BusinessMirror April 17, 2019

MISSION: PHL CITES S. KOREA FOR TOURISM ROLE

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HE embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines was recently cited for being the top drawer for foreign tourists in the country. South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Han Dongman received the Visit the Philippines Award from Tourism Assistant Secretary Robert Alabado III. “Korea has been No. 1 among foreign arrivals for the past 10 years. Last year, 1.6 million Koreans visited this wonderful country. I made a promise to bring 2 million Koreans in my time. I will do my best to bring more Koreans to the Philippines and strengthen our partner-

ship and friendship,” Ambassador Han said in his remarks after receiving the award in the recent culminating ceremonies of Mission: PHL, the B usiness M irror Envoys&Expats Awards.

Watch for the next round of Mission: PHL, the BusinessMirror Envoys&Expats Awards in 2021.

Mission:PHL is the first, and only recognition awards for the Philippines’s best partners in development cooperation. It gives due recognition to the development efforts of countries as represented by their embassies, as well as bilateral and multilateral development aid partners.

Read updates on Mission: PHL in the BusinessMirror’s Envoys&Expats Section.

SOUTH Korean Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Han Dong-man receives the Visit the Philippines Award from Tourism Assistant Secretary Robert Alabado III. PHOTO BY ROY DOMINGO

DEPT. OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY

2018 BANTOG DATA MEDIA AWARDS CHAMPION

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A broader look at today’s business Wednesday, April 17, 2019 Vol. 14 No. 189

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Veto message: ‘Rider’ items unconstitutional A

By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM Butch Fernandez @butchfBM Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie & Rea Cu @ReaCuBM

LTHOUGH the P95.3-billion vetoed items in the 2019 budget law were first tagged as simply being outside the President’s priority projects, Malacañang said on Tuesday that President Duterte vetoed certain appropriations under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) because these are “riders” that violate the Constitution.

The Executive’s act effectively upheld the position of senators in the weeks-long standoff with the House of Representatives, that matters inserted after the two

chambers had already ratified the bicameral version of the 2019 budget bill were illegal.

But for other infrastructure projects that are part of the govern-

ment’s programmed priorities, the President has allowed the extension of implementation and payment until December 31, 2020, in view of Continued on A2

Any provision... in this budget, which does not relate to a particular appropriation or those which seek to amend the Constitution and existing laws, have no place in the GAA, as these are considered ‘rider’ provisions, and therefore, must be subjected to direct veto. Likewise, items of appropriation that are not consistent with the programmed priorities are hereby vetoed.”

—President’s veto message

GDP growth at below 6% in Q1–expert

See “GDP,” A2

BUSINESS NEWS SOURCE OF THE YEAR

P25.00 nationwide | 5 sections 32 pages | 7 DAYS A WEEK

FATF sets global standards to combat terrorist financing Teddy Locsin Jr.

FREE FIRE United Nations Security Council remarks by Financial Action Task Force President Marshall Billingslea.

INISTER Le Drian, your excellencies, colleagues, good morning. Let me first thank France for its leadership on the critical issue of countering terrorist financing. The Resolution before us meaningfully advances the work of President Macron’s “No Money for Terror” conference last year in Paris, at which I know, Minister Le Drian, you played a central role. We also look forward to this year’s follow-up conference hosted by Australia.

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Continued on A14

Govt confident of hurdling Japan’s banana testing rule

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HE Philippine economy is projected to have slowed to a below 6-percent expansion in the first quarter of the year on slower capital formation and lower government consumption.

ING Bank Manila economist Nicholas Mapa said he forecasts the first-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) growth of the country to fall below 6 percent, down from the 6.3 percent seen in the previous quarter.

Among the challenges to growth in the first-quarter, Mapa said, were capital formation and the dent in government consumption.

“Capital formation is slowing, in particular fixed capital formation with a noticeable loss of momentum for construction and durable equipment growth.

2017 EJAP JOURNALISM AWARDS

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

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A MAN tends to his banana stall in San Andres market in Manila in this 2018 file photo. Amid fears that Philippine bananas, which are popular in Japan, may miss out the so-called Golden Week owing to issues over chemical residues limit, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol assured the public that the DA can settle the matter with his counterparts very soon. ROY DOMINGO

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 51.6790

@jearcalas

HE Department of Agriculture (DA) and local planters expressed confidence that Japan’s concerns over the safety of Philippine bananas will soon be resolved as they have already undertaken the corrective measures prescribed by Tokyo.

A g r icu lture Secretar y Emmanuel F. Piñol said he plans to f ly to Tokyo next week to meet with the Japanese Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare and discuss Tokyo’s concerns over pesticide residue in Philippine bananas.

Piñol said he will be joined by a technical group from the local banana sector which will back him

up during a possible meeting with Japanese officials.

“I will lead the delegation there and settle all these issues once and for all,” he told reporters in an interview on Monday.

Piñol said he was assured by Philippine Agriculture Attaché Samuel B. Animas that the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) issues raised by Japan could be settled immediately.

“We are not really worried about the Golden Week. There will be Philippine bananas during the Golden Week,” he said. “[Animas] told me that the Japanese government will not allow a shortage of bananas in their country because that will be bad for them,” Piñol added.

See “Banana,” A6

n JAPAN 0.4613 n UK 67.7098 n HK 6.5920 n CHINA 7.7035 n SINGAPORE 38.2043 n AUSTRALIA 37.0693 n EU 58.4593 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.7803

Source: BSP (16 April 2019 )

News

BusinessMirror

A2 Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Prices of construction items up 3.8% in 1st quarter–PSA

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By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

ONSTRUCTION material prices slightly increased in the first quarter of 2019, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

T he increase in wholesa le prices of construction materials in Metro Manila averaged 3.83 percent in the first quarter of 2019, higher than the 3.7 percent posted in the same period in 2018, as reflected by PSA data on the Construction Materials Wholesale Price Index (CMWPI) in the National Capital Region (NCR).

However, in March, the CMWPI slowed to 3.3 percent, from the 4 percent posted in March 2018. This was the slowest for the year from the 4.4 percent posted in January and 3.8 percent in February.

Commodities that contributed to the slowdown in March were concrete products and cement, 4.6

percent; hardware, 1.8 percent; lumber, 6.9 percent; reinforcing and structural steel, and tileworks, each at 0.4 percent; doors, jambs and steel casement, 1.6 percent; and electrical works, 8.5 percent.

The PSA said, however, that higher increases were posted by sand and gravel, 11.1 percent; plywood, 2.3 percent; GI sheet, 1.2 percent; plumbing fixtures and accessories/waterworks, 3.8 percent; painting works, 0.2 percent; and fuels and lubricants, 8.7 percent.

The data also showed that the index of PVC pipes maintained its annual rate of 0.7 percent, while the rest of the commodity groups had

zero growth. The month-on-month change of CMWPI in NCR inched up by 0.02 percent in March 2019.

In the previous month, it dropped by 0.1 percent.

“Prices of petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel and bunker fuel oil went up in March 2019.

Sand, gravel, selected hardware products, plyboard, coco lumber and GI sheets were also priced higher during the period,” PSA said.

PSA said wholesale prices of hardware and lumber both climbed by 0.5 percent in March 2019; plywood, 0.3 percent; and painting works, 0.2 percent.

However, from zero growth in the previous month, the indices of GI sheet rose by 1.2 percent, and plumbing fixtures and accessories/ waterworks, 0.5 percent.

Slower increases were registered

in the indices of electrical works at 0.5 percent, and fuels and lubricants at 4.1 percent. Declines were also posted in the indices of concrete products and cement at 0.7 percent; reinforcing and structural steel, 0.1 percent; and doors, jambs and steel casement, 1.4 percent.

The data also showed that the group’s index for sand and gravel remained at the previous month’s rate of 1.2 percent, while the rest of the commodity groups had zero growth during the month.

The CMWPI is a variant of the GWPI that measures the changes in the average wholesale prices of construction materials.

It is used to compute the price escalation of construction materials for various government projects as indicated in Presidential Decree) 1594.

Prices of petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel and bunker fuel oil went up in March 2019. Sand, gravel, selected hardware products, plyboard, coco lumber and GI sheets were also priced higher during the period.”—PSA

Veto message: ‘Rider’ items unconstitutional Continued from A1

the delayed passage of the 2019 budget and the ongoing election ban. This is on the condition that funds for these infrastructure projects have been obligated not later than December 31, 2019.

Despite this, the President still mandated the implementation of operational cash-based budgeting for the 2019 budget.

Presidential Spokesman and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador S. Panelo also confirmed on Tuesday that the vetoed funds include the last-minute insertions made in the House of Representatives.

“Those are the so-called insertions/riders. They are not part of the program by the DPWH, hence [they] violate the Constitution.

It’s violative of the Constitution, because they are not—remember the decision of the Supreme Court, the decision of the Supreme Court was that if they are unprogrammed, then it violates the Constitution,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

This comes a day after Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea denied that the P95.3-billion items of appropriations were considered unconstitutional. He said they were merely deemed not part of the priority list.

The President late on Monday signed the long-delayed 2019 General Appropriations Act (Republic Act 11260), amounting to P3.662 trillion.

In his veto message dated April 15, the President said: “Any provision introduced in this budget, which does not relate to a particular appropriation or those which seek to amend the Constitution and existing laws, have no place in the GAA, as these are considered ‘rider’ provisions, and therefore, must be subjected to direct veto.

Likewise, items of appropriation that are not consistent with the programmed priorities are hereby vetoed.”

Duterte also vowed that he will not tolerate any attempts to circumvent the Constitution or any other action that will prejudice the Filipino people.

Legal basis

SENATE Minority Leader Frank Drilon noted that Duterte’s budget veto “finds legal basis in the case of Joker Arroyo v. De

Venecia (GR 127255, August 14, 1997), where the Supreme Court ruled that “the attestations by the Speaker of the House and the Senate President serve as a solemn assurance that the measure was indeed passed by Congress.”

Drilon noted that the assurance given by Senate President Vicente Sotto III, in this 2019 case, was qualified. “The Senate President only attested to the approval of that portion of the bill not affected by the realignments. Thus, the President’s line-item veto is based on legal and constitutional grounds, and not because the President sided with the Senate.”

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, in a separate statement, said that despite the presidential veto, he felt “relief” that the delayed 2019 budget bill was finally law.

“As chairman of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs, I am relieved that the 2019 budget has finally been signed, primarily because further delay would have caused adverse effects on our macroeconomy,” said Gatchalian, adding: “I also appreciate that the President has chosen to veto the changes made by the Lower House to the ratified version of the General Appropriations Bill.”

Gatchalian stressed that “the veto is proof that the Senate was right all along in saying that the changes made were unconstitutional.” The senator added that with the General Appropriations Act now enacted, the “government can finally focus on catching up with the implementation of pending projects that were delayed because of the budget impasse.”

For her part, Sen. Grace Poe reminded fellow lawmakers that “our task does not end here.”

“Equally important is to see to it that the money is spent where it was allocated, and is felt by the people,” said Poe.

Vetoed items

THE P95.3-billion items of appropriations under the DPWH budget comprised: Provisions for General Administration and Support (P350,000,000), Provisions for Support to Operations (P460,000,000) and Provisions for Capital Outlays (P94, 564,241,000).

Comprising the biggest bulk of provisions for Capital Outlays were those for Local Roads and Bridges (P42,611,461,000) followed by Flood Control and Drainage(P24,036,850,000), Nationa l Roads and Br idges (P17,161,390,000), Buildi n g a nd ot he r St r u c t u re s (P10,503,290,000), and Water Management (P251,250,000).

Aside from P95.3 billion, some general and special provisions were also vetoed, while other provisions were subjected to conditional implementation to ensure conformity with existing laws, policies, and rules and regulations.

Those under conditional implementation include allowance and benefits of teachers and creation of teaching positions, construction of evacuation centers, funding for foreign-assisted projects, revolving fund and lumpsum appropriations for capital outlays, as well as financial assistance to local government units and funding requirements of our foreign service, among others.

“With this approved National Budget of P3.66 trillion for FY 2019, we will continue to strengthen the framework of our economy, ensure peace and security on our lands and seas, and provide efficient public services that every Filipino deserves,” Duterte said.

Although the budget passage encountered several bumps along the way, Duterte chose to be optimistic of what lies ahead.

“Admittedly, the passage of the FY 2019 budget was not as smooth as we had hoped for. But we can look back at this experience positively if we choose to see certain delays as manifestation of our legislators’ commitment to the exercise of the power of the purse for the common good,” he added.

The 2019 budget was delayed by a number of issues, including the Senate’s quarrel with the House over the post-bicameral ratification changes by the House leadership, the alleged P75-billion budget insertion to the DPWH and the controversial budgeting system shift of the government from obligations-based to cash-based.

House defers to Duterte

THE House leadership said it respected the President’s decision to veto some items in the

2019 GAA. Majority Leader Fredenil Castro of Capiz said, “We respect the thorough study made by his team after all factors were considered.”

House Committee on Appropriations Chairman Rolando Andaya Jr., who led the weekslong word war with senators, reiterated that they have been transparent as to the authorship of the amendments.

“The Senate has been silent about theirs. It’s time to break their omertà,” he said.

Andaya insisted the printed House version is completely authorized and compliant with the ratified Bicameral Report.

Veto shows focus—DOF

THE Department of Finance (DOF), meanwhile, said the President’s act underscores his commitment to implement expenditures on projects and activities that will benefit all Filipinos.

“The FY [fiscal year] 2019 [budget] has just been signed with the line-item veto in the total amount of P95 billion under DPWH [Department of Public Works and Highways] covering projects that are not included in the programmed priorities. We fully support the President in his desire to focus national expenditure on projects and activities that redound to the benefit of all Filipinos and stimulate the growth of the economy providing job and income opportunity for the least advantaged,” Dominguez said.

The government has been operating under a 2018 reenacted budget since January this year, as a result of the deadlock between the two chambers of Congress over the final version of this budget bill.

The delay in the passage of the 2019 national budget has prevented the Duterte administration from spending P43.7 billion on its economic stimulus programs in the year’s first two months alone, according to the DOF. This then led to a revision on the government’s growth projections for this year with the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) reducing the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth target to 6 to 7 percent this year, from the previous 7 to 8 percent.

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Writ of kalikasan sought to protect West PHL Sea

By Joel R. San Juan

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@jrsanjuan1573

PETITION was filed on Tuesday before the Supreme Court seeking the issuance of a writ of kalikasan to compel concerned government agencies to rehabilitate and protect the West Philippine Sea, particularly Panatag Shoal, Ayungin Shoal and Panganiban Reef from environmental damage due to poaching and other illegal activities being undertaken

by Chinese nationals.

In a 35-page petition, the members of the Kalayaan Palawan Farmers and Fisherfolk Association (KPFafa) and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) is seeking the same relief that the Court issued in 2008 when it ordered all concerned government agencies to coordinate for the cleanup, restoration and preservation of the Manila Bay. The petitioners used as basis the documents submitted by the Philippine government in the interstate arbitration proceedings under Annex VII to the 1982 United National Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) as well as the 2016 award by the tribunal in the South China Sea Arbitration, which established that foreign poachers and foreign construction and land-reclamation entities have caused massive environmental damage in Philippine waters and the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The Philippines won the arbitration on July 12, 2016, but the Philippine government has failed or refuses to enforce the ruling in a manner that is beneficial to Filipinos, particularly local fisherfolk, the petitioners said.

“The fishing communities in Palawan, together with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, now seek a writ of kalikasan and writ of continuing mandamus from this Honorable Court, in assertion of their constitutional right to a balanced and healthful ecology, their public right to obtain the prosecution of violations of Philippine

GDP. . .

Continued from A1

This is reflected in the import numbers, which showed both raw materials and capital goods slowing down,” Mapa said.

“Government final consumption will also be a casualty to the budget delay with government workers seeing a delay in their salary adjustment.

The reenacted budget likely slowed the pace of government spending in the first quarter,” he added.

Aside from this, the economist also said that although import growth has slowed, exports remain lackluster, leading to a still substantial trade gap, which is seen to sap overall GDP momentum.

The decline in growth could have been larger for the month, if not for the steady household consumption during the period.

“Household final consumption, which is roughly 65 percent of the economy, will be back with inflation sliding nicely back within target.

Last year, we saw how consumption had taken a back seat, especially in the second half after inflation peaked,” Mapa said.

“We’re going to be counting on household spending to do the heavy lifting in 2019 now that most other sectors will be challenged,” he added.

For the second quarter, Mapa said growth is

EODB law. . .

Continued from A16

Business leaders have criticized the government for the apparent delay in the enforcement of the EODB law, which they said is crucial in resolving some of the private sector’s woes.

Also significant is the matter of the law being relied upon to help the Philippines vault back in global competitiveness rankings, such as the World Bank’s Doing Business report. In the 2019 cycle, the country slumped 11 notches to 124th among 190 economies covered by the annual study.

environmental laws in the Philippine EEZ and their right to prevent the further destruction of the marine environment in the Philippine EEZ,” the petition read.

The petitioners accused foreign fishermen and other entities of harvesting threatened and endangered species and using cyanide and explosives in Panatag Shoal and Ayungin Shoal, as well as undertaking illegal construction activities in Panganiban Reef.

They noted that the SCS arbitral tribunal has upheld the Philippine government’s claim that Ayungin Shoal, Panganiban Reef and Panatag Shoal are well within the Philippine EEZ; thus, the country’s environmental laws are required to be enforced in the said areas.

“Chinese fishermen harvested endangered and threatened species and used cyanide and explosives in their fishing. Foreign entities engaged by Chinese authorities constructed and damaged coral reefs in the process. The marine environment and resources in the areas were damaged severely and extensively in spite of adequate Philippine laws to protect them. Clearly, the damage is brought upon by lack of enforcement of Philippine environmental laws by respondents,” they claimed.

Under Presidential Decree 1599, the petitioners said the government is mandated to exercise its sovereign right to conserve and manage the natural resources, preserve the marine environment, and prevent and control pollution in the Philippine EEZ. Among those named as respondents in the petition for the issuance of a writ of kalikasan and a writ of continuing mandamus are Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol and Philippine Coast Guard chief Admiral Elson E. Hermogino.

Co-counsel with the IBP is the Free Legal Assistance Group headed

by La Salle Law School Dean Jose Manuel Diokno. expected to recover, but only marginally, due to the lingering budget delay.

“Growth may recover a bit by the second quarter, although the budget delay and its possible implementation only toward the end of May could mean that if ever we crest 6 percent, growth will only be slightly higher than 6 percent,” Mapa said.

“The second half however will see a recovery with base effects, even faster consumption and possible boost from BSP rate hikes seen to bolster growth closer to 6.5 percent by year-end,” he added.

Forecasts cut

SEVERAL international experts have already cut their growth forecasts of the Philippines for this year, primarily due to the government’s inability to pass a budget on time.

Most recent of these is the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which said the Philippines is now expected to post a 6.5-percent growth. This is slightly slower than the 6.6-percent forecast by the global monetary authority in October 2018.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) also cut its growth forecast of the country to 6.4 percent from the 6.7-percent forecast in September 2018.

In mid-March, the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) lowered its own gross domestic product (GDP) projection of the country to a range of 6 to 7 percent from the earlier 7 to 8 percent range. Bianca Cuaresma

By indicator, the Philippines placed 166th in starting a business; 94th in dealing with construction permits; 29th in getting electricity; 116th in registering property; 184th in getting credit; 132nd in protecting minority investors; 94th in paying taxes; 104th in trading across borders; 151st in enforcing contracts; and 63rd in resolving insolvency.

With over 20 doing-business reforms in place for the next round of review, Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said he is optimistic the Philippines will fare better in the 2020 edition. He claimed it is feasible for the country to place between the 89th and 94th in the next report.

A4 Wednesday, April 17, 2019

BusinessMirror

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A BusinessMirror Special Feature

Wednesday, April 17, 2019 A5

TWO FACES OF

LENT SEASON

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By Trisha Jean V. De Leon

ISTORY tells us that precolonial Filipinos had worshipped anitos to venerate deities, through idols of stone, wood, bone and even of gold. The coming of Spanish conquistadors, however, introduced a new Western faith, which most of our ancestors had learned to embrace, despite the initial resistance.

Today over 86 percent of the entire population are Roman Catholic while 8 percent belong to various nationalized Christian cults or other Protestant denominations in the country.

This makes us the largest Christian nation in the Asian region. But what does this “title” really mean for us?

Although this epithet may weigh little to ordinary Roman Catholic followers, devout worshippers know how keeping the tradi-

tions alive will help spread the word of God and encourage people to engage in various church activities or festivities.

For instance, the Lent season, which stretches for 40 days (excluding Sundays), is one of the most notable religious observances in the Christian liturgical calendar. In this time of the year, Christians are expected to reflect and replicate the sacrifices of Jesus Christ through fasting and abstinence, albeit religious fanatics will go

to the extent of actually recreating what’s said in the holy Bible.

Nonetheless, some Filipinos plan their out-of-town trip just in time for the Holy Week.

This is to take advantage of their four-day off from their hectic work schedules. Some people even opt to stay in the comfort of their home to just spend quality time with their family.

Whatever you choose to do this Holy Week, we’ve got you covered. Here are the things you can definitely do, whether you’re a conservative Christian or a traveler by heart:

rented vehicles to visit churches that are further apart. This is a lot easier considering that you have to finish seven churches before they close at midnight.

The top picks for the Visita Iglesia include the Malate Church, Manila Cathedral, Binondo Church and Quiapo Church.

Apart from church hopping, you may also check out some places with serene vibe outside the Metro, for your soul-searching session. Kamay Ni Hesus, for example, is a popular retreat destination for local and foreign tourists. It’s a 5-hectare pilgrimage site where you can find a man-made grotto, where people can repent, give thanks and pray for healing.

Pampanga, on the other hand, offers several historical churches and religious shrines. It

also features reenactments of the crucifixion of Christ. Plus, you won’t have to travel far since it’s only 81.8 kilometers from Metro Manila.

If you don’t want to leave your abode and get stuck in the traffic jam, you may still feel the Lenten season vibe by watching some classic movies that depict the life of Jesus Christ. Start with The Passion of Christ starring Jim Caviezel.

You may also enjoy some inspirational flicks like Silence and The Prince of Egypt.

For the wanderers

THOSE who crave adventure will definitely have the luxury of time to travel far this Holy Week.

Unfortunately, some people were too busy to even plan their trip ahead of time. This isn’t good news, especially since everyone is in a rush

Holy Week myths

For the conservative Christians

GROWING up in a highly conservative Roman Catholic family, you’ve probably experienced joining Visita Iglesia, which literally means “church visit”, on Holy Thursday and Good Friday. It’s one of the most popular sacred vows or panata that Catholics make during the Holy Week. This tradition may seem archaic, especially since it first emerged in the 16th century, but many Filipinos stay true to this custom.

What happens on a Visita Iglesia? Traditionally, devotees walk barefoot from church to church, with some even carrying a cross to “share the sufferings of Christ”. Yet, in recent years, people travel by groups via private or

HAVE a fantastic, fun-filled afternoon at Hilton Manila’s Easter carnival, and then hop over to the Madison lounge and bar at the hotel lobby for delectable Easter-themed sweet treats that you can bring home.

RISE AND SHINE WITH RESORTS WORLD MANILA’S EXCITING EASTER LINEUP F

AMILIES spending the Holy Week in the city can find everything they need for a fun, family summer holiday at Resorts World Manila (RWM), the country’s first and most diverse integrated entertainment and tourism destination.

With eight hotel brands and nearly 70 dining options, RWM has something for every family’s budget and preference, from international 5 star brands, such as the Hilton Manila, Sheraton Manila Hotel and the Manila Marriott Hotel, to smart stay options such as the Holiday Inn Express Manila Newport City, Belmont Hotel Manila and The Savoy Hotel Manila.

RWM signature restaurants have seafood selections throughout the Holy Week. In addition to its expansive seafood specialties, Passion Cantonese restaurant at maxims hotel has the passion mixed seafood with crab meat adlai in tomato sauce available from April 15 to 21 to give a fresh take on abstinent dining.

Families looking for 5-star Easter treats can check out the Hilton Manila’s Easter carnival which features a sumptuous easter sunday brunch buffet, magic show and an egg hunt with premium prizes from 3 to 5 p.m. Tickets to the Hilton Manila Easter Carnival are P2,500++ inclusive of brunch. Diners at other Hilton Manila restaurants can also get a free Easter Carnival ticket with a minimum P5,000++ spend at Kusina, Hua Ting-Brasserie Chinoise or Madison.

The Hilton Manila also has a special Easter bed and breakfast package for only P7,210++ for an overnight stay in a standard guest room with breakfast for two at Kusina.

The Marriott Café at the Manila Marriott Hotel celebrates Easter with a video game themed Easter Egg Hunt and Brunch buffet on April 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For P2,950 net per person, brunch guests can enjoy facepainting booths, a magic show and an egg-hunt challenge with Marri-

ott gift vouchers up for grabs.

The newly opened Sheraton Manila Hotel also has a 5-star Easter package for April 13 to 21.

With rates starting at P12,500 per night per room, Sheraton staycationers can enjoy a breakfast buffet for two at the S Kitch-

to book their flight or make hotel reservations.

Nevertheless, you can still go see some hidden gems just around the city.

For instance, you may visit Antipolo, also known as the “Pilgrimage Capital of the Philippines.” Apart from the stunning cathedral, you may also do some sightseeing and stay at some of the coziest hotels or resorts around the area.

Thrill-seekers, for instance, will surely enjoy Cloud-9 Antipolo. It’s a 10-to 15-minute drive from the Antipolo city proper, so it won’t be that difficult to find. Plus, you’ll get a great view of the city without shelling out too much cash.

If you’re in for a long drive, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur may be just right for you. You may also go further north to La Union for some surfing action.

en and P3,000 worth of food and beverage credits that can be used at any Sheraton Manila Hotel restaurant, in their stay.

Holiday Inn Express Manila Newport City (HIEx Manila), Belmont Hotel Manila and Savoy Hotel Manila have special package

rates for enjoyable stays at excellent value.

The Belmont Hotel Manila’s “Hop and Hunt in Candyland” Easter lunch buffet has special treats for both children and adults. For only P600 net, kids aged four to 12 and below have access to a delight-

FILIPINOS are highly superstitious, most special when it comes to religion-related observances.

Before Holy Thursday and Good Friday begin, take note of the common local superstitions that you’ve probably heard from the elders: nSweeping at night. Many people believe that sweeping the floor will cause bad luck. It’s likely that homeowners will clean their living space in the morning while the sun is out. nWounds take long to heal. Due to this popular myth, children are often prohibited from playing outdoors during the Holy Week to avoid cuts. nTaking a bath before 3 in the afternoon.

Bad luck may also come, according to this wellknown superstition, if you take a bath before 3 pm. Nonetheless, it’s important to always seek for the true meaning of the Lent Season to break bad habits and be the best version of ourselves.

You don’t need to be flashy to prove your faith; sometimes, a little prayer will do.

ful kiddie buffet, egg-and facepainting sessions, a magic show, an Easter egg hunt and games, and a loot bag. Adults can also enjoy a special buffet spread and will receive a raffle ticket for only P800 net per person.

For a sumptuous family feast that won’t break the bank, Savoy Hotel Manila’s Hip Hoppin’ Easter Brunch Buffet at the Savoy Café lets diners have their fill of festive treats from around the world for only P1,400 net per person. The brunch comes with a free pass to the hotel’s Easter kiddie corner.

Guests who have checked in to any RWM-based hotel from April 20 and 21 can get a free pass to the RWM Easter builders’ playland, which they may claim on their hotel ’s front desk. Receipts from dining outlets from Belmont Hotel Manila, The Savoy Hotel Manila, and HIEx Manila that meet the date and purchase amount requirements are also valid for redemption at the Easter builders’ playland.

Families with kids aged four to 12 may join the Easter builders’ playland at The Plaza in Newport Mall from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Entrance is free for guests with a P2,000 minimum single-receipt purchase from any Newport Mall shop or restaurant. Receipts from any RWM signature restaurant will also be honored. Only receipts from transactions dated from April 13 to 21, 2019 will be honored, and each receipt admits one child and one adult.

Kids and their families can enjoy play building activities and sponsor booths all day, and be treated to a special magic show and friendly competitive games from 4 to 6 p.m. A special appearance from Dora the Explorer and Boots will surely delight young fans.

Newport Mall at RWM will be open from 10 a.m. to 12 MN on Palm Sunday (April 14), 12NN to 12MN from Holy Monday until Maundy Thursday (April 15-18) and from 10 a.m. to 12MN on Black Saturday (April 20) and Easter Sunday (April 21). The mall will only be closed on Good Friday April 19.

Download the RWM mobile app free on the AppStore and GooglePlay. Visit www.rwmanila. com for updates on RWM Holy Week offers and events.

A6

News

BusinessMirror

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

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PNP chief seeks recall of police escorts for drug-linked poll bets, NPA supporters

By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

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HE Philippine National Police (PNP) has moved for the recall of security personnel assigned to so-called narco-politicians and May polls candidates who have been previously reported to be supporters of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

The move cropped up on Tuesday following the meeting of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) with the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines under the National Joint Security Coordination Center (NJSCC) wherein the three agencies discussed ongoing preparations for the next month’s

midterm elections.

“It was not discussed inside but there was a letter to us by [PNP chief] Gen. [Oscar] Albayalde, requesting for the removal of security escort to all those in the narco list.

We will decide on that later on at the en banc,” said Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas during a news brief-

ing with Albayalde and AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr. “We will assess the letter of Gen. Albayalde and we will see what will be our decision,” he added, even as he clarified that it was only Cotabato in Mindanao that is under Comelec control, meaning it would be the poll body with the help of the PNP and the AFP, that will be directly running the elections there next month.

Albayalde said that their request was a spin off from the previous statement of Interior Secretary Eduardo Año that narco-politicians who are running in the elections should be stripped of security escorts as a standard operating procedure.

“There might be some from the narco list who applied before [for security provision] and we signed it and were given temporary security here, and may have been submitted to the Comelec. So this is why we are communicating with the Comelec for them to authorize us to immediately take back the security,” the PNP chief said.

“Remember, the provision of security is not a right, it’s a privilege. So it can always be revoked anytime. It is not in the Constitution and it is not even in our laws,” Albayalde added, noting that this policy covers all politicians. “The provision of security is a matter of privilege, not a right,” he stressed.

Albayalde said they would also recommend to Año to recall the security escorts to politicians who are running in the elections, but have been identified as supporters of communist rebels, or have paid “permit to win” and “permit to campaign” fees during previous elections.

“We will also probably recommend that to the secretary of interior and local government in the case of 349 government officials supposed to be or allegedly giving support to CPP-NPAs, and a few of them are governors and candidates for governors and mayors,” he said.

During the briefing, Albayalde also disclosed that the number of areas classified as election hot spots around the country has increased from the original 923 to

936, although the areas that have been categorized as “red” has decreased from 574 to 540. On the other hand, “yellow” areas has spiked from 116 to 149 along with those in the “orange” category which jumped to 245 from 231.

Those in the red are considered as election areas of “grave concern” while those in the orange are areas of “immediate concern.” The yellow category meant areas of “concern.”

Last month the PNP reported that more than half or 57.60 percent of the 1,634 cities and municipalities of the country are considered election hot spots.

The same report said that 118 red areas were identified in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, 93 areas in Northern Mindanao, 73 areas in Caraga region, 72 in Zamboanga Peninsula, 49 areas each in Davao region and Soccsksargen, 45 areas in Eastern Visayas, 28 areas in the Cordillera Administrative Region, 21 areas in Bicol region, five areas in Calabarzon, four areas each in Central Luzon and Western Visayas, two areas in Cagayan

OSG committed to protect state interest, Calida tells Robredo T

Valley and one area in Central Visayas.

Given the elaborate security preparations by the police and the military, Madrigal said they were looking for a peace and orderly elections next month, and this will include Pag-Asa Island in the West Philippine Sea where there is a strong presence of troops.

“We are hoping for a smooth flow in our electoral process and that all our plans and coordination in the NJSCC are followed. Our troops on the ground are strategically deployed in different areas and are always on the lookout for any criminal and terrorist groups and individuals who may pose a threat to our citizens,” he said.

“With your AFP, PNP and Comelec strongly tied for the midterm elections, we hope that Filipino voters will be encouraged to exercise their rights of suffrage freely. We also take with strong importance the vigilance of the entire Filipino citizenry in helping us thwart any attempt to disrupt the coming national and local elections,” the military chief added.

Maynilad customers told to prepare for waterless days this Holy Week

By Joel R. San Juan

@jrsanjuan1573

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HE Office of the Solicitor General on Tuesday accused Vice President Leni Robredo of trying to “demean” the agency when she claimed that the OSG is only serving the interest of the Marcos family instead of the country on the settlement issue for martial-law victims.

“Her statements are outright lies. She must be confused. Her statements demean and belittle

Sea row. . .

the work the OSG and its lawyers have been doing for decades to recover ill-gotten wealth,” Solicitor General Jose Calida said in a news statement.

Calida assured that the OSG is committed to protect the interest of the state, thus, it has maintained its position that the illgotten wealth should be litigated before the Sandiganbayan and not before the US courts.

Calida added that participating in the US case would also mean waiving its sovereign immunity.

Continued from A16

China did not participate in The Hague hearings and has ignored

th e Tribunal’s ruling. It continues to dismiss Philippine claims to

those parts of the Spratlys which the country calls West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lu Kan said at a press conference in Beijing that “the Nansha [Spratly] Islands are within China’s territory, for which we have sufficient historical and legal basis.”

In the latest conflict, some 300 Chinese militia boats “swarmed” around Pag-Asa in an attempt to stop the ongoing upgrade of the island, the largest in the Kalayaan Island Group which is a municipality of Palawan.

Panelo last week said the Chinese vessels seen near Kota, another Philippine-occupied island in the Spratlys “have no business being there.”

Locsin said in a tweet then that if Beijing does not stop the “swarming,” then it is presumed as sanctioning the “illegal” move.

Panelo said it would be “an assault on our sovereignty” if the vessels continued “to be present in our territory.”

A netizen asked when is the right time to respond to China’s aggressive moves, “When all our islands are already in China’s possession?”

