Businessmirror September 13, 2019 by BusinessMirror

WHO’LL TAKE OVER HANJIN SHIPYARD?

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UBIC BAY FREEPORT— Negotiations for the acquisition of the assets of bankrupt Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co.-Philippines are set to be completed next month, and a possible new owner of the shipbuilder may be announced before the year ends, a government official said on Thursday. Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma told reporters that currently, creditors for Hanjin are in discussion with one party for the possible takeover of Hanjin’s remaining assets.

“The creditor banks are the ones leading the negotiation for Hanjin. As we speak, they are now in what they call an exclusivity discussion with a particular entity already,” she said. Eisma added that the “entity” is a group of businesses composed of “more than one foreign company” and “Filipino companies.” They are, she noted, “very interested.” “The hope is that they’ll be able to finish discussions by the end of October and they will be able to announce by December what will be the outcome path for Hanjin to take,” she explained.

Hanjin filed for corporate rehabilitation in January, as it struggled to pay $412 million in loans to five domestic banks. Since then, there were three foreign investors that expressed their interest in acquiring the country’s largest shipyard. The list of interested parties include: Dutch firm Damen Group, French company Naval Group, a consortium of American corporations and two Chinese ship manufacturers. Since 2006, South Korea’s Hanjin invested over $2.3 billion and delivered 123 cargo ships as of the end of 2018.

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Friday, September 13, 2019 Vol. 14 No. 338

DA to ‘flood’ market with cheap rice imports

By Samuel P. Medenilla

@sam_medenilla

HE Department of Agriculture (DA) announced on Thursday it will be “flooding” the market with the National Food Authority’s (NFA) cheap imported rice to cut down the prices of the staple. In a press conference, Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar disclosed they will be selling 3.6 million bags of rice nationwide. “This will be done up to next month starting today. Tomorrow [Friday] there will be trucks of NFA in most of the markets in Metro Manila delivering parts of the 3.6 million bags of imported

rice,” Dar said. He said the imported NFA rice will be sold at P25 per kilo to retailers and P27 per kilo to consumers. The agriculture chief said another price-reducing measure they will enforce is the raising of the support price from P17 to P19 per kilo for clean and dry palay.

“The P2 increase in the palay price support will translate roughly to an P8,000 additional income per farmer based on current average yield of four bags per hectare,” Dar said.

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HOWEVER, he said they opted to remove the temporary P3.70

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E-VEHICLES COOL, BUT MINING BATTERY METALS COULD POSE A PROBLEM By Cai U. Ordinario

₧8,000 C The estimate of the additional income per farmer—on current average yield of four bags per hectare—as a result of the other price-reducing measure, i.e., raising the support price from P17 to P19 per kilo for clean and dry palay

incentive, given by NFA last year, to farmers. NFA Judy Dansal explained the NFA Council opted to remove the incentive so they could buy rice from more local farmers. “The decision of the council is only for this procurement season, when we start to feel the effects of the new [rice] tariffication law,” Dansal said. See “Rice,” A2

@caiordinario

LIMATE change is fueling the electric vehicle revolution in countries like the Philippines, but the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) said firms that will mine battery metals must observe sustainable mining standards. In the 2019 edition of its Commodities and Development Report, titled “Commodity Dependence, Climate Change and the Paris Agreement,” Unctad also said climate change has the potential to cut the productivity of the local aquaculture sector. “The climate crisis poses an existential threat to commoditydependent developing countries and will result in the collapse of some economies if decisive action is not taken now,”Unctad SecretaryGeneral Mukhisa Kituyi said in a statement. “Now more than ever before,

House plenary okays 28 agencies’ budgets; 2020 GAB on track By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

@joveemarie

HE House of Representatives is on track to approve the P4.1-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) after the lower chamber’s plenary approved the budget of 28 agencies for next year. The agencies with plenaryapproved budget are Department of Finance, Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council, National Economic and Development Authority, Film Development Council of the Philippines, Optical Media Board, and Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n

Freeport Authority. The budget deliberations of Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, Credit Information Corp., Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Judiciary, Office of the Ombudsman, Philippine Center for Economic Development, Presidential Communications Operations Office, Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, Civil Service Commission, Department of Trade and Industry, Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Bases Conversion and Development Authority and Department of Justice have also been concluded. See “Budgets,” A2

these countries need to assess their diversification potential and reduce their commodity dependence, which for decades has kept them exposed to volatile markets and climate change,” Kituyi added. In the report, Unctad noted that climate change is fueling an electric vehicle revolution. This is an opportunity for developing countries with vast reserves of battery metals, such as the Philippines. Unctad said electric vehicle sales have increased dramatically to 2 million in 2018, from only a few thousand in 2010. Sales are projected to jump to 10 million units in 2025, 28 million in 2030, and 56 million in 2040. This bodes well for developing countries with “significant reserves of battery metals.” These countries include the Philippines, which is rich in cobalt, along with Cuba, Madagascar and Zambia. See “E-vehicles,” A2

SSS aims to triple online transactions

JOY OF READING A woman looks for a book at the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF), billed as the biggest, most sought-after and longest running fair in the country with more than 150,000 visitors expected at its five-day run from September 11-15, 2019. The MIBF has become a popular gathering for bookworms of all ages and walks of life. It has also been providing a venue for the exchange of ideas among players in the publishing industry and academe. NONIE REYES

HE state-run Social Security System (SSS) aims to reduce transactions done manually in a bid to decongest its branches and promote the use of its web site among members who wish to avail themselves of its various services. SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Aurora C. Ignacio said that by next year, the pension fund wants to triple its Web transactions to 32.3 million, from the current 10.54 million. Ignacio told reporters in a news briefing on Thursday that the SSS is developing various ways to limit face-to-face transactions. Currently, 75 percent of all SSS transactions are done manually.

US 52.1330 n JAPAN 0.4836 n UK 64.2800 n HK 6.6513 n CHINA 7.3263 n SINGAPORE 37.8022 n AUSTRALIA 35.7685 n EU 57.4036 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.8995

See “SSS,” A2

Source: BSP (12 September 2019 )

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A2 Friday, September 13, 2019

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DBM released ₧3.3T for 2019 govt projects By Samuel P. Medenilla

@sam_medenilla

VER 91 percent of the P3.6 trillion 2019 national budget has been released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to fund government projects for the year.

As of August, DBM disclosed it already released P3.345 trillion of the funds for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 obligation program. Of this amount, P1.971 trillion was given to departments; and P244.642 billion for Special Purpose Funds (SPFs), such as Budgetary Support to Government Corporations and Allocation to Local Government Units. Another P1.069 trillion of the budget is for automatic appropriations, or appropriations programmed annually or for some other period prescribed by law. About P24.778 billion of the

project are for multiyear projects, while P29.072 billion are for unprogrammed appropriations, which are mostly for support to foreignassisted projects of the Department of Transportation. In line with this development, President Duterte issued Executive Order (EO) 91 containing the rules for Cash Budgeting System (CBS), mandating government agencies to utilize their allocated funds before the end of each fiscal year. The EO stressed that all appropriated government funds that will not be used after the period will be returned to the National

BSP cited for efforts in AI, data management By Bianca Cuaresma

@BcuaresmaBM

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) received recognition for its initiatives in data management and use of artificial intelligence to advance central banking in the country. In a statement issued on Thursday, the BSP said the 2019 Central Banking Fintech and Regtech Global Awards gave the Philippine monetary authority two citations—one for its artificial intelligence initiative and another for its data management initiative. The BSP was the only institution to win in two categories for this awarding year. “The BSP’s regtech journey has just begun. As with any

SSS. . .

Continued from A1

“Even the payment of loans, the payment of the contributions—if we can transfer them from the branches and even from the different payment centers to the web site, we will [do it],” Ignacio said. SSS Vice President Mario R. Sibucao said increasing online transactions is part of the business reengineering project of the pension fund, which will transform its 33 branches into e-Centers. Sibucao said the SSS targets to reduce manual transactions to 50 percent by 2020 and to 10 percent in 2021. This means online transactions at the SSS will reach 90 percent by 2021. These efforts, Sibucao said, are in line with the mandate given to government agencies under the Ease of Doing Business law. Under the law, he said, the SSS is given three days to process simple transactions; seven days for complex transactions; and 10 days for highly technical transactions. “We did some studies and [we found] that most of the members who go to the branch are inquiring about the contributions that they have made and whether they are qualified for salary loans. Only a few of those members, around 9 percent, are filing claims,” he said. Digitization at the SSS means

Hogs. . .

Continued from A8

Despite this, Cabel said the local government found piggeries in some barangays during their inspection. “Initially, our findings showed only nine barangays have piggeries. But when we conducted our rounds, the number went up. We even found piggeries in UP,” she said. “We did not expect there would be piggeries inside UP. We did not know that. So we really don’t have complete statistics. In Barangay Silangan, we know there are 1,000 backyard piggeries,” she added. Cabel said the Quezon City government is removing all piggeries in the city. Mayor Joy Belmonte, she said, even gave these piggeries six months to leave the city.

initiative, we did not imagine receiving recognition or award when BSP embarked on this journey. The initiatives were born from BSP’s commitment to continue building its digital capabilities as a regulator intent on promoting innovations in the financial service sector to benefit the country and the people,” BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said upon his receipt of the award in Singapore. The BSP won in the Artificial Intelligence Initiative category for its development of a prototype “chatbot” to provide the public a more accessible and efficient means to engage the BSP on financial consumer concerns. The BSP Chatbot is aimed to be able to adequately and efficiently handle consumer concerns

increasing online membership to 8 million in 2020. This will allow more of its members to transact on the web site. Data also showed that out of the 14.95 million paying members of SSS in the first half, only 37 percent, or 5.49 million individual members, are registered on the website as of June. Further, the SSS is targeting to increase the number of SSS app users by 3 million next year. “Investments in new digital technologies will not only make transactions with our clients more convenient, but will also save us money in the long run. The management, however, must very clearly justify these investments by demonstrating their returns,” Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said in a speech read by Assistant Secretary Antonio Lambino II on Thursday. At present, SSS has six electronic channels accessible to members and pensioners. These six service facilities are: SSS web site—My.SSS, SSS Mobile App, Self-Service Express Terminal (SET), Interactive Voice Response System, Text-SSS and Contribution payments through GCash. According to Ignacio, the SSS is keen on eliminating the use of checks for disbursement of benefit claims through PESONet transactions and its thru-the-bank program. As part of its initial digitalization implementation, 33 branches of the SSS will be renovated with larger e-Center areas.

coursed through channels, including SMS and social media. The Chatbot is also envisioned to equip the BSP with more insight into customer experiences, banking practices and conduct as input to policy-making and supervision and develop consumers’ trust in the financial system. BSP’s Chatbot is expected to go live in mid-2020. The BSP also won in the Data Management Initiative category with the development of a prototype API-based prudential reporting system. “By providing a machine-tomachine link between the banks’ core banking systems and BSP’s system, the system will allow for the streamlined transmission, processing, warehousing and

Budgets. . .

Continued from A1

The House plenary also approved the 2020 funding of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Health, Department of Science and Technology, Commission on Higher Education, Games and Amusement Board, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Racing Commission and Philippine Competition Commission. On Friday, the House will deliberate on the budget of the Department of the Interior and Local Government and its attached agencies, Department of Labor and Employment, Office of the Presidential Adviser of the Peace Process, Mindanao Development Authority, Climate Change Commission, Commission on Filipinos Overseas and Department of Foreign Affairs. The House is eyeing to finish the budget deliberations of the remaining government agencies next week. House Bill 4228, or the General Appropriations Bill, seeks to appropriate funds for the operation of the government of the Republic of the Philippines from January 1 to December 31, 2020. The proposed 2020 General Appropriations Act is expected to be approved on third and final

E-vehicles. . . Continued from A1

Cai U. Ordinario Now that there is a possibility that these hogs may be infected by the ASF virus, she said this could hasten the removal of piggeries in Quezon City. “We need the result of the tests before we act. Our mayor gave them six months to transfer [their piggeries]. But if there is already a disease, this will fast-track the process,” Cabel said. Cabel added that the results of laboratory tests will be available in two weeks. If the animals are positive for ASF, she said the QC government will have to cull all the pigs in the 1-kilometer radius of the area where the dead hogs were found. She said the creek where the dead hogs were found passes along places, such as Payatas, the Litex area and even Marikina City. The dead hogs were found at the lowest point of the creek, which has become a catchment area for debris.

“This increases the urgency of both strengthening the environmental, social and ethical standards of their mining operations and ensuring local value retention to support sustainable development in mining communities,” the report read. “[These countries] must find ways to align potential ramifications of the rapidly emerging global electric vehicle market with their national efforts toward sustainable development,” it added. Unctad also said climate change, which will increase the competition for water and change the water cycle, will negatively affect fisheries and aquaculture industries. In the short term, the report indicated that climate change may slash aquaculture productivity. Aside from the loss of infrastructure caused by extreme weather events, the sector will also be affected by increased risks of diseases and the spread of toxic algae and parasites. In the long term, the impact on countries could include reduced access to freshwater, wild seeds, feeds from marine and terrestrial

analysis of the banks’ prudential reports. This will significantly improve the timeliness, ease and integrity of data submission,” the BSP said. Preparations are under way to move the system to cover all universal, commercial, and thrift banks for a total of 96 institutions. The system is expected to go live in the latter part of 2020. This year’s winners in the official categories include the Hong Kong Monetary Authority for Global Impact, Banque de France for Pioneer Award, the UK Prudential Regulation Authority for Techforward Award, Banco Central do Brasil for Best Sandbox Initiative, and the European Central Bank for Best Cyber Resilience Initiative.

reading on or before October 4. The House will then transmit the national budget to the Senate for its own deliberations on October 8. The Congress is eyeing to submit the 2020 national budget to President Duterte on December 20.

No repeat of debacle

IN a weekly news forum on Thursday, Deputy Speaker Michael Romero, president of partylist 1-Pacman, said the House is on its way to beat its self-imposed deadline for the approval of HB 4228 before Congress goes on recess on October 4. Romero said the House wants to avoid a repeat of the delay in the approval of 2019 GAA. He repeated the claim of analysts and economic managers that the economy suffered due to the four-month delay in the passage of the budget for this year. Romero said the country lost some $8.917 billion or P463.686 billion from January to June based on the average GDP of 5.5 percent during the period. “This translates to losses of about P77 billion per month or P6.4 billion per day. That’s the effect of the delayed enactment of the budget for four to five months that slowed down our economy due to nonspending,” he said. “The delayed budget had serious repercussions; it really took its toll on our economy,” Romeo added. sources, and decreased productivity due to ocean acidification, eutrophication and other perturbations. “The report underscores that the high risk faced by commodity-dependent developing countries reinforces their need to adapt, diversify and modernize their economies. They must also adapt to the effects of the climate response measures undertaken by other countries, which are expected to reduce the demand for some key commodities on which they depend,” Unctad said. The report stressed that there’s a need to address these concerns and meet the goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C above preindustrial levels as indicated in the Paris Agreement. Unctad said based on the findings of the report, the total cost of implementation of climate action plans for 80 developing countries that have specified their financing needs is estimated at $5.4 trillion. In addition, the report states that greening fiscal policies can help to ensure taxes, subsidies and similar policy instruments contribute to the implementation of climate action plans and the achievement of the sustainable development goals.

Treasury. For multiyear projects, EO 91 should get a Multi-Year Contractual Authority (MYCA) from DBM before being allowed to use an allocated funds in multiple years. As part of the transitory period for the CBS, the order gave concerned government agencies and government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) a grace period to use their 2019 allocations, especially after the delay in its release. “Appropriations for infrastructure capital outlays, including subsidy releases to GOCCs for infrastructure projects, shall be valid

for obligations until 31 December 2019,” the EO said. The completion of the said projects should not be later than December 31, 2020. Gover nment agenc ies a nd GOCCs may also utilize the same rule for maintenance and operating expenses and other capital outlays. The projects should be funded by December 31, 2019, and delivered not later than June 30, 2020. To recall, the release of the 2019 budget was deferred to April due to the months-long standoff between the two chambers of Congress over budgeting rules.

‘Optimal use of infra, networks better than emergency powers’

NSTEAD of persistently seeking the grant of emergency powers from lawmakers, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) could rationalize and optimize existing transport networks and facilities to solve the chronic traffic in Metro Manila. This is the view aired by commuter rights group The Passenger Forum (TPF) Convenor Primo Morillo. The solution to the clogged arteries of the Metropolis lies in sound planning and implementation of traffic management and infrastructure development initiatives, he added. For instance, he said, the government could consider implementing the suggestions of urban planning experts, commuter groups and citizen mobility advocates, who pitched traffic solutions that do not require emergency powers. Morillo cited his group’s proposal to maximize the use of the Pasig River Ferry Service among the solutions submitted to the government 10 days ago. “The Pasig River crosses populous and busy areas of Metro Manila and it is an existing resource that we can maximize for public transportation. Based on the information we gathered, the Pasig River Ferry Service is in operation albeit in a limited capacity,”he said. Morillo added that the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) can tap the help of “credible transportation companies” to bankroll the expansion of water buses along the Pasig River. “Providing additional water buses and ensuring better passenger experience in the Pasig River will provide a viable alternative form of mobility for commuters and may help ease traffic,” he said. Morillo added that another proposal the government may consider is the rationalization of

Senate. . .

Continued from A8

Under questioning by Lacson and the other senators, the witnesses confirmed at least eight types of prison rackets by which corrupt officials and BuCor employees raise funds. Lacson ran these through with former BuCor officer in charge, Rafael Ragos. First racket is allowing the sale of prostitutes or “tilapia” who can be brought in to satisfy the inmates’ “physiological needs” for an average of P30,000. The prostitution racket has spawned another fund-raising: kidnapping for ransom. Senators were told about “kidnapping” where there is a spotter who alerts kidnappers to abduct the tilapia who have just been paid by the rich inmates, and the girl—usually the girlfriends already of the inmates—are seized outside prison. Ransom demand for these girls is then relayed to the rich inmates, who can pay as much as P400,000 to ransom them “especially if they have grown fond of them or they’ve become their girlfriends.”

Rice. . .

Continued from A1

Dansal said the selling of the 3.6 million bags will allow NFA to generate about P5 billion so they could buy another 723,000 metric tons of rice from local farmers before the end of the year. Dansal said the twin initiatives of DA are expected to bring down the market price of rice from P36 to P40 to just P32 to P34 benefiting consumers and farmers.

Sustainable supply and demand

ASIDE from NFA, Dar said 30 local governments will be given loans by LandBank to also buy rice

road works. “It is common knowledge that road works are among the culprits in the worsening traffic condition in Metro Manila. There must something that can be done to ensure that roads are excavated only when truly necessary,” he said. Scheduling, Morillo explained, should be taken into consideration to regulate road constructions. “There are times that a street will go through digging and is reconstructed in a week, and then will have to be drilled again after a few days. Coordination between the government and the private sector will ensure that we maximize each roadwork schedule,” he said.

Poe’s objection

SEN. Grace Poe earlier this week reiterated her doubt in the effectiveness of the grant of emergency powers to President Duterte in solving the traffic mess in the Philippines. And while she is open to granting the said powers to the Executive department, she said the DOTr has to come up with a detailed list of projects that could be fasttracked by the emergency powers. Poe, who claimed that the current situation can be remedied by existing laws, regulations, and programs, also said Tugade should be replaced due to his supposed inability to solve traffic congestion. Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur P. Tugade said his group submitted a draft bill in 2016, listing the projects to be directly affected by emergency powers. In a statement on Thursday, the agency listed its completed and ongoing initiatives in trying to solve the bottlenecks in airports, seaports, roads, and railways, among others. Lorenz S. Marasigan

Third, illegal gambling is allowed in the kubol or special cabins built for rich inmates that are turned into gambling dens. Senate probers learned that another racket involved “catering” where as much as P800,000 a month in “commissions” could go to high officials of the prison. The Senate inquiry also uncovered a so-called SOP racket where a newly arrived high official, whether he likes it or not, becomes the subject of a “special collection” among inmates as their “welcome.” Ragos claimed he did not get any money but learned later that a “collection” was indeed made in his behalf. At one point, he was offered a ring worth P600,000 by drugs tiangge operator-convict Amin Boratong, but he refused. Moreover, rich inmates could use the construction of chapels or other facilities they “donate” to the NBP in order to sneak in contraband in the flurry of construction activities and the entry of construction materials. Among the contraband brought in with construction items are cellular phones, liquor, cigarettes and drugs.

from local rice farmers. “We have secured the commitment of 30 provincial governments. They will now start buying palay or they will start doing this with the National Food Authority,” Dar said. With the NFA rice supply assured, Dar said they are eyeing to sustain the demand for NFA rice by signing a new accord with the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Under the proposed accord, DSWD will purchase NFA rice for distribution to beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). Lastly, Dar said the NFA is now also conducting a study to craft “a more responsive and precise rice and play pricing policies.”

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The Nation BusinessMirror

Police creates task force to probe Espino ambush

POLICE task force has been formed to probe the ambush of former Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino Jr., as policemen recovered the two vehicles used by the gunmen. Espino, also a former congressional representative, was recuperating in a hospital following the ambush on Wednesday afternoon at Barangay Magtaking in the city of San Carlos in Pangasinan. One of his bodyguards, Police Staff Sgt. Richard Esguerra, was killed during the attack, while four others, were also part of the former governor’s convoy, were wounded. The four were identified as Agapito Quizon, Police Staff Sgt. Jayon Malsi, retired policeman Anthony Columbino and Kervin Marbori. Pangasinan Provincial Police Director Col. Redrico Maranan said Special Investigation Task Group Espino had been formed to investigate the ambush and arrest the perpetrators. Several leads were being followed up by policemen. Based on Maranan’s official report to Camp Crame, Espino was onboard a Toyota Land Cruiser with plate number AAS 8236 when he was attacked along with his vehicle escort, a black Toyota Innova, with conduction sticker A3A913. The suspects, who were reportedly armed with long firearms, were aboard a red Hyundai Elantra hatchback and a metallic blue Ford Everest. The Elantra was found abandoned

at Barangay Cubol while the Everest was recovered at Barangay Pasim. High-powered M-16 and M-14 rifles were recovered from the vehicles, the report said. Maranan said that at the time of the ambush, Quizon was driving the Toyota Land Cruiser bearing Espino and Malsi. On the other hand, the Toyota Innova, which served as the backup vehicle bearing Esguerra and Marbori, was driven by Columbino. T he House of Representat ives, meanwhi le, has condemned the ambush. The latest report said Espino was severely injured and in stable condition at the intensive care unit of a hospital in San Carlos City, where he was rushed after the 4:30 p.m. attack last Wednesday on his group by still unidentified gunmen. In a news statement, Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte said the House leadership condemns in the strongest possible terms this attempt on the life of Espino. “Such murderous act has no place in our society, especially under this administration that has won broad and deep popular support because of its tough stance on crime,” he said. “The House leadership is calling on the Philippine National Police to form right away a strike force that would track down and apprehend the suspects along with the brains behind this dastardly act—and to put all of them behind bars at the soonest possible time,” Villafuerte added. Rene Acosta and Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Friday, September 13, 2019 A3

ASG bomb expert dies in Sulu clash By Rene Acosta

@reneacostaBM

BROTHER of Hadjan Sawadjaan, a subleader of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Sulu and leader of the Islamic State (IS) in the country, was killed during a clash with soldiers on Tuesday, a belated report by the military said. Two soldiers were also wounded during the firefight, which occurred at Barangay Langhub in Patikul, Sulu, according to Armed Forces Western Mindanao Spokesman Maj. Arvin Encinas. Encinas said elements of the

Army’s 41st Infantry Battalion (IB) were on operations when they clashed with about 40 ASG members encamped at Sitio Tubig Pansol, Patikul, at around 11:39 a.m. The terrorists were reportedly led by ASG subleaders Almujer Yadah, Ben Tattoh and Apo Mike, who have been among the subjects of the continued military operations in Sulu. The firefight lasted for about 20 minutes before the terrorists were forced to withdraw, leaving the body of Nanz Sawadjaan, the younger brother of Hadjan. An AK-47 assault rifle was also recovered by the soldiers from the

site of the encounter. The military said the younger Sawadjaan was one of the ASG’s bomb experts, who produced the homemade bombs that were used in recent instances of bombings in Sulu. “The neutralization of Nanz Sawadjaan is a great loss on the Abu Sayyaf. His demise will debilitate the current strategy employed by the group in creating havoc in the province,” said Joint Task Force Sulu commander Maj. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr. On Tuesday, the US State Department had designated Sawadjaan as a global terrorist along with 12 other

leaders of terrorist groups that are operating in Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and West Africa. Sawadjaan assumed the leadership of the IS in the Philippines after the death of Isnilon Hapilon in 2017. Sawadjaan and his faction of the ASG in Sulu had been blamed over the suicide bombings that hit the Jolo cathedral in January this year, the camp of the 1st Brigade Combat Team and the detachment of the 35 Infantry Battalion in June and this week respectively, both in Indanan, Sulu. The attacks were carried out separately by foreign suicide bombers along with Filipino Norman Lasuca.

CA stops Ombudsman, DILG from barring NE Governor Umali from assuming post By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

HE Court of Appeals (CA) has issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) enjoining the Office of the Ombudsman from implementing its decision issued in 2016 barring Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali from assuming his post after finding him liable for mishandling his pork-barrel fund amounting to P15 million. In a three-page resolution penned by Associate Justice Apolinario Bruselas Jr., the CA’s Seventh Division granted the petition filed by Umali seeking the issuance of a TRO and/or a writ of preliminary

injunction to enjoin the secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) from implementing the assailed decision of the Ombudsman pending resolution of his petition for review. It can be recalled that Umali was found administratively liable for diverting substantial funds from the Priority Development Assistance Fund and the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Program funds to Masaganing Ani Para sa Magsasaka Foundation Inc. (MAMFI) and the Samahan ng mga Manininda ng Prutas sa Gabi Inc. to implement his livelihood projects. The two firms reported that the funds were used to procure agricul-

tural implements but investigation revealed that no real purchases as all the liquid fertilizers were supposedly sourced from Nutrigrowth Philippines, a company owned by alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles. The Ombudsman ordered Umali’s dismissal from service and perpetual disqualification from holding public office in 2016. In his petition before the CA, Umali said he was found administratively liable for acts committed when he was a member of Congress as third district representative of Nueva Ecija but was subsequently elected as provincial governor in the May 2019 election.

The case stemmed after the DILG, upon the Ombudsman’s direction, issued a regional advisory mandating that local elective officials who were dismissed from service should serve the imposed penalty even after the said officials were proclaimed to have won in the last election. In granting Umali’s petition, the CA held that in a case where a public officer had been duly elected despite an order of suspension from the Ombudsman, the Supreme Court emphasized the importance of maintaining the status quo so as not to deprive the electorate of the services of the person they have voted into office.

A4 Friday, September 13, 2019 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Economy BusinessMirror

Campi and TMA see uphill climb in hitting 10% year-end sales growth

By Elijah Felice E. Rosales

@alyasjah

HE local automotive industry is facing an uphill climb in hitting its 10-percent growth target this year, as demand for vehicles in August declined and resulted in a negative sales output. In a joint report on Thursday, the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (Campi) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) disclosed August sales dipped 2.35 percent to 29,599 units, from 30,313 during the same month last year. This was primarily attributed to the historical trend of August being a “ghost month,” or an off-peak season for business. Sales of passenger cars (PC) grew a little over 1 percent to 8,781 units,

from 8,678 units, but those of commercial vehicles (CV) fell 3.77 percent to 20,818 units, from 21,635 units. In spite of the slowdown, industry sales from January to August rose 2.43 percent to 235,544 units, from 229,941 units during the same stretch last year. The CV segment accounted for bulk of the sales total, as it expanded 4.19 percent to 164,948 units, from 158,304 units. However, PC sales for the eight month period dipped 1.45 percent

to 70,596 units, from 71,637 units, according to the joint report. Campi President Rommel R. Gutierrez said the sales contraction in August is within industry expectations, as supply constraints during the month made it difficult for automobile dealers to post growth. Eager to rebound, he said firms will introduce new models and value promos in the buildup to the Christmas season shopping to get more buyers. “Traditionally, August has been a challenging month for the industry, [but] we expect a positive turnaround this September until the last quarter of the year, as the industry introduces new car models with more innovative and value-laden offers for car buyers,” Gutierrez said. “Campi will continue to push for sustainable sales efforts to headline our recovery from last year’s numbers. Our target of 410,000 units remains to be a highly achievable goal for the industry and we expect the road to recovery to continue until the end of the year,” he added.

