BusinessMirror October 04, 2019

BRIONES BOOK FROM FORTUNE LIFE EDUCATION Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones shows a copy of Boiled Green Bananas, a compilation of her columns published in the BusinessMirror from 2006 to 2016.

Fortune Life Insurance Company presented the book as a token of appreciation to her. She was keynote speaker at the launch of the 9th Values Advocacy Program of Fortune Life in partnership with DepEd and MaryLindbert International. With Briones are (from left) Evelyn T. Carada, EVP & general manager of Fortune Life; Arnold A. Cabangon, president & CEO of Fortune Life and ALC Group of Companies Chairman D. Edgard A. Cabangon. The Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua Gintong Parangal para sa Edukasyon awards were given to outstanding teachers.

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n Friday, October 4, 2019 Vol. 14 No. 359

GOCC privatization reviewed–Neda chief S

By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

TREAMLINING governmentowned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) remains on the table as the government mulls over the privatization of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia told the BusinessMirror that privatizing GOCCs, including Pagcor and PCSO, is being seriously reviewed by the economic cluster.

Pernia also said in a statement

on Thursday that GOCCs must implement structural measures to further promote fair competition in the market.

“They’re [privatization of GOCCs, including Pagcor and PCSO] under consideration/discussion,”

Pernia told the BusinessMirror on Thursday.

National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Rosemarie G. Edillon told the BusinessMirror, however, that

“GOCCs should adopt structural measures to address any identified anticompetitive behavior...since the private sector may be in a better position to carry out some of their commercial pursuits.”—Pernia

these discussions would have to be backed by studies.

Edillon said the Economic Development Cluster (EDC) has discussed this twice in its meetings, but more comments are needed before the government can decide on the matter. This is being considered, Edillon said, because See “GOCC,” A2

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DUTERTE WOOS RUSSIAN OIL PLAYER ROSNEFT

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

P

@BNicolasBM

RESIDENT Duterte has urged Russian oil giant Rosneft Oil Co. to consider the Philippines as its new investment destination for oil and gas development.

Malacañang said the President met with Rosneft Oil Co. Chief Executive Officer Igor Sechin at the Four Seasons Hotel in Moscow on Wednesday, October 2.

“The President invited Rosneft, the leader in the Russian oil sector, to invest in the Philippines, particularly with regard to oil and gas development, and assured its officials, which include Zeljko Runje, vice president for Offshore Projects of Rosneft; Didier Casimiro, vice president for Refining, Petrochemical, Commerce and Logistics of Rosneft; and Boris Kovalchuk, chief executive officer of Inter

@jearcalas

T

HE government was urged to increase its indemnification to hog raisers to entice them to easily surrender their herd to fast-track control measures against African swine fever (ASF).

This unsolicited advice from a lawmaker and a stakeholder group followed the government’s allocation of P1 billion for the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) indemnification fund for its ASF control measures.

The DA, meanwhile, dished out crucial advice to hog raisers: don’t believe antibiotics or any sort of medicine being offered to them that could cure or prevent ASF, since no vaccine has been developed against the dreaded hog disease.

“Antibiotic is used against bacteria and not against virus. We know

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n

for a fact—and we have been saying for so many times—that there’s no vaccine or medicine against ASF,” Agriculture Undersecretary Ariel T. Cayanan said in an interview with reporters recently.

“So there will be no claim that the antibiotic being marketed would be effective to cure ASF,” Cayanan added.

On the indemnification for pigs taken and killed by the government, the DA pays hog raisers P3,500 per pig that is culled to control and contain the spread of ASF. AGAP Party-list Rep. Rico B. Geron considers the amount too little to entice hog raisers to surrender their herd.

With such amount, he added, hog raisers might just opt to illegally transport and sell their pigs to earn more than what the government is offering.

See “ASF,” A2

See “Duterte,” A2

BIR closes warehouses; rice stocks smuggled?

ASF control: Hike indemnity for hog raisers, govt urged

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

RAO, that their investments are safe in the Philippines and that he would not tolerate corruption in the bureaucracy,” said Presidential Spokesman and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador S. Panelo in a tatement on Thursday.

Moreover, Panelo said the Chief Executive pointed out that “any agreement that will be executed or performed for such purpose shall undergo the proper domestic processes and comply with applicable laws and pertinent rules and regulations so as not to leave any room for corruption or irregularity.”

With the President in the meeting were Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr., Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, National Security Adviser

By Jove Moya

T BIR Deputy Commissioner Arnel SD Guballa (center) and Assistant Secretary Tony Lambino of the Department of Finance inspect imported rice from Vietnam and Myanmar during a raid on 11 warehouses in Guiguinto, Bulacan, on Thursday. BERNARD TESTA

@BMJoveMoya

HE Bureau of Inter na l Revenue (BIR) on Thursday padlocked 11 warehouses in Guiguinto, Bulacan, for various tax violations, including non-registration and failure to pay the annual registration fee.

Authorities, meanwhile, are also checking if the rice was smuggled into the country.

The raiding team led by officials of the Department of Finance (DOF) and BIR said that the stalls were illegally operated by five companies that stored at See “BIR,” A2

US 51.9200 n JAPAN 0.4845 n UK 63.8772 n HK 6.6195 n CHINA 7.2896 n SINGAPORE 37.5172 n AUSTRALIA 34.8020 n EU 56.9043 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.8420 Source: BSP (3 October 2019 )

News

BusinessMirror

A2 Friday, October 4, 2019

₧29-B CCT fund eyed for rice buying to aid farmers

A

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

@joveemarie

LEADER of the House of Representatives has asked Congress to authorize the use of P29 billion intended as rice subsidies to conditional cash transfer (CCT) beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the procurement of palay from farmers this harvest season.

In House Joint Resolution (HJR) 16, Deputy Speaker for Finance Luis Raymund Villafuerte said the government can instead purchase unmilled rice from local farmers, and convert them to rice for distribution to the 4Ps beneficiary-families rather than give the subsidies as cash grants to target low-income households of the DSWD’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

Under the resolution, Villafuerte urged the Senate and the House of

Representatives “voting separately, to authorize the use of the rice subsidy as provided under the 4Ps in the General Appropriations Act [GAA] for the purchase of palay from farmers, mandating for the purpose the DSWD to buy palay from the local farmers and distribute rice subsidy in the form of actual rice, instead of cash assistance, to the qualified beneficiaries.”

Villafuerte, in a statement, said this plan is crucial in raising farm-gate prices of palay this main

harvest season, especially after the National Food Authority (NFA) reported that its warehouses are already full.

Citing the NFA, Villafuerte said it has over 200,000 metric tons of imported rice in its custody, as of August 22, 2019, and was able to procure locally 360,657 bags of palay at 50 kilos per bag or equivalent to 209,525 MT. “The problem of oversupply is expected to exacerbate during the period of September to October, which is the peak palay harvest season,” Villafuerte said.

According to the lawmaker, on top of the CCT grant of P300 per month received by the DSWD’s 4Ps beneficiaries, they also get P600 a month in cash to be able to buy 20 kilos of rice.

Under the 2019 budget, the allocation for rice subsidies amounts to P28.51 billion and is the same amount proposed for the following fiscal year.

The rice subsidy in the form of cash is given to beneficiaries through their existing Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) account or cash cards, while those

without cash cards or automated teller machine (ATM) cards can get their money through scheduled or coordinated payout through the DSWD, Villafuerte said.

“In order to help the local farmers, the DSWD is in a position to distribute the rice subsidy under the 4Ps program in the form of actual kilos of rice, instead of cash grant. The DSWD is also in the position to help in the buying of palay from farmers, which it can coordinate with the Department of Agriculture (DA). It shall then proceed in distributing rice to the 4Ps beneficiaries who shall receive their rice subsidy from DSWD-designated outlets,” said Villafuerte in his resolution.

He said local farmers are also in need of additional buying stations where they could sell their projected harvest of palay during this period, which could be resolved if the government adopts his proposal.

“The distribution of rice subsidy shall be in accordance with the procedure, guidelines, and distribution system to be determined by the DSWD,” he said.

House leader wants police checks on Pogo workers

A

MID reports of undocumented foreigners, the chairman of the House Committee on Games and Amusements on Thursday called on the government to deputize policemen to conduct random checks on foreigners, including workers in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogo).

Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support Party-list (ACT-CIS) Rep. Eric Go Yap, the panel chairman, said the government should step up its campaign against foreigners violating immigration and labor laws in the country.

Yap said the campaign should include foreigners who may be overstaying in the country or those

GOCC. . .

working without employment permits, among others.

According to Yap, random checks will be an additional deterrent for foreigners to commit violations of Philippine laws. However, they have nothing to fear if they bring their passports with them all the time and a copy of necessary permits. “ That is basic for Filipinos working or touring abroad. We always have our passports because the police have the authority to check your papers and your passport to determine if you are allowed to be there in the first place. It is an anti-crime measure and I don’t see any reason why it should not be practiced here, as well,” Yap said.

Continued from A1

the government wants the “private sector to be more dynamic” as it champions the principles of enabling greater competition, even in areas where GOCCs are involved in.

“We cannot give sweeping statements without studying each and every particular case,” Edillon said.

On Thursday, Pernia said GOCCs must do their part in terms of promoting fair market competition, as espoused in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017 to 2022.

This is also at the heart of the recently crafted National Competition Policy which aims to enhance market competition by fostering an environment that facilitates the entry of business players.

‘Competitive neutrality’

NEDA said GOCCs must examine their mandates and manuals of operations to ensure that “competitive neutrality” is maintained in their proprietary and commercial functions.

GCTA. . .

Continued from A8

Section 1 of RA w 10592, amending Article 29 of the Revised Penal Code, and Section 3, thereof, amending Article 97 of the RPC, cannot be applied retroactively due to the prohibition against an ex post facto law.

The petitioners told the SC that under R A 10592, any and all convicted prisoners are entitled to GCTA, TASTM and STAL, thus, the IRR of the expanded GCTA went beyond what is provided

“Sometimes in train stations, sometimes in the mall, sometimes within the vicinity of their government offices, we can be questioned by their police officers which is understandable because anybody can be a security threat or maybe illegal aliens, and they are just doing their jobs which is to maintain public order and safety,” the lawmaker added.

Yap said the checks can also boost the campaign against foreign Pogo workers who have not secured Alien Employment Permits (AEP) and other required documents, as well as paying the right taxes.

“We see the Pogo company being closed in Eastwood and Parañaque because of tax violations. It is a re-

Competitive neutrality, Neda explained, requires GOCCs to compete with private firms on a level playing field.

This means operating without any preferential treatment in commercial activities that would disadvantage the private sector.

“GOCCs should adopt structural measures to address any identified anticompetitive behavior relating to their mandate and operations, since the private sector may be in a better position to carry out some of their commercial pursuits,” Pernia said.

In January, the Department of Finance (DOF) Private Monitoring Office (PMO) reported that GOCCs remitted a total of P1.802 billion in 2018.

The DOF’s Corporate Affairs Group (CAG) said the GOCCs remitted P40.17 billion to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) in 2018.

This was considered the highest dividends collection since the enactment of the 1994 law that requires state firms to hand over 50 percent of their annual net earnings to the national government. under the law.

They said the exclusion of disqualified convicts from any GCTA constitutes a violation of their right to equal protection of the law.

Thus, they asked the SC to compel the BuCor and the BJMP “to recompute with reasonable dispatch the time allowances due the petitioners and all those who are similarly situated and, thereafter, to cause their immediate release from imprisonment in case of full service of sentence, unless they are being confined for some other lawful cause.”

ASF. . .

sult of a very tedious investigation done by the government. I think random inspections on foreign workers would help in our campaign to track down illegal workers and consequently, catch the big fish,” Yap said.

The lawmaker, meanwhile, conceded the risk of possible extortion and abuse by some police officers, which is why he said he proposed safety nets and appropriate policies in place.

The Department of Finance, citing its initial list, said some 138,000 foreigners are working in Pogo, 54,241 of whom have been given AEPs and another 83,760 holding special working permits.

Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

Continued from A1

“If I’m the farmer I’ll just find a way [to] dispose [of] my pigs [and earn more]. And it also becomes one of the reasons why we cannot contain [the ASF] because raisers are hiding [the pigs],” he told reporters in an interview recently.

“Look at the case in Pangasinan. Where did [the infected hogs] come from? It was transported. It was transported by the raiser to save his pigs [and earn],” he added. Geron proposed that the indemnification should be at least 70 percent to 75 percent of the value of the pig.

“We are not even fully subsidizing the value of pigs but at least a certain percent should be given so that raisers could recover their capital,” he said.

Insurance

RUFINA SALAS, Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries Committee on Livestock, Poultry and Feed Crops chairman, proposed that the government consider implementing an insurance for the livestock sector.

She argued that this would be better than indemnifying farmers especially at this time of disease outbreaks.

Salas recommended that the government do a feasibility study to determine the viability of an insurance program for livestock raisers.

“Can we institutionalize an insurance for livestock and poultry...the PCIC’s crop insurance is very limited and farmers say the premium is prohibitive,”she told reporters.

“Senator Cynthia Villar said in one of the hearings I attended that the government can subsidize the premiums if the farmers find them too high. That’s one long-term measure so farmers will be willing to volunteer their affected hogs,” she added.

Salas described the indemnification program as a knee-jerk reaction to a crisis that could resurface in the future.

The DA admitted earlier that it does not have enough funds to provide hog raisers with indemnification on a par with prevailing market prices.

Under the government’s ASF contingency plan, the indemnification to hog raisers should “depend on the prevailing farm-gate prices.’

Antibiotics

DA’s Cayanan, meanwhile, urged hog raisers and the public to report to the DA any information pertaining to the sale and marketing of alleged antibiotics or medicines against ASF. “Please give the name to us of the individual, company or organization, and we will investigate them,” he said.

Online posts about antibiotic, probiotic supplements, and even animal feeds that are allegedly useful against ASF have been circulating in social-media web sites, including Facebook groups of hog raisers.

The posts claim that their medicine or feeds could prevent hogs from being affected by ASF virus.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Kin of Pinoy fatalities in fallen Taiwan bridge to get ₧1.5M each

By Recto Mercene

T

@rectomercene

HE families of the three Filipino fatalities in the Taiwan bridge collapse will receive financial assistance of at least P1.5 million each courtesy of the various government offices in the Philippines and Taiwan.

The benefits from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) include P200,000 in accident benefits, P20,000 in burial assistance and $15,000 accidental death benefit or the equivalent of P750,000 pesos from the mandatory insurance paid by the agency/employer, according to recruitment consultant Emmanuel Geslani.

The authorities earlier named the victims as Abregana Serencio, George Jagmis Impang and Romulo Ilustrisimo Escalicas Jr. Ta i w a n’s g o v e r n m e n t , meanwhile, will provide NT$300,000 (P510,000.00) to each victim while the amount coming from the group insurance of the company still has to be determined.

“O vera l l , some P1. 5 m i llion w i l l be received by the next-of-kin of the three fishermen who drowned in their fishing boat

Duterte. . .

Continued from A1

Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, and Philippine Ambassador to the Russian Federation Carlos Sorreta.

In a related development, Sorreta told reporters that Russia has already expressed interest in energy cooperation with the Philippines.

Manila is looking at Russia to set up plants for natural gas as well as exploring different steps to liquefy it, Sorreta added, noting that it is a country that could hold promise of lower energy cost and provide energy stability for the Philippines.

“In conventional energy, you know Russia is a major oil player in oil, in gas. So there’s that—that’s what we’re looking at. But we’re looking beyond,” Sorreta said.

“We’re looking at supply also to bring down the increase in prices.

[With very low] supplies, you can’t bring down prices,” he added.

The envoy confirmed ongoing talks between two countries on cooperation in terms of nuclear power, but was quick to point out that it is still at a stage where the country is “trying to understand what Russia can do and what we are ready to absorb.”

So, he added, “it’s very, very basic. But in terms of nuclear energy, where we are—we have very advanced talks in non-energy uses for medicine, for radiology, for other uses of nuclear energy.”

BIR. . .

Continued from A1

least 410,000 sacks of importedrice from Vietnam and Myanmar.

“After the closure, we will do an inventory, we will document them for us to determine if these are considered smuggled rice,” Revenue Deputy Commissioner for Operations Arnel Guballa said.

The establishments owned by Cagayan Corn Products Corp., Pacific Rim Transport and Logistics Inc., UPFC Logistics Corp., AAI Logistics Cargo Express Inc., and JCOMP Trading and Distribution have been under the tax agency’s watch since March.

Aside from imported rice, the raiding team also discovered five warehouses containing corn flour, imported soy milk, and liquid detergent products.

The revenue-collecting agency

that was under the bridge while refueling and resting in their bunks when the bridge suddenly collapsed on them,” Geslani said.

A videotape of the event taken

by Taiwan’s Military News Agency dramatically shows the 140-meter long single-arch bridge tumbling down onto at least three fishing boats as a petrol tanker that was crossing also plunged into the water in Nanfangao, on Taiwan’s east coast.

The Ministry of the Interior’s National Fire Agency had initially said that the oil tanker that passed the bridge on Tuesday had caused the collapse, with the truck falling onto the fishing boats underneath.

The steel arch supporting the bridge from above remains intact, but frayed steel strands or “hangers” could also be seen from the video.

Four of the survivors have been released from hospital after being treated for minor injuries; the fifth survivor remained in hospital with fractures.

The Department of Labor and Employment identified the survivors as: Julio S. Gimawa, Jason N. Villaruel, Allan H. Alcansano, John Vicente Royo and June B. Flores.

Asked on whether Russia is also interested in a joint exploration, Sorreta said: “Because ‘joint’ [exploration], that’s really a term that’s evolved and [been] used over disputed areas for cooperation between the claimant parties. So I just want to emphasize: Russia is not going to go there to start claiming…. So, it’s exploration under Philippine law.”

He also quickly noted that he doesn’t think Russia will be meddling in the sea dispute between Philippines and China. The Philippines and China earlier signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation on oil and gas development in the West Philippine Sea. Pressed for more details on oil exploration, Sorreta added: “In fact, there will be some news about it soon. I think Russia is an exploration powerhouse…They’re in Africa.

They’re in South America. They’re in Southeast Asia. They have the ability to drill under the most difficult—I mean explore under the most difficult circumstances like Siberia…”

However, the envoy did not confirm whether or not the oil exploration is part of the agenda in Duterte’s bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi on Thursday.

After their meeting, Duterte and Putin will witness the signing of several bilateral agreements on health, scientific research, culture, among others.

The Department of Labor and Employment earlier said that it is looking to sign a new bilateral labor agreement with Russia. has yet to determine the worth of all the goods, pending an inventory that was ongoing as of press time.

“We have been monitoring these businesses since March and in a span of seven months, we discovered sacks of rice, corn flour, and milk; they are registered in BIR as a ‘logistics and tracking’ company,” Guballa explained.

DOF Assistant Secretary Tony Lambino warned that the tax-delinquent establishments in Bulacan may endanger consumers’ health if the rice imports are proven to be smuggled. “If these rice are smuggled, we are endangering the health of our consumers—these sacks of rice may have skipped the sanitary measures [that are conducted] if you legally import food,” Lambino said.

The warehouses will remain closed until all tax deficiencies have been settled.

News

BusinessMirror

A4 Friday, October 4, 2019 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

www.businessmirror.com.ph

NCRPO vows tighter security of Metro tourist sites as Christmas season nears

By Roderick L. Abad

Contributor

@rodrik_28

W

ITH the approach of the holiday season, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar has vowed to further intensify security anti-criminality operations in Metro Manila, particularly among tourist areas, to ensure the continuous influx of visitors.

“As in all business investment endeavors, peace and order is a prerequisite to the success of our tourism industry,” he said at a recent media briefing in Taguig City for the upcoming Investor Forum of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise

Zone Authority’s (Tieza) Flagship Tourism Enterprise Zones sponsored by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).

From January to August 2019, a total of 38,183,193 tourists visited Metro Manila based on data obtained from the Department of Tourism (DOT) and five police districts in the region.

This could be attributed to the robust peace and order situation that has improved a lot since 2016, according to Eleazar.

“Compared to the last three years of the previous administration, the Duterte administration has recorded a 58-percent decline here in Metro Manila in volume of focused or ma-

Salceda files bill to rationalize, reduce nonworking holidays

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

T

HE chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means is pushing for the passage of a measure rationalizing holidays and special holidays in the country.

In House Bill 5032, Albay Rep. Joey S. Salceda, the panel chairman, said his proposal seeks to amend Section 26, Chapter 7, Book 1 of Executive Order 292, or the Administrative Code of 1987, as amended.

Salceda said his bill aims to provide the employers a stable and more predictable environment for their business operations, saying the reduced nonworking days, which is on Asean average would also give the country more competitiveness.

The bill seeks to rationalize holidays by limiting regular holidays, which are nonworking days, to only nine. All other holidays shall be made special days, which are working days, but giving the employees an allowance of seven nonworking days to commemorate their chosen special days based on their cultural, religious and personal preference.

The measure also enjoins each local government unit to have only one local holiday by law or ordinance to commemorate its founding, heroes or fiesta in its respective territory. This essentially means two local holidays, one for province and one for the town or city.

In sum, there will be nine regular nonworking holidays, two local nonworking holidays and seven special days that would be nonworking to be agreed upon by employees and employers for a total of 18 nonworking holidays and special days.

According to Salceda, with 21 to 25 public holidays per year, the Philippines is one of the top countries in the region and among the most prolific in the world with the most holidays.

“Public holidays in the Asean average 15 holidays only per

year,” he said.

“Public holidays a l low the commemoration of specia l events and provide the people with some rest. Holidays, however, a lso mea n nonwork ing days, reduced productivity, and increased labor and business costs. For some workers, this can also mean ‘no work, no pay,’” he added.

“Aside from the lower productivity, too many nonworking holidays also meant days lost for learning which is particularly aggravated by heightening impacts of climate change and other disaster risks which cause suspension of classes,” he added.

The bill said in the event the holiday or special day falls on a Wednesday, it shall be observed on the Monday of that week. If the holiday or special day falls on a Sunday, it will be observed on the Monday.

Under the bill the regular holidays and special days in the country are: New Year’s Day-January 1; Good Friday-movable date; Eid’l Fitr-movable date, Labor DayMonday nearest May 1; Independence Day-June 12; All Saints’ Day-November 1; Bonifacio DayNovember 30; Christmas Day-December 25; and Rizal Day-Monday nearest December 30.

The measure said special days are: Chinese New Year-movable date; Edsa Revolution-Monday nearest February 25 anniversary; Maundy Thursday-movable date; Eid’l Adha-movable date; A raw ng K ag it inga n-Mond ay nearest April 9; Founding Anniversary of Iglesia ni Cristo-July 28, Ninoy Aquino Day-Monday nearest August 21, National Heroes’ Day-last Monday of August, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mar y-December 8, Christmas Eve-December 24, and Last Day of the Year-December 31.

T he measure sa id t he Department of Labor and Employment shall promulgate the rules and regulations to implement t he p ro v i s ion s of t h i s p ro posal within 90 days from its effectivity.

jor crimes, such as murder, homicide, rape, theft, robbery, kidnapping, carjacking, motorcycle theft and serious physical injuries,” Eleazar stated.

He added that the crime rate in the metropolis also decreased by 15 percent in the first eight months of this year compared to the same period in 2018. “[So] we cannot seat on our laurels,” said the NCRPO chief.

“The support toward the tourism industry sectors provided by the police is critical and essential.”

There are 10 festivals and 33 tourist spots classified by the DOT as special tourism points in the metropolis.

The latter include historical

places like the Rizal Park, Paco Park, and others, as well as tourist spot areas such as five-star hotels and casinos, big shopping malls, business circuits, and churches.

The police districts are tasked to provide these locations with the necessary service and support.

“Normally, this come with more policemen around the area for more visibility and stronger police presence for crime deterrence and basic police assistance,” Eleazar said.

At present, there are 812 police personnel assigned as tourist police officers in the region.

However, only 612 were trained jointly by the DOT-National Capital Region-sponsored workshops in

cooperation with the Philippine National Police under the Tourism-Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection (TopCop) program.

“Out of these 612, we found out that not all are assigned as tourist police. That’s why we are conducting an inventory to refocus [this initiative] and assign them accordingly,” he said of the TopCop that will be relaunched in the Investor Forum on October 15.

“We join conferences such as this to listen and learn; to share and work together for a common aspiration.

The quest for the ideal peace and order situation is a never-ending grind for any nation, especially in a developing country like ours,” he stressed.

MMDA road, sidewalk clearing operations far from over–Lim

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco Correspondent

T

HE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) reminded local chief executives that road-cleaning works in their respective localities is far from over, even as most of the obstructions like illegally parked vehicles, sidewalk vendors, barangay and police outposts have already been cleared.

MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim said that it is important to ensure the continuity of the clearing of obstructions, which he described as “the greater challenge of the campaign,” despite the expiry of the deadline imposed by President Duterte.

“Our work is not yet finished.

This is a continuing project. We have to maintain and sustain our clearing operations amid the increas-

ing number of vehicles that worsen traffic in Metro Manila,” said Lim who presided over the Metro Manila Council meeting at the MMDA main office. He also lauded the efforts of the Metro Manila mayors in clearing the streets of obstructions but said more has to be done.

Lim also said that in the past 10 years, the number of registered vehicles in Metro Manila have almost doubled while its road network has only increased by 7 percent.

Moreover, at least 900 vehicles are added to the average daily volume of vehicular traffic along Edsa and major thoroughfares in the metropolis, he added.

“This is the problem which Metro Manila is facing. Cars are multiplying but the road capacity has barely changed. Infrastructure projects under the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program

are under way,” said Lim. While waiting for the completion of the infrastructure projects, Lim urged the need to maintain what they have started.

“This is the greater challenge of the campaign. There is no overnight solution to address our traffic problems,” said Lim. Lim said the MMDA is always ready to assist the Metro local governments in compliance with the directive of the President to reclaim public roads and sidewalks.

In line with this, members of the Metro Manila Commission have agreed to institutionalize the clearing of obstructions through a resolution that will be adopted by the 17 local government units in Metro Manila. The MMC is the governing arm and policy-making body of the MMDA.

Imee says land titling a major hurdle to Marawi rehabilitation

M

ARAWI’S rehabilitation is facing further delay unless the government works out a plan to speed up the titling of lands for the city’s displaced residents, Sen. Imee R. Marcos said.

A s the Senate tack led the 2020 budget of t he De pa r t ment of National Defense this week, Marcos pressed defense officials for a comprehensive plan beyond clearing Marawi of unexploded ordnances and debris by the end of October, two months past an August 30 deadline.

Marcos has proposed in Senate Bill 410 to give government lands, including a portion of military reservation areas, to Marawi evacuees who fled the 2017 terrorist siege that left their city in ruins.

“Habang nakatiwangwang ang siyudad eh nawawalang gana at nadidismaya ang mga kapatid nating Muslim [Our Muslim brothers are becoming disappointed, as the city continues to lie bare],” Marcos said.

The Marcos bill seeks to replace the provisional Task Force Bangon Marawi chaired by the housing secretary with a long-term Bangon Marawi Council chaired by the President.

President Duterte can declare that military reservation areas are no longer necessary for military use and that government land can be sold or awarded to Marawi residents, Marcos explained.

Marcos has also proposed to speed up Marawi ’s rehabilitation by easing requirements on procurement and construction for joint-venture projects in the city’s most affected areas called Ground Zero, comprising 24 barangays covering a 250-hectare area.

briefs B.I. DEPLOYS 70 NEWLY HIRED OFFICERS AT NAIA

SOME 70 newly hired immigration officers were posted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) shortly after graduating on Wednesday, October 2.

Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Jaime Morente said this is part of the agency’s continuous efforts to improve its services to the traveling public.

“The graduation of the officers is timed prior to the projected influx of passenger in the airport in the next few months for the upcoming Southeast Asian Games,” Morente said.

The event coincides with the yearly influx of balikbayans and overseas Filipino workers coming home for the holiday season.

Morente said that the new recruits underwent the Border Control Officers Module, a six-month long training designed to teach immigration laws, rules and procedures.

