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Cap cuffs cartel
Cartels have long lorded over the grains industry as they exploit the heavy reliance of Filipinos on rice and the ever-dwindling farm output due to the failure of the industry to modernize. Just like in any other critical sector, the market opportunists will use the flimsiest excuse to put in place a structured profiteering scheme. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. imposed a price cap on rice as he identified “cartels” and hoarders behind the surging charges. Executive Order 39 fixed the maximum retail price of regular milled rice, consumed by many Filipinos, at P41 per kilo and P45 for the higher-quality well-milled rice. Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile said the dismantling of these groups that dominate the rice business was on the table during the recent Cabinet meetings. As head of the Department of Agriculture, Marcos is well-informed about the syndicates, which have strong backers even within the people surrounding him. Restoring a level field in the rice market would, thus, be a tough operation but it will be a legacy that Filipinos will not forget. Disposing of unscrupulous traders is easier said than done, however. The previous case of Davidson Bangayan, which is the pseudonym of suspected rice smuggling lord David Tan gives the backdrop to the powerful network that the rice syndicates command. Bangayan was placed in the National Bureau of Investigation custody sometime in 2014 when Enrile was the Senate minority leader. Enrile obtained a libel case, Bangayan filed against a prominent businessman in which he specifically stated that he was also David Tan. Before Bangayan’s appearance in the Senate, he met with then-Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to dispute that he and Tan are the same person. After his arrest, primarily due to the Senate probe, strange things started to happen. On his arrest warrant stated “Davidson Bangayan who is not David Tan”, which is the phrase used that led to his release. Also, despite the inquiries in the Senate about his being the kingpin of rice smuggling in the country, the Department of Justice filed electricity pilferage charges against him. De Lima’s excuse then was that her agency was still building up a case against Bangayan regarding rice smuggling. The irony, however, was that De Lima was the last to know what several businessmen and trade groups have long volunteered as information to pin down David Tan, who hides behind the name of Bangayan. The libel case filed by Bangayan against Jesus Arranza, chairman of the Federation of Philippine Industries, or FPI, in 2005 should have ended the charade since Tan admitted in the complaint that he was also Bangayan. It even took the pointed inquiry of Enrile against Bangayan at the Senate apparently to convince the NBI to re-arrest him after he was released through the help of De Lima. With intelligence units of the NBI, the Philippine National Police, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, at her disposal, De Lima had a hard time establishing the identity of David Tan. The elderly Enrile and the other senators, in contrast, were able to amass information to match Bangayan and Tan, pieces of evidence that De Lima did not make use of. The Senate episode on the elusive trader portrays the complex challenges that face Marcos in his goal of removing the mob that manipulates rice prices. Imposing a cap on rice charges sends a message that prices will be the priority of the government and that it will use all means to keep the staple grain within the reach of the majority of the population. The post Cap cuffs cartel appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Martial arts superstar Bruce Lee’s legacy endures 50 years on
Hong Kong businessman W. Wong still remembers the day in 1972 when he first heard neighborhood kids rave about a figure who seemed larger than life: Bruce Lee. Lee, a consummate martial artist whose films spawned a kung fu craze around the world, was one of the first Asian men to achieve Hollywood superstardom before his death at 32. His influence can still be felt in Hong Kong, where he spent his childhood and final years, as fans this week hold exhibitions and martial arts workshops to mark the 50th anniversary of Lee's death. "Every child needs some kind of role model, and I chose Bruce Lee," said Wong, 54, who has led the city's largest fan club devoted to the star for nearly three decades. "I had hoped my life would resemble the Bruce Lee I saw: handsome, strong, with great martial arts skills and a heroic image." At a studio for Wing Chun -- a style of martial arts Lee practiced before inventing his own Jeet Kune Do method -- the martial arts master is revered as something akin to a patron saint. Studio owner Cheng Chi-ping, 69, told AFP his