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2019 BUDGET TO BE SIGNED APRIL 15 By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

RESIDENT Duterte is scheduled to sign the 2019 budget on Monday (April 15) after its passage was stalled for about three months in the Legislative branch. The ceremonial signing of 2019 General Appropriations Act is set to happen in Malacañang, according to Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and Presidential Spokesman Salvador S. Panelo. “The Palace confirms that the ceremonial signing of the General Appropriations Act 2019 has already been calendared on the President’s

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schedule on April 15,” Panelo said in a statement. “This year’s national budget—our third under the Duterte administration—is a continuation of our narrative of genuine change and meaningful progress, among others, through our intensified infrastructure development programs, expanded policies on human development and poverty reduction,” he added. However, it remains to be seen whether the President vetoed the alleged post-ratification changes on the budget bill, which the Senate said were illegal and unconstitutional. Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei B. Nograles earlier said this week that

Reenacted budget THE government is still operating under a reenacted budget for the meantime that the 2019 budget is still up for President’s signature and is yet to be effective. It was only two weeks ago that Senate leaders agreed to withdraw their reservations on the P3.757trillion 2019 national budget that had left both chambers of Congress See “Budget,” A2

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Thursday, April 11, 2019 Vol. 14 No. 183

FDI inflows dropped by 38.2% in January L

By Bianca Cuaresma

@BcuaresmaBM

ONG-TERM foreign investments in the Philippines shrank in January, as fewer businessmen placed their bets on the local wholesale and retail trade sector during the period, the latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed. The BSP reported on Wednesday that foreign direct investments (FDI) fell by 38.2 percent to $609 million, from last year’s $986 million. FDI is the type of investment

that is often more coveted, as it stays longer in the economy and creates job opportunities for locals. It is also not easily pulled out of the market unlike its shorter-

term counterpart, the foreign portfolio investments. The BSP attributed the decline in the country’s FDI net inflow to the drop in equity capital placements, which slid to $184 million from

The amount of foreign direct investments that flowed into the Philippines in January

See “FDI,” A16

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

OVERTY worsened in 17 provinces and cities, including districts in Metro Manila in the first half of 2018, according to the latest data on poverty incidence released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Wednesday. Despite this, the results of the Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES) for 2018 showed that the huge cuts in poverty incidence in other areas caused the overall rate to improve to 21 percent, from 27.6 percent in the same period in 2015. Using PSA data, the BusinessMirror computed that the highest increases in poverty incidence were recorded in Basilan and Isabela City, where it worsened to 65.3 percent and 52.6 percent,

respectively. The rate rose by 36.5 percentage points from 28.8 percent in Basilan and by 31.97 percentage points in Isabela City compared to the first half of 2015. Other provinces and cities that recorded increases in poverty incidence were Tawi-Tawi which recorded an increase of 6.34 percentage points; Bataan, 5.79 percentage points; Davao Oriental, 4.68 percentage points; Batanes, 3.26 percentage points; Zamboanga del Sur, 2.02 percentage points; Biliran, 1.96 percentage points; and Zambales, 1.91 percentage points. The list also included the Third District of Metro Manila (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela), which recorded a poverty rate of 8.1 percent, or 1.57 percentage points higher than the figure recorded in 2015; and the First District of Continued on A2

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 52.1820

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Bridging the gap in social protection and socioeconomic policies in Asean

$609M

$531 million in January 2018. Data indicated that the drop could be traced to the decline in investments in the wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles sector. Larger equit y w ithdrawa ls were also seen during the month, particularly from investors in Japan.

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N paper, the Philippines and other member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) are all committed to the protection of their citizens against social and economic risks. However, the adequacy of the social protection extended to the ordinary people is still limited, as reflected in the social spending made by Asean countries on social protection, roughly 4 to 6 percent of the GDP versus the 20 to 24 percent in the developed countries. Continued on A15

‘Huge debt to imperil funding for SDGs’

Poverty rate down to 21% on higher income–Neda

the budget is still under vetting stage. Malacañang has also since said that the President will review the budget bill thoroughly and sign it if it is constitutional.

FROM left, Rosalinda P. Bautista, OIC-Deputy National Statistician, Sectoral Statistics Office of the Philippine Statistics Authority; Josie B. Perez, assistant secretary, PSA; and Adoracion M. Navarro, undersecretary for Regional Development at the National Economic and Development Authority hold the press briefing on the First Semester 2018 Official Poverty Statistics at the PSA conference hall. NONOY LACZA

UGE debts could hinder developing countries like the Philippines from financing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the United Nations said in its latest report. In the 2019 Financing for Sustainable Development Report, the UN along with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and the World Trade Organization (WTO) said public and private debt levels have increased, particularly in many middle-income countries. Data provided by the report showed that the growth rate of nonfinancial corporate debt, loans and debt securities went up by over

n JAPAN 0.4696 n UK 68.1758 n HK 6.6548 n CHINA 7.7744 n SINGAPORE 38.5562 n AUSTRALIA 37.1640 n EU 58.7882 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.9144

See “Debt,” A2

Source: BSP (10 April 2019 )

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Govt eyes end-April float of Panda bonds

By Rea Cu

@ReaCuBM

HE Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) is eyeing to issue Panda bonds before the end of April, with the government only awaiting the go-ahead from China’s National Association of Financial Market Institutional Investors (Nafmii). Deputy Treasurer Erwin D. Sta. Ana told reporters on Tuesday that the government is likely to issue its Panda bond float on or before endApril, as it is in the final stage of

sorting out documentation requirements and only awaits internal approvals from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and from China’s Nafmii.

$500M The US dollar equivalent in renminbi of the planned Panda bond issuance by end of the month, per an earlier statement by National Treasurer Rosalia V. de Leon. The previous issuance was $230 million equivalent in RMB

“Yes [April], well once we sort out the regulatory items then we can just look at the market. Most likely [after the Holy Week break] unless there are changes in the market.... We’re looking at that week [after Holy Week], although nothing’s final,” Sta. Ana said.

Poverty rate down to 21% on higher income–Neda Continued from A1

Metro Manila (Manila, the capital city) which saw poverty incidence go up by 0.91 percentage points to 5.7 percent. The provinces of Benguet, Maguindanao, Eastern Samar and Misamis Oriental; and Metro Manila’s Fourth District (Las Piñas, Makati, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Pasay, Pateros and Taguig), are other areas that posted a slight increase in poverty incidence. “The latest poverty data appear to be consistent with the idea that economic adversity affects relatively poorer or less affluent places more than those characterized by higher standards of living or more equitable distribution of income,” University of Asia and the Pacific School of Economics Dean Cid Terosa told the BusinessMirror via SMS. “Last year’s economic growth slowed down while inflation went up. These adverse events may help explain the latest poverty data,” Terosa added.

Lower rates elsewhere

DATA from the PSA also showed that 10 provinces saw huge cuts in poverty incidence in the first half of 2018. Siquijor topped the list, with the rate falling by 39.71 percentage points to 10 percent, followed by Ifugao, falling by 28.38 percentage points to 15.5 percent; Northern Samar, 23.78 percentage points to 30 percent; and Apayao, 23.56 percentage points to 23.2 percent. Other areas where poverty incidence declined are Sorsogon, down by 22.22 percentage points to 24.5 percent; Bukidnon, 22.08 percentage points to 32.1 percent; Lanao del Norte, 18.53 percentage points to 23.6 percent; Catanduanes, 17.93 percentage points to 19.4 percent; Mt. Province, 17.35 percentage points to 24.4 percent; and North Cotabato, 16.75 percentage points to 25.6 percent. These cuts caused overall poverty incidence to improve to 21 percent in the first half of last year, from 27.6 percent in 2015. The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) attributed this to the rise in incomes, particularly among the poorest Filipinos. “We note that the top contributor to the strong income growth for the poorest 30 percent of households was an increase in wage and salary incomes. A far second and third were domestic cash receipts/ support [including from the government] and entrepreneurial activities,” Neda Officer in Charge Adoracion M. Navarro said on Wednesday.

“These indicate that the pace [average of 6.5 percent GDP growth in 2012-2018], the quality and consistency of economic growth over the past seven years continue to benefit the poor. In particular, the growing contribution of industry, particularly construction and manufacturing, to output and employment, are creating more income-earning opportunities that are accessible to the poor,” she added. While inflation accelerated to 8.1 percent between 2015 and 2018—from 7.8 percent in 2012 to 2015—Navarro said average income grew 21.2 percent from 15.3 percent. Furthermore, she said, the income of the bottom 30 percent of households increased to 29.2 percent in the 20152018 period, from only 20.6 percent in the 2012-2015 period. This, Navarro said, implied that the real incomes of the poor went up. “ This could be partly an effect of rising inequality resulting from growth driven by Industry 4.0. Those likely to benefit from Industry 4.0-led growth are semi- and skilled workers. The locational differences may be due to the concentration of families in areas that do not have the capacity/skills for the modern world,” Philippine Institute of Development Studies [PIDS] Vice President Marife Ballesteros told the BusinessMirror.

Thresholds

THE PSA reported that the poverty threshold per family per month rose by 10.9 percent to P10,481 in 2018, from P9,453 in 2015. The PSA explained that this was needed to meet both basic food and nonfood needs of a family of five in a month. In terms of food or subsistence thresholds per family per month, the PSA said it increased by 11.2 percent to P7,337 in 2018, from P6,600 in 2017. The food threshold is the amount needed to meet the family’s basic food needs for a month. “Poverty threshold is the minimum income required to meet the basic food and nonfood needs, such as clothing, fuel, light and water, housing, rental of occupied dwelling units, transportation and communication, health and education expenses, nondurable furnishing, household operations and personal care and effects,” the PSA said. “Food threshold is the minimum income required to meet the basic food needs, satisfying the nutritional requirements set by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute [FNRI] to

ensure that one remains economically and socially productive,” it added. In terms of families, the poverty incidence rate declined to 16.1 percent in 2018, from 22.2 percent in 2015. This translated to 23.1 million poor Filipinos, a reduction of 5.7 million from the 28.8 million recorded in the first semester of 2015. The PSA also said a million households were lifted out of poverty in 2018. In terms of subsistence incidence per population, the PSA said 8.5 percent of the population were considered “food poor,” lower than the 13 percent posted in 2015. In terms of families, data showed that 6.2 percent of households were food poor, a decline from the 9.9 percent in 2015. PSA data showed that by magnitude, there were 1.5 million food-poor Filipino families, a decline from the 2.2 million recorded in 2015. This translated to 9.3 million food-poor Filipinos in 2018, from 13.6 million in 2015. “The lower reported official poverty estimates for the first semester of 2018 unfortunately do not necessarily mean that the country’s poverty situation is improving. The standard of living allowed by the official poverty line is very low and grossly underestimates the real number of poor Filipinos,” IBON Foundation Executive Director Sonny Africa said.

Targets

DESPITE the uneven progress when it comes to poverty reduction, and questions on the computation of poverty and food thresholds, the Neda remains confident that the Philippines is on track to meeting its poverty target of 14 percent by 2022. In ter ms of i ncome gap n at ionw id e, t he P S A d at a showed this is 26.9 percent. This means households need 26.9 percent of the threshold to escape poverty. The highest gap was noted in Basilan and Lanao del Sur where the income gap was at 36.8 percent and 35.2 percent, respectively. The poor in Bacolod City saw the least income gap at 16.7 percent. “It is not about inequality. A hypothetical example of the average income gap: if P100,000 is poverty threshold for the year, an income gap of 25 percent means that on average the poor are earning P75,000 and hence need another P25,000 in order to reach threshold,” Action for Economic Reform Coordinator Filomeno S. Sta. Ana III told the BusinessMirror.

He explained that once all approvals are done, the BTr will then watch the market carefully to determine when it is most beneficial for the country to trigger the Panda Earlier, National Treasurer Rosalia V. de Leon said the government is looking at an issuance of around a $500 million equivalent in renminbi for the Panda bonds, more than double its previous issuance of a $230 million equivalent in RMB. She also pointed out that the float can be issued in multiple tranches with the BTr looking at three- and five-year tenors if they upsize the issuance. “So we are looking at three and five years if ever we upsize the

issue. [$500 million] equivalent in RMB,” de Leon said. During the nondeal road show that the Philippines mounted in different parts of China earlier in the month, de Leon pointed out that the nondeal road show was met with strong interest as more than 500 Chinese participants attended the Philippine Economic Briefing, with a number of rural banks expressing interest in the country’s issuance of Panda bonds.

T-bonds auction

MEANWHILE, the BTr fully awarded P20 billion during its auction for reissued 10-year Treasury bonds (T-bonds), as market appetite was seen to settle for longer-dated government securities on the back of

the downtrend in inflation. “It just shows market preference on the longer tenors, and this is primarily driven by the inflation print, last month’s print,” Sta. Ana said. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) earlier reported that inflation continued to ease to 3.3 percent in March, falling within the target band of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) of 2 percent to 4 percent. The T-bond was awarded the full P20 billion on offer as bids for the IOU were more than twice oversubscribed at P46 billion. The average annual rate for the security settled at 5.954 percent, which meant a 24.4 basis point decline compared to the previous auction rate of 6.196 percent.

SC affirms ruling including non-BIR revenue as base for IRA allocation By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

AGUIO CITY—The Supreme Court has maintained its decision which declared that the internal revenue allotment (IRA) share of all local government units should be based on the collections of all national taxes, and not only from national internal revenue taxes collected by the government. At a press briefing, SC Public Information Office chief and spokesman Brian Hosaka said the Court made the decision at its en banc session on Wednesday here in the country’s summer capital. Hosaka said the magistrates denied the motions for reconsideration (MR) filed by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) and the camp of the late Bataan Gov. Enrique T. Garcia Jr. In its MR, Solicitor General Jose Calida insisted that the Court erred in expanding the basis of the IRA

Budget. . .

Continued from A1

deadlocked for two weeks. Although Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III inked the measure, he also informed the President through a letter transmitting the budget to the Palace that he affixed his signature “with strong reservations,” adding that he was leaving it up to Malacañang to “consider disapproving the unconstitutional realignments, pursuant to his constitutional power to veto”particular items on the budget bill. Meanwhile, the House has since stood firm that the budget itemization implemented by the lower chamber was within the parameters of the bicameral commit-

Debt. . .

Continued from A1

100 percent in the Philippines between 2008 and 2015. “The governments need to carefully monitor the growth of debt, including contingent liabilities and debt of their private sectors, through a risk-based approach. To address systemic risks posed by private borrowing, the governments should aim to adjust regulatory policy frameworks during periods of rising risks,” the report read. Should countries resort to borrowing money to finance the SDGs, the UN, IMF, World Bank, and WTO these funds must be used “prudently and efficiently.” The use of these funds must also be done transparently. This means that the financial system must be “revamped” to include the use of innovations including tools that make debt use more transparent or accessible such as fintech. “We have a major opportunity to overcome bottlenecks in sustainable financing in 2019,” said Liu

of the LGUs to include all national taxes. In its July 3, 2018, decision, the Court increased the IRA of LGUs to include the tax collection of other agencies aside from the BIR as basis for the computation. It included tariff and duties collected by the Bureau of Customs, 50 percent of value-added tax, 30 percent of national taxes collected in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, 60 percent of national taxes collected from the exploitation and development of national wealth, 85 percent of excise tax from tobacco products, and a portion of franchise tax under Republic Acts 6631 and 6632 (Horse Racing Laws), among others. On the other hand, Garcia’s camp filed an MR to seek partial reconsideration of the decision, saying that it should be implemented retroactively; thus, all arrears since 1992 resulting from the application of the expanded basis in computing the

IRAs should be given to the LGUs. “In denying both motions for reconsideration, the Supreme Court clarified that the adjusted amounts of the IRAs of the LGUs are deemed effective only after the finality of the ruling of the Court. Hence, the adjusted amounts will be given to the LGUs starting with the 2022 budget cycle,” Hosaka explained. The Court’s decision stemmed from the petition filed in January 2012 by former Batangas 2nd District Representative and now Provincial Governor Hermilando Mandanas. The SC voted 10-3 to partially grant the petition of Mandanas, who had questioned the process of allocating IRA funds for the LGUs. Section 284 of Republic Act 7160, which created LGUs, stated that provincial, city and municipal governments should receive 40 percent of total national internal revenue taxes collected by the national government.

tee report ratified by each chamber. Aside from the alleged post-ratification changes made by the House leadership, the passage of 2019 budget was delayed due to a number of issues, the alleged P75-billion budget insertions to the budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways by then-Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno and the lawmakers’ opposition to the Department of Budget and Management’s move to undertake a “revolutionary shift”from obligation-based budgeting to cash-based budgeting system. The budget impasse was also among the reasons which forced the government to revised downward its growth targets this year and in 2020. During its 175th meeting, the Development Budget Coordination

Committee scaled down the GDP growth target for the year to 6 to 7 percent, from the previous 7 to 8 percent. Economic growth next year is projected to reach 6.5 to 7.5 percent. The DBCC expects to hit the original growth target of 7 to 8 percent in 2021 and 2022. The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) earlier said that a reenacted budget will delay new and ongoing infrastructure projects, as well as the implementation of public services such as Unconditional Cash Transfer and Pantawid Pasada Program. Apart from the damage on the economy, the Neda also said the reenacted budget will cost as much as 180,000 to 240,000 more jobs, and fail to lift 400,000 to 550,000 more Filipinos out of poverty this year.

Zhenmin, undersecretary general for Economic and Social Affairs and Chair of the Task Force that issued the report. “The responsibility rests with governments to recommit to multilateralism, and to take policy actions that will create a sustainable and prosperous future.” UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in his foreword to the report, said the reason why many now doubt the multilateral system is because it has failed to deliver on its promises on “inclusive and sustainable growth for all.” The report noted that achieving the global goals depends on supportive financial systems, and conducive global and national policy environments. “Trust in the multilateral system itself is eroding, in part because we are not delivering inclusive and sustainable growth for all,” Guterres said. “Our shared challenge is to make the international trading and financial systems fit for purpose to advance sustainable development and promote fair globalization.” T he international agencies recommend concrete steps to

overhaul the global institutional architecture and make the global economy and global finance more sustainable, including supporting a shift toward long-term investment horizons with sustainability risks central to investment decisions, and revisiting mechanisms for sovereign debt restructuring to respond to more complex debt instruments and a more diverse creditor landscape. They added that revamping the multilateral trading system; addressing challenges to tax systems that inhibit countries from mobilizing adequate resources in an increasingly digitalized world economy; and addressing growing market concentration that extends across borders, with impacts on inequality are also important measures. At the national level, the report puts forward a road map for countries to revamp their public and private financial systems to mobilize resources for sustainable investment. It introduces tools for countries to align financing policies with national sustainable development strategies and priorities. Cai U. Ordinario

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PRO-BONGBONG RALLY CALLS FOR SPEEDY RESOLUTION OF VP ELECTORAL PROTEST

UPPORTERS of former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday staged a lightning rally in front of the summer courthouse of the Supreme Court (SC) in Baguio City to appeal the prompt resolution of his pending vice presidential electoral protest against Leni Robredo. “We are calling on the honorable magistrates of the Supreme Court for the speedy resolution of the electoral case filed by the true Vice President [Bongbong Marcos, or BBM] of the land so he can start serving the nation with his mandate. It has been more than a thousand days since BBM’s case was filed and we find this unacceptable for those who voted for him,” Frank Esquilon, president of the Marcos Pa Rin Group, said in Filipino. Last month, Marcos, along with his supporters, held a candlelight vigil in front of the Supreme Court in Manila to mark the 1,000th day of his protest. Close to a thousand people clad in red shirts attended the event. Some even stayed overnight to accompany Bongbong’s legal counsel Atty. George Garcia in filing a motion the following day. The group reiterated the earlier motion of the young Marcos calling on the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) to conduct a technical examination of the election returns and Election Day Computerized Voters List (EDCVLs) from the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao. Bongbong’s camp referred to the findings of the Voters Identification Division of the Commission on Elections (Comelec)-Election Record and Statistics Department (Comelec-ERSD), which conducted a technical examina-

tion in response to the election protest of former Sulu Vice Governor Abdusakur Tan against former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Governor Mujiv Hataman. The report showed that in 508 precincts, 40,528 signatures and 3,295 thumbprints in the EDCVLs were not identical with the Voter’s Registration Receipts. “There’s very clear evidence that there was massive substituted voting in the provinces mentioned by the Commission on Elections. For this to remain unnoticed is a huge mistake that may create an impact on our electoral system. We respectfully urge Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin to move and guide the PET and resolve the issue,” said Charlie Nerona, president, Friends of Rody Duterte. The group also lauded Marcos for choosing to continue with his election protest despite the prodding from various sectors encouraging him to run for office in the upcoming 2019 senatorial elections. “His decision not to run but rather continue with his protest is truly admirable. This shows a strength of character, something that most of our leaders lack nowadays. A lesser leader would have buckled under that kind of tremendous pressure,” Esquilon said. They added that they are in full support of Marcos’s election protest, and his fight for truth and justice for the Filipino people. “We believe BBM when he said that he is fighting not only for himself but for the entire Filipino nation. We are ready to do our part by staying here as long as we can in order to convince the SC justices to do what is right for the country,” said Philip Terry, president of BBM Pangasinan.

Thursday, April 11, 2019 A3

Negros landowners allegedly ‘profit’ from delay in CARP implementation

By Jonathan L. Mayuga

@jonlmayuga

EGROS landlords continue to profit from the landholdings that have been covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) because of delays in the program’s implementation, the group Task Force Mapalad (TFM) alleged on Wednesday. For the same reasons, thousands of farmers who were supposed to benefit from these CARPcovered lands lose a potential income of the same amount based on a study conducted by the group. According to the group’s study, at least P6.9 billion annually or a total of P32.75 billion of farmers’ potential net income had been lost for the last five years that the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) failed to award to CARP beneficiaries a total of 3,020 farms in Negros Occidental with a total land area of 69,217 hectares comprising mostly of private sugar plantations. The 3,020 landholdings were among the Negros farms that the TFM petitioned to be covered by the CARP days before June 30, 2014, or the time of the expiry of Republic Act (RA) 9700 that funds the program’s land acquisition and distribution phase. TFM computed the income loss by multiplying the 69,217 hectares of undistributed landholdings with the estimated P99,616 average yearly net profit per hectare in the first three years of sugar farming that a CARP beneficiary could have earned if he or she already owned the land and productively

using it even without government support services. The result was then multiplied with the number of years that the DAR failed to distribute the landholdings from June 2014 to March 2019, or a total of 4.75 years. The group is now appealing to President Duterte to cause the distribution of these lands. “Even before you started office in 2016, you already promised that you would be a pro-poor and anti-oligarchic leader. Last month, while you were in Sagay City, you said that CARP ‘is the law, and I will implement the law.’ Thank you for being consistent [with] your statements, Mr. President. Now, please help us stop our economic bleeding. Please fast-track and complete land distribution, and put an end to DAR policies killing CARP,” Teresita Tarlac, president of TFM Negros-Panay Chapter said in a news statement. “With those huge amounts, thousands of mouths would have been fed, thousands of children would have been provided with better education, thousands of farmers would have been freed from their slave-like work under greedy hacienderos. But these aren’t happening. Many of us are dying old

and poor even when the solution, which is CARP, is obviously there,” Tarlac added. Since June 2014, or nearly five years later after RA 9700’s expiry, most of these landholdings comprising 69,217 hectares are nowhere near the land distribution stage of CARP, the group lamented. According to TFM, nearly 80 percent of the total area of the farms or 54,630 hectares was stuck in the first step of the land acquisition and distribution process or has not yet advanced to any LAD stage as of March 2019. Sixty-two percent of the farms comprising 42,963 hectares (2,020 farms) are still at the notice of CARP coverage (NOC) stage—the very first step in the LAD—while 17 percent or 11,667 hectares (375 farms) have not yet been issued any NOC and, thus, have not yet reached even the first LAD step. It takes 27 LAD steps for the DAR, with the help of the LandBank of the Philippines (LBP), as the financial intermediary for the CARP, to acquire a farm from a landowner and distribute it to the farmer-beneficiaries through certificates of land ownership award (CLOA). Among the major LAD steps are the DAR’s issuance of NOC, informing a landowner that his or her land is being placed under CARP; selection of qualified CARP beneficiaries; a land survey identifying which parts of the land are CARPable; preparation of the claim folders of farmer-beneficiaries; the LBP’s determination of the value of the land and depositing of the landowner’s compensation in exchange for the acquisition of his or her land under CARP; the DAR’s immediate possession of the land; the Registry of Deeds’ (ROD) cancellation of the landowner’s title and the issuance of a new one under the name of the Republic of the Philippines; and finally the generation and distribution of CLOAs to CARP beneficiaries.

