Businessmirror December 21, 2018

DEPT. OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY

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A broader look at today’s business n

Friday, December 21, 2018 Vol. 14 No. 72

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@caiordinario

HE interagency Investment Coordination Committee (ICC)-Cabinet Committee (Cabcom) confirmed P17.94 billion worth of new projects in its last meeting for the year.

By Elijah Felice E. Rosales

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@alyasjah

HE country’s largest business network is optimistic the economy will accelerate next year, but argued it can only be accomplished if challenges in doing business and labor reforms are addressed head-on.

In a statement on Thursday, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) said it agrees with the 6.7-percent growth forecasts of international lenders. The country will remain resilient in the face of trade uncertainties expected to escalate next year, it added.

“PCCI expects the economy to surge in 2019. Our country continues to enjoy strong macroeconomic fundamentals, enabling us to weather external headwinds,” the statement read.

“Our economic outlook for 2019 is still strong backed by robust consumer spending and stronger government expenditures. We agree with the projections of the Asian Development

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 53.0260

See “EODB,” A12

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

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HE government will lift the imposition of special safeguard duty (SSG) on imports of coffee products as part of its counterinflationary measures and as a sign of goodwill, amid the ongoing agricultural trade talks between the Philippines and Indonesia.

“It was part of our anti-inflationary measures and we are restarting our negotiations with Indonesia,” Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol told the BusinessMirror.

Piñol said he issued an order on December 7, during the Senate plenary deliberations on the Department of Agriculture’s budget, requesting the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to lift the SSG imposition.

Piñol explained that he decided to lift it to further slow down the country’s inflation.

He added that Indonesia had requested the lifting of the SSG

The cost of the Regional Fish Port Project for the Greater Capital Region (GCR) of the Department of AgriculturePhilippine Fisheries Development Authority, which will rehabilitate and upgrade the Navotas Fish Port Complex

In a statement, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda), which serves as See “Cabinet,” A12

It is ironic that four months after its enactment, the implementing rules and regulations of the Ease of Doing Business law has yet to be finalized.”—PCCI

Bank and the World Bank that see a growth rate of 6.7 percent for 2019, despite rising global uncertainty,” it added.

However, for the government to keep up with expectations, it was urged by the PCCI to immediately address challenges on doing business in the country. It primarily wants authorities to as soon as possible issue the implementing rules and regulations of the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) law.

“It is ironic that four months after its enactment, the implementing rules and regulations of the Ease of Doing Business law has yet to be finalized,” the statement read.

PHL LIFTING SPECL DUTY ON COFFEE IMPORTS

₧14.07B

‘EODB, labor issues risks to 2019 growth’

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Cabinet panel approves ₧18-B projects for 2019

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as a “goodwill” measure.

However, the BOC has yet to issue a memorandum circular that will implement Piñol’s order.

In March, Piñol issued Department Order 6 that invoked the imposition of SSG duty on out-quota importation of various agricultural commodities, which includes several coffee products such as instant coffee.

These coffee products include: ■ Roasted coffee, not decaffeinated, unground ■ Roasted coffee, not decaffeinated, ground ■ Roasted coffee, decaffeinated, unground ■ Instant coffee ■ O ther extracts, essences and concentrates of coffee ■ Preparations with a basis of extracts, essences or concentrates or with a basis of coffee, mixtures in paste form with a basis of ground roasted coffee, containing vegetable fats See “Coffee,” A12

Locsin explains PHL stand as UNGA votes 152-5 for GCM

By Recto Mercene

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SOFT SPOT FOR CHILDREN Miss Universe Catriona Gray poses with a stuffed toy as she greets fans and members of the press during the Frontrow Cares Christmas Charity for Kids press event at the Shangri-La the Fort in Taguig City on Thursday morning. ROY DOMINGO

@rectomercene

IGRANTS are not slaves in transport but free human beings on the move; with more courage to improve their condition abroad than endurance to persist in the wretched places they must flee or perish.”

With these words, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. explained the Philippines’s stand at the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly on the new Global Compact On Migration in New York on Wednesday (December 19).

Locsin’s much applauded speech was one of the 152 votes for, beside the 5 against, the sweeping accord “to ensure safe and orderly migration” of an estimated 224 million migrants sweeping across the developed world. This number is 3.3 percent of the world’s 7.2 billion

population today.

The United States, Hungary, Israel, the Czech Republic and Poland voted “no,” while 12 countries abstained.

The vote in favor of the resolution was lower than the 164 countries that approved the agreement by acclamation at a conference in Marrakech, Morocco, earlier this month.

The Global Compact for Migration is the first international document dealing with the issue that is not legally binding.

However, the escalating debate over people leaving their home countries for new ones has sparked increasing opposition and reservations among the UN’s 193 member-states.

Locsin said that sometimes the needs of states and migrants overlap; sometimes not; “hence the false

n JAPAN 0.4710 n UK 66.9082 n HK 6.7756 n CHINA 7.6939 n SINGAPORE 38.6403 n AUSTRALIA 37.6750 n EU 60.3118 n SAUDI ARABIA 14.1339

See “UNGA,” A2

Source: BSP (20 December 2018 )

A2 Friday, December 21, 2018

News

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Amid SCS rows, PHL prods US on defense treaty review

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By Rene Acosta

@reneacostaBM

HE Department of National Defense (DND) wants a review of the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States, saying that it is high time both sides looked into its provisions given the dispute in the South China Sea. In moving for the review, the defense department wanted Washington’s definitive stand on whether Manila could count on its ally’s support in case of a confrontation with outside forces in the nine islets and features that it occupies or claims in the West Philippine Sea. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana hinted that the islets and shoals should be covered by the treaty, which, on one hand, obligates the US

to militarily come to the aid of the country once it is attacked by other states.

“We are thinking about that also.... We really wanted to review that also,” said Lorenzana during his yearend news briefing on Thursday. “I think we have been discussing that with our staff inside the DND.” While the country has occupied or claimed the islets and shoals in the West Philippine Sea, its claims were being

UNGA. . .

Continued from A1

and ugly narratives of migration peddled by those who have benefited from migration but fear too much of it.”

Noting how some of the world’s most progressive places benefited from migrants, Locsin said in his explanation of vote: “Western cities would be cesspools without migrants. And there would be— as my friend Fernando of Mexico said— no World Cup as we know it today; nor Miss Universe, the part-Scottish, part-Filipina Catriona Gray, lava-walking the runway for her one and only people. That is the enigma of arrival: the arrival of needed migrants—some of them but not all.”

He said that’s where sovereignty comes up against—“not a challenge to its unlimited freedom to act—but to the moral imperative to live up to a standard of reciprocal decency in its actions.”

He added: “For one day a sovereign people may find themselves migrants as well with no country. We repeat: no enforceable obligation can be laid on sovereignty.

But certain standards are expected of it; and failure to meet them results only in self-condemnation.”

The Philippines’s top diplomat said some of the UN’s friends in this endeavor have withdrawn under pressure from political constituencies.

“Others opposed it from the start for the same reason. And that is only right; we should respond to our constituencies for we are all democracies.”

Still others, he said, “have reasons with which we agree or with which we do not completely disagree; but where we do disagree we must not leave them unanswered.”

He said countries that favor migration “defeated the notion that migration is bad, with facts and not frightful fantasies of job losses no Westerner would take.”

He said jobs that are lost are not taken by migrants; “but by people who stay home, work harder for lesser pay, and beat the better-paid competition abroad.”

“We did it with reason by showing that migrants have been useful additions to the work forces of host countries; they are a

Solons. . .

Continued from A12

In September, Andaya said he and Arroyo met President Duterte in Malacañang to get a clear signal about the proposal to abolish the Road Board.

Andaya clarified that the measure was not intended to abolish the Road Board, but to limit the controlling authorities of funds from seven-man to three-department, namely, the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Transportation (DOTr), and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

“We are going to [review the MDT]... we’ll need to look at the provisions there, discuss with the end view of reviewing to make it stronger...[the US] is the only country we have an alliance with.”—Lorenzana

challenged aggressively, specifically by China, which has already built fortified bases on its man-made islets in the South China Sea. The Scarborough Shoal and Ayungin Shoal in the Kalayaan Island Group, which are within the country’s exclusive economic zone, have seen China’s military and paramilitary activities, with Chinese forcing sealing off Scarborough and harassing resupply missions to Filipino troops in Ayungin.

The territorial dispute is listed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines as the primary source of the country’s external threat.

Lorenzana said the review of the Mutual Defense Treaty and its provisions have been

initially raised with US officials a month ago in Hawaii

by Defense Undersecretary Cardozo Luna.

“I think, it was Undersecretary Luna, who was invited to Hawaii to attend a conference where he said maybe we should start reviewing our MDT,” the defense chief said.

“We are going to [review it]…we’ll need to look at the provisions there, discuss with the end view of reviewing to make it stronger or whatever,” he added.

Lorenzana said the review is needed in order for the country to make its alliance with the US stronger, “because it is the only country we have an alliance with.”

Meanwhile, Lorenzana said the military will name its two brand-new frigates as BRP Antonio Luna and BRP Jose Rizal once they enter the service of the Navy. The two frigates, which are being built by South Korean Hyundai Heavy Industries, are being projected to be delivered one after the other in 2020 and 2021.

good response to unfair foreign competition,” he added.

The secretary knows the value of migration’s benefit to the sending country, as the estimated 10 million overseas Filipino workers have remitted to the country $28.06 billion in 2017.

He said: “We should be proud to acknowledge that a decent regard for the opinion of mankind, prompted by the better angels of our nature, dictated our decision regarding the Global Compact.

“Migration is a shared responsibility of sending, receiving and transit states. No one state can address it alone; nor should any state presume to lead in saying what can and cannot be done about it.”

He said the Global Compact for Migration was undertaken because it needed the inputs of everyone who had good intentions toward migrants.

He said the word “compact” was picked precisely for having no settled meaning in international law, unlike the word “treaty,” which in international practice has been a mere scrap of paper torn time and again by surprising acts of aggression.

“Right from the title, ‘Compact’ excludes any suggestion of enforceability other than the compulsion of conscience if one has any—and if not, then all the less is it compelling.”

He continued: “The Compact assumes that states, not just in the exercise of sovereignty but out of practical sense, must start and end with effective national controls over their borders. A world without borders, like a world without string to hold things together, would be chaos.”

He said the word “hints at the shared feeling of a common endeavor to address that which we would not want to be visited on ourselves and our families, who are fortunate to have countries we are happy to call our own.

“There will always be claims that good intentions become obligations; but these claims are as easily ignored as they are easily made. It is part of the free expression we all uphold without qualification.”

Citing as example the politically intractable problem created in Myanmar with the international dilemma over the fate of the Rohingya people, Locsin said: “The Compact merely seeks by clear delineation, and with the mildest suggestion of

what might be done out of decency, about the problems encountered by migrants.

It does not presume to tell states what to do with people who happen to be in their midst; for that is surely a strictly sovereign decision. We see this in the unsolved Rakhine problem created by one empire at the expense of a subject nation. None of us should presume to dictate to the latter how to solve it. But we might speak politely of what would be the decent thing to do.”

The Compact assumes, he added, “that states, not just in the exercise of sovereignty but out of practical sense, must start and end with effective national controls over their borders. A world without borders, like a world without string to hold things together, would be chaos.”

He said the Compact does not derogate one iota from sovereignty, “but it reveals sovereignty’s fundamentally moral nature.”

“A key aspect of sovereignty is the care states must take of people inside them; even if they are on the move—from countries of origin, through countries of transit, to where finally they end up to be welcomed or booted out. The Compact merely speaks truth to sovereign power and reminds it of its moral aspect.”

Noting how some UN members have decried “the current retreat from multilateralism,” Locsin nonetheless chided them for withdrawing from the GCM “for its multilateral character.” The GCM, he stressed, “is a triumph of multilateralism. It is an assertion of sovereignty acting in concert with other sovereignties for humane objectives; but in no wise does it deny any particle of sovereignty’s full extent and reach. But no question, world government is an unmitigated evil; hegemonic aspirations alone committed the worst crimes against humanity in history throughout the Cold and postCold War worlds. We will have none of that, from any quarter.”

He concluded: “The Global Compact for Migration took two years of difficult negotiations over complex issues and strong opposition not least from countries of migrant composition. The experience must not have been good. But we persevered in the confidence that decency would prevail. And it is in decency that we anchored the Compact.”

“I got to talk to the President personally on the matter. Secretary Diokno is just assuming. This is not the time to second-guess the President.

Now is the time for Secretary Diokno to talk to the President and come clean on the issue. He should stop giving alternative facts. He should stop blind-siding the President,” he said.

In the proposed 2019 national budget, for instance, Andaya said the House discovered recently that the DBM allocated more than P325 million for infrastructure projects in Casiguran, Sorsogon. These projects were included in the P75 billion inserted by the DBM in the NEP submitted to Congress.

“Interestingly, the P325-million new projects in Casiguran are part again of the Flood Control Program. These include the Himaoyon Flood Control [P75 million]; Lungib Seawall and Embankment [P80 million]; Somal-ot Seawall and Embankment [P100 million]; Cagpagol River Control [P45 million]; and Suji River Control [P25 million],” he said.

Reconsider MEANWHILE, Andaya said he still hopes that Diokno will reconsider his decision not to appear in the hearings to be conducted by the House Rules Committee on the DBM’s allegedly questionable allocations in the national budget, as he has a lot of explaining to do.

A4 Friday, December 21, 2018 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

The Nation BusinessMirror

Lacson tells fellow lawmakers: Let’s adhere to SC ruling against pork-barrel allocations

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By Butch Fernandez

@butchfBM

EN. Panfilo M. Lacson Sr. on Thursday reminded fellow lawmakers about the Supreme Court ruling on misallocating so-called congressional pork-barrel insertions in crafting the national budget bill.

Reacting to reports that “some legislators” were moving to go around the SC ruling outlawing the porkbarrel scheme that lawmakers resorted to in funding pet projects in their districts, Lacson noted fresh attempts to “circumvent the budgeting process.”

“If only we legislators will adhere to and follow the budgeting process and comply strictly with the ruling of the Supreme Court on Belgica v. ES [former Executive Secretary Paquito] Ochoa, then life could be simple and easy,” Lacson said, adding: “That’s the bottom line.”

In a news statement, the senator pointed out “the problem is that some legislators are trying to circumvent the budgeting process and the SC ruling on the unconstitutionality of the pork barrel. ’Yan ang problema [That seems to be the problem].”

According to Lacson, “ Their [some lawmakers’] only interpretation of the pork barrel is post-enactment.

Implementation after the GAA [General Appropriations Act] shall have been signed and passed into law.

Before kasi may [there was] lump sum amount na [for] PDAF [Priority Development Assistance Fund] ang [whose] description [of] so much amount, wala pang mga [there were no] items. Then after the GAA has been passed saka lang ia-identify ng [that’s the only time] legislators na may [with] pork barrel [allocations] ang mga [would identify the] projects.

Sabi ng [According to the] SC bawal ’yan [that’s not allowed].”

Lacson added that was not the only practice outlawed by the High court, noting there were so-called corollary paragraphs, which stated that “corollary thereto, all informal practices na kung saan nag-i-intrude

[where there is intrusion] ang mga [by some] legislators into the proper phase of execution, meaning that’s the domain of the Executive branch, ang [the] execution. It’s also tantamount to grave abuse of discretion and shall be accorded the same unconstitutional treatment.”

“So what do we see now?” the senator asked, adding: “Even after mapasa ang [after the passage of] GAA at sinasabing [and they say] execution is within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Executive, we see billboards all over the place na sinasabi [that tell us] na [that] this is the project of congressman so and so and identify the projects [and the] congressmen.”

For instance, Lacson cited the socalled Tulong Dunong (TD) program, a scholarship scheme that also pays for miscellaneous fees.

“When we see congressmen and even senators distributing checks to their chosen scholars, nagpasa na tayo ng [we have passed the] Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education, meaning Free Tuition Act, tertiary education,” he said, adding: “May [there’s] P43 billion appropriated for that. Yet under Tulong Dunong meron pang [there’s still] P3.8 billion. So ang [my] proposal…during the budget deliberations, isama na natin sa [let’s include in that] P43 billion para madagdagan ang [so we could add that in] tertiary education tuition, ang [the] subsidy. Ang tawag doon [we refer to that as the] Tertiary Education Subsidy [TES]. And on top of TES may [there’s] TD na nakikialam ang mga legislators [where some legislators dip their fingers]. Isn’t that intruding into the execution phase of the budgeting process?” he said.

If only we legislators will adhere to and follow the budgeting process and comply strictly with the ruling of the Supreme Court on Belgica v. ES [former Executive Secretary Paquito] Ochoa, then life could be simple and easy. That’s the bottom line.”—Lacson

UNSR fed with ‘false’ info on Duterte admin’s rights record

@awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

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AVAO CITY—Small-business owners operating in this city are reaping success after linking up with the Internet for their product promotion and sales, the regional Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) office here reported on Thursday.

By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

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ALACAÑANG assured on Thursday that no “special treatment” will be accorded to four Chinese nationals convicted by a local court of illegal possession of illegal drugs, even after being caught operating a floating shabu laboratory off the Subic coast in 2016.

The Regional Trial Court in Olongapo sentenced the Chinese nationals with life imprisonment and imposed a P5-million fine each for possession of illegal drugs last Friday, December 14.

The Palace said it considers this development as a “clear proof” of the government’s unrelenting war against illegal drugs that “spares no one.”

“We assure the public that no special treatment will be accorded to the four Chinese drug convicts, as they serve their life sentence behind bars for operating a floating shabu laboratory in Subic,” Presidential Spokesman and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador S. Panelo said in a news statement.

“Similarly, we also give assurance to their families that they will be given proper treatment in prison, and they will be humanely treated in accordance with the Bill

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HAM RUSH

Shoppers flock to a popular ham maker in Quiapo, Manila to get a slice of the popular noche buena food item five days before Christmas day on Tuesday. NONNIE REYES

Government lauds WEF gender gap report

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HE Duterte administration, exultant following the release of a World Economic Forum (WEF) report that the Philippines was the top Asian country with the narrowest gap between men and women, on Thursday said the government has always believed in the competence and capability of women.

From last year’s 10th place, the country jumped two notches to place seventh in the world ranking this year.

Based on four categories, the WEF ranked 149 countries.

The Philippines scored the highest in educational attachment,

where it ranked first.

As for areas of political empowerment and economic participation and opportunity, the country placed 13th and 14th, respectively. On health and survival, the Philippines got 42nd place.

In a news statement, Presidential Spokesman and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador S. Panelo said the findings “highlight the government’s commitment to give Filipino women the recognition that they properly deserve, particularly their contributions in the home, in the workplace, in the community and in nation-building.”

“The Palace welcomes the World

Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index placing the Philippines as the most gender equal nation in Asia,” Panelo said on Thursday. “…We are honored that our efforts have been given global recognition.”

Furthermore, Panelo said the country “continues to aspire for inclusive development, where there is equality and genuine collaboration between men and women.”

The government also vowed to further promote substantive equality in the society and maintain to uphold the rights and dignity of women.

Bernadette D. Nicolas

In its year-end report, the DTI listed 248 micro-small businesses with under P3-million capitalization, that experienced a big boost on sales by adopting online selling as an added marketing strategy.

Romeo L. Castañaga, DTI provincial director of Davao del Norte, said the program generated enthusiasm from the first batch of business owners who attended the training program with the Department of

Information and Communication Technology on linking their businesses to the Internet.

The first graduates of that training earned P2 million in just 20 days of e-commerce practice, he told a media briefing on Thursday during the DTI’s presentation of its year-end report at the Pinnacle Hotel here. “One of them earned P1.4 million. They found it amazing,” he said.

Rachel S. Remitio, chief of the mi-

cro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) division, said e-commerce has attracted the small businesses with the increasing awareness and adaption of online selling concept. “ T h at t ra i n i ng conduc ted teaches them with the details of e-commerce and how to install them into their respective business operations, toward developing their own web site,” Remitio told the BusinessMirror.

of Rights under our Constitution, as well as with appropriate Philippine laws and rules. We are also coordinating with the Department of Justice on the possibility of deportation to finally rid this country of these foreign criminals,” Panelo added.

While calling the conviction a welcome development, the DOJ, however, expressed dismay over the court’s decision to acquit the Chinese nationals on charges of manufacture of illegal drugs.

The charge on the manufacture of illegal drugs were dismissed “for failure of the prosecution to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt,” the court ruled.

Two years ago, the Chinese nationals from Hong Kong were nabbed by authorities off the coast of Subic aboard a 50-meter fish carrier-cumshabu laboratory, reports said.

Recovered from the vessel were a hydrogenator, an equipment used in the manufacture of shabu, and some 470 grams of the illegal substance.

The police said in earlier reports that the vessel was used as a manufacturing hub of illegal drugs, saying the contraband was placed in floating containers and thrown out into the sea where these will be picked up by other members of the syndicate.

BOL info drive on track, sectoral groups listed as next ‘targets’ @sam_medenilla

E-commerce boosts sales of Davao small biz owners

By Manuel T. Cayon

No special treatment for 4 Chinese in floating shabu lab case, Palace assures

By Samuel P. Medenilla

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ALACAÑANG on Thursday branded as “reckless and irresponsible” a recent call issued by United Nations Special Rapporteur (UNSR) Michael Forst to the Duterte administration to end all forms of violence against humanrights defenders in the country.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo, at the same time, however, urged local groups to stop feeding the UNSR with “false” information on the Duterte administration’s human-rights track record.

Forst’s call, the Palace official added, “not only demeans the integrity of the UNSR system but the entire UN mechanism itself.”

Panelo added: “We challenge these local groups that have been feeding Mr. Forst with false information to submit their alleged cases of violations against their members to proper authorities such as the interagency committee [created] under Administrative Order 35 [s.2012], which is in charge of handling cases of extrajudicial killings, torture, enforced disappearances and other grave violations of the right to life and liberty,” “Unless they can properly do so, we stand by our firm admonition of these groups to refrain from making a fool of these UNSRs, a mockery of the UN, as well as using their allegations as leverage to secure financial resources from overtrusting funding institutions,” he added. Bernadette D. Nicolas

www.businessmirror.com.ph

HE Commission on Election (Comelec) on Thursday said its information drive for the plebiscite of Republic Act (RA) 11054, also known as the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), next month enters it second phase and is now targeting listed sectoral groups.

In an ambush interview, Comelec Spokesman James B. Jimenez addressed the concerns of the poll watchdog Legal Network of Truthful Elections (Lente) that it is still lagging behind in its duty to inform voters about the plebiscite.

He stressed they have been holding pulong-pulong, or barangay assemblies, for the general public in areas covered by the plebiscite since November, contrary to the claims of the group Lente that the poll body has yet to hold such meetings.

“Our internal BOL Committee already gave a directive to our field officials to conduct the pulong-pulong,” Jimenez said.

In fact, he added, the Comelec started this week the second part of its information campaign, which now aims to train representatives of certain sectors like women and youth.

“People already know there will be a plebiscite...it is on the indiv idua l concepts [of BOL] where their awareness vary,” Jimenez said.

Complicated ballots

DURING the pulong-pulong, Jimenez said they orient the public on how to appreciate the mechanics of the ballot and the importance of answering all of the questions in it.

“That ballot is complicated....

Some have a simple yes or no question, but others have as much as 11 questions,” Jimenez explained.

“The danger is some [voters] will not answer all of the questions. This will lead to an insufficient results,” he added.

The Comelec will be using multiple versions of the ballots for the BOL plebiscites.

Under the provision of R A 11054, the result of the plebiscite will determine the areas in Mindanao, which will become part of

the soon-to-be created Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), replacing the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The plebiscite will be held in areas currently covered by the ARMM, as well as areas “contiguous” to it and would like to become part of BARMM. For ARMM areas, except for the province of Basilan, the majority of the voters would simply have to vote “yes” to indicate they are in favor of the ratification of the BOL to become part of the BARMM. But for contiguous areas to be included in BARMM, the majority of its voters, as well as those in the areas where it is originally part of, must favor the change.

The Comelec has yet to release the final list of these contiguous areas.

Limited coverage

DESPITE efforts in information dissemination for the BOL, Jimenez explained their role in the process is only restricted to its election aspect.

He pointed out members or representatives of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) handles the explanation of provisions of the BOL. “ They are subject matter experts on that...what we do is only provide them the vehicle [for the information drive] by inviting them in the pulong-pulong,” Jimenez said.

Jimenez noted they also try to invite groups, which are in favor and against the BOL plebiscite, in the pulong-pulong to ensure the public will be able to make an informed choice on the matter.

He said they will continue holding the pulong-pulong until the plebiscites take place on January 21 and February 6 in 2019.

To further expand the coverage of its pulong-pulong, Comelec will be signing on Friday a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and the BTC. The poll body is also scheduled to release a comics-based primers two weeks before the plebiscite to provide additional information to voters about the said process.

Christmas A BusinessMirror Special Feature

www.businessmirror.com.ph | Friday, December 21, 2018 A5

THE BLESSING OF CHRISTMAS:

The Savior was born!

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By Leony Garcia

HRISTMAS comes early to the Philippines with jarring sales and decorations at the onset of the -ber month. People buy things related to the festive season and start decorate their homes as early as September. By November, Christmas’s spirit is already on the: twinkling lightslining streets, houses and even a whole village.

The season’s spirit drives people to the mall, to the kitchen, to midnight mass and to festive gatherings. On Christmas day, December 25, not a single house is spared from visits from friends, god children and relatives.

But how did people celebrate Christmas before the advent of shopping malls and electric lights?

What's the history behind the tradition? At its core, Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus.

The holiday’s connection to Christ is obvious through its Old English root of “Cristes maesse’ or Christ’s Mass. For Christians, it is the time to renew one’s faith, give generously and consider the past.

But Christmas is also a secular celebration of family—one that many non-practicing Christians and people of other religions are comfortable accepting as their own. The secular nature of Christmas was officially acknowledged in 1870 when the United States Congress made it a federal holiday. Today, many people, employees and most private businesses observe Dec. 25 by not working.

Christmas is also a fascinating miscellany of traditions: one

that combines pre-Christian pagan rituals with modern traditions. Every family that celebrates Christmas has its own customs-some surprisingly universal, others entirely unique—but all comfortably familiar in their seeming antiquity. For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:5)

The first Christmas

LONG ago, more than 2000 years, the first Christmas took place with the birth of Christ. God sent the angel Gabriel to a young woman who lived in the northern town of Nazareth. The girl’s name was Mary and she was engaged to marry Joseph.

The angel said to Mary: ‘Peace be with you! ‘Don’t be afraid, God has been very kind to you. You will become pregnant by the Holy Spirit and give birth to a baby boy and you will call him Jesus. He will be God’s own Son and his kingdom will never end.’ Mary was very afraid but she trusted God. ‘Let

it happen as God chooses.’ she replied to the angel. Gabriel also told Mary that her cousin, Elizabeth who everyone thought was too old to have children, would have a baby boy (John) whom God had chosen to prepare the way for Jesus.

Joseph was worried when he found out that Mary was expecting a baby before their marriage had taken place. He wondered if he should put off the wedding altogether. Then an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and said: ‘Don’t be afraid to have Mary as your wife.’ The angel explained that Mary had been chosen by God to be the mother of his Son and told Joseph that the baby would be named Jesus which means ‘Saviour’ because he would save people.

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel had told him to do and took Mary as his wife.

Mary and Joseph traveled a long way (about 70 miles) from Nazareth to Bethlehem, to register for a census ordered B the Roman Empire (because that is where Joseph’s family came from). Most people walked but some lucky people had a donkey to help carry the goods needed for the journey. Joseph and Mary traveled very slowly because Mary’s baby was due to be born soon.

When they reached Bethlehem they had problems finding somewhere to stay. So many people had come to register their names in the census, that every house was full and every bed was taken in all of the guest rooms. The only place to stay that they could find was with the animals. People often kept animals in the house, especially at night, and used them like ‘central heating’ People normally slept on a raised/upper level with the animals below to give them extra warmth.

So in the place where the animals slept, Mary gave birth to Je-

A South of France holiday vibe in BE Grand Resort, Bohol

B

E Grand Resort gives Christmas Eve a whole new meaning as it transports guests to an epicurean journey without leaving Bohol. Only a few months into operation, The Boathouse, Panglao Island’s lone steakhouse, has gained popularity among locales and guests for its mouth-watering dishes and premium steak cuts, including the succulent Tenderloin Steak served with a medley of grilled vegetables.

An intimate 20-seater dining outlet, The Boathouse is

one of BE Grand Resort’s five restaurants, located within the villas. It boasts of a farmto-table restaurant concept, utilizing fresh and locally grown ingredients. This Christmas Eve, The Boathouse opens its doors to guests, serving a four-course set menu which features its famed quezo duo salad, choice of premium-cut steak, to the famed chocolate lava cake for only Php 2,400.00 per person.

The Christmas Eve dinner will be served fom 7:00 PM – 12:00 MN.

For guests looking for a more

festive and abundant spread, the resort’s restaurant, The Foodhall, is offering Paskong Pinoy Christmas Eve buffet with seafood specialties at Php 1,520.00 per person.

A Christmas Eve Mass will be offered at the Resort’s Grand Ballroom from 6:00PM onwards.

From the ambiance, its impeccable service to tis Christmas offerings, BE Grand Resort promises an unforgettable holiday celebration. To book your holiday getaway, visit www.beresorts.com.

sus, the Son of God. In those days it was the custom to wrap newborn babies tightly in a long cloth called ‘swaddling clothes’. Jesus’ bed was the manger that the animals ate their hay from.

In the hills and fields outside Bethlehem, shepherds looked after their sheep through the long night. As the new day began, suddenly an angel appeared before them and the glory of God shone around them. The shepherds were very, very scared, but the angel said, ‘Don’t be afraid. I have good news for you and everyone. Today in Bethlehem a Saviour has been born for you. You will find the baby lying in a manger.’

Then many more angels appeared, lighting up the sky. The shepherds heard them praising God singing: ‘Glory to God in highest, and peace to everyone on earth.’ When the angels had gone the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem to see what has happened.’ So the shepherds went to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph. The baby Jesus was lying in a manger as they had been told. When they saw him, they told everyone what the angel

had said and everyone who heard the story were astonished. Then the shepherds returned to their sheep, praising God for sending his Son to be their Saviour.

When Jesus was born, a brand new bright star appeared in sky.

Some Wise Men in faraway countries saw the star and guessed what it meant. They were very clever men that studied the stars and had read in very old writings that a new star would appear when a great king was born. They set out to find the new king and bring him gifts.

The Wise Men followed the star towards the country of Judea and when they got to the capital called Jerusalem they began to ask people: ‘Where is the child who is born to be king of the Jews?’

Herod, the king of Judea, heard this and it made him very angry to think that someone might be going to take his place as king. Herod sent for the Wise Men to come to him. He told them to go on following the star until they had found the baby king. He said: ‘When you have found him, let me know where he is, so that I can go and worship him.’

The Wise Men followed the

star towards Bethlehem (where it said that the king would be born in the old writings). It seemed to stop and shine directly down upon the place where Jesus was.

The Wise Men entered the house where they now lived and found Jesus with Mary, they bowed down and worshipped him. The Wise Men spread the the gifts they had brought before Jesus. The gifts were gold, frankincense and myrrh. The Wise Men were warned in a dream,

by God, not to go back to Herod.

When the Wise Men had gone, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up,’ the angel said, ‘take Jesus and Mary and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for Jesus to kill him.’ So Joseph got up, took Jesus and Mary during the night they left for Egypt, where he stayed until Herod died.

When Herod realized that he had been tricked by the Wise Men, he was furious and he gave orders to kill all the boys aged two or younger in Bethlehem and the surrounding area. This was to try and kill the new King, as his plan to find the location of the new king from the Wise Men had failed.

A4 Friday, December 21, 2018 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug A6

Economy BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Canberra may import PHL cavendish bananas in ’19–DA exec

A

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

@jearcalas

N agriculture official expressed optimism on Thursday that homegrown banana fruits would finally enter the Australian market next year following a recent productive round of agricultural talks focused comprehensively on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) concerns of Canberra.

Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Ariel T. Cayanan said the Philippines explained extensively to Australia the current SPS measures undertaken by local banana growers and exporters to address various diseases during the fourth Austra-

lia-Philippines Agriculture forum held on November 28 in Canberra.

Cayanan pointed out that the Philippine currently employ superior banana technologies to address SPS problems compared to Australia.

Among these technologies, according to Cayanan, banana growers eradicate the infestation and spread of black sigatoka disease through plant tissues.

“Their primarily concern is the entry of sigatoka disease, and they are saying that the remedial measures is having five leaves, eight leaves,” he told the BusinessMirror in a recent interview.

“But we are doing the roots. If we see something wrong with the roots, we address it immediately and the plant will not grow anymore,” he added.

Cayanan said the country also conducts deleafing of banana trees should there be visual manifestation of sigatoka disease.

Cayanan added that the Philippine delegation also explained to their Australian counterparts that the use of non-perforated bags results in burning of bananas.