“The 67 graduates, consisting of 38 females and 29 males, were divided into two classes. They began training at the Philippine Immigration Academy in Clark, Pampanga, last April. After three months, they were assigned at the airports and the BI's main office for another three months as on-the-job trainees,” Morente said. Recto Mercene

P.O.E.A. COMPLETES INITIAL YUKON M.O.U DRAFT THE Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) on Thursday said it already completed the initial draft of its memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Canadian territory of Yukon on the hiring of overseas Filipino workers.

POEA Administrator Bernard P. Olalia told the BusinessMirror they have already submitted the document to their Canadian counterparts for consideration.

“We are still waiting for the reply of Canada [officials to] our draft MOU,” Olalia said.

He said it is only after they already get the remarks of Canadian executives on the draft can they officially start bilateral negotiations for the MOU. Among the issues that are expected to be addressed in the bilateral talks

are arrangements to match Filipino workers with employment opportunities in Yukon’s labor market under the Yukon Nominee Program; enhancing the system for the recruitment, protection and placement of Filipino workers to be employed in Yukon; and a public information campaign for the Yukon Nominee Program.

Once signed, the MOU is expected to allow POEA to deploy around 2,000 OFWs to Yukon annually under a government-to-government arrangement.

“The nominee program allows Yukon employers to seek foreign workers for positions that cannot be filled locally,” the POEA statement read.

But until the MOU is signed, POEA clarified there are still no hiring of Filipino workers for Yukon using the said arrangement. Samuel P. Medenilla

STUDY CITES LIMITS OF SOCIAL PROTECTION PERKS FOR WOMEN

UNEMPLOYMENT, or informal work, may limit women’s access to social protection programs when they get older, according to the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).

PIDS President Celia M. Reyes recently told the BusinessMirror that access to social protection programs is more common for workers in the formal sector.

These are usually observed in the membership of employees in the Government Service Insurance System for those in the public sector and Social Security System for those working in private firms.

“This just means that men have more access to social protection because women may not be active in the labor force, or not in the labor force, or they do not belong to the formal sector,” Reyes told the BusinessMirror.

Based on a new PIDS study, titled “Silver Linings for the Elderly in the Philippines: Policies and Programs for Senior Citizens,” on average, the share of elderly women to at least one social protection program in 2017 was at 65.3 percent, while for elderly men, the rate is 71.1 percent. Cai U. Ordinario

MEFP marks 50th year of PHL marriage encounter movement with tribute to Fr. Tanseco

T

HE most active marriage enrichment lay organization, the Marriage Encounter Foundation of the Philippines (MEFP), is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first-ever Marriage Encounter Weekend Seminar (MEWS) held in the Philippines from October 3 to 5, 1969 by Fr. Ruben M. Tanseco, SJ with then President Couple of the Christian Family Movement, Sito(+) and Sony Sison as Team Couple.

The anniversary celebration will take place on Saturday, October 5, 2019, at Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria Hotel in Ortigas Complex, Quezon City. It will begin at 1 p.m.

Fr. Tanseco founded the MEFP and acted as its national spiritual director with the mantra “that couples should be the best of friends and passionate lovers.”

MEFP’s President Couple Robert-Tinette Aventajado said

MEFP’s President Couple Robert-Tinette Aventajado

the celebration will be a homecoming for all couples who have undergone the marriage encounter weekend seminar, and marriage encounter communities that trace their roots to the original weekend given by Fr. Tanseco in 1969.

During the same event, the initial findings of the MEFP’s 50th Anniversary Legacy Project, a nationwide survey and study on the changing landscape of marriage and family life being conducted by the University of Asia and the Pacific, will be presented.

In an earlier interview, the Aventajados said it is important to know, through the survey, why there seems to be a high level of civil marriages; cohabitation; actual or virtual separation of parents for various reasons; and virtual divorce.

Boac Bishop Marcelino Antonio Maralit Jr., chairman of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Social Communi-

cations, will also deliver a message during the occasion.

The event’s highlight is a tribute to MEFP Founder Fr. Ruben M. Tanseco, SJ, as thanksgiving for him having touched the lives of countless married couples through the marriage encounter apostolate.

The Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, H. E. Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, will be the Mass presider and guest of honor and speaker.

Smart-PLDT and San Miguel Corp., who have long supported the MEFP’s advocacy, are the event’s Gold Sponsors. Other sponsors are RNA Corp., Hotel Gracelane in Pampanga, Majestic Rice, Pagcor, Villar Foundation, R-II Builders, SM Foundation and VB Columna Construction.

A6

Friday, October 4, 2019 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

Solving the agony of Metro Manila

I

N the past four weeks, BusinessMirror columnists have been writing about our massive traffic jams and throwing ideas in the hope that policy-makers will hopefully get a glimpse of a solution to ease our suffering. Alvin Ang, for example, lamented: “It seems that at this point, policy-makers still do not know what to do to solve the travails that millions of people in Metro Manila suffer everyday. The economic losses, not to forget the emotional, health and relational aspects, are now staggering. We know the costs but the solutions at hand seem to be too far at resolving it.”

Ang said the incentive mechanisms in our traffic enforcement is severely flawed. He said: “Every enforcer, whether MMDA or city, is given the incentive to catch as many violators as possible because they will get commissions out of it. This is always prone to corruption because there is discretion for the enforcer to issue whatever violation he can think of to get that commission.

This is why very few of the enforcers are really manning traffic but are looking for violators.”

To solve this, he said the government should shift the incentive structure from commissions in the violations to bonuses from improved traffic flow. For instance, if the average speed of the assigned area to a group of enforcers is 20 kph and after a month it improved to 25 kph, there is a 25-percent improvement in traffic flow—so the city concerned can give a 25-percent bonus salary for that month, and so on. This is a bit tedious but once enforcers are shifted from being focused on commissions to bonuses, then they will work for this.

Since the MMDA has already identified 300 choke points in Metro Manila, the improvement of these chokepoints can be the starting point as baseline for assessing future bonus, as suggested. The cities in Metro Manila and other parts of the country will need to establish the baseline speed and get the support of citizens organizations to make this work.

Another columnist, Sen. Sonny Angara, said: “There is no better time than now to see how the Pasig River can help ease the traffic woes of the metropolis. We should be honest with ourselves: the development of effective river transport services will require time and proper execution, even with the right budget. But given how Metro Manila is expanding, we have no choice in the matter. The Pasig River is an underdeveloped transportation resource that we should use.

In his “Street Talk” column, Thomas “Tim” Orbos, former DOTr undersecretary for roads and general manager of the MMDA, said illegal parking is undoubtedly a major problem in Metro Manila, and the government is right in addressing this head on. But the question remains: Where will all these vehicles park? Orbos said: “We need to provide parking solutions that are long term. Solutions that will restrict road parking, as well as incentivize ample parking spaces.

Another BusinessMirror columnist, Dr.Victor S. Venida, wrote a twopart column on the need for a broader urban development perspective in solving traffic. His proposal includes urban rezoning. Venida said this would mean more residents in these cities, including those who are currently living in the other cities as there would be more options for affordable housing near the business districts, with schools, parks and commercial areas nearby. This would greatly reduce the demand for daily travel from long distances as more can live nearer the places of work.

These are all good ideas. Currently, there are ongoing construction activities for the expansion of the existing elevated railways in Metro Manila. The extensions of LRT 1 and 2, the new lines along Commonwealth, and the subway linking BGC with Ortigas and Makati business district are being anticipated.

Meanwhile, policy-makers must start adopting what one columnist describes as systems thinking in solving traffic. We must not only look at the traffic gridlock as the only problem that makes life in the metropolis miserable and, for some people, unbearable.

Since 2005

BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business

The Pasig River–A road that runs through the Metro Sonny M. Angara

BETTER DAYS

D

URING the pre-Spanish era, the Pasig River was the center of economic and transport activity in Maynila and Tondo.

This continued well into the Spanish crown’s rule over the Philippines.

A 2004 Urban Poor Associates case study of the Pasig River outlined that by the 1930s, pollution levels started to increase, such that by the 1960s, people bathed and washed their clothes in the river less frequently. Ferry transport also declined. By the 1970s, the river started to give off an offensive smell. Then a decade later, all fishing activities were deemed impossible.

Thankfully, in December 1989, rehabilitation efforts began with the help of Dutch authorities.

Hence, the Pasig River Rehabilitation Program was established. And

today, it lives on as the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission.

With the river’s rehabilitation, formal ferry services started, first with Magsaysay Lines in 1990; Starcraft Ferry in 1991; and, then the government-owned Pasig River Ferry Service in 2007. However, each eventually closed for one reason or another—depriving the commuting public of a possible way to alleviate traffic.

The latest version of this river ferry started in 2014, with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in charge. Need-

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less to say, this service has, yet, to truly take off. Thankfully, it appears the idea of reviving the river as a transport hub has gained ground, with President Duterte identifying the Pasig River Ferry Convergence Program as a priority in 2018.

River ferry services are popular in the region, after all. One main example is the Mekong River and its tributaries, which are crucial for transportation in Lao PDR, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

India’s use of its waterways is also one to study. A 2013 Asian Development Bank online article pointed out that road congestion and railway limitations, combined with grow-

Respect the rights of the natives

✝ Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua Publisher

There is no better time than now to see how the Pasig River can help ease the traffic woes of the metropolis. The first order of business, of course, is to make sure that the current ferry system is financially buoyant. The MMDA should submit a program that will show where the funds from the ferry service will go.

B

ROTHERS and sisters, by virtue of Presidential Proclamation 1906 signed in 2009, we celebrate in October the National Indigenous Peoples Month. We are all urged to recognize the important contribution of the katutubo or natives in nationbuilding. At the start of this month, let us know the issues our native brothers and sisters are facing that are usually overlooked by most everyone.

First, we cannot deny the suffering experienced by the native children amid the chaos in the country, particularly in Mindanao.

In July, almost 60 Lumad schools were suspended by Department of Education because of their alleged deviation from the basic curriculum, and for supposedly teaching students to rebel against the government. Salugpongan Ta’ Tanu Igkanugon Community Learning Center, an NGO running the schools for the Lumad, denied these claims.

According to their statement, they are saddened because of the “militaristic approach” breaching on the rights of the Lumad children to study. Because of this issue that the native schools are facing, the

Lumads are even more neglected.

In truth, from the Save Our Schools Network, there are 43 cases of the authorities dispatching soldiers to schools in Mindanao where the troops use the schools as camps.

They also recorded almost 300 cases of harassment by government forces to the schools’ staff, with 13 of these cases ending in murder.

Meanwhile, our fellow native Agtas, Dumagats and Remontados continue to fight together against the government’s push of the Kaliwa Dam Project. It is said that this project will address Metro Manila’s water problem. However, many experts have claimed that the project is too expensive and goes against the environment. The project will

It is clear from the social teachings of the Church: “The relationship of indigenous peoples to their lands and resources deserves particular attention, since it is a fundamental expression of their identity.” The natives, even with different cultures and beliefs, were created in God’s image. also cover almost 3,000 hectares of ancestral domains of the natives inhabiting parts of Quezon and Rizal.

Approximately 10,000 families, including natives, will be affected if the project proceeds.

The killing of environmental protectors is also an issue, including the natives who share great responsibility in preserving nature.

According to the latest report by Global Witness, almost 3 out of 10 people killed protecting nature and the environment of the country were natives.

Brothers and sisters, the right to study, the security of having a home and livelihood, and the right to live are just some of the primary rights we deny our fellow natives.

It is clear from the social teachings of the Church: “The relationship of indigenous peoples to their lands and resources deserves particular attention, since it is a fundamental expression of their identity.”

ing environmental awareness, have made inland waterways a viable solution for transport. The Inland Waterways Authority of India supported this, stating that 55 million tons of cargo alone were being moved through its operational river network at the time.

There is no better time than now to see how the Pasig River can help ease the traffic woes of the metropolis. The first order of business, of course, is to make sure that the current ferry system is financially buoyant. The MMDA should submit a program that will show where the funds from the ferry service will go. And if people think that the P74 million proposed in the 2020 budget is enough for the MMDA’s ferry service, it should be noted that the amount is only worth five days of subsidized operations for the MRT 3.

At the peak of its operations, the ferry service was comprised of 10 air-conditioned boats, plying the 15-kilometer route through the Pasig and stopping at 17 stations.

Should a master plan be completed See “Angara,” A7

The natives, even with different cultures and beliefs, were created with the likeness of God. They have dignity that must be protected.

In the closing of the Lumad schools, are they not pushed to join with the rebel groups? Through enforcing projects that only some will benefit from, will it not set the natives aside from the development we are hoping for? How will they live if we take their lands? In their care for our environment, shouldn’t we be more thankful to them instead of letting them be killed by those who seek to abuse nature?

Brothers and sisters, in celebration of the National Indigenous Peoples Month, let us join the calling of the natives. We may have different beliefs and ways of life, but we ultimately share great similarities. We both have rights and dignity that should be addressed.

We must become these natives’ voices in the midst of cruelty and neglect. As the book of Proverbs 3:18 encourages: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.”

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

Opinion BusinessMirror

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Systems thinking in solving traffic

Friday, October 4, 2019

A7

A plea against vulgar authenticity Tito Genova Valiente

ANNOTATIONS

Alvin Ang

EAGLE WATCH

O

UR colleague, Dr. Victor S. Venida wrote a two-part column on the need for a broader urban development perspective in solving traffic in the last two weeks. His perspective calls for a long-term urban planning in our metropolitan cities. He also raised the need for an institutional mechanism that is needed to make that happen.

The law creating the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development is a crucial step but it may take time to work. It is important that this agency look at urban development as its core function, while housing, traffic and the related concerns are integrated into a seamless plan. The implementing rules and regulations for this law has been approved and is currently transitioning the integration of the various housing related agencies into it.

The full implementation is expected to begin in January. With this fresh start, the agency should bring in a new mindset—systems thinking. It will be good for the agency to start looking for models in the Asean region on their urban development mechanism, as they have gone this way too as their country’s economic development went full swing.

With these thoughts in mind, I have gone to a conference in Kuala Lumpur and had a chance to observe firsthand how they have managed the urban development of the capital and the periphery. Malaysia has moved its administrative capital away from Kuala Lumpur to a nearby district called Putrajaya. Kuala Lumpur has remained the economic capital. It has moved its modern airport further down outside the metropolitan district. It has continuously invested in infrastructure through light rail lines and wide highways within the capital expanse. Despite all these, I have observed that traffic remained relatively heavy in the main thoroughfares. I talked to some Malaysian colleagues in the conference and asked them why there are still traffic jams despite having a good public transport system and a system of roads and highways in the metropolitan area.

A quick answer I got was that people still wanted to have a car.

Many people working in the capital are from outside and would still need to drive to get into it. Besides, I was told that down payment for a brand new car is less than 10 percent and payable in nine years! This makes it so affordable! I am not convinced that this is the main reason. In fact, the city is currently building more highways. Hence, there could be other reasons, but in a simple sense, what I am getting from my query is that urban development, traffic, regional growth and housing are interrelated concerns way beyond the work of a single government agency. It will

Angara. . .

continued from A6

soon, it must outline yearly targets for expansion, funding, and performance.

It is interesting to note that the Department of Environment and National Resources sees the possibility of the Tullahan River as an alternative transport route. Earlier this year, DENR Undersecretary Jonas Leones said that once it is cleaned up, the river can help ease traffic by becoming an alternate route connecting Quezon City, Valenzuela and Malabon.

The maximization of our inland waterway services relates to our ongoing advocacy of supporting the country’s so-called blue economy, built on green infrastructure and technologies, as applied to our maritime resources. If we can develop

require a significant government coordination effort to make this work and a futuristic perspective.

As I am hopeful that the traffic we are facing in Metro Manila will be better after all the constructions are finished, it may just be not enough.

First unless there is a serious effort to develop an affordable mass housing system, people will live outside Metro Manila. If they live outside Metro Manila, they will want to have a car or a vehicle to move them faster. Also, in the AmBisyon Natin 2040 survey, one of the key desire of every Filipino family is to have a vehicle to move around. Second, the public transportation system is heavily operated by the private sector. The failure to have scale economies and the boundary system governing it are worsening the traffic systems not only in the Metro, but every urban developing center in the country. As I have written a few weeks back, the government has to think of getting back the license of operating the public transportation system. In the last transport strike, which was about jeepney modernization, I heard the chairman of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board over radio using my argument on the economies of scale. If that is the true reason behind modernization, they should explain it very well to the public. Modernizing the fleet is expensive for an individual operator, therefore it can very well use this argument to cancel these franchises and have the government operate them. The government can compensate the small operators and prepare them to form cooperatives or a medium-sized corporation that can eventually bid out larger franchises in the future. Third, urban renewal should be in the radar of our local governments. There are observable empty lots or old rundown houses, buildings and warehouses all over Metro Manila. The city governments should be imaginative enough to negotiate with the owners, especially if they cannot pay the real-estate taxes.

The government can take over and do a makeover of these properties. They can negotiate to pay a lease, exempt taxes or allow a buy back at reasonable prices after the real values have gone up. This is a win-win proposition for both the city and the landowners.

These imply that we need to have a systems thinking of urban development beyond administrations and administrative boundaries. our river ferry services, then we can expand and connect these to larger inter-island transport services—for instance, the famous roll-on/roll-off ferries—and ultimately start building an inter-island network with the potential to ease land-based traffic congestion.

We should be honest with ourselves: the development of effective river transport services will require time and proper execution, even with the right budget. But given how Metro Manila is expanding, we have no choice in the matter. The Pasig River is an underdeveloped transportation resource that we should use.

Sen. Sonny Angara has been in public service

for 15 years—nine years as representative of the Lone District of Aurora, and six as senator. He has authored and sponsored more than 200 laws. He recently won another term in the Senate.

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

O

CTOBER, a month that leads us quietly to the Feast of the Dead, and much later, the much-obsessed monthlong celebration of Christmas, is also the month for indigenous peoples in the Philippines.

What is it being indigenous? What is, in fact, indigeneity?

If we consider how we celebrate the indigene in this country, it is best seen in us, lowland Christians, putting on the native dress and accoutrements of particular ethnic communities. It is a physical manifestation, an act of fashion as ephemeral and fleeting as any silhouette or style recommended with such imperiousness by fashion houses.

In the many events, where the government bureaucrats are expected to appear and make speeches, the garb of the Tiruray in the south or of the Tingguian of the north provides an option. Somehow, a man dressed not in barong or a woman attired not in the Spanish-inspired gowns impress us as a return to nativism. Of course, these are just acts, performances.

At the end of the day, they go back to what they have been used to, or what their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents have imparted to them as “proper clothing.”

Why do we go into this act of dressing up in the native costume that is not ours? Can we not be indigenous if we retain how we look in our dayto-day engagement with life?

The even bigger and dumber question is: can we have culture that is not markedly different from the rest?

Culture has always been an “othering” element among human groups. It separates you from the rest and imbue you with both a body and an assumed soul within that are singular unto themselves.

The rest shall follow—ethnicities, identities, sense of self.

In the introduction to the book, Indigeneity, Paulette F. Steeves tells us that the notion of the “indigenous” to define a human group is a recent construct. For a long time, indigenous peoples were called “First People,” to refer to the inhabitants of

a specific locality.

The same introduction brings us into what has been described as “an often-cited definition of indigenous peoples.” The definition is attributed to Jose Martinez Cobo, special rapporteur for the UN SubCommission. The said 1986 report

by Cobo was drafted for the United Nations Economic and Social Council, Commission on Human Rights, Sub-Commission on Prevention and Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, thirty-fifth session, item 12 of the provisional agenda, titled “Study of the Problem of Discrimination against Indigenous Populations.”

In the document, Cobo articulated the characteristics of indigenous people, communities and nations as groups that have a “historical continuity with precolonial societies.”

The indigenes form communities that “consider themselves distinct from other sectors of societies” in the same locations or territories.

For Cobo, indigenous people and communities are considered as minorities within contemporary populations—struggling or working to preserve their ethnic identities and ancestral territories for future generations.

Following Cobo’s concepts, Steeves stresses how “it is important to include displaced people whom prior to colonization identified with specific land areas or regional areas as homelands, as well as indigenous communities that have for decades been in hiding in areas away from their initial homeland areas. Expounding further on the definitions and labels, Steeves speaks of the many descendants of indigenous people who “were forced to hide their identities for their own safety due to colonization and genocidal policies focused on physical

and cultural erasure.” Note that for Steeves, the violent circumstances brought about by colonization and genocidal rules and the brutal othering they generate does not make the victims “non-indigenous.” They are indigenous who have become survivors of genocide, erasure and forced acculturation.

Where do these labels and constructs locate us in the celebration of the indigenous culture?

Given how centers of culture have mutilated rituals and disemboweled ceremonials to fit them in the lowland Christian artists’ concept of theater and dance, are we in the dominant center part of the problem of indigene?

Homogenization and gentrification, however Western their etymological embedding may be, are good handles to understand how we should be struggling with the notion and practice of declaring indigeneity.

As of now, what we have are heightened and well-funded “folk dance” presentations of the native.

They are stagings. I am not even bringing here the crime of institutions from the Center having declared what are authentic and what are inauthentic from their perspective. The dominant voice, however

erroneous, is always the stronger of voices.

James F. Eder, an American anthropologist noted for his Palawan studies, writes in his journal paper, The Future of Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines: Sources of Cohesion, Forms of Difference, how the indigenous peoples of the Philippines are far from being homogeneous ethnic groups. Eder says the Filipinos resemble other more Filipinos than current models credit. These models can refer to constructs of ethnicities and identities responding to the many socioeconomic and politico-geographic factors that the indigenes contend with.

If we go by the definition therefore of “colonized communities fighting against erasure, genocide, and forced acculturation under colonial regime,” does not this label make us all indigenous?

This October, think again, when you drape yourself in the habiliment of some distant communities whose languages you do not speak, whose food you may not touch, and whose poverty you will not understand and share.

We are, after all, all indigenous.

E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com

CMMA: A worthy project that deserves everyone’s support Manny F. Dooc

TELLTALES

P

RESIDENT Duterte has recently signed into law Republic Act 114581, expanding the coverage of RA 53, otherwise known as the Press Freedom Law. RA 53 was more popularly known as the Sotto Law since its principal author was Sen. Vicente Yap Sotto, the grandfather of our current Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III. RA 114581 also now exempts broadcast and online journalists from prosecution for refusing to reveal confidential news sources. Previously, the Sotto Law only shielded from prosecution the publisher, editors or reporters of a publication or print journalists who refused to name their sources.

Sotto, in Spanish means “under” or “beneath” but the Sottos in Philippine politics have never been such, but rather over and above ordinary mortals as exemplified by Vicente “Tito” Castelo Sotto III—the 43rd senator to hold the position of Senate president since the Senate was organized on October 16, 2016. Tito Sen, as he is fondly called in showbiz, is the third Sotto to serve in the Senate after his paternal grandfather, Vicente Yap Sotto, and granduncle, Filemon Yap Sotto. Grandfather Vicente principally authored the original Press Freedom Law in 1946, while the grandson Tito was the main sponsor of the Expanded Press Freedom Law of 2019.

Filemon was the first Sotto in the Senate. He was a lawyer,

politician and a man of letters. As a journalist, he published and founded several periodicals like El Imperial, La Opinion and La Revolution, which espoused pro-Filipino sentiments and self-government. He was the older brother of Vicente who virtually followed his footsteps. He served as a congressman of Cebu for the Philippine Assembly (1907-1916), senator of the Philippine legislature representing the 10th Senatorial District (1916-1922) and delegate to the 1934 Constitutional Convention. He sponsored the first bill that would grant Filipino women the right of suffrage. He was the chairman of the select group called the Seven Wise Men, which included Manuel Roxas, Manuel Briones, Norberto Romualdez, Conrado Benitez, Miguel

Cuaderno and Vicente Singson Encarnación that significantly contributed to the drafting of the 1935 Philippine Constitution in 1935.

Vicente was described by many as the “recalcitrant and principled” Sotto. He was also a newspaper publisher. At age 22, he put up La Justicia, the first newspaper in Cebu published by a Filipino, but its publication was suspended upon orders of the American Military Governor for strongly advocating independence. Undaunted, he published another newspaper called El Nacional, but this was also closed by the Americans and he was imprisoned in Fort San Pedro. Later, he was found guilty of treason for rebellion. He went into exile in Hong Kong where he published a paper called “The Philippine Republic.” He returned to the Philippines in 1915 and became active in politics. He published several short stories and plays with nationalistic fervor. For his works, he was regarded as the Father of Cebuano Language and Letters. He was elected as the Representative of the Second District of Cebu in 1922.

He was voted senator in 1946 and served until his death in 1950. President Carlos Garcia described him “as a rock of Gibraltar...because of the ruggedness of his conviction, the indomitability of his soul, the sublimity of his courage, and the depth of his faith…” The elder Sottos were courageous journalists and champions of press freedom—a tradition that Tito Sen continues to uphold.

No political family has collectively

worked so hard to secure and safeguard for the press the fullest measure of freedom. nnn

PREPARATIONS are now underway in earnest for the 41st Catholic Mass Media Awards, which will be held on November 13, 2019. This unique award was established by the late Jaime L. Cardinal Sin who had described the CMMA as “a tribute to those who serve God through the media.” Cardinal Sin organized the CMMA in 1978 to honor media practitioners who upheld the highest moral values and ideals through their respective fields of communication. Twice in its history, Pope, and now, Saint John Paul II personally handed out the CMMA trophies to the winners when he visited the Philippines in 1981 for the beatification of Lorenzo Ruiz and in1995 for the World Youth Day. Definitely, CMMA is a worthy project that deserves everyone’s support. The people behind the CMMA deeply appreciate the generosity of various business organizations and individuals who send in their contributions to keep the CMMA going.

CMMA is one of the great advocacies of the late Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua who served as its chairman and president until his death. I’m certain that he’s happy and proud that well-meaning benefactors have kept their faith in the power of mass media to bring about social transformation in our society despite the fake news and troll harrassments.

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SC tells DOJ, DILG: Answer suit vs new rules on GCTA

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By Joel R. San Juan

@jrsanjuan1573

HE Supreme Court has ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to answer the petition questioning the constitutionality of the revised implementing rules and regulations (IRR) on the expanded good conduct time allowance (GCTA) law under Republic Act 10592.

In an interview after his speech at the National Summit on the Dangerous Drugs Law at the Manila Hotel on Thursday, Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin told reporters that the DOJ and

the DILG were given 10 days to file their comment through the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG).

“Rule making is internal to the DOJ and we [the SC] do not interfere.

But now, if the guidelines were already issued and there is a case filed, we have to require the other party, that is the government, to comment through the solicitor general,” the chief magistrate said.

The petition seeking to nullify several provisions of the revised IRR was filed by several persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.

The PDL told the SC their petition was filed as a class suit and in behalf of other prisoners affected by the implementation of the new IRR by the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

The petitioners, in particular, want the nullification of provisions of the new IRR which exclude recidivists, habitual delinquents, escapees and those charged with heinous crimes from benefiting from the

expanded GCTA, time allowance for studying, teaching and mentoring (TASTM) and special time allowance for loyalty (STAL).

They told the Court through lawyer Rolito Abing that the BuCor and the BJMP should not be allowed to retroactively apply the exclusions introduced under Section 1 and Section 3 of RA 10592 or the expanded GCTA. They argued that the said provisions of the IRR violate the constitutional prohibition against ex post facto law.

An ex post facto law is defined “as one which makes an action done before the passing of the law and which was innocent when done, criminal, and punishes such action; or which aggravates a crime or makes it greater than it was when committed.”

The petitioners pointed out that See “GCTA,” A2

Palay prices plunge 31% to new 7-year low

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HE average farm-gate price of dry unhusked rice sank to a new seven-year low in the second week of September, according to latest data released by the Philippine Statistics

Authority (PSA).

Preliminary figures released by the PSA showed that average palay prices plunged 30.08 percent to P16.18 per kilogram, from the P23.14 per kg recorded in the same

LOW PRESSURE AREA 790 KM EAST OF CASIGURAN, AURORA as of 4:00 pm - October 3, 2019

period of last year.

The latest average dry palay quotation is the lowest since the fifth week of March 2013, when dry palay farm-gate price averaged P16.15 per kg.

University of Asia and the Pacific Center for Food and Agribusiness Executive Director Rolando T. Dy earlier told the BusinessMirror that the “market is oversupplied by imported inventory.”

“The average farm-gate price of palay continued to drop as it declined to P16.18 per kg or by 0.6 percent during the period relative to its previous week’s level of P16.28 per kg,” the PSA said in its weekly report published on Thursday.

