BusinessMirror December 20, 2019

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By Bianca Cuaresma

@BcuaresmaBM

Friday, December 20, 2019 Vol. 15 No. 71

11-month BOP surplus rises to $6.27B–BSP

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HE local economy posted dollar earnings in endNovember this year, reversing the deficit seen in the same 11-month period in 2018.

On Thursday, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported a balance of payments (BOP) surplus of $6.27 billion in January to November 2019.

This is a turnaround from the $4.75-billion BOP deficit recorded in the first 11 months of 2018.

The BOP is an economic indica-

tor that records the total transactions of the Philippines with the rest of the world.

According to the Central Bank, the 11-month surplus may be attributed partly to lower trade in goods account deficit, higher net receipts in the trade in services account and personal remittance

inflows from overseas Filipinos.

The BSP said net inflows of foreign direct investments and foreign portfolio investments also helped push the surplus during the period.

The surplus for the month, however, declined in November compared to its volume in November last year.

$4.75B The BOP deficit recorded in the first 11 months of 2018

The BOP surplus for November alone hit $541 million, lower than the $847-million BOP surplus recorded in the same month last year.

“Inflows in November 2019 reflected the BSP’s foreign-exchange operations, increase in the national government’s [NG] net foreigncurrency deposits and BSP’s income from its investments abroad,” the BSP said in a statement.

“These inf lows were offset, however, by outflows representing payments made by the NG on its foreign-exchange obligations See “BOP,” A2

Boracay’s stakeholders hope to boost ‘20 bookings

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PESO EXCHANGE RATES n

JAC of All trAdes

RICE RETAIL PRICE DIPS TO 3-YR LOW OF P36.67

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By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

@jearcalas

HE average retail price of rice in the fourth week of November has sunk to its lowest level in three years to as much as P36.67 per kilogram since the government eased rules on importation, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showed.

In its weekly monitoring report, the PSA said the average retail price of well-milled rice (WMR) during the reference period declined by 10 percent to P41.56 per kg from last year’s P46.05per-kg level.

This is the lowest average retail price for WMR since the recorded P41.42 per kg in the fourth week of April 2016, historical PSA data showed.

“At the wholesale trade, the average price of well-milled rice dipped to P37.30 per kg or by 0.1 percent this week from its previous week’s level of P37.33 per kg,” the PSA said in the report, which was published recently.

“Similarly, it declined at an annual rate of 12.3 percent from its level of P42.53 per kg in the same week of the previous year,” it added.

Farm output could have expanded in 4th quarter

@akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror

See “Boracay,” A2

Motoring » E2-E3

See “Rice retail,” A2

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

TAKEHOLDERS in Boracay Island will be preparing a marketing plan, with the help of the Department of Tourism (DOT), to help promote the island to key markets abroad.

Their pitch could get some boost from this latest development: Condé Nast Traveler has just included Boracay in its list of “30 Best Winter Vacations to Take This Season.” The prestigious travel publication noted: “[This] ittybitty speck [just under 4 square miles] in the Western Philippines

P25.00 nationwide | 5 sections 50 pages |

T GUILTY! In this November 24, 2009, file photo, a police officer uses banana leaves to cover bodies recovered from a hillside grave in Datu Ampatuan, Maguindanao province. The Quezon City Regional Trial Court on Thursday convicted scions of the powerful Ampatuan political clan and their gunmen in the slaughter of 57 people, including 32 media workers, in an act of impunity that horrified the world. The prosecution had filed for 58 counts of murder, but the court only included 57 because the body of the 58th victim, a journalist, has not been found. Stories and photos on pages A4 and A12. AP FILE PHOTO/AARON FAVILA

HE country’s farm output in the fourth quarter could have expanded by as much as 3 percent on the back of favorable planting conditions and intensified government interventions, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

The DA said that it expects agriculture to grow by 2.5 percent to 3 percent in the last quarter of the year “considering all factors” in improving the “levels of productivity and income,” such as interventions to rice farmers who suffered from low palay prices.

The DA also pointed to a notice-

able slowdown “to some degrees” in the impact of typhoons, floods and earthquakes on agricultural output.

“We are hopeful that this favorable condition will be sustained into the fourth quarter of the year to allow us to attain full-year growth target— pending the release of the full-year data from PSA,” Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said.

“It will be between 2.5 percent and 3 percent,” Dar added, referring to his estimates of the expansion of farm output during the October-toDecember period.

See “Farm output,” A2

US 50.5970 n JAPAN 0.4618 n UK 66.2163 n HK 6.4964 n CHINA 7.2225 n SINGAPORE 37.3409 n AUSTRALIA 34.6741 n EU 56.2689 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.4907

Source: BSP (19 December 2019 )

News

BusinessMirror

A2 Friday, December 20, 2019

‘2020 budget signing likely to happen in early January’

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By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

RESIDENT Duterte will not be able to sign the P4.1-trillion national budget for 2020 before the year ends, given the time constraints as it has to undergo the required review by the Office of the President and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Acting Budget Secretary Wendel E. Avisado said in an interview on Thursday that the 2020 budget is now scheduled to be signed by the President by the first week of January.

He said there will also a ceremonial signing of the 2020 General Appropriations Act in Malacañang.

“Given [the] time constraints, [because of the] holiday...so probably [it will be] first of January. But that’s okay. The new year has just started, and there won’t be so many activities that time,” Avisado told the BusinessMirror, in a mix of English and Filipino, on the sidelines of the public launch of the Philippine Open Government Partnership National

Boracay. . .

Continued from A1

is as close to a tropical idyll as you’ll find in Southeast Asia, with gentle coastlines and Instagram-worthy sunsets.

Fold in a thriving nightlife scene, and you have one of the top tourist spots in the region.”

This developed as hotels and resorts on the island have reported lower guest bookings even toward New Year’s Eve, which is considered a “super peak” season, said Tourism Congress of the Philippines (TCP) Jose C. Clemente III. “The resorts were saying that they have lower arrivals for Christmas and even for New Year, for December 31, they are down from previous years,” he told the BusinessMirror, after meeting with stakeholders from the island on December 10.

The resorts failed to submit, however, data and figures to back up their claim of decreased bookings.

Clemente said many factors are behind the lower arrivals on Boracay toward the Christmas-New Year period. Among these are “less flights [to Kalibo and Caticlan], airfares have gone up...like there were cancellations of charters earlier this year, so the Chinese tourists were put off by this.” (See, “C.A.B. changes mind, allows charter flights anew to Boracay gateways,” in the BusinessMirror, July 17, 2019.)

Data from the DOT-Region 6 (Western Visayas) showed total tourist arrivals reached 1.6 million, of which 729,415 were foreigners, in the nine months to September 2019. Total arrivals were 4.6 percent higher than the 1.53 million in the same period in 2017, of which 730,511 were foreigners.

Total tourism receipts (from foreign and domestic travelers) reached some P46 billion from January to September 2019, up 8.223 percent over the P42.5billion receipts in the same period in 2017. No data was made available for just inbound receipts.

Meanwhile, on Clemente’s prodding, the stakeholders agreed in a meeting on December 16, this time with DOT officials, to go on a “destination-specific road show,” to push just Borac ay Isl a nd , star ting next year. If the DOT

Action Plan 2019-2021.

The President earlier expected to sign the budget before year-end.

Asked if the pushback in schedule of the signing of the 2020 national budget had something to do with the alleged last-minute insertions as claimed earlier by Sen. Panfilo Lacson, Avisado said: “Hindi naman po [Not really]. It’s really the process that has to be undertaken [where a review is to be done].”

The budget chief also refused to comment on the alleged insertions as they have yet to get hold of a copy of the enrolled bill.

“Hindi ko pa po masasabing insertion kasi wala naman po ako doon. At hindi ko naman alam kung ano ’yung

“Given [the] time constraints, [because of the] holiday...so probably [it will be] first of January.

But that’s okay. The new year has just started, and there won’t be so many activities that time.”

—Avisado

proseso [I can’t say it’s an insertion because I wasn’t there, and I don’t know what process they took]. But we’re saying that we’ll be able know that once we get hold of the enrolled bill [because then we can compare the] NEP [National Expenditure Program] as submitted versus the enrolled bill.”

Lacson earlier skipped the signing of the bicameral report on the money measure because of his concerns on the alleged last-minute insertions.

The senator claimed that there are still “lump sums” and “vaguely described” projects in the bicameral report.

The senator’s office reportedly received a USB flash drive containing a list of 1,253 budget items worth P83.219 billion that was allegedly used as the congressmen’s “source” of their “list” of 742 projects worth P16.345 billion that were inserted in the bicameral report.

agrees to support such a road show, “The stakeholders said they were willing to kick in some funding to match whatever DOT is contributing.”

He said the stakeholders hope to finish gathering the inputs and suggestions, which TCP will consolidate for submission to Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat. “We hope we can submit this [proposed marketing plan] by January,” he asserted.

Clemente also said the stakeholders are now considering expanding the markets to be tapped instead of focusing on the Chinese market, which has driven the arrival numbers on the island.

“They can tap Japan again; the Philippines just received the Excellent Partner Award from the Japanese. We can leverage on that,” he noted. The award was given to the DOT during the Japan Tourism Expo in October, in recognition of the agency’s role in rehabilitating Boracay Island.

Clemente, who is also president of Rajah Tours Philippines, said Europe is still a viable market. “Europeans were the first to discover Boracay in the 1980s, but look where they are now? The Germans are ranked 10th among Boracay’s source markets.”

He added, “We never took Boracay off our offerings”—tour operators always sell the island when they join travel fairs abroad. But he noted the resorts have not adjusted their prices, and except for a handful, no longer join the travel fairs.

For one, Boracay resorts still impose surcharges during the so-called peak and super peak seasons. “They were saying they received cancellations also from the Chinese market for the Chinese New Year. So why are they still imposing a surcharge?” he asked.

“Hopefully they’ve seen what happens when they put all their eggs in one basket,” Clemente pointed out, referring to Boracay’s reliance on the Chinese market.

Published reports noted that mainland Chinese tourists are traveling less to Southeast Asian countries, with China Travel News saying trips to Thailand fell by 4.31 percent, and to Vietnam by 0.82 percent in the first five months of 2019. It was a complete reversal from the strong growths of 27.38 percent and 37 percent in the same period last year, respectively.

In the Philippines, arrivals from China remain strong, having jumped 41.5 percent to 1.5 million from January to October 2019, accelerating from the 30.7percent increase to 1.06 million in the same period in 2018.

Rice retail. . .

Section 5 (7), Article VI of the 1987 Constitution reads: “If by the end of any fiscal year, Congress failed to pass the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) for the ensuing year, the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the preceding year shall be deemed reenacted and shall remain in force and in effect until the GAB is passed by Congress.”

This year, the government was forced to operate on a reenacted budget for months since the passage of the 2019 national budget got delayed due to a number of issues, including alleged last-minute insertions and realignments by lawmakers.

The President was only able to sign the budget on April 15 this year.

Due to the budget impasse, new and continuing infrastructure projects were not started earlier in the year when the weather conditions were better. On top of that, the government also had to comply with the election ban from March 29 until May 12.

The delay in the passage of the budget was also blamed for the slower GDP growth for the first quarter and second quarter at 5.6 percent and 5.5 percent, respectively. This is lower than the 6.6 percent and 6.2 percent recorded last year.

Continued from A1

Likewise, PSA data showed that the average retail quotation of regular-milled rice declined by 13.62 percent year-on-year to P36.67 per kg, the lowest level since the P36.66 per kg recorded in first week of April 2016.

“On the average, the wholesale price of regular milled rice decreased to P33.12 per kg or by 0.3 percent during the week from its previous week’s level of P33.22 per kg,” the PSA said.

“On an annual basis, it dropped by 16 percent from its level of P39.43 per kg in the same week of the previous year,” it added.

Government officials and experts have attributed the plunge in retail price of the staple to higher imports entering the country after it opened up its domestic market following the enactment of Republic Act 11203 or the rice trade liberalization law.

In the same report, the PSA said the average farm-gate price of palay or unmilled rice continued its recovery for the fourth straight week.

As of November fourth week, the nationwide average quotation of palay slightly inched up to P15.57 per kg from the previous week’s P15.52 per kg, PSA said.

“Meanwhile, it was still on a downtrend as it dropped at an annual rate of 22.3 percent from its level of P20.05 per kg in the same week of the previous year,” it added.

BOP. . .

www.businessmirror.com.ph

DOH vows to make fixers of guarantee letters pay for scam

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HE Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday declared that no stone will be left unturned following the report of alleged fixing/selling of guarantee letters by unscrupulous individuals at the expense of poor and indigent patients.

Health Secretar y Francisco Duque III also condemned the illegal activity after the recent arrest of a certain Hubert Lotino, the alleged fixer of DOH-issued guarantee letters.

Lotino was one of those named by whistle-blowers who earlier volunteered information about the scheme utilizing the Medical Assistance to Indigent Patients program fund.

Acting on the reports provided by informants, the DOH enlisted the help of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to apprehend the alleged fixers.

The reports on these illicit activities have, likewise, been referred to other concerned government agen-

cies for their action.

The DOH has been conducting its own internal investigation since reports of the scheme surfaced, and robust reviews of its processes to halt the proliferation of this scheme.

Likewise, being the keepers of people’s health, the agency vowed to be true to its mandate of providing the best health-care services to all Filipinos as envisioned in the Universal Health Care law.

“We appeal to the public, especially clients seeking medical assistance with DOH, that they should not be swayed by sweet-talking fixers out to exact money from them in exchange for guarantee letters.

The Medical Assistance to Indigent Patients is free and not for sale,” Duque said.

“The DOH assures the public that no stone will be left unturned in identifying and making accountable the persons involved in this vile and horrendous scheme,” the DOH chief concluded. Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

Ampatuan massacre verdict ‘answered prayer’–prelate

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ZAMIS Archbishop Martin Jumoad said the guilty verdict against some of the people behind the Maguindanao massacre on Thursday was an “answered prayer.”

“Heavens have heard the cry of the poor. No one can escape the justice of God. So be it. The Court of the Land has spoken,” Jumoad said.

On Wednesday, Quezon City Regional Trial Court Jocelyn-Solis Reyes convicted Datu Andal “Unsay” Ampatuan Jr., Zaldy Ampatuan, and Datu Anwar Sr. and 25 others for the gruesome murder of 57 people in 2009.

Among those killed were 32 journalists, making the incident the single deadliest attack against the media in

the country.

The three Ampatuans are now facing a maximum imprisonment of 40 years without benefit of parole.

However, Reyes acquitted Datu Sajid Islam Ampatuan, together with 54 others. “‘Hope those acquitted are really innocent,” Jumoad said.

The prelate commended Solis-Reyes for making the courageous decision on the historic case.

“We salute the verdict and it is a reminder to criminals that there are laws which will run after them. We always pray that our judges render decisions on proofs and evidences presented,” Jumoad said. Samuel P. Medenilla

SSS and PayMaya ink partnership for online contribution payments

Continued from A1

during the month in review,” it added.

The decline in the country’s BOP surplus towards the end of the year was not unexpected.

Earlier, ING Bank Manila Economist Nicholas Mapa warned of renewed pressure on the country’s BOP for the latter part of 2019.

“As we round out the year into 2020, we do, however, expect a slight change in the tides with the Fed expected to be neutral next year and with the government gearing up for a doubleheaded fiscal stimulus,” he said.

“These developments could lead to a renewed widening of the trade deficit [as imports bloat] to exert pressure on the BOP, while financial flows may enjoy the same velocity in 2020, with BSP expected to cut policy rates to support the growth objective,” he added.

Farm output. . .

Continued from A1

The country’s agriculture sector grew by 1.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2018, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. Despite the outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) and low farm-gate prices, the agriculture sector’s output recovered in the third quarter as it rose by an annualized rate of 2.87 percent, according to the PSA. Farm production in the July-to-September period last year contracted by 0.87 percent. The PSA traced the turnaround in the performance of the farm sector during the period of the production increases posted by all subsectors—crops, livestock, poultry and fisheries. The output increase recorded in the third quarter surpassed the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) target of 2 percent to 2.5 percent.

“This is a much better performance. We will continue to enhance the proper and sustained implementation of programs and projects of the DA to further elevate the growth of the agriculture sector,” Dar said in his statement in November.

The recovery in the third quarter pulled up production figures in the January-toSeptember period as output posted an increase of 0.77 percent year-on-year.

Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Aurora C. Ignacio and PayMaya Founder and Chief Executive Officer Orlando B. Vea attend the launching of their collaborative program.

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HE Social Security System inked a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with PayMaya as SSS’s newest collection partner at recent launching ceremonies held at the 2/F, Ramon Magsaysay Hall, SSS Building, Diliman, Quezon City.

Under the MOA, individual members, such as self-employed, voluntary, overseas Filipino workers and nonworking spouses can already pay their contributions through the SSS Mobile App using their PayMaya account or with any Visa, Mastercard, or JCB credit, debit, or prepaid card.

SSS Members who will use their PayMaya accounts or their debit and credit cards for paying their contributions should first download the SSS Mobile App in Google Play Store, Apple App Store or Huawei App Gallery. They can log in using their existing My.SSS account’s user ID and password, and generate their Payment Reference Number or Statement of Account in the SSS Mobile App by clicking the “Generate PRN/SOA” icon.

SSS has a total of 85 accredited collecting and paying partners, 35 of which are already Real-Time Processing of Contributions system-compliant.

BusinessMirror Special Feature

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Friday, December 20, 2019 A3

ENCHANTED UNICORN GIFTS AT SM STATIONERY

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NICORNS may not be real, but the unicorn trend certainly is. These mythical creatures evoke feelings of nostalgia and whimsy... and bring us to a world of magic and enchantment. These also come in vibrant color palettes that make for gorgeous visuals and are so instagramable.

And if you’re catching up on your Magical Christmas shopping, stop by SM Stationery, which has a wonderful selection of unicorn inspired items which make great gifts for friends and family. There are whimsical Unicorn journals, notebooks, and planners for jotting down notes and reminders as well as desktop organizer accessories to help them in organizing their desk for a busy year ahead.

Unicorn-themed travel essen-

tials such as document and passport holder, travel sequin pillows, Key rings, Card wallet, luggage tags and luggage covers will also make it easy and delightful for you to spot your stuff.

For more gift ideas, visit their website at www.smstationery.com. ph and follow them in Instagram and Facebook in smstationeryph.

Available at the SM Stationery section of all SM Stores.

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Add these Unicorn Glitter Flip Key Rings for your enchanted gift giving.

Keep journaling fun and enchanted with this unicorn sequin notebook.

Relax your puffy eyes with these colorful fluffy unicorn eye masks.

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Adorable and bright colored unicorn card wallet.

Sparkle some magic and organize your school needs with this Unicorn hardtop pencil case.

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The Nation BusinessMirror

A4 Friday, December 20, 2019 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

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Court convicts key Ampatuan clan members, several others, in Maguindanao massacre case

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By Joel R. San Juan

@jrsanjuan1573

HE Regional Trial Court in Quezon City (QC RTC) on Thursday sentenced to reclusion perpetua without parole eight members of the Ampatuan clan led by former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Zaldy Ampatuan and 20 others after they were found guilty of slaughtering 57 people, including 32 journalists, 10 years ago.

In a 761-page decision, QC RTC Branch 221 Presiding Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes also ordered all the convicted accused to jointly and severally compensate the heirs of the 57 victims civil, moral, exemplary, temperate damages and for loss of earning capacity totaling to P129.57 million.

Aside from Zaldy, also found guilty as principal in the multiple murder case were his brother Datu Andal “Unsay” Ampatuan Jr., Datu Anwar Sajid “Datu Ulo” Ampatuan, Datu Anwar “Datu Ipi” Ampatuan Jr., P/Insp. Saudi Mokamad, PO1 Jonathan Engid, Abedin Alamada, Talembo “Tammy” Masukat, Theng P. Sali, Manny Ampatuan, Nasser Esmael, P/CInsp. Sukarno Dicay, P/Supt. Abusama Mundas Maguid, P/Supt. Bahnarin Kamaong, Datu Anwar Ampatuan Sr., Tato Tampogao, Mohades Ampatuan, Mohamad T. Datumanong, Misuari Ampatuan, Taya Bangkulat, Salik Bangkulat, Thong Guiamano, Sonny K. Pindi, Armando Ambalgan, Kudza Masukat Uguia, Edres Kasan, Zacaria P. Akil and Samaon Andatuan.

They were also sentenced to reclusion perpetua without parole.

On the other hand, 15 of the 101 accused were meted only with six to 10 years of imprisonment for acting as accessories to the crime.

They are P/Insp. Michael Joy Macaraeg, PO3 Felix Eñate, PO3 Abibudin Abdulgani, PO3 Rasid Anton, PO2 Hamad Nana, PO2 Saud i Pa sut a n, PO2 Saud i a r Ulah, PO1 Esprilleto Lejarso, PO1 Narkouk Mascud, PO1 Pia Kamidon, PO1 Esmael Guialal, PO1 Arnulfo Soriano, PO1 Herich Amaba, who are all members of the 1508th Provincial Mobile Group; and P/Insp. Abdulgapor Abad and Bong Andal.

in the planning of the crimes. During said meetings, he consistently gave his support to the plans and advised about being cautious so as not to get caught that would put his name to shame, and those attending the meetings, behind bars,” the trial court pointed out.

However, the trial court acquitted 57 of the accused, including several other members of the Ampatuan clan identified as Shariff Saydona, Mustapha, Maguindanao Mayor Datu Sajid Islam Ampatuan (brother of Zaldy and Andal), Datu Akmad Ampatuan, Jonathan Ampatuan, Jimmy Ampatuan along with the so-called members of the Labayan group identified as SPO1 Elizer Rendaje, SPO1 Alimola Gulanaton, SPO1 Samad Maguindra, PO3 Ricky Balanueco, PO3 Gibrael Alano, PO2 Rexson Gulama, PO1

Related stories, photos on page A12 “The court finds that the prosecution has proven beyond reasonable doubt that the killing of the 57 victims were planned prior to November 23, 2009. Both direct and corroborative evidence point toward this conclusion,” the Court declared.

The trial court gave weight to the testimony of witnesses, particularly eyewitness Sukarno Badal regarding the agenda and minutes of the meeting that transpired on November 23, 2009.

“The conversations he recalled before the court depicted that those who actively participated in said meeting wanted to prevent Datu Toto [Mangudadatu] from running as governor, and even to kill him, so that political power would remain in the hands of the Ampatuans,” the judge said.

The prosecution, according to the judge, was able to establish that planning preceded the killing of the 57 victims.

With regard to the participation of Zaldy, the trial court noted that at the meeting at his house and of his father, the late Datu Andal Sr. prior to the massacre, witness Lakmodin Saliao claimed that he heard the former ARMM governor uttered words in support of the plan to kill Mangudadatu and his convoy of supporters.

“Considering the attendance of the accused and his utterances during the subject meetings, the court finds that based on the evidence presented, there are clear, strong, and convincing pieces of evidence, which tend to exclude all reasonable probability of any other conclusion that the accused was deeply involved

Amir Solaiman, PO1 Badjun Panegas, PO1 Pendatun Dima, PO1 Ebara Bebot, PO1 Tamano Hadi, PO1 Michael Macarangon and the Solano group members, which include SPO1 Ali Solano, PO3 Felix Daquillos, PO2 Kendatu Rakim, PO1 Abdulraman Batarasa, PO1 Marjul Julkadi, PO1 Datu Jerry Uto, PO1 Mohammad Balading, PO1 Marsman Nilong, PO1 Ysmael Baraquir, PO1 Abdulmanan Saavedra and PO1 Jimmy Kadtong (known as Solano group), PO1 Sandy Sabang, Takpan Dilon, Edris Tekay Nanding, PO1 Warden Legawan, Rainer Ebus, Mohamad Sangki, Tho Amino, Norman Tatak, Malaguial Tanuri, Alimudin Sanguyod, Mama Habib, Sahid Giamadel, Datutulon Esmail, Kasim Lingkong, Abdulkadir Saludin, Akad Macaton, Norhato Kamino, Nasser Malaguia, P/Insp.

Bahnarin Kamaong, P/Supt. Abdulwahid Pedtucasan, PO1 Ahmad Camsa Badal, PO2 Tanny Dalgan, PO1 Anwar Masukat, Samsudin Daud, Maot Bangkulat, Denga Mentol, Fahad Utto, PO1 Adbullah Baguadatu, PO1 Oscar Donato and PO1 Michael Madsig.

Solis-Reyes also directed the warden of Quezon City jail to release them from detention unless they being are being detained for other offenses.

A total of 197 were initially charged of multiple murder in connection with the massacre, including 15 individuals belonging to the influential Ampatuan clan but only 117 were arrested, while 80 others remained at large until now.

Eight of the accused, includ-

ing Ampatuan patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr., died while undergoing trial, while eight others were either discharged as state witnesses or dropped from the information.

Thus, from those arraigned only 101 accused were subjected to a fullblown trial.

The prosecution panel, which is comprised of 11 government lawyers and six private prosecutors, presented 134 witnesses aside from the 58 private complainants, while the defense panel which is composed of 20 lawyers from various law firms presented 165 witnesses.

The Maguindanao massacre, which is considered as the worst in recent Philippine history, took place on November 23, 2009, in Sitio Masalay, Buluan town, in Maguindanao.

The victims were part of a convoy carr ying family members, supporters and journalists on their way to file the COC in Shariff Aguak.

The journalists were invited

by Mangudadatu to cover the scheduled filing of his COC at the Commission on Elections provincial office in Shariff Aguak.

Around 200 armed men, mostly belonging to state-sanctioned paramilitary forces which they used as their private army, intercepted the convoy and escorted them to Buluan town in Ampatuan, where they were told to get off their vehicles.

T he v ic t i m s were s l au g h tered and bur ied in hastily dug g raves u si ng a gover n ment ow ned excavator.

Mangudadatu’s sister and aunt, who were both pregnant at that time, were among those brutally killed by the armed men.

The massacre victims include Raida Abdul, Rowena Ante, Abdillah Ayada, Lailani Balayman, Pinky Balayman, Surayda Bernan, Concepcion Brizuela, Meriam Calimbol, Raul Daud, Eugene Demillo, Norton Edza, Bai Farinah Hassan, Wahida Kalim, Bai Eden Mangudadatu, Bai Genalin Mangudadatu, Mamotabai Mangudadatu, Caltalino Oquendo Jr., Cynthia Oquendo, Rahima Palawan, Faridah Sabdullah, all members of the Mangudadatu family and supporters.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra expressed satisfaction with the ruling of the trial court.

“Today is the day we have waited and I am very happy as secretary of justice that finally justice has been served,” Guevarra said.

When asked about the acquittal of two of the principal accused Shariff Saydona Mayor Datu Sajid

Islam, close relative Datu Akmad Ampatuan, and several others accused in the Maguindanao massacre case, the DOJ said it “ is something that the prosecution has more of less anticipated.”

“We know from the beginning where our strength lies and where certain gaps in our evidence exist so this is something more or less expected. We’re happy with the decision of the court. We trust that the judge has very extensively examined the evidence and we trust in her impartiality in her rendition of this very important judgment,” Guevarra said.

“I thank the prosecutors, as well as the private prosecutors who are involved in this case for the tireless effort that they exerted in making sure that judgment will finally come and the deaths of so many victims including members of the journalism profession will find their day of redemption,” he added.

Solis-Reyes ruled that the prosecution failed to establish that there were actually 58 people killed in the Maguindanao massacre case and not 57.

T he prose c ut ion i n si ste d that MidlandReview photojournalist Reynaldo “Bebot” Momay were among the journalists killed in the Maguindanao massacre as his denture was recovered from the crime scene.

“Whether Momay died or was missing after said date could not be ascertained as no evidence of his actual death was adduced. He has no cadaver and neither was his death certificate presented on record,” the decision read.

The judge said discovery of Momay’s supposed denture does not prove that he was among those killed.

“Simply put, there is no sufficiently relevant proof connecting the object evidence—the denture—with the person of Monday. The mere say-so of the prosecution witnesses that the victim wore the subject denture will not amply establish its identity. Mere allegation and speculation is not evidence, and is not equivalent to proof,” the court ruled.

The DOJ panel is composed of City Prosecutor Amor Robles, Senior Assistant State City Prosecutor Ma. Emilia Victorio, Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Olivia Torrevillas, Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Tofel Austria, Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Arthur Velasco, Assistant State Prosecutor Michel John Humarang, Assistant State Prosecutor Moises Acayan and Associate Prosecution Atty. Jerome Coronel.

Joint Army-police team slays two communist leaders in Quezon City

By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

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WO high-ranking officials of the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, were killed on Thursday during a lawenforcement operation by combined police and military personnel in Novaliches, Quezon City.

Two policemen were also wounded, while another suspect, who remained unidentified, was killed following a 45 minutes of gun battle.

Based on the initial report, elements of the Army’s 84th and 69th Infantry Battalions and other support units from the 7th Infantry Division and policemen from the Quezon City Police and the National Capital Region Police Office attempted to serve warrants of arrest against Eleuterio Sadyaw Agmaliw, alias Omeng, and Freddie Daileg, alias Poldo.

Sadyaw, tagged as the commanding officer of the Kilusang Larangang Gerilya Sierra Madre of the CPP-NPA’s Central Luzon Regional Committee, and Daileg, said to be the deputy secretary-general of Larangang Gerilya Probinsiya Uno of the CLRC, are facing a string of charges, including destructive arson, murder, frustrated murder and rebellion.

The report said that when the operating elements served the warrants against the rebels at their safehouse located along Princess Anne Street, Queensland Subdivision, Damong Maliit, Novaliches, Quezon City, at past 3 a.m., the two fought back.

“During the service of said warrants of arrest, the suspects fired at the arresting officers that prompted them to fire back. The firefight lasted for about 45 minutes,” the report said.

An M-16 rifle, a .45 caliber pistol, a .38 caliber revolver, hand grenades, homemade bomb components, mobile phones and a laptop were recovered from the suspects.

Army Chief Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay congratulated the combined team over the successful operation. “ T h i s a c c o m p l i s h m e nt i s largely attributed to our efforts of capacitating our forces for greater mission effectiveness and excellent performance,” Gapay said in a news statement released through Army Spokesman Col. Ramon Zagala.

“We assure the public that capacitating our forces is a continuous effort, and coupled with the support of our people we will be able to accomplish more in the pursuit of lasting peace,” Gapay added.

Palace creates anti-discriminatory body Building materials sent to quake

By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

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RESIDENT Duterte has signed an executive order creating an InterAgency Committee on Diversity and Inclusion, which shall be tasked to develop a framework for government agencies to identify and eliminate all barriers to equal opportunities in labor and education.

The committee will also be tasked to recommend possible legislation to address gaps in existing nondiscrimination laws, or issuances, as well as to encourage local government units to issue ordinances promoting diversity and inclusion within their respective jurisdictions, according to the EO signed by the President on December 17, but released only to the media on Thursday.

The committee which shall be chaired by the Department of the Interior and Local Government and vice chaired by Department of Social Welfare and Development, shall create a Diversity and

Inclusion Program (DIP), together with the Commission on Human Rights and the Civil Service Commission, as well as relevant stakeholders, advocacy groups and nongovernment organizations.

“A Diversity and Inclusion Program is hereby established as a national program of the government, which shall consolidate efforts and implement existing laws, rules and issuances against the discrimination of persons on the basis of age, disability, national or ethnic origin, language, religious affiliation or belief, political affiliation or belief, health status, physical features or sexual orientation, and gender identity and expression, toward the identification and adoption of best practices in the promotion of diversity and inclusion,” read from Section 2 of the EO. Aside from including programs that all personnel are properly equipped with the ability to manage diversity, including the provision of robust orientation processes and relevant trainings, the DIP shall also outline mechanisms for accountability in departments, bureaus,

offices, agencies, state universities and colleges, government- and -controlled corporations, and local government units.

The program shall also provide a process for seeking redress for discrimination-related complaints, as well as forum for other related concerns.

Members of the committee include the Departments of Budget and Management; Labor and Employment; Justice; Education; and Health.

Completing the members of the Committee are the Philippine Commission on Women; Commission on Higher Education; Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor; National Commission on Indigenous Peoples; National Council on Disability Affairs; and National Youth Commission.

The funds needed for the initial implementation of the order shall be charged against sources to be identified by the Department of Budget and Management, and if warranted, from the allocation for Gender and Development in the respective budgets of concerned agencies.

hit North Cotabato tribal village

By Manuel T. Cayon

@awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

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AVAO CITY—A tribal village in Makilala, North Cotabato, received building materials from a supermarket chain and treated day-care center children to a program of singing, giving of gifts and fun prizes.

The New City Commercial Center (NCCC) Supermarket on Wednesday, delivered building materials and children’s toys to the two earthquake-affected communities in Makilala, as beneficiaries of a recent benefit show.

Retail Marketing Manager Janna Mutalib said it has been years ago when NCCC turned their annual anniversary activity into a benefit show.

“As we celebrate the long 41 years of success and achievements this year, we decided to make our anniversary show beneficial this year to extend help to our brothers and sisters who are in dire need of help after being affected by series of earthquakes in Mindanao,” Mutalib said.

The NCCC brought cement, roof, round steels, plywood, and other building materials for the rehabilitation of Indigenous People Tribal Hall of

Barangay Batasan, Makilala, North Cotabato.

Makilala Indigeneous People (IP) Leader Lutero Pampangan said the community appreciated the assistance offered by NCCC saying they valued their tribal hall as an important place for their members.

Our tribal hall is a traditional place where our members gather to talk, share stories, sing and dance on occasions, resolve conflicts or simply relax together at the end of the day.

Also on that day, the retail company organized a Christmas party for the kids of Day Care Center in Barangay Kisante, also in Makilala, where children enjoyed games, gifts and prizes.

The donations were generated by benefit shows organized by the NCCC for its 41st anniversary in its branches in Buhangin here, Tagum and Palawan.

In those shows were “Tawag ng Tanghalan” Season 3 Champion Elaine Duran Pinoy Big Brother Otso and Love Team Ashtan at NCCC Mall Buhangin; Tawag ng Tanghalan Season 3 Third Runner up JM de la Cerna at NCCC Mall Tagum; and PBB Otso housemate Lance Carr and Kapamilya heartthrob Seth Fedelin at NCCC Mall, Palawan.

Economy BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Marina to ship owners, operators: Comply with IMO’s Global Sulfur Cap

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

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@lorenzmarasigan

OMESTIC ship owners and operators must start crafting their transition plan to comply with international standards on sulfur cap for all vessels, the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) said on Thursday.

In a news statement, the agency said its draft road map for the implementation of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Global Sulfur Cap covers all Philippineflagged ships, hence “all domestic ship owners and operators are encouraged to start seeking more environmentally friendly sources of fuel or technologies that will lessen their ships’ hazardous emissions.”

Under the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution, all ships are required to limit the fuel content of their fuels to 0.5 percent, a big jump from the 3.5 percent standard. The Philippines ratified this convention in 2018.

“Marina [also] urges all Philippine-registered ships operating overseas to be compliant with 2020 Global Sulfur Cap by next year,” the statement read.

Currently, industry stakeholders, such as ship owners and oil suppliers are consulting with Marina and the Department of Energy (DOE). According to Marina, initial concerns revolve around cost implications and availability of low-sulfur fuel in the market.

“Currently, the agency is conducting a survey among domestic shipping companies to determine the current fuel demand. By taking this step, the Marina in coordination with the DOE will be able to establish a definite and comprehensive plan to ensure that the 2020 Global Sulfur Cap is well implemented in the Philippines,” the statement read.

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Friday, December 20, 2019 A5

NEA asks DBM to extend P1-B aid to typhoon-affected ECs

By Lenie Lectura

tial cost of damage to the ECs’ infrastructure from the typhoon has ballooned to an estimated P899.632 million.

The Sorsogon 1 Electric Cooperative Inc. (Soreco 1) incurred the most damage at P137.500 million, followed by Albay Electric Cooperative Inc. (Aleco) at P134.487 million, and Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative Inc. (Ormeco) at P123.421 million.

Damage to Northern Samar Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Norsamelco) was pegged at P88.058 million, Masbate Electric Cooperative Inc. (Maselco) at P56.600 million, and Sorsogon 2 Electric Cooperative (Soreco 2) at P55.441 million.