The use of non-perforated bags is one of the conditions set by the Australia to allow entry of Philippine cavendish bananas in their local market.

“We are saying that it is close to impossibility. If we are going to use non-perforated bags then it will burn the banana,” he said.

“Bananas naturally ripe itself by acceleration when it gets damaged,” he added.

The Philippines, through the Bureau of the Plant Industry (BPI) and the Philippine

Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA), would submit the technical documents covering the comprehensive SPS measures undertaken by the country to Australia within the month, according to Cayanan.

Cayanan mentioned that the meeting has set a six-month time frame—which would be from January to June—for Australia to evaluate the documents on whether it would pass their SPS and quarantine standards.

Cayanan said they are optimistic that the Philippines would now overcome the SPS concerns set by Australia for the entry of locally grown bananas fruits, and even sees the conclusion of Australia’s evaluation earlier than June next year.

“I think we were able to inculcate and to impress to them that we are doing

things right,” he said.

“We didn’t just accelerate the talks but we have made it time-bounded, technology and science-based. The negotiations were very good and we are very very happy on how the negotiations went,” he added.

Manila is set to host the fifth PhilippineAustralia agriculture forum in 2020.

PBGEA Executive Director Stephen A. Antig told the BusinessMirror that the advancement for the entry of Philippine bananas to the Australian market is a welcome development for the local industry.

“The entry of Philippine bananas to Australia, if ever, is a hard-earned victory for the industry,” Antig said. “The market is not that big but getting a foothold in that market should be welcomed.”

I think we were able to inculcate and to impress to them that we are doing things right. We didn’t just accelerate the talks but we have made it time-bounded, technology and science-based. The negotiations were very good and we are very very happy on how the negotiations went.”—Cayanan

Four Cebu-based corporate execs face rap for alleged eCARs fraud

By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

T

HE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has filed tax evasion cases against four respondents for allegedly using fake electronic certificates authorizing the registration to transfer titles of four realestate properties.

In a news statement issued on Thursday, the BIR said it filed cases against Jose V. Cuenco and Filomena V. Cuenco, president and corporate secretary of Heirs of Manuel Cuenco Realty & Development Corp., as well as Christian Vincent T. Cuenco, and Jean C. Cuenco, president and corporate secretary of the Cebu Automated Livestock Ventures Inc. The respondents were slapped with a total of P7.77 million in tax liabilities that include withholding taxes at P2.39 million; documentary stamp taxes, P599,906.71; and

value-added tax, P4.78 million.

“The case against the accused stemmed from a letter from the City Assessor of Cebu City requesting for the verification of the genuineness and authenticity of four Electronic Certificates Authorizing Registration [eCAR],” the BIR said.

“The said eCARs were used to effect the transfer of title of four real properties which were the subject of a sales transaction between the heirs of Manuel Cuenco Realty & Development Corp. as seller and Cebu Automated Livestock Ventures Inc. as buyer,” it added.

The criminal complaint with the Office of the City Prosecutor of Cebu City filed against the four individuals was done through Revenue Region 13—Cebu City on December 10.

The case was filed for the Willful Attempt to Evade or Defeat Tax, in violation of Section 254 of the National Internal Revenue

Marina rolls out online theoretical exams for merchant marine officers

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

T

@lorenzmarasigan

HE Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) has implemented an online booking system for merchant marine officers taking theoretical examinations as part of the agency’s 14-point agenda for 2018.

“With this implementation, all seafarers for the said theoretical exam, starting December 26, 2018, are directed to upload their required documents to Marina Online Appointment System for the purposes of online verification,” a news statement read.

Once verified online, the applicant shall pay the corresponding amount through an authorized payment partner prior to setting an appointment schedule through the online system for their physical appearance on their preferred date and time.

“As one of the various systems that will comprise the Marina’s Integrated Management System, the online application will ensure that the agency exercises strict and uncompromising quality procedures in the delivery of public service,” the statement added.

Also a part of the Marina Integrated Seafarers Management Online System, the new booking platform includes the theoretical examination for Global Maritime Distress and Safety System Radio Operator.

In another development, Marina is also set to open a new testing center in Iloilo next year.

“With the help of online evaluation and appointment system, the Marina ensured that all the seafarers can apply from anywhere either while onboard or from the comforts of their home,” the statement said.

Code of 1997, as amended.

“With the use of the fake eCARs in the sale of four real properties from the seller/ transferor to the buyer/transferee and used as the basis for the issuance and release of new titles by the Register of Deeds of Cebu City in favor of the latter, the government had been deprived of the collection of the taxes due on the said transactions,” the BIR said.

After the conduct of an investigation, the BIR found that the eCARS were fake and were not among those issued by the concerned Revenue District Office (RDO).

The BIR also said the alleged Revenue Officers who processed the said eCARs were never assigned/hired/connected to the concerned RDO. The investigation also revealed that the serial numbers of the subject eCARs were not among those requisitioned from the BIR National Office.

Preemployment payment for fresh grads seen hurdling House in Jan

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

T

HE House of Representatives is now aiming for the final approval of a measure exempting new graduates from paying government documentary fees and charges for employment requirements.

House Bill 172, or the proposed act waiving government fees and charges on the issuance of documents required in connection with first-time applicants, has already been approved on second reading last week. The bill is expected to be approved on third and final reading when session resumes in January 2019.

The measure seeks to provide assistance to new graduates by exempting them from paying government fees and charges for employment requirements.

It said all government agencies and instrumentalities, including governmentowned and -controlled corporations and local government units, shall not collect fees or charges from new graduates in relation to documentary requirements for employment.

The bill also mandates the creation of an interagency monitoring committee to be chaired by the executive secretary and composed of the heads of the Civil Service Commission, Departments of Labor and Employment, Finance, Education and the Commission on Higher Education to monitor the compliance with the provisions of the measure.

House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Estrellita B. Suansing of Nueva

Ecija, one of the principal authors of the bill, said the measure intends to not only provide relief but also to show the state’s commitment to promote the interest of the youth.

Suansing said the waiver of these fees must be taken not as a loss of revenue for the government by as an investment in the labor force.

She added the proposal seeks to address to provide a reasonable waiver of the fees collected by the government for various clearances, applications, licenses and other documents from fresh graduates intending to work and become productive members of society.

“Here is a young person, fresh out of college, with dreams and aspirations to have a decent opportunity and livelihood, then finding out that in order for him to reach these dreams and aspirations, he has to shell out money to pay for the many preemployment documents, clearances and applications required by a prospective employer. Such requirements usually include police and/or NBI clearance, identification number and card from the Social Security System, certification or community tax certificate from the local government, tax identification number and other fees to be paid, excluding transportation fare in getting these document,” she added.

“The situation is difficult for the fresh graduate, and at times oppressive, considering that these new graduates seeks employment precisely to obtain a regular income. The family resources are often depleted by the time of graduation because of the high costs of college education,” Suansing added.

The World BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Angel R. Calso • Friday, December 21, 2018

A7

MAY GET BAIL AS TOKYO N. Korea says it won’t denuclearize GHOSN COURT WON’T EXTEND DETENTION unless US removes nuclear threat A

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EOUL, South Korea—North Korea said on Thursday that it will never unilaterally give up its nuclear weapons unless the United States first removes what Pyongyang called a nuclear threat.

The surprisingly blunt statement jars with Seoul’s more rosy presentation of the North Korean position and could rattle the already fragile diplomacy between Washington, Seoul and Pyongyang to defuse a nuclear crisis that last year had many fearing war.

The latest from North Korea comes as the United States and North Korea struggle over the sequencing of the denuclearization that Washington wants and the removal of international sanctions desired by Pyongyang. The statement carried by the North’s official Korean Central News Agency also raises credibility problems for the liberal South Korean government, which has continuously claimed that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is genuinely interested in negotiating away his nuclear weapons as Seoul tries to keep alive a positive atmosphere for dialogue.

The North’s comments may also be taken up as proof of what many outside skeptics have long said: that Kim will never voluntarily relinquish an arsenal he sees as a stronger guarantee of survival than whatever security assurances the United States might provide. The statement suggests that North Korea will demand that the United States withdraw or significantly reduce the 28,500 American troops stationed in South Korea, which would be a major sticking point to a potential disarmament deal.

Kim and President Donald J. Trump met on June 12 in Singapore

where they issued a vague goal for the “complete denuclearization” of the Korean Peninsula without describing when and how it would occur. The leaders are trying to arrange another meeting for early next year.

But North Korea for decades has been pushing a concept of denuclearization that bears no resemblance to the American definition, with Pyongyang vowing to pursue nuclear development until the United States removes its troops and the nuclear umbrella defending South Korea and Japan. In Thursday’s statement, the North made clear it’s sticking to its traditional stance on denuclearization. It accused Washington of twisting what had been agreed on in Singapore and driving post-summit talks into an impasse.

“The United States must now recognize the accurate meaning of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and especially, must study geography,” the statement said.

“When we talk about the Korean Peninsula, it includes the territory of our republic and also the entire region of [South Korea] where the United States has placed its invasive force, including nuclear weapons.

When we talk about the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, it means the removal of all sources of nuclear threat, not only from the South and North but also from areas neighboring the Korean Peninsula,” the statement said.

The United States removed its tactical nuclear weapons from

IN this July 4, 2017, file photo distributed by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (second from right) inspects the preparation of the launch of a Hwasong-14 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in North Korea’s northwest. North Korea on Thursday, said it will never unilaterally give up its nuclear weapons unless the United States removes its nuclear threat first. KOREAN CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY/ KOREA NEWS SERVICE VIA AP

South Korea in the 1990s. Washington and Seoul did not immediately respond to the North Korean statement.

North Korea’s reiteration of its long-standing position on denuclearization could prove to be a major setback for diplomacy, which was revived early this year following a series of provocative nuclear and missile tests that left Kim and Trump spending most of 2017 exchanging personal insults and war threats. The statement could jeopardize Trump’s plan to hold a second summit with Kim early next year as it could be difficult for the United States to push negotiations further if the North ties the future of its nukes to the US military presence in the South, analysts said.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who met Kim three times this year and lobbied hard for the Trump-Kim meeting, has said that Kim wasn’t demanding the withdrawal of US troops from the Korean Peninsula as a precondition for abandoning his nuclear weapons. But Kim has never made such comments in public.

“The blunt statement could be

an indicator that the North has no intentions to return to the negotiation table anytime soon,” said Shin Beomchul, a senior analyst at Seoul’s Asan Institute for Policy Studies. “It’s clear that the North intends to keep its nukes and turn the diplomatic process into a bilateral arms reduction negotiation with the United States, rather than a process where it unilaterally surrenders its program.”

The nuclear negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang have stalled since the Trump-Kim meeting. The United States wants North Korea to provide a detailed account of nuclear and missile facilities that would be inspected and dismantled under a potential deal, while the North is insisting that sanctions be lifted first.

The North Korean statement came a day after Stephen Biegun, the Trump administration’s special envoy on North Korea, told reporters in South Korea that Washington was reviewing easing travel restrictions on North Korea to facilitate humanitarian shipments to help resolve the impasse in nuclear negotiations. AP

TOKYO court rejected a request from prosecutors to extend Carlos Ghosn’s jail detention, giving the former Nissan Motor Co. chairman a chance to seek bail and fight allegations of underreporting of his income.

Ghosn’s lawyers said they plan to apply for bail, and that the car titan could be out as soon as Friday if the request is approved. Still, Japanese prosecutors plan to appeal the district court’s decision, Kyodo reported.

The arrest last month of the high-flying executive has rocked the world’s biggest auto alliance, raising questions over whether the partnership between Nissan and Renault SA will survive Ghosn’s downfall. He was indicted on December 10 for underreporting his income from Nissan in securities reports, a charge Ghosn has denied.

The court kept extending his detention and his current tenure was due to end this week. They also rejected on Thursday an extension for Ghosn aide Greg Kelly, who was arrested along with him.

The court decision could impact the investigation, said Shin Kukimoto, deputy chief prosecutor at the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office, declining to comment on whether his office would appeal to a higher court to annul the district court’s order. Nissan, which dismissed Ghosn as chairman after accusing him of understating income and using company money for personal use, declined to comment.

Ghosn is free to talk to the media when released, Kukimoto said. “The chances of bail are very high,” said Nobuo Gohara, a lawyer and former prosecutor. “To begin with, this isn’t a case that should need such a lengthy detention.”

Ghosn, 64, has been widely credited with saving Nissan from failure and bringing it together with Renault. He stands accused of underreporting his income by tens of millions of dollars after a months-long investigation by Nissan into his conduct and compensation that as largely kept from its French partner. The lack of transparency and concern Nissan will use in Ghosn’s absence to push for more power in the alliance has heightened tensions between the two automakers.

If Ghosn gets bail, his movements are likely to be restricted to his home or a hotel, and he’ll need the permission of the court if he wishes to leave the country, legal experts have said. Japan’s prosecutors have faced criticism for a lack of transparency in how they have handled the case.

Other lawyers such as Tsutomu Nakamura, a former public prosecutor who is the founder of Nakamura International Criminal Defense in Tokyo, suggested that the court decision doesn’t necessarily mean Ghosn may walk out of jail immediately.

“The prosecutors will file the complaint against this judge’s decision immediately,” he said. “I think that the prosecutors failed to prove the seriousness of the case.”

If proven, Ghosn’s alleged offense may carry a sentence of as much as 10 years. The former Nissan chairman, who remains at the helm of Renault, has also been accused by Nissan of misusing company funds, including buying homes from Brazil to Lebanon. Nissan and former representative director Kelly were indicted along with Ghosn on the allegations around underreporting his income. Under the Japanese system, indictment allows prosecutors to lay formal charges.

Ghosn’s lawyers have said the charge that he helped himself by converting compensation to deferred pay is flawed because the compensation agreement wasn’t properly ratified, according to a statement by the office of Motonari Otsuru, Ghosn’s lawyer. Otsuru is a former head of a special investigation task force of the Tokyo public prosecutor’s office.

Nissan’s board on November 22 removed Ghosn from the post of chairman and American citizen Kelly from his position. Nissan’s partner Renault has so far not removed Ghosn from the post of chief executive officer, but instead appointed an interim person to the role.

Disagreements within the world’s biggest automotive alliance that was spearheaded by Ghosn have all but exploded since his arrest.

Renault’s most powerful shareholder, the French state, has stressed Ghosn should be considered innocent until proven guilty and demanded that Nissan share all evidence it has gathered.

Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa traveled to Amsterdam for a December 18 meeting of the alliance between Nissan, Renault and the third partner, Mitsubishi Motors Corp. While there, he had a one-on-one meeting with Renault interim chief Thierry Bollore that Saikawa described as “positive” and “productive,” according to Nissan.

Saikawa has emerged as a driving force in the investigation about the alleged wrongdoing by Ghosn and Kelly. Renault, Nissan’s largest shareholder and the company that bailed out the Japanese automaker two decades back, has been pressing for specifics, as has the French government.

The arrests were the result of a coup by executives including Saikawa, Kelly’s wife, Dee Kelly, said in a video released on Wednesday.

Saikawa was asked on the day Ghosn and Kelly were arrested whether a coup was underway at Nissan. He replied: “That is not my understanding. I didn’t make such an explanation and think you should not think of it that way.”

Bloomberg News

Opec’s sequel to blockbuster oil deal faces struggle in 2019 Travelers face chaos as drones

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PEC’S bold strategy to revive oil markets proved a surprise success last year, but the sequel they’ve unveiled for 2019 is getting a cooler reception. Oil prices have slumped in the two weeks since the cartel and its allies announced they will cut production to prevent a surplus, in contrast to the rally that greeted their previous intervention.

From Wall Street oil-watchers to Russia’s central bank, speculation is growing that booming US shale output and shaky fuel demand may thwart the coalition’s efforts.

Saudi Arabia’s assurance on Wednesday that the agreed six months of cuts will probably be extended—a pledge that comes before the deal has even started— only underscored the prevailing anxiety.

“The concern is that even if Opec+ faithfully implement those cuts, it still might not be enough,” said Mike Wittner, head of oil market research at Societe Generale SA in New York.

Oil is trading at the lowest in a year despite the pledge from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies to remove 1.2 million barrels a day of crude from the market for six months starting in January. The group’s own data gives an indication why this hasn’t halted the price slump.

While their cut should roughly balance supply and demand in the first half of 2019, less crude will be needed from the group in the second half as a slowing global economy reins in demand and US shale producers keep breaking records.

By the fourth quarter, the coalition may need to almost double their planned cutback just to keep markets in equilibrium.

Brent crude futures have slipped about 10 percent since Opec and its partners met on Dec. 7, trading for $55.44 a barrel as of 8:56 a.m. London time. In contrast, in the two weeks after the group first agreed joint cuts in November 2016 prices jumped

about 20 percent.

This is a relief for consumers, in particular US President Donald J. Trump, who urged Opec to keep the taps open and cheered the recent price drop as a “big tax cut” for consumers. But it’s a gloomy situation for Saudi Arabia and other major exporters, whose 2019 budgets would be strained at current prices.

Slow start

GETTING off to a bad start doesn’t doom the Opec+ agreement and the group didn’t achieve a straight-line price recovery with its previous round of cuts. Prices actually fell in early 2017, even as Saudi Arabia substantially reduced its output, because of the time lag between curbing exports and the corresponding drop in importers’ inventories.

This time, the kingdom intends to accelerate this process by targeting its export cuts at the US, where the world’s most transparent inventory data means they’ll be detected more readily.

Barclays Plc. predicts the market will pick up as lower exports “percolate” into stockpile data next year. “Prices will stage a rebound,” said Michael Cohen, the bank’s head of energy research in New York.

Unplanned losses

WHEN Opec’s last round of cuts finally started to bite into inventories in mid2017, a large part of that success was due to unplanned production losses in members such as Venezuela, where a spiraling economic crisis bled oil output to the lowest in decades.

The International Energy Agency (IEA), which advises consuming countries, predicts history will repeat itself and next year’s cutbacks will be effectively doubled by unintentional losses from Venezuela and the impact of US sanctions on Iran.

Venezuela’s helping hand may not be

so forceful next year. The Latin American nation ended up removing more oil from the market than Saudi Arabia, despite having less than one-fifth of the kingdom’s production. Yet its decline has slowed in recent months and Oil Minister Manuel Quevedo said last month that a recovery is underway.

Iran’s exports remain a wild card. The collapse in crude prices of about 40 percent from their October peak was precipitated in part by the Trump administration unexpectedly granting of six-month waivers to some of the Persian Gulf nation’s biggest customers. Only he will decide whether this crude continues to flow after those exemptions expire.

Laggards and cheats

THE IEA’s outlook also hinges on another fragile assumption: that other Opec+ members will honor their promised curbs in full.

Saudi Arabia led the way in 2017 by cutting even deeper than pledged, and it appears willing to make the same sacrifice now. Yet other major producers that lagged behind before—most notably Iraq and Kazakhstan—may once again prove slow and unreliable in their implementation.

Iraq, which made less than a third of its pledged cuts according to the IEA, now has more production capacity at its disposal as it pushes on with new projects and restores output halted during a political dispute with its Kurdish population. Kazakhstan was the only signatory that actually increased output during the agreement.

If prices continue to languish, selling that extra crude to boost revenue could prove very tempting.

“The big question is whether Opec+ is up to the task,” said Harry Tchilinguirian, head of commodity markets strategy at BNP Paribas SA. Bloomberg News

shut London’s Gatwick airport

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ONDON—Thousands of passengers were delayed, diverted or stuck on planes on Thursday as the only runway at Britain’s Gatwick Airport remained closed into a second day after drones were spotted over the airfield.

The airport south of London—Britain’s second busiest by passenger numbers—closed its runway on Wednesday evening after two drones were spotted. It reopened briefly at about 3 a.m. on Thursday, but shut 45 minutes later after further sightings.

The airport said all incoming and outgoing flights were suspended. Passengers were advised to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport, where many slept on floors and formed long lines at information desks.

Chris Woodroofe, Gatwick’s chief operating officer, said that roughly 10,000 people had been affected by the shutdown by Thursday morning, including 2,000 whose planes were unable to take off from Gatwick, 2,000 stuck at their points of origin and 6,000 diverted to other airports in Britain and Europe.

He said drones remained in the area on Thursday morning. “As I stand here, there is a drone on my airfield as we speak,” Woodroofe told Sky News.

A police helicopter was hovering near the airfield on Thursday morning as officers from two nearby forces hunted the drone operators.

“The police advice is that it would be dangerous to seek to shoot the drone down because of what may happen to the stray bullets,” Woodroofe said.

Any problem at Gatwick causes a ripple effect throughout Britain and continental Europe, particularly during a holiday period when air traffic control systems are under strain.

Passengers complained on Twitter that their flights had landed at London Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham and other cities.

One traveler whose flight was diverted tweeted that passengers weren’t being told when they could continue to their destination.

Gatwick, about 30 miles (45 kilometers) south of London, sees more than 43 million passengers a year

to short- and long-haul destinations and serves as a major hub for the budget carrier easyJet. Gatwick normally operates throughout the night but the number of flights is restricted because of noise limitations. The airport web site says it usually handles 18 to 20 flights overnight during the winter months.

Gatwick said in a statement that it apologized for the inconvenience but had to put safety first.

Gatwick briefly closed its runway last year when a drone was spotted in the area.

Pilots have reported numerous near-misses with drones in recent years in Britain, and aviation authorities have warned there is a growing risk that a midair collision could cause a major disaster. AP

QUEUES of passengers wait at the check-in desks at Gatwick Airport, as the airport remains closed and with incoming flights delayed or diverted to other airports, after drones were spotted over the airfield last night and this morning, Thursday, December 20, 2018. London’s Gatwick Airport remained shut during the busy holiday period on Thursday while police and airport officials investigate reports that drones were flying in the area of the airfield. THOMAS HORNALL/PA VIA AP

Regions BusinessMirror

A8 Friday, December 21, 2018

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace • www.businessmirror.com.ph

Cordillera regl council backs medical marijuana legalization T

Kaliwa Dam to negatively affect Quezon, Rizal provinces–German-funded CSOs

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AGUIO CITY—Cordillera’s top governing body, the Regional Development Council (RDC), is throwing its support behind the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes.

“No problem if it will be utilized for medical treatment,” RDC Chairman and Baguio City Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan said at the council’s fourth-quarter meeting here on Wednesday.

Cordillera is known to host abundant high-grade marijuana, with the weed growing naturally in the highland’s mountains.

The RDC’s action came after newly crowned Miss Universe Catriona Gray of the Philippines said she is in favor of the legalization

of marijuana for medical purposes during the pageant’s question-andanswer portion.

“Personally, in the medical aspect, we can use marijuana extract to address terminal diseases like cancer,” Domogan said, hastening to add the dangers that must be looked into.

“The main problem here is the plantation. It should be strictly government-controlled. Otherwise, it will be subject to abuse,” he, however, pointed out. “If we will allow

private individuals to cultivate marijuana, then that will be a big problem. For example, if rice is no longer profitable, then they might replace it with marijuana.”

Dr. Amelita Pangilinan, officer in charge of the Department of Health office in Cordillera, said during the meeting that the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC) did a number of studies presenting the benefits of alternative medicines like marijuana.

The physician, however, clarified that it is the extract from the leaves, not the leaf itself, should be consumed by patients for medical purposes.

“Of course, we need to develop a technology that will help us to extract ‘hashish’ from the leaves,” Pangilinan told members of the RDC composed of regional directors of the different line agencies, the private-sector representatives, and

local chief executives of the six provinces and two cities of Cordillera.

Pangilinan said that before, some people cultivated marijuana in their backyards for personal medical needs, specifically, to ease chronic pain.

The physician, however, cautioned that if the bill in Congress seeking to allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes is approved, it must be accompanied by policies based on operational research, which is evidence-based.

“I had a patient who had cancer [and] whose pain cannot be relieved by morphine. Someone gave her marijuana to ease the pain and it did help the patient,” another medical doctor member of the RDC, Julie Cabato, said during the meeting.

Cabato said this made her support the legalization of medical marijuana provided it will be regulated and will not be used for recreation. PNA

First tourism e-Kiosk launched in Legazpi City

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EGAZPI CITY—The city government here has put up an electronic information machine for use of foreign and local visitors who may want to know about the different tourism attractions and activities in the city, Mayor Noel E. Rosal said in an interview on Thursday.

Rosal and Benjamin Santiago, director of the Department of Tourism (DOT) Bicol regional office, led the launching of the tourism information electronic kiosk or e-Kiosk on December 17 at the lobby of the city hall building.

Rosal said Legazpi City is the first locality in the entire Bicol to put up an electronic information machine that would be helpful to tourists vacationing here.

He said the city government will also put an e-Kiosk at the airport and at the city’s grand transport terminal for use by those who need to know about hotels, transportation rates, boarding houses, as well as ordinances and resolutions, and other tourism-related activities.

The mayor said his administration will also put additional e-Kiosk machines in different malls and other establishments operating in this city.

Based on record from the city tourism office, the tourist arrivals recorded in 2016 was at 1,199,291, which increased to 1,275,710 in 2017.

Rosal said the steady increase in tourists’ arrivals in this city the past few years was the result of the promotion and holding of different tourism activities that include the yearly Ibalong Festival and sporting events, such as the Mayon Triathlon and Le Tour de Filipinas.

Aside from these, he said conventions, seminars and other similar gatherings were conducted in the city, the main factor for the DOT’s declaration of Legazpi City as among the top 5 meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) venues in the country.

In 2017 the city tourism office recorded 140 MICE conducted in Legazpi. As of November 20 this year, Legazpi had already recorded 213 Mice.

Santiago, on the other hand, said the e-Kiosk is the cheapest and fastest way of promoting the tourism industry of Legazpi.

He commended Rosal for the innovations done by the city administration that would surely help tourists and visitors have a more enjoyable vacation in Legazpi. PNA

THE opening of Wilcon’s 50th store in General Santos City was led by (from left) United Architects of the Philippines National President Benjamin K. Panganiban Jr., General Santos City Vice Mayor Shirlyn L. Bañas-Nograles, Wilcon Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Rosemarie B. Ong, Hon. Pedro B. Acharon Jr. (South Cotabato, First District), Wilcon President and CEO Lorraine Belo-Cincochan, and Lixil Water Technology Country Manager Alen Alban.

Wilcon opens 50th store in Gen. Santos

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OME improvement and construction supply retailer Wilcon Depot Inc. celebrated another milestone as they opened their 50th depot store at General Santos City, South Cotabato, on December 14, the company said in a statement.

General Santos is a first class highly urbanized city in the province of South Cotabato. Thriving as the country’s 14th “Most Competitive Highly Urbanized City” this year and 15th most populated city, General Santos displays unrelenting opportunities for the growth in their agro-industrial, fishing and services sectors.

Looking into these potentials, Wilcon has undeniably come up with the perfect choice of bringing their newest retail store in General Santos City, according to the firm.

Located at Purok Palen, Barangay Libangal, the first Wilcon Depot store in General Santos has a total sales area of over 12,000 square

meters accommodating thousands of strong and reliable local and international brands in the market, arranged in an organized and clutter-free manner inside an airconditioned store. By maintaining its uniformity in the interior of its depot store, Wilcon makes its operations efficient to help the customers shop with ease.

“We can’t wait to provide the local homeowners and builders in General Santos City the high-quality home improvement and construction needs and customer-focused shopping experience that Wilcon Depot offers,” Wilcon Senior Executive Vice President Chief Operating Officer Rosemarie B. Ong was quoted in the statement as saying.

“Wilcon will unceasingly make efforts to maintain its foothold in the retail construction industry and continue to fulfill the company’s commitment of helping [and] providing sustainable homes,” Wilcon President and Chief Executive Of-

ficer Lorraine Belo-Cincochan said.

“The expansion of Wilcon Depot in the Mindanao region signifies the legacy of bringing excellence and improvement to the quality of life at home and wherever you are in the country. The opening of our 50th milestone store is a testament of our dedication to Filipino homebuilders.”

Wilcon Depot first entered Mindanao region in 2009 and established its first store at Matina, Davao, followed by a series of store openings at Butuan City, Agusan del Norte and Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental in 2017, and Wilcon Zamboanga, which was opened early August this year. Wilcon said it is set to open one more store in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, before this year ends as part of its ongoing expansion in fulfilling its commitment to have a total of 67 operating stores by 2020, which is earlier than planned, barring any unexpected external factors.

Pangasinan Provincial Capitol centennial stamp launched

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HE Pangasinan Provincial Capitol, one of the eight Architectural Treasures of the Philippines by the Filipino Heritage Festival of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, is immortalized in the recent launch of the centennial commemorative stamp by the Philippine Postal Corp.

(PhilPost) and the Provincial Government of Pangasinan.

In a tribute activity dubbed “Talintao” held in Lingayen, the Capitol was feted by the PhilPost as the seat of the provincial government, which stands as an icon of commitment to the preservation of Pangasinan’s built heritage.

It was also cited as reflecting the

aspirations and ambitions of every Pangasinense, which keeps the edifice strong and sturdy, more than its grandeur and beauty.

The neoclassical building was completed in December 1918 and was inaugurated on February 11, 1919 with the holding of a 9-day provincial fair and exposition.

Its design was influenced by the masterplan of renowned American architect and urban planner Daniel Burnham, and implemented by architect William Parson under the supervision of architect Ralph Harrington Doane during the term of Gov. Daniel Maramba in 1916 to 1922.

The building was partially dam-

aged during World War II but was rebuilt in 1946 and restored to its prewar grandeur through the Philippine Rehabilitation Act passed by the United States Congress. It underwent a major facelift and rehabilitation works from August 2007 to December 2008 under former Governor Amado Espino Jr. Last November, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) declared the edifice as a cultural treasure of Pangasinan thru the passage of Provincial Ordinance 27-2018 in recognition of its significance as an icon of the province. The ordinance declared the Capitol as a heritage structure, and allocated funds for its preservation.

HE Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc. (PMPI), a network of 250 civil society organizations (CSOs), rights groups, peace and faith-based institutions, said it is “joining the call to altogether stop and abandon the plan to build” the New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project (NCWS-KDP).

The proposed NCWS-KDP “is a threat and perhaps a disaster waiting to happen to Quezon province and some parts of Rizal province that might even annihilate the Dumagats and Remontado tribal people living in the Sierra Madre mountain ranges,” PMPI said in a statement issued on Thursday.

The project, being part of the “Build, Build, Build” program of the Duterte administration to be financed by China, is a P12.2 billion ($231 million) mega dam that aims to ensure water supply for the fast-growing Metropolitan Manila and surrounding areas.

The NCWS-KDP will be constructed inside the declared Kaliwa Watershed Forest Reserve, under Proclamation 573, series of 1968 and under Proclamation 1636 in 1977.

The PMPI believes the dam will drown 291 hectares of forest from the total 9,800 hectares in Infanta Kaliwa Watershed, including the sacred site of Dumagat-Remontado in the areas of Tinipak in Barangay Daraitan, Tanay, Rizal province.

The dam construction will endanger the rich biodiversity in the Sierra Madre and also adversely affect the whole ecosystem in the surrounding areas including the symbiotic relationship between the tribal people and their ancestral lands, the PMPI said.

“We do not agree that in the name of development, our brother and sister IPs should be sacrificed and displaced from their ancestral lands if ever these dam projects will push through,” PMPI National Coordinator Yolanda R. Esguerra was quoted in a statement as saying. “We are against any form of development that would sacrifice the lives of other living species in the forest and river ecosystem. We need to take into account the rights of people and Mother Nature in any development plan and projects.”

Esguerra said PMPI calls on the local government, particularly the Executive Committee of the Regional Development Council (RDC) in Region 4-A (Calabarzon), which endorsed the proposed multibillion peso dam project to heed the voice of its constituents.

There were many opposition f rom va r ious env ironment a l groups and indigenous peoples (IPs). The rights of the Dumagats and Remontados have been violated when they were deprived of a Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) as required by Republic Act (RA) 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997 by the ongoing construction of the access road from Sitio Kamagong, Barangay Magsaysay, Infanta up to Sitio Queborosa, Barangay Pagsangahan, General Nakar, both in Quezon province.

Also, the said proposed project would essentially violate RA 7586, since the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has yet to issue an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).

“Thus, we strongly ask President Rodrigo Duterte to rescind the loan agreement he officially signed with Chinese President Xi Jinping last November that will fund the project,” PMPI said.

“We are against it, because many lives will be at risk and livelihood will be affected. The proposed 60-meter high Kaliwa Dam will be constructed within a zone of two active tectonics represented by the Philippine Fault Zone and the Valley Fault System. We do not oppose the government’s Build, Build, Build program per se, but these will endanger and displace many people,” PMPI Southern Tagalog Cluster Point-Person Conrado Vargas said. “Even a country like Japan with their technology and all, were caught flat-footed when the 2011 earthquake hit them.”

Instead of building mega dams, the government and its primary water agency like the MWSS should look into alternative ways to manage our water resources toward a more sustainable and ecological way, the PMPI said.

For example, the use of deep tunnel sewerage system to convey used water by gravity to centralized water reclamation plants and used water is treated and further purified into ultraclean, high-grade reclaimed water like what the Singapore did to its water system.