During the reference period of September 11 to 17, the lowest farmgate price was recorded in Pampanga province at P12 per kg, while the highest quotation was in Sorsogon at P20.70 per kg, PSA data showed.

With the increase in imports and the upcoming harvest starting October, the farm-gate price of palay will continue to go down, according to various farmers groups and nongovernment organizations.

Rice prices down, too

BOTH the wholesale and retail prices of well-milled rice (WMR) and regular-milled rice (RMR) continued to decline on an annual and weekly bases.

The average wholesale quotation of WMR fell by 16.78 percent to P38.43 per kg, from P46.18 per kg last year, PSA data showed.

The latest figure was slightly lower than the P38.60 per kg recorded in the previous week.

“At the retail trade, the average price of well-milled rice increased to P42.27 per kg or by 0.02 percent during the period from its level of P42.26 per kg in the previous week,” the PSA said.

“Meanwhile, it went down further at an annual rate of 14.2 percent from the same period of previous year’s level of P49.27 per kg,” the PSA added.

The average wholesale price of RMR declined by 21.15 percent to P34.29 per kg, from P43.49 per kg last year, PSA data showed.

“The average wholesale price of regular-milled rice continued its downtrend as it decreased to P34.29 per kg or by 0.3 percent during the period compared with its previous week’s level of P34.40 per kg,” it added.

During the reference period, the average retail price of RMR fell by 17.78 percent to P37.79 per kg from P45.96 per kg, PSA data showed.

“At the retail trade, the average price of regular-milled rice dropped to P37.79 per kg or by 0.1 percent this week from its previous week’s level of P37.83 per kg,” the PSA said. Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

‘DUTERTE LOOSENED TIE FOR COMFORT WHEN HE MET MEDVEDEV’

By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

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ALACAÑANG on Thursday shot down criticisms that President Duterte looked “unkempt” when he met Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, saying his loosened tie was neither intended to disrespect Medvedev nor the Russians.

Presidential Spokesman and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador S. Panelo explained that the President loosened his tie because he feels suffocated and very uncomfortable if the tie is tightly in place in the collar.

“PRRD [President Rodrigo Roa Duterte] does not look unkempt.

What those kibitzers refer to is the way he wore his tie. He loosened it up,” he said. “The President is very hygienic. His body emits a refreshing scent as observed by people who meet [him] up close.”

Panelo continued:“His loosened tie was not intended to disrespect the Russian Prime Minister or the Russians. PRRD dresses up for comfort, he is not particular on unsettling other people. He is upfront on everything he does.”

Panelo issued the statement in response to remarks made by netizens, including Russians, on social media. Czech journalist Pavel Vondra tweeted a photo of the two leaders together with some comments of Russians.

In his tweet, Vondra said: “Rodrigo #Duterte showed up a bit unkempt for the meeting with the Russian PM Medvedev in Moscow and the Russian internet is having a blast: ‘Did he drink all night?’, ‘Did

he just leave the pub?’, ‘Do Filipinos know what a (state visit) protocol is?’ people ask.”

The President is on an official visit to Russia in a bid to boost bilateral ties and secure agreements on different areas of cooperation on culture, health, and research, among others. On Thursday, Duterte was scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and Jordanian King Abdullah II Bin All-Hussein in Sochi.

During his bilateral meeting with Medvedev, Malacañang said Duterte discussed with the Prime Minister how the relations between the Philippines and Russia have progressed in recent years.

“He mentioned the marked increase in the number of cooperation activities between the two countries, particularly in defense and military-technical, trade and economic, as well as sociocultural and education cooperations. President Duterte in the same occasion extended his appreciation to the government and people of Russia for the hospitality and good treatment they have extended to our nationals living and residing in Russia,” Panelo said.

“PRRD’s second trip to Russia is part of the independent foreign policy course he charted, which aims to establish a robust, comprehensive and mutually beneficial partnership with many countries, apart from our traditional allies, one that is founded on shared interests, sovereign equality and pragmatism. He told the Prime Minister that his visit to Russia will cement the improved relations between the two countries,” he added.

In a first for AFP, Army activates air regiment

By Rene Acosta

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@reneacostaBM

HE A r my activated on Thursday its air regiment along with its air defense and missile units, which are the firsts in the Philippine military’s history.

The Aviation “Bagwis” Regiment (Provisional) (AvnR [P]), 2nd Multiple Launch Rocket System Battery (2MLRS Btry) and 1st Land-based Missile System Battery (1LBMS Btry) were activated at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Evija.

Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Macairog S. Alberto led the activation and the assumption of command by commanders of the three units.

The AvnR (P) is commanded by Col. Jesus Rico D. Atencio while the 2MLRS Btry is headed by Maj. Junel D. Uden. The 1LBMS Btry is commanded by Maj. Edgardo B. Ocampo.

Army Spokesman Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said the activation of the units is meant to strengthen the Army’s defense against current, emerging and future threats.

The three units will play a vital role in the Army’s fight against terrorism and the communist insurgency. The Army already has an existing Aviation Battalion but this was upgraded into AvnR (P).

As a regiment, the Aviation unit will maintain its current fleet of fixed-wing aircraft for special aviation mission while it develops its capabilities in armed reconnaissance, air assault and air medical evacuation by utilizing rotary wing aircraft. This new unit enables the Army forces to be agile, lethal and versatile.

“We will be acquiring light attack helicopters, armed reconnaissance helicopters, and multipurpose medium-lift helicopters,” said Alberto during the activation of the three units.

“Through the upgraded Army Aviation Regiment as an integral component of our combined arms operations, our Army will have the capability to conduct a better array of aviation operations to support ground forces and be more responsive in the archipelagic setting in the defense posture,” he added.

More than a week ago, the Army held its first-ever airborne training with US Special Forces, with at least 500 combined troops practicing a number of exercises, including a paradrop in the first ever exercise of such kind between two forces.

Alberto said the 2MLRS Btry and the 1LBMS Btry under the Army Artillery Regiment (AAR) will help augment the troop’s firepower in large-scale armed confrontation for internal defense and security engagements.

The activation of the two AAR regiments was in line with the Army’s development of Air Defense units and Missile units. The Air Defense units will protect the force against air threats while the Missile units aim to deny areas of enemy approach, as well as suppress their air capabilities.

“We put primacy on the activation of these units in order to continuously enhance our aviation and air defense capability as we operate with the intent to be a modern and well-equipped Army, to address fast evolving threats and finish the insurgency at the soonest time possible,” Alberto said.

The World BusinessMirror

Editor: Angel R. Calso

OIL NEAR 2-MONTH LOW ON SWELLING U.S. STOCKPILES, DEMAND OUTLOOK

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I L h e l d n e a r t h e l owe s t l e ve l i n a l m o s t t wo m o n t h s a s A m e r i c a n crude inventories expanded the m o s t s i n c e M ay a n d d i s a p p o i n t i n g U S economic data added to pessimism over the demand outlook.

Futures in New York were steady after closing down 1.8 percent on Wednesday. US inventories swelled by a more-than-expected 3.1 million barrels last week, according to Energy Information Administration (EIA) data.

American private payrolls for September fell short of estimates, a day after a manufacturing gauge slumped to the lowest in a decade, spurring drops in financial markets.

Crude fell for seven straight days through Wednesday—the longest losing streak in almost a year—on increasing signs the USChina trade war is pushing the global economy toward recession. Saudi Arabia’s speedy recovery from the September 14 attacks, as well as an easing of tension in the Persian Gulf has also undermined prices.

“What’s impossible to ignore are the economic realities being signaled in the latest run of economic data,” said Stephen Innes, an Asia-Pacific market strategist at AxiTrader Ltd. The US inventories report exacerbated the price slide, he said.

We s t Tex a s I nte r m e d i ate ( W T I ) f o r November delivery fell 7 cents to $52.57 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange as of 7:29 a.m. in London. It lost 10 percent in the seven trading sessions through Wednesday.

Brent for December settlement declined 15 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $57.54 a barrel on the ICE Futures Europe Exchange after tumbling 2 percent on Wednesday. The global benchmark crude traded at a $5.06 premium to WTI for the same month.

US crude inventories increased for a third week to about 423 million barrels in the week through September 27, the EIA data showed Wednesday. That was more than the median estimate for a 2 million-barrel-gain in a Bloomberg survey. American Petroleum Institute figures released earlier had indicated a 5.9 million barrel decline. Bloomberg News

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Record award

THE award is the largest in WTO history—nearly twice as large as the previous record of $4.04 billion set in 2002. The goal of the Trump administration in imposing retaliatory duties is to persuade the European Union to reach a negotiated settlement, the US trade official said.

The ruling on Wednesday is a milestone in the WTO’s longest-running dispute that will further test transatlantic relations, which have deteriorated under Trump’s “America First” approach to international ties. It’s also an example of Trump getting a favorable ruling from an organization he has threatened to pull out of.

The US is already in a trade war with China, and any wider flare-up of tit-for-tat tariffs with Europe could threaten a fragile global economy. The WTO on Tuesday cut its trade growth forecast for this year to the weakest level in a decade, warning against a “destructive cycle of recrimination.”

The decision is one of the final hurdles before the US can announce which products from the European Union it will target with tariffs selected from an initial list that includes: n Airbus planes and parts. n Wine and spirits produced by LVMH, Remy Cointreau SA, Pernod Ricard SA and Diageo Plc. n Leather goods manufactured by Christian Dior SE and Hermes International.

The Trump administration has been considering a particularly damaging trade weapon known as “carousel” retaliation, which would enable the US to regularly shift around the targeted goods, people familiar with the deliberations said last month. That would increase trade uncertainty and pain

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Southeast Asia’s Internet economy on track to top $100 billion in 2019

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OUTHEAST Asia’s Internet economy is on track to exceed $100 billion this year before tripling by 2025, becoming one of the world’s fastest-growing arenas for online commerce thanks to a youthful population increasingly comfortable with smartphones.

The value of online transactions in areas from Internet retail to car-hailing should reach $300 billion by 2025, fueled by an existing population of 360 million online users, according to a research report by Google, Temasek Holdings Pte. and Bain & Co. The region, home to ride-hailing Grab and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.’s e-commerce site Lazada, includes four countries—Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia—in the top 10 globally in terms of time spent by users online, the study showed.

Indonesia, the world’s fourth most-populous country with 264 million people, will anchor a region that also includes Singapore and Vietnam.

The annual report, previously helmed by Google and Temasek, measures gross merchandise val-

U.S. TO ANNOUNCE RETALIATORY DUTIES ON EUROPE PRODUCTS HE United States plans to announce on Wednesday the final list of retaliatory tariffs on European goods after the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) ruling on illegal aircraft subsidies to Airbus SE, according to a senior US trade official.

The US plans to impose a new 10-percent tariff on aircraft imported from Europe and a 25 percent rate on other goods including farming and industrial items, a US Trade Representative official said in a media briefing on Wednesday.

Washington has requested the WTO meet on October 14, to formally adopt the tariffs, and the duties would then take effect on October 18, the officials said.

The WTO on Wednesday gave President Donald J. Trump the go-ahead to impose tariffs on as much as $7.5 billion worth of European exports annually in retaliation for illegal government aid to Airbus.

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for European businesses. The senior American official who briefed reporters on Wednesday said that the Trump administration has the authority to periodically revise the retaliatory targets and tariff rates.

Inflict damage

THE EU will retaliate against any Airbus-linked tariffs when the WTO rules early next year on the bloc’s dispute over US subsidies to Boeing, according to European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom.

“The mutual imposition of countermeasures, however, would only inflic t damage on businesses and citizens on both sides of the Atlantic, and harm global trade and the broader aviation industry at a sensitive time,” Malmstrom said, adding that the bloc is ready to work with the US on a “fair and balanced solution for our respective aircraft industries.”

Airbus warned in a statement that tariffs on its aircraft and components would come as a blow to the US aerospace industry, with some 40 percent of its procurement coming from American suppliers.

The company also urged the Trump administration to take account of the forthcoming WTO decision on Boeing, saying those reciprocal tariffs could exceed the value of the US sanctions.

Chief Executive Officer Guillaume Faury repeated calls for a negotiated settlement to the dispute.

Th e W TO h a s re p e ate d l y ru l e d t h at Toulouse, France -based Airbus unfairly benefited from launch aid loans and other trade-distorting subsidies for two Airbus models, the A380 and A350WXB. “Europe is facing tariffs today because Airbus has refused for years to comply with WTO rulings,” Boeing said in an e-mail. “Unfortunately, Airbus’s noncompliance will negatively impact European member-states, industries, and businesses completely unrelated to Airbus’s actions, as well as Airbus’s airline customers.”

Political error

THE Trump administration wants to see an end to the EU subsidies in question, which Boeing and the US claim give Airbus an unfair advantage in the highly competitive international passenger aircraft market.

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire says the best solution would be one that lowers tensions, but warned the EU would respond “firmly” if the US imposes tariffs.

“If the US chooses to impose sanctions, it would be an economic and political error,” he said. Bloomberg News

ue in e-commerce, ride hailing, online media and online travel, and has become a prime reference for the region’s Internet industry.

Bain joined as a lead partner this year and the study encompassed digital financial services for the first time.

E - c om me rc e re m a i n s t he brightest spot in Southeast Asia’s Internet economy. Aided by online festivals for attractive deals, in-app entertainment and faster delivery, the market is projected to quadruple from $38.2 billion in 2019 to $153 billion by 2025. The bulk of that growth will come from Indonesia, where the e-commerce market is poised to expand from $21 billion to $82 billion.

T he re g ion a l r ide - h a i l i n g market is projected to reach $40 billion by 2025 from $12.7 billion in 2019, propelling sector

leaders Grab and Gojek. Both see food deliver y as a key driver of growth and profitability. That, in tur n, intensifies competition with meal deliver y companies, such as foodpanda and

Deliveroo.

Vietnam is emerging as the most digital of all economies in the region, with the gross merchandise value of its Internet economy set to account for

more than 5 percent of the countr y’s gross domestic product in 2019. That compares with the 3.7-percent share for Southeast Asia. E-commerce is a key driver behind the boom in Vietnam, where homegrown marketplaces like Sendo and Tiki compete with regional players including Lazada and Tencent Holdings Ltd.-backed Shopee.

Digital payments are moving into the mainstream and expected to exceed $1 trillion by 2025. Of the 400 million adults in Southeast Asia, 98 million are “underbanked”—people with bank accounts but limited access to other services, such as credit. And another 198 million have little recourse to finance whatsoever.

Those expectations of heady growth are helping attract investors despite global headwinds.

Southeast Asia’s Internet companies raised $7.6 billion in the first six months of this year, up from $7.1 billion a year earlier, the study showed.

Ride-hailing firms led by Grab and Gojek have raised more than $14 billion over the past four years, while e-commerce firms including Tokopedia have attracted almost $10 billion. The late-stage financing rounds for Grab and Gojek are among the largest of their kind globally, according to the report.

Bloomberg News

China-Australia rift deepens as Beijing tests overseas sway

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A NBER R A , Austra lia— Australia’s ban on Chinese telecoms giant Huawei’s involvement in its future 5G networks and its crackdown on foreign covert interference are testing Beijing’s efforts to project its power overseas.

In its latest maneuver, China sent three scholars to spell out in interviews with Australian media and other appearances steps to mend the deepening rift with Beijing—a move that appears to have fallen flat.

In a recent press conference at the Chinese Embassy in Canberra, Chen Hong, the head of Australian studies at East China Normal University, accused Australia of acting as a “pawn” for the United States in lobbying other countries against Huawei’s involvement in the nascent 5G networks.

“Australia has been in one way or another, so to speak, pioneering this kind of anti-China campaign, even some kind of a scare and smear campaign against China,” Chen said. “That is definitely not what China will be appreciating, and if other countries follow suit, that is going to be recognized as extremely unfriendly,” he said.

After meetings in Beijing last week, R ichard Marles, the opposition’s defense spokesman, assessed t he rel at ionsh ip a s “terrible.”

A growing number of Australians are convinced that Beijing has been using inducements, threats, espionage and other clandestine tactics to influence their politics—methods critics believe Beijing might be honing for use in other western democracies.

“Australia is seen as a test bed for Beijing’s high-pressure inf luence tactics,” said Clive Hamilton, author of Silent Invasion, a best seller that focuses on Chinese influence in Australia.

“They are testing the capacity of

the Australian democratic system to resist,” he said.

Still, Australian officials have downplayed talk of a diplomatic freeze. They must balance a growing wariness toward China and their desire for strong ties with the US with the need to keep relations with their resource-rich country’s largest export market on an even keel.

Australia relies on China for one-third of its export earnings.

Delays in processing of Australia exports of coal and wine at Chinese ports have raised suspicions of retaliation by Beijing.

While Prime Minister Scott Morrison appeared to side with President Donald J. Trump on the issue of China’s trade status during a recent visit to Washington, he sought to temper suggestions

by Trump that he had expressed “very strong opinions on China” in their closed-door meeting.

“We have a comprehensive, strategic partnership with China. We work well with China,” Morrison replied.

Trump and Morrison did agree that China has outgrown trade rule concessions allowed to developing nations, advantages it insists it should still be able to claim.

Morrison, the prime minister, has won praise from the Chinese Communist Par t y newspaper Global Times for standing up for Gladys Liu, the first Chinese-born lawmaker to be elected to Australia’s Parliament, when she was attacked for her associations with the United Front Work Department of the Chinese Communist Party, whose mission is to exert influence overseas.

Liu, who was born in Hong Kong in 1964, was elected to the conservative government in May to represent a Melbourne district with a large population of ethnic Chinese voters. She has said she had resigned from

such organizations and any honorar y positions she might have held, some possibly without her “ knowledge or consent.”

Morrison accused her critics of smearing the 1.2 million people who make up the Chinese diaspora in Australia.

That was a “decent gesture,” the z said.

But while it seeks to control damage from the tensions with Beijing, the Australian government has been moving to neutralize its inf luence by banning foreign political donations and all covert foreign interference in domestic politics.

Opposition law makers likened Liu’s situation to that of Sam Dastyari, who resigned as a senator in 2017 over his links to Chinese billionaire and political donor Huang Xiangmo.

Huang successfully sued Australian media outlets for defamation over the allegations of his involvement in Chinese political interference. But he lost his Australian permanent residency after it was discovered that his company had paid Dastyari’s personal legal bills and then appeared alongside him at a news conference for Chinese media where Dastyari supported Beijing’s territorial claims in the South China Sea, contradicting Australia’s bipartisan policy.

Chen and the other t wo Chinese scholars recently dispatched to Australia to tr y to sway public opinion insisted China was without blame.

“If we’re talking about Australia-China relations, I think the responsibility totally is on the Australian side,” Chen said. “China always promotes friendship and mutual benefits between our two countries.”

T he C h inese sc hol a rs sing led out for c r it ic i sm Ha mi lton a nd a not her Aust ra l i a n aut hor, Joh n G a r n aut , w ho

has described Australia as t he ca na r y in t he coa l m ine of C h inese Commu nist Pa r t y inter ference.

Hamilton’s book was published last year, but only after three publishers reneged on offers to back the book for fear of retaliation from Beijing. It became a top seller.

In comments to a US congressional commission last year he asserted that Beijing was waging a “campaign of psychological warfare” against Australia, undermining democracy and silencing its critics.

In separate testimony, Garnaut, a former government security adviser, told the House of Representatives Arms Services Committee in Washington, D.C., that China’s meddling was aimed at undermining the US-Australian security alliance.

In 2016, Garnaut was commissioned to write a classified report that found the Chinese Communist Party had for a decade tried to influence Australian policy, compromise political parties and gain access to all levels of government.

He has said Australia is reacting to a threat that other countries are only starting to grapple with.

“This recognition has been assisted by the sheer brazenness of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s drive for global influence and by watching Russian President Vladimir Putin and his agents create havoc across the United States and Europe,” Garnaut wrote.

“In the aftermath of the US presidential election, it is far more difficult to dismiss foreign interference as a paranoid abstraction,” he added.

Ga r naut, whose f r iend C h inese -Au st ra l i a n w r iter Ya ng Heng ju n has been det a ined in Beijing since Ja nu a r y on sus pic ion of espionage, dec l ined to comment to T he A ssoc i ated Press. AP

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In the ad material of Notice of filing of Application for Alien Employment Permits published on September 10, 2019, the Company name and address of Ms. Sha, Sha should have been read as CHINA CONSTRUCTION FRONT GENERAL DEVT. CORPORATION located at Unit1007, Atlanta Centre 31 Annapolis St., Brgy. Greenhills, San Juan 2, San Juan City, Metro Manila and not as published.

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

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Companies BusinessMirror

A. Brown buying Vires Energy ahead of LNG plant project

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

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UBLICLY listed firm A. Brown Co., Inc. (BRN) is buying Vires Energy Corp. (VEC), which is joining the LNG (liquefied natural gas) bandwagon.

BRN said Thursday that it entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Argo Group Pte. Ltd. for the possible acquisition by BRN of approximately 99.995 percent of the outstanding capital of VEC. VEC, owned by Argo Group, is the proponent for the integrated floating LNG storage and regasification terminal and the 506-megawatt (MW) floating natural gas-fired power plant in Barangay Simlong, Batangas City, for which VEC has already secured BOI registration.

“The MOA entered into is a preliminary

agreement and the prospective acquisition will be concluded after the completion of the customary due diligence period of a maximum period of 180 days,” said BRN on Thursday.

VEC earlier received approval to conduct a grid impact study on the proposed LNG power project. It also contracted Waller Marine Inc. of Houston, Texas, in 2016 to produce the front-end engineering design for a 400-MW floating power plant.

It also signed technology license agreements with Sevan Marine’s subsidiary, HiLoad LNG AS, for an LNG receiving and regasification terminal in the Philippines.

A separate engineering service contract with HiLoad LNG will provide design and engineering work.

VEC’s LNG project was earlier estimated to cost $750 million.

DOE probes mudslide at SMPC

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HE Department of Energy (DOE) has started investigating the mudslide incident at Semirara Mining and Power Corp.’s (SMPC) facility in Antique, which has left one employee missing.

On Thursday, the agency said it deployed a team of geologists and mining engineers to conduct an on-site assessment.

The DOE has yet to say if it will require SMPC to temporarily suspend operations, pending results of the investigation.

Based on the aerial and ground inspections of the DOE’s technical team, the presence of mudflow was confirmed at the location of the incident.

According to the mining firm’s initial report to the DOE, regular mining operations were ongoing with heavy machinery, PS27, working on the drainage canal at the Molave Pit of the site’s South Wall, when

an irregularity was supposedly detected at 1 a.m.

The mudslide occurred five minutes thereafter, hitting the PS27 equipment and its operator.

“The DOE is sending its heartfelt prayers to all who were affected by the incident. We are also continuing to pray for the safety of the personnel involved in the search and rescue operations. We are thoroughly investigating the matter to determine the cause of the incident, and ensure that all safety standards and protocols were strictly upheld. Semirara Mining and Power Corp. has assured us of their full cooperation as we carefully look into this incident,” Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said.

The agency is expected to issue updates on ongoing investigation. Lenie Lectura

Clark Marriott Hotel celebrates ‘Oktoberfest 2019’

CLARK Marriott Hotel General Manager Goeran Soelter (right) announces the first “Oktoberfest 2019” with the Anton Show performing troupe during the press conference on Wednesday. ASHLEY MANABAT

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LARK FREEPORT—The first and only authentic German Oktoberfest in this free port is all set at the Clark Marriott Hotel here at 6 p.m. on October 11 and 12.

“Oktoberfest 2019’’ the German Beer Festival, will be the first festival of this kind that will be held in this free port.

Goeran Soelter, Clark Marriott Hotel general manager, said the festival promises two exciting nights where festival goers, foreign and local, can experience a taste of Germany.

Soelter, a German national, said efforts have been made to make the festival as authentic as possible, patterned the original Bavarian celebration.

He said festival goers will be treated with free-flowing Weihenstephan beer, one of the finest German wheat beers, and will be provided their fill of German food.

Weihenstephan is the oldest brewery in the world dating back to a thousand years to the time of the Benedictine monks.

The Munich-based Oktoberfest band that performs in all over Asia, Anton Show, will also take over the fun and entertainment.

During the press conference on Wednesday, Anton Show performed the original Oktoberfest theme and made everybody dance.

Tickets to the festival are priced at P2,500, which also comes with complimentary German beer mugs and other freebies.

The hotel will raffle off overnight stays and dining gift certificates.

“It is basically bringing one part of Germany to Clark that our guests and the Capampangan can enjoy,” said Soelter.

“German Oktoberfest is truly worth experiencing first. We hope to continue bringing more firsts to our valued guests, partners, and even our associates,” he added.

Clark Marriott Hotel is the first and only internationally branded five-star hotel in this free port. Ashley Manabat

Friday, October 4, 2019

Dito Telecom inks deals with Chavit, SkyCable

D

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

@lorenzmarasigan

ITO Telecommunity Corp., the telco company led by businessman Dennis A. Uy, has signed separate agreements with two telco infrastructure providers—LCS Holdings Inc. and SkyCable Corp.—to hasten its deployment of services in the Philippines.

Under its deal with LCS Holdings, a company owned by politician Luis Chavit Singson, Dito will be leasing the shared telco towers that the former plans to build in “key areas” of the country.

Its deal with SkyCable, on the other

hand, involves the utilization of unused fiber-optic cables within Metro Manila.

“These two deals allow Dito to tap reliable local partners and their existing telecommunication infrastructure assets to support our network rollout, without having to build

B1

everything from scratch; done to ensure that we soon deliver on our promise of faster, more affordable, and most important secure Internet connectivity for our countrymen,” Dito chief Administrative Officer Adel A. Tamano said on Thursday.

Dito, the third major player in the local telco market, has yet to formally announce the availability of its mobile services in the Philippines. It won the auction for the third telco franchise in late 2018.

Formerly known as Mislatel Consortium, Dito committed to initially cover 37 percent of the whole Philippines with a minimum Internet speed of 27 Mbps through a P150-billion capital and operational expenditures budget.

Its five-year commitment entails a P257billion investment that will result in an 84-percent nationwide coverage with a minimum Internet speed of 55 Mbps.