Locsin responded on Monday by saying it would be rash at the present to challenge the Asian giant.

“Such rashness will more certainly lead to a worst result. Meanwhile, I am thinking of a military draft of critics of our foreign policy to lead the attack and test the waters. No loss, much gain, think you not?”

In a more serious vein, Locsin continued, saying: “This is actually not the right time to bring up disagreements over the South China/West Philippine Sea with both sides hot under the collar while a pissing contest is in full flower. But ‘swarming in unison’ is

It can be recalled that the OSG and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have rejected the proposed settlement agreement in the New York court case saying that the terms were “grossly disadvantageous to the government” and “not in accord with existing Philippine laws and jurisprudence.”

The country would get only $4 million from the settlement, while the victims in the class action would get $13.75 million.

Furthermore, the proposed settlement require that the Philip-

pine government grant immunity to former Marcos’s aide Vilma Bautista and move to dismiss the cases against her in the Sandiganbayan.

“The government cannot grant immunity to Vilma Bautista. She is a principal defendant in a case currently pending before the Sandiganbayan. The authority of the PCGG to grant such immunity is limited only to a witness who can provide material and relevant information or testify against a defendant in an ill-gotten wealth case,” Calida said.

definitely not traditional fishing under any definition.”

Locsin pointed out that, “they [Beijing] don’t want any part of our national territory strictly defined because that triggers Mutual Defense Treaty and all-out war,” referring to the Philippines’s 1951 defense agreement with America, its former colonizer. Locsin noted “they [Chinese] have more to lose being in the battle zone unlike the US which is thousands of miles away.”

The Philippines was assured last month by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that the United States will uphold the two nations’ mutual defense obligations—meaning, if the Philippine military or part of its territory is attacked, the US would come to its aid. In return, the Philippine military is obliged to come to the aid of the United States if the latter is attacked.

Clams

MEANWHILE, on the continuing Chinese giant clam extraction that has gone on for years at the Scarborough Shoal, Malacañang raised the “sovereignty” issue as the fishermen also expressed concern that the operation is already affecting the much smaller spearfishing and net-fishing that they do.

The Palace has said that the country has filed a “salvo of protests” against China’s actions in the disputed waters, including the presence of Chinese vessels—suspected to be maritime militia—in several Philippine-occupied territories like Pag-Asa (Thitu) Island, Kota (Loaita) Island and Panata (Lonkiam Cay) Island.

However, Locsin said in an interview on Tuesday with CNN Philippines’s The Source that China has not yet formally responded to these protests or notes verbale.

Turn to US?

ASKED what can be done apart from diplomatic protests, Locsin said the Philippines can turn to the country’s only military ally, the United States.

“We refine our, and get a clearer understanding with our only military ally” if the situation “actually escalates into a clear act of aggression,” he said, again, in reference to the MDT. The Department of National Defense had wanted Washington’s definitive stand on whether Manila could count on its ally’s support in any act of aggression in the nine islets and features that it occupies or claims in the West Philippine Sea. However, Panelo on Tuesday also evaded questions on the country’s next move, saying the President has yet to decide on that as these kinds of matters require serious study.

When Duter te assumed of f ice in 2016, the Philip pines 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.

HE Maynilad Water Services Inc. (Maynilad) on Tuesday reminded its customers in the West Zone concession area to store enough water for the scheduled service interruption during the Holy Week.

Maynilad has earlier announced that network enhancement activities, meant to ensure that all facilities are in good working condition, will result in service interruption.

These activities include facility maintenance works, pipe decommissioning, pipe interconnections, and valve replacements at various points of its water network, as well as some leak detection and repairs.

Maynilad usually conducts such

maintenance works during the Holy Week, when fewer customers are expected to be home, thus lessening the impact of service interruptions on water consumers. The anticipated water service interruption will cause five-hour to 30-hour water service interruptions in parts of Manila, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Quezon City, Parañaque, Pasay, Las Piñas, and Bacoor in Cavite, from Holy Tuesday (April 16) to Black Saturday (April 20).

The company has uploaded in its web site the complete list of affected areas and their corresponding water-supply interruption schedules, and some tips on how to store water safely. Jonathan L. Mayuga

‘Observe no campaign rule during Lenten rites’

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HURCH and election officials called for the strict compliance of poll candidates with the “no campaigning” rule during the forthcoming Holy Week activities.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said candidates should respect the solemnity of churches and other religious sites during the event, which commemorates the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

“We hope they will be sensitive and have delicadeza. Do not campaign in places of worship,” CBCP-National Secretariat for Social Action (Nassa) Executive Secretary Fr. Edwin Gariguez said.

Likewise, he also appealed to voters not to wear campaign shirts, when visiting churches during the Holy Week.

“You go to churches to pray, be with God and attend a community celebration, not to campaign. So we should avoid that,” Gariguez added.

Thousands of Filipinos usually visit churches during the Holy Week to participate in

Banana. . .

Continued from A1

Banana exporters earlier warned that the tropical fruit may miss Japan’s Golden Week this year, which stretches from April 27 to May 6, as Japanese shipment inspectors will not be available during the period.

Optimism

PILIPINO Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) Executive Director Stephen A. Antig said his group is also optimistic that the upcoming talks with Japanese officials would shelve the mandatory inspection of all shipments of Cavendish from the Philippines.

“Secretary Piñol is the highest-ranking agriculture official, so I believe the Japanese government will not only respect that but would also consider that the Philippines is sincere in addressing our issues,” Antig told the BusinessMirror.

Antig also shared the sentiment of Piñol that

religious activities making the sites attractive locations for election campaigning.

For his part, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Luie Guia warned candidates that illegal campaigning during Holy Week is considered as an election offense.

“It is stipulated in the law that campaigning during Maundy Thursday and Good Friday is not allowed…,” Guia said.

Among the prohibited election-related activities in both days are campaign gatherings like motorcades and the showing of television ads. He also said any distribution of items like bottled water and fans by candidates are prohibited since such are considered as vote-buying.

“That is vote-buying plain and simple since they are giving something of value.” Guia said.

Guia, however, noted there will be no need for the removal of correctly placed and of the right size campaign materials during the period since they are considered “passive” promotion. Samuel P. Medenilla Tokyo will not allow Philippine bananas to go missing from Japanese stores due to SPS concerns.

“We cannot afford to not have supply in Japan and I also believe that just like the Philippine government, the Japanese are also trying to resolve the issue at the soonest time possible,” he said.

“I don’t think the Japanese can afford to lose Philippine bananas in their supermarkets. And I think they will never make that happen also—that is how important bananas are for Japan,” he added.

Antig said shipments to Japan have not been suspended but the release of Philippine bananas in Japanese markets has been delayed.

Tokyo tightened its food-safety rules on Philippine bananas after a local shipment in August was found to contain Fipronil insecticide beyond its maximum residue limit (MRL), or the allowable level deemed safe for human consumption.

Japan reduced its MRL on Fipronil from 0.01 parts per million to 0.005 ppm, which is still compliant with the Codex Alimentarius International Food Standards.

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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 9, 2019, the Nationality of Mr. Svard Olsson, Carl Philip under 3O BPO INC. should have been read as Swedish and not as published. In the application published on April 9, 2019, the position of Mr. Fung Jun Qi under NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION should have been read as Customer Service Representative 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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Wednesday, April 17, 2019 A13

Govt to probe income, taxes PHL is ADB’s fifth-top borrower in 2018 T of foreigners working in Pogos

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By Rea Cu @ReaCuBM

HE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) plans to audit the remittances by foreign nationals working in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos) to ensure they are remitting the correct amount of taxes to the national government.

BIR Deputy Commissioner Arnel S.D. Guballa told reporters the agency plans to do so as preliminary figures show around 130,000 foreign nationals working in Pogos are not registered with the BIR. “We are looking at [all 130,000 of] them; what we are checking is if they are paying their taxes. We cannot validate yet [if they are not remitting] because the other Pogos have remittances; we still have to check if it’s correct,” Guballa said. “We are counter-checking the [tax and] income that they receive.”

He explained that Pogos may be registered with the BIR wherein their re-

mittances are accounted for, but foreign workers being employed by them may not be registered, which may affect the amount of tax remittances remitted to the bureau.

Guballa added that the BIR survey of Pogos is ongoing. He also said the BIR believes that if these workers are in the online gaming sector, the majority are Chinese.

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said last month that in the computation of the Department of Finance (DOF), at least P22 billion a year is not being collected in the income taxes of Pogo workers.

How to plan an effective business grand opening

A

FTER months of research, preparation and hard work, it’s finally here—the grand opening for your business. It’s the day when you formally open your doors to customers and start making money.

But what else do you need to do on this day aside from cutting that ribbon with those oversized scissors?

The grand opening for your business is more than just a day for celebration. It’s also a chance for you to make the best impression to the community, to get people talking about your business and to drive customers into your new store. In short, it is your first major marketing event.

So how do you effectively hold a business grand opening? Here are some things you should keep in mind when planning for your business debut.

Soft opening

SOME entrepreneurs like doing a soft opening to ensure that all systems in the business are running smoothly before going on full operation. If you plan to do this, then hold a simple softopening party and invite your family, friends and close business contacts.

This will build anticipation in them for the grand opening and create initial buzz among your social circle.

Announcements

ANNOUNCE the exact date of your grand opening a week or two before.

Display visually interesting signs and banners that catch attention. This will gain the interest of the public and, hopefully, some local press. Print out flyers and distribute them to the community. If you have the budget, advertise in your local newspaper or lease a billboard in your area.

Invitations

SEND out invitations not only to friends, but more importantly to your business contacts, especially suppliers and potential clients. This is great in establishing a good professional relationship with them and encouraging initial transactions and sales.

Media

SEND out a press release. Invite local newspapers and magazines to do a feature article on your new business.

The same goes if you have local radio

Fitz Gerard Villafuerte

PERSONAL FINANCE and television channels. Give them a reason your grand opening is newsworthy and why your business is a good feature topic. And don’t forget to invite influencers and bloggers to attend the launch.

Grand opening activities

IF you’ve done your homework, then you can expect a lot of people coming to your business groundbreaking.

Now it’s time to make sure that they’ll enjoy their time during the event.

Aside from food and entertainment, make a short program that will introduce your business to the guests, tell the inspiration of the business, it’s mission and vision, and relate to them why they should support your products and services.

Souvenirs

IT’S optional but highly recommended that you provide your guests something to take home with them. These can be press kits, business profile and product lists, and some free goodies, which can be gift certificates or discount coupons. The objective here is not only to make the event more memorable but also to encourage them to return to your business no longer as a guest, but as a customer.

It doesn’t matter if your business is an office inside a corporate building or a retail shop at the mall, a grand opening is an important part of starting a business. And it doesn’t have to be as grand as it says nor as elaborate as it sounds.

It can just be a simple gathering if you really want it that way—for in the end, a business launch is really more than just a marketing event— it’s actually your first symbolic pat on the back, for a job well done.

Fitz Villafuerte is registered financial planner of RFP Philippines. To learn more about personal-financial planning, attend the 75th RFP program this April 2019. To inquire, e-mail info@ rfp.ph or text <name><e-mail> <RFP> at 0917-9689774.

Dominguez said during a meeting with the interagency task force tasked to come up with the list of foreign workers that, with an average income tax of 25 percent of their salaries, the amount of uncollected monthly taxes is estimated at P18,750 from each foreign worker. This is roughly P22.5 billion a year in foregone income tax revenues.

The finance chief said he has also asked the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) to resolve this estimate and the claim by Pogo service providers that these foreign workers are paid an average of P35,800 or about 5,000 yuan a month, representing only about $700 a month.

The interagency task force tasked to come up with the foreign workers list includes Pagcor, the Department of Labor and Employment, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Bureau of Immigration of the Department of Justice and the various special economic zones.

Guballa said, after collecting evidence, the BIR can act against foreign nationals working in the country or in Pogos found to be not registered with the agency.

“If they’re not registered, then we impose penalties,” he said. “We cannot just say that if they are not registered that we will send them to jail immediately; that can’t be.”

Allianz PNB Life bares executive movements

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LLIANZ PNB Life Insurance Inc. (Allianz PNB Life) has reported that Olaf Kliesow, its president and CEO, has taken a new role of being Global Head of Rewards and Performance at Allianz SE, with the company naming Alexander Grenz as its new CEO. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Allianz PNB Life said Kliesow has taken on a new role of being the Global Head of Rewards and Performance at Allianz SE based in Germany, which led the company to choose its new CEO. “We also thank Olaf for his outstanding leadership in the last three years. During his tenure, he has consistently delivered top- and bottom-line growth ahead of its market, as well as strengthened our distribution channels and solutions for our Filipino customers. We wish Olaf the very best as he continues to drive success for the Group in his new role,” George Sartorel, Regional CEO of Allianz SE Asia Pacific, was quoted in the statement as saying.

Kliesow has been with the Allianz Group since 2010 and served as president and CEO of Allianz PNB Life for three years.

He will be succeeded by Allianz PNB Life COO Grenz, effective on June 1, still subject to regulatory approval. Grenz has been with the Allianz group for over 15 years and has been the COO of Allianz PNB Life for three years.

Grenz is expected to steer the growth and value creation of Allianz PNB Life, and continue to develop the close collaboration and partnership with the Philippine National Bank (PNB). He will report into the CEO of Regional (Asia Pacific) Life and Health, and join the Allianz Asia Board, as well as the Board of Directors of Allianz PNB Life.

“We congratulate Alexander on this appointment; he is a dynamic leader with a strong track record of delivering quality performance,” Sartorel added. “We’re confident he will take the company toward its next phase of growth.”

A successor to the role of COO will soon be announced.

Since 2018, Kliesow also served as president of the Philippines Life Insurance Association (Plia), providing strategic leadership toward the development of its life-insurance industry.

When asked if Kliesow still serves as the president of Plia as he will be moving to Allianz SE, Plia General Manager George C. Mina said in a text message that he still serves as president, but the Plia board will choose his successor on May 14 during its board meeting.

“Awaiting official tender of resignation, [this will] be taken up on the Plia board meeting on May 14,” Mina said. Rea Cu

HE Philippines nearly doubled its loans from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and was considered one of the Manilabased multilateral development bank’s (MDB) top borrowers last year.

The country was the ADB’s fifth -largest borrower in 2018 with borrowings reaching $1.38 billion last year. This was 97.14-percent higher than the $700 million posted in 2017.

The top 4 borrowers of ADB were India, with loans reaching $3.53 billion; followed by China with $2.62 billion; Bangladesh is the third with $2.21 billion; and Indonesia is the fourth at $2.09 billion.

“In 2018, the demand for ADB assistance continued to grow,” ADB President Takehiko Nakao said in his message in the Annual Report. “Our commitments in 2018 reached $21.58 billion in loans and grants, exceeding our target of $19.71 billion and the 2017 total of $19.69 billion.”

The bank’s total commitment to the Philippines reached $1.75 billion last year, placing the country in ADB’s top 10 in terms of funding. This is composed for loans, cofinancing and technical assistance.

Apart from loans, the Philippines received a total of P363.6 million from cofinanced projects with the ADB, as well as $7.4 million in technical assistance. The data also showed that the country received the fifth-largest amount of technical assistance last year.

The commitments of ADB to the country financed four projects, and the project that received the largest loan was the Emergency Assistance for Reconstruction and Recovery of Marawi worth $400 million.

The others were the Improving Growth Corridors in Mindanao Road Sector project, which received a $380-million loan, as well as the Expanding Private Participation in Infrastructure Program (Subprogram 2) and Inclusive Finance Development Program (Subprogram 1), which received loans worth $300 million each.

Meanwhile, ADB’s private-sector operations

reached $3.14 billion, a 37-percent increase from 2017, which is 14.5 percent of ADB’s overall commitment.

The result reflected ADB’s long-term strategy to increase support for private enterprise, especially in new markets and sectors, to create more high-quality jobs and to mobilize private financial resource for development.

The ADB also successfully mobilized $14 billion in cofinancing from bilateral and multilateral agencies and other financing partners, including $7.17 billion in cofinancing from ADB’s privatesector operations.

The increase in cofinancing saw total new commitments reach $35.82 billion in 2018, a 13 percent increase over 2017, reflecting the importance of partnerships in addressing Asia and the Pacific’s continuously growing development needs.

Disbursements, a key indicator for successful project implementation, also improved, rising to $14.19 billion in 2018, an increase of 24 percent from 2017.

“As our region continues to develop and transform, so too must ADB,” said Nakao. “Strategy 2030 provides us with a clear road map to meet the needs of our developing member-countries and guide our operations for the next decade.

We set out clear corporate targets to significant increase operations, to build climate and disaster resilience, address gender equality and mobilize long-term private financing.”

The Philippines became a member of the ADB in 1966, the same year the bank was established.

The country also holds a unique position as the host country for the MDB. As of December 2018, the Philippines holds 2.377 percent of the total Subscribed Capital of ADB and its voting rights at the board is only 2.2 percent of the total. The countries with the largest shares in voting rights are Japan and the United States with 12.756 percent each. China and India are a far second and third with 5.442 percent and 5.352 percent, respectively. Cai Ordinario

A14 Wednesday, April 17, 2019 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

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editorial

Govt must save the ‘tree of life’

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OCONUT oil is king of Philippine farm exports for many years, and for good reason. Revenues from shipments of coconut oil have already breached the $1-billion mark, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). In 2018, coconut oil exports were valued at $1.112 billion.

But what concerns many, including the government, is that the figure is 31.1 percent lower than the $1.61 billion recorded in 2017.

The downtrend in coconut oil shipments has continued, based on the latest data from the PSA. From $196.78 million in the first two months of 2018, the PSA reported that coconut oil exports in January and February of 2019 fell by 42.1 percent to $114.036 million. These figures bolster the apprehension of many stakeholders in the coconut sector that the entry of more palm oil into the Philippines and the possibility of a palm oil glut would further pull down demand for the king of Philippine farm exports.

The steep decline in shipments has now taken a toll on coconut planters as the farm-gate price of copra fell to as low as P15 per kilogram last year, from P40 per kg just a few years ago. The situation became so alarming that the chief of the Department of Agriculture had to appeal to copra traders to peg their buying price at P25 per kg.

Unfortunately, it’s the market that dictates prices and if there are no copra buyers due to low demand, traders will not throw money away in the name of pakikisama.

Currently, there’s no indication that the situation will improve, particularly since major buyers of palm oil in the West are now turning away from it. For one, the European Union is phasing out the use of palm oil, citing deforestation as reason. EU member-countries have started to cut their purchase of palm oil, forcing top producers in Southeast Asia to find other markets.

This development is particularly worrisome for the Philippines as palm oil accounts for more than a third of vegetable oils being traded worldwide, so it can influence the movement of international prices. A palm oil glut would mean lower coconut oil prices and, consequently, lower demand for copra. With low demand, the farm-gate price of copra could decline further, adversely affecting the income of planters.

The only way for the Philippines to stop being hostage to price fluctuations in the international market is for the government to sell coconut products to a largely untapped domestic market. The recent decision of the Department of Agriculture to position coconut water as the official “energy drink” of the Palarong Pambansa slated in the last week of April is a good start. (See, “Duterte urged to lift ban on export of coconuts,” in the BusinessMirror, April 15, 2019). The government must continue promoting the health benefits of drinking coconut water so the youth will be enticed to consume it instead of buying sugar-laden drinks.

The government must also spend for research and development to create other consumer products from the tree of life. If there are no funds for R&D, perhaps the government can consider offering special incentives to manufacturers who will develop other coconut-based products. The state must take the lead in creating an environment that is conducive for investments in the sector and act fast to save a threatened coconut sector.

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FATF sets global standards to combat terrorist financing Teddy Locsin Jr.

FREE FIRE Continued from A1

T

HANK you for inviting the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to speak at the adoption of this Resolution, which demonstrates this Council’s continued strong commitment to strengthen international efforts to combat terrorism and terrorist financing.

Terrorism remains a threat to international peace and security from which no region is immune.

Terrorist groups such as ISIL, AlQaeda and their affiliates continue to obtain funding from a wide range of sources. They use this funding to conduct terrorist acts, but they also need it to maintain and grow their terrorist organizations as a whole.

Combating all these aspects of terrorist financing remains a top priority for the FATF. I’m pleased that this Resolution recognizes the FATF’s central role in setting global standards to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing.

The FATF was founded in 1989 by the G-7 to combat money laundering by drug trafficking and organized crime networks, and has since expanded its role to counter terrorist financing and WMD proliferation financing. More than 190 member-jurisdictions of the FATF and the FATF global network have committed to implementing and being evaluated for compliance with the FATF Standards, which include specific requirements to give effect to Security Council Resolutions to counter terrorism and WMD proliferation. In this way, the FATF and the Security Council work hand in hand to strengthen member-states’ response to these critical threats to international peace and security.

As the FATF moves toward its 30th anniversary, I’ve focused my term as its president on pressing for action on several critical challenges.

Specifically, the FATF is prioritizing efforts to: one, address the illicit financing risks associated with virtual currencies and related assets; two, take further action to strengthen international efforts to combat the financing of terrorism; and three, enhance its work to counter WMD proliferation financing.

I was particularly pleased to see that the Resolution highlighted the progress that the FATF has made on the first priority, when it welcomed the FATF’s recent work to amend the FATF standard and its interpretive note to clarify how states must regulate and supervise activities and

providers of virtual assets, and the importance of effective prosecution of terrorist financing.

Additionally, as this Resolution conveys, it’s critical that all states must understand where they may be vulnerable to terrorist financing and then use that understanding to mitigate those risks properly. I appreciate the valuable information on such risks in regular reports by the Security Council ISIL/AQ Monitoring Team. The FATF too prepares confidential reports on ISIL and Al­ Qaeda funding sources and methods, as well as countermeasures that states should take as a result. The FATF also works, through its mutual evaluation process, to ensure that all countries accurately assess their terrorist financing risks and respond adequately to such risks.

As we all know, terrorist financing risks extend beyond the banking or financial sector. States need to identify all sectors—including those of nonfinancial services such as construction, commodities, and pharmaceuticals—that cases show can be vulnerable to terrorist financing.

For example, FATF typologies reports reveal methods of terrorist financing that rely on seemingly disparate schemes of drug trafficking and even used-car trade. Groups such as Hezbollah, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (also known as the FARC), and al­ Qa’ida in the Islamic Maghreb have benefited from intermingling funds from criminal and otherwise legal trade activity for the purpose of funding terrorist attacks.

FATF reports also identify kidnapping for ransom as a prominent, sometimes even primary, source of terrorist revenue. The Resolution rightly prompts all states to do their necessary part in breaking a vicious cycle, in which ransom payments fund terrorist operations, including future kidnappings, and further incentivize these crimes. States must not allow hostage-takers and terrorists to benefit from ransom payments.

More broadly, states must also address fundamental contextual issues

that create environments conducive to terrorism and terrorist financing.

Corruption, weak or ineffective governance, and lack of respect for the rule of law—these problems can lead to regional instability and render economies vulnerable to terrorist financing.

The Resolution also includes an important focus on the adequate criminalization and effective prosecution of terrorist financing. We must not only criminalize terrorist financing that is linked to a particular terrorist act, but also when funds are provided to terrorist groups or terrorists for any purpose, such as their travel or general operations.

This Resolution brings UN obligations into line with FATF Recommendation 5 and FATF guidance on the criminalization of terrorist financing. Through its assessments, as well as global fact-finding initiatives, the FATF has already encouraged more than 50 countries to pass new legislation to counter terrorist financing.

As to prosecution, nearly twothirds of FATF assessments to date show that states are not effectively prosecuting terrorist financing. The FATF is working through its evaluation and follow up process to try to strengthen prosecution efforts.

As a result, one of my priorities this year as FATF president is to conduct capacity-building workshops to improve states’ ability to prosecute these crimes. This very week, the FATF conducted a workshop on best practices for prosecuting terrorist financing. We wholeheartedly welcome support from the Security Council in this effort.

Targeted financial sanctions are also central to this Resolution, as well as many of its predecessors.

Such tools are critical to any country’s arsenal in combating terrorism. However, while about half of countries assessed by the FATF have enacted necessary legal measures to implement FATF requirements, there is a critical lack of effective implementation in applying these sanctions. Less than one-fifth of states assessed by the FATF to date have done so. I hope that concerted efforts by the FATF and its Global Network, and the United Nations, enable and encourage all jurisdictions to strengthen the implementation of sanctions.

To this end, I welcome this Resolution’s call upon the Counterterrorism Committee and ISIL/AQ Monitoring Team to bring to light specific cases of noncompliance. To ensure that terrorists cannot receive funds or financial services, all member-states must effectively counter sanctions evasion.

To combat terrorist financing, we must also bolster interagency coordination and information sharing both among and within states. States should exchange more information

among all relevant authorities, such as Financial Intelligence Units, law enforcement and intelligence services. Countries must ensure that all relevant agencies communicate and cooperate with each other effectively.

I welcome the clear and strong wording in this Resolution on such cooperation, which echoes the very first priority set out in the Ministerial Declaration of France’s “No Money for Terror” conference.

The FATF also recognizes that this is a critical issue and, as a result, disseminated a confidential best practices paper to all relevant authorities on ways to strengthen interagency information sharing and cooperation. Moreover, FATF Recommendation 2 was also amended to recognize the need to ensure compatibility between data privacy and AML/CFT requirements.

It is also important to work closely with the private sector. New developments in public-private partnerships can add significant benefits in terms of greater and faster access to information.

Large banks often have access to a significant amount of data, which can assist in countering terrorist financing, but governments also need to provide relevant information to financial institutions. A number of FATF member-states, including my own, have put in place legal frameworks that foster the sharing of specific threat information with and by financial institutions. The FATF continues to engage with the private sector on these issues and has released risk indicators to assist in identifying possible terrorist financing.

In conclusion, states must do more to combat terrorist financing. Terrorists will try to find new ways to fund their malign activities—but we can and must identify these schemes, and stop them in their tracks. Terrorists will try to slip past sanctions, but we can and must protect the effectiveness of these critical tools against any weaknesses. Terrorists will always need funding—but we can and we must criminalize such conduct and punish those who engage in terrorist financing to keep the international community safe.

I congratulate Mr. Minister and the Council on the adoption of this vital Resolution, which prompts all states to do just that. In concert, the FATF will continue using its assessment processes to ensure that states adequately implement these obligations, and hold accountable states that do not. The FATF will ensure that its recommendations capture and confront new and emerging threats. We look forward to continuing our close collaboration with this Council to combat terrorist financing and to help keep the international community safe.

Thank you.

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Wednesday, April 17, 2019 A15

Why does Trump want Knights of Columbus Fraternal Association to turn America Japanese? of the Philippines: An MBA profile

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By Michael Schuman | Bloomberg Opinion

SIA expert Ezra Vogel published his influential book Japan as Number One 40 years ago. At the time, he argued that the US needed to adopt aspects of Japan’s supposedly superior economic system if it wanted to compete with the East Asian powerhouse. Policy-makers in Washington were wise to ignore him. While Japan sank into a financial crisis and three decades of malaise, the US has continued to prosper.

As officials from the two countries meet this week to begin hashing out a bilateral free-trade pact, US President Donald J. Trump seems to be reconsidering Vogel’s advice. His preferred policies would essentially emulate those that underpinned not just Japan’s rise but its subsequent fall. If he persists, the US economy could suffer the same fate.

Trump’s antipathy to immigration, for instance, is rivaled only by Japan’s.

Nonsensically declaring the US “full,” the US president ignores the fact that America’s acceptance of foreigners is a key reason the country has avoided a Japan-like aging catastrophe. Depriving the US of new workers would hold back growth just as it has in Japan.

Trump’s protectionist bent also mirrors Japan’s historically insular attitude.

The consequences for Japan have been dire. Over the years, its government’s defense of certain sectors—most of all agriculture—dampened productivity gains and punished households with higher prices. Japan’s policy-makers and business leaders also remained wedded for far too long to a make-it-and-exportit strategy, failing to adjust to a changing world economy. Granted, some Japanese companies excel at high-end manufacturing. But Tokyo also keeps too many zombie industrial firms afloat, while not doing nearly enough to encourage entrepreneurs in new sectors. That’s left corporate Japan vulnerable to competition from a rising China.

Trump’s penchant for protecting favored industries, such as steel and washing machines, has similarly hurt consumers and businesses alike. And he has been intent on promoting the industries of the past—such as electronics assembly and car plants—rather than the future.

Even Trump’s recent hounding of the Federal Reserve bears parallels to the path of Japan’s monetary policy.

Frustrated by current Fed management, whom he blames for threatening growth by hiking benchmark interest rates, Trump is now trying to pack the board with loyalists, at least one of whom (Stephen Moore) shares his easy-money views. Japan has done very much the same. The Bank of Japan’s main lending rate was set at zero 20 years ago, and with a couple brief interruptions, has generally remained there. Even that

wasn’t enough to please Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who in 2013 placed a likeminded policy-maker, Haruhiko Kuroda, in charge of the institution. The new governor unleashed an even larger torrent of cash into the economy using unorthodox strategies, including negative interest rates. The results have been questionable at best. The Bank of Japan’s balance sheet swelled well beyond those of the Fed or European Central Bank relative to the size of the economy, in the process distorting the entire market for Japanese government bonds. Yet, Japan’s gross domestic product, at current prices, has barely budged since the central bank first introduced its zero-rate program. By contrast, the US’s more than doubled over that same period.

Nor did Kuroda’s frothy wave of yen boost inflation to the bank’s 2-percent target or stir wages, which were flat in real terms last year. Meanwhile, the low borrowing costs have allowed a spendthrift state to dodge fiscal reality. Over the past two decades, Japan’s government debt relative to national output has doubled to almost 240 percent, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Perhaps, matters would have been worse without the BOJ’s largesse. Still, the lesson Trump should learn from Japan is that monetary stimulus only goes so far.

Ironically, even slow-changing Japan has woken to the danger of its outdated policies. Abe is welcoming more foreign workers into the country and has signed major free-trade pacts, including a revised Trans-Pacific Partnership, which Trump rejected. The divergent policy directions of the US and Japan may even give Tokyo a leg up in this week’s trade talks. While Trump has kept the US on the sidelines, American farmers have lost out in the Japanese market to competitors in the renamed TPP. Meanwhile, obsessed with automobiles, Trump will likely try to curtail Japanese car exports to the US, which would hurt the American consumer again while achieving minimal gains in actual trade.

Japan, sadly, stands as a stark reminder of the economic damage that can be done by clinging to an idealized past rather than preparing for the future. If Trump wants to copy Japan, he should mimic its recent reforms, not its past missteps.

Atty. Dennis B. Funa

INSURANCE FORUM

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NE of the leading mutual benefit associations (MBAs) in the country is the Knights of Columbus Fraternal Association of the Philippines Inc. (KCFAPI). As of end 2017, it has total assets of P5.5 billion. It has a number of majorityowned and wholly owned companies that supplement its advocacies for its members. Among these are the Keys Realty and Development Corp., the Kompass Credit and Financing Corp., Holy Trinity Memorial Chapels, and the Mace Insurance Agency Inc. At one point, in 1983, it acquired an insurance company, the Philippine Asia Life Assurance Corp., which it sold in 1998. The total insurance contribution as of end of 2017 was P719.2 million.

The Knights of Columbus (K of C) has been in existence in the Philippines for over a century, having been established by a group of Americans as the Knights of Columbus Council 1000 in Intramuros, Manila, on April 23, 1905. In 1907, the first Filipinos were admitted

into the Council. The Order of the Knights of Columbus was founded in 1882 by Fr. Michael J. McGivney at Saint Mary’s Church in New Haven, Connecticut, with mostly Irish industrial workers as its members.

Since its inception, Manila Council 1000 has been at the service of the

The Calvary of citizens Rev. Fr. Antonio Cecilio T. Pascual

SERVANT LEADER

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ROTHERS and sisters, even before the start of the Holy Week, the Calvary of many people residing in Metro Manila and its surrounding areas has intensified. Apart from the scarcity of water, the implementation of the rotational brownouts just last week by Meralco has aggravated people’s suffering. Due to the lack of electricity from the collapse of some power plants, consumers being served by Meralco will take turns enduring as long as three hours of brownout. Other areas in Luzon are also affected.

Our farmers are also experiencing Calvary because of the El Niño or severe drought. According to the Department of Agriculture, the cost of the destroyed crops due the lack of rain is still going up. Over 160,000 rice and corn farmers in most parts of the country are affected. Worse,

some provinces such as Cebu, Albay, and Zamboanga Sibugay were placed under a state of calamity because of the El Niño.

Brothers and sisters, we believe that prayers to our Lord can help in our situation. To have rain, for example, there is the oratio imperata.

Archbishop of Manila. As of 2017, it has 394,012 Knights in the Philippines. The K of C has been described

by Pope John Paul II as “the strong right arm of the Catholic Church.”

Its fraternal service started early.

After the Second World War, the K of C organized the Catholic Welfare Organization to assist the victims of the war with special emphasis on “educational, charitable, religious, social, war relief and public relief work.” Soon the Columbian Farmers’ Aid Association was formed in November 1951 to render assistance to the countryside and “to bring social justice to the farmers of the Philippines.”

In February 1958, the Knights of Columbus Fraternal Association of the Philippines Inc. was established, and together with it, the insurance system for its members and other cooperative works.

The creation of an insurance system for the K of C became imminent during the time of Fr. George J. Willmann, SJ, the first District Deputy for the Philippines. Rev. Fr. Willmann first came to the Philippines in 1922 to teach at the Ateneo

de Manila. Fr. Willman was granted Philippine citizenship through Presidential Decree 740. He died at the age of 80 on September 14, 1977, at Murray Weigel Hall, Fordham University. His body was buried at the Jesuits cemetery in Novaliches, Quezon City.

On July 18, 1958, Bro. Roman Mabanta, as chairman of the Special Insurance Committee, called on all Grand Knights of the 152 councils to contribute at least P500 each and be qualified to become foundermembers of the KCFAPI. On August 1, 1958, the Securities and Exchange Commission approved the incorporation of KCFAPI. On September 9, 1958, the Office of the Insurance Commissioner granted a license to KCFAPI, as a mutual benefit association, with an initial capitalization of P32,000 collected from 64 founder-members, 18 councils and 46 Brother Knights.

