Businessmirror February 15, 2019

MOTORING » E2-E3

THE ALL-NEW AND WELL-LOVED ERTIGA IS HERE

DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY

2018 BANTOG DATA MEDIA AWARDS CHAMPION

BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business

www.businessmirror.com.ph

By Bianca Cuaresma @BCuaresmaBM

Friday, February 15, 2019 Vol. 14 No. 128

@ReaCuBM

NSURANCE companies in the country have been given the go-ahead by regulators to invest their funds in state-led infrastructure projects, in a bid to boost the growth of the Philippine economy and help these firms meet the higher net worth requirement imposed on them for this year.

Insurance Commissioner Dennis B. Funa has issued Circular Letter 2018-74, which enumerates the guidelines on how local insurance companies can invest their funds in the infrastructure projects of the government under the Philippine Development Plan (PDP).

Under Circular Letter 201874, insurance and reinsurance firms may now invest in debt or equity security instruments for infrastructure projects under the PDP, participating either through the project proponents, financiers

or sponsors, or through operation and maintenance contracts.

“This circular is aimed at encouraging insurers to invest in domestic infrastructure projects to boost our economy and to reap the benefits of portfolio diversification and higher return,” Funa said.

The circular creates a new investment channel for insurers and opens new opportunities for insurers to improve risk-adjusted returns, portfolio diversification and asset-liability matching.

See “Insurance,” A2

P

OSITIVE sentiment flowed into the Philippines at the start of the year, as short-term investments made by foreign players surged in January, according to the latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

BSP data showed foreign portfolio investments (FPI) returning to the Philippines in January, as net inflow reached $762.8 million. This is 370.4 percent higher than the last year’s figure and 174.4 percent higher than inflows recorded in December.

FPI are known as “hot” or “speculative” money because they are easily pulled in and out of the local platforms in the slight change of local and international developments.

This type of foreign investment is usually a measure of the global economy’s investing sentiment toward the Philippines in short-term prospects for yields, unlike foreign direct investments, which are investments placed in the Philippines in search for long-term yield.

According to the BSP, the sentiment was up during the period due to investor optimism from the easing of the trade tension between the United States and China and the decline in inflation. The BSP also noted the increase in net foreign buying in Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE)-listed shares in January.

BSP data showed that the total outflow of $1.3 billion during the month was more than offset by the total inflows of $2.06 billion. The total foreign short-term investments placed in the country during the period was 30.5 percent higher compared to the inflows seen the previous month and about 27 percent up from last year’s figures.

Investors from the United Kingdom, the US, Singapore, Norway and Hong Kong were the top 5 investor countries for the month, with a combined share to total at 74.7 percent.

Bulk of these investments, or about 71.6 percent, were placed in the local stock market through PSE-listed securities. By sector, the hot money from foreign investors during the month were largely placed in holding firms, property companies, banks, food, beverage and tobacco companies, and retail companies.

The remaining 28.4 percent of the total hot money net flow in January went to peso government securities (GS) and peso time deposits (TDs), according to the BSP.

Aside from higher placements to the country, outflows also dropped from $1.302 billion in December 2018 and $1.5 billion in January 2018 to $1.29 billion during the period.

At end-2018, FPI hit a net inflow of $1.2 billion, as only 5 out of the 12 months during the year yielded a net outflow for short-term foreign investments.

BUSINESS NEWS SOURCE OF THE YEAR

P25.00 nationwide | 5 sections 24 pages | 7 DAYS A WEEK

Insurance firms allowed to invest in infra projects I

By Rea Cu

‘Hot money’ inflows hit $762.8M in January

n

2018 EJAP JOURNALISM AWARDS

PHL braces for shift to open rice market

By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

& Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

A

DAY before a bill that will open up the country’s rice market lapses into law, Malacañang said the proposed Rice Tariffication Act is still on the desk of President Duterte.

The measure, which seeks to convert the quantitative restriction (QR) on rice into tariffs is set to lapse into law on February 15 if it is not acted upon by the President.

Presidential Spokesman and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador S. Panelo said in a radio interview that he also got word from Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea on Wednesday that the bill was “for signing.”

As of press time, the Malacañang Records Office and the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office also told the BusinessMirror that they had yet to receive a signed rice tariffication bill.

However, the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs told the BusinessMirror that it has already recommended the bill for the President’s approval on February 12 and that it has forwarded the bill to the Executive Secretary’s office.

Rice, considered the staple food of Filipinos, is the remaining crop that is protected by import caps allowed by the World Trade Organization given its importance to the Philippines. Manila converted most of the QRs and other non-tariff measures into tariffs after the country joined the WTO in 1995.

Malacañang earlier said that the President will not veto the bill even if the President acknowledged that it will be detrimental to farmers.

Bracing for change

AHEAD of the possible enactment of the rice tariffication bill, the

VALENTINE’S TREAT An employee of the Light Rail Manila Corp. offers flowers to passengers at the

launch of the Love Train at the LRT 1’s Roosevelt Station in Quezon City. The LRT 1 operator rolled out anew its Love Train with a fresh twist on the theme, “Love Notes from Around the World.” NONOY LACZA

See “Rice,” A2

Win: Losses from BOC’s and port woes mounting

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

S

IMPLY changing the heads of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) will not solve the long-standing operational problems in the government’s second-largest revenue earner, which now strike at the “gut” of the economy, the chief of the Senate Economic Affairs Committee has warned.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian acknowledged that the deepening crisis

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 52.0030

from ports congestion, for example, which is already worsening supplychain problems and affecting manufacturing and other key economic sectors, may be traced also to serious operational inefficiencies at Customs.

For that reason, Gatchalian said his committee will call for hearings within the fortnight on his resolution to inquire into BOC operations, and determine the solutions to stop smuggling without necessarily paralyzing the flow of commerce.

“I talked to several manu-

facturers. One reason why our exports performed weakly is our supply-chain failure,” Gatchalian said, stressing that Customs is a key part of that supply chain.

He conceded that smuggling is a serious problem, citing estimates that total annual loss to smuggling is P300 billion at least, but added that his committee’s inquiry will not focus on corruption but on operational problems and inefficiencies.

No less than the National Economic and Development Authority

(Neda) had flagged earlier the economic fallout from the ports congestion, of which the BOC is a key factor.

Addressing the port congestion being experienced by truckers and manufacturers in the past few months will take time and could dampen the country’s trade performance this year, according to the Neda and several economists.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia admitted to the BusinessMirror that the port

“Definitely, there’s a lot of economic drawback from poor operations at Customs. ”— Gatchalian

See “Losses,” A2

n JAPAN 0.4685 n UK 66.8135 n HK 6.6255 n CHINA 7.6928 n SINGAPORE 38.2600 n AUSTRALIA 36.8441 n EU 58.6074 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.8671

Source: BSP (February 14, 2019 )

News

BusinessMirror

A2 Friday, February 15, 2019

Construction materials’ retail prices post six-month high “Price hikes were seen in the prices of plywood, lumber, electrical wires, cement, gravel, sand, selected paints and corrugated G.I. sheets. These were, however, tempered by the lower prices of G.I. pipes.”—PSA

R

By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

ETAIL prices of construction materials in Metro Manila posted a six-month high in January 2019, according to the latest data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The data showed the Construction Materials Retail Price Index (CMRPI) in the National Capital Region (NCR) grew 2.5 percent in January 2019.

This was the highest since July 2018 when the CMRPI was also at 2.5 percent. In January 2018, the CMRPI posted a growth of 2 percent.

Rice…

Continued from A1

National Food Authority (NFA) on Thursday pronounced that it is already prepared for the necessary adjustments that must be made under the measure that will liberalize the industry.

NFA OIC-Administrator Tomas Escarez said the food agency has a marching order from Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol to ready the necessary facilities and manpower to fulfill its presumed role under the rice tariffication bill, which is currently awaiting the signature of President Duterte to become a law.

“We are already ready for our buffer-stocking role [under the rice tariffication bill]. We have already instructed all NFA warehouses nationwide to be open daily for seven days a week,” Escarez told reporters in an interview.

“We have also prepared our postharvest facilities to assist farmers and formed teams for procurement. We have an instruction from the DA [Department of Agriculture] to prepare [for rice tariffication],” Escarez added.

He said the future of the NFA’s role to sell rice in the market remains unclear until the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the rice tariffication bill are finalized. The rice tariffication bill has no clear language or provision on what will happen to the NFA’s market power.

The rice tariffication bill, which industry stakeholders described instead as a “rice liberalization” measure, will convert the country’s twodecade long quantitative restriction into tariffs and will also remove from NFA’s regulatory and trading powers.

“It is still possible for us to continue to sell rice if it would be included in the IRR. It is really up to the IRR,” Escarez said.

Nonetheless, Escarez said the NFA would abide by the provisions of the rice tariffication bill once it is enacted, either through Duterte’s signature or it lapses into law on February 15.

Provisions

“Higher annual increments were registered in the indices of electrical materials at 1.4 percent; masonry materials, 5.9 percent; and miscellaneous construction materials, 2.3 percent,” the PSA said.

The growth of the index of electrical materials was the fastest since October 2018 when it was at 1.5 percent. Electrical materials

A DAY after the rice tariffication bill

was transmitted to Malacañang on January 15, rice industry stakeholders and even a top official of the agriculture department urged President Duterte to veto the measure, particularly because of the provisions that seek to deregulate the NFA.

This means that the measure will strip the NFA of its power to control the volume of rice imports entering the Philippine market, as well as of its capacity to license importers.

Under the proposed law, interested importers will only need to secure a sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance from the Bureau of Plant Industry as proof of the rice they will bring in is safe for consumption.

They will also have to pay a tariff of 35 percent if the imports are coming from a member-state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, while 50 percent if they are from outside the region.

The proposed law will also create the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), also called the rice fund, which will consist of an initial P10 billion and all duties collected from the importation of rice. As a safety net, the rice fund will be used to finance programs —whether through direct support or research—for farmers.

Under the bill, 50 percent of the RCEF is to be used for the purchase of rice farm equipment, such as tillers, tractors, seeders, threshers, rice planters, harvesters, among others, for purposes of improving farm mechanization.

Also, 30 percent of the rice fund will be allocated for the development, propagation and promotion of inbred seeds to rice farmers. The bill sets aside 10 percent for credit with minimal interest to farmers and cooperatives.

The remaining 10 percent is for research and education on rice crop production, modern rice farming techniques, seed production, farm mechanization, as well as technology transfer through farm schools nationwide.

had the second highest weight of all the seven major construction material commodity groups in the CMRPI. Masonry materials, meanwhile, posted the fastest growth in retail prices in all commodity groups in January. The growth was also the highest since February 2015 when it posted a 6.2-percent growth.

In terms of miscellaneous construction materials, the growth in January was the highest since November when it grew 2.7 percent.

Meanwhile, month-on-month growth in the CMRPI slowed to 0.2 percent in January 2019.

This is the same average monthly growth in October, September and July 2018.

The PSA attributed this to the slowdown in the indices of

Insurance…

“With the administration’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ program in full swing, insurers can take advantage of investing their assets in infrastructure projects to aid them in improving their revenue that would address their compliance with the statutory net worth requirements under the Insurance Code,” he added.

This year, insurance companies are required to comply with the increased net worth requirement of P900 million, coming from P550 million in 2016.

Under Republic Act 10607, or the Amended Insurance Code of the Philippines, new insurance industry players are required to have P1 billion in paid-up capital, while existing insurance companies need a paid-up capital of P550 million

by December 2016, P900 million

by December 2019 and P1.3 billion

by December 2022.

Based on the latest data

Losses…

carpentry materials at 0.1 percent; electrical materials, 0.2 percent; masonry materials and miscellaneous construction materials, both at 0.5 percent.

“Price hikes were seen in the prices of plywood, lumber, electrical wires, cement, gravel, sand, selected paints and corrugated G.I. sheets. These were, however, tempered by the lower prices of G.I. pipes,” the PSA said.

The CMRPI is a variant of the General Retail Price Index (GRPI) that measures the changes in the average retail prices of construction materials.

The market basket for RPI of Selected Construction Materials is composed of 102 commodities and is classified into seven major groups.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Don’t use govt assets for poll campaign–PACC

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

HE Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) warned on Thursday state agencies not to use government resources in the May 2019 elections.

Resources that are prohibited may come in the form of budget, manpower, equipment or vehicles.

PACC said they are doing this in line with the President’s directive to ensure an “honest to goodness” midterm elections this year.

“We will not allow ourselves to be intimidated by politicians and other branches of the government, the Congress of the Philippines, and other sectors…,” he said. “We further urge candidates running for public office in the midterm and future elections to do their part to understand their responsibility as candidates in various public positions. We will enforce the teeth of the law and impose whatever penalties or punishments are applicable to these candidates who have violated the law.”

PACC also urged the public to report to the Commission and all government agencies all violations of its officials and personnel who will be directly using government agencies to support the candidacy of particular candidates, including party-lists.

To implement the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines, PACC has a Memorandum of Agreement for cooperation with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Commission on Audit, Anti-Money Laundering Council, Securities and Exchange Commission, and other agencies under the control and supervision of the President.

Under the Omnibus Election Code, election offenses include vote-buying and vote-selling, conspiracy to bribe voters, coercion of subordinates, intervention of pub-

lic officers and employees, except those holding political offices, undue influence, unlawful electioneering, and use of public funds, equipment, facilities owned or controlled by the government for an election campaign.

Comelec Spokesman James B. Jimenez said this partnership with PACC addresses a longtime problem of some government officials engaging in partisan political activities.

“The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission is a natural partner in ensuring that government officials are nonpartisan in the coming elections. That has always been a problem in terms of enforcement because some government officials get away with their partisan political activities but with PACC on the job, with PACC on the lookout, we hope we will remove the motivation from these people to engage in partisan activities,” Jimenez said at the press briefing.

Jimenez was also quick to manage everyone’s expectations, though, noting that the result of any investigation on any complaint will not come instantly.

“Let us not expect that the result will come instantly. Just to be clear, because we are following due process. But I guess as with anything, the most important thing is to start. And this I think is a very good start,” he said.

The Comelec said these assurances from the president and the PACC made them confident that the country will have clean elections.

In a bid to help the President get rid of corruption in the Executive branch, including government-owned and -controlled corporations, PACC was created under Executive Order 43, on October 4, 2017, and amended through Executive Order 73 on December 28, 2018.

insurance regulator, insurers are required to submit the financial statements of the infrastructure projects which will be evaluated by the regulator to determine the risk impact on the capital of the insurer.

“Lack of sufficient funding for infrastructure presents an opportunity for investors with longterm horizon, such as insurance companies, that are positioned to provide capital or funding for infrastructure projects. Taking into consideration the need for insurers to increase their net worth and the clamor for alternative investment channels, we see that the insurance industry can provide for provision for stable and adequate financing to close the infrastructure funding gap,” he said.

The activities which may be undertaken as provided under the PDP include highways, railways, nonrail-based transit facili-

ties, port infrastructure, airports, warehouses, environmental and solid waste management-related facilities and climate-change mitigation and adaptation infrastructure projects.

The circular states that investments in infrastructure projects without guaranty or contingent liability fund may be considered as reserve investment.

“For life-insurance companies: The total allowed investments in infrastructure project shall not exceed 40 percent of the investing company’s total admitted assets as per the latest approved annual statement; and for nonlife insurance and professional reinsurance companies: The total allowed investments in infrastructure project shall not exceed 40 percent of the investing company’s net worth as per the latest approved annual statement,” the circular read.

Probe’s focus: Operations, not corruption

that the BOC needs to be helped in arriving at solutions that improve efficiency without risking even more corruption and smuggling, especially of contraband like dangerous drugs.

He cited countries like Singapore and Thailand, as well as Hong Kong, which conduct work in a “very efficient and speedy manner, but hindi nalulusutan [but smugglers can’t get past them].”

The inquiry his committee will conduct will particularly focus on why this cannot be achieved in the Philippines.

With “more stakeholders” he plans to invite—businessmen, academe, long-time customs practitioners, logistics experts—Gatchalian said “we will focus on economic solutions.”

@BNicolasBM

T

Continued from A1

from the IC, the total net worth of the local insurance industry as of end-September 2018 is at P318.562 billion.

As reported by the IC in August 2018, there are 54 nonlife companies and 27 life-insurance firms currently operating in the country.

For purposes of determining the net worth of an insurance and reinsurance company, investments in infrastructure projects duly approved by the Insurance Commission shall now be considered as admitted assets.

Furthermore, an important feature of the new regulation is methodology in calculating the risk factors of the investments in infrastructure, in order to encourage insurer investment while still safeguarding their financial stability.

Before an investment in infrastructure is approved by the

Continued from A1

congestion has played a part in the country’s lackluster trade performance in 2018.

Meat Importers and Traders Association (Mita) President Jesus C. Cham also earlier told the BusinessMirror that the port congestion of the past few months was worse since it started in August 2018.

“Port congestion slows down movement of trade, so it’s partly to blame [for the slowdown in trade],” Pernia recently told the BusinessMirror.

University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) economist Victor A. Abola also described to the BusinessMirror that what is being experienced is “severe port congestion.”

Abola said because of the effects of port congestion, the Phil-

ippines can expect slower export earnings and import bill growth.

Congestion particularly at the Port of Manila has also been cited

by German firm Hapag-Lloyd as the reason it has “ceased acceptance for all reefer cargo to Manila, for both North and South Harbor.”

The notice also cited “limited trucking capacity” as another reason for the stoppage of reefer imports to Manila. The notice was posted in its web site on January 23 and was said to be effective immediately.

“Yes, [there was] severe port congestion. Plus street traffic. Container trucks can make [fewer] trips to port and back. Some cargo [are] waiting three weeks in port,” Abola said.

THE corruption issues at the BOC are being well handled by the Blue Ribbon committee, Gatchalian told the BusinessMirror on Wednesday.

“Definitely, there’s a lot of economic drawback from poor operations at Customs. A simple change in leadership is only a short-term solution. We need long-term, sustainable solutions,” Gatchalian stressed.

His committee inquiry “will focus on economic solutions,” and leave the corruption issues to Blue Ribbon, chaired by Sen. Richard J. Gordon, who he said has been doing a rigorous investigation.

Gatchalian said the long, tedious process at Customs is a factor in the port congestion, but acknowledged

The Nation BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Friday, February 15, 2019 A3

Nothing to do with press freedom, DOJ chief says of Ressa’s arrest

J

By Joel R. San Juan

@jrsanjuan1573

USTICE Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra on Thursday dismissed the claim of Maria Ressa, chief executive officer and executive editor of online news provider Rappler, and her supporters that her arrest in connection with her cyber libel case represents a political persecution and an attack on press freedom.

Guevarra told reporters that Ressa could have spared herself from being arrested and detained by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday if she really wanted to.

“The arrest of Ms. Ressa is simply procedural. She may post bail anytime—even before the warrant was served. There is no breaking of rule of law. We are following criminal procedures here,” Guevarra pointed out.

The DOJ chief reiterated that Ressa was accorded due process even during the preliminary investigation stage of the cyber libel complaint filed by businessman Wilfredo Keng.

“The cases against Rappler and Ms. Ressa have nothing to do with press freedom. Anyone who breaks the law shall be prosecuted,” Guevarra stressed.

“I assure her constitutional and legal rights will be respected, and I trust

that the court will give her a fair trial, based solely on the facts and the law, and not on arguments ad hominem and emotional rhetoric,” he added.

Ressa was arrested by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa of Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 46.

The warrant also covers Reynaldo Santos Jr., a former Rappler researcher.

The two have been accused of violating Section 4 of Republic Act 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012,

by Keng over an online article published

by Rappler on May 29, 2012.

The cybercrime law was only enacted in September that year, and Ressa’s camp insisted that the complaint should have been dismissed.

The NBI, for its part, cited “continuous publication” theory in justifying the filing of the complaint.

The agency maintained that as long as the article can be found online, it can be covered by the said law even if the law was first published before its enactment.

Keng said R appler promised through formal and informal channels to heed his demand to take down the subject article and to clear his name, but this never happened as the article remains posted on its web site.

She said Ressa and Santos never tried to get his side or to fact-check the supposed crimes being imputed to him before posting the article.

“I have never had a criminal record.

For almost four decades since I started working, I have consistently secured official clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation certifying that I have never been involved in any criminal case and have never had any criminal history,” Keng said.

“Since the 1980’s, I have never been investigated by or summoned before any law enforcement agency in connection with any alleged criminal act, much less have I been indicted, arrested, detained or convicted of any crime in the Philippines. Further, the National Bureau of Investigation, as the central repository and chief administrator of the country’s criminal history records, would never have found in my favor and filed the complaint against Rappler, along with its concerned officers and reporter, for cyber libel concerning defamatory imputation of crime if I had any criminal record or history in their files,” he added.

No one is above the law

KENG, in a news statement, reminded Rappler that “the foundation of our independence, democracy and freedom is based on one simple truth: no one is above the law.”

He lamented that the said article destroyed his reputation and put his life in danger despite the fact that he has never been charged or prosecuted for any criminal offense in his entire life.

“In the end, this story is not just about an ordinary suit filed by a private and hardworking citizen to clear his name. It is, in reality, a test case on how the Philippine legal and judicial system will fare against the dangerous precedent that is being set by one reckless and irresponsible member of the media and of the online community,” Keng added.

Keng also accused Ressa of trying to mislead the public by releasing news that his complaint against them was purportedly “dismissed” by the NBI. “Such reckless, premature and inaccurate reporting on official government processes reek of actual malice and cyber bullying and border on the intentional propagation of ‘fake news,’” he said.

The businessman also urged other victims of cyber bullying to defend their right by taking legal action against those responsible.

“If left unaccountable, Rappler, Ressa and Santos’s example of impunity will be emulated and replicated, and will destroy not just individual lives but our entire country,” Keng noted.

Poll, investment scammers on the prowl in BOC, Davao

C

USTOMS Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero has warned Bureau of Customs (BOC) personnel against still unidentified individuals who are reportedly dropping the name of President Duterte to solicit campaign funds for the upcoming midterm elections in May. In Davao City, meanwhile, the city government has warned residents to report investment invitations from at least two allegedly fictitious group that encourage people to invest money with the usual promise of giving them back hefty monthly returns.

The Customs Commissioner said he has recently received reports that certain individuals have been duping several private and public-sector entities, including the BOC, with the claim that the President has authorized them to solicit funds for the senatorial candidates he has personally endorsed.