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If you have any information / objection to the above mentioned application/s, please communicate with the Regional Director thru Employment Promotion and Workers Welfare (EPWW) Division with Telephone No. 400-6011.

ATTY. ANA C. DIONE, CPA REGIONAL DIRECTOR

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In the ad material of Notice of filing of Application for Alien Employment Permits published on April 5 2019, the Nationality of Mr. Wong Tai Wee under JINSHENGLONG BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. should have been read as Malaysian and not as published. While in the application published on March 9, 2019, the applicant of VERTEX DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. should have been read as Ms. Wang, Yu and not as published. While in the application published on March 27, 2019, the position of Mr. Shi, Yunfei under NZH INTERNATIONAL VEHICLE AND MACHINERY, INC. should have been read as Sales Engineer Service (Mandarin Speaking) and not as published. While in the application published on March 30, 2019, the Nationality of Mr. Wilson Wong Jun Xiang under BLOOMBERRY RESORTS AND HOTELS INC. should have been read as Malaysian and not as published. If you have any information/objection to the above mentioned application/s, please communicate with the Regional Director thru Employment Promotion and Workers Welfare (EPWW) Division with Telephone No. 400 6011.

ATTY. ANA C. DIONE, CPA REGIONAL DIRECTOR

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Leave Luneta Hill trees alone–SC

News BusinessMirror

BAGUIO CITY—THE Supreme Court has permanently barred the cutting of trees on this city’s Luneta Hill, which was supposed to be undertaken by mall giant SM to give way for its expansion. At a news briefing, SC Public Information Chief and Spokes-

man Brian Hosaka said the decision was reached during Wednesday’s en banc session of the 15-man High Tribunal here in the country’s summer capital. “The Supreme Court in its en banc session today [Wednes-

Thursday, April 11, 2019 A11 day] made permanent the temporary restraining order issued on March 24, 2015, prohibiting the cutting and bailing of the trees on Luneta Hill in Baguio City, where SM is expanding its shopping mall,” Hosaka announced. Joel R. San Juan

A12 Thursday, April 11, 2019 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

The World BusinessMirror

China, EU to strengthen trade ties

RUSSELS—China and the European Union agreed on Tuesday to strengthen their trade relationship, pledging to work toward making it easier for foreign investors to get access to China, the world’s second-biggest economy. In a joint statement, the two sides said they committed to widening market access and eliminating discriminatory requirements for foreign companies and agreed that businesses should not be forced to transfer their technology—issues that foreign investors in China have long complained about. EU leaders Donald Tusk and JeanClaude Juncker and Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang discussed the issues at their summit before claiming a breakthrough in their trade relationship. “Negotiations have been difficult but ultimately fruitful,” Tusk said. “We managed to agree a joint statement which sets the direction for our partnership based on reciprocity.”

The stakes at the annual summit were high, with two-way trade between the EU and China worth around €575 billion ($648 billion) annually. The EU is China’s biggest trading partner, while for the EU, only the United States is bigger. The EU and China also said they reaffirmed the “rules based multilateral trading system” with the World Trade Organization at its core and plan to intensify discussions aimed at beefing up international rules on industrial subsidies. China wants a bigger role in the WTO and other international organizations like the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund. But China’s ample financial support for state-owned companies

has been the target of Western trade officials. EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom has in the past called out China for “unfair trade practices” including government subsidies intended to give its companies a competitive advantage. The summit statement shows “China is willing to make some concessions and that’s important,” said Mikko Huotari, deputy director of the Mercator Institute for China Studies, a Berlin-based think tank. The promises don’t mean China will quickly transform from a state-led economy into a market driven one, but “it’s about getting back on track with regard to reform promises and ambitions that the Chinese themselves have expressed,” he said. The leaders discussed China’s policy of forcing foreign companies to turn over intellectual property as a condition for access to its big and growing market—an issue that Washington has also made a centerpiece of its trade dispute with Beijing. In their closing statement, they said: “Both sides agree that there should not be forced transfer of technology.” The EU in December stepped up

a WTO legal challenge filed in 2018 against China’s forced tech transfers, calling it a major issue affecting European companies. Li strongly denied that Beijing is behind industrial espionage, saying the government has never called on Chinese companies to infringe intellectual-property rights or steal trade secrets. The EU’s Executive Commission said last month in a strategy report that China was a “systemic rival” which preserves its domestic markets for national champions while placing “onerous requirements” on EU companies doing business there. Li said after the summit that will change. “We will not treat EU companies, especially those registered in China, with discriminatory policy, including solely foreign-owned companies in China,” he said. “And likewise Chinese companies should not be discriminated against in their operation in the European Union.” The summit comes two weeks after Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed during a visit to Paris to work with European leaders to seek fairer trade rules. AP

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Malaysia’s former first lady faces new corruption charge

UALA LUMPUR, Malaysia —The wife of Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Najib Razak was hit on Wednesday with a new corruption charge over a solar energy contract. Rosmah Mansor pleaded not guilty to accepting a 5-millionr ing g it ($1.22 mil lion) br ibe through her aide from a manager at Jepak Holdings as a kickback for helping secure a contract from the Education Ministry. She has also been charged with laundering illegal proceeds and tax evasion in a massive graft scandal that led to Najib’s electoral loss last May. T he Education Ministr y awarded the 1.25-billion-ringgit contract to supply and install solar energy panels in 369 schools in eastern Sarawak state on Bor neo to Jepa k w it hout open tender. Najib, h i s for me r de put y and several high-ranking former officials have already been charged with corruption after the election ushered in the first change of power since Malaysia’s independence from Britain in 1957.

MANSOR

Najib, whose first trial began last week after months of delay, has accused the new government of seeking political vengeance. But Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has said the court cases were based on the rule of law and that those accused will be given fair trials. AP

Hong Kong overtakes Japan as world’s third-largest stock market

R AGGING rights to Hong Kong, for now. The city’s equity market has overtaken Japan to be the world’s third largest in value, behind only the US and Mainland

China, courtesy of a rebound in Hong Kong stocks after their worst year since 2011. Hong Kong’s market cap was $5.78 trillion as of Tuesday, the latest available data show, com-

pared with $5.76 trillion for Japan. The Asian city’s benchmark Hang Seng Index climbed 17 percent this year through Tuesday, when it closed at its highest since June 15. Internet giant Tencent

Holdings Ltd. has been the main driver with a 22-percent gain. Japan’s Topix Index advanced 8.3 percent in that period. B ot h m a rk e t s we re lo we r on Wednesday, as an economic

News

outlook from the International Monetar y Fund renewed concern about a slowdown in global growth and after the US threatened tariffs on the European Union. The Hang Seng Index

BusinessMirror

A12 Thursday, April 11, 2019

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Rice, corn inventory rose in March–PSA By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

@jearcalas

HE country’s rice inventory as of March 1 expanded by 30.87 percent to 2.221 million metric tons, from 2.141 MMT recorded in the same period of 2018, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). “Similarly, the stock inventory for this month was 3.75 percent above the previous month’s level

of [2.141 million] metric tons,” the PSA said in its monthly inventory report published on Wednesday.

The PSA said 46.53 percent, or about 1.033 MMT, of the total rice inventory were in households, while 31.32 percent, or 695,840 MT, is stored in commercial warehouses. It added that 491,940 MT, or about 22.15 percent, of the total stockpile were in NFA warehouses. “Compared with the previous year’s level, rice stocks in households declined by 6.08 percent. Stocks in commercial warehouses increased by 25.75 percent. Substantial increment of 1,030.17 percent in NFA depositories was noted,” the PSA said.

“Month-on-month, the current stocks in the households and in NFA depositories increased by 0.12 percent and 65.29 percent, respectively. In contrast, stocks in commercial warehouses dropped by 14.22 percent,” the PSA added. In the same report, the PSA said the country’s corn inventory in March expanded by 42.68 percent to 397,120 MT, from 278,340 MT recorded last year. However, the volume was 49.19 percent lower than the previous month’s corn inventory of 781,520 MT, the PSA added. The PSA said the bulk of the

corn inventory, or about 284,790 MT, were in commercial warehouses, while the remaining volume of 112,330 MT was with households. “Year-on-year, corn stocks in the households and in commercial warehouses, were higher by 55.36 percent and 38.25 percent compared to their respective levels in the previous year,” it said. “Compared with the previous month’s level, corn stock in the households and commercial warehouses dropped by 23.01 percent and 55.19 percent, respectively,” it added.

DOT: January and February 2019 visitor arrivals up 6 percent By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

@akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror

HE number of foreign tourists who traveled to the Philippines in January and February 2019 grew by some 6 percent to 1.41 million, an initial indication of what can be another historic-high performance of the tourism sector this year. Benito C. Bengzon, undersecretary for Tourism Development Planning of the Department of Tourism (DOT), also told the BusinessMirror that foreign visitor receipts in the first two months of 2019 jumped by 13.63 percent to $1.75 billion (P91.32 billion). Visitor receipts in the entire 2018, however, were 9 percent lower at P406.7 billion ($7.8 bil-

lion), from the P448.6 billion recorded in 2017, reflecting the substantial loss in revenue from the six-month closure of Boracay Island, the second top market drawer for the Philippines. Data from DOT Region 6 earlier showed tourism receipts in Aklan, where Boracay is located, fell by 48 percent to P31.5 billion. (See, “Boracay closure pulls down West Visayas arrivals, tourism receipts.” in the BusinessMirror, April 8, 2019.) The DOT official, however, failed to reveal the top spending markets for 2018 and the first two months of 2019. At the Kapihan sa Manila Bay on Wednesday morning, Bengzon underscored the robust performance of the tourism sector, and citing the data on visitor receipts, said this shows “the vital role

tourism plays in the economy. It is easily the top third or fourth contributor to the economy.” He also underscored the importance of the development of air routes into the country, as air connectivity is a vital cog in the growth of the tourism industry by boosting inbound arrivals. “If there are no flights, there are no tourists,” he said in Filipino. Bengzon noted in the first three months of the year, 1.4 million air seats were added in routes between Manila, Cebu, Davao and different parts of Asia. These additional air seats are a definite indication, he explained, of the Philippines’s increasing desirability as a tourism destination, unlike other areas where tourists only have to go by land trips to get from one country to another.

Of the total number of foreign tourists in January and February this year, the largest share continued to be South Korea’s at 360,790. The market, however, was just up 1.72 percent from the same period in 2018. In second place was China at 305,371 visitors, accounting for some 20.5 percent of the share in arrivals. The market was up some 19 percent in the first two months of 2019. The United States was in third place, growing by 5.15 percent to 203,794, with a market share of some 13.7 percent. In fourth place was Japan at 111,932, with a 7.5-percent market share. A r r iva ls f rom Japan slid by 4.6 percent, though. Taiwan, surprisingly, showed a rebound with a 28.4-percent increase to 52,452 arrivals, ac-

fell 0.3 percent as of 11:38 a.m. in Hong Kong, still just above t he 3 0,0 0 0 - p oi nt le ve l t h at it broke through earlier this month. The Topix was down 0.7 percent. Bloomberg News

counting for a 7.5-percent share in arrivals. Last year, arrivals from Taiwan had been tepid, owing to perceived security threats. This pushed the DOT to double down on its marketing efforts in said country. (See, “DOT pushes marketing amid decline in Taiwanese arrivals,” in the BusinessMirror, June 28, 2018.) The remaining top markets of the Philippines were: Australia at 51,500 (up 2.17 percent); Canada at 50,416 (+4.62 percent); United K ingdom at 35,183 (+4.85 percent); India at 26,189 (+13.6 percent); Malaysia at 24,378 (+0.18 percent); Singapore at 24,225 (down 13.84 percent); and Germany at 22,650 (+21.46 percent). Bengzon had no e x pl a nation for the double-digit drop in Singaporean tourists.

Wheat. . .

Continued from B6

The USDA explained that the increase in imports is driven by the shift in the consumption of Filipinos from corn-based products “to incorporating more affordable wheat products.” This is coupled by the growing demand for animal feeds due to continuous expansion of local livestock and poultry sectors. “This year specifically, the trend toward stronger wheat use has intensified due to typhoon-related losses in the domestic corn crop,” the USDA said in its monthly forecast reports. “With domestic corn prices relatively high, the demand for wheat has surged, both in feed rations and for human consumption,” it added. Local corn output is expected to fall by 3.51 percent to 7.7 MMT, from 7.98 MMT recorded in the previous trade year, USDA data showed. Last month, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said the increase in imports is caused by the continuous expansion of the local poultry and livestock sectors. Piñol added that the increase in wheat imports is not an indication that the corn sector is slowing down. Output, he said, could not meet the requirements of expanding allied industries. “It is not that the corn sector is not performing well but this is an indication of a growing livestock and poultry sector,” he said. The US noted that it would continue to be the top supplier of wheat products to the Philippines and is keen on taking advantage of the increase in demand. “The US continues to have strong, steady demand from traditional buyers, such as Japan, South Korea and the Philippines,” it said. The country’s wheat imports in 2018 expanded by 26.8 percent to an all-time high of $1.51 billion, from $1.191 billion recorded in 2017, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showed. PSA data also indicated that the US remained the country’s top source of wheat products in 2018, as it accounted for 40.7 percent of the total import volume. The US exported $615.359 million worth of wheat products to the Philippines last year, 2.1 percent lower than the $628.558 million recorded in 2017, PSA data showed.

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BusinessMirror

Thursday, April 11, 2019 A13

A14 Thursday, April 11, 2019 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

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editorial

Is PHL ready to crash the global 5G party?

HE fifth-generation technology is being touted as the next big thing when it comes to mobile broadband. However, we are not sure what it is or why we want it. Technically speaking, 5G is the next generation of broadband connection that promises superior speed that is much better than 4G services. The 5G technology also features low communication latency, or the time it takes to pass a message from sender to receiver. With 5G, latency should be reduced to under 10 milliseconds. For perspective, the blink of an eye takes about 300 milliseconds, according to Business Insider. Currently, 4G devices can send a message in 30 to 70 milliseconds. The features of 5G network, including high bandwidth, ultra low latency, and high density connections, are expected to enable myriad applications that older network standards can’t provide. Thus, 5G will benefit entire economies and governments globally. It is expected to produce trillions of dollars worth of revenue in various industries, including agriculture, education, banking, automotive, utilities, finance, media, health care, insurance, manufacturing, real estate, transportation, and even local governments. For example, local government units can tap 5G’s smart city application like traffic management, instant weather update, local area broadcasting, energy management, smart power grid, smart lighting of street, water resource management, crowd management, emergency response, etc. 5G technology will also support surgeons and other medical practitioners, for example, to perform advanced medical procedures with reliable wireless network connected to any hospital or medical facility anywhere on Earth. Recently, South Korea’s Samsung Electronics Co. launched its 5G wireless services, beating the US and China to the punch in a global 5G services market that is expected to grow to $123 billion by 2025. “Being the first means a lot because it means we’re the first to lay the entire 5G infrastructure, having overcome lots of technological difficulties through collaboration between telecom, phone and gear companies,” said Yang Maeng-seog, a vice president at SK Telecom Co., South Korea’s biggest carrier. The arrival of 5G is a major cause of concern for the US government when it comes to one particular Chinese company: Huawei. Early this year, the US government said that Huawei and ZTE products could be used for spying purposes, effectively barring carriers from selling Huawei’s latest Android flagship. According to a Wall Street Journal report, the US government is worried that Huawei’s device may be used by China to spy on Americans, and that Huawei’s 5G advancements might overshadow those of US firms. American policymakers fear that China will get widespread 5G coverage before the US does. They are worried that with the help of Huawei, China could displace Silicon Valley as the world’s innovation center. Leaving the 5G politics to the Chinese and Americans, here’s our concern: Is the Philippines ready for 5G? Currently, the country has limited 4G services for video streaming and is still largely at 2G and 3G, which are good for short messaging service (SMS or texting) and voice calls that are often interrupted by signal problems. What affects the current situation of telco services is the absence of enough cell sites. That’s because there are only 17,000 telco towers spread around the country serving 100 million customers. Countries that want to stay competitive in the global economy are adapting 5G technology. Unless government officials can get their act together, the Philippines may not be able to attend the global 5G party anytime soon.

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BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business ✝ Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua Founder Publisher Editor in Chief Associate Editor News Editor Senior Editors

T. Anthony C. Cabangon

OUTSIDE THE BOX

NE of my favorite lines of music lyrics comes from the Scottish rock/folk band from the 1970s, “Stealers Wheel.” “Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right, here I am, Stuck in the middle with you.” And I think the average sensible person would agree with that sentiment. It is certainly appropriate most of the time to apply that attitude to the political scene. No matter what place on the political spectrum you might occupy, it is easy to say about the “other side” that they are “dumb” —in the rudest sense of the word. However, the “democracy is dead” folks are not far removed, if at all, from the “we need less democracy” people. Both show little respect for the people, and both are elitists. The “I know more and I am smarter than you” crowd is the greatest national danger. The Philippines has been called a “vibrant if flawed” democracy.

The “f lawed ” assessment may come from several factors, including hereditary political families, balimbing politicians, and too much power in the hands of the Executive branch—from the barangay hall to Malacañang. But the “vibrant” is that those of us in the middle between the clowns and jokers are widely and thoroughly exposed to—if we wish to be—all sides of the issues. Granted, “we” are still sometimes ignorant, misinformed and manipulated. But that is our own fault and in my opinion not necessarily a systemic problem. The United States is supposed to

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BusinessMirror is published daily by the Philippine Business Daily Mirror Publishing, Inc., with offices on the 3rd floor of Dominga Building III 2113 Chino Roces Avenue corner De La Rosa Street, Makati City, Philippines. Tel. Nos. (Editorial) 817-9467; 813-0725. Fax line: 813-7025. (Advertising Sales) 893-2019; 817-1351, 817-2807. (Circulation) 893-1662; 814-0134 to 36. E-mail: news@businessmirror.com.ph.

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be the “Fortress of Democracy.” The newspaper favored by the “Clowns’ —The New York Times—says that “Democracy Dies in Darkness.” The “Jokers” respond, “Democracy Dies in Fake News.” As a member of the “Stuck in the Middle with You” group, I would contend that “Democracy Dies in Ignorance.” Some facts: In more than half of all US states, the highest paid public employee in the state is a football coach. During the 2016 election, more than 40 percent of Americans did not know who was running for vice president from either political major party. Only 26 percent of Americans can name all three branches of government. Less than half of all Americans know which country used atomic bombs at the end of World War II. Look at the Philippine opinion surveys: From all areas and all economic classes, the overwhelming majority has an opinion about government institutions, elected officials and most of the issues. Before the 2016 election, only about 4 percent of the respondents did not know who they were going to vote for as vice president.

“So what does all of this have to do with the stock market?” I am glad you asked. The Jokers believe that local stock prices are controlled from a secret room on top of the Philippine Stock Exchange Tower. Every time some poor sucker loses money, the “Old Boys” toast each other with 100-year-old brandy while watching The Wolf of Wall Street on a continuous loop. The Clowns believe that the stock market is the foundation of the Philippine economy, and share price movement reflects a totally accurate manifestation of local politics, business and the future of the Republic. We in the “middle” know that the stock market is simply a buy/sell business. The decisions we make are the same as for a stall in Divisoria or the boardroom of San Miguel Corp. We want to buy a “product” that will have increasing demand and buy at a price lower than what we can sell it for in the future. E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Visit my web site at www.mangunonmarkets.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE stockmarket information and technical analysis tools provided by the COL Financial Group Inc.

2019 ‘Cybersecurity Almanac: 100 Facts, Figures, Predictions and Statistics’

Jennifer A. Ng Vittorio V. Vitug

Ruben M. Cruz Jr. Angel R. Calso

MEMBER OF

John Mangun

Lourdes M. Fernandez

Online Editor Social Media Editor

Chairman of the Board & Ombudsman President VP-Finance VP Advertising Sales Advertising Sales Manager Group Circulation Manager

In the middle and thankful

Part Five

HE Gartner forecast doesn’t cover various cyber-security categories including IoT (Internet of Things), ICS (Industrial Control Systems) and IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) security, automotive cyber security, and others, which are included in the Cybersecurity Ventures figures.

Employment CISCO firmly believes diversity is a mandate in the cyber imperative: diversity of ideas, perspectives, backgrounds and ways of seeing the world. This diversity creates the opportunity for creative problem solving that the growing security threat requires. Cybersecurity Ventures believes that every IT position is also a cybersecurity position now. Every IT worker, every technology worker, needs to be involved with protecting and defending apps, data, devices, infra-

structure, and people. There will be 3.5 million unfilled cyber-security jobs by 2021— enough to fill 50 NFL stadiums—according to Cybersecurity Ventures. This is up from Cisco’s previous estimation of 1 million cyber-security openings in 2014. The cyber-security unemployment rate is at zero percent in 2019, where it’s been since 2011. US News and World Report stated that the information security profession is growing at a rate of 36.5 percent through 2022. That bodes well for newbies, much the same as more

experienced cyber fighters. The population of cyber engineers and analysts throughout the Washington, D.C., Beltway is 3.5 times as big as the rest of the US combined. With more than 150,000 cyberrelated engineering and data science professionals, Maryland has the No. 1 cyber work force in the world and leads the US in cyber employment for classified nation-state jobs. Maryland also has the largest concentration of university-trained cyber engineering graduates in the world. San Antonio is home to the nation’s second-largest concentration of cyber-security experts. The US has a total employed cyber-security work force of nearly 715,000 people, and there are currently almost 314,000 unfilled positions, according to Cyber Seek, a project supported by the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education, a program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the US Department of Commerce. Jobs requesting public cloud security skills remain open 79 days on average—longer than almost any other IT skill, according to Cyber Seek. The National Association of Soft-

ware and Services Companies estimated that India alone will need 1 million cyber-security professionals by 2020 to meet the demands of its rapidly growing economy. Cybersecurity Ventures predicts that 100 percent of large corporations (Fortune 500, Global 2000) globally will have a Ciso or equivalent position by 2021 (up from 70 percent in 2018, although many of them will be unfilled due to a lack of experienced candidates. The second-highest paying tech job in 2019 is a Ciso, with a salary range of $175,000 to $275,000. Fortune 500 corporations in big cities pay as much as $380,000 to $420,000 annually, and more to their Cisos, much higher than the average range for the position in mid-sized companies, government agencies and academia. Flaws in software code, which create vulnerabilities, have created a burgeoning bug bounty economy with big payouts to elite freelancer hackers. Some of them earn more than $500,000 a year. But, that’s a far cry from the average take-home pay for most bug bounty hunters that are self-employed part-timers with See “Arillo,” A15

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Opinion

Dire water future?

The innocent victim-savior

BusinessMirror

Msgr. Sabino A. Vengco Jr.