For our leaders to correctly decide, they are always mentioned in prayer by the nation during Mass.

But we are aware that we must not only rely on prayer. As citizens experiencing our own Calvary, we must understand that whatever is happening now is caused by the irresponsibility of those we entrusted power to ensure that we will not reach the point where there will no longer be water pouring from our faucets, the point where we will crawl under the darkness for several hours, and the point where there will no longer be any crop harvested in farmlands.

We are not saying that we blame the government for everything.

However, we must not forget that it is the duty of our officials to address the needs of the people. It is their duty as leaders to prioritize the interests of the people, not the interests of corporations that control water and electricity systems. We must demand full accountability.

Much like what St. John XXIII

said in Mater et Magistra, the state— the government—is there to ensure the protection of the people. It must see to it that the basic needs of the people, like water and electricity, are supplied.

It is rather upsetting that we cannot hold our leaders accountable for their lack of action on issues affecting us every day. Are Filipinos truly patient? Is it not our silence the reason our leaders are content with random projects? Is it not because of our silence that our leaders are content in entertaining us with empty words?

We must look for action from them, and not only words.

Brothers and sisters, this Holy Week, let us include in our prayers our shortcomings being part of a much-larger society.

The US is losing a major front to China in the new Cold War

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By Lulu Yilun Chen & Yoolim Lee | Bloomberg Opinion

SWATHE of the world is adopting China’s vision for a tightly controlled Internet over the unfettered American approach, a stunning ideological coup for Beijing that would have been unthinkable less than a decade ago.

Vietnam and Thailand are among the Southeast Asian nations warming to a governance model that twins sweeping content curbs with uncompromising data controls—because it helps preserve the regime in power. A growing number of the region’s increasingly autocratic governments watched enviously the emergence of Chinese corporate titans from Tencent Holdings Ltd. to Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.—in spite of draconian online curbs. And now they want the same.

The more freewheeling Silicon Valley model once seemed unquestionably the best approach, with stars from Google to Facebook to vouch for its superiority. Now, a remolding of the Internet into a tightly controlled and scrubbed sphere in China’s image is taking place from Russia to India. Yet it’s Southeast Asia that’s the economic and geopolitical linchpin to Chinese ambitions and where US-Chinese tensions will come to a head: a region home to more than half a billion people whose Internet economy is expected to triple to $240 billion by 2025.

“For authoritarian countries in general, the idea of the state being able to wall off to some extent its

Internet is deeply appealing,” said Howard French, author of Everything Under the Heavens: How the Past Helps Shape China’s Push for Global Power. “This is about the regimes’ survival in an authoritarian situation. So that’s why they like to do this. They want to be able to insulate themselves against shocks.”

The Chinese model is gaining traction just as the American one comes under fire. Facebook and Twitter were used to manipulate the 2016 US election, YouTube was criticized for failing to detect child porn, and American social media allowed a gunman to live stream the worst mass shooting in New Zealand’s history for 10 minutes or more before severing it. Against the backdrop of wider fears about US social-media failings, Beijing’s approach now seems a reasonable alternative, or reasonable enough that self-serving governments can justify its adoption.

Vietnam’s controversial version went into effect January 1—a law BSA/The Software Alliance, which counts Apple Inc. and Microsoft Corp. among its members—called chilling and ineffectual. Indonesia, the region’s largest economy, already

requires data be stored locally. The Philippines has stepped up what critics call a media crackdown, arrested the head of media outlet Rappler Inc. after it grew critical of President Rodrigo Duterte. And last year, the government of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak introduced a fake news law used to probe his chief opponent, though the current government may yet repeal it.

One of the latest to buy into the rationale is Thailand, which on February 28 passed a cyber-security bill modeled on China’s that grants the government the right to seize data and electronic equipment without a court order in the interests of national security. Introduced just weeks ahead of Thailand’s first democratic election since a 2014 military coup, it stoked concerns it could be used to stifle dissent, though the government says it shouldn’t affect companies “with good conduct.” The Asia Internet Coalition, an organization that groups the likes of Alphabet Inc.’s Google, Amazon.com Inc., Facebook Inc. and Twitter Inc., condemned a bill Amnesty International warns could be used to “cage the Internet.”

The crux of a Chinese Internet model is data sovereignty: information of citizens must be stored in-country and accessible on demand to the authorities, a concept enshrined in Chinese law since 2017.

That’s raising hackles in Washington, which aims to counter Beijing’s

The Chinese model is gaining traction just as the American one comes under fire. Facebook and Twitter were used to manipulate the 2016 US election, YouTube was criticized for failing to detect child porn, and American social media allowed a gunman to live stream the worst mass shooting in New Zealand’s history for 10 minutes or more before severing it.

sway—a longer-term struggle that may be the single most important episode in world affairs since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Escalating tensions between the two richest economies will impact just about every country across the planet— economically and socially.

The US, for its part, worries that the spread of Chinese technology and ideology in Southeast Asia means Beijing will increasingly push a strategically vital region toward authoritarianism, even as individual countries grow wary of becoming beholden to China. The spread of a Chinese-style Internet is a problem for US Internet giants from Facebook to Google wrestling with increasingly draconian regulations over what they carry on their platforms, and how they store and handle the information pivotal to their dominance. Fragmented laws governing data are anathema to

giant corporations used to harnessing the cloud for everything from search to video.

“If authorities in the region can convince Silicon Valley to play by their repressive rules, we’re going to see a drop in standards of privacy, surveillance and freedom of expression on those platforms,” said Tanya O’Carroll, head of technology and human rights at Amnesty International. “How Silicon Valley chooses to engage with the likes of Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia could set major precedents. They must not treat those countries as test beds to tinker with people’s rights online.”

For now, US social media is popular enough that in countries like Thailand they’re able to publicly resist attempts to rein in content.

But in the longer term, there’s a real risk American companies could get supplanted by the likes of WeChat, TikTok and Alipay—Chinese powerhouses that are venturing aggressively abroad, into music and social media or e-commerce. Tencent, Alibaba and Bytedance Ltd. are also seeding the region’s start-ups, courting a younger mobile-savvy consumer—a generation that politicians need to maintain their grip on power.

“This issue was not on my radar and not on other people’s radar a year ago,” said Brian Harding, deputy director with the Southeast Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Washington

Dennis B. Funa is the current insurance commissioner. Funa was appointed by President Duterte as the new insurance commissioner in December 2016.

E-mail: dennisfuna@yahoo.com.

Make it a habit to listen to Radio Veritas 846 Ang Radyo ng Simbahan in the AM band, or through live streaming at www.veritas846.ph and follow its Twitter and Instagram accounts @veritasph and YouTube at veritas846.ph. For your comments, e-mail veritas846pr@gmail.com.

for now is more focused on the political impact of Chinese investments in infrastructure from ports to refineries, he added.

“But in terms of the Digital Silk Road, interest is rising very quickly,” he said. “Data localization is a real challenge for US companies—localization policies make it difficult to have economies of scale in doing business across the region.”

Chinese cadres have long proselytized the concept of a rigidly policed Web that can still be a wellspring of innovation. Tencent’s billionairefounder, Pony Ma, joined government officials in declaring in December it’s their country’s destiny to become an Internet power.

Southeast Asia has thus become a test bed for Beijing’s political objectives, a jumping-off point in a long-term campaign to extend its influence around the globe. The US fears the Communist Party’s vision of a Web where governments pull the strings could wind up the model for the next billion users. That’s what prompted ex-Google honcho Eric Schmidt to declare the Internet will split down the middle within a decade.

“The most likely scenario now is not a splintering, but rather a bifurcation into a Chinese-led Internet and a non-Chinese Internet led by America,” the former Google chief executive reportedly told a private venture capital gathering in September. “Globalization means that they get to play too.”

2nd Front Page BusinessMirror

A16 Wednesday, April 17, 2019

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Exchange on sea row heats up on eve of BRI

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By Recto Mercene @rectomercene & Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

N the face of China’s continued assertion of sovereignty over the South China Sea (SCS), Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. asserted on Tuesday that the Philippines will never abandon the 2016 Hague ruling that struck down the Asian giant’s “excessive” claims.

Also on Tuesday, Malacañang said the Chinese nationals harvesting giant clams on Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine

Sea is an “affront” to the country’s sovereignty. While a diplomatic protest has already been filed against this move, Presidential

“We will never abandon the Hague decision nor concede an inch of the reefs taken from us. No and never.”—Locsin

Spokesman Salvador S. Panelo echoed Locsin’s statement that the government will still be taking “legal action” against China.

The two Cabinet secretaries’ remarks against China have heated up just a few days before President Duterte flies to Beijing to attend the conference on the Belt and

Road Initiative (BRI), where he is widely expected to discuss on the sidelines with President Xi Jinping Manila’s concerns over recent Chinese moves in Philippine territory and its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

“Well as I said, if you recall yesterday I said, China, as far it is concerned, it owns the vast South China Sea. Hence, logically, it will be performing acts of ownership or sovereignty over those areas.

In other words, they are just being consistent with themselves.

Eh tayo rin, we have to be consistent with ours. As far as we’re concerned, that is ours, we will be objecting to any intrusion to our

Anti-red tape czar seeks Palace SteelAsia’s OK to issue IRR for EODB law expansion

By Elijah Felice E. Rosales

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@alyasjah

HE acting chief of the AntiRed Tape Authority (Arta) is asking Malacañang to grant him the authority to sign and issue the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of a law aimed at facilitating the ease of doing business (EODB) here.

Arta Deputy Director General Ernesto V. Perez said he requested Malacañang to allow him, along with the trade chief and Civil Service Commission (CSC) chairman, to sign and issue the IRR of the EODB law. The measure was approved by President Duterte in May of last year, but has yet to be fully implemented.

The President has yet to appoint his anti-red tape czar, who, under

the law, is the only one with authority to approve and promulgate the implementing rules.

“We have submitted the final [IRR] draft to the Office of the Executive Secretary. If the President will not yet appoint the director general, we have requested the Office of the Executive Secretary for an authorization or designation for me to sign and promulgate the implementing rules, together with the [trade] secretary and the [CSC] chairman,” Perez said in a recent huddle with reporters.

“If the President appoints the director general, or if we will be given the designation or authority to sign, then we will sign anytime,” he added.

Perez explained he has no capacity at the moment to issue the IRR, nor approve the organiza-

tional structure of the Arta, as this power remains in the hands of the director general. With Malacañang’s nod, though, he said he can do both and get doing business reforms rolling.

Attended mostly by government officials and business executives, the Arta on Monday conducted its final public hearing on the draft implementing rules of the EODB law.

The law pegs processing time for obtaining business permits and licenses to three working days for simple transactions; seven working days for complex; and 20 working days for highly technical. This is in line with its rationale of cutting red tape in the bureaucracy and improving the competitiveness of the Philippines.

See “EODB law,” A2

projects get speed boost

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RESIDENT Duterte has directed government regulators to relax clearance procedures for SteelAsia Manufacturing Corp. to expedite the implementation of new projects intended to make the Philippines independent from steel imports.

The President on Monday night committed to ease procedural requirements for SteelAsia’s expansion projects, including its $4.4-billion joint venture with a Chinese firm. Speaking to the firm’s executives, Duterte said it is important SteelAsia’s investments are prioritized, as they are aimed at industrializing the local steel industry, according to Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez.

Lopez also said his agency was tasked by the President to intensify its fight against substandard rebars to provide SteelAsia with a level playing field in the market.

“The President gives his full support to make sure requirements—the ECC [environmental compliance certificate] and other government applications—are facilitated with ease. If there is a problem, he said he should be informed about it,” Lopez told the BusinessMirror.

“His [Duterte’s] specific instruction was not to make life harder [for SteelAsia]. Basically, facilitate. [He said] make sure all necessary permits will be given,” he added.

During the dialogue, SteelAsia officials headed by Chairman and CEO Benjamin O. Yao presented to the Chief Executive their expansion projects that will more than double the firm’s annual production capacity of 2.3 million metric tons of rebars. The country’s largest steel manufacturer is investing over P100 billion over the next years to achieve its objective of substituting imports and supporting the government’s infrastructure program.

Data from SteelAsia reported that the Philippines in 2017 imported about $4 billion of steel.

“We presented to the President the ongoing investments within the Philippine steel industry and our expectations of steel self sufficiency and manufacturing resurgence. Noting the job creation of steel, a mother of industries, the President assured us of full support,” Yao told the BusinessMirror.

In January SteelAsia entered into an agreement with Chinese HBIS Group Co. Ltd. for the putting up of a $4.4-billion steelmaking facility in Misamis Oriental.

The project is estimated to generate 20,000 jobs and 65,000 indirect employment. According to the firm, it opens an opportunity for the Philippines to domestically produce basic iron and steel products, and in turn supply downstream steel goods, including sheets and bars, as well as construction grade materials, like wire rod and wire mesh.

Further, Duterte instructed the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to take seriously and act on reports that substandard steel bars are prevalent in the markets.

In response, Lopez said the DTI will publish the names of hardware stores found repeatedly selling substandard rebars. On the other hand, it will advertise stores that are prov en time and again to be selling rebars compliant with government standards. Elijah Felice E. Rosales

own territory,” said Panelo, who is also Chief Presidential Legal Counsel.

Separately, Locsin on Tuesday outlined in a series of tweets his insights on the Philippines’s stand on the most recent developments in the South China Sea. “We will never abandon the Hague decision nor concede an inch of the reefs taken from us. No and never,” Locsin tweeted.

“But do we want to cut ourselves off from this rising economic dynamo without parallel in speed and scale in world history? Think. It may be a new experience,” he added.

Despite its differences with China over the contested shoals

and reefs, the Philippines under President Duterte has maintained warm relations with the Asian giant, receiving financial loans to fund his ambitious infrastructure projects.

Contest of ignoring each other’s claim

ASKED by a netizen whether the country “had raised the Arbitral Tribunal ruling when President Duterte asked China to remove its vessels around Pag-asa island?”

Locsin replied: “So far we’ve been ignored like we ignore their historical claim. It is a contest of ignoring each other’s claim. So far.”

See “Sea row,” A6

D.A.: PHL MAY LIMIT MEAT IMPORTS AS GLUT SEEN TO HURT LOCAL RAISERS

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

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@jearcalas

HE Philippines may limit meat imports to ensure that supply will not exceed demand, as a glut could harm local hog and poultry raisers, the country’s agriculture chief said.

This is part of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) rationalization program on the country’s meat industry, which includes local producers and importers, according to Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol.

In a late afternoon interview on Monday, Piñol disclosed that the DA and local hog and poultry industry stakeholders have agreed to come up with a rationalization program to avert market-supply instability and erratic farm-gate prices.

The program includes a study on what will determine the local market’s absorptive capacity in relation to total meat supply, he added.

The rationalization program was agreed upon by the government and stakeholders following erratic farm-gate prices for both poultry and pork in recent months.

The agriculture chief admitted anew that the lack of a sound data system has led to overproduction in some industries, such as poultry, as raisers did not have any proper guidance on the country’s meat consumption requirement.

Poultry industry stakeholders, for one, have admitted that they overproduced in the past months—a matter that started the glut in end-2018 and which persists until today.

For one, the program, Piñol explained, will determine how much meat should be produced in certain periods in relation to market demand and imported volume so as not to lead to oversupply.

“If we do not do this, everyone will be hurt. With the volatility of the market, everybody will suffer,” he said.

“We will have to make sure that there is a corresponding withdrawal from the cold storage and make sure that the volume of importation would not go beyond what the market could absorb as of the moment,” he added.

‘Go slow’

DUE to the pending rationalization program, Piñol announced that the DA’s Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) may “go slow” on the issuance of new import permits until inventories in cold storages ease up.

“If we continue with the volume of importation right now, the market will certainly choke, and everybody will lose money,” he said.

“It’s not really stopping [importation], it’s rationalizing importation,” he added.

Citing National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) data, Piñol said there are about 27.805 million kilograms of chicken currently stored in cold storages and 34.33 million kilograms of pork, which is good for about three months.

“As of the moment, we will have to determine how much supply there is in the cold storage, and there is no point bringing in more stocks if the market is flooded already,” Piñol said, when asked if the government would still process sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance (SPS-IC).

Asked till when the DA-BAI’s “go slow” process on issuing SPSICs would last, Piñol answered it depends on the volume of meat inventories.

“We will have to make sure that the oversupply now in the cold storage would be reduced, and the local hog raisers will be able to release their stocks [to earn money],” he added.

The rationalization of the meat industry could take place after Holy Week, Piñol said, as the DA engages a professional research group to undertake the study on the meat supply and demand situation.

Piñol said he will meet with meat importers and even processors next week to discuss the rationalization program and get their recommendations on the matter. “[The rationalization program] will be a stakeholder-based decision. Nobody will be disadvantaged here; everybody will be involved in the decision-making,” he said.

“Because I told them that, once and for all, let’s fix this issue. [It cannot be that] every time prices fall, everyone would cry, blame and fight with each other,” he added.

Editor: Efleda P. Campos

Companies BusinessMirror

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

B1

JG Summit income falls 29% to ₧27.89B in 2018

J

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

G Summit Holdings Inc. said its net income dropped 29 percent last year to P27.89 billion, from the previous year’s P39.51 billion dragged by its airline and food units due to higher fuel and input costs, and the weaker peso.

cal and food businesses were challenged by high inflation and fuel prices, weaker peso, as well as intense competitive dynamics. We are more optimistic in 2019, but we would remain vigilant of various risks and continue strengthening our diverse strategic business units to ensure balanced sources of profitability,” JG Summit President and CEO Lance Y. Gokongwei said.

“We will also carry on our key initiatives in the areas of customer centricity to drive growth, a more active portfolio management to strengthen our core, digital transformation and sustainability,” he added.

URC’s full-year revenues grew a mere 2 percent to P127.8 billion on the back of higher average selling prices and volumes of agro-industrial and commodities’ sugar and flour divisions, strong recovery of branded consumer foods in Vietnam, and the consistent performance of its Australian unit.

These were pulled down by lower coffee volumes in the Philippines given the lingering intense competition.

Amid the intense competition from local players, revenues of Cebu

Pacific increased by 9 percent yearon-year to P74.1 billion. Passenger, cargo and ancillary grew 9 percent, 19 percent and 6 percent, respectively, because of higher yields and volumes.

Core net income after taxes declined by 33 percent to P5.9 billion given the rise in jet fuel cost, weaker peso, higher interest rates, as well as the Boracay and airport runway closures.

Sales for the year of its petrochemical division were flat at P42.4 billion as higher average selling prices of most of its products were offset by lower volumes of pyrolysis gas and polymers. There were production issues in 2018 that resulted in lower utilization rates.

The company said it saw weaker demand toward the latter part of the year when oil prices began to fall as customers waited in the sidelines, anticipating further drop in prices, it said.

Its banking unit posted revenues of P6.1 billion for the year, a 37-percent increase from the previous year driven by higher interest income from loans.

Core income, meanwhile, also dropped 24 percent to P22.4 billion, from P29.56 billion.

“The decline was mainly attributable to the exposure of our cyclical businesses, namely CEB [Cebu Pacific Air] and Petrochem, and our food business, URC [Universal Robina Corp.], to higher fuel and input costs, as well as the weaker peso. In addition, the group incurred higher financing cost on the back of CEB’s fleet expansion and higher Petrochem trust receipts,” the company said.

Revenues for the year rose 7 percent to P291.9 billion, from the pre-

vious year’s P273.44 billion driven by its property development arm and the good performance across all its segments, Cebu Pacific’s robust passenger and cargo revenues, and Robinsons Bank’s growth momentum, it said.

The company said its revenues may have gone higher if not for URC’s lower coffee volumes and JG Petrochemical’s lower polymer sales for the year, and the flat earnings contribution from affiliates Meralco, Global Business Power, United Industrial Corp. and PLDT. “We may say the group braved a perfect storm in 2018. Our cycli-

Nissan PHL ends 2018 with record 58.5% monthly growth

Therma Visayas power plant in Cebu now operational

HE Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (Campi) said Nissan Philippines closed its fiscal year with a 58.5-percent growth in March, rising to third place within the automotive manufacturers ranks, up from sixth place last year.

Nissan now holds an 11.3-percent market share among Campi members, also increasing from last year’s 6.1 percent. The announcements coincide with the highest total sales for the Japanese automaker in the Philippines since 2017.

The Nissan Navara drove the sales record for Nissan, accounting for 47.4 percent of total sales, and becoming one of the pick-up segment’s top-selling models. Notably, the Nissan Terra already contributed 16.3 percent of the total sales since the brand started selling the M-SUV last August. Other models that performed well include the Nissan Urvan and Nissan Almera, contributing 16.9 percent and 14.9 percent of the total sales, respectively.

“Nissan’s achievements come from putting the customer at the heart of everything we do, and transforming the way people drive and live in the Philippines,” said Atsushi Najima, the new president and managing director of Nissan in the Philippines.

“Our success is built upon the strong foundations laid by my predecessors, the people of Nissan and the dealer network. From here, our goal is to sustain this game-changing growth by focusing on delivering quality service, exceptional customer experience and exciting products equipped with Nissan Intelligent mobility.”

As part of its future development plans, the company recently announced that it would be launching the Nissan LEAF in the Philippines by 2020. Nissan also has plans to expand its dealership network to more areas in the country and improve its branches through the global retail visual identity known as the Nissan Retail Concept.

HERMA Visayas Inc. (TVI), a subsidiary of AboitizPower, said on Tuesday its power plant in Cebu has started delivering energy.

TVI’s first 170-megawatt baseload unit in Toledo City, Cebu, is now online. The second 170-MW unit is currently expected to come online

by May 2019.

“We are happy to have brought Therma Visayas online just in time to support the government’s call for more reliable energy supply as we head toward the midterm elections,” said Danel C. Aboitiz, president and COO of AboitizPower’s Coal Business Unit.

“By having a reliable baseload

T

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

T

plant on the island of Cebu, the residents and investors on the island will enjoy a number of economic and strategic benefits that include increased energy security, more competitive prices and local employment,” he added.

The plant will deliver power to Visayan Electric Co. Inc. (Veco) and electric cooperatives, as well as to open access customers in Luzon and the Visayas. Customers with energy-supply contracts enjoy stable prices in the long term and are essentially protected from the volatility of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).

The Toledo baseload power plant is using the latest circulating fluidized-bed technology (CFB) and best available control technology (BACT) to minimize emissions to

world-class levels. It is the second plant in the Philippines to build a “coal dome” to safely store its coal fuel and prevent fugitive dust outside the facility.

The plant, which started construction in 2015, is a joint venture between AboitizPower and Vivant Corp.

Apart from TVI, the first unit of GNPower Dinginin baseload power plant with 668-MW gross capacity is also expected to go online later this year, while the second unit, which also has a gross capacity of 668 MW, is currently targeted for commercial operations in 2020.

Once operational, these facilities will boost AboitizPower’s capacity and help address the country’s rapidly increasing demand for reliable and cost-efficient power.

DOTr chief vows to fast-track LRT 2

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

T

RANSPORTATION Secretary Arthur P. Tugade is seeking to fast-track the completion of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 2 East Extension project by a quarter.

During his speech at an event launching of the electromechanical system (EMS) installation for the railway line, Tugade said he intends to finish the whole project ahead of its fourth-quarter 2020 deadline.

“If I can make the proponents agree to finish it by the third quarter of 2020,” he said.

Marubeni Corp. and DM Consunji Inc. (DMCI) stated laying the EMS on the LRT Line 2 on Tuesday.

The EMS is comprised of the signaling system, overhead catenary system, telecommunications system, and the power supply and distribution system.

This is the last phase of the fivecontract, two-package construction of the east extension line.

Tugade said, once the project is completed, travel time from Recto in Manila to Masinag in Antipolo, Rizal, will be significantly reduced.

“Once this is completed, travel time from Recto to Masinag will be reduced to 40 minutes compared to up to three hours travel via bus or

jeepney,” he said.

Today, the whole project is at 60 percent completed.

“It is such an opportune time to give a further boost to LRT 2, unlocking potential of heavy rail by extending it to the east and providing improved access and better services to more commuters,” Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koji Haneda said.

The 4-kilometer extension calls for the creation of two new stations leading to Antipolo via Santolan.

The extension of the country’s youngest overhead railway system is expected to cater to an additional 80,000 daily passengers living in densely populated areas of Rizal.

The train line has a daily ridership of about 240,000 passengers, below its designed capacity of between 570,000 passengers per day.

The government also plans to extend the line from its current endstation in Recto up to Pier 4 in the port area in Manila.

The LRT 2 is a 13.8-kilometer mass-transit line that traverses five cities in Metro Manila, namely Pasig, Marikina, Quezon City, San Juan and Manila, along the major thoroughfares of Marcos Highway, Aurora Boulevard, Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard, Legarda and Recto Avenue.

Phoenix Petroleum, PNOC visit CNOOC LNG plant in China

P

HOENIX Petroleum Philippines Inc. (PPPI) and the Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) recently visited the China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) liquefied natural gas terminal in Tianjin, China, to inspect the possible model facility of Tanglawan Philippine LNG Inc.’s planned LNG hub project in Batangas.

Tanglawan Philippine LNG is the joint venture between Phoenix Petroleum and CNOOC. “CNOOC has built nine re-gas terminals and three more will be commissioned soon. They have won international awards for technological innovations. Both Phoenix and PNOC appreciated the extent and depth of knowledge of CNOOC, and the credibility they bring when it comes to constructing and operating LNG terminals and developing the LNG market. The development of the Tanglawan Project will be grounded on mature and technological competence,” said Phoenix company Vice President for External Affairs Raymond Zorilla.

Phoenix and CNOOC earlier signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with PNOC. The MOU will allow the three companies to explore and discuss business opportunities and cooperation in relation to the equity investment in Tanglawan and other companies relating to the project,

PNOC facilities, market development, PNOC banked gas and future energy projects.

CNOOC’s Tianjin LNG Terminal has a storage capacity of 96 million cubic meters. It has three Submerged Combustion Vaporizers (SCVs) and four booster pumps. Together with the regasification terminal, the facility also has 31 truck loading skids. At present, the terminal’s gas sendout production has already reached 1.5 million tons per year and provides 2.5 million tons per year for truck loading.

In May, it will break ground for its LNG hub project, with commercial operations targeted to start by 2023, according to government officials.

Tanglawan’s LNG project will consist of regasification and receiving terminal with a capacity of 2.2 metric tons per annum. The facility will help support the demand for a clean, competitive, and environment-friendly energy source in Luzon, and provide energy security for the country.

It also aims to develop a gas-fired power-generation facility with up to 2,000 megawatts (MW) of installed capacity. Phoenix was represented by its Chief Operating Officer Henry Albert Fadullon. PNOC President Reuben Lista also joined. Both met with the officials of CNOOC G&P, led by the LNG project’s General Manager Shan Tongwen and Technical Director Peng Yanjian.

IEMOP holds 1st MPU since becoming WESM operator

I 7-11 CONVENIENCE One of the three outlets of 7-Eleven convenience stores in Santiago City, Isabela, welcomes customers with a friendly shopping experience where they can find varieties of grocery items any time of the day. It shares a building with Kenny Rogers Roasters international brand of restaurant. CEASAR M. PERANTE

NDEPENDENT Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP), operator of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, held its first-ever Market Participants Update (MPU) since assuming WESM operations from Philippine Electricity Market Corp. in September last year.

The MPU is a stakeholders’ meeting meant to apprise participants on market outcome, system performance and recent developments as well as to create discourse on relevant policy and operational issues and concerns pervading the WESM. The event takes IEMOP one step closer in implementing WESM in Mindanao.

WESM started commercial operations in the Luzon grid in June 2006 and in December 2010 in the Visayas grid, while the intricacies of the Mindanao power industry delayed the establishment of WESM Mindanao.

The Department of Energy (DOE) launched WESM in Mindanao in June 2017 although it has yet to became fully operational.

“MPU is highlighting the implementation of WESM in Mindanao to enable more participants to reap the benefits of a robust and competitive electricity market,” IEMOP said, adding stakeholder dialogue and effective feedback mechanisms will help promote market development and enhance customer experience. Lenie Lectura

B2

Companies BusinessMirror

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

April 16, 2019

Net Foreign Stocks Bid Ask Open High Low Close Volume Value Trade (Peso) Buy (Sell) FINANCIALS ASIA UNITED BDO UNIBANK BANK PH ISLANDS CHINABANK EAST WEST BANK METROBANK PB BANK PBCOM PHIL NATL BANK PSBANK PHILTRUST RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK BDO LEASING COL FINANCIAL FIRST ABACUS FERRONOUX HLDG MEDCO HLDG NTL REINSURANCE PHIL STOCK EXCH SUN LIFE VANTAGE

58.5 129.9 81.1 26.85 11.54 76.95 13.56 21.9 50.75 57.65 110.1 25.85 177.5 61 2.22 18.58 0.61 4.55 0.445 0.89 178.9 1801 1.13

58.65 130 81.2 26.9 11.56 77.05 13.68 21.95 50.8 58.5 121.8 26.3 178 61.2 2.23 18.88 0.65 4.64 0.45 0.9 179 1820 1.14

58.65 132.2 81.15 26.9 11.82 77 13.6 21.9 52.4 58 110.1 26.3 177.6 61.8 2.23 18.48 0.61 4.55 0.45 0.91 181.6 1800 1.13

58.65 132.2 81.8 26.95 11.82 78.9 13.62 21.95 53.4 58 110.1 26.3 179.9 61.8 2.23 18.94 0.61 4.75 0.45 0.92 181.6 1800 1.13

58.25 130 81 26.6 11.56 76.95 13.6 21.9 50.8 57.65 110.1 25.85 177.3 60.8 2.16 18.48 0.61 4.42 0.45 0.88 179 1800 1.13

58.65 130 81.2 26.85 11.56 76.95 13.6 21.9 50.8 57.65 110.1 25.85 178 61 2.22 18.88 0.61 4.64 0.45 0.9 179 1800 1.13

5190 1354280 2746190 96800 750100 1038810 251000 635700 1655820 2130 30 7800 129170 21160 165000 7100 13000 230000 20000 1144000 3050 390 10000

304385.5 176852945 222866424.5 2593545 8732488 80143412.5 3416600 13921945 85384032.5 123209.5 3303 202605 23009811 1305610 365270 132364 7930 1050990 9000 1024900 549219 702000 11300

INDUSTRIAL ALSONS CONS ABOITIZ POWER BASIC ENERGY FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG MERALCO MANILA WATER PETRON PETROENERGY PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL SPC POWER AGRINURTURE CNTRL AZUCARERA CENTURY FOOD DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EMPERADOR SMC FOODANDBEV ALLIANCE SELECT GINEBRA JOLLIBEE MACAY HLDG MAXS GROUP MG HLDG PEPSI COLA SHAKEYS PIZZA ROXAS AND CO RFM CORP ROXAS HLDG UNIV ROBINA VITARICH CEMEX HLDG DAVINCI CAPITAL EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP HOLCIM MEGAWIDE TKC METALS VULCAN INDL CROWN ASIA EUROMED LMG CHEMICALS MABUHAY VINYL PRYCE CORP CONCEPCION GREENERGY INTEGRATED MICR IONICS SFA SEMICON CIRTEK HLDG

1.39 35.9 0.246 22.1 80.1 373.6 23.4 6.47 4.38 1.51 11.8 45.9 7.01 16.4 15.5 15.76 5.8 11.56 7.32 112 0.98 29.5 306 10.28 15.04 0.19 1.23 12.8 1.6 4.8 2.14 152 1.51 1.83 5.25 15.86 9.42 11.18 21.05 0.99 1.16 1.91 1.65 3.83 3.65 5.2 45.3 2.87 12.58 1.77 1.32 28.85

ABACORE CAPITAL ASIABEST GROUP AYALA CORP ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANSCOR ANGLO PHIL HLDG ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME ORION PRIME MEDIA SYNERGY GRID SM INVESTMENTS SAN MIGUEL CORP SOC RESOURCES TOP FRONTIER WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.55 18.66 900.5 55.75 14.66 6.5 0.76 1.38 1.41 7.62 11.9 14.72 0.233 857.5 6.86 62.6 0.5 5.16 15.48 0.55 4.45 0.038 2.92 1.11 476 937 173.7 0.96 265 0.237 0.335

1.42 35.95 0.247 22.15 80.25 378.8 23.45 6.5 4.55 1.52 12 46 7.14 16.5 15.6 15.78 6 11.58 7.35 112.5 0.99 30 306.6 10.68 15.16 0.195 1.25 13 1.71 4.81 2.21 152.5 1.52 1.84 5.28 15.9 9.44 11.2 21.25 1.01 1.19 1.94 1.68 3.9 3.7 5.53 46.5 2.88 12.6 1.81 1.35 29.3

1.45 35.8 0.247 21.85 81.75 380 23.4 6.53 4.6 1.64 11.9 46.85 7.1 16.2 15.9 15.58 5.9 11.56 7.37 112.8 1 29.85 310.2 10.3 14.82 0.19 1.22 12.8 1.69 4.71 2.18 151.4 1.7 1.82 5.25 15.94 9.8 11.02 21.2 1.02 1.17 1.95 1.68 3.84 3.65 5.2 46.3 2.8 12.8 1.76 1.35 29.3

1.47 36.2 0.247 22.35 81.75 381.6 23.5 6.53 4.64 1.64 12 46.85 7.15 16.8 15.9 15.8 5.9 11.62 7.37 114.5 1.04 30 310.4 10.68 15.16 0.19 1.25 13 1.71 4.81 2.18 155 1.7 1.86 5.25 16 9.8 11.4 21.45 1.04 1.19 1.95 1.68 3.84 3.7 5.26 46.3 2.88 12.8 1.83 1.39 29.35

1.38 35.5 0.241 21.65 80 373.6 23.25 6.46 4.38 1.4 11.64 45.7 6.7 16.2 15.9 15.58 5.9 11.56 7.28 110 0.98 29.15 305.8 10.28 14.78 0.19 1.21 12.5 1.62 4.71 2.18 151 1.49 1.75 5.25 15.78 9.26 11.02 21 0.98 1.15 1.91 1.68 3.84 3.65 5.18 46.3 2.74 12.46 1.76 1.3 28.85