“That is more economical than constructing mega dam,” Vargas added. “Other ways are rehabilitation of Wawa dam and Pasig-Laguna river basin, desiltation of Angat Dam and also the restoration of the deteriorating forest covers of the Sierra Madre ranges that serve as our watershed should be the government’s top priority.”

DOT-sponsored food fest highlights NegOcc’s ‘great culinary scene’

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ACOLOD CITY—Negros Occidental’s reputation when it comes to good food is being highlighted during the three-day “Kaon Na ‘Ta” Food and Travel Festival, which started on Wednesday afternoon at Ayala Malls Capitol Central here.

Tourism Undersecretary Arturo Boncato Jr., who declared the opening of the festival, said visitors expect the food in the province to be of high standards.

“We always look forward to the really delicious and wonderful food here,” Boncato said, noting that 22 exhibitors are participating in the event. “It is fitting that the last edition of the festival is celebrated in this beautiful city of Bacolod and province of Negros Occidental.”

In his speech, Boncato said, the vision of the DOT is to celebrate Filipino cuisine not only in Metro Manila, but in all regions of the country.

Most important, they are also looking at celebrating the whole

ecosystem supporting Filipino cuisine, he added.

Boncato said food and culinary, along with farm tourism, is fast-becoming a major player in the mainstream global tourism industry.

These products attract the new generation of travelers looking for a more customized, interactive and meaningful celebration, experiences and destinations, he noted.

“The Department of Tourism believes that Negros Occidental and Bacolod City fit such profile.

That this destination is not only proud of its heritage and culture, but also of its great culinary scene,” Boncato said.

Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo G. Marañon Jr. said one of the province’s strength is food, particularly its freshness.

“Most of our fellows in Metro Manila want to eat here because of our fresh farm and sea-to-table food,” Marañon said adding that Negrenses really have the passion in preparing good cuisine. PNA

Agriculture/Commodities BusinessMirror

news@businessmirror.com.ph

Friday, December 21, 2018

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DA issues rules for off-loaded shipment of live poultry imports

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

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@jearcalas

HE Department of Agriculture (DA) has allowed the use of all sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance (SPS-IC) for offloaded shipments of imported live poultry to safeguard the health of the animals and streamline the process of issuing permits.

within three days after the arrival of the first batch of imports.

Second, live poultry that would be off-loaded must remain at the airport while waiting for boarding for the next available flight as certified by the airline.

And last, the quarantine period for the imported live poultry would only commence upon the arrival of the last bird in approved quarantine site.

Piñol’s order amends DA Administrative Order 9, Series of 2010, which ordered that SPS-IC “shall be good for one shipment and is not transferable to other persons.”

The previous order was issued by former Agriculture Secretary Bernie G. Fondevilla.

The country imports poultry products, including live chicken, from European and North American countries.

The increasing demand for meat owing to the improvement in the purchasing power of Filipinos would outpace local production and double

the country’s imports by 2027.

The joint report of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, titled, “Agricultural Outlook 2018-2027,” published on July 3 indicated the sustained hike in meat demand in the Philippines.

“Strong production growth rates over the outlook period are also expected in Brazil, Mexico, the Philippines, the Russian Federation, the United States and Vietnam,” the report read.

The joint report projected that the Philippines’s total meat production from 2018 to 2027 would expand at an average rate of 1.95 percent, slower than the 2.93 percent recorded from 2008 to 2017.

In 2027, the country’s total meat output would reach 4.397 million metric tons in carcass weight (MMTCWE), 26.68 percent higher than the 2015-2017 average production of 3.471 MMT-CWE.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol issued Memorandum Circular 11 dated December 12 authorizing the use of SPS-ICs for short-landed shipments of live poultry.

“There are instances that the total number of poultry cannot be accommodated in flight and may be off-loaded at country of origin to be shipped on the next available flight,”

Piñol said in the order.

“There is a need to consider the welfare of the animals during the transport period,” he added.

Importers will be allowed to utilize the SPS-IC for short-landed importation of live poultry on three conditions.

First, the batch of birds off-loaded on the first shipment must arrive

Govt commissions 4 solar irrigation systems in Camarines Sur

Imports make up bulk of PHL pork, chicken supply­—report

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HE Department of Agriculture (DA) recently commissioned four units of solar-powered irrigation systems (SPIS) in four towns in Libmanan, Camarines Sur, in its bid to increase the rice output of the province next year.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said the SPIS will support the rice production program of the province.

The first four units are in the towns of Libmanan, Pula, San Fernando and Nabua. Piñol also said 12 more units of SPIS are undergoing construction and will be completed by the first quarter of 2019.

He said the area to be served by the solarpowered irrigation systems are rainfed areas where farmers harvest only once a year and produce only 3 metric tons per hectare.

“The installation of the SPIS will now allow them to plant twice a year, with a target yield of 6 MT per hectare per harvest,” the DA chief said in a Facebook post.

With the support of the national government, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Ray Villafuerte said the province, which is currently ranked fourth among rice-producing areas in the country, could hike its output by 10 percent next year. Camarines Sur currently produces 683,385 MT of rice every year.

Piñol said a total of 169 units of solarpowered irrigation systems are currently under construction all over the country.

In August Piñol said the Duterte administration would spend some P43.7 billion to irrigate an additional 500,000 hectares over the next four years through SPIS to improve farm productivity.

Piñol said the President vowed to allocate at least P43.7 billion for the construction of around 6,250 SPIS until the end of his term.

An SPIS, which could irrigate an average of 80 hectares, costs about P7 million.

“The [2019] budget will only allow us to build 10 additional units,” he said. “I told the President that the DA will have to abandon some of its nonessential programs and realign the funds to the SPIS program for 2019, with a target of at least 100 additional units.”

The additional 500,000 hectares would be able to produce at least 2 million MT of rice, according to Piñol.

A VENDOR displays various cuts of pork at his stall in Quezon City in this file photo. The National Meat Inspection Service revealed that the inventory of frozen pork and dressed chicken expanded by 39.2 percent and 20.4 percent, respectively.

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HE inventory of dressed chicken and frozen pork for the week ending December 3 was up by double digits, with imports constituting the bulk of meat products stored in local cold storages.

Data from the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) indicated that the inventory of frozen pork during the period rose by 39.2 percent to 37,065.85 metric tons, from 26,618.89 MT recorded a year ago.

Of the frozen pork in local cold storages, NMIS data showed that imports accounted for 33,288.24 MT, or nearly 90 percent of the inventory during the period. Some 60 percent of the frozen pork are in Region 3 (14,417.02 MT) and Region 4A (7,081.6 MT).

The inventory of imported frozen pork was higher by nearly 30 percent than last year’s 25,734.21 MT. Figures from the NMIS indicated

that more than 90 percent of frozenpork inventory for the week ending December 4, 2017, was also made up of imports.

The NMIS said the frozen-pork inventory included carcass, primal and specialty cuts. The survey covered accredited commercial and inhouse cold-storage facilities.

Chicken supply

DATA from the NMIS also showed that dressed chicken inventory during the period also went up by 20.4 percent to 35,840.71 MT, from last year’s 29,752.89 MT. The NMIS found that more than half, or 19,005.98 MT, of the dressed chicken inventory during the period was made up of imports. Local chicken in cold storages reached 16,834.73 MT. Data from the attached agency of the Department of Agriculture

(DA) indicated that the inventory of imports in local storages was higher by 45.37 percent than last year’s 13,073.77 MT. NMIS figures showed that some 12,000 MT of imported poultry were stored in Region 3 (5,234.07 MT) and 4A (6,821.44 MT). The bulk of local chicken was also stored in the two regions.

The NMIS, an attached agency of the DA, said the figures did not include fresh, chilled chicken and mechanically deboned meat, as well as those already in distribution channels.

The agency also said the survey covered only accredited cold-storage facilities.

Filipino traders are allowed to purchase pork and chicken from abroad, and they usually do so via the minimum-access volume scheme of the World Trade Organization.

MISSOURI FARMER CHARGED IN $140-M ORGANIC GRAIN-FRAUD SCHEME

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OWA CITY, Iowa—A Missouri farmer and businessman ripped off consumers nationwide by falsely marketing more than $140 million worth of corn, soybeans and wheat as certified organic grains, federal prosecutors said on Wednesday.

The long-running fraud scheme outlined in court documents by prosecutors in Iowa is one of the largest uncovered in the fast-growing organic farming industry. The victims included food companies and

their customers who paid higher prices because they thought they were buying grains that had been grown using environmentally sustainable practices.

The alleged leader of the scheme was identified as Randy Constant of Chillicothe, Missouri, who was charged with one count of wire fraud. He is expected to plead guilty during a hearing that is scheduled at the federal courthouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Thursday.

The charging document calls on Constant to for-

feit $128 million to the government along with his interest in 70 pieces of farm machinery and equipment. His attorney, Mark Weinhardt, didn’t immediately return a phone message seeking comment.

Industry watchdog Mark Kastel called the scale of the fraud “jaw-dropping” and probably the largest ever documented involving farmers in the United States. He said the case points to weak oversight of the organic industry by the

US Department of Agriculture.

“The number of years they were able to operate at that scale is a betrayal to honest, ethical organic practitioners,” said Kastel, the cofounder of the Wisconsin-based Cornucopia Institute, a policy research group. “Not only do they have to compete against this unfairly, but it tarnishes the reputation of the organic label. It’s a gross betrayal of consumer trust.” AP

A10 Friday, December 21, 2018 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

It’s OK to buy Christmas gifts

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VERY year around the same time as we begin hearing Christmas music at the malls, we are reminded not to forget the season’s meaning. The Christmas holiday celebrates and commemorates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah of the Christian religion.

In an old list of Roman bishops, compiled in AD 354, these words appear for AD 336: “25 Dec.: natus Christus in Betleem Judeae”; “December 25th, Christ born in Bethlehem, Judea.” This is the first recorded celebration of “Christmas.”

For more than a thousand years, the holiday has been an integral part of those countries where Christianity is the dominant religion. Over time, traditions developed for the holiday. The eighth-century English missionary, Saint Boniface, Apostle to Germany, is supposed to have held up the evergreen as a symbol of the everlasting Christ, thus creating the “Christmas Tree.” By the end of the 16th century, Christmas trees were common in Germany. Around the 13th century, Christians began to sing Christmas carols.

However, by the 20th century, Christmas became an integral part of society even with those who were not “religious.” The holiday festivities have spread throughout the world, even to those countries where Christianity is not the dominant faith. Where there is the freedom to practice religion, you will find Christmas.

Therefore, Christmas is more than a religious festival of the Christian faith. It is also a celebration of family, of charity to those less fortunate, and hopefully, a time to remember what is truly important in all of our lives.

It is unfortunate then that there are those that are “killjoys” to the nonreligious aspects of the season. They are not much different from the Puritans or English Protestants of the 16th and 17th centuries who sought to “purify” the Church of England from its “Catholic” practices. Puritans considered Christmas celebrations too pagan. Governor William Bradford of the puritan colony of Plymouth Massachusetts threatened with work, jail or fines anyone caught observing Christmas.

Perhaps equally Puritanical are those that—beginning with the Christmas music—start cautioning about spending too much money during the holiday. Prudent money management is important and is a discipline that must be learned and practiced daily.

But let’s be honest about the topic. Taking proper care of your finances is not just a Christmas thing. Wakes, birthdays, fiestas and Christenings are all occasions when over and foolish spending can be a problem. In fact, some people go money crazy every first and 15th of the month and no amount of friendly reminders from the financial literacy advocates is going to change their habits.

And you do not need permission from these people to spend a little extra at Christmas. Generosity to those less fortunate that may cut a little into your retirement fund is not a financial sin. Also not a sin is spending a few extra bucks for special people, giving them a gift that they would not normally buy for themselves.

We are taught in the Christian faith, and as embodied in the Roman Catholic Church calendar, that Christmas is actually the beginning of the journey of sacrifice that ends on Good Friday. Therefore, it’s what is in the heart that matters more than our outward actions.

What is important is buying and giving gifts to show our love to and caring for others. If our hearts are in the right place, the extra money we spend during the Christmas holiday season is well spent.

Since 2005

Updates James Jimenez

SPOX

U

NDER the automation law, before the automated election system can be used in an electoral exercise, it has to undergo a source code review by an international certification entity that, to put it simply, checks out all the various components of the AES, to make sure it all functions as planned and that there are no malicious instructions embedded in the code. There are three of these components: the election management system (EMS), the vote counting machine, and the canvassing and consolidation system.

After the review, these components are considered “trusted.” At that point, the source codes are then assembled to create the software programs that will run the entire AES. This process is called the “build.”

This week started on a high note for the Commission on Elections with the news that the international source code review had been successfully completed, and the successful conduct of the trusted build for the EMS component of the automated

An attitude of gratitude

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election system. The Comelec has gone through this process since 2010, but what distinguished the trusted build for the 2019 elections was that the trusted build for the EMS—the first of the three components of the AES—was actually livestreamed while it was happening!

Also this week, the Comelec held a briefing for the various international election observers intending to monitor the Bangsamoro Organic Law plebiscite, scheduled for both the 21st of January and the sixth of

T

HE world’s major religions all extoll the virtues of gratitude.

From Christianity to Islam, Buddhism to Hinduism—some reference is always made to the importance of gratefulness to achieving a good life.

Even science has shown that adopting an “attitude of gratitude” yields immense benefits—including better mental health outcomes and higher “quality of life and wellbeing” responses.

In fact, a 2003 study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that participants who were asked to accomplish a daily list of things they were grateful for actually slept up to 30 minutes longer and exercised an average 40 minutes more per week than those asked to jot down a daily list of hassles. Apparently, the mind can have an effect over matter—especially when one counts their blessings, and not their burdens.

One may wonder whether similar benefits accrue when an entire nation espouses this attitude of gratitude. Which, in turn, begs an even bigger question—do Filipinos have things to be thankful for as 2018 wraps up?

A portion of the population would

probably cite our recent Miss Universe victory or even the unexpected journey of the UP Fighting Maroons’ Men’s Basketball Team to first runner-up. But an even greater number would be happy that the budgets for higher education have greatly increased to roughly P50 billion in 2018—from only P10 billion a few years ago. The huge infusion of funds was of course due to the enactment of the free college law.

Even more would be glad to hear that both houses of Congress have recently ratified the bicameral conference report on the Universal Healthcare Act, which is only a few steps away from being forwarded to Malacañang for the President’s signature. Once enacted, this law will greatly expand the coverage of PhilHealth and ultimately afford every Filipino family access to free check-ups and lab tests.

Consider this with the National Integrated Cancer Control Act, which has also been approved by a

February 2019. In case you missed the news, the Comelec had earlier decided to conduct the plebiscite on two separate days: the first for the geographical areas comprising the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, as well as Isabela City in Basilan, and Cotabato City; and the second, for the province of Lanao del Norte, except Iligan City; the municipalities of Aleosan, Carmen, Kabacan, Midsayap, Pikit and Pigkawayan in the province of North Cotabato; and all other areas contiguous to any of the Bangsamoro core areas where the local government of such area, by way of a resolution, asked for inclusion in the plebiscite; or where at least 10 percent of the registered voters in a local government unit, by way of a petition, asked for inclusion in the plebiscite.

During the briefing, the observers were updated on the status of preparations for the plebiscite—most notably that the printing of ballots has been completed. They were also given an overview of the security environment in the plebiscite areas; good news—the security briefing concluded that the Philippine National Police’s assessment was showing green across the board.

As a final note, within the community of workers involved in various aspects of elections, the consensus is that election observation is a key component of the democratic process. Outside of that circle, however, there may be some who ask: “What is it for?”

The short answer, provided by the United Nations, is that “election observation is a valuable tool for improving the quality of elections. Observers help build public confidence in the honesty of electoral processes.

Observation can help promote and protect the civil and political rights of participants in elections. It can lead to the correction of errors or weak practices, even while an election process is still under way. It can deter manipulation and fraud, or expose such problems if they do occur. When observers can issue positive reports, it builds trust in the democratic process and enhances the legitimacy of the governments that emerge from elections. Election observation by domestic groups encourages civic involvement in the political process.

Following elections, reports and recommendations by observer groups can lead to changes and improvements in national law and practice.”

bicameral conference committee.

This measure lays out a comprehensive program aimed at lessening the incidence of preventable cancer in adults and children. Not only are we making health care more accessible, we’re also working toward making it more effective.

Another reason to be thankful is the Philippine economy’s performance. Despite a year’s worth of inflation, high world oil prices and geopolitical tensions, we appear to have weathered the storm and are primed to continue with our booming economic growth.

Other things to be thankful for include the enactment of such laws as the Free Irrigation Act, which waves the fees some farmers have to pay to the National Irrigation Administration. Or the Expanded Anti-Red Tape Act, which, when fully implemented, should reduce the interface with the government to only three days for simple transactions and seven days for more substantial processes.

There is also the enactment of the mental health law, which establishes a comprehensive policy framework for the Department of Health and other related agencies to provide affordable and meaningful mental health care to our people.

President Duterte also signed the First 1,000 Days Act or the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act, which mandates the government to focus more on improving the overall health and well-being of new mothers and their babies. As a principal author and co-sponsor of the measure, we

see this as an urgent response to the long-standing problem of malnutrition across the country, especially among our children.

The Expanded Maternity Leave Act, calling for the extension of the allowed leave period of new mothers to 105 days, is also close to enactment, since Congress already approved the bicameral conference report. Clearly, decisive steps are being taken to protect and support our mothers.

Taxpayers can expect to receive an amnesty in the coming months pending the signature of the President for their obligations on estate taxes, general taxes and even their delinquent accounts.

Filipino athletes can likewise look forward to finally having a worldclass training facility soon. Recently, a bicameral conference committee approved a measure establishing the Philippine Sports Training Center, where up to P3.5 billion will be set aside in 2019 for building a 40-hectare facility in Region 3.

Clearly, the Philippines has faced many challenges this year. But it would be incorrect to say that we haven’t seen our fair share of positive developments in 2018. So perhaps this holiday some effort must be paid toward counting our blessings—not just our burdens.

Sen. Sonny M. Angara was elected in 2013, and is now the chairman of the Senate Committees on Local Government, and Ways and Means.

E-mail: sensonnyangara@yahoo.com|Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @sonnyangara.

Opinion BusinessMirror

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Progress means change

For seven years it kept on burning, but no one ever saw the smoke

Rev. Fr. Antonio Cecilio T. Pascual

Tito Genova Valiente

ANNOTATIONS

SERVANT LEADER

‘B

UILD, Build, Build” is the main program of the Duterte administration and many are excited to see new roads, bridges and railways here in Metro Manila. They say we are in the “golden age of infrastructure” under President Duterte with all the infrustracture projects they are implementing (some of which was originally started by the previous Aquino administration, like the extention of the Light Rail Transit and Metro Rail Transit).

Nonetheless, what’s not being tackled are the families whose houses are directly affected by these projects. For example, how many of us are even aware that 11,000 families in Metro Manila need to be relocated to give way to the South Rail Project, a commuter train from Manila to Calamba, Laguna? This is in connection with the long haul train project that would connect to Matnog Sorsogon. It’s estimated that 100,000 families will be affected by the project, mostly informal settlers.

Meanwhile, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources warned that 300,000 informal settlers within the vicinity of Manila Bay are set for relocation. The objective is to restore the beauty of Manila Bay, which, unfortunately, has become a big dump site of waste that are washed ashore during typhoons.

Also, the increase in human population contributed in the contamination of water with high levels of bacteria. Again, the poor is the center of attack in Metro Manila, allegedly for irresponsible acts of improper waste disposal. This problem should be a responsibility shared by all communities around the bay, including people living in Rizal, Bulacan and Pampanga. Residents living near Manila Bay should not shoulder all the blame. We are not saying they are not irresponsibly throwing their own garbage, but is relocation the solution for this? Can’t we say it’s also a garbage collection and segregation problem?

Some quarters, in fact, said this has something to do with the reclamation project in Manila Bay where casinos, hotels and other establishments will be built. Unfortunately, the poor will not benefit from this, just like what happened in Pasay City.

It’s no longer new to us that every election time we hear different infrastructure projects being “promised” by politicians to the urban poor.

Unfortunately, once elected, politicians stop caring for these povertystricken people. No wonder they are the first to suffer and sent elsewhere for relocation when their areas are slated for development.

This kind of practice is what Pope Francis call the “economy of exclusion and inequality.” The Pope said: “The great danger in today’s world, pervaded as it is by consumerism, is the desolation and anguish born of a complacent yet covetous heart, the feverish pursuit of frivolous pleasures, and a blunted conscience.

Whenever our interior life becomes caught up in its own interests and concerns, there is no longer room for others, no place for the poor. God’s voice is no longer heard, the quiet joy of His love is no longer felt, and the desire to do good fades. This is a very real danger for believers too.

Many fall prey to it, and end up resentful, angry and listless. That is no way to live a dignified and fulfilled life; it is not God’s will for us, nor is it the life in the Spirit which has its source in the heart of the risen Christ.”

My dear brothers and sisters, let us not be blinded with all the developments we see. Yes, we want progress, but we also want balance in how society treats the poor so they will not be displaced and feel underprivileged given the circumstances they are in.

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.

When technology dreams run into finance, Ofo ensues

By Tim Culpan Bloomberg Opinion

W

HEN you’re trying to build that tech dream, reality can really suck.

Ofo Inc. founder Dai Wei apparently just discovered this, and the results were displeasing.

His bike-rental company has immense cash-f low problems, and he’d even considered applying for bankruptcy, the Financial Times reported, citing a letter to employees.

“For the whole of this year we’ve borne immense cash-flow pressure.

Returning deposits to users, paying debts to suppliers, in order to keep the company running we have to turn every renminbi into three.”

Dai joins a long list of visionaries who seemed to have held some hope that the rules of finance—or mathematics—don’t apply to them. No one taught these people that when expenses exceed revenues, you lose money. And when cash inflows fall short of cash outflows, you run out of money. But why should they learn when there’s always a rich sugar daddy around to shield them from the harsh world outside?

One Financial Times reporter discovered that the virtual queue for deposit refunds was more than 10 million long.

Assuming each deposit is the same, being 99 yuan ($14) apiece, then Ofo could be on the hook for $140 million simply to give money back to the people to whom it belongs.

That’s only 16 percent of the $866

million it raised in a March round led

by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. But we can’t put it past them to burn through that much in just nine months.

We got a chance to glance at the financials for rival Mobike thanks to Meituan Dianping’s takeover of that start-up, and then the food-delivery giant’s subsequent initial public offering. Beyond the fact that Mobike is a huge money pit—losing 15.6 million yuan per day—it became apparent that they’d been playing word games with user numbers.

Mobike’s PR agency was most perturbed with my account, and accused me of misunderstanding their previous public statements and the context for them. As a result, I advocate a new function for Google Translate: converting PR speak to human language.

Last month I suggested that Meituan will realize that buying Mobike was a mistake and try to get rid of it.

Two weeks later this prediction proved partially true with the FT reporting that it was preparing to spin off its European arm.

But finding a buyer for Ofo doesn’t look hopeful. It appears to have been rebuffed when it approached HelloBike for a merger, the South China Morning Post reported in October. And now bankruptcy is being touted as a possibility by the founder himself.

We tend to laud dreamers for daring to change the world and challenge the status quo. But even bold hopes are no match for the more concrete reality that you still have to make money.

Friday, December 21, 2018 A11

Chorus: Girl, oh girl! Where were you when Balangiga was set on fire? For seven years it kept on burning, but no one ever saw the smoke!

Male/Female: My girl/boy, we’d now be married if only you did not play around.

We’d already have a child, oh! that child is running all over the ground.

Inday, inday nakain ka han kasunog han Balangiga; pito katuig an paglaga, an aso waray kitaa! (Girl, oh girl! Where were you when Balangiga was set on fire?

For seven years it kept on burning, but no one ever saw the smoke!)

N

OT for the government, not even for the mighty Church —the return of Balangiga bells is for the people. They are not for the people in general—that amorphous grouping we embrace as composing the nation—but the particular people of Balangiga, in that specific island of Samar. Without them, there would have been no bells to care for, no debates as to whether they should be returned, and no question as to who owns them.

For now, the general consensus, one that rings of politics and martyrdom, is that the Church should own them. And that the event should be seen as a church ceremonial. With no love lost for this government, I would like to say that claim sounds hollow.

And then, one day, the bells traveled back. The first photos showed them guarded by two American soldiers, an artefact of conquest and loot. And then they arrived. The ceremonies became even more dense, a protocol’s nightmare and disaster.

Where to place this president who has a continuing hate-love-hate with the institutional Church and what to do with Church officials now claiming “rightfully” and with might the brazen fact that bells belong to belfry and belfries belong to Church.

The supremely sexist would smirk and the bigots would build bonfires: the win of a young, brave girl who inscribed the destructive lava around her body and gown as a tribute to the allure of the Bikolana excited me more in the positive sense than the return of the bells the symbolism of which is lost already in the symbols.

Do not judge me yet. I am all for the revolutions that attempted to topple two colonizers—the European/Spanish and the American. I am insanely emotional for those unpredictable, indescribable movements that could not be classified by traditional politics and warfare. Those “cults,” those healers who channeled energies from mountains and lakes fought the invaders, and they are still countering the bad energies wracking the soul of this nation.

My stand about Balangiga remains unpopular. In my column, on July 27, 2017, I wrote about “the sound unheard of the bells of Balangiga.” Then I wrote: The bells in churches were evange-

lizing and colonizing instruments. They were rung so that the sound could reach areas that had been converted. We have this saying about places that are not reached by the sound of bells. We call them uncivilized.

If the bells are returned, they are placed in belfries and will be lost in the symbols of the church. They will cease to be valued for valor of the peasants who stood up against the might of the American invaders.

Kept in America, the Balangiga bells will always remind the American soldiers that defeat is always possible even in lands wracked by poverty.

It ended with this line: Let the bells stay in American territories. Let them continue to tell the stories from the howling wilderness of the Philippine Islands. Let the Balangiga bells remind the Americans of their colonizing mind.

Perhaps, I should have said, “Let the bells be in the howling wilderness of USA.” But I did not say that, for the howling wilderness remained with us long after the Americans torched the town of Balangiga. In the minds and hearts of the people, there remained a fear of the Americans. They never left.

They stayed in fact, supported by the governments that recall the bells but have forgotten the people who listened to the pealing of those bells.

For the church that claims now the ownership and virtue of the bells, what stand did it make regarding the massacre?

When histories do not make sense, the folk and the popular readily overtake. In the case of Balangiga, histories fail and a song succeeds.

I have always loved the songs from Samar/Leyte and Panay Islands, their memories hummed into me by a grandmother who sang sweetly. My love for these songs did not end with memories but rather began with the search for what those

words behind the most lilting, saddest melodies mean. There was one song that puzzled me, “Di Ak’ Nahuhulop.” The title means “I Am Not Worried.” The first two stanzas are characteristic of a love joust: Male voice: I’m not worried when amihan comes, Leyte is so big to choose from, So many children are baptized on Saturdays, That my weary body will hardly cope./Female voice: I’m not worried when amihan comes, There are just so many troops to choose from, I’ll pick one with a gold-filled tooth, Oh boy! ‘cause it’d be so good to throw him around.

The banter continues until it reaches the chorus where the melody turns maudlin and a bit sorrowful: Inday, inday nakain ka han kasunog han Munyika; pito katuig an paglaga, an aso waray kitaa! (Girl, oh girl!

Where were you when Doll was set on fire? For seven years it kept on burning, but no one ever saw the smoke!)

My brother, Carlo, who has the same love for this kind of songs, was the one who raised the question about the “burning doll.” The lines did not make sense to us. The mention of soldiers in a love song did not make sense at all.

When the bells were returned, a good friend from Samar, a diver and a developmental organization worker, Judah Singzon Aliposa, posted the lines from the same Samar-Leyte folksong.

This was the post: Inday, inday nakain ka han kasunog han Balangiga; pito katuig an paglaga, an aso waray kitaa! (Girl, oh girl!

Where were you when Balangiga was set on fire? For seven years it kept on burning, but no one ever saw the smoke!)

It is so much worse than I thought

By Charles M. Blow New York Times News Service

I

WILL be going on book leave soon— today is my last column for a while because of the holiday schedule— to write what I believe to be the most important thing that I’ve ever written.

No, it’s not about Donald J. Trump, just in case you were wondering. But since I have written almost exclusively about Trump for more than two years, please allow me this parting assessment: It is so much worse than I thought.

My original objections to Trump, the things that pushed me into the Resistance, were his immorality, dishonesty, fraudulence and grift. I freely admit now that I was seeing only the pointy edge of an enormous machine. I had no idea how immoral Trump actually is.

The same month that Trump pulled the outrageous stunt of inviting women who had accused Bill Clinton of inappropriate sexual behavior to his debate with Hillary Clinton, his personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, apparently under his instructions, facilitated a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels to prevent her from telling America that she had a sexual encounter with Trump, who was married with a small child. This payment

was a few months after Cohen had helped arrange a $150,000 deal between American Media Inc., the parent company of The National Enquirer, to buy the story of Playboy model Karen McDougal, who also claimed a sexual relationship with Trump.

According to prosecutors, both were campaign finance violations—federal crimes—and now a judge has sentenced Cohen to three years in prison for that and other crimes. The fact that Trump would be directly implicated in a federal crime that took place on the verge of the election and may have helped hand that election to him is mind-blowing to me.

Trump, for his part, lied about these payments and denied them—while also having those around him lie about them on his behalf—until he could simply no longer lie about them anymore. Then came the roulette wheel of revolving explanations that makes one dizzy because of their silliness.

Just this week, the Trump Foundation agreed to dissolve under pressure from the New York attorney general, who found that the foundation functioned “as little more than a checkbook to serve Mr. Trump’s business and political interests” and engaged in “a shocking pattern of illegality,” including coordinating with Trump’s presidential campaign.

How can a family that can’t run a charity run a country?

But of course, that is not all. Nearly every aspect of Trump’s life is now under investigation for wrongdoing, something I could not have foreseen.

I could not have predicted the extraordinary lengths to which the president would go to obstruct justice and undermine the rule of law, nor that he would do these things in full view, for everyone to see.

I could not have predicted, when I first wrote that Trump was a pathological liar, that his rate of lying would increase with his time in office, rather than decrease.

As The Washington Post Fact Checker put it in September: “Trump’s tsunami of untruths helped push the count in The Fact Checker’s database past 5,000 on the 601st day of his presidency. That’s an average of 8.3 Trumpian claims a day, but in the past nine days—since our last update—the president has averaged 32 claims a day.

When we first started this project for the president’s first 100 days, he averaged 4.9 claims a day. He passed the 2,000 mark on January 10—eight months ago.”

Just this month, the newspaper’s Fact Checker was forced to create a new category of lying just for the Trump era: the “Bottomless Pinocchio” for “when a

All of a sudden, the song made sense. Even the winds of amihan gathered enough meanings because, as Judah would explain, “amihan brings the cold and dry northeast trade winds to Samar and Leyte during the months of October to March.

It was amihan when the American reinforcements arrived in Samar and received instructions from Gen. Jacob Smith to turn Samar into a ‘howling wilderness.’ The song is structured, according to Judah, as a balac, a love joust between a man/ suitor/patriot/freedom fighter, and a woman/iroy nga tuna/motherland.”

Ironically, this folk genre was called ismayling during the American Occupation, for the second wave of colonizers taught us to “smile.” The first wave rehearsed us on the art of praying.

And yet the people of Balangiga continued to sing and “smile,” hiding in the song for many years the trauma of the massacre. They banished the name of the land from the melody because the ones who burned their land were still around. They had nowhere to turn to, for there was no one to remember those days when the amihan winds supported the fires to mutilate bodies but not memories.

For many years, Balangiga kept on burning, but no one saw the smoke. For many years, the world around Samar continued. No one saw the smoke. No one remembered the burning. Now the bells are back.

The song continues.

(My pa Dios Mabalos to Judah for translating the song and annotating them).

E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com

politician refuses to drop a claim that has been fact checked as three or four Pinocchios, keeps saying it over and over and over again, so that it basically becomes disinformation, propaganda.”

I could not have predicted the overwhelming number of contacts that would have existed between people in Trump’s orbit and the Russians during the campaign, or the number of people who would take plea deals and ultimately be charged, indicted or convicted of lying about those contacts.

I couldn’t have predicted any of it, but here we are, and the president, his congressional backers and his citizen supporters are continuing to tell us that this doesn’t matter as much as we think, that this is a politically driven prosecution, that everyone does what Trump has done.

They are all wrong. This is huge, and the longer we pretend that it isn’t, the more damage we do to the health and stability of our own country.

While I am away, I will enjoy not having to follow the hourly insanities too closely, but every day I will worry about the republic in which we live. Trump has the capacity to damage or even destroy it. That’s not hyperbole. That’s an observation informed by a close reading of history.

2nd Front Page BusinessMirror

A12 Friday, December 21, 2018

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Solons can’t recall seeking Road Board funds for projects

S

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

@joveemarie

OME lawmakers seem to have forgotten the supposed funding requests they made from the Road Board after a list of such requests were released by the current leadership of the House of Representatives.