The NEA chief explained that the ECs’ internally generated fund is not enough since their rate structure as approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) does not include any provision for capital expenditure requirement attributable to the damage caused by calamities.

Masongsong earlier disclosed that the state-run agency cannot implement at the moment Republic Act 11039, also known as Electric Cooperatives Emergency and Resiliency NEA Administrator Edgardo Masongsong said damage Fund (ECERF) Act because the initial P750-million funding to affected EC’s distribution facilities has reached nearly for its implementation has yet to be provided.

P1 billion. He appealed to the DBM for the release of funds Meanwhile, the NEA chief sees the 80-percent restorafor the rehabilitation and restoration of electricity service. tion of power in all affected areas by December 20.

“To address the urgency of the need to rehabilitate The NEA DRRMD reported an estimated 514,570 houseand restore electric service in the coverage areas of these holds in 17 provinces in Luzon and the Visayas covered by 27 ECs, the NEA and its partner ECs are requesting, or ap- ECs are still without electricity based on the figures submitpealing, for the much needed financial assistance in the ted by the power distribution utilities as of Tuesday. form of subsidy or grant from the national government Power was fully restored to 180 typhoon-hit cities and municipalities. Service is partially restored to 96 cities and in the amount of P1 billion,” Masongsong said.

As of December 17, NEA Disaster Risk Reduction and municipalities, while restoration is still ongoing for the reManagement Department (DRRMD) reported that the ini- maining 36 cities and towns.

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@llectura

HE National Electrification Administration (NEA) is asking the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to extend financial assistance to 27 electric cooperatives (ECs) affected by the recent Typhoon Tisoy.

Wage hike for HSWs in Metro Manila takes effect next month

By Samuel P. Medenilla

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@sam_medenilla

HE P1,500 wage hike for household service workers (HSW) in Metro Manila is finally set to take effect next month.

In a phone interview, the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-National Capital Region (RTWPB-NCR) confirmed the Wage Order (WO) NCR-DW-02 was already published on Wednesday.

“It will now take effect on January 2, 2020, or 15 days after its publication,” the RTWPBNCR told the BusinessMirror.

Once the wage order takes effect, it will raise the monthly minimum wage of HSWs in NCR from P3,500 to P5,000.

The wage order does not allow any exemption from its provisions.

It will cover those with the following positions: general house help, yaya, cook, gardener, and laundry person. But it will exclude service providers, family drivers, and children under foster family.

The RTWPB-NCR approved WO NCRDW-02 on November 28, after completing all the necessary public consultations/hearings.

Of the seven members of the RTWPB-NCR, only Neda Policy and Planning Staff Director Reynaldo R. Cancio included a dissenting note.

“Dissenting due to to the lack of clear basis for the increase approved,” Cancio’s note read.

Agriculture/Commodities

A6 Friday, December 20, 2019 • Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

DA pitches EO on nationwide ASF zoning plan

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By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

traded from Luzon to Visayas and Mindanao. We will only allow fullycooked canned processed pork products under the zoning plan,” said Dar.

@jearcalas

HE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it will request Malacañang to issue an executive order (EO) that would compel local government units (LGUs) to observe the national government’s African swine fever (ASF) zoning plan.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar said he would ask President Duterte through Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to issue an EO that would institutionalize the nationwide ASF zoning plan.

Dar recently issued Administrative Circular (AC) 12 which formally implemented the zoning plan. However, he noted that an EO would be “more powerful” as LGUs will have to follow it. “[It will be] through the issuance of an EO by Malacañang. An EO is an order [by the President]. Everyone will fall in line in terms of implementing it properly,” Dar said when asked how the DA will ensure that LGUs will follow its national ASF zoning plan during his year-end briefing on Thursday.

“In the latter part of January, we will bring [together] the LGUs again to tell them that [these are

guidelines] and [we should follow these],” he added.

Last November, Agriculture Undersecretary Ariel T. Cayanan disclosed that the issuance of an EO would give weight to the implementation of the nationwide zoning plan since the order came from the President. The DA-AC 12 dated December 10, formally ordered the establishment of zones across the country depending on the level of risks of regions in relation to ASF. The zoning plan is being eyed by the DA as one of the key measures to more effectively eradicate ASF in the country that has struck mostly backyard farms in Luzon.

The DA noted that its progressive zoning approach “was instrumental in the successful eradication of footand-mouth disease in the Philippines through intensified surveillance and animal movement management.”

‘ASF-free Rizal’

A SOW tends to her piglets in this BusinessMirror file photo.

Furthermore, the implementation of a nationwide zoning plan is seen by the government as a way not to disrupt trade among provinces, particularly among ASF-free areas.

This is to address the series of bans being imposed by provincial governments on the trade and entry of hogs, and pork-related products within their jurisdictions.

Under the zoning plan, provinces and regions would be classified based on their ASF status, which entail corresponding guidelines on the extent that they can transport and sale hogs, pork and pork products.

However, Dar clarified on Thursday that the zoning plan will not cover tocino, longganisa and hot dogs.

This means that these processed

meat products are not yet allowed to be transported from Luzon to Visayas and Mindanao.

Both Visayas and Mindanao are considered free zones under the nationwide zoning plan as they remain ASF-free, while all of the country’s outbreaks are in Luzon.

“To be clear, longganisa, tocino and hot dogs are still not allowed to be

THE agriculture chief also disclosed that Rizal province has not recorded new outbreaks and the areas that were affected by the disease earlier may now be “technically” considered as ASF-free.

Dar said samples from ASF-infected areas in the province tested negative for the fatal hog disease.

Under the country’s ASF contingency plan, an area could be declared free from the disease if laboratory tests in infected areas yield negative results for three consecutive intervals every 30 days, or a cumulative of three months. “We are extra cautious [in declaring ASF-free areas].

Our minimum observation period is 90 days,” Dar said.

“Technically they are free from ASF. The outbreak areas earlier reported such as in Rizal,” he added.

However, Dar is urging backyard hog raisers in Rizal province to shift to raising other livestock animals to ensure their full financial recovery.

“We told them not to rear hogs in the meantime. Even if we’re confident that the virus is not there anymore, we think it would be better if they would recover their losses through a different livestock,” he said. “We have the available livelihood assistance to help the affected backyard hog raisers to recover.”

Benguet town transforms ‘marijuana lairs’ into tourist sites Pilipinas Shell, co-ops train B coco farmers AGUIO CITY— What used to be regular visits from law enforcers to destroy marijuana plants, Kapangan town in Benguet now get tourists to visit the place.

The municipal government of Kapangan has slowly transformed

the sleepy town into a tourist attraction.

“We are seeing a shift with tourists now coming to our town especially with the Badi [Badbadi] Falls gaining popularity,” Mayor Manny Fermin told the Philippine News

Agency (PNA) on Thursday.

Badi Falls is located in Barangay Sagubo, one of the three villages identified in the past where highgrade marijuana plants were clandestinely grown, some uprooted and destroyed on-site or intercepted

by law enforcers during operations outside the town.

The falls is around 75-feet high waterfalls in the center of a virgin forest that drops on a natural pool of fresh clean water. It is around two hours walk from the road with spelunkers who need to walk down rocks with using both legs and arms to keep themselves from falling.

It is regularly visited by tourists from different parts of the country, especially during the summer.

The village also has Camp Utopia located some 43 kilometers from the town proper.

Camp Utopia played a role in the history serving as a camp and infirmary of the 66th Infantry of the United States Army Forces in the Philippines-Northern Luzon (USAFIP-NL) during World War II. Fermin said villagers depend on marijuana cultivation as a source of income.

“Talagang walang community na dependent sa marijuana talagang zero [There is no community that is depended on marijuana now] but the change was started years back and did not happen overnight,” said Fermin, who was still the Sangguniang Kabataan chairman when the transformation happened in 2002.

Led by then-Mayor Rogelio Leon, Barangay Sagubo was the focus of the “change of a lifestyle” project of the town.

The other two villages were Gadang and Beleng-belis.

“Now, they [Sagubo] are the highlight of Kapangan in terms of tourism,” Fermin said.

Kapangan is about oneand-a-half hours from Benguet capital town La Trinidad via the Halsema road in Tublay town.

Other tourist attractions in the town include the Amburayan River, a trek at Mount Dakiwagan or popularly known as Santa Claus mountain that looks like the Christmas icon with its beard, the Tampan Rice Terraces, Longog Cave which is only 10-minutes

going down to the cave’s entrance from the road and the burial caves in Barangay Pungayan.

Fermin said the cultural museum and the war veteran museum are both continuously being developed, which are both favorites of cultural exchange visits of students who go to Kapangan. “We want the public to know the rich history of Kapangan and its participation during the war,” Fermin said.

“This is one way of promoting and conserving our place. We continue to hope that the people of our town will have as an eye-opener the attractions we promote showing our rich culture and tradition,” he said.

Fermin said for several decades, Kapangan carried the tag as marijuana producer.

“Every month they [villages] are being monitored, actual monitoring with the law enforcers visiting and, fortunately, they are clear,” he said.

He also thanked President Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs, prompting all stakeholders in the town to fight the marijuana cultivation.

Col. Elmer Ragay, Benguet provincial director, confirmed Fermin’s claim, saying Kapangan maintains its drug cleared status.

“There is no resurgence since the time I was assigned in September and, based on eradication operation, it is showing a negative result,” Ragay said.

“The people [in Kapangan] are the ones shying away from planting [marijuana],” he added.

Fermin said in Barangay Sagubo, residents are now producing muscovado sugar with the help of the municipal government in partnership with the Departments of Labor and Employment, and Trade and Industry.

In Gadang, on the other hand, residents have flower production as their livelihood and the other villages mostly in sayote and rice production, Fermin added.

Meanwhile, Fermin said they have allocated around P5 million for the opening of a farm-to-market road in Barangay Tawang, which is near the border of Kibungan town.

“Compared before, now is better, they have roads and every year the villages allot funds as identified by the barangay council as priorities,” Fermin said. PNA

F

ARMERS in Quezon are now earning from coconut husks by using it to make other products, such as beads for jewelry and household objects, with the help of a training facility.

Shell International and Pilipinas Shell, through its social investment arm, Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc. (PSFI), have partnered with JNJ Industries, farmers and cooperatives to roll out the Collaboration for Coconut Productivity and Nurturing Farmers’ Trade, or Project COCONUT. Last November 11, Shell International, PSFI and JNJ Industries opened the Coco Hub Facility in Agdangan, Quezon. This is the second facility in the area, following a hub in Kabulihan Unisan, which opened in April. The PSFI said in a statement that the project aims to help coconut and copra farmers provide higher quality products and a more stable income.

The coco hubs, according to PSFI, help farmers make their coconuts go further.

Once a coconut is harvested, the copra (dried coconut flesh) is processed into coconut oil for their production of food products, oleo chemicals and biofuels.

As part of the Project Coconut initiative, the husks, which would previously have been waste, are now sent to the Coco Hub Facility where it is turned into other products that farmers can sell.

“We really believe that alternative livelihood initiatives like these are necessary to ensure that we keep the coconut agriculture alive, while also helping our farmers with their harvest,” said PFSI Executive Director Sebastian Quiñones during the inauguration of the second Coco Hub Facility.

Arold Jao, AVP for Finance of JNJ Industries added, “The creativity to turn waste into lamps and wallets has amazed me. I know this alternative economy we are trying to build can do so much more and it is great to see the farmers developing skills they can use in the future.”

In additional to the hub facilities in the area, PSFI believes that neighboring municipalities will soon show interest, enabling the initiative to expand.

“Last year, around 35 farmers were involved in the project,” said Gary Aliggayu, PSFI project manager for Project Coconut.

“When they saw the progress, especially with this building, the number grew to 264 farmers.”

PSFI said the facilities are open to everyone in the area and neighboring regions.

The World BusinessMirror

Editor: Angel R. Calso

Friday, December 20, 2019

A7

Trump impeached on charges of abuse of power, obstruction

W

ASHINGTON—President Donald J. Trump was impeached by the US House of Representatives, becoming only the third American chief executive to be formally charged under the Constitution’s ultimate remedy for high crimes and misdemeanors.

The historic vote split along party lines on Wednesday night, much the way it has divided the nation, over a charge that the 45th president abused the power of his office by enlisting a foreign government to investigate a political rival ahead of the 2020 election.

The House then approved a second charge, that he obstructed Congress in its investigation.

The articles of impeachment, the political equivalent of an indictment, now go to the Senate for trial. If Trump is acquitted by the Republican-led chamber, as expected, he still would have to run for reelection carrying the enduring stain of impeachment on his purposely disruptive presidency.

“The president is impeached,” Nancy Pelosi declared after the vote. She called it “great day for the Constitution of the United States, a sad one for America that the president’s reckless activities necessitated us having to introduce articles of impeachment.”

Trump, who began on Wednesday tweeting his anger at the proceedings, pumped his fist before an evening rally in Battle Creek, Michigan, boasting of “tremendous support” in the Republican Party and saying, “By the way it doesn’t feel like I’m being impeached.”

The votes for impeachment were 230 -197-1 on the first charge, 229-198-1 on the second.

Democrats led Wednesday night’s voting, framed in what many said was their duty to protect the Constitution and uphold the nation’s system of checks and balances. Republicans stood by

their party’s leader, who has frequently tested the bounds of civic norms. Trump called the whole affair a “witch hunt,” a “hoax” and a “sham,” and sometimes all three.

The trial is expected to begin in January in the Senate, where a vote of two-thirds is necessary for conviction. While Democrats had the majority in the House to impeach Trump, Republicans control the Senate and few if any are expected to diverge from plans to acquit the president ahead of early state election-year primary voting.

Pelosi, once reluctant to lead Democrats into a partisan impeachment, gaveled both votes closed, risking her majority and speakership to follow the effort to its House conclusion.

No Republicans voted for impeachment, and Democrats had only slight defections on their side. Voting was conducted manually with ballots, to mark the moment.

On the first article, abuse of power, two Democrats, Jeff van Drew of New Jersey, who is considering switching parties to become a Republican, and Collin Peterson of Minnesota voted against impeaching Trump. On the second article, obstruction, those two and freshman Rep. Jared Golden of Maine voted against. Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, who is running for president, voted “present” on both.

What Pelosi called a sad and solemn moment for the country, coming in the first year after Democrats swept control of the House, unfolded in a caustic day-

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California announces the passage of the first article of impeachment, abuse of power, against President Donald J. Trump by the House of Representatives at the Capitol in Washington, on Wednesday, December 18, 2019. House Television via AP

long session that showcased the nation’s divisions.

The House impeachment resolution laid out in stark terms the articles of impeachment against Trump stemming from his July phone call when he asked the Ukrainian president for a “favor”—to announce he was investigating Democrats including potential 2020 rival Joe Biden.

At the time, Zelenskiy, new to politics and government, was seeking a coveted White House visit to show backing from the US as he confronted a hostile Russia at his border. He was also counting on $391 million in military aid already approved by Congress. The White House delayed the funds, but Trump eventually released the money once Congress intervened.

Narrow in scope but broad in its charges, the impeachment resolution said the president “betrayed the nation by abusing his high office to enlist a foreign power in corrupting democratic elections,” and then obstructing Congress’ oversight like “no president” in US history.

“President Trump, by such conduct, has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to national security and the Constitution if allowed to remain in office,” it said.

Republicans argued that Democrats were impeaching Trump because they can’t beat him in 2020.

Said Rep. Chris Stewart of Utah: “They want to take away my vote and throw it in the trash.”

But Democrats warned the country cannot wait for the next election to decide whether Trump

Indian police ban protests to quell outrage against new citizenship law

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EW DELHI—Police detained several hundred protesters in some of India’s biggest cities on Thursday, as they defied a ban on assembly that authorities imposed to stop widespread demonstrations against a new citizenship law that opponents say threatens the country’s secular democracy.

Dozens of demonstrations were planned around the country as opposition widened to the law, which excludes Muslims. The legislation has sparked anger at what many see as the Hindu nationalist-led government’s push to bring India closer to a Hindu state.

Historian Ramchandra Guha, a biographer of independence leader Mohandas Gandhi, was among those detained in Bangalore, the capital of southern Karnataka state. The state government issued a ban on groups of more than four people gathering.

Reached by phone, Guha said he was in a bus with other detainees and did not know where the police were taking them.

In New Delhi, Yogendra Yadav, the chief of the Swaraj India party, was among those detained as protesters demonstrated at New Delhi’s iconic Red Fort and the surrounding historic district.

Officials said more than 100 people were detained at the fort.

The protesters were loaded into buses and other vehicles. The main roads leading to the fort were blocked off and police did not let pedestrians go to nearby temples or shopping areas.

Internet and phone services were blocked around the fort and in some other parts of New Delhi, a tactic Indian authorities use in other parts of the country, such as disputed

A protestor holds up a placard and sits with others in New Delhi, India, Thursday, December 19, 2019.

Police detained several hundred protestors in some of India’s biggest cities on Thursday as they defied a ban on assembly that authorities imposed to stem widespread demonstrations against a new citizenship law that opponents say threatens India’s secular democracy. Dozens of demonstrations were to take place around country as opposition grows to a new citizenship law that excludes Muslims. The law has sparked anger at what many see as the government’s push to bring India closer to a Hindu state.

AP Photo/Altaf Qadri

Kashmir, to try to stop people from organizing protests. The measure, however, is rarely used in the capital.

The new citizenship law applies to Hindus, Christians, and other religious minorities who are in India illegally but can demonstrate religious persecution in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. It does not apply to Muslims.

Critics say it’s the latest effort by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalistled government to marginalize India’s 200

million Muslims, and a violation of the country’s secular constitution.

Modi has defended it as a humanitarian gesture.

The law’s enactment last week follows a contentious process in northeastern Assam state intended to weed out people who entered illegally. Nearly 2 million people in Assam were excluded from an official list of citizens, about half Hindu and half Muslim, and have been asked to prove their citizenship or else be considered foreign. AP

should remain in office because he has shown a pattern of behavior, particularly toward Russia, and will try to corrupt US elections again.

“The president and his men plot on,” said Chairman Adam Schiff, DCalif., of the Intelligence Committee that led the inquiry. “The danger persists. The risk is real.”

The outcome brings the Trump presidency to a milestone moment that has been building almost from the time the New York businessmanturned-reality-TV host unexpectedly won the White House in 2016, amid questions about Russian interference in the US election.

Democrats drew from history, the founders and their own experiences, as minorities, women and some immigrants to the US spoke of seeking to honor their oath of office to uphold the Constitution. Rep. Lou Correa of

California spoke in Spanish asking God to unite the nation. “In America,” said Hakeem Jeffries of New York, “no one is above the law.”

Republicans aired Trump-style grievances about what A rizona Rep. Debbie Lesko called a “rigged” process.

“We face this horror because of this map,” said Rep. Clay Higgins of Alabama before a poster of red and blue states. “They call this Republican map flyover country, they call us deplorables, they fear our faith, they fear our strength, they fear our unity, they fear our vote, and they fear our president.”

The political fallout from the vote will reverberate across an already polarized country with divergent views of Trump’s July phone call when he asked Zelenskiy to investigate Democrats in the 2016 election, Biden and Biden’s son Hunter, who worked on the board of a gas company in Ukraine while his father was the vice president.

Trump has repeatedly implored Americans to read the transcript of the call he said was “perfect.” But the facts it revealed, and those in an anonymous whistle-blower’s complaint that sparked the probe, are largely undisputed.

More than a dozen current and former White House officials and diplomats testified for hours in impeachment hearings. The open and closed sessions under oath revealed what one called the “irregular channel” of foreign policy run by Trump’s

personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, which focused on investigating the Bidens and alternative theories of 2016 election interference.

The question for lawmakers was whether the revelations amounted to impeachable offenses.

Few lawmakers crossed party lines.

Van Drew, who is considering changing parties over his opposition to impeachment, sat with Republicans. Rep. Justin Amash, the Michigan conservative who left the Republican party and became an independent over impeachment, said: “I come to this floor, not as a Republican, not as a Democrat, but as an American.”

Beyond the impeachments of Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton, this first impeachment of the 21st century is as much about what the president might do in the future as what he did in the past. The investigation of Richard Nixon ended when he resigned rather than face the House vote over Watergate.

Rank and file Democrats said they were willing to lose their jobs to protect the democracy from Trump. Some newly elected freshmen remained in the chamber for hours during the debate.

Top Republicans, including Rep. Devin Nunes on the Intelligence Committee, called the Ukraine probe little more than a poor sequel to special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election. AP

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Friday, December 20, 2019

The World BusinessMirror

Australia’s most populous state declares wildfire emergency

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ERTH, Australia—Australia’s most populous state of New South Wales declared a seven-day state of emergency on Thursday as oppressive conditions fanned around 100 wildfires.

Around 2,000 firefighters were battling the blazes, half of which remain uncontrolled, with the support of US and Canadian backup teams and personnel from the Australian Defense Force.

The last state of emergency ran for seven days in midNovember amid “catastrophic” fire risk and was the first implemented in New South Wales since 2013. Central Sydney reached a maximum of 39 degrees Celsius (102 °Fahrenheit) on Thursday, while outer suburbs scorched at 42 Celsius (108°F).

RURAL Fire Service crews engage in property protection of a number of homes along the Old Hume Highway near Tahmoor, New South Wales, as the Green Wattle Creek Fire threatens a number of communities in the southwest of Sydney on Thursday, December 19, 2019. Australia’s most populous state of New South Wales declared a seven-day state of emergency as oppressive conditions fanned around 100 wildfires. DEAN LEWINS/AAP IMAGES VIA AP

A statewide total fire ban announced on Tuesday will remain in place until midnight on Saturday.

Around 3 million hectares (7.4 million acres) of land has burnt nationwide during a torrid past few months, with six people killed and more than 800 homes destroyed.

The annual Australian fire season, which peaks during the Southern Hemisphere summer, started early after an unusually warm and dry winter.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said authorities were concerned with the unpredictable conditions.

“With extreme wind conditions, extreme hot temperatures, we have a good idea, a good sense, of where the most concerning areas are but, again, when you’ve got those turbulent conditions, embers and spot fires can occur very unpredictably,” she told reporters.

Sydney’s air pollution levels on Thursday ranged from poor to hazardous. During the past month, hazardous smoke has often blanketed Australia’s most populous city and made its iconic skyline barely visible.

Hospitals have recorded a 10-percent increase in visits from patients with respiratory conditions during the past week.

The Australian Medical Association

has recommended people keep hydrated, cool and out of the sun.

W i l d f i re s a re a l s o b u r n i n g i n Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.

The Bureau of Meteorology said Tuesday was the hottest day on record in Australia with an average of 40.9°Celsius (105.6°F) nationwide.

Perth, the capital on the west coast, is experiencing its hottest December with average temperatures for the month at 36°Celsius (97°F) and 7 degrees above the mean.

Adelaide, in the southeast, is currently experiencing a four-day heatwave culminating in a sizzling 45°Celsius (113°F) on Thursday.

The unprecedented conditions has reignited debate on whether Australia’s conservative government has taken enough action on climate change. Australia is the world’s largest exporter of coal and liquefied natural gas.

Protesters on Thursday camped outside Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s Sydney residence demanding urgent action on climate change.

Morrison, who is currently on holidays, conceded last week that “climate change along with many other factors” contributed to the wildfires. AP

Xi visits Macao to celebrate 20 years of Chinese rule

IN this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) shakes hands with outgoing Macao Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai-on in Macao on Wednesday, December 18, 2019. Xi will attend the 20th anniversary celebrations of Macao’s return to China. WANG YE/XINHUA VIA AP

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ACAO—Chinese leader Xi Jinping met on Thursday with Macao’s new chief executive amid celebrations of the 20th anniversary of the former Portuguese colony’s handover to Chinese rule.

City leaders put the tiny gambling enclave of just 632,000 people on a security lock down, including barring political activists and journalists from nearby Hong Kong, which has been wracked by months of often violent anti-government protests.

Even without the heavy security, Xi would likely have seen little in the way of protests or calls for greater democracy or self-rule. Unlike Hong Kong, whose former British leaders nudged their colony gradually toward greater democratic freedoms, Macau’s small size, ineffectual rule by Lisbon and the overriding influence of the tycoons who control gambling and related businesses kept democratic expectations low.

And with the opening of the casino industry to new players and a massive influx of Chinese gamblers, Macao’s economy has boomed in the two decades since 1999. Organized crime groups who had battled each on Macao’s streets and in its gambling halls have also been brought to heel, leading to a rise in tourism and a general sense among many that their fortunes have improved under Chinese rule.

That feeling of optimism is largely absent In Hong Kong, which reverted from British to Chinese rule in 1997

and where frustrations over a stagnant economy and astronomical housing prices helped fuel the protests that at times drew an estimated quarter of the population of 7.5 million people. Beijing’s refusal to respond to their demands, including direct elections for the chief executive and legislative council, has led to a seven-month standoff, with more protests expected for this weekend.

Both Macao and Hong Kong are run under a “one country, two systems” framework, which allows them to retain their own legal and economic systems, while Beijing exercises strict control over their political leadership. Macao also enacted national security legislation that has been stalled in Hong Kong by popular opposition.

Along with meeting the incoming chief executive, Ho Iat Seng, Xi on Thursday visited a government services building, and met with local residents and officials. On Friday, he will attend Ho’s inauguration and a ceremony marking 20 years of Chinese rule.

In remarks at the airport upon his arrival on Wednesday, Xi made what some considered a subtle comparison between Macao’s outward stability and the tensions in Hong Kong. “It is worthwhile to sum up the experience and characteristics of Macao in faithfully implementing ‘one country, two systems,’” Xi told an audience of journalists, officials and flower-waving children.

“We will join hands to draw the blueprint for Macao’s future development,” he said. AP

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Friday, December 20, 2019 A9

A10 Friday, December 20, 2019

The World BusinessMirror

UK’s Johnson to unveil plans at lavish Parliament opening

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ONDON—Queen Elizabeth II will formally open a new session of Britain’s Parliament on Thursday, with a speech giving the first concrete details of what Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to do with his commanding House of Commons majority.

Johnson’s Conservative Party won an 80-strong majority in the 650seat house in last week’s election on a pledge to “get Brexit done” by leaving the European Union on January 31, and a broad promise to end years of public spending austerity.

Now Johnson has to turn his election pledges into political reality.

The Queen’s Speech—written by the government but read out by the monarch from atop a golden throne in the House of Lords—is set to include several dozen bills that the government plans to pass in the coming year.

They range from a Brexit bill to take Britain out of the EU to commitments on health care, crime and infrastructure.

The speech is the centerpiece of the State Opening of Parliament, a blend of politics and pageantry that usually takes place about once a year. Britain saw its last state opening just two months ago, soon after Johnson took over as prime minister from Theresa May through a Conservative Party leadership contest and shortly before the early election that returned him to power.

For the queen’s second visit this year, the pomp is being toned down. There will still be officials with titles like Black Rod and lords in ermine-trimmed robes. But the

93-year-old monarch will travel to Parliament in a car, rather than a horse-drawn carriage, and will wear a hat rather than a diamondstudded crown.

A central piece of legislation will be Johnson’s Withdrawal Agreement Bill, the law needed to make Brexit a reality. It must become law before January 31 if Johnson is to stick to his timetable, and the government plans to hold the first significant vote on it Friday.

The bill commits Britain to leaving the EU on January 31 and to concluding trade talks with the bloc by the end of 2020. Johnson insists he won’t agree to any more delays—a vow that has set off alarm bells among businesses, who fear that means the country will face a “no-deal” Brexit at the start of 2021.

Trade experts and EU officials say striking a free trade deal within 11 months will be a struggle. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday called the timetable “extremely challenging.”

Thursday’s speech is also set to include a bill to overhaul Britain’s immigration system after Brexit, when EU citizens will lose the automatic right to live and work in the UK. Beyond Brexit, there will be a

IN this image taken from video, Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks in the House of Commons in London on Tuesday. Buoyed by a Conservative majority in Parliament, Johnson signaled on Tuesday he won’t soften his Brexit stance, ruling out any extension of an end-of-2020 deadline to strike a trade deal with the European Union. HOUSE OF COMMONS VIA AP

law committing the government to spend more on the National Health Service, which has struggled to keep up with growing demand during a decade-long funding squeeze by previous Conservative governments.

Johnson loves big infrastructure projects and, in the past, has floated everything from a “Boris Island” airport in the River Thames to a bridge between Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Improving dire train services in northern England is a more likely priority for his government.

There are also expected to be be tough-sounding announcements on law and order. After two people were killed last month in London by an attacker who had served a prison sentence for terrorist crimes, Johnson said he would end early prison releases for serious offenders.

Johnson will make his mark on the government more decisively in the new year. He’s expected to shake up his Cabinet and merge or even eliminate some ministries— all under the guiding eye of chief adviser Dominic Cummings, a selfstyled political disruptor.

Johnson will also have to wait to see how Brexit affects the

UK economy. A downturn could hamper the government’s plans to spend more on public services.

Thursday’s speech will give the British public some idea of what drives Johnson, a politician whose core beliefs remain a mystery, even to his allies.

He sometimes acts like a Donald Trump-style populist—dubbing his administration a “People’s Government” and banning his ministers from attending the elitist World Economic Forum next month in Davos, Switzerland. But he also claims to be a socially liberal “one nation” Tory who welcomes immigration and wants Britain to be a leader in tackling climate change.

Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mar y University of London, said Conser vative prime ministers from Margaret Thatcher to Theresa May all took office promising, like Johnson, to “ heal the nation” and tackle social injustice.

“But actually in the end…they don’t want to spend too much money, they don’t want to raise taxes too high, they don’t want to regulate the economy—and actually nothing much happens,” he said. “So don’t hold your breath.” AP

Iran leader urges deeper Muslim cooperation to fight US ‘hegemony’

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UALA LUMPUR. Malaysia—Ira nia n President Hassan Rouhani on Thursday urged Muslim nations to deepen financial and trade cooperation to fight what he described as US economic hegemony, using an Islamic conference in Malaysia as a platform to decry American sanctions against his country.

Rouhani repeated his assertion that the US has used economic sanctions as the “main tools of domineering hegemony and bullying” of other nations.

Iran has been gripped by violent protests since last month amid anger over a sharp hike in gasoline prices following US s a nc t ion s a f te r Wa sh i ng ton withdrew last year from Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. There has been a wave of arrests in Iran and rights group Amnesty International has said at least 304 people were killed in the anti-government protests.

Rouhani said the US sought to cripple Iran with the “heaviest sanctions” but the country’s economy is on the mend and moving away from reliance on oil.

“The Muslim world should be designing measures to save themselves from the domination of the United States dollar and the American financial regime,” he said at the opening ceremony of the three-day conference that included leaders from Turkey, Qatar and host Malaysia.

Rouhani suggested the creation

China seeks to spur N. Korea talks during US envoy’s visit

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EIJING—China is urging dialog ue bet ween t he US a nd Nor t h Korea du r ing a v isit to Beijing by Wash ington’s special representative for P yong ya ng a f fa irs.

Vice Foreig n Minister Luo Zhaohui told reporters that despite tensions, the situation on the Korean Peninsula “had not left the track of dialogue and negotiation” and that “opportunities and challenges” remained.

Luo’s comments came shortly before the arrival of Stephen Biegun in Beijing on Thursday during a swing through the region.

Biegun had offered to meet with North Korean officials during a stop in South Korea but received no public response from Pyongyang.

Some in the South have speculated that a secret meeting could happen in Beijing although American diplomats have said nothing to indicate that would happen.

China, North Korea’s most important diplomatic ally and biggest source of investment and financial support, has long pushed for both bilateral discussions between Washington and Pyongyang, and the restarting of six-nation nuclear disarmament talks that have been stalled for a decade.

Biegun’s visit comes as North Korea is ratcheting up pressure

of a special banking and financial mechanism among Muslim nations, using local currencies for trade and giving each other trade privileges to deepen linkages.

He said r ising extremism, as well as challenges, such as weak governance, poverty and corruption are endangering sovereignty and paving the way for Western interference in Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan and other Muslim nations. But if Muslim countries harness their collective strength, they could confront such problems, he said.

Rouhani proposed the Kuala Lumpur conference establish a joint fund to finance technological cooperation among Muslim

on President Donald J. Trump’s administration to extract major concessions as it approaches an end-of-year deadline set by leader Kim Jong Un to salvage deadlocked nuclear negotiations.

On Sunday, Pyongyang said it successfully performed another “crucial test” at its long-range rocket launch site that will further strengthen its nuclear deterrent.

The test possibly involved technologies to improve intercontinental ballistic missiles that could potentially reach the continental United States.

In Washington, meanwhile, top Senate Democrats issued a letter to Trump expressing their growing concern that the administration’s efforts to advance toward a lasting peace and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula appear to be stalled and on the brink of failure.”

“While we understand that significant gaps remain between the two sides—and that North Korea has yet to take sufficient steps to meet its stated commitment to diplomacy and denuclearization— we are disturbed that almost two years after the Singapore Summit your administration has yet to develop a workable diplomatic process to structure real, serious and sustainable negotiations with North Korea,” the letter said. AP

Mahathir blames Muslim countries for rising Islamophobia

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ALAYSIA’S Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has called the leaders of Muslim countries to task over negative views of Islam, asking them to come up with a concerted plan to address Islamophobia.

Speaking to state leaders, including Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Mahathir said “disreputable acts of terror” had caused fear of the religion to the point of creating phobia.

“Yes, we are angry and frustrated,” he said at the KL Summit in the capital Kuala Lumpur on Thursday. “We cannot wage a conventional war. No country would help us. But even so, what do we gain by such indiscriminate violent acts? Nothing.”

Refugees’ plight

M A H AT HIR BEMOA NED t he pl ight of t hose who had to f lee t he i r home s to s e e k re f u ge elsewhere, while many Muslim

IRANIAN President Hassan Rouhani speaks at the Kuala Lumpur Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Thursday. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Wednesday an Islamic conference that includes leaders from Iran, Turkey and Qatar is aimed at tackling Islamophobia and finding solutions to challenges facing the Muslim world. AP/LAI SENG SIN

Editor: Angel R. Calso

cou nt r ies rema in “ beholden” to power f u l non-Musl im nat i o n s . T h e c o m m e nt s c o m e a m id si lence f rom t he Isl a m ic world on C h ina’s w idespread de te nt ion of most ly Ui g hu r Muslims and India’s controversi a l c it i zensh ip l aw t hat d iscr im inates aga inst Musl ims.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation, another gathering of Muslim countries, had commended China for “providing care” to its Muslim citizens. Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Abdulaziz Al Saud and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan won’t attend the KL Summit over concern the meeting would rival the OIC. Mahathir has downplayed that worry, saying Malaysia is too small to pose a challenge and that he only seeks to “spark a sense of purpose.”

“If our efforts yield fruits, we would like to take them up with other Muslim nations that share our concerns and desire to do something to improve the plight of our brethren,” Mahathir said in the speech. Bloomberg News

MASS PROTESTS ERUPT ACROSS POLAND OVER PLAN TO PUNISH JUDGES

nations, set up a a joint research center in artificial intelligence and cyberspace, and create a Muslim market in digital economy and cryptocurrency.

Notably absent from the conference is Saudi Arabia, which snubbed the meeting because it was not held under the Saudi-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Saudi Arabia and Iran are bitter rivals. Pakistan also withdrew from the conference in a move to assuage its ally, Saudi Arabia.

Tu r k i s h P r e s i d e n t R e c e p Ta y y i p E rd o g a n l au n c h e d a veiled criticism against the OIC, telling the conference that the platform that brings the Muslim world together was besieged

by a “ lack of implementation.”

“We still haven’t made any progress regarding the Palestinian cause, we still can’t stop the exploitation of our resources, we still can’t say ‘stop’ to the fragmentation of the Muslim world over sectarianism, that’s why,” said Erdogan.

Muslims account for 94 percent of worldwide conflict with one out of three arms sold globally finding its way to the Middle East, he said. “The Muslims are using their resources for armament and for conflict and while doing so they are enriching the Western arm dealers,” he added.

Rouhani leaves on Friday for a two-day visit to Japan. AP

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ARSAW, Poland—Protesters gathered in large numbers across Poland on Wednesday evening to denounce legislation being pushed by the populist ruling party that would give the government the power to fire judges.

The protesters voiced fears that the legislation, if passed, would mark an end to the separation of powers, and be the most dangerous blow to the young democracy’s foundations since the right-wing party, Law and Justice, came to power in 2015.

