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MICRO, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are advised to prepare for and recover from disasters to ensure continuous delivery of products and/or services.

“We needed to strengthen the preparedness of MSMEs, many of whom are part of the supply chain of larger corporations and our vendors, so if they fail, we fail in our philosophy so we need to also focus on MSMEs,” Guillermo Luz, chief resilience officer of the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), said in a webinar.

Luz said the PDRF has programs built around community resilience, disaster recovery, research and communication, and special projects amid several risks the country is facing.

He said it conducts training for resilience and provides advanced information for the business community.

“You need to have a lot of advanced information, data, (and) follow the news so that you can prepare and anticipate what’s gonna happen. So we do this for companies, in exchange they also band together to be able to help each other, and help the community and help the country,” Luz said.

“So just like the weather forecast, early warning is so important for all our businesses if we want to be prepared. And it is a necessary investment but we think that it’s going to pay its way because we can save a lot of lives, you save a lot of property lost,” he added.

The PDRF has digital tools to help small businesses prepare for disasters and build their resilience -- the Disaster Risk and Disaster Preparedness Needs Assessment Tool and the Business Continuity Capability Assessment Tool.

These are practical checklists for MSME owners to help them determine their readiness for different kinds of disruptions and to measure the effectiveness of having a business continuity plan (BCP).

Luz said the Foundation’s corporate members can avail themselves of the Hazard and Disaster Analysis for Business Resilience (Handa) app.

Handa serves as a unified platform that enables member companies to report, monitor and manage incidents and hazards, enabling them to assess and reduce their risk prior to potential disasters.

“Then, we engage in disaster recovery efforts whether its education, livelihood, environment, shelter, or water sanitation help. This is gonna be a post-disaster kind of activity...,” he added.

Luz said the PDRF has also provided a handbook so firms can follow a template to build their BCPs.

The MSME Guide to Disaster Resilience also includes sample toolkits and exercises which can help them develop their own emergency preparedness. / PHILEXPORT

THE highly anticipated Race for Wellness: The Beauty Adventure was successfully brought to Cebu City by Watsons Philippines on June 24, 2023, leaving the Queen City of the South humming with excitement.

The event, which took place at SM Seaside City Cebu, provided a distinctive fusion of sports, excitement, beauty and wellness. It left attendees with priceless memories and a renewed commitment to their health and well-being.

The race exceeded all expectations, offering an enthralling setting, surprises and a ton of freebies. Giant beauty obstacles that were put strategically throughout the race course to offer an interesting touch were eagerly conquered by beauty fanatics. Participants actually had a beauty adventure unlike any other, navigating their way through enormous blenders and make-up brushes.

The inflatable tunnel filled with foam, which gave the race a fun and immersive element, was one of the event’s highlights. Running through the tunnel, feeling the foam engulf them in an exciting and exhilarating moment, the runners couldn’t contain their joy.

“Watsons is your partner in attaining your health, wellness, and beauty goals. We all share the same passion to get active and to achieve for ourselves a healthier and more beautiful lifestyle. We hope that we’re able to put smiles on our customers’ faces through the Watsons Race for Wellness: The Beauty Adventure. We also hope that everyone enjoyed all the exciting booth activities and performances. As we want all our customers to look good, do good and feel great!” said trading beauty director of Watsons Philippines Kim Reyes.

Along with a unique experience, participants received complete race kits that included singlets, bibs, finisher’s medals and gift bags. In addition to providing a variety of product freebies and samples during the race, Watsons’ partner brands and exhibitors also added to the excitement by making the participants’ journey and enjoyable experience even better.

People from various walks of life were able to connect through Watsons’ Race for

Wellness: The Beauty Adventure, which also highlighted the distinctive identities and

individualities of each participant. On the race tracks, many groups, like the Mandaue PWD

(Persons with Disabilities) Community, Petlovers and LoveYourself Cebu, could be seen having a good time.

Mark Mahinay and Evamie Villarin took first place in the 5K Male & Female category as the overall champions. Dhem AJ Monton and Art Joy Torregosa took first place in the 10K category.