1.4 35.95 0.246 22.1 80.1 373.6 23.45 6.47 4.55 1.51 12 46 7.15 16.5 15.9 15.78 5.9 11.58 7.35 112 0.99 30 306 10.68 15.04 0.19 1.25 13 1.71 4.8 2.18 152.5 1.52 1.83 5.25 15.86 9.42 11.18 21.05 1.01 1.18 1.93 1.68 3.84 3.7 5.2 46.3 2.88 12.58 1.82 1.35 28.85

696000 767500 1280000 2674200 21740 189260 754100 1581900 90000 140402000 160200 795000 359800 405700 3000 2850900 7100 607300 4800 339240 15046000 4900 781860 700 801300 1430000 4730000 474500 311000 92000 433000 530680 14561000 11794000 5300 3951200 1482700 4224600 505900 1085000 1886000 307000 2000 2000 25000 363400 500 17124000 880300 305000 98000 35800

968450 27584385 312810 59096270 1747595 71156942 17637125 10277575 403840 208850140 1916920 36651045 2514512 6708694 47700 44943774 41890 7032298 35128 37996256 15178610 144275 240388716 7238 11987658 271700 5824430 6079918 506740 439880 943940 81033149 22622010 21385630 27825 63188372 13927049 47,636,386( 10666640 1084290 2183090 592370 3360 7680 91400 1891243 23150 48729190 11060642 551360 131310 1046950

HOLDING & FRIMS 0.56 18.68 901 55.8 14.72 6.55 0.77 1.39 1.42 7.63 11.92 14.86 0.243 858.5 7 62.9 0.51 5.2 15.5 0.58 4.47 0.039 2.95 1.15 499 940 174.9 0.97 269 0.243 0.34

0.55 19.9 908 56.6 14.84 6.5 0.8 1.39 1.41 7.6 11.9 14.86 0.24 872 7.05 61.3 0.52 5.24 15.64 0.58 4.56 0.038 3.05 1.12 570 926.5 174.2 1.01 265 0.238 0.375

0.56 19.9 910 57.8 14.92 6.5 0.8 1.4 1.42 7.7 12.04 14.96 0.248 875 7.05 63.15 0.52 5.24 15.9 0.58 4.58 0.039 3.09 1.12 597.5 943.5 177.4 1.01 269 0.245 0.375

0.54 18.68 897.5 55.8 14.6 6.5 0.76 1.38 1.41 7.6 11.9 14.72 0.24 853 6.84 61.3 0.495 5.14 15.48 0.55 4.43 0.038 2.91 1.11 499 925 173.4 0.93 264 0.236 0.33

0.56 18.68 901 55.8 14.66 6.5 0.77 1.39 1.42 7.62 11.92 14.86 0.248 858.5 6.86 62.9 0.51 5.16 15.5 0.58 4.45 0.039 2.95 1.11 499 940 174.9 0.96 269 0.24 0.34

2409000 61300 539920 529480 6577800 276900 829000 1409000 362000 525100 2707500 43300 360000 162130 49000 998350 240000 282600 3544800 586000 71717000 10500000 1571000 182000 650 138960 275730 3081000 4940 400000 52410000

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294415 -44539875 10191392.5 -106975 276953.9997 -18658603.5 -7277436.5 -140505 9376049 -184824 -200200 10472 14937225.0004 98800 9974110 -183281 -47839854 1464150 1493923 1994840 -936000 31658835 3495 1949500 11705596 3944540 -10949 -7818619 14560 5970 -154785732 -711918 1419360 279804 7810110 -1428580 -5107240 5073864 2884887 8,206,622.0003) 4161200 -38660 -133920 76650 270582 -3591820 4773654 13500 -72285 -97350 13076 -175111185 -15290285 -27244244 1149850 214320 1689827 -15228298 -195380 -54299500 140758 8540714 -177794 -18606760 273900 -212576480 -0 40880 19982135 10979533 950 -864372 -24000 1173300

PROPERTY

ARTHALAND CORP 0.83 0.84 0.83 0.85 0.82 0.84 2878000 2397330 ANCHOR LAND 10.08 11.34 11.36 11.36 11.2 11.2 19300 217818 6804 AYALA LAND 47 47.3 46.7 47.45 46.7 47.3 24760300 1168849990 185495305 ARANETA PROP 1.88 1.92 1.92 1.92 1.86 1.92 59000 111140 -56400 BELLE CORP 2.4 2.42 2.5 2.52 2.34 2.4 1444000 3514090 602400 A BROWN 0.76 0.77 0.77 0.77 0.76 0.77 322000 244950 CITYLAND DEVT 0.9 0.91 0.9 0.91 0.88 0.91 128000 113910 CROWN EQUITIES 0.241 0.244 0.246 0.25 0.24 0.245 3100000 764460 -12450 CEBU HLDG 6.34 6.49 6.49 6.49 6.34 6.34 1900 12136 CEB LANDMASTERS 4.26 4.29 4.3 4.3 4.26 4.26 94000 402020 CENTURY PROP 0.5 0.51 0.5 0.51 0.49 0.51 9868000 4910670 -49350 CYBER BAY 0.38 0.385 0.385 0.385 0.38 0.385 670000 256050 DOUBLEDRAGON 24.45 24.5 23.7 24.8 23.6 24.45 2066300 50302110 -7439665 DM WENCESLAO 10.96 10.98 10.88 10.98 10.5 10.96 2403100 25774476 836086 EMPIRE EAST 0.5 0.51 0.5 0.51 0.5 0.51 866000 433100 FILINVEST LAND 1.51 1.53 1.51 1.53 1.51 1.52 2652000 4043130 456200 GLOBAL ESTATE 1.35 1.36 1.34 1.37 1.33 1.36 906000 1213890 8990 HLDG 13.08 13.12 13 13.2 12.96 13.12 7006100 91115322 -70410598 PHIL INFRADEV 1.91 1.92 1.79 1.94 1.78 1.92 14274000 26983950 -1276770 KEPPEL PROP 3.91 4.86 4.86 4.86 4.86 4.86 10000 48600 CITY AND LAND 0.81 0.86 0.84 0.84 0.84 0.84 10000 8400 MEGAWORLD 5.78 5.8 5.72 5.82 5.72 5.8 19702000 114141184 38520537 MRC ALLIED 0.33 0.335 0.335 0.345 0.33 0.33 19620000 6558200 -566300 PHIL ESTATES 0.49 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.49 0.5 525000 260825 -48000 PRIMEX CORP 2.41 2.44 2.5 2.59 2.4 2.44 2078000 5117400 97940 ROBINSONS LAND 23.1 23.2 22.9 23.5 22.8 23.1 1529300 35408565 3186505 PHIL REALTY 0.42 0.435 0.42 0.42 0.42 0.42 70000 29400 ROCKWELL 1.99 2 2 2 1.99 1.99 222000 441820 -4000 SHANG PROP 2.99 3.03 3.04 3.04 2.98 2.98 89000 266660 STA LUCIA LAND 1.64 1.66 1.66 1.66 1.63 1.66 378000 624420 23240 SM PRIME HLDG 39.5 39.9 39 39.9 39 39.9 4971400 197368030 40000830 STARMALLS 6.9 6.95 6.98 7 6.85 6.95 117900 816990 SUNTRUST HOME 0.74 0.78 0.74 0.78 0.74 0.78 10000 7520 5180 VISTA LAND 7.24 7.25 7.27 7.27 7.2 7.24 8098800 58524193 -19738012

SERVICES ABS CBN 19.36 19.5 19.5 19.68 19.4 19.5 140800 2766090 GMA NETWORK 5.25 5.26 5.3 5.3 5.24 5.25 430300 2264392 MANILA BULLETIN 0.58 0.6 0.64 0.65 0.58 0.58 5618000 3366150 GLOBE TELECOM 1865 1866 1884 1910 1866 1866 22450 42072705 -4307510 PLDT 1194 1195 1175 1199 1169 1195 95675 113966545 61210745 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.04 0.041 0.041 0.041 0.038 0.041 26500000 1047000 ISLAND INFO 0.126 0.127 0.128 0.132 0.126 0.127 3550000 449720 -110080 ISM COMM 4.91 4.93 4.9 4.98 4.85 4.94 891000 4370700 -288730 JACKSTONES 2.98 3.04 3.04 3.04 2.98 2.98 82000 244990 NOW CORP 2.3 2.32 2.26 2.33 2.25 2.3 10129000 23285910 20480170 TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.375 0.38 0.385 0.39 0.375 0.375 9250000 3512250 504800 PHILWEB 2.8 2.86 2.85 2.88 2.79 2.8 760000 2140720 -314010 2GO GROUP 12.42 12.6 12.8 12.8 12.4 12.4 22000 279520 ASIAN TERMINALS 14.82 16.66 16.66 16.66 16.66 16.66 200 3332 CHELSEA 5.13 5.14 5.21 5.21 5.12 5.14 599800 3087045 638320 CEBU AIR 81.6 81.7 84 85 81.6 81.7 276090 22686829.5 5369602 INTL CONTAINER 125.6 126.6 127 127 125.4 126.6 2110490 267128660 149182848 LBC EXPRESS 15.2 15.76 15.22 15.22 15.2 15.2 41300 627772 LORENZO SHIPPNG 0.82 0.84 0.93 0.93 0.82 0.84 5588000 4886630 -153000 MACROASIA 21.55 21.6 21.95 21.95 21.55 21.55 695200 15056530 1721070 METROALLIANCE A 1.7 1.78 1.8 1.8 1.7 1.78 13000 22820 PAL HLDG 10 10.02 10.04 10.16 10.02 10.02 6600 66266 HARBOR STAR 2.83 2.84 2.79 2.87 2.77 2.84 908000 2551290 30209.9999 ACESITE HOTEL 1.29 1.35 1.32 1.32 1.29 1.29 43000 56190 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.072 0.073 0.074 0.075 0.072 0.073 28990000 2134570 WATERFRONT 0.71 0.72 0.74 0.74 0.72 0.72 2208000 1594490 STI HLDG 0.68 0.69 0.68 0.69 0.67 0.69 607000 411080 -17110 BERJAYA 2.25 2.29 2.35 2.35 2.25 2.25 434000 993030 -25110 BLOOMBERRY 12.18 12.2 11.96 12.18 11.88 12.18 9759900 117047830 -5865602 PACIFIC ONLINE 4.27 4.4 4.44 4.45 4.27 4.4 112000 480180 -115350 LEISURE AND RES 3.7 3.72 3.72 3.75 3.67 3.7 712000 2629080 102820 PH RESORTS GRP 4.4 4.61 4.67 4.67 4.44 4.6 15000 67550 18390 PREMIUM LEISURE 0.79 0.8 0.79 0.81 0.78 0.8 5904000 4693710 536180 TRAVELLERS 5.64 5.65 5.6 5.65 5.6 5.65 2176800 12250513 -3251295 METRO RETAIL 3.47 3.48 3.42 3.48 3.42 3.48 725000 2506770 -285800 PUREGOLD 43.85 44 45.1 46.2 43.7 44 4610500 205330245 -143814725 ROBINSONS RTL 78 79 80 80 78 78 266490 21058879 3599846.5 PHIL SEVEN CORP 118.5 120 120 120 119.9 119.9 3540 424796 32400 SSI GROUP 2.64 2.65 2.61 2.66 2.59 2.65 18959000 49890200 8144920 WILCON DEPOT 16.2 16.24 16.18 16.36 16.06 16.24 1050800 17050134 3625650 EASYCALL 10.32 10.46 10.3 10.6 10 10.48 46700 485006 -20930 GOLDEN BRIA 394.4 400 395.2 400 391 400 1740 694444 IPM HLDG 7.07 7.08 7.07 7.07 7.07 7.07 9600 67872 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.97 0.98 1 1 0.96 0.98 14650000 14302410 -955590 SBS PHIL CORP 8.81 9.02 8.8 9.03 8.8 8.99 320300 2880957 72000

MINING & OIL ATOK 12.04 12.74 12.76 12.76 12.76 12.76 300 3828 APEX MINING 1.3 1.31 1.32 1.33 1.3 1.3 1303000 1707710 -654700 ABRA MINING 0.0019 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.0019 0.0019 668000000 1269500 ATLAS MINING 2.81 2.89 2.81 2.81 2.81 2.81 12000 33720 -2810 BENGUET B 1.2 1.57 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 32000 40000 COAL ASIA HLDG 0.29 0.305 0.29 0.29 0.29 0.29 200000 58000 8700 CENTURY PEAK 2.71 2.72 2.74 2.74 2.7 2.72 504000 1367930 54400 DIZON MINES 7.99 8.19 8.17 8.21 7.99 8.19 9000 72625 FERRONICKEL 1.49 1.52 1.54 1.54 1.49 1.52 5202000 7910860 1292850 GEOGRACE 0.25 0.255 0.27 0.27 0.25 0.255 8710000 2201050 -13000 LEPANTO A 0.117 0.119 0.119 0.12 0.119 0.12 2050000 244000 MANILA MINING A 0.0082 0.0085 0.0082 0.0082 0.0082 0.0082 3000000 24600 MANILA MINING B 0.0082 0.0085 0.0083 0.0083 0.0083 0.0083 20000000 166000 MARCVENTURES 1.07 1.1 1.1 1.11 1.07 1.07 239000 261880 NIHAO 0.99 1.03 1.04 1.04 0.99 1.02 67000 67050 NICKEL ASIA 2.43 2.45 2.37 2.45 2.37 2.45 2995000 7286520 2969990 OMICO CORP 0.58 0.61 0.58 0.61 0.57 0.61 503000 291430 ORNTL PENINSULA 0.89 0.9 0.91 0.92 0.9 0.9 283000 257560 PX MINING 3.08 3.11 3.09 3.12 3.09 3.1 383000 1187510 -90250 SEMIRARA MINING 24.05 24.5 23.85 24.5 23 24.5 3331600 80424925 44950370 UNITED PARAGON 0.0068 0.0075 0.0075 0.0075 0.0075 0.0075 1000000 7500 ORNTL PETROL A 0.012 0.013 0.013 0.013 0.013 0.013 300000 3900 PHILODRILL 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 300000 3300 PHINMA PETRO 3.14 3.15 3.15 3.15 3.14 3.14 11000 34550 PXP ENERGY 7.25 7.26 6.77 7.28 6.54 7.25 3544600 25213046 1853443

PREFFERED

HOUSE PREF A 92.35 94.9 94.9 94.9 94.9 94.9 80 7592 AC PREF B1 467.2 475.8 467.2 467.2 467.2 467.2 500 233600 ALCO PREF B 97.2 101.8 101.8 101.8 101.8 101.8 160 16288 DD PREF 96.6 98 96.25 98 96.25 98 30 2922.5 SMC FB PREF 2 971 981 971 971.5 970 971 800 776455 FGEN PREF G 100.7 103 102 102 100.6 100.7 18000 1812693 GTCAP PREF A 880.5 934 899 900 899 900 1240 1115970 GTCAP PREF B 950 959 926 950 925 950 3140 2961670 LR PREF 1 1.01 1 1.01 1 1 33000 33100 PCOR PREF 2A 973 1000 973.5 973.5 973 973 910 885680 SMC PREF 2C 75.95 76 75.7 76 75.7 76 650 49267 SMC PREF 2D 71.95 73 72 72 72 72 5000 360000 SMC PREF 2E 72.3 72.55 72.65 72.65 72.25 72.55 40450 2935641.5 SMC PREF 2F 74.05 74.65 74.1 74.1 74 74 13350 988200 SMC PREF 2I 40.8 73.5 73.5 73.75 40.8 40.8 43670 1813859.5 -

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR GMA HLDG PDR

18.5 5.13

18.8 5.18

18.9 5.18

18.9 5.26

18.8 5.13

18.8 5.13

105900 4400

2001004 22762

WARRANTS LR WARRANT

1.89

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ITALPINAS 4.9 XURPAS 1.19

1.92

1.89

1.94

1.88

1.92

71000

134020

-

4.98 1.2

4.85 1.18

5 1.2

4.85 1.16

4.98 1.19

270000 2518000

1336170 2972640

-17900

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS FIRST METRO ETF

117.3

-97776 -

117.7

117.4

117.9

117

117.3

9330

1096724

-23480

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Kantar names GrabFood top food-delivery service in PHL

O

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

@lorenzmarasigan

NLINE delivery platform GrabFood has been consistently named by Kantar as the top food-delivery service in the Philippines since December, beating competitors that have been in the market for years now.

Citing an online survey conducted

by Kantar, Edward Joseph de la Vega, who heads GrabFood, said GrabFood consistently outperformed competitors FoodPanda and HonestBee from December to March.

In December, GrabFood was

hailed as the food delivery app of choice by 47 percent of Filipino consumers that answered Kantar’s survey. FoodPanda trailed behind with 30 percent, and HonestBee with 23 percent.

In January, 58 percent of respon-

dents voted GrabFood as their most used brand, further shaving the share of FoodPanda at 30 percent, and HonestBee at 12 percent.

A month after, GrabFood maintained its lead, scoring 57 percent in Kantar’s survey, while FoodPanda got 27 percent and HonestBee, 17 percent.

Just last month, it was also named as the app of choice of 62 percent of the Filipino respondents, while FoodPanda settled at 21 percent and HonestBee, 18 percent.

De la Vega said this feat was achieved through its “keen focus on reliability, having the widest selection of restaurants, the largest network of trained delivery partners and quick average delivery time.”

“Being voted as the app of choice

for food delivery is humbling for us, and our intention is to continue providing the best, most reliable, and most rewarding services in the Philippines,” Grab Philippines President Brian Cu said.

Currently, GrabFood is present in 15 locations with over 7,000 restaurant partners.

“Our goal at GrabFood is to really democratize access to good food and satisfy more cravings of our consumers. At the same time, we put our focus on creating more rewarding and unique food experiences while providing livelihood opportunities to partner merchants and drivers.

We are grateful for our customers’ support, and we will continue to work hard to serve them better and find more ways to bring our users closer to their cravings,” de la Vega said.

Alliance Select net income reaches $3.5M in 2018

G

LOBAL seafood company Alliance Select Foods International Inc. (Alliance) said its revenues rose by 35 percent to P97 million in 2018, from $72 million the year before. Net income before tax increased by almost seven times from $562,000 in 2017 to $3.5 million in 2018.

“Overall, it was a record year for our company following a series of high points for food. 2017 was our turnaround year. Our 2018 result shows that the positive trajectory is sustainable and long-term,” said Raymond KH See, Alliance president and CEO. “Sustainability is core to our values.

When we were in the process of turning the company around, we implemented changes that have

a lasting impact not just on our profitability but also to the wellbeing of our customers, suppliers, team members and shareholders.

I’m happy to say the hard work is paying off.”

The revenue growth is largely attributable to an increase in volume, both for the tuna and salmon businesses. Export sales of canned tuna increased by 40 percent in 2018. Subsidiary Big Glory Bay also reported increases in volume of sales in its processed products and processed by-products by 19 percent and 168 percent, respectively.

Notable milestones in 2018 include the Food Unit’s introduction of new product offerings, such as pouched tuna variants and frozen tuna loins for export, and the launch

NEC PHL names new president

I

NFORMATION communications technology (ICT) provider NEC Philippines (NECPH) has appointed Joji Yamamoto as president of the company effective this month.

“I’m honored to take on this new role and continue advancing NEC’s business in Philippines,” he said of his appointment.

“Mr. Yamamoto brings with him a wealth of experience in navigating Asia’s business climate,” NEC Asia Pacific CEO Tetsuro Akagi said.

The top executive joined NEC Corp. in 1995.

His more than two decades of experience in the ICT industry included his stint in NEC Corp.’s Carrier Sales Division from 1995 to 2006.

From 2013 to 2017, Yamamoto was appointed as VP at NEC Thailand’s Carrier and Public Safety Division. Then, he became deputy president at NECPH prior to his recent promotion.

He said their organization could be of big help to the country, since it has been taking massive steps in enhancing its digital capabilities.

“NEC’s portfolio of industry-leading ICT so-

lutions are well placed to help the Philippines thrive and overcome any challenges in its way,” Yamamoto said.

“We are confident NECPH will prosper under his stewardship and usher in an exciting future for all of us,” Akagi said.

NEC was already present in the Philippines via its Manila Representative Office since the 1960s.

It was on January 11, 1996, when NEC Philippines was incorporated.

Primarily, the company is engaged in sales, marketing and service provision for the supply of telecommunications equipment, computer systems, network, IP and data networks, ICT integration, and IT solutions and services, among others.

Recently, the firm launched Customer Support Center, its 24/7 support center that not only provides after sales and warranty support, but also offers other services like IT integration, project management and other IT- and networkingrelated services. Roderick L. Abad

SGV, SAS partner to help groups transform biz with AI

S

GV & Co. announced a strategic alliance with SAS, a global leader in analytics, to develop and deliver artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced analytics solutions across a number of key industry sectors in the Philippines, including financial services, government and public sectors, consumer products and retail, and agriculture and agribusiness.

The strategic relationship will include market collaboration, coinnovation and implementation support and enablement activities. A strategic combination of SGV’s crosssector experience with the power of SAS technologies, the alliance will accelerate the delivery of disruptive AI and data analytics services to

help organizations and government agencies deliver improved business insight and outcomes.

J. Carlitos G. Cruz, chairman and managing partner of SGV, said, “In the age of disruption, it is important for innovation to evolve organically through effective business collaboration. By leveraging on divergent viewpoints, approaches and methodologies, innovation-focused companies like SGV and SAS can combine their individual strengths to create a powerful synergy that can further enable Philippine businesses while, at the same time, developing relevant and lasting solutions that scale to match today’s constantly changing business ecosystem.”

of Bay of Gold, a premium brand, catering to customers looking for sustainably caught, no-preservatives tuna products. The company also expanded its product line and distribution channels for fresh and smoked salmon.

“Alliance plans to implement and continue several strategic initiatives and optimization measures to sustain the growth trajectory of the company, with a renewed focus on expanding business opportunities

MUTUAL FUNDS

both within the Philippines and in the countries where we are present.

In 2019, we will continue to build and grow. The strong foundation of work and systems our team has been putting in place will continue to bring us forward,” he added.

Alliance Select Foods International Inc. is a homegrown publicly listed seafood company operating in General Santos City, with subsidiaries in Indonesia, New Zealand and the US.

April 16, 2019

NAV ONE YEAR THREE YEAR FIVE YEAR Y-T-D

PER SHARE RETURN* RETURN STOCK FUNDS ALFM ALFM GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 260.27 -3.39% 0.45% 1.29% 3.19% ATRAM ALPHA OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. -A 1.6037 -0.51% 8.48% 3.27% 11.31% ATRAM PHILIPPINE EQUITY OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. -A 4.0719 -4.61% 0.73% 0.2% 4.33% CLIMBS SHARE CAPITAL EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND CORP. -A 0.9321 -1.01% N.A. N.A. 4.67% FIRST METRO CONSUMER FUND ON MSCI PHILS. IMI, INC. -A 0.8591 N.A. N.A. N.A. 4.68% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN EQUITY FUND,INC. -A 5.4284 -1.51% 0.47% 1.02% 2.98% MBG EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND, INC. -A 128.04 8.91% N.A. N.A. 9.94% ONE WEALTHY NATION FUND, INC. -A 0.8636 -4.25% -4.7% N.A. 3.75% PAMI EQUITY INDEX FUND, INC. -A 51.3031 -1.5% 1.19% N.A. 4.26% PHILAM STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 536.89 -1.61% 0.26% 0.95% 4.3% PHILEQUITY DIVIDEND YIELD FUND, INC. -A 1.2985 -0.31% 1.91% 3.91% 3.55% PHILEQUITY FUND, INC. -A 38.2712 -0.58% 2.76% 3.28% 4.47% PHILEQUITY MSCI PHILIPPINE INDEX FUND, INC. -A,3 1.0236 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. PHILEQUITY PSE INDEX FUND INC. -A 5.1939 -1.04% 2.14% 3.27% 4.74% PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND CORP. -A 866.92 -0.92% 1.82% 3.2% 4.64% SOLDIVO STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 0.9234 1.89% 1.23% N.A. 7.22% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE EQUITY FUND, INC. -A 4.264 0.28% 2.23% 2.32% 5.05% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND, INC. -A 0.9968 -1.4% 1.82% N.A. 4.45% UNITED FUND, INC. -A 3.683 1.28% 4.03% 3.32% 5.2% EXCHANGE TRADED FUND FIRST METRO PHIL. EQUITY EXCHANGE TRADED FUND, INC. -A,C,2 115.9869 -0.5% 2.87% 4.28% 4.73% ATRAM ASIAPLUS EQUITY FUND, INC. -B $1.0462 -6.64% 7.1% 1.74% 12.6% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY WORLD VOYAGER FUND, INC. -A $1.291 1.18% N.A. N.A. 16.82% BALANCED FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ATRAM DYNAMIC ALLOCATION FUND, INC. -A 1.7049 -2.54% -0.88% -1.42% 3.25% ATRAM PHILIPPINE BALANCED FUND, INC. -A 2.3029 -1.78% 0.81% 0.81% 4.24% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN BALANCED FUND INC. -A 2.6168 -0.66% -0.96% -1.33% 2.87% GREPALIFE BALANCED FUND CORPORATION -A 1.3442 -2.79% N.A. N.A. 3.06% NCM MUTUAL FUND OF THE PHILS., INC. -A 1.904 0.59% 0.82% 1.33% 3.3% PAMI HORIZON FUND, INC. -A 3.6467 -1.55% -0.51% 0.41% 3.33% PHILAM FUND, INC. -A 16.462 -0.62% -0.36% 0.47% 3.48% SOLIDARITAS FUND, INC. -A 2.1286 -0.17% 1.23% 2.14% 2.72% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BALANCED FUND, INC. -A 3.815 0.65% 1.01% 1.5% 4.48% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2028, INC. -A,D,4 0.9882 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2038, INC. -A,D,4 0.9837 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2048, INC. -A,D,4 0.9817 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DYNAMIC FUND, INC. -A 0.9726 0.97% 0.98% N.A. 5.52% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES COCOLIFE DOLLAR FUND BUILDER, INC. -A $0.03599 1.84% 0.34% 1.55% 2.1% PAMI ASIA BALANCED FUND, INC. -A $1.0028 -5.48% 3.86% -0.11% 7.11% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ADVANTAGE FUND, INC. -A $3.7155 1.08% 6.19% 3.22% 12.31% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR WELLSPRING FUND, INC. -A $1.0916 0.01% N.A. N.A. 8.08% BOND FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM PESO BOND FUND, INC. -A 347.63 2.85% 2.13% 2.11% 1.24% ATRAM CORPORATE BOND FUND, INC. -A,1 1.8819 0.72% -0.18% -0.23% 1.22% COCOLIFE FIXED INCOME FUND, INC. -A

3.0154 5.5% 5.24% 5.3% 1.5% EKKLESIA MUTUAL FUND INC. -A 2.1556 2.24% 1.26% 1.79% 1.18% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN FIXED INCOME FUND,INC. -A 2.2526 1.7% 0.31% 0.89% 1.96% GREPALIFE FIXED INCOME FUND CORP. -A P 1.6027 0.21% -0.34% 0.3% 2.45% PHILAM BOND FUND, INC. -A 4.0176 0.97% -0.61% 0.74% 2.5% PHILEQUITY PESO BOND FUND, INC. -A 3.6024 3.21% 1.44% 1.19% 2.43% SOLDIVO BOND FUND, INC. -A 0.9176 0.86% -0.67% N.A. 2.8% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BOND FUND, INC. -A 2.8806 3.87% 1.73% 1.79% 4.15% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY GS FUND, INC. -A 1.5965 3.35% 0.91% 1.28% 3.68% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES ALFM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $453.9 2.42% 1.73% 2.84% 1.25% ALFM EURO BOND FUND, INC. -A Є215.93 1.26% 1.4% 1.58% 1.54% ATRAM TOTAL RETURN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -B $1.1659 4.28% 1.51% 2.27% 3.56% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $0.0252 1.61% 0.67% N.A. 1.61% GREPALIFE DOLLAR BOND FUND CORP. -A $1.7127 -0.98% -1.44% 0.88% 1.33% 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 $1.0598 1.46% -0.82% -2.4% 2.14% PHILAM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $2.2519 2.85% 0.19% 2.73% 3.72% PHILEQUITY DOLLAR INCOME FUND INC. -A $0.0581032 2.44% 1.13% 1.78% 1.97% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ABUNDANCE FUND, INC. -A $2.9645 0.78% -0.38% 2.02% 3.22% MONEY MARKET FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A 122.35 3.44% 2.17% 1.77% 1.25% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A,5 1.0078 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. PHILAM MANAGED INCOME FUND, INC. -A 1.1954 2.72% 1.14% 0.75% 1.14% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A 1.2337 3.26% 2.49% 1.85% 1.21% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR STARTER FUND, INC. -A $1.0233 2.08% N.A. N.A. 0.73%

* - 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

www.businessmirror.com.ph | Editor: Angel R. Calso

The World

Turkey seeks Trump’s support to defuse Russian missile feud

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URKEY has taken its case for buying a Russian air-defense system directly to President Donald J. Trump, in a lastditch effort to defuse tensions between the two Nato allies.

“We delivered our message and received quite positive feedback,” Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak told reporters on Monday, after he presented the US president with an explanation for why Turkey needs the missiles that have raised questions about the nation’s alliance with the West. It’s likely to use the advanced system to defend Istanbul, the country’s commercial center, and its capital Ankara, according to Defense Minister Hulusi Akar.

Turkey has stood by the agreement with Russia and described it as a “done deal” despite serious US objections. The Trump administration has threatened sanctions if the country goes ahead with the purchase.

The warning risked intensifying market turmoil, echoing the reaction to a diplomatic standoff last year.

The first batch of S-400 missiles may be delivered as early as June. Future deliveries might involve technology transfer to Turkey, Akar told reporters who traveled to Washington, where the defense chief was meeting with American officials. Albayrak, the Turkish president’s son-in-law, said he also met Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s decision to purchase the Russian military equipment has damaged relations between Washington and Ankara. The US says the S-400 system was designed to shoot down American and allied aircraft, including Lockheed Martin

Corp.’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which Turkish manufacturers help build. American officials have threatened to expel Turkey from the F-35 program.

Turkey says it needs the Russian system because it currently lacks the capability to defend itself from aerial attacks. Ankara is proceeding on the assumption that it will receive F-35s and will use them alongside the S-400, Akar said.

Patrick Shanahan, the acting US defense secretary, has called Turkey’s planned purchase of the S-400 “incompatible” with the sale of F-35s. US officials have said they’re concerned that sensitive F-35 technology designed to evade such a system could be compromised and used to improve Russian air-defense technology.

The Turkish defense chief tried to play down that threat, saying the S-400 would operate independently from systems used by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Turkey is a member of the Nato alliance. “ Tu r k i s h - A m e r i c a n t i e s c a n’t b e disregarded,” Akar said a day before his planned meeting with Shanahan. “Our hope and wish is that these meetings will make it possible to find a solution to the problems.”

The US offered Ankara its Patriot missiles on a faster delivery schedule. But that attempt went nowhere. There’s another standing offer by the US to sell Turkey the Patriot system, and there’s no deadline on it, Akar said, without elaborating.

When asked about the possibility of receiving the S-400 system, but not deploying it to avert further American pressure, Akar said: “These are all options. Let’s see what the process ahead will bring.” Bloomberg News

BusinessMirror

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

B3

US Treasury secretary says Fed’s independence is important globally

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ASHINGTON—Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Monday that the Federal Reserve’s independence is important globally, while refusing to comment on President Donald J. Trump’s latest attack on the Fed. Mnuchin was asked about Trump’s tweet on Sunday that if the Fed had done its job properly, the stock market would be 5,000 to 10,000 points higher, and overall growth would have been “well over” 4 percent last year instead of 3 percent.

Interviewed by Fox Business, Mnuchin said, “In my role as secretary, it is inappropriate for me to comment. I do think that the Fed independence is something that the world looks to, and I think that the dollar being the reserve currency is very important.”

T he dol lar’s standing as a reserve currency used by other nations brings significant economic advantages to the United States in the area of trade and the willingness of foreigners to help finance the federal government’s

$22-trillion national debt.

Trump’s attacks on the Fed increased sharply as a string of four Fed rate hikes triggered a sharp sell-off in the stock market late last year. The Fed has since reversed course. It has signaled that it expects to keep rates unchanged for the entire year.

Trump, however, has demanded that the Fed do more to support the economy by starting to cut rates. He has also said he intends to nominate two political allies, conservative commentator Stephen Moore and former pizza executive and 2012 GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain, to two vacancies on the seven-member Fed board.

Both of those proposed nominations have come under attack.

Critics charge that Trump would do serious harm to the Fed’s politi-

THIS April 9, 2019, file photo shows Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin testifying before a House Appropriations subcommittee during a hearing on President Trump’s budget request for Fiscal Year 2020, in Washington. Mnuchin said on Monday, April 15, 2019, that the Federal Reserve’s independence is important globally, while refusing to comment on President Donald Trump’s latest attack on the Fed. AP/PATRICK SEMANSKY

cal independence by putting close allies on the Fed board.

But Larry Kudlow, head of the president’s National Economic Council, said on Monday that Trump considered himself a “disruptor” who wanted to put his stamp on the Fed. “These are unconventional appointments. We’ll see what happens with them,” he said in a separate Fox interview.

Charles Evans, president of the Fed’s Chicago regional bank, said in a CNBC interview on Monday, that what was important to

protect the Fed’s credibility is for the officials at the Fed to keep making interest-rate decisions based on the economic data.

“As long as we keep looking at the data, can explain it relative to what we are supposed to be doing, we just have to accept criticism,” Evans said.

With inflation remaining below the Fed’s 2-percent target, Evans said he could see the central bank keeping rates unchanged not only for the rest of this year but into the fall of 2020. AP

Oil’s rally faces odds of demand worsening before getting better Fire ravages Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris left aghast

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IL’S march back toward a four-year high is now facing some roadblocks in the form of demand in Asia, though the path may clear to allow further gains later this year.