They also warned that it would add to Poland’s marginalization in the European Union and possibly even lead to its eventual departure from the 28-country bloc.

People chanted “free courts!” as they gathered in front of the parliament in Warsaw and at court buildings in cities across the nation of 38 million people, including Katowice, Krakow, Wroclaw, Olsztyn, Bialystok and Poznan. Private broadcaster TVN24 said there were protests in 160 places.

“Today is a difficult day. Once again the fate of free courts hangs in the balance,” Igor Tuleya,

a judge who has been a prominent critic of the government, told a crowd in Warsaw.

A prosecutor, Dariusz Korneluk, said regular citizens would also suffer if judges are intimidated to the point they issue government-friendly rulings, fearing retribution if they don’t. “We are here because the foundations of our country’s system are under threat,” he said.

Earlier Wednesday, the parliament’s Bureau of Research, which analyzes the legality of draft laws, warned that the new legislation violates both judicial independence and the primacy of EU law.

Among other items in the draft law, which the lower house will begin debating Thursday, the government would have the power to discipline judges who carry out rulings in line with EU law, including questioning judicial appointments.

The Supreme Court said that could put Poland irremediably at odds with the European bloc.

“With this law, the Polish authorities are attempting to remove what little remains of judicial independence in Poland,” Amnesty International said. AP

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Indonesian man and 3 companies breached Iran sanctions, US says

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n Indonesian man and three businesses from that nation have been charged with plotting to send goods and technology to Iran in violation of American economic sanctions.

Sunarko Kuntjoro, who remains at large in Indonesia, and the three companies face an eight-count indictment in Washington, federal prosecutors said in a statement on Tuesday. The three companies are PT MS Aero Support, Kandiyasa Energi Utama PT and PT Antasena Kreasi. “ The US-origin goods were destined for an Iranian aviation business end user, Mahan Air, and the defendants conspired to make a financial profit for themselves and other conspirators, and to evade export regulations, prohibitions and licensing requirements,” the Justice department said in a statement.

The airline was not charged.

Kuntjoro, a former director at Indonesian flag carrier PT Garuda Indonesia, said he couldn’t comment and that he hadn’t been formally notified. Calls to Aero Support and Kandiyasa Energi went unanswered. Contact information for Antasena Kreasi wasn’t immediately available.

Kuntjoro, 68, who is identified as the majority owner of Aero Support, is accused of plotting with Mahan Air, one of its executives, and an American person and company to ship goods owned by Mahan Air to the US for repair and reexport them to Iran. The American person and company weren’t named or charged.

The conspiracy ran from 2011 to 2018, prosecutors said.

Kuntjoro is also charged with money launder ing and ot her crimes. Information on his attorney wasn’t immediately available.

Bloomberg News

Clash at UN Security Council over cross-border aid for Syria

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NITED NATIONS—Russia and China are clashing with many other UN Security Council nations over the delivery of humanitarian aid across borders and conflict lines to more than 1 million Syrians in mainly rebelheld areas.

Since 2014, the Security Council has sent aid through four border crossings—Bab al-Salam and Bab al-Hawa in Turkey; Al Yarubiyah in Iraq; and Al-Ramtha in Jordan.

The sponsors of this year’s aid resolution—Germany, Belgium and Kuwait—circulated a draft that has been discussed for several weeks that would add a new crossing point in Turkey and extend cross-border operations for a year.

Russia and China, which are allies of Syrian President Bashar Assad, circulated a rival resolution on Monday that seeks to close the crossing points in Iraq and Jordan, leaving only two in Turkey while not adding the third proposed in the rival resolution. And it would renew the cross-border operation for only six months.

Envoys from the 10, elected members of the Security Council, which serve two-year terms, stood outside the Chamber Tuesday to express support for renewing the crossborder “mechanism.” They warned that “the consequences of a non-renewal of the mechanism would be disastrous.”

The 15-member council discussed the rival resolutions behind closed doors on Wednesday.

Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said the sponsors’ resolution “has little to do with the real situation on the ground” and is “unacceptable and inviable,” indicating that Moscow would veto it if it is put to a vote.

Britain’s ambassador, Karen Pierce, countered that “in the last few year the situation has not changed materially to obviate the need for cross-border aid.”

As for a fifth crossing at Tel Abyad in Turkey, she said, “we would much rather have the fifth crossing as would the UN.” If a compromise is needed, she said, a fifth crossing might be something that the Security Council needs to come back to at a future date.

German Ambassador Christoph Heusgen said the three cosponsors will need to come up with a resolution.

“We are not impressed by any veto threats,” he said. “We... are obliged to look at the humanitarian needs as objectively as needed.”

“Our message to Russia is as it has always been before— please observe international humanitarian law and see to it that the people that are suffering in this terrible war that has lasted much too long, that this suffering can be stopped.”

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a report circulated on Monday that “the United Nations does not have an alternative means of reaching people in need in the areas in which cross-border assistance is being provided.”

Last year, Russia and China abstained in the 13-0 vote authorizing the crossing points.

The mandate for the current resolution expires January 10, and diplomats said they expect tough negotiations.

Heusgen said he expects a vote before Christmas.

Guterres said 2019 saw “a further deterioration of an already extremely difficult humanitarian situation for people throughout Syria, where over 11 million people remain in need of assistance.”

As the year draws to an end, the secretary-general said, he is “particularly concerned about the impact that a potential full-scale military offensive in the northwest could have on the already vulnerable population, while also watching with concern the impact of ongoing hostilities in the northeast, as well as increasing tension in the south.”

He said this year’s humanitarian appeal for Syria for $3.3 billion is only 55 percent funded, at $1.8 billion, and urged donors to provide additional support. AP

Friday, December 20, 2019

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Chinese hacking group, quiet for years, resumes global attacks

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Chinese government-linked hacking group that was thought to be dormant has been quietly targeting companies and government agencies for the last two years, harvesting data after stealing passwords and circumventing two-factor authentication intended to prevent such attacks, according to researchers.

Fox-IT, a security company based in the Netherlands, said in a report published on Thursday that the group’s attacks have extended to 10 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy.

The Chinese hackers carried out a global espionage campaign that targeted industries including aviation, construction, finance, health care, insurance, gambling and energy, the firm said.

The hackers likely belong to a group known as APT20, according to the researchers, who said they had “high confidence that the actor is a Chinese group and that they are likely working to support the interests of the Chinese government.”

Between 2009 and 2014, APT20—which is also known as Violin Panda and th3bug— was associated with hacking campaigns that targeted universities, military, health-care and telecommunications companies. The group went quiet for a number of years, but has recently made a resurgence, according to Fox-IT.

Digital trail

“A lot of people thought that this group disappeared, or no longer existed,” said Frank Groenewegen, chief security expert at Fox-IT. “But what we found is that this group has been operating internationally again and hacking lots of companies.”

A representative for the Chinese government didn’t return a message seeking comment.

Fox-IT discovered the group’s hacking spree in the summer of 2018, while carrying out an analysis of computer systems that had been compromised, Groenewegen said. From the initial discovery, Fox-IT’s researchers were able to follow a digital trail that helped them uncover dozens of similar attacks that appear to have been perpetuated by the same group. Attacks were also carried out in Brazil, Mexico, Portugal and Spain, according to Fox-IT. There was also at least one target within China, a semiconductor company, according to Groenewegen, who declined to name the companies and organizations that were attacked. Fox-IT is working with some of them to clean up their systems, he said, and has notified the others.

The hackers would usually gain entry to an organization’s systems by exploiting a vulnerability on Web servers that the company or government agency operated. They would then penetrate further to identify people—usually system administrators—with privileged access to the most sensitive parts of the computer network, according to Fox-IT’s report.

Free rein

The hackers would place keylogger software on system administrators’ computers, which record keystrokes and can reveal passwords. The group was also able in at least one case to compromise a RSA SecurID two-factor authentication system, replicating its codes, which are designed to thwart hackers by providing an extra layer of security in addition to a password, according to Fox-IT. RSA Security didn’t respond to a message seeking comment.

The hackers were effective at covering up their tracks, according to Fox-IT. They would routinely delete the tools they used to steal data from infected computers. But occasionally they slipped up. Fox-IT placed monitoring technology within one victim’s network, and was able to

gather data showing that the hackers were using a Web browser that had its language set to Chinese.

With the help of a law enforcement agency, Fox-IT traced the hackers’ activities to a Web server the group had purchased as a staging point for their attacks. The hackers had paid in Bitcoin and given fake details, a British phone number and American address in Lafayette, Louisiana. But they had typed part of the address in simplified Chinese.

There was also the issue of time. FoxIT’s security experts were kept up all night by the hackers, who became active about 3 a.m. in the Netherlands and continued for

eight to 10 hours. That suggests they were operating in China’s time zone, which is seven hours ahead of the Netherlands.

Perhaps the most striking indicator came after the hackers found out they had been caught. Fox-IT moved to shut them out of a compromised network and watched as the group typed in a series of commands to try and regain access to the computers.

When it became clear that they had been locked out, one of the hackers, apparently frustrated, bashed out the word wocao on his keyboard. That’s Chinese slang for an obscenity, according to Fox-IT.

Bloomberg News

News

BusinessMirror

A12 Friday, December 20, 2019

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Post-promulgation: Solons flag still-potent threats from the 80 accused still at large

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

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@joveemarie

OLLOWING the Quezon City Regional Trial Court’s decision convicting the prime suspects in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, lawmakers on Thursday said authorities should look further into the case of 80 accused individuals who remain at large.

Maguindanao Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu, who lost his wife and relatives in the massacre, said the court decision against the Ampatuans is proof that justice is alive in the country and “that it is never wrong to choose the right, and trust completely in God and in our Constitution.”

He said “the 10 years of waiting was worth it because justice is on our side. Words are not enough to express our heartfelt gratitude, and gratitude to God and your prayers for us.”

“Although not all of the accused were sentenced to life imprisonment, we are still pleased that those who were prosecuted were sentended to life imprisonment. [We] are deeply grateful for your prayers and support so that we may achieve the justice we have waited [for] 10 years,”Mangudadatu added.

ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Niña Taduran said 80 more suspects in the Maguindanao massacre case are still at large.

She said 14 of the 80 on the run are carrying the Ampatuan surname, while 50 of them are police officers and soldiers who have served as security of the convicted Datu Andal Ampatuan Jr. Taduran, House assistant majority leader, called on the Philippine National Police to exhaust all means to bring these 80 suspects to justice.

“Today, impunity has ended. The victims’ cry for justice has been answered. As we celebrate the bravery and wisdom of Judge Jocelyn SolisReyes, we must also continue to pray for her safety, and the witnesses’ and the families of the victims’ wellbeing,” says Taduran.

Taduran believes that these 80 suspects are still threats to the sur-

REP. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu, whose wife died in the massacre, raises a clenched fist as relatives of other victims flash the peace sign after hearing the “guilty” verdict for the accused in the massacre. NONIE REYES

viving victims and their families, as well as the witnesses.

After 3,678 days, the verdict on the murder of 58 people in the single-most gruesome political massacre in Maguindanao was finally resolved and rendered by Judge Solis-Reyes of Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 211 at the Quezon City Jail Annex-Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

It was on November 23, 2009, that 32 media personnel, 20 family members of Mangudadatu, and six other individuals were slaughtered and dumped into pits by a backhoe. Fiftytwo of the victims were part of the convoyofnow-Rep.Mangudadatuwho was then set to file his candidacy for the governorship of Maguindanao.

ACTIVISTS, alternative media and members of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) shout in jubilation upon hearing the verdict over radio outside Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. BERNARD TESTA

Recognition

RELATIVES and some wives of the accused policemen line up to attend the promulgation of the Maguindanao massacre case. NONIE REYES

FOR his part, Dasmariñas Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. sought for the recognition of the legal prowess, commitment, and bravery of Judge Solis-Reyes who took the responsibility of deciding the case despite threats to her life and her family.

Since the conviction is just at the RTC level, Barzaga said it will surely be appealed all the way to the Supreme Court, with the process taking years again.

He also called for the judiciary to adopt measures to expedite legal proceedings and improve the administration of justice.

“They [accused at large] too

must be tried so corresponding penalties may be sentenced to them.” Moreover, he challenged the judiciary to “recalibrate its system and address VIP treatment among big-time inmates and ensure that hospital referral official pass is not abused by some who fake illnesses to be moved into medical facilities.”

Meanwhile, House Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate hailed the court decision. “At long last, after 10 years, justice is finally catching up with the culprits behind the most barbaric attack against journalists in world history.”

SENATORS: BARMM’S SUCCESS TO HELP AVERT REPEAT OF MAGUINDANAO MASSACRE

By Butch Fernandez

@butchfBM

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ENATORS on Thursday acclaimed the long-awaited court verdict on the Maguindanao massacre case a decade ago, saying a repeat of the evils that made it possible can be averted by ensuring the success of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Sen. Grace Poe pointed out that finally, “justice came to the families of the victims, and the Filipino people, with this initial victory after 10 excruciating years,” adding, “hail the court for siding with truth.”

She praised “the prosecution team and the witnesses for their unwavering courage. We stand with the families of the victims and support groups for their fortitude.” Acknowledging concerns that 80 other accused remain at large, and could threaten witnesses and the victims’ families as they await another long-drawn process when the regional trial court verdict is appealed to higher courts, Poe said, “Let us continue to be vigilant to see through this case to its final judgment.”

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, on the other hand, saw the court verdict as “a day too long in coming, but it is a step towards the full measure of justice.”

The senator suggested that “we must now ensure the success of the BARMM so that the Philippines stops becoming a dangerous place for members of the press, or for anyone exercising their democratic rights.

Now we must work toward the greater goal of ending lawless violence perpetrated by political dynasties who only want to cling to power and look after their own self-interest.”

In a separate statement, Sen. Richard J. Gordon commended Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes for “finally bringing closure to the Maguindanao massacre case which spanned almost a decade.”

Gordon, chairman of the Senate Committee on Accountability of Public Officers, or the blue ribbon, suggested that Solis-Reyes be commended for continuing with the case to its conclusion after she took over from another QC judge, adding that the lady judge displayed her “commitment to fulfilling her duty to dispense justice fairly, even in the face of considerable intimidation. It was a very hard work for her.”

There had been fears that the judge might back out owing to threats, but she came out with the promulgation after a marathon trial that legal experts earlier predicted would take “100 years” to finish.

Presiding over Quezon City RTC Branch 221, Solis-Reyes declared several members of the influential Ampatuan clan guilty of multiple murder for the massacre of 58 people in Maguindanao in 2009, an incident known as the single- deadliest attack on journalists in the world and an unprecedented case of election-related violence.

Among the Ampatuan clan members found guilty for 57 counts of murder were former Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan, Anwar Ampatuan Sr., Anwar “Ipi” Ampatuan Jr. and Anwar Sajid “Ulo” Ampatuan.

However, two Ampatuans—Akmad, alias “Tato,” and Sajid Islam Ama— were acquitted, while the family patriarch, Andal Sr., who was considered a main suspect, died of liver cancer in 2015 while the case was being tried.

At the same time, Sen. Gordon observed that with the revised implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 10592, or the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) law, the respondents who were sentenced to reclusion perpetua, or a maximum of 40 years without benefit of parole, would not be able to use the law to get their way out of the national penitentiary.

He stressed that while the GCTA law is “very clear that prisoners convicted of heinous crimes are not eligible to avail of the benefit of this law,” its IRR been revised, “hence the abusive implementations, that the contradictions in the previous IRR allowed, would no longer be possible.”

For his part, opposition Sen. Francis Pangilinan sees the Ampatuan ruling as “a warning to other mass murderers,” noting that “those behind the daily killings in the brutal drug war launched by this administration should take today’s Ampatuan massacre guilty verdict to heart.”

Sen. Joel Villanueva also praised the judge, saying he saluted her for “her dedication and her courage to stand for what is right and just,” adding, “We hope that our authorities continue to account for the other accused who have yet to be arrested and tried.”

Palace hails triumph of rule of law, affirms protection for media rights

By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

& Recto Mercene @rectomercene

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ALACAÑANG on Thursday said the rule of law has prevailed in the country following the much-awaited verdict of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, on the 2009 Maguindanao massacre case.

Presidential Spokesman and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador S. Panelo said this as the Palace welcomed the decision of the court which found some members of the Ampatuan clan guilty of multiple mur-

der while acquitting several others.

“The court has spoken, and rendered its decision on the basis of the evidence presented by both the prosecution and the defense. There were verdicts of guilty and acquittal.

It behooves the parties to respect them,” Panelo said.

Panelo said those who disagree with the judgments of the court have legal remedies, and it is up to the Supreme Court to give the final judgment.

“For now, what is important is that the rule of law has prevailed,” he added.

The Palace commended the executive officials who were either in-

volved in the case as prosecutors or were heavily interested in its outcome as protectors of press freedom and human rights “for ensuring that the propriety and integrity of the proceedings were upheld.”

Media workers’ protection “WHILE the promulgation of judgment on the case is done, the narrative on the protection of media workers is far from over. The President and the whole of government see this as a constant trial and is, therefore, still hard at work in building a nation where wanton acts of violence can be prevented so that any intention to threaten our democracy will not

prosper even at its inception,” he said.

The Maguindanao massacre, the Palace said, is a dark chapter in Philippine history for representing “merciless disregard for the sacredness of human life, as well as ‘violent suppression of press freedom.”’

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar for his part said in a statement, “As I’ve said before, criminals who murder or, in any way, endanger journalists in this part of the world will not go unpunished. This is justice. It was admittedly a slow process, but we have to go though it as warranted by our democratic system.”

For Andanar, the result of the promulgation would exemplify the dedication of the Philippine government to punish those who perpetrate crimes against the media.

“This promulgation is a very historic event because you will see the dedication of our country and our constitutional laws for the media, including their press freedom,” he added.

Meanwhile, Undersecretary Jose Joel Sy Egco, executive director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFOMS), said the outcome is “a cause for celebration for those who value press freedom, freedom of expression and human rights.”

Minutes after Judge Jocelyn SolisReyes handed the verdict at Camp Bagong Diwa, the PTFOMS chief called it a “triumph of human rights and victory against media killings.”

Egco attributed the results to the political will of President Duterte, recalling that the President had sought ways to attain justice for the sake of the bereaved families by consoling them personally in Malacañang.

Over a decade ago, 57 people, including 32 journalists and media workers, were killed in a desperate attempt of the powerful Ampatuan clan to stop Esmael Mangudadatu’s bid for the 2010 gubernatorial elections.

News BusinessMirror

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Friday, December 20, 2019 AA13

Drive vs illegal contractualization slowing?

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By Samuel P. Medenilla

@sam_medenilla

HE government’s campaign against illegal contractualization has apparently started to lose some steam this year after its number of recorded regularized workers was cut by almost half compared to the numbers in 2018.

During its year-ender press conference on Tuesday, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced it was able to facilitate the regularization of 580,539 contractual workers since August 2016.

Labor Secretary Silvestre H.

Win tells regulators: Probe rides overcharging

Bello III has consistently reiterated this was a historic achievement since no other administration was able to regularize as many contractual workers.

However, of the said cumulative figure, 2019 accounted for only 166,599, which was significantly

lower compared to the number of regularized workers in 2018, at 320,999.

In 2016 the number of regularized workers was 39,399 and in 2017, it was at 53,542.

Revitalizing measures

LABOR Assistant Secretary Benjo M. Benavidez confirmed the declining trend of regularization this year, which he attributed to the increasing number of companies questioning their regularization orders before the courts.

“Only a few companies are now voluntarily regularizing their workers,” Benavidez told the BusinessMirror in a previous interview.

He said they are now pinning their hopes on the passage of the Security of Tenure (SOT) bill or the revival of their scrapped planned

166,599 Number of workers regularized in 2019, compared to the number of regularized workers in 2018, at 320,999

Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (Ecop) to revitalize their campaign against illegal contractualization.

The labor official noted the SOT bill will clear most of the legal questions on the issue of contractual employment, making their regularization order less likely to be legally contested.

As for the MOA, he said it will encourage employers, particularly

T

@butchfBM

As I said, even if there are not enough drivers on the road, they cannot charge fares that exceed twice the fare matrix,” Gatchalian said.

DESPITE the fewer number of regularized workers this year, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) lauded DOLE in its continuous campaign against illegal contractualization.

However, the country’s largest labor federation called on the department to break down its data

HE Philippine Stock Exchange could more than triple the minimum capitalization of all brokers to P100 million ($2 million) as it seeks to prevent a repeat of a theft that brought down a 50-year-old securities company.

The proposal will be presented to the bourse’s board at the start of 2020, and is meant to ensure that brokerage firms can afford enough employees across different functions, PSE President and CEO Ramon Monzon said.

The move comes after R&L Investments Inc., one of the oldest brokerages in the country, reported last month that a clerk managed to siphon off more than P700 million in clients’ shares since he handled trading, settlements and recordkeeping years earlier.

Senate adjourns session for 1-mo break, cites bills tackled T HE Senate adjourned its session Wednesday, December 18, to go on a one-month legislative break during the holidays. Regular sessions will resume on January 20, 2020, Monday.

Topping the list of the Senate’s accomplishments in the first four months of the First Regular Session in the 18th Congress, is the passing of the P4.1-trillion 2020 General Appropriations Act, which it ratified and adopted last week.

“We opened the First Regular Session of the 18th Congress with a new batch of senators raring and eager to buckle down to work, and I am happy to note that we were able to file a record number of bills and resolutions, foremost of which is the P4.1-trillion 2020 budget,” Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said.

“The budget is the most important law of the land.

By approving it well ahead of the Christmas break, we will be spared from the difficulties arising from a reenacted budget as had happened earlier this year.

“The reenacted budget delayed projects and, worse, delayed salaries of national and LGU employees for the first quarter of 2019,” he added.

From the start of the 18th Congress last July 22 until December 17 of this year, the senators had filed a total of 1,241 bills and 281 resolutions.

The Senate successfully passed Republic Act 11462, the first law passed by the 18th Congress, principally sponsored by Sen. Imee Marcos. It postponed the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections formerly scheduled for next year and moved these to December 5, 2022, for which the government would have allocated P5.77 billion, according to the Commission on Elections.

This was followed by the Malasakit Center Act (RA 11463), principally sponsored by Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, that will establish Malasakit Centers in all government-owned hospitals—of which 54 have been established, the most recent was in Antipolo, Rizal.

The Senate passed the following on Third and Final Reading: the National Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims Act (SB 1122); the Night Shift Differential Pay (SB 643); the National Transportation Safety Board Act (SB 1077); an Act Fixing the Validity Period of the License to Own, Permit to Carry and Registration of Firearms (SB 1155); the Salary

BUSINESSMIRROR FILE PHOTO

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Needed proof

to show those who are already absorbed by their principals, and those who are not due to pending regularization orders.

“It should be disaggregated, otherwise it is an intellectually deceptive good news,” TUCP Vice President Louie Corral said.

DOLE has consistently stated it does not include workers with pending regularization orders in its regularization figures.

Labor leaders have been challenging DOLE to release the names of the regularized workers for verification purposes.

Benavidez explained that, while they have the said list, they cannot release it to the public, stressing such information could only be disclosed to the parties it involves: the regularized worker, as well as their employer.

PHL may impose tougher rules on brokers after rogue clerk theft

By Butch Fernandez

EN. Sher w in Gatcha lian prodded State regulators to look into complaints of alleged overcharging by virtual monopoly Grab ride-hailing company after its competitor Uber closed shop.

Citing reports reaching his office, Gatchalian indicated the Senate could also look into the complaints to protect commuters from unscrupulous taxi drivers taking advantage of commuters as demand peaks during the holiday season.

The senator pointed out that Grab fare hikes need to stay within the fare matrix, even if there are fewer drivers available.

“As I said, even if there are not enough drivers on the road, they cannot charge fares that exceed twice the fare matrix,” Gatchalian said.

“I’ve seen in some reports where the fares are really in excess, more than three times or four times. So we should investigate this abuse and this inquiry will help us examine this,” he added in a mix of English and Filipino.

The senator recalled that similar overcharges have been reported before.

“The incidents of 2018 and 2019 keep being repeated, so it’s really time for the Philippine Competition Commission [PCC] to look into such abuse against our consumers,” Gatchalian added.

Ecop members, to voluntarily comply with their regularization order by providing them a certain period by which they should complete the absorption of their illegally contracted workers.

Labor groups have opposed the MOA, saying it provides unnecessary concessions to employers in regularizing their workers, such exemption from the routine labor inspections of DOLE.

Standardization Law 5 (SB 1219); and Establishment of Separate Facilities for Prisoners Convicted of Heinous Crimes (SB 1055); Amending the National Internal Revenue Code by Increasing the Excise Tax on Alcohol, Heated Tobacco and Vapor Products and for other purposes (SB 1074); among others. Also approved by the Senate was House Bill 5437 extending the availability of the 2019 appropriations for maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) and capital outlays (CO).

It also adopted 35 resolutions, noteworthy of which is Senate Resolution 22 that expressed the sense of the Senate opposing liberalization of the sugar industry in order to protect the livelihood of millions of sugar workers and agrarian reform beneficiaries; SR 18 recognizing the 70th anniversary of the Philippines and Republic of Korea relations; SR 8, reconstituting the special committee on Marawi City Rehabilitation.

“We went head-on against negative issues by steadfastly tackling serious issues afflicting the country’s jails, the illegal drugs problems, rising HIV cases and the decline in incomes of rice farmers and hog raisers due to calamities, diseases and import liberalization.

However, the first four months also saw the Senate positively united in support of the stellar performance of our athletes with resolutions filed to honor athletes in windsurfing, arnis, weightlifting, wushu, among others, during the recently concluded Southeast Asian Games hosted by the Philippines. Indeed, it was a productive six months of 2019,” concluded Zubiri.

Rogue clerk

WHILE the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the country required new brokers to put up at least P100 million in capital in 2003, those who started before that were subject to the old requirement of a minimum capital of just P30 million.

Brokers will likely be required by the PSE to raise their capitalization over several phases, Monzon said. Those that fail to reach the threshold could be restricted from clearing operations, he said.

“There will be some consolidation” among the Philippines’s 132 brokers as a result of the rule change, Monzon said, adding that the Philippines has “too many” brokers for the size of its market.

Bloomberg News

A14 Friday, December 20, 2019 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

Will Golden Rice help us climb the PISA ladder?

I

N October, United Nations Children’s Fund warned in a global report that “Filipino children are increasingly suffering from poor diets, inadequate nutrition and food systems that are failing them.” Unicef ’s flagship report—“The State of the World’s Children”—examines for the first time in 20 years the issue of children, food and nutrition around the world. Here’s the alarming part of the report: One in 3 Filipino children under five years old are stunted, which means they are too short for their age, while roughly 7 percent of children are too thin for their height.

“The undernutrition facts in the Philippines are disturbing—one in three 12 to 23-month-old children suffer from anemia while 1 in 3 children are irreversibly stunted by the age of two. On the other hand, 1 in 10 adolescents are obese from wrong eating habits,” said Oyun Dendevnorov, Unicef Philippines representative. She added: “The triple burden of undernutrition, hidden hunger and overweight poses serious threats to child health, therefore, Unicef is supporting the Philippine government in implementing the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition. Under the leadership of the government, working together with private sector, civil society and all stakeholders, we must address the causes of unhealthy eating in all its forms.”

Given this background, there’s a need to look at the relationship between nutritional status and educational performance among school-age children. Remember the 2018 PISA results, where the country’s 15-yearold students were randomly tested as a group in Reading literacy and came up last among the 79 countries tested? Surely, food and academic performance are closely intertwined: If we properly feed our children, then they will do well in school. It’s hard to focus on any lesson when you are hungry.

Here’s good news for people who can’t get over the PISA results: On Wednesday, the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) declared that Golden Rice, after rigorous biosafety assessments, has been found to be as safe as conventional rice. The verdict, addressed to the Department of AgriculturePhilippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), details the approval of GR2E Golden Rice for direct use as food and feed, or for processing.

This is a welcome development in a country where many children are still suffering from vitamin A deficiency. Despite the success of publichealth interventions like oral supplementation and complementary feeding in public schools, vitamin A deficiency among Filipino children aged six months to five years alarmingly increased to 20.4 percent in 2013, from 15.2 percent in 2008. The beta-carotene content of Golden Rice aims to provide 30 percent to 50 percent of the estimated average requirement of vitamin A for young children and pregnant women.

With the BPI approval, the DA-PhilRice and IRRI will now proceed with sensory evaluations and finally answer the question that many Filipinos want to know: “What does Golden Rice taste like?” To complete the Philippine biosafety regulatory process, Golden Rice will require approval for commercial propagation before it can be made available to the public. We hope that this provitamin-A biofortified rice variety will be available in the market soon, and hopefully, it will help improve our PISA results in the near future.

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BETTER DAYS

T

HE strength of an organization arises not just from its leaders, but also from its people. Their passion and motivation are important factors; if the rank and file believe in what their organization does, and that their organization compensates them decently, then that organization is operating well. At least, that is the ideal.

This December, the Philippine Statistics Authority came out with Phase 1 of their National Quickstat update for the month. In it, Filipino families earned on average, about P313,000 annually, or about P24,000 monthly, if you count 12 months and 13th-month pay. However, expenditures count for almost P20,000, leaving families with only P75,000 in annual savings, or about P6,250 a month.

Our government employees, suffice to say, should be earning enough to meet their needs. However, given the reality of our changing times, it is important for the standardized salaries of our men and women in the various government departments to be updated as often as possible—after all, good performance can be encouraged with proper compensation.

The direct solution to this is a salary increase applied across all the salary grades of civil servants.

After all, there are continued hikes in daily expenses such as food, transportation, and their children’s education expenses. An increase in their salaries would give them maneuvering space to balance their budgets, and have savings left over afterward.

But adapting to economic realities is not the only reason. It is my belief that by providing higher salaries, we can steadily work toward the goal of also lowering the instances where corruption, or the temptation to be corrupt, happens. In papers published by Transparency International, a global coalition against corruption, higher wages were part of the solution to address corruption

in the public sector, combined with proper monitoring and accounting practices.

That is why I am proud to say that the Salary Standardization Law of 2019 or SSL 5, which we defended at the Senate plenary on behalf of Sen. Bong Revilla, who is the main sponsor, was approved and is now up for President Duterte’s approval and signature. It is a fitting season’s gift to all our civil servants, so that they can look forward to the coming years with more pride in their work, and resources for their families.

The increases in the salaries of civil servants will take effect on January 1 this coming year. The salary increases will be done gradually, from 2020 until 2023. To give one an idea of the scope of the salary increases, the 2020 tranche for the law will need P33.16 billion, and this is already provided for in the national budget.

Under the SSL 5, civil servants who are at the lowest salary grade (Grade 1) will have their current P11,068 monthly salary increased in stages to P13,000 in 2023; in general, those in salary Grades 1 to 10 will have 17.5-percent to 20-percent increases. Civil servants such as teachers, who are at Grade 11, will have an increase from P20,754 to P27,000 by 2023—a welcome development, particularly for our educators who are at the forefront of our efforts after the wake-up call

Respond to the mourning Earth

Jennifer A. Ng Vittorio V. Vitug

Senior Editors

Creative Director Chief Photographer

The gift of dignity and just compensation

Rev. Fr. Antonio Cecilio T. Pascual

SERVANT LEADER

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ROTHERS and sisters, in the book of Jeremiah 2:7, where Yahweh sends a message to the Israelites about their parents, we can see that God is saddened by the people desecrating the world: “I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you came and defiled my land and made my inheritance detestable.” And the current generations still defiles our planet.

But we see a ray of light from the brave people who stand for our only home. There is 16-year-old Greta Thunberg who was named “Person of the Year” by Time Magazine. Greta became known for her absence from classes to protest the lack of action of the Swedish government in responding to climate change. What point is there for her to study if her future is uncertain because of the continuous destruction of the environment?

Other youth have been influenced to echo and support Greta’s advocacy.

This founded the Global Climate Strike that was joined by thousands across different countries. The primary call of these strikes is to create and implement policies that will reduce the heating of the Earth.

We see now the result of lack of action of the government toward climate change. In the Philippines, for example, our rice fields are drying up because of the long and severe season of drought. The Banaue Rice Terraces, a Unesco World Heritage Site, is in a very critical stage of

deterioration according to the Food and Agriculture Organization or FAO. The destruction of the forests sourcing the water that gives life to the crops of the 2,000-year-old rice field ladder is not helping reduce the effects of the severe drought.

Our oceans are also in peril because of climate change. Because of the even hotter seas, the so-called ocean acidification that destroys coral reefs is being hastened. If the reefs that house fish disappear, our fishermen will no longer have any to catch. These threatening events came about because we keep polluting the rich soil given to us by God. The social teachings of our Church recognize the preservation of the environment as a great challenge of all mankind. In facing this challenge, it is important that we focus our efforts and sights on the common good. Anything we do must recognize the dignity of our fellow people and the environment, and with dedication for the future of the coming generations.

But this does not solely depend on the individual. The focus on the

that the results of the PISA 2018 gave our educational sector. Educators who are in the Teacher 1 to Teacher 3 positions will have salary increases that will range from 24 percent to 30 percent.

In fact, the ones who will benefit the most from SSL 5 will be those who are in the Grade 10 to 16 brackets, who comprise the majority of our staff and government administration. Middle managers, executives, and other top officials from salary Grades 25 to 33, in contrast, will have 8-percent increases, due to the fact that their salary increases have been addressed in part by the past standardization law, SSL 4. Under the Constitution, the President, Vice President, and incumbent members of Congress will have their current salaries remain the same, with any increases to be applied after their terms.

Indeed, of all the gifts that we can give this season, one based on dignity, respect, and proper compensation is the best that we can offer to our fellow Filipinos in government.

But this is only part of an ongoing process; I invite all stakeholders who believe in good governance to come to the table, so we can keep on improving government services by rewarding good work with the means to provide if not a wonderful life, then at least one with dignity and opportunity for the families and loved ones of civil servants.

common good must exist in an even wider field because climate change and addressing climate change are not encased in just one territory. We are enjoying all the wealth given by the planet; if any of these parts are gone, the whole system will be affected. From the words of Pope John Paul the II in his Sollicitudo Socialis, “The innate abilities of every entity and its relevance to the wider development must be dedicated to the matter.”

Brothers and sisters, the people who stand for a world that can support our future sons and daughters and those succeeding them are not making enough noise. Our lives are at stake if our rice fields and water resources will cease to exist. A longterm response of every individual, the government, and other social institutions, is what we need now without any time to waste.

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

Opinion BusinessMirror

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Friday, December 20, 2019 A15

A global anarchy revival Murdering images and voices could outdo the 1960s Tito Genova Valiente

ANNOTATIONS

Pankaj Mishra

BLOOMBERG VIEW

I

NDIA has exploded into protests against a citizenship law that explicitly discriminates against its 200 million-strong Muslim population. Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government has responded with police firing on demonstrators and assaults on university campuses.

The global wildfire of street protests, from Sudan to Chile, Lebanon to Hong Kong, has finally reached the country whose 1.3 billion population is mostly below the age of 25. The social, political and economic implications couldn’t be more serious.

It was only last month that students on the campus of Hong Kong Polytechnic University were throwing petrol bombs at the police, and fielding, in turn, teargas, rubber bullets and water cannons.

This violent resistance to an authoritarian state is novel to Hong Kong. The Umbrella Movement that in 2014 first expressed a mass sentiment for greater autonomy from Beijing was strikingly peaceful. The campaigners for democracy in Hong Kong today have also traveled very far away from the Chinese students who occupied Tiananmen Square in 1989, and to whom they have been wrongly compared.

Those students back in 1989 were deeply respectful of their state: Photographs of student petitioners kneeling on the steps of the Great Hall of the People are no less eloquent than the iconic picture of a protester facing a tank.

That acknowledgement of the state’s authority as ultimate arbiter is now rapidly disappearing, not only in Hong Kong, but also India and many other countries. It is being replaced by the conviction that the state has lost its legitimacy through cruel and malign actions.

Today’s protesters, who are overwhelmingly young, are usefully compared to the French student demonstrators in Paris in 1968.

The latter occupied places of work and study, streets and squares.

They also met police crackdowns with makeshift barricades and Molotov cocktails.

Like today’s protesters, the French students erupted into violence amid a global escalation of street fighting; they claimed to reject an older generation’s values and outlook. And they, too, couldn’t be simply classified as left-wing, right-wing or centrists.