cohort began their training under the shadow of Lee's cultural influence but "we could never match his speed, strength or physique". Lee's appeal had not diminished for the next generation, said Mic Leung, 45, who trained at the same studio and, as a teenager, sought out Lee's movies on old videotapes. "When we talk about the 'god of martial arts', we could only be talking about Bruce Lee. There is no one else," he said. Smashing barriers Born in San Francisco in 1940, Lee was raised in Hong Kong and had an early brush with fame as a child actor, supported by his father, who was a famous Cantonese opera singer. At 18, he continued his studies in the United States and over the next decade taught martial arts and scored minor parts in Hollywood, before landing the role of Kato in the television series "The Green Hornet". But it was not until Lee returned to Hong Kong that he landed his first lead role in the martial arts film "The Big Boss", which made him a household name in Asia after its 1971 release. The next year saw two more box office hits -- "Fist of Fury" and "The Way of the Dragon" -- cementing Lee's persona as a relentless, lightning-fast fighter. Lee had completed filming his fourth star vehicle, "Enter the Dragon", and was halfway through his fifth when he died on July 20, 1973 from swelling of the brain, attributed to an adverse reaction to painkillers. Film scholar Aaron Han Joon Magnan-Park, who taught Lee's movies at the University of Hong Kong, said Lee expressed a kind of Chinese identity that transcended national borders. "I would call Bruce Lee a paragon of Sinophone soft power success with Hong Kong characteristics," he told AFP. In Hollywood, Lee represented a rebuke to racist stereotypes, showing that Asian men were more than just servants and villains. The scenes where he bares his torso and flexes his muscles -- what Magnan-Park called the "kung fu striptease" -- were essential because they show how ripped bodies can belong to Asian heroes as well. "He made Asian men sexy, and that is something I don't think we talk about enough," he said. Preserving legacy Despite Lee's enduring fame, preserving his legacy in Hong Kong was no easy task, fan club chairman Wong told AFP. Government support was intermittent at best, he said. Fans in 2004 successfully petitioned to set up a bronze statue of Lee on Hong Kong's famed waterfront, but a campaign to revitalise his former mansion could not save it from demolition in 2019. At a government-run museum exhibit commemorating Lee's life, a woman surnamed Yip told AFP she wanted to share "a symbol of the old Hong Kong" with her two children. Wong, who had organised a smaller exhibit in Sham Shui Po district, acknowledged a decline of interest among young people but said Lee's philosophy always has the potential to become relevant again. He pointed to how protesters in Hong Kong's 2019 democracy movement cited the martial artist's mantra -- "Be water, my friend" -- as a reminder to adopt flexible tactics of resistance. That discussion has largely tapered off after authorities cracked down on dissent, but Wong remembers the public at the time wondering why young protesters were so taken by Lee. "As long as everyone still remembers (Lee), once your interest is piqued, you will have a chance to rediscover him," he said. The post Martial arts superstar Bruce Lee’s legacy endures 50 years on appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Rescue teams search for missing submersible near Titanic wreck
Rescue teams raced against time on Tuesday in their search for a tourist submersible that went missing near the wreck of the Titanic with five people on board. One of the passengers has been identified as British businessman Hamish Harding, whose aviation firm had posted on social media about his expedition. Prominent Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, who is vice-chairman of the conglomerate Engro, and his son Suleman were also on board, a family statement said. The 21-foot (6.5-meter) craft, operated by OceanGate Expeditions, began its descent to the wreck on Sunday but lost contact with the surface less than two hours later, according to authorities. "As of now, contact has been lost with their submersible craft and there is limited information available," the Dawood family statement said. "We are very grateful for the concern being shown by our colleagues and friends and would like to request everyone to pray for their safety," it added. The US Coast Guard had launched two planes to survey the remote area in the North Atlantic, while its Canadian counterparts had sent a plane and a ship. Time is a critical factor. The vessel has a range of 96 hours for the crew of five, and US Coast Guard Rear Admiral John Mauger said Monday afternoon that he believed it still had 70 or more hours of oxygen remaining. "It is a challenge to