Val A. Villanueva

BUSINESSWISE

OES El Niño cause water shortage? No, but we and the concessionaires allowed by law to distribute water do. Water shortages worldwide are mournfully distressing signs of our pitiful incompetence to manage ourselves within bounds, or to effectively chart a bright future for generations to come, using our indispensable natural assets. Agriculture uses the bulk of our water supply through irrigation. Do we realize the importance of water in the produce we get from this industry? Is the cost of water inputted in the agricultural products we buy? One just has to witness how water runneth over our rice fields like there’s no tomorrow. Perhaps if we’d only value water as an agricultural necessity, then we’d learn how to conserve it. In most households, water is being wasted in the many ways we use it mindlessly. It’s just like spending more than what we earn. Aside from our wasteful habits, water crisis is sadly compounded by corporate greed. The concessionaires’ inability to build additional water sources as they promised has precipitated the crisis to alarming levels. The Manila Water Co. admitted and the Metropolitan Waterworks Sewerage System (MWSS) confirmed that what triggered the crisis was the decreasing water level of the La Mesa Dam, which is the MWC’s main source of water. MWC aggressively expanded to more areas under its concession in the absence of a new water source. MWC’s Pililla water-treatment plant, intended to source and treat raw water from the Laguna Lake, is still under construction and will be operational only by the latter part of this year. As the sole keeper of our water needs, Angat Dam is where MWC and Maynilad get the water they distribute. In the absence of new water sources, the concessionaires are pumping water out of Angat Dam faster than it is being refilled by rain. In budget terms, water consumers of both MWC and Maynilad are not only withdrawing more from a depleted deposit account (rainwater represents the deposits that refill the dams), they’re now pillaging their savings to near fatigue. Without new water sources, new players in water distribution would have only one source of water to distribute to their consumers. The result would be catastrophic. Fortunately, the San Miguel Bulk Water project only gets from Angat the equivalent of one teaspoon in glass full of water. Both Maynilad and MWC draw 46 cubic meters per second compared with San Miguel’s 2 cubic meters per second. What is alarming is the creeping privatization of local water districts nationwide through the so-called joint-venture agreement (JVA), especially in the Central Luzon provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga and Tarlac. At the forefront of this assault is PRIME Water, owned by the Villars. Among the big-earning water districts already in the PRIME Water bag include those of the Cities of Cabanatuan, Tarlac and San Fernando; San Jose del Monte, Marilao and Malolos City in Bulacan. In these areas are malls, subdivisions and industries that consume huge volumes of water. As of the latest count, around 100 water districts have already been taken over, while another 30 or so are under so-called negotiations, including Angeles and Mabalacat. A number of water districts, such as Metro Cebu, Cagayan de Oro City and others in Bicol, and the Visayas and Mindanao, have already entered into some form of arrangements with private companies, which place them on the verge of outright takeover. The JVA operates under Presidential Decree 198 where the Sangguniang Bayan will pass a resolution forming a water district in their municipality/ city. After the passage of resolution, the local government unit will cut its ties with the water district, which will now be under the control and regulation of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA). The water district now becomes a government-owned and -controlled corporations. But this setup has been warped when the government, through the

National Economic and Development Authority, implemented a resolution that allows public-private partnership in the water business. Under the PPP setup, LWUA remains as a water district regulator on a nonvoting capacity. LWUA’s teeth have been practially pulled out. Here’s how it goes, according to my sources: “The agent of the private operator/investor will offer a retirement package for the water district officials and employees. [Thereafter,] they will be rehired by the private operator. The agent is offering a huge amount [millions of pesos depending on the consumption of the consumers] for the officials of the water districts. If the officials of the water districts refuse to enter into the joint venture, the agents will then talk to the mayor, governor or congressman. LWUA is directly under the Department of Public Works and Highways, [managed by Secretary] Mark Villar. PRIME Water is owned by the Villars, and the majority of water districts that entered into joint venture are under PRIME Water.” Go figure. My sources say: “The offer of the investor is to induce funds for the water districts. However, in the computation of water rates, debt services and foreign currency are included. It shows that the investments are loans, and the payment will come from the collection from the consumers. It’s very clear that we’re being fried on our own lard, since LWUA has enough funds to finance for the water district “Financial statement, operation and maintenance expenses, basis of water-rates increases must be audited by COA, because the facilities being operated by these private firms are owned by the government. But they have consistently refused to be audited by COA, arguing that they are private entities,” my sources added. In an article published by Forbes, Brian Richter, a global leader in water science and conservation for more than 25 years and chief scientist for the Global Water Program of The Nature Conservancy (an international conservation organization), has this piece of advice: “Before pursuing expensive new options for bolstering water supplies, it is critically important to minimize the amount of water needed in our homes, industries and on farms. When viewed as a water budget-balancing strategy, water conservation—both in cities and on farms—typically costs one-third to one-tenth of the expense of developing new water supplies, such as by importing water or desalting ocean water. No water-supply option should be pursued until we have trimmed our water expenditures to a minimum. “In addition to cost savings, water conservation is highly preferable to water-supply projects from an environmental perspective. Water importation can disrupt existing land uses or natural landscapes, or block animal migration routes as pipelines or canals are constructed across the landscape. These projects can also include villages located along the pipeline or canal route. Generating the electricity needed to power a water importation or desalination project likely also produces undesirable carbon emissions that are driving climate changes.” Richter points out that, to avoid a water shortage, it is crucial that everyone must “begin living within the limits of nature’s water budgets. We need to stop overspending the rain.” When raindrops stop falling on our heads, and even every storm runs out of rain, how will we quench our thirst then? For comments and suggestions, e-mail me at mvala.v@gmail.com

ALÁLAONG BAGÁ

ASSION Sunday, popularly known as Palm Sunday, signals the start of our colorful Filipino Holy Week traditions. In our liturgy we have our first reading of the entire account of the passion and death of Jesus Christ (Luke 22:14-23:56).

Innocent victim FOR his community of faith, Saint Luke portrays Jesus as the innocent martyr, His suffering and death an integral part of the divine plan of salvation. Thrice Pilate pronounced the innocence of Jesus (23:4.1416.22). Similarly in his unique narration of a trial of Jesus before Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee, the “fox” (13:32) too declared Jesus innocent (23:6). One of the criminals crucified with Jesus affirmed, “we have been condemned justly, but this man has done nothing criminal” (23:41). The centurion near the cross who witnessed what had taken place glorified God and gave his verdict, “This man was innocent beyond doubt” (23:47). Maliciously accused in a sham trial, wrongly judged and unjustly

executed, Jesus literally rose above the whole travesty and triumphed over sin. He showed the sovereign power of love from the throne of the cross. He pardoned His executioners, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” (23:34). With alacrity and certainty, Jesus plucked the criminal beside Him from the abyss, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise” (23:43). Amidst the bloody chaos on Calvary, Jesus was reconciling sinful humankind with God and restoring it back to the garden of covenant harmony.

Suffering Savior

THE passion narratives in the liturgy early on expressed for the believers the remembrance and at the same time the proclamation of

Thursday, April 11, 2019 A15

the suffering and death of Jesus until he comes again in glory. Contrary to the gentiles and the Jews who saw in the suffering of Jesus a scandal and a stumbling block (1 Corinthians 1:17-2:16), the faithful saw a saving death. The story of Jesus’ graphic passion presents Him as the cornerstone at first rejected by the builders but only to be the cornerstone of the everlasting kingdom of God. With special emphasis, Luke presents Jesus as the suffering servant of Yahweh who would expiate for the sins of the many. “But he was pierced for our offences, crushed for our sins, upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed.... Therefore I will give him his portion among the great” (Isaiah 53:5.12). The innocent victim, who died unjustly and shamefully, suffered for others and was vindicated by God. Luke pointedly pictures Simon of Cyrene carrying the cross behind Jesus (23:26). Simon exemplifies the teaching of Jesus about discipleship. “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple” (14:27). Earlier on the evangelist projected the imperative from Jesus with unmistakable clarity, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (9:23).

Bridging the gap in social protection and socioeconomic policies in Asean

followed a decade after, in 20072010, by the bigger global financial crisis (GFC), which originated from the heartland of financial capitalism: New York and London. Millions lost jobs overnight in Southeast Asia due to the AFC. The Indonesian strongman Suharto himself lost his job, after meekly submitting his country to the supervision of the IMF. It was against this backdrop that some serious rethinking about social protection took place within the official policy circles in Southeast Asia. Earlier, in the 1980s and 1990s, the World Bank and its neoliberal supporters were still obsessed with by becoming hackers themselves— the good kind, according to EdTech Magazine. With the help of experts and educators, many middle- and high-school students throughout the US are taking ethical hacking courses and setting themselves on the path to becoming cybersecurity experts. Colleges and universities are responding to the labor crunch with diverse programs focused on cybercrime, cyber security and related coursework. Since January 2016, there have been more than 410 cyber incidents targeting K-12 schools in the United States, according to EdTech Strategies. The Center for Cyber Safety and Education’s Children Internet Usage Study said over half (53 percent)

use the Internet for purposes other than homework or schoolwork seven days a week. Over a quarter (29 percent) of children admit having used the Internet in a way that their parents would not approve. And alarmingly, 4 out of 10 (40 percent) say they have “friended” or connected with someone they didn’t know on a site or app. Recent data suggests there’s growing interest from students entering college, and IT workers thinking about cyber security as an upgrade to their current positions. There are more than 125 colleges and universities in the US alone offering a master’s degree in cyber security. Dozens of those programs offer online-only classes and degrees, so even students who can’t attend in

person can get a degree. Maryland has the largest number of university-trained cyber engineering graduates in the world. Maryland is number one cyber education state in the country with 17 NSA/ DHS Centers of Academic Excellence. Maryland-based universities have awarded 10,000 bachelor’s degrees in cyber security-related programs since 2015. With the introduction of 18 new cyber-security badges in 2018, nearly 2 million Girls Scouts of all ages (K12) will be able to explore opportunities in STEM while developing problem-solving and leadership skills, according to Girl Scouts of the USA.

Continued from A1

N particular, Asean members need to address the policy gap. There is policy variance between the populist declarations on social protection made by the political leaders and the kind of socioeconomic policies that they pursue. The latter, which often favor society’s elite and the big corporations, tend to deepen inequality and put those in the margins in a precarious and vulnerable situation due to job displacement, unemployment, underemployment, ill health, accidents and marginal incomes. As Resolution 202 of 2012 of the ILO puts it, a major requirement to achieve national social protection floor is policy coherence in the social protection advocacy and the supporting socioeconomic policies that states follow.

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no guaranteed income. For the top coders with leadership and cyber-security skills—a rare breed—salaries exceed $225,000. In some companies, this position pays more than it does to the Ciso. Software plus “soft skills” equals big pay for aspiring programmers with a senior management role in their sights. New data indicates that of all IT jobs, cyber-security engineers— with an average annual salary of $140,000—are projected to be the highest paying and most recruited heading into 2019.

K-12 and higher education

TODAY, students are learning how to deal with sophisticated cyber threats

Join me in meditating on the Word of God every Sunday, from 5 to 6 a.m. on DWIZ 882, or by audio streaming on www.dwiz882.com.

austerity, and capital controls show that there are social and economic realities on the ground that cannot be ignored. These realities are forcing these institutions to adjust their neoliberal lenses somewhat, somehow. One important adjustment is the way these lenders and their neoliberal supporters are treating social protection. In the 1980s and 1990s, the ILO had a weak program on social protection. But from the turn of the millennium, the ILO has become increasingly more assertive. It conducted financial estimations on how much was needed for a developing country to put in place universal social protection. The figure arrived at 6-8 percent of the GDP. In 2012, the ILO’s concept of social protection floor also gained global acceptance with the adoption of Resolution 202. This ILO Resolution is now supported by the World Bank, which has been collaborating with the ILO in a number of social protection promotion programs. The World Bank no longer talks of pension privatization, after this was shot down by the strong criticisms articulated by Joseph Stiglitz. Instead, a new program is advanced: the promotion in Asia of the World Bank’s Latin American experiment called “Bolsa de Familia” or Conditional Cash Transfer. Under the CCT, minimal monthly allowance is given to poor mothers on the condition that the mothers get maternal medical checkup, and their school-age children continue to go to the schools.

LABOREM EXERCENS

Arillo . . .

the promotion of the privatization of government-managed pension and social security programs, as part of the broader program of privatizing, deregulating and liberalizing economies of the world. This privatization proposal was meaningless to all those who lost their jobs and incomes due to the AFC. In Thailand, the government of the populist Thaksin Shinawatra pushed for the 40-baht universal health care despite the earlier austerity program pushed by the IMF-World Bank group. In Malaysia, Mahathir defied the IMF by imposing capital controls to stop the hemorrhage of capital and jobs out of the country. But the beleaguered Suharto completely succumbed to the IMF diktat. And yet, 10 years after, at the height of the GFC, the world rediscovered the Keynesian approach in crisis situation, that is, government stimulating the economy through various deficit spending mechanisms. In America, the spending program was even seized by the big banks, which precipitated the crisis, as a means to save themselves by arguing that their collapse will lead to the bigger collapse of the economy. These banks are, accordingly, “too big too fail.” In 2017, the IMF Research Department wrote a “mea culpa” on capital controls, virtually telling the world that Mahathir, the medical doctor, was correct in making interventions in the capital market in 1997 and 1998. The foregoing narrative on IMFWorld Bank policy somersaults on

Dr. Rene E. Ofreneo

However, one cannot deny that there is greater awareness in Asean today on the importance of having universal, adequate and comprehensive social protection in every country. A brief historical review on how this rising awareness came about is in order. Two decades ago, in 1997 and 1998, Southeast Asia gave the world the “tom-yung” financial crisis, better known as the Asian financial crisis. Four Asian countries sunk into depression: Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea and Thailand. The Philippines and other Asian countries, including Russia and some countries in Latin America, were shaken. The AFC was

The following of Jesus and the imitation of Christ is the fundamental way to eternal life. Alálaong bagá, Saint Luke’s account of the passion and death of Jesus is not merely to be an informative reading for the Christians but an invitation to all to get into it and participate in the process of salvation. We are expected to be followers and disciples of Jesus, carrying our cross in his footsteps. Sufferings and pains and death are not exclusively punishments for sin but have been transformed by Jesus Christ in His own passion and death as expressions of love expiating for sin. In God’s plan, the way to salvation is through the mystery of innocent suffering, forgiveness, patient love, self-oblation even unto death. Neither is there another way for the redemption of the Filipino people. No way, unless we are willing to be innocent and forgiving, loving and sacrificing. No, not the way of violence, bullying and sowing fear, nor the way of self-flagellants in their distorted identification with Jesus. Needed is the daily, long-haul commitment to be truly for others in victory over the various forms of selfishness.

To be continued

To reach the writer, e-mail cecilio.arillo@ gmail.com.

2nd Front Page BusinessMirror

A16 Thursday, April 11, 2019

SC orders govt to comment on suit vs Chico River loan ₧3.69B B By Joel R. San Juan

@jrsanjuan1573

AGUIO CITY—The Supreme Court on Tuesday did not give an immediate relief to the petitioners seeking to immediately prevent the Philippine government and China from implementing the Preferential Buyer’s Credit Loan Agreement they entered into for the implementation of the P3.69-billion Chico River Pump Irrigation Project. Instead, the Court during its en banc session ordered the government officials to comment on the petition filed by Bayan Muna chairman and senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares, along with lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc and a farmers’ organization, seeking to declare the said loan agreement as void for being unconstitutional. “The Supreme Court ordered the respondents to file their comments to the petition within a period of 10 days,” SC Public Information Office Chief and Spokes-

man Brian Hosaka announced at a press briefing. The magistrates led by Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin are currently holding their summer session here in Baguio City from April 1 to April 10 before they go on a monthlong decision writing period in May. Named respondents in the petition were President Duterte, Executive Secretar y Sa lvador Medialdea, Finance Secretar y Carlos Dominguez III, National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Secretary Ernesto

Amount covered by the Preferential Buyer’s Credit Loan Agreement entered into by Manila and Beijing for the implementation of the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project

Pernia, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra and National Irrigation Administration Administrator Ricardo Visaya. In their petition, Colmenares and the other petitioners insisted that the confidentiality clause of the loan agreement under Article 8.8 violates the Filipinos constitutional right to be informed on foreign loans obtained or guaranteed by the government under Article XII Section 21 of the 1987 Constitution.

The petitioners also claimed that the government stands to lose millions in income tax collections when preselected Chinese contractors are tapped instead of Filipino contractors for the implementation of the project. They said the Constitution promotes a Filipino-first policy which the SC upheld in several decisions involving cases on bidding public bidding requirement and on preferential treatment. Furthermore, the petitioners questioned the provision in the agreement which chooses China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (Cietac) as tribunal and the choice of Chinese law as the governing law of the agreement. The said provision, according to the petitioners, is violative of Article II, Section 7, of the Constitution which mandates the government to take into “paramount consideration” the “national sovereignty, territorial integrity, national interest and the right of self-determination.”

PHL ready to denounce anew China intrusions By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

ALACAÑANG sees the continued presence of Chinese vessels, suspected as maritime militia, in the West Philippine Sea as an “assault” on Philippine sovereignty and wants China to leave the place, as “they have no business being there.” Presidential Spokesman and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador S. Panelo said on Wednesday that he is“sure” that Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. will also file a new protest after

verifying the report that local authorities have monitored a number of Chinese vessels hanging around Kota (Loaita) Island and Panata (Lonkiam Cay) Island. This report came after the Philippines recently filed a diplomatic protest over the presence of more than 200 Chinese vessels near Philippines-occupied PagAsa (Thitu) Island. “Then we will object to their presence. We already filed a diplomatic protest and that applies to everything, anything that concerns Chinese vessels in our territory,” Panelo said. Moreover, Panelo assured the public that the government will not tolerate the

EASTERLIES AFFECTING CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN LUZON, VISAYAS AND MINDANAO as of 4:00 pm - April 10, 2019

presence of Chinese vessels in the country’s territory. The government has since been issuing strongly worded statements on the presence of Chinese vessels, including the “rare” instance when the President told Beijing to “lay off” Pag-Asa, the biggest in the Kalayaan Island Groups that is a municipality of Palawan. The Department of Foreign Affairs has also issued a statement that the presence of Chinese vessels near the island is “illegal” and violates Philippine sovereignty. Panelo, meanwhile was quick to defend the Palace record in asserting the country’s sovereignty, noting that it has

been saying those strong statements even before. “While we remain friendly with respect to trade relations, we will always assert sovereignty when it is being impaired or assaulted,” he said. Asked if the Palace sees this latest development as an assault, Panelo said: “Oh it is. If they continue to be present [in] our territory then it is an assault [on] our sovereignty.” The President is also expected to attend the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in China within the month. When Duterte assumed office in 2016, the Philippines sought warmer relations with China despite the maritime dispute in the West Philippine Sea, which Manila raised in 2013 before a United Nations arbitral tribunal, where it got a favorable ruling. Although the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration issued a landmark decision in 2016 invalidating China’s “excessive” claims to the West Philippine Sea, China has opted not to recognize the arbitral ruling.

FDI. . .

Continued from A1

Overall, equity capital placements during the month came from Mauritius, South Korea, the United States, Singapore and the Netherlands. These were channeled largely to the financial and insurance, administrative and support services, real estate, electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply, and information and communication industries. The decline could have been larger if not for the net investments in debt instruments, which increased by 31 percent to $577 million from the year-ago level of $441 million.This type of investment consists mainly of intercompany borrowings/ lending between foreign direct investors and their subsidiaries/affiliates in the Philippines. Likewise, reinvestment of earnings rose to $76 million, from $71 million in the same month in 2018. Last year, the Philippines’s FDI print was $600 million short of the government’s FDI projection of $10.4 billion for 2018. Country source data showed that FDI are increasingly becoming Asian in nature, as placements made by investors based in the US, Europe and Australia all posted declines last year. In 2018, net equity placements made by investors in the US declined by 66.07 percent, while those from Europe were down by 80.76 percent. Investments made by those in Australia and New Zealand further plunged into the net outflow territory to hit a net outflow volume of $149.25 million, from the previous year’s $2.84 million. These were partially offset by the growth in FDI from Asian countries—particularly from Southeast Asian countries, which posted a 36.42-percent growth in equity placements, as well as from South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan, which collectively grew their placements to the Philippines by 132.44 percent year-on-year. The rest of Asia grew their FDI to the Philippines by 90.72 percent, with China registering a 590-percent jump in investments from 2017 to 2018.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

GOVT INVESTMENTS IN 2018 WERE HIGHEST IN HISTORY, SAYS D.O.F.

HE investments made by the national government under the Duterte administration, which reached 5.4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2018, constituted the highest in the country’s history, according to the Department of Finance (DOF), A DOF economic bulletin said the investments made by the government from 2016 to 2018 rose by an average of 39.7 percent. In monetary terms, these amounted to P940.4 billion in 2018, coming from P685.3 billion in 2017, and P655.7 billion in 2016. In 2011, the government’s investment only amounted to P250.1 billion which is 2.58 percent of GDP; it was P339.3 billion in 2012 which is 3.21 percent of GDP; P296.7 billion or 2.57 percent of GDP in 2013; P346.3 billion or 2.74 percent of GDP for 2014; and P345.3 billion or 2.59 percent of GDP in 2015. “Investment expansion has been the driving force of the economy in recent years, pushing up the country’s competitiveness and making up for previous decades of underinvestment. Stringent public investment evaluation, open and transparent procurement and implementation-ready prioritization have increased the efficiency of projects,” the DOF said.

According to the DOF, there are several reasons for the high return on investments made by the government, including infrastructure projects undergoing stringent project evaluation by the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC). Major national projects costing P2.5 billion or more are vetted by seven ICC agency-members before implementation. Project procurement undergoing an open, transparent bidding process with terms of reference published in the Philippine Government E-Procurement System (Philgeps) is another reason for the high return. Cited as a third reason is the requirement that the project must be implementation-ready before the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) provides an allocation for it in the draft national government budget. “The current congestion in the country’s roads and ports serve as evidence that the projects, once implemented, will have ready clientele,” the DOF added. The Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program consists of 75 flagship infrastructure projects envisioned to usher in the “golden age of infrastructure” in the country. Rea Cu

Travel tax should have been scrapped in 2002: Koko files bill to do that

HE Senate is set to work on remedial legislation abolishing the Marcos-era travel-tax imposition as soon as Congress reconvenes plenary session next month. Senate Bill 1841, filed by Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, seeks to annul the 42-year-old presidential decree issued following the imposition of martial law requiring Filipinos traveling abroad to pay the tax before boarding. In seeking the tax repeal, especially for travelers bound for countries within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), Pimentel pointed out it should have been in effect since November 2002, “following the signing of the regional intergovernmental tourism agreement in which the Philippines is one of the signatories.” The senator cited the Asean Tourism Agreement, noting that it already removed travel levies and taxes on nationals of member-states traveling within the region. “It has been almost 14 years since the Philippines signed the Asean Tourism Agreement, but as of date, travel taxes are still imposed upon individuals traveling to other Asean member-states,” he said. Once enacted into law, Pimentel said the remedial legislation will “totally remove the imposition of travel tax on those who will depart to any other country around the globe.” Asserting that the Filipinos’ right to travel abroad should not be burdened with the imposition of a tax, the senator recalled that the travel tax, which ranges from P300 to P2,700, was imposed to curtail unnecessary foreign travels and to conserve foreign exchange during martial law. Those conditions no longer prevail.

“It was first imposed in 1977 by then-President Ferdinand E. Marcos following the issuance of Presidential Decree 1183 in order to provide adequate funds for tourism-related programs and projects to enhance the country’s competitiveness as a major tourist destination,” Pimentel recalled. The senator, however, took the position that traveling Filipinos, already paying a huge chunk of their salary to the national government via income tax, “should not be made to carry the additional burden” in providing funds for tourism facilities and infrastructure. “They should not be made to pay for the failure of the national government to provide state-ofthe-art tourism facilities and infrastructure,” he added. Moreover, Pimentel said Section 73 of Republic Act 9593, also known as the Tourism Act of 2009, already provides for alternative funding sources for the programs funded by the travel tax in the event of a phaseout of travel tax collection following the enforcement of international agreements. Instead, Pimentel proposed that agencies receiving proceeds from travel tax collections such as the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza), Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to directly receive the necessary funding from the General Appropriations Act (GAA). He took the view that “the percentages of travel tax allocated for CHED, even if the law states that priority should be given to tourism-related educational programs and courses, and for NCAA, are unnecessary since these are not connected to traveling.” Butch Fernandez

Editor: Efleda P. Campos

Companies BusinessMirror

Thursday, April 11, 2019

House wants MWSS, Manila Water held accountable for recent water shortage

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

@joveemarie

HE House Committee on Metro Manila Development has recommended to the national government holding Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and Manila Water Co. Inc. (MWCI) accountable for the recent water shortage and compensate the affected customers for the inconvenience.

Rep. Winston Castelo of Quezon City, the panel chairman, reported this recommendation after the hearing last month on the water-supply shortage in Metro Manila. In a statement on Wednesday, Castelo said MWSS and Manila Water failed to properly implement contingency plans to stop the adverse effects of the water shortage

to the public. Castelo added the committee also recommended to MWSS to study how Manila Water will compensate its consumers as soon as possible for the inconvenience and losses experienced. Manila Water already said it will implement a voluntary one-time bill waiver program to provide relief to its

customers affected by water-service interruptions in March. The onetime bill waiver will be reflected in the customers’ April bill. “Compensation may be through rebate based on Section 10.4 of their Concession Agreement, and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations,” he said. Article 10.4 of the concession agreement between MWSS and Manila Water provides the MWSS Regulatory Office ample powers to penalize the latter when it is unable to fulfill its service obligations as outlined in the agreement. It is mandated to use the penalties collected to rebate consumers affected by the service interruption. Under the terms of the agreement, if the service interruptions continue for 15 days, the Regulatory Office (RO) can assess a financial penalty against Manila Water. Manila Water has admitted before the lower chamber that its service will go back to normal by the end of May. Castelo said the supply shortage

had been earlier forecasted; they should have addressed it immediately and prepared for the scenario, instead of reacting after the crisis had reached critical levels. Also, he said the water-supply problem could not be attributed to El Niño or climate change alone but also to lack of foresight or mismanagement on the part of the regulator, MWSS, and the concessionaire, Manila Water. “They should have proactively implemented contingency plans in accordance with their demand growth forecast and their supply profile,” he said. Castelo said the committee recommended that the government needs to find and develop additional sources of water and new technology to recycle water, and enhance its supply and distribution. He said local government units, the national government, water regulator, and water concessionaires must work together to develop and implement a water security master plan.