According to Guerrero, “the President [has] never authorized or ordered anyone to solicit money intended for campaign on his behalf,” even as he advised Customs stakeholders to be vigilant and wary of these individuals.

Simplicio Sagarino, chief of the Anti-Scam Unit of the Davao City Hall, said Davao City residents should report to his office “if they have been victimized by any of these schemes.”

“If you have invested money or have been invited to invest, you may report this matter to our office or the Securities and Exchange Commission for appropriate action,” he said.

Sagarino said it received a memorandum from the South Cotabato Police Provincial Office, dated January 26, identifying two organizations, the Kapa Community Ministry International Inc. and Almamico, of “urging people to invest for a bigger cash return of up to 30 percent each month.” Almamico is the Alabel Maasim Small Scale Mining Cooperative. Rea Cu and Manuel T. Cayon

A4 Friday, February 15, 2019 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Economy BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Sustained SBMA, Clark growth hinges on expansion–Eisma

By Henry Empeño

Special to the Businessmirror

S

UBIC BAY FREEPORT—The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is banking on a bill filed last week in the Senate to extend the physical boundaries of the Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone and, thereby, keep investments and jobs coming in.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said Senate Bill (SB) 2207 filed the other week by Sen. Richard J. Gordon is crucial to the continued viability of Subic Freeport as an economic growth center because the former American naval base does not have enough flat land for further development.

Gordon, who was SBMA chairman from 1992 to 1998, had filed SB 2207 the other week to expand the area of the Subic Bay Freeport, as well as that of the neighbor-

ing Clark Freeport.

Under the proposed measure, some parts of Zambales and Bataan provinces, along with areas in Olongapo City, will be made an adjunct of the Subic Bay Freeport under a phased expansion program.

Eisma said that in consultation with the SBMA last year, neighboring local government units pledged about 21,000 hectares of expansion areas for future investment projects.

These included 9,000 hectares in San Antonio; 10,000 hectares in San Marcelino; 500 hectares to 600 hectares in Subic; 500 hectares in Castillejos; and 900 hectares in Olongapo City, all in Zambales; as well as 505 hectares in Hermosa, Bataan.

“We want these areas to be utilized as economic zones because we’re already running out of space in the Subic Bay Freeport,” Eisma said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

The proposed expansion, she added, “will sustain the growth of the Subic Freeport, attract more investments, and generate jobs for residents from nearby communities and other areas.”

In filing the bill, Gordon said that there was a need to update Republic Act 7227, otherwise known as the Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992, in order to further strengthen Subic and Clark free ports.

He said that once enacted, the proposed measure will also give the expanded territories the same tax incentives as those in Subic Freeport and Clark Freeport so that they can attract investments projects.

SB 2207 also seeks to increase the area of the Clark Special Economic Zone from the current 4,400 hectares to 35,400 hectares and mandates Subic and Clark authorities to frame some master plan for the phased expansion.

Piñol refutes fellow Cabinet member’s statement on DA’s tepid productivity

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

A

GRICULTURE Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol dared critics of the farm sector’s rather tepid performance last year to prove that the agriculture sector contributed “zero,” or nothing, to the growth of the country’s economy.

“What if we try not to plant palay, catch fish, and harvest produce for one whole year to determine if the agriculture sector indeed did not have any contributions to the country’s economic advancement,” Piñol said in a speech before government officials and personnel at the launch of the Malasakit Help Desk on Thursday.

“Then if that is true, then the economy will continue to grow even if we do not plant rice, abaca, bananas—because that is the only way can prove that statement. My point is put your money where your mouth is. Give us the budget, then we will produce food for you,” Piñol added.

Piñol made the challenge following a statement of a Cabinet official, whom he did not name, that the agriculture sector had zero contribution to the Philippine economy last year.

Furthermore, he lamented that the

cut in the DA’s proposed budget for both 2018 and 2019, which limited the implementation of the agency’s programs that are aimed to boost agricultural productivity.

Piñol noted that the Department of Agriculture (DA) was only given P56 billion last year when in fact it sought for a P220 billion funding. This year it was only given P49 billion, from the P122-billion allocation it had proposed.

“Let me ask you, how much is that? That’s less than 2 percent of the P3.77-trillion national budget,” he said. “In Turkey, they spend about 7 to 10 percent of their national budget for agriculture. That’s why they are exporting now.”

The agriculture chief also refuted statements implying that the DA has no plans or programs that aim to improve the Filipino farmers’ productivity.

“Don’t tell us that we do not have any programs because they are part of the planning process. In fact, they are part of the National Agriculture and Fisheries Council [NAFC], wherein we plan annually the agency’s budget before submitting our proposal to the DBM [Department of Budget and Management],” he said.

“The DBM and DOF [Department of Finance] are there—they are members of

the NAFC. If we did not plan anything [for agriculture] then what did they attend?” he added.

Piñol also pointed out that some of the government policies are “contradicting,” particularly when it comes to the administration’s food security goal.

“I cannot actually find [neither] the rhyme [n]or rhythm in the continuous [barrage] of criticism[s] of the macro performance of agriculture and the unwillingness to provide support fund for agriculture,” he said.

“I don’t think some of our people in the government actually understand where the President is coming from. And I hope the last statement of the President...declaring that the Philippines will always be an agricultural country will send a clear signal to all that the President is expecting agriculture will get its fare share of funding allocation,” Piñol added.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno stated that the “farm sector had virtually zero contribution to economic growth last year.”

Furthermore, Diokno announced that the government’s economic managers are now “exploring measures to enhance farm productivity.”

Revival of ‘tawilis’ DAR lines up intensified CLOA distribution to CARP beneficiaries cottage industry

T

HE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has lined up a series of certificates of land ownership award (CLOA) distribution, as it steps up the processing of land-distribution under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

The DAR’s latest thrust is consistent with President Duterte’s directive to fasttrack the distribution of the remaining land to landless farmers under CARP, DAR Secretary John R. Castriciones said.

He noted that Duterte has been actively participating in the land-distributiona activities of the DAR since he took his oath as the highest official of the land.

“No less than the President will lead in some of these scheduled CLOA distributions,” he told reporters at a recent news conference in Quezon City.

Castriciones reiterated that Duterte remains committed to implement the CARP Extension with Reform (CARPer) by distributing the remaining land acquisition and distribution (LAD) balance he inherited from the previous administration, and implement the second phase of agrarian reform starting with the distribution of more public agricultural lands assigned to various government agencies.

Last year, DAR Undersecretary for Field Operations Karlo S. Bello reported that the DAR has distributed CLOAs for 60,777 hectares of land to a total of 41,287 CARP-beneficiaries.

“As per Undersecretary Bello, this appears to be the highest CLOA distribution in the history of the DAR,” Castriciones said.

Bureau of Land Tenure Improvement Director Leandro Caymo reported that last year, the CLOA distribution of some 41,077 hectares to 31,132 farmers.

“We would like to continue the distribution to demonstrate the current DAR lead-

ership to continue the program. On February 11, there was a CLOA distribution in Mindanao. This is very significant because this was the first time that a President attended a CLOA distribution in Mindanao,” the DAR chief said.

The CLOAs were for a total of 1,740 hectares, which were distributed to a total of 780 CARP beneficiaries.

On February 22, there will be CLOA distribution in Sagay, Negros Occidental, covering CLOAs for 802 hectares to 715 CARP-beneficiaries.

According to Castriciones, the distribution in Sagay is important, noting the death of nine farmers who were killed in Sagay recently.

Next, Caymo said there will be CLOA distribution activities Davao City for 5,055 hectares of land to some 2,525 CARP beneficiaries tentatively scheduled on March 16.

After that, in Nueva Ecija, the DAR will distribute CLOAs covering a total of 472 hectares of land to 546 farmers. Part of the lands to be distributed will come from Hacienda Luisita landholding, Bello said.

Last, CLOAs for a total of 30,000 hectares from all provinces in Region 12 will be distributed to some 10,000 CARP beneficiaries.

Part of the lands covered by the CLOAs belongs to the University of Southern Mindanao and Cotabato Foundation College of Science and Technology. The CLOAs cover 4,618 hectares of land to be distributed to 2,730 CARP beneficiaries.

According to Caymo, the DAR has already reduced the number of days for the processing of CLOAs. Under the current setup, it would only take the DAR about 30 days to process the CLOA granted that that the subject lands are not “problematic.” Jonathan L. Mayuga

for Taal Lake fishermen eyed

A

PROVINCIAL official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is calling for the revival of a livelihood program to raise earnings of Taal Lake fishermen.

Batangas Provincial Environment and Natural Resource Officer Jose Elmer C. Bascos, also the concurrent Protected Area superintendent of the Taal Volcano Protected Landscape (TVPL), said he will meet with leaders of small fishermen in Taal to explore the prospects of reviving bottled tawilis sardines industry that would add value to the lake’s most popular fish product.

“Before, there is a cooperative that produces bottled sardines. But somehow, it stopped operation, I think in 2017,” Bascos told the BusinessMirror.

The idea, he said, is to maximize the benefit from catching the endangered Sardinella tawilis, the only freshwater sardine in the world endemic to Taal Lake, which he said, is nevertheless are sold at a very low price.Fishermen, Bascos said, sell tawilis, possibly cheaper than the P30-per-kilogram standard price of tawilis in a market in Talisay, Batangas.

In the next few weeks, Bascos said, he will bring up the idea to the TVPL Protected Area Management Board, which includes local government units.

“Before, we even gave the cooperatives some pressure cooker. I don’t know what happened,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.

According to Bascos, with fishermen protesting the decision to impose a two-month tawilis fishing moratorium starting next month and the declaration of at least three fishing grounds as “no-take zone” for tawilis, it is high time to revive the livelihood program. Jonathan L. Mayuga

News BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Comelec lists all areas under Bangsamoro body

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

T

HE gover nment is now a step closer toward finally realizing the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) following the announcements of all the areas it will cover.

The Commission on Elections en banc, sitting as the National Plebiscite Board of Canvassers (NPBOC), on Thursday completed its canvassing of the results of the second part of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite held on February 6.

The second plebiscite was held in North Cotabato and in Lanao del Norte.

During its session on Thursday, the NPBOC said 63 of the 67 plebisciteparticipating barangays from North Cotabato were declared to be joining BARMM after meeting the “double majority” requirement.

Under the double majority, the participating area and its mother region

must both vote in favor of joining the BARMM. The said barangays came from the North Cotabato municipalities of Midsayap, Pigkawayan, Kabacan, Carmen, Pikit and Aleosan.

They are Dunguan, Aleosan; Tapodoc, Aleosan; Kibayao, Carmen; Kitulaan, Carmen; Langogan, Carmen; Manarapan, Carmen; Nasapian, Carmen; Pebpoloan, Carmen; Tupig, Carmen; Butuan, Kabacan; Nanga-an, Kabacan; Pedtad, Kabacan; Sanggadong, Kabacan; Simbuhay, Kabacan; Simone, Kabacan; Tamped, Kabacan; Damatulan, Midsayap; Kadigasan, Midsayap; Kadingilan, Midsayap; Kapinpilan, Midsayap; Kudarangan, Midsayap; Central Labas, Midsayap; Malingao, Midsayap; Mudseng, Midsayap; Nabalawag, Midsayap; Olandang, Midsayap; Sambulawan, Midsayap; Tugal, Midsayap; Tumbras, Midsayap; Lower Baguer, Pigkawayan; Balacayon, Pigkawayan; Buricain, Pigkawayan; Datu Binasing, Pigkawayan; Datu Mantil, Pigkawayan; Kadingilan, Pigkawayan; Libungan Torreta, Pigkawayan; Matilac, Pigkawayan; Lower Pangangkalan,

Pigkawayan; Upper Pangangkalan Pigkawayan; Patot, Pigkawayan; Simsiman, Pigkawayan; Bagoinged, Pikit; S.Balong, Pikit; S. Balongis, Pikit; Barungis, Pikit; Batulawan, Pikit; Bualan, Pikit; Buliok, Pikit; Bulol, Pikit; Fort Pikit, Pikit; Gli-gli, Pikit; Gli-Gli, Pikit; Gokotan, Pikit; Kabasalan, Pikit; Lagunde, Pikit; Macabual, Pikit; Macasendeg, Pikit; Manaulanan, Pikit; Nabundas, Pikit; Nalapaan, Pikit; Nunguan, Pikit; Pamalian, Pikit; Panicupan, Pikit; and Rajamuda, Pikit. “[These barangays] shall form part of the BARMM considering that they voted favorably of inclusion in the BARMM and that the majority of the votes cast in the municipalities to which these barangays belong is in favor of their inclusion in the BARMM,” said the NPBOC resolution read by Commissioner Sheriff M. Abas.

The 63 barangays will join the provinces of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Cotabato City to form the BARMM. The four North Cotabato barangays that failed to meet the double majority

requirement are Lower Mingading, Aleosan; Pagangan, Aleosan; and Galidad, Tulunan; and Balitican, Pikit.

Also not to be included are the six municipalities of Lanao del Norte: Baloi, Munai, Nunungan, Pantar, Tagoloan and Tangkal.

“While the majority of votes cast in the following municipalities are in favor of the inclusion, the majority of votes cast in Lanao del Norte, however, is not in favor of the inclusion in the BARMM,” the NPBOC said.

The NPBOC completed the canvassing within six working days from February 6.

Jose Lorena Omar Sema in the Bangsamoro Transition Council, who was among the observers of the completion of the BOL plebiscite canvassing, welcomed the peaceful resolution of the activity.

“This will be carried into the history of the Bangsamoro people. On that note, we would like to thank everyone for making this plebiscite a journey for peace and, perhaps, for prosperity,” Sema said.

Friday, February 15, 2019

A5

SOLONS BAT FOR REVIEW OF ‘HIGH’ RORO FEES

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

L

AWMAKERS on Thursday pushed for the review of the business models of roll-on, roll-off (Roro) operators as they found that the system is more expensive compared to direct shipping.

House Committee on Transportation Technical Working Group (TWG) Chairman Rep. Manuel Zubiri of the Third District of Bukidnon said it is more costly to deliver goods from Mindanao to Metro Manila via Roro.

In his presentation, Zubiri said it would cost about P88,800 to P138,000 to transport goods from Bukidnon to Metro Manila through Roro while direct shipping would only cost P65,000 to P138,000.

“I am trying to analyze why.

Supposedly the Roro is cheaper, but apparently it is not. I don’t understand why this is the cost now, [these] are the quotations I’ve been receiving from different companies, different entities using the nautical highways and the direct shipping,” Zubiri said during the TWG meeting.

“Using the Western Nautical Highway and Eastern Nautical Highway, it seems that the Western Nautical Highway

is cheaper than the Eastern Nautical Highway as of today, but still quite expensive or prohibitive,” he said.

Rep. Bayani Fernando of the First District of Marikina City said Roro operators should consider “calibrating” their earning scheme. Fernando told Roro operators to rely more on passenger fares for revenues than cargo transport.

“They say it is expensive because of economies of scale. I presume in many areas it’s more of passenger service that is getting more money or is the bulk of the earnings, of the revenue,” he said.

“The bulk of the revenue could be passengers. And most of them can survive just simply with revenue from passengers. Cargo shipments would just be additional income,” Fernando added.

The government implemented the Roro policy in 2003 to establish a “seamless” inter-island connectivity between Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao to spur local trade and boost tourism, according to a study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies.

Vehicles directly board Roro vessels without unloading their cargo and are transferred from one island to another through the Roro ferry terminal system.

A6 Friday, February 15, 2019 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

The Philippines ‘Got Talent’

‘T

HE Global Talent Competitiveness Index is an annual benchmarking report that measures and ranks countries based on their ability to grow, attract and retain talent.” That’s from GTCI web site and reflects “the academic research and expertise of INSEAD, the international business school, with the business experience and perspective of The Adecco Group and Tata Communications.”

It seems as if there is a constant stream of “indexes” rating nations by an almost limitless number of factors and variables. Certainly this can be helpful for understanding how a particular country fits on the global scene. But then again, all countries are not equal.

Does the Philippines spend more time on the Internet because we are “web site addicted”? Or is it because of significantly slower Internet speed it takes so much longer to get any online work finished?

Nonetheless, we will continue to hold on to every word of these research surveys, as we would to every punch of a Manny Pacquiao fight.

The GTCI “aims to advance the current debate around entrepreneurial talent.” This is based in part on the fact that the engine of free-market economies is the small and medium-sized businesses that rely ultimately on one person or a group of persons putting ideas and effort to create a profit-making, job-creating business.

Does a society nurture and encourage the entrepreneur psychology? Some countries have been economically successful with “groupthink” rather than individual effort. Is human capital given the proper tools for success such as a critical thinking education? Does the environment foster and facilitate the needs of the beginning business entrepreneur?

It may be surprising to know that the Philippines ranks higher than our neighbors, with the exception of Malaysia. The Philippines ranks globally at No. 58, with Thailand at 66, Indonesia at 67, and Vietnam at No. 92.

From the GTCI report: “The Philippines has a good pool of global knowledge skills [34th], scoring quite well in both high-level skills and talent impact. It is also relatively adept in growing talent where its strengths in lifelong learning and access to growth opportunities offset a substandard formal education. More discouragingly, the country’s weak sustainability and lifestyle result in a low ability to retain talent.

Note our deficiencies: Formal education, sustainability and lifestyle. Formal education is the key pillar to “growing” a nation’s talent.

In other words, we do not provide the kind of education that gives a good foundation for the entrepreneur. Interestingly, Philippine companies offer one of the highest amounts of training of all countries.

Sustainability is the ability of the system to keep a person working toward a business goal. This includes a social service environment that helps with basic needs such as health care and an adequate national pension scheme. Further, along with “lifestyle,” can the budding businessperson keep going rather than having to give up the dream simply to survive? We can think then about all the talent that is working below potential in higher-paying but lower-skilled jobs abroad.

Since 2005

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

T. Anthony C. Cabangon Lourdes M. Fernandez Jennifer A. Ng Vittorio V. Vitug Lorenzo M. Lomibao Jr., Gerard S. Ramos Lyn B. Resurreccion, Efleda P. Campos Dennis D. Estopace

Online Editor Social Media Editor

Ruben M. Cruz Jr. Angel R. Calso

Creative Director Chief Photographer

Eduardo A. Davad Nonilon G. Reyes

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

Judge Pedro T. Santiago (Ret.) Benjamin V. Ramos Adebelo D. Gasmin Marvin Nisperos Estigoy Aldwin Maralit Tolosa Rolando M. Manangan

BusinessMirror is published daily by the Philippine Business Daily Mirror Publishing, Inc., with offices on the 3rd floor of Dominga Building III 2113 Chino Roces Avenue corner De La Rosa Street, Makati City, Philippines.

Tel. Nos. (Editorial) 817-9467; 813-0725. Fax line: 813-7025.

(Advertising Sales) 893-2019; 817-1351, 817-2807.

(Circulation) 893-1662; 814-0134 to 36. E-mail: news@businessmirror.com.ph.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Printed by BROWN MADONNA Press, Inc.–San Valley Drive KM-15, South Superhighway, Parañaque, Metro Manila MEMBER OF

Huawei offers case study in future of free trade Noah Feldman

BLOOMBERG

P

RESIDENT Donald J. Trump is reportedly close to issuing an executive order that would ban Chinese companies like Huawei Technologies Co. from building 5G wireless networks in the United States. The significance of such an order goes beyond its obvious implications for American telecommunications companies.

The prospect of closing technology-related markets to competitors from China raises a fundamental problem that is going to plague policy-makers for the foreseeable future: How can they draw the line between economic protectionism and legitimate national security interests? In a world of data and data theft, will every technology-related industry become an exception to free-trade rules?

On the one hand, from the perspective of liberal trade economics, barring Huawei from US markets is classical protectionism. It’s a bedrock principle of free trade that foreign competitors should be allowed into domestic markets.

Competition promotes efficiency.

Protectionism kills it.

It’s possible to argue that Chinese companies, whether partly stateowned or outright state-controlled, get illegitimate subsidies from the

government, artificially lowering their costs and breaking the rules of fair trade.

But the way to address those subsidies, according to free-trade law and ideology, isn’t to ban foreign competition altogether. It’s to use the tools of trade law to pressure the foreign country to stop the subsidies.

On the other hand, from the perspective of national security, technology infrastructure is a plausible candidate for the kind of industry from which a government should exclude competitors from adversarial countries.

There’s no doubt that it would be in China’s national interests to swipe data from 5G networks—so named as the fifth generation of cellular wireless technology—that its companies built in other countries. That means it’s in US national security interests to keep that from happening within our borders.

To be sure, the US is probably no better than China in this regard.

American companies are easy targets (or partners) for US intelligence to steal the same kinds of data. When it comes to convincing third parties such as Hungary or Poland to buy American 5G infrastructure—a key purpose of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s current visit to Europe— the argument can’t be that your data is safe with American companies. No one would believe it. Instead, Pompeo is saying that the US won’t want to build military bases in countries with Chinese telecommunications infrastructure in place.

Nevertheless, within US borders (though not outside), federal law blocks the government from monitoring the communications of “US persons,” meaning citizens and others who live in the country are entitled to federal constitutional protections.

So it isn’t necessarily hypocritical to make a national security argument for excluding Chinese 5G providers within the US. The upshot is that it’s very difficult to say whether a Trump administration order blocking Chinese competition in telecommunications infrastructure would be undesirable protectionism or a desirable national security precaution. Very possibly it might be both.

The contradiction matters—a lot.

It lies in the very essence of the postwar liberal international trade order.

Historically, those who favor free

trade have depended on being able to draw a clear line between protectionism (bad) and national security (good). And that line usually hasn’t been so difficult to draw.

When Trump imposed tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum based on the theory that US national security demands a strong domestic industry, it was relatively easy to say at a conceptual level that this argument was unconvincing. After all, the same argument could be made about almost any big industry. In economic terms, the tariffs are protectionist. The national security rationale is a fig leaf at best. (A court challenge is pending.)

Indeed, the possibility of drawing the line between protectionism and national security is built into international trade treaties, which typically prohibit protectionist tariffs while allowing exceptions for legitimate national security interests. Article XXI of the World Trade Organization treaty carves out certain actions that a signing country “considers necessary for the protection of its essential security interests.”

The real worry about the 5G case is that it will set the terms for future technology-related protectionism.

As the Internet of things expands, what technology isn’t ripe for data theft? Your phone is made in China.