Indeed, the French radicals confused many people at the time because they loathed the French communist party almost as much as they did the parties of the right.

The French communists, in turn, dismissed the protesting students as “anarchist.”

This commonplace pejorative confuses anarchism with disorganization. It should be remembered that anarchist politics is one of the modern world’s oldest, if little remembered, political and intellectual traditions. Today, it best describes the radical new turn to protests worldwide.

Anarchist politics began to emerge from the mid-19th century onward, originally in societies where ruthless autocrats were in power—France, Russia, Italy, Spain, even China—and where hopes of change through the ballot box seemed wholly unrealistic.

The anarchists—one of whom assassinated US President William McKinley in 1901—sought freedom from what they saw as increasingly exploitative modes of economic production. But, unlike socialist critics of industrial capitalism, they aimed most of their energies at liberation from what they saw as tyrannical forms of collective organization—namely, the

Today’s protesters, who are overwhelmingly young, are usefully compared to the French student demonstrators in Paris in 1968. The latter occupied places of work and study, streets and squares. They also met police crackdowns with makeshift barricades and Molotov cocktails. Like today’s protesters, the French students erupted into violence amid a global escalation of street fighting; they claimed to reject an older generation’s values and outlook. And they, too, couldn’t be simply classified as left-wing, right-wing or centrists. state and its bureaucracy, which in their view could be communist, as well as capitalist.

As Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, the pioneering thinker of anarchism (and robust critic of Marx), put it, “To be governed is to be kept in sight, inspected, spied upon, directed, law-driven, numbered, enrolled, indoctrinated, preached at, controlled, estimated, valued, censured, commanded, by creatures who have neither the right, nor the wisdom, nor the virtue to do so.”

For many anarchists, the state, the bureaucracy and security forces were the deepest affront to human dignity and liberty. They sought to achieve democratic freedoms by a drastic reduction in the power of the hydra-headed state, and a simultaneous intensification of the power of individuals from below through coordinated action.

Democracy for the anarchists was not a distant goal, to be reached through vertically integrated political parties, impersonal institutions and long electoral processes.

It was an existential experience, instantly available to individuals by jointly defying oppressive authority and hierarchy.

They saw democracy as a permanent state of revolt against the overcentralized state and its representatives and enforcers, including bureaucrats and the police. Success in this endeavor was measured by the scale and intensity of the revolt, and the strength of solidarity achieved, rather than by any (always unlikely) concession from the despised authorities.

This is also how protesters today seem to perceive democracy as they struggle, without much hope of any conventional victory, against governments that are as ideologically driven as they are ruthless.

Let there be no doubt: More open and unresolvable conflicts between ordinary citizens and authorities are likely to become the global norm, rather than the exception. Certainly, militant disaffection today is not only more extensive than it was in the late 1960s. It also connotes a deeper political breakdown.

Negotiations and compromise between different pressure groups and interests that have defined political society for ages suddenly seem quaint. Old-style political parties and movements are in disarray; societies, more polarized than ever before; and the young have never faced a more uncertain future. As angry, leaderless individuals revolt against increasingly authoritarian states and bureaucracies from Santiago to New Delhi, anarchist politics seems an idea whose time has come.

I

T has been 10 years. Then for two hours, we waited. Over at CNN Philippines, Pinky Webb asks Etta Rosales about the wait.

The human-rights advocate answers: we waited for so long, we can always wait again. Then the lawyers come. Each one has an opinion. One who used to be the lawyer for the Ampatuan is cool.

There will be acquittals.

The world is not ready for acquittal, may we tell the lawyer. Law or rule of law, in fact, cannot be the measure of justice in the land.

Ten years ago, 58 people were ambushed and killed on the windswept and hilly area of the town of Ampatuan in Maguindanao.

In that group, more than 30 journalists were murdered. This is considered as the single-deadliest event committed against journalists in the land. Before this, the county has seen its writers and media practitioners being killed. Some were caught in the crossfire; some were simply killed so they would stop writing.

I write this as I watch the images on the TV screen. Years ago, these images were blurred so as not to disturb us viewers. At present, CNN Philippines is displaying them, not to taunt us, not to disrespect the dead, but to show what happens in a massacre.

Across the grassy embankments, dead bodies are scattered. Some are covered with banana leaves, the only available death shroud in the area. As the camera moves around, more bodies are scanned. Did they jump out of the van? More bodies are strewn.

Some have their faces covered with paper? We see vans with their doors open. There are more vans and vehicles. Policeman and bystanders walk around the area. How shocked are they at the sight of all these dead people? There is no war here, just a display of impunity.

Over and over, that word would be mentioned by resource experts. An individual from the academe notes how we expected that the nation would be shaken into action after the massacre. There is no need for a response because we know this nation has not responded to the violence committed that day against

noncombatants.

In this nation of ours, we do not need wars to annihilate large populations. We merely need a system so rotten it props up a clan to run a region, a province, a domain. Then, the national leaders descend upon the land to link their authority to the local warlords and the network is completed.

Thus, when the crime is consummated, one is left to face not one individual but a clan of guilt-free perpetrators of injustice.

In between these thoughts, I go back to the mighty screen. On it appears again, and again, an almost melodramatic image of a hand stretched up, the arm bisected by the yellow signage “Police Line.”

Then the screen goes to the court.

Is it a makeshift court?

Perhaps, due to the number of accused in a camp, the government decides to construct a court where these individuals are held. This hall

of justice is composed of two areas: one is a narrow rectangular space facing the elevated portion where the judge will sit. A partition separates the said space from the bigger one where the accused are all seated.

Guards stand as sentinel over these accused, some of them bearing the same family name, Ampatuan.

In that narrow area with the judge are lawyers for the prosecution and the defense. In the waiting, the camera is merciless with them, as some of them are captured smiling, and giggling and laughing. You see, justice is more fun in the Philippines.

Outside the carnival has just begun. There are many people, but only few are allowed in.

Inside, there is also a carnival.

When the judge finally appears, there is a ruckus among the lawyers as they boisterously rise. Then they see that the judge is not yet taking her place, but moving into another room. The lawyers, all giddy for the opening of the show, have a great laugh. “Everyone is excited…” one voice says it all.

Everybody laughs.

No camera is expressly devoted to the accused in the space behind the lawyers. What we see are lawyers all excited to hear the judgment.

That is the atmosphere: friendly, collegial, intimate. It is as if the person who is about to sit on that august throne—give and take the monobloc for the factotum—is going to give away gifts.

Finally, the long wait is over. The judge informs all the lawyers (and those accused) about how long is the written verdict, which is more than

70 pages. The judge further clarifies that there are two options: to read the dispositive portion, or include the salient points. This is a signal for lawyers to state their favored option. The first two lawyers have good command of the English. Three more lawyers stand. It becomes painful to listen to them not because of their “English,” but because we realize gridlock is organic to lawyering.

They always have something to say, and they can say it with aplomb and confidence.

The judge finally makes her own decision: read the dispositive, which is basically the settlement of the case. A lawyer raises his hand and speaks. Then he greets everyone Merry Christmas. The judge looks at him. Everybody is happy. The lawyers are happy.

Justice is fun in the country.

The verdict is read. The guilty ones are named; the others are acquitted.

For every acquittal, there is a loud voice, a shout from the area where the accused are kept. Among the lawyers, there are early gestures of celebration. One lawyer raises his hand in jubilation each time a client (his client, I suppose), is declared not guilty.

Ang saya-saya.

Somewhere in some windswept, hilly town of Ampatuan, life, I believe, goes on. Everywhere in this country, writers and journalists will be covering killings and injustices.

For them and for everyone, death and life will go on.

E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com

The President will neuter the ‘hog’ raisers in Congress neuter the “hog” raisers in Congress.

Manny F. Dooc

TELLTALES

I

T may sound like a horse’s tale, rather a pig’s tale, but it’s true.

A lawyer representing piglets filed a class suit before a court in Germany to ban the castration of young male pigs without the use of anaesthesia, which is normally performed surgically within the first week after birth.

The process of castrating little male piggies has caused a major controversy in Europe, and such practice has even been banned in some countries, like Switzerland, Sweden and Norway. Farmers in these countries do the castration few hours after pig’s birth to avoid “boar taint,” which can cause a foul smell when male pigs are cooked when they get older. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals in Germany filed the court action on behalf of the piglets. Peta, through its lawyer, has claimed that castration without any pain relief is a cruel act and constitutes a violation of the piglets’ rights. In laying the basis for Peta’s legal action, the lawyer has advanced the view that since corporations and other legal entities have legal personality, animals like piglets should have, too. Maybe our human, er, animal-rights advocates should file a class action questioning the mass culling of pigs afflicted, or suspected, with African swine

fever. Pork lovers may allege that it is virtually a “porcocide,” for lack of a better term, without due process. Moreover, if we really want to upstage the Germans, I suggest that we rename our Commission on Human Rights (CHR) the Commission on Human and Pigs’ Rights (CHPR).

I do not favor using the more inclusive “Animal Rights” since that will cover and protect “crocodiles,” which abound in many sectors of our government.

What should be castrated without the help of any pain reliever or anaesthesia is the alleged “pork” embedded in the proposed 2020 national budget as denounced by Sen. Ping Lacson. As pointed out by Lacson, “pork is here to stay. I hope the President will again exercise his political will in vetoing line items that will obviously waste people’s tax money.” I have complete trust in PRRD that once he is convinced of the illegal insertions he will not only castrate the pork, but also

the Iowa caucus in early February.

nnn

nnn

THE reversal of the Hallmark Channel’s decision to reinstate the “samesex” marriage ads that it pulled out earlier due to pressure from the conservative groups was a resounding victory for the LGBT community. The controversial ads, which showed two females in wedding outfit kissing at the altar in front of the officiating official obviously after their betrothal, had brewed a tempest in the United States and in many parts of the world. After it was withdrawn from the media, many people, including celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres and William Shatner, assailed the move and demanded that Hallmark rescind its action. Hallmark’s top management admitted its mistake and it’s CEO Mike Perry said: “The Crown Media [Hallmark’s parent company] team has been agonizing [over] this decision as we’ve seen the hurt it has unintentionally caused. Said simply, they believe this was the wrong decision.” This unfortunate incident involving a well-loved company that promotes family values through its popular greeting cards, among others, obviously misread the temper of the times. It definitely underestimated the power and clout of the LGBT group, and the influence it wields in our society. In fact, surveys indicate that the US may now be ready to elect a gay candidate who has taken a male partner for President in the person of Pete Buttigieg, former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, who appears poised to win

HEADLINES read: “P200-B forfeiture case vs Marcoses dismissed.”

“PCGG loses 4th case on Marcos wealth.” “Sandigan junks P200-B civil case vs Marcoses.” So what else is new? For the umpteenth time, the government has suffered a series of blows in its efforts to recover alleged ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses. It was reported that this year alone, four civil forfeiture cases against the Marcoses were dismissed by Sandiganbayan involving a total claim of approximately P300 billion. In the most recent case, the anti-graft court stressed in its decision that the PCGG through its counsel, the Office of the Solicitor General, erred in presenting mere photocopies of the documents instead of the originals, and they were hardly readable.

Likewise, the court held that the government failed to present competent witnesses to authenticate the due execution of some critical documents offered. This case was reportedly filed in 1987 with the information having been amended several times until 1998, well before the current PCGG and solicitor general took office. At the rate the government is losing all these alleged Marcos wealth cases, one observer wryly commented that we may wake up one day finding out that it’s the government that owes the Marcoses billions, not the other way around. We might, as well, rewrite our history and proclaim September 21 each year as our “Thanksgiving Day.”

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Any person in the Philippines who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is desired may file an objection at DOLE NCR Regional Office located at 967 Maligaya St., Malate, Manila, within 30 days after its publication.

Please inform DOLE NCR if you have any information on criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals.

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In the ad material of Notice of filing of application for Alien Employment Permits published on December 13, 2019, the company name of Mr. Auti, Adinath Ashok under CIPEC CONSTRUCTION, INC. should have been read as STRATPOINT TECHNOLOGIES INC. and not as published.

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

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

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Mitsubishi-Filinvest JV gets PCC’s nod

T

By Elijah Felice E. Rosales

@alyasjah

HE country’s antitrust regulator has given its green light to the proposed joint venture between Mitsubishi Corp. and Filinvest Alabang Inc. in developing upscale mixeduse real-estate projects in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

In a commission decision last week, the Philippine Competition Commission cleared the joint venture that will result in the incorporation of Spectrum Alabang Properties Inc. The PCC ruled the transaction will not likely result in the substantial lessening of competition in the Grade A office space and retail markets in the southern business district.

The agency added there is a sufficient number of other market players in and outside of the Alabang area that can compete with the parties.

Mitsubishi is set to acquire 40 per-

cent of the issued and outstanding shares of stock in Filinvest Alabang as a way to develop and manage the developer’s 16,928 square meters of land. The property forms part of Filinvest City, a 244-hectare mixed-use estate in Alabang.

Filinvest Alabang is a subsidiary of Filinvest Development Corp.

(FDC), and was specifically incorporated to develop Filinvest City in a joint-venture project with the government.

The Alabang subsidiary of FDC is 80 percent owned by FDC and 20 percent owned by Filinvest Land Inc.

GRI lauds SEC for UN citation

By Roderick L. Abad

@rodrik_28

Contributor

I

NDEPENDENT international organization Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) commended the Philippines’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) after the United Nations recognized its initiatives to elevate the capacity of businesses in sustainability reporting.

The SEC was named by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) as among the five national winners at the International Standards of Accounting and Reporting Honors 2019 held in Geneva, Switzerland.

Specifically, the Commission was cited for publishing guidance for all listed companies in the country on how to disclose their sustainability performances and report contributions to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

“GRI has over a number of years worked closely with the SEC to engage companies in the Philippines and help them understand the importance and value that comes from disclosing their sustainability impacts,” said Asthildur Hjaltadottir, chief regional implementation officer of GRI. Notable in their collaboration was GRI’s provision of expert advice and input in developing the SEC guidance.

It was part of the Sustainable Trade and Investment through Reporting program bankrolled by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Likewise, GRI held a roundtable consultation with enterprises in drafting regulation and made possible the conduct of five workshops across different sectors that reached 265 listed companies.

The SEC feted GRI for this with a

special recognition given during an event last month when it commemorated its 83rd anniversary.

GRI’s ongoing partnership with the SEC includes being the co-presenter for the annual SEC-Philippines Stock Exchange Corporate Governance Forum.

“It’s really pleasing therefore to see the SEC recognized by the UN for this important sustainability reporting resource, which now applies to all listed companies in the country,” she stressed.

Following the opening of the GRI Asean Hub in September, GRI will keep on supporting the Philippines as part of its strengthened efforts to advance sustainability reporting across the region.

The SEC had required publicly listed companies, including small firms, to submit a sustainability report together with their annual reports starting next year.

In February the SEC issued “Sustainability Reporting Guidelines for Publicly Listed Companies” through SEC Memorandum Circular 4, Series of 2019, outlining information that covered companies will have to disclose in relation to their nonfinancial performance across the economic, environmental and social aspects of their organizations.

The agency noted that while sustainability reporting is now common practice for companies globally, less than 22 percent of publicly listed companies in the Philippines have published a report on sustainability impacts and performances.

The guidelines also provides a framework for the reporting of covered companies’ contributions toward achieving universal sustainability targets like the SDGs, as well as national policies and programs like AmBisyon Natin 2040.

PAL taps airline finance veteran as acting CFO

A

N airline finance veteran will be the acting chief financial officer (CFO) of Philippine Airlines (PAL) effective January 16, 2020, to replace Celeste Mutuc who is stepping down due to health and personal reasons.

Nilo Thaddeus Rodriguez, a master’s degree holder from the Asian Institute of Management and an alumnus of the UP College of Business Administration, will bring to PAL

28 years of finance industry experience, including 15 years of leadership roles across the Asia-Pacific region.

He was introduced to the PAL Board Tuesday and will assume his new role as PAL CFO after his confirmation by the board.

Earlier, Mutuc officially informed the PAL Board of her resignation during its regular monthly meeting on December 17. The Board unanimously accepted her decision and

thanked her for her service to the flag carrier.

Rodriguez has a proven track record in airline financial management having served as regional manager for Finance-Asia-Pacific, regional manager for Supply Chain -Asia-Pacific, and finance manager for the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand of Delta Air Lines (formerly Northwest Airlines) from 1999-2011. He served as corporate

finance executive of SGV & Co. from December 1996-January 1999 and as chief finance officer of the same company from 1990-1992.

The incoming PAL CFO served as director of Finance of Hilton Nagoya from 2017-2019; vice president-Systems and Audit of Benguet Corp. from 2012-2016 and also worked for Accenture Philippines’s Finance and Accounting from 2011 to 2012.

FDC is a conglomerate with interests in property, banking services, infrastructure, sugar and power.

Mitsubishi is popular for its automotive and mobility business with its global portfolio spanning across various sectors.

The company has interests in automotive and mobility, natural gas, industrial materials, petroleum and chemicals, mineral resources and industrial infrastructure. It also has investments in food and beverage, consumer industry, power solution, manufacturing and urban development.

To date, the PCC has received 201 transactions for review, approved 188 of these domestic and international transactions, and blocked one merger. Applying the Philippine Competition Act, the PCC has since reviewed mergers and acquisitions worth P3.28 trillion in transaction value.

The PCC is an independent quasijudicial body created to promote and maintain market competition by regulating anticompetitive conduct. Its main role is “to ensure fair competition in the market for the benefit of consumers and businesses.”

Isoc edotco tower to rise in Cavite

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

P

ARTNERS Isoc Infrastructure and edotco has started constructing their first common tower in the Philippines, setting the tone for it to achieve its goal of building as much as 500 shared telco infrastructure during their maiden year of operations.

Isoc edotco Towers Ltd.’s first tower will be located in Bacoor, Cavite. A groundbreaking ceremony was held Thursday morning.

“This groundbreaking marks a step forward for the nation, toward embracing the shared infrastructure model and advancing overall connectivity. Our efforts in the Philippines are fueled by the clear opportunity to transform the telecommunications landscape and our commitment to improve the country’s digital aspirations as a nation-building partner,” said Suresh Sidhu, chief executive at edotco. Within the first three years of its operations, Isoc edotco aims to build at least 1,000 towers, about half of which will be during its first year of operations. It also aims to invest as much as $100 million over the next three to five years to achieve this vision.

“We are ushering a new era of connectivity in the Philippines. Beyond setting the stage for next generation networks, we are also linking together all corners of the nation, overcom-

ing barriers to communication while strengthening relationships and improving people’s lives in meaningful way,” Isoc Infrastructure Chairman Michael Cosiquien said.

Sidhu added that the push for common towers in the Philippines is also driven by telco users’ increasing appetite for faster connectivity speeds and lower latency amid an increasing appetite for data.

“In meeting this demand, operators are set to invest in 4G and 5G deployment, while modernizing existing 3G networks to improve customer experience. To do this successfully, the sector requires more towers, antennas, and base stations across the nation” he said.

The Philippines is at the nascent stages of building new telco towers through the common tower initiative, as it puts premium on the development of the ICT industry, which is seen as huge revenue driver in the coming years.

Currently, the Philippines has 17,850 towers that serve over 100 million subscribers. This translates to a tower density of 0.14 or one tower serving 1,000 subscribers. The ideal tower density is at one tower per 1,000 subscribers. The government hopes to build as much as 50,000 towers just to be on a par with neighboring countries, such as Vietnam and Indonesia. Having more cell towers is expected to provide subscribers better coverage and speed.

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PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

December 19, 2019

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

ASIA UNITED BDO UNIBANK BANK PH ISLANDS CHINABANK EAST WEST BANK METROBANK PB BANK PBCOM PHIL NATL BANK PSBANK PHILTRUST RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK BRIGHT KINDLE BDO LEASING COL FINANCIAL FERRONOUX HLDG NTL REINSURANCE PHIL STOCK EXCH

53.5 154.8 83 24.95 12.1 64.15 12.7 20.5 35.7 57.25 114 22.6 186.8 58.2 0.85 1.94 18.1 3.85 0.77 173

54 155 83.8 25 12.18 64.5 12.8 20.8 35.8 57.3 128 23 187 58.3 0.92 2.09 18.32 3.99 0.82 175

53.75 159.9 82.5 24.8 12.74 64.8 12.7 20.5 34.8 57.3 112.1 22.3 193.9 57.8 0.85 1.9 18.1 3.85 0.77 175

54 159.9 84.45 24.95 12.84 64.85 12.7 20.5 35.95 57.3 112.1 24 193.9 58.2 0.85 2.09 18.1 3.86 0.77 175

53.75 151 82.1 24.8 12 63.55 12.7 20.5 34.8 57 112.1 22.05 186.1 57.8 0.85 1.9 18.1 3.85 0.77 172

53.9 154.8 83.8 24.95 12.1 64.5 12.7 20.5 35.7 57.3 112.1 22.6 187 58.2 0.85 2.09 18.1 3.86 0.77 173

2390 2076080 2211840 51200 2476500 2281740 500 487400 65600 12240 120 177400 1103210 21670 19000 65000 9000 17000 33000 1520

128630 321102694 183486593.5 1272785 30271140 146324839 6350 9991700 2340015 699336 13452 4097315 207570309 1258005 16150 129020 162900 65590 25410 262421

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

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

-109788 -145719970 -51514288 -407530 -72722 -75569578 -1580080 -312285 -186210 -163796404 -1253953 -18100 15570

2.3 1.23 33.05 0.24 23.5 67.65 311.4 7.74 3.91 3.79 11.22 33 7.88 15.14 13 2.46 17 15.3 4.99 9.6 7.19 85.35 0.53 1.08 40.55 216 41.6 6.12 11.9 0.153 1.91 10.3 2.14 5.16 143 1.11 64.5 1.92 14.12 9.61 13.54 16.54 9.6 0.98 0.86 163.5 2.06 4.6 4.99 26.3 1.92 7.63 1.2 0.86 3.92

2.31 1.28 33.15 0.245 23.75 67.75 311.8 7.75 3.99 4.1 11.48 33.35 7.9 15.5 13.3 2.5 17.54 15.36 5.09 9.61 7.2 86 0.54 1.09 40.8 218 47.95 6.26 12.2 0.179 1.92 10.44 2.16 5.27 144 1.13 73 1.93 14.5 9.78 13.88 16.6 9.7 1.01 0.88 169.8 2.11 4.91 5.04 28.05 1.93 7.7 1.32 0.88 3.94

2.2 1.24 33.5 0.24 24.6 68.1 311 7.08 3.9 3.78 11.04 33.4 7.7 15.3 13.38 2.6 17.86 15.36 5.19 9.47 7.19 86.7 0.54 1.05 40.05 224.6 41.55 6.15 12.36 0.153 1.91 10.38 2.15 5.1 146 1.13 64.6 1.98 14.16 9.51 13.56 17 9.96 0.99 0.87 162.5 2.13 4.7 5 28.05 1.94 7.62 1.34 0.86 3.98

2.35 1.24 33.5 0.246 24.65 68.1 315.8 7.8 3.99 4.1 11.5 33.4 7.96 15.3 13.5 2.6 18 15.4 5.19 9.61 7.2 86.7 0.55 1.12 40.8 224.8 41.55 6.29 12.36 0.153 1.92 10.5 2.2 5.16 146 1.13 64.6 2 14.5 9.77 13.88 17 9.96 1.03 0.88 162.5 2.13 4.7 5.01 28.05 1.96 7.7 1.34 0.86 4

2.2 1.23 33 0.24 23.5 66.7 308.2 6.95 3.85 3.78 11.04 32.7 7.7 15.3 12.82 2.46 16.5 15.24 5.08 9.46 7.18 85.25 0.53 1.04 40 216 41.55 6.15 11.9 0.153 1.91 10.38 2.11 5.1 142.1 1.11 64.5 1.91 14.1 9.51 13.52 16.54 9.7 0.97 0.85 162.5 2.06 4.6 5 28.05 1.89 7.62 1.2 0.86 3.9

2.31 1.23 33.1 0.246 23.5 67.75 311.4 7.75 3.99 4.1 11.48 33.35 7.9 15.3 13.3 2.46 17.54 15.36 5.08 9.6 7.2 86 0.54 1.08 40.8 216 41.55 6.26 12.1 0.153 1.91 10.44 2.16 5.16 143 1.13 64.5 1.92 14.12 9.77 13.88 16.6 9.7 1.01 0.88 162.5 2.13 4.6 5 28.05 1.93 7.7 1.33 0.86 3.93

3309000 94000 1285800 1880000 865900 37110 272710 75524700 992000 5000 111300 288300 165000 700 204300 3455000 35200 246400 2700 3860200 20500 37210 177000 14265000 3500 597720 800 6200 560700 40000 5197000 39300 791000 23000 831850 1123000 570 1999000 216900 27300 53100 762800 55100 215000 591000 130 65000 59000 455700 2700 15994000 93700 229000 22000 105000

7593620 115690 42584260 459380 20369015 2493073.5 84895544 561679130 3887930 19600 1277186 9535905 1299053 10710 2728550 8692990 626368 3780362 13793 36734021 147394 3187069 95130 15397010 140685 130158844 33240 38268 6774840 6120 9927130 410458 1689020 118035 119361407 1253090 36780 3867130 3061092 261157 732074 12661614 536085 211520 507700 21125 137470 274400 2278515 75735 30852750 720199 293170 18920 412640

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0.78 10.6 754.5 50.25 11.32 3.04 6.42 0.67 0.92 6.7 6.45 13.04 3.8 0.213 814 5.26 77 5.26 5.22 0.48 3.72 11.6 0.57 3.4 4 1.18 1.22 164 1035 151.8 0.75 208.4 0.202 0.192

0.79 10.8 755 50.95 11.36 3.05 6.57 0.7 0.93 6.73 6.47 13.3 4.2 0.228 814.5 5.4 77.2 5.89 5.87 0.5 3.75 12 0.58 3.41 4.3 1.25 1.25 180 1045 152 0.8 214 0.209 0.197

0.81 11.26 760 51.4 11.36 3.02 6.57 0.68 0.92 6.78 5.95 13.3 4.24 0.213 825 5.3 78.3 5.96 5.88 0.485 3.74 11.5 0.57 3.48 4.1 1.2 1.22 189 1051 159 0.8 209 0.202 0.19

0.81 11.26 776 51.4 11.5 3.07 6.57 0.7 0.93 6.78 6.47 13.3 4.24 0.213 826 5.3 79 5.96 5.88 0.5 3.75 12 0.58 3.52 4.12 1.25 1.23 189 1052 159 0.8 214 0.205 0.19

0.77 10.6 755 49.55 11.3 3.02 6.57 0.68 0.92 6.66 5.95 13.04 4.24 0.213 811 5.25 76.65 5.5 5.22 0.48 3.72 11.48 0.57 3.37 4 1.16 1.22 160 1027 152 0.8 208 0.202 0.19

0.78 10.68 755 50.95 11.32 3.05 6.57 0.7 0.92 6.73 6.47 13.3 4.24 0.213 814.5 5.26 77 5.96 5.22 0.5 3.72 12 0.58 3.4 4 1.25 1.22 172 1035 152 0.8 214 0.202 0.19

12087000 1900 509790 1734250 19321500 394000 400 89000 457000 981700 30015600 110500 1000 210000 157670 23700 2121310 5800 200200 23000 173000 921800 170000 78158000 14000 320000 198000 2570 470420 131150 1000 2580 1880000 10000

9569840 20642 388717720 88095428 219275852 1199960 2628 60540 422090 6590951 186874749 1468496 4240 44730 128854630 124754 164089616.5 33648 1177107 11160 646020 10845500 96950 268860950 56640 382240 241670 426672 489710940 20055889 800 550946 379970 1900

7790 -170782750 -10762311 -36107968 -197950 -694631 -10291164 92972 -69179705 -35167521.5 -1176585 -276470 -5664358 -28499.9999 -116027540 4000 24400 -138031715 -11591993 419716 1900

PROPERTY

ARTHALAND CORP 0.8 0.81 0.79 0.81 0.79 0.8 798000 631490 AYALA LAND 45.15 45.4 46.6 46.6 45 45.4 8737300 397471635 -58243560 ARANETA PROP 1.28 1.42 1.31 1.42 1.29 1.42 116000 154430 -13600 BELLE CORP 1.97 1.99 1.99 1.99 1.96 1.98 231000 454840 -37330 A BROWN 0.68 0.7 0.72 0.72 0.69 0.69 550000 379760 CEBU HLDG 6.38 6.47 6.65 6.7 6.38 6.7 8000 52077 -49397 CEB LANDMASTERS 4.69 4.72 4.68 4.73 4.62 4.72 97000 452060 97880 CENTURY PROP 0.55 0.56 0.56 0.56 0.54 0.56 19827000 10860030 CYBER BAY 0.385 0.41 0.39 0.39 0.385 0.385 50000 19450 DOUBLEDRAGON 19 19.08 19.04 19.2 18.9 19.08 172800 3291792 651832 DM WENCESLAO 9.8 9.9 9.9 10 9.8 9.8 222500 2215850 -874810 EMPIRE EAST 0.415 0.43 0.415 0.43 0.415 0.43 120000 50450 EVER GOTESCO 0.102 0.111 0.118 0.118 0.1 0.108 5270000 546120 FILINVEST LAND 1.5 1.51 1.51 1.51 1.49 1.51 7918000 11915280 5854730 8990 HLDG 14.76 14.78 14.76 14.9 14.76 14.76 219800 3244424 -721630 PHIL INFRADEV 1.24 1.28 1.29 1.29 1.24 1.28 1209000 1511330 CITY AND LAND 0.77 0.78 0.71 0.78 0.71 0.71 47000 34640 MEGAWORLD 4.1 4.12 4.09 4.16 4.09 4.1 22182000 91168240 12467730 MRC ALLIED 0.194 0.196 0.196 0.196 0.191 0.196 5500000 1062100 PHIL ESTATES 0.405 0.435 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 20000 8000 PRIMEX CORP 2.04 2.07 2.02 2.13 2.02 2.07 881000 1834150 ROBINSONS LAND 27 27.1 27 27.4 26.8 27 1791200 48466380 -2729205 PHIL REALTY 0.3 0.315 0.315 0.315 0.3 0.3 880000 272500 ROCKWELL 2.09 2.15 2.1 2.1 2.09 2.09 226000 474540 SHANG PROP 3.12 3.18 3.12 3.18 3.12 3.18 16000 50400 -28560 STA LUCIA LAND 2.44 2.48 2.48 2.48 2.44 2.48 173000 425900 SM PRIME HLDG 40.65 40.7 40.8 41 39.8 40.65 6101500 246505510 -89238350 VISTAMALLS 5.35 5.49 5.49 5.49 5.3 5.49 64600 348567 SUNTRUST HOME 1.17 1.18 1.1 1.18 1.09 1.18 9515000 10898600 PTFC REDEV CORP 45 46 45 45 45 45 1000 45000 VISTA LAND 7.3 7.35 7.38 7.38 7.3 7.35 2015400 14813644 -6928026

SERVICES ABS CBN 15.7 15.8 16 16 15.5 15.8 71000 1127488 GMA NETWORK 5.24 5.25 5.24 5.25 5.23 5.25 19100 100029 MANILA BULLETIN 0.38 0.395 0.385 0.385 0.38 0.38 790000 303400 GLOBE TELECOM 2000 2008 2000 2038 1975 2000 29920 59910400 3650740 PLDT 999 1000 991.5 1000 990 999 152220 151827090 -85737462.5 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.042 0.043 0.042 0.042 0.042 0.042 2000000 84000 ISLAND INFO 0.095 0.098 0.097 0.098 0.095 0.095 2370000 227870 19000 ISM COMM 2.95 2.96 3.05 3.05 2.92 2.96 1894000 5618210 41740 NOW CORP 2.39 2.4 2.4 2.41 2.35 2.4 1116000 2662680 112260 TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.265 0.27 0.265 0.275 0.265 0.27 3040000 814600 PHILWEB 2.35 2.38 2.48 2.48 2.35 2.35 1230000 2936390 -26270 2GO GROUP 9.45 9.48 9.5 9.5 9.45 9.48 17200 163144 ASIAN TERMINALS 16.28 18.26 18.26 18.26 18.26 18.26 500 9130 CHELSEA 4.87 4.9 4.99 4.99 4.83 4.89 518000 2515800 CEBU AIR 90.7 91.5 92.65 92.65 90 90.7 32380 2959848 -956900 INTL CONTAINER 130 130.5 133 133 127.2 130 4434910 576344642 144024154 LBC EXPRESS 13.5 13.92 13.5 13.5 13.5 13.5 3700 49950 LORENZO SHIPPNG 0.85 0.89 0.9 0.9 0.84 0.84 717000 634430 MACROASIA 16.8 16.92 17.1 17.1 16.5 16.8 373800 6262186 -2800034 METROALLIANCE A 0.91 1 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 10000 9900 PAL HLDG 7.4 7.5 7.3 7.5 7.3 7.5 5100 37930 HARBOR STAR 1.08 1.09 1.1 1.13 1.09 1.09 757000 826290 DISCOVERY WORLD 1.9 2.01 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9 4000 7600 GRAND PLAZA 9.52 10.56 9.51 10.54 9.51 10.54 200 2005 WATERFRONT 0.57 0.61 0.59 0.59 0.57 0.57 4526000 2611240 CENTRO ESCOLAR 6.91 7.05 6.9 6.9 6.9 6.9 700 4830 4830 FAR EASTERN U 890.5 893.5 890.5 890.5 890.5 890.5 300 267150 267150 STI HLDG 0.59 0.6 0.63 0.63 0.59 0.6 6767000 4027890 -1470010 BERJAYA 4.38 4.4 4.11 4.41 4.05 4.38 2942000 12474370 -21850 BLOOMBERRY 10.98 11.3 11.12 11.3 10.9 11.3 3561400 39261318 -13112904 PACIFIC ONLINE 2.45 2.58 2.52 2.58 2.52 2.58 5000 12840 -2640 LEISURE AND RES 2.41 2.48 2.54 2.54 2.4 2.42 912000 2234230 73000 MANILA JOCKEY 3.35 3.36 3.36 3.38 3.36 3.36 93000 312500 PH RESORTS GRP 4.47 5 5 5 5 5 5000 25000 PREMIUM LEISURE 0.56 0.58 0.58 0.58 0.56 0.56 3676000 2095350 -88519.9998 PHIL RACING 7.6 8.99 7.68 7.68 7.6 7.6 13800 105713 ALLHOME 11.44 11.48 11.5 11.5 11.42 11.48 1773600 20355914 983756 METRO RETAIL 2.08 2.09 2.12 2.13 2.07 2.09 1281000 2678010 -335920 PUREGOLD 40 40.4 40.15 40.4 39.9 40.4 1328800 53180845 -100535 ROBINSONS RTL 72 73.9 71.1 73.9 71 73.9 167380 11958802 -3134029.5 PHIL SEVEN CORP 135 147 148 148 148 148 80 11840 SSI GROUP 2.67 2.7 2.66 2.72 2.65 2.67 2348000 6285230 2280170 WILCON DEPOT 18.14 18.16 18.54 18.54 18.16 18.16 248700 4538470 388376 APC GROUP 0.385 0.39 0.41 0.41 0.38 0.385 2160000 839900 -47700 EASYCALL 7.84 8 7.92 8 7.84 8 4900 38764 IPM HLDG 6.2 6.3 6.2 6.3 6 6.1 2800 17120 12100 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.31 0.325 0.34 0.34 0.3 0.325 10970000 3494400 129700 SBS PHIL CORP 8.77 8.99 8.88 9 8.88 9 155000 1385640

MINING & OIL ATOK 10 10.92 10.94 10.96 10 10.92 2600 26564 APEX MINING 0.9 0.92 0.94 0.94 0.9 0.92 250000 227140 -104930 ABRA MINING 0.0015 0.0016 0.0015 0.0015 0.0015 0.0015 24000000 36000 ATLAS MINING 2.4 2.5 2.41 2.41 2.4 2.4 70000 168300 -144300 COAL ASIA HLDG 0.27 0.28 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 120000 32400 CENTURY PEAK 2.67 2.68 2.66 2.68 2.66 2.68 359000 960820 24120 DIZON MINES 6.89 7.19 6.9 7.21 6.9 6.9 400 2791 FERRONICKEL 1.59 1.61 1.61 1.61 1.57 1.61 3294000 5238020 -221890 GEOGRACE 0.198 0.204 0.2 0.205 0.199 0.204 620000 123760 LEPANTO A 0.091 0.092 0.092 0.092 0.09 0.092 1680000 152560 MANILA MINING A 0.0072 0.0079 0.0077 0.0077 0.0072 0.0072 20000000 148900 MANILA MINING B 0.0075 0.008 0.008 0.008 0.008 0.008 1000000 8000 MARCVENTURES 0.82 0.85 0.81 0.84 0.81 0.84 23000 19200 -8400 NIHAO 0.95 1 0.99 1 0.94 1 19000 18440 NICKEL ASIA 2.94 2.97 2.93 2.99 2.9 2.94 3826000 11279650 4197560 ORNTL PENINSULA 0.72 0.75 0.73 0.75 0.72 0.75 97000 70170 PX MINING 2.67 2.77 3 3 2.67 2.67 272000 729760 -712860 SEMIRARA MINING 21.1 21.15 21.2 21.2 20.95 21.1 1098000 23113670 -8263660 UNITED PARAGON 0.0053 0.006 0.0053 0.0053 0.0052 0.0052 7000000 37000 ACE ENEXOR 7 7.15 6.85 7.33 6.4 7.15 398400 2829331 -64020 ORNTL PETROL A 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 12100000 133100 PHILODRILL 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.011 42000000 460100 PXP ENERGY 8.19 8.24 8.6 8.6 8.16 8.16 515900 4248866 186102.0001

PREFFERED

ALCO PREF B 101.3 103.3 101.3 101.3 101.3 101.3 30 3039 AC PREF B2R 505 507 505 505 505 505 11950 6034750 50500 SMC FB PREF 2 997 998.5 997 997 997 997 50 49850 FGEN PREF G 108.2 111.9 107.9 107.9 107.9 107.9 1500 161850 GLO PREF P 500 509 508 508 508 508 4010 2037080 LR PREF 1 1.02 1 1 1 1 254000 254000 MWIDE PREF 100 101 99.6 100 99.6 100 2200 219200 PNX PREF 3A 100.6 102.3 102.3 102.3 102.3 102.3 180 18414 PNX PREF 4 1021 1030 1023 1029 1020 1029 330 336835 PCOR PREF 2B 1016 1049 1026 1026 1026 1026 15 15390 PCOR PREF 3A 1030 1050 1038 1050 1038 1050 1640 1721400 PCOR PREF 3B 1051 1055 1055 1055 1055 1055 405 427275 SMC PREF 2C 77.7 77.9 77.9 77.9 77.8 77.9 7480 582671 SMC PREF 2F 75.55 76.9 76.9 76.9 76.9 76.9 380 29222 -

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR

15

17

15

15

15

15

73100

1096500

WARRANTS LR WARRANT

1.2

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ITALPINAS 3.6 KEPWEALTH 9.75 MAKATI FINANCE 2.48 XURPAS 0.76

1.37

1.2

1.2

1.2

1.2

7000

8400

-

3.7 9.76 2.65 0.77

3.87 9.33 2.48 0.76

3.87 9.9 2.48 0.77

3.53 8.94 2.48 0.75

3.7 9.76 2.48 0.77

448000 665000 8000 1004000

1621030 6273280 19840 763580

257790 -13680

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS FIRST METRO ETF

115

-525000

115.4

115.9

116

115

115

7210

832123

72914

www.businessmirror.com.ph

AC Energy, Ingrid Power ink share subscription deal

A

By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

C Energy Philippines Inc. (ACEPH) signed a deal with Ingrid Power Holdings Inc., formerly AC Energy DevCo. Inc., for the subscription of common and preferred shares valued at P570 million. “[ACEPH] signed today a subscription agreement with [Ingrid] for the subscription of 50,000 common shares and 5,651,000 redeemable preferred shares [RPS] in Ingrid at the subscription price of P4,900,000.00 for the common

shares and P565,100,000 for the RPS,” ACEPH, formerly Phinma Energy Corp., said Thursday.