“The event was fun. Though I haven’t beaten my personal best, I still did all my best on running the 10 kilometer run category,” Torregosa said.

“We are thrilled to have successfully brought the Race for Wellness: The Beauty Adventure to Cebu City. This event truly embodies our dedication to providing our customers with countless ways while staying beautiful. We believe in a holistic approach to health care that goes beyond traditional norms. The Race for Wellness: The Beauty Adventure is a perfect example of that,” said senior assistant vice president for marketing at Watsons Philippines Sharon Decapia.

For its significant contributions to the resounding success of The Race for Wellness: The

Beauty Adventure in Cebu City, Watsons Philippines expresses its sincere gratitude to the outstanding participants, committed volunteers, priceless partners and supportive local government.

UNDEFEATED prospect Regie Suganob attempts to become a world champion as he challenges International Boxing Federation (IBF) light flyweight titleholder Sivenathi Nontshinga on Sunday, July 2, 2023, at the ICC Centre in East London, South Africa.

Suganob is known for his technical boxing skills and he’ll use that as his main arsenal against Nontshinga.

“Our game plan is calculated boxing. The opportunity for a knockout is always there but we want to stick with our game plan, wear down Nontshinga and wait for him to make a mistake then go for the knockout,” PMI Boxing’s head Floriezyl Echavez Podot, Suganob’s handler, told SunStar Cebu.

Filipinos rarely come out victorious in South Africa against a South African in a title fight. However, Podot is confident the judges will give it to the rightful winner if the fight reaches a decision.

“Scoring points is Regie’s bread and butter in his fights. We are not also afraid of the officiating because the officials that are assigned are fair,” said Podot.

The judges assigned to this fight are Filipino Gil Co, South African Deon Dwarte and American Lisa Giampa.

The 25-year-old Suganob earned a world title shot after winning an eighth-round technical decision over fellow Pinoy Mark Vicelles in an IBF light flyweight title eliminator last Feb. 25 in Bohol.

On the other hand, the 24-year-old Nontshinga just won the vacant IBF light flyweight belt after a split-decision win over Hector Flores in Mexico.

Suganob is 13-0 with four knockouts, while Nontshinga is 11-0 with nine knockouts.

If victorious, Suganob joins World Boxing Association and International super bantamweight king Marlon Tapales as the country’s world champions. (EKA)

Former guerrilla leader Xanana Gusmao was sworn into office by President Jose Ramos-Horta, his fellow independence fighter during Indonesia’s occupation.

The Thai royal family gave the animal as a gift to Sri Lanka’s government in 2001, but it has been mistreated and has a long-neglected injury, an activist group says.

TAXPAYERS engaged in exports and e-commerce should this early start preparing to comply with electronic invoicing requirements as the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) broadens the coverage of its electronic invoicing system (EIS) implementation, according to a tax expert.

Lawyer Rule Oporto, senior director for business tax services at SGV & Co., said that after launching the pilot EIS implementation among 100 large taxpayers in July 2022, the agency is now poised to roll out the project to all other covered taxpayers.

The BIR has identified an additional 100 taxpayers for this year’s rollout, which will cover not just the large taxpayers but also those engaged in the export of goods and services and those engaged in e-commerce.

Moreover, the agency has identified an additional 500 taxpayers for inclusion in the pilot by the fourth quarter, said Oporto in a recent webinar conducted by the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.

The EIS is an electronic platform developed by the BIR with the capability to receive, process and store data from taxpayers.

BIR issued last year the Revenue Regulations (RR) 8-2022 on policies and guidelines for the use of EIS and RR 9-2022 on the admissibility of sales documents in electronic format.

She said the agency will be issuing revenue memorandum circulars (RMCs) to clarify RR 8-2022 and provide guidelines to covered taxpayers on EIS implementation.

RR 8-2022 states that taxpayers mandated to comply with e-invoicing are the following: those engaged in the export of goods and services, those engaged in e-commerce, and large taxpayers.

