Category: Business Mirror

LAURA YOUNGSON didn’t expect to focus so much on soccer cleats when she organized a group of women to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and play a high-altitude match.

The point of the 2017 game was to highlight inequality in sports for women and girls. On that front, Youngson achieved her goal with the match becoming the subject of a documentary and landing the group in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Still, something bothered Youngson as the match unfolded. Glancing at the athletes’ feet, she was struck that all the women were wearing men’s or boy’s soccer cleats instead of gear that was designed specifically for them. The realization led her to launch IDA Sports, which makes soccer cleats for the unique athletic needs of women.

‘There was this real commercial gap for performance footwear for women,’ said Youngson, whose IDA cleats are worn by players including Washington Spirit midfielder Courtney Brown. ‘As the game is growing, we’re in this moment when everything’s professionalizing, but the footwear wasn’t really keeping pace, so I wanted to go and change that.’

IDA is among a growing number of companies founded in recent years to prioritize women in sports.

These aren’t just lifestyle or athleisure brands. Moolah Kicks, for instance, makes women’s basketball shoes designed specifically for women’s feet and counts Courtney Williams of the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx as one of its partners. Lindsay Housman founded Hettas, a performance running shoe company. Saysh, Olympic gold medalist Allyson Felix’s running shoe company, allows buyers to make free exchanges when their size changes during pregnancy.

Beyond shoes, Liv Cycling makes performance bicycles for women and there’s even Indiana Fever partner Sequel tampons, which have spiraled grooves that help prevent leaks during strenuous activities.

The companies are entering the market at a time when interest in women’s sports is intensifying.

The WNBA has shattered attendance records recently, lifted by the star power of players like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. National Women’s Soccer League teams are worth 29 percent more this year than they were a year ago, with both Angel City and the Kansas City Current now valued at over $250 million. Several new pro sports leagues have formed in recent years, including the Professional Women’s Hockey League and the 3-on-3 Unrivaled basketball league. The Women’s Professional Baseball League is set to launch next year.

Overall, women’s sports generated global revenue of $1.88 billion in 2024 and is projected to rake in $2.35 billion this year, according to consulting firm Deloitte. Commercial revenue, including s ponsorships and merchandising sales, surpassed $1 billion globally for the first time last year.

No more ‘shrink it and pink it’

ALL that growth means more opportunities for women-owned brands-and a chance to reject the ‘shrink it and pink it’ mentality in which companies were criticized for taking men’s products and selling them to women by making them pretty rather than functional.

‘Marketing is all about understanding the needs of consumers,’ said Dae Hee Kwak of the Center for Sport Marketing Research at the University of Michigan School of Kinesiology. ‘So thinking of the needs of the women’s sports fan and athlete, who understands them better than women, right?’

Leela Srinivasan, CEO of the sports marketing and sponsorship platform Parity, said men’s products simply weren’t built for women’s bodies.

‘Women in motor sports will tell you that even the way the seat belts are designed, they don’t fit right, they don’t fall in the right places,’ Srinivasan said. ‘You talk to Lynn Saint James, the motor sports legend, about how she couldn’t reach the pedals. Nothing has been designed with women’s bodies in mind.’

Bonnie Tu, who founded Liv Cycling, experienced that problem with bicycles.

‘Whenever I’d go for vacation, I would take a bike from the hotel,’ Tu said. ‘Most of the time, I would get myself hurt because the bike doesn’t suit me well. Because most of the bikes are meant for men, no matter if it’s a mountain bike or it’s road bike, it was all for men.’

Youngson similarly looked at biomechanical needs when designing cleats for IDA, resulting in a product that features a wider toe box, narrower heel and shorter studs than men’s boots.

For those who have spent decades in and around women’s sports, these shifts represent a profound change. Natalie White, who founded Moolah Kicks after playing basketball in college and working on the business side of several WNBA teams, recalled always playing the sport in boy’s and men’s shoes.