AboitizPower borrows $300M from foreign banks to buy AC Energy’s thermal assets By Lenie Lectura @llectura

BOITIZ Power Corp. signed a $300-million loan facility with foreign banks to partly finance its acquisition of AC Energy Inc.’s thermal assets. “AboitizPower signed a facility agreement with DBS Bank Ltd., Mizuho Bank Ltd., MUFG Bank Ltd., and Standard Chartered Bank to obtain an acquisition loan in the amount of up to $300 million. The proceeds of the loan will be used to partially finance the acquisition by AboitizPower of 49-percent voting stake and 60-percent economic stake in AA Thermal Inc.,” it said in a disclosure on Wednesday.

In September 2018, AboitizPower sealed a deal with AC Energy for the purchase of a stake in the latter’s thermal business, AA Thermal Inc., valued at $579.2 million. AA Thermal’s assets initially consisted of AC Energy’s limited partnership interests in GNPower Mariveles Coal Plant Co. Ltd., the owner and operator of an operating 2x316-megawatt coal plant in Mariveles, Bataan, and in GNPower Dinginin Ltd. Co., the developer and owner of a 2x668-MW supercritical coal plant project in Dinginin, Bataan. AboitizPower and AC Energy are partners in the GNPower projects. The agreement will increase AboitizPower’s beneficial ownership in the Mariveles proj-

ect to 78.325 percent, and in the Dinginin project to 70 percent. The Mariveles project has been operating since 2013, while the first unit of the Dinginin project is scheduled to go online in 2019. AboitizPower has set 4,000MW target capacity by 2020. The two GNPower plants will help the company meet this target. Also, these are essential in the company’s commitment to securing a balanced energy mix to support the country’s energy security. “We had a target of 4,000 attributable MW to us by 2020 and, I think, we will probably hit that or maybe exceed it a little bit with the acquisition. So, we will come up with new target eventually.

But we’re just focusing right now on our 2020 goals,” AboitizPower CEO Erramon Aboitiz said. For AC Energy, the selldown of its thermal assets forms part of the company’s goal to achieve five gigawatts (GW) from a balanced mix of renewables and thermal assets by 2025. “We’re close to 50-50. We’re in a nice position. This is our objective for 2025 to be at least 50 percent renewables, We are trimming down to achieve this balance. So, this selldown of AA Thermal to Aboitiz helps balance our portfolio and allow us to raise capital for our growth. We can maintain the balance we have now in 2018 all the way to 2025,” AC Energy President Eric Francia had said.

Megaworld launches hotel in Manila’s Chinatown

EGAWORLD Corp., the property-development arm of businessman Andrew Tan, on Wednesday opened its homegrown brand of hotel in Binondo, Manila, the second hotel in the area where a lot of Chinese businessmen are still present. Hotel Lucky Chinatown, to be directly connected to its adjacent shopping mall of the same name, is Megaworld’s eighth hotel property in its portfolio. It offers 93 rooms and suites ranging from standard queen, standard twin, junior suite and executive suite. Jeremy Russell S. Go, resident manager of the hotel, said the establishment targets Chinese businessmen, travelers and tourists. The hotel was formerly the warehouse of the shop owners of the mall. Megaworld spent P750 million, and about two years to refurbish and convert some floors of the building to make it a hotel. A standard room of about 24 square meters will have an introductory price of P3,188 per night and a suite of about 79 sq m big will have a price of 5,888 per night. “With the hotel directly connected to Manila Chinatown’s

EXECUTIVES of Meaworld Corp. join Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat (center) during the opening Wednesday of Hotel Lucky Chinatown in Binondo, Manila. Joining her are (from left): Jeremy Russell Go, Resident Manager, Hotel Lucky Chinatown; Lourdes GutierrezAlfonso, Megaworld COO; Kevin Tan, Chief Strategy Officer, Megaworld; and Raymundo Melendres, Managing Director, Global One Hotel. Hotel Lucky Chinatown is the company's eighth hotel property to open in the area and considered to be Binondo's most modern contemporary hotel. NONIE REYES

biggest mall, guests will be able to savor the distinct, dynamic vibe of the Chinatown culture as they enjoy the sights and sounds of this bustling hub,” Go said. The hotel is the second in the Binondo area, the world ’s oldest Chinatown,

only after Ramada Hotel. “Our idea is to blend modernity with Binondo’s heritage. While Hotel Lucky Chinatown features a modern contemporary design, the moment our guests get out of the hotel, they will feel the

culture that is truly Chinatown. We want to provide that distinction so the experience becomes richer,” Go said. Tan’s other homegrown hotel brands include Richmonde, Belmont, Savoy and Twin Lakes. Hotel Lucky Chinatown features Zabana Bar, spa, sauna, jacuzzi and fitness center. The hotel will also have a high-ceiling grand ballroom that can accommodate up to 350 guests in banquet setting, and can be divided into three smaller ballrooms. It also has a boardroom and three meeting rooms for smaller groups. At the hotel’s Atrium is an indoor Zen garden with its own sunroof surrounded by select guest rooms. To date, Megaworld has already opened seven local homegrown hotels around the country: Richmonde Hotel Ortigas in Pasig City, Eastwood Richmonde Hotel in Quezon City, and Richmonde Hotel Iloilo in Iloilo City; Belmont Hotel Manila in Newport City; Savoy Hotel Manila in Newport City and Savoy Hotel Boracay in Boracay Island, Aklan; and Twin Lakes Hotel in Laurel, Batangas near Tagaytay. VG Cabuag

“We must be prepared. The growth of population in Metro Manila comes with its steadily increasing need for food and water. With climate change and the devastating effects of El Niño and La Niña weather patterns, it is logical to see that this should not be treated only as an environmental protection problem or a disaster reduction goal, but a national security issue,” Castelo said. During the recent hearing of the committee, MWSS Administrator Reynaldo Velasco announced the construction of dams and other possible sources of water as long-term solutions to the water crisis in Metro Manila and nearby areas. Velasco said Manila Water will sign a joint-venture agreement with Enrique Razon and San Lorenzo Ruiz Water Development Corp. of Oscar Violago for the construction of a new dam. He said this dam will have a capacity of 500 million liters per day (MLD). Also part of long-term solutions, Velasco said, is the construction of the Chinese-funded 600-MLD Ka-

liwa Dam. Velasco said the MWSS is now reviewing the construction of the 1,800-MLD Laiban/Kanan Dam due to the high number of informal settlers in area. Velasco said the MWSS is now looking to other possible new sources of water which include the 500-MLD Rehabilitation of Wawa Dam; 800MLD Unutilized water from AngatNorzagaray; 350-MLD Bayabas Dam, and the 188-MLD Sumag River Diversion Project. Velasco also disclosed the constructions of tunnels and aqueduct from Ipo Dam to Bigte Norzagaray, and from Bigte to La Mesa Dam. He said the MWSS’s short-term solutions include Maynilad’s transfer of 10MLD of their water allocation to Manila Water at the La Mesa Portal; energization of the 100-MLD Cardona Rizal Water Treatment Plant; cross-border gate valve opening, which has a total of 50-MLD treated water from Maynilad, reactivation of standby 101 deep wells with approximately 100 MLD and deployment of mobile water tankers.

Kymco to invest ₧1B in new motorcycle-making facility By Elijah Felice E. Rosales @alyasjah

OTORCYCLE firm Kymco Philippines Inc. is investing P1 billion for a new manufacturing facility that will increase its production capacity and brand offering by 2023. In a news briefing, Kymco Philippines President Allan B. Santiago said the firm is pouring in P1 billion in capital for a production hub to be located most likely in a Laguna or Batangas economic zone. The facility is eyed to manufacture an average of 72,000 units annually. This is larger than the production capacity of Kymco Philippines’s current plant in Taguig at 60,000 units per year. Santiago said the firm is investing in a new facility to supply the growing demand for two-wheel drive, particularly scooters and motorcycles. The Philippine subsidiary of the heritage Taiwanese brand is manufacturing 125 cc to 500 cc scooters, all terrain vehicles and utility vehicles. Santiago said the demand for motorcycle has been growing 10 percent to 15 percent annually over the past three years, with the requirement at 1.4 million units to 1.5 million units this year. “Definitely,” Santiago said, when asked if Kymco Philippines expects the market to grow over the next few years. “There are so many economic fundamentals in order to grow the market. Why [is the] market growing in the Philippines? Simply because the middle segment of the market, [their] power to purchase is increasing.”

The Kymco Philippines chief added remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) remain at a high, and this provides their families here more purchasing power. Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported total cash remittances to the Philippines grew 3.1 percent to $28.9 billion last year. The expansion in remittances was attributed to transfers from both land-based and sea-based OFWs, which improved 2.8 percent and 4.6 percent from 2017, respectively. Santiago said Kymco Philippines is selling about 1,500 units per month, and is staring at an increase in demand once the new facility that will manufacture a wider variety of product line is put up. “We used to sell more than that, but because of the stiff competition in the market and because of our desire to change our strategy into a more profitable one, we decided to create products that will address more quality sales on our side. Remember, at the end of the day, the business goal is return of investment,” Santiago said. On top of the new investment, Kymco Philippines poured in P679 million for its operational expenses, production line and stock units this year. The firm is a wholly owned subsidiary of Taiwan-based Kwang Yang Co. Motors Ltd. The brand is popular for its scooters, motorcycles, mobility scooters, all-terrain vehicles and utility vehicles. Kymco Philippines started operating in the Philippines in 2008, and is taking part in the government’s Motor Vehicle Development Program.

ICTSI opens container terminal in Argentina By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

NTERNATIONAL Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) has started the commercial operations of TecPlata, the new container terminal in Argentina. Its first user was the vessel Jacarandá of Log-In, a Brazilian shipping line specializing in doorto-door logistics solutions. The arrival of Jacarandá, a 218-meter vessel with a capacity of 38 tons, marks the start of Log-In’s fortnightly operations at the terminal. “This is a first step for the company, and we firmly believe this will pave the way for new agreements with more operators to maximize our current installed

capacity of 450,000 TEUs,” said Bruno Porchietto, TecPlata CEO. TecPlata, an investment of $450 million, is considered the “most modern port in Argentina equipped with the latest infrastructure, equipment and computer systems in the industry.” Located 60 kilometers from Buenos Aires, TecPlata has a total area 41 hectares, 25 hectares of which have been allotted for containers. Even as it has just started its operations, Porchietto said the company plans to expand the capacity of the port once it reaches certain milestones. “ The terminal may also be expanded to twice its existing capacity to over 1 million TEUs,” he said.

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Thursday, April 11, 2019

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Megawide income falls to ₧1.8B in 2018

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

EGAWIDE Construction Corp. on Wednesday said its income dropped almost 20 percent last year to P1.8 billion from the previous year’s P2.24 billion as its shifts its income stream to transport infrastructure from the construction of various buildings. Consolidated revenues dropped 21 percent to P15.11 billion in 2018 compared with P19.16 billion in 2017. Construction remains the core revenue contributor at 78 percent,

with 20 percent coming from airport operations and the balance of 2 percent from airport merchandising. “2018 was a landmark year for Megawide as we opened two flagship infrastructure projects, the Mactan-

Cebu International Airport [MCIA] Terminal 2 and the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange [PITX],” said Edgar Saavedra, the company’s chairman and CEO. “Not only did we secure our space as a transport infrastructure developer, we are also witnessing the results of our diversification plan to mitigate the natural cyclicality of construction.” Boosted by the opening of MCIA’s new international terminal in July 2018, airport operations delivered revenues of P3 billion, 30 percent higher year-on-year, and contributed 20 percent to total consolidated revenues. Construction revenues slowed down in 2018 as a result of projects in different completion stages in the order book, with projects either winding down or in the early phases of construction.

Net income of P762.8 million was, likewise, affected by one-time finance charges related to the impairment of disputed receivables. “We remain highly optimistic in our construction business, especially with such a robust order book which gives us visibility for the next two to three years,” Saavedra said. New contracts secured in 2018 reached P29.5 billion, almost three times the level in the previous year. At the end of 2018, order backlog amounted to P50.9 billion, the highest level by far in Megawide’s history. Airport contribution drives 2018 with increase in passenger traffic and new commercial openings MCIA brought in a 15-percent growth in total passenger volume to 11.5 million passengers in 2018, from 10 million passengers per annum in 2017. International and do-

ERC gives NGCP go-ahead to build La Trinidad line project By Lenie Lectura @llectura

HE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has approved the application of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) to proceed with its P644million La Trinidad-Calot 69-kV line project. “The NGCP’s new La Trinidad— Calot 69 kV Transmission Line will address the expected transmission overloading and will serve as a back up in times of contingency or a failure in the transmission system,” ERC Chairman and CEO Agnes VST

Devanadera said. The project involves the construction of a transmission line using new right-of-way and de-commissioning of some portions of the old circuit line. The transmission line project also aims to provide a single outage contingency as required in the Philippine Grid Code (PGC) and improve the reliability and transfer capacity of the transmission line. NGCP is also required to conduct competitive bidding for the purchase of major materials in the implementation of the proposed projects. The remaining old or existing line that

will be dedicated to Benguet Electric Cooperative Inc.’s Sanitary Camp and Irisan should be reclassified as Subtransmission Asset and be divested to Beneco. The NGCP, under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira), is required to seek the ERC’s prior approval of any plan for expansion or improvement of its facilities in the pursuit of its mandate to construct, install, finance, improve, expand, rehabilitate, and repair the country’s transmission system and the grid. “The ERC approved this application of the NGCP for its La TrinidadCalot 69 kV Transmission Line based

on our evaluation that the benefits of the project outweigh its cost. Electricity consumers will be benefited with this NGCP project in terms of having sustainable electricity and continued economic growth, not only in the Province of Benguet, but in the entire Luzon region,” Devanadera said. The regulator’s approval is subject to optimization based on its actual use and/or implementation during the reset process for the next regulatory period, as stated in the Rules for Setting the Transmission Wheeling Rates and other relevant issuances of the ERC.

Pioneering cyborg-type robot for medical use introduced in PHL

APANESE robotics company Cyberdyne Inc. officially launched on Wednesday its new medical technology called Hybrid Assistive

Limb (HAL), reminiscent of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s costume in his 1984 smash hit film The Terminator, which is expected to help revolution-

ize the health-care industry in the Philippines. Cyberdyne Inc. President and CEO Dr. Yoshiyuki Sankai said HAL is the world’s first cyborg-type robot that can bring aid and assistance to patients who have suffered traumatic spinal and/or who have been rendered immobile by stroke or other diseases. “I believe that technology should be for the human society, and technology should always support the humans,” he told members of the local media during their official kickoff event held at Okada Manila

in Parañaque City. HAL is a wearable technology that fuses “man, machine and information.” It assists physically challenged person to move and exert bigger motor energy than usual. Considered a system, it helps accelerates a motor learning of cerebral nerves. This technology works with sensors and artificial intelligence or AI. Being the only remedial device it is, HAL for Medical Use-Lower Limb Model teaches the brain how to move the legs and help realize the wearer’s intention, either to walk or stand up. Roderick L. Abad

mestic passengers grew 23 percent and 12 percent, respectively. Domestic passengers comprised 67 percent of the total passenger mix, while international comprised 33 percent. Air-traffic volume likewise increased by 15 percent with international traffic up by 19 percent and domestic traffic improving 14 percent. As of February this year, the company is serving 30 domestic and 20 international destinations with six local and 19 international airline partners. “We continue to see the growth in both international and local travel as an opportunity to promote Cebu not only as a destination but as a hub to other destinations in the Visayas and Mindanao. We intend to make the most of these prospects by embarking on new developments within the

mutual funds

MCIA concession area to attract more traffic and complement our existing facilities,” Saavedra said. Meanwhile, the PITX, which opened in November, is also expected to contribute to the company’s topline this year. From an average daily foot traffic of less than 10,000 in December 2018, PITX is currently hosting an average of at least 40,000 passengers daily. “With the constant cooperation from the government and other stakeholders, connectivity at PITX has improved. Commuters and bus operators have started to appreciate the real benefits of the terminal,” Saavedra said. The terminal is expected to open new long-haul routes within this month, including routes to Bicol and Quezon province.

April 10, 2019

NAV One Year Three Year Five Year Y-T-D per share Return* Return Stock Funds ALFM ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a 264.42 -2.27% 1.47% 1.6% 4.83% ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 1.6486 1.71% 11.26% 4.45% 14.42% ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 4.1149 -4.1% 1.8% 0.59% 5.43% Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.9415 -0.17% n.a. n.a. 5.73% First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.8643 n.a. n.a. n.a. 5.31% First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund,Inc. -a 5.5044 -0.98% 1.5% 1.4% 4.43% MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a 127.69 7.72% n.a. n.a. 9.64% One Wealthy Nation Fund, Inc. -a 0.8781 -3.21% -3.78% n.a. 5.49% PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a 52.1458 -0.09% 2.39% n.a. 5.98% Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 544.28 -0.47% 1.3% 1.33% 5.74% Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a 1.3122 0.3% 3% 4.39% 4.64% Philequity Fund, Inc. -a 38.8225 0.55% 3.86% 3.72% 5.98% Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a,3 1.038 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a 5.2796 0.09% 3.24% 3.71% 6.47% Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a 881.3 0.22% 2.92% 3.65% 6.37% Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 0.9299 2.14% 2.08% n.a. 7.98% Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 4.3219 1.03% 3.26% 2.64% 6.48% Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 1.0132 -0.29% 2.92% n.a. 6.17% United Fund, Inc. -a 3.71 1.65% 5.02% 3.58% 5.97% Exchange Traded Fund First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c,2 117.9019 0.56% 4.01% 4.74% 6.46% ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b $1.049 -5.42% 8.09% 1.95% 12.9% Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.2837 1.02% n.a. n.a. 16.16% Balanced Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ATRAM Dynamic Allocation Fund, Inc. -a 1.7233 -1.85% -0.44% -1.09% 4.37% ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 2.3163 -1.49% 1.31% 1.03% 4.85% First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.6466 -0.23% -0.4% -0.97% 4.04% Grepalife Balanced Fund Corporation -a 1.354 -2.39% n.a. n.a. 3.81% NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a 1.9183 1.01% 1.31% 1.56% 4.08% PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a 3.6832 -1.1% -0.01% 0.7% 4.36% Philam Fund, Inc. -a 16.6144 -0.15% 0.24% 0.73% 4.44% Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a 2.147 0.41% 1.77% 2.32% 3.6% Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.8527 1.27% 1.5% 1.73% 5.51% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d,4 0.9993 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d,4 0.9996 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d,4 0.9975 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.9819 1.51% 1.53% n.a. 6.53% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a $0.03603 1.72% 0.43% 1.63% 2.21% PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -a $1.0009 -4.66% 4.27% -0.08% 6.91% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $3.6982 0.9% 6.33% 2.98% 11.78% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a $1.0873 -0.22% n.a. n.a. 7.65% Bond Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 347.5 2.8% 2.12% 2.12% 1.2% ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a,1 1.8819 0.84% -0.17% -0.26% 1.22% Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a 3.0121 5.48% 5.26% 5.3% 1.39% Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a 2.1572 2.38% 1.09% 1.81% 1.25% First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.2585 1.95% 0.48% 0.93% 2.23% Grepalife Fixed Income Fund Corp. -a P 1.6021 0.23% -0.93% 0.29% 2.41% Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a 4.0316 0.78% -0.67% 0.82% 2.85% Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.6141 3.58% 1.02% 1.26% 2.76% Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a 0.919 0.59% -0.79% n.a. 2.96% Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 2.8822 4.08% 1.19% 1.8% 4.2% Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a 1.5997 3.65% 0.65% 1.33% 3.88% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $453.77 2.46% 1.76% 2.89% 1.22% ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a Є216.04 1.48% 1.41% 1.62% 1.59% ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.1651 4.21% 1.5% 2.26% 3.49% First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0252 1.61% 0.81% n.a. 1.61% Grepalife Dollar Bond Fund Corp. -a $1.7131 -0.99% -1.4% 0.91% 1.35% MAA Privilege Dollar Fixed Income Fund, Inc. N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. MAA Privilege Euro Fixed Income Fund, Inc. ЄN.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -a $1.062 1.57% -0.71% -2.24% 2.35% Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $2.2548 2.76% 0.32% 2.81% 3.85% Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a $0.0580689 2.1% 1.14% 1.74% 1.91% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $2.9761 1.18% -0.22% 2.13% 3.62% Money Market Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 122.33 3.51% 2.17% 1.77% 1.23% First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a,5 1.0071 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a 1.195 2.73% 1.12% 0.75% 1.11% Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.2327 3.22% 2.47% 1.83% 1.12% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0228 2.09% n.a. n.a. 0.68% * - NAVPS as of the previous banking day ** - NAVPS as of two banking days ago *** - Listed in the PSE. **** - Re-classified into a Balanced Fund starting January 1, 2017 (formerly Grepalife Bond Fund Corp.). ***** - Launch date is November 6, 2017 ****** - Launch date is January 08, 2018 ******** - Renaming of the fund was approved by the SEC last April 13, 2018. ********* - Became a member since April 20, 2018. ******* - Adjusted due to cash dividend issuance last January 29, 2018

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Thursday, April 11, 2019 B3

TheBroa Amid 42 daily fires, marke B4

Business

Thursday, April 11, 2019

SMOKE billows from the Juan Luna Building, which houses the National Archives of the Philippines, in Binondo, Manila, on May 28, 2018. ROY DOMINGO

By Rea Cu & Jonathan L. Mayuga

AITH and fate may be different in spelling but are similar when applied to Filipinos’ attitude toward fire—a disaster that brings a hazy future—and fire insurance. “I don’t know, maybe we’re fatalistic; leave it up to God or ‘maybe that won’t happen to me,’ etc.,” Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association of the Philippines (Pira) Executive Director Michael F. Rellosa told the BusinessMirror when asked why, despite the number of fire incidents amid rising temperature, the market seems to be getting cold to getting fire insurance coverage. Data from the Insurance Commission (IC) showed that while net premiums written for fire insurance have been rising from 2013 to 2017, the number of policyholders of fire insurance in the country tapered off in 2016 to 2017. IC data also revealed that net premiums written for fire insurance amounted to P4.787 billion in 2017 and P4.907 billion in 2016. On the other hand, the number of policyholders of fire insurance coverage declined in 2017 at 1.423 million from 1.434 million in 2016. Prior to 2016, however, policyholders of fire insurance increased in 2015 at 1.435 million from 1.086 million in 2014 and 970,313 in 2013. Net premiums written for fire insurance—the amount the insurer gets to keep for assuming risk—hit P3.608 billion in 2015 from P3.266 billion in 2014 and P3.098 billion in 2013.

Recorded incidents

NONETHELESS, fire is a tragedy— both deadly and costly—that Filipinos are no longer oblivious to. Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) records revealed that a total of 83,199 fire incidents took place from 2014 to 2018. This means that an average of nearly 16,640 fire incidents happened every year, or 45 a day, during the 5-year period. Of the

total, it was determined that 1,180 fire incidents were intentional or recorded as cases of arson. About 63,303 were found to be accidental while 413 of the recorded fire incidents were undetermined. A total of 18,303 cases are still under investigation. During the 5-year period, 74,437 structures were affected, with the total estimated damage to property reaching P30 billion. A total of 408 civilian fatalities were recorded; three firefighters died. On the other hand, the number of injured civilians reached 3,998 with 406 firefighters suffering from injuries. The BFP identified the top three causes of fires as related to electrical connection, lit cigarette butts and open flame. Any of the three leading cause of fires can be purely accidental or incidental. The latter could lead to a denial of a fire insurance claim, according to documents obtained from the BFP. The BFP, however, does not keep tabs on the number of incidents covered by fire insurance as the bureau’s statistics is focused on the type of structural fires, whether involving residential, commercial, or industrial units or structures.