ACEPH has fully paid-in the common shares and paid 25 percent of the subscription of the RPS. “Issuance of the shares is subject

to the necessary regulatory approvals for increase of Ingrid’s authorized capital stock and creation of new shares,” added ACEPH. Ingrid is developing a 300-megawatt diesel power plant in Pililla, Rizal. Construction of the first 150 MW will commence in the first quarter of 2020.

The project is aimed at addressing the peaking and reserve requirement of the Luzon grid.

The company secured an approval to conduct a grid impact study for the project. A clearance for the conduct of a grid impact study is necessary before a power firm can proceed with the construction of its power project.

AC Energy President Eric Francia had said it makes sense to put up

a diesel plant to cater to ancillary services to augment renewableenergy (RE) technologies.

He explained that diesel-run power plants are used to provide ancillary services, such as backup power, load following, system frequency and voltage regulation.

They are like standby power plants if say, a wind power facility does not provide too much wind or if it rains in an area where a solar power farm is located.

“We believe the country will need more peaking and reserve ancillary capacity especially in world where you need RE. This is in line of thinking if RPS [Renewable Portfolio Standards] succeeds then you need ancillary for that,” Francia said.

Japan unveils i-Construction in Clark

By Ashley Manabat Correspondent

C

L A R K FR EEPORT—T he Japanese government has opted to introduce its hightechnology ICT Construction or “i-Construction” and the positioning of satellite utilization during a seminar here.

Led by the Cabinet Office of Japan and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), the technology was demonstrated during a seminar organized in partnership with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

“I want to thank the Japanese government for making Clark and the Philippines a testing ground for this wonderful technology that is going to change the way we build infrastructure,” said BCDA President and CEO Vince Dizon.

The Philippines is “the fastestgrowing country in the Asean region in terms of its GDP, and has the second-largest population after Indonesia,” noted Keio University Special Prof. Masahito Kawamori.

“Currently, the GDP around the Clark area reaches around 9 percent, much higher than the rest of the country. Therefore, it is logical

to consider Clark to become the locomotive of the Philippine economy,” said Kawamori.

“With its young population and aggressive growth plan for New Clark City and its fast-growing international airport, Clark will require lots of infrastructure development, and this is where iConstruction will be an ideal tool for development. This is why we chose Clark,” he added.

Kawamori made his observations in an interview. He is also the representative for the ICT Construction and positioning satellite utilization in Clark.

“With its human and natural resources, as well as aggressive ‘Build, Build, Build’ plans, Clark can certainly become an attractive investment target,” he said.

“For that, it is important that local partners, both in private and public, work closely with potential investing partners with a clear vision,” he stressed.

Japanese firms, such as Hitachi, Kokusai Kogyo Co., Topcon Corp., and SITECH Japan showed the different applications of i-Construction at the site of the Clark International Airport’s new passenger terminal. These include demonstrations on the digital drone survey, machine control for excavator

Cebu Pacific to beef up fleet with 15 Airbus jets

B

UDGET carrier Cebu Pacific has firmed up a $2-billion, 15 -a i rc ra f t order f rom French jet manufacturer Airbus, further boosting its short-tomedium haul operating capacity.

In a statement, Cebu Pacific said the order involves 10 Airbus A321 XLR (extra long range) and five A320 neos (new engine option).

The fresh agreement is part of the memorandum of understanding signed by Cebu Pacific and Airbus earlier this year during the Paris Air Show in June, when the Filipino carrier ordered 31 jets, including 16 wide-body Airbus A330 neos.

“The aircraft are scheduled for delivery between 2021 and 2024, and by 2024, Cebu Pacific expects to have an all-next generation fleet of Airbus jets,” the statement read.

Currently, the Gokongwei-led carrier has a fleet of 75 aircraft: seven Airbus A321 ceos, 30 Airbus A320s, eight A330s, seven ATR

72-500s, 12 ATR 72-600s, and an ATR Cargo Freighter. It has an average fleet age of five years, making it one of the youngest fleets in the world.

The company announced on Tuesday that it is now a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the trade association for the global airline industry.

Cebu Pacific is IATA’s largest member among Philippine carriers, comprising 44 percent of total domestic passenger volume and 46 percent of total domestic cargo, based on data from the Philippines’s Civil Aeronautics Board.

The local carrier achieved full compliance with the IATA Operational Safety Audit, joining a registry of 437 carriers worldwide that have strictly complied with an internationally recognized and accepted evaluation system designed to assess the operational management and control systems of an airline. Lorenz S. Marasigan

and machine control for dozer.

Arata Kimora, Topcon’s deputy general manager for Smart Infrastructure Business Division, said in his closing remarks that i-Construction can contribute to the Philippine government’s Build, Build, Build program and help address the shortage of skilled workers in the construction industry.

Among BCDA’s high-impact

MUTUAL FUNDS

projects under the Build, Build, Build include the New Clark City, which houses the world-class sports facilities used during the Philippines’s hosting of the 30th South east Asian Games, and the Clark International Airport—envisioned to be a major global gateway. The new passenger terminal will be operational by mid-2020.

December 19, 2019

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

PER SHARE RETURN* RETURN STOCK FUNDS ALFM GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 249.45 -0.7% 1.34% -0.4% -1.09% ATRAM ALPHA OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. -A 1.3734 -2.79% 0.78% -3.15% -4.68% ATRAM PHILIPPINE EQUITY OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. -A 3.6514 -6.02% -1.67% -3.04% -6.45% CLIMBS SHARE CAPITAL EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND CORP. -A 0.8864 -0.09% N.A. N.A. -1.62% FIRST METRO CONSUMER FUND ON MSCI PHILS. IMI, INC. -A 0.8438 2.71% N.A. N.A. 2.81% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN EQUITY FUND,INC. -A 5.2663 0.8% 2.35% -0.65% -0.13% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN PHILIPPINE INDEX FUND, INC. -A,6 0.8457 1.43% -1.5% N.A. 1.08% MBG EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND, INC. -A 102.47 -12.49% N.A. N.A. -11.79% PAMI EQUITY INDEX FUND, INC. -A 50.7911 3.76% 3.8% N.A. 3.18% PHILAM STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 527.83 3.18% 2.47% 0.06% 2.54% PHILEQUITY ALPHA ONE FUND, INC. -A,D,8 1.0039 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. PHILEQUITY DIVIDEND YIELD FUND, INC. -A 1.2753 1.87% 2.91% 0.77% 1.7% PHILEQUITY FUND, INC. -A 37.5719 2.91% 3.89% 0.77% 2.56% PHILEQUITY MSCI PHILIPPINE INDEX FUND, INC. -A,1 1.01 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. PHILEQUITY PSE INDEX FUND INC. -A 5.1718 4.87% 4.47% 1.97% 4.3% PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND CORP. -A

863.09 4.79% 4.36% 1.93% 4.18% SOLDIVO STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 0.8458 -1.11% 1.37% N.A. -1.65% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE EQUITY FUND, INC. -A 4.1672 2.8% 3.56% 0.98% 2.67% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND, INC. -A 0.9907 4.42% 4.15% N.A. 3.81% UNITED FUND, INC. -A 3.628 3.73% 5.53% 2.8% 3.63% EXCHANGE TRADED FUND FIRST METRO PHIL. EQUITY EXCHANGE TRADED FUND, INC. -A,C 115.7142 5.11% 5.09% 2.9% 4.48% ATRAM ASIAPLUS EQUITY FUND, INC. -B $1.02 9.8% 6.29% 1.25% 9.78% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY WORLD VOYAGER FUND, INC. -A $1.3621 19.24% 9.35% N.A. 23.24% BALANCED FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ATRAM DYNAMIC ALLOCATION FUND, INC. -A 1.556 -5.53% -2.26% -3.84% -5.77% ATRAM PHILIPPINE BALANCED FUND, INC. -A 2.1731 -1.04% -0.52% -1.21% -1.63% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN BALANCED FUND INC. -A 2.6111 3.44% 2.69% -0.95% 2.67% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN F.O.C.C.U.S. DYNAMIC FUND, INC. -A,5 0.2294 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. GREPALIFE BALANCED FUND CORPORATION -A 1.3289 2.15% N.A. N.A. 1.89% NCM MUTUAL FUND OF THE PHILS., INC. -A N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. PAMI HORIZON FUND, INC. -A 3.7632 6.93% 2.48% 0.53% 6.63% PHILAM FUND, INC. -A 16.8606 6.41% 2.33% 0.46% 5.99% SOLIDARITAS FUND, INC. -A 2.1139 2.55% 2.06% 1.16% 2.16% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BALANCED FUND, INC. -A 3.8334 5.14% 3.27% 0.8% 4.99% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2028, INC. -A,D,2 1.0088 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2038, INC. -A,D,2 0.9867 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2048, INC. -A,D,2 0.9837 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DYNAMIC FUND, INC. -A 0.9658 4.5% 2.53% -0.11% 4.78% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES COCOLIFE DOLLAR FUND BUILDER, INC. -A $0.03828 9% 3.15% 2.17% 8.44% PAMI ASIA BALANCED FUND, INC. -A $1.0322 10.15% 5.25% 1.39% 12.97% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ADVANTAGE FUND, INC. -A $3.878 14.49% 7.46% 4.32% 17.21% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR WELLSPRING FUND, INC. -A,7 $1.123 10.5% 4.56% N.A. 11.74% BOND FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM PESO BOND FUND, INC. -A 357.31 4.15% 2.78% 2.3% 4.03% ATRAM CORPORATE BOND FUND, INC. -A

1.9008 2.3% 0.08% -0.53% 2.24% COCOLIFE FIXED INCOME FUND, INC. -A 3.1112 4.9% 5.17% 5.2% 4.54% EKKLESIA MUTUAL FUND INC. -A 2.2208 4.27% 2.42% 1.94% 4.3% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN FIXED INCOME FUND,INC. -A 2.3565 6.74% 2.24% 1.57% 6.87% GREPALIFE FIXED INCOME FUND CORP. -A P 1.6068 2.82% 1.13% -0.18% 2.71% PHILAM BOND FUND, INC. -A 4.3644 11.44% 2.81% 1.66% 11.34% PHILEQUITY PESO BOND FUND, INC. -A 3.7763 8.03% 2.89% 1.48% 7.37% SOLDIVO BOND FUND, INC. -A 0.9621 7.9% 1.57% N.A. 7.96% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BOND FUND, INC. -A 3.0659 10.99% 4.77% 2.58% 10.85% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY GS FUND, INC. -A 1.6964 10.33% 4.41% 2.11% 10.16% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES ALFM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $467.98 4.47% 2.77% 2.8% 4.37% ALFM EURO BOND FUND, INC. -A Є219.89 3.41% 1.76% 1.33% 3.39% ATRAM TOTAL RETURN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -B $1.2057 7.2% 3.19% 2.59% 7.11% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $0.0258 3.61% 1.46% 1.29% 4.03% GREPALIFE DOLLAR BOND FUND CORP. -A $1.7089 1.22% 0.01% 0.16% 1.11% PAMI GLOBAL BOND FUND, INC -A $1.0944 6.11% 1.59% -0.9% 5.61% PHILAM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $2.4028 10.88% 3.77% 3.01% 10.69% PHILEQUITY DOLLAR INCOME FUND INC. -A $0.060339 5.89% 2.33% 1.99% 5.86% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ABUNDANCE FUND, INC. -A $3.1795 10.88% 3.2% 2.67% 10.7% MONEY MARKET FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A 125.67 4.12% 2.84% 2.16% 3.96% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A,3 1.0301 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. PHILAM MANAGED INCOME FUND, INC. -A 1.2553 6.35% 2.91% 1.7% 6.21% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A 1.2633 3.76% 2.87% 2.32% 3.62% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR STARTER FUND, INC. -A $1.0367 2.1% N.A. N.A. 2.05% FEEDER FUND PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES ALFM GLOBAL MULTI-ASSET INCOME FUND INC. -B,D,4 $0.99 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. A - NAVPS AS OF THE PREVIOUS BANKING DAY. B - NAVPS AS OF TWO BANKING DAYS AGO. C - LISTED IN THE PSE. D - IN NET ASSET VALUE PER UNIT (NAVPU).

1 - LAUNCH DATE IS JANUARY 3, 2019. 2 - LAUNCH DATE IS JANUARY 28, 2019. 3 - LAUNCH DATE IS FEBRUARY 1, 2019. 4 - LAUNCH DATE IS NOVEMBER 15, 2019.

5 - LAUNCH DATE IS SEPTEMBER 28, 2019. 6 - RENAMING WAS APPROVED BY THE SEC LAST OCTOBER 12, 2018 (FORMERLY, ONE WEALTHY NATION FUND, INC.).

7 - ADJUSTED DUE TO STOCK DIVIDEND ISSUANCE LAST OCTOBER 9, 2019. 8 - LAUNCH DATE IS DECEMBER 09, 2019.

"While we endeavor to keep the information accurate, the Philippine Investment Funds Association (PIFA) and its members make no warranties as to the correctness of the newspaper’s publication and assume no liability or responsibility for any error or omissions. You may visit http://www. pifa. com.ph to see the latest NAVPS/NAVPU."

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

Philippine associations share future-proofing imperatives

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AST to the Future” was the theme of our Associations Summit 7 (AS7) of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives (PCAAE) held last November 27 to 28 at the Philippine International Convention Center. The rationale behind the theme is for associations to take a step back, ponder on what they have been doing and the challenges they are facing, and then plan forward on how they can survive and sustain in an environment that is moving at breakneck speed.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the Summit’s two panel sessions: n People Management Association of the Philippines: Gerardo A. Plana, president: “Separate the roles of governance [Board] and execution [Secretariat/Management team].” n Philippine Marketing Association: May Faith B. Albano, president: “Make members and volunteers the ambassadors of your association.” n Philippine Retailers Association: Atty. Paul Angelo A. Santos, chairman: “Stay relevant to your members.” n Semiconductor & Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation Inc.: Ma. Rojarlyn Gaid, business lead: “Meet members’ needs; collaborate with others; align mission with vision.” n International Association of Business Communicators Philippines: Ritzi V. Ronquillo, adviser: “Go for GRV—governance, relevance and viability.” n iHome Greater Metro Manila Inc.: Atty. Manuel James K. Raterta, president : “Change how people view their lives.” n Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers Inc.: Orlando Ballesteros, head, Education Committee: “Develop more and better infrastructure and venues for the MICE [meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions].” n United Architects of the Philippines Inc.: Architect Benjamin K. Panganiban Jr., national president:

Association World Octavio B. Peralta “Integrate with international standards, digitalize your operations, and undertake policy reforms.”

Other contributions on futureproofing actions that were published in PCAAE’s Association World magazine prior to the event were: n CFA Society Philippines: Rizchelle Sampang-Manaog, program director: “Listen to what key stakeholders say, evaluate how to address their needs and challenges and strategically act on them.” n Game Developers Association of the Philippines: Ria Lu, executive director: “Ensure the game industry thrives and grows; link with government, international game associations and organizations from different industries.” n Philippine Association for Building Administration Inc.: Jeffrey Sosa, president: “Embolden the Board to raise membership dues, start partnerships with sponsors, hire a permanent executive director.” n Institute of Internal Auditors Philippines: Anna Lou Y. Judilla, acting head for membership relations and administration: “Maintain relationship with related international bodies; engage members and solicit feedback and inputs; invest in new platforms, programs and collaborations.”

The contributor, Octavio “Bobby” Peralta, is concurrently the secretary-general of the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific, founder and CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations, and association executive and president of the AsiaPacific Federation of Association Organizations.

The purpose of PCAAE—the “association of associations”—is to advance the association management profession and to make associations well-governed and sustainable. PCAAE enjoys the support of Adfiap, the Tourism Promotions Board and the Philippine International Convention Center. E-mail: obp@adfiap.org

Probe into underreported revenue from casinos sought

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By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

MEMBER of the House Committee on Games and Amusement has filed a resolution urging the lower chamber to look into the compliance of integrated casino resorts and other casinos operating in the Philippines with their obligation to pay the right taxes, and to file reports of revenues to the government.

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OMPLEMENTING the Central Bank’s push for greater financial inclusion, the Cebuana Lhuillier Rural Bank launched the “#KayaNa: Unbanked Filipinos No More Movement,” in concurrence with the Cebuana Lhuillier Micro Savings product. In just 10 months, they have encouraged 3 million previously unbanked Filipinos to open their very own micro savings account.

It launched the campaign in recognition of the 2017 Financial Inclusion Survey of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), showing 52.8 million or 77.4 percent of the total population remain unbanked.

“There are 3 million previously unbanked Filipinos who are now captains of their own ship, navigating their way toward financial wellness.

I am excited for the continued push for financial inclusion and the role that Cebuana Lhuillier Rural Bank can play in this unfolding mission,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, Cebuana Lhuillier president and CEO.

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FROM left; CFA Society Philippines President Cris Arceo, EastWest Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer Robert B. Ramos and CFA Society Philippines Board of Trustee John Balce

partnered with through our quality services.”

Ramos, who earned his CFA charter in 2011, serves EastWest as its

FIRST Vice President & Head of IMC Group Michael Sena, Senior Executive Vice President Andre Lhuillier, President & CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier, Cebuana Lhuillier Rural Bank President Dennis Valdes officially launched the “#KayaNa: Unbanked Filipinos No More Movement” early this year, and it has since enlisted 3 million previously unbanked Filipinos to its cause.

Tapping Cebuana Lhuillier as its cash agent, the rural bank said it is committed to heed BSP’s call for financial inclusion through its Cebuana Lhuillier Micro Savings, an interest-bearing basic savings product that allows clients to save

Trust Officer and Chief Investment Officer, providing customers and clients his expertise and experience when it comes to investment

products the bank has to offer. He also regularly appears on various financial programs to give his opinions on trends and developments in the Philippines, Southeast Asia and around the world.

EastWest has seen a positive increase in its nine-month income this year with P4.6 billion through September 2019, a rise of 43 percent from the previous year. Part of this strong performance are excellent securities and foreign-exchange trading gains, clocking in at P1.4 billion, much higher than in 2018.

East West Banking Corp. is one of the largest universal banks in the Philippines, based on publicly available data. Currently celebrating its 25th anniversary, EastWest has steadily grown beyond its years, building fruitful partnerships and acquiring key assets to cement its position as one of the country’s most consumer-focused banks today.

BOJ keeps policy steady after Abe’s fiscal package

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HE Bank of Japan (BOJ) left policy untouched on Thursday as a government stimulus package, progress in US-China trade talks and signs of a bottoming of the global slowdown brightened the economic outlook.

The central bank maintained its target for interest rates and asset purchases, according to its statement on Thursday, in line with the view of all 45 economists surveyed by Bloomberg.

The BOJ also kept its guidance on policy unchanged and outlined details of a stock-fund lending program aimed at improving the sustainability of its easing program.

The BOJ has now reached the end of a precarious year without having to delve deeper into its depleted

ammunition, despite a wave of easing by central banks when the global deceleration looked set to deepen sharply.

That wave has largely come to an end with the Federal Reserve pausing its interest rate cuts and new European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde signaling the worst is likely over for the eurozone’s economy.

The phase one US-China trade deal, a stabilizing of global manufacturing readings and a stronger mandate for the UK to leave the European Union have given Governor Haruhiko Kuroda extra breathing space. The bank can now sit tight and assess how Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s $120-billion fiscal package will prop up growth in an economy contending with a sales tax increase, an

In House Resolution 627, House Assistant Majority Leader Niña Taduran of ACT-CIS Party-list said Congress should examine the books of these casinos as there are reports of misdeclaration by some integrated resorts and casinos of their revenues, consequently affecting the gaming tax remittances to the government.

The lawmaker, citing the report of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), said Credit Suisse, an investment bank, projected earnings of $6 billion (P297.35 billion) from these casinos in 2018, but it only reached P200 billion.

“An inquiry and audit on the GGR [gross gaming revenue] of these

casinos will be beneficial in ensuring that the right taxes are paid to the government,” she said.

“The social services being provided to the public by the government are being funded partly by the taxes paid by these casinos,” Taduran added, by way of highlighting another negative impact of any under-remittance from gaming firms.

The lawmaker said government data showed that there are nine private casino firms in the Philippines operating 1,580 gaming tables and 9,895 electronic gaming machines.

She added that Pagcor also operates several casinos with a total of 470 tables and 9,679 gaming machines.

No longer unbanked: 3-M Filipinos now have micro savings accounts

EastWest Bank exec hailed by CFA Society of the PHL ASTWEST Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer Robert B. Ramos recently won the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Society of the Philippines’s Outstanding Charterholder of the Year award for 2019.

This award recognizes Ramos’s significant contributions to the local investment and banking industry, as well as the valuable expertise he’s offered in the fields of wealth management, local markets and the Philippine economy. Other criteria for the award include exceptional leadership, the advancement of the investment management profession and exemplification of the highest standards of ethics, education and professional excellence.

“I am especially honored to receive this award from the CFA Society of the Philippines,” said Ramos. “I’m committed to the further growth of EastWest, while impacting the lives of our customers and clients we’ve

Friday, December 20, 2019 B3

export slump and destruction caused by a super typhoon.

The recent developments were hinted at in the statement. The BOJ no longer described overseas risks to the economy as increasing, but it said they remained significant, signaling the board remains on guard. The central bank also said domestic demand would be supported by “active government spending.”

BOJ officials see a sizable impact from Abe’s fiscal spending, which is expected to boost the economy by 0.35 percentage points, according to economists surveyed. The government Wednesday estimated Japan’s growth to be 1.4 percent in the year starting in April, increasing the likelihood that

the BOJ will upgrade its projection of 0.7 percent in a quarterly report next month.

“The BOJ is indicating nascent optimism for the outlook of the economy.

This statement adds to reasons not to expect further easing for a while,” said Tetsufumi Yamakawa, head of Japan research at Barclays Plc., adding that it seemed too early to be less pessimistic given the continued uncertainties that remain about trade, Brexit and Japan’s economy.

“It’s interesting to see how dramatically the BOJ changed its tone on the economy over the past several months.

One of the biggest reasons is of course the yen’s depreciation and rising stocks,” Yamakawa said. Bloomberg News

up to P50,000 using the company’s 24k Cebuana Lhuillier Loyalty Card.

“From the start, this has been our goal, and I am happy of our market’s positive response to Cebuana Lhuillier Micro Savings. This only proves that Filipinos need only the right

financial tools and opportunities to be on their way to financial wellness,” said Dennis Valdes, Cebuana Lhuillier Rural Bank president.

Using BSP’s Basic Deposit Framework circular as guide, Cebuana Lhuillier Rural Bank has simplified the process of opening a savings account by requiring only one valid ID and a P50 initial deposit. The micro savings account can be accessed in any of Cebuana Lhuillier’s 2,500 branches nationwide.

Guided by its mission to convert Filipinos into instant Iponaryos, Cebuana Lhuillier also sets out to conduct year-round financial wellness cascades nationwide, led by its 8,000-strong work force.

To date, more than 500 Iponaryo cascades have been conducted in various parts of the Philippines, with over 100,000 attendees and counting from various communities, schools and universities, government agencies and NGOs, and other organizations.

Rival German banks forced to share branches in cost-cutting drive

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ALK into the newest branch of Frankfurter Volksbank, and the counters are lit in baby blue. But enter the building the next day, and they’ve turned bright red. It’s not a design gimmick—rather, the lender’s biggest rival has moved in.

After competing for decades, Frankfurter Volksbank and Taunus Sparkasse, two local banks with combined assets of €17 billion ($19 billion), will from Thursday (December 19) share as many as 17 branches near the German banking capital to cut costs amid changing customer behavior. Two days a week, Sparkasse employees will occupy the offices in the bank’s signature red, with Volksbank advisers taking over on two different days in blue.

“It shows you how serious the situation is when two banks agree to a cooperation that would have been unthinkable not too long ago,” said Friedrich Heinemann, an economist at the ZEW research institute in Mannheim.

German lenders are under increasing pressure from tighter regulation, low interest rates, slowing economic growth and clients defecting to digital-only products. They returned just 1 percent on equity after taxes last year, according to a study by consultancy Bain & Co. That’s far below the European average of 7 percent, and the 12 percent their US peers generated.

“Lenders have no choice but to close more branches and cut more jobs,” said Walter Sinn, a consultant at Bain, who cowrote the study. “

German banks must first restructure, then consolidate.” The two banks, which together operate about 140 staffed branches, will invest as much as €5 million in shared locations and close some individually operated offices to reduce overlap.

They promise to remain competitors.

The country’s banks are turning to desperate measures to fight the onslaught. Some lenders are now charging retail clients for holding money in their savings accounts, breaking another taboo after five years of negative rates imposed by the European Central Bank. The number of German bank branches has declined by a third over the past decade to just below 28,000 last year.

However, compared to some other countries—especially in Northern Europe—Germany has still a very dense network with 3.6 branches per 10,000 people, nearly double the ratio in the UK, according to a study by consultancy Oliver Wyman. That’s partly because the country’s banking sector is highly fragmented, the report found.

Germany had about 1,600 credit institutions at the end of last year, according to data compiled by the European Banking Federation. That’s the highest number in the eurozone, suggesting there’s ample room for consolidation. Yet, mergers—which could cut costs—have proven to be difficult, with talks between Deutsche Bank AG and Commerzbank AG collapsing earlier this year.

Sharing branches could help German lenders improve their bottom line. Bloomberg News

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MILO champions captivate the nation with inspiring performances in the 30th SEA Games

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INNING the hearts of Filipinos everywhere with their discipline, perseverance, and hard work, MILO Champions Carlos Yulo, Kiefer Ravena, Pauline Lopez, Mary Joy Tabal, and Alyssa Valdez brought pride and honor to the country during the recently concluded 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. With an entire nation energized and rallying support for five of the brightest stars in Philippine sports, they reasserted our position in the regional arena and proved why the future is bright for the next generation of champions.

MILO congratulates its sports ambassadors for their impressive medal finishes and hard-fought efforts in the

SEA Games, of which the Philippines also earned the overall championship, besting the 10 other countries with a tally of 387 medals: 149 gold, 117 silver, and 121 bronze.

“The 30th Southeast Asian Games marked another historic milestone for the advancement of Philippine sports,” says Nestlé Philippines-MILO Vice President Veronica Cruz. “As a longstanding partner and advocate, MILO is honored to be a part of the journeys of Caloy, Kiefer, Pauline, Mary Joy, and Alyssa while remaining steadfast in building a nation of champions, bannering our one Laban Pilipinas battlecry.”

“We are one with the people in celebrating the Champions and all the

athletes who represented the country in the 30th SEA Games, showcasing what it truly means to be a champion in sports and in life. More than the wins and recognition, MILO believes in the importance of lifelong values learned in sports and remains committed to nourishing the ambitions of Filipinos,” adds MILO Sports Executive Lester P. Castillo.

As a gold partner of the 30th SEA Games, MILO helped energize a nation of champions with the first taste of the NEW MILO for tomorrow’s champions.

Attendees of the games in select fan zones and venues were able to try the more delicious and nutritious Champion formula.

DISNEY ON ICE PRESENTS LIVE YOUR DREAMS AT THE SM MALL OF ASIA ARENA THIS DECEMBER 21 TO JANUARY 5! Celebrate the courage inside us all at Disney On Ice presents Live Your Dreams! See how far Moana goes to save her island; Anna races to save Elsa and stop winter; Rapunzel goes to great lengths to realize her dream; fearless Belle uncovers Beast’s gentleness; Cinderella makes her wish come true; and Miguel listens to the music in his heart. Discover your inner hero at Disney On Ice! Get your tickets today at www.smtickets.com or at any SM Tickets Outlets nationwide!

NAIA BEGINS #DISIPLINAIA CIVILITY WORKSHOPS WITH ADMIN, EXECS Manila International Airport Authority General Manager Eddie Monreal (center) leads MIAA executives and managers alongside corporate trainers in one of the first internal civility and excellent service workshops conducted through the #DisipliNAIA advocacy campaign. #DisipliNAIA is an initiative that aims to raise awareness of proper airport etiquette and conduct. Aside from publicity materials around the airport, the campaign also includes a series of workshops that aim to train admin and staff in courtesy, good work habits, and empathy for airport citizens.

Marco Polo Ortigas Manila offers premium holiday stay for the family

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HEAD of the Holiday rush, the Marco Polo Ortigas Manila is pleased to share that guests may enjoy its Yuletide Home package until 12 January 2020. This special accommodation package allows more guests to relish the season’s tidings with family and friends.

Those seeking to stay over the peak of the Holiday season may enjoy a special rate beginning at PHP 7,000 on 24 December 2019 for overnight accommodations in a Superior Room. On the other hand, guests who wish to celebrate the turn of the year (31 December 2019) at the Marco Polo Ortigas Manila may reserve accommodations beginning at PHP 8,500 for a minimum stay of two nights.

The Yuletide Home offer includes complimentary buffet breakfast for two adults and up to two children younger than six (6) years of age. Guests are also provided complimentary highspeed internet access during their stay, as well as the use of the Hotel’s facilities, such as the indoor, temperature-controlled

swimming pool and fitness centre on Level 22. For more information and reservations, please call (+632) 7720 7777 or email resv.mnl@marcopolohotels.com.

Please log-on to marcopolohotels.com for more details on the Hotel’s ongoing promotions.

Subscribe to updates via social media through the Hotel’s official social media accounts: facebook.com/ MarcoPoloOrtigasManila and @MarcoPoloManila on Twitter and Instagram.

ValuePlus Gives New Life to Your Old Auto Shops

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O you own an old auto service shop that needs a boost? Perhaps it has seen better times, and the years have taken their toll on performance and equipment. And now, you wish you can re-start and re-boot to give it another chance. But how to do this, when your resources are limited?

This is where ValuePlus Auto Service comes in.

The country’s casa alternative offers old auto shops a new lease on life. All you have to do is to become part of the ValuePlus family by converting your shop into its franchise brand, ValuePlusXpress (VPX).

In this manner, you gain the benefits of the ValuePlus system, including upgraded equipment

and re-training from its experienced staff and highly skilled technicians. VPX can rebuild and revitalize your existing shop, operate it for you till you get back on your feet, then guide you through its transition into a full-fledged re-branded VPX franchise.

“Old shops can look at this as an opportunity for a new life of their shops,” says Mark Saberola, general manager of ValuePlus Auto Service. “We will give them flexible terms. They simply need to reach out to us and we will work something out for them.”

For inquiries about auto shop conversion opportunities, contact ValuePlus Auto Service and VPX at 0917 – 628 – 7492 or you may email vpx@ valueplusph.com.

Editor: Jun Lomibao • mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph

Sports BusinessMirror

Friday, December 20, 2019

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Tokyo 2020 ticket lottery: 1M offered, 23M sought T

BREAKING GENDER BARRIER IT’S a first win by a woman on darts’ highest stage, one that trends on Twitter and has catapulted the 25-year-old Fallon Sherrock into a life she could never have imagined. AP

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B S D The Associated Press

HE widely held image of professional darts on television screens as a beer-fueled pub game typically played by outof-shape men has been shattered by the barrier-breaking exploits of a young Englishwoman.

Amid raucous scenes at London’s atmospheric Alexandra Palace, Fallon Sherrock became an unlikely overnight celebrity in Britain when she landed a double 18 to clinch victory over a male opponent at the sport’s flagship event, the PDC World Championship, on Tuesday.

It was a first win by a woman on darts’ highest stage, one that trended on Twitter and has catapulted the 25-year-old Sherrock into a life she could never have imagined.

Wednesday morning saw her appear on some of the biggest TV and radio shows in Britain. Much to her delight and surprise, she now has a blue tick next to her name on her Twitter account.

The biggest payday of her career—by a long way—awaits her at the weekend.

Bigger than all that, she is now a trailblazer in the game.

“It definitely sends out a good statement,” Sherrock said.

“We can beat the men.”

And how her win was celebrated. After hitting the winning double to claim a 3-2 victory over Ted Evetts, she skipped to the board to collect her darts and turned around to see a room of mostly inebriated men bouncing up and down and singing in

celebration. “We love you Fallon, we do,” they chanted, over and over again.

She shook hands with Evetts, who then applauded Sherrock and extended his right arm out as if to urge spectators to acclaim Sherrock, a one-time professional hairdresser who first picked up a dart when she was aged 17.

“I’ve always had the game,” she said Wednesday, “but us women have never had the opportunity to prove it.”