SM opens second mall, donates schoolhouse in Olongapo City

Last year vehicle sales shrank 16 percent to 357,410 units, from 425,673 units in 2017, on the confluence of record high inflation, tax hikes, unstable fuel prices, among others. As such, the industry set a target of growing sales by 10 percent this year to recover from its dismal showing last year. To do this, vehicle assemblers committed to roll out new models that will capture the attention of consumers, as well as implement value promos to make these cars affordable to them. By market share, Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. is leading the industry as of August with a share of 42.73 percent of the market. Trailing the top dog are Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. and Nissan Philippines Inc. with market shares of 17.42 percent and 11.97 percent, respectively. Rounding up the five industry leaders are Suzuki Philippines Inc. and Ford Motor Co. Philippines Inc. with holds of 6.48 percent and 6.26 percent of the market, accordingly.

AboitizPower Corp. eyes renewable-energy expansion in Vietnam By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

A OLONGAPO City Mayor Rolen C. Paulino Jr., (second from left) and Vice Mayor Aquilino Cortez Jr. (third from right) were the guests of honor during the recent opening of SM City Olongapo Central. Combining innovative retail, integrated architecture, and green spaces, the four levels, 71,943-meter mall is SM Prime Holding’s 73rd mall, and its second in Olongapo after SM City Olongapo Downtown. They are joined by SM Prime Chairman for Executive Committee Hans T. Sy (left), SM Markets Vice Chairman Herbert T. Sy (right), SM Prime Holdings President Jeffrey Lim (second from right) and Most Reverend Bishop Bartolome Santos Jr., D.D. (third from left).

By Henry Empeño | Correspondent

LONGAPO CITY—Filipino retail giant SM will open today (Friday) its second mall in this city, promising to provide innovative and stylish shopping experience to residents of Olongapo, the nearby provinces of Zambales and Bataan, and other areas in Central Luzon. The four-level SM City Olongapo Central, which is located at the heart of the city’s central business district, combines innovative retail, integrated architecture, and green spaces within its 71,943-square-meter (sq m) space. Its design is highlighted by soaring walls of glass, shaded arcades, terraced planters, extended green walls, and mosaic pavement tiles that bring texture, scale, unity and life to the area. SM Investments Corp. Assistant Vice President for Corporate Affairs Victor Persius Chan said the entire mall is organized along a gently curving hallway with several atrium views toward different levels in distinct accent colors. The top level is illuminated with sufficient daylight with an expansive skylight, so that it could accommodate various events, including fashion shows, concerts and exhibits. “This will definitely be a feast for the senses,” Chan said. “Most of all, it will provide for both the shopping and entertainment needs of customers.” Chan said that as in all of SM’s 73 malls, SM City Olongapo Central will offer major anchors like the SM Store and SM Supermarket, as well as SM mainstays, like the SM Appliance Center, ACE Hardware, Our Home, Watsons, Surplus, Sports Central, as well as global brands Uniqlo and Miniso. It will also incorporate fashion bou-

tiques like H&M, Mango, and Guess; shoe, sports, jewelry and book stores, as well as shops for the latest IT and electronic goods; banks, wellness areas and amusement centers for kids. Meanwhile, eating out options include a food court, popular local and international fast-food chains, like Starbucks, and specialty restaurants like Cabalen, Ramen Nagi and Mesa. Of particular interest is a double level restaurant row overlooking the Olongapo boulevard, tree parks and a nearby river. The facility will also feature a 4,357sq-m convention center, which provides luxurious function space for balls, meetings, concerts, and other major business, social, cultural, and educational events; a 759-slot covered parking; as well as planned tennis courts in the rooftop. A day before the mall opening, SM also turned on the charms for local residents with the formal turnover of a newly built two-story, four-classroom school building to the Kalalake Elementary School in this city. The new school house was donated by SM Prime, through SM Foundation, which is the social development arm of the SM Group of Cos. and handles SM’s social programs on education, health care, food security through farmers’ training, shelter and social inclusion. The new schoolhouse comes complete with armchairs, some of which are for left-handed learners; wall fans, blackboards, teacher’s desk sets, wall clocks, toilets, and a reading corner with books donated by SM Retail. The turnover was witnessed by Olongapo City Mayor Rolen C. Paulino Jr. and senior school officials, who lauded SM’s “Pillars of Change” school building program.

BOITIZ Power Corp. continues to look for opportunities abroad, including the expansion of its recent wind power investment in Vietnam. “We are always exploring and there are actually interested sellers,”AboitizPower Chief Operating Officer Emmanuel V. Rubio. “We are looking for projects that are eligible for FIT [feed-intariff] and they are wind and solar projects, some operating, some for development. But, I think, what’s important is this opens up doors for us, this initial acquisition, I think the next one will be easier.” Aboitiz Power International, a wholly- owned subsidiary of Aboitiz Power, signed a share purchase agreement for the acquisition of 100-percent ownership of Vietnam’s Mekong Wind from Armstrong Southeast Asia Clean Energy Fund Pte. Ltd. for $46 million. Mekong Wind holds a 99 percent direct interest in Dam Nai Wind Power, which owns and operates the 39.4-megawatt (MW) onshore wind power facility in Ninh Thuan Province, Southern Vietnam. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2019. Rubio said the wind power project could undertake an expansion by as much as 50 MW more. “I think anywhere from 30 MW to 50 MW. “Wind or solar, those are the ones attractive because of FiT,” said Rubio when pressed for details. Aside from Vietnam, the power firm is looking at renewableenergy opportunities in Myanmar and Indonesia. “Together with our partners, we are exploring some projects in Indonesia. If ever there would be partners, then we have to look for synergies. We’ve been exploring projects that we can be 100 percent or majority, those are the preferences. We are not setting any timelines for the next one, I think, if it happens, it happens. If it’s acceptable to us, it’s acceptable to the seller,” said Rubio. The Vietnam acquisition sets the tone for AboitizPower’s expansion in the international market. Ninh Thuan Province boasts some of the most attractive sites for wind energy in the country. “We are excited for this opportunity not only to expand beyond the Philippines but to also bring our experience in the power generation sector, especially in the renewable-energy space, to Vietnam. “We are proud of what we have done with our cleanergy brand in the Philippines and we will bring the same level of expertise and dedication to the Vietnam market,” said Rubio. Dam Nai Wind is one of the first wind power projects in Vietnam to have been successfully brought online with commercial operations having commenced in late 2017.

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Investments in key PHL cities continue to rise–RedDoorz By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

AVAO CITY—Investments on travel and tourism have snowballed across key cities in the Philippines—with this city marking high in preferred investment site—as the industry continue to ride high on huge consumer spending in travel. The RedDoorz, a leading hotel management and booking online platform in Southeast Asia, told BusinessMirror that “some of its customers and a few inquiries” accessing its Internet platform have indicated or expressed interest in putting up businesses. “There is a steady inquiry and actual investments in tourism destinations. It’s not only inquiry and references about travel,” RedDoorz Country Head Stefanie Irma said. While the trend to invest involved a few customers yet, she pointed out that the trend has been steady and increasing through the years. “They ask where to invest and how business is in tourism, in building hotels, and other accommodation and services,” she said. RedDoorz said it was able to track this trend, mainly through its Internet web site, which is accessed regularly by its more than 3 million customers across Southeast Asia, many of them in Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam. Investments in tourism are growing in these countries, and in the case

of the Philippines “our customers are inquiring and looking at investing in the key cities,” Irma said. Country Marketing Manager Raenald de Jesus said the investment interest in tourism facilities and hospitality, and other hotel services have been cropping up steadily in the RedDoorz Internet portal. “We are tracking it as among the new developments in business to business dealings with customers,” he said. Customers of RedDoorz sought its assistance due to its extensive experience in hotel management and travel booking, for which it has already set periodic trend in the social media regarding accommodation options and other tourism services. “Customers would ask us how to do it, how to manage their investment properties in tourism destinations,” she added. De Jesus said 30 percent of inquiries through its portal were looking at Davao City, which the RedDoorz now consider as the “new boomtown.” RedDoorz has more than 20 properties, or linked hotels and other accommodation facilities, with more than 500 rooms to offer to visitors in the city, the company statement said. It added that it wanted to double this number by the first quarter of this year. Across the country, it has more than 200 hotels, inns, residences that it partnered in an 80 to 20 sharing arrangement in favor of the hotel owners.

COMP creates TSM advisory body under ‘sustainable’ mining plan By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

HE Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) on Thursday announced the composition of an advisory body under its Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) initiative to promote sustainable mining in the country. The adoption of TSM in December 2017, a program designed to promote sustainable mining and developed by the Mining Association of Canada (MAC) in 2004, is mandatory for COMP member-companies. COMP members represent the big players in the metallic mineral subsector. The COI Advisory Panel members and the sectors they represent are: Rogelio Francisco Bantayan Jr., executive director, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples—IP sector; Gov. Al Francis Bichara, governor of Albay—local government; Carlos Primo David, professor of Geology and Environmental Science at the University of the Philippines (UP) National Institute of Geological Sciences—environment; Edwin Domingo, former officer in charge director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines and Geosciences Bureau—policy/technical; Cielo Magno, assistant professor, School of Economics, UP and concurrent Civil Society Organization representative, International Board, Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative—CSO/academe;

Fr. Jerome Marquez, SVD, provincial superior, Society of Divine World and Canon lawyer—religious; Atty. Jose V. Mejia, partner at the Ligon Solis, Mejia, Florendo Law Firm and a member of the Judicial and Bar Council—legal; Ronald Mendoza, dean of the Ateneo School of Government and a senior fellow, East-West Institute —academe; Liezyl Liton-Relleta, VP and project director, GAIA South Inc. and a member of Foresters League of the Philippines—forestry/environment; Gerard Seno, national executive vice president and national executive board member, ALU-TUCP—labor; Luchi Cruz-Valdes, head of News and Information at TV 5—media; Alexis Benjamin Zaragoza III, partner at SGV & Co.—finance Aside from the 12, three exofficio members from the mining industry sits as members of the advisory body. They are Eulalio Austin, president of Philex Mining Corp.; Gloria Tan Climaco, chairman of Filminera Resources Corp. and Gerard Brimo who is also chairman and CEO of Nickel Asia Corp. The adoption of the “tried and tested” system in Canada made the Philippines the first in Asia to subscribe to the self-assessment system that is rapidly evolving to be the global standard for best practices in sustainable mining. In a news statement, Brimo said the COI Panel will “provide guidance and a place for robust discussions with COMP on current mining issues.”

Police, BI operatives arrest 7 Chinese nationals engaged in illegal sand dredging in Zambales By Recto Mercene @rectomercene

IR PORT immig ration arrested on Wednesday seven Chinese nationals in Masinloc, Zambales, allegedly engaged in illegal sand dredging activities without the required work permit and visas. Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Jaime H. Morente said the Chinese nationals were jointly arrested by immigration’s intelligence agents

from Manila and Region 3, in coordination and assistance of the Philippine National Police’s 305th Regional Mobile Force Battalion and Regional Special Operations Group. “The subject arrested foreigners violated not only our immigration laws but also the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and Executive Order 292,” BI chief said. “They are seriously threatening national security and interest by stealing our minerals

and resources.” According to BI intelligence officers Ricardo Cabochan and John Mendez, who jointly led the arresting team, three groups searched six vessels which included Sand Carrier Horner 1 where subjects Chen Shiniu and Chen Shaoshao were found, and Dredger Warrior 6 which carried Xu Xiansheng, Jiang Xin, Zhao Yihong, Gong Yaan and Xie Yuhong. Upon initial questioning and verification, the foreign-

ers presented their documents but were found to be overstaying and without proper visas or permits. Immediately after the arrest, they were brought to the BI main office for further verification and proper inquest proceedings. BI Intelligence Division Chief Fortunato “Jun” S. Manahan Jr. reported that “the operation stemmed from an intelligence information and constant coordination with elements from PNP in Region 3.”

Friday, September 13, 2019 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

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editorial

Get out of Metro Manila now

HE recent Senate hearings on the traffic problem have accomplished little if anything. Everyone seems to know what the problem is and no one seems to know what the solution is. Except we are not even sure that the problem has been properly identified. We have been told that there are too many cars. Or maybe there are too many buses. Perhaps, we need to have a lottery system of what individual working hours should be adopted. Better yet, work from home. Actually, the traffic problem in the National Capital Region is simple—12,877,253 people at the last count. Metro Manila is the fifth most populous urban area in the world. Further, we have one of, if not the most densely populated urban areas in the world. While we speak about the 2.43 million vehicles that ply Edsa every day, what is missing from the conversation is the fact that one of the reasons that Metro Manila—particularly from Edsa to Manila Bay—is so crowded is that most roads and streets there were laid out at least 50 years ago. For example, coming from the south of the metropolis, it can be a fast and easy trip until you get to Makati. Then traffic backs up trying to get on the city roads, which can’t handle the load. Compounding the problem of being able to get to Edsa and from Edsa on these two-lane roads is, of course, illegal parking and illegal stopping. Another situation that no one wants to address is that zoning and master-planned development is virtually nonexistent. How is it possible to solve traffic congestion when nine towers of more than 10 floors of condominium units are accessed from a two-lane road? One parking space for each car is not going to solve that problem. The idea of commercial and residential development moving out of the metropolis has slowly been fulfilled, such as the huge development that is taking place in the Santa Rosa area. But even with some planning, traffic there is becoming a nightmare and has actually created more problems on the South Luzon Expressway going south from Makati. There are numerous road-building projects that are progressing to move traffic in and out of, and around, Metro Manila that will soon become a reality. This will help alleviate the traffic congestion. The suggestion is that the capital of the Philippines be moved to an outlying area, such as at the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone. There has been another suggestion that the government offices stay in Metro Manila so that the people can keep a close watch on our politicians. Ultimately, traffic congestion can only be solved when there is less “people congestion.” Since 2005

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Sonny M. Angara

BETTER DAYS

HE problem with plastic materials is that many of them last forever. While some types are considered biodegradable, many require industrial-level processes to be recycled or broken down to harmless materials. Plastics are very useful for many industries. For example, up to a fourth of all packaging used globally are made of plastic. Plastic packaging helps food stay fresher, longer. Plastic containers also weigh less, contributing to fuel and transportation savings. Despite their usefulness, plastics are a serious problem. In a 2018 National Geographic article, the amount of plastics used since the 1950s is estimated at around 9.2 billion tons. Seventy-five percent of that, or some 6.9 billion tons are already plastic waste material. Even worse, 68 percent, or 6.3 billion tons, escaped into the environment, never making it to a wastebasket or bin—let alone a proper waste disposal facility. In 2015, engineering professor Jenna Jambeck estimated that an

average of 8.8 million tons a year were dumped carelessly—mostly in Asia. Much of this ended up in the ocean, where the plastic waste would become smaller and smaller. These are ingested by fish and other sea creatures, and hence eventually enter the food chain. Such waste has polluted our water to such degree and magnitude that it is highly possible that consuming fish caught from the ocean involves ingesting microscopic pieces of plastic. Sadly, the Philippines is one of five countries that contribute the most plastic trash that leaks into the oceans, according to the Ocean Conservancy and McKinsey Center for Business and Environment. Some have blamed this on our country’s “sachet economy,” or our tingi culture, which has incentivized companies to sell their products in single-

Sadly, the Philippines is one of five countries that contribute the most plastic trash that leaks into the oceans, according to the Ocean Conservancy and McKinsey Center for Business and Environment. Some have blamed this on our country’s “sachet economy,” or our tingi culture, which has incentivized companies to sell their products in single-use plastic and aluminum sachets, instead of in bulk. use plastic and aluminum sachets, instead of in bulk. It also appears that we lack the infrastructure to deal with plastic waste, considering that we generate around 2.7 million tons of plastic waste annually. One way to address the huge problem is to approach it in manageable pieces. That is why I filed Senate Bill 954, which aims to reduce and, in a way, regulate the use of plastic straws. Rather than call for an outright ban on the use of plastic straws, the bill will regulate its use, charging P2 per straw. However, plastic straws or tubes used for medical purposes, such as those used by the elderly and the disabled, will be exempt from this fee. In commercial establishments, straws will also be available only

Rice tariffication law’s false promise

Jennifer A. Ng Vittorio V. Vitug

Senior Editors

Creative Director Chief Photographer

Addressing the plastic problem

Rev. Fr. Antonio Cecilio T. Pascual

SERVANT LEADER

ROTHERS and sisters, if consumers are happy about lower rice prices in markets and stores, our fellow farmers are in peril because of the blatant haggling by those who purchase these farmers’ palay.

Because of the rice tariffication law, the restrictions of importing rice were gone. This resulted in greater supply of rice that pushed rice prices down. If you remember, this law became the primary focus of the government during the rice crisis that we experienced in 2018. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority or PSA, the price of regular milled rice varies from P38 to P43 per kilo. This is still far from the law’s target of P27 per kilo. Meanwhile, the price of palay purchased from farmers is greatly reduced. On average, the market value of grain falls to P17 per kilo, which

is lower than the P22 price last year. It is even more worrying in some areas. In Nueva Ecija, for example, the price of grain falls to only P7 per kilo. Farmers are at a complete loss since the cost of producing a kilo of palay is placed at P12. Our farmers are in danger because of the competition in the market brought about by cheap imported rice. It may be saddening for most of us, especially for those in cities who do not understand the struggle our farmers are facing. The government promised to pass the Rice Tariffication Act with proper funding in order to help farmers produce better, and

protect them against unfair systems that traders and other importers follow. Do these actually happen? What is more painful is that our lawmakers still doubt the data showing the grave economic losses of these farmers. Sen. Cynthia Villar, for example, says that farmers hoping to sell their grain at a price of P21 per kilo is an exaggeration. This is “too much,” according to the senator that pushed for the implementation of the rice tariffication law. But according to the group Batas Bigas, even the price of P21 is too much for the senator, the farmers will only be making a profit of P5,564 every cropping season, which is quite low compared to the supposed income of a family with five members so as not to be considered poor. Need we wonder why farmers are among the poorest in our country? We in the Church give importance to the contribution of our farmers in society. During Pope John Paul II’s homily dedicated to the farmers in Bicol back in 1981, His Holiness gave emphasis on society’s great debt of gratitude to our farmers. In the Pope’s words, farming is noble because it is not only a service for their

upon request, rather than being automatically added to drinks. In the same line of thinking, products such as juice boxes will not anymore be sold with a plastic straw attached to the packaging. Straws will be available at the point of sale, with the fee applied there. Straw disposal and collection after use in all commercial establishments will also be systematized for recycling. Hopefully, this will also encourage manufacturers to create product packaging that will not require the use of straws. Aside from the introduction of this bill, it is also important to investigate how older laws—such as RA 9003, which provides for the creation of an ecological solid waste management program—have been implemented. The same goes for the many projects in the various government agencies that address the many facets of plastic waste disposal, such as the members of the National Solid Waste Management Commission: the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Trade and Industry, Science and Technology, Agriculture, Health, Public Works and Highways, Environment and Natural Resources, and local government units, among others. The DTI and Board of Investments also have a plastics industry roadmap, which seeks to address See “Angara,” A7

families but for the entire country. The service that farmers render because of their self-sacrifice for the sake of their fellowmen in need of food can’t be quantified. But in their current struggle, our farmers are experiencing the lack of attention given by the government on their concerns. Now, can we say that the valuable contribution of our farmers is given importance? Who benefits from the rice tariffication law, the poor farmers or the businessmen importing rice? Brothers and sisters, in the book of Genesis 3:19, the Lord said: “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” This is where the dignity of our farmers takes root—dignity that is being abused by irresponsible leaders and citizens without care for these farmers’ welfare. 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.

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Making incentives work for traffic

Some notes on a feast in September Tito Genova Valiente

ANNOTATIONS

Alvin Ang

EAGLE WATCH

HE Senate hearing the other day wanted a traffic master plan instead of emergency powers. While this debate continues, news of people dying on the road due to the horrific congestion have cropped up. It seems that at this point, policymakers still do not know what to do to solve the travails that millions of people, not only in Metro Manila, suffer every day. 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. I will not add to the debate. But what is clear is that a disaster needs a fast and a relieving response. Unfortunately, even if we fire on all cylinders, there is no solution that is fast and will give immediate relief. The mechanisms to attract people support are all too punitive and instead of people following, we tend to go around the law and the ordinances. Since we are looking for violators, then, we are unable to really solve the problem—only those that contribute to the problem. Along this line, we may need to revisit the incentives that surround traffic flow. Let us consider two aspects of the many facets of traffic flow, i.e., public transportation and enforcement. First, public transportation is clearly a public good. If we are able to move people faster at lower cost, then we could lower the reason for private ownership of vehicles. There are two elements that are present in public transportation—how it is organized and the incentives that it provides. Many of our public services have a significant if not overwhelming presence of the private sector. Public transportation is not an exception. With too many small operators of tricycles, jeepneys and buses plying the Metros around the country, you will need a strong regulator to efficiently manage this system. Adding to this woe is the fact that the incentive mechanism for profit making in this small operator system is the “boundary system.” The system operates like a daily rental where the driver pays the operator and keeps the rest as his share. Since the fare is per passenger, it forces the driver to fill up his vehicle all the time. Thus, for the driver, his opportunity cost is not time-based, but per passenger. So, as long as there is an empty seat or space for passenger, the behavior of the driver is to stop. We have seen the effect of this behavior. The public in general, however, has opportunity cost based on time. So the employee, the student, the logistics system and the rest cannot wait until the driver fills up the vehicle. The Department of Labor and Employment already issued an order that bus drivers should be paid a salary and not implement the boundary system—but that cannot work if the system is run privately. Therefore, an important but expensive short-term solution is for government to take over public transportation operations similar to many metropolitan

Angara. . .

continued from A6

standards and policies related to the plastic production cycle in the country. If there needs to be amendments or new bills filed, then by all means, these should be undertaken immediately. Ultimately, the issue of paying P2 for the use of a plastic straw should be viewed as only one step in a host of initiatives that address not just plastic waste management, but larger environmental issues as well. Carl Sagan, the famous astronomer, once wrote: “The Earth is the only world known so far to harbor

Friday, September 13, 2019

The government should shift the incentive structure from commissions in traffic violations to bonuses from improved traffic flow. Since the MMDA already identified 300 chokepoints in Metro Manila, the improvement of these chokepoints can be the starting point as baseline for assessing future bonus. centers around the world. Public transportation is a scale industry. Government can start operations of major routes first. It eventually can bid out monopoly rights to operate these routes. We should start thinking this way! The second aspect of traffic flow is enforcement. Again, the incentive mechanisms that are present in this is severely flawed. Every enforcer, whether Metropolitan Manila Development Authority 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 it can think of to get that commission. In addition, this is why very few of the enforcers are really manning traffic but are looking for violators (consider where they usually post themselves). To solve this, 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 already identified 300 chokepoints in Metro Manila, the improvement of these chokepoints can be the starting point as baseline for assessing future bonus. 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. All told, these are not instant solutions but they can very well change the behavior of significant actors in the traffic flow and using the power of correct incentives, we will hopefully get a glimpse of a solution in the horizon. life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit, yes. Settle, not yet. Like it or not, for the moment the Earth is where we make our stand.” It’s imperative that we start thinking about how our waste management is affecting our only home. Crafting and executing proper laws are a good start. 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.

N the second Friday of September, Bikolanos know it is time to go home and be in the Traslacion—the transfer of the image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia. It is a short route from the Basilica across the river then to the old Shrine by the river, and on land to the Metropolitan Cathedral. The procession, however, navigates the street in more than six hours, with the men called voyadores, which means “rovers” or “travelers” bearing the image. What slows down the procession are mainly these voyadores, some of them climbing up the globe-like carrosa and competing for the chance to touch, even hug, the tiny 17 to 18-inch tall icon, give and take the crown and other accoutrements. The Traslacion of the Virgin, called Ina or Mother by devotees, used to be even more unruly and raucous in the years before the declaration of martial law. To many who believed in the efficacy of faith in the Lady and to many who shared this belief outside the walls of the old churches, the seemingly lack of order was part of the ritual. Ask the rationale for it and you would not get a forthright answer. As with any belief systems, one believes; the investigation is left to researchers or policemen. The State as Police entered the festivities a year after 1972. On September 8, 1972, no one ever could have predicted that it would be the last Peñafrancia celebration without much intervention from any kind of authority. True, the institutional church would comment about the problems of tipsy or heavily inebriated participants. The popular thought: it was all part of a ritual. At the end of the literal day, at a dark six or seven in the evening, the procession would always wind up inside the Cathedral, as majestic as any ritual for divinities, transcending alcohol and man-made ordinances about good behavior. There were omens of the dark days to come. In months before the Peñafrancia celebration of 1972, there were reports of phantom lights on the early evening sky of Naga, hovering above the river. Some narrated how these bright lights assumed the form of a Lady with a crown. On September 16, 1972, during the fluvial procession that would bring back the Lady to her Shrine by the river, the Colgante Bridge collapsed. It killed hundreds. The barge was a few meters from that bridge when the tragedy happened.

The Virgin was taken out of the raft-like contraption and carried to what is now referred to as the old Peñafrancia shrine. The old men and women saw in the fall of the bridge the heaviest of omens. Something was going to fall upon us. A clamor for investigation ensued about how the incident could have been averted if the city officials were mindful of old, hanging bridges and the safety of the people. The Colgante Bridge was old. When you walk on it, you could see through the slats and missing wooden planks the dark river below. But it provided a vantage point to bid farewell to the Ina as she journeyed back to her home. The investigation never happened. A week after the Colgante Tragedy, martial law was declared. Memor y has been play ing tricks with my recollection of this September.