Former Majority Leader Rodolfo C. Fariñas Sr. of Ilocos Norte said he has not received any funding from the Road Board, which he wants to be abolished.

“My district has not received any Road Board fund under the present administration, even when I was the majority leader. As I said, it was [former] Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and I who initiated its abolition,” Fariñas told reporters.

“I just checked with DPWH Region 1 Director Ronnel Tan and he says that his office or my district did not receive any Road Board funds. In fact, it was Speaker Alvarez and I who were the principal authors for the abolition of the Road

Board, and such was approved on third and final reading under our watch,” he said.

“We, in fact, transmitted the bill officially to the Senate, which adopted our version when it sensed that the new leadership of the HOR wanted to recall the bill, which it actually did,” he added.

‘Authenticate documents’

PARTY-LIST Rep. Jericho Nograles of PBA, meanwhile, asked the Road Board to authenticate the document released by Majority Leader Rolando Andaya showing the names of lawmakers who requested projects from the Road Board.

“This is my first time to see this

“I just checked with DPWH Region 1 Director Ronnel Tan and he says that his office or my district did not receive any Road Board funds. In fact, it was Speaker Alvarez and I who were the principal authors for the abolition of the Road Board, and such was approved on third and final reading under our watch.” —Fariñas

list. I guess the Road Board has to authenticate it then,” he said.

“I have referred many projects nationwide to all agencies, including the Road Board. It is entirely up to the agencies to act on my referred projects. I do not know if there are approvals or disapprovals by the agencies,” he added.

According to Andaya, some of the lawmakers who requested projects from the Road Board include Fariñas, Nograles, Kabayan Partylist Rep. Ron Salo, Anac/IP Partylist Rep. Jose T. Panganiban, Isabela Rep. Napoleon Dy, Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr., MATA Partylist Rep. Tricia Nicole Q. VelascoCatera, Batangas Rep. Ma. Theresa V. Collantes, Cavite Rep. Strike Revilla, Cavite Rep. Abraham Tolentino, Camarines Sur Rep. Salvio

Fortuno and others.

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno claimed that Andaya and other lawmakers have been pressuring him to release the Road Board funds with the forthcoming elections.

For his part, Andaya maintained that Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and other key House leaders did not request for projects from the Road Board.

Andaya said Diokno should directly answer the supposed anomalies concerning the P75billion “insertions” he made in the proposed 2019 P3.757-trillion national budget that allegedly benefited his in-laws in Sorsogon.

Diokno has denied these were insertions, calling them instead as “augmentation.”

The House will begin its inquiry on the alleged budget controversies and questionable allocations by Diokno in the NEP on January 3, 2019 in Naga City.

Duterte influenced GMA?

ON the Road Board abolition, Andaya claimed late Wednesday that it was President Duterte who guided the leadership of Speaker Arroyo to withdraw the abolition of the Road Board.

See “Solons,” A2

National Quincentennial Committee to launch commemorative activities Dec. 21

T

HE government has prepared various activities for the official launch on Friday of the Philippine Quincentennial Commemorations of the Victory at Mactan, introduction of Christianity, and Circumnavigation of the world in 2021. The event will take place at the National Historical Commission of the Philip-

pines Building, Kalaw Street, Ermita, Manila at 10 a.m.

Highlight of the event is the launching of the official web site of the National Quincentennial Committee (NQC), along with the unveiling of the commemorative logo and the presentation of the plans for the quincentennial.

LOW PRESSURE AREA 955 KM EAST OF HINATUAN, SURIGAO DEL SUR NORTHEAST MONSOON AFFECTING LUZON as of 4:00 am - December 20, 2018

The Secretariat Office of the NQC is located at the Serafin D. Quiason Resource Center of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines on Kalaw Street, Ermita, Manila.

Also featured during of the launching event is the display of the national costume worn by the newly crowned Miss Universe Catriona Gray, during

the pageant in Thailand, which was shipped back at the NHCP in time for the launching. The NQC signified its interest on the National Costume days before Gray was named the new Miss Universe. It features the motifs of the tattoos of the 16th-century Visayan warriors documented by the Magellan-Elcano expedition and of the socalled Boxer Codex. The item created a massive awareness about the early Philippine history, which is among the thrusts of the Philippine Quincentennial Commemorations.

The Philippine history-inspired ensemble costume is a collaboration of the following: Jearson Demavivas (16th-century Pintado warrior body suit, T’boli accessories, parol pattern design); Eric Quiwa (parol/Christmas lantern maker); Rhyann Andrade (LED lighting designer and installer); Kim Fababair, Marina Ceriola, Renee Avila (Carlos “Botong” Francisco mural-inspired painting artists); Tomas Ramirez (Philippine Baroque Church design-inspired Border Design made and designed from Apalit, Pampanga, coordinated by Mak Tumang); Jojo Bragais (knee-high boots with Mindanaoan textile patterns design assisted by Ardel Presentacion); Justine Aliman (overall styling); Jojo Luarca (videographer); Prof. Xiao Chua(historical/cultural consultants); Carlos Buemdia Jr. (creative consultant and concept); and Miss Catriona Gray (concept and vision).

The NQC, created on May 8, 2018, by President Duterte through Executive Order 55, was tasked to lead government preparations for the commemoration of Philippine Quincentennial.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea was appointed chairman of NQC, while Dr. Rene Escalante, chairman of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, is the vice chairman.

Since its inaugural meeting on June 29, 2018, in Baler, Aurora, NQC has been convening every month and touched base with various local government units and concerned institutions, particularly in the Visayas.

A comprehensive plan of the government in celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Victory at Mactan, the achievement of mankind in circumnavigating the world, and the introduction of Christianity is expected to be submitted to the President by the end of the year. PIA-NCR

MODEL FOR THE FAMILY Like the Three Wise Men, siblings Nonie and Suzanne June pay homage to the Holy Family showcased in a Belenismo centerpiece at a Christmas Village in Santiago City, Isabela. Other government institutions in the city have their own versions of Belenismo in the park. CEASAR M. PERANTE

Cabinet. . .

Continued from A1

the ICC Secretariat, approved the P14.07-billion Regional Fish Port Project for the Greater Capital Region (GCR) of the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Fisheries Development Authority and the P3.87-billion Philippines-Korea Project Preparation Facility (PKPPF) of the Department of Finance.

The Neda said the ICC-Cabcom also confirmed scope and cost changes for two Mindanao-based projects and the Rate of Return for one public-private partnership (PPP) project.

The Regional Fish Port Project for GCR will rehabilitate and upgrade the Navotas Fish Port Complex (NFPC) to serve the present and future demands of the GCR. “ By prov id i ng t he needed postharvest facilities, services and logistics, the project will facilitate access of fishermen to value chains [fish, processor and exporters],” the Neda said. The ICC-Cabcom also confirmed the PK-PPF, which aims to support the efficient and timely implementation of the projects under the “Build, Build, Build” program.

The Neda said the facility will be focused on priority projects of the National Irrigation Administration and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), through the conduct of project preparatory activities.

“The facility will also be open to

Coffee. . .

Continued from A1

■ Other preparations with a basis of extracts, essences or concentrates or with a basis of coffee The imposition of SSG on the abovementioned products took effect on April 20 following the issuance by the BOC of a memorandum circular.

The imposition of SSG was questioned by Sen. Francis Escudero during a Senate hearing on the DA’s proposed 2019 budget in September. Escudero asked why the DA imposed SSG on coffee imports at a time when inflation was skyrocketing.

Escudero argued that lawmakers had exempted coffee from additional excise taxes under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law to avert spikes in prices, noting that the DA opted to impose the SSG, which could make the drink more expensive.

Indonesia also questioned the Philippines’s imposition of SSG during a September meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Committee on Agriculture.

Indonesia, the source of certain popular instant coffee brands, noted that the imposition of additional

EODB. . .

Continued from A1

The PCCI also called for the elimination of the port congestion problem. It also insisted that the government settle—once and for all—the issue of jobs contractualization to create certainty in the labor market, especially with the promise of employment

other agencies that need immediate support in project preparation and packaging,” the Neda said.

Meanwhile, the ICC reconfirmed its earlier approval of the DPWH’s Road Network Development Project in Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao (RNDP-CAAM) with a total project cost of P12.86 billion.

The ICC also approved the change in scope and increase in the cost of the Reconstruction and Development Plan for a Greater Marawi-Stage 2, also of DPWH. The change in scope includes the construction of the expanded Marawi Transcentral Road (MTR) Phase 4 with a length of 20.68 kilometers.

The changes included the construction/rehabilitation of the three vital-link bridges located in the same area. The updated project cost is P6.84 billion as a result of the change in scope.

The ICC-CabCom also confirmed the reasonable rate of return submitted by the lone complying bidder of the Clark International Airport (CIA) Expansion Project—O&M PPP Concession of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority.

This is pursuant to Republic Act 6957, as amended by RA 7718, or the build-operate-transfer law.

The project will develop the CIA as a major gateway/transport hub in the Northern and Central Luzon regions. It involves the management, operation and maintenance of the existing passenger terminal and the proposed new passenger terminal buildings. duties on coffee products greatly affects them.

“Having substantial interests in supplying these agriculture product categories, Indonesia would like to express its deep regret on the imposition of this measure by the Philippines,” Jakarta said.

The Philippines argued that it “undertook due diligence by factoring in the very significant increased imports of coffee products in the last three to four years” in invoking the SSG duties.

For example, the country’s instant coffee imports in 2017 expanded by almost 35 percent to 81,900.466 metric tons (MT), from 60,732.319 MT recorded volume in 2016, according to Philippine Statistics Authority data.

Prior to the imposition of SSG on coffee products this year, about 20,539.373 MT of instant coffee entered the country in the first quarter alone. The figure, however, was 29.35 percent lower than the 29,071.865 MT recorded imported volume in the January-to-March period of 2017.

From January to October, the country’s instant coffee imports declined by more than half, or by 60.73 percent, to 28,626.795 MT from 72,905.156 MT recorded volume during the same 10-month period last year.

generation under the Duterte administration’s infrastructure program.

If these issues are resolved, the PCCI believes the country will see its economy accelerate next year, following this year’s tempered GDP growth and surging inflation. It added investment inflows will most likely catch up as higher public outlays, including increased infrastructure spending, will be undertaken aggressively, as promised, by the government.

Companies BusinessMirror

Editor: Efleda P. Campos

Ceza, partner to build Cagayan integrated city

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By Elijah Felice E. Rosales

@alyasjah

HE Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (Ceza) has entered into an understanding with a Singaporean firm for the putting up of a $4.5-billion integrated city in Cagayan.

The integrated city will feature deluxe hotels, casinos, golf courses and a digital park for cr y ptocurrency operations. It will be designed by Italian firm Mercurio Design Lab and will be developed, operated and managed

by Singapore-based Longrunn Capital Pte. Ltd.

“We have never anticipated a project of this magnitude. This will be a game changer in our efforts to develop the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport,” said Raul L. Lambino, administrator and CEO of the Ceza.

Lambino represented the Ceza in signing the memorandum of under-

standing with Mercurio and Longrunn. The project is penciled to be finished in two years, which Lambino branded as the “other big surprise.”

The integrated city will be named City Polaris, he said. It will be linked to the town of Lal-lo, 60 kilometers to the southwest and location of the Cagayan North International Airport.

The project will combine some of the best innovations of 21st centur y technolog y, Lambino said, as well as the “unsurpassed luxury of nature” found in Santa Ana, where it will be situated.

The memorandum also covers an agreement for LongRunn to upgrade, expand and modernize the airport in Lal-lo with the construction of additional facilities.

This will include hangars, cargo warehouses, power and waste

plants and duty-free shopping malls with high-end restaurants.

On top of this, LongRunn committed to pour in investments for the establishment of a regional airline company. Under the memorandum, it is also mandated to conduct an international marketing program and produce promotional materials for the presale of facilities and units at City Polaris.

The Ceza will hand over to LongRunn a master license for the development and operation of land-based online gaming. This is aside the various fiscal perks granted to locators.

The incentives include the grant of permanent residency status for foreign investors and immediate family members with an investment of $150,000 and lifetime membership in the City Polaris’s golf club.

ATM supports MICC decision to defer lifting of mining-permit moratorium

By Cai U. Ordinario @cuo_bm

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HE Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) should follow up its recent actions with the decision on the closure and suspension orders to make mining sustainable in the country, a local civil society group said.

In a statement on Thursday, Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) expressed its support for the decision of the MICC to defer the lifting of the moratorium on new mining permits.

However, much needs to be done in order to address the demands of Executive Order (EO) 79, which imposed a moratorium on new mineral agreements “until a legislation rationalizing ex-

isting revenue-sharing schemes and mechanisms shall have taken effect.”

“The new excise tax rates approved under the TR AIN law is not sufficient to address the demand of EO 79, which is that a new fiscal regime on mining must be passed,” ATM said.

“A new fiscal regime on mining includes new rules on royalties, a tax on super profit or windfall profits, increased social-development funds and increased rehabilitation and decommissioning funds,” it added.

ATM said deciding with finality on the closure and suspension orders issued by former Environment Secretary Regina Paz L. Lopez.

This should be coupled by the issuance of a “no-go zones” map.

In its last meeting, the MICC instructed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to study the process of delineating the “go and no-go zones” for mining application identified under EO 79.

The DOF earlier said the DENR and other concerned memberagencies were tasked to form a technical working group that will identify a pilot area for the implementation of the updated no-go zones.

T he MICC a lso inst r ucted DENR to check the provisions in the implementing rules and regulations and see whether the issues concerning the go-no go zones could be resolved by revising the IRR. “The MICC should not forget that other conditions remain in

place that justify this moratorium,” ATM said.

In a statement on Tuesday, the DOF said this is despite the increase in the excise taxes for mineral products to 4 percent, from 2 percent under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law or Republic Act 10963.

DOF said a new revenue-sharing scheme and mechanism for mining will be covered in Package 2 plus of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program.

The House of Representatives provides for this new fiscal regime to ensure that the government gets its rightful share of the profits from mineral resources by approving House Bill 8400 on third and final reading. The bill was transmitted to the Senate last month.

PSE delegation visits Shenzhen Stock Exchange

A

DELEGATION from the Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. (PSE), its subsidiaries Securities Clearing Corp. of the Philippines and Capital Markets Integrity Corp., its affiliates Philippine Dealing Exchange Corp. and Philippine Depository Trust Corp. visited the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE) on November 29 and 30.

The exchange visit provided the delegation an opportunity to learn more about SZSE’s listing and disclosure regulations, market services and connectivity, market data products, and trading, surveillance, and clearing and depository systems.

Joining the PSE delegation during the SZSE visit were Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Emilio B. Aquino and SEC Commissioner Ephyro Luis B. Amatong.

“This visit was quite a productive one for us, as we gained valuable insights on the processes and technologies of SZSE. PSE and SZSE agreed to collaborate on

Friday, December 21, 2018

B1

DOTr willing to listen, dialog with Angkas riders any time

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HE Department of Transp or t at ion ( D O Tr) h a s opened its lines to dialogue with Angkas—a motorcycle ridehailing app that was recently barred by the Supreme Court from operating—to help craft policies and even push for the amendment of archaic legislations to provide the public with an alternative transport means.

In a statement, the agency said Angkas should stop “brazenly” defying the order of the high court and cease its operations, pending possible amendments to laws and the creation of new policies akin to what the previous administration did for transport network companies like Grab.

“We are willing to talk. We are willing to listen,” the statement read. “If Angkas wants to be heard, it should also learn to listen.”

Angkas riders are reportedly still plying the road, offering point-to-point rides to its users despite a high court order against the legitimacy of Angkas’s ridehailing operations.

A quick check on the app’s interface, however, shows that it only offers parcel services to customers.

“Nothing good comes out of defying the law because the law, while existing and unamended, must be respected and followed,” the statement read.

Under Republic Act 4136 or

the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, two-wheel vehicles are banned from being used as public-utility vehicles or common carriers.

According to the agency, there are several points that must be discussed with Angkas. These include the specific guidelines for motorcycle as a transport means, the specifications of the motorcycles to be used, the acceptable travel speed, limitations on road usage, seat requirements and trainings for drivers.

“Another integral aspect is safety. How do we ensure the safety of passengers? In the unfortunate instance of an accident involving a passenger, who will shoulder all the expenses? If the driver is injured or dies, what will be the motorcycle owner’s accountability?” the statement read.

Company spokesmen have repeatedly bannered Angkas’s safety record of 99.99 percent over the last year and a half.

The agency added that these details “should all be thoroughly studied, and as such, the matter will not be resolved with Angkas’s continued flagrant defiance of the high court’s order.”

Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade earlier this week ordered a massive crackdown against Angkas riders who still offer transport services to their users.

DMCI to add another tower in its Pasig complex

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

P

ROPERTY developer DMCI Homes Inc. on Thursday said it will add another tower to its Prisma Residences development along Pasig Boulevard on rising demand.

The third building Kiran is being planned following the good takeup of the first two buildings, Astra and Celeste, both almost sold-out as of September 16, the company said.

The first two buildings are 98 percent sold with combined total reservation sales of P8.7 billion.

Prisma Residences along with another development in the area in Fairlane Residences, were among the top contributors to the strong sales performance of DMCI Homes in the first three quarters of 2018.

The property arm of DMCI Holdings Inc. recorded P33.48 billion in reservation sales for the first three quarters of 2018 putting it on track to meet its P40 billion adjusted sales target for the year.

“If it’s any indication of the robust property market in the city, our

Pasig projects have been consistent key contributors to the company’s growth through the years,” saud Dennis Yap, DMCI Homes assistant vice president for Project development.

“Prisma Residences, for one, has always been a top-seller since the first tower was launched in 2017,” he said. The two-hectare property with resort-inspired amenities has enjoyed brisk sales owing to its prime location along Pasig Boulevard corner CP Garcia Avenue (C-5 Road).

Prisma Residences is situated right in the middle of Ortigas and Bonifacio Global City with a 360-degree view of the Ortigas and Makati skylines, as well as the mountains of Antipolo and Laguna de Bay at the roof-deck.

Apart from Prisma Residences and Fairlane Residences, DMCI Homes currently has nine other residential condo projects in Pasig City, namely Satori Residences, Brixton Place, Lumiere Residences, Sheridan Towers, East Raya Gardens, Riverfront Residences, Mayfield Park Residences, Levina Place and Mirea Residences.

Toyota sees sales jumping 10% in 2019

T OFFICIALS of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) and the Securities Clearing Corp. of the Philippines (SCCP) visit the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE) on November 29 and 30. Photo shows (from left): SCCP COO Renee D. Rubio; PSE COO Roel A. Refran; PSE President and CEO Ramon S. Monzon; Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Commissioner Ephyro Luis B. Amatong; SEC Chairman Emilio B. Aquino; SZSE Chairman Wu Lijun; China Securities Regulatory Commission Shenzhen Branch Deputy Commissioner Zuo Ding; SZSE EVP Peng Ming; SZSE Vice Chairman of Listed Company Regulatory Committee Fu Binghui; SZSE Vice Chairman of Product and Participant Management Committee and Director of Membership Supervision Department Tang Rui; and SZSE International Department Director Liu Fuzhong.

market development initiatives in the near future,” PSE President and CEO Ramon S. Monzon said.

In December 2017, representatives

of SZSE visited the PSE to explore potential partnerships and areas for cooperation between the two exchanges. PSE and SZSE signed

a memorandum of understanding in 2009 to undertake sharing of information on various marketrelated matters.

HE country’s leading car manufacturer is expecting to rebound its sales next year by 10 percent on the back of stronger consumer demand in time for the midterm polls.

Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMP) is bullish it will recover next year after a dismal sales performance this year. The leading local vehicle producer is looking at a minimum of 10-percent sales growth in 2019. This could increase to as high as 15 percent.

TMP Vice President for Corporate Affairs Rommel T. Gutierrez said the industry’s top dog is forecasting a 10-percent growth next year due to favorable economic factors. For one, he claimed consumers are slowly adjusting to the price regime under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law. “I think [growth in sales will be] 10 percent next year from the actual, whatever the actual figures will be this year,” he said in a recent interview with reporters. He attributed this to the recovering market for automobile, which suffered a general decline this year due to various

economic factors, such as the imposition of excise tax on vehicles under the TRAIN law.

On top of market recovery, Gutierrez argued there will be more consumers in need of vehicles next year. The midterm polls in May is expected to drive up demand for cars that will be used by candidates during the campaign.

“There are many buyers during the elections season, as cars are used for campaigning,” Gutierrez said.

He added almost all firms have positive projections during election season. The only thing TMP has to do, he noted, is to take advantage of the upcoming polls.

As a member of the industry-wide Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, TMP is one firm that suffered sales decline for the year. Recent joint report from the Campi with the Truck Manufacturers Association showed industry sales from January to November fell 14.4 percent to 325,465 units, from 380,179 units during the same period last year. Elijah Felice E. Rosales

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Companies BusinessMirror

Friday, December 21, 2018

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

December 20, 2018

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

ASIA UNITED 59.2 59.25 58.05 59.2 58.05 59.2 32170 1897829 1471092 BDO UNIBANK 128.6 129.3 128.1 129.3 127.1 129.3 1417480 182,468,004( 59,110,282.0004) BANK PH ISLANDS 93.85 93.9 92 94.85 91.85 93.85 1564870 146425275.5 -42805115.5 CHINABANK 27.25 27.5 27.55 27.65 27 27.25 17200 471750 -27450 EAST WEST BANK 12.34 12.4 12.4 12.42 12.3 12.4 1225500 15149434 -7873880 METROBANK 81.05 82 81 82.5 80.5 82 4202680 344347607.5 132513421.5 PB BANK 12.2 12.5 12.2 12.2 12.2 12.2 1000 12200 PHIL NATL BANK 42.9 43 43.4 43.4 42.8 42.9 84500 3636985 -1091770 PSBANK 64.5 64.55 64.8 64.8 64.45 64.55 15370 992337 -610502 PHILTRUST 108.2 123 122.8 122.8 122.8 122.8 1200 147360 -8596 RCBC 28.05 28.25 28.3 28.3 27.8 28.05 71900 2012825 -1241045 SECURITY BANK 157 158.5 157.4 162 157 157 503280 80131267 32385996 UNION BANK 63.7 64 64 64 63.6 63.7 15840 1013363.5 -989070.5 BRIGHT KINDLE 1.51 1.53 1.5 1.66 1.49 1.53 975000 1504500 14900 BDO LEASING 2.13 2.19 2.22 2.22 2.19 2.19 112000 245420 COL FINANCIAL 15.7 15.9 15.9 15.9 15.9 15.9 100 1590 FERRONOUX HLDG 4.89 4.9 4.49 5.18 4.36 4.9 1963000 9638350 20000 IREMIT 1.4 1.46 1.45 1.46 1.44 1.46 21000 30430 MEDCO HLDG 0.48 0.49 0.5 0.5 0.49 0.49 943000 466225 MANULIFE 760 825 780 780 780 780 100 78000 -78000 NTL REINSURANCE 0.88 0.91 0.9 0.92 0.9 0.91 375000 340030 -27100 PHIL STOCK EXCH 177.5 178 181 181 178 178 1680 300809

INDUSTRIAL ALSONS CONS 1.25 1.26 1.24 1.26 1.23 1.26 544000 670810 ABOITIZ POWER 34.05 34.35 33 34.4 33 34.35 1229100 41845355 -1615645 BASIC ENERGY 0.239 0.248 0.249 0.249 0.248 0.248 60000 14890 FIRST GEN 20 20.05 20.4 20.4 19.9 20 1614400 32307204 3235680.9999 FIRST PHIL HLDG 64.35 64.85 64.8 64.85 64.35 64.85 67280 4358551.5 976159 MERALCO 389.8 390 389 390 386 390 186580 72576844 24139990 MANILA WATER 27 27.45 27.5 27.5 26.8 27 511600 13740165 4136925 PETRON 8.09 8.1 8.1 8.14 8.07 8.1 1587200 12860759 -74062 PETROENERGY 3.99 4.06 3.95 4.05 3.95 4.05 18000 71600 PHINMA ENERGY 1.17 1.18 1.1 1.21 1.1 1.18 96194000 112333120 -65923430 PH RESORTS GRP 5.64 5.7 5.66 6.3 5.61 5.7 398400 2358120 767987 PHX PETROLEUM 10.64 10.9 10.88 10.9 10.62 10.64 52900 568952 PILIPINAS SHELL 46.7 47 47.05 47.05 46.7 46.7 234700 10991390 -2732900 SPC POWER 5.26 5.27 5.23 5.27 5.2 5.26 67300 352709 1569 AGRINURTURE 17.22 17.38 17.7 17.7 17.22 17.4 469900 8168026 -353608 BOGO MEDELLIN 94 94.45 100 100 93 94.45 900 85628 CNTRL AZUCARERA 16.58 16.6 15.82 16.58 15.8 16.58 15100 245626 CENTURY FOOD 15.4 15.5 15.7 15.7 15.4 15.5 1081500 16700810 -0 DEL MONTE 6.5 6.63 6.6 6.65 6.46 6.5 23200 150726 DNL INDUS 10.38 10.4 10.4 10.4 10.16 10.4 6412400 65935042 -2729872 EMPERADOR 7.1 7.2 7.11 7.23 7.03 7.1 9425700 66914080 -19347561 SMC FOODANDBEV 79.55 82 80 82 79.5 82 140750 11352361 -2713201 ALLIANCE SELECT 1.02 1.03 1.02 1.04 1.01 1.03 2536000 2592860 -91290 GINEBRA 25 25.1 25 25 25 25 7300 182500 182500 JOLLIBEE 302.8 303 305.6 309.8 303 303 659480 201359144 15024970 LIBERTY FLOUR 40.05 57.45 40.05 40.05 35.05 40 2500 99535 MAXS GROUP 10.18 10.42 10.46 10.5 10.16 10.42 285000 2924638 -854812 MG HLDG 0.167 0.178 0.178 0.178 0.178 0.178 300000 53400 PEPSI COLA 1.37 1.38 1.36 1.38 1.35 1.37 1168000 1590000 -1209310 SHAKEYS PIZZA 11.7 11.88 11.44 11.9 11.3 11.88 1446000 17150176 -5807560 ROXAS AND CO 2.03 2.04 2 2.08 1.96 2.04 395000 796400 -40609.9999 RFM CORP 4.7 4.75 4.8 4.8 4.75 4.75 54000 256900 -247300 ROXAS HLDG 2.66 2.76 2.64 2.82 2.62 2.76 68000 185830 55400 SWIFT FOODS 0.126 0.128 0.124 0.126 0.124 0.126 60000 7520 -2480 UNIV ROBINA 128.7 128.8 128.5 129 128.1 128.8 650930 83758923 -27742045 VITARICH 1.96 1.97 1.96 2 1.91 1.97 17569000 34612450 -1983890 VICTORIAS 2.32 2.44 2.32 2.32 2.32 2.32 31000 71920 CONCRETE A 59.1 64.95 59.1 59.1 59.1 59.1 10 591 CEMEX HLDG 1.74 1.75 1.72 1.77 1.7 1.75 23110000 40229800 -26945670 DAVINCI CAPITAL 7.16 7.21 6.83 7.27 6.83 7.16 330700 2375652 EAGLE CEMENT 14.9 15.18 15.02 15.18 14.9 15.18 466100 7011478 3692070 EEI CORP 8 8.05 8.06 8.25 7.99 8 1531500 12264004 -3872785 HOLCIM 5.79 5.8 5.8 5.9 5.79 5.8 458800 2661080 -2636160 MEGAWIDE 18.06 18.08 18.4 18.48 18.04 18.08 4829600 88519802 -4251468 PHINMA 8.1 8.76 8.76 8.76 8.76 8.76 400 3504 TKC METALS 0.83 0.89 0.83 0.89 0.83 0.87 476000 401820 VULCAN INDL 1.7 1.71 1.7 1.72 1.67 1.71 1886000 3209320 275200 CROWN ASIA 1.71 1.78 1.69 1.78 1.69 1.78 153000 270750 -38980 LMG CHEMICALS 4.3 4.35 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.3 158000 679400 PRYCE CORP 5.56 5.67 5.67 5.67 5.67 5.67 14100 79947 -17010 CONCEPCION 37.2 37.8 37.9 37.9 37.9 37.9 1100 41690 GREENERGY 2.01 2.02 2.09 2.09 2 2.02 5256000 10649220 1058850.0001 INTEGRATED MICR 10.54 10.6 10.6 10.72 10.4 10.6 2433900 25601982 3780712 IONICS 1.85 1.87 1.9 1.9 1.82 1.89 419000 775370 PANASONIC 5.86 5.9 5.9 5.9 5.9 5.9 1000 5900 SFA SEMICON 1.39 1.44 1.45 1.45 1.44 1.44 62000 89570 CIRTEK HLDG 32.55 32.8 31.95 32.8 31.95 32.8 1975200 63700280 29250

HOLDING & FRIMS ABACORE CAPITAL 0.62 0.63 0.64 0.65 0.62 0.63 16370000 10374120 99120 ASIABEST GROUP 26.65 26.7 27.3 27.45 26.05 26.7 88200 2344335 52200 AYALA CORP 915.5 918 914 925 906 918 414360 379935720 -51542425 ABOITIZ EQUITY 56.45 56.9 54.35 56.95 53.5 56.9 880460 49708618 17009916.5 ALLIANCE GLOBAL 12.3 12.46 12.28 12.46 12.18 12.46 3625500 44701328 6117778 ANSCOR 6.5 6.54 6.54 6.54 6.5 6.5 5200 33924 9100 ANGLO PHIL HLDG 0.87 0.9 0.86 0.9 0.86 0.9 50000 43790 ATN HLDG A 1.34 1.35 1.34 1.38 1.33 1.35 4170000 5633640 ATN HLDG B 1.35 1.37 1.38 1.38 1.36 1.36 400000 546000 272000 COSCO CAPITAL 6.8 6.82 6.99 6.99 6.77 6.8 2216000 15119361 -3525372 DMCI HLDG 12.64 12.9 12.8 12.9 12.46 12.9 3427100 43513386 2224566 FILINVEST DEV 12.9 12.92 12.42 13.3 11.8 12.92 2984000 38084802 2018474 FORUM PACIFIC 0.205 0.238 0.204 0.204 0.204 0.204 20000 4080 -4079.9999 GT CAPITAL 986 993 955 994.5 942.5 993 111540 109588275 69288610 JG SUMMIT 53.8 54.1 53.8 54.35 52.35 54.1 1289970 69451789.5 -6129158 JOLLIVILLE HLDG 5.7 5.79 5.6 5.88 5.56 5.88 13800 77622 KEPPEL HLDG A 4.75 5.93 4.8 4.8 4.61 4.61 15000 70290 KEPPEL HLDG B 4.74 6.19 6.57 6.57 6.57 6.57 600 3942 LODESTAR 0.56 0.57 0.58 0.58 0.56 0.57 26000 14800 LOPEZ HLDG 4.1 4.15 4.07 4.16 4.07 4.1 8763000 36042370 -3471130 LT GROUP 16.66 16.8 16.78 16.8 16.56 16.8 3411700 57044800 -3500548 MABUHAY HLDG 0.61 0.63 0.62 0.64 0.61 0.63 310000 192630 METRO PAC INV 4.6 4.62 4.62 4.7 4.6 4.6 18144000 84114650 -29512310 PACIFICA 0.036 0.037 0.037 0.037 0.036 0.036 2500000 90900 PRIME ORION 2.51 2.53 2.46 2.56 2.46 2.53 1002000 2543120 -50599.9999 REPUBLIC GLASS 2.5 2.61 2.5 2.6 2.5 2.6 209000 523000 SOLID GROUP 1.3 1.32 1.31 1.32 1.3 1.32 43000 56200 SYNERGY GRID 472 525 470 482 470 482 80 37840 SM INVESTMENTS 929.5 930 930.5 939 930 930 232230 216531685 -71795590 SAN MIGUEL CORP 144.8 145 148 148 144.4 145 678490 98448580 -11143153 TOP FRONTIER 252.6 255 260 260 255 255 3630 927996 -69728 WELLEX INDUS 0.247 0.25 0.249 0.25 0.246 0.247 1950000 482860