Until last year, that is. That was when the man that runs top-level darts, promoter Barry Hearn, allocated two of the 96 places in the world championship field to women. Previously, women could attempt to qualify for the event but now spots were guaranteed.

On Monday, Mikuru Suzuki—the women’s world champion—took James Richardson to a sudden-death leg in the fifth set before losing.

Before that, Gayl King of Canada (2000), Anastasia Dobromyslova of Russia (2009, 2018) and Lisa Ashton of England (2018) had played in the main draw, all losing in the first round.

Sherrock went one better, setting up a second-round match against Mensur Suljovic, the 11th seed from Austria, where she is guaranteed to win at least £15,000 (nearly $20,000) even if she loses.

It is a triumph of persistence for Sherrock, who developed a serious kidney condition after giving birth to her son, Rory, five years ago. She had to take medication and one of the side effects was the swelling of her face, which led to her receiving abuse

online for her appearance.

That, plus what she described as “constant sexist comments” about trying to make her way as a darts player, “inspired me to get better and prove everyone wrong,” Sherrock told the BBC. “Well, I have just proved them wrong,” she said.

It should deliver a huge fillip to the women’s game. The male-dominated sport is slowly starting to embrace females, with Daniela Bata-Bogdanov of Hungary becoming the firstever female scoring official at this event. She was scoring the Sherrock-Evetts match on Tuesday.

Leading women’s darts player Laura Turner is one of the commentators at the world championship.

And last year, officials took the decision to stop having walkon girls lead players to the oche before matches at darts events “following feedback from host broadcasters.” The Formula One racing series has dispensed with the long-standing tradition of having women on the grid—known as “Grid Girls”—before races, considering it inappropriate and outdated.

Unlike other sports where physicality is crucial, darts is about hand-eye coordination. So it might just be the cultural and social environment that has prevented women from making names for themselves in a game that has a cult following in Britain, and is also popular in the Netherlands and Germany among other countries as Hearn sends darts to new markets.

The opportunity is there for women to make a name for themselves in a game that not so long ago appeared blocked off for them. Sherrock’s success can only help in that regard.

OKYO—Tokyo’s Olympic tickets continue to be very hard to find—particularly in Japan.

Organizers on Wednesday said there were 23 million tickets requested in the latest lottery for Japan residents only. The bad news is that only 1 million tickets were available. Which means that almost everybody went away empty handed.

Next summer’s Olympics have generated unprecedented demand. Organizers said 3.57 million tickets had been awarded to Japan residents in previous lotteries.

Organizers confirmed for the first time the demand was almost 20 times oversupply—about 60 million tickets requested. And now Japan residents are running out of chances. The next ticket offering in Japan will be early next year, but will be open to Japan and non-Japan residents on a first-come, first-served basis.

Overall, organizers say about 7.8 million tickets are available for all events. Organizers have said that at least 70 percent of the tickets will go to Japan residents.

Large blocks also go to sponsors, international sports federations, national Olympic committees and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Millions are also sold outside Japan by official Olympic tickets resellers, which can charge a 20-percent handling fee on every ticket. They can also take advantage of fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The lucky—and unlucky—were quickly vocal in Japan on social media.

“It’s like a dream,” said one.

“What did I do wrong? This is unforgivable,” said another.

Ticket shortages have led some to question why they cannot find tickets for a local Olympics, which is being funded by billions in taxpayer money. The opening ceremony on July 24 features the most expensive ticket—¥300,000 ($2,700). The most expensive ticket for the closing ceremony is ¥220,000 ($2,000).

The demand is sure to create a vibrant secondary market, and opportunities for ticket scalpers.

Japan earlier this year passed a law that prohibits ticket scalping, with the penalty of a ¥1-million ($9,100) fine and a one-year jail term—or both. Three years ago at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, IOC member Patrick Hickey of Ireland was arrested on suspicion of ticket scalping. He is suspended from the IOC but remains a member and has denied any wrongdoing.

The Japan law, however, has large loopholes and does not apply to tickets distributed for free or given away as gifts, or tickets without a purchaser’s name. This could apply to many tickets coming from the IOC, the 200 national Olympic committees, or some major Olympic sponsors.

The demand has driven up hotel prices and even created concerns about how Tokyo’s efficient train system will handle the games. Part of the demand is simple to explain: Greater Tokyo has 35 million people and is one of the world’s largest metro areas.

Demand for Paralympic tickets is also surpassing supply.

Paralympic organizers expect the 2.3 million tickets available will be sold before the Paralympics open on August 25. This would also be a first.

Organizers hope to raise about $800 million in ticket sales. This revenue makes up a large part of the privately funded operating budget of $5.6 billion. More than $3 billion of that revenue comes from more than 60 local sponsors, a record for local sponsorship.

A national government audit report has said Tokyo will spend about $25 billion to organize the Olympics, all of which is public money except for the operating budget. Organizers dispute the figure and say it’s half that much, part of a debate about what are—and are not—Olympic expenses. AP

PLAYERS HOPE RIVALRY GAME HELPS SPAWN PRO LEAGUE H

UNITED States players celebrate after defeating Canada during a rivalry series game in Hartford, Connecticut. AP

ARTFORD, Connecticut—The United States women’s hockey beat Canada 4-1 recently, with players hoping the first in a series of five games between the international rivals will help kindle the public’s interest in both their sport and their fight off the ice for better professional opportunities.

Canada’s Victoria Bach and the Megan Keller of the US traded power-play goals in the first period, before Amanda Kessel put the US on top for good with a player advantage in the second.

Abbe Roque’s backhand in the period gave the US a 3-1 lead and Alex Carpenter beat Genevieve Lacasse for the final goal 1:15 seconds later.

More than 7,000 fans showed up for the international competition, which comes after more than 200 members of what has since become the Professional Women’s Hockey Players’ Association announced in May they would not play professionally in North America during the 2019-2020 season.

“I think it’s important for people to watch us play and see the level of talent and entertainment that’s out there,” Kessel said.

“It’s getting that understanding that we need to help get us a place to play year-round so that people can see us more than five times a year.”

The women are seeking a professional league that provides a living wage, health insurance, infrastructure and support for

training. The Canadian Women’s Hockey League shut down in the spring after 12 years of operation, leaving only the five-team National Women’s Hockey League, where most players make less than $10,000 a season.

“The product is there,” Kessel said. “The people to watch it are there. We just need a structure set in place.”

Sarah Nurse, a forward for Team Canada, whose cousin Kia Nurse plays for New York in the WNBA, said players are hoping to get support from the National Hockey League, which has, so far, expressed little interest in investing in a women’s league.

“We can look at [the WNBA] and see that women’s sports have value and they have a place in this world,” said Nurse, who made $2,000 last season playing in the CWHL. “That is definitely a model that we look to.”

The rivalry series was created after the Four Nations Cup in Sweden was canceled when top Swedish players pulled out of national team events due to concerns over their salary and working conditions.

Without a viable pro league, players who are out of college have been training on their own at random rinks across North America in between gatherings of the national teams or training sessions and exhibitions sponsored by the players association.

Canada won two of those over the US in Pittsburgh last

month. But the lack of consistent competition can stunt the players’ development, especially when it comes to be being prepared for world and Olympic competitions, the players said.

“It’s very unfortunate,” Nurse said. “Games are when we truly get better and test out our skills, so it’s unfortunate that we don’t have more games to play.”

Cayla Barnes, who plays defense for the US team and Boston College, said she and the other college players on the national teams understand what is going on and appreciate what the older players are doing.

“They are putting so much on the line for the younger generations,” she said. “Not just for us college kids who are coming up, but for U-8, U-10 girls who are coming up so they have opportunities later on. So I think all of us who are younger are trying to support them in whatever way we can.”

Hundreds of girls wearing their youth hockey jerseys attended the game, chanting “U-S-A” as the final seconds ticked off the clock.

“I want to be like them, like in the Olympics when I get older,” said 14-year-old Leila Espirito Santo, of Glastonbury “I started playing when I was in fourth grade and I wasn’t the best, but watching them play made me want to be better. It showed me I could do it.” AP

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Business

Friday, December 20, 2019

Bach lauds UAE’s skills in hosting

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NTERNATIONAL Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach praised the hosting skills of the United Arab Emirates during a visit to the country.

The Gulf nation has become a regular site for major events in sport, with many highprofile championships taking place in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Bach was attending the International Partnership Against Corruption in Sport conference in Abu Dhabi, and also met officials from the UAE National Olympic Committee (UAE NOC).

“The UAE has hosted a variety of sporting events, rendering it a unique choice of international sports organizations and federations for hosting sports competitions and conventions that witness key decisions impacting the global sports and Olympic Movements,” he said.

“We always feel happy with the progress made by countries in Olympic fields and the UAE is a great example of the ability to flourish and deliver the best solutions for all.

“Such improvements make it easy for athletes to make smooth participation in mega sporting events, engage in recovery programs, or join training camps held in facilities par excellence.”

Bach was received by Humaid Al Qattami, vice president of the UAE NOC. Topics discussed included next year’s Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

“We have reviewed with Dr. Bach the means and ways of uplifting the Olympic Movement and the agenda of training courses, educational conventions, and induction workshops held by the IOC all over the year to see the possibility of engaging our sports and keeping abreast of the latest developments,” Al Qattami said. Insidethegames

LOWRY WAXES HOT IN RAPTORS’ VICTORY

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ETROIT—The Toronto Raptors beat Detroit but lost two more players in the process.

“A win with a heavy price,” Coach Nick Nurse said.

Kyle Lowry had 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for a triple-double and the Raptors had an 11-0 run in the third quarter on their way to a 112-99 victory over the Pistons on Wednesday night. By the time the game ended, however, Toronto was short a few key players after Marc Gasol and Norman Powell left with injuries.

The Raptors were without guard Fred VanVleet because of right knee injury. Then Gasol left in the first quarter with a left hamstring strain. With 3:17 left in the fourth, Powell departed holding onto his left shoulder.

“Don’t know much,” Nurse said. “We’ve got to check them both tomorrow.”

Toronto still had enough firepower to handle the Pistons. Detroit allowed 133 points in a loss to Washington on Monday night. The Pistons got frontcourt standouts Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond back from injuries for this game, but they still allowed 70 points in the first half and 40 in the second quarter.

“You never want to give up that many points, but I liked our start, I liked our effort and I like the competitive edge,” Pistons Coach Dwane Casey said. “If we can keep that up, we can build on that, but that’s still one of the

best teams in our league.”

Lowry fed Serge Ibaka for a dunk with 37.4 seconds left for the assist he needed for a triple-double. That was a nice accomplishment, but now the defending champions will have to find out the extent of their latest injuries.

“We avoided the injury bug last year, and that really helped us throughout the whole year,” Lowry said. “It’s pretty tough for our team, but we’ve got a bunch of guys that have to step up now, and hopefully it’s nothing serious with those two guys.”

Lowry already missed time this season with a thumb injury, and Ibaka was sidelined with a sprained ankle.

Toronto led 81-76 before its 11-point run in the third. Pascal Siakam and Ibaka had backto-back dunks that made it 90-76, and a layup

by Rondae Hollis-Jefferson pushed the lead to 16. Drummond had 22 points and 18 rebounds for Detroit.

In Portland, Damian Lillard had 31 points and a season-high 13 assists, Hassan Whiteside grabbed 23 rebounds and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Golden State Warriors, 122-112, Wednesday night.

CJ McCollum scored 30 points and Carmelo Anthony added 17 for Portland. Whiteside also scored 16 points.

D’Angelo Russell led Golden State with 26 points and seven assists.

Lillard set the tone in the first quarter.

GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO and the Bucks prepare for the big game ahead. AP

Giannis, Bucks visit prison with Laker match looming

S TORONTO’S Kyle Lowry drives against Detroit’s Bruce Brown during the second half of their game on Wednesday. AP

Going against the team he grew up rooting for, Lillard had 16 points and five assists in the opening quarter to help the Blazers build a 40-29 halftime lead.

The Warriors still showed plenty of fight even though they entered Wednesday with the worst record in the NBA. After trailing by 13, the Warriors led 66-65 late in the first half after a 3-pointer by Eric

Pascall. Golden State had a 27-11 advantage in second-chance points and went 16 for 38 from the three-point line.

A driving lay-up by Lillard got Portland the lead back at 67-66 heading into halftime.

After letting the Warriors back into the game, the Blazers began the half on a 5-0 run, leading Golden State Coach Steve Kerr to call timeout. AP

Fury changes trainers ahead of probable Wilder rematch

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ONDON—Tyson Fury has changed trainers two months before his likely heavyweight rematch with World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Deontay Wilder.

Fury split with Ben Davison after two years and will team up with Javan “Sugar” Hill, the nephew of the late trainer Emmanuel Steward.

Fury, who previously worked with Steward out of the Kronk gym in Detroit, used social media to post a picture of them both—along with Hill and former world champion Andy Lee—with the caption: “Getting the old team back up and running.” The 31-year-old Fury fought to a draw with Wilder in Los Angeles, last December. They are expected to fight again in February, although the bout has not been officially announced.

Davison helped Fury recover from mental health and addiction issues that affected him after beating Wladimir Klitschko to become world heavyweight champion in 2015.

“Tyson and myself had to both make decisions for our careers, which resulted in our working relationship coming to an end,” Davison wrote on Twitter on Sunday.

An Ohio judge, meanwhile, awarded $830,000 to a woman who claimed former boxing champion Adrien “The Problem” Broner sexually assaulted her at a Cleveland nightclub.

The default judgment was delivered Tuesday after Broner failed to defend himself in the lawsuit.

The Cincinnati native was accused in the lawsuit and a criminal case of pinning a woman he didn’t know on a couch in June 2018, and kissing her against her will as she struggled to free herself. The lawsuit said one of Broner’s friends pulled him off the woman after someone took a photo of the assault.

Broner, 30, was originally charged with sexual imposition in Cuyahoga County. He pleaded guilty in April, to misdemeanor charges of assault and unlawful restraint and was sentenced to probation.

Attorneys for Broner in the lawsuit received permission from Judge Nancy Margaret Russo in November, to withdraw from the case, leaving Broner to defend himself. He appeared at a default hearing without representation on December 3, but never appeared for a deposition or responded to discovery requests, said the woman’s attorney, Ashlie Case Sletvold. AP

AIBA REFORM PROCESS TAKES STEP FORWARD IN CHINA MEETING

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PROCESS to reform the statutes of the International Boxing Association (Aiba) and a decision on an Extraordinary Congress, due to be held in March, are the main topics on the agenda for its latest Executive Committee meeting in China, on Friday.

Members of the ruling body will be updated on the progress made by the Aiba Reform Commission, established last month. The group is set to make a series of recommendations on changes to the statutes, to be voted on at the Extraordinary Congress in March.

It is possible the Congress could be delayed again owing to Aiba’s financial problems, and the status of the meeting will become clearer following the Extraordinary Executive Committee meeting in Xiamen. A Presidential election is planned for the Extraordinary Congress, although some Executive Committee members have cast doubt on the chances of this taking place.

Under Aiba’s current statutes, an election must be staged no later than 365 days after the appointment of the Interim President.

Mohamed Moustahsane, who reversed a decision to step down from the position in September, and will continue through to the planned March election, became Interim President on March 29 this year.

Aiba, suspended as the Olympic governing body for the sport by the International Olympic Committee in June, hopes a revamp of its statutes will count in its favor as it bids to regain recognition in time for Paris 2024. The crisis-ridden body has been stripped of any role

in organizing the Olympic boxing tournament after an IOC investigation uncovered series issues with governance, finances and refereeing and judging.

The Reform Commission, featuring the five vice presidents and representatives from China, Russia and the United States, held its first full meeting today.

It will recommend changes to Aiba statutes, which many feel are outdated.

Prominent sports lawyer François Carrard was due to oversee the statute reform before he turned down the role “in order to prevent any appearance of potential conflicts of interest.” Carrard, who has has twice helped the world governing body overhaul its constitution, is working as the IOC lawyer in its dealings with Aiba. Aiba’s Marketing Commission, also set up in June, will deliver a report to the Executive Committee.

Insidethegames

THE international boxing body is headed toward cleansing itself.

TURTEVANT, Wisconsin—Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks chose to recover from the end of their 18-game winning streak at a medium-security Wisconsin state prison.

Two days before an anticipated showdown with the Los Angeles Lakers, the team was scheduled for a “player individual day” Tuesday—usually used for individuals to get extra training or medical treatment. Instead, the players opted to hear stories from inmates at the Racine Correctional Institution.

“I wasn’t seeing guys that made mistakes,” Antetokounmpo said.

“I was just seeing humans, humans that were laughing, that were trying hard, humans that shared their stories. That really touched me and I realized sometimes we take things for granted. That’s not going to happen again.”

Antetokounmpo, his older brother, Thanasis, and other Milwaukee teammates Sterling Brown, Kyle Korver, George Hill, Pat Connaughton and DJ Wilson traveled about 30 miles south of Milwaukee to the prison to take part in the “Play for Justice” initiative, which brings together NBA teams and inmates at correctional facilities across the country.

The event, organized by Represent Justice, One Community and the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, sets out to break down stigmas associated with individuals—disproportionately people of color and the poor—who are impacted by the criminal justice system. The event was launched alongside the upcoming film Just Mercy, about a wrongfully convicted black man on death row in Alabama.

The Sacramento Kings held the first “Play for Justice” event last week at Folsom State Prison in California.

Milwaukee Coach Mike Budenholzer, some of his assistants and former NBA player Caron Butler—born in Racine—also attended as some of the more than 1,600 incarcerated men shared stories of crimes and mistakes that changed their lives.

“Whenever you’re around anything that’s powerful, that’s bigger than you, that makes you think about how do we make a difference in life and other people’s lives, and makes you think about other people, I think it makes our team think about their teammates or how they could be doing something maybe better for each other and be more empathetic toward each other,” Budenholzer said.

Each player also shared stories of their respective journeys, recalling childhoods in broken homes or impoverished environments. Brown has a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Milwaukee Police Department and the city that stems from a January 2018 incident where a group of officers took him to the ground, tasered and arrested him after a parking violation at a Walgreens. The incident prompted an internal investigation that ended with several officers suspended and others retrained. Brown, who was not charged in the incident, opened up about that night and his mission going forward.

“I’m not doing it for myself,” he said. “I’m being that voice for those that don’t have a platform.”

Antetokounmpo said he didn’t always make the best decisions while growing up in Greece. He said his family, specifically his father Charles, helped him straighten out his life. Charles died of a heart attack at 54 years old in 2017. Antetokounmpo said he spoke with his family after the visit and told them it was an eye-opening experience. “It’s crazy how many things you take for granted,” he said. “Obviously, they made mistakes. But at the end of the day, you have to realize they’re human.”

Budenholzer, Bucks front office personnel, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes played a game of basketball alongside some of the inmates. Antetokounmpo and his teammates served as honorary coaches. The Milwaukee players laughed and cheered with each possession.

Antetokounmpo even took jabs at Budenholzer for his lack of effort on defense.

“He made a big 3 and gave us a lot of momentum,” Antetokounmpo said. “So I was happy with him and kept him in the game for like 25 more seconds because I realized defensively he wasn’t that good.” AP

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4 swimmers target berths in Tokyo 2020

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OUR Filipino swimmers try to make the Olympic qualification standard within a six-month window for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

James Deiparine, the Philippines’s lone gold medalist in the recent 30th Southeast Asian Games, as well as Jasmine Alkhaldi, Remedy Rule and Luke Michael Gebbie all made the Olympic Selection Time (OST) “B.” However, they need to make the cut in the Olympic Qualifying Time (OQT)-A to secure themselves tickets to the Olympics.

Deiparine, who won the gold in the men’s 100-m breaststroke and broke the SEA Games record in the process with his time of 1:01.46, needs more work to surpass the 59.33 seconds standard for Tokyo.

Alkhaldi, a two-time Olympian, clocked 25.48 seconds in the 50-m freestyle to break the 25.51 B time. She is less than a second short of reaching the “A” cut of 24.77 seconds.

She also barged into the OST-B time in the 100-m freestyle event with 55.76 seconds. The qualifying time is set at 54.28 seconds.

Rule, meanwhile, breached the B time in three tournaments she joined since June in the 200-m butterfly. She booked a personal best 2:10.99 in the SEA Games to lock in on the A time of 2:08.43.

In the women’s 100-m freestyle event, Rule got her second B time at 55.80 seconds, just below the 54.38 seconds standard.

Gebbie also had his B times in the men’s 50-m and 100-m freestyle events. He raced to 22.62-seconds in 50-m event at the Games. Earlier, he listed 49.94 seconds at the World Championships in Gwangju last July to make the 100 m B time.

Alkhaldi and Jessie Lacuna represented the country in the past two Olympics through the Universality rule of the International Olympic Committee.

There are still five qualifying tournaments next year, the first being the Malaysia Invitational age-group event in March. Ramon Rafael Bonilla

Friday, December 20, 2019

‘WE WORK AS ONE’ T FOR OLYMPIC GOLD

Pagcor releases P117-M incentives for athletes, coaches

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PORTSMAN Mikee Romero called on all national sports associations (NSAs), stakeholders and his fellow members of the House of Representatives to rally behind President Duterte’s pitch for unity through sports that could eventually translate to the country winning its first Olympic gold medal.

Romero, a deputy speaker of the House and the polo association head and national athlete, made the campaign just a week after the country was crowned overall champion anew of the Southeast Asian Games.

“Let us support President Duterte’s wish of quenching the country’s thirst for an Olympic gold,” said Romero, as he also vowed to support all the measures that Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, will undertake for the Olympic goal.

During the awarding of incentives to medalist athletes in Malacañang, on Wednesday, Duterte made two wishes which many said are vital to winning an Olympic gold—a substantial increase in the national athletes’ monthly allowances and also to increase the country’s budget for the Olympic campaign.

Elite athletes are currently receiving P45,000 in allowances monthly from the Philippine Sports Commission.

“Sana ‘yung allowance ninyo, dapat ‘yung pagkain, libre na. ‘Yung allowance ninyo, allowance na ninyo ‘yan,” said Duterte, who drew cheers from the athletes and officials led

by Tolentino, Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Butch Ramirez and Philippine SEA Games Organizing Commttee Chairman Alan Peter Cayetano.

“Mga P250,000 a month, okay na siguro ‘yan,” said Duterte, drawing more applause from the athletes and sports officials.

“With President Duterte stepping in, I do

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is flanked by athletes and official for a photo op in Malacanang.

The officials include Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William Ramirez, Philippine Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, fencing president Richard Gomez, sailing president Ernesto Echauz Ipartly hidden), Senators Bong Go and Miguel Zubiri, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.

believe winning an Olympic gold now is no longer impossible,” said Romero as he cited the country’s massive success in the 30th SEA Games where Filipino athletes ran away with the overall championship with 149 gold, 117 silver and 121 bronze medals.

“Our success in the SEA Games which Cong.

Bambol [Tolentino] masterminded by staging 529 events in 56 sports was proof that we can win big if we work as one,” Romero said.

“In the past, politicians who dabble as sports leaders were criticized for using sports as personal platforms. But in this era of sports, we are sportsmen first and politicians second,” Romero said. “And Cong. Bambol proved that.”

The 30th SEA Games also marked the first time that POC doled out additional cash incentives to all Filipino medalists.

Tolentino, also the cycling federation president, mustered the support of his fellow congressmen who contributed to the POC incentive/bonus program.

Romero also recognized the massive support given by the PSC to all athletes, especially to gymnast Carlos Yulo, pole vaulter EJ Obiena, skateboarder Marge Didal and the crack boxing and taekwondo teams.

The one-time basketball godfather also made special mention the names of boxers Nesthy Petecio and Eumir Felix Marcial who

have good chances of earning Olymic berths.

“These are the athletes who have what it takes to give us the sporting glory we all dreaming of. Under the watchful eyes of PSC Chairman Ramirez, I am convinced we can finally end our long search for an Olympic gold,” added Romero, a member of polo team that settled for bronze medal.

GINEBRA GOES FOR FINALS SLOT

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BREAKTHROUGH WIN Islander Mizuno secures a breakthrough win in the 70th Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament with 330 points to beat Razcals and Tieza Club Intramuros for the Fil-E division crown on Wednesday, at the Baguio Country Club. The team members are (from left) David Sy, Mark Pizarro, Anton Laborte, Islander Owner Dwight Yao, team captain Pablo Olivarez and Neil Arce. Also in photo are Fil-Am cochairs Tim Allen and Anthony de Leon. grow the number of people who play as this will improve the quality of our players globally (leading to further growth in popularity).

VINCENT JUICO @VJuico, Instagram vpjp_j, vince.juico@gmail.com

SPORTS WITHOUT BORDERS

Fiba talk with James White

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FTER the SPIA ASIA event, I was able to interview via e-mail James White, head of sales of Apac Fiba Marketing.

Here is the interview:

Will basketball ever overtake football as the world’s most popular sport?

James White: This is quite a loaded question! Of course Fiba markets the sport of basketball daily across the globe. We have had steady growth over the past 30 years and continue to move in a positive direction. We don’t see other sports as “competitors” in the

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way that a traditional business would. Fiba encourages people to play and watch sports, multiple sports, and we recommend that basketball is one of them! But we realize that we need to be locally relevant in order to offer consumers a reasonable option to engage. So if the country that a person lives in doesn’t have a strong league or national team or if there aren’t courts to play on, then we’re not doing our job to engage them and grow the sport. Therefore, Fiba works tirelessly with countries around the world to improve the local offerings that basketball has in order to

What’s next for Fiba after the World Cup this year? The Olympic Qualifiers next year?

Yes, as you indicate, the Olympic Qualifiers will take place next year. The women’s tournaments will take place in February, while the men’s tournaments will take place in June.

On the men’s side, we’ve accommodated the NBA’s schedule to ensure that teams can field their top players and give themselves the best possible chance to qualify. The Olympics has long been an important tournament for promoting basketball. Fiba now has revamped our World Cup to become a more difficult tournament to win (than the Olympics) and, therefore, will become the most sought-after title in the world. However, the Olympics will remain important to the sport and to players, fans and nations across the world. After the Olympics in 2020, we then move into our Continental Cups (Asia Cup, EuroBasket, etc.) in 2021, and following that we will start our qualification process in 80 countries around the world for the 2023 Fiba Basketball World Cup, partially to take place in the Philippines.

ARANGAY Ginebra goes for the first Finals seat against a NorthPort side that is expected to come out firing from all cylinders on Friday in the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup best-of-five semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Gin Kings started on the wrong foot, but recovered well with two huge victories to set a 2-1 lead in their race-to-three showdown.

Coach Tim Cone and company could wrap up the series at 7 p.m., and forge a championship rerun after they took the season-ending conference title two years ago.

“It’s nice to have the head start, get ahead and dictate the series. That’s always the goal, to force the other team to make the adjustments,” Cone said.

Barangay Ginebra got humiliated with a 34-point drubbing by NorthPort in Game One. The team redeemed its poise and had a 113-88 rout in the second encounter, and recently broke

free to a 132-105 thrashing last Wednesday to move a win shy from a Finals slot.

Scoring just 15 in Game Two, Justin Brownlee unloaded 41 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists on top of three blocks and three steals.

He had tons of help as Japeth Aguilar and Jeff Chan contributed 18 and 17 points, respectively.

“I really didn’t expect us to play so well. So came out and played really well in just about every phase of the game,” Cone said.

Batang Pier import Michael Qualls was his usual self with 32 points and 10 boards, while Christian Standhardinger added 20 points.

The undermanned NorthPort just couldn’t match the firepower of Barangay Ginebra which built a 64-48 spread at the half.

They are playing minus Sol Mercado, who has an ankle sprain, as well as Jonathan Grey, Bradwyn Guinto, Kevin Ferrer and Robert Bolick.

Ramon Rafael Bonilla

How do you see the game evolving in the next several years?

Basketball is currently the second-most popular sport in the world. We believe that, through our “lifestyle offering” (e.g., music, fashion, etc.), we appeal to a wide range of fans and participants, and can be constantly on the minds of people around the world. Through offering a new and more compact way of playing the sport (3x3) and securing adoption of this format by the IOC, we feel that boys, girls, men and women around the world have a format of the sport to play and watch with their friends and families. Through popular gamification, such as NBA 2k, etc., there are ways people can engage with our sports that don’t involve the physical game. The past Fiba Basketball World Cup 2019 in China has proven that the traditional version of the sport continues to grow around the world. In Asia, the Americas and Africa, especially Fiba (along with the NBA) has introduced new initiatives and events to offer more platforms to engage consumers. Through these areas, Fiba is actively advocating the growth of the sport, and we believe that basketball will continue to evolve and engage more, and more, citizens of the world.

The racism in European football, what proactive measures has Fiba done to prevent racism from rearing its ugly head in world basketball?

Fiba denounces all racism—whether in basketball or otherwise. Racism is a product of the societies that we live in. Therefore, we support all societies that seek to crush racism, and raise unity through education and access to exchanges of societies. Basketball brings all sorts of people together, and Fiba prides itself in regularly producing a great entertainment product that nearly always features multiples of different races, genders and types of individuals—whether on the court or behind the scenes. Fiba promotes diversity in its staff, and officials, governing and marketing the sport. Our rules and regulations strictly denounce racism and, therefore, we have rules to sanction and discipline individuals, teams, organizations and/or associations who exhibit these tendencies. Obviously, Fiba has a lot of plans in the pipeline to promote and market the game of basketball, and using the sport to reach out to the marginalized sectors of the world and to use the game to advocate equality, inclusivity, peace and fair play.

HE Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) released on Wednesday, a total of P117 million in cash incentives for all Filipino medal winners and their coaches in the recently concluded 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

The cash windfall was received by the medalists during a courtesy call with President Duterte in Malacañang, where the Chief Executive also conferred the athletes the rank of Kamagi under the Order of Lapu-Lapu, which is awarded to officials, government personnel and private citizens “in recognition of invaluable or extraordinary service in relation to a campaign or advocacy of the President.”

“The blood, sweat and tears that you have shed to earn this prestigious recognition is truly inspiring. I am really very happy to no end,” the President addressed the athletes in his speech.

Getting the lion’s share of the financial bounty were multi-medal winners led by world champion gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo, cue masters Rubilen Amit and Chezka Centeno, and trackster Kristina Marie Knott.

Clinching the gold in the floor exercise and all-around events of men’s artistic gymnastics, Yulo received a total of P2.6 million from Duterte, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Pagcor. He also won five silver medals to emerge as the most decorated Filipino athlete in the biennial meet.

Under Republic Act 10699, otherwise known as the National Athletes Coaches and Trainers Benefits Incentives Act, gold-medal winners in SEA Games are entitled to a cash incentive of P300,000. Silver and bronze medalists, on the other hand, get P150,000 and P60,000, respectively.

Coaches of national athletes are also entitled to cash incentives if they have personally trained and rendered service to the athletes or teams who win in international competitions at least six months prior to the international competition.

The incentives for the coaches shall be equivalent to 50 percent of the cash incentives for gold, silver and bronze medalists. In case of more than one coach, the cash incentives shall be divided among themselves.

Duterte also committed to give the athletes an additional P21 million on top of the incentives to medalists provided by the law.

The Filipino athletes had a total haul of 149 gold, 117 silver and 121 bronze medals to win the overall championship of the Games for the second time since the Philippines first hosted the SEA Games in 2005.

Pagcor Chairman and CEO Andrea Domingo said that the SEA Games winners deserved to be compensated for their accomplishments as they helped reestablish the Philippines’s athletic supremacy in the Southeast Asian region.

“It is but fitting that we reward our sports heroes for a job well done. They did our country proud with their achievements and because of them, the Philippines is once again standing prominently in the international stage,” Domingo said.

Teen sensation Eala makes presence felt

T

ENNIS phenom Alex Eala continues to scale her way higher in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) girl’s Juniors rankings.

The 14-year-old Eala climbed two notches from 13th place to 11th to end the year with her career-best feat in the ITF World Girl’s Juniors as the doubles champion with Belarus’s Evialina Laskevich in the Orange Bowl International Tennis Championship last week.

But their doubles title didn’t came easy as they had to fend off the formidable American duo Savannah Broadus and Kylie Collins in the semifinals. ala and Laskevich came back from a first set loss to the Americans before advancing to the final, 3-6, 6-1, 10-7.

Eala, who trains at the Rafa Nadal Academy, now also ranks No. 2 in Asia behind Japan’s Natsumi Kawaguchi (world’s No.6).

This year, Eala competed in 22 events and pulled 36 wins in 46 outings (78-percent win rate)—15 on clay surface—including the French and US Opens.

She started the year at No. 113.

France’s Diane Parry is the world’s No. 1, followed by Ukraine’s Darla Snigur, Canada’s Leylah Annie Fernandez,and US’s Emma Navarro and Alexa Noel. Ryniel Berlanga

C4

Sports BusinessMirror

Friday, December 20, 2019

www.businessmirror.com.ph

CATALAN proindependence demonstrators block a road as they protest outside the Camp Nou stadium ahead of a Spanish La Liga match between Barcelona and Real Madrid in Barcelona on Wednesday. AP

PROTESTS HEAT UP

EL CLÁSICO

B

ARCELONA, Spain—Riot police clashed with protesters in the streets Wednesday night outside a soccer match between Barcelona and Real Madrid, as authorities sought to keep Catalonia’s separatist movement from disrupting the game viewed by 650 million people worldwide.

The match in Barcelona’s Camp Nou stadium began without incident, and was halted only briefly when some fans threw balls onto the field bearing a message for the Spanish government to open a dialogue with the separatists.

The game, which drew nearly 100,000 spectators, ended in a scoreless draw.

Thousands of police and private security guards were deployed in and around stadium.

In the street clashes, riot police used batons to force the crowd back, some threw objects at officers lined up behind shields and other protesters fought among themselves.

Authorities said nine people had been arrested, and Spain’s national news agency Efe reported that 12 were injured.

At least four plastic trash cans were set on fire, and a smell of smoke wafted into the Camp Nou. When the game ended, fans were directed to leave on the stadium’s south side to avoid the clashes outside.

The separatists sought to promote their independence bid by using the media coverage of the game between Barcelona, the Spanish league leader, and its fierce rival Real Madrid. Known as El Clásico, the game was postponed from October 26 amid violent protests by the separatists.

As crowds entered Europe’s largest soccer stadium Wednesday night, security guards confiscated masks of Barcelona’s Argentine star Lionel Messi from supporters, apparently to ensure they could be identified on closed-circuit cameras if they broke the law.

As the game began, some fans held up blue signs saying “Spain, Sit and Talk” and “FREEDOM.” Others chanted, in Catalan, “Freedom for the Political Prisoners.” Those messages referred to the Spanish government’s refusal to discuss the wealthy northeastern region’s independence, as well as the recent

imprisonment of nine of the movement’s leaders convicted for their roles in a failed 2017 secession bid.

A shadowy online group called Tsunami Democratic, which was behind the protest, had posted a message on social media saying: “Hello, world! Tonight Tsunami has a message for you.”

Protest organizers said over 25,000 people signed up to demonstrate near the stadium in Barcelona, Catalonia’s capital, although it was hard to distinguish between protesters and fans.

There was a festive atmosphere before the game, though some protesters briefly blocked main roads to the stadium.

The Barcelona team asked its fans to behave with civility, and not to affect the match.

Francisco Sánchez, a 60-year-old mechanic, was outside Camp Nou hours before the match. He did not have a ticket, but was one of several protesters who distributed small blue banners with the message urging Spain to begin a dialogue.

“I hope this movement will make our leaders realize that they have to lay off the law and start talking,” he said. “This can’t be solved with violence, but through words.”

Miguel Ángel Giménez, a 42-year-old policeman in a Barcelona shirt and scarf, drove with a friend over 700 kilometers (430 miles) from the southern region of Murcia to attend the match. “Our friends back home told us we were crazy to cross half of Spain to go to a game that might not be played,” he said, adding that “everything is quite calm. There is lots of security.”

The US Consulate in Barcelona advised people to avoid the area or use caution if near it.

Henrik Noerrelund, a 55-year-old electrician from Denmark, flew in with his wife to attend his first Barcelona match after a lifetime supporting the club.

“In my parts, they used to say politics and football don´t mix, but today you have to accept it,” Noerrelund said. “It’s there, you cannot separate it, you have seen it for many years, and I don’t think they can manage to separate it and just play football.”

Separatist sentiment grew sharply in Catalonia during the global recession that hit Spain hard. The 7.5 million residents of Catalonia are about equally divided by the secession question,

according to polls and election results.

