Businessmirror December 17, 2018

DEPT. OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY

2018 BANTOG DATA MEDIA AWARDS CHAMPION

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Monday, December 17, 2018 Vol. 14 No. 68

DOF: Analysts’ forecasts partly fueled ’18 inflation D

By Rea Cu

@ReaCuBM

ON’T just blame the higher taxes or global factors like oil prices. “Faulty” forecasting that morphed into a “self-fulfilling prophecy” was one of those that fueled inflation in 2018, according to a ranking Department of Finance (DOF) official who had been the agency’s pointman in lobbying Congress to pass the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law.

Inflation this year, said Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua, was also driven by expectations of a faster climb in prices resulting from faulty forecasting done by some analysts, whose projections were off the mark by as high as plus or minus 0.4

percentage points from the official rates announced by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Chua said an analysis done by the DOF’s Strategy, Economics and Results Group (SERG) on the inflation forecasts of several economists and analysts from 13 prominent

institutions from January to November this year show that the absolute deviations were as high as 0.4 percentage points, representing an estimated margin of error of around 15 percent.

In statistics, forecasts with MOE above 10 percent are considered

S

@BcuaresmaBM

HORT-TERM investments made by foreign investors to the Philippines turned positive in November this year, indicating a resurgence of favorable global investor sentiment toward the country for the coming months.

Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed foreign portfolio investments (FPI)—or more popularly known as “hot” or “speculative” money—reverted to the net inflow territory in November after being in the red for two consecutive months.

FPI are usually an indicator of global sentiment toward the economy, as they are the type of dollar investments that are easily pulled in and out of the local platforms

OVER 50% OF FLAGSHIP PROJECTS TO BE FINISHED BY 2022–N.E.D.A. UPDATE

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By Cai U. Ordinario

weak estimates, the DOF explained.

“The 13 analysts included in the SERG study are from prominent institutions, which publicly announce their forecasts in major leading newspapers. However, some of the forecasts swung so much that some of the calculations we did yielded an MOE of between 11 and 14.9 percent,” Chua said.

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Fitch hails new BSP rules on capital buffers

I

The FPI net inflow in November 2017, marking a remarkable turnaround for the portfolio investments last month

Continued on A2

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 52.6150

@caiordinario

HE National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) disclosed that more than half of the administration’s flagship projects are now in the implementation phase and on track to being completed either by 2022 or a few years after the President steps down from office.

Neda Undersecretary for Investment Programming Jonathan L. Uy recently told reporters that 44 of the 75 flagship projects are in various stages of implementation as of the end of October.

Uy explained that project implementation means projects are undergoing budgeting or funding, detailed engineering and development (DED), procurement and/or construction.

This, as Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and Neda Director General Ernesto M. Pernia said some of the flagship projects’ economic internal rate of return have also passed the social discount rate of 10 percent. The EIRR indicates the economic viability of a project. Some key projects he ticked off had EIRR of from 12.2 to over 21 percent.

As approved in June 2017, Uy said 56 projects were under development. “As of October 2018, there were only 24, so we have graduated 32 projects beyond development and [are now] under implementation, under budgeting, funding, DED, procurement and construction. From 19 in June 2017, we now have 44 projects undergoing implementation,” Uy said.

“We did the assessment to see how well analysts are in forecasting inflation, and the results show how far off some of them were in their projections.

We think that these forecasts have also driven inflation expectations that, as we know from global experience, have a tendency to become selffulfilling prophecies.”—Chua

$107.7M

in the slight change of global and local developments.

November FPI yielded a net inflow of $832.07 million, as the $1.21 billion in withdrawals for the period was significantly outpaced by the $2.04-billion placements.

This is the second-largest net inflow for the year—next only to March’s $1.1 billion—and a significant development from the $107.7 million seen in the same month

BUSINESS NEWS SOURCE OF THE YEAR

P25.00 nationwide | 5 sections 28 pages | 7 DAYS A WEEK

Hot money posts Nov net inflow of $832M

By Bianca Cuaresma

2017 EJAP JOURNALISM AWARDS

THE now-passable extended northbound portion of Skyway Stage 3, from Gil Puyat (Buendia) Avenue up to near Java Street in Makati City, provides motorists an alternative exit ramp and has been seen to ease traffic congestion on the ground. When completed, the six-lane, 17.54-kilometer elevated expressway will stretch from Makati City to Balintawak, Quezon City—one of several private sector-driven initiatives that complement the government’s “Build, Build, Build” program. NONIE REYES

NTERNATIONAL credit watcher Fitch Ratings lauded the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for the recently approved required capital buffers for local banks, but said this raised the question of how financial institutions are going to put up the new requirement.

In a recent release, Fitch said the Central Bank’s new Basel III countercyclical capital buffer (CCyB) rules complete the BSP’s implementation of international standards for banks in terms of capital.

“The newly announced CCyB rules are a sign of progress on one of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’s stated priorities—to expand its policy tool kit, as laid out by Central Bank Governor Nestor Espenilla in a speech

n JAPAN 0.4632 n UK 66.6422 n HK 6.7347 n CHINA 7.6436 n SINGAPORE 38.3743 n AUSTRALIA 37.0143 n EU 59.7917 n SAUDI ARABIA 14.0277

See “Fitch,” A2

Source: BSP (14 December 2018 )

News

BusinessMirror

A2 Monday, December 17, 2018

House panel sets Jan. 3 probe of ‘parking’ modus on budget

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By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

@joveemarie

LEADER of the House of Representatives on Sunday disclosed that a former Cabinet official now seeking an elective seat was responsible for “parking” at least P300 million in infrastructure projects in the proposed 2019 national budget.

In a statement, Majority Leader Rolando G. Andaya Jr. said a mayor from Bicol, who requested not to be named in the meantime, bared that the Cabinet member parked the allocation in flood-mitigation projects for the region.

Since the word war began over the budget between the Legislative and Executive, and between certain Senate and House officials, there have been allegations that a new scheme called “parking of budget” with certain agencies—whose leaders may or may not know about it—has been resorted to by some lawmakers to earn commissions

from the annual appropriations.

“According to the mayor, more local government executives want to seek an audience with me to shed light on the so-called parking scam in the budget allocations in the region,” Andaya said.

According to Andaya, the House will include these allegations in its investigation.

The House Rules committee will commence its investigation on budget anomalies and questionable allocations by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) at 10 a.m. on January 3 in Naga City.

“The parking scheme, facilitated

handled the flooding projects of the controversial CT Leoncio Construction and Trading.

“According to the mayor, more local government executives want to seek an audience with me to shed light on the so-called parking scam in the budget allocations in the region.”—Andaya

Payables

ANDAYA said the committee, at a later date, also intends to summon Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno to shed light on pending queries related to the 2018 national budget and proposed 2019 GAA, including billions of payables.

“Also, I am particularly interested in knowing the total amount of payables that the DBM owes to contractors and suppliers this year.

During the Question Hour, he disclosed that these payables run to billions of pesos,” he said.

The DPWH undersecretary for planning, Ma. Catalina Cabral, has confirmed to Congress that for the DPWH alone, the payables have reached P44 billion, he said.

“The billion-dollar question: why then did Secretary Diokno insist on inserting an additional P75 billion in the DPWH infrastructure projects for 2019 when the DBM has no money to pay for a P100-billion debt to contractors and suppliers?”

Andaya asked.

by the DBM, may eventually explain the huge spike allocated to floodmitigation projects from 2017 to 2018. From P79 billion in 2017, the budget for flood-mitigation projects ballooned to a whopping P133 billion,” he added.

According to the lawmaker, at least P2.2 billion was added to the national flood-control project in Bicol from 2017 to 2018.

The committee will also subpoena, among others, the regional director of theDepartment of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), two district engineers of Sorsogon City and the district engineer of Catanduanes.

Andaya said subpoenas will be sent as well to are heads of the DPWH bids and awards committee, active and recently retired, who

DOF: Analysts’ forecasts partly fueled ’18 inflation Continued from A1

He said the DOF recognizes that rising inflation, especially in the third quarter, was mostly driven by food supply issues, the peso depreciation, growing consumer demand, and higher oil prices in the global market.

However, inaccurate forecasts, such as these, may have pushed up inflation expectations as well, ultimately contributing to higher prices for Filipino families.

The average absolute deviations from the official inflation rate computed by SERG from January to November this year ranged from 0.16 percentage

points, or an MOE of 6 percent, to a high of 0.39 percentage points, with an MOE of 14.9 percent.

“We did the assessment to see how well analysts are in forecasting inflation, and the results show how far off some of them were in their projections.

We think that these forecasts have also driven inflation expectations that, as we know from global experience, have a tendency to become self-fulfilling prophecies,” he added.

The TRAIN law, as projected by the DOF, accounted for only 0.4 to 0.7 percentage points of the 5.2 average inflation rate for the first

11 months of the year.

The 13 institutions and their analysts covered by the SERG study on inf lation forecasts were: Alvin Ang of the Ateneo de Manila University; Angelo Taningco of Security Bank; Michael Ricafort of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.; Euben Paracuelles of BDO-Nomura; Victor Abola of the University of Asia and the Pacific; Ruben Asuncion of Union Bank; Nicholas Mapa and Joey Cuyengkeng of ING; Shashank Mendiratta, Eugenia Victor ino, Jennifer Kusuma and Betty Rui Wang of ANZ; Emmanuel Leyco of the

OVER 50% OF FLAGSHIP PROJECTS TO BE FINISHED BY 2022–N.E.D.A. UPDATE Continued from A1

In his year-end briefing, Pernia said that, as of end-November 2018, at least 35 out of the 75 infrastructure flagship projects have been approved by the Neda Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) and confirmed by the Neda Board. These have a total investment requirement of P1.54 trillion.

Pernia also said that 31 projects are expected to be approved by the Neda Board upon the recommendation of the ICC. In terms of project timelines, they expect 31 projects to be completed by 2022.

The Neda chief said the remaining 44 projects will be completed beyond this administration’s ter m but may commence implementation during this administration.

“The government is making definite progress in its massive infrastructure program, we all know as ‘Build, Build, Build.’ We are certain that the government’s efforts will pay off and we will see

improvements in the state of the country’s infrastructure over the mediumterm,” Pernia said.

However, in a briefing in September, Pernia said 32 flagship projects will be completed within the President’s term. Around 43 projects, meanwhile, will be completed after 2022.

The Neda chief underscored the abovehurdle EIRR of certain key projects. For Mindanao Railway, for example, Pernia said, “the EIRR we computed is at 12.2 percent, while the Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge has an EIRR of 16.1 percent.”

For other projects such as the New Cebu International Container Port, the EIRR is at 20.1 percent; and the Panguil Bay Bridge Project, which aims to connect Tangub City in Misamis Occidental and Tubod in Lanao del Norte, has an EIRR of 21.4 percent.

Pernia said the Clark International Airport Expansion project has also passed the hurdle rate with an EIRR of 20.6 percent.

Fitch. . .

Asian Institute of Management; Mitzie Conchada of De La Salle University; Guian Dumalagan of Land Bank of the Philippimes; Ildemarc Bautista of Metrobank; and Emmanuel Lopez of the University of Santo Tomas.

“All of us should remain cognizant of negative unintended consequences. Researchers are taught that early on in college and graduate school. It is an even more crucial lesson when your research is no longer subject to a university’s Institutional Review Board,” said Assistant Finance Secretary Antonio Joselito G. Lambino II.

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earlier this year,” Fitch said.

Just last week, the BSP announced the new rules regarding the CCyB, which the BSP said will be compiled from the banks’ common equity tier 1 profile.

“During periods of stress, the Monetary Board can lower the CCyB requirement, effectively providing the affected banks with more risk capital to deploy. During periods of continuing expansion, the CCyB may be raised, which has the effect of setting aside capital [that] can be used if difficult times ensue,” the BSP earlier said.

“The buffer, however, will be continuously reviewed by the BSP. Banks will be given a lead time of 12 months in the event that the CCyB buffer is raised. However, when the buffer is reduced, it takes effect immediately,” it added.

The current CCyB is set at zero percent, which the BSP said suggests that it “does not see the ongoing buildup of credit as an imminent risk.”

Fitch said the question is at what point the CCyB rate will be increased.

“Uncertainty on the CCyB trigger had been raised as recently as last month by the banks, and was seen as a potential hiccup in the implementation of the framework,” the credit watcher said.

Fitch flagged that the CCyB rate will add to the hurdle for dividend payment by banks, and raise the trigger point for domestic systemically important banks’ recovery plans. Bianca Cuaresma

Hot money posts Nov net inflow of $832M

last year. The local currency, which is also usually a gauge of sentiment for the economy, also posted a significant recovery in November to average at 52.808 to a dollar, from the previous month’s 54.009 to a dollar average.

It was in November when inflation first started to decelerate to 6 percent, from it 6.7-percent peak in the previous month.

The BSP attributed the positive development during the month to decreasing global oil prices, the BSP’s decision to raise its policy rate; and progress on the rice tariffication bill, all of which are expected to temper inflation.

The Central Bank said Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the country, which was expected to further deepen ties with China in

terms of diplomacy and business development, also pushed sentiment to the positive territory.

According to the BSP, about 66.8 percent of investments registered during the month were in PSE-listed securities—pertaining mainly to food, beverage and tobacco companies holding firms, property companies, banks and utilities companies.

The 33.2-percent balance went

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to Peso government securities.

Transactions in Peso GS and PSElisted securities yielded net inflows of $510 million and $322 million, respectively.

The United Kingdom, Singapore, the United States, British Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands were the top 5 investor countries for the month, with combined share at 83.5 percent.

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Sotto vows passage of ’19 budget in Jan; ‘worst’ still possible

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ENATE President Vicente C. Sotto III gave assurances on Sunday that senators will complete their budget deliberations quickly when sessions resume on January 14, in order to move to bicameral talks on the P3.7-trillion 2019 budget shortly after. This, he said, would shorten the period that the government will run under a reenacted budget early next year.

Sotto promptly allayed concerns that the budget delay will affect the government’s “Build, Build, Build” projects as Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto put in a special provision in the budget bill to allow ongoing government projects to continue even during the upcoming election ban.

“The Omnibus Election Code can be amended with a special provision in the General Appropriations Act,” Sotto said.

The Senate President over the weekend said he expects bicameral talks to hammer out a reconciled final version of the 2019 budget to last one week.

“When we resume [sessions] on January 14, we will finish the budget bill and go to bicameral talks to harmonize the SenateHouse versions of the annual money measure,” Sotto said in a radio interview.

He also clarified that President Duterte already knew “there will be a reenacted budget.”

“It should be clear that the delay was not caused by the Senate,” Sotto stressed, noting that the 2019 budget bill submitted by Malacañang was transmitted to the Senate just this December.

This developed as Sen.Panfilo M. Lacson Sr. noted Malacañang’s disappointment over the failure of Congress to pass the 2019 budget bill.

“They have a reason to be disappointed, but we cannot do anything, unless we want to see a half-cooked budget that was not well-studied, that could be more disadvantageous,” Lacson said in an interview with DWIZ over the weekend.

Under the congressional calendar of the 17th Congress, the Senate and the House adjourned session from December 15 to January 13 and will resume work from January 14 to February 8. They will adjourn anew from February 9 to May 19 to make way for the campaign period and the midterm elections; and resume sessions anew from May 20 to June 7, 2019.

In clarifying what went wrong with the budget timeline, Sotto noted that apart from delayed transmission of the money measure, senators discovered insertions of so-called bukol budget items, or bloated lump sum allocations that senators said need to be scrutinized.

“Don’t blame us for the delay,” Sotto said, citing the recent change in leadership of the House of Representatives and committee chair-

Balangiga bells. . .

He even said the President even waved to the other local priests at the far end of the row while he was on his way to the stage.

“Maybe it’s just the arrogance and overacting most of the times of the PMS, but certainly not a directive of the President,” Trejo said.

Another user Nnie Que also said that making such post “makes no sense other than to sow intrigue.”

“And this is exactly why PRRD talks the way he does about some church people. You, of all people, must be spreading understanding peace and love. But no. Instead you enjoy causing division among people. Is that a teaching of Christ? You know the answer better than most of us,” she said.

The alleged incident comes as Duterte has repeatedly unleashed tirades against

“When we resume [sessions] on January 14, we will finish the budget bill and go to bicameral talks to harmonize the Senate-House versions of the annual money measure.”—Sotto

manships that saw former President now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo taking over the Speakership following the ouster of Rep. Pantaleon D. Alvarez.

Not ‘insertions’

IN the same interview, Senate President Sotto clarified that the entire 2019 budget bill was crafted

by Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno’s department “and cannot be called insertions,” disputing the term used by some congressmen.

During the Question Hour at the House last week, Diokno had explained that one of the contested parts of the budget—a P75-billion outlay—was not an “insertion” but an “augmentation” made by the Executive when it crafted the budget for submission to Congress.

For his part, Sotto said on Sunday, “We will look at the reported lump sum items that the Department of the Interior and Local Government [DILG] claim they don’t know about.... If it is not explained, then we will cut...it will result in lesser deficit.”

Sotto said they expect to wrap up the final version of the budget and approve the Senate version of the 2019 budget bill on second and third reading by January 21.

The sooner, the better

AS Congress adjourned without passing the proposed 2019 budget, Diokno held out hope at the weekend that the budget will be passed before end-January. Diokno said he will not let the government operate under a reenacted budget for one whole year in 2019, citing its economic consequences.

“It’s academic. We have no choice but to live with a reenacted budget.

Yet, the sooner Congress act on the 2019 budget, the better for the economy,” he said in a text message to the BusinessMirror.

Diokno did not discount the possibility that the “worst” can still happen, meaning passage not in January but after the May polls.

“Worst case: 2019 elections will get in the way, the 2019 budget will be passed by the new Congress. We will not allow the 2018 budget to be reenacted for one whole year. That will significantly affect growth, employment and poverty incidence targets,” Diokno added.

Earlier, Diokno also said Congress’s failure to pass the budget on time will also result in an implementation gap in infrastructure projects as there will also be an election ban from March to May 2019. Butch Fernandez and Bernadette D. Nicolas

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the priests and the Catholic Church.

Earlier, Malacañang announced that the President will not be attending anymore the event in Balangiga town as he needed to attend to “pressing matters of governance.”

However, hours later, Malacañang took back its statement, confirming that the President will be attending the event as he already made changes in his schedule.

Also, the President skipped the official handover ceremony of the bells by the United States to the Philippines at the Villamor Air Base last Tuesday.

The bells were taken by American soldiers from its perch on a church in Balangiga, Samar, in 1901. The church bells were used by Filipino revolutionaries to signal an attack on American soldiers.

Economy BusinessMirror

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Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Monday, December 17, 2018 A3

BI eyes ‘disembarkation interval’ in Naia T

HE Bureau of Immigration (BI) is considering having a passenger disembarkation interval for those arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) starting Monday.

“This is one of the things that we are exploring. We have coordinated with airlines to have an interval time before allowing the passengers to disembark,” Grifton Medina, Immigration Port Operations Division chief, told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

Medina explained that six airlines, for instance, would arrive at the Naia at the same time. “Can you just imagine the volume of passengers at the immigration counters if all of their passengers would go there at the same

time?” Medina said.

Having at least an interval of five to 10 minutes will help ease the long queues because at least, the queues have already moved before the next passengers would come in, he explained.

“Time and space are essential,” Medina added.

He told PNA that in Naia Terminals 1, 2 and 3, about 90,000 to 100,000 passengers arrive each day this Christmas season.

“The biggest challenge, actually, is the facility itself. The volume of passengers is increasing, but the size of the facility does not increase,” he said.

He noted that Naia Terminal 2, for instance, is too small since it was originally designed as a domestic airport.

In a previous interview with the PNA, Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa) Media Affairs Division head Jess Martinez explained that Naia Terminal 2 was not even designed to have a section for the BI, as well as a Duty-Free store.

That was why the immigration queues there were always long, he said.

Naia Terminal 2 is currently being used by flag-carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) for its international and domestic flights.

Miaa has been working on the rehabilitation of Terminal 2 since late October.

Some areas at Terminal 2 will be fixed and a portion of the lobby at the north and south arrival areas will also be expanded. PNA

Neda sees brighter 2019 for PHL economy

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

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ESPITE the economic headwinds caused mainly by the trade tensions between the United States and China, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) expects 2019 to be a stellar year for the Philippines.

Aside from the implementation of bigticket projects under the “Build, Build, Build” program, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said the country’s hosting of the Southeast Asian Games would boost growth next year.

Pernia said 2019 will again feature the Phil-

ippine economy’s resilience, especially with the external environment still challenging for the economy with a projected slowdown in global economic growth.

“If 2018 has not been easy for us, 2019 will not be bereft of challenges as well. The global growth is expected to slow down starting next year. The external environment seems to be less supportive of our country’s potential economic growth in 2019,” he said.

“With key reforms scored this year, we expect the performance of the economy to be robust despite domestic and external risks,” he added.

To attain the government’s growth targets of between 7 percent and 8 percent next year

and in the medium term, Pernia called on Congress to pass certain pieces of legislation.

These include the amendment of the Public Service Act, the Universal Health Care bill, Coco Levy bill, and the National Land Use Act, which has been languishing in Congress for over 20 years.

“We [also] urge Congress to pass our budget for 2019 at the soonest possible time. We need this to make sure that we are on track of meeting our development targets,” Pernia said.

Pernia also dispelled concerns that the Philippine economy is overheating. He stressed that underemployment remains a concern, as well as the high unemployment among young Filipinos.

The Nation BusinessMirror

A4 Monday, December 17, 2018 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

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Govt to spend ₧320M for nutrition survey

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By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

HE national government will spend P320 million to conduct the 2019 Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS), according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The survey aims to collect information on the nutritional status of Filipinos, particularly children, on the prevalence of noncommunicable disease risk factors and on food consumption and waste among individuals and households.

The PSA said this updated information will be used for planning nutrition and development programs. The survey will run from January to December next year the results of which are expected to be released in 2020.

The 2019 ENNS is Phase II of the three-year project of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), according to the PSA. The data on household and per capita food consumption as well as basis for regional menus, poverty calculation, Recommended Energy and Nutrient Intakes (Reni), desirable dietary patterns and food production targets.

The results will be used as inputs

in the Medium Term Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition, the Philippine Development Plan and various poverty alleviation programs.

The PSA said the results will also be used in food fortification and supplementation programs, as well as the Philippine coalition for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases.

Based on the data from the 8th National Nutrition Survey released in 2013, there were improvements

Mission impossible: Restore Manila Bay to its pristine state

Army activates unit vs territorial threats

By Rene Acosta

@reneacostaBM

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HE Philippine Army has activated over the weekend its 1st Brigade Combat Team (1st BCT) that would serve as the military’s primary defense force against territorial threats.

The activation of the rapid deployment unit was made on Saturday at the new compound of the Special Operations Command (Socom) in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija, by Army Chief Lt. Gen. Macairog Alberto, Army Commanding General.

The creation of the special unit was a result of the Army’s idea to develop a strategic territorial defense concept in 2016, whose aim was to establish a compact, responsive and modern force that is capable of engaging in conventional and unconventional warfare and even nontraditional threats.

“The 1st BCT will be the Army’s rapid deployable unit with the right force-mix to any area of strategic significance,” said Army Spokesman Col. Louie Villanueva.

According to Villanueva, it shall consist of maneuver components, which includes three battalions—two infantry and one mechanized, maneuver support consisting of “specialized enablers” such as field artillery and engineer combat battalions, reconnaissance company, and units from signal, intelligence, civil-military operations, military police, explosive ordnance, chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear and sustainment components composed of a forward service support unit and a forward medical platoon.

He added the BCT is a contingency force that could provide operational flexibility and will be the Unified Command’s decisive force in times of crisis or armed conflict situations.

“The establishment of [the] BCT is geared toward capacitating the Army into a joint, combined arms force capable of addressing various threats and challenges across the Army’s range of operations,” Villanueva said. “With its given characteristics as a mix-force, it can be employed in various situation both in peacetime or wartime.”

The 1st BCT is commanded by Brig. Gen. Leopoldo Imbang Jr. and it is attached with the 7th Infantry Division.

The unit is also set to be placed under Tactical Control of Training and Doctrine Command for consolidation and organizational training.

The 1st BCT is set to train with US forces in the upcoming Salaknib and Balikatan military exercises in order to further develop its capability in terms of conducting combined arms operations and in preparation for its future employment.

“Let us always be reminded that we are duty bound to secure our countr y’s sovereignty and the integrity of our national territory,” Alberto said. “Our ancestors had sacrifices their precious lives and we are now duty bound to sustain it and be the best exemplars of public service to meet the aspirations and expectations of the Filipino.”

“I know there will be challenges but I am very confident that this is the most perfect force-mix of combined arms in pursuit of our organizational transformation for us to be more relevant, effective and efficient formidable fighting force,” he added.

in the prevalence of smoking and stunting as well as anemia.

However, nutrition problems such as childhood underweight, stunting and wasting, as well as growing problems like adult overweight and obesity, have persisted.

The data also provided information on hypertension and elevated blood glucose among pregnant and lactating women which become risk factors for hypertension and diabetes for women later in life.

By Jonathan L. Mayuga

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DAWN MASS

Thousands of Filipino Catholics flock to Saint Joseph Parish Church, popularly referred to as the Bamboo Organ Church, in Las Piñas, on December 16, for the first day of the Philippines’s traditional dawn masses or Simbang Gabi. Early-morning Eucharistic celebrations are held every day for nine days until the eve of Christmas. ROY DOMINGO

Francis declares Ilocos Norte, Mount Carmel churches as minor basilicas

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

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HE Vatican has recently declared the creation of two new “Minor Basilica” in Ilocos Norte and Metro Manila.

Pope Francis authorized the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments to confer the title to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Quezon City and the Saint John the Baptist Parish in Badoc, Ilocos Norte, at the request of the officials of both churches.

The Diocese of Cubao, which has

jurisdiction on the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and the Diocese of Laoag, which oversees Saint John the Baptist Parish in Badoc, Ilocos Norte, lauded the granting of their requests.

Both will enjoy the privileges, which comes with the title of Minor Basilica, as soon as the bestowing of the said title becomes effective.

These include providing plenary indulgence to those who will participate in the activities of a Minor Basilica.

The title is usually reserved for certain churches that were able to meet certain criteria set by the Catholic

Atienza opposes creation of cultural department

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DEPUTY minority leader on Sunday opposed a Senate proposal creating a Department of Culture that would cost at least P2 billion yearly.

In a statement, Deputy Minority Leader José L. Atienza Jr. of Buhay Partylist said what the government needs is a “simple and practical reorganization” of the Department Education (DepEd) into the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS).

“We don’t really need another large and expensive bureaucracy such as a Department of Culture because we already have the National Commission for Culture and the Arts,” Atienza, former three-termmayorofManila,said.“What weabsolutelyneednowistheimmediate reintegration of culture and sports back into our public-school system.”

Sen. Francis Joseph G. Escudero ’s proposed Department of Culture Act is up for plenary approval at the Senate, where he is chairman of the Committee on Education, Arts and Culture.

“Nobody really knows what they are up to. They may possibly be interested in the future position of Secretary of Culture,” Atienza said.

Escudero’s Senate Bill 1528 seeks

an initial appropriation of P2 billion for the new department on its first full year of operation alone.

The senator’s mother, Sorsogon Rep. Evelina Escudero, is pushing for acounterpart bill in the House.

Atienza said his House Bill 2628 merely seeks to rectify the blunder committed by Congress when it passed the Governance of Basic Education Act in 2001.

“Our proposal is far less bureaucratic and won’t cost taxpayers extra money, because we will just be restoring two bureaus under the DepEd— one for culture and one for sports,” Atienza said. “And these bureaus may be run by existing DepEd officials.”

That law reorganized the previous DECS into what is now the DepEd and effectively disconnected culture and sports from the school system, according to Atienza.

“Once we have the DECS back, we should be able to properly guide the youth toward conserving our rich history and heritage, promoting arts and culture, strengthening their minds and bodies, and molding them into leaders and custodians of our nation’s future,” Atienza said. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

Church. The church would be allowed to use the papal symbol in its banner, furnishings and seal and, for the rector of the basilica, a black mozetta with red piping, buttons and button holes.

Among other considerations for the issuance of the title, the church must be a center of active and pastoral liturgy, have the appropriate size with a sufficiently large sanctuary, enjoy certain renown in the diocese and have historical value or have art of considerable value.

With the addition of the two, there will now be 15 Minor Basilicas in the Philippines.

Customs foils smuggling of snakes from Indonesia

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HE airport customs bureau foiled an attempt to smuggle into the country two shipments from Indonesia, which were discovered to contain “blood python.”

The serpents were declared as “taro chips,” which arrived at Central Mail Exchange Center (CMEC) last Friday.

Blood pythons are not venomous but are popular pets because of their coloration aside from being easy to maintain and require no unusual caging or protocols.

The blood python (Python brongersmai) is among those listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora as included in international trade, the CITES said.

The snakes were discovered during an x-ray scanning procedure. The inspector called the customs examiners attention following the discovery.

The six blood pythons don’t have proper import permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

“The Wildlife Traffic Monitoring Unit received the items from the customs bureau for proper care,” Customs Collector Mimel Talusan said. Recto Mercene

@jonlmayuga

HE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is preparing to embark on another mission: restore Manila Bay to its pristine state.

Manila Bay’s waters are considered the most polluted, perhaps 10 times worse than that of Boracay, because of direct discharge of untreated wastewater from hundreds of thousands of households, toxic industrial effluents from factories and shipping operations; and leachate from garbage dumps, according to the DENR. In 2008, the Supreme Court issued a continuing writ of mandamus ordering 13 government agencies led by the DENR to clean up Manila Bay and restore its water quality to Class SB, or safe for recreational activities such as swimming.

Despite efforts like annual coastal cleanup activities, information, education and communication campaigns, and strong support of various stakeholders like nongovernment organizations, the private sector, and academic community, water pollution even worsened.

Just last June, strong waves triggered by typhoons hurled back tons of garbage, mostly plastic waste, along the coasts of Manila Bay. Many believe that because of the gargantuan task of addressing the multifaceted problem besetting Manila Bay, restoring it to its pristine state is next to impossible.

Among the challenge of restoring Manila Bay’s water is how to prevent the direct discharge of untreated wastewater, or dumping of wastewater from households, commercial and industrial establishments into the Pasig River and its tributaries and other waterways, that drain to Manila Bay. There are also thousands of informal settlers that had illegally built shanties along creeks and rivers that need to be relocated.

Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu was quoted in news reports that around 300,000 squatters living along so-called danger zones need to be relocated.

Despite such huge challenge where past administrations have failed, the DENR chief is optimistic to have Manila Bay “rehabilitated, restored and maintained to a level fit for swimming, skin diving and other contact forms of recreation.”

“We are preparing for an all-out strategy to bring the coliform concentration in Manila Bay to a safe level so that millions of people who reside in the bay region and neighboring areas will enjoy its waters and marine resources without fear of getting sick,” Cimatu said in a statement.

The DENR hopes to replicate what has been achieved in Boracay, the country’s top tourist destination in Malay, Aklan, which was tagged as a “cesspool” by no less than President Duterte.

Cimatu, the designated head of the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF), said the government will show the same level of political will in cleaning up the bay that spans three major regions—National Capital Region (NCR), Central Luzon and Calabarzon or Region 4A—as it did in Boracay, a tiny island in Western Visayas.

A 2017 report by the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau showed that the fecal coliform level in Manila Bay reached as high as over 330 million most probable number per 100 milliliters. The safe level is only 100 MPN/100ml.

According to Cimatu, part of the DENR’s strategy is to ensure the compliance with environmental laws among all local government units (LGUs) surrounding Manila Bay. “I am calling on all LGUs to step up their efforts in cleaning up the bay because it is their own constituents who will benefit [from a rehabilitated Manila Bay],” Cimatu said.

He revealed that a Manila Bay Command Center under the DENR-NCR regional office would be created to oversee the zonal operations of four field offices to be set up in six coastal cities of Metro Manila, namely: Malabon-Navotas, Manila, Pasay-Parañaque and Las Piñas.

These field offices would be manned by personnel, who would closely coordinate with city or municipal environment officers to ensure that cleanup activities and programs are being carried out and sustained.

To address problems on human waste arising from the presence of informal settlers along the bay, the DENR is looking at technologies that would treat water of pollutants, whether directly discharged into the bay or through toilets.

Cimatu said the DENR would also seek assistance from law enforcement agencies in going after violators of environmental laws, especially those who discharge untreated wastewater into the bay.

Class SB waters are also suitable for commercial propagation of shellfish, and as spawning areas for milkfish and other similar species.

Regions BusinessMirror

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Editor: Dennis D. Estopace • Monday, December 17, 2018

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Japan to fund four community projects in Cotabato areas

By Manuel T. Cayon

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@awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

AVAO CITY—Japan provided grants last week amounting to $286,680 (approximately P15.3 million) to four community projects, including a crisis center for children running in conflict with the law, in three Cotabato areas.

The Crisis Center for Children in Conflict with the Law would be built on a lot in the municipality of President Roxas in North Cotabato, which the municipal government has requested. Japan gave $63,062 (or P3.3 million).

In granting financial assistance to the municipal government, Japan acknowledged the formation of the latter as an “immediate concern, especially that the local government does not have the proper facility to admit [children in conflict].”

A statement from the Japanese embassy said the project would provide a one-story crisis center and would include furniture.

“It is expected to give a safe haven for male children in conflict with the law in President Roxas where they can be interned for the duration of their court trial.”

It said the children’s facility would also provide intensive interventions “to prepare [children in conflict with the law] for their reintegration to their respective families and communities.”

Three other facilities were assisted and included the construction of an elementary classroom building in Cotabato City, a building for vocational and technical school in Tampakan, South Cotabato, and a water system in Tupi, also in South Cotabato.

Japan gave $67,984 (P3.7 million) for the construction of classrooms for Datu Ayunan Elementary School in Cotabato City to replace dilapidated classrooms of the Grade 1 “making it unsafe and unconducive to conduct classes.”

The building would have three classrooms and provided with school furniture. Some 100 pupils would benefit from it.

The one-story building for technicalvocational education and training center in Tampakan town would be built through a cash assistance of $80,485 (P4.3 million).

The vocational education aimed to fill the gap of a high percentage of underemployment and unemployment due to limited capability of their residents, the Tampakan municipal government said. A big number of out-of-school youth has added to the problem.

Meanwhile, Japan gave $75,149 (P3.9 million) for the construction of a Level 2 water supply system in Barangay Kablon in the municipality of Tupi that was requested by the municipal government, which reported that “children and women have to spend around four to six hours every day just to fetch water.”

“In addition, water sources was found to be unsafe as they contain bacteria that could cause diseases,” it said.

The project includes the construction of water system in Sitio Latil, Tukaykalon and Taluban of Barangay Kablon. Upon completion, 308 households or more than 1,000 individuals would have better access to potable water. The project was also expected to reduce occurrence of water-borne diseases among the families in the community with the provision of a water treatment facility.

A Level 2 system consists of piped water with a communal water point or source, usually a bore well or spring system.

Japanese Ambassador Koji Haneda and the representatives of the recipient organizations, whose areas were also in former conflict zones, signed the four grant contracts in Cotabato City on December 13.

The Japanese embassy said the projects were funded through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects that the embassy implements as part of the Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development (J-Bird).

The embassy said Japan “believes that these projects would contribute to the peace and development in Mindanao.

Harvest Fair opens in Antique

Decentralize document evaluations away from Manila—logistics sector

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AVAO CITY—The country’s logistics sector could be speedier and more efficient, according to local freight forwarders and exporters.