So why isn’t it just as susceptible to data theft as the network on which it operates? What about your computer, your car, your smart thermostat, your washing machine, See “Feldman,” A7

Oil strategy: It’s all going wrong again for Opec

E

By Julian Lee | Bloomberg Opinion

VEN as oil producing states in Opec and beyond begin implementing the output cuts they agreed in December, the world’s need for their crude is shrinking further, suggesting that they will need to extend the deal through the second half of the year.

The latest forecasts from supply-and-demand studies of the oil industry’s most-watched organizations—the International Energy Agency (IEA), the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries itself—show the need for Opec crude diminishing as demand forecasts are trimmed and US supply outlooks are increased.

T he industr y’s three main agencies are unanimous in reducing their assessments of the volume of oil the world will need from Opec countries this year compared with what they were forecasting last month. The average level of the reduction from the January forecast is 300,000 barrels a day, that’s about the combined production of Opec’s two smallest members Equatorial

Guinea and Gabon.

Of greater concern for producers, two of the three agencies see the world needing less Opec crude in the second half of the year than the first. Only the IEA currently sees the demand increasing as the year progresses.

The differences aren’t big, the EIA and Opec see the need for Opec oil falling by another 50,000 to 60,000 barrels a day in the second half compared with the first.

The IEA sees a similar sized shift in the opposite direction. None of the agencies sees the need for the group’s crude rising enough to allow them to end their current supply management deal.

What has driven the fall in the need for Opec crude? A mixture of lower demand growth projections and higher non-Opec supply, in

An Opec+ output deal that was originally meant to rebalance oil supply and demand in six months is now set to last five times as long as initially planned. The dwindling demand for Opec oil seen by the three major forecasting agencies suggests it may need to be extended yet again.

particular from the US. The IEA’s Executive Director Fatih Birol said in a Bloomberg television interview on Tuesday that it’s too early to make a definite judgment whether a slower global economy means the agency should revise its oil demand growth forecasts lower.

Nonetheless, the following morning it trimmed that forecast by 60,000 barrels a day. It now sees global oil demand rising by 1.37 million barrels a day on average in 2019 compared with 2018. That is the smallest increase it has forecast since October.

Opec producers can’t expect any help from their non-Opec counterparts—at least not from those outside the group of 10 countries that have joined them in the attempt to rebalance oil supply and demand.

The EIA raised its forecast of 2019 US oil production by 340,000 barrels a day, with more than a third of that coming from the Gulf of Mexico and the increase heavily skewed to the second half of the year.

The IEA and Opec may have some catching up to do on their US production outlooks. The IEA increased its forecast of 2019 US oil production by 250,000 barrels a day compared with what it foresaw a month ago.

Opec also raised its forecast, but by a much smaller 94,000 barrels. If those two agencies follow the leads of the EIA, it will undermine further the need for Opec oil in next month’s forecasts.

An Opec+ output deal that was originally meant to rebalance oil supply and demand in six months is now set to last five times as long as initially planned. The dwindling demand for Opec oil seen by the three major forecasting agencies suggests it may need to be extended yet again.

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Friday, February 15, 2019 A7

Venezuela’s Guaido names Being poor and in love PDVSA board members in haste to seize assets Tito Genova Valiente annotations

By Fabiola Zerpa and Alex Vasquez Bloomberg Opinion

V

enezuela’s National Assembly, led by Juan Guaido, voted to select board members for state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA) and US refining arm Citgo, as it moves to protect the country’s assets abroad from embattled President Nicolas Maduro.

The appointments amount to parallel boards that will attempt to control the two companies that are critical to Venezuela’s economy. They are meant to be ad hoc boards, meaning that members will be working on specific tasks and for a limited period of time.

“Venezuelan people, this is an historical agreement that protects Venezuelan assets abroad for the country’s development,” Guaido, who’s seeking to oust Maduro citing his violation of the constitution, said following the vote. “The goal of these appointments is for us to be able to perform our duties while there is usurpation of power, working hard for the whole country.”

While Maduro continues to rule over Venezuela’s institutions, PDVSA and armed forces, Guaido is attempting to whittle away at his control of assets with the support of the US and more than 30 countries that have recognized him as the legitimate leader of Venezuela.

But today’s action raises a host of legal and financial questions. It’s not clear how Guaido would ultimately gain the keys to PDVSA’s headquarters or control over production at home unless Maduro were pushed out and the opposition were to win new elections. A path to controlling Houston-based Citgo seems more plausible, yet that, too, is fraught with complex legal issues over the rightful management.

Maduro, who decries the developments this year as being akin to a coup orchestrated by the US with Guaido as a figure head, says he’ll defend Citgo through legal action. A handful of creditors are also lining up to stake a claim to Citgo to try to satisfy pending demands and debts.

Venezuela’s oil industry, essentially the country’s sole source of hard currency in an economy in distress, is the key to any rebuilding effort if Guaido’s attempts at pushing Maduro out of power are to succeed.

Production has collapsed in recent years, and sanctions currently hinder crude exports to the US—Venezuela’s biggest market—forcing current PDVSA officials to seek alternative markets in a hurry to keep the revenue flowing.

The officials named to PDV Holding, Citgo Holding and Citgo Petroleum Corp. are all currently living outside Venezuela to prevent them from being detained by the govern-

Feldman. . .

continued from A6

and so on and on?

The national security argument for protectionism in these domains won’t be ridiculous, any more than it is ridiculous for telecommunications networks.

ment, a legislative source said. Some former PDVSA workers have been receiving calls from Guaido’s team to see whether they’d be willing to return to the company. Many oil executives and engineers left or were fired around the time of a crippling two-month oil strike that ended in 2003. Others have resigned over the years.

PDVSA’s board will include former El Hatillo Mayor David Smolansky and Ricardo Prada, an energy industry consultant.

Named to Citgo’s board are Luisa Palacios, New York-based head of Latin America at Medley Global Advisors; Angel Olmeta, a former Citgo chief operating officer in the early 1990’s; Luis Urdaneta, a former vice president at PDVSA; and Edgar Rincon, a former McKinsey & Co. consultant in Venezuela and currently a vice president at Houston-based Nabors Industries, a landdrilling contractor.

Citgo’s Vice President of Compliance and Chief Strategy Officer Rick Esser, currently on the board, is being invited to stay.

Guaido may announce Gustavo Baquero as the president of the PDVSA ad-hoc board as early as Friday, according to people familiar with the plans.

The boards “will work to remove existing sanctions and guarantee the refineries’ operations,” said congressman Elias Matta, head of the energy and oil commission. “They will operate under US laws.”

Citgo declined to comment on the board appointment. Urdaneta, Olmeta and Rincon didn’t immediately return LinkedIn messages, and Esser didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment.

The National Assembly justified its power to name new boards based on article 34 of a special decree it issued last week that regulates the democratic transition in the South America nation. The provision essentially proclaims that all other national laws are voided and therefore the new boards will exert control over PDVSA and US operations.

“All legal decisions are being done following Venezuelan laws, and we expect that the US government will recognize PDVSA’s and Citgo’s new executives and officials,” said Yon Goicoechea, a close ally of Guaido who is leading a team focused on the energy sector.

This conflict isn’t going away. It’s just coming into focus. For proponents of free trade, 5G represents just the most obvious example of a major challenge that’s going to be salient for a while. Without a good answer, they might discover that the national security rationale has the capacity to kill free trade, a little bit at a time.

M

any years back, in a great university, on Valentine’s Day, I met a colleague of mine in the corridor of our building.

She was on her way to her class, while I was on my way back to our department. She was rushing. I was not. I hailed her and shouted: Happy Valentine’s! She stopped dead—yes, dead— in her tracks, and pulled me to the side. Known to be a feministMarxist, she was more Glenn Close but with the squint of Dirty Harry, when she blurted the line: “Tito, you buy into that!”

I buy flowers, but I don’t buy into that, that day called Valentine’s Day. I greet people because I like people.

But hey, I was never into any Valentine’s Day even if my cardiologist is the only one with a huge heart on the façade of his clinic.

And so, this column looks like a delayed paean to the 14th day of this month. But it is not.

As I write this essay, the flowers have wilted down and their prices, which had insanely gone up, are now down again, with the ground, where all blooms sprout from.

It was the 12th of February when the riot toward this day began. As all riots, there was a steady rise in the demonstration of feelings. People just had to express their emotions.

Once more in bookstores, people were crowding before shelves containing cards with words and lines as old as this chain of school supplies.

Love is as old as anything. But it cannot be older than poverty. Both are about needs and needing. Both are supreme mysteries. Poets rhapsodize about love but never get to explain why we fall in it. Theories abound about poverty, but no one ever gets to provide solutions to it.

It was on that early morning, two days before this vaunted day of love that found me in the bus terminal, sleepy, waiting for my sister to arrive. She had sent messages regarding how their bus was crawling into

the city and how she found herself on the other side of the city while I waited for her in the terminal on the other side.

The Edsa highway was before me. In the terminal, life never really stopped. The taxi drivers affecting the expressions of welcome common to those coming from my region were relentless in their welcome for the passengers. The buses were coming in quick. Skybus, some of them were called. It used to be one Skybus, but now there is No. 1 to No. 6. Our world has changed: Buses that were luxe because they were given the gift of Sky are now common.

As one bus turned around to park near where it entered, I rushed to it.

There was no sister there. But there was an old friend, a poet, Romy Cruz, on vacation from the US. He saw me, and I saw him. We had to have a selfie. But there was no one to take it. He had a tiny camera, not a mobile phone. Selfies are taken with mobile phones. Strangers we hailed looked at his hand and backed out. They seemed to be saying: No camera, please. But we kept calling out for anyone to help these two sentimental fools, foolish enough to command anyone to take our photos. One was daring and held Romy’s camera. That business settled, we were off to catching up. “Your daughter also writes. Let us have a reading soon in ‘Savage Mind.’” We were talking about the newest cultural

hub in our city. “I have a publisher already, Romy. I will publish the writings—the poetry—of those who were writing in the late ’60s up the late ’70s.

Fine. Marhay man.”

Romy has not changed. He has a way of putting on this timid look, but he must be the most confident poet of our generation. Online, I caught one of his poems entitled “Dayangdang,” the street of his childhood and boyhood and my street, as well: During the final days I have kept those poems/ inside the tin can and hid them in the kisame that/space between the ceiling and the roof/above as if I can get back to them when/they are yellowed like wine when they taste so/sweet after every year clip one leaf or branch away/ to prune to shape it into something you desire much better than the alleys and the streets of naga/that look the same.

In his poetry, Romy Kerz, as we fondly called him then, loses the shyness and whatever analysis of confidence we attribute to him. What is left, as if poetry has this means of yielding our lives to the candid embrace of the universe, is a person who nurtures the vanishing because that is where he will find himself eventually. The poem goes on and ends: is there a point in waiting then after all these years/even as you have now forgotten their voices./you may have lost the directions to the house trying/to recognize their faces even as you try to recover/every single piece.

If public health is politicized Rev. Fr. Antonio Cecilio T. Pascual

SERVANT LEADER

M

Y dear brothers and sisters, it has been confirmed by the Department of Health (DOH) that there’s an outbreak of measles or tigdas in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Western and Central Visayas. If the fast spread of this virus is not prevented, it may cause complications such as pneumonia, blindness and, in worst cases, even death. This virus is dangerous, especially for children who have not been vaccinated.

According to the DOH, over 400 cases of measles have been recorded in Metro Manila, and five of the patients have died. Almost 600 cases in Calabarzon, with nine deaths. In Central Luzon, four among the 200 cases of children with measles also perished. In Western Visayas, not lower than 100 cases of measles were recorded, with three deaths. In Central Visayas, one died out of 71 cases.

The refusal of parents to have their children vaccinated has been

cited as the culprit. This was confirmed by the low vaccine coverage of the DOH in 2018, reaching only about 40 percent of targeted children, quite far from the 90-percent target. A study by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found that only three out of 10 Filipinos currently have trust in vaccination. According to this study, the “highly politicized response” of the government has not succeeded in helping on the controversial vaccine

for dengue, Dengvaxia.

This is still what doctors and professionals from the field of medicine say, like the Doctors for Truth and Welfare. They blame the head of the Public Attorney’s Office, Atty. Persida Acosta, and the head of forensics of the PAO, Mr. Erwin Erfe, on the waning trust of the public toward vaccination. We may remember people from the PAO related the Dengvaxia to over 100 cases of deaths of children, even without scientific basis. They stood by this statement regardless of the questions by experts from the Philippine General Hospital. PAO also filed a case against the former health secretary and other officials of the DOH, including former President Benigno Aquino, proof that the PAO was politicizing the public health issue.

Brothers and sisters, it is important for us to know the truth behind the deaths of the children as pointed out by the PAO, and those behind the vaccination programs must take this to account if Dengvaxia is causing danger in our children’s lives. But this will not be helped if it is mixed with politicizing, and these cases of dead children are used to oppose the

Denim’s comeback in the US Gives Levi Strauss its IPO opening

By Kim Bhasin & Matthew Townsend Bloomberg Opinion

L

evi Strauss & Co. is trying to go public as jeans fend off their most resilient and pliable rival yet: yoga pants.

The denim category has been battling a fashion shift in the US toward more sporty looks like leggings, which the industry has dubbed “athleisure.” It’s been tough, with imports of elastic knit pants surpassing those of denim for the first time in 2017.

But the one-time staple of American closets has recently staged the beginning of a comeback: The jeans category in the US grew 2.2 percent to $16.7 billion in 2018 after four straight years of declines, according to data from Euromonitor.

“It’s better than a couple of years ago,” said Chen Grazutis, an analyst for Bloomberg Intelligence. “It’s steady.”

Levi Strauss, whose blue jeans earned a patent in 1873, is one of the brands making a comeback. Although the company was

initially slow to adapt to the yoga trend, scrambling to add stretch and performance aspects to its jeans while retaining their classic look, it has since turned its business around, including in the critical Americas region. Global sales rose 14 percent to $5.6 billion in fiscal 2018 compared to the year prior, the company reported last week. Sales of women’s clothing, which had been most affected by the rise of leggings, have grown in the double digits for eight straight quarters and now represent nearly a third of Levi’s total business.

“It’s clear that we’ve built a solid foundation,” Chief Executive Officer Chip Bergh said on a conference call with analysts earlier this month.

“We’re gaining market share as the growth we’re delivering outpaces the category.”

Still, denim companies aren’t out of the woods yet. They still face an ongoing struggle as department stores shutter locations and big-box retailers push more private-label jeans. The share of Levi’s revenue that comes from selling lower-priced apparel to big retailers like Walmart Inc. and

Target Corp. was 27 percent last year, down from 30 percent in 2016. Sales of those value labels, which include Signature and Denizen, increased 28 percent last year, according to the filing.

Meanwhile, styles of jeans have remained idle over the past decade, with fashion trends unable to dethrone the skinny jean as the most prominent silhouette. That’s left shoppers bored with few hot new looks to chase—and little reason to update their wardrobes. Luxury labels, such as Off-White and Vete-

Romy asks if there is a point in waiting, but you know that deep in that heart, he believes in waiting. I could have talked about this poem with him, but a bus terminal is where the journeys of buses end.

And waiting in the bus terminal is no poetry.

With Romy, fetched by his brother, Francis, gone, I resumed my wait.

Out there was the Edsa highway.

Young men and young women, old men as well, were all rushing. Buses were not allowed to stop and pick up passengers in front of the terminal, but who cares about laws and regulations in this nation of ours? Not the enforcer and not the leader.

The rush continued. Faces flushed because of the running. Legs strong enough to hoist oneself to a running vehicle. These were the people of that morning, two days before the world crazily celebrated the day for loving.

Analysts write forever about how we are poor because we have a lousy labor force, because our young women and men are lazy. I looked at these workers of the nation running, some of them eating on their way to work, loving their work that did not pay much, loving their bosses that did not respect them as much, loving this nation that did not have them in the fake heart and false promises of their contemptible government.

E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com

administration in politics. The measles outbreak is proof of how politics affect the loss of trust of the public to vaccination against dangerous illnesses and viruses.

It is clear that there is a lack of control of the government on this controversy. They allowed PAO to use the issue to wrong the administration. Like what was emphasized in social teachings from the Church, man is the foundation and the reason for having a political community.

Pope Francis once said, “When the exercise of political power aims only at protecting the interest of a few... the future is compromised.” Many children are suffering today because of the selfish interests of some people in government.

My brothers and sisters, may this reply from the government regarding the Dengvaxia issue serve as a lesson to all of us.

Make it a habit listening 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.

ments, have helped denim regain interest with shoppers by reworking classic designs.

With more resources, Lev i Strauss is betting that it can take its brand recognition and popular 501 line and win more market share globally. The company has boosted sales in Europe more than 20 percent the past two years. And China, despite being the world’s secondlargest economy, makes up just 3 percent of total revenue. Bergh said he sees the market as “a huge longterm opportunity.”

Companies BusinessMirror

Editor: Efleda P. Campos

Friday, February 15, 2019

B1

PCC blocks merger of 2 sugar mills

T

By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

HE country’s antitrust body, the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC), said on Thursday it has blocked the merger of two sugar millers to prevent a monopoly of sugarcane milling services in Southern Luzon.

In a statement, the PCC rejected Universal Robina Corp.’s (URC) proposal to buy out the assets of Central Azucarera Don Pedro Inc. (Cadpi) and Roxas Holdings Inc. (RHI), its

only competitor in Southern Luzon.

The PCC said the decision was reached despite the submissions made by URC, Cadpi and RHI. The anti-trust body found these sub-

missions insufficient in addressing competition concerns.

“The prohibition prevents this deal from creating a monopoly in the relevant market that could harm the welfare of the sugarcane planters. It is the duty of the Commission to prevent the creation of monopolies when applying the merger control powers conferred on it by the Philippine Competition Act,” PCC Chairman Arsenio M. Balisacan said.

The PCC said both millers are located in Batangas. URC’s sugar mill is located in Balayan, while CadpiRHI’s milling facilities are in Nasugbu, Batangas. A merger, the PCC said, would lessen competition in the sugar milling-services market not only in Batangas, but also in Cavite,

Laguna and Quezon.

The Commission said that, while the sugarcane milling transactions will affect farmers in Southern Luzon, the sugar processed from these facilities serve nationwide demand, including Metro Manila.

Based on the PCC’s market investigation, sugarcane farmers stand to lose the benefits of competition under a monopoly. This will come in the form of planters’ cut in sharing agreements, sugar recovery rates and incentives.

The PCC’s Mergers and Acquisitions Office expressed concern that the transaction will create market power for URC and allow it to unilaterally reduce the planters’ share in the planter-miller sharing agree-

ment, the theoretical recovery rates quoted to planters, and the incentives provided to planters.

The Commission also found that barriers to entry were high and the possibility of a new entrant would be remote, if it was even possible. This will give the URC freedom to exercise market power after the transaction.

“Other sugar mills outside of Batangas are too far [Pampanga, Tarlac, Camarines Sur], thus, not sufficient to constrain URC from exercising market power,” PCC added.

URC is engaged in a wide range of food-related businesses, including the production of packed foods and beverages, sugar, agro-industrial products and bioethanol.

Its mills are located in Batangas,

Iloilo, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental and Cagayan. These mills produce raw sugar, refined sugar and molasses for supply to other URC business segments and third parties.

RHI owns 100 percent of the shares of Cadpi, which is operating an integrated sugarcane milling and refining plant in Batangas. RHI is also engaged in the trading of raw and refined sugar, and molasses.

“A merger-to-monopoly deal is among the most detrimental types of business transactions. The URC takeover removes its only competitor, erodes the benefits of competition for the sugarcane planters, and leaves market power at the hands of a single provider in an area,” Balisacan said.

DataLand to expand into Clark Global City Phoenix, PNOC set to sign deal

C

LARK FREEPORT—A reputable real-estate company that focuses on residential developments, retail and commercial developments, as well as hospitality and leisure development, is joining a growing number of property developers at the 177-hectare Clark Global City (CGC) here.

DataLand Inc. said it is taking part in transforming CGC into the country’s new center of business, life and innovation.

DataLand, the property-development arm

of DDT Konstract Inc. and Global Gateway Development Corp. (GGDC) of the Udenna Group, announced it is now into “advanced talks” for a partnership at the CGC in this free port.

DataLand said it intends to build an office building, dormitel and hotel on 2.3 hectares of CGC, as more companies expand north of Manila.

“We see the phenomenal growth in Clark, where there is continuous development in infrastructure that affects its economic progress,” DataLand President Andrea Marie Tamayo-Ulep said.

“We believe a partnership with GGDC is a strategic move and we look forward to building developments that help create a progressive environment in one of the largest office markets in the Philippines,” she added.

Clark has emerged as the second-largest office market in the Philippines, amid the government’s push to transform the former military base into a modern and disaster-resilient metropolis, as part of efforts to decongest Metro Manila and spread growth across the country. Ashley Manabat

to build Tanglawan LNG terminal

P

HOENIX Petroleum Corp. and state-owned Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) may sign soon a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to formalize their strategic alliance for the planned LNG (liquefied natural gas) regasification terminal of Tanglawan Philippine LNG Inc. Tanglawan is a planned joint venture between Phoenix Petroleum and CNOOC Gas and Power Group Co. Ltd., China’s largest LNG importer and terminal operator.

Its LNG project, which will consist of regasification and receiving terminal with a capacity of 2.2 mtpa, is expected to break ground in Batangas this year.

“Following the Department of Energy’s [DOE] Notice to Proceed [NTP] issued to Tanglawan, the representatives from Phoenix are now in talks with the PNOC in hopes to secure

a strategic alliance with the stateowned firm in its LNG hub project,” Phoenix said on Thursday.

If and when the MOU is signed, PNOC will be involved in “the areas of pipeline infrastructure and franchise, banked gas, equity and other marketing opportunities,” as proposed by Phoenix.

Phoenix and PNOC have just concluded their first engagement meeting last week, “with the planned joint venture looking into the signing of the memorandum of understanding with PNOC in the coming weeks.”

The planned LNG facility will help support the demand for a clean, competitive and environment-friendly energy source in Luzon. Likewise, the LNG hub project aims to provide energy security for the country.

Tanglawan is targeting to operate the LNG hub commercially by 2023. It also aims to develop a gas-

fired power-generation facility with up to 2,000 megawatts of installed capacity. The proposed joint venture with CNOOC has been approved by the board of directors of Phoenix Petroleum on January 31, 2019.

After the issuance of the NTP from the DOE, Tanglawan still needs to secure other pertinent permits, such as Environmental Compliance Certificate and the green light from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples. Also, if applicable, local government unit’s endorsement is required. The project also needs to undergo financial closure.