While the current rally in global benchmark prices to over $71 a barrel will put pressure on government finances in Asia’s importdependent nations, the level of fiscal stress t ypically doesn’t determine their crude purchases. Instead, the volume of shipments is influenced by the state of demand for fuel from industries and consumers in the world’s biggest oil-consuming region.

In a discouraging sign for oil bulls, some indicators of consumption such as diesel profit margins have shown signs of weakness recently. That may hamper crude’s rally, which has so far been driven by Opec’s output cuts and concerns over tight supplies.

Still, market watchers see the effect as temporary, and predict fuel demand will rebound later in 2019.

“Demand for crude in Asia and other regions is directly dependent upon downstream fuel margins,” said Tushar Tarun Bansal, trading and downstream expert at McKinsey & Co. “In the near term, what we’re observing are weak margins and higherthan-usual planned refinery maintenance in Asia,” said Singapore-based Bansal.

Crude influence THE effect of fuel margins on purchasing patterns was illustrated in China last year.

Asia’s biggest crude importer received record foreign supplies near the end of 2018, a result of purchase decisions made about 60 days earlier when Asian refining profits were near their highest level for the year.

The nation’s largest-ever oil haul came shortly after Brent futures topped $86 a barrel. In the following months, the country’s imports fell, even as crude slipped into a bear market, coinciding with a drop in returns from making fuel.

The profit from turning crude into fuels in Asia slumped to $2.75 a barrel, the lowest in over two years, in January after averaging almost $6 in the second half of 2018, according to data compiled from Oil Analytics Ltd., a firm that tracks hundreds of refining margins worldwide. While this so-called crack spread has since recovered to nearly $5, it’s still well below November levels.

Current lift THE recovery in overall fuel margins from their January low has been supported by gasoline,

demand for which has been boosted by everything from massive campaigning activity ahead of Indian and Indonesian elections to government efforts to lift voter sentiment.

Moreover, unplanned refinery outages at American plants and falling US inventories also boosted margins for the fuel at a time when Asian facilities are shutting for annual spring maintenance. All that’s helped returns from making gasoline surge to a profit from a loss in January. The fuel is now at a premium of about $7 a barrel over Brent crude, compared with a discount of over $2 in late January, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Diesel dream MEANWHILE, concerns over global growth and the impact of the trade war between the US and China—the world’s two biggest economies—are weighing on margins for diesel, according to industr y consultant Energy Aspects Ltd. Still, profits from making the fuel, which is used in factories and trucks, are set to rebound in coming months.

That’s because tankers across the globe will probably switch to cleaner diesel from more-sulfurous fuel oil in the run up to the implementation of stricter ship-emission standards mandated by the International Maritime Organization from the start of 2020.

“The longer diesel margins stay low— which reduces the incentive to maximize produc tion now—the more likely crack spreads will explode in the fourth quarter,” said Nevyn Nah, head of east of Suez products at Energy Aspects. “Markets need to be patient” to see the spike, the Singaporebased analyst said.

Fuel shift INDUSTRY consultant Wood Mackenzie Ltd. sees higher gasoil returns in 2020 as demand for low-sulfur fuels climb on the back of new environmental regulations. The company estimates diesel will widen to a premium of $19 a barrel to Brent crude. The spread’s currently at about $12.50, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

Several recent developments are raising optimism that concerns over global economic growth may be overdone. Keys gauges of fac tor y strength in China and the US strengthened in March, and the t wo countries seem to be inching closer to a trade deal, and the Federal Reser ve hit pause on interest-rate hikes as other ce nt ra l b a n k s d e l i ve re d s t i m u l u s. Th at could suppor t returns from making fuels such as diesel. Bloomberg News

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ARIS—A fire swept across the top of the Notre Dame Cathedral while the soaring Paris landmark was under renovation on Monday, collapsing its spire and threatening one of the world ’s greatest architectural treasures as locals and tourists watched aghast from the streets.

The French president pledged to rebuild a cathedral that he called “a part of us” and appealed for help to do so. The 12th-century church is home to relics, stained glass and other incalculable works of art and is a leading tourist attraction, immortalized

by Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

The Paris prosecutor’s office said it was treating the fire as an accident, ruling out arson and possible terror-related motives, at least for now. French media quoted the Paris fire brigade as saying the fire was “potentially linked” to a €6 million ($6.8 million) renovation project on the spire and its 500 tons of wood and 250 tons of lead.

Despite the dramatic image of the flaming cathedral, no one was killed. One firefighter was injured, among some 400 who battled the flames for hours before finally extinguishing them. Firefighters continued working through the night to cool the building and secure the monument, as residual sparks sprinkled down from the gaping hole where the spire used to be.

The blaze started at 6:50 p.m. after the cathedral had closed to the public, and spread to one of its landmark rectangular towers.

Nearby buildings were evacuated as fears mounted that the structure could collapse.

As the spire fell, the sky lit orange, acrid smoke rose in plumes and flames shot out the roof behind the nave. Hundreds of people lined bridges around the island that houses the church, one of the most visited tourist attractions in the world.

Paris fire chief Jean- Claude Gallet said the structure had b e e n s a v e d a f t e r f i r e f i g ht ers managed to stop the fire

FLAMES and smoke rise from Notre Dame Cathedral as it burns in Paris on Monday, April 15, 2019. A massive plume of yellow brown smoke is filling the air above the cathedral, and ash is falling on tourists and others around the island that marks the center of Paris. AP/THIBAULT CAMUS

spreading to the northern belfr y. Gallet said “two-thirds of the roofing has been ravaged.”

The fire came less than a week before Easter amid Holy Week commemorations. As the cathedral burned, Parisians gathered spontaneously to pray and sing hymns outside the church of Saint-JulienLes-Pauvres across the river from Notre Dame while the flames lit the sky behind them. Paris Archbishop Michel Aupetit invited priests across France to ring church bells in a call for prayers.

Nearing midnight, signs pointed to the fire nearing an end as lights could be seen through the windows moving around the front of the cathedral, apparently investigators inspecting the scene.

The city’s mayor, Anne Hidalgo, said a significant collection of art and holy objects inside the church had been recovered. In a tweet later, she thanked firefighters and others who formed a human chain to save artifacts. “The crown of thorns, the tunic of Saint Louis and many other major artifacts are now in a safe place,” she wrote.

Experts say firefighters were left with devastatingly few options to save a structure that’s more than 850 years old, built with heavy tim-

ber construction and soaring open spaces, and lacking sophisticated fire-protection systems.

French President Emmanuel Macron treated the fire as a national emergency, rushing to the scene and canceling a previously scheduled televised address meant to address France’s yellow vest crisis.

“The worse has been avoided, although the battle is not yet totally won,” the president said, adding that he would launch a national funding campaign on Tuesday and call on the world’s “greatest talents” to help rebuild the monument.

“Notre Dame of Paris is our history, our literature, our imagination. The place where we survived epidemics, wars, liberation. It has been the epicenter of our lives,” Macron said from the scene.

Built in the 12th and 13th centuries, Not re Da me i s t he most famous of the Gothic cathedrals of the Middle Ages. Situated on the Ile de la Cite, an island in the Seine River, its architecture is famous for, among other things,

its many gargoyles and its iconic flying buttresses. Some 13 million people visit it every year.

Among the most celebrated artworks inside are its three stainedglass rose windows, placed high up on the west, north and south faces of the cathedral. Its priceless treasures also include a Catholic relic, the crown of thorns, which is only occasionally displayed, including on Fridays during Lent.

“It’s not one relic, not one piece of glass—it’s the totality,” said Barbara Drake Boehm, senior curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s medieval Cloisters branch in New York, her voice shaking as she tried to put into words what the cathedral meant. “It’s the very soul of Paris, but it’s not just for French people. For all humanity, it’s one of the great monuments to the best of civilization.”

Global reactions came swiftly, including from the Vatican, which released a statement expressing shock and sadness for the “terrible fire that has devastated the Cathedral of Notre Dame, symbol of Christianity in France and in the world.”

In Washington, Trump tweeted: “So horrible to watch the massive fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris” and suggested first responders use “flying water tankers” to put it out.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York, said outside Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan that New Yorkers were united in sorrow with Parisians over the fire. “Count on our love, prayers, support and solidarity,” he said. AP

B4 Wednesday, April 17, 2019

HYUNDAI NAMED TOP REGIONAL DISTRIBUTOR OF COMMERCIAL VEHICLES FOR 2018 SUN LIFE FOUNDATION CONCLUDES PROJECT 120 CLASSROOM ON A HIGH NOTE

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UN Life Financial Philippines Foundation Inc., in partnership w i t h C h i l d r e n’s H o u r, h a s successfully concluded Project 120 C lassrooms, an initiative a iming to build 120 classrooms in areas t hat were heav i ly hit by natura l calamities.

The turnover activities for the last set of classrooms were recently held at the following: Cubag Elementary School, Cabagan Elementary School, and Catabayungan Elementary School in Cabagan, Isabela; and Nannarian and Cabbo in Peñablanca, Cagayan.

Over 2,500 students benefited from these efforts.

Prior to these areas, Sun Life also helped rebuild schools in Bohol, Cebu, Aklan, Leyte, Iloilo and Camarines Sur under Project 120 Classrooms.

Apar t f rom c lassrooms, Sun Life Foundation also built a basketball court and several reading corners that can be used by the students.

The beneficiaries were also given spor ts equipment, ar t mater ia ls, and a digital library with the help of the Department of Science and Technology and the Children’s Hour.

“It is a heartwarming moment to see the fruition of a project that we started five years ago, to celebrate Sun Life’s 120th anniversary in the Philippines. More than fulfilling a corporate social responsibility, Sun Life initiates activities like this to bring hope to Filipinos and empower them to pursue a brighter future,” said Alex Narciso, president of Sun Life of Canada (Philippines) Inc. and Sun Life Foundation. “ Through prog rams l i ke t his t hat promote education, livelihood, and hea lth and wellness, we earnestly hope to positively impact the communities we serve.”

Narciso was joined by fellow Sun Life executives: Sun Life Philippines Holding Co. and Sun Life Foundation c h a i r m a n R i z a Ma nt a r i ng a nd Sun Life Financial Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Kevin Strain in the turnover activity.

They also took the chance to bond with the school children through mural painting, volleyball, as well as story telling.

Sun Life executives, led by Narciso and Mantaring, present a plaque of recognition to Children’s Hour in honor of their support for Project 120 Classroom.

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EADING automotive company Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. (Hari) achieved another milestone as it won the 2018 Regional Distributor of the Year award for commercial vehicles (CV) in the Asia Pacific, Russia and commonwealth of independent states (CIS) at the Hyundai truck and bus regional convention 2019 held in Cebu City.

The award represents Hari’s second major CV award in as many years, since being granted the sole distributorship of Hyundai trucks and buses in 2016.

No-less than In Cheol-lee, executive vice president for Hyundai Motor Co. (HMC) commercial vehicles division, presented the award to Hari President and Chief Executive Officer Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo.

“It is with great pride that we accept this award

from Hyundai Motor Co. To be recognized as Regional Distributor of the Year after only two years in the commercial-vehicle business is a testament to how driven and dedicated we are to become the Filipino’s trusted partner to success,” Perez-Agudo said.

Photo shows Perez-Agudo (left) holding up the 2018 Regional Distributor of the Year award along with In Cheol-lee.

WIN A MALDIVES GETAWAY WITH SM AND VISA!

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N for a luxurious summer getaway? This summer, shoppers and fun-seekers alike can indulge in dining treats and shop for summer must-haves at SM using their Visa card, for a chance to win a trip for two to the Maldives!

An amazing opportunity to fly to the Indian Ocean paradise, this promo runs from April 1 to June 30 in participating SM malls across the country: SM Aura Premier, SM Southmall, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, SM City North, The Podium, SM Seaside City Cebu and SM Lanang Premier.

Five lucky couples will be chosen to take the summer holiday of a lifetime, with a round-trip flight and a threenight accommodation in a premier sea-view room with a balcony at Velana Blu Maafushi. Aside from enjoying the pristine white-sand banks, the vacation will include

adventures, such as snorkeling with turtles, dolphin watching, night fishing, an unlimited canoe ride, and a day to capture photos and videos of your adventure on your stay.

Simply shop or dine in any of the participating SM mall and pay with your Visa credit, debit or prepaid card to receive a raffle entry. You can double your raffle entries when you tap to pay with Visa. Making the season hotter, shoppers can instantly win a reward along with their raffle entry upon presenting a single receipt worth a minimum of P5,000 using straight payments.

The warm, luminous cyan waters and schools of brightly colored corals and tropical sea creatures await you in a glamorous getaway to the Maldives. Don’t forget Follow #SMVisaSummer to learn more!

MODERN ISUZU RIDES ENHANCE NEWLY BUILT PARAÑAQUE TERMINAL OPERATIONS

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XECUTIVES of Isuzu Philippines Corp.

(IPC) paid a visit on March 26 to the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) to witness how Isuzu’s modernized public-utility vehicles (PUVs) are helping enhance PITX’s services and operations.

Touring the PITX facilities were IPC President Hajime Koso, sales and marketing division head Joseph Bautista, and corporate communication manager Nora Liquido. They were met

by PITX general manager Mariano Antonio Arroyo.

The IPC officers were transported to PITX on board an Isuzu QKR77 cab and chassis platform configured into a Class 2, 23-seater, air-conditioned, modernized PUV with the rear body designed and manufactured by Almazora Motors Corp. This PUV is one of the 15 units franchised to the Senate Employees Transport Service Cooperative (Setsco) plying the southwest Manila route, from the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) to PITX and vice versa.

The Setsco franchise also signifies IPC’s pilot endeavor with the modernized PUV. These PUVs started operations last June 18.

On board the modernized PUV, the IPC officers enjoyed its amenities, comfort and safety. The PUV body is compliant with Philippine National Standards (PNS 2126:2017). The passenger cabin floor-toceiling height and gangway provide more space for passengers to move easily inside. The passenger door is safely situated on the right-hand side, facing the sidewalk. Other design features of the body include panoramic windows and windshields, full-body insulation with GeneQ shield, automatic door closer, ECE-compliant headlamps, brake system, wipers, windshield washer, side-view mirrors and provisions for persons with disabilities.

Completing the modernized look and features of the new PUVs are the LCD/LED TV monitors, electronic signages, fire extinguishers, GPS navigation system, CCTV, dashcam and backup cameras, and the automatic fare collection system—all geared for passengers’ safety, entertainment and added convenience in fare collection.

As the group disembarked at the designated unloading area and entered the PITX facilities, they witnessed the spacious, airport-like facilities, all geared for the convenient, comfortable, safe and speedy transit of passengers coming in and out of southwest of Metro Manila.

The arrivals and departures of provincial buses are well-segregated and orderly—buses arriving from the provinces are directed to the second-floor level, while departures are at the ground-floor level—with numerous LED monitors on the hallways indicating bus schedules, destinations, arrival and departure

times, and strategically placed speakers announcing transit updates. Ticketing booths are numerous and conducted expediently. Passenger waiting areas are similar to those of airline lounges. The multilevel PITX is air-conditioned all throughout, with various food stalls and merchandise stores lining the walkways for passengers’ shopping needs while in transit.

The PITX also offers loading and unloading bays for Metro jeepneys and garage-to-terminal shuttle vans.

The PITX, built and operated by Megawide Construction Corp. and the Department of Transportation, started operations last November 5 under the Public-Private Partnership program; and was projected to be able to handle up to 200,000 passengers daily, servicing the following routes in the Cavite and Batangas provinces: Kawit, Noveleta, Cavite City, Tanza, Naic, Maragondon, Ternate, General Trias, Trece Martires, Indang, Bacoor, Imus, Dasmarinas, Silang, Amadeo, Tagaytay, Mendez, Alfonso, Nasugbu and Lian.

Says Koso, who was visibly impressed with the facilities and systems already in place at the PITX: “The PITX is a prime example of how public-private partnerships can work in harmony to improve the lives of the people. Isuzu Philippines Corp. is delighted to play its part in this business model, as we provide the modern PUVs necessary for the convenient, safe, comfortable and efficient transit of passengers between PITX and their places of work, leisure and residence in southwestern Manila, Pasay and Paranaque cities.”

Bautista added: “Setsco’s modern PUVs are merely the start of IPC’s wholehearted effort to support the government’s public-utility vehicle modernization program, which is envisioned to replace 200,000 old jeepneys nationwide with new, safe and environmentfriendly public-utility vehicles. IPC has been slowly but steadily adding Isuzu-branded modern PUVs to transport fleets and cooperatives around Metro Manila and in the provinces, since the government program started [last] June 2018.”

Arroyo acknowledged the significant role the modern PUVs play in the fulfillment of PITX’s mandate.

He affirmed that modern PUVs, such as those of Isuzu, have helped immensely in expanding the branding, purpose and public acceptance of the PITX.

GOLF INDUSTRY ROARS BACK, TOO Sports

RAFAEL NADAL doesn’t now what the future brings in as far as his injury is concerned. AP

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| Wednesday, April 17, 2019 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

Nadal walks on soft clay in Monte Carlo return

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THE golf industry has been waiting for Tiger Woods to win again—and win with a flourish he does at Augusta National. AP

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EW YORK—Tiger Woods’s win at the Masters could revitalize the golf industry, which has struggled in the past decade while the game’s biggest star was hobbled by issues on and off the course.

Bridgestone Golf, whose logo was on the golf balls Woods used, says its web site traffic soared after the Sunday win.

Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Tour Superstore, which sells golf equipment online, says sales were up over the weekend by 50 percent from a year ago.

And shares of Nike, the sponsor that stood by Woods after his 2009 car crash and reports of extramarital affairs, rose on Monday, as did the stocks of other golf-equipment makers that aren’t connected to Woods.

“The golf industry has been waiting for him to win again,” said Rick Burton, a professor at Syracuse University’s David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. TV ratings of golf tournaments and sales of golf equipment are likely to rise, he noted.

Star athletes, he said, help draw more people to the game. “It’s kind of a tsunami effect,” Burton said.

It had been 11 years since Woods had a major win—and enthusiasm for golf seemed to wane during his drought as he battled injuries and worked to repair his reputation. Nike stopped selling golf equipment in 2016 to focus on apparel. About a year

later, rival Adidas sold off its golf business. And Golfsmith, the largest golf retail chain in the US at the time, filed for bankruptcy protection and was later bought by Dick’s Sporting Goods.

On Sunday Nike didn’t waste time capitalizing on Woods’s win, posting a video on Twitter that had more than 24 million views by Monday afternoon. During the tournament, Woods wore head-totoe Nike with the hard-to-miss swoosh logo on his hat, shirt, pants and shoes. PGA Tour Superstore said a red Nike shirt with a mock turtleneck, similar to the one Woods wore, was its top seller over the weekend.

“After an incredible win at the Masters, the Tiger effect is expected to kick off the start of the golf season better than expected,” PGA Tour Superstore said in a statement.

Apex Marketing Group, a branding consulting company, estimated the media exposure for Nike to be worth more than $22 million. Nike Inc.’s stock rose less than 1 percent on Monday.

Shares of energy-drink maker Monster Beverage Corp., a sponsor whose green logo appears on Woods’s golf bag, gained about 2 percent.

Other golf companies that aren’t connected to Woods also saw a boost. Club maker Callaway Golf Co.’s stock rose 1.5 percent And Acushnet Holdings Corp., maker of golf balls and other golfing equipment, added 1.7 percent On Monday Bridgestone Golf CEO Dan Murphy said in an

interview on business news network CNBC that web site traffic jumped 200 percent after Woods’s win.

“In the equipment business, we have an old saying: ‘Win on Sunday and sell on Monday,’” he said. “And that’s what we’re doing.”

PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM PRESIDENT Donald J. Trump says he will present Tiger Woods with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Woods won his fifth Masters title on Sunday, overcoming personal and professional adversity to once more claim the green jacket.

Trump tweeted on Monday that he spoke to Woods and congratulated him on “the great victory” and “to inform him that because of his incredible Success & Comeback in Sports (Golf) and, more importantly, LIFE, I will be presenting him with the PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM!” Trump didn’t say when a ceremony will be held. The medal is the nation’s highest honor for a civilian.

The president is an avid golfer who played a round with Woods at Trump’s golf club in Jupiter, Florida, in February. He watched the Masters from his Virginia golf club on Sunday. AP

FOR BELIEVING IN WOODS, BETTOR WINS $1.19 MILLION

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AS VEGAS—William Hill US announced that James Adducci, 39, of Wisconsin, won the massive $1.19-million payout after Tiger Woods’s Masters victory.

Adducci placed an $85,000 bet on Tiger to win the Masters on Tuesday at 14/1 (+1400) odds at the William Hill Sports Book at SLS Casino, which resulted in the largest golf payout in William Hill history.

To celebrate the win, Joe Asher, CEO of William Hill US, and Paul Hobson, General Manager of SLS, presented Adducci with a check for $1,275,000 (inclusive of the $1,190,00 payout plus the original $85,000 stake) at the William Hill Sports Book at SLS Casino on Monday.

“This is a story for the ages,” Asher said. “Tiger climbs back to the top, and a guy from Wisconsin, on his first sports bet ever, wins over a $1 million betting on him. We congratulate both James and Tiger on their epic wins.”

“Golf was so special for my dad and I,” Adducci said. “To see Tiger win a major tournament for the first time in front of his kids meant a lot to me.”

Adducci flew to Vegas on April 9 to make the wager on Woods, his first sports bet ever, before flying right back home.

William Hill Plc. is one of the world’s leading betting and gaming companies, employing more than 16,000 people. Its origins are in the UK where it was founded in 1934, and where it is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

The majority of its $2.1-billion annual revenues are still derived from the UK, where it has a national presence of licensed betting offices and one of the leading online betting and gaming services. In 2012, it established William Hill US with a focus on retail and mobile operations in Nevada, which is now the largest sports betting business in the USA. William Hill US (www.williamhill.us) currently operates 114 race and sports books in Nevada and the state’s leading mobile sports betting app.

William Hill is operating in New Jersey at Monmouth Park Racetrack, Ocean Resort Casino, Tropicana Atlantic City and online with the William Hill New Jersey sports betting app.

William Hill is a licensed sports betting provider in numerous casinos in Mississippi, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, and serves as the exclusive risk manager for the sports lottery in Delaware.

William Hill also has licensed operations in the Bahamas, Italy and Spain, and serves online customers throughout the world from its online headquarters in Gibraltar. AP WILLIAM Hill US CEO Joe Asher (from left), James Adducci and SLS Las Vegas General Manager Paul Hobson stand with a ceremonial check of Adducci’s winnings. AP

ONACO—Rafael Nadal is unsure how his latest injury return will go this week, even though it will be on the clay-court king’s favorite surface.

The second-ranked Spaniard is coming back at the Monte Carlo Masters, a tournament he has won a record 11 times along with the French Open and Barcelona.

“It has been a tough year and a half for me, so it’s tough to have a clear view about how I am,” Nadal said on Monday at the French Riviera tournament, where he plays Spanish countryman Roberto Bautista Agut in the second round on Wednesday.

“I had too many stops; I didn’t find a way to play three weeks in a row without problems.

So it has been hard for me. When you have these things going on, on the mental side it’s up and down. It’s always like a comeback.”

Even Toni Nadal, his uncle and former coach, was skeptical about Nadal’s long-term future in tennis in an interview with El Pais last month.

“Rafael wants to continue playing, despite his physical problems,” Toni said. “That is what will continue to be decisive. Until when, who knows? Maybe two or three more years. What I’m saying is that Rafael is not a tennis player, he’s an injured person who plays tennis.”

Responding on Monday, the 32-year-old Nadal said his uncle had apologized for the comments.

“He came to the court and felt sorry for that. Toni wanted to say it in a positive way because of course I had many issues,” Nadal said. “Toni has conferences for companies every week. So when you talk a lot, sometimes you make some mistakes.”

Bautista Agut beat top-ranked Novak Djokovic at the Miami Open last month—where Nadal did not play. His troublesome right knee had flared up again the previous tournament, forcing him to pull out of his semifinal against Roger Federer at Indian Wells.

Nadal resumed practice two weeks ago, and his knee is holding up.

“My knee is quite good. Happy for that. Now I need to work on the tennis,” he said. “I hope the competition puts me in the rhythm I need.”

Nadal usually finds his rhythm quicker than anyone on clay.

Last year, he missed February and March after retiring in the fifth set of his Australian Open quarterfinal against Marin Cilic with a hip injury.

However, it did not stop him reeling off 14 straight wins on clay without dropping a set— winning two Davis Cup matches, the Monte Carlo and Barcelona titles before Dominic Thiem stopped him in the Madrid Masters quarterfinals.

Nadal went on to win the Rome Masters and French Open and reached the Wimbledon semifinals on grass, losing an epic five-setter to Djokovic.

Then his body let him down, again.

After retiring from the US Open semifinals against Juan Martin del Potro because of a right-knee injury, he did not play again last season—pulling out of the Paris Masters and the season-ending Association of Tennis Professionals Finals with an abdominal problem.

“I don’t like to talk about frustration,” Nadal said. “Because life has been too good to me to be frustrated.”

Nadal has won more than $100 million in prize money and 80 titles, including a record 33 Masters events. His tally of 17 Grand Slams is second to Federer’s 20.

But nagging doubts persist.

“At some point, even if I appreciate everything this sport has given to me, sometimes it’s tough to accept when you have problems in a row,” he said. “Since the beginning of the season again it has been tough. You need to be strong mentally and keep the passion very high.”

But Nadal did manage a lighter note about his uncle’s “overdramatic” prognosis.

“Being No. 2 in the world, it is maybe difficult to be where I am being an injured person,” Nadal said, smiling. “I have more problems than almost the rest of my competitors, but I was able to manage it well all my life.” AP

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Fernando, Cowan, Hachimura intend to join NBA draft

MMA body inks deal with One

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HE largest global sports media property in Asian history, One Championship, sealed a multiyear sevenfigure partnership with Global Association of Mixed Martial Arts (GAMMA), the independent governing body of mixed martial arts worldwide.

Based in Amsterdam, GAMMA is a nonprofit organization founded in 2018 made up of tough leaders and pioneers in mixed martial arts across five continents with decades of experience in the sport.

GAMMA is headed by Alexander Engelhardt and its members are made up of national federations in 60 countries.

GAMMA’s objective is to obtain international recognition for mixed martial arts as an Olympic sport with the objective of giving amateur mixed martial artists the platform and opportunity to fulfill their dream of competing on the Olympic stage.

As part of the partnership, One Championship will support GAMMA’s efforts to obtain Olympic recognition. In addition, One will also work with GAMMA to develop and promote best practices in health and safety standards, anti-doping regulations and competition rules for the daily safe practice of competitive mixed martial arts at the amateur level.

“One Championship is thrilled to announce a multiyear partnership with GAMMA. As a lifelong martial artist, I am personally invested in developing the amateur mixed martial arts scene, and ensuring that all athletes have the right foundation and support to pursue a professional career in this sport,” Chatri Sityodtong, chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, said.

With support from One, GAMMA will hold the Amateur MMA World Championships in Singapore in November, showcasing the world’s biggest and brightest young martial arts talents.

“On behalf of GAMMA, I would like to thank One Championship for their support and commitment to the sport of mixed martial arts,” GAMMA President Alexander Engelhardt said.

“As a lifelong karate practitioner, I am passionate about delivering the same level of international recognition to the discipline of mixed martial arts. Both GAMMA and One celebrate the authentic martial arts values of integrity, humility, honor, respect, courage, discipline and compassion in the same spirit as the Olympics.,” Engelhardt added.

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RLANDO had to fight until the final days of the regular season to get its postseason berth. Portland had to scramble down the stretch to replace a huge part of its success.

And as is usually the case, San Antonio Coach Gregg Popovich had his team playing its best basketball at the end.

The Magic, Trail Blazers and Spurs were playoff ready. That’s why they’re all taking 1-0 series leads into their respective Game 2s on Tuesday night—with Orlando at Toronto, San Antonio at Denver and Portland playing host to Oklahoma City.

Orlando and San Antonio, both No. 7 seeds, won on the road and grabbed homecourt advantage. But they both know what’s coming when Denver and Toronto get fueled by desperation on Tuesday night.

“It’s going to be a lot tougher,” Spurs guard DeMar DeRozan said.

“We’re going to get their best,” Magic

OLLEGE PARK, Maryland— Maryland sophomore forward Bruno Fernando and junior guard Anthony Cowan Jr. intend to declare for early entry into the 2019 National Basketball Association (NBA) draft.

Coach Mark Turgeon says both players intend to sign with agents who will work with the Maryland coaching staff throughout the process before deciding whether to return to the school.

Under newly adopted NCAA rules, college players are allowed to retain the services of an agent during the evaluation process. If players choose to return to school, they must end the relationship with the agent and they will not lose any eligibility.

The 6-foot-10 Fernando had 22 double-

WHAT A COMEBACK! THE Clippers’ Lou Williams shoots against Golden State’s Kevon Looney (5) and Draymond Green. AP

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AKLAND, California—Lou Williams led the Los Angeles Clippers to the largest postseason comeback in National Basketball Association (NBA) history.

Landry Shamet hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 16.5 seconds left, Stephen Curry couldn’t answer on the other end, and the Clippers somehow rallied from 31 points down on the road to stun the Golden State Warriors, 135-131, on Monday night and even their first-round playoff series at one game apiece.

The comeback topped a 29-point rally by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1989 Western Conference semifinals over Seattle. The Clippers confirmed it’s the best comeback ever.

“That’s a record we didn’t necessarily want to have. We’ll take it,” Williams said. “You’re competitive and you get lost in the game.

Once you cut the lead to 12, you cut the lead to 10, then you realize you’ve got a game going.

I’m one of those guys who can get hot.”

Curry scored 29 points and put the Warriors up 131-128 with 58 seconds left before Shamet’s dagger on a night the twotime defending NBA champions lost DeMarcus Cousins to a leg injury in the first quarter.

“We changed a couple things offensively

and defensively in the third on the fly. It worked out for us. But I thought it was our spirit more than anything,” Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said. “Just every single guy. I loved the end of the game.”

Williams tied the game on a jumper with 1:10 to play then Curry immediately answered.

Williams scored again at 46 seconds and finished with 36 points and made eight of 10 free throws in as the teams combined for 64 fouls and 76 free throws attempted.

“When I say we stopped playing, we stopped playing, like defense, offense, execution-wise we were not as engaged as we needed to be,” Warriors Coach Steve Kerr said. “We got exactly what we deserved. The Clippers were great. They executed, they were hungry, they stayed connected. They were together.”

Cousins injured his left quadriceps muscle in the first quarter and was done for the game, but Golden State’s depth shined and the Warriors built a 23-point halftime lead they pushed to a 31-point advantage before failing to hold off Los Angeles late.

Williams’s jumper and three-point play with 5:34 left pulled the Clippers within 120-117 then he rebounded his own miss and scored the putback at the 5:05 mark

and cut it to 121-119.

“The wheels fell off,” Curry said.

Cousins was scheduled to undergo an MRI exam after the injury in just his second career playoff game following a nine-year wait. The big man returned in January from a nearly yearlong absence following surgery for a torn left achilles tendon.

He won’t play in Game Three on Thursday at Staples Center and Cousins’s entire postseason is in serious doubt.

Kerr said Cousins will be out “a while.”

“There’s a pretty significant quad injury,” Kerr said.

Cousins hobbled to the locker room at the 8:09 mark of the first quarter. At the 8 1/2-minute mark Cousins stole the ball from Patrick Beverley in the back court and tried to retrieve the loose ball when went down in front of the Golden State bench and grabbed at his left quad.

LeBron James tweeted prayers for Cousins, who fouled out of Saturday’s 121104 Game One win with nine points, nine rebounds and four assists in 21 minutes.

Kevon Looney picked up the bulk of the extra minutes in Cousins’s absence and scored a career-high 19 points making all six of his shots but the Warriors had their seven-game

postseason winning streak snapped that dated to last year’s run to a repeat championship.

Durant had 21 points, five rebounds and five assists, Klay Thompson scored 17 points and Draymond Green 14 with nine assists.

Curry followed up a 38-point performance in Game One that gave him the most threes in postseason history with another nice showing but Golden State hurt itself with too many miscues.

The Warriors committed 21 turnovers in Game One, then 22 more Monday—nine by Durant.

Ben Simmons had 18 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds and Philadelphia had an answer for pesky Brooklyn in a 145-123 win to even their Eastern Conference playoff series also on Monday.

Simmons had a disastrous Game 1, on the court (nine points) and from a PR perspective after he criticized fans for booing during a game the Sixers were never really in. He backtracked the next day at practice and never gave another 20,591 fans a chance to do anything but roar in approval in Game Two. AP

Magic, Spurs, Blazers seek 2-0 series leads Coach Steve Clifford said.

It goes without saying that all the teams that are down 1-0 found ways to get better for Game 2. The same goes for the teams leading those series. Clifford has spent two days imploring the Magic to clean up their offense. San Antonio felt it gave Denver too many open looks. Portland won with the help of Oklahoma City missing 28 tries from threepoint range, which likely won’t happen again.

“We played nine players, six of those players it was their first time in the playoffs, their playoff debut,” Nuggets Coach Michael Malone said. “Overall they handled those playoff nerves fairly well.”

The nerves should be lessened on Tuesday.

Toronto dropped a Game 1 for the 14th time in 16 playoff series. The Raptors aren’t

fazed. Kyle Lowry was scoreless in Game One, but Raptors Coach Nick Nurse said defense was the bigger issue for his club.

“We didn’t guard the ball well enough,” Nurse said. “And when we didn’t guard the ball well enough, we didn’t have our second line of help in position. And then we did a poor job of executing some of the game plan portions.

Just too many, just strange things I almost can’t explain. Somebody would leave a guy and all of a sudden he’s standing there wide open. Those things can’t happen.”

Portland, perhaps written off by some when Jusuf Nurkic got hurt late in the season, had a great Game 1 performance from Enes Kanter.

“He gave us a lot of toughness,” Blazers Coach Terry Stotts said. AP

CIGNAL ULTRA WARRIORS TOP INAUGURAL THE NATIONALS T

HE Cignal Ultra Warriors lived up to their billing as heavy favorites by ruling the inaugural The Nationals at the expense of the Suha-Execration Punishers, 3-2, in the Dota 2 best-of-five finals series 3-2 on Sunday at the Gariath Concepts in Eastwood City.