Philippine logistics would move faster and efficiently once the government decentralizes the submission and evaluation of shipment documents to the regions which have their own port operations, they recommended during a conference here.

The recommendations are for government agencies involved in the regulation of shipment of products and in the logistics supply chain.

The forwarders and exporters blamed the delay in transaction to the old practice of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to forward their filed documents to the national office in Manila before the government would give them the go-ahead to move products from the ports.

“The stakeholders recommended to decentralize the evaluation of requirements to the regional offices, instead of forwarding the documents to their central offices in Metro Manila,” according to a DTI statement distributed during the conference it and a team from the World Bank organized.

“Some of these concerns [by stakeholders] are on the transaction delays, port

congestions, and the unavailability of online or bank payments of some agencies,” the DTI added.

The DTI said the forwarders and exporters want improvements in the document tracking system “for a more efficient traceability.”

Port congestion was one of the identified bottlenecks in the logistics sector and the conference participants said this was due to the lack of berthing facilities. They added: “there is [not] enough area to handle the increasing export volumes.”

They were optimistic, however, about this concern to be addressed shortly following the expected modernization project of Sasa Wharf in 2019.

The DTI-Competitiveness Bureau, the World Bank Group and the DTI Regional office here conducted the focused group discussion to review the logistics performance of Davao City following the improved ranking of the country in this year’s global survey by the World Bank.

This year, the World Bank said the Philippines dropped 11 steps in the 2018 Logistics Performance Index (LPI) from its 71st spot in the 2016 survey to this year’s 60th place. The Philippines got a score of 2.90, where the World Bank

ranked 160 countries.

The DTI said survey results showed the Philippines getting the fifth spot under the lower middle-income category, next to Indonesia and Côte d’Ivoire that ranked third and fourth, respectively.

The World Bank survey is conducted every two years as a benchmarking tool to measure performance along the logistics supply chain within a country. The DTI said countries are assessed on the following areas: efficiency of customs and border management clearance; quality of trade- and transport-related infrastructure; ease of arranging competitively priced international shipments; competence and quality of logistics services; ability to track and trace consignments; and, frequency of shipments that reach consignees within the scheduled or expected delivery time.

The said areas are then rated 1.00 to 5.00 by the respondents comprising of freight forwarders and express couriers.

DTI Regional Director Maria Belenda Q. Ambi said “a stronger collaborative effort must be done, not just to further increase our rankings, but to also serve as our strategy to greatly facilitate trade and connectivity, as it is considered as one of the catalyst of economic growth.” Manuel T. Cayon

Philippine Airlines rolls out Clark-Antique route

P DEPARTMENT of Tourism Western Visayas Regional Director Helen Catalbas admires the Ati native products during the opening of The Antique Harvest Fair at Robinsons Mall in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique, on Friday, December 14. PNA

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AN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique— The Antique Harvest Fair formally opened last Friday at Robinsons Mall here to showcase the different goods of farmers, indigenous people and other producers in the countryside.

Department of Tourism Western Visayas (Region 6) Regional Director Helen J. Catalbas said the fair is part of the assistance of the department to give chance to small producers and cooperatives to have a venue to showcase and sell their merchandise.

“This is just the beginning and so the producers can look forward to more fairs in Manila and in other major cities in the country,”

Catalbas said during the opening program.

She added that raw materials abound in Antique so producers should keep on discovering new sources from their environment and strive to attain refined craftsmanship.

Catalbas also challenged Antiqueños to patronize the local commodities to sustain livelihood of producers.

“Your craftsmen can grow if your own people believe in on what they produce.”

Showcased in the fair are hand-woven fabrics, potteries, native bags, artworks of local artists, and agricultural products, among others. The fair will run until Sunday. PNA

HILIPPINE Airlines (PAL) Inc. flew out on Sunday from Clark International Airport (CIA) to San Jose de Buenavista, the provincial capital of Antique.

Located in Western Visayas, Antique is the latest domestic destination added to the Philippine national flag carrier’s domestic network.

The twice-weekly PAL service between Clark and Antique is operated with an 86-seater Bombardier Next Generation Q400 aircraft.

“This new route empowers Antiqueños to fly straight to the heart of Central Luzon,” PAL Vice President for Corporate Communications Josen Perez de Tagle said during the send-off ceremony at Antique. “More convenient air access helps keep the economy humming in Antique.”

Senior government officials gathered to welcome the inaugural flight and also to celebrate the festive ceremony at Antique’s Evelio B. Javier airport.

Also witnessing the historic flight were Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Director General Jim C. Sydiongco, Transportation Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports Manuel Antonio L. Tamayo and mayors and councilors from Antique’s 18 municipalities.

“With PAL flights coming to Antique, more Antiqueños would be able to fly home more often and experience the efficiency of air travel,” Sydiongco said. “We witness another milestone for Philippine aviation.”

Tamayo, who spoke in behalf of Secretary Arthur P. Tugade, said the return of PAL to Antique is another historical milestone.

“After 12 years ago, the airport has returned to commercial operation,” Tamayo said.

With the flag-carrier now coming back to Antique, more locals may fly more often, he added. He further said PAL’s return, being the only airport in Antique, will spur the development of the whole province.

“Patronize the flight to sustain it,” he told the Antiqueños.

The PAL executive recalled that with the previous flights like that of the Asian Spirit—the latest airline to fly in Antique 10 or 12 years ago—stopped operation because it was not economically viable due to fewer passengers flying, preferring the roll-on, roll-off.

The new route of PAL, through 86-seater PR- C5910, flies from Clark to Antique and vice versa every Sunday and Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Department of Tourism (DOT)

Assistant Secretary Roberto P. Alabado III, who traces his family roots from Antique, said Antiqueños must treat the airline and the airport like their “babies,” nurturing them so these may grow. He said the airline operation in Antique will further sustain the tourist arrivals in the province.

Antique Gov. Rhodora J. Cadiao, who was a former flight attendant of PAL, said that when the PAL Express touched down at the airport, memories flashed back to her mind.

“Jim [Sydiongco] was then my former boss and pilot,” Cadiao said. She added that the longtime dream of Antiqueños was realized because of Senator Loren Legarda, whose dream for Antique was shared by the PAL management. That is to help spur the local economy and boost trade and tourism in the province through the airport’s operation.

PR2205 leaves Clark at 6:00 a.m. every Sunday and Tuesday, arriving in San Jose de Buenavista at 6:00 a.m. The return flight, PR2206, departs Antique at 7:40 6:00 a.m., arriving in Clark at 9:00 6:00 a.m.

T h r o u g h t h e n e w r o u t e , PA L hopes to promote A ntique’s tour ist attractions. Recto Mercene and PNA

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Agriculture/Commodities

Monday, December 17, 2018 • Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

BusinessMirror

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‘Govt must hike budget for livestock sector’

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

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@jearcalas

EN. Cynthia A. Villar said she would push for the enactment of a law that would increase the government’s spending for the livestock sector to further boost its productivity.

In a speech before the members of the National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc. (NFHFI), Villar said she would prioritize the passage of Senate Bill (SB) 1758, or the Philippine Livestock Industry Development Act, during the remainder of her first term as lawmaker and if she gets reelected next year. “[SB 1758] will restructure, rationalize and integrate the government’s livestock industry support agencies into the Philippine Livestock Authority in order to strengthen its development, protection and regulatory functions, including the promotion of dairy and native animals, provide for a livestock development fund among others,” she said in her speech during the group’s event held recently.

Villar said the bill would “remedy the limited budget support for livestock” sector which has been averaging at only 2 percent of the yearly appropriations for the agriculture sector.

She noted that only the hogs and chicken subsectors have been growing constantly at about 3

percent annually due to private sector-driven investments.

Villar, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, said other livestock subsectors have been “mostly stagnant in terms of production volume and value” due to lack of investments especially from the government.

“I have instructed the Department of Agriculture [DA] that there should be sufficient budget for the livestock sector because it makes up a big bulk of the entire agricultural sector,” she said.

“For a subsector which has contributed 33 percent of the production of the entire agriculture sector, it is not fair for livestock to get a small percentage [2.7 percent] only of the DA’s budget,” she added.

Villar also said the DA “has not created a broad-based, organized, effort to develop the livestock industry” due to the limited mandate of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).

Under SB 1758, the senator said the BAI’s mandate would be expanded to oversee the development of the local livestock sector

Farmers’ groups in Ilocos get new agricultural equipment

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THREE-WEEK-OLD pigs stand in a nursery at a farm in Iowa in this April 17 file photo. Sen. Cynthia A. Villar is pushing for the passage of a measure that would increase the budget for the Philippine livestock sector. BLOOMBERG NEWS

and help producers meet the growing demand of Filipinos for meat.

The bill proposes to provide a fund of P500 million for the reorganization and restructuring of the BAI upon the passage of the measure.

SB 1758 also mandates the DA to allocate at least 15 percent of its annual budget to the livestock sector. The Department of Budget and Management would be directed to set aside P2 billion for programs

aimed at improving the sector.

Villar filed the bill on March 20 and has been pending before her committee.

“Rest assured that as the current chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, I am doing my best to give the agriculture sector in general and the livestock, and the hog subsector in particular, all the legislative and practical support that I can,” she told the NHFHI.

Data from the PSA showed that production in the livestock subsector grew by 2.15 percent and accounted for 18.89 percent of the total agricultural output in the third quarter.

Except for carabao, all components of the subsector registered output increments. Hog production increased by 2.55 percent.

The subsector grossed P74.7 billion, or 8.81 percent, more than the previous year’s level.

AOAG CITY—Farmer associations in Vintar, Ilocos Norte, are now more inspired to plow their rice fields with the latest acquisition of several farming equipment, which are meant to make their pockets full.

Funded through the tobacco excise tax share of Vintar town, at least five tractors, two combined harvesters and one lift boom equipment were turned over to the farmers.

Prior to a simple turnover ceremony held in front of the municipal town hall on December 11, Mayor Larisa Foronda asked the Parish Priest of San Nicolas de Tolentino, Fr. Prim Geronio Cabanos Jr. to bless the newly acquired equipment.

“The equipment will greatly benefit the Vintarinian people. I hope they will take good care of them,” said Foronda on Friday.

Recipients of the latest farming equipment were farmers from Barangays Malampa, Cabisuculan, Columbia, Ester and Bulbulala.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) likewise awarded two combined harvesters and these were given to Sanjera Baranban of Salsalamagui and Barangay Isic-isic.

For Vintar farmers, these farm implements are a dream come true for their association as they had been longing for a functional heavy equipment to boost their production. PNA

PSA sees slight drop in 2018 palay production

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ALAY production this year would settle at 19.12 million metric tons, slightly lower than last year’s record-high output of 19.28 MMT, due to the destruction caused by typhoons, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

In its latest report, the PSA revised downward its forecast for the fourth quarter harvest as it observed a contraction in harvest area and yield.

The PSA expects unmilled rice output in the October-to-December period to decline by 1.3 percent to 7.22 MMT, from 7.32 MMT harvested in the same period last year.

The PSA’s latest forecast as of November 1 was slightly lower than its October forecast of 7.26 MMT. “Harvest area may fall by 0.8 percent from 1.863 million hectares in 2017,” the PSA report read. “Likewise, yield per hectare may decline to 3.91 metric tons from 3.93 metric tons.”

The PSA said rice planted in around 1.125 million hectares for the fourth quarter harvest—the country’s main harvest

season—has been reaped.

“About 37 percent of the 1.037 million hectares standing crop were still at vegetative stage, 16.4 percent at reproductive stage and 46.6 percent at maturing stage,” it added.

The PSA also expects corn output in 2018 to decline by 1.77 percent to 7.77 MMT, from 7.914 MMT recorded in 2017 despite a projected increase in harvest during the fourth quarter.

Corn output in the fourth quarter would increase by 11.3 percent to 1.81 MMT, from 1.63 MMT recorded in the same period last year, according to the PSA. “Harvest area may increase to 611,720 hectares, from 571,130 hectares in 2017.

Likewise, yield per hectare may increase to 2.97 metric tons from 2.85 MT,” the report read.

As of November 1, the PSA said around 234,140 hectares, or 38.3 percent, of the updated standing crops for the fourth quarter harvest have been harvested.

“Of the updated 627,180 hectares of standing crop, 33.9 percent were at veg-

etative stage, 34.7 percent at reproductive stage and 31.5 percent at maturing stage,” the report read.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) earlier projected that palay output this year would decline by 3.5 percent to 18.6 MMT, from 19.28 MMT last year due to weather disturbances in the third quarter.

“Like in boxing, it’s a nonstop corner to corner [punches] from four habagats in Central Luzon then we had [Typhoon] Ompong and then [Typhoon] Rosita,” Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said in a radio interview in November.

“We are expecting that palay production to decline by 800,000 MT. That’s a sizable volume. We will not be able to achieve our target production,” he added.

The DA had hoped that harvest would hit another record and reach 19.4 MMT. However, the damage caused by Typhoon Ompong in Northern Luzon farms in September forced the agency to give up this target.

Prior to Ompong’s onslaught, the DA projected that unmilled rice output would reach 10.2 MMT in the second semester. Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

Bandits twin with floods to shatter Nigeria’s food-export dreams

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IGERIA dreamed of a farming renaissance that would slash food bills and rival oil as its top export.

It didn’t count on gun-toting herdsmen, heavy floods and a persistent Islamist insurgency.

That perfect storm of insecurity and poor planning has hobbled one of President Muhammadu Buhari’s f lagship pledges—to cut an annual $22 billion in food imports—just as he gears up for elections in February. It’s prolonging the West African nation’s reliance on crude revenue, a downturn in which sparked a 2016 recession.

There’s a “lack of strong public governance and political will to take important decisions in the areas of security,” said Femi Soneye at Mount Olive Llc., a Maryland-based company that advises Nigeria’s agriculture ministry. The government has also struggled to provide the support promised to farmers, he said.

Reviving wheat and rice production would help restore farming to the economic primacy it had before Nigeria’s 1970s oil boom. As crude revenue grew and the coun-

try became Africa’s top producer, large-scale agriculture languished. Today in Africa’s most populous nation, petroleum accounts for 90 percent of foreign-currency earnings and two-thirds of government income.

Turnaround promised

BUHARI’S 2015 election and the dramatic fall in crude prices the previous year fueled plans for a turnaround. New varieties of wheat and cocoa—already Nigeria’s largest export after oil and gas—were to be introduced; farmers were promised better access to credit, inputs and equipment.

But agricultural data show little has changed.

The world’s 10th-largest wheat buyer, Nigeria pledged to cut imports by 60 percent by 2025 by bringing in varieties that can thrive in warmer climates. Output, though, hasn’t shifted from an annual 60,000 metric tons. That’s dwarfed by the more than 5 million tons it shipped in 2017 from Russia and the United States, according to the Agriculture Ministry.

Processed-rice production is more dis-

puted. The ministry forecast 38-percent growth this year to 6.5 million tons and officials say foreign rice arriving at ports has dropped 95 percent because of new levies. Central bank Governor Godwin Emefiele this month said $21 billion has been saved, without giving a time period.

Rice smuggling

A US Department of Agriculture (USDA) report in November said different, estimating 2018 rice output at 3.7 million tons, with imports jumping 12 percent.

Rice-smuggling has also become big business for Nigeria’s neighbors such as Benin.

The main reason for the failed revival: insecurity.

Cent ra l Niger i a , t he cou nt r y ’s breadbasket, has been roiled by more than two years of conflict as herders who traditionally grazed their cattle on plains in the semi-arid Sahel zone move south, clashing with farmers. About 1,300 people were killed in the first half of 2018, prompting the Brussels-based International Crisis Group to dub it the nation’s biggest security threat. Bloomberg News

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The World BusinessMirror

Editor: Angel R. Calso • Monday, December 17, 2018 A7

Security worries stymie Huawei’s reach

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EIJING—While a Huawei executive faces possible US charges over trade with Iran, the Chinese tech giant’s ambition to be a leader in next-generation telecoms is colliding with security worries abroad.

Australia and New Zealand have barred Huawei Technologies Ltd. as a supplier for fifth-generation networks. They joined the United States and Taiwan, which limit use of technology from the biggest global supplier of network switching gear. This week, Japan’s cybersecurity agency said Huawei and other vendors deemed risky will be off-limits for government purchases.

None has released evidence of wrongdoing by Huawei, which denies it is a risk and has operated a laboratory with Britain’s government since 2010 to conduct security examinations of its products. But the accusations, amid rising tension over Chinese technology ambitions and spying, threaten its ability to compete in a sensitive field as carriers prepare to invest billions of dollars.

“This is something that’s definitely concerning Huawei at this stage, because there is a political angle to it and a business angle,” said Nikhil Bhatra, a senior researcher for IDC. Huawei is no ordinary electronics supplier. The company founded in 1987 by a former military engineer is China’s first global tech brand and a national champion at the head of an industry Beijing is promoting as part of efforts to transform this country into a technology creator. It has China’s biggest corporate research-and-development budget at 89.7 billion yuan ($13 billion) in 2017—10 percent more than Apple Inc.’s—and foreign customers can draw on a multibillion-dollar line of credit from the official China Development Bank.

That puts Huawei at the heart of strains over the ruling Communist Party’s technology aspirations, competition with Western economies and ties between companies and government, including possibly spying.

A European Union official, Andrus Ansip, expressed concern that Chinese rules requiring telecom equipment suppliers to cooperate with intelligence services would involve possible “mandatory backdoors” in computer or telecom systems.

“Do we have to be worried about Huawei and other Chinese companies? Yes, I think we have to be worried,” said Ansip, the trade bloc’s vice president for a digital single market.

The company says it is employee-owned and operates independently. It denies it designs equipment to allow eavesdropping or that it is controlled by the Communist Party—a stance critics including some US senators say is doubtful in China’s statedominated system. The company notes it uses the same global components suppliers as Western manufacturers.

“Not a single shred of evidence against the company has ever been presented,” Huawei said in a written response to questions.

The company is the “most examined telecoms equipment vendor,” the statement said. It said foreign officials visit regularly to see “the lengths we go to assure them of the integrity of our technology.”

Huawei, headquartered on a leafy campus in Shenzhen, near Hong Kong, has been working on 5G since 2009 and is one of the major suppliers of the technology, along with Sweden’s LM Ericsson and Finland’s Nokia Corp.

The company whose technology winds up being adopted stands to reap billions of dollars from sales and license fees.

5G promises more than just faster mobile phone service. It is designed to support vastly expanded networks of devices from Internet-linked cars and medical equipment to factory robots and nuclear power plants. Annual sales of 5G network gear are forecast to reach $11 billion by 2022, according to IHS Markit.

That makes it more politically sensitive, raises the potential cost of security failures and requires more trust in suppliers.

Even a “really minuscule” risk could disqualify a provider, said Andrew Kitson, head of technology industry research for Fitch Solutions.

But Kitson sees commercial motives behind the accusations against Huawei. He said many come from US and European suppliers that are losing market share to Chinese rivals.

“There never has been any actual proof,” said Kitson. “They’ve only got to make a few insinuations for other governments to sit up and think, hang on, even if there is no proof, it is too much of a risk.”

Huawei took a new hit on December 1 when its chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, was arrested in Vancouver on US charges of lying to banks about transactions with Iran.

Huawei is more politically important than ZTE Corp., a Chinese rival that was nearly driven out of business after Washington blocked it from buying US technology over exports to Iran and North Korea. President Donald J. Trump restored access after ZTE paid a $1-billion fine, replaced its executives and hired USpicked compliance officers.

That won’t work with Huawei, which is the “key to Beijing’s aspirations to lead globally” on 5G, Eurasia Group said in a report.

It said Chinese leaders would see an attempt to impose ZTE-style controls as “tantamount to an open technology war.”

Huawei’s US business evaporated after a 2012 congressional report labeled the company and ZTE security threats. The same year, Australia banned it from bidding on a national high-speed broadband network.

Taiwan, the self-ruled island Beijing claims as its territory and regularly threatens to attack, imposed curbs in 2013 on Huawei and other Chinese telecoms technology. Lawmakers are discussing expanding the controls.

Elsewhere, Huawei supplies phone carriers in Asia, Africa and

Europe. The company says it serves 45 of the 50 biggest global telecom operators.

Its 2017 global sales rose 16 percent to 604 billion yuan ($92.5 billion) while profits increased 28 percent to 47.5 billion yuan ($7.3 billion).

Huawei accounted for 28 percent of last year’s $32-billion global sales of mobile network gear, according to

C

IHS Markit. Ericsson was second with 27 percent and Nokia had 23 percent.

ZTE, South Korea’s Samsung Electronics Corp. and other vendors made up the rest.

Asked about the impact of security concerns on its 5G business, Huawei said this year’s total revenue—which also includes the No. 3 global smartphone

brand and an enterprise unit—should exceed $100 billion. That would be an 8-percent gain over 2017.

Washington is pressing allies to shun Huawei, but Germany, France and Ireland say they have no plans to ban any 5G network suppliers.

Huawei “has an important place in France” and “its investments are

welcome,” the country’s economy minister, Bruno Le Maire, said December 7, according to news reports.

The company has agreements to field test 5G equipment with Deutsche Telekom, Bell Canada, France’s Bouygues, Telecom Italia, India’s Bharti Airtel and carriers in Singapore, South Korea and Ireland. AP

Green Monday BusinessMirror

A8 Monday, December 17, 2018

www.businessmirror.com.ph • Editor: Lyn Resurreccion

Warming in Arctic raises fears of ‘rapid unraveling’ of the region K

PHL WELCOMES U.N. REPORT CITING COUNTRY’S CLIMATE ADAPTATION EFFORTS

P

ERSISTENT warming in the Arctic is pushing the region into “uncharted territory” and increasingly affecting the continental United States, scientists said last week.

“We’re seeing this continued increase of warmth pervading across the entire Arctic system,” said Emily Osborne, an official with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), who presented the agency’s annual assessment of the state of the region, the “Arctic Report Card.”

The Arctic has been warmer over the past five years than at any time since records began in 1900, the report found, and the region is warming at twice the rate as the rest of the planet.

Osborne, the lead editor of the report and manager of NOAA’s Arctic Research Program, said the Arctic was undergoing its “most unprecedented transition in human history.”

In 2018, “warming air and ocean temperatures continued to drive broad long-term change across the polar region, pushing the Arctic into uncharted territory,” she said at a meeting of the American Geophysical Union in Washington.

The rising air temperatures are having profound effects on sea ice, and on life on land and in the ocean, scientists said. The impacts can be felt far beyond the region, especially since the changing Arctic climate may be influencing extreme weather events around the world.

The new edition of the report does not present a radical break with past installments, but it shows that troublesome trends wrought by climate change are intensifying. Air temperatures in the Arctic in 2018 will be the second-warmest ever recorded,

the report said, behind only 2016.

Susan M. Natali, an Arctic scientist at Woods Hole Research Center in Massachusetts who was not involved in the research, said the report was another warning going unheeded. “Every time you see a report, things get worse, and we’re still not taking any action,” she said. “It adds support that these changes are happening, that they are observable.”

The warmer Arctic air causes the jet stream to become “sluggish and unusually wavy,” the researchers said. That has possible connections to extreme weather events elsewhere on the globe, including last winter’s severe storms in the United States and a bitter cold spell in Europe known as the “Beast From the East.”

The jet stream normally acts as a kind of atmospheric spinning lasso that encircles and contains the cold air near the pole; a weaker, wavering jet stream can allow Arctic blasts to travel south in winter and can stall weather systems in the summer, among other effects.

“On the East Coast of the United States where the other part of the wave comes down,” Osborne said, “you have these Arctic air temperatures that are surging over into the lower latitudes and causing these crazy winter storms.”

The rapid warming in the upper north, known as Arctic amplification, is tied to many factors, including the simple fact that snow and ice reflect a lot of sunlight, while open water, which is darker, absorbs more heat.

As sea ice melts, less ice and

more open water create a “feedback loop” of more melting that leads to progressively less ice and more open water.

And as Arctic waters become increasingly ice-free, there are commercial and geopolitical implications: New shipping routes may open, and rivalries with other countries, including Russia, are intensifying.

The federal government has issued the report card since 2006. It has continued to do so under the Trump administration, which has approved other scientific reports about global warming and the human greenhouse-gas emissions that cause it, despite President Donald Trump’s rejection of climate science.

Overall, “the effects of persistent Arctic warming continue to mount,” the new report said.

“Continued warming of the Arctic atmosphere and ocean are driving broad change in the environmental system in predicted and, also, unexpected ways.”

Some of the findings in the research, provided by 81 scientists in 12 countries, included: n The wintertime maximum extent of sea ice in the region, in March of this year, was the second lowest in 39 years of record keeping. n Ice that persists year after year, forming thick layers, is disappearing from the Arctic. This is important because the very old ice tends to resist melting; without it, melting accelerates. Old ice made up less than 1 percent of the Arctic ice pack this year, a decline of 95 percent over the last 33 years. n Donald K. Perovich, a sea-ice expert at Dartmouth College who contributed to the report, said the “big story” for ice this year was in the Bering Sea, off western Alaska, where the extent of sea ice reached a record low for virtually the entire winter. During two weeks in February, normally a time when sea ice grows, the Bering Sea lost

SEA ice along Greenland’s coast is shown in a photo from Nasa on April 27. The Arctic has been warmer in the past five years than at any time in the modern era, scientists said. The effects can be felt far beyond the region. JOE MACGREGOR/NASA ICEBRIDGE VIA THE NEW YORK TIMES

an area of ice the size of Idaho, Perovich said. n The lack of ice and surge of warmth coincides with rapid expansion of algae species in the Arctic Ocean, associated with harmful blooms that can poison marine life and people who eat the contaminated seafood. The northward shift of the algae “means that the Arctic is now vulnerable to species introductions into local communities and ecosystems that have little to no prior exposure to this phenomenon,” the report said. n Reindeer and caribou populations have declined 56 percent in the past two decades, dropping to 2.1 million from 4.7 million.

Scientists monitoring 22 herds found that two of them were at peak numbers without declines, but five populations had declined more than 90 percent “and show no sign of recovery.” n Tiny bits of ocean plastic, which can be ingested by marine life, are proliferating at the top of the planet. “Concentrations in the remote Arctic Ocean are higher than all other ocean basins in the world,” the report said.

T he microplastics are also showing up in Arctic sea ice. Scientists have found samples of cellulose acetate, used in making cigarette filters, and particles of plastics used in bottle caps and packaging material.

“The report card continues to document a rapid unraveling of the Arctic,” said Rafe Pomerance, chairman of Arctic 21, a network of organizations focused on educating policy-makers and others on Arctic climate change. “The signals of decline are so powerful and the consequences so great that they demand far more urgency from all governments to reduce emissions.”

The report was issued as delegates from nearly 200 countries were meeting in Poland for the latest round of climate talks stemming from the Paris Agreement, the landmark climate accord that was designed to reduce planetwarming emissions.

Trump has vowed to withdraw from the agreement. At the talks, the United States joined with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Russia in refusing to endorse a major report to the conference on the effects of climate change around the world.

At a news conference announcing the findings of the Arctic report, Tim Gallaudet, a retired Navy admiral who is the acting NOAA administrator, was asked if he or any other senior NOAA officials had ever briefed Trump on climate change or the changes in the Arctic.

“The simple answer is no,” he said. New York Times News Service

ATOWICE, Poland—The Philippines welcomed the release of the Adaptation Gap Report 2018 launched by the United Nations Environment Programme at the climate-change summit here, which highlighted the country’s policies and measures that enable climate adaptation in the country.

“We thank the report’s citation on our adaptation efforts in the Philippines, and we take this as further encouragement that we are on the right track to saving more lives and livelihoods and building further resilience within our communities, which is what enabling adaptation really means for a climatevulnerable developing country like ours,” said Climate Change Commission (CCC) Secretary Emmanuel M. de Guzman, head of the Philippine delegation to the 24th Conference of Parties (COP24) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

De Guzman said the report, which examines the gaps in taking stock and assessing progress on adaptation expressed through laws and policies, adaptive capacity and finance, described the Philippines with a “comprehensive adaptation legislation,” starting with the Climate Change Act of 2009, which established the CCC. The report also cited the creation of the Cabinet Cluster on Climate Change Adaptation, Mitigation and Disaster Risk Reduction; and the formulation of the 2010 National Framework Strategy on Climate Change, leading to the 2011 National Climate Change Action Plan, which provided a road map for climate action in seven thematic priority areas, with the ultimate goal of building the adaptive capacities of women and men in their communities and increase the resilience of vulnerable sectors and natural ecosystems to climate change.

De Guzman added that the report acknowledges the Philippine government’s efforts of rolling out sciencebased climate and disaster-risk and vulnerability assessment processes to ensure that adaptation and disaster risk reduction are mainstreamed and integrated into the country’s plans and programs at all levels.

He noted that beyond creating the enabling environment, the CCC is also intensifying its efforts in building the capacity of local government units, transitioning sectors toward a green economy, and facilitating efficient access

to international climate finance to support climate action within the country.

“Through a whole-of-nation approach, the Philippines is constantly exploring new ways, guided by science and the practical knowledge of our communities, to find solutions toward ensuring that our people can truly be able to survive and thrive,” de Guzman concluded.

Meanwhile, de Guzman recently presented the country’s People’s Survival Fund (PSF), the country’s flagship climate finance mechanism for adaptation projects. It aims to help local communities undertake domestic action to address climate impacts and support their transition toward a climate-resilient and low-carbon development pathway.

De Guzman delivered the climate adaptation efforts of the country at the side event of the Vulnerable 20 Group of Finance Ministers, organized by the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, and the Munich Climate Insurance Initiative.

He said the PSF, which follows an enhanced direct access modality through a demandbased access process specifically tailored for local government units and local organizations, sets a high ambition of how inclusive climate financing should look like.

“As a climate financing window, I am proud to share with you the innovations unique to the PSF. It strives to respond to specific local adaptation needs by focusing on grassroots-level engagement with local governments and organizations. It is an innovation because it veers away from the conventional top-down planning process from the national government down to local implementers.

It shifts the decision-making process of what to ask for and how much to ask to those who are experiencing the situation firsthand,” de Guzman explained.

He said that the availability of climate funds and opportunities is always an issue in fully undertaking the high ambitions that the country set when the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015.

“We know climate finance is critical and we know it is also limited, in terms of availability and in terms of its inability to cover the more serious impacts, which we call loss and damage. The delivery of climate finance needs to be faster, in greater scale and in more responsive modalities,” de Guzman said.

BAGUIO IN URGENT NEED OF ECOLOGICAL HEALING Story & photo

by Michael A. Bengwayan

Special to the BusinessMirror

B

AGUIO’S environment is now in deep crisis, reaching such state of environmental degradation, that people experience its stark impacts daily.

People suffer the evidences of urban blight—such as air pollution, shrinking forest areas and watershed and biodiversity loss, garbage problem, lack of water, dying rivers, poor air quality, traffic and congestion, and increase in natural disasters.

These phenomena are clear signs it is crossing critical boundaries and approaching dangerous tipping points in the state of the city’s environment.

The limited land and resources of Baguio City are now stretched beyond its limits. The carrying capacity of the city has already been exceeded.

The development of the city’s land and

resources should be managed and planned in a rationale, cohesive and holistic manner, taking into consideration the welfare of the people, the future generations and the sustainability of the environment.

The wanton disregard by government officials of the people’s sentiment in giving priority to profit-generating development for a few elite corporations over the needs and welfare of the majority of the people could not be allowed. The public authorities should be made accountable for their failure to stop this reckless violation of the rights of the Baguio people to land, resources and a healthy environment.

Baguio needs a comprehensive landuse plan that strikes the proper balance between economic development and environmental protection, ensure that the remaining forest cover, watershed areas and parks of the city are protected, conserved and further developed, while regulating the need for residential, institutional and

commercial zones.

The city must recognize the importance of trees in the development of Baguio and their indispensable role in maintaining the environment, land, air and water resources of Baguio City, as well as in mitigating carbon emission, global warming and climate change. It must declare all trees as natural heritage and enforce rigidly a no-tree cutting policy.

There is a need to conduct geohazard mapping to determine dangerous land areas in Baguio as a basis for disaster-risk reduction and preparedness, while ensuring that this is not misused to justify relocation and/or demolition of informal settlers and rightful owners.

The city government must partner with the private sector to conduct a comprehensive study and hold public consultation and multisectoral dialogues toward arriving at a sustainable solution to the garbage problem of the city. Close down,

clean up and rehabilitate the Irisan dump to make it safe for community residents and surrounding barangays.

There is a must to intensify programs to reduce, reuse and recycle waste in the city.

Encourage and support viable householdlevel and community-level initiatives, as well as indigenous and innovative practices of waste management as an integral part of the comprehensive program of waste management of the city, including the use of vermiculture, the eco-compost receptacle and residual waste terrace.

A local law must be crafted and enforced regarding more alternative material, such as bayong, paper bags and other alternative to plastics and Styrofoam in the city, and assert political will for the implementation of the law on the use of plastics.

Last, the local government must accelerate clean and green development, environmental education programs in schools and communities, indigenous

TRASH at Burnham Park in Baguio City.

knowledge and practices in natural resource management, and grassroots involvement in environmental management.

It must also promote sustainable urban agriculture.

Bengwayan has a master’s degree and PhD in Development Studies and Environmental Resource Management from the University College Dublin, Ireland, as a European Union fellow. He is currently a fellow of Echoing Green Foundation in New York.

Biodiversity Monday BusinessMirror

Asean Champions of Biodiversity Media Category 2014

Monday, December 17, 2018

Editor: Lyn Resurreccion • www.businessmirror.com.ph

A9

OLO-OLO MANGROVE FOREST AND ECOPARK

A green space in small Batangas town Story & photos by Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

B

Y this time of the year, a hundred trees in this coastal community would have been cut down, repainted, decorated and sold as Christmas trees to give joy to homes in downtown Lobo, a small town in Batangas province.

RONNIE P. GAMBOA, chairman of the Olo-olo Seaside Worker Association (Oswa), shows oysters in early stage. It takes at least three months before the oysters can be harvested.

The entrance to the Olo-olo Mangrove Forest and Ecopark in Barangay Olo-olo, Lobo, Batangas.

The mangrove tree species, locally called palapat, is popular among children in this coastal barangay called Olo-olo because they make beautiful Christmas trees, the demand for which rises during the so-called “ber” months leading up to Christmas.

“By October and November, children here would have been busy cutting palapat to make Christmas trees. It’s a project every year for young children here,” said Ronnie P. Gamboa, chairman of the Olo-olo Seaside Worker Association (Oswa).

Palapat is also commonly used as construction material. Its trunk and branches make a good wooden post and kilo or beam of a nipa hut, Gamboa said in Filipino.

Another mangrove species, pipisik to local folks, is used as kumpay, the wood carved to fit the back of a carabao to pull a wooden cart behind it.

The pipisik is harvested by local folks for various purposes. The leaves are fed to carabaos, cows and small ruminants. The trunk and branch are used to make charcoal, a common livelihood in the barangay.

Food source

GAMBOA told the BusinessMirror in a recent interview that they used to believe the mangrove forest in their area is so

thick that cutting and harvesting pipisik and palapat would last forever and would never affect their food source.

However, owing to cutting for a long time, the thick mangrove forest eventually shrunk and the native fish species, mud crabs and seashells became scarce until, finally, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) stepped into the picture.

“When the DENR came and told us to stop [cutting trees], we all stopped. Since then, there was no more cutting, even for Christmas,” he said.

He said the people in the small community are currently slowly feeling the positive impact of maintaining a healthy environment.

T hei r 21-hect a re patc h of g reen fronting the Verde Island Passage that surrounds an estuary is again teeming with assorted species of native fish, mud crab and shellfish.