B2

Companies BusinessMirror

Friday, October 4, 2019

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

October 3, 2019

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

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

55 138 89.45 24.95 11.86 65.9 12.8 43.35 57.1 26.25 190.2 59 1.11 1.91 18.2 4.79 1.21 0.405 0.89 176.5 1821

56 139 90.7 25 11.88 65.95 12.96 43.45 58.5 26.75 190.3 59.15 1.16 2 18.3 4.8 1.25 0.415 0.9 178.9 1880

55 137.5 90 25 12.08 67 12.8 43.5 58 26.85 192 59 1.16 2 18.3 5.19 1.25 0.42 0.93 178.9 1880

56 139.4 90.7 25 12.08 67.5 12.8 43.5 58.5 26.85 196 59.95 1.16 2 18.3 5.19 1.25 0.42 0.93 178.9 1880

55 137.2 89 24.9 11.7 65.95 12.8 43.3 58 26.3 189.5 59 1.11 1.9 18.3 4.8 1.21 0.405 0.89 178.9 1880

56 138 90.7 24.9 11.86 65.95 12.8 43.35 58.5 26.75 190.2 59 1.11 2 18.3 4.8 1.21 0.405 0.89 178.9 1880

1860 1440050 1302070 2156200 147700 2283410 12600 49400 330 3800 548070 20990 51000 53000 7300 2187900 12000 670000 1803000 100 15

102400 198667137 117050652.5 53690060 1750624 151694056.5 161280 2143240 19145 101555 104235933 1239026.5 56660 103350 133590 10815552 14960 271500 1619320 17890 28200

INDUSTRIAL

-550 698689 7736640.5 -4977500 -26360 -87563390.5 -1227585 -7890 -25397998 -623211 9800 -243000 -680300 -

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

1.29 36.9 0.241 23.7 78.35 357.8 19.68 5.05 2.14 10.88 32.45 7.26 15.7 18 14.5 5.9 8.64 7.03 89.55 0.67 45.65 218.6 8.22 12.8 0.189 1.59 11.26 1.87 5 2.33 0.123 152.5 1.19 67.3 72 2.33 6 15.1 10.2 14.46 18.04 10 1.04 1.02 2.02 5.35 3.31 5.32 30.75 2.42 7.7 1.49 5.02 1 8.55

1.3 37 0.247 24.1 78.85 360 19.72 5.1 2.15 11 32.5 7.4 15.9 18.78 14.56 5.95 8.65 7.04 91.5 0.68 46.5 218.8 8.25 12.82 0.201 1.6 11.28 1.88 5.08 2.4 0.125 152.9 1.2 70.5 76 2.35 6.14 15.28 10.32 14.48 18.08 10.12 1.07 1.04 2.06 5.4 3.53 5.33 32.35 2.43 7.72 1.55 5.45 1.02 8.7

1.31 37.25 0.241 24.8 80.15 365 20 5.05 2.1 11 32.4 7.3 15.8 18.04 14.78 5.95 8.73 7.02 91.65 0.68 46 221 8.25 12.84 0.189 1.7 11.38 1.91 5 2.35 0.125 144 1.2 67.3 72 2.39 6.14 15.22 10.7 14.5 18.28 10 1.03 1.03 2.01 5.48 3.4 5.3 32 2.48 7.8 1.49 5.4 1.03 9.15

1.31 38.1 0.247 24.8 80.15 365 20 5.1 2.21 11 32.5 7.4 15.9 18.78 14.78 5.95 8.73 7.1 91.65 0.68 47 221 8.25 12.84 0.189 1.7 11.38 2 5.1 2.35 0.125 152.9 1.21 67.3 72 2.4 6.14 15.28 10.7 14.5 18.28 10 1.07 1.06 2.02 5.53 3.53 5.32 32.35 2.48 7.98 1.55 5.45 1.03 9.28

1.29 36.3 0.24 23.65 78.25 357.2 19.68 5 2.05 11 32.3 7.22 15.7 18.02 14 5.9 8.64 7.02 88 0.66 45.5 217.8 8.25 12.7 0.189 1.59 11.26 1.88 4.84 2.34 0.123 143.2 1.19 67.3 72 2.33 6 15.2 10.24 14.22 18.04 9.88 1.03 1 2.01 5.35 3.31 5.3 32 2.4 7.7 1.48 5.02 0.99 8.4

1.3 37 0.247 24.1 78.5 360 19.68 5.1 2.15 11 32.45 7.4 15.9 18.78 14.5 5.9 8.65 7.04 91.5 0.68 46.5 218.6 8.25 12.8 0.189 1.6 11.28 1.88 5.1 2.34 0.123 152.9 1.2 67.3 72 2.33 6 15.28 10.32 14.48 18.04 10 1.07 1.02 2.02 5.4 3.53 5.32 32.35 2.43 7.72 1.55 5.45 1 8.7

62000 840000 1860000 1856600 149780 101010 1241900 2350900 18305000 200 330100 49800 34200 1700 464000 35300 552700 7866700 122190 94000 221400 1103310 3500 96800 180000 10402000 82800 1297000 106600 6000 510000 1656780 2036000 1500 1400 2773000 174200 15100 280100 1091000 1085700 27100 249000 9350000 14000 74800 9000 27900 900 2976000 208300 41000 6200 420000 582600

80510 31041480 447610 44411550 11769754.5 36219438 24567358 11868567 39288680 2200 10708090 362847 541994 30862 6676880 208991 4789304 55452333 11049928 63280 10267575 241280954 28875 1239858 34020 16904930 934938 2522670 519310 14070 62750 247880781 2435310 100950 100800 6515210 1063288 229954 2899026 15734676 19625962 270988 263740 9552210 28230 403037 30370 147928 28940 7278150 1610432 61260 32407 423110 5082387

-17996600 -784465 -737821 -16726274 -16707136 -3494 5461550 -1578805 -10965 442260 2014526 -33671 -876993 -37671996 -1072293 9177265 18493906 393032 -194320 -906662 5970 -1019.9999 12954053 371400 573150 220832 -2147454 -14206046 -7877904 81690 -19340 271830 -548884 14776

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

0.87 13.1 848 51.1 10.4 3.37 0.7 1.13 1.14 6.49 8.41 12.94 0.217 827 5.63 68.85 0.495 4.34 13.78 0.56 4.72 0.038 1.29 2.82 1.26 973 163 0.85 2.45 222.6 0.222 0.231

0.88 13.36 850 52 10.46 3.38 0.71 1.14 1.15 6.58 8.49 13.4 0.229 828 5.65 69 0.51 4.36 13.88 0.59 4.73 0.039 1.31 2.85 1.27 974.5 164.1 0.87 2.57 223.2 0.23 0.241

0.88 13.64 856 52.4 10.78 3.45 0.69 1.16 1.18 6.7 8.34 13.2 0.219 830 5.65 70 0.51 4.38 14.1 0.58 4.84 0.039 1.29 2.85 1.27 983 167 0.89 2.45 223.2 0.222 0.231

0.89 13.64 856 52.4 10.78 3.45 0.72 1.18 1.26 6.7 8.49 13.4 0.219 830 5.66 70 0.51 4.38 14.1 0.6 4.87 0.039 1.31 2.85 1.27 983 168 0.9 2.45 223.2 0.222 0.232

0.86 13.12 847 50.9 10.34 3.36 0.69 1.13 1.15 6.49 8.26 12.94 0.216 826.5 5.64 68.65 0.495 4.34 13.8 0.58 4.68 0.038 1.28 2.85 1.27 971 163 0.85 2.45 223 0.222 0.231

0.87 13.36 848 52 10.46 3.37 0.7 1.14 1.15 6.49 8.41 13.4 0.217 828 5.65 69 0.51 4.34 13.88 0.59 4.72 0.038 1.31 2.85 1.27 973 163 0.85 2.45 223 0.222 0.231

16238000 10800 459110 615740 7819800 3440000 166000 916000 348000 259100 4645900 13500 330000 46620 112500 1908860 58000 163000 1572000 167000 18229000 22300000 173000 14000 68000 756050 220370 280000 1000 150 200000 100000

14128260 144320 389544325 31795481 82332910 11696130 115100 1049830 412320 1686348 38984281 178606 71460 38609215 635675 131732848 28785 709020 21837512 97980 86893670 849200 222580 39900 86360 734888435 36171259 243730 2450 33460 44400 23170

-1854200 -126112875 -21095710.5 -40154364 -2954280 102450 -798941 -17918134 -5176 -24222540 -423950 -102427433 -112730 -3325870 -29806000 12700 341335815 -22444462 -6696 -

HOLDING & FRIMS

PROPERTY

ARTHALAND CORP 0.85 0.87 0.89 0.89 0.85 0.87 1539000 1325600 -536630 AYALA LAND 45 45.05 46.55 46.55 45 45 15387000 696310100 -487018180 BELLE CORP 2.04 2.07 2.05 2.05 2.04 2.04 394000 806110 A BROWN 0.84 0.85 0.85 0.87 0.83 0.84 6864000 5831950 CITYLAND DEVT 0.81 0.82 0.83 0.86 0.82 0.82 99000 81640 -54160 CROWN EQUITIES 0.208 0.216 0.212 0.216 0.208 0.208 400000 84030 CEBU HLDG 6.3 6.31 6.05 6.3 6.05 6.3 119100 744060 592810 CEB LANDMASTERS 4.65 4.69 4.7 4.7 4.65 4.65 344000 1602230 -520870 CENTURY PROP 0.53 0.54 0.55 0.55 0.53 0.54 2244000 1191560 -6360 CYBER BAY 0.38 0.385 0.395 0.4 0.385 0.385 170000 66050 DOUBLEDRAGON 20.2 20.25 19.9 20.3 19.78 20.2 386300 7756071 6580355 DM WENCESLAO 9.74 9.89 9.7 9.91 9.7 9.88 397300 3902139 3627907.0002 EMPIRE EAST 0.44 0.445 0.44 0.445 0.435 0.445 1420000 624800 FILINVEST LAND 1.5 1.51 1.49 1.52 1.49 1.51 14290000 21567390 -11853190 GLOBAL ESTATE 1.15 1.16 1.19 1.19 1.15 1.15 712000 833360 8990 HLDG 15.02 15.04 15.02 15.1 15.02 15.02 130400 1959906 -270778 PHIL INFRADEV 1.32 1.35 1.36 1.37 1.31 1.35 1140000 1523130 -84940 MEGAWORLD 4.37 4.39 4.48 4.49 4.36 4.37 35035000 153654560 -44271690 MRC ALLIED 0.3 0.305 0.3 0.305 0.3 0.305 2820000 846350 PHIL ESTATES 0.41 0.44 0.41 0.41 0.41 0.41 10000 4100 PRIMEX CORP 2.01 2.03 2 2.04 2 2.03 156000 314480 ROBINSONS LAND 23.8 24.2 24.05 24.35 23.8 23.8 2530800 60664050 -15743065 PHIL REALTY 0.365 0.37 0.385 0.385 0.37 0.37 910000 336850 ROCKWELL 2.27 2.28 2.24 2.27 2.24 2.27 105000 236800 -44800 SHANG PROP 3.17 3.29 3.29 3.29 3.29 3.29 1000 3290 STA LUCIA LAND 2.57 2.58 2.6 2.62 2.57 2.57 1743000 4504570 SM PRIME HLDG 36 36.35 36.3 36.3 35.5 36.3 6324500 226,836,385( 48,023,204.9997) VISTAMALLS 5.71 5.79 5.71 5.86 5.7 5.79 12900 74224 SUNTRUST HOME 0.87 0.88 0.88 0.89 0.87 0.89 665000 580020 VISTA LAND 7.65 7.66 7.69 7.69 7.61 7.65 9296700 71151601 -13730742

SERVICES ABS CBN 17.98 18.1 18.28 18.36 17.5 18.1 195700 3511898 GMA NETWORK 5.17 5.18 5.17 5.2 5.17 5.18 33600 174041 MLA BRDCASTING 12.7 14.28 11.56 13.3 11.56 13.28 1700 21206 GLOBE TELECOM 1767 1770 1800 1800 1756 1770 19515 34619550 -11590085 PLDT 1096 1100 1110 1110 1090 1100 111240 122008300 -74782450 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.044 0.046 0.044 0.045 0.044 0.045 4900000 215700 ISLAND INFO 0.108 0.109 0.108 0.11 0.108 0.109 340000 36830 ISM COMM 4.97 5 5 5 4.95 5 1501800 7470513 14900 JACKSTONES 2.84 2.94 2.85 2.85 2.85 2.85 7000 19950 NOW CORP 2.77 2.78 2.68 2.88 2.61 2.77 5187000 14188650 -112430 TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.315 0.32 0.33 0.33 0.315 0.315 9860000 3135750 346500 PHILWEB 3 3.02 3 3.02 2.95 3.02 809000 2410170 -83360 2GO GROUP 9.85 10 10 10 9.85 10 3000 29865 ASIAN TERMINALS 17.22 19 18.5 18.5 18.5 18.5 100 1850 -1850 CHELSEA 6.64 6.66 6.73 6.8 6.63 6.65 709600 4737884 -333053 CEBU AIR 90 90.95 89.5 91 89.5 90 42930 3866414.5 1960229.5 INTL CONTAINER 120.6 121 115.5 121.1 115 120.6 3017150 362537150 -122028935 LBC EXPRESS 13.52 14 14 14 14 14 1000 14000 LORENZO SHIPPNG 0.9 0.94 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 13000 11700 MACROASIA 18.56 18.58 18.4 18.58 18.38 18.58 28800 532638 -73824 METROALLIANCE A 1.14 1.15 1.14 1.15 1.14 1.15 11000 12580 PAL HLDG 7.86 8 8.1 8.1 7.85 8 3600 28775 8100 HARBOR STAR 1.51 1.55 1.58 1.58 1.5 1.55 549000 838370 -102300 ACESITE HOTEL 1.62 1.69 1.72 1.72 1.72 1.72 21000 36120 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.052 0.053 0.052 0.053 0.052 0.053 9750000 508080 GRAND PLAZA 10 11.6 9.86 11.78 9.86 11.78 900 9180 WATERFRONT 0.67 0.68 0.66 0.67 0.66 0.67 996000 661110 CENTRO ESCOLAR 6.98 7.2 7 7 7 7 4000 28000 FAR EASTERN U 891 910 890.5 890.5 890 890 300 267065 97955 IPEOPLE 7.82 8.29 9.01 9.01 7 7.8 140500 1041078 STI HLDG 0.67 0.68 0.67 0.68 0.67 0.68 3897000 2641470 -2054280 BERJAYA 2.28 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.28 2.3 81000 185020 BLOOMBERRY 10.5 10.9 10.7 10.9 10.38 10.9 1486800 15873346 6122760 PACIFIC ONLINE 2.83 2.89 2.89 2.89 2.89 2.89 2000 5780 LEISURE AND RES 3 3.04 3 3.04 2.98 3 190000 567490 MANILA JOCKEY 3.36 3.5 3.49 3.49 3.49 3.49 8000 27920 PH RESORTS GRP 4.79 4.99 4.79 4.79 4.79 4.79 1000 4790 PREMIUM LEISURE 0.69 0.7 0.7 0.71 0.69 0.69 3514000 2441270 122710 METRO RETAIL 2.33 2.35 2.36 2.39 2.33 2.33 479000 1120440 -137670 PUREGOLD 38 38.45 38.2 38.8 37.95 38 4255600 161,943,055( 14,720,554.9996) ROBINSONS RTL 76.15 76.5 77.95 77.95 74.7 76.5 776010 59026629 -5068151.5 PHIL SEVEN CORP 135.6 140 135.6 135.6 135.6 135.6 100 13560 SSI GROUP 2.59 2.6 2.7 2.74 2.58 2.6 2296000 6023030 717440 WILCON DEPOT 16.72 16.74 16.6 16.72 16.5 16.72 1381700 22939330 7937618 APC GROUP 0.56 0.57 0.61 0.61 0.56 0.56 30780000 17558170 -2762200 EASYCALL 9.2 9.5 9.32 9.5 9.3 9.5 15100 141065 GOLDEN BRIA 429 435 429 435 429 435 320 137808 8600 IPM HLDG 3.5 3.93 3.05 3.05 3.05 3.05 1000 3050 PAXYS 2.77 2.99 2.77 2.77 2.77 2.77 5000 13850 -13850 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.52 0.53 0.53 0.53 0.51 0.53 12149000 6317150 459310 SBS PHIL CORP 8.97 8.99 9.08 9.36 8.59 8.99 12290300 107996301 -107501534

MINING & OIL ATOK 11.6 11.8 11.9 11.9 11.6 11.8 4200 49430 APEX MINING 1.13 1.15 1.15 1.16 1.14 1.14 651000 744760 COAL ASIA HLDG 0.275 0.285 0.275 0.275 0.275 0.275 10000 2750 CENTURY PEAK 2.58 2.6 2.59 2.62 2.58 2.58 491000 1276480 DIZON MINES 7.7 7.9 7.78 7.98 7.7 7.92 6000 46727 FERRONICKEL 1.56 1.58 1.57 1.61 1.56 1.56 1852000 2912090 -490720 GEOGRACE 0.222 0.232 0.238 0.238 0.222 0.233 720000 162220 LEPANTO A 0.108 0.109 0.11 0.11 0.108 0.108 20000 2180 LEPANTO B 0.107 0.109 0.11 0.11 0.11 0.11 740000 81400 MANILA MINING A 0.0091 0.0095 0.0091 0.0091 0.0091 0.0091 89000000 809900 MARCVENTURES 1.1 1.11 1.11 1.11 1.1 1.1 754000 836010 50600 NIHAO 1.05 1.11 1.13 1.13 1.05 1.12 274000 295300 NICKEL ASIA 3.75 3.78 3.78 3.8 3.71 3.75 2772000 10417230 1262140 OMICO CORP 0.52 0.54 0.51 0.54 0.51 0.52 60000 31060 ORNTL PENINSULA 0.86 0.89 0.88 0.9 0.86 0.89 91000 79250 PX MINING 3.52 3.55 3.55 3.6 3.51 3.52 506000 1789870 SEMIRARA MINING 21.85 22.35 21.75 22.35 21.7 22.35 426200 9363140 597015 UNITED PARAGON 0.0061 0.0062 0.0063 0.0063 0.0063 0.0063 9000000 56700 ORNTL PETROL A 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.012 19400000 218900 ORNTL PETROL B 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 20000000 220000 PHILODRILL 0.01 0.011 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.011 8600000 94800 PHINMA PETRO 8.12 8.15 7.8 8.38 7.7 8.12 732400 5937019 -108413 PXP ENERGY 11.4 11.42 11.78 11.78 11.4 11.4 663500 7626294 -8106

PREFFERED

HOUSE PREF A 96.5 98.5 96.8 98.5 96.5 98.5 10010 966021 AC PREF B1 501 511 501 501 501 501 60 30060 AC PREF B2 503.5 504 503.5 503.5 503.5 503.5 2000 1007000 DD PREF 100.1 101 101 101 101 101 110 11110 SMC FB PREF 2 995 996.5 995.5 995.5 995 995 2430 2418350 FGEN PREF G 108 109.5 108.2 109.7 108 108 8003830 866413657 FPH PREF C 433.2 500 490 490 490 490 150 73500 GTCAP PREF A 970.5 997 970 970 970 970 1000 970000 GTCAP PREF B 970 995 995 995 995 995 10 9950 LR PREF 0.99 1 1 1 1 1 20000 20000 MWIDE PREF 100.5 101.5 100.3 100.3 100.3 100.3 30 3009 PNX PREF 3A 100.3 101 102 102 102 102 100 10200 PCOR PREF 2B 1028 1040 1035 1035 1028 1028 1005 1033500 PCOR PREF 3A 1013 1046 1045 1045 1010 1013 4980 5080350 SMC PREF 2C 77.8 77.9 77.8 77.9 77.7 77.9 50710 3944798 -46740 SMC PREF 2D 75 75.4 75 75 75 75 730 54750 SMC PREF 2E 75 75.6 75.1 75.1 75 75 24100 1807580 SMC PREF 2F 75.85 76.6 77 77 75.85 76.6 22250 1689610 SMC PREF 2G 75.3 76 75.35 75.35 75.3 75.3 6310 475293 SMC PREF 2H 75.5 76 75.5 75.5 75.5 75.5 5000 377500 SMC PREF 2I 76 76.6 76 76 75.6 75.6 146500 11079560 -

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR

17.3

17.7

17.3

17.3

17.3

17.3

1400

24220

WARRANTS LR WARRANT

1.52

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ITALPINAS 6.25 KEPWEALTH 9.56 XURPAS 0.9

1.52

1.52

1.52

1.52

20000

30400

-

6.29 9.58 0.91

6.21 9.7 0.91

6.3 9.7 0.91

6.1 9.51 0.89

6.25 9.58 0.9

431100 172000 1853000

2662140 1645899 1664120

26128 6706 8100

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS FIRST METRO ETF

113.5

-6920

1.6

114.2

114.1

114.5

113.5

113.5

21800

2483270

-

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Filinvest unit signs JV deal with Japan’s Mitsubishi Corp.

F

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

ILINVEST Alabang Inc., a unit of Gotianun-led Filinvest Development Corp., on Thursday said it has signed a joint-venture agreement with Japan’s Mitsubishi Corp. to develop a parcel of land inside Filinvest City in Alabang.

The agreement paves the way for the acquisition by Mitsubishi of a 40-percent interest in Filinvest’s almost 17,000 square meters of land at the heart of Filinvest City in Alabang. “...The parties will then jointly

develop a multitower, mixed-use complex, through a joint-venture company,” the company said in its disclosure.

“This new project is envisioned to be another prestigious development that will feature grade A

office spaces complemented with impressive retail concepts in the area,” it added.

Closing of the transaction is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions precedent, including obtaining approval from the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC), it said.

The company said the site is at one of the finest blocks in Filinvest City, across the newly expanded Festival Mall and adjacent to the premier residential strip Parkway Avenue.

With the ongoing enhancement of Filinvest City, the project will also have direct access to the much-anticipated Central Park, which is another highlight of the development.

An estimated P15 billion has

been earmarked for the project development cost, and it is anticipated to add approximately 183,000 square meters of mixed-use gross leasable area to the booming central business district in Alabang. Filinvest and Mitsubishi are set to bring in their expertise and experience in the fields of construction, operations and management, and urban development, to create their first shared innovative landmark, it said.

“We are very pleased to enter into an agreement with Mitsubishi Corp. and we are looking forward to this partnership. We are optimistic that our synergy will bring forth another first-of-its-kind development that will complement the growth and vision of Filinvest City.” Catherine Ilagan, Filinvest Alabang president, said.

Mobile wallet GCash eyes ‘large, untapped’ PHL market segments

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INANCIAL technology (fintech) app GCash hopes to further cement its position as the preferred mobile wallet in the Philippines by capturing “large, untapped segments” of the local market, which is currently pegged at 39.7 million Filipinos.

Citing a commissioned 2019 Nielsen report, Fred Levy, who sits as chief commercial officer for money transfer at GCash, said the fintech carved 10 percent of the 49 million people remittance market in April, after netting 4.9 million Filipino GCash remitters during the said period.

This figure also represents 76.56 percent of the mobile wallet remittance sector, which is at 6.4 million remitters as of the said period, based on the BusinessMirror’s estimates.

Levy said the untapped market is currently at 39.7 million people, all of whom are still into exclusive cashto-cash transfers and are yet to try cashless remittance. There are also 2.9 million nonmobile wallet cashless remitters, as well.

“These present a lot of potential for mobile wallets to expand and capture large, untapped segments,” he said. “There are three key pillars that we are going to push to capture this potential.”

The three pillars that Levy was pertaining to are the three most

prominent use cases of GCash, which are “send, shop and save.”

GCash is a mobile wallet application that allows users to send and receive money digitally in real time. The money sent or received may be used to shop online or transact physically through QR, barcode and prepaid debit card solutions. The money can also be used to save in a CIMBpowered bank account inside the GCash app.

“We are going back to the fundamentals—send, shop, and save— and we are going to make a big push on these three pillars. We will create solutions that will exceed the basic expectations of the users,” Levy said.

He explained that to do this, GCash has to innovate further to address even the most basic of consumer pain points. This involves removing or minimizing usage frictions.

For instance, GCash recently integrated an in-app service called KKB, an acronym for the Filipino slang for splitting the bill (kanyakanyang bayad), which removes the hassle of sending mobile money to another person to pay for his or her share of the bill.

“GCash has thought of the end-toend experience and is providing the best way to facilitate money transfers by thinking of and putting our customers first,” GCash President Anthony Thomas said. Lorenz S. Marasigan

Global Business Power assures Visayas of optimum operations

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LOBAL Business Power Corp. (GBP) said Thursday its power plants in Panay and Cebu recently completed preventive maintenance in anticipation of increased demand in the region during the last quarter of the year.

“We strive to keep our plants in optimum efficiency to help meet Visayas’s demand for reliable, adequate, and cost-efficient power supply,” said GBP President Jaime T. Azurin.

GBP said power demand in Visayas is expected to grow 5.7 percent due to increased economic activity around the holiday season. Peak demand, which is expected to happen in the last quarter of the year, is projected to average around 2,147 megawatts (MW).

The Department of Energy, meanwhile, expects demand to peak even higher in the region at 2,299 MW in November.

Since January, GBP has been routinely conducting preventive maintenance on all of its Circulating

Fluidized Bed (CFB) plants, with the last plant completing the procedure in August.

“We see an increase in Visayas energy demand not only due to holiday activities, but also due to completed and ongoing infrastructure projects under the government’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ program,” said GBP Vice President for Commercial and Strategy Philip D. Dasalla.

These projects include the recently operational Terminal 2 of the Mactan-Cebu International airport, the ongoing development of the 73-kilometer Metro Cebu Expressway and the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway, the Jalaur River Dam in Iloilo, and several airport upgrades in the region.

Iloilo and Cebu, where GBP has operations, are two of the region’s fastest-growing hubs. In 2018, Western Visayas and Central Visayas grew their regional domestic product by 6.1 percent and 7.6 percent, respectively. Lenie Lectura

mutual funds

October 3, 2019

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

PER SHARE RETURN* RETURN STOCK FUNDS ALFM GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 245.52 1.13% -2.61% -1.22% -2.65% ATRAM ALPHA OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. -A 1.5129 10.5% 2.72% 0.71% 5% ATRAM PHILIPPINE EQUITY OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. -A 3.8358 1.59% -3.52% -2.11% -1.72% CLIMBS SHARE CAPITAL EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND CORP. -A 0.92 5.66% N.A. N.A. 2.11% FIRST METRO CONSUMER FUND ON MSCI PHILS. IMI, INC. -A 0.8294 3.97% N.A. N.A. 1.06% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN EQUITY FUND,INC. -A 5.2305 3.64% -0.9% -0.57% -0.81% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN PHILIPPINE INDEX FUND, INC. -A,6 0.8371 4.03% -5.09% N.A. 0.05% MBG EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND, INC. -A 115.96 -0.31% N.A. N.A. -0.18% PAMI EQUITY INDEX FUND, INC. -A 50.1031 6.11% -0.59% N.A. 1.79% PHILAM STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 522.49 6.34% -1.44% -0.81% 1.51% PHILEQUITY DIVIDEND YIELD FUND, INC. -A 1.2587 3.92% -0.66% 0.51% 0.37% PHILEQUITY FUND, INC. -A 37.1044 5.16% 0.25% 0.43% 1.29% PHILEQUITY MSCI PHILIPPINE INDEX FUND, INC. -A,3 0.9915 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. PHILEQUITY PSE INDEX FUND INC. -A 5.0899 7.24% 0.18% 1.14% 2.64% PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND CORP. -A 849.72 7.27% 0.08% 1.07% 2.57% SOLDIVO STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 0.8834 7.77% -0.74% N.A. 2.72% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE EQUITY FUND, INC. -A 4.1346 5.59% -0.07% 0.39% 1.87% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND, INC. -A 0.9763 6.84% 0.01% N.A. 2.31% UNITED FUND, INC. -A 3.5934 7.39% 1.53% 1.62% 2.65% EXCHANGE TRADED FUND FIRST METRO PHIL. EQUITY EXCHANGE TRADED FUND, INC. -A,C,2 113.9191 7.52% 0.83% 2.1% 2.86% ATRAM ASIAPLUS EQUITY FUND, INC. -B

$0.9393 -7.69% 0.93% -1.22% 1.1% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY WORLD VOYAGER FUND, INC. -A $1.2797 -2.03% 6.86% N.A. 15.79% BALANCED FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ATRAM DYNAMIC ALLOCATION FUND, INC. -A 1.5934 -1.36% -3.92% -3.48% -3.5% ATRAM PHILIPPINE BALANCED FUND, INC. -A 2.2397 3.65% -1.71% -0.5% 1.38% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN BALANCED FUND INC. -A 2.5918 5.02% -0.25% -1.74% 1.91% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN F.O.C.C.U.S. DYNAMIC FUND, INC. -A,8 0.2271 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. GREPALIFE BALANCED FUND CORPORATION -A 1.3231 3.09% N.A. N.A. 1.44% NCM MUTUAL FUND OF THE PHILS., INC. -A 1.9333 7.39% -0.19% 0.82% 4.89% PAMI HORIZON FUND, INC. -A 3.7173 8.63% -0.63% -0.04% 5.33% PHILAM FUND, INC. -A 16.6623 8.46% -0.6% -0.12% 4.74% SOLIDARITAS FUND, INC. -A 2.1039 4.64% -0.19% 0.84% 1.68% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BALANCED FUND, INC. -A 3.802 6.57% 0.24% 0.41% 4.13% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2028, INC. -A,D,4 0.9945 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2038, INC. -A,D,4 0.9771 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2048, INC. -A,D,4 0.9736 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DYNAMIC FUND, INC. -A 0.9624 5.9% -0.29% -0.24% 4.42% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES COCOLIFE DOLLAR FUND BUILDER, INC. -A $0.03857 10.17% 2.32% 2.44% 9.26% PAMI ASIA BALANCED FUND, INC. -A $0.9796 -0.46% 1.17% -0.26% 7.21% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ADVANTAGE FUND, INC. -A $3.7361 1.27% 5.07% 3.24% 12.92% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR WELLSPRING FUND, INC. -A $1.1086 3.19% 3.06% N.A. 9.76% BOND FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM PESO BOND FUND, INC. -A 354.54 3.82% 2.31% 2.27% 3.22% ATRAM CORPORATE BOND FUND, INC. -A,1 1.9173 3.22% 0.18% -0.05% 3.12% COCOLIFE FIXED INCOME FUND, INC. -A 3.0866 5.1% 5.3% 5.24% 3.71% EKKLESIA MUTUAL FUND INC. -A 2.2111 4.41% 1.55% 2.03% 3.85% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN FIXED INCOME FUND,INC. -A 2.3362 5.52% 1.45% 1.56% 5.95% GREPALIFE FIXED INCOME FUND CORP. -A P 1.6087 2.04% -0.03% 0.22% 2.83% PHILAM BOND FUND, INC. -A 4.3028 12.24% 0.97% 1.73% 9.77% PHILEQUITY PESO BOND FUND, INC. -A 3.7391 7.97% 1.96% 1.55% 6.31% SOLDIVO BOND FUND, INC. -A 0.9515 7.87% -0.11% N.A. 6.77% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BOND FUND, INC. -A 3.0283 9.69% 2.77% 2.59% 9.49% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY GS FUND, INC. -A 1.6774 9.46% 2.28% 2.17% 8.93% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES ALFM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $465.4 4.45% 1.86% 2.88% 3.79% ALFM EURO BOND FUND, INC. -A Є220.39 3.29% 1.26% 1.51% 3.63% ATRAM TOTAL RETURN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -B $1.1984 6.89% 2.06% 2.54% 6.46% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $0.0259 4.44% 1.05% 1.62% 4.44% GREPALIFE DOLLAR BOND FUND CORP. -A $1.7161 0.94% -1.14% 0.55% 1.53% PAMI GLOBAL BOND FUND, INC -A $1.1008 6.92% -0.26% -0.97% 6.22% PHILAM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $2.4155 11.41% 1.79% 3.64% 11.27% PHILEQUITY DOLLAR INCOME FUND INC. -A $0.0601794 5.79% 1.95% 2.1% 5.58% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ABUNDANCE FUND, INC. -A $3.1729 9.64% 1.13% 3.1% 10.47% MONEY MARKET FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A 124.76 4.11% 2.65% 2.08% 3.21% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A,5 1.0231 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. PHILAM MANAGED INCOME FUND, INC. -A 1.2401 5.78% 2.33% 1.46% 4.92% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A 1.2556 3.88% 2.81% 2.2% 2.99% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR STARTER FUND, INC. -A $1.0331 2.2% N.A. N.A. 1.69% A - NAVPS AS OF THE PREVIOUS BANKING DAY. B - NAVPS AS OF TWO BANKING DAYS AGO. C - LISTED IN THE PSE. D - IN NET ASSET VALUE PER UNIT (NAVPU).