A tale of three mayors Manny F. Dooc

TELLTALES

HERE’S a rising political star in US politics that has emerged as a serious contender in the crowded 2020 Democratic presidential field. His name is difficult to pronounce and I bet that not many voters can even spell it correctly. Pete Buttigieg— the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, a medium-size city with a population of 102,245 in 2017. He earned his degrees in Harvard and Oxford as a Rhodes scholar. He is a polyglot and speaks eight languages. He is a commissioned naval intelligence officer. He gave up a toppaying job to run for mayor of South Bend, which he has held since 2012. While serving as the top executive of his city, he was deployed to Afghanistan as a naval intelligence officer for seven months. He is openly gay and has been married and living with his husband since 2015. As a presidential hopeful, he is advocating bold reforms and proposes to abolish the Electoral College and elect the American president by direct popular vote, just like here in the Philippines. Had this system been in place, Samuel Tilden (1876), Grover Cleveland (1888), Albert Gore (2000) and Hillary Clinton (2016) who obtained higher plurality

votes than their respective opponents could have been US presidents. Buttigieg also wants to increase the number of justices on the US Supreme Court, which at present has only nine members. If he clinches the Democratic Party nomination and gets elected as the 46th president of his country, at age 38 Buttigieg would be the youngest ever to hold that post. Up to now, the youngest is Theodore Roosevelt who was 42 years old when he became president following the assassination of William McKinley. JFK was 43 although many people think he is the youngest American ever elected to that exalted office. nnn OUR very own President has demonstrated that the city mayor’s office could be a direct launching pad for a successful presidential run. No

It was a Saturday, the 23rd of September, 1972: we woke up to a quiet, radio-less city. I reported to Ateneo de Naga. It was during an ROTC formation that we were informed martial law had been declared. We were told to go home and wait for announcements when the classes would resume. Some of us stayed behind to clean the walls and strip them of anti-government posters and photos of Che Guevara, Lenin and Mao. Ateneo de Naga then was one of the most progressive and radical educational institutions in the region. In history, we are told martial law was declared on September 21, 1972. What happened to my remembering? The Official Gazette and many other sources have answers: the documents on the declaration of martial rule were drafted as early as the 17th of September. The official date of Proclamation 1081 was placed at September 21, 1972, with the formal media announcement made in the evening of September 25, 1972. Martial law played tricks with histories and it played tricks with memories. By 1973, the ideology of order and harmony was being enforced all over the land. The Traslacion was not spared of the politics of the “New Society.” The military took over the more chaotic portions of the procession. It was strange to see voyadores in military uniform. The no-drinking policy was strongly enforced with trucks hauling in anyone who showed any tipsiness. This gave the impression that under martial law, good behavior was prevailing. Many believers were saddened by the turn of events. They saw that the irrational behavior of those who carried the Mother of the region was a

ritual thing. It was not an impolite act but rather a humbling turn as men again reenacted the boisterousness of the Native before the Gentle Mother calmed them. It was the process of ritual and anti-ritual. The scientists of human collective behavior have faith in chaos because, structurally, it anticipates order. The new regime, however, was flexing its muscle. On August 18, 1981, the image of the Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia disappeared from its place in her shrine. Stolen. It was August and the Traslacion was days away. The church opted to look for a replica. One day, from Malacañang, a message came: The first lady, Imelda Marcos, was donating a replica. No one knows if the Palace replica was ever used. But months after, the image was recovered. On a stormy day on September 8, 1982, a motorcade from Manila brought back the Lady of Peñafrancia to Naga. A plane travel was not possible as a typhoon was raging over the region. It has been written that as the cars started to cross the bridge to Naga, the bells started to ring. People were out on the streets unmindful of the storm, with tears not visible anymore as the rains had washed them down the faces of the welcoming devotees. Presently, the original image of Ina is hidden somewhere. There are replicas of Her all over the region. I don’t think She will ever disappear again. What any church cannot promise today is the continuing disappearance of people because a government does not like their faith or politics or gender.

sitting mayor has done it before, but PRRD is not your typical hizzoner. He effectively presented himself to the voters as the anti-corruption, antidrugs and anti-crime candidate— three popular issues that drew strong following from the masses. And no one among his adversaries could match his bravado to champion these causes since his governance records in Davao City indisputably show that he could tame these sinister ills of our society. Not a well-mannered candidate but perceived as indecisive and neither a gracious woman inexperienced with the ways of the world was trusted by our electorates to do the job. Likewise, a woman with balls but wobbled by ailment, nor a dauntless aspirant but hobbled by corruption charges would not answer the bill. In short, PRRD was able to frame and define the issues in the 2016 presidential derby in his favor. nnn IN another time, another mayor was headed for Malacañang and nobody in the political horizon at that time could have stopped him. He was an indomitable fighter both in sports, where he excelled in boxing and football, as well as in politics. No wonder, few dared to enter the same arena to compete against him. He was the most colorful city executive in our country and even the presidents sought his counsel. He has command of both the written and the spoken words. “He seethes, he simmers; he

froths and fumes. In other words, he is boiling mad,” was the picture he painted of a political opponent who got berserk by his vitriolic attack. Before joining politics, he was a newspaperman and a radio broadcaster before the advent of television. As a fiery and fightingest columnist, his piece was aptly titled, “In this Corner,” ever ready to brawl at the sound of the bell. His biting commentaries were a poison to many so that he was popularly called “Arsenic.” As a mayor, he got rid of the crime, vice, filth, road traffic and corruption in Manila. He built the first underpass in the country and rescued the city from squalor and decay. President Ramon Magsaysay repeatedly wooed him to become his running mate in the 1953 presidential election but he declined so the slot was given to Carlos P. Garcia. He would have been the youngest Philippine president at age 44 after Magsaysay’s tragic death in a plane crash in 1957. He was all set to run in 1965 and was a shoo-in to capture the highest post in our land, but he died unexpectedly on April 15, 1962. Arsenio H. Lacson, aged 49, the greatest mayor Manila ever had; the greatest president the Philippines never had. nnn NOW, the torch is passed to the new generation of young mayors—notably Isko, Vico and Francis. Who among them can make the giant leap from city hall to Malacañang?

E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com

A8 Friday, September 13, 2019

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DA’s appeal: Don’t throw dead hogs in creeks

By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

HE Department of Agriculture (DA) appealed to backyard raisers on Thursday not to dump dead hogs in creeks and rivers because there is a “grave danger” that diseases that killed the animals could spread.

DA Spokesman Noel Reyes sounded the appeal following reports that dead hogs were found in a creek in Quezon City and in Marikina River. He reminded the public that there are protocols for disposing of dead animals. Reyes told the BusinessMirror in an interview that the agency has yet to determine if the hogs were killed by diseases, such as the dreaded African swine fever (ASF). “If this [disposal of dead hogs in creeks and rivers] is true, may we appeal to the backyard owners

‘Lift ban on export of mature coconuts’ By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

HE Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) is pushing for the temporary lifting of the ban on the export of matured coconuts, as the international prices of coconut oil continue to plummet. PCA Administrator Romulo de la Rosa told reporters in a press briefing on Thursday that the average price of coconut oil fell to $635 per metric ton in June, from last year’s $931.19 per MT. The latest figure is nearly half of the $1,200 per MT recorded in 2017. De la Rosa attributed this to the existing glut in vegetable oils, such as palm oil and soya oil, in the international market. As local copra prices track the price of imported vegetable oils, the decline in prices has slashed the income of farmers. He said crude coconut oil constitutes about 54 percent of the country’s shipments of coconut products.

The PCA chief said the farm-gate price of copra, the dried kernel of a coconut, is now down to P13 per kilogram. Two years ago, it would have fetched about P25 per kg, he said. De la Rosa said this does not bode well for the local coconut sector, which has increased output in the last five years following the devastation caused by Supertyphoon Yolanda (international code name Haiyan) and Typhoon Pablo (international code name Bopha). “Output is good because there was sufficient rain and not much typhoons. But international prices have declined,” he said. De la Rosa noted that the Philippines produces 15 billion coconuts annually or some 30 million per day. To boost copra prices, he said the PCA is now proposing the temporary lifting of the ban for the shipment of matured coconuts. The ban was put in place by Executive Order 1016 issued

TROPICAL DEPRESSION “MARILYN” 1,265 KM EAST OF CASIGURAN, AURORA as of 4:00 pm - September 12, 2019

in 1985. The rationale for the ban—the fear that other countries will steal local genetic resources—is no longer applicable today, according to de la Rosa. “Now one can grow a whole tree from just a tissue sample.” He said the Philippines can take advantage of the current demand for mature coconuts in Asian countries like China. “It is a fad in China to process mature coconuts and add flavor to it so it will become a watery coconut milk drink,” de la Rosa said. “The government is trying to convince the Chinese to set up a manufacturing plant for this coco juice here. In the meantime, we can temporarily export mature coconuts to China,” he added. De la Rosa said the proposal to lift the ban through an interagency initiative is still undergoing stakeholder consultation.

not to dump them, especially in the river. Please call your local veterinarians and inform them that the hogs died,” he said.

ASF protocol

THE disposal of the dead hogs came days after the DA confirmed the outbreak of ASF in hog farms in Bulacan and Rizal. Under the ASF protocol, hog raisers should contact their city or municipal veterinarian. The local veterinarian will then arrange the visit of the Bureau of Animal In-

dustry (BAI), an attached agency of the DA. The BAI will then obtain samples from the hogs and send it for testing. Reyes said it usually takes two weeks for the results from the national laboratory to arrive while the international testing, conducted by the United Kingdom-based Pirbright Institute, will take longer. “There is a grave danger [of the spread of the disease]. Please refrain from throwing dead hogs in creeks or rivers. Even dead ordinary

animals can infect others. It’s simply unhygienic,” he said.

Dead hogs in QC

THE local government of Quezon City said it will immediately close all piggeries in the city should the BAI confirm that the dead hogs died of ASF. In a phone interview with the BusinessMirror on Thursday, Quezon City Veterinary chief Ana Maria Cabel said piggeries are no longer permitted in any city. See “Hogs,” A2

Nepa: Naia SENATE CITES 3 BUCOR Consortium EXECS IN CONTEMPT, HEAR OF MORE RACKETS proposal is illegal By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

ONSUMER rights group National Economic Protectionism Association (Nepa) claimed that the Ninoy Aquino International Airport rehabilitation proposal of the Naia Consortium is illegal as it allegedly violates certain provisions of the build-operate-transfer (BOT) law and its implementing rules and regulations. In a letter sent to the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa), and the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda), the country’s oldest nongovernment organization warned officials of these agencies they could be charged with plunder for“causing undue injury to the government for entering into a contract that is manifestly and grossly disadvantageous to the government.” The consumer group said the granting of the original proponent status to Naia Consortium—a group of seven Filipino conglomerates—is “illegal” because the Naia rehabilitation proposal “does not introduce any new technology, and merely consists of the expansion of existing terminals, the introduction of commercial spaces, the introduction of vehicles that will ferry people from one terminal to another, and the improvement of air side infrastructure, such as taxiways and aprons.” It also claimed that the proposal is “grossly disadvantageous” to the government, citing government guarantees and subsidies. Should the proposed contract be approved, the government has to pay penalties and compensation to Naia Consortium for failure to deliver contractual responsibilities, particularly in guaranteeing a 52-air traffic movement per hour on the single-runway Naia. This, according to the group is, “unachievable” given the infrastructure limitations at Naia. Given this, Nepa claimed that should the provision be approved, the government “guarantees the revenues that will be collected by the consortium” as it also “guarantees that 37.8 million passenger per annum will use Naia.” This, the group warned, could also trigger a consortium-led termination of contract that will require the government to pay Naia Consortium termination fees, as well interest. Aside from this, Nepa claimed that the government is effectively providing “direct government subsidies” to Naia Consortium by allowing it to collect and increase passenger service charges, aircraft charges, porterage fees and revenues from commercial spaces. “These guarantees amount to direct government subsidies, which are prohibited by the BOT law,” the group said. Nepa, likewise, claimed that it is illegal for the government to allow the Naia Consortium to use and develop the commercial areas of the Naia real estate without any additional charge, and that provisions on material adverse government action are skewed to favor the private-sector proponent. Missing in the proposal, according to Nepa, are the parametric formulas for increases in chargers, which “deprives the government of an opportunity to evaluate vitally important commercial terms.”   Sought for comment, Department of Transportation Undersecretary Ruben S. Reinoso, Jr. said the basis for the granting of the OPS to Naia Consortium rests on the implementing rules and regulations of the BOT law, which allows for projects that are not under the government’s priority list. “The DOTr’s legal basis is not a new concept but that it’s not part of priority list under Neda’s Medium-Term Public Investment Program,” he said in a text message. A spokesman from Naia Consortium said his group will first review the letter sent to the government before commenting.

ENATE probers made good on their threat to deal more harshly with lying witnesses, citing in contempt on Thursday three prison officers at the continuing inquiry into various rackets at the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP), where rich inmates—even heinous crime convicts were able to cut short their jail time through the grant of good conduct time allowance (GCTA) sold by corrupt officials. This, as Senate President Vicente Sotto III said he is filing a bill raising the penalty against witnesses cited for perjury from six to 12 years’ imprisonment, indicating this will be included in the committee report to be submitted for plenary action. The lead investigating panel of Sen. Richard Gordon, Blue Ribbon chairman, cited three witnesses in contempt for giving evasive answers under questioning by Senate probers. Detained at the Senate premises are Ramoncito Roque, chief of documents and record section of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor); Atty. Fredric Santos and prison officer Ursicio Cenas. “Hindi makasagot nang diretso [They could not give straight

answers],” Sen. Panfilo Lacson said, adding: “[It’s like] we are being lied to each time we conduct a hearing. It’s about time the committee put its foot down on these people. Otherwise, they’ll just make a mockery of our committee hearings.” Lacson indicated the Senate probe is still awaiting validation from the National Bureau of Investigation on the alleged involvement of two more female BuCor officers whose names were not disclosed. He said they could also be included in the list of those to be cited for contempt. Lacson, however, said the contempt citations will not divert the focus of the probe into the uncovered racket involving the misuse of GCTA. “The focus on GCTA will remain. We just want to know what other activities are being used to raise funds over there,” the senator said. Lacson indicated they have yet to elevate the inquiry into reports on the possible involvement of higher officers in the national prison racket. This means, Lacson admits, that their prison racket inquiry is far from over. “For as long as new information is coming in the investigation will not stop.” See “Senate,” A2

Don’t treat BARMM like an independent state–DFA By Recto Mercene

@rectomercene

OREIGN Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. on Thursday warned foreign embassies in the Philippines, including their ministers, not to deal with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) “like it is an independent state.” Locsin’s reacted to a tweet from a veteran journalist and columnist who said he is confused that in Mindanao, “they have ‘Ministers’ that seem to be the equivalent of our department secretaries.” Philippine Star columnist Federico Pascual then wondered aloud, “Is there another state within our state already in place?” Locsin replied, also on Twitter, “Worry not. AFP and DFA issued a warning to foreign embassies and ministries—especially the EU— not to f--k around dealing with BARMM like it is an independent state. Any money to BARMM must be vetted by the DFA with Nica [National Intelligence Coordinating Agency] looking over its shoulder or there’ll be hell to pay.” Pascual’s concern was apparently triggered by a Department of Transportation (DOTr) press release saying, “Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade was welcomed by Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mind-

anao Minister of Transportation and Communications Dickson Hermoso.” The DOTr Secretary was also accorded arrival honors by the Sixth Infantry Division of the Philippine Army at Camp Siongco in Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao on Thursday, September 12, 2019. Tugade said he appreciates the hospitality of the host. “I am really not used to being welcomed like this. Kapag nga bumibisita ako sa mga probinsya, ayoko ng may alam. Ayoko ng mga banderitas. [Whenever I go to the provinces, I try to keep a low profile. I don’t want to see banners or buntings].” Tugade added, “I come here for two reasons. First, I come here to work so that together, we can make sure that the center of BARMM, which is Cotabato, can grow and glow according to the vision of the President. Second, I come here to bring the greetings of the President and remind everyone that the President loves you all. He loves Mindanao. He loves BARMM.” After the arrival honors, Tugade, Hermoso, LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III, and other officials from DOTr, LTFRB and LTO proceeded to the Modern PUV Caravan to showcase modern jeepneys that are compliant with the PUVMP, as well as to the turnover of the LTFRB Building in Region 12 to BARMM, the DOTr press release said.

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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

A26 Friday, September 13, 2019

‘Love Thy NeighborGoods’ opens at Ayala Malls The 30th

YALA Mall’s The 30th, a lifestyle community center and the first commercial development in Pasig City, has partnered with the Pasig Livelihood Training Center for a week-long showcase of homegrown products from over 25 entrepreneur-participants, all coming within the City now under the care of the young and dynamic Mayor Vico Sotto. Specially-made handicraft products and homegrown food concoctions were displayed at the Activity Center of the mall. Dubbed “NeighborGoods”, the community trade fair opened on August 26. It primarily envisions to promote homegrown products of the community, from small to medium-sized entrepreneurs and social enterprises within the Pasig area. Will be conducted as sure-fire entertainment is ensured all throughout the days long bazaar. VIPs led by the Pasig City mayor himself, Ayala Malls The 30th General Manager Pivi Ann Diaz, City Administrator Atty. Jeron Manzanero, and Pasig Livelihood Training Center Chairperson Atty. Rey Jose Espina and singing beauty Princess

Valesco livened up the occasion. NeighborGoods embraces the strength of Ayala Malls The 30th as among the high-end public abode where “community and convenience” come together “just around the corner.” Since it opened last January 2017, this three-level style community mall has provided a good mix of dining and quick-service food ideas that come along finely with foreign and local fashion concepts. Pasig residents and those nearby, as well as office workers and students in the area, all come regularly at The 30th for its refreshing and curated ambience and given the fact it is located in a busy, invigorating intersection between residences, offices, and schools. Its likewise worth-noting that this happening is an undertaking that encourages income generation apart from employment by way of business ventures by graduates-turned-entrepreneurs. Having said, it goes in line with Ayala Malls’ social responsibility through the provision of help and support towards the growth of the community.

Cucina celebrates Marco Polo’s birthday!

O mark Marco Polo’s 765th birthday this September, Cucina is treating this month’s birthday celebrants with a special treat. From the 15th to 22nd of this month, those who turn a year older in September can enjoy a complimentary lunch or dinner buffet at Cucina when dining with four (4) paying guests.

Savour an interactive dining experience at Cucina, complemented by its well-curated spread of international cuisine paired with excellent service delivered by the restaurant’s experienced chefs. Featuring premium dishes cooked a la minute with its nine live action stations—Japanese, Seafood, Asian Noodles, Grill, Carving, Italian, Indian, Filipino, and Dessert—Cucina brings all the finest taste that diners’ palates are looking for, perfect for celebrating another year that has passed and better years to come. Reservations are accepted via (02) 7207720 or online via http://bit. ly/ReserveCucina. Cucina is open daily for lunch and dinner buffet. It is located at the Level 24 of the hotel. Please log-on to www. marcopolohotels.com for more details on the Hotel’s ongoing promotions. Subscribe to updates via social media through the Hotel’s official social media accounts: facebook.com/MarcoPoloOrtigasManila and @MarcoPoloManila on Twitter and Instagram.

Meralco shines bright at the 2019 quill awards

ERALCO, the Philippines’ largest electricity distribution utility and the only four-time Quill Company of the Year recipient, was once again among the most decorated companies in the recent Philippine Quill Awards. The company won two top awards during the formal ceremony held at Marriott Grand Ballroom, and placed second runner-up in the Company of the Year race, a testament to the company’s continued strength in business communication excellence. This year, Meralco hauled a total of 22 campaign awards, bagging 9 Excellence and 13 Merit trophies. Among Meralco's major highlights of the evening were the Top Award for Communication Skills given to Meralco Typhoon

Watch 2018 and the Top Award in the Communication Research category won by the Evaluation of One Meralco Foundation’s Household Electrification Program (HEP). Meralco Advisory, the company's monthly information campaign, was also recognized as a Finalist for Top Award in the Communications Management Category. Organized by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines, the Philippine Quill Awards is considered the country’s most prestigious awards program in the field of business communication – emphasizing the excellent use of communication in achieving goals and in making a difference in society.

Quirino Province sets 48th founding day fest

HE Province of Quirino marks another milestone as it celebrates its 48th founding anniversary through the 20th Panagdadapun Festival from September 6-10, which showcased its rich history and cultural heritage. With the theme “I Love Quirino Forever More”, celebrations opened with an array of events, such as indigenous arts and crafts exhibit, job fair, the Search for Binibining Quirino pageant, sports tournaments, sociocivic events, and entertainment concerts topbilled by leading rock bands Moonstar 88 and Tanya Markova. A major event is the first Quirino Invitational Wakeboarding Competition

which will gathered more than 70 of the top boardriders from all the wakeparks in the country at the newly-opened Quirino Watersports Complex. The festival’s highlight was the grand parade, anniversary program and Panagdadapun street dance parade showcasing the municipal festivals of Penenkakasisit of Nagtipunan, Pagay-Pagay of Saguday, Panagsasalog of Maddela, Ginnamuluan of Cabarroguis, Pammadayaw of Diffun, and Panagsalukag of Aglipay. According to Quirino governor Dakila Carlo Cua, the celebrations underscored the economic, political and governance gains the province has achieved since its creation

MDS-AD: For Early Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease

on Sept. 10, 1971 from its mother province of Nueva Vizcaya. He noted that this year’s celebration is special with the consecutive annual Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Seal of Good Local Governance Award from 2015-2018 the province received for its excellence in financial administration, disaster preparedness, social protection, and peace and order. It is also a recipient of the 2018 Best Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council in the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s Gawad Kalasag, the country’s premier annual awards for outstanding contribution in DRRM and humanitarian assistance. Moreover, the province’s Cabarroguis Homestay Association received the 2018 Asean Homestay Award in Ha Long, Vietnam for its homestay program to support its emerging tourism industry. He noted that the fest, which literally means “gathering” in the Ilocano language, is also an opportunity to showcase Quirino’s natural charm through its ecotourism attractions, such as the Aglipay Caves and Provincial Forest Park, Siitan Nature Park in Nagtipunan, Governor Rapids at the Cagayan River in Maddela, and the countless waterfalls tucked inside the forests. For more information, follow the Provincial Government of Quirino fan page on Facebook or log on to www. quirinoprovince.org.ph.

Cross Over to the Dark Mysterious Side

O you have loved ones who are 60 years old and above, who tend to forget names, places, and dates; have difficulty performing everyday tasks; get easily confused; and can lapse into depression and anxiety? Perhaps these are just signs of ageing. But maybe, these can be symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, which is a neurodegenerative disease and the most common form of dementia. Just to be on the safe side, it would be best to have them take the MDS-AD, or Multimer Detection System – Alzheimer’s Disease test. MDS-AD is the first blood test in the Philippines that detects amyloid beta oligomers, which are the major culprits in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. Available only at Hi-Precision Diagnostics, this easy and value-for-money test provides early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Catching the disease at its initial stages can help the doctor prescribe the appropriate medicine. The effectiveness of medication is known to be higher during the early stages, thus, early detection of Alzheimer’s disease matters. For more information about MDS-AD, contact Hi-Precision Diagnostics at 741-7777, info@hi-precision.com.ph, or visit http://www.hi-precision.com.ph.

OU’VE always raved for those rich red pasta dishes. Bowled over creamy white carbonara noodles or béchamel lasagne. Today defy conventions and discover the dark delight of Ideal Gourmet Squid Ink Spaghetti. And taste a different kind of high! Dramatic and different, Ideal Gourmet Squid Ink Spaghetti is authentic squid-ink infused pasta that dazzles even the most discriminating taste buds. Its briny and earthy taste is delectably rounded with a hint of sea saltiness. The squid ink is naturally rich in glutamic acid which produces a deep, natural flavour associated with umami. Therefore, it needs less salt or sodium, and makes for savoury but guilt-free spaghetti dishes. The Spaghetti to be low in sodium and rich in anti-oxidants which combat free radicals that damage cells and the heart, as laboratory studies have shown. Squid ink is also high in iron which is needed to fight anemia. Studies further found squid ink to be rich with the chemical dopamine which helps improve memory and concentration, thereby making squid-ink pasta a good brain food

for young and old alike. The rich, black color of squid ink spaghetti enhances the color of vegetables and seafood that partner it. Its deep earthy taste provides complementing, not overpowering, savour to any sauce-whether light, oil-based; or tomatoconcocted. To most squid ink pasta lovers, “simple is best”: just olive oil for “sauce”, then garlic, red pepper flakes, a bit of white wine, then some parmesan cheese to top off, and it’s done! The real allure is in the jet-black color that lends drama and novelty, and bewitches even your most sophisticated guests. Squid ink pasta is

believed to have originated in Sicily, and today its fanatics abound in Italy, Spain, and Japan. What was only available before to the few jet-setters among us is now accessible, from a nearby supermarket. Find Ideal Gourmet Squid Ink Spaghetti 500g at all leading supermarkets. It befits all occasions where you and your food need to stand out. For a complete repertoire of impressive pasta dishes to wow your family or guests, also try Ideal Gourmet Lasagna (No.1 brand!), Rigatoni, Spaghettini and Cannelloni. For inquiries, please call 282-3333 or 283-6666, or log on to facebook @Ideal Gourmet Pasta.

Companies BusinessMirror

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₧1.57-B expansion of Subic Expressway a ‘game changer’ By Lorenz S. Marasigan

& Ashley Manabat

@lorenzmarasigan

@ashleymanabat

UBIC FREEPORT ZONE—The P1.57-billion capacity expansion of the Subic Freeport Expressway (SFEX) will help boost the tourism potential of Subic, and attract more locators to invest in Central Luzon, Nlex Corp. and government officials said on Thursday. Nlex Corp. President Luigi L. Bautista said his group hopes to spur trade and tourism in Subic by adding two additional lanes, two new bridges, and a tunnel to the 8.2-kilometer thoroughfare—a development described as a “game changer.” “One of the key drivers of economic growth is a network of highquality roads. We intend to accelerate development and also to encourage travel convenience and road safety,” Bautista said at the groundbreaking

for the expansion here. For her part, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the improvement of connectivity and mobility will help attract more locators in Subic and increase the tourism potential of the area. “This will continue to be a catalyst for growth in investments, business and tourism. I could guarantee that there will be investors, but this will promote tourism as well. While

investors continue to come in, it is important for us to grow Subic as a tourism destination for Filipinos and foreigners alike,” she said. Under the expansion program, Nlex Corp. will expand the current one-lane SFEx to a two-lane configuration for each side, and build two bridges in Jadjad and Argonaut. The company will also construct a new tunnel parallel to the existing one. The project was originally finished for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit in 1996. It is aimed at improving traffic safety and easing travel time to and from the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Also included in the current P1.67-billion project—targeted for completion in September 2020— are the installation of expresswaystandard LED lights as part of the tollway company’s efforts to improve motorists’ visibility when driving at night; the raising of the Maritan Highway-Rizal Highway-Tipo Road junction; and the enhancement of the drainage system to help alleviate flooding in the area. “The project will help sustain

Subic’s position as a globally competitive trade and tourism hub,” Eisma added. To build the expansion, however, Nlex Corp. had to cut down trees and remove portions of the mountains. This was approved by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). For every tree that was uprooted, Nlex Corp. is planting 100 new seedlings in Subic. “Environmental awareness has always been part of our sustainable development strategy that is why we will conduct tree-planting activities in the coming months to help reduce carbon emissions and contribute to cleaner air and healthier ecology along the SFEX,” Bautista explained. Besides Bautista and Eisma, the groundbreaking was graced by Zambales Board Member Reinhard Jeresano, Hermosa, Bataan Mayor Antonio Joseph Inton and other Nlex Corp. officials. The Nlex Corp. is a subsidiary of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., the tollways unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC).

Friday, September 13, 2019

USSC offers Memorial Guard with Eternal Plans

S SC Ser v ice Stores, a whol ly Fi lipino-ow ned net work of one-stop shops all over the country, is now offering MemorialGuard memorial plan in partnership with preneed industry leader Eternal Plans Inc. MemorialGuard is a new USSC insurance product that gives a memorial plan value of P20,000 to P60,000 at very affordable rates. The preneed product is made available by USSC Service Stores under its budget insurance category of services provided by its one-stop shops, along with other financial and fund management services. USSC, or Universal Storefront Services Corp., has 870 outlets nationwide offering domestic and international money transfer and money exchange services, cash cards for managing funds, bills payment and ticketing and other business transactions. It is the No. 1 agent of Western Union in the Philippines.

Eternal Plans, on the other hand, is the preneed arm of the Eternal Group of Cos. that offers memorial life and pension plans. Its affiliates in the Eternal Group comprise the Eternal Gardens, an 11-member chain of first-class memorial parks in key places all over the Philippines, and Eternal Crematory Corp. With MemorialGuard, USSC and Eternal Plans aim to provide customers quality and dignified memorial service benefits at the most reliable and affordable rates. MemorialGuard plans may be purchased now in any USSC Super Service Store all over the country with the following terms: P20,000 Plan value for six months or oneyear coverage; P40,000 Plan value for six months or one-year coverage; and P60,000 Plan value for six months or one-year coverage. USSC and Eternal Plans said they launched MemorialGuard to help ease the burden of bereaved families so they can focus on paying tribute to departed loved ones.

CLI acquires, manages premium Mactan resort property By Roderick L. Abad @rodrik_28 Contributor

UBLICLY listed Cebu Landmasters Inc. (CLI) has expanded its resort development by acquiring at an undisclosed amount the Abaca Resort Mactan, a top-rated beachfront property in the Queen City of the South. CLI pl a ns to e x pa nd t he 4,328-square-meter Abaca Resort Mactan to a 100-room all-suite luxury estate from the current nine rooms. CLI Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jose Soberano III said they will tap a reputable foreign architect to design and master plan the redevelopment of the posh resort. Abaca Resort Mactan will close its doors in February 2020 to start the renovation, set for completion in 2023. Both CLI and The Abaca Group, owners of the resort and a chain of top-end Cebu restaurants, envision an iconic and sustainable resort tower that will showcase Mactan’s very first “Sky Villas.”