“You’ll never go hungry with this abundance,” he said, referring to the mangrove forest. “See those holes in the sand? There are mud crabs inside those holes,” Gamboa boasts.

Batangas ICM

B ATA NG A S h a s been i mple menting integrated coastal management (ICM) as early as the

MEMBERS of the Oswa show freshly picked mud crabs and shellfish they cook for visitors of the Olo-olo Mangrove Forest and Ecopark.

mid-1990s.

In 2004, as a demonstration site of the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (Pemsea), the implementation of various ICM projects intensified.

T he demonstration project in Batangas resulted in the development and implementation of a Strategic Env ironmental Management Plan consisting of six major action areas: legal and institutional mechanisms, integrated policy and planning systems, integrated management systems and technical interventions, management and technical skills improvement, information base improvement and sustainable financing development.

Technical, institutional and financial support has been provided through a regular allocation from the provincial budget since 1999.

ICM was implemented first in Batangas Bay. Inspired by the positive impact of the ICM, it was replicated by the provincial government in Balayan Bay and adjacent bays of the province.

The ICM program has been scaled up recently to cover the entire coastline of the province.

The ICM strategies in Batangas includes food security and livelihood through biodiversityfriendly enterprises, gear selectivity to avoid overfishing and destructive fishing, and information, education and communications to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 11 or Sustainable Communities; and habitat protection, particularly ecosystems like mangroves, seagrass, cora l reefs, mar ine protected area (MPA) monitoring and establishment linked to SDG 14, or Life Below Water.

Environmental defenders

OSWA, which has evolved as protector of the mangrove forest in the barangay to defenders of the environment, is now into managing a promising tourist magnet in Lobo called Olo-olo Mangrove Forest and Ecopark.

Speaking in Filipino, officers of Oswa narrated how the group started and became a model organization practicing biodiversity-friendly business enterprise in Lobo.

In 2009 the DENR urged residents of Barangay Olo-olo to stop harvesting mangroves to prevent

further environmental damage in the coastal communities in Batangas.

“Somebody from the DENR helped organize our group. They facilitated a training for us and provided capital for our livelihood. We were given two kayaks and two paddleboards, a bamboo raft and an initial capital of P40,000,” said Lolita Manalo, the group’s secretary.

Their job then was to protect the mangrove forest and the estuary against various threats, particularly harvesting of mangrove trees, illegal fishing and use of destructive fishing methods, and hunting wildlife, including native birds that thrive in the area.

Rich biodiversity

BAR ANGAY Olo-olo’s mangrove forest is rich in biodiversity Besides samaral, kitang and banak fishes, and shrimp, which provide the communities with adequate food on top of the mud crabs and other shellfish that are abundant in the area, the mangrove forest is known to host a good number of native birds that are unique to the town of Lobo.

“We have the iliw here,” Manalo said. Iliw is described as bee-eater.

“They come here in the afternoon, around 5:30 p.m.. They fly atop and they perk on tree branches,” said Amanda Duena, another official of Oswa. The multicoloredfeathered flyers have green, blue, red colors that distinguished three from other birds.

The area is also frequented by migratory birds during migration season.

Biodiversity-friendly enterprise

W H E N t he g roup star ted in 2009, they ventured in various livelihood activities, starting with raising milkfish and tilapia, culturing mud crabs and harvesting shellfish near a small lagoon called puktol.

The river-like lagoon called pailog, a cont r ac t ion of t he words papunta(going to) and ilog (river) stretches up to about 1.6 kilometers within the park.

They said they try to minimize or limit activities to avoid environmental degradation, such as operating small fish cages within the carrying capacity of the riverestuary, sustainable harvesting of fish, mud crabs, seashells and other food from the mangrove forest.

To sustain their livelihood, the group ventures in tourism-related services like renting a kayak, paddle boards, bamboo rafts, floating huts and boating to tourists who want to go bathing, swimming or simply enjoy the green space in their small town.

Ecotourism

M A NA LO said in February 2017, two months before former Env i ron ment Sec ret a r y R eg i n a Paz L. Lopez had to step down, Lopez visited Barangay Olo-olo and suggested they expand their small business.

Now, their biodiversity-friendly enterprises include a package of ecotourism services which they continue to enhance, making use of indigenous materials whenever possible.

The group’s eco-trail in the mangrove forest is made of wood and bamboo poles. Their bamboo raft and fish cages use materials that are abundant and found naturally in their area, an idea brought up by Lopez herself.

Lopez promised the group financial support for a package of services to boost their livelihood activities. Unfortunately, her stint as DENR secretary was short-lived after being rejected by the Commission on Appointments in April last year.

Nevertheless, the group continued to run the place which offers peace and tranquility, unlimited fun and adventure where nature can be enjoyed in its pristine state.

The group offers water sports, recreational fishing, rafting, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, snorkeling and scuba diving.

As a treat to its visitors, the group also offers a unique experience by enjoying the abundance of nature through shell and crab harvesting, bird and firefly watching, mangrove planting, fish feeding, eco-walk within the mangrove forest, and of course, bathing and swimming.

On its own, members of Oswa remain hopeful to sustain their biodiversity-friendly business enterprises by managing a potential tourist magnet in their small green space in the town called Lobo.

New species named after Asean biodiversity expert

M

EDINILLA theresae, a new edaphic-endemic species in Dinagat and Mindanao islands, was named after Dr. Theresa Mundita S. Lim, executive director of Asean Centre for Biodiversity.

“I am truly honored and grateful for this recognition. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our taxonomists, scientists and researchers who continue their hard work in discovering new species. I believe that taxonomy is a vital step in conservation simply because you cannot conserve what you do not know,” Lim said.

“The number of species awaiting discovery far outweigh those that have been studied. Millions of plants and animals have yet to be studied and may hold tremendous potential as sources of food,

medicine, and other benefits to humans,” she added.

Lim, a staunch wildlife advocate and former director of the Philippines’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB), also served as chairman of the Asean Wildlife Enforcement Network and chairman of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

The terrestrial, erect, cauliflorous shrub found in ultramafic soils stands up to 1.5 meters tall.

To date, this species is only known to be found on Mount Redondo, Dinagat Island, and on Mount Hamiguitan, both located in Mindanao.

Renowned taxonomists, professors and researchers from the

ACB Executive Director Dr. Theresa Mundita S. Lim ANGIE METIN

University of the Philippines —Dr. Edwino Fernando, Dr. Perry Ong, Dr. Peter Quakenbush and Dr. Edgardo Lillo—were the men behind the species discovery.

According to the CBD, in a world populated with more than

30 million species, taxonomists have identified only about 1.78 million species of animals, plants and microorganisms in 250 years of research. It is estimated that only 10 percent of vertebrates remain to be described, but greater than 50 percent of terrestrial arthropods and up to 95 percent of protozoa are undescribed.

The sheer number of species that have yet to be discovered requires an army of scientists, each with their own area of expertise, to identify, name, classify and study the millions of species on Earth.

The issue is compounded by the unprecedented rate of global biodiversity loss due to habitat degradation, unsustainable use, pollution, climate change and other pressures. These pressures increase the risk of extinction of

A CLOSE-UP shot of the open flower of Medinilla theresae. DR. EDWINO FERNANDO

vulnerable species and it is certain that some species are already lost even before they are named and described.

The ACB was established in 2005 by the Asean member-states as a response to biodiversity loss

in the region. The center supports and coordinates the implementation of activities in the Asean leading to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, for the benefit of the region and the Asean member-states.

A10 Monday, December 17, 2018 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

Show us the money

A

S we enter into the last two weeks of the year, we can look back on 2018 as a year that the Philippine economy weathered some storms and yet did come out ahead of the game.

The Philippine stock market is on track to end the year about 10-percent down from where we started, disappointing of course. Year-on-year economic growth was recorded as the slowest since 2015. The annual inflation rate will be at the highest in about 10 years. Base interest rates will also end the year at about the highest level in a decade.

While it is not a matter of balancing the positives and the negatives, it is a matter of judging the broad economic picture. It is always easy and even necessary to speak of wealth and income disparity and inclusive growth.

However, these are problems that might only be resolved through major structural changes. Further, we focus much deserved attention on corruption without acknowledging that systemic problems that make investing inefficient and ineffective are a form of “economic corruption.”

The more important concern should be the underlying strength of the Philippine economy. Unfortunately, if you listen to much of the foreign commentary about our economy, you will not hear an up-to-date appraisal. The near hysteria about 2018 inflation comes even as prices are stabilizing and even falling and without mentioning the effect of the tax increases passed earlier this year.

Maybe then it might be good to “follow the money.”

Unless you have been living in a cave, you know China has an unlimited supply of funds available for the Philippines. Of course the economy has not seen much of that lending in 2018. But we are told that it is only a matter of time before the Philippines becomes a “debt-slave” province of China. Also, China does not care about the government or Philippine private companies’ ability to repay any loans; it is all politics.

Japan, though, may want to lend money to nations like the Philippines and Indonesia to offset Chinese influence, or maybe not. The partnership between the Japanese government and its private sector has usually been supportive. Favorable lending terms have allowed Japanese companies to win contracts even if priced a little higher than its competitors. But for the Japanese, business is usually business and not politics.

The Japanese-led Asian Development Bank is also interested in lending money to the Philippines. The ADB announced last week that it will extend loans of up to $2.5 billion annually to the Philippines, or a total of $7.4 billion from 2019 to 2021, to support the government’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program. This amount was more than double the bank’s annual assistance from 2011 to 2017.

ADB’s objective is to reduce poverty in the region through development assistance. While there might be a slight hidden objective of pushing Japanese and United States agendas, the loans are expected to be paid.

A new US law creating a government corporation that would provide financial assistance to low or lower middle-income countries could help with the Philippines’s infrastructure projects. It is called the “Better Utilization of Investment Leading to Development or BUILD Act.” Catchy name.

Billions of dollars are now available for infrastructure projects of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Certainly this is to help counter China’s influence, but here also, the loans are expected to be repaid. Deadbeat countries are not encouraged to apply.

Lessons from 2018 and our economic future Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II

RISING SUN

A

S the year draws to a close we reflect on how the Philippine economy has fared in 2018. Possibly the most memorable economic events were the implementation of the TRAIN law, the inflation that affected the whole nation down to the most basic family unit, the rice crisis and the government’s investment in infrastructure.

At this point in the year, the nation’s exports are suffering. The trade deficit in October increased by 62.9 percent at $4.212 billion, a huge jump from last year’s and the previous month’s. All this came after imports increased to support the government’s infrastructure projects and after President Duterte signed

The writ of habeas data Atty. Lorna Patajo-Kapunan

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Administrative Order 13, which paved the way for faster import of food and agricultural products.

There is, therefore, a need to boost exports to be able to recover and reduce the trade deficit. It is good to note, as well, that China still holds the top post among the Philippines’s biggest supplier of imports, with a

I

T seems that it is not only Santa Claus who’s making a list of who have been naughty or nice. A list posted by Davao Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte has gone viral on Facebook. It is a list of those who allegedly want to overthrow his father, President Rodrigo Duterte. But unlike Santa Claus who is checking his list twice, Vice Mayor Paolo’s list does not appear, on its face, to have undergone any checking as there are glaring inaccuracies and mistakes.

For those who have not seen the list (a.k.a. spreadsheet) before it was taken down from Facebook, the list consists of civil society groups, Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines/Opus Dei groups, peoples organizations, business community, leftist groups, government officials-yellow group, media ABB/PDI/ Rappler, among others.

There is a legal remedy for those in the list—it is the writ of habeas data, promulgated by the Supreme Court in February 2, 2008. Quoted hereunder are pertinent provisions of the “Rules On The Writ of Habeas Data” for those who are minded to seek judicial relief: “Section 1. Habeas Data.—The writ of habeas data is a remedy available to any person whose right to privacy in life, liberty or security is violated or threatened by an unlawful act or omission of a public official or employee, or of a private individual or entity engaged in the gathering, collecting or storing of data or information regarding the person, family, home and correspondence of the aggrieved party.

“Section 2. Who May File.—Any aggrieved party may file a petition for the writ of habeas data. However, in cases of extralegal killings and enforced disappearances, the petition may be filed by:

[a] Any member of the immediate family of the aggrieved party, namely: the spouse, children and parents; or [b] Any ascendant, descendant or collateral relative of the aggrieved party within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, in default of those mentioned in the preceding paragraph; “Section 3. Where to File.—The petition may be filed with the Regional Trial Court where the petitioner or respondent resides, or that which has jurisdiction over the place where the data or information is gathered, collected or stored, at the option of the petitioner.

“The petition may also be filed with the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeals or the Sandiganbayan when the action concerns public data files of government offices.

“Section 4. Where Returnable; Enforceable.—When the writ is issued by a Regional Trial Court or any

$2.13-billion billing as of October 2018. That’s an increase of 28.2 percent compared to import bills in October 2017.

But going back to viewing the country’s 2018 performance in its entirety, experts agree that this year saw some rough sailing. The ordinary Filipino felt the sting as prices continued to accelerate and affordable rice became scarce. Inflation, of course, was the biggest problem of the year.

From 3.45 percent at the beginning of 2018, it jumped to a worrying 6.7 percent in September, the highest in 10 years.

In November inflation was at 6 percent, which was still higher than the target for the year. Experts are almost unanimous in predicting that we won’t be doing better next year as we head on to election season and start to shoulder TRAIN’s second batch of petroleum taxes. In the business sector, there is great anticipation for the Trabaho bill and

lower corporate taxes. However, it has already driven many investors away as the bill threatens to make life more challenging for exporters— something we don’t need especially at this crucial time.

What we have, in terms of hope and opportunity, is a voice and a choice to elect leaders that will (or will not) steer the country toward a better position. The upcoming election is a chance for us to affect change for our own good. Every Filipino needs to wake up and vote intelligently. Specifically, the issues on federalism and TRAIN law have to be examined for its effects on the economy before looking at which candidates will support (or not support) these major reforms. Information on candidates’ personalities and their stand on important national issues may easily be found online. I would like to encourage every responsible voter to read up and do some research before lining up at the polls.

judge thereof, it shall be returnable before such court or judge.

“When issued by the Court of Appeals or the Sandiganbayan or any of its justices, it may be returnable before such court or any justice thereof, or to any Regional Trial Court of the place where the petitioner or respondent resides, or that which has jurisdiction over the place where the data or information is gathered, collected or stored.

“When issued by the Supreme Court or any of its justices, it may be returnable before such court or any justice thereof, or before the Court of Appeals or the Sandiganbayan or any of its justices, or to any Regional Trial Court of the place where the petitioner or respondent resides, or that which has jurisdiction over the place where the data or information is gathered, collected or stored.

“The writ of habeas data shall be enforceable anywhere in the Philippines.

“Section 5. Docket Fees.—No docket and other lawful fees shall be required from an indigent petitioner.

The petition of the indigent shall be docked and acted upon immediately, without prejudice to subsequent submission of proof of indigency not later than 15 days from the filing of the petition.

“Section 6. Petition.—A verified written petition for a writ of habeas data should contain: [a] The personal circumstances of the petitioner and the respondent; [b] The manner the right to privacy is violated or threatened and how it affects the right to life, liberty or security of the aggrieved party; [c] The actions and recourses taken by the petitioner to secure the data or information; [d] The location of the files, registers or databases, the government office, and the person in charge, in

possession or in control of the data or information, if known; [e] The reliefs prayed for, which may include the updating, rectification, suppression or destruction of the database or information or files kept by the respondent.

“In case of threats, the relief may include a prayer for an order enjoining the act complained of; and [f] Such other relevant reliefs as are just and equitable.

“Section 7. Issuance of the Writ.—Upon the filing of the petition, the court, justice or judge shall immediately order the issuance of the writ if on its face it ought to issue. The clerk of court shall issue the writ under the seal of the court and cause it to be served within three days from the issuance; or, in case of urgent necessity, the justice or judge may issue the writ under his or her own hand, and may deputize any officer or person to serve it.

“The writ shall also set the date and time for summary hearing of the petition, which shall not be later than 10 work days from the date of its issuance. [chanrobles virtual law library] “Section 8. Penalty for Refusing to Issue or Serve the Writ.—A clerk of court who refuses to issue the writ after its allowance, or a deputized person who refuses to serve the same, shall be punished by the court, justice or judge for contempt without prejudice to other disciplinary actions.

“Section 9. How the Writ is Served.—The writ shall be served upon the respondent by a judicial officer or by a person deputized by the court, justice or judge who shall retain a copy on which to make a return of service. In case the writ cannot be served personally on the respondent, the rules on substituted service shall apply.

See “Kapunan,” A11

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Contrasting the millennials and baby boomers

Wooden bells Siegfred Bueno Mison, Esq.

THE PATRIOT

Odree Ianna M. Manalastas

DEBIT CREDIT

First of two parts

T

HE term millennial, coined by authors William Strauss and Neil Howe in 1987, refers to the generation of people who were born between the 1980s and 2000s. This group of people is also called generation Y because it comes after the generation X, who are those people born between 1960s and the 1980s. Aside from these two terms, this group is also known as net generation, because they have grown up in an environment where they are exposed to digital-based technology, and generation me, because of their dominant trait of being self-centered. Last, they are also referred to as echo boomers, due to the size of the generation and its relation to the baby boomer generation, comprising of people born between 1946 and 1965. Most of these terms have something in common; they are coined to emphasize the difference between millennials and the generations before them.

According to demographers of Pew Research Center, the current global population is estimated at around 7.4 billion people. Twenty seven percent of this population is composed of the millennial generation, which is about 2 billion individuals. With this numerous number of people who are currently 22 to 37 years of age, it is unquestionable that millennials will dominate the global work force by 2020. Jeanne C. Meister and Karie Willyerd, authors of The 2020 Workplace, said in a Harvard Business Review article titled “Mentoring Millennials”: “In four years, millennials will account for nearly half the employees in the world.” In the United States alone, millennials are on the cusp of surpassing baby boomers as the nation’s largest living adult generation. Millennials are expected to outnumber the boomers by 2019, as suggested by the population projection of the US Census Bureau, as their numbers will go up to 73 million while boomers will decline to 72 million. In a matter of two

Kapunan. . .

continued from A10

“Section 10. Return; Contents.—The respondent shall file a verified written return together with supporting affidavits within five working days from service of the writ, which period may be reasonably extended by the Court for justifiable reasons. The return shall, among other things, contain the following: (a) The lawful defenses such as national security, state secrets, privileged communications, confidentiality of the source of information of media and others; (b) In case of respondent in charge, in possession or in control of the data or information subject of the petition; (i) A disclosure of the data or information about the petitioner, the nature of such data or information, and the purpose for its collection; (ii) The steps or actions taken by

years’ time, the long reign of the baby boomers in the global work force will come to an end, as the dominance of the millennials is expected as early as the start of the coming decade.

If you have noted as of now, the millennial generation does not come after the baby boomers. These two generations are actually separated by generation X, but the passage from boomers to gen xers was seen as a gradual one. I would like to emphasize the transition of boomers’ dominated to millennials’ dominated work force because the latter have always been considered as “another specie.”

To be continued.

This column accepts contributions from accountants, especially articles that are of interest to the accountancy profession, in particular, and to the business community, in general. These can be e-mailed to boa.secretariat.@gmail.com.

Odree Ianna M. Manalastas is a Certified Public Accountant and a BS in Accountancy graduate of the University of Santo Tomas. the respondent to ensure the security and confidentiality of the data or information; and (iii) The currency and accuracy of the data or information held; and, (c) Other allegations relevant to the resolution of the proceeding.

A general denial of the allegations in the petition shall not be allowed.

“Section 11. Contempt.—The court, justice or judge may punish with imprisonment or fine a respondent who commits contempt by making a false return, or refusing to make a return; or any person who otherwise disobeys or resist a lawful process or order of the court.”

In the spirit of Christmas, let us call a moratorium on the making of lists (drug lords list, PDAF list, Sarah’s official list, Yellow list, Pro-Duterte list, etc, etc, etc.)

Let us turn our attention instead to the baby named Jesus, who came to “save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

A

SIDE from being a popular song, jingle bells are those used by engineers to signal the engine room of a train to generate all speed available. In the Christian world, the bell usually represents the “voice of God.” In most churches, bells are rung for mass and other services such as weddings or funerals. In the case of the Balangiga bells, they were used to signal an attack, which resulted to the death of 48 American soldiers in 1901. Sadly, in retaliation, the town of Balangiga was burned, residents were massacred, and American soldiers took the bells to the United States as war booty.

Several people, both Filipinos and Americans, exerted efforts to bring the bells back to Eastern Samar.

Sometime in 1957, the first public effort to recover the bells came by way of a letter from an Atenean priest and history professor H.V. de la Costa. The letter fell on deaf ears.

Sometime in the 1990s, President Fidel Ramos, a United States Military Academy graduate, formally corresponded with US President Bill Clinton regarding the return of the bells, to no avail. Several years thereafter, Catholic Church leaders in Samar formally wrote to President George W. Bush to facilitate the return of the bells, but again, to no avail. On two occasions, several members of the United States Congress sponsored resolutions to authorize the return of the bells to the Philippines. But yet again, these efforts proved futile.

Last year, when President Duterte demanded their return, several US

legislators and the state of Wyoming, where two of the three bells were kept, vehemently objected. But, somehow, the stars were aligned, so to speak, to allow the return of the bells after 117 years.

Success in the recovery of the Balangiga bells came slowly. The significance of these bells transcends all military, diplomatic or religious considerations. To me, this episode serves as a testament that we can never control the outcome of our efforts. While it took more than a century to settle the controversy surrounding the church bells, faith and patience were the material ingredients for its success.

Legendary basketball coach and inspirational author John Wooden is also known for his leadership and management principles as reflected in his Pyramid of Success. Attributes like friendship, loyalty, poise, skill and team spirit are some of the build-

Bloomberg Opinion

I

F anyone doubted that Opec is now little more than a zombie organization, the last 10 days have proved it.

The group has shown itself incapable of making its own decisions. Its smaller members have borne the brunt of an agreement to cut output that was only achieved after Russia took control of discussions from the heart of Opec’s head office. Then, even after Saudi Arabia announced it would reduce supply by nearly a million barrels a day by January, oil traders merely shrugged.

It is a sad result for an organization that once made governments tremble.

Here’s how it unfolded.

Opec oil ministers gathered in the group’s secretariat building on a wintry Thursday in Vienna. Weakening demand growth and soaring US production

prompted agreement that they needed to reduce production in order to balance the market in 2019. What they didn’t see eye to eye on was how to share that burden.

Saudi Arabia insisted that all members should play an equal part, cutting by the same percentage from a new baseline set at October’s production level.

Naysayers argued that, given how the group’s biggest producer had boosted its own output by more than a million barrels a day since May, it should therefore bear the brunt of the cuts needed to get the market back into balance. Furthermore, Iran led a contingent of countries claiming their special circumstances warranted exemptions.

The standoff looked very similar to the one that had scuppered a deal in Doha in April 2016—something that nobody wanted to repeat. But by the end of that Thursday, December 6, officials had failed to reach an agreement and Saudi oil minister Khalid al-Falih said

ing blocks of success. But, topmost in Wooden’s pyramid is faith and patience. Faith, for Coach Wooden, is more about trusting in something higher than us. Faith is about believing that there is a master plan of which we are mere participants who must still work hard to achieve a desired outcome. Faith is not simply sitting back and waiting for the best. Faith is more about working hard enough to get the job done and expecting that our goals will be met, providentially. On the other hand, patience is more about being steadfast amid the opposition or adversity.

We must believe that if we put in the time and the effort now, things will work out well in the future. Perhaps goals will not be achieved in our lifetime, but at least we have planted the seeds for others to nurture and God will surely make them grow. As it is written in 1 Corinthians 3:7, “So neither He who plants nor He who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.”

Wooden believes that success is not about winning but having a peace of mind, which is achieved every time a person gives his best whenever he can. Wooden’s philosophy focuses on what we can control, our actions, and realizing that the outcome, win or lose, is a by-product that may or may not go our way. To him, success is more about the “getting there” and giving our best in everything we do and having the faith to patiently wait for and accept the outcome.

The case of the Balangiga bells is a case in point. So, to the Filipinos and Americans from 1957 to 2018, who unwittingly conspired to bring the bells back to Balangiga, I salute you for providing us a lesson that every-

So, I asked Saudis about Mr. Bone Saw

By Nicholas Kristof New York Times News Service

R

IYADH, Saudi Arabia—It’s awkward to find yourself in a police state interviewing people about their leader’s penchant for starving children, torturing women or dismembering critics.

The result is nervous smiles. And long pauses in the conversation.

It’s sad because on this visit, I found Saudi Arabia truly is changing under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

You feel dynamism on the ground in Riyadh, and young Saudis are thrilled that the country finally has a bold leader trying to modernize the economy.

One businesswoman, Naha Said Kattan, told me that she’s grateful to Prince Mohammed that she could drive herself to our interview. I told her that I was delighted for her, but that it was difficult to celebrate while the prince also imprisons women’s rights leaders and reportedly has had four flogged, tortured and sexually harassed, with one attempting suicide as a result.

Another awkward silence.

I’ve been fiercely critical of the “mad prince,” so I was a bit surprised to receive a Saudi visa—apparently because I was traveling with a United Nations delegation returning from Yemen. In a reflection of the mood today, American friends

seemed less concerned about my safety in rebel-held Yemen than in Riyadh.

In fact, I’ve felt reasonably safe in Saudi Arabia. Officials were respectful and courteous even when I was painfully frank. But people also seemed more afraid to speak to a journalist than before, and mingled with the oppressiveness, there was an aggrieved nationalism in the air.

Public opinion is difficult to judge in any police state in which journalists are closely watched. But my best guess is that the support here for the prince is real, with people welcoming his youthful leadership as a breath of fresh air; even in Arabic he is sometimes referred to affectionately by his English initials, MBS. But I refer to “MBS,” following the dismemberment of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi, as “Mr. Bone Saw.” Ah, more awkwardness.

Bravo to the US Senate for its historic votes to hold MBS accountable for Khashoggi’s murder and to end support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen. Saudi officials are paying very close attention.

Senior Saudis privately accept that MBS ordered Khashoggi’s death, but insist that the Saudi-US relationship is more important than one man’s life.

For the sake of stability in the region, they say, America should stand by Saudi Arabia.

To which my answer is: The problem is not only that MBS is a murderer but

Under new management–Russia now runs Opec

By Julian Lee

Monday, December 17, 2018 A11

he was “not confident” one was possible.

Friday, the day originally scheduled for the group to meet with its partners, began little better. Opec ministers were once again locked away in discussions. The talks went nowhere, and the Opec+ meeting got pushed back to the afternoon.

Then the Russians arrived.

Bilateral discussions to hammer out negotiating positions are a regular feature of the days and hours before the main Opec gatherings. They take place in the suites of Vienna’s grandest hotels, where the various delegations are holed up. In recent years, the Russians have been part of this scene.

But when Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak arrived on Friday morning, he moved in to the office of Opec’s Secretary General. If ever there was a symbol of Opec’s demise, it was this. He then summoned first Iran’s oil minister, then Saudi Arabia’s, for about

45 minutes each. Two hours later, the group reached a deal. And Iran, Libya and Venezuela got their exemptions, even if they didn’t appear in the final communiqué.

The agreement that emerged is, on paper, fair and reasonable. Opec will cut production by 800,000 barrels a day from a new baseline of October 2018 production, with participating members cutting by 3 percent. The group’s partners will reduce their supply by 2 percent, contributing a further 400,000 barrels a day.

That combined reduction is just about enough to balance supply and demand in the first half of next year.

Saudi Arabia went even further. AlFalih said the kingdom’s production would fall to 10.2 million barrels a day in January, down from 11.1 million last month.

That looks like a huge cut, but it is still 150,000 barrels a day above its target under the original deal.

thing does happen in God’s perfect time, which never comes a day late or a day early.

Wooden’s success formula does not only apply to basketball or any athletic competition. The formula can also be used in personal relationships. I know of a father who divorced his wife, yet maintained a very close relationship with his children. Somehow, the relationship got strained to the point that the children refused to see and talk to their father for several years. But with faith and patience, the father remains hopeful that their once solid and sweet relationship will soon be restored. He considers himself successful, adopting Wooden’s pyramid of success, having achieved a peace of mind despite the current estranged relationship with his children.

In the Bible, Romans 8:25 tells us, “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

As we personally set goals by way of New Year’s resolutions, let us be reminded that the success of a new diet plan, an income target, or a new relationship will never be achieved without faith and patience. We will always succeed, no matter how long it takes, whenever we have peace of mind knowing that we exerted our best efforts in all situations given to us. That’s how John Wooden managed to become the winningest basketball coach in America. As to the bells of Balangiga, let them be rung to indicate full speed ahead for everyone to learn that with faith and patience, success is simply having peace of mind.

For questions and comments, please e-mail me at sbmison@gmail.com.

also that he has destabilized the region, starved Yemeni children and undermined the interests of Saudi Arabia and the United States alike. Everything he touches, he breaks.

President Donald J. Trump and Jared Kushner have placed their bets on the prince, and in a narrow sense they may be right. King Faisal managed to oust his incompetent predecessor, King Saud, in 1964, but I saw no sign that MBS is in jeopardy of losing power.

My most interesting interaction was with a group of young professionals who believe that I am getting it all wrong.

“I don’t know why the media focuses on the bad side,” protested Tariq Buhilaigah, a consultant in Riyadh. Sure there have been missteps, he said, but the most important things going on are the modernization of the country and the diversification of the economy away from oil. Felwa AlBazie, who is preparing to get her driver’s license, said she doesn’t know why the women’s rights activists are detained but added, “The big picture I’m seeing is that every woman in life benefits from driving, and women and men benefit from social progress.”

But modernity isn’t just about cappuccinos and iPhone apps; it’s also about human dignity and the rule of law. While MBS is bringing social progress, he’s also reckless, oppressive and brutal, and I am skeptical of his economic competence.

He hasn’t even been able to organize an

initial public offering for Aramco.

Trump’s bizarre defense of the prince reflects what has been wrong with the US-Saudi relationship. It has become all transactional. The Saudis have treated us like bodyguards, and we have treated them like gas station attendants.

I suspect the real reason Trump and Kushner embrace MBS, aside from the hope that he will back their Middle East peace plan, is business: the belief that Saudis will invest in their personal real-estate projects for decades to come.

The truth is that as Saudi Arabia’s significance as an oil producer diminishes, we need Saudi Arabia less. In 25 years, if we’re freed from the tyranny of imported oil, we may not need it at all.

Some Saudis kept trying to suggest to me that if we block weapons sales to Riyadh, the kingdom will turn to Moscow.

That’s absurd. It needs our spare parts and, more important, it buys our weapons because they come with an implicit guarantee that we will bail out the Saudis militarily if they get in trouble with Iran.

Saudi Arabia’s armed forces can’t even defeat a militia in Yemen, so how could they stand up to Iran? That’s why we have leverage over Saudi Arabia, not the other way around.

Let’s use that leverage. The next step should be a suspension of arms sales until Saudi Arabia ends its war on Yemen, for that war has made us complicit in mass starvation.

And this is where the inequality of the new Opec+ deal becomes apparent. Saudi Arabia, Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq boosted their combined output by almost 1.6 million barrels a day between May and October. That not only contributes to the current glut, it also gives them much higher starting points for the latest cuts than for the previous ones. Other Opec members all face lower starting points. The effect has been to shift a disproportionate share of the burden of Opec’s supply management since 2016 onto the group’s smaller producers.

Handing control of Opec decision making to the Kremlin has come at a high cost for the group, and most particularly for its smaller members. Some of the latter were already feeling marginalized. This latest deal will do nothing to change their view and the divisions between the organization’s “haves” and “have nots” will only widen.

Russia has done very well out of this.

It agreed to cut output by 230,000 barrels a day from its October output level of 11.42 million. That would reduce its production to 11.19 million barrels a day, a figure that is just 15,000 barrels below its original 2016 baseline—a cut of just 0.1 percent.

Contrast that with Opec member Algeria, which produces around a tenth as much oil as Russia. Its new target will be 1.023 million barrels a day. That’s a cut of 66,000 barrels a day, or 6.1 percent below the 2016 baseline.

And what did this all achieve?

Oil markets have reacted with indifference. After a brief rally when the deal was revealed, Brent subsequently sank back below the level it was trading at before the meeting began. Perhaps traders don’t believe the group will be able to implement the arrangement, or are waiting to see evidence that it’s taken effect.

Opec has lost a lot for very little gain.

2nd Front Page BusinessMirror

A12 Monday, December 17, 2018

Senators shun railroading of Charter-change measure

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By Butch Fernandez

@butchfBM

ENATE leaders thumbed down renewed efforts to railroad proposed Charter changes, embodied in Resolution of Both Houses (RBH 15) approved by the House of Representatives on third and final reading before adjourning on December 13.

Both pro-administration and opposition senators indicated it is “a waste of time” for the upper chamber to tackle proposals to tinker with the 1987 Freedom Constitution when Congress resumes regular sessions on January 14.

Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III voiced doubts that senators can still “have time” to tackle controversial Charter changes before the year-end adjournment given the full focus on passing the 2019 budget to avoid an extended

period under which the country would be working under a reenacted one.

The Senate President, however, confirmed that the Houseapproved Charter change bill or RBH 15 has been referred to the appropriate committee for review. The Senate’s Committee on Constitutional Amendments, chaired by opposition senator K iko Pang i linan, had earlier held hearings on Charter change and the shift to federalism, but reported mostly negative sentiment on the matter from those it invited as resource persons.

“But, I doubt we will have time,” Sotto said, noting that the Houseendorsed Charter change bill will be “effective only until June 30,” referring to the current Congress calendar which fixed the date for adjournment of the Senate and House sessions.

The Senate President indicated that the Charter change issue will still be taken up along with other pending bills.

“Is that [Charter change] all that we will take up?” Sotto wondered aloud, even as he indicated the Charter change bill will still be in their agenda, albeit much later.

“We can tackle it in July when we resume sessions.”

He added that if the Charter change proponents intended to amend the Constitution to lift existing term limits, “they should have done it earlier.”

“If they did not delay the budget bill submission, baka sakali [it may have been possible],” Sotto said, noting that he has yet to hear President Duterte endorsing the Charter-change scheme, as the latter was only gung-ho about it in the 2016 campaign and in his first year in office.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ANOTHER OIL PRICE ROLLBACK THIS WEEK

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HOEN I X Pet role u m Corp. initiated last Saturday another round of oil price rollback.

It is now selling gasoline by P0.15 per liter lower and diesel

by P0.30 per liter effective 6 a.m. of December 15.

Petro Gazz, meanwhile, announced over the weekend that it will implement the same price adjustment on Tuesday morning.

Other oil firms will announce their price rollbacks in the next few hours. They are expected to implement their respective price adjustments on Tuesday morning.

Based on the Department of Energy’s monitoring, oil prices in the world market rebounded after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) and its allies, including

Russia, agreed to cut production next year to shore up falling prices.

Opec and its allies inked a deal to reduce output by 1.2 million barrels per day during the first six months of 2019 after their second-day meeting in Vienna, Austria.

Members of Opec will reduce output by 800,000 barrels per day while Russia and other nations signed up to a 400,000 reduction. The cuts are scheduled to begin on January 1 and will last for six months.

Last week, oil firms reduced diesel by P0.10 per liter but increased the price of gasoline by P0.40 per liter.

Local oil firms adjust their prices on a weekly basis to reflect prices of imported oil products that arrive in the country. Lenie Lectura

Boracay stakeholders fret over ‘breaching’ of daily arrivals cap

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

@akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror

A

RRIVALS in Boracay Island breached the 6,405 daily arrivals cap on November 30, as tourists settled in for the Bonifacio Day holiday weekend.