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.9 0.91 0.9 0.93 0.87 0.9 7465000 6745230 -266990 ANCHOR LAND 11.32 11.5 11.22 11.5 11.22 11.5 13800 157104 AYALA LAND 42 42.05 42.5 42.9 41.75 42.05 9558300 405038180 -66787470 ARANETA PROP 1.69 1.7 1.69 1.74 1.69 1.74 24000 40610 BELLE CORP 2.2 2.25 2.28 2.28 2.19 2.2 7458000 16614470 -14467200 A BROWN 0.83 0.84 0.85 0.88 0.82 0.83 2649000 2239170 CITYLAND DEVT 0.87 0.88 0.87 0.88 0.87 0.88 2000 1750 CROWN EQUITIES 0.248 0.249 0.249 0.25 0.249 0.249 2800000 698350 499000 CEBU HLDG 6.16 6.5 6.4 6.5 5.75 6.5 137600 874427 753389 CEB LANDMASTERS 3.92 3.98 3.98 3.99 3.9 3.98 409000 1611020 -1143560 CENTURY PROP 0.425 0.43 0.43 0.435 0.425 0.43 2290000 982150 -51600 CYBER BAY 0.395 0.405 0.38 0.405 0.38 0.405 130000 50400 DOUBLEDRAGON 18.38 18.44 18.8 18.9 18.36 18.38 330400 6132004 -857518 DM WENCESLAO 7.9 7.95 7.88 7.9 7.8 7.9 352800 2786366 491138 EMPIRE EAST 0.475 0.485 0.48 0.485 0.47 0.485 440000 211000 -97000 FILINVEST LAND 1.43 1.44 1.45 1.45 1.42 1.43 5948000 8474290 -6273160 GLOBAL ESTATE 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.06 1.04 1.06 938000 986620 8990 HLDG 7.8 7.9 7.9 7.9 7.75 7.9 442900 3464012 265460 PHIL INFRADEV 2.26 2.27 2.3 2.3 2.23 2.27 3709000 8357900 11620 KEPPEL PROP 3.88 4.35 3.88 3.88 3.88 3.88 3000 11640 MEGAWORLD 4.79 4.8 4.81 4.82 4.78 4.8 27256000 130873180 -78657430 MRC ALLIED 0.425 0.43 0.44 0.44 0.425 0.425 14350000 6159550 140250 PHIL ESTATES 0.46 0.47 0.46 0.47 0.46 0.47 180000 84000 PRIMEX CORP 3.56 3.58 3.55 3.58 3.54 3.56 220000 781600 -21300 ROBINSONS LAND 21 21.45 20.8 21.55 20.8 21.45 1616800 34433415 5603745 PHIL REALTY 0.43 0.44 0.45 0.455 0.43 0.44 2110000 926050 ROCKWELL 1.99 2 1.99 2 1.99 2 75000 149790 9950 SHANG PROP 3.08 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.1 16000 49600 -49600 STA LUCIA LAND 1.24 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.24 1.25 314000 391710 100000 SM PRIME HLDG 35.65 35.9 35.3 36.1 35.3 35.9 9486600 339043895 -2839455 STARMALLS 5.87 5.88 5.77 5.9 5.76 5.88 292200 1714772 -9280 PTFC REDEV CORP 38 40 35.25 40 35.25 40 4200 149175 VISTA LAND 5.21 5.25 5.27 5.28 5.21 5.25 1813600 9499325 -5266307

SERVICES ABS CBN 19.94 19.98 19.98 19.98 19.92 19.92 11800 235712 GMA NETWORK 5.43 5.48 5.42 5.52 5.42 5.43 132000 724297 MANILA BULLETIN 0.34 0.36 0.335 0.36 0.335 0.34 260000 92300 GLOBE TELECOM 1937 1950 1947 1977 1935 1950 44905 87632790 -20067930 PLDT 1170 1171 1165 1176 1145 1170 148520 173682775 -36094405 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.042 0.043 0.04 0.042 0.039 0.042 28200000 1143700 DFNN INC 7.24 7.48 7.5 7.5 7.22 7.48 14700 107587 IMPERIAL 1.87 1.95 1.89 1.92 1.88 1.92 30000 56700 ISLAND INFO 0.125 0.127 0.131 0.131 0.124 0.126 10640000 1348550 -51600 ISM COMM 5.87 5.88 5.96 6.01 5.77 5.88 4765700 27984771 -1613940 NOW CORP 3.36 3.4 3.48 3.48 3.3 3.4 1493000 5077700 161760 TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.44 0.445 0.425 0.45 0.415 0.44 56480000 24677000 1026550 PHILWEB 3.09 3.13 3.04 3.18 3.03 3.13 942000 2917830 -1486510 2GO GROUP 14.06 14.18 14.12 14.48 14.02 14.18 356900 5059248 -225920 ASIAN TERMINALS 13.5 13.88 13.5 13.5 13.5 13.5 700 9450 1350 CEBU AIR 71.9 72 73.95 74 71.1 72 519080 37415721 -30455441.5 CHELSEA 6.41 6.42 6.53 6.59 6.39 6.41 1304700 8400085 3205 INTL CONTAINER 101.5 102 101 103.5 100.9 102 857040 87551879 43795000 LORENZO SHIPPNG 0.78 0.8 0.77 0.82 0.77 0.8 184000 146630 MACROASIA 16.5 16.58 16.54 17.02 16.5 16.58 517700 8661622 608596 METROALLIANCE A 2.08 2.09 2.04 2.1 1.95 2.08 486000 993360 PAL HLDG 8 8.32 8.34 8.34 8 8.32 2800 22827 HARBOR STAR 3.05 3.06 3.14 3.14 3.03 3.05 790000 2416120 8790 ACESITE HOTEL 1.43 1.44 1.5 1.5 1.43 1.44 57000 82490 1500 DISCOVERY WORLD 2.15 2.31 2.1 2.31 2.1 2.31 7000 15540 WATERFRONT 0.67 0.69 0.69 0.7 0.67 0.67 1805000 1227360 IPEOPLE 10.5 11 11 11 11 11 300 3300 STI HLDG 0.74 0.75 0.74 0.75 0.73 0.75 8221000 6118310 1297460 BERJAYA 3.93 3.94 3.92 4.07 3.9 3.94 9537000 37829850 -826330 BLOOMBERRY 9.81 9.84 9.61 9.84 9.61 9.84 10602800 103987954 2355343 PACIFIC ONLINE 9.95 10.34 9.89 9.89 9.89 9.89 100 989 LEISURE AND RES 3.54 3.55 3.38 3.83 3.35 3.55 129125000 442622190 -887700 PREMIUM LEISURE 0.83 0.84 0.83 0.86 0.83 0.83 4665000 3895640 84000 TRAVELLERS 5.28 5.3 5.32 5.32 5.26 5.29 161200 850491 -6361.9999 METRO RETAIL 2.48 2.5 2.42 2.54 2.42 2.5 1891000 4722360 1496330 PUREGOLD 42.55 42.7 42.8 42.8 42.5 42.6 1773000 75639810 -28048435 ROBINSONS RTL 79.35 79.5 78.5 79.7 78.5 79.5 113510 9027100.5 1455988.5 PHIL SEVEN CORP 112.5 114 112.1 112.8 112 112.8 220 24762 22520 SSI GROUP 2.43 2.44 2.4 2.47 2.37 2.44 6565000 16008880 -3253990 WILCON DEPOT 12.12 12.4 12.08 12.4 11.9 12.4 1329600 16320674 8608217.9999 APC GROUP 0.415 0.42 0.41 0.42 0.41 0.415 490000 204500 62250 EASYCALL 16.12 16.18 15.5 16.7 15.4 16.12 201500 3224734 1600 GOLDEN BRIA 314.2 325 324.6 325 324.6 325 810 263246 PAXYS 3.18 3.39 3.4 3.4 3.17 3.17 21000 71170 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.325 0.34 0.325 0.33 0.32 0.32 480000 155400 -3250 SBS PHIL CORP 7.65 7.8 7.7 7.9 7.7 7.79 272000 2125283

MINING & OIL ATOK 14.46 15.5 14.56 15.8 14.56 15.76 4000 59152 APEX MINING 1.59 1.6 1.59 1.59 1.58 1.59 557000 882490 -50580 ABRA MINING 0.002 0.0021 0.002 0.0021 0.002 0.0021 31000000 62300 BENGUET A 1.32 1.48 1.42 1.48 1.42 1.48 36000 51760 BENGUET B 1.13 1.35 1.25 1.35 1.25 1.35 74000 97900 COAL ASIA HLDG 0.295 0.31 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 20000 6000 CENTURY PEAK 2 2.01 2 2.01 1.98 2.01 1116000 2226250 4019.9999 DIZON MINES 7.03 7.35 7.09 7.36 7.03 7.35 5000 35383 -35383 FERRONICKEL 1.68 1.69 1.69 1.69 1.68 1.69 476000 803750 -334430 GEOGRACE 0.204 0.208 0.205 0.209 0.205 0.209 130000 27020 -2050 LEPANTO A 0.108 0.109 0.105 0.109 0.105 0.108 5130000 548210 LEPANTO B 0.108 0.112 0.103 0.112 0.103 0.112 170000 18700 -2060 MANILA MINING A 0.0065 0.0069 0.0066 0.0068 0.0066 0.0068 6000000 40500 MANILA MINING B 0.0064 0.0078 0.0063 0.0063 0.0063 0.0063 1000000 6300 -6300 MARCVENTURES 1.4 1.42 1.32 1.54 1.3 1.4 9512000 13677660 13700 NIHAO 1.03 1.07 1.08 1.08 1.03 1.07 65000 68320 NICKEL ASIA 2.15 2.19 2.19 2.25 2.13 2.15 6249000 13516800 -2071490 OMICO CORP 0.58 0.61 0.61 0.61 0.61 0.61 26000 15860 ORNTL PENINSULA 0.96 0.97 0.97 1.01 0.95 0.97 644000 633070 1000 PX MINING 2.67 2.68 2.68 2.72 2.62 2.68 795000 2129110 -146170 SEMIRARA MINING 23.5 23.75 24 24.4 23.45 23.5 2569000 60509740 -23620255 UNITED PARAGON 0.0058 0.006 0.0058 0.0061 0.0057 0.0059 31000000 182900 ORNTL PETROL A 0.012 0.013 0.013 0.013 0.012 0.013 31000000 394200 ORNTL PETROL B 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 200000 2400 PHILODRILL 0.012 0.013 0.014 0.014 0.013 0.013 63000000 832400 PHINMA PETRO 3.19 3.36 3.4 3.4 3.36 3.36 3000 10160 PXP ENERGY 14.5 14.58 14.8 14.8 14.48 14.5 2071600 30237532 -1848468

PREFFERED HOUSE PREF A AC PREF B1 ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF G GLO PREF P GTCAP PREF B LR PREF PNX PREF 3B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

95.5 447.2 98 97 101.5 463.2 896.5 1.01 102.1 76.15 72.5 73.2 73.25 72.5

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR GMA HLDG PDR

18.58 5.3

97 456 101 98.9 103 480 928 1.02 106 76.2 72.9 73.5 73.5 73.5

97 456 101 98.9 103 480 928.5 1.02 102.3 76.2 72.5 73.2 73.5 73.5

97 456 101 98.9 103 480 928.5 1.02 102.3 76.2 72.5 73.3 73.5 73.5

97 450 101 98.9 103 480 926 1.02 102.2 76.2 72.5 73.2 73.5 73.5

97 456 101 98.9 103 480 928 1.02 102.2 76.2 72.5 73.3 73.5 73.5

150 1300 20 140 60 90 2670 15000 5000 330 7000 700 20000 20460

14550 587130 2020 13846 6180 43200 2475310 15300 511300 25146 507500 51300 1470000 1503810

72500 33810

19 5.37

18.96 5.4

19 5.4

18.8 5.36

19 5.37

745300 31600

14160530 169645

-188040 116045

WARRANTS LR WARRANT

2.02

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ITALPINAS 4.5 XURPAS 1.51

2.05

1.92

2.2

1.92

2.02

1302000

2705500

-

4.53 1.52

4.4 1.57

4.55 1.57

4.3 1.51

4.53 1.52

454000 8332000

2033160 12792790

-745700

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS FIRST METRO ETF

112.2

112.5

112.1

112.8

111.8

112.5

3570

400625

90000

Editor: Efleda P. Campos

Shopwise opens at Batangas City Grand Terminal Dec. 21

T

HE Batangas City Grand Terminal, a multipurpose transport terminal and commercial center in Batangas City, will be the home of the newest Shopwise outlet of the Rustan Group which opens on Friday, December 21.

A prime hub for travelers going to, from and passing through Batangas City, the Grand Terminal is owned and developed by Batangas Ventures Properties & Management Corp. (BVPMC), which is a member of the ALC Group of Cos. founded by Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua.

The Batangas City outlet is the

first Shopwise branch in Batangas to be opened by Rustan Supercenters Inc. (RSI), owner and operator of the Shopwise chain, in its bid to expand further in Southern Luzon, particularly in the Calabarzon area covering the Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon growth area.

The store is located on a property along Diversion Road, Alangilang,

Batangas City, that Rustan Supercenters will lease from Batangas Ventures.

In August 2014, the city government of Batangas and Batangas Ventures entered into a public-private partnership (PPP) agreement under which Batangas Ventures assumed control, supervision and management of the implementation, development and construction of the transport terminal.

It currently houses terminals for various public-utility vehicles (PUVs) such as buses, jeepneys, and UV Express units, as well as paid parking space for private vehicles.

The Grand Terminal is also the home of the Batangas City branches of Isuzu Gencars, a vehicle dealership under the ALC Group, which occupies the space fronting the Diversion Road; and Planbank, a

rural bank that is also a member of the ALC Group.

A lready, t wo convenience stores—7-Eleven and Super BP Mart—are operating within the Grand Terminal, along with several food stalls, souvenir shops and eateries.

The new Shopwise outlet occupies 1.2 hectares of the total 6-hectare land area of the Batangas City Grand Terminal. Situated at the corner of Main Street and Commerce Drive, Shopwise has its designated parking space for its customers.

Following the opening of Shopwise, several other establishments like fast-food chains are also set to rise on the property.

The Grand Terminal has around 3,000 square meters of space still open for lease.

Pacific Plaza union asks Taguig RTC not to issue TRO against their strike

By Roderick L. Abad

@rodrik_28

Contributor

B

ESIEGED members of the Pacific Plaza United Action of Labor-Solidarity of Unions in the Philippines for Empowerment and Reforms (Punyal-Super Federation) asked on Wednesday the Regional Trial Court in Taguig (RTC) to block the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) filed by “management toadies” against their ongoing labor action.

The union said the petition for the release of a TRO and mandamus filed by three homeowners of the Pacific Plaza Towers (PPT) condominium at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig against their dispute only aims to curtail their legitimate right to strike.

The labor union said the appeal of the residents, namely Antonio Cuyegkeng, Julian Carmona and Maria Lourdes Kristen Quintos enumerated grounds against the strike that were akin to an earlier TRO petition filed by PPT Corp. before the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC). The latter was subsequently dismissed by the labor tribunal after finding the strike to be totally harmless.

On December 12 the homeowners filed their petition to the Taguig RTC Branch 271, criticizing the workers for allegedly “violating the clear rights” of the residents.

Their appeal included over-thetop words against the laborers, such as putting residents in “imminent peril” and “mortal danger.”

“These petitioners are confidently swimming in their greed and entitlements,” said Luke Espiritu, president of Super Federation and concurrent president of Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino.

“The privileged class feels allergic whenever workers assert their right to a dignified life through having job security, fair wages and the right to form a union. Workers do not intend to threaten residents; they are merely seeking what was [taken from] them,” he added.

Union President Cris Rafales likened the three petitioners to a possum and management minions unleashed to undermine the workers’ right to strike.

He said that since the PPT management cannot gain a TRO from NLRC and file the same in other courts, they used the homeowners to stop their labor strike.

Rafales opined that the Taguig RTC should not entertain such “harassment suit” against the union because it will only worsen the disagreement in PPT instead of resolving it.

“Both workers and homeowners want a merry Christmas,” he said.

“But what management wants for its workers and their families is a bleak Christmas as they bask in greed and gluttony.”

The strike at PPT condo started in the first week of August, and since then, has not been resolved due to the management’s failure to recognize half of its work force as regular employees who should be accorded the same rights and benefits.

Dubai Airport welcomes 1 billionth passenger

T

HE billionth passenger has flown through Dubai International Airport, which has become one of the world’s busiest.

“We know we have reached a new milestone,” Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum tweeted on Thursday. “We started a new journey, and we’re heading toward a brighter future.”

A nine-year-old flying in from Orlando, Florida, was selected as the honorary billionth passenger. The boy and his family were greeted by the Dubai International’s chairman.

The airport opened in 1960 and reached 500 million passengers in 2011. 74.5 million travelers used Dubai International in the first 10 months of the year, up 1.5 percent from the previous year.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International is the world’s busiest airport overall, followed by Beijing Capital International. Dubai comes in third, but it says it is the world’s busiest for international travelers. Dubai thinks it will claim the overall crown by the end of the decade. Bloomberg News

MUTUAL FUNDS

December 20, 2018

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

PER SHARE RETURN* RETURN STOCK FUNDS ALFM GROWTH FUND, INC * 253.6 -11.48% 1.08% 2.9% -13.51% ATRAM ALPHA OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.* 1.4159 -11.54% 6.55% 3.02% -11.33% ATRAM PHILIPPINE EQUITY OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.* 3.9307 -12.34% 2.61% 1.28% -14.41% CLIMBS SHARE CAPITAL EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND CORP.* 0.8961 -11.42% N.A. N.A. -11.89% FIRST METRO CONSUMER FUND ON MSCI PHILS. IMI, INC. * ********* 0.829 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN EQUITY FUND,INC.* 5.2731 -10.41% -0.03% 2.08% -12.31% MBG EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND, INC. * ****** 115.08 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. ONE WEALTHY NATION FUND, INC.* 0.8385 -14.23% N.A. N.A. -15.53% PAMI EQUITY INDEX FUND, INC.* 49.5899 -9.98% 2.2% N.A. -12.06% PHILAM STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC.* 517.69 -10.04% 0.94% 2.32% -12.03% PHILEQUITY DIVIDEND YIELD FUND, INC.* 1.2643 -8% 2.58% N.A. -9.97% PHILEQUITY FUND, INC.* 36.8977 -8.27% 3.09% 4.91% -10.21% PHILEQUITY PSE INDEX FUND INC.* 4.9969 -9.6% 2.93% 4.71% -11.93% PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND CORP.* 834.64 -9.42% 2.72% 4.82% -11.75% SOLDIVO STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. * 0.8656 -8.67% 0.51% N.A. -10.5% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE EQUITY FUND, INC.* 4.099 -8.24% 2.46% 3.17% -10.51% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND, INC.* 0.9614 -9.78% 2.72% N.A. -12.06% UNITED FUND, INC.* 3.5269 -6.72% 3.9% 3.93% -9.43% EXCHANGE TRADED FUND FIRST METRO PHIL. EQUITY EXCHANGE TRADED FUND, INC.* *** 111.5473 -9.1% 3.87% 3.31% -11.44% ATRAM ASIAPLUS EQUITY FUND, INC.** $0.9377 -13.95% 2.21% -0.31% -15.39% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY WORLD VOYAGER FUND, INC.* $1.1613 -7.16% N.A. N.A. -8.21% BALANCED FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ATRAM DYNAMIC ALLOCATION FUND, INC.* 1.6585 -9.45% -1.43% -0.98% -11% ATRAM PHILIPPINE BALANCED FUND, INC.* 2.2118 -8.69% 1.26% 1.02% -9.98% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN BALANCED FUND INC.* 2.5406 -7% -1.77% -1.07% -8.28% GREPALIFE BALANCED FUND CORPORATION* **** 1.3097 -8.74% N.A. N.A. -9.98% NCM MUTUAL FUND OF THE PHILS., INC* 1.8468 -5.59% 1.12% 2.35% -7.31% PAMI HORIZON FUND, INC.* 3.543 -8.03% -0.07% 1.61% -9.57% PHILAM FUND, INC.* 15.9524 -7.68% 0.04% 1.43% -9.14% SOLIDARITAS FUND, INC.* ******** 2.0764 -6.3% 1.32% 2.84% -7.39% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BALANCED FUND, INC.* 3.674 -6.52% 0.84% 1.59% -8.06% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DYNAMIC FUND, INC.* 0.9282 -7.19% 0.12% N.A. -9.03% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES COCOLIFE DOLLAR FUND BUILDER, INC.* $0.03511 -2.82% -0.26% 1.54% -2.74% PAMI ASIA BALANCED FUND, INC.* $0.9366 -10.21% 2.26% -1.14% -10.54% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ADVANTAGE FUND, INC.* $3.4228 -5.57% 3.25% 1.66% -6.29% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR WELLSPRING FUND, INC.* $1.0265 -7.32% N.A. N.A. -7.71% BOND FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM PESO BOND FUND, INC.* 343.07 1.86% 2.03% 1.85% 1.77% ATRAM CORPORATE BOND FUND, INC.* ******* 1.8578 -1.74% -0.7% -0.47% -1.82% COCOLIFE FIXED INCOME FUND, INC.* 2.9655 5.42% 5.32% 5.26% 5.09% EKKLESIA MUTUAL FUND INC.* 2.1296 1.15% 1.47% 1.38% 1.3% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN FIXED INCOME FUND,INC.* 2.2076 -0.31% 0.03% 0.2% -0.39% GREPALIFE FIXED INCOME FUND CORP.* P 1.5631 -3.05% -0.59% -0.92% -2.88% PHILAM BOND FUND, INC.* 3.9158 -3.16% -0.55% -0.22% -3.31% PHILEQUITY PESO BOND FUND, INC.* 3.4926 0.1% 0.24% 0.28% -0.35% SOLDIVO BOND FUND, INC. * 0.8916 -3.15% -0.97% N.A. -3.42% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BOND FUND, INC.* 2.7632 -0.64% 0.79% 0.61% -0.5% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY GS FUND, INC.*

1.5381 -0.87% 0.34% 0.11% -0.75% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES ALFM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. * $447.87 0.49% 2.35% 3.06% 0.43% ALFM EURO BOND FUND, INC. * Є212.58 -0.73% 1.03% 1.59% -0.53% ATRAM TOTAL RETURN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC.** $1.1244 -0.86% 0.95% 1.88% -0.86% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC.* $0.0249 -0.4% 0.82% N.A. -0.4% GREPALIFE DOLLAR BOND FUND CORP.* $1.6891 -4.75% -0.4% 1.12% -4.65% MAA PRIVILEGE DOLLAR FIXED INCOME FUND, INC. N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. MAA PRIVILEGE EURO FIXED INCOME FUND, INC. ЄN.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. PAMI GLOBAL BOND FUND, INC* $1.0303 -4.41% -0.64% -2.53% -4.02% PHILAM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC.* $2.1638 -3.8% 0.86% 2.64% -3.87% PHILEQUITY DOLLAR INCOME FUND INC.* $0.0569774 -0.74% 0.92% 1.88% -0.39% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ABUNDANCE FUND, INC.* $2.8702 -4.78% 0.43% 1.66% -4.73% MONEY MARKET FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM MONEY MARKET FUND, INC.* 120.69 2.69% 1.84% 1.55% 2.62% PHILAM MANAGED INCOME FUND, INC.* 1.1802 1.98% 0.61% 0.48% 1.97% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY MONEY MARKET FUND, INC.* 1.2173 2.63% 2.24% 1.55% 2.68% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR STARTER FUND, INC.* ***** $1.0153 1.64% N.A. N.A. 1.66%

* - NAVPS AS OF THE PREVIOUS BANKING DAY ** - NAVPS AS OF TWO BANKING DAYS AGO *** - LISTED IN THE PSE.

**** - RE-CLASSIFIED INTO A BALANCED FUND STARTING JANUARY 1, 2017 (FORMERLY GREPALIFE BOND FUND CORP.).

***** - LAUNCH DATE IS NOVEMBER 6, 2017 ****** - LAUNCH DATE IS JANUARY 08, 2018 ******** - RENAMING OF THE FUND WAS APPROVED BY THE SEC LAST APRIL 13, 2018. ********* - BECAME A MEMBER SINCE APRIL 20, 2018. ******* - ADJUSTED DUE TO CASH DIVIDEND ISSUANCE LAST JANUARY 29, 2018

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

Friday, December 21, 2018 B3

VAT payments, refunds made easier after 30 years because of TRAIN–DOF Building wealth via forex trading

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HE notion that foreignexchange (forex) trading requires a large capital and involves plenty of risks is a misconception. While it is true a budding trader without full understanding of the complexities of forex trading may need a huge fund to jump-start their venture, that is not the case for people who know what they are doing and have the know-how in managing their risk safely.

JustForex, a foreign-exchange broker providing services in 197 countries for many years, said forex trading does not require intensive trading on the open market to learn the intricacies of the trade. What is important is a comprehensive training and mentoring, which could be done using available tools online, they said.

JustForex said there are online tutorials, as well as workshops, seminars and training programs designed by experts to teach aspiring traders, experienced traders and novice traders procedures on the right path to success.

It added the rise in Internet use has also opened more doors for forex trading; anybody with access to the Net can become a currency trader.

The company suggested, however, to always monitor forex news to better understand forex signals from the

market. Traders must keep the habit of keeping watch on emerging market trends as it would eventually give them the absorb market technical analysis by experts, which could eventually give them the ability to develop their unique forex trading strategy.

The growing forex online trading segment is also pushing the growth in space as Filipinos with idle cash are investing in forex to earn extra money. These part-time traders do so without quitting their current work and spend all the time on trading as they gain confidence and the skill set to conduct comprehensive technical analysis on forex price movement.

The brokerage firm is offering several tips to start parttime trading on currencies.

JustForex said a startup trader must identify the hours they want to spend in currency trading. It is crucial to set a stable schedule when one wants to concentrate fully on trading activity. Even if one is doing it on a part-time basis, one must still focus well on it, at least while one is trading.

One of the most critical aspects of trading in foreign exchange is choosing the right currency pair. Currency traders generate profit speculating on a currency price movement,

so it is essential to choose the highly volatile currency pairs, at one’s scheduled trading activity time.

This means a Manila resident who decides to be a parttime forex trader between 7 and 10 p.m. after regular office hours is strongly advised to concentrate on EUR/USD and GBP/USD because information and news reports about the euro and pound sterling are released around this time.

Expert forex brokers always tell aspiring traders to get the most of their trading activity and operate with your funds efficiently to achieve optimal results. It is still important to pay attention to trading forums, financial news, fundamental analysis, as well as technical assessments by specialists.

Doing so will give one sufficient knowledge to identify emerging trends in the market. Train on a practice account first to get the hang of trading, JustForex advises. For one, practicing on a JustForex demo account is possible.

Analyze the results and keep learning. Do not get frustrated by unsuccessful deals in the initial trading activity, but learn from one’s trade and analyze.

Last, it is advised to work with a reliable forex broker.

Associations meet to inspire, collaborate and grow Association World Octavio Peralta Part Two

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ONTINUING from my column the other week on the Sixth Associations Summit (AS6) that the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives (PCAAE) held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC) on November 23 and 24, 2018, let me share some insights from the speakers during the event.

From the first panel, “Inspiring Stories and Case Studies:” Jose P. Leviste Jr., director for Environment and Climate Change of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, cited the strength of PCCI’s organizational structure that works efficiently through “consensus and decisive action.”

Atty. Paul A. Santos, chairman of the Philippine Retailers Association who was recognized as one of this year’s ANG SUSI Awards “Board Member of the Year,” said PRA’s main focus is on the business development of its members.

Linda P. Gonzalez, president of the National Federation of Women’s Clubs of the Philippines, mentioned her organization’s strategy to promote good governance and to increase membership recruitment and involvement.

Mary Lizabeth Lu, executive director of the Game Developers Association of the Philippines, spoke about leveraging membership in securing a good deal for health insurance coverage for members.

Zedrik T. Avecilla, director of the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of

Commerce, highlighted SBFCC’s annual “State of the Freeport Address” event that attracts 300 attendees from 20 countries.

From the second panel, “Collaboration Stories and Case Studies:” Helen P. Macasaet, chairperson of the ICT Committee, Management Association of the Philippines, shared MAP’s partnership with the Davao City Chamber of Commerce in organizing business forums.

Rene M. Gener, executive director of the People Management Association of the Philippines, cited PMAP’s partnership with government and other stakeholders in crafting the law on contractualization.

Dr. Victor C. Quimen Jr., national treasurer of the Philippine Nurses Association, talked about PNA’s collaboration with ABS-CBN’s Salamat Doc TV program to promote health and wellness.

Arlene Padua Martinez, president of the Philippine Marketing A ssociation, discussed PM A’s partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry in mentoring 240,000 micro, small and medium entrepreneurs in the country.

Joel B. Pascual, president of the Philippine Association of Convention and Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers, shared how Paceos members collaborate with its clients in terms of revenue generation, advancement of cause and messaging delivery.

From the third panel, “Sustainability Stories and Case Studies:” Rolando B. Victoria, board adviser of ASKI Multi-Purpose Cooperative and also this year’s ANG SUSI Awards “Board Member of the Year,” discussed ASKI’s holistic approach to sustainable development—taking care of business, finance and the environment.

Arch. Manifelmo C. Dacanay,

vice president of iHome Greater Metro Manila Inc., called for the need for sustainable communities and urgent solution for the housing backlog in the country.

Catherine Rowena Villanueva, president of the Manila Bay Sunset Partnership Program Inc., presented her organization’s Manila Bay cleanup drive and its eco-brick project.

Arch. Benjamin K. Panganiban Jr., national president of United Architects of the Philippines, highlighted UAP’s “ heart and soul” focus on corporate social responsibility.

From the session, “Making Associations Relevant Today:’ Toni Brearley, CEO of the Australasian Society of Association Executives, shared the evolving models of associations such as tiered, subscription and “freemium.”

Jason Yeh, president of the Taiwan Convention and Exhibition Association, walked the audience through the transformation of meetings management from Meetings 1.0 to 4.0.

I also spoke about association leadership practices and attributes of an association leader.

The contributor, Octavio “Bobby” Peralta, is concurrently the secretarygeneral of the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific, founder and CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives and President of the Asia-Pacific 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

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By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

FTER three decades of hits and misses, value-added tax (VAT) payments and refunds have become easier for businesses as a result of the passage of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act, the Department of Finance said.

In a statement on Thursday, Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua said under the law, the government introduced four reforms in processing applications for VAT refunds of exporters and other qualified entrepreneurs.

These reforms, Chua said, ensures that all refund claims are completed and paid out within 90 days of submission as required under this law.

“For 30 years since we started the VAT in 1988, we’ve done the refund

so badly because the incentive to give refund is not there. So we reformed it [under TRAIN],” Chua said.

“We think that we should just implement the VAT as it should be: as a consumption tax. You pay the VAT when you import or you buy a product, and then when you export, you get a refund,” he added.

Chua said these four reforms include setting up of a special trust account in the General Fund sourced from 5 percent of the total VAT

collections of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs from the immediately preceding year—to ensure money is available for VAT refunds—and basing revenue targets set for the next fiscal year on net of VAT refunds.

The reforms also included a plan to conduct a risk-based post audit to do away with the tedious process of auditing claims before giving a refund; and the implementation of an electronic invoicing and receipts system.

Under the National Internal Revenue Code, qualified businesses are allowed to recover excess input VAT for certain transactions, mostly those involving exports, either through a VAT refund or tax credit certificate.

The pre-TRAIN process of claiming VAT refunds involved the submission of a voluminous set of documents and often took years to resolve.

“So all of these together will allow the refund process to be better.

We changed the incentives so that the refund system can be better given,” Chua said in a recent forum in Makati City.

AER: Angara as reelectionist should raise tobacco tax to fulfill his promise

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IVIL-SOCIETY group Action for Economic Reforms (AER) urged Sen. Sonny Angara on Thursday to work on the passage of the tobacco tax bills now pending in the Ways and Means Committee that he chairs if he is to fulfill his campaign promise of “Alagang Angara.”

“As coauthor of the Universal Health Care bill that was recently passed by Congress, Senator Angara needs to ensure that there will be adequate financing for the full implementation of the said bill. However, even the Department of Health [DOH] appeals for further increases in the tobacco tax since huge reforms in the health-care system under the UHC will require resources greater than the combined funds from Pagcor and PCSO, and premium contributions,“ said Jo-Ann Diosana, fiscal policy team head of AER. AER issued this statement on Thursday in commemoration of the passage of the Sin Tax Reform Act on December 20, 2012, when then-President Benigno S. Aquino III signed it into law.

According to Diosana, the benefits of sustained increases in the sin taxes continue to accrue to the Filipino people.

“The reforms in the sin tax system in 2012 brought about the decrease in the number of smokers from 31-percent smoking prevalence in 2008 to 23.3 percent in 2015. The largest cuts, according to the National Nutrition Survey, were in the young and poor sections of the population.

In particular, the percentage of the population who never smoked went up from 54.3 percent in 2008 to 63.7 percent in 2015,” explained Diosana.

Data from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) show that tobacco tax collection increased from P32.2 billion in 2012

to P125.9 billion in 2017. This resulted in the rise of the health budget from P42 billion in 2012 to P171 billion in 2018.

The group said increasing the tobacco tax is supported by a majority of Filipinos; thus, it is a win for Angara and other reelectionist senators who will champion it. More important, it is a win for all Filipinos, especially the poor, the youth, and even the tobacco farmers, AER asserted.

“We hope Senator Angara will realize that committing to the increase in tobacco tax is crucial in fulfilling his promise of better health for the people. May this season of hope and love move our legislators toward decisions that will truly save the precious lives of our fellow Filipinos,” said Diosana.