Apart from the acquisition deal, they executed a hotel management agreement to ensure that the Abaca brand of uncompromising quality and high-end, personalized service will continue in the new resort property. “CLI and The Abaca Group will create world-class synergies that will allow us to maximize tourism opportunities in Cebu, a booming growth area supported by largescale infrastructure development projects such as Terminal 2 of the Mactan Cebu International Airport,” Soberano said. For their part, The Abaca Group Founder Jason Hyatt noted that they always want to contribute largely to the growth of tourism and hospitality industries in Cebu, which they consider their adopted home. “We have been approached by several developers to expand the brand, but the thoughtfulness and commitment to quality that Cebu Landmasters brought to the table was undeniable and made the decision easy,” he said.  “Having this unique partnership and opportunity to manage

a premier property developed by the region’s premier developer is a significant step toward our vision of breaking out as the country’s top homegrown luxury hotel group,” he added. The leading Visayas-Mindanao property developer has a total of 58 projects in various stages of development in seven key cities of the region. Aside from the Abaca Resort Mactan, CLI recently acquired the 2-hectare Lowaii Marine Cebu Resort seated on the southern side of Mactan Island. In the first half of 2019, the company’s consolidated net profit reached P1.109 billion, up 34 percent from the P826 million posted during the same period last year. Combined revenues, likewise, grew by 34 percent from P2.613 billion to P3.495 billion year-on-year due to construction progress from ongoing projects. Looking forward, CLI is bullish about attaining its year-end goals of P2.6 billion in consolidated net income and P2 billion in parent net income, as well as P8.4 billion in combined revenues.

Absolute water firm celebrates women’s journey to motherhood with 5th Mommy Welfare Month

OTTLED water company Absolute recently marked its fifth year of the Mommy Welfare Month by distributing to public hospitals nationwide—including Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital— Absolute Mommy Welfare Bags to help women make the difficult journey to motherhood and all its risks and challenges. Challenges on infant development, birth physical recovery and postpartum conditions are the concerns shared most by mothers who give birth at Fabella Hospital, hailed as the “World’s Busiest Maternity Ward” where at least 50 babies are born each day and most women giving birth come from the outskirts of Manila. At Fabella, mothers share a delivery room with 13 other ladies and end up sleeping side by side with six other women on one bed.

MOTHERS tend to their babies at Fabella Hospital with the Mommy Welfare kits they received. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

While it takes a massive amount of strength to be a mother, it also requires a lot of support to be a mom; thus, women on the road to motherhood should get all the help they need because mothers who are well taken

care of will be able to be at their best. Recognizing this, Absolute thus sustained this year its Absolute Mommy Welfare Month. Continued on B2

Companies BusinessMirror

Friday, September 13, 2019

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

September 12, 2019

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

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

54.05 141.8 92.75 25.85 12.16 69.45 13 20.8 46.7 57.2 113 27.55 206 59.5 1.15 2.08 18.5 5.9 7.73 1.21 0.445 0.97 183.2 1800 1.1

57.95 142.1 93.2 25.9 12.18 69.5 13.2 22.3 47 57.8 117.9 27.6 206.2 59.95 1.2 2.09 18.6 5.91 8.63 1.24 0.455 0.98 183.5 1814 1.13

57.95 143 93 25.9 12.18 70 13 21 46.55 57.75 118 27.7 203.8 59.45 1.16 2.11 18.5 5.01 8.63 1.21 0.445 0.98 183.5 1810 1.14

57.95 143.6 93.2 25.9 12.2 70.1 13.2 21 47.1 57.8 118 27.7 206 59.5 1.2 2.11 18.6 5.9 8.63 1.21 0.445 0.98 183.5 1810 1.14

57.95 141.8 91.75 25.8 12.12 68.9 13 21 46.55 57 117.9 27.6 202.2 59.45 1.15 2.09 18.5 5.01 8.63 1.21 0.445 0.96 183 1795 1.14

57.95 141.8 93.2 25.85 12.16 69.5 13.2 21 46.7 57.2 117.9 27.6 206 59.5 1.2 2.09 18.6 5.9 8.63 1.21 0.445 0.98 183.4 1800 1.14

10 1152770 2753280 30500 265300 5608560 300 1300 50700 4190 110 200 232760 230 71000 17000 6100 3661300 100 2000 20000 70000 860 335 1000

579.5 163913635 255604856.5 789405 3231422 389732075.5 3920 27300 2374485 239639.5 12970 5530 47814748 13679.5 81900 35790 112860 20517333 863 2420 8900 67680 157667 604600 1140

INDUSTRIAL

-78870701 37401874.5 -367520 1434920 -164551156 224790 23333180 2090 -109140 3070318 863 -

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

1.3 38.75 0.241 26.05 82.35 360 21.95 5.19 4.26 2.95 10.5 33.7 7.2 15.9 90.6 16.7 14.14 6.04 9 7.19 91 0.7 52.6 222.2 14.5 2.14 12 1.83 5.1 2.11 168 1.31 72.8 2.7 6.01 15.32 9.94 13.8 19.2 9.01 1.13 1.32 2.04 3.35 5.16 31.7 2.39 8.84 1.55 1.12 10.78

1.31 38.8 0.246 26.1 82.7 361 22 5.21 4.48 2.96 10.7 33.75 7.22 16 109.9 17.8 14.26 6.14 9.01 7.2 91.95 0.71 52.8 222.4 14.52 2.15 12.24 1.84 5.15 2.21 168.8 1.32 75.6 2.72 6.14 15.34 9.96 13.88 19.24 9.19 1.16 1.33 2.07 3.46 5.19 32.35 2.4 8.92 1.59 1.14 10.86

1.32 37.3 0.246 26.5 83.2 361 22.4 5.27 4.37 2.98 10.7 34.4 7.22 15.86 90.4 17.78 14.08 6.04 9 7.18 91.4 0.7 53 226 14.18 2.08 12.16 1.75 5.1 2.11 167.5 1.32 72.8 2.71 6.14 15.3 10 13.8 19.2 9.1 1.11 1.31 2.07 3.46 5.18 31.6 2.27 8.94 1.6 1.1 11.9

1.32 38.75 0.247 26.5 83.2 362 22.4 5.27 4.37 3 10.7 34.4 7.22 16 110 17.8 14.24 6.16 9.03 7.24 91.95 0.7 53 226.2 14.68 2.17 12.32 1.84 5.1 2.11 170 1.33 75.6 2.76 6.14 15.32 10.18 13.88 19.32 9.19 1.16 1.37 2.07 3.46 5.3 32.35 2.4 8.94 1.6 1.14 12

1.3 37.15 0.24 26 82.1 359.2 21.9 5.19 4.07 2.94 10.7 33.5 7.2 15.78 90.4 17.78 14.02 6.03 8.98 7.18 90 0.69 52 222.4 14.16 2.08 11.5 1.71 5.1 2.08 167 1.3 72 2.68 6.14 15.12 9.94 13.78 19.16 9.01 1.08 1.3 2.06 3.46 5.14 31.55 2.25 8.9 1.56 1.1 10.68

1.3 38.75 0.246 26.1 82.35 360 22 5.19 4.07 2.96 10.7 33.7 7.22 16 110 17.8 14.14 6.04 9 7.2 91.95 0.7 52.8 222.4 14.5 2.15 12 1.83 5.1 2.08 168 1.32 75.6 2.72 6.14 15.32 9.94 13.88 19.2 9.19 1.16 1.32 2.07 3.46 5.16 32.35 2.4 8.9 1.59 1.14 10.78

408000 4275000 1230000 1399800 174000 93020 590900 1281500 100000 11958000 4400 224900 63800 109600 110 400 96500 46600 541600 1228900 60470 452000 45280 3944530 1994400 8011000 212900 1845000 3000 55000 359590 3941000 420 2394000 200 271500 26100 264900 253600 11900 1213000 8730000 393000 2000 69200 4100 8408000 53700 37000 158000 3108200

530940 164576320 297140 36554940 14395673.5 33501878 13007315 6684350 414470 35529320 47080 7575955 459685 1744966 11638 7116 1364170 281741 4873243 8857269 5527467.5 316380 2380768.5 887266418 28797996 17146630 2603454 3309830 15300 115520 60626746 5192190 30450 6498450 1228 4140200 261890 3657334 4870614 109001 1382510 11695760 813130 6920 359096 130150 19365170 477990 58340 177180 34077164

-528300 58329580.0004 2807805 -5431755.5 -5902558 -8589265 -18076 -2089840 43870 -651825 582830 1090 1780 -220056 -183229 -669569 -4611340 -989968.5 433853.5 -57864526 -9939542 2733680 -2251558 -20066690 -598700 2710840 3703512 -8128 -2444504 1522510 -23070 -505119.9999 6920 -6455 8547670 493692

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

0.91 13.52 904 53.25 12.48 3.59 6.91 0.8 1.22 1.23 6.87 9.13 13.5 4.16 0.231 922.5 5.82 74.35 5.3 0.495 4.56 14.5 0.62 5.14 0.038 1.34 3.19 1.29 1011 174.1 0.85 222 0.231 0.235

0.93 13.9 909 53.55 12.5 3.6 7 0.81 1.23 1.24 6.88 9.15 13.78 4.65 0.244 929.5 6.25 74.5 5.8 0.51 4.58 14.64 0.65 5.15 0.039 1.36 3.21 1.32 1014 175 0.86 230 0.238 0.244

0.94 13.98 902 53.5 12.4 3.45 7 0.83 1.2 1.23 6.9 9.19 13.78 4.64 0.23 921 6.27 73 5.87 0.495 4.56 14.18 0.64 5.11 0.038 1.37 3 1.29 1020 175 0.85 222 0.229 0.236

0.94 14.08 918 53.9 12.78 3.61 7 0.83 1.24 1.24 6.92 9.22 13.78 4.64 0.244 930 6.27 74.5 5.87 0.53 4.56 14.78 0.65 5.22 0.039 1.38 3.21 1.33 1023 175 0.92 233 0.235 0.25

0.91 13.52 902 52.8 12.38 3.45 7 0.78 1.2 1.23 6.87 9.13 13.78 4.64 0.23 921 6 72.9 5.8 0.495 4.55 14.18 0.64 5.1 0.038 1.3 3 1.29 1011 172.5 0.84 222 0.229 0.235

0.93 13.52 909 53.25 12.5 3.6 7 0.81 1.23 1.24 6.88 9.15 13.78 4.64 0.244 929.5 6 74.5 5.8 0.5 4.56 14.5 0.65 5.15 0.038 1.35 3.21 1.32 1014 175 0.85 222 0.235 0.235

7052000 40600 195880 637990 3844300 7680000 1100 278000 934000 251000 705700 6526500 5200 2000 50000 73550 30100 876570 2200 630000 51000 3492400 51000 17255500 4000000 599000 440000 3000 752220 21650 1574000 710 650000 1860000

6492780 557334 177920285 34085379.5 48162406 27442850 7700 221570 1138190 309240 4866723 59735790 71656 9280 11640 68231415 180627 64966212 12819 318300 232510 50542126 32690 89087556 154500 790600 1343550 3940 762944800 3787943 1390780 157962 152690 439690

758610 -63191675 -22863759 14257786 -445650 -91238 -32067900 -2756 -5298950 -180000 -15926654.5 -72929.9997 9419492 14804124 -9600 386569130 -155630 17400 -19982 -2500

HOLDING & FRIMS

PROPERTY

ARTHALAND CORP 0.88 0.89 0.9 0.9 0.87 0.89 1484000 1301960 32560 ANCHOR LAND 9.11 10.48 10.7 10.7 10.7 10.7 1000 10700 AYALA LAND 49.3 49.45 49.5 49.5 49.05 49.3 6708360 330412371 12678957 BELLE CORP 2.18 2.19 2.2 2.2 2.16 2.18 425000 924880 -85200 A BROWN 0.83 0.84 0.84 0.85 0.83 0.83 833000 694760 CITYLAND DEVT 0.85 0.88 0.85 0.88 0.85 0.88 6000 5160 880 CROWN EQUITIES 0.219 0.227 0.223 0.223 0.22 0.22 700000 154440 2220 CEBU HLDG 5.86 6 5.86 6 5.86 6 12900 75617 595 CEB LANDMASTERS 4.74 4.75 4.7 4.8 4.7 4.75 262000 1250640 -47680 CENTURY PROP 0.55 0.56 0.57 0.57 0.55 0.56 6642000 3677750 -44240 CYBER BAY 0.395 0.41 0.395 0.395 0.395 0.395 30000 11850 DOUBLEDRAGON 21.4 21.45 21.45 21.5 21.1 21.4 99800 2132755 222330 DM WENCESLAO 9.2 9.3 9.36 9.5 9.2 9.2 571300 5293165 -4810026 EMPIRE EAST 0.46 0.465 0.45 0.46 0.45 0.46 30000 13700 FILINVEST LAND 1.65 1.66 1.66 1.66 1.64 1.65 22611000 37307650 3750100 GLOBAL ESTATE 1.25 1.26 1.27 1.27 1.25 1.26 928000 1166130 2520 8990 HLDG 15.26 15.28 15.28 15.28 15.26 15.26 477700 7289908 -459326 PHIL INFRADEV 1.46 1.47 1.49 1.5 1.45 1.46 1076000 1582180 18780 CITY AND LAND 0.75 0.76 0.73 0.75 0.73 0.75 13000 9510 8030 MEGAWORLD 5.14 5.15 5.07 5.18 5.07 5.15 18187000 93441125 2627766 MRC ALLIED 0.315 0.32 0.315 0.32 0.31 0.315 3610000 1139400 -3150 PRIMEX CORP 2.05 2.09 2.05 2.13 2.05 2.09 340000 700980 20150 ROBINSONS LAND 25.25 25.5 25.35 25.5 25.1 25.5 940300 23751745 -1704780 PHIL REALTY 0.39 0.395 0.385 0.395 0.385 0.395 230000 88650 ROCKWELL 2.36 2.39 2.35 2.39 2.35 2.38 59000 140200 SHANG PROP 3.42 3.44 3.43 3.44 3.35 3.42 94000 321310 STA LUCIA LAND 2.42 2.45 2.45 2.45 2.39 2.45 621000 1515580 SM PRIME HLDG 34.2 34.55 34.6 34.8 34.2 34.2 6126200 210934030 -88841065 STARMALLS 5.75 5.8 5.75 5.8 5.7 5.8 79800 461212 SUNTRUST HOME 0.92 0.95 0.97 0.97 0.92 0.92 536000 499820 VISTA LAND 7.66 7.67 7.69 7.7 7.65 7.66 2332700 17872782 -12131123 SERVICES ABS CBN 19.3 19.4 19.84 19.84 19.3 19.32 285200 5557986 GMA NETWORK 5.27 5.28 5.3 5.3 5.27 5.28 349800 1849563 MANILA BULLETIN 0.445 0.465 0.445 0.445 0.445 0.445 80000 35600 GLOBE TELECOM 1930 1935 1935 1966 1935 1935 14790 28733290 -11888195 PLDT 1185 1194 1196 1196 1176 1194 39095 46528965 15934195 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.048 0.05 0.05 0.053 0.048 0.05 45810000 2319930 IMPERIAL 1.88 2 1.88 1.88 1.88 1.88 18000 33840 ISLAND INFO 0.113 0.116 0.113 0.117 0.113 0.115 3360000 385290 157310 ISM COMM 5.56 5.57 5.45 5.56 5.44 5.56 1634800 8992725 11255 JACKSTONES 2.86 2.98 2.86 2.86 2.86 2.86 1000 2860 NOW CORP 3.57 3.58 3.44 3.59 3.34 3.57 9912000 34767320 783060 TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.35 0.355 0.345 0.355 0.345 0.355 2710000 949100 PHILWEB 3.35 3.38 3.37 3.4 3.32 3.38 266000 897120 23490 2GO GROUP 10.02 10.2 10.2 10.3 10.02 10.02 9000 90980 -0.0001 CHELSEA 7.2 7.23 7.34 7.35 7.14 7.2 1765900 12717658 848026 CEBU AIR 94 94.75 94.5 95 94 94 14360 1360354.5 33818 INTL CONTAINER 132 133.4 133.3 135.5 132 132 1272020 169437187 -7485586 LBC EXPRESS 13.82 14.5 14.56 14.56 14.56 14.56 100 1456 LORENZO SHIPPNG 0.91 0.94 0.91 0.91 0.91 0.91 53000 48230 MACROASIA 19.06 19.24 19.28 19.28 19.02 19.06 3212500 61236492 49325234 METROALLIANCE A 1.2 1.29 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 97000 116400 METROALLIANCE B 1.28 1.56 1.28 1.28 1.28 1.28 4000 5120 PAL HLDG 8.32 8.49 8.3 8.55 8.3 8.49 2800 23703 HARBOR STAR 1.78 1.79 1.77 1.81 1.77 1.79 406000 728280 -53700 ACESITE HOTEL 1.6 1.65 1.63 1.67 1.63 1.65 39000 64390 -44550 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.056 0.057 0.057 0.059 0.057 0.057 31910000 1820330 WATERFRONT 0.68 0.69 0.68 0.69 0.68 0.68 551000 377860 -61839.9997 CENTRO ESCOLAR 6.58 6.98 6.98 6.98 6.98 6.98 1800 12564 698 FAR EASTERN U 918 920 919.5 919.5 918.5 919 50 45950 IPEOPLE 9.33 9.49 9.5 9.5 9.49 9.49 500 4747 STI HLDG 0.68 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.68 0.7 861000 589600 BERJAYA 2.42 2.43 2.36 2.43 2.36 2.43 625000 1494190 BLOOMBERRY 10.98 11.08 11.04 11.26 10.98 11 17824400 196082898 -156760832 PACIFIC ONLINE 2.83 2.9 2.85 2.92 2.77 2.83 263000 760240 LEISURE AND RES 3.31 3.4 3.35 3.41 3.3 3.4 1164000 3878240 3160110 MANILA JOCKEY 3.41 3.42 3.38 3.41 3.38 3.41 64000 217590 PH RESORTS GRP 4.72 5.08 5.11 5.11 5.11 5.11 1000 5110 PREMIUM LEISURE 0.71 0.72 0.72 0.72 0.71 0.71 2032000 1459500 -12750 TRAVELLERS 5.45 5.46 5.45 5.45 5.45 5.45 1536500 8373925 -246340 METRO RETAIL 2.48 2.52 2.46 2.5 2.45 2.5 515000 1278670 -9980 PUREGOLD 42.9 43 42.85 43.05 42.85 43 911400 39136170 -11529005 ROBINSONS RTL 77.5 77.55 77.2 77.95 77.2 77.5 958650 74,320,229( 24,592,914.4999) PHIL SEVEN CORP 138 143.5 142 143.8 138 138 40 5676 1380 SSI GROUP 2.85 2.86 2.86 2.87 2.83 2.85 1429000 4075950 2940480 WILCON DEPOT 16.64 16.8 16.74 16.8 16.6 16.8 741600 12414414 7400234 APC GROUP 0.58 0.59 0.59 0.6 0.58 0.59 2994000 1766290 EASYCALL 10.8 10.88 11.44 11.44 10.78 10.88 392800 4327428 109200 GOLDEN BRIA 423 435 422 435 422 434.8 160 68994 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.6 0.61 0.62 0.62 0.6 0.61 6110000 3736380 -439320 SBS PHIL CORP 9.22 9.39 9.12 9.39 9.12 9.39 6800 63049 MINING & OIL ATOK 12.7 13 11.22 13 11.22 13 45200 567198 APEX MINING 1.21 1.23 1.25 1.28 1.21 1.21 4615000 5742160 4960 ABRA MINING 0.0017 0.0018 0.0017 0.0018 0.0017 0.0018 139000000 236400 ATLAS MINING 2.58 2.6 2.59 2.6 2.58 2.58 10000 25910 BENGUET A 1.15 1.22 1.24 1.24 1.15 1.15 14000 16550 BENGUET B 1.15 1.29 1.15 1.15 1.15 1.15 90000 103500 103499.9999 CENTURY PEAK 2.7 2.71 2.71 2.71 2.71 2.71 200000 542000 DIZON MINES 8.26 8.27 7.86 8.48 7.86 8.27 204000 1693286 -19956 FERRONICKEL 1.7 1.71 1.65 1.7 1.64 1.7 22999000 38390990 8799580 GEOGRACE 0.225 0.226 0.219 0.255 0.219 0.225 9960000 2334550 LEPANTO A 0.11 0.112 0.11 0.11 0.11 0.11 500000 55000 LEPANTO B 0.109 0.113 0.113 0.113 0.11 0.11 600000 66090 1130 MANILA MINING A 0.0092 0.0098 0.0097 0.0099 0.0092 0.0092 17700000 164240 MANILA MINING B 0.01 0.012 0.01 0.012 0.01 0.012 13600000 156600 MARCVENTURES 1.19 1.2 1.19 1.21 1.18 1.19 411000 488190 NIHAO 1.09 1.12 1.11 1.18 1.06 1.12 197000 221160 NICKEL ASIA 4.3 4.31 4.34 4.39 4.22 4.3 10865000 46566670 -17813070 OMICO CORP 0.48 0.49 0.48 0.48 0.48 0.48 40000 19200 ORNTL PENINSULA 0.86 0.87 0.87 0.89 0.86 0.87 748000 654250 PX MINING 4.02 4.03 4.1 4.16 4 4.02 1226000 4989530 694619.9999 SEMIRARA MINING 23.45 23.7 23.45 23.8 23 23.7 3642300 85895845 -22597020 UNITED PARAGON 0.0064 0.0068 0.0064 0.0064 0.0064 0.0064 4000000 25600 ORNTL PETROL A 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 1000000 11000 ORNTL PETROL B 0.011 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 11000000 132000 PHILODRILL 0.011 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.011 0.011 16400000 182800 PHINMA PETRO 10.08 10.1 9.87 10.2 9.87 10.1 2309300 23241823 443490 PXP ENERGY 12.3 12.32 13 13.38 12.18 12.3 10018200 127603200 -4170098 PREFFERED HOUSE PREF A 97.6 99.6 99.5 99.6 99.5 99.6 2000 199187 AC PREF B2 500.5 505 505 505 505 505 160 80800 ALCO PREF C 101 102 101 101 101 101 5000 505000 DD PREF 101 101.5 101.6 101.6 101 101.6 5210 526642 SMC FB PREF 2 990 997.5 997.5 997.5 997.5 997.5 710 708225 FGEN PREF G 107 107.9 107 107.1 107 107 5230 559612 GLO PREF P 500 505 505 505 505 505 10 5050 GTCAP PREF B 970 980 980 980 980 980 10 9800 LR PREF 0.99 1 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 537000 531630 MWIDE PREF 100.3 101.9 100.3 100.3 100.3 100.3 600 60180 PCOR PREF 2B 1021 1030 1030 1030 1030 1030 100 103000 PCOR PREF 3B 1062 1080 1070 1081 1070 1081 20460 21973785 -3209500 SMC PREF 2B 76.1 76.5 75.8 76.6 75.8 76.05 220 16780.5 SMC PREF 2C 78.8 78.95 78.95 78.95 78.9 78.95 39440 3113763 -

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR GMA HLDG PDR

18.54 5.11

18.9 5.12

18.7 5.13

18.96 5.13

18.52 5.12

270000 23600

5,037,396( 120848

WARRANTS LR WARRANT

1.65

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ITALPINAS 6.35 KEPWEALTH 11.02 XURPAS 0.98

1.71

1.65

1.6

1.65

127000

205810

6.4 11.24 0.99

6.65 10.9 1.05

6.77 11.44 1.07

6.35 10.6 0.99

6.35 11.02 0.99

952300 661400 20713000

6241363 7348410 21129170

24495 -474990

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS FIRST METRO ETF

118.9

4,831,785.9997) -

119

119.2

118.5

119

1280

152356

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Meralco gives notice to award supply deal to 3 power firms

By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

HE Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) on Thursday announced the issuance of a notice to award a 10-year power supply contract to three power firms whose bid offers where declared “best bids” at Monday’s auction via competitive selection process (CSP). “The winning bidders were issued respective notices of award after having passed the post-qualification evaluation. The respective power supply agreements are still subject to approval of the Energy Regulatory Commission [ERC],” said Meralco. Phinma Energy Corp.’s bid was for contract capacity of 200 megawatts with an all-in headline rate (VAT inclusive) of P4.7450/kWh and Computed all-in Levelized Cost of Energy or LCOE (VAT inclusive) of P4.8849/kWh. San Miguel Energy Corp. submitted a bid for 330 MW at all-in headline rate (VAT inclusive) of P4.6314/ kWh and Computed all-in LCOE (VAT inclusive) of P4.9299/kWh. South Premiere Power Corp.’s (SPPC) bid was for 670 MW with an all-in headline rate (VAT Inclusive) of P4.6314/kWh and Computed allin LCOE (VAT inclusive) of P4.9300/ kWh. These bids, which collectively totaled 1,200 MW in contract capacity, are much lower than the

all-in headline rate (VAT inclusive) of P4.9196/kWh and Computed allin LCOE (VAT inclusive) P5.3694/ kWh reserve prices predetermined by Meralco. They will supply Meralco starting December 26, 2019, until December 26, 2029. Meralco has set the signing of the power supply contract on Friday morning. Meanwhile, the bid offers of First Gen Hydro Power Corp., Phinma Energy and SPPC for a contract to supply Meralco 500 MW of mid-merit capacity for five years starting December 26, 2019, will still be subjected to post-qualification evaluation, execution of their respective power supply agreement and approval of the ERC. The Third Party Bids and Awards Committee (TPBAC) is expected to issue the respective notices of award to them on September 12, to be followed by the signing of the PSAs with Meralco next week. First Gen Hydro’s bid was for

FLI expands Pampanga footprint with phase 2 of Hampton Orchards

ROPERTY developer Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI) expanded its footprint in Pampanga with the groundbreaking of its residential project, Hampton Orchards Phase 2, under the brand Aspire by Filinvest. The project, a joint venture with film producer and director Ben M7 Yalung, is the latest development within the 32-hectare community located between the cities of Angeles and San Fernando in Pampanga. The project is part of FLI’s plan to launch P30 billion worth of residential developments this year. The company said its performance in the residential sector has shown its abil-

ity to address the needs of its core market, the affordable and middleincome home buyers. For this project, FLI will develop the 18-hectare property that will feature open spaces with lot cuts ranging from 156 to 469 square meters ideal for families, OFWs and individuals looking for an investment. Amenities include amphitheater, sundial, pocket parks, outdoor gym and central orchard, which will complement the first phase facilities that include a pool, clubhouse, children’s playground, multipurpose court, gazebo, picnic huts, trellis and mango orchard. VG Cabuag

Absolute water firm celebrates women’s journey to motherhood with 5th Mommy Welfare Month Continued from B1

Each kit it distributes this month in public maternity wards contain 1 liter of Absolute Distilled Drinking Water, alcohol, fabric conditioner and other products to aid neophyte mommies in their new adventure. “Takot na takot ako maging nanay. Maliban sa gastos, iniisip ko rin ang magiging kalusugan ko at ng aking anak. Thankful ako sa Fabella at Absolute dahil sa oportunidad na makarinig at makausap ang mga kapwa nanay. Sulit na sulit ang aking panganganak. Maraming akong natutunang ideyas kung paano paghandaan ang bagong hamon ng buhay kong ito,” said one Fabella mother who recently just gave birth. Together with the Mommy Welfare Bags are Pure Love Letters rallied by Absolute from mommies across the Philippines through different platforms. Hundreds of mothers took the chance

to show their moral support by words of strength and encouragement, warming the hearts of our new and soon-to-be moms in the birthing centers. As part of this initiative, Absolute also followed the Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) Program of Dr. Fabella Memorial Hospital. Due to the shortage of incubator machines in public hospitals, this caring method is used to aid premature and low-birth weight babies until they are able to survive on their own without the need for intensive care. This program provides a higher chance of survival for the babies through skin-to-skin contact of the parent and the infant. Apart from stocking up on healthy food, proper hydration is also of vital importance for our new moms, who must drink a glass or two of clean water before breastfeeding. Absolute Pure Distilled Drinking Water is the first bottled water brand in the Philippines that the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) International has certified.

contract capacity of 100 MW with an all-in headline rate (VAT inclusive) of P5.1908/kWh and Computed all-in Levelized Cost of Energy (VAT inclusive) of P5.3989/ kWh. Phinma Energy’s bid was for 110 MW at all-in headline rate (VAT inclusive) of P5.5858/ kWh and Computed all-in LCOE (VAT inclusive) of P5.5858/kWh. SPPC’s bid was for 290 MW and had an all-in headline rate (VAT inclusive) of P5.5347/kWh and Computed all-in LCOE (VAT inclusive) of P5.7527/kWh. The two CSPs will result in total savings of around P13.86 billion per year, or a rate reduction of P 0.41 per kWh.