Data from the municipal tourism office obtained by the BusinessM irror showed the tourist arrivals reached 6,772, prompting local stakeholders to question the government’s actual guidelines on the imposition of the carrying capacity on the island.

Nenette Aguirre Graf, president of the Boracay Foundation Inc., one of the

two pioneering stakeholders groups on the island, said in Filipino, “the Municipal Tourism Office informed the DOT [Department of Tourism] but they didn’t receive any instruction even after the daily arrivals limit was exceeded. So they kept on accepting arrivals until the last guest arrived on November 30.”

She asked for clearer guidelines on the arrivals, or “is the carrying capacity just a suggestion? It was not monitored if the tourists left the island just moved to other noncompliant resorts.”

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) had commissioned a study of Boracay’s carrying capacity, which revealed that the island could only accommodate 19,215 tourists on the

NORTHEAST MONSOON AFFECTING THE REST OF LUZON TAIL-END OF A COLD FRONT AFFECTING EASTERN SECTION OF SOUTHERN LUZON AND OF VISAYAS as of 4:00 am - December 16, 2018

island, at any given time, with daily arrivals that should be capped at 6,405.

Carrying capacity refers to an ecosystem’s ability to support people and other living things without having negative effects. “It also includes a limit of resources and pollution levels that can be maintained without experiencing high levels of change. If the carrying capacity is exceeded, living organisms must adapt to new levels of consumption or find alternative resources,” according to the Environmental Literary Council.

In an interview with the BusinessMirror, DOT Undersecretary for Tourism Regulation, Coordination and Resource Generation Arturo P. Boncato Jr. sought

to allay stakeholders’ fears of a possible overcrowding of the beaches in Boracay, by saying “we are now monitoring departures from the island, as well.”

In the monitoring data he shared with this paper, total tourist arrivals in fact reached 7,302 on November 30, the highest number of arrivals since the island officially opened on October 26, when 3,068 tourists visited.

But the same data showed that on November 30, just 3,803 tourists left Boracay, which means the island was still safe from overcrowding. The more important carrying capacity number is 19,215, which should not be breached, stressed Boncato.

“Our real carrying capacity is 19,215 at any given time. Our average arrivals per day was 3,700 from October 26 to December 11. But starting November 26, we came out with an outbound report, so the number of tourists leaving Boracay have been larger than those arriving,” he said. “The 6,405 daily arrivals carrying capacity number also assumed a three-night stay. So even with the entry of workers, the carrying capacity never exceeded the 19,215 cap,” he explained.

From November 29 to December 2 holiday weekend, 20,803 tourists arrived on the island. On those days, however, 18,408 tourists departed the island, with the largest exit recorded on December 2 at 7,108, as the next day would be a workday, Monday.

Meanwhile, Boncato assured that the cruise ships that are arriving in Boracay this December “are not large cruise ships.

They’re just expedition ships, so they carry just about 100 persons.”

Stakeholders on Boracay had expressed their opposition to the arrivals of the cruise ships as passengers not only affect the limited carrying capacity of the island, but they also don’t stay in the hotels nor pay for any local services like eat in restaurants or tours.

At one of the meetings of the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force, there was some discussion on prohibiting the arrivals of cruise ships. But Boncato said, this issue will be up for further discussion by the BIATF. “At present, the arrivals of the cruise ships have permits from the PPA [Philippine Ports Authority] and the DENR,” he noted. “We will just prepare for the guests to have an excellent tourism experience in Boracay.”

About eight cruise ships were supposed to have arrived in Boracay since it reopened on October 26. Among these are Windstar Cruises, which operates luxury cruise ships, whose ships will be arriving this month until next year.

In other published reports, the Caticlan Jetty Port administrator said they were expecting about port calls by some 30 cruise ships next year. Caticlan is the gateway to Boracay Island, acclaimed as one of the best islands in the world, prior to its closure on April 26.

CLOSE ENCOUNTER Prof. Timmy Tan (right), chairman of SK Philippines and son of tycoon Lucio Tan, is seen with Chinese President Xi Jinping in a symbolic greeting during the state dinner hosted by Malacañan Palace for the Chinese leader’s historic visit to the country recently. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Palace probes claim priests told to leave Balangiga bells rites

By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

T

HE historic homecoming of the Balangiga bells in Samar on Saturday, which was supposed to be a day of peace and friendship between the United States and the Philippines, was marred by confusion on whether the President really asked the priests to leave the venue.

Malacañang said there is already an ongoing investigation into reports that a member of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) had supposedly asked some members of the Catholic clergy present in the turnover ceremonies to leave the event before the President’s arrival.

However, Presidential Spokesman and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador S. Panelo said he witnessed the turnover ceremonies before and after the President’s arrival but he did not see nor hear about the particular incident, especially from the Apostolic Nuncio and the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

“I was present at the Balangiga turnover ceremonies before and after the President’s arrival at the venue but I did not see any occurrence as described nor hear any complaint coming from the Apostolic Nuncio and the CBCP President whom I talked to just before the President arrived at the ceremonial place,” Panelo said in a statement.

“It is absolutely out of the President’s character nor his style to cause mortifications during an event. If it indeed happened, then the same is not authorized, and such unethical conduct can not be sanctioned by PRRD. It could have been done by someone who represented himself or herself as a staff from the PMS,” he added. Panelo said the priests were seated in the same place before and after the arrival of the President.

“His Excellency Gabriele Caccia, Apostolic Nuncio of the Philippines and Most Reverend Archbishop Romulo Valles, President of CBCP, among others, were seated in the front row, and the President approached them and exchanged

pleasantries with them. He likewise acknowledged their presence in his brief remarks,” he said.

Panelo noted that the Chief Executive had mentioned in his speech that the Filipino nation is one with the Diocese of Borongan in celebrating the historic event.

“This is a time when all Filipinos, regardless of political affinity or religious outlook, come together and rejoice an event which we had long sought—and hoped for. We will not allow such a reported unwanted incident to spoil this momentous occasion. The tolling of the Balangiga bells ushers in a call of unity and peace among us Filipinos. We can only respond in heartfelt approbation,” he said.

Malacañang issued the statement after reports came out that someone from the PMS allegedly told priests, including the Borongan bishop and the Apostolic Nuncio, to get out of the Balangiga plaza, minutes before the President arrived for the official turnover of Balangiga bells to local officials.

According to a post from official Facebook page of Diocese of Borongan, President Duterte only wanted Valles to be in the area.

“There was even the suggestion to the priests present to remove their Roman collars so as not to offend the President.

Also, chairs were placed in front of the priests to cover them,” the post read.

After the post of the Diocese of Borongan went viral, Facebook User Sherry Zimmer warned that the handler of the said account should take down their “malicious post.”

“It is a sin to lie and you are lying. If you don’t take this malicious post down I most certainly expose you and your evil lies. We have proof that this didn’t happen,” Zimmer said in a post, with an attached video capture of the President shaking the hand of one of the members of the Catholic clergy.

Aloysius Trejo also said in a comment that it can be clearly seen in the video that the President cordially greeted and shook hands with Valles, Borongan Bishop Crispin Varquez, Caccia, among others.

See “Balangiga bells,” A2

Editor: Efleda P. Campos

Companies BusinessMirror

Monday, December 17, 2018

B1

21 firms interested in govt’s oil exploration program

T

By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

HE Department of Energy (DOE) has received firm interests from 13 firms to explore predetermined areas for possible oil and gas reserves, while eight firms have nominated their respective areas of interest.

“Thirteen have applied for the predetermined areas and eight nominated for potential areas. So, actually the Philippine Conventional Energy Contracting Program [PCECP] is a hybrid of the Philippine Energy Contracting Round and application by nomination,” Energy Undersecretary Donato D. Marcos said.

The DOE is aggressively pursuing the implementation of the PCECP so the country could establish a strong “Explore, Explore, Explore” program.

Under the PCECP, there are two modes of application potential investors may pursue.

Cebu Pacific opens Clark-Panglao route

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UDGET carrier Cebu Pacific has expanded its Bohol route network with the addition of a daily flight between Clark International Airport and the New Bohol Panglao Airport, a route that will help build more traffic in and out of Central Luzon.

Cebu Pacific Director for Airport Services Dindo Fernando said the new route will help spur domestic tourism between the Visayas, Central Luzon and Northern Luzon, and support the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MIE) tourism subindustry.

“As we expand our fleet and our route network, we look forward to supporting economic growth in Clark and its surrounding areas, as well as in the province of Bohol through tourism and logistics support,” he said. The low-cost carrier has been operating in Clark since 2006, and has since increased its frequency out of Clark by 75 percent in 2018 alone.

It has also been operating in Bohol for almost two decades now.

Aside from the two destinations, the Gokongwei-led airline has a network of 37 destinations, 76 routes, and over 2,130 weekly flights as of end-September. Lorenz S. Marasigan

First, interested parties may wish to bid on the 14 predetermined areas identified by the DOE (one in Cagayan, three in East Palawan, three in Sulu Sea, two in Agusan-Davao, one in Cotabato and four in West Luzon). The application period is 180 days, and was officially opened on November 22.

Alternatively, the applicants could also nominate and publish other areas of interest. In this mode, applications could be submitted at any time of the year, and would be subjected to a 60-day challenge period.

All accepted applications shall be

evaluated by the DOE Centralized Review and Evaluation Committee based on the criteria pursuant to Department Circular 2017-12-0017.

Marcos said investors are interested in 13 of the 14 predetermined areas. “In Cotabato, there is still no interest. First of all, our local investors are trying to get some foreign investors to apply for that. The foreign investors, maybe, already have local partners. But there is high probability in Cotabato basin,” Marcos said.

He has yet to reveal the identities of the 13 firms.

For investors that nominated eight areas, Marcos said two of the eight firms have nominated areas located in the so-called contested areas. He refused to divulge the identities of these two firms, but said the nominated areas are “as big as SC 72.”

Service Contract 72 is an oil-andgas-exploration permit covering the Sampaguita natural-gas prospect in the Reed Bank, to the west of Palawan.

It was awarded to PXP Energy Corp., which holds a 78.98-percent controlling interest in UK-based Forum Energy Plc., which, in turn, has

a 70-percent stake in SC 72.

PXP and China National Offshore Oil Corp. used to discuss a possible joint exploration of SC 72 to develop a part of the Reed Bank. However, the Philippine government has declared force majeure on the license in 2015 due to a territorial dispute with China.

The Philippines eventually won an arbitration case against China over the South China Sea. In particular, the Philippines has exclusive sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea and that China’s nine-dash line is invalid, the United Nations Arbitral Tribunal ruled.

The moratorium to conduct exploration activities in SC 72, however, has yet to be lifted.

There are currently 23 active petroleum service contracts in the Philippines with the following developers: Shell Philippines Exploration, Total E&P, PNOC-EC, Nido Petroleum, Philodrill, PXP Energy and Galoc Production Co. The largest and most successful natural gas industrial project in Philippine history is the Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power Project.

SEC asks Tiger Resort to disclose case involving Japanese gambling magnate

By VG Cabuag

T

@villygc

HE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has asked Tiger Resorts Asia Ltd., which is seeking to make a backdoor listing, to disclose the case involving Japanese gambling magnate Kazuo Okada filed in Hong Kong.

In its decision dated December 11, the SEC has directed Tiger Resort, which owns the local company that operates Okada Manila, the $1.5-billion integrated resort and casino in Entertainment City, to submit an amended tender offer report that discloses “factual information” on the conflict between the Okada family that led to the filing of civil and criminal cases against each other.

“MSRD [the SEC’s Markets and Securities Regulation Department] is of the position that the filing of an amended tender offer will prevent any grave and irreparable damage to the shareholders of ABG and the investing public,” the SEC said.

It added that amending the ten-

der offer report that includes the factual information on the case will assist the investing public “to arrive at an intelligent investment decision on whether to invest, sell or remain with the company.”

Carnell S. Valdez, a shareholder of listed firm Asiabest Group International Inc. (ABG), earlier asked the SEC to stop the tender offer and the implementation of a backdoor listing

by Tiger Resort.

In his complaint, he claimed that Tiger Resort is committing fraud after it did not disclose there is an ongoing legal case involving ownership and control of Okada Holdings Ltd. Valdez’s complaint, which asked for a cease and desist order from the regulator to stop the deal, however, was dismissed by the SEC. The regulator instead ordered Tiger Resort to file the said amended disclosure that should be printed on two newspapers and then extend the tender offer period for 10 days after the publication.

Okada Holdings controls Hong

Kong-based Tiger Resort, which is trying to do a backdoor listing at the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) for about P646.5 million. Some controlling holders of Asiabest, comprising about 200 million shares, have sold their ownership for P3.23 per share.

As a result, Tiger Resort needed to offer to buy the remaining shares of the listed firm that currently has no operations.

The said tender offer for all remaining shares of ABG commenced on November 12, and ends on December 12. The closing of Tiger Resort’s tender offer for ABG shares by way of special block sale through the PSE, originally scheduled on Friday, did not push through.

Kazuo Okada and his daughter Hiromi initiated civil and criminal proceedings in Hong Kong to regain control of Okada Holdings, and to secure criminal convictions for fraud and financial crimes to those responsible for the magnate’s ouster last year as director chairman of the holding company that he founded.

CA issues TRO vs Basketball TV feeds

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HE Court of Appeals has issued a 60-day temporary restraining order (TRO) enjoining the Regional Trial Court of Mandaluyong City from implementing its order compelling Solar Entertainment Corp. (Solar) to reinstate Basketball TV (BTV) and National Basketball Premium TV Channels (NBAP) feeds to ABS-CBN and Sky Cable.

The issuance of the TRO stemmed from the petition filed by Solar, chaired by businessman Wilson Tieng, alleging that its property rights over its channel were violated by the respondents ABS-CBN Corp. and Sky Cable Corp.

In its petition, Solar said it stands to suffer grave injustice and irreparable injury in the event that a TRO is not issued by the appellate court.

Solar claimed it owns BTV and NBA Premium, thus, it has exclusive right and privileges as owner of the said channels, including the right to prohibit the carriage and distribution of the same. Joel R. San Juan

ANGKAS RIDERS MEET THE MEDIA Officers of Angkas and support organizations field questions from the media during a press

conference held on Sunday at a restaurant in Quezon City. Led by (from left) Jobert Bollano, chairman of Motorcycle Rights Organization; George Royeca, Angkas head for Regulatory and Public Affairs; and David Medrana, Angkas Operation head field, Angkas bikers and organizations supporting them, including commuters’ groups, assure the media and government regulators that they will comply with the Supreme Court ruling disallowing them to transport commuters on motorcycles. ROY DOMINGO

Smart claims covering 90% of high-speed mobile-data needs of PHL towns, cities

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

S

MART Communications Inc. has advised regulators it has fulfilled its commitment of covering 90 percent of the Philippine cities and municipalities with highspeed mobile data in light of its 2018 acquisition of the telco assets of San Miguel Corp.

However, the figure cited in the statement released on Sunday is less than the original target of 95 percent, as disclosed in previous documents, including filings to the local bourse and its parent company’s web site.

Ramon R. Isberto, a spokesman for the telco, explained that his group “reviewed” the discussions with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) “to check the actual commitments.”

“That is why we have adjusted the coverage target. Please note that the target date for achieving that is first quarter of 2019,” he said in a mobile reply. To recall, Smart and parent company PLDT Inc. copurchased with Globe Telecom Inc. all the telco assets of San Miguel in 2016 to acquire the frequencies previously assigned to the food-toinfrastructure conglomerate.

After the transaction, both telcos—now holding the majority of the total frequency allocations in the country—committed to the NTC to cover “95 percent” of the munici-

palities and cities in the Philippines with 4G technology by “end-2018.”

“We have indeed been expanding mobile broadband coverage. We have attained our target ahead of schedule and are continuing to expand our mobile coverage,” Isberto claimed.

Related to this, Smart Senior Vice President Mario G. Tamayo announced his group has finished the latest round of network upgrades in Metro Manila.

This means that Smart, TNT and Sun customers in the cities of Marikina, Quezon City, Caloocan, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Pasig, San Juan, Valenzuela, Makati, Manila, Taguig, Parañaque and Pasay can now use the enhanced long-term evolution and LTE-Advanced networks for their mobile-data needs.

“These network enhancement and expansion activities are part of our commitment to provide worldclass connectivity to the country’s primary urban hub and the rest of the nation,” he said.

An ongoing round of Metro Manila network expansion efforts currently cover the southern Metro Manila cities of Las Piñas and Muntinlupa. As of September, Smart has installed about 5,700 new LTE base stations across the country, boosting the total count to about 14,400—a 65-percent increase from the end2017 count. Smart also increased the number of 3G base stations on its network to about 11,000.

Bayad Connect offers payment solution to Paleco subscribers

By Roderick L. Abad

@rodrik_28

Contributor

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HE Philippine National Bank (PNB) has tied up with CIS Bayad Center Inc. (Bayad Center) to offer an economical payment solution to over 100,000 subscribers of Palawan Electric Cooperative (Paleco).

Being an island province popular among tourists as an untouched paradise, Palawan still lacks channels for convenient services to the locals.

Because some parts of the province remain rural and have rugged terrain, much of the area continues to be underdeveloped, especially in terms of transportation and utilities.

Many residents of the island have to travel far distances either by boat or by bus to Puerto Princesa City to buy goods, avail themselves of basic services and pay for their monthly utilities, such as water and electricity.

But not until the three partnerfirms executed a tripartite agreement to introduce Bayad Connect to allow Palaweños to settle their monthly dues on electricity via their mobile or smartphones.

More than that, this pioneering mobile retailer application of

Bayad Center also allows small business owners of sari-sari stores, convenience stores, bakeries and other neighborhood shops to accept e-loading services and other transactions.

This makes Bayad Connect an additional revenue generator for micro-businesses, as well as a convenient and economical option for locals in hard-to-reach places to pay their bills, e-load and do other financial deals.

The app will soon become available to other provinces, especially those in far-flung areas, to provide convenience to people and open business opportunities to smallscale retailers and entrepreneurs.

Established on July 22, 1916, PNB is the first universal bank in the country. Through its subsidiaries, it provides commercial bank services, with products including deposit-taking, lending, bill discounting, foreign exchange dealing, investment banking and fund transfer.

This bank led by business tycoon Lucio Tan also offers merchant banking, remittance servicing, nonlife insurance, leasing, stock brokerage, foreign-exchange trading and related services.

B2

Monday, December 17, 2018

Companies BusinessMirror

SteelAsia, Chinese firms eye steel complex in Mindanao

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HE country’s largest steel producer, SteelAsia Manufacturing Corp., is partnering with Chinese firms Hebei Iron and Steel (HBIS) Group and Huili Investment Fund Management Co. Ltd. to build an integrated steel complex in Mindanao.

The three companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Friday for the construction of a $4.4-billion Philippine

Iron and Steel Project in Misamis Oriental.

Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez noted this is the largest in-

vestment from China going into the Philippines so far.

“This project is very important to our industrial development and will allow us to pursue President Duterte’s vision of having a globally competitive integrated iron and steel industry, to support the growing economy, to alleviate poverty and to create jobs for every Filipino,” Lopez said.

The project will be located in Park 5 of Phividec Industrial Estate in Misamis Oriental covering 305 hectares of land.

This will be in two phases, the first phase of which is expected to cost $3 billion and create 6,000 new

jobs. The second phase of the project will amount $1.4 billion.

The facility is expected to produce 3 million to 5 million metric tons of different steel products every year.

“We can anticipate that this investment in our industry will catalyze the development of various downstream manufacturing, creating a more robust economy and generating tens of thousands of jobs,” SteelAsia President and Chief Executive Officer Benjamin Yao said.

Yao said it is an opportune time for this kind of investment in the local steel industry with the record-high demand for steel, which is expected to grow rapidly. PNA

Grab launches Christmas Express G

RABPhilippineshaslaunched free bus and jeepney services for its customers in Metro Manila to help provide passengers with a transport means during rush hours this Christmas season.

Cindy Toh, who heads the marketing division of Grab Philippines, said the company recognizes it cannot meet the demand for transportation in Metro Manila, especially now that almost everyone is booking a ride via Grab.

Hence, it has decided to provide point-to-point (P2P) bus and jeepney

rides for its passengers who use GrabRewards, the loyalty program of the transportation network company.

“The Grab Christmas Express campaign all comes together in Grab’s Better Everyday credo which, among its services, only has one goal—to improve your everyday experience. We are mindful that going home can be more challenging this season and we are happy to provide support for our commuting public,” she said.

She said Grab users can avail themselves of the Grab Christmas Express Bus and Jeeps by claiming

Mang Inasal celebrates 15 years in PHL

M

ANGInasalturned15onDecember12.Since it opened its first store in Iloilo in 2003, this quick-service restaurant has grown from a local must-visit store to the favorite hangout of solb eaters throughout the country.

Solb eaters are those who go for delicious, satisfying Chicken Inasal, without qualms of eating with their bare hands and usually with unlimited rice, doused with their favorite mix of chicken oil, soy sauce, vinegar, calamansi and chili.

“Seeing solb eaters feast in a Mang Inasal store is such a heartwarming sight!” said Mang Inasal Strategic Business Unit Head Jojo P. Subido. “It validates all the hard work we have put into running a restaurant whose menu carries superior-tasting food and whose crew go the extra mile in delighting the customers.”

Looking back at how the business has evolved, Mang Inasal takes pride in becoming the leading grilled chicken based on occasion and value shares in Metro Manila’s branded eat-out category, a claim supported by a recent Kantar study.

“We are, indeed, very happy to note that Mang Inasal was able to reach this position,” Subido said. “We could not have done it without the support of all our valuable stakeholders—from franchisees and employees to our suppliers and customers. We cannot thank you enough for all your support through the years. With our continued partnership, we look forward to more milestones to achieve, both here and abroad,” Subido said.

Among the businesses under the Jollibee Foods Corp., Mang Inasal is known for its phenomenal growth.

their Christmas Express Unlimited Pass from the in-app GrabRewards catalogue. The ticket can be used multiple times, but is equivalent to one seat only. The Grab P2P buses operate from 5 to 11 p.m. covering SM Megamall to SM North in partnership with Froehlich Tours Inc., and Mckinley Hill to San Lorenzo Place route in partnership with Citylink Coach Services.

Grab Christmas Express Jeeps will operate on busy and high-demand locations covering the following routes and schedules: Ayala-Market! Market! (11

a.m. to 11 p.m.); Edsa-Pasig (11 a.m. to 8 p.m.); Edsa Crossing-Kalentong (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.); PRC-Mantrade-Kayamanan C (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.); and GuadalupeGate 3 (11 a.m. to 11 p.m.).

Grab Christmas Express Jeeps are distinguished by the Grab logo sitting atop their roofs.

“As we end this year, we want our consumers to take away the feeling of home, the joy of being with the people and things that matter to them.

We are privileged to be the conduit of this feeling this Christmas,” Toh said. Lorenz S. Marasigan

STOCK-MARKET OUTLOOK LAST WEEK

SHARE prices inched higher last week on news that the Central Bank kept its rates steady.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index gained 63.31 points to close at 7,524.37 points.

“The index started the week lower, continuing the negative momentum from the week before. It then recovered on the fact that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas was going to keep rates unchanged at its last meeting for the year. This is the third week in a row of foreign inflows which is a very good sign,” said Christopher Mangun, research head at Eagle Equities Inc. Foreign investors were net buyers at P2.28 billion, while average daily transaction was at P5.9 billion.

“Overall, the main index ended the week above the key level of 7,500, which is what we wanted to see. This signals more bullishness and will set a more inviting environment for investors,” Mangun said.

All other subindices ended mixed. The broader All Shares index was up 10.62 points to 4,506.50 points; the Financials index fell 9.74 to 1,785.55; the Industrial index rose 121.48 to 10,963; the Holding Firms index surged 140.33 to 7,430.11; the Property index declined 5.09 to 3,641.17; ;the Services index climbed 18.78 to 1,431.07; and the Mining and Oil index was down 212.68 to 8,198.55.

Gainers edged losers 119 to 99 and 29 shares were unchanged.

Top gainers were 2Go Group Inc., PTFC Redevelopment Corp., Berjaya Philippines Inc., Arthaland Corp., Cyber Bay Corp. and Bloomberry Resorts Corp.

Top losers were BHI Holdings Inc., Liberty Flour Mills Inc., Manila Mining Corp. A, Easycall Communications Philippines Inc., Zeus Holdings Inc. and San Miguel Corp.

THIS WEEK

SHARE prices may remain volatile this week as investors start to adjust their portfolio.

Online broker 2TradeAsia said the main index may stabilize within the 7,500 to 7,700 points by the end of the year.

“Volatility will color the eight remaining trading days for 2018, as fund managers retool their portfolios. Consider revisiting ‘sturdy reliables’ such as defensive blue chip plays, and stocks with promising carry-over stories in 2019 such as telco, energy, conglomerates,” it said.

Mangun said this week is going to be very crucial for our market since it will be the last full trading week for the year before the holidays set in.

“The target for this week is to break above its resistance at 7,630 and possibly close above 7,700. However, this will all come down to whether investors will continue to trade and not go on early vacation. If turnover value is low for the week, then we may see it trade sideways and stay within the range at 7,400 to 7,600,” he said.

He said if foreigners continue to be net buyers, there is a strong possibility that the main index may end the year closer to 8,000 rather than at 7,500.

STOCK PICKS

BROKER Regina Capital and Development Corp. recommended to cut losses on the stock of San Miguel Corp. after the strong selldown that has been going on for seven consecutive trading days. As a result, San Miguel’s technical indicators pushed it into bearish regions.

It said all indicators suggest that the selling pressure is gaining momentum. It gave a target price on the stock at P140 per share.

Shares of San Miguel closed last week at P142 apiece.

Meanwhile, the broker advised to buy when its support price of P364 per share holds for power distributor Manila Electric Co. “Meralco shares have been trading above both its short- and long-term moving averages for a month now. But, the decline in prices on Thursday’s trading weakened bullish sentiment of the indicators,” the broker said.

Meralco’s shares closed at P389.80 per share last week. VG Cabuag

Editor: Efleda P. Campos

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

December 14, 2018

Net Foreign Stocks Bid Ask Open High Low Close Volume Value Trade (Peso) Buy (Sell) FINANCIALS

ASIA UNITED 59 59.1 58.2 59.1 58.1 59.1 27930 1647147 BDO UNIBANK 129.7 130.3 129 130.5 127.1 129.7 1238090 160730610 BANK PH ISLANDS 94.15 94.95 93.8 94.95 93.8 94.95 841210 79408713 CHINABANK 27.3 27.35 27.2 27.7 27.2 27.35 131800 3632780 EAST WEST BANK 11.92 12 12.1 12.12 11.9 11.92 158200 1903422 METROBANK 80.4 81 80.6 81 80 81 4280690 343595533 PHIL NATL BANK 42.45 43.5 43 43.5 42.45 42.5 53000 2267585 PSBANK 73.9 74 74 74 73.9 74 3210 237509 RCBC 27.95 28 28.5 28.5 27.95 28 7300 204565 SECURITY BANK 160.2 162 163 163 160.2 160.2 172790 27892014 UNION BANK 64.5 64.6 65.35 65.35 64.6 64.6 18610 1205392.5 BRIGHT KINDLE 1.53 1.58 1.51 1.58 1.51 1.58 9000 13660 BDO LEASING 2.18 2.2 2.21 2.22 2.2 2.2 26000 57340 FIRST ABACUS 0.59 0.67 0.57 0.67 0.57 0.67 40000 25700 FERRONOUX HLDG 4.07 4.1 4.05 4.11 4.05 4.11 56000 228580 MEDCO HLDG 0.45 0.47 0.45 0.48 0.45 0.47 1220000 564550 NTL REINSURANCE 0.89 0.9 0.9 0.91 0.9 0.9 185000 166520 PHIL STOCK EXCH 180 181 181 182 181 181 350 63506 SUN LIFE 1811 1849 1830 1830 1830 1830 10 18300

INDUSTRIAL ALSONS CONS 1.24 1.25 1.24 1.29 1.24 1.29 180000 225700 ABOITIZ POWER 33 33.1 33.2 33.35 32.6 33.1 1495700 49539015 BASIC ENERGY 0.244 0.25 0.242 0.25 0.24 0.25 1590000 390110 FIRST GEN 19.5 19.68 19.9 19.9 19.42 19.5 2312400 45516222 FIRST PHIL HLDG 64.05 64.5 64.9 64.9 64.05 64.5 369380 23857887 PHIL H2O 5.79 5.8 6 6.06 5.56 5.8 732600 4203580 MERALCO 388.6 389.8 375.2 389.8 373.2 389.8 280430 107246494 MANILA WATER 27.85 27.9 27.6 27.9 27.6 27.85 233600 6492080 PETRON 8.13 8.18 8.32 8.32 8.09 8.18 2944700 24105672 PETROENERGY 3.93 4.01 4.05 4.05 3.93 4 74000 296600 PHINMA ENERGY 0.99 1 0.99 1.01 0.98 0.99 3231000 3207660 PHX PETROLEUM 10.92 11 10.98 11 10.9 11 112100 1230656 PILIPINAS SHELL 46.7 47 47.9 48.05 46.6 46.7 287000 13544085 SPC POWER 5.21 5.24 5.26 5.26 5.21 5.25 15600 81810 AGRINURTURE 17.2 17.28 17.2 17.5 17.1 17.28 403000 6950812 BOGO MEDELLIN 91.15 109.9 100 100 100 100 410 41000 CENTURY FOOD 15.56 15.58 15 15.7 15 15.56 1713800 26585426 DNL INDUS 10.26 10.4 10.42 10.46 10.24 10.26 4624800 47961984 EMPERADOR 7.25 7.26 7.19 7.45 7.11 7.26 2323600 16851027 SMC FOODANDBEV 80.8 82.5 83.2 83.2 80.5 82.5 1211470 98674423.5 ALLIANCE SELECT 1.02 1.03 1.02 1.04 1.01 1.03 2854000 2917040 GINEBRA 24.1 25.1 25 25.1 25 25.1 665500 16637790 JOLLIBEE 298 298.2 295 298.6 295 298 1378350 409748330 MAXS GROUP 10.5 10.6 10.76 11.1 10.2 10.6 645200 6942434 MG HLDG 0.168 0.175 0.174 0.175 0.174 0.175 110000 19190 PEPSI COLA 1.4 1.42 1.35 1.41 1.35 1.4 9977000 13568300 SHAKEYS PIZZA 10.4 10.6 10.28 10.68 10.28 10.4 688700 7169490 ROXAS AND CO 1.88 1.9 1.92 1.92 1.82 1.88 574000 1072210 RFM CORP 4.65 4.75 4.75 4.75 4.65 4.75 30000 142050 UNIV ROBINA 128.2 128.5 128 129.4 128 128.5 568780 73057465 VITARICH 1.83 1.84 1.71 1.84 1.71 1.84 17056000 30509620 CONCRETE A 60.1 63 63.05 63.05 63.05 63.05 10 630.5 CEMEX HLDG 1.81 1.82 1.93 1.94 1.77 1.82 26440000 48506090 DAVINCI CAPITAL 6.9 7.06 6.89 7.29 6.58 6.9 482800 3390638 EAGLE CEMENT 14.76 15 15 15 14.76 14.76 69200 1024798 EEI CORP 8.08 8.15 8.08 8.15 8.05 8.08 57200 461926 HOLCIM 6.1 6.15 6.14 6.15 6.1 6.1 12400 75745 MEGAWIDE 18.08 18.16 18.36 18.48 18.02 18.16 3782000 69522070 PHINMA 8.1 8.3 8.27 8.3 8.27 8.3 17100 141420 VULCAN INDL 1.73 1.74 1.75 1.77 1.72 1.73 7881000 13721670 CROWN ASIA 1.66 1.76 1.76 1.76 1.76 1.76 40000 70400 LMG CHEMICALS 4.3 4.35 4.31 4.31 4.3 4.3 83000 356970 PRYCE CORP 5.4 5.6 5.6 5.6 5.6 5.6 7000 39200 CONCEPCION 37.1 37.4 37 37 37 37 800 29600 GREENERGY 2.04 2.05 2.19 2.24 2.05 2.05 16180000 34566370 INTEGRATED MICR 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.13 9 9.07 400600 3628454 IONICS 1.79 1.86 1.85 1.86 1.79 1.79 390000 711380 PANASONIC 5.88 5.98 5.9 5.98 5.9 5.98 3100 18338 SFA SEMICON 1.4 1.41 1.34 1.41 1.33 1.41 10000 13690 CIRTEK HLDG 30.8 31.45 30.95 31.85 30.8 30.8 75800 2354565

HOLDING & FRIMS ABACORE CAPITAL 0.58 0.59 0.62 0.62 0.58 0.59 21838000 13078880 ASIABEST GROUP 26 26.25 27.6 28.5 25.8 26.25 180100 4832330 AYALA CORP 914 925 930.5 940 905.5 914 224610 206992630 ABOITIZ EQUITY 54.3 56 54.45 56 53.05 56 973850 53942328 ALLIANCE GLOBAL 12.2 12.24 12.16 12.24 12.1 12.24 14096000 171564058 ANSCOR 6.5 6.53 6.5 6.53 6.5 6.53 11500 74900 ANGLO PHIL HLDG 0.81 0.83 0.82 0.86 0.82 0.82 80000 65820 ATN HLDG A 1.37 1.39 1.42 1.42 1.36 1.39 4737000 6526580 ATN HLDG B 1.37 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.37 1.38 576000 791880 BHI HLDG 1265 2050 1261 1261 1261 1261 5000 6305000 COSCO CAPITAL 7.25 7.35 7.32 7.4 7.19 7.26 148000 1081181 DMCI HLDG 12.4 12.8 12.86 12.9 12.4 12.4 4493400 56592448 FILINVEST DEV 9.99 10.04 9.9 10.2 9.86 9.99 1462200 14680541 FJ PRINCE B 3.21 5.19 5.19 5.19 5.19 5.19 300 1557 GT CAPITAL 952.5 953.5 958 958 944.5 952.5 71440 68094925 HOUSE OF INV 6 6.54 6 6 6 6 30400 182400 JG SUMMIT 52.45 53.2 51.95 53.2 51.3 53.2 1655860 87125485 LODESTAR 0.56 0.57 0.57 0.58 0.55 0.56 339000 190610 LOPEZ HLDG 4.02 4.04 4.18 4.18 4.01 4.04 1167000 4744480 LT GROUP 16.6 16.78 16.82 16.82 16.52 16.78 2078300 34896910 MABUHAY HLDG 0.61 0.62 0.63 0.63 0.6 0.62 604000 368790 METRO PAC INV 4.76 4.77 4.72 4.8 4.7 4.77 26170000 124685260 PACIFICA 0.036 0.038 0.038 0.038 0.038 0.038 500000 19000 PRIME ORION 2.36 2.38 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.38 1675000 4001150 PRIME MEDIA 1.17 1.25 1.18 1.25 1.18 1.25 103000 125390 REPUBLIC GLASS 2.6 2.65 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.6 1000 2600 SYNERGY GRID 460 500 450 450 450 450 30 13500 SM INVESTMENTS 952 952.5 948 962 947 952.5 158940 151590615 SAN MIGUEL CORP 142 142.1 147.5 151 139 142 2822300 402919427 SOC RESOURCES 0.74 0.78 0.77 0.77 0.77 0.77 11000 8470 TOP FRONTIER 270.2 271.2 279.8 279.8 271.2 271.2 128450 35498398 WELLEX INDUS 0.255 0.26 0.25 0.265 0.25 0.26 7370000 1898550 ZEUS HLDG 0.198 0.219 0.195 0.195 0.195 0.195 20000 3900