‘It wasn’t until I was a senior in college and I saw an advertisement that had more top WNBA players holding out men’s shoes that it really hit me, ‘Oh, my God, this is crazy.’ When you begin your career, through pro, you’re not only going to be playing in equipment that isn’t fit for you, but you’re going to be promoting it?’ White said. ‘Oh my gosh, crazy.’

The bigger shoemakers, including Adidas and Nike, have developed women’s soccer and basketball shoes in recognition of the growing market and the needs of the female athlete. Sabrina Ionescu has a signature shoe with Nike and, this past summer, Adidas released its first player edition of Adidas’ F50 Sparkfusion cleat with NWSL star Trinity Rodman.

Women want products without pandering

DAE HEE KWAK said that in addition to products made specifically for them, women also value authenticity as consumers. And that means working with women’s leagues, athletes and sometimes causes involving equity and social justice.

IDA, for example, has partnered with the players’ unions for both the NWSL and the Gainbridge Super League, a top-tier domestic professional women’s soccer league that launched last year.

Coalition Snow, a women-led ski and snowboard company based in Reno, Nevada, not only makes sure of safe and fair working conditions throughout its supply chain, it also uses recycled material for packaging and partners with a nonprofit to plant trees in rural Kenya for every board or pair of skis sold.

Liv Cycling sponsors women’s racing teams and competitions, like the Tour de France Femmes, in addition to community clubs. Athlete involvement in the creation of products helps, too. It’s really what personalizes these companies compared to the sporting goods giants.

But it’s all about taking that first leap, Youngson said.

‘As the game grows and professionalizes, it should be attractive to brands,’ Youngson said. ‘So then you’re going, ‘Why aren’t you doing it?’ Because the money’s there, the game’s there. Why can’t we have all of this choice around us in the same way that the men’s game has?’

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has accepted the Senate’s challenge to take the lead in farm-to-market road (FMR) projects amid allegations of misuse of public funds in previous FMR schemes managed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

During a Senate hearing on the proposed budget of the DA on Friday, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced the agency’s readiness to take over the construction of critical infrastructure aimed at promoting rural development, raising farmers’ incomes, and ensuring a steady supply of affordable food.

‘At the last Senate hearing on the Department of Agriculture’s 2026 budget, we were issued a direct challenge: to take charge of farm-to-market road projects ourselves,’ Tiu Laurel said.

Alluding to the controversy now faced by the DPWH on various infrastructure projects, the DA chief added, ‘Instinct tells us to steer clear. To play it safe. But this is no time for hesitation . and so, we rise to meet the moment.’

The DA had explained that even though FMR schemes are identified and validated by the agency, these road projects are commissioned, bid out, and constructed by the DPWH.

Earlier, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian flagged possible overpricing worth over P10 billion in the construction of 70,000 kilometers of roads. He noted that such is enough to build a two-lane highway from Manila to Aparri.

He noted the top 10 ‘extremely overpriced’ FMRs last year, with a project worth P348,432 per meter leading the list. This figure was 96 percent higher than the P15,000 per meter benchmark by the DA.

‘These are roads the nation paid for-yet many of our farmers have yet to walk on them,’ he said.

Gatchalian then welcomed the agency’s decision to take on his challenge to implement the FMR program independently.

He expressed confidence that the DA chief’s private sector experience would help reduce construction costs, allowing the program to cover a wider area.

‘More importantly, this will make it easier to establish accountability.not just within the DA, but across all involved agencies,’ Gatchalian said.

For his part, Senator Francis Pangilinan expressed hope that the DA would do a ‘better job’ in constructing FMRs.

He then lauded the agency’s plan to include a citizen participatory audit in the process, noting that it would enhance transparency and ensure greater public accountability.

‘As they say, in crisis there is opportunity. Hopefully, moving forward, we can make the most out of every peso allocated to the DA and its attached agencies, and ensure that it is money well spent,’ Pangilinan said.

Tiu Laurel clarified, however, that the DA will not do this alone. He vowed to work closely with local government units (LGUs), farmers’ groups, and third-party auditors and surveyors to ensure transparency, accountability, and community alignment.