Aside from Tanglawan, two more firms filed their respective NTP applications with the DOE. US floating LNG player Excelerate Energy filed last month an application for a permit to proceed with its plan to construct a proposed floating LNG terminal. Lenie Lectura

B2

Friday, February 15, 2019

Companies BusinessMirror

DOE certifies power projects of national significance

T

HE Department of Energy (DOE) has certified the power projects of the country’s grid operator, the power state firm and a joint venture between AC Energy Inc. and Aboitiz Power Corp. as energy projects of national significance (EPNS).

GN Power Dinginin Ltd. Co.’s 2 x 668 megawatt (MW) supercritical clean-coal fired power plant in Bataan was issued a EPNS certificate this month by the DOE. GN Power Dinginin is a joint venture of the power arm of Ayala Corp., AboitizPower subsidiary Therma Power and Power Partners. Construction of the first unit is in full swing and is scheduled for completion this year. The plant uses an Alstom steam turbine generator.

Meanwhile, 32 projects of the National Power Corp. (NPC) were also issued EPNS certificates.

These are the 300 -kilowatt Palimbang diesel power plant, 500kW Ninoy Aquino DPP, 200-kW Sacol DPP, 200-kW Talicud DPP, 1,000-kW Basilan DPP, 300-kW and 2 x 200-kW Balut DPP, 200kW Hikdop DPP, 300-kW and 2 x 200-kW Balimbing DPP, 1,500-kW Kalamansig DPP, 600-kW Sibutu DPP, 3-MW Dinagat DPP, 100-kW Sibanag DPP, 100-kW Gibusong DPP, 400-kW Manuk Mangkaw DPP, 500-kW Sitangkal DPP, 300-kW and 2 x 100-kW Tandubas DPP, 600-kW Tandubanak DPP, 40-kW Manalipa DPP, 40-kW Tumaloptap DPP, 10kW Great Sta. Cruz DPP, 200-KW Tausan DPP, 300-kW Saranggani DPP, 90-kW Tictabon DPP, 150-kW Tapiana DPP, 150-kW Taganak DPP, 150-kW Tampakan DPP, 150-kW Lugus DPP, 150-kW Saluping DPP, 10-kW Pangapuyan and 1,000-kW Ninoy Aquino DPP, 1,200-kW West Simunul DPP and 1,200 Mapun DPP. All EPNS-certified projects of NPC are in commercial operation. The certificates were issued last month. The DOE also issued last month EPNS certificates to 29 power transmission projects of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP).

These are San Jose-Angat 115-kiloVolt transmission line upgrading, San Jose-Quezon 230-kV TL, Manila (Navotas) 230-kV substation, Pasay

230-kV substation, Taguig EHV substation, Taguig-Taytay 230-kV TL, Marilao EHV substation, Manila (Navotas)-Dona Imelda 230-kV TL, Bataan 230-kV grid reinforcement, Mariveles-Hermosa 500-kV TL, Pagbilao EHV substation, Hermosa-San Jose 500-kV TL, Tuguegarao-Magapit 230-kV TL, Calaca-Dasmariñas 230kV TL, Tuy 500/230-kV substation project stage 1, Western 500-kV Backbone (stage 1), Batangas-Mindoro interconnection, Ambuklao-Binga 230-kV TL upgrading, Binga-San Miguel 230k-V TL, San Miguel-Nagsaag 230-kV TL, Pagbilao-Tayabas 500-kV TL, Hermosa-Floridablanca 69-kV TL, Tanuan 230-kV substation, Concepcion-Sta. Ignacia 69-kV TL, Nagsaag-Tumana 69-kV TL, San Simon 230-kV substation and Pinili 230-kV substation. As of February 4, the DOE has issued 74 EPNS certificates. It has also declined seven applications. It said that 253 applications are currently being evaluated.

The 12 other power projects certified by the DOE are the 100-MW Sarangani solar power project of Total Power Inc.; Visayas-Mindanao Interconnection Project of the NGCP; Kalinga geothermal power project of Aragorn Power and Energy Corp., the 151.2-MW Talim wind power project of Island Wind Energy Corp., the 2x600-MW coal project of Atimonan One Energy Inc., the Coal Operating Contracts 185 and 186 of the Philippine National Oil Co.-Exploration Corp.’s, 500MW pumped storage hydropower project of Coheco Badeo Corp., the 650-MW Pagbilao combined cycle gas turbine power plant of Energy World, 15-MW Masbate coal plant of DMCI Power Corp., 1.2-MW biogas power plant project of First Quezon Biogas Corp. and the 6-MW Pangasinan Green Atom Waste to Energy project of Green Atom Renewable Energy Corp.

The issuance of EPNS certificates is stipulated under Executive Order 30, which states that concerned government agencies shall act upon applications for permits not exceeding within a 30-day period. If no decision is made within the specified processing timeframe, the application is deemed approved by the concerned agency. Lenie Lectura

Editor: Efleda P. Campos

ICTSI inaugurates expanded container terminal in Georgia

T

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

@lorenzmarasigan

HE International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) has inaugurated the expansion of its container terminal in Batumi, Georgia, expanding the capacity of the facility by a third.

In a statement, the company said the expansion program for Batumi International Container Terminal (BICT) involves “both the waterside

and landside areas of the multipurpose terminal,” which are “intended to optimize the processing of existing cargo flows and install

additional capacity to accommodate new business.”

This includes a comprehensive dredging program that provides an 11.5-meter draught in the port’s fairway and alongside BICT’s quay line, allowing for “easy access for feedermax vessels at the port and making it Georgia’s deepest draught port,” ICTSI Senior Vice President and Europe, Middle East and Africa Head Hans-Ole Madsen said.

“On the landside, we have met the stated requirement of importers and established a new container freight station complete with a 180-meter rail spur to facilitate cross-stuffing from containers to rail cars. Comple-

menting this, we have also expanded container and truck storage areas, and following the completion of a new highway to Batumi, introduced a new, dedicated two-lane gate complex for BICT.” he added.

The expansion essentially boosts its general cargo and dry bulk handling capacities.

The overall development program for BICT raises the facility’s annual container handling capacity to 200,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).

As of June 2017, based on its previous media announcements, the container terminal has an annual capacity of 150,000 TEUs.

Lamudi search engine grows 40% in Jan

By Roderick L. Abad

@rodrik_28

Contributor

M

ORE and more property seekers turn to Lamudi as shown in the average rate of search activity in its portal, which grew by 40 percent week on week in January 2019 alone.

Based on data the real-estate website provider issued to the BusinessMirror on Thursday, the number of hits it gained from January 1 to 7 this year stood at 19.35 percent of the total searches for the month as compared to 19.21 percent during the same period in 2018.

For the succeeding weeks, the number of visits to the platform from January 8 to 14 was at 23.93 percent versus 22.22 percent a year ago; January 15 to 21, 22 percent versus 24.94 percent; January 22 to 28, 22.03 percent versus 24.09 percent; and January 29 to 31, 12.7 percent versus 9.54 percent.

Seventy-one percent and 68 percent of the aggregate searches were recorded from the second to fourth week during the first month of 2018 and 2019, respectively. The top 3 most visited weeks were, likewise, within those brackets.

The first, second and fifth week of January this year had stronger shares of searches compared with the same week of 2018. However, third and fourth week of last year had better share of hits as against this year.

“These are incredible numbers.

We’ve never seen numbers like these.

That’s what we’re very excited about,” said Bhavna Suresh, CEO of Lamudi Philippines.

Without citing the exact figures, she added they have seen “so much traffic coming in from the Middle East and from the US [United States].”

At present, Lamudi has a total of 3.15 million searches. Statisticswise, it continues to enjoy a stable increase as the average compounded growth per month stands at 3.27 percent.

Per the percentage of weekly searches over the current aggregate traffic, Week 1 was at 14.7 percent; Week 2, 18.18 percent; Week. 3, 16.72 percent; Week 4, 16.74 percent; Week 5, 15.83 percent; and Week 6, 17.83 percent.

Lamudi expects that the average compounded growth for 2019 will increase by up to 5 percent on the back of the “Build, Build, Build” program of the government, which is focused on building transportation to connect nearby provinces to Metro Manila.

The company said these may cause expansions on the property developers’ side and further development of emerging areas.

Last year, the property portal provider saw that Iloilo, Davao and Pampanga would have a significant growth in terms of the condominium market. This was supported by the latest developments in those areas, which, in turn, will bolster the supplies and the growing real-estate demand trends.

AirAsia partners with Indian federation

A

I R A SI A h a s s i g ne d a memorandum of agreement (MOA) w ith the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce Philippines (FICCI), to assist disadvantaged families and children with travel for lifechanging surgery.

The MOA forms part of AirAsia’s commitment to support local and disadvantaged communities, and follows a recent case, whereby AirAsia provided travel assistance to Filipino infants Ariella Mendez, Daniella San Jose and their families to receive

much-needed medical treatment in India.

AirAsia Philippines CEO Captain Dexter Comendador said, “AirAsia’s collaboration with FICCI is yet another step forward in our commitment to the communities we serve. Our philosophy is that no corporation can live apart from the community, and in times of need, we will always extend a helping hand, especially when it comes to our children. We are honored to partner with FICCI, an organization that shares this same passion.”

The signing ceremony, which took place in Manila this week, was led by FICCI President Rex Daryanani, AirAsia Philippines Inc. Chairman MaanHontiveros and Comendador.

Daryanani said, “Our partnership with AirAsia is anchored by a shared commitment to help build healthy Filipino communities, especially children in impoverished areas who require immediate medical help.”

MUTUAL FUNDS

February 14, 2019

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

PER SHARE RETURN* RETURN STOCK FUNDS ALFM GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 268.09 -6.75% 4.27% 3.57% 6.29% ATRAM ALPHA OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. -A 1.575 -3.05% 14.3% 4.86% 9.31% ATRAM PHILIPPINE EQUITY OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. -A 4.1624 -8.44% 6.07% 2.17% 6.65% CLIMBS SHARE CAPITAL EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND CORP. -A 0.9494 -3.81% N.A. N.A. 6.61% FIRST METRO CONSUMER FUND ON MSCI PHILS. IMI, INC. -A 0.8745 N.A. N.A. N.A. 6.56% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN EQUITY FUND,INC. -A 5.5806 -5.31% 4.07% 2.95% 5.87% MBG EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND, INC. -A 121.79 2.97% N.A. N.A. 4.58% ONE WEALTHY NATION FUND, INC. -A 0.8879 -8.44% -3.13% N.A. 6.67% PAMI EQUITY INDEX FUND, INC. -A 52.6167 -5.61% 5.45% N.A. 6.93% PHILAM STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 548.3 -5.77% 4.05% 2.9% 6.52% PHILEQUITY DIVIDEND YIELD FUND, INC. -A 1.3234 -4.06% 5.54% 6.11% 5.53% PHILEQUITY FUND, INC. -A 38.956 -4.31% 6.54% 5.45% 6.34% PHILEQUITY MSCI PHILIPPINE INDEX FUND, INC. -A,3 1.0453 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. PHILEQUITY PSE INDEX FUND INC. -A 5.3148 -5.36% 6.35% 5.47% 7.18% PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND CORP. -A 887.89 -5.15% 6.19% 5.51% 7.17% SOLDIVO STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 0.9108 -5.04% 3.67% N.A. 5.76% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE EQUITY FUND, INC. -A 4.3231 -4.89% 6.06% 4.09% 6.51% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND, INC. -A 1.022 -5.51% 6.09% N.A. 7.09% UNITED FUND, INC. -A 3.7149 -2.51% 7.5% 4.74% 6.11% EXCHANGE TRADED FUND FIRST METRO PHIL. EQUITY EXCHANGE TRADED FUND, INC. -A,C,2 118.7351 -4.82% 7.34% 6.62% 7.21% ATRAM ASIAPLUS EQUITY FUND, INC. -B $0.9867 -8.73% 8.41% 1.35% 6.2% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY WORLD VOYAGER FUND, INC. -A $1.2098 -2.73% N.A. N.A. 9.47% BALANCED FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ATRAM DYNAMIC ALLOCATION FUND, INC. -A 1.7301 -5.26% 1.01% -0.15% 4.78% ATRAM PHILIPPINE BALANCED FUND, INC. -A 2.3095 -5.01% 3.4% 1.79% 4.54% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN BALANCED FUND INC. -A 2.6608 -3.15% 1.5% -0.31% 4.6% GREPALIFE BALANCED FUND CORPORATION -A 1.3626 -5.71% N.A. N.A. 4.47% NCM MUTUAL FUND OF THE PHILS., INC. -A 1.9154 -2.52% 2.96% 2.63% 3.92% PAMI HORIZON FUND, INC. -A 3.6443 -5.44% 1.35% 1.62% 3.26% PHILAM FUND, INC. -A 16.4906 -4.67% 1.68% 1.66% 3.66% SOLIDARITAS FUND, INC. -A 2.1585 -2.88% 3.24% 3.44% 4.16% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BALANCED FUND, INC. -A 3.8316 -3.83% 3.02% 2.56% 4.94% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2028, INC. -A,D,4 0.9956 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2038, INC. -A,D,4 0.9941 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2048, INC. -A,D,4 0.9936 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DYNAMIC FUND, INC. -A 0.9676 -4.27% 2.49% N.A. 4.98% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES COCOLIFE DOLLAR FUND BUILDER, INC. -A $0.03567 1.71% 0.28% 1.82% 1.19% PAMI ASIA BALANCED FUND, INC. -A $0.9723 -6.48% 5.1% -0.04% 3.86% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ADVANTAGE FUND, INC. -A $3.5359 -1.83% 6.95% 2.06% 6.88% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR WELLSPRING FUND, INC. -A $1.0558 -4.11% N.A. N.A. 4.53% BOND FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM PESO BOND FUND, INC. -A 345.26 2.35% 2.1% 2.11% 0.55% ATRAM CORPORATE BOND FUND, INC. -A, 1 1.8604 -0.85% -0.41% -0.33% 0.06% COCOLIFE FIXED INCOME FUND, INC. -A 2.9871 5.35% 5.27% 5.26% 0.55% EKKLESIA MUTUAL FUND INC. -A 2.1452 1.81% 1.35% 1.86% 0.69% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN FIXED INCOME FUND,INC. -A 2.2266 0.61% 0.31% 0.64% 0.78% GREPALIFE FIXED INCOME FUND CORP. -A P 1.596 -1.19% -0.64% 0.42% 2.02% PHILAM BOND FUND, INC. -A 3.9113 -2% -1.04% 0.33% -0.22% PHILEQUITY PESO BOND FUND, INC. -A 3.5818 2.65% 0.84% 1.26% 1.84% SOLDIVO BOND FUND, INC. -A 0.9104 0.21% -0.55% N.A. 1.99% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BOND FUND, INC. -A 2.8302 1.42% 1.07% 1.56% 2.32% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY GS FUND, INC. -A 1.5726 1.06% 0.62% 1.11% 2.12% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES ALFM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $450.72 1.97% 2.11% 3.02% 0.54% ALFM EURO BOND FUND, INC. -A Є214.15 0.62% 1.34% 1.56% 0.71% ATRAM TOTAL RETURN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -B $1.1447 2.31% 1.25% 2.23% 1.68% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $0.025 1.21% 0.95% N.A. 0.81% GREPALIFE DOLLAR BOND FUND CORP. -A $1.6967 -1.71% -0.97% 1.04% 0.38% MAA PRIVILEGE DOLLAR FIXED INCOME FUND, INC. N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. MAA PRIVILEGE EURO FIXED INCOME FUND, INC. ЄN.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. PAMI GLOBAL BOND FUND, INC -A $1.0476 -0.24% -1.2% -2.33% 0.96% PHILAM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $2.2176 2.32% 0.8% 2.95% 2.14% PHILEQUITY DOLLAR INCOME FUND INC. -A $0.0573433 1.02% 0.99% 1.85% 0.64% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ABUNDANCE FUND, INC. -A $2.9242 -0.61% 0.13% 2.01% 1.81% MONEY MARKET FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A 121.6 3.27% 2.03% 1.67% 0.63% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A,5 1.0015 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. PHILAM MANAGED INCOME FUND, INC. -A 1.1859 2.18% 0.84% 0.59% 0.34% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A 1.2245 2.84% 2.35% 1.69% 0.45% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR STARTER FUND, INC. -A $1.0188 1.92% N.A. N.A. 0.29%

* - 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

The World BusinessMirror

Trump: Trade talks in Beijing going well ahead of March tariff deadline

P

RESIDENT Donald J. Trump said talks to resolve the US trade war with China are making good progress, as face-to-face negotiations continue on Thursday in Beijing.

“I think it’s going along very well,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday.

“They’re showing us tremendous respect.”

Top level officials, including US Treasur y Secretar y Steven Mnuchin and top trade negotiator Robert Lighthizer, are scheduled to meet with their counterparts in the Chinese capital, as the clock ticks down to an original deadline of March 1 set by the US to reach a

breakthrough or face higher tariffs.

Trump has signaled that date may shift if the two sides are close to a deal, though there’s little signal yet that an accord is near.

If agreement does materialize, it could pave the way for a meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to seal it.

They’re the “only two” that can nail down a comprehensive trade deal between the two nations, W hite House Press Secretar y

Sarah Sanders said on Fox News.

Trump-Xi meeting

ASKED whether the Trump-Xi meeting will take place at Mara-Lago, Sanders says “it certainly could be, it would be a great venue.”

Xi is scheduled to meet key members of the US delegation, including Lighthizer and Mnuchin in Beijing on Friday, the South China Morning Post reported, citing unidentified people. Trump met the Chinese delegation in the last round of talks in Washington.

In the talks, the US is pushing for wide-ranging changes in the way China manages foreign trade and its own economy. Specifically, Lighthizer has zeroed in on China’s alleged abuses of intellectual property and state sponsorship of companies.

Trump has also railed against

the size of the US trade deficit with China, and negotiators have made varying demands about how Beijing addresses this. The goal of “reciprocal trade” has been a clear priority of Trump’s policies.

China wants to have the tariffs that have been imposed so far removed. To get the US to do that, negotiators are trying to focus attention on China’s more than $300 billion goods trade surplus. Beijing has offered to ramp up its purchases from the US massively over the next six years in order to even the scales.

The two teams are negotiating against the backdrop of a weakening global economy, with the Chinese side facing particular worries at home. China’s trade data for January is due for release on Thursday, with economists forecasting a further weakening of exports. Bloomberg News

Absent Iran takes center stage at M. East talks in Poland

FROM left, United States Vice President Mike Pence, Poland’s President Andrzej Duda and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu talk after a group photo at the Royal Castle in Warsaw, Poland, on Wednesday, February 13. The Polish capital is host for a two-day international conference on the Middle East, coorganized by Poland and the United States. AP PHOTO/MICHAEL SOHN

W

ARSAW, Poland—Although it is absent from the stage, Iran is nevertheless taking the spotlight at a Middle East security conference cohosted by the United States and Poland that has highlighted deep divisions between the US and some of its traditional allies.

Amid uncertainty over its aims and questions about what it will deliver, the conference opened late Wednesday in Warsaw with some 60 nations in attendance. Yet, in an apparent test of US influence and suspicions in Europe and elsewhere over the Trump administration’s intentions in Iran, many countries aren’t sending their top diplomats and will be represented at levels lower than their invited foreign ministers.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Vice President Mike Pence attended along with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his counterparts from numerous Arab nations. But France and Germany are not sending Cabinet-ranked officials, and European Union foreign policy Chief Federica Mogherini is staying away.

Russia and China aren’t participating, and the Palestinians, who have called for the meeting to be boycotted, also will be absent. Iran, which is this week celebrating the 40th anniversary of its Islamic Revolution, denounced the meeting as a “circus” aimed at “demonizing” it.

In a bid to encourage better participation, Pompeo and others sought to broaden what was initially advertised as an Iran-centric meeting to include the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the fight against the Islamic State group, and the conflicts in Syria and Yemen. That effort produced only mixed results, particularly with longtime European allies who are trying to save the 2015 Iran nuclear deal after last year’s US withdrawal.

And, while the agenda gives no hint of any concrete actions that might result beyond creating “follow-on working groups” on a variety of common concerns like terrorism and cyber security, comments from several participants belied the underlying theme: countering Iran.

Pence will address the conference on a range of Middle East issues, Pompeo will talk about US plans in Syria following President Donald J. Trump’s decision to withdraw US troops and Trump’s senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner, and his peace partner, Jason Greenblatt, will speak about their as-yet unveiled IsraeliPalestinian peace plan.

Greenblatt, whose portfolio extends only to the Israeli-Palestinian peace effort, said Iran is the top priority and derided the Palestinians for their boycott and insistence that their case is the region’s most important issue.

In a series of tweets on Wednesday, Greenblatt said the Palestinian position “impedes nations from countering the common enemy of Iran.”

“Iran is the primary threat to the future of regional peace/security,” he said. “That’s what Palestinian leaders don’t grasp; as a consequence of being detached from new realities, we see Palestinians increasingly left behind/more isolated than ever.”

On his way to Warsaw, Netanyahu made clear the conference is centered on Iran.

“It is a conference that unites the United States, Israel, many countries in the world, many countries in the region,

Arab countries, against Iran’s aggressive policy, its aggression, its desire to conquer the Middle East and destroy Israel,” he told reporters.

Netanyahu sent out a belligerent rallying cry to his Arab partners, saying he planned to focus on the “common interest” of confronting Iran. He made the comments during an off-the-cuff interview with reporters on a Warsaw street, shortly after meeting Oman’s foreign minister.

Although Netanyahu used the Hebrew word milchama, or “war,” in his comments, his office later changed its official translation and said he was referring to a “common interest of combatting Iran.”

Pompeo has predicted that the conference will “deliver really good outcomes” and has played down the impact of lower-level participation. “We think we will make real progress,” Pompeo said. He didn’t, however, offer any details about specific outcomes.

Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz, the conference co-host, also steered clear of describing potential results. And, even he could not paper over the differences between the US and Europe, including Poland, over the Iran nuclear deal.

“We consider this to be a valuable element on the international arena,” Czaputowicz told a joint news conference with Pompeo on the eve of the conference.

In a joint opinion piece published Wednesday by CNN, Pompeo and Czaputowicz said they didn’t expect all participants to agree on policies or outcomes but called for an airing of unscripted and candid ideas.