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.69 0.71 0.57 0.82 0.57 0.71 82242000 61115040 ANCHOR LAND 10.08 10.58 10 10.58 10 10.58 9200 95512 AYALA LAND 42.3 42.4 42.3 42.5 41.6 42.3 7179500 303899980 BELLE CORP 2.25 2.3 2.34 2.34 2.25 2.25 3829000 8814180 A BROWN 0.84 0.85 0.78 0.86 0.78 0.85 10634000 8788510 CITYLAND DEVT 0.85 0.87 0.86 0.86 0.86 0.86 10000 8600 CROWN EQUITIES 0.25 0.255 0.249 0.255 0.245 0.255 2860000 711410 CEBU HLDG 6.02 6.4 6.3 6.4 6.3 6.4 2000 12670 CEB LANDMASTERS 3.96 4 3.99 4 3.95 4 449000 1788570 CENTURY PROP 0.415 0.42 0.41 0.42 0.405 0.415 8550000 3526850 CYBER BAY 0.39 0.405 0.41 0.41 0.375 0.405 1530000 590550 DOUBLEDRAGON 18.16 18.18 17.8 18.7 17.8 18.18 747200 13599442 DM WENCESLAO 7.98 8 8 8.03 7.98 7.98 138000 1103820 EMPIRE EAST 0.475 0.48 0.48 0.48 0.48 0.48 730000 350400 FILINVEST LAND 1.46 1.47 1.45 1.47 1.45 1.46 1981000 2893000 GLOBAL ESTATE 1.06 1.07 1.04 1.07 1.04 1.06 2745000 2885330 8990 HLDG 7.72 7.74 7.75 7.75 7.6 7.74 296700 2290820 PHIL INFRADEV 2.29 2.3 2.37 2.39 2.3 2.3 15287000 35609090 MEGAWORLD 4.8 4.81 4.8 4.81 4.79 4.8 15366000 73793340 MRC ALLIED 0.42 0.425 0.41 0.425 0.405 0.42 53200000 22136450 PHIL ESTATES 0.465 0.475 0.47 0.475 0.47 0.475 90000 42550 PRIMEX CORP 3.56 3.57 3.55 3.58 3.53 3.57 329000 1167180 ROBINSONS LAND 20.95 21 21 21.05 20.8 20.95 5757900 120862710 PHIL REALTY 0.41 0.415 0.395 0.42 0.395 0.415 1750000 716850 ROCKWELL 1.98 2.01 1.99 2.01 1.95 1.98 121000 237140 SHANG PROP 3.09 3.12 3.12 3.12 3.12 3.12 1000 3120 STA LUCIA LAND 1.21 1.22 1.24 1.25 1.22 1.22 1661000 2042260 SM PRIME HLDG 34.6 35 34.95 35.5 34.1 34.6 23026100 801087925 STARMALLS 5.46 5.58 5.45 5.79 5.36 5.46 561700 3161730 PTFC REDEV CORP 35.35 39 39 39 39 39 100 3900 VISTA LAND 5.14 5.15 5.13 5.2 5.13 5.15 10011900 51553692

SERVICES ABS CBN 19.7 19.8 20.05 20.05 19.66 19.7 50600 1007677 GMA NETWORK 5.3 5.32 5.3 5.32 5.3 5.32 68400 362773 MANILA BULLETIN 0.335 0.35 0.35 0.35 0.35 0.35 20000 7000 GLOBE TELECOM 2008 2018 2040 2046 2000 2018 28305 57303190 PLDT 1139 1140 1140 1146 1134 1140 66820 76133075 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.039 0.04 0.039 0.04 0.038 0.04 34400000 1316900 ISLAND INFO 0.11 0.113 0.109 0.114 0.108 0.113 3730000 418610 ISM COMM 5.79 5.8 5.9 5.92 5.71 5.8 3894400 22635852 JACKSTONES 3.15 3.42 3.42 3.45 3.35 3.43 68000 230170 NOW CORP 3.38 3.39 3.48 3.65 3.31 3.38 4509000 15661430 TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.405 0.41 0.405 0.42 0.395 0.41 27660000 11208550 PHILWEB 3.1 3.12 3 3.27 3 3.12 2098000 6586350 2GO GROUP 14.8 14.86 16.48 16.48 14.72 14.8 1891300 29030052 CEBU AIR 73.4 73.5 74 74 73.4 73.4 146580 10775904.5 CHELSEA 6.57 6.58 6.7 6.7 6.54 6.58 1111800 7336822 INTL CONTAINER 97.75 98 96.45 98.35 95.95 98 5135640 503151819 LBC EXPRESS 14.02 14.5 14.6 14.6 14.5 14.5 200 2910 LORENZO SHIPPNG 0.8 0.81 0.76 0.93 0.76 0.8 4652000 4000730 MACROASIA 14.42 14.5 14.5 14.56 14.4 14.5 1778800 25788304 METROALLIANCE A 2 2.09 2.11 2.11 1.98 2.09 298000 612700 PAL HLDG 7.9 8.49 8.25 8.25 7.58 7.58 1700 13623 HARBOR STAR 3.12 3.15 3.2 3.25 3.07 3.12 2565000 8146000 ACESITE HOTEL 1.58 1.59 1.56 1.59 1.46 1.59 4304000 6722500 WATERFRONT 0.69 0.7 0.68 0.72 0.67 0.69 8203000 5742190 FAR EASTERN U 890 920 892 892 890 890 440 391880 IPEOPLE 10.82 11.98 10.32 12 10.32 12 500 5496 STI HLDG 0.73 0.74 0.75 0.77 0.71 0.74 31080000 23036630 BERJAYA 3.46 3.47 3.4 3.5 3.25 3.46 11600000 39179220 BLOOMBERRY 9.38 9.39 8.38 9.39 8.37 9.39 29436600 262829959 LEISURE AND RES 3.4 3.45 3.48 3.48 3.35 3.4 694000 2357830 MANILA JOCKEY 5.22 5.45 5.45 5.45 5.22 5.45 38600 207489 PREMIUM LEISURE 0.83 0.84 0.86 0.86 0.84 0.84 5628000 4746460 TRAVELLERS 5.25 5.28 5.29 5.29 5.24 5.25 379700 1993546 METRO RETAIL 2.46 2.48 2.41 2.55 2.4 2.46 3241000 8021780 PUREGOLD 42.45 42.5 42.7 42.7 42.35 42.5 4443900 188994530 ROBINSONS RTL 76.25 76.3 76 76.55 76 76.25 502270 38290848.5 PHIL SEVEN CORP 114 114.2 114 114 113.5 114 70150 7995680 SSI GROUP 2.32 2.33 2.35 2.37 2.28 2.33 3357000 7726280 WILCON DEPOT 12.1 12.18 12 12.2 12 12.1 920600 11112454 APC GROUP 0.405 0.425 0.415 0.425 0.4 0.425 870000 359650 EASYCALL 16.8 16.92 17.5 18.48 16.5 16.92 313600 5499124 GOLDEN BRIA 317 325 316.2 325 316.2 325 430 138990 IPM HLDG 7.2 7.8 7.2 7.2 7.2 7.2 9500 68400 PAXYS 3.12 3.47 3.28 3.47 3.25 3.47 6000 19840 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.32 0.335 0.32 0.36 0.32 0.335 4700000 1602150 SBS PHIL CORP 7.44 7.6 7.59 7.65 7.59 7.65 16800 128135

MINING & OIL ATOK 15.04 15.12 15 15.04 14.44 15.04 3000 44856 APEX MINING 1.58 1.59 1.59 1.62 1.58 1.59 2073000 3303790 ABRA MINING 0.0019 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.002 277000000 554000 ATLAS MINING 2.6 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.7 2000 5400 CENTURY PEAK 1.99 2 1.99 2.09 1.98 2 7619000 15460190 DIZON MINES 7.27 7.63 7.01 8 7.01 7.63 20100 156974 FERRONICKEL 1.68 1.69 1.66 1.69 1.66 1.69 971000 1622930 GEOGRACE 0.208 0.215 0.216 0.216 0.206 0.215 120000 25510 LEPANTO A 0.098 0.1 0.102 0.102 0.096 0.1 4880000 477200 MANILA MINING A 0.0064 0.0066 0.0069 0.0069 0.006 0.0064 169000000 1051200 MARCVENTURES 1.2 1.24 1.25 1.25 1.17 1.25 215000 262200 NIHAO 1.03 1.08 1.09 1.09 1.01 1.07 303000 316990 NICKEL ASIA 2.16 2.18 2.18 2.25 2.16 2.16 875000 1903390 ORNTL PENINSULA 0.98 0.99 0.95 0.99 0.95 0.98 414000 403730 PX MINING 2.64 2.65 2.64 2.65 2.63 2.64 1615000 4276530 SEMIRARA MINING 23.95 24 24.25 24.55 23.45 24 3029600 72718775 UNITED PARAGON 0.0059 0.0062 0.006 0.0062 0.0059 0.0062 25000000 149200 ORNTL PETROL A 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.013 52600000 651300 PHILODRILL 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.013 22900000 294800 PHINMA PETRO 3.03 3.23 3.36 3.36 3.02 3.02 33000 100730 PXP ENERGY 15.2 15.28 15.64 15.8 15.04 15.2 1665500 25566482

PREFFERED HOUSE PREF A AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF SMC FB PREF 2 FGEN PREF G GLO PREF P GTCAP PREF B PNX PREF 3B PCOR PREF 2B SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

95 451.6 492 98 971 101.5 475 894.5 102.2 971 75.2 76.15 71.7 74.5 73.75 74.25

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR

18.7 1.95

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ITALPINAS 4.38 XURPAS 1.27

111.8

297400 -49050575 26707410 -63558088 55310 748408 -7407778 254900 12691560 25182985.5 -1625370 4038724 -215860 -6234280 -2315400 -13705355 -161188180 544290 12750 -188190 1054 70217620 -7781650 129380 255380 -79730 -825550 -1674522 -350400 -88070 -326082 33400 -29767940 -731000 -4700 71000 -98417725 1980 -14132610 -34950171 9538060 -34293310 10950 -1958230 11930 -4655900 -2549030 -758160 -7049352.5 21184 -397116097.5 24001772 9360 -84000 124880 5225900 -1043590 130482394 -807230 51670 -298614 -54170 -106704915 30531639 316740 -81110.0001 3875728 -241668 42600 5400 225400 -366780 19810 -29000 -29689590 -2790310

95 457 490 99 970 102 480 910 102.2 1000 75.15 76.55 73.5 74.95 74 74.6

97 457 490 99 995 102 480 910 102.2 1000 75.15 76.55 74 74.95 74 74.6

95 450 490 99 968.5 102 480 900 102.2 1000 75.15 76.55 71.5 74.8 73.75 74.6

95 450 490 99 995 102 480 900 102.2 1000 75.15 76.55 74 74.8 74 74.6

1400 6000 600 800 2190 16870 70 1570 100 30 600 3670 530 4080 510 100

134205 2716430 294000 79200 2123950 1720740 33600 1413330 10220 30000 45090 280938.5 38745 305446 37707.5 7460

-

19.5

18.9

18.9

18.66

18.7

57700

1086282

-1086282

1.98

1.95

1.99

1.95

1.98

59000

115360

-

4.4 1.29

4.41 1.35

4.45 1.39

4.36 1.26

4.4 1.27

170000 7750000

746160 10222610

-1304240

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS FIRST METRO ETF

-23162860 185840 28432534.0002 -21325911 33945800 6256355 -14952287 -397300 -607200 -3513455 -1257534 777662 34827588 633688 -4498589 51300 1562500 152061666 -697990 17440 -2738370 -21780 -47500 3708162 -1319800 -13437070 -35374 4050 -2431110 303500 54560 29600 334690 1330473 6200

96.9 464 499 99 995 102 480 900 106.5 1000 75.95 76.55 74 74.9 74 74.6

WARRANTS LR WARRANT

858369 -65910845 -2815083.5 -10880 -341398 -10260030.5 -724400 -154000 1213708 -1079241.5 -148500 18100 -

112

111.8

112

111.7

112

3590

401575

-

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

Monday, December 17, 2018

B3

Perspectives BTr opens OTC window for tax-exempt Integrating human and digital labor in a collaborative workplace institutions to access auction facility B

T

By Rea Cu

@ReaCuBM

HE Bureau of the Treasury has issued a memorandum opening an over-the-counter (OTC) window, which grants tax-exempt institutions (TEIs) access to the issuance of Treasury bills (T-bills) auctioned off by the BTr. The memorandum, issued on December 14, contained the guidelines for the sale of government securities through the OTC window, and now enables TEIs to access the Treasury’s auction facility. “To give tax-exempt institutions direct access to primary issue of bills,” National Treasurer Rosalia V. de Leon told the BusinessMirror in a text message.

Under the memorandum, TEIs are the only entities allowed to use the OTC window. It further states that all government-owned

and -controlled corporations and local government units are allowed to participate in the BTr’s auction for T-bills.

The BTr will announce when the OTC window will open shortly after the primary auction of T-bills, as well as the applicable yield rate for the government security.

The memorandum said that a minimum amount of placement is at P10 million, and any excess should be in multiples of P1 million.

“Placements in the OTC win-

dow shall be made to government financial institutions and shall be entered in the national registry of scripless securities,” the memorandum said.

Furthermore, the BTr reserves the right to reject, accept or partially award bids that are entered through the OTC window, with the results being posted by 5 p.m. on the same day of the primary auction for T-bills.

When asked if the OTC window acts like that of its tap facility, de Leon said the platform is “sort of” the same.

The next auction for T-bills by the BTr is on Monday (December 17).

Last week, investors of government securities showed less appetite for the P15-billion offering of the BTr for Treasury bonds (T-bonds) under its tap facility, as bids for the security only reached P2.474 billion.

The auction committee was expecting higher bids from investors for its tap facility, but was met with undersubscription as bids for the reissued seven-year

T-bond only reached P2.474 billion compared to the P15 billion on offer.

At the previous auction for the seven-year T-bonds on November 27, the auction committee received tenders amounting to P62.227 billion, with the BTr also awarding the full P15 billion on offer at an average annual rate of 6.974 percent.

The BTr also opened its tap facility at that auction. To note, the BTr awarded P15 billion for five-year T-bonds during the first time it opened the facility this year.

The Treasury’s 10 market makers are the only ones that can access the tap facility, which was open from 2 to 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

The tap facility allows Government Securities Eligible Dealers to access bonds after the initial primary auction.

This marks the fourth time that the BTr opened its tap facility during the year.

The reissued seven-year T-bond has a remaining life of six years and three months.

BDO urges ‘digital natives’ to guide, protect elderly folk from online banking fraudsters

By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox

Mindanao Bureau Chief

D

AVAO CITY—Leading banking group Banco de Oro (BDO) has urged Internetsavvy Filipinos to guide and help protect the elderly from online banking fraudsters.

“Digital natives, who grew up surfing the Internet and using social media, have the responsibility to guide and protect the elderly from fraudsters, especially when they do online banking,” BDO said in a statement released here on Friday.

BDO observed that fraudsters prey on the elderly because of their vulnerability to any or all forms of trickery in the Internet.

“While everyone is a target, regardless of age or background, the elderly like parents and grandparents, many of whom are not savvy about the worldwide Web, are most vulnerable to fraud and can be taken advantage of,” it said.

The most common fraudulent practice is generally lumped into what it called “phishing,” an act of tricking people into giving confidential information to fraudsters, BDO said. Confidential information includes passwords, credit card numbers and bank account information.

BDO warned that fraudsters “use this confi-

dential information to steal money from them.”

“Much like the way elders taught the youth about the ways of the world back in the day, this time digital natives should teach their elders about the ways of the Internet world, how to navigate around it, the difference between safe and unsafe web sites, and what they can and shouldn’t click on,” it said.

Tips for guiding and protecting the elderly include: safeguard the computer their elders use, and ensure a robust and up-to-date malware protection; and remind elders that a secure web site’s address starts with “https,” where the “s” stands for secure and which shows a padlock icon on the browser.

“Educate them about online risks, such as phishing and other fraudulent techniques,” it said. BDO said senior citizens must be informed that banks “would never ask for their password or confidential information. But if someone claiming to represent their bank sends them an e-mail or text message asking for their confidential information, “tell them not to reply or just hang up immediately.”

Elderly persons must also be told “not to click on links that lead to a bank’s web site. These are usually included in e-mails, SMS messages, socialmedia posts and other online ads. It’s always best

PASIG TAXMEN Officials of the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s Pasig branch—Revenue

District Officer Rufo Ranaro (right) and Assistant RDO Cynthia Lobo—show the dockets and published approved zonal documents as the go-signal to increase the collection of taxes from the residents and businessman of Pasig City this December. RUDY ESPERAS

to type the bank’s web site address on the browser themselves. Remind them to periodically check their bank accounts to be aware of any irregularities in their online transactions,” BDO said.

EYOND the challenges involving redefined work forces and the application of new skills and a modern employee experience, today’s Human Resources (HR) leaders need to meet the arrival and proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and machine learning (ML) head-on.

The extent to which these smart technologies will impact the work force remains open to debate, however. As we’ve noted, about 60 percent of our HR survey respondents believe jobs will decline in number, while 62 percent of CEOs we surveyed expect AI and ML to drive up the number of jobs needing to be filled by humans.

Certainly, no one doubts AI and ML will have an immense, even historic, impact on work forces everywhere—with 42 percent in our HR survey agreeing it’s the biggest challenge HR will face in the next five years. Of those HR leaders who are not planning to adopt any AI or ML anytime soon, half confirm they are not at all prepared and barely a third feel somewhat prepared. Fewer than 1 in 10 feel prepared or very prepared for the changes to come.

So what’s holding HR back from taking the leap?

ACCORDING to HR leaders, HR officers who are currently undergoing — or have recently completed — a digital transformation consider capability (51 percent) and capacity (43 percent) to be the key barriers to transcending the initial phases of transformation. Similarly, most CIOs view internal skills as a barrier, with 65 percent in our 2018 CIO Survey citing “a lack of people with the right skills” for preventing their information-technology organization from keeping up with the pace of change.

Leading HR organizations, however, are losing little time in both understanding the emerging role of digital labor and actively planning how best to integrate digital and human labor within their work force.

Automating high-volume, repetitive, rules-based tasks using digital labor will free up employees to focus on work that’s more strategic and of higher value to the overall business. And with machines needing less supervision and oversight, management will also be free to increase its focus on business efficiency, performance and competitiveness—including customer service.

“The key is to get people skilled so that they are digitally enabled to serve customers,” says Natasha

Adams, chief people officer at Tesco Plc., a British multinational grocery and general merchandise retailer.

“People will always play a big part in retail.”

HR leaders in the know are making sure their business leaders understand what lies ahead— and what the business will need to look like in the very near future to exploit the full potential of integrated work forces and the new division of labor.

“HR leaders are in the unique position of being able to lead the business conversation on how the world of work is taking shape in the 21st century. But you cannot occupy that space with other business leaders without a deep comprehension of the technology involved,” says Susan Ferrier, Global Head of People for KPMG. She states that the positive business impact of digital transformation is magnified with a strong, digitally savvy and influential HR function.

“As a senior HR leader, you need a loud voice, both internal and in the external world, to help design this future. You need to work hard to build a reputation that is founded in generating insight and positive business impact so that you can advocate a position and influence others. That’s hard to do if you are working behind the scenes and not always seen to be at the front line of business decision making,” she adds.

Ferrier notes that a lack of a strong new HR voice for the ages may explain the slight disconnect involving HR’s self-perception as a core value driver (40 percent) versus just 24 percent of CEOs viewing their work force/HR capabilities as highly effective.

In today’s digital world with its myriad of complex people challenges, HR needs to be seen as a function that is taking the lead on understanding what makes people tick and what culture helps people and organizations thrive so that we create places of work that are a true augmentation of human capability with technology.

The excerpt was taken from the publication entitled “The future of HR 2019: In the Know or in the No.” © 2018 R.G. Manabat & Co., a Philippine partnership and a member-firm of the KPMG network of independent member-firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved. Printed in the Philippines. For more information on KPMG in the Philippines, you may visit www.kpmg.com.ph.

B4 Monday, December 17, 2018

SAVE ON HOTEL PRICES WITH TRAVELBOOK.PH MOBILE APP PCSO RELEASES P20 MILLION ENDOWMENT FUND TO 7 HOSPITALS

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HE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has released P20.19 million to seven hospitals as part of the agency’s endowment fund program, General Manager Alexander Balutan said on Thursday.

Of the P20.19 million, P5 million was donated to Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center; P1 million to Camp Aquino Station Hospital Northern Luzon Command; P2.190 million to White CrossChildren’sHomeHospital;P5millionto WestVisayasStateUniversityMedicalCenter; P3 million to Benguet General Hospital; P3 million to Sulu Provincial Hospital; and P1 million to Tamparan District Hospital.

The program allocates funding support directly to government hospitals and

non-governmental offices to expand the medical support for patients admitted in the charity section.

Funds are directly proceeded to the health facility to be utilized for a year, from the date of release.

“Beneficiary hospitals should submit their liquidation report within the prescribed period. We have measures to monitor the utilization of our fuds. We are a generous giver, but our beneficiaries must make sure they utilize the fund properly and it will really benefit the poorest of the poor,” Balutan said.

At present the agency is waiting for the full enactment of the Universal Health Care bill, which will ensure all Filipinos access to quality and affordable medicines.

With that, PCSO’s whole individual

medical assistance program (Imap) and the emergency fund, which is included in the 30-percent overall charity fund, shall be transferred to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth). The proposed system is that the remittance of PCSO to PhilHealth is on a quarterly basis. The agency is set to remit P6 billion or more to PhilHealth annually.

PCSO services under its institutional partnership program would be retained, such as the ambulance donation, calamity assistance, capability building for regional health units, medicines procurement, the Integrated Health for Overall Productivity and Empowerment, endowment fund, among others. This comprises 60 percent of the charity fund.

MERALCO ORANGE TAG GAINS INTERNATIONAL INTEREST Representatives from Collaborative Labeling and Appliance Standards Program (CLASP), a nonprofit organization fromWashington, the United States, expressed admiration to Manila Electric Co.’s (Meralco) pioneer OrangeTag program. CLASP, which has worked in over 100 countries, helps move international markets toward using and purchasing affordable but more energy-efficient and higher quality appliances. In photo are (from left) Meralco public information officer Abby Mendoza, Meralco customer solutions and product development associate Miguel AntoninoVarela, Meralco customer solutions manager Alfred Iporac Jr., CLASP chief policy and analysis officer Eric Gibbs, CLASP associate Rebecca Schloemann, Department of Energy consultant on energy appliance standards and labelling Raquel Huliganga, Meralco marketing communications associate Patricia Gonzales, and Meralco regulatory liaison officer Mark Anthony Delumen.

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HE season for discounts continues! Like in the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas“, there will be a nonstop giving of gifts that will put you in a festive mood.

If you book a hotel from December 10 to 21 on the travelbook.ph mobile app, you will get a P300 discount with the promo code NOCHEBUENA. To take advantage of this promo, see the detailed mechanics below: Use the app-only promo code NOCHEBUENA to get P300 off on your selected hotel; This promo is open to new and existing customers of travelbook.ph; Discount is valid for bookings done on the travelbook.ph mobile app only; A minimum purchase amount of P2,500 is required to avail yourself of the promo; Promo is available on selected hotels only; Booking period is from December 10 to 21 or while coupon stocks last; Staying period is from December

10 to March 31, 2019; This promo cannot be combined with other promotions and cannot be exchanged for other discounts; The promo code can only be used during the promo period. For rebookings made after the promo period, the promo code and the discount applied will no longer be valid; and The Travelbook.ph mobile app must be at least the 3.1.10 (iOS) and 3.1.14 (Android) versions to avail yourself of the discount.

The discount is not transferable to cash, and the promo is valid for transactions in Philippine peso only.

Travelbook.ph reserves the right to change the terms and conditions without prior notice.

LOGISTICS-SOLUTION PROVIDER ENTREGO, AYALA MALLS‘CLICK AND BRICK’FOR EASY DELIVERY SERVICE

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NTREGO, a technology-driven end-to-end fulfillment and logistics-solution provider in the Philippines, and Ayala Malls recently signed a memorandum of understanding to “Click and Brick” together.

These are Entrego booths across Ayala Malls that will allow customers of e-commerce platforms to pick up and drop off online purchases in select malls within Metro Manila.

Entrego pickup and dropoff booths are now ready to serve in Glorietta 1, Market! Market!, Trinoma, Greenbelt 1 and Alabang Town Center. Initially, the booths cater to

Zalora shoppers where they may choose to claim their online purchases or deposit their return items in these booths. Other online shopping platforms may be able to enjoy the same service soon.

The Entrego booth in Glorietta 1 is on the secondfloor level, near Toys R Us (between BPI ATM and Touchpay kiosk); on the second-floor level of Greenbelt 1 (beside the staircase); on the ground-floor level of Market!

Market! (at the Serendra Wing); Trinoma Level 2, near the MRT entrance; and on the upper-ground floor level of the Alabang Town Center, near the mall’s Activity Center.

FAT FOOK OPENS 5TH STORE IN TAGUIG CITY

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NE of the world’s best-loved cuisines, the delicate, yet intense, flavors of Taiwanese food can now be found in the heart of Bonifacio Global City (BGC).

Fast-growing Taiwanese chain Fat Fook opens its newest branch in the heart of BGC in Taguig City, marking the company’s fifth opening.

This Taiwanese restaurant is owned and managed by the same group that operates Ramen Nagi. It was conceptualized Executive Chef Rachel Kao, who was born in Taiwan and grew up in the Philippines.

The expansion in the central business district of BGC is part of the brand’s development plans for this year. They also look forward to opening two or three more shops by the first quarter of next year.

Fat Fook’s cozy and inviting dining experience is an entirely value for money, from its warmly lit interiors to the appetizing Taiwanese meals with a twist, meticulously prepared by its resident chef. The restaurant itself exudes

a modern vibe but still maintains an Asian appeal, with chromatic cherry architectural accents and porcelain bowls used as light fixtures.

Fat Fook is known for their house specialties, like its best-selling chicken chops, Pork Xiao Long Bao and Taiwan beef noodles.

Sophisticated palates will appreciate how the aroma of Fat Fook’s chicken chops wafts up and bursts in the mouth.

The crunch of the special breading, along with the chicken’s crunchiness and juiciness, makes for an exciting mix of textures.

Fat Fook is also quite an innovator when it comes to their food. They make sure to add something new, making it more appealing to the local palate, and to the style and taste of the millennial, yet not missing the essence of home cooking.

Fat Fook is open from Sunday to Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Follow them on Instagram @FatFookManila and Like them on Facebook at FatFookManila.

Sports BusinessMirror

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| Monday, December 17, 2018 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

TRIPLE-DOUBLE GALORE NBA RESULTS

Orlando 96, Utah 89

Detroit 113, Boston 104

LA Lakers 128, Charlotte 100 Houston 105, Memphis 97

Chicago 98, San Antonio 93

Oklahoma City 110, L.A. Clippers 104 Phoenix 107, Minnesota 99

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Wizards acquire Ariza from Suns for Oubre, Rivers

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ASHINGTON—After a three-way trade fell apart over mistaken identity, the Wizards are getting Trevor Ariza after all.

Washington agreed in principle on Saturday to acquire Ariza from the Phoenix Suns for Kelly Oubre Jr. and Austin Rivers, according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it had not been announced by either team.

This Ariza trade came together hours after a potential three-way deal involving the Grizzlies fell apart late Friday night over whether Memphis was including Dillon Brooks or MarShon Brooks. The saga included general managers informing players they’d been traded, awkward conversations to explain they weren’t and finally the talks coming to an end.

Wizards players went through the emotional roller coaster of the failed trade after their loss at Brooklyn as Oubre and Rivers were still on the team bus to the airport and the flight home.

“We all understand it’s a business,” guard John Wall said after practice on Saturday. “You never know what’s going to happen, when it’s going to happen. The first time I’ve ever seen a trade go dead and guys are on a bus talking about it.

Kind of devastating for those guys.”

Ariza, 33, returns to Washington, where he played the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 seasons. The 6-foot-8, 215-pound swingman is averaging 9.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 26 games with the Suns this season, the last remaining on his contract.

Phoenix forward Josh Jackson called Ariza “the ultimate veteran” and the ideal guy to have on a young team.

“He was always constantly teaching us,” Jackson said.

“He’s been in the league a long time, been on a lot of winning teams, and whenever he saw something, even if it was the smallest thing, whenever he saw something that wasn’t right or something that we weren’t doing right all the way, he would take the time, even stop practice, and just talk and tell us the right way to do it and why.”

Until the trade can be finalized, Oubre and Rivers weren’t at Wizards practice, and Ariza wasn’t with the Suns. But Wall and Bradley Beal said they’ve each texted with Ariza since word of the trade got out. AP

By Steve Reed The Associated Press

HARLOTTE, North Carolina—Luke Walton was surprised to hear that LeBron James and Lonzo Ball were only the second Lakers teammates to record a triple-double in the same game.

“I know it’s not easy. There have been a lot of good players in Lakers history and I figured Walton and Kobe [Bryant] would have done it a few times,” joked Walton, a former small forward with the Lakers.

James had 24 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists, while Ball had 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists as Los Angeles routed the Charlotte Hornets, 128-100, on Saturday night.

The only other Lakers to accomplish the feat in the same game were Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on January 22, 1982.

“It’s crazy, man,” Ball said. “I watched a lot of him [LeBron] growing up and now we had triple-doubles in the same game. I don’t even know if I dreamed of that before.”

Added James: “Any time you can put yourself in the conversation of Laker history, all the guys that have come through this franchise, it’s pretty special.”

James said he and Ball are “one in the same” when it comes to their playmaking ability.

“We are always looking for our teammates and that’s the greatest satisfaction we can have when we see our teammates score the ball,” James said. “Always been pretty good rebounders for our positions. Him at the guard spot and me at the 4.... We just try to be aggressive, attack the rim, make shots. We showed all that tonight.”

James continued his dominance over Charlotte, improving to 27-1 in his last 28 games against Michael Jordan’s franchise.

He was unstoppable throughout on penetration, helping the Lakers outscore the Hornets, 40-17, in the third quarter and build a 30-point lead with his second tripledouble of the season and 75th of his career. He did not need to play in the fourth quarter.

Ball played into the fourth quarter to earn his third career triple-double. He finished 7 of 11 from the field, helping hand the Hornets their worst loss of the season on

the second night of a back-to-back.

Miles Bridges had a career-high 17 points for the Hornets.

James Harden, meanwhile, may be getting on a roll, notching his second straight triple-double to help the Houston Rockets grab their third consecutive win.

Harden had 32 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, and the Rockets weathered a fourth-quarter burst to beat the Grizzlies, 105-97, also on Saturday night.

Harden, who had 50 points in a triple-double in the Rockets’ victory over the Lakers on Thursday, recorded his 10th assist on a pass to Clint Capela with 21.3 seconds left as the Grizzlies tried to trap defensively in hopes of whittling the Houston lead in the final minute.

Asked if he would have gotten the assist without the Memphis defensive pressure, Harden replied with a sly grin through his thick, black beard: “That’s a good question. You never know, right?”

Capela’s basket gave him 26 points to go with 10 rebounds. Gerald Green scored 17 points.

Mike Conley led Memphis with 22 points, while Marc Gasol added 17 points and nine rebounds. JaMychal Green had 13 points.

The Rockets made 13 3-pointers, near their average, compared to only five for the Grizzlies.

“We’ve got to do a better job of getting there,” Memphis Coach JB Bickerstaff said of his team’s three-point defense.

“We’ve got schemes in place to protect us from those, and we were just late in our rotations.”

to 97-91. But the Grizzlies got no closer.

The run was fueled by rookie Jevon Carter making his first appearance of the season. He finished with 11 points with a couple of steals and a blocked shot. His defense sparked the Grizzlies’ rally that at least made the ending interesting.

“It was just good to be out there,” Carter said of his debut, when he guarded Harden and Chris Paul. “It was fun. I’m

The Rockets appeared to be coasting in the fourth, holding a 15-point lead with about seven minutes remaining, but Memphis clicked off a 14-5 run to cut it

LEBRON JAMES and Lonzo Ball posts post triple-doubles in the Lakers’ 128-100 win over the Hornets. AP

a competitor. I want to play against the best and at this level, that’s just what it’s going to be night-in and night-out.”

A trio of three-pointers by Gerald Green reversed the momentum gained when Memphis scored 11 straight points to open the third period. Green collected 12 points in the third, helping Houston maintain a 79-65 lead in the fourth.

“Gerald Green came in and gave us a boost,” Rockets Coach Mike D’Antoni said.

“It was something that he was missing in the first half, like he was out of wind.”

PISTONS SNAP CELTICS STREAK D

ETROIT—Jayson Tatum leaped toward the basket and Andre Drummond met him there, blocking the Boston forward’s attempt at a one-handed dunk.

It was a fitting conclusion to an impressive second half of defense by the Detroit Pistons.

“I was thinking to myself as I was running. I’m like, if he gets this dunk, it’s going to ignite their entire team,” Drummond said. “I have to do something.”

There would be no late surge by the Celtics in the final minutes. Blake Griffin scored 27 points, and Drummond added 19 points and 20 rebounds to help the Pistons win, 113-104, on Saturday night, snapping the Celtics’ eightgame winning streak. Detroit also ended its own six-game skid with a solid 48-minute effort.

The Pistons took control with a 13-0 run in the third quarter and played well at the start of the fourth, as well.

“They looked great. They were screening us, they were active, they were alert, they played great,” Celtics Coach Brad Stevens said. “We couldn’t match them shot for shot because the way we were guarding, that’s what we had to do, and we just couldn’t do it. So hats off to them. It’s not our best game. That’s it.”

Kyrie Irving led Boston with 26 points. The Celtics were down nine when Drummond blocked Tatum with 1:25 remaining.

Both teams shot over 60 percent from the field in the first quarter, and the game was still tight at halftime, with Detroit up 57-56. Drummond punctuated his team’s 13-point run in the third with a dunk that put the Pistons ahead 76-66.

Boston closed the quarter strong and trailed by just seven after three, but a 10-1 run to start the fourth put Detroit up 95-79.

The Celtics missed their first seven shots from the floor in the final quarter and went over seven minutes before making a field goal.

The Pistons had 20 turnovers, including eight in the fourth quarter.

“The simple plays, just making the simple pass is the key,” Detroit Coach Dwane Casey said. “The game gives you simple plays and for whatever reason we kind of get discombobulated.”

Marcus Smart was called for three fouls in the first 7:37. He did play a bit more before halftime and finished the game with 21 points and five fouls.... The Celtics were without Jabari Bird (personal reasons), Al Horford (left knee) and Guerschon Yabusele (right ankle).

Pistons: Detroit was without Henry Ellenson (left ankle), Zaza Pachulia (illness), Glenn Robinson III (left ankle) and Ish Smith (right adductor).... Reggie Bullock was back in the starting lineup after missing five games with a left ankle sprain. He scored 15 points.

One streak that did stay intact was Griffin’s run of 20-point games. He has at least 20 points in nine straight, the first Detroit player to do that since Richard Hamilton in 2008-2009.

Griffin also surpassed the 12,000-point mark for his career.

“It’s good to get a win. We’ll take it how we can get it,” Griffin said. “Guys stepped up and guys played really, really well tonight. I thought we earned that one.”

None of the teams the Celtics beat during their winning streak currently has a winning record. Detroit improved to 14-13 by snapping the streak. AP

THE Pistons’ Andre Drummond blocks the Celtics’s Jayson Tatum. AP

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C2 Monday, December 17, 2018

Djokovic, Simona honored by ITF

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ONDON—Novak Djokovic and Simona Halep were named the 2018 World Champions by the International Tennis Federation on Thursday after each won Grand Slam titles and finished the year atop the world rankings.