‘This mandate is too large, too critical, and too prone to misuse to be entrusted to a single agency,’ said Secretary Tiu Laurel. ‘Para sa bayan, hindi namin tatalikuran ang hamon ng panahon,’ he added.

Once again, an endangered orca in Washington state has been seen carrying her dead newborn calf in an apparent effort to revive it.

Researchers with the Center for Whale Research, SeaDoc Society and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance said they received reports on Friday that the whale-identified as J36-was pushing the dead calf in Rosario Strait, part of the Salish Sea in the San Juan Islands.

They were able to confirm that the female calf, which still had its umbilical cord attached, was deceased.

Calf mortality is always high among orcas, but the endangered population of killer whales that frequent the marine waters between Washington state and Canada have especially struggled in recent decades due to a lack of their preferred prey, Chinook salmon, as well as pollution and vessel noise that interferes with their hunting.

There are 73 whales remaining in the so-called Southern Resident population.

Early this year, another Southern Resident orca-known as Tahlequah, or J35-was observed carrying the body of a deceased newborn. Tahlequah made global headlines in 2018 for carrying a dead calf for more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km) over 17 days.

Researchers said it wasn’t clear if J36’s calf had been born alive. Based on prior observations of the whale, the calf would have been no more than three days old when it was spotted dead on Friday.

J36 was not carrying the calf when researchers observed her on Saturday, said SeaDoc Society spokesperson Justin Cox.

A CHINA Coast Guard (CCG) vessel rammed and blasted a water cannon at a Philippine government ship near Pag-asa Island on Sunday morning, in what Philippine officials condemned as a dangerous and illegal act in the West Philippine Sea.

The incident occurred as three vessels from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), including the BRP Datu Pagbuaya, were anchored near Pag-asa Island to support local fisherfolk under the ‘Kadiwa para sa Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda’ program.

At around 8:15 a.m., Chinese Coast Guard and Maritime Militia vessels approached and began shadowing the Philippine ships.

By 9:15 a.m., CCG vessel 21559 fired a water cannon at the Datu Pagbuaya, then rammed its stern three minutes later, causing minor structural damage.

No injuries were reported.

‘Despite these bullying tactics and aggressive actions, the PCG and BFAR remain resolute,’ said PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela.

‘We will not be intimidated or driven away, as our presence in the Kalayaan Island Group is crucial for protecting the rights and livelihoods of Filipino fishermen.’

The National Maritime Council condemned the incident as ‘illegal and reckless,’ asserting that the Philippines was operating within its sovereign territory.

The council cited the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award, which invalidated China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea.

China, however, claimed the Philippine vessels ‘illegally intruded’ into waters near Pag-asa Island (Tiexian Jiao), which it considers part of Spratly Islands (Nansha Qundao).

CCG spokesperson Liu Dejun said the Philippine vessel dangerously approached CCG 21559 during a ‘normal law enforcement mission,’ and that the Chinese response was ‘lawful, professional, and necessary.’

The incident drew swift international rebuke.

U.S. Ambassador MaryKay Carlson lauded the ‘tremendous valor and skill’ of Filipino personnel and condemned China’s ‘aggressive actions in defiance of international law,’ reaffirming U.S. support for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.

The European Union Delegation to the Philippines echoed the concern, stating that ‘Chinese dangerous actions today in the waters of Pag-asa Island further destabilize the South China Sea.’

The EU reiterated its call for restraint and full respect for the rules-based international order, including UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award, and emphasized that ‘freedom of navigation must be upheld.’

The Philippine government said it would file a diplomatic protest and continue to assert its rights in the Kalayaan Island Group.

THE Batang Pinoy will go on as scheduled from October 25 to 30 in General Santos City amid the twin earthquakes that shook Mindanao last week, according to Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Patrick ‘Pató’ Gregorio.