Ensure the future

RELLOSA said the only reason some people secure insurance “is because it’s required; maybe because they borrowed the money to build the house from the bank. “If you are financing your house you are required. But if that’s a house that you inherited, and you didn’t spend a single penny on it, you don’t see the importance of insuring or you realize it too late after a fire or a [Typhoon] Yolanda or something.” Supt. Romeo A. Pepito Jr. of

the BFP, however, underscored the importance of having property insurance coverage. “It is very important; fire can happen anytime,” Pepito said in mixed English and Filipino. Pepito, chief of the BFP’s Fire Arson Investigation Division under the Directorate for Intelligence and Investigation, said fire can occur anytime, anywhere, with millions if not billions worth of property going up in smoke in a matter of hours. Fire can completely destroy an entire building and cost millions, or even billions of investment, he added. Rellosa said in an interview that the basic policy a person can get to cover one’s dwelling place from fires is the standard fire and lightning insurance offered by nonlife insurance companies.

Allied perils coverage

RELLOSA said it is important to be covered by the standard fire and lightning insurance as this can help the person rebuild his or her house or condominium unit as well as the contents inside the abode should fires occur. The basic fire insurance can also be expanded to include allied perils coverage, which protects the policyholder from damage brought about by natural calamities. “[Having fire insurance is] important: how do you expect to rebuild your house? A house is a purchase that you don’t just [do] at the end of the month,” Rellosa said. “You spend years saving up for a house and then it will just disappear in a flash because of a fire. It would probably take another 10 years to build another house.” Meanwhile, Liberty Insurance Corp. Assistant Vice President for Marketing and Sales Antonio Roderick B. Cabusao also said it is better to secure fire insurance, and even go as far as purchasing allied perils insurance coverage, as this will easily provide funds in terms of building a new house should a fire or natural disaster destroy it. This will make starting over easier for the person or the family who lost their house or assets, he explained. “A house is the most valuable

asset of a person. In the event that the house gets burned or damaged due to typhoon, flood, earthquake or other natural catastrophes, it would take some time for that person to have that house rebuilt or restored,” Cabusao told the BusinessMirror. “And in a worst case scenario, not be able to have it fixed at all due to lack of money, that’s why its very important for people to see the value of insurance. Fire insurance is there to restore the original position of the insured before the time of the fire or natural catastrophe.”

density has increased by 16.12 percent to reach P2,053.58 per capita as of end-September 2018, which was previously at P1,768.49 in the same period for 2017. Insurance penetration as of the third quarter of 2018 also saw an increase by 0.12 percentage points to 1.76 percent, from 1.64 percent during the same period in 2017. The IC said insurance density is defined as the ratio of premiums to the total population while insurance penetration is measured as the ratio of premiums to the country’s GDP.

Coverage basics

Use of property

STAKEHOLDERS of the insurance industry said that apart from the Philippines being a country prone to natural disasters, the low insurance penetration rate also reinforces the need for more Filipinos to be covered not only by fire insurance but other forms of insurance as well. Based on the Insurance Code, “fire insurance” is an insurance against loss by fire, lightning, windstorms, tornado or earthquake and other allied risks, when such risks are covered by extension to fire insurance policies. “Again, the basic coverage is fire and lightning [insurance] but we can add to that,” Rellosa added. “Under a fire insurance, we can also cover what we call allied perils like flooding, typhoon, earthquake, those you can buy just as long as you already have the basic fire and lightning cover.” According to a World Bank Group and Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery report titled “Building Resilience,” the Philippines is one of the most disasterprone countries in the world. It said that weather-related disasters happening in the country account for 90 percent of annual damage and cause an average of 0.7 percent of losses in terms of growth in the country’s gross domestic product. The report also stated that at least 60 percent of the Philippines’s total land area is exposed to multiple hazards, and 74 percent of its population is considered at risk. In December 2018, the IC reported that the country’s insurance

THE Pira Fire Manual of Rates, which provides the respective tariff rates for fire insurance policies, was issued in 1986 by the IC to fix the rates for fire insurance according to factors such as the location of the property, type of materials used for the construction of the house or building, number of occupancy and the nature of the use of the property. Furthermore, there are four categories in terms of the nature of the use of the property that is included in the assessment, namely, if it’s for residential, warehouse, general, or industrial use. In his opinion piece published in the BusinessMirror last March 2018, Insurance Commissioner Dennis B. Funa said that tariff rates are imposed on fire insurance so as to address the cutthroat competition plaguing the insurance industry. “Premiums being paid are not commensurate to the risks being carried by insurers. In other words, insurers are undercharging. This scenario can eventually affect their ability to meet their obligations under the policies. Thus, insurers cannot set the premiums lower than the prescribed rates. The premiums can go higher, but not lower,” Funa said. Despite the set tariff rates, the IC still recorded violations in terms of following the set tariff rules, with penalties collected by the IC reaching P21 million in 2015 from only P5.41 million in 2014. “Nonetheless, widespread breaches have been observed that have led the IC to issue repeated

reminders and reiterations to the industry. Violations of tariff rules for the year 2014 reached 3,368 breaches which resulted in the collection of P5.41 million in penalties collected by the IC. Of the total breaches, 65.77 percent and 21.56 percent were attributed mainly to motor car and fire policies, respectively. In 2015, insurers paid a total of P21 million in fines for breaches of tariffs,” Funa added.

Judgment call

RELLOSA explained that fire insurance coverage covers the building or house, or its contents, with the rates depending on the factors stated above. “[It covers] building or contents,” Rellosa explained. “Contents can include everything from improvements, like flooring, cabinets, lights, fixtures; all of that can be insured. [Contents also include] furniture, your personal effects, your books, your clothes.” Firstly, insurers consider which structures are being covered, i.e., if it’s a house or commercial space, among others. Afterwards, they look at what materials make up the building or house. Houses made of wood have a higher tariff rate because these are more prone to risk compared to a condominium unit made of cement or steel. “If you are covering a building or its contents, they will look at what the building is made off; a wooden house would have a more expensive rate than cement house because the wooden house would readily burn versus a cement house,” Rellosa added. He also emphasized that insurers can’t cover structures made of light materials like bamboo houses, etc. And then they look at the use of the property, be it for residential (meaning houses), general structures (schools or hospitals), warehouses for the storage of goods, and industrial like factories. “So you look at the building itself which is construction, the occupancy, then you look at the location, when you say location it means are you in an area near the fire department, or an area that’s congested,” Rellosa added. “And

aderLook

sMirror

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace | Thursday, April 11, 2019

et getting cold to insurance

IN this January 6, 2019, file photo, residents return to their homes gutted by fire on Biak na Bato Street in Barangay Manresa, Quezon City. NONOY LACZA

then finally you look at whether it’s exposed, meaning, you may be in a good location but your house is next to an explosives factory.”

Occupancy assessment

A RESIDENTIAL tariff of 0.1 percent is slapped for houses or buildings in zone one or the zone considered as a low-risk zone, with the rate increasing if the area assessed is under higher zones which can go up to the fifth zone. The rate also changes if the house or building is considered as Class A (if it is built of cement) and Class B if it’s made of wood. “So they have corresponding standard rates, the tariff is the rate arrived at actuarially,” Rellosa explained. For structures under the industrial category, there are also occupancy levels being looked into for the right tariff amount. Industrial occupancy 1 would be the level where it is less risky, meaning, the structure produces low-risk items like aerated water or bricks; while occupancy 5 means the structure produces highly combustible items like rag grinding, mattresses and pillows. Under the category of industrial occupancy 1: cold storage and radio broadcasting are included, among others; occupancy 2 includes agriculture equipment, corn mills, distillery; occupancy 3 with alcohol, acids, rattan, rice mill, and plastics; occupancy 4 with ammonia, asphalts, adhesives; and occupancy 5, including explosives and foam, among others. “For example, you have a house covered so the rate is 0.1 percent but the structure next to you is industrial occupancy 5 with a rate of 0.5 percent: your 0.1 percent becomes 0.5 percent also,” Rellosa added. “You take on the risk if you are exposed. That is the tariff. The rate for exposure of cat [catastrophic] perils at the IC is a minimum of 0.15 percent.” For allied perils the minimum rate shall be 0.05 percent, and extended coverage is 0.010 percent for basic fire insurance.

Needing assurance

LORNA MACARAEG, an apartment compound owner in Makati City, opted to buy fire insurance

so that if accidents happen she can rest assured she wouldn’t start from square one in terms of rebuilding her property. Macaraeg’s only source of income is from renting out units of her apartment. “I bought insurance for all three units of my apartment because I just want to be assured that whatever happens, be it a fire or a flood, I get financial support to help me rebuild if it gets destroyed,” Macaraeg said. She explained that if a unit of her apartment is covered for around P2 million, she pays premiums of around P4,000 to P6,000. But not all Filipinos share Macaraeg’s sentiments when it comes to insurance, as IC’s data showed a decrease in the number of policyholders in 2016 and 2017.

Loopy numbers

BROKEN down, net premiums written for fire insurance by residential establishments amounted to P622.236 million in 2017, P1.032 billion in 2016, P977.170 million in 2015, P815.954 million in 2014, and P816.669 million in 2013. Net premiums written for general structures amounted to P2.247 billion in 2017, P1.782 billion in 2016, P1.281 billion in 2015, P1.036 billion in 2014, and P1.346 billion in 2013. For warehouses, net premiums written amounted to P492.240 million in 2017, P626.073 million in 2016, P464.494 million in 2015, P414.218 million in 2014, and P333.507 million in 2013. Finally, net premiums written for industrial buildings amounted to P1.425 billion in 2017, P1.466 billion in 2016, P885.326 million in 2015, P999.603 million in 2014, and P601.310 million in 2013. Furthermore, residential fire insurance policyholders reached 779,970 in 2017; 632,826 in 2016; 710,742 in 2015; 517,882 in 2014 and 502,439 in 2013. Those who sought coverage for General establishments reached 363,137 in 2017; 434,793 in 2016; 475,724 in 2015; 370,504 in 2014 and 315,781 in 2013. Warehouse fire insurance coverage holders totaled 87,540 in 2017; 144,597 in 2016; 90,292 in 2015; 76,744 in 2014 and 68,749 in

2013. Policyholders for industrial structures reached 192,610 in 2017; 222,439 in 2016; 158,372 in 2015; 121,490 in 2014 and 83,344 in 2013.

Mandatory vs. expense

CABUSAO explained that fire insurance is not made mandatory in the Philippines since majority of the people find insurance as an additional expense only and do not understand the importance of its coverage. Citing a study, he said insurance is always on the last item in the expenditures of households. “The only time it becomes mandatory is when the assured avails of a housing loan where the house is required to be insured or when the house is used as collateral in a loan for whatever purpose it may be.” The Pira explained Filipinos can easily avail themselves of of fire insurance nowadays since more distribution channels are made available—namely, talking to an insurance agent, going straight to the insurance company if the person doesn’t have an agent yet, or just going online through the websites of insurance companies. “There are some companies where you can already purchase fire insurance online because it’s one of the basic covers. And there are also some that let you pay online and then they send the policy to you or through email where you can print your own policy at home,” Rellosa said. “But the traditional way would be to go to your agent and then the agent brings it to your house. That’s the original way but now you can do everything online.”

Assessing damage

THE process in claiming fire insurance is also easy, according to Rellosa, noting that it only takes about a week for the third-party adjuster to assess the extent of the damage and for the insurance company to payout for simple claims. “It [claiming] is easy. You just report it then they send a third party adjuster to find out what the loss is about, how much is the loss, and how the fire happened. So, if

how it came about is contemplated under the policy, then it’s paid for,” Rellosa added. The adjuster is an independent third party entity, that doesn’t belong to the insurance company, the job of which is to determine the quantum and the cost of the loss. They are licensed by the IC, so you have local and foreign adjusters. Cabusao said the policyholder must report the fire incident to their respective insurance company within 30 days. “When the property gets damaged due to fire or allied perils, the assured must report it immediately to the insurance company within 30 days from the date of the incident,” Cabusao said.

Yet-to conclude

AS fire insurance only covers accidental fire, fire investigators are put on the spotlight every time an insured building is gutted by fire. Senior Fire Officer 1 Arce Carolino of the BFP Public Information Services told the BusinessMirror that insurance companies request fire investigation reports from the concerned fire station every time a fire strikes a building that is covered by fire insurance. “Some insurance companies also send in their own investigators to look into fire incidents,” Carolino said. He added there are times that as a policy, insurance companies want to make sure there is no foul play even after fire investigators have ruled out arson. “Insurance companies sometimes request for our fire investigation reports to use as basis in evaluating insurance claims,” he explained. An investigation, from the beginning of the fire up to the generation of the final investigation report, must be completed within 45 days, Carolino said. The second report is the progress investigation wherein fire investigators have already established some of the vital information, such as: the origin of fire, the cause of fire and, possibly, the presence or absence of fire accelerants. These data could lead to the conclusion that foul play is involved or the incident is a case of arson. Expert fire or arson investiga-

tors are usually called as expert witnesses if and when a case has been filed in court against a suspect, or in the case of insurance claims that somehow reach the courts.

Under investigation

ACCORDING to Pepito, fire insurance fraud is a problem confronting the insurance industry. He said intentionally setting fire to an insured building is not new but he said it is almost impossible to dupe law enforcement and even the insurance company. “When a building gutted down by fire is covered by insurance, insurance companies almost always send in their own investigators. Some of these are experts from abroad to determine insurance fraud,” Pepito said. “Once they learned of the foul play, the policyholder loses the policy and will face a criminal case.” On the part of the BFP alone, he said, it will be impossible for insurance fraud to squeak past expert fire arson investigators. “All reports from the Fire Stations go to the BFP National Headquarters,” Pepito added. “Before that, it goes through the BFP District and Regional fire or arson investigation units.”

Getting new skills

THE detection of fire accelerants can be done through field work or through laboratory tests. The use of a canine to detect the presence of fire accelerants is sometimes employed in highly developed countries, making fire investigation swift and efficient. There are other signs or prima facie evidence that could lead fire investigators to suspect arson. This happens when there are more than one origin of a fire, or the subject building hit by fire has a prior record of attempted arson or even questionable fire incident, Carolino said. The BFP’s fire investigators, he added, undergo a series of training and special schooling before they become fire investigators. “Sometimes, they are sent to the FBI [Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters] in the United States for training.” At the minimum, aspiring fire

investigators undergo schooling at the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC). The PPSC system is the umbrella organization that comprises the various institutions for the uniformed personnel for the institutions or bureaus of several government agencies. Aside from these, Pepito said the BFP offers training to fire investigators to enhance the investigative skills of fire arson investigators of every fire station in the Philippines.

All hands on deck

CABUSAO added that after reporting the fire to their respective insurance company, the reporting person will be asked to submit to the Claims department or Assigned Adjuster the following documents: photocopy of insurance policy; proof of premium payment; fire certification or fire investigation report; a sworn statement of witnesses, if any; and an affidavit of loss. The adjuster would also furnish forms on the sworn statement of formal claim; non-waiver agreement; and interview sheet, if applicable. The processing of claims only gets complicated if there are disputes as to the cost and quantum of the loss. “Remember, the whole idea of insurance is indemnity, you will be paid as to how much is the loss. So, items that have aged or been used over time…already have a depreciation. That’s where it takes long,” Rellosa said. In line with enlightening more Filipinos with the concept of insurance, Pira continuous its financial literacy efforts and campaigns to make the public see the importance of the financial tool, with most of the insurance companies in the country also doing their part to increase the knowledge of Filipinos in line with insurance. “It cannot just be the IC or the insurance companies; it has to be a concerted effort by everybody. It has to be all at the same time,” Rellosa added.

Agriculture/Commodities BusinessMirror

Thursday, April 11, 2019 • Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

PHL wheat imports seen expanding to 7M tons

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

HILIPPINE wheat imports in the current trade year could reach a record high of 7 million

metric tons (MMT) due to the rising demand for animal feeds and lower domestic corn output, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) said. In its monthly global grains mar-

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ket report, the USDA projected that total wheat exports to the Philippines in trade year (TY) 2018-2019 would go up by 17 percent from 5.987 MMT in the previous TY, which ended on June 30, 2018.

The USDA revised upward its forecast for the country’s imports from its March projection of 6.3 MMT due to the expected decline in local corn production. See “Wheat,” A12

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Sexual Orientation – refers to the direction of emotional sexual attraction or conduct, which can be towards people of the same sex (homosexual orientation) or towards people of both sexes (bisexual orientation) or towards people of the opposite sex (heterosexual orientation). Transgender – denoting or relating to a person whose selfidentity does not conform unambiguously to conventional notions of male or female gender. ***Excerpts from the minutes of the 107th Regular Session of the 7th City Council of Valenzuela held on March 11, 2019 at 3:27 P.M. at the City Council’s Session Hall, 3rd Floor, Legislative Building, Valenzuela City Hall, Karuhatan, Valenzuela City, Metropolitan Manila.

ORDINANCE NO. 549 Series of 2019 AN ORDINANCE PROTECTING THE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER AND QUEER (LGBTQ) COMMUNITY IN THE CITY OF VALENZUELA. ====================================== Authored by: Coun. KIMBELY ANN DV. GALANG ====================================== WHEREAS, Section 16 of the Local Government Code of 1991 provides that: “Every local government unit shall exercise the powers expressly granted, those necessarily implied therefrom, as well as powers necessary, appropriate, or incidental for its efficient and effective governance, and those which are essential to the promotion of the general welfare x x x.” WHEREAS, it is the declared policy of the State to protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony in nature; WHEREAS, Article XIII, Section 1 (a) of 1987 Philippine Constitution states that the enactment of measures that protect and enhance the right of the people to human dignity, reduce social, economic, and political inequalities, and remove cultural inequities shall be given highest priority; WHEREAS, Article II, Section 11 of 1987 Philippine Constitution states that the State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights; WHEREAS, Lesbian, Gays, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer community plays an important role for the national development; WHEREAS, there is a steady and alarming rise in violence against members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community in the Philippines over the past 15 years according to the new research conducted by LGBTQ advocacy group; WHEREAS, the LGBT community continues to be oppressed, primarily because of misconceptions and ignorance. WHEREAS, few research center conducted survey on 2013, the Global Divide for Homosexuality, which is identifying the acceptance rate of the countries on homosexuality, shows that 73% of Filipinos accept homosexuality. WHEREAS, this ordinance seeks to eliminate offensive practices of discrimination particularly those based on sex or sexual orientation. NOW THEREFORE, on motion of all the Members present, be it ordained by the Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Valenzuela in session duly assembled that: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This ordinance shall be known as the “Ordinance Protecting the LGBTQ Community in the City of Valenzuela.” SECTION 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY – It is hereby declared a policy of the City of Valenzuela to promote equality and protect the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Community in the City of Valenzuela to eliminate all forms of discrimination that violate and offend the equal protection of Human Rights, particularly those discriminatory practices based on sex or sexual orientation. SECTION 3. DEFINITION OF TERMS – For purposes of this Ordinance, the following terms shall be defined as follows: Bisexual – emotionally and sexually attracted to both men and women. Discrimination – shall be understood to imply any distinction, exclusion, restriction, or preference which is based on sexual orientation and gender identity whether actual or perceived, and which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment, or exercise by all persons of an equal footing of all rights and freedoms. Gays – a man who is emotionally and sexually attracted to other men. Gender Identity – refers to the personal sense of identity as characterized, among others, by manners of clothing, inclinations, and behavior in relation to masculine or feminine conventions, i.e., a person may have a male or female identity with the physiological characteristics of the opposite sex, as in the case of transsexuals and transvestites. Lesbian – a woman who is emotionally and sexually attracted to other women. LGBTQ – Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer. Queer – an identity used to refer to a person whose inner feelings could be described as gay, lesbian, or bisexual.

LGBTQ Help Desk – a designated place established in every barangay which shall cater or assist members of the LGBTQ community with the basic needs and assistance as provided in this Ordinance. SECTION 4. PROHIBITED ACTS – It is hereby prohibited to discriminate any person and/or group of persons on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity or belong to the LGBTQ Community to: a. Deny access to public services; b. Refuse or revoke the accreditation, formal recognition, and/or registration of any LGBTQ Community in educational institutions, workplaces, communities, and similar settings; c. Deny access to and/or the use of private and public establishments, facilities, utilities, transportation or services, including housing, open to the general public. There is denial when 1) a person is given inferior accommodations or services and 2) rejection of any application, entry and participation. Further, public and private business establishments are encouraged to provide adequate LGBTQ comfort rooms; d. Subject or force any person to any medical or psychological examination without the expressed approval of the person involved; e. Uploading or posting of pictures, videos, and comments on the internet through social networking sites, websites, and other social media which demean, debase, degrade, and humiliate a person or group of persons;

Thursday, April 11, 2019

for violations committed by organizations, or similar entities.

corporations, AN ORDINANCE EXTENDING THE PERIOD OF COMPLIANCE OF TELECOMMUNICATION AND CABLE COMPANIES/ CORPORATIONS PROVIDED UNDER SECTION 6 OF ORDINANCE NO. 401, SERIES OF 2017.

SECTION 9. FUNDING. It shall be charged under the LGU’s Gender and Development (GAD) budget, which shall be at least five percent (5%) of their budgetary allocation. As such, it shall be included in the annual GAD Plans and Programs of the LGU’s, in accordance with Section 37 A of the MCW Implementing Rules and Regulations (Planning, Budgeting, Monitoring and Evaluation for GAD). SECTION 10. IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS - Within 90 days from the effectivity of this Ordinance, the City Mayor shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to ensure the effective implementation of this Ordinance. A copy of this Ordinance shall be furnished to the Honorable City Mayor and the offices of the City Treasurer, the City Budget Officer, the City Accountant, the City Human Resources and Management Officer and the resident COA Auditor – Valenzuela City, for their information and appropriate actions. SECTION 11. REPEALING CLAUSE - Any City Ordinance contrary to or inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Ordinance is hereby repealed and/or modified accordingly. SECTION 12. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE - If any provision of this Ordinance be declared unconstitutional or illegal by the courts, the provisions not affected by such declaration shall remain to be in full force and effect. SECTION 13. EFFECTIVITY - This ordinance shall take effect upon its approval. ENACTED.

====================================== Authored by: Coun. MARLON PAULO C. ALEJANDRINO ====================================== WHEREAS, on 18 September 2017, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Valenzuela enacted Ordinance No. 401, Series of 2017 otherwise known as “AN ORDINANCE REGULATING THE INSTALLATION, REHABILITATION, RELOCATION AND MAINTENANCE OF TELECOMMUNICATION LINES/WIRES, CABLES AND THE LIKE WITHIN VALENZUELA CITY AND PRESCRIBING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION THEREOF”; WHEREAS, Section 6 of the said Ordinance mandated telecommunication and cable companies/ corporations within the territorial jurisdiction of Valenzuela City to bring down all overhead wires and cables within six (6) months from effectivity of the Ordinance; WHEREAS, the initial 6-month period to comply with the mandate of the Ordinance was determined to be not feasible given the present conditions or circumstances of the stakeholders especially the subject telecommunication and cable companies. NOW, THEREFORE, be it ORDAINED as it is hereby ORDAINED by the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Valenzuela in session duly assembled:

f. Publication and/or use of derogatory and humiliating statements, remarks, comments, articles, videos, and pictures in print and broadcast media against a person or group;

MARCH 11 , 2019.

g. Deny a person to access medical and health services open to the general public;

HON. KIMBERLY ANN DV. GALANG HON. ROSALIE ESTEBAN-CAYCO Councilor Councilor Majority Floor Leade Minority Floor Leader

h. Harassment of a person, natural or juridical, in which physical or verbal abuse takes place; i. Include sexual orientation and gender identity in the criteria for hiring, promotion and dismissal of employees, and in the determination of compensation, training, incentives, privileges, benefits, allowances and other terms and conditions of employment; j. Refusal of the establishment to render actions that would prevent the commission or the aggravation of the committed discrimination or any form of harassment or violence against LGBTQ person or group of LGBTQ persons. k. Other analogous circumstances. SECTION 5. PROGRAMS – The City Government of Valenzuela shall ensure that discrimination is prevented and effectively addressed through programs that strengthening the LGBTQ community and promoting active participation of the latter for the development of the program. SECTION 6. The Barangays are mandated to establish an LGBTQ desk, respectively with the following functions: a.) To properly document any incidents of physical, emotional, or psychological abuse against LGBTQ members; b.) To assist LGBTQ members in filing appropriate legal action against those persons who violated the Ordinance; c.) To facilitate the processing of any local government assistance to be given to LGBTQ members; d.) To do any other act necessary to carry out the purpose of this Ordinance. SECTION 7. IMPLEMENTING AGENCY – The City Government of Valenzuela through the City Social Welfare and Development Office, in coordination with the Non-Government Organization concerning the LGBTQ community, shall be directly and primarily responsible for the implementation of the provisions of this ordinance. SECTION 8. PENALTIES – In case of violation of any of the provisions of this ordinance, the court of justice after notice and hearing, shall impose the following penalty: A. Persons found guilty of any of the prohibited acts enumerated in the preceding Section shall be penalized as follows: First Offense: A fine of not less than One Thousand Pesos (Php1,000.00) as minimum to six (6) months imprisonment;

VALENZUELA CITY, METROPOLITAN MANILA.