Djokovic, recognized by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) for the sixth time, won the Wimbledon and US Open titles a year after undergoing surgery on his right elbow.

“I am particularly proud of this achievement after all that I’ve been through physically this year, but part of me always believed I could make it back to the top,” Djokovic says.

Halep, who won the French Open in June, earned the honor for the first time despite being unable to compete at the Women’s Tennis Association Finals because of a back injury.

“To be recognized in this way is really special and provides extra motivation to keep working for next season,” Halep says.

Mike Bryan and Jack Sock were named the winners in men’s doubles, and Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova claimed the women’s doubles honor.

The champions are determined by the ITF according to a system that weighs each player’s results during the calendar year. AP

Roddick hopes shoulder heals fast

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EW YORK—Andy Roddick is trying to get his shoulder ready, hoping he can still bring the high heat on serve.

The former US Open champion will be back in town and wants to have his game with him.

“Coming back to New York is certainly not a place where I want to not play well,” Roddick said.

He will play fellow tennis Hall of Famer Jim Courier on February 9 in an exhibition match to kick off the New York Open, event organizers announced on Wednesday.

Wimbledon finalist and defending champion Kevin Anderson and top American John Isner headline the field in February for the second year of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour event, which Roddick won three times when it was based in Memphis, Tennessee.

It has since moved to the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale and Roddick says it remains a valuable tournament for players who want to prepare in the US for the big events that soon follow in Indian Wells, California and Miami.

He found that worked for him and it certainly did last year for Anderson, who used his victory on Long Island as the springboard for his first career finish inside the top 10 at No. 6. Isner, whom he beat in a marathon Wimbledon semifinal, finished 10th.

“You want to kind of find form early in the year. You can train as hard as you want, you can work as hard as you want, you can’t put confidence in a bottle,” Roddick said. “Sometimes

I’d play well in Australia and then I’d feel good in Memphis. It kind of does give you a little bit of rhythm to your year and especially a guy like me or Kevin, who might not like the clay as much as some of the other guys, those first three months through March are super important.”

Americans Jack Sock and Sam Querrey, last year’s runner-up, will also be in the field of the February 9 to 17 event along with Alex de Minaur, the ATP Newcomer of the Year who will turn 20 the day of the final and is also playing doubles with fellow Australian Lleyton Hewitt.

Mike and Bob Bryan headline the doubles field after Mike teamed with Sock to win Wimbledon and the US Open last year while his twin brother was recovering from a hip injury.

Roddick rode his fierce serve—he had one timed at 155 mph in a 2004 Davis Cup match— to the 2003 US Open title, the world’s No. 1 ranking and nine straight finishes in the top 10.

Only 30 when he retired in 2012, he said he could still play with guys on tour until a couple years ago but estimated he played fewer than 10 times this year.

But the opportunity to come back to New York, where he and Courier will also co-host a “Taste of New York Open” on opening night, renewed his enthusiasm to play.

“Tennis has been a part of my life since I was 6 years old so you don’t want to just completely throw it away,” Roddick said. “So I was pumped, I was excited.” AP

Osaka’s coach named year’s best

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AINT Petersburg, Florida—Sascha Bajin has been chosen as the first winner of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Coach of the Year award after helping Naomi Osaka collect the US Open title.

The women’s tennis tour announced its annual honors on Monday.

The first season as a team for Bajin and Osaka produced her first WTA title at Indian Wells, then her first Grand Slam title in New

York, where she beat Serena Williams in the final. Bajin used to work with Williams.

Bajin tweeted that he was “speechless and turning a bit red,” adding that it’s “easy to be a good coach when you have a great student.”

Petra Kvitova was given her sixth consecutive sportsmanship award and seventh overall, while Bethanie Mattek-Sands earned the player service award. AP

TEAM Sky’s £30-million budget would be hard to replace moving into 2020.

SKY SITUATION: A WAKE-UP CALL S

LIPSTREAM Sports CEO Jonathan Vaughters has said that the current situation with Team Sky set to lose its title sponsor after this season should come as a “wake-up call” that professional cycling needs a better business model for teams moving forward.

Speaking with Press Association Sport following recent news that Sky would no longer support the super-successful British team, Vaughters, who runs the EF Education First WorldTour program that grew from Garmin and Cannondale, said the team’s £30-million budget would be hard to replace moving into 2020.

“There’s never been a sponsorship sold for

that much,”Vaughters said, according to a Press Association story published by the Daily Mail.

“These are very uncharted waters. By the way they run that operation, I think it would be extremely difficult for them to scale down.”

Although Vaughters warned against “dancing on their graves,” he said the demise of the sport’s most dominant team, who outspent their rivals exponentially, could be a positive development in the long term.

“It’s never good if a team leaves the sport, but Sky was outspending the next team by two,” he said. “Other sponsors that might have been interested in coming in at the £15-million to £20-million price point were totally dissuaded because you’re not going to get a winning team. Sky

single-handedly changed that about the sport, and that hasn’t been good for business at all.”

Vaughters’s biggest concern about the news, however, is what it says about the sport’s business model when the most successful team can’t retain a sponsor.

“This is a wake-up call,” he said. “We need a system where teams get permanent rights to the top races so you can build equity. Right now ownership isn’t really worth anything. This is one of those moments you realize how much that needs to change.”

Vaughters is obviously no stranger to sponsorship woes. The 45-year-old former pro started his first Continental team in 2006, moving onto the WorldTour level in 2009 after

SHORT, POWERFUL FIESTA N

EW YORK—Canelo Alvarez threw a Garden party on Saturday night. A short and powerful fiesta.

Alvarez landed dozens of body punches, knocking down Rocky Fielding four times and stopping him in the third round to earn his third weight class title, taking the World Boxing Association (WBA) super middleweight belt.

Coming off his close decision against Gennady Golovkin three months ago to take the WBA and World Boxing Organization middleweight titles, Alvarez could hear chants of “Canelo! Canelo!” long before he entered the Madison Square Garden ring for the first time.

Throughout a lengthy undercard, it was clear who the sellout crowd of 20,112 came to see and cheer.

He delivered with power and precision, landing 73 punches, 35 to the body.

“That was the plan in the gym, to hit the body and then move up, and that’s the result,” Alvarez said through an interpreter. “You see the result here.”

Only eight other Mexican fighters have held three division titles. And Alvarez, 28, says he is headed back to the 160-pound class he rules, with possibly a third go with Golovkin in 2019.

The next fight, opponent unknown, is set for Las Vegas in early May. “Canelo will fight whoever is the best, no doubt about it,” said his promoter, Oscar de la Hoya.

If this was a one-off at 168 pounds, it was quite a show in his debut at Madison Square Garden.

“My goal is to make good fights for the people, for the public, and to make sure the name of Canelo Álvarez and of Mexico is held up high,” Alvarez said.

Fielding, 31, won the WBA crown in July when he knocked out Tyron Zeuge in Germany in the fifth round. But the Englishman had never faced anyone close to Canelo’s class, and it showed.

“I never shied away from the challenge,”

Fielding said. “I lived the dream, I’ll come back.

“He is strong and all that. It was the body shots, the wind he took away. He placed the shots well and he caught me. I stood too long to try to mix it with him when I shouldn’t have.

“The better man won tonight.”

The fight ended with 22 seconds remaining in the third after two knockdowns in the round.

Fielding came to fight, but was outmanned from the outset. He couldn’t block the bevy of body punches launched by Alvarez, who floored Fielding with a left in the first round.

Alvarez did it again with a right to the head and a left to the body late in the second round, and that brought down Fielding’s hands enough to expose the head.

So Alvarez used a huge right lead to knock down Fielding in the third round, and soon after finished it with a series of blows.

It really was no contest.

“What I always want to do is to make the best fight whether they’re for world titles or not,” Alvarez said, then turned his attention to the Garden scene.

“I’m happy and I’m grateful to be here. I hope this is the first of many.”

The fight card was streamed on DAZN, a service that paid Alvarez $365 million for 11 fights. This was quite a selling point for the redheaded Mexican.

On the undercard, Tevin Farmer started fast, then coasted to a unanimous decision over Francisco Fonseca to hold onto his IBF super featherweight belt.

Farmer lost to Kenichi Ogawa for the IBF title last year, but Ogawa then failed a drug test and the bout was declared a no contest. He outpointed Billy Dib in August for the belt, then defended by stopping James Tennyson in October.

He won, 117-111, on all three judges’ cards.

“Nowadays, I really have a lot of anger built up, good anger though,” he said, “and I just want to hurt everybody when I’m in the ring. I don’t have no sympathy.”

Farmer is 28-4-1, while Fonseca is 22-2-1.

Costa Rican Fonseca’s other loss came in his only previous title fight, to Gervonta Davis for the same crown in 2017. AP

GOLD medalist and new world record holder Australia’s Ariarne Titmus (right) reacts beside USA’s Leah Smith. AP

Titmus breaks world record in short-course 400-m freestyle

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ANGZHOU, China—Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus broke a second world record in three days, winning gold in the women’s 400-meter freestyle at the world short-course swimming championships.

The 18-year-old Titmus finished in a time of three minutes and 53.92 seconds during the weekend.

The previous world record-holder, China’s Wang Jianjiahe, took silver with a time of 3:54.56. Another Chinese swimmer, Li Bingjie, finished third in 3:57.99.

Wang set the previous mark of 3:53.97 at a

World Cup meet in Budapest in October.

Titmus broke the 200-meter freestyle short course world record on Wednesday.

The United States also set a world record in the 200-meter mixed medley relay. Caeleb Dressel, Kelsi Dahlia, Michael Andrew and Olivia Smoliga won in 1:36.40, finishing 0.65 seconds ahead of the Netherlands.

American swimmers set the previous record of 1:37.17 in Glasgow in 2013.

Also, Kirill Prigoda of Russia set a world record

in the 200 breaststroke. Prigoda won in 2:00.16.

Koch held the previous record of 2:00.44 set in Berlin in 2016.

The US also won the 4x50-meter mixed freestyle in world record fashion. The US team of Caeleb Dressel, Ryan Held, Mallory Comerford and Kelsi Dahlia won in 1:27.89 seconds, ahead of the Netherlands and Russia.

The Americans beat the previous world record of 1:28.39 set by the Netherlands in Copenhagen in 2011. AP

AETAS AT CENTER STAGE IN ALLIANZ CHALLENGE

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CANELO ALVAREZ lands dozens of body punches, knocking down Rocky Fielding four times and stopping him in the third round. AP

landing title sponsor Garmin to support his Slipstream program. The team went through a host of cosponsors before Cannondale took the lead role in 2015.

The program came close to shuttering its doors following the 2017 season, when Vaughters announced Cannondale was scaling down and a promised replacement had pulled out at the last minute. The team needed a new title sponsor to continue, and he eventually landed EF Education First, a global education company, and the team was saved.

“The timescale for us was much better,” Vaughters said, comparing his team’s situation to that of Team Sky. “We had to deal with the bad news for just two or three weeks, but for these guys it could be six or seven months.

That will be much more difficult to keep together.”

Team Sky now risks the real possibility that some of their top-shelf riders will begin seeking stability with other teams.

“Of course the best thing you can do to help the team stay in business is to be supportive publicly,” Vaughters said. “But I guarantee all of those guys will have been on the phone to their agents saying, ‘Hey, let’s make sure I have another team to go to if this goes sideways.’” Cyclingnews

LLIANZ celebrated the strength of indigenous people—particularly the Aetas of Porac in Pampanga—by introducing them to the rising sport of obstacle course racing (OCR).

The third leg of the Allianz Conquer Challenge was held recently in Clark Global City in Pampanga, where 20 Aetas, between 16 and 21 years old, raced with 20 Allianz employees in the pairs category.

Aeta participants are students of Villa Maria Integrated School, an adopted public school of Allianz PNB Life, atop the mountains in Porac.

“We recognize the strength of the Aetas. So, aside from educating them with the basics of personal finance through our financial literacy program, we would like to impart to them the value of committing to achieve goals that they have to set. We want to give them a fair chance of

having employment opportunities in the future,” Gae Martinez, chief marketing officer, Allianz PNB Life, said.

The event was a 10-km race composed of 25 obstacles, the same trail tackled by professional racers who competed for a slot for the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

Just last month, OCR was announced as a new addition to the SEA Games program.

Some of the obstacles during the race were hurdles, taho carry, tirador, spider web, monkey bars, wall of tire, slip wall and commando climb. Those who incurred penalties for not being able to perform an obstacle had to carry a 30-pound sand bag.

“OCR is an up and coming sport. It is gaining popularity in the Philippines. Allianz as a company uses sports to connect with communities,” Martinez

said. “The Aetas from Villa Maria is one of the communities that Allianz here in the Philippines has chosen to support. This is, in line with our advocacy to promote social inclusion, one of the pillars of our company’s Corporate Citizenship Strategy.”

One of the Aeta participants, Reyna Baclay, was thankful to be given the opportunity and to discover the sport that she said is closely similar to the activities they do in everyday life.

“They carry sand bags here. In the mountains, we carry 50 kilos of camote or ube that we bring to the lowlands. If we sell, our families will have money to spend. By joining the race, I can tell people, I have a dream, too. I want to work in IT [information technology]. I hope I can continue after I graduate,” said Baclay, who at 18 is still a Grade 9 student.

orts PEREZ PICKED NO. 1

sMirror

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By Ramon Rafael Bonilla

J PEREZ was picked No. 1 during Sunday’s Philippine Basketball Association Rookie Draft at the Robinsons Place Ermita by Columbian Dyip, which, unlike last year, could no longer financially benefit from being first in the line.

“This is a dream come true for me. I promise to show my best effort and hustle,” said Perez, who has played for San Sebastian College in high school, tried to complete residency requirements at Ateneo de Manila and wound up with Lyceum of the Philippines University to cap his collegiate career.

Perez beat a long-overdue Bobby Ray Parks Jr., who Blackwater acquired at No. 2.

“I wish to help Columbian. It will never be easy but I will do my best,” said the 6-foot-1 do-it-all guard, who hoisted the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 93 Most Valuable Player trophy.

In his last season with the Pirates, Perez had impressive numbers—a season-high 18.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, four assist and 3.3 steals, numbers that brought the Lyceum to another Finals appearance against eventual champion San Beda Univesity.

But the native of Bautista, Pangasinan, missed a second MVP award. He was disqualified for the individual title by the league after he failed to inform the NCAA on his application for the draft.

Perez said he wants nothing but to bring his A-game for Columbian which struggled all season-long with a 6-27 won-loss record in all three conferences.

Columbian Dyip, a perennial cellar dweller, also owned the No. 1 pick last season. The team nabbed Christian Standhardinger but immediately traded the Filipino-German to San Miguel Beer.

The trade reeked with controversy, forcing the PBA to ban such trades.

The former University Athletics Association of the Philippines two-time MVP will finally play in the PBA after stints with National University, PBA D-League and with Alab Pilipinas in the Asean Basketball League.

He was absent during the draft proceeding because of his standing obligation with Hong Kong Eastern Lions in the ABL. The 6-foot-3 Parks also tried his luck with National Basketball Association Developmental League team Texas Legends but went undrafted.

Parks, just like Standhardinger last year, could only play after the Philippine

C3

RICK OLIVARES bleachersbrew@gmail.com

BLEACHERS’ BREW

Bonfire ruminations

CJ PEREZ (center) is flanked by Columbian Dyip officials and players—including Commissioner Willie Marcial.

Cup to serve out his contract with the Eastern Lions.

Robert Bolick of the many-time NCAA champion San Beda Red Lions went to NorthPort at No. 3 in the first round, with NLEX making a surprising pick at No. 4 for University of the Philippines’s Paul Desiderio.

Meralco took Trevis Jackson of Sacramento at No.

5 in the first round, followed by San Beda’s Javee Mocon by Rain or Shine (sixth), De La Salle’s Abu Tratter by NLEX (seventh), National University’s Jayjay Alejandro by Rain or Shine (eighth), Lyceum’s MJ Ayaay by Alaska (ninth), San Sebastian’s Michael Calisaan for by (10th), Letran’s JP Calvo by Columbian Dyip (11th) and Technological Institute of the Philippines’s Jorey Napoles by Phoenix (12th).

PETRON GAINS HEAD START T

Fronda extends winning streak to three games

HE deadly form that made Petron the most successful club team in the country was in full display when the Blaze Spikers crushed the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers, 25-23, 25-12, 25-17, in Game One of their Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference best-of-three finals series over the weekend at the Mall of Asia Arena.

But for Head Coach Shaq de los Santos, the battle is far from over.

De los Santos said they expect a furious fight back from the Cargo Movers in Game Two on Tuesday at the same venue.

He said F2 Logistics Coach Ramil de Jesus is the best in the business in tweaking so he expects Game Two to be another thrilling showcase of high-flying attacks, solid defense and nail-biting rallies from both sides.

“This is not yet over. A win in Game One doesn’t mean anything if we fail to clinch the title. We know they will prepare so we have to be ready,” said de los Santos, whose wards moved a win shy of sweeping the tournament bankrolled by Isuzu, Asics, Mikasa, Senoh, Mueller, UCPB Gen and Bizooku with Genius Sports as technical provider.

De los Santos sure knows what he’s talking about.

In the Grand Prix last year, the Blaze Spikers hammered a convincing Game One win, thanks to

W

OMAN International Master (WIM) Jan Jodilyn Fronda smashed Woman FIDE Master Aashna Makhija of India to zoom to a share of 11th place after the sixth round of the Seventh Asian Continental Chess Championship (Second Manny Pacquiao Cup) at the Tiara Hotel in Makati City on Saturday.

Fronda, 24, has now won three straight—including over Wang Ying of New Zealand and countrywoman Christy Bernales—after losing her first two matches and drawing the third to leapfrog to a seven-player tie at No. 11 with three points.

The former La Salle standout and three-time University Athletic Association of the Philippines MVP will have a chance to climb the standings as she ginned for a victory against Woman Grandmaster (WGM) Nguyen Thi Thanh An of Vietnam in the seventh round late on Sunday.

Fronda also emerged as the highest scoring Filipina so far as she stood half a point ahead of WFM Allaney Jia Doroy, WGM Janelle Mae Frayna and WFM Shania Mae Mendoza with 3.0 points apiece in the event bankrolled by the Philippine Sports Commission and Sen. Manny Pacquiao and sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines led by Prospero Pichay.

Doroy’s fairy-tale run ended following a stinging defeat to WIM Gu Tianlu of China. The 17-year-old National University standout made heads turn after scoring three points in her last four games she highlighted with an upset of second pick IM Gulishkan Nakhbayeva of Kazakhstan in the fourth round on Thursday.

Frayna bounced back in contention with an emphatic win over WFM Aay Aisyah Anisa of Indonesia, while Mendoza, an Olympiad veteran who playing for Far Eastern University, boosted her chances by trouncing Sivanesan Nithyalakshmi of Malaysia.

Doroy and Frayna battled each other in the seventh round also on Sunday.

GMs John Paul Gomez and Joey Antonio, IM Ricky de Guzman and FM Mari Joseph Turqueza booked different results to lead the country’s campaign in the men’s section.

Gomez drew with GM Tran Tuan Minh of Vietnam, Antonio turned back Edsel Montoya, de Guzman drew with GM Tan Zhongyi of China and Turqueza stunned IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia.

Monday, December 17, 2018

F2 Logistics’s Abby Maraño soars high for a spike against Petron’s Ces Molina.

the firepower provided by imports Lindsay Stalzer and Hillary Hurley, as well as local stars Frances Molina, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas and Mika Reyes.

But the Cargo Movers refused to quit.

De Jesus shocked his counterpart when he pulled veteran Cha Cruz from the bench to serve as the starting spiker while moving American Kennedy Bryan back to her original position at the opposite spot.

The gamble paid a handsome reward when the Cargo Movers crawled back from a 0-2 set deficit all the way to a masterful Game Two victory.

They went for the kill in Game Three to formally clinch the title of the tournament that also has ESPN5, Hyper HD and Aksyon TV as broadcast partners.

De los Santos stressed that de Jesus—an 11time champion coach for De La Salle University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines who also has three crowns in the Superliga—won’t simply give up.

“We know how Coach Ramil operates. I’m sure his team won’t just roll over and die. It’s still a very long way to go,” said de los Santos, who drew power from bench player Sisi Rondina and former Far Eastern University stars Bernadeth Pons and Remy Palma in Game One. Rondina delivered 12 points while Pons and Palma chipped in 10 and nine hits, respectively, for the Blaze Spikers, who are on the verge of duplicating a golden sweep of the conference they first topped three years ago.

Air Force labors in five sets to capture crown against PLDT

A

IR Force puts its act together in the decider and hacked out a 25-19, 18-25, 25-23, 22-25, 15-10 victory over PLDT to snatch the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference crown at the Blue Eagle Gym recently.

The Agilas missed clinching the title in the fourth set, but regrouped in the fifth to outlast the Home Power Hitters and overcome their rivals’ twice-to-beat edge in the finals.

Air Force forced the sudden death with a 25-23, 22-25, 26-24, 28-26 victory last Wednesday.

It was a stirring climb to the top by the Agilas, who gained the No. 3 seed in the semifinals then nipped last year’s champions Cignal HD Spikers in the first finals playoff

following the withdrawal of top seed Sta. Elena-National University (NU) before the Final Four to honor a commitment to represent the country in the Asean University Games.

The Bulldogs incidentally went on to bag the gold, upending the highly fancied Thai side in the finals.

NU’s pullout sent PLDT to the finals outright with twiceto-beat edge. But Air Force proved up to the task, pulling off a four-set win in their first meeting then repeating with a five-set escape to claim the championship in the third season of the league organized by Sports Vision.

Finals Most Valuable Player Alnakran Abdilla put in another explosive game of 29 points, including 25 kills, while Edwin

Tolentino backed him up with 21 hits and Rudolfo Labrador, Jeffrey Malabanan and Ruben Inaudito combined for 25 markers.

The Agilas barely won the spiking duel, 61-57, edged the Home Power Hitters in blocks, 12-11, but yielded more aces, 4-6.

Both teams canceled out their points off errors with 28 each.

Jessie Lopez also produced all but five of Air Force’s 33 excellent sets, three more than the Home Power Hitters with the Agilas also coming through with 42 excellent digs, nine more than their rivals.

Joeven de la Vega scored 18 hits, while Mark Alfafara, John Vic de Guzman and Jayvee Sumagaysay added 17, 15 and 12, respectively, for the Home Power Hitters.

Team Surigao scoops most number of titles

M TEAM captain Jesse Cualing (right) poses with teammates (from left) Mandy Lustre, Bing Alcantara, president Rey Talatala, Cord Guanco and Jack Punao after Team Alpha Phi Omega Golfers’ Club bagged the Seniors Division Fil-B crown in the 69th Fil-Am golf tournament at Camp John Hay and Baguio Country Club courses recently. The APO team also clinched runner-up honors in the Regular Am-F.

ANILA Southwoods bagged the premier Fil and Am crowns but Team Surigao ran away with the most titles with three trophies in the 69th Fil-Am golf tournament at the Camp John Hay and Baguio Country Club courses that ended over the weekend.

Surigao also registered three runner-up finishes and one individual crown in the tournament that drew some 1,380 players in two weeks of action.

“That is the idea—we want to win here,” said retired general Edgardo Acuna, chairman of the 57-player strong Mindanao team.

Team Surigao I won Fil-A, Team Surigao Omni Pharma took the Am B crown and Team Surigao dominated Am C and settled for second place behind Waterlympics Clark in Fil D, Uragun Golf B in Fil E and Batch 92 in Am E. Rene Estepa of Team Surigao Magilas took the Group 7 individual trophy.

The team was founded by Surigao Rep. Robert Ace Barbers while serving his second term as congressman of Surigao del Norte.

“We joined and we won, so we keep coming back and getting bigger every year,” said Barbers, whose team climbed the stage seven times to the tune of their team jingle during the awards ceremony.

Last year, Surigao took four trophies in 12 flights including two titles.

Yuto Katsuragawa also won individual honors for Manila Southwoods in the premier division.

The other individual winners were Rodolfo Brobio of Forest Hills in Group 1, Junel Soriano of Team Integral in Group 2, Norman Versosa of Silicon Valley Golfers Link in Group 3, Marc Cruz of Square and Compass of Nueva Ecija in Group 4, Kenm Cauderna of Monterey in Group 5, Joao Miranda of Uragun Golf B in Group 6, Paterno Hernandez Jr. of Rural Bankers II in Group 8 and Butoy Caligtong of Royal Northwoods-Rowdy Crowd in Group 9.

LAST Saturday evening I attended the bonfire celebration (as I am an Ateneo alumnus) for the various Ateneo de Manila University University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) champion teams at the grad school parking lot grounds.

Amid the festivity, I took a moment to reflect as I am wont to do in moments like this. I thought of three things.

The first was back in 1987 when I was in college and the Blue Eagles won the school’s first UAAP men’s basketball championship defeating the University of the East in the finals (where the team rallied from a 20-point deficit). A generation of Ateneans had gone by not knowing hardcourt success.

The last title was in 1976, when Ateneo was still in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Even then, the team was expected to win the title but there was a momentary setback to San Beda. The team had to sweat it out for an additional game before joining the bonfire at the Loyola Center (as the Blue Eagle Gym was then called).

During the simple celebration, the Ateneo men’s volleyball team—back-to-back NCAA champions just like the basketball team—was called to the stage. Jimmy Javier, the captain of that volleyball team was surprised they were called up to the stage and the only thing he could say at that moment was, “Thank you.” And they went down.

When Ateneo transferred to the UAAP, the high-school team was the power (in most sports). The college teams didn’t fare well. Until 1987.

There was no stage outside the Loyola Center; no planned celebration even if we kind of expected to win the title. It seemed so incredible after years of losing. And somehow, a lot of people turned up at the school grounds for an impromptu bonfire of twigs, branches and newspapers all thrown into this makeshift pyre. One student even threw in his textbook (much to his regret I was later told).

Blue Festin, a batchmate of mine who was with the Blue Babble Battalion, recalled that a flatbed truck was used as a makeshift stage. Another batchmate of mine who was also a cheerleader, Jeff Tan, recalled too that there was this security guard named Lazo who prevented some alumnus from throwing a car tire into the fire. Hahahahaha. That was something, I tell you.

The late University Athletics Director, Fr. Raymond Holscher, SJ, had all the lights around the Loyola Center switched on. He had what tables and chairs available inside the gym brought out. There wasn’t enough so we all sat down by the curb or anywhere. And I do remember that beer was allowed on campus that night.

In 2002, after a 14-year drought from the back-to-back titles of 1987 and 1988, the bonfire was planned a few days after; hence, it was more organized and had a feel of a real event. This became sort of the template for the post-title celebrations.

My second thought was from a much different and even simpler time. Back when the school called Intramuros (and later Padre Faura in Manila) home at the turn of the 20th century, the school celebrated a championship with a torchlight parade that snaked up from Lawton to around and in the Walled City. When they got to the Ateneo campus, there was that bonfire in the open grounds.

We were the first and only school to hold the bonfire. I once heard from a Jesuit priest who has since passed away that these bonfire celebrations were an off-shoot of the boyscout campfires that they adopted back in the day.

I can only imagine what it was like with the small student body singing then.

My third thought was of that particular Saturday evening to celebrate the school’s first semester champions and achievers.

I recall after Season 76 when the five-peat was firmly over, university president Fr. Jett Villarin, SJ, decreed that there still be a bonfire. My first reaction was, “What? Why? We didn’t even win!”

But the Jesuit priest, in his wisdom, explained that it is to be a celebration of the Ateneo athlete and not just the basketball champions. And what a brilliant idea it was. I thought of Jimmy Javier and his volleyball team who, prior to that celebration, saw no team outside the basketball team feted for their success.

As I stood and watched last Saturday night’s proceedings, we all oohed and aahed to hear these swimmers win anywhere from 36 to 66 medals in their school career. Amazing!

And that is why this celebration is important at least to us in the community.

A year ago, my family and I were at the celebration after defeating the heavily favored DLSU Green Archers in the finals.

Although I knew (and wrote about it before the series) that we’d beat them, my post-game thoughts were the same as this year’s.

To be thankful for moments and times like these.

Ateneo has returned to its powerhouse status that it once enjoyed in the NCAA. But these are different days. We don’t get these athletes—like Jessie Khing Lacuna, those swimmers on the women’s team, an Alyssa Valdez, and others I cannot mention right now—all the time. They come once in a generation.

As I left the Ateneo campus around midnight, I said a short prayer. As I passed by that spot outside Blue Eagle Gym near its parking lot where that impromptu bonfire was once lit back in 1987, I stifled a chuckle. I swear that I saw Fr. Ray bring out some drinks and barking orders for the lights to be opened. I saw my classmates tossing fallen branches and twigs. And people singing and well, being rowdy.

Just as that October night in 1987, I don’t think I slept much.

And the coffee the next morning, tasted great.

Sports BusinessMirror

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| Monday, December 17, 2018 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

JUMPING AUSSIE Australia’s Nathan Lyon flies after he leapt to try and reach the ball as Indian batsman

ASEAN BACKS INFANTINO H Umesh Yadav looks on during the second cricket test between Australia and India in Perth on Sunday. AP

FIFA President Gianni Infantino says he has the support of the Southeast Asian countries.

AVOIDING EXTINCTION

M

ADRID—Facing the threat of possible extinction, Spanish second-tier team Reus is paying money owed to its players.

Reus has until next week to give its squad back pay for the last three months, or be forced to dissolve.

Reus said on Saturday “the corresponding payments are being made to the players.” According to the club, this “guarantees that CF Reus will remain” in Spain’s second tier.

The squad has only 16 professional players, and

12 of them went three months without payment this week, allowing them to legally request the end of their contracts. Among the players affected is young United States defender Shaq Moore, who is playing with the team on a loan from Levante.

Founded in 1909, Reus is based in a town of the same name around 100 kilometers southwest of Barcelona.

Reus, which is 20th out of 22 teams, hosts Cordoba later on Saturday. AP

Egypt, South Africa bid to replace Cameroon as African Cup host

E

GYPT and South Africa are the countries bidding to replace Cameroon as host of next year’s African Cup of Nations (CAF) and the winner will have just five months to put preparations in place for the continent’s top soccer tournament.

CAF announced the bids late Saturday—the deadline to submit was end of Friday—and said that its executive committee will decide the new host at a meeting in Dakar, Senegal, on January 9.

That date, which was pushed back from December 31, gives the host precious little time to get ready for a tournament which is scheduled to kick off on June 15 and is the first to be increased from 16 to 24 teams.

Cameroon was stripped of hosting rights last month because of delays with its preparations and a violent separatist movement close to two tournament host cities in the western part of the country.

Although Egypt and South Africa have the best soccer infrastructure in Africa, organizing at such short-notice still promises to be a challenge.

The African soccer body also needs to decide if South Africa, should its bid win, would automatically qualify as the new host. The South African team still hasn’t qualified and plays its last qualifier in March. Egypt has qualified.

CAF also hasn’t said if Cameroon, the defending African champion, will retain its place at the tournament as the original host.

African Cup hosting has been a major headache for CAF, with four successive tournaments now switched from their initial host countries. South Africa hosted in 2013 when it replaced war-torn Libya, Equatorial Guinea stood in for Morocco in 2015, and Gabon replaced Libya again last year.

The Cup of Nations is played every two years, not every four like other major tournaments.

The bids by Egypt and South Africa came after Morocco, long considered the front-runner to replace Cameroon, surprisingly said last week it wouldn’t put itself forward. Morocco had been widely touted as a replacement after it was a candidate to host the 2026 World Cup. It lost out for the World Cup to a joint United States-MexicoCanada bid.

Egypt said as recently as last month that it would not enter the race and compete with the expected bid from fellow North African nation Morocco. Morocco’s decision not to bid appears to have led to Egypt’s change of heart.

Egypt is a powerhouse of African soccer, with its national team a record seven-time Cup of Nations winner. An African Cup in Egypt would also provide an intriguing story line for Mohamed Salah, the Egypt forward who is currently the continent’s best player and a hero in his home country.

But Egypt’s recent political turmoil might work against the country’s bid. Egypt has seen violence and upheaval ever since the 2011 uprising against former President Hosni Mubarak. The political crisis also regularly spilled over onto the soccer field and the lowest point came when more than 70 people were killed in a riot at a game in the northern city of Port Said in 2012. It was one of world soccer’s worst stadium riots.

Port Said was floated as one of the proposed 2019 tournament venues by Egyptian officials, alongside another Mediterranean city, Alexandria, Suez and the capital Cairo.

Egypt’s bid does have logistical advantages for CAF, though, with the African soccer body based in Cairo. AP

ANOI, Vietnam—Fifa President Gianni Infantino has received another pledge of support in his campaign for reelection next year.

The Asean group of national soccer federations in Southeast Asia says its members “unanimously declared their support for Mr. Infantino.”

The regional group has 12 voters— including Australia, Indonesia and Thailand—among the 211 Fifa member federations which can take part in the June 5 ballot in Paris.

Infantino has public promises of support in each continental governing body outside Europe. He currently seems unlikely to face a challenger ahead of the February 5 deadline for opponents to enter.

Infantino is seeking a first full term after his February 2016 election to replace Sepp Blatter, who resigned in fallout from corruption investigations in the United States.

Vietnam, meanwhile, beat Malaysia 1-0 on Saturday in the second leg to win the Asean Football Federation

MALAYSIA’S Muhammad Akram Mahinan (right) battles for the ball with Vietnam’s Nguyen Quang Hai. AP

championship, 3-2, on aggregate.

It was Vietnam’s first regional championship in 10 years after its first win in 2008.

The first leg of the Suzuki Cup final ended 2-2.

Striker Nguyen Anh Duc volleyed the winning goal in the sixth minute after a cross from playmaker Nguyen Quang Hai at a packed 40,000-capacity My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi.

The win showed the progress made by Vietnam since Park Hang-seo became head coach.

Japanese side Kashima Antlers beat Chivas of Mexico, 3-2, on Saturday in the United Arab Emirates, advancing to a semifinal against Real Madrid at the Club World Cup. Ryota Nagaki canceled out Angel Zaldivar’s early goal for Chivas and Kashima took the lead when Serginho converted a penalty in the 69th minute.

Hiroki Abe assured the win with a goal in the 84th before Hugo Leonardo scored an own goal in stoppage time.

Kashima will play Madrid on Wednesday.

Madrid needed extra time to beat Kashima, 4-2, in the 2016 final of the Club World Cup. Also, Al Ain FC beat Esperance Sportive de Tunis 3-0, setting up the other semifinal with South American champion River Plate on Tuesday.

The English Football Association, meanwhile, is searching for a new leader while it considers whether to press ahead with a bid for the 2030 World Cup. Martin Glenn will leave as chief executive after four years at the end of the season, the FA said on Thursday.

Under Glenn’s leadership, the FA was criticized for its handling of scandals around the women’s team and the failed attempt to sell Wembley Stadium.

But Glenn also prioritized improving the atmosphere around the men’s team, which went on to reach the World Cup semifinals for the first time in 28 years in Russia. The national team has also reached the inaugural finals of the UEFA Nations League.

“I...joined with the strong belief that the England teams performance in tournaments could and should improve, and that the experience of the millions of people who play football could be a better one,” Glenn said. “I will leave feeling proud of the success of the performance of all the England teams.”

Glenn’s successor will be key to the decision about linking up with Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland to bid for the World Cup. The FA chief executive also helps to determine the laws of soccer, with England holding one of eight positions on the International Football Association Board. AP

H

Holy God

OLY God, in You we live and move and have our being.