conduct a search in that remote area, but we are deploying all available assets to make sure that we can locate the craft and rescue the people on board," Mauger told reporters in Boston on Monday. But with no reported sightings of the vessel or communication signals throughout the day, the US Coast Guard halted its flights for the day. It said search operations through the night would be led by the US National Guard and the mission's operator. The Coast Guard added that searches by Canadian aircraft, which were using buoys to scan underneath the surface, would continue on Tuesday morning. An OceanGate Expeditions spokesperson told AFP in a statement late Monday that "for some time, we have been unable to establish communications with one of our submersible exploration vehicles which is currently visiting the wreck site of the Titanic." "Our entire focus is on the wellbeing of the crew and every step possible is being taken to bring the five crew members back safely." The company uses a submersible named Titan for its dives to the Titanic wreck, with seats priced at $250,000, according to its website. Harding, a 58-year-old aviator, space tourist and chairman of Action Aviation, had posted Sunday on his Instagram account that he was proud to join OceanGate's Titanic mission. "Due to the worst winter in Newfoundland in 40 years, this mission is likely to be the first and only manned mission to the Titanic in 2023," he wrote. Paul-Henry Nargeolet, a veteran diver and expert on the Titanic wreck, was also part of the Titan crew, Harding said in his post. "The team on the sub has a couple of legendary explorers, some of which have done over 30 dives to the RMS Titanic since the 1980s including PH Nargeolet," the post says. Action Aviation posted Sunday on Twitter that "the sub had a successful launch and Hamish is currently diving," and included several photographs of Harding and mission staff on the surface. - 'Clock is ticking' - The Titanic hit an iceberg and sank in 1912 during its maiden voyage from England to New York with 2,224 passengers and crew on board. More than 1,500 people died. The wreckage is in two main pieces 400 miles off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, some 13,000 feet underwater. It was found in 1985 and remains a source of fascination and a lure for nautical experts and underwater tourists. Without having studied the craft itself, Alistair Greig, professor of marine engineering at University College London, suggested two possible theories based on images of the vessel published by the press. He said if it had an electrical or communications problem, it could have surfaced and remained floating, "waiting to be found." "Another scenario is the pressure hull was compromised -– a leak," he said in a statement. "Then the prognosis is not good." While the submersible may still be intact during its dive, "there are very few vessels" able to go to the depth to which the Titan might have traveled. "The clock is ticking, and any submariner/submersible deep divers know how unforgiving the Abyssal domain is: going undersea is as, if not more, challenging than going into space from an engineering perspective," said University of Adelaide associate professor Eric Fusil in a statement. iba/nro/mlm/des/dhw/sco © Agence France-Presse Add to cart Print Download Share this document The post Rescue teams search for missing submersible near Titanic wreck appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
49ers Enterprises agree deal for Leeds takeover
Leeds chairman Andrea Radrizzani has agreed a deal to sell his controlling stake in the club to co-owners 49ers Enterprises, the recently relegated Premier League club said on Friday. As a result the American investment group, owner of the NFL franchise the San Francisco 49ers, and a minority shareholder in Leeds since 2018, will take full ownership. "Leeds United can confirm an agreement has been reached between Aser Ventures and 49ers Enterprises for the purchase of the club," said a statement. "Both parties continue to work through the details, and further updates will be provided soon. "All of our focus remains on a quick return to the Premier League." 49ers Enterprises increased its stake in Leeds to 44 percent in 2021 with the option of buying Radrizzani's remaining 56 percent before January 2024. That agreement, which had valued Leeds at around £400 million ($500 million), was contingent on the club remaining in the Premier League. Leeds' relegation last month forced both parties back into negotiations with the deal now reportedly worth a valuation of just £170 million. Italian businessman Radrizzani bought Leeds in 2017 and helped lead the club back to the Premier League for the first time in 16 years as the appointment of Marcelo Bielsa as manager proved a masterstroke. However, after just three years back in the top flight, Leeds will find themselves in the Championship next season after finishing 19th in the Premier League. The post 49ers Enterprises agree deal for Leeds takeover appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Olympic sponsor gets prison term