Taxpayers not mandated to issue e-receipts/e-invoices and/or transmit sales data to the EIS may continue to use manual receipts/invoices or issue computerized accounting system (CAS) or point-of-sales (POS)-generated receipts/invoices based on existing revenue issuances, said Oporto.

However, taxpayers who opt to issue e-receipts or e-invoices and transmit sales data to the EIS may comply with the provisions of these regulations, she continued.

Opporto clarified that what should be transmitted to the EIS are the sales data and not the source documents.

According to the guidelines issued to the pilot taxpayers, sales data required for transmittal include document number, issuance date, unique ID number, seller information, buyer information, details of items/nature of service sold, sales amount, value added tax, discounts, correction code/reasons, withholding tax and other taxable/non-taxable revenue, she said.

Source documents of the sales data include sales invoices, official receipts, service billings, debit memo/debit note, credit memo/credit note and other adjustment documents.

BIR also prescribes that sales reporting must start the day after the PTT is issued, and that transmission must be done in real time or near real time, which is within three calendar days from the transaction date.

Taxpayers face penalties for late or no transmission of sales data. For each day of violation, the penalty is one-tenth of one percent of the annual net income for the second year preceding or P10,000, whichever is higher. If the days of violation exceed 180 days, the penalty is a permanent closure. / PHILEXPORT

The annual celebration was expected to attract more than 100,000 in its new location after a Christian group took the event’s usual spot at City Hall when authorities said it was more family-friendly, despite Pride taking place there since 2015.

July 01, 2023 7:45 PM

The Christian group CTS said it was not trying to thwart LGBT people.

The Supreme Court (SC) decision suspending the law license of Lorenzo “Larry” Gadon proves that there are limits to the kind and amount of muck or dirt one can throw during an election campaign.

The campaign is unfortunately considered a free-for-all where anything goes to ensure the victory of a candidate. The message of the Supreme Court (SC) is that it is no longer true. There are limits to the throwing of insults even in a campaign.

Gadon was a senatorial candidate under the lineup of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the May 2022 elections. He was appointed by Marcos as presidential adviser on poverty alleviation with the rank of secretary at the end of the one-year ban on those who unsuccessfully ran during the May 9, 2022, national and local elections.

Despite his disbarment, Gadon was not removed from his anti-poverty post, although he was absent from the first meeting held Saturday, July 1, 2023, by Marcos for the National Anti-Poverty Commission.

The SC disbarred Gadon for his “misogynistic, sexist and abusive remarks” against female journalist Raissa Robles, South China Morning Post correspondent in Manila. At one point Gadon had shouted that Robles should go f___ a dog.

The SC said Gadon’s actions against Robles were “indisputably scandalous that it discredits the legal profession.” A total of 15 justices voted for his disbarment, making the decision unanimous.

But for Gadon, he succeeded in making Marcos win and that was all that counted. He said in an ANC report, “If I did not counter those acts of Raissa Robles, then people would’ve or might have believed her. Then, my President might not have won.”

This is what the election campaign in the country has come to — with muckraking or dirt being thrown at candidates, their camps, or the media regardless of the truth.

It was in December 2021 when Gadon posted a video of himself answering allegations of Robles against Marcos on his tax returns. It was for Gadon “valid” muck or dirt he threw at Robles in the heat of the campaign season.

The electorate can only hope the next general elections would have a limit to the muck-raking and a leveling-up in the quality of political discourse on platforms of government and plans for the next years.

The SC is telling future candidates and their handlers or “bulldogs” they should put the leash on those who can only damage their campaigns. There are limits to the amount and kind of muck one can throw at a rival candidate’s camp or the media whose job it is to raise questions as part of the campaign discussion.

It is not clear if Gadon is still the presidential adviser on poverty alleviation because he was not present in the Saturday anti-poverty commission meeting. What is clear is that it is risky to have him in anybody’s election campaign and he should be restrained if he goes too far again.

I spotted them on my first run here. I actually thought someone was raising ducks in the development.

In the beginning, they seemed wary of me which should have raised a red flag they were not domesticated creatures. When I ran past them the first few times on the trails, they seemed to cautiously retreat to the trees.