We beg Your favor as we pray to You: Come, Lord, and be with us. Comfort those who bear the suffering of mental illness, neglected youth and pour Your grace upon their caretakers. Advance efforts to preserve and protect the Earth.

Give rest and peace to the dying, and comfort those who wait with them. May God, maker of Heaven and Earth, animate us for the creative work of love and ready our hearts to receive Jesus, the love of God. Amen!

GIVE US THIS DAY, SHARED BY LUISA LACSON, HFL

Word&Life Publications • teacherlouie1965@yahoo.com

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

Life

AND THEN SOME: HEALTH IS WEALTH EVEN WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR SKIN D4

BusinessMirror

Monday, December 17, 2018 D1

Best of 2018: Miss Universe most likely

MISS PHILIPPINES Catriona Gray in Mak Tumang PHOTOGRAPHED BY PATRICK PRATHER (MUO)

MISS PUERTO Rico Kiara Ortega in Sherri Hill

MISS CANADA Marta Stepien in Michael Cinco PHOTO BY AMORN PITAYANANT

But Catriona, still reeling from an aborted stint at Miss World 2016, was immediately billed as “The Girl to Beat,” which is both a blessing and a curse. Fans find parallelisms with the captivating Carolina Iszak of Venezuela from ‘92, the Brooke Shields of the competition, who dominated the final rounds only to stop at the Top 6. The articulate, graceful and beautiful Cat, however, is perfect. That’s her only flaw.

TOTA PULCHRA

MISS CHARLIZE @misscharlize

T

ODAY, the 67th Miss Universe will be crowned in Bangkok, Thailand. The kingdom has previously crowned two queens: Namibia’s Michelle McLean in 1992 and Canada’s Natalie Glebova in 2005.

This year’s crop of candidates came ready to clinch the title. But as in any competition, some are more prepared than others. Here are the ones who can wear the Mikimoto Crown, live in a luxury apartment in New York, and have a year’s worth of travel, perks and privileges.

PHILIPPINES Elizabeth Berroya (’92) from Cagayan de Oro and Gionna Cabrera (’05) from Quezon City were unplaced at their respective campaigns. Cabrera, however, won Miss Photogenic.

PUERTO RICO The thorn in Cat’s throat at Miss World was a Puerto Rican, Stephanie del Valle. This time, it’s her compatriot who is proving to be Cat’s rival for the crown.

Kiara Ortega has the exoticism of Zuleyka Rivera (Miss Universe ’06), the catwalk prowess of Denise QuinoNes (Miss Universe ’01) and the endearing charm of Dayanara Torres (Miss Universe ’93) in one gorgeous package. Puerto Rico has won in every decade since Marisol Malaret in 1970 then Deborah Carthy-Deu in 1985. No win yet for the 2010s but Kiara can complete the per-decade feat.

CANADA Sierra Bearchell (’16) and Lauren Howe (’17) both cracked the Top 10. Marta Magdalena Stepien could extend that streak, as the biomedical engineering technology student can bask in the Thais’ love for Natalie Glebova, who has made Thailand her home. Marta, of Polish descent, was Virreina at Reinado Internacional del Café 2018 but didn’t place at Miss

International 2017. But she came prepared this time, wearing a Michael Cinco couture dress at the evening-gown prelims.

SOUTH AFRICA When she was crowned at her home pageant, Tamaryn Green instantly became a front-runner to succeed her countrywoman, reigning Miss Universe Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters.

A back-to-back victory is rare at Miss Universe but the dusky model can pull this off.

VIETNAM This is the Cinderella story—from maid to Miss Universe contender—of the year. H’Hen Niê has the makings of another Kaci Fennell, the cropped-hair modelesque Jamaican that the crowd adored at Miss Universe 2014. Her fashion sense is enviable, being dressed by Linh San Couture, the same brand that compatriot Phuong Khanh wore to win Miss Earth 2018.

VENEZUELA After Carolina’s heartbreaking Top 6 finish in ’92, Mónica Spear placed fifth in 2005. The German/English/ Venezuelan beauty was brutally murdered in 2014 after an attempted robbery. Sthefany Gutiérrez guarantees she won’t suffer the same fates as she is set to continue the powerhouse’s almost-assured placement at the finals. But why style herself as another tragic character, Pocahontas?

GREAT BRITAIN Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers is the second woman of color to ever represent Great Britain after Anita Saint Rose in 1996. An almost Olympic-level heptathlete and barrister, she works for A Sisterhood, a charity that raises funds and awareness for women who are victims of acid attacks. Miss World, born in London, is naturally more popular in her country, but Dee-Ann’s possible high placement (and Anna Maria Burdzy’s Top 16 last

year) can swing that love in Miss Universe’s way.

SPAIN Undoubtedly the most controversial candidate before arriving in Bangkok, Angela Ponce is the torch bearer of the Miss Universe Organization’s mantra of inclusivity and diversity. The trailblazing transgender beauty is the new global LGBTQ icon. (Fade away, Caitlyn Jenner!) However, the rainbow path was paved by Patricia Rodriguez (1st Runner-Up, 2013) and Sofia del Prado (Top 10, 2017), who both came out as lesbians. The question is, will Angela’s participation open the floodgates for impending demands by “marginalized” pageant aspirants, such as single mothers, plus-sized and divorced women to be allowed to join Miss Universe?

THAILAND In its past two stagings, the host country has never placed in the semifinals. Will the US-educated (like Miss Universe 1988 and selection-committee member Bui Simon, the former Porntip Nakhirunkanok) Sophida Kanchanarin break this? Chalita Suansane (Top 6, 2016) and Maria Poonlertlarp (Top 5, 2017) were outstanding predecessors but Sophida hopes to at least equal what they’ve accomplished, right in their own backyard.

BELGIUM In a parade of nudes (inspired by Demi-Leigh’s and Iris Mittennaere’s), metallics, fringes and beads, Zoé Brunet’s orange tulle gown was a refreshing sight. Anke van Dermeersch, one of the longlegged delegates in 1992, placed at the Top 6. Zoé’s dazzling looks is due to her Mauritian heritage. She was crowned Miss World Cup 2018 (whatever that is) and is first runner-up at Miss Belgium to Angeline Flor Pua, the Filipina-Belgian who competed at Miss World.

MISS SOUTH AFRICA Tamaryn Green in Galluzzie Gini

MISS VIETNAM H’Hen Niê in Linh San Couture

MISS VENEZUELA Sthefany Gutiérrez in Nidal Nouaihed

MISS GREAT BRITAIN MISS SPAIN Angela Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers Ponce in Gionni in Just Boutique Straccia

MISS THAILAND MISS BELGIUM Zoé Brunet in Sophida Kanchanarin Atelier ExC in Milin

LACOSTE CELEBRATES 85TH ANNIVERSARY THIS year Lacoste celebrates its 85th anniversary. On this occasion, the brand with the crocodile revisits its Lacoste.12.12 men’s chronograph, which pays homage to the L.12.12 polo shirt, the iconic garment created

by René Lacoste in 1933. This anniversary edition is a contemporary reinterpretation of the identity codes that made the success of the crocodile for eight decades of style.

Sporty, elegant and relaxed, this chronograph’s design features a black, navy blue or khaki IPplated steel case and a case back marked with the anniversary logo specifically created for the occasion.

With a diameter of 42millimeter, this new model features a minimalist monochrome dial with indexes, hour and minute hands, a second hand and three tone-on-tone counters skim the time discreetly.

The dial is completed by the famous crocodile placed at 3:00. As a nod to the house’s origins and to honor its tradition and know-how, a leather bracelet embossed with a petit piqué motif enhances the shape of this timepiece.

Lacoste watches are available at Lacoste kiosk SM North Edsa, SM Megamall and SM Mall of Asia, and selected L Timestudio and Wristpod boutiques.

ALTERNATES Everybody is just auditioning to be possible finalist/ USA’s Sarah Rose Summers’s roommate, as I don’t think she’ll win after her unwitting xenophobic comments. India’s Nehal Chudasama is a contender. Curacao’s Akisha Albert has a commanding presence.

Albania’s Trejsi Sejdini, a math and physics whiz with a bodacious personality, is the darling of the crowd. It’s a travesty if Colombia’s Valeria Morales can’t extend their four-year Top 5 placement.

Ecuador’s Virginia Limongi and Nepal’s Manita Devkota, trained in the Philippines, will pull surprises. The delegates with Miss Universe doppelgangers are Russia’s Yulia Polyachikhina (Margarita Moran), Jamaica’s Emily Maddison (Pia Wurtzbach), Lebanon’s Maya Reaidy (Georgina Rizk), Ukraine’s Karina Zhosan (Shawn Weatherly) and Denmark’s Helena Heuser (Oxana Fedorova). Let’s see if Steve Harvey can spell Kyrgyzstan. n

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Style

BusinessMirror

Monday, December 17, 2018

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Easy, intelligent dressing this season and beyond

Today’s Horoscope

By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Milla Jovovich, 43; Bill Pullman, 65; Eugene Levy, 72; Ernie Hudson, 73.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Home, family and taking care of loved ones should be your priorities. Understand what’s expected of you and find new ways to use your skills and creativity to enhance what you have to offer the world. Walk away from those who meddle or try to interfere in your affairs. Be secretive about your assets and passwords. Your lucky numbers are 4, 13, 20, 28, 31, 39, 47.

a

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Share your stories with others, but don’t embellish. Speak from the heart; you will bring joy to those around you.

Take nothing and no one for granted. Step up and do your part and positive change will take place. «««

b

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Take a moment to connect with elders in your family or community. The time spent will be appreciated and gratifying. What you find out will give you something to think about as the year comes to a close. Make love a priority. «««

c

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Look around and be realistic when assessing situations, people and what to say and do. Your response will make a difference to the way others react and how they in turn treat those they encounter. Positive thought leads to constructive action. ««««

d

CHANNEL architectural proportions and unique detailing with the Tiffany top

LIGHT and easy: Robyn color block top in blush and white

BACK to the future: Rupert red-tri-

acetate slip-on style dress with a back that features a T-panel that flows out from a folded draped tuck into a gentle cocoon shape

CUT to perfection: Perth seersucker dress with cut-out detail

TOP hits: Tiffany cotton poplin top

S

INGAPORE-BASED label In Good Company, which can be found in SM Makati, stays strong on the fashion radar as it breathes new life to wardrobe staples with pieces that will easily transition from this season’s festivities to everyday wear.

Highlighting In Good Company’s recent capsule collections, it showcases a quietly confident lineup that presents lean lines and modern layering against a

structured and fluid volume.

Take cues this season with the striking impact of the Rupert dress, the unique silhouettes of the Marlon jacket, and the architectural proportions of the Tiffany top, while finishing your ensemble with statement accessories such as the Lelf and Osa necklaces which are both bold in the same way as they are uncommon.

Channel a polished yet easy, effortless vibe as In Good Company explores new shapes, combining precise tailoring

and deft drape work. In addition to the ingenious techniques the brand is well known for that were applied to these pieces, an array of texture is presented in new materials of contrasting tactility and weight, allowing you to dress it up or down according to wherever your mood takes you.

Color takes its cue from neutral palettes accented by vivid reds and blush hues.

Forward-thinking without having to exert too much effort, it’s all about being In Good Company. n

Time to get a watch? What to know about buying preowned

By Amir Bibawy The Associated Press

NEW YORK—Luxury watches have long been a symbol of the wealthy. That’s changing thanks to a booming trade in preowned luxury watches, driven by a growing number of specialized retailers. Established luxury watchmakers and dealers are also getting into the trade.

“Retailers seem to get much more excited about selling preowned than new because they can set the price,” says Ariel Adams, founder of aBlogtoWatch, the foremost authority in watch blogs.

From a vintage 1930s Cartier Tank to a gently worn 2017 Rolex Sea-Dweller, there are deals to be had. Here’s a guide on how to score one: WHERE TO BUY THE luxury watch you have coveted for years might no longer be out of reach. But where to start looking?

There are many dedicated online retailers like SwissWatchExpo and Second Time Around Watch Co. Most established retailers offer pieces that have been serviced by watchmakers and tested for mechanical accuracy. To avoid knock-offs, check online reviews for the dealer.

Don’t discount online outlets that are not just for watches. Overstock and eBay offer thousands of well-priced luxury watches.

WHAT TO BUY? “THE most important piece of information I tell people is: Buy a watch you want to wear,” says Adams. “Now that sounds really obvious. But a lot of people, without really knowing, try to follow other people’s advice. Watches are like clothing: Just because someone really likes their pair of jeans that doesn’t mean it will look good on you.”

Paul Boutros, head of Americas for auction house Philips Watches, cautions against approaching the watch as an investment.

“Buy watches because you love them,” he says.

“As far as investment goes, it’s best to invest in stocks or real estate.”

HOW TO SCORE A DEAL TO figure out roughly how much you should pay, compare prices on online marketplaces like Germany-based Chrono24, where retailers and individuals list watches for sale. But watch collector Paul Bragan, a senior partner at market research firm Wakefield Research, cautions shoppers to take those figures with a grain of salt. The list price is often not what a watch ends up selling for, Bragan says.

Once you have price points, zero in on a goodcondition piece. Have a watch you don’t wear anymore? As with cars, figure out if you can trade it in for your dream piece.

CONSIDER THE ‘GREY MARKET’ IF you really want a new piece, consider the socalled grey market. Brand-authorized dealers often offload excess inventory onto thirdparty web sites. Those sites, in turn, will offer discounts of roughly a third on new and unworn pieces. But there’s a catch: Those third-party sellers can’t offer warranties against defects or mechanical failures.

PAY ATTENTION TO THE FINE PRINT THERE are details to consider beyond the sale price. How much of a warranty does the seller offer? Does it cover water damage? What’s the return policy? Does it include a restocking fee?

If you are on the hook for return shipping costs, that could be good chunk of cash if you need to insure the package.

TAKE CARE OF THE WATCH LUXURY watches are made to last decades, but they require care. Mechanical pieces need more care than those that run on batteries, known as quartz watches.

“You should make sure it’s wound at least weekly and running at least weekly,” says Susanna Woycitzky, watchmaker at Watchbox. She adds that you should also keep your watch away from magnets.

Most watches are waterproof but it’s best not to test it.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Be sensitive to other people’s needs. Let your intuition help you decipher the best way to deal with situations as they arise. Listen carefully to what others have to say. You will learn a valuable lesson in leadership. Romance is encouraged. ««

e

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Get past the negatives in your life and move toward people who offer peace, joy and love. You may not be able to change someone else’s mood, but that doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate the splendor appearing around you. «««««

f

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Look beyond the immediate stress that this time of year can present. Give in to laughter and see the humor in the little annoyances or in those who tend to overreact or miss the point of the spirit of the season. 3 stars

g

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Keep an open mind and heart when dealing with friends, siblings and the youngsters and elders in your life. The time spent bringing about positive change will help alleviate negativity and emotional manipulation. Walk away from indulgent situations. «««

h

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Listen to the trials and tribulations others have endured, and you will realize you are not alone or the only one who faces stressful times. Be creative in your response; you’ll gain support and the help you need.

«««

i

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Personal change will make you feel good about moving forward. Prepare for upcoming festivities, and take time to reach out to older relatives who are isolated.

Don’t get involved in gossip. «««««

j

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Don’t let a little problem escalate because you don’t see it as being important. Consider the emotional turmoil someone else might be going through before you dismiss lending a helping hand. This time of the year can be overwhelming. ««

k

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Consider your options and what you would like to change with regard to how you handle or make money, and you’ll come up with a plan that will bring about positive change. A gift or bonus will take you by surprise. ««««

l

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Less is more.

Keep that in mind while shopping, partying and dealing with people who tend to talk big but produce little. Caution will save you from loss and stress.

Focus inward and make positive personal changes. ««« BIRTHDAY BABY: You are determined, original and ambitious. You are outgoing and spirited.

‘bringing finality’ BY TIMOTHY E. PARKER The Universal Crossword/Edited by Timothy E. Parker

ACROSS 1 Office VIP 5 Wash cycle 10 24-hr. “banker” 13 Modern pentathlon event 14 As a whole 15 Farm unit 16 Three final things 19 Savings opt.

20 ___ of Nantes, 1598 21 U-turn from better 22 Sewer opening 24 Insane birds?

25 Vocal quality 26 What Thomas had 28 Acrobatic maneuver 30 Persian Gulf port 31 “Hush!”

34 Two final things 38 TV spots 39 Short amount of time 40 Fighting group 41 Inclined 42 Cat sound

4 Clear wrap 4 46 Criticize point-after-point 49 Pie chart sections 50 Sod kin 52 Townshend’s group (with “The”) 53 Three final things 56 Payoffs or bribes 57 Party like crazy 58 One of ___ (Cather novel) 59 It can be explosive 60 Board material for nails 61 Hilarity DOWN 1 Darken, way old 2 Wagner work 3 Linguistic study 4 Place for serious fishing 5 Brain teaser 6 Inexpensive film 7 DEA officer 8 Chair part 9 North Pole dweller 10 Squirrel’s nut 11 Bridge type

2 A ___ pittance 1 15 “The game is ___!”

17 Bright sign gas 18 Small-time 23 Kachina fashioner 24 Hawaiian feast 26 Moron 27 Lightweight woodwind 28 Snake oil police 29 Didn’t follow 30 Kill 31 Woebegone 32 Thoughtful sound 33 “Yo!” 35 Push the limits 36 Golf choice 37 Diamond or heart, e.g.

41 Contracts one’s lips 42 “That was ___ coincidental” 43 Word processing option 44 The S of WASP 45 Customize to fit 46 Indy entrant 47 Question of placement

8 Like the Vikings 4 49 Catch one’s breath 50 Cut off 51 Take a bride 54 Rocky deposit 55 Visibility problem

Solution to Friday’s puzzle:

Show BusinessMirror

Monday, December 17, 2018

A celebrity chef on the rise family food business, which now has five branches and is ready for franchising.

With an early penchant for French cuisine, his first internship was at the Vatel Restaurant Manila, a French restaurant that is operated by a fellow Benilde alumnus.

Manalo then took a job at Sofitel Manila to hone his skills as a junior chef.

With experience and many learnings at the back of the house, Manalo developed a liking for Filipino and Japanese cuisine, too. He shared that he enjoys creating modern fusion breakfast meals, and his favorite breakfast ingredient is bacon. “I remember that I didn’t like vegetables while growing up, but as we get older, we learn and accept that what keeps us healthy will eventually make us happy, so I decided to balance my protein cravings and infuse vegetables in my food intake.”

When not whipping up meals, Manalo keeps himself busy with his commitments as a brand ambassador and endorser.

He gets invites to fly to key cities all over the country to give talks, participate in cooking demo activities, and lecture to hospitality and culinary students and aspiring chefs.

Some quarters refer to him as a sexy chef but he blushes every time he hears that. “I try my best to stay fit, hit the gym for regular workouts. I also take my vitamins regularly and engage in sports activities, too. I love swimming.

I relax by watching movies and I follow my favorite television series if time permits. I chill by having a glass of wine, which is either a Merlot or a Cabernet Sauvignon. I prefer red because red is life.”

Manalo shared that he is single but that’s not a reason to be lonely this joyous season. “There are so many reasons to choose happiness,” he volunteered, adding, “The right one will come when it’s meant to be, when I am ready. I believe in destiny as much as I believe in working hard to attain the goals we set.”

The twentysomething chef was recently in New York to learn about Intensive Food Styling at the International Culinary Center for a month. He is already making use of his learning and applying these to his holiday food concoctions and meal preparations.

Manalo plans to put up a new business in the coming year and hopefully star in his own food and lifestyle show soon. His star is definitely on the rise—in and outside the kitchen. n

ALL ACCESS RICKY GALLARDO rickygallardoTFI@gmail.com

Y

OUNG, good-looking chef and hot social-media influencer Gerick Manalo loves the Christmas season. Not only is he busy preparing holiday menus for dear family members, close friends and select clients, but Manalo also starts planning for the year ahead.

Manalo has been getting a lot of exposures lately on television and he is a sought-after guest in corporate shows and events that require celebrity culinary guests. It was GMA that opened the big doors for Manalo. “I enjoyed my stints and guesting activities on shows like Pop Talk, Good News, Day Off and Unang Hirit,” he shared, adding, “I love preparing dishes for lifestyle shows, and being interviewed and featured on national television has helped me get noticed and opened the big doors for me.” Manalo was also featured on the longestrunning noontime show Eat Bulaga.

There are so many things about Manalo that are interesting, and I was glad to get to know him a little better through a recent conversation.

When he was in middle school, his mom started Genaro’s Special Bibingka to help support their family. His grandmother passed down her specialty secrets to his mom, who is also a passionate cook. The business grew and Manalo thought it would be nice to be part of the family business. “I reckon that it would be a big help if I had a formal background in culinary arts, and that’s why I pursued this path.”

Manalo enrolled at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde and took a course in Hotel Restaurant and Institution Management majoring in Culinary Arts. There, he strengthened the foundation of his goal of getting into the

CHEF and hot socialmedia influencer Gerick Manalo

Heart Evangelista joins GMA Artist Center family

THIS combination photo shows (from left) director Ava DuVernay, and actresses Margot Robbie, Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon who are teaming up to mark the one-year anniversary of Time’s Up with a celebrity auction to benefit the group’s legal fund. To date it has raised more than $22 million. AP

DuVernay, Witherspoon and others join for Time’s Up auction AVA DUVERNAY, Reese Witherspoon, Geena Davis and Kerry Washington are among the Hollywood figures teaming up to mark the one-year anniversary of Time’s Up with a celebrity auction to benefit the group’s legal fund. The Time’s Up campaign kicked off at the Golden Globes in January. To date, the legal fund has raised more than $22 million.

Among the items on auction will be an opportunity to attend

a post-production session with director DuVernay on her Netflix miniseries Central Park 5, a coffee date with Davis and meet-andgreets with Witherspoon at the Big Little Lies season 2 premiere, or Washington at her Broadway show, American Son. The Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund says that to date it has connected more than 3,750 women and men to legal resources. AP

Upgraded cinema experience awaits moviegoers and cinephiles at the Shang

MS. Lala Fojas and Bianca Valerio

SLP Red Carpet Cinema Interior

SHANGRI-LA Plaza (facebook.com/shangrilaplazaofficial) has officially opened its latest lifestyle concept, Red Carpet Cinema, Café & Venue to round out the signature Shang experience for mall guests.

The all-new Red Carpet features five theaters with upgraded technology, digital projection equipment and stadium type seating to give moviegoers maximum viewing pleasure. Equipped with a more intimate setting that’s similar to a home theater, wider available space, and reclining seats, the Premiere Cinema has also been outfitted with an adjoining bar and lounge facility that’s perfect for exclusive parties, events and other VIP affairs.

“Whether you’re shopping or dining at the Shang, the VIP treatment is always something that we’d like for you to experience. So, it only seemed right to deliver the same quality with our reequipped cinemas,” says Shangri-La Plaza EVP and General Manager Lala Fojas.

Included in the Shang’s upgraded services is the online ticketing system. Through the Red Carpet web site, moviegoers will have an easier time booking their tickets and updating their accounts in real time.

The Shang also brings back their crowd-favorite cinema popcorn through the Red Carpet Cinebar, bringing everyone tasty snack selections to enjoy with their movie. For private screenings, conferences or conventions, the Red Carpet can also arrange catering from any of

GMA Artist Center proudly welcomed Heart Evangelista to its roster of talents as she signed an exclusive management contract on December 13.

Present in the contract signing were GMA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, GMA Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Felipe S. Yalong, GMA Films President Annette Gozon, GMA Senior Vice President for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable, GMA Vice President for Drama Productions Redgie Acuña-Magno, GMA Vice President for Business Development Department III Darling de Jesus Bodegon, GMA Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Communications Angel Javier Cruz, GMA Vice President for Business Development Department II Janine Piad-Nacar, GMA Senior Assistant Vice President for Alternative Productions Gigi Santiago-Lara, GMA Assistant Vice President for Drama Cheryl Ching-Sy, GMA Assistant Vice President for Business Development Department II Bang Arespacochaga, Senior Program Managers Redgynn Alba, Enri Calaycay, Cecille de Guzman, Mildred Natividad and Senior Talent Manager Vic del Rosario.

Heart expressed her happiness with the way GMA is handling her career all these years: “It’s very natural that I’m really here. I’ve been with GMA for a very long time so malaki rin talaga ang utang na loob ko sa kanila for being there for me. They are very supportive pagdating sa aking international commitments.”

Heart has evolved from being a professional actor and television host to a sought-after international and local brand endorser, sold-out visual artist, best-selling author, fashion influencer, beauty icon and entrepreneur. She is one of the country’s most recognized celebrities, and advocates for children’s health and education, individuals with special needs, and animal welfare.

Last seen on the first-ever Filipino-Korean romantic comedy series My Korean Jagiya together with Korean actor Alexander Lee, viewers should look forward to seeing Heart’s comeback on television as one of the judges of the reality-based artista search Starstruck this 2019.

“I will be one of the judges, which I have always wanted to do.

Hindi ko lang alam kung paano ko sasabihin na ‘I’m sorry but it’s a No’, but I’m very excited for this project,” shared Heart.

Meanwhile, Assigned Talent Manager for Heart in GMA Artist Center, Gigi Lara expressed her thrill over Heart signing up with GMA Artist Center, “We’re happy that Heart decided to join GMA Artist Center at this point in her career. Matagal na siya sa GMA. We have seen how hardworking and professional she is, so we’re very excited to be working with her.”

Considered a household name in the Philippines, Heart has now successfully become one of the most influential celebrities in the digital scene through her multimedia platforms.

Moreover, she has established remarkable partnerships and collaborations with major local and international brands such as Teviant, her collaboration with renowned makeup artist Albert Kurniawan; #LMxKamiseta, where she showcases her paintings displayed beautifully on several blouses and skirts; #HappySkinxLoveMarie, her collaboration with Happy Skin for which she created two lipsticks that are constantly sold-out; Whiff, a fragrance company she worked with to create her signature scent, Linger; and Mark Bumgarner x Heart Evangelista, a collaboration which featured Heart’s paintings with the designer’s gowns, among others.

She was also featured in Harper’s Bazaar US in September. In the feature, author Kevin Kwan described Heart as the “modern-day incarnation of Audrey Hepburn.”

SHANGRI-LA Plaza’s Red Carpet Cinema

the mall’s excellent restaurants as part of its services.

The Shang has also upgraded its E-See Club membership. Perks include being able to purchase tickets online using a credit card, or through the E-See Club Load Wallet on the Red Carpet web site (www. redcarpetattheshang.com), reward points for every ticket purchased, passes redemption, free parking coupons, plus Cinebar treats.

FROM left: SAVP for Alternative Productions Gigi S. Lara, VP for Business Development Department III Darling de Jesus-Bodegon, VP for Drama Productions Redgie A. Magno, SVP for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable, Heart Evangelista, Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, EVP and CFO Felipe S. Yalong, President for GMA Films Annette Gozon, and VP for Corporate Affairs and Communications Angel Javier Cruz

1947 best-picture Oscar sells for nearly $500,000 at auction LOS ANGELES—One Academy Award trophy sold for nearly $500,000 and the second for well over $200,000 in a rare auction of Oscars that ended on Friday in Los Angeles.

A best-picture Oscar for Gentleman’s Agreement, the 1947 film starring Gregory Peck that took on anti-Semitism, sold for $492,000.

A best picture statuette for 1935’s Mutiny on the Bounty fetched $240,000.

Both were outpaced by an archive of papers on the origin and development of The Wizard of Oz that brought in $1.2 million.

Auction house Profiles in History announced the results after

four days of bidding on Hollywood memorabilia that brought in more than $8 million in total.

Other items sold include a TIE fighter helmet from the original Star Wars that went for $240,000, a Phaser pistol from the original Star Trek TV series that fetched $192,000, a hover board Marty McFly rode in Back to the Future II that sold for $102,000, and a golden ticket from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory that brought in $48,000.

The Mutiny on the Bounty Oscar price came close to auctionhouse projections, but the Gentleman’s Agreement statuette brought in more than twice what was expected, for reasons that are not

clear. The buyers of both Oscars and The Wizard of Oz document chose to remain anonymous.

Auctions of Oscar statuettes are very uncommon because winners from 1951 onward have had to agree that they or their heirs must offer it back to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for $1 before selling it elsewhere. The academy has said it firmly believes Oscars should be won, not bought.

Neither of the Oscars sold this week approached the record of $1.5 million paid by Michael Jackson to acquire David O. Selznick’s Gone With the Wind Oscar in 1999. AP

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D4 Monday, December 17, 2018

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Health is wealth even when it comes to your skin

GALDERMA Philippines Consumer Business Unit Head Jade SilvaNetto Ponoc

PATTY LAUREL-FILART

MAKEUP artist Jigs Mayuga

I

F you have dry, sensitive skin, chances are you have used or are currently using Cetaphil cleanser and lotion. I used to go for a different brand but switched to Cetaphil around four years ago.

I use Cetaphil cleanser mostly on my face but sometimes on my body, which is drier.

I’m glad that Cetaphil recently launched Cetaphil Ultra Gentle Body Wash, which was created for babies, children and adults.

Three out of 4 members of my family have very dry skin and/or skin asthma, so we need something like this.

Most days, we use only a liquid cleanser.

Bar soap is only for days when we need very thorough cleansing.

“Cleansing is actually the most damaging process of skin care because it can strip skin of moisture. Most surfactants, which are in soaps and cleansers, cannot differentiate between dirt and grime and the skin’s natural oils,” said dermatologist Dr. Mara Padilla Evangelista Huber.

This isn’t surprising. You know that squeaky clean feeling we love after washing our faces and/or showering? That, apparently, is not a good thing.

Squeaky clean, according to Huber, means you’ve over-stripped your skin during the cleansing process.

So what should one look for in a good body wash?

“Cetaphil Ultra Gentle Body Wash is fragrance-free and has low pH, panthenol, aloe vera and gentle surfactants. These are the five factors you should look for in a body wash,” said Galderma Philippines Consumer Business Unit Head Jade Silva-Netto Ponoc.

The Philippines is actually Cetaphil’s second biggest market after the United States, said Ponoc. This is a fact that isn’t surprising because so many dermatologists recommend Cetaphil to patients with dry, sensitive skin.

To launch Cetaphil Ultra Gentle Body Wash, Galderma Philippines hosted a staycation for some of Manila’s most beautiful faces, including influencers and celebrities like Janina Manipol, Nicole Hernandez, Nicole Andersson, Camille Co, Patty Laurel-Filart and Jigs Mayuga.

They got to try the new body wash after a workout at Kerry Sports Manila and a short talk by Huber.

Cetaphil Ultra Gentle Body Wash is the perfect way to complete your health routine.

Its effective yet gentle formulas are clinically proven to strengthen and protect even the

JANINA MANIPOL

NICOLE ANDERSSON

AND THEN SOME DINNA CHAN VASQUEZ @dinnachanvasquez luckydinna@gmail.com

most sensitive skin.

The Big 5 essential factors mentioned previously are crucial in keeping skin healthy, supple and moisturized. They also address the problems related to dry and sensitive skin, such as itching and redness.

PANTHENOL PANTHENOL is a provitamin of vitamin B5. It helps increase skin hydration and improves the barrier of the skin. Cetaphil Ultra Gentle Body Wash has panthenol so your skin stays healthy and moisturized.

LOW pH THE skin’s pH is acidic and many of the biochemical reactions occurring in the skin only work within a narrow pH range. Cetaphil Ultra Gentle Body Wash has a pH of 5 so it helps the skin repair itself.

ALOE VERA CETAPHIL’S body wash helps improve skin’s moisture levels because it has humectants like aloe vera. Cleansers with moisturizing ingredients help prevent the skin from being stripped of essential factors.

FRAGRANCE-FREE TO avoid the possibility of irritation or allergies to fragrance mix, it is best to use a fragrancefree cleanser. Fragrance in products can irritate skin. If your skin is dry and/or sensitive, look for cleansers that are fragrance-free or hypoallergenic.

GENTLE SURFACTANTS THE brand’s latest body wash uses a mixture of surfactants (sodium laureth sufate, or SLES, in combination with cocamidopropyl betaine, among others). Research shows that mixtures of surfactants, compared to a single surfactant, make for gentle cleansers.

JIMMY CHOO LAUNCHES DIAMOND SNEAKER FOLLOW Jimmy Choo this season into the future of luxury sneakers with the Diamond Sneaker—a trainer for women and men that pushes the possibilities of traditional shoe construction by utilizing modern innovations in performance materials and design. The result is a nextgeneration oversized sneaker with the refined sportswear silhouette of

vintage racing shoe, superimposed into a diamond-soled footprint.

“Stepping in to a Jimmy Choo has always lifted the mood, igniting a sense of emotional transformation. For the debut deluxe Jimmy Choo sneaker, we imagined how it would feel to step into a multifaceted diamond, playing with the sense of lightness and clarity the different angles reflect. It was from this idea the Diamond sneaker was born,” said Sandra Choi, the brand’s creative director.

Throughout the product range, the Diamond Sneaker (www. jimmychoo.com/diamond) showcases an inventive double sole construction, a flat classic sole attached to the upper as an inner shoe then encased in the first-of-its-kind transparent diamond-inspired sole developed and engineered in Italy. The sole takes inspiration from tank treads cored out at the key flex points to allow each shoe to be as functional and as flexible as it is striking.

BusinessMirror

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Monday, December 17, 2018 E1

THE GROWING BUSINESS OF HELPING CUSTOMERS SLOW DOWN

By Giana M. Eckhardt & Katharina C. Husemann

W

E are living in an age of acceleration. How are people coping? Increasingly, by seeking out opportunities to slow down.

This desire to decelerate is a major trend with implications for companies, organizations and society.

To explore why and how people can achieve deceleration, we studied another extreme version of it: We immersed ourselves among people walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain, an ancient pilgrimage route that has been drawing ever larger crowds, of varied ages, religious backgrounds and countries of origin, over the past two decades. We identified three key dimensions to slowing down: Embodied deceleration, which is the physical slowing down of the body. Technological deceleration, which is not giving up technology, but carefully controlling its use.

And episodic deceleration, which is engaging in only a few activities per day—in our data, walking, eating, sleeping—and, crucially, reducing the amount of consumption choices to be made.

In general, all three dimensions speak to ideas such as simplicity, de-

M

ANY current organizational roles are likely to be disappear in the coming years, only to be replaced by new ones.

You may already be seeing these changes in your organization. Does your organization have a data analytics manager yet? How about a socialmedia specialist? A sustainability manager? Organizations are increasingly hiring people into novel positions, but often struggle to support these new roles.

To better understand the tension between control and freedom in new roles, we analyzed more than 4,000 pages of interview data, company documents and media reports from 21 organizations that recently established a “sustainability manager” position and appointed someone to the role. Our research found that organizations vary in how tightly they structure new positions, but they fall into one of three configurations: n TOO LOOSE: Organizations with this configuration have the least formalized commitment to sustainability. The managers struggle to access organization resources and have limited discretion. n TOO TIGHT: Organizations with this config-

Sukhbir Sandhu is a senior lecturer at the University of South Australia Business School. Carol T. Kulik is a research professor at the University of South Australia Business School.

© 2018 Harvard Business School Publishing Corp. (Distributed by The New York Times Syndicate)

HAT the EU remains largely intact is due in no small part to Germany. It has, to a certain extent, been Europe’s hegemon, an ancient Greek term designating the dominant member of an alliance or confederation. Unfortunately, it’s a role that Germany has had increasingly to shoulder alone—and that is unsustainable.