‘It’s all system go, and all the venues, plus the athletes remain okay and safe,’ Gregorio told reporters during the Fifth Siklab Awards Night on Saturday at the Diamond Hotel in Manila. ‘There are no damage so far so good in all the venues,’ added Gregorio, who himself felt the earthquake while he was on a sortie on the big island to oversee both preparations for the PSC’s flagship program for the youth and the creation of a Mindanao Stadium at the University of the Philippines-Mindanao campus in Davao City.

‘General Santos City has been preparing for a long time for the Batang Pinoy,’ Gregorio said. ‘They are ready.’

He added that the local Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Coast Guard and local government officials are in harness for the Batang Pinoy, a 27-sport competition for children athletes aged 17 and below.

The General Santos City games, Gregorio said, will gather some 60,000 delegates-20,000 athletes and another 40,000 more who are either coaches, LGU officials and family of the athletes.

Gregorio, meanwhile, said that the Mindanao Stadium will serve as a training center for national athletes on the island and called for full government support for the facility.

National Basketball Association (NBA) general managers (GMs) overwhelmingly expect the Oklahoma City Thunder to be the league’s first repeat champion in nearly a decade, while Denver’s Nikola Jokic is their pick to reclaim the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award and Miami’s Erik Spoelstra was once again the pick as best coach.

Those were among the findings of the league’s annual preseason polling of general managers, the results of which were released late last week.

The Thunder got 80 percent of the vote-teams could not vote for themselves or their own personnel in the survey-in response to the question of which team would win this season’s title.

No team has gone back-to-back since Golden State in 2016-17 and 2017-18.

Cleveland and Denver each got 7 percent of the vote, while Houston and New York each 3 percent.

Jokic top pick for MVP

The GMs were clear: They expect another international player to be MVP-players born outside the US have won each of the last seven MVP trophies-and Nikola Jokic is the overwhelming pick to win what would be his fourth in a span of six seasons.

He got 67 percent of the vote, followed by Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers (10 percent), reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Oklahoma City (8 percent), and Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs (7 percent).

Top four playoff seeds

IF the GMs are to be believed, the top four playoff seeds in the Eastern Conference will be, in order, Cleveland, New York, Orlando and Atlanta.

In the West, Oklahoma City was followed by Denver, Houston and Minnesota.

Best at their position

SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER (73 percent) was the runaway pick as best point guard, with Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards (70 percent) the top pick at shooting guard, Nikola Doncic (40 percent) the best small forward, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo (93 percent) the top votegetter at power forward and Jokic (97 percent) was the pick of almost everyone at center.

The Nuggets couldn’t vote for Jokic; by process of elimination, that means Denver’s vote for best center likely went to Wembanyama, since he was the only other player to receive a vote as the best center.

And the best pure shooter was nearly unanimous: Golden State’s Stephen Curry (93 percent) got almost all votes, with his former Warriors teammate Klay Thompson-now with Dallas-getting the other 7 percent.

Curry was also the pick as best leader, and the player GMs would want taking the shot with the outcome of a game hanging in the balance.

Most improved team

THE GMs expect to see big jumps from Orlando (47 percent) and Atlanta (20 percent), making those clubs two of the top three votegetters when asked which team will be improved the most this season.

San Antonio tied Atlanta, getting 20 percent of the voting.

Rookie of the year

TO no surprise, No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg of Dallas was the choice to win rookie of the year-he got 97 percent of the vote, likely meaning 29 of the 30 if all teams submitted an answer.

The only other player to get a vote was Philadelphia’s VJ Edgecombe (3 percent).

Best defensive player

AGAIN, no surprise: Victor Wembanyama got 80 percent of the vote, with Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert and Cleveland’s Evan Mobley (7 percent) a distant second.

Wembanyama was widely picked as the favorite to win defensive player of the year last season before he was shut down in February following a diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis.

Spoelstra Best coach

ERIK SPOELSTRA once again was picked as the best coach in the league, getting 52 percent of the vote. Oklahoma City’s Mark Daigneault (34 percent) was second.