No word on rebidding

MEANWHILE, Meralco has yet to say if it will rebid the 20-year contract for 1,200-MW baseload capacity. “No contract capacity was awarded due to only one bid received,”

MUTUAL FUNDS

Meralco said. Atimonan One Energy Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Meralco PowerGen Corp., the power generation arm of Meralco, emerged as the lone bidder at Tuesday’s auction. Panasia Energy Inc. submitted a letter on August 28 informing the TPBAC of its withdrawal from the bidding. Mariveles Power Generation Corp., also submitted a similar letter on Tuesday morning. First Gen Corp./First Gen Ecopower Solutions failed to arrive and submit its documents. In all, Meralco has lined up a total of three CSPs: A five-year contract for 500 MW, a 20-year contract for 1,200-MW greenfield, with commercial operations date in 2024, and a 10-year contract for 1,200-MW brownfield, with COD in December 2019. Greenfield power plants are those that are built from scratch while brownfield plants are those that are already existing.

September 12, 2019

NAV ONE YEAR THREE YEAR FIVE YEAR Y-T-D PER SHARE RETURN* RETURN STOCK FUNDS ALFM GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 259.05 1.59% -0.91% 0.2% 2.72% ATRAM ALPHA OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. -A 1.567 8.17% 3.9% 1.5% 8.76% ATRAM PHILIPPINE EQUITY OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. -A 4.0319 1.44% -1.88% -1.19% 3.3% CLIMBS SHARE CAPITAL EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND CORP. -A 0.967 7.08% N.A. N.A. 7.33% FIRST METRO CONSUMER FUND ON MSCI PHILS. IMI, INC. -A 0.8638 3.57% N.A. N.A. 5.25% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN EQUITY FUND,INC. -A 5.4646 3.71% 0.59% 0.27% 3.63% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN PHILIPPINE INDEX FUND, INC. -A,6 0.878 4.51% -3.64% N.A. 4.94% MBG EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND, INC. -A 117.67 2.62% N.A. N.A. 1.3% PAMI EQUITY INDEX FUND, INC. -A 52.4665 5.5% 0.76% N.A. 6.59% PHILAM STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 546.01 5.74% -0.26% 0.09% 6.07% PHILEQUITY DIVIDEND YIELD FUND, INC. -A 1.3223 4.65% 0.96% 1.33% 5.45% PHILEQUITY FUND, INC. -A 38.8513 5.25% 1.77% 1.26% 6.06% PHILEQUITY MSCI PHILIPPINE INDEX FUND, INC. -A,3 1.0392 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. PHILEQUITY PSE INDEX FUND INC. -A 5.3306 6.51% 1.64% 2.05% 7.5% PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND CORP. -A 889.92 6.54% 1.45% 1.97% 7.42% SOLDIVO STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 0.9228 7.2% 0.47% N.A. 7.3% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE EQUITY FUND, INC. -A 4.32 5.35% 1.35% 1.34% 6.43% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND, INC. -A 1.0226 6.1% 1.38% N.A. 7.16% UNITED FUND, INC. -A 3.7328 5.56% 2.86% 2.58% 6.63% EXCHANGE TRADED FUND FIRST METRO PHIL. EQUITY EXCHANGE TRADED FUND, INC. -A,C,2 119.2968 6.9% 2.26% 3.02% 7.72% ATRAM ASIAPLUS EQUITY FUND, INC. -B $0.9575 -3.04% 1.25% -1.57% 3.06% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY WORLD VOYAGER FUND, INC. -A $1.2869 0.29% 6.65% N.A. 16.44% BALANCED FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ATRAM DYNAMIC ALLOCATION FUND, INC. -A 1.6677 0.07% -2.6% -2.54% 1% ATRAM PHILIPPINE BALANCED FUND, INC. -A 2.3075 3.26% -0.74% 0.13% 4.45% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN BALANCED FUND INC. -A 2.6643 4.96% 0.47% -1.21% 4.77% GREPALIFE BALANCED FUND CORPORATION -A 1.3541 2.03% N.A. N.A. 3.82% NCM MUTUAL FUND OF THE PHILS., INC. -A 1.9664 6.42% 1% 1.21% 6.69% PAMI HORIZON FUND, INC. -A 3.8143 7.44% -0.05% 0.55% 8.08% PHILAM FUND, INC. -A 17.0683 7.57% -0.07% 0.44% 7.3% SOLIDARITAS FUND, INC. -A 2.1584 4.3% 0.81% 1.58% 4.31% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BALANCED FUND, INC. -A 3.8967 5.85% 0.79% 0.99% 6.72% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2028, INC. -A,D,4 1.0206 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2038, INC. -A,D,4 1.0123 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2048, INC. -A,D,4 1.0104 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DYNAMIC FUND, INC. -A 0.9886 5.3% 0.38% 0.36% 7.26% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES COCOLIFE DOLLAR FUND BUILDER, INC. -A $0.03833 9.36% 2% 2.25% 8.58% PAMI ASIA BALANCED FUND, INC. -A $0.9839 2.02% 1.13% -1.22% 7.68% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ADVANTAGE FUND, INC. -A $3.7508 2.98% 4.92% 2.75% 13.37% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR WELLSPRING FUND, INC. -A $1.1138 4.52% 3.05% N.A. 10.28% BOND FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM PESO BOND FUND, INC. -A 353.52 3.67% 2.21% 2.29% 2.93% ATRAM CORPORATE BOND FUND, INC. -A,1 1.9144 2.92% 0.15% 0.03% 2.97% COCOLIFE FIXED INCOME FUND, INC. -A 3.0809 5.28% 5.35% 5.27% 3.52% EKKLESIA MUTUAL FUND INC. -A 2.1928 3.45% 1.12% 1.94% 2.99% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN FIXED INCOME FUND,INC. -A 2.3261 4.87% 1.18% 1.49% 5.49% GREPALIFE FIXED INCOME FUND CORP. -A P 1.6077 1.74% -1.26% 0.35% 2.77% PHILAM BOND FUND, INC. -A 4.2928 10.06% 0.56% 2.09% 9.52% PHILEQUITY PESO BOND FUND, INC. -A 3.7401 7.59% 1.55% 1.69% 6.34% SOLDIVO BOND FUND, INC. -A 0.9452 5.87% -0.44% N.A. 6.06% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BOND FUND, INC. -A 3.0011 8.46% 1.79% 2.54% 8.51% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY GS FUND, INC. -A 1.6605 8.18% 1.28% 2.06% 7.83% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES ALFM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $464.27 4.37% 1.79% 2.8% 3.54% ALFM EURO BOND FUND, INC. -A Є220.19 3.32% 1.25% 1.55% 3.54% ATRAM TOTAL RETURN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -B $1.1977 6.97% 2.06% 2.47% 6.4% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $0.0258 4.03% 0.79% N.A. 4.03% GREPALIFE DOLLAR BOND FUND CORP. -A $1.7167 0.81% -2.09% 0.45% 1.57% PAMI GLOBAL BOND FUND, INC -A $1.0992 6.35% -0.48% -1.22% 6.07% PHILAM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $2.4126 11.59% 1.58% 3.56% 11.14% PHILEQUITY DOLLAR INCOME FUND INC. -A $0.0600307 5.63% 1.81% 2.02% 5.32% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ABUNDANCE FUND, INC. -A $3.1587 8.97% 0.78% 2.94% 9.98% MONEY MARKET FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A 124.51 4.03% 2.61% 2.06% 3% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A,5 1.0217 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. PHILAM MANAGED INCOME FUND, INC. -A 1.2359 5.38% 2.29% 1.39% 4.57% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A 1.2535 3.9% 2.79% 2.17% 2.81% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR STARTER FUND, INC. -A $1.0321 2.21% N.A. N.A. 1.59% 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.). "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

The World BusinessMirror

Oil pares slump as China tariff delay follows signs of Iran thaw

ONALD J. TRUMP is stirring up the oil market again as a move to delay the next tariff increase on China pushed prices higher after they tumbled on signs he’s prepared to ease sanctions against major producer Iran. Futures added as much as 1.1 percent in New York after falling 2.9 percent on Wednesday, the biggest drop in four weeks. Trump said he was postponing the imposition of extra tariffs on Chinese goods by two weeks, offering a glimmer of hope for global demand. The US President discussed moderating penalties on Iran at the Oval Office on Monday to help secure a meeting with his counterpart Hassan Rouhani later this month, according to three people familiar with the matter. Oil is down about 15 percent from its peak in April as the prolonged US-China trade spat dents the outlook for global demand. An easing of the standoff with Iran could bring back around 700,000

barrels a day of crude from the Opec producer, possibly by the first quarter, RBC Capital Markets said this week after the ouster of hawkish US National Security Adviser John Bolton. The tariff delay suggests “Trump can be flexible to get concessions from China and that he’s not trying to punish Beijing at any cost,” said Jun Inoue, a senior economist at Mizuho Research Institute Ltd. in Tokyo. Opec and its allies would have to send a message to the market they will deepen production cuts if Iran’s output climbs, Inoue said. West Texas Intermediate crude for October delivery rose 36 cents, or 0.7 percent, to $56.11 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange as of 7:30 a.m. in London. The contract fell $1.65 to $55.75 on Wednesday, the lowest close since September 3. Brent for November settlement gained 35 cents, or 0.6 percent, to $61.16 a barrel on the ICE Futures

Europe Exchange. The contract decreased $1.57 to $60.81 on Wednesday. The global benchmark traded at a $5.12 premium to WTI for the same month. Increased tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese goods will be delayed until October 15 from October 1 as a gesture of goodwill after Vice Premier Liu He made the request, and due to the nation celebrating its 70th Anniversary on October 1, Trump said via Twitter. The International Energy Agency this week cut its forecast for global oil demand growth again, blaming the US-China dispute. The White House has started preparations for Trump to meet with Rouhani in New York on the sidelines of the annual United Nations General Assembly the week of September 23, according to the people familiar with the matter. Trump told reporters, “we’ll see what happens,” after he was asked about backing off the sanctions. Bloomberg News

China fights US in United Nations on ‘Belt and Road’ resolution wordings

HINESE and United States diplomats are at loggerheads over Beijing’s insistence on including a reference to its Belt and Road Initiative in the text of a United Nations resolution on Afghanistan, the latest front in a struggle between the two superpowers over China’s sprawling infrastructure program. The US and its Western allies, including the United Kingdom, have indicated they won’t include language supportive of the Chinese initiative in a resolution renewing the UN mission in Afghanistan, which expires on September 17, according to three diplomats familiar with the debate. China is warning it won’t back down, a sign it could veto the resolution, the diplomats said, requesting anonymity to discuss ongoing negotiations. The diplomats said there was

still time to find a compromise on the text, though countries could also just roll over the UN mission’s term for six months without an agreement on the language. The clash comes at a delicate time for Afghanistan. The Kabul government is seeking to hold presidential elections this month amid continuing violence and US efforts to reach a deal with the Taliban that would allow President Donald J. Trump to deliver on his election pledge to withdraw forces still in the country. Last week, Trump abruptly called off a secret plan to host Taliban and Afghan government leaders at the Camp David presidential retreat. The text on the UN mission to Afghanistan has referred to the Belt and Road Initiative since 2016, but starting in March, the US said it wouldn’t agree to include that

language, forcing a temporary rollover of the mission for six months, instead of one year. “We strongly believe this mandate is too important at this moment to have one Security Council member deny consensus for reasons having nothing to do with,” the mission, US Ambassador Jonathan Cohen said at a UN Security Council briefing on Tuesday. “All of us must display discipline and the political will to focus the mandate on the core issues that will empower” the mission. The American mission to the UN declined to comment. China’s mission to the UN did not immediately respond to a request for comment. China borders Afghanistan and sees Central Asia as a crucial part of its plan to recreate ancient Silk Road trading routes to the Middle East and Europe. Bloomberg News

Europe prepares stimulus plan, but ultra-low rates continue to raise doubts

RANKFURT, Germany—The European Central Bank (ECB) appears to be preparing a new shot of stimulus to try to energize the economy. But the move is sure to renew a nagging question: Can central banks do much good when rates are already ultra-low? Analysts say the bank is likely to cut a key interest rate further below zero on Thursday and could take other steps, including restarting a bond-buying program to pump newly created money into the economy. That could help the economy by making money cheaper to borrow, a policy that United States President Donald J. Trump has repeatedly pushed the US Federal Reserve to emulate. Yet, some officials question how much good another large blast of stimulus will do. The possible stimulus has raised uncertainty about exactly how big a package might be decided at the gathering of the ECB’s 25-member governing council. It will be President Mario Draghi’s next-to-last meeting after an eight-year term as head of the monetary authority for the 19 countries that use the euro. Draghi gave clear hints in a June speech and after the bank’s last meeting, on July 25, that more action was on the way to counter the slowdown in economic growth, which has been blamed in large part on the US-China trade dispute. Analysts think the ECB will at least cut the rate on deposits that it takes from commercial banks from a current minus 0.4 percent to minus 0.5 percent or even minus 0.6 percent. The unusual negative rate—in effect a penalty aimed at pushing banks to lend spare cash rather than let it pile

up overnight at the central bank—suggests how stretched monetary policy has become in the wake of the Great Recession. Beyond that, the ECB’s governing council could extend its current promise not to raise rates before mid-2020. And it could decide to resume bond purchases that were stopped in December before economic data took a turn for the worse. Florian Hense, an analyst from Berenberg Bank, said the ECB could purchase €30 billion ($33 billion) in government and corporate bonds a month for at least 12 months. The bank purchased 2.6 trillion in bonds ($2.9 trillion) over almost four years, a step that drives up bond prices and drives down interest yields, since prices and yields move in opposite direction. Anticipation of more purchases has driven government bond yields across Europe below zero, meaning governments get paid to borrow and investors are willing to pay for a safe place to stash their money. The Fed is also moving in the direction of more stimulus, though Trump would like it to cut rates faster and has praised the ECB’s negative rates. The Fed cut its key policy rate in July for the first time in a decade, to a new range of 2 percent to 2.25 percent. Markets believe there is a near certainty the Fed will cut rates for a second time at its next meeting September 17 and 18. Trump on Wednesday tweeted about the benefits in his view of negative interest rates, calling the US Federal Reserve “Boneheads” for not pushing US rates down to “zero or less.” There are doubts, however, about how much monetary policy can do. Among the big issues hurting

business confidence are political standoffs, such as the trade war and Britain’s uncertain exit from the European Union. Credit is already cheap and abundant for governments and companies with good credit ratings. And low rates can have side effects, such as eroding bank profits and inflating the prices of riskier assets, such as stocks. ECB governing council member Klaas Knot, head of the Dutch central bank, has said the economy isn’t weak enough to warrant bond purchases. Another member, Sabine Lautenschlager of Germany, has said she opposes restarting bond purchases. Private economists took strong issue with Trump’s contention that negative rates would be good for the US. “Negative interest rates are totally destructive to savings and investment,” said economist David Jones, the author of four books on the Federal Reserve. “Money is flowing out of countries that have negative rates.” Jones said rates that are near zero or actually negative in many European countries and Japan are a big reason that US long-term rates are so low, as foreign investors search for better returns in the US. As central banks are stretched, the discussion has turned to government spending policy as a way to support growth. Draghi’s designated successor, Christine Lagarde, said during her nomination hearing last month that fiscal policies “need to be available to stabilize our economies through downturns and avoid overburdening monetary policies.” She urged governments to make pro-business reforms and spend on growth-friendly investment where possible. AP

Editor: Angel R. Calso • Friday, September 13, 2019 B3

Trump agrees to 2-week delay in China tariff hike

ASHINGTON—President Donald J. Trump says the United States has agreed to a two-week delay in a planned increase in tariffs on some Chinese imports. Trump said on Twitter on Wednesday that the delay is “a gesture of good will.” He says Chinese Vice Premier Liu He requested the delay “due to the fact

that the People’s Republic of China will be celebrating their 70th Anniversary...on October 1.” Trump has imposed or announced penalties on about $550 billion of

Chinese products, or almost everything the US buys from China. Tariffs of 25 percent that were imposed previously on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods were due to rise to 30 percent on October 1. Instead, Trump says, that will be delayed until October 15. The two sides have agreed to resume negotiations in Washington early next month. By delaying his tariff increase by two weeks, Trump has allowed for at least the theoretical possibility that the negotiators could make enough progress to avert his tariff increase indefinitely. AP IN this April 12, 2018, file photo, packets of raw soybeans are placed on a table at a US soybean company’s booth at the international soybean exhibition in Shanghai, China. China has announced some US industrial chemicals will be exempt from tariff hikes imposed in a trade war with Washington but maintained penalties on soybeans, pork and other farm goods. The Ministry of Finance’s announcement on Wednesday, September 11, 2019, came ahead of October talks aimed at ending the fight over trade and technology that threatens global economic growth. AP

B4 Friday, September 13, 2019

The Estate Makati wins at Prestigious Japan International Property Awards

HE Estate Makati, the first luxury high rise development of SMDC and Federal Land, Inc. was recently awarded for being the best in the Luxury High Rise and Architectural Design categories at the recent Japan International Property Awards (JIPA) held in Tokyo, Japan. JIPA showcases Southeast Asia’s best developments from residential to commercial, recognizing top regional developers and their flagship projects that passed the rigid Japanese standards of development excellence.

The award is given to developers whose projects stand out for its outstanding expert workmanship, quality use of finishing for all appliances and fixtures to achieve its luxurious feel, and exceptional and expert architectural style. The Estate Makati is the first landmark project of Foster + Partners in the Philippines. The renowned architectural firm, known for iconic landmarks around the world used pioneering technologies and the finest materials in designing The Estate Makati. Each “lot in the sky”, whether it’s the

two-bedroom, three-bedroom or super penthouse features a unique columnfree structure to provide flexible loftlike spaces which respond to different needs of the residents, and double slab technology which will allow residents to customize the layout of their homes according to their personal preference. Putting in mind the living ideals of its future residents, Foster + Partners conceptualized the cruciform design of the building, allowing utmost privacy and exclusivity. No two units will directly face each other and double-glazed windows are angled by 10 degrees to provide shade and minimal exposure from the sun’s rays. The building will also boast of sustainable and environmentally friendly features such as deep, horizontal fins which will allow natural ventilation and shade, a highly efficient AC and lighting system which will have at least 20 percent energy savings, and high-performance glass resulting in a well-insulated building envelope. For more information on The Estate Makati, visit www.theestatemakati.com, or e-mail contact@theestatemakati.com.

Japanese, Pinoy ad agencies collaborate to establish GP-Nagata

APANESE advertising agency AD Nagata recently forged a partnership with local marketing firm Game Plan Marketing Solutions Inc. (GPSMI) to form GP-Nagata. The partnership seeks to provide consultancy services and technical support to GPSMI as it grows its out-of-home (OOH) business. The OOH business refers to advertising focused on marketing to consumers while they are out of the house or in public places. "We are excited to enter the Philippines, especially with its fast-emerging economy and vibrant consumer market," Ichiro Nagata, CEO of AD Nagata, said. GP-Nagata said it also plans to collaborate with government agencies and offices by providing "wellkept and secured" public spaces such as waiting sheds, toilets, smoking areas, tunnels, and pedestrian underpass or overpass. In the Philippines, GPMSI has been specializing in the out-of-home (OOH) advertising industry since

2006, helping brands to actively engage with their clients wherever they may be, as well as ensuring their products and services are known to their target market. Through the years, the company has extended its scope and innovated with the times by expanding to retail supermarkets and connecting static OOH advertising to digital, respectively. They also created AIRCAST, the programmatic digital TV broadcast platform that is a first of its kind in Asia. On the other hand, AD Nagata is considered as the biggest Asian OOH company. Established in Tsushima, Japan, the company has 73 offices within Japan and three offices as overseas subsidiaries with over 30,000 clients. GP-Nagata envisions to have its presence known both in the domestic and regional platforms–poised to shape advertising media and at the same time, improving communities in the Philippines.

Bespoke Skincare: Your Ticket to Achieving Healthy, Porcelain Skin

EFORE the emergence of skin trends like glass skin and honey skin, people wanted to achieve the timeless "porcelain skin." Having smooth and blemish-free skin never goes out of style because it also connotes good health. According to Porcelain Founder and Managing Director Pauline Ng, each person's skin is unique. Therefore, treating blemishes and other skin problems requires a customized and health-based approach. Curated and bespoke treatment plans are at the core of Porcelain's success in Singapore. The company believes that skin woes such as acne or excess oil should be treated at the root rather than symptomatically. And achieving this goal requires designing treatments, products, and holistic, personalized skincare regimens around every single client's skin. Since its establishment in 2009, Porcelain has gotten to the bottom of their clients' skin issues through craftsmanship combined with state-of-the-art equipment. Porcelain puts a premium on every skincare product they sell and use in the spa. Every cleanser, toner, serum, moisturizer, and mask is formulated inhouse and backed by years of research and development. Porcelain Skincare seeks to help clients regain this balance to keep skin clear and radiant from within. It currently houses a suite of 14 products that are designed for all skin types. They are also non-comedogenic and especially suitable for humid climates like the Philippines, where the most common skin issue is congested or clogged skin, which results in blackheads, acne, and enlarged pores. Visit Porcelain in Manila. Head over to Singaporium, a pop-up event that celebrates 50 years of diplomatic relations between Singapore and the Philippines, at The

Podium, Ortigas Center from September 6-15, 2019. There, you can get your skin analyzed with a complimentary Skin DiscoveryTM (valued at SGD 65) and a following Smart Consultation. Also explore the Product Discovery Bar, a mini-replica of the one in Porcelain’s first smart spa (Porcelain Origins) in Singapore. Learn more about Porcelain's products the smart, digital way — and try them too! For more information about Porcelain, please visit www.porcelainskin.com.

Mediamorphosis: The evolution of ads called Transitflix

Geoff Mabasa delivers the keynote for transitflix’s launch highlighting their vision, product features, and roadmap.

N September 6, Transitflix has officially launched its platform. Formerly known as GYPSY, Transitflix held its launch party at the F1 Hotel BGC and shared its vision. Transitflix CEO Geoff Mabasa said: "We want to make transit advertising easy and effective for stakeholders while bringing value to the members of the communities.” Transitflix Chief of Staff Genevieve Reyes opened the event with a short back story sharing the origin of their company which was the “tocino story." She said Geoff was offered tocino while riding a TNVS car on his way home. She further explained the reason behind the rebranding: “ While we’re launching our service under a new name, Transitflix, to live up to a more global recall. But our values have not changed.” To further give the attendees a deeper understanding of how the ecosystem in the business on different two new perspectives, an advertiser panel was facilitated to see the challenges that all types of brands were

facing and their expectations towards new marketing. Take the case of Managing Director of Techtonic Summit Lea Ladaga: "How do we build a community that actually involves them also? Because it’s not about the competition, it’s about continuously growing together... they have values that they want to push forward for innovation and collaborations is always at the heart of everyone.” The event facilitated a partner driver panel, where partners invited to express the challenges that they face everyday and how the platform helped them. To give a better overview of the two sides of the ecosystem, they also premiered a thematic video that showcase the correlation of the partner drivers and the stakeholders onboarded with Transtiflix. In the next five year Transitflix plans to expand their global footprint starting with South East Asia, specifically in Indonesia. On the second year of operation, Transitflix is also starting to tap on other modes of transit advertising such as car wraps, and bus wraps.

NO GOLD. NO MEDAL. NO MORE WIN STREAK. D

ONGGUAN, China—No gold. No medal. No more winning streak. The US reign atop international basketball has ended—this time, thwarted by France at the World Cup. For the first time since 2006, the US sent National Basketball Association (NBA) players to a major international tournament and won’t win gold. Evan Fournier scored 22 points, Rudy Gobert had 21 points and 16 rebounds, and France beat the US, 89-79, in the World Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday, rallying from a seven-point fourth-quarter deficit to pull off the upset. “Any loss hurts,” US Coach Gregg Popovich said. “And in this situation, it hurts more. But life goes on. This is very important and we would have loved to have won...but we’re all grown, we all have families and lives, and life goes on.” The US had won 58 consecutive tournament games in Fiba and Olympic competition, starting with the bronze-medal game at the 2006 world championships and continuing through every Fiba Americas, World Cup and Olympics event since. It was bidding to become the first nation to win three consecutive World Cups, after winning three straight Olympic golds in that span. The best the Americans can do now in China is finish fifth, and they’re assured of their worst finish in a big tournament with NBA players since placing sixth at the 2002 world championships. They’re going home with a berth in the 2020 Olympics secured but no medal. Donovan Mitchell scored 29 points for the US, all of

them coming in the first three quarters. The Americans came up scoreless on six consecutive possessions down the stretch, the drought that allowed the French to take control of a back-and-forth game for the final time. “Just got to take it like a man at this point,” US guard Kemba Walker said. “We lost. There’s nothing we can do. We competed. We’ve been competing since day one that we got to training camp. But we gave it everything we’ve got. I know we’re Team USA and things of that nature and they’ve been winning for a lot of years, but you know, we didn’t get a chance to pull it off.” Nando de Colo scored 18 for France. The French held the US to four for 15 shooting in the fourth quarter—and benefited from the Americans going four for 11 from the foul line in the final 10 minutes. “We came here to win gold,” Gobert said. “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. A lot of people counted us out, but we got the win.” Gobert said beating the Americans wasn’t the goal— winning gold is. “It doesn’t mean anything if you don’t win in the end,” Gobert said. France was up 10 early in the second half. The US went on a 31-14 run over the next 10 minutes to go up by seven. And then the French responded with a 15-2 run over the next five minutes, going up 82-76 on a long jumper by Frank Ntilikina with 2:05 left. Mitchell had a chance to get the US within two with

FRANCE’S Mathias Lessort (left) hugs teammate Evan Fournier as they celebrate their victory over the United States. AP

about a minute left, driving against Gobert—but the Utah center read what the Utah guard was going to do perfectly, swatting the try away. “We beat the US, and that’s huge, but we haven’t won anything yet,” France’s Nicolas Batum said. France had been 0-9 against the US in major international play, most of those outcomes one-sided affairs. But the last meeting between the nations was only a 100-97 US win at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics three years ago, and France returned three players—Gobert, de Colo and Batum—who got minutes in that game. None of the US players who played that afternoon in Rio is on this year’s World Cup team. France outrebounded the US, 21-12, in the first half, Gobert found his way to the line 10 times in the game’s first 20 minutes and the Americans went into the break trailing 45-39. The US had trailed for 8:25 in their first five games combined—and trailed for 11:24 in the first half alone on Wednesday. Fournier’s lay-up with 7:33 left in the third gave France a 53-43 lead, and that’s when Mitchell got going. He had 14 points in the third quarter, and his dunk with 2:40 left pulled the US into a 60-60 tie. Marcus Smart made three free throws after getting fouled by Gobert to put the US back on top, and the Americans took a 66-63 lead into the fourth. But they couldn’t finish it off. “At the end of the day, you’ve got to tip your cap to them,” US guard Joe Harris said. “They outplayed us. They deserved to win. We certainly didn’t deserve to win that game.” AP

U.S. DOOMED FROM ONSET Sports BusinessMirror

| Friday, September 13, 2019 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

GREGG POPOVICH: I couldn’t be more proud of these 12 guys who sacrificed their summer to come here, having never played with each other before. AP

By Tim Reynolds The Associated Press

ONGGUAN, China—USA Basketball’s plan for a third consecutive World Cup title started going off the rails long before this tournament even began, after just about everyone who was originally asked to play for this team turned down the opportunity. As such, this outcome was not exactly unexpected. The Americans are not winning a medal at this World Cup, after they got outplayed by France in the quarterfinals on Wednesday night and got relegated to a playoff where the best remaining option is finishing fifth. France won, 89-79, meriting much credit. Evan Fournier made tough shots and tougher passes. Rudy Gobert was outstanding. The French defense, with the game on the line, thwarted the US repeatedly. The better team won. But the best team was at home. Of the 35 players originally picked last year by USA Basketball for its roster pool this summer, four made it to China. The group that ultimately got assembled for this mission was a bunch of guys not even on the radar screens when this selection process began, a group that decided playing with and against really good players all summer— while getting coached by Gregg Popovich—was worth giving up nearly two months of an offseason.