1 - ADJUSTED DUE TO CASH DIVIDEND ISSUANCE LAST JANUARY 29, 2018. 2 - ADJUSTED DUE TO STOCK DIVIDEND ISSUANCE LAST JUNE 5, 2018. 3 LAUNCH DATE IS JANUARY 3, 2019.

4 - LAUNCH DATE IS JANUARY 28, 2019. 5 - LAUNCH DATE IS FEBRUARY 1, 2019. 6 - RENAMING WAS APPROVED BY THE SEC LAST OCTOBER 12, 2018 (FORMERLY, ONE WEALTHY NATION FUND, INC.).

7 - LAUNCH DATE IS AUGUST 1, 2019. 8 - LAUNCH DATE IS SEPTEMBER 28, 2019.

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

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

Friday, October 4, 2019 B3

Banks still expand physical network amid digitalization–BSP

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By Bianca Cuaresma

@BcuaresmaBM

XECUTIVES of local financial institutions continue to believe in face-to-face delivery of service amid the rise in digital banking, as data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed banks continued to expand their physical network as of August this year.

Data from the Central Bank showed local banks have a total network of

12,618 branches as of August this year, adding 191 branches in a span of five

months. Universal and commercial banks still dominate the market, with 6,850 total branches as of end-August this year or more than half of the total banking network.

Thrift banks, meanwhile, have a total of 2,606 branches, while rural and cooperative banks have 3,162 branches.

Universal banks and commercial banks, as well as rural and cooperative banks posted solid growth rates in terms of their physical network from March to August this year.

Big banks in the country grew their branch network by 190 branches in five months, while rural and cooperative banks added 61 branches to their network in the five-month period.

Thrift banks, however, partially

bucked the growth—as their total branches decreased by 60 during the period. By distribution, data available from the BSP showed the National Capital Region still has the lion’s share of bank branches with 3,764 as of June 2019. This is followed by Region 4A or Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon with 1,840 branches and then

by Region 3 or Central Luzon with 1,307 branches.

The poorest areas, however, continued to receive little banking presence during the year, with th Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao having only 18 branches for the entire region.

This is followed by the Cordillera Administrative Region at 193 branches and Region 13 or the Caraga region with 221 branches.

Financial literacy workshop for women held in Clark

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LARK FREEPORT—A forumworkshop on personal financial planning particularly customized for women was held at the Quest Hotel and Conference Center here recently.

The Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment (PBCWE) in partnership with the Philippine Women’s Economic Network (PhilWEN) and Insular Life (InLife) hosted the free financial literacy workshop.

Entitled: “Shaping Her Future: The Sheroes’ runway to Financial Freedom,” the workshop aims to empower more Filipino women and expand

their access to risk management solutions and investment opportunities on financial management, as well as provide network access to business partners. The Sheroes Movement is a campaign to help shape women’s future via a personal financial forum through the PBCWE. Raoul Littaua, InLife senior vice president and head of Agency Distribution Group, said his firm has a serious commitment to gender equality and women empowerment.

“That is why we are very glad to have this partnership with PBCWE and are offering this financial literacy program,” he said.

“Always, there are right ways of doing it and maybe ways that can be improved. We are here as a financial organization to teach women the right way of doing personal financial planning for a more secured financial future,” he explained.

“Everybody should be doing personal financial planning,” he added.

The workshop is open to women and also men to provide them with basic financial management tools that will focus on financial values, spending habits and cash-flow analysis.

“It is specifically designed for women but it is also for men because they have women in their lives.”

Amor Curaming, PBCWE program manager, said. A free financial consultation was also conducted after the program to all participants.

PhilWEN is a consortium of six women’s groups representing a broad section of industries where women participate by advocating the economic empowerment of women through initiatives.

InLife is the first and largest Filipino life insurance company, and the only mutual company in the Philippines. PBCWE is the sole licensed partner of the Economic Dividends for Gender Equality in the Philippines.

Ashley Manabat

Finance official optimistic e-cigarette tax to pass bicam

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RANKING Department of Finance (DOF) official is optimistic that lawmakers will adopt the proposal to have a P45 excise tax on electronic cigarettes (e-cigarette) to fund the Universal Health Care program.

This, after Albay Rep. José María Salceda, who chairs the Ways and Means Committee, expressed willingness to support the proposal due to rising health-related cases reportedly caused by e-cigarettes.

Asked for his outlook whether their proposed excise-tax rate on vapor products will not be reduced after it received favorable assessment from Salceda, Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua said: “I hope so.”

Chua added the proposed excise tax on cigarette is expected to bring in additional P2 billion to P2.5 billion to government coffers on the measure’s first year of implementation.

Last week, Salceda said he sees the need to impose excise tax on e-cigarettes due to mounting evidence of health risks.

“There’s an increasing evidence that justifies the use of taxation to pursue precautionary principle for national health welfare,” he said.

Members of the House of Representatives already approved House Bill 1206 imposing P40 to P60 worth of duties on e-cigarettes, while senators okayed a bill setting P10 excise tax on e-cigarette per 10 milliliters of vaping liquid. PNA

TAXMAN COMETH The Bureau of Internal Revenue recently raided and closed the Wawawin Corp., a grocery store at Gen. T. de Leon in Valenzuela City for various tax violations.

The BIR’s Revenue District Office 24 chief, Rufo Ranario, and Director Ma. Grace Javier led the raid and are seen here posting the tarpaulin with a closure sign and padlocking the establishment. RUDY ESPERAS

Transformative association leadership

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RECENTLY keynoted a forum CEO (or oftentimes referred to here, for association leaders organized as secretary-general or executive diby EventBank, a US-based techrector). And, therefore, a great bondnology solutions company serving ing relationship between the board the association community. The and management, like in a business Association World enterprise, is key to good governance event themed, “Moving into the Future: Transformative Associaand operational efficiency.

Octavio Peralta tion Leadership Forum,” drew over To this end, I presented during the 70 participants from professional societies, trade event the “3R’s” of transformative association leaderassociations, chambers and other membership ship framework developed by the Philippine Council of organizations.

Associations and Association Executives which I repreThe forum also covered topics on volunteer mansent. It consists of the following aspects: agement and board governance which was presented Maintaining relevance—is the reply to members’ respectively by Jesse Francis Rebustillo, president of often-asked question, “what’s in it for me?” The top 4 the Philippine Association of Professional Speakers, and services that associations can provide members to reLuis Angelo L. Sevilla, president of the Junior Chamber main relevant are networking among peers, continuing International Manila, and featured a panel discussion education and best practice learning, access to specialwith all three speakers who were joined by Francis Nico ized information and advocacy support.

U. Serrano, president of the Life Underwriters AssociaBuilding relationships—stems from the fact that tion of the Philippines. The panel session was moderated associations relate to various stakeholders—members,

by Eric L. Schmidt, cofounder and CEO of EventBank. volunteers, staff, partners, suppliers, government bodies The forum topic was premised on the breakneck and the public-at-large. Building a community among speed of changes happening around us, and was aimed these stakeholders can provide associations, shared at learning and sharing how associations are coping emotional connection, collaboration opportunities, with and facing these challenges. Amid the five changes fulfillment of needs and aspior shifts that were identified—demographics, societal, rations, and influence. market, technological and regulatory—the challenge for Sustaining resources— associations to evolve and transform into the future is fulfills the associations aim to ever mounting. advance their work and advoIn an organizational context, transformation, accacies. People (members, volcording to Business Dictionary, is a process of profound unteers, staff), finance, and and radical change that orients an organization in a technology—are the “must” new direction and takes it to an entirely different level resources that associations of effectiveness. As such, transformation is undertakneed to have to transform and en by organizations to be sustainable. This applies to grow into the future. associations, too.

Like the 3R’s we learned in Leadership in associations comes from its board led grade school—reading, (w)ritby the chairman and its management team led by the ing and (a)rithmetic—the 3R’s

in transformative association leadership are relevance, relationships and resources.

The column contributor, Octavio “Bobby” Peralta, is concurrently the secretary-general of the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific, and the CEO and Founder of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives. The PCAAE is holding the Associations Summit 7 (AS7) on November 27 and November 28, 2019, at the Philippine International Convention Center which is expected to draw over 200 association professionals here and abroad. The two-day event is supported by Adfiap, the Tourism Promotions Board and the PICC. E-mail inquiries@adfiap.org for more details on AS7.

B4 Friday, October 4, 2019

Bohol Welcomes Jpark Island Resort & Waterpark, Panglao Bohol

BPI and KidZania: Teaching kids about money through play

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ISING soon in Panglao, Bohol, is the grandest, boldest and biggest resort water park in the Philippines -Jpark Island Resort and Waterpark – the company’s finest property by far to be stationed at a 24-hectare expanse in one of the most visited tourist places in the country.

Bohol, another gem of the Visayas, is a tropical haven of natural beauty. Set along the white-sand coastline of the island, Jpark Island Resort and Waterpark, Panglao, Bohol will surely be a game changer in the hospitality industry in the Philippines.

And even if a guest's day at the premier leisure destination has come to an end, smiles and amusement will continue to exist as they feature over 1, 400 guest rooms and villas. To top it all, the biggest waterpark in Asia will be built to add up thrill and pleasure on everyone’s Bohol getaway experience! Guests who come to the resort for business matters will also be welcomed with an elegant and luxurious Convention Center.

WATG, originally based in Hawaii and is one of the world’s most competent players when it comes to architectural design and

composition, presented a unique and timeless yet fun and breathtaking ambiance for an overall astonishing resort and waterpark experience which await all future guests.

Bohol is without a doubt a prime tourist destination, not only in the country but in the entire Asia. Attracting visitors from all over the world to its beautiful, natural and cultural wonders, Bohol is surely a favorite of vacationers and tourists, some of whom have decided to stay for good in the island paradise.

Other exciting Bohol adventures include the Loboc River Cruise, dolphin and turtle watching, visiting the tarsiers, exploring the Chocolate Hills and underground caves, Beach hopping, night parties and so much more fun activities!

Truly, there will never be a dull moment for both kids and adults when they take a visit at Bohol! Jpark Island Resort and Waterpark, Panglao, Bohol will surely add a cherry on top of your delightful and enchanting Bohol treat. Guests of all ages will only have to collect breathtaking adventures and treasured moments when they soon visit Jpark Island Resort and Waterpark in Panglao, Bohol.

EMBERS of the press and their children are treated to a fun day at KidZania where they learned the basics of financial management from (center, in red) Ma. Carmina Marquez, BPI Head for Deposit Products, and Owen Cammayo, BPI Head for Corporate Affairs and Communications.

Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) and its thrift bank subsidiary BPI Family Savings Bank (BFSB) have applied the elements of gamification, through a partnership with theme park KidZania, to teach kids some important life skills that can be learned through play.

BFSB President Maria Cristina Go said KidZania, a place where kids learn through real-life role-playing activities, is the perfect place for making the concept of money more tangible. Since 2016, over 800,000 children have learned the basics of banking and financial responsibility through BPI and KidZania KidZania is an indoor city run by kids, where they can earn and spend kidZos, or KidZania’s currency, when taking part in activities, as in the real world. Children can fill over a hundred roles across 65 establishments, where they can work for companies in various industries such as publishing or pharmaceutical, or pay

for services rendered in a beauty salon or training in a school.

“Ultimately, they gain financial awareness as they have the liberty to manage their own kidZos—from budgeting to spending and saving,” Go said. “Kids learn that they can earn money by being productive and useful, that they can use the money for their needs and wants, and that they can save money for their future, to achieve bigger dreams.”

Go said this is all part of BPI’s vision of “Building a Better Philippines”, where every Filipino has access to financial services and possesses practical knowledge about saving and investing.

Inside KidZania, there is a special

BPI branch where kids are given special accounts and ATM cards for their kidZos, the currency used in the theme park.

Their savings gain interest over time, which the kids can spend in their next visits. BPI is the exclusive bank partner of KidZania.

Go said an example of a very useful product for kids is the Jumpstart savings account which is available through BPI and BFSB. Jumpstart is for children aged 10 to 17 years old and requires only a minimum deposit of P100. A portion of the funds can be protected from unplanned withdrawals, and parents can easily transfer money to the account for allowances. The Jumpstart Debit Card can also be used for cellphone reloading.

Batangas City Grand Terminal recognized

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ATANGAS City Grand Terminal received a Certificate of Recognition from the provincial government of Batangas recently “for its support for the tourism development projects of the Province of Batangas through its partnership in the establishment of a Tourism Information and Assistance Desk within its premises.”

Batangas City Grand Terminal operations manager Cecilia Mendoza (3rd from right) received the award on behalf of the company

from Batangas Governor Hermilando “Dodo” Mandanas (4th from left) during a flag-raising ceremony at the Provincial Auditorium, Capitol Site, Batangas City last Sept. 16. With them are (from left) Batangas board members Jun Jun Rosales and Dr. Arlene Bantugon Magboo, 1st and 2nd Districts, respectively; Atty. Sylvia Marasigan, Provincial Tourism Officer; Atty. Joana Corona, and Lydio Lopez, board members of the Batangas 3rd and 5th Districts, respectively.

Singapore Tourism Board bags Merit win at Philippine Quill Awards

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INGAPORE Tourism Board (STB) has won a merit award at the 17th Philippine Quill Awards for its “STB intensifies passions with a fresh wave of possibilities” entry in the marketing, advertising, and brand communication category.

Following the launch of the “Singapore: Passion Made Possible” campaign in 2017 showcasing the countless possibilities that passionate foodies, shopaholics, and explorers can enjoy in the Lion City, STB Philippines introduced a fresh wave of passion tribes on its 2nd year - the Socialisers, who find meaningful connections through music and entertainment; the Culture-Shapers, who are passionate about the arts, craft and culture; and the Action-Seekers, who are fueled by adrenalin and new adventures. Through creative activations and digital initiatives, the campaign further drove the message of Singapore being a destination where Filipino travelers can fulfil their diverse passions.

Photo shows STB Philippines Area Director Lael Loh (second from left) and STB Philippines Manager Nina Peña (third from left) together with their partners from PR agency, Stratworks.

Sports BusinessMirror

C1

| Friday, October 4, 2019 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

Gay-pride D shoe makes scene in Qatar

OHA, Qatar—American heptathlete Erica Bougard says she wasn’t trying to make an international political statement against Qatar’s anti-LGBTQ policies. She was just wearing her favorite high jump shoes.

She has worn the shoes, with a rainbow flap across one foot to symbolize gay pride, all season. She didn’t consider how that would be taken in Qatar, a conservative Muslim nation, where homosexual acts are illegal.

By slipping on the high jump shoes on Wednesday night, she stepped into a touchy subject that organizers for the track world championships and the 2022 World Cup here have tried to avoid.

International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) President Sebastian Coe ducked the issue when asked about anti-LGBTQ laws on the eve of the championships. Dahlan Al Hammad, the head of the local organizing committee, said Qatar would comply with international laws.

Bougard said she didn’t know all the background.

“But I’m not afraid of the consequences,” Bougard said. “I feel like I’m well protected.”

If anything does happen, “I’ll be on the first flight out.”

British race walker Tom Bosworth, who came out publicly in 2015 and proposed to his boyfriend at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, has been critical of the anti-LGBTQ laws in Qatar. He put out a statement last week saying he would respect the laws of the host

ERICA BOUGARD of the United States competes in the women’s heptathlon high jump at the World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday. AP

BRIT, COLLEGE STAR SHINE AT WORLDS

By Eddie Pells

The Associated Press

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OHA, Qatar— Most of the prime contenders in the women’s 200 had dropped out before the race even began. In the men’s 110 hurdles, the favorites waited to start tumbling until they neared the finish line.

Two gold medals. Two ways to win them.

Dina Asher-Smith took the easier road on Wednesday to become Britain’s first female sprint world champion, while Grant Holloway outran the demolition derby to his left to become only the sixth man to capture National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and world titles in the same year.

“Those barriers don’t care about your body,” Holloway said. “They’re there to slow you down. Our goal is to go full-fledged over all 10 of them.”

Some of the biggest hurdles facing Asher-Smith on her quest to make history in her home country had disappeared before her race even began. The 200 field was missing 100 champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (tired), two-time defending champion Dafne Schippers (injured), Olympic titlist Elaine Thompson (injured), and the 2019 world leader, Shaunae Miller-Uibo (running the 400), just to name a few.

When the eight-woman final was finally set, AsherSmith found herself listed as a 1-10 favorite at some of the sports books back home, where they always pay close attention to their track stars.

All of which made this feel like anything but a breeze.

“Normally I’m quite chatty and full of energy, but it’s a different thing with everyone saying you’re the

favorite,” she said. “You’re only the favorite if you go out and perform how people expect you to.”

Using her trademark fast start, Asher-Smith blasted out of the blocks in Lane 7 and was moving past the outside runners and into a three-step lead at the 150-meter mark. The rest was just a matter of time.

Asher-Smith’s 21.88—good for a .34-second margin over America’s Brittany Brown—established a British national record, just as her 10.83 did three nights earlier in the 100, when she finished second to Fraser-Pryce.

Asher-Smith joined Linford Christie (1993) as only the second British runner to win a sprint at world championships.

How big a deal was this? Well, it actually got loud for a minute after Asher-Smith crossed the finish line at the half-full Khalifa International Stadium. A few pockets in the British contingent waved the Union Jack, clanged cowbells and went crazy in the air-conditioned venue that had sounded more like a library only minutes before, while Poland’s Pawel Fajdek was wrapping up his fourthstraight world hammer throw gold.

It will certainly be louder a year from now at the Tokyo Olympics, where expectations will be higher, and the field will almost certainly be deeper. Asher-Smith is already looking ahead.

“Still getting stronger, still learning a lot more physically and mentally,” she said. “So, hopefully, there’s a lot more to come.”

If Asher-Smith’s race was expected, then Holloway’s victory was...Nascar?

While Holloway was in Lane 6 vying for the lead with Sergey Shubenkov, defending champion Omar McLeod

was barreling down Lane 4 with his necklace in his mouth, racing next to 2016 Olympic silver medalist Orlando Ortega.

McLeod clipped the eighth barrier, then the ninth, then completely bit it after the 10th. But as he was warbling, his arm flailed in front of Ortega, who was closing in Lane 5, and slowed down the Spaniard’s late charge to keep him out of the medals.

Early on Thursday morning, Spain filed an appeal, asking for a rerun of the race, or for Ortega to be allowed to compete alone to see where his time would place him to receive a bronze medal.

A few hours later, the jury said Ortega had been impeded but denied the appeal nonetheless. The essence of their reasoning: Hurdles is a contact sport.

“I feel very, very sorry for Ortega, because he could’ve won a medal,” McLeod said. “But that’s life.”

And life couldn’t be much better for Holloway, who looked semi-shocked when he crossed the line ahead of Shubenkov, then did what any good University of Florida athlete would do: the Gator chomp.

Holloway joined, among others, triple jumper Christian Taylor and 400-meter Olympic champion Kirani James as winners of the NCAA-worlds double.

None had been in a race like this.

“I didn’t see it but I heard a lot of them—bang, boom, boom,” bronze medalist Pascal Martinot-Lagarde said. “I just stayed on my line and ran my race.”

So did Holloway, who still had the American flag draped around his neck two hours after the race.

He was a two-sport star in high school, and could’ve just as easily have played football as run track.

country and make no political statements while he was there to compete.

He races on Friday.

Bougard started dating her girlfriend about a year ago and wants to be an advocate for people struggling with sexual identity.

“I feel like we have a voice, us as athletes, because more people look at us to perform,” said the 26-year-old who competed at Mississippi State. “It’s important because I feel like people hate people for loving who they love. Some people don’t believe in it, which is totally fine. I wanted to show my side and put the symbol on my shoe.”

Bougard wasn’t concerned about any sort of fallout after completing the first four of seven heptathlon events in a competition spread out over two days. In fourth place going into Day 2 on Thursday, she’s in striking distance of a medal as she trails teammate Kendell Williams by two points. The long jump, javelin and 800-meter run remain.

“Hopefully, I do get a lot of praise [on social media],” Bougard said. “I hope I don’t get bashed a lot.”

She’s glad people took notice.

“I honestly didn’t think about it because it was already on my shoe,” she said. “I put the flag on my shoe and people noticed it, I guess.” AP

Backlash forces organizers to reduce ‘crotch cameras’

D GOLD MEDALIST Dina Asher-Smith of Great Britain celebrates with the Union flag after winning the women’s 200-meter final at the World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday. Omar Mcleod of Jamaica (right) falls as Grant Holloway of the United States left and Orlando Ortega of Spain finish the men’s 110-meter hurdles final. AP

“My coaches broke it down to me very simply: ‘Do you want to be in the NFL or do you want to be an Olympian?’

My heart was being an Olympian,” Holloway said.

Chances are, he will be. As of Wednesday, he’s a track and field world champion—even if the race that made him one looked more like a football game.

OHA, Qatar—With cameras in the starting blocks peering up the legs of athletes into their eyes, television viewers have been taken closer to the action than ever before at the world championships.

Just too up close and personal for some athletes.

“I’m not too keen about it because it’s kind of invading my private space in a sense,” said Akani Simbine, the South African who finished fourth in Saturday’s 100-meter final.

“Being in the blocks is one of the athlete’s sacred spaces and that’s the point where you just want to be alone and be free.

“You have a camera in your face and you don’t really want to have a camera in your face.”

Justin Gatlin was prepared for cameras capturing him from the new unaccustomed angles.

“I made sure I had my lucky underwear on,” said the American who got a silver in the 100 meters.

For others, the perceived invasion of privacy wasn’t a laughing matter. The backlash against the intrusive angles started as soon as athletes started to receive images from the “crotch cams.”

“My friends told me the pictures weren’t very flattering,” said Dina Asher-Smith, British silver medalist in the women’s 100 meters.

An official complaint came from the German track and field federation. It led to the competition organizers rolling back the use of the cameras that were introduced in Doha as part of a technology push to attract new viewers. They’ve also introduced prerace dimming of the lights and graphics being projected on the track “We have noted some specific feedback about the block cameras and we have confirmed we have appropriate measures in place to protect athlete privacy during the process of selecting images for broadcast,” the International Association of Athletics Federations. (IAAF) said in a statement.

“We also have strict editorial guidelines for what is broadcast and these have been observed since the beginning of the championships.”

The IAAF installed the two miniature cameras in the starting blocks to capture what it called the “explosion of energy” from athletes who were only previously seen from above or the side of their heads.

Not all competitors objected to the unfamiliar angles.

“It’s pretty cool for the fan base [because] they get to see us in the blocks,” said Andre de Grasse, the Canadian who finished third in the 100 final behind Christian Coleman and Gatlin. “But you can’t get distracted by it. You’ve just got to focus on your race and not look too much toward the camera.”

De Grasse was surprised to be informed by one viewer that his eyes were closed briefly.

Filippo Tortu’s father and coach spotted that, too, during sprints in Khalifa International Stadium.

“He didn’t know that I start with closed eyes,” the Italian said. “He saw on the camera and said, ‘You are the only one in the world that does that. Why? Why? Why?’ “But I think it’s a very positive thing to do more for television. It’s important for us.” Mimicking the whirring sound, British sprinter Zharnel Hughes welcomed the IAAF innovating but not the execution of the technology. AP

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ADAMSON, U.S.T. FORCE SUDDEN DEATH A

DAMSON and UST got back at College of Saint Benilde and Ateneo, respectively, in a pair of thrillers that set up sudden deaths for the championship berths in the PVL Collegiate Conference at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan on Thursday.

Trisha Genesis blasted in 21 kills for 24 points, including key hits in the decider, while coming through with 15 excellent receptions as the Lady Falcons bounced back from a shock five-set defeat in Game One to foil the Lady Blazers, 25-12, 21-25, 25-22, 19-25, 15-11, in their best-of-three series.

Like the Lady Falcons, the Tigresses rallied from a set down and repulsed the Lady Eagles, 24-26, 25-18, 25-17, 25-17, to stay in the title hunt.

The four teams dispute the finals seats on Sunday.

Down 6-8 in the fifth, the Lady Falcons went to Genesis, who came through with back-to-back blows, keying a decisive 7-1 Adamson attack capped by her second-to-last kill that made it 13-9.

Gayle Pascual countered with a cross-court

SHANNEN PALEC of Choco Mucho challenges the defense of Iris Janelle Tolenada (1), Jessma Clarice Ramos (9) and Maria Lina Isabel Molde (10) of Motolite in their game last Wednesday night. Choco Mucho won, 19-25, 25-21, 25-15, 28-26. NONOY LACZA

hammer but Grace Toring pounced on a free ball to put Adamson at match point before Genesis clinched it for the Lady Falcons with another kill.

Lucille Almonte and Rizza Cruz backed Genesis with 12 markers apiece with the former adding 10 excellent receptions.

Behind the offensive brilliance of the UST troika of Janna Torres, Imee Hernandez, and Eya Laure, the Tigresses rebounded strong and dominated the second to fourth sets to force a sudden death in their side of the semis series.

Torres hammered in 14 points built on 10 attacks and three kill blocks, while Hernandez backed her up with 10 hits and an ace to finish with 11 markers.

Laure, on the other hand, also put on a 10-point performance and finished with 14 excellent digs and four excellent receptions.

Vanie Gandler topped the scoring charts with 15 markers anchored on 13 attacks, to go along with 16 excellent receptions for Ateneo, which also got 12 points from Faith Nisperos and 11 hits apiece from Erika Raagas and Jules Samonte.

FCVBA to show old form in Asean tourney

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MARINERONG PILIPINO INCHES CLOSER TO D-LEAGUE TITLE

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ARINERONG Pilipino survived BRT Sumisip Basilan-St. Clare’s late rally to take the 69-59 Game One victory to move on the cusp of claiming the 2019 PBA D-League Foundation Cup title on Thursday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

Rev Diputado was the only player to finish in double figures in the win with his 12 points as the Skippers took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three championship series.