HON. MARLON PAULO C. ALEJANDRINO Councilor Asst. Majority Floor Leader

HON. ANTONIO R. ESPIRITU Councilor

HON. CRISSHA M. PINEDA Councilor

C. The official directly involved shall be liable

SECTION 3. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. – This Ordinance shall take effect upon approval and compliance with posting/publication requirement. ENACTED.

MARCH 18, 2019. HON. ROVIN ANDREW M. FELICIANO HON. LAILANIE P. NOLASCO VALENZUELA CITY, METROPOLITAN MANILA. Councilor Councilor . HON. KIMBERLY ANN DV. GALANG HON. ROSALIE ESTEBAN-CAYCO HON. JENNIFER PINGREE-ESPLANA HON. KRISTIAN ROME T. SY Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Majority Floor Leade Minority Floor Leader HON. RICARDO RICARR C. ENRIQUEZ Councilor

HON. MARIA CECILIA V. MAYO Councilor

HON. MARLON PAULO C. ALEJANDRINO Councilor Asst. Majority Floor Leader HON. RAMON L. ENCARNACION HON. JOSEPH WILLIAM D. LEE Councilor Councilor (President, League of Barangays) HON. ANTONIO R. ESPIRITU HON. CRISSHA M. PINEDA Councilor Councilor HON. CHIQUI MARIE N. CARREON Councilor (President, Sangguniang Kabataan Federation) HON. ROVIN ANDREW M. FELICIANO HON. LAILANIE P. NOLASCO Councilor Councilor ATTESTED: . HON. JENNIFER PINGREE-ESPLANA HON. KRISTIAN ROME T. SY FLAVIO C. DIAZ Councilor Councilor Secretary CERTIFIED CORRECT:

HON. LORENA NATIVIDAD-BORJA City Vice Mayor Presiding Officer

APPROVED:

HON. REXLON T. GATCHALIAN City Mayor Date Signed: ___________

HON. RICARDO RICARR C. ENRIQUEZ Councilor

HON. MARIA CECILIA V. MAYO Councilor

HON. RAMON L. ENCARNACION HON. JOSEPH WILLIAM D. LEE Councilor Councilor (President, League of Barangays) HON. CHIQUI MARIE N. CARREON Councilor (President, Sangguniang Kabataan Federation)

ATTESTED:

______________________________________________ FLAVIO C. DIAZ Secretary CERTIFIED CORRECT:

Third Offense: Imprisonment of eight (8) months and one (1) day to one (1) year.

B. In addition, community service in terms of human rights education to the perpetrator and exposure to the plight of the victims can be imposed at the discretion of the court.

SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF COMPLIANCES. The six (6) month period of compliance of telecommunication and cable companies/corporations to bring down all overhead wires and cables as provided under Section 6 of Ordinance No. 401, Series of 2017 is hereby extended up to 31 July 2020. SECTION 2. REPEALING CLAUSE. – All other laws, decrees, orders, issuances, rules and regulations which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

Second Offense: Imprisonment of six (6) months and one (1) day to eight (8) months;

All findings of guilt subsequent to 3rd offense against an offender shall be punished with a penalty of 1 year imprisonment and a fine of not less than FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (Php5,000.00).

HON. LORENA NATIVIDAD-BORJA City Vice Mayor Presiding Officer ***Excerpts from the minutes of the 108th Regular Session of the 7th City Council of Valenzuela held on March 18, 2019 at 3:15 P.M. at the City Council’s Session Hall, 3rd Floor, Legislative Building, Valenzuela City Hall,

APPROVED:

Karuhatan, Valenzuela City, Metropolitan Manila.

ORDINANCE NO. 554 Series of 2019

HON. REXLON T. GATCHALIAN City Mayor Date Signed: ___________

B8 Thursday, April 11, 2019

Midori Clark serves most delectable seafood buffet

ELD on Friday, Saturday and Sunday this month from 6 to 10 p.m., Midori Clark Hotel once again indulges you on an array of an all-you-can-eat buffet of your most favorite seafoods. From the ocean to your plates, this famed theme of the month is back to fix in your seafood cravings. Choose from a boundless selection of seafood specials and international delights at Toscana Dining. The seafood buffet features a wide spread of fresh seafood, which highlights soft crab shell along with mussels, fish dishes, sushi and a lot more! Plus, pair each seafood special with an unlimited drinks, wine, beer and end your dinner on high with a decadent dessert station. Also featured in the buffet are hot holdings, such as Seafood Ala Newburg, seafood pasta, herb-grilled fish fillet in lemon-butter sauce, blue crab in coco cream, oyster shots, tempura station and a lot more. If you are into something cooked at your side, go to the seafood live cooking station and let the chefs cook your diner of choice. Taking over after the Lenten Season? Bring the whole family and hop on over to Toscana Dining for an

“eggs-travagant” Easter buffet happening on April 21. A special brunch buffet opens from 11 amm. to 2 p.m., and dinner buffet from 6 to 10 p.m. First 100 paying kids also get a special Easter basket for free! Experience Midori Clark Hotel’s seafood buffet and Eggs-travagant Easter buffet for only P1,199+ for adults and P600+ for kids. Graduates of Class 2019 get to eat for free at the seafood buffet with the Treats 4 the Graduates promo. Simply bring four full-paying adults and present any of the following: diploma, graduation photo, or graduation program with the graduate’s name/ceremony invitation (all supported by the school ID) and you can dine for free! Promo is available daily excluding holidays. The Treats 4 the Graduates is also available for the dim sum all you can and poolside barbecue. Promo cannot be used in conjunctions with other in-house promotions or discounts. Promo runs from March 1 to May 31. For inquiries and reservations, e-mail at restaurants@midorihotel.com.

Engaging new generation of readers

ENERATION Z: A description for those born from around the mid ’90s to the early 2000s, a group of young people who are now next in line to the millennials. The previous generation has been described as tech-savvy but, now, young ones from the Gen Z have taken it to a whole new level. They are now digital natives. In the field of education, the role of technology has become more and more prevalent and, yet, not all approaches that blend with it seem to fit the needs of the Generation Z. With the new generation’s reliance on connectivity comes several aspects of learning that would shape the classroom of the future: Instant access to information, whether it is facts, data or discussions at length, has become the cornerstone of their digital experiences. For the Generation Z, it should be instant or it would no longer be as relevant or as useful, given how rapid everything else works in the digital space. Having

grown up with a keen sense of multitasking and sifting through vast amounts of online information, Gen Z often decides over things with a click or a tap, becoming impatient over the slightest delays. What is important, then, is to create value out of these given facts: To sustain learning environments that would encourage Gen Z learners to use information for the benefit of more people, discuss and reflect about it to better understand its implications and, moreover, use it in such a way that it transforms and disrupts through innovative solutions for everyone. This means that schools, as institutions of learning, must support the new generation’s thirst for active, flexible and collaborative learning, one that drives toward the future with a spirit of independence and critical thinking. At Rex (www.wholechild.rexbookstore.ph), every young learner must be engaged and deserves the best of everything that education brings. While it may be true that the Generation Z’s attention span has all but dwindled, it is not too late to catch it. With the help of innovative learning solutions that deepen their engagement and ensure their success, we hope to help every young learner become engaged and responsible digital citizens.

Escom Events stages Philippine hospital modernization summit this year

HE hospital may be the last place anyone would like to stay. But, for someone needing health care and treatment from specialized medical and nursing staff and medical equipment, the hospital would surely be a great refuge. The Department of Health (DoH) lists 1,071 licensed private hospitals and 721 public hospitals in the Philippines. The DoH takes care of 70 of public hospitals while local government units and other state-run agencies manage the rest. Most hospitals provide efficient and affordable health services. Facilities, however, pale in comparison with those in high-end health institutions abroad. Meanwhile, private hospitals in the country have better technical facilities than public hospitals. Private hospitals, thus, assure patients of higher quality service than public hospitals can provide. In recent years the health agency has sought the modernization of at least 20 government hospitals in the country with the goal to have all hospitals with the same

standard of care. Many private hospitals have done the same ahead of time. To help the hospital industry modernize itself, Escom Events has recently staged a Philippine hospital modernization summit this year at the ballroom of City of Dreams Manila, featuring exhibit and forum focusing on hospital construction, modernization upgrading, innovative technologies and management solutions. The event gathered 300+ top-level executives from health-care authorities under one roof to address topics, including hospital policy and markets, hospital development and expansion projects, the publicprivate partnership in hospital, infrastructure and facilities, hospital technologies and solutions, patient safety and support services, and hospital management. A small exhibition of around 20 suppliers of hospital construction, and management solutions and technologies, including building technologies, equipment, ICT infrastructure, e-health, health solutions and more, was on the ground at the summit. Escom Events has been providing business executives with tailored practical conferences, large-scale events and topical seminars, keeping them with updated industry trends, technological developments and the regulatory landscape. All events are designed for cooperate vendors to reach their prospects and explore new business opportunities at the one-stop shop summit.

A grand reunion awaits for Canta clan!

HE Canta clan will hold its first grand reunion on April 13 in Tondol, Anda in Pangasinan. Participants are from several provinces in Luzon including Metro Manila. Imay Celino Canta Parayno, the principal organizer, said the plan to hold a grand reunion was conceived in 2018, when several Canta families held a reunion in the towns of Anda, Labrador and Alaminos, all towns in Pangasinan and Taguig City. Imay said the provinces of Pangasinan, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Pampanga and Metro Manila are the participating areas for this year’s reunion.

The grand reunion will be preceded by a motorcade going around Anda, known as the mother island of the world-famous Hundred Islands; then in Tondol, home of mini Boracay, where the program will be held. Anda Mayor Aldrin Cerdan will deliver a welcome speech, and the highlight of the reunion’s first part is a citation to the Canta family for the contribution of their forefather Don Tomas Canta as the head of the town in his time. Interested parties may contact at the following: 0933-8595932, 0908-2292216, 0932-2110929 or 09399273575.

ENDERUN HOSTS LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE IN THE AGE OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

N Ma rc h 27 a nd 28 t he Enderun Colleges held this year’s LeadX conference themed “Leadership and the How-Tos of Digital Transformation”, held at the SMX Convention Center. The 2019 LeadX conference armed future leaders with know-hows of more effective business operations and insights in the areas of human resources, sales and marketing, and operations. Expert keynote speakers and panelists also shared their best practices and ideas to place participants on the path to become future leaders in today’s datadriven economy. The conference explored topics ranging from the ways on how to be a transformational leader in the digital age, practical strategies for boosting sales performance, effective marketing using social media, operational efficiency using data analytics and virtual warehousing, methods of attracting and managing talents using today’s digital tools, a look into the future trends and technologies including artificial intelligence. The panelists and speakers present at the conference were: Enderun Colleges director of digital transformation Colin Christie; Hungry Workhorse Consulting President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Reynaldo Lugtu Jr.; AdSpark and Yondu board director and Globe Telecom Digital Ventures Senior Vice President Glenn Estrella; CSJ Consulting UX expert Christian San Jose; The Referrers Chief Commercial Officer Deborah Davies; Google Cloud enterprise lead Ferdie Saputil;

C a s h a lo ge ne r a l m a n a ge r Hamilton Angluben; Pointwest Technologies Corp. head of strategic partners and alliances and Analytics Association of the Philippines chairman of analytics framework Sherwin Pelayo; Amihan global strategies founder and CEO Winston Damarillo; Southeast Asia Cypher Learning director of customer success and engagement Arlynne Roa-Awayan; Opal Portfolio Investments President and CEO and Fintech Global Resources Inc. board director Imelda Tiongson (in photo); Home Credit Philippines Chief MarketingandProductOfficerFranchette Chingcuanco-Cardona; Dentsu Aegis Network Philippines CEO Donald Lim; Energy Development Corp. Chief

Transformation Officer Mario Domingo; HealthBlocks Inc. and Ticket2Me Pte. Ltd. cofounder, and MaroonStudios Inc. founder and CEO James Tristan Mendoza; Digital marketer and customer engagement consultant Shen Acosta; and UnionBank Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Technology and Operations Officer and Chief Transformation Officer Henry Rhoel Aguda. The event is in partnership with Amihan, Global Chamber Manila, SM Tickets, SMX Convention Center Aura, DV Tech Media Corp., Analytics Association of the Philippies, Philippine Hotel Owners Association Inc., Tag Cash, ANC, CNN Philippines, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, BusinessWorld, BusinessMirror, Inquirer Interactive, Philippine Primer, A sianNGO and WhenInManila.com.

HOP AND CELEBRATE EASTER AT MEGAWORLD LIFESTYLE MALLS

RINGING Easter fun with no boundaries, Megaworld Lifestyle Malls rolls out exciting adventures and spectacular surprises for the kids for a splendid Easter Sunday celebration. From traditional egg hunts and costume contests to fun-filled interactive activities, families and their young ones are in for their best Easter ever! EastwoodCity’sEasterWonderland presents “The Mightiest Squad”. To save theEasterworld,kidscancomeintheircutest superhero costume and join Eastwood City’s mightiest squads, and have fun defeating the villains, including Helga The Forest, the ugly fairy in the dream forest; Scorpious, the wicked leader of the sand dunes at the park dessert; and Lumina, the mastermind of deception at the mystery garden. To join, guests can present a receipt purchase worth P1,500 from participating establishments from April 1 to 21. The great Easter “eggs-cape” at Uptown Bonifacio. Young tykes can hop and find their way through an amazing Easter adventure filled with fun and surprises, from whimsical Bunny maze, fantastic bubble and magic shows, mascot meet and greet, Easter egg painting, face painting, musical shows and more.

To join, guests can present a single- or accumulated-receiptpurchaseworthP2,500 from participating establishments. “Zoomed In” at Forbes Town. Kids areinforsupersizedfunwiththelarger-thanlife toys and board games of Forbes Town’s ZoomedInEasterCelebration.Happeningon April 21 at 3 p.m., the Easter event features supersizedfunactivitiesfilledwithartpieces, face painting, musical adventures, magic tricks, bubble shows and egg hunting. To join, guests can present a single- or accumulated-purchasereceiptworthP1,000 from participating establishments. Easter Toyland “egg-venture” at VeniceGrandCanal.HappeningfromApril 15to30,kidscanhoponan“egg-citing”Easter venture and have fun with different arts and crafts activities. Families celebrating Easter at the mall can watch out for the Easter Eggspectacular, a grand parade featuring kids’ favorite mascots and kids in their most adorable Easter costume. Easter party with detective PikachuatLuckyChinatown.OnApril21 at 1 p.m., kids with their family can put their detective cap on and go on a mystery hunt at Chinatown Walk. All participants can help Easter Bunny solve Mystery Manila’s Lucky Egg challenge and will receive exciting freebies. Tickets are available for P250 at the atrium. Participating kids can also get to meet and have their photos taken with Detective Pikachu. More solving activities await guests, such as Crack the Code, Word Scramble, Who’s That Pokemon and Find the Pokemon, from April 15 to 25. To join, guests can purchase two movie tickets to Pokemon: Detective Pikachu at the venue. Wonderland “egg-ventures” at Southwoods Mall. Kids can discover a whimsical

Easter Wonderland with egg-citing activities and great musical adventures. All kiddos can get hopping and find as many eggs as they can at participating establishments and witness Into The Juanderland musical. More fun activities await kids at the Easter event withfreefacepainting,games,artsandcrafts, plusachancetowinuptoP7,500worthofgift certificates at the costume contest. To join, guests can present a single- or accumulated-receiptpurchaseworthP1,500 fromparticipatingestablishments,fromApril 1 to 20 at the concierge. Explore the magical Easter dreamland at Festive Walk Iloilo. A magical Easter Dreamland awaits kids and their furry friends at Festive Walk Mall. Kids can go on a fun Easter “eggs-ploration” and collect as many eggs as they can for a chance to win amazing prizes. They can also explore the Colorful Bunnyville filled with colorful and cute little bunnies and witness spectacular magical performances and a fashion show featuring the cutest dogs in their most adorable Easter costume. To join and receive tips on where to find the Golden Egg, guests can present a minimum single-receipt purchase worth P1,000 from any establishment. “Egg-chanted Wonderland” at Twin Lakes. Hop on over to an Easter adventure filled with joyful activities at the TwinLakes’enchantedWonderland!OnApril 21 at 4 p.m., join activities like egg hunt, free play, and Easter bunny meet and greet that kids can truly enjoy. To participate, simply present a single- or accumulated-receipt worth P1,000 from any TwinLakesestablishment.Purchasemustbe made on April 20 and 21 only. Hop-py Easter village at The Village Square Alabang. Enjoy a day of fun-filled activities and gleeful recreations on April 21 at 10 a.m., and be at your best animal-themed costume for a chance to win amazing prizes. An Easter “eggstravaganza” will be also held at the the mall atrium with an egg-citing face and egg painting,andwitnessmagicshowfilledwith amazing tricks. Admission is for free! For more details, visit http://www. megaworld-lifestylemalls.com.

BYE DWYANE, BYE DIRK, AND JOHNSON, TOO?! Nowitzki announces retirement after final home game for Mavs

ALLAS—Dirk Nowitzki cried near midcourt when the second quarter was about to resume. The Dallas Mavericks star nearly jumped for joy with a huge smile on his face after a rare dunk prompted thunderous applause from a crowd celebrating the final home game of his record 21st season with the same franchise. And then after Larry Bird joked during a postgame ceremony that he was “15 when Dirk came into the league, and now I’m 62,” Nowitzki let fly with a realization the 40-year-old said he reached in recent days. It’s time for the most accomplished European player in National Basketball Association (NBA) history to retire after scoring a season-high 30 points in a 120-109 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night. “As you guys might expect, this is my last home game,” Nowitzki said, doing a better job of fighting his emotions than he did at the end of a timeout in the second quarter, after a tribute video showing his holiday visit to a children’s hospital a little more than two years ago. “This is obviously super, super emotional. Just too many people to really thank. I put you guys on a helluva ride with a lot of ups and downs, and you guys always stuck with me and supported me, so I appreciate it.” Nowitzki never shared his retirement plans because he didn’t want a farewell tour, but he also said he only began serious deliberations on retirement when his lower body gave him issues late in the season. The 14-time All-Star got the farewell treatment on the road anyway, with opposing fans chanting “We want Dirk” and giving him standing ovations, and LA Clippers Coach Doc Rivers stopping a game, grabbing a public address microphone and honoring Nowitzki. It should happen again on Wednesday night in San Antonio, Dallas’ season finale. Nowitzki said he gave almost all he had in the final home game but wanted to put up a few more jumpers against probably the biggest rival of his career. Just as owner Mark Cuban hinted, the final home game trumped all those road shows. Tribute videos before, during and after the game. Shots of former teammates on the video board. A large collection of Dallas Cowboys, including stars Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott, in a suite. Nowitzki wondered why the postgame video included him talking about the players he idolized growing up in Germany. Then he saw Charles Barkley on the court. And Bird. Scottie Pippen. Shawn Kemp. Detlef Schrempf, the notable countryman to come before him in the NBA. “The only guy that was missing was MJ,” Nowitzki said, referring to Michael Jordan—the player he passed to become the oldest to score at least 30 in a game. “That was my No. 1. They brought Larry Legend. I mean, it’s, that was an emotional moment when I saw all five of them, and I was in shock really.” Nowitzki went out firing, hoisting 31 shots—the most since he was in prime and gearing up to lead the only championship in franchise history early in the 2010-11 season. He made 11, was five of 14 from three-point range, grabbed eight rebounds and matched a season high with three assists. The final bucket at home of his likely Hall of Fame career

was his signature one-legged fadeaway from just above the free-throw line—yes, there was a tribute video for that too, starring Kevin Durant and LeBron James. That shot had a practical purpose as well, pushing the Dallas lead back to 12 after the Mavericks let a 30-point halftime cushion dwindle to four in the fourth quarter. The sellout crowd that followed Cuban’s orders by showing up early chanted “M-V-P” and “One more year” throughout the game. But after he made the announcement, the chant turned to “Thank you, Dirk” as Cuban started to speak. “There’s no words that I could possibly say to describe how I feel what you meant to this organization, but I can make you all kinds of promises,” Cuban said. “I’ll promise you that you have a job for life. I don’t care what you do. I’ll promise you that we’ll retire your number, not a tough decision. And I’ll promise you we will put the biggest... statue ever. And we’ll put it right in front of the arena.” The smooth-shooting 7-footer changed the game when the Mavericks traded for the 20-year-old, taken ninth overall in the 1998 draft. He was the first player that big to be a legitimate threat at the three-point line. Nowitzki, sitting at 31,540 points with one game left, gave the home crowd another thrill last month by passing Wilt Chamberlain to regain sixth on the career scoring list. Nowitzki reached that spot last season, but James passed him. “It will never be the same around here,” said Rick Carlisle, who coached Nowitzki for his final 11 seasons. “It just won’t.” The NBA’s highest-scoring foreign-born player broke Kobe Bryant’s record of 20 seasons with the same franchise, although it took longer than expected because of setbacks following ankle surgery that sidelined Nowitzki for the first 26 games. Bryant retired from the Lakers three years ago. “It’s been a long time coming, struggling this year with my foot,” Nowitzki said. “It just doesn’t make any sense any more, physically. I think mentally, I could still do it. I can always push myself to work out and work hard. But physically, the foot is just not quite there.” The legacy, however, is. AP

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| Thursday, April 11, 2019 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

DIRK NOWITZKI (right), Dwyane Wade (below) and Magic Johnson, they all shed tears on what could go down in National Basketball Association history as a day of goodbyes. AP

Magic abruptly resigns as Lakers’ president L

OS ANGELES—Magic Johnson abruptly quit as the Los Angeles Lakers’ president of basketball operations on Tuesday night, citing his desire to return to the simpler life he enjoyed as a wealthy businessman and beloved former player before taking charge of this tempestuous franchise just over two years ago. Johnson didn’t tell owner Jeanie Buss or general manager Rob Pelinka about his shocking decision before he announced it in front of reporters about 90 minutes before the final game of the Lakers’ sixth consecutive losing season.

Los Angeles, which is missing the National Basketball Association playoffs yet again despite the offseason addition of LeBron James, played well after Johnson’s announcement, but still lost 104-101 to Portland. “I want to go back to having fun,” Johnson said, fighting off tears. “I want to go back to being who I was before taking on this job. We’re halfway there with LeBron coming [last summer]. I think this summer, with that other star coming in, whoever is going to bring him in, I think this team is really going to be in position to contend for a championship

with the growth of the young players.” Johnson didn’t directly tie his decision to the future of Luke Walton, but the third-year coach was widely expected to be fired by Johnson. Without using names, Johnson repeatedly mentioned Buss’s affinity for Walton, who was in place before Johnson got his job in February 2017, and Johnson’s desire not to cause upheaval between the owner and her chosen coach. “[On Wednesday] I would have to affect somebody’s livelihood and their life,” Johnson said. “And I thought about it and I said, ‘That’s not fun for me. That’s not who I am.’ And

WADE: STILL AMAZING! M IAMI—Dwyane Wade’s final home game was memorable for countless reasons. All of his children were there. Former President Barack Obama sent a video, one of many tributes. Fans came early and stayed late, chanting his name. His wife slapped his backside in recognition of his making a three-pointer. He crashed into John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, dousing them with a beverage. He slipped twice as he tried to make his signature leap onto a courtside table postgame. Oh, and he started. And he scored 30 points. And the Miami Heat won, beating the Philadelphia 76ers, 122-99. Wade has played his last game in Miami, and on Wednesday will play his last game in the NBA when the Heat close this season in Brooklyn. There’s no playoff appearance awaiting, no last postseason waltz to cap this season-long “One Last Dance” of his. He wakes up on Wednesday as a basketball player for the final time. He wakes up on Thursday as a retired basketball player. “It’s like everything I’ve done has led up to this moment,” Wade said. “It’s like, all a body of work, all the injuries, all the surgeries, all the tough times. It led up to this moment. I couldn’t have asked for a better ending to my last game in this arena, to my last season.” After 16 seasons as an NBA player, after three championships, an almost-annual spot in the All-Star Game, a scoring title, three franchises, four children, an Olympic gold medal and 161 teammates, the end is here. He is ready for whatever comes next. “Hopefully, I created enough for this state, for the city, for the fans here, for the young kids here,” Wade said. “Hopefully, I can continue to be an inspiration for them, [after] being an individual who wasn’t given everything, who the odds were stacked against. Even when I made it to the National Basketball Association, still had odds stacked against me. But I continued to believe in myself. I continued to put my head down and work.” The work made him a star, and from there he became a legend—celebrated for what he’s done on and off the court. His last game in Miami didn’t tip off until 7:50 p.m.