Spoelstra was the narrow choice as best manager or motivator of people as well, his 28 percent of the vote there barely edging Houston’s Ime Udoka (24 percent), Golden State’s Steve Kerr (14 percent) and Boston’s Joe Mazzulla (14 percent).

A NEW wave of explosive imports takes center stage Monday as the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference delivers another high-stakes showcase at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Headlining the doubleheader are PLDT’s Russian powerhouse Anastasia Bavykina and Capital1’s Ukrainian spiker Oleksandra Bytsenko, who face off in a compelling 4 p.m. opener.

Both imports are making their PVL debuts, looking to not only impress but anchor their teams’ campaign as the league’s year-ending conference kicks into full gear.

A prolific scorer who most recently played for Yenisey Krasnoyarsk in Russia’s Super League, Bavykina brings pedigree and power to the undefeated High Speed Hitters.

More than just a high-impact debut, the outside hitter is expected to help sustain PLDT’s winning momentum, following the High Speed Hitters’ back-to-back titles in the PVL On Tour and Invitational, which they won via sweeps.

She won’t be alone, as PLDT boasts a star-studded local cast that includes Kim Dy, Majoy Baron, Mika Reyes, Dell Palomata, Jovie Prado, breakout rookie Alleiah Malaluan, and Canadian standout Savi Davison – giving Bavykina a robust support system as she begins her Reinforced journey.

On the other side of the net, Capital1 looks to finally turn the corner after a string of underwhelming performances.

The Solar Spikers are banking on Bytsenko, a seasoned attacker with European club credentials, to deliver consistent offense and leadership in place of former import Marina Tushova.

Bytsenko will rely on a promising group of local talents, led by top rookie pick Bella Belen, Leila Cruz, Trisha Genesis and Jorelle Singh, to fuel a team desperate for a breakthrough.

In the 6:30 p.m. main event, two more heralded reinforcements take the floor as Choco Mucho collides with Cignal in what promises to be another high-octane duel.

For the Flying Titans, American high-flyer Anyse Smith brings excitement and scoring potential. The outside hitter turned heads during the AVC Champions League with Thai club Nakhon Ratchasima QminC VC, and now looks to power Choco Mucho’s redemption bid following a 10th-place finish in the On Tour leg.

She joins a deep and hungry Choco Mucho squad eager to bounce back. Veterans Kat Tolentino and Maddie Madayag are expected to provide leadership and stability, supported by a versatile bench that includes Des Cheng, Isa Molde, Aduke Ogunsanya, Mean Mendrez and Dindin Manabat.

Cignal, meanwhile, has pinned its hopes on 34-year-old Greek veteran Eva Chantava, whose rich playing experience across European and Asian leagues makes her one of the most seasoned imports in the conference backed by Milcu, Mikasa, Fabriano and ICTSI.

Known for her power and poise under pressure, Chantava aims to guide the HD Spikers back to title contention.

Helping her lead the charge are rising star Vanie Gandler, versatile scorer Erika Santos, and an experienced core of Heather Guino-o, Tin Tiamzon and middle blockers Jackie Acuña, Roselyn Aquino, and promising rookie Erin Pangilinan.

With the early breakout of reinforcements such as Eli Rousseaux (38 points for Farm Fresh), Anna DeBeer (37 for ZUS Coffee), and Annie Mitchem (33 for Akari), the pressure is now on today’s batch of debutants to deliver equally explosive numbers.

Their performances didn’t just light up the scoreboard – they also redefined expectations and turned the title race into a wide-open contest, as their teams pulled off stunning upsets over established squads like Nxled, Chery Tiggo and even perennial favorite Creamline.

Now, Bavykina, Bytsenko, Smith and Chantava step into that same spotlight, aiming to not only make noise but prove they can carry their teams through the grind of a Reinforced Conference where every point – and every import – matters.

As always, the locals will play a pivotal role in shaping outcomes, but this Monday’s double-header is all about the imports. And if early signs are any indication, fans are in for another thrilling chapter in this high-octane conference.