They played hard. But there’s no medal for playing hard. “I know that people are going to focus on who we didn’t have, but how about we focus on who we do have?” US guard Donovan Mitchell said after his 29-point performance Wednesday night. “Our season ended, and we came out ready to work with Coach Pop and all his coaches. It’s not about who’s not here. I’ve been saying that for a while.” It bears noting that Mitchell was not on the original playerpool list. He chose to play and didn’t mind being asked in the second wave. It’s hard to imagine where the Americans would have been without him over the last few weeks. Joe Harris was supposed to be a practice player for this team and wound up

becoming a starter. Derrick White wasn’t supposed to be here either, and there were nights in this tournament where he was the first sub off the US bench—not because Popovich was playing favorites with his San Antonio point guard, but because it was merited. Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown had big-time moments for this team and they, too, were not anywhere near the original US wish list. A lot of other National Basketball Association (NBA) players might not have cared about the World Cup. Fans might not have, either. And there’s not much incentive for multimillionaires to give up their time off, travel thousands of miles to risk injury by playing in a tournament in which most of the games are not nationally televised in the United States. Plus, plenty of players who have already won with USA Basketball often say they want to let someone else have a shot. That’s not a new concept. Losing just makes everyone look for easy solutions because, well, the thought is USA Basketball shouldn’t lose—even when the other team has NBA players. The good news in all this is the loss Wednesday probably won’t get a whole lot of attention at home. That’s also the sad news. Fact is, to most if not all players, an Olympic gold medal shines brighter than a Fiba gold medal. Same goes for an NBA title. And those players who made the commitment to come to

China realized this was pretty much a no-win proposition—win and you were supposed to, lose and it becomes a giant failure. “Doesn’t matter who is on the team, and I couldn’t be more proud of these 12 guys who sacrificed their summer to come here, having never played with each other before,” Popovich said. “They put themselves in the arena and competed, and they deserve credit for that, just like France deserves credit for winning. It’s not about, ‘Well, the United States didn’t have their other guys.’ “There’s no such thing as other guys. These are the guys that were here, and they did a great job, and I’m very proud of them.” Popovich will be there next summer, when the US looks for a fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal in Tokyo. There’s no way of knowing yet if any of the players from this World Cup team will be on the roster with him next summer. Mitchell and Kemba Walker will likely be strongly considered if they are healthy. Expect plenty of other big US names to find the time that just didn’t seem to be there this summer. If the Olympic team loses, then it’s really a debacle. The World Cup team losing, in a game where they were using guards and forwards against a big-time NBA center like Gobert out of necessity, that seems like it was only really upsetting to...the World Cup team itself. “We have 12 guys who are going to compete for America, just like every country,” Mitchell said. “It sucks that some of our country people don’t feel that way about us, but we don’t care. We’re going to compete.”

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Friday, September 13, 2019

Gilbert wins another stage, Roglic’s lead cut

UADALAJARA, Spain—Mastering strong winds that pushed riders to speeds of 75 kph, veteran Philippe Gilbert won his second Spanish Vuelta stage on Wednesday, while Primoz Roglic lost a few seconds from his overall lead after a charge by Nairo Quintana. Gilbert beat Sam Bennett in the final sprint of the 219.6-kilometer 17th stage, the longest of the three-week race that ends Sunday in Madrid. Remi Cavagna, Gilbert’s teammate with Deceuninck-Quick Step, finished third in one of the fastest Vuelta stages due to the winds that took riders to an average speed of about 50 kph. “It was crazy from the gun,” said Gilbert, a 37-year-old Belgian who had also won the 12th stage. “It was really fast. At some point we were doing, even on the flat, 75 kph. In 17 years as a pro, I don’t think I’ve ever done that. It was really, really crazy.” Roglic, who has worn the overall leader’s red jersey since the 10th stage, saw Quintana reduce his lead to two minutes and 24 seconds. The former ski jumper from Slovenia was

nearly three minutes ahead of the pack after Monday’s 16th stage. Quintana’s Movistar teammate, Alejandro Valverde, dropped from second to third overall as he failed to keep up with Quintana on Wednesday. “It was a hard day. I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have been where I was, I should have been in the front,” Roglic said. “The team saved me with a big effort. We’re still in a really good position. It was a hard day for everyone. We lost a battle today, but not the war. We’ll see in Madrid, but things are still looking really good for us.” Quintana was among the riders who broke away early and held on at the front. “We will give everything we have until the end,” the 29-year-old Colombian said. “The team helped me the entire day. The strategy was very good. We are still in the fight.” Riders were coming off the race’s last rest day on Tuesday. They face a tough mountain stage of 177.5 kilometers on Thursday with four Category 1 climbs. AP

SOUTH Korean protesters hold Japanese rising sun flags during a rally to mark the South Korean Liberation Day from Japanese colonial rule in downtown Seoul recently. AP

FORMAL PROTEST FILED VS. ‘RISING SUN’ FLAG S

EOUL, South Korea—South Korea has formally asked the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to ban the Japanese “rising sun” flag at next year’s Tokyo Games, calling it a symbol of Japan’s brutal wartime past and comparing it with the Nazi swastika. South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Wednesday said it sent a letter to IOC President Thomas Bach expressing “deep disappointment and concern” over Japanese plans to allow the flag in stadiums and other facilities during the 2020 Olympics. South Korean Olympic officials last month urged the local organizing committee to ban the flag, but Tokyo organizers responded by saying it was widely used in

Japan, was not considered a political statement and “it is not viewed as a prohibited item.” The flag, portraying a red sun with 16 rays extending outward, is resented by many South Koreans, who still harbor animosity over Japan’s 1910-1945 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. The ministry said in its letter to Bach, it described the flag as an unmistakable political symbol that’s embraced by Japanese right-wing protesters who vent anger toward Koreans and other foreigners. It said the flag recalls “historic scars and pain” for the people of South Korea, China and other Asian countries that experienced Japan’s wartime military aggression, similar to how the “[swastika] reminds Europeans of the nightmare of World War II.”

The ministry said it also pointed out that Fifa, the governing body of world soccer, has banned the flag in international matches. “Furthermore, we emphasized that the use of the rising sun flag during the Tokyo Olympics would be a direct violation of the Olympic spirit promoting world peace and love for humanity, and that the IOC should have the Tokyo organizing committee withdraw its [current] stance on the flag and prepare strict measures to prevent it from being brought to stadiums,” the ministry said. Tokyo’s Olympic organizing committee didn’t immediately react to South Korea’s request to the IOC to ban the flag at the games. The IOC confirmed it received the Korean request,

and said “sports stadiums should be free of any political demonstration.” “When concerns arise at Games time we look at them on a case by case basis,” the Olympic body said in a statement. Former athlete Seiko Hashimoto, meanwhile, has been confirmed as Japan’s new Olympics Minister less than a year before the country hosts Tokyo 2020. The 54-year-old’s appointment was rubber-stamped on Thursday after a cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. It follows speculation that Hashimoto was set to replace Shunichi Suzuki in the key role leading up to next year’s Games. Hashimoto competed at seven Olympic Games, a record

for a Japanese woman, as a speed skater and cyclist. She was best known for speed skating, competing on the ice at four Winter Olympics and winning bronze over 1,500 meters in Albertville in 1992. On the bike, Hashimoto competed at three Summer Olympics, without winning a medal. Toward the end of her sporting career, she moved into politics and is now an upper house lawmaker and vice president of the Japanese Olympic Committee. At Rio 2016, she was Chef de Mission for the Japanese team alongside serving as a Tokyo 2020 Executive Board member and president of the Japanese Skating Association. Hashimoto is named after the Olympic flame as she was born five days before the start of the Tokyo 1964 Games. Seiko is written with the same first character in Japanese as “seika”—which means Olympic flame. As well as Olympics Minister, she will also serve as Women’s Empowerment Minister. The official became embroiled in controversy at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics when she was seen kissing and embracing figure skater Daisuke Takahashi at a party. Japanese magazine claimed that Hashimoto “pounced” on the athlete, then 28, which led to allegations of sexual harassment. Hashimoto denied the allegations and Takahashi said he had not been harassed, although she later issued an apology. AP

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Friday, September 13, 2019 C3

PHL BOXERS SCORE CONVINCING WINS M IDDLEWEIGHT Eumir Felix Marcial, light heavyweight John Tupas Marvin and featherweight Ian Clark Bautista scored convincing victories to kick off their campaign in the International Boxing Association World Men’s Championships in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Marcial, the pride of Zamboanga, beat Ecuador’s Bryan Angulo, 4-1, on Tuesday. Marcial paid a price though, as he got caught by a wayward punch and lost a tooth. “It was just a cap, so no problem” the 23-yearold Air Force personnel said. “I’m willing to lose more than just a plastic tooth.” Tupas Marvin followed it up with a scintillating win over Lithuanian Paulius Zujevas, but again the win was marred by a nasty cut over the Fil-British’s eye. Head Coach Ronald Chavez said that the doctors stitched Tupas Marvin up but said that because he won’t fight until Monday, he needed to get a clearance from the doctor. Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines

(Abap) officials and coaches decided, however, not to risk further harm to Tupas Marvin. “We’d rather save him for the [30th] Southeast Asian Games and the Olympic qualifiers in February,” Abap Secretary-General Ed Picson said. On Wednesday, it was Philippine Navy’s Bautista’s turn as he showed how to dominate a boxer who was 6 inches taller, Slovakia’s Villam Tanko. The Negros Occidental boy schooled the Slovakian and came away with a 5-0 decision. Two more Filipino standouts are entered in the tournament which drew nearly 400 boxers from 76 countries. Light welterweight James Palicte was scheduled to fight Colombia’s Jose Manuel Viafara on Thursday while Cagayan de Oro’s Carlo Paalam, who drew a bye in the first round, will fight a Hungarian or a Ukrainian on Saturday. The tournament ends on September 22.

JARAULA SPARKLES IN SECOND ROUND R

EYMON JARAULA matched his opening round 66 with another solid six-under par card under overcast skies as he outdueled fancied Jay Bayron in their spirited hunt for birdies to seize control by one after 36 holes of the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Pueblo de Oro Championship in Cagayan de Oro on Thursday. As erstwhile leader Guido Van der Valk finished with flourish at the front to save a 70 in one of the late flights, Jaraula and Bayron slugged it out shot-for-shot and putt-for-putt for the second straight day with the rising Del Monte star coming out a bit better with another pair of 33s to stay unscathed for two days and go one-up on the veteran Davaoeño shotmaker with a 12-under 132 total. Bayron, who gunned down two eagles to match Jaraula’s first 66 with birdies on Nos. 2, 3, 8, 11, 12 and 17, also shot six birdies but bogeyed the tough par-4 No. 15 for the second straight day to settle for a 67 and remain at second at 133. “He’s really good,” said Bayron of the 27-year-old Jaraula, whom he’d play with for

LADIES GOLF SPONSOR Officials of Security Bank and organizing Tagaytay Highlands Ladies Chapter sign the contracts making the bank as Platinum sponsor of the 14th Highlands Ladies Cup (THLC) slated October 5 at Tagaytay Midlands Golf Club. They are (from left) Security Bank Foundation Chairman Rafael Simpao, Security Bank President and CEO Sanjiv Vohra, THLC President Rosalind Wee and tournament cochairmen Connie Mamaril and Dionne Cu.

of defending champion De La Salle-Zobel in girls’ volleyball action also on Wednesday. The Junior Tigresses beat University of the East, 25-15, 26-24, 11-25, 25-21, while the Baby Falcons crushed University of the Philippines Integrated School, 25-23, 25-4, 25-13. The Baby Tamaraws sent the Junior Lady Spikers to their second straight loss with a 14-25, 25-20, 25-22, 25-20 victory. UST and Adamson University sit atop the standings with identical 2-0 won-lost cards, while FEU-Diliman improved to 1-1 to level with UE. Lefty Regina Jurado chalked up 17 points on nine attacks and eight service aces while Renee

Motolite, sans Pablo, squeaks past Perlas Spikers

M Peñafiel added 14 points for the Junior Tigresses. The Baby Falcons fielded all of its players six of who tallied at least five points. Zey Pacia and Alexis Miner each had 11 points while team captain Lyann de Guzman chipped in 10 points and 11 digs for the Baby Tamaraws. Reigning MVP Angel Canino chalked up 14 points for the De La Salle-Zobel.

PBA GOVERNORS CUP UP

G Skippers snatch ticket to semis

ARINERONG Pilipino booked the first semifinal ticket after booting out AMA, 100-78, in the Philippine Basketball Association Developmental League Foundation Cup quarterfinals on Thursday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City. Eloy Poligrates led six Skippers who notched double digits in scoring with 19 points, which he laced with three rebounds, three assists and three steals in the win that brought his team back to the semifinals after missing the bus last conference. Mark Yee produced 13 points and six rebounds, while JR Alabanza supplied 12 points and eight boards for the Skippers. Byron Villarias and Jhonard Clarito also had 11 points apiece as Rev Diputado added 10 points for Marinerong Pilipino. From a narrow 17-14 lead in the opening quarter, Poligrates and Yee led a 15-0 blast to give the Skippers a 32-14 advantage early in the second quarter to break the game wide open. Marinerong Pilipino led by as many as 26, 68-42, after a Yee bucket with 4:49 left in the third quarter before cruising on to the win. The Skippers will face either Technological Institute of the Philippines or Black Mamba Energy Drink form Group B in the best-of-three semifinals. Aaron Black ended his D-League campaign with 22 points, four rebounds and five assists to lead AMA. Vince Tolentino had 13 points and five rebounds, while Andre Paras had 12 markers and 11 boards.

ILAS Pilipinas teammates CJ Perez and Robert Bolick return home with renewed confidence when the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup unfurls on September 20 at the Mall of Asia Arena. Perez of Columbian Dyip and Bolick of NorthPort, both rookies who turned heads in the recent Fiba World Cup, will face separate foes in the double-header that features Dyip and the Alaska Aces at 4:30 p.m., and the Batang Pier and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at 7 p.m. The product of Lyceum saw some of his best highlights in the group stage, scoring 15 points against Italy, 16 against Serbia and 17 against Angola.

The 6-foot-1 guard Perez averaged 12.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists in China. Bolick, of San Beda, meanwhile, had his best game against Iran when he scored 15 points built on three triples. He also had 10 against Angola to collect 8.6 points after five games. Defending champion Magnolia will face its first acid test when it takes on Meralco on September 21 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Crowd favorite and recent two-time champion Barangay Ginebra meets Alaska the following day, while grand slam-seeking San Miguel Beer battles Phoenix on September 25. Ramon Rafael Bonilla

Velez, Dizon, Macias, Geluz lead cast in National Students Open

ATRICIA VELEZ and Melanie Dizon and Jeremiah Macias III and Elvin Geluz gear up for a three-weekend duel with the country’s leading and rising junior players in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala (PPS-PEPP) Actifit National Students Open, which gets going on Friday at the KCDA Actifit Sports Center in Valenzuela City. Velez, playing out of the University of the Philippines (UP), and Ateneo’s Dizon head the 64-player draw in the ladies division while Macias of Perpetual Help and Lyceum’s Geluz banner the men’s side of the inaugural allstudents tournament presented by MCF Global and backed by Kap. Eli Demafelis. Spicing up the women’s cast are Bliss Bayking of National University, De La Salle’s Mikaela Vicencio, Carmen So, also of Ateneo, UP’s Nica Alanis, Patricia Lim of University of Santo Tomas (UST) and Tracy Llamas of Ateneo. Joining the hunt in the men’s singles are Lyceum of the Philippines University’s Stefano Gurria, Dave Mosqueda of UST, Jude Ceniza of NU, Ateneo’s Gabriel Tiamson and Colegio San Agustin’s Jose Antonio Tria.

Concepcion (71) assembled similar 140s in another day of torrid scoring at the up-anddown layout with sloping fairways and sleek putting surface. But no player came out better than Jaraula, a Del Monte native who honed his skills and talent here at Pueblo de Oro where he also used to be a teaching pro. “Sort of very familiar with the course. But I’m really playing well lately,” said the 27-year-old shotmaker, whose best finish was third in his maiden pro tournament at Palos Verdes in 2013. Jaraula is actually on the same spot as he was after 36 at the Aboitiz Invitational at Wack Wack East last week but faltered in the last 36 holes with 76-77 and wound up tied for eighth. But he vowed to go all the way this time. “I feel I can go all the way. I’ve been hitting it pretty well and playing without pressure at all,” said Jaraula, who completed his second six-birdie feat on different set holes (Nos. 1, 4, 7, 13, 15 and 16). Forty-three players made the 40-plus ties cut at 146 with Jelbert Gamolo and Japanese Makoto Iwasaki matching par 72s, Raul Minoza carding a 73 and Rufino Bayron hobbling with a 74 to finish with identical two-over totals in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. and backed by Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, Champion, Summit Mineral Water, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, KZG, PLDT and MY Shokai Technology Inc.

REYMON JARAULA cards another solid six-under par card on Thursday. ROY DOMINGO

Baby Tams, Jr Tigresses stay unbeaten AST year’s runner-up Far Eastern University (FEU)-Diliman continued its perfect run with a 28-26, 25-19, 25-17 victory over Ateneo in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 82 boys’ volleyball tournament on Wednesday at the Paco Arena. Rans Cajolo led the Baby Tamaraws with 15 points, France Racaza added 14 and Jerold Talisayan tallied 10 points, 15 digs and six receptions. The Baby Tamaraws dominated the attacking department, 50-23. Amil Pacinio paced the Blue Eaglets (0-3) with 13 markers. University of Santo Tomas (UST) and Adamson University also remained undefeated, while FEU-Diliman notched its first win at the expense

the third straight today (Friday) and possibly up to the final round of the P2.5-million tournament sponsored by ICTSI fast shaping up to be a two-man affair. Make it three as van der Valk, who took command in the first round with a 65, rebounded strong from a triple-bogey mishap on the par-4 11th where he hit the green but the ball bounced and rolled into the bunker and into the hazard. He made two birdies against a bogey for a backside 38 start but racked up four birdies at the front to salvage a 70 and a 135. “I was a bit unlucky [on No. 11] and didn’t deserve a 7. But I was able to finish strong,” said van der Valk, back in the hunt for a second crown in the 10th season of the Philippine Golf Tour after ruling the Club Filipino de Cebu Invitational last June. Ira Alido birdied three of the last seven holes at the front to shoot a second 68 for solo fourth at 136, while Jhonnel Ababa fought back from a mediocre 72 with a flawless 65 highlighted by a three-birdie binge from No. 6 as he jumped to solo fifth at 135, five shots behind. Johvanie Abaño, Michael Bibat and Zanieboy Gialon, meanwhile, pooled identical 138s after a 67, 68 and 71, respectively, while Ferdie Aunzo fired a 69 for a 139 and Albin Engino (66), Sean Talmadge (66), Tony Lascuña (70), Magno Arancon Jr. (71) and Aussie Fidel

Other titles to be disputed in the event sponsored by PPS-PEPP are the men’s and ladies doubles featuring Lyceum’s Geluz and Gurria and UST’s Clarence Cabahug and Dave Mosqueda while Velez is teaming up with Dana Uy for UP and Vicencio and Stefannie Martin heading La Salle’s bid in the distaff side. “Gathering the best and upcoming studentplayers has been part of our commitment to help raise the level of play in the ranks with the event also serving as part of their buildup for their respective collegiate leagues,” Palawan Pawnshop president and CEO Bobby Castro said. Up for grabs are prizes and trophies plus Unified Tennis Philippines ranking points, the event being sanctioned the UTP made up of PPSPEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-MEG. Also on tap are the men’s and women’s team championship, according to PPS-PEPP Sports Program Development Director Bobby Mangunay. Out to dispute the women’s team crown are UP-A and UP-B, Saint Paul College Pasig, Ateneo-A, Ateneo-B, La Salle, La Salle-Lipa, NU-A and San Sebastian, among others.

OTOLITE rebounded from a harrowing setback in style, outfoxing BanKo-Perlas minus its top gun in a pressure-packed decider that went over the distance, 25-16, 25-21, 19-25, 29-31, 19-17, to gain a share of second place in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan late Wednesday. Isa Molde and Tots Carlos stepped up big in the decider, combining for eight points while the rest backed them up with a gritty defense and floor coverage to repulse the Perlas Spikers for the win that more than made up for Motolite’s shutout loss to PetroGazz last Sunday when Myla Pablo suffered a right metatarsal sprain while going for a spike in the second set last Sunday. But the former National University standout showed up in crutches and provided the inspiration from the sidelines as Molde, Carlos and company turned what had appeared to be an impending defeat into a rousing victory, their fifth against two losses to tie their recent tormentors at second behind the unbeaten Creamline side (8-0). They also dedicated the win to the their injured leader, who turned 26th on Thursday.

“I was so touched and proud of my teammates,” said Pablo, who is expected to be back in action next week. “We can’t afford a cake since all the shops are closed,” Motolite Coach Godfrey Okumu said. “So the game, I give it to her as a present.” Motolite looked headed to a cruise after taking the first two sets in emphatic fashion but BanKo-Perlas regrouped and grabbed the next frame then pulled through in a set of changing fortunes in the fourth. But Molde and Carlos finished with a flourish with the former exploding for 29 hits, including 26 kills, two aces and a kill block, and the latter hammering in 21 attack points for a 24-hit output she spiked with 18 digs. “We really didn’t have a chose but to step up,” said Carlos. They actually nearly stumbled as Motolite blew two match points in the fourth that enabled BanKo-Perlas to send the match into a deciding frame where the former also pounced on its rival’s miscues to reach the hill, 14-13. But BanKo-Perlas refused to fold up and took the next two points to seize the match point edge before Molde came through with an

off-the-block hit to extend the match. BanKo moved at match point again at 17-16 on a Dzi Gervacio kill but Bern Flora countered to force another tie at 17 before Motolite clinched the win on a Sue Roces attack error and a perfectly timed block by Marist Layug on Gervacio. “We finished them off but everybody contributed in the fifth,” said Molde in sharing credit with the rest of the squad, including Flora, who scored 17 points and produced 18 digs and 17 excellent receptions in a superb all-around game, and Aie Gannaban, who added nine markers with playmaker Iris Tolenada coming through with 34 excellent sets. Flora added 17 points, 18 digs and 17 excellent receptions as replacement for Pablo while Gannaban had nine points including three from kill blocks for Motolite, which fire 68 attack points behind Tolenada’s 34 excellent sets. Nicole Tiamzon scored 24 points while Gervacio had 21 markers, 15 digs and 16 excellent receptions for BanKo-Perlas, which ended up with 31 errors, including eight in the fifth, to close out its first round eliminations campaign with a 5-3 card.

BULANADI, STAGS STORM PAST BENILDE’S BLAZERS A

By Ramon Rafael Bonilla

LLYN BULANADI’S career-game coupled with a blistering second-half run proved lethal as San Sebastian dumped College of Saint Benilde, 8367, in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 95 men’s basketball tournament on Thursday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City. Bulanadi scored his best output of 32 points spiked by five triples, and added four rebounds and three steals to lift the Golden Stags to a share of second spot with a 7-3 won-lost record. “They worked hard in playing defense,” San Sebastian Head Coach Egay Macaraya said. “We utilized all the players in defense and rebounding. It was all team plan and game plan so I guess it translated on our game.” Macaraya also had some sweet words for his veteran wingman. “It’s his last year and I’m encouraging him to give his 100 percent because this is his last chance to show his role for the team,” he said. Bulanadi was instrumental when the Golden Stags raced to a huge 20-3 run bridging the third and fourth quarters that piled their cushion to 78-53. The closes the Blazers could muster was at the half, 48-39, as Bulanadi, along with RK Ilagan and Alvin Capobres, delivered from all angles in the second quarter. The trio were too tough to handle, sinking baskets in successive possessions for a 68-50 lead before the final quarter. Ilagan finished with 13 points, five rebounds and four assists, while Capobres added 12 points and six boards for the Golden Stags, who avenged their 72-77 loss to Blazers in the first round. Saint Benilde’s Yankie Haruna had a team-high of 16 points, while Justin Gutang added nine points and 10 boards. The Blazers fell to 6-4. COLLEGE of Saint Benilde’s Yankie Haruna loses the ball against two San Sebastian defenders. NONIE REYES

Model testifies in cybercrime case against Neymar

IO DE JANEIRO—The cybercrimes unit of Rio de Janeiro’s police heard the testimony of Brazilian model Najila Trindade on Wednesday, part of an investigation linked to her rape allegation against soccer star Neymar. Investigators in Rio are specifically looking into Neymar’s posting on social media of images and messages of the Brazilian model without authorization, a possible violation of her online privacy. A separate investigation into the model’s rape accusations against Neymar at a Paris hotel in May was shut down by a judge earlier this month, citing a lack of evidence against the player. This week, police in São Paulo indicted Trindade for procedural fraud, slanderous denunciation and extortion. Coming out of police offices Wednesday, Trindade’s lawyer, Cosme Araujo, said he is looking into pressing charges in Paris. Neymar has always denied the accusation and said their relations were consensual. The Associated Press doesn’t name alleged sexual assault victims unless they make their identities public, which Trindade did in interviews. In Brussels, police have arrested two people, including a player’s agent, as part of an international money laundering and corruption investigation in soccer. Brussels prosecutors said that several raids took place in Monaco, Belgium and London on Tuesday and Wednesday. Belgian police cooperated with their Monaco and British counterparts, leading to the arrest of the agent in Monaco. Prosecutors did not reveal the agent’s identity and said his assistant was arrested in the Liege area, in Belgium’s Wallonia region. The agent is suspected of collecting undue commissions over players’ transfers. Brussels federal prosecutor’s office did not give details of the seven raids but said they are linked to a first wave of searches in April when Belgian police probed the offices of Anderlecht football club and the Belgian football association. This case is not related to the massive corruption scandal that engulfed Belgian soccer last year when authorities carried out 57 police raids in the country and around Europe in a probe into financial fraud and match-fixing. AP BRAZILIAN model Najila Trindade isn’t giving up. AP

Sports

| Friday, September 13, 2019 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

BusinessMirror

REFEREES KEEP RIGHT VS. ABUSIVE CHANTS NIMES fans hold up a banner that reads “with us no homophobia” before the start of the French League One match between Nimes and Brest at the Stade des Costieres in Nimes last month. AP

By Jerome Pugmire

The Associated Press

ARIS—The French league insisted Wednesday that referees still have the right to stop matches in case of homophobic chanting, despite the national federation president urging them not to halt play. Referees were told by French Football Federation President Noël Le Graët on Tuesday to ignore a Fifa directive and no longer stop matches when there is homophobic chanting. In response, anti-discrimination groups urged Le Graët to resign. Several league games in France’s top 2 divisions have been halted by referees this season. Representatives of antidiscrimination groups and French soccer fan groups met with the French league—or LFP—on Wednesday to discuss the matter

ahead of the resumption of league matches this weekend. “Our delegates have a working framework. If there are, and only if there are discriminatory chants, will they alert the referee, who will be finally the only one who will take the decision to interrupt the game or not,” said Didier Quillot, the LFP’s general director. “Homophobia is a plague and there is no place for it in the stadiums.” LFP President Nathalie Boy de la Tour said soccer fans are not discriminatory in general but that the language some supporters use has no place. “Football has a social responsibility. Football has to assume its responsibility,” she said. “For a long time we have maybe tolerated chanting in the stadiums, but today society does not accept them anymore.” Pierre Barthélemy, lawyer for the National Supporters Association of soccer fans, said fans will work harder to improve the situation. “Supporters are sensitive to all forms of discrimination,” he said. “Supporters wish to participate and to contribute where they can to the fight for diversity, for equality and for respect.” Among the anti-discrimination groups attending was SOS Homophobia, whose co-President Jeremy Faledam

welcomed the discussions. “We are starting a dialogue,” he said. “Sanctions are being taken—it allows us to start speaking about this subject. That’s good.” The debate was sparked by Le Graët’s comments in a radio interview on Tuesday. “To say that football is homophobic, and could be the only symbol of homophobia in France, that’s a bit strong. I don’t accept it,” Le Graët said. “We’ll make sure there are no more banners [in stadiums]; that’s different. But stopping games, no.” France Coach Didier Deschamps supported his president. “I know him well and I can assure you that he’s someone who’s always fought against all forms of discrimination in football,” Deschamps said after France’s 3-0 win against Andorra on Tuesday in European Championship qualifying. “We all hope there won’t be any problems, but there are. It’s up to the authorities, including the sports minister, to find the best solutions.” Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu met with Le Graët at Tuesday’s match. In a statement Wednesday, the FFF said Le Graët has pledged his “full commitment” to

fighting “all forms of discrimination.” The issue is proving divisive, with France players Antoine Griezmann and Hugo Lloris offering different opinions. Griezmann, who has featured on LGBT magazine Têtu’s front cover and has said he would openly welcome gay players, told RTL radio that referees should stop games “whether it’s for homophobic chant or racist chants,” because eventually “people will stop doing it.” But Lloris, the France captain, thinks the opposite. “As a player I’m against stopping matches. It’s not the appropriate solution, whatever the form of discrimination,” Lloris said. “You have to fight against it, of course, but stopping matches isn’t necessarily the right solution. It’s not going to stop a minority of imbeciles from doing what they do inside a stadium. There are other solutions and we have to support the LFP, they will make the right decisions.” The high-profile first division match between Nice and Marseille on August 28 was halted for several minutes during the first half after Nice fans unfurled three banners with homophobic messages. There was also chanting against the LFP with an anti-gay slur oft used by French fans.