“We expect each nation to express opinions that reflect its own interests,” they wrote. “Disagreements in one area should not prohibit unity in others.” AP

Editor: Angel R. Calso • Friday, February 15, 2019

B3

Dems ask FBI to probe if Trump’s company is ‘criminal enterprise’

N

EW YORK—A group of House Democrats asked the FBI on Wednesday to launch an investigation into whether President Donald J. Trump’s company is a “criminal enterprise” after mass firings at two of his golf clubs where longtime workers were only recently discovered to be in the country illegally.

Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., and nine other House members sent a letter to the head of the FBI asking for an investigation into whether the Trump Organization knowingly hired workers without the proper documents, and even helped them procure false ones as some workers have alleged.

The letter says the allegations by workers interviewed in media reports raise “serious questions of criminal activity and numerous violations of employment laws,” including conspiracy charges and forced or coerced labor.

“Instead of hiding in the shadows, some of these brave workers have now decided to come forward and detail an elaborate ploy by the Trump Organization to systematically procure cheap immigrant labor and employ undocumented immigrants—despite knowing that the documents they provided were false,” the House members wrote.

The letter also asks that the fired workers be offered protection from deportation as potential witnesses to crimes.

Trump has repeatedly called for cracking down on companies that hire people in the country illegally, saying they should get hit with a

“huge financial penalty.”

The Trump Organization did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It has previously said it does not tolerate hiring anyone with false papers, and suggested rooting out those with false documents is not easy.

“Our employees are like family but when presented with fake documents, an employer has little choice,” Trump official Eric Trump, one of the president’s sons, said in a statement after 13 workers were fired last month at his club in New York’s Westchester County. “This situation is not unique to Trump Organization—it is one that all companies face.”

Anibal Romero, a lawyer for 27 workers who were fired or left on their own at four Trump clubs, said that he has already been questioned by the FBI and the offices of the New Jersey and New York attorneys general. He said he could not discuss the content of the discussions. The FBI and the New Jersey attorney general’s office said they had no comment. The New York attorney general’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The letter on Thursday to FBI Director Christopher Wray also cited previously reported allegations that some managers had threated to tell authorities that workers were in the country illegally if they complained about work conditions. One worker also complained about physical abuse, saying she was thrown against a wall three times at the Bedminster, New Jersey, club. AP

B4 Friday,February 15, 2019

The biggest and greatest pyro show on earth moves to SM City Clark

RENOWNED U.S. DINER POPEYES TO OPEN SOON IN PHILIPPINES

F

ILIPINOS will soon get to take a bite of one of the most popular fried-chicken brands in North America.

Opening its first restaurant in the country in the first quarter of 2019, Popeyes is set to make the quick service-restaurant industry more exciting for consumers.

Popeyes will be brought to the country by the same team behind the highly successful Kuya J’s Restaurant. Coca-Cola is the official beverage provider of Popeyes in the Philippines.

“It is a great privilege for Coca-Cola to be partnering with Popeyes as they open their restaurant in the Philippines. Together with the wide range of beverage options from Coca-Cola, we will be able to make every bite at Popeyes more memorable and exciting for Filipinos,” said Winn Everhart, president and general manager of CocaCola Philippines.

Globally, Popeyes is owned by Restaurant Brand International, along with Tim Hortons and Burger King.

PHILHEALTH RAISES CONCERN OVER U.H.C. PROVISION FOR WORKERS

T

HE Philippine International Pyromusical Competition (PIPC) is a tradition at the SM Mall of Asia that has brought endless enjoyment to millions of Filipinos each year. For the past 9 years, the pyrotechnics have always complied with the international standards for environmental safety, at par with countries like Canada, Australia, Hong Kong and in famous theme parks around the world.

In full support of the ongoing Manila Bay Rehabilitation Program of the DENR, SM Supermalls will move the 10th PIPC from SM Mall of Asia to SM City Clark in Angeles City, Pampanga, starting from February 23 to March 30.

The PIPC has 10 competing countries taking on a battle of breath-taking fireworks performances amid symphony of sounds.

On the opening day, February 23, the Philippines’s very own Platinum Fireworks Inc. will take the sky to open the festivity together with an amazing drone exhibition show that will surely surprise everyone. As the first contender, CBF Pyrotechnics from Belgium will present their pyrotechnic delights.

On March 2 Germany’s ninth PIPC champ “Steffes-Ollig Feuerwerke” and Portugal’s “Pirotecnia Minhota” will treat the crowd with their tradition and mastery of skills in the sky.

On March 9 the Pampanga skyline will witness France’s “Brezac Artifices”, followed by a burst of vibrant colors by Finland’s Oy Pyroman.

Italy’s very own “Viviano S.R.L.” and last year’s champion, United Kingdom’s “Pyrotex Fireworx”,

will battle it out on March 16.

Canada’s turn to paint the night sky bursting with colors on March 23 with their very own “Fireworks Spectaculars”, and China’s Polaris Fireworks will surely stun the crowds.

To cap off the competition and close a decade of giving the best pyromusical exhibition in the Philippines, March 30 promises the most spectacular display of colors and surprises with Poland’s Surex Firma Rodzinna and the Philippines’ own Platinum Fireworks Inc. in a grand finale like no other.

The annual PIPC photo contest will also highlight entries from amateur and professional photographers wherein winners will receive special prizes from PIPC’s partners and sponsors.

Tickets to the most-awaited 10th PIPC are available at www.pyrophilippines.com or through SM Tickets, SM Cinemas, SM Mall of Asia ticket booths starting on February 13; and at SM City Clark ticket booths starting February 14, ranging from the patron with dinner at P1,800, VIP at P600, Gold at P350 and Silver at P120. Ticket prices will be different on the closing day of 10th PIPC. Ticket coupons will be available for purchase in Metrodeal starting February 13.

This magnificent family-friendly bonding experience is made possible with Platinum Fireworks Inc., the City of Angeles, Pampanga, the Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotions Board, Philippine Reclamation Authority and sponsors.

For more information about PIPC show schedules, visit the SM Supermalls social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

B

ELOW is the official statement of Philippine Hea lt h Insu ra nce Cor p. (Ph i lHea lt h) concerning provisions on payments to health workers in the Universal Health Care Bill: “Section 21 of the UHC bill states that ‘All income derived from PhilHealth payments shall accrue to the special health fund used exclusively for the improvement of the LGU health system.’”

Section 20 states that “….Health systems shall pool and manage thru a special health fund a ll resources... to finance population based and individual based health ser vices, health system operation costs,... remuneration of additional health workers and incentives for all health workers.”

When the bill is signed into law, PhilHealth was

given 180 days to come out with implementing rules and regulations (IRR), where specific clarifications and guidelines shall be discussed, addressed and finalized. This will be done only after a series of consultations with all concerned stakeholders so as to consider the interests of all.

Now ongoing are gathering of experiences and discussions with experts in preparation for UHC. UHC is a landmark bill that introduces major reforms, especially in the area of healthcare financing, making sure that all Filipinos, no matter the financial capability, has access to much needed health services and life-saving medicines. “...Let us actively involve ourselves in the discussions that will follow, as soon as the bill will be signed into law this month.”

Editor: Jun Lomibao • mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph

Sports BusinessMirror

TIGER’S MISSION: WIN AT RIVIERA TIGER WOODS will try to be in the winner’s position at Riviera. AP

L

B D F The Associated Press

OS ANGELES—Tiger Woods and his TGR Foundation took over the Genesis Open at Riviera two years ago, and now the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Tour is elevating it to the same status as tournaments hosted by Jack Nicklaus and the late Arnold Palmer.

Still to be determined is whether Woods can actually win the one PGA Tour event that has his number.

Riviera is where a 16-year-old Woods made his PGA Tour debut on a sponsor exemption. This is the closest PGA Tour event to where he grew up in Orange County. Riviera also is the PGA Tour course he has played the most times—nine—without winning.

“It is certainly a love-hate relationship,” Woods said on Wednesday after getting through his pro-am ahead of the rain.

“I love playing this golf course. I always have. I enjoyed playing up here when I was young with my dad. For some reason, I’ve only played well here one time in the tournament.”

That was in 1999, a few months before the first major overSERGIO GARCIA knows that the scrutiny of his behavior will be greater than ever. AP

haul in his swing took root. He was tied with Ernie Els and Ted Tryba going to the back nine before Els ran off three straight birdies and no one could catch him. Woods was runner-up his best finish at Riviera.

The real measure was in 2000, when Woods either won or was runner-up in 10 out of 11 starts on the PGA Tour.

The exception? A tie for 18th at Riviera.

Woods gets another crack in what figures to be cold, wet conditions because of another storm system that is likely to linger through the opening round. He is in the same group as Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy, just like last year, when Woods missed the cut for the only time in 2018 at a regular PGA Tour event.

Expectations are slightly higher, though it’s still early in the season. Woods, who ended last season by winning the Tour Championship for his 80th career victory, had a pedestrian start to the year last month at Torrey Pines when he rallied with a 67 on the final day to tie for 20th.

“I’m in a very different position now having played an entire season, and I know what my body can and cannot do,” he said. “So I’m looking forward to this week. Hopefully I can finally play this

Friday, February 15, 2019

RIVIERA IS WHERE A 16-YEAR-OLD TIGER WOODS MADE HIS PROFESSIONAL GOLFERS’ ASSOCIATION TOUR DEBUT ON A SPONSOR EXEMPTION. THIS IS THE CLOSEST PGA TOUR EVENT TO WHERE HE GREW UP IN ORANGE COUNTY. RIVIERA ALSO IS THE PGA TOUR COURSE HE HAS PLAYED THE MOST TIMES— NINE—WITHOUT WINNING. golf course well.”

The field is stacked, though it is missing the top 2 players in the world ranking as Justin Rose and Brooks Koepka are taking the week off. It includes Phil Mickelson, a two-time winner at Riviera who is coming off a victory at Pebble Beach last week.

Riviera has attracted the strongest field in regular PGA Tour events on the West Coast Swing every year since 2006, and this is no exception. The field also features Dustin Johnson, who considers Riviera his favorite track and has a victory to show for it.

So does Bubba Watson, the defending champion and a threetime winner, though his main infatuation is that it’s not far from Hollywood and all the movie stars.

“The only thing I’ve got on Tiger is that I’ve won here,” Watson said. Palmer bought the Bay Hill Lodge and the PGA Tour renamed it from Bay Hill to the Arnold Palmer Invitational in 2007. Muirfield Village is the course Nicklaus built, and it was the first in 2016 to offer a three-year exemption to the winner, instead of two years for other PGA Tour victories.

Palmer’s tournament received the same status in 2017.

The Genesis Open joins them starting in 2020, offering $9.3

million in prize money (this year it is $7.4 million).

That also means the field will shrink from 144 players this year to 120 players next year, but it will lose the Monday open qualifying it has had since 1926.

Bryson DeChambeau approved of the decision as he raved about Riviera, where his idol Ben Hogan won four times, including the US Open and Los Angeles Open in the same year in 1948.

“This place has created great champions,” he said. “This golf course exposes the best players in the world, so I think it definitely deserves it, and it’s worth everyone’s while to have the person who wins it have a three-year exemption. I think it’s a great move and can’t wait for next year.”

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said that all a tournament needs to have elevated status is to have a tournament host win 60 times or more. Woods has 80 victories, two shy of Sam Snead’s PGA Tour record. Nicklaus had 73. Palmer had 62.

“If there comes a day where someone else wins 60 events, I guess that’s a conversation we’ll have,” he said. “But sitting at 80, two away from 82, he’s in a pretty remarkable position.”

Now he sees if he can be in the winner’s position at Riviera.

GARCIA PROMISES TO BEHAVE

L

C1

OS ANGELES—Sergio Garcia apologized in a statement and in person to the players in his group when he damaged five greens at the Saudi International. He apologized in a socialmedia post and in an interview at his locker on Wednesday at Riviera.

That has been the easy part. He has had plenty of experience over the years.

Garcia said the challenge now is to make sure it does not happen again, knowing that the scrutiny of his behavior will be greater than ever. “I’m sure I’m going to hear it throughout the year,” Garcia told The Associated Press in his first interview since he was disqualified on February 2 for the damage he did to five greens out of frustration early in the third round.

“My job is to make sure I deal with it the best way possible, and show them that I can grow, that I can move forward and I can be who I am in the right way,” he said. “I want to face my mistakes head on. My job is to go out there and enjoy my game and show everyone that no matter what, I can be the best behaved guy in the classroom.... I just hope I can maintain their respect.”

The Genesis Open is his first event since he lost his head early in the third round at the Saudi International, which he attributed to a personal issue that put him in a bad frame of mind at the start of the week and greens at Royal Greens in Saudi Arabia that were new, grainy and slow.

He did not disclose the personal matter and said it was no excuse, and that he knew immediately he had done wrong.

“It hit me like on the 10th hole. I started thinking: ‘What am I doing? Get your head back on top

of your shoulders,’” Garcia said. “I know I lost it.”

The 39-year-old Spaniard has put his emotions on full display since he turned pro in 1999 at age 19, challenged Tiger Woods in the 1999 Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Championship at Medinah and played in the first of nine Ryder Cups.

There was great passion when he won the Masters in 2017 for his first major. But the explosive, petulant variety has been seen far more often over the years, whether it was kicking a shoe that nearly struck an official at Wentworth in 2000, blaming a European Tour rules official for a two-shot penalty in Australia or accusing Woods of disturbing the gallery at the TPC Sawgrass, a rift that ended with Garcia making a racially insensitive comment about him.

Damaging greens in the middle of a round, which affected the players behind him, caught even his friends by surprise.

“We always think he gets over it, but there’s no doubt he’s out of line behaving like that,” said Adam Scott, one of his closest friends in golf. “He said he needs to understand his emotions and channel that in a better way. I’m not a psychologist and don’t know how to do that, but I think it’s a good thing for him. The game can get the better of us at times. It seems to get the better of him more than some others.”

Garcia’s disqualification—the European Tour said he would not be suspended—ended a streak of seven straight top 10s worldwide, which began when he was picked for the Ryder Cup in France. He went 3-1-0 for the week at Le Golf National.

His game was in good shape. Now he has a reputation to mend.

“I feel terrible about it,” Garcia said. “I’ve been thinking about it for the last week, every day. I’m an emotional player. That emotion is probably my biggest strength, but it’s also one of my biggest flaws. If I channel it the right way, it’s amazing. I think that’s why people follow me the way they do.

If I channel it the wrong way, it’s too extreme. My goal is make sure the bad gets better and the good stays.”

Rory McIlroy, another of his close friends, says being Spanish and full of emotion was “no excuse” for what Garcia did in Saudi Arabia.

“It doesn’t matter where you’re from. It’s not acceptable,” McIlroy said. “If you’ve got stuff bothering you, let the course be your sanctuary. I’ve had to deal with that in the past.”

Some of the strongest comments came from three-time major champion Brooks Koepka, who said on “Playing Through Podcast” that the Saudi incident was “Sergio acting like a child.”

“You’re 40 years old, so you’ve got to grow up eventually,” Koepka said.

Garcia pondered what he would say to Koepka when he sees him next week in the Mexico Championship.

“I’m going to tell him I agree,” Garcia said. “I’m the first one to say that I was wrong. I agree with what he said. That’s why we’re here, to get better, to grow up and become better people.”

He paused and smiled before adding: “But I don’t agree with the age. He got my age wrong. I’m 39, not 40. So I have a year to improve,” Garcia said.

“But when I see him, I’ll tell him I agree, and I’m sorry for what happened. And I understand why he would say that.” AP

C2

Spo

Business

Friday, February 15, 2019

ALL-STARS BREAK OUT

SPECIALTY SHOES FOR WEEKEND

C

HARLOTTE, North Carolina—National Basketball Association players once again will be sharing personal stories this weekend during All-Star festivities—and using basketball shoes as a platform to get their message out.

When Kevin Durant takes the floor on Sunday, he’ll be wearing pink Nike KD 11 Aunt Pearls shoes bearing the names of 59 cancer survivors with inspiring stories.

Golden State Warriors teammate Stephen Curry decided to poke fun at his own mischievous nature with his shoe selection, unveiling the Under Armour Curry 6 “Coy Fish” colorway depicting the time he and a former college teammate found themselves in a little trouble for pulling a prank at a Japanese steakhouse.

All-Star shoe fashion may not be as big as it once was, but it’s still a real thing.

The shoes players wear are still considered as big of a deal as the All-Star game itself for a loyal niche of fans in the basketball community known as “sneakerheads”—even though the overall market for basketball shoes may not be what it was a decade ago.

Regardless, the stories behind them add meaning to the shoes.

Curry’s “Coy Fish” shoe ($130, available Friday), for instance, resembles the vibrant koi fish—and the story of when Curry and former Davidson Wildcats teammate Steve Rossiter decided to jump into the koi fish pond at a local Japanese restaurant while out celebrating one night. Curry was the decoy in the escapade, distracting the hostess while Rossiter jumped in the water and tried to grab one of the koi fish.

Unfortunately for Curry and Rossiter, the security surveillance tape captured the antics,

and it got back to Davidson Coach Bob McKillop.

“We were in the gym running sprints for a good two hours,” Curry says on the Under Armour web site.

McKillop also made the players go back to the steakhouse and stand at the front door and greet customers for four hours.

Durant’s shoe line is named after his favorite aunt, who died of lung cancer in 2000, so any new release has a personal meaning to him. The KD 11 Aunt Pearl ($150, available Thursday). James Harden, Damian Lilllard and Kyle Lowry will be wearing Adidas AllStar Weekend “raceway-inspired” shoes with checkered flags, a nod to Charlotte’s long history of auto racing. AP

BROOKLYN 148, CLEVELAND 139, 3OT MILWAUKEE 106, INDIANA 97 BOSTON 118, DETROIT 110 PHILADELPHIA 126, NEW YORK 111 TORONTO 129, WASHINGTON 120 CHICAGO 122, MEMPHIS 110 MINNESOTA 121, HOUSTON 111 MIAMI 112, DALLAS 101 DENVER 120, SACRAMENTO 118 LA CLIPPERS 134, PHOENIX 107 PORTLAND 129, GOLDEN STATE 107

NIGERIAN LIFTS WOLVES

M

INNEAPOLIS—James Harden was Josh Okogie’s responsibility for much of Wednesday night. Even though Harden piled up 42 points, Okogie’s teammates were full of praise for the Nigerian rookie.

“It wasn’t a good 42,” Karl-Anthony Towns said. “It wasn’t a 42 that he’s been getting recently, you know. He had to work for it.”

Towns had 25 points, Jeff Teague had 27 points and 12 rebounds, and Okogie locked down Harden when it counted most to help the Timberwolves beat the Houston Rockets, 121-111.

Harden scored 30 or more points for the 31st consecutive game, tying Wilt Chamberlain for the second-longest streak in league history.

But it was Okogie—who had 16 points— drawing the most praise for making some key defensive stops. Most notably, Okogie brought the crowd to its feet with an impressive block that helped turn the tide.

After being stripped by Okogie a few plays earlier, Harden made one of his trademark step-back moves behind the arc to attempt a three. The ball didn’t even leave his hand before Okogie leaped forward and stuffed it.

“I knew the shot clock was winding down, and I knew that he had to create some space to get a shot off,” Okogie said. “And I knew obviously the step back is one of his go-to moves, so I kind of just guessed, and I was right.”

A few plays earlier, Okogie sparked the Timberwolves to retake the lead with an 18-2 run in the third, including a breakaway dunk and a three-pointer to give Minnesota a 77-74 lead.

“We saw him grow up tonight in a lot of ways, I thought,” Timberwolves Interim Coach Ryan Saunders said of Okogie. “In terms of game plan, following the game plan, just staying within the moment and not getting outside

of himself.”

Derrick Rose completed a three-point play with 1:43 left in the third to give Minnesota an 85-76 lead.

Harden’s 12-footer made it 89-all in the fourth before the Timberwolves hit four threepointers to take a six-point lead. Harden hit three-straight three-pointers to pull Houston within 115-111 with 1:52 to play. But Okogie dunked and forced Harden into an airball, and Towns hit a lay-up to give Minnesota just enough breathing room.

“You could feel the whole game there wasn’t enough enthusiasm, not enough want,” Rockets Coach Mike D’Antoni said. “When we do that, we struggle because we’re not physical like the other teams.”

In Portland, Damian Lillard scored 29 points and Portland snapped Golden State’s fivegame winning streak with a chippy 129-107 victory that included the late ejection of Warriors Coach Steve Kerr.

Jake Layman added 17 points off the bench for the Blazers, who had eight players in double figures. The win snapped a two-game skid.

Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry each had 32 points for the Warriors, who rested DeMarcus Cousins following a victory at home over Utah the night before.

Portland led 110-103 before Golden State’s Draymond Green was called for a flagrant foul on Zach Collins with 3:54 left. Kerr reacted angrily, throwing his clipboard to court and yelling at the officials before he was ejected.

Dwyane Wade, meanwhile, scored 22 points in what figures to be his final game on the court where he won his first championship, helping Miami beat Dallas, 112-101.

The 37-year-old who has already said this is his final season was a little better despite one of the stronger games of the season for Dirk Nowitzki, his two-time NBA Finals foe whose record 21st season with the same franchise has the feel of an unofficial farewell tour. AP

JAMES HARDEN’S 42 points— his 31st consecutive 30 or more points—goes to naught against Minnesota. AP

orts

sMirror

Bacoor downs fellow Cavite squad Imus

B

ACOOR is peaking at the right time as the Strikers put one over crosstown rival Imus Bandera, 90-79, on Wednesday night in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Datu Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Rocky Acidre and comebacking Gab Banal combined forces down the stretch as the Strikers picked up their third straight victory and improved their win-loss record to 11-9.

Bacoor strengthened its hold of the No. 5 spot in the southern division of the tournament put up

by Sen. Manny Pacquiao with Philippine Basketball Association legend and former Most Valuable Player Kenneth Duremdes as commissioner.

Acidre and Banal each tallied 16 points. They conspired in the endgame that led to the Strikers’ 13-4 run that set the tone for a big endgame finish for Coach Leo Isaac and his troops.

Defensively, the Strikers also got the job done, as they held their rivals without a field goal in the final three minutes.

Imus absorbed its 12th loss in 21 games, for a tie for seventh to eighth spots with the ZamboangaFamily’s Brand Sardines.

Bacoor outscored its rival, 44-26, inside the shaded lane and its bench players were more aggressive and outscored their counterparts, 34-19.

In the main game, Marikina salvaged a 71-69 squeaker of host team Pasay.

Leading the way for the Shoemasters was Erwin Sta. Maria, an ex-pro, who went a rebound shy of a double-double performance.