Produced from seawater through a painstaking multi-step process that dates back to the 17th century, ‘asin tibuok’ is a rare artisanal sea salt, also called ‘dinosaur egg’ for its unique shape. It has been crafted in Alburquerque, Bohol, that it has become a piece of the municipality’s centuries of history.

In the past, asin tibuok was considered a highly valuable good that locals traded it for rice, corn, and other essentials.

But as cheaper, mass-produced table salt became widely available, demand for the artisanal salt declined. By the 1980s, only a handful of families kept the practice alive, and many feared the tradition would completely disappear.

11 families left to continue the tradition

Today, only 11 families in Alburquerque make asin tibuok, municipality’s records say, compared to over 100 families centuries ago. Thanks to their perseverance, the flame of asin tibuok did not die.

At the heart of this effort is Manong Non, one of Alburquerque’s most respected elders. Together with the few families, he carried on with the continuation of this labor-intensive craft.

In 2019, with the support of Kapunungan sa Mangasinay sa Albur (Kasama), a group dedicated to the making of asin tibuok, the tradition continues to live.

‘I have seen how asin tibuok almost faded away, but I cannot just let go of what I have been doing since I was young. This salt is our story, our heritage. My hope is that people will come to know its value, so that more families can return to this craft and find a livelihood from it. That way, asin tibuok will never be forgotten,’ Felix Pinlac Jr., popularly called Manong Non, said in the dialect.

While others turned to easier livelihoods, the few families remained by the fire, shaping pots, boiling seawater, producing salt just as their ancestors had done for generations.

Government’s support

With the association’s determination to keep their heritage alive and with the full support of Alburquerque local government, the salt makers collaborated with the Department of Science and Technology through its Bohol Provincial Science and Technology Office (DOST VII-Bohol PSTO) to improve some steps in making asin tibuok’s production safer, more efficient, and sustainable.

The craft that’s been passed down for generations is anything but easy. In their meeting with DOST Bohol Provincial Director Vina R. Antopina, the members of Kasama opened up about the challenges they encounter in producing the artisanal salt.

The process of making the salt begins by soaking, drying and burning coconut husks into ash, which is then used as filter for seawater to create a concentrated brine they call ‘tasik.’

The brine is boiled in rows of pots, with workers braving exposure from eight hours to nine hours of intense heat beside the blazing fire.

When the smoke clears, what emerges is a block of salt molded round by the pot, earning the nickname, ‘dinosaur egg,’ owing to its shape.

Making both the traditional and mechanized processes work

While some processes remained untouched to protect the heritage of the traditional salt making, interventions were introduced in other processes.

Among the traditional processes are coconut dehusking and soaking. The dehusking are still done manually using a pointed tip bar.

The husks are soaked in seawater near the mangroves for three to six months to allow the husks to fully absorb salt from seawater, enriching them with minerals.

DOST-VII Bohol supported the mechanization of its other processes, such as slicing and drying. While slicing a single husk with a traditional bolo and a mechanized slicer technically takes almost the same amount of time, the real difference is in the effort.

Manual slicing is exhausting, with the workers having to pause and catch their breath every so often, taking about 30 minutes to slice one basket of coconut husks (around 50 pieces).

With an efficient mechanized coconut husk slicer, the same task can be done continuously at a reduced time of 10 minutes, making it less tiring for the workers.

At the same time, the furnace-type hot air-drying technology with shed, provides the workers protection from extreme weather, and assures them of continuous husk drying.

To honor the heritage of traditional asin tibuok making, the current method of husk firing and brine filtering has been preserved. The husks are continuously fired until white salt-rich ashes, called ‘gasang,’ are formed.

They are then packed into a cone-shaped bamboo filter called ‘sagsag’ that is lined with palm leaves, then washed with seawater to draw out concentrated brine tasik. Boiling tasik until it hardens is the most grueling part of asin tibuok making.

Traditionally, Kasama members would stack the clay pots on plain round bars, balancing them with stones over a fragile concrete furnace. The process makes workers endure intense heat as they tirelessly tend the fire, feeding it with coconut wood until salt gradually forms inside the earthen pots.