I didn’t think about it then but now, I remember the rangers in Africa telling us about the wildlife and their charging distance.

You have to keep a certain distance between yourself and the wildlife or they will charge at you. Breaching that distance intrudes upon their personal space and territory. This intrusion will be interpreted as an attack and they will be compelled to defend themselves.

On a walking safari in Botswana, we saw a herd of elephants in the distance. We were not walking towards them but walking on the same fields with them somehow agitated them. They suddenly gave off an angry sound.

That was the ominous warning that got us scrambling to walk in another direction. As we walked farther and farther away from them, the elephants calmed down.

So, did the ducks scare me? Not really. Though, they were plenty. At least 30 on their first appearance. But probably more. I had never seen them before. But I had never ventured into the trails, either.

I did not approach or try to pet them. I knew better. All those trips to Africa got me safari-trained.

When I excitedly told my siblings about them, they laughed and told me I was probably hallucinating. No one was raising ducks in the development. They told me they needed proof of life.

To my dismay, I found no sign of them in my succeeding runs. I began to wonder if I had hallucinated. After all.

In my earnest search for the ducks, I began to notice a pond beyond the trees where I saw the ducks retreat when they first saw me running through the trails. When I told my sibs about the pond, my brother said there was now a possibility that I was not hallucinating. After all.

Obviously, these ducks were wildlife. No one was raising them.

To my delight, I, eventually, saw them again. I provided proof of life via videos and photos. It was then when my sister identified them as Canadian Geese.

They’re all over North America and can be found close to water, feeding typically in open grassy areas. They’re rarely aggressive to people unless nesting their young. And they’re one of the most intelligent birds having great memory of people, animals and situations.

In the succeeding runs, they no longer retreated when I ran past them. They must have recognized me then and knew I posed no threat. Just when we were starting to grow on one another, things had to end. And that’s why you have to bolt your heart shut. Sometimes.

They came to see me on my last run. I will hold on to the memories till I see them again.

In a captivating display of creativity, sustainability and sheer beauty, the Bezza Santorini Cruise Collection made its grand debut at Kandaya Resort in Daanbantayan, Cebu on May 23, 2023.

Claudia Bezza Yeung, the talented designer and former fashion model, unveiled her fifth collection, which consisted of 55 remarkable pieces inspired by the enchanting colors and captivating atmosphere of Santorini, Greece.

As the sun began its descent over the horizon, casting its warm glow upon the ocean, 15 top professional and celebrity models graced the longest catwalk in the country — a mesmerizing fourth of a kilometer-long stretch right on the edge of the breathtaking resort. Against this stunning backdrop, Bezza’s creations took center stage, exuding elegance and versatility.

What sets Bezza’s designs apart is her unwavering commitment to sustainability. With a dedication to reducing fashion waste, she sources discarded fabrics from China and Dubai, breathing new life into them through her ingenious craftsmanship. For this collection, fabrics acquired at different times were meticulously stored since the pandemic, awaiting their transformation into Bezza’s Santorini-inspired vision.

The one-size-fits-all concept is beautifully realized throughout Bezza’s creations. Loose and flowing on some bodies, while embracing and accentuating curves on others, the designs celebrate individuality and offer endless possibilities. Each garment is ingeniously constructed to transform effortlessly, allowing the wearer to curate an entire wardrobe with a single dress — an embodiment of Bezza’s design mantra.

Bezza’s creative process, deeply rooted in her fashion journey, speaks volumes about her dedication to her craft. Drawing inspiration from her mother, she honed her sewing skills at an early age, adorning her dolls with scraps of fabric. Her experience as a globetrotting fashion model compelled her to reimagine her wardrobe, repurposing and customizing garments to create unique looks. Eventually, her creations gained recognition and found a home with fellow models.

Dispensing with traditional sketching methods, she finds solace in manipulating fabrics directly on the body. Draping and sewing on her own physique, she discovers new possibilities for transformation. This intuitive approach infuses her designs with an organic, personalized touch, ensuring that each piece is a testament to the wearer’s individuality.