B4 Friday, December 21, 2018

BFC LAB OPENS SPECIAL BOOTHS IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON

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FC Lab collaborates with Watsons for another joyous promotion this holiday season. Dubbed “12 Days of Christmas”, the event involves the opening of special holiday-inspired popup booths in all Watsons stores nationwide, featuring all brands

and products of BFC Lab made available to the public at Buy 2, Take 1 promo. Customers can buy two of any BFC Lab products: Euphoriamaxx, Cosmo Cee, Cosmo Body L-Carnitine and green tea extract, Fibermaxx, Cosmo Skin Intensive Repair hand and body cream, Elite Collagen, Cosmo Skin glutathione, Cosmo Skin Marine Collagen powder drink, BFC Lab Açai berry, Cosmo Body Advanced with Garcinia Cambogia and Cosmo Skin beauty bars; and get either one Elite Collagen 30s or one Cosmo Cee 60s for free. Customers may save up to P700 for every purchase.

In addition, special holiday promo packs will also be available at the popup booths, which are perfect for last-minute Christmas gift ideas: Cosmo Skin agedefying gift set (collagen drink + lotion), Gift of Health (Cosmo Cee 60s and Cosmo Cee10s), Gift of Fitness (Cosmo Body Advanced 30s with Cosmo Body Advanced 5s), Gift of Beauty (glutathione with body wash); Cosmo Skin grape-seed extract with collagen beauty bar and the Cosmo Cee dual pack, and so much more.

The 12 Days of Christmas will run from December 12 to 23 in all Watsons branches nationwide.

A YULETIDE TREAT FROM HOTEL CÉLESTE

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OTEL Céleste warms up your chill December nights for only P7,800 per night!

Not only feel cozy in your feather robes, but also celebrate Holiday Bliss in style with an overnight deluxe accommodation, welcome drink and foot and leg massage, four-course sit-down lunch or dinner for two at Edward & Wallis, a holiday turndown sweets and an in-room Wi-fi from December 1 to 31—just in time for a fancy treat after a fruitful year ahead of us.

Booking period is from November 22 to December 30.

Guests are also in for a royal taste of living with Edward & Wallis’s crosscontinental Christmas dinner at P1,500 net per person from 6 to 10 p.m.

That doesn’t end there, yet! Hotel Céleste makes your New Year an hour of splendid fireworks display with its exclusive pass for the New Year’s Eve countdown at P1,200 net per person. The Cheers to Countdown begins on December 31 from 11 p.m. to 12 midnight.

Plus, a four-course meal at Xanadu Sky Lounge awaits visitors at 6 p.m. onward, simultaneous to the exclusive

New Year Eve’s countdown.

To even make your stay worth a while, Hotel Céleste brings in the New Year’s Eve promo for only P7,800 net per person, inclusive of an overnight accommodation, welcome drink and foot and leg massage, breakfast, in-room Wi-fi, late checkout at 2 p.m. and an exclusive New Year’s Eve countdown pass for two persons, with an additional P1,800 for suite-room upgrade.

Booking period is from December 1 to 31, and the staying period is on December 31.

Make this a worthy gift to yourself before the season ends. Make your loved ones feel and be at home to your company at Hotel Céleste.

For inquiries and reservations, e-mail at info@hotelceleste.ph or reservations@ hotelceleste.ph. Visit www.hotelceleste.ph for more details.

SUN LIFE ENDS THE YEAR WITH 17 AWARDS HAUL FROM P.I.F.A. ALUMNI BOARD MEMBERS INTRODUCED AT U.P. HOMECOMING

Former Senate President and Vista Land and Lifescapes chairman Manuel B. Villar Jr. recently inducted the board of trustees of the University of the Philippines (UP) MBA Alumni Society Inc. at the alumni homecoming of the UP Virata School of Business (College of Business Administration). At the induction were (from left) Amanda Garcia, speaker on financial wellness and licensed for insurance and investments on real estate; Rene Florencio, owner of Golcondia; Ar. Armin Sarthou, dean of the UP College of Architecture; Zainadine Lazaro, head of internal audit of AXA Philippines; Romeo Roderos, deputy administrator of the MWSS Management Services Group; Renato Limjoco, retired ADB lead financial sector specialist; Villar Jr; Mark Anthony Javier, former president of Globe Telecom and executive vice president of Eastern Telecoms; Francisco Josef, chairman and chief executive officer of JC Actuarial & Risk Management Services Inc.; Marissa Ancog, first vice president and head of the planning and quality management group of PJ Lhuillier Inc.; and Jedrek Estanislao, head of marketing services of Eastern Communications.

THE TASTE THAT FITS FOR A KING

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N no other country is Christmas more special than in the Philippines. Here, it’s more than tradition—it’s so ingrained in every Filipino’s hearts that, as soon as September arrives, well-loved Christmas songs start to be played, and some even begin to put up small decorations that reflect the yuletide season.

Visitors from other countries could only wonder in awe how locals are able to allot time for in celebrating Christmas.

An important part of that, of course, are the gatherings with family and friends.

And for this particular season, the highlight will always be the Christmas ham, a tradition King Sue Ham & Sausage Co. Inc. understands very well.

Cu Un Kay came to Manila from China as a 12-year-old on board a vessel in the early 1900s. Even at a young age, he knew the importance of hard work and was employed as a cook by his uncle who owned a cold storage facility in Echague.

There, he met a German who later taught him to manufacture hams and cold cuts.

Using this knowledge, Cu started his own business and sought to perfect the meat production process using only aluminum cauldron over three adobe stones. He concentrated on producing hams, especially the bone-in-Chinese ham, which his business has become known for.

At the end of World War II, the brand King Sue was born.

King, the family surname, implies royalty and enormity, while sue means “small” in Fookien. The two names, while seemingly contradicting, actually tells the story of how Cu may have had modest beginnings, but his dreams and ambition are big.

The same could be said of Christmas gatherings in the Philippines. No matter how big or small, Filipino gatherings have a way of making one feel like royalty, and King Sue exists to provide premium quality

processed meats that deliver a taste fit for a king.

King Sue has a wide variety of premium Christmas hams that are sure to suit every palate, budget and preference, from the popular Chinese bone-in, pina, sweet and Hawaiian to its pear-shaped hams. “There’s a ham for everyone regardless of age, gender, and lifestlye.

It can also be enjoyed not just during the Christmas season but all year round as well,” says Romana Go, marketing manager of King Sue. It is no surprise then that Filipinos who wish to make a lasting impression to special people in their lives choose to either serve these at breakfast, lunch or Noche Buena, and most often give these as gifts during the season.

Indeed, King Sue is as part of Filipino Christmas tradition, as the quezo de bola and various lucky round fruits and its quest to satisfy the Filipino taste and their ever-changing lifestyle will always be at its core values.

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UN Life Asset Management Co. Inc. (Slamci) is strongly finishing this year, as it was the most awarded assetmanagement company at the Philippine Investment Funds Association’s (Pifa) 12th annual awards night recently held at the Tower Club in Makati City.

The company received 17 awards for its Sun Life Prosperity Funds. Slamci won top honors in five categories: the Sun Life Prosperity Philippines Equity Fund Inc. topped the Three-Year Return Equity Fund: Peso-Denominated category; the Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund Inc. outperformed other funds in the One-Year and Three-Year Returns Money Market: Fund category; and the Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund Inc.

dominated the Three-Year and Five-Year Returns the Balanced Fund: Foreign Currency-Denominated category.

Meanwhile, the following funds placed second in their respective categories: the Sun Life Prosperity Balanced Fund Inc. in the One-Year Return-Balanced Fund: Peso-Denominated category; the Sun Life Prosperity Bond Fund Inc. in the One-Year Return Bond Fund: PesoDenominated category; the Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund Inc. in the One-Year Return Balanced Fund: Foreign Currency-Denominated category; the Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund Inc. in the Five-Year Return Money Market Fund category; and the Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund Inc. in

the One-Year Return Bond Fund: Foreign Currency-Denominated category.

Seven Slamci funds were also named in third place: the Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund Inc. in the One-Year Return Equity Fund: PesoDenominated category; the Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund Inc. in the Three-Year Return Bond Fund: Foreign Currency-Denominated category; Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund Inc. in the One-Year Return Bond Fund: Peso-Denominated category; the Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund Inc. in the One-Year Return Balanced Fund: Foreign Currency-Denominated category; the Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund Inc. in the One-Year Return Balanced Fund: Peso-Denominated category; the Sun Life Prosperity Balanced Fund Inc. in the Three-Year Return Balanced Fund: Peso-Denominated category; and the Sun Life Prosperity Balanced Fund Inc. in the Five-Year Return Balanced Fund: Peso Denominated category.

“It is so gratifying to note that this is the biggest awards haul thus far, a testament that our funds have consistently yielded excellent long-terms returns for our investors. We will strive further to keep our funds growing every year and provide much better returns for the benefit of more Filipinos who are now becoming more financially savvy and more conscious of ways to achieve financial stability,” Slamci President Valerie Pama says.

SM, BDO GIVE SMILE IN A HEARTWARMING ‘BALIKBAYAN’ CHRISTMAS TRIBUTE

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OING home for Christmas has turned out to be a very pleasant surprise for some balikbayans this year. SM and BDO welcomed them with plenty of surprises, giveaways and raffle prizes in its annual Pamaskong Handog event recently held at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.

The event, specially dedicated for the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families, is now on its seventh year and is said to be SM and BDO’s biggest, most

heartwarming Christmas celebration ever held since 2012.

The Pamaskong Handog was, indeed, a day full of laughter, entertainment and raffle prizes as the event brought to the stage today’s most in-demand artists, such as Piolo Pascual, Sam Milby, Moira de la Torre, the TNT Boys, Anton Antenor Cruz and Jenny Gabriel; comedienne Donita Nose, and hosts MC and Lassie.

The Pamaskong Handog also featured BDO’s social-media personality Boss

Teteng, whose Facebook videos garnered millions of views for his funny and entertaining tips for OFWs, as well as SM’s cheerful elevator girl Cheridel.

“Christmas is the time when overseas Filipinos are excited to spend Christmas with their families. This is why Pamaskong Handog has become our annual tribute to our kababayans, as we would like them to feel welcome and honored while they are here...This year’s Pamaskong Handog event was also held in time for the International Migrants Day,” BDO Remittance Senior Vice President and head Genie Gloria said.

“SM shares the same mission of giving honor, gratitude and joy to the overseas Filipinos in return for their hard work and sacrifice. The goal is to make them feel special and let them experience once again how Filipinos celebrate Christmas,” SM Supermalls Senior Vice President for Marketing Joaquin San Agustin added.

SMandBDO’ssynergisticcollaboration does not end with Pamaskong Handog as more joint overseas Filipino events are lined up for 2019.

Sports CRIMINALIZE DOPING BusinessMirror

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| Friday, December 21, 2018 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

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By Eddie Pells The Associated Press

WO US senators have introduced a bill that would criminalize international doping conspiracies, the likes of which Russia pursued during the Sochi Olympics in 2014.

The measure is named after Grigory Rodchenkov, the Moscow lab director who blew the whistle on Russian cheating. It is similar to a bill introduced in the House earlier this year but is given a better chance of passing in part because it focuses on large-scale corruption and eliminates language that would put individuals in jeopardy for smaller offenses.

Sponsored by Sens. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, the bill calls for fines of up to $1 million and prison sentences of up to 10 years for those who participate in schemes designed to influence international sports competitions through doping.

The bill is being introduced two months after the Justice Department indicted seven people for involvement in a wide-ranging Russian hacking scheme that sought out international anti-doping agencies among its targets. That scheme revealed medical records of more than 250 athletes. A US attorney involved in the case said it was part of Russia’s quest for revenge after some of its athletes were banned from the 2016 Olympics.

Under the bill, doping is added to the list of areas in which Russia is using sophisticated schemes to disrupt American institutions. Earlier this week, the Senate intelligence committee released reports detailing Russia’s widespread political disinformation campaign on social media, designed to help elect Donald J. Trump president in 2016.

“To remain a ‘city on a hill,’ America must hold the crooked and corrupt accountable whenever we can. That means forcefully confronting Russia’s use of corruption as a tool of foreign policy,” Whitehouse said.

The bill would give prosecutors some of the same tools they used to bring indictments in 2015 against a number of Fifa executives for racketeering, wire fraud and other financial crimes.

US Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) CEO Travis Tygart called the bill part of an “overall recognition that doping is fraud, and when it’s done by organizations, it’s going to be put on the same level as other types of fraud. That’s a really powerful statement.”

The bill calls for federal agencies pursuing doping cases to consult with the Usada, which has joined a chorus of world anti-doping agencies in criticizing the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) and the International Olympic Committee for showing leniency toward Russia in the wake of the scandal.

“I think there was unanimous agreement [among US lawmakers] that the institutions that are supposed to be policing doping are not working and, in many ways, are emboldening cheaters,” said Rodchenkov’s attorney, Jim Walden. “I think this is a very direct way to deter further criminal activity.”

The bill specifically targets organizations that conduct doping fraud at major international competitions, such as world championships or the Olympics. While the House bill would have left open the prospect of athletes suing each other for damages, this one would give victims of the conspiracies the ability to receive restitution for money and opportunities lost.

It also would give whistle-blowers that same type of protection as witnesses and informants receive in other cases.

“I believe that this legislation holds the promise to finally protect athletes and international competitions from corruption and interference that we see continues today,” Rodchenkov said in a statement. “This broad support from Congress is vital to our fight for justice and

DIVE! Malaysia’s Nur Dhabitah Sabri competes

during the women’s 1-meter springboard event at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, in August.

Sabri collects one silver and two bronze medals from the Games, considered as the Olympics of Asia. AP

‘DON’T TRUST AIBA’

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THE building of the Russian Olympic Committee is seen through a gate decorated with the Olympic rings in Moscow. AP

fairness in the international arena of sport.”

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko, who was banned from the Olympics for life because of the country’s doping scandals, has resigned as president of the Russian Football Union (RFU).

The RFU says Mutko stepped down during Wednesday’s executive committee meeting. Russian soccer league president Sergey Pryadkin will serve as the RFU’s acting president until its conference in February.

Mutko played a leading role in Russia’s bid to host

this year’s World Cup and was in charge of the country’s preparations for several years.

Last year, he stepped down temporarily as RFU president after the International Olympic Committee imposed the lifetime ban. But Mutko still remained closely linked with Russian soccer and attended national team training.

Coaching web site tries to shift conversation about sex abuse

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OLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado—It’s one task to compile a list of banned coaches, quite another to identify all the good ones.

While Olympic overseers struggle to compile a comprehensive list of bad actors in the wake of a wide-ranging sex-abuse crisis, an entrepreneur with a passion for youth sports is embarking on what could prove to be an even more meaningful task: helping families discover which coaches are not only certified, but best qualified to work with their kids.

Former pro moguls skier Bill Kerig, who founded the rallyme.com web site built to help athletes and teams raise funds, is launching a new platform designed for coaches to post their qualifications, for parents and athletes to review the coaches, and for anyone interested to hold

a no-holds-barred discussion of the good and bad in youth sports— sort of a LinkedIn, Angie’s List or Rate My Professors for coaching and sports.

The web site, greatcoach. com, represents a rare attempt at a concrete solution in the wake of the Larry Nassar scandal, which, almost daily, exposes the shortcomings in the US Olympic system’s ability to confront the crisis.

Unlike RallyMe—which has helped Katie Uhlaender, Jaelin Kauf, Brittany Bowe and dozens of others on their road to

FORMER pro moguls skier Bill Kerig has started a new web site called greatcoach.com to give coaches, parents and athletes a platform to discuss the merits of various coaches. AP

A Wada team will be in Moscow next week to retrieve laboratory data, which could prove potentially hundreds of doping cases.

Wada says a five-person group needs three days to extract “the missing piece of the puzzle.” The raw data could help explain the scale of Russia’s state-backed doping program until 2015 and attempts to cover it up.

Access this year to the Moscow lab long sealed by state authorities was required by Wada when reinstating Russia’s anti-doping agency in September. the Olympics—the coaching web site figures to be layered with more complex issues. Kerig has been developing the site for about 18 months. He’s in negotiations with nine of the country’s 50 national governing bodies and has been consulting with the US Olympic Committee (USOC), which has been pushed to find bold solutions to the sex-abuse crisis beyond turning over staff and decertifying USA Gymnastics.

“Youth sports is largely built on trust, and one of the first steps for any parent is, you’ve got to know who’s coaching your kids,” Kerig says. “If you’re dropping your kid off, and you don’t know the coach’s last name or what their certifications are, then shame on you. You want to know why he coaches, how he coaches, what’s his philosophy. And is he certified?”

For Kerig’s web site to have impact at the highest levels, he’ll need buy-in from a significant portion of the Olympic community.

“By the same token, even if one club puts all their coaches on there and a parent can go on and say, ‘Look at how much I can learn about who might coach my kid,’ then it’s an obvious place to start,” says John O’Sullivan, the founder of the Changing the Game Project who is on the Great Coach board of directors.

AUSANNE, Switzerland—The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has told national Olympic committees (NOCs) not to trust a recent claim by the president of amateur boxing’s governing body that the sport’s worst problems are over.

Writing to 206 national Olympic bodies, the IOC says a December 5 letter from International Amateur Boxing Association (Aiba) President Gafur Rakhimov to boxing officials is “likely to cause confusion.”

The IOC says Rakhimov’s letter “does not at all provide an accurate portrayal” of its decisions affecting Aiba.

The US Treasury Department says Rakhimov is a heroin trafficker linked to organized crime. His election last month led the IOC to open an inquiry into Aiba.

Aiba risks being derecognized in June after the Olympic inquiry panel reports.

The IOC wants to have a Tokyo boxing competition, but possibly without Aiba.

The letter was sent to the 206 NOCs by IOC director general Christophe de Kepper to provide an update on the recent measures introduced by the organization with regard to Aiba.

It claims the IOC have “read with concern” the contents of a letter from Rakhimov to national federations.

Rakhimov had claimed the governing body was now in a position to confirm it has “finally and fully left the troubled past behind us,” following the IOC Executive Board meeting in Tokyo last month, where it was decided that the planning of the Olympic boxing tournament at Tokyo 2020 would be frozen.

At its meeting, the IOC Executive Board asked for more information regarding Aiba’s financial situation, another key concern of the IOC, and Rakhimov’s own situation with the United States Treasury Department.

Rakhimov, described as “one of Uzbekistan’s leading criminals” by the Treasury Department, was directly mentioned as a reason behind the troubles faced by Aiba for the first time by the IOC in a statement.

AP and Inside The Games

For the past year, the challenges in compiling a comprehensive banned list for Olympic sports have been welldocumented. The US Center for SafeSport, created by the USOC in response to the sex-abuse crisis, has a “disciplinary records” list but only names people who have been banned since the center opened in March 2017. The NGBs have banned lists, but policies vary wildly about which offenders go on the lists and whether those lists are made public.

Both the USOC and SafeSport have vowed to compile and publish a comprehensive list as soon as possible.

Kerig is working to make his web site a one-stop spot for banned lists, as well.

But simply publishing those lists doesn’t solve all problems.

They don’t catch everything—for instance, not all background checks pick up incidents of sexual misconduct. And, of course, the absence of someone’s name from a banned list doesn’t, by itself, make that person qualified to coach.

“This is a big challenge—how do you verify whether someone is worthy of being trusted with your kid?” said Dan Hill, spokesman for SafeSport.

Two years ago, Kerig sold RallyMe to Sports Engine, a community-based sports web site that is now owned

by NBC. AP

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‘THREE, THREE, THREE’ H

OUSTON—The Houston Rockets were on the cusp of National Basketball Association (NBA) history, just one three-pointer away from setting the league record for most threes in a game.

The crowd chanted: “Three, Three, Three,” every time Houston got the ball and let out a collective moan after each of four straight misses as the clock ran down on Wednesday night against the Washington Wizards.

Then, with just 31.1 seconds remaining, Michael Carter-Williams, who had missed two of those four, set his feet and shot his way into the record books, making Houston’s 26th three of the night to set the mark and help Houston to a 136-118 win.

“All I was hearing were my teammates saying: ‘shoot it, shoot it,’” Carter-Williams said. “So we were just out there trying to make the last one. I had a good, clean look so I just tried to knock it down.”

James Harden scored 35 points as the Rockets won their fifth straight game. He made six threes, Chris Paul added five and Gerald Green and Eric Gordon made four each on a night

Houston attempted 55.

“We knew going into the game they were going to take a lot of them,” Washington Coach Scott Brooks said. “They were hot and they’ve been hot for a while now. They have a couple of hot players and there’s not much you can do when they’re making contested threes.”

Carter-Williams joked that the reserves who were on the floor at the end of the game would never have heard the end of it if they hadn’t at least tried to set the record.

Harden believes they would have had a tougher time dealing with the fans.

“Not even us. The crowd—the crowd would have attacked them,” he said with a laugh. “Credit to those guys, they made shots to close out the game.”

A three by Gary Clark tied the record with 2:42 left before Carter-Williams made the record-setter. The previous record was held by the Cleveland Cavaliers, who made 25 against Atlanta on March 3, 2017.

Paul was happy to help Houston set the record, but didn’t realize what was going on until

he heard the crowd.

“I had no clue that we had that many until the fans started chanted: ‘three,’ every time we got the ball,” he said. “So it’s cool to do it together as a team.”

The winning streak ties their longest of the season and comes after the Rockets lost their previous three games.

Houston had a comfortable lead throughout most of this one and seven straight points, capped by a dunk from Clint Capela, made it 111-94 with about nine minutes left.

Tomas Satoransky and Bradley Beal made back-to-back three-pointers for Washington after that, but Harden ended the run with a three that left Houston ahead, 114-100.

The Rockets then used a 12-3 run, with all their points coming on threes, to make it 123103 with about five minutes left. Harden and Gordon both made one in that span and Green capped the spurt with two, and coach Mike D’Antoni cleared the bench soon after.

Beal had 28 points to lead the Wizards, who lost for the sixth time in seven games.

Ingles, Gobert help Jazz edge Warriors S ALT LAKE CITY—Playing strong defense has typically proven to be a winning formula for Utah. Getting to that point has taken more turns and detours than the Jazz anticipated this season.

Beating the defending National Basketball Association champions offers evidence that Utah is finally finding the defensive form the team and its fans took for granted at the end of last season.

Joe Ingles scored 20 points, Rudy Gobert had 17 points, 15 rebounds, and matched his season-high with four blocked shots to lead

the Jazz to a 108-103 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night.

Utah held Golden State to 40 percent shooting from the field and 32 percent from the perimeter. The biggest stops came in the final two minutes when the Warriors missed three out of four shot attempts—including a pair of three-pointers that could have forced overtime.

“We defended for a full game,” Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell said. “We were locked into the game plan. When you play defense like that, and we shoot the way we did, the outcome is going

to be the way it was.”

Jae Crowder added 18 points and 11 rebounds while Donovan Mitchell had 15 points on five-of-26 shooting as Utah won its fourth straight home game.

Stephen Curry scored 32 points and Kevin Durant added 30 in just the Warriors’ second loss in eight games.

“We let them off the hook a little bit,” Warriors Coach Steve Kerr said. “They weren’t playing that well but we made a lot of mistakes.

We couldn’t find the necessary energy and

Houston led by 12 at halftime and a basket by Paul left the Rockets up, 80-64, with about nine minutes left in the third quarter. The Wizards used a 6-3 run, with four points from Wall, after that to cut the lead to 83-70.

The Rockets made four quick points later in the quarter, highlighted by a nifty reverse lay-up

by Gordon, to leave them up, 91-76, with about three-and-a-half minutes left in the quarter.

Washington got within 11 late in the third quarter, but Harden scored the next five points, capped by a three-pointer, to make it 101-85.

The Wizards scored the last five points of the quarter, with three free throws, to cut the lead to 101-90 entering the fourth.

The victory comes after the Wizards won the first meeting against Houston this season, 135-131, in overtime on November 26, despite a season-high 54 points from Harden.

The Wizards often double-teamed Harden in the first half, leaving others open, which led to easy baskets in the lane and a 70-58 lead by the Rockets at halftime. AP

HOUSTON’S James Harden drives against Washington’s Thomas Bryant. AP

execution you need to win in this building.”

After taking a three-point lead at halftime, the Jazz stayed in front through much of the third quarter as Ingles, Korver and Crowder combined for seven threepointers over the last half of the quarter.

Utah outscored Golden State, 9-2, to open the fourth. Ingles finished off the run with another outside basket, giving the Jazz a 93-82 lead.

Durant cut Utah’s lead to 106-103 on a three with 1:12 remaining. He missed a potential tying basket from the corner with 39 seconds left.

Andre Iguodala had a shot at another outside basket in the final seconds, but also missed. The offensive rebound went off Curry’s hands and out of bounds with 2.4 seconds left.

“They created a little bit of separation, but we fought hard and I liked that energy and effort on the defensive end,” Curry said. “We gave ourselves a chance to get over the hump down the stretch, but it just didn’t happen.”

Utah used a 10-0 run to take a 19-11 lead in the first quarter. Gobert scored on a pair of dunks and Korver made two threepointers to fuel the spurt. AP

NBA RESULTS Charlotte 110, Cleveland 99 Philadelphia 131, New York 109 San Antonio 129, Orlando 90 Phoenix 111, Boston 103 Toronto 99, Indiana 96 Brooklyn 96, Chicago 93 Detroit 129, Minnesota 123, OT Houston 136, Washington 118 Milwaukee 123, New Orleans 115 Utah 108, Golden State 103 Oklahoma City 132, Sacramento 113 Portland 99, Memphis 92

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Tokyo intends to use two spots for 2020 flame

Swim league: Fina’s days numbered

HE Olympic flame will be housed in two locations during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics.

Reports that cauldrons would be established both in the Olympic Stadium and on Tokyo’s waterfront near the Yume-no-Ohashi Bridge were confirmed at a meeting of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee at which representatives from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and central Government were in attendance.

Under the Olympic Charter, the flame must be in public view for the entirety of the Olympics.

In a release, Tokyo 2020 organizers said: “So that as many people as possible can view the flame, two separate cauldrons will be deployed.

“One will be set up inside the Olympic Stadium and used only during the Opening and Closing Ceremonies; another, to which the flame will be transferred after the Opening Ceremony, will be placed in Tokyo’s bustling waterfront area, allowing the wider public to view it and experience the spirit and excitement of the Games.

“The flame will only be displayed in one location at a time.”

The release added: “A number of locations, including Games venues, live sites and tourist attractions in Tokyo, were considered as the site for the cauldron outside of the Olympic Stadium.

“Tokyo 2020 took into account the IOC’s stipulation that the location should be a symbolic site which would allow as many people as possible to view the flame without having to purchase tickets for the Games.

“Considering all these factors, as well as security and operational issues, it was decided that the Ariake side of the Yume-no-Ohashi Bridge in the waterfront area would be an ideal location.

“It was agreed that areas in the vicinity of the cauldrons’ Games-time locations will be natural choices for their permanent locations after the Games.

“The Japan Sports Agency and the Japan Sport Council will manage the cauldron used during the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government taking responsibility for the other cauldron as the host city authority.”

The agreement was concluded with the Cabinet Secretariat, the Japan Sports Agency, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Japanese Olympic Committee, the Japanese Paralympic Committee and the Japan Sport Council at a multi-party leaders’ meeting.

The Tokyo 2020 release went on to detail the reasons for having two cauldron sites.

“The flame that will be lit during the Opening Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium has to be kept alight until it is extinguished at the Closing Ceremony,” it read. Inside The Games

NTERNATIONAL Swimming League (ISL) Financer Konstantin Grigorishin has suggested the “day of the sports governing body is coming to an end” and has called for swimmers to accept nothing less than 50 percent of revenues from competition organizers.

The Ukrainian made the assertion at a two-day summit held by the ISL at the home of Chelsea Football Club in London, which was billed as an opportunity for more than 30 of the world’s best swimmers to hear from experts in law, labor relations and business.

Discussions, it is claimed, explained the steps athletes can take to turn swimming into a “professional sport with regular wages.”

Increased rights and ensuring they receive a “fair share of revenues generated by governing bodies at world and Olympic level” was also discussed.

Athletes are claimed to be contemplating the establishment of a Professional Swimmers Association, which would aid efforts to withdraw from competitions in which they do not believe they are receiving a fair share of revenues.

It will also allow them to consult with other athletes over issues including image rights and race formats, it is claimed.

The summit was held amid increasing tensions between the ISL and the International Swimming Federation (Fina) in recent weeks, after the latter refused to sanction an ISL competition in Italy.

The competition, which the ISL claim was due to be a test event for their professional team format, would have featured eight international clubs each made up of 12 male and 12 female swimmers.

They were due to compete over two days of races across all swimming events in a short-course pool, where the four teams which gained the most points would progress to a grand Final over the following two days.

It was canceled when Fina warned any swimmers who took part would face bans.

Fina defended their decision to refuse to sanction the event, asserting the request to hold it was made at “short notice.”

The ISL launched a class action lawsuit against Fina for allegedly violating anti-trust laws, with a second filed by Hungary’s Katinka Hosszú and American swimmers Michael Andrew and Tom Shields.

The ISL claim the organization do not want to be in conflict with the governing body, with Grigorishin asserting it was “not their intention to destroy Fina.”

He suggested that Fina could coexist with the ISL as a regulator of the sport, as he claimed the time of sports governing bodies was coming to an end.

“My personal opinion is that there was a time when governing bodies were very useful for sport and the development of sport,” he told insidethegames.

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THE Magnolia Hotshots end a four-year title drought.

By Ramon Rafael Bonilla

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S sweet as it gets and Chito Victolero feels nothing but euphoria after hoisting his first title as head coach of Magnolia.

“This is the culmination of our hard work since last year. It boiled down to this game. I’m so proud of my players,” Victolero said shortly after the Hotshots won the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup in six games against Alaska—102-86 in Game Six—on Wednesday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

The champion coach couldn’t hide his satisfaction, and so does the franchise that waited for four years to finally bag the trophy.

It was in 2013 to 2014, when then head coach, Tim Cone, guided then San Mig Coffee to a season grand slam with James Yap, Peter June Simon and Marc Pingris in their most dominant elements.

But the team surprisingly went blank after that, season after season, and saw

HAPPY ENDING FOR HOTSHOTS its top gun, Yap, and the celebrated Cone transfer to other teams.

Victolero recalled the hardships of his players after taking the helm in 2016.

The team, renamed Star, had three trips to the semifinals last season and lost all of them.

Victolero and wards used those series of meltdowns as motivation to fuel their intention of bagging the crown.

“We had three semifinals [stints] last year, and a Finals in the first conference.

I can’t explain the feeling. We all had our

share of sacrifices,” Victolero said. “We built the chemistry of the team. We consider each other as brothers.”

In the title-clinching Game Six, Magnolia already smelled victory right in the opening quarter when they led 32-18.

Import Romeo Travis was unstoppable and made 18 of his game-high 32 points in the first half.

The locals provided excellent support with Ian Sangalang and Best Player of the Conference Paul Lee contributing 16 points

apiece for the Hotshots.

Finals Most Valuable Player Mark Barroca and backcourt buddy Jio Jalalon added 13 and 11 points, respectively, for Magnolia.

The 16-point title-clinching victory proved that the players did not want a Game Seven. It was also a testament to the Hotshots learning from lessons of the past.

“They really worked for this one. We took our lessons and knew how to finish the series,” Victolero said.

LADY WARRIORS BAG 3RD PLACE U

MLB, union, Cuba unite to halt trafficking of baseball players

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AVANA—Major League Baseball (MLB), its players’ association and the Cuban Baseball Federation reached an agreement that will allow players from the island to sign big league contracts without defecting, an effort to eliminate the dangerous trafficking that had gone on for decades.

The agreement, which runs through October 31, 2021, allows Cubans to sign under rules similar to those for players under contract to clubs in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

“For years, Major League Baseball has been seeking to end the trafficking of baseball

EMPHATIC WIN Super Sonic delivers an emphatic five-length victory

in the Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom) Chairman’s Cup at the Saddle and Clubs Leisure Park in Naic, Cavite. The win is worth P1,200,000 for owner Sandy Javier, who also banks the P70,000 prize as breeder of the winning horse in the race held in honor of the late Philracom Chairman Benedicto Kalaw Katigbak, the “Millennium Transition Chairman,” who was head of the commission from 1998 to 2001.

players from Cuba by criminal organizations by creating a safe and legal alternative for those players to sign with major league clubs,” baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement on Wednesday. “We believe that this agreement accomplishes that objective and will allow the next generation of Cuban players to pursue their dream without enduring many of the hardships experienced by current and former Cuban players who have played Major League Baseball.”

Depending on the quality of future players, the agreement could mean millions of dollars

in future income for the cash-poor Cuban federation, which has seen the quality of players and facilities decline in recent years as talent went overseas.

The agreement marks a step forward in US-Cuba relations during a time of tensions between Cuba and the Trump administration, which has pledged to undo President Barack Obama’s 2014 opening with the island.