Tributes started in the morning. A Budweiser video showed Wade getting gifts from people—his mother, Jolinda Wade, and others, including Andrea Ghersi, the sister of slain teen Joaquin “Guac” Oliver—in a nod to the way he’s exchanged jerseys with fellow players all season. Gatorade aired a video starring Legend, who sang a tribute to Wade’s No. 3. Heat President Pat Riley wrote a letter to Wade published in the game program, saying Wade will be loved “forever and for always.” Ghersi gave Wade her brother’s jersey in the video, which was taped last week. The jersey—No. 3, of course—came with words scrawled in marker: “Please don’t forget my brother.” There was a pregame series of events inside the arena. Wade addressed the crowd, thanking every teammate—even ones no longer on this season’s roster—by name. Students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High, where the February 14, 2018, massacre left 17 dead, performed the national anthem. It was fitting that the kids from MSD were there; the tragedy touched Wade deeply, and Oliver, one of the victims, was buried in a Wade jersey. The end of the anthem was drowned out by cheers. Wade’s face appeared on the video screens. The fans roared. “Noooooooo,” Wade said. “Y’all are not about to make me cry before this game.” His wife Gabrielle Union-Wade, Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra, former Heat greats Shaquille O’Neal and LeBron James, Heat teammate Udonis Haslem and Riley narrated a five-minute pregame video. Hardly anyone was sitting. Even the 76ers stayed on the

then I don’t want to put her in the middle of us, even though she said, ‘Hey, you can do what you want to do.’ I know she has great love for him and great love for me.” Johnson and Buss had a three-hour meeting on Monday about the direction of the 16-time NBA champion Lakers, who haven’t made the postseason since 2013. Magic claimed he didn’t finalize his decision until Tuesday morning. “Somebody is going to have to tell my boss, because I know she’s going to be sick,” Johnson said. “But I knew I couldn’t face her face-to-face and tell her.” AP floor and watched, looking up the whole time. Zaire Wade, his oldest son, introduced his dad in the same way that his father taped his famous “From Robbins, Illinois” commercial nearly 15 years ago. “This city will always be proud to rep your name across our backs,” Riley said. Obama—like Wade, a proud Chicagoan—sent a taped message, as well, playing during the first timeout. “I hope that the next phase of your life is just as fulfilling and just as spectacular as this one has been,” Obama said. Wade “L3GACY” shirts were given to fans, some of whom spent thousands of dollars for their seats. They got Wade commemorative lanyards. They bought Wade apparel. Some arena workers asked if they could be excused from wearing the usual game-night garb and don Wade jerseys instead. Fans flew in from as far as Australia and China. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver sent his regards in a video. There also was a game, which seemed ancillary. The first shot? A dunk, by Wade. The decision for him to start was made by him and Spoelstra about six hours before gametime. The reason? They wanted that moment, one more time. “I don’t want this to end,” said Spoelstra, who arrived for work on Tuesday wearing a shirt with a photo of the scene that followed Wade’s game-winning shot against Golden State emblazoned across his chest. “I’m literally having more fun this year and last year than in any of the other years with Dwyane.” They are the same in so many ways, Wade and Spoelstra. Both came to the Heat as unsure young men. Both have three championship rings now. Both are likely for the Basketball Hall of Fame. When Spoelstra was promoted to head coach in April 2008, he was unsure if he’d be able to handle the job—until he met with Wade a few months later and got pumped full of confidence. “That’s what great players do,” Spoelstra said. “You talk about Hall of Fame players, they make the other players around them better. Well, great, Hall of Fame, superstar players also make their coaches better. And that’s what Dwyane did.” Wade is beloved in Miami, of course, for obvious reasons. Beloved in Chicago, too, his hometown. Beloved in Milwaukee, where he took Marquette to a Final Four in 2003. And this farewell tour—the “One Last Dance”—is a league-wide victory lap for someone NBA players rave about. “A legend,” Toronto’s Kyle Lowry said. “Still amazing,” Dallas’ Luka Doncic said. “My idol,” Washington’s Bradley Beal said. “A leader,” Detroit’s Wayne Ellington said. “True winner,” Phoenix’s Devin Booker said. AP

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C2 Thursday, April 11, 2019

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SASO AHEAD BY 2

MATEUR Yuka Saso birdied four of the last six holes in stirring fashion to fire a four-under 67 and wrest a two-stroke lead over Taiwanese pros Chang ChingLing and Chen Hsuan at the start of the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Manila Golf Ladies Classic at the Manila Golf Club (MGC) inside Forbes Park on Wednesday. The 17-year-old Saso shook off a bogey on the third hole with a birdie on the next then broke a run of pars with a sizzling windup that shoved the reigning Asian Games gold medalist to the top of the heap of the $100,000 event hosted by the MGC for the first time in the seventh season of the Ladies A FIERY windup nets Yuka Philippine Golf Tour (LPGT). Saso a two-shot lead Back-to-back birdies from No. in the first round of the 13 sparked that fiery finish with the $100,000 event. Fil-Japanese shotmaker birdying the ROY DOMINGO water-laced par-3 16th and the closing par-5 hole to break off a tight bunch and find herself the solo leader coming off an impressive joint

TESSA JAZMINES tessa4347@gmail.com

PART OF THE GAME

ONE star-studded night ONE Championship had a bombastic debut in Japan in March and now erupts in Manila with a follow-through event called ONE: Roots of Honor. ONE Featherweight World Champion Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen defends his title against Mongolian legend Narantungalag Jadambaa in the main event. The co-main event is the much-awaited championship rematch between Japan’s newly crowned ONE Strawweight World Champion Yosuke Saruta and the man he defeated in Jakarta in January: Joshua Pacio, the youngest ONE Lakay hero who is out to redeem himself and get back his lost pride after Haruta, a last minute replacement, shocked him in ONE: Eternal Glory. Pacio was to have faced Hayato Suzuki in a rematch in JK, but an injury knocked Suzuki out of action and was replaced by Haruta. The Japanese shooto veteran with 29 professional bouts under his belt wasn’t given much of a chance to defeat Pacio. There didn’t seem anyone who could stand up to the young Igorot warrior in his class, but Saruta would prove he wasn’t just a replacement challenger. He came to win. And although the split decision rendered by the judges in Saruta’s favor did not convince all and sundry, he now owns the belt that used to gird Pacio’s chassis. On Friday, Pacio has a double mission on his young shoulders when he goes into the ONE cage at Mall of Asia Arena. He must prove he is the better martial artist between himself and the Japanese, careful not to get carried away this time by over confidence. More important, he must hold the Team Lakay banner aloft in front of a hometown crowd. A win will restore the legendary team’s honor in ONE especially since Lakay champions Eduard Folayang and Kevin Belingon lost their belts collectively in Japan in late March. “I know Joshua Pacio has a lot of fans here, and I respect him as a martial artist. All I can say is that we will both bring our best into the cage this Friday night. It’s going to be an exciting fight, and I plan on getting my hand raised in the end as the victor, said Saruta, nicknamed The Ninja. “I would like to thank ONE Championship for giving me another chance to fight for the title. I know the magnitude of this matchup and how important this rematch is. I wasn’t at my best in that first fight, so I want to go out there and prove that I can do much better. He’s a great fighter, and I have so much respect for him. But I have the hopes and dreams of an entire country on my shoulders, and I can’t let the fans down. I’m coming to regain the belt. It’s going to be a war this Friday,” Pacio countered. Besides Pacio, three more Filipinos—brothers Eric and Edward Kelly and Ramon Gonzales—will fight for Filipino pride on the ONE cage on Friday. But the drive for Pinoy glory is just one intriguing theme to watch out for in this hugely popular ONE event. There are others. A plethora of countries represented BESIDES the Philippines, the Vietnamese and Australian flags (represented by Nguyen) will be waved on Friday.The other countries that will be represented are: Japan, China, Korea, Mongolia, Brazil, Indonesia, United States, Thailand, Puerto Rico, Romania, Morocco, Serbia, Afghanistan and Singapore. Sixteen different flags will be carried in the Philippines, total. Three different disciplines IN addition to mixed martial arts, a kickboxing match and two muay thai bouts will be in the cards. Biggest KO artists MANY athletes in ONE: Roots of Honor have impressive KO numbers. China’s Kai Tang has eight victories in 10 professional bouts, all of them by TKO or KO. His 100-percent KO rate is the highest on the card. Japanese strawweight Akihiro Fujisawa has four of his five wins by KO or TKO. Nguyen himself has a 64-percent KO rate. Seven of his 11 victories have come by KO or TKO— impressive because he began his career as a grappler. Last, the 39-year-old Luis Santos from Brazil doesn’t have one of the three highest KO rates, but his 37 wins by KO/TKO is by far the most of any athlete on the card. Greatest submission specialists ERIC KELLY has 12 wins in his career, and nine of them have come by submission. His 75-percent submission rate is the most impressive of any athlete on the card. Also noteworthy in the area of submissions is Leandro Issa’s 10 subs in 16 wins and Pacio’s seven submissions in 13 wins. Promotional debuts ONE: Roots of Honor marks the debut of two martial artists: Indonesia’s Eko Roni Saputra and Vietnam’s Bi Nguyen. Nguyen was a celebrated addition to ONE, having been on the hit reality game show Survivor. She will compete for the first time with Dwi Ani Retno Wulan who has a 4-3 record. The undefeated THERE are athletes on the card who have never tasted defeat. Saputra, Wulan (1-0) and Akihiro Fujisawa (5-0) are all undefeated, but the no-loss martial artist who stands out the most is the American James Nakashima. He puts his undefeated 10-0 record on the line against the dangerous Santos. Hometown heroes PINOY love will pour out not just for Pacio, but also for the Brothers Kelly and Ramon Gonzales who will open the show against the hardpunching Fujisawa. The champions and challengers MARTIN NGUYEN hasn’t competed since losing a battle for the interim ONE Bantamweight World Title in July 2018. He suffered an injury that has kept him out of action since that unanimousdecision defeat. Nguyen made ONE history by reigning as both ONE Lightweight and Featherweight World Champion, and challenged Bibiano Fernandes for his bantamweight belt. Nguyen still holds the featherweight strap and will defend it on Friday. ONE Featherweight World Champion Jadambaa has twice tasted defeat against Russia’s Marat Gafurov who was, in turn, conquered by Nguyen. Jadambaa’s mindset is to do what Gafurov could not do.

BEGORNIA OUTLASTS FANCIED MALAYSIAN R EYMARK BEGORNIA came back from the grave and rallied past fancied Malaysian Muhammad Amir Aminul bin Azhar, 7-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-8, 11-6, on Wednesday to reach the men’s singles finals of the Fifth Southeast Asian Cup Squash Championships at the Kerrys Sports courts inside the Shangri-La at the Fort Hotel in Taguig City. Living up to the Philippine squad’s moniker “Kayod Pilipinas,” Begornia scrambled out of a 0-2 hole in outlasting Azhar in 61 minutes of riveting play in the singles semifinals to gain a crack at the country’s first gold in the six-nation competition organized by the Philippine Squash Academy. It was a splendid follow-up win for the Pinoy racket-wielder, who ousted top seed and compatriot Robert Begornia in the quarterfinals last Tuesday, and will try to sustain his amazing run in the tourney backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee and the MVP Sports Foundation. Begornia will gun for his first-ever major title later in the evening against Singaporean 13th seed Benedict Chan, who subdued Indonesia’s Satria Bagus Laksana, 11-5, 2-11, 11-9, 11-3, in the meet also backed by Alaska, Salming, TV 5,DOOH, Jollibee, Meralco and Dunlop, the official ball. Yvonne Alisa Dalida absorbed a straight-

set 6-11, 4-11, 5-11 setback to Malaysian No. 5 seed Noor Ainaa Amani Binti Ampandi in women’s singles semis. Nevertheless, her finish was worth a bronze for the country first medal in the competition serving as a test event for the 30th Philippine Southeast Asian Games. “I never gave up so I am very happy for this result because I never thought I could get this far,” said Begornia after his thrilling comeback triumph over the 16-year-old Malaysian, who wilted in the face of the hometown bet’s endgame onslaught. He could have made the match shorter had he not squandered leads of 9-5 and 10-8 in the second set, allowing the Malaysian to stage his own rally in reeling off fourth straight points and move within a set of advancing to the championship round. “Begornia showed a lot of self-belief by not getting himself down after that close loss in the second set,” noted national Coach Manu Yam. “I merely told him to move on and play it patiently because I knew the Malaysian would eventually break down once Macmac [Begornia’s nickname] applied the pressure.” Shrugging off the second-set loss, Begornia played like a man possessed in the succeeding three sets, combining both power and finesse in picking Azhar apart while often pouncing on the Malaysian’s vulnerable backhand.

By Ramon Rafael Bonilla

AR Eastern University (FEU) downed National University (NU), 25-21, 25-19, 25-22, to bolster its chances of securing a Final Four seat in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament on Wednesday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City. The Lady Tamaraws were merciless in sweeping the struggling Lady Bulldogs to hike their record to eight wins against four losses. Pending the result of the match between University of Santo Tomas and the University of the Philippines, the victory catapulted the Morayta-based to solo third

third-place effort in the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur in Georgia over the weekend. “It was fantastic, everything was in place although it was pretty hot and the wind blew late in the game,” said Saso, who actually reigned here at MGC last February where she dominated the ranks to retain her Philippine Ladies Amateur Open diadem with a six-under total. Chang and Chen appeared headed to sharing the day’s spotlight with Saso after churning out a pair of 69s with the former blowing a three-under card with a bogey on the 17th and the latter rallying with two birdies in the last four to put herself in early contention in the 54-hole championship sponsored by ICTSI and cosanctioned by the Ladies Professional Golf Association of Taiwan (TLPGA) and LPGT. “My irons are relatively good but I struggled with my putting, missing two birdie chances inside 10 feet,” said Hsuan, 20. Singapore’s Sock Hwee Koh fought back from an early pair of bogeys at the back with a three-birdie string from No. 13 but settled for a birdie-bogey game at the front to shoot a one-under 70 for joint fourth with Thais Chommapat Pongthanarak (3436), Pimpadsorn Sangkagaro (32-38) and Arpichaya Yubol (36-34).

NATIONAL University’s Audrey Kathryn Paran (15) and Roselyn Doria (11) defend against Far Eastern University’s Ced Domingo. NONOY LACZA

Lady Tamaraws compound National U volleybelles’ woes

spot behind Ateneo (10-1) and defending champion De La Salle (8-3). FEU Head Coach George Pascua was ecstatic with the straight-set win, which was their first in the season. Although impressed with their performance, he reminded his players to remain aggressive. “This is the first time that we won in only three sets. It’s because of our veterans that we achieved this,” Pascua said. “I told them to take it one at a time and to sustain our energy level.” Veterans Heather Guino-o and Jerrili Malabanan were at the forefront of attack, while setter Kyle Negrito commanded the offense for the Lady Tamaraws.

forward to bringing down the Cargo Movers to book a best-of-three semifinal duel against the survivor in the other quarterfinal battle between PLDT Home Fibr and Generika-Ayala. “I can’t say that we have the upper hand. All I can say is that the hungrier and more prepared team will definitely advance to the next round.” F2 Logistics had a hard time against the Tornadoes because lack of personnel. Star setter Kim Fajardo remains injured, prompting backup Alex Cabanos to play the entire two-hour match that obviously affected her decisions down the stretch. Cabanos delivered 23 excellent sets, but faded against the fresh legs of Gyselle Sy and Ivy Perez, who took turns setting the plays for Santiago, Felinski and Milagros Collar. “This is a do-or-die game so we have to give everything we can,” said F2 Logistics Coach Ramil de Jesus, who will bank anew on seasoned imports Lindsay Stalzer and MJ Perez as well as Aby Maraño, Cha Cruz and Majoy Baron.

Rolida, Chan in quarterfinals

Guino-o topscored with 11 points, all from spikes, while Malabanan added 10 points. Negrito, meanwhile, had 21 excellent sets. FEU was ahead most of the first set until NU made it 15-14. But the rally was short lived as the Lady Tamaraws, last season’s runners-up, refused to wilt and take the opening set. It was the same story in the second set as the Lady Tamaraws took a 16-6 lead the Lady Bulldogs could not topple. FEU continued to pull away despite a string of errors in the third set as their opponents played miserably. Audrey Paran had 11 points to lead NU, which rolled to its ninth loss in 12 matches.

Tornadoes try to finish off Cargo Movers in knockout match

OTON and F2 Logistics shoot for a semifinal seat when they clash in a sudden-death quarterfinals duel in the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix on Thursday at the Filoil Flying V Centre. Action kicks off at 7 p.m. with the Tornadoes looking to pull a massive upset to book a seat in the next round. After an 11-game losing streak, Foton was tipped to easily fold up, but Jaja Santiago and import Courtney Felinski willed the Tornadoes to an earthshaking 27-25, 19-25, 25-22, 16-25, 15-12 victory in their first quarterfinal battle to push the powerhouse Cargo Movers to the brink of a massive defeat. Santiago, who just came from a long stint in the V. Premier League in Japan, delivered 20 points while Felinski also had 20 for the Tornadoes, who ended the doubleround classification as seventh seed. Head Coach Aaron Velez said while the victory was truly overwhelming, the battle is still far from over. “We’re really happy for the win, but we can’t be too excited,” he said, looking

Sangkagaro actually tumbled down with a backside 38 then fell farther back with a bogey on the second hole but eagled the par-5 No. 4 then birdied three of the last five to wheel back into contention in the event backed by Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, K&G Golf Apparel, Aboitiz Equity Ventures, BDO, KZG, PLDT, Event Captain, Golf Depot, Champion, Summit Mineral Water and MY Shokai Technology Inc. 2017 LPGT OOM winner Pauline del Rosario kept a two-under card with two holes left but dropped two strokes on the bunker-laden No. 17 and fell to joint eighth at even par 71 with Taiwanese Hsin Lee, Japanese Mina Nakayama and Thai Goonlacha Paiboonpong, who turned in identical 37-34 cards. Reigning OOM champion Princess Superal rebounded from a two-bogey game with birdies on Nos. 5 and 7 but floundered at the tougher backside with bogeys on Nos. 11, 14 and 18 to drop to joint 25th with Taiwanese top bets Babe Liu and Lin TzuChi, Mia Piccio and Daniella Uy. Thai Chonlada Chayanun also blew a two-under card with a bogey on the 16th and a double bogey on the next, ending up with a 72 in the company of compatriots Yupaporn Kawinpakorn, Khamborn Chakansim and Mookharin Ladgratok, Malaysian Genevieve Ling and Taiwanese amateur Chang Tzu-Yi.

BIA GENERAL receives for Generika-Ayala, which hangs tough down the stretch to eke out a thrilling 21-25, 25-22, 25-22, 26-24 win over PLDT Home Fibr in their quarterfinals match on Tuesday night.

ACOB ROLIDA and Aidric Chan came away with a pair of routs to kick off their respective title drive at the start of the knockout phase of the fourth MVP Sports Foundation (MVPSF) Visayas Regional Match Play Championships at the Cebu Country Club (CCC) on Wednesday. The top seeded Rolida took the first three holes against No. 16 Fernando Mondares with a par game, won two more holes at the turn before wrapping up with a par-birdie-par binge from No. 10 for an 8&6 romp while Chan, who placed second after the 36-hole stroke play elims on Tuesday, also used a strong frontside attack to oust Weiyu Gao, 5&3, and advance to the quarterfinals of the event serving as part of the PLDT Group National Amateur Tour and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines. No. 8 Harvey Sytiongsa likewise started out strong but had to fend off the rallying ninth seed Carl Corpus in the stretch, clinching a 2-up victory on a birdie-par windup to seal a last 8 clash with Rolida. Corpus battled back from four down with a big backside fightback, winning the first three holes at the back and forcing an all-square game with a birdie on No. 14. But he stumbled at the finish while Sytiongsa recovered his bearing and birdied the 17th before clinching the win as Corpus bogeyed the last while trying to extend the match. Masaichi Otake, meanwhile, pulled off a big reversal as the No. 12 bet upended fifth ranked Joseph Alvarez, 2-up, to arrange a quarters showdown with No. 4 Joaquin Gomez, who also nipped No. 13 Alfredo Cabajar, 1-up. Otake outsteadied Alvarez in a pressure-packed backside duel, pouncing on Alvarez’s pick-up on No. 14 and completing a 2-up win with a closing par. Gomez fought back from 2-down after 11 and went 1-up with three holes left but triple bogeyed No. 16, needing the birdie the last to barge into the next round of the event sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation, PLDT Group, Cignal and Metro Pacific and hosted by CCC. Chan will take on No. 7 Luigi Wong, who thumped Santino Laurez, 5&4, while third ranked Rolando Pila also routed Mark Dy, 5&4, for a showdown with No. 6 Martin Mendoza, who outlasted Mikhael Ybañez, 2&1. Meanwhile, Junia Gabasa and Pamela Mariano, who took the top 2 spots in their side of the tournament, step up their respective bids after drawing opening round byes with the former facing off with Wilma Fantonial and the latter clashing with Marie Suelo in today’s (Thursday) semifinal round in the ladies division. Fantonial edged Ma. Mirasol Panong, 1-up, while Suelo likewise drew a bye in the tournament which also pits Kristine Fleetwood against Ashley Llena, and Grace Quintanilla versus Cleer Flores.

Loving God

EAR loving God, in Jesus You give us life and salvation and shepherd us in love. With faith in Your care, we pray: Righteous God, hear us. Unite nations in efforts to distribute food and steward resources in wisdom and justice. Lead all children to know their precious worth and self esteem. Inspire those who are depressed, grieving, dissatisfied with their relationships with their partners and paralyzed by fear. May God protect us in integrity and virtue and lead us along the path of life, through Jesus our Brother. Amen. GIVE US THIS DAY, SHARED BY LUISA LACSON, HFL Word&Life Publications • teacherlouie1965@yahoo.com

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos • lifestylebusinessmirror@gmail.com

Life

REELING: SAVING PRIVATE JIM AND BATTLING SEX IN SOCIAL MEDIA D3

BusinessMirror

Thursday, April 11, 2019

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First to feel the Love VALENTINE’S Day 2019 is long over, but it doesn’t stop Philippine Airlines (PAL, www.philippineairlines.com) from letting you experience a different kind of love. Go head over heels with PAL’s modern iteration of its delightful plane from the late 1970s until the 1980s— the iconic “Love Bus.” What makes it even more exciting is that flyers can now experience and relive this special flight with their loved ones. As a celebration of the 40-year partnership between PAL and aerospace manufacturer, Airbus, a unique surprise awaits flyers. The surprise? The revival of the hip and iconic logo of the Love Bus. Philippine Airlines brings back the feeling of nostalgia on its fifth and sixth Airbus A350-900. Be one of the firsts to finally experience love at 40,000 feet with PAL’s special A350 Love Bus. For the rest of the year, Philippine Airlines will offer Love Bus welcome drinks for those seated in Business Class and specially themed dessert cups for those in Premium Economy and Economy. Enjoy the Love Bus nostalgia only with Philippine Airlines. With its world-class, four-star global airline experience, its signature Buong-Pusong Alaga, and product innovations, it is an exciting flight you wouldn’t want to miss. You can catch and book the A350 Love Bus flights to New York, Toronto and London starting this month.