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) -- The former chairman of a Tokyo 2020 Olympics sponsor was handed a suspended prison sentence along with two others in the first convictions in a spiraling bribery scandal surrounding the event. Corruption allegations have mushroomed in the aftermath of the pandemic-delayed Games, implicating major companies and damaging Japan's bid to host the 2030 Winter Olympics in Sapporo. Hironori Aoki, the 84-year-old ex-head of high-street business suit retailer Aoki Holdings, received a suspended prison term of two and a half years, a Tokyo District Court spokesman told AFP. Aoki pleaded guilty in December to accusations that he and two colleagues bribed a Tokyo 2020 board member to secure sponsorship rights, according to Japanese media. "These criminal acts damaged social trust in the fair operation of the Games, which attracted world attention and were important for the country," judge Kenji Yasunaga said Friday in comments reported by Jiji Press. Aoki, who had instructed a colleague at the time to destroy evidence, "wanted to pursue the interests of his company," the judge said. Prosecutors had sought immediate jail for the businessman, but instead the court handed down Friday's sentence, suspended for four years. Aoki Holdings was an official partner of the 2020 Olympics -- which were held largely without spectators in 2021 because of Covid -- allowing the firm to use the event's logo and sell officially licensed products. Aoki was arrested in August along with two ex-colleagues and former Tokyo 2020 board member Haruyuki Takahashi. The two ex-colleagues also received suspended jail sentences on Friday, one for a year and the other for 18 months. Takahashi, who is facing several separate bribery charges, has reportedly pleaded not guilty. Takahashi allegedly received $380,000 which he understood to be "thank-you money for the beneficial and preferential treatment" of Aoki Holdings, according to prosecution documents. An Aoki Holdings spokeswoman told AFP: "We take the ruling seriously and will do our utmost to prevent a recurrence and regain trust from our customers." Other parties involved in bribery allegations include a major publishing firm and a merchandise company licensed to sell soft toys of the Games' mascots. The former president of ADK Holdings, Japan's third-largest advertising agency, has pleaded guilty to offering Takahashi over $100,000. Meanwhile, in a separate strand of allegations, senior Tokyo 2020 organizing committee official Yasuo Mori and three others have been arrested on suspicion of rigging a string of Games-related tenders. And in February, Japan's biggest advertising agency, Dentsu Group, was indicted along with five other companies for allegedly violating an anti-monopoly law. As investigations continue, the country's Olympic chief warned this month that Japan could push its Winter Olympics bid back four years to 2034. Japanese Olympic Committee president Yasuhiro Yamashita said it would be "difficult to move ahead without gaining people's understanding" following the scandals. The allegations are not the first-time questions have been raised about alleged impropriety around Tokyo 2020, which took place during a Covid state of emergency and against the backdrop of public anger. The then-head of Japan's Olympic Committee, Tsunekazu Takeda, stepped down in 2019 as French authorities probed his alleged involvement in payments made before Tokyo was awarded the event. He denies wrongdoing. The post Olympic sponsor gets prison term appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Aumentado, Cobonpue to lead RDC-7
CEBU CITY, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., has appointed Bohol Gov. Erico Aris Aumentado and businessman Keneth Cobonpue as chairman and co-chairman, respectively, of the Regional Development Council in Central Visayas (RDC-7). In a statement posted on the official Facebook page of the NEDA 7 on Friday, October 21, 2022, Aumentado’s appointment was […] The post Aumentado, Cobonpue to lead RDC-7 appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Proptech firm vows to honor contracts
Businessman Robbie Antonio, son of Century Properties chairman Jose Antonio, said Revolution Precrafted Properties Inc. would honor its contracts to stakeholders but would need time to fulfill all these obligations......»»
Lopez quits ABS-CBN, other Lopez companies
Businessman Eugenio Lopez III resigned as chairman emeritus and director of ABS-CBN Corp. for “personal reasons” as the network continued to face financial and regulatory difficulties this year......»»