MLB said the deal was allowed by amendments to the Cuban Asset Control Regulations of March 16, 2016, that established the provisions of a general license

NIVERSITY of the East (UE) saved its best for last as it crushed Far Eastern University (FEU), 27-25, 25-23, 25-16, to clinch third place in the Philippine Superliga Collegiate Grand Slam on Thursday at the Filoil Flying V Centre.

With skipper Meann Mendez leading the way, the Lady Red Warriors clobbered the Lady Tamaraws in one hour and 26 minutes to make the podium of the collegiate tourney bankrolled by Isuzu, Mikasa, Senoh, Asics, Mueller, UCPB Gen and Bizooku with Genius Sports as technical sponsor.

Mendez dropped bombs from the firing end as she finished 15 kills and an ace for 16 points while Judith Abil delivered 12 markers and 10 excellent receptions for UE, which grabbed its first medal in a major women’s volleyball tournament since Season 67 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.

“Our mindset coming into this match is that we want to finish the season on a positive note. We’re happy to win the bronze medal,” UE Head Coach Karl Dimaculangan said.

Dimaculangan, also an assistant coach at Generika-Ayala and brother of Petron setter

from the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. The league said OFAC confirmed to Major League Baseball in a letter dated September 20, 2016, that an agreement with the Cuban federation would be valid.

Rhea Dimaculangan, said they could have easily finished the Lady Tamaraws if not for their 32 errors.

“We’re still very prone to errors. We gave a lot of points to FEU just like what happened in our loss to them in the eliminations,” Dimaculangan said. “But I’m glad that my players recovered after a tight first two sets and lessen our errors in the third.”

Libero Kath Arado was also instrumental with 16 digs to claim her second bronze medal after an impressive third-place finish by the Lifesavers in the All-Filipino Conference.

Petron and F2 Logistics, however, are still clashing for the All-Filipino gold medal while University of the Philippines and University of Santo Tomas are disputing the Collegiate Grand Slam title at press time.

Lycha Ebon was the lone bright spot with 10 points for the rookieladen Lady Tamaraws, who settled for fourth place.

“Baseball has always been a bridge between our two nations, facilitating people-topeople connections and larger agreements that have brought our countries closer together,” said Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat.

Any disputes between MLB and the Cuban federation are subject to resolution by the International Chamber of Commerce. AP

Inside The Games

THE University of the East Lady Warriors are showing signs of improvement.

Sports

United States teams to play in European snow volleyball

BusinessMirror

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| Friday, December 21, 2018 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

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HEN USA Volleyball asked four-time Olympian Lloy Ball to put together a team for a snow volleyball tournament in Moscow this week, the 2008 gold medalist was eager to accept.

Never mind that he’s never played on the snow before.

Or that, at 46, he’s not a likely candidate for the US Olympic team if the discipline eventually is added to the Winter Games.

“I’ve been playing volleyball my entire life. It would just be an amazing feeling to know that me and my friends would be able to help volleyball grow,” Ball said. “To help be one of the forefathers, to get another discipline of volleyball into the Olympics, it would be awesome.”

The son of a volleyball coach and a member of the US indoor team that won gold in Beijing, Ball played professionally in Russia for six years and was a natural choice to be a part of the first American team to play on the European snow volleyball tour. After what he is calling an exploratory mission, he hopes to report back to the national governing body on how it can help the sport grow.

The ultimate goal: helping snow volleyball earn a spot in the Olympics—perhaps by 2026. If it does, volleyball will be the first sport to be included in both the Summer and Winter Games.

“We want to climb this mountain step by step. We do not want to rush,” said Fabio Azevedo, the general director of the sport’s international governing body, adding that snow volleyball will join the Olympics “as soon as the discipline has an amazing relevance in the world.”

“We have our road map, we have our timeline,” he said. “We really believe it is premature now to mention anything about Winter Olympic Games. I cannot say to you 2026 is realistic or not.”

Still, they are plowing ahead.

After a demonstration at February’s Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, the European governing body held its first snow championships in March.

With its 2018-2019 tour starting this weekend in Moscow, it has invited teams from the United States to compete. (Teams from Kazakhstan and Brazil were also offered wild-card entries.)

Knowing that he spent time in Russia and would make a good ambassador, USA Volleyball Chief Jamie Davis called Ball, who remains active as a coach and a semi-pro grass and beach volleyball player. He pulled together a team with Will Robbins, Kevin Owens and Tomas Goldsmith.

Although they have been training outside in Indiana to get used to the cold, the first time they will play on a snow court will be in Moscow.

“I’m going to rely on my massive amount of repetition and skill training and experience,” Ball said with a laugh. “Hopefully we won’t embarrass ourselves too badly and hopefully we’ll know what to do better next time. I’m going to come back and sit down with Jamie, and maybe say ‘Hey, this is something that can take off.’”

The women’s team for the Moscow tournament, which USA Volleyball put together, consists of Allie Wheeler, Emily Hartong, Katie Spieler and Karissa Cook.

“It’s a milestone for us,” Davis said. “We’re starting at level zero and building this up from scratch.”

“My hope is that we’ll get more and more athletes that are concentrating on snow, in addition to beach and indoor,” he said. “What I would hope for snow volleyball is that we’re going to be able to have player—north, south, east or west—be able to go outdoors to play the sport they love to play.”

Although snow volleyball has kicked around Europe for a decade, its growth has accelerated over the last five years. The European volleyball federation officially recognized the sport in 2015, and a sevenstop European tour is planned for 2018-2019, starting with this week’s event in Moscow.

Azevedo said the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) is hoping to add three more events of its own, including one in Argentina that will be the first outside of Europe. Davis said he hopes to host one in the United States next winter.

From there, the FIVB is planning for a snow volleyball competition at the Youth Olympics and World University Games in 2020 and the winter Military World Games in 2021, along with a possible world championship.

“We are really shaping this new discipline around the world,” Azevedo said, adding that it would have much lower barriers to entry than many winter sports, which require ice rinks or luge runs or mountains.

That could help open the Winter Olympics to countries with successful volleyball programs but no ice or snow.

“Possibly snow volleyball is the only winter sport you can just pass by and play,” Azevedo said. “You just need proper clothes, football cleats and you can play.”

An earlier incarnation of the sport had two-person teams, like beach volleyball, but organizers have tinkered with the rules and settled on three-on-three, with a fourth teammate as a substitute. While indoor sets go to 25 and the beach goes to 21, snow volleyball games are up to 15.

“Thank God, because it is minus 20 in Russia— Celsius,” Ball said.

Although the court layout is similar to beach, the ball is heavier when it gets wet and players wear thermal clothing and soccer cleats for traction. Ball said the sport puts a premium on ball control and serving, because it’s harder to move quickly in the snow.

“As long as you control the serve receive and serve well, I think on any surface you can be successful,” he said. AP

REGULATE SPORTS BETTING

BRAZIL’S Giba (center) tries to block Austria’s Stefanie Schwaiger during a snow volleyball exhibition match at the Austria House in Pyeongchang, South Korea, in February. AP

A

GAMBLERS place bets in the temporary sports betting area at the SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia. AP

CORRUPTION WATCH L

ONDON—Tennis’ governing bodies have promised to deliver a “timely implementation” of recommendations to tackle corruption in the sport.

An independent review of corruption in tennis was prompted after the BBC and BuzzFeed News published reports in January 2016 alleging that governing bodies ignored widespread evidence of match-fixing involving more than a dozen players.

Following the release of an interim report in April, an independent panel has published its final recommendations that include limiting the supply of official live scoring data, eliminating all sponsorship deals with gambling companies, and expanding the staffing and reach of the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU)—the anticorruption group established in 2008.

In a joint statement, the International Tennis Federation, Association of Tennis Professionals, Women’s Tennis Association

and the four Grand Slam tournaments— Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open—said they would work to implement the recommendations, adding that “delivering a world-class anti-corruption regime for professional tennis remains a paramount priority.”

The panel said tennis’ governing bodies were “well-positioned to address the integrity challenges” the sport faces, having previously said there was no evidence of “institutional corruption or cover-up.”

Members of a new, independent supervisory board to provide oversight and guidance of the TIU will be appointed early next year. AP

By Wayne Parry The Associated Press

TLANTIC CITY, New Jersey—A pair of US senators from opposing parties is proposing that the federal government take back control of sports gambling in America, the first formal move by Congress after a Supreme Court ruling reopened a complex debate over fans betting on games and who controls the action.

Several states have begun offering sports betting after New Jersey won a long-fought challenge in May, and many others are expected to take up the issue during new legislative sessions in 2019 as a way to generate millions in revenue.

The federal bill introduced on Wednesday by Sen. Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat, and Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah would have the US Justice Department set minimum standards for states to offer sports betting. It does not explicitly provide the sports leagues the cut of gambling revenue they have been seeking, so-called integrity fees, but does not prohibit them, either.

“I knew that Congress had an obligation to ensure that the integrity of the games we love was never compromised,” Schumer said of the Sports Wagering Market Integrity Act of 2018. “That is why I believe the time is now to establish a strong national integrity standard for sports betting that will protect consumers and the games themselves from corruption.”

Hatch said that once the Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in May, “I began working with stakeholders to ensure we were doing everything possible to protect the integrity of sports from corruption.

“The legislation we’ve introduced today is the culmination of eight months of high-level meetings, discussions, and negotiations, and will serve as a placeholder for the next Congress, should they decide to continue working to address these issues,” said Hatch, who is retiring soon but wanted to show bipartisan support for federal regulation.

The National Football League (NFL) weighed in on Wednesday with a letter to the senators expressing support for the bill.

“The threats posed to the integrity of sporting contests cannot be confined within state borders,” wrote Jocelyn Moore, an NFL executive vice president. “Without

continued federal guidance and oversight, we are very concerned that sports leagues and state governments alone will not be able to fully protect the integrity of sporting contests and guard against the harms Congress has long recognized as being associated with sports betting.”

Likewise, Major League Baseball (MLB) said in a statement, “Legalized sports betting is rapidly spreading across the country, creating a clear need for a set of consistent, nationwide integrity standards to protect the sports that millions of Americans love.”

The Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Tour called for establishment of a national body to oversee the integrity of sports in the United States.

The bill also would provide federal funding from sports betting taxes for programs to address problem gambling.

The eight states that already offer sports betting could still offer it while the Justice Department evaluates the state laws.

So far, legislatures in Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware, West Virginia, Mississippi, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island have legalized sports betting.

And although New Mexico has not passed a sports betting law, the Santa Ana Star Casino and Hotel started taking sports bets in October through a tribal gambling compact. City lawmakers in Washington also voted to legalize sports betting in the District of Columbia on Tuesday, legislation that requires Congressional approval but would make the nation’s capital the first US jurisdiction without casinos to authorize sports books.

Several states have already prefiled sports betting bills for early 2019, including Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia, and Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, which tracks sports betting legislation, predicts 30 states will consider legislation in the new year.

The bill would require sports wagering operators to use data provided or licensed by the leagues.

Legislating that could be tough as data source requirements have been challenged in court in other ways, with courts holding that fantasy sports operators aren’t required to use official league data. Some leagues, like the National Basketball Association (NBA) and MLB, have reached private agreements with casinos for use of data, particularly for wagers made during games on outcomes within each contest.

The federal bill also would create a National Sports Wagering Clearinghouse to receive and share sports wagering data and suspicious transaction reports among sports wagering operators, state regulators, sports organizations and federal and state law enforcement.

New Jersey’s Supreme Court victory set up a patchwork of laws and rules that differ from state to state. Leagues including the NBA, NFL, MLB and National Hockey League have sought one uniform set of rules nationwide.

The bill would allow betting on the Olympics and college sports, but would ban it on other amateur sports.

It also would establish a nationwide self-exclusion list that people with gambling problems can add their names to in order to prohibit sports betting providers from allowing them to bet, similar to state lists that casinos maintain.

It remains to be seen whether the bill has enough support in the incoming Congress to progress. The casino industry’s main trade association, the American Gaming Association, called the bill “the epitome of a solution in search of a problem,” adding that questions like which data should be used by companies should be worked out by the free market, not legislated by the government.

But Schumer said he will push hard for the bill, noting that his political differences with Hatch indicate it is something that has support from both parties.

“No bet is ever a guaranteed win, but it’s a smart bet that I will strongly advocate for this bill to move forward and that Congress will vote to pass federal legislation very soon,” Schumer said.

Ponderings at Christmas

D

EAR God, I unite myself with You as “we” make these prayers and ponderings our own with Your blessings of Love and Grace. May the Joy of Jesus and Mary be ours in this Special Season of Advent and always. Faith in Almighty God, particularly in this Yuletide season, do we truly believe You love us, Oh God. That You are the Creator of all and the source of every gift. Do we pray the “Our Father” everyday and sincerely ask that Your Will be done in, by and all around us? That it will be our Faith-foundation all our lives? May our Faith in Almighty God be well expressed in our daily lives. Amen.

PRAYERS AND PONDERINGS AT CHRISTMAS TIME BY: LUISA M. LACSON AND CHILDREN’S ROSARY FOUNDATION

Word&Life Publications • teacherlouie1965@yahoo.com

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

Life BusinessMirror

GAB FAB: WAY TO GO, CATRIONA! D4

Friday, December 21, 2018 D1

A Cat above the rest

HOMECOMING QUEEN Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray comes home to rapturous cheers from the kids of Young Focus, the NGO she closely works with in Tondo, Manila. With her are former governor Chavit Singson, Architect Richelle Louise Singson-Michael, Miss Universe Organization VP Shawn McClain and Esther Swan. PHOTOS BY NONIE REYES

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By C. Mendez Legaspi

ROM “Girl to Beat” to “Girl on Fire,” Catriona Elisa Magnayon Gray’s exhilarating time in Thailand ended with her being crowned the “Most Beautiful Woman in the Universe.”

The 24-year-old model/musician/martial artist/ poverty alleviator is the 67th Miss Universe, the fourth Filipina to become “Ang Pinakamagandang Babae sa Balat ng Lupa,” after Gloria Aspillera Diaz (1969), Maria Margarita Moran (1973) and Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach (2015).

“When I was 13, my mum told me, ‘Honey, I dreamt of you winning @missuniverse in a red dress.’ At the time I thought nothing of it, and today my mother’s dream came true,” Cat related on her Instagram account, a post that has been liked by 1.8 million people as of our last count, the most for any Filipina. “Where do I even begin? Lord God, I lift everything up to You—to glorify and honor You. [The] Philippines, what an amazing honor it has been to carry your name across my chest and to embody you in all aspects. I may now carry the sash of Miss Universe, but I’ll forever be your Miss Philippines.”

In July, Cat (Muning in Filipino, Luk Maew in Thai) told me that her mum Normita has “loved Miss Universe ever since. I can’t recall her name but when Miss Mexico won in a red dress—” “Lupita Jones?” I interjected “—yes. When my mom first saw her win, she was like, I can just imagine you in a red dress like that.”

Destiny winked at the mother and daughter.

Lupita, Miss Universe 1991 who turned over her crown in Bangkok in 1992, was in the audience at the Impact Arena as the national director for Mexico, and saw Cat join the exclusive Miss Universe Sisterhood.

Also in attendance were former winners Porntip

“Bui Simon” Porntip Nakhirunkanok (1988), Michelle McLean (1992), Denise Quiñones (2001, the national director for Puerto Rico), Natalie Glebova (2005), Gabriela Isler (2013), Pia, Iris Mittenaere (2016) and Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters (2017), who relinquished her title. Thailand’s national treasure Apasra Hongsakula (1965) must have skipped the finals.

“I think Miss Universe is an amazing platform because we are all established, empowered women. And how are we empowering others? We are lifting each other up, and I think that’s amazing because we are crossing country borders while doing that,” Cat said at her first press conference in Bangkok after winning.

Late Wednesday afternoon, Cat flew in a private Gulfstream jet owned by former governor Chavit Singson for a whirlwind but unofficial homecoming.

They were joined by Richelle Singson-Michael, who was a member of the selection committee at Miss Universe 2018 and Miss Universe Organization bigwigs Shawn McClain and Esther Swan.

Seeing our new queen, immaculate in a power pantsuit by Chris Nick, was a welcome sight in an otherwise chaotic event.

“Thank you so much for being here. Para sa iyo ito, Pilipinas,” Cat could only mutter, simply overwhelmed and still processing her victory.

CAT’S IN THE CRADLE A HUNDRED and 4 million Filipinos rejoiced when Cat won. But Australians have also claimed, in a playful way, that she also belongs to them. After all, she was born and raised in Cairns, Queensland, to a Scottish-Australian father, Ian Gray, and a Bicolana mother, Normita Magnayon.

Had she chosen to wear the Miss Australia sash, Cat would’ve been the third from Down Under to become Miss Universe, after Kerry Ann Wells (1972) and Jennifer Hawkins (2004).

At Binibining Pilipinas, Cat represented her mom’s hometown of Oas, Albay. Other Bicolana beauties who were our Miss Universe are Miriam Quiambao (1999), Venus Raj (2010) and Rachel Peters (2017).

CAT’S NINE LIVES LIKE Pia’s story of perseverance, Cat didn’t give up on her dream of becoming an international pageant queen, even after a heartbreaking dubious loss at Miss World 2016. At the risk of another shameful loss, she joined Binibining Pilipinas. And handily won.

Her pageant trajectory isn’t unique though.

Some incredible crossovers from Miss World defeats to Miss Universe triumphs started with Lebanon’s Georgina Rizk (1971). Angela Visser (Holland) was unplaced at Miss World 1988; she won Miss Universe in 1989. Michelle McLean (Namibia) was 4th RunnerUp at Miss World 1991; she was Miss Universe 1992.

Mpule Kwelagobe (Botswana) was unplaced at Miss World 1997. She beat our Miriam (supposedly Binibining Pilipinas World 1999) for the Miss Universe 1999 title.

McLean was crowned in Bangkok in 1992. She was one of the selection-committee members (or “judge,” in ancient times) this year, so shady fans were quick to note that she and Cat shared a pageant journey. Canada’s Natalie Glebova, crowned in Bangkok in 2005, was also a pageant repeater. She previously joined Miss Universe Canada 2004 and emerged third runner-up.

LOOK WHAT THE CAT DRAGGED IN WHEN she teased before her departure to Bangkok that her national costume would be “Buong Pilipinas,” Cat wasn’t kidding one bit. “LuzViMinda: Magdiwang. Lumaban. Pagyamanin” is an astonishing melding of ideas, design and execution

(if cumbersome). The parol (Christmas lantern) had to be perched on a trolley which Cat had to drag on the carpeted stage, scoliosis be damned. But the sensational creation, by Jearson Demavivas (who also made the costumes for Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2017 Elizabeth Clenci), impressed cultural workers that it will be toured around the country.

ALL CATS ARE GRAY ON the catwalk at swimsuit preliminaries, Cat unleashed her slo-mo twirl Lava Walk. At the gown portion, she brandished the stupendous Ibong Adarna gown painstakingly created by the talented Mak Tumang. Both performances sealed her frontrunner status. During the Top 10, however, Cat wore Tumang’s incendiary “Mayon” dress, dropping the jaws of every beauty queen—from past Misses USA Shandi Finnessey, Susie Castillo, Deshauna Barber and Olivia Jordan to Miss Thailand Chalita Suansane and Miss Canada Sierra Bearchell.

At Top 5 was where Cat separated herself from the pack. Flanked on both sides by Miss Puerto Rico Kiara Ortega, Miss Vietnam H’Hen Niê, Miss South Africa Tamaryn Green and Miss Venezuela Sthefany Gutiérrez all wearing seemingly similar-toned gray/ silver/nude gowns, Cat easily stood out in her fiery, sparkling dress.

CAT PEOPLE FROM her stint at Miss World 2016, Cat made friends with Miss Denmark Helena Heuser and Miss Sweden Emma Strandberg who both also competed in Bangkok.

Her roommate, Miss Indonesia Sonia Fergina Citra, will be a lifelong friend, too, as will future roommate in New York, Miss USA Sarah Rose Summers.

Continued on D4

D2

Society BusinessMirror

Friday, December 21, 2018

Putting more ‘Passion Forward’

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ASSION has been the driving force of Stores Specialists Inc. Group, the leading luxury retailer in the Philippines. For 30 years, the company has tirelessly worked on bringing the best of lifestyles to the country through its curated selection of brands from all over the world. From being a retail company, SSI has evolved into a tastemaker and curator for

Filipinos—a multifaceted provider of diverse merchandise reaching a broader market and influencing the lifestyles and preferences of the many.

As it celebrates a new milestone, SSI (ssilife. com.ph) launched its “The Curated Life” campaign earlier this year, with the aim to inspire, enable, indulge and rally its consumers to pursue a life well lived. More than just a campaign, The Curated

z

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Life is anchored on passion in particular—for living to the fullest and striving only for the best.

The launch of the campaign also showcased a photo exhibit by recognized industry photographers Mark Nicdao, Kai Huang and Cyrus Panganiban, together with photographer hobbyist Kyla Olives and film director Paul Soriano. Needless to say, not a few of the Metro’s well-heeled names turned out for the occasion.

Today’s Horoscope

By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Steven Yeun, 35; Ray Romano, 61; Samuel L. Jackson, 70; Jane Fonda, 81.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Keep things in perspective this year.

If you let your emotions take over, you will miss out on what’s truly important. Organize your time and refuse to let anyone lure you with fancy words and ideas that will not benefit you. It’s time to look out for No. 1 and to make sure you take care of your needs first. Your lucky numbers are 9, 13, 22, 28, 32, 35, 44.

a

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Personal changes can be made that will improve your relationships with the people you care about most. As long as your intentions are good and your motives honorable, you should face little resistance.

Joint ventures will be misleading and fruitless. ««««

b

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Take responsibility and you will be respected for your input. A serious discussion with someone you love will get results and help you bring about positive changes to your lifestyle, as well as to your romantic encounters. «««

c

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Don’t take on other people’s problems. If someone insists you do something you don’t want to do, be blunt and say no. Making promises you don’t intend to keep will end up putting you in a worse predicament. «««

RUSTAN Commercial Corp. Chairman and CEO Nedy Tantoco and Rustan Commercial Corp. Chairman Emeritus Ambassador Bienvenido Tantoco Sr.

d SSI Group Inc. President Anton Huang with wife Nina

BEA ZOBEL JR., Mia Borromeo, and Paloma Urquijo Zobel

PATXI and Sofia Elizalde

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Share your thoughts and feelings with someone you love.

If you work as a team, you will get things done.

Walk away from anyone trying to entice you into lavish expenditures or indulgent behavior. Romance should be a priority. «««

e

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You’ll have some great ideas, but before you get started, make sure you have the means to take on what you propose. Wanting to impress others will turn out to be your downfall. It’s best to offer less and do more. ««««

f

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Stick to your budget, and make sure everyone else does, as well. Monitor what’s going on around you and consider how best to avoid an emotional incident.

Someone is likely to withhold the truth. Get the facts and avoid joint endeavors. ««

TOOTSIE ANGARA, Carlo Katigbak and Ernie Lopez

IRENE MARTEL FRANCISCO, Mia Borromeo, Barbara Aboitiz, Margarita Delgado and Lizzie Zobel

MAJA OLIVARES-CO, Nina Huang, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Conrad Onglao and Anton Huang

g

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): A trip or conversation will be a learning experience. Listen carefully and offer only what you know is applicable.

Knowledge will give you the upper hand, so don’t give away all your secrets. Don’t disregard an older relative.

«««««

Manila’s largest indoor Christmas lighthouse is lit

h

PAN Pacific Manila in Malate, Manila, station and holiday-inspired desserts. central attraction. The 15-feet Christmas set sail to a nautical-inspired Christmas Drawing inspiration from the hotel’s Lighthouse represents the light that as it marked the start of the Yuletide brand narrative of providing a safe guides guests as they sail home to their season on November 14 at the Pan Pacific harbor amid the perilous waters of loved ones this Christmas. The hotel Manila Lobby with its annual tree-lighting everyday routine, the hotel offers new and provides relevant choices from special ceremony attended by guests, clients, refreshing Christmas specials to make this banquet arrangements, exclusive dining partners and key media personalities. year holiday celebration more memorable. offers, room packages, and other all The event kicked off with the arrival Alighted at the center of the lobby, the inclusive indulgences as they host your of guest of honor, Honorable Mayor of hotel boasts of having Manila’s largest family traditions or make new ones this Manila Joseph Ejercito Estrada and a indoor Christmas Lighthouse as its Yuletide season. brief welcome message from the hotel’s general manager, Richard Masselin. Also present at the ceremony were Miss Earth 2017 Karen Ibasco, Miss Earth Philippines 2018 Celeste Cortesi, and Manila District 5 Councilor Ricardo Isip and Manila District 4 Councilor Atty. Bimbo Eduardo Quintos XVI. The hotel’s singing ambassadors, The Butler Chorale, serenaded the guests with classic Christmas carols while the hotel’s culinary team COUNCILOR Ricardo Isip, Hon. Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada, Miss prepared a festive buffet feast PAN Pacific Manila General Manager Earth 2017 Karen Ibasco, Miss Earth Philippine 2018 Celeste Cortesi complete with a ham carving Richard Masselin and Miss Earth Phillipines Fire Jean de Jesus.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Get together with friends or relatives for an early festive gathering. Someone will offer you something of value. Find out what’s expected in return before you accept. Romance should be a priority. «««

i

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Emotional matters can get you into trouble if you haven’t been honest about the way you feel. Don’t hide from the truth or evade issues, or you will make matters worse. Clear the air, and you’ll feel better moving forward.

«««

j

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Make a lastminute change for the right reason. Don’t leave someone out of your plans. Remembering mistakes is one thing, but holding a grudge is another. Show compassion and understanding when dealing with friends, relatives and those you live with. «««

k

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Time spent at home in preparation for upcoming events will make you feel good about what you are doing and how you are going to spend the remainder of the year.

Youngsters will be insightful and offer an innocent point of view. «««««

l

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Going out with friends will lead to emotional situations due to indulgent behavior by you or someone you are with. Try to curb any tendency to overdo it emotionally, physically or financially. A practical outlook will save you from loss and regret. «« THE Pan Pacific Manila Christmas Lighthouse

BIRTHDAY BABY: You are careful, respectful and fair.

You are outspoken and supportive.

‘clapper your hands’ BY TIMOTHY E. PARKER The Universal Crossword/Edited by Timothy E. Parker

ACROSS 1 Far-ranging 5 Some are checkered 10 Win -___ record 14 Superior’s wet inferior 15 Decorate 16 Progress slowly 17 Stir things up 18 Vanquished disease 19 Arctic seabird 20 Ringer on a fair-haired weapon?

23 “Million” attachments 24 Card rules expert 25 Puts on a drama 28 Bread in India 30 Luxury theater seating 31 Grit 33 Dripping 36 Conductor’s way to track paying customers?

40 Seed vessel with hooks (var.)

41 Record material 42 Cotton fabric type 43 Fairy godmother’s prop

4 Self-sacrificer 4 46 Leading 49 Semi-sheer fabric 51 Like the Philly Liberty display?

57 Worms, often 58 Propelled a gondola 59 Italian evening 60 Comics canine 61 “There ___ such a clatter ...”

62 Clark of comics 63 It’s not now, go back 64 Spread about 65 Creative thought DOWN 1 “Stop,” in “Don’t stop” 2 Seed cover 3 Cylinder on a farm 4 High schooler 5 Writing material 6 Clay brick 7 A capella features 8 Minor haircut 9 Haughty type 10 Capital of Portugal

1 Tonally pleasing 1 12 Racing boat 13 Fossil source 21 Stop living 22 Marching band hat 25 Pitcher’s rubber 26 Some health food 27 Culture site 28 No longer in effect 29 Colony bug 31 E-mail icon 32 Wood layer 33 Court order 34 TV prize 35 Kremlin dweller, once 37 Manage to avoid 38 Container type 39 Aspen social 43 Basketball legend Bill 44 Mold go-with 45 Frazier rival 46 Monastery bigwig 47 Actor Ledger 48 “Who’s Who” group

9 Grounds for a medal 4 50 Overly heavy 52 Relaxing spots 53 Libel, e.g.

54 Observe 55 Marine flier 56 Facts

Solution to yesterday’s puzzle:

Relationships BusinessMirror

Friday, December 21, 2018

Loving Tito Mon

D3

TITO MON

showing us how to eat a panizza.

AT our

friend, Des Ferriols’ wedding, with Erik de la Cruz and Jun Ebias.

ANOTHER

fun-filled dinner with former Gov. Say Tetangco and wife Elma, with Donnabelle Gatdula, Dax Lucas, Kler Batino, Marianne Go and Fil Sionil.

SOMETHING LIKE LIFE MA. STELLA F. ARNALDO @akosistellaBM

I

GIGISA mo ng matagal yung mga kamatis, sis, para kumatas sya ng husto” was Tito Mon’s reminder to me as I tried my hand in cooking pork binagoongan. He insisted this was his secret to his famous dish, which we, his friends and alaga among the reporters who hung out at the Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas (BSP) media office, were lucky to have enjoyed at various occasions.

But try as might, I just couldn’t get the dish right, prompting me to remark that it was his sweat, as he slaved over the stove, that was the real katas or secret ingredient to his flavorful dish. To which he retorted, in his trademark half-taray, half-joking squeal, “Syempre!”

Two years ago, as he finally retired from the BSP after serving for 37 years and seven central bank governors, Tito Mon, or Ramon Lozano, was honored with a retirement party thrown by us, some 60 current and former banking reporters. Many of them read like a veritable who’s who in the challenging world of business journalism. It was also graced

by his friends from the banking and public-relations professions, as well as by then-BSP Governor Say Tetangco, who was incredulous that we were celebrating, when we should be despondent over Tito Mon’s retirement. (See, “A retirement party like no other” in BusinessMirror, February 18, 2016.)

Since his retirement, however, we had only been treated to Tito Mon’s delicious dish twice, busy as he was with traveling, gardening and putting up his small convenience store near the corner of the village where he lived.

It took quite some time for him to host us again for a binagoongan lunch, which took place a few weeks after his birthday in September, because the price of tomatoes was at an all-time high. (Thank you, runaway inflation.) Our friend Fil was only able to convince him to host us again as she informed him that the price of tomatoes had finally dropped. “Ganorn?!” is what I imagine Tito Mon had retorted.

(To be fair, Tito Mon was just too busy to see us during his birthday month as he was entertaining his relatives from abroad. He loved his nephews and nieces dearly, and during our long drives from the BSP going home—I usually hitched a ride because we both lived in Quezon City—he always spoke proudly of their accomplishments.)

It was a traffic-less Sunday in October, with the sun bearing down hard and hot on the roads leading to Tito Mon’s house. And despite my proximity to his home, I was late and missed other friends who had briefly dropped by just for lunch. It was another rousing time for gossip and mayhem, with generally laughter going all around his living room and dining area, as we parried with each other in jest. And Tito Mon, of course, had fresh bananas

on the side, just for me, as he knew I always ate a few with my meal. He was always thoughtful.

With the last bits and crumbs scraped from the chafing dish, each of us eagerly took home his binagoongan, which I consumed in small portions days after, in an effort to make it last a week or two.

I now wish I didn’t eat any of it and just stuck it in the freezer, to be microwaved only for the times when I need to be comforted and hugged by Tito Mon. You see, that lunch was our last with Tito Mon. In the early hours of December 16, he passed away after a bout with acute pneumonia. I had been able to visit him at the hospital where he was confined at the ICU. Fortunately, I was allowed to enter his room. I squeezed his hand and when I softly called out his name, he woke up and looked at me in recognition. But he fell right back to sleep, embraced by the powerful sedative coursing through his system.

“Please fight, Tito Mon,” I repeatedly told him. “Lapit na Christmas.

You have to cook pa your binagoongan for your relatives,” I said in jest. I also told him how much we all loved him, and that he should be up and about for our next get-together. There was no response of course as he continued to sleep. I spoke to the attending fellows outside his room, and found out that he had awakened a few times. This gave me some measure of hope that he was going to survive this illness. In fact, I even wrapped his gift, along with many others, until 6 am on Sunday. So I was quite shocked when I read the Viber messages from our group that Tito Mon had passed away that morning.

Understandably, all of us are grief stricken. Tito Mon was more than just a friend, he was family. He was there whenever we

needed him. He was our confidant, support group and therapist rolled into one. The gang used to joke that we would all set up our homes in a compound and Tito Mon would stay in the main house, running the kitchen where we would all have our meals together.

We even went so far as to check out a property in Tagaytay for this purpose.

I’m despondent that we never pushed this plan far enough, because I know, if we all lived together, we would have taken care of each other, and maybe Tito Mon wouldn’t have fallen ill the way that he did. Someone, nay, all of us, would have certainly nagged him to see a doctor, or dragged him ourselves to the hospital to get better treatment for his constant coughs. If only...if only....

I write this on the day we will be seeing you for the first time in the memorial chapel where your remains lie, Tito Mon. I told Erik I didn’t want to look at you lying in your coffin, because I don’t want that to be my last memory of you. I want to keep remembering you for the vibrant, jolly and heart-warming soul you have always been. I want my brain to imprint your wide smile and laughing eyes, or your irap with your matching, “Ganorn?!” retorts when pretending to be bitching at me.