A pivotal moment during the fashion show was when the sun gracefully descended into the horizon, casting its fiery colors upon the runway. As the radiant hues danced on the models’ garments, an ethereal ambiance engulfed the venue, perfectly encapsulating the harmonious blend of nature and fashion that Claudia Bezza Yeung envisioned.

The Bezza Santorini Cruise Collection has surely marked a new chapter in sustainable fashion.

@SKYWALKER: Early this year, there was a big issue in the office. Because we were supposedly brainstorming, I was so candid to point out the lapses of our boss that contributed to the situation. Well, I was right in the points I made. But I think I was wrong for putting her on the spot. Our relationship went downhill from there. She gave me a rating as a performer corresponding to a very minimal raise even if I was performing, overall, higher than my peers. And she does not hesitate to highlight everything she thinks were wrong with my job to the point like she’s already singling me out. I love working for this company. Can I still recover from this situation?

DJ: It is a delicate situation. Given the limited information, I can’t absolutely say what you did was right or wrong. Let me tell you this though — timing and manner make a huge difference. A private setting is preferred. Unless it’s a life and death situation. Doing it in front of others can be embarrassing. I’m sure you’ve heard about the adage that people can forget what’s said but not how it made them feel. Did you carefully frame your claim in a respectful manner? Did you offer suggestions or solutions instead of just attacking the decision? Were you calm and not emotional?

I was also the straight-forward type when I was a corporate guy. We were told we had a culture of straight talk. Through time I realized there is more to it than what meets the eye. One still needs to observe the boss’ communication style and adapt accordingly. We want to envision bosses as servant leaders. But keep in mind that they are humans too. Some prefer direct and assertive communication. Others respond better to a subtle and diplomatic approach. Thus, the need to customize our approach. It increases the likelihood of a positive outcome.

If indeed the relationship has turned sour, can you still recover? Your points were right. If, however, you think you made a misstep in your timing and manner, take responsibility. It shows maturity and a willingness to learn from the experience. Let her know you understand the impact of your action. No need to make excuses. I’m sure you know that an apology with an excuse is a case of sorry but not sorry. Ask for her input on how you both can rebuild trust. It demonstrates sincerity to learn from it and to repair the relationship. Having a coach, preferably outside your company, to navigate the situation helps. Patience, resilience and dedication to move this forward can get you through.

Trust is both earned and given. Keep that in mind. No matter how hard you work on earning it again, she must do her part as well. Now that’s beyond your control. Other factors are also coming into play like the nature of your relationship with her prior to the incident, your track record, the strength of the foundation of trust, her management style, not to mention her willingness as a person to forget and move forward. From the experiences of people I know, a soured relationship with the boss can hardly be made sweet again. Who knows? Your case might be among the few exceptions. You can give this about a year or so. Then decide from there.

Everyone makes mistakes. It does not define your worth or capabilities. I also made some missteps with bosses in the past. But things still turned out for the better. Everything we go through — both good and bad — are opportunities for growth and learning. I wouldn’t have the insights that can fill a Sunday column if not for a couple of mistakes made! No regrets. Just lessons learned. You can’t undo what happened. No use dwelling on it. I suggest you shift your attention towards finding solutions, both inside and outside the company. You are much stronger than your circumstance. You can rise from this better, stronger and wiser. All the best!

I came across a video recently that warns people to not “wish on a false star.” It was one of those videos that teaches important life lessons in the guise of mystical and strange short stories. In this one, the narrator warns how wishing on a false star can make your wishes go wrong and how it eventually steals all hope. This sheds light on how one is forced to make big life decisions by those around oneself which just drains anyone. While many look up to the stars for guidance and protection, one must forget the strength and certainty of oneself.

There is strength and certainty within everyone. It just needs to be found and brought out by the right people. In my line of work, a specific factor of Human Success, Heaven Luck, can find strength and direction. Heaven Luck deals with everything and anything about a person. From their possible future jobs, to who they are, to their future prosperity, nothing can hide from Heaven Luck. With Heaven Luck, one would not need the stars for guidance and direction.