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SINGAPORE Tourism Board Philippines Area Director Lael Loh (center), Assistant Manager Nina Peña (fourth from right), and representatives of integrated marketing communications agency, Stratworks, pose with their Gold Anvil trophy.

SINGAPORE TOURISM BOARD BAGS GOLD ANVIL FOR INSPIRING CAMPAIGN THE Singapore Tourism Board Philippines bagged a Gold Anvil trophy during the 54th Anvil Awards held at the Marriott Hotel Manila in Pasay City. STB won the award for its Passion Made Possible campaign which centered on sharing Singapore’s spirit and story to inspire Filipino travelers to pursue their own passions in the city-state. An annual competition organized by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines, the Anvil Awards recognizes the most outstanding PR programs and tools in the Philippines, and is considered the “Oscars” of the local public relations industry. STB was the only national tourism organization to receive an Anvil. “We are deeply honored by this recognition. The Philippines is a very important market for Singapore, and we hope to continue to inspire more Filipino travelers to visit Singapore. Whether you are a foodie, a fashionista, a thrillseeker looking for the next adventure, or an explorer who enjoys wandering and finding new spaces, there is something for everyone in Singapore,” said Lael Loh, STB’s area director for Philippines. The Passion Made Possible campaign encouraged travelers to discover their own passions as it shared the inspiring, real-life stories of driven and extraordinary Singaporeans. To localize the global campaign, STB Philippines presented Filipino Passion Personalities— exceptional Pinoys with a deep connection to Singapore who have been fearless in their respective pursuits. These included actor and host Mikael Daez, Your Local chef and founder Nicco Santos, and Yardstick founder Andre Chanco. The local agency also mounted experiential and passion-themed events and activations to provide Filipino travelers with a glimpse of what Singapore has to offer for their different passion points.

A new jewel in Coron’s crown

BY BENJAMIN LAYUG

ORON town, the gateway to Coron Island’s numerous wreck diving sites, clean and clear lakes and beautiful islands with white-sand beaches, has a new addition in its gallery of premier boutique resorts: Bacau Bay Resort. Managed by Anya Hospitality Corp. (the same company which manages Anya Resort Tagaytay, Club Punta Fuego, and Amara Residences), this four-star, 1.5-hectare resort had its soft opening on March 23. Located along Governor’s Drive in Sitio Jolo, Poblacion 5, it is located just 2 kilometers from the National Highway and a 30- to 45-minute drive from Francisco B. Reyes Airport. The resort was so named after the bakawan, the local name for mangroves. Upon arrival at the resort, our media group were ushered into a Zen-inspired lobby which opens to a vista of swimming pools, fountains, walkways and a garden planted with banaba, pepper, mulawin, duhat, cashew and acacia trees plus bougainvilleas and bamboo trees, all surrounded by clusters of buildings housing the resort’s 80 nonsmoking rooms: 64 Deluxe Rooms, 15 Premier Suites and one Presidential Suite. Each air-conditioned room, elegantly designed in the minimalist style, has a flat-screen, 32” LED cable TV, phone, digital alarm clock with Bluetooth speaker, minibar, safety deposit box, writing desk, turndown service, espresso machine, balcony/terrace and complimentary drinking water. Its private ensuite bathroom has a rainshower head, bidet, hair dryer with free toiletries, dental and vanity kit. Bathrobes and slippers were also provided. Free Wi-Fi is offered in the room, as well as in public areas. Hung along

the walls of the rooms, as well as in other areas in the resort, are abstract paintings by Anton Cunanan. The air-conditioned, 80- to 100-pax Amihan Restaurant, with its rattan-lined coffered ceiling, offers indoor (80-pax) and al fresco (50-pax) outdoor dining (with patio umbrellas) of buffet and à la carte local and international dishes. There are three outdoor swimming pools, all of varying depths. The round children’s swimming pool has a 3-feet depth ideal for kids. A similarly rounded swimming pool, beside it, has a 9-feet depth ideal for introductory dive sessions. The free-form swimming pool, the largest of the three, has a 5-feet depth ideal for adults. All are surrounded by sun loungers shaded by patio umbrellas. Nearby is the Isla poolside bar. Strategically located along the walkways are three-person metal outdoor swings with canopies, while near the buildings, underneath trees, are free-standing hammocks. The 24-hour fitness center offers two stationary bicycles, one treadmill, weights (in pounds) and TRX. The recreation information center books van transportation and island-hopping (Malcapuya Island, Banol Island, Banana Island, Bulog Island, etc.), lakes (Kayangan Lake) and hot spring (Maquinit Hot Spring) tours for guests. It also has a small boutique with souvenir items. The Alon Spa offers volcanic rock massage, traditional hilot massage, Swedish massage, Shiatsu massage, Thai massage and combination massage, as well as head massages and body scrubs which could be done at its two massage rooms or five outdoor massage cabanas. For weddings, seminars and conferences, there’s the 46.46 square meter Malcapuya meeting

room and the bigger 151.55 sq m Culion ballroom, with its coffered rattan-lined ceiling. They can accommodate 50 and 80 persons, respectively, depending on the setup. Other resort facilities include a 24-hour Front Desk, a dive shop, a 24-hour business center and a pavilion. The resort is one of few in the area that has their own exclusive private pier. About 200-meter long, it is used for island-hopping and diving adventures. Slung along the sides of the boardwalk are four sturdy rope hammocks, two for watching the sun set and the other for the sun rise. The resort has two speedboats as well as a 14-pax motorized outrigger boat. From here, you can board any of the resort’s three bamboo rafts with picnic table and benches where you can dine al fresco or do kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding among the mangroves or out at sea. Aside from the kiddie pool, children can spend time at the Kiddie Activity Center which offers lots of board games as well as train sets, and badminton and table tennis gear. The resort also offers concierge, luggage storage, laundry, airport transfers, daily housekeeping and room service. ■

❶ AMIHAN Restaurant’s al fresco dining area ❷ DELUXE Room ❸ BACAU Bay Resort and its centrally located pool ❹ ISLA Pool Bar ❺ THE Malcapuya Meeting Room ❻ KAYAKING along the resort’s mangroves

Thursday, April 11, 2019

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Today’s Horoscope By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Morgan Lily, 19; Joss Stone, 32; Kelli Garner, 35; Tricia Helfer, 45. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Your desire for change will increase. A strategic plan coupled with patience will serve you well when the time is right to move in a new direction. Plan your actions based on your ultimate goal, and take advantage of an opportunity that allows you to incorporate more of what you want to be doing in your everyday routine. Your lucky numbers are 7, 18, 21, 26, 32, 37, 48.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Make a change for the right reason. Don’t let your emotions cloud your vision. Work with what’s being offered. You will be happy and surprised by the way your day unfolds. ★★

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): An unpredictable pattern may excite you, but don’t go overboard. Have a plan in place to accommodate any pitfalls that occur. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Follow your heart only if you are positive it won’t be broken. ★★★★

FROM left: Meagan’s first Visita Iglesia in Bicol when she turned 1 at the Ateneo de Naga Chapel; Meagan in 2018 Holy Week at Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Peñafrancia; Marcus at seven years old, when we were showing our kids Manila Cathedral, the church where we got married.

Holy Week, forgiveness, thinking of ‘Five Feet Apart’: Part I MOMMY NO LIMITS

MAYE YAO CO SAY

mommynolimits@gmail.com

N a few days, the weekend of Holy Week is coming up. For Christians, it is a time to remember the Passion of Christ. In the Philippines, religious rituals and sacrifices to commemorate Christ’s passion and death concretize this. One will see multitudes performing Visita Iglesia. According to the article written by Arnulfo Valderama Fortunado and Maricel Eballo for Catholicsandcultures.org on April 7, 2017, Visita Iglesia is the practice of “visiting at least seven different churches on Holy Thursday and Good Friday.” The article further elaborates the other local practices during Holy Week. “Some devotees walk barefoot from church to church. In a few cases they even carry a cross as a way to share [in the] sufferings of Christ on the way to His crucifixion. Most do so by car, traveling with families and friends to visit churches further apart, even combining it, less penitentially, with sightseeing on the side, so long as that does not undermine the real intention of the trip.” I have seen barebacked men with red markings whipping themselves while walking through a path as a form of sacrifice and prayer. The article explains that the “choice of seven or 14 as the number of churches to visit was described by many devotees as a reference to the Seven Last Words

of Jesus, or the Seven Holy Wounds of Jesus. Some choose to visit 14 churches to match the 14 Station of the Cross, and a few try to cover even more churches. Many believe that their prayers will be granted after the stations are complete.” My husband and I perform Visita Iglesia every year with our kids. Most of the time, we do this in Manila. We enjoy the ritual even more when we get to spend it with my in-laws in Bicol. We do this as a way to pass our devotion to our kids. It also becomes a trip down memory lane when my husband and I share our own childhood Holy Week experiences to our kids. When I was growing up, our religious rituals were our family’s “binder.” Regardless of our parents’ regular squabbles, Sunday mass, observing the feast days of saints and Visita Iglesia were times of peace. Since we used to live around the scout area in Quezon City, our Visita Iglesia always included Sacred Heart Parish in Kamuning, Saint Paul the Apostle Church on Scout Magbanua, Santo Domingo Church on Quezon Avenue, Mt. Carmel and Pink Sisters Convent both in New Manila. I grew up witnessing my parents’ devotion to the rosary and religious rituals. I gauged one’s strength of faith on these. However, deep inside I recognized the irony on how one can pray this much, but still go back to all the squabbles and inauthenticity the minute the rituals stopped. Thus, as a child, I never developed the devotion. I loved to visit the Church everyday before school, but I felt no compulsion to pray the rosary or participate in rituals on my own. When I was in my early teen years, I started to question attending the annual processions of my parents’ patron saints. Although I still went, I knew I did them out of obligation. As I shared last January in multiple articles on faith, I had to define my faith in more reasonable and acceptable terms. Today, I believe my life is my lifelong prayer. I see faith as the cumulative moments of offering the

life we live to our chosen Higher Being. Rituals take a sidestep as enablers. They are there to bring us closer to our faith but they do not represent the depth of our faith. Going to church becomes moments for reflection. We teach our kids that rituals are times to show gratitude and humility to what life has provided us. During Holy Week, it is good to reflect with honesty on how we have “accumulated” our life moments. Below are some of my own questions of reflection for the Holy Week. 1. HAVE WE APPRECIATED OUR HIGHS, WHETHER SMALL OR BIG? I always start with gratitude. For many years now, I have an entry in my phone’s notepad labeled 3gt. This means 3 good things. When I get the chance, I would type up three good things that happened the day before. From the small things— like I was able to have time for breakfast, which I normally skip—to the joyful occasions like celebrating our kids’ achievements. During Holy Week, I would read the whole list. I would add to it and find time to write a journal entry on why I am grateful for the life I have today. 2. HAVE WE ACCEPTED THE “LOSSES” IN OUR LIVES? We all know that life has both wins and losses. The question is: Have we let these losses go? Or, even better, have we gotten to the point where we actually understand why the losses had to happen? For example, if we have failed in marriage, are we still mad at that partner who never gave us our happy ending? Are we still mad at life for not granting us a better partner? Having experienced separation in our family, I believe the focus is to accept the reality in front of us, then make more time for the future that lies ahead. The fact is that things ended. But the more important fact is, life goes on. The decision to make things better lies only in us. Next week, I will share more reflective questions for the Holy Week. ■

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Your impatience and desire to participate will cost you if you are too eager to help someone who is taking advantage of you. Consider how best to deal with situations that are overwhelming, excessive or could end up costing you. ★★★

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Don’t be shy. Say what’s on your mind and do what’s right. Now is not the time to sit back and let someone else take over. Do whatever it takes to make your life and the world around you better. ★★★

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): How you deal with others will determine the changes that take place around you. Take care of your responsibilities before you complain or criticize. It’s important to show consistency and discipline if you want to be a leader. ★★★

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Participate in events that are conducive to mingling with interesting people. Learn from the conversations you have with experts, and share what you learn with people you want to work alongside. Much can be accomplished if you collaborate. ★★★★

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Keep conversations light and positive. If you get into discussions about money, religion or politics, it will lead to regret. Be open-minded and willing to accept others for who they are and what they believe. Physical exercise will help relieve stress. ★★

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Don’t worry about what you cannot change. Let go of the past and head into the future with optimism, ideas and good intentions. You have far more to gain moving forward than you do looking back or living in the past. ★★★★★

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Make physical activity a priority and keeping busy your goal. Too much idle time or hanging out with people who are indulgent will not end well. Money matters should be handled with care. A problem with a sibling or partner is looming. ★★★

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Make a positive change at home or to the way you do your job. Getting along well with others will lead to the support and help needed to reach your goals. Take responsibility for your actions; rewards will follow. ★★★

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Someone from your past will surprise you. Attending a reunion or reconnecting on social media with an old friend will bring back memories and prompt you to revisit a goal you have yet to accomplish. An opportunity is heading your way. ★★★

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Open your door to friends and relatives. Listen to what others have to say to gain valuable information that will help you adjust to the changes that are going on around you. ★★★★★ BIRTHDAY BABY: You are talented, adaptable and conscientious. You are helpful and generous.

‘fowl play’ BY ROSS TRUDEAU The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Goodyear vehicle 6 Rain can delay them, briefly 10 “Big Blue” tech company 13 Best Western alternative 15 Funny Fey 16 Ghost’s sound 17 Really stuck 18 Bonanza for a fox (note the first word) 20 On the razor’s ___ 21 Way of walking 23 Feedback 24 1975 John Wayne role (first word) 27 Braxton or Morrison 28 ___ buco 29 McCain’s running mate 32 Actress Jessica 35 Sis, bro, ma, etc. 38 Classic paradox that this puzzle seems to have an opinion on 42 Trunk gunk 43 Tardy 44 Word with “circle” or “child”

45 Tijuana currency 48 CEO or CFO 50 Zygote (last word) 56 Orange Muppet 57 Eve’s first home 58 Triceps exercises 59 Quibble (last word) 61 Valley girl’s shocked exclamation 63 Giants star Manning 64 Translucent mineral 65 “It’s all wrong!” 66 Right-angle extension 67 Metal waste 68 Fairy-tale antagonists DOWN 1 Bramble: Var. 2 Calrissian of Star Wars 3 Insect stage 4 Regal 5 “Get a room” elicitor, briefly 6 Set of principles 7 Link with 8 Journalist Curry 9 Hindu titles of respect

10 11 12 14 19 22 25 26 29 30 31 33 34 36 37 39 40 41 46 47 49 50 51 52

Generic Advil Petty officer Bubbly bottle name Biotech giant Burden “Thank U, Next” singer Grande Honky-___ Frisky farm animal Some laptops, briefly “I solved it!” Cosmetic shading tool Park place? Gentle wind Leave to mature Restaurant boss: Abbr. Wells’ blond race Hustled, quaintly Creating a cryptogram, say Black Panther villain Killmonger Cooks, as mussels Only element that starts with X Lacy gown feature German camera brand Address label?

53 54 55 56 60 62

Energy Slightly ahead Ancestor of Windows Three-sided sword Zero, in soccer “Milk me!”

Solution to yesterday’s puzzle:

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Thursday, April 11, 2019

Saving Private Jim and battling sex in social media REELING

TITO GENOVA VALIENTE

titovaliente@yahoo.com

HE republic woke up one morning to a video of a middle-aged man, masturbating, his act captured by the newfound technologies that spread news like virus. Viral, as they say. The man was known to a small sector as a critic of the government. It was a small sector that knew his ardor and accomplishment if one considers—and assumes—that out there, a few kilometers from the metropolis, many did not really know him and what he stands for. Out there in farms and hills, no one even bothered with that video. It was not up to the standard that young people would consider as scandals. There first was a denial, as expected. Then there was the admission, which was not expected. The admission made this man a brave man. I don’t know if I would do that were I in his place, and were I, in a sense, caught in that manner. Everything should have stopped there. But people came to this man’s defense, or so they thought. The vociferous voice was a wind that fanned the news and contributed to the news—the video and the admission—being spread all over. It would not stop, and would not be stopped. People who, we can say, were on the man’s side kept on talking and each word, each sentence, each defense made even more preposterous the situation. Many invoked the privacy of the man. That a video of one masturbating was solely for the benefit of the man getting the pleasure negates the very fact of a moment of documentation. But it is an old concept of privacy and one’s desire to be private. We know the world has changed and technology has inserted itself already into human activities. I am not condoning these technologies; rather, I am asking us to rethink certain ideals and principles in the face of technologies that are invasive. There was also the status of the man. The

IT WAS TRAGIC THAT DAY WHEN WE OPTED TO BE BOTHERED BY A VIDEO AND NOT PAY ATTENTION TO FARMERS IN SOME DISTANT AGRICULTURAL AREAS. THEY WOULD NOT BE BOTHERED BY VIDEOS OF ANY KIND. TECHNOLOGIES WOULD NOT PLAY A PART IN THEIR LIVES. WELL, NOT ANYMORE WHEN SOME OF THEM WERE MASSACRED, AND THEIR FAMILIES LEFT HELPLESS AND ALONE. admission, if we are to be candid about it, has not made him any better. It brought back his profile, a feeling of privilege common to people belonging to his economic station in life. He must be saved—this was almost the wail of similarly situated individuals, forgetting that he does not represent us. He is not the movement, he is not the knowledge that we profess against an administration that can only celebrate the fall from grace of one of its critics. Why a fall from grace? It is because we have always been duplicitous and hypocritical about sex. If there was a good thing arising out of that revelation of one’s realization of private passion, it is that we started talking about sexuality. Masturbation became an in-your-face term; recording of one’s fantasy had been liberated from its silenced and hidden bedroom, with only the computer, the Internet and the moon as mute witnesses. People came out admitting that they, too, masturbate. Of course, we know that. We know that we all masturbate but that sheer admission can open to non-sequiturs. I masturbate but I don’t kill. Why do we say that? It is because, in the face of a President and his trolls tapping into our psyche, sexuality is a danger zone. The qualification between pleasure and annihilation is a serious giveaway of a collective psychology.

I masturbate and I don’t kill. I masturbate and I am a good citizen. I masturbate and I love my country. Drop the “but” for heaven’s sake! And rejoice. But, no, we have to add the “but.” We have to celebrate the caveat because we know, given our culture and a faith that reeks of colonialism, that Heaven still frowns on masturbation. Listen to priests telling us that sex is clean and given by God, and sense the quivering falsity in that claim. The institutional Church can negate my statement but, at this point, it is what we believe in that matters. It is what had been hammered into our heads that counts. To the generation of Catholic-educated men, let them count the number of times they had to confess their masturbation, and you see the power of that video. We cannot escape the morality that is imputed to sexuality. If we are going to fight this government or what it stands for, then we should speak its language. We cannot prescribe the vocabularies and glossaries from our own comfort zone. There are no more comfort zones. We have to revel in the discomfort that is foisted by the spokesman of this administration. If not for this column, people in my circle may have forgotten already about that video, and the man may

have collected himself already into whatever strength that lesson may have given him. But the republic cannot rest. Just a few days ago, the President bragged about the size of his penis. Even in a society where things that used to shock us are happening, a President being proud of his penis was just too much. And so, again, we started to stammer and grope with words before we can tell him witticisms after witticisms how we are not interested in his penis. That we are not interested to see his penis but the true declaration of his properties. That we’d rather see up-close the tattoo on his son’s back. But all this noise was lost. As were the noise that day when the video was revealed. The masturbation distracted us; the penis even more. It was tragic that day when we opted to be bothered by a video and not pay attention to farmers in some distant agricultural areas. They would not be bothered by videos of any kind. Technologies would not play a part in their lives. Well, not anymore when some of them were massacred, and their families left helpless and alone. But we were not to be bothered. We were out to defend the cold maxims about privacy. We were caught in preserving the sense to the private of this man. Michel Foucault, in his History of Sexuality, said: “Sex was not something one simply judged; it was a thing one administered.” We have an administration who is adept in managing sexualities. This administration knows our frailties and foibles. This administration knows that we quiver at the thought of things that we have placed in our bedrooms or toilets or dark nooks displayed out there in the open. What this administration has not realized is that we, from now on, will start using the language of sex to battle the silence that can be used to stifle the truths when they are spoken in whispers, in cowardly murmurs, in quiet fear. ■

Cinematografo Originals winner ‘Yellow Rose’ in San Francisco filmfest LESS than a month after it was announced that it was chosen as the Opening Night film at the prestigious 35th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (LAAPFF), where it will make its World Premiere, ABS-CBN Cinematografo Originals Contest seed grant winner Yellow Rose was chosen by the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM, www.caamedia.org) as the Centerpiece Narrative for CAAMFest37. The festival will take place from May 9 to 19 in the San Francisco Bay Area as part of Asian American Heritage Month. CAAMFest, the US’s largest Asian American film festival, is an 11-day feast of the senses, with film, music, food, and digital media from the world’s most innovative Asian and Asian American artists. “Our CAAMFest audiences inspire us to deliver meaningful events and showcase new works that challenge our perceptions of Asian America,” said CAAM’s Festival and Exhibitions Director Masashi Niwano in a media release.

SPONGECOLA

Written and directed by award-winning Filipino American documentary filmmaker and Commercial Director Diane Paragas, Yellow Rose tells the story of a headstrong Filipina teen from a small Texas town, fighting to pursue her country music dreams while facing the threat of deportation. Its CAAMFest appearance is its San Francisco premiere. Yellow Rose stars Tony Award nominee Eva Noblezada, Tony-winning actress and Grammy nominee Lea Salonga, country music star Dale Watson, Liam Booth, Gustavo Gomez (The Walking Dead), Libby Villari (Boyhood), and Princess Punzalan, and features original songs written by Watson, Paragas, Noblezada and the cast. Yellow Rose will be screened on May 11, AMC Kabuki 8, 6 pm; and May 16, Piedmont Theatre, 9 pm, during the festival. Entering its 37th year, CAAMFest will continue to be an anchor event celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

ITCHYWORMS

Chart-topping artists to perform at Festival of Possibilities 2019 FILINVEST City is once again treating its residents, workers, and guests to an extraordinary day of music top-billed by some of today’s hottest acts, as it brings back its community fair, Festival of Possibilities, on April 26 at the sprawling Filinvest City Event Grounds (www.facebook.com/ FilinvestCityOFFICIAL). Set to perform on the biggest stage in Metro South are Brisom,

Chiquerella, Lunar Lights, Wicked Adobo, Written by the Stars, I Belong to the Zoo, This Band, Itchyworms, Rivermaya and Spongecola. Now on its second year, Festival of Possibilities 2019 will be bigger and more exciting than the first. Aside from the awesome music, Filinvest City, the premier, green-oriented live-work-play community in Metro South, and venue of some of the most

remarkable, crowd-drawing events in the country, also has super fun and interactive outdoor plays waiting for its guests, such as arcade games and inflatables. They can bond over delightful and mouth-watering eats and treats at the food bazaar. Everyone can look forward to an unforgettable experience. Admission to the Festival of

Possibilities is free. Festivalgoers must only present proof of residence or employment in Filinvest City at the venue gates to get in. With its sprawling events ground, easy accessibility, notable estate and security management, as well as pedestrian-friendly road networks, Filinvest City is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after events venues in Metro South.

IN this March 14, file photo, Taylor Swift arrives at the iHeartRadio Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. AP

Taylor Swift donates $113K to Tennessee LGBTQ advocacy group NASHVILLE, Tennessee—Music superstar Taylor Swift says the efforts of a Tennessee LGBTQ advocacy group to fight a handful of contentious bills moving inside the state’s Republican-controlled General Assembly inspired her to make a sizeable donation. According to the Tennessee Equality Project, Swift donated $113,000 to the organization on Monday. The group posted a handwritten letter from Swift, who cited a recent petition of Tennessee faith leaders who oppose a series of bills they say target LGBTQ individuals. Swift praised the religious leaders for giving all people a place to worship and for “standing up against the ‘Slate of Hate’ in our state legislature.” The bills include allowing adoption agencies to discriminate against same-sex couples and preventing government agencies from considering a business’s nondiscrimination policies when selecting a contract. AP

Who can nominate?

Professional level: Entries may be submitted by any person or organization wishing to direct

the attention of the CMMA to a meritorious program, series, article, material and the like. A person or a company may submit more than one entry in each category. Entries need not be Christian and nominees need not be Catholics. All entries must be those media works released from May 2018 to April 2019.

Student level: All bona fide students enrolled in any of the participating schools, colleges and

universities within the school year 2018-2019.