Javi GDL trying to turn dream into reality with sporting goods business
Not only is Javi Gomez de Liano making sure to remain in game shape in the continuing COVID-19 crisis, he is also making it happen outside of basketball. With Cole's Sporting Goods, the University of the Philippines' sweet-shooting swingman has been giving an assist to more than a few people who themselves want to stay in shape. "I started building my own gym at home so I would contact different suppliers for equipment," he shared of the business's origin story. "One of those suppliers told me why don't I do a business since in demand ang gym equipment. I thought it over for a week and true enough, I decided to make it a business." For GDL, this is all about trying to turn another one of his dreams into reality. "Actually, nung bata pa ako, dream ko is to own a fitness gym and a basketball court. I wanna be a businessman and a trainer or a basketball coach after I retire from basketball so I see this as a stepping stone to my future goals," he said. Of course, the 21-year-old's basketball career is still ahead of him - as he is all set to see action for Nueva Ecija in the MPBL as well as the Gilas Pilipinas pool. With the pandemic putting a pause in play, though, GDL has just turned the lemons given him into lemonade. "This is my passion talaga. I'm from CHK rin kaya all the more I love that I'm doing right now," the BS Physical Education student in UP College of Human Kinetics said. Even better, Cole's has been yet another milestone for him and beau Einica Buhain. After all, the name of the business came from her. "At first, I didn't wanna let anyone know I was opening a business because I was uncomfortable. I named it after my girlfriend's second name, which is Nicole, kaya naging Cole," he said. And Buhain means much more to the business than just the name. Cole's is actually a business partnership between Javi and Einica, who is the daughter of former national swimmer and PSC Chairman Eric Buhain. "Nung simula, it was just my business, but siyempre, it was her who always supports me. She'd always offer to help out so eventually, she joined me na rin talaga," he said. He then continued, "We split the investments and all so naging business partners na rin kami in the end." Not only is the couple getting to know each other better and better, they are also getting to know more and more about life thanks to their startup. "This is all good practice actually. We get to learn a lot of life skills especially in financing and business," GDL said. He then continued, "Just like in basketball, we would make mistakes, of course, but we learn from them eventually." --- Follow this writer on Twitter, @riegogogo......»»
All Hail the Camera King! HONOR Magic6 Pro Ranks Number 1 in Camera Global Rankings
The leading global provider of smart devices, HONOR, claimed the top spot as the best camera smartphone in the recent DxOMark ranking test, dethroning its competitors with a high-ranking score of 158. DxOMark, an independent camera testing organization that provides comprehensive evaluations of camera performances, has awarded HONOR Magic6 Pro as the top contender in […].....»»
Sy family invests P5 billion in Megawide affiliate
The Sy family is once again playing a big brother role to a company led by businessman Edgar Saavedra, this time investing in Megawide’s affiliate renewable energy real estate investment trust......»»
Twice s Jihyo, Olympian Yun Sung Bin reportedly dating
Jihyo of Korean girl group Twice and Olympic gold medalist for men's skeleton Yun Sung Bin are dating, according to several media outlets in South Korea......»»
All-Out fight for top spot?
Creamline guns for the solo lead when it collides with Cignal in a battle of the giants today in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the PhilSports Arena......»»
Kristel may ‘tumor’ sa binti, pero naoperahan na: ‘One of the scariest!’
NAUNA na naming ibinalita ang tungkol sa pagsailalim sa surgery ng actress-vlogger na si Kristel Fulgar sa South Korea. Pero at that time kasi, ang tanging sinabi lang niya sa YouTube vlog ay ooperahan siya sa binti at hindi na idinetalye kung ano ang nangyari sa kanya. At heto na nga, may bagong update si.....»»
It s important that you speak up : Morissette scores People s Choice win after gig issue
Morissette still has the people's trust after she won the fan-voted People's Choice at the inaugural Billboard Philippines Women in Music last Friday in Samsung Hall, SM Aura Premier in Taguig City. .....»»
LTFRB to inspect transport terminals
Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Chairman Teofilo Guadiz is scheduled to inspect transport terminals tomorrow ahead of the exodus of passengers during the Holy Week, LTFRB spokesperson Celine Pialago said yesterday......»»
Lady Spikers remain on track
Reigning champion La Salle kept a stranglehold of second spot with a 25-19, 25-21, 25-18 win over FEU in the second-round elims of the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament yesterday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum......»»
She has such a big heart : Jackie Lou Blanco on iconic mom Pilita Corrales
Pilita Corrales was honored with the Icon award at the inaugural Billboard Philippines Women in Music on March 22 in Samsung Hall, SM Aura in Taguig City. .....»»
Sarah Geronimo named 1st Woman of the Year at Billboard Philippines Women of Music awards
Sarah Geronimo made history yet again on Friday night as she was named the first Woman of the Year at the first-ever Billboard Philippines Women in Music awards held in Samsung Hall in SM Aura Premier, Taguig City. .....»»
Diffusing tension
In his 2024 State of the Union Address, President Joseph Biden doubled down on his rhetoric against China as he boasted revitalized partnerships in the Pacific. He rattled off India, Australia, Japan, South Korea and the Pacific Islands. He said the United States is standing up against China’s economic practices while standing up for peace across the Taiwan Strait......»»