The introduction of a high-alumina brick furnace has helped contain the fire better, reduced boiling time from 8 hours to 9 hours down to just 5hours to 6 hours, and cut the coconut wood consumption as fuel.

The innovative stainless steel guide trays are sturdier and more heat-resistant, which made pot preparation faster and easier.

Kasama member Abundio Manungas recounted how he was exposed to the heat of cooking salt since he was a young boy. He is grateful that the boiling time has been shortened through the upgraded furnace.

With the recent S and T interventions, Manungas’ son was inspired to join the association, and now assists him in the craft of asin tibuok making. Thus, he feels reassured that their heritage will continue.

The asin’s clay vessel

While asin tibuok is the heart of Bohol’s salt-making tradition, the earthenware pot is its vessel. The two are inseparable. Without the clay pots, there can be no asin tibuok-the distinctive salt is shaped when brine crystallizes inside the pot’s curved walls.

To support this tradition, Kasama has been provided with modern materials and innovations in earthenware pot making.

What was once a tedious, time-consuming task with a wooden paddle, kneading the clay is made easy through the introduction of an efficient clay kneading technology.

Molding the clay, called ‘pikpik,’ is preserved being considered the soul of pot making. Instead of leaving the pots on bare ground, wooden racks are built for a more stable and efficient air drying the freshly molded pots.

Traditionally done in open fires with wood, bamboo, and coconut fronds, or fan-shaped coconut leaves, firing often led to cracked pots and exposed workers to extreme heat.

Shifting to the use of a modern, single-chamber open-fire furnace technology, has made firing more uniform, producing consistent color, fewer cracks, stronger pots and with less environmental impact.

Alburquerque’s last master potter, Junile Paran, has generously shared his expertise with Kasama members on the proper use of the single chamber kiln.

Under Paran’s guidance, Kasama members received hands-on training covering key aspects, such as the proper piling of earthenware pots in the kiln to ensure even heat distribution throughout the preheating and full firing stages.

After eight hours of firing, the earthenware pots are left to cool slowly inside the kiln overnight, until the pots reach room temperature to ensure optimal strength and quality. Once cooled, they are carefully stored in traditional baskets called ‘bukag.’

Upside of merging tradition with innovation

By blending heritage and innovation, the Kasama has strengthened both the pot and the salt it holds. The result is more than just increased production. It is the assurance that this cultural treasure will endure, preserving both the community livelihood and ancestors’ legacy.

After some technological interventions, the association’s asin tibuok is currently able to find new markets. One is Coco Berry, a café and delicacies/souvenirs shop in Baclayon. Another is the Bohol Bee Farm, a renowned resort and restaurant in Dauis that takes pride in organic and homegrown products.

Through these partnerships, more people have come to know and taste asin tibuok, giving new light to its meaning as a treasured heritage.

DOST interventions fall under DOST-Bohol’s Community Empowerment through Science and Technology Program, which supports livelihoods, protects cultural heritage, and empowers vulnerable communities.

DOST Bohol Director Antopina was recently named the Regional Winner and National Semi-Finalist in Gawad Lingkod Bayan ng Pangulo for leading in providing S and T programs to the communities.

This may not have been Xander Schauffele’s most prestigious tournament victory, but it should be the American’s most memorable.

Schauffele’s shot a 7-under 64 on Sunday to win the Baycurrent Classic in Japan – a country where his mother grew up and where he has many connections.

Schauffele, who shot 19-under 265 over four rounds at the Yokohama Country Club, finished one shot ahead of American Max Greyserman, who was also the runner-up at this event a year ago as he chases his first PGA Tour title.

Schauffele has maternal grandparents living in Japan and his mother has roots in Taiwan and grew up in Japan. His mother-in-law is also Japanese, and his wife is half Japanese and grew up in Japan’s southern island of Okinawa.