The 6-foot-4 Sta. Maria finished with 21 points and nine boards as he set the tone for the Shoemasters, who improved their win-loss record to 8-14 to move up into a tie for 10th to 11th spots with the Parañaque Patriots-F2 Logistics in the southern division of the tournament.

Friday, February 15, 2019

SCRIBES HONOR

GOLF BODY, RAZON G OLF will share the limelight in the San Miguel Corp.-Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Annual Awards Night at the Manila Hotel.

The National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) will be recognized as the National Sports Association (NSA) of the Year, while longtime sports patron Enrique Razon Jr. will be conferred the Executive of the Year award by the country’s oldest media organization during the February 26 gala presented by Milo, Cignal TV and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

The NGAP produced half of the four gold medals the country won in the 18th Asian Games in Indonesia last August, courtesy of Yuka Saso in women’s individual and the women’s team that included also Saso, Bianca Pagdanganan and Lois Kaye Go. Pagdanganan also bagged the bronze in women’s individual competition, making it a 1-3 finish for the Filipinas, who emerged overall champion in the sport by edging Japan for the title.

It was also the first time in 32 years golf won a gold medal in the Asian Games since Ramon Brobio ruled the men’s individual meet in 1986 in Seoul, South Korea.

The gold haul had Saso and the women’s team being named cowinners of the coveted

U.A.A.P. VOLLEYBALL GETS GOING

T

HE University Athletic Association of the Philippines kicks off the highly anticipated volleyball season with four teams opening hostilities on Saturday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

University of the Philippines and University of the East (UE) collide at 2 p.m., while last year’s Final Four protagonists Far Eastern University and National University clash at 4 p.m.

The Lady Fighting Maroons finished Season 80 with 6-8 won-lost record to narrowly miss the semifinals at joint fifth to sixth spots with the Lady Falcons. UP capped the regular season with a three-game winning streak but missed the Final Four to an NU squad that fared better with a 7-7 card. The Lady Maroons eye a solid campaign this season with Isa Molde at the forefront of the battle, along with Tots Carlos and Ayel Estrañero.

The Lady Warriors showed a semblance of

a fight last season by winning two of their 14 matches to bring up the rear in the standings.

Libero Kath Arado hopes to make things work for UE, with Judith Abil Mean Mendrez carrying out the supporting role.

The season starts with a bang early as archrivals De La Salle and Ateneo de Manila clash on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The Lady Spikers, who have won the last three seasons, and the two-time champion Lady Eagles take the floor at 4 p.m.

Adamson University and University of Santo Tomas clash at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

De La Salle looked unstoppable in Season 80 with a league-leading 12-2 record in the eliminations before beating NU in the Final Four and FEU in the Finals.

Ateneo, on the other hand, finished third with a 9-5 record. Ramon Rafael Bonilla

UAAP jrs hoops Final 4 on

N

ATIONAL University (NU) and Ateneo try to forge a second consecutive Finals showdown as they tackle lower-ranked opponents in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 81 juniors basketball Final Four.

Gunning for their eighth straight championship stint, NU takes on Adamson University, the team that dealt the Bullpups their only loss of the season, at 1 p.m. Back-to-back title-seeking Ateneo, on the other hand, eyes a season sweep of Far Eastern University-Diliman in the other semifinal at 3 p.m.

The matches are set at the Filoil Flying V Centre.

By finishing in the top two after the doubleround eliminations, NU (13-1) and Ateneo (11-3) need only to win once to advance to the best-ofthree series.

The Bullpups were able to avenge their 59-62 defeat to the Baby Falcons in the first round with an emphatic 112-71 win in the second round.

The Eaglets, on the other hand, have swept the Baby Tamaraws in their two eliminations duels.

FEU-Diliman had a chance for the coveted No. 2 slot but dropped its last two matches to also-ran University of Santo Tomas and NU to end up in third at 9-5. Adamson University hopes to make the most out of its back-to-back Final Four stint. The Baby Falcons also own a 9-5 card, but they lost twice to the Baby Tamaraws in the eliminations to settle for fourth place.

Victories by FEU-Diliman and Adamson University will send the Final Four to a decider on Monday in the same San Juan arena.

GOLF shares the center stage with the Asian Games success of Yuka Saso, Bianca Pagdanganan and Lois Kaye Go, and the support Enrique Razon Jr. is extending to the sport.

PSA Athlete of the Year award along with weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz and skateboarder Margielyn Didal in the event presented by the Philippine Basketball Association, Mighty Sports, International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), SM Prime Holdings, Tapa King, Rain or Shine, NorthPort and Chooks To Go. The 58-year-old Razon, on the other hand, has been known as an avid golfer and major supporter of the sport in the country by way of the Philippine Golf Tour, which is being bankrolled by the ICTSI where he is the chairman

and chief executive officer.

A known philanthropist, Razon extends help to the country’s amateur golf development through the ICTSI-The Country Club Program and also supports the Canlubang golf team.

He once owned the ICTSI basketball team in the now-defunct Philippine Basketball League mostly composed of players from De La Salle, where he graduated with a degree in Business Administration.

Razon is also a chief backer of the sports

program at De La Salle, whose sports complex in its Taft Avenue campus was named after his father (Enrique M. Razon Sports Complex).

He joins the ranks of esteemed sportsmen and businessmen, such as Ramon S. Ang, Manny V. Pangilinan, Wilfred Uytengsu, Hans Sy, Dan Palami, Ricky Vargas, Judes Echauz and Chito Salud, among others, who were once honored with the Executive of the Year award by the Philippine sportswriting fraternity.

Razon and the NGAP are two of the 75 on the PSA honor roll.

CAYETANO CONFIDENT DESPITE BUDGET CUT B R R B

P

HILIPPINE Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) Chairman Alan Peter Cayetano is confident of meeting budget requirements for the Games the country is hosting later in the year.

After the Senate cut the SEA Games budget by a third to P5 billion—from P7.5 billion—the Phisgoc, Cayetano said, is expected not to run out of supporters.

“The support is coming. The preparations are on schedule,” Cayetano told reporters after the symbolic contract-signing ceremony between Phisgoc and its partners on Wednesday in Taguig City.

The Games are scheduled from November 30 to December 11 in a total

39 venues in Metro Manila, Subic, Clark, Tagaytay City and La Union.

And Cayetano is unfazed despite the Games being 10 months away.

“Our purpose in hosting the SEA Games is to showcase our country. We will show our athletes, the hospitality of our people,” he said.

Cayetano, however, said the challenge of fund sourcing has become onerous.

“It’s so hard to do the planning if in the middle of the preparations they will cut 33 percent from your budget—plus it’s already delayed because supposedly we should have been using the funds since January,” Cayetano noted. “As Filipinos, we don’t like to be embarrassed. So we will find a way to show our character as gracious hosts.”

The country is hosting the Games for the fourth time after 1981, 1991 and 2005 and this time, Cayetano said, the Games are bound to rehabilitate existing sports facilities in the country.

“All around the country, its only basketball and volleyball courts that are readily available. But when you talk about swimming pools, tennis courts, football and baseball fields, they are all privately owned,” the former foreign affairs secretary and senator said.

“The challenge is not only to host, but also to improve our sports program,” he added.

Renovations are ongoing at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, PhilSports and satellite facilities in Baguio City.

C3

Jolo virtual champion; Gabasa moves up by 2

J

OLO MAGCALAYO all but wrapped up the men’s crown with a second straight 71, hiking his lead to nine over Masaichi Otake even as Junia Gabasa wrested control in the women’s side despite a 75 in the third round of the W Express RVF Cup Amateur Golf Championship at Cangolf’s North course in Laguna yesterday.

As elder brother Jonas bowed out with bogeys on the first three holes, Jolo rebounded from a shaky start with a slew of birdies, finishing with five that negated a four-bogey mishap, including on the last hole that hardly put a dent to his title drive in the 72-hole championship sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation and held in honor of the late National Golf Association of the Philippines President and golf patron Rod Feliciano.

He bogeyed Nos. 2 and 3 but birdied the sixth and eighth holes, dropped another stroke on No.12 but birdied Nos. 14, 16 and 17 before yielding another stroke on the closing par-4 hole.

With a nine-under 207 aggregate, the 17-year-old Jolo went unassailably ahead of the pack, with Otake moving to solo second at 216 after a 69, as erstwhile second-running Jonas groped for a 79 and tumbled to eighth at 222.

Sean Ramos carded a 73 for third at 217, while another stroke adrift at 218 is Carl Corpus, who matched par 72. Paolo Wong rallied with a 33 for a 71 to tie Perry Bucay, who turned in a 73, and Paqo Barro, who made a 76, at fifth at 221.

Rupert Zaragosa, who will join the pro ranks next month, failed to make a charge and settled for a 74 for joint ninth at 223 with Kristoffer Arevalo, who had a 76, and Elee Bisera, who made a 77.

After being crowded by Eagle Ace Superal and Sofia Chabon in the first two rounds, Gabasa finally shook off her challengers, bucking a woeful backside 40 for a 75 and a 222, as Chabon reeled back with a 38-41 for a 79 and fell to fourth at 226.

Young Rianne Malixi and Sofia Legaspi took over at joint second with 224s with the former stringing a 36-37 for a 73 and the latter bouncing back from an opening 39 with a 35 for a 74.

Bernice Olivarez-Ilas remained too far behind at 228 after a 75, while Rafaela Singson, who fumbled with a 78, tied Superal, who skied to an 81, at 229, now seven strokes behind heading to the last 18 holes of the event organized and conducted by the NGAP and held as part of the PLDT Group National Amateur Tour and backed Cignal, Metro Pacific and Cangolf.

Dylan Castillo shot a 76 to post a one-stroke edge over Kim Tae Won in boys’ play, while Sophia Abarcas made a 79 for a three-shot lead over Mikhaela Constantino in girls’ side of the Special Division as part of the NGAP’s grassroots program that drew bets from Apo Golf and Del Monte.

PAL BEATS CEBU PACIFIC Philippine Airlines

(PAL) squeaked past business and hard-court rivals Cebu Pacific, 93-91, in overtime to win the Third Philippine Aviation Basketball Association basketball tournament organized by the Civil Aeronautics Board. The victorious PAL team, composed of pilots, bested Cebu Pacific in the best-of-three championship series held at the Philippine Air Force Gym at Villamor Air Base.

C4

Sports BusinessMirror

Friday, February 15, 2019

www.businessmirror.com.ph B A D The Associated Press

WHEN it comes to racing, Petra Vlhova is nearly as fast as Mikaela Shiffrin. AP

A

BREWING RIVALRY ON SKIS PETRA VLHOVA IS THE ONLY RACER TO BEAT THE SHIFFRIN IN SLALOM THIS SEASON, AND SHE ALSO WON TWO GIANT SLALOMS RECENTLY— TYING THE AMERICAN FOR VICTORY WITH THE EXACT SAME TIME IN THE FINAL GS BEFORE THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.

JOSHUA TO MAKE

U.S. DEBUT IN JUNE

L

ONDON—The Anthony Joshua road show is finally heading to the United States. Not to fight the only other heavyweight champion, though.

The four-title champion will make his American boxing debut when he defends his World Boxing Association, International Boxing Federation, World Boxing Organization and International Boxing Organization belts against Jarrell Miller at Madison Square Garden on June 1.

“I plan to embrace the culture and leave with an appetite for more,” said Joshua,

ANTHONY JOSHUA hopes to make his mark on US soil. AP

whose 22 professional fights have all taken place in Britain. He has won all of those bouts, 21 by knockout.

His last five fights have been in stadiums, with nearly 400,000 spectators attending in total. The highest-profile bout was against Wladimir Klitschko in front of 90,000 fans at Wembley Stadium in April 2017. But Joshua has been increasingly aware that he needs to fight in the United States to raise his global profile.

“AJ has created an incredible ‘Lion’s Den’ atmosphere in the UK and we plan to bring that energy to New York,” said Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn.

He won’t be doing so against WBC champion Deontay Wilder, who also is undefeated and most recently fought to a draw with Tyson Fury in December. Wilder has been openly critical of Joshua, claiming Joshua has been ducking him, and that boxing fans want to see a matchup to consolidate all the heavyweight titles.

Joshua has said he is looking to unify the belts, but negotiations with Wilder broke down last year.

Miller, meanwhile, also is undefeated after winning 23 of his 24 fights. He was born in New York, so fighting at the Garden is a natural for him.

“AJ is making a huge mistake coming over here to fight me in my own backyard,” Miller said. “He wants to announce himself on the American stage, but all he’s doing is delivering me those belts by hand.”

The fight will be broadcast by DAZN, the streaming service that also has a huge monetary deal with middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez. It will be on live television in the UK. “I am looking forward to taking on another challenge with a good boxer and a brilliant talker,” Joshua said. “It will be an exciting fight, I will leave nothing to chance and plan on dismantling Miller in style to make my mark.” AP

RE, Sweden—If Mikaela Shiffrin can be likened to a sleek, technically perfect Formula One car, the Slovakian skier who is developing into her biggest rival is like a rally vehicle—bigger, more physical and rougher around the edges.

Yet, when it comes to racing, Petra Vlhova is nearly as fast as Shiffrin.

Vlhova is the only racer to beat the Shiffrin in slalom this season, and she also won two giant slaloms recently—tying the American for victory with the exact same time in the final GS before the world championships.

“We’ve got to keep learning. We’re fortunate that Petra is strong enough to beat Mikaela every once in a while but we know that we’re not at their level yet,” Livio Magoni, Vlhova’s coach, said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Still, it’s apparent that a rivalry is developing between the two 23-year-olds.

“We already knew last year. I think Mikaela knows it, because she’s one of the only girls who is able to beat her more than once,” Magoni said. “I think it’s a nice rivalry because it pushes both teams. We know that if one of them makes a mistake the other one will be ahead.” While they are yet to race head-to-head at the world championships, both Shiffrin and Vlhova have already won medals. Shiffrin won gold in the super-G and Vlhova took silver in the Alpine combined, finishing just 0.03 seconds behind gold medalist Wendy Holdener of Switzerland.

While Shiffrin will be the overwhelming favorite in Thursday’s giant slalom and on Saturday’s slalom, Vlhova is clearly the top challenger.

“I [beat her] not once but more times so everything is possible,” Vlhova said.

In the overall World Cup standings, Shiffrin has 1,694 points and Vlhova is second with 1,043 points.

No other skiers have more than 800 points.

“I do consider her a very strong rival,” Shiffrin said.

“Every single race this year that I won she was right there and the only races I didn’t win she was the winner. So I’m finding a lot of motivation just seeing her every race and thinking, ‘She’s going to be putting 100 percent into this and I have to put 100 percent, too.’”

“It’s pushing me. It’s also pushing her and it’s push-

ing all the other girls,” Shiffrin added. “If I’m even a little bit off or a little bit slower and I’m not pushing all the way then she’s right there and she can take it.

That’s tough, it’s nerve-racking, but it’s also really good for the sport.”

Vlhova’s eight World Cup wins have already surpassed the Slovakian record of five that was held by Veronika Velez-Zuzulova. The victories have placed Vlhova among Slovakia’s most popular female athletes alongside tennis player Dominika Cibulkova, although she still has a long way to go to reach the superstar status of Slovakian cyclist Peter Sagan.

At nearly 6 feet (1.80 meters), Vlhova is significantly taller than Shiffrin and, in giant slalom at least, races on men’s skis that are 191 centimeters long.

Whereas Shiffrin dances through the gates with perfect rhythm, Vlhova relies on her strength to power her way down the hill.

“It helps and it doesn’t help,” Magoni said of Vlhova’s physical attributes. “You’ve also got to control all of that horsepower. It’s like taking a car with 1,000 horsepower onto the street and you’ve got to figure out how to control the car.”

Everyone in Vlhova’s immediate family is tall.

“She’s the smallest,” Magoni said. “Her brother and her parents are huge.” Vlhova comes from central Slovakia and grew up skiing at the nearby resort of Jasna.

“She’s always in a sweatsuit,” Magoni said when asked about Vlhova’s interests off the slopes. “She’s an athlete. She eats, sleeps and listens to Slovakian radio.”

Magoni, who is Italian, previously coached Tina Maze for four years, concluding with Maze’s recordbreaking 2012-2013 season when she collected an alltime best 2,414 World Cup points.

During Magoni’s four years with Maze she went from fourth overall to third then second and first.

“Tina was already an established champion when I arrived. With Petra, we’re still building her career,” Magoni said. “Tina was really a natural. Petra is more of a worker.”

Vlhova has a completely private team without assistance from the Slovakian federation.

“She’s my president so the decisions are made very quickly,” Magoni said. “I just talk with her and it’s either ‘yes’ or ‘no.’” Also on Vlhova’s team are two assistant coaches, one of whom is also a physiotherapist while the other doubles as a ski technician.

Boris Vlha, Vlhova’s brother, also helps out, even though he knows little about skiing.

“She likes to have a family member with her, someone to talk to,” Magoni said. “So that’s him.”

With three parallel races on the calendar this season, Magoni made a point of training a lot in that discipline over the summer and that paid off when Vlhova beat Shiffrin in the head-to-head final of the city event in Oslo, Norway.

D

Loving God

EAR loving God, our praise, Your reign lasts forever. In trust and faith we pray: Satisfy our hearts, oh God. You support all who fail; transform the hearts of those who suffer penalty for wrongdoing. Raise those who are bowed down; lift the spirits of those who are burdened by worry grief or a loss meaning in their lives. Feed those who hunger; nurture our faith and help us to inspire one another with God’s grace. May the God of all encouragement show us compassion and strengthen us in our affliction so that we may be able to do likewise for one another, through Christ our brother. Amen.

GIVE US THIS DAY SHARED BY LUISA LACSON, HFL Word&Life Publications • teacherlouie1965@yahoo.com

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

Life BusinessMirror

TED BUNDY’S DEADLY CHARM STILL POLARIZES, 40 YEARS LATER D4

Friday, February 15, 2019

D1

WIN OR LOSE AT THE OSCARS,

GLENN CLOSE IS LOVING THE MOMENT N

By JaKe COyle The Associated Press

EW YORK—Glenn Close stands doubled over laughing in the doorway to her downtown Manhattan apartment while her loyal white Havanese, Pip, circles an arriving reporter.

It’s star time for both. Close, among the most accomplished performers never to win an Oscar, may finally break through with The Wife, in which, ironically, she plays a deferential spouse (to an acclaimed author, played by Jonathan Pryce) who has been long overlooked.

The never-nominated Pip has developed his own following, thanks in part to an appearance on The View. The dog’s Instagram account, under the name “Sir Pippin of Beanfield,” is up to 3,400 followers.

Inside, Close hands the reporter a bottle of red wine to open as she recounts how hours earlier, while walking Pip in a park, a lady stopped her to relate her own story of being held back in her profession by a man. These are the kinds of stories Close has heard a lot since The Wife came out and since she gave a show-stopping acceptance speech at the Golden Globes where she spoke movingly about how her mother sublimated herself to Close’s father, a prominent surgeon.

“Another woman crossing the street was like, ‘I love you, Glenn!’” says Close. “People down in the pharmacy, they’re all cheering me on.”

Seemingly everyone knows that Close, 71, has emerged as the best actress front-runner after early buzz favored Lady Gaga for A Star is Born. The Wife may be a modest independent film ($9 million at the box office, and still playing six months after opening), but the moment feels finely tailored to Close, the most-

nominated living actor never to win an Oscar.

What would an Academy Award mean to her?

She pauses.

“It would mean a lot but I wouldn’t want it to be a pity Oscar because I’ve been an actress for 45 years,” says Close, whose previous honors include three Tony awards, three Emmys and three Globes. “People have been going back and looking at my basic body of work and the six times I lost and what those roles were.

So I can’t pretend it’s just for The Wife. But I feel like everybody’s rooting for me.”

But that’s not to say Close will be crestfallen if she doesn’t win. She smiles. “I’ve decided if I lose, I’m going to look at the camera and say: ‘I’m OK.’” And she is. Much more than OK, even. Making The Wife has been its own cathartic, empowering experience for Close.

“It’s taken me a long time to gain control of my own life. When I made The Wife, I was in control of my own life for probably the first time,” says Close.

“I felt like I had new wings. Or maybe my wings were finally developed.”

That’s a startling pronouncement for an actress who has for decades been one of the most versatile and subtle actors of film, television and theater. A late bloomer, she didn’t act in her first film until age 35. But since, Close has unfailingly embodied intelligence and depth in everything from her early breakthroughs in The World According to Garp and The Big Chill to Sunset Boulevard (twice on stage, decades apart; she hopes to make a film of the musical this year); from her ruthless attorney on Damages to her infamous Alex Forrest in Fatal Attraction.

“Nobody thought I could be sexy,” Close says of the time before 1987’s Fatal Attraction, a film she’d like to see remade from the woman’s perspective rather than the sympathetic point-of-view of Michael Douglas’s cheating husband. “In making the movie a hit, I

basically had to betray what I thought was the essence of that character,” says Close.

The Wife, a feminist parable based on Meg Wolitzer’s 2003 novel, came to Close about six years ago, shortly before divorcing her third husband, venture capitalist David Evans Shaw. When it’s mentioned to Close that she doesn’t seem like someone who would ever sublimate herself to another, she responds, “Oh, you don’t know me, personally,” and lets out a loud laugh.

“I’m at a time in my life where I’m not beholden to anyone. I mean, I always am attached with every molecule in my body to my daughter, whether she likes it or not. But I’m not attached to any partner,” says Close, whose 30-year-old daughter Annie Starke costars in The Wife. “And I think it’s for the first time in my life that I haven’t felt the obligation to not be who I am, to put a shade over the light, to temper your power. And it’s incredibly liberating.”

That The Wife features Close and her daughter (who plays a younger version of the same character) gives the film an added, multigenerational layer of meaning. Both Close and Starke together crafted the character with inspiration from the women of their shared family tree. Foremost in Close’s mind was her mother, who married at 18.

“It broke my heart to hear her say in her late1980s that she accomplished nothing,” says Close, tearing up. “You can say, ‘But, oh, you’re such a good mother. Oh, you stuck it out with dad.’ That wasn’t the point. It was something else. That’s what I think resonated with a lot women about that [Golden Globes] speech. Because we do what we naturally do. And for a lot of women that might be OK. But it hasn’t been in the tradition to seek personal fulfillment for women.”

Starke also drew on her paternal grandmother, a GE chemist who she said worked on the Manhattan

Project before being fired for becoming pregnant with her father’s brother. “I know she always wondered what could have been,” said Starke by phone from Los Angeles.