Cignal obtained an automatic finals berth with its league-best 13-3 record in the group stage of the first professional eSports tournament.

Their skill was on full display after convincingly winning Game 1 of the finals.

Although the Punishers racked up back-toback wins, including a 27-minute stomp in Game 2, the Ultra Warriors stepped up and won the final two games of the conference with a strong push oriented lineup of Beastmaster, Pugna, Jakiro, Dazzle and Sven in the final game.

The Punishers eliminated PLDT-Smart Omega in a best-of-three semifinal that also went the distance. Suha-Execration played a

total of eight games on playoff day.

The Warriors won the top prize of P400,000 in the three-week tournament, while the Punishers and second runner-up Omega got P200,000 and P100,000, respectively.

Cignal’s Fernando “Nando” Mendoza was named Best Player of the finals, finishing with an average of 9.4 kills, six assists and 650 GPM per game.

The Nationals is the country’s premier eSports league and the recently concluded Dota 2 conference is one of six conferences in the program.

The next Dota 2 conference will start on May 1.

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Tekken 7, two of the country’s biggest games on mobile and console, will also host two conferences each later this year. The Nationals is on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at PHNationals. It also aired on 5Plus via ESPN5 and One Sports, and eGG Network via CignalTV.

MEMBERS of the Cignal Ultra Warriors receive the prize after winning the Dota 2 Finals of The Nationals on Sunday. In photo are (from left) Team Manager Jeffrey Lansangan, team owner Auggie Cadua, players Fernando “Nando” Mendoza, Jomari “Grimz” Aniz, Pio Emeterio, Erice Guerra and Van Jerico Manalaysay, and Coach John Jerick Paulo.

THE Magic’s DJ Augustin (left) celebrates his gamewinning three-point basket with Evan Fournier late in the second-half of Game One of their first-round series with the Raptors. AP

doubles in 2018-19 and earned First Team All-Big Ten honors. He said playing in the NBA “has long been my dream” but intends to make “an informed decision” before fully committing to the draft.

Cowan led the Terrapins in scoring, assists and minutes the last two seasons.

Gonzaga star forward Rui Hachimura has also declared for the NBA draft.

The junior said Monday he will hire an agent as he pursues a professional career.

The 6-foot-8 native of Japan led Gonzaga in scoring this season with 19.7 points per game while shooting 59 percent from the field. He was also named the West Coast Conference player of the year.

During three years at Gonzaga, Hachimura was part of three trips to the Sweet 16, two Elite Eights and an appearance in the national championship game.

Gonzaga finished with a 33-4 record this season and advanced to the Elite Eight. AP

IIHF offers explanation for call that cost Finland gold

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SPOO, Finland—The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) offered an explanation on Monday for the decision to waive off what would have been the gold medal-winning goal by Finland in the host country’s shootout loss to the United States in the women’s world hockey championship game.

The IIHF, which had a video judge review every goal during the tournament, cited two rules in saying the goal by Petra Nieminen at 11:33 of overtime was disallowed due to non-incidental goaltender interference.

Nieminen’s goal sparked a wild celebration on Sunday as jubilant fans cheered what would have been Finland’s first championship in its first appearance in the title game.

After a lengthy video review, the goal was called back.

Finland captain Jenni Hiirikoski had made contact with American goaltender Alex Rigsby, who was moving out of her crease, as she passed in front of the net. Hiirikoski wasn’t assessed a goaltender interference penalty, but Rigsby was given a tripping minor.

The IIHF said the video judge weighed two rules in making the decision to waive off the goal.

One states: “An attacking skater who makes contact other than incidental with a goaltender who is out of his goal crease during game action will be assessed a minor penalty for interference. If a goal is scored at this time, it will not count.” The other states: “Incidental contact is allowed when the goaltender is in the act of playing the puck outside his goal crease, provided the attacking skater makes a reasonable effort to minimize or avoid such contact.”

Once the goal was waived off, the referees decided to uphold the tripping penalty. The Americans killed off two penalties in overtime before winning the game in a shootout as dispirited fans watched their devastated team await their runner-up honors.

Finnish Ice Hockey Federation Chief Executive Officer Matti Nurminen said referees planned to give a penalty to Rigsby for tripping and were allowing the goal.

“But when it goes to video review, the power and authority goes [to] the video-goal judges,” he said after the game. “They saw it as goalie interference and made that decision.”

Hiirikoski did not think she had illegally interfered with the American.

“She came out from her crease,” she said. “What can you do? We don’t make the decisions.”

Rigsby saw it a different way: “I knew right away that it was not a goal.

I was trying to ask the ref how I got a penalty, considering I was the one who got body-slammed. But the ref thinks I tried tripping the player when I was on the ground, and somehow I end up with the penalty. Funny how that went.”

Finland Coach Pasi Mustonen said the play was simple: it was either a penalty on Hiirikoski for goalie interference, and no goal or a penalty on Rigsby and a goal by Nieminen.

He said he received no explanation from officials about the decision. AP

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DUTCH TAKES CHARGE

CHESS IN ‘GAPO

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LONGAPO City will host the Invitational International Chess Federation Age Group Standard Chess Tournament from May 10 to 12 at the Gordon College of East Tapinac Oval Sports Complex with hopes of giving young Filipinos a chance to gain FIDE rating points.

Open to all Filipino players aged 20 and below, the three-day tournament will use the nine-round Swiss System format and will stake a total cash pot of P35,000 plus the FIDE rating points to all participants.

The event is divided into three categories— 12-under (2007 cutoff year), 16-under (2003) and 20-under (1999).

Interested parties may contact Joel Villanueva of the City Sports and Youth Development Office at 09509060341 or send message to his facebook or e-mail account aveunallivjev@gmail.com.

Daquioag declared Player of the Week

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WEET-SHOOTING guard Ed Daquioag captured the Cignal-Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Press Corps Player of the Week honors after playing a major role in Rain or Shine’s 2-0 series lead over Magnolia in their Philippine Cup semifinals.

The standout from University of Santo Tomas averaged 14.5 points, three rebounds and two assists in the first two games of the series.

Known as a three-point threat since his college days, Daquioag provided the offensive thrust for the second seed Elasto Painters off the bench in Game One, finishing with 10 points, three boards, an assist and a 3-pointer to help his team to an 84-77 win.

He scored four points late in the third quarter when the Elasto Painters began asserting themselves following a poor first-half shooting.

The 6-foot-1 Daquioag added another two-point basket in the fourth quarter, joining hands with veterans Beau Belga and Gabe Norwood in disposing of the Pambansang Manok to take the opening game of the best-of-seven semifinals.

In Game Two, Daquioag justified his starting role, firing 19 points and lacing it with three triples, part of ROS’ fiery 16 3-pointers in Rain or Shine’s dominant 93-80 win over Magnolia.

Rain or Shine eyes a commanding 3-0 series lead against Magnolia on Tuesday.

Daquioag came into the pro league via Meralco, which selected him in the special draft.

But his stay with the Bolts was shortlived after being traded to the Elasto Painters in exchange for rookie batchmate Mike Tolomia. The 27-year-old Ilokano guard has since found a home with Rain or Shine.

Daquioag beat teammate Norwood, along with San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo, Alex Cabagnot and Christian Standhardinger for the weekly citation for the period of April 9 to 14.

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UIDO VAN DER VALK scorched Luisita’s tough backside with a solid 31 and finished with a seven-under 65, moving from joint 21st to the top of the heap even as Juvic Pagunsan fired a bogeyfree 69 to wheel back into contention halfway through the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Luisita Championship at the Luisita Golf and Country Club on Tuesday in Tarlac.

The Manila-based Dutchman actually sparked his late charge with a three-birdie string from No. 9 and knocked down three more in the last four to shoulder himself past a slew of rivals and into the lead at seven-under 137 with two rounds left in the $100,000 event kicking off the third season of the Philippine Golf Tour Asia (PGTA) put up by ICTSI. “Overall, my game was near-perfect. Played pretty well sans the wind although the pin placements were difficult,” said Van der Valk, who missed just two fairways and one green while anchoring his exploits with 28 putts.

That put the 39-year-old shotmaker from Lelystad, the Netherlands, 36 holes away from duplicating his breakthrough win in the first leg of the 2018 PGT circuit at Eagle Ridge that ended years of near-misses in the local circuit organized

by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. Aiming to just put himself back into contention after a so-so 72 on Monday, Van der Valk birdied two of the first five holes, stumbled with a bogey on the next but got going again with that birdie from short range on the ninth.

First round leader Thai Namchok Tantipokhakul slowed down with a 71 after a 67, and slipped to joint second at 138 Finland’s Teemu Putkonen, who turned in a 68, while Jay Bayron hit a late birdie to card a 70 and stood

another shot back at 139 with Thai Kammalas Namuangruk, who made a 69.

Putkonen actually surged ahead at eightunder overall on a four-birdie splurge in the first five holes in his closing frontside but doublebogeyed the par-3 sixth and dropped to joint second instead.

Japanese Keita Sudo earlier carded a second straight 70 while Choo Tze Huang of Singapore shot a 71 for joint sixth at 140 with Natthapong Niyomchon (71), while Pagunsan made his move with a 69 to wrest solo ninth at 141, just four strokes behind.

The smooth-swinging Pagunsan, out to atone for his missed cut stint in the Philippine Open two weeks ago, proved awesome off the mound, hitting all but one fairway while saving three pars to preserve a flawless round.

Rufino Bayron shot a 73, Swede Sebastian Hansson and Peter Stojanovski of Macedonia struggled with 74s, while Kuresh Samanodi bucked a 77 as they clinched the last four spots at three-over 147s.

Failing to advance are Jun Bernis (72-148), PGTA Summit Point winner Joenard Rates (73-149), PHL Masters titlist Jerson Balasabas, former PGTA Splendido winner Rene Menor (79-157) and reigning PGT OOM champion Jobim Carlos (75-157).

Defending champion David Gleeson of Australia groped for a 74 but safely made it to the final 36 holes of the event backed

by PLDT Enterprise, Meralco, BDO and PGT Asia official apparel Pin High at 146 in the company of Keanu Jahns (74), James Ryan Lam (76), Justin Quiban (73) and Thai Pasavee Lertvilai (75), among others.

Tiger Woods story is just unfolding

Scorpions unbeaten in 6 games

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ED DAQUIOAG provides the offensive thrust for the second seed Elasto Painters off the bench in Game One.

SMB SMELLS SWEEP

ROM a team that returned from the dead and salvaged one of the biggest comebacks in the league’s history, San Miguel Beer only proved its no newbie when it comes to pulling off miracles in the playoffs.

They are in control and Head Coach Leo Austria believes overcoming such situation is a daunting task.

Winners of the first two matches of their best-of-seven semis series, the Beermen are asserting their might against the topseeded Phoenix Fuel Masters and are poised to make it 3-0 when the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup resumes on Easter Sunday after the Lenten break.

San Miguel Beer erased an early 12-point cushion to win, 92-82, on Monday and take command of the series.

With a five-day breather benefiting both teams, Austria thinks that Phoenix, the No.1 squad in the elimination round, will be putting up a good fight to avoid a deep hole.

“It’s far from over. We should prepare hard for the third game,” Austria said.

“Everybody will be recharged and refocused.”

Austria noted that it’s going to be a do-or-die match for Phoenix in Game Three as no team wants to be in a 0-3 situation.

In 2016, in the same All-Filipino conference, the Beermen wrote history by crawling back from 0-3 to win their second-straight title against the Alaska Aces. Today, they are eyeing a fourth consecutive all-Filipino jewel.

Austria, the six-time champion coach, knows that the feat is no easy task. ‘’It’s going to be hard to come back from a 0-3 series,” he said. “But 2-0 is not an assurance.”

In Game Two, Marcio Lassiter led San Miguel with 24 points, while June Mar Fajardo, who is always pestered with double teams, managed 19 points and 18 boards.

The game was marred with physicality with the Beermen’s Christian Standhardinger getting ejected in the second quarter with a flagrant foul two on Calvin Abueva. Ramon Rafael Bonilla

Scorpions’ cause.

“We just got to be ready for every situation. Marinero was able to catch up and get the lead, but we’re able to regroup, kept our poise and played defense. That’s what has been keeping us to where we are,” CEU Coach Derrick Pumaren said.

Anton Asistio led the Skippers’ inspired third quarter rally—where they even took a brief 57-56 lead late in the period before the Scorpions blew the game wide open in the last frame.

The former Ateneo guard mustered 17 points, three rebounds and two assists to anchor Marinerong Pilipino (3-3).

Kib Montalbo chipped in 16 points, six steals, four rebounds and two assists, and Santi Santillan just missed out on a double-double with 11 points and eight boards in the defeat.

DANIEL MIRANDA (left) proves his worth with a second overall finish in his first TCR Asia Series stint.

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LEO AUSTRIA: It’s going to be hard to come back from a 0-3 series, but 2-0 is not an assurance.

THAT’S ALL

GUIDO VAN DER VALK misses just two fairways and one green while anchoring his exploits with 28 putts. ROY DOMINGO

ENTRO Escolar University (CEU) got its act together late to hammer Marinerong Pilipino, 93-76, and extend its immaculate run to six games on Tuesday in the Philippine Basketball Association Developmental League at JCSGO Gym in Cubao, Quezon City.

Senegalese center Maodo Malick Diouf righted the ship for the Scorpions with 10 of his 22 points coming in the fourth quarter where they dropped 32 points to book the lopsided win.

Diouf also collected 19 rebounds, three assists and three steals in the victory as CEU stayed on top of the Foundation Group at 6-0.

Keanu Caballero showed poise at the point with his 17 points, six assists, three boards and two steals.

Tyron Chan—who poured 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists—and Judel Fuentes—who wound up with 14 points, two rebounds and two assists—also helped the

MIRANDA IMPRESSES IN DEBUT IN SEPANG

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ANIEL MIRANDA marked his TCR Asia Series debut in impressive fashion by churning out a strong runner-up finish overall in the kickoff leg of the circuit while claiming the top Asian driver honors at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia recently.

The Cebuano ace driver bucked an early struggle with setup and electrical issues on the No. 20 Hyundai i30 N TCR of Eurasia Motorsport in the qualifying with a strong start in the opening lap, holding sway throughout the grueling 11-stage event, which included a Safety Car period, while emerging the second best from among the Asian bidders.

“This is my first race in TCR Series Asia and it has been quite a learning experience,” said Miranda, who settled for No. 5 in the QTT1 elims and No. 9 in the QTT2 out of a 15-car grid.

With his car setup sorted and a front row start, the 22-year-old ace stormed to the lead on the run to the first turn in Race 2, but eventually yielded to Diego Moran of Ecuador on Lap 5. He failed to strike back but his second overall effort proved enough to clinch

AL MENDOZA alsol47@yahoo.com

the top Asian driver title against his more experienced rivals who had vied in the WTCR, World Touring Car Championships, and TCR. “I’m very happy with my podium finish and definitely looking forward to the next round in Zhuhai,” said Miranda, who also thanked his team, family and Cebuana Lhuillier for their all-out support.

Cebuana Lhuillier President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier said the company is proud to back a top athlete like Miranda, adding: “His strong finish in his very first race is a testament of his talent and determination. We are honored to be in his team and we look forward to his succeeding races.”

The next leg is set from May 3 to 5 at the Zhuhai International Circuit in China.

“Our goal was to finish among the top 5 but the second overall and emerging first among Asian drivers exceeded all our expectations. He has shown maturity right in his first TCR race and we hope to see more from him in the coming races,” said Coach and Manager Roland Hermoso.

ENOUGH of the narratives on how Tiger Woods won the 83rd Masters on Monday. They were all over—in mainstream media, as well as in the Internet. Online. If my colleagues are still pounding their laptops oozing with praise and ululations in reverse, let them be. With the likes of Tiger Woods as subject matter, he immediately provides good copy. Timeless grist even for a Hollywood movie. A novel, or a book maybe, can even come out from this epic victory of his that ended his 14-year slump at Augusta National in good, ol’ Georgia. Surely, even for the non-literati, the creative juices could drip endlessly like faucet with a model like Tiger Woods.

But the question now is, now that Tiger Woods is back, what does that tell us?

First, that he is 101 percent well now, that he has completely recovered from his leg and back injuries that had hounded, hobbled, him for years—and, out of frustration, had even nearly drove him to quit the game altogether in 2017.

For how could he have lasted four gruelling days of Masters action if he was unwell even for just a teeny-weeny bit of a second during those 16 hours or so of toiling under the sun, mostly? And include the practice rounds of at least two more days? You tell me.

Second, that he wasn’t only physically fit to play again—most important, to win again—but more than mentally ready as well to go to battle anew. To me, golf has always been a 200 percent sport: 100 percent physical, 100 percent mental. If you want it 150 percent mental and 100 percent physical, so much the better.

And third—and this is the most scary part of it—that he is again ready, even at 43 years of age, to snatch more majors. Knowing him, he’d be aiming for that. With tigerish determination, I tell you. And if he manages to grab more Slams in the next five years, no surprise there. At age 46 in 1986, Jack Nicklaus won the Masters for a record 18 majors stacked in his trophy room. And, look at this. At age 48 in 1968, Julius Boros captured the PGA Championship to become the oldest winner of a major, beating the legendary Arnold Palmer by one shot. Palmer never won the PGA to complete his career Grand Slam.

And so, with Tiger Woods winning the first major of the year that was the Masters, will it be any wonder then if he proceeds to win some more in the next three majors of 2019? And, will it even astound you, stun you, shock you, if he sweeps all three, thus giving him a total of 18 majors to tie Nicklaus’s record?

If you are Tiger Woods, nothing seems impossible anymore.

When he fell in disgrace 10 years or so ago after his multiple infidelities were exposed, almost everybody had him counted out.

Some of his major sponsors, except Nike [good move], dropped him like a hot thong.

His Swedish wife, when she couldn’t hit him with a 7 iron after a brief garage chase, left him for good—stashing away $100 million in alimony.

Then, Tiger Woods found himself in a sex rehab. Next, he’d be struck with careerthreatening injuries.

Many would harshly conclude: Tiger Woods was history.

Uh-oh. Don’t saints have a past, and sinners a future?

Remarkably, the Tiger Woods story is just unfolding.

And my own script of him is just about to be drafted. It might begin with my favorite adage: “It is not in the rising, but in the falling.”

Comments, please?

THAT’S IT Happy birthday today, April 17, to my great and glorious neighbors, Jake P. Ayson and Dr. Marcelito “Lito” Durante, and my fellow MTRCB board member Freddie “Bise Supremo” Moreno (he is abroad; enjoy!).

Like me, Jake and Dr. Lito also love golf. And, like most seniors, they aren’t long off the tee anymore. But beware. Jake and Dr. Lito have become as accurate as missiles with every shot they fire. Hardly ever will they miss a fairway. And, they may miss a green but will recover just as fast with a delicate pitch. Par. Ah, their passion for golf is without equal—next only to “weightlifting.” But, of course! So, what time do we lift our glasses, fellas? Isang manipis! Cheers!

Sports

KENYA’S Lawrence Cherono outsprints Ethiopia’s Lelisa Desisa as Worknesh Degefa breasts the tape in the Boston Marathon. AP

BusinessMirror

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| Wednesday, April 17, 2019 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

KENYAN, ETHIOPIAN DOMINATE BOSTON B

By Jimmy Golen The Associated Press

OSTON—Two-time Boston Marathon champion Lelisa Desisa turned onto Boylston Street with a sliver of a lead, leaning in front of two other runners with the finish line in sight.

Unfortunately for him, one of them was the fastest man in the field.

Lawrence Cherono needed every bit of his speed to outkick Desisa in a sprint to the tape on Monday, passing him just steps away from the finish line to win the 123rd Boston Marathon in two hours, seven minutes and 57 seconds.

Desisa, who won in 2015 and 2013, the year the race was overshadowed by a bombing at the finish line, eased up after realizing he was beaten and finished two seconds back. Kenneth Kipkemoi was third, another eight seconds behind, one of seven Kenyans in the top 10.

“It was no man’s race to win,” said Cherono, who had won in Seville, Prague, Honolulu and twice in Amsterdam but never in a major marathon before. “I kept on focusing. And at the end, I was the winner. I’m so grateful, so happy.”

Worknesh Degefa broke away from defending champion Des Linden and the rest of the women’s pack in the Framingham flats and ran alone for the last 20 miles to claim the $150,000 first prize and a gilded olive wreath from Marathon, Greece.

The 28-year-old Ethiopian, who set a national record while finishing second in Dubai less than three months ago, won in 2:23:31. Kenya’s Edna Kiplagat was second, reducing a gap of more than two minutes to 42 seconds at the finish.

American Jordan Hasay was third and Linden was fifth.

“Seeing Degefa go out—you know her ability, you know what she’s done and you wonder how it translates to this course,” Linden said. “But when she starts putting down those super quick miles, you say ‘All right, this is her race to lose.’ She becomes the outlier and you let her just go and hope that she might come back.”

She didn’t.

Instead, she became the eighth Ethiopian woman to win the race and the third in seven years. A half marathon specialist, Degefa had never seen the Boston course before Monday.

“Last year, I watched all the marathon coverage,” she said. “I kept that in my mind.”

One year after an icy rain and a near-gale headwind resulted in the slowest winning times in four decades, race organizers again prepared for the foul New England weather. But overnight thunderstorms moved on before the runners left Hopkinton—the sun even made an appearance about halfway through.

Linden took advantage of last year’s storm to splash her way to the first win for an American woman since 1985.

But with conditions back to normal, so were the results: East Africans from Kenya and Ethiopia dominating the podiums. At the 30K mark the lead pack was still close to a dozen and included three of the last four champions: Desisa, 2016 winner Geoffrey Kirui and ‘17 champ Lemi Berhanu Hayle.

“I was afraid of the guy who won two years ago. After he dropped out, I decided to win,” said Desisa, who did not finish in either of the last two years. “I tried at the last, I saw [Cherono] suddenly, then I couldn’t control the pace.”

A field of 30,000 runners followed the elites, ditching their trash bags and ponchos on the Hopkinton Green before embarking on the 26.2-mile trek from Hopkinton to Copley Square. It’s the first time the race has been

run on April 15 since the 2013 attacks; officials held a ceremony at 2:49 p.m. to honor those killed and maimed by the two pressure cooker bombs that exploded near the finish line.

Daniel Romanchuk, 20, became the youngest-ever men’s wheelchair champion in Boston, finishing in 1:21:36 for the fastest time ever for an American. Manuela Schar won the women’s wheelchair race for the second time, adding it to her titles in in Berlin, Chicago, New York and Tokyo.

If she wins in London in two weeks, she will have swept the World Marathon Major series.

“I was just really happy that the weather turned out to be actually really nice,” said Schar, who set a course record in 2017. “When we drove to that starting line, it looked really really bad and I was worried because last year was still in our heads, and I had a really bad experience last year. Today I would say [was] unfinished business.”

Dakar moves to Saudi Arabia

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ARIS—The Dakar Rally is swapping South America for Saudi Arabia.

Dakar Rally organizers say next year’s race will be held in “the deep and mysterious deserts of the Middle East, in Saudi Arabia.”

Created by Thierry Sabine after he got lost in the Libyan desert in 1977, the Dakar Rally was raced across Africa until terror threats in Mauritania led organizers to cancel the 2008 edition. The rally was then held in South America.

Details of the 2020 race will be announced later this week in Saudi Arabia.

Dakar Rally Director David Castera says “it’s a grandiose challenge, with this blank page, with unlimited possibilities.” AP

Giro d’Italia starts in Hungary

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UDAPEST, Hungary—The Giro d’Italia will start in Hungary next year.

The prelude stage will take place in Budapest, followed by two further stages on Hungarian soil.

Giro d’Italia organizers made the announcement on Tuesday at the Italian Cultural Institute in Budapest.

It will be the Grand Tour’s 14th start outside of Italy, with the most recent being in Israel last year.

This year’s Giro d’Italia will begin in Bologna on May 11 and conclude in Verona on June 2.

The announcement comes one month after the European Union’s center-right leaning coalition, the European People’s Party, suspended Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party, which has led an aggressive anti-European Union campaign and has been accused of eroding judicial independence and press freedoms.

Nippon-Vini Fantini, Bardiani CSF, Israel Cycling Academy and Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec, meanwhile, have been awarded the four wildcard invitations to the Giro.

Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec had already earned its selection by virtue of its overall victory in last year’s Ciclismo Cup (formerly Coppa Italia) standings, part of a long-standing understanding between RCS Sport and the Italian professional cycling league. That left RCS Sport with three places to assign at the Giro on Friday.

Israel Cycling Academy and Bardiani CSF return after receiving invitations last year, while Nippo-Vini Fantini is back in the race for the first time since 2016. AP

Nascar champion Johnson clocks an impressive 3:09:07 B

OSTON—Seven-time Nascar champion Jimmie Johnson didn’t have many problems on the Boston Marathon course on Monday, finishing in three hours, nine minutes and seven seconds.

It was only after receiving his medal from 2014 winner Meb Keflezighi that Johnson ran into a road block: On his way to a post race media availability, security wouldn’t let him through.

On the course, it was a different story.

“I couldn’t believe how many people did spot me,” Johnson said. “Once somebody would recognize me, the crowd would get going and I could kind of egg them on and get everybody pretty loud, which is a lot of fun.”

JIMMIE JOHNSON time is the fastest Boston Marathon ever run by a Daytona 500 winner. AP

Unlike at a Nascar race, when the fans are split among 40 different drivers, Johnson felt like the spectators lining the 26.2-mile course from Hopkinton to Boston’s Copley Square were cheering for everyone. Other runners also recognized him and offered pointers.

“I had countless people come by and [be] like, ‘All right, I know it’s your first. We’ve got this coming up. Get another gel,’” he said. “It never happens at my day job. There’s never advice passed out.”

Wearing Bib No. 4848 as a nod to his No. 48 Chevrolet, Johnson set out with the goal of breaking three hours, but he realized about seven miles in: “It wasn’t in the cards.”

“There was a lot of race left,” he said, “You think you’re taking care of yourself, but the further you get you realize the energy at the start and being around everyone kind of takes a lot out of you.”

Still, it’s the fastest Boston Marathon ever run by a Daytona 500 winner.

Michael Waltrip ran Boston in 2000 and finished in 4:42:20. (Jamie McMurray has run two marathons, with a personal record at the Kiawah Island Marathon in 3:14:06, but never Boston.)

So Johnson is pretty happy for his debut.

“Well, it’s a PR,” Johnson said. “So I’ll take that.”

Johnson received his finisher’s medal from 2014 winner Meb

Keflezighi, a fellow Gatorade athlete who also left a signed copy of his book waiting for the driver in his hotel room.

“I was like ‘Wow, that’s really nice. I hope I have a chance to meet him,’” Johnson said. “And then he hands me my medal after the race, which is just spectacular.”

Special enough to earn it a spot of honor back home. The marathon medal is going in his office, where he keeps a Daytona 500 trophy, one from the Brickyard 400 and a Nascar championship trophy.

Johnson has had a connection to the race since 2013, when MIT police officer Sean Collier died in the pursuit of the Boston Marathon bombers.

Andrew Collier, Sean’s brother, was a machinist in the engine department for Johnson’s team.

He wanted to run the next year, but it didn’t fit in with the Nascar schedule. This year, the Monday Patriots’ Day holiday came after the Saturday night race in Richmond, Virginia, which happened to be a cool night. (There had been a chance of rain that could have pushed back the race to Sunday.)

“To come back and then bring up Sean’s name...I hope they’re watching,” Johnson said. “The family’s still in the area. Hopefully they’ll see it and see Sean’s name and know that it’s been a pleasure to bring his name back up and honor him.” AP

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Just God

EAR God, You forgive us and deliver us from evil.

We give You thanks and pray: Gracious God, have mercy on us. Help us to fix our hearts on Your will and strengthen us to bear our crosses in love. Animate the works of justice, prayer and charity in Your Church. Give patience and encouragement to those who care for the elderly or infirm. Inspire lovers of nature to preserve and conserve Your creation to keep this earth green and beautiful. May the Lord bless and prune the works of our hearts and minds so that we may celebrate the paschal festival with joy. Amen.

GIVE US THIS DAY SHARED BY LUISA LACSON, HFL Word&Life Publications • teacherlouie1965@yahoo.com

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

Life BusinessMirror

How not to break the bank on streaming services discontinue FilmStruck, a streaming service that was a collaboration between Turner Classic Movies and the Criterion Collection. But a similar service called The Criterion Channel that offers 1,000 classic and contemporary films is stepping up to fill the void. It costs $11 a month or $99 for a year.

Other movie-centric streaming services include Fandor ($6 per month or $50 per year) or Mubi ($11 per month). Both offer a curated selection of movies.

Those on a budget can try Kanopy, a streaming service that works with public libraries and universities to offer library-card holders streaming movies for free.

THERE are more TV streaming services than ever before and more people are opting to drop cable in favor of streaming services. But monthly subscriptions can add up fast.

A little research on which services are best for you can help save big bucks. AP

By maE andErSon & Sarah SKidmorE SELL The Associated Press

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EW YORK—With more TV streaming services than ever before, from newcomers like Disney Plus to stalwarts like Netflix, consumers may feel the ideal viewing experience is finally at hand.

Americans have, on average, three streaming video subscription services, according to a recent study of digital media trends by Deloitte. While some have dropped cable and its average bill of around $100 a month altogether, about 43 percent have both pay TV and streaming subscriptions.

Yet, patching together a variety of services to get just what one wants isn’t always seamless. Families and individuals can still find themselves with a service that doesn’t perfectly suit their viewing habits.

And those monthly subscriptions can add up fast.

“It doesn’t make sense to pay for a bunch of content you have no interest in watching,” said Bruce McClary, vice president of marketing for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. “Finding a service that lets you scale your channel lineup based on your interests can also help you avoid paying for things you don’t need.”

A little research on which services are best for you can help save big bucks.

FOR FAMILIES DISNEY is making the biggest play for family

viewership. The owner of Disney Channel, the Star Wars franchise and most recently Fox’s entertainment business is betting its mix of family-friendly franchises and beloved animated classics, along with original programming, will make the Disney Plus service irresistible to families, even if they already subscribe to other services. The service, launching November 12, will cost $7 a month initially.

For some kids, there may be no substitute for watching Disney’s Frozen over and over again. But other services that families might already subscribe to have a lot of family-friendly programming, too.

Amazon Prime ($119 per year or $13 per month for Prime loyalty program membership; Prime Video alone costs $9 a month), Hulu ($6 to $12 per month), and Netflix ($9 to $16 per month) all offer kids programming. Another choice for parents: HBO Now ($15 a month) is the home for the classic kids TV show Sesame Street. And for spendthrifts, YouTube’s free Kids channel offers an endless stream of kid-friendly fare, although quality varies widely.

FOR MOVIE BUFFS MOVIE fans will soon have to work a bit harder to find movies to stream. As Disney, Fox, Universal and Warner Brothers, and others offer their own streaming services, they will all eventually pull their content from Netflix. But niche services are there to fill the void. Classic movies can be difficult to find streaming. Movie fans suffered a loss when AT&T, which bought Time Warner last year, decided to

FOR SPORTS FANS SPORTS fans do have streaming options, but they cost more since sports must be watched live. Basic live TV options are cheaper but may not include sports channels. Which service you choose depends on which sport or which team you want to watch.

There are a variety of live TV streaming services that offer a wide range of sports, but they’ve recently been raising their prices. Fubo TV offers more than 85 channels including ones that broadcast football, baseball, soccer and other sports. It costs $45 for the first month, then $55 a month after that. DirecTV Now costs $50 a month for the cheapest tier. Sling TV costs $25 to $40 a month. Hulu raised the price for its live-TV service in February, by $5 to $45. Sony’s PlayStation Vue costs $45 to $80 a month. Google’s YouTube TV is increasing its monthly fee to $50. It launched at $35 and has raised prices as it added more channels. Most of the live TV services offer the major sports channels such as Fox Sports and NBC Sports Network, as well as games broadcast on network TV. But ESPN, for example, is on Hulu Live and YouTube TV but not Fubo TV, so fans of a specific team or sport should examine the channel listings for each service.

There’s no budget offering for watching high profile sporting events. But Disney’s ESPN Plus costs $5 a month or $50 for the year. It offers some live games, including some hockey, soccer and baseball games, as well as content about sports like ESPN’s 30 for 30 documentary series. But you can’t watch most major league sports games on the service.

MIX AND MATCH IF you’re a sports fan who also loves movies and has a family, you’ll have to mix and match services while trying to stay within your budget. It is still possible to stay below the monthly cost of cable, says the NFCC’s McClary.

“The acceptable threshold for spending is up to each household, but most ‘live’ and ‘on demand’ streaming services would be on the low end of the scale compared to traditional cable packages,” he said.

“One good measuring stick is to compare the monthly rate to your monthly content consumption patterns and what it would cost if you paid movie rental rates each time you watch a program.” n

IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO DIVE INTO ‘GAME OF THRONES,’ WITH HELP D3

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

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Local firm launches IoT-based security alarm system By riZaL raouL S. rEyES LOCAL security and safety devices provider MiGuard recently launched an Internet of Things (IoT)-based alarm system that seeks to cover the residential market.

“After providing security systems to local government units, we decided to create a solution for the homes. The result is wireless-based technology alarm system called MiGuard,” said Raeyan Basa, vice president for sales and marketing of MiGuard in an interview during the launching of the product in Pasay City. Over 2,000 closed-circuit television cameras (CCTVs) are deployed in Quezon City.

Basa said MiGuard’s IoT-based technology has enabled the company to develop an affordable security system for a lot of Filipinos. As a proactive device, he said a MiGuard security and safety device is capable of detecting crimes, emergencies and disasters in and around a home. MiGuard’s catalog of life-saving devices include: MiGuard Console; Wireless HD IP Camera; Door and Window Sensors; PIR Motion Sensors; Smoke Detector; Gas Leak Detector; Water Leak Detector; Medical Button; and, SOS/Emergency Button. Up to 100 of these devices can be wirelessly connected to and controlled by the MiGuardWiFi and GSM Console.