‘I’ve been coming here since I was about 9 years old to visit my grandparents,’ Schauffele said. ‘I sort of fell in love with this country a long time ago. I can’t wait to bring my son here when he’s old enough to sort of understand and appreciate the culture here in Japan.’

‘Yeah, the ties run deep for the Schauffele family here in Japan,’ he added.

Schauffele and his wife Maya became parents just over a month ago with the birth of a son.

‘It’s still kind of fresh, but it’s definitely a cool thing being a dad and I’m so excited to go home to him and Maya after this,’ Schauffele said.

Schauffele was cheered during the tournament by family members who attended, including his 81-year-old grandmother who walked the course with him. He said there would probably be a ‘get-together’ with family members later to celebrate.

‘I mean, I don’t get to see them very often and they’ve always been gracious with their time to come out wherever the event was,’ he said. ‘They’ve been awesome to me and this is pretty cool. I’ve really wanted to share a win with them, so can’t wait to get together with them.’

Greyserman closed with a 65 and held or shared the lead through the first three rounds. American Michael Thorbjornsen finished with a 64 and was three strokes behind the winner.

Schauffele has won two major championships – including the British Open in 2024 which was his last victory – and took gold in the Tokyo Olympics, which were delayed until 2021 by the pandemic. He’s also compiled a considerable list of other PGA Tour titles – but this PGA Tour title is different.

Soft conditions and still winds led to low scoring. American Matt McCarty shot an 11-under 60 – he still finished nine strokes back. Japanese Takumi Kanaya finished with a 9-under 62 and was five behind with winner.

McCarty had a chance at a 58 but hit into the trees on his final hole and settled for a bogey and a 60. Jim Furyk holds the PGA Tour record with a 58 in the final round of the Travelers Championship in 2016.

ENTREPRENEUR Hayb Anzures-known for his success with Gentry Timepiece-has transformed his business acumen toward a different passion-tennis-as he leads the P2-million Gentry Open Tennis Championships, the richest tournament in local tennis history.

The Gentry Open officially kicked off last Friday at the world-class 2,000-seat, 11-court Tennis Center inside Colegio San Agustin-Bulacan in San Jose del Monte.

‘For just one year into tennis, the feeling and excitement are different compared to when I play basketball, football or golf,’ Anzures said. ‘The tennis community is so vibrant and welcoming.’

Anzures, 31, a Business Management graduate from Far Eastern University, said he was inspired by the success of Alex Eala on the global stage to invest his energy and resources into developing local tennis.

‘The rise of Alex Eala on the world stage has given local tennis something to cheer for,’ he said. ‘I felt I had to do something to contribute and help further develop the sport in the local scene.’

With a P2 million total prize pool, the Gentry Open now stands as the biggest local tennis tournament in terms of cash rewards-surpassing even the storied Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) Open.

Anzures said the men’s singles champion will receive P300,000, and cash prizes and special gifts from sponsors will be awarded to the 15th place in the main draw.

The country’s top players AJ Lim and Eric Jed Olivarez headline the men’s competition, while the women’s singles division features promising stars Mikaela Vicencio and Tiffany Nocos, who will battle for the P100,000 champion’s purse and the runner-up prize of P50,000.

The tournament, which runs until Sunday, is staged in partnership with Palawan Pawnshop, Palawan Express Pera Padala and Palawan Pay as the official event and tournament partners.

Presented by GWM (Great Wall Motor Philippines), the Gentry Open 2025 enjoys strong backing from its platinum sponsors-Hiessence, Purse Maison, Mobile Cart, Primoshine, Sole Avenue, Dear Face, PDAX, Darling’s Fine Jewels, Luxetrust by Amethyst, The Watch Reserve, and Guapo Car Care Solutions. These brands share Gentry’s vision of promoting excellence, innovation, and national pride through sport.

‘We’re not just organizing tournaments; we’re building a community and an ecosystem that supports players, coaches, and fans,’ Anzures said. ‘My hope is that this becomes a yearly tradition that inspires the next generation of Filipino tennis champions.’