“It was quite a powerful preparation experience,” said Starke of working with her mother. “She keeps telling me that she feels like she’s at the top of her power. She’s getting recognition for something that hit so close to home. Hopefully the seventh time is the charm.”

The Wife premiered just as the #MeToo movement was being born. It debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2017. Sony Pictures Classic, which acquired the movie, chose to wait to release it in August, timed to get ahead of the awards season rush.

“One of the reasons it was so fresh and so strong for us was how powerful Glenn was in the sequences where she’s not even speaking,” said Michael Barker, copresident of Sony Pictures Classic. “It’s just her face and her face isn’t even the central face in the frame.

Even though it was a few months before the MeToo movement really kicked in, it was obvious the theme was very urgent and important.”

Close, relaxing on a sofa next to Pip, grants she, like everyone else, thought Gaga was going to win at the Globes. (“I was just kind of going with low expectations, just keep your sanity,” she says.) What she’d most like in awards season is the chance to sit with whom she calls her “category sisters”—all the best-actress nominees—at the same table.

All through the season, Close has worn her grandmother’s wedding ring, one more reminder of the countless women who, like the protagonist of The Wife, deferred their own self-expression to serve a husband or a family. “She should have been an actress,” Close says, rubbing the ring. “So I feel like they’re with me.” n

D2

Friday, February 15, 2019

Society BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

z

Today’s Horoscope

By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Amber Riley, 33; Matt Groening, 65; Melissa Manchester, 68; Jane Seymour, 68.

KARLO ESTAVILLO (from left), Shang Properties Inc. chief finance officer, chief operating officer and trustee lawyer, with the 25-year awardees Pam Abanilla of Naturalizer, Iela Gaerlan and Mia Urquico of Mico, Pinky Locsin of Mercury Drug, Lisa Yap of Marks & Spencer, Dansel and Zenaida Reyes of Khansarey, together with Shangri-La Plaza Executive Vice President and General Manager Lala Fojas.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: A personal change should be on your itinerary this year. How you handle your responsibilities and determine what’s important will make the difference between success and failure. If you are too accommodating and put others first, you will only have yourself to blame if you fall short of your expectations. Set boundaries and goals. Your lucky numbers are 9, 13, 20, 29, 34, 42, 48.

a

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Share your thoughts and opinions with someone you share personal plans with, and you will come up with solutions that will allow you both to get a little of what you want moving forward. HHHH

b

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Do something nice for someone, and you will get something very special in return. Life is about give-and-take and using what’s available, along with your skills, to make your community a better place.

Progress can be made. HHHH

c

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Look at your options and take a leap forward. Change will help you weed out what is no longer worth hanging on to. Recognizing how to use what you have and making the most out of what you’ve got will pay off.

HHH JUNE PADIE (from left) and Allan Romero of Abenson, Shangri-La Plaza Corp.’s Au Abiva and Hazel del Castillo, and Abenson’s Au Mendoza.

WILFRED WOO (from left) of SPI, Fojas, Roxanne and Erickson Farillas of Plains & Prints, and CJ Jesena of Shangri-La Plaza Corp.

d

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Share your thoughts and feelings to come up with a plan that will enhance your life personally or professionally. Be creative and offer suggestions that are forward-thinking and easy to incorporate into your daily routine. HHH

e

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Don’t get angry over the changes others make. Look at your own life and make adjustments that will improve your situation. It’s important to move with the times and to accept the inevitable if you want to make progress. HHH

f

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Get involved in something you believe in, and you will bring about positive change. Your insight and ability to get things done will make others take note and recognize your value. HHHH MERCURY Drug’s Niño Ocampo (from left), Pinky Locsin and Precy Magdaong, Shangri-La Plaza Corp.’s Bessie Rosales, and Mercury Drug’s Agnes Bobadilla.

ABIVA (from left), Del Castillo, Fojas with Sheridan’s Ivy Tan and her sister.

A night of appreciation T HROUGH the years, Shangri-La Plaza has been a mecca for shopping, dining and entertainment—thanks in large part to the continued support and loyalty of its mall tenants. As 2018 drew to a close, Shang held its annual Retail Partners’ Appreciation Night to honor the mall’s retail partners who have helped shape it into the Metro’s premier lifestyle destination.

“We couldn’t have done this without you and your faith in Shangri-La Plaza,” said Lala Fojas, Shangri-La

Plaza executive vice president and general manager, in her opening remarks. “We happily look forward to more collaborative efforts in 2019 and to ensure the achievement of our mutual objective—the longevity and sustainability of our business.”

Held at Shangri-La at the Fort, the event treated guests to a night of sumptuous food, great music and good company. Hosted by Issa Litton, the Appreciation Night also featured memorable performances from the Mandaluyong Children’s

Choir, Baihana, Mig Ayesa, Jaya and the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra, with Maestro Gerard Salonga as conductor.

Plaques of appreciation were given to retail partners that included Khansarey, Marks & Spencer, McDonald’s, Mercury Drug, Mico, and Naturalizer for their 25 years of loyalty; and Abenson, Art Circle, Artistree, Audio Visual Driver, Bo Concept, Coby’s Design, Gingersnaps, Hen Lin and Sheridan for their 20 years with Shang. n

Avon Philippines wins 3 Anvils

FROM left: Executive Director for Marketing Agnieszka Isa, Intimate Apparel Associate Category Manager Christa Ann de Rama, Color Associate Category Manager Mary Francine Flores and Director for Communications Faith Fernandez-Mondejar.

DUBBED as the “Oscars” of the Philippine public relations industry, the Anvil Awards has become one of the most prestigious and most anticipated awards ceremonies because it symbolizes excellence in the practice of public relations.

Avon Philippines gained Anvil nods for its breastcancer awareness campaign, “Pink Minute,” its “Step Into Your Comfort Zone” campaign, and its mark. by Avon Launch.

Pink Minute is part of Avon’s promise to end breast cancer, and encourages women to know the risks, see the signs and act by doing the breast self-exam. Avon

Fashions’ Step Into Your Comfort Zone disrupted the meaning of “comfort zone” to inspire women to break free from what’s expected to pursue their own passions, while Avon Cosmetics’ mark. by Avon line earned a nod for its high-touch blogger tour and highimpact press creative seeding.

Receiving the awards for Avon Philippines are Executive Director for Marketing Agnieszka Isa, Director for Communications Faith FernandezMondejar, Intimate Apparel Associate Category Manager Christa Ann de Rama, and Color Associate Category Manager Mary Francine Flores.

g

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Problems at home should be handled with care. You may not agree with someone, but you cannot interfere if you want to keep the peace. Be a witness to, not a participant in, other people’s poor judgment. HH

h

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Live life your way. Incorporate travel, socializing and sharing with people who fuel your imagination and inspire you to pursue the things in life that bring you the most joy. HHHHH

i

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Keep a close watch on anyone who promises too much or tends to exaggerate. Focus on yourself and the personal gains you can make. Choose to do something that will improve your health and help build strength and stamina. HHH

j

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Move things around and clear a space suitable for a project you want to pursue. You’ll feel good about the changes you make and the peace of mind you gain from the endeavors you take on. HHH

k

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Don’t trust others to have your back. You have to do for yourself if you want to get ahead.

Concentrate on what you do best, and it will pay off.

Growth is in sight, and as a result, so is opportunity.

HHHHH

l

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Excess is the enemy. If you want to get ahead and avoid having problems at work or at home, you have to walk away from temptation, live within your means and avoid situations that can make you look bad. HH BIRTHDAY BABY: You are playful, exciting and likable.

You are creative and unpredictable.

‘boundary lines’ BY JOHN GUZZETTA The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Quick swim 4 Director Anderson 7 See 21-Across 10 Taxi 13 Broody rock genre 14 Shiba ___ 15 Howe’er 16 Enjoy a dog bed 17 *Exposure therapy targets 19 *“It seems to me...”

21 With 7-Across, gov. major 22 ___ con carne 24 Aphid or boll weevil 25 With 45-Across, geographical features that hint at the starred rows’ black squares 28 Summa cum ___ 30 Cave hanger 31 Beach house view 34 “Roger!”

36 Chinese philosophy followers 38 *Virology pioneer Louis 39 *Where whales often roam

0 It’s inhaled 4 41 Droop 42 Greek X 45 See 25-Across 49 Checking condition, briefly 52 Sully actor Tom 54 Producer Gotti 55 “___ welcome” 57 Reebok competitor 58 Sunflower snacks 60 Pipe or plant part 61 *Colorful lettuce 63 *Ricky in I Love Lucy 65 Some say it’s fragile 66 Back together 67 Out of this world 68 Points in time DOWN 1 Actor Johnny 2 Texter’s “If you ask me...”

3 Breaking things?

4 Nintendo console 5 Make into law 6 Dragon roll server

7 Pointy heel 8 Mountain range 9 Apple platform 10 Oblivious 11 Objectives 12 Red vegetable 18 Personal info 20 Distance between lines 23 Pigs ___ blanket 26 Sea nymphs 27 No challenge at all 28 ChapStick spot 29 “I get it!”

32 Consumed 33 Eavesdropping org.

35 Cosmonaut Gagarin 37 Chapel nook 42 Bracelet attachments 43 Attack 44 Sitting at a red light, say 46 Strive toward 47 Rage 48 Certain optical storage disc 49 Didn’t get caught by

0 Debit alternative 5 51 Devilish beings 53 Superman’s Kryptonian name 56 Midwestern tribe 58 The Lord of the Rings, e.g.

59 Russia : Russo- :: China : ___ 62 Slender swimmer 64 Quarterback Newton Solution to yesterday’s puzzle:

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Relationships BusinessMirror

Friday, February 15, 2019

D3

THE cast of “Kwentong Jollibee Valentines’ Series of 2019”: Reese Tuazon (from left) and Vince Vandorpe star as Ann and Jay in “Choice”; Anthony Sunico is Hans in “Proposal”; and Vanessa Bactad and Benjamin Isaac play the roles of Claire and Jason in “Anniversary.”

THIS year, Jollibee “dug deep into a theme of what many may think has been lost, forgotten or even impossible in this age: true love,” shared Jollibee Global Brand Chief Marketing Officer and Philippine Marketing Head Francis Flores. “For ‘Kwentong Jollibee Valentine’s Series 2019,’ we want everyone to have faith in love!”

FAST-FOOD BRAND SEEKS TO RESTORE FAITH IN LOVE

THIS Valentine’s Day, fast-food brand Jollibee returns with a new set of heartwarming “Kwentong Jollibee” episodes that will remind viewers to keep their faith in love, showcasing how it always prevails despite heartbreaks, rejections and challenges that come along.

Recently, Jollibee held an exclusive screening at Central Square Cinema in Bonifacio Global City to give media a first glimpse of the much-anticipated Valentine series. This year’s cast and directors were also present at the event where they shared their fun experiences while shooting and their own hugot thoughts on the true-to-life love stories.

Jollibee Global Brand Chief Marketing Officer and Philippine Marketing Head Francis Flores shared, “We’re very excited to be back again this Valentine’s Day with new Kwentong Jollibee episodes. Our stories have always been inspired by true events, and I think it’s most evident with this series. The reality is that love is not always easy, but what matters most is having faith in love no matter how tough things may get, and this lesson is what I hope people will take home after watching.”

Last year, Jollibee took Valentine’s Day by storm and inspired millions of Filipinos to believe in the power of love with the “2018 Kwentong Jollibee Valentine’s Day episodes”—“Homecoming,” “Signs” and “Status”—which pooled in 167 million in reach on Facebook, and hit over 63 million views on both Facebook and YouTube.

It was also the only Philippine brand to make it as a finalist at the New York Festivals International Advertising Awards in 2018, in the Creative Marketing Effectiveness category.

Following last year’s success, the “2019 Kwentong Jollibee Valentine’s Series” narrates wonderful stories of individuals who have found the courage to love again and those who have persevered for the sake of love.

Directed by Ianco de la Cruz, “Choice” revolves around the story of Ann, a young woman who is torn between two men in her life. Another tale of love lost and found again, “Proposal” follows the story of Hans, a young man ready to spend forever with the love of his life. It is directed by Joel Ruiz. Meanwhile, director Pepe Diokno narrates a battle fought for love with “Anniversary,” in which Jason’s pursuit of a successful career spells trouble for his long-term relationship with Claire.

The three “Kwentong Jollibee” shorts can be seen on Jollibee Studios (www.youtube.com/user/jollibeedigital1).

‘Bakit single ka pa?’

SOMETHING LIKE LIFE

MA. STELLA F. ARNALDO

@akosistellaBM

P

EOPLE have asked me this question (or variations of it) so many times over the years. Fortunately, my family and relatives gave up on me when I turned 40. Hahaha.

Napagod din.

The last time was just in December, queried by a Grab driver—of all people. It was an unusually quick drive from Quezon City, where I lived, to my niece Purple’s condo in Pasay, that day being a holiday.

Yet in that short time, Jason (not his real name), the driver, told me about his marital woes, his meeting another woman and then moved on to asking about my relationship status.

I don’t normally go around chatting up Grab drivers and asking about their personal affairs, except maybe when a political discussion has ensued— cabbies and Grab drivers being the most opinionated about life in the Philippines. (These discussions normally end with me asking whether his life or his family’s well-being had improved under the present dispensation in Malacañang. Which, these days, I have observed, usually concludes with the driver admitting that, “no,” it has not.)

So Jason narrated, he and his wife had eloped back in the day, even though he had not gotten her

accidentally pregnant. And while he did love her, he said he didn’t really envision spending the rest of his life with her.

But the girl “pressured” him to elope, or so he claimed. They were already in their late 20s mind you, he said, but his then-girlfriend could no longer stand living under the roof of her father for some reason or other. So Jason agreed to a live-in arrangement with her. Now they have an adolescent son who cringes when his dad tries to make lambing like he was still a little boy. Jason gets a bit sentimental when he talks of his growing boy, who now prefers his computer or mobile phone to his dad’s hugs and playful kisses.

And then he met this other woman, Jason continued, and it was like everything in his brain just clicked. He suddenly felt “kumpleto, Ma’am,” like he found what he had been missing in his life this whole time, he averred. Even his mother, who he had turned to for advice, said this other woman was probably the one who was meant to be with him. “Ma’am, ikaw ba hindi na-in love ng ganyang katindi na iiwanan mo lahat para lang makasama ’yung mahal mo?” (Waitaminute!

Why was he involving me in his mess?!)

His question made me uncomfortable, primarily because, “kuya, hindi tayo close noh?” On another level, I was amused. And I guess I’ve always been a sucker for entertainment. So I found myself confessing that, yes, I had felt that way before. Jason pressed me, asking what happened. As I didn’t want to go into the gory details of my previous relationships, I merely said in Filipino, “Well, it [the relationship] just didn’t pan out.”

It dawned on Jason that I was still single, and momentarily diverted by my personal circumstances, he asked, “Bakit po kayo single, Ma’am?” He then launched a thousand and one possible excuses on my behalf. I’m too focused on my work. Too busy for love.

Basically they revolved on those two main themes. I roll my eyeballs, of course, too far I could see the back of my head, but it was still the Christmas season, so I exerted the effort to be nice.

Deigning to put an end to any more discussion about my personal life, I simply answered, “I just didn’t find the right guy, probably.” Of course, Jason had a follow-up: “Baka, Ma’am, masyado kayong mapili?”

Da fuq. My eyeballs rolled back into my head again, then I sighed in resignation.

But what else could I tell this young man who still had stars in his eyes, and a heart beating so fast for someone he longed to be with? That Cupid shot his arrow but I ducked? Or worse, the guy did. I had learned a long time ago to stop explaining myself to others, and inject my own opinions on relationships and love in general, especially with people I didn’t really know well. Not that I’m now jaded and cynical about the whole aspect of romance, dating and finding a significant other. One of my favorite shows, after all, is First Dates.

“Ganon, eh.” It is what it is, was all I could manage.

Jason nodded. He didn’t try to press any further. I suppose, he believed the same of his present situation with this other woman. After all, he didn’t actively seek out another partner in life. She just walked in with no warning. And while his brain tried to compartmentalize his feelings for her and for his wife and son, he already knew whom his heart had chosen.

Fortunately, we finally arrived at Purple’s house and I had to get off the vehicle. And as he took out my luggage from the trunk of his car, Jason bade me goodbye with a “Merry Christmas,” and joked he would text me “’pag magkatuluyan kami.” I chuckled (he was amusing after all), and just wished him good fortune, however that eventually applied and meant for him. n

A personal reflection on a Golden Jubilarian’s religious life n Fr. David Buenaventura, SDB, shares in this piece many interesting insights and uplifting moments as he looks back on his 50 years in religious life. This piece was originally published in St. John Bosco Today, The Salesian Family Magazine, December 2018-January 2019 issue.

A YOUNG man talks much about the future. An old man has little to see in the future, and so he looks back and talks more about the past. Thus, the looking back that my companions and I did on May 24, 2018, as we celebrated our golden anniversary as Salesians of Don Bosco.

Looking back at the past, I see clearly the hand of God in all the important events in my life, telling me that I belong to him. My response to this special predilection of the Lord is one of deep humility and gratitude. My name is David. My mom told me that she named me after a popular radio announcer with a golden voice, Ben David. But now, I know better. David in Hebrew means the “Beloved of God,” a fitting name for one destined to become a priest of the Lord. My surname is “Buenaventura,” or “good fortune.”

I come from a big family of eight boys and one girl.

I never thought I would be entering a congregation whose specialization is the education of the young, most especially, boys. In elementary, we were only two boys in the class; all the rest were girls. I made the girls in my class cry. A meaningless experience, till I worked in Japan and found myself the only man in the midst of women. This time, they made me cry because

of their problems in life as entertainers. Thrice, I thought of leaving the priesthood. But each time, I experienced the hand of God, telling me I was meant to be his disciple.

When I entered our seminary in Pampanga, my best friend and I were tagged as “Moros,” because we came from Mindanao. During those years in the seminary, my conduct grade never rose higher than 95 percent. No one who had such conduct grade was accepted the following year. I do not know what my superiors saw in me, but after my fourth year, I was invited to apply for the novitiate.

My Waterloo had always been Mathematics.

When Modern Math was first introduced in college, I told our Rector that I would be leaving the seminary because I failed the subject. The Rector was surprised that Math could be modern. He told the Dean of the College to remove the subject from the curriculum.

According to him, what seminarians needed was basic Math and not modern Math. “When did Math become modern?”

At the start of my fourth year, I was sure that I would fail my Physics subject. But the Lord was again on my side. He sent us a German professor to handle the subject. For him, procedures were more important that the answers themselves. Most of my answers in our exams were wrong, but I passed them because my steps to reach the wrong answers were correct. He considered me a very careless student and advised me to study well my multiplication tables.

When my father died, I decided to leave the seminary and help my mother in our business. We had a family gathering. Each of us was given an opportunity to express what we planned to do at the demise of our dad. When my turn came, I told my mom that I would leave the seminary to help her in the business. She replied: “But, when you entered

the seminary, I already crossed out your name in the family roster. We do not need you. But if you are leaving the seminary because you believe you have no vocation, then I would put back your name in the roster. I give you six months to decide.” Words of wisdom coming from the Lord spoken by my mom.

The rest is history. I am now a priest, and a Salesian religious for 50 years. At this stage in my life, I am going back to the basics of my Christian life. Christianity for me is life. Life is all about relationships. Relationships grow and glow if at the heart of it is the love taught to us by the Master. Love is our distinguishing mark. Every religious symbol we wear and every religious activity we do is meaningful and fruitful, only if it is powered by love. Christian love for me is beautifully expressed by Saint Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians, 13:4-7.

Hence, I can say that love is the summary of all the good habits and virtues we have acquired and will continue to acquire till death. Growing in virtues is my way of answering the call of Jesus to be “holy as our heavenly Father is holy.” I am truly humbled by the special predilection of God for me all through these years. I am a sinner with many shortcomings and human weaknesses. In spite of these, the Lord continues to show me that indeed I am David, his beloved son. Lord, thank You for Your care, Your guidance, and most especially, Your great love!

May I continue to live my motto: “Love truly. Live fully!”

FR. David Buenaventura, SDB

D4

Show BusinessMirror

Friday, February 15, 2019

www.businessmirror.com.ph

IN this 1977 file photo, serial killer Ted Bundy (center), is escorted out of court at the Pitkin County courthouse, Aspen, Colorado. AP

Ted Bundy’s deadly charm still polarizes, 40 years later

C

LIAM NEESON

LIAM NEESON’S VENGEANCE FUELS HARD-POUNDING ACTION IN ‘COLD PURSUIT’

BLOOD in the snow will flow in Liam Neeson’s latest thrilling action film Cold Pursuit, where he plays Nels Coxman, a snowplough driver in Kehoe, a 10 degrees and counting glitzy ski resort in the Rocky Mountains.

The star of the successful Taken franchise, Liam Neeson is no stranger to reinvention. But even by his standards, Cold Pursuit represents a surprising gear-shift into wicked new territory. The movie sets the local police in action after being not used to much action—that is, until the son of unassuming town snowplough driver Nels Coxman is murdered at the order of Viking (Tom Bateman), a flamboyant drug lord.

Enraged and armed with heavy machinery, Nels sets out to dismantle the cartel one man at a time, but his understanding of murder comes mainly from what he read in a crime novel.

As the bodies pile up, his actions ignite a turf war between Viking and his long-standing rival White Bull (Tom Jackson), a soulful Native-American mafia boss, that will quickly escalate and turn the small town’s bright white slopes blood-red.

There aren’t many actors whose CV include everything from an Oscar-nominated turn in Schindler’s List to a Jedi, a Batman villain, a shady cop made out of Lego, and a talking lion. But then, Liam Neeson isn’t like many other actors. With an astonishing film 126 credits to his name, the 66-year-old famously saw himself unwittingly reinvented as an action star a decade ago, with his starring role as Bryan Mills in the huge global smash that was Taken. But while that movie’s plot—of a father out for revenge against the men who have put his offspring in danger—may sound like it shares some DNA with that of Cold Pursuit, the latter sees him deliver a performance unlike any in his already storied career.

“On the one level, Cold Pursuit is a great, classic revenge thriller,” says Neeson. “But what was really appealing to me was the dark undercurrent of humor that runs through it.” Or, as his director Hans Petter Moland puts it: “Basically, this is Liam Neeson like you’ve never seen him before. It’s a very special, unique performance.”