Coach Yong Garcia, however, is far from satisfied with the win, especially after Marinerong Pilipino lost grip of its 19-point halftime lead, 43-24, and saw it drop to as low as seven. “’Yun ang naging problema namin before at lumabas ulit,” he said. “Dapat pagdating ng Game Two, hindi kami dapat parang roller-coaster.

Dapat mag-stick kami sa game plan namin.”

The Skippers flaunted their experience early

on, grabbing a 19-5 lead to start the game before extending the lead to 19 at halftime.

But they suddenly went cold in the third canto as they only scored seven points, while the Saints went to Mohammed Pare to trim the lead down, 64-57, with 1:52 to go in the final frame.

Lucky for Marinerong Pilipino, Eloy Poligrates came up with a pair of huge stops on Pare in the clutch to stop the rally and come away with the 10-point triumph in its 10th straight win—on

the verge of being only the third team to go perfect in one conference after NLEX did it in the 2012 and 2014 Foundation Cups.

Poligrates chipped in nine points, seven assists, four steals, and two rebounds for the Skippers, as Will McAloney registered nine points and four boards.

Marinerong Pilipino will look to sweep its way to its first-ever title on Game Two on Wednesday at Cuneta Astrodome.

Jhaps Bautista led BRT Sumisip-St. Clare with 17 points, while the Malian Pare supplied 14 points and 12 rebounds in the loss.

ILIPINO-CHINESE Veterans Basketball Association (FCVBA) hopes to regain its dominance in the 65-years-and-above division when the Asean Veterans Basketball Tournament stages its 28th edition from October 28 to November 2 in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

FCVBA’s reign in the annual event came to an ugly end last year when it lost its 60-andabove and 65-and-above titles, prompting the association’s “godfathers” Terry Que of Rain or Shine and Jimi Lim of Ironcon Builders to beef up their roster with PBA veterans this time.

Last year’s edition marked the first time that FCVBA failed to win a title in any of the three age categories.

Aside from Lim and Que, other members of the team are former Crispa enforcer Bong de la

Cruz, Ching Ka Lee, Antonio Go, Zotico Tan, William Lao, Alfonso Kaw, Andrew Ongteco, Joel Gomez and Roberto Poblete.

Lee skippered the Adamson Falcons during 1970 University Athletic Association of the Philippines, Gomez saw action for Crispa while Poblete played for ITM in the MICAA days.

The association, however, will not field in the 60s.

FCVBA has a rich winning tradition in the league, stamping its class not only in the 65 and 60 but also in the 50-and-above.

When it hosted the event three years ago, it won all four age categories as Kenneth Duremdes led the 40-and-above squad to the championship.

PBA four-time MVP Alvin Patrimonio, Allan Caidic and Jerry Codinera suited up for the 50s that easily topped their division.

orts

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HANDOVER COMPLETE:

SEA GAMES HEAT ON! K

By Jun Lomibao

UALA LUMPUR—The Southeast Asian Games Flame is now on its way to the Philippines where the 30th edition of the biennial multisport competition will take place from November 30 to December 11 with the goal of becoming the most watched and memorable ever.

A solemn Handover Ceremony was staged on Thursday morning right at the main entrance of the historic Bukit Jalil Stadium with Olympic Council of Malaysia President Norza Zakaria presenting the flame in a gold-colored lantern to the Philippine Olympic Committee through Board Member Cynthia Carrion. She represented POC President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.

There were some anxious moments during the ceremony

as strong winds at the sprawling sports complex that hosted dozens of competitions from the SEA Games to the Commonwealth Games prevented Zakaria from easily igniting the flame from a Kuala Lumpur 2017 SEA Games Torch to the Philippine 30th Games lantern.

But all’s well that ends well—the wind mellowed and the ceremony was completed to the appreciation of the good crowd of Malaysian and Filipino sports officials and media which witnessed the event.

“As we receive the Flame from Malaysia, we also receive the responsibilities that comes with hosting the flame in our country,” said Celia Kiram, who represented PSC Chairman William Ramirez, also chef de mission of Team Philippines.

Kuala Lumpur Games mascot Rimau sent off the Philippine Games’ Pami during the ceremony that signals a 56-day countdown via a Torch Run back home from Davao

City culminating with the lighting of the Games Cauldron at the Athletics Center of the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.

Kiram will bring the lantern home on board a commercial Philippine Airlines flight to Manila along with Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee Ceremonies Director Mike Aguilar and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman and Administrator Wilma Eisma on Friday afternoon.

Also witnessing the important ceremony were Nikko Huelgas, president of the Philippine Athletes Commission; Phisgoc Committee Chief Operating Officer Ramon Suzara and Malaysian Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.

“This flame symbolizes the spirit of the SEA Games and this handover signifies an exchange of ideas, goodwill and genuine friendship,” Suzara said.

Philippine High School for Sports to rise soon at New Clark City

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THE Southeast Asian Games Flame will be flown to the Philippines in this special lantern. NONIE REYES

Triathletes target three-peat

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HE Philippine triathlon team is confident of retaining the Southeast Asian Games crown for the third straight edition.

The team is on track in their preparations with their impressive results at the Asian Triathlon Confederation Aqaba Asian Cup in Aqaba, Jordan, last Friday.

Kim Mangrobang, gold medalist in the Kuala Lumpur 2017 Games, finished fifth with a time of two hours, seven minutes and 25 seconds, while Filipino-American Kim Kilgroe placed seventh in 2:10:20.

Ma. Clare Adorna, the Singapore 2015 SEA Games champion, ranked 10th with 2:24:48 also in the elite women’s category.

John Chicano and Edward Macalala finished 27th and 29th, respectively, in the

men’s category. Mark Hosana and Andrew Kim Remolino, however, did not finish the race.

Coach Melvin Fausto believes that the Philippines will dominate all six events in the 30th SEA Games as they did in the 2015 and 2017 SEA Games courtesy of Nikko Huelgas.

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez is also confident that the Filipino triathletes will provide stiff competition to the other participating countries.

“Our athletes, through the proper management of their coaches and the national sports associations, have remained deep in focus as they aim for medal victories in the SEA Games, They are also aware that the 2020 Tokyo Olympics are just around. The SEA Games will be a takeoff point for

EW Clark City will soon become the home of future champion athletes as senators push for the creation of a Philippine High School for Sports within the rising metropolis.

New Clark City, a project of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), is the site of world-class sports facilities built for the Philippines’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) this year.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture, said the Philippine High School for Sports will “unleash the potential of young Filipinos who have shown early potential of excelling in sports for a sports-related career.”

During her cosponsorship speech, Sen. Pia Cayetano showed photos of the New Clark City sports facilities, which include an Athletics Stadium, Aquatics Center and

an Athletes’ Village.

“New Clark City is a sustainable city that will house our athletes for the SEA Games. And this is also where this sports school will be built. It is envisioned that the students will have access to vocational, sports, and academic tracks so that each of them can still fulfill their own dreams,” Cayetano said.

Cayetano, a triathlete and former national athlete, has run laps inside the Athletics Stadium and has also tested the Aquatics Center competition pool.

The Athletics Stadium is a 20,000-seater, world-class Olympics stadium with a nine-lane 400-meter track and field oval, and a six-lane warm-up track. The Aquatics Center is a 2,000-seater, world-class arena built with a 10-lane Olympic size swimming pool, a diving pool with inland diving training facility, and a warm-up training pool.

Knights down luckless Chiefs

some of them. Let us support their bids and pray for their victory,” Ramirez said.

Chicano and Remolino are the country’s entries in the men’s individual competition while Mangrobang and Kilgroe will vie for the women’s individual gold medal.

Emmanuel Kimpan Commendador and Jarwyn Banatao are competing in the men’s duathlon while Jelsie Sabado and Monica Torres are the country’s entries in the women’s side.

The Philippine mixed triathlon team is composed of Chicano, Mangrobang, Kilgroe, Adorna and Filipino-Spanish Fer Caseres.

The duathlon mixed team is composed of Commendador, Joey de los Reyes, Monica Torres and Mary Pauline Fornea. Efraim Hamadon Iñigo is the team’s reserve.

LASCUÑA: CATCH ME IF YOU CAN

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ONY LASCUÑA slowed down with a 68 but hiked his lead to seven over fellow homegrown talent Ferdie Aunzo, threatening to turn the P3 million International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Apo Golf Invitational into a one-man show at the Apo Golf and Country Club in Davao on Thursday.

Lascuña practically pulled away in the last six holes after failing to duplicate his hot backside start Wednesday and settled for a two-birdie, two-bogey game at the front. But just when the rest poised themselves to pounce on his mediocre start, the veteran shotmaker birdied No. 13 for the second straight day then racked up three more in the last four holes, the last from 3 feet, for a closing 32.

With an 11-under 133 aggregate and with no one able to match his blistering windup, Lascuña posted one of the biggest leads after 36 holes in any Philippine Golf Tour or PGT Asia championship and threatened to better Juvic Pagunsan’s eight-shot romp over him in the ICTSI Riviera Classic last August.

“I just played my usual game and didn’t mind if there’s somebody making a charge. But my putting has been clicking the past two weeks,” said Lascuña, his confidence boosted by a triumphant campaign in the Philippine Golf Tour Asia leg in

Taiwan last week that snapped a two-year slump.

“Actually, I’m a bit tired playing seven straight tournaments. I need to rest and recharge,” added the 48-year-old veteran shotmaker, who, nevertheless, opted to downplay his chances for another victory.

“There are still two rounds left and so many players are capable of shooting low rounds here,” said Lascuña, who birdied Nos. 1 and 8 but failed to go up-and-down on Nos. 4 and 6 to make the turn at 36.

Aunzo birdied two of the last four for a 69 as he took the challenger’s role at 140 while Ira Alido rebounded from a wobbly 74 Wednesday with the day’s best five-under 67, spiked by an eagle on the par-5 18th and capped by three birdies in his closing frontside stint.

The young shotmaker, a consistent Top 5 finisher in the PGT and PGTA this year, pooled a 141 for joint third at 141 with Davaoeño Ramil Bisera and Dutch Guido van der Valk, winner of the kickoff leg of the 10th season of PGT in Cebu last June, who shot identical 70s and Albin Engino, who fumbled with a 73.

Gerald Rosales, who turned in impressive 68 in the first round, failed to recover from a frontside 39, hitting just one birdie at the back for a 74 to drop to a share of seventh at 142 with Rufino Bayron, another

Uy makes move in Taiwan

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ANIELLA UY stumbled at the finish and settled for a twounder 70, moving five rungs to joint 15th but falling nine strokes behind local ace Hsieh Yu Ling in the second round of the Party Ladies Golfers Open at the National Golf and Country Club in Miaoli County, Taiwan, on Thursday.

The former Junior World champion

fought back from an opening 74 with birdies in the first three holes but just couldn’t keep her momentum, losing her rhythm a bit and dropping strokes on tough Nos. 6 and 9.

But she recovered her touch and gunned down back-to-back birdies from No. 11 but missed completing a three-under card with another bogey on the 16th for that pair of

local top gun who turned in a second 71.

Jhonnel Ababa, winner of the last PGT leg at Del Monte two weeks ago, also stumbled with a 74 after a 70 and fell to 144 with fellow Davaoeño Mhark Fernando (72), Japanese Takahashi Keisuke (69) and Del Monte’s Magno Arancon Jr. (72) behind the 143 group composed of Kuresh Samanodi (69), Art Arbole (71), Paul Echavez (71), Nilo Salahog (72) and amateur Elee Bisear (73).

Forty four players made it to the final 36 holes at 149, including last year’s champion and reigning PGT Order of Merit champion Jobim Carlos and Del Monte’s Johvanie Abaño, who both fired 71s, American Lexus Keoninh, Lucio Osabel and Arnold Villacencio, who carded identical 75s, and Fil-Am Sean Talmadge, who skied to a 77 after a 72.

Among those who missed the cut in the third of four legs making up the Mindanao swing of the PGT are slumping Jay Bayron (75-150) and fellow Davaoeño Anthony Fernando (75-150), former PGT Asia leg winner James Ryan Lam (76-154).

American Tarik Can, winner of the last PGT Asia leg at Wack Wack last month, retired with a hand injury after groping for a 78 in the first round of the event backed by Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, Champion, Summit Mineral Water, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, KZG, PLDT and MY Shokai Technology.

The Athletes’ Village, on the other hand, is made of 525 furnished units that can accommodate up to 1,500 occupants.

It is complete with training and fitness facilities.

Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, a cosponsor and chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, said the Philippine High School for Sports will provide scholarship grants so that gifted young athletes will have access to quality education that puts equal emphasis on core subjects, and physical education and sports development.

BCDA shares the senators’ enthusiasm to pursue the establishment of a dedicated high school for sports. According to President and CEO Vince Dizon, BCDA will allot 3 hectares within New Clark City for the said purpose.

“BCDA strongly supports the proposal of our senators. This will greatly benefit the next generation of athletes and uplift the standards of Philippine sports,” Dizon said.

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ETRAN foiled Arellano University, 97-84, on Thursday to keep its playoffs hopes alive in the second round eliminations of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 95 seniors basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

The Knights teetered in the first two quarters but got into their groove with a 14-0 run to lead by as many as 13 points, 56-69, midway third quarter.

The Knights held on the rest of the way to notch their 10th win in 16 games while sending the Chiefs down to a 4-12 won-lost card.

The Knights capitalized on the Chiefs’ erratic start for an early 7-0 lead but the boys from Legarda kept the game close at 32-20.

The game was close in practically the next two quarters until the Knights went on a tear to move comfortably ahead at 80-66 in the third period.

Bonbon Batiller tallied 18 points, four assists and two rebounds, and Larry Muyang and Jeo Ambohot chipped in 15 points, Allen Mina made 12 points, and Jerrick Balanza and Fran Yu each had 11 points for Letran.

Ryniel Berlanga

BRONZE MEDAL FOR GOTUACO TONY LASCUÑA threatens to blast the opposition with a big seven-stroke lead

35s that gave her a 36-hole total of 144.

Though she lay too far behind new leader Hsieh, who fired a bogey-free 66 to wrest a huge five-stroke lead over compatriot Ching Ling Chang at 135, Uy vowed to put up a stronger finish for at least a crack in the top 10 in this $100,000 event cosanctioned by Ladies Philippine Golf Tour and sponsored by the International Container Terminal Services Inc. Hsieh, who hit four birdies against a bogey in the first round, strung up a pair of 33s at the rolling layout and stormed past a slew of others with Chang moving to solo second at 140 after a 71, and Lee Tai Ling matching par

DANIELLA UY fights back with a 70 but still trails by nine strokes.

72 for a 141 in a tie with Chiu Ling Ti and Thai Aripchaya Yubol, winner of the Manila Ladies Masters at Manila Golf last April, who both shot 70s.

Amateur Chia Ju Yeh made the biggest jump from joint 35th to a share of third as she sizzled with a 67.

Pauline del Rosario, who gunned down two late birdies to save a 72 and emerge the best Filipina placer after 18 holes of the three-day event, limped with four bogeys against two birdies for a 74 as she slipped from joint 15th to a share of 33rd and dropped out of the title race at 146, 11 shots off the pace.

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AX GOTUACO assembled a four-round total of 1,271 points to bag the bronze in the US National Target Championships at the WRAL Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, recently.

The 14-year-old Gotuaco shot 317 and 320 in the first two rounds then fired another pair of 317s to finish behind gold medalist Jacob Kim (1,320) and silver medal winner Jarrett Pilgram (1,310) in 50m Recurve Club men’s division.

Gotuaco, younger brother of former Palaro and Batang Pinoy champion and Youth Olympics veteran Bianca, who also won the gold in the 2017 US National Indoor Collegiate Archery Championship, also nailed the bronze in Bowman (10-12 years old) division of the US National Target Championship in Indiana two years ago.

Sports BusinessMirror

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| Friday, October 4, 2019 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

TOKYO UNDER SCRUTINY

THIS September 25, 2019, photo, shows the new National Stadium, main stadium for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, in Tokyo. An international labor union investigating worker safety and the use of migrant workers at facilities for next year’s Tokyo Olympics is asking for a joint inspection of build sites and an open interview with workers. AP

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By Stephen Wade The Associated Press

OKYO—An international labor union investigating worker safety and the use of migrant workers at venues for next year’s Tokyo Olympics is asking for a joint inspection of construction sites and an open interview with workers.

The Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI), in a report earlier this year titled “The Dark Side of the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics,” alleged patterns of overwork and contract irregularities at Tokyo venues with attention focused on foreign workers.

In an interview in Tokyo, BWI General Secretary Ambet Yuson said he will request a “construction audit or a joint inspection” in a meeting on Thursday with officials of the local organizing committee, the Japan Sport Council and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

“They are overprotective and don’t want the

outside to come in,” Yuson told The Associated Press.

“They are trying to downplay it, saying construction is almost over. But it’s not over until the Olympics are over. Construction is dangerous and every worker you save makes a difference.”

The Japan Sport Council—a national government body—is building the $1.25-billion national stadium, and the Olympic Village is being built by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

Yuson said BWI, based in Switzerland, has interviewed 50 workers in Tokyo to gain a picture of labor practices at Olympic venues. He said the union was not granted access to the workers, and many who spoke fear they may lose their jobs if their names are revealed.

He said the majority are Japanese with a mix of Vietnamese, Chinese and Filipinos.

“If they don’t believe me, they can listen to these workers,” Yuson said.

Death by overwork, known as karoshi, is a problem in Japan where long working hours are

Fifa hands stiff ban on ex-Concacaf official

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URICH—Fifa has imposed a life ban for bribery on Enrique Sanz, the former general secretary of North American soccer body Concacaf.

Sanz was easily identified as an unnamed coconspirator in US Department of Justice documents in 2015—No. 4 in the original indictment in May that year, and No. 3 in a superseding indictment unsealed that December.

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American federal prosecutors alleged that he arranged and took bribes linked to commercial deals for international soccer competitions with other officials linked to Fifa. They included World Cup qualifying games and the 2016 Copa American centenary tournament.

common. Yuson also noted that many construction sites have signs about health and safety written only in Japanese, unhelpful for foreign workers.

Yuson said 300 workers—Japanese and nonJapanese—die annually on construction work in Japan.

Japan’s labor ministry, in a report issued 10 months ago, said two workers have died on projects for the Tokyo Olympics.

Yuson said he has asked the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to step in, perhaps, using leverage on the Tokyo organizing committee.

“The IOC doesn’t push,” he said.

Many sports governing bodies have signed up the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which spell out practices for businesses and government. They include soccer governing bodies Fifa and UEFA, the Commonwealth Games Federation, the International Paralympic Committee and Qatar’s 2022 World Cup. The IOC has added the UN guidelines to host city

contracts that come into effect with the 2024 Paris Olympics. That excludes Tokyo, and the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, where independent labor unions are barred by China’s authoritarian government.

Yuson said Tokyo conditions have improved some since the report was issued earlier this year. But he said continued research had uncovered added problems linked to worker safety and overtime.

“We want to bring legacy to the Olympics, not only to the multinational companies, or to the athletes, but to the workers as well,” Yuson said.

A report released last year by the national government’s Board of Audit said Japan is likely to spend $25 billion overall to prepare for the games. This is public money, except for the $5.6-billion operating budget.

Organizers dispute the figure and say it’s about $12 billion, though what are Olympic costs—and what are not—is subject to heated debate.

Tokyo projected total costs of about $7.5 billion in its winning bid for the games in 2013.

Though Sanz was not publicly charged or sentenced, prosecutors alleged he also took part in bribery schemes working for sports agency Traffic USA before joining Concacaf in 2012.

The indictment said he obtained an “expensive painting from an art gallery in New York” as a bribe while working for Jeffrey Webb, then Concacaf’s leader and a Fifa vice president. Webb, a banker from the Cayman Islands, pleaded guilty to various financial crimes and is awaiting sentence.

Fifa said its ethics judges charged Sanz with

bribery only during his 2012-15 work with Concacaf.

He was found guilty and fined 100,000 Swiss francs ($100,000).

In 2014, the Colombia-born official took a leave of absence from Concacaf, which also covers Central America and the Caribbean, while being treated for leukemia.

Sanz was suspended by Fifa’s ethics committee when the sprawling American investigation was unsealed in May 2015, and he was fired by Concacaf weeks later. AP

Murray impresses in China, Andreescu wins 15th straight game

EIJING—Andy Murray won consecutive singles matches for the first time since undergoing hip surgery in January, while US Open champion Bianca Andreescu won her 15th in a row at the China Open on Wednesday.

The 32-year-old Murray beat British countryman Cameron Norrie, 7-6 (6), 6-7 (4), 6-1, to make the singles quarterfinals at a tournament for the first time in 12 months.

Murray will face either topseeded Dominic Thiem or Chinese wild-card entry Zhang Zhizhen on Friday.

After splitting the first two sets on tiebreakers, former top-ranked Murray pulled away in the third, winning 77 percent of first serve points to improve to 4-0 against Norrie.

“I decided like, if I want to win, I have to go and take risks and

come to the net, try and finish the points quicker, which I did.

I did that well at the end,” Murray said.

Also on Wednesday, fourth-seeded Karen

Khachanov beat Jeremy Chardy, and eighthseeded Fabio Fognini beat Andrey Rublev 6-3, 6-4.

In the women’s tournament, No. 6-ranked Andreescu beat Elise Mertens of Belgium 6-3, 7-6 (5) in a second-round match.

It was a rematch of a US Open quarterfinal, which Andreescu won en route to her first career Grand Slam title last month.

Andreescu, a 19-year-old

Canadian, will face Jennifer Brady in the next round. Brady earlier beat fellow American Madison Keys 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Top-seeded Ash Barty advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-2 win over Zheng Saisai of China.

The French Open champion saved five of five break points to record her 50th win of the year.

“It’s a new challenge, new circumstances, different

ANDY MURRAY of Britain and US Open champion Bianca Andreescu make it to the next round of the China Open. AP

environment,” Barty said.

“But I’m always up for the challenge, so I’m happy to be here.”

Petra Kvitova defeated Belinda Bencic 6-3, 6-3 to reach her fifth career China Open quarterfinal. AP

God of the living

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EAR God, You are forever present in all things.

With awe and wonder, we pray: Free us to love, oh God. Favor and bless parents, grandparents and guardians. Inspire and instruct counselors, spiritual mentors and confessors. Animate and strengthen hospital personnel, day-care workers and nursing home professionals. May God strengthen us to love God and our neighbor with all our heart, mind and soul, in Jesus our truth. Amen.

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

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

DIRECTOR Steven Soderbergh, (from left) actors Gary Oldman and Meryl Streep, and author Jake Bernstein at the premiere of the film The Laundromat at the 76th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy. AP

Life BusinessMirror

GAB FAB: ‘IT’S SHOWTIME’ MARKS 10 YEARS D4

Friday, October 4, 2019

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Meryl Streep goes to ‘The Laundromat’

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BY JAKE COYLE The Associated Press

ORONTO—Meryl Streep is describing “the Darwinism of the moment” and not just because her latest film, the Steven Soderbergh-directed Panama Papers satire The Laundromat, opens with cavemen.

She’s talking about the explosion of norms and the niceties of human interaction. We’re in an era, she believes, where only the strongest prevails.

“So how do we get the strong to stay principled?

How do we do that?” Streep says. “Because the unprincipled want to march upfront and take the lead.

That’s what’s happening.”

It’s a concern that has come to almost consume Streep, one of the most vocal critics of President Donald J. Trump. And it’s shaping the films she’s making. The Laundromat, like her last “Papers”-based movie—the 2017 freedom-of-the-press thriller The Post, about the publishing of the Pentagon Papers—is a rallying cry.

“My own brain is so scrambled with exigencies and what really needs to be said, needs to be done,” Streep says. “All I have are my talents to entertain and to broadcast something in some different variety of ways. It’s like raising children: Anything to get the message in. What does it take?”

The Laundromat, which is now in North American theaters and begins streaming on Netflix in midOctober, is one of the more audacious attempts to answer that question. It takes some of the densest, most complicated information and filters it into a

fourth-wall-breaking farce that culminates with a rousing challenge, a call to arms.

Loosely based on Jake Bernstein’s best seller Secrecy World, the splintered stories of The Laundromat, penned by Scott Z. Burns, are derived from the 2015 data breach known as the Panama Papers. That trove of some 11.5 million documents, leaked by a whistleblower and analyzed by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), pulled the curtain back on the cloaked international network of offshore shell companies shielding billions of untaxed dollars.

Inspired partly by the Argentinian anthology romp Wild Tales, The Laundromat is a comical stroll through the evolution of our monetary system (thus the cavemen) that weaves together a handful of the 200,000-plus tales of the Panama Papers. Gary Goldman and Antonio Banderas play the lawyers whose firm, Mossack Fonseca, was at the center of the scandal, as well as our martini-swilling, tuxedoed narrators. Streep plays Ellen Martin, a woman trying to navigate the byzantine layers of shell companies in search of an insurer that will take responsibility for her husband’s death in a tour-boat accident.

Soderbergh wanted The Laundromat to be a brisk and buoyant comedy about a dark and dirty business.

“Every serious problem that we’re facing right now as a species can be traced back to some form of corruption. And the trajectory of it is pretty alarming.

In 2000, the top 50 financial elites owned a third of the world’s wealth. Now they own a half. That’s not sustainable,” says Soderbergh. “It’s either going to get rebuilt by agreement or it’s going to get rebuilt some

Starring in The Laundromat, a biting satire on dirty money, the legendary actress expressed alarm over the explosion of norms and the niceties of human interaction. “So how do we get the strong to stay principled? How do we do that?” says Streep.

“Because the unprincipled want to march upfront and take the lead. That’s what’s happening.”

other way that’s not as pleasant.”

“The historical way,” chimes Streep. “All that money could be solving all the problems. Instead, it’s going into yachts.”

Soderbergh and Streep, who recently sat for an interview the morning after the film’s premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, haven’t worked together before. But it was, perhaps, inevitable that they would given Streep’s eagerness to make movies that can catch up to the news. Soderbergh is known as one of the fastest-moving filmmakers around. Last month, they shot another film together, Let Them All Talk, in just 13 days.

“We have an intermediary love affair with Mike Nichols,” says Streep. “He loved Steven’s work and always said, ‘You have to work with him. But not until you look at this script that I have for you.’”

“I don’t know why it took so long. It seems stupid,” says Soderbergh. “But we’re trying to make up for that.” To write The Laundromat, Burns worked closely with Bernstein, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who was heavily involved in the ICIJ’s reporting. A regular collaborator with Soderbergh, Burns (The Informant!, Contagion) knew the director’s interest would only be piqued by something formally daring.

But he wondered what Bernstein would make of such a high-concept approach.

“I was really worried as I was writing this that he would rush in waving his hands going, ‘What are you doing to our journalism?’ He never said that. He very quickly understood what we were trying to do,” said

CONTINUED ON D4

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Society BusinessMirror

Friday, October 4, 2019

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Today’s Horoscope

❶ CABAHUG

with eight of his creations for his anniversary gala.

By Eugenia Last

❷ FR. Boyd R.

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Alicia Silverstone, 43; Liev Schreiber, 52; Christoph Waltz, 63; Susan Sarandon, 73.

Sulpico, OP, Letran Alumni Chaplain and member of the Letran Board of Trustees.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Put more into home, family and getting ahead. Refuse to let setbacks of the past hold you back. Use your ingenuity, strength and courage to bring about positive changes that will improve your life on all fronts. Share your thoughts and create a stir about your future plans; you will be given the green light to chase your dreams. Your lucky numbers are 8, 11, 21, 23, 32, 34, 46.

❸ MARGARITA GUTIERREZ, Rayons Du Soleil producer

❶

❹ REP. Amanda

Christina Bagatsing

a

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Mix and mingle. It will do you good to get someone else’s perspective on what’s happening.