Separatists have used the Camp Nou stadium as a protest platform for years. They shout “Independence!” at a set time during matches and sometimes unfurl banners.

The Barcelona team has walked a fine line between supporting its fans’ right to free expression and aligning itself with the greater interests of Catalonia. Many feel it does not fully support secession so as not to anger its Catalan fans who are not separatists or its millions of supporters across Spain.

With its slogan “More than a club,” it presents itself as a Catalan institution, aligned with the region’s proud cultural traditions and language, which is spoken along with Spanish in the semi-autonomous region.

Its rivalry with Real Madrid has a decades-old political undercurrent, with many Catalans seeing the capital’s team as a symbol of domineering, central power, and a hallmark of Spanish unity and authority.

Madrid supporters, in turn, see Barcelona as representing a traitorous region that wants to break up Spain. For many years, some Barcelona fans held up a massive banner at games that read “Catalonia is not Spain.”

Players from both teams usually get along. The Spanish national team that won the 2010 World Cup and two European Championships was packed with players from both sides.

Security is always high whenever they play—just like at many soccer matches between fierce rivals—but there is no history of violence at the games.

Tsunami Democratic carried out its first major action in October when it organized a large protest after several of the secession movement’s leaders were sentenced to jail for their role in a failed secession bid in 2017.

A call by Tsunami Democratic led to thousands of angry protesters gathering at Barcelona’s airport. A street battle broke out between the most radical protesters and police inside and outside the terminal, and about 150 flights were canceled as ground transport was halted for hours. Protests by separatists left more than 500 people injured, half of them police. AP

COLOGNE’S Anthony Modeste (left) and Leverkusen’s Sven Bender challenge for the ball during their German Bundesliga match in Cologne, Germany, over the weekend. AP

COLOGNE SUSPENDS DEAL TO BUILD ACADEMY IN CHINA

C

OLOGNE, Germany—German soccer club Cologne has suspended a deal to build an academy in China, but says it’s not cutting all ties with the country.

The head of the club’s members’ council, Stefan MüllerRömer, welcomed the decision, telling local newspaper the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger that Cologne should not cooperate with a country he said was building a “total surveillance state.”

However, the club’s management said Wednesday that Müller-Römer was not speaking on the club’s behalf and that sporting reasons, not politics, were behind their decision to pull out of the project in the city of Shenyang in northeast China.

“It has to do with the focusing of resource and the setting of priorities, because we would have had to commit personnel to the project, too,” Club President Werner Wolf said in a statement.

“Other possible forms of cooperation, for example sponsorships with Chinese companies, are not affected by this.”

He added that the club “stands by its democratic values, as well as international dialogue.”

Cologne was promoted to the Bundesliga last season, but is struggling to avoid relegation this campaign. It had previously sought to build links with Chinese teams, including sending academy coaches to run workshops for their Chinese counterparts in 2016.

Cologne’s decision to pull out comes at a time when Western sports teams and businesses are increasingly confronted by tough choices related to China’s political situation.

Chinese television decided not to air an Arsenal game this weekend after its German midfielder Mesut Özil criticized China’s treatment of Uighurs Muslims last week.

Arsenal distanced itself from Özil’s comments. The club said the remarks were his personal opinion and that Arsenal does not involve itself in politics.

Some Chinese corporations suspended links with the NBA in October after Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey tweeted support for anti-government protesters in Hong Kong, angering fans and officials in China. AP

BARCELONA-MADRID DUEL ENDS IN SCORELESS DRAW B

REAL Madrid’s Karim Benzema (left) and Barcelona’s Gerard Pique walk together on the pitch. AP

ARCELONA, Spain—Barcelona and Real Madrid played out a 0-0 draw for the first time in 17 years on Wednesday in a politically supercharged “clásico” match played amid a large separatist protest that turned violent outside Camp Nou stadium.

The game inside the stadium was completed without any major incidents—either on the field or in the stands. But in the streets outside, a detachment of riot police clashed with protesters soon after the start, and plastic trash cans were set on fire. The smell of smoke from the streets outside reached the stands in the final minutes of the match.

The draw left both teams locked on points atop the Spanish league with Barcelona in front on goal difference. It was the first scoreless match between the fierce rivals since November 2002.

Despite concerns by police that the protesters could also try to delay or interrupt the match, both teams arrived safely and on time to the stadium escorted by a heavy police detail. Fears of a pitch invasion by protesters in the stands also proved unfounded.

Madrid Coach Zinedine Zidane said he was pleased with both the performance, and the fact that the game went ahead despite the abnormal circumstances.

“Everything went well for Barca and for Real Madrid, and for football,” Zidane said. “So we can all be happy.”

Play was held up around a minute shortly after halftime

when some spectators threw dozens of inflatable beach balls on the side of the pitch, while shouting “independence.” Stewards quickly cleared them away.

The public speaker also asked the around 100,000 spectators at Europe’s biggest stadium to not use exits at one end of the stadium, apparently for security reasons.

Barcelona Coach Ernesto Valverde said his team was not affected by the protest since there is always an intense atmosphere surrounding games against Madrid.

“With the tension that the game had already, I saw there were a few yellow balls, but not many. We tried to treat it as normally as possible. People protested, but nothing more,” Valverde said. “As a social event, I don’t have an opinion. As a sporting event, we drew.”

Before kickoff, the spectators at the 99,000-seat Camp Nou held up red, blue and yellow square cards to form a mosaic during the playing and singing of the club hymn. Separatists unfurled a large banner reading “Spain, Sit and Talk” and “FREEDOM” as calls for the Spanish government to accept a negotiation over a possible referendum on secession. When the hymn was over, some spectators held up blue signs with the same message, while shouting for the release from prison for several leaders of the movement.

The separatists want the wealthy northwestern region to break away from the rest of Spain. Catalonia’s 7.5 million residents are roughly split by the secession question, according to polls. While both teams are more known for their highpowered attacks, it was defenders who stood out in the game as Barcelona’s Gerard Pique and Madrid’s Sergio Ramos both cleared goal-bound shots from their lines.

Ramos set a new record for the most clásicos by a player from either side with 43. The Spain captain blocked Lionel Messi’s best chance in the 31st minute. Led by Messi, who thrilled the crowd from the start with several runs through Madrid’s midfield, the hosts appeared in control.

Madrid, however, took the initiative by trying to take advantage of its superior height and bombarded the box with crosses. Pique cleared Madrid’s best opportunity, a header from Casemiro in the 17th.

The second half was one of the tamest between the fierce rivals in recent memory. Neither generated much in attack. And even Messi was off key when he scuffed a shot from close range.

As smoke from outside wafted down, the tension shifted from the pitch to the clashes outside. The match ended with an eerie silence. There were no cheers, and the tradition of playing the hymn was forgone. AP

God of salvation

D

EAR God, You show justice to those who are vulnerable and in need. In hope we pray: God, come to our aid.

Inspire efforts to denuclearize and prosper the work of peacemakers. Inspire servant leaders to serve with integrity, wisdom, and concern for the poor and generous rich who are sharing a lot of their resources to the needy. Deflate the escalation of violence between nations and within our cities. May God grant all our prayers, satisfy our heart’s desire, and fulfill every one of our plans, through Jesus, our promised peace. Amen.

GIVE US THIS DAY SHARED BY LUISA LACSON, HFL Word&Life Publications • teacherlouie1965@yahoo.com

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

Life BusinessMirror

SOMETHING LIKE LIFE: THE COMING OF AGE OF FILIPINO CUISINE: PART I D3

Friday, December 20, 2019

D1

FROM ‘KNIVES OUT’ TO BOND, ANA DE ARMAS IS ON THE RISE L

BY LINDSEY BAHR The Associated Press

OS ANGELES—Ana de Armas is fumbling with a packet of sugar and talking about her breakneck schedule on a recent afternoon in Los Angeles when her already enormous almond eyes widen even further.

“Do I have avocado on my face?” she asked somewhat nervously. She doesn’t, but the 31-year-old Cuba-born actress has been feeling a little frazzled lately. It’s been hard to find time to eat, let alone do a spot check in a mirror.

De Armas left the New Orleans set of Adrian Lyne’s Patricia Highsmith adaptation Deep Water the night before to attend the premiere of Rian Johnson’s Agatha Christie-inspired whodunnit Knives Out, which is now in theaters. It was a brief respite; after a few days of interviews, de Armas flew back to continue filming.

And it’s been that way for a few years now. She’s filmed not only Knives Out, but the next James Bond, No Time To Die, the Marilyn Monroe movie Blonde (she plays none other than the former Norma Jeane) and a film about the late United Nations diplomat Sergio Vieira de Mello.

In fact, she was looking forward to a little bit of a break when Knives Out came her way at the tail end of the grueling three-month shoot for Sergio in Thailand. And the description she got wasn’t exactly an enticing one. “I get this e-mail saying, ‘Nurse in a house and she’s Latina and she’s pretty and this is the scene,’” she recalled. “And I was like ‘Are you

kidding me? I don’t know what this is about.’ That little description doesn’t say anything to me, it doesn’t speak to me.”

De Armas knew that Johnson had written and would direct the film and that a big star, Daniel Craig, was attached. She’s also protective of her career and needed to know more before she would even agree to audition. Although she speaks naturally with an accent, she’s worked hard to prove herself capable of playing characters outside of her ethnicity and pushes her team to send her out on auditions for everything.

This innate determination and unwillingness to settle has gotten her where she is and now she’s on the brink of full-fledged stardom. After attending theater school in Havana, she moved to Madrid, with $300 saved up to try a bigger pond. It was an amount that she assumed would help her survive for a few months (it would have in Cuba) but she quickly discovered otherwise. Still, de Armas found a way and started landing roles in television and film. After eight years there, she was ready to move on and try Hollywood even though she knew very little English.

One thing she had going for her was that she had an agent and manager, thanks to her Hands of Stone costar Edgar Ramirez, who had introduced her to his team. When she arrived in Los Angeles, where she and a friend rented a single room and shared a bed, de Armas enrolled in English classes but also told her agents that she didn’t want to wait. She wanted to start auditioning.

“I was clear that the reason I was here was not to get a degree in English,” she said. “I forced them to send me out to auditions and meetings, even though I

couldn’t understand half of it.”

Her big break came in true Hollywood fashion.

Standing at the valet outside the CAA agency, producer Colleen Camp spotted her and started taking pictures and screaming about how she had to meet Eli Roth immediately. They were casting for the thriller Knock Knock with Keanu Reeves, but de Armas was literally on her way to the airport. She managed to meet Roth, suitcases in hand, and make the flight.

They closed the deal the next day.

“My agent was like, ‘I need to take you out to lunch more often,’” de Armas said, laughing. Still a little shaky with English, she got through the shoot by pronouncing her lines phonetically.

Knock Knock opened the doors for other opportunities. She landed a role in Todd Phillips’ War Dogs and then in Blade Runner 2049 as Ryan Gosling’s hologram girlfriend. It’s also why Andrew Dominik thought of her to play Marilyn Monroe.

De Armas knows she’s demanding with her team.

She had to fight for access to the closely guarded Knives Out script, but after she read it she realized she had to do it. She flew from Thailand to Boston, to audition for Johnson, who had cast a wide net for the role of Marta (one of the only non-movie stars in the film that includes Craig, Chris Evans, Don Johnson, Jamie Lee Curtis and Christopher Plummer).

“The first thing I did was google Ana and of course all these crazy glamorous shots of her come up and it looked like the exact opposite of what I imagined for the character. But then I met her and knew that she was right,” Johnson said. “She’s got those Audrey Hepburn eyes and you’re instantly on her side when

you see them through the camera.”

De Armas flew back to Los Angeles, picked up her dog and some winter clothes, and within five days was in New England filming Knives Out and feeling a little intimidated as the lead alongside all the megastars.

In her first scene as an immigrant nurse called in for questioning about the mysterious death of the wealthy patriarch she cared for, she realized she was shaking. Curtis, who has since become a friend and mentor to de Armas, came up to her in between takes and took her by the shoulders.

“She came this close to my face and she said, ‘You have the most expressive eyes I’ve ever seen. You’re going to be OK,’” de Armas said. “She gave me that little push that I needed to chill.”

De Armas didn’t know it at the time, but she also would be forming a connection with Craig that would carry over into a major franchise: James Bond. But once again, de Armas wasn’t just going to say yes because it was Bond. She needed to know about her character. Fleabag’s Phoebe Waller-Bridge wrote her scenes and de Armas was heartened to discover that Paloma wasn’t the stereotypically “perfect” Bond girl but “messy and kind of crazy.”

“I thought, ‘That Bond woman, I can be,’” she said.

De Armas doesn’t have a specific plan for her future in movies, but she likes a challenge (she studied and worked with a dialect coach for a year to prepare for Blonde) and loves working with interesting directors, like Johnson, Dominik and Bond-helmer Cary Fukunaga. As for whether or not some downtime is on the agenda, she just laughs.

“2020 is the year for my break,” she said. ■

D2

Christmas Calendar z ‘May your BusinessMirror

Friday, December 20, 2019

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Today’s Horoscope

By Eugenia Last

days be merry and bright...’

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Jonah Hill, 36; David Cook, 37; Nicole de Boer, 49; Joel Gretsch, 56.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Listen carefully, ask questions and don’t misinterpret the messages or signals you are receiving. Clarity will be what’s needed this year to bring about the positive changes you want to make.

Trust, loyalty and persistence will help you turn what you don’t like into something spectacular. Put in the time and effort, and you will reap the rewards. Your lucky numbers are 5, 17, 20, 28, 37, 41, 43.

a

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Get serious about the future. Talk about lifestyle changes and what you would like to happen in the nottoo-distant future. You are overdue for a change, and the best place to start is with someone you love. ★★★

b

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Make a change for the right reason. Trying to appease someone instead of pleasing yourself will lead to resentment. Be open to discussion, but make sure the results are equally as fair for you as they are for others. ★★★

c

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Spend more time on personal needs, health and nurturing close relationships. Visiting friends and family can be fun, but don’t take on too much or subject yourself to unsavory situations that could jeopardize your integrity or ethics. Stick to the truth. ★★★★★

W

ITH Christmas Day less than a week away, we have put together a quick calendar of holiday merrymaking for a heightened, more meaningful Yuletide celebration.

RESORTS WORLD MANILA AT the newly opened Yamazato, the Okura Hotels and Resorts’ signature traditional fine-dining restaurant at Resorts World Manila, guests can celebrate the year-end holiday season with specially crafted food menus.

Make your Christmas truly memorable with Yamazato’s special Japanese Christmas Bento.

Available only on Christmas Day, the festive Christmas Bento special lunch set includes a delectable variety of seasonal appetizers, three kinds of sashimi, steamed Japanese egg custard, Chef Mouri’s signature homemade sesame tofu with crab meat, grilled salted mackerel, rice set and dessert.

On New Year’s Eve, join your loved ones with Yamazato’s authentic Japanese Irodori Dinner set.

Highlights include assorted seasonal appetizers, two kinds of sashimi, grilled black cod with miso, simmered shrimp with small ball-shaped gluten cake, deep-fried sardines with shiso leaves, red and green sweet chili pepper and lemon, traditional Japanese New Year soup, steamed Japanese egg custard, rice set and dessert.

Available only on December 31, the Irodori Dinner set can be enjoyed with a special sake pairing.

Yamazato serves lunch Tuesdays to Sundays from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, and dinner from 6 pm to 10 pm.

More information is available at www.hotelokuramanila. com. Download the RWM Mobile App for more Resorts World Manila events and promotions.

DISCOVERY COUNTRY SUITES AFTER the successful reception of 22-Prime Steakhouse items at Restaurant Verbena, the leading culinary mind of both restaurants, Executive Chef Gerwin Bailon, again brings his influence to the beloved restaurant of Discovery Country Suites (www. discoverycountrysuites.com) in Tagaytay. Available for preorder, dine in or take out, this year’s Christmas Feast Sets at Restaurant Verbena highlight entrées of Chef Gerwin’s signature USDA Shortplate with Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Truffle Potato Gratin; Roasted Turkey Roulade with Sausage and Herb Stuffing, Giblets Gravy and Cranberry Sauce; Seafood

Platter with Jumbo Prawns, Mahi-mahi, Salmon, Green Mussels, Squid served with three signature sauces; and Pork Cracklings served with Caesar Salad, Roasted Marble Potatoes and Mushroom Sauce.

Enjoy your holiday celebration with a three-course holiday menu that includes Roasted Chestnut and Carrot Ginger Bisque served with Turkey Croquettes and garnished with Smoked Paprika and Edible flowers; Braised Short Ribs with Truffle Sweet Potato Puree, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Aged Balsamic and Kale Cracker for the main; and a Pumpkin Pie with Bacon and Parmesan Ice Cream for dessert.

Philippines (www.diamondhotel.com), family bonding and festive feasts go hand in hand. Stay overnight on December 23 and 24, and delight in not only complimentary Buffet Breakfast for two, but also an inclusive Buffet Lunch for two at Corniche. Better yet, spend Christmas at the hotel by booking an overnight stay for December 24 and 25, and choose between Buffet Lunch or Buffet Dinner for two.

These packages are exclusively for reservations made via phone or e-mail only. Wrap up the decade and greet the new era as 2020 rings in at Diamond Hotel Philippines. Step up into A New Year’s State of Mind on December 31, for a starting rate of P7,800 net, with access to the exciting New Year’s Eve Countdown Party at the Upper Lobby for two. Book online with the promo code, NY2020, for an unforgettable New Year blowout that’ll definitely be one for the books.

DISCOVERY PRIMEA SOAK up the holiday spirit with a host of exclusive Christmas offers at Discovery Primea (www. discoveryprimea.com). Guests may look forward to the biggest feasts prepared by its skilled chefs in the hotel’s signature restaurants. Tapenade highlights a decadent buffet selection of Mediterranean dishes coupled with local favorites.

On December 24, enjoy a classic Italian-themed Christmas Eve dinner feast featuring a hearty spread of antipasti, the hotel’s signature brick ovenbaked pizzas, pastas and risottos, and USDA Prime Rib Roast, complemented by rich desserts. The Christmas Day lunch and dinner buffet spreads offer a scrumptious banquet highlighting fresh salads, appetizers, baked rice specialties, and French flavors, along with other traditional carvings and artisanal delights to tuck in.

The dinner buffet spread on New Year’s Eve features an indulgent medley of Spanish fare including Tapas, Cocas, Caldereta de Mariscos, Lengua Estofado, and sweet endings such as the restaurant’s well-loved Churros con Chocolate.

Guests looking to stage holiday gatherings at home may bring a taste of Discovery Primea with them through the Festive Take-Aways. Offered is a selection of roast dishes, platters and sweet endings, available throughout the month. Holiday favorites include Slow-Roasted US Beef Short Plate, Mediterranean Leg of Lamb, Callos a la Madrileña, and other roast dishes and platters. For sweet delights, Discovery Primea’s Signature Ensaymadas, Christmas Cookies and Quezo de Bola Cheesecake are the perfect treats.

SHANGRI-LA AT THE FORT FOR the holiday season, Shangri-La at the Fort, Manila celebrates a sustainable Christmas by promoting environmental consciousness in adopting select Taguig City public-schools educators through a partnership with WWF-Philippines’s Environmental Education (EE) Program.

This year, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts took a unique direction by embracing a unified theme of North Pole Wonderland for all Shangri-La hotels, not just in the Philippines but selected countries globally.

“Since 2016, we have slowly made conscious environmental efforts. In all the decisions we make, we put sustainability at the center of our decisions and we want to continue to do this in the years to come.

With this, we’ve partnered with WWF-Philippines which, we believe, is a strong driving force in raising awareness on climate change and sustainability,” said Area Vice President-Operations (Philippines) and General Manager John Rice during the hotel’s Tree Lighting Ceremony on November 28.

Priced at only P300, limited-edition wooden Christmas ornaments created by local crafters are sold at the hotel lobby, where all proceeds will support the EE Program. Three North Pole-themed designs are available for guests to choose from: the snowflake, the snowy mountain, and the Polar bear. The ornaments are for sale until December 31.

More information about Shangri-La at the Fort’s festive offerings, menu prices, Christmas and New Year’s Eve Mass and entertainment schedules is available at www.shangrilafortholidays.com. ■

DIAMOND HOTEL ALONG the picturesque Manila Bay, the holiday spirit for life’s celebrations glows at Diamond Hotel

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CANCER (June 21-July 22): Open up, be honest and be willing to listen to someone’s perspective. Keep your emotions well-hidden until you know where you stand. Formulating a plan before you leap into action is in your best interest. A change is encouraged. ★★

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LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Don’t summit change if it’s not required. A wait-and-see approach for the time being is favored.

Focus on home, health and sorting out your personal finances. Don’t be fooled by an empty promise someone offers. ★★★★

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VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Rely on what and who you know to help you get what you want. Those closest to you will oppose some of your plans. Ulterior motives should be considered before moving forward. Take the path that will help you the most. ★★★

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LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Surround yourself with supportive individuals who are interested in getting involved in your plans. A change that takes place at home or where joint money is concerned should be handled carefully. ★★★

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SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You’ll be charged up and ready to go. Sign up for events that will expand your outlook, not steal your time and energy. A trip to visit old friends or relatives will be enlightened. ★★★

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SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Refuse to take part in gossip or offer information that you haven’t fact-checked. Rely on your ability to communicate clearly to ensure that you are trustworthy. Mix business with pleasure, and build strong relationships. Romance is on the rise. ★★★★

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CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): A change of scenery will be useful for you. Getting together with an old friend will make you realize what you have missed out on and how to rectify the problem.

Consider your health, and implement a better lifestyle moving forward. ★★

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AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Spruce up your image, and prepare to enjoy the upcoming events. Don’t let what others do ruin your day or stand in your way. Be a leader, not a follower, and you will make better life decisions.

Romance is on the rise. ★★★★★

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PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Deception is apparent. Choose your words wisely, honor your promises, and be sure to gather information from a reliable source. Put your energy where it counts most, and don’t feel bad or guilty saying no to someone asking for too much. ★★★ BIRTHDAY BABY: You are charming, sociable and upbeat.

You are appreciative and agreeable.

‘rise and shrine’ BY ROB GONSALVES AND JENNIFER LIM The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 “Stat!”

5 Battery contents 9 Minor mistake 13 2017 Disney film about an aspiring musician 14 Rice-A-___ 15 Sound of a perfect basketball shot 16 Beds on a base 17 Very, in Versailles 18 Health info site 19 How Darth Vader likes his Starbucks coffee?

22 Stitch together 23 Hot, cheesy sandwich 24 No longer upset about something 27 Capricorn, for one 29 “Expert” ending 30 Physicians’ org.

31 How Han drinks his Starbucks iced tea?

35 “Yeah, right!”

38 Chicken-king connector 39 Workout units 40 Like Skywalker’s Starbucks coffee,

temperature-wise?

Entourage agent Gold Best club in Vegas, usually?

Turned suddenly Puts a new price label on Stable baby Big bird What Kylo Ren gets when Starbucks opens?

59 Blunder 61 ___ Verde National Park 62 It might be a lot 63 Spiritual selves 64 Next in line for an estate 65 Practical jokes 66 Like Vassar and Vanderbilt 67 “To a...” poems 68 Planet of the ___ DOWN 1 Greet aggressively 2 Oklahoma athlete 3 Intermission follower 4 “Luxurious” Spice Girl 5 Early modern style 6 Reddish-pink hue 45 46 47 51 53 55 56

7 8 9 10 11 12 15 20 21 25 26 28 29 32 33 34 35 36 37 41 42 43 44 48

Chemically nonreactive Data holder Norwegian’s neighbor Pianist known for his candelabra End of many religions’ names Certain degree of success?

Kind of chair in an office Bigwig in Qatar Meh “Are you sleeping?” response Bugle call Fizzling sound Vidi, translated Jaguar or Jeep Pint at a pub “It’s either you ___” Slightly open Without a doubt “Really?”

Beers that lumberjacks like the sound of?

Bay Area medical sch.

Online alter egos Move, to a Realtor Baggage handler

49 50 52 53 54 57 58 59 60

Come into view Arm-twisting Get ___ of (reach) Turned loose Actor Davis “As I see it,” in text speak Indian melody Key next to F1 Pal of Pooh

Solution to yesterday’s puzzle:

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TAMALES (ground rice, peanut and coconut milk cooked into a paste and boiled with egg, wrapped in banana leaves) PHOTOS: MA. STELLA F. ARNALDO

BURUNG BABI (fermented pork belly then fried, served with buro or fermented rice sautéed in garlic, onion and tomatoes)

Friday, December 20, 2019

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THE Augusto P. Hizon Heritage Home in San Fernando, Pampanga, was the venue for a special lunch hosted by the DOT for visiting Fil-Am chefs, and featuring Capampangan dishes created by home cooks.

The coming of age of Filipino cuisine: Part I SOMETHING LIKE LIFE

MA. STELLA F. ARNALDO

@akosistellaBM

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HILIPPINE cuisine has arrived. And the timing couldn’t be more perfect.

After the world’s food lovers have had their experiences with riveting flavors from Europe, Latin America and Asia, they now turn their sights on the incredible, mesmerizing flavors that come out of Filipino kitchens.

And while the cuisine has long been around in pockets of the world’s key food-loving cities, it has only made its presence felt more intensely these last few years. Leading the way this time around are incredible Filipino-American chefs, like Tom Cunanan of Bad Saint in Washington, D.C., and Charles Olalia, of Los Angeles’s Ma’am Sir. Also helping push the Pinoy agenda on food plates is celebrity chef/TV host Grant “Lanai” Tabura of Hawaii, also of Filipino descent.

They were in the country for two weeks recently to get an in-depth look into the culinary magic that happens in many of the regions. They visited Pampanga, flew to Western Visayas (Iloilo and Bacolod), Cebu and Davao. Of course, they checked out Manila’s restaurant scene, as well, and were welcomed enthusiastically by our homegrown chefs.

Along with their food tours that gave them insights into our culinary heritage, the three also held cooking demos in these provinces—a precious learning experience for many students still trying to find their own styles and niches in the competitive world of cooking.

Organized by the Department of Tourism (DOT), in collaboration with three of the country’s leading chefs (Margarita Forés, Claude Tayag and Myke “Tatung” Sarthou), the “Chefs’ Food Trip Project” featured respected Filipino food advocates along with their town’s most iconic dishes and heritage cuisine, and

local produce, like Atching Lilian Borromeo, a beacon of Capampangan cuisine; Bacolod’s eponymous Mang Enting and Ramon Uy Jr. of Fresh Start Organic Farm; and Davao-based restaurateur Carmina del Rosario of Mindanao Butchers and Co. “Everybody keeps saying that Filipino food is the next big thing, but I think it is now ‘the thing,’ with culinary geniuses of Filipino descent making names on their own abroad,” said Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat, a self-confessed food lover.

She pointed out that the Fil-Am chefs’ visit in November was the “perfect occasion for us to institutionalize Filipino cuisine and flavors, which can proudly stand side by side with other cherished cuisines of the world. Going back to their roots will certainly inspire these leading Fil-Am chefs to lend their voices and talent to raise the world’s perception and taste toward Filipino dishes.”

A relentless promoter of food tourism, the DOT chief stressed: “I want people to come here and taste the food not only in Metro Manila, because we have provinces where there are so many recipes they can taste. For example, we have lechon [roasted pig] in every province, but it’s done differently with different ingredients; and then we have different kinds of pansit [noodles], laing [taro leaves in coconut] and chicken inasal [chicken barbecue].”

Cunanan, this year’s James Beard awardee for Best New Chef for the Mid-Atlantic, said on this trip, “I’ve been constantly filming, listening, asking questions and just observing what’s happening right in front of me.” Born in Olongapo City of a father who hails from Masantol, Pampanga, and a mother from Pangasinan, Cunanan remains true to his roots by cooking Filipino cuisine, albeit with his own tweaks.

Trained in the kitchens of formidable restaurants, like Vidalia, Bibiana and chef Jose Andres, Cunanan narrates that it was his late mother who actually taught him to cook Filipino dishes. She was ailing, struck down cancer, but she wrote down her recipes, while Tom tried cooking the dishes.

Ironically, it is the ampalaya (bitter melon) that reminds him of his sweet mother, Hermie, who was a nurse, “because she had a garden, and all she fed us was ampalaya!” Laughing, Cunanan said, “I used to hate it, but now I love it. It gave me a better palate; it made me appreciate bitter things and not sweet things, like bitter chocolate, bitter vegetables. So my

TOURISM Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat (center) with Fil-Am chefs Tom Cunanan of Bad Saint (left) and Lanai Tabura of Food Network DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM

mom cooked it with tomatoes, Chinese black beans, bean sprouts, red onions and sautéed it (i.e., Tortang Ampalaya). Simple. And served with hot rice.”

It was while doing his private catering business that his now-Bad Saint partners Nick Pimentel and Genevieve Villamora “found me. I’m totally blessed to have them by my side.”

I asked if being a James Beard awardee brings on more pressure on him to perfect his craft, Cunanan answers unpretentiously, “I earned it. That was my biggest goal in life, to earn a James Beard award.

Not a Michelin [star]...it took me three years to get it [through] trial and error. I just worked harder. You have a better rate of being successful.”

He is mum on any plans to expand Bad Saint’s influence outside Washington, D.C., but “we’ll see.

You know, opening a restaurant is one of the hardest things to do. You have to 100 percent believe in it. And you have to have the right team, the right people.”

I was able to talk to Cunanan at the special lunch hosted by the DOT in San Fernando, Pampanga, at the Augusto P. Hizon Heritage Home, where several home cooks shared their heirloom dishes.

Among these were Burong Babi, Pesang Dalag, Adobong Pugo, Morcon, Tocino del Cielo—all overwhelming not just because of the amount of food

served, but because of the layers of intense flavors of the dishes.

And while it wasn’t included in the desserts served us, the DOT made a point of sending us home with my favorite tibok-tibok, a creamy dessert made of carabao’s milk, and topped with latik (toasted coconut meat). It’s called such because when the carabao’s milk is being cooked, it throbs like a beating heart.

Also in town was Tabura, who, as a thirdgeneration Filipino-American, narrated during a recent cooking demo at Enderun how they had to make do with whatever ingredients were available to create their Filipino dishes.

In cooking the Ilocano pinakbet in Hawaii, for instance, they use patis (fish sauce) as a flavoring agent, instead of bagoong (fermented shrimp paste), which wasn’t available while he was growing up.

He told me that among the ingredients he found most interesting during their tour of Farmers’ Market was the kamias (tree cucumber), which he wanted to explore more and probably use in his dishes. “I had it with salt and also in sisig,” he added.

I was unable to catch Olalia during the Pampanga lunch, but more on him and his cooking style in next week’s column. ■

Guidelines to arrest the alarming prevalence of COPD WE may be in the thick of holiday merrymaking, but here is some sobering news: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is fast becoming the third-leading cause of death worldwide and seventh in the Philippines.

COPD is a long-term lung condition that causes patients to suffer from breathlessness and chronic cough, severely affecting their lifestyles and productivity. Statistics on the disease has motivated the government, medical professionals and the private sector into instituting proactive measures to arrest COPD’s alarming prevalence.

A major component of these initiatives is the crafting, dissemination and implementation of the “Philippine COPD Guidelines/Pathway,” spearheaded by the Philippine College of Chest Physicians (PCCP) and the Department of Health (DOH). According to Dr. Lenora Cañizares-Fernandez, immediate past-president of PCCP, the “guidelines will become the standard clinical approach in the detection, diagnosis and management of COPD across all levels of health care. This will be incorporated in the Universal Health Care [UHC] Act, so implementation will be from the primary care at the local government unit [LGU] level up to the specialists.”

The initial phase of the draft, which is meant for primary health-care providers, or the so-called frontliners, has already been submitted by the PCCP to the DOH-Essential NonCommunicable Diseases Division (ENCDD).

“Our guidelines for the primary health-care level has been reviewed by the DOH-ENCDD, and can aid in the care of COPD patients at the frontline,” Fernandez said.

The next phase of the COPD Guidelines/Pathway, she added, is meant for the specialists. “There are only about 800 [COPD] specialists in the country, so we need the help of all the doctors, especially at the primary health-care level,” Fernandez noted.

Section 17(c) of the UHC Act, or Republic Act 11223, mandates that province-wide and city-wide health systems should have proactive and effective health promotion programs or campaigns, while Section 30 institutes health literacy campaigns with focus on reducing noncommunicable diseases.

Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is intent on increasing COPD awareness in the country, signed a proclamation declaring every third Wednesday of November as the National COPD Day, coinciding with the World COPD Day. This year’s theme, according to Fernandez, is “All together to end COPD!” PCCP, in cooperation with UAP, a division of leading pharmaceutical and health-care company Unilab Inc., and other partners, are now conducting seminars, fora and meetings with stakeholders to drum up awareness for the disease and the COPD guidelines.

Fernandez pointed out that, according to recent studies,

COPD is now the seventh-leading cause of mortality in the Philippines, and is projected to become the third-leading cause of death worldwide by 2020. Cigarette smoking is the major risk factor for COPD. Locally, the prevalence of COPD among adults was already at 14 percent as of 2007. This is projected to increase rapidly because there are still around 16 million Filipinos who smoke. “COPD can become apparent in smokers 10 to 20 years after the start of smoking. With the number of Filipinos smoking still high, the prevalence of COPD in the country will continue to grow in the next 10 to 20 years,” Fernandez said.

And so will the estimated economic costs of COPD in the Philippines. Inclusive of health-care expenses, productivity losses and premature death, COPD is costing the country P17.6 billion annually. Such figures can be alarming since studies have shown that 90 percent of those with COPD are smokers. Worse, Fernandez disclosed that even nonsmokers develop COPD. These include members of households that depend on firewood and charcoal in cooking their food, and those who are exposed to dusty jobs.

Detection of the disease—and relatedly its proper reporting—has been a major problem in the country, mainly because of the inaccessibility of devices that detect COPD in most areas of the country.

The spirometer, an apparatus that measures the movement of air into and out of the lungs, costs around

P200,000 per unit. This apparatus is not available in most medical facilities at the primary-care level, and even in some private diagnostic centers.

Fernandez said patients who undergo spirometry pay around P600 to P4,000, depending on the hospital or diagnostic center. Hopefully, she said, DOH will provide spirometer to all hospitals maintained by LGUs, using funding from the UHC Act. At the level of health centers, Fernandez said the DOH needs to provide a Peak Flow Meter, a much cheaper handheld device—usually costing around P800—that measures how fast air moves out of the lungs. Trained healthcenter workers should be able to tell who needs to undergo spirometry using this device. “We will train barangay health workers how to use spirometers, Peak Flow Meters and even inhalers,” Fernandez said.

She also said that consistent with the UHC Act, they are hoping that PhilHealth will extend its coverage for COPD to include outpatient care, diagnosis and medicines.

Right now, the maintenance cost for COPD patients is as high at around P2,000 per month.

PhilHealth only shoulders COPD-related health expenses during confinement. Section 6(b) of RA 11223, however, mandates that within two years from its effectivity, PhilHealth shall implement a comprehensive outpatient benefit, including outpatient drug benefit.

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Show BusinessMirror

Friday, December 20, 2019

www.businessmirror.com.ph

More pageant talk CATRIONA GRAY

GAB FAB JET VALLE

CLASH Masters Julie Anne San Jose (second from left) and Rayver Cruz (left) with Journey Hosts Rita Daniela and Ken Chan (right)

@jetvalle

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JEREMIAH will take home over 4 million worth of prizes.

JEREMIAH TIANGCO NAMED ‘THE CLASH’ 2019 GRAND CHAMPION

AFTER weeks of intense clashes and vocal battles, upcoming singer Jeremiah Tiangco was hailed The Clash 2019 Grand Champion during The Final Clash held on December 15.

“Sobrang overwhelmed po and blessed. Dahil unanguna sa lahat, sumali po ako dito hindi lang para sa sarili ko kundi para sa pamilya ko. Nung natawag po ang pangalan ko, hinanap ko po agad ang mama ko. Siya po talaga ang rason kung bakit ako sumali sa The Clash. Nagpapasalamat po ako sa Panginoong Diyos, dahil hindi ko ’to makakamit kung hindi dahil sa Kanya. Dadalhin ko ’tong experience na ’to hanggang sa pagtanda ko,” he shared.