I won’t ever forget you, Tito Mon. Through thick and thin, like those bloody tomatoes sweating it out in the frying pan to make your wonderful binagoongan, you stuck it out with me, with many of us. Stewing, mixing, and blending your personality with our often-prickly characters to cook up indelible and marvelous friendships. You are the secret ingredient, that special katas in our lives. We are all better people because of you.

When cringeworthy gifts are worse than inconsiderate

By Deborah Y. Cohn

New York Institute of Technology EVER wondered why your mom bought you that inexplicable thing? You’re not alone.

I have spent years doing consumer research related to gift-giving.

In my field, conventional wisdom surmises that when gifts fail to please recipients, it’s accidental. But I’ve determined that sometimes people give bad gifts on purpose.

My personal interest in this dynamic stems from a gag present my dad gave me when I was a kid. As I unwrapped his box in a box in a box, the anticipation grew bigger as the boxes got smaller. When I found that the last box was empty, it crushed me. He thought it was funny. (In my dad’s defense, this happened on April Fool’s Day, an occasion on which we had no gift-giving traditions.)

But I never could shake my urge to learn why someone would give such a rotten gift.

Studying mean gifts

THE total cost of unwanted gifts is high, both in terms of dollars and in damaged relationships, I’ve found in my research.

Unwanted merchandise returned to US retailers during the 2015 holiday season (excluding fraud cases) totaled $60.84 billion. This sum of course leaves out the many unwanted gifts that are regifted,

ignored, sold, donated or thrown away.

No data exist about how many presents are cruel, but this problem has implications for brands, retailers, marketers and consumers at a time when the National Retail Federation predicts that Americans are spending an estimated $678.75 billion a year on presents.

Depending on whether you’ve got similar tales of woe, you may (or may not) be surprised to learn that many people intentionally give gifts with no concerns for the recipient’s feelings.

Although it seems nonsensical to give someone a gift that will damage a relationship rather than strengthen it, some people deliberately do just that.

Not only are these returns a drag for businesses, they harm friendships and fray family bonds.

To undertake a study of mean presents, the first of its kind, I did in-depth interviews individually with the people in 15 relationships. Each interview with one member of these couples began with the question, “Can you tell me about gift-giving between you and your partner over the course of time?” In these interviews, couples often spoke about gifts exchanged within their families, too.

To broaden the study, I searched family-focused message boards at the Babycenter.com web site using the keyword “gifts” and analyzed the more than 400,000 relevant results.

People, it turns out, really like to talk about gifts.

They talk online about great gifts and horrible gifts. They seek help from others to figure out what went wrong. They like to complain when

they suspect that someone has intentionally given them an awful present.

5 kinds of inconsiderate presents

After reviewing the data, I identified five categories of inconsiderate gifts. n CONFRONTATIONAL The first are gifts that are essentially personal affronts. One of my personal favorites is the pregnancy test a woman actually gave her childless daughter-in-law for Christmas.

I was also shocked by this other example that is purely aggressive rather than passive aggressive: A woman bought her grown son a book about Christianity knowing that he had given up the faith and didn’t appreciate being reminded of his mother’s disapproval. n SELFISH “To-you-for-me” gifts benefit givers more than recipients.

One sports-loving man in my study epitomized this category by giving his wife a big-screen television for her birthday, just in time for the Super Bowl that she didn’t plan to watch. n AGGRESSIVE Sometimes gifts are explicitly meant to offend.

For example, after a man in my study gave his wife lawn furniture for Mother’s Day, she told him she hated the pattern and asked him to return it.

Instead, he bought her more of that furniture for her birthday a few weeks later.

This category of crummy gifts signals a deteriorating relationship.

Indeed, this couple got divorced not long after these incidents. n OBLIGATORY It’s always hard to select gifts when the giver doesn’t know or especially care what the recipient would want.

These obligatory presents, often exchanged and opened in front of groups, are not malicious gifts. They are simply meant to check a box. If everyone gathering round a Christmas tree is going to be giving each other something, you may feel safer giving your Aunt Sally a completely random thing even if you have no clue about what she’d like.

One woman bought her husband clothes for his birthday even though she knew he would end up returning most of them. When asked, “If you knew he wouldn’t like it, why did you buy it?,” she replied, “Probably just so he would have something on his birthday.” She felt the need to give a gift, but no need to please her husband. n COMPETITIVE Gifts given for bragging rights are intended to “out-gift” someone else. A common example of this is what happens when someone gives their grandchild a present the kid’s parents specifically said not to buy.

One woman in my study reported that her parents were competing with her in-laws to give her kids increasingly large and extravagant gifts over her objections—then posting about it on Facebook.

To be sure, these categories may overlap. Ill-conceived gifts can be both aggressive and competitive, and “to-you—for-me” presents can also be confrontational.

Typical Americans are buying 15 gifts this holiday season. If any of yours sound like they fit the mold of these crummy presents, there’s still time to alleviate the suffering by not going through with your plan to give someone a cruel gift—or at least to apologize if it’s too late. AP

REBUILDING HOPE: SCPA BUILDS NEW HOMES FOR BOHOL EARTHQUAKE SURVIVORS

SRIRAM JAMBUNATHAN, general manager for GSK Philippines Pharmaceuticals, engaged with some of the children at the Gawad Kalinga site in Sagay, Negros Occidental, where the company donated 50 houses and a fully equipped health center to families displaced by Supertyphoon Yolanda.

GSK’S Rommel Abuda (left) and Macky Estur visited the Gawad Kalinga Sagay community in Negros Occidental and volunteered to help beautify the site.

RITESH PANDEY (third from right), general manager for GSK Philippines Consumer Healthcare, and his team visited beneficiaries of Smile Train in a partner institution.

400 GSK Philippines employees volunteer for Orange Day VOLUNTEERISM involves a person or a group of people participating in projects that are beneficial to the community’s well-being. Volunteerism is the spirit behind GSK’s Orange Day, when employees get one paid day off to volunteer at a nonprofit organization of their choice.

On November 23, 400 employees of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Philippines visited 16 Gawad Kalinga sites and two Smile Train partner institutions in the country, including Antipolo in Rizal, Sagay in Negros Occidental, Naga in Camarines Sur, Quezon Province, Laguna, Pasig-San Jose, Muntinlupa, Pasig, Santa Mesa, Bataan, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Caloocan, Davao, General Santos, La Union and Las Piñas.

“We encourage our employees in GSK to volunteer and contribute to our local communities. It helps our employees gain new experiences and skills, creating a deeper understanding of patient needs. Employees come back with a different view and serve as change agents in GSK,” said Sriram Jambunathan, general manager for GSK Philippines Pharmaceuticals.

All GSK employees are entitled to employee volunteering, which means they can take one paid day off per year to pursue an authorized charity activity. Although there are multiple ways of volunteering at GSK, Orange Day is a key flagship program launched in 2009.

The company believes that by volunteering, employees are challenged

to think differently, develop leadership skills and heighten cultural agility.

Further, GSK believes that they can also be instruments in helping create positive, sustainable change for nonprofit partners, and the communities they serve; and that through their experiences, they bring fresh ideas and new energy back to the company.

“One day of volunteering can have impact on the health and wellbeing of local communities where we operate. Besides this, volunteering is also a great way to demonstrate and live our values outside of the organization,” said Ritesh Pandey, general manager for GSK Philippines Consumer Healthcare.

FAMILIES still recovering from the 2013 Bohol Earthquake will have a truly blessed Christmas this year. For the first time since the earthquake struck five years ago, 40 families will celebrate the holidays in new homes built by Sanitary Care Products Asia Inc. (SCPA) with Habitat for Humanity Philippines (Habitat Philippines).

In 2013 a 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck the province of Bohol and left thousands of families homeless until today. SCPA partnered with Habitat Philippines’ “Rebuild Bohol Project” to rehabilitate affected communities. SCPA funneled P1 million to the said project with the hope of providing more than just shelter, but also to build hope and rebuild lives.

SCPA is a Filipino-run company that has always dedicated its service to fellow Filipinos. In 2016 the company marked its 20th anniversary and felt that donating to Habitat Philippines was the best way to celebrate it. The project initially committed to construct 20 houses in the calamity-stricken area.

This act of generosity inspired renowned business Executive Herbert Sy to donate another million, thereby doubling the project’s targets.

The project’s completion came just in time for the Christmas season. Now with 40 houses built, recipients can make new and happy memories in their new homes.

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D4 Friday, December 21, 2018

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A Cat above the rest Continued from D1

In a daring move that will have repercussions in the local pageant world, Cat didn’t train with any beauty camp. In preparing for the pageant, she instead enlisted the help of a battalion of creative, innovative and imaginative minds. Besides designers Demavivas and Tumang, Cat counts as her champions runway coach Carlos Buendia Jr.; managers Harley Tan and Erickson Raymundo; shoe designer Jojo Bragais; hairstylist Brent Sales; mentor Nicole Cordoves; stylists Justine Aliman, Vhee Co, Francis Chee and Patrick Henry; videographer Jojo Luarca; and makeup artist Jelly Eugenio.

‘THEY CALL HER THE CAT’ TWO flags were raised at this year’s pageant: the Philippines’ and the Rainbow Flag, carried by the transgender Miss Spain Angela Ponce.

Cat is a staunch ally of the LGBTQ community, and she doesn’t tiptoe around the issue. She previously told me: “I think it’s so important to hear [the transgenders’] side, because if not, it’s all speculation: they must be like this, they must see things like this. To push those labels and to push those opinions on them without letting them speak, I think that’s the greatest injustice. That’s why Angela’s joining is a turning point because she’s being that figure for the LGBTQ community. She’s being a spokesperson for the transgenders to say that, ‘We deserve a place in society. This is our side.

Please listen to us.’ Yeah, I think it’s wonderful that it has come up this year.” (By the way, the tag is an Elton John song about a sex change.)

CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF INSTEAD of clapping as one country for Cat’s victory, some netizens were yapping about Cat’s reply to the final question, claiming she “romanticized” poverty. Not to put a dampener on the collective euphoria being felt all around, Cat’s favorite NGO Young Focus founders Paul and Ann Van Wijgerden didn’t want to cause Cat undue worry and came to her defense.

Cat reposted this note from Bebo Bharwani, a board member of the NGO, on her Instagram: “Now, for those who may have jumped the gun, who may have not understood ‘the beauty in poverty’ idea from the final question—from what I’ve seen, and from the friends I’ve made who have devoted their

lives in working to help the poor, they would say, ‘Absolutely 100 percent there is no beauty in poverty.’

As a matter of fact, when you do visit, you see the evil underbelly of a system [that] deliberately keeps things unequal.

“So the beauty Cat speaks of isn’t from a general point of view that romanticizes poverty. The beauty she speaks of comes from what she has discovered in the stories of the kids, the families and the people who have devoted their lives in serving others. They come from knowing actual names, hearing actual dreams. And her response has always been to cheer people on, and whenever she could, she would led her resources. She gave a voice to those we have long forgotten. We are so proud of her and the works she’s done.”

YEAR OF THE CAT Everyone agrees that Cat went over and beyond what was expected her. She was the most wellprepared, sparing no expense traveling the archipelago to film informative videos and to do research on her costumes, as well as her daily outfits throughout the competition. At 94 contenders, it was the toughest in years played out in the best edition in recent memory.

As Miss Universe, her plan is to continue her advocacies: “I would definitely love to expand the platform that I already have with regards to education.

I work closely with an HIV/AIDS organization in the Philippines. It’s something that I feel very passionately about because a few years ago, I lost a good friend to

Way to go, Catriona!

GAB FAB JET VALLE

@jetvalle

THE GMA team behind Stand for Truth: (from left) Senior Program Manager Nowell Cuanang, First Vice President for Public Affairs Nessa Valdellon, Assistant Vice President Jaileen Jimeno and GMA News Online Editor in Chief Jaemark Tordecilla.

GMA receives YouTube Innovation Grant for ‘Stand for Truth’; more ‘surprises’ in radio campaign TOUTED as the most internationally awarded broadcast news organization in the country, GMA News and Public Affairs just received an innovation funding grant from the world’s leading online video platform YouTube.

The grant enables GMA News and Public Affairs to mount a major innovation project involving news. The winning proposal—Stand for Truth: Powered by GMA’s Digital Video Lab, a weeknight news program produced by the young, for the young—will contain elements never been used before in traditional GMA newscasts.

The newscast will be headlined by a young set of anchors with reporters from all over the country and will be powered by the GMA Digital Video Lab. It will incorporate music, the latest in mobile journalism and new storytelling tools for online publishing. Stand for Truth is set to launch a month before the 2019 elections.

“This is our opportunity to create a prototype of the GMA newsroom of the future,” shares GMA Network’s First Vice President for Public Affairs Nessa Valdellon. “We will be producing Stand for Truth with YouTube’s funding—a newscast for younger viewers which will innovate in its digital executions. We can’t help but be excited.”

Meanwhile, Radio GMA’s nationwide proof of purchase (POP) promo “RGMA Pera Sorpresa” (bit. ly/2EFPtaf) is back with a new and exciting season with bigger and more prizes to be given away weekly.

For eight weeks that began on November 26, Pera Sorpresa will draw 16 weekly winners which will receive P1,500 from each of the 15 RGMA areas (Manila, Tuguegarao, Dagupan, Baguio, Lucena, Naga, Legazpi, Palawan, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Kalibo, Davao, Cagayan de Oro and General Santos).

Additionally, there will be 15 bonus prize winners of P10,000 and six more winners of P5,000 which will all be drawn randomly during the eight-week period.

During the grand draw, all nonwinning entries will get a chance to become the lucky winner of P1 million. Five winners from South Luzon, North Luzon, the Visayas, Mindanao and Mega Manila will also get to win P25,000 each. All prizes are tax-free.

The participating sponsors this season are Petron, Bear Brand, Nescafé, Rexona, Carbocistine Solmux, MultiVitamins Minerals Plus Amino Acids Revicon Forte, King Cup Sardines and Nature’s Spring.

NOW it can be told. I’m part of Team Catriona Gray.

No, I’m not her stylist. Nor her catwalk coach. Nor her hair or makeup stylist, and neither her Q&A coach. Heck, she doesn’t even know me.

I’m just Team Catriona Gray as a prayer warrior. One of her millions actually.

The day she arrived in Bangkok to compete in this year’s Miss Universe, I included her in my daily prayers. That she gives us our fourth crown.

I wouldn’t have settled for a semifinal finish. Kahit nga mag first runner-up sya, magwawala ako. For me, Catriona Gray was destined to be Miss Universe.

This was not like when Pia Wurtzbach competed. I fervently prayed for Pia to win too but in my mind, she had a lot going on and the odds were stocked against her.

Beauty observers at the time noted that you never know which Pia was going to show up in the pageant. On any given day, she could kick anyone’s butt, but given her prior performances in Bb. Pilipinas, she could have just as easily lost to anyone. This is what makes Pia so fascinating to watch. Every point from the judge was a challenge, any second she could break down and just go home as a TYG (Thank You Girl). The last time she lost the war with herself in Bb. Pilipinas, that’s exactly what happened.

But those experiences have honed Pia and she emerged as the best version of herself in the Miss Universe pageant, stomping her way to the crown, shoving away the pesky Miss Colombia who still insists she won and held the crown for five minutes. Tse! Catriona, on the other hand, is consistent, methodical and smooth.

All her moves are calculated. From her wave when she arrived at the airport, to her iconic slow-motion twirl and her final pose in the tableau, to her thoughtful pause in the final question—you knew she planned all this. And it paid off.

Until now, I’m still recovering from all the shouting and crying I did on Monday. All the stress-eating I did during the pageant. All the expletives I screamed at Miss South Africa and Miss Venezuela, whom I considered were her fiercest competitors. How I wanted to throw one of the big bag of chips I was holding to Carson Kressley and Lu Sierra for

health complications with HIV. So spreading awareness on that cause and encouraging people to take a simple test and knowing their status is one of my first projects that I want to pursue.”

“Other than that, [I want to talk] about education for young children in impoverished areas. There are so many children that don’t have access to quality education. So I would love to speak on that matter also. And, of course, I’m willing to lend my voice to any cause that may come in my way,” Cat said during her first press conference in Bangkok after winning.

“I’ve been working with [Young Focus] for three years now even before I pursued pageants, so it really is in my heart. And I’m very proud if the judges saw that and that’s one of the reasons why I’m here.”

not even considering Catriona in their short list to win! Bruha sila!

Anyway, congratulations, Catriona! And to the next candidate we will send, go for a back-to-back. nnn

MAALAALA MO KAYA, or MMK, Asia’s longest-running drama anthology known for chronicling real-life stories on the struggles and experiences of Filipinos from all walks of life, made history by winning Best Single Drama/Telemovie at the inaugural Asian Academy Creative Awards in Singapore recently.

The show’s winning entry is “Kotse-Kotsehan” (with the international title “Toy Car”), a special two-part episode of MMK, which depicted the two perspectives of a mother’s love for her children, and topbilled by awardwinning actress Angel Locsin and Dimples Romana.

Receiving the award, MMK Business Unit Head Roda dela Cerna shared the recognition with the “two mothers who entrusted their life stories to [the show].” She also thanked the men and women behind the multiawarded drama anthology.

MMK qualified for the international gala finals after being declared the national winner in the said category in October.

The Asian Academy Creative Awards was held during the 2018 Singapore Media Festival, and was created to “celebrate the best of Asian storytelling” and aims “to serve the creative industries as the pinnacle of their achievement in content creation and media production.”

Aside from the Asian Academy Creative Awards, MMK also won the Household Favorite Award and the Anak TV Seal Awardee 2018 at the Anak TV Seal Awards on December 7.

The longest-running drama anthology in Asia, MMK airs every Saturday on ABS-CBN.

Some advertisers leave Carlson show after immigrant comments

By Mae Anderson The Associated Press

ATLANTA—Some advertisers say they are leaving conservative host Tucker Carlson’s show following his remarks that immigrants could make the United States “poorer and dirtier.”

It’s the latest example of sponsors leaving a Fox News Channel show after controversy, but experts say the flap is likely to blow over. So far, the show’s biggest advertisers appear to be sticking with him and his prime-time show, Tucker Carlson Tonight.

Carlson said last Thursday that there’s pressure from “our leaders” to accept immigrants “even if it makes our own country poorer and dirtier and more divided.” He added on Monday that in the Southwest, “thanks to illegal immigration, huge swaths of the region are covered with garbage and waste that degrade the soil and kill wildlife.”

The comments caused a furor on social media. Several advertisers, including the IHOP restaurant chain, personal finance web site NerdWallet and Pacific Life insurance, have pulled advertising from the show. (NerdWallet is a content partner of The Associated Press.) SmileDirectClub said it is working with its ad buyers to stop running ads during any political opinion shows.

“As a company, we strongly disagree with Mr. Carlson’s statements,” Pacific Life said in a tweet on Thursday. “Our customer base and our work force reflect the diversity of our great nation, something we take great pride in.”

IHOP Spokesman Stephanie Peterson said the chain continually evaluates ad placements to make sure they align with the company’s values of “welcoming all folks from all backgrounds and beliefs.” She said the company will continue to advertise on other Fox News programs.

Earlier this year, Laura Ingraham lost some advertisers after she made

negative comments about Florida school shooting survivor David Hogg. And last year, Bill O’Reilly saw advertisers abandon him following reports of sexualmisconduct complaints against him; he left the network shortly afterward.

Fox News Channel said in a statement that “left wing advocacy groups” were using social media to “stifle free speech.” The network said it “continues to stand by and work with our advertisers through these unfortunate and unnecessary distractions.” Later on Tuesday, Fox issued another statement saying it won’t allow Carlson to be “censored by agenda-driven intimidation efforts.” Fox added that all advertisers have switched their ads to other shows, so no revenue was lost.

Carlson said he would not back down to criticism.

“We’re not intimidated,” he wrote. “We plan to try to say what’s true until the last day. And the truth is, unregulated mass immigration has badly hurt this country’s natural landscape.”

Most of Carlson’s biggest advertisers are sticking with the show or staying mum.

MyPillow, which makes pillows and mattress toppers, has no plans to leave. It’s the show’s biggest advertiser in terms of dollars spent, according to Kantar Media.

“I make all of my advertising decisions based on what is best for MyPillow, my customers and my employees,” MyPillow inventor and CEO Mike Lindell said in a statement on Tuesday.

The number five top advertiser, AstraZeneca, said it would “continue to assess our advertising purchases regarding the heightened attention surrounding this matter,” but did not announce any action.

The other top three advertisers, Rosland Capital, a precious metals asset firm, and weight-loss companies Jenny Craig and Nutrisystem, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

‘YOU’ BRAND-NEW TRAILER LAUNCHED WHAT would you do for love? When a brilliant bookstore manager crosses paths with an aspiring writer, his answer becomes clear: anything. Using the Internet and social media as his tools to gather the most intimate of details and get close to her, a charming and awkward crush quickly becomes obsession as he quietly and strategically removes every obstacle—and person—in his way.

Based on Caroline Kepnes’ best-selling novel of the same name, You stars Penn Badgley (Gossip Girl), Shay Mitchell (Pretty Little Liars) and Elizabeth Lail (Once Upon A Time). The special guest star is John Stamos. Its Season 1 premieres on December 26. Netflix has picked up Season 2 as a Global Original.

Motoring BusinessMirror

Henry Ford Awards Best Motoring Section 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 2011 Hall of Fame

Editor: Tet Andolong

Friday, December 21, 2018 E1

AYALA VOWS TO OFFER

BETTER SERVICE KIA vehicles

K

Story by Ronald de los Reyes

IA, with the global mantra: “The Power to Surpise,” has been known for its durability, reliability and after-sales service worldwide. Thus, it has been one of the strongest players in the global automotive industry.

every customer an exceptional service experience. Marketing and promotional activities for the new models will, likewise, be heightened both in mainstream and new media.

It was also revealed during the media gathering that more exciting and competitively priced models will be rolled out, with three new models to be introduced in 2019. This would hopefully delight customers in all stages of the ownership and maintenance process.

Confident to reach 10,000 units in 2019

MANNY ALIGADA, who worked for Globe for 14 years, as well as Isuzu and Honda brands, is the new president of Kia Philippines PHOTO BY RONALD DE LOS REYES

Back in the Philippines, however, the brand has been in a slump for three years now with even projected dismal market share of less than 1 percent by the end of 2018.

With this, AC Automotive, Ayala Corp.’s automobile business company operating under AC Industrials (ACI), will be taking on the reins and will officially relaunch the Kia brand in the Philippines on January 30, 2019. The company now owns a large fraction of the brand with its former distributor Columbian Autocar Corp. still keeping an insignificant part of it.

“Our aim is to stabilize the business, build the Kia brand emphasizing on the Ayala partnership together with reviving the interest in the brand and strengthening the dealer network and maximizing the current presence,” said Kia Philippines’s new president Manny Aligada during a recent media presentation held at Fairmont Hotel in Makati.

According to him, they intend to first stabilize the business by emphasizing the strength of the partnership of the Kia brand with Ayala Corp. It is also important for them to fortify their

current dealership network and introduce more competitive financing bundles.

Second, they ought to boost their facilities to both the new global and Ayala brand standards, while further expanding their dealership network reach.

Third, they aspire to incorporate their digital capabilities to engage with customers and drive sales, while also introducing the next-generation platforms.

“Buyer behavior has evolved and is more directed to the digital world. We want to get in-

volved with that,” Aligada added.

He also said that Kia currently has 37 dealerships and that they will be introducing new programs. The Kia Promise to Care program, for one, ramps up aftersales service quality, competence and parts availability to provide

“WHY are we confident that we can bring this back and even exceed?” the head honcho stated when asked about the volume targeted next year.

It was to be remembered that they had a 4.1 percent market share in 2012 and a 10,010-unit output in 2015. Right before they suffered the decline of 7,304 units in 2016, and 5,186 units in 2017.

“The players that we had then [pertaining to the Kia Rio and Picanto, among others], if we offer them well, position them right, the game plan can work,” Aligada shared.

Kia Philippines is led by Arthur Tan as chairman and CEO, and Aligada as president. With the acquisition of Kia, AC Automotive now manages six brands, including Honda, Isuzu, Volkswagen, KTM motorcycles, and Maxus.

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E2 Friday, December 21, 2018

AAP lead instructor Coach Vip Isada shows the participants how to be disciplined on the road

THE AAP Motorsport Development Program’s Metro Manila batch for 2018

JUSUA B. CANTRE (from left) from Isuzu Bulacan, their coach Gian Franco R. Cosico from IPC and Khent John Q. Ventura from Isuzu Cavite

BEFORE USING CALTEX GASOLINE

AFTER USING CALTEX GASOLINE

A SAMPLE of borescope test (before and after) taken from a relatively new car with 62,000 kilometers total mileage

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Friday, December 21, 2018

TEEN professional karters Tara Laconico (left) and Bianca Bustamante are among the youngest MSDP participants that day.

COLLEGE student and amateur racing driver Joey Deriquito says the Motorsport Development Program can help save lives on the road.

CPI Country Chairman and General Manager Louie Zhang (from left), Chevron Asia Pacific Product Engineering Manager Greg Engeler , CPI Manager for Policy, Government and Public Affairs Atty. Raissa Romina Bautista and CPI Brand Manager for Caltex Arnel Reniedo during the announcement of test results

CALTEX’s two other existing products included in the “Feel the Power of Clean” promo

E3

Motoring BusinessMirror

E4 Friday, December 21, 2018

Tough Tivoli completes noble Christmas mission

C

ALAUAG, Quezon—I left Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City, with my beloved, the writer-journalist Sol F. Juvida (she always deserves mention because of the many impossible things she does, and she still keeps on doing, for me), last weekend for deep down South.

It proved to be the longest land trip we’ve ever had.

We took off at about 9 a.m. onboard the XLV, the amazing SsangYong best seller from South Korea a.k.a. Tivoli.

I Lov It! The ride, I mean.

“I Lov It” is, of course, the

jumbled letters of T-i-v-o-l-i.

Simply put, “I Lov It” more than saved an otherwise killer of a day for us, almost spoiling an end of the week splash of fresh sea air off the coast of Lamon Bay in Quezon province.

The trip to the country is one

of the treasured luxuries I always yearn, especially when the drudgery of asphalt jungle living starts to set in.

But that’s going ahead of the story.

Curiously, there was no traffic jams this time at Edsa. It was a breeze for us to reach Slex. No hassle. No nothing.

As our habit, each time we travel back to SFJ’s roots, we stopped for coffee, toasted slices of Cinnabon raisin bread and Cinnabon sticks at Slex.

When brunch beckoned, a quick grab of chicken was irresistible at the KFC nearby.

We had all day to kill. No work to do upon arrival at our destination that was Calauag, Quezon, SFJ’s land of birth.

Monstrous traffic jam

SO today, we took our own sweet time enjoying this before-lunch ritual. It’s been a luxury we’ve enjoyed, been enjoying, for the longest time.

We left Cinnabon at minutes past 10 a.m.

We exited as usual in Santo Tomas, Batangas, next skipped Mary & Grace Restaurant, as we had always done for quite some

time already. I don’t know. Maybe, we’ve lost appetite for its famous bulalo ever since they’ve jacked up prices of practically all of their viands. Sad. But only minutes after leaving Slex, we encountered this monstrous traffic jam along Maharlika Highway going to Bicol. It took us almost two hours to get past Santo Tomas, Batangas.

Reason?

Nobody manning several intersections going to Alaminos, Laguna.

Road repairs are left untended, with pylons and other signages like “construction going on” and “men at work” scattered all over.

Parking lot

THE road-widening projects already completed are virtually useless to travelers. They are being used as parking lot of residents living on both sides of the Maharlika Highway.

Blocking mostly the paths of vehicles are tires, rocks and other structures placed in front of establishments, mostly vulcanizing shops doing their trade practically on the highway.

From Alaminos to Candelaria, Quezon, the tricycle remains as

King of The Road, not moving to the right one bit even if honked at a million and one times.

Many town mayors contribute to the problem, as they rarely lift a finger to address this malady.

Ah, I’m sick and tired of calling their attention.

“That’s not the mayor’s problem but the police’s and highway patrol group’s,” said one mayor.

Oh, yeah?

Noble mission

ANYWAY, what brought the Tivoli to Calauag, Quezon, which is about 292 kilometer away from my home in Commonwealth Avenue in QC? It transported medicines and vitamins to Calauag for a muchadmired charity work by the National Association of Calauagenians (NACS), The Young Professionals (TYP) of Calauag and Calauagenians Global.

I give credit to SsangYong president Dave Macasadia for his nohesitation green light in allowing me to stuff the medical boxes into the Tivoli. Germain Alilio, Dave’s on-the-go lieutenant, also immediately gave his 101 support. Thank you, guys.

“We are very honored to extend help to such a noble mission as pro-

viding medical support to our less fortunate brethren,” said Dave.

God bless you both, Dave and Germain.

With guys like you, I won’t mind driving for almost 10 hours—crazy traffic and all—just to fulfill a commitment to be of service to others.

Tivoli, I Lov It, indeed.

PEE STOP The medical mission vol-

unteers with the purest of hearts for the downtrodden included NACS members Liza Batao-Vito, Dr. May Eudela, Rachel Vargas, Millette Pulgar-Earnshaw, Loida Juta, Dr. Susan Pulgar-Ong and Sol F. Juvida. From TYP are kindred spirits Agnes Limcuando, Shirley Lim, Susan Reyes Ang, Gemma Okamoto, Myra Aguilar and Dr. Tess Flores Mendoza. Letlet Aguilar of the Rural Health Unit of Calauag was also of big help. For his part, Calauag Mayor Luisito S. Visorde graciously hosted a sumptuous lunch for everybody, with his chief of staff Gerty Salvatus unselfishly orchestrating everything. More than 200 children beneficiaries of instant medical help were also recipients of free medicines and vitamins in the Christmas project backstopped

by Calauagenians Global. Merry Christmas!

CINDY BISHOP KICKS OFF #RESPETONAMAN CAMPAIGN V

OLVO Philippines is the proud official transport for Asia’s Next Top Model host and judge Cindy Sirinya Bishop as she visits Manila. Ferried around by the latest addition to the Volvo stable—the Volvo XC40—the multifaceted supermodel, actress and, most notably as of late, the founder of the #Don’tTellMeHowToDress campaign, offered her support to the launch of the #RespetoNaman Campaign against gender-based violence.

The campaign is part of the celebration of the International day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. It is a project of the Embassy of Sweden in Manila, Office of the Vice President, UN Women Safe Cities Metro Manila Program, EMPOWER and SPARK Philippines.

Starting as a social-media campaign, Bishop is now actively raising awareness about sexual harassment and victimblaming through exhibits, public speaking events and other platforms. She was also an organizer for The Social Power Exhibition against Sexual Assault, supported by the Government of Thailand and UN Women.

Driving for change through ‘Omtanke’

JUST like Bishop, whose efforts support the Sustainable Development Goal 5—a UN Women movement that aims to end all forms of discrimination and violence against women—Volvo is also an active supporter of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Volvo

is a proud founding member of the UN Global Compact, a voluntary initiative to implement universal sustainability principles.

As a human-centric car company, Volvo is a brand for people who care about other people and the world. This is at the core of Volvo’s business and approach to sustainability that goes beyond our operations and our cars.

The word omtanke summarizes our way of protecting what’s important to you. It is a Swedish word that means “caring” and “con-

sideration,” but also importantly “to think again.”

Omtanke is the name of our program of sustainability commitments.

Along with environmental and business standards, Volvo is also committed to upholding ethical leadership. In fact, Volvo Cars is proud to be recognized as a 2018 World’s Most Ethical Company by the Ethisphere Institute for the second consecutive year. Ethisphere institute is a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices.

This culture of Omtanke carries on to reach and promote a diverse and inclusive culture at Volvo Cars. By the end of this decade, Volvo looks at at least 35 percent of leading positions to be held by women—the largest share in the automotive industry.

Katarina Matson, senior expert of Culture and Diversity, explained that at Volvo Cars, “in a deeply global, connected world, our leadership continues to promote dynamic, respectful and inclusive working environments for every individual—regardless of gender or nationality.”

Ferrari to open exhibit on Schumi’s 50th birthday

T

HE Ferrari Museum is dedicating a special exhibition to Michael Schumacher, which will open on the occasion of his 50th birthday on January 3, 2019. It is intended both as a celebration and a mark of gratitude to the most successful Prancing Horse driver ever.

Schumacher has a special place in Ferrari’s history, which has been marked by his many records. Between 1996 and 2006 the German champion won five consecutive Drivers’ titles, from 2000 to 2004, and made a major contribution to the Scuderia’s haul of six Manufacturers’ titles over those years.

The Museum’s rooms will look back over the memorable seasons that the seven-time World Champion gifted to all Ferraristi, and that created a legend now bigger than ever in the hearts of all fans.

The exhibition will also show Michael’s crucial contribution to the development of extraordinary GT cars in his years at Maranello, as a driver and later as a consultant.

The Michael 50 exhibition is in collaboration with the Keep Fighting Foundation.