Listen and offer an objective point of view to gain the most knowledge. An unusual prospect will give you something to think about. HHHHH

FILIPINO fashion designer Pablo Cabahug celebrates a milestone this November with a nostalgic look back, and a hopeful welcoming of the future. On November 4, the designer will ring in his 10th year of fashioning sartorial masterpieces, with a celebratory benefit dinner and gala show for his new collection, dubbed “Rayons Du Soleil [Rays of the Sun],” at the PICC Forum.

b

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You’ll be up against someone who is inconsistent and who tends to make a mountain out of a molehill. Ease into conversations and source out what’s behind the comments being made. Don’t let someone’s emotional tactics mislead you. HH

❷

❸

c

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Stick close to home in order to control situations that have the potential to veer out of control. Know what and who you are dealing with. Use your knowledge and intelligence to keep the peace. HHHH

❹

Pablo Cabahug celebrates 10 years W ITH a well-trained sartorial eye and a mastery of bringing easy luxe visions to life, Filipino fashion designer Pablo Cabahug has earned his stripes in the fashion industry over the past decade, including winning the Look of Style Awards that granted him a scholarship at Central Saint Martins in London.

This November, the designer is celebrating a milestone with a nostalgic look back, and a hopeful welcoming of the future. On November 4, Cabahug is ringing in his 10th year of fashioning sartorial masterpieces, with a celebratory benefit dinner and gala show for his new collection, dubbed “Rayons Du Soleil [Rays of the Sun],” at the PICC Forum.

The upcoming 50-piece collection is something of a love letter to his colorful experiences in the industry that has shaped the designer he has become today.

Pablo says, “I wanted to revisit my most memorable collections, and reimagine them with a romantic feel and the ease of different hues and emotions from sunrise to sunset.” This imagery of the sun—from rising to its seat in the sky, to its return to rest at the end of the day—is symbolic of life’s never-ending opportunities. “To fall and rise again, to live another day and start anew,” the designer explains.

The benefit dinner that will set the scene for Rayons Du Soleil’s launch will benefit Pablo’s alma mater, Colegio de San Juan de Letran. It will also fund

d

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Take note of what others are doing and contributing.

Offering praise will help develop a strong relationship with someone who can help defend you when faced with opposition. Learn by engaging with people from different backgrounds. HHH

e

the construction of the Letran Quadricentennial Building to commemorate 400 years of relentlessly pursuing academic excellence. Some names who will walk the runway on November will be Letran alumnis including Sen. Freddy Webb, director Lauren Dyogi, and former PBA star Kerby Raymundo.

Taking his initiative beyond the evening of the gala show, Pablo says that “a portion of the [collection] sales will be donated to the Letran scholarship, so we can continue to give back even after the show is over.”

All pieces from the upcoming Rayons Du Soleil collection will be made available at Pablo’s web site (www.pablocabahug.com), and also at his atelier in San Antonio Village, Makati City. n

Nico whips it good NOVATEUR Coffee Concepts Marketing Specialist Mindy Leonor (from left), Marketing Head Millet Valdez, featured celebrity barista Nico Bolzico, Novateur Coffee Concepts Marketing Manager Mia Silva and Marketing Specialist Patricia Flores

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Someone will cause a fuss or provoke you to make one. A steady pace forward and a positive attitude will help you ward off controversy that will put a dent in your time and ability to achieve what you set out to do.

HHH

f

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Pick up the pace and keep going until you reach your destination. Surround yourself with interesting people who inspire and motivate you. A change in the company you keep or the places you congregate will result in new possibilities. HHH

g

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Don’t give in to anyone muscling into your affairs. The less transparent you are, the better the outcome.

Stick to what you know, and finish what you start. It’s what you leave undone that will come back to haunt you. HHHH

h

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Stay in the background and observe. The way others carry on will be a telltale sign of the way they will treat you if you let them get to know you better.

Play it safe and you won’t be sorry. HHH

i j

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Take care of personal business. Get your finances in order and any paperwork that needs updating signed, sealed and delivered. How you conduct your business will be what others notice. HHHHH

NICO BOLZICO recently gave followers of his Instagram page a quick look at his coffee-making skills in a video. Needless to say, his funny asides in the video delighted his followers, but his barista skills looked absolutely dead serious.

“It was the first time I made a cappuccino in my life,” said Nico at a recent event in Power Plant Mall, adding he still couldn’t believe he was able to whip up different barista-style coffees in a matter of minutes, with just a quick push of a button. “Solenn [Heussaff, his multi-hyphenate wife] is very impressed,” he continued, pointedly making a dramatic pause before landing with a smile, “—with Nespresso, not with me.”

Nespresso (www.nestle-nespresso.com) is, of course, the luxury coffee and espresso machine brand known worldwide, and as the brand’s featured celebrity barista Nico Bolzico showed off his moves with the Nespresso machine at the Nespresso Boutique at the Power Plant Mall. He showcased how to create perfectly crafted milk and coffee recipes and shared coffee-making tips. Guests also enjoyed the three Barista Creations flavors: Chiaro (which means “light” in Italian), Scuro (meaning “dark), and Corto (which means “short”).

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Hold on to your thoughts. Sharing with someone who tends to be a blabbermouth will cost you emotionally.

Look at the big picture and you’ll know exactly what you have to do in order to bring about positive change.

HHH

k

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Don’t get angry with someone for taking advantage of you; get angry with yourself for falling for his or her devious ways. Protect against those asking for too much or trying to tempt you into something that isn’t right for you. HHH

l

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): A closer look at what others are doing will give you an idea on how to handle a situation you face. Turn a negative into a positive by using someone or something from your past to negotiate your way to victory. HHH BIRTHDAY BABY: You are dynamic, adaptable and sensitive.

You are smart and trendy.

‘on a first-name basis’ BY JIM HOLLAND The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Side sometimes made with jicama 5 ___ Romeo 9 Females with manes 14 University of New Mexico athlete 15 ___ out (betrayed) 16 Amazed 17 Word before “friendly” or “experience” 18 Mine vehicle 19 Randomly scatter 20 Pulls a fast one on Mays and Nelson?

23 When repeated, a drum 24 One might have a knight rider 25 Prof’s helpers 28 Squealer, in two ways 30 Couldn’t get enough of 34 Borders on 36 Bodybuilders’ liquids 39 Corrida participant 40 Smart and Harlow, when down in the dumps?

43 Italian wine region 44 Slithery swimmers

5 Actor Davis 4 46 Appeared to be 48 Rebellious computer in 2001 50 2012 flick about a bear 51 Not natural to one’s experience 54 Spot on a domino 56 Bailey, Buck, White, etc.?

62 Trojan War story 63 Shout at a hockey rink 64 Major defeat 65 “No man is an island” poet John 66 Beginning of many stories 67 ___ Lee bread 68 Profound depth 69 Clears after taxes 70 Barbara who played Jeannie DOWN 1 Slime trail leaver 2 “___ the attitude!”

3 Cut through barbed wire for, say 4 One, on a scale of one to 10, often 5 Wheezing condition 6 Group knowledge 7 Chips and dings 8 Fess up to

9 Deceived 10 Remedies 11 Make a ___ appearance 12 They’re sheepish but not necessarily shy 13 Attach a patch, e.g.

21 Anatomical trunk 22 Contractual agreement 25 Spanish bar bites 26 Degrade 27 The Nutcracker ___ 29 Start of a Shakespearean soliloquy 31 Cook on a spit, say 32 Banks of baseball fame 33 Gave meds to 35 Three-hulled sailboats 37 “___ see you in court!”

38 Thick with vegetation 41 Inserted, as coins 42 Angelina of “Gia” 47 Doesn’t pronounce 49 Half of a common comparison 52 Encourage in a taunting way 53 Nary a soul 55 Dissect grammatically

6 Messy sort 5 57 Small 58 “J and Q don’t appear on the periodic table,” e.g.

59 Choice in a Frost poem 60 Angler’s accessory 61 Lee or Laurel 62 Actress Lupino Solution to yesterday’s puzzle:

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Relationships BusinessMirror

Friday, October 4, 2019

Japan leads turnover of 560 metric tons of rice ON September 16, at the National Office Authority-National Capital Region office in Paco, Manila, 560 metric tons of rice donated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan, was officially turned over to the NFA under the framework of the Asean Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve. Tetsuharu Mori, first secretary, embassy of Japan in the Philippines; Takashi Amo, director general for Crop Production Bureau of MAFF; APTERR Secretariat-General Manager Chanpithya Shimphalee; and NFA Administrator Judy Carol L. Dansal led the ceremonial turnover.

The rice will be distributed to families affected by Tropical Storm Ineng (international codename Bailu) in Ilocos Norte and Tropical Storm Jenny (international codename Podul) in Pangasinan.

APTERR is a regional cooperation among Asean Plus Three countries, geared toward strengthening food security, poverty alleviation and malnourishment eradication. It started in 2002 during the Asean Plus Three Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry. In 2018, Japan provided 225 MT of rice under the APTERR to displaced people from Marawi City.

Women in the workplace SOMETHING LIKE LIFE

MA. STELLA F. ARNALDO

@akosistellaBM

W

OMEN who get married are increasingly leaving the workplace, according to a recent study by the National Economic and Development Authority. Many of these women, Neda adds, are of the childbearing age of 25 to 29 years old.

Neda wanted to determine the factors in convincing a woman to work outside the home as it noticed that the labor force participation rate of Filipinas remained “stagnant.” In the past two decades, it said, their participation rate stayed between 49 percent and 50 percent. Last year, the rate fell even further at only 46 percent of the employable women in the country. This is the lowest rate in Southeast Asia, it noted.

Estimates by the International Labor Organization indicated that the Philippines’s labor participation rate for women “was lower than the Muslim neighboring countries of Malaysia at 51 percent, Indonesia at 52 percent and Brunei Darussalam at 58 percent, and was way below that of the Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam which had female labor-force participation rates of at least 73 percent in 2018. Thailand and Singapore, also had higher female labor force participation rates at 59 and 61 percent, respectively.”

The study showed the reduction in the female labor force participation across all levels of education, although women who had finished college education had the most inclination to keep working outside their home. Cultural and religious factors also kept married women, especially those with children, at home.

“The presence of young children aged three years and below is associated negatively with labor-force

participation for women, and is not significantly related with men’s labor-force participation.” On the other hand, once the kids start school, more women begin to work, “which may indicate the need for women to augment family income to defray for educational expenditures,” according to the study.

“Iba po kasi ang lalaki. Ang lalaki naghihingi pa ng tulong, puro salita din. Pero ang babae ang gumagalaw sa pag-aasikaso sa anak. Kagaya noon nasa ospital kami, ’yong asawa ko sabi sa akin, ‘Puntahan mo ’yong anak mo, paki ano mo sa nurse.’ Ako ang inuutusan niya. Siya hanggang salita lang, pero siya ’yong matapang. Natataranta din ako pero ako yong gumagalaw—lakad ng lakad kung saan, bili ng gamot,” said one housewife interviewed for the study.

Muslim women were also, most likely, to stay home than work.

The study pointed to the lack of affordable and trusted child care services as a reason women withdraw from the work force. Many have to rely on parents or in-laws for help in childrearing but for the most part, the housewives interviewed are unable to get good househelp. One narrated that the nanny they got stayed with them for four years but in the end, stole money and jewelry from their family.

Traffic jams and difficulty commuting have also been cited as a reason for women to leave the work force.

“Noong ako ay nagtatrabaho, naranasan ko na hindi mag-MRT kasi siksikan ang MRT. Nag-commute ako sa bus, alas dose ang time ko, pero alas dos na nakarating sa Taguig, late na rin po. Automatic absent na or automatic kaltas na ’yon. Buti hindi na ako nagtatrabaho ngayon kasi nakikita ko, pagbaba ko pa lang ng hagdan, sukong-suko na ako. Buntis pa ako nun sa panganay ko, walang nagbibigay ng upuan sa MRT,” said another housewife.

The study showed more women were employed in the services and manufacturing sectors, and less in “industries that require more cognitive skills than physical strength.”

Much work needs to be done to counter existing stereotypes of working women. Educational materials, for one, reinforce the thinking that couples need to stay together, so mothers will have more time to stay with their children.

“I am separated from my partner. My child says it could have been better if his father and I were

together because then I would not have to work and I could spend more time for them. His perception is influenced by the books he reads in school,” said an officer of an online freelancing firm.

Neda recommends “a review of educational learning materials and storybooks in early childhood to promote gender equality. An extended paternity leave and additional parental leave will give husbands a fair share of caring for their babies. Stronger implementation of laws governing access to childcare services in government and support for bills requiring day-care facilities in the private sector will be needed.”

The agency also suggests the need to strengthen the enforcement of Republic Act 11165, or the Telecommuting Act, which allows employers to offer staff the choice to work from an alternative workplace.

Said one entrepreneur, “It is better to work online from home than to work in a call center. Because it is home based and I do not need to spend too much on clothing, makeup and other personal effects.”

In Western countries, employers are already reaping the benefits from letting their employees work from home in terms of increased productivity, improved work quality, reduction in office requirements, higher retention of employees, among others. (Read “10 Benefits of Telecommuting for Employers” https://bit.ly/2DttKSX.) The Neda study highlighted the importance of investing in the education of women so they could go to college and graduate.

It also recommends further strengthening of measures to counter discrimination in the workplace, especially for Muslim women.

Last, the agency noted the need “to spur investments in both the manufacturing and services sectors, and to eliminate barriers to women’s participation in their preferred occupation.”

An old Chinese proverb says, “Women hold up half the sky.” For a country to fully expand its economy and achieve its targets, more women must join the work force. A company benefits from having a wider choice of experiences, skills and talents that women bring to the table. Women must be afforded the proper support in terms of education, family and government policies to be able to attain their personal career goals. n

DESIGNER RYAN CHRIS BAYLEN, STUDENTS COLLABORATE ON BRIDAL COLLECTION

DESIGNER Ryan Chris Baylen under his eponymous brand goes on a whimsical journey with his newest bridal collection, dubbed “Ethereal—The Tale of a Bridal Fantasy.”

Think of fairy-tale characters brought to life with a twist of modern-day minimalism and profound taste. “From a rebellious take in Ofrendas de Flores—Ryan Chris will send us back on memory lane where everything is magical,” says Kitten Zapata of Wedding Essentials. “And just like in every fairy tale, it all starts with a series of promiscuous misfortunes, but this should never stop us from dreaming and making these dreams a reality.”

The show will bring the audience to fantasy land, featuring a diverse lineup of models and an audacious display of artistry. “At the end of the show, we should always be reminded that behind every dream is ‘E-the-real’—that we are in reality, and in reality dreams should be fulfilled,” says designer Ryan Chris.

The proceeds of the show will help build bigger and better classrooms for the students of Tomas Earnshaw Elementary School, according to the designer.

Ethereal—The Tale of a Bridal Fantasy goes onstage on October 5, to be featured in “Engaged: Bridal and Beauty Fashion Weekend Expo—Second Edition” at One Esplanade, Pasay City.

Mental-health problems top concern in workplace productivity

BY PAULINE JOY M. GUTIERREZ THERE are more workers who miss work (absenteeism), and even when at work do not perform optimally (presenteeism), because of depression and mental illness than because of physical illness or injury, a World Health Organization study finds.

The same study cites that job burnout, lack of motivation, bullying and psychological harassment, as well as anxiety, are the commonly reported causes of work-related stress.

Risk factors present in the work environment include poor communication and management practices, limited participation in decision-making or abysmal control over one’s area of work, and, more important, low levels of support for employees.

Case in point, even with high-profile mentalhealth campaigns growing in pockets of corporate offices over the last decade, poor mental health remains a area of concern because it is still considered a taboo subject among organizations which continue to dismiss those struggling with conditions, as reported in a previous article in BUSINESSMIRROR (bit. ly/2kWg0HK). As a result, mental-health problems cost the global economy $1 trillion each year in lost productivity and increased staff turnover, which refers to the percentage of workers who leave an

CHRISTER DE SILVA (from left), Jo Ann Rosary Asetre, Dr. Robert Buenaventura and Nana Nadal

organization and are replaced by new employees.

Other consequences include increased rates of short-term disability, safety incidents and stress imposed on other team members because of overtime overstaffing to cover sick-day absences.

A core part of improving the mental well-being of employees, according to PR practitioner Nana Nadal,

is to encourage a growing openness about mental health. Only recently, she partnered with The Mind Museum in organizing a talk tackling mental health in the workplace, titled “Mind at Work.”

The first part of the discussion, led by Dr. Robert Buenaventura of the UERM Department of Psychiatry, touched on how mental-health interventions should

be delivered as part of an integrated health and well-being strategy that covers prevention, early identification, support and rehabilitation.

He suggested regular or emergency consultations with mental-health professionals in a private office space, annual mental-health checkups and immediate referral to those who need it, inclusion of mental and neurological care in health maintenance organization coverage and involvement of the Department of Labor and Employment to audit implementation of mental programs and policies, as well as tax breaks for companies with mental-health programs.

Buenaventura stressed that countries need to invest more in mental-health services, as every $1 invested in scaling up treatment for depression and anxiety leads to a return of $4 in better health and ability to work.

Meanwhile, Jo Ann Rosary Asetre, a career management consultant and the managing director of Lee Hecht Harrison Philippines, said that maintaining a personal support network, and accessing personal, organizational and community resources, can help employees in times of burnout. Tracking their stressors, practicing meditation and taking time to recharge, in addition to establishing boundaries (setting time for yourself instead of being available 24/7), are also some crucial steps to manage stress.

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Show BusinessMirror

Friday, October 4, 2019

www.businessmirror.com.ph

NETFLIX TO BRING KOREAN RETRO ROMANCE FILM ‘TUNE IN FOR LOVE’

THE world’s leading Internet entertainment service, Netflix announced that the romantic drama Tune in for Love will launch globally on November 5.

Tune in for Love tells of a young couple’s love story, in which fate keeps pulling them together and pushing them apart again as they try to figure out life on their own and with each other.

The film starts off in the year of 1994. Mi-su, played

by Kim Go-eun (Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, Cheese in the Trap), works at a bakery, inherited from her mother. Hyeon-u, played by Jung Hae-in (One Spring Night, Something in the Rain), ends up working at the shop, and they slowly start to grow feelings for each other. Throughout the next decade, Mi-su and Hyeon-u continue to cross paths, but timing is not always in their favor.

Tune in for Love is a music-filled romantic drama, with songs flowing through the years, triggering nostalgia and emotion. The film depicts fresh college graduates who are faced with an economic recession due to the Asian financial crisis of 1997. It also attempts to capture two sincere young adults who try to do their best to make it through those uncertain times.

Tune in for Love is directed by Jung Ji-woo (Heart Blackened, Eungyo), and written by Lee Sook-yun (One Fine Spring Day, On the Way to the Airport).

‘It’s Showtime’ marks 10 years GAB FAB JET VALLE

@jetvalle

T

EN years ago, Vice Ganda was just an ordinary comedy bar regular who would occasionally do some TV guestings in variety shows or in a teleserye or two. She then received a call that would forever change the course of her life: a “guest” stint as a judge in a new TV reality program that would air once a week every Saturday night. Vice, along with other judges, then taped the pilot with Vhong Navarro and Anne Curtis as host.

The ABS-CBN management felt there was something fresh and new with this show they were doing, such as a reality-dance contest wherein audiences not only judged the contestants but also the judges. They tweaked some things here and there, and decided to convert this to a daily morning show, preempting ABS-CBN’s then lunchtime lord, Wowowee.

They decided to call the program It’s Showtime.

October 2009, It’s Showtime debuted on ABS-CBN and it started out as a contest for dance groups to

‘ONE OF THE BAES’ MAKES WAVES, TOPS PHL TRENDS ON PILOT EPISODE

NETIZENS were all aboard, loving the millennial fairy-tale of Jowalyn Biglangdapa and Grant Altamirano as the pilot episode of One of the Baes topped the trending topics in the Philippines on September 30.

Top-billed by one of today’s hottest love teams—RitKen, or Ken Chan and Rita Daniela—the latest GMA prime-time series made waves on its first night, dominating Twitter with the hashtag #OneOfTheBaesPilot. RitKen “shippers” took to social media to share their happiness over the prime-time debut of their favorite onscreen couple.

One netizen, @_joshrey, commented: “I have to say this @akosiKenChan & #RitaDaniela have ONE OF THE BEST CHEMISTRY SA BUONG PILIPINAS hehe I just watched #OneOfTheBaesPilot and I was screaming to the TV like the fanboy that I am and I have to say, the teleserye is kilig to the bones!”

A RitKen supporter, @ritasken, said: “gandang pilot episode. kaabang-abang ang mga susunod na ganap. the crown princess idea is so fascinating. grabe. congrats to the cast, crew, and whole team of ootb! talagang ginalingan! @akosiKenChan @missritadaniela.”

Another viewer, @morisss_, tweeted: “Mahal na Mahal ko kayo! Kahit pagod at inaantok na ako ng sobra dahil sa work Pinipilit ko manood pero dahil sa Ganda NAGISING AKO KAKATAWA @akosiKenChan @missritadanieIa #OneOfTheBaesPilot.”

Ken and Rita took to social media as well to show their gratitude over the viewers’ overwhelming support on their pilot episode. “Maraming-maraming salamat po sa lahat ng nanood at naki-trending sa ONE OF THE BAES! Samahan niyo po ulit kami bukas,” Ken tweeted, showing his and Rita’s video greet right after the first episode’s pilot airing.

One of the Baes is the latest series produced by GMA Public Affairs under the supervision of Senior AVP Neil Gumban, Program Managers Joni Mosatalla and Joseph Conrad Rubio. It is directed by King Marc Baco and Michael Christian Cardoz.

Sail with Ken and Rita in One of the Baes weeknights after The Gift on GMA. Viewers from across the globe can also catch their favorite GMA shows via the network’s international channels GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV and GMA News TV International.

More information is available at www.gmapinoytv.com.

out-move each other with a panel of judges, headed

by Vice Ganda. In true Vice fashion, she would give her opinions in a humorous way—sometimes acerbic, sometimes wholesome, but more often than not, she would hit the mark. Then began her quick rise to superstardom and she is now known as the phenomenal unkabogable star with whatever she touches: whether it’s a movie, a concert or an album, it would certainly become a hit.

Little do people know that Vice once considered quitting the show early on. She said she was earning P5,000 a day already then but given the daily expenses with her hair, makeup, clothes plus the salary of a PA she had to hire, Vice felt she was earning and taking home more in her stints in comedy bars because she didn’t have to spend as much.

“Pagod na pagod talaga ako. Tapos feeling ko hindi ako nakakatawa, feeling ko wala na akong maisip na mapapatawa pa. Parang lahat na ata ng jokes, naubos ko nung unang year. Kaya sabi ko hindi na ako magiging effective kasi ubos na ako.”

Vice, along with her then-manager Ogie Diaz, asked to be let go but ABS-CBN management negotiated by just asking her to take a sabbatical leave.

Ogie also asked for better pay, which the TV network gladly gave.

“Napaisip talaga ako hindi lang dahil OK na sweldo ko, etc., pero na-realize ko hindi ko pala kaya pag hindi ko makikita ang Showtime family ko everyday. Particularly that time si Anne [Curtis]. Dun ko nasabi na kailangan ko bumalik,” says Vice.

Fast forward to 2019 and Vice along with the rest

of the It’s Showtime family are now celebrating their 10th year on air, and it will be a yearlong celebration kicking off with the annual “Magpasikat” competition featuring the Showtime hosts battling out in different production numbers. The hosts are grouped and required to bring together 120 madlang people or ordinary audience members to be given a chance to shine on TV. The country’s top-rating noontime show also looks back on its 10 years by relaunching its wellloved classic segments, and the continuation of recently launched contests, such as “Mr. Q&A,” “Kaparewho” and the return of “Tawag ng Tanghalan.”

Furthermore, It’s Showtime will also be pushing for environmental protection and conservation, the details of which cannot be disclosed by Vice but all she can say is it was her cohost Karylle’s idea to continue the legacy of ABS-CBN’s Gina Lopez.

The 10th anniversary is daunting and draining for everyone in Showtime. Asked if he still feels tired with his busy schedule, Vice reveals, “Oo naman.

Nakakapagod naman talaga. Physically draining lalo na kung sabay-sabay mo ginagawa ang lahat. Pero sa experience ko dati, dun ko na-realize na iba ang pagod sa burnout. Ngayon ’pag naririnig ko mga mas bata na nagsasabi na bu-burnout na sila sa trabaho, pinagsasabihan ko sila na hanapin nila ang purpose ng ginagawa nila. ’Yun ang nangyari sa akin. I found the purpose of my work and while I feel physically tired, never ko naramdaman ang burnout. Magkaiba ’yun kaya importante talaga you should find your purpose.”

Unkabogable words from an unkabogable star. n

Meryl Streep goes to ‘The Laundromat’ CONTINUED FROM D1 Burns alongside a nodding Bernstein. “We wanted this to mean something to every person. The fact that the world’s financial system is structured this way is having an adverse effect on everybody.”

Burns’s screenplay immediately appealed to Soderbergh. He calls The Laundromat “a culmination” for him that drew on all of his filmmaking experience.

His fascination with money goes back, too; during the director’s hiatus from Hollywood, one of the paintings he produced depicted a fantastical kind of currency.

Streep responded to the film’s directness.

“It’s almost like we’re exhausted by metaphor now,” Streep says. “You can start there. You can dance around it. But then you gotta go: ‘You know what? You know what?! Pay attention! Wake up!’”

It’s difficult to talk about The Laundromat without discussing its ending. But suffice to say, the film ends in a stripped-down flourish that playfully deconstructs the high-concept hijinks that precede it.

Part of that set up (and skip the following paragraphs if you want nothing ruined) involves a secondary performance involving Streep in the guise of a mysterious Latin woman working inside the firm.

Some critics have taken issue with that element of The Laundromat. (Vanity Fair called it a “galling unforced error” given concerns about representation onscreen.)

When asked about it, a previously unseen publicist suggested the interview “move along.” But Soderbergh and Streep said they were happy to defend those scenes. “It’s going to come up,” said Soderbergh. “We can talk about it.”

He stressed that for the film’s payoff finale, it has to be Streep’s character, Ellen, in an intentionally bad disguise. “It’s a very specific trick that is necessary to set up a very important piece of narrative architecture that’s going to be paid off in the final shot. She has to play that part. She has to be disguised. But there

STREEP plays Ellen Martin, a woman trying to navigate the byzantine layers of shell companies in search of an insurer that will take responsibility for her husband’s death in a tour-boat accident.

has to be something about her that you look at and go, ‘Something’s up,’” says Soderbergh. “I knew we’re probably going to get some heat for that. But in this specific comedic context in the narrative structure, this has to happen.”

“For me, it’s like spy craft. Spies do all sorts of things to get information,” says Streep. “I think Ellen went underground. But she doesn’t really fit in. It’s not that good.” They each imagine The Laundromat, in the spirit of Dr. Strangelove, as an over-the-top, shapeshifting satire built for worrisome times. Streep, who famously criticized Trump in a 2017 Golden Globes speech, drawing his ire on Twitter, shudders thinking about the country’s predicament.

“It’s actually impossible to be an artist and not react to it,” she says. “Everything you do is, by default, helping or hurting.”

But for her, not everything is doom and gloom.

The Laundromat may harken back to an earlier kind of social satire, but those days—the 1960s and 1970s— weren’t all they’re cracked up to be, she says.

“The so-called halcyon days of The Godfather and Taxi Driver and everything, there was a group of people excluded from that: filmmakers of color and women.

The stories were not interested in women, famously.

I think Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore was Scorsese’s only. It was not where the imagination of the people writing about movies lived and it wasn’t where the filmmakers lived. You live out of your own story.”

That, she says, has changed. Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Little Women, in which Streep costars, would never have been made in the 1970s, she says.

“It’s better now,” Streep says. “Even though everything’s worse now, it’s better now.” n

Motoring BusinessMirror

Henry Ford Awards Best Motoring Section 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 2011 Hall of Fame

Editor: Tet Andolong

Friday, October 4, 2019 E1

LEXUS INTRODUCES THE ALL-NEW RX T Story & photos by Bettina Gayoso

HE All-new 2020 RX luxury sport-utility vehicle (SUV) was unveiled recently at the Lexus Showroom in Bonifacio Global City.

A NEWLY sculpted front and rear bumper design, achieving a flowing integration of character lines from front to back

UNCOMPROMISING and elegant design

The brand’s core model revealed wonderful additions to the model which first launched in 1998.

Consistently holding the highest market share since 2015, since the release of the new RX, Lexus further maintains its status as the pioneering luxury vehicle in the SUV

segment. The RX, being the bestselling model of their lineup, is also known to be the most successful vehicle based on historical sales.

