atop a lunar vehicle, playing the role of a news anchor while dressed as a queen bee, and suspended above the crowd as she sits on a model horse completely covered in sparkling rhinestones. "This was another level. Amazing, I can't wait for the rest of the tour," Abdul Ibraimoh, a 33-year-old artist manager from London, told AFP after the show. "There was a lot of anticipation for what she was going to do, and yes I'm speechless, it was just incredible," Shane Barkey, a 31-year-old radio host from Ireland, said. Beyoncé, who has a record 32 Grammy awards; is in the top 10 biggest-grossing female artists. She is also a fashion icon, with designers queueing up for her attention. Many of the fans in Stockholm sported cowboy hats and rhinestones, mimicking the look of the performer's outfit in the ads announcing the 57-stop European and North American tour. Julie Vargas, who flew in from Houston, Texas -- Beyoncé's hometown -- confessed to having a "shrine" dedicated to the star at home. "I don't want any spoilers, I wanted to be the first to see it and take the news back to H-town baby!" the 38-year-old surgical technologist told AFP as she waited in line in the early afternoon. The "Renaissance World Tour", announced in February after being teased last autumn, is the star's first solo tour since 2016. Tickets sold out so quickly for the opening show that tour organizers added a second concert at the same venue for Thursday. From there, she goes to Brussels this weekend. The tour, which continues until September, is expected to earn the international artist nearly $2.1 billion, according to business magazine Forbes. She is already a multi-millionaire. "We love Beyoncé, she's the queen, that's why we are here of course," 36-year-old artist Kasher Bloom from Riga told AFP. "Beyoncé is the queen! Our mother, everything! I would do anything for her," Jarra Jatta, a 21-year-old fan from Helsingborg in southern Sweden. In February, Beyoncé made history by becoming the most successful artist in the history of the Grammys, surpassing the late classical conductor Georg Solti's long-standing record of 31 lifetime trophies. But despite winning another four Grammys, fans were disappointed that she missed out on the award for album of the year for her seventh studio album, the house-tinged "Renaissance". The 16-song 2022 album was an instant hit and earned wide praise for its deep ambition. Born Beyoncé Giselle Knowles, the now-41-year-old has been in the upper echelons of pop music since her teenage years. She initially rose to fame as part of Destiny's Child -- whose smash hits included "Survivor" and "Say My Name" -- before embarking on a wildly successful solo career. From setting the standard for the overnight album drop to delivering her earth-shattering "Homecoming" show at Coachella in 2018, Beyoncé has long bucked the industry's conventional wisdom. She is simultaneously one of music's most private and most watched stars. Her paradigm-shifting 2016 album "Lemonade," which emphasized Black womanhood against the backdrop of America's heritage of slavery and culture of oppression, remains one of the most venerated musical projects in recent memory. Then she dropped the critically acclaimed song "Black Parade" in June 2020, amid nationwide protests ignited by the murder of an unarmed Black man, George Floyd, at the hands of a white police officer. The post Fans in frenzy as Beyoncé kicks off concert tour appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»