Cold Pursuit is now in cinemas from Axinite Digicinema.

By Dan Sewell The Associated Press

INCINNATI—She kept her eyes on the dapper, wavy haired man who smiled, winked and exuded self-confidence as the courtroom proceedings moved along.

“I don’t know what it is he has, but he’s fascinating,” the teenage spectator explained to me at the time.

“He’s impressive. He just has a kind of magnetism.”

It was that beguiling magnetism that investigators said helped make the object of her interest—Ted Bundy—one of the nation’s most prolific serial killers, with at least 30 women and girls’ deaths linked to him in a multiple-state spree that spanned the late 1970s.

I reported the teenager’s comments for The Associated Press’ coverage of Bundy’s 1979 murder trial in Miami, the first of two murder trials he would have in Florida. She was just one example of a regular courtroom backdrop of spellbound female spectators who were “attractive, young and single,” as I wrote at the time, just like the women Bundy was on trial for bludgeoning and sexually assaulting.

“I haven’t lost any sleep about the verdict,” a relaxed, self-assured Bundy told me in a jail-cell interview a few days after the jury swiftly convicted him of murdering two Florida State University sorority sisters and assaulting three other young women in Tallahassee.

Nearly 40 years after that trial, and 30 years after his death in Florida’s electric chair, Bundy’s deadly charm continues to captivate and perplex.

Some reactions to a new Netflix documentary series, Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes, prompted a Twitter appeal to viewers asking them to chill out about his “alleged hotness,” adding there are many other attractive men featured on the streaming service who aren’t convicted serial killers.

Nearly simultaneously, a movie starring heartthrob Zac Efron as Bundy recently made its debut at the Sundance Film Festival with some criticisms that the film, shot last year in the Cincinnati area, glamorizes the killer. A Vanity Fair reviewer wrote that “at its worse, the movie feels almost sympathetic to Bundy.”

Filmmaker Joe Berlinger, who is the director for both projects, acknowledged in a Salt Lake Tribune interview he had tackled “a very polarizing subject” with Bundy, but insisted there’s no glorification. His

movie hasn’t yet been scheduled for wider release.

Efron, by the way, isn’t the first hunky actor to play Bundy—Mark Harmon starred in the 1986 TV miniseries The Deliberate Stranger.

The July 1979 trial I helped cover was for Bundy’s rampage on January 15, 1978 in Tallahassee, Florida.

Armed with an oak limb, Bundy left two Chi Omega sorority sisters dead and three other women injured.

Less than a month later, on February 9, he abducted, sexually assaulted and killed a 12-year-old girl in Lake City, Florida. She was Bundy’s final victim in a gruesome spree that claimed the lives of dozens of women in states from Washington to Florida.

During the trial, I interviewed other young women in Miami who talked about Bundy’s handsome looks and expressive eyes, and also the chilling testimony about his crimes. A University of Washington psychiatry professor talked in a telephone interview about him giving women “Dracula shivers.”

Jurors deliberated less than seven hours on July 24, 1979, before convicting Bundy, then 32, of the Chi Omega murders. Three days later, I was assigned to go to Dade County Jail and find out what I could about what he was doing, who was visiting him and whether he was causing problems for jailers as he had at times during the trial.

A sergeant noticed I had been waiting for a while and asked who I was there to see. “Ted Bundy,” I replied quickly. He took me to a visiting cell where Bundy was meeting with one of his attorneys. The cell door closed behind me. I introduced myself, and it was clear by his grin that Bundy was amused by my audacity. Despite the attorney’s uneasiness about an unplanned interview, I sat while Bundy, unshaved and dressed in jail grays left open at the top, leaned back on his elbows on a bench, and went to work on me.

He told me he was innocent, of course. Repeatedly.

So innocent, he explained with that same grin spreading across his face, he wasn’t losing any sleep.

“I’m not trying to sound callous.... I’m very confident we have a good appeal.”

He professed to be surprised and disappointed by the jury’s relatively quick verdict after a five-week trial with complicated forensic evidence. He told me it would take a mind like “William S. Burroughs” to explain it. Not a fan of the Beat generation author he referenced, I didn’t get what he meant, other than to show he was well-read.

Bundy expected the death penalty but said he’d be “kind of stupid” to predict what Judge Edward Cowart would decide. He then imitated the judge’s drawl: “Ah can only hope that the judge will look at mah case with an open mind.” Bundy had me smiling, and he left me wondering about the contrast between this personable, engaging man across from me and the ruthless killer the jury found him to be.

The next week, Judge Cowart sentenced Bundy to die for “extremely wicked, shockingly evil and vile” crimes—a quote that became the title of the new movie. Yet, as he had throughout the trial, Cowart showed judicial firmness mixed with some homespun warmth toward the former law school student who sometimes insisted on questioning witnesses, raising objections and disrupting his defense team.

Cowart called him “a bright young man” who could have been a good lawyer, one he would “have loved” to have practice before him. “But you went another way, partner,” Cowart said. As deputies prepared to take Bundy away, Cowart added softly: “Take care of yourself,” and Bundy thanked him.

Eight years later, I would write an obituary for Cowart, a former police officer turned judge who died at 62. A series of attorneys filed appeal after appeal for Bundy. One blamed the “Bundy mystique” for making it impossible for him to get a fair trial. Several argued he was insane.

Al Carlisle, a Utah State Prison psychologist who had interviewed Bundy extensively, understood the difficulty people had believing that the Bundy they saw could be such a calculating, remorseless killer.

The courts ruled Bundy was competent.

He knew what he was doing, Carlisle explained to me years ago. Charm was one of his weapons.

“He believes he’s smarter than everybody else and that he’s going to play the pieces right, and win the chess game,” Carlisle said.

It ended January 24, 1989, in Florida’s electric chair after he had ended his denials with sometimesemotional confessions in his final days.

Hundreds of people, women and men, were thronged outside the prison. But this time, most were there to cheer his death. n Sewell, now The AP’s Cincinnati correspondent, wrote often in Florida about Bundy in the decade from the Chi Omega murders to the execution.

Megan Young renews exclusive contract with GMA STARSTRUCK alumna and Miss World 2013 Megan Young remains loyal to GMA as she renewed on February 8 her exclusive contract with the media giant.

The beauty queen and versatile actress and TV host said she is very happy to renew her ties with GMA. “Of course, dito ako sa GMA nagsimula, so it’s nice to be here with my family. Last year, naging busy talaga ako dahil sa The Stepdaughters.

I’m really thankful to GMA for giving us a program that would showcase our talent. This year, I’m looking forward to something different. I don’t mind doing another afternoon series kasi nag-enjoy ako. But I’m also looking forward to hosting jobs this year.”

Present in the contract-signing were GMA Chairman and CEO Atty.

Felipe L. Gozon, GMA Executive Vice President and CFO Felipe S. Yalong,

GMA Entertainment Group’s Senior Vice President Lilybeth G. Rasonable, GMA Senior Assistant Vice President for Alternative Productions Gigi SantiagoLara, and Arnold Vegafria, Megan’s manager.

Megan’s last program with GMA was the highly successful and top-rating afternoon series The Stepdaughters with Mikael Daez and Katrina Halili. This time around, she wants try light dramas and romantic comedies for her next project.

“Ang gusto ko talaga ’yung mga romcom, pero never pa ako nakagawa ng ganito. Hilig ko talaga ’yung mga Koreanovela. So that’s kind of my dream. I know some people aspire for heavy roles pero ako I love the lightness and endearing moments of Koreanovelas. So maybe a story like that is something I look forward to. I also love animé na gagawing live action. I’ve never

done anything like that.”

During the contract-signing, Gozon shared his delight with the new chapter of Megan’s life in GMA, “Si Megan naman, hindi lang siya isa sa pinakamagagandang artista natin dito. Kaya tayo ay natutuwa na siya ay nag-renew uli ng kontrata sa

atin sapagkat sa tingin ko, malayo pa ang mararating niya sa showbiz.”

Rasonable, on the other hand, revealed that the network is already gearing up for Megan’s next big projects with GMA. “Siyempre ini-isipan na natin siya ng susunod niyang soap. Kasi di ba

very successful ang The Stepdaughters na almost one year na tumakbo. So happy tayo sa performance niya dun. She showed na magaling siya sa drama. Ang layo na ng na-improve niya from before. So we want to do more of that. And, yes, she’s also a good host.”

FROM left: GMA SAVP for Alternative Productions Gigi SantiagoLara, GMA Entertainment Group’s SVP Lilybeth G. Rasonable, GMA Executive Vice President and CFO Felipe S. Yalong, Megan Young, GMA Chairman and CEO Atty.

Felipe L. Gozon, and Megan’s Manager Arnold Vegafria.

Motoring BusinessMirror

Henry Ford Awards Best Motoring Section 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 2011 Hall of Fame

Editor: Tet Andolong

Friday, February 15, 2019 E1

TOYOTA LAUNCHES 5TH-GEN RAV4 S

Story & Photos by Patrick P. Tulfo

TILL keen on keeping their title of being the country’s No. 1 automotive company, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) once again pioneers the crossover sport-utility vehicle (SUV) segment, with the launch of the All-New RAV4.

Now on its fifth generation, the all-new 2019 RAV4 banks on its upgraded, more premium design paired with better performance and capability made possible by the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA)—a platform that applies Toyota’s principles and technologies to improve its current and future vehicle’s agility, stability and visibility.

Better handling, updated engine

THE lowered center of gravity and high-rigidity body structure are just a few of the all-new RAV4’s features built upon the TNGA. The lower beltline, repositioned outer mirror now mounted on the door, and the thinner, low-set instrument panel that features sleek hori-

zontal lines flowing into the door panels results into an outstanding driving visibility.

The new RAV4 is now equipped with a newly developed front and rear suspension that promises a supple ride and responsive handling. The powerful 2.5-L (A25AFKS) Dynamic Force Engine with Dual VVT-I with VVT-iE (Variable Valve Timing-intelligent Electric) was engineered for optimum performance and less fuel combustion.

The direct shift 8-speed automatic transmission, on the other hand, features a multi-plate lockup clutch that provides a wider lock range allowing shifting and acceleration to be smoother and faster. Furthermore, the 8-speed transmission delivers more power

THE All-New RAV4 is set to redefine the crossover segment

GENEROUS legroom for the passengers

and torque while accelerating from standstill, while suppressing engine speeds at high-speed cruising for a quieter cabin.

wireless charger, eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat with memory and lumbar support, and inside rearview mirror.

It also features seat heaters, soft-touch dashboard and panels, rear cooler, leather seats and a panoramic moon roof.

Strong, sporty exterior, refined spacious interior

NOW with fully updated features and a major facelift, the all-new Rav4 aims to highlight urban adventure at its finest. Styled with a sportier design, the RAV4 allows the driver to bravely take on the exciting roads at any time.

The “cross octagon” styling of its exterior body combines with a wide wedge-shaped front that links with an octagon-shaped spacious

and utilitarian rear. This embodies the robust yet luxurious design to which the RAV4 stands for.

The RAV4’s new two-tiered upper and lower trapezoid-shaped grille provides a strong presence expected of an SUV. Aside from its sportier façade, the new RAV4 now features new alloy wheel designs in all configurations, regardless of whether customers choose the 17- or 18-inch option. Interior wise, the new RAV4 now highlights user-friendly features and technology such as a seven-inch multi-information display that can be switched between analog and digital display modes,

Advanced safety features

THE all-new RAV4 now boasts of unparalleled safety features such as seven airbags, eight-eye front and rear sensors, backup camera, anti lock brake system with emergency brake signal, and Vehicle Stability Control—completing the promise of a pleasurable driving experience

with an added peace of mind. The all-new RAV4 comes in six standard colors, including White Pearl, Red Mica Metallic, Silver Metallic, Gray Metallic, Urban Khaki and Cyan Metallic with three other colors available on special order (approximately three-month delivery time) such as Super White, Attitude Black and Dark Blue Mica Metallic.

It is competitively priced at P1.638 million for the LE; P1.870 million for the XLE; and P2.188 million for the top-of-the-line model.

To know more about the allnew RAV4, visit Toyota Motor Philippines official web site at www.toyota.com.ph.

Moto

Business

E2 Friday, February 15, 2019

The desi com and com

Elegant two-toned cabin with wooden trims plus the tabletinspired infotainment as centerpiece

Honda 4-Day Sale Discount Guide Model

Year Model

City

19YM 18YM

BR-V 19YM CR-V

18YM

Civic

18YM

Mobilio

18YM

Variants

Exclusive Discount

1.5 E CVT

35,000

1.5 VX CVT

35,000

1.5 S CVT

40,000

1.5 V Navi CVT

40,000

1.5 S CVT

35,000

1.5 V Navi CVT

35,000

V Diesel 9AT

80,000

S Diesel 9AT

70,000

1.8 E CVT

35,000

1.5 RS CVT

35,000

1.5 V CVT

30,000

More spacious and easier to access third row seats

Foton A. Bonifacio is named 2018 Dealer of the Year

oring

sMirror

Friday, February 15, 2019

new exterior ign exudes mbined strength d elegance in a mpact body

Even the rear end received several refinements

The new 1.5-liter KB15 petrol engine

Foton PH EVP Anna Parado launches the “Kayang-kaya” brand campaign

Here’s the summary of the Major Awards: Rookie of the Year

FOTON Marilao

2nd-Dealer of the Year (Vis/Min)

FOTON Bacolod

1st-Dealer of the Year (Vis/Min)

FOTON Zamboanga

Champion-Dealer of the Year (Vis/Min)

FOTON Cebu North (Mandaue)

2nd-Dealer of the Year (NCR/Luzon)

FOTON Quezon Ave.

1st-Dealer of the Year (NCR/Luzon)

FOTON Pasong Tamo

Champion-Dealer of the Year (NCR/Luzon)

FOTON A. Bonifacio

Overall dealer of the year

FOTON A. Bonifacio

Other outstanding dealerships, Foton Pasong Tamo and Foton Quezon Avenue, were also recognized during the night

E3

Motoring BusinessMirror

E4 Friday, February 15, 2019

Alfred V. Ty: 2018 was a major milestone for Toyota

T

HEY recently closed two southbound lanes of Edsa, and you don’t need to be a Nobel Prize winner to know what happened next. Of course, a gridlock of gargantuan proportions!

Just one stalled vehicle on Edsa could already cause a massive traffic jam. What more with two lanes being closed simultaneously—on a weekday yet?

The two innermost lanes were closed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for repair.

No problem there. Any dilapidated road needing instant repair must be done without delay. You call that public service at its best.

But it turned out there was no proper coordination—as usual?— between the DPWH and Metro

Manila Development Authority (MMDA) before the re-blocking was implemented.

Traffic enforcers, most of them anyway, were merely there watching the “carmageddon” unfold at Edsa, even shooing away motorists trying to enter the forbus-only yellow lanes in an utter display of inflexibility by men in authority at a most crucial time.

When interviewed by Ted Failon in his blockbuster Failon Ngayon radio program on dzMM on Monday, Bong Nebrija, the MMDA traffic chief, initially said

ALFRED V. TY

he was informed that only one lane would be repaired.

He did not even bother to say sorry, to apologize, for the goddamn gaffe.

One lane, two lanes, it doesn’t matter.

As sure as the sun sets in the west, closing one lane, two lanes, would automatically create monstrous vehicle jams at Edsa.

Colossal blunder

WHY the public was not properly notified about the road repair was a colossal blunder that again subjected both the riding public and motorists to untold suffering at Edsa, which naturally became another large parking lot for hours on end.

How many employees and workers that day had been unjustifiably punished due to the sheer lack of conscience of those in power?

How many motorists/businessmen had been thrown in disarray that day, missing their appointments in Makati, if not possibly huge business deals that could have bagged for them, on the side, a one-week cruise to the Caribbean?

How much vehicle fuel went up in smoke again due to that traffic crawl, thereby adding more to the daily loss of P3.4 billion caused by jams in the Metro as shown by data gathered by the Jica (Japan Information and Communication Agency)?

It is not car manufacturing that causes much of vehicle entanglements at Edsa and elsewhere, but rather, the lack of imagination of our traffic managers to put order on the road— not to mention corruption being a major traffic trigger, too.

Why are loading/unloading zones being dishonored wantonly by our public-utility drivers?

I was not born yesterday, to begin with.

New Toyota, Alfred’s speech

TINI AREVALO has this invite for a new Toyota model—again.

Read on:

“Days after February 8, the unveiling of our BRAVE new model, we will once again RESHAPE POSSIBILITIES with another vehicle that will further highlight the joys of driving a Toyota. This new vehicle will reinvigorate Toyota’s product lineup anew.” (Words in all caps

by Tini.)

This new vehicle comes on the heels of the new RAV4 launched only last week. Wow! Who said the motoring industry is still reeling from the effects of that left hook, a.k.a. the TRAIN law, unleashed in 2018?

Not Toyota, the King of the Hill for the last 17 years.

Anyway, here is the speech of Alfred V. Ty, the soon-to-be chairman of Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP), during the recent Toyota Thanksgiving party at the Hyatt in Global City Taguig: “On behalf of the Board of Directors of Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP), I would like to welcome you and to thank you, our closest allies from the media, for the unwavering support to Toyota and to the development of the auto industry for three decades now.

“Also, on a personal note, may I take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude for the sincere gestures of sympathy on the passing of my father, our TMP chairman, Dr. George Ty. “2018 was a difficult year, not

just for the local industry, but it is the same for almost all the major economies in the world. Toyota itself experienced tougher challenges brought about by unexpected events from both domestic and international front that caused a slowdown on the economy from the middle of the year and only showing signs of activity starting from the fourth quarter of last year.

“Nevertheless, 2018 was a major milestone for Toyota, celebrating 30 years, which really means looking after 1,583,852 owners, and making sure we put a smile on their faces. Your collaborative efforts in spreading the Toyota story to the Philippine market have contributed greatly to our success.

“So I would like to offer a toast, to all of you tonight. Here’s wishing all of you good health, continuous success and prosperity in 2019.

Cheers! Mabuhay!”

Short but sweet—the way it should be.

PEE STOP Congratulations to Sun-

ny Medalla, who is now MINI head in Japan. A protégé at Toyota by the legendary Vince Socco, Sunny had worked for so long in Singapore before moving on to Tokyo.

Cheers!... Here’s to continue praying for the speedy recovery of our dear friend, Ray Butch “Elvis” Gamboa. God is with you, durable Elvis.

BLACK RHINO PH TEAMS UP WITH OVERLAND

T

HE recently concluded Overland Xpo staged from February 2 to 4, 2019, with over 100 4x4 vehicles was an overwhelming success. Organized by Overland PH, in coordination with Black Rhino PH, it was held at the heart of Zambales. The Black Rhino convoy drove 200 kilometers from Manila, where vehicles and drivers experienced driving along the scenic west coast of the country before reaching the campsite. The event was held within the vicinity of Mount Pinatubo so adventure seekers and adrenaline junkies trekked

5 kilometers to the crater.

The term “Overlanding” originated from Australians when they move their livestock over long distances. Today, Overlanding means a self-reliant overland travel to remote destinations, where the journey is part of the experience. “There won’t be any electricity, water or a gas station nearby, so we want to make sure we are prepared. Fortunately, there are so many products now available locally for Overlanding such as roof-mounted tents, collapsible tables and chairs, and even portable toilets,” shared Joel Pedro

of Adventure Kings Philippines.

The organizers shared that stock 4x4 vehicles will be able to make it up to the campsite, but most of the participants will be using 4x4 rigs equipped with mud tires, lifted suspension and auxiliary driving lights. These upgrades ensure the safety of the passengers and vehicles. “We have proper wheels and tires for special drives such as this. You won’t be going to a basketball game with leather dress shoes, right?” said Justin Uy, marketing head of Black Rhino Wheels Philippines.

HOW CARMAKERS PICK COLORS

E

VERY year, General Motors’s color and trim designers from each region converge at the GM’s Design Center in North America to decide what colors to offer on future vehicles based on customer preferences, supplier insights and other industry trends. By doing so, GM is able to offer Chevrolet vehicles in a wide range of hues that balances the need for customer appeal across many markets and product differentiation within specific markets and segments.

For example, most Asian customers choose white, black, silver or grey, because neutral tones are widely accepted and may help ensure high resale value. On the other hand, some customers want a more lively hue to express their personality. To that end, GM designers have made it possible for customers to choose Chevrolet Spark in fashion-forward colors such as Merry Berry Me Metallic or Caribbean Blue Metallic— options not offered on other models.

“To offer the right colors and shades, we consider a number of factors, such as increasing or decreasing demand, use in other durable goods such as consumer electronics, fashion, home furnishing trends and what actually looks good on each vehicle type,” said Hongki Kim, Color & Trim chief designer at GM Korea. “For example, bright red may be perfect for a sports car like Camaro or Corvette, but a darker shade of red looks better on a Malibu.”

Another factor in color selection for Asia-Pacific markets in recent years has been the growing influence of the China market, where red represents happiness and positivity, white is associated with new beginnings and smart technology, and black connotes power and prestige. Recent data shows red, white and black gaining popularity in Asia, while interest in silver and grey is waning. Not only can colors have specific connotations, they also can be considered lucky. According to some sourc-

es, zodiac colors such as vivid red, azure blue, white and gold are considered lucky for Chinese New Year 2019, the Year of the Pig. Chevrolet offers vehicles in many of these shades, depending on model and market.

GM works closely with exterior paint suppliers to formulate the right shades, and many of them issue trend reports with findings that reflect the design decisions made

by GM and other automakers.

Axalta, an automotive paint supplier, recently named golden-bronze “Sahara” its Automotive Color of the Year, because the tone “radiates warmth, richness and strength.” Chevrolet introduced a similar shade called Coppertino as its hero color for Chevrolet Trax in Indonesia last year. In the Philippines, the Trax now comes in the color Burning Hot Metallic.

“Reddish brown, copper and rose-gold shades are growing more popular with cus-

tomers,” Kim said. “Color trend has been moving toward those shades intentionally with subliminal effect, so customers can easily get familiar with colors in daily life.”

Based on GM research, one of the interesting theories found about the rising popularity of those colors is people’s growing interest in space exploration, specifically planet Mars and development, and assembly of International Space Station, which is expected to launch in 2019 and operate until 2030.

“It reflects people’s positive association with future possibilities,” Kim said.

Regardless of the color a customer chooses, with proper care, they can expect their Chevrolet car’s paint finish to last without dulling or fading for at least 10 years thanks to GM’s built-in quality paint-application processes used at its manufacturing plants around the world.