The 2020 RX exterior is seen to have a rather powerful and elegant appearance, allowing you to further appreciate the dynamic design

language Lexus has to offer. As for the drive, the RX features an exhilarating performance. Accompanied by enhancements to the rigidity of the body and suspension system, as well as an addition of having a new shock absorber and a brake control system, and with the dynamic additions to the 2020 RX, the SUV allows for excellent handling feel and precision. The RX is powered by a 3.5-liter V6. The naturally aspirated version puts out 296 PS at 6,300 rpm along with 370 N-m of maximun torque at 4,600 to 4,700 rpm.

Meanwhile, the hybrid variant is

mated to an electric motor, which delivers a total system output of 308 PS and 335 N-m of maximun torque.

Main features

ITS exterior features a newly sculpted front and rear bumper design, achieving a flowing integration of character lines from front to back.

Its new elegantly designed head lamps give the front fascia a newfound sharpness. Looking at the rear, combination lamps shape an “L” motif.

One of the more significant

changes to the 2020 RX are the enhancements in terms of features which allow for increased driving pleasure. Chief engineer of Lexus Takeaki Kato was driven to deliver an exhilarating drive through his team who worked tirelessly to achieve this.

Other features of the RX include LSW or Laser Screw Welding and spot welding were used throughout the SUV. Including the increased use of 4.2 meters of strategically placed adhesive, combined with the stiffening of stabilizer bars, allowing for more immediate response in

terms of drive.

The new 2020 RX features an elegant, dynamic exterior, combined with a highly functioning interior.

Looking at the technology of the new 2020 RX, the SUV features a new touch display screen, a wonderful addition to the Lexus-original remote touch interface. Drivers of the SUV can also use their Smartphones through a new phone holder and USB port, including connectivity to Apple CarPlay, and AndroidAuto. It is featured with Mark Levinson 15-speaker surround sound system and navigation. Seats are in leather upholstery and 50:50 split third-row seats can be deployed/stowed away electronically with a press of a button.

All in all, the 2020 RX did not fail to impress Lexus fanatics and drivers alike who resonate with the message of Lexus and their unwavering commitment to bold, uncompromising design, impressive craftsmanship and powerful performance. A huge congratulations to Lexus International, its associates and team members who work endlessly to producing the best of the best luxury vehicles around.

The RX 350 is priced at P4.278 million while the RX 350 L is at P4.758 million, the RX 350 F Sport at P4.838 million and the RX 450h at P5.078 million.

Moto

MOTORING ’MINDER

MEET THE NEW 2020 MG 5 SEDAN AT THE ‘MG LIVE!’

I

F you didn’t catch its “first look” at the recently concluded 2019 Cebu Auto Show, then here’s your chance to see this stylish, classleading, British heritage subcompact sedan up close and in the metal: The MG 5 makes its Metro Manila public debut at the Glorietta 2 Activity Center from October 3 to 6, 2019, and will be flanked by other models in MG Philippines’s current lineup such as the MG ZS crossover SUV, MG RX5 SUV and the MG 6 fastback sedan.

The MG 5 enters a very competitive subcompact sedan segment, but it has what it takes to stay a cut above the rest. Best-in-class length (4,601 mm), width (1,788 mm), and wheelbase (2,680 mm) result in impressive legroom for both front and rear passengers, not to mention a more commanding stance on the road. It features a fuel-efficient 1.5-liter DOHC 16V naturally aspirated engine that produces 114 Ps and has a bestin-class torque output of 150 N-m, and is mated to either a five-speed manual transmission or automatic CVT with manual mode. The MG 5 also features, first-in-segment features such as a user-friendly 10-inch touchscreen infotainment head unit that can run both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; 360-degree vehicle view, which gives drivers a bird’s-eye view of the car, making it easier to negotiate tight parking spaces and obstructions in low speed traffic; a power driver’s seat for optimum comfort adjustment; and auto on/ off LED headlamps.

The new 2020 MG 5

TO celebrate the MG 5’s Metro Manila launch, MG Philippines is mounting the latest leg of its ongoing free concert series, MG Live! This latest edition of MG Live! powered by Phoenix PULSE Technology will take place on Saturday, October 5, 2019, at the Glorietta 2 Activity Center, and

THE ALL-NE

Business

E2 Friday, October 4, 2019

will showcase a full set from OPM hotshots, IV of Spades.

“We at MG Philippines have always regarded MG Live as a celebration of the vibrance and the youthfulness of modern MGs, as well as the rich musical talent inherent in the Philippines,” said Atty. Alberto B. Arcilla, president and CEO of TCCCIMG Philippines. “This edition of MG Live! is particularly special because it highlights our latest sedan, the MG 5, which is a model that we at MG Philippines recognize as an important participant in the highly competitive subcompact sedan category, and a vehicle that speaks to an even wider audience. This event is our way of bringing the MG 5 and all of our cars closer to the local market in a manner that all Filipinos can relate to—through music.”

October is also a very special month for TCCCI and MG Philippines, as the former celebrates its 10th year anniversary, while MG Philippines marks one year under TCCCI. In under 12 months, MG Philippines has mounted national launch campaigns of four unique cars, has rolled out numerous after-sales complements, and has strengthened its dealership network, now with a total of 11 dealerships nationwide (with seven more dealerships expected to be opened before the end of 2019) .

MG Philippines’s premium aftersales offers and services include a five-year or 100,000 kilometers warranty (whichever comes first), and one-year free periodic maintenance service to set your mind at ease. MG owners can also download the My MG mobile app which allows them to easily schedule vehicle servicing appointments from the convenience of their smartphones. They can also use the app to book a visit from a Mobile Garage service caravan that provides MG owners with vehicle home service for major technical issues.

CARRY I

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Story & photos by Randy S. Peregrino

UZUKI Philippines Inc. (SPH) proves that aside from being the country’s pioneer subcompact car distributor, it also offers subcompact workhorse vehicle for the Filipino business owners. It introduced the allnew Carry, designed to meet the needs of commercial businesses.

Packed with upgraded features and a lightweight, yet fuel-efficient engine, this mini hauler is the tough and reliable partner to drive every business in the country to success.

“Filipinos are a hardworking people. The all-new Suzuki Carry is engineered to match the level of dedication Filipinos put into their businesses. We designed this new workhorse vehicle to deliver any business requirements with efficiency and power to do more. With the all-new Suzuki Carry, we extend the ‘Suzuki Way of Life!’ to small and medium enterprises and be a part of their journey to success,” said Suzuki Philippines Director and Automobile Division General Manager Keiichi Suzuki.

As the successor to the 2016 Best Commercial Utility Vehicle (Car Awards Group Inc.), Super Carry model, the all-new Carry now offer slightly bigger dimensions along with a stronger and

SOJITZ G AUTO PHILIPPINES OPENS GEELY NORTH EDSA

S

OJITZ G Auto Philippines (SGAP) recently launched the Geely brand back in the country which aims to provide the market a totally new driving and car ownership experience.

SGAP also formally inaugurated its flagship Showroom in the heart of Quezon City. The newly built showroom is at 75 Corregidor Street Edsa, Quezon City, with a 1,160-square meter showroom floor area, which can display 20 cars inside and around 2,600 sq m for after-sales, which is considered one of the biggest in the world for the Geely brand. The SGAP showroom facility also hosts comfortable lounges for customers and guests for both sales and after-sales. Apart from the recently

launched Coolray subcompact sportutility vehicles, also in display in the North Edsa showroom are models that showcases the the latest technology of Geely, such as the Coolray Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) and the all-new Geely Atlas compact SUV. Heading the guests of honor were, Congressman Onyx Crisologo and Councilor TJ Calalay of Quezon City, officials from Sojitz Corp. headed by the President and CEO Masayoshi Fujimoto, Geely Holding Group officials led by An Conghui, president and CEO of Geely Holding Group and Helen Yuchengco Dee of House of Investments.

During the construction of its dealership facilities, SGAP already

started its preselling activities of the Coolray in different shopping malls in the Metro such as UP Town in Quezon City, Uptown Mall in Bonifacio Global City and Trinoma also in Quezon City.

The preselling campaign garnered was very much accepted garnering multiple reservations at the different sites. For its preselling and introductory campaign, SGAP is offering P100,000 off the Coolray Sport.

The Coolray is a small SUV packed with cool and state-of-the-art features which gives meaning to its name. It is powered by a 1.5 Gasoline Direct Injection three-cylinder Engine equipped with turbocharger and dual variable valve timing. It churns out 177 Ps of power and gives 255 N-m of Torque, 0 to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds and is paired with seven-speed Wet Dual Clutch Transmission. The top of the line, Coolray Sport also hosts innovative technological features such as the Auto Park Assist system and 360-degree view camera which makes driving more fun. Six SRS air bags and a Blind Spot Detection system are also standard safety features for the Coolray Sport.

The suggested retail price of the Geely Coolray is P978,000 for the Comfort; P1.088 million for the Premium and P1.198 million for the Sport.

fuel-efficient K15B 1.5-liter engine. Utilizing the same Ertiga powertrain, the vehicle will now deliver a balanced power and fuel efficiency to carry out every task in any road conditions, with ease.

This engine delivers a better output of 96 hp at 5,600 rpm and 135 N-m of maximum torque at 4,400 rpm. This would give business owners the confidence and reliability needed to deliver on their business commitments.

Staying true to its reputation as a reliable and functional subcompact workhorse, its exterior design denotes simplicity, durability and a good sense of balance, according to Suzuki. The dropside variant has a wider and longer body with gates opening from all sides. This enables easier loading and unloading cargo of any size and shape. This new small truck is also packed with 22-rope hooks to secure any cargo during transit.

Now with a 365-mm longer and 75-mm wider bed compared to its predecessor, the all-new Carry is capable to handle greater loading capacity up to 940 kilograms, with better weight distribution when fully loaded.

As for the cabin space, it’s now more spacious to ensure a more

THE all-new Suzuki Carry Truck variant

ROOMIER with improved layout

comfortable seating position.

This includes ample distance between the hip point and the center of the accelerator pedal.

Moreover, the shift lever is now situated on the dashboard to provide extra legroom.

A lso showcased during the

launch event were various modifications suitable to other business applications. These are the versatile utility van, aluminum cargo van, and the food truck variants.

All these offer the same reliability and functionality expected from a trusted Suzuki workhorse. Price

NISSAN UNVEILS IMK CONCEPT EV

N

ISSAN unveiled the IMk,a concept car that combines chic design, cutting-edge technologies and powerful EV acceleration in a compact body to create the “ultimate urban commuter.”

The 100 percent electric car hints at the new direction of Nissan’s design language and how it helps bring to life Nissan Intelligent Mobility—the brand’s vision for changing how vehicles are powered, driven and connected to society.

Immersed in this vision, Nissan designers and engineers looked at a vehicle segment that’s prevalent in their native Japan and becoming more so the world over—the city car. To meet customer demands for nimble driving characteristics and connectivity that fits a wide range of needs and lifestyles, Nissan set out to create a city runner that would stand apart from any other car in the segment.

The result is the IMk concept. More than a strictly functional city car, it’s a chic vehicle that reduces driver stress, while offering excitement and confidence on an all-new EV platform.

Exterior design

THE IMk’s looks and proportions reflect a minimal aesthetic, drawing on Nissan’s new design philosophy, called Timeless Japanese Futurism. Adopting the simplistic nature of traditional Japanese design, the exterior is characterized by flowing lines. Carefully applied Japanese motifs add refinement and intrigue. Dipped in an Akagane paint scheme—reflecting a reddish copper color—the concept pays homage to artisans who formed copper into functional works of art.

A close look reveals additional elements of “Japanese DNA” throughout

the IMk. The V-motion signature “shield” and combination taillights feature a trellised, woodwork-type impression.

Interior design

THE Nissan IMk concept’s cabin is a new type of “room” that exudes the nature of a cafe or lounge. The bench-style seat, with a dimpled texture, promotes a relaxing, welcome space that gives the impression of sitting on a floating cloud. The dashboard and sections of the doors are upholstered with light tonal materials, adding to the cozy atmosphere. Akagane-colored accents along the instrument panel, doors and steering wheel add brightness to the interior and a premium feel to the vehicle as a whole.

Interlocking with the lower door section are wood slats that are a nod to the Japanese wood joinery technique

oring

ew Suzuki

sMirror

is here The all-new Carry food truck variant

Friday, October 4, 2019

E3

Blaze your way to the top with the Kia Sportage GT-Line

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OMORROW’S leaders are bred through fire and passion. Each calculated step they make is crucial to get close to the top. For these individuals, no challenge is insurmountable and just like them, the 2019 Kia Sportage GT-Line is just as ambitious.

Its exterior falls nothing short of bold and aggressive elements. The design language speaks for itself. The modern fascia of this compact sports-utility vehicle (SUV) is packed with LEDs on the headlamps and fog lamps that illuminate the way. The muscular profile is supported by a wide stance sitting on 19” Alloy wheels and makes the Kia Sportage GT-Line look ready to pounce on any opportunity.

Powered by a 2.0L In-Line 4 Cylinder DOHC CRDi-I E-VGT Diesel engine that shoots out 185HP, the Kia Sportage GTLine makes a quick punch on each press of the accelerator. It has different drive modes like “Smart” and “Eco,” and shifting it to “Sport” unleashes more power.

Its eigth-speed automatic transmission with Shiftronic enables a more balanced drive. Stability on the road is guaranteed with MacPherson struts in the front and a multi-link suspension setup in the rear.

The corporate trailblazer never runs out of aces in his sleeve. Similarly, the Sportage hosts an array of features and aids like: Electronic Stability Control, ensuring firmness even on tough driving situations; Downhill Brake Control and Hill-Start Assist Control, assuring

grip in slopes and gradient roads; and Rear camera and sensors, enabling the driver to keep a keen sense of the surroundings.

Its interior exudes an engrossed feel, with the dash slightly angled toward the driver for ease of reach. Premium materials are used abundantly throughout the cabin. Seamlessly integrated between the Dual-Zone Airvents is an 8” Touchscreen with smartphone integration. The cabin is spacious and front seats are also powered to provide excellent comfort.

Overall, the Kia Sportage enables the aspiring leader to make the most out of his journey to the top.

SRP for the Kia Sportage GT-Line is at P1.820 million.

The Kia Sportage is an award-winning vehicle that’s been around for over 25 years. It won the coveted Red Dot Award for Product Design and also received the prestigious iF Design Awards for Product category in 2016.

Kia offers the Power to Surprise with continuous innovation in product development and services. Kia is recognized as one of Interbrand’s Best Global Brands 2018. Kia Philippines, headquartered in Manila, continues to be one of the rising automotive brands in the country. Now under the Ayala Group of Cos., Kia is committed to provide quality vehicles with a wide dealer network and outstanding aftersales support. ìhttps://www.kia.com/ph/.

Ford Ranger XLT owner wins a trip to Thailand

The all-new Carry utility van variant

points for the all-new Carry variants are as follows: P509,000 (Carry truck), P576,000 (Carry Cargo Van) and P614,000 (Carry Utility Van)

Transport service partner

Mea nwhile, SPH also took

of kigumi, which create a sense of inner calm. This feature is highlighted by special hidden lighting. Dark coffee-colored floor carpeting with woven strands of metallic fiber enhance the cozy, relaxing setting.

Other than the start button and shifter, the IMk’s thin dashboard is void

the opportunity to introduce its transport ser vice offering with the latest variant of its signature subcompact sedan— the new Suzuki Dzire GA. With the all-new Dzire GA, SPH aims to provide Filipino commuters with additional ride-sharing

options. The subcompact sedan received a fresher look with easyto-handle compact dimensions and expanded storage capacity.

This also makes the vehicle ideal to taxi fleet business. With its more compact and fuel-efficient K12M 1.2-liter gasoline engine

under the hood, it is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. Its interior and engine performance are guaranteed to provide complete comfort for all passengers traversing the busy streets of the Metro. The all-new Dzire GA variant is priced at P549,900. technology for more than 10 years. The Nissan LEAF was the first electric car introduced into the mainstream market and remains the world’s best-selling mass-market EV to date.

The Nissan IMk concept builds on this experience by offering a pure electric for alternative for customers who desire a compact vehicle suited for a sprawling metropolis.

of physical controls. Powering up the IMk reveals cabin comfort controls and settings with soft glowing icons within the Akagane trim.

another step toward fully autonomous driving. It comes with the latest technologies to assist drivers in a wide range of environments, from expressways to city streets and parking lots.

The smartphone-enabled ProPILOT Remote Park with valet parking feature can search for a parking space automatically after you and your passengers step out of the car. When you’re ready to hit the road again, a simple tap of a button brings the car to you.

Among the other notable functions is the latest driver assistance technology, built off an advanced version of ProPILOT 2.0, which helps make driving safer, more pleasant and enjoyable for drivers by combining navigated highway driving with hands-off single-lane driving capabilities.

Nissan Intelligent Driving

Nissan Intelligent Power

The Nissan IMk concept represents

Nissan has been a pioneer in EV

Nissan Intelligent Integration

Just as popular cafés and lounges offer free Wi-fi to keep customers connected, the IMk keeps occupants constantly and seamlessly plugged in with the latest connectivity technology.

A driver can link to the car with a smartphone to authenticate their identity, automatically apply personal settings—such as seat position, interior lighting and climate controls—and plan their commute.

Shown in photo is Take It To Ford Raffle Promo grand prize winner Benedicto Pareja (third from left) and wife Enriqueta Pareja (second from left) together with Jirawat Jeeradeepalung (left), human resources manager at Ford Thailand Manufacturing Plant, and Vinko Saric (fourth from left), plant manager at Ford Thailand Manufacturing Plant.

F

ORD Ranger XLT owner Benedicto Pareja was named the grand winner of the Take It To Ford service promotions which allowed customers to earn a raffle entry for every single-receipt purchase of P10,000 on parts and labor from a Ford dealership.

Formerly an offshore overseas Filipino worker, Pareja now owns a water refilling business in Cebu. Part of his grand prize winnings include a trip to Bangkok, Thailand, with his wife Enriqueta, complete with hotel accommodations, city tour and a tour at the Ford Thailand manufacturing plant.

Pareja started to visit Ford Cebu in 2008 for the regular service maintenance of his Ford Everest and has since praised the Ford dealership for its laudable customer service.

Eleven years later, with his Ford Ranger, Pareja has maintained good relations with the management and staff of Ford Cebu.

Part of Pareja’s Thailand trip is an exclusive tour at the Ford manufacturing plant in Bangkok to see how Ford vehicles are made. “My wife and I felt

very special because we thought we were going to be part of a tour group, but later on, we found out that it was just going to be the two of us touring around the plant. We were amazed with the facility, including the processes involved in producing a Ford vehicle. The plant tour went beyond our expectations and we are very happy to see how Ford produces its quality vehicles.”

Aside from the Ford plant tour, Pareja and his wife also visited various temples in Bangkok, including a special night cruise along the Chao Phraya River.

With the Take It To Ford service promo, three winners went home with iPhone XS Max, 50 winners received oil and oil filter packages, while 300 winners took home Ford merchandise.

“We want to thank our Ford customers who participated in our Take It To Ford service promo. We look forward to seeing more of our customers visit a Ford dealership to have their vehicles regularly checked and serviced to make sure they remain in quality condition,” said Joyce Laxamana, director of Ford Customer Service Division.

Motoring BusinessMirror

E4 Friday, October 4, 2019

Amazing experience at Lexus/Pleasanton City

L

ATHROP, California—This is a booming city of 22,000-plus inhabitants that is located some 70 miles (approximately 120 kilometers) south of San Francisco, America’s foremost romantic city made popular

by Frank Sinatra’s classic ditty, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”

You think that’s far enough for you to drive?

“It’s just a one-hour drive from here to the Bay Area,” said Dondon Juvida, the soft-spoken nephew of my wife.

But not back home. For example, Sariaya, Quezon, is about 77 km from Manila. It takes me about four hours to get there. Crazy? You bet.

It’s almost a breeze for practically every trip here because of America’s amazing freeway, where your speed goes consistently, almost, at 90-100 kph. That’s never fast here.

You do 60-70 kph on the freeway, that’s slow and you could attract

unnecessary honking from those behind you—if not the dirty finger from the bastard passing you by.

Road infrastructure has always been the major key to unlock a hassle-plagued traffic flow that’s been, sadly, the ruin in our benighted, jurassic, nation. Hopefully, indeed, the government’s “Build, Build, Build” spin could produce the cure to the curse of our highway jams, most notably Edsa.

To proceed, it is in Dondon’s six-bedroom mansion—he’s mar-

LEXUS Manila President Raymond T. Rodriguez with the all-new 2020 RX BETTINA GAYOS

ried to jovial Janet of Dasmariñas City in Cavite, who is a chief nurse at the City Medical Center here— that we are staying right now.

We’ve never been that comfortable!

I arrived here with the missus a few days back. It’s a stopover on our way to New York. It’s one trip teeming with commitments.

First, the need for the wifey to visit a brother here whom she had not seen for nearly 20 years now. Bonnie, who lives in nearby Hayward, and I have been buddies in Manila for the longest time until he migrated here some 20 years ago.

Bonnie’s one dude whose love drips endlessly like a flowing faucet.

From here, we fly to New York for the Global Reunion of Calauag, Quezon, residents scattered worldwide. It’s a must-attend for the wifey as she chairmanned

the biennial event in its last staging in 2017 in Manila.

Before this trip was finally hatched, I had resolved that it would take an invitation from the American president, including President Trump, for me to visit America again after I did my last trip here in 2006 when I covered the Pacquiao-Morales fight in Las Vegas (Pacquiao won by knockout). Been here yearly since 1981. I’ve had my fill of America’s milk and honey.

But I was glad I finally came back.

Just days ago, I was at the Lexus dealership at nearby Pleasanton City. Thanks again for the riveting experience that only Dondon could undertake on my behalf. Dondon is now on his 12th year at Lexus as a master technician, his skills and vast ex-

perience the envy of his peers.

Owned by Mr. Hendrick, the billionaire who controls the fabled Nascar races, the Lexus joint at Pleasanton is a massive conclave whose service area alone measures 50,000 sq feet that can accommodate 60 vehicles for servicing all at the same time. Its 60 lifters are hitech all the way, its floor area spic and span, with not a single drop of oil staining the complex.

“Amazing, indeed!” exclaimed Raymond T. Rodriguez, the Lexus Manila president, when I informed him about my discovery via Viber.

Anyway, it’s quite a bit of coincidence that just days before I left, I was at the launch of the 2020 Lexus RX luxury SUV, again a well-attended event at the Lexus Manila showroom at BGC in Taguig. The car’s evolutionary changes took the crowd by storm as the brand’s core model’s new features were now too revolutionary since the luxury SUV segment was first introduced in 1998.

Here’s a quick preview of the new RX: “The new RX is a testament to Lexus’s ongoing commitment to maintain its status as a pioneer of the luxury SUV segment.

Lexus has been dominating the SUV segment in the Philippines, consistently holding the highest market share since 2015. In fact, Lexus closed the first half of the year at the top, with a share of 28 percent. Moreover, the RX remains the best-selling model in the brand’s lineup, being not just the most popular SUV, but

also the most successful vehicle based on historical sales. As of June 2019, the RX has 1,413 units sold since it was first introduced locally in 2009. With the launch of the latest iteration of the RX, Lexus hopes to fortify its leadership in the Commercial Vehicle segment.”

Lexus history

“LEXUS launched in 1989 with a flagship sedan and a guest experience that helped define the premium automotive industry. In 1998, Lexus introduced the luxury crossover category with the launch of the Lexus RX. The luxury hybrid sales leader, Lexus delivered the world’s first luxury hybrid and has since sold over 1.45 million hybrid vehicles.

A global luxury automotive brand with an unwavering commitment to bold, uncompromising design, exceptional craftsmanship, and exhilarating performance, Lexus has developed its lineup to meet the needs of the next generation of global luxury guests and is currently available in over 90 countries worldwide.

“Lexus associates/team members across the world are dedicated to crafting amazing experiences that are uniquely Lexus, and that excite and change the world.”

PEE STOP Traffic also comes to a

crawl here but only during both the morning and afternoon rush hours.

Otherwise, you practically fly while driving on the freeway. Who misses Edsa?

OFF-ROAD EXPO HITS RECORD NUMBERS I

T was the country’s largest gathering of 4x4 vehicles and enthusiasts. Held last September 28 and 29 at the Arcovia City in Pasig City, the first 4x4 Expo brought together the country’s overlanding enthusiasts and companies that promote the outdoors lifestyle.

The vision for the 4x4 Expo is to be the venue for enthusiasts to gather as a community to enjoy the different aspects that go into the outdoor lifestyle. Arcovia City provided 18,000 square meters of property to accommodate a variety of activities.

One of the highlights that weekend was a fully functional off-roading track (designed by off-road legend Olson Camacho), where beginners (or even non-beginners) can learn the basics of safe driving over uneven terrain. The track would include makeshift sand dunes, dirt road and even a water-wading moat.

Another activity that visitors learned from was the participation of trusted automotive accessory brands that are preferred among off-road enthusiasts in upgrading their vehicles and making these geared up and ready for the drive.

Apart from the main presentors, Black Rhino Wheels and Nitto Tires, brands that will be having display booths include Bilstein, PIAA, Motul, Decathlon, Atoy Customs, Overland Kings, CTEK, Coleman, among others. There will also be scheduled tech talks by some sponsors that will discuss how to make overlanding a safe hobby to have and how to get ready for the trails.

The gathering also highlighted the impressive 4x4 rigs and vehicles by the industry’s enthusiasts. The pubic enjoyed the individual displays, but also the participation from some of the coun-

try’s biggest car clubs, such as the Land Rover Club, Jeep Club, Terra Nation, Jimny Club, Raptor Group, Montero Sport United, to name a few.

Another highlight of the Expo was the collaboration with the Pinoy Prepper Bazaar, and Association of Philippine Volunteer Fire Brigades to share disaster preparedness and fire safety to everyone who will attend. The Pitmasters Club will also be smoking mouthwatering meats all day at the Expo.

The 4x4 Expo was supported by notable car brands, such as Chevrolet, GAC Motors, Isuzu, Jeep, Land Rover, Mitsubishi Motors and Suzuki. These brands will be offering test drives of their latest 4x4 vehicle models that are slated for the off-road lifestyle and how these can be customized for the sport.

ISUZU UNVEILS LIMITED-EDITION MU-X BOONDOCK Story & photo

by Randy S. Peregrino

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UST in time for the recently concluded fifth year celebration of Isuzu’s bestselling SUV mu-X, Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC) also introduced the limitededition mu-X Boondock. Five years after its market introduction, a special Grand Family Event to celebrate the occasion was also organized.

“Introduced in 2014, the Isuzu mu-X became an instant hit to Filipino families nationwide, mainly due to its excellent performance, elegant styling and outstanding comfort—factors that are very important for a family vehicle,” said IPC President Hajime Koso. Impressively, the mu-X model has sold over 48,000 units since its introduction.

Rare breed of mu-X

INTRODUCED as the latest addition to the mu-X lineup, a limited-edition Isuzu mu-X Boondock was unveiled during the occasion. This Boondock Edition is not your typical mu-X. More than the added aesthetics, its lift kit suspension and offroad tires are also designed for off-roading performance.

Based on the popular mu-X 3.0L LS-A, the Boondock Edition is equipped with upgraded features. Ride height is increased to 247 mm in order to obtain that off-road look the Boondock is known for.

Motivated by the ever reliable 4JJ1-TC 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine with Blue

IPC Sales Division Head Joseph Bautista (from left), IPC Vice President for Sales Yasuhiko Oyama, and IPC President Hajime Koso presenting the limited-edition mu-X Boondock

Power Technology, the mu-X Boondock is capable of generating 175 hp and 380 N-m of maximum torque. Best of all, it’s Euro 4 compliant.

Completing its off-road look, the new Isuzu mu-X Boondock comes with a gray over fender, newly designed front bumper, steel step board with Boondock logo and a fully functional roof rail with cross bar, perfect for family road trips. The rims are also upgraded to 17-inch machine-finished alloys wrapped in 265/70

R17 all-terrain rubbers. Just like the DMax Boondock Edition, the suspension is also equipped with monotube shock absorbers. The interior, of course, also received some fresh treatment. Leather seats now have ribbed cushion patterns in the mid sections.

Available in 4x2 automatic transmission, the mu-X Boondock comes exclusively in Havana Brown body color. Priced at P1.845 million, only 100 units of this limited edition will be sold.