His winning song during The Final Clash was Fantasia Barrino’s “I Believe,” besting 19-year-old Thea Astley from Qatar. The Clash Panel—composed of vocal powerhouse Lani Misalucha, balladeer Christian Bautista, and comedy queen Ai Ai delas Alas—was consistently in awe of Jeremiah’s ace performances throughout the entire competition.

As Grand Champion, Jeremiah will receive prizes worth over P4 million, which includes P1 million in cash, a brandnew car, a house-and-lot and an exclusive management contract with GMA. The Clash was hosted by Rayver Cruz and Julie Anne San Jose, together with Rita Daniela and Ken Chan.

After the announcement of the Grand Champion, Clash Master Julie Anne San Jose also announced The Clash will open another season next year.

GMA viewers from across the globe can also catch their favorite shows via the network’s international channels: GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV and GMA News TV International. More information is available at visit www.gmapinoytv.com.

10 films make shortlist for Oscars’ best international film LOS ANGELES—Ten international films, including widely acclaimed offerings from South Korea, Spain and Senegal, are on the shortlist of movies vying for Academy Award nominations.

The best international feature shortlist announced Monday by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences includes Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite, Pedro Almodovar’s semi-autobiographical Pain and Glory, and Atlantics, Senegal’s entry from history-making director Mati Diop.

In May, Diop became the first black woman to compete for the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival. That honor went to Parasite, while Atlantics won the festival’s Grand Prix honor. If Parasite or Atlantics receive nominations, they would mark the first for South Korea and Senegal, respectively.

It is the first year the Oscar formerly will be awarded under a new name: best international feature film. The category was previously known as the best foreign language film.

The 10 short-listed films are: the Czech Republic’s The Painted Bird, Estonia’s Truth and Justice, France’s Les Misérables, Hungary’s Those Who Remained, North Macedonia’s Honeyland, Poland’s Corpus Christi, Russia’s Beanpole, Senegal’s Atlantics, South Korea’s Parasite, and Spain’s Pain and Glory.

The shortlist was culled from 91 eligible films.

The film academy announced nine shortlists Monday in categories, including best documentary feature, visual effects and original song.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, which will be released on Friday, appears on two shortlists for best original score and visual effects. Also on the visual effects shortlist are the blockbuster Avengers: Endgame and the upcoming musical Cats.

No song from Cats made the original song shortlist, but two songs from The Lion King did: Elton John’s “Never Too Late” and “Spirit” by Beyoncé.

Nominations for the 92nd annual Academy Awards will be announced on January 13. The Oscars will be held on February 9 in Los Angeles. AP

Y friend Apple is sick.

You see, Apple is a fabulous gay kontesera—meaning she is a veteran of gay beauty pageants. From Binibining Gay Boracay to Miss Gay Medallion in Bulacan, Apple would more often than not win the title or, at least, be in the top 10. When she sashays in her swimsuit, she would imagine she is Venus Raj. In her evening gown, she would channel Megan Young. In the questionand-answer portion, she brings out her inner Pia Wurtzbach, answering the final question with all the chutzpah she can muster.

While she recently bagged another title two weeks ago, Apple is a wreck. You see, she developed a case of that dreaded disease TaloSaBeautyContestitis.

Symptoms include loss of appetite and snapping back at anybody who talks to you. Apple has been diagnosed with Stage 4.

Apparently, it started when Gazini Ganados failed in her bid for a back-to-back title in Miss Universe.

She couldn’t believe it since Apple thinks Gazini’s got it. Then a few days later, Michelle Dee also stumbled on her way to the final round of Miss World. That sealed the deal and now Apple is on the terminal stage of the disease.

Hopefully, when she reads this column, she would feel better as I will write about one of her idols, Catriona Gray. The Miss Universe 2018 is now back in the country and set to pen her pageant journey and beyond in a book to be launched next year, with ABSCBN Books proudly welcoming the beauty queen into its roster of inspiring authors.

“It’s a collection of lessons I’ve learned in the past couple of years that I feel allowed me to achieve what I did. Things I’ve learned from a personal perspective, things I’ve learned with regards to dealing or learning from others, and also about giving back,” shared Catriona during the contract signing for her upcoming book, titled Conquering Your Universe.

The inspiring read will also delve into her advocacies, especially when she represented Filipinos and raised the Philippine flag in the beloved pageant and promoted various causes all over the world during her reign.

“Catriona has been an inspiration to millions, being an advocate of children’s right to education, equality and love for country. We, at ABS-CBN Books, hope that readers will continue to be inspired by her story,” ABS-CBN Books Head Mark Yambot, said during the contract signing.

Conquering Your Universe is targeted to be released in the first quarter of 2020. Hopefully, Apple will be OK

by then so we can go to our suki bookstore to grab our own copy.

■■■ IT’S the stunning country that most travelers dream of crossing off their list, the City of Lights, the City of Love, but, more important, a place known for its haute cuisine and fine wine, and it’s where Metro Channel’s The Crawl heads on to next—France.

The mouth-watering exploration is led by fashion and design enthusiast, Stephanie Kienle-Gonzalez, who also hosts the home and living show, Metro Home.

She is accompanied by Jhonel Faelnar, a top-notch sommelier hailed by Wine & Spirits magazine as the Best New Sommelier of New York, and the wine director of Atomix, a star restaurant recognized by Wine Enthusiast as one of the Best Wine Restaurants in the US. Stephanie’s profound respect for food and design and Jhonel’s expertise on wine culture will make

the perfect combo to guide viewers in relishing the intricate wine-and-dine scene, as well as the breathtaking sites in France. Their journey starts at Café du Marche, which Stephanie used to frequent during her student days. There, they feast on some favorites like Soupe A L’Oignon, Confit de Canard and Escargots de Bourgogne.

Meanwhile, Le Café Alain Ducasse and Manufacture de Chocolat Alain Ducasse may just be a blissful haven for coffee and chocolate lovers, respectively, due to their unique coffee recipes and some of the finest chocolates in the world. The pair also drops by Le Servan, a casual bistro founded by French-Filipina sisters Tatiana and Katia Lehva that serves exceptional French food with an international and Asian twist.

Witness and taste the magnificence of France in The Crawl: France on Metro Channel. The show can also be streamed via iWant. ■

Standing ovation in Milan for Domingo’s 50th anniversary

BY COLLEEN BARRY The Associated Press MILAN—Opera star Placido Domingo received a standing ovation for his 50th anniversary gala concert at La Scala on Sunday and returned the appreciation with a rare a cappella performance.

Standing alone on the stage holding three yellow roses, Domingo serenaded the audience with a favorite Spanish zarzuela, “Non Puede Ser.” By then, after more than half an hour of applause and a standing ovation rare for the storied Milan opera house, Domingo and his co-stars for the evening, the choir and orchestra had already performed two encores. He alone emerged for the third.

Domingo, 78, appeared overwhelmed by the reception, and at one point kissed the stage where he performed for the first time on December 7, 1969, in the title role of Verdi’s Ernani. In all, he has sung 135 times on the La Scala stage, in 22 operas.

The La Scala anniversary fell during a year that has seen US opera houses cancel Domingo’s scheduled appearances, following reports by The Associated Press that more than 20 women had accused the star of sexual harassment or inappropriate sexually charged behavior.

Domingo has denied the allegations, and after a period of silence, only recently has begun giving interviews to select publications ahead of European appearances. In the interviews he claimed he always behaved like a gentleman and said he never abused his power. He also has said he intends to continue performing at least through his planned engagements running through 2021.

While in the United States, all of his published dates were canceled, the singer has received overwhelming support from Europe’s opera houses— which have all maintained his dates—and fans alike.

Many at Sunday’s performance focused on the

quality of his voice, its unique timber, while weighing the art against the impossibility for outsiders to know what happened between Domingo and his accusers.

“I’m very much impressed. Placido Domingo’s voice is still unbelievable, if you see how old he is,” said Doris Papst, 80, who traveled with a group from Baden-Baden, Germany, for the gala concert. “What has happened with him with #MeToo in the United States is horrible. We all have to answer in our lives for our behavior. We should not be the judges.”

Giuseppina Uscidda has been following Domingo at La Scala for 40 years, and said the long applause was well-deserved.

“His voice is beautiful,’’ Uscidda said. “This evening

makes clear how much the audience loves him.”

A couple of dozen fans waited outside until midnight to greet the star, and they weren’t disappointed. The Spaniard came downstairs and stood behind a reception desk, where he started signing autographs.

“I saw him for the first time in Hamburg in 1978 and since then I am a convinced Domingo admirer,” said one of those waiting, Dagmar Engdken, citing not only his artistic abilities but also his social engagement for people in need, including benefit concerts.

“I will come hear him as long as I can, and as long as he sings,” Engdken said.

Motoring BusinessMirror

Henry Ford Awards Best Motoring Section 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 2011 Hall of Fame

Editor: Tet Andolong

Friday, December 20, 2019

E1

MG HOLDS ITS FIRST RIDE AND DRIVE

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Story & Photos by Patrick P. Tulfo

HE Covenant Car Co. Inc. (TCCCI) invited a dozen of motoring journalists for the first-ever ride and drive event of their latest offering in the market, the MG brand.

MG or Morris Garages is a popular British heritage brand that was founded way back in 1924 and became known for its racing exploits in that era. The brand is now owned and operated by SAIC Motor Corp., China’s biggest automotive manufacturer to date.

The year-end drive, aptly called “Media Getaway” Ride And Drive Event To Baler, Aurora, was a 270-kilometer journey that started in the car company’s dealership in Centris, Edsa, all the way to the relaxing and

lovely L’Sirene Boutique Resort, which is located far away from the popular but crowded Sabang Beach.

The drive is a combination of city, highways and, most of all, twisty roads that put the famous zigzag roads of Baguio to shame.

MG Philippines’s complete lineup of vehicles were on hand for us to try, which included the popular MG ZS Crossover SUV; the suave but very sporty MG Fastback Sedan, my default choice during the drive; R X5 SUV; and the brand’s

THE beautiful Baler coastline was the perfect backdrop for the equally good-looking MG cars

latest offering in our market, MG5 sedan, which tops its segment in dimensions and specs.

The drive was a revelation for most of us, who I learned have yet to get their hands on any of the company’s offerings. All of the cars that we have driven have excelled in ride, handling, comfort and even in fuel economy. The last aspect of those description was impressive as all of the models that I drove displayed excellent fuel efficiency even at the pace we drove them. The R X5 SUV for example should have a poorer fuel economy than its siblings because it’s heavier and less aerodynamic than its sedan counterparts, but it exhibited almost the same fuel consumption.

In a conversat ion w it h Ly n Mana lansang-Buena, dur ing d i nner, she at t r ibuted t h is fac t to t he st r i ngent requ i rement of t he C hinese gover nment on f uel e conomy a s ide f rom combu s tion. T hat’s why MG vehicles are only offered in gasoline var iants at t he moment, she sa id.

Continued on E4

Moto

Business

E2 Friday, December 20, 2019

HINO TURNS OVER MORE THAN 300 PUVs H INO Motors Philippines (HMP), exclusive distributor of Hino trucks and buses in the Philippines, closes the year with more than 300 units of modernized public-utility vehicles (PUVs) turned over to different transport cooperatives nationwide.

As 2020 approaches, the company remains steadfast in its commitment to support the government’s flagship program for the transportation industry.

A pioneer supporter of the PUV Modernization Program in line with the government’s vision of a restructured, modern, well-managed and environment-friendly transportation system for the Filipinos, HMP has backup the program since it was announced by the Department of Transportation in 2017, through planning and execution. Prior to the launch of the PUVMP, the DOTr hosted a one-day expo featuring modern PUV prototypes with the theme “Modernong Sasakyan, Progresibong Bayan.” Hino showcased its Class 2 and Class 3 AC and nonAC modernized jeepney prototypes during the said expo.

Hino, likewise, joined the first Modern PUV Caravan, held at the Clark Economic Zone, in Pampanga, with the theme “Arangkada ng Pagbabago Tungo sa Kaunlaran.”

The company rolled out its first set

of Class 2 PUVs to the Pateros-Fort Bonifacio Transport Service and Multi-Purpose Cooperative and Taguig Transport Service Cooperative, the first two transport cooperatives to receive modern PUVs from Hino, in July 2018.

To date, Hino has established partnerships with 16 local transport cooperatives. The company has turned over a total of 364 modern PUV units nationwide. Most of these modern PUVs are already operating in Metro Manila, and many have reached other parts of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Hino is set to turn over more units this month to reach its goal of 500 modernized PUVs turned over to transport cooperatives by the end of the year.

Pride of the Filipino modern jeepney

As the only local one-stop shop for trucks and buses in the Philippines, Hino is proud to offer its end-to-end services—from design and development to manufacturing and spare parts supply—to the government and its transport cooperative partners. Hino’s modernized PUVs have been awarded with a certificate of compliance from the DOTr for having passed the Philippine National Standards’s dimension requirements

and other standards set by the national government.

Hino PUV units come in two variants—Class 2 and Class 3 in AC and non-AC versions. The Hino Class 2 PUV is designed like the standard jeepney with side-facing passenger seats. The jeepney can accommodate standing passengers to maximize capacity. The Class 3 model is an air-conditioned mini bus-type with front-facing passenger seats with seat belts. Both PUV types can accommodate 23 to 30 passengers.

Powered by Euro 4 engines, these modern PUVs are set to deliver safe, efficient and sustainable transportation for Filipinos.

“I am very glad to see a growing number of our PUV units operating across the country. Being able to support the modernization program by providing quality products built to deliver “total support” not only to the commuters but to the drivers and cooperatives, as well also allows to pursue our commitment of ensuring the safety of welfare of Filipinos,” said HMP Chairman Vicente T. Mills Jr. “I am looking forward to more successes for this program. We will continue to work closely with the government and the cooperatives to improve our transportation system and provide a safer and more comfortable ride for our Filipino commuters and drivers,” he added.

FORD RANGER RAPTOR AWARDED AS BEST PICKUP ANEW

JAC OF AL UPCOMING JAC models to penetrate two competitive segments—the T8 pickup and S4 subcompact SUV

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Story & photos by Randy S. Peregrino

URING our recent tour at JAC Motors headquarters in Hefei, China, we also get to test several of the brand’s models, particularly the two models arriving soon in the Philippines. Situated inside the R&D center is a 2-kilometer test track mainly to test vehicles running at high speed.

With long stretches of straight paths, there’s also an inclined runabout and a broad section for turns.

While the test track is designed to evaluate NVH and other appropriate R&D tests, we took the opportunity to make the most out of the test track in order to establish our initial drive impressions, nonetheless.

Soon to arrive

SINCE both the S4 subcompact SUV and T8 pickup are soon to be introduced in the Philippine market, we ought to mainly test these two. JAC Motors is aiming to penetrate the two competitive vehicle segments where these two models belong to. As far as our initial impression is concerned, both models are actually promising.

Starting off with the SUV model, what’s striking from the S4’s exterior design is its sharp-looking front end.

It showcases a broad trapezoidal grille with sporty pattern. Those slender headlamps are well-paired with the fog lamps underneath. Moreover, dark matte trims accentuated the entire bottom panels for that utilitarian character. Inside, the unique dashboard layout offers touch-operated Intelligent Central Control. Interestingly, you wouldn’t see those typical buttons and switches but instead just the head-up unit and flat control panels.

Motivated by a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine, it generates 147 hp and 210 N-m of maximum torque. As expected, acceleration was effortless and linear that it took only a short while to reach the high-speed limit. Mated with CVT, engine revs constantly remained at optimum level, with almost the absence of shifting cogs. The feel was rather smoother and tamed compared to the more robust dual-clutch auto gearbox of the S7 SUV, which is propelled by the same motor.

Nevertheless, you’re getting the needed kick from the turbocharged mill.

On the inclined turn at cruising speed, the vehicle maintained a wellplanted form with good steering feedback. It shouldn’t be a surprise if the vehicle would handle tight turns, as well. For its size, the level of NVH is impressive. Even at high-speed, everything inside was blissful. As for the long list of advanced safety and convenience features, there are a lot. Trust us.

Next was the T8 pickup 4x4 sixspeed manual edition. At a glance, the rugged-looking exterior exudes that tough character every pickup truck of today has. Let alone its imposing front end with pronounced trapezoi-

THE T8 is tough on the outside but offers certain am

JAC Motors’ best-selling pure electric vehicle iEV7S

dal grille matching the headlamps, fog lamps and that metal trim underneath.

Dark matte trims on the wheel flairs also added to the rough character. But inside, you’ll be amazed to see elements

MAKING BIKERS’ JOURNEYS PHOTO BY SQUIR

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HE Ford Ranger Raptor has once again proven its leadership in the pickup segment as it won Best Pickup in the 15th Annual C! Awards organized by C! Magazine.

The Ford Ranger Raptor is AsiaPacific’s first high-speed off-road compact pickup truck that builds on the success of the Ranger’s smart design and engineering with the Ford Performance DNA, setting a new benchmark in off-road capability.

The Ranger Raptor has a new powertrain combination of a 2.0-liter Bi-Turbo diesel engine and 10-speed transmission that has proven durability and, on-road and off-road

capability.

The Ford Everest also won as Best Mid-Sized Ladder Frame SUV, making it one of the frontrunners in the country’s fiercely competitive SUV segment. Ford Philippines launched the new Ford Everest this year packed with features that offer greater power, performance, safety and efficiency, which include the new-generation 2.0L Bi-turbo diesel and 2.0L turbo diesel engines paired with 10-speed automatic transmission, offering improved fuel efficiency and better acceleration.

With the new powertrain, customers driving the Ranger Raptor

and the Ford Everest can enjoy lower service maintenance costs with a once-a-year scheduled service interval instead of twice a year, paving the way for better ownership experience.

“We thank our partners and friends from C! Magazine for these citations that put our vehicles in leadership positions in their various segments,” shared PK Umashankar, managing director, Ford Philippines. “These accolades testify to the world-class quality of our vehicles and we look forward to seeing more customers experience their best-inclass features and ‘Built Ford Tough’ capabilities.”

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HELL, the global leader in power and energy, and Angkas, the first app-based motorcycle taxi ride-hailing service in the Philippines have established a partnership that aims to make the Angkas bikers’ lives better through the Shell GO+ Program.

With the partnership, which was launched recently in Cagayan de Oro City, Angkas biker-partners who sign up will be given Angkas branded Shell GO+ Pro cards which they can use for discounts, benefits and rewards in all Shell retail stations.

Anchored on the idea “Shell, partner ng mga Angkas bikers sa buhay,” the partnership aims to make the Shell GO+ the bikers’ partner as they serve the mobility needs of the Filipino.

“We came up with Angkas service

not only to provide a safe, convenient and affordable mode of transportation for Filipino commuters, but also to help provide a decent source of living for our biker-partners,” Angkas Head of Operations David Medrana noted. “I’m happy that we struck up a partnership with Pilipinas Shell which will help Angkas provide better perks to our biker-partners and make their lives serving the commuting public a little better,” Medrana added.

“We are really excited about this partnership. Through the Shell Go+ Pro card, Angkas biker-partners will get to enjoy multiple reward options for more savings,” Shell Philippines Payments and Loyalty Manager Kristine Cerezo announced.

“Each time they purchase at any participating Shell retail station, they get

to earn points that they can use as payment when they purchase Shell Fuels, such as Shell V-Power and Fuel Save; lubricants, such as Shell Advance; and convenience store items at Shell Select and Deli2Go,” she added.

Bikers can also enjoy 60-percent off on Shell Helix Oil Change+ service, plus a wide range of reward items, such as electronics, food and grocery vouchers, appliances, and other premium items that members can choose from.

As part of the Shell GO+ Pro Program, the member and their chosen dependents get the chance to avail themselves of scholarships, and an insurance policy covering road accidents to give their family peace of mind during trips.

“We have been constantly improving our loyalty rewards program for the past two decades to make it even bet-

oring

sMirror

LL TRADES size and drive train weight, the degree of acceleration coming from 300 N-m of maximum torque was more than substantial.

While the T8 may not have the best NVH for a pickup, it didn’t disappoint us coming from a tough and rugged vehicle standpoint. It provides almost the same feel to that of the known pickup from a Japanese truck manufacturer.

Since the test track was less appropriate for a pickup, still we would love to take the T8 off-road in the future in order to see if it has what it takes.

Electrifying iEV7S

mount of sophistication inside

S (together with the T8

of sophistication like the brown leather trims all over. For a pickup truck, its list of available convenience features is impressive.

Propelled by a 1.9-liter turbodiesel

motor, we immediately felt the raw power gear after gear. While the first two gears have shorter ratio, the succeeding gears can provide more push to further accelerate. Considering the

S BETTER

ter,” Shell Philippines Retail Marketing Delivery Manager Arvin Obmerga said. “We want to encourage all Angkas biker-partners to sign up for Shell GO+ Pro to enjoy a more rewarding riding experience.”

The Shell-Angkas partnership launch commenced with a motorcade from the Lapasan Shell station to the Shell station in Baloy where the launch event was held.

Sign-ups for Shell GO+ Pro were held during the event. Those who signed up for the card on that day, had the chance to join the raffle to win exciting prizes from Shell. There were also trivia games to familiarize them with the available benefits and a free oilchange service for the first 100 bikers.

For more information, visit www. shell.com.ph.

FREE oil-change service

AFTER testing the internal combustion-powered models, we were fortunate to get our hands on JAC’s bestselling pure electric vehicle. Essentially based on the S2 platform, the iEV7S is the brand’s versatile and word-class EV. Design elements from the S2 are very much evident but with several appropriate differentiations dictated by its pure electric operation. Just like the unique grille with perforated pattern, where the charging port is located, among others.

If the overall looks somewhat caught our picky attention, the drive feel really blew us away in terms of what this small electric SUV can offer.

Granted that all the advanced safety and convenience features are there, the vehicle’s electric mill performance output and capabilities are by far the best, as it should be.

Step on it and all you’ll hear is a muffled whirring sound from the electric motor while you start feeling the surge of torque. However, the linear yet smooth acceleration from the electric mill is impeccable.

You are getting and sensing more torque as you accelerate, but minus the usual engine grunt that goes with it. We enjoyed driving the iEV7S so much that we took it for another spin. What goes with the power is a high-performance ternary lithium battery, which is capable to provide up to 300-kilometer driving range.

The best part is, 80 percent charge is achieved in just 50 minutes.

Friday, December 20, 2019

E3

PETRON IS AAP’S OFFICIAL FUEL PARTNER

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ETRON Corp. has forged a partnership with the Automobile Association Philippines, the country’s oldest and largest auto club, naming the oil leader as AAP’s official fuel partner.

The partnership was formalized through a MOA signing on December 6 at the AAP headquarters in Quezon City. Petron Marketing Division Head Lionel Perkin Chai (second from right) and Retail Sales Regional Manager Michael Flores (right) are joined by AAP Chief Operating Officer Mark Desales (third from left), Deputy Chief Operating Officer Malcolm Pausanos (second from left), and

Business Development Manager Kristine Leonardo.

Petron will provide AAP members and employees a co-branded Petron-AAP Petron Value Card (PVC), which will allow to avail themselves of a special discount for every liter of Petron Blaze 100, XCS, Xtra Advance, Turbo Diesel and Diesel Max—this alongside privileges at partner establishments, free towing and roadside assistance, and year-round personal accident insurance.

Petron and AAP share a long and deep commitment to promoting road safety through their respective programs.

Petron’s Lakbay Alalay is the

longest-running motorist assistance program in the country, spanning more than three decades. It also recently launched its Fuel Wise advocacy which aims to empower the motoring public to become more responsible and informed with their choices. For its part, AAP also has a long-running campaign that raises awareness on proper road habits.

AAP members and employees are guaranteed a safe, smooth, and efficient drive with all Petron fuels formulated with the same TriAction benefits that guarantees better power, better efficiency and better engine protection.

ISUZU TURNS OVER CYH52S DUMP TRUCKS TO ANSECA

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SUZU Philippines Corp.(IPC), the country’s leading manufacturer, assembler, and distributor of brand-new trucks, turned over six CYH52S trucks to Anseca Development Corp.

In a formal ceremony held at Holcim Mining. Officials of IPC, Isuzu Cebu Inc., and the Isuzu Mandaue dealership turned over the trucks and the symbolic key to representatives of Anseca and Holcim Philippines.

The six brand-new CYH52S with 20 cubic meter dump trucks represents Anseca’s additional fleet of Isuzu trucks and are seen to play key roles in the daily operations in Anseca’s current partnership with Holcim Philippines.

Steve M. Gingco, general manager of Isuzu Cebu Inc., said, “The CYH52s trucks are durable, heavyduty trucks equipped with ecofriendly diesel technology, which can take on any load or road challenge. They deliver bigger payload capacity, covering a wide variety of applications, designed to handle all kinds of work under normal or tough conditions. With bigger load capacities, the higher the productivity you

can expect from our Isuzu trucks.”

Anseca, an enterprise primarily engaged in earthmoving and allied activities, began its operations in 1983 and has since successfully completed 24 projects with clients, such as the Philippine National Oil Corp., Del Monte Philippines, Sta. Lucia Realty & Development Corp., Vista Land, Atlas Consolidated Mining & Development Corp., and Cemex Corp. It now has a series of ongoing projects with Holcim Philippines, Philex Mining and Libjo Mining. In his message at the formal turnover ceremony, IPC Executive Vice President Shojiro Sakoda reiterated that, among the many reasons for IPC’s market dominance over the years, the ability to meet customers’ ever-changing needs has always been a priority.

“IPC continues its market dominance in trucks for 20 consecutive years, dating back to 1999; and for decades, Isuzu has been known globally for its durable, dependable, and reliable trucks that can withstand any challenges in transport operations. With our collaboration with local body builders, our trucks have also been crafted to be

suitable for whatever purposes our customers demand. Equally important is the after-sales support we provide to our clients along with every purchase—this is the Isuzu Advantage.”

The Isuzu Advantage is the sum of IPC’s different customer support programs bolstering its world-class lineup of vehicles. The first advantage is IPC’s roster of durable, reliable, fuel-efficient commercial vehicles. The second is its nationwide dealer network that now nears 50 outlets complete with servicing facilities. The third is the reliable and prompt nationwide parts availability. Finally, IPC’s team of expert service technicians and field support personnel are on call to provide technical assistance whenever and wherever needed.

“As your responsible partner, IPC guarantees to provide world-class vehicles and outstanding aftersales services to our clients,” Sakoda concluded.

To know more about the complete roster of world-class Isuzu CVs and LCVs, log on to www.isuzuphil. com, or visit any Isuzu dealership near you.

Motoring BusinessMirror

E4 Friday, December 20, 2019

Not a final goodbye, but a new beginning–Suzuki

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HE following is the second and final part of Satoru Suzuki’s farewell speech as the indefatigable president for four years of Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP): “Nation-building is a shared responsibility, and as one of the country’s top companies, TMP maintains an active role in shaping our economy and helping the Filipino achieve their potential.

“Aside from providing thousands of jobs throughout the entire manufacturing supply chain and distribution network, Toyota also trains people through the TMP School of Technology in Santa Rosa, Laguna. As of 2019, it has produced a total of 1,178 graduates, highly skilled technicians

equipped for var ious f ields of automotive servicing and repair.

“This aligns with TMP’s commitment of working hand-in-hand with the Philippine government in improving lives and industry for the Filipino. Related to the CARS Program, TMP and its suppliers have already invested P5.38-billion as of 2019, for the localization of parts.

“To date, TMP has achieved 58 percent localization of the total body shell weight of the Vios, far exceeding the 50 percent CARS Program requirement.

“We are positive that we will meet the 200,000 units CARS Program target for the Vios within six years.

“In the area of motor sports, you can expect more action in the Vios Racing Festival as we intensify our local integration of the Toyota Gazoo Racing activities, beyond the traditional racing formats we have all grown to love. This includes tapping the younger population and casual racing fans to participate in eSports competitions.

“Another landmark effort is our Start Your Impossible National Coastal Cleanup and Mangrove Planting held last September. Together with local government units and Toyota dealerships, TMP led almost 2,000 volunteers across 35 locations nationwide. We were able to collect 1,200 sacks of waste, and plant around 40,000 mangrove propagules by the end of the two-day activity.

“As a global mobility partner for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, TMP has also donated a 26-seater coaster to the Philippine Paralympic Committee. Next year, TMP will also be making sports wheelchair donations to give our para-athletes a competitive edge.

Through TMP’s partnership with the Philippine Olympic Committee, we have donated a Coaster for their transportation needs during the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

“Under the same umbrella, I am pleased to announce TMP’s upcoming project, called Football for Tomorrow. This will be Toyota’s sports clinic that enables kids to pursue their passion while developing the right skills and mind-set under the guidance of professional football players.

“Toyota is also already laying the foundations of the auto industry’s future, in the face of rapidly changing times.

“First, to improve our massivescale logistics operations, TMP will invest P4.5 billion for the development of Toyota’s Luzon hub. This infrastructure is slated to be operational by the second semester of 2020, and will revolutionize the efficiency of Toyota’s post-production vehicle logistics operations.

“Another project that I am happy to announce is the availability of the Toyota Mobile App for our customers. “ With new consumer habits in mind and adopting trends in the aigital dge, this mobile app consolidates all vital information into one. Customers will now be able to access product specifications, dealer directories, and after-sales support within a few c licks. T his ma kes purchasing a car or schedu ling your next preventive maintenance ser vice faster and easier.

“Lastly, Toyota Motor Philippines is now exploring new business models from traditional car ownership to ‘car usership.’ Aligned with Toyota’s global direction of being a mobility company, we would like Filipinos to try out long-term leasing of our vehicles to suit their needs and their budget.

“And, as you may have seen and heard on the news, it is no secret that TMP will also be participating in the PU V Modernization Program through our converted Hilux PUV model. Positioned to fit the Class 1 requirements laid out by the Department of Transportation, the Hilux PUV will provide commuters with a safer and more comfortable ride. “ More i mp or t a nt l y, To yot a views this as an opportunity for the Filipino people to take a step towards modernization. TMP is working closely with the Philippine government to make this project not only a success, but also to assist drivers in their transition to new vehicles.

“A s such, those are the major TMP projects and activ ities that the med ia can look for ward to in 2020. Before I end this presentation, I have one last of f icia l announcement to ma ke.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it is with both sadness and gratitude that I announce my time with

Toyot a Motor Ph i l ippi nes h a s come to an end. “ Ta k ing up the mantle of presidency from 2016 to 2019 proved to be a challenging journey made easy with everyone here by my side. Having served the Philippines alongside its brave, hardworking, and creative people through TMP is indeed a life-changing experience; one that I can proudly call a highlight of my career.

“To my friends from the media, it has been an honor and a pleasure being with all of you for four years, each day and month I shall never forget. I will carry these memories with me, as I take my last bow today.

“I will leave this stage knowing with full confidence that Toyota and the automotive industry are in good hands. You being here today is a testament to a friendship that goes beyond business.

“I wish for us to welcome the holidays and the new decade ahead with smiles in our faces and gratitude in our hearts. This is not a final goodbye, but a new beginning.

I am sure I will be seeing all of you again very soon.

“Maraming, maraming salamat po.

Mabuhay!”

PEE STOP Merry

Christmas! May you have given more than what you have received.

FULLY ELECTRIC PORSCHE TAYCAN SET TO MAKE PHL DEBUT IN EARLY 2020

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ORSCHE has stepped past the stop-gap technology of hybrid power and moves into highperformance, full electromobility with the all-new Porsche Taycan—the world’s first fully electric sports car set for volume production.

Simultaneously introduced in three continents on September 4, the Taycan is currently being built, with the first batch of vehicles set to arrive in early 2020 in markets across the globe. Included among these markets is the Philippines.

Unlike hybrids or electrified models—meaning vehicles with some type of electrical power assist fitted to their conventional internal combustion engines—the Taycan runs solely on electric motors which draw power from batteries. Fully electric vehicles, or EVs, are widely considered as the ultimate goal in eco-friendly mobility as these have zero tailpipe emissions.

A genuine sports car

DESPITE its sedan configuration, the Taycan is a genuine sports car more

closely related to the legendary Porsche 911 than to the Porsche Panamera luxury model. The Taycan pairs typical Porsche performance and connectivity with everyday usability, and its advanced production methods and features set new standards in sustainability and digitalization.

The flagship Taycan Turbo S version can generate up to 761 PS and has a combined power consumption of 26.9 kWh/100 km. It has no CO2 emissions on overboost power (when used with Launch Control). The sports car accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds and its driving range is rated at up to 412 kilometers.

The Taycan Turbo can deliver up to 680 PS and has a combined power consumption of 26.0 kWh/100 km, with no CO2 emissions. It can sprint from zero to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds and has a range of up to 450 kilometers. The top speed of the Taycan Turbo S and Taycan Turbo is 260 km/h.

Joining the two versions is the Taycan 4S—the model range’s entrylevel variant. Available in the Taycan 4S are two battery sizes. The standard

Performance battery can put out as much as 530 PS and a combined power consumption of 24.6 kWh/100 km, with no CO2 emissions. Driving range is estimated at 407 kilometers.

The Taycan 4S’s Performance battery Plus can produce up to 571 PS and a combined electrical power consumption of 25.6 kWh/100 km with no emissions. It supports a driving range of 463 kilometers. Whichever battery system is chosen, the Taycan 4S accelerates from a standstill to 100 km/h in 4.0 seconds.

All the Taycan variants have allwheel drive systems because they are fitted with two electric motors (one for each axle). A two-speed transmission, installed on the rear axle, is a Porsche innovation.

Convenient charging

THE Taycan is the first production vehicle with a system voltage of 800 volts, instead of the usual 400 volts for electric cars. This allows the car’s battery to be recharged in just over five minutes when using direct current (DC) from the high-power charging

network—­already good for a range of up to 100 kilometers (according to WLTP). The charging time for 5 percent to 80 percent SoC (state of charge) takes 22.5 minutes for charging under ideal conditions, and the maximum charging power, or peak, is 270 kW.

Innovative interior

THE Taycan’s cockpit signals the start of a new era of interior design at Porsche with its clear structure and new architecture. The free-standing, curved instrument cluster forms the highest point on the dashboard.

A central, 10.9-inch infotainment display and an optional passenger display are combined to form an integrated glass band in a black-panel look. All user interfaces have been designed from scratch for the Taycan, with the car getting considerably less classic hardware controls like switches and buttons.

The Taycan gets the option of an entirely leather-free interior. This use of innovative recycled materials underscores the sustainable concept of the fully electric sports car.

MG HOLDS ITS FIRST RIDE AND DRIVE Continued from E1

Atty. Albert Arcilla, TCCCI president, on the other hand, assured buyers of parts availability and proudly announced that they are now poised in increasing the number of their dealerships to 19 from the present 11 before the end of this year.

MG Philippines vehicles are surprisingly affordable despite the amount of features that it has. The new MG5, 1.5L with a manual tranny has a starting price of only P 658,888, and for that price it has push start/stop button, steering mounted controls, all power features including driver’s seat and a sunroof, just to name a few.

Meanwhile, other variants also have traction control, hill start assist automatic LED lights and a very useful 360-degree camera view, a feature available only in top-end variants of other brands that costs over a million pesos.

But, more importantly all MG products are supplemented by MG Philippines premium after-sales offers and services. These include one of the longest warranty in the

THE engines are frugal and powerful especially the turbocharged versions

ATTY. Albert Arcilla, TCCCI president, and Lyn Manalansang-Buena, marketing head, are the moving forces behind MG Philippines

market of five years or 100,000 kilometers whichever comes first, one-year free Periodic Maintenance Service (PMS). MG owners can also download the My MG mobile app, which allows them to easily schedule servicing appointments from the convenience of their smartphones. The app can also be use to book a visit from the MG Philippines Mobile Garage service caravan that provides MG owners with vehicle home service for major technical issues. The MG HERO services, on the other hand, provides 24/7 roadside support through the MG Philippines hotline (+632 5328–4664) Those who are eyeing MG Cars can visit any of their 11 branches located in Parañaque, Edsa Centris, Batangas, Carmona, Dasmariñas, Lipa, Santa Rosa, Mandaue in Cebu, Davao, Cabanatuan (sales office) and Iloilo (sales office). And watch out for the upcoming launch of MG dealerships before the end of 2019 in Alabang, Commonwealth, Quezon Avenue, Pampanga, Cabanatuan, Iloilo and Tacloban.