If the EU is to survive the onset of a new crisis it will need stronger, more inclusive leadership than Germany has provided on its own. There are three conceivable options:

A revived Franco-German coalition:

A weimar coalition: An expanded coalition that includes Poland, a nominal partner of France and Germany in the “Weimar Triangle” founded after the end of the Cold War, could have greater legitimacy.

However, as long as the conservative and euroskeptic Law and Justice Party remains in office in Poland, such a coalition will not materialize.

A New Hanseatic Coalition: The third conceivable coalition is named after the medieval association of trading cities stretching from the Netherlands in the west to the Baltic Sea in the east. This coalition would include Germany and the eight northern European member states whose finance ministers began to meet in early 2018 to discuss reforming the eurozone. On monetary, fiscal and EU budget policies these states are closer to Germany than Germany is to France.

The nationalist and euroskeptic trend, which began in the 1990s and gained momentum during the recent refugee crisis amid public opposition to mass integration and long-standing fears about dilution of national identity and globalism, has crystallized into a major political force. Particularly in the wake of Brexit, Europe needs a new champion and without strong support from a politically dominant hegemon or hegemonic coalition, the risk that the union will fall apart in new crises is very real.

Giana M. Eckhardt is a professor of marketing and director of the Center for Research in Sustainability at Royal Holloway University of London.

Katharina C. Husemann is senior lecturer of marketing at Royal Holloway University of London.

uration have highly formalized and centralized sustainability programs driven down from the corporate level. Sustainability managers’ roles in these organizations are tightly orchestrated with low discretion. n JUST RIGHT: Organizations with this configuration have a broad overall commitment to sustainability, but the specific sustainability initiatives are not rigidly formalized. Sustainability managers in this configuration have considerable discretion to launch and champion innovative social and environmental initiatives. Managers in this configuration feel empowered. They see themselves as music conductors who work with their colleagues to co-create a sustainable future.

If new roles are structured too loosely or too tightly, they are unable to provide the best outcomes for their functions. Organizations with these configurations can, over time, evolve to the “just right stage,” but it is not simply a case of natural progression. This evolution demands organizational and managerial maturity and can take decades.

T

By Douglas Webber

Franco-German cooperation can still be a powerful magnetic force in the EU and a bilateral Franco-German bargain can often provide a template for a larger Union agreement. This time around, however, it is likely the traditional roles would be reversed, with Paris looking to accelerate the speed of change, and Germany seeking to slow it down, particularly among those initiatives aimed at raising the volume of financial transfers between Eurozone member states.

materialization and authenticity.

Companies are beginning to provide spaces where consumers can decelerate on all three dimensions.

In the retail sector there’s “slow shopping,” the creation of calming, relaxed, private yet interactive experiences. In the tourism sector, while embodied and episodic deceleration has long been encouraged as part of luxury hotels’ wellness focus, we are beginning to see the absence of WiFi marketed as an amenity.

We expect interest in such experiences to rise exponentially in coming years. Recognizing our existential need to occasionally slow down can be the basis for winning consumer strategies.

HOW TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF A POSITION YOUR COMPANY HASN’T HAD BEFORE

By Sukhbir Sandhu & Carol T. Kulik

THE COALITIONS THAT COULD HOLD THE E.U. TOGETHER

Douglas Webber is a professor of political science at INSEAD.

What multinationals need to do to succeed in Africa

By Acha Leke & Mutsa Chironga

A

FRICA shows every sign of being the world’s next big growth market. It is home to more fast-growing economies than any other region, hundreds of successful big companies and an urbanizing consumer market whose spending outstrips that of India.

How can companies navigate Africa’s many challenges and translate its growth trends into profitable, sustainable enterprises? Our research highlights two essential requirements: the imagination to see the continent’s unmet needs as opportunities for growth, and the long-term commitment to build businesses of meaningful scale.

One compelling case study is that of SABMiller, the beer maker. SABMiller’s insight was

simple yet powerful: Like consumers the world over, Africans like beer. When they can start spending a portion of earnings on nonessentials, one of the first luxuries they turn to is an upgrade from home brews to commercial brands.

To capitalize on that opportunity, SABMiller adopted a bold long-term strategy for Africa. One element was an aggressive program of brewery building across the continent. Another was creating a diverse portfolio of African brands tailored to local markets.

In Nigeria, for example, SABMiller developed a new brand, Hero. It designed the label with a rising sun, a favorite symbol of the Igbo people, an ethnic group native to Nigeria. And in a country where it can take up to six hours to earn enough to buy a half-liter of beer, SABMiller priced the brew 25 percent below its main com-

petitor. Hero turned out to be one of the company’s most successful brands ever.

Many successful firms have created new products and services — and sometimes whole categories — that are targeted at African needs, tastes and spending power. They have also innovated to solve the problem of last-mile delivery: Africa is a vast continent with generally poor transport infrastructure and big gaps in communications, where many millions of people lack formal postal addresses or even a street name.

Consider the story of Indomie noodles— one of Nigeria’s most successful consumer products. Sold in single-serving packets for less than $20 cents, the noodles can be cooked in under three minutes and combined with an egg to produce a nutritious, convenient, low-cost meal. Dufil Prima Foods introduced

them to Nigeria in 1988. It has a vast “feet on the street” distribution network of more than 1,000 vehicles, including motorcycles, trucks and three-wheelers. When distributors can’t go any further by vehicle, they continue by foot—making sure the noodles are available in the thousands of small, informal outlets that dominate retail in Nigeria.

To turn the African growth opportunity into gold, companies must be ready to shape and execute targeted strategies that reinvent products, services, markets and business models for local needs.

Acha Leke is the chairman of McKinsey & Company’s Africa practice. Mutsa Chironga is an executive at Nedbank, a South African banking group.

E2 Monday, December 17, 2018 • Editor: Efleda P. Campos

Education BusinessMirror

Senate ratifies bicam report on Tulong-Trabaho legislation

T

HE Senate ratified on Monday, December 10, a bicameral conference committee report aimed at improving the technicalvocational skills of Filipinos and narrow the unemployment gap in the country.

Both the Senate and the House of Representatives approved the harmonized version on the disagreeing provisions of Senate Bill 1431 and House Bill 8139, which seeks to institute Philippine Labor Force Competencies Competitiveness Program and free access to Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

Sen. Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva, chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development, said the measure seeks to increase the funding for technical and vocational trainings by providing for a Tulong-Trabaho Fund.

The fund would be administered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda).

In his speech sponsoring the bicameral report, Villanueva said the Tulong-Trabaho Fund will “provide qualified recipients with access to the TVET training programs through the full payment of the selected programs’ training fees.”

The fund could also be utilized to provide additional financials to recipients such as transportation allowance and laboratory fees if needed, he said.

The senator cited American economist and politician Phil

Gramm who said that “the government is not the generator of economic growth; working people are.”

“That’s why we want to give more support to our people—working and not working, by apportioning a ‘Tulong-Trabaho Fund’ in the General Appropriations Act that will be managed by the Tesda Board,” he said.

“Sa panukalang batas na ito, ang tulong ay ginawa po nating obligasyon ng gobyerno at ang programa para tiyaking akma ang kakayahan ng ating mga kababayan ay ginawa nating bahagi ng responsibilidad ng mga employers o industry bodies,” he said.

“Hence, the reconciled bill involves industry bodies in the determination of qualified recipients of the Tulong-Trabaho Fund,” he added.

He said increasing the allocation of Tesda scholarship programs will lead to greater output and productivity of workers.

Villanueva said Tesda received P2.2 billion for its Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP) last year. However, he said, the

amount for TWSP funding remained the same for this year despite the increasing demand for tech-voc courses.

Tesda records showed enrollees of tech-voc courses increased sharply by 45 percent or 2.3 million in 2015, from 1.6 million enrollees in 2010.

Under the Tulong-Trabaho bill, the Tesda Board would approve the list of eligible applications based on the recommendation of the Tesda secretariat. The recipients of the Tulong-Trabaho Fund would be evaluated periodically to ensure that at least 80 percent of the beneficiaries would be certified after the training program.

Failure to meet the passing rate would subject the recipient industry board to performance review and be audited by the Tesda Board, the bill stated.

“The passage of this bill will make tech-voc accessible to all, boost our workers’ confidence to face the world of work and ensure that the youth who are ready to work hard with the right skill sets to obtain in-demand jobs,” Villanueva said.

‘WILD EDENS: RUSSIA,’ Pepsi PHL turns over 3,200-liter water DOCUMENTARY DEDICATED tanks to Marawi elementary schools TO FIGHT GLOBAL WARMING

T

HE Russian State Atomic Energy Corp. Rosatom rallied policy-makers and business leaders in the Philippines to lend more support to the fight against global warming through a special screening of Wild Edens: Russia on December 7.

The first in a series that highlights the issue of climate change, the documentary features the flora and fauna in the unique natural habitats of Russia. It was filmed in a number of rugged and remote locations, including the Altai Mountains, the Kamchatka Peninsula and the Artic. Russia’s ambassador to the Philippines, Igor Khovaev, kicked off the event and talked about the perils of global warming and commitments to reduce its greenhouse-gas emissions.

“Reducing the consumption of carbon energy and the creation of enterprises producing and working on ‘clean’ energy is the key to a bright and happy future of our planet,” Khovaev said. “Here in the Philippines, this is very well understood: as a country highly vulnerable to climate and disaster risks, it is very sensitive to the negative impact of climate change.”

Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corp., the world’s leading producer of safe and clean energy, is deeply concerned with the threats associated with global climate change. Egor Simonov, Director for Rosatom Southeast Asia, said: “Through the Wild Edens project we hope to draw more attention from the international community to climate change and the need for a global transition to clean energy.”

Last year the Philippines signed the historic Paris Agreement on Climate Change. It committed to reduce carbon emissions by 70 percent particularly in the energy, transport, waste, forestry and industry sectors come 2030. According to experts, nuclear power, together with renewables, can help hinder the devastating effects of climate change and preserve the planet for generations to come.

Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) Director Carlo A. Arcilla echoed the potential of using Rosatom’s expertise in generating clean energy in cutting greenhouse-gas emissions particularly in the Philippines: “With electricity demand increasing in the Philippines by 2 percent each year, the Philippines can turn to a clean source of energy like nuclear to expand its capacity while preserving its natural resources.”

In December 2017 Rosatom signed a memorandum of understanding with the Philippines’s Department of Science and Technology, committing technical assistance in the form of exchange of experts, arrangement of workshops and symposia, training and education of personnel, and exchange of scientific information, among others.

Acclaimed wildlife conservation guru and Philippines environmentalist, Kim Atienza, meanwhile, emphasized how individual contributions are equally important to combat global warming: “It is important to remember that every one of us can make a difference and play our part. Each little step counts for a lot—whether it’s recycling our garbage or simply choosing to walk or bike instead of drive a car.

And it’s encouraging to see the people working in big corporations lead the way.”

P

EPSI-COLA Products Philippines Inc. (PCPPI) together with the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), turned over two 3,200-liter water tanks to various elementary schools in Marawi city on November 23.

The initiative is part of their “Water for Peace in Marawi” project which aims to provide a total of 12 cylindrical stainless-steel water tanks with 20,000-liter capacity to underserved transitional shelter sites. The 12 tanks have been converted into seven 20,000-liter water tanks, 10 smaller tanks with a capacity of 3,200-liters, and one 50,000-liter tank as requested by the beneficiaries.

The 10 smaller tanks were allotted for distribution to 10 elementary schools around the region with the first beneficiaries being Rorogagus Elementary School and Abdulazis Elementary School.

Aside from the tanks, the bottling firm along with PDRF also provided water sanitation and hygiene activities for the children of Area 1 Sagonsongan Village. They were taught proper hygiene and waste management through a simple lesson, games and songs. The kids also received hygiene kits containing basic toiletries like soap, toothpaste, a toothbrush and hand towel.

The 50,000-liter tank is set to serve a new camp in Marawi for turnover next year.

Mondelez, Robinsons Easymart partner for early Christmas season for students

S

TUDENTS of the Holy Spirit Elementary School in Quezon City got an early Christmas gift from its benefactor, Mondelez Philippines Inc. that partnered with Robinsons Easymart came together to give an early gift to the former’s adopted school Holy Spirit Elementary in Quezon City.

Mondelez Philippines makes popular snacks, such as Eden Cheese, Oreo cookies, Tang powdered beverages, and Toblerone and Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolates. It aims to empower people to snack right—with the right snack, for the right moment and made the right way.

With this shared goal in mind, the two companies embarked on a social-marketing sales promotion in October 2018. For one month, customers who purchased participating Mondelez Philippines products such as Oreo or Cadbury Dairy Milk from Robinsons Easymart stores were able to enjoy delicious snacks, as well as make a P5 donation to Mondelez Philippines’s Joy Schools adoption program. The two companies then shared the proceeds from this campaign with Holy Spirit Elementary School, one of Mondelez Philippines’s adopted Joy Schools. The shared gift came in the form of much-needed kitchen and gardening equipment. These will be used by the school to strengthen their feeding program for undernourished students.

In attendance during the gift-giving were representatives from Mondelez Philippines, as well as Daisy Lyn Sy, AVP Food 2 and Mai Magleo, AVP Food 4 and Easymart of Robinsons Supermarket Corp. Together, the two Companies expressed the importance of empowering communities to improve children’s nutrition.

“Good nutrition is a gift which keeps on giving,” said Ashish Pisharodi, managing director of Mondelez Philippines. “Through our Joy Schools program, which has been benefit-

ing students since 2011 through a nine-month daily feeding, we have seen that having a full tummy helps children improve their well-being, as well as gain energy to participate and be more active in class. This leads to better attendance and improved class standing. That’s why we know this gift will be very important for the students today, as well for their future.”

Currently, the Joy Schools feeding program benefits 300 undernourished students in Holy Spirit Elementary, as well as in two other adopted schools.

Mondelez Philippines supports the communities in which it operates and is focused on making a real difference to children through the Joy Schools program which adopts public elementary schools. Across Southeast Asia the company has invested close to $1 million since 2011 in community partnerships to promote healthy lifestyles in five countries under the Joy Schools. It aims to empower young children to take positive steps toward their overall well-being focusing on initiatives for nutrition education, physical activity and access to nutrient fresh foods.

During the event, volunteers from Mondelez Philippines and Robinsons Easymart also played games with the students, to encourage being active and to maintain a balanced diet.

Robinsons Easymart is a network of minimart stores for everyone’s day-to-day needs. Now at 21 branches in and around Metro Manila and still growing, Robinsons Easymart is a product of Robinsons Supermarket Corp.’s continuous innovation of the grocery experience. The minimarts promise patrons unmatched convenience, being an all-in-one hub for fresh food and other household necessities, as well as other services like a pharmacy, payment center and Telco loading stations. Robinsons Easymart reimagines grocery shopping to better suit the needs of the community.

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PHL students’ entrepreneurship education project wins 2nd in Asean Data Science Explorers tilt

F

ILIPINO students bagged the second place in the regional finals of the Asean Data Science Explorers (ADSE) competition for their insights and data-driven solutions to solve the region’s pressing social issues.

Team Dimicrocambio of the Philippines, comprising Jade Hizon and John Rusty Perena from the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, came in second place with the project “Recalibrating educational gears through entrepreneurship education,” which focuses on how entrepreneurship education can empower students to turn their ideas into actions. It aims to produce graduates who are job creators and professionals with an entrepreneurial spirit who are more productive and self-sufficient in a bid to solve the perennial problem of unemployment in the region.

The experience was memorable for Jade and Rusty, who first bested Team Bazinga of Mapua University and Team Tony of De La Salle University in the Philippine national finals before moving on to the regional finals to become the runner-up among all Asean country finalists. “We believe this is a great opportunity to address the youth unemployment in the region and drive social impact within our communities. Through entrepreneurship education, students can develop entrepreneurial attitudes, skills and knowledge to thrive in today’s fast-paced, digital world.”

“Team Dimicrocambio displayed great passion in tackling today’s social issues through their project ‘Recalibrating educational gears through entrepreneurship education,’” said Edler Panlilio, managing director of SAP Philippines. “At SAP, we are focused on empowering the youth with the right skills they need to thrive in the digital economy. In achieving a sustainable future, we must create opportunities for the younger generation, so they can help make our country, and then the world, run better and improve people’s lives.”

Coinciding with Singapore’s Asean chairmanship in 2018, Singapore played host to the competition, now in its second edition running.

This year, the initiative reached out to 5,000 youths across 175 institutes of higher learning in the Asean to increase their digital literacy and cultivate a greater sense of responsibility and ownership of the region’s future. They were having trainings in SAP’s Analytics Cloud software through a series of webinars and incountry seminars, thereafter using their newlyacquired data skills to tackle six selected United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs.) These are good health and well-being; quality education; gender equality; decent work and economic growth; industry, innovation and infrastructure; and sustainable cities and communities. Competition entries tripled this year with 801 student teams from a wide range of disciplines, such as political science, engineering and architecture gleaning actionable insights

from data to come up with solutions that have an impact on these areas.

Team Plan B of Singapore, comprising Tay Kai Jun and Madhumitha Ayyappan from NUS High School of Math and Science, were crowned the Asean champion at the regional finals. Their winning project “From Slumming to Sustainability” aims to galvanize Asean to transform slums into sustainable microcities.

Meanwhile, Team Pangolin of Vietnam, comprising Nguyen Van Thuan and Mai Thanh Tung from RMIT University Vietnam, clinched third place for their project “Conquering the Waves of Global Trade” which addresses the issue of disadvantaged trading due to the disparity in sea transport capacity among Asean countries.

“Education is one of the foundational cornerstones of Asean’s integration and socioeconomic development blueprint. To this end, initiatives such as Asean Data Science Explorers promotes greater cross-border interaction and mobility across the region and equips our youths with critical skillsets needed to thrive in an increasingly challenging and disruptive future,” said Elaine Tan, executive director of the Asean Foundation. “We are very encouraged by the creativity and innovation displayed in the entries today, which is a strong testament to the passion of Asean youth to aimfully create a better future for their societies.”

The Asean Foundation and SAP also inked a memorandum of understanding to extend their strategic collaboration into 2019, following the collaboration over the past two years. The MOU aims to support the trainings for youths in the skillsets as they join the work force and equip them to potentially solve societal and economic issues facing the region.

“Our collaboration with the Asean Foundation over the past two years has yielded exceedingly positive outcomes in promoting purpose-driven innovation. We are very honored to play an integral part to help in upskilling the next generation work force and providing them with the foundational platform to start driving social impact in their communities,” said Claus Andresen, president and managing director, SAP Southeast Asia. “2019 is shaping up to be the start of another promising era and we look forward to deepening our collaboration to help the world run better and improve lives.”

“The Asean Data Science Explorers competition is a great initiative to strengthen ICT skills and enhance youth employability within Asean,” said Adeline Lee, head of Executive Support Division of Asean Secretariat. “The participants gain skills and insights valuable to launch their own professional careers, contribute to the digital economy and be ready for the Industrial Revolution 4.0. And we are keen to support the continued expansion of such programs through the Asean Foundation and SAP.”

FULFILLING DREAMS VIA DEPED’S A.L.S.

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ACH morning for 19-year-old Shajhana Bonso from Concepcion, Iloilo starts with preparing breakfast for her child and husband rather than preparing for school. At the early age of 17, Shajhana had to set aside her dream of having a diploma due to her pregnancy and the situation she faced early on as a teenage mother. She knew that it would be challenging for her and her husband, a motorcycle driver, to provide their child a bright future.

She believed that completing her studies is the only ticket for her to be employed and earn enough money to sustain the growing needs of her family. Regrets came every now and then for the last two years as her dream drifted away from day-to-day.

“Going back to school today is close to impossible. With the advancement in technology, almost all our output is done using a computer and I can’t afford to pay for school fees,” she said.

Last December, with the help of a friend, she enlisted for the Department of Education’s Alternative Learning System. Since its inception, the ALS program has opened numerous opportunities for the likes of Shajhana who have limited or no access to formal basic education.

ALS educators—mobile teachers as they are popularly known—bring literacy, basic education and useful knowledge to deprived and underprivileged Filipinos. They often brave rough roads, hike mountains or cross rivers to reach far-flung communities where they teach. They dedicate their time to fulfill their mission and help their students achieve their dreams in life.

“Here I felt the joy of being in school with my co-learners. One of the things that I like is

the use of modern technology by our teacher in imparting the lessons hence we are very grateful for the ICT package from the generous hearts of City Savings Bank,” Shajhana said.

She also recalled one of the best memories she had so far in her class.

“With this I was able to learn basic computer with the help of my teacher, Ma’am Obillos, which I will be able to apply once I’m employed.

I also gained self-confidence as I report and share lessons to my classmates with the use of the projector,” she said.

City Savings has greatly supported DepEd’s ALS program since 2016. To date, the bank has donated technology tools comprised of more than 250 laptops, and over 240 LCD projectors, as well as external hard drives and pocket Wi-fi to more than 120 DepEd divisions. The tools are to provide assistance to over 4,500 mobile teachers and their students across the Philippines.

In its third year of advocating for literacy, the bank has moved past inspiration into actively helping build communities where every child, parent, out of school youth has access to opportunities to elevate their lives and fulfill their dreams through education.

Shajhana is now thrilled more than ever to visit their local ALS center to learn more. She has set her mind toward getting her diploma soon and most important, become a good role model for her child and her family.

Her story is just one of the several stories of hope. As a socially responsible organization, City Savings will continue to focus on driving change for a better world through our corporate social responsibility that will benefit all our stakeholders by advancing business and communities.

Marketing BusinessMirror

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Editor: Efleda P. Campos • Monday, December 17, 2018 E3

How important is writing in PR today?

Part Three

does not include the fifth day of the week.’”

I

By Millie F. Dizon

1. Read The Elements of Style

by William Strunk Jr. and EB White

IN the book, coauthor William Strunk Jr. wrote: “Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts.”

The Elements of Style was written some time ago, and the book is a classic. But its tips on writing are still very relevant, and it still offers valuable advice.

2. Use the word “you” a lot

“USING the word you immediately allows you to focus on your audience,” Shannon said, and with that, it is easier to connect. “By identifying the benefit you’re offering to the reader and then working it into a sentence

TOP GAY SOCIAL APP BLUED POKES FUN ON AWKWARD SEXTING ENCOUNTERS TO ENCOURAGE SAFER SEX & PROMOTE H.I.V. AWARENESS

FROM unsolicited dick pics to inappropriately direct sexual invitations, together with exposure to extreme kinks and aggressive flirting from total strangers, the online gay world can sometimes feel like the sexual equivalent of rush hour on a Friday night.

But while hooking up in the digital age can be messy and confusing, one rule should be clear: when your partner refuses to practice safer sex, it’s time to stop and make a U-turn.

The world’s largest gay social app Blued—a platform that’s admittedly facilitated millions of awkward sexting encounters—wants to remind its users to get tested for HIV and practice safer sex, through a series of videos where a user aggressively sexts multiple people, and hooks up with a guy who’s only willing to have sex, as long as it’s safe.

Currently, Blued has close to 1

million users in the Philippines, where as many as 32 people test positive for HIV every day, mostly among men having sex with men.

This stems from a lack of education on how HIV is transmitted, as well as the stigma of sex and the continuing discrimination of the LGBT community.

“We at Blued believe in sexpositivity, and that the abstinenceonly solution to stopping HIV is not exactly the most realistic solution for a lot of people,” says Evan Tan, country marketing manager of Blued in the Philippines. “By making fun of awkward sexual encounters, we want people to lighten up their attitudes toward sex—but also remember that using condoms, getting tested for HIV regularly, adhering to your PrEP regimen, and establishing to your partners that safer sex is a must will allow you to enjoy your sex life even further.”

CAMPAIGN SPOTLIGHT: PRETTYBIRD DIRECTOR MATT PIEDEMONT DIRECTS SIX-EPISODE H&M CHRISTMAS CAMPAIGN: EPISODE 3 ‘LIGHTS OUT’ RELEASED LONDON—PRETTYBIRD Director Matt Piedmont has directed the

8. Create a table of contents that serves as a summary.

WHEN working on longer pieces—a handbook, manual or reference piece— it may be a good idea to “build a table of contents to summarize what’s inside.

That way, people can see at a glance where to find what they need.”

9. Seek constructive feedback.

“ONE of the hardest hurdles a writer must conquer in order to grow is getting—and gracefully accepting—feedback,” Shannon wrote. “But when you listen to feedback from a talented writer or editor, your work will improve.”

With that, “it may be a good idea to ask someone you respect to review your work. Describe your concerns. Is the writing brief enough? Clear enough?

Then listen to what the reviewer has to say—and take the advice.”

PIXABAY.COM

PR Matters

N the past two columns, we highlighted the importance of writing in PR today, citing a PR News survey indicating that 80 percent of senior-level communicators at agencies, corporations and no-profits identified writing as the top skill their team needs to improve on. In short, writing is the biggest weakness in communications.

We were given tips by Glenn Leibowitz who, in an article for Inc-Asean.com, suggested that one needs to ask eight simple questions throughout the process of writing and editing.

The second column tackled what we should avoid to make our writing more professional, taking a cue from Steve Goldstein who shared with us a list of “7 Business Writing Sins PR Pros Commit Regularly” in PR News.

We conclude this series of columns on the importance of PR and writing, beginning with the premise that writing isn’t easy. It is, in fact, “hard work,” said William Zinsser, author of On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction.

“A CLEAR sentence is no accident,” Zinsser said. “Very few sentences come out right the first time, or even the third time...if you find that writing is hard, it’s because it’s hard.”

In an article on Inc.com, Allison Davis shares with us with some tips on how to “Improve Your Writing in 9 Simple Steps.”

“Just because writing is well hard, that doesn’t mean you can’t use techniques to make writing a little easier,” she said.

And for inspiration, she turned to her colleague Jane Shannon, who is “one of those people who make writing look easy because her work is so relaxed and conversational. Here is Shannon’s advice on how to improve your writing in nine simple steps.”

that begins with the word you, you’ll be amazed how much stronger that makes your writing.”

3. Create more powerful headlines.

TOO many headlines are labels: Introduction, Your Benefits, Departments, etc. Shannon’s advice? “Instead of using labels, write a headline that highlights the most important concept you want the reader to know.

That way, if the reader skims [as we all do], they will still have the information that matters.”

4. Make it easy for readers to learn what you want them to learn.

“DON’T force readers to slog through stuff they don’t need to know to get to the stuff they’re really interested in,” Shannon said. This is especially important in this fast-paced world when attention spans are getting shorter.

5. Spell out acronyms and initialisms.

EACH profession has its own shorthand way of speaking and writing.

But using too many acronyms can get your piece lost in translation. That is why “it is the job of the writer to make sure everyone understands,” Shannon said.

So “whether it’s an acronym like SMART [specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely], as in SMART goals, or an initialism [which doesn’t create an actual word] like SPP for stock purchase plan, spell out what every term stands for in the first reference, then use the abbreviated form from that point on.”

6. Eliminate use of the passive voice.

SHANNON gave us a cautionary tale on how the use of the passive voice H&M Christmas campaign created by Adam&EveDDB. A six-film mini-series set in the fictional Hotel Mauritz kicked off on November 19 with Episode 1 (“Bells & Whistles”) depicting an eclectic group of guests snowed in at an Alpine lodge. Episode 2 “Get in Line” launched on November 19 and featured the hotel guests getting ready for a party. Episode 3 “Lights Out” was revealed this week. H&M will roll out a new 30-second spot from the series of six films every week in the run up to Christmas Day. Aubrey Plaza, star of Parks & Recreation, stars in the films with model/ musician Adonis Bosso. The soundtrack to the films has an ’80s vibe with Tiffany’s “I Think We’re Alone Now” providing the soundtrack to Episode 1, and Episode 2 “Get in Line” showing Plaza and Bosso preparing for a party while listening to Neneh Cherry’s “Buffalo Stance.”

Matt Piedmont is a former Saturday Night Live writer, and the storyline of the six vignettes features a narrative following the cast of models, actors and musicians.

Matt Piedmont commented: “We had three different crews...shooting during London’s summer heat wave. It was fun controlled chaos, like being at Timothy Leary’s Millbrook mansion.”

can affect our readers. “Too much writing in organizations is so passive it would give a visitor from another planet the impression that a) there are no people at the company or b) if people are present, they don’t engage in activities requiring verbs,” she wrote. “Verbs are your friend!”

When you articulate in an active way, it’s definitely more compelling

than if you write in the passive voice.

7. Use contractions

“CONTRACTIONS make your writing more conversational,” Shannon said. “The voice you hear when you read sounds like a human being when you say, ‘I can’t live without Fridays,’ instead of a poorly recorded elevator voice: ‘I cannot imagine a life that

PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the UK-based International Public Relations Association (Ipra), the world’s premier association for senior professionals around the world. Millie Dizon, the senior vice president for Marketing and Communications of SM, is the former local chairman.

We are devoting a special column each month to answer the reader’s questions about public relations. Please send your comments and questions to askipraphil@ gmail.com.

E4 Monday, December 17, 2018

Perspective BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Who’s in the middle of a spat between US and China? Canada

PRESIDENT Donald Trump at a bilateral dinner meeting with President Xi Jinping of China during the Group of 20 summit at the Hyatt Palace Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, December 1, 2018. While the trade war between the United States and China has been put on hold, new disputes over a series of detentions have raised alarm on both sides of the Pacific. TOM BRENNER/THE NEW YORK TIMES

By Catherine Porter, Dan Bilefsky and Rick Gladstone

T

New York Times News Service

ORONTO—The United States and China are embroiled in a tense trade war that seemed headed for escalation after the United States accused a top Chinese technology executive of fraud.

Who has China lashed out at?

Canada.

Furious at the arrest in Vancouver, British Columbia, of Meng Wanzhou, a top executive at Huawei, the Chinese technology giant, China has seized at least two Canadians. Chinese social media users are clamoring for a boycott of Canada’s products. Anxious Canadians are wondering if they should scrap trips to China or urge relatives there to come home.

Canada is in a tricky spot, boxed in the middle between its two largest trading partners, and worried about having to choose sides.

After feeling burned by negotiations to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement, the country is trying to strengthen trade relations with China in part to lessen dependence on economic ties to the United States. And many Canadians are wary of what they consider President Donald Trump’s capricious view of Canada.

“Canada is between a rock and a hard place,” said Wenran Jiang, a senior fellow at the Institute of Asian Research at the University of British Columbia.

Trump’s relationship with

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been chilly at best this year. Now, with the extradition process unfolding in the next months, Trudeau risks alienating China as well.

As of Thursday evening there was no word on where China was holding the two seized Canadians, Michael Kovrig, a former diplomat, and Michael Spavor, a writer and entrepreneur. Canadian consular officials have not been able to see them.

Both face charges of undermining China’s national security.

China’s announcement that it was holding them further complicated what has now become a crisis entangling all three countries. It arose from the bitter trade dispute between China and the United States and the US extradition case against Meng, who was arrested nearly two weeks ago.

Meng, an affluent business celebrity in China, was freed on bail Tuesday by a court in Vancouver, where she was detained at the request of the United States on suspicion of violating US sanctions against Iran. When or whether she will be extradited remains unclear.

Unswayed by the bail release,

China has demanded that Canada free Meng immediately, seeing her arrest as a sneaky political ploy engineered by the US.

Canada has said it was abiding by the laws governing an extradition agreement with the United States. But that reasoning has only further infuriated China.

The anger was seen in an opinion piece by China’s ambassador to Canada, Lu Shaye, published Thursday in the Globe and Mail.

“The detention of Ms. Meng is not a mere judicial case, but a premeditated political action in which the United States wields its regime power to witch-hunt a Chinese high-tech company out of political consideration,” Lu wrote. “The so-called long-arm jurisdiction of the United States, however, has no legal basis in international law.”

Those who accuse China of retaliatory detentions over Meng’s arrest, he suggested, “should first reflect on the actions of the Canadian side.” He added, “It is both ignominious and hypocritical to revile China with double standards.”

Jiang said that to many Chinese, it appeared—fairly or not— that Canada had been “doing the dirty work of the Americans, in what seems like a tactic for a US trade war with China.”

A former Canadian ambassador to China, Guy Saint-Jacques, said the dispute would likely worsen and beckon an economic backlash by China, the world’s second largest economy behind the United States.

“They will start to increase pressure, canceling contracts maybe stopping shipments to China of key exports like canola, pork and

beef,” Saint-Jacques said.

Some suggested Meng’s challenge to extradition had been strengthened because of a remark

by Trump in an interview with Reuters on Wednesday.

Trump implied he would intervene in Meng’s extradition if it would help land a trade deal with China. By tying the two, Trump may have inadvertently given Meng a way to avoid extradition by arguing that her arrest is a politically motivated case, in which the bar for extradition is far higher.

“He’s handed ammunition to Ms. Meng’s lawyers,” said Robert Currie, a professor of law with expertise on extradition at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Normally extraditions to the United States are not much of an issue in Canada and are mostly granted.

But Meng’s lawyers could argue that “she’s being used as a proxy in a trade war, and we’re not sure she will get a fair trial in the United States,” Currie said. “It’s not just about criminal law anymore.

It’s about politics.”

Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland of Canada clearly saw the implications of Trump’s remarks.

“Our extradition partners should not seek to politicize the extradition process or use it for ends other than the pursuit of justice,” she told a news conference Wednesday.

On Friday, Freeland is scheduled to meet with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington, part of a previously scheduled dialogue that also includes the top defense officials from the two governments. The subject of Meng, the two Canadian de-

tainees in China and pressure from the Chinese government will no doubt be discussed.

The arrests in China have sent a chill through Canadians who work and travel regularly to the country. Saint-Jacques said he has heard from a number of professionals who have postponed business trips to China.

“There is a rising fear that anyone else could be arrested at random, especially since we know China doesn’t have the same definition of national security,” he said. “It is pretty elastic and very broad.”

Extradition can take months in Canada.

First a Canadian judge must be convinced of the case, and then the country’s justice minister must approve. If either decision is appealed, the process can drag on for years, Currie said.

But, in Meng’s case, her lawyers could try to get the extradition order quashed pre-emptively based on political involvement, he said.

“At the moment, both the president of the United States and the government of China seem to be interfering in our legal process,” Currie said. The government’s priority now, he said, is “defending Canada sovereignty and defending the Canadian legal process.”

What this may mean for the fate of Kovrig and Spavor is unclear at best. But it appears that China’s security apparatus had been monitoring them for awhile.

Kovrig, the former diplomat, was first secretary and vice consul at Canada’s Beijing embassy from 2014 to 2016. More recently he had been working as a senior adviser for the International Crisis Group,

a Brussels-based research organization that moved its Beijing office to Hong Kong a few years ago amid tightened Chinese restrictions on such foreign organizations.

He was regarded as a Sinophile, fluent in Mandarin, who had spent years investigating sensitive subjects such as the rights of Chinese ethnic minorities.

Spavor saw himself as a sort of adventurer, writer, fixer, consultant and mediator between the West and reclusive North Korea.

He helped to arrange a highprofile visit to North Korea in 2016 by basketball star Dennis Rodman and boasted that he had even met Kim Jong Un, the North’s enigmatic leader, and had posed for a photograph with him, laughing and shaking hands, that he displayed on social media.

Over the past year, Canada has been trying to start free trade talks with China in an effort to diversify an economy that is heavily reliant on the United States.

But the new North American trade deal finally signed this past fall contained a contentious clause that many saw as a blatant push by the United States to block any free trade deal between China and Canada.

The clause—which became widely known as the “China clause”—laid out consequences for any member country for negotiating another trade deal with “nonmarket economies.”

The Chinese Embassy in Canada saw the clause as an affront. It issued a statement deploring the “hegemonic actions taken by some country which blatantly interferes with other country’s sovereignty.”