God of eternity

EAR God, all time belongs to You. In hope we pray: Holy God hear our prayer. Help us to know the unsurpassable love of Jesus and to proclaim the Gospel by our words and actions. Transform the hearts, minds and circumstances of women who are considering an abortion. Grant that the sick, the elderly and the dying maybe treated with respect, kindness and mercy. May the peace of Christ reign in our hearts, now and always. Amen. GIVE US THIS DAY SHARED BY LUISA LACSON, HFL Word&Life Publications • teacherlouie1965@yahoo.com

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

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GAB FAB: INIGO FLEXES HIS CREATIVE MUSCLES D4

Friday, September 13, 2019

JENNIFER LOPEZ STEALS MONEY... AND THE SHOW JENNIFER LOPEZ attends the premiere for Hustlers on day three, September 7, of the Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto. AP

BY JAKE COYLE The Associated Press

ORONTO—Hustlers is, in itself, a hustle. It looks like a flashy, glamorous movie about strippers—all sparkle and skin and high-heels. And it is that. But the fleshy, dazzling surface of Hustlers, written and directed by Lorene Scafaria, cloaks an empowering feminist tale about a sisterhood of women who turn the tables on a male-controlled industry. “People go into the movie expecting something because stripper is a word that has so many connotations and preconceived notions,” says Scafaria. “That’s the hustle. Hopefully we’re subverting expectations but subverting them in a way that has some nuance to it.” Hustlers, opening in theaters this week following its well-received premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, stars Jennifer Lopez as Ramona, a veteran stripper in New York who takes a young dancer (Constance Wu) under her wing. Ramona organizes a scam to drug Wall Street guys and max out their credit cards. It’s loosely based on a true story, chronicled in a 2015 New York Magazine article, and set in the years after the 2008 financial crisis— when far greater, white-collar swindles went largely unprosecuted. The transactional world of strip clubs—so commonly depicted from a male viewpoint in movies—has seldom been viewed through a female gaze like it is in Hustlers. It’s a microcosm, Lopez says, of America. “It’s all a strip club,” says Lopez. “You have people tossing the money and people doing the dance.

“This film says something about the inequality that we’ve been yelling and screaming about for a while now and kind of making some headway,” she adds. “And I hate saying that so broadly because I love men and there are so many great, supportive beautiful men in the world. But there is this thing that exists that we can’t deny.” Hustlers might be Lopez’s most radiant and regal screen performance, too, since Steven Soderbergh’s 1998 film Out of Sight. As Ramona, she’s the matriarchal ringleader of an improvised family of strippers-turned-hustlers. (Cardi B makes her bigscreen debut, alongside a cast, including Lili Reinhart and Keke Palmer.) Lopez is, like Ramona, an entrepreneur from the Bronx. She instantly identified with the role, even if the stripping scenes gave her pause. “It was scary. I saw the script and it wasn’t like boobs everywhere. That wasn’t [Scafaria’s] thing,” says Lopez. “But I also knew I was playing a stripper and I’m a mom and what does that all mean? But I felt good about how Lorene wanted to tell the story and that it was something I could be proud of it.” Scafaria, the 41-year-old writer of Nick & Norah’s In�inite Playlist, observed how much training Lopez put into the part. As experienced a dancer as she is, pole dancing was something else entirely. Lopez’s resplendent entrance in the movie is a stage dance set to Fiona Apple’s “Criminal” while being showered with bills. “It was like acrobatics. I had to start lifting more weights. I had to change my body,” says Lopez. “I told her, ‘I have to change my body if I do this.’” “And I was like, ‘Please don’t. I don’t know what we’re talking about,’” retorts Scafaria, laughing.

In just the past two years, Lopez has released new Spanishlanguage tracks, launched a cosmetic line, got engaged to former baseball player Alex Rodriguez and recently concluded a 38-concert tour. Time Magazine has ranked her among the 100 most influential people in the world.

In just the past two years, Lopez has released new Spanish-language tracks, launched a cosmetic line, got engaged to former baseball player Alex Rodriguez and recently concluded a 38-concert tour. Time Magazine has ranked her among the 100 most influential people in the world. Second Act, released in 2018, proved movie audiences still love her. It grossed $72.2 million worldwide. She’s also a producer on Hustlers. “People think ‘Oh, she’s not a serious recording artist.’ Or, ‘she’s not really a serious actress,’ or ‘She’s not really a serious entrepreneur.’ No, I’m very serious about all of them. That’s why I’ve spent most of my life doing as many of those things as possible,” says Lopez. “Because I do all those things, I don’t get the credit at times—which is fine, I don’t care. I love what I do. I have the most amazing life. I feel good about my life. I feel good about where I am. “But I’ve had to kind of give myself that pat on my back: ‘You’re doing good,’” she says. “Once I started doing that, my whole life changed.” Hustlers, however, already has a lot of people heaping praise on Lopez. Scafaria says the part of Ramona “fits her like a glove—even if it’s not a glove she’s tried on in the same way.” The performance has catapulted Lopez into the awards conversation this fall. Hustlers may be about a broken value system, but it’s brought renewed appreciation for Lopez as an actor. Lopez, who turned 50 in July, says an Oscar would be “a tremendous moment in my life. “You dedicate your whole life to doing what you love, and you do it because you love it. But it’s also nice when somebody says, ‘Hey, we think you do it great,’” says Lopez. “I don’t even want to think about it. I usually get tears in my eyes.” n

Society BusinessMirror

Friday, September 13, 2019

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Today’s Horoscope By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Lili Reinhart, 23; Ben Savage, 39; Jean Smart, 68; Jacqueline Bisset, 75. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Express your thoughts and feelings. Communication will be your ticket to success. Travel or a change of pace and attitude, along with gathering information and making life adjustments that will push you in a direction that encompasses your hopes for the future, should be your goal. You have much to gain by following your intuition and your heart. Your lucky numbers are 2, 13, 23, 29, 33, 37, 42.

a RUSTAN’S Commercial Corp. President Donnie Tantoco, Criselda Lontok and Paolo Tantoco

LIZA CHAN-PARPAN (from left), Marga Nograles, Joy Rustia, Criselda Lontok, Penny Lopez, Jojo Ocampo and Ria Fernandez

RUSTAN’S Commercial Corp. Member of the Board Maritess Tantoco-Enriquez, Rustan’s Commercial Corp. Chairman Emeritus Ambassador Bienvenido Tantoco Sr. and Lontok

The holidays take a nostalgic turn W ITH the end of every fruitful year, one looks back on the days that were—fun-filled and brilliant—and reflects on them with gratitude. These twinkling memories bring a certain warmth to the soul and lightness of being which spill over into one’s radiant disposition. World-renowned designer Criselda Lontok, whose eponymous brand is exclusively available at Rustan’s, captures this very essence of the season with stunning ensembles and graceful silhouettes that embrace a woman’s femininity and unique positive outlook. As she is known for, Lontok gathers rich inspiration from nature to create a luxurious collection for the modern woman. In the newest collection lined up for the upcoming holiday season, find an exquisite balance of brilliance and graceful sophistication. There is a serene sense of calmness, with the beauty of green accented by bursts of floral grandeur, and each piece—from the gowns to separates—celebrates a refined and profoundly

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Make a move if it will enhance your life. An emotional situation should be dealt with using common sense. Do what’s best for everyone; you’ll come out on top. A challenge will bring you closer to someone you love. HHH

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Be careful when dealing with institutions or while in unfamiliar places or situations. You’ll give or get the wrong impression if you aren’t savvy to the customs and traditions of the people around you. Ask questions if you are in doubt. HHH

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You’ve got swagger and charisma. Get out and socialize, network and entertain those you want to collaborate with personally or professionally. Improvements can be made that will enhance your life, relationships and standard of living. HHHHH

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Be reluctant to make a move because someone else does. Stand on your own two feet and do whatever is to your benefit. Accept the inevitable, regroup and head in a direction that will encourage growth and stability. HH

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Travel, meetings and communication will encourage you to make an adjustment to your life that will result in greater stability and prompt you to revisit your relationships with others. Improvements will enhance your imagination and lead to innovative options. HHHH

beautiful woman. To showcase the stunning looks for the season, Lontok held a fashion presentation at The Gallerie of Rustan’s Makati.

Muses walked the runway before a fashionable lot, featuring some of the society’s most stylish: Joy Rustia, Marga Nograles, Jojo Ocampo, Liza ChanParpan, Penny Lopez and Ria Fernandez. n

FROM left: Creative and Events Director of Binibining Pilipinas Jonas Gaffud, Operations Manager of BlueWater Day Spa Nancy Go, Binibining Pilipinas Universe Gazini Ganados, CEO of BlueWater Day Spa Mary Simisim, and BlueWater Day Spa Ambassador Fabio Ide

g h

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Do what you can and ignore how others react. It’s in your best interest to keep busy, as well as to take better care of your health, wealth and reputation. HHH SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Be creative in the way you approach projects, problems and people. Having a clear and concise plan in mind that you dress up with innovative ideas will grab the attention of someone who will contribute to and enhance your plans. HHH

Feel like a queen THE wildly anticipated Miss Universe beauty pageant may still be a ways away, but things continue to build for Bb. Pilipinas Universe Gazini Ganados, who has become the newest face of BlueWater Day Spa. Beautiful, articulate and confident, one look at our reigning Bb. Pilipinas Universe and you’d wish that you also have “got it together.” But unknown to many, there’s a lot of hard work entailed, not just in preparing for a beauty pageant but more so after you’ve won the crown and expectations rise. So how does a beauty queen like Gazini do it? Because as stress is basically a normal part of life already, beauty queens like Gazini opts to face all these with a good attitude and positive mindset. Coupled with healthy eating and regular exercise, making time for herself and her loved ones are a must even with the super hectic schedule

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Channel your energy where it will do the most good. Helping others will make you feel good. A change in the way you feel or an unexpected response from someone you are in a partnership with will leave you feeling uncertain. HHH

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Refrain from meddling in someone else’s affairs. Concentrate on what’s expected of you, and do what has to be done in order for you to live up to your promises. Being responsible will help you avoid criticism and interference. HHH

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You’ll gain ground when it comes to getting what you want. Your experience and practical way of approaching situations will persuade others to help you reach your goals. HHHH

she leads. Part of her wellness habit is having her “me” time at her favorite spa, BlueWater Day Spa. Making time to indulge in wellness and pampering treats like the Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage and Traditional Filipino Massage to detox and soothe her tired muscles from a full week of engagements is something she looks forward to. The Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage is a favorite among

celebrities and models like Gazini which, aside from leaving one feeling refreshed. It’s a relaxing treatment that keeps the beauty queen from getting bloated or feeling lethargic, as the massage releases toxins. Meanwhile, the Traditional Filipino Massage, or hilot, is great for easing muscle tension especially when you’re like Gazini who works out a lot, constantly moves around, and like a

queen is always wearing heels. This treatment is a much deserved treat after another long week. More than just taking care of her looks, beauty queens like Gazini also put a high importance on wellness to always be at their best in fulfilling their queenly duties. More information about this wellness destination is available at www.facebook.com/bwdspa.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Keep a low profile and don’t get sucked into following someone trying to take your money or influence you to try something that is excessive. Stick to what you know and trust, regardless of the temptation. Don’t take a physical risk. HH

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Be creative with your money, and negotiate on your own behalf. Settlements, contracts and financial gains can be made if you are innovative in the way you structure what you want to see happen. HHHHH BIRTHDAY BABY: You are innovative, motivated and courageous. You are intuitive and resourceful.

‘bus tour’ BY MARK MCCLAIN The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Woodpecker’s drill 5 Idris of Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw 9 Appall 14 Daily Bruin’s sch. 15 Lane of DC Comics 16 Mexican artist Frida 17 Facility for Leafs and Teslas 20 Underwater navigation aid 21 Light refreshment? 22 “Did it!” 25 Grasp 26 Lowe’s competitor 30 Plowing obstacles 35 “___ had it with you!” 36 Impertinent talk 37 Isaac’s mother 38 Literary heroine Eyre 40 Concentrate 43 Tear down 44 Without a clue 46 Neighborhood 48 Enemy in battle 49 Facial feature on a penny

0 Church musician’s control 5 52 Small amount 54 Sicilian mount 55 Formal hypotheses 60 Savory taste 64 Certain electrical contact 67 Sports fan’s trivia 68 Austrian coin 69 Insects in a line 70 Cuban coins 71 WWII invasion kickoff 72 Tempe neighbor DOWN 1 Tampa Bay team, familiarly 2 Audible rebound 3 Turing or Tudyk 4 Martial art that will debut at the 2020 Olympics 5 Inventor Whitney 6 Chaney in old horror films 7 Mavs’ home, slangily 8 Provide aid 9 Rink customers 10 Roles, metaphorically 11 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s state

2 Chunk of dirt 1 13 Hawaiian coffee 18 Reunion attendees, for short 19 Summer top 23 Turn a ___ ear 24 Lhasa ___ 26 Headgear for some Muslims 27 Egg-shaped 28 Org. seeking to foster intelligence 29 Famous grouch 31 Rower’s stick 32 Creative endeavor 33 Buzzing music maker 34 Idiomatic followers 39 Poetic contraction 41 Natural desire 42 Spot in the Senate 45 One includes a ZIP code 47 Per ___ (yearly) 50 Followed orders 51 Green Eggs and Ham character’s nickname 53 Bike tire filler 55 Recipe amt. 56 “I ___ to say it...”

7 H’s, on frat row 5 58 Preminger of cinema 59 Wall support 61 Queen in The Favourite 62 Tangles of hair 63 Ingrid, in Casablanca 65 Notable stretch 66 Baseball Hall of Famer Halladay Solution to yesterday’s puzzle:

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Friday, September 13, 2019

An inspiring journey toward HOMe SOMETHING LIKE LIFE

MA. STELLA F. ARNALDO

@akosistellaBM

ELLS are the building blocks of the body and taking care of them is the vital key to achieving good health and slowing down ageing. Scientists have been studying cellular health and how to maintain it through proper nutrition, supplementation, and other factors that will enhance the ability of cells to heal themselves and create new ones to replace cells that have been damaged or destroyed. Dr. Cenia Lucas-Acevedo, founder of Vivacité Center for Scientific Wellness, knows all too well the importance of cellular health, especially since her path to discovery didn’t just take its route through her profession but through her personal experience as a mother. An OB-Gyn by training and a banker’s wife, Doc Cenia was a full-time homemaker when the family was based in Singapore a few years ago. It was there she and her husband noticed their eldest son struggling with some behavioral problems. He was hoarding stuff and becoming combative especially when the youngster dealt with his parents. (We opted not to name her son to protect his privacy.) The couple decided to return to the Philippines, thinking it would help if their son returned to his old school. But their son’s troubles appeared to worsen. As a teenager, he had to deal with skin acne and developed poor eating habits that caused him to blow up to 200 pounds. By then, he wasn’t doing well in school and had to drop out. Desperate to help their son cope with his personal struggles and improve his social relationships, the couple brought him to various therapists here and abroad. He was diagnosed with obsessivecompulsive disorder and was given several prescription drugs to treat it. Their son’s medical condition eventually took a toll on the family. It made Doc Cenia realize they needed long-term solutions that didn’t involve medicating their son.

By changing her mindset and looking at her son’s issues on a more holistic level, Doc Cenia’s readings and research brought her to Health Optimization Medicine (HOMe), a relatively young field of medicine that measures, detects, and corrects the body’s unique imbalances and toxicities through a personalized approach that combines proper nutrition, hormones, vitamins and supplements to achieve optimal health. HOMe became the miracle the couple had been

praying for. Through this customized and holistic treatment created and implemented by Dr. Theodore Achacoso, Doc Cenia’s son was able to manage his behavior well; he learned how to eat better and exercise; his weight went down to a fit 122 pounds, and, best of all, he arrived at a happier place with a palpable sense of self-confidence and purpose. Now 25, her son has been off prescription drugs since he was 19 and is a scholar at the University of the

Philippines. “I was inspired by the success of my son’s treatment that I thought about the other young people who are suffering with their own conditions, and how their families are standing by and struggling with them as well,” says Doc Cenia in an interview at her clinic, Vivacité, which she set up in 2017. “I know the treatment can be expensive, but it’s a light of hope in a room of darkness.” Doc Cenia is only one of five HOMe-certified Filipino doctors in the country. She also traveled to Belgium to take up her certification for Anti-Aging Medicine and Nutritional Medicine. In a sea of “holistic treatments,” Doc Cenia says HOMe stands out as a breakthrough approach to healing. “It uses a new batch of objective tests that came out from research institutions and into the clinical field. The tests, called clinical metabolomic tests, have been available for 20 years now. Two laboratories, two institutions offer it already in the country. The challenge has always been how to make lay people, even medical doctors, appreciate the importance of such tests.” She further explains: “We all have our unique nutrient requirements that answer our state of health and how we can achieve optimal wellness. Don’t dismiss vitamins as just vitamins because they are very basic in terms of the way cells function and to health in general.” Being aware of these basic premises provides an essential anchor to people’s wellness practices. She explained: “First, few people realize that the state or shape of the cell is fundamental in anything, whether it’s for beauty or health. Second, abnormalities in your cells can already be detected by objective tests that were not available 20 years ago. We can now clinically measure certain nutrients that a particular person lacks and what specific amount of vitamins is good for that person and what amount could make it harmful to that individual person. Not all bodies are the same.” A distinguished medical practitioner in her field, Doc Cenia says that the quest for discovery never ends as she continues to share her passion for a greater good. She continues to upgrade her knowledge by attending academic trainings. “It’s quite a personal journey so that when I see people get better with their health, that’s what gives me the most joy in my line of work.” n To learn more about HOMe, call Vivacité at Bonifacio Global City (423-57302 /0920-8238976), or e-mail clacevedopracto@gmail.com.

Friends with benefits: Can Facebook tackle your love life? SAN FRANCISCO—Facebook is tackling a new frontier: love. Facebook Dating, a matchmaking service the company already offers in Brazil, Canada and 17 other countries, arrives in the US on Thursday. But after years of privacy missteps by the social network, will people trust it with their love lives? For a company that’s also developing its own digital currency and dabbling in e-commerce, love is another step toward reaching into all aspects of human existence. Although many features resemble what other matchmaking services offer, Facebook’s version promises to be different, just as Tinder brought swiping and Bumble brought female-first messaging. Your Facebook Dating profile will be separate from your main one, but it will let you tap your network of friends to identify “secret crushes.” Facebook Dating, a mobile-only service that’s free to use and free of ads, can still help Facebook make money if it keeps people glued to its other services longer. That’s if users can get over concerns about privacy. “A feature on Facebook that people don’t trust isn’t going to be successful,” said Rob Sherman, the

company’s deputy chief privacy officer. “We built in privacy from the ground up.” Tell that to Seth Carter, 32, an engineer from Terre Haute, Indiana, who tried a host of dating apps ranging from Match to Bumble, Tinder and Christian Mingle prior to his current relationship. “Facebook is here to make money and I get that,” he said. But he worries that Facebook’s stated commitment to privacy would ultimately buckle under pressure to make money off the service. “That likely means they’re going to sell my dating preferences, which means even more intrusions into my life.” Facebook says it won’t be doing any of that. But users like Carter can hardly be blamed for their apprehension, given the company’s multiple stumbles over protecting people’s private information. Facebook was fined a record $5 billion this summer by the Federal Trade Commission over privacy violations. It’s also under scrutiny for allowing for the spread of election-related misinformation and discrimination in US housing ads. Facebook Dating comes as the popularity of online dating grows: In 2016, 15 percent of all US adults

said they had used online dating services, up from virtually none in 2005, according to the Pew Research Center. The market is crowded. From old school sites like eHarmony to Hinge or The League, a membersonly service promising to bring together folks with “ambition and a drive to succeed,” there are also apps focused on farmers, religious groups, seniors, the LGBT community and so on. When he announced the feature last year, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Facebook Dating is “not just for hookups” but to build “meaningful, long-term relationships.” That appeared to be a direct swipe at Tinder, a service best known for hooking people up with people they find attractive by showing their photo, age and first name. With Facebook, you start by creating a dating profile distinct from your Facebook profile. It’s easy to bring over details, such as your school and job—but you’re free to embellish or hide any of that just for Facebook Dating. You can also add up to 36 of your Instagram photos. You have to be at least 18, rather than 13 with the main Facebook service. The service isn’t limited to those who’ve listed themselves as “single.” AP

Nursing mothers empowered at Hakab Na! 2019 THOUSANDS of nursing mothers simultaneously breastfed their babies during Hakab Na! 2019, held annually in celebration of National Breastfeeding Awareness Month with the goal of promoting the importance of providing proper support to breastfeeding mothers to create a breastfeeding nation for the future. Organized by Breastfeeding Pinays in partnership with SM Cares, the Department of Health (DOH), United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) Philippines and World Vision, Hakab Na! brought together nursing moms and their families, breastfeeding support groups, advocates, government, and nongovernment organizations to encourage a dynamic exchange of ideas on providing proper information and support to Filipino mothers and their families to enable them to breastfeed and practice good infant and young child feeding. “What started out as a group of friends asking each other about breastfeeding has evolved into a national movement whose goal is to promote the values of breastfeeding to Filipino mothers. I am ecstatic to see that we are growing bigger each year,” said Bing Guevara, organizer of Hakab Na! 2019 and cofounder of Breastfeeding Pinays. Unicef Philippines Dr. Wigdan Madani added, “We

are one with Breastfeeding Pinays on this occasion as we celebrate World Breastfeeding Week. We cannot undermine the importance of this simple yet critical act, as we strongly believe that children who are breastfed get a healthy start in life.” Held at the SMX Convention Center Manila, Hakab Na! 2019 was anchored on the theme “Lakas ng Magulang, Sigla ng Pagpapasuso—Kalusugan, Nutrisyon ng Kabataan para sa Kinabukasan.” It featured stories of breastfeeding moms, counseling, discussions on available tools and support for families, and breastfeeding laws to empower breastfeeding moms by assuring them the act of breastfeeding is very valuable as it gives their children the best start in life. “We envision our community of mothers to consider SM as their second home. SM strives to be a mall for all and continues to support the mothers and women in communities where our malls are present,” said Berna Velasco, program director for SM Cares Program on Women and Breastfeeding. SM Cares (www.smcares.com.ph) is the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings Inc. Breastfeeding stations across all SM Supermalls nationwide are provided as part of its program to allow mothers the convenience and freedom to nourish their babies while in the SM malls.

PROUD Filipino moms share their breastfeeding journey at Hakab Na! 2019

DR. CENIA LUCASACEVEDO, founder of Vivacité Center for Scientific Wellness

OPPA scholars: (from left) Mica Mille Becerro, Brio Mikhail Divinagracia, Vanessa Ellaiza Jean Celestial, Arjay Rosales, Zackary Flynn, Roberta Marie Santos and Vincent del Rosario

OPPA INTRODUCES ITS NEW BATCH OF SCHOLARS FOR SY 2019-2020

THE Original Pilipino Performing Arts Foundation (OPPA, www.oppafoundation.org), founded through the Resorts World Cultural Heritage Foundation Inc., recently announced its new batch of “Maarte” scholars for the current school year, increasing its number of current scholars to 49. Over the past three years, the foundation has granted a total of 59 scholarships. The foundation initiated the “Maarte Series” campaign that started during the first semester of the 2018-2019 academic year which aimed to raise awareness among the youth about the merits of pursuing a career in the performing arts. The campaign’s name was devised as a wordplay that can appeal to the youth to emphasize that Philippine performing arts is alive and well in the country. The new batch of the “Maarte” are seven students who applied for scholarships and passed the rigorous screening process to pursue formal education in the performing arts via courses offered by the foundation’s partner schools: Roberta Marie Santos (Bachelor of Arts in Production Design, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde), Arjay Rosales (Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde), Brio Mikhail Divinagracia (Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde), Zackary Joseph Flynn (Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts, MINT College), Mica Mille Becerro (Bachelor of Music in Voice, University of Santo Tomas), Vincent del Rosario (Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance, Saint Scholastica’s College) and Vanessa Ellaiza Jean Celestial (Master of Music, Trombone, University of Santo Tomas). OPPA continues to nurture its scholars with relevant workshops on the performing arts while providing financial aid for their education. Most of the scholars are now either representing the country in international competitions or performing abroad with professional artists. This year, the foundation’s first two scholars are set to graduate since it started its scholarship program in 2016.