Although knowledge is power, without the force or the action behind it, it is as strong as having no knowledge at all. With our Man Luck, another factor of Human Success that deals with our actions, one is able to make their dreams and goals a little bit closer. However, Man Luck isn’t just our hard work, but it is also our preparation for it. Making plans, acquiring more knowledge and finding the right time. Though one needs to act, one must not forget to be smart in our actions for the maximum rewards to be reaped.

Despite these two factors being substantial and reaching what one wishes for, one last factor is what can seal the deal. That factor is our Earth Luck, which deals with the energy of an environment. Knowing one’s Heaven Luck, one can be quick to realize how the environment is not favoring oneself, however, to change it is easier said than done. Heaven Luck and Man Luck must be used in harmony so that the ideal Earth Luck may be achieved.

One detail I intentionally left out are the external factors that can make this more difficult. Those factors can be societal expectations, loved ones, and even our own confidence. While there are many case by case situations to consider, what I know is that, would you rather live a life where you never did the things you loved to do? To do the things one loves and to shine beautifully while doing it isn’t just something one benefits from, because with our shine, one can be the real star people can wish on.

The senior years can become fertile soil for the Boredom Grass to sprout on and thrive.

July is “National Anti-Boredom Month,” a celebration created by Alan Caruba in 1980. Caruba wanted to pull people away from twiddling their thumbs or doing Marites stuff (gossiping) or doing a Karen (entitled complaining and the like) for lack of better acts to do.

There is a phobia associated with the fear of boredom: thaasophobia. Now I can go back to CodyCross to fill in the last blank in the puzzle.

The fact that boredom has a “medical” twang means it is serious, and the fact that I play CodyCross means I am seriously nearing the Marites or Karen level of boredom.

Many seniors in my neighborhood look out of their windows, waiting for the second tranche of their pension to come. Others sit by pawnshop benches, watching the world go by.

If boredom was not even defined by the Greeks because they considered it “as natural as breathing” (from National Today, my source), should we be concerned?

Yes. According to my source, researchers have shown how too many empty hours can give rise to psychological symptoms such as anxiety, depression, aggression, and even heart ailments among other issues.

If you are getting bored with this, here’s a bit of history (never get bored with history; we are all part of it).

In the 2nd Century A.D., a Roman chief saved a town from boredom. In 1852, in his book “Bleak House,” Charles Dickens used boredom for the first time.

For the first time in Prose-Sake, it is cited that seniors can be hard hit by boredom, partly for being housebound with nothing to do.

But even non-seniors can struggle with boredom. Believe the Greeks. We all breathe.

Fight boredom. Maybe that neighbor of mine is on to something as she passes her time in front of the village pawnshop. She gets to meet people she knows to get the latest Marites topic or add to Karen issues.

The point in first aid to boredom is to get off your butt, and go out, force yourself if need be, to take a walk, talk to people to redirect focus away from yourself. If you can’t get out, maybe CodyCross and other game apps can lessen the edge of doing nothing.

Share your skills. A senior who goes by the name Thelma frequently holds free quilting sessions in her church’s social center to teach young and old this fabulous craft. She expands her circle of friends and comes home refreshed.

Give yourself a treat. Go to the new milk tea kiosk in your village. Get flavors you have never tried before. Make activity as normal as breathing to fight boredom.

July 01, 2023 6:00 PM

The Kachin Independence Army has denied responsibility.

Authorised psychiatrists can prescribe the drugs after it was decided they are ‘relatively safe’ when used in a ‘medically-controlled environment’.

The Philippines just got a rebranded tourism campaign, but some of the elements of the past tourism brand remained.

The Philippines just got a rebranded tourism campaign, but some of the elements of the past tourism brand remained.

July 01, 2023 5:20 PM

Supporters of the move hope the drugs can provide breakthroughs for mental health patients.

The Taguig City government provided assurance to the residents who have been directly affected by the two-decade dispute against Makati City.