Technopedia defines IoT as “a computing concept that describes the idea of everyday physical objects being connected to the Internet and being able to identify themselves to other devices. The term is closely identified with RFID as the method of communication, although it also may include other sensor technologies, wireless technologies or QR codes.”

The MiGuard Console serves as the gateway for the Wi-Fi and GPRS network and is linked to the MiGuard Mobile Application, the MiGuard web site, the MiGuard Telecommunications Network, and to the MiGuard 24/7 Command Center. The MiGuard 24/7 Command Center maintains open lines to the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire and Protection, and public hospitals, enabling MiGuard to respond quickly and send the appropriate emergency response team to the user’s home. The entire MiGuard Ecosystem can be easily accessed using a mobile phone through the MiGuard Application.

“It is actually the brains of the system that integrates the products and also alarms the camera.

For people who think their homes need an alarm security, this one is for them,” he said.

Subscription has a 24/7 command center that can monitor the alarms. Meanwhile, the command center can call the responders such as the police and other agencies if one of the alarms has been tripped.

A in-house team of software personnel developed the software for the console system.

TikTok, Globe join forces to bring Filipinos creative online platform for favorite moments BEING online is now second nature to us. All the different apps today give everyone the freedom for expression— whether it’s sharing our works, opinions, love for art, music and many more. Online, we can share important moments and spread the fun to others. Our access to the Internet also comes with a digital responsibility, to be mindful of what we post, and how we interact with others online.

Leading the charge in giving Filipinos a complete and rich digital lifestyle, Globe (www.globe.com.ph) partners with the latest app taking the online world by storm, TikTok. Known as the world’s leading short video platform, the Philippines is one of the fastest-growing markets for TikTok in Southeast Asia.

On TikTok, creators can unleash their imagination and set new boundaries in capturing their favorite moments online—be it song, dance, comedy, travel, food, fitness and many others. Users can easily create unique short videos with amazing effects and stickers that they can share with friends and family all around the globe.

“Today’s youth are more expressive and creative than ever. Growing up in a highly digital time has given them a platform to be more inspired to share more of what they love—whether it’s funny short videos, trending dance moves or new music they like. This almost-unlimited access for sharing and receiving everyday moments goes hand-in-hand with digital responsibility as an essential skill. We at Globe are excited to partner with TikTok to provide exclusive data offers and strengthen our commitment to the cyber

wellness of our users—giving Filipinos a better overall digital experience,” shares Jil Bausa-Go, Globe vice president for content partnerships.

“TikTok is designed for the new generation of creators as it has become the preferred platform for expression, given its lowered boundaries for sharing, creating, discovering—all made easy on mobile. We are thrilled to partner with Globe Telecom to empower more Filipinos to bring their imagination

to life and making the most out of capturing their favorite moments in 15 seconds,” said Steven Tannason, SEA strategic partnerships for TikTok. To let more Pinoys enjoy the app, Globe has partnered with TikTok for worry-free and value-for-money data promos.

Globe mobile customers can subscribe to special stand-alone TikTok offers that fits their needs: TIKTOK15 with 100MB for one day, TIKTOK50 with 600MB for seven days, and TIKTOK199 with 1GB for 30 days. They can register to their preferred promo by texting the keyword to 8080. Now users can better create and share more trending clips and funny videos. Special promos for Globe Prepaid GoSURF and Globe At Home HomeSURF users will also be coming soon.

On top of these exclusive offers, Globe is also holding an exciting contest for its customers: the #CreateWithLove Challenge. Similar to previous viral TikTok videos such as the Clothes Swap Challenge and Rotation Challenge, participants can get in on the next trending topic with #CreateWithLove.

They just have to film themselves expressing their love for anyone or anything they’re passionate about through hand gestures, poses, or animations, and creating their own heart versions in any way possible. On the TikTop app, tap on the “Hashtags” button, type #CreateWithLove and #GlobeTikTok, and post it publicly.

The top 5 most-viewed videos will win Prepaid load cards, Globe Streamwatch Xtreme Prepaid, discount vouchers from partner establishments, and TikTok premium merchandise.

There will also be special awards for Globe Prepaid’s Choice

and Globe At Home’s Patok of the Town. The contest is ongoing until May 3.

Aside from offering a premium for content creators and enabling them to express their creativity through the video platform, Globe and TikTok are committed to the safety and digital well-being of its users. Under its #MakeITSafePH campaign, Globe has conducted Digital Thumbprint Program (DTP) workshops for students to help them understand how to be safe and responsible for their online activities; and has provided practical, easy-to-digest information about cyber threats to its customers.

To further promote a positive and safe app environment, TikTok has improved its content moderation system. Aside from its advanced content moderation technology, it also has a human moderation team—based in over 20 countries and regions and covers 36 languages—to help monitor if the posts being uploaded on the app follow its community guidelines.

In support of this year’s Safer Internet Day, TikTok also launched the Filipino version of the #BetterMeBetterInternet campaign as part of TikTok’s global safety initiative. Most recently, TikTok also introduced upgraded safety features for Filipino users, allowing them to filter comments in English, Tagalog and Cebuano, as well as empowering them with upgraded screen time management options.

For Globe and TikTok, it’s all about empowering creators to be innovative—safely and securely—in the way they express themselves through the TikTok platform.

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Pet Corner BusinessMirror

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Want your dog in the wedding?

Pros can make it go smoothly KELLY CURRY and Patrick St. Onge pose with their dogs Charlie (from left), Izzy and Zoey for a photo during their wedding day in Haddam, Connecticut.

It’s no longer unusual for brides and grooms to include pets in their wedding photos or even in the ceremony.

But it can be tough to manage that along with everything else.

AP

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By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Rooney Mara, 34; Jennifer Garner, 47; Liz Phair, 52; Sean Bean, 60.

a

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Take care of your responsibilities first, and move on to more enjoyable tasks. Don’t let the past cause anxiety when you should be putting your time and energy into living in the moment and preparing for the future. HHH

b

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): A passionate approach to life and to the way you handle personal matters will pay off. Patience, moderation, knowledge and being secretive until you have everything in place will be a remedy for success.

HHHHH

c

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Lighten up and do something that will ease stress and get you moving in a healthy and happy direction.

A creative outlet will encourage you to try something different and put an end to relationships that drain you.

HHHHH

d

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Physical preparation is encouraged if you want to avoid emotional stress. Rely on people who have never let you down, and the changes you want to make will be easier to obtain. HH

e

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Update your credentials or your skills. Learning something new will motivate you to make changes to the way you earn your living or how you handle your money. Positive communication will improve an important relationship. HHHH

water, etc. “I’m constantly paying attention to the energy of the animals and making sure that they’re happy,” Leinen says.

The handler also helps ensure that pets play their roles comfortably and efficiently.

“We walk around with chicken, cheese, turkey, prosciutto in our pockets,” says Silva. That helps with the photos in particular, especially with those tight timelines: “We need to make sure we’re not taking a hundred shots trying to get the dog to look at the camera.”

Not so long ago, the idea of having your pet in your wedding might have sounded eccentric, but not anymore. Leinen feels that her clients make good choices based on knowing their pets. If they’re not up to crowds, the plan is made accordingly.

“One couple, their dog had a severe case of anxiety,” she says. “So we decided we’d only be there for the first look and the pictures for 20 minutes—just the couple and their dogs, no bridal party or anyone else.”

Such sensible choices mean the “pet” in a wedding is almost always a dog. Silva has had some inquiries

about cats but no one’s gone through with it. Leinen has her first feline wedding client scheduled for May, with a cat who’s comfortable riding in a backpack carrier.

“And if at any point in time we feel it’s too much for the animal, we have the OK from the couple to back out—we’re going to change course and do something different,” she says. After all, “they’re busy getting married.”

And while many couples, like Curry, have their dogs walk down the aisle, there are also many who just have them there briefly for photos, and then the handler takes them home. That may be a more limited sort of involvement, but it might be the most important.

“For most couples, one of those images with their dog in it—that is going to be their favorite photo,” says Leinen. “Maybe not their favorite moment— maybe later when they’re dancing alone with their significant other on their wedding night will be the most significant moment to them. But picture-wise, it’s the dog picture.” n

The Hasse family, already large with three teenagers and two big dogs, grew a bit bigger. Bryan Hasse said at first he was a bit nervous about Gemma’s adjustment to the home, but all fears were washed away when she came bounding in the house after traveling from Qatar to Chicago via O’Hare International Airport.

Gemma is undergoing extensive treatment and is set to have bone, skin and fur replacement. Help will come from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Veterinary Care hospital, along with a fur donation from a Seattle-based company. UWM doctors will 3D print a section of plastic to

f

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Emotional spending won’t help your situation, but investing in your future will. How you handle your personal funds or who you get involved with financially should be looked at carefully. HHH

g

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Emotions will be difficult to control, especially if someone you feel responsible for or live with causes a fuss.

Physical exertion will help to ease stress and give you a healthier perspective on whatever situation you face.

HHH

h

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Listen to suggestions, but when it comes to time to take action, do what’s best for yourself. A joint venture will lead to problems and disagreements regarding money matters. Work alone, but when it comes to relaxing, share with someone you love. HHH

i

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Don’t give in to pressure tactics or let someone bamboozle you into something without giving you the facts. You are better off making personal changes that will not affect others but will make you feel self-sufficient and happy with your life. HHHH

j

Wisconsin family fosters dog from Qatar BELOIT, Wisconsin—From Doha to the Town of Beloit, with love.

That’s what awaited Gemma, a pup that was saved thanks to the sponsorship of Beloit-based animal rescue A Promise Of Love. She was taken in by Town of Beloit Police Department Lt. Bryan Hasse and wife Brandi Hasse, and in recent weeks the “Doha Dog” has been adjusting to stateside life as part of a long-term foster agreement.

She has severe injuries from possible chemical burns. She was picked up at an industrial park in the Persian Gulf country, and it’s unclear exactly how she was hurt, the Beloit Daily News reported.

Today’s Horoscope

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Live and learn. This is a year of growth, opportunity and achievement if you make the effort and are open to learning, updating and expanding your skills, knowledge and quality of life. Be willing to cut back where you can to make room for the people, activities and goals you want to embrace, and you’ll get good results. Your lucky numbers are 4, 17, 21, 29, 30, 38, 44.

By Linda Lombardi The Associated Press

HEN Kelly Curry was planning her wedding, she knew her dogs Charlie, Zoey and Izzy were going to be in it, and that her friends would expect no less. “They’d be surprised if they weren’t there,” says Curry.

The question was how to make it work. She happened to see a social-media post about a pet wedding service, Pawfect for You (“Wedding Day Pet Care and Chauffeur”), which offered to do it all: pick the dogs up, wrangle them during the event and bring them home again safely, letting the bridal couple enjoy their perfect day with no worries.

“I thought it was a joke,” said Curry, who was married in October 2017 in Haddam, Connecticut. It wasn’t, and she got in touch with Pawfect for You’s owner, Veronica Silva.

“We had them there for everything except for the reception—for the pictures, and they walked down with bridesmaids and groomsmen,” Curry says.

One potential complication was the elderly Charlie, who’d always been a bit of a handful and had recently gone blind. “I explained to her that he had issues,” Curry says, “and she gladly accepted to take him, and she did a great job with him.”

It’s hard for brides and grooms to find a friend who can handle their pup all day on the wedding day, said Silva.

“How do you coordinate this when everyone you know is at your wedding and anyone close to you is in your wedding party? How can they go home, pick up the dog, bring the dog over for pictures, coordinate how the dog walks down the aisle?” says Silva. “And then you’re stuck with, everyone’s sitting down for dinner, how can I get the dog back home without imposing on someone?”

Having a dog in a wedding is about more than the dog. For one thing, it’s about timing.

“Dog walkers commit to a window, not a specific time, which is normally fine, but weddings are different,” says Silva. “Some of the timelines I’ve seen from professional wedding planners are down to the minute, and we have to be cognizant of that.”

Lara Leinen, whose company, Doggy Social MN, services the Twin Cities area and Wisconsin, had a previous career as a wedding planner, so she knows what goes into it.

“I’m working on the back end with all the vendors to make sure the couple’s day is perfect” for them and the dog, she says. “I want it to be stress-free for everyone involved. I reach out and let them know who I am and what I’m doing, and that if timelines get off, let me know and we’ll roll with the punches.”

She makes sure the pet is getting potty breaks,

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repair a hole in Gemma’s snout from the severe caustic burns.

“I was a bit apprehensive at first but when I first saw her, I couldn’t believe what kind of shape she was in. Within five minutes of her getting in the house, I fell in love with her,” Bryan Hasse said.

“She’s just pure love,” Brandi Hasse added. “We are the ones that are lucky.

People keep saying she’s lucky to have found us, but in our family we are all big animal lovers. She fits right in.”

Gemma is one of many dogs that have been rescued by A Promise Of Love, with animals coming from place like Mexico and

Thailand. “I believe strongly that animals have no borders, so when help is needed like this, someone has to step up,” said Paula Copper from A Promise of Love.

The organization will hold a fund-raiser at Palpables of Beloit on April 27 for a murder mystery investigation and 1950s diner experience, along with raffle baskets, 50/50 raffle, silent auction, hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.

To monitor Gemma’s continued progress, search Gemma’s Journey on Facebook. There, people can donate to a GoFundMe campaign to help aid with her rehabilitation. AP

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): An opportunity will be too good to pass up. Make adjustments that allow you enough time to explore the possibility of making a long overdue change to where or how you live. HHHHH

k

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Put time, effort and energy into personal improvements. A change at home made for the right reason will benefit you, as well as the people you care about. Speak from the heart; you will get the support you need to proceed. HHH

l

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Flesh out any problems you foresee before you make changes. A discussion with someone you love will give you the confidence to move forward with your plans. Stick to a budget and honor any promises or commitments you’ve made. HHH BIRTHDAY BABY: You are optimistic, engaging and perceptive.

You are expressive and protective.

‘ahead of the pack’ BY RICH PROULX The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Manufacturer’s payback 7 The School of Athens painter 14 Wears down 15 By hand 16 Anglo-___ (early British people) 17 Goes from vote to veto?

18 Employ 19 James and the Giant Peach author 21 Explosive stuff 22 Former TV host Griffin 24 Abominable snowman 26 Broad neck scarf 30 Lemon of the 1950s 32 French red wine 34 Rake relative 35 Celsius scale measure 37 iPhone assistant 38 Pint parts, briefly 39 Freudian self 41 Greeted with deference 43 Damp 44 Mini golf average 45 Edith who sang “La Vie en Rose” 46 Took to court

8 The Addams Family cousin 4 49 Soothe 51 Appears 54 Activist Chavez 56 Fish Magic painter Paul 58 McFlurry cookie 59 Inc., overseas 61 Golf course ride 63 Solo who said “Laugh it up, fuzzball!”

64 San Diego County resort city 68 Time-sensitive 70 Affixed, as a patch 71 Even a kid can beat one 72 November 11 honoree 73 Head honcho, or a hint to the starred answers DOWN 1 Start again 2 Deleted 3 Underwear choice 4 Fuss 5 Care for, as a garden 6 The New Yorker piece 7 Sprinted 8 Art school subj.

9 Looking for a fight 10 Red deer stags 11 ___ mode 12 Horror film street 13 Fleur-de-___ (var.)

15 Sam Spade’s quest in a 1941 film 20 Edge of a shirt 23 Geese formation 25 Terse confession 27 Dunce 28 Radiate, like charm 29 Exam 31 Person you have chemistry with 33 Food scraps (hidden backward in “minestrone”) 36 Work incessantly 39 On a grand scale 40 Fence entryway 42 Cross word?

47 Job announcement letters 50 Favorable vote 52 Treating cruelly 53 Novelist Susan 55 By oneself 57 Explode

0 Irrational art movement 6 62 Peter, Paul and Mary, e.g.

64 Western ___ (coll. course) 65 Smelter’s need 66 Decompose 67 Put on 69 Econ. health statistic

Solution to yesterday’s puzzle:

Show BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

D3

BLIND SPOT BRUCE C.

FALL GAL

SO the young actress’ explicit video is all over social media, while her reported boyfriend, a young actor, stays quiet in a corner. Well, there’s a story behind the said video. There is actually a video of the couple doing it and it shows the actor in a not-so-flattering light... size-wise. The said video is also really explicit and supposedly one of the most indecent Filipino celebrity videos in recent history. According to rumors, the young actress is being sacrificed by the network gods in this scandal as they can’t afford to lose the guy. The girl is lucky in that as it’s quite difficult for people to find the video but it’s there.

A SCENE from HBO’s global blockbuster Game of Thrones, the final season of which now unfolds.

It’s not too late to dive into ‘Game of Thrones,’ with help

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By John Carucci The Associated Press

EW YORK—For seven seasons, you’ve ignored the lure of Game of Thrones. The multiple awards didn’t draw you in. Your friends debating plot twists each Sunday on social media didn’t move you. The “Is Jon Snow really dead?” storyline wasn’t enough; not even the “Hold the door!” memes sparked enough interest.

But now, here you are, with the final season days away from kicking off, finally ready to delve in. Since you don’t have the time (or probably the stamina) to binge watch the past 67 episodes, here’s what you need to know to follow along with a modicum of understanding when the eighth season gets under way on HBO on Sunday.

THE FAMILIES GAME of Thrones is a family affair, with several Great Houses that love, fight, plot and conspire for the Iron Throne, ultimate power in Westeros.

(Some love a little more than normal—the twisted affair between siblings Jaime and Cersei Lannister, for example).

Three families at the heart of the story are: n THE STARKS: The series began with Ned Stark, Warden of the North, at his home, Winterfell. He and his family—wife Catelyn; sons, Robb, Rickon and Bran; daughters Sansa and Arya; and oh yeah, the bastard, Jon Snow—are living relatively quietly until they receive a visit from Ned’s old friend Robert Baratheon, now the king. Reluctantly, Ned agrees to become the hand of the king, kind of a ceremonial vice president position, and travels south with some of his family. Things don’t go so well, he loses his head and the family is scattered.

Shamed by his origins, Jon Snow joins and soon becomes a leader of the Night’s Watch. Think of

them as a combination of border patrol agents and celibate monks who stand guard at the Wall, which runs across the north of Westeros and kept out the Wildlings, a fierce nation that doesn’t recognize the kings and princes of Westeros. Eventually, though, the Night’s Watch and the Wildlings join forces against something far more terrifying: the Night King and his White Walkers, an army of the frozen undead, who when last seen have come crashing through the Wall.

By season eight, the other surviving Starks are: Sansa, who went from horrible engagement to horrendous marriages to, now, becoming the mistress of Winterfell; Arya, who survived on the run, picking up some deadly skills along the way; and a disabled Bran, a man with a mystical vision. n THE LANNISTERS: The gold-obsessed family you love to hate. Twins Cersei and Jamie have been lovers since they were kids, becoming the not-so proud parents of Joffrey, who was briefly king, and two others, none of whom survived the show’s run.

Cersei was married to the king, Robert Baratheon, and has remained in charge in the capital, King’s Landing.

The youngest and wittiest Lannister sibling, Tyrion, a dwarf, is the black sheep of the family.

Seems his sister still blames him for the death of their mother while giving birth to him. After killing his father and fleeing Kings Landing, Tyrion finds a second act as hand to a different queen, Daenerys of ... n HOUSE TARGARYEN: The Targaryens ruled Westeros before Robert Baratheon, Ned Stark and others brought them down. Daenerys, the only surviving member of the family, more or less, was sold into marriage with Dothraki leader Khal Drogo (later killed). She receives an interesting wedding gift: three dragon eggs. Before they hatched, making her the “Mother of Dragons,” the Dothraki queen learned she can stand close to the fire—correction, she can

stand in the fire, without getting burned.

Daenerys decides to sail across the Narrow Sea and reclaim the Iron Throne held by her father, the mad king. He too had a penchant for fire, though it was more about burning people alive.

Her brother Rhaegar is also crucial to the story for allegedly kidnapping Ned Stark’s sister, Lyanna, before he and his family were killed.

TIME AND PLACE GEORGE R.R. MARTIN has created a world that’s make-believe but feels somewhat real. It’s like a mashup of feudal England and Tolkien’s Middle Earth with a healthy dose of sex, violence, conniving, power-grabbing, more sex, more violence and lots of full-frontal nudity.

Some other prominent places: Dragonstone, the former home of House Targaryen, an island where the dragons of the past resided with the family; Essos, a continent lying across the Narrow Sea from Westeros, it’s where Daenerys was hiding in the beginning, and where the horse-loving Dothraki roam; Braavos, a free city in Essos, home to the Iron Bank—to which the Lannisters owe some gold, and also home to the Faceless—religious types and assassins who worship the Many-Faced God of death, and collect faces of the dead from all over the world. Arya came up through the ranks here; and Iron Islands, home to a naval fleet of warriors led by House Greyjoy, who son Theon was a ward of the Starks and has been through some rough times since then.

WHAT’S NEXT? AS the final season unfolds, the three houses have pledged to unite their armies—along with the Wildlings—to fight their common enemy: the White Walkers. The zombie-like creatures have broken through the Wall and they now include one of Daenerys’s dragons among their ranks. n

ATTITUDE PROBLEM

YEAR ago, the male starlet was one of the most promising in local show business, largely because of his mestizo looks and influential friends. However, he turned out to be talentless in acting, singing and dancing. Pretty soon, he was dumped by his original network and picked up by another. In his new network, the male starlet managed to get a few good projects although, truth be told, it was difficult to sell someone without talent. Even worse is that the male starlet has an attitude and would love to complain and whine about everything. So here is the thing, his network plans to release him soon and we doubt if there are any takers.

NOT A GENTLEMAN

SO the actor is known to be a gentleman who is helpful and nice to everyone. But that image is very far from the truth. According to one of his exes, the actor is a player and that’s why they split. Speaking of that ex, the actor is reportedly trying to win her back despite them belonging to different networks. But the ex, an actress, refuses to date him again. She is also iffy about how she was treated by him, who is reportedly the father of her child. The actress hates it that the actor is saying the child isn’t his.

NOT AN IDEAL FAMILY

THE couple met in a reality show and their marriage has been blessed in more ways than one but the actor’s attitude toward his wife and the people he works with makes it difficult for the wife because she is the family’s breadwinner. She can’t do dramas because her husband is jealous of anyone and everyone. She can’t have a leading man. This means she has to stick to variety and talk shows. One of the reasons why she is reportedly staying in the marriage is that some of her endorsements require her to have a happy and intact family. Oh, well, one can’t really have everything.

Rep holds summer workshops for aspiring performers WHETHER you’re unlocking your child’s artistic talents or exploring the exciting world of theater for yourself, there’s nowhere better for you to do so than at Repertory Philippines (Rep) Workshop for the Performing Arts.

From April to July, the esteemed theater company is holding its annual summer series of intensive courses in Performing Arts, ranging from basic to advanced, allowing everyone the chance to shine under the spotlight. With its 52-year track record of artistic excellence, Rep (www.repertoryphilippines.ph) has trained and honed the very best theater talents in the country.

The first batch of workshops runs from April 22 until June 8, while the second round starts June 10 to July 19, and will be facilitated by some of the country’s most outstanding thespians and practitioners. All classes will be held from Monday to Friday at the Active Fun Building, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

Get your kids to lift their heads from their gadget screens, learn new skills, and enjoy some good times with newfound friends by enrolling them in the Kiddie Classes for children aged four to eight years old, the Preteens Class for kids nine to 12 years old, or the Teens Class for 13- to 16-year-old students.

For those who have acting experience and want to take their theater skills to the next level, you are invited to audition for Rep’s Junior Masterclass, an intensive seven-week workshop for performers aged 12 to 18. At the end of this workshop, students will be

performing in an all-new musical to be conducted by award-winning actor and director Joel Trinidad and Nicky Triviño, the only Filipino to have joined the 2018 Lincoln Center Director’s Lab in New York City.

Participants aged 17 and older may sign up for the

Adults Class, under the tutelage of respected stage veteran Meynard Peñalosa, to help tap into their creative side and discover how performing skills can have a positive impact on their daily lives or personal development. For those seriously considering a career in theater, the Adults Masterclass is an acting program designed to expose participants to advanced acting principles and skills. Join the class to be facilitated by seasoned stage actor and director Jeremy Domingo from June 10 to July 19.

Another exciting workshop opening this summer is the Triple Threat Masterclass. The program uses a musical theater syllabus that teaches breathing techniques to better handle the strenuous training of acting, singing and dancing, with a ballet, jazz and tap foundation. The class also has added training in hip-hop and flamenco, and production work. Running from April 22 to June 8, Monday to Friday, the Triple Threat Masterclass will be held at 188 A. Mabini Street, Addition Hills, San Juan, Rizal, and will be taught by Maricar Aragon.

On the seventh week, workshop students will be showcasing the theater skills they’ve gained in a culminating production to be staged at the Onstage Theater in Greenbelt.

YOUNG talents from Rep’s 2018 Junior Masterclass showcased their artistic talents in a brand-new musical, My Suite Princess.

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Image BusinessMirror

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

ACTRESS and singer Janella Salvador is the new brand ambassador of Great Taste White, which just launched its new White Caramel variant.

SOME WHITE MAGIC A STEAMING CUP COFFEE lovers have more reasons to indulge in a delicious cup of coffee anytime and anywhere— and no falling in line, or dealing with some snotty barista. Instant coffee brand Great Taste White now offers new variants to delight the cravings of avid coffee drinkers.

Whether it’s for starting the day right or for quick pick-me-ups in the middle of the day, the new Great Taste White Caramel and Great Taste White Crema are bound to satisfy the busy and always onthe-go Filipino.

Fans of sweet and aromatic coffee can find themselves enjoying Great Taste White Caramel. It offers the perfect mix of roasted coffee and cream with hints of luscious caramel, blending just the right hint of sweetness for your everyday coffee fix.

For a more flavorful and full-bodied coffee experience, Great Taste White Crema combines the real coffee taste with rich vanilla cream for a creaminess that is reminiscent of everyone’s favorite latte.

These two new variants, and the original Great Taste White coffee mix, come in a fresh and attractive new packaging.

Singer and actress Janella Salvador has been tapped by Great Taste (White) as its newest ambassador in bringing amazing everyday experiences that start with great cup of coffee. She says, “I am absolutely ecstatic to be a part of this big family. It feels good to endorse a product you enjoy, and personally I love Great Taste White Caramel because it is sweet and creamy—just like how I prefer my coffee.”

A trailblazer in the instant coffee industry, Great Taste continues to brew new experiences for Filipinos—from being the first to introduce white coffee mix, first twin pack size, and first resealable pouch, among others.

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Boosting your self-confidence SUI GENERIS CARLO ATIENZA

biblisko@gmail.com

A

TEAM was recently put under me and there were so many due projects under that team. Instantly, I felt overwhelmed.

There were so many things going on in my mind and I had to think in terms of how I was going to meet deadlines and deliver projects on our committed schedules. I had to step back and assess what I needed to do and worked with my director on how we were going to go about the projects.

I also felt inadequate for the seemingly gargantuan task ahead. And I questioned myself if I could actually deliver what they had in mind for me to accomplish. I could not help but doubt myself especially when it was the first time I was going to do that kind of project. But I could not just let it get to me because my team was depending on me to lead them and deliver what was needed. I am sure there have also been times in your professional career when you doubted yourself if you could do what your leaders have tasked you to accomplish.

Here are some things that I did to bolster my confidence and overcome that forbidding feeling of failure. I hope these help you as much as they did for me. The first thing you can do is to take stock of what you have already accomplished. You have to think back and assess what you have done before and how you were able to get where you are right now. To make it more powerful, make a list of your achievements.

It will make you appreciate the difficulties you have overcome and make you more confident with the next challenge in your professional life. Listing your accomplishments gives you a visual cue that it is possible for you to succeed during those times when you doubt yourself.

Listing your accomplishments also helps you objectively assess your success. There is such a thing as false pride which in the end it will wither and die.

Having a list keeps your feet grounded and gives you a sustainable boost of self-confidence. It will also keep you from overcommitting to projects, and help you avoid accepting unrealistic projects which are well outside your capacity, or even your purview.

While it is good to be challenged to develop your career, there are some projects which you just have to say no to because it is not within your purview and ability. But to know which those are, you have to properly assess yourself.

Speaking of assessing yourself, keep fit. You become more prone to feelings of inadequacy and defeat when your body is not well. Take pains to eat well and be physically fit for the things you need to do.

Take the time to declutter your mind of negativity and surround yourself with people who encourage and challenge you to be the best you can be. When you are physically and emotionally well, it becomes easier to be confident and take on new challenges.

Another trick you can do to boost your selfconfidence is being mindful of your body language.

To boost your happy hormones, smile! Smiling triggers your body to look at everything positively and will also help those around you have a better disposition to work. When my team sees that I have a positive disposition, it becomes easier for them to work. Notice that when you slump your shoulders and hang your head, your mind follows and your insecurity increases.

Your posture plays a big role in making you feel self-confident. Amy Cuddly, a Harvard Business

School professor, in her famous 2012 TED Talk explains the benefits of power-posing and how putting your hands on your hips and puffing up your chest can do wonders for your confidence. This just goes to show that when you position your body in a certain way, your mind follows. So when you feel a bit down, just strike a pose and feel the effects of powerposing to your confidence.

While in the midst of doing a colossal task and you’re feeling down, stop and help someone with a task that you are particularly good at. Helping someone gives you a sense of satisfaction that will help tide you over with regards to your task. You also get the feeling of self-fulfillment in helping someone in their own development. You not only boost your self-confidence, you also boost others.

And when things get rough, celebrate milestones.

It does well to pause and take the time to reward yourself for completed work. This allows you and your team to breathe and assess where you are in your project. Knowing how much you have accomplished makes it also easier to understand how much more it would take to complete the entire project. Take the time to congratulate those who have done well and find something good to say to everyone. This will also help you focus on the positive and the possible until what is on paper becomes a reality.

Which leads me to something that I am sure you have read many times: positive thinking. Thinking positively takes effort because you have to remind yourself that you are not a victim of circumstance but a product of your own choosing. So think good thoughts and keep doing what you need to do and the rest will follow.

These are just some of the things you can do to improve your self-confidence. Try one and see which one works for you. Mark Twain once said, “A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval.”

After everything else, it starts and ends with you and your mindset. n

Couples learn how to be romantic and business partners

By JoyCE m. roSEnBErG The Associated Press NEW YORK—Debbie and Gary Douglas sometimes need to remind each other, this is your business partner talking.

In business together for 16 years, the Douglases have found that being co-owners of a public relations firm requires them to be more direct with each other than they once were as spouses. Like the time Debbie Douglas was on a ladder in their Newport Beach, California, home and her husband told her to come down because she might break an ankle.

I said, “Don’t worry about it.” He said, “This is your partner speaking, you have a trade show to do next week and you can’t do it with a broken ankle!” says Debbie Douglas, co-owner of Douglas Strategic Communications.

Romantic partners who are also business partners can find there’s a lot of tough talk, listening, learning and compromising needed as they run a company, a personal relationship and often a family.

Couples may have unique struggles depending on their personalities and the type of business they own. But there are common hot spots: Roles and responsibilities that aren’t well-defined, vastly different styles of communication or decisionmaking, and sometimes a clash of egos.

While the Douglases know how to take a hard line

with one another, they also know when to budge.

“You yield to the other person if they are more qualified to make a decision,” Gary Douglas says. “You can’t have your own way every day, every time.”

Ben Taylor and his wife Louise learned that lesson the hard way.

“At the end of the first work day, my wife burst into tears and said, ‘I want to tell my husband how horrible my new boss is!’” Ben Taylor recalls. The problem was that the husband, who owned a technology consultancy, needed his wife’s help but wasn’t spelling out her role; he’d never really thought it through.

Like many entrepreneurs, he also found it hard to relinquish some tasks.

“I know I’m a bit of a control freak. It just didn’t jell—we just got irritated with each other,” says Ben Taylor, who also owns Homeworkingclub.com, an advice web site for freelance workers based in Kent, England.

The business partnership started in 2006 and failed in just a year. But the couple tried it again in 2013, this time with each of them handling specific responsibilities. She is a writer. He does the consulting and administrative tasks.

Spouses who co-own companies say friction, while unpleasant in the moment, ultimately helps them strengthen their relationships.

“We have learned to get through disagreements the old-fashioned way—through arguing and

eventually coming to a compromise that one or both of us are happy with,” says Clinton Smith, who owns the retirement planning firm Government and Civil Employee Services with his husband, Galen Bargerstock.

The couple founded the business in 2010, five years into their relationship. At first, it was rocky.

Smith remembers the fights they had over who should be doing what. But the company, based in Indiana, Pennsylvania, thrived, and “this was when we knew no matter what, we had to keep working hard,” Smith says.

They learned how to divide responsibilities according to each partner’s strengths; Bargerstock handles sales and Smith manages marketing.

“We have grown both as a business and as a couple,” Smith says.

Some couples go for help—not to a therapist, but a business coach. That’s how Wendy and Scott Schultz reconciled their differing styles that, as Wendy Schultz put it, turned decision-making into a battlefield.

“I would see an opportunity to expand our business in the form of a new investment and would want to act quickly. He would see all of the reasons the investment could go wrong and wanted to take time to assess all the pros and cons,” says Wendy Schultz, CEO of The Simple Life Hospitality. The Green Bay, Wisconsin-based company invests in and manages

vacation rental properties; Schultz founded it in 2013 and her husband joined her in 2016.

There was also tension between the couple over who was in charge, and the fact that running a business isn’t a 9-to-5 occupation, like the job Scott Schultz previously worked at. They began working with a coach to understand and change their dynamics.

“There wasn’t a defining moment where we resolved our differences, but over time, we’ve found ways to make our styles complementary for the success of our business,” Wendy Schultz says.

“Through our own trial and error, we’ve developed a happy medium.”

Sometimes, working well together takes brutal honesty. Cynthia Smoot remembers struggling with her husband Randy for several years after she joined his advertising agency, Gangway Advertising, in 2008. They had an ongoing clash of egos and a hard time accepting each other’s point of view.

Part of the problem was too much closeness— being together 24/7 didn’t work. So, they transitioned from sharing a home office to two separate rooms in different parts of their house in Dallas.

“I was as far away as I could get from him,” Cynthia says. “I told him, ‘Don’t even come walking in here.