Show BusinessMirror

Friday, September 13, 2019

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Inigo �lexes his creative muscles INIGO PASCUAL

GAB FAB JET VALLE THIS August 29, file photo shows actress Scarlett Johansson at the photo call for the film Marriage Story at the 76th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy. Johansson said in a fresh interview that she’s standing by Woody Allen. “I love Woody,” Johansson told The Hollywood Reporter. “I believe him, and I would work with him anytime.” AP

SCARLETT JOHANSSON STANDS BY WOODY ALLEN: ‘I BELIEVE HIM’

NEW YORK—Scarlett Johansson says she’s standing by Woody Allen because, “I believe him.” Much of Hollywood has distanced itself from the filmmaker since the MeToo movement prompted a reexamination of child sexual-abuse allegations from his nowgrown daughter, Dylan. Michael Caine, Timothee Chalamet and Greta Gerwig are among the actors who have publicly expressed regret over working with him. “I love Woody,” Johansson told The Hollywood Reporter in an interview released on Wednesday. “I believe him, and I would work with him anytime.” Allen helped boost Johansson to the A-list. He directed her in Match Point, Scoop and Vicky Cristina Barcelona. She said she has spoken to Allen about the accusations and he maintains his innocence. He has never been criminally charged. Johansson is active in women’s issues and was among early supporters of Time’s Up. “It’s hard because it’s a time where people are very fired up, and understandably,” she said. “Things needed to be stirred up, and so people have a lot of passion and a lot of strong feelings and are angry, and rightfully so. It’s an intense time.” Johansson said she has had numerous conversations with Allen about his past. “I have been very direct with him, and he’s very direct with me,” she said. Allen has yet to find a US distributor for his films since Amazon pulled his deal last year. Allen has filed a $68-million lawsuit against Amazon. At the Women’s March in Washington last year, Johansson spoke about the importance of Planned Parenthood and women’s health. She criticized James Franco for wearing a Time’s Up pin to the Golden Globes just before the Los Angeles Times reported that five women accused him of sexual misconduct. Franco denies the allegations. A spokesman for Johansson did not immediately respond Wednesday to an e-mail seeking additional comment. AP

DYCI Dagalak, 2018 Mixed Voices Junior Choir Category National Champion, with conductor Nelson de la Cruz.

GIANCARLO CASTRILLO GONZALES, cello; Dr. Renato B. Lucas, conductor; and UST Symphony Orchestra

SPOTLIGHT ON CRAFT, TALENT OF FILIPINO MUSICIANS

IN celebration of 46 years of recognizing the craft and talent of Filipino musicians and singers, National Music Competitions for Young Artists Foundation Inc. (NAMCYA) recently presented its world-class roster of performances by the previous winners of the competition: Giancarlo Castrillo Gonzales, cello; DYCI Dagalak; Nelson de la Cruz, conductor; Pundaquit Virtuosi; Alfonso Bolipata, artistic director; UST Symphony Orchestra and Dr. Renato Lucas, conductor. The performers did not just play their piece. Through their performance, they spoke to their audience and communicated the beauty of their sound which was brought to life. The concert was held in Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater) of Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). The concert was done to promote the upcoming actual competitions that began on August 31 in different areas of the country for the semifinal round. The final round is on November 26 to December 1 at the CCP. More informations is available from the NAMCYA Secretariat at 836-4928, 836-4929 or 0949-9932592.

@jetvalle

E may well be of drinking age already but Inigo Pascual has a daunting task that will haunt him for the rest of his life: being the son of superstar Piolo Pascual. He turns 22 this week and has made some achievements already, but Inigo, for all his charm and talent, will always have the Papa P stamp as long as he lives. Which he thinks is a good thing as he acknowledges it was his ticket to enter show business without even entering a reality contest or releasing a scandalous video on the Internet. Now, being relevant in this fickle business is what is in Inigo’s mind and based on his latest endeavors, he might as well achieve it. Case in point: he recently dropped a single, titled “Adios,” an upbeat track that he recorded with Singaporean hip-hop/R&B artist Akasha. The collaboration actually follows the wunderkind’s international tours and other collaborations with foreign artists (this year he teamed up with Australian YouTube superstar Wengie for the song “Mr. Nice Guy”). Of these collaborations, Inigo said he has learned a lot. “It’s not about limiting yourself to a certain sound, but expanding and really growing as an artist and allowing yourself to do different things outside of your comfort zone.” Back to his latest single “Adios,” produced by Star Records: the song may be upbeat but it is actually a breakup song that highlights the turning point and ensuing conclusion of a toxic relationship. On that point, I wanted to ask him if this song was for anyone in particular in his life but thank God I read the press kit stating that he didn’t actually write the song, and that “Adios” was actually a single by another Singaporean artist (Zadon) that was written in Mandarin and localized by Star Records executive Jonathan Manalo. The record exec adapted the lyrics and added a new part, plus he invited Akasha to collaborate. What I also read in the press kit is that if you want to listen to the song, it is available on Spotify, Apple Music and other digital stores worldwide. A corresponding music video also airs on Myx but if you want to watch it now, you can go to Star Music’s YouTube channel. nnn BY now, invites to the ABS-CBN ball have been rolled out but if you’re Team Bahay like me, you can just tune

in on Metro Channel or stream it via Metro.Style on September 14 as they have the exclusive coverage of the event. Robi Domingo and Karylle are the preshow hosts, while Gretchen Ho, Raymond Gutierrez, Gretchen Fullido, Sarah Meier, Bianca Gonzalez and Boy Abunda are the Red Carpet special emcees. The 2019 ABS-CBN Ball is held for the benefit of Bantay Bata 163’s Bantay Edukasyon Program. The event will also honor the late Gina Lopez, the founder of Bantay Bata and other programs under the ABS-CBN Foundation’s Sagip Kapamilya and Bantay Kalikasan. The one-hour Metro preshow will delve into the behind-the-scenes and details of the ball that include

a retrospective of ABS-CBN’s 65 years, a primer on the ball’s advocacy, a tribute to Gina Lopez, and a glance at the food and entertainment of the event. Special guests from the fashion industry will also join the show to give red carpet predictions and chat about the dress code—modern Filipiniana, which was chosen to pay homage to local artistry, creativity and ingenuity. Metro’s Live at the Red Carpet coverage will be everyone’s window to the hottest and latest happenings before the ball, with exclusives on who and what the celebrities are wearing, and, most important for the chismosas like me, who is arriving with whom at the event. n

Actress Salma Hayek says she wants to protect Mexico’s image MEXICO CITY—Salma Hayek says she refrains from using social media to comment on problems in her native Mexico because she wants to protect the country’s image. During an appearance on Tuesday to promote her Netflix series Monarca on a family’s tequila empire, the actress was asked why she doesn’t use her socialmedia presence to draw more attention to Mexico’s ills.

MEXICAN actress and producer Salma Hayek gives a news conference to promote her new film Monarca in Mexico City, on September 10. Salma is a native of Veracruz, Mexico. AP

Hayek said she doesn’t believe a post on her Instagram account can change things because most of her followers don’t live in Mexico. At the same time, she added, a critical post puts negative attention on Mexico elsewhere in the world, and “that can affect us with tourism, with people who are trying to invest in Mexico.” She said she doesn’t want to hurt her country. AP

‘TADHANA,’ HOSTED BY MARIAN RIVERA, CELEBRATES 2 SUCCESSFUL YEARS ON AIR AFTER another successful year of featuring the many stories of struggle, failure, hope and triumphs of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), GMA Public Affairs’ award-winning weekly drama anthology Tadhana presents a twin bill of twopart special episodes in celebration of its second anniversary this month. Hosted by Marian Rivera, the special episodes air in two installments each, with the first story premiering on September 7. The second installment airing this September 14, “Serial Killer” tells the harrowing tale of Ilocano OFW friends Jasmine, Daisy and Hana who find themselves trapped in the gruesome web of murders involving foreign domestic helpers. This is the first-ever case of serial killing in Cyprus. The two-part episode stars Benjamin Alves, Juancho

Trivino, Diva Montelaba, Analyn Barro, Lara Morena and Rhian Ramos. Meanwhile, Lovi Poe banners Tadhana’s second anniversary story, “CEO Maid,” airing on September 21. The two-part episode features the inspiring story of Myrna, a former seaweed diver from Bohol who gets recruited abroad as an entertainer. However, she ends up being a victim of human trafficking. She survives the ordeal and finds herself in Hong Kong working as a domestic helper and her kind employers teach her how to use the computer. Through sheer hard work, she returns to the Philippines and becomes the CEO of her very own BPO company. In the past two years, Tadhana has continued to build a loyal audience, even hitting more than 1 million followers on Facebook. It has also been

honored with various awards, including the TV Journalism Award for Best TV Series on Migration at the 2017 Migration Advocacy and Media (MAM) Awards by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas. At the Eighth OFW Gawad Parangal, Tadhana took home the Best OFW True-to-Life Stories prize while Marian won the Best Actress plum for the episode “Sugat ni Inay.” Tadhana airs on Saturdays at 3:15 pm, after Hanggang sa Dulo ng Buhay Ko on GMA. Viewers from across the globe can also catch their favorite shows via GMA’s international channels GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV and GMA News TV International. The program guide is available at www. gmapinoytv.com.

MARIAN RIVERA

Motoring BusinessMirror

Henry Ford Awards Best Motoring Section 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 2011 Hall of Fame

Editor: Tet Andolong

Friday, September 13, 2019

Montero, Filomeno survive Vios Cup crashes D

ESPITE sporadic rain and dark skies that threatened to unload a downpour, the recent Toyota Vios Racing Festival, thankfully, roared on unhampered at Clark. Racers coming from both the celluloid world and grizzled group of speedsters met the elements head-on in the true tradition of warriors unremitting in their desire for glory and fame. Some 20 mavericks climbed the podium in victory, wearing smiles on their faces after conquering the second round of the Vios Circuit Championship and the third round of the Vios Autocross Challenge. Beaming from ear to ear was Troy Montero, who won twice in the Circuit Challenge Celebrity Class. He could have captured a third plum if not for a careless collision with

Sporting Class’s John Dizon that forced him to abandon Race 6. It was a freak accident as it happened r ight af ter Montero crossed the finish line of R ace 5. B enef it i ng f rom Montero’s exit was Daniel Matsunaga, who topped Celebrity’s R ace 6. But Montero was not the only crash victim. His fellow celebrity racer, Chie Fi lomeno, a lso slid of ftrack due to aquaplaning and missed the f ina l race. Montero and Filomeno weren’t seriously injured but for precaution, they were brought to the hospital for a thorough checkup. They were discharged in no time and were soon back at the venue for the awarding ceremonies. “No matter what happens, I still find myself coming back to this

sport. The adrenaline rush it gives me is out of this world,” said Filomeno in an Instagram post she wrote after the race. “Despite the outside damage, the driver’s area was totally untouched. We also have a roll cage, race suit, and helmet, and most especially, the HANS [head and neck] device to keep us safe,” said Montero on his own Instagram account. In the other events, Red Diwa of JBT Racing-Toyota Isabela won Race 4 in the Circuit Challenge’s Sporting Class, and Eggy Ong of JBT Racing-Toyota San Fernando swept Races 5 and 6. In the Promotional Class, it was Julian Tang of Toyota Otis Obengers topping Race 4 and Elysse Menorca, one of only two female racers in this class, stunned the field with victories in Races 5 and 6 representing Toyota North Edsa Obengers. In the Autocross event, Carlos Inigo Anton won the Car Clubs categor y, AutoIndustriya’s Jose Lu i s A ltoveros led t he Med i a Categor y, and Jules Aquino took the top spot in the Social Media Personalities categor y. “On behalf of Toyota Motor Philippines, I would like to express my deepest appreciation to our customers and fans who have

dedicated time and effort to witness our Vios motorsports events,” said TMP President Satoru Suzuki during the race’s opening ceremonies before thousands of spectators admitted free as usual. The Vios Cup, now on its sixth straight year, has added the Autocross Challenge this year to further expand the event as the Vios Racing Festival. The next and final leg of the Vios Racing Festival is on November 9, also at the Clark international Speedway.

Suzuki’s speech

“GOOD morning everyone and welcome to the third leg of the Vios Racing Festival! We are thrilled to have another weekend filled with heart-racing fun, here at the Clark International Speedway. “The Vios One Make Race car’s quality, durability and reliability will be tested again in two formats: the Circuit Championship and the Autocross Challenge. “We are proud to gather 79 racers, with 23 from the circuit championship and 56 for the Autocross Challenge. Your participation today is a true testament of boosted appreciation for motorsports program in the country. “I am also excited to announce

that after the first public appearance of the All-new Toyota GR Supra right on this very track last June, the legendary car returns today as the official pace car of the Vios Racing Festival. “On behalf of Toyota Motor Philippines, I would like to express my deepest appreciation to our customers and fans who have dedicated time and effort to witness our Vios motorsports events. Special thanks also go to our dealers and our friends from the media for their relentless participation on-and-off the tracks. “Lastly, I would like to acknowledge our faithful sponsors. Our Vios motorsports program would not have been possible without the backing of Bridgestone, Petron, Motul, Rota, Brembo, Denso, AVT, 3M, OMP and Tuason Racing. We have been racing for more than five years, thanks to your continued support. “Without further ado, let the races begin!”

HERE’S THE COMPLETE LIST OF WINNERS:

PEE STOP If giving President Duterte

Autocross Challenge

emergency powers would mean improving traffic flow at Edsa, by all means, let’s do it. What’s wrong with the idea in the first place? It could be the last option to end our Edsa agony. As the saying goes, desperate times need desperate measures.

Circuit Championship Race 4: Celebrity

Promotional

Sporting

1st

Troy Montero

Julian Tang

Red Diwa

2nd

Daniel Matsunaga

Julian Neri

John Dizon

3rd

Gretchen Ho

Darrel Garbes

Eggy Ong

Sporting

Race 5: Celebrity

Promotional

1st

Troy Montero

Elysse Menorca Eggy Ong

2nd

Daniel Matsunaga

Julian Neri

3rd

Aubrey Miles

Francis Adriano Clive Fermin

Marc Soong

Race 6: Celebrity

Promotional

1st

Daniel Matsunaga

Elysse Menorca Eggy Ong

Sporting

2nd

Gretchen Ho

Francis Adriano Red Diwa

3rd

Aubrey Miles

Julian Tang

Clive Fermin

SMPs

Media

Car Clubs

Jules Aquino (00.50.94)

Jose Luis Altoveros (00.50.23)

Carlos Iñigo Anton (00.47.07)

Reph Bangsil (00.51.45)

Earl Davidson L. Lee (00.50.58)

Sean Kody S. Ng (00.49.27)

Jun Sunga (00.52.59)

Chewy Buhion (00.51.94)

Mickie Carbonell (00.50.52)

Moto

Business

E2 Friday, September 13, 2019

MAZDA HANDOV A CHANCE AT A BETTER LIFE FOR THE YOUTH ISUZU-TESDA AUTO MECHANIC TRAINING CENTER Story & photos by Tet Andolong

UE to poverty, many children from poor families all over the country lose hope of leading better lives because they are unable to go to school and earn a degree. With scarce employment opportunities, most especially for those without any skills, training or education, many Filipino youth end up bitter, frustrated and homeless, which forces them to turn to life on the streets or work in harsh conditions. When Perfecto Pacala III of Palo, Leyte, heard that Isuzu Philippines was offering a free, two-year Advanced Automotive Mechanic Course, he applied. Out of 684 applicants, Isuzu only accepted 36 of them including Pacala. “My mother is a housewife. My stepfather is a balabal driver. I have three siblings and I just wanted to help my family,” said Pacala. “There are times when we only had two meals a day and my siblings didn’t have food in school,” recalled Pacala. Pacala went through the two-year course and his efforts have paid off as he emerged as the valedictorian of his class, which is the 16th batch of scholars produced by the Isuzu Motors Limited (IML) Japan-funded Auto Mechanic Training Center of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) in Tacloban, Leyte. “I never thought that I would go back to school but because of Isuzu, I was able to do it. We were able to do it. The experience has changed my life. Now, we’ll be able to help our families. Words are not enough to express our gratitude to Isuzu for the support that they have given us. We will forever be

grateful to Isuzu and Tesda. To my fellow graduates, never give up on what you want to do in life. Now, our dreams will become reality. Let us show the world that we are the best mechanics,” said Pacala in his valedictory speech during the commencement exercise that formally recognized 16 male and two female students as NC4-certified automotive service technicians. The graduation ceremony of the 16th batch of the Isuzu-Tesda Auto Mechanic Training Program was held on August 28, 2019, at the Tesda Region 8 Training Center Compound in Barangay Abucay, Tacloban City, where 18 students including Pacala graduated from. “Your certificate will increase your chance of getting you a job in the automotive industry,” said IML Executive Officer Hirokazu Okubo after the graduation ceremony. “You will have a bright future. Congratulations!” The 18 graduates came up on stage to receive their certificates and the moment the youngsters received their certificates, most of them were teary-eyed and highly emotional as their parents tearfully embraced them, knowing that their lives have most likely turned for the better from now on. Pacala has been hired by IPC He starts working this month. In his speech, IPC President Hajime Koso said, “Today, we are here at the Isuzu-Tesda Auto Mechanic Training Center to witness the graduation ceremony of our 16th batch of Isuzu scholars. Since 2008, Isuzu has been in coordination with Tesda Region 8 and World Vision, in supporting under privilege youths to attain automotive servicing courses, which we offer for free to deserving

IPC President Hajime Koso

youths in this region. As of today, we already have 248 trainees, which are now working in various Isuzu dealerships and service shops, both domestic and international, and we are very proud of the level of competency the school has to offer and the impact it has made to our students and their families.” Conceptualized by IML, the vocational training program, which began in in November 2008, has seen IML, Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC) and Tesda collaborate to create an impact on the lives of a total of 266 disadvantaged youth. IML supports the Isuzu-Tesda Auto Mechanic Training Center Project by providing funds needed for

the project’s operation, while IPC provided the technical guidance to both students and trainers. On the other hand, Tesda provided the training center with all the needed equipment to implement the training programs up to the standards of National Certificate (NC) Levels III and IV. NCIV is the highest level of certification that is offered in the country and only Isuzu-Tesda Auto Mechanic Training Center in Tacloban, Leyte, meets the standard. After the trainees’ graduate, both entities actively endorse these graduates to industry firms (preferably within the IPC network) that need highly skilled mechanics for permanent jobs. These certifications enable them to have the opportunity to work at Isuzu Global Services Corp., IPC, Isuzu Auto Parts Manufacturing Corp., various Isuzu dealerships, and other local service shops and companies. Having these skills also makes them very competitive and sought-after abroad. They also get to join the World Skills Competition (Automotive Division) in which one of their graduates, Neil Cutcharo was recently awarded fourth place out of 46 representatives from other countries in the last competition in August, which was held in Russia. With training modules provided by Tesda, IML spends more than P300,000 for each student, taking care of their board and lodging, as well as supplying them with toiletries, textbooks and uniforms. All scholars are required to live in a dormitory inside Tesda campus for two years. Food, board and lodging are provided by Isuzu-Tesda partner, World Vision.

EDITION UN D

Story & photos by Randy S. Peregrino

URING the last day of the recently concluded Mazda Premium Experience held at the Bonifacio High Street, Taguig City, the venue was painted with radiant Racing Orange. Not even the sunny day that weekend could match the heat from what was about to happen.

THE interior with Recaro sports seats along with Ultrasuede interior accents, orange interior piping and a special 30th Anniversary serial number badging

EXCLUSIVE forged 17-inch Rays Engineering wheels with markings STUDENTS show their skills

If you’re wondering why? In a simple yet lively ceremony, Mazda Philippines actually handed over 10 units of the rare Mazda MX-5 30th Anniversary Edition to new owners. Aside from the brand-new units, the handover event was also highlighted by an array of various generations of the world’s most popular two-seat, open-top sports car on display. Present during the handover ceremony was no less than Tom Matano, the legendary designer of the iconic first-

generation Mazda MX-5 NA. Matano was invited by Mazda Philippines to join the Miata Fiesta MX-5 30th Anniversary celebration organized by Miata Club Philippines and as guest of honor for the handover of the first batch of 30th Anniversary Edition units. He was also joined by Mazda Motor Corp. general manager of the Asean Business Office Susumu Niinai. Together, they handed over the keys of the limitededition MX-5 units as witnessed by Mazda Philippines head honcho Steven

TESTING BULLETPROOF T

THE 18 new graduates

STUDENTS check shocks and struts

HE recently concluded Afad Cup 2019 was witness to the “torture test” conducted by Impenetra Armor Protective Systems on its BRGs (bullet-resistant glass). No less than the sharpshooters of Afad participated in the test firing. During the four-day Afad event, Impenetra showcased its Nissan Navara with Handgun Protection, Level BR4 Lightweight armoring. The Nissan Navara will later be placed on sale at the Nissan Westgate showroom. Bank and in-house financing are available. At the Afad Cup, Impenetra held a test firing of its three of its BRGs. It may not be common knowledge that the certifications and standards that come with ballistic glasses impose a limit on

the BRG. This means such standards or certifications as CEN, VPAM, NIJ, STANAG, etc., apply only based on certain conditions. For instance, a Level BR5 glass is certified to resist up to five shots of SS109 or a Level BR4 glass up to five shots of 44 Magnum. In the test firing held at the Afad Cup, Impenetra went beyond those conditions to know the limits of its BRGs. Of the three types of BRGs tested, one is certified to resist five shots. Yet, it received 11 shots from two sharpshooters. Confident with the first BRG, the second one was shot with a total of 46 shots. Both glasses have no penetration at all, not even a bulge. The other side is quite smooth. This prompted Impen-

oring

sMirror

Friday, September 13, 2019

VERS MX-5 30TH ANNIVERSARY

NITS TO NEW OWNERS

Valenzuela adopts ‘No Contact Apprehension Program’

FROM left (seated) MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia, Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante of LTO, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian and Valenzuela Vice Mayor Lorena Natividad sign the memorandum of agreement with city councilors of Valenzuela

MAZDA MX-5 NA designer Tom Matano (left), Mazda Philippines President Steven Tan (2nd from right), and Mazda Motor Corp. General Manager of the Asean Business Office Susumu Niinai (right) handed the first MX-5 30th Anniversary Edition unit to the first owner, Mr. and Mrs. Jose Luis Yulo Jr.

NO Contact policy begins in Valenzuela City Story & Photos by Patrick P. Tulfo

S THE brand-new units of MX-5 30th Anniversary Edition waiting to be handed over.

Tan. Likewise, of course, members of the Miata Club Philippines were present and witnessed the gathering. Speaking to an enthusiastic crowd of MX-5 owners, Niinai reinforced Mazda’s dedication to make cars that embody Mazda’s Jinba Ittai, or horse and rider as one, philosophy. “Over the years, Mazda has stayed true to its promise of making cars that are truly fun to drive,” he shared. “Today’s collection of Mazda MX-5s spans 30 years of evolution of this commitment. But more important, we also share the same stage with the drivers and owners of these cars as we celebrate the way they live this promise every time they drive their MX-5s. From only 3,000 in total to be produced globally, 30 Mazda MX-5 30th Anni-

MAZDA PHILIPPINES

versary Edition examples will make their way to the Philippines for an exclusive few to drive and enjoy in the years to come. As we look forward to the next 30 years, we thank you for the continued love and passion you have shown our brand. We are truly grateful and honored to deliver you the driving experience you deserve,” Niinai concluded. Tom Matano, for his part, appreciated the kind of love the owners of the MX-5 had shown for the car he helped create. “It is truly heartwarming to see the impact of our idea from more than 30 years ago, on the lives of people around the world,” he said. “The Mazda MX-5 has remained true to its original design—an affordable, lightweight

F BEYOND ITS LIMITS etra, under the helm of its president, Paulo Villarta, to give the third glass a “torture test.” The third BRG is of higher level as it can resist 16 shots. Impenetra wanted to see how many shots it will take before a bullet penetrates. The best of the best at Afad participated in the “torture test,” including Tanauan Mayor Angeline “Sweet” Halili, Afad President Alaric Topacio, Afad Cup organizer Pam Uyami, top shotgun shooter Jay Benzon, and two of the best shooters at the Afad Cup, PPSA President Edwin Lim and markswoman Genesis Pible, who emerged as the Afad Cup Champion for the Standard Lady Category. All these shooters simultaneously fired at Impenetra’s BRG. Given that

they are all sharpshooters, most of the shots are made on the same spots. A total of 79 shots were made, five of which are shotgun slugs. The result showed as evidenced by videos taken during the activity that two bullets penetrated on the 78th and 79th shot, one of which is a shotgun slug and the other an armor piercing bullet. This is a high 97 percent survivability to which users of Impenetra armored vehicles can rely on. Those interested in getting an armored vehicle from Impenetra will be glad to know that ready to use bulletresistant vehicles made by Impenetra will now be available for sale on car dealership floors. For further information, you may call 0920-9101111 or 0917-6363824.

THE members of Miata Club Philippines together with the first 10 proud owners of the MX-5 30th Anniversary Edition. MAZDA PHILIPPINES

sports car—and it makes us happy that more than a million owners around the world have appreciated our hard work over the last 30 years. It is really the smiles that we see as the drivers take on a winding road, or the wind blowing over their heads as they zoom past with the top down, that makes it all worth the effort. Back in the ’80s, we envisioned the MX-5 to be a sports car for future generations. Three decades on, we are overjoyed to see the vision live on all the way here in the Philippines,” Matano added. The Mazda MX-5 30th Anniversary Edition comes solely in a Retractable Fastback form. With its exclusive Racing Orange color, unique set of commemorative fixtures, and

a limited run of only 3,000 examples worldwide, the commemorative edition of the iconic roadster promises to be a future collector’s gem in years to come. Only 30 units were allocated to the Philippine market and by far, it’s the largest allocation in Asia and outside of Japan. Other exclusive upgrades include forged 17-inch Rays Engineering wheels, Recaro sports seats, orange-colored Brembo front brake calipers and orange factory brakes in the rears. Inside, there’s the Ultrasuede interior accents, orange interior piping, and a special 30th Anniversary serial number badging, all make the limited production roadster a future collector’s item. The MX-5 30th Anniversary Edition is priced at P2.990 million.

TA RT I NG S e pte mb e r 16, all motorists who will be passing the city of Valenzuela should be wary as the progressive city has already amended Ordinance 19 Series of 2005 otherwise known as “The Land Transportation Code of Valenzuela City or “No Contact Apprehension Program” (NCAP) as another means to implement the traffic code of the city. In a press conference held at Gerry’s Grill at a mall just beside the City hall on September 4, Mayor Rex Gatchalian said he hopes the pioneering program will help address the traffic management and roadsafety concerns in the city of Valenzuela. This is in support of President Duterte’s recent call to clear public roads from obstructions. The dry run for the NCAP had begun on that day for motorists using Karuhatan Road before its full enforcement on September 16. During the dry run, the city government will strictly enforce traffic rules and regulations in the hopes of improving and decongesting traffic-choked areas covered by the program. T he main proponent of the program is the use of high-speed cameras with full high-definition technolog y that is also being employed in countries such as United States, Europe and some parts of Asia. These high-tech cameras capture the vehicles plate numbers vividly and, thereby, making it easy to identify the drivers/owners of the vehicle concern. A total of 18 cameras will be installed in several intersections along MacArthur with three of the systems already installed in Karuhatan, Gov. Santiago Roads and along People’s Park. The cameras total cost is pegged at P46 million. According to Jose Valenzuela, officer in charge of the Public Order and Safety Group (POSG),”We are grateful that

this system will finally be utilized because it will greatly help our traffic enforcers as apprehension would be more accurate and efficient. “Malaking tulong talaga para sa mga enforcers at malaking disiplina para sa mga Valenzuelanon,” he said. A command center in the POSG leads the assessment of the violations and notifies erring motorists through their registrations on file as the system is linked with the related government agencies, such as Land Transportation Office (LTO). Traffic citations are sent to the address of violators, and offenders who will fail to pay the corresponding fines will have problems renewing their vehicles registrations. A list of the traffic violations and the corresponding fines were given to the media. And motorists be forewarned, most of the traffic violations carries stiff penalties with the likes of counterflow driving, Anti-Distracted Driving (using your cell phones), Driving an unregistered vehicle and overspeeding to name a few will result in a P3,000 f i ne. T hos e w ho w i l l ge t caught and won’t protest the violation can pay their fines at any UCPB (United Coconut Planters Bank) branches in the country or at the Redemption Office of the Valenzuela City Traffic Management Office (TMO). “The pioneering project will surely teach traffic discipline to motorists in Valenzuela and we are optimistic that it will bring greater efficiency to the whole city. May kontribusyon din ito sa pagpapanatili ng tahimik at matiwasay na pamayanan dahil kita sa camera ang mga lumalabag sa batas kaya makikinabang ng malaki ang mga mamamayan ng Valenzuela dito,” Gatchalian pointed out. This worthwhile project is being supported by Department of Transportation (DOTr), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and LTO.