Google-chat me!’”

Now, she says, they share harmony and a successful company.

BusinessMirror E1 | Wednesday, April 17, 2019 • Editor : Tet Andolong

Mobility, investment potential influence online homebuyers—OLX

By Roderick L. Abad @rodrik_28

O

Contributor

LX Philippines revealed the changing habits of Filipino homebuyers today in the way they seek information about properties and how they intend to use them.

With the advent of mobile technology, the online marketplace provider found out that more and more of its users utilize their smartphones or tablets to gather pertinent details on estates listed in OLX and Property24.

The former is an online buy and sell channel, wherein everyone can list anything, including housing units. The latter specializes in property listings exclusive only for professional sellers, such as brokers, agents and developers.

Kristina Bautista, head of real estate for OLX Philippines and Property24, bared that actual data of both platforms as of January 2019 show that over 70 percent of people who want to inquire about property, whether buying or renting it, are actually happening on such mobile devices.

She cited that on the average both portals process around 300,000 to 500,000 inquiries every month.

Sixty percent of those who use OLX ask for available rental properties, while 80 percent of those who go to Property24 inquire about estates for sale, she noted.

“So there’s a different profile of people who are looking for properties on our platforms,” Bautista told the BusinessMirror after their media briefing during the “ULI Philip-

pines Conference 2019: THE FUTU/ RE SUMMIT” held last week at the Maybank Performing Arts Theater in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

The majority of potential realestate buyers in Metro Manila are looking for condominiums, while those outside of the metropolis are searching for house and lot or a townhouse.

“It’s really dependent on the supply and the location,” she said of other factors that affect the preferences of homeseekers.

Given the increased access of users to mobile devices, Bautista said that they now educate their clients—developers, brokers and agents—on the need to be able to respond to customers’ inquiries through mobile and messaging apps.

This is beyond the fact that 90

percent to 95 percent of Filipino users today turn to mobile messaging apps like Facebook Messenger, Viber and WhatsApp even more than SMS or short message service, she noted.

“What’s changing is also even the mode of communication of possible buyers,” the top executive said.

As a platform provider, she bared that they help their clients realize that while their usual traditional way of selling or how they want to nurture the lead remains the same, the speed of transactions and how they want to be reached are changing.

“That’s why we’re also trying to facilitate better communication, and it’s all happening definitely on mobile,” she said.

People logging in to OLX and Property24 are not just looking

THE FLATS BGC MAKES CITY LIVING MORE ACCESSIBLE

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OW you can call BGC “home.”

The Flats Fifth Avenue, Bonifacio Global City’s flagship co-living development, has opened its doors to BGCitizens. The property, which still has slots for individual renters, is ideal for students and young urban professionals who are looking for a home in the city to skip the hassle of commuting to and from their school or workplace.

Along 5th Avenue and just a seven-minute walk to Bonifacio High Street, and other retail and dining hubs, The Flats is a 16-story shared residential building with rooms that comfortably fit up to four people. Renters can choose among quad-sharing and triple-sharing rooms with options for bunk bed, loft bed or single bed types.

“The idea behind this co-living project was born out of our desire to make BGC a more inclusive neighborhood by providing a safe, comfortable and inexpensive alternative to city living.

The Flats also helps in relieving precious time stuck in traffic to allow us to pursue other passions. Organizations are also looking into this as a solution to improve employee engagement and productivity,” said Lash Murjani, property planning, business development, office leasing assistant manager, FBDC. The monthly rent comes with furnished rooms with beds, workstations, cabinets, kitchenette, and a toilet and bath. Community events like parties, seminars, movie-nights, game nights, and the like that promote interaction with likeminded individuals are organized at the Community Lounge and Skydeck. There is also access to food options, housekeeping and laundry services.

“What The Flats essentially offers is a value-for-money prime address in the middle of all that’s best about living in Bonifacio Global City—the culture, the community, the city life. With BGC as their new home, renters automatically become full-fledged BGCitizens and enjoy the exclusive perks and discounts that come with living at the home of passionate minds,” said Murjani.

To reserve or schedule a tour, individuals and organizations may contact the community manager at theflats@bgc. com.ph. For more information, visit https://www.facebook. com/TheFlatsBGC/.

LOFT bed

SINGLE bed type

THE Flats Fifth Avenue

for places to acquire, but also aim to turn them as additional sources of income.

Based on their periodical survey done in the first month of this year, which involved over 10,000 from their user base, Bautista said that over 30 percent of people searching on the platforms they own and operate actually want to buy properties for investment purposes.

This could be attributed to their improved financial status and increased financial literacy that they see the income potential of buying a real estate.

“Consumer habits are changing.

They’re coming to us because we have the traffic. These are everyday end users who are now looking at different ways of investing, living or buying,” Bautista stressed.

Business

E2 Wednesday, April 17, 2019

HOW TO MAKE MALLS MORE AWE-TIS-SM & PWD-FRIENDLY Amor Maclang

FIRST DIBS IN REAL ESTATE

W

Part One

E love catching real-estate developers doing the right thing, and when the right thing involves supporting children and adults in the fringes, I become their instant supporter.

Many people close to me know that our family has been blessed with Peggy, my 15-year-old daughter with the autism spectrum disorder. As a parent and advocate in the real-estate industry, I hope to have more safe spaces for our angels.

This is a deeply personal story for me as I wouldn’t know how we would have survived the early stages of discovery without the support of other parents and families.

April is commemorated the world over as World Autism Acceptance Month. The United Nations designated April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day, in a resolution that was adopted in December 2007—a mere 12 years ago. One of only seven official health-specific UN Days, World Autism Awareness Day calls on institutions to unite toward driving solutions to medical, social and economic challenges faced by those with the condition. Governments and companies joined this

global call, magnifying the message of awareness and acceptance, especially in areas still struggling with inaction over how to deal with this often misunderstood condition.

Not many Filipinos are aware that our country always has been ahead of the curve in advocating for individuals on the autism spectrum— thanks to hard-working nonprofits and companies who have taken to heart their commitment to supporting the communities they serve. All this was way before other countries began “lighting it up blue” in the name of autism awareness.

Learning from customers

IT all started with a lost boy in a mall in 2002. A 15-year-old nonverbal boy with autism was separated from his mother at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City. The mall security searched for hours; and the boy was eventually found several kilometers away from the mall. The

BIEN MATEO (from left), Mona Magno-Veluz, Hans Sy, Dang Koe and Steven Tan at Angels Walk for Autism 2019

potentially disastrous PR episode, the SM Cares Programs on Persons with Disabilities was born in 2004.

Creating a mall for all

YOUNG adults on the spectrum work in SM Market branches in nine provinces all over the country.

experience rocked the growing disability community and exposed the lack of training amongst public and private service personnel on how to interact with neurodivergent individuals. The anecdote spoke to the fears of many parents about their children—it was circulated to thousands via e-mail (this was before social media).

The pioneering Autism Society Philippines (ASP), led by its thenPresident Ms. Dang Koe, met with

SM Supermalls’s Ms. Annie Mendoza and Engr. Bien Mateo. They agreed that there was a need to increase awareness and knowledge among mall front liners on autism, as this invisible disability was something many people did not understand. SM Supermalls committed to holding a series of sensitivity seminars over the next year, exposing thousands of their personnel and building on a culture of genuinely inclusive service. From this

THE multi-awarded SM Cares Program on Disabilities has since championed the issues of not only customers on the autism spectrum but all apparent and nonapparent disabilities. The mall’s engineering and design ensure the disability-friendly best practices are followed—ramps, accessible parking lots, Braille signage and utilities within an accessible height, among many others. They have snatched up so many Apolinario Mabini Awards for managing PWD-inclusive spaces that they were elevated to the Hall of Fame in 2015.

Their commitment to educating their front liners and their merchants has been institutionalized, with each mall holding “Caring for Customers with Special Needs” seminars twice a year, as part of their key performance indicators. “When my son Gio and his caregiver had to use the PWD bathroom,” reminisced ASP’s Dang Koe. “The restroom attendant immediately understood

that my son had autism and assisted. In other public places, we would get asked why an able-bodied young man needs to use the PWD bathroom.” SM Supermalls’s comprehensive front liner education is best-in-class and is apparent in the way children and adults with autism are treated in SM properties nationwide—from the mall management down to the cleaning staff.

SM Supermalls has also given disability-advocacy groups venues to host events that spread awareness and acceptance. The ASP Angels Walk for Autism, which began in 2007, has grown to be the single largest autism-advocacy event in Southeast Asia. Since 2014, it has been hosted

by SM Cares at the MOA Arena and has attracted as much as 24,000 participants from the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, LaoPDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam— among them, leaders in the public and private sector. The event has been echoed in 23 cities across the country—Bacolod, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Dagupan, Davao, Dipolog, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo, Kalibo, Legaspi, Lucena, Naga, Ormoc, Puerto Princesa, Roxas, San Fernando (La Union), Tacloban, Tagbilaran, Valenzuela, Virac and Zamboanga—the majority of them hosted by local SM malls.

“Our role is really to include those who are differently challenged, including those who have mental disabilities. It entails a lot of understanding and a lot of heart, and that is what we are promoting. We want our children with disabilities to be included in our business environment—in all our malls.” said Engr.

Bien C. Mateo, senior vice president for Operations and Director of SM Cares Program on Persons with Disabilities.

SM malls have become a training ground of sorts for children with autism to interact with and get exposed to the sights and sounds of a bustling society. It has inspired acceptance, accommodation and appreciation among a compassionate public. SM has delivered fantastically on its promise to build a mall for all. To be continued

Engineer urges use of PREMIUM OFFICE TOWER CREATES RENEWED INTEREST IN ORTIGAS formworks in construction

By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

Contributor

A

@brownindio

LOCAL engineer and entrepreneur recently urged builders to use formworks in their construction activities.

“I want to point out using formworks instead plywood for construction is going to be economical in the long run, resulting in big savings,” said Freddie Edel.

He said the formwork serves as mold for concrete structural components unless such mold is provided by the soil, other structural components, etc. It molds the placed fresh concrete, which in this stage normally is viscous, to the shape specified in the drawing.

Consequently, the formwork must already be available when the necessary steel reinforcement and concrete mix are placed.

Proper making of formwork decides on the accuracy to size, strength and surface finish of the concrete components. Formwork is required wherever monolithic concrete and reinforced concrete structures or structural components are constructed, such as for: n solid structures (foundations, columns etc.); n structures with special functions (containers, chimneys, hydraulic structures etc.); n structures to meet great statical requirements (bridges, towers etc.); n reconstruction of structures; and n public buildings and structures of ir-

regular arrangement.

Edel said each formwork is of provisional nature and is to be removed after hardening of the concrete placed. The formwork is not to be built as strong as possible but as strong as necessary only.

Therefore, formwork stripping must always be kept in mind when erecting the formwork.

To avoid unnecessary difficulties of work and prevent damage from formwork parts, the following recommendations should be followed: n Do not drive in too many nails. n Use only as many timbers, braces, tie wires, etc., as necessary. n Consider which board, panel or squared timber is to be stripped first, to fix them so as to permit easy removal in the proper sequence.

He said formwork guarantees the necessary strength and at the same time also considers the aspects of economical use of material and easy formwork.

He added improperly made formwork, which gives way or breaks when the concrete is placed, results in heavy material damage or, in the worst case, may cause serious injury of persons.

On the other hand, an excessively strong formwork requires high physical efforts of the persons stripping the formwork and normally results in the complete destruction of the formwork parts.

T

HE Ortigas business district is experiencing a revival with the construction of top-grade office buildings such as Exquadra Tower on main thoroughfare Exchange Road.

The 38-story curtain-walled structure leads a number of prime buildings that will be completed in the next two years in this major business district strategically accessible to most residential labor pools and to Metro Manila’s largest business centers.

According to Miguel Manipol, associate director at leading real-estate services firm Leechiu Property Consultants, the biggest supply of new office buildings in the capital within the next five years will come from the Ortigas, Mandaluyong and Pasig areas. “The availability of prime projects like Exquadra Tower has sparked the interest of corporate occupiers once more in this highly accessible area,” he observed.

He disclosed that many growing businesses seeking to upgrade their spaces, as well as expanding BPO firms, had inquired about Exquadra Tower, which recently marked its topping-off ceremony. The building boasts of high energy efficiency, and is pre-Certified LEED Platinum. It is the first in the country to utilize state-of-the-art-magnetic chillers for its air-conditioning system.

It is also provisioned with EV Charging Stations anticipating the advent of electric cars.

Exquadra’s environment-friendly features also include facilities for paper-waste recycling, can and bottle recycling. More significantly, the building is equipped with facilities to recycle its wastewater in an effort to decrease water usage.

The building, with a total gross leasable area of 57,000 sq m was designed by global architectural firm Arquitectonica. It will be distinguished by its graphic façade that appears to project a drop of oil, a reference to the business line of project owner Exquadra Inc., known for its clean range of fuels. The glass-clad structure will carry Arquitectonica's signature style, a dramatic, expressive form of modernism.

The building is expected to be occupied by 6,000 to 8,000 employees upon completion. Tenants will have easy access to the myriad shops and restaurants of Ortigas Center and to the various public transportation facilities that service the area, including shuttle vans to many residential areas of the metropolis.

Manipol cited how the building appeals to diverse clients. It has been engineered to meet the needs of BPOs for round-the-clock operations. It also offers large floor plates from 1,600 sq m to 2,200 sq m preferred by firms in the BPO space. At the same time, its fine finishes have caught the attention of business executives seeking a prestigious business address.

sMirror

Wednesday, April 17, 2019 E3

JAPANESE EFFICIENCY AND TECHNOLOGY TAKE CENTER STAGE AT THE SEASONS RESIDENCES

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APANESE homes are considered the epitome of minimalism and design efficiency. Line, form, space, light and material are but a few of the essential elements central to this widely popular aesthetic. In addition, the efficiency of Japanese design is often complemented by the precision of Japanese technology.

Many Japanese homes are equipped with appliances, fixtures and elements that prioritize convenience and productivity.

The Seasons Residences is a perfect showcase of the synergy between Japanese aesthetics and technology. This new development

by Federal Land Inc., in partnership with leading Japanese firms, Nomura Real Estate Development Co. Ltd. and Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd., will be a premier Japaneseinspired residential condominium in the Philippines and will be the home of the first Mitsukoshi mall in the country.

Strategically located in the bustling northern part of Bonifacio Global City (BGC), The Seasons Residences will comprise four residential towers reaching up to 41 to 50 levels. The first tower, Haru, will have 304 residential units with areas from 49 up to 175 square meters each.

Innovative Japanese design and innovation

EACH unit will bear the Japanese hallmarks of balance and design efficiency. These can be seen in wellthought-out space-maximizing

fixtures such as the distinct shoe cabinet at the foyer, the kitchen floor storage, and spacious kitchen and bedroom cabinets. The kitchen sink will be fitted with accessories to make food preparation more convenient, while a below-floor drainage system in the bathroom will allow for easier pipe maintenance and water leakage protection.

In the bigger units, a separate shower and bathtub highlights the Japanese tradition of ofuro (which means “bath” in Japanese). To the Japanese, bathing is almost a sacred ritual, and is used to alleviate physical stress and boost mental wellness.

Cleanliness and conservation are key

JAPANESE homes inspire clean and conscientious living. This is why the units in The Seasons Residences are all equipped with a rangehood with Japanese oil-filter technology, as well as air-washing tiles that minimize excess humidity, unpleasant odors, and harmful substances in the air.

For conservation and resourcesaving purposes, bathrooms in each unit will be fitted with the

multifunctional Toto washlet and eco-washer that allows residents to fully adjust water settings when using their toilets. Specific common areas will also be equipped with motion-sense lighting for better energy efficiency.

card access for the main door and elevators will be provided to unit owners, while audio-video guest annunciator systems will also be in all units for additional privacy and protection.

Setting safety measures

ALL residents will have access to a range of amenities that bring the Japanese way of life to the fore. The amenity floor of The Seasons Residences will be divided into zones that reflect the four seasons of Japan. Active Spring will house a wellequipped gym and day care for kids, as well as a tranquil garden where residents can enjoy greenery and find their inner zen, while Breezy

AT The Seasons Residences, the safety and security of residents is always a priority. The entire development will feature a breakthrough damper system or vibration control technology to minimize vibrations from both strong winds and earthquakes, as well as top-of-the-line fire detection and alarm systems to prevent accidents. Personal key

Premium amenities throughout

Summer will feature separate pools for kids and adults, children’s playground and a room for karaoke (a favorite Japanese pastime) and a game room for teens. Function rooms are also available for family reunions and get-togethers. A wellappointed business center, reading lounge and a music studio will be housed at Creative Autumn, and a spa with stone baths and a dry garden will be the main features of Dreamy Winter. The amenity deck will also feature The Guest House, a serene space with a tea room and bedroom where visitors can rest, relax, and experience the Japanese lifestyle for themselves.

“The Seasons Residences pres-

ents a great opportunity to bring the Japanese way of life into Philippine real estate,” says Cherie Fernandez, project development head at Federal Land Inc. “It will showcase the strengths of the Japanese when it comes to design, development and technology, and also highlight Filipino workmanship and commitment to quality.” The first tower of The Seasons Residences, Haru, is targeted for completion in 2023.

For more information, call our hot line at (632) 359-6756, e-mail us at digital.mktg@federalland.ph or visit the showroom at 7th Avenue corner 34th Street Grand Central Park, North BGC, Taguig City (across Lexus Manila Showroom from 7th Avenue).

Federal Land responds to rising OYO Hotels and Homes bullish on expansion demand for branded luxury condos

B

R ANDED residences are gaining ground globally, propelled primarily by the coming together of real-estate developers and hotel operators to meet the rising demand for luxury high-rise living by an expanding ultra-wealthy market.

According to the 2019 Branded Residences Report, a Knight Frank Global Research report, the preferences of the wealthy are diversifying offerings in the market. To date, there exist over 400 branded residences around the world and about 30 percent of these are in Asia.

Aside from the prestige in adopting this new kind of address, the report shares that interest in branded residences has skyrocketed for factors to do with developer quality, services, physical amenities, building maintenance and management, and investment yield potential. All of which are offered in these taller and newer landmarks, attracting higher premiums compared to generic residences with price differentials of up to 132 percent in some parts of Asia.

In the Philippines, Federal Land Inc., a prime real-estate company driving industry growth for 47 years has moved aggressively in this market, investing in building luxury high rise homes with internationally acclaimed names in hospitality. Its most recent offering is Grand Hyatt Manila Residences, a two-tower luxury residential development, adjacent to Grand Hyatt Manila hotel. The condominiums and the hotel bearing the brand of Grand Hyatt serve as the icons of Grand Central Park, Federal Land’s 10-hectare mixed-use development

featuring the most upscale residential, business, commercial and retail establishments in North Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

The move to develop condominiums that solely carry the Grand Hyatt brand in Southeast Asia is a response to the next wave of luxury residents, going beyond the amenities and services and extending to five-star experiences that separate this form of living into a completely new category.

The launch of Grand Hyatt Manila Residences South Tower, the second tower, draws buyers by leveraging its success from the first tower and harping the value proposition of hotel-like living expressed in terms of the building’s design that melds style and functionality; spacious units; thoughtful amenities; and resident support such as concierge, housekeeping and security services for utmost comfort and convenience.

Pushing the bar of premium living, Grand Hyatt Manila Residences

homeowners also get easy access to more luxurious offerings at Grand Hyatt Manila hotel, plus a highly coveted Globalist Membership to the World of Hyatt Loyalty Program, which affords special privileges like priority room bookings and reservations at the hotel’s prestigious restaurants like The Grand Kitchen, The Cellar, The Lobby Lounge, No. 8 China House and The Peak.

Buying into this luxury and exclusivity requires an investment of about P360,000 per square meter for two-bedroom and three-bedroom unit options. Grand Hyatt Manila Residences South Tower is a low density condominium of three zones, limited to 188 spacious residential units. Three-bedroom configurations go as far as adding in a den and private garden space for some units.

Exclusivity increases as one goes higher —eight units for low zone, four units for mid zone and two units for high zone. Residents can expect innovative eco-friendly functions and customized furnishings, European no less, within the space.

This new standard of living set by branded residences for the affluent is seen to further grow in the country. Federal Land, being among the first to recognize and set this trend locally, is fully committed to continuing its investment in this category through Grand Hyatt Manila Residences South Tower.

To know more about Grand Hyatt Manila Residences South Tower, visit http://www.grandhyattmanilaresidences.com.ph or come by its showroom at the ground floor of Grand Hyatt Manila Residences, 8th Avenue corner 36th Street Grand Central Park, North BGC, Taguig.

F

UELED by sustained global expansion, OYO Hotels and Homes, South Asia’s largest and the world’s fastest-growing chain of leased and franchised hotels, homes and spaces, posted 4.3x year-on-year (YoY) sales growth globally in 2018. The tech-based hospitality company closed 2018 with 458,000 rooms worldwide and acquired a value run rate of $1.8 billion as of December 2018.

OYO is all set to be the world’s largest hotel chain, achieving continued increase in global stayed room nights across its properties from 6 million SRN in 2016 to 13 million SRN in 2017 to 75 million

SRN in 2018 (based on 5.7x YoY growth). OYO properties posted an increase in occupancy rate averaging from 25 percent to 65 percent, thereby increasing yield on underutilized assets for property owners.

“We marked our presence in a total of eight global markets in 2018—a milestone for OYO. We are optimistic that we will maintain this momentum in 2019 as we continue to redefine the hospitality experience around the world. We will continue to invest in technology, build long-term capabilities and onboard top talents to sustain this growth,” shares Abhishek Gup-

ta, OYO Hotels and Homes chief financial officer.

As of March 2019, OYO is present in more than 500 cities across 10 countries, namely, India, China, Malaysia, Japan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Nepal, the United kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, and just recently, the Philippines and has over 515,000 rooms under management. With an initial investment of $50 million in the country, OYO is planning to open more than 20,000 rooms in 10 key cities in the Philippines, which is expected to generate more than 1,000 direct and indirect employment for Filipinos by 2020.

Entrepreneur BusinessMirror

E4 Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Wounded Army Scout Rangers get baking livelihood aid from Aboitiz

T

/SGT. Arnold Cale, a Mindanao native who lost his right leg during fierce fighting against New People’s Army rebels in Basilan in 2002, has something new to look forward to.

The opening of the Panther’s Bakery in Camp Tecson in San Miguel, Bulacan, on April 4 signaled a new opportunity for the wounded members of the Philippine Army Special Operations Command’s First Scout Ranger Regiment (FSRR).

Cale heads the soldier-run bakery —a new livelihood opportunity provided by the Aboitiz Group through its corporate social responsibility arm, the Aboitiz Foundation, and its food business unit Pilmico, to help wounded soldiers become productive and self-sustaining.

“Malaking tulong talaga ito. Sa akin lang, may mga skills na ako; kung gusto ko magtayo ng sarili kong bakery, kaya ko na. Para rin sa mga tropa dito, hindi na nila kailangang lumayo para sa tinapay. Nakakatulong talaga ito sa mga nasugatan sa giyera [This is really a big help. For me alone, I now have added skills; if I wanted to put up my own bakery, I could. For the soldiers here, they no longer have to go far to buy bread. Finally, this project is really helping those wounded in the war],” Cale said.

FSRR received modern baking equipment and financial assistance for the construction of a complete on-site bakery from the Aboitiz Group. Twelve FSRR bakers also received comprehensive baking training from Pilmico, as well as additional training through the University of the Philippines Institute of Small Scale Industries’s Start Your Own Business course.

“Some of them [FSRR soldiers] were wounded in action, and some of them were physically unable to pursue their operational activities.

So we could help them out, we placed them here. We later found out they already had some skills that just needed a bit of training,” chimed in Brig. Gen. William Gonzales, FSRR commander. He said the proceeds from the bakery will go to the Scout Ranger foundation, which they revived last year.

“Pinapasalamatan ko ang Aboitiz para dito. Nakatulong talaga ito at magandang proyekto ito sa mga nasugatang tropa. Hindi natin talaga maiiwasan ang giyera, pero kahit papaano

AFTER honorably serving the country, First Scout Rangers led by T/Sgt. Arnold Cale was trained by the Aboitiz Group on how to bake bread and manage the newly opened Panther’s Bakery at Camp Tecson in San Miguel, Bulacan.

meron tayong proyekto tulad nito. [I would like to thank the Aboitiz Group for this project. It has really helped a lot and this is a good project for our

wounded soldiers. We cannot fully avoid injuries in war, but at least we have projects like this that can help],” Cale said.

Present during the Panther’s Baker y opening were Aboitiz Foundation First Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Mar ibeth L . Marasigan, Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc.’s Senior Vice President Ernest O. Villareal and Chief Corporate External Relations Officer David Jude Sta. Ana. “When we go back to visit this bakery again, we expect to hear moving stories of our soldiers who were successfully transformed into Panther Bakery’s strong, powerful and pleasing bakers,” Marasigan said.

“Meanwhile, we in the Aboitiz Foundation will continuously explore ways to support our uniformed personnel as a sign of gratitude for all your sacrifices for our nation,” she added.

This is not the first time the Aboitiz Group has extended baking livelihood programs to the country’s soldiers.

Recently, the Aboitiz Group inaugurated “The Bread Camp Bakery” inside the Malacañang Park run by the Presidential Security Group Enlisted Personnel Ladies Club. Early last year, the Noble Bakers Bakery in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija became operational and is now being run by the Philippine Army Special Operations Command soldiers who were injured in battle. It has also extended bakery livelihood programs to residents displaced during the Marawi City siege.

Livestock PHL 2019 set from June 26 to 28 at World Trade Center

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HE country’s premier livestock, feed milling and meat industries expo is slated to make its big comeback from June 26 to 28 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

Livestock Philippines 2019 Expo and Forum is the trade event that seeks to upgrade and strengthen the country’s meat livestock industry with enhanced product quality and safety using state-of-the-art innovations in livestock nutrition, health and production, meat, animal feed ingredients, additives, and supplements and premixes. The trade fair will also showcase technologies in meat processing, packaging equipment and retails solutions in meat production.

“We remain fully committed to serve and work with the Philippines’s feed, livestock, meat and allied sectors to ensure cost-effective and efficient value chains that are needed to provide safe and quality products, and improve international competitiveness,” said Rose Chitanuwat, Asean Group Director of UBM Asia (Thailand) Co. Ltd. A 2017 review of the Philippine Agri-Food Sector Study, commissioned by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs identified opportunities in virtually all segments, including priority value chains: dairy, poultry and livestock, and fisheries and aquaculture.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, livestock production logged in

THE Livestock Philippines 2019 Expo and Forum, now on its fifth iteration, will host more than 280 international and domestic exhibitors from the agricultural sector (including aquaculture), which will offer the latest technologies of the industry, as well as countless business opportunities to more than 12,000 delegates at the World Trade Center Metro Manila in Pasay City from June 25 to 28.

with P91.9 billion and a 7.4-percent growth, while poultry production amounted to P60.7 billion with a 1.7-percent uptick in the fourth quarter of 2018. The gross value of fisheries production reached P73.3 billion, a 9.8-percent

growth from 2017’s records for the same period.

Supported by the Department of Agriculture and cohosted by the Bureau of Animal Industry and the National Meat Inspection Service, Livestock Philippines

2019 will feature industr y experts in the field of animal nutrition, swine and poultry production, and a lot more, and thought leaders in livestock, feeds, meat and aquaculture who will present products and solutions in nutrition, health and disease management, and reproduction.

The show is expected to bring in over 280 exhibitors from 30 countries, namely, Denmark, The Netherlands, Thailand, Malaysia, Korea, Taiwan, China and international pavilions from across the globe. The event is also expected to attract over 12,000 delegates from local and international organizations, including integrators, veterinarians, farmers, feed millers, wholesalers, retailers, slaughterhouse operators, food processors, importers, distributors and other industry stakeholders.

Feeds Philippines Expo, PhilMeat 2019 and Aquaculture Philippines are also colocating this year’s Livestock Philippines Expo and Forum as a one-stop shop—from livestock production and nutrition, processing, to packaging.

Livestock Philippines is organized by UBM Asia, a part of Informa Plc., a leading B2B information services group and the largest B2B Events organizer in the world.

For other details, including registration, contact Ms. Danah Castillo via phone at +63 2 581 1921 or via e-mail at danah.francisco@ ubm.com.

Spicy hot pot makes couple $6 billion richer in 2019

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HINA’S insatiable demand for spicy hot pot is placing the founders of a restaurant chain atop one of the world’s fastest-growing fortunes, allowing them to outpace many of the wealthiest families globally.

As of Monday, Zhang Yong, chairman of Haidilao International Holding Ltd., and his wife Shu Ping, had grown $6 billion richer in 2019, a 79-percent jump in just over three months.

That pace is the fastest in Asia and globally only topped by Australian mining baron Andrew Forrest, who has doubled his fortune this year, according to the Bloomberg Billionaire’s Index, a ranking of the world’s 500 richest people.

Haidilao went public in September, and it’s been a lucrative time for China’s largest hot pot chain, popular for the spicy broths in which diners cook their meats and vegetables. The company is

pushing to make its restaurants more efficient by creating automated kitchens.

Perks like the free manicures it offers waiting customers have kept families coming in. And the brand is expanding overseas with new locations planned in New York and London.

Last year, revenue surged 60 percent to 17 billion yuan ($2.6 billion), and that’s helping to push the stock up more than 75 percent this year. At about $21 billion, the company’s market value is now higher than Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. “A good set of results has resulted in the stock rallying to new highs,” said Tristan D’Aboville, an analyst at William O’Neil & Co., pointing to increases in sales growth and new restaurants added in the second half of last year.

Another power couple behind Haidilao, cofounder and executive director Shi Yonghong and his wife Li Haiyan,

have also grown 79 percent wealthier this year, based on Monday’s data. Their fortune is now worth $6.4 billion.

Still, the enthusiasm for Haidilao’s stock has made it increasingly expensive.

Recently valued at about 47 times projected earnings for the next 12 months, it’s around four times more expensive than Hong Kong’s benchmark Hang Seng Index, according to data compiled

by Bloomberg.

China’s increasingly competitive hot pot market is projected to grow at a compounded annual rate of more than 10 percent, with revenue topping 700 billion yuan by 2022, according to consultancy Frost & Sullivan.

Besides small, privately owned restaurants, there are other competing brands like the publicly listed Xiabuxiabu Catering Management China Holdings.

Haidilao has a less than 3-percent share

of the Chinese hot pot market, according to its September prospectus.

In an October interview, Haidilao’s chief strategy officer, Zhou Zhaocheng, said the company sees room to grow by offering customers diverse choices, better service and by creating new experiences for them.

So far it has kept Chinese consumers loyal by making their visits more fun.

Its outlets provide free board games, shoe-polishing and manicure services for those waiting. Diners can watch a Sichuan Opera show or even a noodle dance where staffers twirl lengthy ribbons of noodle.

In October last year, one of Haidilao’s restaurants began introducing robots to take orders, and deliver raw meat and vegetables to customers to cook in the simmering pots of soups placed at their tables. Bloomberg News

REDDOORZ Country Head in the Philippines Stefanie Irma gestures as she stresses a point during a recent corporate event.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

RedDoorz PHL blazes new trail in local hotel, tourism, industry

By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes @brownindio | Contributor

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OTELS play a crucial role in promoting tourism in the country, making it imperative for local hotel operators to be able to deliver quality service, as well as develop a comprehensive marketing program that will tap the overseas market.

The entry in the Philippines of Singapore-based RedDoorz, a tech-enabled affordable accommodations company, comes at the most opportune time as the country aims to enhance tourist arrivals.

Through its partner-engagement program, RedDoorz can help local entrepreneurs boost their hotels’ capability in delivering higher quality services to ensure higher income for their businesses.

“If you are in the hospitality industry, for sure your guest’s experience is the first thing. So, we realized that some people might come from a hospitality background while others will come from a different background. We want to standardize the hotels to the RedDoorz with a fine, affordable and quality accommodation,” said Stefanie Irma, country head of RedDoorz Philippines in a recent interview with the BusinessMirror.

RedDoorz, Southeast Asia’s fastestgrowing value hotel chain, has over 500 properties across Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Singapore.

As part of the RedDoorz brand network, Irma said property owners can increase their business as the company will handle distribution, pricing, sales and marketing, customer service and technology.

Launched in mid-2018, RedDoorz Philippines has already expanded to more than 100 properties in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Davao, Pampanga and Tagaytay by developing partnerships with different property owners.

Beyond the business partnership, however, Irma said, RedDoorz aims to create a long-term positive impact in its partner hotel staff’s lives through its partner-engagement program.

Basically, Irma said, RedDoorz wants to create a value for their partner, increase the knowledge and skills of the people and build goodwill in the local hotel industry by introducing the best practices for the industry.

Through its industry know-how not just in hospitality, Irma said partner owners and hotel staff are assured that once they welcome people from different social strata, they will be able to assist them, offer them the best service, see the smiles on the faces of their customers and make them come back for another wonderful stay. She said the Philippines is a great market for RedDoorz because of the robust domestic tourism activities, which the company is targeting to further enhance growth.

“If you can see our customers, our growth in the domestic market reaches 70 percent. In the Philippines, the busy routes are the ones that are always frequented by the local travelers,” she said.

“Here at RedDoorz, we promise not only growth for the partner property owners themselves but for their staff, as well. By providing them with further training to help them provide excellent service to our guests, we are also enabling them to achieve more in their career,” said RedDoorz Chief Operating Officer Rishabh Singhi.

Mavelle Villacarlos, operations manager of Wireless Mandaue, said partnering with RedDoorz boosted their online travel arrivals since their partnership started in 2018. Aside from the revenue side, it is great to work with the people you trust and have a really good relationship,” said Villacarlos.

She added the staff training conducted by RedDoorz was also beneficial because it served as a refresher course for her and the staff, especially in managing the personnel.

RedDoorz also facilitates English courses to increase staff’s morale, boost their performance and sharpen their communication skills.

“With this business setup, RedDoorz is progressing not only by expanding and partnering with over 100 properties in the Philippines but also ensuring that every property’s service is no different from that of Indonesia, Singapore, and Vietnam.